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Saini I, Joshi J, Kaur S. Leishmania vaccine development: A comprehensive review. Cell Immunol 2024; 399-400:104826. [PMID: 38669897 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2024.104826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Infectious diseases like leishmaniasis, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, leprosy and filariasis are responsible for an immense burden on public health systems. Among these, leishmaniasis is under the category I diseases as it is selected by WHO (World Health Organization) on the ground of diversity and complexity. High cost, resistance and toxic effects of Leishmania traditional drugs entail identification and development of therapeutic alternative. Since the natural infection elicits robust immunity, consistence efforts are going on to develop a successful vaccine. Clinical trials have been conducted on vaccines like Leish-F1, F2, and F3 formulated using specific Leishmania antigen epitopes. Current strategies utilize individual or combined antigens from the parasite or its insect vector's salivary gland extract, with or without adjuvant formulation for enhanced efficacy. Promising animal data supports multiple vaccine candidates (Lmcen-/-, LmexCen-/-), with some already in or heading for clinical trials. The crucial challenge in Leishmania vaccine development is to translate the research knowledge into affordable and accessible control tools that refines the outcome for those who are susceptible to infection. This review focuses on recent findings in Leishmania vaccines and highlights difficulties facing vaccine development and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Saini
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Jyoti Joshi
- Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College, Sector-32C, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sukhbir Kaur
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
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Dehghani A, Mamizadeh M, Karimi A, Hosseini SA, Siamian D, Shams M, Ghiabi S, Basati G, Abaszadeh A. Multi-epitope vaccine design against leishmaniasis using IFN-γ inducing epitopes from immunodominant gp46 and gp63 proteins. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2024; 22:100355. [PMID: 38494264 PMCID: PMC10860880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
There is no currently approved human vaccine against leishmaniasis. Utilization of immunogenic antigens and their epitopes capable of enhancing immune responses against leishmaniasis is a crucial step for rational in silico vaccine design. The objective of this study was to generate and evaluate a potential vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis, designed by immunodominant proteins from gp46 and gp63 of Leishmania major, which can stimulate helper T-lymphocytes (HTL) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL). For this aim, the IFN-γ-inducing MHC-I and MHC-II binders were predicted for each examined protein (gp46 and gp63) and connected with appropriate linkers, along with an adjuvant (Mycobacterium tuberculosis L7/L12) and a histidine tag. The vaccine's stability, antigenicity, structure, and interaction with the TLR-4 receptor were evaluated in silico. The resulting chimeric vaccine was composed of 344 amino acids and had a molecular weight of 35.64 kDa. Physico-chemical properties indicated that it was thermotolerant, soluble, highly antigenic, and non-allergenic. Predictions of the secondary and tertiary structures were made, and further analyses confirmed that the vaccine construct could interact with the human TLR-4 receptor. Virtual immune simulation demonstrated strong stimulation of T-cell responses, particularly by an increase in IFN-γ, following vaccination. In summary, the in silico data indicated that the vaccine candidate showed high antigenicity in humans. It was also found to trigger significant levels of clearance mechanisms and other components of the cellular immune profile. Nevertheless, further wet experiments are required to properly assess the efficacy of this multi-epitope vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Dehghani
- Department of Nursery, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Mina Mamizadeh
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Atena Karimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
| | - Seyyed Amir Hosseini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Siamian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Shadan Ghiabi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholam Basati
- Department of Biochemistry, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Amir Abaszadeh
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
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Basmenj ER, Arastonejad M, Mamizadeh M, Alem M, KhalatbariLimaki M, Ghiabi S, Khamesipour A, Majidiani H, Shams M, Irannejad H. Engineering and design of promising T-cell-based multi-epitope vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19421. [PMID: 37940672 PMCID: PMC10632461 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46408-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a very common parasitic infection in subtropical areas worldwide. Throughout decades, there have been challenges in vaccine design and vaccination against CL. The present study introduced novel T-cell-based vaccine candidates containing IFN-γ Inducing epitopic fragments from Leishmania major (L. major) glycoprotein 46 (gp46), cathepsin L-like and B-like proteases, histone H2A, glucose-regulated protein 78 (grp78) and stress-inducible protein 1 (STI-1). For this aim, top-ranked human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific, IFN-γ Inducing, antigenic, CD4+ and CD8+ binders were highlighted. Four vaccine candidates were generated using different spacers (AAY, GPGPG, GDGDG) and adjuvants (RS-09 peptide, human IFN-γ, a combination of both, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Resuscitation promoting factor E (RpfE)). Based on the immune simulation profile, those with RS-09 peptide (Leish-App) and RpfE (Leish-Rpf) elicited robust immune responses and their tertiary structure were further refined. Also, molecular docking of the selected vaccine models with the human toll-like receptor 4 showed proper interactions, particularly for Leish-App, for which molecular dynamics simulations showed a stable connection with TLR-4. Upon codon optimization, both models were finally ligated into the pET28a( +) vector. In conclusion, two potent multi-epitope vaccine candidates were designed against CL and evaluated using comprehensive in silico methods, while further wet experiments are, also, recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahshid Arastonejad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mina Mamizadeh
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Mahsa Alem
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mahdi KhalatbariLimaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Shadan Ghiabi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 14155-6383, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Majidiani
- Healthy Aging Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Hamid Irannejad
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Kordi B, Basmenj ER, Majidiani H, Basati G, Sargazi D, Nazari N, Shams M. In Silico Characterization of an Important Metacyclogenesis Marker in Leishmania donovani, HASPB1, as a Potential Vaccine Candidate. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:3763634. [PMID: 37323936 PMCID: PMC10266922 DOI: 10.1155/2023/3763634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a life-threatening infectious disease worldwide. Extensive experiments have been done to introduce potential vaccine candidates to combat leishmaniasis. The present study was done to evaluate Leishmania donovani hydrophilic acylated surface protein B1 as a potential vaccine candidate using in silico methods. For this aim, server-based predictions were performed regarding physicochemical characteristics, solubility, antigenicity, allergenicity, signal peptide, transmembrane domain, and posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Also, secondary and tertiary structures were predicted using NetSurfP-3.0 and I-TASSER, respectively. The 3D model was further subjected to refinement and validation, and promising B-cell, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL; human, dog), and helper T-lymphocyte (HTL; human) epitopes were predicted. The protein had a molecular weight of 42.19 kDa, with high solubility (0.749), stability (instability index: 21.34), and hydrophilicity (GRAVY: -2.322). No signal peptide or transmembrane domain was predicted, and the most abundant PTMs were phosphorylation, O-glycosylation, and acetylation. Many coils and disordered regions existed in the secondary structure analysis, and the tertiary model had a good confidence score (-0.79). Next, the ProSA-web and PROCHECK tools showed adequate improvements in the refined model compared to the crude model. Only 4 shared B-cell epitopes among three web servers (ABCpred, BepiPred 2.0, and SVMTriP) were shown to be antigenic, nonallergenic, and with good water solubility. Also, five potent CTL epitopes in dogs and five in humans were predicted. Notably, two HTL epitopes were found to be potential IFN-γ inducers. In conclusion, our results demonstrated several immunogenic epitopes in this protein, which could be directed towards multiepitope vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahareh Kordi
- Department of Agricultural Science, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Hamidreza Majidiani
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
- Healthy Aging Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Gholam Basati
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Dariush Sargazi
- Veterinary Medicine, Zabol Veterinary Network, Zabol, Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran
| | - Naser Nazari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
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Moreira POL, Nogueira PM, Monte-Neto RL. Next-Generation Leishmanization: Revisiting Molecular Targets for Selecting Genetically Engineered Live-Attenuated Leishmania. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11041043. [PMID: 37110466 PMCID: PMC10145799 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11041043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research devoted to finding a vaccine against leishmaniasis, we are still lacking a safe and effective vaccine for humans. Given this scenario, the search for a new prophylaxis alternative for controlling leishmaniasis should be a global priority. Inspired by leishmanization-a first generation vaccine strategy where live L. major parasites are inoculated in the skin to protect against reinfection-live-attenuated Leishmania vaccine candidates are promising alternatives due to their robust elicited protective immune response. In addition, they do not cause disease and could provide long-term protection upon challenge with a virulent strain. The discovery of a precise and easy way to perform CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing allowed the selection of safer null mutant live-attenuated Leishmania parasites obtained by gene disruption. Here, we revisited molecular targets associated with the selection of live-attenuated vaccinal strains, discussing their function, their limiting factors and the ideal candidate for the next generation of genetically engineered live-attenuated Leishmania vaccines to control leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo O L Moreira
- Biotechnology Applied to Pathogens (BAP), Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Paula M Nogueira
- Biotechnology Applied to Pathogens (BAP), Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte 30190-009, Brazil
| | - Rubens L Monte-Neto
- Biotechnology Applied to Pathogens (BAP), Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte 30190-009, Brazil
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Alizadeh Z, Omidnia P, Altalbawy FMA, Gabr GA, Obaid RF, Rostami N, Aslani S, Heidari A, Mohammadi H. Unraveling the role of natural killer cells in leishmaniasis. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 114:109596. [PMID: 36700775 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
NK cells are known as frontline responders that are efficient in combating several maladies as well as leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania spp. As such they are being investigated to be used for adoptive transfer therapy and vaccine. In spite of the lack of antigen-specific receptors at their surface, NK cells can selectively recognize pathogens, accomplished by the activation of the receptors on the NK cell surface and also as the result of their effector functions. Activation of NK cells can occur through interaction between TLR-2 expressed on NK cells and. LPG of Leishmania parasites. In addition, NK cell activation can occur by cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ and IL-12) that also lead to producing cytokines and chemokines and lysis of target cells. This review summarizes several evidences that support NK cells activation for controlling leishmaniasis and the potentially lucrative roles of NK cells during leishmaniasis. Furthermore, we discuss strategies of Leishmania parasites in inhibiting NK cell functions. Leishmania LPG can utilizes TLR2 to evade host-immune responses. Also, Leishmania GP63 can directly binds to NK cells and modulates NK cell phenotype. Finally, this review analyzes the potentialities to harness NK cells effectiveness in therapy regimens and vaccinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Alizadeh
- Department of Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Farag M A Altalbawy
- National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), University of Cairo, Giza 12613, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, University College of Duba, University of Tabuk, Duba 71911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gamal A Gabr
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia; Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Rasha Fadhel Obaid
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Narges Rostami
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saeed Aslani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aliehsan Heidari
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Hamed Mohammadi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
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The History of Live Attenuated Centrin Gene-Deleted Leishmania Vaccine Candidates. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040431. [PMID: 35456106 PMCID: PMC9025045 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, caused by an infection of the Leishmania protozoa, is a neglected tropical disease and a major health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, with approximately 350 million people worldwide at risk and 2 million new cases occurring annually. Current treatments for leishmaniasis are not highly efficacious and are associated with high costs, especially in low- and middle-income endemic countries, and high toxicity. Due to a surge in the incidence of leishmaniases worldwide, the development of new strategies such as a prophylactic vaccine has become a high priority. However, the ability of Leishmania to undermine immune recognition has limited our efforts to design safe and efficacious vaccines against leishmaniasis. Numerous antileishmanial vaccine preparations based on DNA, subunit, and heat-killed parasites with or without adjuvants have been tried in several animal models but very few have progressed beyond the experimental stage. However, it is known that people who recover from Leishmania infection can be protected lifelong against future infection, suggesting that a successful vaccine requires a controlled infection to develop immunologic memory and subsequent long-term immunity. Live attenuated Leishmania parasites that are non-pathogenic and provide a complete range of antigens similarly to their wild-type counterparts could evoke such memory and, thus, would be effective vaccine candidates. Our laboratory has developed several live attenuated Leishmania vaccines by targeted centrin gene disruptions either by homologous recombination or, more recently, by using genome editing technologies involving CRISPR-Cas9. In this review, we focused on the sequential history of centrin gene-deleted Leishmania vaccine development, along with the characterization of its safety and efficacy. Further, we discussed other major considerations regarding the transition of dermotropic live attenuated centrin gene-deleted parasites from the laboratory to human clinical trials.
