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Almeida GG, Luehring TAM, Paixão PHDM, Soares RP, de Barros ALB, do Monte-Neto RL, Tafuri WL, Negrão-Corrêa DA, Gonçalves R. The absence of eosinophils is associated with early metastatic lesions in Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2024; 119:e220242. [PMID: 38198296 PMCID: PMC10777375 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760220242] [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: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eosinophils are granulocytes that rapidly increase frequency in the bloodstream during helminthic infections and allergic responses. They are found in tissue infected by Leishmania during early disease, but their role during infection is not entirely understood. OBJECTIVES We aim to compare the disease due to Leishmania amazonensis in BALB/c and Δdbl-GATA1 mice, which lack eosinophils. METHODS BALB/c and Δdbl-GATA1 mice infected with L. amazonensis were observed for several weeks. The parasite load and dissemination pattern were assessed. FINDINGS The Δdbl-GATA1 mice developed an anticipated dissemination of L. amazonensis and a worsening disease. No differences were found in the lesion development or the parasite load in the footpad among Δdbl-GATA1 mice and BALB/c eight weeks after infection. However, nine weeks after infection, massive growth of metastatic lesions appeared in several parts of the skin in Δdbl-GATA1 mice, weeks earlier than BALB/c. We observed increased parasites in the bloodstream, probably an essential dissemination route. Thirteen weeks after infection, metastatic lesions were found in all Δdbl-GATA1 mice. MAIN CONCLUSION These results suggest a protective role of eosinophils in delaying the disease caused by L. amazonensis, although several limitations of this mice strain must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregório Guilherme Almeida
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Patologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Pedro Soares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Biotecnologia Aplicada a Patógenos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - André Luís Branco de Barros
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Rubens Lima do Monte-Neto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Biotecnologia Aplicada a Patógenos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Wagner Luiz Tafuri
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Patologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Deborah Aparecida Negrão-Corrêa
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Ricardo Gonçalves
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Patologia Geral, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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de Carvalho Moreira LMC, de Sousa Silva ABA, de Araújo Medeiros K, Oshiro Júnior JA, da Silva DTC, de Lima Damasceno BPG. Effectiveness In Vivo and In Vitro of Polymeric Nanoparticles as a Drug Release System in the Treatment of Leishmaniasis. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:286-307. [PMID: 36683370 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230120163543] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by the parasite of the genus Leishmania. Current treatment regimens are obsolete and cause several side effects, promoting poor patient compliance, in addition to the vast majority already having the potential for resistance. Therefore, polymeric nanoparticles emerge as one of the viable alternatives to overcome existing limitations, through passive or active vectorization. This review aims to summarize the latest studies of polymeric nanoparticles as an alternative treatment for leishmaniasis. In the first section, the main pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic challenges of current drugs are reported. The second section details how nanoparticles with and without functionalization are efficient in the treatment of leishmaniasis, discussing the characteristics of the polymer in the formulation. In this way, polymeric nanoparticles can improve the physicochemical properties of leishmanicidal drugs, improving solubility and stability, as well as improve the release of these drugs, directly or indirectly reaching monocytes/macrophages. 64.28% drugs were focused on the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, and 28.57% on cutaneous leishmaniasis. The most chosen polymers in the literature are chitosan (35.71%) and PLGA (35.71%), the others represented 14.30% drugs, with all able to manage the drug release and increase the in vitro and/or in vivo efficacy of the original molecule. However, there are several barriers for these nanoformulations to cross laboratory research and is necessary more in-depth studies about the metabolites and degradation pathways of the polymers used in the formulations and plasma proteomics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia Maria Coelho de Carvalho Moreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Caracterização de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
| | | | - Kaline de Araújo Medeiros
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Caracterização de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
| | - João Augusto Oshiro Júnior
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Caracterização de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
| | - Dayanne Tomaz Casimiro da Silva
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Caracterização de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
| | - Bolívar Ponciano Goulart de Lima Damasceno
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Caracterização de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brasil
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Monzote L, Machín L, González A, Scull R, Gutiérrez YI, Satyal P, Gille L, Setzer WN. Eugenol-Rich Essential Oil from Pimenta dioica: In Vitro and In Vivo Potentialities against Leishmania amazonensis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 17:64. [PMID: 38256897 PMCID: PMC10819736 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010064] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Pimenta dioica L. is one the most recognized species with diverse biological activities. In this study, in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of essential oil from P. dioica (EO-Pd) was evaluated. The main compound was also included in the animal studies and its in silico prediction related to biological activities, molecular ligands, drug likeness, and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties are listed. The chemical composition analyzed by GC-MS retrieved 45 components, which the most abundant compound was the eugenol (80.1%). The EO-Pd was able to inhibit the growth of L. amazonensis (IC50 = 9.7 ± 0.7 and 11.3 ± 2.1 µg/mL, promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively). The cytotoxicity assay showed a CC50 of 104.5 ± 0.9 µg/mL and a selectivity index of 9. In the model of cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice, the effect of EO-Pd and eugenol was observed after treatment at 30 mg/kg by intralesional route with 5 administrations every 4 days. In the in silico predictions, some targets that justified the antileishmanial activity of eugenol and good drug like properties for this compound, were obtained. This study showed for first time the potential of EO-Pd to inhibit L. amazonensis, which could be linked to the activity of major compound eugenol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianet Monzote
- Parasitology Department, Center of Research, Diagnostic and Reference, Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kouri”, Havana 17100, Cuba
- Research Network Natural Products against Neglected Diseases (ResNetNPND), 48149 Munster, Germany
| | - Laura Machín
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy and Food, Havana University, Havana 13600, Cuba
| | - Adiel González
- Parasitology Department, Center of Research, Diagnostic and Reference, Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kouri”, Havana 17100, Cuba
| | - Ramón Scull
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy and Food, Havana University, Havana 13600, Cuba
| | - Yamilet I. Gutiérrez
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy and Food, Havana University, Havana 13600, Cuba
| | - Prabodh Satyal
- Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USA;
| | - Lars Gille
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - William N. Setzer
- Research Network Natural Products against Neglected Diseases (ResNetNPND), 48149 Munster, Germany
- Aromatic Plant Research Center, 230 N 1200 E, Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, USA;
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA
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Dondi A, Manieri E, Gambuti G, Varani S, Campoli C, Zama D, Pierantoni L, Baldazzi M, Prete A, Attard L, Lanari M, Melchionda F. A 10-Year Retrospective Study on Pediatric Visceral Leishmaniasis in a European Endemic Area: Diagnostic and Short-Course Therapeutic Strategies. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 12:23. [PMID: 38200929 PMCID: PMC10779246 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12010023] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a potentially fatal disease, with an increasing occurrence in northern Italy, affecting children and both immunocompetent and immunocompromised adults. METHODS This retrospective study conducted at the St. Orsola University Hospital of Bologna, Italy, evaluates the characteristics of 16 children (with a median age of 14.3 months) who were hospitalized between 2013 and 2022 for VL. RESULTS Seventy-five percent of patients presented with a triad of fever, cytopenia, and splenomegaly. An abdominal ultrasound examination revealed splenomegaly and hypoechoic spleen abnormalities in 93.8% and 73.3% of cases, respectively. Five VL cases were complicated by secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Eleven patients were treated with a single 10 mg/kg dose of Liposomal Amphotericin B (L-AmB), while five received two doses (total of 20 mg/kg); one of the former groups experienced a recurrence. The fever generally decreased 48 h after the first L-AmB dose, and hemoglobin levels normalized within a month. The splenomegaly resolved in approximately 4.5 months. CONCLUSIONS Pediatricians should consider VL in children with fever of an unknown origin, anemia, cytopenia, and splenomegaly. In our experience, abdominal ultrasounds and molecular tests on peripheral blood contributed to diagnosis without the need for bone marrow aspiration. The short-course therapy with two 10 mg/kg doses of L-AmB is safe and effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Dondi
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Elisa Manieri
- Specialty School of Paediatrics, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.M.)
| | - Giacomo Gambuti
- Specialty School of Paediatrics, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (E.M.)
| | - Stefania Varani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Unit of Microbiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Campoli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Daniele Zama
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Luca Pierantoni
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
| | - Michelangelo Baldazzi
- Pediatric and Adult CardioThoracic and Vascular, Oncohematologic and Emergency Radiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Arcangelo Prete
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna S. Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (F.M.)
| | - Luciano Attard
- Infectious Diseases Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Marcello Lanari
- Pediatric Emergency Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.D.); (L.P.); (M.L.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Fraia Melchionda
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna S. Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (A.P.); (F.M.)
