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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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Finamore-Araujo P, Silva da Fonseca GL, Vieira CS, de Castro DP, Moreira OC. RNA as a feasible marker of Trypanosoma cruzi viability during the parasite interaction with the triatomine vector Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Triatominae). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010535. [PMID: 35797352 PMCID: PMC9307183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010535] [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: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A recurring question concerning Trypanosoma cruzi DNA detection/quantification is related to the fact that DNA amplification, by itself, does not differentiate between viable or dead parasites. On the other hand, RNA can be considered a potential molecular marker of pathogens viability. Herein, we developed a quantitative real-time PCR with reverse Transcription (RT-qPCR) to quantify viable T. cruzi in artificially infected Rhodnius prolixus whilst evaluating differences between DNA and mRNA quantification along the insect midgut during 5, 9, 15 and 29 days after feeding. The RT-qPCR presented an improved performance with linearities ranging from 107 to 102 parasites equivalents and 3 to 0.0032 intestine unit equivalents, and efficiencies of 100.3% and 102.8% for both T. cruzi and triatomine targets, respectively. Comparing both RT-qPCR and qPCR, we confirmed that RNA is faster degraded, no longer being detected at day 1 after parasite lysis, while DNA detection was stable, with no decrease in parasite load over the days, even after parasite lysis. We also observed statistical differences between the quantification of the parasite load by DNA and by RNA on day 15 after feeding of experimentally infected R. prolixus. When assessing different portions of the digestive tract, by RT-qPCR, we could detect a statistically significant reduction in the parasite amount in the anterior midgut. Oppositely, there was a statistically significant increase of the parasite load in the hindgut. In conclusion, for this study parasite’s viability in R. prolixus digestive tract were assessed targeting T. cruzi mRNA. In addition, differences between DNA and RNA detection observed herein, raise the possibility that RNA is a potential molecular viability marker, which could contribute to understanding the dynamics of the parasite infection in invertebrate hosts. In this study, we developed and standardized a Real-Time PCR with Reverse Transcription (RT-qPCR) to determine T. cruzi viability in R. prolixus samples. Moreover, we aimed to assess differences between the amplification signals of DNA and mRNA on a T. cruzi colonization kinetics in experimentally infected R. prolixus. Thus, it was possible to analyze the potential of parasite’s RNA as a molecular viability marker in parasite-vector interaction. This novel RT-qPCR methodology has potential application in viability assessment and raises the possibility for further monitoring of the parasite load in infected insects or studies related to vectorial capacity. Furthermore, the analysis of parasite viability by RT qPCR could be an especially effective tool for Chagas disease diagnostic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Finamore-Araujo
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Lucio Silva da Fonseca
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cecília Stahl Vieira
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Physiology of Insects, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Science and Biotechnology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Daniele Pereira de Castro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Physiology of Insects, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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3
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Farani PSG, Ferreira BIS, Gibaldi D, Lannes-Vieira J, Moreira OC. Modulation of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p levels is linked to reduced parasite load in H9C2 Trypanosoma cruzi infected cardiomyoblasts. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1436. [PMID: 35082354 PMCID: PMC8791985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05493-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In the heart tissue of acutely Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p are, respectively, downregulated and upregulated. Here, we used the H9C2 rat cardiomyoblast cell line infected with the Colombian T. cruzi strain to investigate the parasite-host cell interplay, focusing on the regulation of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p expression. Next, we explored the effects of interventions with the trypanosomicidal drug Benznidazole (Bz) alone or combined with Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative shown to modulate immunological and cardiac abnormalities in a model of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy, on parasite load and expression of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p. The infection of H9C2 cells with trypomastigote forms allowed parasite cycle with intracellular forms multiplication and trypomastigote release. After 48 and 144 h of infection, upregulation of miR-145-5p (24 h: 2.38 ± 0.26; 48 h: 3.15 ± 0.9-fold change) and miR-146b-5b (24 h: 2.60 ± 0.46; 48 h: 2.97 ± 0.23-fold change) was detected. The peak of both miRNA levels paralleled with release of trypomastigote forms. Addition of 3 µM and 10 µM of Bz 48 h after infection reduced parasite load but did not interfere with miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p levels. Addition of PTX did not interfere with Bz-induced parasite control efficacy. Conversely, combined Bz + PTX treatment decreased the levels of both microRNAs, resembling the expression levels detected in non-infected H9C2 cells. Moreover, the use of miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p mimic/inhibitor systems before infection of H9C2 cells decreased parasite load, 72 h postinfection. When H9C2 cells were treated with miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p mimic/inhibitor 48 h after infection, all the used systems, except the miR-146b-5p inhibitor, reduced parasite load. Altogether, our data indicate that these microRNAs putatively control signaling pathways crucial for parasite–host cell interaction. Thus, miR-145-5p and miR-146b-5p deserve to be further investigated as biomarkers of parasite control and tools to identify therapeutic adjuvants to etiological treatment in Chagas disease.
