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The associations of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica aspects by focusing their morphological and molecular features on clinical appearances in Khuzestan Province, Iran. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:913510. [PMID: 25317423 PMCID: PMC4181938 DOI: 10.1155/2014/913510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis has various phenotypic aspects consisting of polymorphic amastigotes with different genetic ranges. Samples were collected from suspected patients of Khuzestan province. Prepared smears were stained, scaled, and measured using ocular micrometer. The Cyt b, ITS-rDNA, and microsatellite genes of Leishmania were amplified and Leishmania species were identified by molecular analyses. Of 150 examined suspected patients, 102 were identified to Leishmania species (90 L. major, nine L. tropica, and three unidentified). The amastigotes of 90 L. major had regular and different irregular shapes within three clinical lesions with no and/or low genetic diversity. Three haplotypes of Cyt b of L. major were found but no variation was observed using ITS-rDNA gene. Interesting findings were that all nine L. tropica had regular amastigote shapes with more genetic variations, also a patient which had coinfection of L. major, L. tropica, and Crithidia. At least two L. major and L. tropica were identified in suspected patients of the regions. Different irregular amastigotes' shapes of L. major can be explained by various reservoir hosts and vectors. In contrast, more molecular variations in L. tropica could be justified by genetic characters. Unidentified Leishmania could be mixed pathogens or nonpathogens with mammals' Leishmania or Crithidia.
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102
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Calvo-Álvarez E, Álvarez-Velilla R, Jiménez M, Molina R, Pérez-Pertejo Y, Balaña-Fouce R, Reguera RM. First evidence of intraclonal genetic exchange in trypanosomatids using two Leishmania infantum fluorescent transgenic clones. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3075. [PMID: 25188587 PMCID: PMC4154677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The mode of reproduction in Leishmania spp has been argued to be essentially clonal. However, recent data (genetic analysis of populations and co-infections in sand flies) have proposed the existence of a non-obligate sexual cycle in the extracellular stage of the parasite within the sand fly vector. In this article we propose the existence of intraclonal genetic exchange in the natural vector of Leishmania infantum. Methodology/Principal findings We have developed transgenic L. infantum lines expressing drug resistance markers linked to green and red fluorescent reporters. We hypothesized whether those cells with identical genotype can recognize each other and mate. Both types of markers were successfully exchanged within the sand fly midgut of the natural vector Phlebotomus perniciosus when individuals from these species were fed with a mixture of parental clones. Using the yellow phenotype and drug resistance markers, we provide evidence for genetic exchange in L. infantum. The hybrid progeny appeared to be triploid based on DNA content analysis. The hybrid clone analyzed was stable throughout the complete parasite life cycle. The progress of infections by the hybrid clone in BALB/c mice caused a reduction in parasite loads in both spleen and liver, and provided weight values similar to those obtained with uninfected mice. Spleen arginase activity was also significantly reduced relative to parental strains. Conclusions/Significance A L. infantum hybrid lineage was obtained from intraclonal genetic exchange within the midgut of the natural vector, suggesting the ability of this parasite to recognize the same genotype and mate. The yellow hybrid progeny is stable throughout the whole parasite life cycle but with a slower virulence, which correlates well with the lower arginase activity detected both in vitro and in vivo infections. Leishmaniasis is one of the most important human neglected parasitic diseases worldwide. When it appears in the visceral form it has the most aggressive outcome, and is fatal if left untreated. The current mode of reproduction of these parasites is under discussion, from propagation to a sexual reproduction process. Here, we describe for the first time the intraclonal genetic exchange between two transgenic L. infantum fluorescent strains in their natural vector Phlebotomus perniciosus. Hybrid clones displayed parental phenotypic traits such as yellow fluorescence and double-drug resistance. The DNA content of the hybrid lineage was 3n, while the parental lineage was 2n. The hybrid clone was able to undergo all the morphogenic transitions required to complete a full life cycle to infect a susceptible mammalian host, and maintained both phenotype and genotype. However, its capacity to generate the same lesions as those observed with parental clones in BALB/c mice was reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raquel Álvarez-Velilla
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, León, Spain
| | - Maribel Jiménez
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Molina
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Pérez-Pertejo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, León, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Rosa M. Reguera
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana, León, Spain
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103
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Mouttaki T, Morales-Yuste M, Merino-Espinosa G, Chiheb S, Fellah H, Martin-Sanchez J, Riyad M. Molecular diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis and identification of the causative Leishmania species in Morocco by using three PCR-based assays. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:420. [PMID: 25189460 PMCID: PMC4161773 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) might be difficult, in particular in endemic areas where different species of Leishmania can cause lesions of very similar appearance and where other skin diseases with similar clinical symptoms occur. Even today, the parasitological diagnosis of CL remains the gold standard and it is based on the direct identification of amastigotes in microscopy smears and/or culture of promastigotes from infected tissues. Although these techniques are highly specific, they are not sensitive enough. The objective of this study is to contribute to improving the diagnosis of CL and the identification of Leishmania species in Morocco by comparing three PCR-based assays applied directly on dermal samples. Methods A total of 58 patients presenting with cutaneous lesions suggestive of CL were sampled for parasitological diagnosis by direct examination (DE), culture in NNN medium, two kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) PCRs (Lmj4/Uni21 and 13A/13B primers) and one rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) PCR (LITSR/L5.8S primers). The techniques were statistically analyzed and compared. Results According to our consensus positive, 44 out of 58 samples were true positives. The 13A/13B-PCR and ITS1-PCR showed the highest sensitivities (100%). Parasite microscopy and culture detected 43% and 29% of the true positives, respectively, while culture and microscopy together improved sensitivity to 52%. PCRs 13A/13B and ITS1 were associated to four and one false positives, respectively, while the other assays were 100% specific. Furthermore, the ITS1-PCR-RFLP assay clearly identified the Leishmania species for all the true positives (44/44), whereas Lmj4/Uni21-PCR identified 35/44 samples. The comparison between the Leishmania molecular characterizations and the expected species according to the national data from the Ministry of Health indicate 7 discrepant results. Conclusions The PCR-based assays tested on our samples increased the speed and sensitivity of the diagnosis of CL compared to the conventional techniques. Furthermore, we showed that we can not base the species identification on the national data from the Ministry of Health. Finally, we suggest the use of PCR-ITS1-RFLP for diagnosis and simultaneous identification of the species in the Moroccan epidemiological context, but also in similar areas of the Mediterranean Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Myriam Riyad
- Centre for Doctoral Studies in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Casablanca, Morocco.
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104
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Ehrlich A, Castilho TM, Goldsmith-Pestana K, Chae WJ, Bothwell ALM, Sparwasser T, McMahon-Pratt D. The immunotherapeutic role of regulatory T cells in Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:2961-70. [PMID: 25098291 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania (Viannia) parasites are etiological agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. Infection is characterized by a mixed Th1/Th2 inflammatory response, which contributes to disease pathology. However, the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in Leishmania (Viannia) disease pathogenesis is unclear. Using the mouse model of chronic L. (V.) panamensis infection, we examined the hypothesis that Treg functionality contributes to control of pathogenesis. Upon infection, Tregs (CD4(+)Foxp3(+)) presented with a dysregulated phenotype, in that they produced IFN-γ, expressed Tbet, and had a reduced ability to suppress T cell proliferation in vitro. Targeted ablation of Tregs resulted in enlarged lesions, increased parasite load, and enhanced production of IL-17 and IFN-γ, with no change in IL-10 and IL-13 levels. This indicated that an increased inflammatory response was commensurate with disease exacerbation and that the remaining impaired Tregs were important in regulation of disease pathology. Conversely, adoptive transfer of Tregs from naive mice halted disease progression, lowered parasite burden, and reduced cytokine production (IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, IFN-γ). Because Tregs appeared to be important for controlling infection, we hypothesized that their expansion could be used as an immunotherapeutic treatment approach. As a proof of principle, chronically infected mice were treated with rIL-2/anti-IL-2 Ab complex to expand Tregs. Treatment transitorily increased the numbers and percentage of Tregs (draining lymph node, spleen), which resulted in reduced cytokine responses, ameliorated lesions, and reduced parasite load (10(5)-fold). Thus, immunotherapy targeting Tregs could provide an alternate treatment strategy for leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Ehrlich
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Tiago Moreno Castilho
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Karen Goldsmith-Pestana
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Wook-Jin Chae
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520; and
| | - Alfred L M Bothwell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520; and
| | - Tim Sparwasser
- Institute of Infection Immunology, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, TWINCORE, 30625 Hanover, Germany
| | - Diane McMahon-Pratt
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520;
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105
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Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic parasitic disease associated with severe immune dysfunction. Treatment options are limited to relatively toxic drugs, and there is no vaccine for humans available. Hence, there is an urgent need to better understand immune responses following infection with Leishmania species by studying animal models of disease and clinical samples from patients. Here, we review recent discoveries in these areas and highlight shortcomings in our knowledge that need to be addressed if better treatment options are to be developed and effective vaccines designed.
