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de Bona S, Chi H, Bustamante RO, Botto-Mahan C. Trypanosoma cruzi infection reduces the population fitness of Mepraia spinolai, a Chagas disease vector. Med Vet Entomol 2024; 38:73-82. [PMID: 37877753 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12700] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The hematophagous insect Mepraia spinolai (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) is naturally infected with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease in humans. In this study, we compared the demographic parameters of M. spinolai with and without T. cruzi infection. We collected the immature life table data of 479 M. spinolai individuals of control cohort (reared on mice without T. cruzi infection) and 563 M. spinolai individuals of treatment cohort (reared on mice with T. cruzi infection). Nymphs were maintained in individual compartments inside a growth chamber (26°C; 65-75%) until adult emergence; moulting and survival were recorded daily. For the adult life table study of the control, we used 24 pairs of adults from the control cohort. For the adult life table study of T. cruzi-infected cohort, 25 infected females were paired with 25 males from the control cohort. Life table data were analysed using bootstrap-match technique based on the age-stage, two-sex life table. The preadult survival rate (0.5282) of the control cohort was significantly higher than that of the infected cohort (0.2913). However, the mean fecundity of reproductive females (Fr = 22.29 eggs/♀) and net reproductive rate of population (R0 = 5.07 offspring/individual) of the 0.5th percentile bootstrap-match control cohort were not significantly different from those of the infected cohort (Fr = 23.35 eggs/♀, R0 = 3.77 offspring/individual). Due to the shorter total preoviposition period and higher proportion of reproductive female, the intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.0053 d-1 ) and finite rate of increase (λ = 1.0053 d-1 ) of control cohort of M. spinolai were significantly higher than those of the T. cruzi-infected cohort (r = 0.0035 d-1 , λ = 1.0035 d-1 ). These results suggest that T. cruzi infection reduces the population fitness of the Chagas disease vector M. spinolai.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie de Bona
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Hsin Chi
- Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- College of Plant Protection, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian, China
| | - Ramiro O Bustamante
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carezza Botto-Mahan
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Pal J, Sharma V, Khanna A, Saha S. The SET7 protein of Leishmania donovani moderates the parasite's response to a hostile oxidative environment. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105720. [PMID: 38311179 PMCID: PMC10907163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105720] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
SET domain proteins methylate specific lysines on proteins, triggering stimulation or repression of downstream processes. Twenty-nine SET domain proteins have been identified in Leishmania donovani through sequence annotations. This study initiates the first investigation into these proteins. We find LdSET7 is predominantly cytosolic. Although not essential, set7 deletion slows down promastigote growth and hypersensitizes the parasite to hydroxyurea-induced G1/S arrest. Intriguingly, set7-nulls survive more proficiently than set7+/+ parasites within host macrophages, suggesting that LdSET7 moderates parasite response to the inhospitable intracellular environment. set7-null in vitro promastigote cultures are highly tolerant to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced stress, reflected in their growth pattern, and no detectable DNA damage at H2O2 concentrations tested. This is linked to reactive oxygen species levels remaining virtually unperturbed in set7-nulls in response to H2O2 exposure, contrasting to increased reactive oxygen species in set7+/+ cells under similar conditions. In analyzing the cell's ability to scavenge hydroperoxides, we find peroxidase activity is not upregulated in response to H2O2 exposure in set7-nulls. Rather, constitutive basal levels of peroxidase activity are significantly higher in these cells, implicating this to be a factor contributing to the parasite's high tolerance to H2O2. Higher levels of peroxidase activity in set7-nulls are coupled to upregulation of tryparedoxin peroxidase transcripts. Rescue experiments using an LdSET7 mutant suggest that LdSET7 methylation activity is critical to the modulation of the cell's response to oxidative environment. Thus, LdSET7 tunes the parasite's behavior within host cells, enabling the establishment and persistence of infection without eradicating the host cell population it needs for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Pal
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Varshni Sharma
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Arushi Khanna
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India
| | - Swati Saha
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, India.
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3
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Graham CI, MacMartin TL, de Kievit TR, Brassinga AKC. Molecular regulation of virulence in Legionella pneumophila. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:167-195. [PMID: 37908155 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative bacteria found in natural and anthropogenic aquatic environments such as evaporative cooling towers, where it reproduces as an intracellular parasite of cohabiting protozoa. If L. pneumophila is aerosolized and inhaled by a susceptible person, bacteria may colonize their alveolar macrophages causing the opportunistic pneumonia Legionnaires' disease. L. pneumophila utilizes an elaborate regulatory network to control virulence processes such as the Dot/Icm Type IV secretion system and effector repertoire, responding to changing nutritional cues as their host becomes depleted. The bacteria subsequently differentiate to a transmissive state that can survive in the environment until a replacement host is encountered and colonized. In this review, we discuss the lifecycle of L. pneumophila and the molecular regulatory network that senses nutritional depletion via the stringent response, a link to stationary phase-like metabolic changes via alternative sigma factors, and two-component systems that are homologous to stress sensors in other pathogens, to regulate differentiation between the intracellular replicative phase and more transmissible states. Together, we highlight how this prototypic intracellular pathogen offers enormous potential in understanding how molecular mechanisms enable intracellular parasitism and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Graham
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Teassa L MacMartin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Teresa R de Kievit
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ann Karen C Brassinga
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Ferreira AZL, de Araújo CN, Cardoso ICC, de Souza Mangabeira KS, Rocha AP, Charneau S, Santana JM, Motta FN, Bastos IMD. Metacyclogenesis as the Starting Point of Chagas Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:117. [PMID: 38203289 PMCID: PMC10778605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected infectious disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, primarily transmitted by triatomine vectors, and it threatens approximately seventy-five million people worldwide. This parasite undergoes a complex life cycle, transitioning between hosts and shifting from extracellular to intracellular stages. To ensure its survival in these diverse environments, T. cruzi undergoes extreme morphological and molecular changes. The metacyclic trypomastigote (MT) form, which arises from the metacyclogenesis (MTG) process in the triatomine hindgut, serves as a crucial link between the insect and human hosts and can be considered the starting point of Chagas disease. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the parasite's life cycle, molecular pathways, and mechanisms involved in metabolic and morphological adaptations during MTG, enabling the MT to evade the immune system and successfully infect human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carla Nunes de Araújo
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
- Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Isabela Cunha Costa Cardoso
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | | | - Amanda Pereira Rocha
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Jaime Martins Santana
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Flávia Nader Motta
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
- Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
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Chauhan R, Tiwari M, Chaudhary A, Sharan Thakur R, Pande V, Das J. Chemokines: A key driver for inflammation in protozoan infection. Int Rev Immunol 2023:1-18. [PMID: 37980574 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2023.2281566] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Chemokines belong to the group of small proteins within the cytokine family having strong chemo-attractant properties. In most cases, the strong immuno-modulatory role of chemokines is crucial for generating the immune response against pathogens in various protozoan diseases. In this review, we have given a brief update on the classification, characterization, homeostasis, transcellular migration, and immuno-modulatory role of chemokines. Here we will evaluate the potential role of chemokines and their regulation in various protozoan diseases. There is a significant direct relationship between parasitic infection and the recruitment of effector cells of the immune response. Chemokines play an indispensable role in mediating several defense mechanisms against infection, such as leukocyte recruitment and the generation of innate and cell-mediated immunity that aids in controlling/eliminating the pathogen. This process is controlled by the chemotactic movement of chemokines induced as a primary host immune response. We have also addressed that chemokine expressions during infection are time-dependent and orchestrated in a systematic pattern that ultimately assists in generating a protective immune response. Taken together, this review provides a systematic understanding of the complexity of chemokines profiles during protozoan disease conditions and the rationale of targeting chemokines for the development of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubika Chauhan
- Parasite-Host Biology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Mrinalini Tiwari
