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Lima JC, Brito RMDM, Pereira LC, Pereira NDS, Nascimento MSL, de Melo AL, Guedes PMM. Innate immune receptors are differentially expressed in mice during experimental Schistosoma mansoni early infection. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2024; 119:e240013. [PMID: 38896633 PMCID: PMC11182339 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760240013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of Schistosoma mansoni infection over the immune response and the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis are not yet completely understood. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the expression of innate immune receptors in three distinct mouse lineages (BALB/c, C57BL/6 and Swiss) during experimental S. mansoni infection with LE strain. METHODS The parasite burden, intestinal tissue oogram and presence of hepatic granulomas were evaluated at 7- and 12-weeks post infection (wpi). The mRNA expression for innate Toll-like receptors, Nod-like receptors, their adaptor molecules, and cytokines were determined at 2, 7 and 12 wpi in the hepatic tissue by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). FINDINGS Swiss mice showed 100% of survival, had lower parasite burden and intestinal eggs, while infected BALB/c and C57BL/6 presented 80% and 90% of survival, respectively, higher parasite burden and intestinal eggs. The three mouse lineages displayed distinct patterns in the expression of innate immune receptors, their adaptor molecules and cytokines, at 2 and 7 wpi. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the pathogenesis of S. mansoni infection is related to a dynamic early activation of innate immunity receptors and cytokines important for the control of developing worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janete Cunha Lima
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Natal, RN, Brasil
| | | | - Luanderson Cardoso Pereira
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Natal, RN, Brasil
| | - Nathalie de Sena Pereira
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Natal, RN, Brasil
| | | | - Alan Lane de Melo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Parasitologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Paulo Marcos Matta Guedes
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Natal, RN, Brasil
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Amer EI, El-Azzouni MZ, El-Bannan RT, Shalaby TI, El-Achy SN, Gomaa MM. Schistosomiasis mansoni: A new therapeutic target for ubiquinol, a natural inhibitor of neutral magnesium-dependent sphingomyelinase in murine model. Acta Trop 2022; 226:106231. [PMID: 34785184 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Constituting the host-parasite interface and playing a censorious role in host immune response modulation and parasite survival, tegument represents a crucial target for many antischistosomal drugs. Sphingomyelin forms a stable outer leaflet of tegumental membrane-lipid bilayer. Neutral magnesium-dependent sphingomyelinase (Mg2+-nSMase) is a key enzyme in sphingomyelin breakdown was identified in schistosomes. We investigated the in vivo efficacy of ubiquinol, a natural inhibitor of Mg2+-nSMase, in free and niosomes-encapsulated forms, through five-day and 15-day regimens on the early and late Schistosoma mansoni parasitic stages, respectively, compared to PZQ. Oral administration of 300 mg/kg/day ubiquinol-encapsulated niosomes (U-N) showed significant deterioration of the parasitic growth and development in the term of reduction of lung schistosomula burden (39.12%), adult worm burden (50.81%), hepatic and intestinal tissue-egg counts (80.89% and 75.54%, respectively). PZQ and free ubiquinol regimens reported reductions in lung schistosomula counts (45.36% and 22.90%, respectively) and total worm burdens of 86.28% and 24.58%, respectively. U-N therapy revealed worms de-pairing and remarkable diminution in female worms' perimeters and fecundity. Scanning electron microscope revealed disruption of tegumental ridges with excessive longitudinal corrugation. Transmission electron microscope showed testicular and ovarian parenchymal degeneration, signs of immaturity and cell apoptosis. Indirect immunofluorescence assay approved parasite's tegumental changes. Remarkable reduction of granulomas size with amelioration of hepatic pathology and fibrosis were assumed to be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of ubiquinol. These findings with the drug safety profile suggest that U-N could be a promising candidate for a new antischistosomal drug development.
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Mesquita SG, Neves FGDS, Scholte RGC, Carvalho ODS, Fonseca CT, Caldeira RL. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for Schistosoma mansoni detection in Biomphalaria spp. from schistosomiasis-endemic areas in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:388. [PMID: 34362440 PMCID: PMC8343921 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04888-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis a neglected tropical disease endemic in Brazil. It is caused by the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, which is transmitted by snails of the genus Biomphalaria. Among measures used to control and eliminate schistosomiasis, accurate mapping and monitoring of snail breeding sites are recommended. Despite the limitations of parasitological methods, they are still used to identify infected snails. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic method for the identification of infected snails. In the work reported here, we aimed to validate the use of LAMP for the detection of S. mansoni in snails of the genus Biomphalaria. METHODS Snails were collected in five municipalities of the Mucuri Valley and Jequitinhonha Valley regions in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Snails were pooled according to collection site and then squeezed for the detection of S. mansoni and other trematode larvae. Pooled snails were subjected to pepsin digestion and DNA extraction. Molecular assays were performed for species-specific identification and characterization of the samples. A previously described LAMP assay was adapted, evaluated, and validated using laboratory and field samples. RESULTS Using the parasitological method described here, S. mansoni cercariae were detected in snails from two collection sites, and cercariae of the family Spirorchiidae were found in snails from one site. The snails were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Biomphalaria glabrata, the main snail host of S. mansoni in Brazil, was detected in 72.2% of the collection sites. Biomphalaria kuhniana, which is resistant to S. mansoni infection, was found in the remaining sites. Multiplex, low stringency (LS), and conventional PCR allowed the detection of positive snails in four additional sites. Trematodes belonging to the families Strigeidae and Echinostomatidae were detected by multiplex PCR in two sites. The LAMP assay was effective in detecting the presence of S. mansoni infection in laboratory (7 days post-infection) and field samples with no cross-reactivity for other trematodes. When compared to LS and conventional PCR, LAMP showed 100% specificity, 85.7% sensitivity, and a κ index of 0.88. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that LAMP is a good alternative method for the detection and monitoring of transmission foci of S. mansoni, as it was three times as effective as the parasitological examination used here for the detection of infection, and is more directly applicable in the field than other molecular techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gonçalves Mesquita
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Floria Gabriela dos Santos Neves
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Guilherme Carvalho Scholte
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Omar dos Santos Carvalho
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Cristina Toscano Fonseca
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Biologia e Imunologia Parasitária, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
| | - Roberta Lima Caldeira
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais Brazil
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Antischistosomal properties of aurone derivatives against juvenile and adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni. Acta Trop 2021; 213:105741. [PMID: 33159900 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by helminth flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affecting over 240 million people in more than 70 countries. The treatment relies on a single drug, praziquantel, making urgent the discovery of new compounds. Aurones are a natural type of flavonoids that display interesting pharmacological activities, particularly as chemotherapeutic agents against parasites. In pursuit of treatment alternatives, the present work conducted an in vitro and in vivo antischistosomal investigation with aurone derivatives against Schistosoma mansoni. After preparation of aurone derivatives and their in vitro evaluation on adult schistosomes, the three most active aurones were evaluated in cytotoxicity and haemolytic assays, as well as in confocal laser-scanning microscope studies, showing tegumental damage in parasites in a concentration-dependent manner with no haemolytic or cytotoxic potential toward mammalian cells. In a mouse model of schistosomiasis, at a single oral dose of 400 mg/kg, the selected aurones showed worm burden reductions of 35% to 65.0% and egg reductions of 25% to 70.0%. The most active thiophenyl aurone derivative 18, unlike PZQ, had efficacy in mice harboring juvenile S. mansoni, also showing significant inhibition of oviposition by parasites, giving support for the antiparasitic potential of aurones as lead compounds for novel antischistosomal drugs.
