1
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Springer AL, Agrawal S, Chang EP. Malate dehydrogenase in parasitic protozoans: roles in metabolism and potential therapeutic applications. Essays Biochem 2024:EBC20230075. [PMID: 38938216 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20230075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The role of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in the metabolism of various medically significant protozoan parasites is reviewed. MDH is an NADH-dependent oxidoreductase that catalyzes interconversion between oxaloacetate and malate, provides metabolic intermediates for both catabolic and anabolic pathways, and can contribute to NAD+/NADH balance in multiple cellular compartments. MDH is present in nearly all organisms; isoforms of MDH from apicomplexans (Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp.), trypanosomatids (Trypanosoma brucei, T. cruzi) and anaerobic protozoans (Trichomonas vaginalis, Giardia duodenalis) are presented here. Many parasitic species have complex life cycles and depend on the environment of their hosts for carbon sources and other nutrients. Metabolic plasticity is crucial to parasite transition between host environments; thus, the regulation of metabolic processes is an important area to explore for therapeutic intervention. Common themes in protozoan parasite metabolism include emphasis on glycolytic catabolism, substrate-level phosphorylation, non-traditional uses of common pathways like tricarboxylic acid cycle and adapted or reduced mitochondria-like organelles. We describe the roles of MDH isoforms in these pathways, discuss unusual structural or functional features of these isoforms relevant to activity or drug targeting, and review current studies exploring the therapeutic potential of MDH and related genes. These studies show that MDH activity has important roles in many metabolic pathways, and thus in the metabolic transitions of protozoan parasites needed for success as pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Springer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, U.S.A
| | - Swati Agrawal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, U.S.A
| | - Eric P Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Pace University, New York, NY, U.S.A
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2
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Silva MA, Izidoro MA, Aricó M, Juliano L, Schenkman S. The effect of nutritional and oxidative stress on the metabolome of Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2024. [PMID: 38814666 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan, is the causative agent of Chagas disease. The parasite has developed various mechanisms to get through its intricate life cycle and adapt to different evolutionary phases. T. cruzi proliferates in the insect vector's digestive tract as an epimastigote form, encountering fluctuating nutrient availability and oxidative stress caused by the digestion of red blood cells from the mammalian host blood meal. To unravel how the parasite's metabolism adapts to these changing conditions, we conducted an analysis of the chemical species present in epimastigote forms. This involved comparing cultured parasites with those subjected to nutritional deficiency or oxidative stress using untargeted metabolomics. We looked at 21 samples: seven biological copies of parasites that were actively growing, seven samples that were put in a medium without nutrients for 3 h, and seven samples that were treated with glucose oxidase for 30 min to make H2O2 continuously. Importantly, in all conditions, parasite viability was maintained when the samples were collected. Upon nutrient removal, we observed a substantial decrease in amino acids and carbohydrate metabolites, accompanied by the accumulation of fatty acids and steroids, with the predominance of inositol and sphingolipid metabolism, along with a simultaneous decrease in the levels of H2O2. In the presence of H2O2, a significant rise in components of the pentose pathway and specific amino acids such as methionine and serine occurred, along with pathways related to an increase in antioxidant species metabolism such as ribulose 5-phosphate and glyceric acid. Conversely, fatty acid and steroid levels decrease. We found no common increase in metabolites or lipids. In contrast, eight species (succinic acid, glutamic acid, valine, 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, alanine, indolelactic acid, proline, and lanosterol) were consumed under both stresses. These findings underscore the rapid and distinct enrichment responses in amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates required to cope with each different environmental condition. We concluded that T. cruzi presents a flexible metabolism that rapidly adapts to variable changes in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Augusto Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Mirella Aricó
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Juliano
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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3
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Schaub GA. Interaction of Trypanosoma cruzi, Triatomines and the Microbiota of the Vectors-A Review. Microorganisms 2024; 12:855. [PMID: 38792688 PMCID: PMC11123833 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the interactions between Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, its vectors, triatomines, and the diverse intestinal microbiota of triatomines, which includes mutualistic symbionts, and highlights open questions. T. cruzi strains show great biological heterogeneity in their development and their interactions. Triatomines differ from other important vectors of diseases in their ontogeny and the enzymes used to digest blood. Many different bacteria colonize the intestinal tract of triatomines, but only Actinomycetales have been identified as mutualistic symbionts. Effects of the vector on T. cruzi are indicated by differences in the ability of T. cruzi to establish in the triatomines and in colonization peculiarities, i.e., proliferation mainly in the posterior midgut and rectum and preferential transformation into infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes in the rectum. In addition, certain forms of T. cruzi develop after feeding and during starvation of triatomines. Negative effects of T. cruzi on the triatomine vectors appear to be particularly evident when the triatomines are stressed and depend on the T. cruzi strain. Effects on the intestinal immunity of the triatomines are induced by ingested blood-stage trypomastigotes of T. cruzi and affect the populations of many non-symbiotic intestinal bacteria, but not all and not the mutualistic symbionts. After the knockdown of antimicrobial peptides, the number of non-symbiotic bacteria increases and the number of T. cruzi decreases. Presumably, in long-term infections, intestinal immunity is suppressed, which supports the growth of specific bacteria, depending on the strain of T. cruzi. These interactions may provide an approach to disrupt T. cruzi transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter A Schaub
- Zoology/Parasitology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
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Ferreira AZL, de Araújo CN, Cardoso ICC, de Souza Mangabeira KS, Rocha AP, Charneau S, Santana JM, Motta FN, Bastos IMD. Metacyclogenesis as the Starting Point of Chagas Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:117. [PMID: 38203289 PMCID: PMC10778605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected infectious disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, primarily transmitted by triatomine vectors, and it threatens approximately seventy-five million people worldwide. This parasite undergoes a complex life cycle, transitioning between hosts and shifting from extracellular to intracellular stages. To ensure its survival in these diverse environments, T. cruzi undergoes extreme morphological and molecular changes. The metacyclic trypomastigote (MT) form, which arises from the metacyclogenesis (MTG) process in the triatomine hindgut, serves as a crucial link between the insect and human hosts and can be considered the starting point of Chagas disease. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding the parasite's life cycle, molecular pathways, and mechanisms involved in metabolic and morphological adaptations during MTG, enabling the MT to evade the immune system and successfully infect human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carla Nunes de Araújo
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
- Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Isabela Cunha Costa Cardoso
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | | | - Amanda Pereira Rocha
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Jaime Martins Santana
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Flávia Nader Motta
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
- Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
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5
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Rapado LN, Nascimento JF, Manchola NC, Damasceno FS, Achjian RW, Silber AM. The branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) modulate the development of the intra-cellular stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Exp Parasitol 2023; 255:108642. [PMID: 37939824 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, involves different forms of the parasite, which alternates between insect and vertebrate hosts. One critical process in the parasite's life cycle is metacyclogenesis, in which the replicative non-infective forms present in the insect midgut differentiate into non-dividing vertebrate-infective forms. It is known that proline (Pro) is important for this process and that leucine (Leu) and isoleucine (Ile) can act as inhibitors of metacyclogenesis. In this study, we investigated further the role of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) as negative modulators of parasite differentiation and infection capability in vitro. We found that BCAAs can down-regulate metacyclogenesis, inhibiting Pro-dependent differentiation. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of all three BCAAs to influence the differentiation of intracellular stages and found that they could modulate the release of trypomastigotes from infected host cells. These findings suggest that BCAAs may have an important role in the complex life cycle of T. cruzi. Thus, enzymes of their metabolism and other interacting proteins could be potential targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- L N Rapado
- LaBTryps, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Lineu Prestes 1374, Cidade Universitária Butanta, São Paulo, CEP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - J F Nascimento
- LaBTryps, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Lineu Prestes 1374, Cidade Universitária Butanta, São Paulo, CEP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - N C Manchola
- LaBTryps, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Lineu Prestes 1374, Cidade Universitária Butanta, São Paulo, CEP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - F S Damasceno
- LaBTryps, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Lineu Prestes 1374, Cidade Universitária Butanta, São Paulo, CEP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - R W Achjian
- LaBTryps, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Lineu Prestes 1374, Cidade Universitária Butanta, São Paulo, CEP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - A M Silber
- LaBTryps, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Lineu Prestes 1374, Cidade Universitária Butanta, São Paulo, CEP 05508-900, Brazil.
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Povelones ML, Holmes NA, Povelones M. A sticky situation: When trypanosomatids attach to insect tissues. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011854. [PMID: 38128049 PMCID: PMC10734937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmission of trypanosomatids to their mammalian hosts requires a complex series of developmental transitions in their insect vectors, including stable attachment to an insect tissue. While there are many ultrastructural descriptions of attached cells, we know little about the signaling events and molecular mechanisms involved in this process. Each trypanosomatid species attaches to a specific tissue in the insect at a particular stage of its life cycle. Attachment is mediated by the flagellum, which is modified to accommodate a filament-rich plaque within an expanded region of the flagellar membrane. Attachment immediately precedes differentiation to the mammal-infectious stage and in some cases a direct mechanistic link has been demonstrated. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge of trypanosomatid attachment in insects, including structure, function, signaling, candidate molecules, and changes in gene expression. We also highlight remaining questions about this process and how the field is poised to address them through modern approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L. Povelones
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Nikki A. Holmes
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael Povelones
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Souza-Melo N, de Lima Alcantara C, Vidal JC, Rocha GM, de Souza W. Implications of Flagellar Attachment Zone Proteins TcGP72 and TcFLA-1BP in Morphology, Proliferation, and Intracellular Dynamics in Trypanosoma cruzi. Pathogens 2023; 12:1367. [PMID: 38003831 PMCID: PMC10675206 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The highly adaptable parasite Trypanosoma cruzi undergoes complex developmental stages to exploit host organisms effectively. Each stage involves the expression of specific proteins and precise intracellular structural organization. These morphological changes depend on key structures that control intracellular components' growth and redistribution. In trypanosomatids, the flagellar attachment zone (FAZ) connects the flagellum to the cell body and plays a pivotal role in cell expansion and structural rearrangement. While FAZ proteins are well-studied in other trypanosomatids, there is limited knowledge about specific components, organization, and function in T. cruzi. This study employed the CRISPR/Cas9 system to label endogenous genes and conduct deletions to characterize FAZ-specific proteins during epimastigote cell division and metacyclogenesis. In T. cruzi, these proteins exhibited distinct organization compared to their counterparts in T. brucei. TcGP72 is anchored to the flagellar membrane, while TcFLA-1BP is anchored to the membrane lining the cell body. We identified unique features in the organization and function of the FAZ in T. cruzi compared to other trypanosomatids. Deleting these proteins had varying effects on intracellular structures, cytokinesis, and metacyclogenesis. This study reveals specific variations that directly impact the success of cell division and differentiation of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Normanda Souza-Melo
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisas em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21491-590, Brazil; (C.d.L.A.); (J.C.V.); (G.M.R.)
| | - Carolina de Lima Alcantara
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisas em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21491-590, Brazil; (C.d.L.A.); (J.C.V.); (G.M.R.)
| | - Juliana Cunha Vidal
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisas em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21491-590, Brazil; (C.d.L.A.); (J.C.V.); (G.M.R.)
| | - Gustavo Miranda Rocha
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisas em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21491-590, Brazil; (C.d.L.A.); (J.C.V.); (G.M.R.)
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Centro de Pesquisas em Medicina de Precisão, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21491-590, Brazil; (C.d.L.A.); (J.C.V.); (G.M.R.)
