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Cárdenas-Guerra RE, Montes-Flores O, Nava-Pintor EE, Reséndiz-Cardiel G, Flores-Pucheta CI, Rodríguez-Gavaldón YI, Arroyo R, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Ortega-López J. Chagasin from Trypanosoma cruzi as a molecular scaffold to express epitopes of TSA-1 as soluble recombinant chimeras. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 218:106458. [PMID: 38423156 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106458] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a global public health problem. New therapeutic drugs and biologics are needed. The TSA-1 recombinant protein of T. cruzi is one such promising antigen for developing a therapeutic vaccine. However, it is overexpressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies, requiring an additional refolding step. As an alternative, in this study, we propose the endogenous cysteine protease inhibitor chagasin as a molecular scaffold to generate chimeric proteins. These proteins will contain combinations of two of the five conserved epitopes (E1 to E5) of TSA-1 in the L4 and L6 chagasin loops. Twenty chimeras (Q1-Q20) were designed, and their solubility was predicted using bioinformatics tools. Nine chimeras with different degrees of solubility were selected and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Western blot assays with anti-6x-His and anti-chagasin antibodies confirmed the expression of soluble recombinant chimeras. Both theoretically and experimentally, the Q12 (E5-E3) chimera was the most soluble, and the Q20 (E4-E5) the most insoluble protein. Q4 (E5-E1) and Q8 (E5-E2) chimeras were classified as proteins with medium solubility that exhibited the highest yield in the soluble fraction. Notably, Q4 has a yield of 239 mg/L, well above the yield of recombinant chagasin (16.5 mg/L) expressed in a soluble form. The expression of the Q4 chimera was scaled up to a 7 L fermenter obtaining a yield of 490 mg/L. These data show that chagasin can serve as a molecular scaffold for the expression of TSA-1 epitopes in the form of soluble chimeras.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Elena Cárdenas-Guerra
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Octavio Montes-Flores
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Edgar Ezequiel Nava-Pintor
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Reséndiz-Cardiel
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Claudia Ivonne Flores-Pucheta
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yasmín Irene Rodríguez-Gavaldón
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rossana Arroyo
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jaime Ortega-López
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, CP 07360, Mexico City, Mexico.
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2
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Pelozo MF, Cordeiro CF, Inácio LF, de Cassia Alves Lemini R, Gonçalves Souza E Leite E, Benedetti MD, Tulha CA, Novaes RD, Caldas IS, Carvalho DT, Lavorato SN, Hawkes JA, Franco LL. Synthesis of new trypanocidal agents from the hybridisation of metronidazole and eugenol analogues. Bioorg Chem 2024; 146:107288. [PMID: 38521013 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107288] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Nitroimidazole compounds are well-known bioactive substances, and the structural activity relationship has been reported whereby the position of the nitro group within the imidazole ring has a large influence on the activity. This study focuses on synthesising new trypanocidal agents from the hybridisation of metronidazole with different natural phenols (eugenol, dihydroeugenol and guaiacol). Two different coupling methodologies have been explored in order to analyse the influence of the connector on bioactivity: i) classic direct esterification (AD compounds) and ii) "click" chemistry using a triazole connector (AC compounds). The in vitro trypanocidal tests show good results for both AC and AD hybrid compounds against both epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi. In silico studies showed positive data for most of the synthesised compounds and, in general present low toxicological risks. The AC compounds present lower ClogP (lipophilicity) values than those found for the AD series and higher TPSA (topological polar surface area) values, suggesting lower lipophilicity may be related to the presence of the triazole connector. The AD series compounds have higher Drug Score values than the AC series derivatives, suggesting better general properties for a pharmacological action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Letícia Fonseca Inácio
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, MG 37130-001, Brazil
| | | | | | - Monique Dias Benedetti
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, MG 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Alves Tulha
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, MG 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Dias Novaes
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-001, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ivo Santana Caldas
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, MG 37130-001, Brazil
| | | | - Stefânia Neiva Lavorato
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, BA 47810-047 Brazil
| | - Jamie Anthony Hawkes
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, MG 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Lucas Lopardi Franco
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, MG 37130-001, Brazil.
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3
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Ruiz Luque J, Cevey ÁC, Pieralisi AV, Poncini C, Erra Díaz F, Azevedo Reis MV, Donato M, Mirkin GA, Goren NB, Penas FN. Fenofibrate Induces a Resolving Profile in Heart Macrophage Subsets and Attenuates Acute Chagas Myocarditis. ACS Infect Dis 2024. [PMID: 38648355 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00125] [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: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, stands as the primary cause of dilated cardiomyopathy in the Americas. Macrophages play a crucial role in the heart's response to infection. Given their functional and phenotypic adaptability, manipulating specific macrophage subsets could be vital in aiding essential cardiovascular functions including tissue repair and defense against infection. PPARα are ligand-dependent transcription factors involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation regulation. However, the role of fenofibrate, a PPARα ligand, in the activation profile of cardiac macrophages as well as its effect on the early inflammatory and fibrotic response in the heart remains unexplored. The present study demonstrates that fenofibrate significantly reduces not only the serum activity of tissue damage biomarker enzymes (LDH and GOT) but also the circulating proportions of pro-inflammatory monocytes (CD11b+ LY6Chigh). Furthermore, both CD11b+ Ly6Clow F4/80high macrophages (MΦ) and recently differentiated CD11b+ Ly6Chigh F4/80high monocyte-derived macrophages (MdMΦ) shift toward a resolving phenotype (CD206high) in the hearts of fenofibrate-treated mice. This shift correlates with a reduction in fibrosis, inflammation, and restoration of ventricular function in the early stages of Chagas disease. These findings encourage the repositioning of fenofibrate as a potential ancillary immunotherapy adjunct to antiparasitic drugs, addressing inflammation to mitigate Chagas disease symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Ruiz Luque
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Ágata Carolina Cevey
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Azul Victoria Pieralisi
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Carolina Poncini
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Fernando Erra Díaz
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Marcus Vinicius Azevedo Reis
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Martin Donato
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular (INFICA), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Gerardo Ariel Mirkin
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Nora Beatriz Goren
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
| | - Federico Nicolás Penas
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y SIDA (INBIRS), Buenos Aires C1121A6B, Argentina
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Viano ME, Baez NS, Savid-Frontera C, Baigorri RE, Dinatale B, Pacini MF, Bulfoni Balbi C, Gonzalez FB, Fozzatti L, Lidón NL, Young HA, Hodge DL, Cerban F, Stempin CC, Pérez AR, Rodriguez-Galán MC. Systemic inflammatory Th1 cytokines during Trypanosoma cruzi infection disrupt the typical anatomical cell distribution and phenotypic/functional characteristics of various cell subsets within the thymus. Microbes Infect 2024:105337. [PMID: 38615883 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105337] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The thymus plays a crucial role in T cell differentiation, a complex process influenced by various factors such as antigens, the microenvironment and thymic architecture. The way the thymus resolves infections is critical, as chronic persistence of microbes or inflammatory mediators can obstruct the differentiation. Here, we illustrate that following inflammatory T helper 1 infectious processes like those caused by Candida albicans or Trypanosoma cruzi, single positive thymocytes adopt a mature phenotype. Further investigations focused on T. cruzi infection, reveal a substantial existence of CD44+ cells in both the cortical and medullary areas of the thymus at the onset of infection. This disturbance coincides with heightened interferon gamma (IFNγ) production by thymocytes and an increased cytotoxic capacity against T. cruzi-infected macrophages. Additionally, we observe a reduced exportation capacity in T. cruzi-infected mice. Some alterations can be reversed in IFNγ knockout mice (KO). Notably, the majority of these effects can be replicated by systemic expression of interleukin (IL)-12+IL-18, underlining the predominantly inflammatory rather than pathogen-specific nature of these phenomena. Understanding the mechanisms through which systemic inflammation disrupts normal T cell development, as well as subsequent T cell exportation to secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) is pivotal for comprehending susceptibility to diseases in different pathological scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Estefania Viano
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Natalia Soledad Baez
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Constanza Savid-Frontera
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ruth Eliana Baigorri
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Brenda Dinatale
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Argentina
| | - Maria Florencia Pacini
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Argentina
| | - Camila Bulfoni Balbi
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Argentina
| | | | - Laura Fozzatti
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nicolas Leonel Lidón
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Howard A Young
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Deborah L Hodge
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Fabio Cerban
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Cinthia Carolina Stempin
- Inmunología, CIBICI-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ana Rosa Pérez
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER CONICET-UNR), Argentina; Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPREB), Facultad de Cs. Médicas de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Argentina
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5
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Trometer N, Pecourneau J, Feng L, Navarro-Huerta JA, Lazarin-Bidóia D, de Oliveira Silva Lautenschlager S, Maes L, Fortes Francisco A, Kelly JM, Meunier B, Cal M, Mäser P, Kaiser M, Davioud-Charvet E. Synthesis and Anti-Chagas Activity Profile of a Redox-Active Lead 3-Benzylmenadione Revealed by High-Content Imaging. ACS Infect Dis 2024. [PMID: 38606978 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00137] [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: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a neglected tropical disease which is a top priority target of the World Health Organization. The disease, endemic mainly in Latin America, is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and has spread around the globe due to human migration. There are multiple transmission routes, including vectorial, congenital, oral, and iatrogenic. Less than 1% of patients have access to treatment, relying on two old redox-active drugs that show poor pharmacokinetics and severe adverse effects. Hence, the priorities for the next steps of R&D include (i) the discovery of novel drugs/chemical classes, (ii) filling the pipeline with drug candidates that have new mechanisms of action, and (iii) the pressing need for more research and access to new chemical entities. In the present work, we first identified a hit (4a) with a potent anti-T. cruzi activity from a library of 3-benzylmenadiones. We then designed a synthetic strategy to build a library of 49 3-(4-monoamino)benzylmenadione derivatives via reductive amination to obtain diazacyclic benz(o)ylmenadiones. Among them, we identified by high content imaging an anti-amastigote "early lead" 11b (henceforth called cruzidione) revealing optimized pharmacokinetic properties and enhanced specificity. Studies in a yeast model revealed that a cruzidione metabolite, the 3-benzoylmenadione (cruzidione oxide), enters redox cycling with the NADH-dehydrogenase, generating reactive oxygen species, as hypothesized for the early hit (4a).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Trometer
- UMR7042 CNRS-Unistra-UHA, Laboratoire d'Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (LIMA), Bio(in)organic & Medicinal Chemistry Team, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Jérémy Pecourneau
- UMR7042 CNRS-Unistra-UHA, Laboratoire d'Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (LIMA), Bio(in)organic & Medicinal Chemistry Team, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Liwen Feng
- UMR7042 CNRS-Unistra-UHA, Laboratoire d'Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (LIMA), Bio(in)organic & Medicinal Chemistry Team, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - José A Navarro-Huerta
- UMR7042 CNRS-Unistra-UHA, Laboratoire d'Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (LIMA), Bio(in)organic & Medicinal Chemistry Team, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Danielle Lazarin-Bidóia
- Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, CEP 87020-900 Paraná, Brazil
| | - Sueli de Oliveira Silva Lautenschlager
- Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, CEP 87020-900 Paraná, Brazil
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, CDE-S7.27 Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Amanda Fortes Francisco
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - John M Kelly
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Brigitte Meunier
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France
| | - Monica Cal
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersgraben 1, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersgraben 1, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Petersgraben 1, CH-4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth Davioud-Charvet
- UMR7042 CNRS-Unistra-UHA, Laboratoire d'Innovation Moléculaire et Applications (LIMA), Bio(in)organic & Medicinal Chemistry Team, European School of Chemistry, Polymers and Materials (ECPM), 25, rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France
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6
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Vitarelli MDO, Franco TA, Pires DDS, Lima ARJ, Viala VL, Kraus AJ, de Azevedo IDLMJ, da Cunha JPC, Elias MC. Integrating high-throughput analysis to create an atlas of replication origins in Trypanosoma cruzi in the context of genome structure and variability. mBio 2024; 15:e0031924. [PMID: 38441981 PMCID: PMC11005370 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00319-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of the most prevalent human parasitic disease in Latin America, Chagas disease. Its genome is rich in multigenic families that code for virulent antigens and are present in the rapidly evolving genomic compartment named Disruptive. DNA replication is a meticulous biological process in which flaws can generate mutations and changes in chromosomal and gene copy numbers. Here, integrating high-throughput and single-molecule analyses, we were able to identify Predominant, Flexible, and Dormant Orc1Cdc6-dependent origins as well as Orc1Cdc6-independent origins. Orc1Cdc6-dependent origins were found in multigenic family loci, while independent origins were found in the Core compartment that contains conserved and hypothetical protein-coding genes, in addition to multigenic families. In addition, we found that Orc1Cdc6 density is related to the firing of origins and that Orc1Cdc6-binding sites within fired origins are depleted of a specific class of nucleosomes that we previously categorized as dynamic. Together, these data suggest that Orc1Cdc6-dependent origins may contribute to the rapid evolution of the Disruptive compartment and, therefore, to the success of T. cruzi infection and that the local epigenome landscape is also involved in this process.IMPORTANCETrypanosoma cruzi, responsible for Chagas disease, affects millions globally, particularly in Latin America. Lack of vaccine or treatment underscores the need for research. Parasite's genome, with virulent antigen-coding multigenic families, resides in the rapidly evolving Disruptive compartment. Study sheds light on the parasite's dynamic DNA replication, discussing the evolution of the Disruptive compartment. Therefore, the findings represent a significant stride in comprehending T. cruzi's biology and the molecular bases that contribute to the success of infection caused by this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela de Oliveira Vitarelli