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Miranda VHS, Gomes TR, Eller DE, Ferraz LDCN, Chaves AT, Bicalho KA, Silva CEC, Birbrair A, Pascoal Xavier MA, de Goes AM, Corrêa-Oliveira R, Alves ÉAR, Bozzi A. Liver damage in schistosomiasis is reduced by adipose tissue-derived stem cell therapy after praziquantel treatment. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008635. [PMID: 32853206 PMCID: PMC7480869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In view of the potential immunosuppressive and regenerative properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), we investigated whether transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC) could be used to control the granulomatous reaction in the liver of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni after Praziquantel (PZQ) treatment. Methodology/Prinicpal findings C57BL/6 mice infected with S. mansoni were treated with PZQ and transplanted intravenously with ASC from uninfected mice. Liver morpho-physiological and immunological analyses were performed. The combined PZQ/ASC therapy significantly reduced the volume of hepatic granulomas, as well as liver damage as measured by ALT levels. We also observed that ASC accelerated the progression of the granulomatous inflammation to the advanced/curative phase. The faster healing interfered with the expression of CD28 and CTLA-4 molecules in CD4+ T lymphocytes, and the levels of IL-10 and IL-17 cytokines, mainly in the livers of PZQ/ASC-treated mice. Conclusions Our results show that ASC therapy after PZQ treatment results in smaller granulomas with little tissue damage, suggesting the potential of ASC for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to minimize hepatic lesions as well as a granulomatous reaction following S. mansoni infection. Further studies using the chronic model of schistosomiasis are required to corroborate the therapeutic use of ASC for schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent parasitic disease in the world and is caused by the Schistosoma trematode. This disease is characterized by a granulomatous reaction around parasite eggs trapped in the tissues. The liver is one of the most affected organs and can develop severe fibrosis. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the treatment for schistosomiasis and kills the adult the worm; however, inflammation still persists around the eggs in the tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been extensively studied as an alternative therapy to repair tissues and to stop inflammation due to their potential to differentiate in several cells types (bone, cartilage, fat, tendon, muscle, and marrow stroma), and to interfere with immune responses. This scenario has motivated the authors to investigate the use of MSC extract from adipose tissue (ASC) associated with PZQ to treat schistosomiasis. Briefly, mice were treated with PZQ followed by ASC injection showing significant reduction of the granulomas and normal levels of the enzyme alanine aminotransferase, an indicator of liver damage. These results suggest that ASC has the potential to be used as a novel therapeutic approach to control inflammation following infection by S. mansoni or liver disorders. Although the findings are promising, further studies using the chronic model of schistosomiasis are required to confirm using ASC for schistosomiasis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Talita Rocha Gomes
- Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Alexander Birbrair
- Departamento de Patologia, ICB, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Antônio Pascoal Xavier
- Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Adriana Bozzi
- Instituto René Rachou, Fiocruz Minas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Silva-Moraes V, Shollenberger LM, Castro-Borges W, Rabello ALT, Harn DA, Medeiros LCS, Jeremias WDJ, Siqueira LMV, Pereira CSS, Pedrosa MLC, Almeida NBF, Almeida A, Lambertucci JR, Carneiro NFDF, Coelho PMZ, Grenfell RFQ. Serological proteomic screening and evaluation of a recombinant egg antigen for the diagnosis of low-intensity Schistosoma mansoni infections in endemic area in Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006974. [PMID: 30870412 PMCID: PMC6472831 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite decades of use of control programs, schistosomiasis remains a global public health problem. To further reduce prevalence and intensity of infection, or to achieve the goal of elimination in low-endemic areas, there needs to be better diagnostic tools to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas in Brazil. The rationale for development of new diagnostic tools is that the current standard test Kato-Katz (KK) is not sensitive enough to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas. In order to develop new diagnostic tools, we employed a proteomics approach to identify biomarkers associated with schistosome-specific immune responses in hopes of developing sensitive and specific new methods for immunodiagnosis. Methods and findings Immunoproteomic analyses were performed on egg extracts of Schistosoma mansoni using pooled sera from infected or non-infected individuals from a low-endemic area of Brazil. Cross reactivity with other soil-transmitted helminths (STH) was determined using pooled sera from individuals uniquely infected with different helminths. Using this approach, we identified 23 targets recognized by schistosome acute and chronic sera samples. To identify immunoreactive targets that were likely glycan epitopes, we compared these targets to the immunoreactivity of spots treated with sodium metaperiodate oxidation of egg extract. This treatment yielded 12/23 spots maintaining immunoreactivity, suggesting that they were protein epitopes. From these 12 spots, 11 spots cross-reacted with sera from individuals infected with other STH and 10 spots cross-reacted with the negative control group. Spot number 5 was exclusively immunoreactive with sera from S. mansoni-infected groups in native and deglycosylated conditions and corresponds to Major Egg Antigen (MEA). We expressed MEA as a recombinant protein and showed a similar recognition pattern to that of the native protein via western blot. IgG-ELISA gave a sensitivity of 87.10% and specificity of 89.09% represented by area under the ROC curve of 0.95. IgG-ELISA performed better than the conventional KK (2 slides), identifying 56/64 cases harboring 1–10 eggs per gram of feces that were undiagnosed by KK parasitological technique. Conclusions The serological proteome approach was able to identify a new diagnostic candidate. The recombinant egg antigen provided good performance in IgG-ELISA to detect individuals with extreme low-intensity infections (1 egg per gram of feces). Therefore, the IgG-ELISA using this newly identified recombinant MEA can be a useful tool combined with other techniques in low-endemic areas to determine the true prevalence of schistosome infection that is underestimated by the KK method. Further, to overcome the complexity of ELISA in the field, a second generation of antibody-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) can be developed. Schistosomiasis remains a serious global public health problem. Detecting parasite eggs in patient stool samples using the KK method is the standard diagnostic recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for infection by S. mansoni. As a result of intensive control strategies, many previously high-endemic areas are now considered low-endemic areas and the KK method does not function well in low-endemic areas and therefore cannot be considered the gold standard. Thus, a new emphasis on strategies to accurately diagnose low-intensity infections was outlined in a plan from the WHO focusing on elimination of disease as a public health problem. Successful diagnoses and treatment of infected individuals may result in eradication of low-burden transmitters and consequently contribute to interruption of disease transmission. In this regard, immunological techniques have proven to be more sensitive and promising for identifying low-intensity infections where KK may be negative. The identification of antigens is the initial step for developing new immunodiagnostic assays. In this study, we used sets of pooled human sera samples from controls with acute and chronic infections to identify new target antigens via proteomic screening. Using these approaches, we initially identified 12 different egg proteins in S. mansoni-infected individuals (acute and chronic phase). A single antigen, identified as MEA, was shown to be highly specific as this antigen was not recognized by sera from negative patients or patients infected with other STH. The recombinant MEA protein functioned in an ELISA as a highly sensitive and specific antigen to detect patient IgG-antibodies. Recombinant MEA performed significantly better to detect low-intensity infections (1 egg per gram of feces) than the KK method using 2 slides. Therefore, we were able to use a proteomic screening approach to identify a potential new candidate antigen for development of far more sensitive diagnostic assays. Further diagnostic assays employing the MEA could be useful tools on their own or in combination with other methods for diagnosis of schistosome infection in populations living in extreme low-intensity endemic areas of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Silva-Moraes
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Lisa Marie Shollenberger
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - William Castro-Borges
- Laboratório de Enzimologia e Proteomica, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Lucia Teles Rabello
- Grupo de Pesquisas Clínicas e Políticas Públicas em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Donald A. Harn
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Wander de Jesus Jeremias
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Liliane Maria Vidal Siqueira
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Caroline Stephane Salviano Pereira
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maria Luysa Camargos Pedrosa
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nathalie Bonatti Franco Almeida
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Aureo Almeida
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Paulo Marcos Zech Coelho
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rafaella Fortini Queiroz Grenfell
- Biologia do Schistosoma mansoni e sua interação com o hospedeiro, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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Avelar LDGA, Gava SG, Neves RH, Silva MCS, Araújo N, Tavares NC, Khal AE, Mattos ACA, Machado-Silva JR, Oliveira G, Mourão MDM. Smp38 MAP Kinase Regulation in Schistosoma mansoni: Roles in Survival, Oviposition, and Protection Against Oxidative Stress. Front Immunol 2019; 10:21. [PMID: 30733716 PMCID: PMC6353789 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic protein kinases (ePKs) are good medical targets for drug development in different biological systems. ePKs participate in many cellular processes, including the p38 MAPK regulation of homeostasis upon oxidative stress. We propose to assess the role of Smp38 MAPK signaling pathway in Schistosoma mansoni development and protection against oxidative stress, parasite survival, and also to elucidate which target genes have their expression regulated by Smp38 MAPK. After a significant reduction of up to 84% in the transcription level by Smp38 MAPK gene knockdown, no visible phenotypic changes were reported in schistosomula in culture. The development of adult worms was tested in vivo in mice infected with the Smp38 knocked-down schistosomula. It was observed that Smp38 MAPK has an essential role in the transformation and survival of the parasites as a low number of adult worms was recovered. Smp38 knockdown also resulted in decreased egg production, damaged adult worm tegument, and underdeveloped ovaries in females. Furthermore, only ~13% of the eggs produced developed into mature eggs. Our results suggest that inhibition of the Smp38 MAPK activity interfere in parasites protection against reactive oxygen species. Smp38 knockdown in adult worms resulted in 80% reduction in transcription levels on the 10th day, with consequent reduction of 94.4% in oviposition in vitro. In order to search for Smp38 MAPK pathway regulated genes, we used an RNASeq approach and identified 1,154 DEGs in Smp38 knockdown schistosomula. A substantial proportion of DEGs encode proteins with unknown function. The results indicate that Smp38 regulates essential signaling pathways for the establishment of parasite homeostasis, including genes related to antioxidant defense, structural composition of ribosomes, spliceosomes, cytoskeleton, as well as, purine and pyrimidine metabolism pathways. Our data show that the Smp38 MAPK signaling pathway is a critical route for parasite development and may present attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment and control of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia das Graças Amaral Avelar
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Sandra Grossi Gava
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Renata Heisler Neves
- Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Neusa Araújo
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Assmaa El Khal
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Immuno-therapeutic potential of Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis antigens in a murine model of colon cancer. Invest New Drugs 2018; 37:47-56. [PMID: 29808307 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-018-0609-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Considerable evidence indicates a negative correlation between the prevalence of some parasitic infections and cancer and their interference with tumor growth. Therefore, parasitic antigens seem to be promising candidates for cancer immunotherapy. In this study, the therapeutic efficacy of autoclaved Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis antigens against a colon cancer murine model was investigated. Both antigens showed immunomodulatory potential, as evidenced by a significant decrease in serum IL-17, a significant increase in serum IL-10, and the percentage of splenic CD4+T-cells and intestinal FoxP3+ Treg cells. However, treatment with S. mansoni antigen yielded protection against the deleterious effect of DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis only, with a significant decrease in the average lesion size and number of neoplasias per mouse. For the first time, we report an inhibitory effect of S. mansoni antigen on the progression of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis, but the exact mechanism has yet to be clarified. This anti-tumor strategy could introduce a new era of medicine in which a generation of anticancer vaccines of parasitic origin would boost the therapy for incurable cancers.