- Centro de Estudos Biomédicos-CMABio, Escola Superior de Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas-UEA, Manaus 69065-000, Brazil
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Cázares-Jaramillo GE, Molina-Garza ZJ, Luna-Cruz IE, Solís-Soto LY, Rosales-Encina JL, Galaviz-Silva L. In vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of methanolic extract of Bidens pilosa and identification of active compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. PARASITES, HOSTS AND DISEASES 2023; 61:405-417. [PMID: 38043536 PMCID: PMC10693971 DOI: 10.3347/phd.23069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, is a significant but neglected tropical public health issue in Latin America due to the diversity of its genotypes and pathogenic profiles. This complexity is compounded by the adverse effects of current treatments, underscoring the need for new therapeutic options that employ medicinal plant extracts without negative side effects. Our research aimed to evaluate the trypanocidal activity of Bidens pilosa fractions against epimastigote and trypomastigote stages of T. cruzi, specifically targeting the Brener and Nuevo León strains-the latter isolated from Triatoma gerstaeckeri in General Terán, Nuevo León, México. We processed the plant's aerial parts (stems, leaves, and flowers) to obtain a methanolic extract (Bp-mOH) and fractions with varying solvent polarities. These preparations inhibited more than 90% of growth at concentrations as low as 800 μg/ml for both parasite stages. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values for the Bp-mOH extract and its fractions were below 500 μg/ml. Tests for cytotoxicity using Artemia salina and Vero cells and hemolytic activity assays for the extract and its fractions yielded negative results. The methanol fraction (BPFC3MOH1) exhibited superior inhibitory activity. Its functional groups, identified as phenols, enols, alkaloids, carbohydrates, and proteins, include compounds such as 2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde (50.9%), pentadecyl prop-2-enoate (22.1%), and linalool (15.4%). Eight compounds were identified, with a match confirmed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST-MS) software through mass spectrometry analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Enrique Cázares-Jaramillo
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Patología Molecular y Experimental, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León C.P. 66455
México
| | - Zinnia Judith Molina-Garza
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Patología Molecular y Experimental, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León C.P. 66455
México
| | - Itza Eloisa Luna-Cruz
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Inmunología y Virología, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León C.P. 66450,
México
| | - Luisa Yolanda Solís-Soto
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Bioquímica y Genética de Microorganismos, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León C.P. 66455,
México
| | - José Luis Rosales-Encina
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados de IPN. Av. IPN No. 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Del. Gustavo A. Madero, Ciudad de México 07360,
México
| | - Lucio Galaviz-Silva
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Patología Molecular y Experimental, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León C.P. 66455
México
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Pardo-Rodriguez D, Lasso P, Santamaría-Torres M, Cala MP, Puerta CJ, Méndez Arteaga JJ, Robles J, Cuervo C. Clethra fimbriata hexanic extract triggers alteration in the energy metabolism in epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1206074. [PMID: 37818099 PMCID: PMC10561390 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1206074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (ChD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in American countries and an estimated 8 million people worldwide are chronically infected. Currently, only two drugs are available for therapeutic use against T. cruzi and their use is controversial due to several disadvantages associated with side effects and low compliance with treatment. Therefore, there is a need to search for new tripanocidal agents. Natural products have been considered a potential innovative source of effective and selective agents for drug development to treat T. cruzi infection. Recently, our research group showed that hexanic extract from Clethra fimbriata (CFHEX) exhibits anti-parasitic activity against all stages of T. cruzi parasite, being apoptosis the main cell death mechanism in both epimastigotes and trypomastigotes stages. With the aim of deepening the understanding of the mechanisms of death induced by CFHEX, the metabolic alterations elicited after treatment using a multiplatform metabolomics analysis (RP/HILIC-LC-QTOF-MS and GC-QTOF-MS) were performed. A total of 154 altered compounds were found significant in the treated parasites corresponding to amino acids (Arginine, threonine, cysteine, methionine, glycine, valine, proline, isoleucine, alanine, leucine, glutamic acid, and serine), fatty acids (stearic acid), glycerophospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine), sulfur compounds (trypanothione) and carboxylic acids (pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate). The most affected metabolic pathways were mainly related to energy metabolism, which was found to be decrease during the evaluated treatment time. Further, exogenous compounds of the triterpene type (betulinic, ursolic and pomolic acid) previously described in C. fimbriata were found inside the treated parasites. Our findings suggest that triterpene-type compounds may contribute to the activity of CFHEX by altering essential processes in the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pardo-Rodriguez
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo de Fitoquímica, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo de Productos Naturales, Universidad del Tolima, Tolima, Colombia
- Metabolomics Core Facility—MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paola Lasso
- Grupo de Inmunobiología y Biología Celular, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mary Santamaría-Torres
- Metabolomics Core Facility—MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mónica P. Cala
- Metabolomics Core Facility—MetCore, Vice-Presidency for Research, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Concepción J. Puerta
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Jorge Robles
- Grupo de Fitoquímica, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
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Yuan D, Chen J, Zhao Z, Qin H. Metabolomics analysis of visceral leishmaniasis based on urine of golden hamsters. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:304. [PMID: 37649093 PMCID: PMC10469881 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05881-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected tropical diseases and is spread mainly in impoverished regions of the world. Although many studies have focused on the host's response to Leishmania invasion, relatively less is known about the complex processes at the metabolic level, especially the metabolic alterations in the infected hosts. METHODS In this study, we conducted metabolomics analysis on the urine of golden hamsters in the presence or absence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) system tandem high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS). The metabolic characteristics of urine samples, along with the histopathological change and the parasite burden of liver and spleen tissues, were detected at 4 and 12 weeks post infection (WPI), respectively. RESULTS Amino acid metabolism was extensively affected at both stages of VL progression. Meanwhile, there were also distinct metabolic features at different stages. At 4 WPI, the significantly affected metabolic pathways involved alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), histidine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism and tyrosine metabolism. At 12 WPI, the markedly enriched metabolic pathways were almost concentrated on amino acid metabolism, including tyrosine metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism and tryptophan metabolism. The dysregulated metabolites and metabolic pathways at 12 WPI were obviously less than those at 4 WPI. In addition, seven metabolites that were dysregulated at both stages through partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) tests were screened to be of diagnostic potential. The combination of these metabolites as a potential biomarker panel showed satisfactory performance in distinguishing infection groups from control groups as well as among different stages of infection. CONCLUSION Our findings could provide valuable information for further understanding of the host response to Leishmania infection from the aspect of the urine metabolome. The proposed urine biomarker panel could help in the development of a novel approach for the diagnosis and prognosis of VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Yuan
- Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Zhao
- Department of Human Anatomy, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hanxiao Qin
- Clinical Trial Center, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610021, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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Menezes AP, Murillo AM, de Castro CG, Bellini NK, Tosi LRO, Thiemann OH, Elias MC, Silber AM, da Cunha JPC. Navigating the boundaries between metabolism and epigenetics in trypanosomes. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:682-695. [PMID: 37349193 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic marks enable cells to acquire new biological features that favor their adaptation to environmental changes. These marks are chemical modifications on chromatin-associated proteins and nucleic acids that lead to changes in the chromatin landscape and may eventually affect gene expression. The chemical tags of these epigenetic marks are comprised of intermediate cellular metabolites. The number of discovered associations between metabolism and epigenetics has increased, revealing how environment influences gene regulation and phenotype diversity. This connection is relevant to all organisms but underappreciated in digenetic parasites, which must adapt to different environments as they progress through their life cycles. This review speculates and proposes associations between epigenetics and metabolism in trypanosomes, which are protozoan parasites that cause human and livestock diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Menezes
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Milena Murillo
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tryps - LabTryps, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Gachet de Castro
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natalia Karla Bellini
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Carolina Elias
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ariel Mariano Silber
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tryps - LabTryps, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo-SP, Brazil.
| | - Julia Pinheiro Chagas da Cunha
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular - Instituto Butantan, São Paulo-SP, Brazil; Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune e Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
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12
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Logullo J, Diniz-Lima I, Rocha JDB, Cortê-Real S, Silva-Júnior EBD, Guimarães-de-Oliveira JC, Morrot A, Fonseca LMD, Freire-de-Lima L, Decote-Ricardo D, Freire-de-Lima CG. Increased Trypanosoma cruzi Growth during Infection of Macrophages Cultured on Collagen I Matrix. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13041063. [PMID: 37109592 PMCID: PMC10143308 DOI: 10.3390/life13041063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The interactions between cell and cellular matrix confers plasticity to each body tissue, influencing the cellular migratory capacity. Macrophages rely on motility to promote their physiological function. These phagocytes are determinant for the control of invasive infections, and their immunological role largely depends on their ability to migrate and adhere to tissue. Therefore, they interact with the components of the extracellular matrix through their adhesion receptors, conferring morphological modifications that change their shape during migration. Nevertheless, the need to use in vitro cell growth models with the conditioning of three-dimensional synthetic matrices to mimic the dynamics of cell-matrix interaction has been increasingly studied. This becomes more important to effectively understand the changes occurring in phagocyte morphology in the context of infection progression, such as in Chagas disease. This disease is caused by the intracellular pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, capable of infecting macrophages, determinant cells in the anti-trypanosomatid immunity. In the present study, we sought to understand how an in vitro extracellular matrix model interferes with T. cruzi infection in macrophages. Using different time intervals and parasite ratios, we evaluated the cell morphology and parasite replication rate in the presence of 3D collagen I matrix. Nevertheless, microscopy techniques such as scanning electron microscopy were crucial to trace macrophage-matrix interactions. In the present work, we demonstrated for the first time that the macrophage-matrix interaction favors T. cruzi in vitro replication and the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines during macrophage infection, in addition to drastically altering the morphology of the macrophages and promoting the formation of migratory macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorgete Logullo
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | - Israel Diniz-Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | - Juliana Dutra B Rocha
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | - Suzana Cortê-Real
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
| | - Elias Barbosa da Silva-Júnior
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre Morrot
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitogia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Marques da Fonseca
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | - Debora Decote-Ricardo
- Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-000, RJ, Brazil
| | - Celio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
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13
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Guerra-Slompo EP, Picchi-Constante GFA, Marek M, Romier C, Sippl W, Zanchin NIT. In cellulo and in vivo assays for compound testing against Trypanosoma cruzi. STAR Protoc 2023; 4:102058. [PMID: 36853683 PMCID: PMC9881407 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe a combined in cellulo and in vivo approach to identify compounds with higher potential for efficient inhibition of Trypanosoma cruzi. Phase I of in cellulo assays is designed to exclude inactive or toxic compounds, while phase II is designed for accurate IC50, CC50, and selective index (SI) determination. Compounds showing high SI are tested using in vivo infection models in parallel with benznidazole to assess their efficacy relative to a reference drug used for Chagas disease treatment. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Marek et al. (2021).1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Martin Marek
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR 7104, U 1258, 67404 Illkirch, France; IGBMC, Department of Integrated Structural Biology, 1 rue Laurent Fries, B.P. 10142, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Christophe Romier
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR 7104, U 1258, 67404 Illkirch, France; IGBMC, Department of Integrated Structural Biology, 1 rue Laurent Fries, B.P. 10142, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Wolfgang Sippl
- Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Wolfgang-Langenbeck-Straße 4, 06120 Halle/Saale, Germany
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14
