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Soprano LL, Ferrero MR, Jacobs T, Couto AS, Duschak VG. Hallmarks of the relationship between host and Trypanosoma cruzi sulfated glycoconjugates along the course of Chagas disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1028496. [PMID: 37256110 PMCID: PMC10225527 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1028496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
American Trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease (ChD), a major problem that is still endemic in large areas of Latin America, is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. This agent holds a major antigen, cruzipain (Cz). Its C-terminal domain (C-T) is retained in the glycoprotein mature form and bears several post-translational modifications. Glycoproteins containing sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides have been mostly implicated in numerous specific procedures of molecular recognition. The presence of sulfated oligosaccharides was demonstrated in Cz, also in a minor abundant antigen with serine-carboxypeptidase (SCP) activity, as well as in parasite sulfatides. Sulfate-bearing glycoproteins in Trypanosomatids are targets of specific immune responses. T. cruzi chronically infected subjects mount specific humoral immune responses to sulfated Cz. Unexpectedly, in the absence of infection, mice immunized with C-T, but not with sulfate-depleted C-T, showed ultrastructural heart anomalous pathological effects. Moreover, the synthetic anionic sugar conjugate GlcNAc6SO3-BSA showed to mimic the N-glycan-linked sulfated epitope (sulfotope) humoral responses that natural Cz elicits. Furthermore, it has been reported that sulfotopes participate via the binding of sialic acid Ig-like-specific lectins (Siglecs) to sulfosialylated glycoproteins in the immunomodulation by host-parasite interaction as well as in the parasite infection process. Strikingly, recent evidence involved Cz-sulfotope-specific antibodies in the immunopathogenesis and infection processes during the experimental ChD. Remarkably, sera from chronically T. cruzi-infected individuals with mild disease displayed higher levels of IgG2 antibodies specific for sulfated glycoproteins and sulfatides than those with more severe forms of the disease, evidencing that T. cruzi sulfotopes are antigenic independently of the sulfated glycoconjugate type. Ongoing assays indicate that antibodies specific for sulfotopes might be considered biomarkers of human cardiac ChD progression, playing a role as predictors of stability from the early mild stages of chronic ChD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana L. Soprano
- Area of Protein Biochemistry and Parasite Glycobiology, Research Department National Institute of Parasitology (INP)”Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, National Administration of Health Institutes (ANLIS)-Malbrán, National Health Department, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano R. Ferrero
- Max-Planck Heart and Lung Laboratory, Research Institute in Biomedicine in Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Argentine-Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Jacobs
- Immunology Department, Bernhard Notch Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alicia S. Couto
- Faculty in Exact and Natural Sciences (FCEN), Chemical Organic Department-National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Center of CarboHydrates (CHIHIDECAR), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vilma G. Duschak
- Area of Protein Biochemistry and Parasite Glycobiology, Research Department National Institute of Parasitology (INP)”Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, National Administration of Health Institutes (ANLIS)-Malbrán, National Health Department, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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2
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Oliveira C, Holetz FB, Alves LR, Ávila AR. Modulation of Virulence Factors during Trypanosoma cruzi Differentiation. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010032. [PMID: 36678380 PMCID: PMC9865030 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. This protozoan developed several mechanisms to infect, propagate, and survive in different hosts. The specific expression of proteins is responsible for morphological and metabolic changes in different parasite stages along the parasite life cycle. The virulence strategies at the cellular and molecular levels consist of molecules responsible for mediating resistance mechanisms to oxidative damage, cellular invasion, and immune evasion, performed mainly by surface proteins. Since parasite surface coat remodeling is crucial to invasion and infectivity, surface proteins are essential virulence elements. Understanding the factors involved in these processes improves the knowledge of parasite pathogenesis. Genome sequencing has opened the door to high-throughput technologies, allowing us to obtain a deeper understanding of gene reprogramming along the parasite life cycle and identify critical molecules for survival. This review therefore focuses on proteins regulated during differentiation into infective forms considered virulence factors and addresses the current known mechanisms acting in the modulation of gene expression, emphasizing mRNA signals, regulatory factors, and protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Oliveira
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Centre de Recherche CERVO, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Fabíola Barbieri Holetz
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Lysangela Ronalte Alves
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Disease and Immunity CHU de Quebec Research Center, University Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Andréa Rodrigues Ávila
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-41-33163230
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3
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Romanelli M, Amaral M, Thevenard F, Santa Cruz LM, Regasini LO, Migotto AE, Lago JHG, Tempone AG. Mitochondrial Imbalance of Trypanosoma cruzi Induced by the Marine Alkaloid 6-Bromo-2'-de- N-Methylaplysinopsin. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:28561-28570. [PMID: 35990437 PMCID: PMC9387129 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c03395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects seven million people worldwide and lacks effective treatments. Using bioactivity-guided fractionation, NMR, and electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS) spectral analysis, the indole alkaloid 6-bromo-2'-de-N-methylaplysinopsin (BMA) was isolated and chemically characterized from the marine coral Tubastraea tagusensis. BMA was tested against trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi, resulting in IC50 values of 62 and 5.7 μM, respectively, with no mammalian cytotoxicity. The mechanism of action studies showed that BMA induced no alterations in the plasma membrane permeability but caused depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, reducing ATP levels. Intracellular calcium levels were also reduced after the treatment, which was associated with pH alteration of acidocalcisomes. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF)/MS analysis, alterations of mass spectral signals were observed after treatment with BMA, suggesting a different mechanism from benznidazole. In silico pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) parameters suggested a drug-likeness property, supporting the promising usefulness of this compound as a new hit for optimizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiara
M. Romanelli
- Centre
for Parasitology and Mycology, Adolfo Lutz
Institute, Av Dr Arnaldo 351, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Maiara Amaral
- Centre
for Parasitology and Mycology, Adolfo Lutz
Institute, Av Dr Arnaldo 351, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Thevenard
- Centre
of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal
University of ABC (UFABC), Avenida dos Estados 5001, Santo Andre, SP 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Lucas M. Santa Cruz
- Department
of Organic Contaminants, Instituto Adolfo
Lutz, Av Dr Arnaldo 355, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
| | - Luis O. Regasini
- Department
of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Biosciences,
Humanities and Exact Sciences, Universidade
Estadual Paulista, R. Cristóvão Colombo 2265, São
Jose do Rio Preto, SP 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Alvaro E. Migotto
- Centre
for Marine Biology, Universidade de São
Paulo, Rodovia Manoel Hypólito do Rego, Km 131, São Sebastião, São Paulo, SP 11600-000, Brazil
| | - João Henrique G. Lago
- Centre
of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal
University of ABC (UFABC), Avenida dos Estados 5001, Santo Andre, SP 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Andre G. Tempone
- Centre
for Parasitology and Mycology, Adolfo Lutz
Institute, Av Dr Arnaldo 351, São Paulo, SP 01246-000, Brazil
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4
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Ward AI, Lewis MD, Taylor MC, Kelly JM. Incomplete Recruitment of Protective T Cells Is Associated with Trypanosoma cruzi Persistence in the Mouse Colon. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0038221. [PMID: 34780279 PMCID: PMC8853677 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00382-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Following T cell-mediated suppression of acute-phase infection, this intracellular eukaryotic pathogen persists long-term in a limited subset of tissues at extremely low levels. The reasons for this tissue-specific chronicity are not understood. Using a dual bioluminescent-fluorescent reporter strain and highly sensitive tissue imaging that allows experimental infections to be monitored at single-cell resolution, we undertook a systematic analysis of the immunological microenvironments of rare parasitized cells in the mouse colon, a key site of persistence. We demonstrate that incomplete recruitment of T cells to a subset of colonic infection foci permits the occurrence of repeated cycles of intracellular parasite replication and differentiation to motile trypomastigotes at a frequency sufficient to perpetuate chronic infections. The lifelong persistence of parasites in this tissue site continues despite the presence, at a systemic level, of a highly effective T cell response. Overcoming this low-level dynamic host-parasite equilibrium represents a major challenge for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander I. Ward
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D. Lewis
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martin C. Taylor
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - John M. Kelly
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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5
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de Lederkremer RM, Giorgi ME, Agusti R. trans-Sialylation: a strategy used to incorporate sialic acid into oligosaccharides. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:121-139. [PMID: 35360885 PMCID: PMC8827155 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00176k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sialic acid, as a component of cell surface glycoconjugates, plays a crucial role in recognition events. Efficient synthetic methods are necessary for the supply of sialosides in enough quantities for biochemical and immunological studies. Enzymatic glycosylations obviate the steps of protection and deprotection of the constituent monosaccharides required in a chemical synthesis. Sialyl transferases with CMP-Neu5Ac as an activated donor were used for the construction of α2-3 or α2-6 linkages to terminal galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine units. trans-Sialidases may transfer sialic acid from a sialyl glycoside to a suitable acceptor and specifically construct a Siaα2-3Galp linkage. The trans-sialidase of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcTS), which fulfills an important role in the pathogenicity of the parasite, is the most studied one. The recombinant enzyme was used for the sialylation of β-galactosyl oligosaccharides. One of the main advantages of trans-sialylation is that it circumvents the use of the high energy nucleotide. Easily available glycoproteins with a high content of sialic acid such as fetuin and bovine κ-casein-derived glycomacropeptide (GMP) have been used as donor substrates. Here we review the trans-sialidase from various microorganisms and describe their application for the synthesis of sialooligosaccharides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa M de Lederkremer
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - María Eugenia Giorgi
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR) Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Rosalía Agusti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET - Universidad de Buenos Aires, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR) Buenos Aires Argentina
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6
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Vellasco L, Svensjö E, Bulant CA, Blanco PJ, Nogueira F, Domont G, de Almeida NP, Nascimento CR, Silva-dos-Santos D, Carvalho-Pinto CE, Medei EH, Almeida IC, Scharfstein J. Sheltered in Stromal Tissue Cells, Trypanosoma cruzi Orchestrates Inflammatory Neovascularization via Activation of the Mast Cell Chymase Pathway. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020187. [PMID: 35215131 PMCID: PMC8878313 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Microangiopathy may worsen the clinical outcome of Chagas disease. Given the obstacles to investigating the dynamics of inflammation and angiogenesis in heart tissues parasitized by Trypanosoma cruzi, here we used intravital microscopy (IVM) to investigate microcirculatory alterations in the hamster cheek pouch (HCP) infected by green fluorescent protein-expressing T. cruzi (GFP-T. cruzi). IVM performed 3 days post-infection (3 dpi) consistently showed increased baseline levels of plasma extravasation. Illustrating the reciprocal benefits that microvascular leakage brings to the host-parasite relationship, these findings suggest that intracellular amastigotes, acting from inside out, stimulate angiogenesis while enhancing the delivery of plasma-borne nutrients and prosurvival factors to the infection foci. Using a computer-based analysis of images (3 dpi), we found that proangiogenic indexes were positively correlated with transcriptional levels of proinflammatory cytokines (pro-IL1β and IFN-γ). Intracellular GFP-parasites were targeted by delaying for 24 h the oral administration of the trypanocidal drug benznidazole. A classification algorithm showed that benznidazole (>24 h) blunted angiogenesis (7 dpi) in the HCP. Unbiased proteomics (3 dpi) combined to pharmacological targeting of chymase with two inhibitors (chymostatin and TY-51469) linked T. cruzi-induced neovascularization (7 dpi) to the proangiogenic activity of chymase, a serine protease stored in secretory granules from mast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Vellasco
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Erik Svensjö
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Carlos Alberto Bulant
- Department of Mathematical and Computational Methods, National Laboratory for Scientific Computing, Petrópolis 25651-075, Brazil; (C.A.B.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Pablo Javier Blanco
- Department of Mathematical and Computational Methods, National Laboratory for Scientific Computing, Petrópolis 25651-075, Brazil; (C.A.B.); (P.J.B.)
