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Montoya AL, Gil ER, Vinales I, Estevao IL, Taboada P, Torrico MC, Torrico F, Marco JD, Almeida IC, Michael K. Big is not better: Comparing two alpha-Gal-bearing glycotopes in neoglycoproteins as biomarkers for Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection. Carbohydr Res 2024; 536:109015. [PMID: 38198982 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2023.109015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is among Latin America's most widespread Leishmania species and is responsible for tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL). This disease has multiple clinical presentations, with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) being the most frequent. It manifests as one or a few localized skin ulcers, which can spread to other body areas. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment, typically with pentavalent antimonials, is critical. Traditional diagnostic methods, like parasite culture, microscopy, or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of the parasite DNA, have limitations due to the uneven distribution of parasites in biopsy samples. Nonetheless, studies have revealed high levels of parasite-specific anti-α-Gal antibodies in L. (V.) braziliensis-infected patients. Previously, we demonstrated that the neoglycoprotein NGP28b, consisting of the L. (Leishmania) major type-2 glycoinositolphospholipid (GIPL)-3-derived trisaccharide Galpα1,6Galpα1,3Galfβ conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) via a linker, acts as a reliable serological biomarker (BMK) for L. (V.) braziliensis infection in Brazil. This indicates the presence of GIPL-3 or a similar structure in this parasite, and its terminal trisaccharide either functions as or is part of an immunodominant glycotope. Here, we explored whether extending the trisaccharide with a mannose unit would enhance its efficacy as a biomarker for the serological detection of L. (V.) braziliensis. We synthesized the tetrasaccharide Galpα1,6Galpα1,3Galfβ1,3Manpα(CH2)3SH (G31SH) and conjugated it to maleimide-functionalized BSA to afford NGP31b. When we assessed the efficacy of NGP28b and NGP31b by chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on a cohort of CL patients with L. (V.) braziliensis infection from Bolivia and Argentina against a healthy control group, both NGPs exhibited similar or identical sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. This finding implies that the mannose moiety at the reducing end is not part of the glycotope recognized by the parasite-specific anti-α-Gal antibodies in patients' sera, nor does it exert a relevant influence on the terminal trisaccharide's conformation. Moreover, the mannose does not seem to inhibit glycan-antibody interactions. Therefore, NGP31b is a viable and dependable BMK for the serodiagnosis of CL caused by L. (V.) braziliensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba L Montoya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Eileni R Gil
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Irodiel Vinales
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Igor L Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Paola Taboada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - Mary Cruz Torrico
- Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Faculty of Medicine, and Fundación CEADES, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Faustino Torrico
- Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Faculty of Medicine, and Fundación CEADES, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Jorge Diego Marco
- Universidad Nacional de Salta (UNSa)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
| | - Katja Michael
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
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2
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Zhang R, Peng X, Du JX, Boohaker R, Estevao IL, Grajeda BI, Cox MB, Almeida IC, Lu W. Oncogenic KRASG12D Reprograms Lipid Metabolism by Upregulating SLC25A1 to Drive Pancreatic Tumorigenesis. Cancer Res 2023; 83:3739-3752. [PMID: 37695315 PMCID: PMC10840918 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease with obesity as one of the risk factors. Oncogenic KRAS mutations are prevalent in pancreatic cancer and can rewire lipid metabolism by altering fatty acid (FA) uptake, FA oxidation (FAO), and lipogenesis. Identification of the underlying mechanisms could lead to improved therapeutic strategies for treating KRAS-mutant pancreatic cancer. Here, we observed that KRASG12D upregulated the expression of SLC25A1, a citrate transporter that is a key metabolic switch to mediate FAO, fatty acid synthesis, glycolysis, and gluconeogenesis. In genetically engineered mouse models and human pancreatic cancer cells, KRASG12D induced SLC25A1 upregulation via GLI1, which directly stimulated SLC25A1 transcription by binding its promoter. The enhanced expression of SLC25A1 increased levels of cytosolic citrate, FAs, and key enzymes in lipid metabolism. In addition, a high-fat diet (HFD) further stimulated the KRASG12D-GLI1-SLC25A1 axis and the associated increase in citrate and FAs. Pharmacologic inhibition of SLC25A1 and upstream GLI1 significantly suppressed pancreatic tumorigenesis in KrasG12D/+ mice on a HFD. These results reveal a KRASG12D-GLI1-SLC25A1 regulatory axis, with SLC25A1 as an important node that regulates lipid metabolism during pancreatic tumorigenesis, thus indicating an intervention strategy for oncogenic KRAS-driven pancreatic cancer. SIGNIFICANCE Upregulation of SLC25A1 induced by KRASG12D-GLI1 signaling rewires lipid metabolism and is exacerbated by HFD to drive the development of pancreatic cancer, representing a targetable metabolic axis to suppress pancreatic tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruowen Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Xiaogang Peng
- Depart of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - James Xianxing Du
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Depart of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Rebecca Boohaker
- Oncology Department, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Igor L Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Brian I Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Marc B Cox
- Depart of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Weiqin Lu
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Depart of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
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3
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Valdez AF, de Souza TN, Bonilla JJA, Zamith-Miranda D, Piffer AC, Araujo GRS, Guimarães AJ, Frases S, Pereira AK, Fill TP, Estevao IL, Torres A, Almeida IC, Nosanchuk JD, Nimrichter L. Traversing the Cell Wall: The Chitinolytic Activity of Histoplasma capsulatum Extracellular Vesicles Facilitates Their Release. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1052. [PMID: 37998859 PMCID: PMC10672645 DOI: 10.3390/jof9111052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Histoplasma capsulatum is the causative agent of histoplasmosis. Treating this fungal infection conventionally has significant limitations, prompting the search for alternative therapies. In this context, fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) hold relevant potential as both therapeutic agents and targets for the treatment of fungal infections. To explore this further, we conducted a study using pharmacological inhibitors of chitinase (methylxanthines) to investigate their potential to reduce EV release and its subsequent impact on fungal virulence in an in vivo invertebrate model. Our findings revealed that a subinhibitory concentration of the methylxanthine, caffeine, effectively reduces EV release, leading to a modulation of H. capsulatum virulence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of a pharmacological inhibitor that reduces fungal EV release without any observed fungicidal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro F. Valdez
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Taiane Nascimento de Souza
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Jhon Jhamilton Artunduaga Bonilla
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
| | - Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Alicia Corbellini Piffer
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Départament de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Glauber R. S. Araujo
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (G.R.S.A.); (S.F.)
| | - Allan J. Guimarães
- Instituto Biomédico, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia—MIP, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói 24210-130, RJ, Brazil;
- Rede Micologia, RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (G.R.S.A.); (S.F.)
- Rede Micologia, RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alana Kelyene Pereira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (A.K.P.); (T.P.F.)
| | - Taicia Pacheco Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, SP, Brazil; (A.K.P.); (T.P.F.)
| | - Igor L. Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA; (I.L.E.); (A.T.); (I.C.A.)
| | - Angel Torres
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA; (I.L.E.); (A.T.); (I.C.A.)
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA; (I.L.E.); (A.T.); (I.C.A.)
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil; (A.F.V.); (T.N.d.S.); (J.J.A.B.); (A.C.P.)
- Rede Micologia, RJ, FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
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Pagura L, Dumoulin PC, Ellis CC, Mendes MT, Estevao IL, Almeida IC, Burleigh BA. Fatty acid elongases 1-3 have distinct roles in mitochondrial function, growth, and lipid homeostasis in Trypanosoma cruzi. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104715. [PMID: 37061002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are a diverse group of uniflagellate protozoan parasites that include globally relevant pathogens such asTrypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Trypanosomes lack the fatty acid synthase (FAS)-I system typically used for de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis in other eukaryotes. Instead, these microbes have evolved a modular fatty acid elongase (ELO) system comprised of individual ELO enzymes (ELO1-4) that can operate processively to generate long chain- and very long chain-fatty acids. The importance of ELO's for maintaining lipid homeostasis in trypanosomatids is currently unclear, given their ability to take up and utilize exogenous fatty acids for lipid synthesis. To assess ELO function in T. cruzi, we generated individual knockout lines, Δelo1, Δelo2 and Δelo3, in which the genes encoding ELO1-3 were functionally disrupted in the parasite insect stage (epimastigote). Using unbiased lipidomic and metabolomic analyses, in combination with metabolic tracing and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate that ELO2 and ELO3 are required for global lipid homeostasis, whereas ELO1 is dispensable for this function. Instead, ELO1 activity is needed to sustain mitochondrial activity and normal growth in T. cruziepimastigotes. The cross-talk between microsomal ELO1 and the mitochondrion is a novel finding that, we propose, merits further examination of the trypanosomatid ELO pathway as critical for central metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Pagura
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Peter C Dumoulin
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Maria T Mendes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Igor L Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
| | - Barbara A Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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5
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Casas-Sanchez A, Ramaswamy R, Perally S, Haines LR, Rose C, Aguilera-Flores M, Portillo S, Verbeelen M, Hussain S, Smithson L, Yunta C, Lehane MJ, Vaughan S, van den Abbeele J, Almeida IC, Boulanger MJ, Acosta-Serrano Á. The Trypanosoma brucei MISP family of invariant proteins is co-expressed with BARP as triple helical bundle structures on the surface of salivary gland forms, but is dispensable for parasite development within the tsetse vector. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011269. [PMID: 36996244 PMCID: PMC10089363 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei spp. develop into mammalian-infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes inside tsetse salivary glands. Besides acquiring a variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) coat, little is known about the metacyclic expression of invariant surface antigens. Proteomic analyses of saliva from T. brucei-infected flies identified, in addition to VSG and Brucei Alanine-Rich Protein (BARP) peptides, a family of GPI-anchored surface proteins herein named as Metacyclic Invariant Surface Proteins (MISP) because of its predominant expression on the surface of metacyclic trypomastigotes. The MISP family is encoded by five paralog genes with >80% protein identity, which are exclusively expressed by salivary gland stages of the parasite and peak in metacyclic stage, as shown by confocal microscopy and immuno-high resolution scanning electron microscopy. Crystallographic analysis of a MISP isoform (MISP360) and a high confidence model of BARP revealed a triple helical bundle architecture commonly found in other trypanosome surface proteins. Molecular modelling combined with live fluorescent microscopy suggests that MISP N-termini are potentially extended above the metacyclic VSG coat, and thus could be tested as a transmission-blocking vaccine target. However, vaccination with recombinant MISP360 isoform did not protect mice against a T. brucei infectious tsetse bite. Lastly, both CRISPR-Cas9-driven knock out and RNAi knock down of all MISP paralogues suggest they are not essential for parasite development in the tsetse vector. We suggest MISP may be relevant during trypanosome transmission or establishment in the vertebrate's skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Casas-Sanchez
- Department of Vector Biology Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Samïrah Perally
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lee R Haines
- Department of Vector Biology Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Clair Rose
- Department of Vector Biology Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Marcela Aguilera-Flores
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Susana Portillo
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | | | | | - Laura Smithson
- Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Cristina Yunta
- Department of Vector Biology Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Lehane
- Department of Vector Biology Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Vaughan
- Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Martin J Boulanger
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Álvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Vector Biology Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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6
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Silva Grijó Farani P, Iandra da Silva Ferreira B, Begum K, Vilar-Pereira G, Pereira IR, Fernández-Figueroa EA, Cardenas-Ovando RA, Almeida IC, Roy S, Lannes-Vieira J, Moreira OC. Treatment with benznidazole and pentoxifylline regulates microRNA transcriptomic profile in a murine model of Chagas chronic cardiomyopathy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011223. [PMID: 36972298 PMCID: PMC10121046 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disorders in endemic areas of Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. CCC is characterized by parasite persistence and inflammatory response in the heart tissue, which occur parallel to microRNA (miRNA) alterations. Here, we investigated the miRNA transcriptome profiling in the cardiac tissue of chronically T. cruzi-infected mice treated with a suboptimal dose of benznidazole (Bz), the immunomodulator pentoxifylline alone (PTX), or the combination of both (Bz+PTX), following the CCC onset. At 150 days post-infection, Bz, PTX, and Bz+PTX treatment regimens improved electrocardiographic alterations, reducing the percentage of mice afflicted by sinus arrhythmia and second-degree atrioventricular block (AVB2) when compared with the vehicle-treated animals. miRNA Transcriptome profiling revealed considerable changes in the differential expression of miRNAs in the Bz and Bz+PTX treatment groups compared with the control (infected, vehicle-treated) group. The latter showed pathways related to organismal abnormalities, cellular development, skeletal muscle development, cardiac enlargement, and fibrosis, likely associated with CCC. Bz-Treated mice exhibited 68 differentially expressed miRNAs related to signaling pathways like cell cycle, cell death and survival, tissue morphology, and connective tissue function. Finally, the Bz+PTX-treated group revealed 58 differentially expressed miRNAs associated with key signaling pathways related to cellular growth and proliferation, tissue development, cardiac fibrosis, damage, and necrosis/cell death. The T. cruzi-induced upregulation of miR-146b-5p, previously shown in acutely infected mice and in vitro T. cruzi-infected cardiomyocytes, was reversed upon Bz and Bz+PTX treatment regimens when further experimentally validated. Our results further our understanding of molecular pathways related to CCC progression and evaluation of treatment response. Moreover, the differentially expressed miRNAs may serve as drug targets, associated molecular therapy, or biomarkers of treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Silva Grijó Farani
