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Sabalette KB, Campo VA, Sotelo-Silveira JR, Smircich P, De Gaudenzi JG. Transcriptomic analysis of N-terminal mutated Trypanosoma cruzi UBP1 knockdown underlines the importance of this RNA-binding protein in parasite development. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012179. [PMID: 38758959 PMCID: PMC11139272 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012179] [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] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During its life cycle, the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi must quickly adapt to different environments, in which the variation in the gene expression of the regulatory U-rich RNA-binding protein 1 (TcUBP1) plays a crucial role. We have previously demonstrated that the overexpression of TcUBP1 in insect-dwelling epimastigotes orchestrates an RNA regulon to promote differentiation to infective forms. METHODS In an attempt to generate TcUBP1 knockout parasites by using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, in the present study, we obtained a variant transcript that encodes a protein with 95% overall identity and a modified N-terminal sequence. The expression of this mutant protein, named TcUBP1mut, was notably reduced compared to that of the endogenous form found in normal cells. TcUBP1mut-knockdown epimastigotes exhibited normal growth and differentiation into infective metacyclic trypomastigotes and were capable of infecting mammalian cells. RESULTS We analyzed the RNA-Seq expression profiles of these parasites and identified 276 up- and 426 downregulated genes with respect to the wildtype control sample. RNA-Seq comparison across distinct developmental stages revealed that the transcriptomic profile of these TcUBP1mut-knockdown epimastigotes significantly differs not only from that of epimastigotes in the stationary phase but also from the gene expression landscape characteristic of infective forms. This is both contrary to and consistent with the results of our recent study involving TcUBP1-overexpressing cells. CONCLUSION Together, our findings demonstrate that the genes exhibiting opposite changes under overexpression and knockdown conditions unveil key mRNA targets regulated by TcUBP1. These mostly encompass transcripts that encode for trypomastigote-specific surface glycoproteins and ribosomal proteins, supporting a role for TcUBP1 in determining the molecular characteristics of the infective stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina B. Sabalette
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina A. Campo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José R. Sotelo-Silveira
- Department of Genomics, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Instituto de Biología, School of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Smircich
- Department of Genomics, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Instituto de Biología, School of Sciences, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Javier G. De Gaudenzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN), Universidad Nacional de San Martín, General San Martín, Prov. de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Robertson LJ, Havelaar AH, Keddy KH, Devleesschauwer B, Sripa B, Torgerson PR. The importance of estimating the burden of disease from foodborne transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011898. [PMID: 38329945 PMCID: PMC10852316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (ChD), caused by infection with the flagellated protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, has a complicated transmission cycle with many infection routes. These include vector-borne (via the triatomine (reduviid bug) vector defecating into a skin abrasion, usually following a blood meal), transplacental transmission, blood transfusion, organ transplant, laboratory accident, and foodborne transmission. Foodborne transmission may occur due to ingestion of meat or blood from infected animals or from ingestion of other foods (often fruit juice) contaminated by infected vectors or secretions from reservoir hosts. Despite the high disease burden associated with ChD, it was omitted from the original World Health Organization estimates of foodborne disease burden that were published in 2015. As these estimates are currently being updated, this review presents arguments for including ChD in new estimates of the global burden of foodborne disease. Preliminary calculations suggest a burden of at least 137,000 Disability Adjusted Life Years, but this does not take into account the greater symptom severity associated with foodborne transmission. Thus, we also provide information regarding the greater health burden in endemic areas associated with foodborne infection compared with vector-borne infection, with higher mortality and more severe symptoms. We therefore suggest that it is insufficient to use source attribution alone to determine the foodborne proportion of current burden estimates, as this may underestimate the higher disability and mortality associated with the foodborne infection route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy J. Robertson
- Parasitology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Arie H. Havelaar
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, Global Food Systems Institute, Animal Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | | | - Brecht Devleesschauwer
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Banchob Sripa