- Cell Cycle Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Vincent Louis Viala
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amelie Johanna Kraus
- Division of Experimental Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Biomedical Center, Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Julia Pinheiro Chagas da Cunha
- Cell Cycle Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina Elias
- Cell Cycle Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, Av. Vital Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil
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7
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Silvestrini MMA, Alessio GD, Frias BED, Sales Júnior PA, Araújo MSS, Silvestrini CMA, Brito Alvim de Melo GE, Martins-Filho OA, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Martins HR. New insights into Trypanosoma cruzi genetic diversity, and its influence on parasite biology and clinical outcomes. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1342431. [PMID: 38655255 PMCID: PMC11035809 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1342431] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a serious public health problem worldwide. The parasite was subdivided into six distinct genetic groups, called "discrete typing units" (DTUs), from TcI to TcVI. Several studies have indicated that the heterogeneity of T. cruzi species directly affects the diversity of clinical manifestations of Chagas disease, control, diagnosis performance, and susceptibility to treatment. Thus, this review aims to describe how T. cruzi genetic diversity influences the biology of the parasite and/or clinical parameters in humans. Regarding the geographic dispersion of T. cruzi, evident differences were observed in the distribution of DTUs in distinct areas. For example, TcII is the main DTU detected in Brazilian patients from the central and southeastern regions, where there are also registers of TcVI as a secondary T. cruzi DTU. An important aspect observed in previous studies is that the genetic variability of T. cruzi can impact parasite infectivity, reproduction, and differentiation in the vectors. It has been proposed that T. cruzi DTU influences the host immune response and affects disease progression. Genetic aspects of the parasite play an important role in determining which host tissues will be infected, thus heavily influencing Chagas disease's pathogenesis. Several teams have investigated the correlation between T. cruzi DTU and the reactivation of Chagas disease. In agreement with these data, it is reasonable to suppose that the immunological condition of the patient, whether or not associated with the reactivation of the T. cruzi infection and the parasite strain, may have an important role in the pathogenesis of Chagas disease. In this context, understanding the genetics of T. cruzi and its biological and clinical implications will provide new knowledge that may contribute to additional strategies in the diagnosis and clinical outcome follow-up of patients with Chagas disease, in addition to the reactivation of immunocompromised patients infected with T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Glaucia Diniz Alessio
- Integrated Biomarker Research Group, René Rachou Institute, Fiocruz Minas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruna Estefânia Diniz Frias
- Integrated Biomarker Research Group, René Rachou Institute, Fiocruz Minas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Policarpo Ademar Sales Júnior
- Integrated Biomarker Research Group, René Rachou Institute, Fiocruz Minas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Márcio Sobreira Silva Araújo
- Integrated Biomarker Research Group, René Rachou Institute, Fiocruz Minas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Olindo Assis Martins-Filho
- Integrated Biomarker Research Group, René Rachou Institute, Fiocruz Minas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- Integrated Biomarker Research Group, René Rachou Institute, Fiocruz Minas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Helen Rodrigues Martins
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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8
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Cristovão-Silva AC, Brelaz-de-Castro MCA, Dionisio da Silva E, Leite ACL, Santiago LBAA, Conceição JMD, da Silva Tiburcio R, de Santana DP, Bedor DCG, de Carvalho BÍV, Ferreira LFGR, de Freitas E Silva R, Alves Pereira VR, Hernandes MZ. Trypanosoma cruzi killing and immune response boosting by novel phenoxyhydrazine-thiazole against Chagas disease. Exp Parasitol 2024; 261:108749. [PMID: 38593864 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108749] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) causes Chagas, which is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). WHO estimates that 6 to 7 million people are infected worldwide. Current treatment is done with benznidazole (BZN), which is very toxic and effective only in the acute phase of the disease. In this work, we designed, synthesized, and characterized thirteen new phenoxyhydrazine-thiazole compounds and applied molecular docking and in vitro methods to investigate cell cytotoxicity, trypanocide activity, nitric oxide (NO) production, cell death, and immunomodulation. We observed a higher predicted affinity of the compounds for the squalene synthase and 14-alpha demethylase enzymes of T. cruzi. Moreover, the compounds displayed a higher predicted affinity for human TLR2 and TLR4, were mildly toxic in vitro for most mammalian cell types tested, and LIZ531 (IC50 2.8 μM) was highly toxic for epimastigotes, LIZ311 (IC50 8.6 μM) for trypomastigotes, and LIZ331 (IC50 1.9 μM) for amastigotes. We observed that LIZ311 (IC50 2.5 μM), LIZ431 (IC50 4.1 μM) and LIZ531 (IC50 5 μM) induced 200 μg/mL of NO and JM14 induced NO production in three different concentrations tested. The compound LIZ331 induced the production of TNF and IL-6. LIZ311 induced the secretion of TNF, IFNγ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17, cell death by apoptosis, decreased acidic compartment formation, and induced changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Taken together, LIZ311 is a promising anti-T. cruzi compound is not toxic to mammalian cells and has increased antiparasitic activity and immunomodulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Cristovão-Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 50670-42, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina Accioly Brelaz-de-Castro
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 50670-42, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Laboratory of Parasitology, Vitória Academic Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, 55608-680, Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Elis Dionisio da Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 50670-42, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Lima Leite
- Laboratory of Planning and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Lizandra Beatriz Amorim Alves Santiago
- Laboratory of Planning and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Juliana Maria da Conceição
- Laboratory of Planning and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Robert da Silva Tiburcio
- Laboratory of Planning and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Davi Pereira de Santana
- Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Development Center (NUDFAC), Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Danilo Cesar Galindo Bedor
- Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Development Center (NUDFAC), Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Breno Ítalo Valença de Carvalho
- Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Development Center (NUDFAC), Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Luiz Felipe Gomes Rebello Ferreira
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Rafael de Freitas E Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 50670-42, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Valéria Rêgo Alves Pereira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, 50670-42, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Marcelo Zaldini Hernandes
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
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9
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da Silva AC, Moreira LR, Oliveira CNDC, Júnior CDDS, Ó KPD, Oliveira KKDS, Melo MGND, Soares AKDA, Cavalcanti MDP, Vasconcelos LRS, Lorena VMBD. Dynamics of the Trypanosoma cruzi infection in adipose tissue: Assessing gene expression of PNPLA2, FASN, and ACAT1 under Benzonidazole treatment and indirect mononuclear immune cells interaction. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 258:111618. [PMID: 38588892 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111618] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a parasite with a high capacity to adapt to the host. Animal models have already demonstrated that the tropism of this parasite occurs not only in cardiac/digestive tissues but also in adipose tissue (AT). That said, the consequences ofT. cruziinfection for AT and the implications of treatment with Benzonidazole in this tissue are under discussion. Here, we tested the hypothesis that T. cruzi infection in adipose tissue upon treatment with Benzonidazole (Bz) and the interaction of mononuclear immune cells (PBMC) influences the relative expression of ACAT1, FASN, and PNPLA2 genes. Thus, stem cells derived from adipose tissue (ADSC) after adipogenic differentiation were indirectly cultivated with PBMC after infection with the T. cruzi Y strain and treatment with Bz. We use the TcSAT-IAM system and RT-qPCR to evaluate the parasite load and the relative quantification (ΔCt) of the ACAT1, FASN, and PNPLA2 genes. Our results demonstrate that treatment with Bz did not reduce adipocyte infection in the presence (p-value: 0.5796) or absence (p-value: 0.1854) of cultivation with PBMC. In addition, even though there is no statistical difference when compared to the control group (AT), T. cruzi induces the FASN expression (Rq: 14.00). However, treatment with Bz in AT suggests the increases of PNPLA2 expression levels (Rq: 12.58), even in the absence of T. cruzi infection. During indirect cultivation with PBMC, T. cruzi smooths the expression of PNPLA2 (Rq: 0.824) and instigates the expression of ACAT1 (Rq: 1.632) and FASN (Rq: 1.394). Furthermore, the treatment with Bz during infection induces PNPLA2 expression (Rq: 1.871), maintaining FASN expression levels (Rq: 1.334). Given this, our results indicate that treatment with Benzonidazole did not decrease T. cruzi infection in adipose tissue. However, treating the adipocyte cells with Bz during the interaction with PBMC cells influences the lipid pathways scenario, inducing lipolytic metabolism through the expression of PNPLA2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leyllane Rafael Moreira
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, PE, Brasil; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | | | - Claudeir Dias da Silva Júnior
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, PE, Brasil; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil
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10
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Radisic MV, Santoro Lopes G, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, Eichenberger EM, Hall VG, Pujato NR, Clemente WT. Interesting case from Argentina: Kidney transplant recipient with skin lesions-A Latin American perspective. Transpl Infect Dis 2024; 26:e14243. [PMID: 38407514 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14243] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
This is a case of a kidney transplant recipient who presented with skin lesions, low-grade fevers, and pancytopenia 2 months after his transplant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Víctor Radisic
- Departamento de Infectología, Instituto de Trasplante y Alta Complejidad, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guilherme Santoro Lopes
- Medicine School and Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Emily M Eichenberger
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Victoria G Hall
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Natalia Rosana Pujato
- Departamento de Infectología, Instituto de Trasplante y Alta Complejidad, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Wanessa Trindade Clemente
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Liver Transplant Program-Transplant Infectious Disease, Hospital das Clínicas EBSERH/UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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11
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Sabalette KB, Campo VA, Sotelo-Silveira JR, Smircich P, De Gaudenzi JG. RNA-seq data exploration after trypanosome RNA-binding protein UBP1 expression is altered by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and overexpression. Data Brief 2024; 53:110156. [PMID: 38389957 PMCID: PMC10881420 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110156] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that overexpression of the Trypanosoma cruzi U-rich RNA-binding protein 1 (TcUBP1) in insect-dwelling epimastigotes results in a gene expression pattern resembling that of the infective form of the pathogen. Here, we used CRISPR-Cas9-induced edition of TcUBP1 and full-length protein overexpression in epimastigote cells to monitor transcriptomic changes during the epimastigote-to-metacyclic trypomastigote stage transition of T. cruzi. This dataset includes the bioinformatics analysis of three different RNA-seq samples, each with three biological replicates, showing differential mRNA abundances. The current transcriptome report has the potential to shed light on the quantitative variances in the expression of significant up- or down-regulated mRNAs as a consequence of the levels of the UBP1 protein. Raw data files were deposited at the NCBI Sequence Read Archive - SRA at http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Traces/sra/sra.cgi with accession numbers PRJNA907231 and PRJNA949967.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina B Sabalette
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1650 General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, 1650 General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina A Campo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1650 General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, 1650 General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José R Sotelo-Silveira
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Av. Italia 3318, Montevideo, CP 11600, Uruguay
- Instituto de Biología, School of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Smircich
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Av. Italia 3318, Montevideo, CP 11600, Uruguay
- Instituto de Biología, School of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Javier G De Gaudenzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1650 General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, 1650 General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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12
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Vargas-Munévar L, Borja-Fajardo J, Sandoval-Aldana A, García WQ, Moreno EM, Henriquez JC, Stashenko E, García LT, García-Beltrán O. Microencapsulation of Theobroma cacao L polyphenols: A high-value approach with in vitro anti- Trypanosoma cruzi, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116307. [PMID: 38401521 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116307] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CHD) is the highest economic burden parasitosis worldwide and the most important cardiac infection, without therapeutic alternatives to halt or reverse its progression. In CHD-experimental models, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds have demonstrated therapeutic potential in cardiac dysfunction. Theobroma cacao polyphenols are potent natural antioxidants with cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory action, which are susceptible to degradation, requiring technological approaches to guarantee their protection, stability, and controlled release. Here, 21 cocoa polyphenol-rich microencapsulates were produced by spray-drying and freeze-drying techniques using two wall materials (maltodextrin and gum arabic). Chemical (total and individual phenolic content and antioxidant activity), structural (morphology), and biological parameters (cytotoxicity, trypanocidal, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities) were assessed to determine the most efficient microencapsulation conditions on Trypanosoma cruzi-infected myocardioblast and macrophage cells. Significant antiproliferative properties against infected cells (superior to benznidazole) were found in two microencapsulates which also exhibited cardioprotective properties against oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vargas-Munévar
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia
| | | | | | - Wendy Quintero García
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia
| | - Erika Moreno Moreno
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia
| | - Juan Camilo Henriquez
- National Research Center for the Agroindustrialization of Aromatic and Medicinal Tropical Species (CENIVAM), Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia
| | - Elena Stashenko
- National Research Center for the Agroindustrialization of Aromatic and Medicinal Tropical Species (CENIVAM), Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia
| | - Liliana Torcoroma García
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia.
| | - Olimpo García-Beltrán
- Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O' Higgins, Santiago 8370854, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad de Ibagué, Ibagué 730002, Colombia.
