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Kato K, Heimburg-Molinaro J. Editorial: Insights into glyco-parasitology. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1422955. [PMID: 38800093 PMCID: PMC11117074 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1422955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Kato
- Department of Eco-epidemiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Jamie Heimburg-Molinaro
- National Center for Functional Glycomics, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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2
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Dedola S, Ahmadipour S, de Andrade P, Baker AN, Boshra AN, Chessa S, Gibson MI, Hernando PJ, Ivanova IM, Lloyd JE, Marín MJ, Munro-Clark AJ, Pergolizzi G, Richards SJ, Ttofi I, Wagstaff BA, Field RA. Sialic acids in infection and their potential use in detection and protection against pathogens. RSC Chem Biol 2024; 5:167-188. [PMID: 38456038 PMCID: PMC10915975 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00155e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In structural terms, the sialic acids are a large family of nine carbon sugars based around an alpha-keto acid core. They are widely spread in nature, where they are often found to be involved in molecular recognition processes, including in development, immunology, health and disease. The prominence of sialic acids in infection is a result of their exposure at the non-reducing terminus of glycans in diverse glycolipids and glycoproteins. Herein, we survey representative aspects of sialic acid structure, recognition and exploitation in relation to infectious diseases, their diagnosis and prevention or treatment. Examples covered span influenza virus and Covid-19, Leishmania and Trypanosoma, algal viruses, Campylobacter, Streptococci and Helicobacter, and commensal Ruminococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Dedola
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Sanaz Ahmadipour
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Peterson de Andrade
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Alexander N Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Andrew N Boshra
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University Assiut 71526 Egypt
| | - Simona Chessa
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Matthew I Gibson
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Pedro J Hernando
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Irina M Ivanova
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Jessica E Lloyd
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - María J Marín
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Alexandra J Munro-Clark
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | | | - Sarah-Jane Richards
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Iakovia Ttofi
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
| | - Ben A Wagstaff
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Robert A Field
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ UK
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3
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Niemirowicz GT, Carlevaro G, Campetella O, Bouvier LA, Mucci J. A versatile 2A peptide-based strategy for ectopic expression and endogenous gene tagging in Trypanosoma cruzi. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24595. [PMID: 38304823 PMCID: PMC10830525 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Nearly all expression vectors currently available for Trypanosoma cruzi were conceived to produce a single primary transcript containing the genes of interest along with those that confer antibiotic resistance. However, since each messenger RNA (mRNA) matures separately, drug selection will only guarantee the expression of those derived from the selectable marker. Therefore, commonly a considerable fraction of the cells recovered after selection with these expression vectors, although resistant do not express the protein of interest. Consequently, in order to counteract this disadvantage, we developed vectors with an alternative arrangement in which the gene of interest and antibiotic resistance are fused sharing the same mRNA. To test this configuration, we included the coding sequence for the green fluorescent protein (mEGFP) linked to the one conferring neomycin resistance (Neo). Additionally, to allow for the production of two independent proteins the sequence for a Thosea asigna virus self-cleaving 2A peptide (T2A) was inserted in-between. Cells obtained with these vectors displayed higher mEGFP expression levels with more homogeneous transgenic parasite populations than those transfected with more conventional independent mRNA-based alternatives. Moreover, as determined by Western blot, 2A mediated fusion protein dissociation occurred with high efficiency in all parasite stages. In addition, these vectors could easily be transformed into endogenous tagging constructs that allowed the insertion, by ends-in homologous recombination, of a hemagglutinin tag (HA) fused to the actin gene. The use of 2A self-cleaving peptides in the context of single mRNA vectors represents an interesting strategy capable of improving ectopic transgene expression in T. cruzi as well as providing a simple alternative to more sophisticated methods, such as the one based on CRISPR/Cas9, for the endogenous labeling of genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Oscar Campetella
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Universidad Nacional de San Martín–Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN). Campus Miguelete, 25 de Mayo y Francia (B1650HMP), San Martín, Argentina
| | - León A. Bouvier
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Universidad Nacional de San Martín–Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN). Campus Miguelete, 25 de Mayo y Francia (B1650HMP), San Martín, Argentina
| | - Juan Mucci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Universidad Nacional de San Martín–Escuela de Bio y Nanotecnologías (EByN). Campus Miguelete, 25 de Mayo y Francia (B1650HMP), San Martín, Argentina
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4
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Chiribao ML, Díaz-Viraqué F, Libisch MG, Batthyány C, Cunha N, De Souza W, Parodi-Talice A, Robello C. Paracrine Signaling Mediated by the Cytosolic Tryparedoxin Peroxidase of Trypanosoma cruzi. Pathogens 2024; 13:67. [PMID: 38251374 PMCID: PMC10818299 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010067] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Peroxiredoxins are abundant and ubiquitous proteins that participate in different cellular functions, such as oxidant detoxification, protein folding, and intracellular signaling. Under different cellular conditions, peroxiredoxins can be secreted by different parasites, promoting the induction of immune responses in hosts. In this work, we demonstrated that the cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase of Trypanosoma cruzi (cTXNPx) is secreted by epimastigotes and trypomastigotes associated with extracellular vesicles and also as a vesicle-free protein. By confocal microscopy, we show that cTXNPx can enter host cells by an active mechanism both through vesicles and as a recombinant protein. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that cTXNPx induces endoplasmic reticulum stress and interleukin-8 expression in epithelial cells. This analysis also suggested alterations in cholesterol metabolism in cTXNPx-treated cells, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence showing the accumulation of LDL and the induction of LDL receptors in both epithelial cells and macrophages. BrdU incorporation assays and qPCR showed that cTXNPx has a mitogenic, proliferative, and proinflammatory effect on these cells in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, we also demonstrated that cTXNPx acts as a paracrine virulence factor, increasing the susceptibility to infection in cTXNPx-pretreated epithelial cells by approximately 40%. Although the results presented in this work are from in vitro studies and likely underestimate the complexity of parasite-host interactions, our work suggests a relevant role for this protein in establishing infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Laura Chiribao
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay;
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
| | - Florencia Díaz-Viraqué
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
| | - María Gabriela Libisch
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
| | - Carlos Batthyány
- Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Drug Development, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay;
| | - Narcisa Cunha
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (N.C.); (W.D.S.)
| | - Wanderley De Souza
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem (CENABIO), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (N.C.); (W.D.S.)
| | - Adriana Parodi-Talice
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
- Sección Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay;
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero–Patógeno—UBM, Institut Pasteur Montevideo, Montevideo 11000, Uruguay; (F.D.-V.); (M.G.L.)
