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Berhe H, Kumar Cinthakunta Sridhar M, Zerihun M, Qvit N. The Potential Use of Peptides in the Fight against Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:227. [PMID: 38399281 PMCID: PMC10892537 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are both neglected tropical diseases that affect millions of people around the world. Leishmaniasis is currently the second most widespread vector-borne parasitic disease after malaria. The World Health Organization records approximately 0.7-1 million newly diagnosed leishmaniasis cases each year, resulting in approximately 20,000-30,000 deaths. Also, 25 million people worldwide are at risk of Chagas disease and an estimated 6 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, miltefosine, paromomycin, and pentamidine are currently used to treat leishmaniasis. Also, nifurtimox and benznidazole are two drugs currently used to treat Chagas disease. These drugs are associated with toxicity problems such as nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, in addition to resistance problems. As a result, the discovery of novel therapeutic agents has emerged as a top priority and a promising alternative. Overall, there is a need for new and effective treatments for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, as the current drugs have significant limitations. Peptide-based drugs are attractive due to their high selectiveness, effectiveness, low toxicity, and ease of production. This paper reviews the potential use of peptides in the treatment of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. Several studies have demonstrated that peptides are effective against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, suggesting their use in drug therapy for these diseases. Overall, peptides have the potential to be effective therapeutic agents against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, but more research is needed to fully investigate their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nir Qvit
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel; (H.B.); (M.K.C.S.); (M.Z.)
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2
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Fernandes JCR, Muxel SM, López-Gonzálvez MA, Barbas C, Floeter-Winter LM. Early Leishmania infectivity depends on miR-372/373/520d family-mediated reprogramming of polyamines metabolism in THP-1-derived macrophages. Sci Rep 2024; 14:996. [PMID: 38200138 PMCID: PMC10781704 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51511-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmania amazonensis is a protozoan that primarily causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans. The parasite relies on the amino acid arginine to survive within macrophages and establish infection, since it is a precursor for producing polyamines. On the other hand, arginine can be metabolized via nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) to produce the microbicidal molecule nitric oxide (NO), although this mechanism does not apply to human macrophages since they lack NOS2 activity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional levels. Our previous work showed that mmu-miR-294 targets Nos2 favoring Leishmania survival in murine macrophages. Here, we demonstrate that human macrophages upregulate the hsa-miR-372, hsa-miR-373, and hsa-miR-520d, which present the same seed sequence as the murine mmu-miR-294. Inhibition of the miR-372 impaired Leishmania survival in THP-1 macrophages and the effect was further enhanced with combinatorial inhibition of the miR-372/373/520d family, pointing to a cooperative mechanism. However, this reduction in survival is not caused by miRNA-targeting of NOS2, since the seed-binding motif found in mice is not conserved in the human 3'UTR. Instead, we showed the miR-372/373/520d family targeting the macrophage's main arginine transporter SLC7A2/CAT2 during infection. Arginine-related metabolism was markedly altered in response to infection and miRNA inhibition, as measured by Mass Spectrometry-based metabolomics. We found that Leishmania infection upregulates polyamines production in macrophages, as opposed to simultaneous inhibition of miR-372/373/520d, which decreased putrescine and spermine levels compared to the negative control. Overall, our study demonstrates miRNA-dependent modulation of polyamines production, establishing permissive conditions for intracellular parasite survival. Although the effector mechanisms causing host cell immunometabolic adaptations involve various parasite and host-derived signals, our findings suggest that the miR-372/373/520d family may represent a potential target for the development of new therapeutic strategies against cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C R Fernandes
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (IMT-FMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (IB-USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - S M Muxel
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo (ICB-USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M A López-Gonzálvez
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28660, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Barbas
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Urbanización Montepríncipe, 28660, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
| | - L M Floeter-Winter
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (IB-USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
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3
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Das K, Nozaki T. Non-Vesicular Lipid Transport Machinery in Leishmania donovani: Functional Implications in Host-Parasite Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10637. [PMID: 37445815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells have distinct membrane-enclosed organelles, each with a unique biochemical signature and specialized function. The unique identity of each organelle is greatly governed by the asymmetric distribution and regulated intracellular movement of two important biomolecules, lipids, and proteins. Non-vesicular lipid transport mediated by lipid-transfer proteins (LTPs) plays essential roles in intra-cellular lipid trafficking and cellular lipid homeostasis, while vesicular transport regulates protein trafficking. A comparative analysis of non-vesicular lipid transport machinery in protists could enhance our understanding of parasitism and basis of eukaryotic evolution. Leishmania donovani, the trypanosomatid parasite, greatly depends on receptor-ligand mediated signalling pathways for cellular differentiation, nutrient uptake, secretion of virulence factors, and pathogenesis. Lipids, despite being important signalling molecules, have intracellular transport mechanisms that are largely unexplored in L. donovani. We have identified a repertoire of sixteen (16) potential lipid transfer protein (LTP) homologs based on a domain-based search on TriTrypDB coupled with bioinformatics analyses, which signifies the presence of well-organized lipid transport machinery in this parasite. We emphasized here their evolutionary uniqueness and conservation and discussed their potential implications for parasite biology with regards to future therapeutic targets against visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koushik Das
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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4
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Li M, Wang S, Kang L, Xu F, Lan X, He M, Jin K, Xia Y. Arginine metabolism governs microcycle conidiation by changing nitric oxide content in Metarhizium acridum. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:1257-1268. [PMID: 36640205 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12355-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Microcycle conidiation commonly exists in filamentous fungi and has great potential for mass production of mycoinsecticides. L-Arginine metabolism is essential for conidiation and conditional growth and virulence, but its role in microcycle conidiation has not been explored. Here, a unique putative arginase (MaAGA) was characterized in the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium acridum. Conidial germination and thermotolerance were facilitated by the disruption of MaAGA. Despite little impact on fungal growth and virulence, the disruption resulted in normal conidiation after a 60-h incubation on microcycle conidiation medium (SYA) under normal culture conditions. In the MaAGA-disruption mutant (ΔMaAGA), intracellular arginine accumulation was sharply increased. Replenishment of the direct metabolites of arginase, namely ornithine and/or urea, was unable to restore the disruption mutant's microcycle conidiation on SYA. Interestingly, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitric oxide (NO) levels of the ΔMaAGA strain were markedly decreased in the 60-h-old SYA cultures. Finally, adding Nω-nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of NOS, into the SYA converted the microcycle conidiation of the wild-type strain to normal conidiation. In contrast, adding sodium nitroprusside, an NO donor, into the SYA recovered the mutant's microcycle conidiation. The results indicate that arginine metabolism controls microcycle conidiation by changing the content of NO. KEY POINTS: • The MaAGA-disruption led to normal conidiation on microcycle conidiation medium SYA. • Nitric oxide (NO) level of the ΔMaAGA strain was markedly decreased. • Adding an NO donor into the SYA recovered the microcycle conidiation of ΔMaAGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengfei Li
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqin Wang
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Luhong Kang
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Xu
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Lan
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Min He
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Jin
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China. .,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuxian Xia
- Genetic Engineering Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China. .,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticide, Chongqing, 401331, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation Technologies under Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, 401331, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Cayla M, Nievas YR, Matthews KR, Mottram JC. Distinguishing functions of trypanosomatid protein kinases. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:950-961. [PMID: 36075845 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomatid parasitic protozoa are divergent from opisthokont models and have evolved unique mechanisms to regulate their complex life cycles and to adapt to a range of hosts. Understanding how these organisms respond, adapt, and persist in their different hosts could reveal optimal drug-control strategies. Protein kinases are fundamental to many biological processes such as cell cycle control, adaptation to stress, and cellular differentiation. Therefore, we have focused this review on the features and functions of protein kinases that distinguish trypanosomatid kinomes from other eukaryotes. We describe the latest research, highlighting similarities and differences between two groups of trypanosomatid parasites, Leishmania and African trypanosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Cayla
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Y Romina Nievas
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Keith R Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jeremy C Mottram
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK.
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6
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Giraldo M, Upegui YA, Higuita-Castro JL, Gonzalez LA, Gutierrez S, Pulido SA, Robledo SM. Effect of the variation in the extracellular concentration of l-arginine in the physiology of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and its susceptibility to some antileishmanial drugs. Exp Parasitol 2022; 242:108395. [PMID: 36179851 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
The knowledge about amino acid metabolism in trypanosomatids is a valuable source of new therapeutic targets. l-arginine is an essential amino acid for Leishmania parasites, and it participates in the synthesis of polyamines, a group of essential nutrients used for nucleic acids, proteins biosynthesis, and redox modulation necessary for proliferation. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of changes in the availability of this amino acid on promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes on U937 macrophages and showed that the absence of l-arginine in culture medium negatively influences the growth and infectivity of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, causing a decrease in the percentage of the infected cells and parasite load tested through light microscopy. In addition, the absence of l-arginine resulted in the parasite's inability to regulate its reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which persisted for up to 24 h by flow cytometry following the probe H2DCF-DA dye. Moreover, the differentiation of promastigote to amastigote in axenic culture was more significant at low concentrations of l-arginine suggesting that this depletion induces a stress environment to increase this transformation under axenic conditions. No association was established between the availability of l-arginine and the effectiveness of antileishmanial drugs. All these results confirm the importance of l-arginine in L. braziliensis life cycle vital processes, such as its replication and infectivity, as documented in other Leishmania species. Based on these results, we proposed that the l-arginine uptake/metabolism route is possible in exploring new antileishmanial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Giraldo
- PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia-UdeA, Medellín, 050010474, Colombia
| | - Yulieth A Upegui
- PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia-UdeA, Medellín, 050010474, Colombia
| | - Jorge L Higuita-Castro
- PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia-UdeA, Medellín, 050010474, Colombia
| | - Luis A Gonzalez
- QOPN Grupo Química Orgánica de Productos Naturales, Instituto de Química, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, 050010474, Colombia
| | - Sneider Gutierrez
- PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia-UdeA, Medellín, 050010474, Colombia
| | - Sergio A Pulido
- PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia-UdeA, Medellín, 050010474, Colombia
| | - Sara M Robledo
- PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia-UdeA, Medellín, 050010474, Colombia.