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13
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Pérez-Sánchez E, Montiel-Cruz R, Romero-Domínguez E, Pascacio-Bermúdez G, Báez-Hernández A, Díaz Del Castillo-Flores G, Correa-Morales F, Vázquez-Prokopec G, Manrique-Saide P, Che-Mendoza A, Meneses-Ruiz G, López-Martínez I, Jesús Sánchez M. Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi among children from Veracruz, Mexico: Epidemiological baseline for a control model based on Chagas disease active transmission. Biomedica 2024; 44:92-101. [PMID: 38648342 DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.7126] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Introduction. In 2021, the Secretaría de Salud de México and the Pan American Health Organization launched an initiative to interrupt intra-domiciliary vector transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi based on the prevalence of Chagas disease in children. The Mexican State of Veracruz was leading this initiative. Objective. To estimate the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection among children under 15 years of age from rural areas of Veracruz, México. Materials and methods. We identified eight localities of high priority from the Municipality of Tempoal, Veracruz, for baseline serology. Blood samples were collected on filter paper from 817 individuals between June and August 2017, for screening with a third-generation enzyme immunoassay. Reactive cases were confirmed by indirect hemagglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and indirect immunofluorescence tests on peripheral blood serum samples. We calculated seroprevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. We confirmed Chagas disease cases in children under 15 years of age with a seroprevalence of 1,9% (95 % CI = 1,12-3,16) in the localities of Citlaltepetl, Cornizuelo, Cruz de Palma and Rancho Nuevo. Conclusions. These results indicate recent transmission of T. cruzi in these communities and allow to establish an epidemiological baseline for the design and implementation of a model focused on geographical areas with active transmission to advance toward the elimination of intra-domiciliary vector transmission of this parasite in Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Fabián Correa-Morales
- Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Pablo Manrique-Saide
- Unidad Colaborativa para Bioensayos Entomológicos, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Azael Che-Mendoza
- Unidad Colaborativa para Bioensayos Entomológicos, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | | | - Irma López-Martínez
- Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Ciudad de México, México
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14
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Durães-Oliveira J, Palma-Marques J, Moreno C, Rodrigues A, Monteiro M, Alexandre-Pires G, da Fonseca IP, Santos-Gomes G. Chagas Disease: A Silent Threat for Dogs and Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3840. [PMID: 38612650 PMCID: PMC11011309 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a vector-borne Neglected Zoonotic Disease (NZD) caused by a flagellate protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, that affects various mammalian species across America, including humans and domestic animals. However, due to an increase in population movements and new routes of transmission, T. cruzi infection is presently considered a worldwide health concern, no longer restricted to endemic countries. Dogs play a major role in the domestic cycle by acting very efficiently as reservoirs and allowing the perpetuation of parasite transmission in endemic areas. Despite the significant progress made in recent years, still there is no vaccine against human and animal disease, there are few drugs available for the treatment of human CD, and there is no standard protocol for the treatment of canine CD. In this review, we highlight human and canine Chagas Disease in its different dimensions and interconnections. Dogs, which are considered to be the most important peridomestic reservoir and sentinel for the transmission of T. cruzi infection in a community, develop CD that is clinically similar to human CD. Therefore, an integrative approach, based on the One Health concept, bringing together the advances in genomics, immunology, and epidemiology can lead to the effective development of vaccines, new treatments, and innovative control strategies to tackle CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Durães-Oliveira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Joana Palma-Marques
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Cláudia Moreno
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Armanda Rodrigues
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Marta Monteiro
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FMV, University of Lisbon, ULisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.A.-P.); (I.P.d.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Graça Alexandre-Pires
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FMV, University of Lisbon, ULisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.A.-P.); (I.P.d.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pereira da Fonseca
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FMV, University of Lisbon, ULisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.A.-P.); (I.P.d.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Santos-Gomes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
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15
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Morilla MJ, Ghosal K, Romero EL. Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: a critical review. Beilstein J Nanotechnol 2024; 15:333-349. [PMID: 38590427 PMCID: PMC11000002 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.15.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is the most important endemic parasitosis in South America and represents a great socioeconomic burden for the chronically ill and their families. The only currently available treatment against CD is based on the oral administration of benznidazole, an agent, developed in 1971, of controversial effectiveness on chronically ill patients and toxic to adults. So far, conventional pharmacological approaches have failed to offer more effective and less toxic alternatives to benznidazole. Nanomedicines reduce toxicity and increase the effectiveness of current oncological therapies. Could nanomedicines improve the treatment of the neglected CD? This question will be addressed in this review, first by critically discussing selected reports on the performance of benznidazole and other molecules formulated as nanomedicines in in vitro and in vivo CD models. Taking into consideration the developmental barriers for nanomedicines and the degree of current technical preclinical efforts, a prospect of developing nanomedicines against CD will be provided. Not surprisingly, we conclude that structurally simpler formulations with minimal production cost, such as oral nanocrystals and/or parenteral nano-immunostimulants, have the highest chances of making it to the market to treat CD. Nonetheless, substantive political and economic decisions, key to facing technological challenges, are still required regarding a realistic use of nanomedicines effective against CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Morilla
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kajal Ghosal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja Subodh Chandra Mallick Rd., Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Eder Lilia Romero
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Torres-Jaramillo J, Blöcher R, Chacón-Vargas KF, Hernández-Calderón J, Sánchez-Torres LE, Nogueda-Torres B, Reyes-Arellano A. Synthesis of Antiprotozoal 2-(4-Alkyloxyphenyl)-Imidazolines and Imidazoles and Their Evaluation on Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3673. [PMID: 38612484 PMCID: PMC11012064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073673] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Twenty 2-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)-imidazolines and 2-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)-imidazoles were synthesized, with the former being synthesized in two steps by using MW and ultrasonication energy, resulting in good to excellent yields. Imidazoles were obtained in moderate yields by oxidizing imidazolines with MnO2 and MW energy. In response to the urgent need to treat neglected tropical diseases, a set of 2-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)- imidazolines and imidazoles was tested in vitro on Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma cruzi. The leishmanicidal activity of ten compounds was evaluated, showing an IC50 < 10 µg/mL. Among these compounds, 27-31 were the most active, with IC50 values < 1 µg/mL (similar to the reference drugs). In the evaluation on epimastigotes of T. cruzi, only 30 and 36 reached an IC50 < 1 µg/mL, showing better inhibition than both reference drugs. However, compounds 29, 33, and 35 also demonstrated attractive trypanocidal activities, with IC50 values < 10 µg/mL, similar to the values for benznidazole and nifurtimox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenifer Torres-Jaramillo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (J.T.-J.); (R.B.); (J.H.-C.)
| | - René Blöcher
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (J.T.-J.); (R.B.); (J.H.-C.)
| | | | - Jorge Hernández-Calderón
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (J.T.-J.); (R.B.); (J.H.-C.)
| | - Luvia E. Sánchez-Torres
- Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Nogueda-Torres
- Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Alicia Reyes-Arellano
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (ENCB-IPN), Mexico City 11340, Mexico; (J.T.-J.); (R.B.); (J.H.-C.)
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17
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Arce-Fonseca M, Mata-Espinosa D, Aranda-Fraustro A, Rosales-Encina JL, Flores-Valdez MA, Rodríguez-Morales O. Mycobacterium bovis BCG as immunostimulating agent prevents the severe form of chronic experimental Chagas disease. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1380049. [PMID: 38576607 PMCID: PMC10991741 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1380049] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is currently no vaccine against Chagas disease (ChD), and the medications available confer multiple side effects. Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) produces balanced Th1, Th2, and Th17 modulatory immune responses and has improved efficacy in controlling chronic infections through nonspecific immunity. We aimed to improve the response to infection by inducing a stronger immune response and greater protection against the parasite by trained immunity. Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with BCG subcutaneously, and 60 days later, they were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi intraperitoneally. An evaluation of the progression of the disease from the acute to the chronic stage, analyzing various aspects such as parasitemia, survival, clinical status, and humoral and cellular immune response, as well as the appearance of visceral megas and the histopathological description of target organs, was performed. Results Vaccination reduced parasitemia by 70%, and 100% survival was achieved in the acute stage; although the presentation of clinical signs was reduced, there was no increase in the antibody titer or in the differential production of the isotypes. Conclusion Serum cytokine production indicated a proinflammatory response in infected animals, while in those who received BCG, the response was balanced by inducing Th1/Th2-type cytokines, with a better prognosis of the disease in the chronic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Dulce Mata-Espinosa
- Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alberto Aranda-Fraustro
- Department of Pathology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Luis Rosales-Encina
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mario Alberto Flores-Valdez
- Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, A. C., Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
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de M Gonçalves M, Totini CH, De Castro EV, Albuquerque V, Antar GM, Tempone AG, Lago JHG. Lignans Isolated from Piper truncatum Act as New Potent Antitrypanosomal Compounds. Chem Biodivers 2024:e202400547. [PMID: 38507773 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The hexane extract from twigs of Piper truncatum Vell (Piperaceae) displayed activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and was subjected to chromatographic steps to afford six dibenzylbutyrolactolic lignans, being four knowns: cubebin (1), (-)-9α-O-methylcubebin (2), (+)-9β-O-methylcubebinin (3) and 3,4-dimethoxy-3,4-demethylenedioxycubebin (4) as well as two new, named truncatin A (5) and B (6). Initially, in vitro activity against trypomastigotes was evaluated and compounds 1, 4 and 6 exhibited EC50 values of 41.6, 21.0 and 39.6 μM, respectively. However, when tested against amastigotes, the relevant clinical form in the chronic phase of Chagas disease, compounds 1-6 displayed activities with EC50 values ranging from 1.6 to 13.7 μM. In addition, the mammalian cytotoxicity of compounds 1-6 was evaluated against murine fibroblasts (NCTC). Compounds 2, 3 and 4 exhibited reduced toxicity against NCTC cells (CC50>200 μM), resulting in SI values of>21.9,>14.5 and>121.9, respectively. Compound 4 showed the highest potency with an SI value twice superior to that determined by the standard drug benznidazole (SI>54.6) against the intracellular amastigotes. These data suggest that lignan 4 can be considered a possible scaffold for designing a new drug candidate for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina de M Gonçalves
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, 09210-580, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos H Totini
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, 09210-580, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Guilherme M Antar
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Espirito Santo, 29932-540, São Matheus, ES, Brazil
| | | | - João Henrique G Lago
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, 09210-580, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil
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Moreira LR, Silva AC, da Costa-Oliveira CN, da Silva-Júnior CD, Oliveira KKDS, Torres DJL, Barros MD, Rabello MCDS, de Lorena VMB. Interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells and Trypanosoma cruzi-infected adipocytes: implications for treatment failure and induction of immunomodulatory mechanisms in adipose tissue. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1280877. [PMID: 38533504 PMCID: PMC10963431 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1280877] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Introduction Adipose tissue (AT) has been highlighted as a promising reservoir of infection for viruses, bacteria and parasites. Among them is Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. The recommended treatment for the disease in Brazil is Benznidazole (BZ). However, its efficacy may vary according to the stage of the disease, geographical origin, age, immune background of the host and sensitivity of the strains to the drug. In this context, AT may act as an ally for the parasite survival and persistence in the host and a barrier for BZ action. Therefore, we investigated the immunomodulation of T. cruzi-infected human AT in the presence of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) where BZ treatment was added. Methods We performed indirect cultivation between T. cruzi-infected adipocytes, PBMC and the addition of BZ. After 72h of treatment, the supernatant was collected for cytokine, chemokine and adipokine assay. Infected adipocytes were removed to quantify T. cruzi DNA, and PBMC were removed for immunophenotyping. Results Our findings showed elevated secretion of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-2 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) in the AT+PBMC condition compared to the other controls. In contrast, there was a decrease in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-8/CXCL-8 in the groups with AT. We also found high adipsin secretion in PBMC+AT+T compared to the treated condition (PBMC+AT+T+BZ). Likewise, the expression of CD80+ and HLA-DR+ in CD14+ cells decreased in the presence of T. cruzi. Discussion Thus, our findings indicate that AT promotes up-regulation of inflammatory products such as IL-6, IL-2, and MCP-1/CCL2. However, adipogenic inducers may have triggered the downregulation of TNF and IL-8/CXCL8 through the peroxisome proliferator agonist gamma (PPAR-g) or receptor expression. On the other hand, the administration of BZ only managed to reduce inflammation in the microenvironment by decreasing adipsin in the infected culture conditions. Therefore, given the findings, we can see that AT is an ally of the parasite in evading the host's immune response and the pharmacological action of BZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyllane Rafael Moreira
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife, Brazil
| | - Ana Carla Silva
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Claudeir Dias da Silva-Júnior
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Diego José Lira Torres
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife, Brazil
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20
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Reséndiz-Solís DV, Ruiz-Sánchez A, Ballinas-Verdugo MA. [Seroprevalence of Chagas disease at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez from 2004 to 2010]. Arch Cardiol Mex 2024. [PMID: 38467078 DOI: 10.24875/acm.23000181] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Different pathogens can cause dilated cardiomyopathy, one of them is Trypanosoma cruzi protozoan. T.cruzi-chronic infection causes chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy and affects the sinus node and the conduction systembelow the bundle of His; besides, it shows excellent arrhythmogenic potential because of ventricular arrhythmias. Knowingthe clinical characteristics and performing serological tests to diagnose chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy is essential. The serological diagnosis for searching the antibodies is based on the phase, which can be a predictor for the development of dilated cardiomyopathy. Objectives In this work, the objective was to describe the frequency of dilated cardiomyopathy in patients with T. cruzi positive serology. Method A total of 961 patients who were medically and clinically diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy were studied. Of these, 128 were diagnosed with chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy and had positive serology for T. cruzi with two serological tests. Results The clinical findings were obtained from the results of the electrocardiograms and were taken from the patient's clinical histories. Conclusion In conclusion, complete blockage of the right branch of the bundle of His (44.2%) is one of the primary conduction disorders in the patients studied. Regarding seroprevalence, 14% of patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy had anti-T. cruzi antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana V Reséndiz-Solís
- Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de México Campus Sur (UNITEC Sur), Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Alejandro Ruiz-Sánchez
- Departamento de Nutrición Universidad Univermilenium, Plantel Ecatepec, Ecatepec de Morelos, Estado de México, México
| | - Martha A Ballinas-Verdugo
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, México
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21
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Diaz AP, Canal CAM, Valdés AJ, Delgado JEG, Varela-M RE. GSK-3 kinase a putative therapeutic target in trypanosomatid parasites. Braz J Infect Dis 2024; 28:103736. [PMID: 38467387 PMCID: PMC10955101 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2024.103736] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are an important group of parasites that predominate in tropical and subtropical areas of the planet, which cause diseases that are classified as forgotten and neglected by the world health organization. In this group of parasites, we find Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Leishmania spp, for which there is no vaccine available, and its control has focused mainly on pharmacological treatment. Due to the poverty situation where these diseases are found and the biological complexity of these parasites, there are multiple variables to control, including the diversity of species, the complexity of their life cycles, drug resistance, cytotoxicity, the limited use in pregnant women, the high costs of treatment and the little-known pharmacological mechanisms of action, among others. It is therefore necessary to find new strategies and approaches for the treatment of these parasitic diseases. Among these new approaches is the rational search for new targets based on the allosteric inhibition of protein kinases, which have been little studied in trypanosomatids. Among these kinases, we find Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3), a kinase of great pharmacological interest, which is under intense basic and clinical research by pharmaceutical companies for the treatment of cancer. This kinase, highly studied in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway signaling in humans, has an orthologous gene in these parasites (GSK-3 s), which has proven to be essential for them in response to different challenges; Therefore, it is notable to increase research in this kinase in order to achieve a broad structural and functional characterization in the different species of trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - R E Varela-M
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.
