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Do Toxoplasma gondii apicoplast proteins have antigenic potential? An in silico study. Comput Biol Chem 2020; 84:107158. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2019.107158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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102
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Boillat M, Hammoudi PM, Dogga SK, Pagès S, Goubran M, Rodriguez I, Soldati-Favre D. Neuroinflammation-Associated Aspecific Manipulation of Mouse Predator Fear by Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Rep 2020; 30:320-334.e6. [PMID: 31940479 PMCID: PMC6963786 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 10/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In rodents, the decrease of felid aversion induced by Toxoplasma gondii, a phenomenon termed fatal attraction, is interpreted as an adaptive manipulation by the neurotropic protozoan parasite. With the aim of understanding how the parasite induces such specific behavioral modifications, we performed a multiparametric analysis of T. gondii-induced changes on host behavior, physiology, and brain transcriptome as well as parasite cyst load and distribution. Using a set of complementary behavioral tests, we provide strong evidence that T. gondii lowers general anxiety in infected mice, increases explorative behaviors, and surprisingly alters predator aversion without selectivity toward felids. Furthermore, we show a positive correlation between the severity of the behavioral alterations and the cyst load, which indirectly reflects the level of inflammation during brain colonization. Taken together, these findings refute the myth of a selective loss of cat fear in T. gondii-infected mice and point toward widespread immune-related alterations of behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madlaina Boillat
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva CMU, 1 rue Michel-Servet 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Sunil Kumar Dogga
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva CMU, 1 rue Michel-Servet 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Pagès
- Wyss Center for Bio- and Neuroengineering, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maged Goubran
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ivan Rodriguez
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine-University of Geneva CMU, 1 rue Michel-Servet 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Toxoplasma is a widespread parasite of animals including many rodents that are a natural part of the transmission cycle between cats, which serve as the definitive host. Although wild rodents, including house mice, are relatively resistant, laboratory mice are highly susceptible to infection. As such, laboratory mice have been used to compare pathogenesis of natural variants and to evaluate the contributions of both host and parasite genes to infection. Protocols are provided here for evaluating acute and chronic infection with different parasite strains in laboratory mice. These protocols should provide uniform standards for evaluating natural variants and attenuated mutants and for comparing outcomes across different studies and between different laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuling Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - L David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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104
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MAHMOUDVAND H, TAVAKOLI KARESHK A, NABI MORADI M, MONZOTE FIDALGO L, MIRBADIE SR, NIAZI M, KHATAMI M. Efficacy and Safety of Zataria multiflora Boiss Essential Oil against Acute Toxoplasmosis in Mice. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2020; 15:22-30. [PMID: 32489372 PMCID: PMC7244848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Broad spectrums of pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial activity have been attributed to Zataria multiflora Boiss (Laminaceae). The in vivo efficacy and safety of Z. multiflora essential oil (ZM-EO) were evaluated against acute toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii (Sarcocystidae) in mice. METHODS Z. multiflora (aerial parts) was obtained from the rural districts of Kerman city (Kerman Province) Southwestern Iran, in May of 2016. Male NMRI mice were orally treated with normal saline (control group) and ZM-EO at the doses of 0.2 and 0.4 mL/kg once a day for 14 d (8 mice in each group). On the 15th day, the mice were infected with 104 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain by intraperitoneal route. The mortality rate and parasite load were determined in the infected mice. Additionally, 24 mice were applied to examine the sub-acute toxicity of ZM-EO at the above doses after treatment during 14 d. RESULTS GC/MS analysis displayed that the key constituents were thymol (45.4%), carvacrol (23%) and p-cymene (10.6%), respectively. Overall, 100% mortality was observed on the 8th and 9th days in treated mice with the concentrations of 0.2 and 0.4 mL/kg, respectively. The mean number of tachyzoites in the mice treated with 0.2 and 0.4 mL/kg of ZM-EO were 189×104 and 76×104 cell/mL, respectively, meaningfully (P<0.05) reduced compared with the control mice. Results also demonstrated that ZM-EO had no important toxicity on mice. CONCLUSION The results demonstrated the efficacy of ZM-EO against acute toxoplasmosis. Nevertheless, supplementary surveys are mandatory to examine its precise effects, mainly immunomodulatory effect on toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein MAHMOUDVAND
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran, Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Amir TAVAKOLI KARESHK
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mohammad NABI MORADI
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Lianet MONZOTE FIDALGO
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine “Pedro Kourí”, La Lisa, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Massumeh NIAZI
- Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Mehrdad KHATAMI
- Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran,Correspondence
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105
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Wu M, An R, Chen Y, Chen T, Wen H, Yan Q, Shen J, Chen L, Du J. Vaccination with recombinant Toxoplasma gondii CDPK3 induces protective immunity against experimental toxoplasmosis. Acta Trop 2019; 199:105148. [PMID: 31425673 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a ubiquitous and obligate intracellular pathogen, belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa, is capable of infecting a broad range of warm-blooded hosts including birds and mammals that is nearly worldwide. Preventive measures for toxoplasmosis are currently lacking and as such, development of novel vaccines is of urgent need. The plant-like calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) expressed by T. gondii, play important roles in cell invasion, gliding motility, egress and some other developmental processes, in which T. gondii CDPK3 (TgCDPK3) has been implicated as an important virulence factor. In this study, the immune protective function of recombinant TgCDPK3 (rTgCDPK3) against experimental toxoplasmosis in BALB/c were evaluated. We divided the mice into different dose groups of vaccines and all immunizations with purified rTgCDPK3 protein were injected by intramuscular at weeks 0, 2, and 4 in BALB/c mice. The rTgCDPK3 vaccine provided protection was correlated with the development of humoral and cellular immune responses demonstrated through the antigen-specific spleen cell proliferation, release of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ, and the production of the high titers of IgG antibody with a predominance of IgG2a over IgG1. Vaccination with rTgCDPK3 conferred partial protection against acute toxoplasmosis, as demonstrated by prolonged survival rate after lethal challenge. Additionally, the amount of brain tissues cysts in vaccinated mice led to 46.5% reduction compared with non-vaccinated ones. These data demonstrated that rTgCDPK3 inoculation prevents or attenuates the harmful influence of T. gondii infection, and it is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.
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106
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Liempi A, Castillo C, Medina L, Rojas M, Maya JD, Parraguez VH, Kemmerling U. Ex vivo infection of human placental explants with Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii: Differential activation of NF kappa B signaling pathways. Acta Trop 2019; 199:105153. [PMID: 31469971 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) are the causative agents of Chagas disease and Toxoplasmosis. T. cruzi and T. gondii present, respectively, low and high congenital transmission rates and induce a distinctive cytokine/chemokine profile in ex vivo infected human placental explants (HPE). Since the innate immune response is regulated, at least partially, by NF-κB signaling pathways, our main objective was to determine the effect of ex vivo infection with both parasites on the activation of canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways and its relation to parasite infection. T. cruzi activates both, the canonical and non-canonical pathways of NF-κB, unlike T. gondii, which has no effect on the canonical pathway and inhibits the non-canonical pathway. The inhibition of both pathways of NF-κB increases the DNA load of T. cruzi and T. gondii in HPE. Therefore, the differential modulation of NF-κB signal transduction pathways by both parasites might explain, at least partially, the low and high congenital transmission rates of T. cruzi and T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Liempi
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lisvaneth Medina
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Maura Rojas
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Diego Maya
- Programa de Farmacología Molecular y Clínica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Victor H Parraguez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas Animales, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Prevent Toxoplasma gondii Infection by Inducing Autophagy via AMPK Activation. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11092137. [PMID: 31500218 PMCID: PMC6771136 DOI: 10.3390/nu11092137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3-PUFAs) have potential protective activity in a variety of infectious diseases, but their actions and underlying mechanisms in Toxoplasma gondii infection remain poorly understood. Here, we report that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) robustly induced autophagy in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Treatment of T. gondii-infected macrophages with DHA resulted in colocalization of Toxoplasma parasitophorous vacuoles with autophagosomes and reduced intracellular survival of T. gondii. The autophagic and anti-Toxoplasma effects induced by DHA were mediated by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. Importantly, BMDMs isolated from Fat-1 transgenic mice, a well-known animal model capable of synthesizing ω3-PUFAs from ω6-PUFAs, showed increased activation of autophagy and AMPK, leading to reduced intracellular survival of T. gondii when compared with wild-type BMDMs. Moreover, Fat-1 transgenic mice exhibited lower cyst burden in the brain following infection with the avirulent strain ME49 than wild-type mice. Collectively, our results revealed mechanisms by which endogenous ω3-PUFAs and DHA control T. gondii infection and suggest that ω3-PUFAs might serve as therapeutic candidate to prevent toxoplasmosis and infection with other intracellular protozoan parasites.
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Poncet AF, Blanchard N, Marion S. Toxoplasma and Dendritic Cells: An Intimate Relationship That Deserves Further Scrutiny. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:870-886. [PMID: 31492624 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (Tg), an obligate intracellular parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa, infects a wide range of animals, including humans. A hallmark of Tg infection is the subversion of host responses, which is thought to favor parasite persistence and propagation to new hosts. Recently, a variety of parasite-secreted modulatory effectors have been uncovered in fibroblasts and macrophages, but the specific interplay between Tg and dendritic cells (DCs) is just beginning to emerge. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on Tg-DC interactions, including innate recognition, cytokine production, and antigen presentation, and discuss open questions regarding how Tg-secreted effectors may shape DC functions to perturb innate and adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs F Poncet
- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université de Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR 8204, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nicolas Blanchard
- Centre de Physiopathologie Toulouse Purpan (CPTP), Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France. @inserm.fr
| | - Sabrina Marion
- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université de Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR 8204, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France. @pasteur-lille.fr
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Antigenic Epitope Analysis and Efficacy Evaluation of GRA41 DNA Vaccine Against T. gondii Infection. Acta Parasitol 2019; 64:471-478. [PMID: 31187386 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00091-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii has a comprehensive impact on a great range of warm-blood mammals, in which one-third of the population all over the world is involved. Dense granular proteins, regarded as GRA family, mediating substantial interface between host cell cytoplasm and parasite, are widely studied for preventing the infection of T. gondii. PURPOSE As is handled in our study, the effect of intramuscularly injecting the genetic vaccine pEGFP-C1/GRA41 encoding a novel dense granule protein, GRA41, was evaluated. METHODS At the beginning, bioinformatics analysis was used to evaluate epitopes of both B cells and T cells on the GRA41 protein of T. gondii. Afterwards, recombinant plasmids (pEGFP-C1/GRA41) were injected into BALB/c mice and the quantity of IgG and its subclass IgG2a remarkably increased. IFN-γ, distinctive from the other cytokines (IL-4, and IL-10), was significant in growth. Afterwards, the intraperitoneal challenge was executed for recording survival time with tachyzoites with high virulence (in RH strain) and counting the number of brain cysts was carried out after the infection of PRU strain (low virulence). RESULTS In pEGFP-C1/GRA41 group, the survival period was significantly longer (13.3 ± 3.37 days) after tachyzoites attack with the RH strain in high virulence, compared with the other groups (less than 8 days). Additionally, the cyst quantity is remarkably lower and the rate of reduction could reach 59.34%. CONCLUSION All the results indicated effective protection of DNA vaccine encoding GRA41 against T. gondii.
