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Reyes-Guerrero DE, Higuera-Piedrahita RI, Maza-Lopez J, Mendoza-de-Gives P, Camas-Pereyra R, López-Arellano ME. Analysis of P-gp genes relative expression associated to ivermectin resistance in Haemonchus contortus larval stages from in vitro cultures (L 3 and xL 3) and from gerbils ( Meriones unguiculatus) (L 4) as models of study. J Helminthol 2024; 98:e19. [PMID: 38356358 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x24000087] [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] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the relative gene expression of Haemonchus contortus P-glycoprotein genes (Hco-pgp) between fourth (L4), infective (L3), and transitory infective (xL3) larval stages as laboratory models to study ivermectin (IVM) resistance. The H. contortus resistant to IVM (IVMr) and susceptible to IVM (IVMs) strains were used to develop xL3in vitro culture and to infect Meriones unguiculatus (gerbils) to collect L4 stages. Morphometric differences were evaluated from 25 individuals of H. contortus from each strain. Relative gene expression from xL3 and L4 was determined between comparison of IVMr stages and from IVMr vs IVMs stages. Seven Hco-pgp genes (1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 16) were analysed by RT-qPCR using L3 stage as control group, per strain, and GAPDH and β-tubulin as constitutive genes. Morphological changes were confirmed between xL3 and L4 developing oral shape, oesophagus, and intestinal tube. In addition, the body length and width showed statistical differences (p < 0.05). The Hco-pgp1, 2, 3, and 4 genes (p < 0.05) were upregulated from 7.1- to 463.82-fold changes between IVMr stages, and Hco-pgp9 (13.12-fold) and Hco-pgp10 (13.56-fold) genes showed differences between L4 and xL3, respectively. The comparative study between IVMr vs IVMs strains associated to xL3 and L4 displayed significant upregulation for most of the Hco-pgp genes among 4.89-188.71 fold-change. In conclusion, these results suggest the use of H. contortus xL3 and L4 as suitable laboratory models to study IVMr associated with Hco-pgp genes to contribute to the understanding of anthelmintic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Reyes-Guerrero
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, C.P. 62574 Jiutepec, Mor., México
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, México
| | - R I Higuera-Piedrahita
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuautitlán-Teoloyucan Km 2.5, Col. San Sebastián Xhala. Cuautitlán, Estado de México, México
| | - J Maza-Lopez
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, C.P. 62574 Jiutepec, Mor., México
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, México
| | - P Mendoza-de-Gives
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, C.P. 62574 Jiutepec, Mor., México
| | - R Camas-Pereyra
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, C.P. 62574 Jiutepec, Mor., México
| | - M E López-Arellano
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla 8534, C.P. 62574 Jiutepec, Mor., México
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Zwirchmayr J, Cruz CD, Grienke U, Tammela P, Rollinger JM. Biochemometry identifies ostruthin as pluripotent antimicrobial and anthelmintic agent from masterwort. iScience 2023; 26:107523. [PMID: 37636068 PMCID: PMC10457539 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The root extract of Peucedanum ostruthium (PO-E) was identified as a promising antibacterial source from a screening of 158 extracts against Staphylococcus aureus. It has also recently been shown to significantly decrease the survival of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We used the biochemometric approach ELINA to investigate the phytochemical characteristics of the multicomponent mixture PO-E to identify the anti-infective constituent(s) targeting S. aureus and C. elegans.1H NMR spectra of PO-E-derived microfractions were correlated with their respective bioactivity data. Heterocovariance analyses unambiguously identified ostruthin as an anti-staphylococcal constituent, which potently also inhibited Enterococcus spp.. ELINA demonstrated that anthelmintic activity was due to a combinatorial effect of ostruthin and isoimperatorin. A C. elegans-based survival and motility assay confirmed that isoimperatorin, imperatorin, and verapamil modulated the susceptibility of ostruthin. The combinatorial effect of these natural products was shown in larvae studies to be related to the function of the nematodes' efflux pump.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Zwirchmayr