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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
| | - Beatriz Iandra Silva Ferreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel Gibaldi
- Laboratory of Biology of the Interactions, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - 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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Cardoso-Santos C, Ferreira de Almeida Fiuza L, França da Silva C, Mazzeti AL, Donola Girão R, Melo de Oliveira G, da Gama Jaen Batista D, Cruz Moreira O, Lins da Silva Gomes N, Maes L, Caljon G, Hulpia F, Calenbergh SV, Correia Soeiro MDN. 7-Aryl-7-deazapurine 3'-deoxyribonucleoside derivative as a novel lead for Chagas' disease therapy: in vitro and in vivo pharmacology. JAC Antimicrob Resist 2021; 3:dlab168. [PMID: 34806007 PMCID: PMC8599808 DOI: 10.1093/jacamr/dlab168] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is auxotrophic for purines and causes Chagas’ disease (CD), a neglected illness affecting >6 million people. Combining the 3-deoxyribofuranose part of cordycepin with the modified purine ring of a nucleoside ‘hit’ led to the discovery of 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-N7-(3′-deoxy-β-d-ribofuranosyl)-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (Cpd1), revealing promising anti-T. cruzi activity. Objectives To further evaluate Cpd1 in vitro and in vivo to fully assess its therapeutic potential against CD, covering cell culture sterilization through washout assays, drug combination with benznidazole and long-term administration in T. cruzi-infected mice. Results Although less susceptible to Cpd1 than amastigotes, trypomastigotes present an impaired capacity to successfully establish intracellular infection of cardiac cultures. Combination of benznidazole with Cpd1 indicated no interaction (additive effect) (FIC index = 0.72) while administration to mice at one-tenth of the optimal dose (2.5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg for Cpd1 and benznidazole, respectively) suppressed parasitaemia but failed to avoid mortality. Long-term treatment (60 days) gave a rapid drop of the parasitaemia (>98% decline) and 100% mice survival but only 16% cure. In vitro washout experiments demonstrated that although parasite release into the supernatant of infected cardiac cultures was reduced by >94%, parasite recrudescence did occur after treatment. Conclusions Parasite recrudescence did occur after treatment corroborating the hypothesis of therapeutic failure due to subpopulations of dormant forms and/or genetic factors in persister parasites involved in natural drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Cardoso-Santos
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology (LBC), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Cristiane França da Silva
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology (LBC), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Lia Mazzeti
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology (LBC), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Roberson Donola Girão
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology (LBC), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Melo de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology (LBC), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Denise da Gama Jaen Batista
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology (LBC), Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Natália Lins da Silva Gomes
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Fabian Hulpia
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Serge V Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
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Ferreira BIDS, da Silva-Gomes NL, Coelho WLDCNP, da Costa VD, Carneiro VCDS, Kader RL, Amaro MP, Villar LM, Miyajima F, Alves-Leon SV, de Paula VS, Leon LAA, Moreira OC. Validation of a novel molecular assay to the diagnostic of COVID-19 based on real time PCR with high resolution melting. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260087. [PMID: 34807915 PMCID: PMC8608302 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented need for RT-qPCR-based molecular diagnostic testing, placing a strain on the supply chain and the availability of commercially available PCR testing kits and reagents. The effect of limited molecular diagnostics-related supplies has been felt across the globe, disproportionally impacting molecular diagnostic testing in developing countries where acquisition of supplies is limited due to availability. The increasing global demand for commercial molecular diagnostic testing kits and reagents has made standard PCR assays cost prohibitive, resulting in the development of alternative approaches to detect SARS-CoV-2 in clinical specimens, circumventing the need for commercial diagnostic testing kits while mitigating the high-demand for molecular diagnostics testing. The timely availability of the complete SARS-CoV-2 genome in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated the rapid development and deployment of specific primers and standardized laboratory protocols for the molecular diagnosis of COVID-19. An alternative method offering a highly specific manner of detecting and genotyping pathogens within clinical specimens is based on the melting temperature differences of PCR products. This method is based on the melting temperature differences between