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7
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Promastigote-to-Amastigote Conversion in Leishmania spp.—A Molecular View. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11091052. [PMID: 36145483 PMCID: PMC9503511 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11091052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A key factor in the successful infection of a mammalian host by Leishmania parasites is their conversion from extracellular motile promastigotes into intracellular amastigotes. We discuss the physical and chemical triggers that induce this conversion and the accompanying changes at the molecular level crucial for the survival of these intracellular parasites. Special emphasis is given to the reliance of these trypanosomatids on the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression but also to the role played by protein kinases, chaperone proteins and proteolytic enzymes. Lastly, we offer a model to integrate the transduction of different stress signals for the induction of stage conversion.
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Boy RL, Hong A, Aoki JI, Floeter-Winter LM, Laranjeira-Silva MF. Reporter gene systems: a powerful tool for Leishmania studies. CURRENT RESEARCH IN MICROBIAL SCIENCES 2022; 3:100165. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2022.100165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
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Jain S, Sahu U, Kumar A, Khare P. Metabolic Pathways of Leishmania Parasite: Source of Pertinent Drug Targets and Potent Drug Candidates. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081590. [PMID: 36015216 PMCID: PMC9416627 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by a protozoan parasite Leishmania that is transmitted via infected female sandflies. At present, leishmaniasis treatment mainly counts on chemotherapy. The currently available drugs against leishmaniasis are costly, toxic, with multiple side effects, and limitations in the administration route. The rapid emergence of drug resistance has severely reduced the potency of anti-leishmanial drugs. As a result, there is a pressing need for the development of novel anti-leishmanial drugs with high potency, low cost, acceptable toxicity, and good pharmacokinetics features. Due to the availability of preclinical data, drug repurposing is a valuable approach for speeding up the development of effective anti-leishmanial through pointing to new drug targets in less time, having low costs and risk. Metabolic pathways of this parasite play a crucial role in the growth and proliferation of Leishmania species during the various stages of their life cycle. Based on available genomics/proteomics information, known pathways-based (sterol biosynthetic pathway, purine salvage pathway, glycolysis, GPI biosynthesis, hypusine, polyamine biosynthesis) Leishmania-specific proteins could be targeted with known drugs that were used in other diseases, resulting in finding new promising anti-leishmanial therapeutics. The present review discusses various metabolic pathways of the Leishmania parasite and some drug candidates targeting these pathways effectively that could be potent drugs against leishmaniasis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surbhi Jain
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh, India; (S.J.); (U.S.)
| | - Utkarsha Sahu
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh, India; (S.J.); (U.S.)
- Division of Synthetic Biology, Absolute Foods, Plot 68, Sector 44, Gurugram 122003, Haryana, India
| | - Awanish Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Raipur 492010, Chhattisgarh, India
- Correspondence: or (A.K.); (P.K.)
| | - Prashant Khare
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh, India; (S.J.); (U.S.)
- Division of Synthetic Biology, Absolute Foods, Plot 68, Sector 44, Gurugram 122003, Haryana, India
- Correspondence: or (A.K.); (P.K.)
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Rashidi S, Mansouri R, Ali-Hassanzadeh M, Ghani E, Karimazar M, Muro A, Nguewa P, Manzano-Román R. miRNAs in the regulation of mTOR signaling and host immune responses: The case of Leishmania infections. Acta Trop 2022; 231:106431. [PMID: 35367408 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Micro RNAs (miRNAs), as regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, can respond to/or interact with cell signaling and affect the pathogenesis of different diseases/infections. The interaction/crosstalk of miRNAs with various cellular signaling networks including mTOR (as a master regulator of signaling relevant to different cellular mechanisms) might lead to the initiation, progression or restriction of certain disease processes. There are numerous studies that have identified the crosstalk between regulatory miRNA expression and the mTOR pathway (or mTOR signaling regulated by miRNAs) in different diseases which has a dual function in pathogenesis. However, the corresponding information in parasitic infections remains scarce. miRNAs have been suggested as specific targets for therapeutic strategies in several disorders such as parasitic infections. Thus, the targeting of miRNAs (as the modulators/regulators of mTOR) by small molecules and RNA-based therapeutics and consequently managing and modulating mTOR signaling and the downstream/related cell signaling/pathways might shed some light on the design of new therapeutic strategies against parasitic diseases, including Leishmaniasis. Accordingly, the present study attempts to highlight the importance of the crosstalk between regulatory miRNAs and mTOR signaling, and to review the relevant insights into parasitic infections by focusing specifically on Leishmania.
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New Vistas in the Biology of the Flagellum—Leishmania Parasites. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040447. [PMID: 35456123 PMCID: PMC9024700 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Like other kinetoplastid protozoa, the flagellum in Leishmania parasites plays central roles throughout the life cycle. Discoveries over the past decade have begun to elucidate flagellar functions at the molecular level in both the insect vector stage promastigotes and intra-macrophage amastigotes. This focused review will highlight recent advances that contribute to understanding flagellar function in the various biological contexts encountered by Leishmania parasites.
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12
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Alves Mota C, Stéfanie Sara Lopes Lera-Nonose D, Ávila Brustolin A, Chiqueto Duarte G, Carolina Mota Dos Santos M, Valdrinez Campana Lonardoni M, Gomes Verzignassi Silveira T. Low expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and differential expression of immune mediators during experimental infection with Leishmania (Viannia) spp. Cytokine 2022; 153:155833. [PMID: 35247649 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.155833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania (Viannia) species are the major agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the Americas. Ulcerative stigmatizing skin lesions generally characterize CL. The microenvironment during Leishmania infection is rich in inflammatory cells and molecules, which contrasts with low oxygen levels. The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α activates several genes in response to hypoxia and inflammatory reactions, but its role in the CL course is poorly understood. We investigated the expression pattern of the genes HIF-1α, arginase, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, and IL-10 in skin lesions and lymph nodes of golden hamsters infected with L. braziliensis, L. lainsoni, and L. naiffi. The animals were infected and followed for 105 days, with paw volume measurements and photos taken weekly. Euthanasia was performed at 0, 15, 56, and 105 days post-infection. The parasite load of paw and lymph node tissues were measured through absolute quantification at real-time PCR (qPCR), and reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) was applied to demonstrate the relative mRNA expression of the target genes. Among groups, animals infected with L. braziliensis had the highest parasite load in paws and lymph nodes. HIF-1α mRNA was down-regulated during chronic Leishmania (Viannia) infection but demonstrated less inhibition in hamsters infected with L. lainsoni and L. naiffi. Arginase was the most detectable gene in animals infected by L. braziliensis; IFN-γ and IL-10 genes were the most detectable in L. lainsoni and L. naiffi-infected animals. HIF-1α gene transcription seemed to be down-modulated byL. (Viannia)infection and was less inhibited by L. lainsoni and L. naiffi when compared toL. braziliensis. Animals with L. lainsoni and L. naiffi showed better control of the disease. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the mechanism influencing HIF-1α expression and its role on CL protection; such research could elucidate potential use of HIF-1α as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Alves Mota
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brasil.
| | | | - Aline Ávila Brustolin
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brasil
| | | | | | - Maria Valdrinez Campana Lonardoni
- Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brasil
| | - Thaís Gomes Verzignassi Silveira
- Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brasil
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13
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Gauthier T, Chen W. Modulation of Macrophage Immunometabolism: A New Approach to Fight Infections. Front Immunol 2022; 13:780839. [PMID: 35154105 PMCID: PMC8825490 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.780839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are essential innate immune cells that contribute to host defense during infection. An important feature of macrophages is their ability to respond to extracellular cues and to adopt different phenotypes and functions in response to these stimuli. The evidence accumulated in the last decade has highlighted the crucial role of metabolic reprogramming during macrophage activation in infectious context. Thus, understanding and manipulation of macrophage immunometabolism during infection could be of interest to develop therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on 5 major metabolic pathways including glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, fatty acid oxidation and synthesis, tricarboxylic acid cycle and amino acid metabolism and discuss how they sustain and regulate macrophage immune function in response to parasitic, bacterial and viral infections as well as trained immunity. At the end, we assess whether some drugs including those used in clinic and in development can target macrophage immunometabolism for potential therapy during infection with an emphasis on SARS-CoV2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Gauthier
- Mucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Wanjun Chen
- Mucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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14
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Zilberstein D, Myler PJ. Arginine sensing in intracellular parasitism of Leishmania. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 64:41-46. [PMID: 34592588 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Protozoa of the genus Leishmania are intracellular parasites that cause human leishmaniasis, a disease spread mostly in the tropics and subtropics. Leishmania cycle between the midgut of female sand flies and phagolysosome of mammalian macrophages. During their life cycle they constantly encounter changing nutritional environments. To monitor the external concentration of essential nutrients, the invading parasites employ sensors that report on the availability of these nutrients; but to-date only a few sensing pathways have been identified in Leishmania. This review focuses on the Arginine Deprivation Response, which both extracellular and intracellular Leishmania utilize to monitor environmental arginine and adjust their arginine transporter (AAP3) levels accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zilberstein
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel.