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110
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Mavi SA, Modarressi MH, Mohebali M, Shojaee S, Zeraati H, Teimouri A, Keshavarz H. Assessment of the immunogenicity and protective efficiency of a novel dual-promoter DNA vaccine, harboring SAG1 and GRA7 genes, from RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice. Infect Drug Resist 2019; 12:2519-2530. [PMID: 31616167 PMCID: PMC6699518 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s209270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis, a protozoan parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, has been a serious human and veterinary medicine problem with global distribution. In the current study, we assessed immunogenicity and protective efficiency of a novel dual-promoter DNA vaccine, harboring SAG1 and GRA7 genes, from RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) with or without CpG-ODN as adjuvant in a murine model. METHODS BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 alone and pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN three times at three-week intervals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) cytokines in mice sera. Four weeks post final vaccination, MTT assay and lethal challenge-infection with 1×103 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain were carried out to assess stimulation index (SI) and mice survival time, respectively. RESULTS The IgG levels in mice immunized with multicomponent vaccines, including pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 alone and pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN, were significantly higher than those in control mice or single-gene DNA-vaccinated ones (P<0.05). Furthermore, level of IgG2a in mice receiving pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN was significantly higher than that in mice receiving pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 alone (P<0.05). The Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA)-stimulated lymphocytes from pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN group responded more dramatically than those from control groups or single-gene DNA-vaccinated groups (P<0.001). The pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN-vaccinated mice developed high levels of IgG2a and IFN-γ (P<0.001) and low levels of IgG1 and IL-10, compared to control groups, suggesting a modulated immune response type Th1. In addition, survival time of the mice immunized with pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN was significantly extended, compared to controls (P<0.05); however, all mice died. CONCLUSION The multivalent pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 DNA vaccine with CpG-ODN adjuvant is a promising vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ayazian Mavi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeedeh Shojaee
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hojjat Zeraati
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aref Teimouri
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Keshavarz
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Muslimani MA, Di Palma-Grisi J. Severe acute toxoplasmosis infection following ustekinumab treatment in a patient with psoriasis vulgaris. BMJ Case Rep 2019; 12:12/8/e230415. [PMID: 31420435 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2019-230415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A 26-year-old man undergoing therapy with 45 mg ustekinumab (Stelara) for chronic psoriasis vulgaris was referred by his general practitioner to an infectious diseases department for fatigue, fever, night sweating, generalised lymphadenomegaly and unexplained weight loss. Physical examination revealed bilateral occipital, cervical, axillary and inguinal lymphadenomegalies in addition to splenomegaly. Preliminary investigation revealed elevated Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase and an inversion of the CD4/CD8 ratio. Whole-body spiral CT scanning with and without contrast showed splenomegaly and highlighted supradiaphragmatic and subdiaphragmatic lymphadenopathies. A complete Infectious Disease Test Panel revealed high levels of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Immunoglobulin G avidity was negative. Peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotyping was performed to exclude underlying lymphatic neoplasia. The diagnosis of severe acute toxoplasmosis infection in the setting of immune response modifiers was made. Ustekinumab was suspended indefinitely and the patient underwent monthly serological tests to monitor the immune response until all symptoms resolved and the serological testing was negative for Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad A Muslimani
- Facolta di Medicina, Universita degli Studi di Pavia Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
| | - James Di Palma-Grisi
- Facolta di Medicina, Universita degli Studi di Pavia Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, Pavia, Lombardia, Italy
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Matsuzawa Y, Adachi E, Takahashi A, Sato H, Lim LA, Komatsu T, Koibuchi T, Nagamura-Inoue T, Tojo A, Nagayama H, Yotsuyanagi H. Cytokine Profile in Sweet's Syndrome under the Treatment of Pulmonary Toxoplasmosis Complicated with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Intern Med 2019; 58:2079-2083. [PMID: 30918190 PMCID: PMC6702012 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2372-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We herein describe a case of Sweet's syndrome (SS) in a patient being treated for pulmonary toxoplasmosis complicated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The patient's SS developed after the pulmonary toxoplasmosis improved following treatment. We searched his cytokine profiles comprehensively using a bead-based immunoassay. The results showed no elevation of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ or IL-17A, and IL-6 was only observed to have increased at the onset of SS, suggesting that the pulmonary toxoplasmosis had been well controlled and that chronic inflammation may have been the cause of SS. Pulmonary toxoplasmosis is an extremely rare occurrence. The cytokine profile can help to clarify the pathological condition of SS and MDS complicated with severely invasive infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukimasa Matsuzawa
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology, IMSUT Hospital of The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eisuke Adachi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology, IMSUT Hospital of The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuko Takahashi
- Department of Cell Processing and Transfusion, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Sato
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology, IMSUT Hospital of The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Lay Ahyoung Lim
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology, IMSUT Hospital of The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Tomohiko Koibuchi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology, IMSUT Hospital of The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tokiko Nagamura-Inoue
- Department of Cell Processing and Transfusion, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Arinobu Tojo
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Research Hospital The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitomi Nagayama
- Department of Hematology, Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yotsuyanagi
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Applied Immunology, IMSUT Hospital of The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
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Alizadeh P, Ahmadpour E, Daryani A, Kazemi T, Spotin A, Mahami-Oskouei M, Flynn RJ, Azadi Y, Rajabi S, Sandoghchian S. IL-17 and IL-22 elicited by a DNA vaccine encoding ROP13 associated with protection against Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:10782-10788. [PMID: 30565688 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasitic protozoan, is capable of infecting man and all warm-blooded animals. Cell-mediated immunity is vital in mounting protective responses against T. gondii infection. Recent studies have shown that T-helper (Th) 17 responses may play a key role in parasite control. In this current study, we constructed a DNA vaccine encoding T. gondii ROP13 in a pcDNA vector. Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with pcROP13 or controls and challenged with the RH strain of T. gondii. The results showed that immunization with pcROP13 could elicit an antibody response against T. gondii. The expression of the canonical Th17 cytokines, interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22, were significantly increased after immunization with pcROP13 compared with control groups ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, vaccination resulted in a significant decrease in parasite load ( p < 0.05). The induction of Th17 related cytokines, using a ROP13 DNA vaccine, against T. gondii should be considered as a potential vaccine approach for the control of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paria Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ahmadpour
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Tohid Kazemi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Adel Spotin
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Mahami-Oskouei
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Robin J Flynn
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Yaghob Azadi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saba Rajabi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Siamak Sandoghchian
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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El-Kowrany SI, El Ghaffar AESA, Shoheib ZS, Mady RF, Gamea GAM. Evaluation of nitazoxanide as a novel drug for the treatment of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. Acta Trop 2019; 195:145-154. [PMID: 30986380 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a widespread, neglected disease with significant morbidity and mortality. In search of an effective treatment, nitazoxanide (NTZ) was evaluated in the treatment of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in experimental mice. For this purpose, mice were infected with 20 cysts (acute infection model) or 10 cysts (chronic infection model) of Toxoplasma gondii (ME 49 strain). Treated mice received NTZ (at doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg), starting from the third day (acute model) or the fifth week (chronic model) post-infection, which continued for 14 consecutive days. The effects of NTZ were evaluated in comparison to the pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine combination. Evaluation included mortality rates, brain cyst count, inflammatory scoring and immunological studies. The latter included estimation of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In the acute infection model, NTZ at 100 and 150 mg/kg significantly reduced the number of brain cysts by 78 and 87% compared to the infected untreated controls and reduced the mortality rate to 24 and 20%, respectively, compared with 44% in the infected untreated control. In the chronic infection model, cyst reduction reached 32 and 38% for 100 and 150 mg/kg NTZ treatments, respectively. NTZ was significantly able to reduce inflammation caused by acute and chronic T. gondii infection with slight necrosis and few infiltrating mononuclear cells. Additionally, the immunological analysis revealed that NTZ significantly increased the production of serum IFN-γ and enhanced iNOS production in brain tissue, suggesting an immunomodulatory role for the drug. Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that NTZ is a potential drug for the treatment of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.