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5
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Pacini MF, Perdomini A, Bulfoni Balbi C, Dinatale B, Herrera FE, Perez AR, Marcipar I. The high identity of the Trypanosoma cruzi Group-I of trans-sialidases points them as promising vaccine immunogens. Proteins 2023; 91:1444-1460. [PMID: 37323089 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26537] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Trans-sialidase (TS) superfamily of proteins comprises eight subgroups, being the proteins of Group-I (TS-GI) promising immunogens in vaccine approaches against Trypanosoma cruzi. Strikingly, TS-GI antigenic variability among parasite lineages and their influence on vaccine development has not been previously analyzed. Here, a search in GenBank detects 49 TS-GI indexed sequences, whereas the main infecting human different parasite discrete typing units (DTU) are represented. In silico comparison among these sequences indicate that they share an identity above 92%. Moreover, the antigenic regions (T-cell and B-cell epitopes) are conserved in most sequences or present amino acid substitutions that scarcely may alter the antigenicity. Additionally, since the generic term TS is usually used to refer to different immunogens of this broad family, a further in silico analysis of the TS-GI-derived fragments tested in preclinical vaccines was done to determine the coverage and identity among them, showing that overall amino acid identity of vaccine immunogens is high, but the segment coverage varies widely. Accordingly, strong H-2K, H-2I, and B-cell epitopes are dissimilarly represented among vaccine TS-derived fragments depending on the extension of the TG-GI sequence used. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis detected a set of 150 T-cell strong epitopes among the DTU-indexed sequences that strongly bind human HLA-I supertypes. In all currently reported experimental vaccines based on TS-GI fragments, mapping these 150 epitopes showed that they are moderately represented. However, despite vaccine epitopes do not present all the substitutions observed in the DTUs, these regions of the proteins are equally recognized by the same HLAs. Interestingly, the predictions regarding global and South American population coverage estimated in these 150 epitopes are similar to the estimations in experimental vaccines when the complete sequence of TS-GI is used as an antigen. In silico prediction also shows that a number of these MHC-I restricted T-cell strong epitopes could be also cross-recognized by HLA-I supertypes and H-2Kb or H-2Kd backgrounds, indicating that these mice may be used to improve and facilitate the development of new TS-based vaccines and suggesting an immunogenic and protective potential in humans. Further molecular docking analyses were performed to strengthen these results. Taken together, different strategies that would cover more or eventually fully of these T-cell and also B-cell epitopes to reach a high level of coverage are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Florencia Pacini
- Laboratorio de Estudios en Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Adrián Perdomini
- Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Camila Bulfoni Balbi
- Laboratorio de Estudios en Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Brenda Dinatale
- Laboratorio de Estudios en Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Fernando E Herrera
- Área de Modelado Molecular, Departamento de Física, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Ana Rosa Perez
- Laboratorio de Estudios en Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER-CONICET), Rosario, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Iván Marcipar
- Laboratorio de Tecnología Inmunológica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
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6
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Flores A, Alonso-Vega C, Hermann E, Torrico MC, Montaño Villarroel NA, Torrico F, Carlier Y, Truyens C. Monocytes from Uninfected Neonates Born to Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Mothers Display Upregulated Capacity to Produce TNF-α and to Control Infection in Association with Maternally Transferred Antibodies. Pathogens 2023; 12:1103. [PMID: 37764911 PMCID: PMC10536721 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091103] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated monocytes/macrophages that produce inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide are crucial for controlling Trypanosoma cruzi infection. We previously showed that uninfected newborns from T. cruzi infected mothers (M+B- newborns) were sensitized to produce higher levels of inflammatory cytokines than newborns from uninfected mothers (M-B- newborns), suggesting that their monocytes were more activated. Thus, we wondered whether these cells might help limit congenital infection. We investigated this possibility by studying the activation status of M+B- cord blood monocytes and their ability to control T. cruzi in vitro infection. We showed that M+B- monocytes have an upregulated capacity to produce the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and a better ability to control T. cruzi infection than M-B- monocytes. Our study also showed that T. cruzi-specific Abs transferred from the mother play a dual role by favoring trypomastigote entry into M+B- monocytes and inhibiting intracellular amastigote multiplication. These results support the possibility that some M+B- fetuses may eliminate the parasite transmitted in utero from their mothers, thus being uninfected at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amilcar Flores
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simon (U.M.S.S.), Cochabamba 2500, Bolivia
| | - Cristina Alonso-Vega
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simon (U.M.S.S.), Cochabamba 2500, Bolivia
| | - Emmanuel Hermann
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Center for Research in Immunology (UCRI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mary-Cruz Torrico
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simon (U.M.S.S.), Cochabamba 2500, Bolivia
| | | | - Faustino Torrico
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Mayor de San Simon (U.M.S.S.), Cochabamba 2500, Bolivia
| | - Yves Carlier
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Center for Research in Immunology (UCRI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Carine Truyens
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, ULB Center for Research in Immunology (UCRI), Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
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Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Properties of Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from Stevia spp.: In Vitro and In Silico Studies. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020647. [PMID: 36839969 PMCID: PMC9961625 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020647] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Stevia species (Asteraceae) have been a rich source of terpenoid compounds, mainly sesquiterpene lactones, several of which show antiprotozoal activity. In the search for new trypanocidal compounds, S. satureiifolia var. satureiifolia and S. alpina were studied. Two sesquiterpene lactones, santhemoidin C and 2-oxo-8-deoxyligustrin, respectively, were isolated. These compounds were assessed in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi stages, showing IC50 values of 11.80 and 4.98 on epimastigotes, 56.08 and 26.19 on trypomastigotes and 4.88 and 20.20 µM on amastigotes, respectively. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on Vero cells by the MTT assay. The effect of the compounds on trypanothyone reductase (TcTR), Trans-sialidase (TcTS) and the prolyl oligopeptidase of 80 kDa (Tc80) as potential molecular targets of T. cruzi was investigated. Santhemoidin C inhibited oligopeptidase activity when tested against recombinant Tc80 using a fluorometric assay, reaching an IC50 of 34.9 µM. Molecular docking was performed to study the interaction between santhemoidin C and the Tc80 protein, reaching high docking energy levels. Plasma membrane shedding and cytoplasmic vacuoles, resembling autophagosomes, were detected by transmission microscopy in parasites treated with santhemoidin C. Based on these results, santhemoidin C represents a promising candidate for further studies in the search for new molecules for the development of trypanocidal drugs.
