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Kann S, Concha G, Frickmann H, Hagen RM, Warnke P, Molitor E, Hoerauf A, Backhaus J. Chagas Disease: Comparison of Therapy with Nifurtimox and Benznidazole in Indigenous Communities in Colombia. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2565. [PMID: 38731093 PMCID: PMC11084551 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092565] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: For indigenous people in Colombia, high infection rates with Chagas disease (CD) are known. Methods: In 2018 and 2020, nine villages were screened for CD. CD-positive patients could enter a drug observed treatment. While, in 2018, Benznidazole (BNZ) was provided as the first-line drug by the government, nifurtimox (NFX) was administered in 2020. Results: Of 121 individuals treated with BNZ, 79 (65%) suffered from at least one adverse event (AE). Of 115 treated with NFX, at least one AE occurred in 96 (84%) patients. In 69% of BNZ cases, the side effects did not last longer than one day; this applied to 31% of NFX cases. Excluding extreme outlier values, average duration of AEs differed highly significantly: BNZ (M = 0.7, SD = 1.4) and NFX (M = 1.7, SD = 1.5, p < 0.001). Using an intensity scale, AEs were highly significantly more severe for NFX (M = 2.1, SD = 0.58) compared to BZN (M = 1.1, SD = 0.38), p < 0.001. When analyzing the duration in relation to the intensity, the burden of AEs caused by NFX was significantly more pronounced. Dropouts (n = 2) due to AEs were in the NFX-group only. Conclusions: Side effects caused by BNZ were significantly fewer, as well as milder, shorter in duration, and more easily treatable, compared to NFX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Kann
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany;
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (E.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Gustavo Concha
- Organization Wiwa Yugumaiun Bunkauanarrua Tayrona (OWYBT), Department Health Advocacy, Valledupar 2000001, Colombia;
| | - Hagen Frickmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany;
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Ralf Matthias Hagen
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany;
| | - Philipp Warnke
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany;
| | - Ernst Molitor
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (E.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (E.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Joy Backhaus
- Statistical Consulting, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany;
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Castelli G, Oliveri E, Valenza V, Giardina S, Facciponte F, La Russa F, Vitale F, Bruno F. Cultivation of Protozoa Parasites In Vitro: Growth Potential in Conventional Culture Media versus RPMI-PY Medium. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10040252. [PMID: 37104407 PMCID: PMC10143000 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10040252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The in vitro cultivation of Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases. Although Evans’s modified Tobie and Novy–MacNeal–Nicolle media, for Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively, are the two commonly used media for both isolation and maintenance of strains in vitro, their preparation is expensive and laborious and requires fresh rabbit blood from housed animals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro growth of both parasites with an alternative monophasic, blood-free, easy, and affordable medium called RPMI-PY, which was previously demonstrated suitable for the in vitro growth of Leishmania infantum. The potential growth of different Leishmania species and Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated in traditional culture media versus RPMI-PY medium, and we recorded the protozoa parasites’ morphology via orange acridine–ethidium bromide staining. The results of our study show that RPMI-PY medium can be used for Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania major, and Leishmania tropica species since in all the species except Leishmania braziliensis, the exponential growth of the parasite was observed, in many cases higher than conventional media. The staining confirmed not only their growth during the 72 h investigation but also the optimal morphology and viability of the protozoa in the RPMI-PY medium.