- Tropical Disease Research Center, Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Paul R. Torgerson
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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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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Piñeiro M, Ortiz JE, Spina Zapata RM, Barrera PA, Sosa MA, Roitman G, Bastida J, Feresin GE. Antiparasitic Activity of Hippeastrum Species and Synergistic Interaction between Montanine and Benznidazole against Trypanosoma cruzi. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010144. [PMID: 36677436 PMCID: PMC9864487 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010144] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hippeastrum species have a wide range of biological properties. In Argentina, this genus comprises ten widely distributed species. PURPOSE To evaluate the antiparasitic and anticholinesterase activities and chemical profiles of seven Argentinean Hippeastrum species and determine the synergism between the major isolated alkaloid-montanine-and benznidazole in anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity. METHODS The antiparasitic activity was evaluated through antiproliferative and viability assays against T. cruzi epimastigotes. Synergism assays were performed using the Chou-Talalay method. AChE and BuChE inhibitory activities were also assessed. The alkaloid composition was obtained using GC-MS analysis. RESULTS All extracts showed strong growth inhibition of T. cruzi epimastigote proliferation. The extracts from H. aglaiae, H. aulicum, and H. hybrid stand out for their potent and total growth inhibition, which was comparable to benznidazole. The H. reticulatum extract showed strong Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities, while five species showed moderate Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibition. Fifteen alkaloids were identified by means of GC-MS. Regarding the synergism assessment, the highest synergistic effect was obtained from the combination of montanine and benznidazole. CONCLUSION Hippeastrum species bulb extracts from Argentina were shown to be a good source of antiparasitic alkaloids and cholinesterase inhibitors. The synergism between montanine and benznidazole emerges as a potential combination for future studies to treat Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Piñeiro
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin 1109 O, San Juan CP 5400, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Godoy Cruz CP 2290, Argentina
| | - Javier E. Ortiz
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin 1109 O, San Juan CP 5400, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Godoy Cruz CP 2290, Argentina
| | - Renata M. Spina Zapata
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología “Dr. Mario H. Burgos”, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, Mendoza CP 5500, Argentina
| | - Patricia A. Barrera
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología “Dr. Mario H. Burgos”, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, Mendoza CP 5500, Argentina
| | - Miguel A. Sosa
- Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Histología y Embriología “Dr. Mario H. Burgos”, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo-CONICET, Mendoza CP 5500, Argentina
| | - Germán Roitman
- Facultad de Turismo y Urbanismo, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Av. del Libertador San Martín 721 Villa de Merlo, San Luis CP D5881DFN, Argentina
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriela E. Feresin
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Av. Libertador General San Martin 1109 O, San Juan CP 5400, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Godoy Cruz CP 2290, Argentina
- Correspondence:
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Smircich P, Pérez-Díaz L, Hernández F, Duhagon MA, Garat B. Transcriptomic analysis of the adaptation to prolonged starvation of the insect-dwelling Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1138456. [PMID: 37091675 PMCID: PMC10117895 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1138456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a digenetic unicellular parasite that alternates between a blood-sucking insect and a mammalian, host causing Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis. In the insect gut, the parasite differentiates from the non-replicative trypomastigote forms that arrive upon blood ingestion to the non-infective replicative epimastigote forms. Epimastigotes develop into infective non-replicative metacyclic trypomastigotes in the rectum and are delivered via the feces. In addition to these parasite stages, transitional forms have been reported. The insect-feeding behavior, characterized by few meals of large blood amounts followed by long periods of starvation, impacts the parasite population density and differentiation, increasing the transitional forms while diminishing both epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes. To understand the molecular changes caused by nutritional restrictions in the insect host, mid-exponentially growing axenic epimastigotes were cultured for more than 30 days without nutrient supplementation (prolonged starvation). We found that the parasite population in the stationary phase maintains a long period characterized by a total RNA content three times smaller than that of exponentially growing epimastigotes and a distinctive transcriptomic profile. Among the transcriptomic changes induced by nutrient