- Parasite-Host Biology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Amrendra Chaudhary
- Parasite-Host Biology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Reva Sharan Thakur
- Parasite-Host Biology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Veena Pande
- Biotechnology Department, Kumaun University, Nainital, India
| | - Jyoti Das
- Parasite-Host Biology, National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
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Lin MJ, Lin J, Zheng K. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Foetal Congenital Toxoplasma Encephalitis: A Case Report. Curr Med Imaging 2023:CMIR-EPUB-130317. [PMID: 36946480 DOI: 10.2174/1573405619666230322110855] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii infection is not uncommon in daily life; primary infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) acquired during gestation may lead to a series of fetal complications. Prenatal ultrasound and postpartum neonatal T. gondii encephalitis have been reported previously, but fetal MRI findings of T. gondii encephalitis are quite rare. It is important to identify the severity of cerebral damage and assess fetal prognosis. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this report is to emphasize that MRI can provide more excellent anatomic information on abnormalities in cerebral parenchyma than ultrasound, which is helpful for the diagnosis of prenatal infectious encephalitis. CASE PRESENTATION A 38-year-old woman presented to our hospital at a gestation age of 29 weeks due to an ultrasound that showed fetal ventriculomegaly. The fetus demonstrated ventriculomegaly, intrauterine growth restriction, and multiple cystic lesions close to the corticomedullary junction of the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes on both sides. The woman chose to terminate the pregnancy, and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasma encephalitis. CONCLUSION This is a rare report of MRI manifestations of fetal congenital toxoplasma encephalitis. Detailed knowledge of MRI findings in fetal congenital toxoplasma encephalitis is helpful for prenatal consultation and pregnancy management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Jie Lin
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated with Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang province, China
| | - Jian Lin
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang province, China
| | - Ke Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated with Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang province, China
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Nava MG, Calderón F, Fernández E, Ballell L, Bamborough P, Vinayak S. Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Display Potent Activity against Cryptosporidium parvum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0387422. [PMID: 36533912 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03874-22] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of diarrheal disease (cryptosporidiosis) and death in young children. Cryptosporidiosis can be life-threatening in individuals with weak immunity such as HIV/AIDS patients and organ transplant recipients. There is currently no effective drug to treat cryptosporidiosis in the pediatric and immunocompromised population. Therefore, there is an urgent need to expedite the drug discovery process in order to develop new and effective therapies to reduce the global disease burden of cryptosporidiosis. In this study, we employed a drug repurposing strategy to screen a library of 473 human kinase inhibitors to determine their activity against Cryptosporidium parvum. We have identified 67 new anti-cryptosporidial compounds using phenotypic screening based on a transgenic C. parvum strain expressing a luciferase reporter. Further, dose-response assays led to the identification of 11 hit compounds that showed potent inhibition of C. parvum at nanomolar concentration. Kinome profiling of these 11 prioritized hits identified compounds that displayed selectivity in targeting specific families of kinases, particularly tyrosine kinases. Overall, this study identified tyrosine kinase inhibitors that hold potential for future development as new drug candidates against cryptosporidiosis. IMPORTANCE The intestinal parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is a major cause of diarrhea-associated morbidity and mortality in children, immunocompromised people, and young ruminant animals. With no effective drug available to treat cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals, there is an urgent need to identify anti-parasitic compounds and new targets for drug development. To address this unmet need, we screened a GSK library of kinase inhibitors and identified several potent compounds, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, that were highly effective in killing C. parvum. Overall, our study revealed several novel compounds and a new family of kinases that can be targeted for anti-cryptosporidial drug development.
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Lamba S, Roy A. DNA Topoisomerases in the Unicellular Protozoan Parasites: Unwinding the Mystery. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 203:115158. [PMID: 35780829 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115158] [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: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerases are a group of enzymes present ubiquitously in all organisms from unicellular protozoan parasites to humans. These enzymes control the topological problems caused by DNA double helix in the cell during nucleic acid metabolism. Certain types of topoisomerases present in unicellular parasites are quite different from human topoisomerases (hTop) concerning structure, expression, and function. Many protozoan parasites causing fatal diseases have DNA topoisomerases, which play vital roles in their survival. Given the fact that the structures of the protozoan parasite topoisomerases are different from humans, DNA topoisomerase acts as an essential target for potent drug development for parasitic diseases. Moreover, various studies revealed the therapeutic potential of these drugs targeting the parasitic topoisomerases. Therefore, the characterization of parasitic topoisomerases is pivotal for the development of future potential drug targets. Considering the importance of this ubiquitous enzyme as a potential drug target, we describe in detail all the reported protozoan topoisomerases in an organized manner including Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Giardia, Entamoeba, Babesia, Theileria, Crithidia, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, etc. This review highlights the unique attributes associated with the structure and function of different types of DNA topoisomerases from the unicellular protozoan parasites. So, it would be beneficial for researchers to obtain awareness about the currently characterized topoisomerases and the ones that need better characterization, understand the structure-function relationship of parasitic topoisomerases, to develop the potent anti-parasitic drugs, and also provides a future platform for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Lamba
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune-411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune-411007, India.
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Ramezanzadeh S, Beloukas A, Pagheh AS, Rahimi MT, Hosseini SA, Oliveira SMR, de Lourdes Pereira M, Ahmadpour E. Global Burden of Cyclospora cayetanensis Infection and Associated Risk Factors in People Living with HIV and/or AIDS. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061279. [PMID: 35746750 PMCID: PMC9228463 DOI: 10.3390/v14061279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclospora cayetanensis infections remain one of the most common protozoan opportunistic causes of gastrointestinal diseases and diarrhea among people living with HIV and/or AIDS (PLWHA). This study was conducted to provide a summary of the evidence on the global burden of C. cayetanensis infection and associated risk factors among PLWHA. Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and EMBASE were searched up to February 2022. All original peer-reviewed original research articles were considered, including descriptive and cross-sectional studies describing C. cayetanensis in PLWHA. Incoherence and heterogeneity between studies were quantified by I index and Cochran’s Q test. Publication and population bias were assessed with funnel plots and Egger’s asymmetry regression test. All statistical analyses were performed using StatsDirect. The pooled prevalence of C. cayetanensis infection among PLWHA was 3.89% (95% CI, 2.62–5.40). The highest prevalence found in South America was 7.87% and the lowest in Asia 2.77%. In addition, the prevalence of C. cayetanensis was higher in PLWHA compared to healthy individuals. There was a relationship between a higher C. cayetanensis prevalence in PLWHA with a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mL and people with diarrhea. The results show that PLWHA are more vulnerable to C. cayetanensis infection and emphasizes the need to implement the screening and prophylaxis tailored to the local context. Owing to the serious and significant clinical manifestations of the parasite, an early identification of seropositivity is recommended to initiate prophylaxis between PLWHA with a CD4 count ≤200 cells/mL and PLWHA who do not receive antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Ramezanzadeh
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 51666-14766, Iran;
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 51666-14766, Iran
| | - Apostolos Beloukas
- National AIDS Reference Center of Southern Greece, Department of Public Health Policy, University of West Attica, 11521 Athens, Greece;
- Molecular Microbiology & Immunology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Abdol Sattar Pagheh
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand 97178-53577, Iran;
| | - Mohammad Taghi Rahimi
- Center for Health Related Social and Behavioral Sciences Research, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud 36147-73955, Iran;
| | - Seyed Abdollah Hosseini
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 33971-48157, Iran;
| | - Sonia M. Rodrigues Oliveira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Maria de Lourdes Pereira
- CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Correspondence: (M.d.L.P.); or (E.A.); Tel.: +351-234-378141 (M.d.L.P.); +98-413-5428595 (E.A.); Fax: +98-413-3373745 (E.A.)
| | - Ehsan Ahmadpour
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 51666-14766, Iran;
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz 51666-14766, Iran
- Correspondence: (M.d.L.P.); or (E.A.); Tel.: +351-234-378141 (M.d.L.P.); +98-413-5428595 (E.A.); Fax: +98-413-3373745 (E.A.)
