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Fernando L, Echesabal-Chen J, Miller M, Powell RR, Bruce T, Paul A, Poudyal N, Saliutama J, Parman K, Paul KS, Stamatikos A. Cholesterol Efflux Decreases TLR4-Target Gene Expression in Cultured Macrophages Exposed to T. brucei Ghosts. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1730. [PMID: 39203572 PMCID: PMC11357207 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12081730] [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: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei causes African trypanosomiasis in humans. Infection with T. brucei elicits a potent pro-inflammatory immune response within infected human hosts, and this response is thought to at least be partially due to Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation. In response to stimulation by lipopolysaccharide and other pathogen antigens, TLR4 translocates to lipid rafts, which induces the expression of pro-inflammatory genes. However, cholesterol efflux is acknowledged as anti-inflammatory due to promoting lipid raft disruption. In this study, we wanted to assess the impact of T. brucei "ghosts", which are non-viable T. brucei essentially devoid of intracellular contents, in stimulating macrophage TLR4 translocation to lipid rafts, and whether promoting cholesterol efflux in macrophages incubated with T. brucei ghosts attenuates TLR4-target gene expression. When cultured macrophages were exposed to T. brucei ghosts, we observed an increase in lipid raft TLR4 protein content, which suggests certain surface molecules of T. brucei serve as ligands for TLR4. However, pretreating macrophages with cholesterol acceptors before T. brucei ghost exposure decreased lipid raft TLR4 protein content and the expression of pro-inflammatory TLR4-target genes. Taken together, these results imply that macrophage cholesterol efflux weakens pro-inflammatory responses which occur from T. brucei infection via increasing macrophage lipid raft disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Fernando
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (L.F.); (J.E.-C.)
| | - Jing Echesabal-Chen
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (L.F.); (J.E.-C.)
| | - Murphy Miller
- School of Medicine Greenville, University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC 29605, USA;
| | - Rhonda Reigers Powell
- Clemson Light Imaging Facility, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (R.R.P.); (T.B.)
| | - Terri Bruce
- Clemson Light Imaging Facility, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (R.R.P.); (T.B.)
| | - Apurba Paul
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (N.P.); (K.S.P.)
| | - Nava Poudyal
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (N.P.); (K.S.P.)
| | - Joshua Saliutama
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (N.P.); (K.S.P.)
| | - Kristina Parman
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (N.P.); (K.S.P.)
| | - Kimberly S. Paul
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (N.P.); (K.S.P.)
| | - Alexis Stamatikos
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA; (L.F.); (J.E.-C.)
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Cummings RD. Glycosphingolipids in human parasites. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:1625-1635. [PMID: 37335950 PMCID: PMC10476572 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are comprised of glycans (oligosaccharides) linked to a lipid containing a sphingosine moiety. They are major membrane components in cells of most animals, and importantly, they also occur in parasitic protozoans and worms that infect people. While the endogenous functions of the GSLs in most parasites are elusive, many of these GSLs are recognized by antibodies in infected human and animal hosts, and thus, their structures, biosynthesis, and functions are of great interest. Such knowledge of GSLs could lead to new drugs and diagnostics for treating infections, as well as novel vaccine strategies. The diversity of GSLs recently identified in such infectious organisms and aspects of their immune recognition are major topics of this review. It is not intended to be exhaustive but to highlight aspects of GSL glycans in human parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard D. Cummings
- Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
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Oroskar PA, Jameson CJ, Murad S. Molecular-Level "Observations" of the Behavior of Gold Nanoparticles in Aqueous Solution and Interacting with a Lipid Bilayer Membrane. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2000:303-359. [PMID: 31148024 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9516-5_21] [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] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to "observe" details of interactions between ligand-covered gold nanoparticles and a lipid bilayer model membrane. In molecular dynamics simulations, one puts the individual atoms and groups of atoms of the physical system to be "observed" into a simulation box, specifies the forms of the potential energies of interactions between them (ultimately quantum based), and lets them individually move classically according to Newton's equations of motion, based on the forces arising from the assumed potential energy forms. The atoms that are chemically bonded to each other stay chemically bonded, following known potentials (force fields) that permit internal degrees of freedom (internal rotation, torsion, vibrations), and the interactions between nonbonded atoms are simplified to Lennard-Jones forms (in our case) and coulombic (where electrical charges are present) in which the parameters are previously optimized to reproduce thermodynamic properties or are based on quantum electronic calculations. The system is started out at a reasonable set of coordinates for all atoms or groups of atoms, and then permitted to develop according to the equations of motion, one small step (usually 10 fs time step) at a time, for millions of steps until the system is at a quasi-equilibrium (usually reached after hundreds of nanoseconds). We then let the system play out its motions further for many nanoseconds to observe the behavior, periodically taking snapshots (saving all positions and energies), and post-processing the snapshots to obtain various average descriptions of the system. Alkanethiols of various lengths serve as examples of hydrophobic ligands and methyl-terminated PEG with various numbers of monomer units serve as examples of hydrophilic ligands. Spherical gold particles of various diameters as well as gold nanorods form the core to which ligands are attached. The nanoparticles are characterized at the molecular level, especially the distributions of ligand configurations and their dependence on ligand length, and surface coverage. Self-assembly of the bilayer from an isotropic solution and observation of membrane properties that correspond well to experimental values validate the simulations. The mechanism of permeation of a gold NP coated with either a hydrophobic or a hydrophilic ligand, and its dependence on surface coverage, ligand length, core diameter, and core shape, is investigated. Lipid response such as lipid flip-flops, lipid extraction, and changes in order parameter of the lipid tails are examined in detail. The mechanism of permeation of a PEGylated nanorod is shown to occur by tilting, lying down, rotating, and straightening up. The nature of the information provided by molecular dynamics simulations permits understanding of the detailed behavior of gold nanoparticles interacting with lipid membranes which in turn helps to understand why some known systems work better than others and aids the design of new particles and improvement of methods for preparing existing ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka A Oroskar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Cynthia J Jameson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sohail Murad
