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Llovera A, Abras A, Fernández-Arévalo A, Ballart C, Heras S, Muñoz C, Gállego M. Genetic Diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi in the United States of America: The Least Endemic Country for Chagas Disease. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:901. [PMID: 39063654 PMCID: PMC11278504 DOI: 10.3390/life14070901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and endemic in Latin America, has become an emergent health problem in non-endemic countries due to human migration. The United States (US) is the non-Latin American country with the highest CD burden and cannot be considered as non-endemic, since triatomine vectors and reservoir animals have been found. Populations of T. cruzi are divided into genetic subdivisions, which are known as discrete typing units (DTUs): TcI to TcVI and TcBat. Autochthonous human T. cruzi infection in the US is sporadic, but it may change due to environmental factors affecting the geographic distribution of triatomines. We aimed to perform a literature review of the genetic diversity of T. cruzi in triatomine vectors and mammalian hosts, including human cases, in the US. The 34 analyzed studies revealed the presence of T. cruzi in 18 states, which was mainly concentrated in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico. TcI and TcIV were the principal DTUs identified, being TcI the most genotyped (42.4%; 917/2164). This study represents a first attempt to compile the molecular epidemiology of T. cruzi in the US, which is fundamental for predicting the progression of the infection in the country and could be of great help in its future management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alba Abras
- Laboratori d’Ictiologia Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Anna Fernández-Arévalo
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-A.); (C.B.); (M.G.)
| | - Cristina Ballart
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-A.); (C.B.); (M.G.)
- Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Heras
- Laboratori d’Ictiologia Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de Girona, 17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Carmen Muñoz
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institut de Recerca Biomèdica Sant Pau, 08041 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Gállego
- Secció de Parasitologia, Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l’Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.F.-A.); (C.B.); (M.G.)
- Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Martín-Escolano J, Marín C, Rosales MJ, Tsaousis AD, Medina-Carmona E, Martín-Escolano R. An Updated View of the Trypanosoma cruzi Life Cycle: Intervention Points for an Effective Treatment. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1107-1115. [PMID: 35652513 PMCID: PMC9194904 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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Chagas disease (CD)
is a parasitic, systemic, chronic, and often
fatal illness caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma
cruzi. The World Health Organization classifies CD as the
most prevalent of poverty-promoting neglected tropical diseases, the
most important parasitic one, and the third most infectious disease
in Latin America. Currently, CD is a global public health issue that
affects 6–8 million people. However, the current approved treatments
are limited to two nitroheterocyclic drugs developed more than 50
years ago. Many efforts have been made in recent decades to find new
therapies, but our limited understanding of the infection process,
pathology development, and long-term nature of this disease has made
it impossible to develop new drugs, effective treatment, or vaccines.
This Review aims to provide a comprehensive update on our understanding
of the current life cycle, new morphological forms, and genetic diversity
of T. cruzi, as well as identify intervention points
in the life cycle where new drugs and treatments could achieve a parasitic
cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Martín-Escolano
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), University Hospital Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/University of Seville, E41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - María J. Rosales
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Anastasios D. Tsaousis
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, U.K
| | - Encarnación Medina-Carmona
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, U.K
| | - Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Laboratory of Molecular & Evolutionary Parasitology, RAPID group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, U.K