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Goto Y, Ito T, Ghosh S, Mukherjee B. Access and utilization of host-derived iron by Leishmania parasites. J Biochem 2023; 175:17-24. [PMID: 37830941 PMCID: PMC10771036 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad082] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Iron is involved in many biochemical processes including oxygen transport, ATP production, DNA synthesis and antioxidant defense. The importance of iron also applies to Leishmania parasites, an intracellular protozoan pathogen causing leishmaniasis. Leishmania are heme-auxotrophs, devoid of iron storage proteins and the heme synthesis pathway. Acquisition of iron and heme from the surrounding niche is thus critical for the intracellular survival of Leishmania inside the host macrophages. Moreover, Leishmania parasites are also exposed to oxidative stress within phagolysosomes of macrophages in mammalian hosts, and they need iron superoxide dismutase for overcoming this stress. Therefore, untangling the strategy adopted by these parasites for iron acquisition and utilization can be good targets for the development of antileishmanial drugs. Here, in this review, we will address how Leishmania parasites acquire and utilize iron and heme during infection to macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuyuki Goto
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsumi Ito
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Souradeepa Ghosh
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
| | - Budhaditya Mukherjee
- School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
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Mohamed MAA, Kadry AM, Bekhit SA, Abourehab MAS, Amagase K, Ibrahim TM, El-Saghier AMM, Bekhit AA. Spiro heterocycles bearing piperidine moiety as potential scaffold for anti leishmanial activity: synthesis, biological evaluation, and in silico studies. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:330-342. [PMID: 36444862 PMCID: PMC11003478 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2150763] [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: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
New spiro-piperidine derivatives were synthesised via the eco-friendly ionic liquids in a one-pot fashion. The in vitro antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major promastigote and amastigote forms highlighted promising antileishmanial activity for most of the derivatives, with superior activity compared to miltefosine. The most active compounds 8a and 9a exhibited sub-micromolar range of activity, with IC50 values of 0.89 µM and 0.50 µM, respectively, compared to 8.08 µM of miltefosine. Furthermore, the antileishmanial activity reversal of these compounds via folic and folinic acids displayed comparable results to the positive control trimethoprim. This emphasises that their antileishmanial activity is through the antifolate mechanism via targeting DHFR and PTR1. The most active compounds showed superior selectivity and safety profile compared to miltefosine against VERO cells. Moreover, the docking experiments of 8a and 9a against Lm-PTR1 rationalised the observed in vitro activities. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed a stable and high potential binding to Lm-PTR1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Asmaa M. Kadry
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Salma A. Bekhit
- High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | | | - Kikuko Amagase
- Laboratory of Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Japan
| | - Tamer M. Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
| | | | - Adnan A. Bekhit
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory (CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
- Allied Health Department, College of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Kingdom of Bahrain
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7
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Vargas DA, Gregory DJ, Koren RN, Zilberstein D, Belew AT, El-Sayed NM, Gómez MA. Macrophage metallothioneins participate in the anti leishmanial activity of antimonials. Front Parasitol 2023; 2:1242727. [PMID: 38239429 PMCID: PMC10795579 DOI: 10.3389/fpara.2023.1242727] [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] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Host cell functions that participate in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of drugs against intracellular pathogen infections are critical for drug efficacy. In this study, we investigated whether macrophage mechanisms of xenobiotic detoxification contribute to the elimination of intracellular Leishmania upon exposure to pentavalent antimonials (SbV). Primary macrophages from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) (n=6) were exposed ex vivo to L. V. panamensis infection and SbV, and transcriptomes were generated. Seven metallothionein (MT) genes, potent scavengers of heavy metals and central elements of the mammalian cell machinery for xenobiotic detoxification, were within the top 20 up-regulated genes. To functionally validate the participation of MTs in drug-mediated killing of intracellular Leishmania, tandem knockdown (KD) of MT2-A and MT1-E, MT1-F, and MT1-X was performed using a pan-MT shRNA approach in THP-1 cells. Parasite survival was unaffected in tandem-KD cells, as a consequence of strong transcriptional upregulation of MTs by infection and SbV, overcoming the KD effect. Gene silencing of the metal transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) abrogated expression of MT1 and MT2-A genes, but not ZnT-1. Upon exposure to SbV, intracellular survival of Leishmania in MTF-1KD cells was significantly enhanced. Results from this study highlight the participation of macrophage MTs in Sb-dependent parasite killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deninson Alejandro Vargas
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - David J. Gregory
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Roni Nitzan Koren
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dan Zilberstein
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ashton Trey Belew
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Najib M. El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - María Adelaida Gómez
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
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8
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Rêgo FD, da Silva ES, Lopes VV, Teixeira-Neto RG, Belo VS, Fonseca AA, Pereira DA, Pena HP, Laurenti MD, Araújo GV, da Matta VLR, Chouman IH, Burrin TB, Sandoval CM, Barrouin-Melo SM, de Pinho FA, de Andrade HM, Nunes RV, Gontijo CMF, Soccol VT, Klocek D, Grybchuk D, Macedo DH, do Monte-Neto RL, Yurchenko V, Soares RP. First report of putative Leishmania RNA virus 2 (LRV2) in Leishmania infantum strains from canine and human visceral leishmaniasis cases in the southeast of Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2023; 118:e230071. [PMID: 37729273 PMCID: PMC10511063 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760230071] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1) is commonly found in South American Leishmania parasites belonging to the subgenus Viannia, whereas Leishmania RNA virus 2 (LRV2) was previously thought to be restricted to the Old-World pathogens of the subgenus Leishmania. OBJECTIVES In this study, we investigated the presence of LRV2 in strains of Leishmania (L.) infantum, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), originating from different hosts, clinical forms, and geographical regions. METHODS A total of seventy-one isolates were screened for LRV2 using semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene. FINDINGS We detected LRV2 in two L. infantum isolates (CUR268 and HP-EMO) from canine and human cases, respectively. MAIN CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detection of LRV2 in the New World.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Dutra Rêgo
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia Aplicada ao Estudo de Patógenos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Eduardo Sérgio da Silva
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias e Infecciosas, Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Valeriana Valadares Lopes
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias e Infecciosas, Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Vinícius Silva Belo
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias e Infecciosas, Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Antônio Augusto Fonseca
- Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, Laboratório Nacional Agropecuária, Pedro Leopoldo, MG, Brasil
| | - Diego Andrade Pereira
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias e Infecciosas, Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Heber Paulino Pena
- Universidade Federal de São João Del Rei, Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias e Infecciosas, Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
| | - Márcia Dalastra Laurenti
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Gabriela V Araújo
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Vânia Lúcia Ribeiro da Matta
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Islam Hussein Chouman
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Thainá Bergantin Burrin
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carmen M Sandoval
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Stella Maria Barrouin-Melo
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Departamento de Anatomia, Patologia e Clínicas Veterinárias, Escola de Medicina Veterinária, Laboratório de Infectologia Veterinária, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Flaviane Alves de Pinho
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Departamento de Anatomia, Patologia e Clínicas Veterinárias, Escola de Medicina Veterinária, Laboratório de Infectologia Veterinária, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Hélida Monteiro de Andrade
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Ramon Vieira Nunes
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Célia Maria Ferreira Gontijo
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia Aplicada ao Estudo de Patógenos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Vanete Thomaz Soccol
- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Departamento de Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | - Donnamae Klocek
- University of Ostrava, Faculty of Science, Life Science Research Centre, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Danyil Grybchuk
- University of Ostrava, Faculty of Science, Life Science Research Centre, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Diego Henrique Macedo
- University of Ostrava, Faculty of Science, Life Science Research Centre, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Rubens Lima do Monte-Neto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia Aplicada ao Estudo de Patógenos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- University of Ostrava, Faculty of Science, Life Science Research Centre, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Rodrigo Pedro Soares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto René Rachou, Grupo de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia Aplicada ao Estudo de Patógenos, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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9
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de Oliveira Rekowsky LL, de Oliveira DT, Cazzaniga RA, Magalhães LS, Albuquerque LF, Araujo JMS, Tenório MDL, Machado TC, Lipscomb MW, Dos Santos PL, Ribeiro de Jesus A, Bezerra-Santos M, da Silva RLL. Influence of Testosterone in Neglected Tropical Diseases: Clinical Aspects in Leprosy and In Vitro Experiments in Leishmaniasis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:357. [PMID: 37505653 PMCID: PMC10385189 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8070357] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases encompass a group of chronic and debilitating infectious diseases that primarily affect marginalized populations. Among these diseases, leprosy and leishmaniasis are endemic in numerous countries and can result in severe and disfiguring manifestations. Although there have been reports indicating a higher incidence of leprosy and leishmaniasis in males, the underlying factors contributing to this observation remain unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine both clinical and experimental evidence regarding the role of testosterone in leprosy and leishmaniasis. A prospective clinical study was conducted to compare the clinical forms of leprosy and assess circulating testosterone levels. Additionally, the impact of testosterone on Leishmania amazonensis-infected macrophages was evaluated in vitro. The findings demonstrated that serum testosterone levels were higher in women with leprosy than in the control group, irrespective of the multi- or pauci-bacillary form of the disease. However, no differences in testosterone levels were observed in men when comparing leprosy patients and controls. Interestingly, increasing doses of testosterone in macrophages infected with L. amazonensis resulted in a higher proportion of infected cells, decreased CD40 expression on the cell surface, elevated expression of SOCS1, and decreased expression of IRF5. These findings provide biological evidence to support the influence of testosterone on intracellular infections, though the interpretation of clinical evidence remains limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís Lima de Oliveira Rekowsky
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Posgraduate Program of Health Science, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Daniela Teles de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Anselmo Cazzaniga
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Lucas Sousa Magalhães
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Posgraduate Program of Health Science, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Lenise Franco Albuquerque
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Dermatology Division of Medical Hospital, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Jonnia Maria Sherlock Araujo
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Dermatology Division of Medical Hospital, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Martha Débora Lira Tenório
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Dermatology Division of Medical Hospital, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Tiziane Cotta Machado
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Michael W Lipscomb
- Department of Pharmacology, Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Priscila Lima Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Posgraduate Program of Health Science, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Amelia Ribeiro de Jesus
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Posgraduate Program of Health Science, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (iii), Institutos Nacionais de Ciência e Tecnologia (INCT), CNPq, São Paulo 05403-900, Brazil
| | - Márcio Bezerra-Santos
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Posgraduate Program of Health Science, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Luís Louzada da Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060676, Brazil
- Health Education Department, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto 49400000, Brazil
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10
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Peña-Guerrero J, Fernández-Rubio C, García-Sosa AT, Nguewa PA. BRCT Domains: Structure, Functions, and Implications in Disease-New Therapeutic Targets for Innovative Drug Discovery against Infections. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1839. [PMID: 37514027 PMCID: PMC10386641 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The search for new therapeutic targets and their implications in drug development remains an emerging scientific topic. BRCT-bearing proteins are found in Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya, and viruses. They are traditionally involved in DNA repair, recombination, and cell cycle control. To carry out these functions, BRCT domains are able to interact with DNA and proteins. Moreover, such domains are also implicated in several pathogenic processes and malignancies including breast, ovarian, and lung cancer. Although these domains exhibit moderately conserved folding, their sequences show very low conservation. Interestingly, sequence variations among species are considered positive traits in the search for suitable therapeutic targets, since non-specific drug interactions might be reduced. These main characteristics of BRCT, as well as its critical implications in key biological processes in the cell, have prompted the study of these domains as therapeutic targets. This review explores the possible roles of BRCT domains as therapeutic targets for drug discovery. We describe their common structural features and relevant interactions and pathways, as well as their implications in pathologic processes. Drugs commonly used to target these domains are also presented. Finally, based on their structures, we describe new drug design possibilities using modern and innovative techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Peña-Guerrero
- ISTUN Institute of Tropical Health, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), E-31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Rubio
- ISTUN Institute of Tropical Health, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), E-31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - Alfonso T García-Sosa
- Chair of Molecular Technology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Paul A Nguewa
- ISTUN Institute of Tropical Health, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, IdiSNA (Navarra Institute for Health Research), E-31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
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11
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Rauf A, Rashid U, Shbeer AM, Al-Ghorbani M, Muhammad N, Khalil AA, Naz H, Sharma R, Ribaudo G. Flavonoids from Pistacia chinensis subsp. integerrima with leishmanicidal activity: computational and experimental evidence. Nat Prod Res 2023:1-6. [PMID: 37357619 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2023.2228459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Pistacia chinensis subsp. integerrima is a valuable medicinal plant as its parts and extracts found application for treating diarrhea, fever, liver disorders, asthma, and inflammation. In this study, we report the leishmanicidal activity of sakuranetin, spinacetin, and patuletin extracted from P. chinensis. The tested compounds revealed a strong anti-leishmanial activity in vitro against Leishmania major showing IC50 values of 7.98 ± 0.16 µM, 9.23 ± 0.23 µM 11.09 ± 0.87 µM for sakuranetin, spinacetin, and patuletin, respectively. Moreover, to explore the potential mechanism(s) by which the compounds may act, computational docking studies were performed against dihydrofolate reductase and pteridine reductase, showing that the flavonoids could target these two key enzymes to exploit their leishmanicidal activity. In accordance with in vitro results, patuletin was highlighted as the most promising compound of the set, and binding energy values of -6.72 and -6.74 kcal/mol were computed for the two proteins, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdur Rauf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Swabi, Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Umer Rashid
- Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Mohammed Al-Ghorbani
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts, Ulla, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveed Muhammad
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Anees Ahmed Khalil
- University Institute of Diet and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Humaira Naz
- Department of Biotechnology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Giovanni Ribaudo
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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12
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Dagenet CB, Davis MS, Murphy S, Thiede R, Culpepper KS, Fazel M. Limited Cutaneous Leishmaniasis as Ulcerated Verrucous Plaque on Leg, Tucson, Arizona, USA 1. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:1268-1269. [PMID: 37209715 DOI: 10.3201/eid2906.230125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
We report a 34-year-old man who had a nonhealing, verrucous plaque with central ulceration on the lower leg. This case-patient is a rare example of endemic limited cutaneous leishmaniasis in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Clinicians should be aware of this disease because its manifestations can vary for individual patients.
