101
|
Salunke R, Mourier T, Banerjee M, Pain A, Shanmugam D. Highly diverged novel subunit composition of apicomplexan F-type ATP synthase identified from Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2006128. [PMID: 30005062 PMCID: PMC6059495 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial F-type ATP synthase, a multisubunit nanomotor, is critical for maintaining cellular ATP levels. In T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites, many subunit components necessary for proper assembly and functioning of this enzyme appear to be missing. Here, we report the identification of 20 novel subunits of T. gondii F-type ATP synthase from mass spectrometry analysis of partially purified monomeric (approximately 600 kDa) and dimeric (>1 MDa) forms of the enzyme. Despite extreme sequence diversification, key FO subunits a, b, and d can be identified from conserved structural features. Orthologs for these proteins are restricted to apicomplexan, chromerid, and dinoflagellate species. Interestingly, their absence in ciliates indicates a major diversion, with respect to subunit composition of this enzyme, within the alveolate clade. Discovery of these highly diversified novel components of the apicomplexan F-type ATP synthase complex could facilitate the development of novel antiparasitic agents. Structural and functional characterization of this unusual enzyme complex will advance our fundamental understanding of energy metabolism in apicomplexan species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Salunke
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Tobias Mourier
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manidipa Banerjee
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India
| | - Arnab Pain
- Pathogen Genomics Laboratory, BESE Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dhanasekaran Shanmugam
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| |
Collapse
|
102
|
Sokol SL, Primack AS, Nair SC, Wong ZS, Tembo M, Verma SK, Cerqueira-Cezar CK, Dubey JP, Boyle JP. Dissection of the in vitro developmental program of Hammondia hammondi reveals a link between stress sensitivity and life cycle flexibility in Toxoplasma gondii. eLife 2018; 7:36491. [PMID: 29785929 PMCID: PMC5963921 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Most eukaryotic parasites are obligately heteroxenous, requiring sequential infection of different host species in order to survive. Toxoplasma gondii is a rare exception to this rule, having a uniquely facultative heteroxenous life cycle. To understand the origins of this phenomenon, we compared development and stress responses in T. gondii to those of its its obligately heteroxenous relative, Hammondia hammondi and have identified multiple H. hammondi growth states that are distinct from those in T. gondii. Of these, the most dramatic difference was that H. hammondi was refractory to stressors that robustly induce cyst formation in T. gondii, and this was reflected most dramatically in its unchanging transcriptome after stress exposure. We also found that H. hammondi could be propagated in vitro for up to 8 days post-excystation, and we exploited this to generate the first ever transgenic H. hammondi line. Overall our data show that H. hammondi zoites grow as stringently regulated, unique life stages that are distinct from T. gondii tachyzoites, and implicate stress sensitivity as a potential developmental innovation that increased the flexibility of the T. gondii life cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Sokol
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Abby S Primack
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Sethu C Nair
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Zhee S Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Maiwase Tembo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Shiv K Verma
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, United States
| | - Camila K Cerqueira-Cezar
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, United States
| | - J P Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, United States
| | - Jon P Boyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| |
Collapse
|
103
|
Salman D, Pumidonming W, Oohashi E, Igarashi M. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and other intestinal parasites in cats in Tokachi sub-prefecture, Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2018; 80:960-967. [PMID: 29731476 PMCID: PMC6021893 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.17-0713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and
other intestinal parasites in cats in the Tokachi subprefecture in Japan. A total of 365
household cats were included in the study, and 353 serum and 351 fecal samples were
collected and analyzed. T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in the
sera of 16.14% of cats based on Latex agglutination test and ELISA. For ELISA, T.
gondii RH strain tachyzoites lysate and T. gondii SAG2
recombinant protein were used as antigens. Low seropositivity was detected in cats younger
than one year and older than 11 years; outdoor and hunter cats showed significantly high
seropositivities. Neutering either in male or female cats, but not gender, had a
considerable effect on seroprevalence. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were
detected in one fecal sample. The overall parasitic infestation in cats was 12.5%. Other
detected parasites included Toxocara species, which showed the highest
prevalence of 7.7%, followed by Isospora spp. (2%),
Taenia spp. (1.7%), and Ancylostoma spp. (0.9%).
Spirometra spp. was detected in only one sample. Outdoor cats comprised
50% of all 44 parasite-infested cats. Although T. gondii oocysts were
detected in only one sample, the relatively high seroprevalence of T.
gondii indicated that it can pose significant risks to the environment. Our
findings highlighted the potential of outdoor cats as a source of T.
gondii and other parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doaa Salman
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.,Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
| | - Wilawan Pumidonming
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.,Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Eiji Oohashi
- Akashiya Animal Hospital, Makubetsu, Hokkaido 089-0535, Japan
| | - Makoto Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
104
|
Ni T, Williams SI, Rezelj S, Anderluh G, Harlos K, Stansfeld PJ, Gilbert RJC. Structures of monomeric and oligomeric forms of the Toxoplasma gondii perforin-like protein 1. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2018; 4:eaaq0762. [PMID: 29750191 PMCID: PMC5943054 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaq0762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma and Plasmodium are the parasitic agents of toxoplasmosis and malaria, respectively, and use perforin-like proteins (PLPs) to invade host organisms and complete their life cycles. The Toxoplasma gondii PLP1 (TgPLP1) is required for efficient exit from parasitophorous vacuoles in which proliferation occurs. We report structures of the membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) and Apicomplexan PLP C-terminal β-pleated sheet (APCβ) domains of TgPLP1. The MACPF domain forms hexameric assemblies, with ring and helix geometries, and the APCβ domain has a novel β-prism fold joined to the MACPF domain by a short linker. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the helical MACPF oligomer preserves a biologically important interface, whereas the APCβ domain binds preferentially through a hydrophobic loop to membrane phosphatidylethanolamine, enhanced by the additional presence of inositol phosphate lipids. This mode of membrane binding is supported by site-directed mutagenesis data from a liposome-based assay. Together, these structural and biophysical findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism of membrane targeting by TgPLP1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ni
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Sophie I. Williams
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Saša Rezelj
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Anderluh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Karl Harlos
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Phillip J. Stansfeld
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Robert J. C. Gilbert
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
105
|
Study of Tissue Orientation and Parasite Load in Various Tissues and Blood in an Experimental Mouse Model of Acute Toxoplasmosis. ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018. [DOI: 10.5812/archcid.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
106
|
Watanabe PDS, Trevizan AR, Silva-Filho SE, Góis MB, Garcia JL, Cuman RKN, Breithaupt-Faloppa AC, Sant`Ana DDMG, Nogueira de Melo GDA. Immunocompetent host develops mild intestinal inflammation in acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190155. [PMID: 29324806 PMCID: PMC5764246 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, common zoonosis among vertebrates and high incidence worldwide. During the infection, the parasite needs to transpose the intestinal barrier to spread throughout the body, which may be a trigger for an inflammatory reaction. This work evaluated the inflammatory alterations of early T. gondii infection in peripheral blood cells, in the mesenteric microcirculation, and small intestinal tissue by measurement of MPO (myeloperoxidase) activity and NO (nitric oxide) level in rats. Animals were randomly assigned into control group (CG) that received saline orally and groups infected with 5,000 oocysts for 6 (G6), 12 (G12), 24 (G24), 48 (G48) and 72 hours (G72). Blood samples were collected for total and differential leukocyte count. Intravital microscopy was performed in the mesentery to evaluate rolling and adhesion of leukocytes. After euthanasia, 0.5cm of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were collected for the determination of MPO activity, NO level and PCR to identify the parasite DNA and also the mesentery were collected to perform immunohistochemistry on frozen sections to quantify adhesion molecules ICAM-1, PECAM-1 and P-Selectin. The parasite DNA was identified in all infected groups and there was an increase in leukocytes in the peripheral blood and in expression of ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 in G6 and G12, however, the expression of P-selectin was reduced in G12. Leukocytes are in rolling process during the first 12 hours and they are adhered at 24 hours post-infection. The activity of MPO increased in the duodenum at 12 hours, and NO increased in the jejunum in G72 and ileum in G24, G48 and G72. Our study demonstrated that T. gondii initiates the infection precociously (at 6 hours) leading to a systemic activation of innate immune response resulting in mild inflammation in a less susceptible experimental model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paulo da Silva Watanabe
- Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Aline Rosa Trevizan
- Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Biondaro Góis
- Biosciences and Physiopathology Program, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
107
|
