Characterization of Trypanosoma rangeli strains isolated in Central and South America: an overview

Trypanosoma rangeli infection increases the exposure and predation endured by Rhodnius prolixus

Trypanosoma rangeli is a protozoan that infects triatomines and mammals in Latin America, sharing hosts with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Trypanosoma rangeli does not cause disease to humans but is strongly pathogenic to its invertebrate hosts, increasing mortality rates and affecting bug development and reproductive success. We have previously shown that this parasite is also capable of inducing a general increase in the locomotory activity of its vector Rhodnius prolixus in the absence of host cues. In this work, we have evaluated whether infection impacts the insect–vertebrate host interaction. For this, T. rangeli-infected and uninfected R. prolixus nymphs were released in glass arenas offering single shelters. After a 3-day acclimatization, a caged mouse was introduced in each arena and shelter use and predation rates were evaluated. Trypanosoma rangeli infection affected all parameters analysed. A larger number of infected bugs was found outside shelters, both in the absence and presence of a host. Infected bugs also endured greater predation rates, probably because of an increased number of individuals that attempted to feed. Interestingly, mice that predated on infected bugs did not develop T. rangeli infection, suggesting that the oral route is not effective for these parasites, at least in our system. Finally, a smaller number of infected bugs succeeded in feeding in this context. We suggest that, although T. rangeli is not transmitted orally, an increase in the proportion of foraging individuals would promote greater parasite transmission rates through an increased frequency of very effective infected-bug bites.

Trypanosoma rangeli Genetic, Mammalian Hosts, and Geographical Diversity from Five Brazilian Biomes

Trypanosoma rangeli is a generalist hemoflagellate that infects mammals and is transmitted by triatomines around Latin America. Due to its high genetic diversity, it can be classified into two to five lineages. In Brazil, its distribution outside the Amazon region is virtually unknown, and knowledge on the ecology of its lineages and on host species diversity requires further investigation. Here, we analyzed 57 T. rangeli samples obtained from hemocultures and blood clots of 1392 mammals captured in different Brazilian biomes. The samples were subjected to small subunit (SSU) rDNA amplification and sequencing to confirm T. rangeli infection. Phylogenetic inferences and haplotype networks were reconstructed to classify T. rangeli lineages and to infer the genetic diversity of the samples. The results obtained in our study highlighted both the mammalian host range and distribution of T. rangeli in Brazil: infection was observed in five new species (Procyon cancrivorous, Priodontes maximum, Alouatta belzebul, Sapajus libidinosus, and Trinomys dimidiatus), and transmission was observed in the Caatinga biome. The coati (Nasua nasua) and capuchin monkey (S. libidinosus) are the key hosts of T. rangeli. We identified all four T. rangeli lineages previously reported in Brazil (A, B, D, and E) and possibly two new genotypes.

Modulation of IMD, Toll, and Jak/STAT Immune Pathways Genes in the Fat Body of Rhodnius prolixus During Trypanosoma rangeli Infection

Trypanosoma rangeli is the second most common American trypanosome that infects man. It is vectored by triatomines from the genus Rhodnius, in which it invades the hemolymph and infects the salivary glands, avoiding the bug immune responses. In insects, these responses are initiated by well conserved pathways, mainly the IMD, Toll, and Jak/STAT. We hypothesize that long-term infection with T. rangeli in the gut or hemolymph of Rhodnius prolixus triggers different systemic immune responses, which influence the number of parasites that survive inside the vector. Thus, we investigated groups of insects with infections in the gut and/or hemolymph, and evaluated the parasite load and the expression in the fat body of transcription factors (Rp-Relish, Rp-Dorsal, and Rp-STAT) and inhibitors (Rp-Cactus and Rp-Caspar) of the IMD, Toll, and Jak/STAT pathways. We detected lower parasite counts in the gut of insects without hemolymph infection, compared to hemolymph-infected groups. Besides, we measured higher parasite numbers in the gut of bugs that were first inoculated with T. rangeli and then fed on infected mice, compared with control insects, indicating that hemolymph infection increases parasite numbers in the gut. Interestingly, we observed that genes from the three immune pathways where differentially modulated, depending on the region parasites were present, as we found (1) Rp-Relish downregulated in gut-and/or-hemolymph-infected insects, compared with controls; (2) Rp-Cactus upregulated in gut-infected insect, compared with controls and gut-and-hemolymph-infected groups; and (3) Rp-STAT downregulated in all groups of hemolymph-infected insects. Finally, we uncovered negative correlations between parasite loads in the gut and Rp-Relish and Rp-Cactus expression, and between parasite counts in the hemolymph and Rp-Relish levels, suggesting an association between parasite numbers and the IMD and Toll pathways. Overall, our findings reveal new players in R. prolixus-T. rangeli interactions that could be key for the capacity of the bug to transmit the pathogen.

A systematic review of the diagnostic aspects and use of Trypanosoma rangeli as an immunogen for Trypanosoma cruzi infection

INTRODUCTION:

Trypanosoma rangeli is a protozoan that infects several domestic and wild mammals and shows significant distribution in Latin American countries. T. rangeli infection is similar to Chagas disease, both in diagnostic and prophylactic terms. Thus, the objective of this work was to review the diagnostic aspects and use of T. rangeli as an immunogen for Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

METHODS:

For this elaboration, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were adopted with descriptors derived from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) platform in the PubMed/MEDLINE and SciELO databases. The inclusion criteria were defined as original articles on "Trypanosoma rangeli" and diagnostic aspects of T. rangeli infection in humans and/or research on the possible vaccines developed using T. rangeli strains for T. cruzi infection.

RESULTS:

After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 articles were procured, of which 4 addressed research on the possible vaccines developed using T. rangeli for T. cruzi infection in vertebrates and the remaining 14 predominantly dealt with the diagnostic aspects of T. rangeli infection in humans.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this study, we formulated a compilation of the essential literature on this subject, emphasizing the need for more accurate and accessible techniques for the differential diagnosis of infections caused by both protozoa, and underscored several prospects in the search for a vaccine for Chagas disease.