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Brogi S, Ibba R, Rossi S, Butini S, Calderone V, Gemma S, Campiani G. Covalent Reversible Inhibitors of Cysteine Proteases Containing the Nitrile Warhead: Recent Advancement in the Field of Viral and Parasitic Diseases. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27082561. [PMID: 35458759 PMCID: PMC9029279 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27082561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In the field of drug discovery, the nitrile group is well represented among drugs and biologically active compounds. It can form both non-covalent and covalent interactions with diverse biological targets, and it is amenable as an electrophilic warhead for covalent inhibition. The main advantage of the nitrile group as a warhead is mainly due to its milder electrophilic character relative to other more reactive groups (e.g., -CHO), reducing the possibility of unwanted reactions that would hinder the development of safe drugs, coupled to the ease of installation through different synthetic approaches. The covalent inhibition is a well-assessed design approach for serine, threonine, and cysteine protease inhibitors. The mechanism of hydrolysis of these enzymes involves the formation of a covalent acyl intermediate, and this mechanism can be exploited by introducing electrophilic warheads in order to mimic this covalent intermediate. Due to the relevant role played by the cysteine protease in the survival and replication of infective agents, spanning from viruses to protozoan parasites, we will review the most relevant and recent examples of protease inhibitors presenting a nitrile group that have been introduced to form or to facilitate the formation of a covalent bond with the catalytic cysteine active site residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Roberta Ibba
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Sara Rossi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Calderone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
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Natto MJ, Miyamoto Y, Munday JC, AlSiari TA, Al-Salabi MI, Quashie NB, Eze AA, Eckmann L, De Koning HP. Comprehensive characterization of purine and pyrimidine transport activities in Trichomonas vaginalis and functional cloning of a trichomonad nucleoside transporter. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:1489-1511. [PMID: 34738285 PMCID: PMC8688338 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14840] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Trichomoniasis is a common and widespread sexually-transmitted infection, caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. T. vaginalis lacks the biosynthetic pathways for purines and pyrimidines, making nucleoside metabolism a drug target. Here we report the first comprehensive investigation into purine and pyrimidine uptake by T. vaginalis. Multiple carriers were identified and characterized with regard to substrate selectivity and affinity. For nucleobases, a high-affinity adenine transporter, a possible guanine transporter and a low affinity uracil transporter were found. Nucleoside transporters included two high affinity adenosine/guanosine/uridine/cytidine transporters distinguished by different affinities to inosine, a lower affinity adenosine transporter, and a thymidine transporter. Nine Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter (ENT) genes were identified in the T. vaginalis genome. All were expressed equally in metronidazole-resistant and -sensitive strains. Only TvagENT2 was significantly upregulated in the presence of extracellular purines; expression was not affected by co-culture with human cervical epithelial cells. All TvagENTs were cloned and separately expressed in Trypanosoma brucei. We identified the main broad specificity nucleoside carrier, with high affinity for uridine and cytidine as well as purine nucleosides including inosine, as TvagENT3. The in-depth characterization of purine and pyrimidine transporters provides a critical foundation for the development of new anti-trichomonal nucleoside analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal J. Natto
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Yukiko Miyamoto
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jane C. Munday
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tahani A. AlSiari
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Mohammed I. Al-Salabi
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Neils B. Quashie
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana
| | - Anthonius A. Eze
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Current affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Lars Eckmann
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Harry P. De Koning
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Abstract
Giardia lamblia is a protozoan parasite that is found ubiquitously throughout the world and is a major contributor to diarrheal disease. Giardia exhibits a biphasic lifestyle existing as either a dormant cyst or a vegetative trophozoite. Infections are typically initiated through the consumption of cyst-contaminated water or food. Giardia was first axenized in the 1970s and can be readily maintained in a laboratory setting. Additionally, Giardia is one of the few protozoans that can be induced to complete its complete lifecycle using laboratory methods. In this article, we outline protocols to maintain Giardia and induce passage through its lifecycle. We also provide protocols for infecting and quantifying parasites in an animal infection model. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: In vitro maintenance and growth of Giardia trophozoites Basic Protocol 2: In vitro encystation of Giardia cysts Basic Protocol 3: In vivo infections using Giardia trophozoites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Y Fink
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia.,Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Danielle Shapiro
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Steven M Singer
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
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13
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Shrivastav MT, Malik Z, Somlata. Revisiting Drug Development Against the Neglected Tropical Disease, Amebiasis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:628257. [PMID: 33718258 PMCID: PMC7943716 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.628257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amebiasis is a neglected tropical disease which is caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. This disease is one of the leading causes of diarrhea globally, affecting largely impoverished residents in developing countries. Amebiasis also remains one of the top causes of gastrointestinal diseases in returning international travellers. Despite having many side effects, metronidazole remains the drug of choice as an amebicidal tissue-active agent. However, emergence of metronidazole resistance in pathogens having similar anaerobic metabolism and also in laboratory strains of E. histolytica has necessitated the identification and development of new drug targets and therapeutic strategies against the parasite. Recent research in the field of amebiasis has led to a better understanding of the parasite’s metabolic and cellular pathways and hence has been useful in identifying new drug targets. On the other hand, new molecules effective against amebiasis have been mined by modifying available compounds, thereby increasing their potency and efficacy and also by repurposing existing approved drugs. This review aims at compiling and examining up to date information on promising drug targets and drug molecules for the treatment of amebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish T Shrivastav
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Zainab Malik
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
| | - Somlata
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research and Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
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14
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Box A, Capó X, Tejada S, Catanese G, Grau A, Deudero S, Sureda A, Valencia JM. Reduced Antioxidant Response of the Fan Mussel Pinna nobilis Related to the Presence of Haplosporidium pinnae. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110932. [PMID: 33187065 PMCID: PMC7698053 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The endemic fan mussel (Pinna nobilis) in the Mediterranean Sea is at high risk of disappearance due to massive mortality events. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant response of P. nobilis collected in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) before and after the mass mortality event. Individuals collected before (between 2011 and 2012) and after (between 2016 and 2017) the event were analyzed by histological, molecular, and biochemical methods to compare pathogenic loads and biochemical responses. All the individuals collected during 2016–2017 presented symptoms of the disease and were positive for Haplosporidium pinnae, while acid-fast bacteria or/and Gram-negative bacteria were detected in some individuals of both sampling periods. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase in the gills were significantly lower in P. nobilis affected with the parasite compared to those in the asymptomatic ones, while levels of malondialdehyde, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were higher in infected individuals. When analyzing the differential effects of H. pinnae and Mycobacterium sp. on P. nobilis, it was observed that significant effects on biomarkers were only observed in the presence of H. pinnae. Co-infection of P. nobilis by H. pinnae with other pathogens such as Mycobacterium sp. constitutes a serious problem due to its high mortality rate in the Balearic Island waters. This concerning situation for P. nobilis is favored by a reduction in antioxidant defenses related to H. pinnae infection that induces oxidative stress and cell damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Box
- Department of Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca, Caça i Cooperació Municipal, Consell Insular d’Eivissa, 07800 Balearic Islands, Spain;
| | - Xavier Capó
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; (X.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Silvia Tejada
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Biology Department and Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdisBa), University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain;
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gaetano Catanese
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Marinas y Acuicultura, LIMIA-Govern de les Illes Balears, 07157 Port d’Andratx, Balearic Islands, Spain; (G.C.); (A.G.); (J.M.V.)
- INAGEA (INIA-CAIB-UIB), Edifici Guillem Colom Casasnoves, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Amalia Grau
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Marinas y Acuicultura, LIMIA-Govern de les Illes Balears, 07157 Port d’Andratx, Balearic Islands, Spain; (G.C.); (A.G.); (J.M.V.)