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115
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Melchor SJ, Ewald SE. Disease Tolerance in Toxoplasma Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:185. [PMID: 31245299 PMCID: PMC6563770 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a successful protozoan parasite that cycles between definitive felid hosts and a broad range of intermediate hosts, including rodents and humans. Within intermediate hosts, this obligate intracellular parasite invades the small intestine, inducing an inflammatory response. Toxoplasma infects infiltrating immune cells, using them to spread systemically and reach tissues amenable to chronic infection. An intact immune system is necessary to control life-long chronic infection. Chronic infection is characterized by formation of parasite cysts, which are necessary for survival through the gastrointestinal tract of the next host. Thus, Toxoplasma must evade sterilizing immunity, but still rely on the host's immune response for survival and transmission. To do this, Toxoplasma exploits a central cost-benefit tradeoff in immunity: the need to escalate inflammation for pathogen clearance vs. the need to limit inflammation-induced bystander damage. What are the consequences of sustained inflammation on host biology? Many studies have focused on aspects of the immune response that directly target Toxoplasma growth and survival, commonly referred to as "resistance mechanisms." However, it is becoming clear that a parallel arm of the immune response has evolved to mitigate damage caused by the parasite directly (for example, egress-induced cell death) or bystander damage due to the inflammatory response (for example, reactive nitrogen species, degranulation). These so-called "disease tolerance" mechanisms promote tissue function and host survival without directly targeting the pathogen. Here we review changes to host metabolism, tissue structure, and immune function that point to disease tolerance mechanisms during Toxoplasma infection. We explore the impact tolerance programs have on the health of the host and parasite biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah E. Ewald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology and the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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116
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Innes EA, Hamilton C, Garcia JL, Chryssafidis A, Smith D. A one health approach to vaccines against Toxoplasma gondii. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 15:e00053. [PMID: 32095623 PMCID: PMC7034027 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a serious disease with global impact, now recognised as one of the most important food borne diseases worldwide and a major cause of production loss in livestock. A one health approach to develop a vaccination programme to tackle toxoplasmosis is an attractive and realistic prospect. Knowledge of disease epidemiology, parasite transmission routes and main risk groups has helped to target key host species and outcomes for a vaccine programme and these would be to prevent/reduce congenital disease in women and sheep; prevent/reduce T. gondii tissue cysts in food animal species and to prevent/reduce T. gondii oocyst shedding in cats. Most animals, including humans, develop good protective immunity following infection, involving cell mediated immune responses, which may explain why live vaccines are generally more effective to protect against T. gondii. Recent advances in our knowledge of parasite genetics and gene manipulation, strain variation, key antigenic epitopes, delivery systems and induction of immune responses are all contributing to the prospects of developing new vaccines which may be more widely applicable. A key area in progressing vaccine development is to devise standard vaccine efficacy models in relevant animal hosts and this is where a one health approach bringing together researchers across different disciplines can be of major benefit. The tools and technologies are in place to make a real impact in tackling toxoplasmosis using vaccination and it just requires a collective will to make it happen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth A. Innes
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, Scotland EH26 OPZ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Clare Hamilton
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Edinburgh, Scotland EH26 OPZ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - Joao L. Garcia
- Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Campus Universitario, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 380, CEP 86057-970 Londrina, Parana, Brazil
| | - Andreas Chryssafidis
- Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Campus Universitario, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 380, CEP 86057-970 Londrina, Parana, Brazil
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Lages, SC, Brazil
| | - David Smith
- 5740A Medical Science Building II, 1150 W. Medical Centre Dr, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5620, USA
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117
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Menard KL, Haskins BE, Denkers EY. Impact of Toxoplasma gondii Infection on Host Non-coding RNA Responses. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:132. [PMID: 31157172 PMCID: PMC6530353 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As an intracellular microbe, Toxoplasma gondii must establish a highly intimate relationship with its host to ensure success as a parasite. Many studies over the last decade-and-a-half have highlighted how the host reshapes its immunoproteome to survive infection, and conversely how the parasite regulates host responses to ensure persistence. The role of host non-protein-coding RNA during infection is a vast and largely unexplored area of emerging interest. The potential importance of this facet of the host-parasite interaction is underscored by current estimates that as much as 80% of the host genome is transcribed into non-translated RNA. Here, we review the current state of knowledge with respect to two major classes of non-coding RNA, microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), in the host response to T. gondii infection. These two classes of regulatory RNA are known to have profound and widespread effects on cell function. However, their impact on infection and immunity is not well-understood, particularly for the response to T. gondii. Nevertheless, numerous miRNAs have been identified that are upregulated by Toxoplasma, and emerging evidence suggests a functional role during infection. While the field of lncRNA is in its infancy, it is already clear that Toxoplasma is also a strong trigger for this class of regulatory RNA. Non-coding RNA responses induced by T. gondii are likely to be major determinants of the host's ability to resist infection and the parasite's ability to establish long-term latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla L Menard
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Breanne E Haskins
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Eric Y Denkers
- Department of Biology, Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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118
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Lie S, Rochet E, Segerdell E, Ma Y, Ashander LM, Shadforth AMA, Blenkinsop TA, Michael MZ, Appukuttan B, Wilmot B, Smith JR. Immunological Molecular Responses of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells to Infection With Toxoplasma gondii. Front Immunol 2019; 10:708. [PMID: 31118929 PMCID: PMC6506780 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocular toxoplasmosis is the commonest clinical manifestation of infection with obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Active ocular toxoplasmosis is characterized by replication of T. gondii tachyzoites in the retina, with reactive inflammation. The multifunctional retinal pigment epithelium is a key target cell population for T. gondii. Since the global gene expression profile is germane to understanding molecular involvements of retinal pigment epithelial cells in ocular toxoplasmosis, we performed RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) of human cells following infection with T. gondii tachyzoites. Primary cell isolates from eyes of cadaveric donors (n = 3), and the ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cell line, were infected for 24 h with GT-1 strain T. gondii tachyzoites (multiplicity of infection = 5) or incubated uninfected as control. Total and small RNA were extracted from cells and sequenced on the Illumina NextSeq 500 platform; results were aligned to the human hg19 reference sequence. Multidimensional scaling showed good separation between transcriptomes of infected and uninfected primary cell isolates, which were compared in edgeR software. This differential expression analysis revealed a sizeable response in the total RNA transcriptome-with significantly differentially expressed genes totaling 7,234 (28.9% of assigned transcripts)-but very limited changes in the small RNA transcriptome-totaling 30 (0.35% of assigned transcripts) and including 8 microRNA. Gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses of differentially expressed total RNA in CAMERA software, identified a strong immunologic transcriptomic signature. We conducted RT-qPCR for 26 immune response-related protein-coding and long non-coding transcripts in epithelial cell isolates from different cadaveric donors (n = 3), extracted by a different isolation protocol but similarly infected with T. gondii, to confirm immunological activity of infected cells. For microRNA, increases in miR-146b and miR-212 were detected by RT-qPCR in 2 and 3 of these independent cell isolates. Biological network analysis in the InnateDB platform, including 735 annotated differentially expressed genes plus 2,046 first-order interactors, identified 10 contextural hubs and 5 subnetworks in the transcriptomic immune response of cells to T. gondii. Our observations provide a solid base for future studies of molecular and cellular interactions between T. gondii and the human retinal pigment epithelium to illuminate mechanisms of ocular toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shervi Lie
- Eye and Vision Health, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Elise Rochet
- Eye and Vision Health, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Erik Segerdell
- Department of Biostatistics, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Yuefang Ma
- Eye and Vision Health, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Liam M. Ashander
- Eye and Vision Health, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Audra M. A. Shadforth
- Queensland Eye Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Timothy A. Blenkinsop
- Departments of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, and Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael Z. Michael
- Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Binoy Appukuttan
- Eye and Vision Health, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Beth Wilmot
- Department of Biostatistics, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Justine R. Smith
- Eye and Vision Health, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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119
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Liu K, Wen H, Cai H, Wu M, An R, Chu D, Yu L, Shen J, Chen L, Du J. Protective Effect Against Toxoplasmosis in BALB/c Mice Vaccinated With Toxoplasma gondii Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:813. [PMID: 31105655 PMCID: PMC6491892 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis, which can cause severe disease in the fetus and immunocompromised individuals. Developing an effective vaccine is crucial to control this disease. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has gained substantial attention as a pivotal upstream cytokine to mediate innate and adaptive immune responses. Homologs of MIF have been discovered in many parasitic species, and one homolog of MIF has been isolated from the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In this study, the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii MIF (rTgMIF) as a protein vaccine was expressed and evaluated by intramuscular injection in BALB/c mice. We divided the mice into different dose groups of vaccines, and all immunizations with purified rTgMIF protein were performed at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. The protective efficacy of vaccination was analyzed by antibody assays, cytokine measurements and lymphoproliferative assays, respectively. The results obtained indicated that the rTgMIF vaccine elicited strong humoral and cellular immune responses with high levels of IgG antibody and IFN-γ production compared to those of the controls, in addition to slight higher levels of IL-4 production. After vaccination, a stronger lymphoproliferative response was also noted. Additionally, the survival time of mice immunized with rTgMIF was longer than that of the mice in control groups after challenge infection with virulent T. gondii RH tachyzoites. Moreover, the number of brain tissue cysts in vaccinated mice was reduced by 62.26% compared with the control group. These findings demonstrated that recombinant TgMIF protein is a potential candidate for vaccine development against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hongyang Wen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Haijian Cai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Minmin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ran An