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22
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Romagnoli BAA, Lucena ACR, Freire ER, Munhoz da Rocha IF, Alves LR, Goldenberg S. TcZC3HTTP, a regulatory element that contributes to Trypanosoma cruzi cell proliferation. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0288023. [PMID: 38270449 PMCID: PMC10913370 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02880-23] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression is a critical process for adapting to and surviving Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite with a complex life cycle. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players in this regulation, forming ribonucleoprotein complexes (messenger ribonucleoproteins) and RNA granules that control transcript stability, localization, degradation, and translation modulation. Understanding the specific roles of individual RBPs is crucial for unraveling the details of this regulatory network. In this study, we generated null mutants of the TcZC3HTTP gene, a specific RBP in the Trypanosoma family characterized by a C3H zinc finger and a DNAJ domain associated with RNA and protein binding, respectively. Through cell growth assays, we demonstrated that the absence of TcZC3HTTP or the expression of an additional tagged version impacted epimastigote growth, indicating its contribution to cell proliferation. TcZC3HTTP was found to associate with mRNAs involved in cell cycle and division in epimastigotes, while in nutritionally stressed parasites it exhibited associations with mRNAs coding for other RBPs and rRNA. Furthermore, our analysis identified that TcZC3HTTP protein partners were different during normal growth conditions compared to starvation conditions, with the latter showing enrichment of ribosomal proteins and other RBPs. Therefore, this study provides insights into TcZC3HTTP's role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during normal growth and nutritional stress in T. cruzi, uncovering its versatile functions in different cellular contexts.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding how Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, regulates gene expression is crucial for developing targeted interventions. In this study, we investigated the role of TcZC3HTTP, an RNA-binding protein, in post-transcriptional regulation. Our findings demonstrate that TcZC3HTTP is relevant for the growth and proliferation of epimastigotes, a stage of the parasite's life cycle. We identified its associations with specific mRNAs involved in cell cycle and division and its interactions with enzymes and other RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) under normal and starvation conditions. These insights shed light on the regulatory network underlying gene expression in T. cruzi and reveal the multifaceted functions of RBPs in this parasite. Such knowledge enhances our understanding of the parasite's biology and opens avenues for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting post-transcriptional gene regulation in T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aline Castro Rodrigues Lucena
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Eden Ribeiro Freire
- Gene Expression Regulation Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Lysangela Ronalte. Alves
- Gene Expression Regulation Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Disease and Immunity, CHU de Quebec Research Center, University Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Samuel Goldenberg
- Gene Expression Regulation Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz PR, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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23
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Tevere E, Di Capua CB, Chasen NM, Etheridge RD, Cricco JA. Trypanosoma cruzi heme responsive gene (TcHRG) plays a central role in orchestrating heme uptake in epimastigotes. FEBS J 2024; 291:1186-1198. [PMID: 38087972 PMCID: PMC10939882 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, a heme auxotrophic parasite, can control intracellular heme content by modulating heme responsive gene (TcHRG) expression when a free heme source is added to an axenic culture. Herein, we explored the role of TcHRG protein in regulating the uptake of heme derived from hemoglobin in epimastigotes. We demonstrate that the endogenous TcHRG (protein and mRNA) responded similarly to bound (hemoglobin) and free (hemin) heme. Endogenous TcHRG was found in the flagellar pocket boundaries and partially overlapping with the mitochondrion. On the other hand, endocytic null parasites were able to develop and exhibited a similar heme content compared to wild-type when fed with hemoglobin, indicating that endocytosis is not the main entrance pathway for hemoglobin-derived heme in this parasite. Moreover, the overexpression of TcHRG led to an increase in heme content when hemoglobin was used as the heme source. Taken together, these results suggest that the uptake of hemoglobin-derived heme likely occurs through extracellular proteolysis of hemoglobin via the flagellar pocket, and this process is governed by TcHRG. In sum, T. cruzi epimastigotes control heme homeostasis by modulating TcHRG expression independently of the available source of heme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Tevere
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Beatriz Di Capua
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nathan Michael Chasen
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Julia Alejandra Cricco
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)—Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
- Área Biofísica, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Rosario, Argentina
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Rengifo-Correa L, Rodríguez-Moreno Á, Becker I, Falcón-Lezama JA, Tapia-Conyer R, Sánchez-Montes S, Suzán G, Stephens CR, González-Salazar C. Risk of a vector-borne endemic zoonosis for wildlife: Hosts, large-scale geography, and diversity of vector-host interactions for Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2024; 251:107117. [PMID: 38184291 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107117] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Drivers for wildlife infection are multiple and complex, particularly for vector-borne diseases. Here, we studied the role of host competence, geographic area provenance, and diversity of vector-host interactions as drivers of wild mammal infection risk to Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease. We performed a systematic sampling of wild mammals in 11 states of Mexico, from 2017 to 2018. We tested the positivity of T. cruzi with the Tc24 marker in tissues samples for 61 wild mammal species (524 specimens sampled). 26 mammal species were positive for T. cruzi, of which 11 are new hosts recorded in Mexico 75 specimens were positive and 449 were negative for T. cruzi infection, yielding an overall prevalence of 14.3%. The standardized infection risk of T. cruzi of our examined specimens was similar, no matter the host species or their geographic origins. Additionally, we used published data of mammal positives for T. cruzi to complement records of T. cruzi infection in wild mammals and inferred a trophic network of Triatoma spp. (vectors) and wild mammal species in Mexico, using spatial data-mining modelling. Infection with T. cruzi was not homogeneously distributed in the inferred trophic network. This information allowed us to develop a predictive model for T. cruzi infection risk for wild mammals in Mexico, considering risk as a function of the diversity of vector-host spatial associations in a large-scale geographic context, finding that the addition of competent vectors to a multi-host parasite system amplifies host infection risk. The diversity of vector-host interactions per se constitutes a relevant driver of infection risk because hosts and vectors are not isolated from each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rengifo-Correa
- C3-Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; Centro de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales - CINTROP, Facultad de Salud, Escuela de Medicina, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Santander, Colombia
| | - Ángel Rodríguez-Moreno
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Jorge Abelardo Falcón-Lezama
- División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico
| | - Roberto Tapia-Conyer
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias Región Poza Rica-Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano 92870, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Christopher R Stephens
- C3-Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; ICN-Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Constantino González-Salazar
- ICAyCC-Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico.
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25
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Lander N. mSphere of Influence: Compartmentalized cAMP signals in American trypanosomes. mSphere 2024; 9:e0063523. [PMID: 38315033 PMCID: PMC10900897 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00635-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Noelia Lander works on cell signaling in American trypanosomes and studies the role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) microdomains in environmental sensing and differentiation. In this mSphere of Influence, Dr. Lander reflects on three research articles in different eukaryotic models that had impacted on the way she thinks about the regulation of cAMP signals in Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The articles "FRET biosensor uncovers cAMP nano-domains at β-adrenergic targets that dictate precise tuning of cardiac contractility" (N. C. Surdo, M. Berrera, A. Koschinski, M. Brescia, et al., Nat Commun 8:15031, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15031), "Cyclic AMP signaling and glucose metabolism mediate pH taxis by African trypanosomes" (S. Shaw, S. Knüsel, D. Abbühl, A. Naguleswaran, et al., Nat Commun 13:603, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28293-w), and "Encystation stimuli sensing is mediated by adenylate cyclase AC2-dependent cAMP signaling in Giardia" (H. W. Shih, G. C. M. Alas, and A. R. Paredez, Nat Commun 14:7245, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43028-1) influenced her current hypothesis that cAMP signals are generated in response to environmental cues leading to changes in membrane fluidity at the flagellar tip and the contractile vacuole complex of T. cruzi, structures where cAMP mediates key cellular processes for developmental progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Lander
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Aldfer MM, Hulpia F, van Calenbergh S, De Koning HP. Mapping the transporter-substrate interactions of the Trypanosoma cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter reveals the basis for its high affinity and selectivity for hypoxanthine and guanine and lack of nucleoside uptake. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 258:111616. [PMID: 38401850 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111616] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite and the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that continues to spread to new areas. Yet, Chagas disease is still only treated with two related nitro compounds that are insufficiently effective and cause severe side effects. Nucleotide metabolism is one of the known vulnerabilities of T. cruzi, as they are auxotrophic for purines, and nucleoside analogues have been shown to have genuine promise against this parasite in vitro and in vivo. Since purine antimetabolites require efficient uptake through transporters, we here report a detailed characterisation of the T. cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter with the aim of elucidating the interactions between TcrNB1 and its substrates and finding the positions that can be altered in the design of novel antimetabolites without losing transportability. Systematically determining the inhibition constants (Ki) of purine analogues for TcrNB1 yielded their Gibbs free energy of interaction, ΔG0. Pairwise comparisons of substrate (hypoxanthine, guanine, adenine) and analogues allowed us to determine that optimal binding affinity by TcrNB1 requires interactions with all four nitrogen residues of the purine ring, with N1 and N9, in protonation state, functioning as presumed hydrogen bond donors and unprotonated N3 and N7 as hydrogen bond acceptors. This is the same interaction pattern as we previously described for the main nucleobase transporters of Trypanosoma brucei spp. and Leishmania major and makes it the first of the ENT-family genes that is functionally as well as genetically conserved between the three main kinetoplast pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M Aldfer
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK
| | - Fabian Hulpia
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Serge van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Harry P De Koning
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK.
