1
|
Maus D, Curtis B, Warschkau D, Betancourt ED, Seeber F, Blume M. Generation of Mature Toxoplasma gondii Bradyzoites in Human Immortalized Myogenic KD3 Cells. Bio Protoc 2024; 14:e4916. [PMID: 38213326 PMCID: PMC10777055 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4916] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite and one of the most successful foodborne pathogens. Upon infection and dissemination, the parasites convert into the persisting, chronic form called bradyzoites, which reside within cysts in muscle and brain tissue. Despite their importance, bradyzoites remain difficult to investigate directly, owing to limited in vitro models. In addition, the need for new drugs targeting the chronic stage, which is underlined by the lack of eradicating treatment options, remains difficult to address since in vitro access to drug-tolerant bradyzoites remains limited. We recently published the use of a human myotube-based bradyzoite cell culture system and demonstrated its applicability to investigate the biology of T. gondii bradyzoites. Encysted parasites can be functionally matured during long-term cultivation in these immortalized cells and possess many in vivo-like features, including pepsin resistance, oral infectivity, and antifolate resistance. In addition, the system is scalable, enabling experimental approaches that rely on large numbers, such as metabolomics. In short, we detail the cultivation of terminally differentiated human myotubes and their subsequent infection with tachyzoites, which then mature to encysted bradyzoites within four weeks at ambient CO2 levels. We also discuss critical aspects of the procedure and suggest improvements. Key features • This protocol describes a scalable human myotube-based in vitro system capable of generating encysted bradyzoites featuring in vivo hallmarks. • Bradyzoite differentiation is facilitated through CO2 depletion but without additional artificial stress factors like alkaline pH. • Functional maturation occurs over four weeks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Maus
- Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens (P6), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Blake Curtis
- Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens (P6), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Research School of Chemistry, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - David Warschkau
- Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria (FG16), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Estefanía Delgado Betancourt
- Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria (FG16), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Frank Seeber
- Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria (FG16), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Blume
- Metabolism of Microbial Pathogens (P6), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cwirenbaum R, Schmidt AR, Cortasa SA, Corso MC, Vitullo AD, Dorfman VB, Halperin J. First record of an infection by tissue cyst-forming coccidia in wild vizcachas ( Lagostomus maximus, Rodentia) of Argentina. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021; 16:52-58. [PMID: 34430198 PMCID: PMC8367855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.08.002] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Endoparasites of the Sarcocystidae family share the ability to form tissue cysts in their intermediate hosts, ultimately leading to pathogenesis in the definitive hosts that include various mammals, reptiles and birds. In our research on the endocrinology of the female vizcachas (Lagostomus maximus), we have found abnormal cystic structures in the ovaries of some individuals. So far, no cases of infection by tissue cyst-forming parasites have been reported in this species. To evaluate whether this autochthonous wild rodent is an intermediate host of an undescribed endoparasite, histological sections from various organs were examined. Pinhead-sized tissue cysts were found in the ovaries, mammary glands, uterus, pituitary, brain, adrenals and spleen, of both pregnant and non-pregnant females. The presence of cysts in the adult brain and embryonic tissue is indicative of the ability of the parasite to cross both the blood-brain and placental barriers. The infected brains exhibited a lower cyst density than that seen in other organs. Regardless of their location in superficial or deep tissue, the cysts were surrounded by a layer of connective tissue. Histologically, the cyst wall consisted of an outer layer of fibroblasts and collagen fibers, and an inner, granular-looking layer composed of host nucleated cells surrounding thousands of spindle-shaped bradyzoites. Outside the cysts, the host cellular structures showed normal appearance. The remarkable morphological similarities between the cysts studied here with those reported in naturally infected rabbits from an area neighboring the one inhabited by the vizcachas point to Besnoitia sp. as a plausible candidate. More studies will be necessary to confirm the identity of the parasite. Nevertheless, this is the first report of L. maximus as an intermediate host for a tissue cyst-forming coccidia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Cwirenbaum
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD) Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK-Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro R Schmidt
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD) Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK-Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago A Cortasa
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD) Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK-Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María C Corso
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD) Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK-Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alfredo D Vitullo
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD) Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK-Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Verónica B Dorfman
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD) Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK-Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julia Halperin