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Oliveira ACDJ, Silva EB, Oliveira TCD, Ribeiro FDOS, Nadvorny D, Oliveira JWDF, Borrego-Sánchez A, Rodrigues KADF, Silva MS, Rolim-Neto PJ, Viseras C, Silva-Filho EC, Silva DAD, Chaves LL, Soares MFDLR, Soares-Sobrinho JL. pH-responsive phthalate cashew gum nanoparticles for improving drugs delivery and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi efficacy. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 230:123272. [PMID: 36649864 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Nanotechnology is a crucial technology in recent years has resulted in new and creative applications of nanomedicine. Polymeric nanoparticles have increasing demands in pharmaceutical applications and require high reproducibility, homogeneity, and control over their properties. Work explores the use of cashew phthalate gum (PCG) as a particle-forming polymer. PCG exhibited a pH-sensitive behavior due to the of acid groups on its chains, and control drug release. We report the development of nanoparticles carrying benznidazole. Formulations were characterized by DLS, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, FTIR, pH-responsive behavior, release, and in vitro kinetics. Interaction between polymer and drug was an evaluated by molecular dynamics. Morphology was observed by SEM, and in vitro cytotoxicity by MTT assay. Trypanocidal effect for epimastigote and trypomastigote forms was also evaluated. NPs responded to the slightly basic pH, triggering the release of BNZ. In acidic medium, they presented small size, spherical shape, and good stability. It was indicated NP with enhanced biological activity, reduced cytotoxicity, high anti T. cruzi performance, and pH-sensitive release. This work investigated properties related to the development and enhancement of nanoparticles. PCG has specific physicochemical properties that make it a promising alternative to drug delivery, however, there are still challenges to be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antônia Carla de Jesus Oliveira
- Quality Control Core of Medicines and Correlates - NCQMC, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Emilliany Bárbara Silva
- Quality Control Core of Medicines and Correlates - NCQMC, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Thaisa Cardoso de Oliveira
- Quality Control Core of Medicines and Correlates - NCQMC, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Daniella Nadvorny
- Quality Control Core of Medicines and Correlates - NCQMC, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Borrego-Sánchez
- Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences, CSIC - UGR, Armilla, Granada, Spain; Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Marcelo Sousa Silva
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil; Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro José Rolim-Neto
- Laboratory of Technology of Medicines - LTM, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - César Viseras
- Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences, CSIC - UGR, Armilla, Granada, Spain; Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Edson C Silva-Filho
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Advanced Materials - LIMAV, Federal University of Piaui, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Durcilene Alves da Silva
- Research Center on Biodiversity and Biotechnology - BIOTEC, Federal University of Delta of Parnaiba, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
| | - Luíse Lopes Chaves
- Quality Control Core of Medicines and Correlates - NCQMC, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Mônica Felts de La Roca Soares
- Quality Control Core of Medicines and Correlates - NCQMC, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - José Lamartine Soares-Sobrinho
- Quality Control Core of Medicines and Correlates - NCQMC, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
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15
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Oliveira C, Holetz FB, Alves LR, Ávila AR. Modulation of Virulence Factors during Trypanosoma cruzi Differentiation. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010032. [PMID: 36678380 PMCID: PMC9865030 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. This protozoan developed several mechanisms to infect, propagate, and survive in different hosts. The specific expression of proteins is responsible for morphological and metabolic changes in different parasite stages along the parasite life cycle. The virulence strategies at the cellular and molecular levels consist of molecules responsible for mediating resistance mechanisms to oxidative damage, cellular invasion, and immune evasion, performed mainly by surface proteins. Since parasite surface coat remodeling is crucial to invasion and infectivity, surface proteins are essential virulence elements. Understanding the factors involved in these processes improves the knowledge of parasite pathogenesis. Genome sequencing has opened the door to high-throughput technologies, allowing us to obtain a deeper understanding of gene reprogramming along the parasite life cycle and identify critical molecules for survival. This review therefore focuses on proteins regulated during differentiation into infective forms considered virulence factors and addresses the current known mechanisms acting in the modulation of gene expression, emphasizing mRNA signals, regulatory factors, and protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Oliveira
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Centre de Recherche CERVO, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Fabíola Barbieri Holetz
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Lysangela Ronalte Alves
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Disease and Immunity CHU de Quebec Research Center, University Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Andréa Rodrigues Ávila
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-41-33163230
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16
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da Silva-Gomes NL, Ruivo LADS, Moreira C, Meuser-Batista M, da Silva CF, Batista DDGJ, Fragoso S, de Oliveira GM, Soeiro MDNC, Moreira OC. Overexpression of TcNTPDase-1 Gene Increases Infectivity in Mice Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314661. [PMID: 36498985 PMCID: PMC9736689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) are enzymes located on the surface of the T. cruzi plasma membrane, which hydrolyze a wide range of tri-/-diphosphate nucleosides. In this work, we used previously developed genetically modified strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), hemi-knockout (KO +/−) and overexpressing (OE) the TcNTPDase-1 gene to evaluate the parasite infectivity profile in a mouse model of acute infection (n = 6 mice per group). Our results showed significantly higher parasitemia and mortality, and lower weight in animals infected with parasites OE TcNTPDase-1, as compared to the infection with the wild type (WT) parasites. On the other hand, animals infected with (KO +/−) parasites showed no mortality during the 30-day trial and mouse weight was more similar to the non-infected (NI) animals. In addition, they had low parasitemia (45.7 times lower) when compared with parasites overexpressing TcNTPDase-1 from the hemi-knockout (OE KO +/−) group. The hearts of animals infected with the OE KO +/− and OE parasites showed significantly larger regions of cardiac inflammation than those infected with the WT parasites (p < 0.001). Only animals infected with KO +/− did not show individual electrocardiographic changes during the period of experimentation. Together, our results expand the knowledge on the role of NTPDases in T. cruzi infectivity, reenforcing the potential of this enzyme as a chemotherapy target to treat Chagas disease (CD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Lins da Silva-Gomes
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular-IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | - Claudia Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanossomatídeos-ICC/FIOCRUZ, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Meuser-Batista
- Laboratório de Educação Profissional em Técnicas Laboratoriais em Saúde, EPSJV/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | | | - Stênio Fragoso
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Tripanossomatídeos-ICC/FIOCRUZ, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | | | | | - Otacilio C. Moreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular-IOC/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Correspondence:
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17
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Martín-Escolano R, Rosales MJ, Marín C. Biological characteristics of the Trypanosoma cruzi Arequipa strain make it a good model for Chagas disease drug discovery. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106679. [PMID: 36096184 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD), is a genuine parasite with tremendous genetic diversity and a complex life cycle. Scientists have studied this disease for more than 100 years, and CD drug discovery has been a mainstay due to the absence of an effective treatment. Technical advances in several areas have contributed to a better understanding of the complex biology and life cycle of this parasite, with the aim of designing the ideal profile of both drug and therapeutic options to treat CD. Here, we present the T. cruzi Arequipa strain (MHOM/Pe/2011/Arequipa) as an interesting model for CD drug discovery. We characterized acute-phase parasitaemia and chronic-phase tropism in BALB/c mice and determined the in vitro and in vivo benznidazole susceptibility profile of the different morphological forms of this strain. The tropism of this strain makes it an interesting model for the screening of new compounds with a potential anti-Chagas profile for the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK.
| | - María José Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, Granada 18071, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, Granada 18071, Spain.
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18
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Rodríguez-Durán J, Gallardo JP, Alba Soto CD, Gómez KA, Potenza M. The Kinetoplastid-Specific Protein TcCAL1 Plays Different Roles During In Vitro Differentiation and Host-Cell Invasion in Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:901880. [PMID: 35846750 PMCID: PMC9280158 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.901880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the pathogen Typanosoma cruzi, the calcium ion (Ca2+) regulates key processes for parasite survival. However, the mechanisms decoding Ca2+ signals are not fully identified or understood. Here, we investigate the role of a hypothetical Ca2+-binding protein named TcCAL1 in the in vitro life cycle of T. cruzi. Results showed that the overexpression of TcCAL1 fused to a 6X histidine tag (TcCAL1-6xHis) impaired the differentiation of epimastigotes into metacyclic trypomastigotes, significantly decreasing metacyclogenesis rates. When the virulence of transgenic metacyclic trypomastigotes was explored in mammalian cell invasion assays, we found that the percentage of infection was significantly higher in Vero cells incubated with TcCAL1-6xHis-overexpressing parasites than in controls, as well as the number of intracellular amastigotes. Additionally, the percentage of Vero cells with adhered metacyclic trypomastigotes significantly increased in samples incubated with TcCAL1-6xHis-overexpressing parasites compared with controls. In contrast, the differentiation rates from metacyclic trypomastigotes to axenic amastigotes or the epimastigote proliferation in the exponential phase of growth have not been affected by TcCAL1-6xHis overexpression. Based on our findings, we speculate that TcCAL1 exerts its function by sequestering intracellular Ca2+ by its EF-hand motifs (impairing metacyclogenesis) and/or due to an unknown activity which could be amplified by the ion binding (promoting cell invasion). This work underpins the importance of studying the kinetoplastid-specific proteins with unknown functions in pathogen parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Rodríguez-Durán
- Laboratorio de Biología e Inmunología de las Infecciones por Tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor Torres”—CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Pablo Gallardo
- Laboratorio de Biología e Inmunología de las Infecciones por Tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor Torres”—CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Catalina Dirney Alba Soto
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Karina Andrea Gómez
- Laboratorio de Biología e Inmunología de las Infecciones por Tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor Torres”—CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Potenza
- Laboratorio de Biología e Inmunología de las Infecciones por Tripanosomátidos, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor Torres”—CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Mariana Potenza, ;
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19
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Lima ARJ, Silva HGD, Poubel S, Rosón JN, de Lima LPO, Costa-Silva HM, Gonçalves CS, Galante PAF, Holetz F, Motta MCMM, Silber AM, Elias MC, da Cunha JPC. Open chromatin analysis in Trypanosoma cruzi life forms highlights critical differences in genomic compartments and developmental regulation at tDNA loci. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:22. [PMID: 35650626 PMCID: PMC9158160 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00450-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genomic organization and gene expression regulation in trypanosomes are remarkable because protein-coding genes are organized into codirectional gene clusters with unrelated functions. Moreover, there is no dedicated promoter for each gene, resulting in polycistronic gene transcription, with posttranscriptional control playing a major role. Nonetheless, these parasites harbor epigenetic modifications at critical regulatory genome features that dynamically change among parasite stages, which are not fully understood. RESULTS Here, we investigated the impact of chromatin changes in a scenario commanded by posttranscriptional control exploring the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and its differentiation program using FAIRE-seq approach supported by transmission electron microscopy. We identified differences in T. cruzi genome compartments, putative transcriptional start regions, and virulence factors. In addition, we also detected a developmental chromatin regulation at tRNA loci (tDNA), which could be linked to the intense chromatin remodeling and/or the translation regulatory mechanism required for parasite differentiation. We further integrated the open chromatin profile with public transcriptomic and MNase-seq datasets. Strikingly, a positive correlation was observed between active chromatin and steady-state transcription levels. CONCLUSION Taken together, our results indicate that chromatin changes reflect the unusual gene expression regulation of trypanosomes and the differences among parasite developmental stages, even in the context of a lack of canonical transcriptional control of protein-coding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Ranieri Jerônimo Lima
- grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brazil ,grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Herbert Guimarães de
Sousa Silva
- grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brazil ,grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil ,grid.411249.b0000 0001 0514 7202Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Imunologia E Parasitologia, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Saloe Poubel
- grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brazil ,grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Nunes Rosón
- grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brazil ,grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil ,grid.411249.b0000 0001 0514 7202Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Imunologia E Parasitologia, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Loyze Paola Oliveira de Lima
- grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brazil ,grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Héllida Marina Costa-Silva
- grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brazil ,grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Silva Gonçalves
- grid.8536.80000 0001 2294 473XLaboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, IBCCF, CCS, UFRJ, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil ,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural E Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Pedro A. F. Galante
- grid.413471.40000 0000 9080 8521Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio Libanês, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Fabiola Holetz
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Machado M. Motta
- grid.8536.80000 0001 2294 473XLaboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, IBCCF, CCS, UFRJ, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil ,Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural E Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Ariel M. Silber
- grid.11899.380000 0004 1937 0722Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - M. Carolina Elias
- grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP Brazil ,grid.418514.d0000 0001 1702 8585Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia Pinheiro Chagas da Cunha
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. .,Centro de Toxinas, Resposta Imune E Sinalização Celular (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.