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Asghari A, Nourmohammadi H, Majidiani H, Shariatzadeh SA, Anvari D, Shamsinia S, Ghasemi E, Shams M, Basati G. Promising effects of parasite-derived compounds on tumor regression: a systematic review of in vitro and in vivo studies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:32383-32396. [PMID: 35146610 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17090-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The parasites are repeatedly confronting their host to take advantage of nutrients for multiplication and survival. In this sense, a wide spectrum of molecules is released from both sides, with immune-regulatory activity, accompanying this biological battle. Such parasites and their valuable molecules can be directed toward microbial-based cancer therapy. Herein, we contrived a systematic review to gather information on the antitumor activity of parasite-derived compounds. Following systematic search in Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest and Embase until 31 December 2019, a total number of 51 articles (54 datasets) were finally included in this review. Thirteen parasitic agents were found to possess possible antitumor activity, comprising protozoan species Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trichomonas vaginalis, Acanthamoeba castellanii, Besnoitia jellisoni, Leishmania major, Plasmodium yoelii, and Plasmodium lophurae, as well as parasitic helminths Toxocara canis, Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia crassiceps, Trichinella spiralis, and Schistosoma mansoni. Most experiments were done based on antigenic preparations from T. gondii (16 studies), E. granulosus (10 studies), T. spiralis (8 studies), and T. cruzi (6 studies). Possible antitumor properties of the selected parasites were revealed in this review. However, precise molecular basis of anticancer activity for each parasite remains to be elucidated in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Asghari
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hassan Nourmohammadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Majidiani
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Seyyed Ali Shariatzadeh
- Department of Parasitology, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Davood Anvari
- Department of Parasitology, Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
| | - Sadegh Shamsinia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ezatollah Ghasemi
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Gholam Basati
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
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Rojas de Arias A, Messenger LA, Rolon M, Vega MC, Acosta N, Villalba C, Marcet PL. Dynamics of Triatoma infestans populations in the Paraguayan Chaco: Population genetic analysis of household reinfestation following vector control. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263465. [PMID: 35143523 PMCID: PMC8830694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although domestic infestations by Triatoma infestans have been successfully controlled across Latin America, in areas of the Gran Chaco region, recurrent post-spraying house colonization continues to be a significant challenge, jeopardizing Chagas disease vector control and maintaining active Trypanosoma cruzi transmission. Methodology/Principal findings To investigate the dynamics of triatomine reinfestation in a rural area of the Paraguayan Chaco, genetic characterization (based on 10 microsatellite loci and cytochrome B sequence polymorphisms) was performed on baseline and reinfestant T. infestans (n = 138) from four indigenous communities and adjacent sylvatic sites. House quality and basic economic activities were assessed across the four communities. Significant genetic differentiation was detected among all baseline triatomine populations. Faster reinfestation was observed in the communities with higher infestation rates pre-spraying. Baseline and reinfestant populations from the same communities were not genetically different, but two potentially distinct processes of reinfestation were evident. In Campo Largo, the reinfestant population was likely founded by domestic survivor foci, with reduced genetic diversity relative to the baseline population. However, in 12 de Junio, reinfestant bugs were likely derived from different sources, including survivors from the pre-spraying population and sympatric sylvatic bugs, indicative of gene-flow between these habitats, likely driven by high human mobility and economic activities in adjacent sylvatic areas. Conclusions/Significance Our results demonstrate that sylvatic T. infestans threatens vector control strategies, either as a reinfestation source or by providing a temporary refuge during insecticide spraying. Passive anthropogenic importation of T. infestans and active human interactions with neighboring forested areas also played a role in recolonization. Optimization of spraying, integrated community development and close monitoring of sylvatic areas should be considered when implementing vector control activities in the Gran Chaco.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonieta Rojas de Arias
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica (CEDIC/Díaz Gill Medicina Laboratorial /FMB), Asunción, Paraguay
- * E-mail:
| | - Louisa Alexandra Messenger
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (DPDM), Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), Entomology Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
- American Society for Microbiology, NW Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Miriam Rolon
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica (CEDIC/Díaz Gill Medicina Laboratorial /FMB), Asunción, Paraguay
| | - María Celeste Vega
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Investigación Científica (CEDIC/Díaz Gill Medicina Laboratorial /FMB), Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Nidia Acosta
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, UNA, Asuncion, Paraguay
| | - Cesia Villalba
- Programa Nacional de Control de la Enfermedad de Chagas (SENEPA), Asunción, Paraguay
| | - Paula L. Marcet