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Bunkofske ME, Perumal N, White B, Strauch EM, Tarleton R. Epitopes in the Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Attachment Signal Peptide of Trypanosoma cruzi Mucin Proteins Generate Robust but Delayed and Nonprotective CD8+ T Cell Responses. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:420-430. [PMID: 36603035 PMCID: PMC9898211 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi elicits substantial CD8+ T cell responses that disproportionately target epitopes encoded in the large trans-sialidase (TS) gene family. Within the C57BL/6 infection model, a significant proportion (30-40%) of the T. cruzi-specific CD8+ T cell response targets two immunodominant TS epitopes, TSKb18 and TSKb20. However, both TS-specific CD8+ T cell responses are dispensable for immune control, and TS-based vaccines have no demonstrable impact on parasite persistence, a determinant of disease. Besides TS, the specificity and protective capacity of CD8+ T cells that mediate immune control of T. cruzi infection are unknown. With the goal of identifying alternative CD8+ T cell targets, we designed and screened a representative set of genome-wide, in silico-predicted epitopes. Our screen identified a previously uncharacterized, to our knowledge, T cell epitope MUCKb25, found within mucin family proteins, the third most expanded large gene family in T. cruzi. The MUCKb25-specific response was characterized by delayed kinetics, relative to TS-specific responses, and extensive cross-reactivity with a large number of endogenous epitope variants. Similar to TS-specific responses, the MUCKb25 response was dispensable for control of the infection, and vaccination to generate MUCK-specific CD8+ T cells failed to confer protection. The lack of protection by MUCK vaccination was partly attributed to the fact that MUCKb25-specific T cells exhibit limited recognition of T. cruzi-infected host cells. Overall, these results indicate that the CD8+ T cell compartment in many T. cruzi-infected mice is occupied by cells with minimal apparent effector potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly E. Bunkofske
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Natasha Perumal
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Brooke White
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Eva-Maria Strauch
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Rick Tarleton
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Macaluso G, Grippi F, Di Bella S, Blanda V, Gucciardi F, Torina A, Guercio A, Cannella V. A Review on the Immunological Response against Trypanosoma cruzi. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020282. [PMID: 36839554 PMCID: PMC9964664 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a chronic systemic infection transmitted by Trypanosoma cruzi. Its life cycle consists of different stages in vector insects and host mammals. Trypanosoma cruzi strains cause different clinical manifestations of Chagas disease alongside geographic differences in morbidity and mortality. Natural killer cells provide the cytokine interferon-gamma in the initial phases of T. cruzi infection. Phagocytes secrete cytokines that promote inflammation and activation of other cells involved in defence. Dendritic cells, monocytes and macrophages modulate the adaptive immune response, and B lymphocytes activate an effective humoral immune response to T. cruzi. This review focuses on the main immune mechanisms acting during T. cruzi infection, on the strategies activated by the pathogen against the host cells, on the processes involved in inflammasome and virulence factors and on the new strategies for preventing, controlling and treating this disease.
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10
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García-Huertas P, Cuesta-Astroz Y, Araque-Ruiz V, Cardona-Castro N. Transcriptional changes during metacyclogenesis of a Colombian Trypanosoma cruzi strain. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:625-634. [PMID: 36567399 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07766-3] [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: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
During its life cycle, Trypanosoma cruzi undergoes physiological modifications in order to adapt to insect vector and mammalian host conditions. Metacyclogenesis is essential, as the parasite acquires the ability to infect a variety of mammalian species, including humans, in which pathology is caused. In this work, the transcriptomes of metacyclic trypomastigotes and epimastigotes were analyzed in order to identify differentially expressed genes that may be involved in metacyclogenesis. Toward this end, in vitro induction of metacyclogenesis was performed and metacyclic trypomastigotes obtained. RNA-Seq was performed on triplicate samples of epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes. Differential gene expression analysis showed 513 genes, of which 221 were upregulated and 292 downregulated in metacyclic trypomastigotes. The analysis showed that these genes are related to biological processes relevant in metacyclogenesis. Within these processes, we found that most of the genes associated with infectivity and gene expression regulation were upregulated in metacyclic trypomastigotes, while genes involved in cell division, DNA replication, differentiation, cytoskeleton, and metabolism were mainly downregulated. The participation of some of these genes in T. cruzi metacyclogenesis is of interest, as they may be used as potential therapeutic targets in the design of new drugs for Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola García-Huertas
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, CP 055450, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia.