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Deyong Chu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Yu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lijian Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jian Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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120
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Zheng B, Ding J, Lou D, Tong Q, Zhuo X, Ding H, Kong Q, Lu S. The Virulence-Related MYR1 Protein of Toxoplasma gondii as a Novel DNA Vaccine Against Toxoplasmosis in Mice. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:734. [PMID: 31024505 PMCID: PMC6465564 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii causes serious public health problems, but there is no effective treatment strategy against it currently. DNA vaccines have shown promising findings in this regard. MYR1 is a new virulence factor identified in T. gondii that may have potential as a DNA vaccine candidate. We constructed a recombinant eukaryotic plasmid, pVAX1-MYR1, as a DNA vaccine, injected it intramuscularly into BALB/c mice, and evaluated its immunoprotective effects. pVAX1-MYR1 immunization induced a sequential Th1 and Th2 T-cell response, as indicated by high levels of Th1 and mixed Th1/Th2 cytokines at 2 and 6 weeks after immunization, respectively. These findings were corroborated by the antibody assays too. In addition, increased levels of antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-12, and IL-10) production were also observed in the immunized mice. These findings showed that pVAX1-MYR1 stimulated humoral and cellular immune responses in the immunized mice. The increased production of IFN-γ and IL-12 was correlated with increased expression of the T-bet and p65 genes of the NF-κB pathway. However, no significant increase was observed in the level of IL-4. The survival of mice immunized with pVAX1-MYR1 was also significantly prolonged compared with the control group mice. Based on all the above findings, the current study proposes that pVAX1-MYR1 can induce a T. gondii-specific immune response and should therefore be considered as a promising vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to evaluate the immunoprotective value of an MYR1-based DNA vaccine against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zheng
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianzu Ding
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Di Lou
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qunbo Tong
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xunhui Zhuo
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haojie Ding
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingming Kong
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shaohong Lu
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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121
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Sánchez-López EF, Corigliano MG, Albarracín RM, Sander VA, Legarralde A, Bengoa-Luoni SA, Clemente M. Plant Hsp90 is a novel adjuvant that elicits a strong humoral and cellular immune response against B- and T-cell epitopes of a Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 peptide. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:140. [PMID: 30909938 PMCID: PMC6434815 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3362-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 90-kDa heat-shock protein (Hsp90) from Nicotiana benthamiana (NbHsp90.3) is a promising adjuvant, especially for those vaccines that require a T cell-mediated immune response. Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 is considered one of the most important antigens for the development of effective subunit vaccines. Some epitopes located in the SAG1 C-terminus region have showed a strong humoral and cellular immune response. In the present study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of NbHsp90.3 as carrier/adjuvant of SAG1-derived peptide (SAG1HC) in a T. gondii infection murine model. METHODS In the present study, C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneal immunized with the NbHsp90.3-SAG1HC fusion protein (NbHsp90.3-SAG1HC group), mature SAG1 (SAG1m group), NbHsp90.3 (NbHsp90.3 group) or PBS buffer 1× (PBS group). The levels of IgG antibodies and the cytokine profile were determined by ELISA. Two weeks after the last immunization, all mice were orally challenged with 20 cysts of T. gondii Me49 strain and the number of brain cysts was determined. In addition, both humoral and cellular immune responses were also evaluated during the acute and chronic phase of T. gondii infection by ELISA. RESULTS The characterization of the immune response generated after vaccination with NbHsp90.3 as an adjuvant showed that NbHsp90.3-SAG1HC-immunized mice produced antibodies that were able to recognize not only rSAG1m but also the native SAG1 present in the total lysate antigen extract (SAG1TLA) from T. gondii tachyzoites, while control groups did not. Furthermore, anti-rSAG1m IgG2a/2b antibodies were significantly induced. In addition, only the spleen cell cultures from NbHsp90.3-SAG1HC-immunized mice showed a significantly increased production of IFN-γ. During the chronic phase of T. gondii infection, the antibodies generated by the infection were unable to detect the recombinant protein, but they did react with TLA extract. In addition, splenocytes from all groups showed a high production of IFN-γ when stimulated with rGRA4, but only those from NbHsp90.3-SAG1HC group stimulated with rSAG1m showed high production of IFN-γ. Finally, NbHsp90.3-SAG1HC-immunized mice exhibited a significant reduction in the cyst load (56%) against T. gondii infection. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that NbHsp90.3 enhances the humoral and cell-mediated immune response through a Th1 type cytokine production. Mice vaccinated with NbHsp90.3-SAG1HC exhibited a partial protection against T. gondii infection and it was correlated with the induction of memory immune response. We developed and validated a vaccine formulation which, to our knowledge, for the first time includes the NbHsp90.3 protein covalently fused to a peptide from T. gondii SAG1 protein that contains T- and B-cell epitopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin F. Sánchez-López
- Unidad de Biotecnología 6-UB6, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino Km 8.2, B7130IWA Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina
| | - Mariana G. Corigliano
- Unidad de Biotecnología 6-UB6, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino Km 8.2, B7130IWA Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina
| | - Romina M. Albarracín
- Unidad de Biotecnología 6-UB6, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino Km 8.2, B7130IWA Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina
| | - Valeria A. Sander
- Unidad de Biotecnología 6-UB6, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino Km 8.2, B7130IWA Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina
| | - Ariel Legarralde
- Unidad de Biotecnología 6-UB6, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino Km 8.2, B7130IWA Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina
| | - Sofía A. Bengoa-Luoni
- Unidad de Biotecnología 6-UB6, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino Km 8.2, B7130IWA Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina
| | - Marina Clemente
- Unidad de Biotecnología 6-UB6, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM, Intendente Marino Km 8.2, B7130IWA Chascomús, Buenos Aires Province Argentina
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122
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Zheng B, Lou D, Ding J, Zhuo X, Ding H, Kong Q, Lu S. GRA24-Based DNA Vaccine Prolongs Survival in Mice Challenged With a Virulent Toxoplasma gondii Strain. Front Immunol 2019; 10:418. [PMID: 30894865 PMCID: PMC6414464 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii causes infections in a wide range of intermediate hosts and remains a threatening disease worldwide because of the lack of effective drugs and vaccines. Dense granule protein 24 (GRA24) is a novel essential virulence factor that is transferred into the nucleus of host cells from the parasitophorous vacuole to regulate gene expression. In the present study, bioinformatic analysis showed that GRA24 had a high score for B-cell and T-cell epitopes compared with surface antigen 1 (SAG1), which has been studied as a promising vaccine candidate. As a DNA vaccine, pVAX1-GRA24 was injected intramuscularly into BALB/c mice and the induced immune response was evaluated. pVAX1-GRA24 induced high levels of a mixed Th1/Th2 cytokines at 6 weeks after immunization. Antibody determinations, cytokines [interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-12, IL-4, IL-10], antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity showed that mice immunized with pVAX1-GRA24 produced specific humoral and cellular immune responses. The expression levels of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and T-Box 21 (T-bet) were significantly higher in the pVAX1-GRA24 immunization group than in the control groups. Survival times were prolonged significantly (24.6 ± 5.5 days) in the mice immunized with pVAX1-GRA24 compared with the mice in the control groups, which died within 7 days of T. gondii challenge (p < 0.05). The results of the present study showed that pVAX1-GRA24 induced a T. gondii-specific immune response and thus represents a promising candidate vaccine to treat toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zheng
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Di Lou
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianzu Ding
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xunhui Zhuo
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haojie Ding
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qingming Kong
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shaohong Lu
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Hangzhou, China
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Matet A, Paris L, Fardeau C, Terrada C, Champion E, Fekkar A, Cassoux N, Touitou V, LeHoang P, Bodaghi B. Clinical and Biological Factors Associated With Recurrences of Severe Toxoplasmic Retinochoroiditis Confirmed by Aqueous Humor Analysis. Am J Ophthalmol 2019; 199:82-93. [PMID: 30502335 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate clinical and biological factors influencing recurrences of severe toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TRC) confirmed by aqueous humor analysis. DESIGN Retrospective case series. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 87 subjects with severe TRC, proven by positive Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC), Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) immunoblot, or T. gondii-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in aqueous humor. Cases with immunosuppression or retinal scars without previous recorded episode were excluded. Time-dependent, clinical, treatment-related, and biological factors were explored by univariate and multivariate shared frailty survival analyses. RESULTS Among 44 included subjects (age, 40.4 ± 17.6 years; follow-up, 8.3 ± 2.7 years), 22 presented recurrences. There was 0.11 recurrence/patient/year and mean disease-free interval was 5.0 ± 2.9 years. The risk of recurrence was higher immediately after an episode (P < .0001). Among recurrent cases, the risk of multiple recurrences was higher when the first recurrence occurred after longer disease-free intervals (P = .046). In univariate analysis, the recurrence risk declined with higher number of intense bands on aqueous T. gondii immunoblot (P = .006), and increased when venous vasculitis was present initially (P = .019). Multivariate analysis confirmed that eyes with more intense bands on immunoblot had fewer recurrences (P = .041). There was a near-significant risk elevation after pyrimethamine/azithromycin treatment (P = .078 and P = .054, univariate and multivariate). Intravenous corticosteroid administration, oral corticosteroid administration, aqueous GWC, and T. gondii PCR did not influence recurrences (P = .12, P = .10, P = .39, and P = .96, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Recurrences of severe TRC are not random and may be influenced by clinical and biological factors possibly related to blood-retinal barrier alterations. These results may contribute to identifying biomarkers for TRC reactivation.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- Aqueous Humor/parasitology
- Biological Factors
- Chorioretinitis/diagnosis
- Chorioretinitis/genetics
- Chorioretinitis/immunology
- Chorioretinitis/parasitology
- DNA, Protozoan/genetics
- Eye Infections, Parasitic/diagnosis
- Eye Infections, Parasitic/genetics
- Eye Infections, Parasitic/immunology
- Eye Infections, Parasitic/parasitology
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage
- Humans
- Immunoblotting
- Infusions, Intravenous
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Recurrence
- Retrospective Studies
- Toxoplasma/genetics
- Toxoplasma/immunology
- Toxoplasmosis, Ocular/diagnosis
- Toxoplasmosis, Ocular/genetics
- Toxoplasmosis, Ocular/immunology
- Toxoplasmosis, Ocular/parasitology
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Matet
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France.