| | - Fábio Nogueira
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Gilberto Domont
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Natália Pinto de Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil; (F.N.); (G.D.); (N.P.d.A.)
| | - Clarissa Rodrigues Nascimento
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Danielle Silva-dos-Santos
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | | | - Emiliano Horácio Medei
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
| | - Igor C. Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA;
| | - Julio Scharfstein
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.V.); (E.S.); (C.R.N.); (D.S.-d.-S.); (E.H.M.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Dantas-Pereira L, Menna-Barreto R, Lannes-Vieira J. Extracellular Vesicles: Potential Role in Remote Signaling and Inflammation in Trypanosoma cruzi-Triggered Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:798054. [PMID: 34988085 PMCID: PMC8721122 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.798054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) act as cell communicators and immune response modulators and may be employed as disease biomarkers and drug delivery systems. In infectious diseases, EVs can be released by the pathogen itself or by the host cells (infected or uninfected), potentially impacting the outcome of the immune response and pathological processes. Chagas disease (CD) is caused by infection by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is the main cause of heart failure in endemic areas. This illness attracted worldwide attention due to the presence of symptomatic seropositive subjects in North America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe. In the acute phase of infection, nonspecific signs, and symptoms contribute to miss diagnosis and early etiological treatment. In this phase, the immune response is crucial for parasite control; however, parasite persistence, dysregulated immune response, and intrinsic tissue factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic CD. Most seropositive subjects remain in the indeterminate chronic form, and from 30 to 40% of the subjects develop cardiac, digestive, or cardio-digestive manifestations. Identification of EVs containing T. cruzi antigens suggests that these vesicles may target host cells and regulate cellular processes and the immune response by molecular mechanisms that remain to be determined. Parasite-released EVs modulate the host-parasite interplay, stimulate intracellular parasite differentiation and survival, and promote a regulatory cytokine profile in experimental models of CD. EVs derived from the parasite-cell interaction inhibit complement-mediated parasite lysis, allowing evasion. EVs released by T. cruzi-infected cells also regulate surrounding cells, maintaining a proinflammatory profile. After a brief review of the basic features of EVs, the present study focuses on potential participation of T. cruzi-secreted EVs in cell infection and persistence of low-grade parasite load in the chronic phase of infection. We also discuss the role of EVs in shaping the host immune response and in pathogenesis and progression of CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luíza Dantas-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem Menna-Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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8
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Borges AR, Link F, Engstler M, Jones NG. The Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Anchor: A Linchpin for Cell Surface Versatility of Trypanosomatids. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:720536. [PMID: 34790656 PMCID: PMC8591177 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.720536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) to anchor proteins to the cell surface is widespread among eukaryotes. The GPI-anchor is covalently attached to the C-terminus of a protein and mediates the protein’s attachment to the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer. GPI-anchored proteins have a wide range of functions, including acting as receptors, transporters, and adhesion molecules. In unicellular eukaryotic parasites, abundantly expressed GPI-anchored proteins are major virulence factors, which support infection and survival within distinct host environments. While, for example, the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) is the major component of the cell surface of the bloodstream form of African trypanosomes, procyclin is the most abundant protein of the procyclic form which is found in the invertebrate host, the tsetse fly vector. Trypanosoma cruzi, on the other hand, expresses a variety of GPI-anchored molecules on their cell surface, such as mucins, that interact with their hosts. The latter is also true for Leishmania, which use GPI anchors to display, amongst others, lipophosphoglycans on their surface. Clearly, GPI-anchoring is a common feature in trypanosomatids and the fact that it has been maintained throughout eukaryote evolution indicates its adaptive value. Here, we explore and discuss GPI anchors as universal evolutionary building blocks that support the great variety of surface molecules of trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa R Borges
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Fabian Link
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Engstler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nicola G Jones
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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9
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Palaia I, Paraschiv A, Debets VE, Storm C, Šarić A. Durotaxis of Passive Nanoparticles on Elastic Membranes. ACS NANO 2021; 15:15794-15802. [PMID: 34550677 DOI: 10.1101/2021.04.01.438065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The transport of macromolecules and nanoscopic particles to a target cellular site is a crucial aspect in many physiological processes. This directional motion is generally controlled via active mechanical and chemical processes. Here we show, by means of molecular dynamics simulations and an analytical theory, that completely passive nanoparticles can exhibit directional motion when embedded in nonuniform mechanical environments. Specifically, we study the motion of a passive nanoparticle adhering to a mechanically nonuniform elastic membrane. We observe a nonmonotonic affinity of the particle to the membrane as a function of the membrane's rigidity, which results in the particle transport. This transport can be both up or down the rigidity gradient, depending on the absolute values of the rigidities that the gradient spans across. We conclude that rigidity gradients can be used to direct average motion of passive macromolecules and nanoparticles on deformable membranes, resulting in the preferential accumulation of the macromolecules in regions of certain mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Palaia
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandru Paraschiv
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent E Debets
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis Storm
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Anđela Šarić
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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10
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Palaia I, Paraschiv A, Debets VE, Storm C, Šarić A. Durotaxis of Passive Nanoparticles on Elastic Membranes. ACS NANO 2021; 15:15794-15802. [PMID: 34550677 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The transport of macromolecules and nanoscopic particles to a target cellular site is a crucial aspect in many physiological processes. This directional motion is generally controlled via active mechanical and chemical processes. Here we show, by means of molecular dynamics simulations and an analytical theory, that completely passive nanoparticles can exhibit directional motion when embedded in nonuniform mechanical environments. Specifically, we study the motion of a passive nanoparticle adhering to a mechanically nonuniform elastic membrane. We observe a nonmonotonic affinity of the particle to the membrane as a function of the membrane's rigidity, which results in the particle transport. This transport can be both up or down the rigidity gradient, depending on the absolute values of the rigidities that the gradient spans across. We conclude that rigidity gradients can be used to direct average motion of passive macromolecules and nanoparticles on deformable membranes, resulting in the preferential accumulation of the macromolecules in regions of certain mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Palaia
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandru Paraschiv
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent E Debets
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis Storm
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Anđela Šarić
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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11
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Vasconcelos CI, Cronemberger-Andrade A, Souza-Melo N, Maricato JT, Xander P, Batista WL, Soares RP, Schenkman S, Torrecilhas AC. Stress Induces Release of Extracellular Vesicles by Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:2939693. [PMID: 34604391 PMCID: PMC8486533 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2939693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
All extracellular forms of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, release extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing major surface molecules of the parasite. EV release depends on several mechanisms (internal and external). However, most of the environmental conditions affecting this phenomenon are still unknown. In this work, we evaluated EV release under different stress conditions and their ability to be internalized by the parasites. In addition, we investigated whether the release conditions would affect their immunomodulatory properties in preactivated bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Sodium azide and methyl-cyclo-β-dextrin (CDB) reduced EV release, indicating that this phenomenon relies on membrane organization. EV release was increased at low temperatures (4°C) and acidic conditions (pH 5.0). Under this pH, trypomastigotes differentiated into amastigotes. EVs are rapidly liberated and reabsorbed by the trypomastigotes in a concentration-dependent manner. Nitrosative stress caused by sodium nitrite in acid medium or S-nitrosoglutathione also stimulated the secretion of EVs. EVs released under all stress conditions also maintained their proinflammatory activity and increased the expression of iNOS, Arg 1, IL-12, and IL-23 genes in IFN-γ and LPS preactivated BMDM. In conclusion, our results suggest a budding mechanism of release, dependent on the membrane structure and parasite integrity. Stress conditions did not affect functional properties of EVs during interaction with host cells. EV release variations under stress conditions may be a physiological response against environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ioshida Vasconcelos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A Cronemberger-Andrade
- Cell Therapy Institute, Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Normanda Souza-Melo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 04039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Juliana Terzi Maricato
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, Rua Botucatu, 862, 04023-062 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Xander
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wagner Luiz Batista
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Pedro Soares
- Instituto René Rachou/FIOCRUZ-MG, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, 30190-009 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, 04039-032 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua São Nicolau, 210, 09913-030, Diadema, São Paulo, Brazil
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12