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Engineering a multi-epitope vaccine candidate against Leishmania infantum using comprehensive Immunoinformatics methods. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021; 77:277-289. [PMID: 34866641 PMCID: PMC8628819 DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00934-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe disease with particular endemicity in over 80 countries worldwide. There is no approved human vaccine against VL in the market. This study was aimed at designing and evaluation of a multimeric vaccine candidate against Leishmania infantum through utilization of helper T lymphocyte (HTL) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immunodominant proteins from histone H1, KMP11, LACK and LeIF antigens. Top-ranked mouse MHC-I, MHC-II binders and CTL epitopes were predicted and joined together via spacers. Also, a TLR-4 agonist (RS-09 synthetic protein) and His-tag were added to the N- and C-terminal of the vaccine sequence, respectively. The final chimeric vaccine had a length of 184 amino acids with a molecular weight of 18.99 kDa. Physico-chemical features showed a soluble, highly-antigenic and non-allergenic candidate. Secondary and tertiary structures were predicted, and subsequent analyses confirmed the construct stability that was capable to properly interact with TLR-4/MD2 receptor. Immunoinformatics simulation displayed potent stimulation of T cell immune responses, with particular rise in IFN-γ, upon vaccination with the proposed multi-epitope candidate. In conclusion, immunoinformatics data demonstrated a highly antigenic vaccine candidate in mouse, which could develop considerable levels clearance mechanisms and other components of cellular immune profile, and can be directed for VL prophylactic purposes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11756-021-00934-3.
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Pissarra J, Pagniez J, Petitdidier E, Séveno M, Vigy O, Bras-Gonçalves R, Lemesre JL, Holzmuller P. Proteomic Analysis of the Promastigote Secretome of Seven Leishmania Species. J Proteome Res 2021; 21:30-48. [PMID: 34806897 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the most impactful parasitic diseases worldwide, endangering the lives of 1 billion people every year. There are 20 different species of Leishmania able to infect humans, causing cutaneous (CL), visceral (VL), and/or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). Leishmania parasites are known to secrete a plethora of proteins to establish infection and modulate the host's immune system. In this study, we analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry the total protein content of the secretomes produced by promastigote forms from seven Leishmania species grown in serum-free in vitro cultures. The core secretome shared by all seven Leishmania species corresponds to up to one-third of total secreted proteins, suggesting conserved mechanisms of adaptation to the vertebrate host. The relative abundance confirms the importance of known virulence factors and some proteins uniquely present in CL- or VL-causing species and may provide further insight regarding their pathogenesis. Bioinformatic analysis showed that most proteins were secreted via unconventional mechanisms, with an important role for vesicle-based secretion for all species. Gene Ontology annotation and enrichment analyses showed a high level of functional conservation among species. This study contributes to the current knowledge on the biological significance of differently secreted proteins and provides new information on the correlation of Leishmania secretome to clinical outcomes and species-specific pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Pissarra
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Julie Pagniez
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Elodie Petitdidier
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Martial Séveno
- BCM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Oana Vigy
- IGF, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Rachel Bras-Gonçalves
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Loup Lemesre
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Holzmuller
- UMR ASTRE, CIRAD, INRAE, University of Montpellier (I-MUSE), 34090 Montpellier, France
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10
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Freitas-Mesquita AL, Meyer-Fernandes JR. Stage-Specific Class I Nucleases of Leishmania Play Important Roles in Parasite Infection and Survival. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:769933. [PMID: 34722348 PMCID: PMC8554303 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.769933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Protozoans of the genus Leishmania are the causative agents of an important neglected tropical disease referred to as leishmaniasis. During their lifecycle, the parasites can colonize the alimentary tract of the sand fly vector and the parasitophorous vacuole of the mammalian host, differentiating into distinct stages. Motile promastigotes are found in the sand fly vector and are transmitted to the mammalian host during the insect blood meal. Once in the vertebrate host, the parasites differentiate into amastigotes and multiply inside macrophages. To successfully establish infection in mammalian hosts, Leishmania parasites exhibit various strategies to impair the microbicidal power of the host immune system. In this context, stage-specific class I nucleases play different and important roles related to parasite growth, survival and development. Promastigotes express 3’-nucleotidase/nuclease (3’-NT/NU), an ectoenzyme that can promote parasite escape from neutrophil extracellular traps (NET)-mediated death through extracellular DNA hydrolysis and increase Leishmania-macrophage interactions due to extracellular adenosine generation. Amastigotes express secreted nuclease activity during the course of human infection that may be involved in the purine salvage pathway and can mobilize extracellular nucleic acids available far from the parasite. Another nuclease expressed in amastigotes (P4/LmC1N) is located in the endoplasmic reticulum of the parasite and may be involved in mRNA stability and DNA repair. Homologs of this class I nuclease can induce protection against infection by eliciting a T helper 1-like immune response. These immunogenic properties render these nucleases good targets for the development of vaccines against leishmaniasis, mainly because amastigotes are the form responsible for the development and progression of the disease. The present review aims to present and discuss the roles played by different class I nucleases during the Leishmania lifecycle, especially regarding the establishment of mammalian host infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Leocadio Freitas-Mesquita
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo De Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo De Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Volpedo G, Huston RH, Holcomb EA, Pacheco-Fernandez T, Gannavaram S, Bhattacharya P, Nakhasi HL, Satoskar AR. From infection to vaccination: reviewing the global burden, history of vaccine development, and recurring challenges in global leishmaniasis protection. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:1431-1446. [PMID: 34511000 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1969231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leishmaniasis is a major public health problem and the second most lethal parasitic disease in the world due to the lack of effective treatments and vaccines. Even when not lethal, leishmaniasis significantly affects individuals and communities through life-long disabilities, psycho-sociological trauma, poverty, and gender disparity in treatment. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the most relevant and recent research available on Pubmed and GoogleScholar highlighting leishmaniasis' global impact, pathogenesis, treatment options, and lack of effective control strategies. An effective vaccine is necessary to prevent morbidity and mortality, lower health care costs, and reduce the economic burden of leishmaniasis for endemic low- and middle-income countries. Since there are several forms of leishmaniasis, a pan-Leishmania vaccine without geographical restrictions is needed. This review also focuses on recent advances and common challenges in developing prophylactic strategies against leishmaniasis. EXPERT OPINION Despite advances in pre-clinical vaccine research, approval of a human leishmaniasis vaccine still faces major challenges - including manufacturing of candidate vaccines under Good Manufacturing Practices, developing well-designed clinical trials suitable in endemic countries, and defined correlates of protection. In addition, there is a need to explore Challenge Human Infection Model to avoid large trials because of fluctuating incidence and prevalence of leishmanasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Volpedo
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ryan H Huston
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Erin A Holcomb
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Thalia Pacheco-Fernandez
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Parna Bhattacharya
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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12
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Zutshi S, Sarode AY, Ghosh SK, Jha MK, Sudan R, Kumar S, Sadhale LP, Roy S, Saha B. LmjF.36.3850, a novel hypothetical Leishmania major protein, contributes to the infection. Immunology 2021; 163:460-477. [PMID: 33764520 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania is a protozoan parasite that resides in mammalian macrophages and inflicts the disease known as leishmaniasis. Although prevalent in 88 countries, an anti-leishmanial vaccine remains elusive. While comparing the virulent and avirulent L. major transcriptomes by microarray, PCR and functional analyses for identifying a novel virulence-associated gene, we identified LmjF.36.3850, a hypothetical protein significantly less expressed in the avirulent parasite and without any known function. Motif search revealed that LmjF.36.3850 protein shared phosphorylation sites and other structural features with sucrose non-fermenting protein (Snf7) that shuttles virulence factors. LmjF.36.3850 was predicted to bind diacylglycerol (DAG) with energy value similar to PKCα and PKCβ, to which DAG is a cofactor. Indeed, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), a DAG analogue, enhanced the phosphorylation of PKCα and PKCβI. We cloned LmjF.36.3850 gene in a mammalian expression vector and primed susceptible BALB/c mice followed by challenge infection. We observed a higher parasite load, comparable antibody response and higher anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10, while expression of major anti-leishmanial cytokine, IFN-γ, remained unchanged in LmjF.36.3850-vaccinated mice. CSA restimulated LN cells from vaccinated mice after challenge infection secreted comparable IL-4 and IL-10 but reduced IFN-γ, as compared to controls. These observations suggest a skewed Th2 response, diminished IFN-γ secreting Th1-TEM cells and increased central and effector memory subtype of Th2, Th17 and Treg cells in the vaccinated mice. These data indicate that LmjF.36.3850 is a plausible virulence factor that enhances disease-promoting response, possibly by interfering with PKC activation and by eliciting disease-promoting T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Raki Sudan
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | | | - Somenath Roy
- Department of Human Physiology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, India
| | - Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India.,Trident Academy of Creative Technology, Chandrasekharpur, India
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13
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Freitas-Mesquita AL, Dos-Santos ALA, Meyer-Fernandes JR. Involvement of Leishmania Phosphatases in Parasite Biology and Pathogeny. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:633146. [PMID: 33968798 PMCID: PMC8100340 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.633146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Leishmania lifecycle, the motile promastigote form is transmitted from the sand fly vector to a mammalian host during a blood meal. Inside vertebrate host macrophages, the parasites can differentiate into the amastigote form and multiply, causing leishmaniasis, one of the most significant neglected tropical diseases. Leishmania parasites face different conditions throughout their development inside sand flies. Once in the mammalian host, the parasites have to overcome the microbicide repertoire of the cells of the immune system to successfully establish the infection. In this context, the expression of protein phosphatases is of particular interest. Several members of the serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatase (STP), protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), and histidine acid phosphatase (HAcP) families have been described in different Leishmania species. Although their physiological roles have not been fully elucidated, many studies suggest they have an involvement with parasite biology and pathogeny. Phosphatases play a role in adaptation to nutrient starvation during parasite passage through the sand fly midgut. They are also important to parasite virulence, mainly due to the modulation of host cytokine production and impairment of the microbiocidal potential of macrophages. Furthermore, recent whole-genome expression analyses have shown that different phosphatases are upregulated in metacyclic promastigotes, the infective form of the mammalian host. Leishmania phosphatases are also upregulated in drug-resistant strains, probably due to the increase in drug efflux related to the activation of ABC transporters. Throughout this review, we will describe the physiological roles that have been attributed to Leishmania endogenous phosphatases, including their involvement in the adaptation, survival, and proliferation of the parasites inside their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Leocadio Freitas-Mesquita