- Real-Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Iandra da Silva Ferreira
- Real-Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Khodeza Begum
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela Resende Pereira
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Edith A. Fernández-Figueroa
- Computational and Integrative Genomics, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Arenal Tepepan, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Igor C. Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sourav Roy
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Real-Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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7
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Baily P, Del Castillo HP, Vinales I, Urbay JEM, Paez A, Weaver MR, Iturralde R, Estevao IL, Jankuru SR, Almeida IC, Li C, Dirk CW, Michael K. Synthesis and Photoreactivity of 7-Nitroindoline- S-thiocarbamates. ACS Omega 2023; 8:9486-9498. [PMID: 36936343 PMCID: PMC10018502 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c08184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The photolytic properties of N-acyl-7-nitroindolines make these compounds attractive as photocleavable protecting groups and "caged" compounds for the light-induced release ("uncaging") of biologically active compounds and as acylating reagents under neutral conditions. However, the synthesis of N-acyl-7-nitroindolines usually requires multiple steps, and the direct acylation of 7-nitroindolines can be quite challenging. 7-Nitroindolines with other types of N-carbonyl-containing groups may also be photoreactive and could potentially be better accessible. Here we demonstrate the short and efficient synthesis of 5-bromo-7-nitroindoline-S-thiocarbamates, a new class of photoreactive compounds, and the study of some of their photochemical and photophysical properties. Using 5-bromo-7-nitroindoline-S-ethylthiocarbamate as a model compound, we show that it can undergo one-photon and two-photon photolysis at 350 and 710 nm, respectively. Our experimental data and quantum chemistry calculations support a photolysis pathway that differs from photolysis pathways previously reported for N-acyl-7-nitroindolines. The photolysis with 350 nm light results in 5-bromo-7-nitrosoindoline, which is in equilibrium with its dimeric form(s), as supported by experiment and theory. This study expands the scope of photoreactive 7-nitroindoline derivatives and informs the development of novel photocleavable compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip
T. Baily
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - H. Patricio Del Castillo
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Irodiel Vinales
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Juan E. M. Urbay
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Aurelio Paez
- Department
of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Matthew R. Weaver
- Department
of Physics, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Roberto Iturralde
- Department
of Physics, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Igor L. Estevao
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Texas
at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United
States
| | - Sohan R. Jankuru
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department
of Biological Sciences, University of Texas
at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United
States
| | - Chunqiang Li
- Department
of Physics, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Carl W. Dirk
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Katja Michael
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
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8
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Viana SM, Montoya AL, Carvalho AM, de Mendonça BS, Portillo S, Olivas JJ, Karimi NH, Estevao IL, Ortega-Rodriguez U, Carvalho EM, Dutra WO, Maldonaldo RA, Michael K, de Oliveira CI, Almeida IC. Serodiagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of New-World tegumentary leishmaniasis using synthetic type-2 glycoinositolphospholipid-based neoglycoproteins. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:2147-2159. [PMID: 36039908 PMCID: PMC9518598 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2114852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
American tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) caused by Leishmania braziliensis is characterized by a spectrum of clinical presentations, ranging from localized cutaneous ulcers (CL), mucosal (ML), or disseminated (DL) disease, to a subclinical (SC) asymptomatic form. Current diagnosis based on parasite culture and/or microscopy lacks sensitivity and specificity. Previous studies showed that patients with CL and ML have very high levels of Leishmania-specific anti-α-Gal antibodies. However, the native parasite α-Gal glycotope(s) is(are) still elusive, thus they have not yet been explored for a more accurate TL diagnosis. Using a chemiluminescent immunoassay, we evaluated the seroreactivity of TL patients across its clinical spectrum, and of endemic (EC) and nonendemic healthy controls (NEC) against three synthetic neoglycoproteins (NGP29b, NGP30b, and NGP28b), respectively comprising the L. major-derived type-2 glycoinositolphospholipid (GIPL)-1 (Galfβ1,3Manα), GIPL-2 (Galα1,3Galfβ1,3Manα), and GIPL-3 (Galα1,6Galα1,3Galfβ) glycotopes. Contrary to NGP29b and NGP30b, NGP28b exhibited high sensitivity and specificity to a CL serum pool. More importantly, NGP28b reacted strongly and specifically with individual sera from distinct clinical forms of TL, especially with SC sera, with 94% sensitivity and 97% specificity, by post-two-graph receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Contrary to NGP29b, NGP28b showed low cross-reactivity with Chagas disease and control (NEC/EC) sera. Additionally, seroreactivity of CL patients against NGP28b was significantly decreased after successful chemotherapy, indicating that L. braziliensis-specific anti-α-Gal antibodies may serve as an early biomarker of cure in CL. Our data also points towards the applicability of L. major type-2 GIPL-3-derived Galα1,6Galα1,3Galfβ glycotope for the serological diagnosis of American TL, particularly of the subclinical form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayonara M Viana
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Alba L Montoya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Augusto M Carvalho
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | | | - Susana Portillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Janet J Olivas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Nasim H Karimi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Igor L Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Uriel Ortega-Rodriguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Edgar M Carvalho
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Walderez O Dutra
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Rosa A Maldonaldo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Katja Michael
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
| | - Camila I de Oliveira
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Doenças Tropicais, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, U.S.A
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9
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Grajeda BI, De Chatterjee A, Villalobos CM, Pence BC, Ellis CC, Enriquez V, Roy S, Roychowdhury S, Neumann AK, Almeida IC, Patterson SE, Das S. Giardial lipid rafts share virulence factors with secreted vesicles and participate in parasitic infection in mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:974200. [PMID: 36081774 PMCID: PMC9445159 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.974200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardia lamblia, a protozoan parasite, is a major cause of waterborne infection, worldwide. While the trophozoite form of this parasite induces pathological symptoms in the gut, the cyst form transmits the infection. Since Giardia is a noninvasive parasite, the actual mechanism by which it causes disease remains elusive. We have previously reported that Giardia assembles cholesterol and GM1 glycosphingolipid-enriched lipid rafts (LRs) that participate in encystation and cyst production. To further delineate the role of LRs in pathogenesis, we isolated LRs from Giardia and subjected them to proteomic analysis. Various cellular proteins including potential virulence factors—e.g., giardins, variant surface proteins, arginine deaminases, elongation factors, ornithine carbomyltransferases, and high cysteine-rich membrane proteins—were found to be present in LRs. Since Giardia secretes virulence factors encapsulated in extracellular vesicles (EVs) that induce proinflammatory responses in hosts, EVs released by the parasite were isolated and subjected to nanoparticle tracking and proteomic analysis. Two types of EV—i.e., small vesicles (SVs; <100 nm, exosome-like particles) and large vesicles (LVs; 100–400 nm, microvesicle-like particles)—were identified and found to contain a diverse group of proteins including above potential virulence factors. Although pretreatment of the parasite with two giardial lipid raft (gLR) disruptors, nystatin (27 μM) and oseltamivir (20 μM), altered the expression profiles of virulence factors in LVs and SVs, the effects were more robust in the case of SVs. To examine the potential role of rafts and vesicles in pathogenicity, Giardia-infected mice were treated with oseltamivir (1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg), and the shedding of cysts were monitored. We observed that this drug significantly reduced the parasite load in mice. Taken together, our results suggest that virulence factors partitioning in gLRs, released into the extracellular milieu via SVs and LVs, participate in spread of giardiasis and could be targeted for future drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian I. Grajeda
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Atasi De Chatterjee
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Carmen M. Villalobos
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Breanna C. Pence
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Cameron C. Ellis
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Vanessa Enriquez
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Sourav Roy
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Sukla Roychowdhury
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Aaron K. Neumann
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Steven E. Patterson
- Center for Drug Design, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Siddhartha Das
- Infectious Disease and Immunology, Border Biomedical Research Center and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Siddhartha Das,
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10
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Vellasco L, Svensjö E, Bulant CA, Blanco PJ, Nogueira F, Domont G, de Almeida NP, Nascimento CR, Silva-dos-Santos D, Carvalho-Pinto CE, Medei EH, Almeida IC, Scharfstein J. Sheltered in Stromal Tissue Cells, Trypanosoma cruzi Orchestrates Inflammatory Neovascularization via Activation of the Mast Cell Chymase Pathway. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020187. [PMID: 35215131 PMCID: PMC8878313 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Microangiopathy may worsen the clinical outcome of Chagas disease. Given the obstacles to investigating the dynamics of inflammation and angiogenesis in heart tissues parasitized by Trypanosoma cruzi, here we used intravital microscopy (IVM) to investigate microcirculatory alterations in the hamster cheek pouch (HCP) infected by green fluorescent protein-expressing T. cruzi (GFP-T. cruzi). IVM performed 3 days post-infection (3 dpi) consistently showed increased baseline levels of plasma extravasation. Illustrating the reciprocal benefits that microvascular leakage brings to the host-parasite relationship, these findings suggest that intracellular amastigotes, acting from inside out, stimulate angiogenesis while enhancing the delivery of plasma-borne nutrients and prosurvival factors to the infection foci. Using a computer-based analysis of images (3 dpi), we found that proangiogenic indexes were positively correlated with transcriptional levels of proinflammatory cytokines (pro-IL1β and IFN-γ). Intracellular GFP-parasites were targeted by delaying for 24 h the oral administration of the trypanocidal drug benznidazole. A classification algorithm showed that benznidazole (>24 h) blunted angiogenesis (7 dpi) in the HCP. Unbiased proteomics (3 dpi) combined to pharmacological targeting of chymase with two inhibitors (chymostatin and TY-51469) linked T. cruzi-induced neovascularization (7 dpi) to the proangiogenic activity of chymase, a serine protease stored in secretory granules from mast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vellasco
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Erik Svensjö
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Carlos Alberto Bulant
- Department of Mathematical and Computational Methods, National Laboratory for Scientific Computing, Petrópolis 25651-075, Brazil; (C.A.B.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Pablo Javier Blanco
- Department of Mathematical and Computational Methods, National Laboratory for Scientific Computing, Petrópolis 25651-075, Brazil; (C.A.B.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Fábio Nogueira
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Gilberto Domont
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Natália Pinto de Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Clarissa Rodrigues Nascimento
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Danielle Silva-dos-Santos
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | | | - Emiliano Horácio Medei
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA;
| | - Julio Scharfstein
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Alonso-Vega C, Urbina JA, Sanz S, Pinazo MJ, Pinto JJ, Gonzalez VR, Rojas G, Ortiz L, Garcia W, Lozano D, Soy D, Maldonado RA, Nagarkatti R, Debrabant A, Schijman A, Thomas MC, López MC, Michael K, Ribeiro I, Gascon J, Torrico F, Almeida IC. New chemotherapy regimens and biomarkers for Chagas disease: the rationale and design of the TESEO study, an open-label, randomised, prospective, phase-2 clinical trial in the Plurinational State of Bolivia. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e052897. [PMID: 34972765 PMCID: PMC8720984 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease (CD) affects ~7 million people worldwide. Benznidazole (BZN) and nifurtimox (NFX) are the only approved drugs for CD chemotherapy. Although both drugs are highly effective in acute and paediatric infections, their efficacy in adults with chronic CD (CCD) is lower and variable. Moreover, the high incidence of adverse events (AEs) with both drugs has hampered their widespread use. Trials in CCD adults showed that quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays remain negative for 12 months after standard-of-care (SoC) BZN treatment in ~80% patients. BZN pharmacokinetic data and the nonsynchronous nature of the proliferative mammal-dwelling parasite stage suggested that a lower BZN/NFX dosing frequency, combined with standard or extended treatment duration, might have the same or better efficacy than either drug SoC, with fewer AEs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS New ThErapies and Biomarkers for ChagaS infEctiOn (TESEO) is an open-label, randomised, prospective, phase-2 clinical trial, with six treatment arms (75 patients/arm, 450 patients). Primary objectives are to compare the safety and efficacy of two new proposed chemotherapy regimens of BZN and NFX in adults with CCD with the current SoC for BZN and NFX, evaluated by qPCR and biomarkers for 36 months posttreatment and correlated with CD conventional serology. Recruitment of patients was initiated on 18 December 2019 and on 20 May 2021, 450 patients (study goal) were randomised among the six treatment arms. The treatment phase was finalised on 18 August 2021. Secondary objectives include evaluation of population pharmacokinetics of both drugs in all treatment arms, the incidence of AEs, and parasite genotyping. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The TESEO study was approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), federal regulatory agency of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the Ethics Committees of the participating institutions. The results will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed journals, conferences and reports to the NIH, FDA and participating institutions. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT03981523.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julio A Urbina
