1
|
de Brito EDCA, França ADO, Siqueira IV, Félix VLT, Rezende AA, Amorim BC, da Silva SER, Mendes RP, Weber SS, Paniago AMM. Analysis and Interpretation of Automated Blood Count in the Treatment of Chronic Paracoccidioidomycosis. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:317. [PMID: 38786672 PMCID: PMC11122400 DOI: 10.3390/jof10050317] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood count is crucial for assessing bone marrow's cell production and differentiation during infections, gaging disease severity, and monitoring therapeutic responses. The profile of blood count in chronic forms of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) has been insufficiently explored. To better understand the changes in hematological cells in different stages of the PCM chronic form, we evaluated the blood count, including immature blood cells in automated equipment, before and during the treatment follow-up of 62 chronic PCM patients. Predominantly male (96.8%) with an average age of 54.3 (standard deviation SD 6.9) years, participants exhibited pre-treatment conditions such as anemia (45.2%), monocytosis (38.7%), and leukocytosis (17.7%), which became less frequent after clinical cure. Anemia was more prevalent in severe cases. Notably, hemoglobin and reticulocyte hemoglobin content increased, while leukocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, immature granulocytes, and platelets decreased. Chronic PCM induced manageable hematological abnormalities, mainly in the red blood series. Monocytosis, indicating monocytes' role in PCM's immune response, was frequent. Post-treatment, especially after achieving clinical cure, significant improvements were observed in various hematological indices, including immature granulocytes and reticulocyte hemoglobin content, underscoring the impact of infection on these parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eliana da Costa Alvarenga de Brito
- Graduate Program in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (E.d.C.A.d.B.); (A.d.O.F.); (B.C.A.)
| | - Adriana de Oliveira França
- Graduate Program in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (E.d.C.A.d.B.); (A.d.O.F.); (B.C.A.)
| | - Igor Valadares Siqueira
- Scientific Initiation CNPq, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (I.V.S.); (V.L.T.F.); (A.A.R.); (S.E.R.d.S.)
| | - Vinícius Lopes Teodoro Félix
- Scientific Initiation CNPq, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (I.V.S.); (V.L.T.F.); (A.A.R.); (S.E.R.d.S.)
| | - Amanda Alves Rezende
- Scientific Initiation CNPq, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (I.V.S.); (V.L.T.F.); (A.A.R.); (S.E.R.d.S.)
| | - Bárbara Casella Amorim
- Graduate Program in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (E.d.C.A.d.B.); (A.d.O.F.); (B.C.A.)
| | - Suzane Eberhart Ribeiro da Silva
- Scientific Initiation CNPq, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (I.V.S.); (V.L.T.F.); (A.A.R.); (S.E.R.d.S.)
| | - Rinaldo Poncio Mendes
- Department of Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil;
| | - Simone Schneider Weber
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil;
| | - Anamaria Mello Miranda Paniago
- Graduate Program in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil; (E.d.C.A.d.B.); (A.d.O.F.); (B.C.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ariza Y, Cubides CL, Cubillos DA, Roa CL, Álvarez JC, Cuervo-Maldonado SI. Make the diagnosis - Second part. BIOMEDICA : REVISTA DEL INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE SALUD 2023; 43:312-322. [PMID: 37721895 PMCID: PMC10586880 DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.7219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yenny Ariza
- Grupo de Medicina Interna e Infectología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| | - Cristian Leonardo Cubides
- Grupo de Medicina Interna e Infectología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas en Cáncer y Alteraciones Hematológicas, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| | - Daniel Alejandro Cubillos
- Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas en Cáncer y Alteraciones Hematológicas, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| | - Carmen Lucía Roa
- Grupo de Medicina Interna e Infectología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| | - José Camilo Álvarez
- Grupo de Medicina Interna e Infectología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas en Cáncer y Alteraciones Hematológicas, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| | - Sonia Isabel Cuervo-Maldonado