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20
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Inoue AH, Domingues PF, Serpeloni M, Hiraiwa PM, Vidal NM, Butterfield ER, Del Pino RC, Ludwig A, Boehm C, Field MC, Ávila AR. Proteomics Uncovers Novel Components of an Interactive Protein Network Supporting RNA Export in Trypanosomes. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100208. [PMID: 35091090 PMCID: PMC8938319 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In trypanosomatids, transcription is polycistronic and all mRNAs are processed by trans-splicing, with export mediated by noncanonical mechanisms. Although mRNA export is central to gene regulation and expression, few orthologs of proteins involved in mRNA export in higher eukaryotes are detectable in trypanosome genomes, necessitating direct identification of protein components. We previously described conserved mRNA export pathway components in Trypanosoma cruzi, including orthologs of Sub2, a component of the TREX complex, and eIF4AIII (previously Hel45), a core component of the exon junction complex (EJC). Here, we searched for protein interactors of both proteins using cryomilling and mass spectrometry. Significant overlap between TcSub2 and TceIF4AIII-interacting protein cohorts suggests that both proteins associate with similar machinery. We identified several interactions with conserved core components of the EJC and multiple additional complexes, together with proteins specific to trypanosomatids. Additional immunoisolations of kinetoplastid-specific proteins both validated and extended the superinteractome, which is capable of supporting RNA processing from splicing through to nuclear export and cytoplasmic events. We also suggest that only proteomics is powerful enough to uncover the high connectivity between multiple aspects of mRNA metabolism and to uncover kinetoplastid-specific components that create a unique amalgam to support trypanosome mRNA maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Newton Medeiros Vidal
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Adriana Ludwig
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Cordula Boehm
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Mark C Field
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, UK; Biology Centre, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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21
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In Vitro Validation of Antiparasitic Activity of PLA-Nanoparticles of Sodium Diethyldithiocarbamate against Trypanosoma cruzi. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14030497. [PMID: 35335875 PMCID: PMC8954078 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14030497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite responsible for Chagas disease, which affects millions around the world and is not treatable in its chronic stage. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate is a compound belonging to the carbamate class and, in a previous study, demonstrated high efficacy against T. cruzi, showing itself to be a promising compound for the treatment of Chagas disease. This study investigates the encapsulation of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate by poly-lactic acid in nanoparticles, a system of biodegradable nanoparticles that is capable of reducing the toxicity caused by free DETC against cells and maintaining the antiparasitic activity. The nanosystem PLA-DETC was fabricated using nanoprecipitation, and its physical characterization was measured via DLS, SEM, and AFM, demonstrating a small size around 168 nm and a zeta potential of around −19 mv. Furthermore, the toxicity was determined by MTT reduction against three cell lines (VERO, 3T3, and RAW), and when compared to free DETC, we observed a reduction in cell mortality, demonstrating the importance of DETC nanoencapsulation. In addition, the nanoparticles were stained with FITC and put in contact with cells for 24 h, followed by confirmation of whether the nanosystem was inside the cells. Lastly, the antiparasitic activity against different strains of T. cruzi in trypomastigote forms was determined by resazurin reduction and ROS production, which demonstrated high efficacy towards T. cruzi equal to that of free DETC.
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22
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De-Simone SG, Bourguignon SC, Gonçalves PS, Lechuga GC, Provance DW. Metabolic Alteration of Trypanosoma cruzi during Differentiation of Epimastigote to Trypomastigote Forms. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020268. [PMID: 35215210 PMCID: PMC8879499 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi need to acquire valuable carbon sources from the host cell to replicate. Here, we investigated the energetic metabolism of T. cruzi during metacyclogenesis through the determination of enzymatic activities and quantification by HPLC of glycolytic and Krebs cycle short-chain carboxylic acids. Altered concentrations in pyruvate, acetate, succinate, and glycerate were measured during the growth of epimastigote in the complex medium BHI and their differentiation to trypomastigotes in the chemically defined medium, TAU3AAG. These alterations should represent significant differential metabolic modifications utilized by either form to generate energy. This paper is the first work dealing with the intracellular organic acid concentration measurement in T. cruzi parasites. Although it confirms the previous assumption of the importance of carbohydrate metabolism, it yields an essential improvement in T. cruzi metabolism knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore G. De-Simone
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil;
- Correspondence:
| | - Saulo C. Bourguignon
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Priscila S. Gonçalves
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Guilherme C. Lechuga
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - David W. Provance
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), FIOCRUZ, National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Populations Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
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23
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Alves AA, Alcantara CL, Dantas-Jr MVA, Sunter JD, De Souza W, Cunha-E-Silva NL. Dynamics of the orphan myosin MyoF over Trypanosoma cruzi life cycle and along the endocytic pathway. Parasitol Int 2022; 86:102444. [PMID: 34464754 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi proliferative forms perform endocytosis through a specialized structure named the cytostome-cytopharynx complex (SPC). The SPC is a specialized invagination of the cell membrane that extends through the cell body towards the posterior regions, with its aperture close to the flagellar pocket. Recently, diverse proteins were found along the cytopharynx, including two myosin motors. One of these is the orphan myosin MyoF, that was proved to be essential for endocytosis in epimastigotes. However, the dynamics of MyoF localization along the endocytic pathway and through the T. cruzi life cycle remain unclear. Using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, we generated epimastigotes expressing MyoF fused to mNeonGreen from its endogenous locus. Using these cells, we observed that during the epimastigote cell cycle MyoF signal disappeared during G2, reappearing at early cytokinesis. Additionally, we show that MyoF localization during metacyclogenesis is compatible with the progressive disappearance of the SPC, being absent in metacyclic trypomastigotes. Detergent fractionation showed that MyoF was predominantly present in the insoluble fraction and immunolocalized at the SPC microtubules in whole-mount cytoskeleton preparations. Moreover, during tracer uptake through the SPC, MyoF followed the tracer along the endocytic pathway and was found in posterior compartments after 30 min. Taken together, the data suggest that MyoF may play a role not only at the cargo entry site but also along the endocytic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Alves
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - C L Alcantara
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - M V A Dantas-Jr
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J D Sunter
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - W De Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - N L Cunha-E-Silva
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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24
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Rosón JN, Vitarelli MDO, Costa-Silva HM, Pereira KS, Pires DDS, Lopes LDS, Cordeiro B, Kraus AJ, Cruz KNT, Calderano SG, Fragoso SP, Siegel TN, Elias MC, da Cunha JPC. H2B.V demarcates divergent strand-switch regions, some tDNA loci, and genome compartments in Trypanosoma cruzi and affects parasite differentiation and host cell invasion. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009694. [PMID: 35180281 PMCID: PMC8893665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone variants play a crucial role in chromatin structure organization and gene expression. Trypanosomatids have an unusual H2B variant (H2B.V) that is known to dimerize with the variant H2A.Z generating unstable nucleosomes. Previously, we found that H2B.V protein is enriched in tissue-derived trypomastigote (TCT) life forms, a nonreplicative stage of Trypanosoma cruzi, suggesting that this variant may contribute to the differences in chromatin structure and global transcription rates observed among parasite life forms. Here, we performed the first genome-wide profiling of histone localization in T. cruzi using epimastigotes and TCT life forms, and we found that H2B.V was preferentially located at the edges of divergent transcriptional strand switch regions, which encompass putative transcriptional start regions; at some tDNA loci; and between the conserved and disrupted genome compartments, mainly at trans-sialidase, mucin and MASP genes. Remarkably, the chromatin of TCT forms was depleted of H2B.V-enriched peaks in comparison to epimastigote forms. Interactome assays indicated that H2B.V associated specifically with H2A.Z, bromodomain factor 2, nucleolar proteins and a histone chaperone, among others. Parasites expressing reduced H2B.V levels were associated with higher rates of parasite differentiation and mammalian cell infectivity. Taken together, H2B.V demarcates critical genomic regions and associates with regulatory chromatin proteins, suggesting a scenario wherein local chromatin structures associated with parasite differentiation and invasion are regulated during the parasite life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Nunes Rosón
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Escola Paulista de Medicina–UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcela de Oliveira Vitarelli
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Héllida Marina Costa-Silva
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kamille Schmitt Pereira
- Department of Bioprocesses and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Biology of Trypanosomatids, Carlos Chagas Institute, FIOCRUZ, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - David da Silva Pires
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leticia de Sousa Lopes
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Barbara Cordeiro
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amelie J. Kraus
- Division of Experimental Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Munich, Germany
- Biomedical Center, Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitäat in Munch, Munich, Germany
| | - Karin Navarro Tozzi Cruz
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simone Guedes Calderano
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stenio Perdigão Fragoso
- Department of Bioprocesses and Biotechnology, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Biology of Trypanosomatids, Carlos Chagas Institute, FIOCRUZ, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - T. Nicolai Siegel
- Division of Experimental Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Munich, Germany
- Biomedical Center, Division of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitäat in Munch, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Carolina Elias
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia Pinheiro Chagas da Cunha
- Laboratory of Cell Cycle, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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25