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Gonzaga BMS, Horita SIM, Beghini DG, Gomes F, Nisimura LM, dos Santos IB, Estato V, de Araújo-Jorge TC, Garzoni LR. Effect of benznidazole on cerebral microcirculation during acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21048. [PMID: 36473897 PMCID: PMC9726894 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25056-x] [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: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system alterations was described in Chagas disease in both human and experimental models, leading to meningoencephalitis, stroke and cognitive impairment. Recently, our group demonstrated that acute infection by Trypanossoma cruzi leads to cerebral microvasculophaty in mice with endothelial dysfunction, capillary rarefaction, increased rolling and leukocyte adhesion. Only benznidazole and nifurtimox are available for clinical treatment, they have an efficiency of 80% in the acute phase and less than 20% in chronic phase. However, the effect of these drugs on brain microcirculation has not yet been evaluated. We hypothesized that early treatment with benznidazole could protect brain microcirculation during acute experimental Chagas disease. Swiss Webster mice were inoculated with 104 trypomastigotes forms of T. cruzi, and after 24 h they were treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg/day of benznidazole for 14 consecutive days. In untreated infected mice, we observed cerebral microvascular rarefaction, increase in leukocyte rolling and adhesion, reduced cerebral blood flow, and increased CD3+ and F4-80+ cells in brain tissue. Early treatment with benznidazole at 100 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day prevented the occurrence of the alterations mentioned. Here, we show that BZ is able to protect the microcirculation and reduced brain inflammation in acute experimental Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Matheus Souza Gonzaga
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Inovações Em Terapias, Ensino E Bioprodutos - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Samuel Iwao Maia Horita
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Inovações Em Terapias, Ensino E Bioprodutos - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Daniela Gois Beghini
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Inovações Em Terapias, Ensino E Bioprodutos - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Fabiana Gomes
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Malária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Líndice Mitie Nisimura
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Pesquisa Em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Isabele Barbieri dos Santos
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Biotério Do Pavilhão Carlos Chagas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Vanessa Estato
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Tania Cremonini de Araújo-Jorge
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Inovações Em Terapias, Ensino E Bioprodutos - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
| | - Luciana Ribeiro Garzoni
- grid.418068.30000 0001 0723 0931Laboratório de Inovações Em Terapias, Ensino E Bioprodutos - Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
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Structure-based design, synthesis and evaluation of a novel family of PEX5-PEX14 interaction inhibitors against Trypanosoma. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 243:114778. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Freitas NEM, Habib FL, Santos EF, Silva ÂAO, Fontes ND, Leony LM, Sampaio DD, de Almeida MC, Dantas-Torres F, Santos FLN. Technological advances in the serological diagnosis of Chagas disease in dogs and cats: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:343. [PMID: 36167575 PMCID: PMC9516836 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05476-4] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease (CD) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted mainly through the feces/urine of infected triatomine bugs. The acute phase lasts 2–3 months and is characterized by high parasitemia and nonspecific symptoms, whereas the lifelong chronic phase features symptoms affecting the heart and/or digestive tract occurring in 30–40% of infected individuals. As in humans, cardiac abnormalities are observed in T. cruzi-infected dogs and cats. We reviewed the technological advances in the serological diagnosis of CD in dogs and cats. Methods A review of the published literature during the last 54 years (1968–2022) on the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of CD in dogs and cats was conducted. Results Using predefined eligibility criteria for a search of the published literature, we retrieved and screened 436 publications. Of these, 84 original studies were considered for inclusion in this review. Dogs and cats are considered as sentinels, potentially indicating an active T. cruzi transmission and thus the risk for human infection. Although dogs and cats are reputed to be important for maintaining the T. cruzi domestic transmission cycle, there are no commercial tests to detect past or active infections in these animals. Most published research on CD in dogs and cats have used in-house serological tests prepared with native and/or full-length recombinant antigens, resulting in variable diagnostic performance. In recent years, chimeric antigens have been used to improve the diagnosis of chronic CD in humans with encouraging results. Some of them have high performance values (> 95%) and extremely low cross-reactivity rates for Leishmania spp., especially the antigens IBMP-8.1 to IBMP-8.4. The diagnostic performance of IBMP antigens was also investigated in dogs, showing high diagnostic performance with negligible cross-reactivity with anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies. Conclusions The development of a commercial immunodiagnostic tool to identify past or active T. cruzi infections in dogs and cats is urgently needed. The use of chimeric recombinant T. cruzi antigens may help to fill this gap and is discussed in this review. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05476-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Erdens Maron Freitas
- Advanced Health Public Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Waldemar Falcão Street, 121, Candeal, Bahia, Salvador, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Lopes Habib
- Advanced Health Public Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Waldemar Falcão Street, 121, Candeal, Bahia, Salvador, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Emily Ferreira Santos
- Advanced Health Public Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Waldemar Falcão Street, 121, Candeal, Bahia, Salvador, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Ângelo Antônio Oliveira Silva