Comparative Analysis of the Secretome and Interactome of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli Reveals Species Specific Immune Response Modulating Proteins

Chagas disease, a zoonosis caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a chronic and systemic parasitic infection that affects ~5–7 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. Chagas disease is an emerging public health problem due to the lack of vaccines and effective treatments. According to recent studies, several T. cruzi secreted proteins interact with the human host during cell invasion. Moreover, some comparative studies with T. rangeli, which is non-pathogenic in humans, have been performed to identify proteins directly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we present an integrated analysis of canonical putative secreted proteins (PSPs) from both species. Additionally, we propose an interactome with human host and gene family clusters, and a phylogenetic inference of a selected protein. In total, we identified 322 exclusively PSPs in T. cruzi and 202 in T. rangeli. Among the PSPs identified in T. cruzi, we found several trans-sialidases, mucins, MASPs, proteins with phospholipase 2 domains (PLA2-like), and proteins with Hsp70 domains (Hsp70-like) which have been previously characterized and demonstrated to be related to T. cruzi virulence. PSPs found in T. rangeli were related to protozoan metabolism, specifically carboxylases and phosphatases. Furthermore, we also identified PSPs that may interact with the human immune system, including heat shock and MASP proteins, but in a lower number compared to T. cruzi. Interestingly, we describe a hypothetical hybrid interactome of PSPs which reveals that T. cruzi secreted molecules may be down-regulating IL-17 whilst T. rangeli may enhance the production of IL-15. These results will pave the way for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of Chagas disease and may ultimately lead to the identification of molecular targets, such as key PSPs, that could be used to minimize the health outcomes of Chagas disease by modulating the immune response triggered by T. cruzi infection.

Trypanosoma cruzi cleaves galectin-3 N-terminal domain to suppress its innate microbicidal activity

Galectin-3 is the best-characterized member of galectins, an evolutionary conserved family of galactoside-binding proteins that play central roles in infection and immunity, regulating inflammation, cell migration and cell apoptosis. Differentially expressed by cells and tissues with immune privilege, they bind not only to host ligands, but also to glycans expressed by pathogens. In this regard, we have previously shown that human galectin-3 recognizes several genetic lineages of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas' disease or American trypanosomiasis. Herein we describe a molecular mechanism developed by T. cruzi to proteolytically process galectin-3 that generates a truncated form of the protein lacking its N-terminal domain - required for protein oligomerization - but still conserves a functional carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Such processing relies on specific T. cruzi proteases, including Zn-metalloproteases and collagenases, and ultimately conveys profound changes in galectin-3-dependent effects, as chemical inhibition of parasite proteases allows galectin-3 to induce parasite death in vitro. Thus, T. cruzi might have established distinct mechanisms to counteract galectin-3-mediated immunity and microbicide properties. Interestingly, non-pathogenic T. rangeli lacked the ability to cleave galectin-3, suggesting that during evolution two genetically similar organisms have developed different molecular mechanisms that, in the case of T. cruzi, favoured its pathogenicity, highlighting the importance of T. cruzi proteases to avoid immune mechanisms triggered by galectin-3 upon infection. This study provides the first evidence of a novel strategy developed by T. cruzi to abrogate signalling mechanisms associated with galectin-3-dependent innate immunity.

Triatomines: Trypanosomatids, Bacteria, and Viruses Potential Vectors?

Triatominae bugs are the vectors of Chagas disease, a major concern to public health especially in Latin America, where vector-borne Chagas disease has undergone resurgence due mainly to diminished triatomine control in many endemic municipalities. Although the majority of Triatominae species occurs in the Americas, species belonging to the genus Linshcosteus occur in India, and species belonging to the Triatoma rubrofasciata complex have been also identified in Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and in the Western Pacific. Not all of Triatominae species have been found to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, but the possibility of establishing vector transmission to areas where Chagas disease was previously non-endemic has increased with global population mobility. Additionally, the worldwide distribution of triatomines is concerning, as they are able to enter in contact and harbor other pathogens, leading us to wonder if they would have competence and capacity to transmit them to humans during the bite or after successful blood feeding, spreading other infectious diseases. In this review, we searched the literature for infectious agents transmitted to humans by Triatominae. There are reports suggesting that triatomines may be competent vectors for pathogens such as Serratia marcescens, Bartonella, and Mycobacterium leprae, and that triatomine infection with other microrganisms may interfere with triatomine-T. cruzi interactions, altering their competence and possibly their capacity to transmit Chagas disease.

Using FT-IR spectroscopy for the identification of the T. cruzi, T. rangeli, and the L. chagasi species

The cross-reaction in the diagnosis results is a serious problem, leading to an incorrect treatment and several injuries to patients. The Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi belong to the genus Trypanosoma, but the Trypanosoma rangeli is a non-pathogenic parasite to humans. While Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, which affects circa 2-3 million people and more than 6000 deaths annually in Brazil. The Leishmania chagasi causes infectious disease known as visceral leishmaniasis. This diseases have in common the crossed antigenic reaction promoted by serological tests and its differentiation is relevant for epidemiological studies and clinical practice. In this study the Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy was used to differentiate these microorganisms, which were cultivated and the spectra analyzed. Data analysis were performed by Gaussian curve fitting and multivariate statistical analysis. The cluster analysis have shown four specific regions to identify the microorganisms. The first three PCs of principal component analysis associated to linear discriminant were able to classify 95.6% of the parasites using cross-validation. The curve fitting method showed the quantitative differentiation among L. chagasi, T. cruzi, and T. rangeli species in the vibrational regions of polysaccharides, amide III, lipid esters, and fatty acid.

Triatomine physiology in the context of trypanosome infection

Triatomines are hematophagous insects that feed on the blood of vertebrates from different taxa, but can occasionally also take fluids from invertebrate hosts, including other insects. During the blood ingestion process, these insects can acquire diverse parasites that can later be transmitted to susceptible vertebrates if they complete their development inside bugs. Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, and Trypanosoma rangeli are protozoan parasites transmitted by triatomines, the latter only transmitted by Rhodnius spp. The present work makes an extensive revision of studies evaluating triatomine-trypanosome interaction, with special focus on Rhodnius prolixus interacting with the two parasites. The sequences of events encompassing the development of these trypanosomes inside bugs and the consequent responses of insects to this infection, as well as many pathological effects produced by the parasites are discussed.

Prevalence, Genetic Characterization, and 18S Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Diversity of Trypanosoma rangeli in Triatomine and Mammal Hosts in Endemic Areas for Chagas Disease in Ecuador

Trypanosoma rangeli is a nonpathogenic parasite for humans; however, its medical importance relies in its similarity and overlapping distribution with Trypanosoma cruzi, causal agent of Chagas disease in the Americas. The genetic diversity of T. rangeli and its association with host species (triatomines and mammals) has been identified along Central and the South America; however, it has not included data of isolates from Ecuador. This study reports infection with T. rangeli in 18 genera of mammal hosts and five species of triatomines in three environments (domestic, peridomestic, and sylvatic). Higher infection rates were found in the sylvatic environment, in close association with Rhodnius ecuadoriensis. The results of this study extend the range of hosts infected with this parasite and the geographic range of the T. rangeli genotype KP1(-)/lineage C in South America. It was not possible to detect variation on T. rangeli from the central coastal region and southern Ecuador with the analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene, even though these areas are ecologically different and a phenotypic subdivision of R. ecuadoriensis has been found. R. ecuadoriensis is considered one of the most important vectors for Chagas disease transmission in Ecuador due to its wide distribution and adaptability to diverse environments. An extensive knowledge of the trypanosomes circulating in this species of triatomine, and associated mammal hosts, is important for delineating transmission dynamics and preventive measures in the endemic areas of Ecuador and Northern Peru.