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo De Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Luiz Araújo Dos-Santos
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo De Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - José Roberto Meyer-Fernandes
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo De Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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14
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Passelli K, Billion O, Tacchini-Cottier F. The Impact of Neutrophil Recruitment to the Skin on the Pathology Induced by Leishmania Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:649348. [PMID: 33732265 PMCID: PMC7957080 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.649348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania (L.) are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that cause the leishmaniases, a spectrum of neglected infectious vector-borne diseases with a broad range of clinical manifestations ranging from local cutaneous, to visceral forms of the diseases. The parasites are deposited in the mammalian skin during the blood meal of an infected female phlebotomine sand fly. The skin is a complex organ acting as the first line of physical and immune defense against pathogens. Insults to skin integrity, such as that occurring during insect feeding, induces the local secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules generating the rapid recruitment of neutrophils. At the site of infection, skin keratinocytes play a first role in host defense contributing to the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the infected dermis, of which neutrophils are the first recruited cells. Although neutrophils efficiently kill various pathogens including Leishmania, several Leishmania species have developed mechanisms to survive in these cells. In addition, through their rapid release of cytokines, neutrophils modulate the skin microenvironment at the site of infection, a process shaping the subsequent development of the adaptive immune response. Neutrophils may also be recruited later on in unhealing forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis and to the spleen and liver in visceral forms of the disease. Here, we will review the mechanisms involved in neutrophil recruitment to the skin following Leishmania infection focusing on the role of keratinocytes in this process. We will also discuss the distinct involvement of neutrophils in the outcome of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katiuska Passelli
- Department of Biochemistry, WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training in Immunology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Oaklyne Billion
- Department of Biochemistry, WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training in Immunology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier
- Department of Biochemistry, WHO Collaborative Centre for Research and Training in Immunology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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15
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Guedes DC, Santiani MH, Carvalho J, Soccol CR, Minozzo JC, Machado de Ávila RA, de Moura JF, Ramos ELP, Castro GR, Chávez-Olórtegi C, Thomaz-Soccol V. In silico and in vitro Evaluation of Mimetic Peptides as Potential Antigen Candidates for Prophylaxis of Leishmaniosis. Front Chem 2021; 8:601409. [PMID: 33520931 PMCID: PMC7843434 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.601409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Antigen formulation is the main feature for the success of leishmaniosis diagnosis and vaccination, since the disease is caused by different parasite species that display particularities which determine their pathogenicity and virulence. It is desirable that the antigens are recognized by different antibodies and are immunogenic for almost all Leishmania species. To overcome this problem, we selected six potentially immunogenic peptides derived from Leishmania histones and parasite membrane molecules obtained by phage display or spot synthesis and entrapped in liposome structures. We used these peptides to immunize New Zealand rabbits and determine the immunogenic capacity of the chimeric antigen. The peptides induced the production of antibodies as a humoral immune response against L. braziliensis or L. infantum. Next, to evaluate the innate response to induce cellular activation, macrophages from the peptide mix-immunized rabbits were infected in vitro with L. braziliensis or L. infantum. The peptide mix generated the IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-4 and TGF-β that led to Th1 and Th2 cellular immune responses. Interestingly, this mix of peptides also induced high expression of iNOS. These results suggest that the mix of peptides derived from histone and parasites membrane molecules was able to mimic parasites proteins and induce cytokines important to CD4+ T cell Th1 and Th2 differentiation and effector molecule to control the parasite infection. Finally, this peptide induced an immune balance that is important to prevent immunopathological disorders, inflammatory reactions, and control the parasite infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Carbonera Guedes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Manuel Hospinal Santiani
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Joyce Carvalho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ricardo Soccol
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - João Carlos Minozzo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Centro de Produção e Pesquisa de Imunobilógicos, Secretaria De Saúde do Estado do Paraná, Piraquara, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana Ferreira de Moura
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Eliezer Lucas Pires Ramos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Guillermo Raul Castro
- Laboratorio de Nanobiomateriales, CINDEFI, Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP)-CONICET (CCT La Plata), La Plata, Argentina.,Max Planck Laboratory for Structural Biology, Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics of Rosario (MPLbioR, UNR-MPIbpC), Partner Laboratory of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (MPIbpC, MPG), Centro de Estudios Interdisciplinarios (CEI), Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Carlos Chávez-Olórtegi
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciência Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Vanete Thomaz-Soccol
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Strictu Sensu em Engenharia de Bioprocessos e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
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16
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Motamedpour L, Dalimi A, Pirestani M, Ghaffarifar F. In silico analysis and expression of a new chimeric antigen as a vaccine candidate against cutaneous leishmaniasis. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES 2020; 23:1409-1418. [PMID: 33235698 PMCID: PMC7671421 DOI: 10.22038/ijbms.2020.45394.10561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Objective(s): Since leishmaniasis is one of the health problems in many countries, the development of preventive vaccines against it is a top priority. Peptide vaccines may be a new way to fight the Leishmania infection. In this study, a silicon method was used to predict and analyze B and T cells to produce a vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis. Materials and Methods: Immunodominant epitope of Leishmania were selected from four TSA, LPG3, GP63, and Lmsti1 antigens and linked together using a flexible linker (SAPGTP). The antigenic and allergenic features, 2D and 3D structures, and physicochemical features of a chimeric protein were predicted. Finally, through bioinformatics methods, the mRNA structure was predicted and was produced chemically and cloned into the pLEXY-neo2 vector. Results: Results indicated, polytope had no allergenic properties, but its antigenicity was estimated to be 0.92%. The amino acids numbers, molecular weight as well as negative and positive charge residuals were estimated 390, ~41KDa, 41, and 30, respectively. The results showed that the designed polytope has 50 post-translationally modified sites. Also, the secondary structure of the protein is composed of 25.38% alpha-helix, 12.31% extended strand, and 62.31% random coil. The results of SDS-PAGE and Western blotting revealed the recombinant protein with ~ 41 kDa. The results of Ramachandran plot showed that 96%, 2.7%, and 1.3% of amino acid residues were located in the preferred, permitted, and outlier areas, respectively. Conclusion: It is expected that the TLGL polytope will produce a cellular immune response. Therefore, the polytope could be a good candidate for an anti-leishmanial vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Motamedpour
- Parasitology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Dalimi
- Parasitology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Pirestani
- Parasitology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Parasitology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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17
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Pereira KLG, Vasconcelos NBR, Braz JVC, InÁcio JDF, Estevam CS, Correa CB, Fernandes RPM, Almeida-Amaral EE, Scher R. Ethanolic extract of Croton blanchetianus Ball induces mitochondrial defects in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2020; 92:e20180968. [PMID: 33146273 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202020180968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by Leishmania. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay for leishmaniasis control; however, available drugs fail to provide a parasitological cure, and are associated with high toxicity. Natural products are promising leads for the development of novel chemotherapeutics against leishmaniasis. This work investigated the leishmanicidal properties of ethanolic extract of Croton blanchetianus (EECb) on Leishmania infantum and Leishmania amazonensis, and found that EECb, rich in terpenic compounds, was active against promastigote and amastigote forms of both Leishmania species. Leishmania infantum promastigotes and amastigotes presented IC50 values of 208.6 and 8.8 μg/mL, respectively, whereas Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes presented IC50 values of 73.6 and 3.1 μg/mL, respectively. Promastigotes exposed to EECb (100 µg/mL) had their body cellular volume reduced and altered to a round shape, and the flagellum was duplicated, suggesting that EECb may interfere with the process of cytokinesis, which could be the cause of the decline in the parasite multiplication rate. Regarding possible EECb targets, a marked depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential was observed. No cytotoxic effects of EECb were observed in murine macrophages at concentrations below 60 µg/mL, and the CC50 obtained was 83.8 µg/mL. Thus, the present results indicated that EECb had effective and selective effects against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania amazonensis, and that these effects appeared to be mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katily L G Pereira
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Nancy B R Vasconcelos
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Juliana V C Braz
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Job D F InÁcio
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Charles S Estevam
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Cristiane B Correa
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Roberta P M Fernandes
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
| | - Elmo E Almeida-Amaral
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-900 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Scher
- Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Av. Marechal Rondon, s/n, Rosa Elze, 49000-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil
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18
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Recent researches in effective antileishmanial herbal compounds: narrative review. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3929-3946. [PMID: 32803335 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06787-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis are neglected diseases and a public health problem; they are caused by protozoan species belonging to the genus Leishmania and mostly influences the poor populations in many developing countries. The lack of effective medications, and an approved vaccine, high toxicity and life-threatening side effects and many cases of drug resistance reported in different countries have resulted in the necessity to discover new, efficient, inexpensive, and safe antileishmanial compounds with less or no toxicity. This increase in consumer demand of natural herbal-derived plant extracts as alternative medicines continues despite the low scientific information to establish their efficacy and safety profiles. Various studies have been conducted so far concerning the application of herbal medicines for the treatment of leishmaniasis, but research on relatively effective and low toxic substances is still needed. In this review, we have summarized recent developments and reported studies concerning about herbal and naturally derived therapeutics in the treatment of leishmaniasis, conducted by several researchers worldwide. Some of these medical herbs with promising results have undergone prospective clinical researches, but many others have either not yet been explored. Recent articles described these medical herbs and their active and important molecules, including quinones, phenolic derivatives, lignans, tannins, terpenes, and oxylipins. We searched ISI Web of Science, PubMed, SID, Scholar, Scopus, and Science Direct, and articles published up to 2019 were included. The keywords of leishmaniasis and some words associated with herbal medicines and natural products were used in our search. This review can serve as a quick reference database for researchers.