Marino ND, Panas MW, Franco M, Theisen TC, Naor A, Rastogi S, Buchholz KR, Lorenzi HA, Boothroyd JC. Identification of a novel protein complex essential for effector translocation across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane of Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006828. [PMID: 29357375 PMCID: PMC5794187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect virtually all nucleated cells in warm-blooded animals. The ability of Toxoplasma tachyzoites to infect and successfully manipulate its host is dependent on its ability to transport "GRA" proteins that originate in unique secretory organelles called dense granules into the host cell in which they reside. GRAs have diverse roles in Toxoplasma's intracellular lifecycle, including co-opting crucial host cell functions and proteins, such as the cell cycle, c-Myc and p38 MAP kinase. Some of these GRA proteins, such as GRA16 and GRA24, are secreted into the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) within which Toxoplasma replicates and are transported across the PV membrane (PVM) into the host cell, but the translocation process and its machinery are not well understood. We previously showed that TgMYR1, which is cleaved by TgASP5 into two fragments, localizes to the PVM and is essential for GRA transport into the host cell. To identify additional proteins necessary for effector transport, we screened Toxoplasma mutants defective in c-Myc up-regulation for their ability to export GRA16 and GRA24 to the host cell nucleus. Here we report that novel proteins MYR2 and MYR3 play a crucial role in translocation of a subset of GRAs into the host cell. MYR2 and MYR3 are secreted into the PV space and co-localize with PV membranes and MYR1. Consistent with their predicted transmembrane domains, all three proteins are membrane-associated, and MYR3, but not MYR2, stably associates with MYR1, whose N- and C-terminal fragments are disulfide-linked. We further show that fusing intrinsically disordered effectors to a structured DHFR domain blocks the transport of other effectors, consistent with a translocon-based model of effector transport. Overall, these results reveal a novel complex at the PVM that is essential for effector translocation into the host cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D. Marino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Michael W. Panas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Magdalena Franco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Terence C. Theisen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Adit Naor
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Suchita Rastogi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Kerry R. Buchholz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Hernan A. Lorenzi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - John C. Boothroyd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
108
|
Caporali C, Albanese F, Vicari N, Dawidowicz J, Mancianti F, Abramo F. Pathology in Practice. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2018; 252:57-60. [DOI: 10.2460/javma.252.1.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
109
|
Vicentino-Vieira SL, Góis MB, Trevizan AR, de Lima LL, Leatte EP, Nogueira de Melo GDA, Garcia JL, Araújo EJDA, Sant'Ana DDMG. Toxoplasma gondii infection causes structural changes in the jejunum of rats infected with different inoculum doses. Life Sci 2017; 191:141-149. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
|
110
|
Kofoed KG, Vorslund-Kiær M, Nielsen HV, Alban L, Johansen MV. Sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Danish pigs. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2017; 10:136-138. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
111
|
Wadhawan A, Dagdag A, Duffy A, Daue ML, Ryan KA, Brenner LA, Stiller JW, Pollin TI, Groer MW, Huang X, Lowry CA, Mitchell BD, Postolache TT. Positive association between Toxoplasma gondii IgG serointensity and current dysphoria/hopelessness scores in the Old Order Amish: a preliminary study. Pteridines 2017; 28:185-194. [PMID: 29657363 DOI: 10.1515/pterid-2017-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) IgG seropositivity and serointensity have been previously associated with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). Although associations with unipolar depression have also been investigated, the results have been inconsistent, possibly as a consequence of high heterogeneity. We have now studied this association in a more homogeneous population, [that is (i.e.) Old Order Amish (OOA)] with previously reported high T. gondii seroprevalence. In 306 OOA with a mean age of 46.1 ± 16.7 years, including 191 (62.4%) women in the Amish Wellness Study, we obtained both T. gondii IgG titers (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), and depression screening questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] [n = 280] and PHQ-2 [n = 26]). Associations between T. gondii IgG and dysphoria/hopelessness and anhedonia scores on depression screening questionnaires were analyzed using multivariable linear methods with adjustment for age and sex. Serointensity was associated with both current dysphoria/hopelessness (p = 0.045) and current combined anhedonia and dysphoria/hopelessness (p = 0.043), while associations with simple anhedonia and past/lifelong (rather than current) phenotypes were not significant. These results indicate the need for larger longitudinal studies to corroborate the association between dysphoria/hopelessness and T. gondii IgG-titers. Current hopelessness is a known risk factor for SSDV which responds particularly well to cognitive behavioral therapy, and may be a focused treatment target for T. gondii-positive individuals at high-risk for SSDV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Wadhawan
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; and Saint Elizabeths' Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Aline Dagdag
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Allyson Duffy
- College of Nursing, University of South Florida College of Nursing, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Melanie L Daue
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Program for Personalized and Genomic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; and Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kathy A Ryan
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; and Program for Personalized and Genomic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lisa A Brenner
- Departments of Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Neurology, University of Colorado, Anschutz School of Medicine, Denver, CO, USA; and Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Military and Veteran. Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, USA
| | - John W Stiller
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Saint Elizabeths' Hospital, Department of Neurology, Washington, DC, USA; and Maryland State Athletic Commission, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Toni I Pollin
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; and Program for Personalized and Genomic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maureen W Groer
- College of Nursing, University of South Florida College of Nursing, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Xuemei Huang
- Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- 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, Aurora, CO, USA; and Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Military and Veteran. Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, USA
| | - Braxton D Mitchell
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Program for Personalized and Genomic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; and Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Teodor T Postolache
- Mood and Anxiety Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Military and Veteran. Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Denver, CO, USA; and Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 5, VA Capitol Health Care Network, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
112
|
Roiko MS, LaFavers K, Leland D, Arrizabalaga G. Toxoplasma gondii-positive human sera recognise intracellular tachyzoites and bradyzoites with diverse patterns of immunoreactivity. Int J Parasitol 2017; 48:225-232. [PMID: 29170086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antibody detection assays have long been the first line test to confirm infection with the zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. However, challenges exist with serological diagnosis, especially distinguishing between acute, latent and reactivation disease states. The sensitivity and specificity of serological tests might be improved by testing for antibodies against parasite antigens other than those typically found on the parasite surface during the acute stage. To this end, we analysed the reactivity profile of human sera, identified as positive for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG in traditional assays, by indirect immunofluorescence reactivity to acute stage intracellular tachyzoites and in vitro-induced latent stage bradyzoites. The majority of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG positive sera recognised both intracellularly replicating tachyzoites and in vitro-induced bradyzoites with varying patterns of immune-reactivity. Furthermore, anti-bradyzoite antibodies were not detected in sera that were IgM-positive/IgG-negative. These results demonstrate that anti-Toxoplasma gondii-positive sera may contain antibodies to a variety of antigens in addition to those traditionally used in serological tests, and suggest the need for further investigations into the utility of anti-bradyzoite-specific antibodies to aid in diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marijo S Roiko
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 350 West 11th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
| | - Kaice LaFavers
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, MS A-519, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Diane Leland
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 350 West 11th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Gustavo Arrizabalaga
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 635 Barnhill Drive, MS A-519, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
113
|
