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Lin X, Wang W, He F, Hou H, Guo F. Molecular level toxicity effects of As(V) on Folsomia candida: Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171409. [PMID: 38432367 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a widespread metalloid with well-known toxicity. To date, numerous studies have focused on individual level toxicity (e.g., growth and reproduction) of As to typical invertebrate springtails in soils, however, the molecular level toxicity and mechanism was poorly understood. Here, an integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics approach was used to reveal responses of Folsomia candida exposed to As(V) of 10 and 60 mg kg-1 at which the individual level endpoints were influenced. Transcriptomics identified 5349 and 4020 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in low and high concentration groups, respectively, and the most DEGs were down-regulated. Enrichment analysis showed that low and high concentrations of As(V) significantly inhibited chromatin/chromosome-related biological processes (chromatin/chromosome organization, nucleosome assembly and organization, etc.) in springtails. At high concentration treatment, structural constituent of cuticle, chitin metabolic process and peptidase activity (serine-type peptidase activity, endopeptidase activity, etc.) were inhibited or disturbed. Moreover, the apoptosis pathway was significantly induced. Metabolomics analysis identified 271 differential changed metabolites (DCMs) in springtails exposed to high concentration of As. Steroid hormone biosynthesis was the most significantly affected pathway. Several DCMs that related to chitin metabolism could further support above transcriptomic results. These findings further extended the knowledge of As toxic mechanisms to soil fauna and offer important information for the environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Weiran Wang
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fei He
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Hong Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Fei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
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Mule SN, Saad JS, Sauter IP, Fernandes LR, de Oliveira GS, Quina D, Tano FT, Brandt-Almeida D, Padrón G, Stolf BS, Larsen MR, Cortez M, Palmisano G. The protein map of the protozoan parasite Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum during growth phase transition and temperature stress. J Proteomics 2024; 295:105088. [PMID: 38237666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105088] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites cause a spectrum of diseases termed leishmaniasis, which manifests in two main clinical forms, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmania promastigotes transit from proliferative exponential to quiescent stationary phases inside the insect vector, a relevant step that recapitulates early molecular events of metacyclogenesis. During the insect blood meal of the mammalian hosts, the released parasites interact initially with the skin, an event marked by temperature changes. Deep knowledge on the molecular events activated during Leishmania-host interactions in each step is crucial to develop better therapies and to understand the pathogenesis. In this study, the proteomes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis (La), Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (Lb), and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn L. L. chagasi) (Lc) were analyzed using quantitative proteomics to uncover the proteome modulation in three different conditions related to growth phases and temperature shifts: 1) exponential phase (Exp); 2) stationary phase (Sta25) and; 3) stationary phase subjected to heat stress (Sta34). Functional validations were performed using orthogonal techniques, focusing on α-tubulin, gp63 and heat shock proteins (HSPs). Species-specific and condition-specific modulation highlights the plasticity of the Leishmania proteome, showing that pathways related to metabolism and cytoskeleton are significantly modulated from exponential to stationary growth phases, while protein folding, unfolded protein binding, signaling and microtubule-based movement were differentially altered during temperature shifts. This study provides an in-depth proteome analysis of three Leishmania spp., and contributes compelling evidence of the molecular alterations of these parasites in conditions mimicking the interaction of the parasites with the insect vector and vertebrate hosts. SIGNIFICANCE: Leishmaniasis disease manifests in two main clinical forms according to the infecting Leishmania species and host immune responses, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. In Brazil, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is associated with L. braziliensis and L. amazonensis, while visceral leishmaniasis, also called kala-azar, is caused by L. infantum. Leishmania parasites remodel their proteomes during growth phase transition and changes in their mileu imposed by the host, including temperature. In this study, we performed a quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics to compare the proteome of three New world Leishmania species, L. amazonensis (La), L. braziliensis (Lb) and L. infantum (syn L. chagasi) (Lc) in three conditions: a) exponential phase at 25 °C (Exp); b) stationary phase at 25 °C (Sta25) and; c) stationary phase subjected to temperature stress at 34 °C (Sta34). This study provides an in-depth proteome analysis of three Leishmania spp. with varying pathophysiological outcomes, and contributes compelling evidence of the molecular alterations of these parasites in conditions mimicking the interaction of the parasites with the insect vector and vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ngao Mule
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joyce Silva Saad
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ismael Pretto Sauter
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Livia Rosa Fernandes
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Quina
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabia Tomie Tano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Deborah Brandt-Almeida
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Padrón
- Center for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Beatriz Simonsen Stolf
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Martin R Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Analytical Glycoimmunology Group, Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia.