| | - Peter J Myler
- Departments of Pediatrics, Biomedical Informatics & Medical Education, and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109-5219, USA; Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, Seattle, WA, USA
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15
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Carneiro MB, Peters NC. The Paradox of a Phagosomal Lifestyle: How Innate Host Cell- Leishmania amazonensis Interactions Lead to a Progressive Chronic Disease. Front Immunol 2021; 12:728848. [PMID: 34557194 PMCID: PMC8452962 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.728848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular phagosomal pathogens represent a formidable challenge for innate immune cells, as, paradoxically, these phagocytic cells can act as both host cells that support pathogen replication and, when properly activated, are the critical cells that mediate pathogen elimination. Infection by parasites of the Leishmania genus provides an excellent model organism to investigate this complex host-pathogen interaction. In this review we focus on the dynamics of Leishmania amazonensis infection and the host innate immune response, including the impact of the adaptive immune response on phagocytic host cell recruitment and activation. L. amazonensis infection represents an important public health problem in South America where, distinct from other Leishmania parasites, it has been associated with all three clinical forms of leishmaniasis in humans: cutaneous, muco-cutaneous and visceral. Experimental observations demonstrate that most experimental mouse strains are susceptible to L. amazonensis infection, including the C57BL/6 mouse, which is resistant to other species such as Leishmania major, Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum. In general, the CD4+ T helper (Th)1/Th2 paradigm does not sufficiently explain the progressive chronic disease established by L. amazonensis, as strong cell-mediated Th1 immunity, or a lack of Th2 immunity, does not provide protection as would be predicted. Recent findings in which the balance between Th1/Th2 immunity was found to influence permissive host cell availability via recruitment of inflammatory monocytes has also added to the complexity of the Th1/Th2 paradigm. In this review we discuss the roles played by innate cells starting from parasite recognition through to priming of the adaptive immune response. We highlight the relative importance of neutrophils, monocytes, dendritic cells and resident macrophages for the establishment and progressive nature of disease following L. amazonensis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus B Carneiro
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine and Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nathan C Peters
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Departments of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine and Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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16
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Immune-metabolic interactions between Leishmania and macrophage host. Curr Opin Microbiol 2021; 63:231-237. [PMID: 34438164 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Manipulation of host metabolic fluxes by Leishmania represents a strategy to circumvent host immune response leading to long-term parasite survival and playing an important role in the pathology of infection. Specific Leishmania-dependent metabolic alterations in infected macrophages have been associated with resistance or susceptibility to infection. Thus, deciphering the multilevel interactions between metabolism and function on innate immune cells during infection offers considerable therapeutic or prophylactic promise. In this review, we provide an overview of recent literature highlighting Leishmania-macrophage interactions and discuss the potential of metabolic targeted therapies to shift the balance of dysfunctional, damaging, or non-productive responses to protective immune reactivity patterns towards pathogen elimination.
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17
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Rajendran E, Clark M, Goulart C, Steinhöfel B, Tjhin ET, Gross S, Smith NC, Kirk K, van Dooren GG. Substrate-mediated regulation of the arginine transporter of Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009816. [PMID: 34352043 PMCID: PMC8370653 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites, such as the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii, are adept at scavenging nutrients from their host. However, there is little understanding of how parasites sense and respond to the changing nutrient environments they encounter during an infection. TgApiAT1, a member of the apicomplexan ApiAT family of amino acid transporters, is the major uptake route for the essential amino acid L-arginine (Arg) in T. gondii. Here, we show that the abundance of TgApiAT1, and hence the rate of uptake of Arg, is regulated by the availability of Arg in the parasite's external environment, increasing in response to decreased [Arg]. Using a luciferase-based 'biosensor' strain of T. gondii, we demonstrate that the expression of TgApiAT1 varies between different organs within the host, indicating that parasites are able to modulate TgApiAT1-dependent uptake of Arg as they encounter different nutrient environments in vivo. Finally, we show that Arg-dependent regulation of TgApiAT1 expression is post-transcriptional, mediated by an upstream open reading frame (uORF) in the TgApiAT1 transcript, and we provide evidence that the peptide encoded by this uORF is critical for mediating regulation. Together, our data reveal the mechanism by which an apicomplexan parasite responds to changes in the availability of a key nutrient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Rajendran
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Morgan Clark
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cibelly Goulart
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Birte Steinhöfel
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Erick T. Tjhin
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Simon Gross
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nicholas C. Smith
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kiaran Kirk
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Giel G. van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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18
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Brigo N, Pfeifhofer-Obermair C, Tymoszuk P, Demetz E, Engl S, Barros-Pinkelnig M, Dichtl S, Fischer C, Valente De Souza L, Petzer V, von Raffay L, Hilbe R, Berger S, Seifert M, Schleicher U, Bogdan C, Weiss G. Cytokine-Mediated Regulation of ARG1 in Macrophages and Its Impact on the Control of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Infection. Cells 2021; 10:1823. [PMID: 34359992 PMCID: PMC8307077 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Arginase 1 (ARG1) is a cytosolic enzyme that cleaves L-arginine, the substrate of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and thereby impairs the control of various intracellular pathogens. Herein, we investigated the role of ARG1 during infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S.tm). To study the impact of ARG1 on Salmonella infections in vitro, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) from C57BL/6N wild-type, ARG1-deficient Tie2Cre+/-ARG1fl/fl and NRAMPG169 C57BL/6N mice were infected with S.tm. In wild-type BMDM, ARG1 was induced by S.tm and further upregulated by the addition of interleukin (IL)-4, whereas interferon-γ had an inhibitory effect. Deletion of ARG1 did not result in a reduction in bacterial numbers. In vivo, Arg1 mRNA was upregulated in the spleen, but not in the liver of C57BL/6N mice following intraperitoneal S.tm infection. The genetic deletion of ARG1 (Tie2Cre+/-ARG1fl/fl) or its pharmacological inhibition with CB-1158 neither affected the numbers of S.tm in spleen, liver and blood nor the expression of host response genes such as iNOS, IL-6 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF). Furthermore, ARG1 was dispensable for pathogen control irrespective of the presence or absence of the phagolysosomal natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1). Thus, unlike the detrimental function of ARG1 seen during infections with other intraphagosomal microorganisms, ARG1 did not support bacterial survival in systemic salmonellosis, indicating differential roles of arginine metabolism for host immune response and microbe persistence depending on the type of pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Brigo
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Christa Pfeifhofer-Obermair
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Piotr Tymoszuk
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Egon Demetz
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Sabine Engl
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Marina Barros-Pinkelnig
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Stefanie Dichtl
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Christine Fischer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Lara Valente De Souza
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Iron Metabolism and Anemia Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Verena Petzer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Laura von Raffay
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Richard Hilbe
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Sylvia Berger
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Markus Seifert
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Iron Metabolism and Anemia Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Schleicher
- Mikrobiologisches Institut—Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie, und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (U.S.); (C.B.)
- Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologisches Institut—Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie, und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Wasserturmstraße 3/5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (U.S.); (C.B.)
- Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Günter Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (N.B.); (C.P.-O.); (P.T.); (E.D.); (S.E.); (M.B.-P.); (S.D.); (C.F.); (L.V.D.S.); (V.P.); (L.v.R.); (R.H.); (S.B.); (M.S.)
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Iron Metabolism and Anemia Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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19
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Efstathiou A, Smirlis D. Leishmania Protein Kinases: Important Regulators of the Parasite Life Cycle and Molecular Targets for Treating Leishmaniasis. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9040691. [PMID: 33801655 PMCID: PMC8066228 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9040691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is a protozoan parasite of the trypanosomatid family, causing a wide range of diseases with different clinical manifestations including cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. According to WHO, one billion people are at risk of Leishmania infection as they live in endemic areas while there are 12 million infected people worldwide. Annually, 0.9-1.6 million new infections are reported and 20-50 thousand deaths occur due to Leishmania infection. As current chemotherapy for treating leishmaniasis exhibits numerous drawbacks and due to the lack of effective human vaccine, there is an urgent need to develop new antileishmanial therapy treatment. To this end, eukaryotic protein kinases can be ideal target candidates for rational drug design against leishmaniasis. Eukaryotic protein kinases mediate signal transduction through protein phosphorylation and their inhibition is anticipated to be disease modifying as they regulate all essential processes for Leishmania viability and completion of the parasitic life cycle including cell-cycle progression, differentiation and virulence. This review highlights existing knowledge concerning the exploitation of Leishmania protein kinases as molecular targets to treat leishmaniasis and the current knowledge of their role in the biology of Leishmania spp. and in the regulation of signalling events that promote parasite survival in the insect vector or the mammalian host.
