1
|
Durães-Oliveira J, Palma-Marques J, Moreno C, Rodrigues A, Monteiro M, Alexandre-Pires G, da Fonseca IP, Santos-Gomes G. Chagas Disease: A Silent Threat for Dogs and Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3840. [PMID: 38612650 PMCID: PMC11011309 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a vector-borne Neglected Zoonotic Disease (NZD) caused by a flagellate protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, that affects various mammalian species across America, including humans and domestic animals. However, due to an increase in population movements and new routes of transmission, T. cruzi infection is presently considered a worldwide health concern, no longer restricted to endemic countries. Dogs play a major role in the domestic cycle by acting very efficiently as reservoirs and allowing the perpetuation of parasite transmission in endemic areas. Despite the significant progress made in recent years, still there is no vaccine against human and animal disease, there are few drugs available for the treatment of human CD, and there is no standard protocol for the treatment of canine CD. In this review, we highlight human and canine Chagas Disease in its different dimensions and interconnections. Dogs, which are considered to be the most important peridomestic reservoir and sentinel for the transmission of T. cruzi infection in a community, develop CD that is clinically similar to human CD. Therefore, an integrative approach, based on the One Health concept, bringing together the advances in genomics, immunology, and epidemiology can lead to the effective development of vaccines, new treatments, and innovative control strategies to tackle CD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João Durães-Oliveira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Joana Palma-Marques
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Cláudia Moreno
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Armanda Rodrigues
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| | - Marta Monteiro
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FMV, University of Lisbon, ULisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.A.-P.); (I.P.d.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Graça Alexandre-Pires
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FMV, University of Lisbon, ULisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.A.-P.); (I.P.d.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Pereira da Fonseca
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, CIISA, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FMV, University of Lisbon, ULisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal; (G.A.-P.); (I.P.d.F.)
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Santos-Gomes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.D.-O.); (G.S.-G.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ramos-Vega A, Dzul-Huchim VM, Villanueva-Lizama LE, Dumonteil E, Rosales-Mendoza S, Bañuelos-Hernández B, Angulo M, Cruz-Chan JV, Monreal-Escalante E, Angulo C. Protective efficacy of the oral vaccine Tc24:Co1 produced in Schizochytrium sp. against Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a mouse model. Microb Pathog 2024; 186:106488. [PMID: 38061668 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106488] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi parasite - causal Chagas disease agent - affects about 7 million people; no vaccine is available, and current medications have not been entirely effective. Multidisciplinary efforts are necessary for developing clinical vaccine prototypes. Thus, this research study aims to assess the expressed and whole-cell administration protection of the oral vaccine prototype Tc24:Co1 using Schizochytrium sp. microalga. High recombinant protein expression yields (675 μg/L) of algal culture were obtained. Additionally, Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 resulted stable at 4 °C for up to six months and at 25 °C for three months. After receiving four oral doses of the vaccine, the mice showed a significant humoral immune response and a parasitemia reduction associated with a lack of heart inflammatory damage compared with the unvaccinated controls. The Schizochytrium sp.-Tc24:Co1 vaccine demonstrates to be promising as a prototype for further development showing protective effects against a T. cruzi challenge in a mouse model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abel Ramos-Vega
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Victor Manuel Dzul-Huchim
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Liliana Estefania Villanueva-Lizama
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Deparment of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Biofarmacéuticos Recombinantes, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UASLP, San Luis Potosí, Mexico; Sección de Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y Biomedicina, UASLP, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - Miriam Angulo
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Julio Vladimir Cruz-Chan
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Monreal-Escalante
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico; CONAHCYT-Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
| | - Carlos Angulo
- Immunology & Vaccinology Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vellozo NS, Matos-Silva TC, Lopes MF. Immunopathogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi infection: a role for suppressed macrophages and apoptotic cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1244071. [PMID: 37662946 PMCID: PMC10469960 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1244071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During Trypanosoma cruzi infection, macrophages phagocytose parasites and remove apoptotic cells through efferocytosis. While macrophage 1 (M1) produces proinflammatory cytokines and NO and fights infection, M2 macrophages are permissive host cells that express arginase 1 and play a role in tissue repair. The regulation of M1 and M2 phenotypes might either induce or impair macrophage-mediated immunity towards parasite control or persistence in chronic Chagas disease. Here, we highlight a key role of macrophage activation in early immune responses to T. cruzi that prevent escalating parasitemia, heart parasitism, and mortality during acute infection. We will discuss the mechanisms of macrophage activation and deactivation, such as T cell cytokines and efferocytosis, and how to improve macrophage-mediated immunity to prevent parasite persistence, inflammation, and the development of chagasic cardiomyopathy. Potential vaccines or therapy must enhance early T cell-macrophage crosstalk and parasite control to restrain the pathogenic outcomes of parasite-induced inflammation in the heart.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcela F. Lopes
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dumonteil E, Herrera C, Marx PA. Safety and preservation of cardiac function following therapeutic vaccination against Trypanosoma cruzi in rhesus macaques. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2023; 56:400-407. [PMID: 36210315 PMCID: PMC10131272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy is responsible for a large disease burden in the Americas, and a therapeutic vaccine would be highly desirable. We tested the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic DNA vaccine encoding antigens TSA-1 and Tc24 for preventing cardiac alterations in experimentally infected macaques. A secondary objective was to evaluate the feasibility of detecting changes in cardiac alterations in these animals. METHODS Naïve rhesus macaques were infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and treated with three doses of DNA vaccines. RESULTS Blood cell counts and chemistry indicated that therapeutic vaccination was safe, as hepatic and renal function appeared unaffected by the vaccination and/or infection with T. cruzi. Electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings indicated that no marked arrhythmias developed up to 7 months post-infection. Univariate analysis of ECG parameters found no significant differences in any of these parameters between vaccinated and control macaques. However, linear discriminant analysis revealed that control macaques presented clear alterations in their ECG patterns at 7 months post-infection, indicative of the onset of conduction defects and cardiac alterations, and these changes were prevented in vaccine treated macaques. CONCLUSIONS This is the first evidence that therapeutic vaccination against T. cruzi can prevent cardiac alterations in non-human primates, strengthening the rationale for developing a human vaccine against Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Preston A Marx
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA; Division of Microbiology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University, Covington, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Becker I, Miranda-Ortiz H, Fernández-Figueroa EA, Sánchez-Montes S, Colunga-Salas P, Grostieta E, Juárez-Gabriel J, Lozano-Sardaneta YN, Arce-Fonseca M, Rodríguez-Morales O, Meneses-Ruíz G, Pastén-Sánchez S, López Martínez I, González-Guzmán S, Paredes-Cervantes V, Moreira OC, Finamore-Araujo P, Canseco-Méndez JC, Coquis-Navarrete U, Rengifo-Correa L, González-Salazar C, Alfaro-Cortés MM, Falcón-Lezama JA, Tapia-Conyer R, Stephens CR. The Low Variability of Tc24 in Trypanosoma cruzi TcI as an Advantage for Chagas Disease Prophylaxis and Diagnosis in Mexico. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030368. [PMID: 36986290 PMCID: PMC10057631 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Chagas disease is the main neglected tropical disease in America. It is estimated that around 6 million people are currently infected with the parasite in Latin America, and 25 million live in endemic areas with active transmission. The disease causes an estimated economic loss of USD 24 billion dollars annually, with a loss of 75,200 working years per year of life; it is responsible for around ~12,000 deaths annually. Although Mexico is an endemic country that recorded 10,186 new cases of Chagas disease during the period of 1990–2017, few studies have evaluated the genetic diversity of genes that could be involved in the prophylaxis and/or diagnosis of the parasite. One of the possible candidates proposed as a vaccine target is the 24 kDa trypomastigote excretory–secretory protein, Tc24, whose protection is linked to the stimulation of T. cruzi-specific CD8+ immune responses. (2) Methods: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the fine-scale genetic diversity and structure of Tc24 in T. cruzi isolates from Mexico, and to compare them with other populations reported in the Americas with the aim to reconsider the potential role of Tc24 as a key candidate for the prophylaxis and improvement of the diagnosis of Chagas disease in Mexico. (3) Results: Of the 25 Mexican isolates analysed, 48% (12) were recovered from humans and 24% (6) recovered from Triatoma barberi and Triatoma dimidiata. Phylogenetic inferences revealed a polytomy in the T. cruzi clade with two defined subgroups, one formed by all sequences of the DTU I and the other formed by DTU II–VI; both subgroups had high branch support. Genetic population analysis detected a single (monomorphic) haplotype of TcI throughout the entire distribution across both Mexico and South America. This information was supported by Nei’s pairwise distances, where the sequences of TcI showed no genetic differences. (4) Conclusions: Given that both previous studies and the findings of the present work confirmed that TcI is the only genotype detected from human isolates obtained from various states of Mexico, and that there is no significant genetic variability in any of them, it is possible to propose the development of in silico strategies for the production of antigens that optimise the diagnosis of Chagas disease, such as quantitative ELISA methods that use this region of Tc24.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (C.R.S.)
