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Sánchez-Sánchez R, Imhof D, Hecker YP, Ferre I, Re M, Moreno-Gonzalo J, Blanco-Murcia J, Mejías-López E, Hulverson MA, Choi R, Arnold SLM, Ojo KK, Barrett LK, Hemphill A, Van Voorhis WC, Ortega-Mora LM. An Early Treatment With BKI-1748 Exhibits Full Protection Against Abortion and Congenital Infection in Sheep Experimentally Infected With Toxoplasma gondii. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:558-566. [PMID: 37889572 PMCID: PMC10873186 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad470] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital toxoplasmosis in humans and in other mammalian species, such as small ruminants, is a well-known cause of abortion and fetal malformations. The calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (CDPK1) inhibitor BKI-1748 has shown a promising safety profile for its use in humans and a good efficacy against Toxoplasma gondii infection in vitro and in mouse models. Ten doses of BKI-1748 given every other day orally in sheep at 15 mg/kg did not show systemic or pregnancy-related toxicity. In sheep experimentally infected at 90 days of pregnancy with 1000 TgShSp1 oocysts, the BKI-1748 treatment administered from 48 hours after infection led to complete protection against abortion and congenital infection. In addition, compared to infected/untreated sheep, treated sheep showed a drastically lower rectal temperature increase and none showed IgG seroconversion throughout the study. In conclusion, BKI-1748 treatment in pregnant sheep starting at 48 hours after infection was fully effective against congenital toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sánchez-Sánchez
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dennis Imhof
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Yanina P Hecker
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Innovation for Agricultural Production and Sustainable Development (IPADS, Balcarce), INTA-CONICET, Balcarce, Argentina
| | - Ignacio Ferre
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michela Re
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Animal Medicine and Surgery Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Moreno-Gonzalo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Animal Medicine and Surgery Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Blanco-Murcia
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Animal Medicine and Surgery Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Mejías-López
- Animal Medicine and Surgery Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthew A Hulverson
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ryan Choi
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Samuel L M Arnold
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kayode K Ojo
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lynn K Barrett
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Wesley C Van Voorhis
- Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Palacios-Marquez JJ, Guevara-Fiore P. Parasitism in viviparous vertebrates: an overview. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:53. [PMID: 38100003 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08083-z] [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: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive mode of viviparity has independently evolved in various animal taxa. It refers to the condition in which the embryos or young develop inside the female's body during gestation, providing advantages such as protection, nutrition, and improved survival chances. However, parasites and diseases can be an evolutionary force that limit the host's resources, leading to physiological, morphological, and behavioral changes that impose additional costs on both the pregnant female and her offspring. This review integrates the primary literature published between 1980 and 2021 on the parasitism of viviparous hosts. We describe aspects such as reproductive investment in females, offspring sex ratios, lactation investment in mammals, alterations in birth intervals, current reproductive investment, variations between environments, immune system activity in response to immunological challenges, and other factors that can influence the interaction between viviparous females and parasites. Maintaining pregnancy incurs costs in managing the mother's resources and regulating the immune system's responses to the offspring, while simultaneously maintaining an adequate defense against parasites and pathogens. Parasites can significantly influence this reproductive mode: parasitized females adjust their investment in survival and reproduction based on their life history, environmental factors, and the diversity of encountered parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Palacios-Marquez
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edificio Bio-1, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, 72580, Puebla, CP, Mexico
| | - Palestina Guevara-Fiore
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edificio Bio-1, Ciudad Universitaria, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, 72580, Puebla, CP, Mexico.