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Cristina D. Cruz
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ulrike Grienke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Päivi Tammela
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Judith M. Rollinger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Folliero V, Dell’Annunziata F, Santella B, Roscetto E, Zannella C, Capuano N, Perrella A, De Filippis A, Boccia G, Catania MR, Galdiero M, Franci G. Repurposing Selamectin as an Antimicrobial Drug against Hospital-Acquired Staphylococcus aureus Infections. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2242. [PMID: 37764086 PMCID: PMC10535345 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092242] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains requires the urgent discovery of new antibacterial drugs. In this context, an antibacterial screening of a subset of anthelmintic avermectins against gram-positive and gram-negative strains was performed. Selamectin completely inhibited bacterial growth at 6.3 μg/mL concentrations against reference gram-positive strains, while no antibacterial activity was found against gram-negative strains up to the highest concentration tested of 50 μg/mL. Given its relevance as a community and hospital pathogen, further studies have been performed on selamectin activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), using clinical isolates with different antibiotic resistance profiles and a reference biofilm-producing strain. Antibacterial studies have been extensive on clinical S. aureus isolates with different antibiotic resistance profiles. Mean MIC90 values of 6.2 μg/mL were reported for all tested S. aureus strains, except for the macrolide-resistant isolate with constitutive macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance phenotype (MIC90 9.9 μg/mL). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that selamectin exposure caused relevant cell surface alterations. A synergistic effect was observed between ampicillin and selamectin, dictated by an FIC value of 0.5 against methicillin-resistant strain. Drug administration at MIC concentration reduced the intracellular bacterial load by 81.3%. The effect on preformed biofilm was investigated via crystal violet and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Selamectin reduced the biofilm biomass in a dose-dependent manner with minimal biofilm eradication concentrations inducing a 50% eradication (MBEC50) at 5.89 μg/mL. The cytotoxic tests indicated that selamectin exhibited no relevant hemolytic and cytotoxic activity at active concentrations. These data suggest that selamectin may represent a timely and promising macrocyclic lactone for the treatment of S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Folliero
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.F.); (F.D.); (B.S.); (N.C.); (G.B.)
| | - Federica Dell’Annunziata
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.F.); (F.D.); (B.S.); (N.C.); (G.B.)
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (C.Z.); (A.D.F.); (M.G.)
| | - Biagio Santella
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.F.); (F.D.); (B.S.); (N.C.); (G.B.)
| | - Emanuela Roscetto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (E.R.); (M.R.C.)
| | - Carla Zannella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (C.Z.); (A.D.F.); (M.G.)
| | - Nicoletta Capuano
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.F.); (F.D.); (B.S.); (N.C.); (G.B.)
| | - Alessandro Perrella
- Division Emerging Infectious Disease and High Contagiousness, Hospital D Cotugno, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Anna De Filippis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (C.Z.); (A.D.F.); (M.G.)
| | - Giovanni Boccia
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.F.); (F.D.); (B.S.); (N.C.); (G.B.)
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona University Hospital, 84126 Salerno, Italy
- Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology Complex Operating Unit, San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona University Hospital, 84126 Salerno, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Catania
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (E.R.); (M.R.C.)
| | - Massimiliano Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (C.Z.); (A.D.F.); (M.G.)
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Franci
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (V.F.); (F.D.); (B.S.); (N.C.); (G.B.)
- Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Unit, San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona University Hospital, 84126 Salerno, Italy
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Williams PDE, Kashyap SS, McHugh MA, Brewer MT, Robertson AP, Martin RJ. Diethylcarbamazine, TRP channels and Ca 2+ signaling in cells of the Ascaris intestine. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21317. [PMID: 36494409 PMCID: PMC9734116 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25648-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The nematode parasite intestine absorbs nutrients, is involved in innate immunity, can metabolize xenobiotics and as we show here, is also a site of action of the anthelmintic, diethylcarbamazine. Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) is used to treat lymphatic filariasis and activates TRP-2, GON-2 & CED-11 TRP channels in Brugia malayi muscle cells producing spastic paralysis. DEC also has stimulatory effects on ascarid nematode parasites. Using PCR techniques, we detected, in Ascaris suum intestine, message for: Asu-trp-2, Asu-gon-2, Asu-ced-11, Asu-ocr-1, Asu-osm-9 and Asu-trpa-1. Comparison of amino-acid sequences of the TRP channels of B. malayi, and A. suum revealed noteworthy similarity, suggesting that the intestine of Ascaris will also be sensitive to DEC. We used Fluo-3AM as a Ca2+ indicator and observed characteristic unsteady time-dependent increases in the Ca2+ signal in the intestine in response to DEC. Application of La3+ and the TRP channel inhibitors, 2-APB or SKF 96365, inhibited DEC mediated increases in intracellular Ca2+. These observations are important because they emphasize that the nematode intestine, in addition to muscle, is a site of action of DEC as well as other anthelmintics. DEC may also enhance the Ca2+ toxicity effects of other anthelmintics acting on the intestine or, increase the effects of other anthelmintics that are metabolized and excreted by the nematode intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D E Williams
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | - Mark A McHugh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Matthew T Brewer
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Alan P Robertson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Richard J Martin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
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5
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Doyle SR, Laing R, Bartley D, Morrison A, Holroyd N, Maitland K, Antonopoulos A, Chaudhry U, Flis I, Howell S, McIntyre J, Gilleard JS, Tait A, Mable B, Kaplan R, Sargison N, Britton C, Berriman M, Devaney E, Cotton JA. Genomic landscape of drug response reveals mediators of anthelmintic resistance. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111522. [PMID: 36261007 PMCID: PMC9597552 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Like other pathogens, parasitic helminths can rapidly evolve resistance to drug treatment. Understanding the genetic basis of anthelmintic drug resistance in parasitic nematodes is key to tracking its spread and improving the efficacy and sustainability of parasite control. Here, we use an in vivo genetic cross between drug-susceptible and multi-drug-resistant strains of Haemonchus contortus in a natural host-parasite system to simultaneously map resistance loci for the three major classes of anthelmintics. This approach identifies new alleles for resistance to benzimidazoles and levamisole and implicates the transcription factor cky-1 in ivermectin resistance. This gene is within a locus under selection in ivermectin-resistant populations worldwide; expression analyses and functional validation using knockdown experiments support that cky-1 is associated with ivermectin survival. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of high-resolution forward genetics in a parasitic nematode and identifies variants for the development of molecular diagnostics to combat drug resistance in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Doyle
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK.
| | - Roz Laing
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
| | - David Bartley
- Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Alison Morrison
- Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Kirsty Maitland
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Alistair Antonopoulos
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Ilona Flis
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Sue Howell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jennifer McIntyre
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - John S Gilleard
- Department of Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Host-Parasite Interactions Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Andy Tait
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Barbara Mable
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Ray Kaplan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Neil Sargison
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Collette Britton
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | | | - Eileen Devaney
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - James A Cotton
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
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The equine ascarids: resuscitating historic model organisms for modern purposes. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2775-2791. [PMID: 35986167 PMCID: PMC9391215 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07627-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The equine ascarids, Parascaris spp., are important nematode parasites of juvenile horses and were historically model organisms in the field of cell biology, leading to many important discoveries, and are used for the study of chromatin diminution. In veterinary parasitology, Parascaris spp. are important not only because they can cause clinical disease in young horses but also because they are the only ascarid parasites to have developed widespread anthelmintic resistance. Despite this, much of the general biology and mechanisms of anthelmintic resistance are poorly understood. This review condenses known basic biological information and knowledge on the mechanisms of anthelmintic resistance in Parascaris spp., highlighting the importance of foundational research programs. Although two variants of this parasite were recognized based on the number of chromosomes in the 1870s and suggested to be two species in 1890, one of these, P. univalens, appears to have been largely forgotten in the veterinary scientific literature over the past 100 years. We describe how this omission has had a century-long effect on nomenclature and data analysis in the field, highlighting the importance of proper specimen identification in public repositories. A summary of important basic biology, including life cycle, in vitro maintenance, and immunology, is given, and areas of future research for the improvement of knowledge and development of new systems are given. Finally, the limited knowledge regarding anthelmintic resistance in Parascaris spp. is summarized, along with caution regarding assumptions that resistance mechanisms can be applied across clades.