| | - Yesid Cuesta-Astroz
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, CP 055450, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Valentina Araque-Ruiz
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, CP 055450, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Nora Cardona-Castro
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, CP 055450, Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia
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11
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San Francisco J, Astudillo C, Vega JL, Catalán A, Gutiérrez B, Araya JE, Zailberger A, Marina A, García C, Sanchez N, Osuna A, Vilchez S, Ramírez MI, Macedo J, Feijoli VS, Palmisano G, González J. Trypanosoma cruzi pathogenicity involves virulence factor expression and upregulation of bioenergetic and biosynthetic pathways. Virulence 2022; 13:1827-1848. [PMID: 36284085 PMCID: PMC9601562 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2022.2132776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular repertoire of Trypanosoma cruzi effects its virulence and impacts the clinical course of the resulting Chagas disease. This study aimed to determine the mechanism underlying the pathogenicity of T. cruzi. Two T. cruzi cell lines (C8C3hvir and C8C3lvir), obtained from the clone H510 C8C3 and exhibiting different virulence phenotypes, were used to evaluate the parasite's infectivity in mice. The organ parasite load was analysed by qPCR. The proteomes of both T. cruzi cell lines were compared using nLC-MS/MS. Cruzipain (Czp), complement regulatory protein (CRP), trans-sialidase (TS), Tc-85, and sialylated epitope expression levels were evaluated by immunoblotting. High-virulence C8C3hvir was highly infectious in mice and demonstrated three to five times higher infectivity in mouse myocardial cells than low-virulence C8C3lvir. qPCR revealed higher parasite loads in organs of acute as well as chronically C8C3hvir-infected mice than in those of C8C3lvir-infected mice. Comparative quantitative proteomics revealed that 390 of 1547 identified proteins were differentially regulated in C8C3hvir with respect to C8C3lvir. Amongst these, 174 proteins were upregulated in C8C3hvir and 216 were downregulated in C8C3lvir. The upregulated proteins in C8C3hvir were associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle, ribosomal proteins, and redoxins. Higher levels of Czp, CRP, TS, Tc-85, and sialylated epitopes were expressed in C8C3hvir than in C8C3lvir. Thus, T. cruzi virulence may be related to virulence factor expression as well as upregulation of bioenergetic and biosynthetic pathways proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan San Francisco
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Constanza Astudillo
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - José Luis Vega
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile,Laboratory of Gap Junction Proteins and Parasitic Disease, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile,Research Center in Immunology and Biomedical Biotechnology of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Alejandro Catalán
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Bessy Gutiérrez
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Jorge E Araya
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | | | - Anabel Marina
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos García
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Sanchez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Susana Vilchez
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Marcel I Ramírez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Sistemática de Trypanosomatides, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz, Parana, Brazil
| | - Janaina Macedo
- Department of Parasitology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jorge González
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile,Research Center in Immunology and Biomedical Biotechnology of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile,Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Sistemática de Trypanosomatides, Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy, Antofagasta, Chile,CONTACT Jorge González
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12
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de Lederkremer RM, Giorgi ME, Marino C. The α-Galactosyl Carbohydrate Epitope in Pathogenic Protozoa. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:2207-2222. [PMID: 36083842 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00370] [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] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The α-gal epitope, which refers to the carbohydrate α-d-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-d-Galp-(1 → 4)-d-GlcNAc-R, was first described in the glycoconjugates of mammals other than humans. Evolution caused a mutation that resulted in the inactivation of the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene. For that reason, humans produce antibodies against α-d-Galp containing glycoproteins and glycolipids of other species. We summarize here the glycoconjugates with α-d-Galp structures in Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Plasmodium pathogenic protozoa. These were identified in infective stages of Trypanosoma cruzi and in Plasmodium sporozoites. In Leishmania, α-d-Galp is linked differently in the glycans of glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs). Chemically synthesized neoglycoconjugates have been proposed as diagnostic tools and as antigens for vaccines. Several syntheses reported for the α-gal trisaccharide, also called the Galili epitope, and the glycans of GIPLs found in Leishmania, the preparation of neoglycoconjugates, and the studies in which they were involved are also included in this Review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M de Lederkremer
- CIHIDECAR, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Giorgi
- CIHIDECAR, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Marino
- CIHIDECAR, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, 1428Buenos Aires, Argentina
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13
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Morrone-Pozzuto P, Uhrig ML, Agusti R. Synthesis of Oligosaccharides Containing the S-Gal p(α1 → 3)Gal p Unit, Glycomimetic of the Epitope Recognized by Lytic Antibodies. J Org Chem 2022; 87:13455-13468. [PMID: 35775947 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c01059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Two important activities take place in the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease: the trans-sialidase (TcTS) catalyzes the transfer of sialic acid from the host glycoconjugates to the mucin-like glycoproteins from the parasite and the presence of lytic antibodies recognize the epitope α-Galp(1 → 3)-β-Galp(1 → 4)-α-GlcNAcp. This antigenic structure is known to be present in the parasite mucins; however, in order to be substrates of trans-sialidase, some of the galactose residues should be in the β-Galp configuration. To study the interaction between both activities, it is important to count the synthetic structures as well as the structural-related glycomimetics. With this purpose, we addressed the synthesis of a trisaccharide and two isomeric tetrasaccharides containing the 1-S-α-Galp(1 → 3)-β-Galp motif, the thio analog of the epitope recognized by lytic antibodies. Starting with a common lactose precursor, the sulfur function was incorporated by double inversion of the configuration of the galactose residue that was further glycosylated using different activated donors. Both tetrasaccharides were good acceptors of sialic acid in the reaction catalyzed by TcTS, as determined by high-performance anion exchange chromatography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Morrone-Pozzuto
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), CONICET- Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Laura Uhrig
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), CONICET- Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosalia Agusti
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), CONICET- Universidad de Buenos Aires, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Molecular Recognition of Surface Trans-Sialidases in Extracellular Vesicles of the Parasite Trypanosoma cruzi Using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137193. [PMID: 35806197 PMCID: PMC9266976 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137193] [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: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Trans-sialidases (TS) are important constitutive macromolecules of the secretome present on the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) that play a central role as a virulence factor in Chagas disease. These enzymes have been related to infectivity, escape from immune surveillance and pathogenesis exhibited by this protozoan parasite. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single molecule-force spectroscopy is implemented as a suitable technique for the detection and location of functional TS on the surface of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by tissue-culture cell-derived trypomastigotes (Ex-TcT). For that purpose, AFM cantilevers with functionalized tips bearing the anti-TS monoclonal antibody mAb 39 as a sense biomolecule are engineered using a covalent chemical ligation based on vinyl sulfonate click chemistry; a reliable, simple and efficient methodology for the molecular recognition of TS using the antibody-antigen interaction. Measurements of the breakdown forces between anti-TS mAb 39 antibodies and EVs performed to elucidate adhesion and forces involved in the recognition events demonstrate that EVs isolated from tissue-culture cell-derived trypomastigotes of T. cruzi are enriched in TS. Additionally, a mapping of the TS binding sites with submicrometer-scale resolution is provided. This work represents the first AFM-based molecular recognition study of Ex-TcT using an antibody-tethered AFM probe.