purine and pyrimidine bases. Here, RT-qPCR assays coupled with a High Resolution Melting analysis (HRM-RTqPCR) were developed to target different regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome (RdRp, E and N) and an internal control (human RNAse P gene). The assays were validated using synthetic sequences from the viral genome and clinical specimens (nasopharyngeal swabs, serum and saliva) of sixty-five patients with severe or moderate COVID-19 from different states within Brazil; a larger validation group than that used in the development to the commercially available TaqMan RT-qPCR assay which is considered the gold standard for COVID-19 testing. The sensitivity of the HRM-RTqPCR assays targeting the viral N, RdRp and E genes were 94.12, 98.04 and 92.16%, with 100% specificity to the 3 SARS-CoV-2 genome targets, and a diagnostic accuracy of 95.38, 98.46 and 93.85%, respectively. Thus, HRM-RTqPCR emerges as an attractive alternative and low-cost methodology for the molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 in restricted-budget laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Iandra da Silva Ferreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/ Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natália Lins da Silva-Gomes
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/ Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Rafael Lopes Kader
- University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marisa Pimentel Amaro
- University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lívia Melo Villar
- Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/ Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fábio Miyajima
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Branch Ceará, Eusebio, Brazil
| | - Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon
- University Hospital Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Luciane Almeida Amado Leon
- Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/ Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/ Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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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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7
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Muñoz-Calderón A, Silva-Gomes NL, Apodaca S, Alarcón de Noya B, Díaz-Bello Z, Souza LRQ, Costa ADT, Britto C, Moreira OC, Schijman AG. Toward the Establishment of a Single Standard Curve for Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi Natural Populations Using a Synthetic Satellite Unit DNA Sequence. J Mol Diagn 2021; 23:521-531. [PMID: 33549859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate diagnostic tools and surrogate markers of parasitologic response to treatment are needed for managing Chagas disease. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is used for treatment monitoring, but variability in copy dosage and sequences of molecular target genes among different Trypanosoma cruzi strains limit the precision of quantitative measures. To improve qPCR quantification accuracy, we designed and evaluated a synthetic DNA molecule containing a satellite DNA (satDNA) repeat unit as standard for quantification of T. cruzi loads in clinical samples, independently of the parasite strain. Probit regression analysis established for Dm28c (TcI) and CL-Brener (TcVI) stocks similar 95% limit of detection values [0.903 (0.745 to 1.497) and 0.667 (CI, 0.113 to 3.927) copy numbers/μL, respectively] when synthetic DNA was the standard for quantification, allowing direct comparison of loads in samples infected with different discrete typing units. This standard curve was evaluated in 205 samples (38 acute oral and 19 chronic Chagas disease patients) from different geographical areas infected with various genotypes, including samples obtained during treatment follow-up; high agreement with parasitic load trends using standard curves based on DNA extracted from spiked blood with counted parasites was obtained. This qPCR-based quantification strategy will be a valuable tool in phase 3 clinical trials, to follow up patients under treatment or at risk of reactivation, and in experimental models using different parasite strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Lins Silva-Gomes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sofia Apodaca
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Sección de Inmunologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr Félix Pifano," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Zoraida Díaz-Bello
- Sección de Inmunologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr Félix Pifano," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Leticia Rocha Quintino Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Dias Tavares Costa