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20
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Parab AR, McCall LI. Tryp-ing Up Metabolism: Role of Metabolic Adaptations in Kinetoplastid Disease Pathogenesis. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e00644-20. [PMID: 33526564 PMCID: PMC8090971 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00644-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, more than a billion people-one-sixth of the world's population-are suffering from neglected tropical diseases. Human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the genera Trypanosoma and Leishmania About half a million people living in tropical and subtropical regions of the world are at risk of contracting one of these three infections. Kinetoplastids have complex life cycles with different morphologies and unique physiological requirements at each life cycle stage. This review covers the latest findings on metabolic pathways impacting disease pathogenesis of kinetoplastids within the mammalian host. Nutrient availability is a key factor shaping in vivo parasite metabolism; thus, kinetoplastids display significant metabolic flexibility. Proteomic and transcriptomic profiles show that intracellular trypanosomatids are able to switch to an energy-efficient metabolism within the mammalian host system. Host metabolic changes can also favor parasite persistence, and contribute to symptom development, in a location-specific fashion. Ultimately, targeted and untargeted metabolomics studies have been a valuable approach to elucidate the specific biochemical pathways affected by infection within the host, leading to translational drug development and diagnostic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adwaita R Parab
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
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21
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Lemos-Silva T, Telleria EL, Traub-Csekö YM. The gene expression of Leishmania infantum chagasi inside Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2021; 116:e200571. [PMID: 33681890 PMCID: PMC7949195 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum chagasi is the causative agent and Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. We investigated the expression of Leishmania genes within L. longipalpis after artificial infection. mRNAs from genes involved in sugar and amino acid metabolism were upregulated at times of high parasite proliferation inside the insect. mRNAs from genes involved in metacyclogenesis had higher expression in late stages of infection. Other modulated genes of interest were involved in immunomodulation, purine salvage pathway and protein recycling. These data reveal aspects of the adaptation of the parasite to the microenvironment of the vector gut and reflect the preparation for infection in the vertebrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais Lemos-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department of Parasitology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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22
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Baker N, Catta-Preta CMC, Neish R, Sadlova J, Powell B, Alves-Ferreira EVC, Geoghegan V, Carnielli JBT, Newling K, Hughes C, Vojtkova B, Anand J, Mihut A, Walrad PB, Wilson LG, Pitchford JW, Volf P, Mottram JC. Systematic functional analysis of Leishmania protein kinases identifies regulators of differentiation or survival. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1244. [PMID: 33623024 PMCID: PMC7902614 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21360-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation between distinct stages is fundamental for the life cycle of intracellular protozoan parasites and for transmission between hosts, requiring stringent spatial and temporal regulation. Here, we apply kinome-wide gene deletion and gene tagging in Leishmania mexicana promastigotes to define protein kinases with life cycle transition roles. Whilst 162 are dispensable, 44 protein kinase genes are refractory to deletion in promastigotes and are likely core genes required for parasite replication. Phenotyping of pooled gene deletion mutants using bar-seq and projection pursuit clustering reveal functional phenotypic groups of protein kinases involved in differentiation from metacyclic promastigote to amastigote, growth and survival in macrophages and mice, colonisation of the sand fly and motility. This unbiased interrogation of protein kinase function in Leishmania allows targeted investigation of organelle-associated signalling pathways required for successful intracellular parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Baker
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - C M C Catta-Preta
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - R Neish
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - J Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - B Powell
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York, UK
| | - E V C Alves-Ferreira
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - V Geoghegan
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - J B T Carnielli
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - K Newling
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - C Hughes
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - B Vojtkova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J Anand
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - A Mihut
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - P B Walrad
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - L G Wilson
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Physics, University of York, York, UK
| | - J W Pitchford
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York, UK
| | - P Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - J C Mottram
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK.
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Maran SR, de Lemos Padilha Pitta JL, Dos Santos Vasconcelos CR, McDermott SM, Rezende AM, Silvio Moretti N. Epitranscriptome machinery in Trypanosomatids: New players on the table? Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:942-958. [PMID: 33513291 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites cause devastating tropical diseases resulting in serious global health consequences. These organisms have complex life cycles with mammalian hosts and insect vectors. The parasites must, therefore, survive in different environments, demanding rapid physiological and metabolic changes. These responses depend upon regulation of gene expression, which primarily occurs posttranscriptionally. Altering the composition or conformation of RNA through nucleotide modifications is one posttranscriptional mechanism of regulating RNA fate and function, and modifications including N6-methyladenosine (m6A), N1-methyladenosine (m1A), N5-methylcytidine (m5C), N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), and pseudouridine (Ψ), dynamically regulate RNA stability and translation in diverse organisms. Little is known about RNA modifications and their machinery in Trypanosomatids, but we hypothesize that they regulate parasite gene expression and are vital for survival. Here, we identified Trypanosomatid homologs for writers of m1A, m5C, ac4C, and Ψ and analyze their evolutionary relationships. We systematically review the evidence for their functions and assess their potential use as therapeutic targets. This work provides new insights into the roles of these proteins in Trypanosomatid parasite biology and treatment of the diseases they cause and illustrates that Trypanosomatids provide an excellent model system to study RNA modifications, their molecular, cellular, and biological consequences, and their regulation and interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen Rodrigues Maran
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Pathogens, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Suzanne M McDermott
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Nilmar Silvio Moretti
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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24
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Haindrich AC, Ernst V, Naguleswaran A, Oliveres QF, Roditi I, Rentsch D. Nutrient availability regulates proline/alanine transporters in Trypanosoma brucei. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100566. [PMID: 33745971 PMCID: PMC8094907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is a species of unicellular parasite that can cause severe diseases in livestock and humans, including African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease. Adaptation to diverse environments and changes in nutritional conditions is essential for T. brucei to establish an infection when changing hosts or during invasion of different host tissues. One such adaptation is the ability of T. brucei to rapidly switch its energy metabolism from glucose metabolism in the mammalian blood to proline catabolism in the insect stages and vice versa. However, the mechanisms that support the parasite's response to nutrient availability remain unclear. Using RNAseq and qRT-PCR, we investigated the response of T. brucei to amino acid or glucose starvation and found increased mRNA levels of several amino acid transporters, including all genes of the amino acid transporter AAT7-B subgroup. Functional characterization revealed that AAT7-B members are plasma membrane-localized in T. brucei and when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae supported the uptake of proline, alanine, and cysteine, while other amino acids were poorly recognized. All AAT7-B members showed a preference for proline, which is transported with high or low affinity. RNAi-mediated AAT7-B downregulation resulted in a reduction of intracellular proline concentrations and growth arrest under low proline availability in cultured procyclic form parasites. Taken together, these results suggest a role of AAT7-B transporters in the response of T. brucei to proline starvation and proline catabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viona Ernst
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Isabel Roditi
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Doris Rentsch
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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25
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Regulation of macrophage subsets and cytokine production in leishmaniasis. Cytokine 2020; 147:155309. [PMID: 33334669 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Macrophages are host cells for parasites of the genus Leishmania where they multiply inside parasitophorous vacuoles. Paradoxically, macrophages are also the cells responsible for killing or controlling parasite growth, if appropriately activated. In this review, we will cover the patterns of macrophage activation and the mechanisms used by the parasite to circumvent being killed. We will highlight the impacts of the vector bite on macrophage activation. Finally, we will discuss the ontogeny of macrophages that are infected by Leishmania spp.
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Kelly FD, Yates PA, Landfear SM. Nutrient sensing in Leishmania: Flagellum and cytosol. Mol Microbiol 2020; 115:849-859. [PMID: 33112443 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are by definition organisms that utilize resources from a host to support their existence, thus, promoting their ability to establish long-term infections and disease. Hence, sensing and acquiring nutrients for which the parasite and host compete is central to the parasitic mode of existence. Leishmania are flagellated kinetoplastid parasites that parasitize phagocytic cells, principally macrophages, of vertebrate hosts and the alimentary tract of sand fly vectors. Because nutritional supplies vary over time within both these hosts and are often restricted in availability, these parasites must sense a plethora of nutrients and respond accordingly. The flagellum has been recognized as an "antenna" that plays a core role in sensing environmental conditions, and various flagellar proteins have been implicated in sensing roles. In addition, these parasites exhibit non-flagellar intracellular mechanisms of nutrient sensing, several of which have been explored. Nonetheless, mechanistic details of these sensory pathways are still sparse and represent a challenging frontier for further experimental exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felice D Kelly
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Phillip A Yates
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Scott M Landfear
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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27
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Abstract
In this study, we report that the ability of the human pathogen Leishmania to sense and monitor the lack of arginine in the phagolysosome of the host macrophage is essential for disease development. Phagolysosomes of macrophages are the niche where Leishmania resides and causes human leishmaniasis. During infection, the arginine concentration in the phagolysosome decreases as part of the host innate immune response. An arginine sensor on the Leishmania cell surface activates an arginine deprivation response pathway that upregulates the expression of a parasite arginine transporter (AAP3). Here, we use CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of the AAP3 locus to show that this response enables Leishmania parasites to successfully compete with the host macrophage in the “hunger games” for arginine. Arginine homeostasis in lysosomes is critical for the growth and metabolism of mammalian cells. Phagolysosomes of macrophages are the niche where the parasitic protozoan Leishmania resides and causes human leishmaniasis. During infection, parasites encounter arginine deprivation, which is monitored by a sensor on the parasite cell surface. The sensor promptly activates a mitogen-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPK2)-mediated arginine deprivation response (ADR) pathway, resulting in upregulating the abundance and activity of the Leishmania arginine transporter (AAP3). Significantly, the ADR is also activated during macrophage infection, implying that arginine levels within the host phagolysosome are limiting for growth. We hypothesize that ADR-mediated upregulation of AAP3 activity is necessary to withstand arginine starvation, suggesting that the ADR is essential for parasite intracellular development. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of the AAP3 locus yielded mutants that retain a basal level of arginine transport but lack the ability to respond to arginine starvation. While these mutants grow normally in culture, they were impaired in their ability to develop inside THP-1 macrophages and were ∼70 to 80% less infective in BALB/c mice. Hence, inside the host macrophage, Leishmania must overcome the arginine “hunger games” by upregulating the transport of arginine via the ADR. We show that the ability to monitor and respond to changes in host metabolite levels is essential for pathogenesis.