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Mariz Gomes da Silva LM, de Oliveira JF, Silva WL, da Silva AL, de Almeida Junior ASA, Barbosa dos Santos VH, Alves LC, Brayner dos Santos FA, Costa VMA, Aires ADL, de Lima MDCA, Albuquerque MCPDA. New 1,3-benzodioxole derivatives: Synthesis, evaluation of in vitro schistosomicidal activity and ultrastructural analysis. Chem Biol Interact 2018; 283:20-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2018.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 12/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Schistosoma mansoni : In vivo evaluation of Phyllanthus amarus hexanic and ethanolic extracts. Exp Parasitol 2017; 183:56-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Eissa MM, Mostafa DK, Ghazy AA, El azzouni MZ, Boulos LM, Younis LK. Anti-Arthritic Activity of Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis Derived-Antigens in Adjuvant Arthritis in Rats: Role of FOXP3+ Treg Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165916. [PMID: 27802332 PMCID: PMC5089557 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence supports the concept of helminths therapy in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of autoclaved Schistosoma mansoni antigen (ASMA) and Trichinella spiralis antigen (ATSA) on the clinical and immunopathological features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Adjuvant arthritis was induced by subcutaneous and intradermal injections of complete Freund's adjuvant into the plantar surface of the right hind paw and the root of the tail, respectively. Rats were randomly assigned to serve as normal control, untreated arthritis, ASMA or ATSA-treated arthritis groups. Antigens were given by intradermal injection in two doses, two weeks apart. The development, progression of arthritic features, and the impact on animals' gait and body weight were followed up for 4 weeks. The associated changes in serum cytokines (IL-17, IFN-γ and IL-10), joints' histopathology and immunohistochemistry of Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) were evaluated at the end of the study. Treatment with either ASMA or ATSA attenuated the progression of clinical features of polyarthritis, improved gait and body weight gain, reduced the elevated serum IL-17 and further increased both IFN-γ and IL-10. Histopathologically, this was associated with a remarkable regression of paws' inflammation that was limited only to the subcutaneous tissue, and a significant increase in the number of Foxp 3+ cells versus the untreated arthritis group. In conclusion, both Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis derived antigens exerted protective effect against adjuvant arthritis with better effect achieved by ASMA treatment. This anti-arthritic activity is attributed to upregulation of the Foxp3+ Tregs, with subsequent favorable modulation of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The use of autoclaved parasitic antigens excludes the deleterious effects of imposing helminthic infection by using live parasites, which may pave the way to a new therapeutic modality in treating RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha M. Eissa
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Dalia K. Mostafa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Amany A. Ghazy
- Department of Medical microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Mervat Z. El azzouni
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Laila M. Boulos
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Layla K. Younis
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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El-Moslemany RM, Eissa MM, Ramadan AA, El-Khordagui LK, El-Azzouni MZ. Miltefosine lipid nanocapsules: Intersection of drug repurposing and nanotechnology for single dose oral treatment of pre-patent schistosomiasis mansoni. Acta Trop 2016; 159:142-8. [PMID: 27039667 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.03.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A dual drug repurposing/nanotechnological approach was used to develop an alternative oral treatment for schistosomiasis mansoni using miltefosine (MFS), an anticancer alkylphosphocholine, and lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) as oral nanovectors. We demonstrated earlier that MFS possesses significant activity against different developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni in the mouse model using 5 successive 20mg/kg/day oral doses. Moreover, an effective single dose (20mg/kg) oral treatment against the adult stage of S. mansoni in mice was developed using LNCs, particularly modified with CTAB, a positive charge imparting agent (MFS-LNC-CTAB(+)), or oleic acid as membrane permeabilizer (MFS-LNC-OA). Efficacy enhancement involved, at least in part, targeting of the worm tegument with MFS-LNCs as a new therapeutic entity. As the tegument surface charge and composition may differ in pre-patent stages of the parasite, it was of importance in the present study to assess the efficacy of a single oral dose of the two MFS-LNC formulations against invasive and immature stages for potential advantage relative to praziquantel. Results indicated potent schistosomicidal effects against both invasive and immature stages of S. mansoni in infected mice, efficacy being both formulation and developmental stage dependent. This was indicated by the significant reduction in the total worm burden of the invasive stage by 91.6% and 76.8% and the immature stage by 82.7% and 96.7% for MFS-LNC-CTAB+ and MFS-LNC-OA, respectively. Histopathological findings indicated amelioration of hepatic pathology with regression of the granulomatous inflammatory reaction and reduction in granulomas number and size, verifying marked improvement in architecture of hepatic lobules. From a clinical perspective, MFS-LNCs offer potential as an alternative single oral dose nanomedicine with a wide therapeutic profile for the mass chemotherapy of schistosomiasis mansoni.
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Frezza TF, de Souza ALR, Ribeiro Prado CC, de Oliveira CNF, Gremião MPD, Giorgio S, Dolder MAH, Joazeiro PP, Allegretti SM. Effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen for experimental treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni using praziquantel-free and encapsulated into liposomes: assay in adult worms and oviposition. Acta Trop 2015. [PMID: 26215128 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The treatment of schistosomiasis depends on a single drug: praziquantel (PZQ). However, this treatment presents limitations such as low and/or erratic bioavailability that can contribute to cases of tolerance. Improvements to the available drug are urgently needed and studies with a controlled system of drug release, like liposomes, have been gaining prominence. The present study evaluated the activity and synergy between liposomal-praziquantel (lip.PZQ) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Mice received doses of 60 or 100mg/kg PZQ or lip.PZQ, 50 days post-infection, and after the treatment, were exposed to HBO (3 atmosphere absolute - ATA) for 1h. The viability of adult worms and oviposition were analyzed, by necropsy and Kato-Katz examination performed after 15 days of treatment. A concentration of 100mg/kg of lip.PZQ+HBO was more effective (48.0% reduction of worms, 83.3% reduction of eggs/gram of feces) and 100% of the mice had altered of oograms (indicating interruption of oviposition) compared to other treatments and to the Control group (infected and untreated). It is known that PZQ requires participation of the host immune system to complete its antischistosomal activity and that HBO is able to stimulate the immune system. The drug became more available in the body when incorporated into liposomes and, used with HBO, the HBO worked as an adjuvant. This explains the decreases of oviposition and worms recovered form hepatic portal system.
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Lotfy WM, Hishmat MG, El Nashar AS, Abu El Einin HM. Evaluation of a method for induction of praziquantel resistance in Schistosoma mansoni. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2015; 53:1214-1219. [PMID: 25609146 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.970289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Praziquantel (PZQ) is a highly efficacious anthelmintic against many flatworms including schistosomes. PZQ has been in use for more than 25 years, and concern is increasing that resistance has emerged in human schistosomes in Egypt and other endemic countries. OBJECTIVE The current study was designed to evaluate a recently described method for induction of PZQ resistance in Schistosoma mansoni. MATERIALS AND METHODS Successive subcurative drug treatments of Biomphalaria alexandrina snails infected with an Egyptian strain of S. mansoni were undertaken. Cercariae shed from snails exposed and unexposed to PZQ were used to infect mice. Forty-five days after infection, mice were treated with a single oral dose of PZQ in 2% aqueous solution of Cremophor-EL®. The concentration of PZQ was 0, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg. Thirty-three days after treatment, all groups of mice were dissected to collect the S. mansoni worms by the perfusion technique. In addition, the oogram pattern was examined to study the production, maturity, and death of S. mansoni eggs in the different groups of mice. RESULTS The present study has shown that the sublethal dose for induction of PZQ resistance in the intra-molluscan S. mansoni stages was 500 mg/kg. The worm count and the percentage of immature eggs in different groups of mice were significantly affected by the intra-molluscan exposure to PZQ and the drug concentration used to treat infected mice. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The results obtained herein confirm the possibility of using successive drug treatments of infected B. alexandrina to induce PZO resistance in S. mansoni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael M Lotfy
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University , Alexandria , Egypt and
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Katz N, Couto FFB, Araújo N. Imatinib activity on Schistosoma mansoni. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 108:850-3. [PMID: 24037106 PMCID: PMC3970637 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Imatinib, a drug used for treatment of human chronic myeloid leukaemia, due to
its activity against protein kinases, has been also evaluated in vitro against
Schistosoma mansoni showing high schistosomicidal activity.
