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Determination of lumefantrine as an effective drug against Toxoplasma gondii infection - in vitro and in vivo study. Parasitology 2020; 148:122-128. [PMID: 33087183 PMCID: PMC7808861 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020002036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans, leading to toxoplasmosis. Currently, the effective treatment for human toxoplasmosis is the combination of sulphadiazine and pyrimethamine. However, both drugs have serious side-effects and toxicity in the host. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the discovery of new anti-T. gondii drugs with high potency and less or no side-effects. Our findings suggest that lumefantrine exerts activity against T. gondii by inhibiting its proliferation in Vero cells in vitro without being toxic to Vero cells (P ≤ 0.01). Lumefantrine prolonged mice infected with T. gondii from death for 3 days at the concentration of 50 μg L−1 than negative control (phosphate-buffered saline treated only), and reduced the parasite burden in mouse tissues in vivo (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.05). In addition, a significant increase in interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production was observed in high-dose lumefantrine-treated mice (P ≤ 0.01), whereas interleukin 10 (IL-10) and IL-4 levels increased in low-dose lumefantrine-treated mice (P ≤ 0.01). The results demonstrated that lumefantrine may be a promising agent to treat toxoplasmosis, and more experiments on the protective mechanism of lumefantrine should be undertaken in further studies.
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El-Ashram S, Zhang Y, Ji Y, Salama D, Mei K, Zhili L, Shujian H, Zhang H, Aboelhadid SM, Alajmi RA, Metwally DM, El-Khadragy MF, Hargis BM, Tellez-Isaias G, Cenci-Goga BT, Karama M, Marufu MC, Abouhajer F, Ali Abdelhafez Hamady G, El Wakil A, Al Nasr I, Suo X. A rapid and simple single-step method for the purification of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Vet Med Sci 2020; 7:357-361. [PMID: 32979302 PMCID: PMC8025613 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes a simple method for the large‐scale isolation of pure Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites. T. gondii tachyzoites were obtained from infected human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and peritoneal exudates of mice, while tissue cysts containing bradyzoites were collected from chronically infected mice. Harvested cells and brain tissues were incubated in Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS), containing 0.25% trypsin and 0.5% taurodeoxycholic acid (TDC) for 5 min. Subsequent washes in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were conducted, and the cell viability of the preparations was good, as determined by flow cytometry and ability to reinfect HFF cells and propagate in mice. The purification procedure allowed for a rapid preparation of pure T. gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites in sufficient quantity that can be used for downstream procedures. The advantage of the new method is that it is convenient and inexpensive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed El-Ashram
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China.,Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr el-Sheikh, Egypt
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongsheng Ji
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Dina Salama
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Disease, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.,Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Kun Mei
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Li Zhili
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huang Shujian
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Haoji Zhang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shawky M Aboelhadid
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Reem A Alajmi
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dina M Metwally
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manal F El-Khadragy
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Billy M Hargis
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | | | - Beniamino T Cenci-Goga
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Laboratorio di Ispezione degli Alimenti di Origine Animale, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Musafiri Karama
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Munyaradzi C Marufu
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Fathi Abouhajer
- Faculty of Education, Asmarya University for Islamic Sciences, Zliten, Libya
| | | | - Abeer El Wakil
- Department of Biological & Geological Sciences, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim Al Nasr
- College of Science and Arts in Unaizah, Qassim University, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia.,College of Applied Health Sciences in Ar Rass, Qassim University, Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xun Suo
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Jin Y, Yao Y, El-Ashram S, Tian J, Shen J, Ji Y. The Neurotropic Parasite Toxoplasma gondii Induces Astrocyte Polarization Through NFκB Pathway. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:267. [PMID: 31803748 PMCID: PMC6877604 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that chronically infects nearly one-third of the world's human population. In immunosuppressed individuals and fetus, infection with T. gondii contributes to a series of devastating conditions, including toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE), which is characterized by neuron damage in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocyte polarization is currently found in some neurodegenerative diseases, and A1 subtype of astrocyte leads to neuron apoptosis. However, little information has been available on the role of astrocyte polarization in TE. Methods: In the present study, we established a mouse model to study TE and detected A1 astrocyte in the brains of mice with TE. Expression level of A1 astrocyte-specific marker C3 was evaluated using indirect fluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blotting. Primary mouse astrocytes were incubated with different concentrations of T. gondii excreted-secreted antigens (TgESAs) in vitro. Expression level of C3 and A1 astrocyte-specific transcription levels were assessed using Western blotting and qRT-PCR, respectively. Bay11-7082 was used to study nuclear factor (NF) κB pathway in TgESA-induced astrocyte polarization. Results: In mice with TE, the proportion of A1 astrocyte (GFAP+C3+) increased significantly. The results of in vitro study showed that TgESAs induced astrocyte polarization to A1 subtype. Blocking of NFκB pathway by Bay11-7082 inhibited TgESA-induced astrocyte polarization. Conclusions: Our preliminary study showed the involvement of A1 astrocyte in the process of TE in mice, and TgESAs could trigger astrocyte to polarize to A1 subtype. These findings suggest a new mechanism underlying the neuropathogenesis induced by T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Jin