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13
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de Arruda JAA, Tomo S, Cunha JLS, Guevara JR, Martínez I, Reyes O, Bracho V, Sanchez C, de Andrade BAB, Villarroel-Dorrego M. Mucosal Leishmaniasis of the lip: Report of an Exuberant case in a Young man. Head Neck Pathol 2023; 17:540-545. [PMID: 36346574 PMCID: PMC10293522 DOI: 10.1007/s12105-022-01497-8] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Mucosal leishmaniasis has been described as secondary to the cutaneous form; however, isolated mucosal involvement can also occur. Specifically, mucosal leishmaniasis of the lip is poorly described and its diagnosis challenges clinicians. METHODS We herein report a case of mucosal leishmaniasis affecting the lower lip without cutaneous involvement in a 20-year-old Venezuelan man. The patient had no relevant past medical history. Clinically, a mass-like lesion with ulcerations and crusts was observed. RESULTS Microscopically, the lesion was composed of granulomatous inflammation along with macrophages containing intracytoplasmic inclusions similar to round-shaped Leishmania. The species Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis was confirmed. Treatment with meglumine antimonate was effective. The lesion healed satisfactorily, and no side effects or recurrences were observed. CONCLUSION Clinicians should be aware of isolated forms of mucosal leishmaniasis of the lip, even in cases where the cutaneous lesion is undetected or clinically manifests as self-limiting. Knowing the endemic areas in the scenario of the dynamics of the ecoepidemiology of leishmaniasis is also essential for surveillance and counselling of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Alcides Almeida de Arruda
- Department of Oral Surgery, Pathology and Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Saygo Tomo
- Department of Stomatology, A.C.Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - John Lennon Silva Cunha
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - José Ramón Guevara
- National Programme of Leishmaniasis, Biomedicine Institute “Dr. Jacinto Convit”, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Idalina Martínez
- National Programme of Leishmaniasis, Biomedicine Institute “Dr. Jacinto Convit”, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Oscar Reyes
- National Programme of Leishmaniasis, Biomedicine Institute “Dr. Jacinto Convit”, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Verónica Bracho
- National Programme of Leishmaniasis, Biomedicine Institute “Dr. Jacinto Convit”, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Carlos Sanchez
- Oral Medicine, Dental School, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Bruno Augusto Benevenuto de Andrade
- Department of Oral Diagnosis and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, R. Rodolpho Paulo Rocco, n. 325, 1st floor, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
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14
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Vomáčková Kykalová B, Sassù F, Volf P, Telleria EL. RNAi-mediated gene silencing of Phlebotomus papatasi defensins favors Leishmania major infection. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1182141. [PMID: 37265840 PMCID: PMC10230645 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1182141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Production of different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is one of the insect's prominent defense strategies, regulated mainly by Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) humoral pathways. Here we focused mainly on two AMPs of Phlebotomus papatasi, vector of Leishmania major parasites, their association with the relish transcription factor and the effective participation on Leishmania infection. Methods and results: We further characterized the role of previously described gut-specific P. papatasi defensin (PpDef1) and identified the second defensin (PpDef2) expressed in various sand fly tissues. Using the RNAi-mediated gene silencing, we report that the silencing of PpDef1 gene or simultaneous silencing of both defensin genes (PpDef1 and PpDef2) resulted in increased parasite levels in the sand fly (detectable by PCR) and higher sand fly mortality. In addition, we knocked down relish, the sole transcription factor of the IMD pathway, to evaluate the association of the IMD pathway with AMPs expression in P. papatasi. We demonstrated that the relish gene knockdown reduced the expression of PpDef2 and attacin, another AMP abundantly expressed in the sand fly body. Conclusions: Altogether, our experiments show the importance of defensins in the sand fly response toward L. major and the role of the IMD pathway in regulating AMPs in P. papatasi.
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15
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Kumar V, Lin JS, Molchanova N, Fortkort JA, Reckmann C, Bräse S, Jenssen H, Barron AE, Chugh A. Membrane-acting biomimetic peptoids against visceral leishmaniasis. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:519-531. [PMID: 36683396 PMCID: PMC9989931 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is among the most neglected tropical diseases in the world. Drug cell permeability is essential for killing the intracellular residing parasites responsible for VL, making cell-permeating peptides a logical choice to address VL. Unfortunately, the limited biological stability of peptides restricts their usage. Sequence-specific oligo-N-substituted glycines ('peptoids') are a class of peptide mimics that offers an excellent alternative to peptides in terms of ease of synthesis and good biostability. We tested peptoids against the parasite Leishmania donovani in both forms, that is, intracellular amastigotes and promastigotes. N-alkyl hydrophobic chain addition (lipidation) and bromination of oligopeptoids yielded compounds with good antileishmanial activity against both forms, showing the promise of these antiparasitic peptoids as potential drug candidates to treat VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Kumar
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India
| | - Jennifer S Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Schools of Medicine and of Engineering, CA, USA
| | | | - John A Fortkort
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Schools of Medicine and of Engineering, CA, USA
| | - Carolin Reckmann
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
| | - Stefan Bräse
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems - Functional Molecular Systems (IBCS-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany
| | - Håvard Jenssen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Denmark
| | - Annelise E Barron
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Schools of Medicine and of Engineering, CA, USA
| | - Archana Chugh
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India
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16
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Leroux M, Luquain-Costaz C, Lawton P, Azzouz-Maache S, Delton I. Fatty Acid Composition and Metabolism in Leishmania Parasite Species: Potential Biomarkers or Drug Targets for Leishmaniasis? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054702. [PMID: 36902138 PMCID: PMC10003364 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054702] [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: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fatty acids have received growing interest in Leishmania biology with the characterization of the enzymes allowing the complete fatty acid synthesis of this trypanosomatid parasite. This review presents a comparative analysis of the fatty acid profiles of the major classes of lipids and phospholipids in different species of Leishmania with cutaneous or visceral tropism. Specificities relating to the parasite forms, resistance to antileishmanial drugs, and host/parasite interactions are described as well as comparisons with other trypanosomatids. Emphasis is placed on polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolic and functional specificities, in particular, their conversion into oxygenated metabolites that are inflammatory mediators able to modulate metacyclogenesis and parasite infectivity. The impact of lipid status on the development of leishmaniasis and the potential of fatty acids as therapeutic targets or candidates for nutritional interventions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Leroux
- CNRS 5007, LAGEPP, Université of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Céline Luquain-Costaz
- CNRS 5007, LAGEPP, Université of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Department of Biosciences, INSA Lyon, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Philippe Lawton
- CNRS 5007, LAGEPP, Université of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Samira Azzouz-Maache
- CNRS 5007, LAGEPP, Université of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Isabelle Delton
- CNRS 5007, LAGEPP, Université of Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Department of Biosciences, INSA Lyon, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
- Correspondence:
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17
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Kamran M, Bhattacharjee R, Das S, Mukherjee S, Ali N. The paradigm of intracellular parasite survival and drug resistance in leishmanial parasite through genome plasticity and epigenetics: Perception and future perspective. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1001973. [PMID: 36814446 PMCID: PMC9939536 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1001973] [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: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is an intracellular, zoonotic, kinetoplastid eukaryote with more than 1.2 million cases all over the world. The leishmanial chromosomes are divided into polymorphic chromosomal ends, conserved central domains, and antigen-encoding genes found in telomere-proximal regions. The genome flexibility of chromosomal ends of the leishmanial parasite is known to cause drug resistance and intracellular survival through the evasion of host defense mechanisms. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the plasticity of Leishmania genome organization which is the primary cause of drug resistance and parasite survival. Moreover, we have not only elucidated the causes of such genome plasticity which includes aneuploidy, epigenetic factors, copy number variation (CNV), and post-translation modification (PTM) but also highlighted their impact on drug resistance and parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sonali Das
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Sohitri Mukherjee
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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18
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Andrade YMFDS, Castro MVD, Tavares VDS, Souza RDSO, Faccioli LH, Lima JB, Sorgi CA, Borges VM, Araújo-Santos T. Polyunsaturated fatty acids alter the formation of lipid droplets and eicosanoid production in Leishmania promastigotes. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2023; 118:e220160. [PMID: 36888851 PMCID: PMC9991015 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760220160] [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: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The knowledge about eicosanoid metabolism and lipid droplet (LD) formation in the Leishmania is very limited and new approaches are needed to identify which bioactive molecules are produced of them. OBJECTIVES Herein, we compared LDs and eicosanoids biogenesis in distinct Leishmania species which are etiologic agents of different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. METHODS For this, promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis and L. infantum were stimulated with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and LD and eicosanoid production was evaluated. We also compared mutations in structural models of human-like cyclooxygenase-2 (GP63) and prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) proteins, as well as the levels of these enzymes in parasite cell extracts. FINDINGS PUFAs modulate the LD formation in L. braziliensis and L. infantum. Leishmania spp with equivalent tissue tropism had same protein mutations in GP63 and PGFS. No differences in GP63 production were observed among Leishmania spp, however PGFS production increased during the parasite differentiation. Stimulation with arachidonic acid resulted in elevated production of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids compared to prostaglandins. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest LD formation and eicosanoid production are distinctly modulated by PUFAS dependent of Leishmania species. In addition, eicosanoid-enzyme mutations are more similar between Leishmania species with same host tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monara Viera de Castro
- Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Centro das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Núcleo de Estudos de Agentes Infecciosos e Vetores, Barreiras, BA, Brasil
| | - Victor de Souza Tavares
- Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Centro das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Núcleo de Estudos de Agentes Infecciosos e Vetores, Barreiras, BA, Brasil
| | - Rayane da Silva Oliveira Souza
- Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Centro das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Núcleo de Estudos de Agentes Infecciosos e Vetores, Barreiras, BA, Brasil
| | - Lúcia Helena Faccioli
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Jonilson Berlink Lima
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.,Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Centro das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Núcleo de Estudos de Agentes Infecciosos e Vetores, Barreiras, BA, Brasil.,Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | | | - Valéria M Borges
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.,Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Théo Araújo-Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.,Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Centro das Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Núcleo de Estudos de Agentes Infecciosos e Vetores, Barreiras, BA, Brasil
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19
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Gill J, Sharma A. Exploration of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases from eukaryotic parasites for drug development. J Biol Chem 2022; 299:102860. [PMID: 36596362 PMCID: PMC9978631 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases result in considerable human morbidity and mortality. The continuous emergence and spread of new drug-resistant parasite strains is an obstacle to controlling and eliminating many parasitic diseases. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are ubiquitous enzymes essential for protein synthesis. The design and development of diverse small molecule, drug-like inhibitors against parasite-encoded and expressed aaRSs have validated this enzyme family as druggable. In this work, we have compiled the progress to date towards establishing the druggability of aaRSs in terms of their biochemical characterization, validation as targets, inhibitor development, and structural interpretation from parasites responsible for malaria (Plasmodium), lymphatic filariasis (Brugia,Wuchereria bancrofti), giardiasis (Giardia), toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii), leishmaniasis (Leishmania), cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium), and trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma). This work thus provides a robust framework for the systematic dissection of aaRSs from these pathogens and will facilitate the cross-usage of potential inhibitors to jump-start anti-parasite drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmita Gill
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Sharma
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India; Molecular Medicine Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India.