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD) Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775, C1405BCK-Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lindsay DS, Verma SK, Dubey JP, Scott D, von Dohlen AR. GAMOGONY OF SARCOCYSTIS STRIXI IN MAMMALIAN CELL CULTURES. J Parasitol 2021; 107:562-565. [PMID: 34283238 DOI: 10.1645/20-63] [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] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
We are interested in the disease ecology of Sarcocystis species that infect birds of prey as definitive and intermediate hosts. The present study was done to test our hypothesis that a laboratory model can be developed for sarcocystis infection in mammals using gamma interferon gene knockout (KO) mice as a source of Sarcocystis strixi bradyzoites and mammalian cell cultures as a source of sporulated S. strixi oocysts. Sporocysts of S. strixi from a naturally infected barred owl (Strix varia) were fed to KO mice to produce sarcocysts, and the enclosed bradyzoites were obtained by acid-pepsin digestion of abdominal and thigh muscles. Bradyzoites, metrocytes, and an unusual spherical stage were seen in digest before the inoculation of host cells. The spherical stages stained dark with Giemsa stain, but no nucleus was observed, and they were seen free and associated with the concave portion of some bradyzoites. Examination of infected cell cultures demonstrated that macrogamonts and microgamonts were present at 24 hr post-inoculation. Since sporulated oocysts were not observed, we had to reject our current hypothesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David S Lindsay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, 205 Duck Pond Drive, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | - S K Verma
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Bldg. 1040, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.,Present address: Public Health and Environmental Laboratories, New Jersey Department of Health, Ewing, New Jersey 08628
| | - J P Dubey
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Bldg. 1040, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
| | - David Scott
- Carolina Raptor Center, 6000 Sample Road, Huntersville, North Carolina 28078
| | - Alexa Rosypal von Dohlen
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, North Carolina 28216
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
El-Sayad MH, Hussein NA, Kazem AH, El Geddawi OA, Rizk EM, El-Taweel HA. Temporal expression of Toxoplasma stage-specific genes in brain tissue: coincidence with parasitological and histopathological findings in mice models. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2299-2307. [PMID: 32476060 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06723-2] [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: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the intermediate hosts, tachyzoites of T. gondii predominate in the acute stage while bradyzoites persist inside tissue cysts with the potential for reactivation. The two stages exhibit different metabolic and antigenic characters. The present study aimed to investigate temporal expression of Toxoplasma SAG1 and BAG1 genes in the brain tissue and the coincident parasitological and histopathological findings in mice models of toxoplasmosis. The study included group A: mice infected with RH strain and sacrificed 7 days post-infection (p.i.); group B: mice infected with RH strain and treated with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (30 mg/kg/day and 150 mg/kg/day respectively) 24 h p.i. until sacrificed at days 5, 10, or 20 post-treatment; group C: mice infected with ME-49 strain and sacrificed at days 7, 27, 47, or 67 p.i; and group D: mice infected with ME-49 strain and received dexamethasone daily starting at day 68 p.i. and scarified at days 6 or 10 post-treatment. All mice were inspected daily for abnormal physical signs. Peritoneal exudate and brain homogenate were examined for detection of Toxoplasma stages. Brain sections were examined histopathologically. SAG1 and BAG1 gene expression was evaluated using reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction and the ΔΔCt method. Results revealed that marked BAG1 upregulation is consistent with detection of Toxoplasma cysts and degenerative changes while predominance of tachyzoites and inflammatory infiltrate is compatible with SAG1 upregulation. The study sheds light on the potential for using stage-specific gene expression pattern as markers for evaluation of toxoplasmosis disease progression in clinical settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mona H El-Sayad
- Parasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Neveen A Hussein
- Applied Medical Chemistry Department, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - A H Kazem
- Pathology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Omnya A El Geddawi
- Parasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Enas M Rizk
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hend A El-Taweel
- Parasitology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Portes JA, De Souza W. Development of an in vitro system to study the developmental stages of Toxoplasma gondii using a genetically modified strain expressing markers for tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:3479-3489. [PMID: 31728720 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06493-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, the agent of toxoplasmosis, is an intracellular parasite that can infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts. Toxoplasmosis causes severe damage to immunocompromised hosts and its treatment is mainly based on the combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, which causes relevant side effects primarily observed in AIDS patients, including bone marrow suppression and hematological toxicity (pyrimethamine) and/or hypersensitivity and allergic skin reactions (sulfadiazine). Thus, it is important to investigate new compounds against T. gondii, particularly those that may act on bradyzoites, which are present in cysts during the chronic disease phase. We propose an in vitro model to simultaneously study new candidate compounds against the two main causative stages of Toxoplasma infection in humans, using the EGS-DC strain that was modified from a type I/III strain (EGS), isolated from a case of human congenital toxoplasmosis in Brazil and engineered to express markers for both stages of development. One feature of this strain is that it presents tachyzoite and bradyzoite in the same