Rhodnius prolixus interaction with Trypanosoma rangeli: modulation of the immune system and microbiota population

BACKGROUND

Trypanosoma rangeli is a protozoan that infects a variety of mammalian hosts, including humans. Its main insect vector is Rhodnius prolixus and is found in several Latin American countries. The R. prolixus vector competence depends on the T. rangeli strain and the molecular interactions, as well as the insect's immune responses in the gut and haemocoel. This work focuses on the modulation of the humoral immune responses of the midgut of R. prolixus infected with T. rangeli Macias strain, considering the influence of the parasite on the intestinal microbiota.

METHODS

The population density of T. rangeli Macias strain was analysed in different R. prolixus midgut compartments in long and short-term experiments. Cultivable and non-cultivable midgut bacteria were investigated by colony forming unit (CFU) assays and by 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, respectively. The modulation of R. prolixus immune responses was studied by analysis of the antimicrobial activity in vitro against different bacteria using turbidimetric tests, the abundance of mRNAs encoding antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) defensin (DefA, DefB, DefC), prolixicin (Prol) and lysozymes (LysA, LysB) by RT-PCR and analysis of the phenoloxidase (PO) activity.

RESULTS

Our results showed that T. rangeli successfully colonized R. prolixus midgut altering the microbiota population and the immune responses as follows: 1 - reduced cultivable midgut bacteria; 2 - decreased the number of sequences of the Enterococcaceae but increased those of the Burkholderiaceae family; the families Nocardiaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Mycobacteriaceae encountered in control and infected insects remained the same; 3 - enhanced midgut antibacterial activities against Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus aureus; 4 - down-regulated LysB and Prol mRNA levels; altered DefB, DefC and LysA depending on the infection (short and long-term); 5 - decreased PO activity.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that T. rangeli Macias strain modulates R. prolixus immune system and modifies the natural microbiota composition.

Genome of the avirulent human-infective trypanosome--Trypanosoma rangeli

Background

Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The T. rangeli haploid genome is ∼24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heat-shock proteins.

Conclusions/Significance

Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets.

Comparative genomics is a powerful tool that affords detailed study of the genetic and evolutionary basis for aspects of lifecycles and pathologies caused by phylogenetically related pathogens. The reference genome sequences of three trypanosomatids, T. brucei, T. cruzi and L. major, and subsequent addition of multiple Leishmania and Trypanosoma genomes has provided data upon which large-scale investigations delineating the complex systems biology of these human parasites has been built. Here, we compare the annotated genome sequence of T. rangeli strain SC-58 to available genomic sequence and annotation data from related species. We provide analysis of gene content, genome architecture and key characteristics associated with the biology of this non-pathogenic trypanosome. Moreover, we report striking new genomic features of T. rangeli compared with its closest relative, T. cruzi, such as (1) considerably less amplification on the gene copy number within multigene virulence factor families such as MASPs, trans-sialidases and mucins; (2) a reduced repertoire of genes encoding anti-oxidant defense enzymes; and (3) the presence of vestigial orthologs of the RNAi machinery, which are insufficient to constitute a functional pathway. Overall, the genome of T. rangeli provides for a much better understanding of the identity, evolution, regulation and function of trypanosome virulence determinants for both mammalian host and insect vector.

Cytochrome oxidase subunit 2 gene allows simultaneous detection and typing of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi

Background

The parasites Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi share vectors and hosts over a wide geographical area in Latin America. In this study, we propose a single molecular approach for simultaneous detection and typing of T. rangeli and T. cruzi.

Methods

A restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene (COII-RFLP) using enzyme AluI and different amounts of DNA from the major genetic groups of T. rangeli and T. cruzi (KP1+/KP1- and DTU-I/DTU-II) was carried out. The same marker was tested on the other T. cruzi DTUs (DTU-III to DTU-VI) and on DNA extracted from gut contents of experimentally infected triatomines.

Results

The COII PCR generates a ~400 bp fragment, which after digestion with AluI (COII-RFLP) can be used to distinguish T. rangeli from T. cruzi and simultaneously differentiate the major genetic groups of T. rangeli (KP1+ and KP1-) and T. cruzi (DTU-I and DTU-II). The COII-RFLP generated bands of ~120 bp and ~280 bp for KP1+, whereas for KP1- no amplicon cleavage was observed. For T. cruzi, digestion of COII revealed a ~300 bp band for DTU-I and a ~250 bp band for DTU-II. For DTU-III to DTU-VI, COII-RFLP generated bands ranging from ~310 to ~330 bp, but the differentiation of these DTUs was not as clear as the separation between DTU-I and DTU-II. After AluI digestion, a species-specific fragment of ~80 bp was observed for all DTUs of T. cruzi. No cross-amplification was observed for Leishmania spp., T. vivax or T. evansi.

Conclusions

The COII-RFLP allowed simultaneous detection and typing of T. rangeli and T. cruzi strains according to their major genetic groups (KP1+/KP1- and DTU-I/DTU-II) in vitro and in vivo, providing a reliable and sensitive tool for epidemiological studies in areas where T. rangeli and T. cruzi coexist.

Experimental Chagas disease. Innate immune response in Balb/c mice previously vaccinated with Trypanosoma rangeli. I. The macrophage shows immunological memory: Reality or fiction?

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major vector borne health problem in Latin America and an emerging or re-emerging infectious disease in several countries. Immune response to T. cruzi infection is highly complex and involves many components, both regulators and effectors. Although different parasites have been shown to activate different mechanisms of innate immunity, T. cruzi is often able to survive and replicate in its host because they are well adapted to resisting host defences. An experimental model for vaccinating mice with Trypanosoma rangeli, a parasite closely related to T. cruzi, but nonpathogenic to humans, has been designed in our laboratory, showing protection against challenge with T. cruzi infection. The aim of this work was to analyze some mechanisms of the early innate immune response in T. rangeli vaccinated mice challenged with T. cruzi. For this purpose, some interactions were studied between T. cruzi and peritoneal macrophages of mice vaccinated with T. rangeli, infected or not with T. cruzi and the levels of some molecules or soluble mediators which could modify these interactions. The results in vaccinated animals showed a strong innate immune response, where the adherent cells of the vaccinated mice revealed important phagocytic activity, and some soluble mediator (Respiratory Burst: significantly increase, p ≤ 0.03; NO: the levels of vaccinated animals were lower than those of the control group; Arginasa: significantly increase, p ≤ 0.04). The results showed an important role in the early elimination of the parasites and their close relation with the absence of histological lesions that these animals present with regard to the only infected mice. This behaviour reveals that the macrophages act with some type of memory, recognizing the antigens to which they have previously been exposed, in mice were vaccinated with T. rangeli, which shares epitopes with T. cruzi.