In the present experiments imatinib activity in vitro was confirmed at the doses
of 25 µM, 50 µM and 100 µM. The first drug activity observed with the lower dose
was interruption of egg-laying and with the higher dosages was the death of the
worms. In mice infected with S. mansoni no activity was found
even with 1,000 mg/kg/day, 500 mg/kg/day, single oral dose or when administered
for three consecutive days. This is another example of the difference of results
related to in vitro and in vivo trials using S. mansoni
worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naftale Katz
- Fiocruz, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Belo HorizonteMG, Brasil
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Vimieiro ACS, Araújo N, Katz N, Kusel JR, Coelho PMZ. Schistogram changes after administration of antischistosomal drugs in mice at the early phase of Schistosoma mansoni infection. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 108:881-6. [PMID: 24271044 PMCID: PMC3970651 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276130135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni were treated with oxamniquine, praziquantel, artesunate at the pre-patent phase, aiming at observing schistogram alterations. Half of the animals were perfused five days post-treatment for counting and classification of immature worms, based on pre-established morphological criteria (schistogram); the remaining animals were evaluated 42 or 100 days after infection and perfusion of the portal-system was performed for collection and counting of adult worms and oogram. It was observed that oxamniquine and artesunate treatment administered at the pre-postural phase causes significant reduction in the number of immature and adult worms. However, there was little reduction with praziquantel when used at the dose of 400 mg/kg for treatments administered 14, 15, 21 or 23 days post-infection. Artesunate was responsible for significant alterations in development of young worms, as well as for a higher number of worms presenting intestinal damages. Immature adult worms were detected in mice treated with artesunate or oxamniquine at the pre-patent phase of infection and recovered by perfusion 100 days after infection. Schistogram proved to be a very useful tool for experimental evaluation of the activity of antischistosomal drugs and a good model to identify the most sensitive stages to drugs.
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Ferreira MS, de Oliveira DN, de Oliveira RN, Allegretti SM, Catharino RR. Screening the life cycle of Schistosoma mansoni using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2014; 845:62-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2014.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Couto LD, Tibiriça SHC, Pinheiro IO, Mitterofhe A, Lima AC, Castro MF, Gonçalves M, Silva MR, Guimarães RJPS, Rosa FM, Coimbra ES. Neglected tropical diseases: prevalence and risk factors for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in a region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2014; 108:363-71. [PMID: 24781377 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/tru054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), schistosomiasis and the three main soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs), i.e., ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infection, represent the most common infections in developing countries. In Brazil, there is a lack of epidemiological data in many parts of the country, which favors the unawareness of the real situation concerning these diseases. Due to this, we investigated the occurrence of schistosomiasis and STHs in a region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. METHODS One stool sample was collected from 503 individuals, whose ages ranged from 0.1 to 91.2 years, and screened using both the Kato-Katz and the Formol-Ether methods. In parallel, a malacological survey was carried out in the main water bodies of the district, and Biomphalaria susceptibility assays and kernel-based techniques were also performed. RESULTS No individual was found infected with Ascaris lumbricoides or hookworm. Schistosoma mansoni was the most common parasite found (1.6%). The prevalence was higher in males and the chance of acquiring the disease increased by 43.35 times with contact with a body of water. None of the Biomphalaria tenagophila and B. glabrata specimens were found naturally infected, but B. glabrata was highly susceptible to infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Using kernel-based techniques, clusters of Biomphalaria were found near the households where the infected individuals lived. CONCLUSIONS Schistosomiasis was the most prevalent parasitic infection found. Our findings show that the occurrence of this disease has been underestimated by the local health care service, and highlight the importance of epidemiological surveillance in areas of low prevalence for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luzivalda D Couto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Saúde Brasileira, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Sandra H C Tibiriça
- Departamento de Clínica médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Izabella O Pinheiro
- Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Juiz de Fora, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Adalberto Mitterofhe
- Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Juiz de Fora, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Adilson C Lima
- Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Juiz de Fora, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Milton F Castro
- Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Juiz de Fora, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Murilo Gonçalves
- Superintendência Regional de Saúde de Juiz de Fora, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Minas Gerais, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | | | | | - Florence M Rosa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Elaine S Coimbra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
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Immunological and parasitological parameters in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice treated with crude extract from the leaves of Mentha x piperita L. Immunobiology 2014; 219:627-32. [PMID: 24767421 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2014.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Revised: 03/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease caused by an intravascular trematode of the genus Schistosoma. Praziquantel is the drug used for treatment of schistosomiasis; nevertheless failure of treatment has been reported. Consequently, the identification of new effective schistosomicidal compounds is essential to ensure the effective control of schistosomiasis in the future. In this work we investigated the immunomodulatory and antiparasitic effects of the crude leaves extract of Mentha x piperita L. (peppermint) on murine Schistosomiasis mansoni. Female Balb/c mice were infected each with 50 S. mansoni cercariae and divided into three experimental groups: (I) untreated; (II) treated daily with M. x piperita L. (100mg/kg) and III) treated on 1/42/43 days post-infection with Praziquantel (500mg/kg). Another group with uninfected and untreated mice was used as a control. Subsequently, seven weeks post-infection, S. mansoni eggs were counted in the feces, liver and intestine. Worms were recovered by perfusion of the hepatic portal system and counted. Sera levels of IL-10, IL-5, IL-13, IFN-γ, IgG1, IgE and IgG2a were assayed by ELISA. Animals treated with a daily dose of M. x piperita L. showed increased sera levels of IL-10, IFN-γ, IgG2a and IgE. Besides, M. x piperita L. treatment promoted reduction in parasite burden by 35.2% and significant decrease in egg counts in the feces and intestine.
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Coeli R, Baba EH, Araujo N, Coelho PMZ, Oliveira G. Praziquantel treatment decreases Schistosoma mansoni genetic diversity in experimental infections. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2596. [PMID: 24367712 PMCID: PMC3868512 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis has a considerable impact on public health in many tropical and subtropical areas. In the new world, schistosomiasis is caused by the digenetic trematode Schistosoma mansoni. Chemotherapy is the main measure for controlling schistosomiasis, and the current drug of choice for treatment is praziquantel (PZQ). Although PZQ is efficient and safe, its repetitive large-scale use in endemic areas may lead to the selection of resistant strains. Isolates less susceptible to PZQ have been found in the field and selected for in the laboratory. The impact of selecting strains with a decreased susceptibility phenotype on disease dynamics and parasite population genetics is not fully understood. This study addresses the impact of PZQ pressure on the genetics of a laboratory population by analyzing frequency variations of polymorphic genetic markers. METHODOLOGY Infected mice were treated with increasing PZQ doses until the highest dose of 3 × 300 mg/Kg was reached. The effect of PZQ treatment on the parasite population was assessed using five polymorphic microsatellite markers. Parasitological and genetic data were compared with those of the untreated control. After six parasite generations submitted to treatment, it was possible to obtain a S. mansoni population with decreased susceptibility to PZQ. In our experiments we also observed that female worms were more susceptible to PZQ than male worms. CONCLUSIONS The selective pressure exerted by PZQ led to decreased genetic variability in S. mansoni and increased endogamy. The understanding of how S. mansoni populations respond to successive drug pressure has important implications on the appearance and maintenance of a PZQ resistance phenotype in endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Coeli
- Genomics and Computational Biology Group, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Elio H. Baba
- Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Neusa Araujo
- Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paulo M. Z. Coelho
- Laboratory of Schistosomiasis, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Genomics and Computational Biology Group, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Tropical Diseases, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Frezza TF, Gremião MPD, Zanotti-Magalhães EM, Magalhães LA, de Souza ALR, Allegretti SM. Liposomal-praziquantel: efficacy against Schistosoma mansoni in a preclinical assay. Acta Trop 2013; 128:70-5. [PMID: 23811113 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Revised: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Currently, schistosomiasis mansoni is treated clinically with praziquantel (PZQ). Nevertheless, cases of tolerance and resistance to this drug have been reported, creating the need to develop new drugs or to improve existing drugs. Considering the small number of new drugs against Schistosoma mansoni, the design of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems is an important strategy in combating this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of PZQ containing liposome (lip.PZQ) on S. mansoni, BH strain. Mice were treated orally with different concentrations of PZQ and lip.PZQ 30 and 45 days following infection. The number of worms, recovered by perfusion of the hepatic portal system, and the number of eggs found in the intestine and liver were analysed. Parasite egg counts were also performed. The most active formulation for all parameters was 300mg/kg of lip.PZQ, since as it decreased the total number of worms by 68.8%, the number of eggs in the intestine by 79%, and the number of hepatic granulomas by 98.4% compared to untreated controls. In addition, this concentration decreased egg counts by 55.5%. The improved efficacy of the treatment with lip.PZQ, especially when administered 45 days following infection, compared with the positive-control group (untreated) and the groups that received free PZQ, can be explained by greater bioavailability in the host organism; the preferred target of lip.PZQ is the liver, and lip.PZQ is better absorbed by the tegument of S. mansoni, which has an affinity for phospholipids.