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Bogdan C. Macrophages as host, effector and immunoregulatory cells in leishmaniasis: Impact of tissue micro-environment and metabolism. Cytokine X 2020; 2:100041. [PMID: 33604563 PMCID: PMC7885870 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytox.2020.100041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania are protozoan parasites that predominantly reside in myeloid cells within their mammalian hosts. Monocytes and macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of all forms of leishmaniasis, including cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. The present review will highlight the diverse roles of macrophages in leishmaniasis as initial replicative niche, antimicrobial effectors, immunoregulators and as safe hideaway for parasites persisting after clinical cure. These multiplex activities are either ascribed to defined subpopulations of macrophages (e.g., Ly6ChighCCR2+ inflammatory monocytes/monocyte-derived dendritic cells) or result from different activation statuses of tissue macrophages (e.g., macrophages carrying markers of of classical [M1] or alternative activation [M2]). The latter are shaped by immune- and stromal cell-derived cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β), micro milieu factors (e.g., hypoxia, tonicity, amino acid availability), host cell-derived enzymes, secretory products and metabolites (e.g., heme oxygenase-1, arginase 1, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, NOS2/NO, NOX2/ROS, lipids) as well as by parasite products (e.g., leishmanolysin/gp63, lipophosphoglycan). Exciting avenues of current research address the transcriptional, epigenetic and translational reprogramming of macrophages in a Leishmania species- and tissue context-dependent manner.
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Key Words
- (L)CL, (localized) cutaneous leishmaniasis
- AHR, aryl hydrocarbon receptor
- AMP, antimicrobial peptide
- Arg, arginase
- Arginase
- CAMP, cathelicidin-type antimicrobial peptide
- CR, complement receptor
- DC, dendritic cells
- DCL, diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis
- HO-1, heme oxygenase 1
- Hypoxia
- IDO, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase
- IFN, interferon
- IFNAR, type I IFN (IFN-α/β) receptor
- IL, interleukin
- Interferon-α/β
- Interferon-γ
- JAK, Janus kinase
- LPG, lipophosphoglycan
- LRV1, Leishmania RNA virus 1
- Leishmaniasis
- Macrophages
- Metabolism
- NCX1, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1
- NFAT5, nuclear factor of activated T cells 5
- NK cell, natural killer cell
- NO, nitric oxide
- NOS2 (iNOS), type 2 (or inducible) nitric oxide synthase
- NOX2, NADPH oxidase 2 (gp91 or cytochrome b558 β-subunit of Phox)
- Nitric oxide
- OXPHOS, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
- PKDL, post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis
- Phagocyte NADPH oxidase
- Phox, phagocyte NADPH oxidase
- RNS, reactive nitrogen species
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- SOCS, suppressor of cytokine signaling
- STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription
- TGF-β, transforming growth factor-beta
- TLR, toll-like receptor
- Th1 (Th2), type 1 (type2) T helper cell
- Tonicity
- VL, visceral leishmaniasis
- mTOR, mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Bodhale N, Ohms M, Ferreira C, Mesquita I, Mukherjee A, André S, Sarkar A, Estaquier J, Laskay T, Saha B, Silvestre R. Cytokines and metabolic regulation: A framework of bidirectional influences affecting Leishmania infection. Cytokine 2020; 147:155267. [PMID: 32917471 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania, a protozoan parasite inflicting the complex of diseases called Leishmaniases, resides and replicates as amastigotes within mammalian macrophages. As macrophages are metabolically highly active and can generate free radicals that can destroy this parasite, Leishmania also devise strategies to modulate the host cell metabolism. However, the metabolic changes can also be influenced by the anti-leishmanial immune response mediated by cytokines. This bidirectional, dynamic and complex metabolic coupling established between Leishmania and its host is the result of a long co-evolutionary process. Due to the continuous alterations imposed by the host microenvironment, such metabolic coupling continues to be dynamically regulated. The constant pursuit and competition for nutrients in the host-Leishmania duet alter the host metabolic pathways with major consequences for its nutritional reserves, eventually affecting the phenotype and functionality of the host cell. Altered phenotype and functions of macrophages are particularly relevant to immune cells, as perturbed metabolic fluxes can crucially affect the activation, differentiation, and functions of host immune cells. All these changes can deterministically direct the outcome of an infection. Cytokines and metabolic fluxes can bidirectionally influence each other through molecular sensors and regulators to dictate the final infection outcome. Our studies along with those from others have now identified the metabolic nodes that can be targeted for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Bodhale
- National Centre for Cell Science, 411007 Pune, India; Jagadis Bose National Science Talent Search (JBNSTS), Kolkata 700107 India
| | - Mareike Ohms
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck 23538, Germany
| | - Carolina Ferreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Inês Mesquita
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | - Sónia André
- INSERM U1124, Université Paris Descartes, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Arup Sarkar
- Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
| | - Jérôme Estaquier
- INSERM U1124, Université Paris Descartes, 75006 Paris, France; Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Tamás Laskay
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck 23538, Germany
| | - Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre for Cell Science, 411007 Pune, India; Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024, India
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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Saunders EC, McConville MJ. Immunometabolism of Leishmania granulomas. Immunol Cell Biol 2020; 98:832-844. [PMID: 32780446 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania are parasitic protists that cause a spectrum of diseases in humans characterized by the formation of granulomatous lesions in the skin or other tissues, such as liver and spleen. The extent to which Leishmania granulomas constrain or promote parasite growth is critically dependent on the host T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2 immune response and the localized functional polarization of infected and noninfected macrophages toward a classically (M1) or alternatively (M2) activated phenotype. Recent studies have shown that metabolic reprograming of M1 and M2 macrophages underpins the capacity of these cells to act as permissive or nonpermissive host reservoirs, respectively. In this review, we highlight the metabolic requirements of Leishmania amastigotes and the evidence that these parasites induce and/or exploit metabolic reprogramming of macrophage metabolism. We also focus on recent studies highlighting the role of key macrophage metabolic signaling pathways, such as mechanistic target of rapamycin, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma in regulating the pathological progression of Leishmania granulomas. These studies highlight the intimate connectivity between Leishmania and host cell metabolism, the need to investigate these interactions in vivo and the potential to exploit host cell metabolic signaling pathways in developing new host-directed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor C Saunders
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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31
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Touching the Surface: Diverse Roles for the Flagellar Membrane in Kinetoplastid Parasites. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2020; 84:84/2/e00079-19. [PMID: 32238446 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00079-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
While flagella have been studied extensively as motility organelles, with a focus on internal structures such as the axoneme, more recent research has illuminated the roles of the flagellar surface in a variety of biological processes. Parasitic protists of the order Kinetoplastida, which include trypanosomes and Leishmania species, provide a paradigm for probing the role of flagella in host-microbe interactions and illustrate that this interface between the flagellar surface and the host is of paramount importance. An increasing body of knowledge indicates that the flagellar membrane serves a multitude of functions at this interface: attachment of parasites to tissues within insect vectors, close interactions with intracellular organelles of vertebrate cells, transactions between flagella from different parasites, junctions between the flagella and the parasite cell body, emergence of nanotubes and exosomes from the parasite directed to either host or microbial targets, immune evasion, and sensing of the extracellular milieu. Recent whole-organelle or genome-wide studies have begun to identify protein components of the flagellar surface that must mediate these diverse host-parasite interactions. The increasing corpus of knowledge on kinetoplastid flagella will likely prove illuminating for other flagellated or ciliated pathogens as well.
