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Pinheiro LS, Andrade-Neto VV, Mantuano-Barradas M, Pereira EC, Barbosa RCF, de Oliveira MCC, Menna-Barreto RFS, Cunha-Júnior EF, Torres-Santos EC. Biological effects of trans, trans-farnesol in Leishmania amazonensis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1221246. [PMID: 38035328 PMCID: PMC10687452 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1221246] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Farnesol, derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate in the sterols biosynthetic pathway, is a molecule with three unsaturations and four possible isomers. Candida albicans predominantly secretes the trans, trans-farnesol (t, t-FOH) isomer, known for its role in regulating the virulence of various fungi species and modulating morphological transition processes. Notably, the evolutionary divergence in sterol biosynthesis between fungi, including Candida albicans, and trypanosomatids resulted in the synthesis of sterols with the ergostane skeleton, distinct from cholesterol. This study aims to assess the impact of exogenously added trans, trans-farnesol on the proliferative ability of Leishmania amazonensis and to identify its presence in the lipid secretome of the parasite. Methods The study involved the addition of exogenous trans, trans-farnesol to evaluate its interference with the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes. Proliferation, cell cycle, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial functionality were assessed as indicators of the effects of trans, trans-farnesol. Additionally, lipid secretome analysis was conducted, focusing on the detection of trans, trans-farnesol and related products derived from the precursor, farnesyl pyrophosphate. In silico analysis was employed to identify the sequence for the farnesene synthase gene responsible for producing these isoprenoids in the Leishmania genome. Results Exogenously added trans, trans-farnesol was found to interfere with the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes, inhibiting the cell cycle without causing DNA fragmentation or loss of mitochondrial functionality. Despite the absence of trans, trans-farnesol in the culture supernatant, other products derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate, specifically α-farnesene and β-farnesene, were detected starting on the fourth day of culture, continuing to increase until the tenth day. Furthermore, the identification of the farnesene synthase gene in the Leishmania genome through in silico analysis provided insights into the enzymatic basis of isoprenoid production. Discussion The findings collectively offer the first insights into the mechanism of action of farnesol on L. amazonensis. While trans, trans-farnesol was not detected in the lipid secretome, the presence of α-farnesene and β-farnesene suggests alternative pathways or modifications in the isoprenoid metabolism of the parasite. The inhibitory effects on proliferation and cell cycle without inducing DNA fragmentation or mitochondrial dysfunction raise questions about the specific targets and pathways affected by exogenous trans, trans-farnesol. The identification of the farnesene synthase gene provides a molecular basis for understanding the synthesis of related isoprenoids in Leishmania. Further exploration of these mechanisms may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies against Leishmania infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane Sena Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Teófilo Otoni, MG, Brazil
| | - Valter Viana Andrade-Neto
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcio Mantuano-Barradas
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Elisa Cavalcante Pereira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Edézio Ferreira Cunha-Júnior
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Unidade Integrada de Pesquisa em Produtos Bioativos e Biociências, Centro Multidisciplinar UFRJ-Macaé, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Silva ARST, Costa AMB, Scher R, Andrade-Neto VV, Sarmento VHV, Santos ADJ, Torres-Santos EC, Jain S, Nunes RDS, Menna-Barreto RFS, Dolabella SS. Effect of 3-Carene and the Micellar Formulation on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:324. [PMID: 37368742 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8060324] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania. The drugs used in treatment have a high financial cost, a long treatment time, high toxicity, and variable efficacy. 3-Carene (3CR) is a hydrocarbon monoterpene that has shown in vitro activity against some Leishmania species; however, it has low water solubility and high volatility. This study aimed to develop Poloxamer 407 micelles capable of delivering 3CR (P407-3CR) to improve antileishmanial activity. The micelles formulated presented nanometric size, medium or low polydispersity, and Newtonian fluid rheological behavior. 3CR and P407-3CR inhibited the growth of L. (L.) amazonensis promastigote with IC50/48h of 488.1 ± 3.7 and 419.9 ±1.5 mM, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that 3CR induces multiple nuclei and kinetoplast phenotypes and the formation of numerous cytosolic invaginations. Additionally, the micelles were not cytotoxic to L929 cells or murine peritoneal macrophages, presenting activity on intracellular amastigotes. P407-3CR micelles (IC50/72 h = 0.7 ± 0.1 mM) increased the monoterpene activity by at least twice (3CR: IC50/72 h >1.5 mM). These results showed that P407 micelles are an effective nanosystem for delivering 3CR and potentiating antileishmanial activity. More studies are needed to evaluate this system as a potential therapeutic option for leishmaniases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ricardo Scher
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Valter Viana Andrade-Neto
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | | | - Adriana de Jesus Santos
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Sona Jain
- Programa de Biotecnologia Industrial, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju 49032-490, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Rogéria de Souza Nunes
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | | | - Silvio Santana Dolabella
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristóvão 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