- Center for Biochemistry and Biophysics, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Caracas, Distrito Capital, Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
| | - Sergi Sanz
- Biostatistics and Data Management Unit, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Basic Clinical Practice, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María-Jesús Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGLOBAL), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jimy José Pinto
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Virginia R Gonzalez
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Gimena Rojas
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Lourdes Ortiz
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Tarija, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho, Tarija, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Wilson Garcia
- Centro Plataforma Chagas Sucre, Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Sucre, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
- Programa Departamental de Chagas Chuquisaca, Servicio Departamental de Salud de Chuquisaca, Chuquisaca, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Daniel Lozano
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Dolors Soy
- Pharmacy Service, Division of Medicines, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Investigació Biomèdica Agustí Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa A Maldonado
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Rana Nagarkatti
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Alejandro Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Carmen Thomas
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Carlos López
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Granada, Spain
| | - Katja Michael
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Dynamic Portfolio Unit, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGLOBAL), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Faustino Torrico
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia, Plurinational State of
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
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12
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Montoya AL, Austin VM, Portillo S, Vinales I, Ashmus RA, Estevao I, Jankuru SR, Alraey Y, Al-Salem WS, Acosta-Serrano Á, Almeida IC, Michael K. Reversed Immunoglycomics Identifies α-Galactosyl-Bearing Glycotopes Specific for Leishmania major Infection. JACS Au 2021; 1:1275-1287. [PMID: 34467365 PMCID: PMC8397363 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
All healthy humans have high levels of natural anti-α-galactosyl (α-Gal) antibodies (elicited by yet uncharacterized glycotopes), which may play important roles in immunoglycomics: (a) potential protection against certain parasitic and viral zoonotic infections; (b) targeting of α-Gal-engineered cancer cells; (c) aiding in tissue repair; and (d) serving as adjuvants in α-Gal-based vaccines. Patients with certain protozoan infections have specific anti-α-Gal antibodies, elicited against parasite-derived α-Gal-bearing glycotopes. These glycotopes, however, remain elusive except for the well-characterized glycotope Galα1,3Galβ1,4GlcNAcα, expressed by Trypanosoma cruzi. The discovery of new parasitic glycotopes is greatly hindered by the enormous structural diversity of cell-surface glycans and the technical challenges of classical immunoglycomics, a top-down approach from cultivated parasites to isolated glycans. Here, we demonstrate that reversed immunoglycomics, a bottom-up approach, can identify parasite species-specific α-Gal-bearing glycotopes by probing synthetic oligosaccharides on neoglycoproteins. This method was tested here seeking to identify as-yet unknown glycotopes specific for Leishmania major, the causative agent of Old-World cutaneous leishmaniasis (OWCL). Neoglycoproteins decorated with synthetic α-Gal-containing oligosaccharides derived from L. major glycoinositolphospholipids served as antigens in a chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using sera from OWCL patients and noninfected individuals. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis identified Galpα1,3Galfβ and Galpα1,3Galfβ1,3Manpα glycotopes as diagnostic biomarkers for L. major-caused OWCL, which can distinguish with 100% specificity from heterologous diseases and L. tropica-caused OWCL. These glycotopes could prove useful in the development of rapid α-Gal-based diagnostics and vaccines for OWCL. Furthermore, this method could help unravel cryptic α-Gal-glycotopes of other protozoan parasites and enterobacteria that elicit the natural human anti-α-Gal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba L. Montoya
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Victoria M. Austin
- Department
of Vector Biology, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United
Kingdom
| | - Susana Portillo
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Irodiel Vinales
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Roger A. Ashmus
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Igor Estevao
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Sohan R. Jankuru
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Yasser Alraey
- Department
of Vector Biology, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United
Kingdom
| | - Waleed S. Al-Salem
- Department
of Vector Biology, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United
Kingdom
| | - Álvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department
of Vector Biology, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United
Kingdom
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Katja Michael
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
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13
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Farani PSG, Begum K, Vilar-Pereira G, Pereira IR, Almeida IC, Roy S, Lannes-Vieira J, Moreira OC. Treatment With Suboptimal Dose of Benznidazole Mitigates Immune Response Molecular Pathways in Mice With Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:692655. [PMID: 34381739 PMCID: PMC8351877 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.692655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the most frequent and severe form of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical illness caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and the main cause of morbimortality from cardiovascular problems in endemic areas. Although efforts have been made to understand the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms underlying CCC, the immunological signaling pathways regulated by the etiological treatment with benznidazole (Bz) has not been reported. In experimental CCC, Bz combined with the hemorheological and immunoregulatory agent pentoxifylline (PTX) has beneficial effects on CCC. To explore the molecular mechanisms of Bz or Bz+PTX therapeutic strategies, C57BL/6 mice chronically infected with the T. cruzi Colombian strain (discrete typing unit TcI) and showing electrocardiographic abnormalities were submitted to suboptimal dose of Bz or Bz+PTX from 120 to 150 days postinfection. Electrocardiographic alterations, such as prolonged corrected QT interval and heart parasite load, were beneficially impacted by Bz and Bz+PTX. RT-qPCR TaqMan array was used to evaluate the expression of 92 genes related to the immune response in RNA extracted from heart tissues. In comparison with non-infected mice, 30 genes were upregulated, and 31 were downregulated in infected mice. Particularly, infection upregulated the cytokines IFN-γ, IL-12b, and IL-2 (126-, 44-, and 18-fold change, respectively) and the T-cell chemoattractants CCL3 and CCL5 (23- and 16-fold change, respectively). Bz therapy restored the expression of genes related to inflammatory response, cellular development, growth, and proliferation, and tissue development pathways, most probably linked to the cardiac remodeling processes inherent to CCC, thus mitigating the Th1-driven response found in vehicle-treated infected mice. The combined Bz+PTX therapy revealed pathways related to the modulation of cell death and survival, and organismal survival, supporting that this strategy may mitigate the progression of CCC. Altogether, our results contribute to the better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the immune response in the heart tissue in chronic Chagas disease and reinforce that parasite persistence and dysregulated immune response underpin CCC severity. Therefore, Bz and Bz+PTX chemotherapies emerge as tools to interfere in these pathways aiming to improve CCC prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Silva Grijó Farani
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Khodeza Begum
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela Resende Pereira
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Sourav Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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14
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Cortes-Serra N, Mendes MT, Mazagatos C, Segui-Barber J, Ellis CC, Ballart C, Garcia-Alvarez A, Gállego M, Gascon J, Almeida IC, Pinazo MJ, Fernandez-Becerra C. Plasma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Biomarkers in Heart Transplant Patient with Chronic Chagas Disease. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:1846-1851. [PMID: 32687028 PMCID: PMC7392439 DOI: 10.3201/eid2608.191042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is emerging in countries to which it is not endemic. Biomarkers for earlier therapeutic response assessment in patients with chronic Chagas disease are needed. We profiled plasma-derived extracellular vesicles from a heart transplant patient with chronic Chagas disease and showed the potential of this approach for discovering such biomarkers.
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15
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Zamith-Miranda D, Peres da Silva R, Couvillion SP, Bredeweg EL, Burnet MC, Coelho C, Camacho E, Nimrichter L, Puccia R, Almeida IC, Casadevall A, Rodrigues ML, Alves LR, Nosanchuk JD, Nakayasu ES. Omics Approaches for Understanding Biogenesis, Composition and Functions of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles. Front Genet 2021; 12:648524. [PMID: 34012462 PMCID: PMC8126698 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.648524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer structures released by organisms from all kingdoms of life. The diverse biogenesis pathways of EVs result in a wide variety of physical properties and functions across different organisms. Fungal EVs were first described in 2007 and different omics approaches have been fundamental to understand their composition, biogenesis, and function. In this review, we discuss the role of omics in elucidating fungal EVs biology. Transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics have each enabled the molecular characterization of fungal EVs, providing evidence that these structures serve a wide array of functions, ranging from key carriers of cell wall biosynthetic machinery to virulence factors. Omics in combination with genetic approaches have been instrumental in determining both biogenesis and cargo loading into EVs. We also discuss how omics technologies are being employed to elucidate the role of EVs in antifungal resistance, disease biomarkers, and their potential use as vaccines. Finally, we review recent advances in analytical technology and multi-omic integration tools, which will help to address key knowledge gaps in EVs biology and translate basic research information into urgently needed clinical applications such as diagnostics, and immuno- and chemotherapies to fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zamith-Miranda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | | | - Sneha P. Couvillion
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Erin L. Bredeweg
- Environmental and Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Meagan C. Burnet
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
| | - Carolina Coelho
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Camacho
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia de Eucariotos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rosana Puccia
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas-FIOCRUZ PR, Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lysangela R. Alves
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas-FIOCRUZ PR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Joshua D. Nosanchuk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Ernesto S. Nakayasu
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, United States
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16
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Torrico F, Gascón J, Barreira F, Blum B, Almeida IC, Alonso-Vega C, Barboza T, Bilbe G, Correia E, Garcia W, Ortiz L, Parrado R, Ramirez JC, Ribeiro I, Strub-Wourgaft N, Vaillant M, Sosa-Estani S. New regimens of benznidazole monotherapy and in combination with fosravuconazole for treatment of Chagas disease (BENDITA): a phase 2, double-blind, randomised trial. Lancet Infect Dis 2021; 21:1129-1140. [PMID: 33836161 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(20)30844-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current treatment for Chagas disease with the only available drugs, benznidazole or nifurtimox, has substantial limitations, including long treatment duration and safety and tolerability concerns. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new benznidazole monotherapy regimens and combinations with fosravuconazole, in the treatment of Chagas disease. METHODS We did a double-blind, double-dummy, phase 2, multicentre, randomised trial in three outpatient units in Bolivia. Adults aged 18-50 years with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease, confirmed by serological testing and positive qualitative PCR results, were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1:1:1) to one of seven treatment groups using a balanced block randomisation scheme with an interactive response system. Participants were assigned to benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks, 4 weeks, or 2 weeks, benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks, benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole, benznidazole 300 mg once per week for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole, or placebo, with a 12-month follow-up period. The primary endpoints were sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months, defined as persistent negative qualitative PCR results from end of treatment, and incidence and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events, serious adverse events, and adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Primary efficacy analysis was based on the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations and secondary efficacy analyses on the per-protocol population. Safety analyses were based on the as-treated population. Recruitment is now closed. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03378661. FINDINGS Between Nov 30, 2016, and July 27, 2017, we screened 518 patients, and 210 were enrolled and randomised. 30 patients (14%) were assigned to each treatment group. All 210 randomised patients were included in the intention-to-treat population, and 190 (90%) were included in the per-protocol population. In the intention-to-treat analysis, only one (3%) of 30 patients in the placebo group had sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months of follow-up. Sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months was observed in 25 (89%) of 28 patients receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks (rate difference vs placebo 86% [95% CI 73-99]), 25 (89%) of 28 receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 4 weeks (86% [73-99]), 24 (83%) of 29 receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 2 weeks (79% [64-95]), 25 (83%) of 30 receiving benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks (80% [65-95]), 23 (85%) of 28 receiving benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole (82% [67-97]), and 24 (83%) of 29 receiving benznidazole 300 mg weekly for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole (79% [64-95]; p<0·0001 for all group comparisons with placebo). Six patients (3%) had ten serious adverse events (leukopenia [n=3], neutropenia [n=2], pyrexia, maculopapular rash, acute cholecystitis, biliary polyp, and breast cancer), eight had 12 severe adverse events (defined as interfering substantially with the patient's usual functions; elevated alanine aminotransferase [n=4], elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase [n=2], elevated aspartate aminotransferase [n=1], neutropenia [n=3], leukopenia [n=1], and breast cancer [n=1]), and 15 (7%) had adverse events that led to treatment discontinuation (most of these were in the groups who received benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks, benznidazole 300 mg once per week for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole, and benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole). No adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were observed in patients treated with benznidazole 300 mg daily for 2 weeks or placebo. There were no treatment-related deaths. INTERPRETATION Benznidazole induced effective antiparasitic response, regardless of treatment duration, dose, or combination with fosravuconazole, and was well tolerated in adult patients with chronic Chagas disease. Shorter or reduced regimens of benznidazole could substantially improve treatment tolerability and accessibility, but further studies are needed to confirm these results. FUNDING Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). TRANSLATION For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faustino Torrico
