Anti-malarial activity of the alkaloid, heptaphylline, and the furanocoumarin, imperatorin, from Clausena anisata against human Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites: ex vivo trophozoitocidal, schizonticidal and gametocytocidal approach

BACKGROUND

The erythrocytic stage of the life cycle of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, consists of trophozoite, schizont and gametocyte stages in humans. Various anti-malarial agents target different stages of the parasite to produce treatment outcomes. This study reports on the stage-specific anti-malarial activity of heptaphylline and imperatorin against human P. falciparum in addition to their cytotoxicity and selectivity indices (SI).

METHODS

The compounds were isolated from Clausena anisata using column chromatography and their structures elucidated using NMR spectroscopy. The anti-malarial activity was determined by measuring the trophozoitocidal, schizonticidal and gametocytocidal activities of the compounds using the SYBR green assay. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay.

RESULTS

Heptaphylline and imperatorin produced trophozoitocidal, schizonticidal and gametocytocidal activities with IC50s of 1.57 (0.2317)-26.92 (0.3144) µM with those of artesunate (the standard drug) being 0.00024 (0.0036)-0.0070 (0.0013) µM. In the cytotoxicity assay, the compounds produced CC50S greater than 350 µM and SI of 13.76-235.90. Also, the trophozoitocidal and schizonticidal activities of the compounds were more pronounced than their gametocytocidal activity. Imperatorin was 42.04% more trophozoitocidal than hepthaphyline. However, hepthaphyline has more schizonticidal and gametocytocidal properties than imperatorin.

CONCLUSION

Heptaphylline and imperatorin are promising anti-malarial agents, since they possess potent anti-malarial activity with weak cytotoxicity on RBCs. However, imperatorin is a better anti-malarial prophylactic agent whereas heptaphylline is a better malaria treatment agent.

In Vitro Activity of Pentamidine Isethionate against Trophozoite and Cyst of Acanthamoeba

BACKGROUND

Acanthamoebae are a causative agent of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) in immunocompetent individuals. Since access to propamidine isethionate (Brolene®) as a first-line treatment has been limited in recent years, in the current study, we examined the effects of pentamidine isethionate against trophozoite and cyst forms of Acanthamoeba.

METHODS

This experimental study was conducted in the Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, during 2019-2020. Pentamidine isethionate at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 μM were tested against trophozoites and cyst stages of T4 genotype, at 24- and 48-hour incubation period, and the viability was determined by trypan blue staining. In addition, the cytotoxic effect of the drug was examined in Vero cells using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTS

The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of pentamidine isethionate on trophozoite after 24 and 48h were 97.4 μM and 60.99 μM. These results on cyst after 24 and 48h were 470 μM and 175.5 μM, respectively. In MTT assay, the drug showed an inhibitory effect on Vero cell growth with IC50 values of 115.4 μM and 87.42 μM after 24h and 48h, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Pentamidine isethionate exhibited an inhibitory effect on trophozoite and cyst. Given that the trophozoicidal activity of the drug is in the safe dose, it could be suggested as an alternative in patients with AK; however, further investigation is needed in an animal model to confirm the data.

Performance of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent-based serological assay for Entamoeba histolytica: Comparison with an indirect immunofluorescence assay using stored frozen samples

INTRODUCTION

Entamoeba histolytica infections are increasingly diagnosed as sexually transmitted infections in Japan. However, the stool ova-parasite examination (O&P) test has been the only approved diagnostic method used in Japan since production of the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) serum antibody test was discontinued at the end of 2017. Herein, we assessed whether an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based serological test could substitute for IFA.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used stored frozen serum samples from the Biobank of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine. A serological ELISA-based test was performed on these samples and their titers were compared with those previously measured by IFA based on the medical record data.

RESULTS

Sixty seven stored frozen serum samples with differing recorded IFA antibody titers (16 samples with titers < ×100, 13 samples × 100, 16 samples × 200, 11 samples × 400, and 11 samples ≥ × 800) were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity values for ELISA vs. IFA were 92.2% [95% confidential interval: 81.5-96.9] and 87.5% [64.0-97.8], respectively. A strong correlation between the antibody titers was confirmed by a one-way ANOVA (R square 0.83, p value < 0.0001) for the two diagnostic methods.

CONCLUSION

The ELISA and IFA antibody titers for E. histolytica were well correlated, and results from these methods were highly concordant. Introduction of an ELISA-based serological test for E. histolytica should be considered to improve E. histolytica infection diagnosis in Japan.