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Romano PS, Akematsu T, Besteiro S, Bindschedler A, Carruthers VB, Chahine Z, Coppens I, Descoteaux A, Alberto Duque TL, He CY, Heussler V, Le Roch KG, Li FJ, de Menezes JPB, Menna-Barreto RFS, Mottram JC, Schmuckli-Maurer J, Turk B, Tavares Veras PS, Salassa BN, Vanrell MC. Autophagy in protists and their hosts: When, how and why? Autophagy Rep 2023; 2:2149211. [PMID: 37064813 PMCID: PMC10104450 DOI: 10.1080/27694127.2022.2149211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic protists are a group of organisms responsible for causing a variety of human diseases including malaria, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis, among others. These diseases, which affect more than one billion people globally, mainly the poorest populations, are characterized by severe chronic stages and the lack of effective antiparasitic treatment. Parasitic protists display complex life-cycles and go through different cellular transformations in order to adapt to the different hosts they live in. Autophagy, a highly conserved cellular degradation process, has emerged as a key mechanism required for these differentiation processes, as well as other functions that are crucial to parasite fitness. In contrast to yeasts and mammals, protist autophagy is characterized by a modest number of conserved autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) that, even though, can drive the autophagosome formation and degradation. In addition, during their intracellular cycle, the interaction of these pathogens with the host autophagy system plays a crucial role resulting in a beneficial or harmful effect that is important for the outcome of the infection. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on autophagy and other related mechanisms in pathogenic protists and their hosts. We sought to emphasize when, how, and why this process takes place, and the effects it may have on the parasitic cycle. A better understanding of the significance of autophagy for the protist life-cycle will potentially be helpful to design novel anti-parasitic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Silvia Romano
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Takahiko Akematsu
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Vern B Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zeinab Chahine
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Baltimore 21205, MD, USA
| | - Albert Descoteaux
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Laval, QC
| | - Thabata Lopes Alberto Duque
- Autophagy Inflammation and Metabolism Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Volker Heussler
- Institute of Cell Biology.University of Bern. Baltzerstr. 4 3012 Bern
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Feng-Jun Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Jeremy C Mottram
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Patricia Sampaio Tavares Veras
- Laboratory of Host-Parasite Interaction and Epidemiology, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Fiocruz-Bahia
- National Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases - National Council for Scientific Research and Development (CNPq)
| | - Betiana Nebai Salassa
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Cristina Vanrell
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
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Andrade-Neto VV, Manso PPDA, Pereira MG, de Cicco NNT, Atella GC, Pelajo-Machado M, Menna-Barreto RFS, Torres-Santos EC. Host cholesterol influences the activity of sterol biosynthesis inhibitors in Leishmania amazonensis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e220407. [PMID: 35384972 PMCID: PMC8979231 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760220407] [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: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant percentage of exogenous cholesterol was found in promastigotes and amastigotes of all studied species of Leishmania, suggesting a biological role for this molecule. Previous studies have shown that promastigotes of Leishmania uptake more low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles under pharmacological pressure and are more susceptible to ergosterol inhibition in the absence of exogenous sources of cholesterol. This work shows that the host’s LDL is available to intracellular amastigotes and that the absence of exogenous cholesterol enhances the potency of sterol biosynthesis inhibitors in infected macrophages. A complete understanding of cholesterol transport to the parasitophorous vacuole can guide the development of a new drug class to be used in combination with sterol biosynthesis inhibitors for the treatment of leishmaniases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valter Viana Andrade-Neto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanossomatídeos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Pedro Paulo de Abreu Manso
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Patologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Miria Gomes Pereira
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Georgia Corrêa Atella
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Pelajo-Machado
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Patologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanossomatídeos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Menna-Barreto RFS, dos Santos ALS. Molecular mechanisms of action of trypanocidal and leishmanicidal drugs with focus on novel chemotherapeutic strategies: creation of a Brazilian multicentre working group. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e220002. [PMID: 35544863 PMCID: PMC9083294 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760220002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Duque TLA, Serrão TCDSLC, Gonçalves AJDS, Pinto EF, Oliveira-Neto MP, Pirmez C, Pereira LDOR, Menna-Barreto RFS. Leishmania (V.) braziliensis infection promotes macrophage autophagy by a LC3B-dependent and BECLIN1-independent mechanism. Acta Trop 2021; 218:105890. [PMID: 33744245 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105890] [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: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is one of the main etiological agents of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Latin America. The establishment of a successful infection in host cells requires several key events including phagocytosis, phagolysosomal maturation impairment, and parasite replication. Autophagy is accountable for the physiological turnover of cellular organelles, degradation of macromolecular structures, and pathogen elimination. In many cases, autophagy control leads to a successful infection, both impairing pathogen elimination or providing nutrients. Here, we have investigated the relationship between autophagy and L. braziliensis infection. We observed that BECLIN1 expression was upregulated early on infection in both in vitro macrophage cultures and biopsies of cutaneous lesions from L. braziliensis infected patients. On the other hand, LC3B expression was downregulated in cutaneous lesions biopsies. A transient pattern of LC3+ cells was observed along L. braziliensis infection, but the number of LC3 puncta did not vary. Additionally, autophagy induction, with rapamycin treatment or through starvation, reduced infection. As expected, rapamycin increased the percentage of LC3+ cells and the number of puncta, but the presence of parasite restricted this effect, indicating LC3-associated autophagy impairment by L. braziliensis. Finally, silencing LC3B but not BECLIN1 promoted infection, confirming BECLIN1 independent and LC3B-related control by the parasite. Taken together, these data indicate macrophage autophagic machinery manipulation by L. braziliensis, resulting in successful establishment and survival into the host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eduardo Fonseca Pinto