culture system and in the same host cell under normal culture conditions. Additionally, this strain presents stage-specific fluorescent protein expression, allowing for easy identification of both stages, thus making this strain useful in different studies. HFF cells were infected and after 4 and 7 days post infection the cells were treated with 10 μM of pyrimethamine or atovaquone, for 48 or 72 h. We used high-throughput screening to quantify the extent of parasite infection. Despite a reduction in tachyzoite infection caused by both treatments, the atovaquone treatment reduced the bradyzoite infection while the pyrimethamine one increased it. Ultrastructural analysis showed that after treatment with both drugs, parasites displayed altered mitochondria. Fluorescence microscopy of cells labeled with MitoTracker CMXRos showed that the cysts present inside the cells lost their mitochondrial membrane potential. Our results indicate that this experimental model is adequate to simultaneously analyze new active compounds against tachyzoite and bradyzoite forms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J A Portes
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Centro de Ciências da Saúde-UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - W De Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. .,Centro de Ciências da Saúde-UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. .,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho s/n, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu M, Li FX, Li CY, Li XC, Chen LF, Wu K, Yang PL, Lai ZF, Liu TK, Sullivan WJ, Cui L, Chen XG. Characterization of protein arginine methyltransferase of TgPRMT5 in Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:221. [PMID: 31068219 PMCID: PMC6505072 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3464-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protein arginine methylation is a prevalent post-translational modification. The protein arginine methyltransferase family (PRMT) is involved in many cellular processes in eukaryotes, including transcriptional regulation, epigenetic regulation, RNA metabolism, and DNA damage repair. Toxoplasma gondii, an opportunistic protozoan parasite, encodes five conserved PRMTs. PRMT5 is thought to be responsible for substantial PRMT activity in T. gondii; however, it has not yet been characterized. METHODS We tagged the 3' end of the endogenous TgPRMT5 genomic locus with sequence encoding a 3X hemagglutinin (HA) epitope. IFA and WB were performed to check the expression and subcellular localization of TgPRMT5 in tachyzoites and bradyzoites. In vitro methylation assays were performed to determine whether endogenous TgPRMT5 has arginine methyltransferase activity. RESULTS IFA and WB results showed that T. gondii PRMT5 (TgPRMT5) was localized in the cytoplasm in the tachyzoite stage; however, it shifts largely to the nuclear compartment in the bradyzoite stage. The in vitro methylation showed that TgPRMT5 has authentic type II PRMT activity and forms monomethylarginines and symmetric dimethylarginines. CONCLUSIONS We determined the expression and cellular localization of TgPRMT5 in tachyzoites and bradyzoites and confirmed its type II PRMT activity. We demonstrated the major changes in expression and cellular localization of TgPRMT5 during the tachyzoite and bradyzoite stages in T. gondii. Our findings suggest that TgPRMT5 protein may be involved in tachyzoite-bradyzoite transformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Fen-Xiang Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun-Yuan Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Cong Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Long-Fei Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Kun Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Pei-Liang Yang
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Fa Lai
- Futian Center for disease control and prevention, Shenzhen, 518040 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Ting-kai Liu
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - William J. Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 501 ASI Building, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Xiao-Guang Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zainalabidin FA, Noorazmi MSN, Bakri WNWO, Sathaya G, Ismail MI. Prevalence of Muscular Sarcosporidiosis in Slaughtered Domestic Pigs in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia. Trop Life Sci Res 2017; 28:161-166. [PMID: 28228924 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2017.28.1.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcosporidiosis is a disease caused by intracellular protozoan parasites, namely, Sarcocystis spp. In pigs, three species of Sarcocystis spp. have been recognised, including Sarcocystis meischeriana, Sarcocystis porcifelis and Sarcocystis suihominis. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of muscular sarcosporidiosis in pigs using the pepsin digestion technique. A total of 150 fresh heart, oesophagus and thigh muscle samples from 50 Yorkshire and Landrace pigs were collected from two local abattoirs in Perak from May to August 2014. All the fresh muscle samples were thoroughly examined for macrocyst-forming Sarcocystis spp. and processed using the peptic digestion technique to detect bradyzoites. The results from the muscle samples showed that 58% (29 out of 50) of the pigs were positive for Sarcocystis spp. These findings highlight the importance of implementing stringent measures for screening pigs in abattoirs for Sarcocystis spp. infection because this infection in pigs is a public health concern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fazly Ann Zainalabidin
- Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Veterinary Services, 59, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Muhamad Syamsul Naim Noorazmi
- Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Veterinary Services, 59, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Wan Normaziah Wan Omar Bakri
- Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Veterinary Services, 59, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Geethamalar Sathaya
- Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Veterinary Services, 59, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Iswadi Ismail
- Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Veterinary Services, 59, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|