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Tsague KJA, Bakwo Fils EM, Atagana JP, Mbeng DW, Palm L, Tchuinkam T, Schaer J. Molecular detection of trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma livingstonei species group in diverse bat species in Central Cameroon. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:280. [PMID: 39037445 PMCID: PMC11263222 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08303-0] [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: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Bats are hosts for diverse Trypanosoma species, including trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma cruzi clade. This clade is believed to have originated in Africa and diversified in many lineages worldwide. In several geographical areas, including Cameroon, no data about trypanosomes of bats has been collected yet. In this study, we investigated the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of trypanosomes of different bat species in the central region of Cameroon. Trypanosome infections were detected in six bat species of four bat families, namely Hipposideridae, Pteropodidae, Rhinolophidae, and Vespertilionidae, with an overall prevalence of 29% and the highest infection rate in hipposiderid bat species. All trypanosomes were identified as belonging to the Trypanosoma livingstonei species group with one clade that might represent an additional subspecies of T. livingstonei. Understanding the prevalence, distribution, and host range of parasites of this group contributes to our overall knowledge of the diversity and host specificity of trypanosome species that phylogenetically group at the base of the T. cruzi clade.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J A Tsague
- Laboratory of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon
- Vector Borne Diseases Laboratory of the Research Unit for Biology and Applied Ecology (VBID-RUBAE), University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - E M Bakwo Fils
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Higher Institute of Agriculture, Forestry, Water and Environment (HIAFWE), University of Ebolowa, Ebolowa, Cameroon
| | - J P Atagana
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, Ngaoundere, Cameroon
| | - D W Mbeng
- Laboratory of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon
| | - L Palm
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - T Tchuinkam
- Vector Borne Diseases Laboratory of the Research Unit for Biology and Applied Ecology (VBID-RUBAE), University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
| | - J Schaer
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Biology, Muni University, Arua, Uganda.
- Museum Für Naturkunde, Leibniz-Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
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2
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Fonseca MS, Santos AJ, Mendonça MA, Rodamilans GM, Marques FS, Biondi I, Lira-da-Silva RM, Aburjaile FF, Sokolonski AR, Soares RP, Meyer R, Portela RW. Trypanosoma sp. infection in Boa constrictor snakes: morphological, hematological, clinical biochemistry, molecular, and phylogenetic characteristics. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:21. [PMID: 38072845 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08023-x] [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: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
There are few reports of Trypanosoma in snakes, as well as little information about its pathogenicity in these animals. Thus, the present study aimed to characterize Trypanosoma found in Boa constrictor snakes, to verify the influence of the parasitism on hematological and clinical biochemistry parameters, and to perform a phylogenetic study of the isolates. Blood samples from sixty-one boas were analyzed for the presence of trypanosomatids and by hematological and clinical biochemistry assays. The flagellates that were found in this analysis were used for cell culture, morphometry, and molecular analysis. Later, molecular typing phylogenetic studies were performed. Nine positive animals (14.75%) were identified by microscopy analysis. The hematological results showed that parasitized animals presented significantly lower levels of packed cell volume, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. In the leukogram, eosinophils and heterophils counts were higher in parasitized animals. Considering the molecular analyses, the isolates presented a higher identity of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and the 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene fragments with Trypanosoma serpentis. The phylogenetic tree, using the GAPDH, clustered all isolates with T. serpentis and Trypanosoma cascavelli. This is the first description of T. serpentis parasitizing boas and of the clinical changes caused by trypanosomatid infection in snakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maisa S Fonseca
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil
| | - Anderson J Santos
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil
| | - Marcos A Mendonça
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil
| | - Gustavo M Rodamilans
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil
| | - Franciane S Marques
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil
| | - Ilka Biondi
- Laboratório de Animais Peçonhentos e Herpetologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Bahia State, Feira de Santana, 44036-960, Brazil
| | - Rejane M Lira-da-Silva
- Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia e Animais Peçonhentos da Bahia, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia State, 40170-290, Brazil
| | - Flavia F Aburjaile
- Laboratório de Genética Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ana R Sokolonski
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo P Soares
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Roberto Meyer
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil
| | - Ricardo W Portela
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Avenida Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Bahia State, Salvador, 40110-100, Brazil.
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3
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Tatto M, Fernandes FD, Costa EP, Shibuya FY, de Freitas LI, Osmari V, Roman IJ, Bräunig P, Vogel FSF, Botton SDA, Sangioni LA. Detection of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies in poultry from central region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2023; 32:e007723. [PMID: 38088684 PMCID: PMC10750985 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612023077] [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: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Domestic birds such as Gallus gallus, Meleagris gallopavo, Anser anser and Numida meleagris are widely distributed throughout the world and maintain contact with humans and other animal species considered reservoirs of both Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL), including dogs and cats; wild canids, marsupials; and synanthropic animals such as rodents and chiroptera. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the presence of anti-Leishmania spp. antibodies in birds from a rural area of the municipality of Santa Maria, southern Brazil. From May to December 2022, 262 blood samples were collected from 244 chickens, 8 turkeys, 7 guinea fowl and 3 geese, distributed in 27 rural properties in 6 districts. All the sites visited presented positive birds for the presence of Leishmania spp. Thus, it is inferred that, contact with this protozoan can induce the production of antibodies, suggesting that these animals can be used as sentinels for the circulation of this agent. In addition, the blood of these animals is a preferred food source for insects of the subfamily Phlebotominae, which can be used them as bioindicators of the presence of these phlebotomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurício Tatto
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Fagner D’ambroso Fernandes
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
- Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis – UniRitter, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
| | - Eliesse Pereira Costa
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Fabio Yuji Shibuya
- Laboratório Central de Diagnóstico em Patologias Aviárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Luiza Isaia de Freitas
- Laboratório Central de Diagnóstico em Patologias Aviárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Vanessa Osmari
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Isac Junior Roman
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Patrícia Bräunig
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Fernanda Silveira Flores Vogel
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Sônia de Avila Botton
- Laboratório de Saúde Única, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
| | - Luis Antônio Sangioni
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria – UFSM, Santa Maria, RS, Brasil
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4
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Thiombiano NG, Boungou M, Chabi BAM, Oueda A, Werb O, Schaer J. First investigation of blood parasites of bats in Burkina Faso detects Hepatocystis parasites and infections with diverse Trypanosoma spp. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:3121-3129. [PMID: 37847392 PMCID: PMC10667148 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08002-2] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Bats are hosts to a large diversity of eukaryotic protozoan blood parasites that comprise species of Trypanosoma and different haemosporidian parasite taxa and bats have played an important role in the evolutionary history of both parasite groups. However, bats in several geographical areas have not been investigated, including in Burkina Faso, where no information about malaria parasites and trypanosomes of bats exists to date.In this study, we collected data on the prevalence and the phylogenetic relationships of protozoan blood parasites in nine different bat species in Burkina Faso. Hepatocystis parasites were detected in two species of epauletted fruit bats, and a relatively high diversity of trypanosome parasites was identified in five bat species. The phylogenetic analyses recovered the trypanosome parasites of the bat species Rhinolophus alcyone and Nycteris hispida as close relatives of T. livingstonei, the trypanosome infections in Scotophilus leucogaster as closely related to the species T. vespertilionis and the trypanosomes from Pipistrellus nanulus and Epomophorus gambianus might present the species T. dionisii. These findings of the first investigation in Burkina Faso present a first snapshot of the diversity of protozoan blood parasites in bats in this country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noel Gabiliga Thiombiano
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Ecologie Animales (LBEA), Unite de Formation Et de Recherche/Science de La Vie et de La Terre (UFR/SVT), University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Magloire Boungou
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Ecologie Animales (LBEA), Unite de Formation Et de Recherche/Science de La Vie et de La Terre (UFR/SVT), University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Bertrand Adéchègoun Mèschac Chabi
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Ecologie Animales (LBEA), Unite de Formation Et de Recherche/Science de La Vie et de La Terre (UFR/SVT), University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Adama Oueda
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Ecologie Animales (LBEA), Unite de Formation Et de Recherche/Science de La Vie et de La Terre (UFR/SVT), University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- Universite de Ouahigouya, Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso
| | - Oskar Werb
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Schaer
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
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5
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Campbell PC, de Graffenried CL. Morphogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes proceeds via a highly asymmetric cell division. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011731. [PMID: 37917723 PMCID: PMC10656021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protist parasite that is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease endemic to the Americas. T. cruzi cells are highly polarized and undergo morphological changes as they cycle within their insect and mammalian hosts. Work on related trypanosomatids has described cell division mechanisms in several life-cycle stages and identified a set of essential morphogenic proteins that serve as markers for key events during trypanosomatid division. Here, we use Cas9-based tagging of morphogenic genes, live-cell imaging, and expansion microscopy to study the cell division mechanism of the insect-resident epimastigote form of T. cruzi, which represents an understudied trypanosomatid morphotype. We find that T. cruzi epimastigote cell division is highly asymmetric, producing one daughter cell that is significantly smaller than the other. Daughter cell division rates differ by 4.9 h, which may be a consequence of this size disparity. Many of the morphogenic proteins identified in T. brucei have altered localization patterns in T. cruzi epimastigotes, which may reflect fundamental differences in the cell division mechanism of this life cycle stage, which widens and shortens the cell body to accommodate the duplicated organelles and cleavage furrow rather than elongating the cell body along the long axis of the cell, as is the case in life-cycle stages that have been studied in T. brucei. This work provides a foundation for further investigations of T. cruzi cell division and shows that subtle differences in trypanosomatid cell morphology can alter how these parasites divide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C. Campbell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Christopher L. de Graffenried
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
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Campbell PC, de Graffenried CL. Morphogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes proceeds via a highly asymmetric cell division. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.24.542100. [PMID: 37293088 PMCID: PMC10245916 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.24.542100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protist parasite that is the causative agent of Chagas' disease, a neglected tropical disease endemic to the Americas. T. cruzi cells are highly polarized and undergo morphological changes as they cycle within their insect and mammalian hosts. Work on related trypanosomatids has described cell division mechanisms in several life-cycle stages and identified a set of essential morphogenic proteins that serve as markers for key events during trypanosomatid division. Here, we use Cas9-based tagging of morphogenic genes, live-cell imaging, and expansion microscopy to study the cell division mechanism of the insect-resident epimastigote form of T. cruzi, which represents an understudied trypanosomatid morphotype. We find that T. cruzi epimastigote cell division is highly asymmetric, producing one daughter cell that is significantly smaller than the other. Daughter cell division rates differ by 4.9 h, which may be a consequence of this size disparity. Many of the morphogenic proteins identified in T. brucei have altered localization patterns in T. cruzi epimastigoes, which may reflect fundamental differences in the cell division mechanism of this life cycle stage, which widens and shortens the cell body to accommodate the duplicated organelles and cleavage furrow rather than elongating the cell body along the long axis of the cell, as is the case in life-cycle stages that have been studied in T. brucei. This work provides a foundation for further investigations of T. cruzi cell division and shows that subtle differences in trypansomatid cell morphology can alter how these parasites divide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul C. Campbell