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106
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Hajjaran H, Mohebali M, Teimouri A, Oshaghi MA, Mirjalali H, Kazemi-Rad E, Shiee MR, Naddaf SR. Identification and phylogenetic relationship of Iranian strains of various Leishmania species isolated from cutaneous and visceral cases of leishmaniasis based on N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase gene. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 26:203-12. [PMID: 24911282 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The identity of Iranian Leishmania species has been resolved to some extent by some genetic markers. In this study, based on N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase (nagt) gene, we further elucidated the identity and phylogeny of the prevalent species in this country. DNAs of 121 isolates belonging to cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients, canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) cases, and Rhombomys opimus rodents were amplified by targeting a partial sequence of nagt gene. All the amplicons were analyzed with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using Acc1 enzyme, and 49 amplicons representing different reservoir hosts were sequenced and aligned with similar sequences from GenBank database. The RFLP analysis revealed that 41 CL patients were infected Leishmania tropica and 36 with Leishmania major. Among 10 CVL isolates, 6 were identified as Leishmania infantum and 4 as L. tropica. Amongst 34 rodents' isolates, 11 and 23 isolates exhibited patterns similar to those of L. major, and L. tropica/Leishmania turanica, respectively. The sequencing results from all CL patients, CVL cases, and 4 reservoir rodents were in agreement with RFLP analysis and showed 99-100% homologies with the registered species of L. major, L. tropica, and L. infantum from Turkey, Tunisia, Iraq and Israel. Of the 7 rodent isolates exhibiting RFLP patterns similar to L. tropica/L. turanica, 3 exhibited the highest homologies (99-100%) with L. turanica and 4 with Leishmania gerbilli. The 49 nagt DNA sequences were grouped into five clusters representing L. major, L. tropica, L. infantum, L. turanica and L. gerbilli species, encompassing 19 haplotypes. No correlation was observed between intraspecies divergence and geographic distribution of haplotypes. The L. tropica haplotypes exhibited more homologies with those of L. infantum than L. major (97.2% vs. 96.9%), a probable indication to the potential ability of L. tropica to visceralize. Characterization of Iranian Leishmania isolates using nagt gene allowed unambiguous identification of five prevalent species with a high-resolution phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Hajjaran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aref Teimouri
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Oshaghi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Kazemi-Rad
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Shiee
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saied Reza Naddaf
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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107
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Zahedifard F, Gholami E, Taheri T, Taslimi Y, Doustdari F, Seyed N, Torkashvand F, Meneses C, Papadopoulou B, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Rafati S. Enhanced protective efficacy of nonpathogenic recombinant leishmania tarentolae expressing cysteine proteinases combined with a sand fly salivary antigen. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2751. [PMID: 24675711 PMCID: PMC3967951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel vaccination approaches are needed to prevent leishmaniasis. Live attenuated vaccines are the gold standard for protection against intracellular pathogens such as Leishmania and there have been new developments in this field. The nonpathogenic to humans lizard protozoan parasite, Leishmania (L) tarentolae, has been used effectively as a vaccine platform against visceral leishmaniasis in experimental animal models. Correspondingly, pre-exposure to sand fly saliva or immunization with a salivary protein has been shown to protect mice against cutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here, we tested the efficacy of a novel combination of established protective parasite antigens expressed by L. tarentolae together with a sand fly salivary antigen as a vaccine strategy against L. major infection. The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of different DNA/Live and Live/Live prime-boost vaccination modalities with live recombinant L. tarentolae stably expressing cysteine proteinases (type I and II, CPA/CPB) and PpSP15, an immunogenic salivary protein from Phlebotomus papatasi, a natural vector of L. major, were tested both in susceptible BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6 mice. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed before challenge and at 3 and 10 weeks after Leishmania infection. In both strains of mice, the strongest protective effect was observed when priming with PpSP15 DNA and boosting with PpSP15 DNA and live recombinant L. tarentolae stably expressing cysteine proteinase genes. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE The present study is the first to use a combination of recombinant L. tarentolae with a sand fly salivary antigen (PpSP15) and represents a novel promising vaccination approach against leishmaniasis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/blood
- Cysteine Proteases/biosynthesis
- Cysteine Proteases/genetics
- Cysteine Proteases/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Leishmania/immunology
- Leishmaniasis/prevention & control
- Leishmaniasis Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Leishmaniasis Vaccines/genetics
- Leishmaniasis Vaccines/immunology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Psychodidae
- Salivary Proteins and Peptides/biosynthesis
- Salivary Proteins and Peptides/genetics
- Salivary Proteins and Peptides/immunology
- Vaccination/methods
- Vaccines, Attenuated/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Attenuated/genetics
- Vaccines, Attenuated/immunology
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/immunology
- Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Synthetic/genetics
- Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Zahedifard
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Gholami
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahereh Taheri
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasaman Taslimi
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Doustdari
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Seyed
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Claudio Meneses
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Barbara Papadopoulou
- Research Centre in Infectious Disease, CHUL Research Centre (CHU de Québec Research Centre) and Department of Microbiology, Infectious Disease and Immunology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jesus G. Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sima Rafati
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- * E-mail: ,
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108
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Evidence of Leishmania infantum infection in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a natural area in Madrid, Spain. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:318254. [PMID: 24724079 PMCID: PMC3958779 DOI: 10.1155/2014/318254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 01/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the most important neglected zoonosis and remains endemic in at least 88 developing countries in the world. In addition, anthropogenic environmental changes in urban areas are leading to its emergency world wide. Zoonotic leishmaniasis control might only be achieved by an integrated approach targeting both the human host and the animal reservoirs, which in certain sylvatic cycles are yet to be identified. Recently, hares have been pointed out as competent reservoirs of Leishmania infantum in Spain, but the role of other lagomorphs has not been clarified. Here, 69 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from a natural area in Madrid in which a high density was present were analyzed using indirect (immunofluorescence antibody test, IFAT) and direct (PCR, culture) techniques. Fifty-seven (82.6%) of the animals were positive to at least one technique, with IFAT yielding the highest proportion of positive samples. L. infantum was isolated in 13% animals demonstrating the occurrence of infection in this setting. Our results suggest that rabbits could play a role of competent reservoir of L. infantum and demonstrate that the prevalence of infection is high in the analyzed area.
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109
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Marlow MA, Boité MC, Ferreira GEM, Steindel M, Cupolillo E. Multilocus sequence analysis for Leishmania braziliensis outbreak investigation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2695. [PMID: 24551258 PMCID: PMC3923721 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With the emergence of leishmaniasis in new regions around the world, molecular epidemiological methods with adequate discriminatory power, reproducibility, high throughput and inter-laboratory comparability are needed for outbreak investigation of this complex parasitic disease. As multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) has been projected as the future gold standard technique for Leishmania species characterization, we propose a MLSA panel of six housekeeping gene loci (6pgd, mpi, icd, hsp70, mdhmt, mdhnc) for investigating intraspecific genetic variation of L. (Viannia) braziliensis strains and compare the resulting genetic clusters with several epidemiological factors relevant to outbreak investigation. The recent outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. (V.) braziliensis in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina is used to demonstrate the applicability of this technique. Sequenced fragments from six genetic markers from 86 L. (V.) braziliensis strains from twelve Brazilian states, including 33 strains from Santa Catarina, were used to determine clonal complexes, genetic structure, and phylogenic networks. Associations between genetic clusters and networks with epidemiological characteristics of patients were investigated. MLSA revealed epidemiological patterns among L. (V.) braziliensis strains, even identifying strains from imported cases among the Santa Catarina strains that presented extensive homogeneity. Evidence presented here has demonstrated MLSA possesses adequate discriminatory power for outbreak investigation, as well as other potential uses in the molecular epidemiology of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariel A. Marlow
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Mariana C. Boité
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Eduardo M. Ferreira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mario Steindel
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Elisa Cupolillo
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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110
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Verner Z, Čermáková P, Škodová I, Kováčová B, Lukeš J, Horváth A. Comparative analysis of respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation in Leishmania tarentolae, Crithidia fasciculata, Phytomonas serpens and procyclic stage of Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 193:55-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Revised: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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111
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Keller AA, Breitling R, Hemmerich P, Kappe K, Braun M, Wittig B, Schaefer B, Lorkowski S, Reissmann S. Transduction of Proteins intoLeishmania Tarentolaeby Formation of Non-Covalent Complexes With Cell-Penetrating Peptides. J Cell Biochem 2013; 115:243-52. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea-Anneliese Keller
- Friedrich Schiller University, Biological and Pharmaceutical Faculty; Institute of Nutrition and Abbe Centre of Photonics; Dornburger Str. 25 07743 Jena Germany
| | | | - Peter Hemmerich
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute; Beutenbergstr. 11 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Katarina Kappe
- Jena Bioscience GmbH; Loebstedter Str. 80 07749 Jena Germany
| | - Maria Braun
- Friedrich Schiller University, Biological and Pharmaceutical Faculty; Institute of Nutrition and Abbe Centre of Photonics; Dornburger Str. 25 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Berith Wittig
- Friedrich Schiller University, Biological and Pharmaceutical Faculty; Institute of Nutrition and Abbe Centre of Photonics; Dornburger Str. 25 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Buerk Schaefer
- Jena Bioscience GmbH; Loebstedter Str. 80 07749 Jena Germany
| | - Stefan Lorkowski
- Friedrich Schiller University, Biological and Pharmaceutical Faculty; Institute of Nutrition and Abbe Centre of Photonics; Dornburger Str. 25 07743 Jena Germany
| | - Siegmund Reissmann
- Jena Bioscience GmbH; Loebstedter Str. 80 07749 Jena Germany
- Friedrich Schiller University, Biological and Pharmaceutical Faculty; Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Dornburger Str. 25 07743 Jena Germany
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112
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Jamal S, Scaria V. Cheminformatic models based on machine learning for pyruvate kinase inhibitors of Leishmania mexicana. BMC Bioinformatics 2013; 14:329. [PMID: 24252103 PMCID: PMC4225525 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-14-329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease which affects approx. 12 million individuals worldwide and caused by parasite Leishmania. The current drugs used in the treatment of Leishmaniasis are highly toxic and has seen widespread emergence of drug resistant strains which necessitates the need for the development of new therapeutic options. The high throughput screen data available has made it possible to generate computational predictive models which have the ability to assess the active scaffolds in a chemical library followed by its ADME/toxicity properties in the biological trials. Results In the present study, we have used publicly available, high-throughput screen datasets of chemical moieties which have been adjudged to target the pyruvate kinase enzyme of L. mexicana (LmPK). The machine learning approach was used to create computational models capable of predicting the biological activity of novel antileishmanial compounds. Further, we evaluated the molecules using the substructure based approach to identify the common substructures contributing to their activity. Conclusion We generated computational models based on machine learning methods and evaluated the performance of these models based on various statistical figures of merit. Random forest based approach was determined to be the most sensitive, better accuracy as well as ROC. We further added a substructure based approach to analyze the molecules to identify potentially enriched substructures in the active dataset. We believe that the models developed in the present study would lead to reduction in cost and length of clinical studies and hence newer drugs would appear faster in the market providing better healthcare options to the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Jamal
- GN Ramachandran Knowledge Center for Genome Informatics, CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi, 110007, India.