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Assessment of a combined treatment with a therapeutic vaccine and benznidazole for the Trypanosoma cruzi chronic infection. Acta Trop 2022; 229:106334. [PMID: 35101415 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106334] [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: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The difficulties encountered in achieving treatments for chronic Chagas disease have promoted the investigation of new therapeutic strategies. In this study, we used two murine models of Trypanosoma cruzi chronic infection to determine the usefulness of applying a therapeutic vaccine alone or followed by benznidazole (Bz) chemotherapy. A vaccine formulation based on an N-terminal fragment of Trans-sialidase (TS) and Immunostimulant Particle Adjuvant (ISPA) - TSNt-ISPA was obtained. Firstly, the immunogenicity and protective capacity of TSNt-ISPA was demonstrated as a prophylactic formulation in an acute model of infection. Later, the formulation was assessed as a therapeutic vaccine alone or combined with (Bz) using two models of chronic infection. BALB/c mice chronically infected with Sylvio X10/4 or Tulahuen cl2 T. cruzi strains were not treated as control or treated only with the therapeutic vaccine TSNt-ISPA, with a combined treatment TSNt-ISPA+Bz (Bz applied after the vaccine), or only with Bz. The vaccination schedule consisted of TSNt-ISPA administration at days110, 120, and 130 post-infection (pi) and Bz administration was performed daily from day 140 to 170 pi. At day 273 pi, electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters, heart parasite load, myocarditis, and heart fibrosis were assessed. In both models, therapeutic administration of TSNt-ISPA reduced ECG alterations and the cardiac tissue damage observed in the chronic phase. Moreover, vaccine treatment significantly decreased heart parasite load in both Sylvio X10/4 and Tulahuen cl2 infected mice. The combined treatment, but not Bz or vaccine administration alone, allowed to restore ECG parameters in Tulahuen cl2 infected mice. The results indicate the usefulness of the therapeutic TSNt-ISPA formulation in BALB/c mice chronically infected with Sylvio X10/4 or Tulahuen cl2 strain. For the mice infected with T. cruzi Tulahuen cl2 strain, the combined treatment with the vaccine and Bz had a more positive effect on the course of heart disease than the individual treatments with the vaccine or Bz alone.
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de Paula JI, Lopes-Torres EJ, Jacobs-Lorena M, Paes MC, Cha SJ. The Screen of a Phage Display Library Identifies a Peptide That Binds to the Surface of Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes and Impairs Their Infection of Mammalian Cells. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:864788. [PMID: 35359712 PMCID: PMC8960960 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.864788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundChagas is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. On the order of seven million people are infected worldwide and current therapies are limited, highlighting the urgent need for new interventions. T. cruzi trypomastigotes can infect a variety of mammalian cells, recognition and adhesion to the host cell being critical for parasite entry. This study focuses on trypomastigote surface ligands involved in cell invasion.MethodsThree selection rounds of a phage peptide display library for isolation of phages that bind to trypomastigotes, resulted in the identification of the N3 dodecapeptide. N3 peptide binding to T. cruzi developmental forms (trypomastigotes, amastigotes and epimastigotes) was evaluated by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays. Parasite invasion of Vero cells was assessed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays.ResultsPhage display screening identified the N3 peptide that binds preferentially to the surface of the trypomastigote and amastigote infective forms as opposed to non-infective epimastigotes. Importantly, the N3 peptide, but not a control scrambled peptide, inhibits trypomastigote invasion of Vero cells by 50%.ConclusionThe N3 peptide specifically binds to T. cruzi, and by doing so, inhibits Vero cell infection. Follow-up studies will identify the molecule on the parasite surface to which the N3 peptide binds. This putative T. cruzi ligand may advance chemotherapy design and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica I. de Paula
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores – Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG – UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo J. Lopes-Torres
- Laboratório de Helmintologia Romero Lascasas Porto, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marcia Cristina Paes
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores – Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG – UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Marcia Cristina Paes,
| | - Sung-Jae Cha
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Sung-Jae Cha,
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17
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de Andrade P, Ahmadipour S, Field RA. Anomeric 1,2,3-triazole-linked sialic acid derivatives show selective inhibition towards a bacterial neuraminidase over a trypanosome trans-sialidase. Beilstein J Org Chem 2022; 18:208-216. [PMID: 35280952 PMCID: PMC8895027 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.18.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sialic acid is the natural substrate for sialidases and its chemical modification has been a useful approach to generate potent and selective inhibitors. Aiming at advancing the discovery of selective Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS) inhibitors, we have synthesised a small series of anomeric 1,2,3-triazole-linked sialic acid derivatives in good yields and high purity via copper-catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC, click chemistry) and evaluated their activity towards TcTS and neuraminidase. Surprisingly, the compounds showed practically no TcTS inhibition, whereas ca. 70% inhibition was observed for neuraminidase in relation to the analogues bearing hydrophobic substituents and ca. 5% for more polar substituents. These results suggest that polarity changes are less tolerated by neuraminidase due to the big difference in impact of hydrophobicity upon inhibition, thus indicating a simple approach to differentiate both enzymes. Moreover, such selectivity might be reasoned based on a possible steric hindrance caused by a bulky hydrophobic loop that sits over the TcTS active site and may prevent the hydrophobic inhibitors from binding. The present study is a step forward in exploiting subtle structural differences in sialidases that need to be addressed in order to achieve selective inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peterson de Andrade
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Sanaz Ahmadipour
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park NR4 7GJ, UK
| | - Robert A Field
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
- Iceni Glycoscience Ltd, Norwich Research Park NR4 7GJ, UK
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18