Yang J, Zhang L, Diao H, Xia N, Zhou Y, Zhao J, Shen B. ANK1 and DnaK-TPR, Two Tetratricopeptide Repeat-Containing Proteins Primarily Expressed in Toxoplasma Bradyzoites, Do Not Contribute to Bradyzoite Differentiation. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2210. [PMID: 29180989 PMCID: PMC5693876 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic pathogen infecting one third of the world population and numerous animals. A key factor to its wide distribution is the ability to interconvert between fast replicating tachyzoites and slowly growing bradyzoites, and to establish lifelong chronic infection in intermediate hosts. Although it is well accepted that stage conversion plays key roles in the pathogenesis and transmission of the parasite, little is known about the molecular mechanisms behind it. Using existing gene expression data from TOXODB and published work, we looked for proteins with novel functional domains and whose expression is up-regulated in the bradyzoite stage, hoping to find molecules that have critical roles in regulating stage conversion and bradyzoite formation. In this study we characterized two such proteins ANK1 and DnaK-TPR, both of which are primarily expressed in bradyzoites and contain novel motifs to mediate protein-protein interactions. Through CRISPR/CAS9 directed gene editing technology, both genes were individually knocked out in type 1 strain TgHB2 and type 2 strain ME49. Disruption of neither of these two genes affected the growth or replication of tachyzoites in vitro, consistent with their minimal expression at this stage. However, mutants lacking ANK1 or DnaK-TPR displayed modest virulence attenuation during mice infection. Surprisingly, inactivation of neither ANK1 nor DnaK-TPR seemed to have a significant impact on bradyzoite differentiation in vitro or cyst formation in vivo. These results suggest that ANK1 and DnaK-TPR probably do not directly contribute to bradyzoite differentiation, but likely affect other aspects of bradyzoite biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jichao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lihong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiyan Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ningbo Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanqin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
114
|
Knowledge gaps in host-parasite interaction preclude accurate assessment of meat-borne exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. Int J Food Microbiol 2017; 261:95-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
115
|
Chakraborty S, Roy S, Mistry HU, Murthy S, George N, Bhandari V, Sharma P. Potential Sabotage of Host Cell Physiology by Apicomplexan Parasites for Their Survival Benefits. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1261. [PMID: 29081773 PMCID: PMC5645534 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Babesia, and Theileria are the major apicomplexan parasites affecting humans or animals worldwide. These pathogens represent an excellent example of host manipulators who can overturn host signaling pathways for their survival. They infect different types of host cells and take charge of the host machinery to gain nutrients and prevent itself from host attack. The mechanisms by which these pathogens modulate the host signaling pathways are well studied for Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, and Theileria, except for limited studies on Babesia. Theileria is a unique pathogen taking into account the way it modulates host cell transformation, resulting in its clonal expansion. These parasites majorly modulate similar host signaling pathways, however, the disease outcome and effect is different among them. In this review, we discuss the approaches of these apicomplexan to manipulate the host–parasite clearance pathways during infection, invasion, survival, and egress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonti Roy
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Hiral Uday Mistry
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Shweta Murthy
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Neena George
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Paresh Sharma
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| |
Collapse
|
116
|
Ossani R, Borges H, Souza A, Sartor A, Miletti L, Federle M, Moura A. Toxoplasma gondii in milk of naturally infected dairy ewes on west mesoregion of Santa Catarina state, Brazil. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-9177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study aimed to detect Toxoplasma gondii in the milk of dairy sheep in the Western mesorregion of state of Santa Catarina by bioassay (22 milk samples from eight ewes seropositive; IFA ≥256) and PCR [for the detection of agent in the brains of mice inoculated on bioassay and directly from milk (108 samples from 42 seropositive ewes (IFA, ≥64) in different lactation periods)]. T. gondii DNA was detected in mice brains inoculated with milk from eight sheep (a sample of the 45th day of lactation and seven in the collection of 90th day) and directly from the milk in samples of the second collection (90 days) in five animals. Taking into account both assays, from a total of 42 ewes in lactation and seropositive for T. gondii, 30.95% (13/42) of the animals presented evidences of T. gondii presence in milk. Positive PCR samples were sequenced and the results confirmed ≥97% identity with the membrane antigen P22 gene of T. gondii. The results showed that T. gondii is present in the milk of sheep, representing a possible source of infection to humans through the consumption of milk "in natura" and/or derivatives, besides the possibility of lactogenic transmission to lambs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R.A. Ossani
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | - A.P. Souza
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - A.A. Sartor
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - L.C. Miletti
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - M. Federle
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - A.B. Moura
- Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
117
|
Camilo LM, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Gava R, Meira-Strejevitch CDS, Vidal JE, Brandão de Mattos CC, Frederico FB, De Mattos LC, Spegiorin LCJF. Molecular diagnosis of symptomatic toxoplasmosis: a 9-year retrospective and prospective study in a referral laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil. Braz J Infect Dis 2017; 21:638-647. [PMID: 28968510 PMCID: PMC9425505 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Symptomatic forms of toxoplasmosis are a serious public health problem and occur in around 10–20% of the infected people. Aiming to improve the molecular diagnosis of symptomatic toxoplasmosis in Brazilian patients, this study evaluated the performance of real time PCR testing two primer sets (B1 and REP-529) in detecting Toxoplasma gondii DNA. The methodology was assayed in 807 clinical samples with known clinical diagnosis, ELISA, and conventional PCR results in a 9-year period. All samples were from patients with clinical suspicion of several features of toxoplasmosis. According to the minimum detection limit curve (in CT), REP-529 had greater sensitivity to detect T. gondii DNA than B1. Both primer sets were retrospectively evaluated using 515 DNA from different clinical samples. The 122 patients without toxoplasmosis provided high specificity (REP-529, 99.2% and B1, 100%). From the 393 samples with positive ELISA, 146 had clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and positive conventional PCR. REP-529 and B1 sensitivities were 95.9% and 83.6%, respectively. Comparison of REP-529 and B1 performances was further analyzed prospectively in 292 samples. Thus, from a total of 807 DNA analyzed, 217 (26.89%) had positive PCR with, at least one primer set and symptomatic toxoplasmosis confirmed by clinical diagnosis. REP-529 was positive in 97.23%, whereas B1 amplified only 78.80%. After comparing several samples in a Brazilian referral laboratory, this study concluded that REP-529 primer set had better performance than B1 one. These observations were based after using cases with defined clinical diagnosis, ELISA, and conventional PCR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Muniz Camilo
- Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Gava
- Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Jose Ernesto Vidal
- Instituto de Infectologia Emilio Ribas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM) 49, Instituto de Medicina Tropical da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio Batista Frederico
- Ambulatório de Oftalmologia, Fundação Faculdade Regional de Medicina-Hospital de Base, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
118
|
Wowk PF, Zardo ML, Miot HT, Goldenberg S, Carvalho PC, Mörking PA. Proteomic profiling of extracellular vesicles secreted from Toxoplasma gondii. Proteomics 2017. [PMID: 28643940 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201600477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infects a wide range of hosts worldwide, including humans and domesticated animals causing toxoplasmosis disease. Recently, exosomes, small extracellular vesicles (EV) that contain nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids derived from their original cells were linked with disease protection. The effect of EVs derived from T. gondii on the immune response and its relevance in a physiological context is unknown. Here we disclose the first proteomic profiling of T. gondii EVs compared to EVs isolated from a human foreskin fibroblast infected cell line cultured in a vesicle-free medium. Our results reveal a broad range of canonical exosomes proteins. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD004895.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pryscilla Fanini Wowk
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, R. Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, Curitiba - PR, Brazil
| | - Maria Luisa Zardo
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, R. Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, Curitiba - PR, Brazil
| | - Halisson Tesseroli Miot
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, R. Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, Curitiba - PR, Brazil
| | - Samuel Goldenberg
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, R. Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, Curitiba - PR, Brazil
| | - Paulo Costa Carvalho
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, R. Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, Curitiba - PR, Brazil
| | - Patricia Alves Mörking
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz-PR, R. Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, Curitiba - PR, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
119
|
Hegazi AG, Al Guthami FM, Al Gethami AF, El Fadaly HA. Beneficial Effects of Capparis Spinosa Honey on the Immune Response of Rats Infected with Toxoplasma Gundii. J Pharmacopuncture 2017; 20:112-118. [PMID: 30087788 PMCID: PMC5532470 DOI: 10.3831/kpi.2017.20.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular opportunistic protozoan parasite that infects approximately one-third of the human population worldwide. Honey has long been used for treatment of many diseases in folk medicine. Honey has exhibited significant anthelmintic, nematicidal and anti-protozoal activities.This study was conducted to investigate the immunological patterns in rats infected with T. gondii who were treated orally with supplemented 15% Capparis spinosa honey (Saudi Arabia) for a period of 28 days. Methods Immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, and cytokines were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In addition, the mortality and the morbidity rates were assessed. Results Oral administration of Capparis spinosa honey as a natural food additive was experimentally shown to increase the antibody titer; furthermore, compared with the rats in the control group, the levels of the sera cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1 and IL-6) were consistently higher at day 7 post-infection in the infected rats treated with oral supplements of Capparis spinosa honey. Conclusion Orally administered supplements of Capparis spinosa honey increased both the antibody titer and the cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1 and IL-6) levels in rats infected with T. gondii.