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Jaurigue JA, Seeberger PH. Parasite Carbohydrate Vaccines. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:248. [PMID: 28660174 PMCID: PMC5467010 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is an efficient means of combating infectious disease burden globally. However, routine vaccines for the world's major human parasitic diseases do not yet exist. Vaccines based on carbohydrate antigens are a viable option for parasite vaccine development, given the proven success of carbohydrate vaccines to combat bacterial infections. We will review the key components of carbohydrate vaccines that have remained largely consistent since their inception, and the success of bacterial carbohydrate vaccines. We will then explore the latest developments for both traditional and non-traditional carbohydrate vaccine approaches for three of the world's major protozoan parasitic diseases-malaria, toxoplasmosis, and leishmaniasis. The traditional prophylactic carbohydrate vaccine strategy is being explored for malaria. However, given that parasite disease biology is complex and often arises from host immune responses to parasite antigens, carbohydrate vaccines against deleterious immune responses in host-parasite interactions are also being explored. In particular, the highly abundant glycosylphosphatidylinositol molecules specific for Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Leishmania spp. are considered exploitable antigens for this non-traditional vaccine approach. Discussion will revolve around the application of these protozoan carbohydrate antigens for vaccines currently in preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonnel A. Jaurigue
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesPotsdam, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität BerlinBerlin, Germany
| | - Peter H. Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesPotsdam, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität BerlinBerlin, Germany
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Götze S, Reinhardt A, Geissner A, Azzouz N, Tsai YH, Kurucz R, Varón Silva D, Seeberger PH. Investigation of the protective properties of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-based vaccine candidates in a Toxoplasma gondii mouse challenge model. Glycobiology 2015; 25:984-91. [PMID: 26044798 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwv040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccination against the ubiquitous parasite Toxoplasma gondii would provide the most efficient prevention against toxoplasmosis-related congenital, brain and eye diseases in humans. We investigated the immune response elicited by pathogen-specific glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycoconjugates using carbohydrate microarrays in a BALB/c mouse model. We further examined the protective properties of the glycoconjugates in a lethal challenge model using the virulent T. gondii RH strain. Upon immunization, mice raised antibodies that bind to the respective GPIs on carbohydrate microarrays, but were mainly directed against an unspecific GPI epitope including the linker. The observed immune response, though robust, was unable to provide protection in mice when challenged with a lethal dose of viable tachyzoites. We demonstrate that anti-GPI antibodies raised against the here described semi-synthetic glycoconjugates do not confer protective immunity against T. gondii in BALB/c mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Götze
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anika Reinhardt
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Geissner
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nahid Azzouz
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Yu-Hsuan Tsai
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Reka Kurucz
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Varón Silva
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter H Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Prime-boost vaccination with toxoplasma lysate antigen, but not with a mixture of recombinant protein antigens, leads to reduction of brain cyst formation in BALB/c mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0126334. [PMID: 26010355 PMCID: PMC4444244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Infection with the ubiquitous parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a threat for immunocompromised patients and pregnant women and effective immune-prophylaxis is still lacking. Methods Here we tested a mixture of recombinant T. gondii antigens expressed in different developmental stages, i.e., SAG1, MAG1 and GRA7 (SMG), and a lysate derived from T. gondii tachyzoites (TLA) for prophylactic vaccination against cyst formation. Both vaccine formulations were applied systemically followed by an oral TLA-booster in BALB/c mice. Results Systemic priming with SMG and oral TLA-booster did not show significant induction of protective immune responses. In contrast, systemic priming and oral booster with TLA induced higher levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a in sera as well as high levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG1 in small intestines. Furthermore, high levels of Toxoplasma-specific Th1-, Th17- and Th2-associated cytokines were only detected in restimulated splenocytes of TLA-vaccinated mice. Importantly, in mice orally infected with T. gondii oocysts, only TLA-vaccination and booster reduced brain cysts. Furthermore, sera from these mice reduced tachyzoites invasion of Vero cells in vitro, indicating that antibodies may play a critical role for protection against Toxoplasma infection. Additionally, supernatants from splenocyte cultures of TLA-vaccinated mice containing high levels of IFN-γ lead to substantial production of nitric oxide (NO) after incubation with macrophages in vitro. Since NO is involved in the control of parasite growth, the high levels of IFN-γ induced by vaccination with TLA may contribute to the protection against T. gondii. Conclusion In conclusion, our data indicate that prime-boost approach with TLA, but not with the mixture of recombinant antigens SMG, induces effective humoral and cellular Toxoplasma-specific responses and leads to significant reduction of cerebral cysts, thereby presenting a viable strategy for further vaccine development against T. gondii infection.