restriction, we found differentially expressed genes related to managing protein quality or content, the reported switch from glucose to amino acid consumption, redox challenge, and surface proteins. The contractile vacuole and reservosomes appeared as cellular components enriched when ontology term overrepresentation analysis was carried out, highlighting the roles of these organelles in starving conditions possibly related to their functions in regulating cell volume and osmoregulation as well as metabolic homeostasis. Consistent with the quiescent status derived from nutrient restriction, genes related to DNA metabolism are regulated during the stationary phase. In addition, we observed differentially expressed genes related to the unique parasite mitochondria. Finally, our study identifies gene expression changes that characterize transitional parasite forms enriched by nutrient restriction. The analysis of the here-disclosed regulated genes and metabolic pathways aims to contribute to the understanding of the molecular changes that this unicellular parasite undergoes in the insect vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Smircich
- Sección Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Departamento de Genómica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
- *Correspondence: Beatriz Garat, ; Pablo Smircich,
| | - Leticia Pérez-Díaz
- Sección Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Fabricio Hernández
- Sección Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Ana Duhagon
- Sección Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Beatriz Garat
- Sección Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- *Correspondence: Beatriz Garat, ; Pablo Smircich,
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Etheridge RD. Protozoan phagotrophy from predators to parasites: An overview of the enigmatic cytostome-cytopharynx complex of Trypanosoma cruzi. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2022; 69:e12896. [PMID: 35175673 PMCID: PMC11110969 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Eating is fundamental and from this basic principle, living organisms have evolved innumerable strategies to capture energy and nutrients from their environment. As part of the world's aquatic ecosystems, the expansive family of heterotrophic protozoans uses self-generated currents to funnel prokaryotic prey into an ancient, yet highly enigmatic, oral apparatus known as the cytostome-cytopharynx complex prior to digestion. Despite its near ubiquitous presence in protozoans, little is known mechanistically about how this feeding organelle functions. Intriguingly, one class of these flagellated phagotrophic predators known as the kinetoplastids gave rise to a lineage of obligate parasitic protozoa, the trypanosomatids, that can infect a wide variety of organisms ranging from plants to humans. One parasitic species of humans, Trypanosoma cruzi, has retained this ancestral organelle much like its free-living relatives and continues to use it as its primary mode of endocytosis. In this review, we will highlight foundational observations made regarding the cytostome-cytopharynx complex and examine some of the most pressing questions regarding the mechanistic basis for its function. We propose that T. cruzi has the potential to serve as an excellent model system to dissect the enigmatic process of protozoal phagotrophy and thus enhance our overall understanding of fundamental eukaryotic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Drew Etheridge
- Department of Cellular Biology, Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases (CTEGD), University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Silver Nanoparticles Containing Fucoidan Synthesized by Green Method Have Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Activity. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12122059. [PMID: 35745396 PMCID: PMC9231105 DOI: 10.3390/nano12122059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The brown seaweed Spatoglossum schröederi synthesizes three bioactive fucoidans, the most abundant of which is fucan A. This fucoidan was extracted and its identity was confirmed by chemical analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and agarose gel electrophoresis. Thereafter, silver nanoparticles containing fucan A (AgFuc) were produced using an environmentally friendly synthesis method. AgFuc synthesis was analyzed via UV-vis spectroscopy and FTIR, which confirmed the presence of both silver and fucan A in the AgFuc product. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy revealed that the AgFuc particles were ~180.0 nm in size and spherical in shape. DLS further demonstrated that AgFuc was stable for five months. Coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry showed that the AgFuc particles contained 5% silver and 95% sugar. AgFuc was shown to be more effective in inhibiting the ability of parasites to reduce MTT than fucan A or silver, regardless of treatment time. In addition, AgFuc induced the death of ~60% of parasites by necrosis and ~17% by apoptosis. Therefore, AgFuc induces damage to the parasites' mitochondria, which suggests that it is an anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agent. This is the first study to analyze silver nanoparticles containing fucan as an anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agent. Our data indicate that AgFuc nanoparticles have potential therapeutic applications, which should be determined via preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies.