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Zuma AA, Dos Santos Barrias E, de Souza W. Basic Biology of Trypanosoma cruzi. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:1671-1732. [PMID: 33272165 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826999201203213527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The present review addresses basic aspects of the biology of the pathogenic protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi and some comparative information of Trypanosoma brucei. Like eukaryotic cells, their cellular organization is similar to that of mammalian hosts. However, these parasites present structural particularities. That is why the following topics are emphasized in this paper: developmental stages of the life cycle in the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts; the cytoskeleton of the protozoa, especially the sub-pellicular microtubules; the flagellum and its attachment to the protozoan body through specialized junctions; the kinetoplast-mitochondrion complex, including its structural organization and DNA replication; glycosome and its role in the metabolism of the cell; acidocalcisome, describing its morphology, biochemistry, and functional role; cytostome and the endocytic pathway; the organization of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex; the nucleus, describing its structural organization during interphase and division; and the process of interaction of the parasite with host cells. The unique characteristics of these structures also make them interesting chemotherapeutic targets. Therefore, further understanding of cell biology aspects contributes to the development of drugs for chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline A Zuma
- Laboratorio de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Emile Dos Santos Barrias
- Laboratorio de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciencias da Vida, Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciencias da Vida - Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (Inmetro), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratorio de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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13
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Schaub GA. An Update on the Knowledge of Parasite-Vector Interactions of Chagas Disease. Res Rep Trop Med 2021; 12:63-76. [PMID: 34093053 PMCID: PMC8169816 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s274681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focusses on the interactions between the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, and its triatomine vector. The flagellate mainly colonizes the intestinal tract of the insect. The effect of triatomines on trypanosomes is indicated by susceptibility and refractoriness phenomena that vary according to the combination of the strains. Other effects are apparent in the different regions of the gut. In the stomach, the majority of ingested blood trypomastigotes are killed while the remaining transform to round stages. In the small intestine, these develop into epimastigotes, the main replicative stage. In the rectum, the population density is the highest and is where the infectious stage develops, the metacyclic trypomastigote. In all regions of the gut, starvation and feeding of the triatomine affect T. cruzi. In the small intestine and rectum, starvation reduces the population density and more spheromastigotes develop. In the rectum, feeding after short-term starvation induces metacyclogenesis and after long-term starvation the development of specific cells, containing several nuclei, kinetoplasts and flagella. When considering the effects of T. cruzi on triatomines, the flagellate seems to be of low pathogenicity. However, during stressful periods, which are normal in natural populations, effects occur often on the behaviour, eg, in readiness to approach the host, the period of time before defecation, dispersal and aggregation. In nymphs, the duration of the different instars and the mortality rates increase, but this seems to be induced by repeated infections or blood quality by the feeding on infected hosts. Starvation resistance is often reduced by infection. Longevity and reproduction of adults is reduced, but only after infection with some strains of T. cruzi. Only components of the surface coat of blood trypomastigotes induce an immune reaction. However, this seems to act against gut bacteria and favours the development of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter A Schaub
- Zoology/Parasitology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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14
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Musikant D, Higa R, Rodríguez CE, Edreira MM, Campetella O, Jawerbaum A, Leguizamón MS. Sialic acid removal by trans-sialidase modulates MMP-2 activity during Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Biochimie 2021; 186:82-93. [PMID: 33891967 PMCID: PMC8187320 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) not only play a relevant role in homeostatic processes but are also involved in several pathological mechanisms associated with infectious diseases. As their clinical relevance in Chagas disease has recently been highlighted, we studied the modulation of circulating MMPs by Trypanosoma cruzi infection. We found that virulent parasites from Discrete Typing Units (DTU) VI induced higher proMMP-2 and MMP-2 activity in blood, whereas both low (DTU I) and high virulence parasites induced a significant decrease in proMMP-9 plasma activity. Moreover, trans-sialidase, a relevant T. cruzi virulence factor, is involved in MMP-2 activity modulation both in vivo and in vitro. It removes α2,3-linked sialyl residues from cell surface glycoconjugates, which then triggers the PKC/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Additionally, bacterial sialidases specific for this sialyl residue linkage displayed similar MMP modulation profiles and triggered the same signaling pathways. This novel pathogenic mechanism, dependent on sialic acid removal by the neuraminidase activity of trans-sialidase, can be exploited by different pathogens expressing sialidases with similar specificity. Thus, here we present a new pathogen strategy through the regulation of the MMP network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Musikant
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Romina Higa
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Reproducción y Metabolismo, CEFYBO-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 C1121ABG, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cristina E Rodríguez
- Departamento de Microbiología, IMPAM-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 C1121ABG, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin M Edreira
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160, C1428EGA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Güiraldes 2160 C1428EGA, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Oscar Campetella
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, 25 de Mayo y Francia B1650HMP, San Martín, San Martin, Argentina
| | - Alicia Jawerbaum
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Reproducción y Metabolismo, CEFYBO-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 C1121ABG, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María S Leguizamón
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, (CONICET) Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas IIBio, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, 25 de Mayo y Francia B1650HMP, San Martín, San Martin, Argentina.
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15
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de Almeida JM, Nunes FO, Ceole LF, Klimeck TDF, da Cruz LA, Tófoli D, Borges BS, Garcez WS, Tozetti IA, Medeiros LCS, Garcez FR, Ferreira AMT. Synergistic effect and ultrastructural changes in Trypanosoma cruzi caused by isoobtusilactone A in short exposure of time. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245882. [PMID: 33507972 PMCID: PMC7842926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Butanolides have shown a variety of biological effects including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal effects against certain strains of Trypanosoma cruzi. Considering the lack of an effective drug to treat T. cruzi infections and the prominent results obtained in literature with this class of lactones, we investigated the anti-T. cruzi activity of five butanolides isolated from two species of Lauraceae, Aiouea trinervis and Mezilaurus crassiramea. Initially, the activity of these compounds was evaluated on epimastigote forms of the parasite, after a treatment period of 4 h, followed by testing on amastigotes, trypomastigotes, and mammalian cells. Next, the synergistic effect of active butanolides against amastigotes was evaluated. Further, metacyclogenesis inhibition and infectivity assays were performed for the most active compound, followed by ultrastructural analysis of the treated amastigotes and trypomastigotes. Among the five butanolides studied, majoranolide and isoobtusilactone A were active against all forms of the parasite, with good selectivity indexes in Vero cells. Both butanolides were more active than the control drug against trypomastigote and epimastigote forms and also had a synergic effect on amastigotes. The most active compound, isoobtusilactone A, which showed activity against all tested strains inhibited metacyclogenesis and infection of new host cells. In addition, ultrastructural analysis revealed that this butanolide caused extensive damage to the mitochondria of both amastigotes and trypomastigotes, resulting in severe morphological changes in the infective forms of the parasite. Altogether, our results highlight the potential of butanolides against the etiologic agent of Chagas disease and the relevance of isoobtusilactone A as a strong anti-T. cruzi drug, affecting different events of the life cycle and all evolutionary forms of parasite after a short period of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlio Menta de Almeida
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Biologia Molecular e Bioensaios do Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Felipe Oliveira Nunes
- Laboratório de Pesquisa de Produtos Naturais Bioativos do Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Lígia Fernanda Ceole
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Carlos Chagas (Fiocruz-Paraná), Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Alves da Cruz
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Biologia Molecular e Bioensaios do Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Danilo Tófoli
- Laboratório de Pesquisa de Produtos Naturais Bioativos do Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Santana Borges
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Carlos Chagas (Fiocruz-Paraná), Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Walmir Silva Garcez
- Laboratório de Pesquisa de Produtos Naturais Bioativos do Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Inês Aparecida Tozetti
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Biologia Molecular e Bioensaios do Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Rodrigues Garcez
- Laboratório de Pesquisa de Produtos Naturais Bioativos do Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Alda Maria Teixeira Ferreira
- Laboratório de Imunologia, Biologia Molecular e Bioensaios do Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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16
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Serological Approaches for Trypanosoma cruzi Strain Typing. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:214-225. [PMID: 33436314 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of Chagas' disease, displays a complex population structure made up of multiple strains showing a diverse ecoepidemiological distribution. Parasite genetic variability may be associated with disease outcome, hence stressing the need to develop methods for T. cruzi typing in vivo. Serological typing methods that exploit the presence of host antibodies raised against polymorphic parasite antigens emerge as an appealing approach to address this issue. These techniques are robust, simple, cost-effective, and are not curtailed by methodological/biological limitations intrinsic to available genotyping methods. Here, we critically assess the progress towards T. cruzi serotyping and discuss the opportunity provided by high-throughput immunomics to improve this field.
