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Teixeira AF, Pereira JG, Pestana-Ascensão S, Silva MS. Trans-sialidase Protein as a Potential Serological Marker for African Trypanosomiasis. Protein J 2019; 38:50-57. [PMID: 30604107 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-018-09808-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is the etiological agent of African trypanosomiasis responsible for human and animal infections. T. brucei is transmitted by infected tsetse flies. There is no vaccine for the disease and drugs available for treatment are inefficient and high toxicity. In this context, it is a priority to find antigenic targets suitable for the development of new diagnostic tools, drugs and vaccines. In this work, we report that mice infected with T. b. brucei produce antibodies against trans-sialidase recombinant protein (TS). In addition, we also demonstrate that bloodstream T. b. brucei express messenger RNA related to the TS gene. Collectively, our data strongly suggest that bloodstream forms of T. b. brucei also express the TS gene, that to date was described only in the procyclic forms of the T. b. brucei. In conclusion, these results highlight the importance of TS protein as a possible antigen target during infection caused by T. b. brucei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Filipa Teixeira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Gomes Pereira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sónia Pestana-Ascensão
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marcelo Sousa Silva
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. .,Immunoparasitology Laboratory, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-graduação em Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
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Waespy M, Gbem TT, Elenschneider L, Jeck AP, Day CJ, Hartley-Tassell L, Bovin N, Tiralongo J, Haselhorst T, Kelm S. Carbohydrate Recognition Specificity of Trans-sialidase Lectin Domain from Trypanosoma congolense. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004120. [PMID: 26474304 PMCID: PMC4608562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fourteen different active Trypanosoma congolense trans-sialidases (TconTS), 11 variants of TconTS1 besides TconTS2, TconTS3 and TconTS4, have been described. Notably, the specific transfer and sialidase activities of these TconTS differ by orders of magnitude. Surprisingly, phylogenetic analysis of the catalytic domains (CD) grouped each of the highly active TconTS together with the less active enzymes. In contrast, when aligning lectin-like domains (LD), the highly active TconTS grouped together, leading to the hypothesis that the LD of TconTS modulates its enzymatic activity. So far, little is known about the function and ligand specificity of these LDs. To explore their carbohydrate-binding potential, glycan array analysis was performed on the LD of TconTS1, TconTS2, TconTS3 and TconTS4. In addition, Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) NMR experiments were done on TconTS2-LD for a more detailed analysis of its lectin activity. Several mannose-containing oligosaccharides, such as mannobiose, mannotriose and higher mannosylated glycans, as well as Gal, GalNAc and LacNAc containing oligosaccharides were confirmed as binding partners of TconTS1-LD and TconTS2-LD. Interestingly, terminal mannose residues are not acceptor substrates for TconTS activity. This indicates a different, yet unknown biological function for TconTS-LD, including specific interactions with oligomannose-containing glycans on glycoproteins and GPI anchors found on the surface of the parasite, including the TconTS itself. Experimental evidence for such a scenario is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Waespy
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Thaddeus T. Gbem
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Leroy Elenschneider
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - André-Philippe Jeck
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Christopher J. Day
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Nicolai Bovin
- Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Joe Tiralongo
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas Haselhorst
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sørge Kelm
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
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Biochemical diversity in the Trypanosoma congolense trans-sialidase family. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2549. [PMID: 24340108 PMCID: PMC3855035 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Trans-sialidases are key enzymes in the life cycle of African trypanosomes in both, mammalian host and insect vector and have been associated with the disease trypanosomiasis, namely sleeping sickness and nagana. Besides the previously reported TconTS1, we have identified three additional active trans-sialidases, TconTS2, TconTS3 and TconTS4, and three trans-sialidase like genes in Trypanosoma congolense. At least TconTS1, TconTS2 and TconTS4 are found in the bloodstream of infected animals. We have characterised the enzymatic properties of recombinant proteins expressed in eukaryotic fibroblasts using fetuin as model blood glycoprotein donor substrate. One of the recombinant trans-sialidases, TconTS2, had the highest specific activity reported thus far with very low sialidase activity. The active trans-sialidases share all the amino acids critical for the catalytic reaction with few variations in the predicted binding site for the leaving or acceptor glycan. However, these differences cannot explain the orders of magnitudes between their transfer activities, which must be due to other unidentified structural features of the proteins or substrates selectivity. Interestingly, the phylogenetic relationships between the lectin domains correlate with their specific trans-sialylation activities. This raises the question whether and how the lectin domains regulate the trans-sialidase reaction. The identification and enzymatic characterisation of the trans-sialidase family in T. congolense will contribute significantly towards the understanding of the roles of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of Animal African Trypanosomiasis. Trypanosomiasis is a disease also known as sleeping sickness in humans (Human African Trypanosomiasis) and nagana in animals (Animal African Trypanosomiasis). This disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma. Tsetse flies are responsible for the transmission of these parasites. Trypanosoma congolense is the main causative agent of nagana in cattle. The clinical signs of the disease have been linked to the presence of an enzyme called trans-sialidase. Interestingly, the enzyme alternates in different forms in the mammalian and the insect vector. Previous knowledge had shown that the parasite requires the enzyme for survival in the fly vector. Our current work has revealed other forms of the enzyme that could be essential for the persistence of the disease in mammalian and vector hosts. These enzymes, though similar in structural architecture, show differences in their activities that could be key in delineating their individual roles in the pathophysiology of the disease.
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Identification of trans-sialidases as a common mediator of endothelial cell activation by African trypanosomes. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003710. [PMID: 24130501 PMCID: PMC3795030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding African Trypanosomiasis (AT) host-pathogen interaction is the key to an "anti-disease vaccine", a novel strategy to control AT. Here we provide a better insight into this poorly described interaction by characterizing the activation of a panel of endothelial cells by bloodstream forms of four African trypanosome species, known to interact with host endothelium. T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. b. gambiense activated the endothelial NF-κB pathway, but interestingly, not T. b. brucei. The parasitic TS (trans-sialidases) mediated this NF-κB activation, remarkably via their lectin-like domain and induced production of pro-inflammatory molecules not only in vitro but also in vivo, suggesting a considerable impact on pathogenesis. For the first time, TS activity was identified in T. b. gambiense BSF which distinguishes it from the subspecies T. b. brucei. The corresponding TS were characterized and shown to activate endothelial cells, suggesting that TS represent a common mediator of endothelium activation among trypanosome species with divergent physiopathologies.
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Sialic acid metabolism and sialyltransferases: natural functions and applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 94:887-905. [PMID: 22526796 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4040-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Revised: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 03/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Sialic acids are a family of negatively charged monosaccharides which are commonly presented as the terminal residues in glycans of the glycoconjugates on eukaryotic cell surface or as components of capsular polysaccharides or lipooligosaccharides of some pathogenic bacteria. Due to their important biological and pathological functions, the biosynthesis, activation, transfer, breaking down, and recycle of sialic acids are attracting increasing attention. The understanding of the sialic acid metabolism in eukaryotes and bacteria leads to the development of metabolic engineering approaches for elucidating the important functions of sialic acid in mammalian systems and for large-scale production of sialosides using engineered bacterial cells. As the key enzymes in biosynthesis of sialylated structures, sialyltransferases have been continuously identified from various sources and characterized. Protein crystal structures of seven sialyltransferases have been reported. Wild-type sialyltransferases and their mutants have been applied with or without other sialoside biosynthetic enzymes for producing complex sialic acid-containing oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates. This mini-review focuses on current understanding and applications of sialic acid metabolism and sialyltransferases.
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