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (DPDM), Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), Entomology Branch, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Gómez I, López MC, Rastrojo A, Lorenzo-Díaz F, Requena JM, Aguado B, Valladares B, Thomas MC. Variability of the Pr77 sequence of L1Tc retrotransposon among six T. cruzi strains belonging to different discrete typing units (DTUs). Acta Trop 2021; 222:106053. [PMID: 34273311 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106053] [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: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
All trypanosomatid genomes are colonized by non-LTR retrotransposons which exhibit a highly conserved 77-nt sequence at their 5' ends, known as the Pr77-hallmark (Pr77). The wide distribution of Pr77 is expected to be related to the gene regulation processes in these organisms as it has promoter and HDV-like ribozyme activities at the DNA and RNA levels, respectively. The identification of Pr77 hallmark-bearing retrotransposons and the study of the associations of mobile elements with relevant genes have been analyzed in the genomes of six strains of Trypanosoma cruzi belonging to different discrete typing units (DTUs) and with different geographical origins and host/vectors. The genomes have been sequenced, assembled and annotated. BUSCO analyses indicated a good quality for the assemblies that were used in comparative analyses. The results show differences among the six genomes in the copy number of genes related to virulence processes, the abundance of retrotransposons bearing the Pr77 sequence and the presence of the Pr77 hallmarks not associated with retroelements. The analyses also show frequent associations of Pr77-bearing retrotransposons and single Pr77 hallmarks with genes coding for trans-sialidases, RHS, MASP or hypothetical proteins, showing variable proportion depending on the type of retroelement, gene class and parasite strain. These differences in the genomic distribution of active retroelements and other Pr77-containing elements have shaped the genome architecture of these six strains and might be contributing to the phenotypic variability existing among them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inmaculada Gómez
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; PTS-Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Carlos López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; PTS-Granada, Spain
| | - Alberto Rastrojo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo-Ochoa (CBMSO) (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabián Lorenzo-Díaz
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias. Universidad de La Laguna. La Laguna, Spain
| | - José María Requena
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo-Ochoa (CBMSO) (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Aguado
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo-Ochoa (CBMSO) (CSIC-UAM), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Basilio Valladares
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias. Universidad de La Laguna. La Laguna, Spain
| | - M Carmen Thomas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; PTS-Granada, Spain.
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Nielebock MAP, Moreira OC, Xavier SCDC, Miranda LDFC, de Lima ACB, Pereira TODJS, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, Britto C, Sangenis LHC, Saraiva RM. Association between Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcII and chronic Chagas disease clinical presentation and outcome in an urban cohort in Brazil. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243008. [PMID: 33264350 PMCID: PMC7710061 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The specific roles of parasite characteristics and immunological factors of the host in Chagas disease progression and prognosis are still under debate. Trypanosoma cruzi genotype may be an important determinant of the clinical chronic Chagas disease form and prognosis. This study aimed to identify the potential association between T. cruzi genotypes and the clinical presentations of chronic Chagas disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This is a retrospective study using T. cruzi isolated from blood culture samples of 43 patients with chronic Chagas disease. From 43 patients, 42 were born in Brazil, mainly in Southeast and Northeast Brazilian regions, and one patient was born in Bolivia. Their mean age at the time of blood collection was 52.4±13.2 years. The clinical presentation was as follows 51.1% cardiac form, 25.6% indeterminate form, and 23.3% cardiodigestive form. Discrete typing unit (DTU) was determined by multilocus conventional PCR. TcII (n = 40) and TcVI (n = 2) were the DTUs identified. DTU was unidentifiable in one patient. The average follow-up time after blood culture was 5.7±4.4 years. A total of 14 patients (32.5%) died and one patient underwent heart transplantation. The cause of death was sudden cardiac arrest in six patients, heart failure in five patients, not related to Chagas disease in one patient, and ignored in two patients. A total of 8 patients (18.6%) progressed, all of them within the cardiac or cardiodigestive forms. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE TcII was the main T. cruzi DTU identified in chronic Chagas disease Brazilian patients (92.9%) with either cardiac, indeterminate or cardiodigestive forms, born at Southeast and Northeast regions. Other DTU found in much less frequency was TcVI (4.8%). TcII was also associated to patients that evolved with heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest, the two most common and ominous consequences of the cardiac form of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Antonio Prates Nielebock