- Laboratório de Ciências e Tecnologias Aplicadas à Saúde (LaCTAS), Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Finamore-Araujo P, Faier-Pereira A, Ramon do Nascimento Brito C, Gomes Peres E, Kazumy de Lima Yamaguchi K, Trotta Barroso Ferreira R, Moreira OC. Validation of a novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for Trypanosoma cruzi detection and quantification in açai pulp. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246435. [PMID: 33529258 PMCID: PMC7853518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazil, orally acquired T. cruzi infection has become the most relevant transmission mechanisms from public health perspective. Around 70% of new Chagas disease cases have been associated with consumption of contaminated food or beverages. Açai (Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe precatoria) is currently one of the most commercialized Amazonian fruits in the Brazilian and international markets. Therefore, it has become important to incorporate in the production process some procedures to measure out effective hygiene and product quality control required by global market. Molecular methods have been developed for rapid detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA in several biological samples, including food matrices, for epidemiological investigation of Chagas disease and food quality control. However, a high-performance molecular methodology since DNA extraction until detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA in açai berry pulp is still needed. Herein, a simple DNA extraction methodology was standardized from the supernatant of açai berry pulp stabilized in a 6M Guanidine-HCl/0.2M EDTA buffer. In addition, a multiplex real time qPCR assay, targeting T. cruzi DNA and an Exogenous Internal Positive Control was developed and validated, using reference from all T. cruzi DTUs and commercial samples of açai pulp, from an endemic municipality with previous history of oral Chagas disease outbreak. Thus, a high-sensitivity qPCR assay, that could detect up to 0.01 parasite equivalents/mL in açai, was reached. As of the 45 commercial samples analyzed, 9 (20%) were positive for T. cruzi. This high-sensitive, fast, and easy-to-use molecular assay is compatible with most of the laboratories involved in the investigations of oral Chagas disease outbreaks, representing an important tool to the epidemiology, control, and surveillance of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Finamore-Araujo
- Plataforma Fiocruz de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A –Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Amanda Faier-Pereira
- Plataforma Fiocruz de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A –Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ramon do Nascimento Brito
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Plataforma Fiocruz de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A –Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Filgueira CPB, Moreira OC, Cantanhêde LM, de Farias HMT, Porrozzi R, Britto C, Boité MC, Cupolillo E. Comparison and clinical validation of qPCR assays targeting Leishmania 18S rDNA and HSP70 genes in patients with American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008750. [PMID: 33044986 PMCID: PMC7581006 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a worldwide neglected disease, encompassing asymptomatic infections and different clinical forms, such as American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) which is part of the complex of diseases caused by protozoan parasites from Leishmania genus, transmitted by sand fly vectors. As a neglected disease, much effort is still needed in treatment and diagnosis. Currently, ATL diagnosis is mainly made by parasite detection by microscopy. The sensitivity of the method varies, and factors such as collection procedures interfere. Molecular approaches, specially based on Real Time PCR (qPCR) technique, has been widely used to detect Leishmania infection and to quantify parasite load, once it is a simple, rapid and sensitive methodology, capable to detect low parasite concentrations and less prone to variability. Although many studies have been already published addressing the use of this technique, an improvement on these methodologies, including an analytical validation, standardization and data association is demanded. Moreover, a proper validation by the assay by the use of clinical samples is still required. In this sense, the purpose of the present work is to compare the performance of qPCR using two commonly used targets (18S rDNA and HSP70) with an internal control (RNAse P) in multiplex reactions. Additionally, we validated reactions by assaying 88 samples from patients presenting different clinical forms of leishmaniasis (cutaneous, mucosal, recent and old lesions), representing the diversity found in Brazil's Amazon Region. Following the methodology proposed herein, the results indicate the use of both qPCR assays, 18S rDNA and HSP70, to achieve a very good net sensitivity (98.5%) and specificity (100%), performing simultaneous or sequential testing, respectively. With this approach, our main goal is to conclude the first step of a further multicenter study to propose the standardization of detection and quantification of Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Patricio Braga Filgueira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Lilian Motta Cantanhêde
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia Genética, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Unidade Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Heloísa Martins Teixeira de Farias
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato Porrozzi
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Côrtes Boité
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elisa Cupolillo
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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10