- INAGEA (INIA-CAIB-UIB), Edifici Guillem Colom Casasnoves, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Salud Deudero
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Muelle de Poniente s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain; (X.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Antoni Sureda
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Research Group in Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress and Health Research Institute of Balearic Islands (IdisBa), University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-971-172820
| | - José María Valencia
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Marinas y Acuicultura, LIMIA-Govern de les Illes Balears, 07157 Port d’Andratx, Balearic Islands, Spain; (G.C.); (A.G.); (J.M.V.)
- INAGEA (INIA-CAIB-UIB), Edifici Guillem Colom Casasnoves, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
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Albeshr MF, Alrefaei AF. Isolation and Characterization of Novel Trichomonas gallinae Ribotypes Infecting Domestic and Wild Birds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Avian Dis 2020; 64:130-134. [PMID: 32550612 DOI: 10.1637/0005-2086-64.2.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Trichomonas gallinae, a single-celled protozoan parasite, is a causative agent of the disease trichomonosis, which is distributed worldwide and has recently been highlighted as a pandemic threat to several wild bird species. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and genotypic diversity of T. gallinae in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, 273 oral swab samples from different bird species (feral pigeon Columba livia, common mynah Acridotheres tristis, chicken Gallus gallus domesticus, turkey Meleagris gallopavo, and ducks Anatidae) were collected and tested for T. gallinae infection with InPouch™ TV culture kits. The results showed that the overall prevalence of T. gallinae in these samples was 26.4% (n = 72). The PCRs were used to detect the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of T. gallinae, and the results of the sequence analysis indicated genetic variation. Among 48 sequences, we found 15 different ribotypes, of which 12 were novel. Three had been previously described as ribotypes A, C, and II. To our knowledge, this study demonstrated the presence of T. gallinae strain diversity in Saudi Arabian birds for the first time and revealed that ribotypes A and C are predominant among Riyadh birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed F Albeshr
- Department of Zoology, King Saud University, College of Science, Riyadh-11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulwahed F Alrefaei
- Department of Zoology, King Saud University, College of Science, Riyadh-11451, Saudi Arabia,
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Al-Dalabeeh EA, Irshaid FI, Roy S, Ali IKM, Al-Shudifat AM. Identification of Entamoeba histolytica in Patients with Suspected Amebiasis in Jordan Using PCR-based Assays. Pak J Biol Sci 2020; 23:166-172. [PMID: 31944076 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2020.166.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Identification of Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica) by microscopy alone can be problematic because E. dispar and E. moshkovskii are morphologically similar to E. histolytica. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the performance of microscopy in the detection of E. histolytica in stool specimens with the help of PCR-based assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Between September, 2017 and September, 2018, 200 stool specimens were obtained from Jordanian patients with suspected amebiasis. All specimens were subjected to microscopic analysis. DNA was extracted from the microscopy-positive stool samples. A conventional PCR and a duplex real-time PCR were performed to detect E. histolytica and E. dispar. RESULTS By microscopy, 35% (70/200) of specimens were tested positive for Entamoeba complex. All 70 microscopic-positive Entamoeba complex samples were negative for the presence of E. histolytica by the NOVITEC® E. histolytica ELISA assay. All 70 samples positive by microscopy were negative for the presence of E. histolytica and E. dispar by PCR-based assays. CONCLUSION We suspect some of these microscopy-positive stool specimens might contain a potentially novel species of Entamoeba that could not be detected by ELISA or PCR-based assays specific for E. histolytica and E. dispar. Diagnosis of amebiasis remains challenging here in Jordan and hence highlighting the need for improved diagnostic method.
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17
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Hong A, Zampieri RA, Shaw JJ, Floeter-Winter LM, Laranjeira-Silva MF. One Health Approach to Leishmaniases: Understanding the Disease Dynamics through Diagnostic Tools. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9100809. [PMID: 33019713 PMCID: PMC7599840 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9100809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniases are zoonotic vector-borne diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania that affect millions of people around the globe. There are various clinical manifestations, ranging from self-healing cutaneous lesions to potentially fatal visceral leishmaniasis, all of which are associated with different Leishmania species. Transmission of these parasites is complex due to the varying ecological relationships between human and/or animal reservoir hosts, parasites, and sand fly vectors. Moreover, vector-borne diseases like leishmaniases are intricately linked to environmental changes and socioeconomic risk factors, advocating the importance of the One Health approach to control these diseases. The development of an accurate, fast, and cost-effective diagnostic tool for leishmaniases is a priority, and the implementation of various control measures such as animal sentinel surveillance systems is needed to better detect, prevent, and respond to the (re-)emergence of leishmaniases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahyun Hong
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil; (A.H.); (R.A.Z.); (L.M.F.-W.)
| | - Ricardo Andrade Zampieri
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil; (A.H.); (R.A.Z.); (L.M.F.-W.)
| | - Jeffrey Jon Shaw
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Lucile Maria Floeter-Winter
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil; (A.H.); (R.A.Z.); (L.M.F.-W.)
| | - Maria Fernanda Laranjeira-Silva
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil; (A.H.); (R.A.Z.); (L.M.F.-W.)
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) modulate several eukaryotic cellular processes, including transcription, replication, and repair. Vast arrays of modifications have been identified in conventional eukaryotes over the last 20 to 25 years. While initial studies uncovered these primarily on histone tails, multiple modifications were subsequently found on the central globular domains as well. Histones are evolutionarily conserved across eukaryotes, and a large number of their PTMs and the functional relevance of these PTMs are largely conserved. Histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs) modulate several eukaryotic cellular processes, including transcription, replication, and repair. Vast arrays of modifications have been identified in conventional eukaryotes over the last 20 to 25 years. While initial studies uncovered these primarily on histone tails, multiple modifications were subsequently found on the central globular domains as well. Histones are evolutionarily conserved across eukaryotes, and a large number of their PTMs and the functional relevance of these PTMs are largely conserved. Trypanosomatids, however, are early diverging eukaryotes. Although possessing all four canonical histones as well as several variants, their sequences diverge from those of other eukaryotes, particularly in the tails. Consequently, the modifications they carry also vary. Initial analyses almost 15 years ago suggested that trypanosomatids possessed a smaller collection of histone modifications. However, exhaustive high resolution mass spectrometry analyses in the last few years have overturned this belief, and it is now evident that the “histone code” proposed by Allis and coworkers in the early years of this century is as complex in these organisms as in other eukaryotes. Trypanosomatids cause several diseases, and the members of this group of organisms have varied lifestyles, evolving diverse mechanisms to evade the host immune system, some of which have been found to be principally controlled by epigenetic mechanisms. This minireview aims to acquaint the reader with the impact of histone PTMs on trypanosomatid cellular processes, as well as other facets of trypanosomatid epigenetic regulation, including the influence of three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture, and discusses avenues for future investigations.
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19
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Ma J, Guo F, Jin Z, Geng M, Ju M, Ravichandran A, Orugunty R, Smith L, Zhu G, Zhang H. Novel Antiparasitic Activity of the Antifungal Lead Occidiofungin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:e00244-20. [PMID: 32457108 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00244-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel antiparasitic activity was observed for the antifungal occidiofungin. It efficaciously and irreversibly inhibited the zoonotic enteric parasite Cryptosporidium parvum in vitro with limited cytotoxicity (50% effective concentration [EC50] = 120 nM versus 50% cytotoxic concentration [TC50] = 988 nM), and its application disrupted the parasite morphology. This study expands the spectrum of activity of a glycolipopeptide named occidiofungin. Occidiofungin has poor gastrointestinal tract absorption properties, supporting future investigations into its potential activities on other enteric parasites.