- Clinical Research Laboratory in Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacílio C. Moreira
- Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno
- Clinical Research Laboratory in Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz Henrique Conde Sangenis
- Clinical Research Laboratory in Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberto Magalhães Saraiva
- Clinical Research Laboratory in Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Martín-Escolano J, Medina-Carmona E, Martín-Escolano R. Chagas Disease: Current View of an Ancient and Global Chemotherapy Challenge. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:2830-2843. [PMID: 33034192 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease and a global public health issue. In terms of treatment, no progress has been made since the 1960s, when benznidazole and nifurtimox, two obsolete drugs still prescribed, were used to treat this disease. Hence, currently, there are no effective treatments available to tackle Chagas disease. Over the past 20 years, there has been an increasing interest in the disease. However, parasite genetic diversity, drug resistance, tropism, and complex life cycle, along with the limited understanding of the disease and inadequate methodologies and strategies, have resulted in the absence of new insights in drugs development and disappointing outcomes in clinical trials so far. In summary, new drugs are urgently needed. This Review considers the relevant aspects related to the lack of drugs for Chagas disease, resumes the advances in tools for drug discovery, and discusses the main features to be taken into account to develop new effective drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | | | - Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), Hospitales Universitarios De Granada/University of Granada, Severo Ochoa s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Kann S, Kunz M, Hansen J, Sievertsen J, Crespo JJ, Loperena A, Arriens S, Dandekar T. Chagas Disease: Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi by a New, High-Specific Real Time PCR. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9051517. [PMID: 32443464 PMCID: PMC7291166 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9051517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chagas disease (CD) is a major burden in Latin America, expanding also to non-endemic countries. A gold standard to detect the CD causing pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi is currently not available. Existing real time polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) lack sensitivity and/or specificity. We present a new, highly specific RT-PCR for the diagnosis and monitoring of CD. Material and Methods: We analyzed 352 serum samples from Indigenous people living in high endemic CD areas of Colombia using three leading RT-PCRs (k-DNA-, TCZ-, 18S rRNA-PCR), the newly developed one (NDO-PCR), a Rapid Test/enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence. Eighty-seven PCR-products were verified by sequence analysis after plasmid vector preparation. Results: The NDO-PCR showed the highest sensitivity (92.3%), specificity (100%), and accuracy (94.3%) for T. cruzi detection in the 87 sequenced samples. Sensitivities and specificities of the kDNA-PCR were 89.2%/22.7%, 20.5%/100% for TCZ-PCR, and 1.5%/100% for the 18S rRNA-PCR. The kDNA-PCR revealed a 77.3% false positive rate, mostly due to cross-reactions with T. rangeli (NDO-PCR 0%). TCZ- and 18S rRNA-PCR showed a false negative rate of 79.5% and 98.5% (NDO-PCR 7.7%), respectively. Conclusions: The NDO-PCR demonstrated the highest specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy compared to leading PCRs. Together with serologic tests, it can be considered as a reliable tool for CD detection and can improve CD management significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Kann
- Department Research and Development, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.); (S.A.)
- Actually Medical Mission Institute, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Meik Kunz
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Jessica Hansen
- Department Research and Development, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Jürgen Sievertsen
- Department Research and Development, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Jose J. Crespo
- Department Health Advocacy, Organization Wiwa Yugumaiun Bunkuanarrua Tayrona (OWYBT), Valledupar 200001, Colombia; (J.J.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Aristides Loperena
- Department Health Advocacy, Organization Wiwa Yugumaiun Bunkuanarrua Tayrona (OWYBT), Valledupar 200001, Colombia; (J.J.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Sandra Arriens
- Department Research and Development, Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), 20359 Hamburg, Germany; (J.H.); (J.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Thomas Dandekar
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, Functional Genomics and Systems Biology Group, Julius-Maximilians University, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany;