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Research, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Claude Pirmez
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Research, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Ennes-Vidal V, Pitaluga AN, Britto CFDPDC, Branquinha MH, Santos ALSD, Menna-Barreto RFS, d'Avila-Levy CM. Expression and cellular localisation of Trypanosoma cruzi calpains. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e200142. [PMID: 33053076 PMCID: PMC7552305 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Calpains are present in almost all organisms and comprise a family of calcium-dependent cysteine peptidases implicated in crucial cellular functions. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, presents an expansion on this gene family with unexplored biological properties. OBJECTIVES Here, we searched for calpains in the T. cruzi genome, evaluated the mRNA levels, calpain activity and the protein expression and determined the cellular localisation in all three parasite life cycle forms. METHODS/FINDINGS Sixty-three calpain sequences were identified in T. cruzi CL Brener genome, with fourteen domain arrangements. The comparison of calpain mRNA abundance by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed seven up-regulated sequences in amastigotes and/or bloodstream trypomastigotes and five in epimastigotes. Western Blotting analysis revealed seven different molecules in the three parasite forms, and one amastigote-specific, while no proteolytic activity could be detected. Flow cytometry assays revealed a higher amount of intracellular calpains in amastigotes and/or trypomastigotes in comparison to epimastigotes. Finally, ultrastructural analysis revealed the presence of calpains in the cytoplasm, vesicular and plasma membranes of the three parasite forms, and in the paraflagellar rod in trypomastigotes. CONCLUSION Calpains are differentially expressed and localised in the T. cruzi life cycle forms. This study adds data on the calpain occurrence and expression pattern in T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vítor Ennes-Vidal
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - André Nóbrega Pitaluga
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Marta Helena Branquinha
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Química, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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Bombaça ACS, Brunoro GVF, Dias-Lopes G, Ennes-Vidal V, Carvalho PC, Perales J, d'Avila-Levy CM, Valente RH, Menna-Barreto RFS. Glycolytic profile shift and antioxidant triggering in symbiont-free and H 2O 2-resistant Strigomonas culicis. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 146:392-401. [PMID: 31760093 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
During their life cycle, trypanosomatids are exposed to stress conditions and adapt their energy and antioxidant metabolism to colonize their hosts. Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenous protist found in invertebrates with an endosymbiotic bacterium that completes essential biosynthetic pathways for the trypanosomatid. Our research group previously generated a wild-type H2O2-resistant (WTR) strain that showed improved mitochondrial metabolism and antioxidant defenses, which led to higher rates of Aedes aegypti infection. Here, we assess the biological contribution of the S. culicis endosymbiont and reactive oxygen species (ROS) resistance to oxidative and energy metabolism processes. Using high-throughput proteomics, several proteins involved in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, the pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione metabolism were identified. The results suggest that ROS resistance decreases glucose consumption and indicate that the metabolic products from gluconeogenesis are key to supplying the protist with high-energy and reducing intermediates. Our hypothesis was confirmed by biochemical assays showing opposite profiles for glucose uptake and hexokinase and pyruvate kinase activity levels in the WTR and aposymbiotic strains, while the enzyme glucose-6P 1-dehydrogenase was more active in both strains. Regarding the antioxidant system, ascorbate peroxidase has an important role in H2O2 resistance and may be responsible for the high infection rates previously described for A. aegypti. In conclusion, our data indicate that the energy-related and antioxidant metabolic processes of S. culicis are modulated in response to oxidative stress conditions, providing new perspectives on the biology of the trypanosomatid-insect interaction as well as on the possible impact of resistant parasites in accidental human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Geovane Dias-Lopes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratory of Integrated Studies in Protozoology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paulo Costa Carvalho
- Laboratory for Structural and Computational Proteomics, ICC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Jonas Perales
- Laboratory of Toxinology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratory of Integrated Studies in Protozoology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Richard Hemmi Valente
- Laboratory of Toxinology, IOC, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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9
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Ennes-Vidal V, Vitório BDS, Menna-Barreto RFS, Pitaluga AN, Gonçalves-da-Silva SA, Branquinha MH, Santos ALS, d'Avila-Levy CM. Calpains of Leishmania braziliensis: genome analysis, differential expression, and functional analysis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2019; 114:e190147. [PMID: 31553371 PMCID: PMC6759280 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Calpains are proteins belonging to the multi-gene family of
calcium-dependent cysteine peptidases that undergo tight on/off regulation,
and uncontrolled proteolysis of calpains is associated with severe human
pathologies. Calpain orthologues are expanded and diversified in the
trypanosomatids genome. OBJECTIVES Here, we characterised calpains in Leishmania braziliensis,
the main causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. METHODS/FINDINGS In total, 34 predicted calpain-like genes were identified. After domain
structure evaluation, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain
reaction (RT-qPCR) during in vitro metacyclogenesis