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Rosa FM, Marques DPA, Maciel E, Couto JM, Negrão-Corrêa DA, Teles HMS, Santos JBD, Coelho PMZ. Breeding of Biomphalaria tenagophila in mass scale. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2013; 55:39-44. [PMID: 23328724 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652013000100007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficient method for breeding Biomphalaria tenagophila (Taim lineage/RS) was developed over a 5-year-period (2005-2010). Special facilities were provided which consisted of four cement tanks (9.4 x 0.6 x 0.22 m), with their bottom covered with a layer of sterilized red earth and calcium carbonate. Standard measures were adopted, as follows: each tank should contain an average of 3000 specimens, and would be provided with a daily ration of 35,000 mg complemented with lettuce. A green-house effect heating system was developed which constituted of movable dark canvas covers, which allowed the temperature to be controlled between 20 - 24 ºC. This system was essential, especially during the coldest months of the year. Approximately 27,000 specimens with a diameter of 12 mm or more were produced during a 14-month-period. The mortality rates of the newly-hatched and adult snails were 77% and 37%, respectively. The follow-up of the development system related to 310 specimens of B. tenagophila demonstrated that 70-day-old snails reached an average of 17.0 ± 0.9 mm diameter. The mortality rates and the development performance of B. tenagophila snails can be considered as highly satisfactory, when compared with other results in literature related to works carried out with different species of the genus Biomphalaria, under controlled laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Mara Rosa
- Laboratorio de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
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Nacif-Pimenta R, de Mattos ACA, Orfanó ADS, Barbosa L, Pimenta PFP, Coelho PMZ. Schistosoma mansoni in susceptible and resistant snail strains Biomphalaria tenagophila: in vivo tissue response and in vitro hemocyte interactions. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45637. [PMID: 23049828 PMCID: PMC3458097 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is highly prevalent, especially in developing countries. Biomphalaria tenagophila is an important invertebrate host of Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil, with some strains (e.g. Cabo Frio) being highly susceptible to the parasite, whereas others (e.g. Taim) are completely resistant to infection. Therefore, B. tenagophila is an important research model for studying immune defense mechanisms against S. mansoni. The internal defense system (IDS) of the snail comprises hemocytes and hemolymph factors acting together to recognize self from non-self molecular patterns to eliminate the threat of infection. We performed experiments to understand the cellular defenses related to the resistance and/or susceptibility of B. tenagophila to S. mansoni. During the early stages of infection, fibrous host cells of both snail strains were arranged as a thin layer surrounding the sporocysts. However, at later stages of infection, the cellular reactions in resistant snails were increasingly more intense, with thicker layers surrounding the parasites, in contrast to susceptible strains. All parasites were damaged or destroyed inside resistant snails after 10 h of infection. By contrast, parasites inside susceptible snails appeared to be morphologically healthy. We also performed experiments using isolated hemocytes from the two strains interacting with sporocysts. Hemocyte attachment started as early as 1 h after initial infection in both strains, but the killing of sporocysts was exclusive to hemocytes from the resistant strain and was time course dependent. The resistant strain was able to kill all sporocysts. In conclusion, our study revealed important aspects of the initial process of infection related to immune defense responses of strains of B. tenagophila that were resistant to S. mansoni compared with strains that were susceptible. Such information is relevant for the survival or death of the parasites and so is important in the development of control measures against this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Nacif-Pimenta
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | | | | | - Luciene Barbosa
- Laboratório de Entomologia e Parasitologia Tropical - Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracajú, Brasil
| | | | - Paulo Marcos Zech Coelho
- Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
- * E-mail:
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Teodoro TM, Jannotti-Passos LK, Carvalho ODS, Grijalva MJ, Baús EG, Caldeira RL. Hybridism between Biomphalaria cousini and Biomphalaria amazonica and its susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106:851-5. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000700011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mario J Grijalva
- Ohio University, USA; Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Ecuador
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Martins-Souza RL, Pereira CAJ, Rodrigues L, Araújo ES, Coelho PMZ, Corrêa Jr A, Negrão-Corrêa D. Participation of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine carbohydrate moieties in the recognition of Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts by haemocytes of Biomphalaria tenagophila. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106:884-91. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000700015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2011] [Accepted: 10/27/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
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Couto FFB, Coelho PMZ, Araújo N, Kusel JR, Katz N, Jannotti-Passos LK, Mattos ACA. Schistosoma mansoni: a method for inducing resistance to praziquantel using infected Biomphalaria glabrata snails. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 106:153-7. [PMID: 21537673 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000200006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2010] [Accepted: 11/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To elucidate the mechanisms of antischistosoma resistance, drug-resistant Schistosoma mansoni laboratory isolates are essential. We developed a new method for inducing resistance to praziquantel (PZQ) using successive drug treatments of Biomphalaria glabrata snails infected with S. mansoni. Infected B. glabrata were treated three times with 100 mg/kg PZQ for five consecutive days with a one-week interval between them. After the treatment, the cercariae (LE-PZQ) produced from these snails and the LE strains (susceptible) were used to infect mice. Forty-five days after infection, mice were treated with 200, 400 or 800 mg/kg PZQ. Thirty days post-treatment, we observed that the mean number of worms recovered by perfusion was significantly higher in the group of mice infected with the LE-PZQ isolate treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg in comparison to the LE strain with the same treatment. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the ED50 (effective dose required to kill 50% of the worms) of the LE-PZQ isolate (362 mg/kg) and the LE strain (68 mg/kg). In the in vitro assays, the worms of the LE-PZQ isolate were also less susceptible to PZQ. Thus, the use of infected snails as an experimental model for development of resistance to S. mansoni is effective, fast, simple and cheap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávia F B Couto
- Instituto de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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Isokpehi RD, Mahmud O, Mbah AN, Simmons SS, Avelar L, Rajnarayanan RV, Udensi UK, Ayensu WK, Cohly HH, Brown SD, Dates CR, Hentz SD, Hughes SJ, Smith-McInnis DR, Patterson CO, Sims JN, Turner KT, Williams BS, Johnson MO, Adubi T, Mbuh JV, Anumudu CI, Adeoye GO, Thomas BN, Nashiru O, Oliveira G. Developmental Regulation of Genes Encoding Universal Stress Proteins in Schistosoma mansoni. GENE REGULATION AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2011; 5:61-74. [PMID: 22084571 PMCID: PMC3201111 DOI: 10.4137/grsb.s7491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The draft nuclear genome sequence of the snail-transmitted, dimorphic, parasitic, platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni revealed eight genes encoding proteins that contain the Universal Stress Protein (USP) domain. Schistosoma mansoni is a causative agent of human schistosomiasis, a severe and debilitating Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) of poverty, which is endemic in at least 76 countries. The availability of the genome sequences of Schistosoma species presents opportunities for bioinformatics and genomics analyses of associated gene families that could be targets for understanding schistosomiasis ecology, intervention, prevention and control. Proteins with the USP domain are known to provide bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists and plants with the ability to respond to diverse environmental stresses. In this research investigation, the functional annotations of the USP genes and predicted nucleotide and protein sequences were initially verified. Subsequently, sequence clusters and distinctive features of the sequences were determined. A total of twelve ligand binding sites were predicted based on alignment to the ATP-binding universal stress protein from Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. In addition, six USP sequences showed the presence of ATP-binding motif residues indicating that they may be regulated by ATP. Public domain gene expression data and RT-PCR assays confirmed that all the S. mansoni USP genes were transcribed in at least one of the developmental life cycle stages of the helminth. Six of these genes were up-regulated in the miracidium, a free-swimming stage that is critical for transmission to the snail intermediate host. It is possible that during the intra-snail stages, S. mansoni gene transcripts for universal stress proteins are low abundant and are induced to perform specialized functions triggered by environmental stressors such as oxidative stress due to hydrogen peroxide that is present in the snail hemocytes. This report serves to catalyze the formation of a network of researchers to understand the function and regulation of the universal stress proteins encoded in genomes of schistosomes and their snail intermediate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael D. Isokpehi
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Ousman Mahmud
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Andreas N. Mbah
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Shaneka S. Simmons
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Lívia Avelar
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ-MG, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, CEP 30190-002, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/Departamento de Genética, Av.Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
| | - Rajendram V. Rajnarayanan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Udensi K. Udensi
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Wellington K. Ayensu
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Hari H. Cohly
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Shyretha D. Brown
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Centdrika R. Dates
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Sonya D. Hentz
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Shawntae J. Hughes
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Dominique R. Smith-McInnis
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | | | - Jennifer N. Sims
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Kelisha T. Turner
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Baraka S. Williams
- Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Biology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Matilda O. Johnson
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Taiwo Adubi
- Participant, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/National Biotechnology Development Agency/West African Biotechnology Workshop Series, Ibadan Nigeria
- Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Judith V. Mbuh
- Participant, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/National Biotechnology Development Agency/West African Biotechnology Workshop Series, Ibadan Nigeria
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Chiaka I. Anumudu
- Participant, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/National Biotechnology Development Agency/West African Biotechnology Workshop Series, Ibadan Nigeria
- Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Grace O. Adeoye
- Participant, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/National Biotechnology Development Agency/West African Biotechnology Workshop Series, Ibadan Nigeria
- Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Bolaji N. Thomas
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Oyekanmi Nashiru
- Department of Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) Abuja, Nigeria and West African Biotechnology Workshop Series (WABWS)
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/FIOCRUZ-MG, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715, Barro Preto, CEP 30190-002, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
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Occurrence of Biomphalaria cousini (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in Brazil and its susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni (Platyhelminths: Trematoda). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2010; 57:144-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2009] [Revised: 05/18/2010] [Accepted: 05/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Use of fluorescent probes as a useful tool to identify resistantSchistosoma mansoniisolates to praziquantel. Parasitology 2010; 137:1791-7. [DOI: 10.1017/s003118201000065x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYThe use of chemotherapy on a mass scale in endemic areas may lead to the appearance of resistant isolates through the mechanism of selective drug pressure. Studies have demonstrated that praziquantel (PZQ) is able to inhibit the excretory activity and to cause tegumental damage inSchistosoma mansoniadult worms. The use of the probe resorufin to evaluate excretory activity, as well as the probe Hoechst 33258 to detect tegumental damage in adult worms, may represent a method to identify resistant (or less susceptible) isolates. The purpose of the present work was to compare the changes caused by PZQ in the function of the excretory system and in the integrity of the tegument of adult worms from the LE isolate (susceptible to PZQ) and the LE-PZQ isolate (less susceptible to PZQ). Worms from the isolate LE-PZQ showed less severe tegumental lesions, in bothin vitroandin vivoexperiments, detected by labelling with Hoechst 33258 and continued to have a functional excretory system as shown by labelling with resorufinin vitro.