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3
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de Campos VS, Magalhães CF, da Rosa BG, dos Santos CM, Fragel-Madeira L, Figueiredo DP, Calaza KC, Adesse D. Maternal Toxoplasma gondii infection affects proliferation, differentiation and cell cycle regulation of retinal neural progenitor cells in mouse embryo. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1211446. [PMID: 37545879 PMCID: PMC10400775 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1211446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis affects one third of the world population and has the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii as etiological agent. Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) can cause severe damage to the fetus, including miscarriages, intracranial calcification, hydrocephalus and retinochoroiditis. Severity of CT depends on the gestational period in which infection occurs, and alterations at the cellular level during retinal development have been reported. In this study, we proposed a mouse CT model to investigate the impact of infection on retinal development. Methods Pregnant females of pigmented C57BL/6 strain mice were infected intragastrically with two T. gondii cysts (ME49 strain) at embryonic day 10 (E10), and the offspring were analyzed at E18. Results Infected embryos had significantly smaller body sizes and weights than the PBS-treated controls, indicating that embryonic development was affected. In the retina, a significant increase in the number of Ki-67-positive cells (marker of proliferating cells) was found in the apical region of the NBL of infected mice compared to the control. Supporting this, cell cycle proteins Cyclin D3, Cdk6 and pChK2 were significantly altered in infected retinas. Interestingly, the immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant increase in the population of β-III-tubulin-positive cells, one of the earliest markers of neuronal differentiation. Conclusions Our data suggests that CT affects cell cycle progression in retinal progenitor cells, possibly inducing the arrest of these cells at G2/M phase. Such alterations could influence the differentiation, anticipating/increasing neuronal maturation, and therefore leading to abnormal retinal formation. Our model mimics important events observed in ocular CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Souza de Campos
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Feitosa Magalhães
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Barbara Gomes da Rosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Lucianne Fragel-Madeira
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Regeneração Neural, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Danniel Pereira Figueiredo
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Karin C. Calaza
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Retina, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brazil
| | - Daniel Adesse
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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4
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Souza JS, Farani PSG, Ferreira BIS, Barbosa HS, Menna-Barreto RFS, Moreira OC, Mariante RM. Establishment of a murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis and validation of a qPCR assay to assess the parasite load in maternal and fetal tissues. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1124378. [PMID: 36922978 PMCID: PMC10009190 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1124378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease that affects warm-blooded animals and one third of the human population worldwide. Pregnant women who have never been exposed to the parasite constitute an important risk group, as infection during pregnancy often leads to congenital toxoplasmosis, the most severe form of the disease. Current therapy for toxoplasmosis is the same as it was 50 years ago and has little or no effect when vertical transmission occurs. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new strategies to prevent mother-to-fetus transmission. The implementation of experimental animal models of congenital toxoplasmosis that reproduces the transmission rates and clinical signs in humans opens an avenue of possibilities to interfere in the progression of the disease. In addition, knowing the parasite load in maternal and fetal tissues after infection, which may be related to organ abnormalities and disease outcome, is another important step in designing a promising intervention strategy. Therefore, we implemented here a murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis with outbred Swiss Webster mice infected intravenously with tachyzoites of the ME49 strain of T. gondii that mimics the frequency of transmission of the parasite, as well as important clinical signs of human congenital toxoplasmosis, such as macrocephaly, in addition to providing a highly sensitive quantitative real-time PCR assay to assess parasite load in mouse tissues. As the disease is not restricted to humans, also affecting several domestic animals, including companion animals and livestock, they can also benefit from the model presented in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica S Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Priscila S G Farani
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Biological Science, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Beatriz I S Ferreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helene S Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Otacilio C Moreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Mariante
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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5
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Curcumin modulates neurogliogenesis and purinergic receptor expression in neural precursor cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:77-84. [PMID: 36282319 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07698-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, and its congenital transmission is of paramount concern. During embryonic development, infection with the parasite causes irreversible damage to the still-forming fetus's central nervous system (CNS). In the pathogenesis of neurotoxoplasmosis, purinergic receptors prejudice neuroprotection, neuroinflammation, and activation of microbicide mechanisms against the parasitic vacuole. This study used curcumin as a treatment for neural precursor cells (NPCs) infected with T. gondii. The congenital toxoplasmosis induction consisted of maternal infection with the VEG strain, and NPCs were obtained from the telencephalon of mouse embryos. Curcumin at increasing concentrations was administered in vitro to analyze NPC metabolic activity, cell number, and size, as well as neurogliogenesis, proving to be effective in recovering the size of infected NPCs. Curcumin partially re-established impaired neurogenesis. Purinergic A1, A2A, and P2X7 receptors may be related to neuroprotection, neuroinflammatory control, and activation of mechanisms for inducing the parasite's death. ERK 1/2 was highly expressed in infected cells, while its expression rates decreased after the addition of the treatment, highlighting the possible anti-inflammatory action of curcumin. These findings suggest that curcumin treats neurological perturbations induced by toxoplasmosis.