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20
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Brilhante AF, Zampieri RA, de Souza EA, Carneiro ACG, Barroso EP, de Ávila MM, Melchior LAK, de Souza JL, de Oliveira ES, Pinto MCG, Floeter-Winter LM, Galati EAB. Preliminary observations of the urbanization and domiciliation of the American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Rio Branco, Acre, Western Amazon. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022; 55:S0037-86822022000100632. [PMID: 36542015 PMCID: PMC9757714 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0359-2022] [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: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is expanding in peri-urban environments. METHODS An entomological survey was conducted in the area of the occurrence of an autochthonous urban case of ACL. Sandflies and a parasitological slide of the human case were submitted for molecular diagnosis. RESULTS Nyssomyia whitmani and Ny. antunesi were the most frequently collected species. Ny. whitmani and Bichromomyia flaviscutellata were positive for Leishmania guyanensis and L. lainsoni, respectively. The human case tested positive for L. lainsoni. CONCLUSIONS Sandflies and Leishmania parasites present in urban forest may occur frequently in nearby domiciliary environments; thus, these areas must be monitored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eduardo Alcici de Souza
- Universidade Federal do Acre, Centro de Ciências da Saúde e do Desporto, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | - Janis Lunier de Souza
- Prefeitura Municipal de Rio Branco, Divisão de Entomologia e Bloqueio Químico, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
| | | | - Maria Carmelinda Gonçalves Pinto
- Secretaria de Estado de Saúde, Divisão de Vigilância Ambiental, Núcleo de Doenças Transmitidas por Vetores, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
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21
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López-Cortés A, Guerrero S. Editorial: Rising stars in virus and host: 2022. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1100695. [PMID: 36530446 PMCID: PMC9752126 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1100695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andres López-Cortés
- Cancer Research Group (CRG), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador,Latin American Network for the Implementation and Validation of Clinical Pharmacogenomics Guidelines (RELIVAF-CYTED), Madrid, Spain,*Correspondence: Andres López-Cortés,
| | - Santiago Guerrero
- Latin American Network for the Implementation and Validation of Clinical Pharmacogenomics Guidelines (RELIVAF-CYTED), Madrid, Spain,Laboratorio de Ciencia de Datos Biomédicos, Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Salud y de la Vida, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
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22
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Duthie MS, Machado BAS, Badaró R, Kaye PM, Reed SG. Leishmaniasis Vaccines: Applications of RNA Technology and Targeted Clinical Trial Designs. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111259. [PMID: 36365010 PMCID: PMC9695603 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111259] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites cause a variety of discrete clinical diseases that present in regions where their specific sand fly vectors sustain transmission. Clinical and laboratory research indicate the potential of immunization to prevent leishmaniasis and a wide array of vaccine candidates have been proposed. Unfortunately, multiple factors have precluded advancement of more than a few Leishmania targeting vaccines to clinical trial. The recent maturation of RNA vaccines into licensed products in the context of COVID-19 indicates the likelihood of broader use of the technology. Herein, we discuss the potential benefits provided by RNA technology as an approach to address the bottlenecks encountered for Leishmania vaccines. Further, we outline a variety of strategies that could be used to more efficiently evaluate Leishmania vaccine efficacy, including controlled human infection models and initial use in a therapeutic setting, that could prioritize candidates before evaluation in larger, longer and more complicated field trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruna A S Machado
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Roberto Badaró
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Paul M Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Steven G Reed
- HDT Bio, 1616 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102, USA
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23
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Lanza JS, Vallejos VMR, Ramos GS, de Oliveira ACB, Demicheli C, Rivas L, Pomel S, Loiseau PM, Frézard F. Nanoassemblies from Amphiphilic Sb Complexes Target Infection Sites in Models of Visceral and Cutaneous Leishmaniases. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1743. [PMID: 36015369 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This work aims to evaluate whether nanoassemblies (NanoSb) made from antimony(V) complexes with octanoyl-N-methylglucamide (SbL8) or decanoyl-N-methylglucamide (SbL10) would effectively target the infection sites in visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases (VL and CL). NanoSb were investigated regarding stability at different pHs, accumulation of Sb in the macrophage host cell and liver, and in vitro and in vivo activities in models of leishmaniasis. The kinetic stability assay showed that NanoSb are stable at neutral pH, but release incorporated lipophilic substance after conformational change in media that mimic the gastric fluid and the parasitophorous vacuole. NanoSb promoted greater accumulation of Sb in macrophages and in the liver of mice after parenteral administration, when compared to conventional antimonial Glucantime®. SbL10 was much more active than Glucantime® against intramacrophage Leishmania amastigotes and less cytotoxic than SbL8 against macrophages. The in vitro SbL10 activity was further enhanced with co-incorporated miltefosine. NanoSb showed high antileishmanial activity in the L. donovani murine VL after parenteral administration and moderate activity in the L. amazonensis murine CL after topical treatment. This study supports the ability of NanoSb to effectively deliver a combination of Sb and co-incorporated drug to host cell and infected tissues, in a better way than Glucantime® does.
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24
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Verboni M, Olivieri D, Lucarini S. A recent update on new synthetic chiral compounds with anti leishmanial activity. Chirality 2022; 34:1279-1297. [PMID: 35947400 PMCID: PMC9543214 DOI: 10.1002/chir.23494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases, including malaria, leishmaniasis, and trypanosomiasis, affect billions of people and are responsible for almost 500,000 deaths/year. In particular, leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, is considered a global public health problem because current drugs have several drawbacks including to toxicity, high cost, and drug resistance, which result in a lack of effective and readily available therapies. Therefore, the synthesis of new, safe, and effective molecules still requires the attention of the scientific community. Moreover, it is well known that chirality plays a crucial role in the antiparasitic activity of molecules, driving the design of their synthesis. Therefore, in this review we report a recent update on new chiral compounds with promising antileishmanial activity, focusing on synthetic approaches. Where reported, in most cases the enantiopure compound has shown better potency against the protozoa than its enantiomer or corresponding racemic mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Verboni
- Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Diego Olivieri
- Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Simone Lucarini
- Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
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25
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Souza JPA, Menezes LRA, Garcia FP, Scariot DB, Bandeira PT, Bespalhok MB, Giese SOK, Hughes DL, Nakamura CV, Barison A, Oliveira ARM, Campos RB, Piovan L. Synthesis, Mechanism Elucidation and Biological Insights of Tellurium(IV)-Containing Heterocycles. Chemistry 2021; 27:14427-14437. [PMID: 34406689 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202102287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Inspired by the synthetic and biological potential of organotellurium substances, a series of five- and six-membered ring organotelluranes containing a Te-O bond were synthesized and characterized. Theoretical calculations elucidated the mechanism for the oxidation-cyclization processes involved in the formation of the heterocycles, consistent with chlorine transfer to hydroxy telluride, followed by a cyclization step with simultaneous formation of the new Te-O bond and deprotonation of the OH group. Moreover, theoretical calculations also indicated anti-diastereoisomers to be major products for two chirality center-containing compounds. Antileishmanial assays against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes disclosed 1,2λ4 -oxatellurane LQ50 (IC50 =4.1±1.0; SI=12), 1,2λ4 -oxatellurolane LQ04 (IC50 =7.0±1.3; SI=7) and 1,2λ4 -benzoxatellurole LQ56 (IC50 =5.7±0.3; SI=6) as more powerful and more selective compounds than the reference, being up to four times more active. A stability study supported by 125 Te NMR analyses showed that these heterocycles do not suffer structural modifications in aqueous-organic media or at temperatures up to 65 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro A Souza
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
| | - Leociley R A Menezes
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
| | - Francielle P Garcia
- Health Sciences Center, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, 87.020-900, Brazil
| | - Débora B Scariot
- Health Sciences Center, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, 87.020-900, Brazil
| | - Pamela T Bandeira
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
| | - Mateus B Bespalhok
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
| | - Siddhartha O K Giese
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
| | - David L Hughes
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Celso V Nakamura
- Health Sciences Center, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, 87.020-900, Brazil
| | - Andersson Barison
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
| | - Alfredo R M Oliveira
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
| | - Renan B Campos
- Academic Department of Chemistry and Biology, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.280-340, Brazil
| | - Leandro Piovan
- Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, 81.931-480, Brazil
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26
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Ubals M, Bosch-Nicolau P, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Salvador F, Aparicio-Español G, Sulleiro E, Silgado A, Soriano-Arandes A, Espiau M, Ferrer B, Pou D, Treviño B, Molina I, García-Patos V. Treatment of Complex Cutaneous Leishmaniasis with Liposomal Amphotericin B. Pathogens 2021; 10:1253. [PMID: 34684202 PMCID: PMC8537943 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no consensus for the best treatment of complex cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). We aimed to describe a cohort of CL, focusing on liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) treatment outcome. METHODS We performed a retrospective study in Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona, Spain). All patients with parasitologically proven CL diagnosed from 2012 to 2018 were included. RESULTS The analysis included 41 patients with CL. The median age was 39 years (IQR 12- 66); 12 (29%) were children, and 29 (71%) were men. Regarding treatment, 24 (59%) received local treatment, whereas 17 (41%) had complex CL and were offered intravenous systemic treatment. Sixteen patients received L-AmB; eight (50%) had adverse events, and three (19%) discontinued treatment for safety reasons. All cases were considered cured within the first year post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS L-AmB for complex CL showed no treatment failures, offering an alternative treatment option for patients with complex CL. Clinicians should pay close attention to the potential adverse events of L-AmB and adopt an active drug safety surveillance scheme to rapidly detect reversible side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ubals
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.U.); (G.A.-E.); (V.G.-P.)