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Rahoud SA, Mergani A, Khamis AH, Saeed OK, Mohamed-Ali Q, Dessein AJ, Elwali NEM. Factors controlling the effect of praziquantel on liver fibrosis inSchistosoma mansoni-infected patients. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 58:106-12. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2009.00640.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Vasconcelos CH, Cardoso PCM, Quirino WC, Massara CL, Amaral GL, Cordeiro R, Carvalho ODS. [Evaluation of schistosomiasis mansoni control measures in Sabará, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 1980-2007]. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2009; 25:997-1006. [PMID: 19488484 DOI: 10.1590/s0102-311x2009000500006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2008] [Accepted: 12/17/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis control programs in Brazil have helped reduce prevalence and the severe forms of the disease, but have failed to prevent new foci from appearing, especially on the periphery of large cities. The current article aims to assess the prevalence of schistosomiasis and the presence of intermediates hosts for Schistosoma mansoni in the district of Ravena, Municipality of Sabará, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 27 years after implementing water treatment and specific treatment for infected individuals. Ravena responded positively to schistosomiasis control measures, with a prevalence of 2.5%. However, the district remains a potential risk area, since it displays favorable environmental and ecological factors for maintenance of the disease. For the prevalence rates to continue low, it will be necessary to invest in sanitation and health education, in addition to treatment of infected individuals.
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Araujo N, Mattos ACAD, Coelho PMZ, Katz N. Association of oxamniquine praziquantel and clonazepam in experimental Schistosomiasis mansoni. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2009; 103:781-5. [PMID: 19148417 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762008000800007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2008] [Accepted: 11/06/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The antischistosomal activity of clonazepam, when administered alone or in association with oxamniquine and praziquantel, was experimentally evaluated in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. The animals were treated 45 days post-infection with a single dose, by oral route, according to three treatment schedules: clonazepam 25 mg/kg and sacrificed 15 min, 1h or 4 h after treatment; clonazepam 1.0, 2.5 or 10.0 mg/kg and sacrificed 15 days post-treatment or with the dose of 10 mg/kg in association with oxamniquine 50 mg/kg or praziquantel 200 mg/kg, single dose, orally, every schedule with a control group. The efficacy of the drugs in vivo was assessed by means of worm counts and their distribution in mesentery and liver, mortality and oogram changes. In the chemotherapeutic schedules used, clonazepam did not present antischistosomal activity and the result of the association of this drug with oxamniquine or praziquantel was not significantly different from the one obtained when these two last drugs were administered alone. In the in vitro experiments, the worms exposed to 0.6 mg/mL clonazepam remained motionless throughout the 8-day-period of observation, without egg-laying, whereas the worms of the control group showed normal movements, egg-laying and hatching of miracidia on the last day of observation. The results obtained in the present study confirm the action of clonazepam on S. mansoni adult worm, in vitro, causing total paralysis of males and females. However, no additive or synergistic effects were observed when clonazepam were used in association with oxamniquine or praziquantel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neusa Araujo
- Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Instituto René Rachou-Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
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Flow cytometry analysis of the circulating haemocytes from Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria tenagophila following Schistosoma mansoni infection. Parasitology 2009; 136:67-76. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182008005155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYAiming to further characterize the haemocyte subsets in Biomphalaria snails, we have performed a detailed flow cytometric analysis of whole haemolymph cellular components using a multiparametric dual colour labelling procedure. Ethidium bromide/acridine orange fluorescence features were used to first select viable haemocytes followed by flow cytometric morphometric analysis based on the laser scatter properties (forward scatter-FSC and side scatter-SSC). Our findings demonstrated that B. glabrata (BG-BH, highly susceptible to S. mansoni) and 2 strains of B. tenagophila (BT-CF, moderately susceptible and BT-Taim, resistant to S. mansoni) have 3 major circulating haemocyte subsets, referred to as small, medium and large haemocytes. The frequency of small haemocytes was higher in BG-BH, while medium haemocytes were the most abundant cell-type in both B. tenagophila strains. Schistosoma mansoni infection resulted in early reduction of large and medium circulating haemocytes followed by an increase of small haemocytes. Although parasite infection induced haemocyte alterations in all Biomphalaria strains, the response was particularly intense in BT-Taim, the parasite-resistant snail. Interestingly, the trematode infection induces changes in haemocytes with less granular rather than in those with more granular profile. The results indicated that, in B. tenagophila of Taim strain, circulating haemocytes, especially the medium and high subset with less granular profile, are very reactive cells upon S. mansoni infection, suggesting that this cell subset would participate in the early parasite destruction observed in this snail strain.
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Clinical therapy of schistosomiasis mansoni: the Brazilian contribution. Acta Trop 2008; 108:72-8. [PMID: 18617155 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2007] [Revised: 05/07/2008] [Accepted: 05/12/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The review gives a detailed account of the history of drug development, treatment and drug resistance for clinical therapy of schistosomiasis mansoni, specially emphasizing the importance of Brazilian contribution on antischistosomal chemotherapy, as well as on the control of this parasitic disease.
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Sarvel AK, Kusel JR, Araújo N, Coelho P, Katz N. Comparison between morphological and staining characteristics of live and dead eggs of Schistosoma mansoni. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2008; 101 Suppl 1:289-92. [PMID: 17308784 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762006000900045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni eggs are classified, according to morphological characteristics, as follows: viable mature and immature eggs; dead mature and immature eggs, shells and granulomas. The scope of this study was to compare the staining characteristics of different morphological types of eggs in the presence of fluorescent labels and vital dyes, aiming at differentiating live and dead eggs. The eggs were obtained from the intestines of infected mice, and put into saline 0.85%. The fluorescent labels were Hoechst 33258 and Acridine Orange + Ethidium Bromide and vital dyes (Trypan Blue 0.4% and Neutral Red 1%). When labelled with the probe Hoechst 33258, some immature eggs, morphologically considered viable, presented fluorescence (a staining characteristic detected only in dead eggs); mature eggs did not present fluorescence, and the other types of dead eggs, morphologically defined, showed fluorescence. As far as Acridine Orange + Ethidium Bromide are concerned, either the eggs considered to be live, or the dead ones, presented staining with green color, and only the hatched and motionless miracidium was stained with an orange color. Trypan Blue was not able to stain the eggs, considered to be dead but only dead miracidia which had emerged out of the shell. Neutral Red stained both live and dead eggs. Only the fluorescent Hoechst 33258 can be considered a useful tool for differentiation between dead and live eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Sarvel
- Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Centro de Pesquisas René-Rachou-Fiocruz, 31190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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36
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Martins-Souza RL, Pereira CAJ, Martins Filho OA, Coelho PMZ, Corrêa A, Negrão-Corrêa D. Differential lectin labelling of circulating hemocytes from Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria tenagophila resistant or susceptible to Schistosoma mansoni infection. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2008; 101 Suppl 1:185-92. [PMID: 17308768 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762006000900029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lectins/carbohydrate binding can be involved in the Schistosoma mansoni recognition and activation of the Biomphalaria hemocytes. Therefore, expression of lectin ligands on Biomphalaria hemocytes would be associated with snail resistance against S. mansoni infection. To test this hypothesis, circulating hemocytes were isolated from B. glabrata BH (snail strain highy susceptible to S. mansoni), B. tenagophila Cabo Frio (moderate susceptibility), and B. tenagophila Taim (completely resistant strains), labelled with FITC conjugated lectins (ConA, PNA, SBA, and WGA) and analyzed under fluorescence microscopy. The results demonstrated that although lectin-labelled hemocytes were detected in hemolymph of all snail species tested, circulating hemocytes from both strains of B. tenagophila showed a larger number of lectin-labelled cells than B. glabrata. Moreover, most of circulating hemocytes of B. tenagophila were intensively labelled by lectins PNA-FITC and WGA-FITC, while in B. glabrata small hemocytes were labeled mainly by ConA. Upon S. mansoni infection, lectin-labelled hemocytes almost disappeared from the hemolymph of Taim and accumulated in B. glabrata BH. The role of lectins/carbohydrate binding in resistance of B. tengophila infection to S. mansoni is still not fully understood, but the data suggest that there may be a correlation to its presence with susceptibility or resistance to the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Martins-Souza
- Departamento de Parasitologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horzonte, MG, Brazil