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia; Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Joaquim Gascón
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Cristina Alonso-Vega
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain; DNDi Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Graeme Bilbe
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Wilson Garcia
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Lourdes Ortiz
- Fundación Ciencia y Estudios Aplicados para el Desarrollo en Salud y Medio Ambiente (CEADES), Cochabamba, Bolivia; Juan Misael Saracho Autonomous University, Tarija, Bolivia
| | - Rudy Parrado
- Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Juan Carlos Ramirez
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr Mario Fatala Chaben" (INP-ANLIS), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- DNDi Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Epidemiology and Public Health Research Centre, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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17
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Alonso-Padilla J, Abril M, Alarcón de Noya B, Almeida IC, Angheben A, Araujo Jorge T, Chatelain E, Esteva M, Gascón J, Grijalva MJ, Guhl F, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, López MC, Luquetti A, Noya O, Pinazo MJ, Ramsey JM, Ribeiro I, Ruiz AM, Schijman AG, Sosa-Estani S, Thomas MC, Torrico F, Zrein M, Picado A. Target product profile for a test for the early assessment of treatment efficacy in Chagas disease patients: An expert consensus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008035. [PMID: 32324735 PMCID: PMC7179829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Igor C. Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Andrea Angheben
- Department of Infectious–Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - Tania Araujo Jorge
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundaçao Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Monica Esteva
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Joaquim Gascón
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario J. Grijalva
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Biomedical Sciences Department, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Felipe Guhl
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Manuel Carlos López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | | | - Oscar Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - María Jesús Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Janine M. Ramsey
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública/CRISP, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andres Mariano Ruiz
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro G. Schijman
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi) Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Epidemiology and Public Health Research Center, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. Carmen Thomas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Faustino Torrico
- Fundación CEADES; Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | | | - Albert Picado
- Foundation for Innovative Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
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18
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Costa Mendonça-Natividade F, Duque Lopes C, Ricci-Azevedo R, Sardinha-Silva A, Figueiredo Pinzan C, Paiva Alegre-Maller AC, L Nohara L, B Carneiro A, Panunto-Castelo A, C Almeida I, Roque-Barreira MC. Receptor Heterodimerization and Co-Receptor Engagement in TLR2 Activation Induced by MIC1 and MIC4 from Toxoplasma gondii. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205001. [PMID: 31658592 PMCID: PMC6829480 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The microneme organelles of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites release protein complexes (MICs), including one composed of the transmembrane protein MIC6 plus MIC1 and MIC4. In this complex, carbohydrate recognition domains of MIC1 and MIC4 are exposed and interact with terminal sialic acid and galactose residues, respectively, of host cell glycans. Recently, we demonstrated that MIC1 and MIC4 binding to the N-glycans of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 on phagocytes triggers cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Herein, we investigated the requirement for TLR2 heterodimerization and co-receptors in MIC-induced responses, as well as the signaling molecules involved. We used MICs to stimulate macrophages and HEK293T cells transfected with TLR2 and TLR1 or TLR6, both with or without the co-receptors CD14 and CD36. Then, the cell responses were analyzed, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and cytokine production, which showed that (1) only TLR2, among the studied factors, is crucial for MIC-induced cell activation; (2) TLR2 heterodimerization augments, but is not critical for, activation; (3) CD14 and CD36 enhance the response to MIC stimulus; and (4) MICs activate cells through a transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-, mammalian p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38)-, and NF-κB-dependent pathway. Remarkably, among the studied factors, the interaction of MIC1 and MIC4 with TLR2 N-glycans is sufficient to induce cell activation, which promotes host protection against T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia Costa Mendonça-Natividade
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Carla Duque Lopes
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Rafael Ricci-Azevedo
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Aline Sardinha-Silva
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Camila Figueiredo Pinzan
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Ana Claudia Paiva Alegre-Maller
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14049-900, Brazil.
| | - Lilian L Nohara
- Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
| | - Alan B Carneiro
- Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Program of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro RJ 21941-599, Brazil.
| | - Ademilson Panunto-Castelo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo USP (FFCLRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14040-900, Brazil.
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Laboratory of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP/USP), Ribeirão Preto SP 14049-900, Brazil.
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19
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Duarte TT, Ellis CC, Grajeda BI, De Chatterjee A, Almeida IC, Das S. A Targeted Mass Spectrometric Analysis Reveals the Presence of a Reduced but Dynamic Sphingolipid Metabolic Pathway in an Ancient Protozoan, Giardia lamblia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:245. [PMID: 31396488 PMCID: PMC6668603 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardia lamblia, a single-celled eukaryote, colonizes and thrives in the small intestine of humans. Because of its compact and reduced genome, Giardia has adapted a “minimalistic” life style, as it becomes dependent on available resources of the small intestine. Because Giardia expresses fewer sphingolipid (SL) genes—and glycosphingolipids are critical for encystation—we investigated the SL metabolic cycle in this parasite. A tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis reveals that major SLs in Giardia include sphingomyelins, sphingoid bases, ceramides, and glycosylceramides. Many of these lipids are obtained by Giardia from the growth medium, remodeled at their fatty acyl chains and end up in the spent medium. For instance, ceramide-1-phosphate, a proinflammatory molecule that is not present in the culture medium, is generated from sphingosine (abundant in the culture medium) possibly by remodeling reactions. It is then subsequently released into the spent medium. Thus, the secretion of ceramide-1-phospate and other SL derivatives by Giardia could be associated with inflammatory bowel disease observed in acute giardiasis. Additionally, we found that the levels of SLs increase in encysting Giardia and are differentially regulated throughout the encystation cycle. We propose that SL metabolism is important for this parasite and, could serve as potential targets for developing novel anti-giardial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor T Duarte
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Brian I Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Atasi De Chatterjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States.,Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Siddhartha Das
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States.,Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
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20
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Ortega-Rodriguez U, Portillo S, Ashmus RA, Duran JA, Schocker NS, Iniguez E, Montoya AL, Zepeda BG, Olivas JJ, Karimi NH, Alonso-Padilla J, Izquierdo L, Pinazo MJ, de Noya BA, Noya O, Maldonado RA, Torrico F, Gascon J, Michael K, Almeida IC. Purification of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Mucins from Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes and Synthesis of α-Gal-Containing Neoglycoproteins: Application as Biomarkers for Reliable Diagnosis and Early Assessment of Chemotherapeutic Outcomes of Chagas Disease. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1955:287-308. [PMID: 30868536 PMCID: PMC6589430 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease (ChD), caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects millions of people worldwide. Chemotherapy is restricted to two drugs, which are partially effective and may cause severe side effects, leading to cessation of treatment in a significant number of patients. Currently, there are no biomarkers to assess therapeutic efficacy of these drugs in the chronic stage. Moreover, no preventive or therapeutic vaccines are available. In this chapter, we describe the purification of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote-derived glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored mucins (tGPI-mucins) for their use as antigens for the reliable primary or confirmatory diagnosis and as prognostic biomarkers for early assessment of cure following ChD chemotherapy. We also describe, as an example, the synthesis of a potential tGPI-mucin-derived α-Gal-terminating glycan and its coupling to a carrier protein for use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in ChD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susana Portillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Roger A Ashmus
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Jerry A Duran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Nathaniel S Schocker
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Eva Iniguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Alba L Montoya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Brenda G Zepeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Janet J Olivas
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Nasim H Karimi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria-Jesús Pinazo
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Oscar Noya
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Rosa A Maldonado
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Faustino Torrico
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Fundación CEADES, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Katja Michael
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
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Qasim H, Karim ZA, Silva-Espinoza JC, Khasawneh FT, Rivera JO, Ellis CC, Bauer SL, Almeida IC, Alshbool FZ. Short-Term E-Cigarette Exposure Increases the Risk of Thrombogenesis and Enhances Platelet Function in Mice. J Am Heart Assoc 2018; 7:JAHA.118.009264. [PMID: 30021806 PMCID: PMC6201451 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.118.009264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Background Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in the United States, with smoking being the primary preventable cause of premature death, and thrombosis being the main mechanism of cardiovascular mortality in smokers. Due to the perception that electronic/e‐cigarettes are “safer/less harmful” than conventional cigarettes, their usage—among a variety of ages—has increased tremendously during the past decade. Notably, there are limited studies regarding the negative effects of e‐cigarettes on the cardiovascular system, which is also the subject of significant debate. Methods and Results We employed a passive e‐VapeTM vapor inhalation system and developed an in vivo whole‐body e‐cigarette mouse exposure protocol that mimics real‐life human exposure scenarios/conditions and investigated the effects of e‐cigarettes and clean air on platelet function and thrombogenesis. Our results show that platelets from e‐cigarette–exposed mice are hyperactive, with enhanced aggregation, dense and α granule secretion, activation of the αIIbβ3 integrin, phosphatidylserine expression, and Akt and ERK activation, when compared with clean air–exposed platelets. E‐cigarette–exposed platelets were also found to be resistant to inhibition by prostacyclin, relative to clean air. Furthermore, the e‐cigarette–exposed mice exhibited a shortened thrombosis occlusion and bleeding times. Conclusions Taken together, our data demonstrate for the first time that e‐cigarettes alter physiological hemostasis and increase the risk of thrombogenic events. This is attributable, at least in part, to the hyperactive state of platelets. Thus, the negative health consequences of e‐cigarette exposure should not be underestimated and warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Qasim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - Zubair A Karim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - Juan C Silva-Espinoza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - Fadi T Khasawneh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - José O Rivera
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - Stephanie L Bauer