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Torres V, Contreras V, Gutiérrez B, San Francisco J, Catalán A, Vega JL, Moon KM, Foster LJ, de Almeida RF, Kalergis AM, González J. Oral infectivity through carnivorism in murine model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1297099. [PMID: 38495650 PMCID: PMC10941204 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1297099] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Oral transmission of T. cruzi is probably the most frequent transmission mechanism in wild animals. This observation led to the hypothesis that consuming raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with T. cruzi may be responsible for transmitting the infection. Therefore, the general objective of this study was to investigate host-pathogen interactions between the parasite and gastric mucosa and the role of meat consumption from infected animals in the oral transmission of T. cruzi. Methods Cell infectivity assays were performed on AGS cells in the presence or absence of mucin, and the roles of pepsin and acidic pH were determined. Moreover, groups of five female Balb/c mice were fed with muscle tissue obtained from mice in the acute phase of infection by the clone H510 C8C3hvir of T. cruzi, and the infection of the fed mice was monitored by a parasitemia curve. Similarly, we assessed the infective capacity of T. cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes by infecting groups of five mice Balb/c females, which were infected orally using a nasogastric probe, and the infection was monitored by a parasitemia curve. Finally, different trypomastigote and amastigote inoculums were used to determine their infective capacities. Adhesion assays of T. cruzi proteins to AGS stomach cells were performed, and the adhered proteins were detected by western blotting using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies and by LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis. Results Trypomastigote migration in the presence of mucin was reduced by approximately 30%, whereas in the presence of mucin and pepsin at pH 3.5, only a small proportion of parasites were able to migrate (∼6%). Similarly, the ability of TCTs to infect AGS cells in the presence of mucin is reduced by approximately 20%. In all cases, 60-100% of the animals were fed meat from mice infected in the acute phase or infected with trypomastigotes or amastigotes developed high parasitemia, and 80% died around day 40 post-infection. The adhesion assay showed that cruzipain is a molecule of trypomastigotes and amastigotes that binds to AGS cells. LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis, also confirmed that transialidase, cysteine proteinases, and gp63 may be involved in TCTs attachment or invasion of human stomach cells because they can potentially interact with different proteins in the human stomach mucosa. In addition, several human gastric mucins have cysteine protease cleavage sites. Discussion Then, under our experimental conditions, consuming meat from infected animals in the acute phase allows the T. cruzi infection. Similarly, trypomastigotes and amastigotes could infect mice when administered orally, whereas cysteinyl proteinases and trans-sialidase appear to be relevant molecules in this infective process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Torres
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | | | - Bessy Gutiérrez
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Juan San Francisco
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Alejandro Catalán
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - José Luis Vega
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Kyung-Mee Moon
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rafael F. de Almeida
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Sistêmica de Tripanossomatídeos (Labtryp), Instituto Carlos Chagas Fiocruz (ICC-Fiocruz), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge González
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Research Center in Immunology and Biomedical Biotechnology of Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
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Reboreda-Hernandez OA, Ortiz-Butron R, Nogueda-Torres B, Gonzalez-Rodriguez N. Influence of sexual hormones on Chagas disease. Arch Cardiol Mex 2024; 94:127-132. [PMID: 38377617 DOI: 10.24875/acm.23000018] [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: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Analyze sex hormone's influence during Chagas´ Disease. METHODS Male and female BALB/c mice were divided into six groups, four experimental (sham, orchiectomized, orchiectomized and supplemented with estradiol, orchiectomized supplemented with testosterone, oophorectomized, oophorectomized and supplemented with estradiol, and oophorectomized and supplemented with testosterone), and two control (healthy and intraperitoneally with T. cruzi strain NINOA infected). Clinical data were recorded daily, parasitemia was evaluated using a Neubauer chamber during the infection, and heart histopathological analysis was performed using the paraffin embedding technique. To analyze parasitemia curves and the area under the parametric curves, two-way ANOVA test was performed to correlate groups´ data. P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS Higher mortality rates, cardiomegaly, hepatomegaly, ascites, edema, higher parasitemia levels, more amastigote nests, and more severe inflammatory infiltrate were found in higher testosterone concentration mice, whereas in higher estradiol concentration groups, paresia, prostration, edema, and necrosis were found. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that testosterone increased infection severity, whereas estradiol had the opposite effect. This research improves the understanding of sex hormones´infuence upon this infection to contribute with the handling of Chagas´disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A Reboreda-Hernandez
- Pathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rocio Ortiz-Butron
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Benjamin Nogueda-Torres
- Helmints Laboratory, Departament of Parasitology. Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Nayeli Gonzalez-Rodriguez
- Pathology Laboratory, Department of Morphology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
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Lozano KJG, Gonçalves Santos E, Vilas Boas DF, Oliveira RRG, Diniz LF, Benedetti MD, Carneiro CM, C Bandeira L, Faria G, Gonçalves RV, Novaes RD, Caldas S, Caldas IS. Schistosoma mansoni co-infection modulates Chagas disease development but does not impair the effect of benznidazole-based chemotherapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111467. [PMID: 38211479 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111467] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
The adequate management of parasite co-infections represents a challenge that has not yet been overcome, especially considering that the pathological outcomes and responses to treatment are poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of Schistosoma mansoni infection on the efficacy of benznidazole (BZN)-based chemotherapy in Trypanosoma cruzi co-infected mice. BALB/c mice were maintained uninfected or co-infected with S. mansoni and T. cruzi, and were untreated or treated with BZN. Body weight, mortality, parasitemia, cardiac parasitism, circulating cytokines (Th1/Th2/Th17); as well as heart, liver and intestine microstructure were analyzed. The parasitemia peak was five times higher and myocarditis was more severe in co-infected than T. cruzi-infected mice. After reaching peak, parasitemia was effectively controlled in co-infected animals. BZN successfully controlled parasitemia in both co-infected and T. cruzi-infected mice and improved body mass, cardiac parasitism, myocarditis and survival in co-infected mice. Co-infection dampened the typical cytokine response to either parasite, and BZN reduced anti-inflammatory cytokines in co-infected mice. Despite BZN normalizing splenomegaly and liver cellular infiltration, it exacerbated hepatomegaly in co-infected mice. Co-infection or BZN exerted no effect on hepatic granulomas, but increased pulmonary and intestinal granulomas. Marked granulomatous inflammation was identified in the small intestine of all schistosomiasis groups. Taken together, our findings indicate that BZN retains its therapeutic efficacy against T. cruzi infection even in the presence of S. mansoni co-infection, but with organ-specific repercussions, especially in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J G Lozano
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Elda Gonçalves Santos
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Diego F Vilas Boas
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Raphaela R G Oliveira
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Lívia F Diniz
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Monique D Benedetti
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil
| | - Cláudia M Carneiro
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
| | - Lorena C Bandeira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Nucleus of Biological Sciences Research, Federal University, Ouro Preto 35400-000, MG, Brazil
| | - Gilson Faria
- Department of Research and Development., Ezequiel Dias Foundation, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Reggiani V Gonçalves
- Department of Animal Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Rômulo D Novaes
- Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas 37130-000, MG, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Caldas
- Department of Research and Development., Ezequiel Dias Foundation, 30510-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ivo S Caldas
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Federal University of Alfenas, 37130-001, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
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Mejia R, Verocai GG, Mosley IA, Zhan B, Vongthavaravat L, Busselman RE, Hamer SA. Evaluation of a novel Tc-24 recombinant antigen ELISA for serologic testing for Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs. bioRxiv 2024:2024.02.12.579969. [PMID: 38405948 PMCID: PMC10888942 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.579969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease in dogs relies on limited serological test options. This study used a new Tc-24 recombinant antigen ELISA on an archival set of 70 dog serum samples from multi-dog kennel environments in Texas subjected to three existing Chagas serological tests. Tc-24 ELISA produced a quantitative result and could detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies in dogs with high sensitivity and specificity. Comparing individual tests to Tc-24 ELISA resulted in strong associations and correlations, which suggest that Tc-24 ELISA is a reliable and accurate diagnostic tool for dogs with a single test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rojelio Mejia
- Department of Pediatrics - Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Guilherme G. Verocai
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Ilana A. Mosley
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Bin Zhan
- Department of Pediatrics - Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Lindsey Vongthavaravat
- Department of Pediatrics - Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Rachel E. Busselman
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Sarah A. Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
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Ceravolo IP, Leoni LF, Krettli AU, Murta SMF, Resende DDM, Cruz MGFDML, Varejão JOS, Mendes LL, Varejão EVV, Kohlhoff M. Novel 2,5-Diketopiperazines with In Vitro Activities against Protozoan Parasites of Tropical Diseases. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:223. [PMID: 38399438 PMCID: PMC10893061 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Malaria, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis are tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Trypanosoma and Leishmania, respectively. These diseases constitute a major burden on public health in several regions worldwide, mainly affecting low-income populations in economically poor countries. Severe side effects of currently available drug treatments and the emergence of resistant parasites need to be addressed by the development of novel drug candidates. Natural 2,5-Diketopiperazines (2,5-DKPs) constitute N-heterocyclic secondary metabolites with a wide range of biological activities of medicinal interest. Its structural and physicochemical properties make the 2,5-DKP ring a versatile, peptide-like, and stable pharmacophore attractive for synthetic drug design. In the present work, twenty-three novel synthetic 2,5-DKPs, previously synthesized through the versatile Ugi multicomponent reaction, were assayed for their anti-protozoal activities against P. falciparum, T. cruzi, and L. infantum. Some of the 2,5-DKPs have shown promising activities against the target protozoans, with inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from 5.4 to 9.5 µg/mL. The most active compounds also show low cytotoxicity (CC50), affording selectivity indices ≥ 15. Results allowed for observing a clear relationship between the substitution pattern at the aromatic rings of the 2,5-DKPs and their corresponding anti-Plasmodium activity. Finally, calculated drug-like properties of the compounds revealed points for further structure optimization of promising drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela P. Ceravolo
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (I.P.C.); (L.F.L.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Letícia F. Leoni
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (I.P.C.); (L.F.L.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Antoniana U. Krettli
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (I.P.C.); (L.F.L.); (A.U.K.)
| | - Silvane M. F. Murta
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics of Parasites, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (S.M.F.M.); (D.d.M.R.); (M.G.F.d.M.L.C.)
| | - Daniela de M. Resende
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics of Parasites, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (S.M.F.M.); (D.d.M.R.); (M.G.F.d.M.L.C.)
| | - Mariza G. F. de M. L. Cruz
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics of Parasites, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil; (S.M.F.M.); (D.d.M.R.); (M.G.F.d.M.L.C.)
| | - Jodieh O. S. Varejão
- Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry Studies and Organic Synthesis, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil; (J.O.S.V.); (L.L.M.); (E.V.V.V.)
| | - Lorena L. Mendes
- Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry Studies and Organic Synthesis, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil; (J.O.S.V.); (L.L.M.); (E.V.V.V.)
| | - Eduardo V. V. Varejão
- Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry Studies and Organic Synthesis, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Av. PH Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil; (J.O.S.V.); (L.L.M.); (E.V.V.V.)
| | - Markus Kohlhoff
- Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Chemistry, René Rachou Institute (IRR), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Belo Horizonte 30190-002, Brazil
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Bessa CDPB, Feu AE, de Menezes RPB, Scotti MT, Lima JMG, Lima ML, Tempone AG, de Andrade JP, Bastida J, Borges WDS. Multitarget anti-parasitic activities of isoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Hippeastrum aulicum (Amaryllidaceae). Phytomedicine 2024; 128:155414. [PMID: 38503155 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155414] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease and leishmaniasis affect a significant portion of the Latin American population and still lack efficient treatments. In this context, natural products emerge as promising compounds for developing more effective therapies, aiming to mitigate side effects and drug resistance. Notably, species from the Amaryllidaceae family emerge as potential reservoirs of antiparasitic agents due to the presence of diverse biologically active alkaloids. PURPOSE To assess the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and anti-Leishmania infantum activity of five isolated alkaloids from Hippeastrum aulicum Herb. (Amaryllidaceae) against different life stages of the parasites using in silico and in vitro assays. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to evaluate the interaction of the most active alkaloids. METHODS Five natural isoquinoline alkaloids isolated in suitable quantities for in vitro testing underwent preliminary in silico analysis to predict their potential efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi (amastigote and trypomastigote forms) and Leishmania infantum (amastigote and promastigote forms). The in vitro antiparasitic activity and mammalian cytotoxicity were investigated with a subsequent comparison of both analysis (in silico and in vitro) findings. Additionally, this study employed the molecular docking technique, utilizing cruzain (T. cruzi) and sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51, L. infantum) as crucial biological targets for parasite survival, specifically focusing on compounds that exhibited promising activities against both parasites. RESULTS Through computational techniques, it was identified that the alkaloids haemanthamine (1) and lycorine (8) were the most active against T. cruzi (amastigote and trypomastigote) and L. infantum (amastigote and promastigote), while also revealing unprecedented activity of alkaloid 7‑methoxy-O-methyllycorenine (6). The in vitro analysis confirmed the in silico tests, in which compound 1 presented the best activities against the promastigote and amastigote forms of L. infantum with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 0.6 µM and 1.78 µM, respectively. Compound 8 exhibited significant activity against the amastigote form of T. cruzi (IC50 7.70 µM), and compound 6 demonstrated activity against the trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi and amastigote of L. infantum, with IC50 values of 89.55 and 86.12 µM, respectively. Molecular docking analyses indicated that alkaloids 1 and 8 exhibited superior interaction energies compared to the inhibitors. CONCLUSION The hitherto unreported potential of compound 6 against T. cruzi trypomastigotes and L. infantum amastigotes is now brought to the forefront. Furthermore, the acquired dataset signifies that the isolated alkaloids 1 and 8 from H. aulicum might serve as prototypes for subsequent structural refinements aimed at the exploration of novel leads against both T. cruzi and L. infantum parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carliani Dal Piero Betzel Bessa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Amanda Eiriz Feu
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES 29075-910, Brazil
| | - Renata Priscila Barros de Menezes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos (PgPNSB), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos Bioativos (PgPNSB), Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, Cidade Universitária, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
| | | | - Marta Lopes Lima
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland DD1 4HN, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jean Paulo de Andrade
- Departamento de Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Warley de Souza Borges
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória-ES 29075-910, Brazil.