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6
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Milne GC, Webster JP, Walker M. Is the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis declining? Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:26-37. [PMID: 36400672 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can cause congenital toxoplasmosis (CT), an often fatal or lifelong-disabling condition. Several studies of human populations have reported temporal decreases in seroprevalence, suggesting declining CT incidence. However, the consistency of this trend among diverse populations remains unclear, as does its implication for prenatal screening programmes, the major intervention against CT. Using temporally resolved data on the seroprevalence of T. gondii in various countries, we discuss how the parasite's changing epidemiology may affect trends in CT incidence in varying and counterintuitive ways. We argue that parasite stage-specific serology could be helpful for understanding underlying causes of secular changes in seroprevalence. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of updating cost-effectiveness estimates of screening programmes, accounting for neuropsychiatric sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Colin Milne
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Joanne P Webster
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, London, UK
| | - Martin Walker
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK; London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, London, UK
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Desiatkina O, Mösching M, Anghel N, Boubaker G, Amdouni Y, Hemphill A, Furrer J, Păunescu E. New Nucleic Base-Tethered Trithiolato-Bridged Dinuclear Ruthenium(II)-Arene Compounds: Synthesis and Antiparasitic Activity. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238173. [PMID: 36500266 PMCID: PMC9738179 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Aiming toward compounds with improved anti-Toxoplasma activity by exploiting the parasite auxotrophies, a library of nucleobase-tethered trithiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II)-arene conjugates was synthesized and evaluated. Structural features such as the type of nucleobase and linking unit were progressively modified. For comparison, diruthenium hybrids with other type of molecules were also synthesized and assessed. A total of 37 compounds (diruthenium conjugates and intermediates) were evaluated in a primary screening for in vitro activity against transgenic Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites constitutively expressing β-galactosidase (T. gondii β-gal) at 0.1 and 1 µM. In parallel, the cytotoxicity in non-infected host cells (human foreskin fibroblasts, HFF) was determined by alamarBlue assay. Twenty compounds strongly impairing parasite proliferation with little effect on HFF viability were subjected to T. gondii β-gal half maximal inhibitory concentration determination (IC50) and their toxicity for HFF was assessed at 2.5 µM. Two promising compounds were identified: 14, ester conjugate with 9-(2-oxyethyl)adenine, and 36, a click conjugate bearing a 2-(4-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl substituent, with IC50 values of 0.059 and 0.111 µM respectively, significantly lower compared to pyrimethamine standard (IC50 = 0.326 µM). Both 14 and 36 exhibited low toxicity against HFF when applied at 2.5 µM and are candidates for potential treatment options in a suitable in vivo model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Desiatkina
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Mösching
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicoleta Anghel
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ghalia Boubaker
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yosra Amdouni
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Université de la Manouba, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julien Furrer
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Emilia Păunescu
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Cui J, Yang X, Yang J, Jia R, Feng Y, Shen B. A Coccidia-Specific Phosphate Transporter Is Essential for the Growth of Toxoplasma gondii Parasites. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0218622. [PMID: 36094254 PMCID: PMC9604053 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02186-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that acquires all necessary nutrients from the hosts, but the exact nutrient acquisition mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we identified three putative phosphate transporters in T. gondii. TgPiT and TgPT2 are mainly on the plasma membrane, whereas TgmPT is localized to the mitochondrion. TgPiT and TgmPT are widely present and conserved in apicomplexan parasites that include Plasmodium and Eimeria species. Nonetheless, they are dispensable for the growth and virulence of Toxoplasma. TgPT2, on the other hand, is restricted to coccidia parasites and is essential for Toxoplasma survival. TgPT2 depletion led to reduced motility and invasion, as well as growth arrest of the parasites both in vitro and in vivo. Both TgPiT and TgPT2 have phosphate transport activities and contribute to parasites' inorganic phosphate (Pi) absorption. Interestingly, the Pi importing activity of Toxoplasma parasites could be competitively inhibited by ATP and AMP. Furthermore, direct uptake of 32P-ATP was also observed, indicating the parasites' ability to scavenge host ATP. Nonetheless, ATP/AMP import is not mediated by TgPiT or TgPT2, suggesting additional mechanisms. Together, these results show the complex pathways of phosphate transport in Toxoplasma, and TgPT2 is a potential target for antitoxoplasmic intervention design due to its essential role in parasite growth. IMPORTANCE To grow and survive within host cells, Toxoplasma must scavenge necessary nutrients from hosts to support its parasitism. Transporters located in the plasma membrane of the parasites play critical roles in nutrient acquisition. Toxoplasma encodes a large number of transporters, but so far, only a few have been characterized. In this study, we identified two phosphate transporters, TgPiT and TgPT2, to localize to the plasma membrane of Toxoplasma. Although both TgPiT and TgPT2 possess phosphate transport activities, only the novel transporter TgPT2 was essential for parasite growth, both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, TgPT2 and its orthologs are only present in coccidia parasites. As such, TgPT2 represents a potential target for drug design against toxoplasmosis. In addition, our data indicated that Toxoplasma can take up ATP and AMP from the environment, providing new insights into the energy metabolism of Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmin Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuke Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jichao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ruilian Jia