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Maiguashca Sánchez J, Sueto SOB, Schwabl P, Grijalva MJ, Llewellyn MS, Costales JA. Remarkable genetic diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli in two localities of southern Ecuador identified via deep sequencing of mini-exon gene amplicons. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:252. [PMID: 32410645 PMCID: PMC7227245 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04079-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and T. rangeli are kinetoplastid parasites endemic to Latin America. Although closely related to T. cruzi and capable of infecting humans, T. rangeli is non-pathogenic. Both parasite species are transmitted by triatomine bugs, and the presence of T. rangeli constitutes a confounding factor in the study of Chagas disease prevalence and transmission dynamics. Trypanosoma cruzi possesses high molecular heterogeneity: seven discrete typing units (DTUs) are currently recognized. In Ecuador, T. cruzi TcI and T. rangeli KP1(-) predominate, while other genetic lineages are seldom reported. METHODS Infection by T. cruzi and/or T. rangeli in different developmental stages of triatomine bugs from two communities of southern Ecuador was evaluated via polymerase chain reaction product size polymorphism of kinetoplast minicircle sequences and the non-transcribed spacer region of the mini-exon gene (n = 48). Forty-three mini-exon amplicons were also deep sequenced to analyze single-nucleotide polymorphisms within single and mixed infections. Mini-exon products from ten monoclonal reference strains were included as controls. RESULTS Trypanosoma cruzi genetic richness and diversity was not significantly greater in adult vectors than in nymphal stages III and V. In contrast, instar V individuals showed significantly higher T. rangeli richness when compared with other developmental stages. Among infected triatomines, deep sequencing revealed one T. rangeli infection (3%), 8 T. cruzi infections (23.5%) and 25 T. cruzi + T. rangeli co-infections (73.5%), suggesting that T. rangeli prevalence has been largely underestimated in the region. Furthermore, deep sequencing detected TcIV sequences in nine samples; this DTU had not previously been reported in Loja Province. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that deep sequencing allows for better parasite identification/typing than amplicon size analysis alone for mixed infections containing both T. cruzi and T. rangeli, or when multiple T. cruzi DTUs are present. Additionally, our analysis showed extensive overlap among the parasite populations present in the two studied localities (c.28 km apart), suggesting active parasite dispersal over the study area. Our results highlight the value of amplicon sequencing methodologies to clarify the population dynamics of kinetoplastid parasites in endemic regions and inform control campaigns in southern Ecuador.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalil Maiguashca Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Salem Oduro Beffi Sueto
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QQ UK
- Present Address: Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Philipp Schwabl
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QQ UK
| | - Mario J. Grijalva
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701 USA
| | - Martin S. Llewellyn
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QQ UK
| | - Jaime A. Costales
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
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10
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Induction of Effective Immunity against Trypanosoma cruzi. Infect Immun 2020; 88:IAI.00908-19. [PMID: 31907197 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00908-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major public health issue. Limitations in immune responses to natural T. cruzi infection usually result in parasite persistence with significant complications. A safe, effective, and reliable vaccine would reduce the threat of T. cruzi infections; however, no suitable vaccine is currently available due to a lack of understanding of the requirements for induction of fully protective immunity. We established a T. cruzi strain expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of dihydrofolate reductase degradation domain (DDD) with a hemagglutinin (HA) tag, GFP-DDDHA, which was induced by trimethoprim-lactate (TMP-lactate), which results in the death of intracellular parasites. This attenuated strain induces very strong protection against reinfection. Using this GFP-DDDHA strain, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the protective immune response in mice. Immunization with this strain led to a response that included high levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), as well as a rapid expansion of effector and memory T cells in the spleen. More CD8+ T cells differentiate to memory cells following GFP-DDDHA infection than after infection with a wild-type (WT) strain. The GFP-DDDHA strain also provides cross-protection against another T. cruzi isolate. IFN-γ is important in mediating the protection, as IFN-γ knockout (KO) mice failed to acquire protection when infected with the GFP-DDDHA strain. Immune cells demonstrated earlier and stronger protective responses in immunized mice after reinfection with T. cruzi than those in naive mice. Adoptive transfers with several types of immune cells or with serum revealed that several branches of the immune system mediated protection. A combination of serum and natural killer cells provided the most effective protection against infection in these transfer experiments.