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Preativatanyou K, Chinwirunsirisup K, Phumee A, Khositharattanakool P, Sunantaraporn S, Depaquit J, Siriyasatien P. Species diversity of phlebotomine sand flies and sympatric occurrence of Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis, Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani complex, and Trypanosoma spp. in the visceral leishmaniasis focus of southern Thailand. Acta Trop 2023; 244:106949. [PMID: 37211153 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106949] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Autochthonous leishmaniasis in Thailand has recently been a public health concern due to an increasing number of new clinical cases. Most indigenous cases were diagnosed with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis, and Leishmania (Mundinia) orientalis. However, some doubts regarding vector misidentification have arisen and need to be elucidated. Accordingly, we aimed to assess the species composition of sand flies and determine the molecular prevalence of trypanosomatids in the transmission area of leishmaniasis in southern Thailand. In the present study, a total of 569 sand flies were caught from the vicinity of a visceral leishmaniasis patient's house in Na Thawi District, Songkhla Province. Of these, 229 parous and gravid females consisted of Sergentomyia khawi, Se. barraudi, Phlebotomus stantoni, Grassomyia indica, and Se. hivernus, accounting for 31.4%, 30.6%, 29.7%, 7.9%, and 0.4%, respectively. However, Se. gemmea, which has previously been proposed as the most abundant species and putative vector of visceral leishmaniasis, was not found in the present study. Based on ITS1-PCR and sequence analysis, two specimens of Gr. indica and Ph. stantoni showed positive amplification of L. martiniquensis and L. donovani complex, respectively, the first one being presumed indigenous and the second one being not. Anuran Trypanosoma was also molecularly detected using SSU rRNA-PCR and ubiquitously found in sixteen specimens of four dominant sand fly species except for Se. hivernus. The obtained sequences could be phylogenetically categorized into the two major amphibian clades (An04/Frog1 and An01+An02/Frog2). The existence of the monophyletic subgroup and distinct lineage suggests them as novel Trypanosoma species. The TCS network analysis of these anuran Trypanosoma sequences also revealed high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.925 ± 0.050), but low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.019 ± 0.009). Furthermore, the living anuran trypanosomes were microscopically demonstrated in a single specimen of Gr. indica, supporting the vectorial capacity. Importantly, our data confirmed the scarcity of Se. gemmea and also uncovered, for the first time, the co-circulation of L. martiniquensis, L. donovani complex, and suspected novel anuran Trypanosoma spp. in phlebotomine sand files, implicating their potential role as vectors of trypanosomatid parasites. Therefore, the novel data from this study would greatly facilitate the comprehension of the complexity of trypanosomatid transmission and the establishment of prevention and control measures for this neglected disease more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanok Preativatanyou
- Center of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Komson Chinwirunsirisup
- Center of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Atchara Phumee
- Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand; Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health (EC for DACH), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Pathamet Khositharattanakool
- School of Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; Biomedical Technology Research Group for Vulnerable Populations, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
| | - Sakone Sunantaraporn
- Center of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Jérôme Depaquit
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, SFR Cap Santé, EA7510 ESCAPE-USC ANSES VECPAR, Reims, France
| | - Padet Siriyasatien
- Center of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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8
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Al-Ghafli H, Barribeau SM. Double trouble: trypanosomatids with two hosts have lower infection prevalence than single host trypanosomatids. Evol Med Public Health 2023; 11:202-218. [PMID: 37404250 PMCID: PMC10317189 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoad014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are a diverse family of protozoan parasites, some of which cause devastating human and livestock diseases. There are two distinct infection life cycles in trypanosomatids; some species complete their entire life cycle in a single host (monoxenous) while others infect two hosts (dixenous). Dixenous trypanosomatids are mostly vectored by insects, and the human trypanosomatid diseases are caused mainly by vectored parasites. While infection prevalence has been described for subsets of hosts and trypanosomatids, little is known about whether monoxenous and dixenous trypanosomatids differ in infection prevalence. Here, we use meta-analyses to synthesise all published evidence of trypanosomatid infection prevalence for the last two decades, encompassing 931 unique host-trypansomatid systems. In examining 584 studies that describe infection prevalence, we find, strikingly, that monoxenous species are two-fold more prevalent than dixenous species across all hosts. We also find that dixenous trypanosomatids have significantly lower infection prevalence in insects than their non-insect hosts. To our knowledge, these results reveal for the first time, a fundamental difference in infection prevalence according to host specificity where vectored species might have lower infection prevalence as a result of a potential 'jack of all trades, master of none' style trade-off between the vector and subsequent hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hawra Al-Ghafli
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Seth M Barribeau
- Corresponding author. Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. E-mail:
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Yilmaz IC, Dunuroglu E, Ayanoglu IC, Ipekoglu EM, Yildirim M, Girginkardesler N, Ozbel Y, Toz S, Ozbilgin A, Aykut G, Gursel I, Gursel M. Leishmania kinetoplast DNA contributes to parasite burden in infected macrophages: Critical role of the cGAS-STING-TBK1 signaling pathway in macrophage parasitemia. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1007070. [PMID: 36405710 PMCID: PMC9667060 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1007070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites harbor a unique network of circular DNA known as kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). The role of kDNA in leishmania infections is poorly understood. Herein, we show that kDNA delivery to the cytosol of Leishmania major infected THP-1 macrophages provoked increased parasite loads when compared to untreated cells, hinting at the involvement of cytosolic DNA sensors in facilitating parasite evasion from the immune system. Parasite proliferation was significantly hindered in cGAS- STING- and TBK-1 knockout THP-1 macrophages when compared to wild type cells. Nanostring nCounter gene expression analysis on L. major infected wild type versus knockout cells revealed that some of the most upregulated genes including, Granulysin (GNLY), Chitotriosidase-1 (CHIT1), Sialomucin core protein 24 (CD164), SLAM Family Member 7 (SLAMF7), insulin-like growth factor receptor 2 (IGF2R) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) were identical in infected cGAS and TBK1 knockout cells, implying their involvement in parasite control. Amlexanox treatment (a TBK1 inhibitor) of L. major infected wild type cells inhibited both the percentage and the parasite load of infected THP-1 cells and delayed footpad swelling in parasite infected mice. Collectively, these results suggest that leishmania parasites might hijack the cGAS-STING-TBK1 signaling pathway to their own advantage and the TBK1 inhibitor amlexanox could be of interest as a candidate drug in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Cem Yilmaz
- Basic and Translational Research Program, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Emre Dunuroglu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ihsan Cihan Ayanoglu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Emre Mert Ipekoglu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Muzaffer Yildirim
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nogay Girginkardesler
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Ozbel
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Seray Toz
- Department of Parasitology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Ozbilgin
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Gamze Aykut
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ihsan Gursel
- Basic and Translational Research Program, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mayda Gursel
- Basic and Translational Research Program, Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Izmir, Turkey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
- *Correspondence: Mayda Gursel,
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Santos FM, Sano NY, Liberal SC, Dario MA, Nantes WAG, Alves FM, da Silva AR, De Oliveira CE, Roque ALR, Herrera HM, Jansen AM. Kinetoplastid Species Maintained by a Small Mammal Community in the Pantanal Biome. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101205. [PMID: 36297262 PMCID: PMC9612235 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids include species economically important in agriculture, livestock, and human health. We evaluated the richness of kinetoplastids that infect small mammals in patches of unflooded forests in the Pantanal biome, an area where we hypothesize that its diversity is higher than currently recognized. Hemocultures (HC) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) targeting the 18S rDNA gene were employed for the detection of kinetoplastids. We grouped the positive samples into pools for each small mammal species (Monodelphis domestica, Thylamys macrurus, Oecomys mamorae, Thrichomys fosteri, Clyomys laticeps, and Holochilus chacarius). Eight parasite species were identified: Leishmania amazonensis, L. infantum; Trypanosoma cascavelli (HC + NGS), T. cruzi, T. lainsoni, T. rangeli (HC + NGS), Trypanosoma sp. DID, and Neobodo sp. The use of a tool as sensitive as NGS has increased our awareness of the diversity of kinetoplastids, as well as their host range, with emphasis on the species O. mamorae (seven kinetoplastid species, excepting T. cascavelli in a pool of nine individuals) and T. macrurus (four kinetoplastid species in a single individual). Furthermore, L. infantum and L. amazonensis infections were described in small mammals from this region for the first time. These findings make it mandatory to revisit the kinetoplastids/host associations proposed so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Martins Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
- Correspondence:
| | - Nayara Yoshie Sano
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Sany Caroline Liberal
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - Maria Augusta Dario
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Wesley Arruda Gimenes Nantes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Moreira Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | | | - Carina Elisei De Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Rodrigues Roque
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Campo Grande 79070-900, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco (UCDB), Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanossomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
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11
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Abrahim M, Machado E, Alvarez-Valín F, de Miranda AB, Catanho M. Uncovering Pseudogenes and Intergenic Protein-coding Sequences in TriTryps' Genomes. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6754225. [PMID: 36208292 PMCID: PMC9576210 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids belong to a remarkable group of unicellular, parasitic organisms of the order Kinetoplastida, an early diverging branch of the phylogenetic tree of eukaryotes, exhibiting intriguing biological characteristics affecting gene expression (intronless polycistronic transcription, trans-splicing, and RNA editing), metabolism, surface molecules, and organelles (compartmentalization of glycolysis, variation of the surface molecules, and unique mitochondrial DNA), cell biology and life cycle (phagocytic vacuoles evasion and intricate patterns of cell morphogenesis). With numerous genomic-scale data of several trypanosomatids becoming available since 2005 (genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes), the scientific community can further investigate the mechanisms underlying these unusual features and address other unexplored phenomena possibly revealing biological aspects of the early evolution of eukaryotes. One fundamental aspect comprises the processes and mechanisms involved in the acquisition and loss of genes throughout the evolutionary history of these primitive microorganisms. Here, we present a comprehensive in silico analysis of pseudogenes in three major representatives of this group: Leishmania major, Trypanosoma brucei, and Trypanosoma cruzi. Pseudogenes, DNA segments originating from altered genes that lost their original function, are genomic relics that can offer an essential record of the evolutionary history of functional genes, as well as clues about the dynamics and evolution of hosting genomes. Scanning these genomes with functional proteins as proxies to reveal intergenic regions with protein-coding features, relying on a customized threshold to distinguish statistically and biologically significant sequence similarities, and reassembling remnant sequences from their debris, we found thousands of pseudogenes and hundreds of open reading frames, with particular characteristics in each trypanosomatid: mutation profile, number, content, density, codon bias, average size, single- or multi-copy gene origin, number and type of mutations, putative primitive function, and transcriptional activity. These features suggest a common process of pseudogene formation, different patterns of pseudogene evolution and extant biological functions, and/or distinct genome organization undertaken by those parasites during evolution, as well as different evolutionary and/or selective pressures acting on distinct lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayla Abrahim
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica, Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos, Vice-Diretoria de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Edson Machado
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Aplicada a Micobactérias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Brazil
| | - Fernando Alvarez-Valín
- Unidad de Genómica Evolutiva, Sección Biomatemática, Universidad de la República del Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay
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12
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Molecular detection of Trypanosoma spp. and Hepatocystis parasite infections of bats in Northern Nigeria. Parasitology 2022; 149:1460-1467. [PMID: 35822266 PMCID: PMC10090768 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022000890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Bats are mammalian hosts to a large diversity of eukaryotic protozoan blood parasites, including different genera of haemosporidians and diverse species of trypanosomes. Phylogenetic studies suggest that bats, particularly in Africa, have played an important role in the evolutionary histories of these parasite groups. However, our understanding of the diversity and distribution of chiropteran haemosporidians and trypanosomes in Africa remains tenuous. We investigated the prevalence and phylogenetic relationships of the blood parasites in different bat species in Northern Nigeria using molecular methods. A low prevalence of Hepatocystis parasites was detected in a potentially rare host species, the African straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) confirming yet another fruit bat species in the diverse range of African bat hosts. Trypanosome infections were identified in 3 different bat species. The trypanosomes of Mops cf. pumilus were recovered as a distinct lineage that is related to Trypanosoma erneyi, a species which is closely related to Trypanosoma dionisii and Trypanosoma cruzi. Nycteris cf. macrotis bats were infected with trypanosomes that are related to the distinct lineage of Trypanosoma cf. livingstonei parasites. Further, 2 different lineages of trypanosomes in E. helvum bats share highest nucleotide identities with Trypanosoma livingstonei and a group of Trypanosoma sp. parasites that are closely related to T. cf. livingstonei and T. livingstonei, respectively. The findings of this study confirm the notion that trypanosomes of African bats are phylogenetically diverse and that African bats might harbour a variety of yet undescribed trypanosome species.