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Kuhls K, Cupolillo E, Silva SO, Schweynoch C, Côrtes Boité M, Mello MN, Mauricio I, Miles M, Wirth T, Schönian G. Population structure and evidence for both clonality and recombination among Brazilian strains of the subgenus Leishmania (Viannia). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2490. [PMID: 24205418 PMCID: PMC3814519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 09/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Parasites of the subgenus Leishmania (Viannia) cause varying clinical symptoms ranging from cutaneous leishmaniases (CL) with single or few lesions, disseminated CL (DL) with multiple lesions to disfiguring forms of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). In this population genetics study, 37 strains of L. (V.) guyanensis, 63 of L. (V.) braziliensis, four of L. (V.) shawi, six of L. (V.) lainsoni, seven of L. (V.) naiffi, one each of L. (V.) utingensis and L. (V.) lindenbergi, and one L. (V.) lainsoni/L. naiffi hybrid from different endemic foci in Brazil were examined for variation at 15 hyper-variable microsatellite markers. Methodology/Principal findings: The multilocus microsatellite profiles obtained for the 120 strains were analysed using both model- and distance-based methods. Significant genetic diversity was observed for all L. (Viannia) strains studied. The two cluster analysis approaches identified two principal genetic groups or populations, one consisting of strains of L. (V.) guyanensis from the Amazon region and the other of strains of L. (V.) braziliensis isolated along the Atlantic coast of Brazil. A third group comprised a heterogeneous assembly of species, including other strains of L. braziliensis isolated from the north of Brazil, which were extremely polymorphic. The latter strains seemed to be more closely related to those of L. (V.) shawi, L. (V.) naiffi, and L. (V.) lainsoni, also isolated in northern Brazilian foci. The MLMT approach identified an epidemic clone consisting of 13 strains of L. braziliensis from Minas Gerais, but evidence for recombination was obtained for the populations of L. (V.) braziliensis from the Atlantic coast and for L. (V.) guyanensis. Conclusions/Significance: Different levels of recombination versus clonality seem to occur within the subgenus L. (Viannia). Though clearly departing from panmixia, sporadic, but long-term sustained recombination might explain the tremendous genetic diversity and limited population structure found for such L. (Viannia) strains. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) constitutes a significant public health problem in all federal states of Brazil. Most cases are caused by parasites of the subgenus Leishmania (Viannia) which can cause a variety of clinical symptoms ranging from single or few lesions, disseminated CL with multiple lesions, to disfiguring forms of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. This study has used a multilocus microsatellite typing approach for exploring the genetic diversity and population structure among 120 strains representing different subgenus L. (Viannia) species and different Brazilian CL foci. Genetic diversity within the subgenus was much higher than expected, especially within L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) shawi, L. (V.) naiffi, and L. (V.) lainsoni which were all from the north of Brazil. These strains could not be assigned to well-defined populations, but presented a rather loosely associated group. Strains of L. (V.) braziliensis isolated along the Atlantic coast of Brazil and strains of L. (V.) guyanensis formed, however, two clearly separated populations exhibiting remarkable levels of sexual exchange. The latter finding is in contrast to previous studies suggesting clonal modes of propagation or inbreeding for natural populations of Leishmania parasites and might explain the genetic heterogeneity and limited population structure for Brazilian strains of subgenus L. (Viannia) observed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Kuhls
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Cupolillo
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Soraia O. Silva
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Carola Schweynoch
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mariana Côrtes Boité
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria N. Mello
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Isabel Mauricio
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Miles
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thierry Wirth
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Département de Systématique et Évolution, UMR-CNRS 7205, Paris, France
| | - Gabriele Schönian
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Moreno I, Álvarez J, García N, de la Fuente S, Martínez I, Marino E, Toraño A, Goyache J, Vilas F, Domínguez L, Domínguez M. Detection of anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies in sylvatic lagomorphs from an epidemic area of Madrid using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Vet Parasitol 2013; 199:264-7. [PMID: 24211046 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An outbreak of human leishmaniasis was confirmed in the southwest of the province of Madrid, Spain, between July 2009 and December 2012. Incidence of Leishmania infection in dogs was unchanged in this period, prompting a search for alternative sylvatic infection reservoirs. We evaluated exposure to Leishmania in serum samples from animals in the area with an indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT). Using promastigotes from six culture passages and a 1/25 threshold titer, we found anti-Leishmania infantum seroreactivity in 9.3% of cats (4 of 43), 45.7% of rabbits (16/35) and 74.1% of hares (63/85). Use of promastigotes from >10 in vitro passages resulted in a notably IFAT lower titer, suggesting antigenic changes during extended culture. Postmortem inspection of seropositive animals showed no clinical signs of infection. The results clearly suggest that asymptomatic hares were the main reservoir in the outbreak, and corroborate IFAT as a sensitive serological surveillance method to detect such cryptic Leishmania infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Moreno
- Área de Inmunología, Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana e Inmunogenética, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Mahadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Álvarez
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea García
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago de la Fuente
- Dirección General de Ordenación e Inspección, Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid, 28001 Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Martínez
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eloy Marino
- Dirección General de Ordenación e Inspección, Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid, 28001 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfredo Toraño
- Área de Inmunología, Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana e Inmunogenética, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Mahadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Joaquin Goyache
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Vilas
- Dirección General de Ordenación e Inspección, Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid, 28001 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucas Domínguez
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Domínguez
- Área de Inmunología, Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana e Inmunogenética, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Mahadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
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Giraud E, Lecoeur H, Rouault E, Goyard S, Milon G, Lang T. A combined luciferase-expressing Leishmania imaging/RT-qPCR assay provides new insights into the sequential bilateral processes deployed in the ear pinna of C57BL/6 mice. Parasitol Int 2013; 63:245-53. [PMID: 24001683 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2013.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Revised: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania/L. major was identified as the etiological agent of human localized cutaneous leishmaniasis. L. major metacyclic promastigotes/MP - the infectious form transmitted by sand flies - were enriched from axenically-derived cultures and inoculated into the dermis of mice (10(3) or 10(4) luciferase-expressing L. major MP inoculated into the C57BL/6 mouse ear pinna). Quantitative readout assays were then combined with imaging of this L. major-hosting skin site and established i) that a specific period of time - depending upon the L. major load used for the inoculation - is required for the L. major-hosting ear pinna to be continuously populated by a balanced population of functional regulatory and effector T lymphocytes, and that ii) this balance coincides with persisting low numbers of amastigotes in more or less rapidly healing skin. This approach also established that, whatever the MP inoculum load delivered to the primary site, the immune processes that reduce the L. major amastigote population also account for concomitant immunity, namely remodelling of the secondary site - where 10(4) MP were delivered - as a clinically silent niche hosting a small L. major population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Giraud
- Institut Pasteur, Département Parasitologie et Mycologie, Laboratoire Immunophysiologie & Parasitisme, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
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Bañuls AL, Thomas F, Renaud F. Of parasites and men. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 20:61-70. [PMID: 23954419 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Revised: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The living world has evolved and is evolving through interspecific relationships between organisms. The diversity of these interactions is enormous going from mutualism to parasitism. Humans live with a multitude of microorganisms, essential for their biology. However, interactions are not always advantageous. Indeed, many organisms might become pathogens, such as the Plasmodium species, the causative agents of malaria. Like many other microorganisms, they are «Machiavellian» in their capacity to elaborate a range of reproduction strategies, giving them a huge advantage in terms of adaptation. Here, we discuss the role played by parasites in the ecology and evolution of living organisms and particularly of humans. In the study of infectious diseases, humans are legitimately the focal point, although they represent only one ecosystem among many others and not taking this into account certainly biases our global view of the system. Indeed, we know only a minimal fraction of the microorganisms we live with. However, parasites have shaped and are still shaping the human genome. Several genetic signatures are the proofs of the selection pressures by parasites that humankind has endured during its evolution. But, ultimately, what are the solutionsfor living with pathogens? Should we eradicate them or should we learn how to control and manage them?
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Bañuls
- Laboratoire MIVEGEC (UMR CNRS 5290-IRD 224 - Universités Montpellier 1 et 2), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), PO Box 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France.