revealed (i) five genes with enhanced expression in the procyclic stage,
(ii) one augmented gene in the metacyclic stage, and (iii) one
procyclic-exclusive transcript. Western blot analysis revealed that an
antibody against a consensus-conserved peptide reacted with multiple
calpain-like proteins, which is consistent with the multi-gene family
characteristic. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry analyses revealed the
presence of calpain-like molecules mainly in the cytoplasm, to a lesser
extent in the plasma membrane, and negligible levels in the nucleus, which
are all consistent with calpain localisation. Eventually, the calpain
inhibitor MDL28170 was used for functional studies revealing (i) a
leishmaniostatic effect, (ii) a reduction in the association index in mouse
macrophages, (iii) ultra-structural alterations conceivable with autophagy,
and (iv) an enhanced expression of the virulence factor GP63. CONCLUSION This report adds novel insights into the domain structure, expression, and
localisation of L. braziliensis calpain-like molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vítor Ennes-Vidal
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Bianca da Silva Vitório
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - André Nóbrega Pitaluga
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Marta Helena Branquinha
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - André Luis Souza Santos
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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10
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Fiorotti J, Menna-Barreto RFS, Gôlo PS, Coutinho-Rodrigues CJB, Bitencourt ROB, Spadacci-Morena DD, Angelo IDC, Bittencourt VREP. Ultrastructural and Cytotoxic Effects of Metarhizium robertsii Infection on Rhipicephalus microplus Hemocytes. Front Physiol 2019; 10:654. [PMID: 31191351 PMCID: PMC6548823 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [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: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metarhizium is an entomopathogenic fungus widely employed in the biological control of arthropods. Hemocytes present in the hemolymph of invertebrates are the cells involved in the immune response of arthropods. Despite this, knowledge about Rhipicephalus microplus hemocytes morphological aspects as well as their role in response to the fungal infection is scarce. The present study aimed to analyze the hemocytes of R. microplus females after Metarhizium robertsii infection, using light and electron microscopy approaches associated with the cytotoxicity evaluation. Five types of hemocytes (prohemocytes, spherulocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, and oenocytoids) were described in the hemolymph of uninfected ticks, while only prohemocytes, granulocytes, and plasmatocytes were observed in fungus-infected tick females. Twenty-four hours after the fungal infection, only granulocytes and plasmatocytes were detected in the transmission electron microscopy analysis. Hemocytes from fungus-infected tick females showed several cytoplasmic vacuoles with different electron densities, and lipid droplets in close contact to low electron density vacuoles, as well as the formation of autophagosomes and subcellular material in different stages of degradation could also be observed. M. robertsii propagules were more toxic to tick hemocytes in the highest concentration tested (1.0 × 108 conidia mL-1). Interestingly, the lowest fungus concentration did not affect significantly the cell viability. Microanalysis showed that cells granules from fungus-infected and uninfected ticks had similar composition. This study addressed the first report of fungal cytotoxicity analyzing ultrastructural effects on hemocytes of R. microplus infected with entomopathogenic fungi. These results open new perspectives for the comprehension of ticks physiology and pathology, allowing the identification of new targets for the biological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Fiorotti
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia Silva Gôlo
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Oliveira Barbosa Bitencourt
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
| | | | - Isabele da Costa Angelo
- Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Brazil
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Menna-Barreto RFS. Cell death pathways in pathogenic trypanosomatids: lessons of (over)kill. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:93. [PMID: 30700697 PMCID: PMC6353990 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1370-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [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: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Especially in tropical and developing countries, the clinically relevant protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Trypanosoma brucei (sleeping sickness) and Leishmania species (leishmaniasis) stand out and infect millions of people worldwide leading to critical social-economic implications. Low-income populations are mainly affected by these three illnesses that are neglected by the pharmaceutical industry. Current anti-trypanosomatid drugs present variable efficacy with remarkable side effects that almost lead to treatment discontinuation, justifying a continuous search for alternative compounds that interfere with essential and specific parasite pathways. In this scenario, the triggering of trypanosomatid cell death machinery emerges as a promising approach, although the exact mechanisms involved in unicellular eukaryotes are still unclear as well as the controversial biological importance of programmed cell death (PCD). In this review, the mechanisms of autophagy, apoptosis-like cell death and necrosis found in pathogenic trypanosomatids are discussed, as well as their roles in successful infection. Based on the published genomic and proteomic maps, the panel of trypanosomatid cell death molecules was constructed under different experimental conditions. The lack of PCD molecular regulators and executioners in these parasites up to now has led to cell death being classified as an unregulated process or incidental necrosis, despite all morphological evidence published. In this context, the participation of metacaspases in PCD was also not described, and these proteases play a crucial role in proliferation and differentiation processes. On the other hand, autophagic phenotype has been described in trypanosomatids under a great variety of stress conditions (drugs, starvation, among others) suggesting that this process is involved in the turnover of damaged structures in the protozoa and is not a cell death pathway. Death mechanisms of pathogenic trypanosomatids may be involved in pathogenesis, and the identification of parasite-specific regulators could represent a rational and attractive alternative target for drug development for these neglected diseases.