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Ali V, Behera S, Nawaz A, Equbal A, Pandey K. Unique thiol metabolism in trypanosomatids: Redox homeostasis and drug resistance. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2022; 117:75-155. [PMID: 35878950 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are mainly responsible for heterogeneous parasitic diseases: Leishmaniasis, Sleeping sickness, and Chagas disease and control of these diseases implicates serious challenges due to the emergence of drug resistance. Redox-active biomolecules are the endogenous substances in organisms, which play important role in the regulation of redox homeostasis. The redox-active substances like glutathione, trypanothione, cysteine, cysteine persulfides, etc., and other inorganic intermediates (hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide) are very useful as defence mechanism. In the present review, the suitability of trypanothione and other essential thiol molecules of trypanosomatids as drug targets are described in Leishmania and Trypanosoma. We have explored the role of tryparedoxin, tryparedoxin peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutaredoxins in the anti-oxidant mechanism and drug resistance. Up-regulation of some proteins in trypanothione metabolism helps the parasites in survival against drug pressure (sodium stibogluconate, Amphotericin B, etc.) and oxidative stress. These molecules accept electrons from the reduced trypanothione and donate their electrons to other proteins, and these proteins reduce toxic molecules, neutralize reactive oxygen, or nitrogen species; and help parasites to cope with oxidative stress. Thus, a better understanding of the role of these molecules in drug resistance and redox homeostasis will help to target metabolic pathway proteins to combat Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahab Ali
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India.
| | - Sachidananda Behera
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Afreen Nawaz
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Asif Equbal
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Botany, Araria College, Purnea University, Purnia, Bihar, India
| | - Krishna Pandey
- Department of Clinical Medicine, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India
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14
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Solana JC, Chicharro C, García E, Aguado B, Moreno J, Requena JM. Assembly of a Large Collection of Maxicircle Sequences and Their Usefulness for Leishmania Taxonomy and Strain Typing. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061070. [PMID: 35741832 PMCID: PMC9222942 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites of medical importance, such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma, are characterized by the presence of thousands of circular DNA molecules forming a structure known as kinetoplast, within the mitochondria. The maxicircles, which are equivalent to the mitochondrial genome in other eukaryotes, have been proposed as a promising phylogenetic marker. Using whole-DNA sequencing data, it is also possible to assemble maxicircle sequences as shown here and in previous works. In this study, based on data available in public databases and using a bioinformatics workflow previously reported by our group, we assembled the complete coding region of the maxicircles for 26 prototypical strains of trypanosomatid species. Phylogenetic analysis based on this dataset resulted in a robust tree showing an accurate taxonomy of kinetoplastids, which was also able to discern between closely related Leishmania species that are usually difficult to discriminate by classical methodologies. In addition, we provide a dataset of the maxicircle sequences of 60 Leishmania infantum field isolates from America, Western Europe, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. In agreement with previous studies, our data indicate that L. infantum parasites from Brazil are highly homogeneous and closely related to European strains, which were transferred there during the discovery of America. However, this study showed the existence of different L. infantum populations/clades within the Mediterranean region. A maxicircle signature for each clade has been established. Interestingly, two L. infantum clades were found coexisting in the same region of Spain, one similar to the American strains, represented by the Spanish JPCM5 reference strain, and the other, named “non-JPC like”, may be related to an important leishmaniasis outbreak that occurred in Madrid a few years ago. In conclusion, the maxicircle sequence emerges as a robust molecular marker for phylogenetic analysis and species typing within the kinetoplastids, which also has the potential to discriminate intraspecific variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carlos Solana
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biología Molecular (IUBM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Chicharro
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilia García
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
| | - Begoña Aguado
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Genomic and NGS Facility (GENGS), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain; (C.C.); (E.G.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.M.); (J.M.R.)
| | - Jose M. Requena
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Biología Molecular (IUBM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.M.); (J.M.R.)
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15
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Hansberg W. A critical analysis on the conception of "Pre-existent gene expression programs" for cell differentiation and development. Differentiation 2022; 125:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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16
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The influence of abiotic and biotic variables on the patent parasitemias of Trypanosoma spp. in Thrichomys fosteri (Rodentia: Echimyidae) in the southern Pantanal. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1719-1724. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07522-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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17
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Chiariello TM, da Silva RE, de Oliveira Jorge Costa J, Marcili A. Diversity of intestinal protozoa and clinical signs associated in wild-caught Phoneutria nigriventer kept in captivity for the anti-arachnid serum production. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 17:7-13. [PMID: 34934618 PMCID: PMC8660699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.11.006] [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: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The phylum Arthropoda comprises approximately 85% of all described animal species. The class Arachnida includes some invertebrates of great importance as they are either involved in the transmission of diseases or poses a risk of human envenomation. Spiders belonging to the genus Phoneutria sp., are the arachnids exhibiting medical importance. These animals were quarantined and maintained in captivity at the Biotério de Artrópodes of the Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil, for the production of the anti-arachnid serum. A total 509 feces samples from different Phoneutria nigriventer were analyzed, and 131 (25.73%) samples were found to be positive for flagellates and ciliates. All positive samples were subjected to DNA extraction and amplification of 18S gene. A total of 16 sequences were obtained and analyzed using BLAST. Sequences were identified as Colpoda steiini, one as Colpoda aspera, one to Colpoda sp., and one as "ciliated". Four identified as Parabodo caudatus, two as Urostipulosphaera sp., one as Helkesimastix sp., and one as a Euglena-like. The presence of clinical signs was observed in 16 spiders. The intestinal protozoa that affect armed spiders were identified for the first time as an initial step for understanding the parasitic diseases in these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Mathias Chiariello
- Biotério de Artrópodes, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil, 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ryan Emiliano da Silva
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jaciara de Oliveira Jorge Costa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Programa de Medicina e Bem-estar Animal e Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro, R. Dr Enéas de Siqueira Neto, 340, 04829-300, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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18
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Parasite association in non-volant small mammals in Brazil. COMMUNITY ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42974-022-00080-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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19
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Kumar R, Gupta S, Bhutia WD, Vaid RK, Kumar S. Atypical human trypanosomosis: Potentially emerging disease with lack of understanding. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:259-276. [PMID: 35355422 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomes are the hemoflagellate kinetoplastid protozoan parasites affecting a wide range of vertebrate hosts having insufficient host specificity. Climatic change, deforestation, globalization, trade agreements, close association and genetic selection in links with environmental, vector, reservoir and potential susceptible hosts' parameters have led to emergence of atypical human trypanosomosis (a-HT). Poor recording of such neglected tropical disease, low awareness in health professions and farming community has approached a serious intimidation for mankind. Reports of animal Trypanosoma species are now gradually increasing in humans, and lack of any compiled literature has diluted the issue. In the present review, global reports of livestock and rodent trypanosomes reported from human beings are assembled and discrepancies with the available literature are discussed along with morphological features of Trypanosoma species. We have described 21 human cases from the published information. Majority of cases 10 (47%) are due to T. lewisi, followed by 5 (24%) cases of T. evansi, 4 (19%) cases of T. brucei and 1 (5%) case each of T. vivax and T. congolense. Indian subcontinent witnessed 13 cases of a-HT, of which 9 cases are reported from India, which includes 7 cases of T. lewisi and 2 cases of T. evansi. Apart from, a-HT case reports, epidemiological investigation and treatment aspects are also discussed. An attempt has been made to provide an overview of the current situation of atypical human trypanosomosis caused by salivarian animal Trypanosoma globally. The probable role of Trypanosoma lytic factors (TLF) present in normal human serum (NHS) in providing innate immunity against salivarian animal Trypanosoma species and the existing paradox in medical science after the finding on intact functional apolipoprotein L1 (ApoL1) in Vietnam T. evansi Type A case is also discussed to provide an update on all aspects of a-HT. Insufficient data and poor reporting in Asian and African countries are the major hurdle resulting in under-reporting of a-HT, which is a potential emerging threat. Therefore, concerted efforts must be directed to address attentiveness, preparedness and regular surveillance in suspected areas with training of field technicians, medical health professionals and veterinarians. Enhancing a one health approach is specifically important in case of trypanosomosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajender Kumar
- Parasitology Lab, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
| | - Snehil Gupta
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, India
| | | | | | - Sanjay Kumar
- Parasitology Lab, ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, India
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Toontong P, Sunantaraporn S, Tiawsirisup S, Pengsakul T, Boonserm R, Phumee A, Siriyasatien P, Preativatanyou K. First Report of Anuran Trypanosoma DNA in Flat-Tailed House Geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) Collected from Southern Thailand: No Evidence as a Reservoir for Human Trypanosomatids. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020247. [PMID: 35215190 PMCID: PMC8877104 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the years, cases of autochthonous leishmaniasis have been dramatically increasing in Thailand. Recently, several publications have claimed certain species of the phlebotomine sand flies and biting midges potentially serve as natural vectors of Leishmania and Trypanosoma species in this country. However, more information regarding the vector–parasite relationships, as well as their natural reservoirs in the country, still needs to be explored. Herein, we hypothesized that synanthropic reptiles in the leishmaniasis-affected area might be a natural reservoir for these parasites. In this present study, a total of nineteen flat-tailed house geckos were collected from the house of a leishmaniasis patient in Songkhla province, southern Thailand, and then dissected for their visceral organs for parasite detection. Small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1)-specific amplifications were conducted to verify the presence of Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites, respectively. Only Trypanosoma DNA was screened positive in eight gecko individuals by SSU rRNA-PCR in at least one visceral organ (4, 4, and 6 of the heart, liver, and spleen, respectively) and phylogenetically related to the anuran Trypanosoma spp. (An04/Frog1 clade) previously detected in three Asian sand fly species (Phlebotomus kazeruni, Sergentomyia indica, and Se. khawi). Hence, our data indicate the first detection of anuran Trypanosoma sp. in the flat-tailed house geckos from southern Thailand. Essentially, it can be inferred that there is no evidence for the flat-tailed house gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus) as a natural reservoir of human pathogenic trypanosomatids in the leishmaniasis-affected area of southern Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapimporn Toontong