| | - Haydee Miranda-Ortiz
- Unidad de Secuenciación, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City 14610, Mexico
| | | | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Diagnóstico, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias Región Poza Rica-Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano 92870, Mexico
| | - Pablo Colunga-Salas
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa de Enríquez 91090, Mexico
| | - Estefanía Grostieta
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Javier Juárez-Gabriel
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Diagnóstico, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias Región Poza Rica-Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano 92870, Mexico
| | - Yokomi N. Lozano-Sardaneta
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Meneses-Ruíz
- Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 01480, Mexico
| | - Sergio Pastén-Sánchez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 01480, Mexico
| | - Irma López Martínez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 01480, Mexico
| | - Saúl González-Guzmán
- Laboratorio del Banco Central de Sangre del Centro Médico Nacional “La Raza”, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 02990, Mexico
- Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de Zumpango, Zumpango 55600, Mexico
| | - Vladimir Paredes-Cervantes
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología e Infectología, Hospital de Infectología, Centro Médico Nacional “La Raza”, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 02990, Mexico
| | - Otacilio C. Moreira
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular e Doencas Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 21040900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Paula Finamore-Araujo
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular e Doencas Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 21040900, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Uriel Coquis-Navarrete
- Departamento de Genómica Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Mexico City 14610, Mexico
| | - Laura Rengifo-Correa
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | | | | | - Jorge A. Falcón-Lezama
- División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa 86100, Mexico
| | - Roberto Tapia-Conyer
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Christopher R. Stephens
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
- Correspondence: (I.B.); (C.R.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jones KM, Poveda C, Versteeg L, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ. Preclinical advances and the immunophysiology of a new therapeutic chagas disease vaccine. Expert Rev Vaccines 2022; 21:1185-1203. [PMID: 35735065 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2093721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic infection with the protozoal parasite Trypanosoma cruzi leads to a progressive cardiac disease, known as chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC). A new therapeutic Chagas disease vaccine is in development to augment existing antiparasitic chemotherapy drugs. AREAS COVERED We report on our current understanding of the underlying immunologic and physiologic mechanisms that lead to CCC, including parasite immune escape mechanisms that allow persistence and the subsequent inflammatory and fibrotic processes that lead to clinical disease. We report on vaccine design and the observed immunotherapeutic effects including induction of a balanced TH1/TH2/TH17 immune response that leads to reduced parasite burdens and tissue pathology. Further, we report vaccine-linked chemotherapy, a dose sparing strategy to further reduce parasite burdens and tissue pathology. EXPERT OPINION Our vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic approach is a multimodal treatment strategy, addressing both the parasite persistence and the underlying deleterious host inflammatory and fibrotic responses that lead to cardiac dysfunction. In targeting treatment towards patients with chronic indeterminate or early determinate Chagas disease, this vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic approach will be highly economical and will reduce the global disease burden and deaths due to CCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Jones
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, United States of America.,James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States of America.,Hagler Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hernández-Cuevas NA, Marín-Cervera A, Garcia-Polanco S, Martínez-Vega P, Rosado-Vallado M, Dumonteil E. Fibronectin degradation as biomarker for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and treatment monitoring in mice. Parasitology 2021; 148:1067-1073. [PMID: 34024298 PMCID: PMC11010125 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Biomarkers (coming from host or parasite) to monitor Chagas disease (CD) progression as well as the therapeutic response in chronic CD are critically needed, since seronegativization, which may be considered the best indicator of therapeutic cure, takes several years to be observed in adults. Several molecules have been suggested as biomarkers for CD, however, they have to be validated. Taking advantage of mouse models of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, we investigated changes in the degradation profile of fibronectin in plasma. The degradation profile of fibronectin was different in the acute phase compared to the chronic phase of the infection. Fibronectin fragments of approximately 150, 100, 40 and 30 kDa were identified. Furthermore, those degradation profiles correlated with acute parasitaemia as well as with cardiac parasite burden and tissue damage during the infection. The usefulness of fibronectin degradation as a biomarker for therapeutic response following drug treatment and immunotherapeutic vaccination also was evaluated and a decreased fibronectin degradation profile was observed upon benznidazole or a vaccine candidate treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Adriana Hernández-Cuevas
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Andrea Marín-Cervera
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Shineily Garcia-Polanco
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Pedro Martínez-Vega
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Cruz-Chan JV, Villanueva-Lizama LE, Versteeg L, Damania A, Villar MJ, González-López C, Keegan B, Pollet J, Gusovsky F, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Jones KM. Vaccine-linked chemotherapy induces IL-17 production and reduces cardiac pathology during acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3222. [PMID: 33547365 PMCID: PMC7865072 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82930-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease resulting from Trypanosoma cruzi infection leads to a silent, long-lasting chronic neglected tropical disease affecting the poorest and underserved populations around the world. Antiparasitic treatment with benznidazole does not prevent disease progression or death in patients with established cardiac disease. Our consortium is developing a therapeutic vaccine based on the T. cruzi flagellar—derived antigen Tc24-C4 formulated with a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist adjuvant, to complement existing chemotherapy and improve treatment efficacy. Here we demonstrate that therapeutic treatment of acutely infected mice with a reduced dose of benznidazole concurrently with vaccine treatment – also known as “vaccine-linked chemotherapy”—induced a TH17 like immune response, with significantly increased production of antigen specific IL-17A, IL-23 and IL-22, and CD8 + T lymphocytes, as well as significantly increased T. cruzi specific IFNγ-producing CD4 + T lymphocytes. Significantly reduced cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and parasite burdens and improved survival were achieved by vaccine-linked chemotherapy and individual treatments. Importantly, low dose treatments were comparably efficacious to high dose treatments, demonstrating potential dose sparing effects. We conclude that through induction of TH17 immune responses vaccine-linked chemotherapeutic strategies could bridge the tolerability and efficacy gaps of current drug treatment in Chagasic patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julio V Cruz-Chan
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Liliana E Villanueva-Lizama
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University & Research, De Elst 1, 6708 WD, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ashish Damania
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria José Villar
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristina González-López
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Brian Keegan
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Peter J Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Dumonteil E, Herrera C. The Case for the Development of a Chagas Disease Vaccine: Why? How? When? Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6010016. [PMID: 33530605 PMCID: PMC7851737 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a major neglected tropical disease, transmitted predominantly by triatomine insect vectors, but also through congenital and oral routes. While endemic in the Americas, it has turned into a global disease. Because of the current drug treatment limitations, a vaccine would represent a major advancement for better control of the disease. Here, we review some of the rationale, advances, and challenges for the ongoing development of a vaccine against Chagas disease. Recent pre-clinical studies in murine models have further expanded (i) the range of vaccine platforms and formulations tested; (ii) our understanding of the immune correlates for protection; and (iii) the extent of vaccine effects on cardiac function, beyond survival and parasite burden. We further discuss outstanding issues and opportunities to move Chagas disease development forward in the near future.