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Texas El Paso, TX
| | - Fatima Z Alshbool
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas El Paso, TX
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Torrico F, Gascon J, Ortiz L, Alonso-Vega C, Pinazo MJ, Schijman A, Almeida IC, Alves F, Strub-Wourgaft N, Ribeiro I, Santina G, Blum B, Correia E, Garcia-Bournisen F, Vaillant M, Morales JR, Pinto Rocha JJ, Rojas Delgadillo G, Magne Anzoleaga HR, Mendoza N, Quechover RC, Caballero MYE, Lozano Beltran DF, Zalabar AM, Rojas Panozo L, Palacios Lopez A, Torrico Terceros D, Fernandez Galvez VA, Cardozo L, Cuellar G, Vasco Arenas RN, Gonzales I, Hoyos Delfin CF, Garcia L, Parrado R, de la Barra A, Montano N, Villarroel S, Duffy T, Bisio M, Ramirez JC, Duncanson F, Everson M, Daniels A, Asada M, Cox E, Wesche D, Diderichsen PM, Marques AF, Izquierdo L, Sender SS, Reverter JC, Morales M, Jimenez W. Treatment of adult chronic indeterminate Chagas disease with benznidazole and three E1224 dosing regimens: a proof-of-concept, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2018; 18:419-430. [DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(17)30538-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Iniguez E, Schocker NS, Subramaniam K, Portillo S, Montoya AL, Al-Salem WS, Torres CL, Rodriguez F, Moreira OC, Acosta-Serrano A, Michael K, Almeida IC, Maldonado RA. An α-Gal-containing neoglycoprotein-based vaccine partially protects against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006039. [PMID: 29069089 PMCID: PMC5673233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Protozoan parasites from the genus Leishmania cause broad clinical manifestations known as leishmaniases, which affect millions of people worldwide. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), caused by L. major, is one the most common forms of the disease in the Old World. There is no preventive or therapeutic human vaccine available for L. major CL, and existing drug treatments are expensive, have toxic side effects, and resistant parasite strains have been reported. Hence, further therapeutic interventions against the disease are necessary. Terminal, non-reducing, and linear α-galactopyranosyl (α-Gal) epitopes are abundantly found on the plasma membrane glycolipids of L. major known as glycoinositolphospholipids. The absence of these α-Gal epitopes in human cells makes these glycans highly immunogenic and thus potential targets for vaccine development against CL. Methodology/Principal findings Here, we evaluated three neoglycoproteins (NGPs), containing synthetic α-Gal epitopes covalently attached to bovine serum albumin (BSA), as vaccine candidates against L. major, using α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout (α1,3GalT-KO) mice. These transgenic mice, similarly to humans, do not express nonreducing, linear α-Gal epitopes in their cells and are, therefore, capable of producing high levels of anti-α-Gal antibodies. We observed that Galα(1,6)Galβ-BSA (NGP5B), but not Galα(1,4)Galβ-BSA (NGP12B) or Galα(1,3)Galα-BSA (NGP17B), was able to significantly reduce the size of footpad lesions by 96% in comparison to control groups. Furthermore, we observed a robust humoral and cellular immune response with production of high levels of protective lytic anti-α-Gal antibodies and induction of Th1 cytokines. Conclusions/Significance We propose that NGP5B is an attractive candidate for the study of potential synthetic α-Gal-neoglycoprotein-based vaccines against L. major infection. Despite a worldwide prevalence, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains largely neglected, with no prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine available. In the Old World, CL is mainly caused by either Leishmania major or L. tropica parasites, which produce localized cutaneous ulcers, often leading to scarring and social stigma. Currently, the disease has reached hyperendemicity levels in the Middle East due to conflict and human displacement. Furthermore, the first choice of treatment in that region continues to be pentavalent antimonials, which are costly and highly toxic, and current vector control measures alone are not sufficient to stop disease transmission. Hence, a vaccine against CL would be very beneficial. Previous studies have demonstrated that sugars are promising vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis, since most parasite species have a cell surface coat composed of immunogenic sugars, including linear α-galactopyranosyl (α-Gal) epitopes, which are absent in humans. Here, we have developed an α-Gal-based vaccine candidate, named NGP5B. When tested in transgenic mice which like humans lack α-Gal epitopes in their cells, NGP5B was able to induce a significant partial protection against L. major infection, by significantly reducing mouse footpad lesions and parasite burden. Altogether, we propose NGP5B as a promising preventive vaccine for CL caused by L. major.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Iniguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nathaniel S. Schocker
- Department of Chemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Krishanthi Subramaniam
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Susana Portillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Alba L. Montoya
- Department of Chemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Waleed S. Al-Salem
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Caresse L. Torres
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Felipe Rodriguez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Otacilio C. Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Katja Michael
- Department of Chemistry, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ICA); (RAM)
| | - Rosa A. Maldonado
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (ICA); (RAM)
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Ramirez MI, Deolindo P, de Messias-Reason IJ, Arigi EA, Choi H, Almeida IC, Evans-Osses I. Dynamic flux of microvesicles modulate parasite-host cell interaction of Trypanosoma cruzi in eukaryotic cells. Cell Microbiol 2016; 19. [PMID: 27665486 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles released from pathogens may alter host cell functions. We previously demonstrated the involvement of host cell-derived microvesicles (MVs) during early interaction between Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigote (META) stage and THP-1 cells. Here, we aim to understand the contribution of different parasite stages and their extracellular vesicles in the interaction with host cells. First, we observed that infective host cell-derived trypomastigote (tissue culture-derived trypomastigote [TCT]), META, and noninfective epimastigote (EPI) stages were able to induce different levels of MV release from THP-1 cells; however, only META and TCT could increase host cell invasion. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy revealed that THP-1-derived MVs can fuse with parasite-derived MVs. Furthermore, MVs derived from the TCT-THP-1 interaction showed a higher fusogenic capacity than those from META- or EPI-THP-1 interaction. However, a higher presence of proteins from META (25%) than TCT (12%) or EPI (5%) was observed in MVs from parasite-THP-1 interaction, as determined by proteomics. Finally, sera from patients with chronic Chagas disease at the indeterminate or cardiac phase differentially recognized antigens in THP-1-derived MVs resulting only from interaction with infective stages. The understanding of intracellular trafficking and the effect of MVs modulating the immune system may provide important clues about Chagas disease pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Ramirez
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Universidade Federal de Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - P Deolindo
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Emma A Arigi
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - H Choi
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - I C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - I Evans-Osses
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Szempruch AJ, Sykes SE, Kieft R, Dennison L, Becker AC, Gartrell A, Martin WJ, Nakayasu ES, Almeida IC, Hajduk SL, Harrington JM. Extracellular Vesicles from Trypanosoma brucei Mediate Virulence Factor Transfer and Cause Host Anemia. Cell 2016; 164:246-257. [PMID: 26771494 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Intercellular communication between parasites and with host cells provides mechanisms for parasite development, immune evasion, and disease pathology. Bloodstream African trypanosomes produce membranous nanotubes that originate from the flagellar membrane and disassociate into free extracellular vesicles (EVs). Trypanosome EVs contain several flagellar proteins that contribute to virulence, and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense EVs contain the serum resistance-associated protein (SRA) necessary for human infectivity. T. b. rhodesiense EVs transfer SRA to non-human infectious trypanosomes, allowing evasion of human innate immunity. Trypanosome EVs can also fuse with mammalian erythrocytes, resulting in rapid erythrocyte clearance and anemia. These data indicate that trypanosome EVs are organelles mediating non-hereditary virulence factor transfer and causing host erythrocyte remodeling, inducing anemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Szempruch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Steven E Sykes
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Rudo Kieft
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Lauren Dennison
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Allison C Becker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Anzio Gartrell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - William J Martin
- Animal Health Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Ernesto S Nakayasu
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Stephen L Hajduk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - John M Harrington
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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Herrera LJ, Brand S, Santos A, Nohara LL, Harrison J, Norcross NR, Thompson S, Smith V, Lema C, Varela-Ramirez A, Gilbert IH, Almeida IC, Maldonado RA. Validation of N-myristoyltransferase as Potential Chemotherapeutic Target in Mammal-Dwelling Stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004540. [PMID: 27128971 PMCID: PMC4851402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, an endemic and debilitating illness in Latin America. Lately, owing to extensive population movements, this neglected tropical disease has become a global health concern. The two clinically available drugs for the chemotherapy of Chagas disease have rather high toxicity and limited efficacy in the chronic phase of the disease, and may induce parasite resistance. The development of new anti-T. cruzi agents is therefore imperative. The enzyme N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) has recently been biochemically characterized, shown to be essential in Leishmania major, Trypanosoma brucei, and T. cruzi¸ and proposed as promising chemotherapeutic target in these trypanosomatids. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here, using high-content imaging we assayed eight known trypanosomatid NMT inhibitors, against mammal-dwelling intracellular amastigote and trypomastigote stages and demonstrated that three of them (compounds 1, 5, and 8) have potent anti-proliferative effect at submicromolar concentrations against T. cruzi, with very low toxicity against human epithelial cells. Moreover, metabolic labeling using myristic acid, azide showed a considerable decrease in the myristoylation of proteins in parasites treated with NMT inhibitors, providing evidence of the on-target activity of the inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Taken together, our data point out to the potential use of NMT inhibitors as anti-T. cruzi chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda J. Herrera
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Stephen Brand
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Sir James Black Centre, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Andres Santos
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lilian L. Nohara
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Justin Harrison
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Sir James Black Centre, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Neil R. Norcross
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Sir James Black Centre, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Thompson
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Sir James Black Centre, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Smith
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Sir James Black Centre, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Carolina Lema
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Armando Varela-Ramirez
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ian H. Gilbert
- Drug Discovery Unit, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Sir James Black Centre, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rosa A. Maldonado
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
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Araujo RN, Franco PF, Rodrigues H, Santos LCB, McKay CS, Sanhueza CA, Brito CRN, Azevedo MA, Venuto AP, Cowan PJ, Almeida IC, Finn MG, Marques AF. Amblyomma sculptum tick saliva: α-Gal identification, antibody response and possible association with red meat allergy in Brazil. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:213-220. [PMID: 26812026 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The anaphylaxis response is frequently associated with food allergies, representing a significant public health hazard. Recently, exposure to tick bites and production of specific IgE against α-galactosyl (α-Gal)-containing epitopes has been correlated to red meat allergy. However, this association and the source of terminal, non-reducing α-Gal-containing epitopes have not previously been established in Brazil. Here, we employed the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout mouse (α1,3-GalT-KO) model and bacteriophage Qβ-virus like particles (Qβ-VLPs) displaying Galα1,3Galβ1,4GlcNAc (Galα3LN) epitopes to investigate the presence of α-Gal-containing epitopes in the saliva of Amblyomma sculptum, a species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex, which represents the main tick that infests humans in Brazil. We confirmed that the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout animals produce significant levels of anti-α-Gal antibodies against the Galα1,3Galβ1,4GlcNAc epitopes displayed on Qβ-virus like particles. The injection of A. sculptum saliva or exposure to feeding ticks was also found to induce both IgG and IgE anti-α-Gal antibodies in α-1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout mice, thus indicating the presence of α-Gal-containing epitopes in the tick saliva. The presence of α-Gal-containing epitopes was confirmed by ELISA and immunoblotting following removal of terminal α-Gal epitopes by α-galactosidase treatment. These results suggest for the first known time that bites from the A. sculptum tick may be associated with the unknown etiology of allergic reactions to red meat in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Nascimento Araujo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula Ferreira Franco
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Henrique Rodrigues
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luiza C B Santos
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Craig S McKay
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carlos A Sanhueza
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carlos Ramon Nascimento Brito
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maíra Araújo Azevedo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Venuto
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Peter J Cowan
- Immunology Research Centre, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79912, USA
| | - M G Finn
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alexandre F Marques