Molecular characterization of calcineurin B from the non-virulent Trypanosoma rangeli kinetoplastid indicates high gene conservation

Calcineurin B, the regulatory subunit of calcineurin, a serine/threonine protein phosphatase, is highly conserved throughout the evolutionary scale including trypanosomatids such as Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania major. Thus, in these flagellates the protein is required for mammalian host cell invasion and virulence and stress responses. With the aim of determining the presence of calcineurin B in Trypanosoma rangeli, a non-virulent trypanosome for mammals, the respective gene was amplified by PCR, cloned and sequenced. Two sequences of 531 bp in length showing a nucleotide polymorphism (314A>C) were obtained in spite of a single-copy gene was revealed by Southern blot. These sequences, probably the alleles from the gene, showed a 79% of identity with those from T. cruzi and clustered as the sister group of this trypanosome species in a Maximum Parsimony analysis. Deduced amino acid sequence comparison with trypanosomatids and other organisms through the phylogenetic scale as well as the obtained protein structural homology model suggested the presence of the four potential EF-hand regions and the corresponding calcium binding sites of the last three of these domains. Having assessed the expression of this protein in T. rangeli epimastigotes, and taking into account the following facts: (i) calcineurin inhibitors have inhibitory effect on the in vitro replication of T. cruzi, (ii) L. major promastigote growth is inhibited by chelating agents, and (iii) T. rangeli does not seem to productively infect mammalian cells, it is hypothesized herein that the function of this protein in T. rangeli is required for epimastigote growth.

Modulation of immune response in experimental Chagas disease

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the etiological agent of Chagas disease, affects nearly 18 million people in Latin America and 90 million are at risk of infection. The parasite presents two stages of medical importance in the host, the amastigote, intracellular replicating form, and the extracellular trypomastigote, the infective form. Thus infection by T. cruzi induces a complex immune response that involves effectors and regulatory mechanisms. That is why control of the infection requires a strong humoral and cellular immune response; hence, the outcome of host-parasite interaction in the early stages of infection is extremely important. A critical event during this period of the infection is innate immune response, in which the macrophage’s role is vital. Thus, after being phagocytized, the parasite is able to develop intracellularly; however, during later periods, these cells induce its elimination by means of toxic metabolites. In turn, as the infection progresses, adaptive immune response mechanisms are triggered through the TH1 and TH2 responses. Finally, T. cruzi, like other protozoa such as Leishmania and Toxoplasma, have numerous evasive mechanisms to the immune response that make it possible to spread around the host. In our Laboratory we have developed a vaccination model in mice with Trypanosoma rangeli, nonpathogenic to humans, which modulates the immune response to infection by T. cruzi, thus protecting them. Vaccinated animals showed an important innate response (modulation of NO and other metabolites, cytokines, activation of macrophages), a strong adaptive cellular response and significant increase in specific antibodies. The modulation caused early elimination of the parasites, low parasitaemia, the absence of histological lesions and high survival rates. Even though progress has been made in the knowledge of some of these mechanisms, new studies must be conducted which could target further prophylactic and therapeutic trials against T. cruzi infection.

Trypanosoma rangeli expresses a β-galactofuranosyl transferase

Glycoconjugates play essential roles in cell recognition, infectivity and survival of protozoan parasites within their insect vectors and mammalian hosts. β-galactofuranose is a component of several glycoconjugates in many organisms, including a variety of trypanosomatids, but is absent in mammalian and African trypanosomes. Herein, we describe the presence of a β(1-3) galactofuranosyl transferase (GALFT), an important enzyme of the galactofuranose biosynthetic pathway, in Trypanosoma rangeli. The T. rangeli GALFT gene (TrGALFT) has an ORF of 1.2 Kb and is organized in two copies in the T. rangeli genome. Antibodies raised against an internal fragment of the transferase demonstrated a 45 kDa protein coded by TrGALFT was localized in the whole cytoplasm, mainly in the Golgi apparatus and equally expressed in epimastigotes and trypomastigotes from T. rangeli. Despite the high sequence similarity with Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. orthologous TrGALFT showed a substitution of the metal-binding DXD motif, conserved amongst glycosyltransferases, for a DXE functionally analogous motif. Moreover, a reduced number of GALFT genes were present in T. rangeli when compared with other pathogenic kinetoplastid species.

Variable sensitivity to complement-mediated lysis among Trypanosoma rangeli reference strains

Six reference strains of Trypanosoma rangeli from different days of growth in axenic cultures were assayed for susceptibility to complement-mediated lysis by non-immune guinea-pig serum. Their authenticity was also confirmed by isoenzyme analyses. Parasites were incubated with 25% active or 68°C-inactivated serum (37°C, 30 min) for all tests; thereafter the lysis rates were determined. Highly variable lysis percentages were observed among T. rangeli strains and in the same stock at different growing days. In a few assays, three strains (Macias, R-1625 and Choachi) presented total or very high resistance. The others (H-14, San Agustín and SC-58) were generally most susceptible, and could reach lysis rates as high as Trypanosoma cruzi. After incubation with active sera, the epimastigotes were usually the predominant stages, being followed by spheromastigotes and/or transitional forms. Those stages and trypomastigotes could also be partially susceptible. In four strains, the short epimastigotes were more resistant to lysis than the long ones. Experiments with C3-deficient serum displayed total or partial participation of the alternative-complement pathway in T. rangeli lysis. This study confirmed the variable complement sensitivity of T. rangeli, which can be related to its intraspecific heterogeneity, to the remarkable complexity of its life-cycle stages, and to the methodology employed.

Transcriptomic analyses of the avirulent protozoan parasite Trypanosoma rangeli

Two species of the genus Trypanosoma infective to humans have been extensively studied at a cell and molecular level, but study of the third, Trypanosoma rangeli, remains in relative infancy. T. rangeli is non-pathogenic, but is frequently mistaken for the related Chagas disease agent Trypanosoma cruzi with which it shares vectors, hosts, significant antigenicity and a sympatric distribution over a wide geographical area. In this study, we present the T. rangeli gene expression profile as determined by the generation of ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) and ORESTES (Open Reading Frame ESTs). A total of 4208 unique high quality sequences were analyzed, composed from epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of SC-58 and Choachí strains, representing the two major phylogenetic lineages of this species. Comparative analyses with T. cruzi and other parasitic kinetoplastid species allowed the assignment of putative biological functions to most of the sequences generated and the establishment of an annotated T. rangeli gene expression database. Even though T. rangeli is apathogenic to mammals, genes associated with virulence in other pathogenic kinetoplastids were found. Transposable elements and genes associated mitochondrial gene expression, specifically RNA editing components, are also described for the first time. Our studies confirm the close phylogenetic relationship between T. cruzi and T. rangeli and enable us to make an estimate for the size of the T. rangeli genome repertoire ( approximately 8500 genes).