Pseudomonas chlororaphis PA23 metabolites protect against protozoan grazing by the predator Acanthamoeba castellanii

Background

Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain PA23 is a biocontrol agent that is able to protect canola against the pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This bacterium secretes a number of metabolites that contribute to fungal antagonism, including pyrrolnitrin (PRN), phenazine (PHZ), hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and degradative enzymes. In order to be successful, a biocontrol agent must be able to persist in the environment and avoid the threat of grazing predators. The focus of the current study was to investigate whether PA23 is able to resist grazing by the protozoan predator Acanthamoeba castellanii (Ac) and to define the role of bacterial metabolites in the PA23-Ac interaction.

Methods

Ac was co-cultured with PA23 WT and a panel of derivative strains for a period of 15 days, and bacteria and amoebae were enumerated on days 1, 5, 10 and 15. Ac was subsequently incubated in the presence of purified PRN, PHZ, and KCN and viability was assessed at 24, 48 and 72 h. Chemotactic assays were conducted to assess whether PA23 compounds exhibit repellent or attractant properties towards Ac. Finally, PA23 grown in the presence and absence of amoebae was subject to phenotypic characterization and gene expression analyses.

Results

PRN, PHZ and HCN were found to contribute to PA23 toxicity towards Ac trophozoites, either by killing or inducing cyst formation. This is the first report of PHZ-mediated toxicity towards amoebae. In chemotaxis assays, amoebae preferentially migrated towards regulatory mutants devoid of extracellular metabolite production as well as a PRN mutant, indicating this antibiotic has repellent properties. Co-culturing of bacteria with amoebae led to elevated expression of the PA23 phzI/phzR quorum-sensing (QS) genes and phzA and prnA, which are under QS control. PHZ and PRN levels were similarly increased in Ac co-cultures, suggesting that PA23 can respond to predator cues and upregulate expression of toxins accordingly.

Conclusions

PA23 compounds including PRN, PHZ and HCN exhibited both toxic and repellent effects on Ac. Co-culturing of bacteria and amoebae lead to changes in bacterial gene expression and secondary metabolite production, suggesting that PA23 can sense the presence of these would-be predators and adjust its physiology in response.

Development of a simple host-free medium for efficient prezoosporulation of Perkinsus olseni trophozoites cultured in vitro

The parasitizing stage (trophozoite) of the protozoan parasite Perkinsus olseni progresses to the dormant stage (prezoosporangium) immediately after the death of the host through physiologically and morphologically drastic changes. This development is reproducible in Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium (RFTM). In this study, supplementation with tissue extract from a host, the Manila clam, significantly improved the efficiency of development, as determined by the numbers and sizes of developed prezoosporangia. Similar results were seen following supplementation with boiled host tissue extract, which indicates that a thermally stable component of the host is required for the parasite's development. Subsequently, we found that a commercially available lipid concentrate significantly increased prezoosporulation without host tissue, suggesting that the lipids in host tissue enhance prezoosporangia development. Moreover, we determined that yeast extract, sodium thioglycollate, and sodium chloride were the only components of RFTM required for prezoosporulation. Based on these findings, we prepared a simple, host-free medium for P. olseni prezoosporulation-Lipid concentrate Yeast extract Medium (LpcYM)-consisting of yeast extract, lipid concentrate, sodium thioglycollate, and sodium chloride. We confirmed that the prezoosporangia developed in LpcYM produce zoospores that are infectious to Manila clams and that trophozoites of other Perkinsus species (P. marinus, P. honshuensis, and P. chesapeaki) also develop to prezoosporangia in this host-free medium. As LpcYM has the simplest composition of prezoosporulation media available thus far, it enables us to conduct molecular and biochemical studies examining the drastic transformation process of this parasite.

In vitro activity of Camellia sinensis (green tea) against trophozoites and cysts of Acanthamoeba castellanii

The effect of Camellia sinensis (green tea) on the growth of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites was examined using a microplate based-Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. C. sinensis hot and cold brews at 75% and 100% concentrations significantly inhibited the growth of trophozoites. We also examined the structural alterations in C. sinensis-treated trophozoites using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This analysis showed that C. sinensis compromised the cell membrane integrity and caused progressive destruction of trophozoites. C. sinensis also significantly inhibited the parasite's ability to form cysts in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the rate of excystation from cysts to trophozoites. C. sinensis exhibited low cytotoxic effects on primary corneal stromal cells. However, cytotoxicity was more pronounced in SV40-immortalized corneal epithelial cells. Chromatographic analysis showed that both hot and cold C. sinensis brews contained the same number and type of chemical compounds. This work demonstrated that C. sinensis has anti-acanthamoebic activity against trophozoite and cystic forms of A. castellanii. Further studies are warranted to identify the exact substances in C. sinensis that have the most potent anti-acanthamoebic effect.