- Medical Parasitology Program, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Sakone Sunantaraporn
- Medical Science Program, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
- Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (R.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Sonthaya Tiawsirisup
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
| | - Theerakamol Pengsakul
- Faculty of Medical Technology, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand;
| | - Rungfar Boonserm
- Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (R.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Atchara Phumee
- Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80610, Thailand;
- Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health (EC for DACH), Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80610, Thailand
| | - Padet Siriyasatien
- Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (R.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Kanok Preativatanyou
- Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; (R.B.); (P.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +662-256-4387
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21
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Dario MA, Lisboa CV, Xavier SCDC, D’Andrea PS, Roque ALR, Jansen AM. Trypanosoma Species in Small Nonflying Mammals in an Area With a Single Previous Chagas Disease Case. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:812708. [PMID: 35223545 PMCID: PMC8873152 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.812708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are hemoflagellate parasites that even though they have been increasingly studied, many aspects of their biology and taxonomy remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the Trypanosoma sp. transmission cycle in nonflying small mammals in an area where a case of acute Chagas disease occurred in Mangaratiba municipality, Rio de Janeiro state. Three expeditions were conducted in the area: the first in 2012, soon after the human case, and two others in 2015. Sylvatic mammals were captured and submitted to blood collection for trypanosomatid parasitological and serological exams. Dogs from the surrounding areas where the sylvatic mammals were captured were also tested for T. cruzi infection. DNA samples were extracted from blood clots and positive hemocultures, submitted to polymerase chain reaction targeting SSU rDNA and gGAPDH genes, sequenced and phylogenetic analysed. Twenty-one wild mammals were captured in 2012, mainly rodents, and 17 mammals, mainly marsupials, were captured in the two expeditions conducted in 2015. Only four rodents demonstrated borderline serological T. cruzi test (IFAT), two in 2012 and two in 2015. Trypanosoma janseni was the main Trypanosoma species identified, and isolates were obtained solely from Didelphis aurita. In addition to biological differences, molecular differences are suggestive of genetic diversity in this flagellate species. Trypanosoma sp. DID was identified in blood clots from D. aurita in single and mixed infections with T. janseni. Concerning dogs, 12 presented mostly borderline serological titers for T. cruzi and no positive hemoculture. In blood clots from 11 dogs, T. cruzi DNA was detected and characterized as TcI (n = 9) or TcII (n = 2). Infections by Trypanosoma rangeli lineage E (n = 2) and, for the first time, Trypanosoma caninum, Trypanosoma dionisii, and Crithidia mellificae (n = 1 each) were also detected in dogs. We concluded that despite the low mammalian species richness and degraded environment, a high Trypanosoma species richness species was being transmitted with the predominance of T. janseni and not T. cruzi, as would be expected in a locality of an acute case of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Augusta Dario
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Maria Augusta Dario,
| | - Cristiane Varella Lisboa
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo Sérgio D’Andrea
- Laboratory of Biology and Parasitology of Wild Reservoir Mammals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Rodrigues Roque
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatid Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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22
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Pinho SRC, Rodríguez-Málaga S, Lozano-Osorio R, Correa FS, Silva IB, Santos-Costa MC. Effects of the habitat on anuran blood parasites in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20201703. [PMID: 34909821 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120201703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological interactions play an important role in regulating and maintaining natural populations. Like most interactions, parasitism may be influenced by environmental conditions. Therefore, changes caused by human activity may drastically affect the equilibrium of the assemblages of parasitized organisms (hosts). Herein, we described the composition of hemoparasites of anurans from two distinct environments: forest and oil palm plantations. We identified the most frequent groups of blood parasites, and whether infections differ between habitats (forest and plantation) and between microhabitats (arboreal or terrestrial). We collected 128 anurans, of which 46 (36%) were parasitized by hemoparasites. The genus Trypanosoma spp. was found in 30% (n = 37/128) of the infected anurans in both habitats, recorded mostly in terrestrial anurans in oil palm plantations. Apicomplexa hemoprotozoans were also found in 13% (n=17/128) of the anurans, which mainly were terrestrial species collected in oil palm plantations. There was no difference in parasitism between the two assemblies and between the studied microhabitats. This is the first study that has analyzed the ecological relationship between anurans as hosts and their blood parasites, in a region under intense anthropic pressure, in the Brazilian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia R C Pinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Rodríguez-Málaga
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Lozano-Osorio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabrício S Correa
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade, Av. Magalhães Barata, 130, 66040-170 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Iago B Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria C Santos-Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
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23
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Silveira GO, Coelho HS, Amaral MS, Verjovski-Almeida S. Long non-coding RNAs as possible therapeutic targets in protozoa, and in Schistosoma and other helminths. Parasitol Res 2021; 121:1091-1115. [PMID: 34859292 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) emerged in the past 20 years due to massive amounts of scientific data regarding transcriptomic analyses. They have been implicated in a plethora of cellular processes in higher eukaryotes. However, little is known about lncRNA possible involvement in parasitic diseases, with most studies only detecting their presence in parasites of human medical importance. Here, we review the progress on lncRNA studies and their functions in protozoans and helminths. In addition, we show an example of knockdown of one lncRNA in Schistosoma mansoni, SmLINC156349, which led to in vitro parasite adhesion, motility, and pairing impairment, with a 20% decrease in parasite viability and 33% reduction in female oviposition. Other observed phenotypes were a decrease in the proliferation rate of both male and female worms and their gonads, and reduced female lipid and vitelline droplets that are markers for well-developed vitellaria. Impairment of female worms' vitellaria in SmLINC156349-silenced worms led to egg development deficiency. All those results demonstrate the great potential of the tools and methods to characterize lncRNAs as potential new therapeutic targets. Further, we discuss the challenges and limitations of current methods for studying lncRNAs in parasites and possible solutions to overcome them, and we highlight the future directions of this exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert O Silveira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Helena S Coelho
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Murilo S Amaral
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil.
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil. .,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
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24
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Su BX, Wang JF, Yang TB, Hide G, Lai DH, Lun ZR. A new species of mammalian trypanosome, Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) bubalisi sp. nov., found in the freshwater leech Hirudinaria manillensis. Int J Parasitol 2021; 52:253-264. [PMID: 34863800 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Leeches have long been considered potential vectors for the aquatic lineage of trypanosomes, while bloodsucking insects are generally considered as the vectors for the terrestrial lineage of trypanosomes. The freshwater leech, Hirudinaria manillensis, is a widely distributed species in southern China and could potentially act as the vector for trypanosomes. Prior to this study, no trypanosomes had been reported from this leech. However, in this study, leeches were collected from three different places in Guangdong province, China, and a large number of flagellates were isolated and successfully cultured in vitro. Based on morphology, these flagellates looked like a typical trypanosome species. Analysis was carried out on the molecular sequences of the 18S rRNA gene and the glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) gene. To our surprise, these flagellates were identified as likely to be a mammalian trypanosome belonging to the clade containing Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri but they are significantly different from the typical TthI and TthII stocks. Analyses of blood composition indicated that the source of the blood meal in these leeches was from the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). To further test if this flagellate from the freshwater leech was indeed a mammalian trypanosome, we transferred the trypanosomes cultured at 27-37 °C and they were able to successfully adapt to this mammalian body temperature, providing further supporting evidence. Due to the significant genetic differences from other related trypanosomes in the subgenus Megatrypanum, we propose that this flagellate, isolated from H. manillensis, is a new species and have named it Trypanosoma bubalisi. Our results indicate that freshwater leeches may be a potential vector of this new mammalian trypanosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-Xiu Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, The People's Republic of China
| | - Ju-Feng Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, The People's Republic of China
| | - Ting-Bao Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, The People's Republic of China
| | - Geoff Hide
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre and Biomedical Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK
| | - De-Hua Lai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, The People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhao-Rong Lun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Economic Animals, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, The People's Republic of China; Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre and Biomedical Research Centre, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, UK.
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25
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Medina-Rincón GJ, Gallo-Bernal S, Jiménez PA, Cruz-Saavedra L, Ramírez JD, Rodríguez MJ, Medina-Mur R, Díaz-Nassif G, Valderrama-Achury MD, Medina HM. Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Chronic Manifestations in Chagas Disease: A State-of-the-Art Review. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111493. [PMID: 34832648 PMCID: PMC8619182 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic manifestations of Chagas disease present as disabling and life-threatening conditions affecting mainly the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Although meaningful research has outlined the different molecular mechanisms underlying Trypanosoma cruzi’s infection and the host-parasite interactions that follow, prompt diagnosis and treatment remain a challenge, particularly in developing countries and also in those where the disease is considered non-endemic. This review intends to present an up-to-date review of the parasite’s life cycle, genetic diversity, virulence factors, and infective mechanisms, as well as the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options of the main chronic complications of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán J. Medina-Rincón
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (S.G.-B.); (M.D.V.-A.); (H.M.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +57-310-817-2369
| | - Sebastián Gallo-Bernal
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (S.G.-B.); (M.D.V.-A.); (H.M.M.)
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Paula A. Jiménez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (P.A.J.); (L.C.-S.); (J.D.R.)
| | - Lissa Cruz-Saavedra
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (P.A.J.); (L.C.-S.); (J.D.R.)
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (P.A.J.); (L.C.-S.); (J.D.R.)
| | - María Juliana Rodríguez
- Division of Cardiology, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 110131, Colombia; (M.J.R.); (R.M.-M.)
| | - Ramón Medina-Mur
- Division of Cardiology, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 110131, Colombia; (M.J.R.); (R.M.-M.)
| | - Gustavo Díaz-Nassif
- Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | | | - Héctor M. Medina
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia; (S.G.-B.); (M.D.V.-A.); (H.M.M.)
- Division of Cardiology, Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, Bogotá 110131, Colombia; (M.J.R.); (R.M.-M.)