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Dick CF, Rocco-Machado N, Dos-Santos ALA, Carvalho-Kelly LF, Alcantara CL, Cunha-E-Silva NL, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Vieyra A. An Iron Transporter Is Involved in Iron Homeostasis, Energy Metabolism, Oxidative Stress, and Metacyclogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:789401. [PMID: 35083166 PMCID: PMC8785980 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.789401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The parasite Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas’ disease; both heme and ionic Fe are required for its optimal growth, differentiation, and invasion. Fe is an essential cofactor in many metabolic pathways. Fe is also harmful due to catalyzing the formation of reactive O2 species; for this reason, all living systems develop mechanisms to control the uptake, metabolism, and storage of Fe. However, there is limited information available on Fe uptake by T. cruzi. Here, we identified a putative 39-kDa Fe transporter in T. cruzi genome, TcIT, homologous to the Fe transporter in Leishmania amazonensis and Arabidopsis thaliana. Epimastigotes grown in Fe-depleted medium have increased TcIT transcription compared with controls grown in regular medium. Intracellular Fe concentration in cells maintained in Fe-depleted medium is lower than in controls, and there is a lower O2 consumption. Epimastigotes overexpressing TcIT, which was encountered in the parasite plasma membrane, have high intracellular Fe content, high O2 consumption—especially in phosphorylating conditions, high intracellular ATP, very high H2O2 production, and stimulated transition to trypomastigotes. The investigation of the mechanisms of Fe transport at the cellular and molecular levels will assist in elucidating Fe metabolism in T. cruzi and the involvement of its transport in the differentiation from epimastigotes to trypomastigotes, virulence, and maintenance/progression of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia F Dick
- Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Nathália Rocco-Machado
- Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André L A Dos-Santos
- Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz F Carvalho-Kelly
- Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina L Alcantara
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Narcisa L Cunha-E-Silva
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José R Meyer-Fernandes
- Leopoldo de Meis Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Vieyra
- Carlos Chagas Filho Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Center of Structural Biology and Bioimaging (CENABIO), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Translational Biomedicine/BIOTRANS, Unigranrio University, Duque de Caxias, Brazil
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26
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Saenz-Garcia JL, Borges BS, Souza-Melo N, Machado LV, Miranda JS, Pacheco-Lugo LA, Moretti NS, Wheleer R, Soares Medeiros LC, DaRocha WD. Trypanin Disruption Affects the Motility and Infectivity of the Protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:807236. [PMID: 35071054 PMCID: PMC8777028 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.807236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The flagellum of Trypanosomatids is an organelle that contributes to multiple functions, including motility, cell division, and host–pathogen interaction. Trypanin was first described in Trypanosoma brucei and is part of the dynein regulatory complex. TbTrypanin knockdown parasites showed motility defects in procyclic forms; however, silencing in bloodstream forms was lethal. Since TbTrypanin mutants show drastic phenotypic changes in mammalian stages, we decided to evaluate if the Trypanosoma cruzi ortholog plays a similar role by using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate null mutants. A ribonucleoprotein complex of SaCas9 and sgRNA plus donor oligonucleotide were used to edit both alleles of TcTrypanin without any selectable marker. TcTrypanin −/− epimastigotes showed a lower growth rate, partially detached flagella, normal numbers of nuclei and kinetoplasts, and motility defects such as reduced displacement and speed and increased tumbling propensity. The epimastigote mutant also showed decreased efficiency of in-vitro metacyclogenesis. Mutant parasites were able to complete the entire life cycle in vitro; however, they showed a reduction in their infection capacity compared with WT and addback cultures. Our data show that T. cruzi life cycle stages have differing sensitivities to TcTrypanin deletion. In conclusion, additional work is needed to dissect the motility components of T. cruzi and to identify essential molecules for mammalian stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L Saenz-Garcia
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Beatriz S Borges
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Normanda Souza-Melo
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Patógenos (LBMP), Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Hertha Mayer, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz V Machado
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Juliana S Miranda
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Nilmar S Moretti
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Patógenos (LBMP), Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Richard Wheleer
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lia C Soares Medeiros
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Wanderson D DaRocha
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
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27
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Abreu APD, Teston APM, Massago M, Lucas da Silva HF, Ferreira ÉC, Fernandes NDS, Araújo SMD, Dale C, Galvão C, Toledo MJDO. Experimental infection of Rhodnius robustus Larrousse, 1927 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909) (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) IV. Exp Parasitol 2021; 232:108197. [PMID: 34863706 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2021.108197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Vector competence of triatomines (kissing bugs) for Trypanosoma cruzi transmission depends on the parasite-vector interaction and the genetic constitution of both. This study evaluates the susceptibility and vector competence of Rhodnius robustus experimentally infected with T. cruzi IV (TcIV). Nymphs were fed on infected mice or an artificial feeder with blood containing culture-derived metacyclic trypomastigotes (CMT) or blood trypomastigotes (BT). The intestinal contents (IC) and excreta of the insects were examined by fresh examination and kDNA-PCR. The rate of metacyclogenesis was also determined by differential counts. Fifth instar nymphs fed with CMT ingested a greater blood volume (mean of 74.5 μL) and a greater amount of parasites (mean of 149,000 CMT/μL), and had higher positivity in the fresh examination of the IC. Third instar nymphs fed with CMT had higher positivity (33.3%) in the fresh examination of the excreta. On the 20th day after infection (dai), infective metacyclic trypomastigote (MT) forms were predominant in the excreta of 3/4 experimental groups, and on the 30th dai, the different parasitic forms were observed in the IC of all the groups. Higher percentages of MT were observed in the excreta of the 5th instar nymphs group (84.1%) and in the IC of the 3rd instar nymphs group (80.0%). Rhodnius robustus presented high susceptibility to infection since all nymphs were infected, regardless of the method used for blood meal, in addition these insects demonstrated vector competence for TcIV with high rates of metacyclogenesis being evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula de Abreu
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
| | - Ana Paula Margioto Teston
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil; Departamento de Farmácia, Centro Universitário Uningá, Rodovia PR317, 87035-510, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
| | - Miyoko Massago
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, UEM, 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
| | - Hevillyn Fernanda Lucas da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
| | - Érika Cristina Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
| | - Nilma de Souza Fernandes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, UEM, 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
| | - Silvana Marques de Araújo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, CCS, UEM, 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
| | - Carolina Dale
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade Entomológica / Coleção Entomológica, Pavilhão Mourisco, Manguinhos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, 21040-360, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Cleber Galvão
- Laboratório Nacional e Internacional de Referência em Taxonomia de Triatomíneos, Pavilhão Rocha Lima, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, 21040-360, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Max Jean de Ornelas Toledo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, UEM, 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, CCS, UEM, 87 020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
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Mantilla BS, Paes-Vieira L, de Almeida Dias F, Calderano SG, Elias MC, Cosentino-Gomes D, Oliveira PL, Meyer-Fernandes JR, Silber AM. Higher expression of proline dehydrogenase altered mitochondrial function and increased Trypanosoma cruzi differentiation in vitro and in the insect vector. Biochem J 2021; 478:3891-3903. [PMID: 34661234 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The pathogenic protist Trypanosoma cruzi uses kissing bugs as invertebrate hosts that vectorize the infection among mammals. This parasite oxidizes proline to glutamate through two enzymatic steps and one nonenzymatic step. In insect vectors, T. cruzi differentiates from a noninfective replicating form to nonproliferative infective forms. Proline sustains this differentiation, but to date, a link between proline metabolism and differentiation has not been established. In T. cruzi, the enzymatic steps of the proline-glutamate oxidation pathway are catalyzed exclusively by the mitochondrial enzymes proline dehydrogenase [TcPRODH, EC: 1.5.5.2] and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase [TcP5CDH, EC: 1.2.1.88]. Both enzymatic steps produce reducing equivalents that are able to directly feed the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) and thus produce ATP. In this study, we demonstrate the contribution of each enzyme of the proline-glutamate pathway to ATP production. In addition, we show that parasites overexpressing these enzymes produce increased levels of H2O2, but only those overexpressing TcP5CDH produce increased levels of superoxide anion. We show that parasites overexpressing TcPRODH, but not parasites overexpressing TcP5CDH, exhibit a higher rate of differentiation into metacyclic trypomastigotes in vitro. Finally, insect hosts infected with parasites overexpressing TcPRODH showed a diminished parasitic load but a higher percent of metacyclic trypomastigotes, when compared with controls. Our data show that parasites overexpressing both, PRODH and P5CDH had increased mitochondrial functions that orchestrated different oxygen signaling, resulting in different outcomes in relation to the efficiency of parasitic differentiation in the invertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian S Mantilla
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps- LabTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lisvane Paes-Vieira
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps- LabTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Felipe de Almeida Dias
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Simone G Calderano
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Center of Toxines, Immune response and Cell Signallig, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Maria Carolina Elias
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Center of Toxines, Immune response and Cell Signallig, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Daniela Cosentino-Gomes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Pedro L Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ariel M Silber
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps- LabTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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The Histidine Ammonia Lyase of Trypanosoma cruzi Is Involved in Acidocalcisome Alkalinization and Is Essential for Survival under Starvation Conditions. mBio 2021; 12:e0198121. [PMID: 34724827 PMCID: PMC8561398 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01981-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, accumulates polyphosphate (polyP) and Ca2+ inside acidocalcisomes. The alkalinization of this organelle stimulates polyP hydrolysis and Ca2+ release. Here, we report that histidine ammonia lyase (HAL), an enzyme that catalyzes histidine deamination with production of ammonia (NH3) and urocanate, is responsible for acidocalcisome alkalinization. Histidine addition to live parasites expressing HAL fused to the pH-sensitive emission biosensor green fluorescent protein (GFP) variant pHluorin induced alkalinization of acidocalcisomes. PolyP decreased HAL activity of epimastigote lysates or the recombinant protein but did not cause its polyphosphorylation, as determined by the lack of HAL electrophoretic shift on NuPAGE gels using both in vitro and in vivo conditions. We demonstrate that HAL binds strongly to polyP and localizes to the acidocalcisomes and cytosol of the parasite. Four lysine residues localized in the HAL C-terminal region are instrumental for its polyP binding, its inhibition by polyP, its function inside acidocalcisomes, and parasite survival under starvation conditions. Expression of HAL in yeast deficient in polyP degradation decreased cell fitness. This effect was enhanced by histidine and decreased when the lysine-rich C-terminal region was deleted. In conclusion, this study highlights a mechanism for stimulation of acidocalcisome alkalinization linked to amino acid metabolism.