| | - Luc Paris
- Parasitology Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Christine Fardeau
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Céline Terrada
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Champion
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Fekkar
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Cassoux
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Valérie Touitou
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Phuc LeHoang
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Bahram Bodaghi
- Ophthalmology Department, Reference Center in Rare Diseases, DHU ViewRestore, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris VI University, F-75013 Paris, France
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124
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Hiob L, Berndt A, Daugschies A, Bangoura B. Host-pathogen interaction in Toxoplasma gondii-infected mixed chicken blood cell cultures. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1479-1491. [PMID: 30798368 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06265-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii has the ability to infect various nucleated cell types in different hosts. The aim of the present study was to investigate which chicken blood cells were targeted by T. gondii in a mixed blood cell culture similar to in vivo conditions and to evaluate parasite-host cell interactions. The study consisted of two subsequent experiments. In experiment 1, we applied T. gondii tachyzoites (ME49) at a multiplicity of infection of 1 tachyzoite per blood cell and examined parasite replication, cytokine, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression between 1 h and 48 h post-infection (p.i.) by quantitative PCR. By using T. gondii RH-GFP tachyzoites expressing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in experiment 2, we aimed for visualizing infected cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometric analysis at 24 h p.i. The parasite replication curve showed a massive decrease of parasite stages until 24 h p.i. followed by an approximately plateau phase. We observed mainly significantly increased iNOS mRNA expression levels in T. gondii-infected culture compared to uninfected cells. Flow cytometry and CLSM data confirmed monocytes/macrophages as main target cells for T. gondii. Moreover, different lymphocytes like B cells and cytotoxic T cells seem to be targeted to a low extent. Our findings indicate that monocytes/macrophages play a key role during T. gondii infection in chicken as host cells and triggering of immune response. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a mixed chicken blood cell culture experimentally infected with T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lysanne Hiob
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Institute, An den Tierkliniken 29, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - A Berndt
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, D-07743, Jena, Germany
| | - A Daugschies
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Albrecht-Daniel-Thaer Institute, An den Tierkliniken 29, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - B Bangoura
- Institute of Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wyoming, 1174 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, WY, 82070, USA
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125
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O'Brien CA, Batista SJ, Still KM, Harris TH. IL-10 and ICOS Differentially Regulate T Cell Responses in the Brain during Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 202:1755-1766. [PMID: 30718297 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Control of chronic CNS infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii requires ongoing T cell responses in the brain. Immunosuppressive cytokines are also important for preventing lethal immunopathology during chronic infection. To explore the loss of suppressive cytokines exclusively during the chronic phase of infection, we blocked IL-10R in chronically infected mice. Consistent with previous reports, IL-10R blockade led to severe, fatal tissue destruction associated with widespread changes in the inflammatory response, including increased APC activation, expansion of CD4+ T cells, and neutrophil recruitment to the brain. We then sought to identify regulatory mechanisms contributing to IL-10 production, focusing on ICOS, a molecule implicated in IL-10 production. Unexpectedly, ICOS ligand (ICOSL) blockade led to a local expansion of effector T cells in the brain without affecting IL-10 production or APC activation. Instead, we found that ICOSL blockade led to changes in T cells associated with their proliferation and survival. We observed increased expression of IL-2-associated signaling molecules CD25, STAT5 phosphorylation, Ki67, and Bcl-2 in T cells in the brain, along with decreased apoptosis. Interestingly, increases in CD25 and Bcl-2 were not observed following IL-10R blockade. Also, unlike IL-10R blockade, ICOSL blockade led to an expansion of both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the brain, with no expansion of peripheral T cells or neutrophil recruitment to the brain and no severe tissue destruction. Overall, these results suggest that IL-10 and ICOS differentially regulate T cell responses in the brain during chronic T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carleigh A O'Brien
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Samantha J Batista
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Katherine M Still
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Tajie H Harris
- Center for Brain Immunology and Glia, Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
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126
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Hou Z, Liu D, Su S, Wang L, Zhao Z, Ma Y, Li Q, Jia C, Xu J, Zhou Y, Tao J. Comparison of splenocyte microRNA expression profiles of pigs during acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:97. [PMID: 30700253 PMCID: PMC6354428 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5458-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects humans and other warm-blooded animals. Previous quantitative proteomic analyses of infected host cells revealed that the expression of many host proteins is modulated by T. gondii infection. However, at present limited data are available on the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) associated with the pathology and host immune responses induced by acute and chronic infection with T. gondii in pigs in vivo. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate expression profiles of spleen miRNAs at 10, 25 and 50 days post-infection (DPI) in pigs infected with Chinese I genotype strain T. gondii isolated from a dead pig. RESULTS When compared to the control group, 34, 6 and 86 DEMs were found in spleens of infected pigs at 10, 25 and 50 DPI, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the target genes of DEMs showed that no GO terms were enriched at 25 DPI, whereas 28 and 241 GO terms, of which two and 215 were sample-specific, were significantly enriched at 10 and 50 DPI, respectively. The top 20 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of the target genes of DEMs included signal transduction, immune system, metabolism and diseases. miRNA-gene network analysis revealed that the DEMs played important roles in the host immune response to T. gondii infection by modulating expression levels of cellular immunity-related cytokines and immune-related C-type lectins. CONCLUSION Our results not only showed that host miRNA expression is altered by T. gondii but also revealed differences in the regulation of key biological processes and pathways involved in host responses to acute versus chronic T. gondii infection. This will aid future research into miRNA-target interactions during T. gondii infection in pigs and the development of novel therapies against T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaofeng Hou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Dandan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Shijie Su
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Lele Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenxing Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifei Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaoqiao Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanli Jia
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjun Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghua Zhou
- Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Wuxi, 214064, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Tao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Biological Hazard Factors (Animal Origin) for Agri-food Safety and Quality, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China. .,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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127
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McDermott DH, Heusinkveld LE, Zein WM, Sen HN, Marquesen MM, Parta M, Rosenzweig SD, Fahle GA, Keller MD, Wiley HE, Murphy PM. Case Report: Ocular toxoplasmosis in a WHIM syndrome immunodeficiency patient. F1000Res 2019; 8:2. [PMID: 31249677 PMCID: PMC6587139 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.16825.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A patient with WHIM syndrome immunodeficiency presented with sudden painless right eye blindness associated with advanced retinal and optic nerve damage. Toxoplasma gondii was detected by PCR in vitreous fluid but not serum. The patient was treated with pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine for 6 weeks due to evidence of active ocular inflammation and then received prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole due to his immunosuppression. Vision did not return; however, the infection did not spread to involve other sites. Toxoplasmosis is rare in primary immunodeficiency disorders and is the first protozoan infection reported in WHIM syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H. McDermott
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Lauren E. Heusinkveld
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Wadih M. Zein
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - H. Nida Sen
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Martha M. Marquesen
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Mark Parta
- Clinical Research Directorate/Clinical Monitoring Research Program, Bethesda, MD, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Sergio D. Rosenzweig
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Gary A. Fahle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Michael D. Keller
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Henry E. Wiley
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Philip M. Murphy
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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128
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McDermott DH, Heusinkveld LE, Zein WM, Sen HN, Marquesen MM, Parta M, Rosenzweig SD, Fahle GA, Keller MD, Wiley HE, Murphy PM. Case Report: Ocular toxoplasmosis in a WHIM syndrome immunodeficiency patient. F1000Res 2019; 8:2. [PMID: 31249677 PMCID: PMC6587139 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.16825.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
A patient with WHIM syndrome immunodeficiency presented with sudden painless right eye blindness associated with advanced retinal and optic nerve damage. Toxoplasma gondii was detected by PCR in vitreous fluid but not serum. The patient was treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Vision did not return; however, the infection did not spread to involve other sites. Toxoplasmosis is rare in primary immunodeficiency disorders and is the first protozoan infection reported in WHIM syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H. McDermott
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Lauren E. Heusinkveld
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Wadih M. Zein
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - H. Nida Sen
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Martha M. Marquesen
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Mark Parta
- Clinical Research Directorate/Clinical Monitoring Research Program, Bethesda, MD, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Sergio D. Rosenzweig
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Gary A. Fahle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Michael D. Keller
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Henry E. Wiley
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Philip M. Murphy
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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Immune Responses Induced by pVAX/ TgERK7 against Toxoplasma gondii Infection in BALB/c Mice. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 14:552-562. [PMID: 32099558 PMCID: PMC7028233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii can infect all the warm-blooded vertebrates and cause serious toxoplasmosis. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 7 in T. gondii (TgERK7) mediated the proliferation of this parasite may be a potential vaccine candidate. Thus, immune responses induced by TgERK7 were investigated in this study using a DNA vaccine strategy. METHODS pVAX/TgERK7 plasmid was constructed and used to immunize BALB/c mice for three times with two-week intervals. The challenge and the investigation of humoral and cellular immune responses were performed at two weeks post the last immunization, and the survival times of the infected mice were daily recorded until all of them were dead. RESULTS The innate immune response with higher concentrations of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL2 and IL12p70 in sera (P < 0.05), and the adaptive immune responses were evoked by the DNA immunizations, including specific antibody, lymphocyte proliferation, and the CD3e+CD4+ and CD3e+CD8a+ T cell-mediated response effects. Interestingly, no significant difference was detected in their survival times among all the experimental groups of mice that were challenged with GT1 tachyzoites or PRU cysts (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The successive immunizations with pVAX/TgERK7 can provoke the innate and adaptive immune responses of BALB/c mice, whereas the DNA vaccine-induced immunological efficacy is not sufficient for complete protection the host against T. gondii infection.