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Bombaça ACS, Dossow DV, Barbosa JMC, Paz C, Burgos V, Menna-Barreto RFS. TrypanocidalActivity of Natural Sesquiterpenoids Involves Mitochondrial Dysfunction, ROS Production and Autophagic Phenotype in Trypanosomacruzi. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23112800. [PMID: 30373326 PMCID: PMC6278339 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23112800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and represents a serious health problem, especially in Latin America. The clinical treatment of Chagas disease is based on two nitroderivatives that present severe side effects and important limitations. In folk medicine, natural products, including sesquiterpenoids, have been employed for the treatment of different parasitic diseases. In this study, the trypanocidal activity of compounds isolated from the Chilean plants Drimys winteri, Podanthus mitiqui and Maytenus boaria on three T. cruzi evolutive forms (epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote) was evaluated. Total extracts and seven isolated sesquiterpenoids were assayed on trypomastigotes and epimastigotes. Polygodial (Pgd) from D. winteri, total extract from P. mitiqui (PmTE) and the germacrane erioflorin (Efr) from P. mitiqui were the most bioactive substances. Pgd, Efr and PmTE also presented strong effects on intracellular amastigotes and low host toxicity. Many ultrastructural effects of these substances, including reservosome disruption, cytosolic vacuolization, autophagic phenotype and mitochondrial swelling (in the case of Pgd), were observed. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential in treated epimastigotes and an increase in ROS production and high plasma membrane permeability after treatment with Pgd. The promising trypanocidal activity of these natural sesquiterpenoids may be a good starting point for the development of alternative treatmentsforChagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Souza Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil.
| | - Daniela Von Dossow
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco,4811230, Chile.
| | | | - Cristian Paz
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco,4811230, Chile.
| | - Viviana Burgos
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco,4811230, Chile.
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Lopes CMT, Menna-Barreto RFS, Pavan MG, Pereira MCDS, Roque ALR. Trypanosoma janseni n. sp. (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) isolated from Didelphis aurita (Mammalia: Didelphidae) in the Atlantic Rainforest of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: integrative taxonomy and phylogeography within the Trypanosoma cruzi clade. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018; 113:45-55. [PMID: 29211107 PMCID: PMC5719541 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760170297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Didelphis spp. are a South American marsupial species that
are among the most ancient hosts for the Trypanosoma
spp. OBJECTIVES We characterise a new species (Trypanosoma janseni n. sp.)
isolated from the spleen and liver tissues of Didelphis
aurita in the Atlantic Rainforest of Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil. METHODS The parasites were isolated and a growth curve was performed in NNN and
Schneider's media containing 10% foetal bovine serum. Parasite morphology
was evaluated via light microscopy on Giemsa-stained culture smears, as well
as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Molecular taxonomy was
based on a partial region (737-bp) of the small subunit (18S) ribosomal RNA
gene and 708 bp of the nuclear marker, glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) genes. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference
methods were used to perform a species coalescent analysis and to generate
individual and concatenated gene trees. Divergence times among species that
belong to the T. cruzi clade were also inferred. FINDINGS In vitro growth curves demonstrated a very short log phase,
achieving a maximum growth rate at day 3 followed by a sharp decline. Only
epimastigote forms were observed under light and scanning microscopy.
Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed structures typical to
Trypanosoma spp., except one structure that presented
as single-membraned, usually grouped in stacks of three or four.
Phylogeography analyses confirmed the distinct species status of T.
janseni n. sp. within the T. cruzi clade.
Trypanosoma janseni n. sp. clusters with T.
wauwau in a well-supported clade, which is exclusive and
monophyletic. The separation of the South American T.
wauwau + T. janseni coincides with the
separation of the Southern Super Continent. CONCLUSIONS This clade is a sister group of the trypanosomes found in Australian
marsupials and its discovery sheds light on the initial diversification
process based on what we currently know about the T. cruzi
clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Madeira Tavares Lopes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Márcio Galvão Pavan
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - André Luiz R Roque
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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14
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Bombaça ACS, Dias FDA, Ennes-Vidal V, Garcia-Gomes ADS, Sorgine MHF, d'Avila-Levy CM, Menna-Barreto RFS. Hydrogen peroxide resistance in Strigomonas culicis: Effects on mitochondrial functionality and Aedes aegypti interaction. Free Radic Biol Med 2017; 113:255-266. [PMID: 28993269 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic molecules involved in several biological processes such as cellular signaling, proliferation, differentiation and cell death. Adaptations to oxidative environments are crucial for the success of the colonization of insects by protozoa. Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenic trypanosomatid found in the midgut of mosquitoes and presenting a life cycle restricted to the epimastigote form. Among S. culicis peculiarities, there is an endosymbiotic bacterium in the cytoplasm, which completes essential biosynthetic routes of the host cell and may represent an intermediary evolutive step in organelle origin, thus constituting an interesting model for evolutive researches. In this work, we induced ROS resistance in wild type S. culicis epimastigotes by the incubation with increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and compared the oxidative and energetic metabolisms among wild type, wild type-H2O2 resistant and aposymbiotic strains. Resistant protozoa were less sensitive to the oxidative challenge and more dependent on oxidative phosphorylation, which was demonstrated by higher oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential, increased activity of complexes II-III and IV, increased complex II gene expression and higher ATP production. Furthermore, the wild type-H2O2 resistant strain produced reduced ROS levels and showed lower lipid peroxidation, as well as an increase in gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and thiol-dependent peroxidase activity. On the other hand, the aposymbiotic strain showed impaired mitochondrial function, higher H2O2 production and deficient antioxidant response. The induction of H2O2 resistance also led to a remarkable increase in Aedes aegypti midgut binding in vitro and colonization in vivo, indicating that both the pro-oxidant environment in the mosquito gut and the oxidative stress susceptibility regulate S. culicis population in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe de Almeida Dias