- Grupo de Medicina Interna e Infectología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas en Cáncer y Alteraciones Hematológicas, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Inácio MM, Moreira ALE, Cruz-Leite VRM, Mattos K, Silva LOS, Venturini J, Ruiz OH, Ribeiro-Dias F, Weber SS, Soares CMDA, Borges CL. Fungal Vaccine Development: State of the Art and Perspectives Using Immunoinformatics. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:633. [PMID: 37367569 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections represent a serious global health problem, causing damage to health and the economy on the scale of millions. Although vaccines are the most effective therapeutic approach used to combat infectious agents, at the moment, no fungal vaccine has been approved for use in humans. However, the scientific community has been working hard to overcome this challenge. In this sense, we aim to describe here an update on the development of fungal vaccines and the progress of methodological and experimental immunotherapies against fungal infections. In addition, advances in immunoinformatic tools are described as an important aid by which to overcome the difficulty of achieving success in fungal vaccine development. In silico approaches are great options for the most important and difficult questions regarding the attainment of an efficient fungal vaccine. Here, we suggest how bioinformatic tools could contribute, considering the main challenges, to an effective fungal vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Morais Inácio
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
- Estácio de Goiás University Center, Goiânia 74063-010, Brazil
| | - André Luís Elias Moreira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
| | | | - Karine Mattos
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Lana O'Hara Souza Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
| | - James Venturini
- Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Orville Hernandez Ruiz
- MICROBA Research Group-Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit-CIB, School of Microbiology, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Fátima Ribeiro-Dias
- Laboratório de Imunidade Natural (LIN), Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74001-970, Brazil
| | - Simone Schneider Weber
- Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
| | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74605-170, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Silva LOS, Moreira TR, Gonçales RA, Tomazett MV, Parente-Rocha JA, Mattos K, Paccez JD, Ruiz OH, Pereira M, Soares CMDA, Weber SS, Cruz-Leite VRM, Borges CL. Paracoccidioides lutzii Formamidase Contributes to Fungal Survival in Macrophages. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102011. [PMID: 36296287 PMCID: PMC9608497 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102011] [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: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for microorganisms that compose essential biomolecules. However, hosts limit this nutrient as a strategy to counter infections, therefore, pathogens use adaptive mechanisms to uptake nitrogen from alternative sources. In fungi, nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR) activates transcription factors to acquire nitrogen from alternative sources when preferential sources are absent. Formamidase has been related to nitrogen depletion in Aspergillus nidulans through formamide degradation to use the released ammonia as a nitrogen source. In Paracoccidioides spp., formamidase is highly expressed in transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Here, we aim to investigate the importance of formamidase to Paracoccidioides lutzii. Thereby, we developed a P. lutzii silenced strain of fmd gene (AsFmd) by antisense RNA technology using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). The AsFmd strain led to increased urease expression, an enzyme related to nitrogen assimilation in other fungi, suggesting that P. lutzii might explore urease as an alternative route for ammonia metabolism as a nitrogen source. Moreover, formamidase was important for fungal survival inside macrophages, as fungal recovery after macrophage infection was lower in AsFmd compared to wild-type (WT) strain. Our findings suggest potential alternatives of nitrogen acquisition regulation in P. lutzii, evidencing formamidase influence in fungal virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lana O’Hara Souza Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Thalison Rodrigues Moreira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Relber Aguiar Gonçales
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4700-000 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4800-000 Braga, Portugal
| | - Mariana Vieira Tomazett
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana Alves Parente-Rocha
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Karine Mattos
- Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Juliano Domiraci Paccez
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Orville Hernandez Ruiz
- MICROBA Research Group—Cellular and Molecular Biology Unit—CIB, School of Microbiology, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Simone Schneider Weber
- Bioscience Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Rafaela Milhomem Cruz-Leite
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (V.R.M.C.-L.); (C.L.B.); Tel.: +55-62-3521-1110 (C.L.B.)
| | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
- Correspondence: (V.R.M.C.-L.); (C.L.B.); Tel.: +55-62-3521-1110 (C.L.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Corrêa PC, Fernandes FF, Costa MV, Landgraf TN, Panunto-Castelo A. Biochemical characterization and analysis of gene expression of an α-mannosidase secreted by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Med Mycol 2022; 60:6514532. [PMID: 35076076 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myac002] [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: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by fungi of the Paracoccidioides genus, being endemic in Latin America and with the highest number of cases in Brazil. Paracoccidioides spp. release a wide range of molecules, such as enzymes, which may be important for PCM establishment. Here, we identified the 85- and 90-kDa proteins from the supernatants of P. brasiliensis cultures as being an α-mannosidase. Because the expected mass of this α-mannosidase is 124.2-kDa, we suggest that the proteins were cleavage products. Indeed, we found an α-mannosidase activity in the culture supernatants among the excreted/secreted antigens (ESAg). Moreover, we determined that the enzyme activity was optimal in buffer at pH 5.6, at the temperature of 45ºC, and with a concentration of 3 mM of the substrate p-NP-α-D-Man. Remarkably, we showed that the gene expression of this α-mannosidase was higher in yeasts than hyphae in three P. brasiliensis isolates with different virulence degrees that were grown in Ham's F12 synthetic medium for 15 days. But in complex media YPD and Fava Netto, the significantly higher gene expression in yeasts than in hyphae was seen only for the virulent isolate Pb18, but not for intermediate virulence Pb339 and low virulence Pb265 isolates. These results about the high expression of the α-mannosidase gene in the pathogenic yeast form of P. brasiliensis open perspectives for studying this α-mannosidase concerning the virulence of P. brasiliensis isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priscila C Corrêa
- Graduate Program in Basic and Applied Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo V Costa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ademilson Panunto-Castelo
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Invariant Natural Killer T Cells as Key Players in Host Resistance against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:6673722. [PMID: 33954206 PMCID: PMC8064773 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6673722] [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: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are key players in the immunity to several pathogens; however, their involvement in the resistance to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection remains unknown. Using splenocytes from CD1d (CD1d−/−) and iNKT-deficient (Jα18−/−) mice, we found that iNKT cells are the innate source of IFN-γ after P. brasiliensis infection and are required to potentiate macrophage oxidative burst and control fungal growth. To determine whether iNKT cells contribute in vivo to host resistance against P. brasiliensis infection, we infected intratracheally wild-type and Jα18−/− C57BL/6 mouse strains with the virulent Pb18 isolate. iNKT cell deficiency impaired the airway acute inflammatory response, resulting in decreased airway neutrophilia and reduced IFN-γ, KC, and nitric oxide (NO) production. The deficient innate immune response of Jα18−/− mice to Pb18 infection resulted in increased fungal burden in the lungs and spleen. Besides, the activation of iNKT cells in vivo by administration of the exogenous iNKT ligand α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) improved host resistance to P. brasiliensis infection. Although the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain to be clarified, α-GalCer treatment boosted the local inflammatory response and reduced pulmonary fungal burden. In conclusion, our study is the first evidence that iNKT cells are important for the protective immunity to P. brasiliensis infection and their activation by an exogenous ligand is sufficient to improve the host resistance to this fungal infection.
Collapse
|
7
|
Silva JDC, Thompson-Souza GDA, Barroso MV, Neves JS, Figueiredo RT. Neutrophil and Eosinophil DNA Extracellular Trap Formation: Lessons From Pathogenic Fungi. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:634043. [PMID: 33679665 PMCID: PMC7929991 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.634043] [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: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections represent a worldwide health problem. Fungal pathogens are responsible for a variety of conditions, including superficial diseases, allergic pathologies and potentially lethal invasive infections. Neutrophils and eosinophils have been implicated as effector cells in several pathologies. Neutrophils are major effector cells involved in the control of fungal infections and exhibit a plethora of antifungal mechanisms, such as phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species production, degranulation, extracellular vesicle formation, and DNA extracellular trap (ET) release. Eosinophils are polymorphonuclear cells classically implicated as effector cells in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and helminthic infections, although their roles as immunomodulatory players in both innate and adaptive immunity are currently recognized. Eosinophils are also endowed with antifungal activities and are abundantly found in allergic conditions associated with fungal colonization and sensitization. Neutrophils and eosinophils have been demonstrated to release their nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in response to many pathogens and pro-inflammatory stimuli. ETs have been implicated in the killing and control of many pathogens, as well as in promoting inflammation and tissue damage. The formation of ETs by neutrophils and eosinophils has been described in response to pathogenic fungi. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms involved in the release of neutrophil and eosinophil ETs in response to fungal pathogens. General implications for understanding the formation of ETs and the roles of ETs in fungal infections are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana da Costa Silva
- Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marina Valente Barroso
- Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Josiane Sabbadini Neves
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|