Collapse
|
120
|
|
121
|
Martínez-Flores WA, Palma-García JM, Caballero-Ortega H, Del Viento-Camacho A, López-Escamilla E, Martínez-Hernández F, Vinuesa P, Correa D, Maravilla P. Genotyping Toxoplasma gondii with the B1 Gene in Naturally Infected Sheep from an Endemic Region in the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:495-502. [PMID: 28530509 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a broad ecological valence, which has been detected in a wide range of hosts and landscapes. Although the genus is considered monospecific, in recent years it has been demonstrated to exhibit more genetic variability than previously known. In Mexico, there are few genotyping studies, which suggest that classical, autochthonous, and atypical strains are circulating. The goal of this study was to describe T. gondii genetic diversity in naturally infected sheep from Colima, Mexico. This is a good site to study ecological aspects of this parasite since it is located between the Nearctic and Neotropical ecozones and it includes domestic and wild risks for transmission. We analyzed 305 tissue samples of semicaptive sheep from six coastal and central zones of Colima and border zones of Michoacán. We used an 803 bp amplicon of the B1 gene to genotype T. gondii and seroprevalence was determined by ELISA. Indexes for genetic diversity and genetic differentiation were calculated and compared with reference strains from North America (NA) and South America (SA). Twenty-three tissue samples were positive for the B1 gene by PCR, which were sequenced. Crude prevalence was 24.4%. The genetic analysis showed 16 variable sites along the 803 bp region that grouped all sequences into 13 haplotypes in the phylogenetic tree. Bayesian and haplotype network analysis showed nine new B1-types, of which three were frequent and six had unique alleles. Comparisons among sequence sets revealed that the Mexican population had lower differentiation than SA and an intermediate genetic variability between South America and North America. The B1 gene analysis showed new T. gondii haplotypes in naturally infected sheep; therefore, this marker could be initially used in molecular screening studies to identify potentially virulent genotypes of this parasite using natural host samples directly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - José Manuel Palma-García
- 2 Centro Universitario de Investigación y Desarrollo Agropecuario, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Colima , Colima, México
| | | | - Alejandra Del Viento-Camacho
- 2 Centro Universitario de Investigación y Desarrollo Agropecuario, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Colima , Colima, México
| | - Eduardo López-Escamilla
- 1 Departamento de Ecología de Agentes Patógenos, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González," Ciudad de México, México
| | - Fernando Martínez-Hernández
- 1 Departamento de Ecología de Agentes Patógenos, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González," Ciudad de México, México
| | - Pablo Vinuesa
- 4 Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Programa de Ingeniería Genómica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México , Cuernavaca, México
| | - Dolores Correa
- 3 Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría , Ciudad de México, México
| | - Pablo Maravilla
- 1 Departamento de Ecología de Agentes Patógenos, Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González," Ciudad de México, México
| |
Collapse
|
122
|
Neurophysiological Changes Induced by Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Pathogens 2017; 6:pathogens6020019. [PMID: 28513566 PMCID: PMC5488653 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the parasite Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most pervasive neurotropic pathogens in the world, the host-parasite interactions during CNS infection and the consequences of neurological infection are just beginning to be unraveled. The chronic stages of infection have been considered dormant, although several studies have found correlations of infection with an array of host behavioral changes. These may facilitate parasite transmission and impact neurological diseases. During infection, in addition to the presence of the parasites within neurons, host-mediated neuroimmune and hormonal responses to infection are also present. T. gondii induces numerous changes to host neurons during infection and globally alters host neurological signaling pathways, as discussed in this review. Understanding the neurophysiological changes in the host brain is imperative to understanding the parasitic mechanisms and to delineate the effects of this single-celled parasite on health and its contribution to neurological disease.
Collapse
|
123
|
Watts EA, Dhara A, Sinai AP. Purification Toxoplasma gondii Tissue Cysts Using Percoll Gradients. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MICROBIOLOGY 2017; 45:20C.2.1-20C.2.19. [PMID: 28510363 PMCID: PMC5568674 DOI: 10.1002/cpmc.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is capable of infecting all warm-blooded animals and humans. Infectious, transmissible forms of the parasite include oocysts produced by the sexual cycle within the definitive feline host and tissue cysts that form Toxoplasma in the central nervous system and muscle during the asexual cycle within all chronically infected warm-blooded hosts. These tissue cysts are populated with slow-growing bradyzoites, which until recently have been thought to be dormant entities in the context of immune sufficiency. Reactivation to active growth during immune suppression is of critical clinical importance. However, little is known about tissue cysts or the bradyzoites they house, as the diversity of tissue cysts cannot be replicated in cell culture systems. This protocol for optimization of tissue cyst purification from the brains of infected mice using Percoll gradients provides an efficient means to recover in vivo-derived tissue cysts that can be applied to imaging, cell biological, biochemical, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Watts
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Current Address: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Animesh Dhara
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Anthony P Sinai
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| |
Collapse
|
124
|
Incidence and vertical transmission rate of Neospora caninum in sheep. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 52:19-22. [PMID: 28673457 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2017.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The infection by Neospora caninum in sheep can lead to abortion and the birth of weak and debilitated lambs. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of natural infection by Neospora caninum and the vertical transmission rate among sheep. A flock of 50 sheep was monitored for serum antibody titres against N. caninum and seroconversion over a period of six months using an indirect ELISA technique. The offspring of the herd was also investigated regarding anti-N. caninum antibodies to determine the vertical transmission rate through the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The initial and final prevalences of infection by N. caninum were 26.0% (13/50) and 72.0% (36/50), respectively, and the incidence of infection by N. caninum in the present study was 62.2% (23/37). The vertical transmission rate found was 15.4% (2/13). A high incidence of infection by N. caninum in sheep was observed, and this is the first report assessing the incidence of N. caninum among naturally infected sheep.
Collapse
|
125
|
Andrabi SBA, Tahara M, Matsubara R, Toyama T, Aonuma H, Sakakibara H, Suematsu M, Tanabe K, Nozaki T, Nagamune K. Plant hormone cytokinins control cell cycle progression and plastid replication in apicomplexan parasites. Parasitol Int 2017; 67:47-58. [PMID: 28344153 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cytokinins are plant hormones that are involved in regulation of cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and cell and plastid development. Here, we show that the apicomplexan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium berghei, an opportunistic human pathogen and a rodent malaria agent, respectively, produce cytokinins via a biosynthetic pathway similar to that in plants. Cytokinins regulate the growth and cell cycle progression of T. gondii by mediating expression of the cyclin gene TgCYC4. A natural form of cytokinin, trans-zeatin (t-zeatin), upregulated expression of this cyclin, while a synthetic cytokinin, thidiazuron, downregulated its expression. Immunofluorescence microscopy and quantitative PCR analysis showed that t-zeatin increased the genome-copy number of apicoplast, which are non-photosynthetic plastid, in the parasite, while thidiazuron led to their disappearance. Thidiazuron inhibited growth of T. gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, a human malaria parasite, suggesting that thidiazuron has therapeutic potential as an inhibitor of apicomplexan parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Syed Bilal Ahmad Andrabi
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiru Tahara
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ryuma Matsubara
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Tomoko Toyama
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroka Aonuma
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Tropical Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Kazuyuki Tanabe
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kisaburo Nagamune
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
126
|
The Toxoplasma Parasitophorous Vacuole: An Evolving Host-Parasite Frontier. Trends Parasitol 2017; 33:473-488. [PMID: 28330745 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The parasitophorous vacuole is a unique replicative niche for apicomplexan parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii. Derived from host plasma membrane, the vacuole is rendered nonfusogenic with the host endolysosomal system. Toxoplasma secretes numerous proteins to modify the forming vacuole, enable nutrient uptake, and set up mechanisms of host subversion. Here we describe the pathways of host-parasite interaction at the parasitophorous vacuole employed by Toxoplasma and host, leading to the intricate balance of host defence versus parasite survival.
Collapse
|
127
|
Unique substrate specificity of ornithine aminotransferase from Toxoplasma gondii. Biochem J 2017; 474:939-955. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20161021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary relevance responsible for toxoplasmosis in humans. As an efficacious vaccine remains a challenge, chemotherapy is still the most effective way to combat the disease. In search of novel druggable targets, we performed a thorough characterization of the putative pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme ornithine aminotransferase from T. gondii ME49 (TgOAT). We overexpressed the protein in Escherichia coli and analysed its molecular and kinetic properties by UV-visible absorbance, fluorescence and CD spectroscopy, in addition to kinetic studies of both the steady state and pre-steady state. TgOAT is largely similar to OATs from other species regarding its general transamination mechanism and spectral properties of PLP; however, it does not show a specific ornithine aminotransferase activity like its human homologue, but exhibits both N-acetylornithine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase activity in vitro, suggesting a role in both arginine and GABA metabolism in vivo. The presence of Val79 in the active site of TgOAT in place of Tyr, as in its human counterpart, provides the necessary room to accommodate N-acetylornithine and GABA, resembling the active site arrangement of GABA transaminases. Moreover, mutation of Val79 to Tyr results in a change of substrate preference between GABA, N-acetylornithine and L-ornithine, suggesting a key role of Val79 in defining substrate specificity. The findings that TgOAT possesses parasite-specific structural features as well as differing substrate specificity from its human homologue make it an attractive target for anti-toxoplasmosis inhibitor design that can be exploited for chemotherapeutic intervention.