A standardizable protocol for infection of Rhodnius prolixus with Trypanosoma rangeli, which mimics natural infections and reveals physiological effects of infection upon the insect

Trypanosoma rangeli is a protozoan parasite that shares hosts - mammals and triatomines - with Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Although T. rangeli is customarily considered to be non-pathogenic to human hosts, it is able to produce pathologies in its invertebrate hosts. However, advances are hindered by a lack of standardization of infection procedures and these pathologies need documentation. To establish a suitable, and standardizable, infection protocol, the duration of the fourth instar was evaluated in nymphs infected by injection into the thorax with different concentrations of parasites, and compared with nymphs infected naturally (i.e. orally). We demonstrate that delays in moult were attributable to the presence of the parasite in the haemolymph (vs. the gut) and propose that the protocol presented here simulates closely natural infections. This methodology was then used for the evaluation of physiological parameters and several hitherto unreported effects of T. rangeli infection on Rhodnius prolixus were revealed. Haemolymph volume was greater in infected than uninfected nymphs but this alteration could not be attributed to water retention, since infected insects lost the same amount of water as controls. However, we found that lipid content and fat body weight were both increased in insects infected by T. rangeli. We propose that this is due to the parasite's sequestration of host blood lipids and carrier proteins. With these findings, we have taken a few first steps to unravelling physiological details of the host-parasite interaction. We suggest future directions towards a fuller understanding of mechanistic and adaptive aspects of triatomine-trypanosomatid interactions.

Comparative analysis of Trypanosoma rangeli histone H2A gene intergenic region with distinct intraspecific lineage markers

This study shows the characterization of the histone H2A intergenic region sequences (H2A IR) from Trypanosoma rangeli KP1(+) and KP1(-) strains isolated from distinct hosts and geographic regions. Also, a comparative unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages (UPMGA) analysis with polymerase chain reaction profiles of the 24Salpha rDNA and the miniexon genes was performed. Detailed H2A IR sequence analysis revealed a discrete size polymorphism among T. rangeli strains and the presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and minisatellite repeats, exclusively allowing an interspecific differentiation from T. cruzi strains representing the main parasite lineages. Differently from the H2A IR, UPMGA analysis of the 24Salpha rDNA and the miniexon genes profiles clearly branched T. rangeli strains into KP1(-) and KP1(+) lineages, clustering separately the Brazilian and Colombian KP1(-) strains. The evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed.

Molecular analysis of surface glycoprotein multigene family TrGP expressed on the plasma membrane of Trypanosoma rangeli epimastigotes forms

Trypanosoma rangeli, a non-pathogenic hemoflagelate that in Central and South America infects humans, shares with Trypanosoma cruzi reservoirs and triatomine vectors, as well as geographical distribution. Recently, we have described in T. rangeli a truncated gene copy belonging to the group II of the trans-sialidase superfamily (TrGP). This superfamily, collectively known in T. cruzi as gp85/TS, includes members that are involved in host cell invasion and infectivity. To confirm the presence of this superfamily in the genome of T. rangeli and obtain a better knowledge of its characteristics, we designed a PCR and RT-PCR cloning strategy to allow sequence analysis of both genomic and transcribed copies. We identified two full-length copies of TrGP, some pseudogenes, and N- and C-terminal sequences of several genes. We also analyzed the expression and cellular localization of these proteins in epimastigote forms of a Venezuelan T. rangeli isolate using polyclonal antibodies made against a recombinant peptide from the N-terminal region of a TrGP member. We confirmed that TrGP is a multigenic family that shares many features with T. cruzi gp85/TS, including the telomeric location of some of its members, and by immunofluorescence analysis that its location is at the surface of the parasite.

Canine vector-borne diseases in Brazil

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are highly prevalent in Brazil and represent a challenge to veterinarians and public health workers, since some diseases are of great zoonotic potential. Dogs are affected by many protozoa (e.g., Babesia vogeli, Leishmania infantum, and Trypanosoma cruzi), bacteria (e.g., Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis), and helminths (e.g., Dirofilaria immitis and Dipylidium caninum) that are transmitted by a diverse range of arthropod vectors, including ticks, fleas, lice, triatomines, mosquitoes, tabanids, and phlebotomine sand flies. This article focuses on several aspects (etiology, transmission, distribution, prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis, control, prevention, and public health significance) of CVBDs in Brazil and discusses research gaps to be addressed in future studies.

Different serological cross-reactivity of Trypanosoma rangeli forms in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients sera

BACKGROUND

American Trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi which currently infects approximately 16 million people in the Americas causing high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of American trypanosomiasis relies on serology, primarily using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with T. cruzi epimastigote forms. The closely related but nonpathogenic Trypanosoma rangeli has a sympatric distribution with T. cruzi and is carried by the same vectors. As a result false positives are frequently generated. This confounding factor leads to increased diagnostic test costs and where false positives are not caught, endangers human health due to the toxicity of the drugs used to treat Chagas disease.

RESULTS

In the present study, serologic cross-reactivity between the two species was compared for the currently used epimastigote form and the more pathologically relevant trypomastigote form, using IFA and immunoblotting (IB) assays. Our results reveal an important decrease in cross reactivity when T. rangeli culture-derived trypomastigotes are used in IFA based diagnosis of Chagas disease. Western blot results using sera from both acute and chronic chagasic patients presenting with cardiac, indeterminate or digestive disease revealed similar, but not identical, antigenic profiles.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study addressing the serological cross-reactivity between distinct forms and strains of T. rangeli and T. cruzi using sera from distinct phases of the Chagasic infection. Several T. rangeli-specific proteins were detected, which may have potential as diagnostic tools.

Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from humans, vectors, and animal reservoirs following an outbreak of acute human Chagas disease in Santa Catarina State, Brazil

During March 2005, 24 cases of acute human Chagas disease were detected in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, all of them related to the ingestion of Trypanosoma cruzi-contaminated sugar cane juice. Following field studies allowed the isolation of 13 T. cruzi strains from humans, opossums (Didelphis aurita and Didelphis albiventris), and vectors (Triatoma tibiamaculata). The isolated strains were characterized by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) and analysis of the spliced-leader and 24Salpha rRNA genes. The assays revealed that all strains isolated from humans belong to the TcII group but revealed a TcII variant pattern for the phosphoglucomutase enzyme. Strains isolated from opossums also showed a TcI profile in all analysis, but strains isolated from triatomines revealed a mixed TcI/TcII profile by MLEE. No indication of the presence of Trypanosoma rangeli was observed in any assay. Considering that mixed strains (TcI/TcII) were isolated from triatomines in an area without active vectorial transmission to humans and that all strains isolated from humans belong to the TcII group, our results show that T. cruzi TcI and TcII groups are circulating among reservoirs and vectors in southern Brazil and indicate that selection toward TcII group in humans may occur after ingestion of a mixed (TcI/TcII) T. cruzi population.