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Espinoza-Chávez RM, Oliveira Rezende Júnior CD, de Souza ML, Pauli I, Valli M, Gomes Ferreira LL, Chelucci RC, Michelan-Duarte S, Krogh R, Romualdo da Silva FB, Cruz FC, de Oliveira AS, Andricopulo AD, Dias LC. Structure-activity relationships of novel N-imidazoylpiperazines with potent anti- Trypanosoma cruzi activity. Future Med Chem 2024; 16:253-269. [PMID: 38193294 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and the lack of effective and safe treatments makes identifying new classes of compounds with anti-T. cruzi activity of paramount importance. Methods: Hit-to-lead exploration of a metabolically stable N-imidazoylpiperazine was performed. Results: Compound 2, a piperazine derivative active against T. cruzi, was selected to perform the hit-to-lead exploration, which involved the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 39 new derivatives. Conclusion: Compounds 6e and 10a were identified as optimized compounds with low micromolar in vitro activity, low cytotoxicity and suitable preliminary absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion and physicochemical properties. Both compounds reduced parasitemia in mouse models of Chagas disease, providing a promising opportunity for further exploration of new antichagasic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Marisol Espinoza-Chávez
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP, 13084-971, Brazil
| | - Celso de Oliveira Rezende Júnior
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP, 13084-971, Brazil
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia-MG, 38400-902, Brazil
| | - Mariana Laureano de Souza
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Ivani Pauli
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Marilia Valli
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Luiz Gomes Ferreira
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Rafael Consolin Chelucci
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Simone Michelan-Duarte
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Renata Krogh
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio Cardoso Cruz
- Department of Pharmacology, Federal University of São Paulo - UNIFESP, São Paulo-SP, 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Aldo Sena de Oliveira
- Department of Exact Sciences & Education, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus of Blumenau, Santa Catarina-SC, 89036-256, Brazil
| | - Adriano Defini Andricopulo
- Laboratory of Medicinal & Computational Chemistry, São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Luiz Carlos Dias
- Laboratory of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, State University of Campinas, Campinas-SP, 13084-971, Brazil
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Menon SS, Ramirez-Toloza G, Wycoff KL, Ehinger S, Shaughnessy J, Ram S, Ferreira VP. Mechanisms by which Factor H protects Trypanosoma cruzi from the alternative pathway of complement. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1152000. [PMID: 38361922 PMCID: PMC10867245 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1152000] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, a chronic disabling disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, has no standardized treatment or preventative vaccine. The infective trypomastigote form of T. cruzi is highly resistant to killing by the complement immune system. Factor H (FH), a negative regulator of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement on cell surfaces and in blood, contains 20 short consensus repeat domains. The four N-terminal domains of FH inactivate the AP, while the other domains interact with C3b/d and glycan markers on cell surfaces. Various pathogens bind FH to inactivate the AP. T. cruzi uses its trans-sialidase enzyme to transfer host sialic acids to its own surface, which could be one of the approaches it uses to bind FH. Previous studies have shown that FH binds to complement-opsonized T. cruzi and parasite desialylation increases complement-mediated lysis of trypomastigotes. However, the molecular basis of FH binding to T. cruzi remain unknown. Only trypomastigotes, but not epimastigotes (non-infective, complement susceptible) bound FH directly, independent of C3 deposition, in a dose-dependent manner. Domain mapping experiments using 3-5 FH domain fragments showed that domains 5-8 competitively inhibited FH binding to the trypomastigotes by ~35% but did not decrease survival in complement. FH-Fc or mutant FH-Fc fusion proteins (3-11 contiguous FH domains fused to the IgG Fc) also did not kill trypomastigotes. FH-related protein-5, whose domains bear significant sequence identity to all known polyanion-binding FH domains (6-7, 10-14, 19-20), fully inhibited FH binding to trypomastigotes and reduced trypomastigote survival to < 24% in the presence of serum. In conclusion, we have elucidated the role of FH in complement resistance of trypomastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smrithi S. Menon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Galia Ramirez-Toloza
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Animal Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Livestock Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Sean Ehinger
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Jutamas Shaughnessy
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sanjay Ram
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Viviana P. Ferreira
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, United States
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Elso OG, Cerny N, Laurella LC, Bivona AE, Sánchez Alberti A, Morales C, Catalán CAN, Malchiodi EL, Sülsen VP. In silico toxicologic profile and in vivo trypanocidal activity of estafietin, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Stevia alpina Griseb. Nat Prod Res 2024; 38:690-695. [PMID: 36938813 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2188208] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is an infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting 6-8 million people worldwide. Only two drugs are available for its treatment, having a limited efficacy and adverse side-effects. Estafietin is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Stevia alpina with in vitro activity against T. cruzi and low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. The aim of this work was to predict the toxicologic profile of estafietin by in silico methods and assess its in vivo activity on a murine model of Chagas disease. Estafietin showed low toxicity according to pkCSM web tool and passed the PAINS filter from PAINS-remover web server. The treatment of infected mice with 1 mg/Kg/day of estafietin for five consecutive days administrated by intraperitoneal route significatively decreased parasitemia levels and reduced inflammatory infiltrates and myocyte damage on muscle tissue. These results suggest that estafietin had effect both on acute and chronic stages of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando G Elso
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, 13th floor, (C1121ABG), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura C Laurella
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Augusto E Bivona
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés Sánchez Alberti
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, 13th floor, (C1121ABG), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celina Morales
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 (C1121ABG), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cesar A N Catalán
- Instituto de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Ayacucho 471, (T4000INI), San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 4th floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria P Sülsen
- Cátedra de Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco (IQUIMEFA), CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Junín 956, 2nd floor, (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Busselman RE, Curtis-Robles R, Meyers AC, Zecca IB, Auckland LD, Hodo CL, Christopher D, Saunders AB, Hamer SA. Abundant triatomines in Texas dog kennel environments: Triatomine collections, infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, and blood feeding hosts. Acta Trop 2024; 250:107087. [PMID: 38061614 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107087] [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: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Triatomine insects are vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi- the causative agent of Chagas disease. Chagas disease is endemic to Latin America and the southern United States and can cause severe cardiac damage in infected mammals, ranging from chronic disease to sudden death. Identifying interactions among triatomines, T. cruzi discrete typing units (DTUs), and blood feeding hosts is necessary to understand parasite transmission dynamics and effectively protect animal and human health. Through manual insect trapping efforts, kennel staff collections, and with the help of a trained scent detection dog, we collected triatomines from 10 multi-dog kennels across central and south Texas over a one-year period (2018-2019) and tested a subset to determine their T. cruzi infection status and identify the primary bloodmeal hosts. We collected 550 triatomines, including Triatoma gerstaeckeri (n = 515), Triatoma lecticularia (n = 15), Triatoma sanguisuga (n = 6), and Triatoma indictiva (n = 2), with an additional 10 nymphs and 2 adults unable to be identified to species. The trained dog collected 42 triatomines, including nymphs, from areas not previously considered vector habitat by the kennel owners. Using qPCR, we found a T. cruzi infection prevalence of 47 % (74/157), with T. lecticularia individuals more likely to be infected with T. cruzi than other species. Infected insects harbored two T. cruzi discrete typing units: TcI (64 %), TcIV (23 %), and mixed TcI/TcIV infections (13 %). Bloodmeal host identification was successful in 50/149 triatomines, revealing the majority (74 %) fed on a dog (Canis lupus), with other host species including humans (Homo sapiens), raccoons (Procyon lotor), chickens (Gallus gallus), wild pig (Sus scrofa), black vulture (Coragyps atratus), cat (Felis catus), and curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curviostre). Given the frequency of interactions between dogs and infected triatomines in these kennel environments, dogs may be an apt target for future vector control and T. cruzi intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Busselman
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - R Curtis-Robles
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - A C Meyers
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - I B Zecca
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - L D Auckland
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - C L Hodo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States; Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, United States
| | | | - A B Saunders
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - S A Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
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Haroon M, Akhtar T, Mehmood H, da Silva Santos AC, da Conceição JM, Brondani GL, Silva Tibúrcio RD, Galindo Bedor DC, Viturino da Silva JW, Sales Junior PA, Alves Pereira VR, Lima Leite AC. Synthesis of hydrazinyl-thiazole ester derivatives, in vitro trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activities. Future Med Chem 2024; 16:221-238. [PMID: 38269432 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0255] [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] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: To synthesize novel more potent trypanocidal and leishmanicidal agents. Methods: Hantzsch's synthetic strategy was used to synthesize 1,3-thiazole-4-carboxylates and their N-benzylated derivatives. Results: 28 new thiazole-carboxylates and their N-benzylated derivatives were established to test their trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activities. From both series, compounds 3b, 4f, 4g, 4j and 4n exhibited a better or comparable trypanocidal profile to benznidazole. Among all tested compounds, 4n was found to be the most potent and was better than benznidazole. Conclusion: Further variation of substituents around 1,3-thiazole-4-carboxylates and or hydrazinyl moiety may assist in establishing better and more potent trypanocidal and leishmanicidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Haroon
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Miami University, 651 E High Street, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - Tashfeen Akhtar
- Department of Chemistry, Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), 10250-Mirpur (AJK), Pakistan
| | - Hasnain Mehmood
- Department of Chemistry, Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), 10250-Mirpur (AJK), Pakistan
| | | | - Juliana M da Conceição
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Graziella Leite Brondani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Robert da Silva Tibúrcio
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Danilo C Galindo Bedor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - José W Viturino da Silva
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ana C Lima Leite
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Sciences Centre, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-520, Recife, PE, Brazil
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Libardi SH, Ahmad A, Ferreira FB, Oliveira RJ, Caruso ÍP, Melo FA, de Albuquerque S, Cardoso DR, Burtoloso ACB, Borges JC. Interaction between diterpene icetexanes and old yellow enzymes of Leishmania braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:129192. [PMID: 38216013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129192] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Old Yellow Enzymes (OYEs) are flavin-dependent redox enzymes that promote the asymmetric reduction of activated alkenes. Due to the high importance of flavoenzymes in the metabolism of organisms, the interaction between OYEs from the parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania braziliensis and three diterpene icetexanes (brussonol and two analogs), were evaluated in the present study, and differences in the binding mechanism and inhibition capacity of these molecules were examined. Although the aforementioned compounds showed poor and negligible activities against T. cruzi and L. braziliensis cells, respectively, the experiments with the purified enzymes indicated that the interaction occurs by divergent mechanisms. Overall, the ligands' inhibitory effect depends on their accessibility to the N5 position of the flavin's isoalloxazine ring. The results also indicated that the OYEs found in both parasites share structural similarities and showed affinities for the diterpene icetexanes in the same range. Nevertheless, the interaction between OYEs and ligands is directed by enthalpy and/or entropy in distinct ways. In conclusion, the binding site of both OYEs exhibits remarkable plasticity, and a large range of different molecules, including that can be substrates and inhibitors, can bind this site. This plasticity should be considered in drug design using OYE as a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia H Libardi
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Anees Ahmad
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ronaldo J Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e Educação, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, 38064-200 Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Ícaro P Caruso
- Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) - UNESP, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis and Centro Nacional para Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernando A Melo
- Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) - UNESP, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Sergio de Albuquerque
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP CEP 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Daniel R Cardoso
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio C B Burtoloso
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Júlio C Borges
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
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Ferrer E, Aguilar CM, Viettri M, Torrellas A, Lares M, Diaz M, Delgado O, Feliciangeli MD, Herrera L. Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis, Sympatric Zoonoses Present in Human from Rural Communities of Venezuela. Acta Parasitol 2024:10.1007/s11686-023-00786-8. [PMID: 38294711 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00786-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. coexist in several endemic areas, and there are few studies of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis coinfection worldwide; for this reason, the objective of this work was to determine the Chagas disease and leishmaniasis coinfection in several rural communities co-endemic for these diseases. METHODS A total of 1107 human samples from six co-endemic rural communities of Cojedes state, Venezuela, were analyzed. Serum samples were evaluated by ELISA, indirect hemagglutination, and indirect immunofluorescence for Chagas disease diagnosis, and individuals were evaluated for leishmaniasis by leishmanin skin test (LST). Approximately, 30% of the individuals were also analyzed by PCR (blood clot samples) for T. cruzi and for Leishmania spp. RESULTS The 14.7% of the individuals were positive to Trypanosoma cruzi infection by serology, and 25.8% were positive to Leishmania spp. current or past infection by LST. Among the group with PCR results, 7.8% were positive for T. cruzi, and 9.4% for Leishmania spp. The coinfection T. cruzi/Leishmania spp. was 6.5%. The T. cruzi DTUs of the positive blood clot samples were TcI, revealed using the molecular markers: (i) intergenic region of the miniexon, (ii) D7 divergent domain of the 24Sα rDNA, (iii) size-variable domain of the 18S rDNA, and (iv) hsp60-PCR-RFLP (EcoRV). The Leishmania species identified were L. (Leishmania) mexicana and L. (Viannia) braziliensis. CONCLUSION A high prevalence was found for T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. single and coinfections in almost all communities studied, being these results of relevance for the implementation of control programs in co-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ferrer
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Dr. Francisco J. Triana Alonso" (BIOMED), Universidad de Carabobo Sede Aragua, calle Cecilio Acosta, Urb. La Rinconada, Las Delicias, Maracay, estado Aragua, Venezuela.