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Nascimento KCS, Souza SMDO, Fagundes A, Silva RMM, de Oliveira Junior FOR, Corte-Real S, da Silva Barros JH. Aflagellar Epimastigote of Trypanosoma caninum: Biological and Ultrastructural Study of this Atypical Evolutionary Form. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:912-920. [PMID: 35380402 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00540-6] [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: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Trypanosoma caninum exhibits atypical epimastigote forms under axenic conditions. This study aimed to analyze this evolutionary form under different cultivation conditions and provide more information about this evolutionary form. METHODS We selected a T. caninum isolate with a high percentage of aflagellar epimastigote forms in axenic cultures. Two separate growth curves were generated for T. caninum cultured in Schneider axenic medium and co-cultured with the DH82 cell line, followed by analysis and quantification of evolutionary forms using bright field microscopy. In addition, ultrastructural analysis of T. caninum was performed under both cultivation conditions. RESULTS The growth curves of T. caninum under axenic and co-cultivation conditions exhibited similar profiles. However, in the axenic culture, the number of parasites was three times higher at the peak of the exponential phase than in the co-culture. In contrast to that in the axenic culture, in which only the epimastigote forms were observed along the entire curve, during co-cultivation with the DH82 cell line, differentiation was observed for the trypomastigote and spheromastigote forms in low proportions. These results demonstrated that when cultured alone, the T. caninum isolate preserved the aflagellar epimastigote form, but in the presence of DH82 canine macrophages, they differentiated into evolutionary forms, particularly trypomastigote forms. Moreover, this study is the first to describe the presence of lipid bodies, structure described as the parasite's nutritional reserve, throughout the body of T. caninum. CONCLUSIONS These findings describe biological and ultrastructural aspects of epimastigote aflagellar and suggest that this evolutionary form may be involved in the biological cycle of T. caninum, still unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aline Fagundes
- Clinical Research and Surveillance in Leishmaniasis Laboratory, Infectology National Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roger Magno Macedo Silva
- Rudolf Barth Electron Microscopy Platform, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Suzana Corte-Real
- Structural Biology Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Espinosa-Bustos C, Ortiz Pérez M, Gonzalez-Gonzalez A, Zarate AM, Rivera G, Belmont-Díaz JA, Saavedra E, Cuellar MA, Vázquez K, Salas CO. New Amino Naphthoquinone Derivatives as Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Agents Targeting Trypanothione Reductase. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061121. [PMID: 35745694 PMCID: PMC9228152 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
To develop novel chemotherapeutic alternatives for the treatment of Chagas disease, in this study, a set of new amino naphthoquinone derivatives were synthesised and evaluated in vitro on the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi strains (NINOA and INC-5) and on J774 murine macrophages. The design of the new naphthoquinone derivatives considered the incorporation of nitrogenous fragments with different substitution patterns present in compounds with activity on T. cruzi, and, thus, 19 compounds were synthesised in a simple manner. Compounds 2e and 7j showed the lowest IC50 values (0.43 µM against both strains for 2e and 0.19 µM and 0.92 µM for 7j). Likewise, 7j was more potent than the reference drug, benznidazole, and was more selective on epimastigotes. To postulate a possible mechanism of action, molecular docking studies were performed on T. cruzi trypanothione reductase (TcTR), specifically at a site in the dimer interface, which is a binding site for this type of naphthoquinone. Interestingly, 7j was one of the compounds that showed the best interaction profile on the enzyme; therefore, 7j was evaluated on TR, which behaved as a non-competitive inhibitor. Finally, 7j was predicted to have a good pharmacokinetic profile for oral administration. Thus, the naphthoquinone nucleus should be considered in the search for new trypanocidal agents based on our hit 7j.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Espinosa-Bustos
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
| | - Mariana Ortiz Pérez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco Villa 20, General Escobedo 66054, Mexico;
| | - Alonzo Gonzalez-Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Boulevard del Maestro s/n, Reynosa 88710, Mexico; (A.G.-G.); (G.R.)
| | - Ana María Zarate
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
| | - Gildardo Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Boulevard del Maestro s/n, Reynosa 88710, Mexico; (A.G.-G.); (G.R.)
| | - Javier A. Belmont-Díaz
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, México City 14080, Mexico; (J.A.B.-D.); (E.S.)
| | - Emma Saavedra
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, México City 14080, Mexico; (J.A.B.-D.); (E.S.)
| | - Mauricio A. Cuellar
- Centro de Investigación Farmacopea Chilena, Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile;
| | - Karina Vázquez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco Villa 20, General Escobedo 66054, Mexico;
- Correspondence: (K.V.); (C.O.S.)
| | - Cristian O. Salas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
- Correspondence: (K.V.); (C.O.S.)