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130
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Borges M, Magalhães Silva T, Brito C, Teixeira N, Roberts CW. How does toxoplasmosis affect the maternal-foetal immune interface and pregnancy? Parasite Immunol 2018; 41:e12606. [PMID: 30471137 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite which, depending on the geographical location, can infect between 10% and 90% of humans. Infection during pregnancy may result in congenital toxoplasmosis. The effects on the foetus vary depending on the stage of gestation in which primary maternal infection arises. A large body of research has focused on understanding immune response to toxoplasmosis, although few studies have addressed how it is affected by pregnancy or the pathological consequences of infection at the maternal-foetal interface. There is a lack of knowledge about how maternal immune cells, specifically macrophages, are modulated during infection and the resulting consequences for parasite control and pathology. Herein, we discuss the potential of T. gondii infection to affect the maternal-foetal interface and the potential of pregnancy to disrupt maternal immunity to T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarida Borges
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tânia Magalhães Silva
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Brito
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Natércia Teixeira
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Craig W Roberts
- Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
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131
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Peng X, Brenner LA, Mathai AJ, Cook TB, Fuchs D, Postolache N, Groer MW, Pandey JP, Mohyuddin F, Giegling I, Wadhawan A, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Brundin L, Friedl M, Stiller JW, Lowry CA, Rujescu D, Postolache TT. Moderation of the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and trait impulsivity in younger men by the phenylalanine-tyrosine ratio. Psychiatry Res 2018; 270:992-1000. [PMID: 30057257 PMCID: PMC6371810 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we reported that Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)-seropositivity is associated with higher impulsive sensation seeking in younger men. As dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling regulate impulsivity, and as T. gondii directly and indirectly affects dopaminergic signaling and induces activation of the kynurenine pathway leading to the diversion of tryptophan from serotonin production, we investigated if dopamine and serotonin precursors or the tryptophan metabolite kynurenine interact with the T. gondii-impulsivity association. In 950 psychiatrically healthy participants, trait impulsivity scores were related to T. gondii IgG seropositivity. Interactions were also identified between categorized levels of phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), Phe:Tyr ratio, kynurenine (Kyn), tryptophan (Trp) and Kyn:Trp ratio, and age and gender. Only younger T. gondii-positive men with a high Phe:Tyr ratio, were found to have significantly higher impulsivity scores. There were no significant associations in other demographic groups, including women and older men. No significant effects or interactions were identified for Phe, Tyr, Kyn, Trp, or Kyn:Trp ratio. Phe:Tyr ratio, therefore, may play a moderating role in the association between T. gondii seropositivity and impulsivity in younger men. These results could potentially lead to individualized approaches to reduce impulsivity, based on combined demographic, biochemical and serological factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Peng
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lisa A. Brenner
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Denver, CO, USA,University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Departments of Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology, Denver, CO, USA,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE). Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ashwin J. Mathai
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Thomas B. Cook
- Department of Public Health & Mercyhurst Institute for Public Health, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA, USA
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nadine Postolache
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Janardan P. Pandey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Farooq Mohyuddin
- Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ina Giegling
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Abhishek Wadhawan
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Annette M. Hartmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Bettina Konte
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Lena Brundin
- Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University and the Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Marion Friedl
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - John W. Stiller
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher A. Lowry
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Denver, CO, USA,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE). Denver, CO, USA,Department of Integrative Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Teodor T. Postolache
- Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Denver, CO, USA,Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE). Denver, CO, USA,VA Capitol Health Care Network, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 5 MIRECC), Baltimore, MD, USA,Correspondent author. (T.T. Postolache)
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132
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Protective effects of a traditional herbal extract from Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata against Mycobacterium abscessus infections. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207696. [PMID: 30452471 PMCID: PMC6242687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata (SdLv), a member of the Caryophyllaceae, is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used to treat fever, night sweats, and malaria in East Asia. Inflammation plays an essential role in both host defense and pathogenesis during infection by diverse intracellular pathogens. Herein, we showed that an herbal extract from SdLv effectively attenuated inflammatory responses from infection of Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab), but not Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). In primary murine macrophages, Mab infection resulted in the rapid activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), as well as in the generation of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6, which were all significantly inhibited by pretreatment with SdLv. However, herbal extracts from Bupleurum chinense DC. (Buch) or Bupleurum falcatum L. (Bufa) did not affect M. abs-induced activation of proinflammatory responses. Importantly, we demonstrated that generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species, which are important signaling intermediaries in the activation of NF-κB and the MAPK signaling pathway, was rapidly increased in Mab-infected macrophages, and this was effectively suppressed by pretreatment with SdLv, but not Buch and Bufa. We further found that the treatment of Buch and Bufa, but not SdLv, led to the activation of NF-κB and the MAPK signaling pathway and the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Moreover, oral administration of SdLv significantly reduced lethality in Mab-infected mice. Collectively, these results suggest the possible use of SdLv as an effective treatment for Mab infection.
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133
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Safronova A, Araujo A, Camanzo ET, Moon TJ, Elliott MR, Beiting DP, Yarovinsky F. Alarmin S100A11 initiates a chemokine response to the human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Immunol 2018; 20:64-72. [PMID: 30455460 PMCID: PMC6291348 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0250-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a common protozoan parasite that infects up to one-third of the world’s population. Notably, very little is known about innate immune-sensing mechanisms for this obligate intracellular parasite by human cells. Here, by applying an unbiased biochemical screening approach, we have identified that human monocytes recognized the presence of T. gondii infection via detection of the alarmin S100A11 protein, which is released from parasite-infected cells via caspase-1-dependent mechanisms. S100A11 induced a potent chemokine response to T. gondii via engagement of its receptor RAGE and regulated monocyte recruitment in vivo by inducing expression of the chemokine CCL2. Our experiments have revealed a sensing system for T. gondii by human cells that is based on detection infection-mediated release of alarmin S100A11 and RAGE-dependent induction of CCL2, a crucial chemokine required for host resistance to the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Safronova
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Alessandra Araujo
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Ellie T Camanzo
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Taylor J Moon
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Michael R Elliott
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Daniel P Beiting
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Felix Yarovinsky
- Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
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134
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El-Tantawy NL, Soliman AF, Abdel-Magied A, Ghorab D, Khalil AT, Naeem ZM, Shimizu K, El-Sharkawy SH. Could Araucaria heterophylla resin extract be used as a new treatment for toxoplasmosis? Exp Parasitol 2018; 195:44-53. [PMID: 30339984 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitic disease responsible for serious health problems to human. The currently available drugs used for toxoplasmosis treatment showed a limited efficacy and cause serious host toxicity. The in vitro screening for toxoplasmicidal activity of Araucaria heterophylla resin (AHR) extract and its major component 13-epi-cupressic acid (CUP) showed that both AHR (EC50 = 3.90) and CUP (EC50 = 3.69) have high toxoplasmicidal activity in comparison with standard cotrimoxazole (EC50 = 4.28). The antiprotozoal effects of AHR and CUP were investigated against acute and chronic toxoplasmosis using mice models. Two groups of Swiss albino mice were infected by RH Toxoplasma strain intraperitoneally and by Me49 strain orally. Both groups were treated with AHR and CUP in different doses. Their effects were evaluated by survival rate, peritoneal, spleen and liver parasite burdens, brain cyst burden, NO serum level and histopathological lesions. The ultrastructural changes of tachyzoites of acutely infected mice were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There is an evidence of toxoplasmicidal activity of AHR and CUP in acute and chronic experimental toxoplasmosis. In the acute model, mice treated with AHR and CUP showed prolonged survival rates, a significant decrease in the parasite density in peritoneal lavage and pathological insult in both liver and spleen compared with that of untreated ones. SEM results denote evident morphological alterations of treated tachyzoites. In chronic experimental toxoplasmosis, AHR and CUP treated groups could significantly reduce brain cyst burden by 96.05% and 98.02% respectively. This study indicates that AHR and CUP showed potent toxoplasmicidal activities experimentally and could be used as a potential natural nontoxic agent for treatment of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora L El-Tantawy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
| | - Amal F Soliman
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Aida Abdel-Magied
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Doaa Ghorab
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Ashraf T Khalil
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Zein M Naeem
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Kuniyoshi Shimizu
- Division of Systematic Forest and Forest Products Sciences, Department of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan
| | - Saleh H El-Sharkawy
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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135
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Lew MH, Noordin R, Monsur Alam Khan M, Tye GJ. Immune Stimulation of RAP domain binding protein (rTgRA15) from Toxoplasma gondii. Pathog Glob Health 2018; 112:387-394. [PMID: 30332344 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1536854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease in human and animals, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Our previous study has led to the discovery of a novel RAP domain binding protein antigen (TgRA15), an apparent in-vivo induced antigen recognised by antibodies in acutely infected individuals. This study is aimed to evaluate the humoral response and cytokine release elicited by recombinant TgRA15 protein in C57BL/6 mice, demonstrating its potential as a candidate vaccine for Toxoplasma gondii infection. In this study, the recombinant TgRA15 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and refolded into soluble form. C57BL/6 mice were immunised intradermally with the antigen and CASAC (Combined Adjuvant for Synergistic Activation of Cellular immunity). Antigen-specific humoral and cell-mediated responses were evaluated using Western blot and ELISA. The total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies specific to the antigen were significantly increased in treatment group compare to control group. A higher level of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secretion was demonstrated in the mice group receiving booster doses of rTgRA15 protein, suggesting a potential Th1-mediated response. In conclusion, the rTgRA15 protein has the potential to generate specific antibody response and elicit cellular response, thus potentially serve as a vaccine candidate against T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Han Lew
- a Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM) , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Minden , Penang , Malaysia
| | - Rahmah Noordin
- a Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM) , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Minden , Penang , Malaysia
| | - Mohammed Monsur Alam Khan
- a Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM) , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Minden , Penang , Malaysia
| | - Gee Jun Tye
- a Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM) , Universiti Sains Malaysia , Minden , Penang , Malaysia
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136
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Radke JB, Carey KL, Shaw S, Metkar SR, Mulrooney C, Gale JP, Bittker JA, Hilgraf R, Comer E, Schreiber SL, Virgin HW, Perez JR, Sibley LD. High Throughput Screen Identifies Interferon γ-Dependent Inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii Growth. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:1499-1507. [PMID: 30058798 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite capable of causing severe disease due to congenital infection and in patients with compromised immune systems. Control of infection is dependent on a robust Th1 type immune response including production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), which is essential for control. IFN-γ activates a variety of antimicrobial mechanisms in host cells, which are then able to control intracellular parasites such as T. gondii. Despite the effectiveness of these pathways in controlling acute infection, the immune system is unable to eradicate chronic infections that can persist for life. Similarly, while antibiotic treatment can control acute infection, it is unable to eliminate chronic infection. To identify compounds that would act synergistically with IFN-γ, we performed a high-throughput screen of diverse small molecule libraries to identify inhibitors of T. gondii. We identified a number of compounds that inhibited parasite growth in vitro at low μM concentrations and that demonstrated enhanced potency in the presence of a low level of IFN-γ. A subset of these compounds act by enhancing the recruitment of light chain 3 (LC3) to the parasite-containing vacuole, suggesting they work by an autophagy-related process, while others were independent of this pathway. The pattern of IFN-γ dependence was shared among the majority of analogs from 6 priority scaffolds, and analysis of structure activity relationships for one such class revealed specific stereochemistry associated with this feature. Identification of these IFN-γ-dependent leads may lead to development of improved therapeutics due to their synergistic interactions with immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B. Radke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Kimberly L. Carey