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Bart A, van Thiel PPAM, de Vries HJC, Hodiamont CJ, Van Gool T. Imported leishmaniasis in the Netherlands from 2005 to 2012: epidemiology, diagnostic techniques and sequence-based species typing from 195 patients. Euro Surveill 2013; 18:20544. [DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2013.18.30.20544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an imported disease in the Netherlands. We report data for the period between 2005 and 2012, on clinical presentation, country where leishmaniasis was acquired, and causative species, for 195 civilian and military patients who had travelled abroad. Most patients were affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) (n=185 patients), while visceral leishmaniasis (VL) (n=8 patients) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (n=2 patients) were less frequently observed. All VL patients had been infected in Europe. CL was mainly acquired in Afghanistan, Surinam, Morocco and Spain. The majority of CL patients consisted of military personnel (55%, 102/185), 78 of whom had been infected during an outbreak in Afghanistan. Parasitological diagnosis was made by a combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microscopy and culture. Compared to a standard of parasitological proof by any method other than the one under consideration, sensitivities of the individual methods ranged from 73% to 98%. Microscopy was least sensitive, but is fast and cheap. Mini-exon repeat PCR combines high sensitivity and specificity, and allows differentiation between species by sequencing of the PCR product. Eight different species or species complexes were identified, allowing species-specific therapy. Four patients proved infected with Leishmania naiffi, a hitherto rarely described cause of leishmaniasis. In comparison to previous decennia, an increase in cutaneous leishmaniasis was observed in our hospital, both in civilian and military patients who had travelled abroad. This calls for increased awareness among clinicians, availability of diagnostic tests and species-specific treatment guidelines in non-endemic countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bart
- Department of Medical Microbiology, section of Parasitology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P PAM van Thiel
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine and AIDS, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H JC de Vries
- Department of Dermatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - C J Hodiamont
- Department of Medical Microbiology, section of Parasitology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - T Van Gool
- Department of Medical Microbiology, section of Parasitology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Kebede N, Oghumu S, Worku A, Hailu A, Varikuti S, Satoskar AR. Multilocus microsatellite signature and identification of specific molecular markers for Leishmania aethiopica. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:160. [PMID: 23734874 PMCID: PMC3679749 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a clinically and epidemiologically diverse zoonotic disease caused by obligatory, intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most widely distributed form of the disease characterized by skin lesions. Leishmania aethiopica is considered the predominant etiological agent in Ethiopia. The current study was aimed at developing multilocus microsatellite markers for L. aethiopica isolated from human cutaneous leishmaniasis patients in Ethiopia. RESULTS L. aethiopica parasites for the study were obtained from Ethiopia and laboratory analysis was conducted at The Ohio State University. DNA was extracted from cultured parasites and an internal transcribed spacer located at the ribosomal region of L. aethiopica genomic DNA was PCR amplified for species identification. Microsatellite markers were identified using multilocus microsatellite typing. We generated an enriched genomic library, and using Primer3 software, designed PCR primers to amplify sequences flanking the detected microsatellites. Subsequent screening of the amplified markers for length variations was performed by gel electrophoresis.Using a variety of molecular methods, 22 different microsatellite markers were identified and tested for typing L. aethiopica strains using a number of clinical isolates. Of the 22 markers tested, 5 were polymorphic and showed distinctive multilocus genotypes, classifying them into four clusters. One marker was found to be specific for L. aethiopica, discriminating it from other species of Leishmania. CONCLUSION Multilocus microsatellite typing using the markers developed in this study could be useful for epidemiological and population genetic studies of strains of L. aethiopica in order to investigate the structure and dynamics of the corresponding natural foci. It could also help to answer specific clinical questions, such as the occurrence of local and diffuse lesions, strain correlates of parasite persistence after subclinical infection and lesion comparisons from patients suffering from L. aethiopica infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigatu Kebede
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Evolution and species discrimination according to the Leishmania heat-shock protein 20 gene. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 18:229-37. [PMID: 23722022 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2013] [Revised: 05/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The Leishmania genus comprises up to 35 species, of which 20 are responsible for human disease. However, the taxonomic status for many of them is under discussion. The small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSPs) are physiologically relevant, protecting cellular proteins from aggregation and maintaining cellular viability under intensive stress conditions. In Leishmania, a protein of this class was previously described, the 20-kDa heat-shock protein (HSP20), which is encoded by a single gene. In the present study, we used this target, alone or in combination with hsp70 gene, to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among Leishmania species. Using a pair of degenerate primers it was possible amplifying a 370bp fragment of the hsp20 coding region in 39 strains of very different geographic origins, representing in total 16 Leishmania species (14 if L. chagasi and L. archibaldi are considered synonymous names of L. infantum and L. donovani, respectively). Nucleotide sequences were readily obtained by direct sequencing of the amplification products. Both phylogenetic trees and networks based on either hsp20 sequences or combined datasets of hsp20 and hsp70 sequences were constructed. These phylogenic analyses supported the division of the Leishmania genus into nine species: L. (L.) donovani, L. (L.) major, L. (L.) tropica, L. (L.) aethiopica, L. (L.) mexicana, L. (V.) lainsoni, L. (V.) naiffi, L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) braziliensis. Additionally, by network analysis, the subspecies L. (L.) donovani infantum and L. (V.) braziliensis peruviana were recognized within the L. (L.) donovani and L. (V.) braziliensis species, respectively. Therefore, hsp20 gene was found to be a suitable molecular marker for Leishmania typing and classification purposes. In addition, this study represents a solid contribution to the objective of establishing a more reliable taxonomy for the genus Leishmania.
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Phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of Chinese Leishmania isolates based on multilocus sequence typing. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63124. [PMID: 23646184 PMCID: PMC3639960 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a debilitating infectious disease that has a variety of clinical forms. In China, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most common symptom, and L. donovani and/or L. infantum are the likely pathogens. In this study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of five enzyme-coding genes (fh, g6pdh, icd, mpi, pgd) and two conserved genes (hsp70, lack) was used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Chinese Leishmania strains. Concatenated alignment of the nucleotide sequences of the seven genes was analyzed and phylogenetic trees were constructed using neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony models. A set of additional sequences from 25 strains (24 strains belong to the L. donovani complex and one strain belongs to L. gerbilli) were retrieved from GenBank to infer the molecular evolutionary history of Leishmania from China and other endemic areas worldwide. Phylogenetic analyses consolidated Chinese Leishmania into four groups: (i) one clade A population comprised 13 isolates from different foci in China, which were pathogenic to humans and canines. This population was subdivided into two subclades, clade A1 and clade A2, which comprised sister organisms to the remaining members of the worldwide L. donovani complex; (ii) a population in clade B consisted of one reference strain of L. turanica and five Chinese strains from Xinjiang; (iii) clade C (SELF-7 and EJNI-154) formed a population that was closely related to clade B, and both isolates were identified as L. gerbilli; and (iv) the final group, clade D, included Sauroleishmania (LIZRD and KXG-E) and was distinct from the other strains. We hypothesize that the phylogeny of Chinese Leishmania is associated with the geographical origins rather than with the clinical forms (VL or CL) of leishmaniasis. To conclude, this study provides further molecular information on Chinese Leishmania isolates and the Chinese isolates appear to have a more complex evolutionary history than previously thought.
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Hajjaran H, Mohebali M, Akhavan AA, Taheri A, Barikbin B, Soheila NS. Unusual presentation of disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania major: Case reports of four Iranian patients. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2013; 6:333-6. [DOI: 10.1016/s1995-7645(13)60066-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Revised: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Lagadinou M, Dimitropoulou D, Assimakopoulos SF, Davoulos G, Marangos M. Recurrent visceral leishmaniasis in an immunocompetent patient: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2013; 7:68. [PMID: 23497385 PMCID: PMC3601019 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-7-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Current treatment options for visceral leishmaniasis (pentavalent antimony, amphotericin B, liposomal amphotericin B and mitelfosine) achieve long-term clinical cure in the majority of immunocompetent patients. Disease relapse is usually provoked by T-cell number or function impairment (corticosteroid or cytotoxic therapy, transplant recipients, advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease). Case presentation We report a case of visceral leishmaniasis with multiple relapses in a 75-year-old Greek immunocompetent man. Visceral leishmaniasis relapses occurred despite appropriate treatment with liposomal amphotericin B 3mg/kg/day on days one to five, 14 and 21 (for the first episode and the first relapse) and mitelfosine 150mg/day for 28 days (for the second relapse). The third relapse was treated with high-dose liposomal amphotericin B (10mg/kg for two consecutive days), followed by a secondary prophylaxis of 3mg/kg once per month, which prevented disease reappearance during one year of follow-up. Conclusion An unusual case of recurrent visceral leishmaniasis in an older immunocompetent patient was treated with high-dose liposomal amphotericin B and a monthly prophylaxis with no evidence of a relapse after one year of follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lagadinou
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rion-Patras 26504, Greece.