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Santos VRCD, Antunes D, Souza DDSMD, Moreira OC, Lima ICDA, Farias-de-Oliveira DA, Lobo JP, de Meis E, Coura JR, Savino W, Junqueira ACV, de Meis J. Human acute Chagas disease: changes in factor VII, activated protein C and hepatic enzymes from patients of oral outbreaks in Pará State (Brazilian Amazon). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e190364. [PMID: 32130371 PMCID: PMC7046146 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral transmission of Chagas disease has been increasing in Latin American
countries. The present study aimed to investigate changes in hepatic function,
coagulation factor levels and parasite load in human acute Chagas disease (ACD)
secondary to oral Trypanosoma cruzi transmission. Clinical and
epidemiological findings of 102 infected individuals attended in the State of
Pará from October 2013 to February 2016 were included. The most common symptoms
were fever (98%), asthenia (83.3%), face and limb edema (80.4%), headache
(74.5%) and myalgia (72.5%). The hepatic enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of 30 ACD patients were higher compared
with controls, and this increase was independent of the treatment with
benznidazole. Moreover, ACD individuals had higher plasma levels of activated
protein C and lower levels of factor VII of the coagulation cascade. Patients
with the highest parasite load had also the most increased transaminase levels.
Also, ALT and AST were associated moderately (r = 0.429) and strongly (r =
0.595) with parasite load respectively. In conclusion, the present study raises
the possibility that a disturbance in coagulation and hepatic function may be
linked to human ACD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Regina Cavalcante Dos Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Secretaria de Saúde Pública do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil
| | - Dina Antunes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Désio A Farias-de-Oliveira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - João Pedro Lobo
- Secretaria de Saúde Pública do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil
| | | | - José Rodrigues Coura
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Wilson Savino
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Juliana de Meis
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Pesquisas sobre o Timo, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Neuroimunomodulação, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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11
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Vieira CS, Waniek PJ, Castro DP, Mattos DP, Moreira OC, Azambuja P. Impact of Trypanosoma cruzi on antimicrobial peptide gene expression and activity in the fat body and midgut of Rhodnius prolixus. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:119. [PMID: 26931761 PMCID: PMC4774030 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1398-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [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: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rhodnius prolixus is a major vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease in Latin America. In natural habitats, these insects are in contact with a variety of bacteria, fungi, virus and parasites that they acquire from both their environments and the blood of their hosts. Microorganism ingestion may trigger the synthesis of humoral immune factors, including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The objective of this study was to compare the expression levels of AMPs (defensins and prolixicin) in the different midgut compartments and the fat body of R. prolixus infected with different T. cruzi strains. The T. cruzi Dm 28c clone (TcI) successfully develops whereas Y strain (TcII) does not complete its life- cycle in R. prolixus. The relative AMP gene expressions were evaluated in the insect midgut and fat body infected on different days with the T. cruzi Dm 28c clone and the Y strain. The influence of the antibacterial activity on the intestinal microbiota was taken into account. Methods The presence of T. cruzi in the midgut of R. prolixus was analysed by optical microscope. The relative expression of the antimicrobial peptides encoding genes defensin (defA, defB, defC) and prolixicin (prol) was quantified by RT-qPCR. The antimicrobial activity of the AMPs against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens were evaluated in vitro using turbidimetric tests with haemolymph, anterior and posterior midgut samples. Midgut bacteria were quantified using colony forming unit (CFU) assays and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results Our results showed that the infection of R. prolixus by the two different T. cruzi strains exhibited different temporal AMP induction profiles in the anterior and posterior midgut. Insects infected with T. cruzi Dm 28c exhibited an increase in defC and prol transcripts and a simultaneous reduction in the midgut cultivable bacteria population, Serratia marcescens and Rhodococcus rhodnii. In contrast, the T. cruzi Y strain neither induced AMP gene expression in the gut nor reduced the number of colony formation units in the anterior midgut. Beside the induction of a local immune response in the midgut after feeding R. prolixus with T. cruzi, a simultaneous systemic response was also detected in the fat body. Conclusions R. prolixus AMP gene expressions and the cultivable midgut bacterial microbiota were modulated in distinct patterns, which depend on the T. cruzi genotype used for infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1398-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Vieira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - P J Waniek