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine in Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
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Garweg JG, Kieffer F, Mandelbrot L, Peyron F, Wallon M. Long-Term Outcomes in Children with Congenital Toxoplasmosis-A Systematic Review. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101187. [PMID: 36297244 PMCID: PMC9610672 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Even in the absence of manifestations at birth, children with congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) may develop serious long-term sequelae later in life. This systematic review aims to present the current state of knowledge to base an informed decision on how to optimally manage these pregnancies and children. For this, a systematic literature search was performed on 28 July 2022 in PubMed, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, Google Scholar and Scopus to identify all prospective and retrospective studies on congenital toxoplasmosis and its long-term outcomes that were evaluated by the authors. We included 31 research papers from several countries. Virulent parasite strains, low socioeconomic status and any delay of treatment seem to contribute to a worse outcome, whereas an early diagnosis of CT as a consequence of prenatal screening may be beneficial. The rate of ocular lesions in treated children increases over time to 30% in European and over 70% in South American children and can be considerably reduced by early treatment in the first year of life. After treatment, new neurological manifestations are not reported, while ocular recurrences are observed in more than 50% of patients, with a mild to moderate impact on quality of life in European cohorts when compared to a significantly reduced quality of life in the more severely affected South American children. Though CT is rare and less severe in Europe when compared with South America, antenatal screening is the only effective way to diagnose and treat affected individuals at the earliest possible time in order to reduce the burden of disease and achieve satisfying outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus G. Garweg
- Swiss Eye Institute, Rotkreuz, and Uveitis Clinic, Berner Augenklinik, Zieglerstrasse 29, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
| | - François Kieffer
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Service de Néonatologie, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Laurent Mandelbrot
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Louis-Mourier Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, 178 rue des Renouillers, 92700 Colombes, France
- Inserm IAME-U1137, 75000 Paris, France
| | - François Peyron
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Department of Parasitology and Medical Mycology, 69004 Lyon, France
| | - Martine Wallon
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Department of Parasitology and Medical Mycology, 69004 Lyon, France
- Walking Team, Centre for Research in Neuroscience in Lyon, 69500 Bron, France
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10
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Vertical transmission and pathological findings in the mother, the placenta and the offspring, during first and last thirds of gestation in a mouse model of congenital toxoplasmosis. Parasitol Int 2022; 91:102640. [PMID: 35933034 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We performed a study of congenital toxoplasmosis of the first and third gestation periods in mice, and determined its effects on the embryos/fetuses, the placentae and the maternal organs. We infected pregnant BALB/c mice by i.v. injection of 2.5-10.0 × 106 tachyzoites of the ME49 T. gondii strain and euthanized them 72 h later. The tissues were analyzed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry and parasite-specific qPCR. Infections with the lowest dose induced remarkably different changes in the two thirds: a) all doses diminished the number of products/litter, the lowest dose only by 14%; but most embryos still visible were degenerated in the case of the first period, while the fetuses of the last third were perfectly preserved; b) the transmission rate in the first third was relatively high, but with a very low parasite burden; c) with the lowest dose, strong vascular changes (congestion, thrombosis and hemorrhage) predominated in the placentas of the first period, while they were absent in the last third; d) necrosis caused by T. gondii to maternal organs was much stronger during the last gestation period than in the first. Our results suggest that the vascular alterations at the placenta of the first third of pregnancy prevent embryo from large parasite burden, but provoke its death by starvation. In the last gestation period, there was poor control of parasite dissemination to the placenta and the fetus, but there was greater capacity of the product to defend itself from T. gondii.
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de Barros RAM, Torrecilhas AC, Marciano MAM, Mazuz ML, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Fux B. Toxoplasmosis in Human and Animals Around the World. Diagnosis and Perspectives in the One Health Approach. Acta Trop 2022; 231:106432. [PMID: 35390311 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a unique health disease that significantly affects the health of humans, domestic animals, wildlife and is present in ecosystems, including water, soil and food. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the best-adapted parasites in the word. This parasite is able to persist for long periods in its hosts, in different geographic regions of the word. This review summarizes the current literature of these themes, focusing on: (1) toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic infection; (2) One health approach and toxoplasmosis; (3) human toxoplasmosis; (4) animal toxoplasmosis; (5) toxoplasmosis diagnosis, as immunological, parasitological and molecular diagnosis; (6) T. gondii outbreaks caused by infected meat, milk and dairy products, as well as, vegetables and water consume; (7) studies in experimental models; (8) genetic characterization of T. gondii strains; (9) extracellular vesicles and miRNA; and (10) future perspectives on T. gondii and toxoplasmosis. The vast prevalence of toxoplasmosis in both humans and animals and the dispersion and resistence of T. gondii parasites in environment highlight the importance of the one health approach in diagnostic and control of the disease. Here the different aspects of the one health approach are presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Aparecida Müller de Barros
- Unidade de Medicina Tropical, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.; Programa em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil..