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11
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Jansen AM, Xavier SCDC, Roque ALR. Landmarks of the Knowledge and Trypanosoma cruzi Biology in the Wild Environment. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:10. [PMID: 32117794 PMCID: PMC7016096 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are ancient parasitic eukaryotes that still maintain prokaryotic characteristics. Trypanosoma cruzi, a primarily wild mammal parasite, infected humans already long before European colonization of the Americas. T. cruzi heterogeneity remains an unsolved question, and until now, it has still not been possible to associate T. cruzi genotypes with any biological or epidemiological feature. One of the first biochemical attempts to cluster the T. cruzi subpopulations recognized three main subpopulations (zymodemes) that have been associated with the transmission cycles in the wild (Z1; Z3) and in the domestic environment (Z2). The description of wild mammal species harboring Z2 two decades later challenged this assemblage attempt. Currently, the genotypes of T. cruzi are assembled in seven discrete typing units (DTUs). The biology of T. cruzi still shows novelties such as the description of epimastigotes multiplying and differentiating to metacyclic trypomastigotes in the lumen of the scent glands of Didelphis spp. and the capacity of the true meiosis in parallel to clonal reproduction. The study of the transmission cycle among wild animals has broken paradigms and raised new questions: (i) the interaction of the T. cruzi DTUs with each of its mammalian host species displays peculiarities; (ii) the impact of mixed genotypes and species on the transmissibility of one or another species or on pathogenesis is still unknown; (iii) independent T. cruzi transmission cycles may occur in the same forest fragment; (iv) the capacity to act as a reservoir depends on the peculiarities of the host species and the parasite genotype; and (v) faunistic composition is a defining trait of the T. cruzi transmission cycle profile. The development of models of environmental variables that determine the spatial distribution of the elements that make up T. cruzi transmission by spatial analysis, followed by map algebra and networking, are the next steps toward interpreting and dealing with the new profile of Chagas disease with its many peculiarities. There is no way to solve this neglected disease once and for all if not through a multidisciplinary look that takes into account all kinds of human and animal activities in parallel to environmental variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maria Jansen
- Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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12
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Ramírez-González MG, Flores-Villegas AL, Salazar-Schettino PM, Gutiérrez-Cabrera AE, Rojas-Ortega E, Córdoba-Aguilar A. Zombie bugs? Manipulation of kissing bug behavior by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2019; 200:105177. [PMID: 31539526 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The parasite manipulation hypothesis states that the parasite modifies host's behavior thereby increasing the probability that the parasite will pass from an intermediate host to its final host. We used the kissing bugs Triatoma pallidipennis and T. longipennis and two isolates of the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite (Chilpancingo and Morelos) to test these ideas. These insects are intermediate hosts of this parasite, which is the causal agent of Chagas disease. The Chilpancingo isolate is more pathogenic than the Morelos isolate, in the bugs. We expected that infected bugs would be more active and likely at detecting human-like odors. Given the differences in pathogenicity between isolates, we expected the Chilpancingo isolate to induce these effects more strongly and lead to higher parasite number than the Morelos isolate. Finally, infected bugs would gain less mass (a mechanism thought to increase bite rate, and thus transmission) than non-infected bugs. Having determined that both isolate haplotypes belong to the Tc1a group, we found that: (a) young instars of both species were more active and likely to detect human odor when they were infected, regardless of the isolate; (b) there was no difference in parasite abundance depending on isolate; and, (c) infected bugs did not end up with less weight than uninfected bugs. These results suggest that T. cruzi can manipulate the bugs, which implies a higher risk to contract Chagas disease than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Guadalupe Ramírez-González
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. P. 70-275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - A Laura Flores-Villegas
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Paz María Salazar-Schettino
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ana E Gutiérrez-Cabrera
- CONACYT y Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Avenida Universidad 655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, 62100 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Eréndira Rojas-Ortega
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. P. 70-275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
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13
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Infection by Trypanosoma cruzi in the central nervous system in non-human mammals: a systematic review. Parasitology 2019; 146:983-1005. [PMID: 30873928 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182019000210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Currently, the types and distribution of the lesions induced in the central nervous system (CNS) by Trypanosoma cruzi remain unclear as the available evidence is based on fragmented data. Therefore, we developed a systematic review to analyse the main characteristics of the CNS lesions in non-human hosts infected. From a structured search on the PubMed/Medline and Scopus platforms, 32 studies were retrieved, subjected to data extraction and methodological bias analysis. Our results show that the most frequent alterations in the CNS are the presence of different forms of T. cruzi and intense lymphocytes infiltrates. The encephalon is the main target of T. cruzi, and inflammatory changes in the CNS are more frequent and severe in the acute phase of infection. The parasite's genotype and phenotype are associated with the tropism and severity of the CNS lesions. The methodological limitations found in the studies were divergences in inoculation pathways, under-reporting of animal age and weight, sample calculation strategies and histopathological characterization. Since the changes were dependent on the pathogenicity and virulence of the T. cruzi strains, the genotype and phenotype characterization of the parasite are extremely relevant to predict changes in the CNS and the neurological manifestations associated with Chagas' disease.
