1
|
Hellinga JR, Krücken J, Schulenburg H, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Use of Viscous medium to study anthelmintic drug action in Caenorhabditis elegans. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12756. [PMID: 38830930 PMCID: PMC11148144 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63090-z] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is an appealing tool for experimental evolution and for working with antiparasitic drugs, from understanding the molecular mechanisms of drug action and resistance to uncover new drug targets. We present a new methodology for studying the impact of antiparasitic drugs in C. elegans. Viscous medium was initially designed for C. elegans maintenance during long-term evolution experiments. Viscous medium provides a less structured environment than the standard nematode growth media agar, yet the bacteria food source remains suspended. Further, the Viscous medium offers the worm population enough support to move freely, mate, and reproduce at a rate comparable to standard agar cultures. Here, the Viscous medium was adapted for use in antiparasitic research. We observed a similar sensitivity of C. elegans to anthelmintic drugs as in standard liquid media and statistical difference to the standard agar media through a larval development assay. Using Viscous medium in C. elegans studies will considerably improve antiparasitic resistance research, and this medium could be used in studies aimed at understanding long-term multigenerational drug activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline R Hellinga
- Institute für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hinrich Schulenburg
- Zoologisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Zu Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 1-9, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert von Ostertag Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Reed HM, Han Z, Schroeder NE. GABA Immunoreactivity and Pharmacological Effects vary Among Stylet-Bearing Nematodes. J Nematol 2023; 55:20230049. [PMID: 38026555 PMCID: PMC10657207 DOI: 10.2478/jofnem-2023-0049] [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: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes conduct a series of sophisticated behaviors to complete their life cycles. Among these, locomotion behaviors, including finding the host and migrating to the feeding site, directly affect the success of parasitism. Thus, disrupting locomotion behaviors has the potential to control these parasites. γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the prominent inhibitory neurotransmitter in nematodes. GABA-immunoreactive neurons are mostly found in motor neurons, where they regulate behaviors in the model nematode C. elegans. However, the GABA system in most stylet-bearing nematodes has received little attention. Using immunohistochemistry, we found variation in the pattern of GABA-immunoreactivity among two major plant-parasites and a fungal feeder. Some of these GABA-immunoreactive neurons lack clear homologs to C. elegans. Pharmaceutical assays showed that applying GABA, its agonist, and its antagonist, can disrupt the locomotion behaviors of these nematodes, although sensitivity to a given compound varied between species. Our data suggest that the GABA system is a potential target for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Reed
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
| | - Ziduan Han
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Nathan E. Schroeder
- Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Weeks JC, Robinson KJ, Lockery SR, Roberts WM. Anthelmintic drug actions in resistant and susceptible C. elegans revealed by electrophysiological recordings in a multichannel microfluidic device. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2018; 8:607-628. [PMID: 30503202 PMCID: PMC6287544 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Many anthelmintic drugs used to treat parasitic nematode infections target proteins that regulate electrical activity of neurons and muscles: ion channels (ICs) and neurotransmitter receptors (NTRs). Perturbation of IC/NTR function disrupts worm behavior and can lead to paralysis, starvation, immune attack and expulsion. Limitations of current anthelmintics include a limited spectrum of activity across species and the threat of drug resistance, highlighting the need for new drugs for human and veterinary medicine. Although ICs/NTRs are valuable anthelmintic targets, electrophysiological recordings are not commonly included in drug development pipelines. We designed a medium-throughput platform for recording electropharyngeograms (EPGs)-the electrical signals emitted by muscles and neurons of the pharynx during pharyngeal pumping (feeding)-in Caenorhabditis elegans and parasitic nematodes. The current study in C. elegans expands previous work in several ways. Detecting anthelmintic bioactivity in drugs, compounds or natural products requires robust, sustained pharyngeal pumping under baseline conditions. We generated concentration-response curves for stimulating pumping by perfusing 8-channel microfluidic devices (chips) with the neuromodulator serotonin, or with E. coli bacteria (C. elegans' food in the laboratory). Worm orientation in the chip (head-first vs. tail-first) affected the response to E. coli but not to serotonin. Using a panel of anthelmintics-ivermectin, levamisole and piperazine-targeting different ICs/NTRs, we determined the effects of concentration and treatment duration on EPG activity, and successfully distinguished control (N2) and drug-resistant worms (avr-14; avr-15; glc-1, unc-38 and unc-49). EPG recordings detected anthelmintic activity of drugs that target ICs/NTRs located in the pharynx as well as at extra-pharyngeal sites. A bus-8 mutant with enhanced permeability was more sensitive than controls to drug treatment. These results provide a useful framework for investigators who would like to more easily incorporate electrophysiology as a routine component of their anthelmintic research workflow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janis C Weeks