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17
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Torrecilhas AC, Soares RP, Schenkman S, Fernández-Prada C, Olivier M. Extracellular Vesicles in Trypanosomatids: Host Cell Communication. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:602502. [PMID: 33381465 PMCID: PMC7767885 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.602502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania (Trypanosomatidae: Kinetoplastida) are parasitic protozoan causing Chagas disease, African Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniases worldwide. They are vector borne diseases transmitted by triatomine bugs, Tsetse fly, and sand flies, respectively. Those diseases cause enormous economic losses and morbidity affecting not only rural and poverty areas but are also spreading to urban areas. During the parasite-host interaction, those organisms release extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are crucial for the immunomodulatory events triggered by the parasites. EVs are involved in cell-cell communication and can act as important pro-inflammatory mediators. Therefore, interface between EVs and host immune responses are crucial for the immunopathological events that those diseases exhibit. Additionally, EVs from these organisms have a role in the invertebrate hosts digestive tracts prior to parasite transmission. This review summarizes the available data on how EVs from those medically important trypanosomatids affect their interaction with vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, Brazil
| | | | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Martin Olivier
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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18
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Herreros-Cabello A, Callejas-Hernández F, Gironès N, Fresno M. Trypanosoma Cruzi Genome: Organization, Multi-Gene Families, Transcription, and Biological Implications. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1196. [PMID: 33066599 PMCID: PMC7602482 DOI: 10.3390/genes11101196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi affects millions of people. Although its first genome dates from 2005, its complexity hindered a complete assembly and annotation. However, the new sequencing methods have improved genome annotation of some strains elucidating the broad genetic diversity and complexity of this parasite. Here, we reviewed the genomic structure and regulation, the genetic diversity, and the analysis of the principal multi-gene families of the recent genomes for several strains. The telomeric and sub-telomeric regions are sites with high recombination events, the genome displays two different compartments, the core and the disruptive, and the genome plasticity seems to play a key role in the survival and the infection process. Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) genome is composed mainly of multi-gene families as the trans-sialidases, mucins, and mucin-associated surface proteins. Trans-sialidases are the most abundant genes in the genome and show an important role in the effectiveness of the infection and the parasite survival. Mucins and MASPs are also important glycosylated proteins of the surface of the parasite that play a major biological role in both insect and mammal-dwelling stages. Altogether, these studies confirm the complexity of T. cruzi genome revealing relevant concepts to better understand Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Herreros-Cabello
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (A.H.-C.); (F.C.-H.)
| | - Francisco Callejas-Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (A.H.-C.); (F.C.-H.)
| | - Núria Gironès
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (A.H.-C.); (F.C.-H.)
- Instituto Sanitario de Investigación Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Fresno
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (A.H.-C.); (F.C.-H.)
- Instituto Sanitario de Investigación Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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19
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Valotteau C, Dumitru AC, Lecordier L, Alsteens D, Pays E, Pérez-Morga D, Dufrêne YF. Multiparametric Atomic Force Microscopy Identifies Multiple Structural and Physical Heterogeneities on the Surface of Trypanosoma brucei. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:20953-20959. [PMID: 32875230 PMCID: PMC7450619 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c02416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A unique feature of the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei is the presence of an outer layer made of densely packed variable surface glycoproteins (VSGs), which enables the cells to survive in the bloodstream. Although the VSG coat is critical to pathogenesis, how exactly the glycoproteins are organized at the nanoscale is poorly understood. Here, we show that multiparametric atomic force microscopy is a powerful nanoimaging tool for the structural and mechanical characterization of trypanosomes, in a label-free manner and in buffer solution. Directly correlated images of the structure and elasticity of trypanosomes enable us to identify multiple nanoscale mechanical heterogeneities on the cell surface. On a ∼250 nm scale, regions of softer (Young's modulus ∼50 kPa) and stiffer (∼100 kPa) elasticity alternate, revealing variations of the VSG coat and underlying structures. Our nanoimaging experiments show that the T. brucei cell surface is more heterogeneous than previously anticipated and offer promising prospects for the design of trypanocidal drugs targeting cell surface components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Valotteau
- Louvain
Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Andra C. Dumitru
- Louvain
Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Laurence Lecordier
- Laboratory
of Molecular Parasitology, IBMM, Université
Libre de Bruxelles, 12
rue des professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - David Alsteens
- Louvain
Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Etienne Pays
- Laboratory
of Molecular Parasitology, IBMM, Université
Libre de Bruxelles, 12
rue des professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - David Pérez-Morga
- Laboratory
of Molecular Parasitology, IBMM, Université
Libre de Bruxelles, 12
rue des professeurs Jeener et Brachet, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Yves F. Dufrêne
- Louvain
Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud, 4-5, bte L7.07.07, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Walloon
Excellence in Life sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), B-1300 Wavre, Belgium
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20
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Bertelli A, Sanmarco LM, Pascuale CA, Postan M, Aoki MP, Leguizamón MS. Anti-inflammatory Role of Galectin-8 During Trypanosoma cruzi Chronic Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:285. [PMID: 32714876 PMCID: PMC7343849 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectins are animal lectins with high affinity for β-galactosides that drive the immune response through several mechanisms. In particular, the role of galectin-8 (Gal-8) in inflammation remains controversial. To analyze its role in a chronic inflammatory environment, we studied a murine model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The parasite induces alterations that lead to the development of chronic cardiomyopathy and/or megaviscera in 30% of infected patients. The strong cardiac inflammation along with fibrosis leads to cardiomyopathy, the most relevant consequence of Chagas disease. By analyzing infected wild-type (iWT) and Gal-8-deficient (iGal-8KO) C57BL/6J mice at the chronic phase (4–5 months post-infection), we observed that the lack of Gal-8 favored a generalized increase in heart, skeletal muscle, and liver inflammation associated with extensive fibrosis, unrelated to tissue parasite loads. Remarkably, increased frequencies of neutrophils and macrophages were observed within cardiac iGal-8KO tissue by flow cytometry. It has been proposed that Gal-8, as well as other galectins, induces the surface expression of the inner molecule phosphatidylserine on activated neutrophils, which serves as an “eat-me” signal for macrophages, favoring viable neutrophil removal and tissue injury protection, a process known as preaparesis. We found that the increased neutrophil rates could be associated with the absence of Gal-8-dependent preaparesis, leading to a diminished neutrophil-clearing capability in macrophages. Thus, our results support that Gal-8 exerts an anti-inflammatory role in chronic T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Bertelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, San Martín, Argentina.,Consejo Naciona de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Liliana M Sanmarco
- Consejo Naciona de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Carla A Pascuale
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, San Martín, Argentina.,Consejo Naciona de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miriam Postan
- Consejo Naciona de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria P Aoki
- Consejo Naciona de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María S Leguizamón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, San Martín, Argentina.,Consejo Naciona de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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21
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Castro Machado F, Bittencourt-Cunha P, Malvezzi AM, Arico M, Radio S, Smircich P, Zoltner M, Field MC, Schenkman S. EIF2α phosphorylation is regulated in intracellular amastigotes for the generation of infective Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigote forms. Cell Microbiol 2020; 22:e13243. [PMID: 32597009 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomatids regulate gene expression mainly at the post-transcriptional level through processing, exporting and stabilising mRNA and control of translation. In most eukaryotes, protein synthesis is regulated by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) at serine 51. Phosphorylation halts overall translation by decreasing availability of initiator tRNAmet to form translating ribosomes. In trypanosomatids, the N-terminus of eIF2α is extended with threonine 169 the homologous phosphorylated residue. Here, we evaluated whether eIF2α phosphorylation varies during the Trypanosoma cruzi life cycle, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease. Total levels of eIF2α are diminished in infective and non-replicative trypomastigotes compared with proliferative forms from the intestine of the insect vector or amastigotes from mammalian cells, consistent with decreased protein synthesis reported in infective forms. eIF2α phosphorylation increases in proliferative intracellular forms prior to differentiation into trypomastigotes. Parasites overexpressing eIF2αT169A or with an endogenous CRISPR/Cas9-generated eIF2αT169A mutation were created and analysis revealed alterations to the proteome, largely unrelated to the presence of μORF in epimastigotes. eIF2αT169A mutant parasites produced fewer trypomastigotes with lower infectivity than wild type, with increased levels of sialylated mucins and oligomannose glycoproteins, and decreased galactofuranose epitopes and the surface protease GP63 on the cell surface. We conclude that eIF2α expression and phosphorylation levels affect proteins relevant for intracellular progression of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabricio Castro Machado
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paula Bittencourt-Cunha
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Amaranta Muniz Malvezzi
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirella Arico
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Santiago Radio
- Department of Genomics, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Laboratory of Molecular Interactions, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Smircich
- Department of Genomics, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Laboratory of Molecular Interactions, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Martin Zoltner
- Drug Discovery and Evaluation, Centre for Research of Pathogenicity and Virulence of Parasites, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mark C Field
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.,Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Effect of the Tc13Tul antigen from Trypanosoma cruzi on splenocytes from naïve mice. Parasitology 2020; 147:1114-1123. [PMID: 32466805 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182020000864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, releases factors, including antigens from the trans-sialidase (TS) superfamily, which modulate the host immune responses. Tc13 antigens belong to group IV of TSs and are characterized by C-terminal EPKSA repeats. Here, we studied the effect of the Tc13 antigen from the Tulahuén strain, Tc13Tul, on primary cultures of splenocytes from naïve BALB/c mice. Recombinant Tc13Tul increased the percentage of viable cells and induced B (CD19+) lymphocyte proliferation. Tc13Tul stimulation also induced secretion of non-specific IgM and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). The same effects were induced by Tc13Tul on splenocytes from naïve C3H/HeJ mice. In vivo administration of Tc13Tul to naïve BALB/c mice increased non-specific IgG in sera. In addition, in vitro cultured splenocytes from Tc13Tul-inoculated mice secreted a higher basal level of non-specific IgM than controls and the in vitro Tc13Tul stimulation of these cells showed an enhanced effect on IgM and IFN-γ secretion. Our results indicate that Tc13Tul may participate in the early immunity in T. cruzi infection by favouring immune system evasion through B-cell activation and non-specific Ig secretion. In contrast, as IFN-γ is an important factor involved in T. cruzi resistance, this may be considered a Tc13Tul effect in favour of the host.