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Dos Santos Garcia-Gomes
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Henrique Ferreira Sorgine
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudia Masini d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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15
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Nunes RD, Ventura-Martins G, Moretti DM, Medeiros-Castro P, Rocha-Santos C, Daumas-Filho CRDO, Bittencourt-Cunha PRB, Martins-Cardoso K, Cudischevitch CO, Menna-Barreto RFS, Oliveira JHM, Gusmão DS, Alves Lemos FJ, Alviano DS, Oliveira PL, Lowenberger C, Majerowicz D, Oliveira RM, Mesquita RD, Atella GC, Silva-Neto MAC. Polyphenol-Rich Diets Exacerbate AMPK-Mediated Autophagy, Decreasing Proliferation of Mosquito Midgut Microbiota, and Extending Vector Lifespan. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005034. [PMID: 27732590 PMCID: PMC5061323 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mosquitoes feed on plant-derived fluids such as nectar and sap and are exposed to bioactive molecules found in this dietary source. However, the role of such molecules on mosquito vectorial capacity is unknown. Weather has been recognized as a major determinant of the spread of dengue, and plants under abiotic stress increase their production of polyphenols. Results Here, we show that including polyphenols in mosquito meals promoted the activation of AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK positively regulated midgut autophagy leading to a decrease in bacterial proliferation and an increase in vector lifespan. Suppression of AMPK activity resulted in a 6-fold increase in midgut microbiota. Similarly, inhibition of polyphenol-induced autophagy induced an 8-fold increase in bacterial proliferation. Mosquitoes maintained on the polyphenol diet were readily infected by dengue virus. Conclusion The present findings uncover a new direct route by which exacerbation of autophagy through activation of the AMPK pathway leads to a more efficient control of mosquito midgut microbiota and increases the average mosquito lifespan. Our results suggest for the first time that the polyphenol content and availability of the surrounding vegetation may increase the population of mosquitoes prone to infection with arboviruses. The dramatic climate changes currently occurring on our planet may likely influence the biology and the distribution of mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti is a major vector of arboviruses. However, females feed on plants for a few days before feeding on blood for the first time. Plants are sessile and cannot move to search for better environmental conditions. In times of extreme temperatures, drought, or UV radiation plants produce polyphenols that allow plants to survive under such extreme conditions. Polyphenol ingestion by mosquitoes enhances the activity of an enzyme named AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Mosquitoes emerging from pupae leave the aquatic environment and are readily colonized by many bacterial strains. Polyphenol-fed mosquitoes display a huge activation of AMPK which enhances autophagy in the midgut cells that increases the capture and killing of midgut bacteria, thus enhancing vector lifespan. Therefore, early meals on polyphenol sources allow for the regulation of vector microbiota. These data may provide the basis of a novel strategy that promotes bacterial proliferation and a shortening of vector lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Dutra Nunes
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Ventura-Martins
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Débora Monteiro Moretti
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Medeiros-Castro
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlucio Rocha-Santos
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Renato de Oliveira Daumas-Filho
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paula Rego Barros Bittencourt-Cunha
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Lipídios e Lipoproteínas, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karina Martins-Cardoso
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cecília Oliveira Cudischevitch
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - José Henrique Maia Oliveira
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Desiely Silva Gusmão
- Laboratório de Biologia, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Francisco José Alves Lemos
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela Sales Alviano
- Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Prédio do CCS, Bloco I, Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro Lagerblad Oliveira
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carl Lowenberger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David Majerowicz
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Biotecnologia Farmacêutica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Melo Oliveira
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael Dias Mesquita
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioinformática, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Georgia Correa Atella
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Lipídios e Lipoproteínas, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mário Alberto Cardoso Silva-Neto
- Laboratório de Sinalização Celular, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Lipídios e Lipoproteínas, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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16
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Salomao K, Figueiredo Sadok Menna-Barreto R, Lisboa de Castro S. Stairway to Heaven or Hell? Perspectives and Limitations of Chagas Disease Chemotherapy. Curr Top Med Chem 2016; 16:2266-89. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026616666160413125049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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17