- Doctoral Programme in Medicine and Translational Research: International Health Track, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Bosch-Nicolau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (P.B.-N.); (F.S.); (I.M.)
| | - Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (P.B.-N.); (F.S.); (I.M.)
| | - Fernando Salvador
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (P.B.-N.); (F.S.); (I.M.)
| | - Gloria Aparicio-Español
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.U.); (G.A.-E.); (V.G.-P.)
- Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (E.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Aroa Silgado
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (E.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Antoni Soriano-Arandes
- Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (M.E.)
| | - Maria Espiau
- Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (A.S.-A.); (M.E.)
| | - Berta Ferrer
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Diana Pou
- Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit, Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (D.P.); (B.T.)
| | - Begoña Treviño
- Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit, Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (D.P.); (B.T.)
| | - Israel Molina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (P.B.-N.); (F.S.); (I.M.)
| | - Vicente García-Patos
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (M.U.); (G.A.-E.); (V.G.-P.)
- Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract
Genome-scale genetic screens allow researchers to rapidly identify the genes and proteins that impact a particular phenotype of interest. In African trypanosomes, RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown screens have revealed mechanisms underpinning drug resistance, drug transport, prodrug metabolism, quorum sensing, genome replication, and gene expression control. RNAi screening has also been remarkably effective at highlighting promising potential antitrypanosomal drug targets. The first ever RNAi library screen was implemented in African trypanosomes, and genome-scale RNAi screens and other related approaches continue to have a major impact on trypanosomatid research. Here, I review those impacts in terms of both discovery and translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Horn
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK.
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28
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de Souza ML, Dos Santos WM, de Sousa ALMD, Ferraz LRDM, da Costa LAG, Silva EO, Rolim Neto PJ. Cutaneous leishmaniasis: new oral therapeutic approaches under development. Int J Dermatol 2021; 61:89-98. [PMID: 34510406 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.15902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies leishmaniasis as a disease for which the development of new treatments is a priority. Available drugs are not fully effective in all cases; they have parenteral administration and exhibit serious and common adverse effects. The only oral drug available (miltefosine) has shown resistance, is expensive, and is not available in many endemic countries. Thus, the development of an oral medicine may solve many of these issues. Based on that, this review aimed to investigate which therapeutic alternatives have been studied for the development of oral drugs for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. A literature search for keywords "leishmania and oral" was performed in PubMed and ScienceDirect, considering articles published in the last 5 years. The articles were selected based on the objective of the review. The main problem in the current treatment of leishmaniasis is the administration of injectables, since it requires patients to travel to health centers, hospitalization, and professional administration, conditions that are not adapted to the socioeconomic reality of patients. Therefore, many research studies have evaluated oral alternatives for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The main tested approaches were obtaining new molecules, repositioning drugs, and new formulations of old drugs. The prospects are encouraging but still require more in vivo bioavailability and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myla Lôbo de Souza
- Laboratory of Drug Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Artur de Sá, S/N, Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Widson Michael Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Drug Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Artur de Sá, S/N, Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Moreira Domingues de Sousa
- Laboratory of Drug Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Artur de Sá, S/N, Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Leslie Raphael de Moura Ferraz
- Laboratory of Drug Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Artur de Sá, S/N, Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Lucas Amadeu Gonzaga da Costa
- Laboratory of Drug Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Artur de Sá, S/N, Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Emerson Oliveira Silva
- Laboratory of Drug Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Artur de Sá, S/N, Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Pedro José Rolim Neto
- Laboratory of Drug Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof Artur de Sá, S/N, Recife - Pernambuco, Brazil
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29
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Asad M, Sabur A, Kamran M, Shadab M, Das S, Ali N. Effector functions of Th17 cells are regulated by IL-35 and TGF-β in visceral leishmaniasis. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21755. [PMID: 34383962 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002356rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a debilitating human pathogenesis in which the body's immune functions are severely compromised. Various subsets of T cells, including Th17 cells are important regulators of immune responses observed in various pathologies. The role of Th17 cells and its correlation with immuno-regulatory cytokines are however not well understood in human VL. Herein we studied how IL-17 is associated with the progression of Leishmania donovani infection using murine model of VL. We found induction of a strong IL-17 response at the early phase of infection which progressively reduced to basal level during chronic VL. The mechanistic study of this behavior was found to be linked with the role of regulatory T cells (CD4+ CD25+ T cells) that suppresses the proliferation of the Th17 cell population. Moreover, TGF-β and IL-35 derived from CD4+ CD25+ T cells are the key mediators for the downregulation of IL-17 during chronic VL. Thus, this study points to an antagonistic effect of Tregs and Th17 cells that can be used for designing better therapeutic and preventive strategies against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Asad
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India.,Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/ Montefiore Medical Center, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Abdus Sabur
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India.,Raiganj Surendranath Mahavidyalaya, Affiliated to University of Gour Banga, Uttar Dinajpur, Raiganj, West Bengal, 733134, India
| | - Mohd Kamran
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Md Shadab
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Sonali Das
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Nahid Ali
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
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30
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Tanida K, Balczun C, Hahn A, Veit A, Nickel B, Poppert S, Scheid PL, Hagen RM, Frickmann H, Loderstädt U, Tannich E. Comparison of Three In-House Real PCR Assays Targeting Kinetoplast DNA, the Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Gene and the Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase Gene for the Detection of Leishmania spp. in Human Serum. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070826. [PMID: 34209257 PMCID: PMC8308501 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
To perform PCR from serum for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis is convenient and much less invasive than the examination of deeper compartments such as bone marrow. We compared three Leishmania-specific real-time PCRs with three different molecular targets (kinetoplast DNA, the small subunit-ribosomal RNA-(ssrRNA-)gene, the glucose-6-phosphate isomerase-(gpi-)gene) regarding their sensitivity and specificity in human serum. Residual sera from previous diagnostic assessments at the German National Reference Center for Tropical Pathogens Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute were used. The sensitivities of kinetoplast DNA-PCR, ssrRNA-gene PCR, and gpi-PCR were 93.3%, 73.3%, and 33.3%, respectively, with 15 initial serum samples from visceral leishmaniasis patients, as well as 9.1%, 9.1%, and 0.0%, respectively, with 11 follow-up serum samples taken at various time points following anti-leishmanial therapy. Specificity was 100.0% in all assays as recorded with 1.137 serum samples from deployed soldiers and migrants without clinical suspicion of visceral leishmaniasis. Kinetoplast-DNA PCR from serum was confirmed as a sensitive and specific approach for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. The results also indicate the suitability of serum PCR for diagnostic follow-up after therapy, in particular regarding therapeutic failure in case of persisting positive PCR results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Tanida
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Carsten Balczun
- Department XXI, Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Section B, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany; (C.B.); (P.L.S.); (R.M.H.)
| | - Andreas Hahn
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Alexandra Veit
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, National Reference Centre for Tropical Pathogens, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (A.V.); (E.T.)
| | - Beatrice Nickel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; (B.N.); (S.P.)
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sven Poppert
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; (B.N.); (S.P.)
- University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Leander Scheid
- Department XXI, Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Section B, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany; (C.B.); (P.L.S.); (R.M.H.)
| | - Ralf Matthias Hagen
- Department XXI, Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Section B, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany; (C.B.); (P.L.S.); (R.M.H.)
| | - Hagen Frickmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany;
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-40-6947-28743
| | - Ulrike Loderstädt
- Department of Hospital Hygiene & Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany;
| | - Egbert Tannich
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, National Reference Centre for Tropical Pathogens, 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (A.V.); (E.T.)
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Marcolino LMC, Pereira AHC, Pinto JG, Mamone LA, Strixino JF. CELLULAR AND METABOLIC CHANGES AFTER PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IN LEISHMANIA PROMASTIGOTES. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2021; 35:102403. [PMID: 34161856 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease, regarded by WHO as a public health problem that has presented a significant increase in the recent years. Conventional treatment is toxic and leads to serious side effects. Photodynamic therapy has been studied as a treatment to cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study aimed to evaluate the cell viability, morphological changes, type of cell death, production of reactive oxygen species, and changes in the mitochondrial membrane and DNA fragmentation in Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania major promastigotes. Confocal microscopy was used to quantify the fluorescence emitted by JC-1, Annexin V, and propidium iodide reagents. The trypan blue exclusion test was used to evaluate the viability of the cells, the mitochondrial activity was verified with MTT, and the morphological changes were analyzed for SEM and DNA damage using the comet assay. PDT using curcumin at 500, 125, and 31,25 μg/mL decreased the viability of the parasites and induced changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential. The production of reactive oxygen species was dose-dependent and was observed only in the groups submitted to PDT. DNA damage was also observed in the parasite cells. The morphology of the cells was affected mainly at the highest curcumin concentration, resulting in rounded cells with a shortened flagellum. When the type of cell death was analyzed, the prevalence of apoptosis was noted. The results support the use of curcumin as photosensitizer in PDT against Leishmania promastigotes in the treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Maria Cortez Marcolino
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil.
| | - André Henrique Correia Pereira
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil
| | - Juliana Guerra Pinto
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil
| | - Leandro Ariel Mamone
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias (CIPYP), CONICET and Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Córdoba 2351 1er subsuelo, Ciudad de Buenos Aires CP1120AAF, Argentina
| | - Juliana Ferreira Strixino
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil.