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14
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Ja'afar JN, Bhore SJ, Phua KK. Non-specificity of sequence characterised amplified region as an alternative molecular epidemiology marker for the identification of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:766. [PMID: 30373642 PMCID: PMC6206845 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-3870-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Identification of Salmonella Typhi by conventional culture techniques is labour-intensive, time consuming, and lack sensitivity and specificity unlike high-throughput epidemiological markers that are highly specific but are not affordable for low-resource settings. SCAR, obtained from RAPD technique, is an affordable, reliable and reproducible method for developing genetic markers. Hence, this study investigated the use of SCAR as an alternative molecular epidemiological marker for easy identification of S. Typhi in low-resource settings. Results One hundred and twenty RAPD primers were screened through RAPD-PCR against a panel of common enterobacteriaceae for the best RAPD band pattern discrimination to develop SCAR primers that were used to develop a RAPD-SCAR PCR. Of this number, 10 were selected based on their calculated indices of discrimination. Four RAPD primers, SBSA02, SBSA03, SBSD08 and SBSD11 produced suitable bands ranging from 900 to 2500 bp. However, only SBSD11 was found to be specific for S. Typhi, and was cloned, sequenced and used to design new SCAR primers. The primers were used to amplify a panel of organisms to evaluate its specificity. However, the amplified regions were similar to other non-Typhi genomes denoting a lack of specificity of the primers as a marker for S. Typhi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ja'afar Nuhu Ja'afar
- Enteric Diseases Research Cluster, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, USM, George Town, Penang, Malaysia. .,Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, PMB 2076, Adamawa State, Nigeria.
| | - Subhash Janardhan Bhore
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University, 08100, Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Kia Kien Phua
- Enteric Diseases Research Cluster, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, USM, George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
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15
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Quebrada Palacio LP, González MN, Hernandez-Vasquez Y, Perrone AE, Parodi-Talice A, Bua J, Postan M. Phenotypic diversity and drug susceptibility of Trypanosoma cruzi TcV clinical isolates. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203462. [PMID: 30183775 PMCID: PMC6124804 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a genetically heterogeneous group of organisms that cause Chagas disease. It has been long suspected that the clinical outcome of the disease and response to therapeutic agents are, at least in part, related to the genetic characteristics of the parasite. Herein, we sought to validate the significance of the genotype of T. cruzi isolates recovered from patients with different clinical forms of Chagas disease living in Argentina on their biological behaviour and susceptibility to drugs. Genotype identification of the newly established isolates confirmed the reported predominance of TcV, with a minor frequency of TcI. Epimastigote sensitivity assays demonstrated marked dissimilar responses to benznidazole, nifurtimox, pentamidine and dihydroartemisinin in vitro. Two TcV isolates exhibiting divergent response to benznidazole in epimastigote assays were further tested for the expression of anti-oxidant proteins. Benznidazole-resistant BOL-FC10A epimastigotes had decreased expression of Old Yellow Enzyme and cytosolic superoxide dismutase, and overexpression of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and tryparedoxin- 1, compared to benznidazole-susceptible AR-SE23C parasites. Drug sensitivity assays on intracellular amastigotes and trypomastigotes reproduced the higher susceptibility of AR-SE23C over BOL-FC10A parasites to benznidazole observed in epimastigotes assays. However, the susceptibility/resistance profile of amastigotes and trypomastigotes to nifurtimox, pentamidine and dihydroartemisinin varied markedly with respect to that of epimastigotes. C3H/He mice infected with AR-SE23C trypomastigotes had higher levels of parasitemia and mortality rate during the acute phase of infection compared to mice infected with BOL-FC10A trypomastigotes. Treatment of infected mice with benznidazole or nifurtimox was efficient to reduce patent parasitemia induced by either isolate. Nevertheless, qPCR performed at 70 dpi revealed parasite DNA in the blood of mice infected with AR-SE23C but not in BOL-FC10A infected mice. These results demonstrate high level of intra-type diversity which may represent an important obstacle for the testing of chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz P. Quebrada Palacio
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariela N. González
- Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yolanda Hernandez-Vasquez
- Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alina E. Perrone
- Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriana Parodi-Talice
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Sección Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jacqueline Bua
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Miriam Postan