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Carabobo Sede Aragua, Maracay, estado Aragua, Venezuela.
| | - Cruz M Aguilar
- Centro de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET-UC), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Carabobo, San Carlos, Cojedes, Venezuela
| | - Mercedes Viettri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Dr. Francisco J. Triana Alonso" (BIOMED), Universidad de Carabobo Sede Aragua, calle Cecilio Acosta, Urb. La Rinconada, Las Delicias, Maracay, estado Aragua, Venezuela
| | - Annhymariet Torrellas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Dr. Francisco J. Triana Alonso" (BIOMED), Universidad de Carabobo Sede Aragua, calle Cecilio Acosta, Urb. La Rinconada, Las Delicias, Maracay, estado Aragua, Venezuela
| | - María Lares
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Dr. Francisco J. Triana Alonso" (BIOMED), Universidad de Carabobo Sede Aragua, calle Cecilio Acosta, Urb. La Rinconada, Las Delicias, Maracay, estado Aragua, Venezuela
| | - Marietta Diaz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET-UC), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Carabobo, San Carlos, Cojedes, Venezuela
| | - Olinda Delgado
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical (IMT), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - María D Feliciangeli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Dr. Francisco J. Triana Alonso" (BIOMED), Universidad de Carabobo Sede Aragua, calle Cecilio Acosta, Urb. La Rinconada, Las Delicias, Maracay, estado Aragua, Venezuela
| | - Leidi Herrera
- Instituto de Zoología y Ecología Tropical (IZET), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), Caracas, Venezuela
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Macchiaverna NP, Enriquez GF, Gaspe MS, Rodríguez-Planes LI, Martinez PR, Gürtler RE, Cardinal MV. Human Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the Argentinean Chaco: risk factors and identification of households with infected children for treatment. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:41. [PMID: 38287434 PMCID: PMC10826042 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06125-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). Cost-effective strategies for large-scale implementation of diagnosis and etiological treatment are urgently needed to comply with NTD control goals. We determined the seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection and associated risk factors in a well-defined rural population of Pampa del Indio municipality including creole and indigenous (Qom) households and developed two indices to identify houses harboring infected children. METHODS We serodiagnosed and administered a questionnaire to 1337 residents (48.2% of the listed population) in two sections of the municipality (named Areas II and IV) 6-9 years after deploying sustained vector control interventions. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between human infection and a priori selected predictors. Two risk indices were constructed based on environmental and serostatus variables, and we used spatial analysis to test whether households harboring T. cruzi-seropositive children were randomly distributed. RESULTS The global seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection was 24.8%. Human infection was positively and significantly associated with exposure time to triatomines, the household number of seropositive co-inhabitants, maternal seropositivity for T. cruzi, recent residence at the current house and the presence of suitable walls for triatomine colonization in the domicile. The pre-intervention mean annual force of infection (FOI) was 1.23 per 100 person-years. Creoles from Area IV exhibited the highest seroprevalence and FOI; Qom people from both areas displayed intermediate ones and creoles from Area II the lowest. Three hotspots of infected children were spatially associated with hotspots of triatomine abundance at baseline and persistent house infestation. No child born after vector control interventions was T. cruzi seropositive except for one putative transplacental case. Two simple risk indices (based on self-reported inhabiting an infested house and suitable walls for triatomines or maternal serostatus) identified 97.3-98.6% of the households with at least one T. cruzi-seropositive child. CONCLUSIONS We showed strong heterogeneity in the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection within and between ethnic groups inhabiting neighboring rural areas. Developed indices can be used for household risk stratification and to improve access of rural residents to serodiagnosis and treatment and may be easily transferred to primary healthcare personnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia P Macchiaverna
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Gustavo F Enriquez
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Sol Gaspe
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía I Rodríguez-Planes
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Onas 450, 9410, Ushuaia, Argentina
- Administración de Parques Nacionales, Dirección Regional Patagonia Austral, Ushuaia, Argentina
| | | | - Ricardo E Gürtler
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Victoria Cardinal
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Núñez MJ, Martínez ML, Castillo UG, Flores KC, Menjívar J, López-Arencibia A, Bethencourt-Estrella CJ, Jiménez IA, Piñero JE, Lorenzo-Morales J, Bazzocchi IL. Salvadoran Celastraceae Species as a Source of Antikinetoplastid Quinonemethide Triterpenoids. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:360. [PMID: 38337893 PMCID: PMC10857229 DOI: 10.3390/plants13030360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are among the most widespread neglected tropical diseases, and their current therapies have limited efficacy and several toxic side effects. The present study reports the chemical and antikinetoplastid profiles of extracts from five Salvadoran Celastraceae species against the Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes stage and Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania donovani promastigote forms. The phytochemical profile evinced the presence of flavonoids, tannins, sterols, and triterpenes as the main components in all plant species, whereas quinonemethide triterpenoids (QMTs) were restricted to the root bark of the studied species. Antikinetoplastid evaluation highlights the root bark extracts from Zinowewia integerrima, Maytenus segoviarum, and Quetzalia ilicina as the most promising ones, exhibiting higher potency against T. cruzi (IC50 0.71-1.58 µg/mL) and L. amazonensis (IC50 0.38-2.05 µg/mL) than the reference drugs, benznidazole (IC50 1.81 µg/mL) and miltefosine (IC50 2.64 µg/mL), respectively. This potent activity was connected with an excellent selectivity index on the murine macrophage J774A.1 cell line. These findings reinforce the potential of QMTs as antikinetoplastid agents for the development of innovative phytopharmaceuticals and the plant species under study as a source of these promising lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin J. Núñez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales (LIPN), Facultad de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de El Salvador, Final Ave. Mártires Estudiantes del 30 de Julio, San Salvador 01101, El Salvador; (M.J.N.); (M.L.M.); (U.G.C.); (K.C.F.)
| | - Morena L. Martínez
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales (LIPN), Facultad de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de El Salvador, Final Ave. Mártires Estudiantes del 30 de Julio, San Salvador 01101, El Salvador; (M.J.N.); (M.L.M.); (U.G.C.); (K.C.F.)
| | - Ulises G. Castillo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales (LIPN), Facultad de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de El Salvador, Final Ave. Mártires Estudiantes del 30 de Julio, San Salvador 01101, El Salvador; (M.J.N.); (M.L.M.); (U.G.C.); (K.C.F.)
| | - Karla Carolina Flores
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Naturales (LIPN), Facultad de Química y Farmacia, Universidad de El Salvador, Final Ave. Mártires Estudiantes del 30 de Julio, San Salvador 01101, El Salvador; (M.J.N.); (M.L.M.); (U.G.C.); (K.C.F.)
| | - Jenny Menjívar
- Museo de Historia Natural de El Salvador, Ministerio de Cultura, Final Calle Los Viveros, Col. Nicaragua, San Salvador 01101, El Salvador;
| | - Atteneri López-Arencibia
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (A.L.-A.); (C.J.B.-E.); (J.E.P.); (J.L.-M.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos J. Bethencourt-Estrella
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (A.L.-A.); (C.J.B.-E.); (J.E.P.); (J.L.-M.)
| | - Ignacio A. Jiménez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain;
| | - José E. Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (A.L.-A.); (C.J.B.-E.); (J.E.P.); (J.L.-M.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; (A.L.-A.); (C.J.B.-E.); (J.E.P.); (J.L.-M.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel L. Bazzocchi
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain;
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Ossowski MS, Gallardo JP, Niborski LL, Rodríguez-Durán J, Lapadula WJ, Juri Ayub M, Chadi R, Hernandez Y, Fernandez ML, Potenza M, Gómez KA. Characterization of Novel Trypanosoma cruzi-Specific Antigen with Potential Use in the Diagnosis of Chagas Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1202. [PMID: 38256275 PMCID: PMC10816184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. In humans, it evolves into a chronic disease, eventually resulting in cardiac, digestive, and/or neurological disorders. In the present study, we characterized a novel T. cruzi antigen named Tc323 (TcCLB.504087.20), recognized by a single-chain monoclonal antibody (scFv 6B6) isolated from the B cells of patients with cardiomyopathy related to chronic Chagas disease. Tc323, a ~323 kDa protein, is an uncharacterized protein showing putative quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase-like domains. A computational molecular docking study revealed that the scFv 6B6 binds to an internal domain of Tc323. Immunofluorescence microscopy and Western Blot showed that Tc323 is expressed in the main developmental forms of T. cruzi, localized intracellularly and exhibiting a membrane-associated pattern. According to phylogenetic analysis, Tc323 is highly conserved throughout evolution in all the lineages of T. cruzi so far identified, but it is absent in Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma brucei. Most interestingly, only plasma samples from patients infected with T. cruzi and those with mixed infection with Leishmania spp. reacted against Tc323. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Tc323 is a promising candidate for the differential serodiagnosis of chronic Chagas disease in areas where T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. infections coexist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela S. Ossowski
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres” (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (M.S.O.); (J.P.G.); (L.L.N.); (J.R.-D.)
| | - Juan Pablo Gallardo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres” (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (M.S.O.); (J.P.G.); (L.L.N.); (J.R.-D.)
| | - Leticia L. Niborski
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres” (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (M.S.O.); (J.P.G.); (L.L.N.); (J.R.-D.)
| | - Jessica Rodríguez-Durán
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres” (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (M.S.O.); (J.P.G.); (L.L.N.); (J.R.-D.)
| | - Walter J. Lapadula
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis (IMIBIO-SL-CONICET), Facultad de Química Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis 5700, Argentina; (W.J.L.); (M.J.A.)
| | - Maximiliano Juri Ayub
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis (IMIBIO-SL-CONICET), Facultad de Química Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis 5700, Argentina; (W.J.L.); (M.J.A.)
| | - Raúl Chadi
- Hospital General de Agudos “Dr. Ignacio Pirovano”, Buenos Aires 1430, Argentina;
| | - Yolanda Hernandez
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, Buenos Aires 1063, Argentina; (Y.H.); (M.L.F.)
| | - Marisa L. Fernandez
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, Buenos Aires 1063, Argentina; (Y.H.); (M.L.F.)
| | - Mariana Potenza
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres” (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (M.S.O.); (J.P.G.); (L.L.N.); (J.R.-D.)
| | - Karina A. Gómez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres” (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina; (M.S.O.); (J.P.G.); (L.L.N.); (J.R.-D.)
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de Araujo FF, Nagarkatti R, Mazzeti AL, Gonçalves KR, de Figueiredo Diniz L, Campos do Vale I, Martins-Filho OA, Debrabant A, Bahia MT, Teixeira-Carvalho A. Trypanosoma cruzi antigen detection in blood to assess treatment efficacy and cure in mice models of Chagas disease. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1340755. [PMID: 38283347 PMCID: PMC10811605 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1340755] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Although endemic mainly in Latin America, CD has become a global public health problem due to migration of infected individuals to non-endemic regions. Despite progress made in drug development, preclinical assays for drug discovery are required to accelerate the development of new drugs with reduced side effects, which are much needed for human treatment. Methods We used a cure model of infected mice treated with Fexinidazole (FZ) to further validate a novel Enzyme Linked Aptamer (ELA) assay that detects parasite biomarkers circulating in the blood of infected animals. Results The ELA assay showed cure by FZ in ~71% and ~77% of mice infected with the VL-10 and Colombiana strains of T. cruzi, respectively. The ELA assay also revealed superior treatment efficacy of FZ compared to Benznidazole prior to immunosuppression treatment. Discussion Our study supports the use of ELA assay as an alternative to traditional serology or blood PCR to assess the efficacy of antichagasic drugs during their preclinical phase of development. Further, the combination of high sensitivity and ease of use make this parasite antigen detection assay an attractive new tool to facilitate the development of much needed new therapies for CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Fortes de Araujo
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rana Nagarkatti
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Ana Lia Mazzeti
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Karolina Ribeiro Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Lívia de Figueiredo Diniz
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Básica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, Brazil
| | - Isabela Campos do Vale
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Olindo Assis Martins-Filho
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Maria Terezinha Bahia
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Escola de Medicina, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas & Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho
- Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Chiribao ML, Díaz-Viraqué F, Libisch MG, Batthyány C, Cunha N, De Souza W, Parodi-Talice A, Robello C. Paracrine Signaling Mediated by the Cytosolic Tryparedoxin Peroxidase of Trypanosoma cruzi. Pathogens 2024; 13:67. [PMID: 38251374 PMCID: PMC10818299 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010067] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Peroxiredoxins are abundant and ubiquitous proteins that participate in different cellular functions, such as oxidant detoxification, protein folding, and intracellular signaling. Under different cellular conditions, peroxiredoxins can be secreted by different parasites, promoting the induction of immune responses in hosts. In this work, we demonstrated that the cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase of Trypanosoma cruzi (cTXNPx) is secreted by epimastigotes and trypomastigotes associated with extracellular vesicles and also as a vesicle-free protein. By confocal microscopy, we show that cTXNPx can enter host cells by an active mechanism both through vesicles and as a recombinant protein. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that cTXNPx induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and interleukin-8 expression in epithelial cells. This analysis also suggested alterations in cholesterol metabolism in cTXNPx-treated cells, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence showing the accumulation of LDL and the induction of LDL receptors in both epithelial cells and macrophages. BrdU incorporation assays and qPCR showed that cTXNPx has a mitogenic, proliferative, and proinflammatory effect on these cells in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, we also demonstrated that cTXNPx acts as a paracrine virulence factor, increasing the susceptibility to infection in cTXNPx-pretreated epithelial cells by approximately 40%. Although the results presented in this work are from in vitro studies and likely underestimate the complexity of parasite-host interactions, our work suggests a relevant role for this protein in establishing infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Laura Chiribao
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay;
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
| | - Florencia Díaz-Viraqué
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
| | - María Gabriela Libisch
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
| | - Carlos Batthyány
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Drug Development, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay;
| | - Narcisa Cunha
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (N.C.); (W.D.S.)