Collapse
|
128
|
de Wit LA, Croll DA, Tershy B, Newton KM, Spatz DR, Holmes ND, Kilpatrick AM. Estimating Burdens of Neglected Tropical Zoonotic Diseases on Islands with Introduced Mammals. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 96:749-757. [PMID: 28138052 PMCID: PMC5361556 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Many neglected tropical zoonotic pathogens are maintained by introduced mammals, and on islands the most common introduced species are rodents, cats, and dogs. Management of introduced mammals, including control or eradication of feral populations, which is frequently done for ecological restoration, could also reduce or eliminate the pathogens these animals carry. Understanding the burden of these zoonotic diseases is crucial for quantifying the potential public health benefits of introduced mammal management. However, epidemiological data are only available from a small subset of islands where these introduced mammals co-occur with people. We examined socioeconomic and climatic variables as predictors for disease burdens of angiostrongyliasis, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis, and rabies from 57 islands or island countries. We found strong correlates of disease burden for leptospirosis, Toxoplasma gondii infection, angiostrongyliasis, and toxocariasis with more than 50% of the variance explained, and an average of 57% (range = 32-95%) predictive accuracy on out-of-sample data. We used these relationships to provide estimates of leptospirosis incidence and T. gondii seroprevalence infection on islands where nonnative rodents and cats are present. These predicted estimates of disease burden could be used in an initial assessment of whether the costs of managing introduced mammal reservoirs might be less than the costs of perpetual treatment of these diseases on islands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luz A. de Wit
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Donald A. Croll
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Bernie Tershy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Kelly M. Newton
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Dena R. Spatz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
- Island Conservation, Santa Cruz, California
| | | | - A. Marm Kilpatrick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
| |
Collapse
|
129
|
Marino ND, Boothroyd JC. Toxoplasma growth in vitro is dependent on exogenous tyrosine and is independent of AAH2 even in tyrosine-limiting conditions. Exp Parasitol 2017; 176:52-58. [PMID: 28257757 PMCID: PMC5423395 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite capable of infecting virtually all nucleated cell types in almost all warm-blooded animals. Interestingly, Toxoplasma has a relatively full repertoire of amino acid biosynthetic machinery, perhaps reflecting its broad host range and, consequently, its need to adapt to a wide array of amino acid resources. Although Toxoplasma has been shown to be auxotrophic for tryptophan and arginine, it has not previously been determined if Toxoplasma is also auxotrophic for tyrosine. Toxoplasma tachyzoites and bradyzoites were recently found to express an amino acid hydroxylase (AAH2) that is capable of synthesizing tyrosine and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) from phenylalanine; however, the role of AAH2 in tachyzoite and bradyzoite infection has not yet been identified. To determine if Toxoplasma requires exogenous tyrosine for growth, we performed growth assays on tachyzoites and bradyzoites in nutrient-rich media titrated with varying amounts of tyrosine. We found that Toxoplasma tachyzoites form significantly smaller plaques in tyrosine-limiting media in a dose-dependent manner and that this phenotype is not affected by deletion of TgAAH2. To determine if bradyzoites require exogenous tyrosine for growth, we induced differentiation from tachyzoites in vitro in tyrosine-limiting media and found that replication and vacuole number are all decreased in tyrosine-deficient media. Importantly, culture of confluent human fibroblasts in tyrosine-deficient media does not affect their viability, indicating that, at least in vitro, the need for tyrosine is at the level of Toxoplasma, not the host cell supporting its growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole D Marino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA
| | - John C Boothroyd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
130
|
Vilares A, Gargaté MJ, Ferreira I, Martins S, Gomes JP. Molecular and virulence characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains isolated from humans in Portugal. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:979-985. [PMID: 28138769 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5374-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis which infects all warm-blooded vertebrates, including mammals and birds. The majority of studies conducted in Europe have revealed that more than 80 % of strains isolated from human infections belong to genotype II, whereas genotypes I and III are responsible for a small number of cases. Atypical and recombinant strains are generally associated with more severe infections. In Portugal, there is a lack of data concerning genetic diversity as the classical typing studies in humans have never been performed. We aimed to determine the Sag2 and microsatellite-based (TUB2, TgM-A, W35, B17, B18) genotypes of T. gondii isolated from humans in Portugal, as well as to study their virulence in mice. We analyzed 48 strains from congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis collected during the last two decades. Sag2-based genotyping of T. gondii was achieved in all 48 strains where 35 (73 %) were classified as type II and 13 (27 %) were type I. The multilocus PCR of five microsatellites allowed the classification of 10 strains (21 %) as recombinant strains that had been previously identified as type II or I by Sag2 typing. Seven out of the 48 strains, including three type I, three recombinant, and one type I, were virulent in mice. This study constitutes the first evidence of recombinant strains circulating in Portugal in humans from congenital infection, highlighting the need for a better evaluation of these strains as their phenotype is still barely understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Vilares
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Maria João Gargaté
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Idalina Ferreira
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Martins
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Research and Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal.,Bioinformatics Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
131
|
Benitez ADN, Gonçalves DD, Nino BDSL, Caldart ET, Freire RL, Navarro IT. SEROEPIDEMIOLOGY OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN HUMANS AND DOGS FROM A SMALL MUNICIPALITY IN PARANA, BRAZIL. CIÊNCIA ANIMAL BRASILEIRA 2017. [DOI: 10.1590/1089-6891v18e-42102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis with important public health implications. The aims of this study were to determine and identify factors associated to the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in humans and dogs from Jataizinho, Parana State, Brazil. Serum samples from 280 humans and 766 dogs, from rural and urban areas, were tested by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. Positive dilutions were ≥ 1:16. Epidemiological informations were obtained through an individual questionnaire and data tabulation was performed using EpiInfo 3.5.3 (CDC, Atlanta). Statistical significance was evaluated by chi-square (ᵪ2) or Fisher's exact tests with a 5.0 % significance level. The seroprevalence in humans was 70.00% (196/280), as follows: 69.08% (143/207) in rural and 72.60% (53/73) in a slum urban community. The seroprevalence in dogs was 52.35% (401/766), as follows: 71.74% (99/138) in rural and 48.08% (302/628) in urban area. In rural areas, there was no factor associated to risk of infection. In urban slum community, visualizing more than four rats at home was a factor statistically associated to seropositivity for human toxoplamosis. Infection of urban dogs was associated to age, contact with stray dogs or rodents, and free access to street. The results indicated a similar possibility of contact with Toxoplasma gondii between dogs and humans living in rural or slum urban areas of small municipalities.