- Advanced Health Public Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Waldemar Falcão Street, 121, Candeal, Bahia, Salvador, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Natália Dantas Fontes
- Advanced Health Public Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Waldemar Falcão Street, 121, Candeal, Bahia, Salvador, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Maia Leony
- Advanced Health Public Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Waldemar Falcão Street, 121, Candeal, Bahia, Salvador, 40296-710, Brazil
| | - Daniel Dias Sampaio
- Brazil's Family Health Strategy, Municipal Health Department, Tremedal City Hall, Bahia, Tremedal, Brazil
| | - Marcio Cerqueira de Almeida
- Pathology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Fred Luciano Neves Santos
- Advanced Health Public Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Waldemar Falcão Street, 121, Candeal, Bahia, Salvador, 40296-710, Brazil. .,Integrated Translational Program in Chagas Disease From Fiocruz (Fio-Chagas), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Homology-Free Detection of Transposable Elements Unveils Their Dynamics in Three Ecologically Distinct Rhodnius Species. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11020170. [PMID: 32041215 PMCID: PMC7073582 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are widely distributed repetitive sequences in the genomes across the tree of life, and represent an important source of genetic variability. Their distribution among genomes is specific to each lineage. A phenomenon associated with this feature is the sudden expansion of one or several TE families, called bursts of transposition. We previously proposed that bursts of the Mariner family (DNA transposons) contributed to the speciation of Rhodnius prolixus Stål, 1859. This hypothesis motivated us to study two additional species of the R. prolixus complex: Rhodnius montenegrensis da Rosa et al., 2012 and Rhodnius marabaensis Souza et al., 2016, together with a new, de novo annotation of the R. prolixus repeatome using unassembled short reads. Our analysis reveals that the total amount of TEs present in Rhodnius genomes (19% to 23.5%) is three to four times higher than that expected based on the original quantifications performed for the original genome description of R. prolixus. We confirm here that the repeatome of the three species is dominated by Class II elements of the superfamily Tc1-Mariner, as well as members of the LINE order (Class I). In addition to R. prolixus, we also identified a recent burst of transposition of the Mariner family in R. montenegrensis and R. marabaensis, suggesting that this phenomenon may not be exclusive to R. prolixus. Rather, we hypothesize that whilst the expansion of Mariner elements may have contributed to the diversification of the R. prolixus-R. robustus species complex, the distinct ecological characteristics of these new species did not drive the general evolutionary trajectories of these TEs.
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Liu Q, Guo Y, Zhang Y, Hu W, Li Y, Zhu D, Zhou Z, Wu J, Chen N, Zhou XN. A chromosomal-level genome assembly for the insect vector for Chagas disease, Triatoma rubrofasciata. Gigascience 2019; 8:giz089. [PMID: 31425588 PMCID: PMC6699579 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triatoma rubrofasciata is a widespread pathogen vector for Chagas disease, an illness that affects approximately 7 million people worldwide. Despite its importance to human health, its evolutionary origin has not been conclusively determined. A reference genome for T. rubrofasciata is not yet available. FINDING We have sequenced the genome of a female individual with T. rubrofasciatausing a single molecular DNA sequencing technology (i.e., PacBio Sequel platform) and have successfully reconstructed a whole-genome (680-Mb) assembly that covers 90% of the nuclear genome (757 Mb). Through Hi-C analysis, we have reconstructed full-length chromosomes of this female individual that has 13 unique chromosomes (2n = 24 = 22 + X1 + X2) with a contig N50 of 2.72 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 50.7 Mb. This genome has achieved a high base-level accuracy of 99.99%. This platinum-grade genome assembly has 12,691 annotated protein-coding genes. More than 95.1% of BUSCO genes were single-copy completed, indicating a high level of completeness of the genome. CONCLUSION The platinum-grade genome assembly and its annotation provide valuable information for future in-depth comparative genomics studies, including sexual determination analysis in T. rubrofasciata and the pathogenesis of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yunhai Guo
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Wei Hu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
- Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Dan Zhu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Zhengbin Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Jiatong Wu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
| | - Nansheng Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, P. R. China
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xiao-Nong Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health; WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China
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Abstract
Endothelins were discovered more than thirty years ago as potent vasoactive compounds. Beyond their well-documented cardiovascular properties, however, the contributions of the endothelin pathway have been demonstrated in several neuroinflammatory processes and the peptides have been reported as clinically relevant biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases. Several studies report that endothelin-1 significantly contributes to the progression of neuroinflammatory processes, particularly during infections in the central nervous system (CNS), and is associated with a loss of endothelial integrity at the blood brain barrier level. Because of the paucity of clinical trials with endothelin-1 antagonists in several infectious and non-infectious neuroinflammatory diseases, it remains an open question whether the 21 amino acid peptide is a mediator/modulator rather than a biomarker of the progression of neurodegeneration. This review focuses on the potential roles of endothelins in the pathology of neuroinflammatory processes, including infectious diseases of viral, bacterial or parasitic origin in which the synthesis of endothelins or its pharmacology have been investigated from the cell to the bedside in several cases, as well as in non-infectious inflammatory processes such as neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimers Disease or central nervous system vasculitis.