Collapse
|
10
|
Arnal A, Villanueva‐Lizama L, Teh‐Poot C, Herrera C, Dumonteil E. Extent of polymorphism and selection pressure on the Trypanosoma cruzi vaccine candidate antigen Tc24. Evol Appl 2020; 13:2663-2672. [PMID: 33294015 PMCID: PMC7691455 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major public health problem in the Americas, and existing drugs have severe limitations. In this context, a vaccine would be an attractive alternative for disease control. One of the difficulties in developing an effective vaccine lies in the high genetic diversity of T. cruzi. In this study, we evaluated the level of sequence diversity of the leading vaccine candidate Tc24 in multiple parasite strains. METHODS AND RESULTS We quantified its level of polymorphism within and between T. cruzi discrete typing units (DTUs) and how this potential polymorphism is structured by different selective pressures. We observed a low level of polymorphism of Tc24 protein, weakly associated with parasite DTUs, but not with the geographic origin of the strains. In particular, Tc24 was under strong purifying selection pressure and predicted CD8+ T-cell epitopes were mostly conserved. Tc24 strong conservation may be associated with structural/functional constrains to preserve EF hand domains and their calcium-binding loops, and Tc24 is likely important for the parasite fitness. DISCUSSION Together, these results show that a vaccine based on Tc24 is likely to be effective against a wide diversity of parasite strains across the American continent, and further development of this vaccine candidate should be a high priority.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Arnal
- Laboratorio de ParasitologíaCentro de Investigaciones Regionales “DrHideyo Noguchi”Universidad Autónoma de YucatánMéridaMexico
- Departamento de Ecología de la BiodiversidadInstituto de EcologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad de MéxicoMéxico
| | - Liliana Villanueva‐Lizama
- Laboratorio de ParasitologíaCentro de Investigaciones Regionales “DrHideyo Noguchi”Universidad Autónoma de YucatánMéridaMexico
| | - Christian Teh‐Poot
- Laboratorio de ParasitologíaCentro de Investigaciones Regionales “DrHideyo Noguchi”Universidad Autónoma de YucatánMéridaMexico
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical MedicineSchool of Public Health and Tropical MedicineTulane UniversityNew OrleansLAUSA
- Vector‐Borne and Infectious Disease Research CenterTulane UniversityNew OrleansLAUSA
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical MedicineSchool of Public Health and Tropical MedicineTulane UniversityNew OrleansLAUSA
- Vector‐Borne and Infectious Disease Research CenterTulane UniversityNew OrleansLAUSA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
DNA Vaccine Treatment in Dogs Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:9794575. [PMID: 32455143 PMCID: PMC7222601 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9794575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a chronic and potentially lethal disorder caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and an effective treatment has not been developed for chronic Chagas disease. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a therapeutic DNA vaccine containing T. cruzi genes in dogs with experimentally induced Chagas disease through clinical, pathological, and immunological analyses. Infection of Beagle dogs with the H8 T. cruzi strain was performed intraperitoneally with 3500 metacyclic trypomastigotes/kg body weight. Two weeks after infection, plasmid DNA immunotherapy was administered thrice at 15-day intervals. The clinical (physical and cabinet studies), immunological (antibody and cytokine profiles and lymphoproliferation), and macro- and microscopic pathological findings were described. A significant increase in IgG and cell proliferation was recorded after immunotherapy, and the highest stimulation index (3.02) was observed in dogs treated with the pBCSSP4 plasmid. The second treatment with both plasmids induced an increase in IL-1, and the third treatment with the pBCSSP4 plasmid induced an increase in IL-6. The pBCSP plasmid had a good Th1 response regulated by high levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, whereas the combination of the two plasmids did not have a synergistic effect. Electrocardiographic studies registered lower abnormalities and the lowest number of individuals with abnormalities in each group treated with the therapeutic vaccine. Echocardiograms showed that the pBCSSP4 plasmid immunotherapy preserved cardiac structure and function to a greater extent and prevented cardiomegaly. The two plasmids alone controlled the infection moderately by a reduction in the inflammatory infiltrates in heart tissue. The immunotherapy was able to reduce the magnitude of cardiac lesions and modulate the cellular immune response; the pBCSP treatment showed a clear Th1 response; and pBCSSP4 induced a balanced Th1/Th2 immune response that prevented severe cardiac involvement. The pBCSSP4 plasmid had a better effect on most of the parameters evaluated in this study; therefore, this plasmid can be considered an optional treatment against Chagas disease in naturally infected dogs.
Collapse
|
12
|
Rodríguez-Morales O, Roldán FJ, Vargas-Barrón J, Parra-Benítez E, Medina-García MDL, Vergara-Bello E, Arce-Fonseca M. Echocardiographic Findings in Canine Model of Chagas Disease Immunized with DNA Trypanosoma cruzi Genes. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E648. [PMID: 32283649 PMCID: PMC7222844 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (ChD) is considered an emerging disease in the USA and Europe. Trypanosoma cruzi genes encoding a trans-sialidase protein and an amastigote-specific glycoprotein were tested as vaccines in canine model. The aim for this study was determining the prophylactic effect of these genes in experimentally infected dogs by echocardiography evaluation to compare with our findings obtained by other techniques published previously. Low fractional-shortening values of non-vaccinated dogs suggested an impairment in general cardiac function. Low left ventricular ejection fraction values found in infected dogs suggested myocardial injury regardless of whether they were vaccinated. Low left ventricular diastolic/systolic diameters suggested that progressive heart damage or heart dilation could be prevented by DNA vaccination. Systolic peak time was higher in non-vaccinated groups, increasing vulnerability to malignant arrhythmias and sudden death. High left ventricular volume suggested a decrease in wall thickness that might lead to increased size of the heart cavity, except in the pBCSP plasmid-vaccinated dogs. There was an echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular dilation and reduction in systolic function in experimental chagasic dogs. Echocardiography allowed a more complete follow-up of the pathological process in the living patient than with other techniques like electrocardiography, anatomopathology, and histopathology, being the method of choice for characterizing the clinical stages of ChD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - Francisco-Javier Roldán
- Department of Echocardiography, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (F.-J.R.); (J.V.-B.)
| | - Jesús Vargas-Barrón
- Department of Echocardiography, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (F.-J.R.); (J.V.-B.)
| | - Enrique Parra-Benítez
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - María de Lourdes Medina-García
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - Emilia Vergara-Bello
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Flores-Ferrer A, Waleckx E, Rascalou G, Dumonteil E, Gourbière S. Trypanosoma cruzi transmission dynamics in a synanthropic and domesticated host community. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007902. [PMID: 31834879 PMCID: PMC6934322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a Neglected Tropical Disease affecting 8 million people in the Americas. Triatomine hematophagous vectors feed on a high diversity of vertebrate species that can be reservoirs or dead-end hosts, such as avian species refractory to T. cruzi. To understand its transmission dynamics in synanthropic and domesticated species living within villages is essential to quantify disease risk and assess the potential of zooprophylaxis. We developed a SI model of T. cruzi transmission in a multi-host community where vector reproduction and parasite transmission depend on a triatomine blood-feeding rate accounting for vector host preferences and interference while feeding. The model was parameterized to describe T. cruzi transmission in villages of the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, using the information about Triatoma dimidiata vectors and host populations accumulated over the past 15 years. Extensive analyses of the model showed that dogs are key reservoirs and contributors to human infection, as compared to synanthropic rodents and cats, while chickens or other domesticated avian hosts dilute T. cruzi transmission despite increasing vector abundance. In this context, reducing the number of dogs or increasing avian hosts abundance decreases incidence in humans by up to 56% and 39%, respectively, while combining such changes reduces incidence by 71%. Although such effects are only reached over >10-years periods, they represent important considerations to be included in the design of cost-effective Integrated Vector Management. The concomitant reduction in T. cruzi vector prevalence estimated by simulating these zooprophylactic interventions could indeed complement the removal of colonies from the peridomiciles or the use of insect screens that lower vector indoor abundance by ~60% and ~80%. These new findings reinforce the idea that education and community empowerment to reduce basic risk factors is a cornerstone to reach and sustain the key objective of interrupting Chagas disease intra-domiciliary transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alheli Flores-Ferrer
- UMR5096 ‘Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes’, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma deYucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Guilhem Rascalou
- UMR5096 ‘Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes’, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Sébastien Gourbière
- UMR5096 ‘Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes’, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