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Azevedo LG, de Queiroz ATL, Barral A, Santos LA, Ramos PIP. Proteins involved in the biosynthesis of lipophosphoglycan in Leishmania: a comparative genomic and evolutionary analysis. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:44. [PMID: 32000835 PMCID: PMC6993435 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmania spp. are digenetic parasites capable of infecting humans and causing a range of diseases collectively known as leishmaniasis. The main mechanisms involved in the development and permanence of this pathology are linked to evasion of the immune response. Crosstalk between the immune system and particularities of each pathogenic species is associated with diverse disease manifestations. Lipophosphoglycan (LPG), one of the most important molecules present on the surface of Leishmania parasites, is divided into four regions with high molecular variability. Although LPG plays an important role in host-pathogen and vector-parasite interactions, the distribution and phylogenetic relatedness of the genes responsible for its synthesis remain poorly explored. The recent availability of full genomes and transcriptomes of Leishmania parasites offers an opportunity to leverage insight on how LPG-related genes are distributed and expressed by these pathogens. RESULTS Using a phylogenomics-based framework, we identified a catalog of genes involved in LPG biosynthesis across 22 species of Leishmania from the subgenera Viannia and Leishmania, as well as 5 non-Leishmania trypanosomatids. The evolutionary relationships of these genes across species were also evaluated. Nine genes related to the production of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor were highly conserved among compared species, whereas 22 genes related to the synthesis of the repeat unit presented variable conservation. Extensive gain/loss events were verified, particularly in genes SCG1-4 and SCA1-2. These genes act, respectively, on the synthesis of the side chain attached to phosphoglycans and in the transfer of arabinose residues. Phylogenetic analyses disclosed evolutionary patterns reflective of differences in host specialization, geographic origin and disease manifestation. CONCLUSIONS The multiple gene gain/loss events identified by genomic data mining help to explain some of the observed intra- and interspecies variation in LPG structure. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive catalog that details how LPG-related genes evolved in the Leishmania parasite specialization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gentil Azevedo
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
- Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
| | - Artur Trancoso Lopo de Queiroz
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
| | - Aldina Barral
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (iii-INCT), São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Luciane Amorim Santos
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
| | - Pablo Ivan Pereira Ramos
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
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Young J, Kima PE. The Leishmania Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane at the Parasite-Host Interface. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2019; 92:511-521. [PMID: 31543712 PMCID: PMC6747952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The Leishmania parasitophorous vacuole membrane (LPVM) sits at the interface of the parasite and its host. Evidence shows that molecules from the endocytic pathway as well as molecules from the secretory pathway are localized in the LPV and displayed on LPVM. In the review, we discuss our current understanding of the composition of the LPVM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter E. Kima
- To whom all correspondence should be addressed: Peter E. Kima, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL;
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34
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Abstract
It is generally regarded that the progression of an infection within host macrophages is the consequence of a failed immune response. However, recent appreciation of macrophage heterogeneity, with respect to both development and metabolism, indicates that the reality is more complex. Different lineages of tissue-resident macrophages respond divergently to microbial, environmental and immunological stimuli. The emerging picture that the developmental origin of macrophages determines their responses to immune stimulation and to infection stresses the importance of in vivo infection models. Recent investigations into the metabolism of infecting microorganisms and host macrophages indicate that their metabolic interface can be a major determinant of pathogen growth or containment. This Review focuses on the integration of data from existing studies, the identification of challenges in generating and interpreting data from ongoing studies and a discussion of the technologies and tools that are required to best address future questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Russell
- Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Lu Huang
- Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Brian C VanderVen
- Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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35
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Pawar H, Puri M, Fischer Weinberger R, Madhubala R, Zilberstein D. The arginine sensing and transport binding sites are distinct in the human pathogen Leishmania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007304. [PMID: 31017889 PMCID: PMC6502434 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani causes human visceral leishmaniasis. Intracellular L. donovani that proliferate inside macrophage phagolysosomes compete with the host for arginine, creating a situation that endangers parasite survival. Parasites have a sensor that upon arginine deficiency activates an Arginine Deprivation Response (ADR). L. donovani transport arginine via a high-affinity transporter (LdAAP3) that is rapidly up-regulated by ADR in intracellular amastigotes. To date, the sensor and its ligand have not been identified. Here, we show that the conserved amidino group at the distal cap of the arginine side chain is the ligand that activates ADR, in both promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, and that arginine sensing and transport binding sites are distinct in L. donovani. Finally, upon addition of arginine and analogues to deprived cells, the amidino ligand activates rapid degradation of LdAAP3. This study provides the first identification of an intra-molecular ligand of a sensor that acts during infection. Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, leads a digenetic life cycle as a flagellated promastigote in the vector sandfly and aflagellated amastigote within phagolysosomes of infected macrophages. Arginine is an essential amino acid for Leishmania which possesses a high specificity arginine transporter (LdAAP3), a protein that imports the amino acid into parasite cells. Arginine is primarily utilized in de novo protein synthesis and for biosynthesis of trypanothione via the polyamine pathway. It was previously reported by our group that L. donovani senses lack of arginine in the surrounding micro environment and activates a unique arginine deprivation response (ADR) pathway, thus upregulating the expression of LdAAP3 as well as other transporters. In the present study, we identified the region on the arginine molecule which is the ligand that activates ADR. We show that the conserved amidino group at the distal cap of the arginine side chain is the ligand that activates/suppresses ADR. Using arginine analogues that contain this group we observed that arginine sensing and transport are distinct in L. donovani, both in axenic promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Additionally, the arginine sensor responds to both arginine starvation and sufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Pawar
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Madhu Puri
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Rentala Madhubala
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Dan Zilberstein
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- * E-mail:
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36
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Acosta H, Burchmore R, Naula C, Gualdrón-López M, Quintero-Troconis E, Cáceres AJ, Michels PAM, Concepción JL, Quiñones W. Proteomic analysis of glycosomes from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 229:62-74. [PMID: 30831156 PMCID: PMC7082770 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease, the first seven steps of glycolysis are compartmentalized in glycosomes, which are authentic but specialized peroxisomes. Besides glycolysis, activity of enzymes of other metabolic processes have been reported to be present in glycosomes, such as β-oxidation of fatty acids, purine salvage, pentose-phosphate pathway, gluconeogenesis and biosynthesis of ether-lipids, isoprenoids, sterols and pyrimidines. In this study, we have purified glycosomes from T. cruzi epimastigotes, collected the soluble and membrane fractions of these organelles, and separated peripheral and integral membrane proteins by Na2CO3 treatment and osmotic shock. Proteomic analysis was performed on each of these fractions, allowing us to confirm the presence of enzymes involved in various metabolic pathways as well as identify new components of this parasite's glycosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Acosta
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Richard Burchmore
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Christina Naula
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Melisa Gualdrón-López
- Instituto Salud Global, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, and Institute for Health Sciences Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ender Quintero-Troconis
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Ana J Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Paul A M Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Juan Luis Concepción
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela.
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37
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Landfear SM, Zilberstein D. Sensing What's Out There - Kinetoplastid Parasites. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:274-277. [PMID: 30655057 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites such as trypanosomes and Leishmania must adapt to their environments to survive within their hosts, yet they do not express many of the well established families of signal transduction receptors. Evidence suggests that other membrane proteins, including transporters and channels, play central roles in environmental sensing in these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Landfear
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Dan Zilberstein
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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38
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Abstract
High-throughput sequencing of cDNA copies of mRNA (RNA-seq) provides a digital readout of mRNA levels over several orders of magnitude, as well as mapping the transcripts to the nucleotide level. Here we describe two different RNA-seq approaches, including one that exploits the 39-nucleotide mini-exon or spliced leader (SL) sequence found at the 5' end of all Leishmania (and other trypanosomatid) mRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Myler
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Childrens Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave N, Suite 500, Seattle, 98109-5219, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA.