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Rodríguez Durán J, Muñoz-Calderón A, Gómez KA, Potenza M. In vitro differentiation of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes into metacyclic trypomastigotes using a biphasic medium. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100703. [PMID: 34505085 PMCID: PMC8417395 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi differentiates from epimastigotes (E) into infective metacyclic trypomastigotes (MTs) to invade the mammalian cell. This process, called metacyclogenesis, is mimicked in vitro by nutrient starvation or incubation with minimal media. Here, we describe an alternative protocol for metacyclogenesis by incubating E forms in a biphasic medium supplemented with human blood. Although time consuming, this procedure yields fully differentiated MTs without the presence of intermediate forms, even for cultures that have been maintained as E for years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Rodríguez Durán
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Karina Andrea Gómez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Mariana Potenza
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
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Prolo C, Estrada D, Piacenza L, Benítez D, Comini MA, Radi R, Álvarez MN. Nox2-derived superoxide radical is crucial to control acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Redox Biol 2021; 46:102085. [PMID: 34454164 PMCID: PMC8397891 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a flagellated protozoan that undergoes a complex life cycle between hematophagous insects and mammals. In humans, this parasite causes Chagas disease, which in thirty percent of those infected, would result in serious chronic pathologies and even death. Macrophages participate in the first stages of infection, mounting a cytotoxic response which promotes massive oxidative damage to the parasite. On the other hand, T. cruzi is equipped with a robust antioxidant system to repeal the oxidative attack from macrophages. This work was conceived to explicitly assess the role of mammalian cell-derived superoxide radical in a murine model of acute infection by T. cruzi. Macrophages derived from Nox2-deficient (gp91phox-/-) mice produced marginal amounts of superoxide radical and were more susceptible to parasite infection than those derived from wild type (wt) animals. Also, the lack of superoxide radical led to an impairment of parasite differentiation inside gp91phox-/- macrophages. Biochemical or genetic reconstitution of intraphagosomal superoxide radical formation in gp91phox-/- macrophages reverted the lack of control of infection. Along the same line, gp91phox-/- infected mice died shortly after infection. In spite of the higher lethality, parasitemia did not differ between gp91phox-/- and wt animals, recapitulating an observation that has led to conflicting interpretations about the importance of the mammalian oxidative response against T. cruzi. Importantly, gp91phox-/- mice presented higher and disseminated tissue parasitism, as evaluated by both qPCR- and bioimaging-based methodologies. Thus, this work supports that Nox2-derived superoxide radical plays a crucial role to control T. cruzi infection in the early phase of a murine model of Chagas disease. Nox2 derived-superoxide radical is required to control Trypanosoma cruzi infection in macrophages ∙Nox2-deficient mice (gp91phox-/-) are highly susceptible to Trypanosoma cruzi infection ∙Parasitemia does not reflect the level of organ infection observed in wt and gp91phox-/- mice. ∙gp91phox-/- mice collapse to infection due to uncontrolled parasite proliferation in tissues
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Prolo
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Damián Estrada
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Piacenza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Diego Benítez
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marcelo A Comini
- Laboratory Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rafael Radi
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - María Noel Álvarez
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CEINBIO), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Departamento de Educación Médica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Cruz-Saavedra L, Vallejo GA, Guhl F, Messenger LA, Ramírez JD. Transcriptional remodeling during metacyclogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi I. Virulence 2021; 11:969-980. [PMID: 32715914 PMCID: PMC7549971 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1797274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Metacyclogenesis is one of the most important processes in the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi. In this stage, noninfective epimastigotes become infective metacyclic trypomastigotes. However, the transcriptomic changes that occur during this transformation remain uncertain. Illumina RNA-sequencing of epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes belonging to T. cruzi DTU I was undertaken. Sequencing reads were aligned and mapped against the reference genome, differentially expressed genes between the two life cycle stages were identified, and metabolic pathways were reconstructed. Gene expression differed significantly between epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes. The cellular pathways that were mostly downregulated during metacyclogenesis involved glucose energy metabolism (glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation), amino acid metabolism, and DNA replication. By contrast, the processes where an increase in gene expression was observed included those related to autophagy (particularly Atg7 and Atg8 transcripts), corroborating its importance during metacyclogenesis, endocytosis, by an increase in the expression of the AP-2 complex subunit alpha, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum and meiosis. Study findings indicate that in T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes, metabolic processes are decreased, and expression of genes involved in specific cell cycle processes is increased to facilitate transformation to this infective stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario , Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gustavo A Vallejo
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima , Ibagué, Colombia
| | - Felipe Guhl
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes , Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Juan David Ramírez
- Grupo de Investigaciones Microbiológicas-UR (GIMUR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario , Bogotá, Colombia
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Dave N, Cetiner U, Arroyo D, Fonbuena J, Tiwari M, Barrera P, Lander N, Anishkin A, Sukharev S, Jimenez V. A novel mechanosensitive channel controls osmoregulation, differentiation, and infectivity in Trypanosoma cruzi. eLife 2021; 10:67449. [PMID: 34212856 PMCID: PMC8282336 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The causative agent of Chagas disease undergoes drastic morphological and biochemical modifications as it passes between hosts and transitions from extracellular to intracellular stages. The osmotic and mechanical aspects of these cellular transformations are not understood. Here we identify and characterize a novel mechanosensitive channel in Trypanosoma cruzi (TcMscS) belonging to the superfamily of small-conductance mechanosensitive channels (MscS). TcMscS is activated by membrane tension and forms a large pore permeable to anions, cations, and small osmolytes. The channel changes its location from the contractile vacuole complex in epimastigotes to the plasma membrane as the parasites develop into intracellular amastigotes. TcMscS knockout parasites show significant fitness defects, including increased cell volume, calcium dysregulation, impaired differentiation, and a dramatic decrease in infectivity. Our work provides mechanistic insights into components supporting pathogen adaptation inside the host, thus opening the exploration of mechanosensation as a prerequisite for protozoan infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noopur Dave
- Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, United States
| | - Ugur Cetiner
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, United States
| | - Daniel Arroyo
- Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, United States
| | - Joshua Fonbuena
- Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, United States
| | - Megna Tiwari
- Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, United States
| | - Patricia Barrera
- Departmento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Instituto de Histologia y Embriologia IHEM-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Noelia Lander
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States
| | - Andriy Anishkin
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, United States
| | - Sergei Sukharev
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, United States
| | - Veronica Jimenez
- Department of Biological Science, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, United States
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dos Santos GRRM, Leite ACR, Lander N, Chiurillo MA, Vercesi AE, Docampo R. Trypanosoma cruzi Letm1 is involved in mitochondrial Ca 2+ transport, and is essential for replication, differentiation, and host cell invasion. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21685. [PMID: 34085343 PMCID: PMC10437107 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100120rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Leucine zipper-EF-hand containing transmembrane protein 1 (Letm1) is a mitochondrial inner membrane protein involved in Ca2+ and K+ homeostasis in mammalian cells. Here, we demonstrate that the Letm1 orthologue of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, is important for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and release. The results show that both mitochondrial Ca2+ influx and efflux are reduced in TcLetm1 knockdown (TcLetm1-KD) cells and increased in TcLetm1 overexpressing cells, without alterations in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Remarkably, TcLetm1 knockdown or overexpression increases or does not affect mitochondrial Ca2+ levels in epimastigotes, respectively. TcLetm1-KD epimastigotes have reduced growth, and both overexpression and knockdown of TcLetm1 cause a defect in metacyclogenesis. TcLetm1-KD also affected mitochondrial bioenergetics. Invasion of host cells by TcLetm1-KD trypomastigotes and their intracellular replication is greatly impaired. Taken together, our findings indicate that TcLetm1 is important for Ca2+ homeostasis and cell viability in T cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Catarina Rezende Leite
- Laboratório de Bioenergética, Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Noelia Lander
- Center of Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Miguel Angel Chiurillo
- Center of Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Aníbal Eugênio Vercesi
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roberto Docampo
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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35
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Coelho FS, Oliveira MM, Vieira DP, Torres PHM, Moreira ICF, Martins-Duarte ES, Gonçalves IC, Cabanelas A, Pascutti PG, Fragoso SP, Lopes AH. A novel receptor for platelet-activating factor and lysophosphatidylcholine in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2021; 116:890-908. [PMID: 34184334 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The lipid mediators, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), play relevant pathophysiological roles in Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Several species of LPC, including C18:1 LPC, which mimics the effects of PAF, are synthesized by T. cruzi. The present study identified a receptor in T. cruzi, which was predicted to bind to PAF, and found it to be homologous to members of the progestin and adiponectin family of receptors (PAQRs). We constructed a three-dimensional model of the T. cruzi PAQR (TcPAQR) and performed molecular docking to predict the interactions of the TcPAQR model with C16:0 PAF and C18:1 LPC. We knocked out T. cruzi PAQR (TcPAQR) gene and confirmed the identity of the expressed protein through immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays using an anti-human PAQR antibody. Wild-type and knockout (KO) parasites were also used to investigate the in vitro cell differentiation and interactions with peritoneal mouse macrophages; TcPAQR KO parasites were unable to react to C16:0 PAF or C18:1 LPC. Our data are highly suggestive that PAF and LPC act through TcPAQR in T. cruzi, triggering its cellular differentiation and ability to infect macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe S Coelho
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mauricio M Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Pedro H M Torres
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabel C F Moreira
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Erica S Martins-Duarte
- Departmento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Inês C Gonçalves
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Adriana Cabanelas
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro G Pascutti
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Stenio P Fragoso
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Sistêmica de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Angela H Lopes
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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An AMP-activated protein kinase complex with two distinctive alpha subunits is involved in nutritional stress responses in Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009435. [PMID: 34029334 PMCID: PMC8177656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, has a digenetic life cycle. In its passage from the insect vector to the mammalian host, and vice versa, it must be prepared to cope with abrupt changes in environmental conditions, such as carbon source, pH, temperature and osmolarity, in order to survive. Sensing and signaling pathways that allow the parasite to adapt, have unique characteristics with respect to their hosts and other free-living organisms. Many of the canonical proteins involved in these transduction pathways have not yet been found in the genomes of these parasites because they present divergences either at the functional, structural and/or protein sequence level. All of this makes these pathways promising targets for therapeutic drugs. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine kinase activated by environmental stresses such as osmotic stress, hypoxia, ischaemia and exercise that results in reduction of ATP and increase of AMP levels. Thus, AMPK is regarded as a fuel gauge, functioning both as a nutrient and an energy sensor, to maintain energy homeostasis and, eventually, to protect cells from death by nutrient starvation. In the present study we report the characterization of AMPK complexes for the first time in T. cruzi and propose the function of TcAMPK as a novel regulator of nutritional stress in epimastigote forms. We show that there is phosphotransferase activity specific for SAMS peptide in epimastigotes extracts, which is inhibited by Compound C and is modulated by carbon source availability. In addition, TcAMPKα2 subunit has an unprecedented functional substitution (Ser x Thr) at the activation loop and its overexpression in epimastigotes led to higher autophagic activity during prolonged nutritional stress. Moreover, the over-expression of the catalytic subunits resulted in antagonistic phenotypes associated with proliferation. Together, these results point to a role of TcAMPK in autophagy and nutrient sensing, key processes for the survival of trypanosomatids and for its life cycle progression. Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This silent illness is endemic in Latin-American countries and is conventionally transmitted to humans by insects from the Reduviidae family. In its passage from the insect vector to the mammalian host, and vice versa, the parasite must overcome abrupt changes in environmental conditions in order to survive. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase activated by environmental stresses that cause imbalances of the intracellular AMP:ATP ratios. Thus, AMPK is regarded as a “fuel gauge”, functioning both as a nutrient and an energy sensor to help maintain energy homeostasis and protect cells from death by nutrient starvation. In the present study we report the characterization of AMPK complexes for the first time in T. cruzi and describe the function of AMPK as a novel regulator of nutritional stress in epimastigote forms. We demonstrate that this complex possesses specific AMPK kinase activity, is inhibited by Compound C and is modulated by carbon source availability. Together, these results point to a role of AMPK in autophagy and nutrient sensing, key processes for the survival of this parasite and for its life cycle progression.