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Dange P, Gupta A, Juneja R, Saxena R. A case of splenomegaly with RK-39 positivity: A diagnostic pitfall. Trop Doct 2021; 51:648-649. [PMID: 34058927 DOI: 10.1177/00494755211020610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Long-standing moderate to marked splenomegaly suggests several differential diagnoses, both haematological and infectious, particularly leishmaniasis and malaria in endemic areas. Non-infectious causes may be missed in these regions, especially if pitfalls of serological testing are not considered. Careful patient evaluation is necessary to arrive at the correct diagnosis. We report a case of a young male whose hereditary spherocytosis was initially missed because of RK-39 positivity, splenomegaly and the fact that he hailed from an endemic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasad Dange
- Department of Hematology, 28730All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ankesh Gupta
- Department of Medicine, 28730All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Richa Juneja
- Department of Hematology, 28730All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Renu Saxena
- Department of Hematology, 28730All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Palma D, Mercuriali L, Figuerola J, Montalvo T, Bueno-Marí R, Millet JP, Simón P, Masdeu E, Rius C. Trends in the Epidemiology of Leishmaniasis in the City of Barcelona (1996-2019). Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:653999. [PMID: 33981743 PMCID: PMC8107217 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.653999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected zoonosis produced by 20 different flagellated parasites of the Leishmania genus, a protozoan transmitted to humans and other vertebrates by the bite of dipteran insects of the Phlebotominae subfamily. It is endemic in Mediterranean countries and the number of cases is expected to increase due to climate change and migration. Prioritizing public health interventions for prevention and control is essential. The objective was to characterize the epidemiology and temporal trends in the incidence of human leishmaniasis in the city of Barcelona, between the years 1996 and 2019. Methods: A population-based, analytical observational study among residents in the city of Barcelona was conducted of all the cases of leishmaniasis reported between 1996 and 2019 to the Public Health Agency. The epidemiological survey contains clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological data, including contact with suspicious mammals or insects. Annual incidence-rates were calculated by sex, age, and country of origin. Chi-square tests were used to assess association between studied risk factors, periods of time and type of leishmaniasis. Results: During the study period a total of 177 cases of leishmaniasis were reported in Barcelona, being 74.6% (n = 132) of the total cases in Spanish born, although within the foreign-born population the incidence was higher. Median age was 34 years (IQR = 10-48) and 121 (66.8%) were male. The main type was cutaneous (46%) followed by visceral (35.1%). The cumulative incidence was 0.47 per 100,000 inhabitants, with the highest incidence found in 2017 (1.60 per 100,000 inhabitants). A higher incidence was observed in the 0-4-year-old group (1.73 per 100,000 inhabitants), but increased during the study period for all age groups. There was an increase of foreign origin cases, and a decrease in the number of cases associated to any immunosuppression. Conclusion: In Barcelona, leishmaniasis incidence continues to be higher in people under 5 years of age, and 25-64 years old males, but it has also increased in population from foreign country of birth. There is an increase of the cases since 2016, probably due to the changes in the notification system, increasing the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Improvements in the current surveillance system are needed. Notification of the disease, vector, and reservoir control activities are also essential for the control of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Palma
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jordi Figuerola
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain.,Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Tomás Montalvo
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rubén Bueno-Marí
- Department of Research and Development (R&D), Laboratorios Lokímica, Valencia, Spain.,Parasitology Area, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Joan-Pau Millet
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pere Simón
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Masdeu
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Rius
- Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona (ASPB), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER-ESP), Madrid, Spain
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Andrade-Neto VV, da Silva Pacheco J, Inácio JD, Almeida-Amaral EE, Torres-Santos EC, Cunha-Junior EF. Efficacy of Spironolactone Treatment in Murine Models of Cutaneous and Visceral Leishmaniasis. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:636265. [PMID: 33927619 PMCID: PMC8077169 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.636265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Translational studies involving the reuse and association of drugs are approaches that can result in higher success rates in the discovery and development of drugs for serious public health problems, including leishmaniasis. If we consider the number of pathogenic species in relation to therapeutic options, this arsenal is still small, and each drug possesses a disadvantage in terms of toxicity, efficacy, price, or treatment regimen. In the search for new drugs, we performed a drug screening of L. amazonensis promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of fifty available drugs belonging to several classes according to their pharmacophoric group. Spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic, proved to be the most promising drug candidate. After demonstrating the in vitro antileishmanial activity, we evaluated the efficacy on a murine experimental model with L. amazonensis and L. infantum. The treatment controlled the cutaneous lesion and reduced the parasite burden of L. amazonensis significantly, as effectively as meglumine antimoniate. The treatment of experimental visceral leishmaniasis was effective in reducing the parasite load on the main affected organs (spleen and liver) via high doses of spironolactone. The association between spironolactone and meglumine antimoniate promoted better control of the parasite load in the spleen and liver compared to the group treated with meglumine antimoniate alone. These results reveal a possible benefit of the concomitant use of spironolactone and meglumine antimoniate that should be studied more in depth for the future possibility of repositioning for leishmaniasis co-therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valter Viana Andrade-Neto
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana da Silva Pacheco
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Job Domingos Inácio
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elmo Eduardo Almeida-Amaral
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Edezio Ferreira Cunha-Junior
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Unidade Integrada de Pesquisa em Produtos Bioativos e Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Campus UFRJ-Macaé, Macaé, Brazil
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Machado CAL, Sevá ADP, Silva AAFAE, Horta MC. Epidemiological profile and lethality of visceral leishmaniasis/human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in an endemic area in Northeast Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2021; 54:e0795. [PMID: 33886819 PMCID: PMC8047714 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0795-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The association of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a concern worldwide, and this co-infection is linked to increased lethality. The Northeast is the region that mostly reports cases of VL in Brazil. The knowledge of risk factors associated with VL/HIV co-infection and its impact on lethality is extremely important. METHODS The present study analyzed the epidemiologic features of cases with VL/HIV co-infection in the state of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS There were 858 and 11,514 reported cases of VL and HIV infection, respectively. The average incidences of VL and HIV infection were 1.82 and 24.4/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Of all reported cases of VL, 4.9% (42/858) also had HIV infection. There was an inverse spatial association between VL and HIV infection incidences. The lethality rates of VL, HIV infection, and co-infection were 9.9%, 26.1%, and 16.6%, respectively. Most of the patients were males and lived in urban areas. The cases of VL mostly occurred in children aged below 10 years, whereas the cases of HIV infection and VL/HIV co-infection were primarily observed in adults between 20 years and 39 years old. CONCLUSIONS We defined the profile and areas with most cases of co-infection and found that the lethality of VL with co-infection increased in the current period. These findings contribute to applying efforts with a greater focus in these identified populations to prevent future deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anaiá da Paixão Sevá
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Ilhéus, BA, Brasil
| | - Arianna Araujo Falcão Andrade e Silva
- Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de Pernambuco, Diretoria Geral de Vigilância de Doenças Negligenciadas e Sexualmente Transmissíveis, Recife, PE, Brasil
| | - Mauricio Claudio Horta
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Pós-Graduação em Biociência Animal, Recife, PE, Brasil
- Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE, Brasil
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Abstract
The eukaryotic pathogens Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania are responsible for debilitating diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. The numbers of drugs available to treat these diseases, Human African Trypanosomiasis, Chagas' disease and Leishmaniasis are very limited and existing treatments have substantial shortcomings in delivery method, efficacy and safety. The identification and validation of novel drug targets opens up new opportunities for the discovery of therapeutic drugs with better efficacy and safety profiles. Here, the potential of targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome system in these parasites is reviewed. Ubiquitination is the posttranslational attachment of one or more ubiquitin proteins to substrates, an essential eukaryotic mechanism that regulates a wide variety of cellular processes in many different ways. The best studied of these is the delivery of ubiquitinated substrates for degradation to the proteasome, the major cellular protease. However, ubiquitination can also regulate substrates in proteasome-independent ways, and proteasomes can degrade proteins to some extent in ubiquitin-independent ways. Because of these widespread roles, both ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation are essential for the viability of eukaryotes and the proteins that mediate these processes are therefore attractive drug targets in trypanosomatids. Here, the current understanding of these processes in trypanosomatids is reviewed. Furthermore, significant recent progress in the development of trypanosomatid-selective proteasome inhibitors that cure mouse models of trypanosomatid infections is presented. In addition, the targeting of the key enzyme in ubiquitination, the ubiquitin E1 UBA1, is discussed as an alternative strategy. Important differences between human and trypanosomatid UBA1s in susceptibility to inhibitors predicts that the selective targeting of these enzymes in trypanosomatids may also be feasible. Finally, it is proposed that activating enzymes of the ubiquitin-like proteins SUMO and NEDD8 may represent drug targets in these trypanosomatids as well.
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Ohms M, Ferreira C, Busch H, Wohlers I, Guerra de Souza AC, Silvestre R, Laskay T. Enhanced Glycolysis Is Required for Anti leishmanial Functions of Neutrophils Upon Infection With Leishmania donovani. Front Immunol 2021; 12:632512. [PMID: 33815385 PMCID: PMC8017142 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.632512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal parasitic disease if untreated. Treatment options of VL diminish due to emerging drug resistance. Although the principal host cells for the multiplication of Leishmania are macrophages, neutrophils are the first cells infected with the parasites rapidly after parasite inoculation. Leishmania can survive in neutrophils despite the potent antimicrobial effector functions of neutrophils that can eliminate the parasites. Recently, the growing field of immunometabolism provided strong evidence for the therapeutic potential in targeting metabolic processes as a means of controlling immune effector functions. Therefore, the understanding of the immunometabolic profile of neutrophils during Leishmania infection could provide new promising targets for host-directed therapies against VL. To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing the bioenergetics profile of L. donovani-infected primary human neutrophils. Transcriptome analysis of L. donovani-infected neutrophils revealed an early significant upregulation of several glycolytic enzymes. Extracellular flux analysis showed that glycolysis and glycolytic capacity were upregulated in L. donovani-infected neutrophils at 6 h post infection. An increased glucose uptake and accumulation of glycolytic end products were further signs for an elevated glycolytic metabolism in L. donovani-infected neutrophils. At the same time point, oxidative phosphorylation provided NADPH for the oxidative burst but did not contribute to ATP production. Inhibition of glycolysis with 2-DG significantly reduced the survival of L. donovani promastigotes in neutrophils and in culture. However, this reduction was due to a direct antileishmanial effect of 2-DG and not a consequence of enhanced antileishmanial activity of neutrophils. To further address the impact of glucose metabolism during the first days of infection in vivo, we treated C57BL/6 mice with 2-DG prior to infection with L. donovani and assessed the parasite load one day and seven days post infection. Our results show, that seven days post-infection the parasite load of 2-DG treated animals was significantly higher than in mock treated animals. This data indicates that glycolysis serves as major energy source for antimicrobial effector functions against L. donovani. Inhibition of glycolysis abrogates important neutrophil effector functions that are necessary the initial control of Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Ohms
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Carolina Ferreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Hauke Busch
- Medical Systems Biology Division, Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Inken Wohlers
- Medical Systems Biology Division, Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Institute for Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ana Cristina Guerra de Souza
- Department of Cell Technology, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Marine Biotechnology and Cell Technology (EMB), Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Tamás Laskay
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Portero M, Miró G, Checa R, Martínez de Merlo E, Fragío C, Benito M, Sainz Á, Pérez C. Role of Leishmania infantum in Meningoencephalitis of Unknown Origin in Dogs from a Canine Leishmaniosis Endemic Area. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030571. [PMID: 33802179 PMCID: PMC7998340 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The main hypothesis for the aetiology of meningoencephalitis of unknown origin (MUO) in dogs is an autoimmune or genetic cause that is associated with a triggering event (environmental factors/infectious agents). The aim of this ambispective cohort study was to test for Leishmania infantum infection in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs with MUO in an endemic area of canine leishmaniosis. Dogs with MUO were selected amongst all dogs undergoing blood anti-L. infantum antibody testing (control group). The blood plasma or serum samples from all dogs were analysed for anti- L. infantum antibodies by a quantitative indirect fluorescent assay (IFAT). In dogs with MUO, CSF samples were obtained for analysed by PCR detection of L. infantum DNA. Forty-four percent and 22% of the dogs in the MUO group featured magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and CSF cytology respectively, consistent with L. infantum infection. IFAT, PCR, and histological findings were negative for L. infantum. A significant difference in L. infantum infection prevalence was found between the control and MUO group (p = 0.0022). While it seems unlikely that L. infantum plays a role in the aetiology of MUO, in endemic areas, this pathogen should be included in the differential diagnosis of this neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Portero
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.d.M.); (C.F.); (M.B.); (Á.S.); (C.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Guadalupe Miró
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (G.M.)
| | - Rocío Checa
- Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Elena Martínez de Merlo
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.d.M.); (C.F.); (M.B.); (Á.S.); (C.P.)
| | - Cristina Fragío
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.d.M.); (C.F.); (M.B.); (Á.S.); (C.P.)
| | - Miguel Benito
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.d.M.); (C.F.); (M.B.); (Á.S.); (C.P.)
| | - Ángel Sainz
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.d.M.); (C.F.); (M.B.); (Á.S.); (C.P.)
| | - Carmen Pérez
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Hospital Clinico Veterinario Complutense, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.M.d.M.); (C.F.); (M.B.); (Á.S.); (C.P.)