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Takagi Y, Kuwabara N, Dang TT, Furukawa K, Ho CK. Crystal structures of the RNA triphosphatase from Trypanosoma cruzi provide insights into how it recognizes the 5'-end of the RNA substrate. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:9076-9086. [PMID: 32381506 PMCID: PMC7335777 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011811] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA triphosphatase catalyzes the first step in mRNA cap formation, hydrolysis of the terminal phosphate from the nascent mRNA transcript. The RNA triphosphatase from the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, TcCet1, belongs to the family of triphosphate tunnel metalloenzymes (TTMs). TcCet1 is a promising antiprotozoal drug target because the mechanism and structure of the protozoan RNA triphosphatases are completely different from those of the RNA triphosphatases found in mammalian and arthropod hosts. Here, we report several crystal structures of the catalytically active form of TcCet1 complexed with a divalent cation and an inorganic tripolyphosphate in the active-site tunnel at 2.20-2.51 Å resolutions. The structures revealed that the overall structure, the architecture of the tunnel, and the arrangement of the metal-binding site in TcCet1 are similar to those in other TTM proteins. On the basis of the position of three sulfate ions that cocrystallized on the positively charged surface of the protein and results obtained from mutational analysis, we identified an RNA-binding site in TcCet1. We conclude that the 5'-end of the triphosphate RNA substrate enters the active-site tunnel directionally. The structural information reported here provides valuable insight into designing inhibitors that could specifically block the entry of the triphosphate RNA substrate into the TTM-type RNA triphosphatases of T. cruzi and related pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Takagi
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Kuwabara
- Structural Biology Research Center, Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Truong Tat Dang
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Japan
| | - Koji Furukawa
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - C Kiong Ho
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki Japan.
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Zheng W, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Zhang Q, Okado K, Adjou Moumouni PF, Suzuki H, Chen H, Liu M, Xuan X. Porin Expression Profiles in Haemaphysalis longicornis Infected With Babesia microti. Front Physiol 2020; 11:502. [PMID: 32508681 PMCID: PMC7249857 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00502] [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: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The porin gene is widely disseminated in various organisms and has a pivotal role in the regulation of pathogen infection in blood-sucking arthropods. However, to date, information on the porin gene from the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, an important vector of human and animal diseases, remains unknown. In this study, we identified the porin gene from H. longicornis and evaluated its expression levels in Babesia microti-infected and -uninfected H. longicornis ticks at developmental stages. We also analyzed porin functions in relation to both tick blood feeding and Babesia infection and the relationship between porin and porin-related apoptosis genes such as B-cell lymphoma (Bcl), cytochrome complex (Cytc), caspase 2 (Cas2), and caspase 8 (Cas8). The coding nucleotide sequence of H. longicornis porin cDNA was found to be 849 bp in length and encoded 282 amino acids. Domain analysis showed the protein to contain six determinants of voltage gating and two polypeptide binding sites. Porin mRNA levels were not significantly different between 1-day-laid and 7-day-laid eggs. In the nymphal stage, higher porin expression levels were found in unfed, 12-h-partially-fed (12 hPF), 1-day-partially-fed (1 dPF), 2 dPF nymphs and nymphs at 0 day post-engorgement (0 dAE) vs. nymphs at 2 dAE. Cytc and Cas2 mRNA levels were higher in 2 dPF nymphs in contrast to nymphs at 2 dAE. Porin expression levels appeared to be higher in the infected vs. uninfected nymphs during blood feeding except at 1 dPF and 0–1 dAE. Especially, the highest B. microti burden negatively affected porin mRNA levels in both nymphs and female adults. Porin knockdown affected body weight and Babesia infection levels and significantly downregulated the expression levels of Cytc and Bcl in H. longicornis female ticks. In addition, this study showed that infection levels of the B. microti Gray strain in nymphal and female H. longicornis peaked at or around engorgement from blood feeding to post engorgement. Taken together, the research conducted in this study suggests that H. longicornis porin might interfere with blood feeding and B. microti infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqing Zheng
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan.,The Collaboration Unit for Field Epidemiology of State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal-origin and Vector-Borne Diseases, Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, China
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Qian Zhang
- The Ophthalmology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Kiyoshi Okado
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Suzuki
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Haiying Chen
- The Collaboration Unit for Field Epidemiology of State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal-origin and Vector-Borne Diseases, Nanchang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanchang, China
| | - Mingming Liu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
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Varghese SS, Ghosh SK. Stress-responsive Entamoeba topoisomerase II: a potential antiamoebic target. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:1005-1020. [PMID: 31724164 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Topoisomerases, the ubiquitous enzymes involved in all DNA processes across the biological world, are targets for various anticancer and antimicrobial agents. In Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amebiasis, we found one of seven unexplored putative topoisomerases to be highly upregulated during heat shock and oxidative stress, and also during the late hours of encystation. Further analysis revealed the upregulated enzyme to be a eukaryotic type IIA topoisomerase (TopoII) with demonstrable activity in vitro. This enzyme is localized to newly forming nuclei during encystation. Gene silencing of the TopoII reduces viability and encystation efficiency. Notable susceptibility of Entamoeba TopoII to prokaryotic topoisomerase inhibitors opens up the possibility for exploring this enzyme as a new antiamoebic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Susan Varghese
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
| | - Sudip Kumar Ghosh
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
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Hammarton TC. Who Needs a Contractile Actomyosin Ring? The Plethora of Alternative Ways to Divide a Protozoan Parasite. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:397. [PMID: 31824870 PMCID: PMC6881465 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokinesis, or the division of the cytoplasm, following the end of mitosis or meiosis, is accomplished in animal cells, fungi, and amoebae, by the constriction of an actomyosin contractile ring, comprising filamentous actin, myosin II, and associated proteins. However, despite this being the best-studied mode of cytokinesis, it is restricted to the Opisthokonta and Amoebozoa, since members of other evolutionary supergroups lack myosin II and must, therefore, employ different mechanisms. In particular, parasitic protozoa, many of which cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans and animals as well as considerable economic losses, employ a wide diversity of mechanisms to divide, few, if any, of which involve myosin II. In some cases, cell division is not only myosin II-independent, but actin-independent too. Mechanisms employed range from primitive mechanical cell rupture (cytofission), to motility- and/or microtubule remodeling-dependent mechanisms, to budding involving the constriction of divergent contractile rings, to hijacking host cell division machinery, with some species able to utilize multiple mechanisms. Here, I review current knowledge of cytokinesis mechanisms and their molecular control in mammalian-infective parasitic protozoa from the Excavata, Alveolata, and Amoebozoa supergroups, highlighting their often-underappreciated diversity and complexity. Billions of people and animals across the world are at risk from these pathogens, for which vaccines and/or optimal treatments are often not available. Exploiting the divergent cell division machinery in these parasites may provide new avenues for the treatment of protozoal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tansy C Hammarton
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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24
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Gerace E, Lo Presti VDM, Biondo C. Cryptosporidium Infection: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Differential Diagnosis. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2019; 9:119-123. [PMID: 31934363 PMCID: PMC6945992 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2019.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [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: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan that infects a wide variety of vertebrates, including humans, causing acute gastroenteritis. The disease manifests with abdominal pain and diarrhea similar to that of choleric infection. In the immunocompromised hosts, the parasite causes prolonged infections that can also be fatal. For this reason, cryptosporidiosis is considered one of riskiest opportunistic infections for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The best way to control the infection in these patients is setting up sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for epidemiological surveillance and morbidity reduction. Here, we summarized the general aspects of Cryptosporidium infection focusing on available diagnostic tools used for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis. Molecular methods currently available for its detection and progress in the development of new diagnostics for cryptosporidiosis are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Carmelo Biondo