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Marlow MA, da Silva Mattos M, Makowiecky ME, Eger I, Rossetto AL, Grisard EC, Steindel M. Divergent profile of emerging cutaneous leishmaniasis in subtropical Brazil: new endemic areas in the southern frontier. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56177. [PMID: 23457521 PMCID: PMC3572950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although known to be highly endemic in the Amazon regions of Brazil, the presence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in the subtropical southern part of the country has largely been ignored. This study was conducted to demonstrate CL is emerging in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, as well as to characterize the epidemiological profile and Leishmania species involved. Methodology/Principal Findings For this cross-sectional study, data from all CL cases from Santa Catarina, Brazil, reported to the Brazilian National Notifiable Diseases Information System from 2001 to 2009 were investigated. Amplification of the kDNA minicircle conserved region followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was conducted to screen for Leishmania species present in patient biopsy. Overall, 542 CL cases were reported, with majority resulting from autochthonous transmission (n = 401, 73.99%) and occurring in urban zones (n = 422, 77.86%). Age, gender, zone of residence, origin of case, clinical form and case outcome were found to differ significantly by region. Imported cases were over seven times more likely to relapse (95% CI 2.56–21.09). Mapping of cases revealed new endemic areas in northeastern Santa Catarina with two species present. With the exception of three L. (Leishmania) amazonensis cases (1.20%), majority of PCR positive samples were found to be L. (Viannia) braziliensis (n = 248, 98.80%). Conclusions/Significance CL is now endemic in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, with case profiles varying significantly by region. L. (V.) braziliensis has been identified as the predominant species in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariel Asbury Marlow
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Marise da Silva Mattos
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal de Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Ernestina Makowiecky
- Department of Zoonoses, Diretoria de Vigilância Epidemiológica, Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Iriane Eger
- Center for Health Sciences, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Itajaí, Brazil
| | | | - Edmundo Carlos Grisard
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Mário Steindel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Sphingolipid degradation in Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1944. [PMID: 23285302 PMCID: PMC3527339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human leishmaniasis is caused by more than 20 Leishmania species and has a wide range of symptoms. Our recent studies have demonstrated the essential role of sphingolipid degradation in the virulence of Leishmania (Leishmania) major, a species responsible for localized cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World. In this study, we investigated the function of sphingolipid degradation in Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, an etiological agent of localized and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in South America. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS First, we identified the enzyme LaISCL which is responsible for sphingolipid degradation in L. amazonensis. Primarily localized in the mitochondrion, LaISCL shows increased expression as promastigotes progress from replicative log phase to non-replicative stationary phase. To study its function, null mutants of LaISCL (Laiscl(-)) were generated by targeted gene deletion and complemented through episomal gene add-back. In culture, loss of LaISCL leads to hypersensitivity to acidic pH and poor survival in murine macrophages. In animals, Laiscl(-) mutants exhibit severely attenuated virulence towards C57BL6 mice but are fully infective towards BALB/c mice. This is drastically different from wild type L. amazonensis which cause severe pathology in both BALB/c and C57BL 6 mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE A single enzyme LaISCL is responsible for the turnover of sphingolipids in L. amazonensis. LaISCL exhibits similar expression profile and biochemical property as its ortholog in L. major. Deletion of LaISCL reduces the virulence of L. amazonensis and the outcome of Laiscl(-)-infection is highly dependent on the host's genetic background. Therefore, compared to L. major, the role of sphingolipid degradation in virulence is substantially different in L. amazonensis. Future studies may reveal whether sphingolipid degradation is required for L. amazonensis to cause diffuse cutaneous infections in humans.
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Nakayama T, Ishida KI, Archibald JM. Broad distribution of TPI-GAPDH fusion proteins among eukaryotes: evidence for glycolytic reactions in the mitochondrion? PLoS One 2012; 7:e52340. [PMID: 23284996 PMCID: PMC3527533 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2012] [Accepted: 11/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycolysis is a central metabolic pathway in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. In eukaryotes, the textbook view is that glycolysis occurs in the cytosol. However, fusion proteins comprised of two glycolytic enzymes, triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), were found in members of the stramenopiles (diatoms and oomycetes) and shown to possess amino-terminal mitochondrial targeting signals. Here we show that mitochondrial TPI-GAPDH fusion protein genes are widely spread across the known diversity of stramenopiles, including non-photosynthetic species (Bicosoeca sp. and Blastocystis hominis). We also show that TPI-GAPDH fusion genes exist in three cercozoan taxa (Paulinella chromatophora, Thaumatomastix sp. and Mataza hastifera) and an apusozoan protist, Thecamonas trahens. Interestingly, subcellular localization predictions for other glycolytic enzymes in stramenopiles and a cercozoan show that a significant fraction of the glycolytic enzymes in these species have mitochondrial-targeted isoforms. These results suggest that part of the glycolytic pathway occurs inside mitochondria in these organisms, broadening our knowledge of the diversity of mitochondrial metabolism of protists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuro Nakayama
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Ken-ichiro Ishida
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - John M. Archibald
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Khanra S, Datta S, Mondal D, Saha P, Bandopadhyay SK, Roy S, Manna M. RFLPs of ITS, ITS1 and hsp70 amplicons and sequencing of ITS1 of recent clinical isolates of Kala-azar from India and Bangladesh confirms the association of L. tropica with the disease. Acta Trop 2012; 124:229-34. [PMID: 22960646 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2012.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2012] [Revised: 07/29/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis or Kala-azar (KA) is a serious health concern in India. In the present study, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of three genetic markers viz., Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), ITS1 and heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) have been employed for typing the clinical isolates [n=15] of KA and post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniosis (PKDL) collected from India and Bangladesh in the period of 2006-2010. Experimentally, ITS, ITS1 and hsp70 regions of genomes of all the clinical isolates were separately amplified by PCR and then digested with restriction enzymes: ITS with Alu1, EcoR1 and Msp1, ITS1 with Hae III and Rsa1 and hsp70 with Hae III. The resultant fragments were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and the RFLP profiles of the clinical isolates were compared with that of the WHO reference strains for Leishmania donovani (DD8) and Leishmania tropica (K27), respectively. Also, the ITS1 regions of all the clinical isolates along with the two WHO reference strains were sequenced and a phylogram was constructed to ascertain the extent of similarity or dissimilarity. Interestingly, the RFLP profiles of one of the isolates showed a significant homology with K27 and the phylogram revealed its closeness with the same putting credence to our earlier typing of isolates by RAPD method. This observation also supported an earlier report claiming that both the species are responsible for KA in India and thus, emphasizes urgent need for thorough systematic characterization of the clinical isolates of Indian KA as appropriate treatment regime relies primarily on proper diagnosis.
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Boité MC, Mauricio IL, Miles MA, Cupolillo E. New insights on taxonomy, phylogeny and population genetics of Leishmania (Viannia) parasites based on multilocus sequence analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1888. [PMID: 23133690 PMCID: PMC3486886 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Leishmania genus comprises up to 35 species, some with status still under discussion. The multilocus sequence typing (MLST)--extensively used for bacteria--has been proposed for pathogenic trypanosomatids. For Leishmania, however, a detailed analysis and revision on the taxonomy is still required. We have partially sequenced four housekeeping genes--glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD)--from 96 Leishmania (Viannia) strains and assessed their discriminatory typing capacity. The fragments had different degrees of diversity, and are thus suitable to be used in combination for intra- and inter-specific inferences. Species-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected, but not for all species; ambiguous sites indicating heterozygosis were observed, as well as the putative homozygous donor. A large number of haplotypes were detected for each marker; for 6PGD a possible ancestral allele for L. (Viannia) was found. Maximum parsimony-based haplotype networks were built. Strains of different species, as identified by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), formed separated clusters in each network, with exceptions. NeighborNet of concatenated sequences confirmed species-specific clusters, suggesting recombination occurring in L. braziliensis and L. guyanensis. Phylogenetic analysis indicates L. lainsoni and L. naiffi as the most divergent species and does not support L. shawi as a distinct species, placing it in the L. guyanensis cluster. BURST analysis resulted in six clonal complexes (CC), corresponding to distinct species. The L. braziliensis strains evaluated correspond to one widely geographically distributed CC and another restricted to one endemic area. This study demonstrates the value of systematic multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) for determining intra- and inter-species relationships and presents an approach to validate the species status of some entities. Furthermore, it contributes to the phylogeny of L. (Viannia) and might be helpful for epidemiological and population genetics analysis based on haplotype/diplotype determinations and inferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana C. Boité
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabel L. Mauricio
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical/Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médicas, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Michael A. Miles
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Cupolillo
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Leishmaniose, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Soong L, Henard CA, Melby PC. Immunopathogenesis of non-healing American cutaneous leishmaniasis and progressive visceral leishmaniasis. Semin Immunopathol 2012; 34:735-51. [PMID: 23053396 PMCID: PMC4111229 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-012-0350-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 09/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The outcomes of Leishmania infection are determined by host immune and nutrition status, parasite species, and co-infection with other pathogens. While subclinical infection and self-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are common, uncontrolled parasite replication can lead to non-healing local lesions or visceral leishmaniasis (VL). It is known that infection control requires Th1-differentiation cytokines (IL-12, IL-18, and IL-27) and Th1 cell and macrophage activation. However, there is no generalized consensus for the mechanisms of host susceptibility. The recent studies on regulatory T cells and IL-17-producing cells help explain the effector T cell responses that occur independently of the known Th1/Th2 cell signaling pathways. This review focuses on the immunopathogenesis of non-healing American CL and progressive VL. We summarize recent evidence from human and animal studies that reveals the mechanisms of dysregulated, hyper-responses to Leishmania braziliensis, as well as the presence of disease-promoting or the absence of protective responses to Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania donovani. We highlight immune-mediated parasite growth and immunopathogenesis, with an emphasis on the putative roles of IL-17 and its related cytokines as well as arginase. A better understanding of the quality and regulation of innate immunity and T cell responses triggered by Leishmania will aid in the rational control of pathology and the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Soong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA.