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Bioquímica de Fungos e Protozoários, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Campus Diadema, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil..
| | | | - Monica Leszkowicz Mazuz
- Parasitology Division, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Israeli Veterinary Service and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Beit Dagan, 5025000, Israel..
| | | | - Blima Fux
- Unidade de Medicina Tropical, Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil.; Programa em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil..
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12
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Grochow T, Beck B, Rentería-Solís Z, Schares G, Maksimov P, Strube C, Seeger J, Raqué L, Ulrich R, Daugschies A, Fietz SA. Establishment and validation of a guinea pig model for human congenital toxoplasmosis. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:389. [PMID: 34362413 PMCID: PMC8344189 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04890-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Congenital infection in humans and animals may lead to severe symptoms in the offspring, especially in the brain. A suitable animal model for human congenital toxoplasmosis is currently lacking. The aim of this study is to establish and validate the guinea pig as a model for human congenital toxoplasmosis by investigating the impact of the T. gondii infection dose, the duration of infection and the gestational stage at infection on the seroconversion, survival rate of dams, fate of the offspring, T. gondii DNA loads in various offspring tissues and organs and the integrity of the offspring brain. Methods Pregnant guinea pigs were infected with three different doses (10, 100, 500 oocysts) of T. gondii strain ME49 at three different time points during gestation (15, 30, 48 days post-conception). Serum of dams was tested for the presence of T. gondii antibodies using immunoblotting. T. gondii DNA levels in the dam and offspring were determined by qPCR. Offspring brains were examined histologically. Results We found the survival rate of dams and fate of the offspring to be highly dependent on the T. gondii infection dose with an inoculation of 500 oocysts ending lethally for all respective offspring. Moreover, both parameters differ depending on the gestational stage at infection with infection in the first and third trimester of gestation resulting in a high offspring mortality rate. The duration of infection was found to substantially impact the seroconversion rate of dams with the probability of seroconversion exceeding 50% after day 20 post-infection. Furthermore, the infection duration of dams influenced the T. gondii DNA loads in the offspring and the integrity of offspring brain. Highest DNA levels were found in the offspring brain of dams infected for ≥ 34 days. Conclusion This study contributes to establishing the guinea pig as a suitable model for human congenital toxoplasmosis and thus lays the foundation for using the guinea pig as a suitable animal model to study scientific questions of high topicality and clinical significance, which address the pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04890-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Grochow
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Britta Beck
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Zaida Rentería-Solís
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- National Reference Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Johannes Seeger
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisa Raqué
- Veterinary Practice Raqué, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Reiner Ulrich
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arwid Daugschies
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone A Fietz
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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13
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de Souza G, Silva RJ, Milián ICB, Rosini AM, de Araújo TE, Teixeira SC, Oliveira MC, Franco PS, da Silva CV, Mineo JR, Silva NM, Ferro EAV, Barbosa BF. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 modulates Toxoplasma gondii infection, immune response and lipid droplets formation in human trophoblast cells and villous explants. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12709. [PMID: 34135407 PMCID: PMC8209052 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92120-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital toxoplasmosis is represented by the transplacental passage of Toxoplasma gondii from the mother to the fetus. Our studies demonstrated that T. gondii developed mechanisms to evade of the host immune response, such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induction, and these mediators can be produced/stored in lipid droplets (LDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of COX-2 and LDs during T. gondii infection in human trophoblast cells and villous explants. Our data demonstrated that COX-2 inhibitors decreased T. gondii replication in trophoblast cells and villous. In BeWo cells, the COX-2 inhibitors induced an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and MIF), and a decrease in anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). In HTR-8/SVneo cells, the COX-2 inhibitors induced an increase of IL-6 and nitrite and decreased IL-4 and TGF-β1. In villous explants, the COX-2 inhibitors increased MIF and decreased TNF-α and IL-10. Furthermore, T. gondii induced an increase in LDs in BeWo and HTR-8/SVneo, but COX-2 inhibitors reduced LDs in both cells type. We highlighted that COX-2 is a key factor to T. gondii proliferation in human trophoblast cells, since its inhibition induced a pro-inflammatory response capable of controlling parasitism and leading to a decrease in the availability of LDs, which are essentials for parasite growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme de Souza
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Rafaela José Silva
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Iliana Claudia Balga Milián
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Monteiro Rosini
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Thádia Evelyn de Araújo
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Samuel Cota Teixeira
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Mário Cézar Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Priscila Silva Franco
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Claudio Vieira da Silva
- Laboratory of Trypanosomatids, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - José Roberto Mineo
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Neide Maria Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Eloisa Amália Vieira Ferro
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil
| | - Bellisa Freitas Barbosa
- Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Uberlândia, Campus Umuarama, Av. Pará, 1720, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-320, Brazil.