- Centre for the Study of Evolution, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Moo-Millan JI, Arnal A, Pérez-Carrillo S, Hernandez-Andrade A, Ramírez-Sierra MJ, Rosado-Vallado M, Dumonteil E, Waleckx E. Disentangling Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycle dynamics through the identification of blood meal sources of natural populations of Triatoma dimidiata in Yucatán, Mexico. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:572. [PMID: 31783778 PMCID: PMC6884771 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3819-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Little effort has been made to identify blood meal sources of T. dimidiata in natural conditions in this region, although this provides key information to disentangle T. cruzi transmission cycles and dynamics and guide the development of more effective control strategies. We identified the blood meals of a large sample of T. dimidiata bugs collected in different ecotopes simultaneously with the assessment of bug infection with T. cruzi, to disentangle the dynamics of T. cruzi transmission in the region. Methods A sample of 248 T. dimidiata bugs collected in three rural villages and in the sylvatic habitat surrounding these villages was used. DNA from each bug midgut was extracted and bug infection with T. cruzi was assessed by PCR. For blood meal identification, we used a molecular assay based on cloning and sequencing following PCR amplification with vertebrate universal primers, and allowing the detection of multiple blood meals in a single bug. Results Overall, 28.7% of the bugs were infected with T. cruzi, with no statistical difference between bugs from the villages or from sylvatic ecotopes. Sixteen vertebrate species including domestic, synanthropic and sylvatic animals, were identified as blood meal sources for T. dimidiata. Human, dog and cow were the three main species identified, in bugs collected in the villages as well as in sylvatic ecotopes. Importantly, dog was highlighted as the main blood meal source after human. Dog was also the most frequently identified animal together with human within single bugs, and tended to be associated with the infection of the bugs. Conclusions Dog, human and cow were identified as the main mammals involved in the connection of sylvatic and domestic transmission cycles in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. Dog appeared as the most important animal in the transmission pathway of T. cruzi to humans, but other domestic and synanthropic animals, which most were previously reported as important hosts of T. cruzi in the region, were evidenced and should be taken into account as part of integrated control strategies aimed at disrupting parasite transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joel Israel Moo-Millan
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Audrey Arnal
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico.,Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, México
| | - Silvia Pérez-Carrillo
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Anette Hernandez-Andrade
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - María-Jesús Ramírez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Etienne Waleckx
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico. .,Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Michel-Todó L, Reche PA, Bigey P, Pinazo MJ, Gascón J, Alonso-Padilla J. In silico Design of an Epitope-Based Vaccine Ensemble for Chagas Disease. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2698. [PMID: 31824493 PMCID: PMC6882931 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi infection causes Chagas disease, which affects 7 million people worldwide. Two drugs are available to treat it: benznidazole and nifurtimox. Although both are efficacious against the acute stage of the disease, this is usually asymptomatic and goes undiagnosed and untreated. Diagnosis is achieved at the chronic stage, when life-threatening heart and/or gut tissue disruptions occur in ~30% of those chronically infected. By then, the drugs' efficacy is reduced, but not their associated high toxicity. Given current deficiencies in diagnosis and treatment, a vaccine to prevent infection and/or the development of symptoms would be a breakthrough in the management of the disease. Current vaccine candidates are mostly based on the delivery of single antigens or a few different antigens. Nevertheless, due to the high biological complexity of the parasite, targeting as many antigens as possible would be desirable. In this regard, an epitope-based vaccine design could be a well-suited approach. With this aim, we have gone through publicly available databases to identify T. cruzi epitopes from several antigens. By means of a computer-aided strategy, we have prioritized a set of epitopes based on sequence conservation criteria, projected population coverage of Latin American population, and biological features of their antigens of origin. Fruit of this analysis, we provide a selection of CD8+ T cell, CD4+ T cell, and B cell epitopes that have <70% identity to human or human microbiome protein sequences and represent the basis toward the development of an epitope-based vaccine against T. cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Michel-Todó
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Antonio Reche
- Laboratory of Immunomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pascal Bigey
- Université de Paris, UTCBS, CNRS, INSERM, Paris, France.,PSL University, ChimieParisTech, Paris, France
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascón
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
High prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in shelter dogs from southern Louisiana, USA. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:322. [PMID: 31238941 PMCID: PMC6593594 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3572-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The role of dogs as sentinels has been proposed in multiple regions, as they are a domestic reservoir for T. cruzi. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in shelter dogs from southern Louisiana, and assess its magnitude and distribution. Results A total of 540 dogs were enrolled, from 20 animal shelters, and tested for T. cruzi infection by serological tests (rapid test, ELISA and western blot) and PCR. We documented a high prevalence of T. cruzi infection with at least 6.9% (95% CI: 5.0–9.3%) seropositive and 15.7% (95% CI: 12.9–19.1%) PCR-positive dogs. Serological tests showed limited agreement, and concordance between serology and PCR was higher when considering reactivity to single serological tests. Trypanosoma cruzi infection was distributed evenly among shelters. Infection was significantly correlated with age (R2 = 0.99), indicating an incidence of new cases of 2.27 ± 0.25% per year. Conclusion Trypanosoma cruzi infection is a significant and widespread veterinary problem in shelter dogs in the region, although it is mostly unnoticed by health professionals. This highlights the need for greater awareness of T. cruzi infection among the veterinary community and dog owners. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3572-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
|
17
|
de la Cruz JJ, Villanueva-Lizama L, Dzul-Huchim V, Ramírez-Sierra MJ, Martinez-Vega P, Rosado-Vallado M, Ortega-Lopez J, Flores-Pucheta CI, Gillespie P, Zhan B, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Dumonteil E. Production of recombinant TSA-1 and evaluation of its potential for the immuno-therapeutic control of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 15:210-219. [PMID: 30192702 PMCID: PMC6363145 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1520581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A therapeutic vaccine for human Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is under development based on the success of vaccinating mice with DNA constructs expressing the antigens Tc24 and Tc-TSA-1. However, because DNA and nucleic acid vaccines produce less than optimal responses in humans, our strategy relies on administering a recombinant protein-based vaccine, together with adjuvants that promote Th1-type immunity. Here we describe a process for the purification and refolding of recombinant TSA-1 expressed in Escherichia coli. The overall yield (20–25%) and endotoxin level of the purified recombinant TSA-1 (rTSA-1) is suitable for pilot scale production of the antigen for use in phase 1 clinical trials. Mice infected with T. cruzi were treated with rTSA-1, either alone or with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) agonist adjuvants including monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), glucopyranosyl lipid A (GLA, IDRI), and E6020 (EISEI, Inc). TSA-1 with the TLR-4 agonists was effective at reducing parasitemia relative to rTSA-1 alone, although it was difficult to discern a therapeutic effect compared to treatment with TLR-4 agonists alone. However, rTSA-1 with a 10 ug dose of MPLA optimized reductions in cardiac tissue inflammation, which were significantly reduced compared to MPLA alone. It also elicited the lowest parasite burden and the highest levels of TSA-1-specific IFN-gamma levels and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratios. These results warrant the further evaluation of rTSA-1 in combination with rTc24 in order to maximize the therapeutic effect of vaccine-linked chemotherapy in both mice and non-human primates before advancing to clinical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Jose de la Cruz
- a Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida , Yucatán , México
| | - Liliana Villanueva-Lizama
- a Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida , Yucatán , México
| | - Victor Dzul-Huchim
- a Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida , Yucatán , México
| | - María-Jesus Ramírez-Sierra
- a Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida , Yucatán , México
| | - Pedro Martinez-Vega
- a Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida , Yucatán , México
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- a Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr. Hideyo Noguchi , Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida , Yucatán , México
| | - Jaime Ortega-Lopez
- b Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería , CINVESTAV-IPN , Ciudad de México , México
| | | | - Portia Gillespie
- c Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- c Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- c Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- c Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- d Department of Tropical Medicine , Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Travi BL. Considering Dogs as Complementary Targets of Chagas Disease Control. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018; 19:90-94. [PMID: 30102585 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This review describes the role that dogs play in Latin American countries where Chagas disease is endemic. Multiple studies determined the high frequency with which canine populations are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. The infection prevalence of dogs is greater than that of humans and the presence of infected dogs in households is associated with a higher risk of human infection. Dog infectiousness to triatomine vectors is several-fold higher than that of humans, thereby underscoring their major role in the domestic transmission of T. cruzi. Insecticide spraying of houses is in most cases efficacious but the lack of sustainability hinders this vector-focused strategy. Multi-pronged approaches have been adopted to improve control measures but dog intervention was never included. Experimental evaluation of systemic insecticides or deltamethrin-impregnated collars suggested that dog intervention leading to triatomine killing could curb domestic transmission of T. cruzi. Larger field studies are required to determine its applicability and efficacy. However, the implementation of dog intervention could complement other control measures currently in place, mostly in periods when vector spraying has been interrupted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno L Travi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Jimenez-Coello M, Shelite T, Castellanos-Gonzalez A, Saldarriaga O, Rivero R, Ortega-Pacheco A, Acevedo-Arcique C, Amaya-Guardia K, Garg N, Melby P, Travi BL. Efficacy of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification to Diagnose Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Dogs with Cardiac Alterations from an Endemic Area of Mexico. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018; 18:417-423. [PMID: 29768103 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2017.2258] [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] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a lingering Public Health problem in Latin America with ∼5.7 million people infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Transmission is still taking place in most countries of the Americas, including the United States. Dogs are frequently infected with T. cruzi and its high infection prevalence is associated with increased risk of Chagas disease in humans. The city of Mérida in the Yucatan peninsula is endemic for Chagas disease and canines are frequently infected with T. cruzi. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a qualitative point of care (POC) molecular test (RPA-LF, recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow) developed in our laboratory for identifying infected dogs. We used retrospective samples of dogs that came for consultation because of cardiac alterations and proved to be infected with T. cruzi as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). The analytical sensitivity indicated that RPA-LF amplified T. cruzi DNA in samples containing almost equal to one to two parasites per reaction. Serial twofold dilutions of T. cruzi epimastigotes showed that the test had 95% (19/20) repeatability at concentrations of two parasites per reaction. The test showed no cross reactivity with human DNA or other protozoan parasites (Trypanosoma rangeli, Leishmania spp., and Plasmodium spp.). RPA-LF had the capacity to amplify all discrete typing units (DTUs I-VI) of T. cruzi that circulate in domestic or extradomestic environments. The RPA-LF had 93.2% (95% confidence interval 87.2-98.1) sensitivity and excellent agreement with qPCR used as gold standard (Cohen's Kappa test = 0.963). ELISA was positive in 96.6% (85/88) of dogs, which together with the molecular tests confirmed the frequent contact with infected triatomine bugs in the city of Mérida. These preliminary results on the diagnostic efficacy of the RPA-LF deserve further large-scale field testing of this POC test for T. cruzi infection in endemic areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Jimenez-Coello
- 1 Laboratorio de Biologia Celular , Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi," Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Thomas Shelite
- 2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Alejandro Castellanos-Gonzalez
- 2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Omar Saldarriaga
- 2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Rocio Rivero
- 3 Instituto Nacional de Parasitologia "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben," Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Antonio Ortega-Pacheco
- 4 Departamento Medicina y Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida, México
| | - Carlos Acevedo-Arcique
- 4 Departamento Medicina y Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán , Mérida, México
| | - Karla Amaya-Guardia
- 1 Laboratorio de Biologia Celular , Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi," Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México
| | - Nisha Garg
- 5 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Peter Melby
- 2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| | - Bruno L Travi
- 2 Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Caeiro LD, Alba-Soto CD, Rizzi M, Solana ME, Rodriguez G, Chidichimo AM, Rodriguez ME, Sánchez DO, Levy GV, Tekiel V. The protein family TcTASV-C is a novel Trypanosoma cruzi virulence factor secreted in extracellular vesicles by trypomastigotes and highly expressed in bloodstream forms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006475. [PMID: 29727453 PMCID: PMC5955593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
TcTASV-C is a protein family of about 15 members that is expressed only in the trypomastigote stage of Trypanosoma cruzi. We have previously shown that TcTASV-C is located at the parasite surface and secreted to the medium. Here we report that the expression of different TcTASV-C genes occurs simultaneously at the trypomastigote stage and while some secreted and parasite-associated products are found in both fractions, others are different. Secreted TcTASV-C are mainly shedded through trypomastigote extracellular vesicles, of which they are an abundant constituent, despite its scarce expression on culture-derived trypomastigotes. In contrast, TcTASV-C is highly expressed in bloodstream trypomastigotes; its upregulation in bloodstream parasites was observed in different T. cruzi strains and was specific for TcTASV-C, suggesting that some host-molecules trigger TcTASV-C expression. TcTASV-C is also strongly secreted by bloodstream parasites. A DNA prime—protein boost immunization scheme with TcTASV-C was only partially effective to control the infection in mice challenged with a highly virulent T. cruzi strain. Vaccination triggered a strong humoral response that delayed the appearance of bloodstream trypomastigotes at the early phase of the infection. Linear epitopes recognized by vaccinated mice were mapped within the TcTASV-C family motif, suggesting that blockade of secreted TcTASV-C impacts on the settlement of infection. Furthermore, although experimental and naturally T. cruzi-infected hosts did not react with antigens from extracellular vesicles, vaccinated and challenged mice recognized not only TcTASV-C but also other vesicle-antigens. We hypothesize that TcTASV-C is involved in the establishment of the initial T. cruzi infection in the mammalian host. Altogether, these results point towards TcTASV-C as a novel secreted virulence factor of T. cruzi trypomastigotes. Trypanosoma cruzi is the kinetoplastid parasite that causes Chagas’ disease, a neglected infection endemic in Latin America and emerging worldwide. Being vaccines currently unavailable and treatments not completely effective, identification and characterization of parasite molecules that can be target for these interventions are urgently needed. Of particular interest are surface anchored and secreted proteins involved in parasite—host interplay. Recently, extracellular vesicles released from protozoan pathogens have been shown to alter host cell function favoring the establishment of infection. Trypomastigotes are the disseminating stage of T. cruzi, being their presence in peripheral blood a hallmark of early acute infection in mammals. While the most abundant proteins of the trypomastigote surface are fairly well characterized, little is known about other, less abundant and more recently discovered multigenic families, which could have critical functions in the parasite—host interaction. The T. cruziTrypomastigote Alanine, Valine and Serine rich proteins (TcTASV) belong to a medium-size multigene family of ~40 members that remained unobserved until a few years ago when it was identified through a trypomastigote-enriched cDNA library. Almost simultaneously, an expression library immunization approach designed to discover novel vaccine antigens in T. cruzi, spotlighted the TcTASV-C subfamily, as a fragment of a TcTASV-C gene was identified in a pool of protective clones. A distinctive feature that characterizes TcTASV proteins–and particularly the TcTASV-C subfamily- is their predominant expression in trypomastigotes. Recent transcriptomic and proteomic studies uphold our previous observations that the TcTASV family is over-represented in the trypomastigote stage, and therefore could represent an interesting target for rational intervention against T. cruzi infection. Here show that TcTASV-C is mainly secreted through extracellular vesicles (EVs) of trypomastigotes, and is a major cargo of its content. We have also shown that TcTASV-C is much more expressed in trypomastigotes purified from blood from infected mice than in trypomastigotes harvested from in vitro cultures, suggesting that host molecules should trigger TcTASV-C expression in vivo during the infection. The immunization of mice with TcTASV-C interfered with the early acute phase of T. cruzi infection through a strong humoral immune response. TcTASV-C should be considered as a novel secreted virulence factor of T. cruzi trypomastigotes and -although its biological function is still unknown- we hypothesize its participation in the early steps of T cruzi infection in the mammalian host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas D Caeiro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Catalina D Alba-Soto
- Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médicas (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Rizzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Elisa Solana
- Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médicas (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Cs. Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Luján, Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Giselle Rodriguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina M Chidichimo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías E Rodriguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniel O Sánchez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela V Levy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria Tekiel
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Detailed ecological associations of triatomines revealed by metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing: implications for triatomine behavior and Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29515202 PMCID: PMC5841364 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22455-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the agent of Chagas disease, transmitted by hematophagous triatomine vectors. Establishing transmission cycles is key to understand the epidemiology of the disease, but integrative assessments of ecological interactions shaping parasite transmission are still limited. Current approaches also lack sensitivity to assess the full extent of this ecological diversity. Here we developed a metabarcoding approach based on next-generation sequencing to identify triatomine gut microbiome, vertebrate feeding hosts, and parasite diversity and their potential interactions. We detected a dynamic microbiome in Triatoma dimidiata, including 23 bacterial orders, which differed according to blood sources. Fourteen vertebrate species served as blood sources, corresponding to domestic, synantropic and sylvatic species, although four (human, dog, cow and mice) accounted for over 50% of blood sources. Importantly, bugs fed on multiple hosts, with up to 11 hosts identified per bug, indicating very frequent host-switching. A high clonal diversity of T. cruzi was detected, with up to 20 haplotypes per bug. This analysis provided much greater sensitivity to detect multiple blood meals and multiclonal infections with T. cruzi, which should be taken into account to develop transmission networks, and characterize the risk for human infection, eventually leading to a better control of disease transmission.