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - D P Castro
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - D P Mattos
- Laboratório deBiologia de Insetos, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - O C Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - P Azambuja
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. .,Departamento de Entomologia Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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12
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Pereira IR, Vilar-Pereira G, Marques V, da Silva AA, Caetano B, Moreira OC, Machado AV, Bruna-Romero O, Rodrigues MM, Gazzinelli RT, Lannes-Vieira J. A human type 5 adenovirus-based Trypanosoma cruzi therapeutic vaccine re-programs immune response and reverses chronic cardiomyopathy. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004594. [PMID: 25617628 PMCID: PMC4305326 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a prototypical neglected tropical disease. Specific immunity promotes acute phase survival. Nevertheless, one-third of CD patients develop chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) associated with parasite persistence and immunological unbalance. Currently, the therapeutic management of patients only mitigates CCC symptoms. Therefore, a vaccine arises as an alternative to stimulate protective immunity and thereby prevent, delay progression and even reverse CCC. We examined this hypothesis by vaccinating mice with replication-defective human Type 5 recombinant adenoviruses (rAd) carrying sequences of amastigote surface protein-2 (rAdASP2) and trans-sialidase (rAdTS) T. cruzi antigens. For prophylactic vaccination, naïve C57BL/6 mice were immunized with rAdASP2+rAdTS (rAdVax) using a homologous prime/boost protocol before challenge with the Colombian strain. For therapeutic vaccination, rAdVax administration was initiated at 120 days post-infection (dpi), when mice were afflicted by CCC. Mice were analyzed for electrical abnormalities, immune response and cardiac parasitism and tissue damage. Prophylactic immunization with rAdVax induced antibodies and H-2Kb-restricted cytotoxic and interferon (IFN)γ-producing CD8+ T-cells, reduced acute heart parasitism and electrical abnormalities in the chronic phase. Therapeutic vaccination increased survival and reduced electrical abnormalities after the prime (analysis at 160 dpi) and the boost (analysis at 180 and 230 dpi). Post-therapy mice exhibited less heart injury and electrical abnormalities compared with pre-therapy mice. rAdVax therapeutic vaccination preserved specific IFNγ-mediated immunity but reduced the response to polyclonal stimuli (anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28), CD107a+ CD8+ T-cell frequency and plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels. Moreover, therapeutic rAdVax reshaped immunity in the heart tissue as reduced the number of perforin+ cells, preserved the number of IFNγ+ cells, increased the expression of IFNγ mRNA but reduced inducible NO synthase mRNA. Vaccine-based immunostimulation with rAd might offer a rational alternative for re-programming the immune response to preserve and, moreover, recover tissue injury in Chagas’ heart disease. The idea that Chagas disease (CD) has an important autoimmune involvement contributed to delay the development of therapies and vaccines. CD is a parasitic neglected disease which afflicts millions of people mostly in Latin America. The cardiac form is the main clinical manifestation of CD. Currently, patients with access to therapy receive medicaments that only mitigate symptoms. Because of the limited prospect of treatment, vaccine reemerged as a strategy to prevent infection, interfere with CD progression and, moreover, reverse heart abnormalities. Here we tested a recombinant adenovirus carrying sequences of ASP2 and TS T. cruzi antigens (rAdVax) as prophylactic and therapeutic tool using a model of chronic Chagas’ heart disease. We showed that prophylactic vaccination reduced heart parasite load, inflammation and electrical abnormalities. The rAdVax therapeutic vaccination also reduced heart injury and improved electrical function, preserved specific IFNγ-mediated immunity but reduced response to polyclonal stimuli, CD107a+ CD8+ T-cell frequency and plasma nitric oxide levels. Moreover, therapeutic rAdVax preserved the number IFNγ+ cells, but decreased perforin+ cells in the heart tissue. Therefore, our results support the hypothesis that vaccination can modify the immunological unbalance that concurs to Chagas’ heart disease to improve prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Resende Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Virgínia Marques
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andrea Alice da Silva
- Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bráulia Caetano
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e do Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Vieira Machado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Oscar Bruna-Romero
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Maurício Martins Rodrigues
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Tostes Gazzinelli