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Transgenic Expression of Haemonchus contortus Cytochrome P450 Hco-cyp-13A11 Decreases Susceptibility to Particular but Not All Macrocyclic Lactones in the Model Organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169155. [PMID: 36012413 PMCID: PMC9409383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of reported macrocyclic lactones (ML) resistance cases across all livestock hosts is steadily increasing. Different studies in the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus assume the participation of cytochrome P450s (Cyps) enzymes in ML resistance. Still, functional data about their individual contribution to resistance or substrate specificity is missing. Via microinjection, transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing HCON_00141052 (transgene-Hco-cyp-13A11) from extrachromosomal arrays were generated. After 24 h of exposure to different concentrations of ivermectin (IVM), ivermectin aglycone (IVMa), selamectin (SEL), doramectin (DRM), eprinomectin (EPR), and moxidectin (MOX), motility assays were performed to determine the impact of the H. contortus Cyp to the susceptibility of the worms against each ML. While transgene-Hco-cyp-13A11 significantly decreased susceptibility to IVM (four-fold), IVMa (2-fold), and SEL (3-fold), a slight effect for DRM and no effect for MOX, and EPR was observed. This substrate specificity of Hco-cyp-13A11 could not be explained by molecular modeling and docking studies. Hco-Cyp-13A11 molecular models were obtained for alleles from isolates with different resistance statuses. Although 14 amino acid polymorphisms were detected, none was resistance specific. In conclusion, Hco-cyp-13A11 decreased IVM, IVMa, and SEL susceptibility to a different extent, but its potential impact on ML resistance is not driven by polymorphisms.
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Roquini DB, Silva GL, Ferreira LLG, Andricopulo AD, Wilairatana P, De Moraes J. Susceptibility of Angiostrongylus cantonensis Larvae to Anthelmintic Drugs. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:901459. [PMID: 35800438 PMCID: PMC9255552 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.901459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Human helminthiasis affects approximately one in five people in the world and disproportionally affects the poorest and most deprived communities. Human angiostrongyliasis, caused by nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis, is a neglected emerging disease with escalating importance worldwide. Chemotherapy is the main control method for helminthiasis, but the therapeutic arsenal is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the antiparasitic and molecular properties of the major available anthelmintic drugs against A. cantonensis in vitro. The first-stage larvae (L1), isolated from feces of an A. cantonensis-infected rat, were exposed to a set of 12 anthelmintic drugs in vitro. The larvae were monitored, and the concentration- and time-dependent viability alterations were determined. From 12 anthelmintic drugs, six (ivermectin, salamectin, moxidectin, pyrantel pamoate, albendazole and levamisole) were identified to affect the viability of A. cantonensis. The macrocyclic lactones (ivermectin, salamectin, moxidectin) and the imidazothiazole levamisole, were the most effective drugs, with IC50 ranging from 2.2 to 2.9 µM and a rapid onset of action. Albendazole, the most widely used anthelmintic in humans, had a slower onset of action, but an IC50 of 11.3 µM was achieved within 24 h. Molecular properties studies suggest that a less lipophilic character and low molecular weight could be favorable for the biological activity of the non-macrocyclic molecules. Collectively, our study revealed that macrocyclic lactones, levamisole, pyrantel pamoate, and albendazole are important anthelmintic agents against A. cantonensis. The results of this in vitro study also suggest that A. cantonensis L1 may be a particularly sensitive and useful model for anthelmintic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B. Roquini
- Center for Neglected Diseases Research, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Brazil
| | - Gabriel L. Silva
- Center for Neglected Diseases Research, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Brazil
| | - Leonardo L. G. Ferreira
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery, Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Adriano D. Andricopulo
- Laboratory of Medicinal and Computational Chemistry, Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery, Physics Institute of Sao Carlos, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Polrat Wilairatana, ; Josué De Moraes,
| | - Josué De Moraes
- Center for Neglected Diseases Research, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Polrat Wilairatana, ; Josué De Moraes,