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yong Yao
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Saeed El-Ashram
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, China.,Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Shaikh, Egypt
| | - Jiaming Tian
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yongsheng Ji
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, Laboratory of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases Control, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Alajmi RA, Al-Megrin WA, Metwally D, Al-Subaie H, Altamrah N, Barakat AM, Abdel Moneim AE, Al-Otaibi TT, El-Khadragy M. Anti- Toxoplasma activity of silver nanoparticles green synthesized with Phoenix dactylifera and Ziziphus spina-christi extracts which inhibits inflammation through liver regulation of cytokines in Balb/c mice. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20190379. [PMID: 30992387 PMCID: PMC6522717 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis constitutes a global infection caused by oblige intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii Although often asymptomatic, infection can result in more severe, potentially life threatening symptoms particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The present study evaluated the anti-Toxoplasma effects in experimental animals of silver nanoparticles synthesized in combination with extracts of natural plants (Phoenix dactylifera and Ziziphus spina-christi) as an alternative method to standard sulfadiazine drug therapy. Liver functions estimated by and AST and ALT were significantly increased in T. gondii-infected mice compared with the control group as well as hepatic nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and caused significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione activities in the liver homogenates. Nanoparticles pretreatment prevented liver damage as determined by enzyme activity inhibition, in addition to significant inhibition of hepatic NO levels and significant elevation in liver SOD and CAT activities. Moreover, nanoparticle treatment significantly decreased hepatic LPO and NO concentrations and proinflammatory cytokines but significantly boosted the antioxidant enzyme activity of liver homogenate. In addition, histological examinations showed distinct alterations in the infected compared with untreated control groups. Conversely, nanoparticles pretreatment showed improvement in the histological features indicated by slight infiltration and fibrosis, minimal pleomorphism and less hepatocyte and degeneration. Furthermore, nanoparticles treatment induced a reduction in immunoreactivity to TGF-β and NF-κB in hepatic tissues. Therefore, the present study provides new insights into various natural plants that are used traditionally for the treatment of toxoplasmosis and other parasitic infections, which may be useful as alternative treatment option for T. gondii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem A Alajmi
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wafa A Al-Megrin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dina Metwally
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Hind Al-Subaie
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nourah Altamrah
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf M Barakat
- Department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed E Abdel Moneim
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Tahani T Al-Otaibi
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manal El-Khadragy
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Das D, Ramachandra V, Islam S, Bhattacharjee H, Biswas J, Koul A, Deka P, Deka A. Update on pathology of ocular parasitic disease. Indian J Ophthalmol 2016; 64:794-802. [PMID: 27958200 PMCID: PMC5200979 DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.195590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites are a group of eukaryotic organisms that may be free-living or form a symbiotic or parasitic relationship with the hosts. Consisting of over 800,000 recognized species, parasites may be unicellular (Protozoa) or multicellular (helminths and arthropods). The association of parasites with human population started long before the emergence of civilization. Parasitic zoonotic diseases are prevalent worldwide including India. Appropriate epidemiological data are lacking on existing zoonotic parasitic diseases, and newer diseases are emerging in our scenario. Systemic diseases such as cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, hydatidosis, and toxoplasmosis are fairly common. Acquired Toxoplasma infections are rising in immune-deficient individuals. Amongst the ocular parasitic diseases, various protozoas such as Cystoidea, trematodes, tissue flagellates, sporozoas etc. affect humans in general and eyes in particular, in different parts of the world. These zoonoses seem to be a real health related problem globally. Recent intensification of research throughout the world has led to specialization in biological fields, creating a conducive situation for researchers interested in this subject. The basics of parasitology lie in morphology, pathology, and with recent updates in molecular parasitology, the scope has extended further. The current review is to address the recent update in ophthalmic parasites with special reference to pathology and give a glimpse of further research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipankar Das
- Department of Ocular Pathology, Uveitis and Neuro-Ophthalmology Services, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Varsha Ramachandra
- Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Saidul Islam
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Agricultural University, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Harsha Bhattacharjee
- Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Jyotirmay Biswas
- Department of L and T, Ocular Pathology and Uveitis Services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Akanksha Koul
- Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Panna Deka
- Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Apurba Deka
- Clinical and Pathology Service, Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya, Guwahati, Assam, India
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Toxoplasmosis and anti-Toxoplasma effects of medicinal plant extracts-A mini-review. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2016; 9:730-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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