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Majumdar S, Almeida IC, Arigi EA, Choi H, VerBerkmoes NC, Trujillo-Reyes J, Flores-Margez JP, White JC, Peralta-Videa JR, Gardea-Torresdey JL. Environmental Effects of Nanoceria on Seed Production of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): A Proteomic Analysis. Environ Sci Technol 2015; 49:13283-13293. [PMID: 26488752 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The rapidly growing literature on the response of edible plants to nanoceria has provided evidence of its uptake and bioaccumulation, which delineates a possible route of entry into the food chain. However, little is known about how the residing organic matter in soil may affect the bioavailability and resulting impacts of nanoceria on plants. Here, we examined the effect of nanoceria exposure (62.5-500 mg/kg) on kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) productivity and seed quality as a function of soil organic matter content. Cerium accumulation in the seeds produced from plants in organic matter enriched soil showed a dose-dependent increase, unlike in low organic matter soil treatments. Seeds obtained upon nanoceria exposure in soils with higher organic matter were more susceptible to changes in nutrient quality. A quantitative proteomic analysis of the seeds produced upon nanoceria exposure provided evidence for upregulation of stress-related proteins at 62.5 and 125 mg/kg nanoceria treatments. Although the plants did not exhibit overt toxicity, the major seed proteins primarily associated with nutrient storage (phaseolin) and carbohydrate metabolism (lectins) were significantly down-regulated in a dose dependent manner upon nanoceria exposure. This study thus suggests that nanoceria exposures may negatively affect the nutritional quality of kidney beans at the cellular and molecular level. More confirmatory studies with nanoceria along different species using alternative and orthogonal "omic" tools are currently under active investigation, which will enable the identification of biomarkers of exposure and susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghamitra Majumdar
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN) , El Paso, Texas United States
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Emma A Arigi
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Hyungwon Choi
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System , Singapore
| | - Nathan C VerBerkmoes
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Jesica Trujillo-Reyes
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Juan P Flores-Margez
- Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez , Departamento de Química y Biología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Anillo envolvente PRONAF y Estocolmo, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua 32310, México
| | - Jason C White
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06504, United States
| | - Jose R Peralta-Videa
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN) , El Paso, Texas United States
| | - Jorge L Gardea-Torresdey
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso , 500 West University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN) , El Paso, Texas United States
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Schocker NS, Portillo S, Brito CRN, Marques AF, Almeida IC, Michael K. Synthesis of Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-, Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα- and GlcNAc-containing neoglycoproteins and their immunological evaluation in the context of Chagas disease. Glycobiology 2015; 26:39-50. [PMID: 26384953 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwv081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (ChD), has a cell surface covered by immunogenic glycoconjugates. One of the immunodominant glycotopes, the trisaccharide Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα, is expressed on glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored mucins of the infective trypomastigote stage of T. cruzi and triggers high levels of protective anti-α-Gal antibodies (Abs) in infected individuals. Here, we have efficiently synthesized the mercaptopropyl glycoside of that glycotope and conjugated it to maleimide-derivatized bovine serum albumin (BSA). Chemiluminescent-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-BSA is recognized by purified anti-α-Gal Abs from chronic ChD patients ∼230-fold more strongly than by anti-α-Gal Abs from sera of healthy individuals (NHS anti-α-Gal). Similarly, the pooled sera of chronic Chagas disease patients (ChHSP) recognized Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα ∼20-fold more strongly than pooled NHS. In contrast, the underlying disaccharide Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα and the monosaccharide GlcNAcα or GlcNAcβ conjugated to BSA are poorly or not recognized by purified anti-α-Gal Abs or sera from Chagasic patients or healthy individuals. Our results highlight the importance of the terminal Galα moiety for recognition by Ch anti-α-Gal Abs and the lack of Abs against nonself Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα and GlcNAcα glycotopes. The substantial difference in binding of Ch vs. NHS anti-α-Gal Abs to Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-BSA suggests that this neoglycoprotein (NGP) might be suitable for experimental vaccination. To this end, the Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα-BSA NGP was then used to immunize α1,3-galactosyltransferase-knockout mice, which produced antibody titers 40-fold higher as compared with pre-immunization titers. Taken together, our results indicate that the synthetic Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAcα glycotope coupled to a carrier protein could be a potential diagnostic and vaccine candidate for ChD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susana Portillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Carlos R N Brito
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F Marques
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA
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Iribarren PA, Berazategui MA, Bayona JC, Almeida IC, Cazzulo JJ, Alvarez VE. Different proteomic strategies to identify genuine Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier targets and their modification sites in Trypanosoma brucei procyclic forms. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1413-22. [PMID: 26096196 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
SUMOylation is an important post-translational modification conserved in eukaryotic organisms. In Trypanosoma brucei, SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like MOdifier) is essential in procyclic and bloodstream forms. Furthermore, SUMO has been linked to the antigenic variation process, as a highly SUMOylated focus was recently identified within chromatin-associated proteins of the active variant surface glycoprotein expression site. We aimed to establish a reliable strategy to identify SUMO conjugates in T. brucei. We expressed various tagged variants of SUMO from the endogenous locus. His-HA-TbSUMO was useful to validate the tag functionality but SUMO conjugates were not enriched enough over contaminants after affinity purification. A Lys-deficient SUMO version, created to reduce contaminants by Lys-C digestion, was able to overcome this issue but did not allow mapping many SUMOylation sites. This cell line was in turn useful to demonstrate that polySUMO chains are not essential for parasite viability. Finally, a His-HA-TbSUMO(T106K) version allowed the purification of SUMO conjugates and, after digestion with Lys-C, the enrichment for diGly-Lys peptides using specific antibodies. This site-specific proteomic strategy led us to identify 45 SUMOylated proteins and 53 acceptor sites unambiguously. SUMOylated proteins belong mainly to nuclear processes, such as DNA replication and repair, transcription, rRNA biogenesis and chromatin remodelling, among others.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Iribarren
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M A Berazategui
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J C Bayona
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - I C Almeida
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA
| | - J J Cazzulo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V E Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Longo LVG, Nakayasu ES, Pires JHS, Gazos-Lopes F, Vallejo MC, Sobreira TJP, Almeida IC, Puccia R. Characterization of Lipids and Proteins Associated to the Cell Wall of the Acapsular Mutant Cryptococcus neoformans Cap 67. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2015; 62:591-604. [PMID: 25733123 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes life-threatening meningitis. In this fungus, the cell wall is exceptionally not the outermost structure due to the presence of a surrounding polysaccharide capsule, which has been highly studied. Considering that there is little information about C. neoformans cell wall composition, we aimed at describing proteins and lipids extractable from this organelle, using as model the acapsular mutant C. neoformans cap 67. Purified cell wall preparations were extracted with either chloroform/methanol or hot sodium dodecyl sulfate. Total lipids fractionated in silica gel 60 were analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), while trypsin digested proteins were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We detected 25 phospholipid species among phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. Two glycolipid species were identified as monohexosyl ceramides. We identified 192 noncovalently linked proteins belonging to different metabolic processes. Most proteins were classified as secretory, mainly via nonclassical mechanisms, suggesting a role for extracellular vesicles (EV) in transwall transportation. In concert with that, orthologs from 86% of these proteins have previously been reported both in fungal cell wall and/or in EV. The possible role of the presently described structures in fungal-host relationship is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa V G Longo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, 04023-062, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ernesto S Nakayasu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, 79968-0519, Texas, USA
| | - Jhon H S Pires
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, 04023-062, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Felipe Gazos-Lopes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, 79968-0519, Texas, USA
| | - Milene C Vallejo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, 04023-062, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tiago J P Sobreira
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais, Campinas, 13083-970, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, 79968-0519, Texas, USA
| | - Rosana Puccia
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, 04023-062, São Paulo, Brazil
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Izquierdo L, Marques AF, Gállego M, Sanz S, Tebar S, Riera C, Quintó L, Aldasoro E, Almeida IC, Gascon J. Evaluation of a chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a nonendemic setting. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 108:928-31. [PMID: 24271047 PMCID: PMC3970649 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The disappearance of lytic, protective antibodies (Abs) from the serum of patients with Chagas disease is accepted as a reliable indicator of parasitological cure. The efficiency of a chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on a purified, trypomastigote-derived glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored mucin antigen for the serologic detection of lytic Abs against Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated in a nonendemic setting using a panel of 92 positive and 58 negative human sera. The technique proved to be highly sensitive {100%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 96-100} and specific (98.3%; 95% CI = 90.7-99.7), with a kappa score of 0.99. Therefore, this assay can be used to detect active T. cruzi infection and to monitor trypanosomicidal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic
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Marcilla A, Martin-Jaular L, Trelis M, de Menezes-Neto A, Osuna A, Bernal D, Fernandez-Becerra C, Almeida IC, Del Portillo HA. Extracellular vesicles in parasitic diseases. J Extracell Vesicles 2014; 3:25040. [PMID: 25536932 PMCID: PMC4275648 DOI: 10.3402/jev.v3.25040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases affect billions of people and are considered a major public health issue. Close to 400 species are estimated to parasitize humans, of which around 90 are responsible for great clinical burden and mortality rates. Unfortunately, they are largely neglected as they are mainly endemic to poor regions. Of relevance to this review, there is accumulating evidence of the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in parasitic diseases, acting both in parasite–parasite inter-communication as well as in parasite–host interactions. EVs participate in the dissemination of the pathogen and play a role in the regulation of the host immune systems. Production of EVs from parasites or parasitized cells has been described for a number of parasitic infections. In this review, we provide the most relevant findings of the involvement of EVs in intercellular communication, modulation of immune responses, involvement in pathology, and their potential as new diagnostic tools and therapeutic agents in some of the major human parasitic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Marcilla
- Departament de Biologia Cel.lular i Parasitologia, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain;
| | - Lorena Martin-Jaular
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Trelis
- Departament de Biologia Cel.lular i Parasitologia, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Armando de Menezes-Neto
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Institute of Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Molecular Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Dolores Bernal
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Fernandez-Becerra
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Igor C Almeida
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Hernando A Del Portillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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Alegre-Maller ACP, Mendonça FC, da Silva TA, Oliveira AF, Freitas MS, Hanna ES, Almeida IC, Gay NJ, Roque-Barreira MC. Therapeutic administration of recombinant Paracoccin confers protection against paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection: involvement of TLRs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3317. [PMID: 25474158 PMCID: PMC4256291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paracoccin (PCN) is an N-acetylglucosamine-binding lectin from the human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Recombinant PCN (rPCN) induces a T helper (Th) 1 immune response when prophylactically administered to BALB/c mice, protecting them against subsequent challenge with P. brasiliensis. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of rPCN in experimental paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) and the mechanism accounting for its beneficial action. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Four distinct regimens of rPCN administration were assayed to identify which was the most protective, relative to vehicle administration. In all rPCN-treated mice, pulmonary granulomas were less numerous and more compact. Moreover, fewer colony-forming units were recovered from the lungs of rPCN-treated mice. Although all therapeutic regimens of rPCN were protective, maximal efficacy was obtained with two subcutaneous injections of 0.5 µg rPCN at 3 and 10 days after infection. The rPCN treatment was also associated with higher pulmonary levels of IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α, nitric oxide (NO), and IL-10, without IL-4 augmentation. Encouraged by the pulmonary cytokine profile of treated mice and by the fact that in vitro rPCN-stimulated macrophages released high levels of IL-12, we investigated the interaction of rPCN with Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Using a reporter assay in transfected HEK293T cells, we verified that rPCN activated TLR2 and TLR4. The activation occurred independently of TLR2 heterodimerization with TLR1 or TLR6 and did not require the presence of the CD14 or CD36 co-receptors. The interaction between rPCN and TLR2 depended on carbohydrate recognition because it was affected by mutation of the receptor's N-glycosylation sites. The fourth TLR2 N-glycan was especially critical for the rPCN-TLR2 interaction. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Based on our results, we propose that PCN acts as a TLR agonist. PCN binds to N-glycans on TLRs, triggers regulated Th1 immunity, and exerts a therapeutic effect against P. brasiliensis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Claudia Paiva Alegre-Maller