Collapse
|
132
|
Jones EJ, Korcsmaros T, Carding SR. Mechanisms and pathways of Toxoplasma gondii transepithelial migration. Tissue Barriers 2016; 5:e1273865. [PMID: 28452683 PMCID: PMC5362999 DOI: 10.1080/21688370.2016.1273865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite and a prevalent food-borne parasitic pathogen. Infection of the host occurs principally through oral consumption of contaminated food and water with the gastrointestinal tract being the primary route for entry into the host. To promote infection, T. gondii has evolved highly specialized strategies for rapid traversal of the single cell thick intestinal epithelial barrier. Parasite transmigration via the paracellular pathway between adjacent cells enables parasite dissemination to secondary sites of infection where chronic infection of muscle and brain tissue is established. It has recently been proposed that parasite interactions with the integral tight junction (TJ) protein occludin influences parasite transmigration of the intestinal epithelium. We review here the emerging mechanisms of T. gondii transmigration of the small intestinal epithelium alongside the developing role played in modulating the wider TJ-associated proteome to rewire host cell regulatory systems for the benefit of the parasite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Jones
- a Gut Health and Food Safety Institute Strategic Programme , Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK.,b Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK
| | - Tamas Korcsmaros
- a Gut Health and Food Safety Institute Strategic Programme , Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK.,b Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK
| | - Simon R Carding
- a Gut Health and Food Safety Institute Strategic Programme , Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK.,c Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park , Norwich , UK
| |
Collapse
|
133
|
Sinai AP, Watts EA, Dhara A, Murphy RD, Gentry MS, Patwardhan A. Reexamining Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection: Surprising Activity for a "Dormant" Parasite. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2016; 3:175-185. [PMID: 28191447 PMCID: PMC5295825 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-016-0045-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Despite over a third of the world's population being chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii, little is known about this largely asymptomatic phase of infection. This stage is mediated in vivo by bradyzoites within tissue cysts. The absence of overt symptoms has been attributed to the dormancy of bradyzoites. In this review, we reexamine the conventional view of chronic toxoplasmosis in light of emerging evidence challenging both the nature of dormancy and the consequences of infection in the CNS. RECENT FINDINGS New and emerging data reveal a previously unrecognized level of physiological and replicative capacity of bradyzoites within tissue cysts. These findings have emerged in the context of a reexamination of the chronic infection in the brain that correlates with changes in neuronal architecture, neurochemistry, and behavior that suggest that the chronic infection is not without consequence. SUMMARY The emerging data driven by the development of new approaches to study the progression of chronic toxoplasma infection reveals significant physiological and replicative capacity for what has been viewed as a dormant state. The emergence of bradyzoite and tissue cyst biology from what was viewed as a physiological "black box" offers exciting new areas for investigation with direct implications on the approaches to drug development targeting this drug-refractory state. In addition, new insights from studies on the neurobiology on chronic infection reveal a complex and dynamic interplay between the parasite, brain microenvironment, and the immune response that results in the detente that promotes the life-long persistence of the parasite in the host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P Sinai
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Watts
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Animesh Dhara
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Robert D Murphy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Matthew S Gentry
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Abhijit Patwardhan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| |
Collapse
|
134
|
Song Q, Sun X, Ji Y, Yan X, Zou J, Zhao S, Suo X, Zhu X, Liu X. In vitro observation of the stage conversion of transgenic Toxoplasma gondii RH strain expressing dual fluorescent proteins. Acta Parasitol 2016; 61:456-60. [PMID: 27447207 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2016-0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii converts from tachyzoites to bradyzoites after acute infection and thus survives the attack of the host immune responses. In this study, we observed the conversion of tachyzoites to bradyzoites in cell cultures using a transgenic T. gondii RH strain. The transgenic parasites continuously express yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) but only express red fluorescent protein (RFP) at the bradyzoite stage. Red fluorescent bradyzoite-containing cysts were found in transgenic parasite infected cells cultured with atmospheric CO2 supply, indicating the successful induction of the stage conversion. In cell culture with alkalic medium (pH 8.1) and atmospheric CO2 supply, only part of the YFP-expressing parasites in a cyst express RFP marker, suggesting the asynchronous development of T. gondii in vitro. This study provides a possibility for further studies of the gene expression profile during stage conversion and the genes involved.
Collapse
|
135
|
Concentration and retention of Toxoplasma gondii surrogates from seawater by red abalone (Haliotis rufescens). Parasitology 2016; 143:1703-1712. [PMID: 27573192 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016001359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Small marine snails and abalone have been identified as high- and low-risk prey items, respectively, for exposure of threatened southern sea otters to Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic parasite that can cause fatal encephalitis in animals and humans. While recent work has characterized snails as paratenic hosts for T. gondii, the ability of abalone to vector the parasite has not been evaluated. To further elucidate why abalone predation may be protective against T. gondii exposure, this study aimed to determine whether: (1) abalone are physiologically capable of acquiring T. gondii; and (2) abalone and snails differ in their ability to concentrate and retain the parasite. Abalone were exposed to T. gondii surrogate microspheres for 24 h, and fecal samples were examined for 2 weeks following exposure. Concentration of surrogates was 2-3 orders of magnitude greater in abalone feces than in the spiked seawater, and excretion of surrogates continued for 14 days post-exposure. These results indicate that, physiologically, abalone and snails can equally vector T. gondii as paratenic hosts. Reduced risk of T. gondii infection in abalone-specializing otters may therefore result from abalone's high nutritional value, which implies otters must consume fewer animals to meet their caloric needs.
Collapse
|
136
|
Hwang S, Cobb DA, Bhadra R, Youngblood B, Khan IA. Blimp-1-mediated CD4 T cell exhaustion causes CD8 T cell dysfunction during chronic toxoplasmosis. J Exp Med 2016; 213:1799-818. [PMID: 27481131 PMCID: PMC4995081 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CD8, but not CD4, T cells are considered critical for control of chronic toxoplasmosis. Although CD8 exhaustion has been previously reported in Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE)-susceptible model, our current work demonstrates that CD4 not only become exhausted during chronic toxoplasmosis but this dysfunction is more pronounced than CD8 T cells. Exhausted CD4 population expressed elevated levels of multiple inhibitory receptors concomitant with the reduced functionality and up-regulation of Blimp-1, a transcription factor. Our data demonstrates for the first time that Blimp-1 is a critical regulator for CD4 T cell exhaustion especially in the CD4 central memory cell subset. Using a tamoxifen-dependent conditional Blimp-1 knockout mixed bone marrow chimera as well as an adoptive transfer approach, we show that CD4 T cell-intrinsic deletion of Blimp-1 reversed CD8 T cell dysfunction and resulted in improved pathogen control. To the best of our knowledge, this is a novel finding, which demonstrates the role of Blimp-1 as a critical regulator of CD4 dysfunction and links it to the CD8 T cell dysfunctionality observed in infected mice. The critical role of CD4-intrinsic Blimp-1 expression in mediating CD4 and CD8 T cell exhaustion may provide a rational basis for designing novel therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- SuJin Hwang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037
| | - Dustin A Cobb
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037 Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Rajarshi Bhadra
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037
| | - Ben Youngblood
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Imtiaz A Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037
| |
Collapse
|
137
|
Phenotypes Associated with Knockouts of Eight Dense Granule Gene Loci (GRA2-9) in Virulent Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159306. [PMID: 27458822 PMCID: PMC4961421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii actively invades host cells and establishes a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) that accumulates many proteins secreted by the dense granules (GRA proteins). To date, at least 23 GRA proteins have been reported, though the function(s) of most of these proteins still remains unknown. We targeted gene knockouts at ten GRA gene loci (GRA1-10) to investigate the cellular roles and essentiality of these classical GRA proteins during acute infection in the virulent type I RH strain. While eight of these genes (GRA2-9) were successfully knocked out, targeted knockouts at the GRA1 and GRA10 loci were not obtained, suggesting these GRA proteins may be essential. As expected, the Δgra2 and Δgra6 knockouts failed to form an intravacuolar network (IVN). Surprisingly, Δgra7 exhibited hyper-formation of the IVN in both normal and lipid-free growth conditions. No morphological alterations were identified in parasite or PV structures in the Δgra3, Δgra4, Δgra5, Δgra8, or Δgra9 knockouts. With the exception of the Δgra3 and Δgra8 knockouts, all of the GRA knockouts exhibited defects in their infection rate in vitro. While the single GRA knockouts did not exhibit reduced replication rates in vitro, replication rate defects were observed in three double GRA knockout strains (Δgra4Δgra6, Δgra3Δgra5 and Δgra3Δgra7). However, the virulence of single or double GRA knockout strains in CD1 mice was not affected. Collectively, our results suggest that while the eight individual GRA proteins investigated in this study (GRA2-9) are not essential, several GRA proteins may provide redundant and potentially important functions during acute infection.