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14
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Song Y, Tang Y, Yang Q, Li T, He Z, Wu Y, He Q, Li T, Li C, Long M, Chen J, Wei J, Bao J, Shen Z, Meng X, Pan G, Zhou Z. Proliferation characteristics of the intracellular microsporidian pathogen Nosema bombycis in congenitally infected embryos. J Invertebr Pathol 2019; 169:107310. [PMID: 31862268 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2019.107310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Nosema bombycis is an obligate intracellular pathogen that can be transmitted vertically from infected females to eggs, resulting in congenital infections in embryos. Here we investigated the proliferation characteristics of N. bombycis in silkworm embryos using a histopathological approach and deep RNA sequencing. We found that N. bombycis proliferated mainly around yolk granules at the early stage of the embryonic development, 1-2 days post oviposition (dpo). At 4-6 dpo, a portion of N. bombycis in different stages adjacent to the embryo were packaged into the newly formed intestinal lumen, while the remaining parasites continued to proliferate around yolk granules. In the newly hatched larvae (9 dpo), the newly formed spores accumulated in the gut lumen and immediately were released into the environment via the faeces. Transcriptional profiling of N. bombycis further confirmed multiplication of N. bombycis throughout every stage of embryonic development. Additionally, the increased transcriptional level of spore wall proteins and polar tube proteins from 4 dpo indicated an active formation of mature spores. Taken together, our results have provided a characterization of the proliferation of this intracellular microsporidian pathogen in congenitally infected embryos leading to vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Song
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunlin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiong Yang
- Sericulture and Agri-food Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tangxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhangshuai He
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yujiao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiang He
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mengxian Long
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junhong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jialing Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zigang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xianzhi Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
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15
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Sánchez-Sánchez R, Ferre I, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Gutiérrez-Expósito D, Ferrer LM, Arteche-Villasol N, Moreno-Gonzalo J, Müller J, Aguado-Martínez A, Pérez V, Hemphill A, Ortega-Mora LM, Benavides J. Virulence in Mice of a Toxoplasma gondii Type II Isolate Does Not Correlate With the Outcome of Experimental Infection in Pregnant Sheep. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 8:436. [PMID: 30662874 PMCID: PMC6328472 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite that infects almost all warm-blooded animals. Little is known about how the parasite virulence in mice extrapolates to other relevant hosts. In the current study, in vitro phenotype and in vivo behavior in mice and sheep of a type II T. gondii isolate (TgShSp1) were compared with the reference type II T. gondii isolate (TgME49). The results of in vitro assays and the intraperitoneal inoculation of tachyzoites in mice indicated an enhanced virulence for the laboratory isolate, TgME49, compared to the recently obtained TgShSp1 isolate. TgShSp1 proliferated at a slower rate and had delayed lysis plaque formation compared to TgME49, but it formed more cyst-like structures in vitro. No mortality was observed in adult mice after infection with 1–105 tachyzoites intraperitoneally or with 25–2,000 oocysts orally of TgShSp1. In sheep orally challenged with oocysts, TgME49 infection resulted in sporadically higher rectal temperatures and higher parasite load in cotyledons from ewes that gave birth and brain tissues of the respective lambs, but no differences between these two isolates were found on fetal/lamb mortality or lesions and number of T. gondii-positive lambs. The congenital infection after challenge at mid-pregnancy with TgShSp1, measured as offspring mortality and vertical transmission, was different depending on the challenged host. In mice, mortality in 50% of the pups was observed when a dam was challenged with a high oocyst dose (500 TgShSp1 oocysts), whereas in sheep infected with the same dose of oocysts, mortality occurred in all fetuses. Likewise, mortality of 9 and 27% of the pups was observed in mice after infection with 100 and 25 TgShSp1 oocysts, respectively, while in sheep, infection with 50 and 10 TgShSp1 oocysts triggered mortality in 68 and 66% of the fetuses/lambs. Differences in vertical transmission in the surviving offspring were only found with the lower oocyst doses (100% after infection with 10 TgShSp1 oocysts in sheep and only 37% in mice after infection with 25 TgShSp1 oocysts). In conclusion, virulence in mice of T. gondii type II isolates may not be a good indicator to predict the outcome of infection in pregnant sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sánchez-Sánchez
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Ferre
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Regidor-Cerrillo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Luis Miguel Ferrer
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Javier Moreno-Gonzalo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joachim Müller
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Valentín Pérez
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), León, Spain
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Benavides
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), León, Spain
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16