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Subrata Shaw
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Shailesh R. Metkar
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Carol Mulrooney
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Jennifer P. Gale
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Joshua A. Bittker
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Robert Hilgraf
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Eamon Comer
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - Stuart L. Schreiber
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Herbert W. Virgin
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Jose R. Perez
- Center for the Development of Therapeutics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
| | - L. David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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137
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Menard KL, Haskins BE, Colombo AP, Denkers EY. Toxoplasma gondii Manipulates Expression of Host Long Noncoding RNA during Intracellular Infection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15017. [PMID: 30301916 PMCID: PMC6177471 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) are non-protein-coding transcripts greater than 200 nucleotides that regulate gene expression. The field of transcriptomics is only beginning to understand the role of lncRNA in host defense. Little is known about the role of lncRNA in the response to infection by intracellular pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii. Using a microarray, we examined the differential expression of 35,923 lncRNAs and 24,881 mRNAs in mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages during infection with high- and low-virulence T. gondii strains. We found that 1,522 lncRNA molecules were differentially regulated during infection with the high-virulence Type I strain, versus 528 with the less-virulent Type II strain. Of these lncRNAs, 282 were co-regulated with a nearby or overlapping mRNA–including approximately 60 mRNAs with immune-related functions. We validated the microarray for 4 lncRNAs and 4 mRNAs using qRT-PCR. Using deletion strains of T. gondii, we found that the secretory kinase ROP16 controls upregulation of lncRNAs Csf1-lnc and Socs2-lnc, demonstrating that the parasite directly manipulates host lncRNA expression. Given the number of regulated lncRNAs and the magnitude of the expression changes, we hypothesize that these molecules constitute both an additional regulatory layer in the host response to infection and a target for manipulation by T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla L Menard
- Department of Biology and Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Breanne E Haskins
- Department of Biology and Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | | | - Eric Y Denkers
- Department of Biology and Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
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138
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasitic protist that infects a wide range of warm-blooded vertebrates. Although this parasite can cause serious complications, infections are often asymptomatic, allowing T. gondii to persist in its host and possibly enhancing the chances of its transmission. T. gondii has thus evolved multiple mechanisms of host manipulation to establish chronic infection. This persistence involves a balance between host immunity and parasite evasion of this immune response. This review highlights recent investigations that have demonstrated the important role played by the autophagy machinery in this balance, both in parasite control by the host, and in host exploitation by the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Besteiro
- a DIMNP, UMR5235 CNRS , Université de Montpellier , Montpellier , France
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139
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Berrett AN, Gale SD, Erickson LD, Thacker EL, Brown BL, Hedges DW. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and substance use in US adults. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2018; 65. [PMID: 30213919 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2018.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) infects humans resulting in acute toxoplasmosis, an infection that in immunocompetent people is typically mild but results in persistent latent toxoplasmosis. In that T. gondii appears to affect dopamine synthesis and because addicting drugs affect midbrain dopamine transmission, latent toxoplasmosis could influence substance use. Using both the third and continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we used logistic regression to test for associations between T. gondii seropositivity and subject self-report of having ever used tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. In the third NHANES dataset, which included data for tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a reduced likelihood of self-reported marijuana (OR = 0.71 [95% CI: 0.58; 0.87]; p = 0.001) and cocaine use (OR = 0.72 [95% CI: 0.56; 0.91]; p = 0.006). In the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys dataset, which included data for all six substances, T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a reduced likelihood of self-reported tobacco (OR = 0.87 [95% CI: 0.76; 1.00]; p = 0.044), marijuana (OR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.50; 0.72]; p < 0.001), heroin (OR = 0.60 [95% CI: 0.42; 0.85]; p = 0.005) and methamphetamine use (OR = 0.54 [95% CI: 0.38; 0.77]; p = 0.001). We observed interactions between sex and T. gondii seropositivity in the prediction of self-reported use of tobacco and alcohol. Further, T. gondii seropositivity appeared to remove the protective effect of education and economic status against self-reported cigarette smoking. These findings suggest that T. gondii seropositivity may be inversely associated with some but not all types of substance use in US adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N Berrett
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Shawn D Gale
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America.,The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Lance D Erickson
- Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Evan L Thacker
- Department of Public Health, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America This article contains supporting information (S1) online at http://folia.paru.cas.cz/suppl/2018-65-011.pdf
| | - Bruce L Brown
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
| | - Dawson W Hedges
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America.,The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, United States of America
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140
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Liang Y, Wang S, Xie Q, Nan X, Li P, Hong G, Liu Q, Li X. Molecular characterization and protective immunity of rhoptry protein 35 (ROP35) of Toxoplasma gondii as a DNA vaccine. Vet Parasitol 2018; 260:12-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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141
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Lang D, Schott BH, van Ham M, Morton L, Kulikovskaja L, Herrera-Molina R, Pielot R, Klawonn F, Montag D, Jänsch L, Gundelfinger ED, Smalla KH, Dunay IR. Chronic Toxoplasma infection is associated with distinct alterations in the synaptic protein composition. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:216. [PMID: 30068357 PMCID: PMC6090988 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1242-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic infection with the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been implicated in the risk for several neuropsychiatric disorders. The mechanisms, by which the parasite may alter neural function and behavior of the host, are not yet understood completely. Methods Here, a novel proteomic approach using mass spectrometry was employed to investigate the alterations in synaptic protein composition in a murine model of chronic toxoplasmosis. In a candidate-based strategy, immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry were applied to investigate the expression levels of key synaptic proteins in glutamatergic signaling. Results A comparison of the synaptosomal protein composition revealed distinct changes upon infection, with multiple proteins such as EAAT2, Shank3, AMPA receptor, and NMDA receptor subunits being downregulated, whereas inflammation-related proteins showed an upregulation. Treatment with the antiparasitic agent sulfadiazine strongly reduced tachyzoite levels and diminished neuroinflammatory mediators. However, in both conditions, a significant number of latent cysts persisted in the brain. Conversely, infection-related alterations of key synaptic protein levels could be partly reversed by the treatment. Conclusion These results provide evidence for profound changes especially in synaptic protein composition in T. gondii-infected mice with a downregulation of pivotal components of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Our results suggest that the detected synaptic alterations are a consequence of the distinct neuroinflammatory milieu caused by the neurotropic parasite. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-018-1242-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lang
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Björn H Schott
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marco van Ham
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Cellular Proteomics Group, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lorena Morton
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Leonora Kulikovskaja
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Rodrigo Herrera-Molina
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rainer Pielot
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Frank Klawonn
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Cellular Proteomics Group, Braunschweig, Germany.,Department of Computer Science, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Wolfenbuettel, Germany
| | - Dirk Montag
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lothar Jänsch
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Cellular Proteomics Group, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Eckart D Gundelfinger
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.,Molecular Neurobiology, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Karl Heinz Smalla
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. .,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.
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142
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Li ZY, Lu J, Zhang NZ, Elsheikha HM, Hou JL, Guo HT, Zhu XQ. Immunization with plasmid DNA expressing Heat Shock Protein 40 confers prophylactic protection against chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection in Kunming mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 25:37. [PMID: 30040611 PMCID: PMC6057741 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2018040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii causes one of the most common protozoal diseases of humans and animals worldwide. With the aim of designing an effective vaccine against T. gondii infection, we examined the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine expressing heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) against challenge with T. gondii (type I RH and type II Pru) strains in Kunming mice. The plasmid pVAX1-HSP40 was constructed and used to immunize mice by intramuscular injection for three sequential immunizations with two-week intervals. This immunization regimen significantly reduced parasite cyst burden in pVAX1-HSP40-immunized mice (1871.9 ± 142.3) compared with control mouse groups immunized with pVAX1 (3479.2 ± 204.4), phosphate buffered saline (3024.4 ± 212.8), or left untreated (3275.0 ± 179.8) as healthy controls (p < 0.01). However, immunization failed to protect mice against challenge with the virulent RH strain. There was a significant increase in T lymphocyte subclasses (CD3e+CD4+ T and CD3e+CD8a+ T lymphocytes) in splenic tissues in immunized mice compared with controls (p < 0.05). However, the level of antibodies, lymphocyte proliferation and concentration of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12p70) were not significantly different between immunized and control mouse groups (p < 0.05). These data indicate that pVAX1-HSP40 induced specific immune responses and achieved a significant reduction in the number of brain cysts in Pru-infected mice, and thus can be tested in future immunization studies along with plasmids containing other immunogenic proteins as a cocktail vaccine to fully abolish chronic toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Yuan Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China - State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Jing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Nian-Zhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Jun-Ling Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Hai-Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China - College of Biological Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, PR China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
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143
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Gamma irradiation of Toxoplasma gondii protein extract improve immune response and protection in mice models. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 106:599-604. [PMID: 29990848 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gamma radiation induces protein changes that enhance immunogenicity for venoms, used in antivenin production. Coccidian parasites exposed to gamma radiation elicit immune response with protection in mice and man, but without studies on the effect of gamma radiation in soluble acellular extracts or isolated proteins. Toxoplasmosis is a highly prevalent coccidian disease with only one vaccine for veterinary use but with remaining tissue cysts. Total parasite extracts or recombinant proteins used as immunogen induce usually low protection. Here, we study gamma radiation effect on T. gondii extracts proteins (STAG) and its induced immunity in experimental mice models. By SDS-PAGE, protein degradation is seen at high radiation doses, but at ideal dose (1500 Gy), there are preservation of the antigenicity and immunogenicity, detected by specific antibody recognition or production after mice immunization. Immunization with STAG irradiated at 1500 Gy induced significant protection in mice immunized and challenged with distinct T. gondii strains. In their blood, higher levels of specific CD19+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ activated cells were found when compared to mice immunized with STAG. Irradiated T. gondii tachyzoites extracts induce immune response and protection in mice in addition, could be a feasible alternative for Toxoplasma vaccine.