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26
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Alm Rosenblad M, López MD, Samuelsson T. The enigmatic RNase MRP of kinetoplastids. RNA Biol 2021; 18:139-147. [PMID: 34308760 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1952758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The ribonucleoprotein RNase MRP is responsible for the processing of ribosomal RNA precursors. It is found in virtually all eukaryotes that have been examined. In the Euglenozoa, including the genera Euglena, Diplonema and kinetoplastids, MRP RNA and protein subunits have so far escaped detection using bioinformatic methods. However, we now demonstrate that the RNA component is widespread among the Euglenozoa and that these RNAs have secondary structures that conform to the structure of all other phylogenetic groups. In Euglena, we identified the same set of P/MRP protein subunits as in many other protists. However, we failed to identify any of these proteins in the kinetoplastids. This finding poses interesting questions regarding the structure and function of RNase MRP in these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Alm Rosenblad
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, National Infrastructure of Bioinformatics (NBIS), Lundberg Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marcela Dávila López
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tore Samuelsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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27
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Dean S. Basic Biology of Trypanosoma brucei with Reference to the Development of Chemotherapies. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1650-1670. [PMID: 33463458 DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210119105008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei are protozoan parasites that cause the lethal human disease African sleeping sickness and the economically devastating disease of cattle, Nagana. African sleeping sickness, also known as Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), threatens 65 million people and animal trypanosomiasis makes large areas of farmland unusable. There is no vaccine and licensed therapies against the most severe, late-stage disease are toxic, impractical and ineffective. Trypanosomes are transmitted by tsetse flies, and HAT is therefore predominantly confined to the tsetse fly belt in sub-Saharan Africa. They are exclusively extracellular and they differentiate between at least seven developmental forms that are highly adapted to host and vector niches. In the mammalian (human) host they inhabit the blood, cerebrospinal fluid (late-stage disease), skin, and adipose fat. In the tsetse fly vector they travel from the tsetse midgut to the salivary glands via the ectoperitrophic space and proventriculus. Trypanosomes are evolutionarily divergent compared with most branches of eukaryotic life. Perhaps most famous for their extraordinary mechanisms of monoallelic gene expression and antigenic variation, they have also been investigated because much of their biology is either highly unconventional or extreme. Moreover, in addition to their importance as pathogens, many researchers have been attracted to the field because trypanosomes have some of the most advanced molecular genetic tools and database resources of any model system. The following will cover just some aspects of trypanosome biology and how its divergent biochemistry has been leveraged to develop drugs to treat African sleeping sickness. This is by no means intended to be a comprehensive survey of trypanosome features. Rather, I hope to present trypanosomes as one of the most fascinating and tractable systems to do discovery biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Dean
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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28
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Jacobs SH, Dóró E, Hammond FR, Nguyen-Chi ME, Lutfalla G, Wiegertjes GF, Forlenza M. Occurrence of foamy macrophages during the innate response of zebrafish to trypanosome infections. eLife 2021; 10:64520. [PMID: 34114560 PMCID: PMC8238505 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A tightly regulated innate immune response to trypanosome infections is critical to strike a balance between parasite control and inflammation-associated pathology. In this study, we make use of the recently established Trypanosoma carassii infection model in larval zebrafish to study the early response of macrophages and neutrophils to trypanosome infections in vivo. We consistently identified high- and low-infected individuals and were able to simultaneously characterise their differential innate response. Not only did macrophage and neutrophil number and distribution differ between the two groups, but also macrophage morphology and activation state. Exclusive to high-infected zebrafish, was the occurrence of foamy macrophages characterised by a strong pro-inflammatory profile and potentially associated with an exacerbated immune response as well as susceptibility to the infection. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of foamy macrophages during an extracellular trypanosome infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sem H Jacobs
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.,Experimental Zoology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Eva Dóró
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ffion R Hammond
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Geert F Wiegertjes
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.,Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Maria Forlenza
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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29
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Cordoba J, Perez E, Van Vlierberghe M, Bertrand AR, Lupo V, Cardol P, Baurain D. De Novo Transcriptome Meta-Assembly of the Mixotrophic Freshwater Microalga Euglena gracilis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:842. [PMID: 34072576 PMCID: PMC8227486 DOI: 10.3390/genes12060842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Euglena gracilis is a well-known photosynthetic microeukaryote considered as the product of a secondary endosymbiosis between a green alga and a phagotrophic unicellular belonging to the same eukaryotic phylum as the parasitic trypanosomatids. As its nuclear genome has proven difficult to sequence, reliable transcriptomes are important for functional studies. In this work, we assembled a new consensus transcriptome by combining sequencing reads from five independent studies. Based on a detailed comparison with two previously released transcriptomes, our consensus transcriptome appears to be the most complete so far. Remapping the reads on it allowed us to compare the expression of the transcripts across multiple culture conditions at once and to infer a functionally annotated network of co-expressed genes. Although the emergence of meaningful gene clusters indicates that some biological signal lies in gene expression levels, our analyses confirm that gene regulation in euglenozoans is not primarily controlled at the transcriptional level. Regarding the origin of E. gracilis, we observe a heavily mixed gene ancestry, as previously reported, and rule out sequence contamination as a possible explanation for these observations. Instead, they indicate that this complex alga has evolved through a convoluted process involving much more than two partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cordoba
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie des Microalgues, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (J.C.); (E.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Emilie Perez
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie des Microalgues, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (J.C.); (E.P.); (P.C.)
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Unit of Eukaryotic Phylogenomics, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.V.V.); (A.R.B.); (V.L.)
| | - Mick Van Vlierberghe
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Unit of Eukaryotic Phylogenomics, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.V.V.); (A.R.B.); (V.L.)
| | - Amandine R. Bertrand
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Unit of Eukaryotic Phylogenomics, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.V.V.); (A.R.B.); (V.L.)
| | - Valérian Lupo
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Unit of Eukaryotic Phylogenomics, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.V.V.); (A.R.B.); (V.L.)
| | - Pierre Cardol
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Laboratoire de Génétique et Physiologie des Microalgues, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (J.C.); (E.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Denis Baurain
- InBioS—PhytoSYSTEMS, Unit of Eukaryotic Phylogenomics, ULiège, B-4000 Liège, Belgium; (M.V.V.); (A.R.B.); (V.L.)
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30
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Stepinac E, Landrein N, Skwarzyńska D, Wójcik P, Lesigang J, Lučić I, He CY, Bonhivers M, Robinson DR, Dong G. Structural studies of the shortest extended synaptotagmin with only two C2 domains from Trypanosoma brucei. iScience 2021; 24:102422. [PMID: 33997700 PMCID: PMC8093936 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Extended synaptotagmins (E-Syts) localize at membrane contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane to mediate inter-membrane lipid transfer and control plasma membrane lipid homeostasis. All known E-Syts contain an N-terminal transmembrane (TM) hairpin, a central synaptotagmin-like mitochondrial lipid-binding protein (SMP) domain, and three or five C2 domains at their C termini. Here we report an uncharacterized E-Syt from the protist parasite Trypanosoma brucei, namely, TbE-Syt. TbE-Syt contains only two C2 domains (C2A and C2B), making it the shortest E-Syt known by now. We determined a 1.5-Å-resolution crystal structure of TbE-Syt-C2B and revealed that it binds lipids via both Ca2+- and PI(4,5)P2-dependent means. In contrast, TbE-Syt-C2A lacks the Ca2+-binding site but may still interact with lipids via a basic surface patch. Our studies suggest a mechanism for how TbE-Syt tethers the ER membrane tightly to the plasma membrane to transfer lipids between the two organelles. We identified a new type of extended synaptotagmin (E-Syt) in Trypanosoma brucei TbE-Syt is the shortest known E-Syt with only two C2 domains, C2A and C2B TbE-Syt-C2B binds lipids via both Ca2+- and PI(4,5)P2-dependent means Unlike all other known E-Syts, TbE-Syt-C2A and C2B are connected by a flexible loop
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Stepinac
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicolas Landrein
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Daria Skwarzyńska
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria.,Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Patrycja Wójcik
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria.,Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Johannes Lesigang
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Iva Lučić
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for BioImaging Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mélanie Bonhivers
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Derrick R Robinson
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Gang Dong
- Max Perutz Labs, Vienna Biocenter, Center for Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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Dario MA, Lisboa CV, Silva MV, Herrera HM, Rocha FL, Furtado MC, Moratelli R, Rodrigues Roque AL, Jansen AM. Crithidia mellificae infection in different mammalian species in Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 15:58-69. [PMID: 33981571 PMCID: PMC8085711 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Crithidia mellificae, a monoxenous trypanosomatid considered restricted to insects, was recently reported to infect a bat. Herein, C. mellificae has been demonstrated to have a wider range of vertebrate hosts and distribution in Brazilian biomes than once thought. Parasites isolated from haemocultures were characterized using V7V8 SSU rDNA and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes. Coatis (Nasua nasua) in the Cerrado; marmosets (Callithrix sp.) and bats (Carollia perspicillata, Myotis lavali, M. izecksohni, Artibeus lituratus) in the Atlantic Forest; crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in the Pantanal biomes were infected by trypanosomatids that displayed choanomastigote forms in haemoculture in Giemsa-stained slide smears. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic inference confirmed the infection of C. mellificae in these animals. Moreover, slight differences in C. mellificae sequences were observed. Crithidia mellificae growth curves were counted at 27°C, 36°C and 37°C, and the morphotypes were able to grow and survive for up to 16 days. Serological titers for C. mellificae were observed in nonhuman primates, demonstrating that this parasite is able to induce a humoral immune response in an infected mammal. These results showed that host specificity in trypanosomatids is complex and far from understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Augusta Dario
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Varella Lisboa
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marlon Vicente Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Lopes Rocha
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Monitoramento Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Rio Tinto, Paraíba, Brazil
- IUCN SSC Species Survival Center. Parque das Aves, Foz do Iguaçú, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Moratelli
- Fiocruz Mata Atlântica, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Rodrigues Roque
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Corresponding author.