Triazoxins: Novel nucleosides with anti-Giardia activity

Novel nucleoside analogues named "triazoxins" were synthesized. Of these, two analogues were found to be highly effective against Giardia lamblia, an intestinal parasite and a major cause of waterborne infection, worldwide. While compound 7 reduced the growth of trophozoites in culture (IC50, ~5 μM), compound 21 blocked the in vitro cyst production (IC50 ~5 μM). Compound 21 was also effective against trophozoites (IC50, ~36 μM). A third analogue (compound 8) was effective against both trophozoites (IC50, ~36 μM) and cysts (IC50, ~20 μM) although at higher concentration. Thus triazoxin analogues are unique and exhibit morphology (i.e., trohozoites or cysts) -specific effects against Giardia.

[Treatment of Chilomastix mesnili infection with traditional Chinese medicine: a case report]

This paper reports a case with Chilomastix mesnili infections, and summarizes the diagnosis and treatment with traditional Chinese medicine.

The effects of environmental and nutritional conditions on the development of Perkinsus olseni prezoosporangia

Perkinsus olseni is a widely distributed protozoan pathogen that infects a wide range of marine mollusks. Prezoosporulation of P. olseni trophozoites is easily observed in Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium, but in nature, trophozoites within host tissue should be able to develop into prezoosporangia without any additional artificial medium after the host dies. How this process might work in field conditions remains poorly understood, however, partly because of the lack of appropriate in vitro assays. In this study, we observed that trophozoites of P. olseni successfully developed into prezoosporangia when mixed with minced tissue of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum and placed in seawater. We were thus able to establish a new method to examine the development of P. olseni to prezoosporangia under artificially simulated natural environmental conditions. Using this method, we found that low temperatures (5 °C, 15 °C) significantly suppressed prezoosporangia development. In addition, we found that prezoosporangia were developed in a wide range of salinities (10-50 practical salinity unit) and that P. olseni requires some nutrition factors from host tissue for prezoosporulation to occur. Because the transmission of P. olseni among a host population highly depends on the developmental process of prezoosporangia, which leads to production of the infective zoospore stage, these results will help further our understanding of the parasite's infection dynamics in nature.

Screening of the pathogen box for the identification of anti-Acanthamoeba agents

Acanthamoeba are free living amoeba that have been isolated from different environments like soil, water, air dust. Moreover, they are also able to act as opportunist pathogens, mainly causing a fatal encephalitis and also keratitis in both human and animals. This study was aimed to evaluate the activity of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) compounds against the trophozoite stage of Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff. Sixteen compounds showed ≥90% inhibition of parasite growth in the initial screen (10 μM). Those set were further evaluated to determine the inhibitor concentration that inhibit the 50% of the initial population and cytotoxicity against murine macrophages. Among the compounds included in the pathogen box, pentamidine and posaconazole were the most effective against this parasite with an of IC₅₀ of 0.567 ± 0.04 and 0.630 ± 0.11, respectively.

Functional importance for developmental regulation of sterol biosynthesis in Acanthamoeba castellanii

The sterol metabolome of Acanthamoeba castellanii (Ac) yielded 25 sterols. Substrate screening of cloned AcCYP51 revealed obtusifoliol as the natural substrate which converts to ∆8,14-sterol (<95%). The combination of [2H3-methyl]methionine incubation to intact cultures showing C28-ergosterol incorporates 2-2H atoms and C29-7-dehydroporiferasterol incorporates 5 2H-atoms, the natural distribution of sterols, CYP51 and previously published sterol methyltransferase (SMT) data indicate separate ∆24(28)- and ∆25(27)-olefin pathways to C28- and C29-sterol products from the protosterol cycloartenol. In cell-based culture, we observed a marked change in sterol compositions during the growth and encystment phases monitored microscopically and by trypan blue staining; trophozoites possess C28/C29-∆5,7-sterols, viable encysted cells (mature cyst) possess mostly C29-∆5-sterol and non-viable encysted cells possess C28/C29-∆5,7-sterols that turnover variably from stress to 6-methyl aromatic sterols associated with changed membrane fluidity affording lysis. An incompatible fit of steroidal aromatics in membranes was confirmed using the yeast sterol auxotroph GL7. Only viable cysts, including those treated with inhibitor, can excyst into trophozoites. 25-Azacycloartanol or voriconazole that target SMT and CYP51, respectively, are potent enzyme inhibitors in the nanomolar range against the cloned enzymes and amoeba cells. At minimum amoebicidal concentration of inhibitor amoeboid cells rapidly convert to encysted cells unable to excyst. The correlation between stage-specific sterol compositions and the physiological effects of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors suggests that amoeba fitness is controlled mainly by developmentally-regulated changes in the phytosterol B-ring; paired interference in the ∆5,7-sterol biosynthesis (to ∆5,7) - metabolism (to ∆5 or 6-methyl aromatic) congruence during cell proliferation and encystment could be a source of therapeutic intervention for Acanthamoeba infections.