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Hasan MS, Wang Y, Feugang JM, Zhou H, Liao SF. RNA sequencing analysis revealed differentially expressed genes and their functional annotation in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle affected by dietary lysine restriction. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1233292. [PMID: 38026666 PMCID: PMC10668494 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1233292] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary lysine restriction on the global gene expression profile of skeletal muscle in growing pigs. Twelve crossbred (Yorkshire × Landrace) barrows (initial BW 22.6 ± 2.04 kg) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (LDD: a lysine-deficient diet; LAD: a lysine-adequate diet) according to a completely randomized experiment design (n = 6). After feeding for 8 weeks, skeletal muscle was sampled from the longissimus dorsi of individual pigs. The muscle total RNA was isolated and cDNA libraries were prepared for RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis. The RNA-Seq data obtained was then analyzed using the CLC Genomics Workbench to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 80 genes (padj ≤ 0.05) were differentially expressed in the longissimus dorsi muscle of the pigs fed LDD vs. LAD, of which 46 genes were downregulated and 34 genes were upregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of the DEGs (padj ≤ 0.05) for functional annotation identified those GO terms that are mostly associated with the molecular functions of structural molecules and metabolic enzymes (e.g., oxidoreductase and endopeptidase), biological process of acute-phase response, and amino acid metabolism including synthesis and degradation in the extracellular matrix region. Collectively, the results of this study have provided some novel insight regarding the molecular mechanisms of muscle growth that are associated with dietary lysine supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Shamimul Hasan
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Jean M. Feugang
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
| | - Huaijun Zhou
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Shengfa F. Liao
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, United States
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Zheng Y, Young ND, Song J, Gasser RB. Genome-Wide Analysis of Haemonchus contortus Proteases and Protease Inhibitors Using Advanced Informatics Provides Insights into Parasite Biology and Host-Parasite Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12320. [PMID: 37569696 PMCID: PMC10418638 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity within the animal kingdom is associated with extensive molecular diversity. The expansion of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data sets for invertebrate groups and species with unique biological traits necessitates reliable in silico tools for the accurate identification and annotation of molecules and molecular groups. However, conventional tools are inadequate for lesser-known organismal groups, such as eukaryotic pathogens (parasites), so that improved approaches are urgently needed. Here, we established a combined sequence- and structure-based workflow system to harness well-curated publicly available data sets and resources to identify, classify and annotate proteases and protease inhibitors of a highly pathogenic parasitic roundworm (nematode) of global relevance, called Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm). This workflow performed markedly better than conventional, sequence-based classification and annotation alone and allowed the first genome-wide characterisation of protease and protease inhibitor genes and gene products in this worm. In total, we identified 790 genes encoding 860 proteases and protease inhibitors representing 83 gene families. The proteins inferred included 280 metallo-, 145 cysteine, 142 serine, 121 aspartic and 81 "mixed" proteases as well as 91 protease inhibitors, all of which had marked physicochemical diversity and inferred involvements in >400 biological processes or pathways. A detailed investigation revealed a remarkable expansion of some protease or inhibitor gene families, which are likely linked to parasitism (e.g., host-parasite interactions, immunomodulation and blood-feeding) and exhibit stage- or sex-specific transcription profiles. This investigation provides a solid foundation for detailed explorations of the structures and functions of proteases and protease inhibitors of H. contortus and related nematodes, and it could assist in the discovery of new drug or vaccine targets against infections or diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanting Zheng
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Neil D. Young
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Jiangning Song
- Department of Data Science and AI, Faculty of IT, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
- Monash Data Futures Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia;
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Wang X, Zhao N, Cai L, Liu N, Zhu J, Yang B. High-quality chromosome-level scaffolds of the plant bug Pachypeltis micranthus provide insights into the availability of Mikania micrantha control. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:339. [PMID: 37340339 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09445-8] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The plant bug, Pachypeltis micranthus Mu et Liu (Hemiptera: Miridae), is an effective potential biological control agent for Mikania micrantha H.B.K. (Asteraceae; one of the most notorious invasive weeds worldwide). However, limited knowledge about this species hindered its practical application and research. Accordingly, sequencing the genome of this mirid bug holds great significance in controlling M. micrantha. RESULTS Here, 712.72 Mb high-quality chromosome-level scaffolds of P. micranthus were generated, of which 707.51 Mb (99.27%) of assembled sequences were anchored onto 15 chromosome-level scaffolds with contig N50 of 16.84 Mb. The P. micranthus genome had the highest GC content (42.43%) and the second highest proportion of repetitive sequences (375.82 Mb, 52.73%) than the three other mirid bugs (i.e., Apolygus lucorum, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis, and Nesidiocoris tenuis). Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. micranthus clustered with other mirid bugs and diverged from the common ancestor approximately 200 million years ago. Gene family expansion and/or contraction were analyzed, and significantly expanded gene families associated with P. micranthus feeding and adaptation to M. micrantha were manually identified. Compared with the whole body, transcriptome analysis of the salivary gland revealed that most of the upregulated genes were significantly associated with metabolism pathways and peptidase activity, particularly among cysteine peptidase, serine peptidase, and polygalacturonase; this could be one of the reasons for precisely and highly efficient feeding by the oligophagous bug P. micranthus on M. micrantha. CONCLUSION Collectively, this work provides a crucial chromosome-level scaffolds resource to study the evolutionary adaptation between mirid bug and their host. It is also helpful in searching for novel environment-friendly biological strategies to control M. micrantha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiafei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Liqiong Cai
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Naiyong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Jiaying Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China.
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Oliveira AS, Aredes-Riguetti LM, Pereira BAS, Alves CR, Souza-Silva F. Degron Pathways and Leishmaniasis: Debating Potential Roles of Leishmania spp. Proteases Activity on Guiding Hosts Immune Response and Their Relevance to the Development of Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1015. [PMID: 37376405 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11061015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Degrons are short peptide sequences that signalize target sites for protein degradation by proteases. Herein, we bring forth the discussion on degrons present in proteins related to the immune system of Mus musculus that are potential targets for cysteine and serine proteases of Leishmania spp. and their possible roles on host immune regulation by parasites. The Merops database was used to identify protease substrates and proteases sequence motifs, while MAST/MEME Suite was applied to find degron motifs in murine cytokines (IFN-y, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17) and transcription factors (NF-kappaB, STAT-1, AP-1, CREB, and BACH2). STRING tool was used to construct an interaction network for the immune factors and SWISS-MODEL server to generate three-dimensional models of proteins. In silico assays confirm the occurrence of degrons in the selected immune response factors. Further analyses were conducted only in those with resolved three-dimensional structures. The predicted interaction network of degron-containing M. musculus proteins shows the possibility that the specific activity of parasite proteases could interfere with the trend of Th1/Th2 immune responses. Data suggest that degrons may play a role in the immune responses in leishmaniases as targets for parasite proteases activity, directing the degradation of specific immune-related factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriane Silva Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lara Mata Aredes-Riguetti
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
- Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Iguaçu, Avenida Abílio Augusto Távora, 2134, Dom Rodrigo, Nova Iguaçu 26260-100, RJ, Brazil
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Kumari D, Mahajan S, Kour P, Singh K. Virulence factors of Leishmania parasite: Their paramount importance in unraveling novel vaccine candidates and therapeutic targets. Life Sci 2022; 306:120829. [PMID: 35872004 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease and remains a global concern for healthcare. It is caused by an opportunistic protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania and affects millions worldwide. This disease is mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and is associated with a high risk of public morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Transmission of this deadly disease is aggravated by the bite of female sand-fly vectors (Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia). With time, significant advancement in leishmaniasis-related research has been carried out to cope with the disease burden. Still, the Leishmania parasite has also co-evolved with its host and adapted successfully within the host's lethal milieu/environment. Thus, understanding and knowledge of various leishmanial virulence factors responsible for the parasitic infection are essential for exploring drug targets and vaccine candidates. The present review elucidates the importance of virulence factors in pathogenesis and summarizes the major leishmanial virulence molecules contributing to the parasitic infection during host-pathogen interaction. Furthermore, we have also elaborated on the potential contribution of leishmanial virulence proteins in developing vaccine candidates and exploring novel therapeutics against this parasitic disease. We aim to represent a clearer picture of parasite pathogenesis within the human host that can further aid in unraveling new strategies to fight against the deadly infection of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diksha Kumari
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Shavi Mahajan
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Parampreet Kour
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Kuljit Singh