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Alcantara CL, de Souza W, Cunha E Silva NL. The cytostome-cytopharynx complex of intracellular and extracellular amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi exhibit structural and functional differences. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13346. [PMID: 33900003 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Endocytosis in Trypanosoma cruzi is mainly performed through a specialised membrane domain called cytostome-cytopharynx complex. Its ultrastructure and dynamics in endocytosis are well characterized in epimastigotes, being absent in trypomastigotes, that lack endocytic activity. Intracellular amastigotes also possess a cytostome-cytopharynx but participation in endocytosis of these forms is not clear. Extracellular amastigotes can be obtained from the supernatant of infected cells or in vitro amastigogenesis. These amastigotes share biochemical and morphological features with intracellular amastigotes but retain trypomastigote's ability to establish infection. We analysed and compared the ultrastructure of the cytostome-cytopharynx complex of intracellular amastigotes and extracellular amastigotes using high-resolution tridimensional electron microscopy techniques. We compared the endocytic ability of intracellular amastigotes, obtained through host cell lysis, with that of extracellular amastigotes. Intracellular amastigotes showed a cytostome-cytopharynx complex similar to epimastigotes'. However, after isolation, the complex undergoes ultrastructural modifications that progressively took to an impairment of endocytosis. Extracellular amastigotes do not possess a cytostome-cytopharynx complex nor the ability to endocytose. Those observations highlight morpho functional differences between intra and extracellular amastigotes regarding an important structure related to cell metabolism. TAKE AWAYS: T. cruzi intracellular amastigotes endocytose through the cytostome-cytopharynx complex. The cytostome-cytopharynx complex of intracellular amastigotes is ultrastructurally similar to the epimastigote. Intracellular amastigotes, once outside the host cell, disassembles the cytostome-cytopharynx membrane domain. Extracellular amastigotes do not possess a cytostome-cytopharynx either the ability to endocytose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina L Alcantara
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Núcleo de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens (CENABIO)-Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Biomagens (INBEB), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Núcleo de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens (CENABIO)-Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Biomagens (INBEB), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Narcisa L Cunha E Silva
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Núcleo de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens (CENABIO)-Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Biomagens (INBEB), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Lander N, Chiurillo MA, Docampo R. Signaling pathways involved in environmental sensing in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:819-828. [PMID: 33034088 PMCID: PMC8032824 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a unicellular parasite and the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. The parasite has a digenetic life cycle alternating between mammalian and insect hosts, where it faces a variety of environmental conditions to which it must adapt in order to survive. The adaptation to these changes is mediated by signaling pathways that coordinate the cellular responses to the new environmental settings. Major environmental changes include temperature, nutrient availability, ionic composition, pH, osmolarity, oxidative stress, contact with host cells and tissues, host immune response, and intracellular life. Some of the signaling pathways and second messengers potentially involved in the response to these changes have been elucidated in recent years and will be the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Lander
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Miguel A. Chiurillo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Roberto Docampo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Gil-Jaramillo N, Rocha AP, Raiol T, Motta FN, Favali C, Brigido MM, Bastos IMD, Santana JM. The First Contact of Human Dendritic Cells With Trypanosoma cruzi Reveals Response to Virus as an Unexplored Central Pathway. Front Immunol 2021; 12:638020. [PMID: 33897690 PMCID: PMC8062726 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.638020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a debilitating and neglected disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Soon after infection, interactions among T. cruzi and host innate immunity cells can drive/contribute to disease outcome. Dendritic cells (DCs), present in all tissues, are one of the first immune cells to interact with Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes. Elucidating the immunological events triggered immediately after parasite-human DCs encounter may aid in understanding the role of DCs in the establishment of infection and in the course of the disease. Therefore, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of a 12 h interaction between T. cruzi and MoDCs (monocyte-derived DCs) from three human donors. Enrichment analyses of the 468 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed viral infection response as the most regulated pathway. Additionally, exogenous antigen processing and presentation through MHC-I, chemokine signaling, lymphocyte co-stimulation, metallothioneins, and inflammasome activation were found up-regulated. Notable, we were able to identify the increased gene expression of alternative inflammasome sensors such as AIM2, IFI16, and RIG-I for the first time in a T. cruzi infection. Both transcript and protein expression levels suggest proinflammatory cytokine production during early T. cruzi-DCs contact. Our transcriptome data unveil antiviral pathways as an unexplored process during T. cruzi-DC initial interaction, disclosing a new panorama for the study of Chagas disease outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gil-Jaramillo
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Amanda Pereira Rocha
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Tainá Raiol
- Fiocruz Brasília–Gerência Regional de Brasília (GEREB), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Flávia Nader Motta
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Faculdade de Ceilândia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Cecília Favali
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marcelo M. Brigido
- Laboratório de Imunologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Izabela M. D. Bastos
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Jaime M. Santana
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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40
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Characterization and functional analysis of the proteins Prohibitin 1 and 2 in Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009322. [PMID: 33830991 PMCID: PMC8057595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is the third most important neglected tropical disease. There is no vaccine available, and only two drugs are generally prescribed for the treatment, both of which with a wide range of side effects. Our study of T. cruzi PHBs revealed a pleiotropic function in different stages of the parasite, participating actively in the transformation of the non-infective replicative epimastigote form into metacyclic trypomastigotes and also in the multiplication of intracellular amastigotes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS To obtain and confirm our results, we applied several tools and techniques such as electron microscopy, immuno-electron microscopy, bioinformatics analysis and molecular biology. We transfected T. cruzi clones with the PHB genes, in order to overexpress the proteins and performed a CRISPR/Cas9 disruption to obtain partially silenced PHB1 parasites or completely silenced PHB2 parasites. The function of these proteins was also studied in the biology of the parasite, specifically in the transformation rate from non-infective forms to the metacyclic infective forms, and in their capacity of intracellular multiplication. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE This research expands our understanding of the functions of PHBs in the life cycle of the parasite. It also highlights the protective role of prohibitins against ROS and reveals that the absence of PHB2 has a lethal effect on the parasite, a fact that could support the consideration of this protein as a possible target for therapeutic action.
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Souza ROO, Damasceno FS, Marsiccobetre S, Biran M, Murata G, Curi R, Bringaud F, Silber AM. Fatty acid oxidation participates in resistance to nutrient-depleted environments in the insect stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009495. [PMID: 33819309 PMCID: PMC8049481 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas disease, is a digenetic flagellated protist that infects mammals (including humans) and reduviid insect vectors. Therefore, T. cruzi must colonize different niches in order to complete its life cycle in both hosts. This fact determines the need of adaptations to face challenging environmental cues. The primary environmental challenge, particularly in the insect stages, is poor nutrient availability. In this regard, it is well known that T. cruzi has a flexible metabolism able to rapidly switch from carbohydrates (mainly glucose) to amino acids (mostly proline) consumption. Also established has been the capability of T. cruzi to use glucose and amino acids to support the differentiation process occurring in the insect, from replicative non-infective epimastigotes to non-replicative infective metacyclic trypomastigotes. However, little is known about the possibilities of using externally available and internally stored fatty acids as resources to survive in nutrient-poor environments, and to sustain metacyclogenesis. In this study, we revisit the metabolic fate of fatty acid breakdown in T. cruzi. Herein, we show that during parasite proliferation, the glucose concentration in the medium can regulate the fatty acid metabolism. At the stationary phase, the parasites fully oxidize fatty acids. [U-14C]-palmitate can be taken up from the medium, leading to CO2 production. Additionally, we show that electrons are fed directly to oxidative phosphorylation, and acetyl-CoA is supplied to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which can be used to feed anabolic pathways such as the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. Finally, we show as well that the inhibition of fatty acids mobilization into the mitochondrion diminishes the survival to severe starvation, and impairs metacyclogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolpho Ornitz Oliveira Souza
- University of São Paulo, Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps–LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences–São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Flávia Silva Damasceno
- University of São Paulo, Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps–LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences–São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Marsiccobetre
- University of São Paulo, Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps–LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences–São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marc Biran
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques (RMSB), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Gilson Murata
- University of São Paulo, Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences–São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rui Curi
- University of São Paulo, Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences–São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Cruzeiro do Sul University, Interdisciplinary Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences—São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Frédéric Bringaud
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité (MFP), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Ariel Mariano Silber
- University of São Paulo, Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps–LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences–São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Padilla AM, Yao PY, Landry TJ, Cooley GM, Mahaney SM, Ribeiro I, VandeBerg JL, Tarleton RL. High variation in immune responses and parasite phenotypes in naturally acquired Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a captive non-human primate breeding colony in Texas, USA. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009141. [PMID: 33788859 PMCID: PMC8041201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of human Chagas disease, is endemic to the southern region of the United States where it routinely infects many host species. The indoor/outdoor housing configuration used in many non-human primate research and breeding facilities in the southern of the USA provides the opportunity for infection by T. cruzi and thus provides source material for in-depth investigation of host and parasite dynamics in a natural host species under highly controlled and restricted conditions. For cynomolgus macaques housed at such a facility, we used a combination of serial blood quantitative PCR (qPCR) and hemoculture to confirm infection in >92% of seropositive animals, although each method alone failed to detect infection in >20% of cases. Parasite isolates obtained from 43 of the 64 seropositive macaques were of 2 broad genetic types (discrete typing units, (DTU's) I and IV); both within and between these DTU groupings, isolates displayed a wide variation in growth characteristics and virulence, elicited host immune responses, and susceptibility to drug treatment in a mouse model. Likewise, the macaques displayed a diversity in T cell and antibody response profiles that rarely correlated with parasite DTU type, minimum length of infection, or age of the primate. This study reveals the complexity of infection dynamics, parasite phenotypes, and immune response patterns that can occur in a primate group, despite being housed in a uniform environment at a single location, and the limited time period over which the T. cruzi infections were established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel M. Padilla
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Phil Y. Yao
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Tre J. Landry
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gretchen M. Cooley
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Susan M. Mahaney
- Department of Human Genetics, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, and Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville/Edinburg/Harlingen, Texas, United States of America
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - John L. VandeBerg
- Department of Human Genetics, South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, and Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville/Edinburg/Harlingen, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rick L. Tarleton
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Muñoz-Calderón A, Silva-Gomes NL, Apodaca S, Alarcón de Noya B, Díaz-Bello Z, Souza LRQ, Costa ADT, Britto C, Moreira OC, Schijman AG. Toward the Establishment of a Single Standard Curve for Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi Natural Populations Using a Synthetic Satellite Unit DNA Sequence. J Mol Diagn 2021; 23:521-531. [PMID: 33549859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate diagnostic tools and surrogate markers of parasitologic response to treatment are needed for managing Chagas disease. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is used for treatment monitoring, but variability in copy dosage and sequences of molecular target genes among different Trypanosoma cruzi strains limit the precision of quantitative measures. To improve qPCR quantification accuracy, we designed and evaluated a synthetic DNA molecule containing a satellite DNA (satDNA) repeat unit as standard for quantification of T. cruzi loads in clinical samples, independently of the parasite strain. Probit regression analysis established for Dm28c (TcI) and CL-Brener (TcVI) stocks similar 95% limit of detection values [0.903 (0.745 to 1.497) and 0.667 (CI, 0.113 to 3.927) copy numbers/μL, respectively] when synthetic DNA was the standard for quantification, allowing direct comparison of loads in samples infected with different discrete typing units. This standard curve was evaluated in 205 samples (38 acute oral and 19 chronic Chagas disease patients) from different geographical areas infected with various genotypes, including samples obtained during treatment follow-up; high agreement with parasitic load trends using standard curves based on DNA extracted from spiked blood with counted parasites was obtained. This qPCR-based quantification strategy will be a valuable tool in phase 3 clinical trials, to follow up patients under treatment or at risk of reactivation, and in experimental models using different parasite strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Lins Silva-Gomes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sofia Apodaca
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Sección de Inmunologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr Félix Pifano," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Zoraida Díaz-Bello
- Sección de Inmunologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr Félix Pifano," Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Leticia Rocha Quintino Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Dias Tavares Costa
- Laboratório de Ciências e Tecnologias Aplicadas à Saúde (LaCTAS), Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr Héctor Torres" (INGEBI), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Genome-Wide Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics Analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi During Differentiation. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2116:139-159. [PMID: 32221920 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0294-2_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a pathogenic protozoan that still has an impact on public health, despite the decrease in the number of infection cases along the years. T. cruzi possesses an heteroxenic life cycle in which it differentiates in at least four forms. Among the differentiation processes, metacyclogenesis has been exploited in different views by researchers. An intriguing question that rises is how metacyclogenesis is triggered and controlled by cell signaling and which are the differentially expressed proteins and posttranslational modifications involved in this process. An important cell signaling pathway is the protein phosphorylation, and it is reinforced in T. cruzi in which the gene expression control occurs almost exclusively posttranscriptionally. Additionally, the number of protein kinases in T. cruzi is relatively high compared to other organisms. A way to approach these questions is evaluating the cells through phosphoproteomics and proteomics. In this chapter, we will describe the steps from the cell protein extraction, digestion and fractionation, phosphopeptide enrichment, to LC-MS/MS analysis as well as a brief overview on peptide identification. In addition, a published method for in vitro metacyclogenesis will be detailed.