Trypanosoma rangeli: RAPD-PCR and LSSP-PCR analyses of isolates from southeast Brazil and Colombia and their relation with KPI minicircles

This study presents the first genetic characterization of five Trypanosoma rangeli isolates from Minas Gerais, in the southeast of Brazil and their comparison with Colombian populations by minicircle classification, RAPD-PCR and LSSP-PCR analyses. Our results demonstrated a homogenous T. rangeli population circulating among Didelphis albiventris as reservoir host in Brazil while heterogeneous populations were found in different regions of Colombia. KP1(+) minicircles were found in 100% isolates from Brazil and in 36.4% of the Colombian samples, whereas the KP2 and KP3 minicircles were detected in both groups. RAPD-PCR and LSSP-PCR profiles revealed a polymorphism within KP1(+) and KP1(-) T. rangeli populations and allowed the division of T. rangeli in two branches. The Brazilian KP1(+) isolates were more homogenous than the KP1(+) isolates from Colombia. The RAPD-PCR were entirely consistent with the distribution of KP1 minicircles while those obtained by LSSP-PCR were associated in 88.9% and 71.4% with KP1(+) and KP1(-) populations, respectively.

Characterization of D-glucose transport in Trypanosoma rangeli

Like in other trypanosomatids D-glucose is a crucial source of energy to Trypanosoma rangeli, a non-pathogenic parasite that in Central and South America infects triatomine vectors and different mammalian species, including humans. In several trypanosome species, D-glucose transporters were already described and cloned. In this study, we characterized the D-glucose transport activity present in 2 life-stage forms of T. rangeli (epimastigotes and trypomastigotes) using D-[U-14C]glucose as substrate. Our results indicate that T. rangeli transports D-glucose with high affinity in both epimastigote (Km 30 microM) and trypomastigotes (Km 80 microM) life-forms. Both transport activities were inhibited by Cytochalasin B and Phloretin, indicating that probably D-glucose uptake in T. rangeli is mediated by facilitated diffusion of the sugar. Significant differences were observed between epimastigotes and trypomastigotes in relation to their affinity for D-glucose analogues, and the predicted amino acid sequence of a putative D-glucose transporter from T. rangeli (TrHT1) showed a larger identity with the T. cruzi D-glucose transporter encoded by the TcrHT1 gene than with other transporters already characterized in trypanosomatids.

The Trypanosoma rangeli histone H2A gene sequence serves as a differential marker for KP1 strains

Trypanosoma rangeli has recently been divided in two primary lineages denoted as KP1(+) and KP1(-) strains because of epidemiological and evolutionary interest in the molecular differentiation of these two groups. We report the molecular characterization of the genes encoding histone H2A protein from a T. rangeli KP1(+) strain (H14), its comparison to T. rangeli KP1(-) strain (C23) histone H2A coding genes [Puerta, C., Cuervo, P., Thomas, M.C., López, M.C., 2000. Molecular characterization of the histone H2A gene from the parasite Trypanosoma rangeli. Parasitol. Res. 86, 916-922], and its application in a low-stringency single specific primer polymerase chain reaction (LSSP-PCR) assay to differentiate these parasite groups. The results show that the locus encoding the H2A protein in the H14 strain is formed by at least 11 gene units measuring 799 nucleotides in length, organized in tandem, and located in two chromosomes of approximately 1.9 and 1.1Mb in size. Remarkably, in KP1(-) strains these genes are on pairs of chromosomes of about 1.7 and 1.9Mb. In addition, there is a hybridization signal in the compression region above 2.1Mb in all T. rangeli strains. Therefore, the chromosomal location of these genes is a useful marker to distinguish between KP1(+) and KP1(-) T. rangeli strains. The alignment of the H2A nucleotide sequences from H14 and C23 strains showed an identity of 99.5% between the coding regions and an identity of 95% between the non-coding regions. The deduced amino acid sequences proved to be identical. Based on 5% of the difference between the intergenic regions, we developed a LSSP-PCR assay which can differentiate between KP1(+) and KP1(-) strains.

Penetration of the salivary glands of Rhodnius domesticus Neiva & Pinto, 1923 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) by Trypanosoma rangeli Tejera, 1920 (Protozoa: Kinetoplastida)

Penetration of the heteroxenous protozoan Trypanosoma rangeli into the salivary glands of its invertebrate host Rhodnius domesticus has been investigated here using different approaches. Electron microscopy showed that epimastigotes coming from the insect hemocoel cross the basal lamina that surrounds the salivary glands and penetrate through the gland cells cytoplasm. After reaching the gland lumen, epimastigote forms remain adhered to the gland cell microvilli by their flagella, while metacyclic trypomastigotes are found swimming free in the saliva. Analysis by flow cytometry, western blotting and hemolytic activity allowed to demonstrate the presence in T. rangeli of a hemolytic molecule with antigenic cross-reactivity with murine perforin, which could be used by the parasites to reach the salivary gland lumen. This molecule, which we named as rangelysin, has 120 kDa molecular weight, is able to induce hemolysis only in acidic pH, and is produced by both trypomastigote and epimastigote forms.

A mucin like gene different from the previously reported members of the mucin like gene families is transcribed in Trypanosoma cruzi but not in Trypanosoma rangeli

Trypanosoma cruzi expresses mucin like glycoproteins encoded by a complex multigene family. In this work, we report the transcription in T. cruzi but not in T. rangeli of a mucin type gene automatically annotated by the T. cruzi genome project. The gene showed no nucleotide similarities with the previously reported T. cruzi mucin like genes, although the computational analysis of the deduced protein showed that it has the characteristic features of mucins: a signal peptide sequence, O-glycosylation sites, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor sequence. The presence in this gene of N-terminal and C-terminal coding sequences common to other annotated mucin like genes suggests the existence of a new mucin like gene family.

Molecular characterisation of Trypanosoma rangeli strains isolated from Rhodnius ecuadoriensis in Peru, R. colombiensis in Colombia and R. pallescens in Panama, supports a co-evolutionary association between parasites and vectors

We present data on the molecular characterisation of strains of Trypanosoma rangeli isolated from naturally infected Rhodnius ecuadoriensis in Peru, from Rhodnius colombiensis, Rhodnius pallescens and Rhodnius prolixus in Colombia, and from Rhodnius pallescens in Panama. Strain characterisation involved a duplex PCR with S35/S36/KP1L primers. Mini-exon gene analysis was also carried out using TrINT-1/TrINT-2 oligonucleotides. kDNA and mini-exon amplification indicated dimorphism within both DNA sequences: (i) KP1, KP2 and KP3 or (ii) KP2 and KP3 products for kDNA, and 380 bp or 340 bp products for the mini-exon. All T. rangeli strains isolated from R. prolixus presented KP1, KP2 and KP3 products with the 340 bp mini-exon product. By contrast, all T. rangeli strains isolated from R. ecuadoriensis, R. pallescens and R. colombiensis, presented profiles with KP2 and KP3 kDNA products and the 380 bp mini-exon product. Combined with other studies, these results provide evidence of co-evolution of T. rangeli strains associated with different Rhodnius species groups east and west of the Andean mountains.