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Accurate and rapid species typing from cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis lesions of the New World. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2012; 74:142-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2012.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Revised: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 06/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Kaur T, Thakur A, Kaur S. Protective immunity using MPL-A and autoclaved Leishmania donovani as adjuvants along with a cocktail vaccine in murine model of visceral leishmaniasis. J Parasit Dis 2012; 37:231-9. [PMID: 24431576 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-012-0171-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 08/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study is an extension of our previous study where we tested the protective efficacy of gp63 and Hsp70 against murine visceral leishmaniasis. The cocktail vaccine was combined with MPL-A and ALD adjuvants and the protection afforded by the three vaccines was compared. Inbred BALB/c mice were immunized twice at an interval of two weeks with the vaccine formulations. Two weeks after the booster, they were challenged with 10(7) promastigotes of Leishmania donovani and sacrificed on 30, 60 and 90 days post infection/challenge. The protective efficacy of vaccines was analyzed by assessment of the hepatic and splenic parasite burden and generation of cellular and humoral immune responses. The immunized animals revealed a significant reduction in parasite burden as compared to the infected controls. These animals also showed heightened DTH response, increased generation of IgG2a, IFN-γ and IL-2 by spleen cells. This was also accompanied by a decrease in the levels of IgG1 and IL-10. Mice immunized with gp63+Hsp70+MPL-A exhibited significantly greater protection in comparison to those immunized with gp63+Hsp70+ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejinder Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014 India
| | - Ankita Thakur
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014 India
| | - Sukhbir Kaur
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014 India
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Ocampo CB, Ferro MC, Cadena H, Gongora R, Pérez M, Valderrama-Ardila CH, Quinnell RJ, Alexander N. Environmental factors associated with American cutaneous leishmaniasis in a new Andean focus in Colombia. Trop Med Int Health 2012; 17:1309-17. [PMID: 22882595 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2012.03065.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the environmental and ecological factors associated with Leishmania transmission and vector abundance in Chaparral, Tolima-Colombia. METHODS First, we compared the ecological characteristics, abundance of phlebotomies and potential reservoir hosts in the peridomestic environment (100 m radius) of randomly selected houses, between two townships with high and low cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence. Second, we examined peridomestic correlates of phlebotomine abundance in all 43 houses in the higher risk township. RESULTS The high transmission township had higher coverage of forest (23%vs. 8.4%) and shade coffee (30.7%vs. 11%), and less coffee monoculture (16.8%vs. 26.2%) and pasture (6.3%vs. 12.3%), compared to the low transmission township. Lutzomyia were more abundant in the high transmission township 2.5 vs. 0.2/trap/night. Lutzomyia longiflocosa was the most common species in both townships: 1021/1450 (70%) and 39/80 (49%). Numbers of potential wild mammal reservoirs were small, although four species were found to be infected with Leishmania (Viannia) spp. In the high transmission township, the overall peridomiciliary capture rate of L. longiflocosa was 1.5/trap/night, and the abundance was higher in houses located nearer to forest (ρ = -0.30, P = 0.05). CONCLUSION The findings are consistent with a domestic transmission cycle with the phlebotomies dependent on dense vegetation near the house.
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Affiliation(s)
- C B Ocampo
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas, Cali, Valle, Colombia Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Program for study and Control of Tropical Disease, PECET, Antioquia, Colombia
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Lindoso JAL, Costa JML, Queiroz IT, Goto H. Review of the current treatments for leishmaniases. Res Rep Trop Med 2012; 3:69-77. [PMID: 30890869 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s24764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniases are vector-borne zoonotic diseases that are prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas in the world, with two million new cases occurring yearly. Visceral and tegumentary forms of leishmaniasis are known. The latter form may present as localized cutaneous or mucosal forms, disseminated, diffuse forms, or leishmaniasis recidiva cutis. Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by parasites of the species Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani and L. (L.) infantum, and tegumentary leishmaniasis is caused by 15 other species, with distinct distributions in the Old and New World. The varied clinical manifestations, the multitude of Leishmania species, and the increasing incidence of HIV coinfection make the diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniases complex. Since there are no solid data relating clinical manifestations, treatment outcomes and Leishmania species the decision regarding the best therapeutic option is almost entirely based on clinical manifestations. Because most of the literature is focused on leishmaniasis in the Old World, in this review we present data on the treatment of New World leishmaniasis in more detail. Ranked therapeutic options, clinical trials, and also observations, even with a restricted number of subjects, on treatment outcome of visceral and different forms of tegumentary leishmaniasis, are presented. Treatment for leishmaniasis in HIV-coinfected patients is addressed as well. Some of these data strongly suggest that the differences in the outcome of the treatment are related to the Leishmania species. Therefore, although it is not possible at most points of care to identify the species causing the infection - a process that requires a well equipped laboratory - the infecting species should be identified whenever possible. More recent approaches, such as the use of immunomodulators and immunotherapy, and the lines for development of new candidate drugs are mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Igor Thiago Queiroz
- Departament of Infectious Diseases, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hiro Goto
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
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Valdivia HO, De Los Santos MB, Fernandez R, Baldeviano GC, Zorrilla VO, Vera H, Lucas CM, Edgel KA, Lescano AG, Mundal KD, Graf PCF. Natural Leishmania infection of Lutzomyia auraensis in Madre de Dios, Peru, detected by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based real-time polymerase chain reaction. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2012; 87:511-7. [PMID: 22802444 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania species of the Viannia subgenus are responsible for most cases of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis. However, little is known about the vectors involved in disease transmission in the Amazon regions of Peru. We used a novel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess Leishmania infections in phlebotomines collected in rural areas of Madre de Dios, Peru. A total of 1,299 non-blood fed female sand flies from 33 species were captured by using miniature CDC light traps. Lutzomyia auraensis was the most abundant species (63%) in this area. Seven of 164 pools were positive by PCR for Leishmania by kinetoplast DNA. The real-time PCR identified four Lu. auraensis pools as positive for L. (Viannia) lainsoni and L. (V.) braziliensis. The minimum infection prevalence for Lu. auraensis was estimated to be 0.6% (95% confidence interval = 0.20-1.42%). Further studies are needed to assess the importance of Lu. auraensis in the transmission of New World tegumentary leishmaniasis in hyperendemic areas of Peru.
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Goto H, Lauletta Lindoso JA. Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2012; 26:293-307. [DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2012.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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135
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Ferreira GEM, dos Santos BN, Dorval MEC, Ramos TPB, Porrozzi R, Peixoto AA, Cupolillo E. The genetic structure of Leishmania infantum populations in Brazil and its possible association with the transmission cycle of visceral leishmaniasis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36242. [PMID: 22606248 PMCID: PMC3350531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 03/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is the etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas, Mediterranean basin and West and Central Asia. Although the geographic structure of L. infantum populations from the Old World have been described, few studies have addressed the population structure of this parasite in the Neotropical region. We employed 14 microsatellites to analyze the population structure of the L. infantum strains isolated from humans and dogs from most of the Brazilian states endemic for VL and from Paraguay. The results indicate a low genetic diversity, high inbreeding estimates and a depletion of heterozygotes, which together indicate a predominantly clonal breeding system, but signs of sexual events are also present. Three populations were identified from the clustering analysis, and they were well supported by F statistics inferences and partially corroborated by distance-based. POP1 (111 strains) was observed in all but one endemic area. POP2 (31 strains) is also well-dispersed, but it was the predominant population in Mato Grosso (MT). POP3 (31 strains) was less dispersed, and it was observed primarily in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). Strains originated from an outbreak of canine VL in Southern Brazil were grouped in POP1 with those from Paraguay, which corroborates the hypothesis of dispersal from Northeastern Argentina and Paraguay. The distribution of VL in MS seems to follow the west-east construction of the Bolivia-Brazil pipeline from Corumbá municipality. This may have resulted in a strong association of POP3 and Lutzomyia cruzi, which is the main VL vector in Corumbá, and a dispersion of this population in this region that was shaped by human interference. This vector also occurs in MT and may influence the structure of POP2. This paper presents significant advances in the understanding of the population structure of L. infantum in Brazil and its association with eco-epidemiological aspects of VL.
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136
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Requena JM, Chicharro C, García L, Parrado R, Puerta CJ, Cañavate C. Sequence analysis of the 3'-untranslated region of HSP70 (type I) genes in the genus Leishmania: its usefulness as a molecular marker for species identification. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:87. [PMID: 22541251 PMCID: PMC3425316 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2012] [Accepted: 04/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Leishmaniases are a group of clinically diverse diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. To distinguish between species is crucial for correct diagnosis and prognosis as well as for treatment decisions. Recently, sequencing of the HSP70 coding region has been applied in phylogenetic studies and for identifying of Leishmania species with excellent results. Methods In the present study, we analyzed the 3’-untranslated region (UTR) of Leishmania HSP70-type I gene from 24 strains representing eleven Leishmania species in the belief that this non-coding region would have a better discriminatory capacity for species typing than coding regions. Results It was observed that there was a remarkable degree of sequence conservation in this region, even between species of the subgenus Leishmania and Viannia. In addition, the presence of many microsatellites was a common feature of the 3´-UTR of HSP70-I genes in the Leishmania genus. Finally, we constructed dendrograms based on global sequence alignments of the analyzed Leishmania species and strains, the results indicated that this particular region of HSP70 genes might be useful for species (or species complex) typing, improving for particular species the discrimination capacity of phylogenetic trees based on HSP70 coding sequences. Given the large size variation of the analyzed region between the Leishmania and Viannia subgenera, direct visualization of the PCR amplification product would allow discrimination between subgenera, and a HaeIII-PCR-RFLP analysis might be used for differentiating some species within each subgenera. Conclusions Sequence and phylogenetic analyses indicated that this region, which is readily amplified using a single pair of primers from both Old and New World Leishmania species, might be useful as a molecular marker for species discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Requena
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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137
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Reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide in cutaneous leishmaniasis. J Parasitol Res 2012; 2012:203818. [PMID: 22570765 PMCID: PMC3337613 DOI: 10.1155/2012/203818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Revised: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 11/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis affects millions of people around the world. Several species of Leishmania infect mouse strains, and murine models closely reproduce the cutaneous lesions caused by the parasite in humans. Mouse models have enabled studies on the pathogenesis and effector mechanisms of host resistance to infection. Here, we review the role of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) in the control of parasites by macrophages, which are both the host cells and the effector cells. We also discuss the role of neutrophil-derived oxygen and nitrogen reactive species during infection with Leishmania. We emphasize the role of these cells in the outcome of leishmaniasis early after infection, before the adaptive Th-cell immune response.