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45
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Lima ARJ, de Araujo CB, Bispo S, Patané J, Silber AM, Elias MC, da Cunha JPC. Nucleosome landscape reflects phenotypic differences in Trypanosoma cruzi life forms. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009272. [PMID: 33497423 PMCID: PMC7864430 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi alternates between replicative and nonreplicative life forms, accompanied by a shift in global transcription levels and by changes in the nuclear architecture, the chromatin proteome and histone posttranslational modifications. To gain further insights into the epigenetic regulation that accompanies life form changes, we performed genome-wide high-resolution nucleosome mapping using two T. cruzi life forms (epimastigotes and cellular trypomastigotes). By combining a powerful pipeline that allowed us to faithfully compare nucleosome positioning and occupancy, more than 125 thousand nucleosomes were mapped, and approximately 20% of them differed between replicative and nonreplicative forms. The nonreplicative forms have less dynamic nucleosomes, possibly reflecting their lower global transcription levels and DNA replication arrest. However, dynamic nucleosomes are enriched at nonreplicative regulatory transcription initiation regions and at multigenic family members, which are associated with infective-stage and virulence factors. Strikingly, dynamic nucleosome regions are associated with GO terms related to nuclear division, translation, gene regulation and metabolism and, notably, associated with transcripts with different expression levels among life forms. Finally, the nucleosome landscape reflects the steady-state transcription expression: more abundant genes have a more deeply nucleosome-depleted region at putative 5' splice sites, likely associated with trans-splicing efficiency. Taken together, our results indicate that chromatin architecture, defined primarily by nucleosome positioning and occupancy, reflects the phenotypic differences found among T. cruzi life forms despite the lack of a canonical transcriptional control context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex R. J. Lima
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Christiane B. de Araujo
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Saloe Bispo
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Patané
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ariel M. Silber
- Laboratory of Biochemistry of Tryps–LaBTryps, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M. Carolina Elias
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MCE); (JPCC)
| | - Julia P. C. da Cunha
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail: (MCE); (JPCC)
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Dos Santos GP, Abukawa FM, Souza-Melo N, Alcântara LM, Bittencourt-Cunha P, Moraes CB, Jha BK, McGwire BS, Moretti NS, Schenkman S. Cyclophilin 19 secreted in the host cell cytosol by Trypanosoma cruzi promotes ROS production required for parasite growth. Cell Microbiol 2020; 23:e13295. [PMID: 33222354 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease, depends on reactive oxygen species (ROS), which has been described to induce parasite proliferation in mammalian host cells. It is unknown how the parasite manages to increase host ROS levels. Here, we found that intracellular T. cruzi forms release in the host cytosol its major cyclophilin of 19 kDa (TcCyp19). Parasites depleted of TcCyp19 by using CRISPR/Cas9 gene replacement proliferate inefficiently and fail to increase ROS, compared to wild type parasites or parasites with restored TcCyp19 gene expression. Expression of TcCyp19 in L6 rat myoblast increased ROS levels and restored the proliferation of TcCyp19 depleted parasites. These events could also be inhibited by cyclosporin A, (a cyclophilin inhibitor), and by polyethylene glycol-linked to antioxidant enzymes. TcCyp19 was found more concentrated in the membrane leading edges of the host cells in regions that also accumulate phosphorylated p47phox , as observed to the endogenous cyclophilin A, suggesting some mechanisms involved with the translocation process of the regulatory subunit p47phox in the activation of the NADPH oxidase enzymatic complex. We concluded that cyclophilin released in the host cell cytosol by T. cruzi mediates the increase of ROS, required to boost parasite proliferation in mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Pedroso Dos Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Midori Abukawa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Normanda Souza-Melo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Laura Maria Alcântara
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paula Bittencourt-Cunha
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, SP, Brazil
| | - Bijay Kumar Jha
- Division of Infectious Diseases/Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Bradford S McGwire
- Division of Infectious Diseases/Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nilmar Silvio Moretti
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Trypanosoma cruzi synthesizes proline via a Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase whose activity is fine-tuned by NADPH cytosolic pools. Biochem J 2020; 477:1827-1845. [PMID: 32315030 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20200232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, the amino acid proline participates in processes related to T. cruzi survival and infection, such as ATP production, cell differentiation, host-cell invasion, and in protection against osmotic, nutritional, and thermal stresses and oxidative imbalance. However, little is known about proline biosynthesis in this parasite. Δ1-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR, EC 1.5.1.2) catalyzes the biosynthesis of proline from Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) with concomitant NADPH oxidation. Herein, we show that unlike other eukaryotes, T. cruzi biosynthesizes proline from P5C, which is produced exclusively from glutamate. We found that TcP5CR is an NADPH-dependent cytosolic enzyme with a Kmapp for P5C of 27.7 μM and with a higher expression in the insect-resident form of the parasite. High concentrations of the co-substrate NADPH partially inhibited TcP5CR activity, prompting us to analyze multiple kinetic inhibition models. The model that best explained the obtained data included a non-competitive substrate inhibition mechanism (Kiapp=45±0.7μM). Therefore, TcP5CR is a candidate as a regulatory factor of this pathway. Finally, we show that P5C can exit trypanosomatid mitochondria in conditions that do not compromise organelle integrity. These observations, together with previously reported results, lead us to propose that in T. cruzi TcP5CR participates in a redox shuttle between the mitochondria and the cytoplasm. In this model, cytoplasmic redox equivalents from NADPH pools are transferred to the mitochondria using proline as a reduced metabolite, and shuttling to fuel electrons to the respiratory chain through proline oxidation by its cognate dehydrogenase.
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48
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De Souza W, Barrias ES. May the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi be infective? Acta Trop 2020; 212:105688. [PMID: 32888934 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
For many years it has been considered that there are three basic developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi: Epimastigote (Epi), Amastigote (Ama) and Trypomastigote (Typo). Epi and Ama are able to divide while Trypo does not divide. Epi are not infective while Ama and Trypo are able to infect host cells. Here we review the available data for the epimastigote form. Taken together the data show that (a) there are intermediate forms between epimastigotes and trypomastigotes in axenic cultures as well as between amastigote and trypomastigote forms within the cells (both in vitro and in vivo), and (c) that the intermediate forms, here designated as "Transitional Epimastigote", most of the time considered as epimastigotes, are able to infect cells. The recognition of the existence of this stage is of practical importance for those work with T. cruzi. Many laboratories working only with T. cruzi in axenic cultures usually consider to work with nonpathogenic cultures. This attitude needs to be changed requiring special care by those working with this protozoan to avoid accidental infections in the laboratory. In view of these observation a new scheme for the life cycle of T. cruzi is proposed.
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Pacheco-Lugo LA, Sáenz-García JL, Díaz-Olmos Y, Netto-Costa R, Brant RSC, DaRocha WD. CREditing: a tool for gene tuning in Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:1067-1077. [PMID: 32858036 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The genetic manipulation of Trypanosoma cruzi continues to be a challenge, mainly due to the lack of available and efficient molecular tools. The CRE-lox recombination system is a site-specific recombinase technology, widely used method of achieving conditional targeted deletions, inversions, insertions, gene activation, translocation, and other modifications in chromosomal or episomal DNA. In the present study, the CRE-lox system was adapted to expand the current genetic toolbox for this hard-to-manipulate parasite. For this, evaluations of whether direct protein delivery of CRE recombinase through electroporation could improve CRE-mediated recombination in T. cruzi were performed. CRE recombinase was fused to the C-terminus of T. cruzi histone H2B, which carries the nuclear localization signal and is expressed in the prokaryotic system. The fusion protein was affinity purified and directly introduced into epimastigotes and tissue culture-derived trypomastigotes. This enabled the control of gene expression as demonstrated by turning on a tandem dimer fluorescent protein reporter gene that had been previously transfected into parasites, achieving CRE-mediated recombination in up to 85% of parasites. This system was further tested for its ability to turn off gene expression, remove selectable markers integrated into the genome, and conditionally knock down the nitroreductase gene, which is involved in drug resistance. Additionally, CREditing also enabled the control of gene expression in tissue culture trypomastigotes, which are more difficult to transfect than epimastigotes. The considerable advances in genomic manipulation of T. cruzi shown in this study can be used by others to aid in the greater understanding of this parasite through gain- or loss-of-function approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisandro A Pacheco-Lugo
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Paraná, Brazil; Facultad de Ciencias Básicas Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - José L Sáenz-García
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Yirys Díaz-Olmos
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz-Paraná, Paraná, Brazil; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | | | - Rodrigo S C Brant
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Wanderson D DaRocha
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos (GFP), Universidade Federal de Paraná, Paraná, Brazil.
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50
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de Lima LP, Poubel SB, Yuan ZF, Rosón JN, Vitorino FNDL, Holetz FB, Garcia BA, da Cunha JPC. Improvements on the quantitative analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi histone post translational modifications: Study of changes in epigenetic marks through the parasite's metacyclogenesis and life cycle. J Proteomics 2020; 225:103847. [PMID: 32480077 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosome histone N-terminal sequences are very divergent from the other eukaryotes, although they are still decorated by post-translational modifications (PTMs). Here, we used a highly robust workflow to analyze histone PTMs in the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi using mass spectrometry-based (MS-based) data-independent acquisition (DIA). We adapted the workflow for the analysis of the parasite's histone sequences by modifying the software EpiProfile 2.0, improving peptide and PTM quantification accuracy. This workflow could now be applied to the study of 141 T. cruzi modified histone peptides, which we used to investigate the dynamics of histone PTMs along the metacyclogenesis and the life cycle of T. cruzi. Global levels of histone acetylation and methylation fluctuates along metacyclogenesis, however most critical differences were observed between parasite life forms. More than 66 histone PTM changes were detected. Strikingly, the histone PTM pattern of metacyclic trypomastigotes is more similar to epimastigotes than to cellular trypomastigotes. Finally, we highlighted changes at the H4 N-terminus and at H3K76 discussing their impact on the trypanosome biology. Altogether, we have optimized a workflow easily applicable to the analysis of histone PTMs in T. cruzi and generated a dataset that may shed lights on the role of chromatin modifications in this parasite. SIGNIFICANCE: Trypanosomes are unicellular parasites that have divergent histone sequences, no chromosome condensation and a peculiar genome/gene regulation. Genes are transcribed from divergent polycistronic regions and post-transcriptional gene regulation play major role on the establishment of transcripts and protein levels. In this regard, the fact that their histones are decorated with multiple PTMs raises interesting questions about their role. Besides, this digenetic organism must adapt to different environments changing its metabolism accordingly. As metabolism and epigenetics are closely related, the study of histone PTMs in trypanosomes may enlighten this strikingly, and not yet fully understood, interplay. From a biomedical perspective, the comprehensive study of molecular mechanisms associated to the metacyclogenesis process is essential to create better strategies for controlling Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loyze P de Lima
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Saloe Bispo Poubel
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto Carlos Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rua Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775. CIC, Curitiba, PR 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Zuo-Fei Yuan
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Juliana Nunes Rosón
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Francisca Nathalia de Luna Vitorino
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabiola Barbieri Holetz
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, FIOCRUZ, Rua Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775. CIC, Curitiba, PR 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Julia Pinheiro Chagas da Cunha
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Center of Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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