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19
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Scotti MT, Monteiro AFM, de Oliveira Viana J, Bezerra Mendonça Junior FJ, Ishiki HM, Tchouboun EN, De Araújo RSA, Scotti L. Recent Theoretical Studies Concerning Important Tropical Infections. Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:795-834. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190711121418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) form a group of diseases that are strongly associated
with poverty, flourish in impoverished environments, and thrive best in tropical areas,
where they tend to present overlap. They comprise several diseases, and the symptoms
vary dramatically from disease to disease, often causing from extreme pain, and untold misery
that anchors populations to poverty, permanent disability, and death. They affect more than 1
billion people worldwide; mostly in poor populations living in tropical and subtropical climates.
In this review, several complementary in silico approaches are presented; including
identification of new therapeutic targets, novel mechanisms of activity, high-throughput
screening of small-molecule libraries, as well as in silico quantitative structure-activity relationship
and recent molecular docking studies. Current and active research against Sleeping
Sickness, American trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis and Schistosomiasis infections will hopefully
lead to safer, more effective, less costly and more widely available treatments against
these parasitic forms of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Postgraduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, Joao Pessoa - PB, Brazil
| | - Alex France Messias Monteiro
- Postgraduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, Joao Pessoa - PB, Brazil
| | - Jéssika de Oliveira Viana
- Postgraduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, Joao Pessoa - PB, Brazil
| | | | - Hamilton M. Ishiki
- University of Western Sao Paulo (Unoeste), Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo Santos A. De Araújo
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Drug Delivery, Department of Biological Science, State University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Luciana Scotti
- Postgraduate Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraíba, Joao Pessoa - PB, Brazil
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20
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Santos SS, de Araújo RV, Giarolla J, Seoud OE, Ferreira EI. Searching for drugs for Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis: a review. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2020; 55:105906. [PMID: 31987883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.105906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis are neglected diseases (NDs) and are a considerable global challenge. Despite the huge number of people infected, NDs do not create interest from pharmaceutical companies because the associated revenue is generally low. Most of the research on these diseases has been conducted in academic institutions. The chemotherapeutic armamentarium for NDs is scarce and inefficient and better drugs are needed. Researchers have found some promising potential drug candidates using medicinal chemistry and computational approaches. Most of these compounds are synthetic but some are from natural sources or are semi-synthetic. Drug repurposing or repositioning has also been greatly stimulated for NDs. This review considers some potential drug candidates and provides details of their design, discovery and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya Silva Santos
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Renan Vinicius de Araújo
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Jeanine Giarolla
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Omar El Seoud
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutics Potentially Active in Neglected Diseases (LAPEN), Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo-USP, Avenue Professor Lineu Prestes, 580-Building 13, São Paulo SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
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21
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Askarizadeh A, Badiee A, Khamesipour A. Development of nano-carriers for Leishmania vaccine delivery. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2020; 17:167-187. [PMID: 31914821 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2020.1713746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical infection caused by several species of intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. It is strongly believed that the development of vaccines is the most appropriate approach to control leishmaniasis. However, there is no vaccine available yet and the lack of an appropriate adjuvant delivery system is the main reason.Areas covered: Adjuvants are the utmost important part of a vaccine, to induce the immune response in the right direction. Limitations and drawbacks of conventional adjuvants have been necessitated the development of novel particulate delivery systems as adjuvants to obtain desirable protection against infectious diseases such as leishmaniasis. This review focused on particulate adjuvants especially nanoparticles that are in use to develop vaccines against leishmaniasis. The list of adjuvants includes generally lipids-, polymers-, or mineral-based delivery systems that target antigens specifically to the site of action within the host's body and enhance immune responses.Expert opinion: Over the past few years, there has been an increasing interest in developing particulate adjuvants as alternatives to immunostimulatory types. The composition of nano-carriers and particularly the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles have great potential to overcome challenges posed to leishmaniasis vaccine developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anis Askarizadeh
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Badiee
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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22
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Saleem K, Khursheed Z, Hano C, Anjum I, Anjum S. Applications of Nanomaterials in Leishmaniasis: A Focus on Recent Advances and Challenges. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 9:E1749. [PMID: 31818029 PMCID: PMC6955954 DOI: 10.3390/nano9121749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a widely distributed protozoan vector-born disease affecting almost 350 million people. Initially, chemotherapeutic drugs were employed for leishmania treatment but they had toxic side effects. Various nanotechnology-based techniques and products have emerged as anti-leishmanial drugs, including liposomes, lipid nano-capsules, metal and metallic oxide nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, nanotubes and nanovaccines, due to their unique properties, such as bioavailability, lowered toxicity, targeted drug delivery, and biodegradability. Many new studies have emerged with nanoparticles serving as promising therapeutic agent for anti-leishmanial disease treatment. Liposomal Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the successful nano-based drugs with high efficacy and negligible toxicity. A new nanovaccine concept has been studied as a carrier for targeted delivery. This review discusses different nanotechnology-based techniques, materials, and their efficacies in leishmaniasis treatment and their futuristic improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Saleem
- Department of Biotechnology, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (K.S.); (Z.K.); (I.A.)
| | - Zainab Khursheed
- Department of Biotechnology, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (K.S.); (Z.K.); (I.A.)
| | - Christophe Hano
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, INRA USC1328/Université d’Orléans, Chartres 28000, France;
| | - Iram Anjum
- Department of Biotechnology, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (K.S.); (Z.K.); (I.A.)
| | - Sumaira Anjum
- Department of Biotechnology, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (K.S.); (Z.K.); (I.A.)
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Novel indol-3-yl-thiosemicarbazone derivatives: Obtaining, evaluation of in vitro leishmanicidal activity and ultrastructural studies. Chem Biol Interact 2019; 315:108899. [PMID: 31738906 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.108899] [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: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases still represent serious public health problems, since the high and steady emergence of resistant strains is evident. Because parasitic infections are distributed predominantly in developing countries, less toxic, more efficient, safer and more accessible drugs have become desirable in the treatment of the infected population. This is the case of leishmaniasis, an infectious disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania sp., responsible for triggering pathological processes from the simplest to the most severe forms leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In the search for new leishmanicidal drugs, the thiosemicarbazones and the indole fragments have been identified as promising structures for leishmanicidal activity. The present study proposes the synthesis and structural characterization of new indole-thiosemicarbazone derivatives (2a-j), in addition to performing in vitro evaluations through cytotoxicity assays using macrophages (J774) activity against forms of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania amazonensis promastigote as well as ultrastructural analyzes in promastigotes of L. infantum. Results show that the indole-thiosemicarbazone derivatives were obtained with yield values varying from 32.09 to 94.64%. In the evaluation of cytotoxicity, the indole-thiosemicarbazone compounds presented CC50 values between 53.23 and 357.97 μM. Concerning the evaluation against L. amazonensis promastigote forms, IC50 values ranged between 12.31 and > 481.52 μM, while the activity against L. infantum promastigotes obtained IC50 values between 4.36 and 23.35 μM. The compounds 2d and 2i tested against L. infantum were the most promising in the series, as they showed the lowest IC50 values: 5.60 and 4.36 respectively. The parasites treated with the compounds 2d and 2i showed several structural alterations, such as shrinkage of the cell body, shortening and loss of the flagellum, intense mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization of the cytoplasm leading the parasite to cellular unviability. Therefore, the indole-thiosemicarbazone compounds are promising because they yield considerable synthesis, have low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells and act as leishmanicidal agents.