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
| | - Kristin J Robinson
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
| | - Shawn R Lockery
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
| | - William M Roberts
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1254 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403-1254, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Martin RJ, Verma S, Choudhary S, Kashyap S, Abongwa M, Zheng F, Robertson AP. Anthelmintics: The best way to predict the future is to create it. Vet Parasitol 2015; 212:18-24. [PMID: 26138153 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
'The best way to predict the future is to create it.' When we look at drugs that are used to control parasites, we see that new knowledge has been created (discovered) about their modes of action. This knowledge will allow us to predict combinations of drugs which can be used together rationally to increase the spectrum of action and to slow the development of anthelmintic resistance. In this paper we comment on some recent observations of ours on the modes of action of emodepside, diethylcarbamazine and tribendimidine. Emodepside increases the activation of a SLO-1 K(+) current inhibiting movement, and diethylcarbamazine has a synergistic effect on the effect of emodepside on the SLO-1 K(+) current, increasing the size of the response. The combination may be considered for further testing for therapeutic use. Tribendimidine is a selective cholinergic nematode B-subtype nAChR agonist, producing muscle depolarization and contraction. It has different subtype selectivity to levamisole and may be effective in the presence of some types of levamisole resistance. The new information about the modes of action may aid the design of rational drug combinations designed to slow the development of resistance or increase the spectrum of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Martin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Saurabh Verma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Shivani Choudhary
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Sudhanva Kashyap
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Melanie Abongwa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Fudan Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Alan P Robertson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Law W, Wuescher LM, Ortega A, Hapiak VM, Komuniecki PR, Komuniecki R. Heterologous Expression in Remodeled C. elegans: A Platform for Monoaminergic Agonist Identification and Anthelmintic Screening. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004794. [PMID: 25928899 PMCID: PMC4415803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoamines, such as 5-HT and tyramine (TA), paralyze both free-living and parasitic nematodes when applied exogenously and serotonergic agonists have been used to clear Haemonchus contortus infections in vivo. Since nematode cell lines are not available and animal screening options are limited, we have developed a screening platform to identify monoamine receptor agonists. Key receptors were expressed heterologously in chimeric, genetically-engineered Caenorhabditis elegans, at sites likely to yield robust phenotypes upon agonist stimulation. This approach potentially preserves the unique pharmacologies of the receptors, while including nematode-specific accessory proteins and the nematode cuticle. Importantly, the sensitivity of monoamine-dependent paralysis could be increased dramatically by hypotonic incubation or the use of bus mutants with increased cuticular permeabilities. We have demonstrated that the monoamine-dependent inhibition of key interneurons, cholinergic motor neurons or body wall muscle inhibited locomotion and caused paralysis. Specifically, 5-HT paralyzed C. elegans 5-HT receptor null animals expressing either nematode, insect or human orthologues of a key Gαo-coupled 5-HT1-like receptor in the cholinergic motor neurons. Importantly, 8-OH-DPAT and PAPP, 5-HT receptor agonists, differentially paralyzed the transgenic animals, with 8-OH-DPAT paralyzing mutant animals expressing the human receptor at concentrations well below those affecting its C. elegans or insect orthologues. Similarly, 5-HT and TA paralyzed C. elegans 5-HT or TA receptor null animals, respectively, expressing either C. elegans or H. contortus 5-HT or TA-gated Cl- channels in either C. elegans cholinergic motor neurons or body wall muscles. Together, these data suggest that this heterologous, ectopic expression screening approach will be useful for the identification of agonists for key monoamine receptors from parasites and could have broad application for the identification of ligands for a host of potential anthelmintic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Law
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Leah M. Wuescher
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Amanda Ortega
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Vera M. Hapiak
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Patricia R. Komuniecki
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Richard Komuniecki
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hernando G, Bouzat C. Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction: GABA receptors and ivermectin action. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95072. [PMID: 24743647 PMCID: PMC3990606 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of human and animal helminth infections remains staggeringly high, thus urging the need for concerted efforts towards this area of research. GABA receptors, encoded by the unc-49 gene, mediate body muscle inhibition in Caenorhabditis elegans and parasitic nematodes and are targets of anthelmintic drugs. Thus, the characterization of nematode GABA receptors provides a foundation for rational anti-parasitic drug design. We therefore explored UNC-49 channels from C. elegans muscle cultured cells of the first larval stage at the electrophysiological and behavioral levels. Whole-cell recordings reveal that GABA, muscimol and the anthelmintic piperazine elicit macroscopic currents from UNC-49 receptors that decay in their sustained presence, indicating full desensitization. Single-channel recordings show that all drugs elicit openings of ∼2.5 pA (+100 mV), which appear either as brief isolated events or in short bursts. The comparison of the lowest concentration required for detectable channel opening, the frequency of openings and the amplitude of macroscopic currents suggest that piperazine is the least efficacious of the three drugs. Macroscopic and single-channel GABA-activated currents are profoundly and apparently irreversibly inhibited by ivermectin. To gain further insight into ivermectin action at C. elegans muscle, we analyzed its effect on single-channel activity of the levamisol-sensitive nicotinic receptor (L-AChR), the excitatory receptor involved in neuromuscular transmission. Ivermectin produces a profound inhibition of the frequency of channel opening without significant changes in channel properties. By revealing that ivermectin inhibits C. elegans muscle GABA and L-AChR receptors, our study adds two receptors to the already known ivermectin targets, thus contributing to the elucidation of its pleiotropic effects. Behavioral assays in worms show that ivermectin potentiates piperazine-induced paralysis, thus suggesting that their combination is a good strategy to overcome the increasing resistance of parasites, an issue of global concern for human and animal health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermina Hernando
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca-Universidad Nacional del Sur, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Bouzat
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca-Universidad Nacional del Sur, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kulke D, Krücken J, Harder A, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Efficacy of cyclooctadepsipeptides and aminophenylamidines against larval, immature and mature adult stages of a parasitologically characterized trichurosis model in mice. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2698. [PMID: 24587460 PMCID: PMC3930511 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The genus Trichuris includes parasites of major relevance in veterinary and human medicine. Despite serious economic losses and enormous impact on public health, treatment options against whipworms are very limited. Additionally, there is an obvious lack of appropriately characterized experimental infection models. Therefore, a detailed parasitological characterization of a Trichuris muris isolate was performed in C57BL/10 mice. Subsequently, the in vivo efficacies of the aminophenylamidines amidantel, deacylated amidantel (dAMD) and tribendimidine as well as the cyclooctadepsipeptides emodepside and in particular PF1022A were analyzed. This was performed using various administration routes and treatment schemes targeting histotropic and further developed larval as well as immature and mature adult stages. Methodology/Principal Findings Duration of prepatent period, time-dependent localization of larvae during period of prepatency as well as the duration of patency of the infection were determined before drugs were tested in the characterized trichurosis model. Amidantel showed no effect against mature adult T. muris. Tribendimidine showed significantly higher potency than dAMD after oral treatments (ED50 values of 6.5 vs. 15.1 mg/kg). However, the opposite was found for intraperitoneal treatments (ED50 values of 15.3 vs. 8.3 mg/kg). When emodepside and PF1022A were compared, the latter was significantly less effective against mature adults following intraperitoneal (ED50 values of 6.1 vs. 55.7 mg/kg) or subcutaneous (ED50 values of 15.2 vs. 225.7 mg/kg) administration. Only minimal differences were observed following oral administration (ED50 values of 2.7 vs. 5.2 mg/kg). Triple and most single oral doses with moderate to high dosages of PF1022A showed complete efficacy against histotropic second stage larvae (3×100 mg/kg or 1×250 mg/kg), further developed larvae (3×10 mg/kg or 1×100 mg/kg) and immature adults (3×10 mg/kg or 1×100 mg/kg). Histotropic first stage larvae were only eliminated after three doses of PF1022A (3×100 mg/kg) but not after a single dose. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate that the cyclooctadepsipeptides are a drug class with promising candidates for further evaluation for the treatment of trichurosis of humans and livestock animals in single dose regimens. Treatment options against whipworm infections of humans and livestock are very limited and even anthelmintics recently introduced into the market do not significantly improve the situation. Here, we evaluated members of two relatively new drug classes, the aminophenylamidines (amidantel, deacylated amidantel, tribendimidine) and the cyclooctadepsipeptides (PF1022A, emodepside) in a murine trichurosis model. While tribendimidine is licensed for the treatment of human helminthosis caused by hookworms, pinworms and roundworms in China, emodepside is the nematocidal component of dewormers for cats and dogs. With the exception of amidantel, all drugs showed good efficacies against adult whipworms using three consecutive doses. Due to considerations regarding drug safety and price, PF1022A was further evaluated against histotropic first and second stage larvae, further developed larvae, immature and mature adults using a single or three consecutive doses. Three doses eliminated all stages while a single dose was inefficient against histotropic first stage larvae. In general, higher doses were required for early stages in comparison to stages protruding into the gut lumen. Since only a very basic formulation of drugs was tested, further improvement can be expected from optimized formulations. Cyclooctadepsipeptides should therefore be considered as candidates for evaluation to treat Trichuris spp. infections in livestock and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kulke
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Global Drug Discovery – Animal Health – Parasiticides, Bayer HealthCare, Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Achim Harder
- WE Biology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|