Collapse
|
22
|
Biter AB, Weltje S, Hudspeth EM, Seid CA, McAtee CP, Chen WH, Pollet JB, Strych U, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME. Characterization and Stability of Trypanosoma cruzi 24-C4 (Tc24-C4), a Candidate Antigen for a Therapeutic Vaccine Against Chagas Disease. J Pharm Sci 2017; 107:1468-1473. [PMID: 29274820 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2017.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease due to chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi is a neglected cause of heart disease, affecting approximately 6-10 million individuals in Latin America and elsewhere. T. cruzi Tc24, a calcium-binding protein in the flagellar pocket of the parasite, is a candidate antigen for an injectable therapeutic vaccine as an alternative or a complement to chemotherapy. Previously, we reported that a genetically engineered construct from which all cysteine residues had been eliminated (Tc24-C4) yields a recombinant protein with reduced aggregation and improved analytical purity in comparison to the wild-type form, without compromising antigenicity and immunogenicity. We now report that the established process for producing Escherichia coli-expressed Tc24-C4 protein is robust and reproducibly yields protein lots with consistent analytical characteristics, freeze-thaw, accelerated, and long-term stability profiles. The data indicate that, like most proteins, Tc24-C4 should be stable at -80°C, but also at 4°C and room temperature for at least 30 days, and up to 7-15 days at 37°C. Thus, the production process for recombinant Tc24-C4 is suitable for Current Good Manufacturing Practice production and clinical testing, based on process robustness, analytical characteristics, and stability profile.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amadeo B Biter
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Sarah Weltje
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Elissa M Hudspeth
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Christopher A Seid
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - C Patrick McAtee
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Wen-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Jeroen B Pollet
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76706
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030; Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76706.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Genetic Adjuvantation of a Cell-Based Therapeutic Vaccine for Amelioration of Chagasic Cardiomyopathy. Infect Immun 2017; 85:IAI.00127-17. [PMID: 28674032 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00127-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a leading cause of heart disease ("chagasic cardiomyopathy") in Latin America, disproportionately affecting people in resource-poor areas. The efficacy of currently approved pharmaceutical treatments is limited mainly to acute infection, and there are no effective treatments for the chronic phase of the disease. Preclinical models of Chagas disease have demonstrated that antigen-specific CD8+ gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-positive T-cell responses are essential for reducing parasite burdens, increasing survival, and decreasing cardiac pathology in both the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease. In the present study, we developed a genetically adjuvanted, dendritic cell-based immunotherapeutic for acute Chagas disease in an attempt to delay or prevent the cardiac complications that eventually result from chronic T. cruzi infection. Dendritic cells transduced with the adjuvant, an adenoviral vector encoding a dominant negative isoform of Src homology region 2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) along with the T. cruzi Tc24 antigen and trans-sialidase antigen 1 (TSA1), induced significant numbers of antigen-specific CD8+ IFN-γ-positive cells following injection into BALB/c mice. A vaccine platform transduced with the adenoviral vector and loaded in tandem with the recombinant protein reduced parasite burdens by 76% to >99% in comparison to a variety of different controls and significantly reduced cardiac pathology in a BALB/c mouse model of live Chagas disease. Although no statistical differences in overall survival rates among cohorts were observed, the data suggest that immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of acute Chagas disease are feasible and that this approach may warrant further study.
Collapse
|
24
|
Gunter SM, Jones KM, Seid CA, Essigmann HT, Zhan B, Strych U, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ, Brown EL. Mutations to Cysteine Residues in the Trypanosoma cruzi B-Cell Superantigen Tc24 Diminish Susceptibility to IgM-Mediated Hydrolysis. J Parasitol 2017; 103:579-583. [PMID: 28581897 DOI: 10.1645/17-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
B-cell superantigens (BC-SAgs) are immunoevasins that have evolved in response to innate catalytic IgM antibodies; germ-line encoded immunoglobulins present in the preimmune repertoire independent of prior antigen exposure. Catalysis is the result of a 2-step process that involves first the formation of a non-covalent bond between the BC-SAg and the immunoglobulin followed by covalent bond formation at the catalytic site resulting in target hydrolysis. Tc24 is a recently described Trypanosoma cruzi BC-SAg hypothesized to play a role in evading the humoral response early in the infection period. We previously demonstrated that exposure to Tc24 following immunization or infection resulted in the depletion of the catalytic IgM response, leaving a gap in the catalytic IgM repertoire. The present report compares the BC-SAg properties of wild-type Tc24 (Tc24-WT) to that of 2 recombinant Tc24 isoforms: Tc24-C2 (Cys to Ser mutations in the 2 most-proximal Cys residues) and Tc24-C4 (Cys to Ser mutations in all 4 Cys residues present). BC-SAg activity was assessed by immunizing mice with the respective isoforms and examining the ability of IgM purified from the respective groups to hydrolyze the 3 Tc24 isoforms. In addition, the ability of IgM purified from naive mice to hydrolyze the Tc24 isoforms was also assessed. Immunization with Tc24-WT, Tc24-C2, or Tc24-C4 resulted in loss of IgM-mediated hydrolysis of Tc24-WT. However, the ability of IgM purified from naive mice (previously shown to hydrolyze Tc24-WT) was less effective in hydrolyzing the 2 Tc24 isoforms. These data demonstrate that although the BC-SAg site in the mutants remained intact, their reduced susceptibility to IgM-mediated hydrolysis suggested that structural changes resulting from the Cys to Ser mutations altered accessibility to the catalytic site in the 2 isoforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Gunter
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Christopher A Seid
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Heather T Essigmann
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Bin Zhan
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Eric L Brown
- Baylor College of Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Section of Tropical Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Seid CA, Jones KM, Pollet J, Keegan B, Hudspeth E, Hammond M, Wei J, McAtee CP, Versteeg L, Gutierrez A, Liu Z, Zhan B, Respress JL, Strych U, Bottazzi ME, Hotez PJ. Cysteine mutagenesis improves the production without abrogating antigenicity of a recombinant protein vaccine candidate for human chagas disease. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 13:621-633. [PMID: 27737611 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1242540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A therapeutic vaccine for human Chagas disease is under development by the Sabin Vaccine Institute Product Development Partnership. The aim of the vaccine is to significantly reduce the parasite burden of Trypanosoma cruzi in humans, either as a standalone product or in combination with conventional chemotherapy. Vaccination of mice with Tc24 formulated with monophosphoryl-lipid A (MPLA) adjuvant results in a Th1 skewed immune response with elevated IgG2a and IFNγ levels and a statistically significant decrease in parasitemia following T. cruzi challenge. Tc24 was therefore selected for scale-up and further evaluation. During scale up and downstream process development, significant protein aggregation was observed due to intermolecular disulfide bond formation. To prevent protein aggregation, cysteine codons were replaced with serine codons which resulted in the production of a non-aggregated and soluble recombinant protein, Tc24-C4. No changes to the secondary structure of the modified molecule were detected by circular dichroism. Immunization of mice with wild-type Tc24 or Tc24-C4, formulated with E6020 (TLR4 agonist analog to MPLA) emulsified in a squalene-oil-in-water emulsion, resulted in IgG2a and antigen specific IFNγ production levels from splenocytes that were not significantly different, indicating that eliminating putative intermolecular disulfide bonds had no significant impact on the immunogenicity of the molecule. In addition, vaccination with either formulated wild type Tc24 or Tc24-C4 antigen also significantly increased survival and reduced cardiac parasite burden in mice. Investigations are now underway to examine the efficacy of Tc24-C4 formulated with other adjuvants to reduce parasite burden and increase survival in pre-clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Seid
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Kathryn M Jones
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA.,b Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA.,b Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Brian Keegan
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Elissa Hudspeth
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Molly Hammond
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Junfei Wei
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - C Patrick McAtee
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Amanda Gutierrez
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Zhuyun Liu
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Bin Zhan
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA.,b Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Jonathan L Respress
- d Southwest Electronic Energy Medical Research Institute (SWEMRI) , Missouri City , TX , USA
| | - Ulrich Strych
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA.,b Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA.,b Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- a Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , Houston , TX , USA.,b Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology , National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA.,c James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy , Rice University , Houston , TX , USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Status of vaccine research and development of vaccines for Chagas disease. Vaccine 2016; 34:2996-3000. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
27
|
Basso B, Marini V, Gauna D, Frias M. Vaccination of dogs with Trypanosoma rangeli induces antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area of Córdoba, Argentina. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2016; 111:271-4. [PMID: 27074257 PMCID: PMC4830117 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs play a major role in the domestic cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi, acting as reservoirs. In a previous work we have developed a model of vaccination of dogs in captivity with nonpathogenic Trypanosoma rangeli epimastigotes, resulting in the production of protective antibodies against T. cruzi, with dramatic decrease of parasitaemia upon challenge with 100,000 virulent forms of this parasite. The aim of this work was to evaluate the immunogenicity of this vaccine in dogs living in a rural area. Domestic dogs, free from T. cruzi infection, received three immunisations with fixed T. rangeli epimastigotes. Dogs were not challenged with T. cruzi, but they were left in their environment. This immunisation induced antibodies against T. cruzi for more than three years in dogs in their natural habitat, while control dogs remained serologically negative.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Basso
- School of Medicine, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | | | - Maria Frias