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Pinazo MJ, Aldasoro E, Calvo-Cano A, Picado A, Muñoz J, Gascon J. Blood and Tissue Protozoa. Infect Dis (Lond) 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-6285-8.00194-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Jacquet M, Margos G, Fingerle V, Voordouw MJ. Comparison of the lifetime host-to-tick transmission between two strains of the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia afzelii. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:645. [PMID: 27986081 PMCID: PMC5162089 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1929-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transmission from the vertebrate host to the arthropod vector is a critical step in the life-cycle of any vector-borne pathogen. How the probability of host-to-vector transmission changes over the duration of the infection is an important predictor of pathogen fitness. The Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia afzelii is transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks and establishes a chronic infection inside rodent reservoir hosts. The present study compares the temporal pattern of host-to-tick transmission between two strains of B. afzelii. Methods Laboratory mice were experimentally infected via tick bite with one of two strains of B. afzelii: A3 and A10. Mice were repeatedly infested with pathogen-free larval Ixodes ricinus ticks over a period of 4 months. Engorged larval ticks moulted into nymphal ticks that were tested for infection with B. afzelii using qPCR. The proportion of infected nymphs was used to characterize the pattern of host-to-tick transmission over time. Results Both strains of B. afzelii followed a similar pattern of host-to-tick transmission. Transmission decreased from the acute to the chronic phase of the infection by 16.1 and 29.3% for strains A3 and A10, respectively. Comparison between strains found no evidence of a trade-off in transmission between the acute and chronic phase of infection. Strain A10 had higher lifetime fitness and established a consistently higher spirochete load in nymphal ticks than strain A3. Conclusion Quantifying the relationship between host-to-vector transmission and the age of infection in the host is critical for estimating the lifetime fitness of vector-borne pathogens. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1929-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Jacquet
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany.,Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany.,Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Maarten J Voordouw
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
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Abstract
A wide range of infections (virus, bacteria, parasite and fungi) may cause cerebral vasculitides. Headache, seizures, encephalopathy and stroke are common forms of presentation. Infection and inflammation of intracranial vessels may cause pathological vascular remodelling, vascular occlusion and ischemia. Vasculitis in chronic meningitis may cause ischemic infarctions, and is associated with poor outcome. Appropriate neuroimaging (CT-angiography, MR-angiography, conventional 4-vessel angiography) and laboratory testing (specific antibodies in blood and CSF, CSF culture and microscopy) and even brain biopsy are needed to quickly establish the aetiology. Enhancement of contrast, wall thickening and lumen narrowing are radiological signs pointing to an infectious vasculitis origin. Although corticosteroids and prophylactic antiplatelet therapy have been used in infectious cerebral vasculitis, there are no randomized clinical trials that have evaluated their efficacy and safety. Stable mycotic aneurysms can be treated with specific antimicrobial therapy. Endovascular therapy and intracranial surgery are reserved for ruptured aneurysms or enlarging unruptured aneurysms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Carod Artal
- a Neurology Department , Raigmore hospital , Inverness , UK.,b Health Sciences Faculty , Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) , Barcelona , Spain
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Liu Q, Zhou XN. Preventing the transmission of American trypanosomiasis and its spread into non-endemic countries. Infect Dis Poverty 2015; 4:60. [PMID: 26715535 PMCID: PMC4693433 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-015-0092-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
American trypanosomiasis, commonly known as Chagas disease, is caused by the flagellate protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. An estimated eight million people infected with T. cruzi currently reside in the endemic regions of Latin America. However, as the disease has now been imported into many non-endemic countries outside of Latin America, it has become a global health issue. We reviewed the transmission patterns and current status of disease spread pertaining to American trypanosomiasis at the global level, as well as recent advances in research. Based on an analysis of the gaps in American trypanosomiasis control, we put forward future research priorities that must be implemented to stop the global spread of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health;, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Nong Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health;, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, P. R. China.