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Departments of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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25
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Wang P, Li S, Zhao Y, Zhang B, Li Y, Liu S, Du H, Cao L, Ou M, Ye X, Li P, Gao X, Wang P, Jing C, Shao F, Yang G, You F. The GRA15 protein from Toxoplasma gondii enhances host defense responses by activating the interferon stimulator STING. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:16494-16508. [PMID: 31416833 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [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: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important neurotropic pathogen that establishes latent infections in humans that can cause toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised individuals. It replicates inside host cells and has developed several strategies to manipulate host immune responses. However, the cytoplasmic pathogen-sensing pathway that detects T. gondii is not well-characterized. Here, we found that cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), a sensor of foreign dsDNA, is required for activation of anti-T. gondii immune signaling in a mouse model. We also found that mice deficient in STING (Sting gt/gt mice) are much more susceptible to T. gondii infection than WT mice. Of note, the induction of inflammatory cytokines, type I IFNs, and interferon-stimulated genes in the spleen from Sting gt/gt mice was significantly impaired. Sting gt/gt mice exhibited more severe symptoms than cGAS-deficient mice after T. gondii infection. Interestingly, we found that the dense granule protein GRA15 from T. gondii is secreted into the host cell cytoplasm and then localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum, mediated by the second transmembrane motif in GRA15, which is essential for activating STING and innate immune responses. Mechanistically, GRA15 promoted STING polyubiquitination at Lys-337 and STING oligomerization in a TRAF protein-dependent manner. Accordingly, GRA15-deficient T. gondii failed to elicit robust innate immune responses compared with WT T. gondii. Consequently, GRA15-/- T. gondii was more virulent and caused higher mortality of WT mice but not Sting gt/gt mice upon infection. Together, T. gondii infection triggers cGAS/STING signaling, which is enhanced by GRA15 in a STING- and TRAF-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyan Wang
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Siji Li
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yingchi Zhao
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Baohuan Zhang
- Departments of Parasitology and Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No. 601, Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Yunfei Li
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shengde Liu
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hongqiang Du
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lili Cao
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Meiling Ou
- Departments of Parasitology and Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No. 601, Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Xiaohong Ye
- Departments of Parasitology and Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No. 601, Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Peng Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, School of Life Science, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Penghua Wang
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut 06030
| | - Chunxia Jing
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Feng Shao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Departments of Parasitology and Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, No. 601, Huangpu Avenue West, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Fuping You
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
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26
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Salas-Sarduy E, Niemirowicz GT, José Cazzulo J, Alvarez VE. Target-based Screening of the Chagas Box: Setting Up Enzymatic Assays to Discover Specific Inhibitors Across Bioactive Compounds. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:6672-6686. [PMID: 31284853 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190705160637] [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: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is endemic in Latin America with about 6 million people infected and many more being at risk. Only two drugs are available for treatment, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, but they have a number of side effects and are not effective in all cases. This makes urgently necessary the development of new drugs, more efficient, less toxic and affordable to the poor people, who are most of the infected population. In this review we will summarize the current strategies used for drug discovery considering drug repositioning, phenotyping screenings and target-based approaches. In addition, we will describe in detail the considerations for setting up robust enzymatic assays aimed at identifying and validating small molecule inhibitors in high throughput screenings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emir Salas-Sarduy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela T Niemirowicz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan José Cazzulo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina E Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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27
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Lehane AM, Dennis ASM, Bray KO, Li D, Rajendran E, McCoy JM, McArthur HM, Winterberg M, Rahimi F, Tonkin CJ, Kirk K, van Dooren GG. Characterization of the ATP4 ion pump in Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5720-5734. [PMID: 30723156 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum ATPase PfATP4 is the target of a diverse range of antimalarial compounds, including the clinical drug candidate cipargamin. PfATP4 was originally annotated as a Ca2+ transporter, but recent evidence suggests that it is a Na+ efflux pump, extruding Na+ in exchange for H+ Here we demonstrate that ATP4 proteins belong to a clade of P-type ATPases that are restricted to apicomplexans and their closest relatives. We employed a variety of genetic and physiological approaches to investigate the ATP4 protein of the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii, TgATP4. We show that TgATP4 is a plasma membrane protein. Knockdown of TgATP4 had no effect on resting pH or Ca2+ but rendered parasites unable to regulate their cytosolic Na+ concentration ([Na+]cyt). PfATP4 inhibitors caused an increase in [Na+]cyt and a cytosolic alkalinization in WT but not TgATP4 knockdown parasites. Parasites in which TgATP4 was knocked down or disrupted exhibited a growth defect, attributable to reduced viability of extracellular parasites. Parasites in which TgATP4 had been disrupted showed reduced virulence in mice. These results provide evidence for ATP4 proteins playing a key conserved role in Na+ regulation in apicomplexan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele M Lehane
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia,
| | - Adelaide S M Dennis
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Katherine O Bray
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Dongdi Li
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Esther Rajendran
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - James M McCoy
- the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia, and.,the Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Hillary M McArthur
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Markus Winterberg
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Farid Rahimi
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia, and.,the Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kiaran Kirk
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia,
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- From the Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia,
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28
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Perrone AE, Milduberger N, Fuchs AG, Bustos PL, Bua J. A Functional Analysis of the Cyclophilin Repertoire in the Protozoan Parasite Trypanosoma Cruzi. Biomolecules 2018; 8:E132. [PMID: 30384485 DOI: 10.3390/biom8040132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. It affects eight million people worldwide and can be spread by several routes, such as vectorborne transmission in endemic areas and congenitally, and is also important in non-endemic regions such as the United States and Europe due to migration from Latin America. Cyclophilins (CyPs) are proteins with enzymatic peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity (PPIase), essential for protein folding in vivo. Cyclosporin A (CsA) has a high binding affinity for CyPs and inhibits their PPIase activity. CsA has proved to be a parasiticidal drug on some protozoa, including T. cruzi. In this review, we describe the T. cruzi cyclophilin gene family, that comprises 15 paralogues. Among the proteins isolated by CsA-affinity chromatography, we found orthologues of mammalian CyPs. TcCyP19, as the human CyPA, is secreted to the extracellular environment by all parasite stages and could be part of a complex interplay involving the parasite and the host cell. TcCyP22, an orthologue of mitochondrial CyPD, is involved in the regulation of parasite cell death. Our findings on T. cruzi cyclophilins will allow further characterization of these processes, leading to new insights into the biology, the evolution of metabolic pathways, and novel targets for anti-T. cruzi control.