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144
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Muruganandah V, Sathkumara HD, Navarro S, Kupz A. A Systematic Review: The Role of Resident Memory T Cells in Infectious Diseases and Their Relevance for Vaccine Development. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1574. [PMID: 30038624 PMCID: PMC6046459 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Resident memory T cells have emerged as key players in the immune response generated against a number of pathogens. Their ability to take residence in non-lymphoid peripheral tissues allows for the rapid deployment of secondary effector responses at the site of pathogen entry. This ability to provide enhanced regional immunity has gathered much attention, with the generation of resident memory T cells being the goal of many novel vaccines. Objectives This review aimed to systematically analyze published literature investigating the role of resident memory T cells in human infectious diseases. Known effector responses mounted by these cells are summarized and key strategies that are potentially influential in the rational design of resident memory T cell inducing vaccines have also been highlighted. Methods A Boolean search was applied to Medline, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. Studies that investigated the effector response generated by resident memory T cells and/or evaluated strategies for inducing these cells were included irrespective of published date. Studies must have utilized an established technique for identifying resident memory T cells such as T cell phenotyping. Results While over 600 publications were revealed by the search, 147 articles were eligible for inclusion. The reference lists of included articles were also screened for other eligible publications. This resulted in the inclusion of publications that studied resident memory T cells in the context of over 25 human pathogens. The vast majority of studies were conducted in mouse models and demonstrated that resident memory T cells mount protective immune responses. Conclusion Although the role resident memory T cells play in providing immunity varies depending on the pathogen and anatomical location they resided in, the evidence overall suggests that these cells are vital for the timely and optimal protection against a number of infectious diseases. The induction of resident memory T cells should be further investigated and seriously considered when designing new vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Visai Muruganandah
- Centre for Biosecurity and Tropical Infectious Diseases, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Harindra D Sathkumara
- Centre for Biosecurity and Tropical Infectious Diseases, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Severine Navarro
- Centre for Biosecurity and Tropical Infectious Diseases, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andreas Kupz
- Centre for Biosecurity and Tropical Infectious Diseases, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
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145
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Jeffers V, Tampaki Z, Kim K, Sullivan WJ. A latent ability to persist: differentiation in Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:2355-2373. [PMID: 29602951 PMCID: PMC5988958 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2808-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A critical factor in the transmission and pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii is the ability to convert from an acute disease-causing, proliferative stage (tachyzoite), to a chronic, dormant stage (bradyzoite). The conversion of the tachyzoite-containing parasitophorous vacuole membrane into the less permeable bradyzoite cyst wall allows the parasite to persist for years within the host to maximize transmissibility to both primary (felids) and secondary (virtually all other warm-blooded vertebrates) hosts. This review presents our current understanding of the latent stage, including the factors that are important in bradyzoite induction and maintenance. Also discussed are the recent studies that have begun to unravel the mechanisms behind stage switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Jeffers
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Zoi Tampaki
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Kami Kim
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - William J Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
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146
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Xie Q, Li P, Nan X, Kong L, Zeng D, Ding Z, Wang S. The Molecular Characterization and Immunity Identification of Rhoptry Protein 22 of Toxoplasma gondii
as a DNA Vaccine Candidate Against Toxoplasmosis. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2018; 66:147-157. [PMID: 29858559 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenchao Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Yuhua Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Qing Xie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Pengju Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Xiaoxu Nan
- School of Stomatology; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Lingmin Kong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Dapeng Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Zhifang Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
| | - Shuai Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences; Xinxiang Medical University; Xinxiang Henan 453003 China
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147
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Li ZY, Lu J, Zhang NZ, Chen J, Zhu XQ. Immune Responses Induced by HSP60 DNA Vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Kunming Mice. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2018; 56:237-245. [PMID: 29996627 PMCID: PMC6046561 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.3.237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii can infect all the vertebrates including human, and leads to serious toxoplasmosis and considerable veterinary problems. T. gondii heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is associated with the activation of antigen presenting cells by inducing initial immune responses and releasing inflammatory cytokines. It might be a potential DNA vaccine candidate for this parasite. A pVAX-HSP60 DNA vaccine was constructed and immune responses was evaluated in Kunming mice in this study. Our data indicated that the innate and adaptive immune responses was elicited by successive immunizations with pVAX-HSP60 DNA, showing apparent increases of CD3e+CD4+ and CD3e+CD8a+ T cells in spleen tissues of the HSP60 DNA-immunized mice (24.70±1.23% and 10.90±0.89%, P<0.05) and higher levels of specific antibodies in sera. Furthermore, the survival period of the immunized mice (10.53±4.78 day) were significantly prolonged during the acute T. gondii infection. Decrease of brain cysts was significant in the experimental group during the chronic infection (P<0.01). Taken together, TgHSP60 DNA can be as a vaccine candidate to prevent the acute and chronic T. gondii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Yuan Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province 230036, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, P. R. China
| | - Jing Lu
- Guangdong Wens Dahuanong Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Yunfu, Guangdong Province 524700, P. R. China
| | - Nian-Zhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, P. R. China
| | - Jia Chen
- Ningbo University School of Medicine, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province 315211, P. R. China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, P. R. China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, P. R. China
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148
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Chen XQ, Elsheikha HM, Hu RS, Hu GX, Guo SL, Zhou CX, Zhu XQ. Hepatic Metabolomics Investigation in Acute and Chronic Murine Toxoplasmosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:189. [PMID: 29922602 PMCID: PMC5996072 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii poses a great threat to human health, with no approved vaccine available for the treatment of T. gondii infection. T. gondii infections are not limited to the brain, and may also affect other organs especially the liver. Identification of host liver molecules or pathways involved in T. gondii replication process may lead to the discovery of novel anti-T. gondii targets. Here, we analyzed the metabolic profile of the liver of mice on 11 and 30 days postinfection (dpi) with type II T. gondii Pru strain. Global metabolomics using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identified 389 significant metabolites from acutely infected mice; and 368 from chronically infected mice, when compared with control mice. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed distinct metabolic signatures from acutely infected, chronically infected and control mice. Infection influenced several metabolic processes, in particular those for lipids and amino acids. Metabolic pathways, such as steroid hormone biosynthesis, primary bile acid biosynthesis, bile secretion, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids were perturbed during the whole infection process, particularly during the acute stage of infection. The present results provide insight into hepatic metabolic changes that occur in BALB/c mice during acute and chronic T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Rui-Si Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Gui-Xue Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Shu-Ling Guo
- Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Chun-Xue Zhou
- Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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149
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Wang M, Xie Q, Li P, Zuo S, Kong L, Wang C, Wang S. Immune Protection of Rhoptry Protein 21 (ROP21) of Toxoplasma gondii as a DNA Vaccine Against Toxoplasmosis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:909. [PMID: 29867820 PMCID: PMC5951983 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry proteins (TgROPs) are the major targets as key molecules for immunodiagnosis as well as immunoprophylaxis because of their initial presentation to the host immune system. In this work, it was aimed at evaluating the protection effect of TgROP21 DNA vaccine on experimental mice subjected to T. gondii challenge. The gene sequence encoding TgROP21 was inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX I, and western blotting indicates that the lysate of BHK cells transfected with pVAX-TgROP21 was specifically recognized as a band of about 82.6 kDa by serum obtained from a T. gondii infected chicken. The efficacy of intramuscular vaccination of BALB/c mice three times at weeks 0, 2, and 4 with pVAX-ROP21 was analyzed. The levels of IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a among pVAX-ROP21 vaccinated animals were integrally increased. It was uncovered by cytokine profile analyses that IFN-γ was significantly increased, while no significant changes were detected in interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Additionally, we found that immunization with pVAX-ROP21 significantly prolonged survival time (13.50 ± 1.65 days) after challenge infection with the virulent T. gondii RH strain, in comparison to those of control animals (died within 10 days). Moreover, the number of brain cysts (1475 ± 163) in the animals subjected to pVAX-TgROP21 vaccination decreased remarkably (P < 0.05) compared to the blank control mice (2333 ± 473), and the size of brain cysts in pVAX-TgROP21 group was significantly smaller than the groups of blank, PBS and pVAXI. It was indicated that intense cell-mediated and humoral immunity was triggered and defense against T. gondii was partially induced after vaccination by TgROP21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenchao Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yuhua Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Mingyong Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Targeted Therapy, Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Qing Xie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Pengju Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Suqiong Zuo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Lingmin Kong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Chenxing Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
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150
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Nassief Beshay EV, El-Refai SA, Helwa MA, Atia AF, Dawoud MM. Toxoplasma gondii as a possible causative pathogen of type-1 diabetes mellitus: Evidence from case-control and experimental studies. Exp Parasitol 2018; 188:93-101. [PMID: 29627328 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative parasite of an important worldwide disease. This obligate intracellular parasite can infect and replicate inside any nucleated cells including those of pancreas. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas and is responsible for controlling blood glucose concentration. Deficiency of insulin production accounts for the occurrence of type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Thus, theoretically, toxoplasmosis could play a possible role in the development of T1D. However, the studies on this theory are still insufficient; therefore, this work was designed. Interestingly, in the case-control study, seropositivity of anti-Toxoplasma IgG was significantly higher among T1D (86.37%) in comparison with T2D (66.67%) and the control group (60%). Moreover, the odd ratio of chronic toxoplasmosis was 4.2 folds higher among T1D patients than among controls. The experimental study included acute and chronic Me49 T. gondii infected mice groups in addition to a control group. Pathological examination revealed the presence of T. gondii zoites adjacent to the islets of Langerhans and in pancreatic parenchyma of acutely infected mice. With chronic infection, there was a significant reduction of islets number and sizes in association with grade-1 insulitis. Additionally, the immunohistochemical study showed significant infiltration of the islets of chronically infected mice by CD8+ and CD45+ immune cells. In contrary to the control group, the islets of the chronic group showed significantly higher expression of the apoptotic marker caspase-3 and a significantly lower expression of the proliferation marker Ki69. Finally, a significant reduction of insulin expression in the islets of chronic infection group was detected in association with a significant increase in serum glucose concentrations; however, the establishment of diabetes did not occur throughout this work. Thus, this study presents an evidence for the probable role of chronic toxoplasmosis in the development of T1D which should be considered in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samar A El-Refai
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A Helwa
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Amany Fawzy Atia
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
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