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Zimmermann S, Hall L, Riley S, Sørensen J, Amaro RE, Schnaufer A. A novel high-throughput activity assay for the Trypanosoma brucei editosome enzyme REL1 and other RNA ligases. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:e24. [PMID: 26400159 PMCID: PMC4756849 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The protist parasite Trypanosoma brucei causes Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), which threatens millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. Without treatment the infection is almost always lethal. Current drugs for HAT are difficult to administer and have severe side effects. Together with increasing drug resistance this results in urgent need for new treatments. T. brucei and other trypanosomatid pathogens require a distinct form of post-transcriptional mRNA modification for mitochondrial gene expression. A multi-protein complex called the editosome cleaves mitochondrial mRNA, inserts or deletes uridine nucleotides at specific positions and re-ligates the mRNA. RNA editing ligase 1 (REL1) is essential for the re-ligation step and has no close homolog in the mammalian host, making it a promising target for drug discovery. However, traditional assays for RELs use radioactive substrates coupled with gel analysis and are not suitable for high-throughput screening of compound libraries. Here we describe a fluorescence-based REL activity assay. This assay is compatible with a 384-well microplate format and sensitive, satisfies statistical criteria for high-throughput methods and is readily adaptable for other polynucleotide ligases. We validated the assay by determining kinetic properties of REL1 and by identifying REL1 inhibitors in a library of small, pharmacologically active compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Zimmermann
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection & Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Laurence Hall
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection & Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sean Riley
- The Scripps Research Institute, 4122 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Jesper Sørensen
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rommie E Amaro
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the National Biomedical Computation Resource, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Achim Schnaufer
- Institute of Immunology & Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection & Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
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14
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Stahl P, Schwarz RT, Debierre-Grockiego F, Meyer T. Trypanosoma cruzi parasites fight for control of the JAK-STAT pathway by disarming their host. JAKSTAT 2015; 3:e1012964. [PMID: 26413423 DOI: 10.1080/21623996.2015.1012964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2015] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zoonotic Chagas' disease is caused by infections with the hemoflagellate Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) which is endemic in Latin America. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, the underlying molecular processes involved in host-parasite interactions are only poorly understood. In particular, the mechanisms for parasite persistence in host cells remain largely unknown. Cytokine-driven transcription factors from the family of STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) proteins appear to play a central role in the fight against T. cruzi infection. However, amastigotes proliferating in the cytoplasm of infected host cells develop effective strategies to circumvent the attack executed by STAT proteins. This review highlights the interactions between T. cruzi parasites and human host cells in terms of cytokine signaling and, in particular, discusses the impact of STATs on the balance between parasite invasion and clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Stahl
- Institute of Virology; Parasitology Unit; University of Marburg ; Marburg, Germany
| | - Ralph T Schwarz
- Institute of Virology; Parasitology Unit; University of Marburg ; Marburg, Germany ; Laboratory for Structural and Functional Glycobiology; University of Lille 1 for Sciences and Technologies ; Lille, France
| | - Françoise Debierre-Grockiego
- Mixed Research Unit 1282; François Rabelais University of Tours-INRA; Infectious Diseases and Public Health ; Tours, France
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy; University of Göttingen ; Göttingen, Germany ; German Center for Cardiovascular Research ; Göttingen, Germany
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15
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Raibagkar P, Neagu MR, Lyons JL, Klein JP. Imaging in neurologic infections I: bacterial and parasitic diseases. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2014; 16:443. [PMID: 25348741 DOI: 10.1007/s11908-014-0443-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Often presenting as medical emergencies, nervous system infections can be diagnostically challenging. Knowledgeable utilization of neuroimaging modalities and the understanding of characteristic imaging findings facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. In the first part of this two-part review, we address common and unique diagnostic imaging features of bacterial and parasitic nervous system infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Raibagkar
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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16
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Vincent IM, Barrett MP. Metabolomic-based strategies for anti-parasite drug discovery. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 20:44-55. [PMID: 25281738 DOI: 10.1177/1087057114551519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Metabolomics-based studies are proving of great utility in the analysis of modes of action (MOAs) and resistance mechanisms of drugs in parasitic protozoa. They have helped to determine the MOA of eflornithine, half of the gold standard combination therapy in use against human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), as well as the mechanism of resistance to this drug. In Leishmania, metabolomics has also given insight into the MOA of miltefosine, an alkylphospholipid. Several studies on antimony resistance in Leishmania have been conducted, analyzing the metabolic content of resistant lines, offering clues as to the MOA of this class of drugs. A study of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum combined metabolomics techniques with other genetic and proteomic techniques to offer new insight into the role of the PfCRT protein. The MOA and mechanism of resistance to a group of halogenated pyrimidines in Trypanosoma brucei have also recently been elucidated. Effective as metabolomics techniques are, care must be taken in the design and implementation of these experiments, to ensure the resulting data are meaningful. This review outlines the steps required to conduct a metabolomics experiment as well as provide an overview of metabolomics-based drug research in protozoa to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel M Vincent
- The Glasgow Polyomics Facility and Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Michael P Barrett
- The Glasgow Polyomics Facility and Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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