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Gin TE, Lashnits E, Wilson JM, Breitschwerdt EB, Qurollo B. Demographics and travel history of imported and autochthonous cases of leishmaniosis in dogs in the United States and Canada, 2006 to 2019. J Vet Intern Med 2021; 35:954-964. [PMID: 33635562 PMCID: PMC7995368 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmania infantum infections are reported in foxhounds throughout the United States (US) and Canada, but only rarely in other dog breeds. A seroprevalence report from 2006 documented leishmaniosis in foxhounds (8.9%) tested in the US between 2000 and 2003. All other breeds were seronegative. OBJECTIVE To reexamine demographics and travel history of L. infantum-infected dogs in the US and Canada, we hypothesize detection of L. infantum in more foxhounds than nonfoxhounds and that infected nonfoxhounds will have traveled to endemic regions. ANIMALS A total of 125 dogs positive for L. infantum by immunofluorescent antibody, PCR, or both. METHODS Retrospective, descriptive study of L. infantum-infected dogs between 4 January 2006 and 22 May 2019. Travel history and known lineage to foxhounds was collected from questionnaires. RESULTS Leishmania infantum was detected in 125 (6.4%) of 1961 dogs tested between 4 January 2006 and 22 May 2019, of which 10 (8%) were foxhounds and 115 (92%) were nonfoxhound breeds. Travel history available for 69 (55%) dogs showed 60 (86.9%) dogs had traveled outside of the US or Canada. Nine (13%) dogs had not traveled outside of the US or Canada, 5 of which were nonfoxhounds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The majority of L. infantum cases were detected in nonfoxhounds, many of which had traveled to L. infantum-endemic countries, and several nonfoxhound breeds had no travel history. Leishmania surveillance should be considered for dogs that return from L. infantum-endemic regions to monitor emergence of this zoonotic disease in the US and Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Estes Gin
- Department of Clinical sciences, College of Veterinary MedicineNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUnited States
| | - Erin Lashnits
- Department of Clinical sciences, College of Veterinary MedicineNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUnited States
| | - James M. Wilson
- Vector‐Borne Disease Diagnostic LabNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUnited States
| | | | - Barbara Qurollo
- Department of Clinical sciences, College of Veterinary MedicineNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUnited States
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Silva A, Costa A, Jain S, Coelho E, Fujiwara R, Scher R, Nunes R, Dolabella S. Application of Poloxamers for the Development of Drug Delivery System to Treat Leishmaniasis: A Review. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 22:296-309. [PMID: 33155921 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666201106145022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting more than 1.5 million people annually, with an annual mortality of over 20.000. The drugs used for its treatment are toxic, expensive, require extended treatment times and present variable efficacy. The disease severity and therapy limitations suggest the need for new antileishmanial agents. In this context, in order to identify new options for treatment, a number of studies based on nanotechnological strategies have been carried out. Poloxamers are triblock copolymers very often utilized for nanotherapeutic solutions, resulting in products with better solubility, higher stability, superior therapeutic efficacy and less toxicity. This review will discuss the physicochemical properties of the copolymers, as well as describe the use of poloxamers for the development of therapeutic formulations to treat leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Silva
- Departamento de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Amanda Costa
- Departamento de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Sona Jain
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biotecnologia Industrial, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju, 49032-490, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Coelho
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Scher
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Rogéria Nunes
- Departamento de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Silvio Dolabella
- Departamento de Farmacia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Sao Cristovao, 49100-000, Sergipe, Brazil
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Abstract
Leishmania, the causative agent of leishmaniasis, is an intracellular pathogen that thrives in the insect gut and mammalian macrophages to complete its life cycle. Apart from temperature difference (26 to 37°C), it encounters several harsh conditions, including oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and low pH. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play essential roles in cell survival by strategically reprogramming cellular processes and signaling pathways. HSPs assist cells in multiple functions, including differentiation, adaptation, virulence, and persistence in the host cell. Due to cyclical epidemiological patterns, limited chemotherapeutic options, drug resistance, and the absence of a vaccine, control of leishmaniasis remains a far-fetched dream. The essential roles of HSPs in parasitic differentiation and virulence and increased expression in drug-resistant strains highlight their importance in combating the disease. In this review, we highlighted the diverse physiological importance of HSPs present in Leishmania, emphasizing their significance in disease pathogenesis. Subsequently, we assessed the potential of HSPs as a chemotherapeutic target and underlined the challenges associated with it. Furthermore, we have summarized a few ongoing drug discovery initiatives that need to be explored further to develop clinically successful chemotherapeutic agents in the future.
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Abstract
Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a cutaneous sequel of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or kala-azar and has become an entity of epidemiological significance by virtue of its ability to maintain the disease in circulation during inter-epidemic periods. PKDL has been identified as one of the epidemiological marker of “kala-azar elimination programme.” Data obtained in 2018 showed PKDL distribution primarily concentrated in 6 countries, which includes India, Sudan, south Sudan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Nepal in decreasing order of case-burden. In India, PKDL cases are mainly found in 54 districts, of which 33 are in Bihar, 11 in West Bengal, 4 in Jharkhand, and 6 in Uttar Pradesh. In West Bengal the districts reporting cases of PKDL cases include Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, and Murshidabad. The vulnerability on the young age is documented in various studies. The studies also highlights a male predominance of the disease but recent active surveillance suggested that macular form of PKDL shows female-predominance. It is recommended that along with passive case detection, active survey helps in early identification of cases, thus reducing disease transmission in the community. The Accelerated plan for Kala-azar elimination in 2017 introduced by Government of India with the goal to eliminate Kala-azar as a public health problem, targets to reduceing annual incidence <1/10,000. Leishmania donovani is the established causative agent, but others like L. tropica or L. infantum may occasionally lead to the disease, especially with HIV-co-infection. Dermal tropism of the parasite has been attributed to overexpression of parasite surface receptors (like gp 63, gp46). Various host factors are also identified to contribute to the development of the disease, including high pretreatment IL 10 and parasite level, inadequate dose and duration of treatment, malnutrition, immuno-suppression, decreased interferon-gamma receptor 1 gene, etc. PKDL is mostly concentrated in the plains below an altitude of 600 mts which is attributed to the environment conducive for the vector sand fly (Phlebotumus). Risk factors are also linked to the habitat of the sand fly. Keeping these things in mind “Integrated vector control” is adopted under National vector borne disease control programme as one of the strategies to bring down the disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramit Ghosh
- Department of Community Medicine, Purulia Government Medical College, Purulia, West Bengal, India
| | - Pritam Roy
- Departments of Community Medicine, Independent Researcher and Public Health Expert, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Surya Jyati Chaudhuri
- Departments of Microbiology, Purulia Government Medical College, Purulia, West Bengal, India
| | - Nilay Kanti Das
- Department of Dermatology, Bankura Sammilani Medical College, Bankura, West Bengal, India
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Mota CA, Venazzi EAS, Zanzarini PD, Aristides SMA, Lonardoni MVC, Silveira TGV. Filter paper performance in PCR for cutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosis. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2020; 54:e00472020. [PMID: 33338104 PMCID: PMC7747818 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0047-2020] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of filter paper (FP) for lesion scraping collection in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) diagnosis. METHODS Lesion scrapings from 48 patients were collected and analyzed for PCR. RESULTS PCR with FP detected up to three Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes. Considering the direct search by microscopy or PCR of samples collected in STE buffer as standards, the sensitivity of PCR with FP was 100%. CONCLUSIONS FP can be useful for CL diagnosis in remote regions, allowing high sensitivity in the detection of the parasite by PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Alves Mota
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biociências e Fisiopatologia, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Eneide Aparecida Sabaini Venazzi
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Laboratório de Parasitologia Clínica, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Paulo Donizeti Zanzarini
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Sandra Mara Alessi Aristides
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Maria Valdrinez Campana Lonardoni
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - Thaís Gomes Verzignassi Silveira
- Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Laboratório de Leishmanioses, Maringá, PR, Brasil
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Li HY, Jia WN, Li XY, Zhang L, Liu C, Wu J. Advances in detection of infectious agents by aptamer-based technologies. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:1671-1681. [PMID: 32623963 PMCID: PMC7473197 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1792352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases still remain one of the biggest challenges for human health. Accurate and early detection of infectious pathogens are crucial for transmission control, clinical diagnosis, and therapy. For a traditional reason, most immunological and microbiological laboratories are equipped with instruments designated for antibody-based assays in detection of infectious pathogens or clinical diagnosis. Emerging aptamer-based technologies have pushed a shift from antibody-based to aptamer-based assays due to equal specificity, even better sensitivity, lower manufacturing cost and more flexibility in amending for chemiluminescent, electrochemical or fluorescent detection in a multifaceted and high throughput fashion in comparison of aptamer-based to antibody-based assays. The nature of aptamer-based technologies is particularly suitable for point-of-care testing in remote areas at warm or hot atmosphere, and mass screening for potential infection in pandemic of emerging infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 in an epicentre or other regions. This review intends to summarize currently available aptamer-based technologies in detection of bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens for research and clinical application. It is anticipated that potential technologies will be further optimized and validated for clinical translation in meeting increasing demands for prompt, precise, and reliable detection of specific pathogens in various atmospheric conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yan Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wan-Nan Jia
- Department of Medical Microbiology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin-Yi Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Orikaza CM, Pessoa CC, Paladino FV, Florentino PTV, Barbiéri CL, Goto H, Ramos-Sanchez EM, Franco da Silveira J, Rabinovitch M, Mortara RA, Real F. Dual Host-Intracellular Parasite Transcriptome of Enucleated Cells Hosting Leishmania amazonensis: Control of Half-Life of Host Cell Transcripts by the Parasite. Infect Immun 2020; 88:e00261-20. [PMID: 32817329 DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00261-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enucleated cells or cytoplasts (cells whose nucleus is removed in vitro) represent an unexplored biological model for intracellular infection studies due to the abrupt interruption of nuclear processing and new RNA synthesis by the host cell in response to pathogen entry. Using enucleated fibroblasts hosting the protozoan parasite Leishmania amazonensis, we demonstrate that parasite multiplication and biogenesis of large parasitophorous vacuoles in which parasites multiply are independent of the host cell nucleus. Dual RNA sequencing of both host cytoplast and intracellular parasite transcripts identified host transcripts that are more preserved or degraded upon interaction with parasites and also parasite genes that are differentially expressed when hosted by nucleated or enucleated cells. Cytoplasts are suitable host cells, which persist in culture for more than 72 h and display functional enrichment of transcripts related to mitochondrial functions and mRNA translation. Crosstalk between nucleated host de novo gene expression in response to intracellular parasitism and the parasite gene expression to counteract or benefit from these host responses induces a parasite transcriptional profile favoring parasite multiplication and aerobic respiration, and a host-parasite transcriptional landscape enriched in host cell metabolic functions related to NAD, fatty acid, and glycolytic metabolism. Conversely, interruption of host nucleus-parasite cross talk by infection of enucleated cells generates a host-parasite transcriptional landscape in which cytoplast transcripts are enriched in phagolysosome-related pathway, prosurvival, and SerpinB-mediated immunomodulation. In addition, predictive in silico analyses indicated that parasite transcript products secreted within cytoplasts interact with host transcript products conserving the host V-ATPase proton translocation function and glutamine/proline metabolism. The collective evidence indicates parasite-mediated control of host cell transcripts half-life that is beneficial to parasite intracellular multiplication and escape from host immune responses. These findings will contribute to improved drug targeting and serve as database for L. amazonensis-host cell interactions.