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Solodushko V, Bitko V, Barrington R, Fouty B. A DNA Vaccine in Which the RSV-F Ectodomain Is Covalently Linked to the Burkholderia pseudomallei Antigens TssM and Hcp1 Augments the Humoral and Cytotoxic Response in Mice. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2411. [PMID: 31681300 PMCID: PMC6797551 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA vaccines have great potential to control infectious disease, particularly those caused by intracellular organisms. They are inexpensive to produce and can be quickly modified to combat emerging infectious threats, but often fail to generate a strong immunologic response limiting enthusiasm for their use in humans and animals. To improve the immunogenic response, we developed a DNA vaccine in which the F protein ectodomain of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV-F) was covalently linked to specific antigens of interest. The presence of the RSV-F ectodomain allowed secretion of the translated fusion product out of the originally transfected cells followed by its active binding to adjacent cells. This allowed the targeting of a greater number of cells than those originally transfected, enhancing both humoral and cytotoxic immune responses against the expressed antigen(s). We developed an engrafted mouse model that used antigen-expressing tumor cells to assess the in vivo cytotoxic immune response to specific antigens. We then used this model to demonstrate that a DNA vaccine in which the RSV-F ectodomain is fused to two antigens expressed by Burkholderia pseudomallei, the intracellular gram-negative organism that causes melioidosis, generated a stronger cytotoxic response than a DNA vaccine that lacked the RSV-F sequence while still generating a robust humoral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Solodushko
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States.,Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States
| | - Vira Bitko
- Emergent BioSolutions, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Robert Barrington
- Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States
| | - Brian Fouty
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States.,Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, United States
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Abstract
Parasitic infections are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Management strategies rely primarily on antiparasitic drugs that have side effects and risk of drug resistance. Therefore, novel strategies are needed for treatment of parasitic infections. Host-directed therapy (HDT) is a viable alternative, which targets host pathways responsible for parasite invasion/survival/pathogenicity. Recent innovative combinations of genomics, proteomics and computational biology approaches have led to discovery of several host pathways that could be promising targets for HDT for treating parasitic infections. Herein, we review major advances in HDT for parasitic disease with regard to core regulatory pathways and their interactions.
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Eddaikra N, Boudjelal A, Amine Sbabdji M, Eddaikra A, Boudrissa A, Mounir Bouhenna M, Chemat S, Harrat Z. Leishmanicidal and Cytotoxic Activity of Algerian Medicinal Plants on Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2019. [DOI: 10.29252/jommid.7.3.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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ÖZAVCI H, KAPLAN M. Cloning and molecular characterization of thiol-specific antioxidant gene of Leishmania tropica Turkey isolate. Turk J Med Sci 2019; 49:392-402. [PMID: 30761841 PMCID: PMC7350880 DOI: 10.3906/sag-1808-98] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/aim Thiol-specific antioxidant (TSA) protein is one of the most promising molecules among candidates for vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis. It was found to be significantly protective against different Leishmania species. In this study, cloning and molecular characterization of thiol-specific antioxidant gene of L. tropica Turkey isolate (LtTSA) were aimed. Materials and methods LtTSA was amplified by PCR using the specific primers of TSA gene and cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vector. The cloning was confirmed by PCR screening, restriction enzyme reactions, and DNA sequence analysis. Finally, three-dimensional structure and antigenic properties of the protein encoded by the LtTSA were determined Results Six hundred base pair bands belonging to LtTSA were shown with electrophoresis. It was found that LtTSA and its encoded protein have high similarity with different Leishmania species. LtTSA protein consisting of 199 amino acids was found to have 7 different antigenic regions. Conclusion LtTSA and its encoded TSA protein were found to be highly immunogenic and similar to TSA proteins previously tested as a vaccine candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza ÖZAVCI
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University, ElazığTurkey
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
| | - Mustafa KAPLAN
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University, ElazığTurkey
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High-through identification of T cell-specific phage-exposed mimotopes using PBMCs from tegumentary leishmaniasis patients and their use as vaccine candidates against Leishmania amazonensis infection. Parasitology 2018; 146:322-332. [PMID: 30198459 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018001403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, phage-exposed mimotopes as targets against tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) were selected by means of bio-panning cycles employing sera of TL patients and healthy subjects, besides the immune stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from untreated and treated TL patients and healthy subjects. The clones were evaluated regarding their specific interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) production in the in vitro cultures, and selectivity and specificity values were calculated, and those presenting the best results were selected for the in vivo experiments. Two clones, namely A4 and A8, were identified and used in immunization protocols from BALB/c mice to protect against Leishmania amazonensis infection. Results showed a polarized Th1 response generated after vaccination, being based on significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); which were associated with lower production of specific IL-4, IL-10 and immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibodies. Vaccinated mice presented significant reductions in the parasite load in the infected tissue and distinct organs, when compared with controls. In conclusion, we presented a strategy to identify new mimotopes able to induce Th1 response in PBMCs from TL patients and healthy subjects, and that were successfully used to protect against L. amazonensis infection.
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Growth arrested live-attenuated Leishmania infantum KHARON1 null mutants display cytokinesis defect and protective immunity in mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11627. [PMID: 30072701 PMCID: PMC6072785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30076-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There is no safe and efficacious vaccine against human leishmaniasis available and live attenuated vaccines have been used as a prophylactic alternative against the disease. In order to obtain an attenuated Leishmania parasite for vaccine purposes, we generated L. infantum KHARON1 (KH1) null mutants (ΔLikh1). This gene was previously associated with growth defects in L. mexicana. ΔLikh1 was obtained and confirmed by PCR, qPCR and Southern blot. We also generate a KH1 complemented line with the introduction of episomal copies of KH1. Although ΔLikh1 promastigote forms exhibited a growth pattern similar to the wild-type line, they differ in morphology without affecting parasite viability. L. infantum KH1-deficient amastigotes were unable to sustain experimental infection in macrophages, forming multinucleate cells which was confirmed by in vivo attenuation phenotype. The cell cycle analysis of ΔLikh1 amastigotes showed arrested cells at G2/M phase. ΔLikh1-immunized mice presented reduced parasite burden upon challenging with virulent L. infantum, when compared to naïve mice. An effect associated with increased Li SLA-specific IgG serum levels and IL-17 production. Thus, ΔLikh1 parasites present an infective-attenuated phenotype due to a cytokinesis defect, whereas it induces immunity against visceral leishmaniasis in mouse model, being a candidate for antileishmanial vaccine purposes.
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Leishmanicidal activity of α-bisabolol from Tunisian chamomile essential oil. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:2855-2867. [PMID: 29955971 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5975-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization, leishmaniasis is considered as a major neglected tropical disease causing an enormous impact on global public health. Available treatments were complicated due to the high resistance, toxicity, and high cost. Therefore, the search for novel sources of anti-leishmania agents is an urgent need. In the present study, an in vitro evaluation of the leishmanicidal activity of the essential oil of Tunisian chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) was carried out. Chamomile essential oil exhibits a good activity on promastigotes forms of L. amazonensis and L. infantum with a low inhibitory concentration at 50% (IC50) (10.8 ± 1.4 and 10.4 ± 0.6 μg/mL, respectively). Bio-guided fractionation was developed and led to the identification of (-)-α-bisabolol as the most active molecule with low IC50 (16.0 ± 1.2 and 9.5 ± 0.1 μg/mL for L. amazonensis and L. infantum, respectively). This isolated sesquiterpene alcohol was studied for its activity on amastigotes forms (IC50 = 5.9 ± 1.2 and 4.8 ± 1.3 μg/mL, respectively) and its cytotoxicity (selectivity indexes (SI) were 5.4 and 6.6, respectively). The obtained results showed that (-)-α-bisabolol was able to activate a programmed cell death process in the promastigote stage of the parasite. It causes phosphatidylserine externalization and membrane damage. Moreover, it decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential and total ATP levels. These results highlight the potential use of (-)-α-bisabolol against both L. amazonensis and L. infantum, and further studies should be undertaken to establish it as novel leishmanicidal therapeutic agents.