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Bertotti S, Fleming I, Cámara MDLM, Centeno Cameán C, Carmona SJ, Agüero F, Balouz V, Zahn A, Di Noia JM, Alfonzo JD, Buscaglia CA. Characterization of ADAT2/3 molecules in Trypanosoma cruzi and regulation of mucin gene expression by tRNA editing. Biochem J 2022; 479:561-580. [PMID: 35136964 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210850] [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: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine-to-inosine conversion at position 34 (A34-to-I) of certain tRNAs is essential for expanding their decoding capacity. This reaction is catalyzed by the adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA (ADAT) complex, which in Eukarya is formed by two subunits: ADAT2 and ADAT3. We herein identified and thoroughly characterized the ADAT molecules from the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas Disease. TcADAT2 and TcADAT3 spontaneously form a catalytically active complex, as shown by expression in engineered bacteria and/or by the increased ex vivo tRNA A-to-I deamination activity of T. cruzi epimastigotes overexpressing TcADAT subunits. Importantly, enhanced TcADAT2/3 activity in transgenic parasites caused a shift in their in vivo tRNAThrAGU signature, which correlated with significant changes in the expression of the Thr-rich TcSMUG proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence indicating that T. cruzi tRNA editing can be modulated in vivo, in turn post-transcriptionally changing the expression of specific genes. Our findings suggest tRNA editing/availability as a forcible step in controlling gene expression and driving codon adaptation in T. cruzi. Moreover, we unveil certain differences between parasite and mammalian host tRNA editing and processing, such as cytosine-to-uridine conversion at position 32 of tRNAThrAGU in T. cruzi, that may be exploited for the identification of novel druggable targets of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Bertotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Protozoa, Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas 'Dr Rodolfo Ugalde' (IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, UNSAM, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET), Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, Campus UNSAM, San Martín (1650), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ian Fleming
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 318 W 12th Ave. (Aronoff Building), Columbus, U.S.A
| | - María de Los Milagros Cámara
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Protozoa, Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas 'Dr Rodolfo Ugalde' (IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, UNSAM, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET), Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, Campus UNSAM, San Martín (1650), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Camila Centeno Cameán
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Protozoa, Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas 'Dr Rodolfo Ugalde' (IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, UNSAM, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET), Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, Campus UNSAM, San Martín (1650), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago J Carmona
- Trypanosomatics Laboratory, IIBio (UNSAM and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Trypanosomatics Laboratory, IIBio (UNSAM and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia Balouz
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Protozoa, Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas 'Dr Rodolfo Ugalde' (IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, UNSAM, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET), Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, Campus UNSAM, San Martín (1650), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Astrid Zahn
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal (IRCM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Javier M Di Noia
- Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montreal (IRCM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Juan D Alfonzo
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 318 W 12th Ave. (Aronoff Building), Columbus, U.S.A
| | - Carlos A Buscaglia
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Protozoa, Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas 'Dr Rodolfo Ugalde' (IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, UNSAM, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET), Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, Campus UNSAM, San Martín (1650), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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de Lederkremer RM, Giorgi ME, Agusti R. trans-Sialylation: a strategy used to incorporate sialic acid into oligosaccharides. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:121-139. [PMID: 35360885 PMCID: PMC8827155 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00176k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sialic acid, as a component of cell surface glycoconjugates, plays a crucial role in recognition events. Efficient synthetic methods are necessary for the supply of sialosides in enough quantities for biochemical and immunological studies. Enzymatic glycosylations obviate the steps of protection and deprotection of the constituent monosaccharides required in a chemical synthesis. Sialyl transferases with CMP-Neu5Ac as an activated donor were used for the construction of α2-3 or α2-6 linkages to terminal galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine units. trans-Sialidases may transfer sialic acid from a sialyl glycoside to a suitable acceptor and specifically construct a Siaα2-3Galp linkage. The trans-sialidase of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcTS), which fulfills an important role in the pathogenicity of the parasite, is the most studied one. The recombinant enzyme was used for the sialylation of β-galactosyl oligosaccharides. One of the main advantages of trans-sialylation is that it circumvents the use of the high energy nucleotide. Easily available glycoproteins with a high content of sialic acid such as fetuin and bovine κ-casein-derived glycomacropeptide (GMP) have been used as donor substrates. Here we review the trans-sialidase from various microorganisms and describe their application for the synthesis of sialooligosaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M de Lederkremer
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Giorgi
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Rosalía Agusti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR) Buenos Aires Argentina
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20
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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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21
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Medina-Rincón GJ, Gallo-Bernal S, Jiménez PA, Cruz-Saavedra L, Ramírez JD, Rodríguez MJ, Medina-Mur R, Díaz-Nassif G, Valderrama-Achury MD, Medina HM. Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Chronic Manifestations in Chagas Disease: A State-of-the-Art Review. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111493. [PMID: 34832648 PMCID: PMC8619182 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic manifestations of Chagas disease present as disabling and life-threatening conditions affecting mainly the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Although meaningful research has outlined the different molecular mechanisms underlying Trypanosoma cruzi’s infection and the host-parasite interactions that follow, prompt diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge, particularly in developing countries and also in those where the disease is considered non-endemic. This review intends to present an up-to-date review of the parasite’s life cycle, genetic diversity, virulence factors, and infective mechanisms, as well as the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options of the main chronic complications of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán J. Medina-Rincón
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (S.G.-B.); (M.D.V.-A.); (H.M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-310-817-2369
| | - Sebastián Gallo-Bernal
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (S.G.-B.); (M.D.V.-A.); (H.M.M.)
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Paula A. Jiménez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (P.A.J.); (L.C.-S.); (J.D.R.)
| | - Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (P.A.J.); (L.C.-S.); (J.D.R.)
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (P.A.J.); (L.C.-S.); (J.D.R.)
| | - María Juliana Rodríguez
- Division of Cardiology, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 110131, Colombia; (M.J.R.); (R.M.-M.)
| | - Ramón Medina-Mur
- Division of Cardiology, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 110131, Colombia; (M.J.R.); (R.M.-M.)
| | - Gustavo Díaz-Nassif
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | | | - Héctor M. Medina
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (S.G.-B.); (M.D.V.-A.); (H.M.M.)