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Porta EOJ, Isern JA, Kalesh K, Steel PG. Discovery of Leishmania Druggable Serine Proteases by Activity-Based Protein Profiling. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:929493. [PMID: 35910377 PMCID: PMC9335491 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.929493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis are a group of diseases caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Current treatments are limited by difficult administration, high cost, poor efficacy, toxicity, and growing resistance. New agents, with new mechanisms of action, are urgently needed to treat the disease. Although extensively studied in other organisms, serine proteases (SPs) have not been widely explored as antileishmanial drug targets. Herein, we report for the first time an activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) strategy to investigate new therapeutic targets within the SPs of the Leishmania parasites. Active-site directed fluorophosphonate probes (rhodamine and biotin-conjugated) were used for the detection and identification of active Leishmania serine hydrolases (SHs). Significant differences were observed in the SHs expression levels throughout the Leishmania life cycle and between different Leishmania species. Using iTRAQ-labelling-based quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry, we identified two targetable SPs in Leishmania mexicana: carboxypeptidase LmxM.18.0450 and prolyl oligopeptidase LmxM.36.6750. Druggability was ascertained by selective inhibition using the commercial serine protease inhibitors chymostatin, lactacystin and ZPP, which represent templates for future anti-leishmanial drug discovery programs. Collectively, the use of ABPP method complements existing genetic methods for target identification and validation in Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jaime A Isern
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Karunakaran Kalesh
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
- National Horizons Centre, Darlington, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick G Steel
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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Gomes PS, Carneiro MPD, Machado PDA, de Andrade-Neto VV, da Fonseca-Martins AM, Goundry A, Pereira da Silva JVM, Gomes DCO, Lima APCDA, Ennes-Vidal V, Sodero ACR, De-Simone SG, de Matos Guedes HL. Subtilisin of Leishmania amazonensis as Potential Druggable Target: Subcellular Localization, In Vitro Leishmanicidal Activity and Molecular Docking of PF-429242, a Subtilisin Inhibitor. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:2089-2106. [PMID: 35678670 PMCID: PMC9164065 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44050141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Subtilisin proteases, found in all organisms, are enzymes important in the post-translational steps of protein processing. In Leishmania major and L. donovani, this enzyme has been described as essential to their survival; however, few compounds that target subtilisin have been investigated for their potential as an antileishmanial drug. In this study, we first show, by electron microscopy and flow cytometry, that subtilisin has broad localization throughout the cytoplasm and membrane of the parasite in the promastigote form with foci in the flagellar pocket. Through in silico analysis, the similarity between subtilisin of different Leishmania species and that of humans were determined, and based on molecular docking, we evaluated the interaction capacity of a serine protease inhibitor against both life cycle forms of Leishmania. The selected inhibitor, known as PF-429242, has already been used against the dengue virus, arenaviruses, and the hepatitis C virus. Moreover, it proved to have antilipogenic activity in a mouse model and caused hypolipidemia in human cells in vitro. Here, PF-429242 significantly inhibited the growth of L. amazonensis promastigotes of four different strains (IC50 values = 3.07 ± 0.20; 0.83 ± 0.12; 2.02 ± 0.27 and 5.83 ± 1.2 µM against LTB0016, PH8, Josefa and LV78 strains) whilst having low toxicity in the host macrophages (CC50 = 170.30 µM). We detected by flow cytometry that there is a greater expression of subtilisin in the amastigote form; however, PF-429242 had a low effect against this intracellular form with an IC50 of >100 µM for intracellular amastigotes, as well as against axenic amastigotes (94.12 ± 2.8 µM for the LV78 strain). In conclusion, even though PF-429242 does not affect the intracellular forms, this drug will serve as a tool to explore pharmacological and potentially leishmanicidal targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pollyanna Stephanie Gomes
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Monique Pacheco Duarte Carneiro
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular de Proteases, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (A.G.); (A.P.C.d.A.L.)
| | - Patrícia de Almeida Machado
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Valter Viana de Andrade-Neto
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil;
| | - Alessandra Marcia da Fonseca-Martins
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Amy Goundry
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular de Proteases, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (A.G.); (A.P.C.d.A.L.)
| | | | | | - Ana Paula Cabral de Araujo Lima
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular de Proteases, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (A.G.); (A.P.C.d.A.L.)
| | - Vítor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil;
| | - Ana Carolina Rennó Sodero
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil; (J.V.M.P.d.S.); (A.C.R.S.)
| | - Salvatore Giovanni De-Simone
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24020-141, Brazil
| | - Herbert L. de Matos Guedes
- Laboratório de Imunologia Clínica, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz—Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil; (P.S.G.); (M.P.D.C.); (P.d.A.M.); (A.M.d.F.-M.)