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138
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Safaiyan S, Bolhassani A, Nylen S, Akuffo H, Rafati S. Contribution of human neutrophils in the development of protective immune response during in vitro Leishmania major infection. Parasite Immunol 2012; 33:609-20. [PMID: 21793857 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01321.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Stimulation of neutrophils may potentiate immunity to Leishmania major. CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) has immune stimulatory effects and has been suggested as adjuvants and therapeutics to potentiate efficacy of vaccines and treatments against leishmaniasis. Here, we examined the stimulatory effect of synthetic ODN containing CpG motifs class A and B on cytokine production by neutrophils. Neutrophils from healthy donors responded to CpG-ODN type A, but not to class B, with secretion of IL-8 and following GM-CSF pretreatment with TNF-α production. To test whether neutrophil responses were altered in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and to better understand the role of neutrophils in susceptibility and resistance to disease, we evaluated cytokine responses in GM-CSF preconditioned neutrophils from asymptomatic (Leishmanin skin test positive, LST+) and nonhealing CL individuals to CpG-ODN class A and assessed the expression levels of toll-like receptors (TLR2), 4 and 9. LST+ and healthy donor, but not nonhealing CL neutrophils, responded with TNF-α secretion. Neutrophils from nonhealing CL displayed increased mRNA expression levels of TLR2, 4 and 9 compared to neutrophils from LST+ or healthy donors. Therefore, failure to cure CL is associated with reduced ability of neutrophils to secrete TNF-α and correlates with high TLR 2, 4 and 9 expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Safaiyan
- Molecular Immunology and Vaccine Research Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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139
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Bañuls AL, Bastien P, Pomares C, Arevalo J, Fisa R, Hide M. Clinical pleiomorphism in human leishmaniases, with special mention of asymptomatic infection. Clin Microbiol Infect 2012; 17:1451-61. [PMID: 21933304 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03640.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This review gives an update of current knowledge on the clinical pleiomorphism of Leishmania, with a special emphasis on the case of asymptomatic carriage. The first part describes the numerous unusual expressions of the disease that occur besides the classic (visceral, cutaneous, and mucocutaneous) forms of leishmaniases. The second part deals with progress in the understanding of disease outcome in humans, and the possible future approaches to improve our knowledge in the field. The third part highlights the role of the too often neglected asymptomatic carrier compartment. This group could be key to understanding infraspecific differences in virulence and pathogenicity of the parasite, as well as identifying the genetic determinants involved in the expression of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Bañuls
- UMR MIVEGEC (IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université Montpellier, France.
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140
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Niimi T. Recombinant protein production in the eukaryotic protozoan parasite Leishmania tarentolae: a review. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 824:307-15. [PMID: 22160905 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-433-9_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania tarentolae is a trypanosomatid protozoan parasite of the gecko, and has been established as a new eukaryotic expression system for the production of recombinant proteins. It seems that a protozoan parasite is a curious choice as the expression host; however, Trypanosomatidae are rich in glycoproteins with a pattern of glycosylation closely related to those in mammals and higher vertebrates. Thus, one of the main advantages of a L. tarentolae expression system is the mammalian-type posttranslational modification of target proteins. Although there are few examples of recombinant protein expression using this system, it can be an attractive alternative to using mammalian cells. This chapter presents an overview of the newly developed protein expression system based on L. tarentolae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoaki Niimi
- Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
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141
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Ferro C, Marín D, Góngora R, Carrasquilla MC, Trujillo JE, Rueda NK, Marín J, Valderrama-Ardila C, Alexander N, Pérez M, Munstermann LE, Ocampo CB. Phlebotomine vector ecology in the domestic transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Chaparral, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 85:847-56. [PMID: 22049038 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine vector ecology was studied in the largest recorded outbreak of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia in 2004. In two rural townships that had experienced contrasting patterns of case incidence, this study evaluated phlebotomine species composition, seasonal abundance, nocturnal activity, blood source, prevalence of Leishmania infection, and species identification. CDC miniature light traps were used to trap the phlebotomines. Traps were set indoors, peridomestically, and in woodlands. Natural infection was determined in pools by polymerase chain reaction-Southern blot, and blood sources and species identification were determined by sequencing. Large differences were observed in population abundance between the two townships evaluated. Lutzomyia longiflocosa was the most abundant species (83.1%). Abundance was higher during months with lower precipitation. Nocturnal activity was associated with human domestic activity. Blood sources identified were mainly human (85%). A high prevalence of infection was found in L. longiflocosa indoors (2.7%) and the peridomestic setting (2.5%). L. longiflocosa was responsible for domestic transmission in Chaparral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ferro
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
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142
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Multifaceted population structure and reproductive strategy in Leishmania donovani complex in one Sudanese village. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1448. [PMID: 22206035 PMCID: PMC3243727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2011] [Accepted: 11/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania species of the subgenus Leishmania and especially L. donovani are responsible for a large proportion of visceral leishmaniasis cases. The debate on the mode of reproduction and population structure of Leishmania parasites remains opened. It has been suggested that Leishmania parasites could alternate different modes of reproduction, more particularly clonality and frequent recombinations either between related individuals (endogamy) or between unrelated individuals (outcrossing) within strongly isolated subpopulations. To determine whether this assumption is generalized to other species, a population genetics analysis within Leishmania donovani complex strains was conducted within a single village. The results suggest that a mixed-mating reproduction system exists, an important heterogeneity of subsamples and the coexistence of several genetic entities in Sudanese L. donovani. Indeed, results showed significant genetic differentiation between the three taxa (L. donovani, L. infantum and L. archibaldi) and between the human or canine strains of such taxa, suggesting that there may be different imbricated transmission cycles involving either dogs or humans. Results also are in agreement with an almost strict specificity of L. donovani stricto sensu to human hosts. This empirical study demonstrates the complexity of population structure in the genus Leishmania and the need to pursue such kind of analyses at the smallest possible spatio-temporal and ecological scales. Leishmaniases are a serious public health problem, especially in developing countries, caused by Leishmania parasites and transmitted by sandfly bites. More information is needed on the population biology of these pathogens for diagnostic and epidemiological inquiries and for drug and vaccine elaboration. For studies dealing with the population genetics, exploring the genetic patterns of such organisms at microgeographic scales is fundamental. In this context, we made a population genetic study, based on 20 microsatellite loci, on 61 strains of Leishmania donovani complex collected in a Sudanese village, Babar El Fugara, during the epidemic of 1996–2000. Results showed that considering the whole sample as a single population was not adequate because of the coexistence of several genetic entities and a genetic differentiation between the human or canine strains. In addition, our findings suggested that clonality may have a strong impact on the L. donovani complex, unlike other Leishmania species. This study demonstrates the need to pursue population genetics studies in Leishmania species from sampling designs that control maximum possible confounding factors and to elaborate such kinds of analyses at the smallest possible spatio-temporal and ecological scales.
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143
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Passero LFD, Carvalho AK, Bordon MLAC, Bonfim-Melo A, Toyama MH, Corbett CEP, Laurenti MD. Leishmania (Viannia) shawi purified antigens confer protection against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis. Inflamm Res 2011; 61:255-63. [PMID: 22166919 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-011-0407-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2011] [Revised: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 11/28/2011] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Leishmania (Viannia) shawi was characterized only recently, and few studies concerning the immunogenic and protective properties of its antigens have been performed. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective potential of the five antigenic fractions isolated from L. (V.) shawi promastigotes in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Soluble antigen from L. (V.) shawi promastigotes was submitted to reverse phase HPLC to purify F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 antigens. BALB/c mice were immunized once a week for two consecutive weeks by subcutaneous routes in the rump, using 25 μg protein. After 1 week, groups were challenged in the footpad with L. (V.) shawi promastigotes. After 8 weeks, those same mice were sacrificed and parasite burden as well as the cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated. RESULTS F1 and F5-immunized mice restrained lesion progression and parasite load in the skin. However, only the F1 group was able to control the parasitism in lymph nodes, which was associated with low IL-4 and high IFN-γ production; IgG2a isotype was increased in this group. Immunizations with F2, F3 and F4 antigens did not protect mice. CONCLUSION The capability of antigens to restrain IL-4 levels and increase IFN-γ was associated with protection, such as in immunization using F1 antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departmento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil.
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144
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In vitro and in vivo behaviour of sympatric Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, L. (V.) peruviana and their hybrids. Parasitology 2011; 139:191-9. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182011001909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYLeishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the main cause of highly disfiguring mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) in South America. The related species L. (V.) peruviana has only been identified in simple cutaneous lesions (CL). Hybrids between L. braziliensis and L. peruviana have been reported although genetic exchange in Leishmania is considered to be rare. Here we compared growth in vitro, adaptive capacity under thermal and oxidative stress and behaviour in a hamster model, of L. braziliensis, L. peruviana, and their putative hybrids. At 24°C, the optimal temperature for in vitro growth, L. braziliensis had the highest growth rate. In in vitro studies hybrid clones presented heterogeneous phenotypes, from slower growth rates, similar to L. peruviana, to higher growth rates, as observed in L. braziliensis. Hamsters infected with hybrid strains, presented the highest parasite densities and aggressive relapses at a later stage of infection. Hybrids generally presented higher plasticity and phenotypic diversity than the putative parental species, with potential eco-epidemiological implications, including an impact on the success of disease control.