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Division of Infectious Disease and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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13
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Silva-Gomes NL, Ennes-Vidal V, Carolo JCF, Batista MM, Soeiro MN, Menna-Barreto R, Moreira OC. Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase1 (TcNTPDase-1) gene expression is increased due to heat shock and in infective forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:463. [PMID: 25287580 PMCID: PMC4210531 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0463-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ecto-Nucleoside Triphosphate Diphosphohydrolases (Ecto-NTPDases) are enzymes that hydrolyze tri- and/or di-phosphate nucleotides. Evidences point to their participation in Trypanosoma cruzi virulence and infectivity. In this work, we evaluate TcNTPDase-1 gene expression in comparison with ecto-NTPDase activity, in order to study the role of TcNTPDase-1 in parasite virulence, infectivity and adaptation to heat shock. Findings Comparison between distinct T. cruzi isolates (Y, 3663 and 4167 strains, and Dm28c, LL014 and CL-14 clones) showed that TcNTPDase-1 expression was 7.2 ± 1.5 times higher in the Dm28c than the CL-14 avirulent clone. A remarkable expression increase was also observed in the trypomastigote and amastigote forms (22.5 ± 5.6 and 16.3 ± 3.8 times higher than epimastigotes, respectively), indicating that TcNTPDase-1 is overexpressed in T. cruzi infective forms. Moreover, heat shock and long-term cultivation also induced a significant increment on TcNTPDase-1 expression. Conclusions Our results suggest that TcNTPDase-1 plays an important role on T. cruzi infectivity and adaptation to stress conditions, such as long-term cultivation and heat shock. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-014-0463-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Lins Silva-Gomes
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/ FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365. Pavilhão Leônidas Deane, sala 209. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/ FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365. Pavilhão Leônidas Deane, sala 209. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Julliane Castro Ferreira Carolo
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/ FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365. Pavilhão Leônidas Deane, sala 209. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Marcos Meuser Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/ FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Maria Nazaré Soeiro
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/ FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Rubem Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/ FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratorio de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/ FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365. Pavilhão Leônidas Deane, sala 209. Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Bessa RJB, Hughes RA, Jeronimo E, Moreira OC, Prates JAM, Doran O. Effect of pig breed and dietary protein level on selected fatty acids and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase protein expression in longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat. J Anim Sci 2013; 91:4540-6. [PMID: 23881676 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2012-5963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aims of the study were 1) to investigate effects of a low protein diet on fatty acids content and composition of the LM and subcutaneous adipose tissue in 3 genetically diverse breeds, Large White × Landrace, Alentejano, and Bizaro, and 2) to determine whether the effect of the low protein diet of fatty acid composition is associated with dietary modulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) protein expression. The experiments were conducted on 12 Large White × Landrace, 12 Alentejano, and 10 Bízaro female and male pigs. The average animal BW at the beginning of experiments was 40.8, 40.7, and 38.3 kg for Large White × Landrace, Alentejano, and Bízaro, respectively, and the BW of animals at slaughter was 90 kg. The diets contained 202 or 169 g/kg DM of CP (high and low protein diets, respectively) and were balanced in essential AA. The diets were fed until the animals reached 90 kg BW (approximately 73 d). It was established that Large White × Landrace pigs had a less (P = 0.001) total fatty acid content in subcutaneous adipose tissue when compared with Alentejano and Bízaro and less (P < 0.001) intramuscular fat (IMF) content when compared with Alentejano. There was a positive relationship between SCD protein expression in the LM and MUFA content (r = 0.627, P = 0.029) and SCD protein expression and total muscle fatty acids content (r = 0.725, P = 0.008) in Large White × Landrace but not in Alentejano and Bizaro breeds. It has been suggested that SCD protein expression is associated with regulation of fat deposition only in breeds with genetic predisposition to a low IMF content.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J B Bessa
- Unidade de Investigação em Produção e Saúde Animal, L-INIA, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Polo de Investigação da Quinta da Fonte Boa, 2005-048 Vale de Santarém, Portugal
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