| | - Jacqueline A McDonald
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Childrens Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave N, Suite 500, Seattle, 98109-5219, WA, USA
| | - Pedro J Alcolea
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Childrens Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave N, Suite 500, Seattle, 98109-5219, WA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Aakash Sur
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Childrens Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave N, Suite 500, Seattle, 98109-5219, WA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, WA, USA
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39
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Landfear SM. Protean permeases: Diverse roles for membrane transport proteins in kinetoplastid protozoa. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 227:39-46. [PMID: 30590069 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania species rely upon their insect and vertebrate hosts to provide a plethora of nutrients throughout their life cycles. Nutrients and ions critical for parasite survival are taken up across the parasite plasma membrane by transporters and channels, polytopic membrane proteins that provide substrate-specific pores across the hydrophobic barrier. However, transporters and channels serve a wide range of biological functions beyond uptake of nutrients. This article highlights the diversity of activities that these integral membrane proteins serve and underscores the emerging complexity of their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M Landfear
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
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40
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Antonia AL, Wang L, Ko DC. A real-time PCR assay for quantification of parasite burden in murine models of leishmaniasis. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5905. [PMID: 30430041 PMCID: PMC6231426 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic parasites in the genus Leishmania place approximately 350 million people per year at risk of disease. In addition to their global health significance, Leishmania spp. have served as an important model for delineating basic concepts in immunology such as T-helper cell polarization. There have been many qPCR-based assays reported for measuring parasite burden in humans and animals. However, these are largely optimized for use in clinical diagnosis and not specifically for animal models. This has led several of these assays to have suboptimal characteristics for use in animal models. For example, multi-copy number genes have been frequently used to increase sensitivity but are subject to greater plasticity within the genome and thus may confound effects of experimental manipulations in animal models. In this study, we developed a sybr-green based quantitative touchdown PCR assay for a highly conserved and single-copy putative RNA-binding protein, DRBD3. With primers that share greater than 90% sequence identity across all sequenced Leishmania spp., we demonstrate that this assay has a lower limit of detection of 100 fg of parasite DNA for Leishmania major, L. donovani, L. venezuelensis, and L. panamensis. Using C57BL6/J mice, we used this assay to monitor parasite burden over 1 month of infection with two strains of L. major (Seidman and Friedlin), and L. venezeuelensis. These characteristics rival the sensitivity of previously reported qPCR based methods of parasite quantitation while amplifying a stable, single copy gene. Use of this protocol in the future will lead to improved accuracy in animal based models and help to tease apart differences in biology of host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro L. Antonia
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Liuyang Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dennis C. Ko
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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41
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Veras PST, Ramos PIP, de Menezes JPB. In Search of Biomarkers for Pathogenesis and Control of Leishmaniasis by Global Analyses of Leishmania-Infected Macrophages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:326. [PMID: 30283744 PMCID: PMC6157484 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne, neglected tropical disease with a worldwide distribution that can present in a variety of clinical forms, depending on the parasite species and host genetic background. The pathogenesis of this disease remains far from being elucidated because the involvement of a complex immune response orchestrated by host cells significantly affects the clinical outcome. Among these cells, macrophages are the main host cells, produce cytokines and chemokines, thereby triggering events that contribute to the mediation of the host immune response and, subsequently, to the establishment of infection or, alternatively, disease control. There has been relatively limited commercial interest in developing new pharmaceutical compounds to treat leishmaniasis. Moreover, advances in the understanding of the underlying biology of Leishmania spp. have not translated into the development of effective new chemotherapeutic compounds. As a result, biomarkers as surrogate disease endpoints present several potential advantages to be used in the identification of targets capable of facilitating therapeutic interventions considered to ameliorate disease outcome. More recently, large-scale genomic and proteomic analyses have allowed the identification and characterization of the pathways involved in the infection process in both parasites and the host, and these analyses have been shown to be more effective than studying individual molecules to elucidate disease pathogenesis. RNA-seq and proteomics are large-scale approaches that characterize genes or proteins in a given cell line, tissue, or organism to provide a global and more integrated view of the myriad biological processes that occur within a cell than focusing on an individual gene or protein. Bioinformatics provides us with the means to computationally analyze and integrate the large volumes of data generated by high-throughput sequencing approaches. The integration of genomic expression and proteomic data offers a rich multi-dimensional analysis, despite the inherent technical and statistical challenges. We propose that these types of global analyses facilitate the identification, among a large number of genes and proteins, those that hold potential as biomarkers. The present review focuses on large-scale studies that have identified and evaluated relevant biomarkers in macrophages in response to Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Sampaio Tavares Veras
- Laboratory of Host-Parasite Interaction and Epidemiology, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Fiocruz-Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,National Institute of Tropical Disease, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Pablo Ivan Pereira Ramos
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Fiocruz-Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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42
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Martínez-López M, Soto M, Iborra S, Sancho D. Leishmania Hijacks Myeloid Cells for Immune Escape. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:883. [PMID: 29867798 PMCID: PMC5949370 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a group of neglected tropical diseases whose clinical manifestations vary depending on the infectious Leishmania species but also on host factors. Recognition of the parasite by host myeloid immune cells is a key to trigger an effective Leishmania-specific immunity. However, the parasite is able to persist in host myeloid cells by evading, delaying and manipulating host immunity in order to escape host resistance and ensure its transmission. Neutrophils are first in infiltrating infection sites and could act either favoring or protecting against infection, depending on factors such as the genetic background of the host or the parasite species. Macrophages are the main host cells where the parasites grow and divide. However, macrophages are also the main effector population involved in parasite clearance. Parasite elimination by macrophages requires the priming and development of an effector Th1 adaptive immunity driven by specific subtypes of dendritic cells. Herein, we will provide a comprehensive outline of how myeloid cells regulate innate and adaptive immunity against Leishmania, and the mechanisms used by the parasites to promote their evasion and sabotage. Understanding the interactions between Leishmania and the host myeloid cells may lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches and improved vaccination to leishmaniases, an important worldwide health problem in which current therapeutic or preventive approaches are limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Martínez-López
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Carlos III", Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Soto
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Iborra
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Carlos III", Madrid, Spain.,Department of Immunology, Complutense University School of Medicine and 12 de Octubre Health Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - David Sancho
- Immunobiology Laboratory, Fundación Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Carlos III", Madrid, Spain
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43
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Reddy VP, Chinta KC, Saini V, Glasgow JN, Hull TD, Traylor A, Rey-Stolle F, Soares MP, Madansein R, Rahman MA, Barbas C, Nargan K, Naidoo T, Ramdial PK, George JF, Agarwal A, Steyn AJC. Ferritin H Deficiency in Myeloid Compartments Dysregulates Host Energy Metabolism and Increases Susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection. Front Immunol 2018; 9:860. [PMID: 29774023 PMCID: PMC5943674 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron is an essential factor for the growth and virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, little is known about the mechanisms by which the host controls iron availability during infection. Since ferritin heavy chain (FtH) is a major intracellular source of reserve iron in the host, we hypothesized that the lack of FtH would cause dysregulated iron homeostasis to exacerbate TB disease. Therefore, we used knockout mice lacking FtH in myeloid-derived cell populations to study Mtb disease progression. We found that FtH plays a critical role in protecting mice against Mtb, as evidenced by increased organ burden, extrapulmonary dissemination, and decreased survival in Fth-/- mice. Flow cytometry analysis showed that reduced levels of FtH contribute to an excessive inflammatory response to exacerbate disease. Extracellular flux analysis showed that FtH is essential for maintaining bioenergetic homeostasis through oxidative phosphorylation. In support of these findings, RNAseq and mass spectrometry analyses demonstrated an essential role for FtH in mitochondrial function and maintenance of central intermediary metabolism in vivo. Further, we show that FtH deficiency leads to iron dysregulation through the hepcidin-ferroportin axis during infection. To assess the clinical significance of our animal studies, we performed a clinicopathological analysis of iron distribution within human TB lung tissue and showed that Mtb severely disrupts iron homeostasis in distinct microanatomic locations of the human lung. We identified hemorrhage as a major source of metabolically inert iron deposition. Importantly, we observed increased iron levels in human TB lung tissue compared to healthy tissue. Overall, these findings advance our understanding of the link between iron-dependent energy metabolism and immunity and provide new insight into iron distribution within the spectrum of human pulmonary TB. These metabolic mechanisms could serve as the foundation for novel host-directed strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineel P. Reddy
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Krishna C. Chinta
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Vikram Saini
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Joel N. Glasgow
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Travis D. Hull
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Amie Traylor
- Nephrology Research and Training Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Fernanda Rey-Stolle
- Centro de Metabolómica y Bioanálisis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rajhmun Madansein
- Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Coral Barbas
- Centro de Metabolómica y Bioanálisis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
| | - Kievershen Nargan
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa
| | - Threnesan Naidoo
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa
| | - Pratistadevi K. Ramdial
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa
| | - James F. George
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Anupam Agarwal
- Nephrology Research and Training Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Adrie J. C. Steyn
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Durban, South Africa
- UAB Centers for AIDS Research and Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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44
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Armitage EG, Alqaisi AQI, Godzien J, Peña I, Mbekeani AJ, Alonso-Herranz V, López-Gonzálvez Á, Martín J, Gabarro R, Denny PW, Barrett MP, Barbas C. Complex Interplay between Sphingolipid and Sterol Metabolism Revealed by Perturbations to the Leishmania Metabolome Caused by Miltefosine. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:e02095-17. [PMID: 29463533 PMCID: PMC5923112 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02095-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With the World Health Organization reporting over 30,000 deaths and 200,000 to 400,000 new cases annually, visceral leishmaniasis is a serious disease affecting some of the world's poorest people. As drug resistance continues to rise, there is a huge unmet need to improve treatment. Miltefosine remains one of the main treatments for leishmaniasis, yet its mode of action (MoA) is still unknown. Understanding the MoA of this drug and parasite response to treatment could help pave the way for new and more successful treatments for leishmaniasis. A novel method has been devised to study the metabolome and lipidome of Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes treated with miltefosine. Miltefosine caused a dramatic decrease in many membrane phospholipids (PLs), in addition to amino acid pools, while sphingolipids (SLs) and sterols increased. Leishmania major promastigotes devoid of SL biosynthesis through loss of the serine palmitoyl transferase gene (ΔLCB2) were 3-fold less sensitive to miltefosine than wild-type (WT) parasites. Changes in the metabolome and lipidome of miltefosine-treated L. major mirrored those of L. donovani A lack of SLs in the ΔLCB2 mutant was matched by substantial alterations in sterol content. Together, these data indicate that SLs and ergosterol are important for miltefosine sensitivity and, perhaps, MoA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G Armitage
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Campus Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