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho IBCCF, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-170, Brazil
- Laboratório de Imunobiotecnologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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10
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Zabala-Peñafiel A, Cysne-Finkelstein L, Conceição-Silva F, Fagundes A, Miranda LDFC, Souza-Silva F, Brandt AAML, Dias-Lopes G, Alves CR. Novel Insights Into Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis In Vitro Fitness Guided by Temperature Changes Along With Its Subtilisins and Oligopeptidase B. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:805106. [PMID: 35531337 PMCID: PMC9069558 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.805106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteases are virulence factors with a recognized impact on the Leishmania spp. life cycle. This study considers a set of analyses measuring phenotypic factors of L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates as promastigotes growth curves, murine peritoneal macrophages infection, inflammatory mediators production, and serine proteases gene expression (subtilisin 13: S13, subtilisin 28: S28, oligopeptidase B: OPB) assessing these isolates’ fitness on in vitro conditions. Parasites had different behavior during the early growth phase from day zero to day three, and all isolates reached the stationary growth phase between days four and seven. Macrophages infection showed two tendencies, one of decreased infection rate and number of parasites per macrophage (Infection Index <1000) and another with a constant infection index (≥1400). TNF-α (≥10 pg/mL) detected in infections by 75% of isolates, IL-6 (≥80 pg/mL) by 30% of isolates and low levels of NO (≥0.01µM) in almost all infections. Gene expression showed higher values of S13 (≥2RQ) in the intracellular amastigotes of all the isolates evaluated. On the contrary, S28 expression was low (≤1RQ) in all isolates. OPB expression was different between promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, being significantly higher (≥2RQ) in the latter form of 58% of the isolates. Predictive structural assays of S13 and OPB were performed to explore temperature influence on gene expression and the encoded proteases. Gene expression data is discussed based on in silico predictions of regulatory regions that show plasticity in the linearity index of secondary structures of S13 and OPB 3’-untranslated regions of mRNA, dependent on temperature changes. While hairpin structures suggest an active region of mRNA for both genes above 26°C, pseudoknot structure found in S13 is an indication of a particular profile of this gene at mammalian host temperatures (37°C). Furthermore, the predicted 3D structures are in accordance with the influence of these temperatures on the catalytic site stability of both enzymes, favoring their action over peptide substrates. Data gathered here suggest that L. (V.) braziliensis serine proteases can be influenced by the temperature conditions affecting parasite fitness throughout its life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabel Zabala-Peñafiel
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lea Cysne-Finkelstein
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fatima Conceição-Silva
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Aline Fagundes
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana de Freitas Campos Miranda
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica e Vigilância em Leishmanioses, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Universidade Iguaçu, Dom Rodrigo, Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Artur A. M. L. Brandt
- Departamento de Computação e Sistemas, Faculdade de Educação Tecnológica do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciência da Computação, Univeritas-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Geovane Dias-Lopes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Geovane Dias-Lopes, ; Carlos Roberto Alves,
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Geovane Dias-Lopes, ; Carlos Roberto Alves,
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11
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Li J, Xu Y, Li N, Zuo R, Zhai Y, Chen H. Thyroid Hormone Disruption by Organophosphate Esters Is Mediated by Nuclear/Membrane Thyroid Hormone Receptors: In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:4241-4250. [PMID: 35262344 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Earlier mechanistic studies of many prohibited flame retardants (FRs) highlighted their thyroid hormone-disrupting activity through nuclear thyroid hormone receptors (nTRs), whereas some alternative FRs such as organophosphate esters (OPEs) exerted weak nTR-disrupting effects. However, an increasing number of studies have revealed that OPEs also exert thyroid hormone-disrupting effects, and the underlying mechanism is unclear. Herein, the thyroid hormone-disrupting effects and mechanisms of 8 typical OPEs were investigated using integrated in vitro, in vivo, and in silico assays. All tested chemicals competitively bound to the membrane thyroid hormone receptor (mTR) [the 20% relative inhibitory concentration (RIC20): (3.5 ± 0.2) × 101 to (4.9 ± 1.0) × 107 nM], and Cl-OPEs and alkyl-OPEs had lower RIC20 values. In contrast, only 4 OPEs showed nTR antagonistic activities at higher concentrations [≥ (4.8 ± 0.8) × 103 nM]. Cl-OPEs and alkyl-OPEs preferentially interacted with mTR. Molecular docking illustrated that OPEs docked into mTRs, consistent with the competitive binding assay. In vivo analyses of zebrafish embryonic development confirmed that tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate induced inappropriate expression of proteins, and these protein interactions might be associated with mTR according to the quantitative proteomic analysis. Based on the results, mTR might play a critical role in mediating the thyroid hormone-disrupting effects of OPEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Rui Zuo
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yuanzheng Zhai
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Haiyang Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Groundwater Pollution Control and Remediation, Ministry of Education, College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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12