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29
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Valdés-Flores J, López-Rosas I, López-Camarillo C, Ramírez-Moreno E, Ospina-Villa JD, Marchat LA. Life and Death of mRNA Molecules in Entamoeba histolytica. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:199. [PMID: 29971219 PMCID: PMC6018208 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, the life cycle of mRNA molecules is modulated in response to environmental signals and cell-cell communication in order to support cellular homeostasis. Capping, splicing and polyadenylation in the nucleus lead to the formation of transcripts that are suitable for translation in cytoplasm, until mRNA decay occurs in P-bodies. Although pre-mRNA processing and degradation mechanisms have usually been studied separately, they occur simultaneously and in a coordinated manner through protein-protein interactions, maintaining the integrity of gene expression. In the past few years, the availability of the genome sequence of Entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan parasite responsible for human amoebiasis, coupled to the development of the so-called “omics” technologies provided new opportunities for the study of mRNA processing and turnover in this pathogen. Here, we review the current knowledge about the molecular basis for splicing, 3′ end formation and mRNA degradation in amoeba, which suggest the conservation of events related to mRNA life throughout evolution. We also present the functional characterization of some key proteins and describe some interactions that indicate the relevance of cooperative regulatory events for gene expression in this human parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Valdés-Flores
- Departamento de Bioquímica, CINVESTAV, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Itzel López-Rosas
- CONACyT Research Fellow - Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
| | - César López-Camarillo
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Esther Ramírez-Moreno
- Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Juan D Ospina-Villa
- Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Laurence A Marchat
- Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Jun Li
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, YLL School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117545
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
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31
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Ospina-Villa JD, Guillén N, Lopez-Camarillo C, Soto-Sanchez J, Ramirez-Moreno E, Garcia-Vazquez R, Castañon-Sanchez CA, Betanzos A, Marchat LA. Silencing the cleavage factor CFIm25 as a new strategy to control Entamoeba histolytica parasite. J Microbiol 2017; 55:783-791. [PMID: 28956353 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-017-7259-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The 25 kDa subunit of the Clevage Factor Im (CFIm25) is an essential factor for messenger RNA polyadenylation in human cells. Therefore, here we investigated whether the homologous protein of Entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan responsible for human amoebiasis, might be considered as a biochemical target for parasite control. Trophozoites were cultured with bacterial double-stranded RNA molecules targeting the EhCFIm25 gene, and inhibition of mRNA and protein expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot assays, respectively. EhCFIm25 silencing was associated with a significant acceleration of cell proliferation and cell death. Moreover, trophozoites appeared as larger and multinucleated cells. These morphological changes were accompanied by a reduced mobility, and erythrophagocytosis was significantly diminished. Lastly, the knockdown of EhCFIm25 affected the poly(A) site selection in two reporter genes and revealed that EhCFIm25 stimulates the utilization of downstream poly(A) sites in E. histolytica mRNA. Overall, our data confirm that targeting the polyadenylation process represents an interesting strategy for controlling parasites, including E. histolytica. To our best knowledge, the present study is the first to have revealed the relevance of the cleavage factor CFIm25 as a biochemical target in parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nancy Guillén
- Institut Pasteur, Unité d'Analyses d'Images Biologiques, Paris, France
| | - Cesar Lopez-Camarillo
- Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México - Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | - Abigail Betanzos
- Cátedras, CONACYT, Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, CINVESTAV-IPN, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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32
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Rodríguez NE, Lockard RD, Turcotte EA, Araújo-Santos T, Bozza PT, Borges VM, Wilson ME. Lipid bodies accumulation in Leishmania infantum-infected C57BL/6 macrophages. Parasite Immunol 2017; 39. [PMID: 28518475 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Lipid bodies (LBs) are intracellular accumulations of neutral lipids surrounded by a single membrane. These organelles are involved in the production of eicosanoids, which modulate immunity by either promoting or dampening inflammatory responses. Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil, is an intracellular parasite that causes disease by suppressing macrophage microbicidal responses. C57BL/6 mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages infected with L. infantum strain LcJ had higher numbers of LB+ cells (P<.0001) and total LBs than noninfected cultures. Large (>3 μm) LBs were present inside parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs). These results contrast with those of L. infantum-infected BALB/c macrophages, in which the only LBs are derived from parasite, not macrophage origin. Increased LBs in C57BL/6 macrophages in close association with parasites would position host LBs where they could modulate L. infantum infection. These results imply a potential influence of the host genetics on the role of LBs in host-pathogen interactions. Overall, our data support a model in which the expression, and the role of LBs upon infection, ultimately depends on the specific combination of host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- N E Rodríguez
- Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA
| | - R D Lockard
- Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA
| | - E A Turcotte
- Department of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA
| | - T Araújo-Santos
- Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western Bahia (UFOB), Barreiras, BA, Brazil
| | - P T Bozza
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - V M Borges
- Gonçalo Moniz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - M E Wilson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
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33
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Brettmann EA, Shaik JS, Zangger H, Lye LF, Kuhlmann FM, Akopyants NS, Oschwald DM, Owens KL, Hickerson SM, Ronet C, Fasel N, Beverley SM. Tilting the balance between RNA interference and replication eradicates Leishmania RNA virus 1 and mitigates the inflammatory response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:11998-2005. [PMID: 27790981 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1615085113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many Leishmania (Viannia) parasites harbor the double-stranded RNA virus Leishmania RNA virus 1 (LRV1), which has been associated with increased disease severity in animal models and humans and with drug treatment failures in humans. Remarkably, LRV1 survives in the presence of an active RNAi pathway, which in many organisms controls RNA viruses. We found significant levels (0.4 to 2.5%) of small RNAs derived from LRV1 in both Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania guyanensis, mapping across both strands and with properties consistent with Dicer-mediated cleavage of the dsRNA genome. LRV1 lacks cis- or trans-acting RNAi inhibitory activities, suggesting that virus retention must be maintained by a balance between RNAi activity and LRV1 replication. To tilt this balance toward elimination, we targeted LRV1 using long-hairpin/stem-loop constructs similar to those effective against chromosomal genes. LRV1 was completely eliminated, at high efficiency, accompanied by a massive overproduction of LRV1-specific siRNAs, representing as much as 87% of the total. For both L. braziliensis and L. guyanensis, RNAi-derived LRV1-negative lines were no longer able to induce a Toll-like receptor 3-dependent hyperinflammatory cytokine response in infected macrophages. We demonstrate in vitro a role for LRV1 in virulence of L. braziliensis, the Leishmania species responsible for the vast majority of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis cases. These findings establish a targeted method for elimination of LRV1, and potentially of other Leishmania viruses, which will facilitate mechanistic dissection of the role of LRV1-mediated virulence. Moreover, our data establish a third paradigm for RNAi-viral relationships in evolution: one of balance rather than elimination.
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34
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Fonteles RS, Pereira Filho AA, Moraes JLP, Kuppinger O, Rebêlo JMM. Experimental Infection of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) With Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, Etiological Agents of American Tugumentary Leishmaniasis. J Med Entomol 2016; 53:206-209. [PMID: 26487245 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania (L.) amazonensis (Lainson & Shaw, 1972) and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (Vianna, 1911) are the principal causative agents of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in Brazil. L. amazonensis also causes diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) vectored principally by Lutzomyia flaviscutellata and secondarily by Lutzomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939). The latter is the most common phlebotomine in the state of Maranhão, and it is the focal species for potential ATL transmission. For this reason, we tested the ability of L. whitmani to become infected with Lutzomyia parasites. Phlebotomines were derived from a colony maintained in the laboratorial conditions. The first generation, uninfected females were offered a bloodmeal with mice infected with the strains of both parasites. We found that L. whitmani can become infected with both parasite species, with infection rates of 65.2% (L. braziliensis) and 47.4% (L. amazonensis). We conclude that in Maranhão, L. whitmani is likely an important vector in the transmission of ATL and may function as a vector of DCL. This possibility should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel S Fonteles
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Patologia, Praça Madre Deus, 2, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65025-510, (; ; ; ; ) Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65080-805, and
| | - Adalberto A Pereira Filho
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Patologia, Praça Madre Deus, 2, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65025-510, (; ; ; ; )
| | - Jorge L P Moraes
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Patologia, Praça Madre Deus, 2, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65025-510, (; ; ; ; ) Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65080-805, and