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23
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Campetella O, Buscaglia CA, Mucci J, Leguizamón MS. Parasite-host glycan interactions during Trypanosoma cruzi infection: trans-Sialidase rides the show. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165692. [PMID: 31972227 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Many important pathogen-host interactions rely on highly specific carbohydrate binding events. In the case of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, glycointeractions involving sialic acid (SA) residues are pivotal for parasite infectivity, escape from immune surveillance and pathogenesis. Though unable to synthesize SA de novo, T. cruzi displays a unique trans-Sialidase (TS) enzyme, which is able to cleave terminal SA residues from host donor glycoconjugates and transfer them onto parasite surface mucins, thus generating protective/adhesive structures. In addition, this parasite sheds TS into the bloodstream, as a way of modifying the surface SA signature, and thereby the signaling/functional properties of mammalian host target cells on its own advantage. Here, we discuss the pathogenic aspects of T. cruzi TS: its molecular adaptations, the multiplicity of interactions in which it is involved during infections, and the array of novel and appealing targets for intervention in Chagas disease provided by TS-remodeled sialoglycophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Campetella
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Carlos A Buscaglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Mucci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Susana Leguizamón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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24
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Overview of the role of kinetoplastid surface carbohydrates in infection and host cell invasion: prospects for therapeutic intervention. Parasitology 2019; 146:1743-1754. [PMID: 31603063 PMCID: PMC6939169 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182019001355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites are responsible for serious diseases in humans and livestock such as Chagas disease and sleeping sickness (caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei, respectively), and the different forms of cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis (produced by Leishmania spp). The limited number of antiparasitic drugs available together with the emergence of resistance underscores the need for new therapeutic agents with novel mechanisms of action. The use of agents binding to surface glycans has been recently suggested as a new approach to antitrypanosomal design and a series of peptidic and non-peptidic carbohydrate-binding agents have been identified as antiparasitics showing efficacy in animal models of sleeping sickness. Here we provide an overview of the nature of surface glycans in three kinetoplastid parasites, T. cruzi, T. brucei and Leishmania. Their role in virulence and host cell invasion is highlighted with the aim of identifying specific glycan-lectin interactions and carbohydrate functions that may be the target of novel carbohydrate-binding agents with therapeutic applications.
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25
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Trypanosoma cruzi Phosphomannomutase and Guanosine Diphosphate-Mannose Pyrophosphorylase Ligandability Assessment. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.01082-19. [PMID: 31405854 PMCID: PMC6761512 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01082-19] [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: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas’ disease, which is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, has become a global health problem that is currently treated with poorly tolerated drugs that require prolonged dosing. Therefore, there is a clinical need for new therapeutic agents that can mitigate these issues. The phosphomannomutase (PMM) and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GDP-MP) enzymes form part of the de novo biosynthetic pathway to the nucleotide sugar GDP-mannose. Chagas’ disease, which is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, has become a global health problem that is currently treated with poorly tolerated drugs that require prolonged dosing. Therefore, there is a clinical need for new therapeutic agents that can mitigate these issues. The phosphomannomutase (PMM) and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GDP-MP) enzymes form part of the de novo biosynthetic pathway to the nucleotide sugar GDP-mannose. This nucleotide sugar is used either directly, or indirectly via the formation of dolichol-phosphomannose, for the assembly of all mannose-containing glycoconjugates. In T. cruzi, mannose-containing glycoconjugates include the cell-surface glycoinositol-phospholipids and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored mucin-like glycoproteins that dominate the cell surface architectures of all life cycle stages. This makes PMM and GDP-MP potentially attractive targets for a drug discovery program against Chagas’ disease. To assess the ligandability of these enzymes in T. cruzi, we have screened 18,117 structurally diverse compounds exploring drug-like chemical space and 16,845 small polar fragment compounds using an assay interrogating the activities of both PMM and GDP-MP enzymes simultaneously. This resulted in 48 small fragment hits, and on retesting 20 were found to be active against the enzymes. Deconvolution revealed that these were all inhibitors of T. cruzi GDP-MP, with compounds 2 and 3 acting as uncompetitive and competitive inhibitors, respectively. Based on these findings, the T. cruzi PMM and GDP-MP enzymes were deemed not ligandable and poorly ligandable, respectively, using small molecules from conventional drug discovery chemical space. This presents a significant hurdle to exploiting these enzymes as therapeutic targets for Chagas’ disease.
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26
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Synthesis of the hexasaccharide from Trypanosoma cruzi mucins with the Galp(1 → 2)Galf unit constructed with a superarmed thiogalactopyranosyl donor. Carbohydr Res 2019; 482:107734. [PMID: 31271957 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Hexasaccharide β-D-Galp-(1→ 2)-[β-D-Galp-(1 → 3)]-β-D-Galp-(1 → 6)-[β-D-Galp-(1 → 2)-β-D-Galf-(1 → 4)]-D-GlcNAc (1) was found O-linked in mucins of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomatigotes. Studies on the biological pathways and functionalities of the mucin oligosaccharides are prompted in order to understand the interactions of these molecules with the insect host. Trisaccharide constituent β-D-Galp-(1 → 2)-β-D-Galf-(1 → 4)-D-GlcNAc was constructed from the reducing to the non-reducing end. We discuss the difficulties to introduce a Galp unit at the O-2 position of a partially protected galactofuranosyl unit which were overcome using an anchimerically superarmed donor. By this route and employing a [3 + 3] nitrilium convergent approach hexasaccharide 1 was synthesized in moderate yield.
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27
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Abstract
AbstractSurvival and infectivity of trypanosomatids rely on cell-surface and secreted glycoconjugates, many of which contain a variable number of galactose residues. Incorporation of galactose to proteins and lipids occurs along the secretory pathway from UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal). Before being used in glycosylation reactions, however, this activated sugar donor must first be transported across the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi membranes by a specific nucleotide sugar transporter (NST). In this study, we identified an UDP-Gal transporter (named TcNST2 and encoded by the TcCLB.504085.60 gene) fromTrypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. TcNST2 was identified by heterologous expression of selected putative nucleotide sugar transporters in a mutant Chinese Hamster Ovary cell line.TcNST2mRNA levels were detected in allT. cruzilife-cycle forms, with an increase in expression in axenic amastigotes. Confocal microscope analysis indicated that the transporter is specifically localized to the Golgi apparatus. A three-dimensional model of TcNST2 suggested an overall structural conservation as compared with members of the metabolite transporter superfamily and also suggested specific features that could be related to its activity. The identification of this transporter is an important step toward a better understanding of glycoconjugate biosynthesis and the role NSTs play in this process in trypanosomatids.
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28
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Cámara MDLM, Balouz V, Centeno Cameán C, Cori CR, Kashiwagi GA, Gil SA, Macchiaverna NP, Cardinal MV, Guaimas F, Lobo MM, de Lederkremer RM, Gallo-Rodriguez C, Buscaglia CA. Trypanosoma cruzi surface mucins are involved in the attachment to the Triatoma infestans rectal ampoule. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007418. [PMID: 31107901 PMCID: PMC6544316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine vectors. However, and despite its utmost biological and epidemiological relevance, T. cruzi development inside the digestive tract of the insect remains a poorly understood process. Methods/Principle findings Here we showed that Gp35/50 kDa mucins, the major surface glycoproteins from T. cruzi insect-dwelling forms, are involved in parasite attachment to the internal cuticle of the triatomine rectal ampoule, a critical step leading to its differentiation into mammal-infective forms. Experimental evidence supporting this conclusion could be summarized as follows: i) native and recombinant Gp35/50 kDa mucins directly interacted with hindgut tissues from Triatoma infestans, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence assays; ii) transgenic epimastigotes over-expressing Gp35/50 kDa mucins on their surface coat exhibited improved attachment rates (~2–3 fold) to such tissues as compared to appropriate transgenic controls and/or wild-type counterparts; and iii) certain chemically synthesized compounds derived from Gp35/50 kDa mucins were able to specifically interfere with epimastigote attachment to the inner lining of T. infestans rectal ampoules in ex vivo binding assays, most likely by competing with or directly blocking insect receptor(s). A solvent-exposed peptide (smugS peptide) from the Gp35/50 kDa mucins protein scaffolds and a branched, Galf-containing trisaccharide (Galfβ1–4[Galpβ1–6]GlcNAcα) from their O-linked glycans were identified as main adhesion determinants for these molecules. Interestingly, exogenous addition of a synthetic Galfβ1–4[Galpβ1–6]GlcNAcα derivative or of oligosaccharides containing this structure impaired the attachment of Dm28c but not of CL Brener epimastigotes to triatomine hindgut tissues; which correlates with the presence of Galf residues on the Gp35/50 kDa mucins’ O-glycans on the former but not the latter parasite clone. Conclusion/Significance These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying T. cruzi-triatomine interplay, and indicate that inter-strain variations in the O-glycosylation of Gp35/50 kDa mucins may lead to differences in parasite differentiation and hence, in parasite transmissibility to the mammalian host. Most importantly, our findings point to Gp35/50 kDa mucins and/or the Galf biosynthetic pathway, which is absent in mammals and insects, as appealing targets for the development of T. cruzi transmission-blocking strategies. Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a life-long and debilitating neglected illness of major significance to Latin America public health, for which no vaccine or adequate drugs are yet available. In this scenario, identification of novel drug targets and/or strategies aimed at controlling parasite transmission are urgently needed. By using ex vivo binding assays together with different biochemical and genetic approaches, we herein show that Gp35/50 kDa mucins, the major T. cruzi epimastigote surface glycoproteins, specifically adhere to the internal cuticle of the rectal ampoule of the triatomine vector, a critical step leading to their differentiation into mammal-infective metacyclic forms. Ex vivo binding assays in the presence of chemically synthesized analogs allowed the identification of a solvent-exposed peptide and a branched, galactofuranose (Galf)-containing trisaccharide (Galfβ1–4[Galpβ1–6]GlcNAcα) as major Gp35/50 kDa mucins adhesion determinants. Overall, these results provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the complex T. cruzi-triatomine interplay. In addition, and since the presence of Galf-based glycotopes on the O-glycans of Gp35/50 kDa mucins is restricted to certain parasite strains/clones, they also indicate that the Galfβ1–4[Galpβ1–6]GlcNAcα motif may contribute to the well-established phenotypic variability among T. cruzi isolates. Most importantly, and taking into account that Galf residues are not found in mammals, we propose Gp35/50 kDa mucins and/or Galf biosynthesis as appealing and novel targets for the development of T. cruzi transmission-blocking strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María de los Milagros Cámara
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de investigaciones científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia Balouz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de investigaciones científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Camila Centeno Cameán
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de investigaciones científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carmen R. Cori
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET-UBA, Centro de Investigación en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo A. Kashiwagi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET-UBA, Centro de Investigación en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago A. Gil
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET-UBA, Centro de Investigación en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Paula Macchiaverna
- Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires e Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), UBA-CONICET, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marta Victoria Cardinal
- Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires e Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), UBA-CONICET, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco Guaimas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de investigaciones científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maite Mabel Lobo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de investigaciones científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosa M. de Lederkremer
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET-UBA, Centro de Investigación en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carola Gallo-Rodriguez
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET-UBA, Centro de Investigación en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos A. Buscaglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de investigaciones científicas y técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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29
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Figueredo AS, de Andrade P, Riul TB, Marchiori MF, De Leo TC, Fleuri AKA, Schenkman S, Baruffi MD, Carvalho I. Galactosyl and sialyl clusters: synthesis and evaluation against T. cruzi parasite. PURE APPL CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.1515/pac-2019-0216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The multivalent effect of carbohydrates (glycoclusters) has been explored to study important biological targets and processes involving Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) infection. Likewise, CuAAC cycloaddition reactions (click chemistry) have been applied as useful strategy in the discovery of bioactive molecules. Hence, we describe the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole-based tetravalent homoglycoclusters (1–3) and heteroglycoclusters (4 and 5) of d-galactopyranose (C-1 and C-6 positions) and sialic acid (C-2 position) to assess their potential to inhibit T. cruzi cell invasion and also its cell surface trans-sialidase (TcTS). The target compounds were synthesised in good yields (52–75 %) via click chemistry by coupling azidosugars galactopyranose and sialic acid with alkynylated pentaerythritol or tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane (TRIS) scaffolds. T. cruzi cell invasion inhibition assays showed expressive low parasite infection index values (5.3–6.8) for most compounds. However, most glycoclusters proved to be weak TcTS inhibitors at 1 mM (<17 %), except the tetravalent sialic acid 3 (99 % at 1 mM, IC50 450 μM). Therefore, we assume that T. cruzi cell invasion blockage is not due to TcTS inhibition by itself, but rather by other mechanisms involved in this process. In addition, all glycoclusters were not cytotoxic and had significant trypanocidal activity upon parasite survival of amastigote forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreza S. Figueredo
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil
| | - Peterson de Andrade
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil
| | - Thalita B. Riul
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil
| | - Marcelo F. Marchiori
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil
| | - Thais Canassa De Leo
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil
| | - Anna Karoline A. Fleuri
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil
| | - Sérgio Schenkman
- Federal University of São Paulo, Microbiology, Imunology and Parasitology , Rua Pedro de Toledo 669 L6A , São Paulo 04039-032, SP , Brazil
| | - Marcelo D. Baruffi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil
| | - Ivone Carvalho
- Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of São Paulo , Av. do Café s/n, Monte Alegre , Ribeirão Preto 14040-903 , Brazil , Tel.: +551633154709
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30
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Synthesis and characterization of α-d-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-d-Galp epitope-containing neoglycoconjugates for chagas disease serodiagnosis. Carbohydr Res 2019; 478:58-67. [PMID: 31096122 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The immunodominant epitope α-d-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-d-Galp-(1 → 4)-d-GlcNAc, expressed in the mucins of the infective trypomastigote stage of Trypanosoma cruzi has been proposed for multiple clinical applications, from serodiagnosis of protozoan caused diseases to xenotransplantation or cancer vaccinology. It was previously shown that the analogue trisaccharide, with glucose in the reducing end instead of GlcNAc, was as efficient as the natural trisaccharide for recognition of chagasic antibodies. Here we describe the synthesis of α-d-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-d-Galp-(1 → 4)-d-Glcp functionalized as the 6-aminohexyl glycoside and its conjugation to BSA using the squarate method. The conjugate of 6-aminohexyl α-d-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-d-Galp was also prepared. Both neoglycoconjugates were recognized by serum samples of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected individuals and thus, are promising tools for the improvement of Chagas disease diagnostic applications.
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Lobo M, Balouz V, Melli L, Carlevaro G, Cortina ME, Cámara MDLM, Cánepa GE, Carmona SJ, Altcheh J, Campetella O, Ciocchini AE, Agüero F, Mucci J, Buscaglia CA. Molecular and antigenic characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi TolT proteins. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007245. [PMID: 30870417 PMCID: PMC6435186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background TolT was originally described as a Trypanosoma cruzi molecule that accumulated on the trypomastigote flagellum bearing similarity to bacterial TolA colicins receptors. Preliminary biochemical studies indicated that TolT resolved in SDS-PAGE as ~3–5 different bands with sizes between 34 and 45 kDa, and that this heterogeneity could be ascribed to differences in polypeptide glycosylation. However, the recurrent identification of TolT-deduced peptides, and variations thereof, in trypomastigote proteomic surveys suggested an intrinsic TolT complexity, and prompted us to undertake a thorough reassessment of this antigen. Methods/Principle findings Genome mining exercises showed that TolT constitutes a larger-than-expected family of genes, with at least 12 polymorphic members in the T. cruzi CL Brener reference strain and homologs in different trypanosomes. According to structural features, TolT deduced proteins could be split into three robust groups, termed TolT-A, TolT-B, and TolT-C, all of them showing marginal sequence similarity to bacterial TolA proteins and canonical signatures of surface localization/membrane association, most of which were herein experimentally validated. Further biochemical and microscopy-based characterizations indicated that this grouping may have a functional correlate, as TolT-A, TolT-B and TolT-C molecules showed differences in their expression profile, sub-cellular distribution, post-translational modification(s) and antigenic structure. We finally used a recently developed fluorescence magnetic beads immunoassay to validate a recombinant protein spanning the central and mature region of a TolT-B deduced molecule for Chagas disease serodiagnosis. Conclusion/Significance This study unveiled an unexpected genetic and biochemical complexity within the TolT family, which could be exploited for the development of novel T. cruzi biomarkers with diagnostic/therapeutic applications. Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a lifelong and debilitating neglected illness of major significance in Latin America, for which no vaccine or adequate drugs are yet available. Identification of novel biomarkers able to transcend the current limits of diagnostic and/or therapeutic assessment methods hence surfaces as a main priority in Chagas disease applied research. In this framework, we herein undertook a thorough biochemical and antigenic characterization of T. cruzi TolT surface antigens. Our results unveil an unexpected complexity within this family, with at least 12 polymorphic TolT genes in the T. cruzi CL Brener reference strain genome. According to structural features, TolT deduced molecules could be split into three robust groups that show differences in their structural features, expression profile, sub-cellular distribution, post-translational modification(s) and antigenic structure. Overall, we show that TolT molecules are conspicuously expressed by both major mammal-dwelling stages of the parasite, and that they are differentially recognized by the immune system in Chagasic patients and in T. cruzi-infected mammals. Our findings are discussed in terms of the evolution and possible structural/functional roles of TolT molecules, as well as in terms of their applicability in Chagas disease serodiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Lobo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia Balouz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciano Melli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Giannina Carlevaro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María E. Cortina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María de los Milagros Cámara
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gaspar E. Cánepa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Santiago J. Carmona
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jaime Altcheh
- Servicio de Parasitología-Chagas, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Oscar Campetella
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés E. Ciocchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Mucci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (JM); (CAB)
| | - Carlos A. Buscaglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas “Dr Rodolfo Ugalde” (IIB-INTECh, Universidad Nacional de San Martín and CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (JM); (CAB)
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da Fonseca LM, da Costa KM, Chaves VDS, Freire-de-Lima CG, Morrot A, Mendonça-Previato L, Previato JO, Freire-de-Lima L. Theft and Reception of Host Cell's Sialic Acid: Dynamics of Trypanosoma Cruzi Trans-sialidases and Mucin-Like Molecules on Chagas' Disease Immunomodulation. Front Immunol 2019; 10:164. [PMID: 30787935 PMCID: PMC6372544 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The last decades have produced a plethora of evidence on the role of glycans, from cell adhesion to signaling pathways. Much of that information pertains to their role on the immune system and their importance on the surface of many human pathogens. A clear example of this is the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which displays on its surface a great variety of glycoconjugates, including O-glycosylated mucin-like glycoproteins, as well as multiple glycan-binding proteins belonging to the trans-sialidase (TS) family. Among the latter, different and concurrently expressed molecules may present or not TS activity, and are accordingly known as active (aTS) and inactive (iTS) members. Over the last thirty years, it has been well described that T. cruzi is unable to synthesize sialic acid (SIA) on its own, making use of aTS to steal the host's SIA. Although iTS did not show enzymatic activity, it retains a substrate specificity similar to aTS (α-2,3 SIA-containing glycotopes), displaying lectinic properties. It is accepted that aTS members act as virulence factors in mammals coursing the acute phase of the T. cruzi infection. However, recent findings have demonstrated that iTS may also play a pathogenic role during T. cruzi infection, since it modulates events related to adhesion and invasion of the parasite into the host cells. Since both aTS and iTS proteins share structural substrate specificity, it might be plausible to speculate that iTS proteins are able to assuage and/or attenuate biological phenomena depending on the catalytic activity displayed by aTS members. Since SIA-containing glycotopes modulate the host immune system, it should not come as any surprise that changes in the sialylation of parasite's mucin-like molecules, as well as host cell glycoconjugates might disrupt critical physiological events, such as the building of effective immune responses. This review aims to discuss the importance of mucin-like glycoproteins and both aTS and iTS for T. cruzi biology, as well as to present a snapshot of how disturbances in both parasite and host cell sialoglycophenotypes may facilitate the persistence of T. cruzi in the infected mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Marques da Fonseca
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kelli Monteiro da Costa
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victoria de Sousa Chaves
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Célio Geraldo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Morrot
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Tuberculose, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Osvaldo Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Homologous Expression of Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Glycoproteins in Trypanosoma cruzi. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1955:119-134. [PMID: 30868523 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The surface coat of Trypanosoma cruzi is covered with glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored glycoproteins (GAGPs) that contribute to parasite protection and to the establishment of a persistent infection in both the insect vector and the mammalian host. Multiple GAGPs that vary by amino acid sequence and/or posttranslational modifications are co-expressed on the parasite surface coat, hence curtailing structural/functional analyses on these molecules. Studies in our lab have indicated that GAGP-tagged variants expressed by transfected parasites undergo analogous posttranslational processing than endogenous ones and therefore constitute suitable tools to overcome these limitations. In this chapter, we detail the entire methodological pipeline for the efficient homologous expression of GAGPs in T. cruzi: from a simple strategy for the simultaneously cloning and tagging of the gene of interest to the biochemical validation of the parasite-expressed product.