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Serine proteases profiles of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clinical isolates with distinct susceptibilities to antimony. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14234. [PMID: 34244581 PMCID: PMC8271011 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucantime (SbV) is the first-line treatment against American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis. Resistance cases to this drug have been reported and related to host characteristics and parasite phenotypes. In this study, 12 Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis isolates from patients that presented clinical cure (Responders—R) and relapse or therapeutic failure (Non-responders—NR) after treatment with antimony, were analyzed. These parasites were assessed by in vitro susceptibility to SbIII and SbV, serine proteases activity measured with substrate (z-FR-AMC) and specific inhibitors (TLCK, AEBSF and PMSF). In vitro susceptibility of axenic amastigotes to SbIII showed a significant difference between R and NR groups. The protease assays showed that TLCK inhibited almost 100% of activity in both axenic amastigotes and promastigotes while AEBSF inhibited around 70%, and PMSF showed lower inhibition of some isolates. Principal component and clustering analysis performed with these data yielded one homogeneous cluster with only NR isolates and three heterogeneous clusters with R and NR isolates. Additionally, differential expression of subtilisins (LbrM.13.0860 and LbrM.28.2570) and TXNPx (LbrM.15.1080) was evaluated in promastigotes and axenic amastigotes from both groups. The results showed a higher expression of LbrM.13.0860 and LbrM.15.1080 genes in axenic amastigotes, while LbrM.28.2570 gene had the lowest expression in all isolates, regardless of the parasite form. The data presented here show a phenotypic heterogeneity among the parasites, suggesting that exploration of in vitro phenotypes based on SbIII and serine proteases profiles can aid in the characterization of L. (V.) braziliensis clinical isolates.
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13
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Taghavi N, Udugama IA, Zhuang WQ, Baroutian S. Challenges in biodegradation of non-degradable thermoplastic waste: From environmental impact to operational readiness. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 49:107731. [PMID: 33785376 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Non-degradable plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are among the most generated plastic wastes in municipal and industrial waste streams. The mismanagement of abandoned plastics and toxic plastic additives have threatened marine and land fauna as well as human beings for several decades. The available thermal processes can degrade plastic at pilot- and commercial-scale. However, they are energy-intensive and can generate toxic gases. Degradation of plastic waste with the help of live microorganisms (biodegradation) is an eco- and environmentally friendly method for plastic degradation, although the slow processing time and low degradation rate still hinder its applications at pilot- and large-scale. In this review, the advantages and limitations of current plastic degradation methods, their technology readiness levels (TRL), biodegradation mechanisms and the associated challenges in biodegradation are assessed in detail. Based on this analysis, a path toward an efficient and greener way toward degradation of non-recyclable single-use PE, PP, PS and PET plastic is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navid Taghavi
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Isuru Abeykoon Udugama
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; Process and Systems Engineering Centre (PROSYS), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Wei-Qin Zhuang
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Saeid Baroutian
- Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
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14
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Lin X, Wang W, Ma J, Sun Z, Hou H, Zhao L. Study on molecular level toxicity of Sb(V) to soil springtails: using a combination of transcriptomics and metabolomics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 761:144097. [PMID: 33360133 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To date, numerous studies have focused on the toxicity of antimony (Sb) to soil-dwelling organisms at the individual level. However, little is known about Sb-caused molecular level toxicity. Here, an integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics approach was used to better reveal toxicity of Sb(V) to springtails Folsomia candida considering environmentally relevant speciation of Sb. No significant effects of Sb(V) on survival, reproduction and growth of springtails were observed using the ISO standard test. Transcriptomics analysis identified 1015 and 3367 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after 2 and 7 d of exposure, indicating an increasing transcriptomal changes with time. Significantly enriched top GO (Gene Ontology) terms (chitin metabolic process, chitin binding and extracellular region) were shared between the two time exposure groups. However, no enriched KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway was shared, with fatty acid metabolism and apoptosis-fly being the most significant pathway, respectively. Metabolomics analysis identified 155 differential changed metabolites (DCMs) in springtails after 7 d of exposure. Antifolate resistance was the most significantly enriched pathway, in which dihydrofolic acid was up-regulated and three purine nucleotides (adenosine 5'-monophosphate, inosine 5'-monophosphate, guanosine 5'-monophosphate) were down-regulated. This indicated obvious repression of DNA replication, which was also observed by transcriptomics. Additionally, metabolites level related to chitin, oxidative stress, and protein metabolism significantly changed, and these metabolites could also support and confirm main transcriptomic results. Thus, the combination of multiomics facilitated better understanding of the molecular level of toxicity of Sb(V) in Collembola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100000, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Weiran Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Jin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Zaijin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Hong Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100000, China.