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Singh RK, Gannavaram S, Ismail N, Kaul A, Gedda MR, Nakhasi HL. Centrin-Deleted Leishmania donovani Parasites Help CD4 + T Cells to Acquire Th1 Phenotype and Multi-Functionality Through Downregulation of CD200-CD200R Immune Inhibitory Axis. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1176. [PMID: 29915577 PMCID: PMC5994488 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania has evolved several strategies to undermine host defense mechanisms by inducing Th2-type adaptive immunity and suppressing effector functions of Th1 phenotype. In our earlier studies, using centrin gene-deleted Leishmania (LdCen−/−) parasites as an immunogen, we have shown induction of an effective Th1-type immunity and robust memory responses that mediate protection against virulent challenge. However, role of inhibitory signals in Leishmania vaccine induced immunity in general, and LdCen−/− in particular has not been studied. Herein, we report that immunization with LdCen−/− parasites produces more functional Th1-type CD4+ T cells via downregulation of CD200–CD200R immune inhibitory axis compared to wild-type infection. We found that expression of CD200 and CD200R was significantly reduced in LdCen−/− infection compared to wild-type infection. Diminished CD200–CD200R signaling in LdCen−/− infection enabled proliferation of CD4+ T cells and resulted in the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppression of anti-inflammatory response. The effects of diminished CD200–CD200R signaling by LdCen−/− were most evident in the suppression of IL-10-producing CD4+ T cells that helped enhance more Th1 cytokine producing and multi-functional T cells compared to wild-type infection. In vivo blocking of CD200 expression with anti-CD200 treatment in wild-type infected mice limited Th2 response as indicated by reduction of IL-10-producing Tr1 cells and reduced parasite burden. On the other hand, treatment with anti-CD200 improved the LdCen−/− vaccine-induced multifunctional response and reduction in splenic parasite load upon challenge. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the role of CD200–CD200R signals in the protection induced by LdCen−/− parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh K Singh
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Nevien Ismail
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Amit Kaul
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States.,Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mallikarjuna Rao Gedda
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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Sundar S, Singh B. Understanding Leishmania parasites through proteomics and implications for the clinic. Expert Rev Proteomics 2018; 15:371-390. [PMID: 29717934 PMCID: PMC5970101 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2018.1468754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leishmania spp. are causative agents of leishmaniasis, a broad-spectrum neglected vector-borne disease. Genomic and transcriptional studies are not capable of solving intricate biological mysteries, leading to the emergence of proteomics, which can provide insights into the field of parasite biology and its interactions with the host. Areas covered: The combination of genomics and informatics with high throughput proteomics may improve our understanding of parasite biology and pathogenesis. This review analyses the roles of diverse proteomic technologies that facilitate our understanding of global protein profiles and definition of parasite development, survival, virulence and drug resistance mechanisms for disease intervention. Additionally, recent innovations in proteomics have provided insights concerning the drawbacks associated with conventional chemotherapeutic approaches and Leishmania biology, host-parasite interactions and the development of new therapeutic approaches. Expert commentary: With progressive breakthroughs in the foreseeable future, proteome profiles could provide target molecules for vaccine development and therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, proteomics, in combination with genomics and informatics, could facilitate the elimination of several diseases. Taken together, this review provides an outlook on developments in Leishmania proteomics and their clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- a Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi , India
| | - Bhawana Singh
- a Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences , Banaras Hindu University , Varanasi , India
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Rastrojo A, García-Hernández R, Vargas P, Camacho E, Corvo L, Imamura H, Dujardin JC, Castanys S, Aguado B, Gamarro F, Requena JM. Genomic and transcriptomic alterations in Leishmania donovani lines experimentally resistant to antileishmanial drugs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 8:246-264. [PMID: 29689531 PMCID: PMC6039315 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a serious medical issue in many countries around the World, but it remains largely neglected in terms of research investment for developing new control and treatment measures. No vaccines exist for human use, and the chemotherapeutic agents currently used are scanty. Furthermore, for some drugs, resistance and treatment failure are increasing to alarming levels. The aim of this work was to identify genomic and trancriptomic alterations associated with experimental resistance against the common drugs used against VL: trivalent antimony (SbIII, S line), amphotericin B (AmB, A line), miltefosine (MIL, M line) and paromomycin (PMM, P line). A total of 1006 differentially expressed transcripts were identified in the S line, 379 in the A line, 146 in the M line, and 129 in the P line. Also, changes in ploidy of chromosomes and amplification/deletion of particular regions were observed in the resistant lines regarding the parental one. A series of genes were identified as possible drivers of the resistance phenotype and were validated in both promastigotes and amastigotes from Leishmania donovani, Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major species. Remarkably, a deletion of the gene LinJ.36.2510 (coding for 24-sterol methyltransferase, SMT) was found to be associated with AmB-resistance in the A line. In the P line, a dramatic overexpression of the transcripts LinJ.27.T1940 and LinJ.27.T1950 that results from a massive amplification of the collinear genes was suggested as one of the mechanisms of PMM resistance. This conclusion was reinforced after transfection experiments in which significant PMM-resistance was generated in WT parasites over-expressing either gene LinJ.27.1940 (coding for a D-lactate dehydrogenase-like protein, D-LDH) or gene LinJ.27.1950 (coding for an aminotransferase of branched-chain amino acids, BCAT). This work allowed to identify new drivers, like SMT, the deletion of which being associated with resistance to AmB, and the tandem D-LDH-BCAT, the amplification of which being related to PMM resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Rastrojo
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Paola Vargas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina ''López-Neyra'' (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Esther Camacho
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Corvo
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hideo Imamura
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jean-Claude Dujardin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Santiago Castanys
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina ''López-Neyra'' (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Begoña Aguado
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Gamarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina ''López-Neyra'' (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain.
| | - Jose M Requena
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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Carrillo E, Fernandez L, Ibarra-Meneses AV, Santos MLB, Nico D, de Luca PM, Correa CB, de Almeida RP, Moreno J, Palatnik-de-Sousa CB. F1 Domain of the Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani Nucleoside Hydrolase Promotes a Th1 Response in Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum Cured Patients and in Asymptomatic Individuals Living in an Endemic Area of Leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2017; 8:750. [PMID: 28747911 PMCID: PMC5506215 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani nucleoside hydrolase NH36 is the main antigen of the Leishmune® vaccine and one of the promising candidates for vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis. The antigenicity of the N-terminal (F1), the central (F2), or the C-terminal recombinant domain (F3) of NH36 was evaluated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from individuals infected with L. (L.) infantum from an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis of Spain. Both NH36 and F1 domains significantly increased the PBMC proliferation stimulation index of cured patients and infected asymptomatic individuals compared to healthy controls. Moreover, F1 induced a 19% higher proliferative response than NH36 in asymptomatic exposed subjects. In addition, in patients cured from visceral leishmaniasis, proliferation in response to NH36 and F1 was accompanied by a significant increase of IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion, which was 42-43% higher, in response to F1 than to NH36. The interleukin 17 (IL-17) secretion was stronger in asymptomatic subjects, in response to F1, as well as in cured cutaneous leishmaniasis after NH36 stimulation. While no IL-10 secretion was determined by F1, a granzyme B increase was detected in supernatants from cured patients after stimulation with either NH36 or F1. These data demonstrate that F1 is the domain of NH36 that induces a recall cellular response in individuals with acquired resistance to the infection by L. (L.) infantum. In addition, F1 and NH36 discriminated the IgG3 humoral response in patients with active visceral leishmaniasis due to L. (L.) donovani (Ethiopia) and L. (L.) infantum (Spain) from that of endemic and non-endemic area controls. NH36 showed higher reactivity with sera from L. (L.) donovani-infected individuals, indicating species specificity. We conclude that the F1 domain, previously characterized as an inducer of the Th1 and Th17 responses in cured/exposed patients infected with L. (L.) infantum chagasi, may also be involved in the generation of a protective response against L. (L.) infantum and represents a potential vaccine candidate for the control of human leishmaniasis alone, or in combination with other HLA epitopes/antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Carrillo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Fernandez
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Victoria Ibarra-Meneses
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Micheli L. B. Santos
- Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Dirlei Nico
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paula M. de Luca
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Roque Pacheco de Almeida
- Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Investigação em Imunologia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clarisa B. Palatnik-de-Sousa
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Investigação em Imunologia, São Paulo, Brazil
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Perifosine Mechanisms of Action in Leishmania Species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.02127-16. [PMID: 28096161 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02127-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Here the mechanism by which perifosine induced cell death in Leishmania donovani and Leishmania amazonensis is described. The drug reduced Leishmania mitochondrial membrane potential and decreased cellular ATP levels while increasing phosphatidylserine externalization. Perifosine did not increase membrane permeabilization. We also found that the drug inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt in the parasites. These results highlight the potential use of perifosine as an alternative to miltefosine against Leishmania.
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Barbosa Santos ML, Nico D, de Oliveira FA, Barreto AS, Palatnik-de-Sousa I, Carrillo E, Moreno J, de Luca PM, Morrot A, Rosa DS, Palatnik M, Bani-Corrêa C, de Almeida RP, Palatnik-de-Sousa CB. Leishmania donovani Nucleoside Hydrolase (NH36) Domains Induce T-Cell Cytokine Responses in Human Visceral Leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2017; 8:227. [PMID: 28321221 PMCID: PMC5338038 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of immunoprotection against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) focused on the identification of antigens capable of inducing a Th1 immune response. Alternatively, antigens targeting the CD8 and T-regulatory responses are also relevant in VL pathogenesis and worthy of being included in a preventive human vaccine. We assessed in active and cured patients and VL asymptomatic subjects the clinical signs and cytokine responses to the Leishmania donovani nucleoside hydrolase NH36 antigen and its N-(F1), central (F2) and C-terminal (F3) domains. As markers of VL resistance, the F2 induced the highest levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, and TNF-α and, together with F1, the strongest secretion of IL-17, IL-6, and IL-10 in DTH+ and cured subjects. F2 also promoted the highest frequencies of CD3+CD4+IL-2+TNF-α-IFN-γ-, CD3+CD4+IL-2+TNF-α+IFN-γ-, CD3+CD4+IL-2+TNF-α-IFN-γ+, and CD3+CD4+IL-2+TNF-α+IFN-γ+ T cells in cured and asymptomatic subjects. Consistent with this, the IFN-γ increase was correlated with decreased spleen (R = -0.428, P = 0.05) and liver sizes (R = -0.428, P = 0.05) and with increased hematocrit counts (R = 0.532, P = 0.015) in response to F1 domain, and with increased hematocrit (R = 0.512, P 0.02) and hemoglobin counts (R = 0.434, P = 0.05) in response to F2. Additionally, IL-17 increases were associated with decreased spleen and liver sizes in response to F1 (R = -0.595, P = 0.005) and F2 (R = -0.462, P = 0.04). Conversely, F1 and F3 increased the CD3+CD8+IL-2+TNF-α-IFN-γ-, CD3+CD8+IL-2+TNF-α+IFN-γ-, and CD3+CD8+IL-2+TNF-α+IFN-γ+ T cell frequencies of VL patients correlated with increased spleen and liver sizes and decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit values. Therefore, cure and acquired resistance to VL correlate with the CD4+-Th1 and Th-17 T-cell responses to F2 and F1 domains. Clinical VL outcomes, by contrast, correlate with CD8+ T-cell responses against F3 and F1, potentially involved in control of the early infection. The in silico-predicted NH36 epitopes are conserved and bind to many HL-DR and HLA and B allotypes. No human vaccine against Leishmania is available thus far. In this investigation, we identified the NH36 domains and epitopes that induce CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, which could be used to potentiate a human universal T-epitope vaccine against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micheli Luize Barbosa Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Universitário, Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (HU-UFS), Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Dirlei Nico
- Laboratório de Biologia e Bioquímica de Leishmania, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabrícia Alvisi de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Universitário, Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (HU-UFS), Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Aline Silva Barreto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Universitário, Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (HU-UFS), Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Iam Palatnik-de-Sousa
- Laboratório de Biometrologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Metrologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eugenia Carrillo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Mello de Luca
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Morrot
- Laboratório de Imunologia Integrada, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela Santoro Rosa
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratório de Vacinas experimentais, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Palatnik
- Laboratório de Imunohematologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga-Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Bani-Corrêa
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (HU-UFS), Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
| | - Roque Pacheco de Almeida
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Hospital Universitário, Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sergipe (HU-UFS), Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clarisa Beatriz Palatnik-de-Sousa
- Laboratório de Biologia e Bioquímica de Leishmania, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
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A recombinant fusion protein displaying murine and human MHC class I- and II-specific epitopes protects against Leishmania amazonensis infection. Cell Immunol 2017; 313:32-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2016.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 12/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Oligopeptidase B and B2: comparative modelling and virtual screening as searching tools for new antileishmanial compounds. Parasitology 2016; 144:536-545. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016002237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYLeishmaniasis are diseases caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania and transmitted to humans by the bite of infected insects of the subfamily Phlebotominae. Current drug therapy shows high toxicity and severe adverse effects. Recently, two oligopeptidases (OPBs) were identified in Leishmania amazonensis, namely oligopeptidase B (OPB) and oligopeptidase B2 (OPB2). These OPBs could be ideal targets, since both enzymes are expressed in all parasite lifecycle and were not identified in human. This work aimed to identify possible dual inhibitors of OPB and OPB2 from L. amazonensis. The three-dimensional structures of both enzymes were built by comparative modelling and used to perform a virtual screening of ZINC database by DOCK Blaster server. It is the first time that OPB models from L. amazonensis are used to virtual screening approach. Four hundred compounds were identified as possible inhibitors to each enzyme. The top scored compounds were submitted to refinement by AutoDock program. The best results suggest that compounds interact with important residues, as Tyr490, Glu612 and Arg655 (OPB numbers). The identified compounds showed better results than antipain and drugs currently used against leishmaniasis when ADMET in silico were performed. These compounds could be explored in order to find dual inhibitors of OPB and OPB2 from L. amazonensis.