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Carlevaro G, Lantos AB, Cánepa GE, de Los Milagros Cámara M, Somoza M, Buscaglia CA, Campetella O, Mucci J. Metabolic Labeling of Surface Neo-sialylglyconjugates Catalyzed by Trypanosoma cruzi trans-Sialidase. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1955:135-146. [PMID: 30868524 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of Chagas disease, has evolved an innovative metabolic pathway by which protective sialic acid (SA) residues are scavenged from host sialylglycoconjugates and transferred onto parasite surface mucin-like molecules (or surface glycoconjugates from host target cells) by means of a unique trans-sialidase (TS) enzyme. TS-induced changes in the glycoprotein sialylation profile of both parasite and host cells are crucial for the establishment of a persistent T. cruzi infection and for the development of Chagas disease-associated pathogenesis. In this chapter, we describe a novel metabolic labeling method developed in our labs that enables straightforward identification and molecular characterization of SA acceptors of the TS-catalyzed reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giannina Carlevaro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés B Lantos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio Dr. Lantos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gaspar E Cánepa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - María de Los Milagros Cámara
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Tecnología, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Somoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos A Buscaglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Oscar Campetella
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Mucci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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35
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Bangs JD. Evolution of Antigenic Variation in African Trypanosomes: Variant Surface Glycoprotein Expression, Structure, and Function. Bioessays 2018; 40:e1800181. [PMID: 30370931 PMCID: PMC6441954 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The process of antigenic variation in parasitic African trypanosomes is a remarkable mechanism for outwitting the immune system of the mammalian host, but it requires a delicate balancing act for the monoallelic expression, folding and transport of a single variant surface glycoprotein (VSG). Only one of hundreds of VSG genes is expressed at time, and this from just one of ≈15 dedicated expression sites. By switching expression of VSGs the parasite presents a continuously shifting antigenic facade leading to prolonged chronic infections lasting months to years. The basics of VSG structure and switching have been known for several decades, but recent studies have brought higher resolution to many aspects this process. New VSG structures, in silico modeling of infections, studies of VSG codon usage, and experimental ablation of VSG expression provide insights that inform how this remarkable system may have evolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D. Bangs
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo NY 14203,
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36
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Belew AT, Junqueira C, Rodrigues-Luiz GF, Valente BM, Oliveira AER, Polidoro RB, Zuccherato LW, Bartholomeu DC, Schenkman S, Gazzinelli RT, Burleigh BA, El-Sayed NM, Teixeira SMR. Comparative transcriptome profiling of virulent and non-virulent Trypanosoma cruzi underlines the role of surface proteins during infection. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006767. [PMID: 29240831 PMCID: PMC5746284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan that causes Chagas disease, has a complex life cycle involving several morphologically and biochemically distinct stages that establish intricate interactions with various insect and mammalian hosts. It has also a heterogeneous population structure comprising strains with distinct properties such as virulence, sensitivity to drugs, antigenic profile and tissue tropism. We present a comparative transcriptome analysis of two cloned T. cruzi strains that display contrasting virulence phenotypes in animal models of infection: CL Brener is a virulent clone and CL-14 is a clone that is neither infective nor pathogenic in in vivo models of infection. Gene expression analysis of trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes harvested at 60 and 96 hours post-infection (hpi) of human fibroblasts revealed large differences that reflect the parasite’s adaptation to distinct environments during the infection of mammalian cells, including changes in energy sources, oxidative stress responses, cell cycle control and cell surface components. While extensive transcriptome remodeling was observed when trypomastigotes of both strains were compared to 60 hpi amastigotes, differences in gene expression were much less pronounced when 96 hpi amastigotes and trypomastigotes of CL Brener were compared. In contrast, the differentiation of the avirulent CL-14 from 96 hpi amastigotes to extracellular trypomastigotes was associated with considerable changes in gene expression, particularly in gene families encoding surface proteins such as trans-sialidases, mucins and the mucin associated surface proteins (MASPs). Thus, our comparative transcriptome analysis indicates that the avirulent phenotype of CL-14 may be due, at least in part, to a reduced or delayed expression of genes encoding surface proteins that are associated with the transition of amastigotes to trypomastigotes, an essential step in the establishment of the infection in the mammalian host. Confirming the role of members of the trans-sialidase family of surface proteins for parasite differentiation, transfected CL-14 constitutively expressing a trans-sialidase gene displayed faster kinetics of trypomastigote release in the supernatant of infected cells compared to wild type CL-14. Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is an infection that occurs in several Latin American countries, resulting in a mild illness or in severe damage of the heart and intestinal tract. Such a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations observed in Chagas disease patients is likely due to differences in host susceptibility as well as to a large heterogeneity among T. cruzi isolates. The identification of virulence factors that are differentially expressed in the parasite population is a valuable strategy for understanding of the distinct interactions that occur between this pathogen and its host, which may or may not lead to pathogenesis. By comparing the gene expression profiles of two T. cruzi strains that display contrasting virulence phenotypes in animal models of infection, we identified a central role for genes encoding surface proteins that is associated with the differentiation from intracellular replicative amastigotes to infective trypomastigotes. We showed that the expression of these genes occurs differentially within the two strains and this difference may be a factor that impacts parasite survival and dissemination in the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Trey Belew
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Caroline Junqueira
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Gabriela F. Rodrigues-Luiz
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruna M. Valente
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Antonio Edson R. Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rafael B. Polidoro
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana W. Zuccherato
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniella C. Bartholomeu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departmento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo T. Gazzinelli
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Barbara A. Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Najib M. El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics and Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SMRT); (NES)
| | - Santuza M. R. Teixeira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail: (SMRT); (NES)
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Pascuale CA, Burgos JM, Postan M, Lantos AB, Bertelli A, Campetella O, Leguizamón MS. Inactive trans-Sialidase Expression in iTS-null Trypanosoma cruzi Generates Virulent Trypomastigotes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:430. [PMID: 29046868 PMCID: PMC5632715 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Disclosing virulence factors from pathogens is required to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved in their interaction with the host. In the case of Trypanosoma cruzi several molecules are associated with virulence. Among them, the trans-sialidase (TS) has arisen as one of particular relevance due to its effect on the immune system and involvement in the interaction/invasion of the host cells. The presence of conserved genes encoding for an inactive TS (iTS) isoform is puzzlingly restricted to the genome of parasites from the Discrete Typing Units TcII, TcV, and TcVI, which include highly virulent strains. Previous in vitro results using recombinant iTS support that this isoform could play a different or complementary pathogenic role to that of the enzymatically active protein. However, direct evidence involving iTS in in vivo pathogenesis and invasion is still lacking. Here we faced this challenge by transfecting iTS-null parasites with a recombinant gene that allowed us to follow its expression and association with pathological events. We found that iTS expression improves parasite invasion of host cells and increases their in vivo virulence for mice as shown by histopathologic findings in heart and skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla A. Pascuale
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan M. Burgos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miriam Postan
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Institutos de Salud, “Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés B. Lantos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriano Bertelli
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Oscar Campetella
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. Susana Leguizamón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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38
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Giorgi ME, Lopez R, Agusti R, Marino C, de Lederkremer RM. Synthesis of a model trisaccharide for studying the interplay between the anti α-Gal antibody and the trans-sialidase reactions in Trypanosoma cruzi. Carbohydr Res 2017; 450:30-37. [PMID: 28858610 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2017.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, is covered by a dense glycocalix mainly composed by glycoproteins called mucins which are also the acceptors of sialic acid in a reaction catalyzed by a trans-sialidase (TcTS). Sialylation of trypomastigote mucins protects the parasite from lysis by the anti α-Galp antibodies from serum. The TcTS is essential for the infection process since T. cruzi is unable to biosynthesize sialic acid. The enzyme specifically transfers it from a terminal β-d-Galp unit in the host glycoconjugate to terminal β-d-Galp units in the parasite mucins to construct the d-NeuNAc(α2→3)β-d-Galp motif. On the other hand, although galactose is the most abundant sugar in mucins of both, the infective trypomastigotes and the insect stage epimastigotes, α-d-Galp is only present in the infective stage whereas β-d-Galf is characteristic of the epimastigote stage of the less virulent strains. Neither α-d-Galp nor d-Galf is acceptor of sialic acid. In the mucins, some of the oligosaccharides are branched with terminal β-d-Galp units to be able to accept sialic acid in the TcTS reaction. Based on previous reports showing that anti α-Galp antibodies only partially colocalize with sialic acid, we have undertaken the synthesis of the trisaccharide α-d-Galp(1→3)-[β-d-Galp(1→6)]-d-Galp, the smallest structure containing both, the antigenic d-Galp(α1→3)-d-Galp unit and the sialic acid-acceptor β-d-Galp unit. The trisaccharide was obtained as the 6-aminohexyl glycoside to facilitate further conjugation for biochemical studies. The synthetic approach involved the α-galactosylation at O-4 of a suitable precursor of the reducing end, followed by β-galactosylation at O-6 of the same precursor and introduction of the 6-aminohexyl aglycone. The fully deprotected trisaccharide was successfully sialylated by TcTS using either 3'-sialyllactose or fetuin as donors. The product, 6-aminohexyl α-d-NeuNAc(2→3)-β-d-Galp(1→6)-[α-d-Galp(1→3)]-β-d-Galp, was purified and characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Eugenia Giorgi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosana Lopez