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Götze S, Azzouz N, Tsai YH, Groß U, Reinhardt A, Anish C, Seeberger PH, Varón Silva D. Toxoplasmose-Diagnose mithilfe eines synthetisch hergestellten Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Glycans. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201406706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Götze S, Azzouz N, Tsai YH, Groß U, Reinhardt A, Anish C, Seeberger PH, Varón Silva D. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis using a synthetic glycosylphosphatidylinositol glycan. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 53:13701-5. [PMID: 25323101 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201406706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Around 2 billion people worldwide are infected with the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii which induces a variety of medical conditions. For example, primary infection during pregnancy can result in fetal death or mental retardation of the child. Diagnosis of acute infections in pregnant women is challenging but crucially important as the drugs used to treat T. gondii infections are potentially harmful to the unborn child. Better, faster, more reliable, and cheaper means of diagnosis by using defined antigens for accurate serological tests are highly desirable. Synthetic pathogen-specific glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycan antigens are diagnostic markers and have been used to distinguish between toxoplasmosis disease states using human sera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Götze
- Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam (Germany); Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin (Germany)
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Gomes LR, Totino PRR, Sanchez MCA, Daniel EPDSK, Macedo CSD, Fortes F, Coura JR, Santi SMD, Werneck GL, Suárez-Mutis MC, Ferreira-da-Cruz MDF, Daniel-Ribeiro CT. Asymptomatic infection in individuals from the municipality of Barcelos (Brazilian Amazon) is not associated with the anti-Plasmodium falciparum glycosylphosphatidylinositol antibody response. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 108:796-800. [PMID: 24037204 PMCID: PMC3970686 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276108062013018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) antibodies (Abs) may reflect and mediate,
at least partially, anti-disease immunity in malaria by neutralising the toxic
effect of parasitic GPI. Thus, we assessed the anti-GPI Ab response in
asymptomatic individuals living in an area of the Brazilian Amazon that has a
high level of malaria transmission. For comparative purposes, we also
investigated the Ab response to a crude extract prepared from Plasmodium
falciparum, the merozoite surface protein (MSP)3 antigen of
P. falciparum and the MSP 1 antigen of Plasmodium
vivax (PvMSP1-19) in these individuals and in Angolan
patients with acute malaria. Our data suggest that the Ab response against
P. falciparum GPI is not associated with P.
falciparum asymptomatic infection in individuals who have been
chronically exposed to malaria in the Brazilian Amazon. However, this Ab
response could be related to ongoing parasitaemia (as was previously shown) in
the Angolan patients. In addition, our data show that PvMSP1-19may be
a good marker antigen to reflect previous exposure to
Plasmodium in areas that have a high transmission rate of
P. vivax.
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Xia Y, Peng L. Photoactivatable Lipid Probes for Studying Biomembranes by Photoaffinity Labeling. Chem Rev 2013; 113:7880-929. [DOI: 10.1021/cr300419p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xia
- Aix-Marseille Université, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, CNRS UMR 7325, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Ling Peng
- Aix-Marseille Université, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, CNRS UMR 7325, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
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Dickerson F, Stallings C, Vaughan C, Origoni A, Goga J, Khushalani S, Yolken R. Artemisinin reduces the level of antibodies to gliadin in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2011; 129:196-200. [PMID: 21546216 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2011] [Revised: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate if adjunctive artemisinin, an anti-malarial compound with in vivo activity against Toxoplasma gondii, reduces symptoms or antibodies in schizophrenia. METHOD N=66 outpatients with schizophrenia were randomized to receive 100mg of artemisinin twice a day or placebo for 10 weeks after a 2 week placebo run-in in addition to their usual psychiatric medications. Symptoms were assessed biweekly. Antibodies to toxoplasma and to gliadin, a food antigen, were assessed at the beginning and end of the trial. RESULTS A total of 57 participants (26 in the artemisinin arm and 31 in the placebo arm) completed the 12 weeks of the trial. The medication was well tolerated and there were no significant side effects associated with the treatment regimen. There was no significant difference in the change of positive, negative, general, or total PANSS symptoms between groups for all of the randomized patients or for just the completers. However, individuals in the artemisinin arm but not in the placebo arm had significant decreases in the levels of antibodies to gliadin (p<.0005, p>.2, respectively by paired t-test). Neither group had significant changes in antibodies to T. gondii. CONCLUSIONS The study did not demonstrate clinical benefit of adjunctive artemisinin for schizophrenia symptoms. The finding of reduced levels of antibodies to gliadin in the artemisinin group merits further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Dickerson
- Sheppard Pratt, 6501 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21204, USA.
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