- GSK I+D Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences & Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Amjed Q I Alqaisi
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Durham, United Kingdom
- University of Baghdad, College of Science, Biology Department, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Joanna Godzien
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Campus Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
| | - Imanol Peña
- GSK I+D Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alison J Mbekeani
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Vanesa Alonso-Herranz
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Campus Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángeles López-Gonzálvez
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Campus Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Martín
- GSK I+D Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Gabarro
- GSK I+D Diseases of the Developing World (DDW), Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul W Denny
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P Barrett
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences & Glasgow Polyomics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Coral Barbas
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Campus Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
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45
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Holzmuller P, Geiger A, Nzoumbou-Boko R, Pissarra J, Hamrouni S, Rodrigues V, Dauchy FA, Lemesre JL, Vincendeau P, Bras-Gonçalves R. Trypanosomatid Infections: How Do Parasites and Their Excreted-Secreted Factors Modulate the Inducible Metabolism of l-Arginine in Macrophages? Front Immunol 2018; 9:778. [PMID: 29731753 PMCID: PMC5921530 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mononuclear phagocytes (monocytes, dendritic cells, and macrophages) are among the first host cells to face intra- and extracellular protozoan parasites such as trypanosomatids, and significant expansion of macrophages has been observed in infected hosts. They play essential roles in the outcome of infections caused by trypanosomatids, as they can not only exert a powerful antimicrobial activity but also promote parasite proliferation. These varied functions, linked to their phenotypic and metabolic plasticity, are exerted via distinct activation states, in which l-arginine metabolism plays a pivotal role. Depending on the environmental factors and immune response elements, l-arginine metabolites contribute to parasite elimination, mainly through nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, or to parasite proliferation, through l-ornithine and polyamine production. To survive and adapt to their hosts, parasites such as trypanosomatids developed mechanisms of interaction to modulate macrophage activation in their favor, by manipulating several cellular metabolic pathways. Recent reports emphasize that some excreted-secreted (ES) molecules from parasites and sugar-binding host receptors play a major role in this dialog, particularly in the modulation of the macrophage's inducible l-arginine metabolism. Preventing l-arginine dysregulation by drugs or by immunization against trypanosomatid ES molecules or by blocking partner host molecules may control early infection and is a promising way to tackle neglected diseases including Chagas disease, leishmaniases, and African trypanosomiases. The present review summarizes recent knowledge on trypanosomatids and their ES factors with regard to their influence on macrophage activation pathways, mainly the NO synthase/arginase balance. The review ends with prospects for the use of biological knowledge to develop new strategies of interference in the infectious processes used by trypanosomatids, in particular for the development of vaccines or immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Holzmuller
- CIRAD, Montpellier, France.,UMR 117 ASTRE "Animal, Santé, Territoire, Risques et Ecosystèmes", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne Geiger
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Romaric Nzoumbou-Boko
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Bordeaux, France.,CHU Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Bordeaux, France
| | - Joana Pissarra
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Sarra Hamrouni
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Valérie Rodrigues
- CIRAD, Montpellier, France.,UMR 117 ASTRE "Animal, Santé, Territoire, Risques et Ecosystèmes", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédéric-Antoine Dauchy
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Bordeaux, France.,CHU Bordeaux, Département des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Loup Lemesre
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Vincendeau
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Bordeaux, France.,CHU Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Bordeaux, France
| | - Rachel Bras-Gonçalves
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
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46
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Liburkin-Dan T, Schlisselberg D, Fischer-Weinberger R, Pescher P, Inbar E, Ephros M, Rentsch D, Späth GF, Zilberstein D. Stage-specific expression of the proline-alanine transporter in the human pathogen Leishmania. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 222:1-5. [PMID: 29655799 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania are obligatory intracellular parasites that cycle between the sand fly midgut (extracellular promastigotes) and mammalian macrophage phagolysosomes (intracellular amastigotes). They have developed mechanisms of adaptation to the distinct environments of host and vector that favor utilization of both proline and alanine. LdAAP24 is the L. donovani proline-alanine transporter. It is a member of Leishmania system A that translocates neutral amino acids. Since system A is promastigote-specific, we aimed to assess whether LdAAP24 is also expressed exclusively in promastigotes. Herein, we established that upon exposing L. donovani promastigotes to amastigote differentiation signal (pH 5.5 and 37 °C), parasites rapidly and completely degrade LdAAP24 protein in both axenic and in spleen-derived amastigotes. In contrast, LdAAP24 mRNA remained unchanged throughout differentiation. Addition of either MG132 or Bafilomycin A1 partially inhibited LdAAP24 protein degradation, indicating a role for both lysosome- and proteasome-mediated degradation. This work provides the first evidence for post-translational regulation of stage-specific expression of LdAAP24.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Liburkin-Dan
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - D Schlisselberg
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - R Fischer-Weinberger
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - P Pescher
- Institut Pasteur, INSERM U1201, Unité de Parasitologie moléculaire et Signalisation, 75015 Paris, France
| | - E Inbar
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - M Ephros
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - D Rentsch
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland
| | - G F Späth
- Institut Pasteur, INSERM U1201, Unité de Parasitologie moléculaire et Signalisation, 75015 Paris, France
| | - D Zilberstein
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Haifa, Israel.
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47
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The Uptake and Metabolism of Amino Acids, and Their Unique Role in the Biology of Pathogenic Trypanosomatids. Pathogens 2018; 7:pathogens7020036. [PMID: 29614775 PMCID: PMC6027508 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens7020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei, as well as Trypanosoma cruzi and more than 20 species of the genus Leishmania, form a group of flagellated protists that threaten human health. These organisms are transmitted by insects that, together with mammals, are their natural hosts. This implies that during their life cycles each of them faces environments with different physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological characteristics. In this work we review how amino acids are obtained from such environments, how they are metabolized, and how they and some of their intermediate metabolites are used as a survival toolbox to cope with the different conditions in which these parasites should establish the infections in the insects and mammalian hosts.
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48
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Ren W, Rajendran R, Zhao Y, Tan B, Wu G, Bazer FW, Zhu G, Peng Y, Huang X, Deng J, Yin Y. Amino Acids As Mediators of Metabolic Cross Talk between Host and Pathogen. Front Immunol 2018. [PMID: 29535717 PMCID: PMC5835074 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction between host and pathogen decidedly shapes the outcome of an infection, thus understanding this interaction is critical to the treatment of a pathogen-induced infection. Although research in this area of cell biology has yielded surprising findings regarding interactions between host and pathogen, understanding of the metabolic cross talk between host and pathogen is limited. At the site of infection, host and pathogen share similar or identical nutritional substrates and generate common metabolic products, thus metabolic cross talk between host and pathogen could profoundly affect the pathogenesis of an infection. In this review, we present results of a recent discovery of a metabolic interaction between host and pathogen from an amino acid (AA) metabolism-centric point of view. The host depends on AA metabolism to support defensive responses against pathogens, while the pathogens modulate AA metabolism for its own advantage. Some AA, such as arginine, asparagine, and tryptophan, are central points of competition between the host and pathogen. Thus, a better understanding of AA-mediated metabolic cross talk between host and pathogen will provide insight into fruitful therapeutic approaches to manipulate and prevent progression of an infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenkai Ren
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ranjith Rajendran
- School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Yuanyuan Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bie Tan
- Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Health and Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecology, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Guoyao Wu
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, TAMU, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Fuller W Bazer
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, TAMU, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Guoqiang Zhu
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyi Peng
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivorce, College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | | | - Jinping Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yulong Yin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition Control, Institute of Subtropical Animal Nutrition and Feed, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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49
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Muxel SM, Aoki JI, Fernandes JCR, Laranjeira-Silva MF, Zampieri RA, Acuña SM, Müller KE, Vanderlinde RH, Floeter-Winter LM. Arginine and Polyamines Fate in Leishmania Infection. Front Microbiol 2018; 8:2682. [PMID: 29379478 PMCID: PMC5775291 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is a protozoan parasite that alternates its life cycle between the sand fly and the mammalian host macrophages, involving several environmental changes. The parasite responds to these changes by promoting a rapid metabolic adaptation through cellular signaling modifications that lead to transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene expression regulation and morphological modifications. Molecular approaches such as gene expression regulation, next-generation sequencing (NGS), microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling, in cell Western blot analyses and enzymatic activity profiling, have been used to characterize the infection of murine BALB/c and C57BL/6 macrophages, as well as the human monocytic cell-lineage THP-1, with Leishmania amazonensis wild type (La-WT) or arginase knockout (La-arg-). These models are being used to elucidate physiological roles of arginine and polyamines pathways and the importance of arginase for the establishment of the infection. In this review, we will describe the main aspects of Leishmania-host interaction, focusing on the arginine and polyamines pathways and pointing to possible targets to be used for prognosis and/or in the control of the infection. The parasite enzymes, arginase and nitric oxide synthase-like, have essential roles in the parasite survival and in the maintenance of infection. On the other hand, in mammalian macrophages, defense mechanisms are activated inducing alterations in the mRNA, miRNA and enzymatic profiles that lead to the control of infection. Furthermore, the genetic background of both parasite and host are also important to define the fate of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M Muxel
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana I Aoki
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliane C R Fernandes
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo A Zampieri
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stephanie M Acuña
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karl E Müller
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rubia H Vanderlinde
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucile M Floeter-Winter
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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50
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Gazanion E, Vergnes B. Protozoan Parasite Auxotrophies and Metabolic Dependencies. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2018; 109:351-375. [PMID: 30535605 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-74932-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Diseases caused by protozoan parasites have a major impact on world health. These early branching eukaryotes cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock. During evolution, protozoan parasites have evolved toward complex life cycles in multiple host organisms with different nutritional resources. The conservation of functional metabolic pathways required for these successive environments is therefore a prerequisite for parasitic lifestyle. Nevertheless, parasitism drives genome evolution toward gene loss and metabolic dependencies (including strict auxotrophy), especially for obligatory intracellular parasites. In this chapter, we will compare and contrast how protozoan parasites have perfected this metabolic adaptation by focusing on specific auxotrophic pathways and scavenging strategies used by clinically relevant apicomplexan and trypanosomatid parasites to access host's nutritional resources. We will further see how these metabolic dependencies have in turn been exploited for therapeutic purposes against these human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Gazanion
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Baptiste Vergnes
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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