| | - Wanderley De Souza
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (N.C.); (W.D.S.)
| | - Adriana Parodi-Talice
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
- Sección Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay;
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
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Madeira RP, Meneghetti P, Lozano N, Namiyama GM, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Torrecilhas AC. Exploring Peripheral Blood-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers: Implications for Chronic Chagas Disease with Viral Infection or Transplantation. Microorganisms 2024; 12:116. [PMID: 38257943 PMCID: PMC10818975 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer envelopes that encapsulate cell-specific cargo, rendering them promising biomarkers for diverse diseases. Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, poses a significant global health burden, transcending its initial epicenter in Latin America to affect individuals in Europe, Asia, and North America. In this study, we aimed to characterize circulating EVs derived from patients with chronic Chagas disease (CCD) experiencing a reactivation of acute symptoms. Blood samples collected in EDTA were processed to isolate plasma and subsequently subjected to ultracentrifugation for particle isolation and purification. The EVs were characterized using a nanoparticle tracking analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our findings revealed distinctive differences in the size, concentration, and composition of EVs between immunosuppressed patients and those with CCD. Importantly, these EVs play a critical role in the pathophysiology of Chagas disease and demonstrate significant potential as biomarkers in the chronic phase of the disease. Overall, our findings support the potential utility of the CL-ELISA assay as a specific sensitive tool for detecting circulating EVs in chronic Chagasic patients, particularly those with recurrent infection following an immunosuppressive treatment or with concurrent HIV and Chagas disease. Further investigations are warranted to identify and validate the specific antigens or biomarkers responsible for the observed reactivity in these patient groups, which may have implications for diagnosis, the monitoring of treatment, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Pedro Madeira
- Disciplina de Infectologia, Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil; (R.P.M.); (N.L.)
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil;
| | - Paula Meneghetti
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil;
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil
| | - Nicholy Lozano
- Disciplina de Infectologia, Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo 04023-900, Brazil; (R.P.M.); (N.L.)
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil;
| | - Gislene M. Namiyama
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo 01246-900, Brazil;
| | - Vera Lucia Pereira-Chioccola
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Fungos e Parasitas, Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil;
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Beatty NL, Arango-Ferreira C, Gual-Gonzalez L, Zuluaga S, Nolan MS, Cantillo-Barraza O. Oral Chagas Disease in Colombia-Confirmed and Suspected Routes of Transmission. Trop Med Infect Dis 2024; 9:14. [PMID: 38251211 PMCID: PMC10819552 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed9010014] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) remains endemic throughout many regions of Colombia despite implementing decades of vector control strategies in several departments. Some regions have had a significant decrease in vectorial transmission, but the oral ingestion of Trypanosoma cruzi through consumption of contaminated food and drink products is increasingly described. This form of transmission has important public health relevance in Colombia due to an increase in reported acute CD cases and clinical manifestations that often lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Oral CD in Colombia has been associated with the consumption of contaminated fruit juices, such as palm wine, sugar cane, or tangerine juice and water for consumption, or contaminated surfaces where food has been prepared. Another interesting route of oral transmission includes ingestion of unbeknownst infected armadillos' blood, which is related to a traditional medicine practice in Colombia. Some earlier reports have also implemented consumption of infected bush meat as a source, but this is still being debated. Within the Amazon Basin, oral transmission is now considered the principal cause of acute CD in these regions. Furthermore, new cases of acute CD are now being seen in departments where CD has not been documented, and triatomine vectors are not naturally found, thus raising suspicion for oral transmission. The oral CD could also be considered a food-borne zoonosis, and odoriferous didelphid secretions have been implemented in contaminating the human dwelling environment, increasing the risk of consumption of infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes. In this article, we will discuss the complex transmission dynamics of oral CD in Colombia and further examine the unique clinical manifestations of this route of infection. New insights into the oral transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi are being discovered in Colombia, which can help bring increased awareness and a better understanding of this neglected tropical disease to reduce the burden of CD throughout Latin America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman L. Beatty
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Catalina Arango-Ferreira
- Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
- Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Lídia Gual-Gonzalez
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (L.G.-G.); (M.S.N.)
| | - Sara Zuluaga
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
| | - Melissa S. Nolan
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; (L.G.-G.); (M.S.N.)
| | - Omar Cantillo-Barraza
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
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Macedo-da-Silva J, Mule SN, Rosa-Fernandes L, Palmisano G. A computational pipeline elucidating functions of conserved hypothetical Trypanosoma cruzi proteins based on public proteomic data. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol 2024; 138:401-428. [PMID: 38220431 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.07.002] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The proteome is complex, dynamic, and functionally diverse. Functional proteomics aims to characterize the functions of proteins in biological systems. However, there is a delay in annotating the function of proteins, even in model organisms. This gap is even greater in other organisms, including Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of the parasitic, systemic, and sometimes fatal disease called Chagas disease. About 99.8% of Trypanosoma cruzi proteome is not manually annotated (unreviewed), among which>25% are conserved hypothetical proteins (CHPs), calling attention to the knowledge gap on the protein content of this organism. CHPs are conserved proteins among different species of various evolutionary lineages; however, they lack functional validation. This study describes a bioinformatics pipeline applied to public proteomic data to infer possible biological functions of conserved hypothetical Trypanosoma cruzi proteins. Here, the adopted strategy consisted of collecting differentially expressed proteins between the epimastigote and metacyclic trypomastigotes stages of Trypanosoma cruzi; followed by the functional characterization of these CHPs applying a manifold learning technique for dimension reduction and 3D structure homology analysis (Spalog). We found a panel of 25 and 26 upregulated proteins in the epimastigote and metacyclic trypomastigote stages, respectively; among these, 18 CHPs (8 in the epimastigote stage and 10 in the metacyclic stage) were characterized. The data generated corroborate the literature and complement the functional analyses of differentially regulated proteins at each stage, as they attribute potential functions to CHPs, which are frequently identified in Trypanosoma cruzi proteomics studies. However, it is important to point out that experimental validation is required to deepen our understanding of the CHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaina Macedo-da-Silva
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, ICB, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simon Ngao Mule
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, ICB, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Livia Rosa-Fernandes
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, ICB, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Human Sciences, Macquarie Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, ICB, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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de Oliveira Souza JE, Gomes SMR, Lima AKC, de Souza Brito AC, Da-Silva SAG, de Carvalho Santos Lopes AH, Silva-Neto MAC, Atella GC, Dutra PML. Influence of CK2 protein kinase activity on the interaction between Trypanosoma cruzi and its vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:80. [PMID: 38163833 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08085-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease, endemic from Latin America, is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is transmitted by triatomine feces. This parasite undergoes complex morphological changes through its life cycle, promoted by significant changes in signal transduction pathways. The activity of protein kinase CK2 has been described in trypanosomatids. Using a specific peptide and radioactive ATP, we identified CK2 activity on the cellular surface and the cytoplasmic content in Trypanosoma cruzi, apart from the secreted form. Dephosphorylated casein promoted an increase of 48% in the secreted CK2 activity. Total extract of peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c and inactivated human serum promoted an increase of 67% and 36%, respectively, in this activity. The protein secreted by parasites was purified by HPLC and had shown compatibility with the catalytic subunit of mammalian CK2. Incubation of the parasites with CK2 inhibitors, added to the culture medium, prevented their growth. The opposite was observed when CK2 activators were used. Results of interaction between Trypanosoma cruzi and the gut of the vector have revealed that, in the presence of CK2 inhibitors, there is a reduction in the association rate. A similar inhibition profile was seen in the Trypanosoma cruzi-macrophages interaction, confirming the importance of this enzyme in the life cycle of this protozoan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Eliza de Oliveira Souza
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Shayane Martins Rodrigues Gomes
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Karina Castro Lima
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andréia Carolinne de Souza Brito
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvia Amaral Gonçalves Da-Silva
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Geórgia Correa Atella
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patricia Maria Lourenço Dutra
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Valenzuela JP, San Juan E, Botto-Mahan C. What is behind the success of terrestrial bromeliads as microhabitat for the sylvatic triatomine Mepraia spinolai? Acta Trop 2024; 249:107053. [PMID: 37898478 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107053] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Puya alpestris, P. berteroniana and P. chilensis (Bromeliaceae) are terrestrial plants present in north-central Chile, considered important part of the shrub flora due to their abundance and close interaction with animals. A previous study showed that bromeliad cover positively correlates with the abundance of the sylvatic triatomine vector Mepraia spinolai, only when infected by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Here, we assessed the biological interactions and abiotic conditions provided by these Puya species to M. spinolai. During the austral summers of 2015 and 2016, we sampled 17 sites with presence of M. spinolai colonies. In each site, we estimated the presence of bromeliad and its cover proportion, and placed a camera trap for three months near a M. spinolai colony to record the vertebrates potentially interacting with this triatomine. Three of the camera traps were placed right in front of M. spinolai-colonized bromeliads. At the same time, triatomines present under these bromeliads were collected to assess their blood meal by Next Generation Sequencing. Between July 2017 and January 2018, we examined the abiotic conditions (temperature and humidity) under bromeliad, under rocks and at ground level. We detected 40 vertebrate species associated to Puya spp. (18 birds, 16 mammals, and 6 reptiles). Puya spp. are a resource for keystone species in T. cruzi sylvatic transmission, including small mammals (Octodon degus, Phyllotis darwini) and lizard species (Liolaemus spp.), detecting a positive association between bromeliad presence and availability of reptiles and non-domestic mammals. Native rodents and humans were the most represented vertebrates in the diet of M. spinolai collected under bromeliads. Temperatures were more stable under bromeliad, showing lower amplitude (up to 14.3 °C) compared to under rocks (23.7 °C) or at ground level (49.6 °C). Bromeliads present in the semiarid-Mediterranean ecosystem provide feeding opportunities for triatomines, and act as buffer of abiotic conditions reducing daily thermal amplitude. The presence of bromeliads near human settlements should be carefully monitored, especially because their leaves are consumed by people and browsed by livestock present in endemic areas of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Valenzuela
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Esteban San Juan
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carezza Botto-Mahan
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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50
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Ahmed N, Herbert S, Arenas-Pinto A, Rickman H, Benn P, Edwards SG, Chiodini PL, Grant AD. Trypanosoma cruzi screening in people living with HIV in the UK. Int J STD AIDS 2024; 35:71-73. [PMID: 37728103 DOI: 10.1177/09564624231202292] [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] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) are at higher risk of reactivation of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. There are no data from UK HIV clinics on the prevalence of T. cruzi. We implemented T. cruzi screening at our clinic as part of routine care for PLWH with epidemiological risk factors. Among 86 patients screened, none had positive serology: one seropositive patient was identified due to increased clinician awareness. Implementing T. cruzi screening as part of routine clinical care was feasible, though labour intensive and identified at-risk individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Ahmed
- Genito-Urinary Medicine, Central North West London NHS Trust, UK
| | - Sophie Herbert
- Genito-Urinary Medicine, Central North West London NHS Trust, UK
| | - Alejandro Arenas-Pinto
- Genito-Urinary Medicine, Central North West London NHS Trust, UK
- Centre for Sexual Health & HIV Research, University College London, UK
| | - Hannah Rickman
- Genito-Urinary Medicine, Central North West London NHS Trust, UK
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Paul Benn
- Genito-Urinary Medicine, Central North West London NHS Trust, UK
| | - Simon G Edwards
- Genito-Urinary Medicine, Central North West London NHS Trust, UK
| | - Peter L Chiodini
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
- Parasitology, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, UK
| | - Alison D Grant
- Genito-Urinary Medicine, Central North West London NHS Trust, UK
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
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