Collapse
|
138
|
Fenoy IM, Bogado SS, Contreras SM, Gottifredi V, Angel SO. The Knowns Unknowns: Exploring the Homologous Recombination Repair Pathway in Toxoplasma gondii. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:627. [PMID: 27199954 PMCID: PMC4853372 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite of medical and veterinary importance which causes toxoplasmosis in humans. Great effort is currently being devoted toward the identification of novel drugs capable of targeting such illness. In this context, we believe that the thorough understanding of the life cycle of this model parasite will facilitate the identification of new druggable targets in T. gondii. It is important to exploit the available knowledge of pathways which could modulate the sensitivity of the parasite to DNA damaging agents. The homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway may be of particular interest in this regard as its inactivation sensitizes other cellular models such as human cancer to targeted therapy. Herein we discuss the information available on T. gondii's HRR pathway from the perspective of its conservation with respect to yeast and humans. Special attention was devoted to BRCT domain-containing and end-resection associated proteins in T. gondii as in other experimental models such proteins have crucial roles in early/late steps or HRR and in the pathway choice for double strand break resolution. We conclude that T. gondii HRR pathway is a source of several lines of investigation that allow to to comprehend the extent of diversification of HRR in T. gondii. Such an effort will serve to determine if HRR could represent a potential targer for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio M Fenoy
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Silvina S Bogado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Susana M Contreras
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Vanesa Gottifredi
- Cell Cycle Genomic Instability Laboratory, Fundación Instituto Leloir, IIBBA-CONICET Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Sergio O Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, IIB-INTECH, CONICET-UNSAM Chascomús, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
139
|
Oh J, Lee SH, Lee SJ, Kim YH, Park SC, Rhee MH, Kwon OD, Kim TH, Kwak D. Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in Cattle Raised in Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. J Food Prot 2016; 79:821-4. [PMID: 27296432 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-15-512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cattle in Gyeongbuk province, the largest producer of cattle in Korea. Of blood samples obtained from 568 animals, 0.5% (3 of 568) tested seropositive for T. gondii by using a commercial ELISA kit. Among young individuals (≤1 year old), adult individuals (2 years old), and old individuals (≥3 years old), 0 (0%) of 37, 3 (0.6%) of 474, and 0 (0%) of 57 were seropositive, respectively. Among male, female, and castrated individuals, 0 (0%) of 22, 0 (0%) of 74, and 3 (0.6%) of 472 were seropositive, respectively. Among individuals from east, south, and northwest regions of Gyeongbuk province, 0 (0%) of 155, 2 (0.7%) of 288, and 1 (0.8%) of 125 were seropositive, respectively. No statistical differences were observed among the groups. Although a low T. gondii seroprevalence was detected in cattle raised in Gyeongbuk province, toxoplasmosis is still a concern owing to the Korean habit of eating raw or undercooked meat and the consequent risk of Toxoplasma transmission to animals and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaejun Oh
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Seung-Hun Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Seung-Jin Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Young-Hoan Kim
- Gyeongbuk Veterinary Service Laboratory, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Seung-Chun Park
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Man-Hee Rhee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Oh-Deog Kwon
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Tae-Hwan Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Dongmi Kwak
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
140
|
Do differences in Toxoplasma prevalence influence global variation in secondary sex ratio? Preliminary ecological regression study. Parasitology 2016; 143:1193-203. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016000597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYSex of the fetus is genetically determined such that an equal number of sons and daughters are born in large populations. However, the ratio of female to male births across human populations varies significantly. Many factors have been implicated in this. The theory that natural selection should favour female offspring under suboptimal environmental conditions implies that pathogens may affect secondary sex ratio (ratio of male to female births). Using regression models containing 13 potential confounding factors, we have found that variation of the secondary sex ratio can be predicted by seroprevalence of Toxoplasma across 94 populations distributed across African, American, Asian and European continents. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was the third strongest predictor of secondary sex ratio, β = −0·097, P < 0·01, after son preference, β = 0·261, P < 0·05, and fertility, β = −0·145, P < 0·001. Our preliminary results suggest that Toxoplasma gondii infection could be one of the most important environmental factors influencing the global variation of offspring sex ratio in humans. The effect of latent toxoplasmosis on public health could be much more serious than it is usually supposed to be.
Collapse
|
141
|
Meireles LR, Ekman CCJ, Andrade HFD, Luna EJDA. HUMAN TOXOPLASMOSIS OUTBREAKS AND THE AGENT INFECTING FORM. FINDINGS FROM A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016; 57:369-76. [PMID: 26603222 PMCID: PMC4660444 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652015000500001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, a worldwide highly prevalent zoonotic infection, is transmitted either by the oocysts, from water and soil, or the tissue cysts, in raw or undercooked infected meat, of Toxoplasma gondii. An ongoing debate is whether there are differences between the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the outbreaks due to one or the other infective form of the agent. We performed a systematic review, recovering 437 reported outbreaks of which 38 were selected. They were complete reports containing ascribedToxoplasma infecting form, and clinical and demographic data. There was no gender or age group selection in the outbreaks, which were described more often in the Americas. A large number of individuals were affected when oocysts, associated with soil and water contaminated with cat feces, were considered the transmission source. Onset of symptoms occurred early when the infection was ascribed to meat tissue cysts (11.4 ± 6.7 days) with sharpened temporal distribution of cases, while a broader and prolonged appearance of new cases was observed when oocysts in water were the source of the infection (20 ± 7 days, p < 0.001). Such information may be useful in the design and implementation of control strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Regina Meireles
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
142
|
Ruffolo BB, Toledo RDS, Martins FDC, Bugni FM, Costa LD, Marana ERM, Navarro IT, Garcia JL, Su C, Freire RL. ISOLATION AND GENOTYPING OF Toxoplasma gondii IN SERONEGATIVE URBAN RATS AND PRESENCE OF ANTIBODIES IN COMMUNICATING DOGS IN BRAZIL. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016; 58:28. [PMID: 27074322 PMCID: PMC4826081 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201658028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of rodents in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated in
Londrina, Paraná State, Brazil. One hundred and
eighty-one Rattus rattus and one Mus musculus were
caught in 37 places. Blood and tissues were collected and submitted to the indirect
fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the bioassay. Serum samples from 61 contacting
dogs were also collected. Sixteen rats (8.8%) were positive for Toxoplasma
gondii, but just two of them were positive by serology and bioassay test.
Antibodies were found in nine (4.9%) rats. Tissues of nine rats bioassayed were
positive and four isolates were obtained. Restriction fragment length polymorphism
(RFLP) analysis was performed using 12 markers (SAG1, SAG2, SAG2-alt, C22-8, C29-2,
L358, PK1, BTUB, GRA6, SAG3, Apico, CS3). Genotyping revealed that the four strains
isolated from this study have been isolated before in cats and chickens from Brazil.
None of the isolates was identified like clonal archetypal T-types I, II, and III.
The rats presented lower serologic Toxoplasma gondii prevalence
(8.8%) compared to contacting dogs (70.5%).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bergamo Ruffolo
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | - Roberta dos Santos Toledo
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | | | - Felipe Monteiro Bugni
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | - Letícia da Costa
- Programa de pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , , ,
| | - Elizabete Regina Marangoni Marana
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| | - Italmar Teodorico Navarro
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| | - João Luis Garcia
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| | - Chunlei Su
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States,
| | - Roberta Lemos Freire
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil, , , ,
| |
Collapse
|
143
|
Hillman AE, Lymbery AJ, Thompson RA. Is Toxoplasma gondii a threat to the conservation of free-ranging Australian marsupial populations? Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2016; 5:17-27. [PMID: 27141439 PMCID: PMC4840267 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
It has often been asserted that Australian marsupial species are particularly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii infection and to clinical toxoplasmosis following infection. This implicates T. gondii as a potential threat to marsupial population viability, and contrasts to what is known of T. gondii in populations of several other host species. We reviewed the literature, and found a lack of scientifically robust evidence addressing the occurrence of T. gondii infection in free-ranging populations of Australian marsupial species, and the impacts of the infection on population health. Key limitations included a lack of studies in free-ranging marsupial populations, study findings susceptible to substantial chance influences, and selection, misclassification and confounding biases. The lack of scientifically robust data available on this topic indicates that assertions that free-ranging populations of Australian marsupials are particularly susceptible to T. gondii infection and to toxoplasmosis are premature. The threat of T. gondii to the viability of free-ranging marsupial populations should therefore be regarded, at this stage, as a hypothesis.