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Flávia Costa Mendonça
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Thiago Aparecido da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Aline Ferreira Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Mateus Silveira Freitas
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Ebert Seixas Hanna
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Gay
- Department of Biochemistry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular e Bioagentes Patogênicos, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
- * E-mail: ,
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Vargas G, Rocha JDB, Oliveira DL, Albuquerque PC, Frases S, Santos SS, Nosanchuk JD, Gomes AMO, Medeiros LCAS, Miranda K, Sobreira TJP, Nakayasu ES, Arigi EA, Casadevall A, Guimaraes AJ, Rodrigues ML, Freire-de-Lima CG, Almeida IC, Nimrichter L. Compositional and immunobiological analyses of extracellular vesicles released by Candida albicans. Cell Microbiol 2014; 17:389-407. [PMID: 25287304 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The release of extracellular vesicles (EV) by fungal organisms is considered an alternative transport mechanism to trans-cell wall passage of macromolecules. Previous studies have revealed the presence of EV in culture supernatants from fungal pathogens, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii, Malassezia sympodialis and Candida albicans. Here we investigated the size, composition, kinetics of internalization by bone marrow-derived murine macrophages (MO) and dendritic cells (DC), and the immunomodulatory activity of C. albicans EV. We also evaluated the impact of EV on fungal virulence using the Galleria mellonella larvae model. By transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, we identified two populations ranging from 50 to 100 nm and 350 to 850 nm. Two predominant seroreactive proteins (27 kDa and 37 kDa) and a group of polydispersed mannoproteins were observed in EV by immunoblotting analysis. Proteomic analysis of C. albicans EV revealed proteins related to pathogenesis, cell organization, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, response to stress, and several other functions. The major lipids detected by thin-layer chromatography were ergosterol, lanosterol and glucosylceramide. Short exposure of MO to EV resulted in internalization of these vesicles and production of nitric oxide, interleukin (IL)-12, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and IL-10. Similarly, EV-treated DC produced IL-12p40, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. In addition, EV treatment induced the up-regulation of CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class-II (MHC-II). Inoculation of G. mellonella larvae with EV followed by challenge with C. albicans reduced the number of recovered viable yeasts in comparison with infected larvae control. Taken together, our results demonstrate that C. albicans EV were immunologically active and could potentially interfere with the host responses in the setting of invasive candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Vargas
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Gazos-Lopes F, Oliveira MM, Hoelz LVB, Vieira DP, Marques AF, Nakayasu ES, Gomes MT, Salloum NG, Pascutti PG, Souto-Padrón T, Monteiro RQ, Lopes AH, Almeida IC. Structural and functional analysis of a platelet-activating lysophosphatidylcholine of Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3077. [PMID: 25101628 PMCID: PMC4125143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of the life-threatening Chagas disease, in which increased platelet aggregation related to myocarditis is observed. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent intercellular lipid mediator and second messenger that exerts its activity through a PAF-specific receptor (PAFR). Previous data from our group suggested that T. cruzi synthesizes a phospholipid with PAF-like activity. The structure of T. cruzi PAF-like molecule, however, remains elusive. Methodology/Principal findings Here, we have purified and structurally characterized the putative T. cruzi PAF-like molecule by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Our ESI-MS/MS data demonstrated that the T. cruzi PAF-like molecule is actually a lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), namely sn-1 C18:1(delta 9)-LPC. Similar to PAF, the platelet-aggregating activity of C18:1-LPC was abrogated by the PAFR antagonist, WEB 2086. Other major LPC species, i.e., C16:0-, C18:0-, and C18:2-LPC, were also characterized in all T. cruzi stages. These LPC species, however, failed to induce platelet aggregation. Quantification of T. cruzi LPC species by ESI-MS revealed that intracellular amastigote and trypomastigote forms have much higher levels of C18:1-LPC than epimastigote and metacyclic trypomastigote forms. C18:1-LPC was also found to be secreted by the parasite in extracellular vesicles (EV) and an EV-free fraction. A three-dimensional model of PAFR was constructed and a molecular docking study was performed to predict the interactions between the PAFR model and PAF, and each LPC species. Molecular docking data suggested that, contrary to other LPC species analyzed, C18:1-LPC is predicted to interact with the PAFR model in a fashion similar to PAF. Conclusions/Significance Taken together, our data indicate that T. cruzi synthesizes a bioactive C18:1-LPC, which aggregates platelets via PAFR. We propose that C18:1-LPC might be an important lipid mediator in the progression of Chagas disease and its biosynthesis could eventually be exploited as a potential target for new therapeutic interventions. Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, was exclusively confined to Latin America but it has recently spread to other regions of the world. Chagas disease affects 8–10 million people and kills thousands of them every year. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is a major bioactive phospholipid of human plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDL). Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a phospholipid similar to LPC and a potent intercellular mediator. Both PAF and LPC have been reported to act on mammalian cells through PAF receptor (PAFR). Previous data from our group suggested that T. cruzi produces a phospholipid with PAF activity. Here, we describe the structural and functional analysis of different species of LPC from T. cruzi, including a LPC with a fatty acid chain of 18 carbon atoms and one double bond (C18:1-LPC). We also show that C18:1-LPC is able to induce rabbit platelet aggregation, which is abrogated by a PAFR antagonist. In addition, a three-dimensional model of human PAFR was constructed. Contrary to other T. cruzi LPC molecules, C18:1-LPC is predicted to interact with the PAFR model in a fashion similar to PAF. Further studies are needed to validate the biosynthesis of T. cruzi C18:1-LPC as a potential drug target in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Gazos-Lopes
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mauricio M. Oliveira
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucas V. B. Hoelz
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Danielle P. Vieira
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre F. Marques
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ernesto S. Nakayasu
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Marta T. Gomes
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco H, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nasim G. Salloum
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pedro G. Pascutti
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thaïs Souto-Padrón
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Robson Q. Monteiro
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco H, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Angela H. Lopes
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail: (AHL); (ICA)
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (AHL); (ICA)
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Serna C, Lara JA, Rodrigues SP, Marques AF, Almeida IC, Maldonado RA. A synthetic peptide from Trypanosoma cruzi mucin-like associated surface protein as candidate for a vaccine against Chagas disease. Vaccine 2014; 32:3525-32. [PMID: 24793944 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Revised: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is responsible for producing significant morbidity and mortality throughout Latin America. The disease has recently become a public health concern to nonendemic regions like the U.S. and Europe. Currently there are no fully effective drugs or vaccine available to treat the disease. The mucin-associated surface proteins (MASPs) are glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoproteins encoded by a multigene family with hundreds of members. MASPs are among the most abundant antigens found on the surface of the infective trypomastigote stage of T. cruzi, thus representing an attractive target for vaccine development. Here we used immunoinformatics to select a 20-mer peptide with several predicted overlapping B-cell, MHC-I, and MHC-II epitopes, from a MASP family member expressed on mammal-dwelling stages of T. cruzi. The synthetic MASP peptide conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (MASPpep-KLH) was tested in presence or not of an adjuvant (alum, Al) as a vaccine candidate in the C3H/HeNsd murine model of T. cruzi infection. In considerable contrast to the control groups receiving placebo, Al, or KLH alone or the group immunized with MASPpep-KLH/Al, the group immunized with MASPpep-KLH showed 86% survival rate after challenge with a highly lethal dose of trypomastigotes. As evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, MASPpep-KLH-immunized animals had much lower parasite load in the heart, liver, and spleen than control animals. Moreover, protected animals produced trypanolytic, protective antibodies, and a cytokine profile conducive to resistance against parasite infection. Finally, in vivo depletion of either CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells indicated that the latter are critical for protection in mice immunized with MASPpep-KLH. In summary, this new peptide-based vaccine with overlapping B- and T-cell epitopes is able to control T. cruzi infection in mice by priming both humoral and cellular immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carylinda Serna
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Joshua A Lara
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Silas P Rodrigues
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Alexandre F Marques
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States; Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States.
| | - Rosa A Maldonado
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States.
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Bayer-Santos E, Lima FM, Ruiz JC, Almeida IC, da Silveira JF. Characterization of the small RNA content of Trypanosoma cruzi extracellular vesicles. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 193:71-4. [PMID: 24583081 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence in mammalian cells indicates that secreted vesicles can be used to mediate intercellular communication processes by transferring various bioactive molecules, including mRNAs and microRNAs. Based on these findings, we decided to analyze whether Trypanosoma cruzi-derived extracellular vesicles contain RNA molecules and performed a deep sequencing and genome-wide analysis of a size-fractioned cDNA library (16-40nt) from extracellular vesicles secreted by noninfective epimastigote and infective metacyclic trypomastigote forms. Our data show that the small RNAs contained in these extracellular vesicles originate from multiple sources, including tRNAs. In addition, our results reveal that the variety and expression of small RNAs are different between parasite stages, suggesting diverse functions. Taken together, these observations call attention to the potential regulatory functions that these RNAs might play once transferred between parasites and/or to mammalian host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethel Bayer-Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo SP 04023-062, Brazil; Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Fábio Mitsuo Lima
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo SP 04023-062, Brazil
| | | | - Igor C Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
| | - José Franco da Silveira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo SP 04023-062, Brazil.
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Longo LVG, Nakayasu ES, Matsuo AL, Peres da Silva R, Sobreira TJP, Vallejo MC, Ganiko L, Almeida IC, Puccia R. Identification of human plasma proteins associated with the cell wall of the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2013; 341:87-95. [PMID: 23398536 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides lutzii are thermodimorphic species that cause paracoccidioidomycosis. The cell wall is the outermost fungal organelle to form an interface with the host. A number of host effector compounds, including immunologically active molecules, circulate in the plasma. In the present work, we extracted cell-wall-associated proteins from the yeast pathogenic phase of P. brasiliensis, isolate Pb3, grown in the presence of human plasma and analyzed bound plasma proteins by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Transport, complement activation/regulation, and coagulation pathway were the most abundant functional groups identified. Proteins related to iron/copper acquisition, immunoglobulins, and protease inhibitors were also detected. Several human plasma proteins described here have not been previously reported as interacting with fungal components, specifically, clusterin, hemopexin, transthyretin, ceruloplasmin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, apolipoprotein A-I, and apolipoprotein B-100. Additionally, we observed increased phagocytosis by J774.16 macrophages of Pb3 grown in plasma, suggesting that plasma proteins interacting with P. brasiliensis cell wall might be interfering in the fungal relationship with the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa V G Longo
- Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Izquierdo L, Marques AF, Gallego M, Sanz S, Tebar S, Riera C, Quinto L, Aldasoro E, Almeida IC, Gascon J. Evaluation of a chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a nonendemic setting. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2013. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762013005000004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Eaves-Pyles T, Patel J, Arigi E, Cong Y, Cao A, Garg N, Dhiman M, Pyles RB, Arulanandam B, Miller AL, Popov VL, Soong L, Carlsen ED, Coletta C, Szabo C, Almeida IC. Immunomodulatory and antibacterial effects of cystatin 9 against Francisella tularensis. Mol Med 2013; 19:263-75. [PMID: 23922243 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2013.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystatin 9 (CST9) is a member of the type 2 cysteine protease inhibitor family, which has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects that restrain inflammation, but its functions against bacterial infections are unknown. Here, we report that purified human recombinant (r)CST9 protects against the deadly bacterium Francisella tularensis (Ft) in vitro and in vivo. Macrophages infected with the Ft human pathogen Schu 4 (S4), then given 50 pg of rCST9 exhibited significantly decreased intracellular bacterial replication and increased killing via preventing the escape of S4 from the phagosome. Further, rCST9 induced autophagy in macrophages via the regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. rCST9 promoted the upregulation of macrophage proteins involved in antiinflammation and antiapoptosis, while restraining proinflammatory-associated proteins. Interestingly, the viability and virulence of S4 also was decreased directly by rCST9. In a mouse model of Ft inhalation, rCST9 significantly decreased organ bacterial burden and improved survival, which was not accompanied by excessive cytokine secretion or subsequent immune cell migration. The current report is the first to show the immunomodulatory and antimicrobial functions of rCST9 against Ft. We hypothesize that the attenuation of inflammation by rCST9 may be exploited for therapeutic purposes during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonyia Eaves-Pyles
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA.