| | - Long Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100000, China.
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15
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Elmahallawy EK, Alkhaldi AAM. Insights into Leishmania Molecules and Their Potential Contribution to the Virulence of the Parasite. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8020033. [PMID: 33672776 PMCID: PMC7924612 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8020033] [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: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neglected parasitic diseases affect millions of people worldwide, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Among other parasitic diseases, leishmaniasis remains an important public health problem caused by the protozoa of the genus Leishmania, transmitted by the bite of the female sand fly. The disease has also been linked to tropical and subtropical regions, in addition to being an endemic disease in many areas around the world, including the Mediterranean basin and South America. Although recent years have witnessed marked advances in Leishmania-related research in various directions, many issues have yet to be elucidated. The intention of the present review is to give an overview of the major virulence factors contributing to the pathogenicity of the parasite. We aimed to provide a concise picture of the factors influencing the reaction of the parasite in its host that might help to develop novel chemotherapeutic and vaccine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehab Kotb Elmahallawy
- Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt
- Correspondence: (E.K.E.); (A.A.M.A.)
| | - Abdulsalam A. M. Alkhaldi
- Biology Department, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf 2014, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (E.K.E.); (A.A.M.A.)
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16
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Mercado-Camargo J, Cervantes-Ceballos L, Vivas-Reyes R, Pedretti A, Serrano-García ML, Gómez-Estrada H. Homology Modeling of Leishmanolysin (gp63) from Leishmania panamensis and Molecular Docking of Flavonoids. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:14741-14749. [PMID: 32596611 PMCID: PMC7315592 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c01584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a chronic disease caused by protozoa of the distinct Leishmania genus transmitted by sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus (old world) and Lutzomyia (new world). Among the molecular factors that contribute to the virulence and pathogenesis of Leishmania are metalloproteases, e.g., glycoprotein 63 (gp63), also known as leishmanolysin or major surface protease (MSP). This protease is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease that is found on the surface of the parasite, abundant in Leishmania promastigote and amastigote. This study describes the prediction of three-dimensional (3D) structures of leishmanolysin (UniProt ID A0A088RJX7) of Leishmania panamensis employing a homology modeling approach. The 3D structure prediction was performed using the SWISS-MODEL web server. The tools PROCHECK, Molprobyty, and Verify3D were used to check the quality of the model, indicating that they are reliable. Best docking configurations were identified applying AutoDock Vina in PyRx 0.8 to obtain a potential antileishmanial activity. Biflavonoids such as lanaroflavone, podocarpusflavone A, amentoflavone, and podocarpusflavone B showed good scores among these molecules. Lanaroflavone appears to be the most suitable compound from binding affinity calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jairo Mercado-Camargo
- Grupo
de Investigación en Química Orgánica Medicinal,
Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Cartagna, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Leonor Cervantes-Ceballos
- Grupo
de Investigación en Química Orgánica Medicinal,
Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Cartagna, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Ricardo Vivas-Reyes
- Grupo
de Química Cuántica y Teórica, Facultad
de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad
de Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
- Grupo
Ciptec, Facultad de Ingeniería, Fundacion Universitaria Comfenalco, Programa de Ingeniería
Industrial, Cartagena, Colombia
- Grupo
Ginumec, Facultad de Salud, Corporación
Universitaria Rafael Núñez, Programa de Medicina, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Alessandro Pedretti
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Farmaceutiche “Pietro Pratesi”, Università degli Studi di Milano, via L. Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Harold Gómez-Estrada
- Grupo
de Investigación en Química Orgánica Medicinal,
Facultad de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Cartagna, Cartagena, Colombia
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17