Collapse
|
144
|
Gondim LFP, Wolf A, Vrhovec MG, Pantchev N, Bauer C, Langenmayer MC, Bohne W, Teifke JP, Dubey JP, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Characterization of an IgG monoclonal antibody targeted to both tissue cyst and sporocyst walls of Toxoplasma gondii. Exp Parasitol 2016; 163:46-56. [PMID: 26836446 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infects animals habiting terrestrial and aquatic environments. Its oocysts and tissue cysts are important for the horizontal transmission of this parasite. The oocyst and tissue cyst walls are crucial for the ability of the parasite to persist in the environment or in animal tissues, respectively. However, the composition of these walls is not well understood. We report the generation of monoclonal antibodies directed against wall components using mice immunized with oocyst antigens of T. gondii. One monoclonal antibody (mAb) G1/19 reacted solely with T. gondii sporozoites. The respective antigen had a relative molecular weight (Mr) of 30 kDa. MAb G1/19 failed to react with sporozoites of any other coccidian parasite species tested (Hammondia hammondi, Hammondia heydorni, Cystoisospora felis, Eimeria bovis, Sarcocystis sp.). Another mAb, designated K8/15-15, recognized antigens in sporocyst walls of the parasite and in the walls of in vivo or in vitro produced tissue cysts, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoblot assays. Antigens of 80 to a high molecular weight protein of about 350 kDa Mr were recognized by this antibody using antigen extracts from sporocysts, and from in vitro or in vivo generated tissue cysts of the parasite. Tissue cyst and sporocyst walls of H. hammondi and H. heydorni, and tissue cysts of Neospora caninum were also recognized by mAb K8/15-15. Sporocyst walls of C. felis also reacted to this mAb. The cyst walls of Sarcocystis sp. and Besnoitia besnoiti were not recognized by mAb K8/15-15. Reactivity by a single mAb against T. gondii antigens in tissue cysts and sporocysts had not been reported previously. MAb K8/15-15 may be a practical tool for the identification of both cysts and sporocysts of the parasite, and may also be potentially employed in proteomic studies on the identification of new components of the cyst and sporocyst walls of T. gondii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luís F P Gondim
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany; Universidade Federal da Bahia, Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Anatomia, Patologia e Clínicas, Av. Adhemar de Barros 500, 40170-110, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Alexander Wolf
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | | | - Christian Bauer
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin C Langenmayer
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Bohne
- Department of Microbiology, University of Gottingen, Kreuzbergring 57, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens P Teifke
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jitender P Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Franz J Conraths
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
145
|
Baba M, Kitoh K, Takashima Y. Removal of extracellular Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites from suspended cell culture. Parasitol Int 2016; 65:536-538. [PMID: 26806654 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Revised: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, actively invade a broad spectrum of cell types. T. gondii infects leukocytes and spreads to distant organs such as the brain, lungs and muscles. However, the mechanism of T. gondii transmission from infected leukocytes to peripheral organs is unknown. To show the dynamics of infected leukocytes and intracellular parasites in vivo, previous studies have prepared T. gondii-infected leukocytes and injected them into circulation in experimental animals. However, when the infected leukocytes are prepared in vitro, some extracellular tachyzoites remain in the leukocyte cell culture because it is almost impossible to wash out these extracellular tachyzoites. These extracellular tachyzoites may distort experimental results. In this study, we report a method for removing extracellular tachyzoites from leukocyte culture suspension using antibody-conjugated magnetic beads. Using this method, extracellular tachyzoites in suspension cell culture can be effectively eliminated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minami Baba
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Katsuya Kitoh
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takashima
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
146
|
Wei HX, He C, Yang PL, Lindsay DS, Peng HJ. Relationship Between Cat Contact and Infection by Toxoplasma gondii in Humans: A Meta-Analysis. COMP PARASITOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1654/1525-2647-83.1.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Xia Wei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
| | - Cheng He
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
| | - Pei-Liang Yang
- Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
| | - David S. Lindsay
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Duck Pond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, U.S.A. (e-mail: )
| | - Hong-Juan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, the People’s Republic of China (e-mail: )
| |
Collapse
|
147
|
Liu J, He Y, Benmerzouga I, Sullivan WJ, Morrissette NS, Murray JM, Hu K. An ensemble of specifically targeted proteins stabilizes cortical microtubules in the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Mol Biol Cell 2015; 27:549-71. [PMID: 26680740 PMCID: PMC4751604 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e15-11-0754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The human parasite Toxoplasma gondii has 22 regularly spaced microtubules associated with the cortex. This work defines the differential localization of associated proteins, explores the biophysical constraints on specific targeting along the cortical microtubules, and investigates the function of these proteins in stabilizing the polymers. Although all microtubules within a single cell are polymerized from virtually identical subunits, different microtubule populations carry out specialized and diverse functions, including directional transport, force generation, and cellular morphogenesis. Functional differentiation requires specific targeting of associated proteins to subsets or even subregions of these polymers. The cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma gondii, an important human parasite, contains at least five distinct tubulin-based structures. In this work, we define the differential localization of proteins along the cortical microtubules of T. gondii, established during daughter biogenesis and regulated by protein expression and exchange. These proteins distinguish cortical from mitotic spindle microtubules, even though the assembly of these subsets is contemporaneous during cell division. Finally, proteins associated with cortical microtubules collectively protect the stability of the polymers with a remarkable degree of functional redundancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Yudou He
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Imaan Benmerzouga
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - William J Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Naomi S Morrissette
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - John M Murray
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| | - Ke Hu
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
| |
Collapse
|
148
|
Evaluation of colostrum as an alternative biological sample for the diagnosis of human congenital toxoplasmosis. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:519. [PMID: 26573138 PMCID: PMC4647675 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-1242-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite able to infect a wide range of hosts, including humans. Congenital infection can cause severe damage to the fetus. Thus, it is important to detect antibodies against the parasite to confirm clinical manifestations. Considering that all immunoglobulin isotypes may be present in biological samples from newborns and their mothers, this study aimed to evaluate the ability to diagnose recent toxoplasmosis by using colostrum, as an alternative noninvasive way to obtain biological samples, as well as to determine correlation rates between antibodies from serum samples to detect IgG, IgM and IgA isotypes against T. gondii. Methods A total of 289 puerperal women from Clinical Hospital of Federal University of Uberlândia (mean age: 24.8 years, range: 14 – 43 years) took part in this study. Serum and colostrum samples from these patients were analyzed using ELISA and immunoblotting assays for soluble antigens from T. gondii. Results ELISA immunoassays with serum samples showed reactivity in 47.0, 6.9 and 2.8 % of samples to anti-T. gondii IgG, IgM and IgA, respectively, in comparison with colostrum samples, which showed reactivity in 46.0, 7.9 and 2.8 % of samples to the same isotypes. Also, significant correlation rates of anti-T. gondii antibody levels between serum and colostrum samples were observed. Interestingly, reactivity to IgM and/or IgA in colostrum and/or serum confirmed clinical manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis in three newborns. Immunoblotting assays showed that it is possible to detect IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against various antigens of T. gondii in serum and colostrum samples. IgG antibodies in serum and colostrum samples recognized more antigenic fractions than IgM and IgA antibodies. Serum IgG detected more antigenic fractions than IgG antibodies present in the colostrum of the same patient. In contrast, specific IgA present in colostrum recognized a higher number of antigens than IgA present in serum samples of the same patient. Conclusions Overall, the results show that it is important to investigate the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis, even at puerperal period. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that T. gondii-specific IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in serum and colostrum samples from puerperal women may be detected with a significant correlation, suggesting that colostrum may also be used as an alternative biological sample to efficiently diagnose recent human toxoplasmosis.
Collapse
|
149
|
Deletion of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 inhibits development and growth of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:797-805. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4807-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
|
150
|
Belal US, Norose K, Mohamed RM, Sekine S, Nukaga T, Ito K, Abdellatif MZ, Abdelgelil NH, Yano A. Quantitative assessment of the effects of sulfamethoxazole on Toxoplasma gondii loads in susceptible WT C57BL/6 mice as an immunocompetent host model. Parasitol Int 2015; 65:1-4. [PMID: 26384856 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The abundance of Toxoplasma gondii with or without sulfamethoxazole (SMX) treatment was evaluated with quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction in various organs of wild-type C57BL/6 mice, a susceptible immunocompetent host, after peroral infection with a cyst-forming Fukaya strain of T. gondii. SMX affected different organs in three ways: T. gondii was reduced independently of SMX (skin and kidney); T. gondii was not eradicated with continuous treatment (brain, heart, and lung); and T. gondii was eradicated with continuous treatment (tongue, skeletal muscle, and small intestine). The SMX concentrations in the brains, hearts, and lungs were higher in infected mice than in uninfected mice. These results indicate that even in an immunocompetent host, chemotherapy is necessary to reduce the parasite load and thus reduce the risk of recurrent disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Usama S Belal
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Kazumi Norose
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Rabie M Mohamed
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Shuichi Sekine
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Takumi Nukaga
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Kousei Ito
- Department of Biopharmaceutics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Manal Z Abdellatif
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Noha H Abdelgelil
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Akihiko Yano
- Department of Infection and Host Defense, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| |
Collapse
|