- Division of Cardiology, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 110131, Colombia; (M.J.R.); (R.M.-M.)
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22
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da Costa KM, Marques da Fonseca L, Dos Reis JS, Santos MARDC, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L, Freire-de-Lima L. Trypanosoma cruzi trans-Sialidase as a Potential Vaccine Target Against Chagas Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:768450. [PMID: 34765570 PMCID: PMC8576188 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.768450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas’ disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, described in the early 20th century by the Brazilian physician Dr. Carlos Chagas. There was a great amount of research devoted to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease. One of the most important discoveries made since then, impacting the understanding of how the parasite interacts with the host’s immune system, was the description of trans-sialidase. It is an unique enzyme, capable of masking the parasite’s presence from the host, while at the same time dampening the activation of CD8+ T cells, the most important components of the immune response. Since the description of Chagas’ disease in 1909, extensive research has identified important events in the disease in order to understand the biochemical mechanism that modulates T. cruzi-host cell interactions and the ability of the parasite to ensure its survival. The importance of the trans-sialidase enzyme brought life to many studies for the design of diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines. While many groups have been prolific, such efforts have encountered problems, among them: the fact that while T. cruzi have many genes that are unique to the parasite, it relies on multiple copies of them and the difficulty in providing epitopes that result in effective and robust immune responses. In this review, we aim to convey the importance of trans-sialidase as well as to provide a history, including the initial failures and the most promising successes in the chasing of a working vaccine for a disease that is endemic in many tropical countries, including Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli Monteiro da Costa
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Marques da Fonseca
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jhenifer Santos Dos Reis
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - José Osvaldo Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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23
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Vasconcelos CI, Cronemberger-Andrade A, Souza-Melo N, Maricato JT, Xander P, Batista WL, Soares RP, Schenkman S, Torrecilhas AC. Stress Induces Release of Extracellular Vesicles by Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:2939693. [PMID: 34604391 PMCID: PMC8486533 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2939693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
All extracellular forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, release extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing major surface molecules of the parasite. EV release depends on several mechanisms (internal and external). However, most of the environmental conditions affecting this phenomenon are still unknown. In this work, we evaluated EV release under different stress conditions and their ability to be internalized by the parasites. In addition, we investigated whether the release conditions would affect their immunomodulatory properties in preactivated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Sodium azide and methyl-cyclo-β-dextrin (CDB) reduced EV release, indicating that this phenomenon relies on membrane organization. EV release was increased at low temperatures (4°C) and acidic conditions (pH 5.0). Under this pH, trypomastigotes differentiated into amastigotes. EVs are rapidly liberated and reabsorbed by the trypomastigotes in a concentration-dependent manner. Nitrosative stress caused by sodium nitrite in acid medium or S-nitrosoglutathione also stimulated the secretion of EVs. EVs released under all stress conditions also maintained their proinflammatory activity and increased the expression of iNOS, Arg 1, IL-12, and IL-23 genes in IFN-γ and LPS preactivated BMDM. In conclusion, our results suggest a budding mechanism of release, dependent on the membrane structure and parasite integrity. Stress conditions did not affect functional properties of EVs during interaction with host cells. EV release variations under stress conditions may be a physiological response against environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ioshida Vasconcelos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A Cronemberger-Andrade
- Cell Therapy Institute, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Normanda Souza-Melo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 04039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Terzi Maricato
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, Rua Botucatu, 862, 04023-062 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Xander
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wagner Luiz Batista
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Pedro Soares
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ-MG, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 04039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
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24
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Cavalcante T, Medeiros MM, Mule SN, Palmisano G, Stolf BS. The Role of Sialic Acids in the Establishment of Infections by Pathogens, With Special Focus on Leishmania. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:671913. [PMID: 34055669 PMCID: PMC8155805 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.671913] [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] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbohydrates or glycans are ubiquitous components of the cell surface which play crucial biological and structural roles. Sialic acids (Sias) are nine-carbon atoms sugars usually present as terminal residues of glycoproteins and glycolipids on the cell surface or secreted. They have important roles in cellular communication and also in infection and survival of pathogens. More than 20 pathogens can synthesize or capture Sias from their hosts and incorporate them into their own glycoconjugates and derivatives. Sialylation of pathogens’ glycoconjugates may be crucial for survival inside the host for numerous reasons. The role of Sias in protozoa such as Trypanosoma and Leishmania was demonstrated in previous studies. This review highlights the importance of Sias in several pathogenic infections, focusing on Leishmania. We describe in detail the contributions of Sias, Siglecs (sialic acid binding Ig-like lectins) and Neuraminidase 1 (NEU 1) in the course of Leishmania infection. A detailed view on the structural and functional diversity of Leishmania-related Sias and host-cell receptors will be provided, as well as the results of functional studies performed with different Leishmania species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tainá Cavalcante
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Medina Medeiros
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simon Ngao Mule
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Simonsen Stolf
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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25
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Musikant D, Higa R, Rodríguez CE, Edreira MM, Campetella O, Jawerbaum A, Leguizamón MS. Sialic acid removal by trans-sialidase modulates MMP-2 activity during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Biochimie 2021; 186:82-93. [PMID: 33891967 PMCID: PMC8187320 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) not only play a relevant role in homeostatic processes but are also involved in several pathological mechanisms associated with infectious diseases. As their clinical relevance in Chagas disease has recently been highlighted, we studied the modulation of circulating MMPs by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. We found that virulent parasites from Discrete Typing Units (DTU) VI induced higher proMMP-2 and MMP-2 activity in blood, whereas both low (DTU I) and high virulence parasites induced a significant decrease in proMMP-9 plasma activity. Moreover, trans-sialidase, a relevant T. cruzi virulence factor, is involved in MMP-2 activity modulation both in vivo and in vitro. It removes α2,3-linked sialyl residues from cell surface glycoconjugates, which then triggers the PKC/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Additionally, bacterial sialidases specific for this sialyl residue linkage displayed similar MMP modulation profiles and triggered the same signaling pathways. This novel pathogenic mechanism, dependent on sialic acid removal by the neuraminidase activity of trans-sialidase, can be exploited by different pathogens expressing sialidases with similar specificity. Thus, here we present a new pathogen strategy through the regulation of the MMP network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Musikant
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina Higa
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Reproducción y Metabolismo, CEFYBO-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 C1121ABG, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cristina E Rodríguez
- Departamento de Microbiología, IMPAM-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 C1121ABG, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin M Edreira
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 C1428EGA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Oscar Campetella
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, 25 de Mayo y Francia B1650HMP, San Martín, San Martin, Argentina
| | - Alicia Jawerbaum
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Reproducción y Metabolismo, CEFYBO-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 C1121ABG, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María S Leguizamón
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, 25 de Mayo y Francia B1650HMP, San Martín, San Martin, Argentina.