Development and optimization of new culture media for Acanthamoeba spp. (Protozoa: Amoebozoa)

The isolation and growth in axenic liquid media of Acanthamoeba strains is necessary in order to carry out primary in vitro drug screening. Amoebic isolates which are hard to grow in the current liquid media have been reported. Such circumstances hampers the ability of conducting drug sensitivity tests. Therefore, finding suitable universal growth media for Acanthamoeba species is required. The present study was aimed at the development of liquid medium suitable for growing a fastidious (F) genotype T3 Acanthamoeba isolate, and eventually for other genotypes of this genus as well. Trophozoite growth was indirectly monitored by respiration analysis with oxygen-sensitive microplates (OSM) and further confirmed by manual counting. Media were empirically designed and tested first in a non-fastidious (NF) T3 isolate and then tested with 14 different strains, including the fastidious one. Combinations of nutritive components such as meat/vegetable broth, LB medium, malt and skimmed milk led to the design of new media suitable for culturing all the isolates tested, in conditions similar to those obtained in standard culture media such as PYG or CERVA.

Glycoproteins and Gal-GalNAc cause Cryptosporidium to switch from an invasive sporozoite to a replicative trophozoite

The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium causes cryptosporidiosis, a diarrheal disease that can become chronic and life threatening in immunocompromised and malnourished people. There is no effective drug treatment for those most at risk of severe cryptosporidiosis. The disease pathology is due to a repeated cycle of host cell invasion and parasite replication that amplifies parasite numbers and destroys the intestinal epithelium. This study aimed to better understand the Cryptosporidium replication cycle by identifying molecules that trigger the switch from invasive sporozoite to replicative trophozoite. Our approach was to treat sporozoites of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis, the species causing most human cryptosporidiosis, with various media under axenic conditions and examine the parasites for rounding and nuclear division as markers of trophozoite development and replication, respectively. FBS had a concentration-dependent effect on trophozoite development in both species. Trophozoite development in C. parvum, but not C. hominis, was enhanced when RPMI supplemented with 10% FBS (RPMI-FBS) was conditioned by HCT-8 cells for 3h. The effect of non-conditioned and HCT-8 conditioned RPMI-FBS on trophozoite development was abrogated by proteinase K and sodium metaperiodate pretreatment, indicating a glycoprotein trigger. Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis trophozoite development also was triggered by Gal-GalNAc in a concentration-dependent manner. Cryptosporidium parvum replication was greatest following treatments with Gal-GalNAc, followed by conditioned RPMI-FBS and non-conditioned RPMI-FBS (P<0.05). Cryptosporidium hominis replication was significantly less than that in C. parvum for all treatments (P<0.05), and was greatest at the highest tested concentration of Gal-GalNAc (1mM).

Comparison of three DNA extraction methods for recovery of soil protist DNA

The use of molecular methods to investigate protist communities in soil is in rapid development this decade. Molecular analysis of soil protist communities is usually dependant on direct genomic DNA extraction from soil and inefficient or differential DNA extraction of protist DNA can lead to bias in downstream community analysis. Three commonly used soil DNA extraction methods have been tested on soil samples from three European Long-Term Observatories (LTOs) with different land-use and three protist cultures belonging to different phylogenetic groups in different growth stages. The methods tested were: ISOm-11063 (a version of the ISO-11063 method modified to include a FastPrep ®-24 mechanical lysis step), GnS-GII (developed by the GenoSol platform to extract soil DNA in large-scale soil surveys) and a commercial DNA extraction kit - Power Lyzer™ PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit (MoBio). DNA yield and quality were evaluated along with DNA suitability for amplification of 18S rDNA fragments by PCR. On soil samples, ISOm-11063 yields significantly higher DNA for two of the three soil samples, however, MoBio extraction favors DNA quality. This method was also more effective to recover copies of 18S rDNA numbers from all soil types. In addition and despite the lower yields, higher DNA quality was observed with DNA extracted from protist cultures with the MoBio method. Likewise, a bead-beating step shows to be a good solution for DNA extraction of soil protists, since the recovery of DNA from protist cultures and from the different soil samples with the ISOm method proved to be efficient in recovering PCR-amplifiable DNA. This study showed that soil DNA extraction methods provide biased results towards the cyst stages of protist organism.