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Longo LVG, Nakayasu ES, Gazos-Lopes F, Vallejo MC, Matsuo AL, Almeida IC, Puccia R. Characterization of cell wall lipids from the pathogenic phase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis cultivated in the presence or absence of human plasma. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63372. [PMID: 23691038 PMCID: PMC3656940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fungal cell wall is a complex and dynamic outer structure. In pathogenic fungi its components interact with the host, determining the infection fate. The present work aimed to characterize cell wall lipids from P. brasiliensis grown in the presence and absence of human plasma. We compared the results from isolates Pb3 and Pb18, which represent different phylogenetic species that evoke distinct patterns of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We comparatively characterized cell wall phospholipids, fatty acids, sterols, and neutral glycolipids by using both electrospray ionization- and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of lipids extracted with organic solvents followed by fractionation in silica-gel-60. We detected 49 phospholipid species in Pb3 and 38 in Pb18, including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid. In both Pb3 and Pb18, PC and PE had the most numerous species. Among the fatty acids, C18:1 and C18:2 were the most abundant species in both isolates, although C18:2 was more abundant in Pb18. There was a different effect of plasma supplementation on fatty acids depending on the fungal isolate. The prevalent glycolipid species was Hex-C18:0-OH/d19:2-Cer, although other four minor species were also detected. The most abundant sterol in all samples was brassicasterol. Distinct profiles of cell wall and total yeast sterols suggested that the preparations were enriched for cell wall components. The presence of plasma in the culture medium specially increased cell wall brassicasterol abundance and also other lipids. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We here report an original comparative lipidomic analysis of P. brasiliensis cell wall. Our results open doors to understanding the role of cell wall lipids in fungal biology, and interaction with anti-fungal drugs and the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa V. G. Longo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ernesto S. Nakayasu
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Felipe Gazos-Lopes
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Milene C. Vallejo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alisson L. Matsuo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rosana Puccia
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina-Universidade Federal de São Paulo, EPM-UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
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Mendez TL, De Chatterjee A, Duarte TT, Gazos-Lopes F, Robles-Martinez L, Roy D, Sun J, Maldonado RA, Roychowdhury S, Almeida IC, Das S. Glucosylceramide transferase activity is critical for encystation and viable cyst production by an intestinal protozoan, Giardia lamblia. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:16747-16760. [PMID: 23589290 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.438416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of viable cysts by Giardia is essential for its survival in the environment and for spreading the infection via contaminated food and water. The hallmark of cyst production (also known as encystation) is the biogenesis of encystation-specific vesicles (ESVs) that transport cyst wall proteins to the plasma membrane of the trophozoite before laying down the protective cyst wall. However, the molecules that regulate ESV biogenesis and maintain cyst viability have never before been identified. Here, we report that giardial glucosylceramide transferase-1 (gGlcT1), an enzyme of sphingolipid biosynthesis, plays a key role in ESV biogenesis and maintaining cyst viability. We find that overexpression of this enzyme induced the formation of aggregated/enlarged ESVs and generated clustered cysts with reduced viability. The silencing of gGlcT1 synthesis by antisense morpholino oligonucleotide abolished ESV production and generated mostly nonviable cysts. Interestingly, when gGlcT1-overexpressed Giardia was transfected with anti-gGlcT1 morpholino, the enzyme activity, vesicle biogenesis, and cyst viability returned to normal, suggesting that the regulated expression of gGlcT1 is important for encystation and viable cyst production. Furthermore, the overexpression of gGlcT1 increased the influx of membrane lipids and fatty acids without altering the fluidity of plasma membranes, indicating that the expression of gGlcT1 activity is linked to lipid internalization and maintaining the overall lipid balance in this parasite. Taken together, our results suggest that gGlcT1 is a key player of ESV biogenesis and cyst viability and therefore could be targeted for developing new anti-giardial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tavis L Mendez
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Atasi De Chatterjee
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Trevor T Duarte
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Felipe Gazos-Lopes
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Leobarda Robles-Martinez
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Neuroscience and Metabolic Disorder Clusters, Border Biomedical Research Center, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Debarshi Roy
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Jianjun Sun
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Rosa A Maldonado
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Sukla Roychowdhury
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808; Neuroscience and Metabolic Disorder Clusters, Border Biomedical Research Center, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Igor C Almeida
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808
| | - Siddhartha Das
- From Infectious Disease and Immunology; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968-5808.
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Rodrigues ML, Nakayasu ES, Almeida IC, Nimrichter L. The impact of proteomics on the understanding of functions and biogenesis of fungal extracellular vesicles. J Proteomics 2013; 97:177-86. [PMID: 23583696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Several microbial molecules are released to the extracellular space in vesicle-like structures. In pathogenic fungi, these molecules include pigments, polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins, which traverse the cell wall in vesicles that accumulate in the extracellular space. The diverse composition of fungal extracellular vesicles (EV) is indicative of multiple mechanisms of cellular biogenesis, a hypothesis that was supported by EV proteomic studies in a set of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with defects in both conventional and unconventional secretory pathways. In the human pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, extracellular vesicle proteomics revealed the presence of proteins with both immunological and pathogenic activities. In fact, fungal EV have been demonstrated to interfere with the activity of immune effector cells and to increase fungal pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the impact of proteomics on the understanding of functions and biogenesis of fungal EV, as well as the potential role of these structures in fungal pathogenesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Trends in Microbial Proteomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcio L Rodrigues
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Ernesto S Nakayasu
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA; Biological Science Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Igor C Almeida
- The Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Peng B, Huang X, Nakayasu ES, Petersen JR, Qiu S, Almeida IC, Zhang JY. Using immunoproteomics to identify alpha-enolase as an autoantigen in liver fibrosis. J Proteome Res 2013; 12:1789-96. [PMID: 23458688 DOI: 10.1021/pr3011342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis results from extracellular matrix accumulation during the wound healing process when the liver is insulted with chronic viral infection, inflammation, or alcoholic diseases. The current diagnosis of liver fibrosis is mainly dependent on biopsy, which is an invasive approach. Identification of serological biomarkers has been considered as the most promising way for early detection of the disease. Although several biomarkers in liver fibrosis have been identified, the problem is that these markers can be also detected in fibrogenesis that occurred in other organs. In this study, we have identified and characterized some cellular proteins that can be recognized by autoantibodies in the sera from patients with precirrhotic stage of liver fibrosis. Among 180 sera from patients with liver fibrosis, 14.4% (26/180) of sera contained autoantibody against a protein migrating around 47 kDa on SDS-PAGE gel. Indirect immunofluorescence assay using purified autoantibody against the 47-kDa protein showed that this protein mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Using immunoproteomic approach, the 47-kDa protein was identified as alpha-enolase. In further study, the frequency of antialpha-enolase antibody in sera from patients with precirrhotic stage of liver fibrosis (21.6%, 27/125) was significantly higher than that in sera from patients with cirrhosis (9.1%, 5/55) and liver cancer (14.3%, 12/84), as well as in sera from healthy individuals (4.1%, 3/74). Therefore, alpha-enolase is an autoantigen that elicits autoimmune response in liver fibrosis and can be a potential prognostic factor for liver fibrosis diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Peng
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso , El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
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Bayer-Santos E, Aguilar-Bonavides C, Rodrigues SP, Cordero EM, Marques AF, Varela-Ramirez A, Choi H, Yoshida N, da Silveira JF, Almeida IC. Proteomic Analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi Secretome: Characterization of Two Populations of Extracellular Vesicles and Soluble Proteins. J Proteome Res 2013; 12:883-97. [DOI: 10.1021/pr300947g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ethel Bayer-Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia,
Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Clemente Aguilar-Bonavides
- The Border Biomedical Research
Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
- Computational Science Program,
The Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Silas Pessini Rodrigues
- The Border Biomedical Research
Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Esteban Maurício Cordero
- The Border Biomedical Research
Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Alexandre Ferreira Marques
- The Border Biomedical Research
Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Armando Varela-Ramirez
- The Border Biomedical Research
Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Hyungwon Choi
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public
Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nobuko Yoshida
- Departamento de Microbiologia,
Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil
| | - José Franco da Silveira
- Departamento de Microbiologia,
Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- The Border Biomedical Research
Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
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Ashmus RA, Schocker NS, Cordero-Mendoza Y, Marques AF, Monroy EY, Pardo A, Izquierdo L, Gállego M, Gascon J, Almeida IC, Michael K. Potential use of synthetic α-galactosyl-containing glycotopes of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi as diagnostic antigens for Chagas disease. Org Biomol Chem 2013; 11:5579-83. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ob40887f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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48
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Song W, Delyria ES, Chen J, Huang W, Lee JS, Mittendorf EA, Ibrahim N, Radvanyi LG, Li Y, Lu H, Xu H, Shi Y, Wang LX, Ross JA, Rodrigues SP, Almeida IC, Yang X, Qu J, Schocker NS, Michael K, Zhou D. MUC1 glycopeptide epitopes predicted by computational glycomics. Int J Oncol 2012; 41:1977-84. [PMID: 23023583 PMCID: PMC3556481 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2012.1645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioinformatic tools and databases for glycobiology and glycomics research are playing increasingly important roles in functional studies. However, to verify hypotheses generated by computational glycomics with empirical functional assays is only an emerging field. In this study, we predicted glycan epitopes expressed by a cancer-derived mucin, MUC1, by computational glycomics. MUC1 is expressed by tumor cells with a deficiency in glycosylation. Although numerous diagnostic reagents and cancer vaccines have been designed based on abnormally glycosylated MUC1 sequences, the glycan and peptide sequences responsible for immune responses in vivo are poorly understood. The immunogenicity of synthetic MUC1 glycopeptides bearing Tn or sialyl-Tn antigens have been studied in mouse models, while authentic glyco-epitopes expressed by tumor cells remain unclear. To examine the immunogenicity of authentic cancer derived MUC1 glyco-epitopes, we expressed membrane bound forms of MUC1 tandem repeats in Jurkat, a mutant cancer cell line deficient of mucin-type core-1 β1-3 galactosyltransferase activity, and immunized mice with cancer cells expressing authentic MUC1 glyco-epitopes. Antibody responses to individual glyco-epitopes were determined by chemically synthesized candidate MUC1 glycopeptides predicted through computational glycomics. Monoclonal antibodies can be generated toward chemically synthesized glycopeptide sequences. With RPAPGS(Tn)TAPPAHG as an example, a monoclonal antibody 16A, showed 25-fold higher binding to glycosylated peptide (EC50=9.278±1.059 ng/ml) compared to its non-glycosylated form (EC(50)=247.3±16.29 ng/ml) as measured by ELISA experiments with plate-bound peptides. A library of monoclonal antibodies toward authentic MUC1 glycopeptide epitopes may be a valuable tool for studying glycan and peptide sequences in cancer, as well as reagents for diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Song
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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49
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Soares RP, Torrecilhas AC, Assis RR, Rocha MN, Moura e Castro FA, Freitas GF, Murta SM, Santos SL, Marques AF, Almeida IC, Romanha AJ. Intraspecies variation in Trypanosoma cruzi GPI-mucins: biological activities and differential expression of α-galactosyl residues. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 87:87-96. [PMID: 22764297 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored mucins of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes play an important immunomodulatory role during the course of Chagas disease. Here, some biological activities of tGPI-mucins from four T. cruzi isolates, including benznidazole-susceptible (BZS-Y), benznidazole-resistant (BZR-Y), CL, and Colombiana, were evaluated. GPI-mucins were able to differentially trigger the production of interleukin-12 and nitric oxide in BALB/c macrophages and modulate LLC-MK2 cell invasion. The significance of these variations was assessed after analysis of the terminal α-galactosyl residues. Enzymatic treatment with α-galactosidase indicated a differential expression of O-linked α-galactosyl residues among the strains, with higher expression of this sugar in BZS-Y and BZR-Y T. cruzi populations followed by Colombiana and CL. Unweighted pair group method analysis of the carbohydrate anchor profile and biological parameters allowed the clustering of two groups. One group includes Y and CL strains (T. cruzi II and VI), and the other group is represented by Colombiana strain (T. cruzi I).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo P Soares
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Vallejo MC, Nakayasu ES, Longo LVG, Ganiko L, Lopes FG, Matsuo AL, Almeida IC, Puccia R. Lipidomic analysis of extracellular vesicles from the pathogenic phase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39463. [PMID: 22745761 PMCID: PMC3382159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungal extracellular vesicles are able to cross the cell wall and transport molecules that help in nutrient acquisition, cell defense, and modulation of the host defense machinery. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we present a detailed lipidomic analysis of extracellular vesicles released by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis at the yeast pathogenic phase. We compared data of two representative isolates, Pb3 and Pb18, which have distinct virulence profiles and phylogenetic background. Vesicle lipids were fractionated into different classes and analyzed by either electrospray ionization- or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found two species of monohexosylceramide and 33 phospholipid species, including phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylglycerol. Among the phospholipid-bound fatty acids in extracellular vesicles, C181 predominated in Pb3, whereas C18:2 prevailed in Pb18. The prevalent sterol in Pb3 and Pb18 vesicles was brassicasterol, followed by ergosterol and lanosterol. Inter-isolate differences in sterol composition were observed, and also between extracellular vesicles and whole cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The extensive lipidomic analysis of extracellular vesicles from two P. brasiliensis isolates will help to understand the composition of these fungal components/organelles and will hopefully be useful to study their biogenesis and role in host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milene C. Vallejo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ernesto S. Nakayasu
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Larissa V. G. Longo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciane Ganiko
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Felipe G. Lopes
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Alisson L. Matsuo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rosana Puccia
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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