Enzootic transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi and T. rangeli in the Federal District of Brazil

The Federal District of Brazil (DF) lies within the Cerrado biome, where open shrubland (savannas) is interspersed with riverside gallery forests and permanent swamps (veredas). Trypanosoma cruzi-infected native triatomines occur in the area, but the enzootic transmission of trypanosomatids remains poorly characterized. A parasitological survey involving sylvatic triatomines (166 Rhodnius neglectus collected from Mauritia flexuosa palms) and small mammals (98 marsupials and 70 rodents, totaling 18 species) was conducted in 18 sites (mainly gallery forests and veredas) of the DF. Parasites were isolated, morphologically identified, and characterized by PCR of nuclear (mini-exon gene) and kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Six R. neglectus, seven Didelphis albiventris and one Akodon cursor were infected by trypanosomes; wild reservoir infection is documented for the first time in the DF. kDNA PCR detected T. cruzi in five R. neglectus and mini-exon gene PCR revealed T. cruzi I in isolates from D. albiventris. Parasites infecting one bug yielded T. rangeli KP1+ kDNA amplicons. In spite of the occurrence of T. cruzi-infected D. albiventris (an important wild and peridomestic reservoir) and R. neglectus (a secondary vector displaying synanthropic behavior), a low-risk of human Chagas disease transmission could be expected in the DF, considering the low prevalence infection recorded in this work. The detection of T. rangeli KP1+ associated with R. neglectus in the DF widens the known range of this parasite in Brazil and reinforces the hypothesis of adaptation of T. rangeli populations (KP1+ and KP1-) to distinct evolutionary Rhodnius lineages.

Biochemical characterization of new strains of Trypanosoma cruzi and T. rangeli isolates from Peru and Mexico

Seven trypanosome stocks isolated have been characterized by lectin agglutination, isoenzyme analysis, and the end products excreted. The stocks were isolated from different geographic areas-one from Mexico (TM5), and six from Peru, four of these isolated from different species of triatoma (TP504, TP702, TP704 and TP706), the other two isolated from the salivary glands of Rhodnius ecuadorensis (TRa605 and TRa606). Additionally, one strain of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from a human case (strain TC-Maracay) and one strain of T. rangeli (TRa, Cajamarca-Peru strain), characterized and maintained in our laboratory, were used as reference strains. According to statistical study, the stocks were grouped into three clusters: (1) cluster I included the reference strain of T. cruzi (TC-Maracay); (2) cluster II was subdivided into two groups-subcluster IIA for the Mexican isolate (TM5) and subcluster IIB for the Peruvian ones, isolated from the salivary glands of Rhodnius ecuadorensis (TRa 605 and TRa 606) and the reference strain T. rangeli (TRa); these two new isolates were classified as T. rangeli; and (3) cluster III for the rest of the Peruvian isolates, which should be considered at least as a different strain from the T. cruzi strain Maracay. We show that the identification of T. cruzi and T. rangeli in mixed infections is readily achieved by biochemical methods. These findings identified three clusters of Mexican and Peruvian stocks that correlate with geographic origin, although assignment to a T. cruzi linage was not possible.

Trypanosoma rangeli Transcriptome Project: Generation and analysis of expressed sequence tags

Trypanosoma rangeli is an important hemoflagellate parasite of several mammalian species in Central and South America, sharing geographical areas, vectors and reservoirs with T. cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Thus, the occurrence of single and/or mixed infections, including in humans, must be expected and are of great importance for specific diagnosis and epidemiology. In comparison to several Trypanosomatidae species, the T. rangeli biology and genome are little known, reinforcing the needs of a gene discovery initiative. The T. rangeli transcriptome initiative aims to promote gene discovery through the generation of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and Orestes (ORF ESTs) from both epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of the parasite, allowing further studies of the parasite biology, taxonomy and phylogeny.

Autochthonous Chagas' disease in Santa Catarina State, Brazil: report of the first case of digestive tract involvement

We report the first case of digestive tract pathology (megaesophagus) determined by Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. A 63-year- old female had presumptive clinical diagnosis of Chagas' disease, which was confirmed by imaging (endoscopy and esophagogram) and immunological methods. Further molecular diagnosis was carried out with esophagus and blood samples collected during corrective surgery. Polymerase chain reaction tested positive for Trypanosoma cruzi in both esophagus and buffy coat samples.

Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) rangeli Tejera, 1920: an updated review

Trypanosoma rangeli, a parasite generally considered non-pathogenic for man, is the second species of human trypanosome to be reported from the New World. The geographical distribution of T. rangeli often overlaps with that of T. cruzi, the same vertebrate and invertebrate hosts being infected. Their differentiation thus becomes of real, practical importance, particularly as they share approximately half the antigenic determinants recognized by the humoral response. Little is known about the life cycle of T. rangeli in the vertebrate host, although thousands of human and wild animal infections have been reported. Recent studies have revealed 2 major phylogenetic lineages in T. rangeli having different characteristics, thus leading to better understanding of the epidemiology and interactions with this parasite's vertebrate hosts and triatomine vectors. Based on further genetic characterization analysis, the authors have proposed 2 alternative hypotheses and consider that T. rangeli could have had clonal evolution or have been subjected to speciation processes.

Action of Trypanosoma rangeli in infections with virulent Trypanosoma cruzi populations

In experimental murine infections with Trypanosoma rangeli it has been observed development immune response to Trypanosoma cruzi. The aim of the present work was to analyze the result of antigenic stimuli and the protective effect with T. rangeli in T. cruzi infections. Mice groups immunized with metacyclic trypomastigotes of T. rangeli (Choach -2V strain), derived from haemolymph and salivary gland and reinfected with T. cruzi virulent populations (Tulahuen strain, SA strain and Dm28c clone) from infected in vitro cells, showed decrease severity of disease outcomes, low parasitemia levels and 100% survival of all mice immunized, in comparison with groups infected only with T. cruzi populations, which demonstrated tissue affection, high parasitemia levels and the death of all animals. The above mentioned data contribute to understand the biological behaviour of T. cruzi and T. rangeli and their interaction with vertebrate host.