- School of Medicine, National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Qvit N, Schechtman D, Pena DA, Berti DA, Soares CO, Miao Q, Liang LA, Baron LA, Teh-Poot C, Martínez-Vega P, Ramirez-Sierra MJ, Churchill E, Cunningham AD, Malkovskiy AV, Federspiel NA, Gozzo FC, Torrecilhas AC, Manso Alves MJ, Jardim A, Momar N, Dumonteil E, Mochly-Rosen D. Scaffold proteins LACK and TRACK as potential drug targets in kinetoplastid parasites: Development of inhibitors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2016; 6:74-84. [PMID: 27054066 PMCID: PMC4805777 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases cause ∼500,000 deaths annually and remain a major challenge for therapeutic development. Using a rational design based approach, we developed peptide inhibitors with anti-parasitic activity that were derived from the sequences of parasite scaffold proteins LACK (Leishmania's receptor for activated C-kinase) and TRACK (Trypanosomareceptor for activated C-kinase). We hypothesized that sequences in LACK and TRACK that are conserved in the parasites, but not in the mammalian ortholog, RACK (Receptor for activated C-kinase), may be interaction sites for signaling proteins that are critical for the parasites' viability. One of these peptides exhibited leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity in culture. Moreover, in infected mice, this peptide was also effective in reducing parasitemia and increasing survival without toxic effects. The identified peptide is a promising new anti-parasitic drug lead, as its unique features may limit toxicity and drug-resistance, thus overcoming central limitations of most anti-parasitic drugs. Identified unique short sequences conserved in parasite but not in host orthologue. Peptides corresponding to these sequences are active anti-parasitic drug lead. Cyclization of the peptides generates drug leads for in vivo proof of concept.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nir Qvit
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Deborah Schechtman
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Qianqian Miao
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Liying Annie Liang
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lauren A Baron
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Christian Teh-Poot
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Pedro Martínez-Vega
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Maria Jesus Ramirez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Eric Churchill
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anna D Cunningham
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrey V Malkovskiy
- Biomaterials and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nancy A Federspiel
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Fabio Cesar Gozzo
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Armando Jardim
- Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Québec, Canada
| | - Ndao Momar
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Daria Mochly-Rosen
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Cerny N, Sánchez Alberti A, Bivona AE, De Marzi MC, Frank FM, Cazorla SI, Malchiodi EL. Coadministration of cruzipain and GM-CSF DNAs, a new immunotherapeutic vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2016; 12:438-50. [PMID: 26312947 PMCID: PMC5049742 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1078044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic vaccine research and development are especially important in Chagas disease considering the characteristics of the chronic infection and the number of people in the Americas living with a parasite infection for decades. We have previously reported the efficacy of attenuated Salmonella enterica (S) carrying plasmid encoding cruzipain (SCz) to protect against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. In the present work we investigated whether Cz DNA vaccine immunotherapy could be effective in controlling an ongoing T. cruzi infection in mice. We here report the intramuscular administration of naked Cz DNA or the oral administration of Salmonella as Cz DNA delivery system as therapeutic vaccines in mice during acute or chronic infection. The coadministration of a plasmid encoding GM-CSF improved vaccine performance, indicating that the stimulation of innate immune cells is needed in the event of an ongoing infection. These therapeutic vaccines were able to address the response to a protective and sustained Th1 biased profile not only against Cz but also against a variety of parasite antigens. The combined therapeutic vaccine during the chronic phase of infection prevents tissue pathology as shown by a reduced level of enzyme activity characteristic of tissue damage and a tissue status compatible with normal tissue. The obtained results suggest that immunotherapy with Cz and GM-CSF DNAs, either alone or in combination with other drug treatments, may represent a promising alternative for Chagas disease therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Cerny
- Cátedra de Inmunología e Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU); CONICET-UBA; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; IMPaM (UBA-CONICET) y Departamento de Microbiología; Parasitología e Inmunología; Facultad de Medicina; UBA; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Inmunología; Departamento Ciencias Básicas- INEDES; Universidad Nacional de Luján; Luján, Argentina
| | - Andrés Sánchez Alberti
- Cátedra de Inmunología e Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU); CONICET-UBA; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; IMPaM (UBA-CONICET) y Departamento de Microbiología; Parasitología e Inmunología; Facultad de Medicina; UBA; Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Augusto E Bivona
- Cátedra de Inmunología e Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU); CONICET-UBA; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; IMPaM (UBA-CONICET) y Departamento de Microbiología; Parasitología e Inmunología; Facultad de Medicina; UBA; Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauricio C De Marzi
- Cátedra de Inmunología e Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU); CONICET-UBA; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Inmunología; Departamento Ciencias Básicas- INEDES; Universidad Nacional de Luján; Luján, Argentina
| | - Fernanda M Frank
- Cátedra de Inmunología e Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU); CONICET-UBA; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; IMPaM (UBA-CONICET) y Departamento de Microbiología; Parasitología e Inmunología; Facultad de Medicina; UBA; Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia I Cazorla
- Cátedra de Inmunología e Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU); CONICET-UBA; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; IMPaM (UBA-CONICET) y Departamento de Microbiología; Parasitología e Inmunología; Facultad de Medicina; UBA; Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Cátedra de Inmunología e Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU); CONICET-UBA; Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Universidad de Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; IMPaM (UBA-CONICET) y Departamento de Microbiología; Parasitología e Inmunología; Facultad de Medicina; UBA; Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Gürtler RE, Cardinal MV. Reservoir host competence and the role of domestic and commensal hosts in the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2015; 151:32-50. [PMID: 26051910 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We review the epidemiological role of domestic and commensal hosts of Trypanosoma cruzi using a quantitative approach, and compiled >400 reports on their natural infection. We link the theory underlying simple mathematical models of vector-borne parasite transmission to the types of evidence used for reservoir host identification: mean duration of infectious life; host infection and infectiousness; and host-vector contact. The infectiousness of dogs or cats most frequently exceeded that of humans. The host-feeding patterns of major vectors showed wide variability among and within triatomine species related to their opportunistic behavior and variable ecological, biological and social contexts. The evidence shows that dogs, cats, commensal rodents and domesticated guinea pigs are able to maintain T. cruzi in the absence of any other host species. They play key roles as amplifying hosts and sources of T. cruzi in many (peri)domestic transmission cycles covering a broad diversity of ecoregions, ecotopes and triatomine species: no other domestic animal plays that role. Dogs comply with the desirable attributes of natural sentinels and sometimes were a point of entry of sylvatic parasite strains. The controversies on the role of cats and other hosts illustrate the issues that hamper assessing the relative importance of reservoir hosts on the basis of fragmentary evidence. We provide various study cases of how eco-epidemiological and genetic-marker evidence helped to unravel transmission cycles and identify the implicated hosts. Keeping dogs, cats and rodents out of human sleeping quarters and reducing their exposure to triatomine bugs are predicted to strongly reduce transmission risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo E Gürtler
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology, Department of Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Universidad de Buenos Aires-IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - M V Cardinal
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology, Department of Ecology, Genetics and Evolution, Universidad de Buenos Aires-IEGEBA (CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Martinez-Campos V, Martinez-Vega P, Ramirez-Sierra MJ, Rosado-Vallado M, Seid CA, Hudspeth EM, Wei J, Liu Z, Kwityn C, Hammond M, Ortega-López J, Zhan B, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Dumonteil E. Expression, purification, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of a recombinant Tc24 antigen as a vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice. Vaccine 2015; 33:4505-12. [PMID: 26192358 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The Tc24 calcium binding protein from the flagellar pocket of Trypanosoma cruzi is under evaluation as a candidate vaccine antigen against Chagas disease. Previously, a DNA vaccine encoding Tc24 was shown to be an effective vaccine (both as a preventive and therapeutic intervention) in mice and dogs, as evidenced by reductions in T. cruzi parasitemia and cardiac amastigotes, as well as reduced cardiac inflammation and increased host survival. Here we developed a suitable platform for the large scale production of recombinant Tc24 (rTc24) and show that when rTc24 is combined with a monophosphoryl-lipid A (MPLA) adjuvant, the formulated vaccine induces a Th1-biased immune response in mice, comprised of elevated IgG2a antibody levels and interferon-gamma levels from splenocytes, compared to controls. These immune responses also resulted in statistically significant decreased T. cruzi parasitemia and cardiac amastigotes, as well as increased survival following T. cruzi challenge infections, compared to controls. Partial protective efficacy was shown regardless of whether the antigen was expressed in Escherichia coli or in yeast (Pichia pastoris). While mouse vaccinations will require further modifications in order to optimize protective efficacy, such studies provide a basis for further evaluations of vaccines comprised of rTc24, together with alternative adjuvants and additional recombinant antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viridiana Martinez-Campos
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Pedro Martinez-Vega
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Maria Jesus Ramirez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Christopher A Seid
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elissa M Hudspeth
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Junfei Wei
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhuyun Liu
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cliff Kwityn
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Molly Hammond
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jaime Ortega-López
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, CINVESTAV-IPN, Av. IPN 2508 Col., San Pedro Zacatenco 07360, Mexico D.F., Mexico
| | - Bin Zhan
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Peter J Hotez
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, 97000 Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Experimental Vaccines against Chagas Disease: A Journey through History. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:489758. [PMID: 26090490 PMCID: PMC4452192 DOI: 10.1155/2015/489758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, which is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is primarily a vector disease endemic in 21 Latin American countries, including Mexico. Although many vector control programs have been implemented, T. cruzi has not been eradicated. The development of an anti-T. cruzi vaccine for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes may significantly contribute to the transmission control of Chagas disease. Immune protection against experimental infection with T. cruzi has been studied since the second decade of the last century, and many types of immunogens have been used subsequently, such as killed or attenuated parasites and new DNA vaccines. This primary prevention strategy appears feasible, effective, safe, and inexpensive, although problems remain. The objective of this review is to summarize the research efforts about the development of vaccines against Chagas disease worldwide. A thorough literature review was conducted by searching PubMed with the terms “Chagas disease” and “American trypanosomiasis” together with “vaccines” or “immunization”. In addition, reports and journals not cited in PubMed were identified. Publications in English, Spanish, and Portuguese were reviewed.