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Marques CSF, Barreto NS, de Oliveira SSC, Santos ALS, Branquinha MH, de Sousa DP, Castro M, Andrade LN, Pereira MM, da Silva CF, Chaud MV, Jain S, Fricks AT, Souto EB, Severino P. β-Cyclodextrin/Isopentyl Caffeate Inclusion Complex: Synthesis, Characterization and Anti leishmanial Activity. Molecules 2020; 25:E4181. [PMID: 32932660 PMCID: PMC7570699 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Isopentyl caffeate (ICaf) is a bioactive ester widely distributed in nature. Our patented work has shown promising results of this molecule against Leishmania. However, ICaf shows poor solubility, which limits its usage in clinical settings. In this work, we have proposed the development of an inclusion complex of ICaf in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), with the aim to improve the drug solubility, and thus, its bioavailability. The inclusion complex (ICaf:β-CD) was developed applying three distinct methods, i.e., physical mixture (PM), kneading (KN) or co-evaporation (CO) in different molar proportions (0.25:1, 1:1 and 2:1). Characterization of the complexes was carried out by thermal analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular docking. The ICaf:β-CD complex in a molar ratio of 1:1 obtained by CO showed the best complexation and, therefore, was selected for further analysis. Solubility assay showed a marked improvement in the ICaf:β-CD (CO, 1:1) solubility profile when compared to the pure ICaf compound. Cell proliferation assay using ICaf:β-CD complex showed an IC50 of 3.8 and 2.7 µg/mL against L. amazonesis and L. chagasi promastigotes, respectively. These results demonstrate the great potential of the inclusion complex to improve the treatment options for visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine S. F. Marques
- Postgraduation in Biotechnology Program, Industrial and Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, 49010-390 Aracaju, Brazil; (C.S.F.M.); (N.S.B.); (S.J.); (A.T.F.)
| | - Nathalia S. Barreto
- Postgraduation in Biotechnology Program, Industrial and Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, 49010-390 Aracaju, Brazil; (C.S.F.M.); (N.S.B.); (S.J.); (A.T.F.)
| | - Simone S. C. de Oliveira
- Departament of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University l Rio de Janeiro, 21941-918 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; (S.S.C.d.O.); (A.L.S.S.); (M.H.B.)
| | - André L. S. Santos
- Departament of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University l Rio de Janeiro, 21941-918 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; (S.S.C.d.O.); (A.L.S.S.); (M.H.B.)
| | - Marta H. Branquinha
- Departament of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University l Rio de Janeiro, 21941-918 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; (S.S.C.d.O.); (A.L.S.S.); (M.H.B.)
| | - Damião P. de Sousa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 Paraíba, Brazil; (D.P.d.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Mayara Castro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, 58051-900 Paraíba, Brazil; (D.P.d.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Luciana N. Andrade
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, CEP 49400-000 Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil;
| | - Matheus M. Pereira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, Departamento f Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Classius F. da Silva
- Department of Exact Sciences and Earth, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), 09972-270 Diadema CEP, Brazil;
| | - Marco V. Chaud
- Department of Technological and Environmental Processes, Sorocaba University (UNISO), Rod. Raposo Tavares, Km 92.5, 18023-000 Sorocaba, Brazil;
| | - Sona Jain
- Postgraduation in Biotechnology Program, Industrial and Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, 49010-390 Aracaju, Brazil; (C.S.F.M.); (N.S.B.); (S.J.); (A.T.F.)
| | - Alini T. Fricks
- Postgraduation in Biotechnology Program, Industrial and Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, 49010-390 Aracaju, Brazil; (C.S.F.M.); (N.S.B.); (S.J.); (A.T.F.)
| | - Eliana B. Souto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciênciasda Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Patricia Severino
- Postgraduation in Biotechnology Program, Industrial and Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, 49010-390 Aracaju, Brazil; (C.S.F.M.); (N.S.B.); (S.J.); (A.T.F.)
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women′s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Tiradentes Institute, 150 Mt Vernon St, Dorchester, MA 02125, USA
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Quinn KM, Linterman MA. Senescence blurs the line between innate and adaptive immune cells. Immunol Cell Biol 2020; 98:431-433. [PMID: 32406096 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
In Covre et al. and Pereira et al., the authors demonstrate the parallels between senescent NK cells and senescent CD8 T cells, and formalise the mechanism by which senescent CD8 T cells become more NK cell-like, through the action of sestrins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie M Quinn
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
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Abstract
The toxicity of Amphotericin B (AmB) is contributed by the small, water-soluble aggregates of the drug. Hence, AmB lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LIPOMER), comprising stearate lipids with a hydrophilic polymer Gantrez (GZ), and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), comprising only stearates, were prepared with the objective of monomerizing AmB. While intercalation of stearates with the hydrophobic polyene chain could hinder AmB-AmB interactions, enabling monomerization, it was hypothesized that GZ could aid in the stabilization of the monomers through hydrophilic interactions. AmB LIPOMERs and SLNs, prepared by nanoprecipitation, exhibited an average size of 350-500 nm with negative ζ potential. Polyglyceryl-6-distearate (PGDS) SLN exhibited maximum monomerization, with the highest peak IV (410 nm) to peak I (350 nm) ratio in the UV-visible spectrum. In total contrast, LIPOMERs and GZ nanoparticles revealed a hypsochromic shifted peak I between 321 and 324 nm, indicative of AmB super-aggregate formation. Super-aggregates, which result due to condensation of multiple aggregates with monomers, were attributed to extensive GZ-AmB and GZ-GZ interactions and could provide advantages of enhanced thermodynamic stability, with safety and efficacy similar to the monomeric form. Safety was confirmed by low and comparable erythrocyte toxicity exhibited by the LIPOMERs and SLNs. An in vitro efficacy study of PGDS LIPOMER and SLN against intracellular amastigotes revealed significantly lower IC50 values, which translated to a 7.1- and 6.1-fold enhancement in efficacy compared to commercial nanoformulations Amfocare (micellar AmB) and 1.79- and 1.54-fold enhancement in efficacy compared to Fungisome (liposomal AmB). High efficacy coupled with a higher selectivity index indicated the superiority of the developed AmB nanoformulations and substantiated that altering the toxic aggregated state of AmB can offer a promising approach for the design of safe and efficacious AmB lipidic nanoformulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saugandha Das
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Deemed University, Elite Status and Centre of Excellence (Maharashtra), N.P. Marg, Matunga East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400019, India
| | - Padma V Devarajan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Deemed University, Elite Status and Centre of Excellence (Maharashtra), N.P. Marg, Matunga East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400019, India
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Zutshi S, Kumar S, Sarode A, Roy S, Sarkar A, Saha B. Leishmania major adenylate kinase immunization offers partial protection to a susceptible host. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12688. [PMID: 31797390 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania major causes mild-to-severe cutaneous lesions resulting in significant disfigurations, if untreated. The drugs are toxic, and drug-resistance parasites are emerging. Therefore, a prophylactic vaccination is an urgent need. As no vaccine is available, we compared the genes expressed by virulent and avirulent parasites. We identify L major adenylate kinase (AdeK) as a probable vaccine candidate after a series of experimentations. We cloned the gene in mammalian pcDNA6/HisA and pet28a+ vector for in vivo expression following immunization and in vitro protein expression for booster, respectively. We observed that immunization of susceptible BALB/c mice with AdeK resulted in significant protection against L major challenge infection. The protection was accompanied by increased IFN-γ producing lymphocytes and reduced IL-4, IL-17 and IL-10 secreting central and effector Th2, Th17 and Treg memory cells, respectively. These observations indicate L major AdeK as a potential vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sunil Kumar
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | | | | | - Arup Sarkar
- Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India.,Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
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Scarim CB, Chelucci RC, Dos Santos JL, Chin CM. The use of Sulfonamide Derivatives in the Treatment of Trypanosomatid Parasites including Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania ssp. Med Chem 2020; 16:24-38. [PMID: 31218962 DOI: 10.2174/1573406415666190620141109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
More than 10 million people around the world are afflicted by Neglected Tropical Diseases, such as Chagas Disease, Human African Trypanosomiasis, and Leishmania. These diseases mostly occur in undeveloped countries that suffer from a lack of economic incentive, research, and policy for new compound development. Sulfonamide moieties are effective scaffolds present in several compounds that are determinants to treat various diseases, principally neglected tropical diseases. This review article examines the contribution of these scaffolds in medicinal chemistry in the last five years, focusing on three trypanosomatid parasites: Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania ssp. We also present perspectives for their use in drug designs in an effort to contribute to new drug development. In addition, we consider the physicochemical parameters, whose molecules all presented according to Lipinski's rule. The correlation between the selective index and LogP was evaluated, showing that sulfonamide derivatives can act differently against each trypanosomatid parasite. Moreover, the approaches of novel drugs and technologies are very important for the eventual drug discovery against trypanosomatid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cauê B Scarim
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael C Chelucci
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Jean L Dos Santos
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Chung M Chin
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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