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Bahia D, Mortara RA, Kusel JR, Andrade LF, Ludolf F, Kuser PR, Avelar L, Trolet J, Dissous C, Pierce RJ, Oliveira G. Schistosoma mansoni: Expression of Fes-like tyrosine kinase SmFes in the tegument and terebratorium suggests its involvement in host penetration. Exp Parasitol 2007; 116:225-32. [PMID: 17350619 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2006] [Revised: 01/04/2007] [Accepted: 01/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein Tyrosine Kinases (PTKs) are important molecules in intra- and inter-cellular communication, playing a major role in signal transduction processes. We have previously identified and characterized the molecular structure of a new PTK in Schistosoma mansoni, SmFes. SmFes exhibits the characteristic features of Fes/Fps protein tyrosine kinase subfamily of which it is the first member described in helminths. Herein, we show that genes orthologous to SmFes are also present in other Schistosoma species and the transcript is detected in Schistosoma japonicum. The SmFes protein was detected at all the main life-cycle stages and was most abundant in cercariae and newly-transformed schistosomula. However, no protein was detected in schistosomula maintained in vitro for 7 days. By immunolocalization assays we showed that SmFes is particularly concentrated at the terebratorium of miracidia and tegument of cercaria and schistosomula skin-stage. These findings suggest that SmFes may play a role in signal transduction pathways involved in larval transformation after penetration into intermediate and definitive hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bahia
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou (CPqRR), FIOCRUZ, Av Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Mattos ACA, Kusel JR, Pimenta PFP, Coelho PMZ. Activity of praziquantel on in vitro transformed Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2006; 101 Suppl 1:283-7. [PMID: 17308783 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762006000900044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Praziquantel (PZQ) is effective against all the evolutive phases of Schistosoma mansoni. Infected Biomphalaria glabrata snails have their cercarial shedding interrupted when exposed to PZQ. Using primary in vitro transformed sporocysts, labeled with the probe Hoechst 33258 (indicator of membrane integrity), and lectin of Glycine max (specific for carbohydrate of N-acetylgalactosamine membrane), we evaluated the presence of lysosomes at this evolutive phase of S. mansoni, as well as the influence of PZQ on these acidic organelles and on the tegument of the sporocyst. Although the sporocyst remained alive, it was observed that there was a marked contraction of its musculature, and there occurred a change in the parasite's structure. Also, the acidic vesicles found in the sporocysts showed a larger delimited area after contact of the parasites with PZQ. Damages to the tegument was also observed, as show a well-marked labeling either with Hoechst 33258 or with lectin of Glycine max after contact of sporocysts with the drug. These results could partially explain the interruption/reduction mechanism of cercarial shedding in snails exposed to PZQ.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C A Mattos
- Laboratório de Esquistossomose, Centro de Pesquisas René-Rachou-Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, 31190-002 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Rosa FM, Godard ALB, Negrão-Correa D, Rodrigues HA, Carvalho ODS, Caldeira RL, Teles HMS, Maciel E, Jannotti-Passos LK, Coelho PMZ. Biomphalaria tenagophila: dynamics of populations of resistant and susceptible strains to Schistosoma mansoni, with or without pressure of the parasite. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2006; 101 Suppl 1:247-51. [PMID: 17308777 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762006000900038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2006] [Accepted: 06/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistant (Taim, RS) and susceptible albino (Joinville, SC) Biomphalaria tenagophila populations were kept together, at different proportions, throughout a 18-month-period. Some of the snail groups were submitted to Schistosoma mansoni infection. The targets of this study were (a) to analyze the populational dynamics among resistant and susceptible individuals to S. mansoni; (b) to study the resistance phenotype in descendants of cross-breeding; (c) to observe whether the parasite could exert any kind of selection in those snail populations. Throughout the experiment it could be observed that the susceptible B. tenagophila strain (Joinville) underwent a selective pressure of the parasite that was negative, since the individuals showed a high mortality rate. Although B. tenagophila (Taim) population presented a higher mortality rate without pressure of the parasite, this event was compensated by a reproductive capacity. B. tenagophila Taim was more fecund than B. tenagophila Joinville and was able to transmit the resistance character to their descendants. F1 generation obtained by cross-breeding between resistant and susceptible lineages was completely resistant to S. mansoni infection, irrespective of the Taim proportion. Moreover, less than 5% of F2 progeny were susceptible to S. mansoni infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Mara Rosa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horzonte, MG, Brazil
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40
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Moreira LSA, Piló-Veloso D, de Mello RT, Coelho PMZ, Nelson DL. A study of the activity of 2-(alkylamino)-1-phenyl-1-ethanethiosulfuric acids against infection by Schistosoma mansoni in a murine model. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2006; 101:385-90. [PMID: 16979201 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2006.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2006] [Revised: 06/10/2006] [Accepted: 06/19/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The schistosomicidal activities of seven 2-(alkylamino)-1-phenyl-1-ethanethiosulfuric acids (1a-g) (R=propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, sec-butyl, cyclohexyl, respectively) were determined in female Swiss mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni. The compounds were administered in a single oral dose of 800 mg/kg to groups of 15 mice infected with 50 cercariae each. All the compounds were found to be active, a high animal mortality being observed with 1e. These compounds have a high specificity against female worms (64-100% reduction vs. 33-61% reduction in male worms). The test was repeated, a 400-mg/kg sub-dose of 1f also being tested, and similar results were observed. A 94% reduction in the number of female worms was observed when compound 1c was administered in a single 800-mg/kg dose to animals infected with 80 cercariae. Finally, the test was repeated with single 800 mg/kg oral doses of compounds 1e (highly purified) and 1f and a 400-mg/kg sub-dose of 1c. The toxicity of 1e was confirmed, while the animals that received 1c and 1f presented reductions in the worm loads corresponding to 45.9% (male worms) and 84.8% (female worms) for 1c and 50.4% (male worms) and 94.2% (female worms) for 1f.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliani Salum Alves Moreira
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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41
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Pereira CAJ, Martins-Souza RL, Coelho PMZ, Lima WS, Negrão-Corrêa D. Effect of Angiostrongylus vasorum infection on Biomphalaria tenagophila susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni. Acta Trop 2006; 98:224-33. [PMID: 16750811 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2006.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2005] [Revised: 05/03/2006] [Accepted: 05/04/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Concomitant infection with different parasites may be a helpful laboratorial strategy leading to the better understanding of the mechanisms used by the internal defense system (IDS) of Gastropoda to deal with helminth infection, such as Schistosoma mansoni. This work reports the effect of co-infection of Angiostrongylus vasorum and S. mansoni in hemocyte activity and in the outcome of infection. The simultaneous infection resulted in an increase of snail susceptibility to S. mansoni. In contrast, snails infected with both parasites, 15 days apart, did not show differences in the susceptibility compared to a single parasite infection. The increased susceptibility was measured by the significantly higher number of migrating sporocysts, higher percentage of snails shedding cercariae, higher number of cercariae shed and higher mortality in the experimental group that were simultaneously infected with A. vasorum and S. mansoni, when compared to snails infected only with S. mansoni. Snails simultaneously infected with A. vasorum and S. mansoni showed lower hemocyte activation during the first few days of infection, compared to activation induced only by A. vasorum infection. Between 5 and 15 days post-infection (dpi), granulocyte number and nitric oxide (NO) contents of simultaneously infected snails were lower than the S. mansoni-infected snails. Based on the results, we suggest that differences in the level of hemocyte response could explain the increased S. mansoni susceptibility observed in snails simultaneously infected with both parasites. However, when S. mansoni infection occurred after A. vasorum larvae are completely encapsulated, the response against S. mansoni was not altered, and therefore there were no differences in the susceptibility level.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A J Pereira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte-MG, Brazil
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42
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Bahia D, Avelar LGA, Vigorosi F, Cioli D, Oliveira GC, Mortara RA. The distribution of motor proteins in the muscles and flame cells of the Schistosoma mansoni miracidium and primary sporocyst. Parasitology 2006; 133:321-9. [PMID: 16740180 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182006000400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2006] [Revised: 03/06/2006] [Accepted: 04/04/2006] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni eggs, miracidia and primary sporocysts were labelled with phalloidin-rhodamine to visualize filamentous actin structures. Analysis of these forms by confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of previously well-defined circular and longitudinal muscle layers. Besides these muscular layers that sustain and provide motility to these parasite forms, we found in these 3 consecutive developmental stages of the parasite previously unidentified actin-rich tubular structures. In the 3 forms, 4 actin-rich tubules could be observed by optical sectioning underneath the well-developed muscle layers. The tubules appear in pairs, transversal to the length of the parasite, and located towards the extremities. By using an anti-flame cell specific antibody we confirmed that the tubules co-localize with flame cells and also determined that the tubule core is filled with microtubules. The additional presence of myosin in these tubules strongly suggests that they are contractile structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Bahia
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou-FIOCRUZ, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, 30190-002, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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43