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Farnesi LC, Menna-Barreto RFS, Martins AJ, Valle D, Rezende GL. Physical features and chitin content of eggs from the mosquito vectors Aedes aegypti, Anopheles aquasalis and Culex quinquefasciatus: Connection with distinct levels of resistance to desiccation. J Insect Physiol 2015; 83:43-52. [PMID: 26514070 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Mosquito eggs are laid in water but freshly laid eggs are susceptible to dehydration, if their surroundings dry out at the first hours of development. During embryogenesis of different mosquito vectors the serosal cuticle, an extracellular matrix, is produced; it wraps the whole embryo and becomes part of the eggshell. This cuticle is an essential component of the egg resistance to desiccation (ERD). However, ERD is variable among species, sustaining egg viability for different periods of time. While Aedes aegypti eggs can survive for months in a dry environment (high ERD), those of Anopheles aquasalis and Culex quinquefasciatus in the same condition last, respectively, for one day (medium ERD) or a few hours (low ERD). Resistance to desiccation is determined by the rate of water loss, dehydration tolerance and total amount of water of a given organism. The ERD variability observed among mosquitoes probably derives from diverse traits. We quantified several attributes of whole eggs, potentially correlated with the rate of water loss: length, width, area, volume, area/volume ratio and weight. In addition, some eggshell aspects were also evaluated, such as absolute and relative weight, weight/area relationship (herein called surface density) and chitin content. Presence of chitin specifically in the serosal cuticle as well as aspects of endochorion external surface were also investigated. Three features could be related to differences on ERD levels: chitin content, directly related to ERD, the increase in the egg volume during embryogenesis and the eggshell surface density, which were both inversely related to ERD. Although data suggest that the amount of chitin in the eggshell is relevant for egg impermeability, the participation of other yet unidentified eggshell attributes must be considered in order to account for the differences in the ERD levels observed among Ae. aegypti, An. aquasalis and Cx. quinquefasciatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Cristina Farnesi
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrópodes Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Ademir Jesus Martins
- Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrópodes Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Denise Valle
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Flavivírus, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21045-900, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Gustavo Lazzaro Rezende
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ 28013-602, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
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Brunoro GVF, Caminha MA, Ferreira ATDS, Leprevost FDV, Carvalho PC, Perales J, Valente RH, Menna-Barreto RFS. Reevaluating the Trypanosoma cruzi proteomic map: The shotgun description of bloodstream trypomastigotes. J Proteomics 2015; 115:58-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Sadok Menna-Barreto RF, Belloze KT, Perales J, Silva FP. Proteomic and bioinformatic analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi chemotherapy and potential drug targets: new pieces for an old puzzle. Curr Drug Targets 2014; 15:255-71. [PMID: 24041335 DOI: 10.2174/13894501113146660218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America and is caused by the protozoan hemoflagellate parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Nowadays, it has also been disseminated to non-endemic countries due to the ease of global mobility. The nitroheterocycle benznidazole is currently used to treat this neglected tropical disease, although this drug causes severe side effects and has limited efficacy during the chronic phase of the disease. Proteomics and bioinformatics have recently become powerful tools in the identification of new drug targets. In the last decade, proteomic profiles of different T. cruzi forms under distinct experimental conditions were assessed. These reports have pointed to many potential drug targets, with ergosterol biosynthesis-related proteins and redox system enzymes being the most promising candidates. Nevertheless, the majority of the compounds active against T. cruzi still have unclear mechanisms of action, and most proteomic efforts have studied epimastigotes (the non-clinically relevant insect form of the parasite). Additional analyses with the clinically relevant parasite forms should be performed to identify proteins that actually bind drugs active against T. cruzi. Nonetheless, due to the known technical hurdles in generating such experimental data, bioinformatic approaches that integrate currently available data to generate additional knowledge will also be useful. Here, we review T. cruzi proteomics and describe the main chemoproteomic methods and their application to the identification of trypanosomatid drug targets. Finally, we discuss the potential benefits of more extensively integrating all proteomic data with other molecular databases via bioinformatic analyses to develop novel, viable strategies for alternative treatments of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Floriano Paes Silva
- Laboratorio de Bioquimica de Proteinas e Peptideos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil 4365 - 21040-360, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Silva Galdino T, Menna-Barreto RFS, Britto C, Samudio F, Brandão A, Kalume DE. Cell disruption using a different methodology for proteomics analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Anal Biochem 2013; 448:1-8. [PMID: 24291641 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2013.11.010] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Revised: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a cell disruption method to produce a protein extract using Trypanosoma cruzi cells based on a straightforward hypoosmotic lysis protocol. The procedure consists of three steps: incubation of the cells in a hypoosmotic lysis buffer, sonication in a water bath, and centrifugation. The final protein extract was designated TcS12. The stages of cell disruption at different incubation times were monitored by differential interference contrast microscopy. After 30min of incubation in lysis buffer at 4°C, the T. cruzi epimastigote forms changed from slender to round-shaped parasites. Nevertheless, cell disruption took place following sonication of the sample for 30min. The efficiency of the methodology was also validated by flow cytometry, which resulted in 72% of propidium iodide (PI)-labeled cells. To estimate the protein extraction yield and the differential protein expression, the proteomics profile of four T. cruzi strains (CL-Brener, Dm28c, Y, and 4167) were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS) on a SYNAPT HDMS system using the label-free MS(E) approach. ProteinLynx Global Server (version 2.5) with Expression(E) analysis identified a total of 1153 proteins and revealed 428 differentially expressed proteins among the strains. Gene ontology analysis showed that not only cytosolic proteins but also nuclear and organellar ones were present in the extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tainah Silva Galdino
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rubem Figueiredo Sadok Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Franklyn Samudio