Detection of Entamoeba histolytica in experimentally induced amoebic liver abscess: comparison of three staining methods

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of three different tissue stains, namely haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic-acid Schiff (PAS) and immunohistochemical (IHC) stains for detection of Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) trophozoites in abscessed liver tissues of hamster.

METHODS

Amoebic liver abscess was experimentally induced in a hamster by injecting 1 × 10(6) of axenically cultured virulent E. histolytica trophozoites (HM1-IMSS strain) into the portal vein. After a week post-inoculation, the hamster was sacrificed and the liver tissue sections were stained with H&E, PAS and IHC stains to detect the amoebic trophozoite.

RESULTS

The three stains revealed tissue necrosis and amoebic trophozoites, but with varying clarity. H&E and PAS stained the trophozoites pink and magenta, respectively, however it was difficult to differentiate the stained trophozoites from the macrophages because of their similarity in size and morphology. On the other hand, IHC stain revealed distinct brown appearance of the trophozoites in the infected liver tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

It can be concluded that out of the three stains, IHC is the best for identification of E. histolytica trophozoites in tissue sections.

Proteomic profiling of the infective trophozoite stage of Acanthamoeba polyphaga

Acanthamoeba polyphaga is a free-living protozoan pathogen, whose infective trophozoite form is capable of causing a blinding keratitis and fatal granulomatous encephalitis in humans. The damage caused by A. polyphaga trophozoites in human corneal or brain infections is the result of several different pathogenic mechanisms that have not yet been elucidated at the molecular level. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the proteins expressed by A. polyphaga trophozoites, based on complementary 2-DE MS/MS and gel-free LC-MS/MS approaches. Overall, 202 non-redundant proteins were identified. An A. polyphaga proteomic map in the pH range 3-10 was produced, with protein identification for 184 of 370 resolved spots, corresponding to 142 proteins. Additionally, 94 proteins were identified by gel-free LC-MS/MS. Functional classification revealed several proteins with potential importance for pathogen survival and infection of mammalian hosts, including surface proteins and proteins related to defense mechanisms. Our study provided the first comprehensive proteomic survey of the trophozoite infective stage of an Acanthamoeba species, and established foundations for prospective, comparative and functional studies of proteins involved in mechanisms of survival, development, and pathogenicity in A. polyphaga and other pathogenic amoebae.

Encystment in Acanthamoeba castellanii: a review

Differentiation of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites involves massive turnover of cellular components and remodelling of organelle structure and function so as to produce a cryptobiotic cell, resistant to desiccation, heat, freezing, and chemical treatments. This review presents a summary of a decade of research on the most studied aspects of the biochemistry of this process, with emphasis on problems of biocide and drug resistances, putative new targets, molecular and cell biology of the process of encystment, and the characteristics of the encysted state. As well as the intrinsic pathogenicity of the organism towards the cornea, and the ability of related species to invade the human brain, its propensity for harbouring and transmitting pathogenic bacteria and viruses is considerable and leads to increasing concerns. The long-term survival and resistance of cysts to drugs and biocides adds another layer of complexity to the problem of their elimination.

Novel in Vitro Efficiency of Chitosan Biomolecule against Trichomonas gallinae

BACKGROUND

Development of new natural agents for parasitic diseases treatment has unexpectedly increased to overcome effectively against emergence and re-emergence of parasitic diseases, the appearance of drug resistant organisms and toxic side effects of current agents. The aim of the study was to evaluate antiprotozoal activities of chitosan biomolecule on trophozoites of Trichomonas gallinae.

METHODS

The antitrichomonal activity of various low molecular weight chitosan concentrations including 125, 250, 500 and 1250 µg ml(-1) against T. gallinae trophozoites cultured in trypticase-yeast extract-maltose medium supplemented with heat-inactivated cold horse serum was evaluated in vitro. Samples containing medium without chitosan were also assayed as controls.

RESULTS

The mortality rates at 0, 3 and 6 h post treatment with all concentrations were significantly different from control group (P<0.05). Treated trophozoites showed more susceptibility to the highest concentration reaching mortality rate of 100% at 3h post inoculation. However, at this time, results for 125, 250 and 500 µg ml(-1) were 93%, 95% and 96.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that the application of chitosan biomolecule is a promising option for treatment of trichomoniasis in pigeons.