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Piwosz K, Mukherjee I, Salcher MM, Grujčić V, Šimek K. CARD-FISH in the Sequencing Era: Opening a New Universe of Protistan Ecology. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:640066. [PMID: 33746931 PMCID: PMC7970053 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.640066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Phagotrophic protists are key players in aquatic food webs. Although sequencing-based studies have revealed their enormous diversity, ecological information on in situ abundance, feeding modes, grazing preferences, and growth rates of specific lineages can be reliably obtained only using microscopy-based molecular methods, such as Catalyzed Reporter Deposition-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (CARD-FISH). CARD-FISH is commonly applied to study prokaryotes, but less so to microbial eukaryotes. Application of this technique revealed that Paraphysomonas or Spumella-like chrysophytes, considered to be among the most prominent members of protistan communities in pelagic environments, are omnipresent but actually less abundant than expected, in contrast to little known groups such as heterotrophic cryptophyte lineages (e.g., CRY1), cercozoans, katablepharids, or the MAST lineages. Combination of CARD-FISH with tracer techniques and application of double CARD-FISH allow visualization of food vacuole contents of specific flagellate groups, thus considerably challenging our current, simplistic view that they are predominantly bacterivores. Experimental manipulations with natural communities revealed that larger flagellates are actually omnivores ingesting both prokaryotes and other protists. These new findings justify our proposition of an updated model of microbial food webs in pelagic environments, reflecting more authentically the complex trophic interactions and specific roles of flagellated protists, with inclusion of at least two additional trophic levels in the nanoplankton size fraction. Moreover, we provide a detailed CARD-FISH protocol for protists, exemplified on mixo- and heterotrophic nanoplanktonic flagellates, together with tips on probe design, a troubleshooting guide addressing most frequent obstacles, and an exhaustive list of published probes targeting protists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasia Piwosz
- Department of Fisheries Oceanography and Marine Ecology, National Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Gdynia, Poland
- Centre ALGATECH, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Indranil Mukherjee
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Michaela M. Salcher
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Vesna Grujčić
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karel Šimek
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, České Budějovice, Czechia
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Haindrich AC, Ernst V, Naguleswaran A, Oliveres QF, Roditi I, Rentsch D. Nutrient availability regulates proline/alanine transporters in Trypanosoma brucei. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100566. [PMID: 33745971 PMCID: PMC8094907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is a species of unicellular parasite that can cause severe diseases in livestock and humans, including African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease. Adaptation to diverse environments and changes in nutritional conditions is essential for T. brucei to establish an infection when changing hosts or during invasion of different host tissues. One such adaptation is the ability of T. brucei to rapidly switch its energy metabolism from glucose metabolism in the mammalian blood to proline catabolism in the insect stages and vice versa. However, the mechanisms that support the parasite's response to nutrient availability remain unclear. Using RNAseq and qRT-PCR, we investigated the response of T. brucei to amino acid or glucose starvation and found increased mRNA levels of several amino acid transporters, including all genes of the amino acid transporter AAT7-B subgroup. Functional characterization revealed that AAT7-B members are plasma membrane-localized in T. brucei and when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae supported the uptake of proline, alanine, and cysteine, while other amino acids were poorly recognized. All AAT7-B members showed a preference for proline, which is transported with high or low affinity. RNAi-mediated AAT7-B downregulation resulted in a reduction of intracellular proline concentrations and growth arrest under low proline availability in cultured procyclic form parasites. Taken together, these results suggest a role of AAT7-B transporters in the response of T. brucei to proline starvation and proline catabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viona Ernst
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Isabel Roditi
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Doris Rentsch
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Winterhoff ML, Achmadi AS, Roycroft EJ, Handika H, Putra RTJ, Rowe KMC, Perkins SL, Rowe KC. Native and Introduced Trypanosome Parasites in Endemic and Introduced Murine Rodents of Sulawesi. J Parasitol 2020; 106:523-536. [PMID: 32931567 DOI: 10.1645/19-136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Indonesian island of Sulawesi is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot with substantial undescribed biota, particularly blood-borne parasites of endemic wildlife. Documenting the blood parasites of Sulawesi's murine rodents is the first fundamental step towards the discovery of pathogens likely to be of concern for the health and conservation of Sulawesi's endemic murines. We screened liver samples from 441 specimens belonging to 20 different species of murine rodents from 2 mountain ranges on Sulawesi, using polymerase chin reaction (PCR) primers targeting the conserved 18S rDNA region across the protozoan class Kinetoplastea. We detected infections in 156 specimens (10 host species) with a mean prevalence of 35.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 30.9-39.8%). Sequences from these samples identified 4 infections to the genus Parabodo, 1 to Blechomonas, and the remaining 151 to the genus Trypanosoma. Within Trypanosoma, we recovered 17 haplotypes nested within the Trypanosoma theileri clade infecting 117 specimens (8 host species) and 4 haplotypes nested within the Trypanosoma lewisi clade infecting 34 specimens (6 host species). Haplotypes within the T. theileri clade were related to regional Indo-Australian endemic trypanosomes, displayed geographic structuring but with evidence of long-term connectivity between mountains, and had substantial phylogenetic diversity. These results suggest T. theileri clade parasites are native to Sulawesi. Conversely, T. lewisi clade haplotypes were recovered from both endemic and introduced rodents, demonstrated complete geographic separation between clades, and had low genetic diversity. These results suggest that the T. lewisi clade parasites invaded Sulawesi recently and likely in 2 separate invasion events. Our results provide the first records of metakinetoplastids in Sulawesi's rodents and highlight the need for more extensive sampling for pathogens in this biodiversity hotspot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique L Winterhoff
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Anang S Achmadi
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology-LIPI, Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km. 46, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
| | - Emily J Roycroft
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Heru Handika
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
- Department of Biology and Museum of Natural Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
| | | | - Karen M C Rowe
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
| | - Susan L Perkins
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York 10024
- The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10031
| | - Kevin C Rowe
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria 3053, Australia
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Jaimes-Dueñez J, Cantillo-Barraza O, Triana-Chávez O, Mejia-Jaramillo AM. Molecular surveillance reveals bats from eastern Colombia infected with Trypanosoma theileri and Trypanosoma wauwau-like parasites. Prev Vet Med 2020; 184:105159. [PMID: 33038611 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Several species of trypanosomes can infect bats (Chiroptera), but current information about bat trypanosomes in Colombia is scarce. The objectives of this study were to estimate the infection rate and to characterize the trypanosome species infecting bats from three rural regions near the municipality of Cumaribo in Vichada, Colombia. Blood samples were collected from 39 bats. DNA was extracted from the blood samples and analyzed using nuclear genetic markers (SSU rDNA, ITS rDNA, and cathepsin genes) to discriminate among trypanosome species. Trypanosomes were detected in 66.7 % (26/39) of blood samples using PCR; 61.5 % (24/39) of infections were identified as Trypanosoma theileri and 5.1 % (2/39) as T. wauwau-like parasites. The phylogeographic analysis revealed that our T. theileri sequences were associated with the TthIIB genotype from cattle in Brazil and Venezuela. The T. wauwau-like parasites represent a new genotype of the species and were found in Molossus molossus and Platyrrhinus helleri bats. These data represent the first evidence of this trypanosome in both Colombia, and in these species of bats. Bat infections with T. theileri suggest an important role of these hosts in maintaining this genotype, probably acquired by ingesting insect vectors. The T. wauwau-like genotype in new mammalian host species supports the 'bat seeding' hypothesis of the T. cruzi clade. The epidemiological and evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeiczon Jaimes-Dueñez
- Grupo BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia; Grupo GRICA, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia UCC, Calle 30 No. 33-51, Bucaramanga, Colombia.
| | | | - Omar Triana-Chávez
- Grupo BCEI, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia
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36
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Origin and diversification of the cardiolipin biosynthetic pathway in the Eukarya domain. Biochem Soc Trans 2020; 48:1035-1046. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20190967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cardiolipin (CL) and its precursor phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are important anionic phospholipids widely distributed throughout all domains of life. They have key roles in several cellular processes by shaping membranes and modulating the activity of the proteins inserted into those membranes. They are synthesized by two main pathways, the so-called eukaryotic pathway, exclusively found in mitochondria, and the prokaryotic pathway, present in most bacteria and archaea. In the prokaryotic pathway, the first and the third reactions are catalyzed by phosphatidylglycerol phosphate synthase (Pgps) belonging to the transferase family and cardiolipin synthase (Cls) belonging to the hydrolase family, while in the eukaryotic pathway, those same reactions are catalyzed by unrelated homonymous enzymes: Pgps of the hydrolase family and Cls of the transferase family. Because of the enzymatic arrangement found in both pathways, it seems that the eukaryotic pathway evolved by convergence to the prokaryotic pathway. However, since mitochondria evolved from a bacterial endosymbiont, it would suggest that the eukaryotic pathway arose from the prokaryotic pathway. In this review, it is proposed that the eukaryote pathway evolved directly from a prokaryotic pathway by the neofunctionalization of the bacterial enzymes. Moreover, after the eukaryotic radiation, this pathway was reshaped by horizontal gene transfers or subsequent endosymbiotic processes.
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Kaufer A, Stark D, Ellis J. A review of the systematics, species identification and diagnostics of the Trypanosomatidae using the maxicircle kinetoplast DNA: from past to present. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:449-460. [PMID: 32333942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Trypanosomatid family are a diverse and widespread group of protozoan parasites that belong to the higher order class Kinetoplastida. Containing predominantly monoxenous species (i.e. those having only a single host) that are confined to invertebrate hosts, this class is primarily known for its pathogenic dixenous species (i.e. those that have two hosts), serving as the aetiological agents of the important neglected tropical diseases including leishmaniasis, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and human African trypanosomiasis. Over the past few decades, a multitude of studies have investigated the diversity, classification and evolutionary history of the trypanosomatid family using different approaches and molecular targets. The mitochondrial-like DNA of the trypanosomatid parasites, also known as the kinetoplast, has emerged as a unique taxonomic and diagnostic target for exploring the evolution of this diverse group of parasitic eukaryotes. This review discusses recent advancements and important developments that have made a significant impact in the field of trypanosomatid systematics and diagnostics in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Kaufer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Damien Stark
- Department of Microbiology, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - John Ellis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
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Franssen SU, Durrant C, Stark O, Moser B, Downing T, Imamura H, Dujardin JC, Sanders MJ, Mauricio I, Miles MA, Schnur LF, Jaffe CL, Nasereddin A, Schallig H, Yeo M, Bhattacharyya T, Alam MZ, Berriman M, Wirth T, Schönian G, Cotton JA. Global genome diversity of the Leishmania donovani complex. eLife 2020; 9:e51243. [PMID: 32209228 PMCID: PMC7105377 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of the Leishmania donovani complex - L. donovani and L. infantum - cause the fatal disease visceral leishmaniasis. We present the first comprehensive genome-wide global study, with 151 cultured field isolates representing most of the geographical distribution. L. donovani isolates separated into five groups that largely coincide with geographical origin but vary greatly in diversity. In contrast, the majority of L. infantum samples fell into one globally-distributed group with little diversity. This picture is complicated by several hybrid lineages. Identified genetic groups vary in heterozygosity and levels of linkage, suggesting different recombination histories. We characterise chromosome-specific patterns of aneuploidy and identified extensive structural variation, including known and suspected drug resistance loci. This study reveals greater genetic diversity than suggested by geographically-focused studies, provides a resource of genomic variation for future work and sets the scene for a new understanding of the evolution and genetics of the Leishmania donovani complex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Durrant
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Tim Downing
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
- Dublin City UniversityDublinIreland
| | | | - Jean-Claude Dujardin
- Institute of Tropical MedicineAntwerpBelgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Mandy J Sanders
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | - Isabel Mauricio
- Universidade Nova de Lisboa Instituto de Higiene e MedicinaLisboaPortugal
| | - Michael A Miles
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Lionel F Schnur
- Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | - Charles L Jaffe
- Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | - Abdelmajeed Nasereddin
- Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | - Henk Schallig
- Amsterdam University Medical Centres – Academic Medical Centre at the University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology – Experimental ParasitologyAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Matthew Yeo
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Mohammad Z Alam
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural UniversityMymensinghBangladesh
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
| | - Thierry Wirth
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des AntillesParisFrance
- École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE)Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL)ParisFrance
| | | | - James A Cotton
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome CampusHinxtonUnited Kingdom
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Medkour H, Varloud M, Davoust B, Mediannikov O. New Molecular Approach for the Detection of Kinetoplastida Parasites of Medical and Veterinary Interest. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E356. [PMID: 32131458 PMCID: PMC7143920 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8030356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids are protozoa containing a range of ubiquitous free_living species-pathogens of invertebrates, vertebrates and even some plants. Some of them are causative agents of canine vector-borne diseases. Their diagnosis is often missing in a gold standard. Here, we proposed a molecular approach for the diagnosis and study of Kinetoplastida. The TaqMan qPCR assays target the following genes: 24Sa LSU of Kinetoplastida, 28S LSU of Leishmania/ Trypanosoma spp., 5.8S rRNA of Trypanosoma spp., 18S SSU of Leishmania spp., kinetoplast minicircle DNA (kDNA) of L. donovani complex and kDNA of L. infantum, were designed, validated for their sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) in silico and in vitro using a panel of known DNAs. They were then used to screen 369 blood samples (358 dogs, 2 equids, 9 monkeys). In addition, new 28S LSU primer sets are presented to use for Kinetoplastida's identification by PCR/sequencing. All qPCRs showed consistently high analytical sensitivities and reproducibility. They detect approximately 0.01 parasite/ mL blood for the kDNA based- qPCRs and at least a single cell-equivalent of rDNA for the other systems. Based on the sequencing results, after screening, Se and Sp were: 0. 919 and 0.971, 0.853 and 0.979, 1.00 and 0.987, 0.826 and 0.995 for all of Kinetoplastida, Leishmania/ Trypanosoma, Trypanosoma, Leishmania spp. specific qPCRs, respectively. kDNA based qPCRs were more sensitive and specific (Se: 1.00; Sp: 0.997). PCR/sequencing allowed the detection of Kinetoplastids in animal blood samples such as L. infantum, L. guyanensis, T. congolense, T. evansi and Bodo spp. The molecular approach proposed here is useful for epidemiological studies, fundamental research such as screening for new Kinetoplastida species, diagnosis and therapeutic follow-up. In addition, researchers are free to choose the molecular tools adapted to their aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hacène Medkour
- IHU Méditerranée Infection - Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny and Infection (MEΦI), 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France; (H.M.); (B.D.)