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Ferreira SCM, Torelli F, Klein S, Fyumagwa R, Karesh WB, Hofer H, Seeber F, East ML. Evidence of high exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging and captive African carnivores. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2018; 8:111-117. [PMID: 30740303 PMCID: PMC6356113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite. Mammals and birds are intermediate hosts and felid species are definitive hosts. In most human altered habitats the domestic cat is the predominant definitive host. Current knowledge of T. gondii infection in African ecosystems is limited. This study aimed to assess exposure to T. gondii in wild carnivores in the Serengeti ecosystem in East Africa. Carnivores can be infected by the consumption of tissue cysts when feeding on infected animals and by incidental ingestion of oocysts from environmental contamination. Incidental ingestion should occur regardless of a species’ diet whereas the consumption of cysts should increase the chance of infection in carnivorous species. This predicts higher seropositivity in carnivorous than in insectivorous carnivores and lower seropositivity in juvenile carnivores with a long dependency on milk than in adults. We found high seropositivity in carnivorous species: 100% (15 of 15 samples) in adult African lions, 93% (38 of 41 samples) in adult spotted hyenas and one striped hyena sample was positive, whereas all four samples from the insectivorous bat-eared fox were negative. Juvenile hyenas (11 of 19 sera) had significantly lower seropositivity than adults (38 of 41 sera). Long-term monitoring of spotted hyenas revealed no significant difference in seropositivity between two periods (1988–1992 and 2000 to 2016). Identical results were produced in lion and hyena samples by a commercial multi-species ELISA (at serum dilution 1:10) and an in-house ELISA based on a recombinant T. gondii protein (at serum dilution 1:100), making the latter a useful alternative for small amounts of serum. We suggest that diet, age and lifetime range are factors determining seropositivity in carnivores in the Serengeti ecosystem and suggest that the role of small wild felids in the spread of T. gondii in the African ecosystem warrants investigation. Most Serengeti lions and spotted hyenas had anti-T. gondii antibodies. Spotted hyenas' seropositivity remains similar in two time periods across 28 years. The proportion of seropositive juvenile spotted hyenas was lower than in adults. No evidence of infection in 4 wild bat-eared foxes, which are insectivorous canids. An in-house ELISA permits the use of small amounts of serum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Carolina Martins Ferreira
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca Torelli
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biology, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstraße 110, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandra Klein
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Fyumagwa
- Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, Tanzania, Wildlife Research Institute, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, PO Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - William B Karesh
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, NY, 10460, USA.,Ecohealth Alliance, 460 West 34th Street - 17th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, USA
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14195, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seeber
- Department of Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestraße 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marion L East
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
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17
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Bottari NB, Schetinger MRC, Pillat MM, Palma TV, Ulrich H, Alves MS, Morsch VM, Melazzo C, de Barros LD, Garcia JL, Da Silva AS. Resveratrol as a Therapy to Restore Neurogliogenesis of Neural Progenitor Cells Infected by Toxoplasma gondii. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:2328-2338. [PMID: 30027338 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1180-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii may cause congenital toxoplasmosis and serious brain damage in fetus. However, the underlying mechanism of neuropathogenesis in brain toxoplasmosis remains unclear. For this study, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) were obtained from embryo telencephalons (embryonic day 13) and induced to proliferation in the presence of growth factors (GFs). For gathering insights into the biological effects of resveratrol (RSV) on neurogenesis, this study aimed to investigate effects of RSV concentrations (0.1 to 100 μM) on proliferation, migration and differentiation of NPCs infected by T. gondii. T. gondii infection increased the presence of cells in Sub G1 phase, reducing the global frequency of undifferentiated cells in S and G2/M phases of cell cycle and reduced cell viability/mithochondrial activity of infected NPCs. Moreover T. gondii stimulated neural migration and gliogenesis during neutral differentation. However, the treatment with RSV stimulated cell proliferation, restored cellular viability of infected NPCs and exerted an inhibitory effect on gliogenesis of infected NPCs favorecing neuronal maturation during toxoplasmosis infection. Thus, we have successfully to demonstrated that RSV is promising as therapeutic for congenital toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathieli B Bottari
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemical and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, n°1000, Camobi District, Zip Code, Santa Maria, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Maria Rosa C Schetinger
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemical and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, n°1000, Camobi District, Zip Code, Santa Maria, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Micheli M Pillat
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thais V Palma
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemical and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, n°1000, Camobi District, Zip Code, Santa Maria, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana S Alves
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemical and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, n°1000, Camobi District, Zip Code, Santa Maria, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Vera M Morsch
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemical and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, n°1000, Camobi District, Zip Code, Santa Maria, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Cinthia Melazzo
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemical and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, n°1000, Camobi District, Zip Code, Santa Maria, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Luiz Daniel de Barros
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Paraná, PR, Brazil
| | - João Luis Garcia
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Paraná, PR, Brazil
| | - Aleksandro Schafer Da Silva
- Graduate Program in Toxicological Biochemical and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Avenida Roraima, n°1000, Camobi District, Zip Code, Santa Maria, 97105900, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, SC, Brazil.