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosalia Agusti
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Marino
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Rosa M de Lederkremer
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro de Investigaciones en Hidratos de Carbono (CIHIDECAR), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Cámara MDLM, Cánepa GE, Lantos AB, Balouz V, Yu H, Chen X, Campetella O, Mucci J, Buscaglia CA. The Trypomastigote Small Surface Antigen (TSSA) regulates Trypanosoma cruzi infectivity and differentiation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005856. [PMID: 28800609 PMCID: PMC5568413 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background TSSA (Trypomastigote Small Surface Antigen) is an antigenic, adhesion molecule displayed on the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. TSSA displays substantial sequence identity to members of the TcMUC gene family, which code for the trypomastigote mucins (tGPI-mucins). In addition, TSSA bears sequence polymorphisms among parasite strains; and two TSSA variants expressed as recombinant molecules (termed TSSA-CL and TSSA-Sy) were shown to exhibit contrasting features in their host cell binding and signaling properties. Methods/Principle findings Here we used a variety of approaches to get insights into TSSA structure/function. We show that at variance with tGPI-mucins, which rely on their extensive O-glycoslylation to achieve their protective function, TSSA seems to be displayed on the trypomastigote coat as a hypo-glycosylated molecule. This has a functional correlate, as further deletion mapping experiments and cell binding assays indicated that exposition of at least two peptidic motifs is critical for the engagement of the ‘adhesive’ TSSA variant (TSSA-CL) with host cell surface receptor(s) prior to trypomastigote internalization. These motifs are not conserved in the ‘non-adhesive’ TSSA-Sy variant. We next developed transgenic lines over-expressing either TSSA variant in different parasite backgrounds. In strict accordance to recombinant protein binding data, trypomastigotes over-expressing TSSA-CL displayed improved adhesion and infectivity towards non-macrophagic cell lines as compared to those over-expressing TSSA-Sy or parental lines. These phenotypes could be specifically counteracted by exogenous addition of peptides spanning the TSSA-CL adhesion motifs. In addition, and irrespective of the TSSA variant, over-expression of this molecule leads to an enhanced trypomastigote-to-amastigote conversion, indicating a possible role of TSSA also in parasite differentiation. Conclusion/Significance In this study we provided novel evidence indicating that TSSA plays an important role not only on the infectivity and differentiation of T. cruzi trypomastigotes but also on the phenotypic variability displayed by parasite strains. Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi produces a chronic and debilitating infectious disease known as Chagas disease, of major significance in Latin America and an emergent threat to global public health. In the absence of vaccines and/or appropriate chemotherapies, the search for parasite effectors that support infection of mammalian cells is a focus of significant interest. One such candidate is the Trypomastigote Small Surface Antigen (TSSA), a polymorphic molecule expressed on the surface coat of infective trypomastigote forms. Previous data indicated that recombinant versions of two different TSSA variants (termed TSSA-CL and TSSA-Sy) encoded by parasite strains belonging to extant phylogenetic groups exhibited contrasting host cell binding and signaling abilities. Here, we generated genetically modified strains of T. cruzi over-expressing different TSSAs to address this issue. Trypomastigotes over-expressing TSSA-CL, the ‘adhesive variant’, displayed improved adhesion and infectivity towards non-macrophagic cell lines as compared to those over-expressing TSSA-Sy or parental lines. In addition, and irrespective of the protein variant, TSSA over-expression enhanced trypomastigote-to-amastigote conversion. Overall, our data strongly suggest that TSSA plays an important role not only on the infectivity and differentiation of T. cruzi trypomastigotes but also on the phenotypic variability displayed by different strains of this parasite. These data, together with the fact that TSSA recalls a strong and likely protective humoral response during human infections, support this molecule as an excellent candidate for molecular intervention and/or vaccine development in Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- María de los Milagros Cámara
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Tecnología, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gaspar E. Cánepa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés B. Lantos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Virginia Balouz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Hai Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Oscar Campetella
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Mucci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos A. Buscaglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECh), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Urquiza JM, Burgos JM, Ojeda DS, Pascuale CA, Leguizamón MS, Quarleri JF. Astrocyte Apoptosis and HIV Replication Are Modulated in Host Cells Coinfected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:345. [PMID: 28824880 PMCID: PMC5539089 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. In immunosuppressed individuals, as it occurs in the coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the central nervous system may be affected. In this regard, reactivation of Chagas disease is severe and often lethal, and it accounts for meningoencephalitis. Astrocytes play a crucial role in the environment maintenance of healthy neurons; however, they can host HIV and T. cruzi. In this report, human astrocytes were infected in vitro with both genetically modified-pathogens to express alternative fluorophore. As evidenced by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, HIV and T. cruzi coexist in the same astrocyte, likely favoring reciprocal interactions. In this context, lower rates of cell death were observed in both T. cruzi monoinfected-astrocytes and HIV-T. cruzi coinfection in comparison with those infected only with HIV. The level of HIV replication is significantly diminished under T. cruzi coinfection, but without affecting the infectivity of the HIV progeny. This interference with viral replication appears to be related to the T. cruzi multiplication rate or its increased intracellular presence but does not require their intracellular cohabitation or infected cell-to-cell contact. Among several Th1/Th2/Th17 profile-related cytokines, only IL-6 was overexpressed in HIV-T. cruzi coinfection exhibiting its cytoprotective role. This study demonstrates that T. cruzi and HIV are able to coinfect astrocytes thus altering viral replication and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier M Urquiza
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan M Burgos
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Argentina Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego S Ojeda
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla A Pascuale
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Argentina Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Susana Leguizamón
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín, Argentina Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge F Quarleri
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasBuenos Aires, Argentina
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41
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Castillo-Acosta VM, Balzarini J, González-Pacanowska D. Surface Glycans: A Therapeutic Opportunity for Kinetoplastid Diseases. Trends Parasitol 2017; 33:775-787. [PMID: 28760415 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomal diseases are in need of innovative therapies that exploit novel mechanisms of action. The cell surface of trypanosomatid parasites is characterized by a dense coat of glycoconjugates with important functions in host cell recognition, immune evasion, infectivity, and cell function. The nature of parasite surface glycans is highly dynamic and changes during differentiation and in response to different stimuli through the action of glycosyltransferases and glycosidases. Here we propose a new approach to antiparasitic drug discovery that involves the use of carbohydrate-binding agents that bind specifically to cell-surface glycans, giving rise to cytotoxic events and parasite death. The potential and limitations of this strategy are addressed with a specific focus on the treatment of sleeping sickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor M Castillo-Acosta
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra', Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avenida del Conocimiento, s/n 18016-Armilla (Granada), Spain
| | - Jan Balzarini
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dolores González-Pacanowska
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra', Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avenida del Conocimiento, s/n 18016-Armilla (Granada), Spain.
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42
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Freire-de-Lima L, Gentile LB, da Fonseca LM, da Costa KM, Santos Lemos J, Jacques LR, Morrot A, Freire-de-Lima CG, Nunes MP, Takiya CM, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L. Role of Inactive and Active Trypanosoma cruzi Trans-sialidases on T Cell Homing and Secretion of Inflammatory Cytokines. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1307. [PMID: 28744279 PMCID: PMC5504189 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc-TS) belongs to a superfamily of proteins that may have enzymatic activity. While enzymatically active members (Tc-aTS) are able to transfer sialic acid from the host cell sialyl-glycoconjugates onto the parasite or to other molecules on the host cell surface, the inactive members (Tc-iTS) are characterized by their lectinic properties. Over the last 10 years, several papers demonstrated that, individually, Tc-aTS or Tc-iTS is able to modulate several biological events. Since the genes encoding Tc-iTS and Tc-aTS are present in the same copy number, and both proteins portray similar substrate-specificities as well, it would be plausible to speculate that such molecules may compete for the same sialyl-glycan structures and govern numerous immunobiological phenomena. However, their combined effect has never been evaluated in the course of an acute infection. In this study, we investigated the ability of both proteins to modulate the production of inflammatory signals, as well as the homing of T cells to the cardiac tissue of infected mice, events that usually occur during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection. The results showed that the intravenous administration of Tc-iTS, but not Tc-aTS protected the cardiac tissue from injury caused by reduced traffic of inflammatory cells. In addition, the ability of Tc-aTS to modulate the production of inflammatory cytokines was attenuated and/or compromised when Tc-iTS was co-injected in the same proportions. These results suggest that although both proteins present structural similarities and compete for the same sialyl-glycan epitopes, they might present distinct immunomodulatory properties on T cells following T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana B Gentile
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo M da Fonseca
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kelli M da Costa
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jessica Santos Lemos
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucas Rodrigues Jacques
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Morrot
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo CruzRio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciência da Saúde - Sala D1-035, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Célio G Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marise P Nunes
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo CruzRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Christina M Takiya
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose O Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
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