- UMR Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, APHM -19-21, Bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France
- PADESCA Laboratory, Veterinary Science Institute, University Constantine 1, El Khroub 25100, Algeria
| | | | - Bernard Davoust
- IHU Méditerranée Infection - Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny and Infection (MEΦI), 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France; (H.M.); (B.D.)
- UMR Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, APHM -19-21, Bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- IHU Méditerranée Infection - Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny and Infection (MEΦI), 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France; (H.M.); (B.D.)
- UMR Aix-Marseille Université, IRD, APHM -19-21, Bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 05, France
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Sereno D, Akhoundi M, Sayehmri K, Mirzaei A, Holzmuller P, Lejon V, Waleckx E. Noninvasive Biological Samples to Detect and Diagnose Infections due to Trypanosomatidae Parasites: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1684. [PMID: 32121441 PMCID: PMC7084391 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Unicellular eukaryotes of the Trypanosomatidae family include human and animal pathogens that belong to the Trypanosoma and Leishmania genera. Diagnosis of the diseases they cause requires the sampling of body fluids (e.g., blood, lymph, peritoneal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid) or organ biopsies (e.g., bone marrow, spleen), which are mostly obtained through invasive methods. Body fluids or appendages can be alternatives to these invasive biopsies but appropriateness remains poorly studied. To further address this question, we perform a systematic review on clues evidencing the presence of parasites, genetic material, antibodies, and antigens in body secretions, appendages, or the organs or proximal tissues that produce these materials. Paper selection was based on searches in PubMed, Web of Science, WorldWideScience, SciELO, Embase, and Google. The information of each selected article (n = 333) was classified into different sections and data were extracted from 77 papers. The presence of Trypanosomatidae parasites has been tracked in most of organs or proximal tissues that produce body secretions or appendages, in naturally or experimentally infected hosts. The meta-analysis highlights the paucity of studies on human African trypanosomiasis and an absence on animal trypanosomiasis. Among the collected data high heterogeneity in terms of the I2 statistic (100%) is recorded. A high positivity is recorded for antibody and genetic material detection in urine of patients and dogs suffering leishmaniasis, and of antigens for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Data on conjunctival swabs can be analyzed with molecular methods solely for dogs suffering canine visceral leishmaniasis. Saliva and hair/bristles showed a pretty good positivity that support their potential to be used for leishmaniasis diagnosis. In conclusion, our study pinpoints significant gaps that need to be filled in order to properly address the interest of body secretion and hair or bristles for the diagnosis of infections caused by Leishmania and by other Trypanosomatidae parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Sereno
- Institut de Recherche pour le Dévelopement, Université de Montpellier, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, 34032 Montpellier, France; (V.L.); (E.W.)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Dévelopement, Université de Montpellier, UMR MIVEGEC IRD, CNRS, 34032 Montpellier, France
| | - Mohammad Akhoundi
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, Avicenne Hospital, AP-HP, 93000 Bobigny, France;
| | - Kourosh Sayehmri
- Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Department of Biostatistics, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam 6931851147, Iran;
| | - Asad Mirzaei
- Parasitology Department, Paramedical School, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam 6931851147, Iran;
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam 6931851147, Iran
| | - Philippe Holzmuller
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE “Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risques et Ecosystèmes”, F-34398 Montpellier, France;
- ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, Université de Montpellier (I-MUSE), 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Veerle Lejon
- Institut de Recherche pour le Dévelopement, Université de Montpellier, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, 34032 Montpellier, France; (V.L.); (E.W.)
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Institut de Recherche pour le Dévelopement, Université de Montpellier, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, 34032 Montpellier, France; (V.L.); (E.W.)
- Centro de Investigaciones Regionales «Dr Hideyo Noguchi», Universidad autònoma de yucatán, Merida, Yucatán 97000, Mexico
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Out of Africa: The origins of the protozoan blood parasites of the Trypanosoma cruzi clade found in bats from Africa. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 145:106705. [PMID: 31821880 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding geographic patterns of interaction between hosts and parasites can provide useful insight into the evolutionary history of the organisms involved. However, poor taxon sampling often hinders meaningful phylogenetic descriptions of groups of parasites. Trypanosome parasites that constitute the Trypanosoma cruzi clade are worldwide distributed infecting several mammalian species, especially bats. Diversity in this clade has been recently expanded by newly discovered species, but the common ancestor and geographical origins of this group of blood parasites are still debated. We present here results based on the molecular characterization of trypanosome isolates obtained from 1493 bats representing 74 species and sampled over 16 countries across four continents. After estimating the appropriate number of hypothetical species in our data set using GMYC models in combination with Poisson Tree Processes (mPTP) and ABGD, the 18S rRNA and gGAPDH genes were used for phylogenetic analyses to infer the major evolutionary relationships in the T. cruzi clade. Then, biogeographical processes influencing the distribution of this cosmopolitan group of parasites was inferred using BioGeoBEARS. Results revealed a large lineages diversity and the presence of trypanosomes in all sampled regions which infected 344 individuals from 31 bat species. We found eight Trypanosoma species, including: five previously known; one subspecies of Trypanosoma livingstonei (Trypanosoma cf. livingstonei); and two undescribed taxa (Trypanosoma sp. 1, Trypanosoma sp. 2), which were found exclusively in bats of the genus Miniopterus from Europe and Africa. The new taxa discovered have both an unexpected position in the global phylogeny of the T. cruzi clade. Trypanosoma sp. 1 is a sister lineage of T. livingstonei which is located at the base of the tree, whereas Trypanosoma sp. 2 is a sister lineage of the Shizotrypanum subclade that contains T. c. cruzi and T. dionisii. Ancestral areas reconstruction provided evidence that trypanosomes of the T. cruzi clade have radiated from Africa through several dispersion events across the world. We discuss the impact of these findings on the biogeography and taxonomy of this important clade of parasites and question the role played by bats, especially those from the genus Miniopterus, on the dispersal of these protozoan parasites between continents.
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Natural infection by the protozoan Leptomonas wallacei impacts the morphology, physiology, reproduction, and lifespan of the insect Oncopeltus fasciatus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17468. [PMID: 31767875 PMCID: PMC6877526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53678-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are protozoan parasites that infect thousands of globally dispersed hosts, potentially affecting their physiology. Several species of trypanosomatids are commonly found in phytophagous insects. Leptomonas wallacei is a gut-restricted insect trypanosomatid only retrieved from Oncopeltus fasciatus. The insects get infected by coprophagy and transovum transmission of L. wallacei cysts. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the effects of a natural infection by L. wallacei on the hemipteran insect O. fasciatus, by comparing infected and uninfected individuals in a controlled environment. The L. wallacei-infected individuals showed reduced lifespan and morphological alterations. Also, we demonstrated a higher infection burden in females than in males. The infection caused by L. wallacei reduced host reproductive fitness by negatively impacting egg load, oviposition, and eclosion, and promoting an increase in egg reabsorption. Moreover, we associated the egg reabsorption observed in infected females, with a decrease in the intersex gene expression. Finally, we suggest alterations in population dynamics induced by L. wallacei infection using a mathematical model. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that L. wallacei infection negatively affected the physiology of O. fasciatus, which suggests that L. wallacei potentially has a vast ecological impact on host population growth.
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Shan F, Diwu Y, Yang X, Tu X. Expression and Interactions of Kinetoplastid Kinetochore Proteins (KKTs) from Trypanosoma brucei. Protein Pept Lett 2019; 26:860-868. [PMID: 31621553 DOI: 10.2174/0929866526666190723152359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background:
Kinetochores are the macromolecular protein complex that drives
chromosome segregation by interacting with centromeric DNA and spindle microtubules in
eukaryotes. Kinetochores in well studied eukaryotes bind DNA through widely conserved
components like Centromere Protein (CENP)-A and bind microtubules through the Ndc80
complex. However, unconventional type of kinetochore proteins (KKT1-20) were identified in
evolutionarily divergent kinetoplastid species such as Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), indicating
that chromosome segregation is driven by a distinct set of proteins. KKT proteins are comprised of
sequential α-helixes that tend to form coiled-coil structures, which will further lead to
polymerization and misfolding of proteins, resulting in the formation of inclusion bodies.
Results and Conclusion:
We expressed and purified the stable KKT proteins with Maltose Binding
Protein (MBP) fusion tag in E. coli or Protein A tag in Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293T
cells. Furthermore, we identified interactions among KKT proteins using yeast two-hybrid system.