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145
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Rougeron V, Bañuls AL, Carme B, Simon S, Couppié P, Nacher M, Hide M, De Meeûs T. Reproductive strategies and population structure in Leishmania: substantial amount of sex in Leishmania Viannia guyanensis. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:3116-27. [PMID: 21722225 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05162.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania species of the subgenus Viannia and especially Leishmania Viannia guyanensis are responsible for a large proportion of New World leishmaniasis cases. Since a recent publication on Leishmania Viannia braziliensis, the debate on the mode of reproduction of Leishmania parasites has been reopened. A predominant endogamic reproductive mode (mating with relatives), together with strong Wahlund effects (sampling of strains from heterogeneous subpopulations), was indeed evidenced. To determine whether this hypothesis can be generalized to other Leishmania Viannia species, we performed a population genetic study on 153 human strains of L. (V.) guyanensis from French Guiana based on 12 microsatellite loci. The results revealed important homozygosity and very modest linkage disequilibrium, which is in agreement with a high level of sexual recombination and substantial endogamy. These results also revealed a significant isolation by distance with relatively small neighbourhoods and hence substantial viscosity of Leishmania populations in French Guiana. These results are of epidemiological relevance and suggest a major role for natural hosts and/or vectors in parasite strain diffusion across the country as compared to human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Rougeron
- Laboratoire MIVEGEC (UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université Montpellier 1) Montpellier, France.
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Hargrove TY, Wawrzak Z, Liu J, Nes WD, Waterman MR, Lepesheva GI. Substrate preferences and catalytic parameters determined by structural characteristics of sterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) from Leishmania infantum. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:26838-48. [PMID: 21632531 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.237099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a major health problem that affects populations of ∼90 countries worldwide, with no vaccine and only a few moderately effective drugs. Here we report the structure/function characterization of sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) from Leishmania infantum. The enzyme catalyzes removal of the 14α-methyl group from sterol precursors. The reaction is essential for membrane biogenesis and therefore has great potential to become a target for antileishmanial chemotherapy. Although L. infantum CYP51 prefers C4-monomethylated sterol substrates such as C4-norlanosterol and obtusifoliol (V(max) of ∼10 and 8 min(-1), respectively), it is also found to 14α-demethylate C4-dimethylated lanosterol (V(max) = 0.9 min(-1)) and C4-desmethylated 14α-methylzymosterol (V(max) = 1.9 min(-1)). Binding parameters with six sterols were tested, with K(d) values ranging from 0.25 to 1.4 μM. Thus, L. infantum CYP51 is the first example of a plant-like sterol 14α-demethylase, where requirements toward the composition of the C4 atom substituents are not strict, indicative of possible branching in the postsqualene portion of sterol biosynthesis in the parasite. Comparative analysis of three CYP51 substrate binding cavities (Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and L. infantum) suggests that substrate preferences of plant- and fungal-like protozoan CYP51s largely depend on the differences in the enzyme active site topology. These minor structural differences are also likely to underlie CYP51 catalytic rates and drug susceptibility and can be used to design potent and specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Y Hargrove
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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147
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Leishmaniasis: new insights from an old and neglected disease. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2011; 31:109-18. [PMID: 21533874 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-011-1276-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniases are a clinically heterogeneous group of diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. There is growing evidence that the true incidence of the disease is underestimated, especially in hyperendemic regions. Moreover, climate changes together with the increasing movement of humans and animals raise concerns about the possible introduction of Leishmania infection in previously spared areas. The disease is emerging in immunocompromised patients undergoing bone marrow or solid organ transplantation or treatment with biologic drugs. Furthermore, the deployment of military troops and travel to endemic areas are associated with the observation of a growing number of patients with cutaneous disease. Improvement in diagnostic methods, both in the field and in specialized laboratories, has been obtained through the implementation of molecular amplification methods and using the rK39 antigen as the substrate. Finally, new therapeutic approaches are gaining attention, such as the use of miltefosine for cutaneous leishmaniasis and paromomycin for visceral leishmaniasis, as well as the use of various antileishmanial drugs in combination.
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148
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Broniatowska B, Allmendinger A, Kaiser M, Montamat-Sicotte D, Hingley-Wilson S, Lalvani A, Guiry M, Blunden G, Tasdemir D. Antiprotozoal, Antitubercular and Cytotoxic Potential of Cyanobacterial (Blue-Green Algal) Extracts from Ireland. Nat Prod Commun 2011. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x1100600523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria (= blue-green algae) are prolific producers of structurally distinct and biologically active metabolites. In the continuation of our search for new sources of anti-infective natural products, we have assessed the in vitro antiprotozoal ( Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, T. cruzi, Leishmania donovani) and antitubercular ( Mycobacterium tuberculosis) potential of samples of two terrestrial cyanobacteria, Nostoc commune (collected when desiccated and wet) and Rivularia biasolettiana. The cytotoxic potential of the extracts was also evaluated against primary L6 cells. Except for T. cruzi and M. tuberculosis, the crude extracts were active against all the organisms tested and showed no toxicity. The crude extracts were then partitioned between n-hexane, chloroform and aqueous methanol and retested against the same panel of pathogens. The chloroform sub-extracts of both N. commune samples showed significant activity against T. b. rhodesiense (IC50 values 2.0 and 3.5 μg/mL) and P. falciparum (IC50S 7.4 and 5.8 μg/mL), with low toxicity. This trend was also true for R. biasolettiana extracts, and its chloroform sub-extract showed notable activity against all parasitic protozoa. There were differences in the biological activity profiles of extracts derived from desiccated and hydrated forms of N. commune. To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the anti-infective activity of desiccated and hydrated forms of N. commune, as well as R. biasolettiana. Furthermore, the present work reports such biological activity in terrestrial cyanobacteria from Ireland for the first time. These results warrant the further study of Irish terrestrial cyanobacteria as a valuable source of new natural product leads for the treatment of parasitic protozoal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Broniatowska
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Andrea Allmendinger
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Damien Montamat-Sicotte
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Suzie Hingley-Wilson
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Ajit Lalvani
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Michael Guiry
- AlgaeBase, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Gerald Blunden
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK
| | - Deniz Tasdemir
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry, Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
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Dos Santos ALS. Protease expression by microorganisms and its relevance to crucial physiological/pathological events. World J Biol Chem 2011; 2:48-58. [PMID: 21537490 PMCID: PMC3083995 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v2.i3.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2011] [Revised: 02/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment of infections caused by fungi and trypanosomatids is difficult due to the eukaryotic nature of these microbial cells, which are similar in several biochemical and genetic aspects to host cells. Aggravating this scenario, very few antifungal and anti-trypanosomatidal agents are in clinical use and, therefore, therapy is limited by drug safety considerations and their narrow spectrum of activity, efficacy and resistance. The search for new bioactive agents against fungi and trypanosomatids has been expanded because progress in biochemistry and molecular biology has led to a better understanding of important and essential pathways in these microorganisms including nutrition, growth, proliferation, signaling, differentiation and death. In this context, proteolytic enzymes produced by these eukaryotic microorganisms are appointed and, in some cases, proven to be excellent targets for searching novel natural and/or synthetic pharmacological compounds, in order to cure or prevent invasive fungal/trypanosomatid diseases. With this task in mind, our research group and others have focused on aspartic-type proteases, since the activity of this class of hydrolytic enzymes is directly implicated in several facets of basic biological processes of both fungal and trypanosomatid cells as well as due to the participation in numerous events of interaction between these microorganisms and host structures. In the present paper, a concise revision of the beneficial effects of aspartic protease inhibitors, with emphasis on the aspartic protease inhibitors used in the anti-human immunodeficiency virus therapy, will be presented and discussed using our experience with the following microbial models: the yeast Candida albicans, the filamentous fungus Fonsecaea pedrosoi and the protozoan trypanosomatid Leishmania amazonensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- André Luis Souza dos Santos, Laboratory of Multidisciplinary Studies on Microbial Biochemistry, Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Prof. Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
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Rocha MN, Margonari C, Presot IM, Soares RP. Evaluation of 4 polymerase chain reaction protocols for cultured Leishmania spp. typing. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2011; 68:401-9. [PMID: 20926219 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2010.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2010] [Revised: 08/02/2010] [Accepted: 08/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania resulting in a variety of clinical manifestations, from self-healing skin lesions to fatal visceral disease. The development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques has made species identification easier, faster, and less labor intensive. The main targets for PCR amplification include kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA), miniexon, and conserved regions such as the internal transcribed spacer. The objective of this work was to evaluate 4 different PCR techniques designed to type Leishmania using laboratory strains. Parasites were subjected to 4 PCR procedures using specific Leishmania primers for miniexon (designated A1 and A2) and kDNA (designated B1 and B2, C1 and C2, and D1, D2 and D3). Discrimination between some species and the 2 main subgenera Leishmania and Viannia was achieved. Unweighted pair group method analysis resulted in the expected clustering of the 2 species from the subgenus Leishmania. However, some species in the subgenus Viannia could not be distinguished, representing a continued challenge for PCR-based protocols. Results are discussed in terms of advantages, limitations, and reproducibility of these 4 PCR-based techniques in the taxonomy of Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcele Neves Rocha
- Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, 30190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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