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9
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Dube F, Hinas A, Roy S, Martin F, Åbrink M, Svärd S, Tydén E. Ivermectin-induced gene expression changes in adult Parascaris univalens and Caenorhabditis elegans: a comparative approach to study anthelminthic metabolism and resistance in vitro. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:158. [PMID: 35513885 PMCID: PMC9074254 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05260-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The nematode Parascaris univalens is one of the most prevalent parasitic pathogens infecting horses but anthelmintic resistance undermines treatment approaches. The molecular mechanisms underlying drug activity and resistance remain poorly understood in this parasite since experimental in vitro models are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for P. univalens drug metabolism/resistance studies by a comparative gene expression approach after in vitro exposure to the anthelmintic drug ivermectin (IVM). Methods Twelve adult P. univalens worms in groups of three were exposed to ivermectin (IVM, 10–13 M, 10–11 M, 10–9 M) or left unexposed for 24 h at 37 °C, and total RNA, extracted from the anterior end of the worms, was sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in metabolism, transportation, or gene expression with annotated Caernorhabditis elegans orthologues were identified as candidate genes to be involved in IVM metabolism/resistance. Similarly, groups of 300 adult C. elegans worms were exposed to IVM (10–9 M, 10–8 M and 10–7 M) or left unexposed for 4 h at 20 °C. Quantitative RT-PCR of RNA extracted from the C. elegans worm pools was used to compare against the expression of selected P. univalens candidate genes after drug treatment. Results After IVM exposure, 1085 DEGs were found in adult P. univalens worms but the relative gene expression changes were small and large variabilities were found between different worms. Fifteen of the DEGs were chosen for further characterization in C. elegans after comparative bioinformatics analyses. Candidate genes, including the putative drug target lgc-37, responded to IVM in P. univalens, but marginal to no responses were observed in C. elegans despite dose-dependent behavioral effects observed in C. elegans after IVM exposure. Thus, the overlap in IVM-induced gene expression in this small set of genes was minor in adult worms of the two nematode species. Conclusion This is the first time to our knowledge that a comparative gene expression approach has evaluated C. elegans as a model to understand IVM metabolism/resistance in P. univalens. Genes in P. univalens adults that responded to IVM treatment were identified. However, identifying conserved genes in P. univalens and C. elegans involved in IVM metabolism/resistance by comparing gene expression of candidate genes proved challenging. The approach appears promising but was limited by the number of genes studied (n = 15). Future studies comparing a larger number of genes between the two species may result in identification of additional candidate genes involved in drug metabolism and/or resistance. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05260-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faruk Dube
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7036, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Andrea Hinas
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shweta Roy
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Frida Martin
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7036, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Åbrink
- Section of Immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7036, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Staffan Svärd
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Eva Tydén
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7036, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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Bazzocchi C, Genchi M, Lucchetti C, Cafiso A, Ciuca L, McCall J, Kramer LH, Vismarra A. Transporter gene expression and Wolbachia quantification in adults of Dirofilaria immitis treated in vitro with ivermectin or moxidectin alone or in combination with doxycycline for 12 hours. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 249:111475. [PMID: 35346758 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Due to their marked larvicidal activity, macrocyclic lactones (MLs) are used for the prevention of heartworm disease ( Dirofilaria immitis) in dogs. They have also been shown to eliminate adult parasites after long-term administration, with a so-called "slow-kill" effect. In addition, recent studies have established that a combination of doxycycline, which eliminates the endosymbiont Wolbachia, and MLs has superior adulticide effects when compared to MLs alone. It has been hypothesized that the apparent synergism between doxycycline/MLs may be due to interaction with drug efflux transport proteins. The aim of the present study was to evaluate gene expression of several transport proteins in D. immitis adults treated in vitro either with doxycycline alone, ivermectin alone, moxidectin alone, or a combination of ivermectin or moxidectin with doxycycline for 12h. Quantitative PCR analysis showed a sex-dependent response to treatments. In female worms, Dim-pgp-10, Dim-haf-1 and Dim-haf-5 were upregulated compared to controls with doxycycline alone and when combined with ivermectin. Moxidectin did not induce any changes in gene expression. In males, moxidectin administered alone induced a slight increase in Dim-pgp-10, Dim-pgp-11and Di-avr-14, while ivermectin in combination with doxycycline produced significant upregulation of the ML receptor Di-avr-14. These results suggest possible synergism between the two drug classes and different susceptibility of males vs. females to adulticide effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bazzocchi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Marco Genchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Lucchetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cafiso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Lavinia Ciuca
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Federico Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy
| | - John McCall
- TRS Labs Inc, 215 Paradise Blvd, Athens, GA 30607, USA
| | - Laura Helen Kramer
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Alice Vismarra
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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ABC-transporter gene expression in ivermectin-susceptible and resistant Haemonchus contortus isolates. Vet Parasitol 2022; 302:109647. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Constitutive and differential expression of transport protein genes in Parascaris univalens larvae and adult tissues after in vitro exposure to anthelmintic drugs. Vet Parasitol 2021; 298:109535. [PMID: 34340009 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The equine roundworm Parascaris univalens has developed resistance to the three anthelmintic substances most commonly used in horses. The mechanisms responsible for resistance are believed to be multi-genic, and transport proteins such as the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) family have been suggested to be involved in resistance in several parasites including P. univlaens. To facilitate further research into the mechanisms behind drug metabolism and resistance development in P. univalens we aimed to develop an in vitro model based on larvae. We developed a fast and easy protocol for hatching P. univalens larvae for in vitro studies, resulting in a hatching rate of 92 %. The expression of transport protein genes pgp-2, pgp-9, pgp-11.1, pgp-16.1 and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) genes PgR006_g137 and PgR015_g078 were studied in hatched larvae exposed to the anthelmintic drugs ivermecin (IVM) 10-9 M, pyrantel citrate (PYR) 10-6 M and thiabendazole (TBZ) 10-5 M for 24 h. In comparison, the expression of these transport protein genes was studied in the anterior end and intestinal tissues of adult worms in vitro exposed to IVM, TBZ and PYR, at the same concentrations as larvae, for 3 h, 10 h and 24 h. Larval exposure to sub-lethal doses of IVM for 24 h did not affect the expression levels of any of the investigated genes, however larvae exposed to PYR and TBZ for 24 h showed significantly increased expression of pgp-9. In vitro drug exposure of adult worms did not result in any significant increases in expression of transport protein genes. Comparisons of constitutive expression between larvae and adult worm tissues showed that pgp-9, pgp-11.1, pgp-16.1 and MFS gene PgR015_g078 were expressed at lower levels in larvae than in adult tissues, while pgp-2 and MFS gene PgR006_g137 had similar expression levels in larvae and adult worms. All investigated transport protein genes were expressed at higher rates in the intestine than in the anterior end of adult worms, except pgp-11.1 where the expression was similar between the two tissues. This high constitutive expression in the intestine suggests that this is an important site for xenobiotic efflux in P. univalens. Despite the fact that the results of this study show differences in expression of transport protein genes between larvae and adult tissues, we believe that the larval assay system described here will be an important tool for further research into the molecular mechanisms behind anthelmintic resistance development and for other in vitro studies.
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