The study provides an important basis for further better understanding of the structure and function
of KKT proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhen Shan
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale and School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yating Diwu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale and School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale and School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoming Tu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Science at Microscale and School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Mukherjee I, Hodoki Y, Okazaki Y, Fujinaga S, Ohbayashi K, Nakano SI. Widespread Dominance of Kinetoplastids and Unexpected Presence of Diplonemids in Deep Freshwater Lakes. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2375. [PMID: 31681232 PMCID: PMC6805782 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastid flagellates are generally abundant in the deep sea and recently they were even found to be dominant in the hypolimnion of a deep freshwater lake. Therefore, to understand the distribution of kinetoplastids in deep freshwater lakes, we have collected vertical samples from five lakes in Japan. The abundance of kinetoplastids was enumerated by Catalyzed Reporter Deposition-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization, and the diversity was determined by 18S amplicon sequencing using universal eukaryote and kinetoplastid-specific primers. Kinetoplastids were abundant in the deep waters of all the lakes, contributing up to 53.6% of total nanoeukaryotes. Despite this significant contribution, kinetoplastids remain undetected by amplicon sequencing using universal primers that are widely used in eukaryotic diversity studies. However, they were detected with specific primers, and the communities were characterized by both ubiquitous and lake-specific unique OTUs. Oligotyping of a ubiquitous and dominant OTU revealed the presence of lake-specific sequence types (oligotypes). Remarkably, we also detected diplonemids (a sister group of kinetoplastids and considered to be specific in the marine habitat) using kinetoplastid-specific primers, showing their presence in freshwaters. Underestimation of kinetoplastids and diplonemids using universal primers indicates that euglenozoan flagellates are overlooked in diversity studies worldwide. The present study highlighted the importance of kinetoplastids in the hypolimnion of deep lakes, thereby indicating their role in material cycling in deep waters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yusuke Okazaki
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shohei Fujinaga
- Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Otsu, Japan
| | - Kako Ohbayashi
- Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Otsu, Japan.,Department of General Systems Studies, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Dóró É, Jacobs SH, Hammond FR, Schipper H, Pieters RP, Carrington M, Wiegertjes GF, Forlenza M. Visualizing trypanosomes in a vertebrate host reveals novel swimming behaviours, adaptations and attachment mechanisms. eLife 2019; 8:48388. [PMID: 31547905 PMCID: PMC6759355 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomes are important disease agents of humans, livestock and cold-blooded species, including fish. The cellular morphology of trypanosomes is central to their motility, adaptation to the host’s environments and pathogenesis. However, visualizing the behaviour of trypanosomes resident in a live vertebrate host has remained unexplored. In this study, we describe an infection model of zebrafish (Danio rerio) with Trypanosoma carassii. By combining high spatio-temporal resolution microscopy with the transparency of live zebrafish, we describe in detail the swimming behaviour of trypanosomes in blood and tissues of a vertebrate host. Besides the conventional tumbling and directional swimming, T. carassii can change direction through a ‘whip-like’ motion or by swimming backward. Further, the posterior end can act as an anchoring site in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a vertebrate infection model that allows detailed imaging of trypanosome swimming behaviour in vivo in a natural host environment. Trypanosomes are one-celled parasites that cause the disease trypanosomiasis, which is also known as sleeping sickness. Trypanosomiasis is transmitted to humans and animals by a type of fly, known as tse-tse, which is commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa. A bite from the tse-tse fly transfers the trypanosome cells into the host’s bloodstream, where they spread from the blood to the internal organs and brain. This leads to a long-term illness, which can sometimes result in a coma and eventually death. Once in the blood trypanosomes move around using a structure similar to an underwater propeller called the flagellum. How the trypanosomes move and behave in the blood determines how the infection will progress. Until now it has only been possible to observe trypanosomes in plastic dishes or in blood drawn from infected patients. However, neither of these settings mimic the conditions of the bloodstream, and it is currently impossible to look inside human hosts to watch how trypanosomes move. To overcome this hurdle, Doro et al. infected zebrafish with Trypanosoma carassii, a close relative of the sub-Saharan trypanosomes that specifically infects fish. Zebrafish are transparent when young, making it possible to observe the parasite in the blood and tissues of live fish using a microscope. Doro et al. noticed that Trypanosoma carassii cells adapt to different environments in the host by using different swimming techniques. For example, in small capillaries trypanosomes were dragged along with the blood flow, whilst in larger vessels, when blood flow was slow or there were fewer red blood cells, trypanosomes actively swam against the current. The parasites were also able to change direction by using their flagella in a ‘whip-like’ motion. Lastly, it was discovered that Trypanosoma carassii could rapidly attach to blood vessel walls using one end of its cell body, even when blood flow was strong. This behaviour may help the parasites escape from the bloodstream into the surrounding tissues, making the infection more dangerous. Studying how trypanosomes infect zebrafish at this high level of detail provides new insights into how these parasites move and behave inside a host. An important question that remains to be answered, is how exactly the trypanosomes leave the bloodstream. A better understanding of the whole infection process may hint at new ways of fighting these deadly infections in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Dóró
- Department of Animal Sciences, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sem H Jacobs
- Department of Animal Sciences, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ffion R Hammond
- Department of Animal Sciences, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Henk Schipper
- Department of Animal Sciences, Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Remco Pm Pieters
- Department of Animal Sciences, Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Mark Carrington
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Geert F Wiegertjes
- Department of Animal Sciences, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.,Department of Animal Sciences, Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Maria Forlenza
- Department of Animal Sciences, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Evolutionary Insight into the Trypanosomatidae Using Alignment-Free Phylogenomics of the Kinetoplast. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8030157. [PMID: 31540520 PMCID: PMC6789588 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancements in next-generation sequencing techniques have led to a substantial increase in the genomic information available for analyses in evolutionary biology. As such, this data requires the exponential growth in bioinformatic methods and expertise required to understand such vast quantities of genomic data. Alignment-free phylogenomics offer an alternative approach for large-scale analyses that may have the potential to address these challenges. The evolutionary relationships between various species within the trypanosomatid family, specifically members belonging to the genera Leishmania and Trypanosoma have been extensively studies over the last 30 years. However, there is a need for a more exhaustive analysis of the Trypanosomatidae, summarising the evolutionary patterns amongst the entire family of these important protists. The mitochondrial DNA of the trypanosomatids, better known as the kinetoplast, represents a valuable taxonomic marker given its unique presence across all kinetoplastid protozoans. The aim of this study was to validate the reliability and robustness of alignment-free approaches for phylogenomic analyses and its applicability to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships between the trypanosomatid family. In the present study, alignment-free analyses demonstrated the strength of these methods, particularly when dealing with large datasets compared to the traditional phylogenetic approaches. We present a maxicircle genome phylogeny of 46 species spanning the trypanosomatid family, demonstrating the superiority of the maxicircle for the analysis and taxonomic resolution of the Trypanosomatidae.
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Schwabl P, Imamura H, Van den Broeck F, Costales JA, Maiguashca-Sánchez J, Miles MA, Andersson B, Grijalva MJ, Llewellyn MS. Meiotic sex in Chagas disease parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3972. [PMID: 31481692 PMCID: PMC6722143 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11771-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic exchange enables parasites to rapidly transform disease phenotypes and exploit new host populations. Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasitic agent of Chagas disease and a public health concern throughout Latin America, has for decades been presumed to exchange genetic material rarely and without classic meiotic sex. We present compelling evidence from 45 genomes sequenced from southern Ecuador that T. cruzi in fact maintains truly sexual, panmictic groups that can occur alongside others that remain highly clonal after past hybridization events. These groups with divergent reproductive strategies appear genetically isolated despite possible co-occurrence in vectors and hosts. We propose biological explanations for the fine-scale disconnectivity we observe and discuss the epidemiological consequences of flexible reproductive modes. Our study reinvigorates the hunt for the site of genetic exchange in the T. cruzi life cycle, provides tools to define the genetic determinants of parasite virulence, and reforms longstanding theory on clonality in trypanosomatid parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Schwabl
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Hideo Imamura
- Unit of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 155 Nationalestraat, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Frederik Van den Broeck
- Unit of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, 155 Nationalestraat, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jaime A Costales
- Center for Research on Health in Latin America, School of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jalil Maiguashca-Sánchez
- Center for Research on Health in Latin America, School of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Michael A Miles
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Bjorn Andersson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Karolinska Institutet, Biomedicum 9C, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mario J Grijalva
- Center for Research on Health in Latin America, School of Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Biomedical Sciences Department, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, 45701, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Martin S Llewellyn
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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Ribeiro YC, Robe LJ, Veluza DS, Dos Santos CMB, Lopes ALK, Krieger MA, Ludwig A. Study of VIPER and TATE in kinetoplastids and the evolution of tyrosine recombinase retrotransposons. Mob DNA 2019; 10:34. [PMID: 31391870 PMCID: PMC6681497 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-019-0175-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Kinetoplastids are a flagellated group of protists, including some parasites, such as Trypanosoma and Leishmania species, that can cause diseases in humans and other animals. The genomes of these species enclose a fraction of retrotransposons including VIPER and TATE, two poorly studied transposable elements that encode a tyrosine recombinase (YR) and were previously classified as DIRS elements. This study investigated the distribution and evolution of VIPER and TATE in kinetoplastids to understand the relationships of these elements with other retrotransposons. Results We observed that VIPER and TATE have a discontinuous distribution among Trypanosomatidae, with several events of loss and degeneration occurring during a vertical transfer evolution. We were able to identify the terminal repeats of these elements for the first time, and we showed that these elements are potentially active in some species, including T. cruzi copies of VIPER. We found that VIPER and TATE are strictly related elements, which were named in this study as VIPER-like. The reverse transcriptase (RT) tree presented a low resolution, and the origin and relationships among YR groups remain uncertain. Conversely, for RH, VIPER-like grouped with Hepadnavirus, whereas for YR, VIPER-like sequences constituted two different clades that are closely allied to Crypton. Distinct topologies among RT, RH and YR trees suggest ancient rearrangements/exchanges in domains and a modular pattern of evolution with putative independent origins for each ORF. Conclusions Due to the presence of both elements in Bodo saltans, a nontrypanosomatid species, we suggested that VIPER and TATE have survived and remained active for more than 400 million years or were reactivated during the evolution of the host species. We did not find clear evidence of independent origins of VIPER-like from the other YR retroelements, supporting the maintenance of the DIRS group of retrotransposons. Nevertheless, according to phylogenetic findings and sequence structure obtained by this study and other works, we proposed separating DIRS elements into four subgroups: DIRS-like, PAT-like, Ngaro-like, and VIPER-like. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13100-019-0175-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Carla Ribeiro
- 1Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | - Lizandra Jaqueline Robe
- 2Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS Brazil
| | | | | | - Ana Luisa Kalb Lopes
- 1Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR Brazil
| | | | - Adriana Ludwig
- 4Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Curitiba, PR Brazil
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Maslov DA. Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: RNA Editing and Selection of Translatable mRNA in Trypanosome Mitochondria. Pathogens 2019; 8:E105. [PMID: 31323762 PMCID: PMC6789859 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the mitochondria of trypanosomes and related kinetoplastid protists, most mRNAs undergo a long and sophisticated maturation pathway before they can be productively translated by mitochondrial ribosomes. Some of the aspects of this pathway (identity of the promotors, transcription initiation, and termination signals) remain obscure, and some (post-transcriptional modification by U-insertion/deletion, RNA editing, 3'-end maturation) have been illuminated by research during the last decades. The RNA editing creates an open reading frame for a productive translation, but the fully edited mRNA often represents a minor fraction in the pool of pre-edited and partially edited precursors. Therefore, it has been expected that the final stages of the mRNA processing generate molecular hallmarks, which allow for the efficient and selective recognition of translation-competent templates. The general contours and several important details of this process have become known only recently and represent the subject of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri A Maslov
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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50
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Flegontova O, Flegontov P, Malviya S, Poulain J, de Vargas C, Bowler C, Lukeš J, Horák A. Neobodonids are dominant kinetoplastids in the global ocean. Environ Microbiol 2019; 20:878-889. [PMID: 29266706 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid flagellates comprise basal mostly free-living bodonids and derived obligatory parasitic trypanosomatids, which belong to the best-studied protists. Due to their omnipresence in aquatic environments and soil, the bodonids are of ecological significance. Here, we present the first global survey of marine kinetoplastids and compare it with the strikingly different patterns of abundance and diversity in their sister clade, the diplonemids. Based on analysis of 18S rDNA V9 ribotypes obtained from 124 sites sampled during the Tara Oceans expedition, our results show generally low to moderate abundance and diversity of planktonic kinetoplastids. Although we have identified all major kinetoplastid lineages, 98% of kinetoplastid reads are represented by neobodonids, namely specimens of the Neobodo and Rhynchomonas genera, which make up 59% and 18% of all reads, respectively. Most kinetoplastids have small cell size (0.8-5 µm) and tend to be more abundant in the mesopelagic as compared to the euphotic zone. Some of the most abundant operational taxonomic units have distinct geographical distributions, and three novel putatively parasitic neobodonids were identified, along with their potential hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Flegontova
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Flegontov
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Shruti Malviya
- Simons Centre for the Study of Living Machines, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, India.,Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS UMR 8197, INSERM U1024, 46 rue d'Ulm, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Julie Poulain
- CEA - GENOSCOPE - Institut François Jacob, 2 rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057 Evry, France.,CNRS, UMR 8030, CP5706, Evry, France.,Université d'Evry, UMR 8030, CP5706, Evry, France
| | - Colomban de Vargas
- Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Chris Bowler
- Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS UMR 8197, INSERM U1024, 46 rue d'Ulm, Paris F-75005, France
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Horák
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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