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Fakhraee F, Badiee A, Alavizadeh SH, Jalali SA, Chavoshian O, Khamesipour A, Mahboudi F, Jaafari MR. Coadminstration of L. major amastigote class I nuclease (rLmaCIN) with LPD nanoparticles delays the progression of skin lesion and the L. major dissemination to the spleen in BALB/c mice-based experimental setting. Acta Trop 2016; 159:211-8. [PMID: 27060774 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Human cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease caused by eukaryotic single-celled Leishmania species, the developmental program of which relies upon blood-feeding adult female sand flies and their dominant mammal blood sources, namely wild rodents in area where human beings exert more or less transient activities. The recourse to model rodents - namely laboratory mice such as C57BL/6 mice - has allowed extracted the immune signatures that account for the healing of the transient cutaneous lesion that develops at the site where Leishmania major promastigotes were delivered. Indeed, if the latter mice are exposed to a second inoculum of L. major promastigotes, no lesion will develop in the secondary skin site remodeled as a niche for a low size intracellular L. major amastigote population. Moreover, IFN-γ dominates over IL-10 in the supernatant of cultures of PBMCs -prepared from blood sampled from human beings who healed from a cutaneous lesion- and incubated with L. major class I Nuclease LmaCIN, a protein highly expressed in the cell-cycling amastigote population which is dominant by macrophages. Altogether, these datasets were strong incentive to promote research aimed to design and monitor efficacy of L. major amastigote protein-based vaccines in pre-clinical settings. Using L. major enzyme class I nuclease (LmaCIN) expressed in the L. major cell-cycling amastigote population hosted by macrophages, BALB/c mice were immunized three times with either rLmaCIN plus LPD nanoparticles (LPD-rLmaCIN), or rLmaCIN-CpG DNA or free rLmaCIN and dextrose. The following parameters: footpad swelling, splenic L. major load, L. major binding IgGs and cytokine profiles of rLmaCIN- reactive T lymphocytes were then compared. Once coadminstered with LPD, rLmaCIN allow BALB/c mice to display delayed onset of skin lesion at the challenge inoculation site and delayed L. major dissemination from the challenged site to the spleen. Thus, the LPD-rLmaCIN is shown to display some promising features out of three formulations inoculated to the BALB/c mouse immunization.
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López-Arencibia A, Martín-Navarro CM, Sifaoui I, Reyes-Batlle M, Wagner C, Lorenzo-Morales J, Piñero JE. Apoptotic protein profile in Leishmania donovani after treatment with hexaazatrinaphthylenes derivatives. Exp Parasitol 2016; 166:83-8. [PMID: 27060614 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Two hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives, DGV-B and DGV-C previously known to induce an apoptotic-like process in Leishmania donovani parasites were used in this study. For this purpose, two different human protein commercial arrays were used to determine the proteomic profile of the treated parasites compared to non-treated ones. One of the commercial arrays is able to detect the relative expression of 35 human apoptosis-related proteins and the other one is able to identify 9 different human kinases. The obtained results showed that the two tested molecules were able to activate a programmed cell death process by different pathways in the promastigote stage of the parasite. The present study reports the potential application of two commercialised human apoptotic arrays to evaluate the action mechanism of active compounds at least against Leishmania donovani. The obtained data would be useful to establish the putative activated apoptosis pathways in the treated parasites and to further support the use of hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis in the near future. Nevertheless, further molecular studies should be developed in order to design and evaluate specific apoptotic arrays for Leishmania genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atteneri López-Arencibia
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Carmen M Martín-Navarro
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Laboratoire Matériaux-Molécules et Applications, IPEST, University of Carthage, La Marsa, Tunisia
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Carolina Wagner
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain; Cátedra de Parasitología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - José E Piñero
- University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
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Bozorgomid A, Hajipirloo HM, Tappeh KH, Nazari N, Karamati SA, Shirooie S. Evaluation of the alum-naloxone adjuvant activity against experimental murine leishmaniasis due to L. major. J Parasit Dis 2016; 40:1141-1145. [PMID: 27876902 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-015-0731-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is caused by intracellular parasites of Leishmania species, which are transmitted by the bite of the sandfly. Recovery and protection against the infection depends on the induction of a strong Th1 type of immune response. Vaccination of mice with the opioid antagonist naloxone can promote the activation of the Th1 responses. We studied the efficacy of the mixture of naloxone and alum, as an adjuvant, to enhance immune responses and induce protection against Leishmania major infection in BALB/c as a susceptible mouse model. BALB/c mice were immunized with Ag-naloxone-alum, Ag-alum, Ag-naloxone or PBS subcutaneously three times at 2-week intervals. The humoral and cellular specific immune responses were assessed 2 weeks after the last immunization and compared with the control mice. Our results indicated that the administration of alum-naloxone as an adjuvant increased the capability of L. major promastigote antigens to enhance lymphocyte proliferation, the levels of IFN-γ, and the IFN-γ/IL-5 ratio. The results of DTH showed that there were no significant differences in footpad swelling between the groups of immunized mice as compared with the non-vaccinated control group; however, no significant differences were observed in the survival rate among groups. It can be concluded that although immunization with the alum-naloxone mixture in combination with the autoclaved L. major promastigote antigens could enhance cellular immunity and shift the immune response to a Th1 pattern, it could not protect the mice against Leishmania major infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezoo Bozorgomid
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Road of Nazloo, Urmia, Iran
| | - Habib Mohammadzadeh Hajipirloo
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Road of Nazloo, Urmia, Iran
| | - Khosrow Hazrati Tappeh
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Road of Nazloo, Urmia, Iran
| | - Naser Nazari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Shiroudi Blvrd., Daneshgah St., Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Seyed Ahmad Karamati
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Velenjak St., Shahid Chamran Highway, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Shirooie
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Sassi A, Kaak O, Ben Ammar Elgaied A. Identification of immunodominantLeishmania majorantigenic markers of the early C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infection stages. Parasite Immunol 2015; 37:544-552. [DOI: 10.1111/pim.12223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Sassi
- Laboratory of Immunopathology Vaccinology and Molecular Genetics; Institut Pasteur of Tunis; University Tunis-El Manar; Tunis-Belvedere Tunisia
| | - O. Kaak
- Laboratory of Immunopathology Vaccinology and Molecular Genetics; Institut Pasteur of Tunis; University Tunis-El Manar; Tunis-Belvedere Tunisia
| | - A. Ben Ammar Elgaied
- Laboratory of Genetics, Immunology and Human Pathologies; Faculty of Sciences; University Tunis-El Manar; Tunis-Belvedere Tunisia
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Bafghi AF, Daghighi M, Daliri K, Jebali A. Magnesium oxide nanoparticles coated with glucose can silence important genes of Leishmania major at sub-toxic concentrations. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2015; 136:300-4. [PMID: 26413865 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) and MgO NPs coated with glucose (MONPCG) on Leishmania (L) major. First, the promastigotes of L. major were separately incubated with serial concentrations of MgO NPs and MONPCG for 24, 48, and 72 h at 37 °C. Then, the cell viability of promastigotes was evaluated by MTT assay. On the other hand, the relative expression of Cpb and GP63 genes was detected by quantitative-real time PCR. Based on results, the increase of concentration, both MgO NPs and MONPCG, and incubation time led to decrease of cell viability. Moreover, the expression of Cpb and GP63 genes was decreased with increase of concentration of MgO NPs and MONPCG. Also, the increase of incubation time led to decrease of their expression in MgO NPs treated promastogotes. But, in case of MONPCG treated promastogotes, the increase of incubation time did not change the expression of Cpb and GP63. Interestingly, MONPCG could silence Cpb and GP63 genes better than MgO NPs. Note, the capability was also seen at sub-toxic concentrations of MONPCG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Fatahi Bafghi
- Department of Medical Parasitology & Mycology, The School of Medicine, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | | | - Karim Daliri
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Pajoohesh Lab, Yazd, Iran
| | - Ali Jebali
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd 8916733754, Iran.