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18
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Chakraborty S, Roy S, Mistry HU, Murthy S, George N, Bhandari V, Sharma P. Potential Sabotage of Host Cell Physiology by Apicomplexan Parasites for Their Survival Benefits. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1261. [PMID: 29081773 PMCID: PMC5645534 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Babesia, and Theileria are the major apicomplexan parasites affecting humans or animals worldwide. These pathogens represent an excellent example of host manipulators who can overturn host signaling pathways for their survival. They infect different types of host cells and take charge of the host machinery to gain nutrients and prevent itself from host attack. The mechanisms by which these pathogens modulate the host signaling pathways are well studied for Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, and Theileria, except for limited studies on Babesia. Theileria is a unique pathogen taking into account the way it modulates host cell transformation, resulting in its clonal expansion. These parasites majorly modulate similar host signaling pathways, however, the disease outcome and effect is different among them. In this review, we discuss the approaches of these apicomplexan to manipulate the host–parasite clearance pathways during infection, invasion, survival, and egress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonti Roy
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Hiral Uday Mistry
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Shweta Murthy
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Neena George
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Paresh Sharma
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB-DBT), Hyderabad, India
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Müller J, Aguado-Martínez A, Ortega-Mora LM, Moreno-Gonzalo J, Ferre I, Hulverson MA, Choi R, McCloskey MC, Barrett LK, Maly DJ, Ojo KK, Van Voorhis W, Hemphill A. Development of a murine vertical transmission model for Toxoplasma gondii oocyst infection and studies on the efficacy of bumped kinase inhibitor (BKI)-1294 and the naphthoquinone buparvaquone against congenital toxoplasmosis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2017; 72:2334-2341. [PMID: 28486633 PMCID: PMC5890665 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkx134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Establishment of a mouse model for congenital toxoplasmosis based on oral infection with oocysts from Toxoplasma gondii ME49 and its application for investigating chemotherapeutic options against congenital toxoplasmosis. Methods CD1 mice were mated, orally infected with 5, 25, 100, 500 or 2000 oocysts and monitored for clinical signs and survival of dams and pups until 4 weeks post partum . The parasite burden in infected mice was quantified by real-time PCR in lungs, brains and, in the case of surviving pups, also in eyes. Seroconversion was assessed by ELISA. T. gondii cysts in brain were identified by immunofluorescence. In a second experiment, pregnant CD1 mice challenged with 20 oocysts/mouse were treated with buparvaquone or the calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 inhibitor bumped kinase inhibitor (BKI)-1294 and the outcome of infection was analysed. Results T. gondii DNA was detected in the brain of all infected animals, irrespective of the infection dose. Seroconversion occurred at 3 weeks post-infection. Most pups born to infected dams died within 1 week post partum , but a small fraction survived until the end of the experiment. T. gondii DNA was detected in the brain of all survivors and half of them exhibited ocular infection. Chemotherapy with both compounds led to dramatically increased numbers of surviving pups and reduced cerebral infection. Most efficient were treatments with BKI-1294, with 100% survivors and only 7% brain-positive pups. Conclusions BKI-1294 and buparvaquone exert excellent activities against transplacental transmission in pregnant mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Müller
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Adriana Aguado-Martínez
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis-Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Moreno-Gonzalo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Ferre
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthew A. Hulverson
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan Choi
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Molly C. McCloskey
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lynn K. Barrett
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dustin J. Maly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wes Van Voorhis
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
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