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Park K, Kwak IS. Cadmium-induced developmental alteration and upregulation of serine-type endopeptidase transcripts in wild freshwater populations of Chironomus plumosus. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2020; 192:110240. [PMID: 32014723 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, is a persistent environmental contaminant with irreversible toxicity to aquatic organisms. Chironomus plumosus, a natural species, is the largest sediment-burrowing aquatic midge in freshwater environments. In this study, we evaluated developmental defects in C. plumosus resulting from Cd exposure. In C. plumosus larvae, Cd exposure induced decreased survival and growth rates, reduction of emergence rate and sex ratio, and delayed emergence, as well as elevating the incidence of split tooth deformities. To identify potential biomarker genes to assess environmental pollutants such as Cd, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in C. plumosus exposed to various Cd concentrations. Among fourteen characterized DEGs, serine-type endopeptidase (SP) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) genes exhibited significant upregulation in C. plumosus larvae after Cd exposure. Therefore, we evaluated SP and HSP70 responses in natural C. plumosus populations collected from three sites of a Korean river and analyzed their correlations with eighteen environmental quality characteristics using principal component analysis. The highest expression of SP and HSP70 transcripts was observed in C. plumosus populations from Yeosu in Korea, which has high concentrations of polluting heavy metals. SP transcript expression was positively correlated with concentrations of Cd, Pb, Al, Fe, NO2, and NO3. These results suggested that environmental pollutants such as Cd can impair proteolytic activity in the digestive system of C. plumosus and may ultimately induce developmental alterations. We therefore suggest SP as a potential biomarker to assess the effects of environmental pollutants in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyun Park
- Fisheries Science Institute, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, 59626, South Korea
| | - Ihn-Sil Kwak
- Fisheries Science Institute, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, 59626, South Korea; Faculty of Marine Technology, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, 550-749, South Korea.
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18
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Santos-de-Souza R, Monteiro de Castro Côrtes L, Dos Santos Charret K, Cysne-Finkelstein L, Alves CR, Souza-Silva F. Serine Proteinases in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis Promastigotes Have Distinct Subcellular Distributions and Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061315. [PMID: 30875904 PMCID: PMC6471289 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine proteinases in Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis promastigotes were assessed in this work. This study included the investigation of the enzymatic activity of subcellular fractions obtained from benzamidine affinity chromatography, reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions, and in silico assays of subcellular localization of subtilisin. Promastigote serine proteinases showed gelatinolytic activity with molecular masses of 43 kDa to 170 kDa in the cytosolic fraction and 67 kDa to 170 kDa in the membranous fraction. Serine proteinase activities were detected using N-benzyloxycarbonyl-l-phenylalanyl-l-arginine 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Z-FR-AMC) and N-succinyl-l-alanine-l-phenylalanine-l-lysine 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Suc-AFK-AMC) as substrates in the cytosolic fraction (Z-FR-AMC = 392 ± 30 µmol.min−1 mg of protein−1 and Suc-AFK-AMC = 252 ± 20 µmol.min−1 mg of protein−1) and in the membranous fraction (Z-FR-AMC = 53 ± 5 µmol.min−1 mg of protein−1 and Suc-AFK-AMC = 63.6 ± 6.5 µmol.min−1 mg of protein−1). Enzyme specificity was shown by inhibition with aprotinin (19% to 80% inhibition) and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (3% to 69%), depending on the subcellular fraction and substrate. The expression of subtilisin (LbrM.13.0860 and LbrM.28.2570) and tryparedoxin peroxidase (LbrM.15.1080) genes was observed by the detection of RNA transcripts 200 bp, 162 bp, and 166 bp long, respectively. Subsequent in silico assays showed LbrM.13.0860 can be located in the cytosol and LbrM.28.2570 in the membrane of the parasite. Data obtained here show the subcellular distribution and expression of serine proteinases, including the subtilisin-like serine proteinases in L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Santos-de-Souza
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
| | - Luzia Monteiro de Castro Côrtes
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
| | - Karen Dos Santos Charret
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
| | - Léa Cysne-Finkelstein
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Roberto Alves
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
| | - Franklin Souza-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Avenida Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil.
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19
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Serine protease inhibitors rich Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt leaf extract induces protective immune responses in murine visceral leishmaniasis. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 111:224-235. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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