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Machado PDA, Mota VZ, Cavalli ACDL, de Carvalho GSG, Da Silva AD, Gameiro J, Cuin A, Coimbra ES. High selective antileishmanial activity of vanadium complex with stilbene derivative. Acta Trop 2015; 148:120-7. [PMID: 25917716 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a group of disease caused by different species of the parasite Leishmania affecting millions of people worldwide. Conventional therapy relies on multiple parenteral injections with pentavalent antimonials which exhibit high toxicity and various side effects have been reported. Hence, the research for an effective and low toxic effect drug is necessary. In the present work, the synthesis, spectroscopic and analytical characterizations of stilbene derivative (H2Salophen) and its vanadium complex (VOSalophen) are reported. Besides the chemical ancillary information, investigation of the leishmanicidal effects of these compounds were provided. The biological assays against promastigote and amastigote forms of L. amazonensis have been shown that VOSalophen exhibited a strong antiparasitic activity (IC50 of 6.65 and 3.51 μM, respectively). Furthermore, the leishmanicidal activity was concentration and time-dependent. Regarding toxicity and selectivity on mammalian cells, VOSalophen have not caused significant damage to human erythrocytes in all concentrations tested and VOSalophen was almost seven times more destructive for the intracellular parasite than for macrophages. Furthermore, the leishmanicidal activity of VOSalophen in promastigote forms of L. amazonensis could be associated to mitochondrial dysfunction and increase of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In L. amazonensis-infected macrophages, VOSalophen induces ROS production and a microbicidal action NO-dependent. Our biological results indicate the effective and selective action of VOSalophen against L. amazonensis and the leishmanicidal effect can be associated to parasite disorders and immumodulatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia de Almeida Machado
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Zamprogno Mota
- LQBin - Laboratório de Química BioInorgânica, Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara de Lima Cavalli
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Adilson David Da Silva
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Jacy Gameiro
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Cuin
- LQBin - Laboratório de Química BioInorgânica, Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Elaine Soares Coimbra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 33036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
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Antinarelli LM, Pinto NC, Scio E, Coimbra ES. Antileishmanial activity of some Brazilian plants, with particular reference to Casearia sylvestris. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 87:733-42. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201520140288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a complex of diseases caused by Leishmania protozoa which treatment is restricted to a limited number of drugs that exhibit high toxicity, collateral effects and are often costly. There are a variety of tropical plants distributed in Brazil, and for many poor people the therapy for several diseases is based mainly on the use of traditional herbal remedies. In this work, the cytotoxic activity of 17 plant methanol extracts was evaluated on several Leishmania species and murine macrophages. Among them, the extract of Casearia sylvestris, Piptocarpha macropoda, Trembleya parviflora, Samanea tubulosa and Plectranthus neochilus showed a promissing leishmanicidal activity, exhibiting IC50 values below of 20 µg/mL against at least one species of Leishmania. Casearia sylvestris showed the most expressive activity against all promastigote forms of Leishmania species (IC50 values of 5.4 µg/mL, 5.0 µg/mL, 8.5 µg/mL and 7.7 µg/mL for L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, L. chagasi and L. major, respectively), being more effective than the reference drug miltefosine. In spite of the cytotoxic effect on macrophages (CC50 value of 5.2 µg/mL), C. sylvestris exhibited a strong inhibition against intracellular amastigotes of L. braziliensis (IC50 value of 1.3 µg/mL). Further studies, including bio-guided fractionation will be conducted to identify the active compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elita Scio
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brasil
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Jain K, Jain NK. Vaccines for visceral leishmaniasis: A review. J Immunol Methods 2015; 422:1-12. [PMID: 25858230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2015.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2014] [Revised: 02/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis, which is also known as Kala-Azar, is one of the most severely neglected tropical diseases recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). The threat of this debilitating disease continues due to unavailability of promising drug therapy or human vaccine. An extensive research is undergoing to develop a promising vaccine to prevent this devastating disease. In this review we compiled the findings of recent research with a view to facilitate knowledge on experimental vaccinology for visceral leishmaniasis. Various killed or attenuated parasite based first generation vaccines, second generation vaccines based on antigenic protein or recombinant protein, and third generation vaccines derived from antigen-encoding DNA plasmids including heterologous prime-boost Leishmania vaccine have been examined for control and prevention of visceral leishmaniasis. Vaccines based on recombinant protein and antigen-encoding DNA plasmids have given promising results and few vaccines including Leishmune®, Leishtec, and CaniLeish® have been licensed for canine visceral leishmaniasis. A systematic investigation of these vaccine candidates can lead to development of promising vaccine for human visceral leishmaniasis, most probably in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keerti Jain
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India.
| | - N K Jain
- Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab 142001, India.
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Coler RN, Duthie MS, Hofmeyer KA, Guderian J, Jayashankar L, Vergara J, Rolf T, Misquith A, Laurance JD, Raman VS, Bailor HR, Cauwelaert ND, Reed SJ, Vallur A, Favila M, Orr MT, Ashman J, Ghosh P, Mondal D, Reed SG. From mouse to man: safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a candidate leishmaniasis vaccine LEISH-F3+GLA-SE. Clin Transl Immunology 2015; 4:e35. [PMID: 26175894 PMCID: PMC4488838 DOI: 10.1038/cti.2015.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Key antigens of Leishmania species identified in the context of host responses in Leishmania-exposed individuals from disease-endemic areas were prioritized for the development of a subunit vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the most deadly form of leishmaniasis. Two Leishmania proteins-nucleoside hydrolase and a sterol 24-c-methyltransferase, each of which are protective in animal models of VL when properly adjuvanted- were produced as a single recombinant fusion protein NS (LEISH-F3) for ease of antigen production and broad coverage of a heterogeneous major histocompatibility complex population. When formulated with glucopyranosyl lipid A-stable oil-in-water nanoemulsion (GLA-SE), a Toll-like receptor 4 TH1 (T helper 1) promoting nanoemulsion adjuvant, the LEISH-F3 polyprotein induced potent protection against both L. donovani and L. infantum in mice, measured as significant reductions in liver parasite burdens. A robust immune response to each component of the vaccine with polyfunctional CD4 TH1 cell responses characterized by production of antigen-specific interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-2 (IL-2), and low levels of IL-5 and IL-10 was induced in immunized mice. We also demonstrate that CD4 T cells, but not CD8 T cells, are sufficient for protection against L. donovani infection in immunized mice. Based on the sum of preclinical data, we prepared GMP materials and performed a phase 1 clinical study with LEISH-F3+GLA-SE in healthy, uninfected adults in the United States. The vaccine candidate was shown to be safe and induced a strong antigen-specific immune response, as evidenced by cytokine and immunoglobulin subclass data. These data provide a strong rationale for additional trials in Leishmania-endemic countries in populations vulnerable to VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhea N Coler
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Julie Vergara
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tom Rolf
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - H Remy Bailor
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Steven J Reed
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aarthy Vallur
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Mark T Orr
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jill Ashman
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Prakash Ghosh
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, Parasitology Laboratory, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Dinesh Mondal
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Centre for Nutrition and Food Security, Parasitology Laboratory, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Steven G Reed
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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In vitro activities of hexaazatrinaphthylenes against Leishmania spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:2867-74. [PMID: 25753635 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00226-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The in vitro activity of a novel group of compounds, hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives, against two species of Leishmania is described in this study. These compounds showed a significant dose-dependent inhibition effect on the proliferation of the parasites, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) ranging from 1.23 to 25.05 μM against the promastigote stage and 0.5 to 0.7 μM against intracellular amastigotes. Also, a cytotoxicity assay was carried out to in order to evaluate the possible toxic effects of these compounds. Moreover, different assays were performed to determine the type of cell death induced after incubation with these compounds. The obtained results highlight the potential use of hexaazatrinaphthylene derivatives against Leishmania species, and further studies should be undertaken to establish them as novel leishmanicidal therapeutic agents.
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Identification of metal dithiocarbamates as a novel class of antileishmanial agents. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:2144-52. [PMID: 25624329 DOI: 10.1128/aac.05146-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Dithiocarbamates have emerged as potent carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors in recent years. Given that CAs are important players in cellular metabolism, the objective of this work was to exploit the CA-inhibitory property of dithiocarbamates as a chemotherapeutic weapon against the Leishmania parasite. We report here strong antileishmanial activity of three hitherto unexplored metal dithiocarbamates, maneb, zineb, and propineb. They inhibited CA activity in Leishmania major promastigotes at submicromolar concentrations and resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of parasite growth. Treatment with maneb, zineb, and propineb caused morphological deformities of the parasite and Leishmania cell death with 50% lethal dose (LD50) values of 0.56 μM, 0.61 μM, and 0.27 μM, respectively. These compounds were even more effective against parasites growing in acidic medium, in which their LD50 values were severalfold lower. Intracellular acidosis leading to apoptotic and necrotic death of L. major promastigotes was found to be the basis of their leishmanicidal activity. Maneb, zineb, and propineb also efficiently reduced the intracellular parasite burden, suggesting that amastigote forms of the parasite are also susceptible to these metal dithiocarbamates. Interestingly, mammalian cells were unaffected by these compounds even at concentrations which are severalfold higher than their antileishmanial LD50s). Our data thus establish maneb, zineb, and propineb as a new class of antileishmanial compounds having broad therapeutic indices.
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Immunization with the Entamoeba histolytica surface metalloprotease EhMSP-1 protects hamsters from amebic liver abscess. Infect Immun 2014; 83:713-20. [PMID: 25452550 DOI: 10.1128/iai.02490-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrhea and amebic liver abscesses due to invasive Entamoeba histolytica infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world. Entamoeba histolytica adherence and cell migration, two phenotypes linked to virulence, are both aberrant in trophozoites deficient in the metallosurface protease EhMSP-1, which is a homologue of the Leishmania vaccine candidate leishmanolysin (GP63). We examined the potential of EhMSP-1 for use as a vaccine antigen to protect against amebic liver abscesses. First, existing serum samples from South Africans naturally infected with E. histolytica were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of EhMSP-1-specific IgG. Nine of 12 (75%) people with anti-E. histolytica IgG also had EhMSP-1-specific IgG antibodies. We next used a hamster model of amebic liver abscess to determine the effect of immunization with a mixture of four recombinant EhMSP-1 protein fragments. EhMSP-1 immunization stimulated a robust IgG antibody response. Furthermore, EhMSP-1 immunization of hamsters reduced development of severe amebic liver abscesses following intrahepatic injection of E. histolytica by a combined rate of 68% in two independent animal experiments. Purified IgG from immunized compared to control animals bound to the surface of E. histolytica trophozoites and accelerated amebic lysis via activation of the classical complement cascade. We concluded that EhMSP-1 is a promising antigen that warrants further study to determine its full potential as a target for therapy and/or prevention of invasive amebiasis.
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