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud (ICGES), 0816-02593, Panama
| | - Adeilton Brandão
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Dário Eluan Kalume
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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de Almeida Nogueira NP, Morgado-Díaz JA, Menna-Barreto RFS, Paes MC, da Silva-López RE. Effects of a marine serine protease inhibitor on viability and morphology of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease. Acta Trop 2013; 128:27-35. [PMID: 23770204 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 11/23/2012] [Revised: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
It has been reported that serine peptidase activities of Trypanosoma cruzi play crucial roles in parasite dissemination and host cell invasion and therefore their inhibition could affect the progress of Chagas disease. The present study investigates the interference of the Stichodactyla helianthus Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor (ShPI-I), a 55-amino acid peptide, in T. cruzi serine peptidase activities, parasite viability, and parasite morphology. The effect of this peptide was also studied in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and it was proved to be a powerful inhibitor of serine proteases activities and the parasite viability. The ultrastructural alterations caused by ShPI-I included vesiculation of the flagellar pocket membrane and the appearance of a cytoplasmic vesicle that resembles an autophagic vacuole. ShPI-I, which showed itself to be an important T. cruzi serine peptidase inhibitor, reduced the parasite viability, in a dose and time dependent manner. The maximum effect of peptide on T. cruzi viability was observed when ShPI-I at 1×10(-5)M was incubated for 24 and 48h which killed completely both metacyclic trypomastigote and epimastigote forms. At 1×10(-6)M ShPI-I, in the same periods of time, reduced parasite viability about 91-95% respectively. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated the formation of concentric membranar structures especially in the cytosol, involving organelles and small vesicles. Profiles of endoplasmic reticulum were also detected, surrounding cytosolic vesicles that resembled autophagic vacuoles. These results suggest that serine peptidases are important in T. cruzi physiology since the inhibition of their activity killed parasites in vitro as well as inducing important morphological alterations. Protease inhibitors thus appear to have a potential role as anti-trypanosomatidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Pereira de Almeida Nogueira
- Laboratório de Interação de Tripanosomatídeos e Vetores, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Vilela R, Menna-Barreto RFS, Benchimol M. Methyl jasmonate induces cell death and loss of hydrogenosomal membrane potential in Trichomonas vaginalis. Parasitol Int 2010; 59:387-93. [PMID: 20483382 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2009] [Revised: 03/25/2010] [Accepted: 05/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is an important human parasite of the urogenital tract. Jasmonates are a group of small lipids that are produced in plants and function as stress hormones. Naturally occurring methyl jasmonate (MJ) has been used to treat several types of cancer cells and it is cytotoxic to protistan parasites. It has been suggested that mitochondria are the target organelles of jasmonates. Here, we tested this drug against T. vaginalis. Although metronidazole has been the drug of choice for trichomoniasis, side effects from this treatment are common, and nausea and dizziness have been reported in up to 12% of patients. In addition, there has been increased recognition of resistance to metronidazole. We demonstrate here using flow cytometry, JC-1 and scanning and transmission electron microscopy that MJ induced the cell death of T. vaginalis parasites. Our results are discussed with previous findings published by others.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Vilela
- Universidade Santa Ursula, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Carvalho AS, Menna-Barreto RFS, Romeiro NC, de Castro SL, Boechat N. Design, synthesis and activity against Trypanosoma cruzi of azaheterocyclic analogs of megazol. Med Chem 2007; 3:460-5. [PMID: 17897071 DOI: 10.2174/157340607781745519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This study describes the design, synthesis and trypanocidal evaluation of new azaheterocyclic derivatives (4-8). These compounds were designed as megazol (1) analogs based on bioisosterism tools and were synthesized to investigate the possible pharmacophoric contribution of the 1,2,4-triazole nucleus, the position of the heterocyclic nucleus and presence of the nitro group, to the activity against the bloodstream trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. The most potent compound was 6, a nitro derivative obtained by substitution of a thiadiazole by a triazole ring and by moving the nitro group from C-5 position, as in 1, to the C-4 position. Finally, we have used semi-empirical theoretical calculations to discuss the correlation of some stereo electronic properties with biological activity in an attempt to understand the possible mechanism of action of the designed series of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Carvalho
- Departamento de Síntese Orgânica, Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Menna-Barreto RFS, Corrêa JR, Pinto AV, Soares MJ, de Castro SL. Mitochondrial disruption and DNA fragmentation in Trypanosoma cruzi induced by naphthoimidazoles synthesized from beta-lapachone. Parasitol Res 2007; 101:895-905. [PMID: 17546464 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-007-0556-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 02/26/2007] [Accepted: 04/17/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Three naphthoimidazoles presenting aromatic groups attached to the imidazole ring were the most active against trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi between 45 derivatives from beta-lapachone. N1 is active against the three forms of the parasite. In this work, we investigated N2 and N3 and analyzed the effect of the three derivatives on metacyclogenesis, endocytosis, and cell cycle. In epimastigotes, N2 and N3 blocked the cell cycle, inhibited succinate cytochrome c reductase, metacyclogenesis, and induced damage to mitochondrion, Golgi, and reservosomes. In treated trypomastigotes, there were alterations in the mitochondrion, nucleus and kinetoplast, and DNA fragmentation. Preincubation with cysteine protease inhibitors reversed the effect of N1, N2, and N3. Such reversion and ultrastructural alterations suggest the involvement of autophagy in parasite death. Ultrastructural, flow cytometry, and biochemical studies suggest that naphthoimidazoles interferes with the energetic metabolism and induces DNA fragmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R F S Menna-Barreto
- Departamento de Ultra-estrutura e Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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