| | - Oliver Kuppinger
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65080-805, and
| | - José M M Rebêlo
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Vetores, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Departamento de Patologia, Praça Madre Deus, 2, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65025-510, (; ; ; ; ) Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses, 1966, Bacanga, São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil 65080-805, and
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Cull B, Prado Godinho JL, Fernandes Rodrigues JC, Frank B, Schurigt U, Williams RA, Coombs GH, Mottram JC. Glycosome turnover in Leishmania major is mediated by autophagy. Autophagy 2015; 10:2143-57. [PMID: 25484087 PMCID: PMC4502677 DOI: 10.4161/auto.36438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a central process behind the cellular remodeling that occurs during differentiation of Leishmania, yet the cargo of the protozoan parasite's autophagosome is unknown. We have identified glycosomes, peroxisome-like organelles that uniquely compartmentalize glycolytic and other metabolic enzymes in Leishmania and other kinetoplastid parasitic protozoa, as autophagosome cargo. It has been proposed that the number of glycosomes and their content change during the Leishmania life cycle as a key adaptation to the different environments encountered. Quantification of RFP-SQL-labeled glycosomes showed that promastigotes of L. major possess ~20 glycosomes per cell, whereas amastigotes contain ~10. Glycosome numbers were significantly greater in promastigotes and amastigotes of autophagy-defective L. major Δatg5 mutants, implicating autophagy in glycosome homeostasis and providing a partial explanation for the previously observed growth and virulence defects of these mutants. Use of GFP-ATG8 to label autophagosomes showed glycosomes to be cargo in ~15% of them; glycosome-containing autophagosomes were trafficked to the lysosome for degradation. The number of autophagosomes increased 10-fold during differentiation, yet the percentage of glycosome-containing autophagosomes remained constant. This indicates that increased turnover of glycosomes was due to an overall increase in autophagy, rather than an upregulation of autophagosomes containing this cargo. Mitophagy of the single mitochondrion was not observed in L. major during normal growth or differentiation; however, mitochondrial remnants resulting from stress-induced fragmentation colocalized with autophagosomes and lysosomes, indicating that autophagy is used to recycle these damaged organelles. These data show that autophagy in Leishmania has a central role not only in maintaining cellular homeostasis and recycling damaged organelles but crucially in the adaptation to environmental change through the turnover of glycosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Cull
- a Wellcome Trust Center for Molecular Parasitology; Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation; College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences ; University of Glasgow ; Glasgow , UK
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Dar AA, Enjamuri N, Shadab M, Ali N, Khan AT. Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Sulfides and Their Oxidation to Sulfones to Discover Potent Antileishmanial Agents. ACS Comb Sci 2015; 17:671-81. [PMID: 26441303 DOI: 10.1021/acscombsci.5b00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Unsymmetrical sulfides were first synthesized using combinations of a 1,3-dicarbonyl, an aromatic aldehyde and a thiol in the presence of 10 mol % ethanolic piperidine. These sulfides derivatives were subsequently converted into corresponding sulfones via oxidation in the presence of m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) at ice-bath to room temperature. The former reaction was achieved at room temperature through one-pot three-component. The later was obtained in good yields using mild reaction conditions with flexibility in choice from a range of substrates. The antimicrobial properties of the newly synthesized sulfone derivatives were investigated against the protozoan parasite, Leishmania donovani, a causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Nine sulfone derivatives were found to be efficacious and exhibited significant antimicrobial activity. Further, these compounds were nontoxic on murine peritoneal macrophages thus eliminating potential cytoxicity in the host cells. These compounds may be indicated as potential leads in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A. Dar
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781 039, India
| | - Nagasuresh Enjamuri
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781 039, India
| | | | - Nahid Ali
- Infectious
Diseases and Immunology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Abu T. Khan
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781 039, India
- Aliah University, IIA/27, New
Town, Kolkata-700 156, West Bengal, India
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Abstract
Lysosomes play important roles in autophagy, not only in autophagosome degradation, but also in autophagy initiation. In Trypanosoma brucei, an early divergent protozoan parasite, we discovered a previously unappreciated function of the acidocalcisome, a lysosome-related organelle characterized by acidic pH and large content of Ca(2+) and polyphosphates, in autophagy regulation. Starvation- and chemical-induced autophagy is accompanied with acidocalcisome acidification, and blocking the acidification completely inhibits autophagosome formation. Blocking acidocalcisome biogenesis by depleting the adaptor protein-3 complex, which does not affect lysosome biogenesis or function, also inhibits autophagy. Overall, our results support the role of the acidocalcisome, a conserved organelle from bacteria to human, as a relevant regulator in autophagy.
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Key Words
- AO, acridine orange
- AP-3, adaptor protein-3
- ATG, autophagy-related
- BODIPY-CQ, BODIPY-chloroquine
- BafA1, bafilomycin A1
- CQ, chloroquine
- DAPI, 4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole
- MTORC1, mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1
- PPi, pyrophosphate
- PtdIns3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
- PtdIns3P, phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate
- RNAi, RNA interference
- T. brucei, Trypanosoma brucei
- TOR, target of rapamycin
- TbVMA1, the subunit A of V-H+-ATPase in Trypanosoma brucei
- TbVP1, vacuolar pyrophosphatase in Trypanosoma brucei
- TbVPH1, the α, subunit of V-H+-ATPase in Trypanosoma brucei
- Tbβ3, the β3 subunit of adaptor protein-3 complex in Trypanosoma brucei
- Tbδ, the δ, subunit of adaptor protein-3 complex in Trypanosoma brucei
- Trypanosoma brucei
- V-H+-ATPase, vacuolar-type H+-ATPase
- V-PPase, vacuolar pyrophophatase
- acidity
- acidocalcisome
- autophagy
- coumarin-CQ, coumarin-chloroquine
- lysosome-related organelle
- polyP, polyphosphate
- protozoan parasite
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Jun Li
- a Department of Biological Sciences ; National University of Singapore ; Singapore
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Eickhoff CS, Van Aartsen D, Terry FE, Meymandi SK, Traina MM, Hernandez S, Martin WD, Moise L, De Groot AS, Hoft DF. An immunoinformatic approach for identification of Trypanosoma cruzi HLA-A2-restricted CD8(+) T cell epitopes. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 11:2322-8. [PMID: 26107442 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1061160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a major neglected tropical disease caused by persistent chronic infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. An estimated 8 million people are infected with T. cruzi, however only 2 drugs are approved for treatment and no vaccines are available. Thus there is an urgent need to develop vaccines and new drugs to prevent and treat Chagas disease. In this work, we identify T cell targets relevant for human infection with T. cruzi. The trans-sialidase (TS) gene family is a large family of homologous genes within the T. cruzi genome encoding over 1,400 members. There are 12 highly conserved TS gene family members which encode enzymatically active TS (functional TS; F-TS), while the remaining TS family genes are less conserved, enzymatically inactive and have been hypothesized to be involved in immune evasion (non-functional TS; NF-TS). We utilized immunoinformatic tools to identify HLA-A2-restricted CD8(+) T cell epitopes conserved within F-TS family members and NF-TS gene family members. We also utilized a whole-genome approach to identify T cell epitopes present within genes which have previously been shown to be expressed in life stages relevant for human infection (Non-TS genes). Thirty immunogenic HLA-A2-restricted CD8(+) T cell epitopes were identified using IFN-γ ELISPOT assays after vaccination of humanized HLA-A2 transgenic mice with mature dendritic cells pulsed with F-TS, NF-TS, and Non-TS peptide pools. The immunogenic HLA-A2-restricted T cell epitopes identified in this work may serve as potential components of an epitope-based T cell targeted vaccine for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S Eickhoff
- a Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology; Department of Internal Medicine; Saint Louis University ; Saint Louis , MO USA
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Abstract
Release of extracellular traps by neutrophils is a now well-established phenomenon that contributes to the innate response to extracellular bacterial and fungal pathogens. The importance of NETs during protozoan infection has been less explored, but recent findings suggest an emerging role for release of neutrophil-derived extracellular DNA in response to this class of microbial pathogens. The present review summarizes findings to date regarding elicitation of NETs by Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, Eimeria bovis, and Leishmania spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delbert S Abi Abdallah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
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Cohen T, Starosvetsky J, Cheruti U, Armon R. Whole cell imprinting in sol-gel thin films for bacterial recognition in liquids: macromolecular fingerprinting. Int J Mol Sci 2010; 11:1236-52. [PMID: 20480018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms11041236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 01/28/2010] [Revised: 02/26/2010] [Accepted: 03/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Thin films of organically modified silica (ORMOSILS) produced by a sol-gel method were imprinted with whole cells of a variety of microorganisms in order to develop an easy and specific probe to concentrate and specifically identify these microorganisms in liquids (e.g., water). Microorganisms with various morphology and outer surface components were imprinted into thin sol-gel films. Adsorption of target microorganism onto imprinted films was facilitated by these macromolecular fingerprints as revealed by various microscopical examinations (SEM, AFM, HSEM and CLSM). The imprinted films showed high selectivity toward each of test microorganisms with high adsorption affinity making them excellent candidates for rapid detection of microorganisms from liquids.
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