Epidemiology of Chagas disease in Guatemala: infection rate of Triatoma dimidiata, Triatoma nitida and Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) with Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae)

A five-year domiciliary collection in the 22 departments of Guatemala showed that out of 4,128 triatomines collected, 1,675 were Triatoma dimidiata (Latreille, 1811), 2,344 were Rhodnius prolixus Stal 1859, and only 109 were T. nitida Usinger 1939. The Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, was found in all three species. Their natural infection rates were similar in the first two species (20.6%; 19.1%) and slightly lower in T. nitida(13.8%). However there was no significant difference in the infection rates in the three species (p = 0.131). T. dimidiata males have higher infection rates than females (p = 0.030), whereas for R. prolixus there is no difference in infection rates between males and females (p = 0.114). The sex ratios for all three species were significantly skewed. More males than females were found inside houses for T. dimidiata (p < 0.0001) and T. nitida (p = 0.011); a different pattern was seen for R. prolixus (p = 0.037) where more females were found. Sex ratio is proposed as an index to show the mobility of T. dimidiata in different populations. T. dimidiata is widely distributed in the country, and is also the main vector in at least ten departments, but R. prolixus with higher vectorial capacity is an important vector in at least two departments.

The high resolution structures of free and inhibitor-bound Trypanosoma rangeli sialidase and its comparison with T. cruzi trans-sialidase

The structure of the recombinant Trypanosoma rangeli sialidase (TrSA) has been determined at 1.6A resolution, and the structures of its complexes with the transition state analog inhibitor 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (DANA), Neu-5-Ac-thio-alpha(2,3)-galactoside (NATG) and N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) have been determined at 1.64A, 2.1A and 2.85A, respectively. The 3D structure of TrSA is essentially identical to that of the natural enzyme, except for the absence of covalently attached sugar at five distinct N-glycosylation sites. The protein exhibits a topologically rigid active site architecture that is unaffected by ligand binding. The overall binding of DANA to the active site cleft is similar to that observed for other viral and bacterial sialidases, dominated by the interactions of the inhibitor carboxylate with the conserved arginine triad. However, the interactions of the other pyranoside ring substituents (hydroxyl, N-acetyl and glycerol moieties) differ between trypanosomal, bacterial and viral sialidases, providing a structural basis for specific inhibitor design. Sialic acid is found to bind the enzyme with the sugar ring in a distorted (half-chair or boat) conformation and the 2-OH hydroxyl group at hydrogen bonding distance of the carboxylate of Asp60, substantiating a direct catalytic role for this residue. A detailed comparison of TrSA with the closely related structure of T.cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS) reveals a highly conserved catalytic center, where subtle structural differences account for strikingly different enzymatic activities and inhibition properties. The structure of TrSA in complex with NATG shows the active site cleft occupied by a smaller compound which could be identified as DANA, probably the product of a hydrolytic side reaction. Indeed, TrSA (but not TcTS) was found to cleave O and S-linked sialylated substrates, further stressing the functional differences between trypanosomal sialidases and trans-sialidases.

Salivaria or Stercoraria? The Trypanosoma rangeli dilemma

The taxonomic status of Trypanosoma rangeli as well as the tools for its molecular characterization is briefly commented.

Differential susceptibility of triatomines of the genus Rhodnius to Trypanosoma rangeli strains from different geographical origins

The susceptibility of four Rhodnius species to different Trypanosoma rangeli strains was evaluated using both intracoelomic inoculation and oral infection. Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius domesticus, Rhodnius neglectus and Rhodnius nasutus were infected with Trypanosoma rangeli Macias (Venezuela), Choachi (Colombia) and SC-58 (Brazil) strains, revealing distinct haemolymph and salivary glands infection rates. The obtained infection rates were revealed to be dependent on the method of infection and the triatomine species. Our results suggest the existence of a high adaptation between the strain and the local vector.

Molecular karyotype and chromosomal localization of genes encoding beta-tubulin, cysteine proteinase, hsp 70 and actin in Trypanosoma rangeli

The molecular karyotype of nine Trypanosoma rangeli strains was analyzed by contour-clamped homogeneous electric field electrophoresis, followed by the chromosomal localization of beta-tubulin, cysteine proteinase, 70 kDa heat shock protein (hsp 70) and actin genes. The T. rangeli strains were isolated from either insects or mammals from El Salvador, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and southern Brazil. Also, T. cruzi CL-Brener clone was included for comparison. Despite the great similarity observed among strains from Brazil, the molecular karyotype of all T. rangeli strains analyzed revealed extensive chromosome polymorphism. In addition, it was possible to distinguish T. rangeli from T. cruzi by the chromosomal DNA electrophoresis pattern. The localization of beta-tubulin genes revealed differences among T. rangeli strains and confirmed the similarity between the isolates from Brazil. Hybridization assays using probes directed to the cysteine proteinase, hsp 70 and actin genes discriminated T. rangeli from T. cruzi, proving that these genes are useful molecular markers for the differential diagnosis between these two species. Numerical analysis based on the molecular karyotype data revealed a high degree of polymorphism among T. rangeli strains isolated from southern Brazil and strains isolated from Central and the northern South America. The T. cruzi reference strain was not clustered with any T. rangeli strain.

A simplified method for sample collection and DNA isolation for polymerase chain reaction detection of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi in triatomine vectors

Due to the overlapping distribution of Trypanosoma rangeli and T. cruzi in Central and South America, sharing several reservoirs and triatomine vectors, we herein describe a simple method to collect triatomine feces and hemolymph in filter paper for further detection and specific characterization of these two trypanosomes. Experimentally infected triatomines feces and hemolymph were collected in filter paper and specific detection of T. rangeli or T. cruzi DNA by polymerase chain reaction was achieved. This simple DNA collection method allows sample collection in the field and further specific trypanosome detection and characterization in the laboratory.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Didelphis marsupialis in Santa Catarina and Arvoredo Islands, southern Brazil

Between 1984 and 1993 the prevalence of the Trypanosoma cruzi infection in opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) was studied in Santa Catarina and Arvoredo Islands, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The association of the triatomine bug Panstrongylus megistus with opossums nests and the infection rate of these triatomines by T. cruzi was also studied. Thirteen different locations were studied in Santa Catarina Island (SCI), in which 137 D. marsupialis were collected. Sixty two opossums were collected at the Arvoredo Island (AI), located 12 miles north from SCI. All captured animals were submitted to parasitological examinations that revealed the presence of T. cruzi in 21.9% of the opossums captured in SCI and 45.2% among opossums captured in the AI. The presence of P. megistus was detected in most of the D. marsupialis nests collected in the SCI, however, in the non-inhabited AI only eight triatomines were collected during the whole study. The presence of T. cruzi-infected D. marsupialis associated with P. megistus in human dwellings in the SCI, and the high infection rate of D. marsupilais by T. cruzi in the absence of a high vector density are discussed.