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Dantas-Pereira L, Menna-Barreto R, Lannes-Vieira J. Extracellular Vesicles: Potential Role in Remote Signaling and Inflammation in Trypanosoma cruzi-Triggered Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:798054. [PMID: 34988085 PMCID: PMC8721122 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.798054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) act as cell communicators and immune response modulators and may be employed as disease biomarkers and drug delivery systems. In infectious diseases, EVs can be released by the pathogen itself or by the host cells (infected or uninfected), potentially impacting the outcome of the immune response and pathological processes. Chagas disease (CD) is caused by infection by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is the main cause of heart failure in endemic areas. This illness attracted worldwide attention due to the presence of symptomatic seropositive subjects in North America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. In the acute phase of infection, nonspecific signs, and symptoms contribute to miss diagnosis and early etiological treatment. In this phase, the immune response is crucial for parasite control; however, parasite persistence, dysregulated immune response, and intrinsic tissue factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic CD. Most seropositive subjects remain in the indeterminate chronic form, and from 30 to 40% of the subjects develop cardiac, digestive, or cardio-digestive manifestations. Identification of EVs containing T. cruzi antigens suggests that these vesicles may target host cells and regulate cellular processes and the immune response by molecular mechanisms that remain to be determined. Parasite-released EVs modulate the host-parasite interplay, stimulate intracellular parasite differentiation and survival, and promote a regulatory cytokine profile in experimental models of CD. EVs derived from the parasite-cell interaction inhibit complement-mediated parasite lysis, allowing evasion. EVs released by T. cruzi-infected cells also regulate surrounding cells, maintaining a proinflammatory profile. After a brief review of the basic features of EVs, the present study focuses on potential participation of T. cruzi-secreted EVs in cell infection and persistence of low-grade parasite load in the chronic phase of infection. We also discuss the role of EVs in shaping the host immune response and in pathogenesis and progression of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luíza Dantas-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Méndez-Arriaga JM, Rubio-Mirallas E, Quirós M, Sánchez-Moreno M. Zinc 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine complexes: synthesis, structural characterization and their effect against Chagas disease. Med Chem 2021; 18:444-451. [PMID: 34387166 DOI: 10.2174/1573406417666210812162500] [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: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization catalogues illnesses such as Chagas disease as neglected diseases, due the low investment in new drugs to fight them. The search for novel and non-side effects anti-parasitic compounds is one of the urgent needs of the Third World. The use of triazolopyrimidines and their metal complexes have demonstrated hopeful results in this field. OBJECTIVE This work studies the antiparasitic efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi strains of a series of zinc triazolopyrimidine complexes. METHOD A series of Zn complexes has been synthesized by the reaction between the triazolopyrimidine derivatives 7-amino-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (7atp) and 5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dmtp) with Zn(SO4) • 7H2O, ZnCl2, and Zn(NO3)2 • 6H2O salts. The complexes have been analyzed by spectroscopic and thermal assays and X-ray diffraction methods have been used to dilucidate the crystalline structure of one of them. The antiparasitic efficacy was tested in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi to compare the trypanocidal effect of different ligands and counteranions to fight Chagas disease. RESULTS The efficacy of these compounds against Trypanosoma cruzi has also been tested to compare the influence of different ligands and counteranions on the trypanocidal effect against Chagas disease. CONCLUSION Antiproliferative tests corroborate the synergistic trypanocidal effect of the triazolopyrimidine coordination complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Méndez-Arriaga
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorganica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, c/Tulipán s/n 28933, Móstoles, Madrid. Spain
| | - Erika Rubio-Mirallas
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada. Spain
| | - Miguel Quirós
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada. Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada. Spain
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