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Bahia D, Avelar L, Mortara RA, Khayath N, Yan Y, Noël C, Capron M, Dissous C, Pierce RJ, Oliveira G. SmPKC1, a new protein kinase C identified in the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 345:1138-48. [PMID: 16713993 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2006] [Accepted: 05/04/2006] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni signal transduction pathways are promising sources of target molecules for the development of novel control strategies against this platyhelminth parasite of humans. Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family play key roles in such pathways activated by both receptor tyrosine kinases and other receptors, controlling a variety of physiological processes. Here, we report the cloning and molecular characterization of the first PKC identified in S. mansoni. Structural analysis indicated that SmPKC1 exhibits all the features typical of the conventional PKC subfamily. The gene structure was determined in silico and found to comprise a total of 15 exons and 14 introns. This structure is highly conserved; all intron positions are also present in the human PKCbeta gene and most of the exon sizes are identical. Using PCR on genomic DNA we were able to show that putative orthologues of SmPKC1 are present in 9 Schistosoma species. SmPKC1 expression is developmentally regulated with the highest level of transcripts in miracidia, whereas SmPKC1 protein expression is higher in the sporocyst. The localization of SmPKC1 on the sporocyst ridge cyton and in schistosomula acetabular glands suggests that the enzyme plays a role in signal transduction pathways associated with larval transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bahia
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, Belo Horizonte, MG 30190-002, Brazil
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44
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Barbosa L, Caldeira RL, Carvalho OS, Vidigal THDA, Jannotti-Passos LK, Coelho PMZ. Resistance to Schistosoma mansoni by transplantation of APO Biomphalaria tenagophila. Parasite Immunol 2006; 28:209-12. [PMID: 16629706 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2006.00827.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transplantation of the haematopoietic organ from Biomphalaria tenagophila (Taim strain, RS, Brazil), resistant to Schistosoma mansoni, to a highly susceptible strain (Cabo Frio, RJ, Brazil) of the same species, showed in the recipient snails resistance against the trematode, when a successful transplant occurred. The success of transplantation could be confirmed by a typical molecular marker of the Taim strain in haemocytes of the recipients (350 bp detected by PCR-RFLP). The recipient snails which did not present the donor marker in haemocytes (unsuccessful transplantation) were infected with the parasite. The use of an atoxic modelling clay for closing the hole in the transplantation site reduced significantly the mortality caused by bleeding after transplantation procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Barbosa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Rosa FM, Godard ALB, Azevedo V, Coelho PMZ. Biomphalaria tenagophila: dominant character of the resistance to Schistosoma mansoni in descendants of crossbreedings between resistant (Taim, RS) and susceptible (Joinville, SC) strains. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2005; 100:19-23. [PMID: 15867958 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762005000100004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present work was to study parasitological, molecular, and genetic aspects in descendants of crossbreedings between a totally resistant Biomphalaria tenagophila strain (Taim, RS) and another one highly susceptible (Joinville, SC) to Schistosoma mansoni. Descendants F1 and F2 were submitted to S. mansoni infection (LE strain). The susceptibility rates for individuals from Group F1 were 0 to 0.6%, and from Group F2 was 7.2%. The susceptible individuals from Group F2 discharged a lower number of cercariae, when compared with the susceptible parental group, and in 2 out of 9 positive snails the cercarial elimination was discontinued. In order to identify genetic markers associated with resistance the genotype of parental snails and their offspring F1 and F2 were analyzed by means of the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA method. Nevertheless, it was not possible to detect any marker associated to resistance, but the results showed that in the mentioned species the resistance character is determined by two dominant genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Mara Rosa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Bezerra FSDM, Nogueira-Machado JA, Martins-Souza RL, Chaves MM, Correa RF, Coelho PMZ. Effect of gamma radiation on the activity of hemocytes and on the course of Schistosoma mansoni infection in resistant Biomphalaria tenagophila snails. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2003; 98:73-5. [PMID: 12700864 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762003000100010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
High doses of gamma radiation (10 Krad) in Biomphalaria tenagophila snails (Taim strain), which have been found to be resistant to Schistosoma mansoni, were not sufficient to impair their resistance to the parasite. The number of hemocytes, as well as their phagocytic activity, were not affected by irradiation, thus showing resemblance with mammal macrophages, which are resistant to gamma irradiation also.
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Lima NMF, dos Santos AF, Porfírio Z, Goulart MOF, Sant'Ana AEG. Toxicity of lapachol and isolapachol and their potassium salts against Biomphalaria glabrata, Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, Artemia salina and Tilapia nilotica. Acta Trop 2002; 83:43-7. [PMID: 12062792 DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(02)00055-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The toxicity of soluble derivatives (potassium salt) of lapachol and isolapachol in different stages of the life cycle of Schistosoma mansoni is evaluated. The potassium salts of isolapachol and lapachol showed significant molluscicidal activity against the adult snail (LC90<7 ppm) and snail egg masses (LC90<3 ppm). Cercaricidal assays revealed strong activities for both compounds. Lethality assays against brine shrimp eggs (Artemia salina Leach) indicated very high toxicity for the potassium salt of isolapachol (LC90=1.54 ppm), differently from the potassium salt of lapachol that can be considered non toxic (LC90=176.3 ppm). The same tendency is observed with piscicidal activity, for which the isolapachol salt has showed higher toxicity. The obtained selectivity ratios concerning LC50 and LC90 for lapachol, in relation to Tilapia nilotica lethality assay are 2.33 and 1.26, respectively. Despite the piscicidal toxicity, the use of the salt of lapachol can be recommended for field tests in Schistosomiasis, with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Maria Fernandes Lima
- Departamento de Química/CCEN Campus A.C. Simoes, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Tabuleiro dos Martins Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
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Ohlweiler FP, Kawano T. Biomphalaria tenagophila (Orbigny, 1835) (Mollusca): adaptation to desiccation and susceptibility to infection with Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2002; 44:191-201. [PMID: 12219110 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652002000400003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Experiments were carried out to test the susceptibility of Biomphalaria tenagophila to the infection with strain SJ of Schistosoma mansoni in the F1, F2 and non-selected parental generation. The potential adaptation of B. tenagophila to desiccation, in healthy mollusks and those exposed to the larvae of S. mansoni of the F1, F2 and non-selected parental generations was also studied. The presence of mucus and soil, at the shell opening, protected the snails against desiccation, favoring survival. The healthy mollusks performed more attempts against desiccation than those exposed to the larvae of the parasite. The mortality rate, during desiccation, was higher among mollusks that remained buried and with the shell opening unobstructed. During the desiccation period the stage of development of the parasite was influenced by the weight loss and the survival of the snails. The longer the period of desiccation, the greater was the weight loss observed, abbreviating survival. The non-selected parental generation was more sensitive to desiccation than the F1 and F2 generations, both in healthy mollusks and in those exposed to S. mansoni larvae. Healthy mollusks were more resistant to desiccation than those exposed to the larvae of the S. mansoni. Desiccation did not interrupt the development of S. mansoni larvae in mollusks, causing a delay in the cercariae elimination. The susceptibility of B. tenagophila to the SJ strain of S. mansoni, in mollusks maintained in water during the larvae incubation period, was similar in all three generations.
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Bonesso-Sabadini PIP, de Souza Dias LC. Altered response of strain of Schistosoma mansoni to oxamniquine and praziquantel. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2002; 97:381-5. [PMID: 12048569 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762002000300019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The susceptibility of a fourth generation Ouh strain (Paranapanema Valley, São Paulo, Brazil) of Schistosoma mansoni to oxamniquine (OXA) and praziquantel (PZQ) was studied. Ten groups of 13 female albino mice each were infected with 70 cercariae per animal. These mice were medicated orally on the 50th day after infection. Five groups were given OXA doses of 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg (single doses) and the rest were treated with PZQ doses of 0, 100, 200, and 250 mg/kg/5 days. Each group was sub-divided: 8 animals underwent perfusion after 15 days treatment, 5 mice followed up for oviposition and their feces were tested every 15 days for miracidia hatching. The efficacy of the OXA doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg was 66% and 91.4%, respectively and for the 100 mg/kg PZQ dose it was 90.1%. The follow-up groups with 100 and 200 mg/kg of OXA and PZQ, 100 and 150 mg/kg, showed that they re-established the oviposition after a period of 60 to 75 days of treatment. The ED50 was 69.6 mg/kg OXA and 39.4 mg/kg PZQ. The results show the tolerance of the Ouh strain to a dose of 100 mg with both drugs and they appoint the need for a dose review during the follow up of the oviposition and in monitoring phenomena in the field.
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Filho SB, Gargioni C, Silva Pinto PL, Chiodelli SG, Gurgel Vellosa SA, da Silva RM, da Silveira MAB. Synthesis and evaluation of new oxamniquine derivatives. Int J Pharm 2002; 233:35-41. [PMID: 11897408 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-5173(01)00917-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oxamniquine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as novel schistosomicide agents. Oxamniquine (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-[[(1-methylethyl)amino]methyl]-7-nitro-6-quinolinemethanol) was submitted to the Mannich reaction, using formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde and acetaldehyde as reagents, and gave three unexpected products: two of them were cyclized on the alkylamine side chain and another etherified on the aminequinolinemethanol group. The three compounds were biologically evaluated using mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni and showed promising activities, but had higher toxicities. For studies on structure-activity relationships, results demonstrate that the side alkylamine group can be modified with preserved activity, but that this modification is associated with increased toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvio Barberato Filho
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, CEP 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil
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