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26
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Ferri G, Edreira MM. All Roads Lead to Cytosol: Trypanosoma cruzi Multi-Strategic Approach to Invasion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:634793. [PMID: 33747982 PMCID: PMC7973469 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.634793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
T. cruzi has a complex life cycle involving four developmental stages namely, epimastigotes, metacyclic trypomastigotes, amastigotes and bloodstream trypomastigotes. Although trypomastigotes are the infective forms, extracellular amastigotes have also shown the ability to invade host cells. Both stages can invade a broad spectrum of host tissues, in fact, almost any nucleated cell can be the target of infection. To add complexity, the parasite presents high genetic variability with differential characteristics such as infectivity. In this review, we address the several strategies T. cruzi has developed to subvert the host cell signaling machinery in order to gain access to the host cell cytoplasm. Special attention is made to the numerous parasite/host protein interactions and to the set of signaling cascades activated during the formation of a parasite-containing vesicle, the parasitophorous vacuole, from which the parasite escapes to the cytosol, where differentiation and replication take place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ferri
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin M Edreira
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosoma, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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27
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Serological Approaches for Trypanosoma cruzi Strain Typing. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:214-225. [PMID: 33436314 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of Chagas' disease, displays a complex population structure made up of multiple strains showing a diverse ecoepidemiological distribution. Parasite genetic variability may be associated with disease outcome, hence stressing the need to develop methods for T. cruzi typing in vivo. Serological typing methods that exploit the presence of host antibodies raised against polymorphic parasite antigens emerge as an appealing approach to address this issue. These techniques are robust, simple, cost-effective, and are not curtailed by methodological/biological limitations intrinsic to available genotyping methods. Here, we critically assess the progress towards T. cruzi serotyping and discuss the opportunity provided by high-throughput immunomics to improve this field.
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28
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Pérez AR, de Meis J, Rodriguez-Galan MC, Savino W. The Thymus in Chagas Disease: Molecular Interactions Involved in Abnormal T-Cell Migration and Differentiation. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1838. [PMID: 32983098 PMCID: PMC7492291 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite T. cruzi, is a prevalent parasitic disease in Latin America. Presently, it is spreading around the world by human migration, thus representing a new global health issue. Chronically infected individuals reveal a dissimilar disease progression: while nearly 60% remain without apparent disease for life, 30% develop life-threatening pathologies, such as chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) or megaviscerae. Inflammation driven by parasite persistence seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, there is also evidence of the occurrence of autoimmune events, mainly caused by molecular mimicry and bystander activation. In experimental models of disease, is well-established that T. cruzi infects the thymus and causes locally profound structural and functional alterations. The hallmark is a massive loss of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes, mainly triggered by increased levels of glucocorticoids, although other mechanisms seem to act simultaneously. Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) exhibited an increase in extracellular matrix deposition, which are related to thymocyte migratory alterations. Moreover, medullary TEC showed a decreased expression of AIRE and altered expression of microRNAs, which might be linked to a disrupted negative selection of the T-cell repertoire. Also, almost all stages of thymocyte development are altered, including an abnormal output of CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) and DP immature and mature cells, many of them carrying prohibited TCR-Vβ segments. Evidence has shown that DN and DP cells with an activated phenotype can be tracked in the blood of humans with chronic Chagas disease and also in the secondary lymphoid organs and heart of infected mice, raising new questions about the relevance of these populations in the pathogenesis of Chagas disease and their possible link with thymic alterations and an immunoendocrine imbalance. Here, we discuss diverse molecular mechanisms underlying thymic abnormalities occurring during T. cruzi infection and their link with CCC, which may contribute to the design of innovative strategies to control Chagas disease pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rosa Pérez
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina.,Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juliana de Meis
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Wilson Savino
- Laboratory on Thymus Research, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology on Neuroimmunomodulation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Rio de Janeiro Research Network on Neuroinflammation, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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29
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The Glycan Structure of T. cruzi mucins Depends on the Host. Insights on the Chameleonic Galactose. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25173913. [PMID: 32867240 PMCID: PMC7504415 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoa that causes Chagas disease in humans, is transmitted by insects from the Reduviidae family. The parasite has developed the ability to change the structure of the surface molecules, depending on the host. Among them, the mucins are the most abundant glycoproteins. Structural studies have focused on the epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes that colonize the insect, and on the mammal trypomastigotes. The carbohydrate in the mucins fulfills crucial functions, the most important of which being the accepting of sialic acid from the host, a process catalyzed by the unique parasite trans-sialidase. The sialylation of the parasite influences the immune response on infection. The O-linked sugars have characteristics that differentiate them from human mucins. One of them is the linkage to the polypeptide chain by the hexosamine, GlcNAc, instead of GalNAc. The main monosaccharide in the mucins oligosaccharides is galactose, and this may be present in three configurations. Whereas β-d-galactopyranose (β-Galp) was found in the insect and the human stages of Trypanosoma cruzi, β-d-galactofuranose (β-Galf) is present only in the mucins of some strains of epimastigotes and α-d-galactopyranose (α-Galp) characterizes the mucins of the bloodstream trypomastigotes. The two last configurations confer high antigenic properties. In this review we discuss the different structures found and we pose the questions that still need investigation on the exchange of the configurations of galactose.
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