Collapse
|
33
|
Aparicio-Burgos JE, Zepeda-Escobar JA, de Oca-Jimenez RM, Estrada-Franco JG, Barbabosa-Pliego A, Ochoa-García L, Alejandre-Aguilar R, Rivas N, Peñuelas-Rivas G, Val-Arreola M, Gupta S, Salazar-García F, Garg NJ, Vázquez-Chagoyán JC. Immune protection against Trypanosoma cruzi induced by TcVac4 in a canine model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003625. [PMID: 25853654 PMCID: PMC4390229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in southern parts of the American continent. Herein, we have tested the protective efficacy of a DNA-prime/T. rangeli-boost (TcVac4) vaccine in a dog (Canis familiaris) model. Dogs were immunized with two-doses of DNA vaccine (pcDNA3.1 encoding TcG1, TcG2, and TcG4 antigens plus IL-12- and GM-CSF-encoding plasmids) followed by two doses of glutaraldehyde-inactivated T. rangeli epimastigotes (TrIE); and challenged with highly pathogenic T. cruzi (SylvioX10/4) isolate. Dogs given TrIE or empty pcDNA3.1 were used as controls. We monitored post-vaccination and post-challenge infection antibody response by an ELISA, parasitemia by blood analysis and xenodiagnosis, and heart function by electrocardiography. Post-mortem anatomic and pathologic evaluation of the heart was conducted. TcVac4 induced a strong IgG response (IgG2>IgG1) that was significantly expanded post-infection, and moved to a nearly balanced IgG2/IgG1 response in chronic phase. In comparison, dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only developed high IgG titers with IgG2 predominance in response to T. cruzi infection. Blood parasitemia, tissue parasite foci, parasite transmission to triatomines, electrocardiographic abnormalities were significantly lower in TcVac4-vaccinated dogs than was observed in dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only. Macroscopic and microscopic alterations, the hallmarks of chronic Chagas disease, were significantly decreased in the myocardium of TcVac4-vaccinated dogs. We conclude that TcVac4 induced immunity was beneficial in providing resistance to T. cruzi infection, evidenced by control of chronic pathology of the heart and preservation of cardiac function in dogs. Additionally, TcVac4 vaccination decreased the transmission of parasites from vaccinated/infected animals to triatomines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - José A. Zepeda-Escobar
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Roberto Montes de Oca-Jimenez
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - José G. Estrada-Franco
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Alberto Barbabosa-Pliego
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Laucel Ochoa-García
- Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Pública del Instituto Salud del Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, México
| | - Nancy Rivas
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, México
| | - Giovanna Peñuelas-Rivas
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Margarita Val-Arreola
- Hospital General de Zona No. 2, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Irapuato, México
| | - Shivali Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Felix Salazar-García
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Nisha J. Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, and Faculty of the Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Juan C. Vázquez-Chagoyán
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Knight JM, Zingales B, Bottazzi ME, Hotez P, Zhan B. Limited antigenic variation in the Trypanosoma cruzi candidate vaccine antigen TSA-1. Parasite Immunol 2015; 36:708-12. [PMID: 25040249 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases in the Western Hemisphere. The toxicities and limited efficacies of current antitrypanosomal drugs have prompted a search for alternative technologies such as a therapeutic vaccine comprised of T. cruzi antigens, including a recombinant antigen encoding the N-terminal 65 kDa portion of Trypomastigote surface antigen-1 (TSA-1). With at least six known genetically distinct T. cruzi lineages, variability between the different lineages poses a unique challenge for the development of broadly effective therapeutic vaccine. The variability across the major lineages in the current vaccine candidate antigen TSA-1 has not previously been addressed. To assess the variation in TSA-1, we cloned and sequenced TSA-1 from several different T. cruzi strains representing three of the most clinically relevant lineages. Analysis of the different alleles showed limited variation in TSA-1 across the different strains and fit with the current theory for the evolution of the different lineages. Additionally, minimal variation in known antigenic epitopes for the HLA-A 02 allele suggests that interlineage variation in TSA-1 would not impair the range and efficacy of a vaccine containing TSA-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J M Knight
- Southwest Electronic Energy Medical Research Institute, Stafford, TX, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Sánchez-Valdéz FJ, Pérez Brandán C, Ferreira A, Basombrío MÁ. Gene-deleted live-attenuated Trypanosoma cruzi parasites as vaccines to protect against Chagas disease. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 14:681-97. [PMID: 25496192 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2015.989989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This illness is now becoming global, mainly due to congenital transmission, and so far, there are no prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines available to either prevent or treat Chagas disease. Therefore, different approaches aimed at identifying new protective immunogens are urgently needed. Live vaccines are likely to be more efficient in inducing protection, but safety issues linked with their use have been raised. The development of improved protozoan genetic manipulation tools and genomic and biological information has helped to increase the safety of live vaccines. These advances have generated a renewed interest in the use of genetically attenuated parasites as vaccines against Chagas disease. This review discusses the protective capacity of genetically attenuated parasite vaccines and the challenges and perspectives for the development of an effective whole-parasite Chagas disease vaccine.
Collapse
|
36
|
Cazorla SI, Matos MN, Cerny N, Ramirez C, Alberti AS, Bivona AE, Morales C, Guzmán CA, Malchiodi EL. Oral multicomponent DNA vaccine delivered by attenuated Salmonella elicited immunoprotection against American trypanosomiasis. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:698-707. [PMID: 25160983 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We have reported that attenuated Salmonella (S) carrying plasmids encoding the cysteine protease cruzipain (Cz) protects against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Here, we determined whether immunoprotection could be improved by the oral coadministration of 3 Salmonella carrying the plasmids that encode the antigens Cz, Tc52, and Tc24. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized mice presented an increased antibody response against each antigen compared with those in the single antigen-immunized groups, as well as higher trypomastigotes antibody-mediated lyses and cell invasion inhibition compared with controls. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized and -challenged mice rendered lower parasitemia. Weight loss after infection was detected in all mice except those in the SCz+STc52+STc24 group. Moreover, cardiomyopathy-associated enzyme activity was significantly lower in SCz+STc24+STc52-immunized mice compared with controls. Few or no abnormalities were found in muscle tissues of SCz+STc24+STc52-immunized mice, whereas controls presented with inflammatory foci, necrosis, and amastigote nests. We conclude that a multicomponent approach that targets several invasion and metabolic mechanisms improves protection compared with single-component vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia I Cazorla
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Marina N Matos
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Carolina Ramirez
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Andrés Sanchez Alberti
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Augusto E Bivona
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Celina Morales
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina UBA, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos A Guzmán
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Teh-Poot C, Tzec-Arjona E, Martínez-Vega P, Ramirez-Sierra MJ, Rosado-Vallado M, Dumonteil E. From genome screening to creation of vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi by use of immunoinformatics. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:258-66. [PMID: 25070943 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and activation of CD8(+) T cells is crucial for a protective immune response. Therefore, the identification of antigens with major histocompatibility complex class I epitopes is a crucial step for vaccine development against T. cruzi. Our aim was to identify novel antigens and epitopes by immunoinformatics analysis of the parasite proteome (12 969 proteins) and to validate their immunotherapeutic potential in infected mice. We identified 172 predicted epitopes, using NetMHC and RANKPEP. The corresponding protein sequences were reanalyzed to generate a consensus prediction, and 26 epitopes were selected for in vivo validation. The interferon γ (IFN-γ) recall response of splenocytes from T. cruzi-infected mice confirmed that 10 of 26 epitopes (38%) induced IFN-γ production. The immunotherapeutic potential of a mixture of all 10 peptides was evaluated in infected mice. The therapeutic vaccine was able to control T. cruzi infection, as evidenced by reduced parasitemia, cardiac tissue inflammation, and parasite burden and increased survival. These findings illustrate the benefits of this approach for the rapid development of a vaccine against pathogens with large genomes. The identified peptides and the proteins from which they are derived are excellent candidates for the development of a vaccine against T. cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Teh-Poot
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Evelyn Tzec-Arjona
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Pedro Martínez-Vega
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Maria Jesus Ramirez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Miguel Rosado-Vallado
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales Dr Hideyo Noguchi, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Mexico Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
| |
Collapse
|