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología “Dr. Mario Fatala Chabén”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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16
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MacLean LM, Thomas J, Lewis MD, Cotillo I, Gray DW, De Rycker M. Development of Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro assays to identify compounds suitable for progression in Chagas' disease drug discovery. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006612. [PMID: 30001347 PMCID: PMC6057682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas' disease is responsible for significant mortality and morbidity in Latin America. Current treatments display variable efficacy and have adverse side effects, hence more effective, better tolerated drugs are needed. However, recent efforts have proved unsuccessful with failure of the ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor posaconazole in phase II clinical trials despite promising in vitro and in vivo studies. The lack of translation between laboratory experiments and clinical outcome is a major issue for further drug discovery efforts. Our goal was to identify cell-based assays that could differentiate current nitro-aromatic drugs nifurtimox and benznidazole from posaconazole. Using a panel of T. cruzi strains including the six major lineages (TcI-VI), we found that strain PAH179 (TcV) was markedly less susceptible to posaconazole in vitro. Determination of parasite doubling and cycling times as well as EdU labelling experiments all indicate that this lack of sensitivity is due to the slow doubling and cycling time of strain PAH179. This is in accordance with ergosterol biosynthesis inhibition by posaconazole leading to critically low ergosterol levels only after multiple rounds of division, and is further supported by the lack of effect of posaconazole on the non-replicative trypomastigote form. A washout experiment with prolonged posaconazole treatment showed that, even for more rapidly replicating strains, this compound cannot clear all parasites, indicative of a heterogeneous parasite population in vitro and potentially the presence of quiescent parasites. Benznidazole in contrast was able to kill all parasites. The work presented here shows clear differentiation between the nitro-aromatic drugs and posaconazole in several assays, and suggests that in vitro there may be clinically relevant heterogeneity in the parasite population that can be revealed in long-term washout experiments. Based on these findings we have adjusted our in vitro screening cascade so that only the most promising compounds are progressed to in vivo experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna M. MacLean
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (LML); (DWG)
| | - John Thomas
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D. Lewis
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ignacio Cotillo
- GlaxoSmithKline, Diseases of the Developing World, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - David W. Gray
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (LML); (DWG)
| | - Manu De Rycker
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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17
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Recent advances in trypanosomatid research: genome organization, expression, metabolism, taxonomy and evolution. Parasitology 2018; 146:1-27. [PMID: 29898792 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018000951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Unicellular flagellates of the family Trypanosomatidae are obligatory parasites of invertebrates, vertebrates and plants. Dixenous species are aetiological agents of a number of diseases in humans, domestic animals and plants. Their monoxenous relatives are restricted to insects. Because of the high biological diversity, adaptability to dramatically different environmental conditions, and omnipresence, these protists have major impact on all biotic communities that still needs to be fully elucidated. In addition, as these organisms represent a highly divergent evolutionary lineage, they are strikingly different from the common 'model system' eukaryotes, such as some mammals, plants or fungi. A number of excellent reviews, published over the past decade, were dedicated to specialized topics from the areas of trypanosomatid molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, host-parasite relationships or other aspects of these fascinating organisms. However, there is a need for a more comprehensive review that summarizing recent advances in the studies of trypanosomatids in the last 30 years, a task, which we tried to accomplish with the current paper.
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18
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19
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Leiby DA, Nguyen ML, Proctor MC, Townsend RL, Stramer SL. Frequency of Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia among infected blood donors with a potential association between parasite lineage and transfusion transmission. Transfusion 2017; 57:1426-1432. [PMID: 28295355 DOI: 10.1111/trf.14082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic to the Americas where it demonstrates multiple lineages over a vast geographic range (i.e., United States to Argentina). These lineages possess divergent geographic and biologic characteristics, including variations in disease manifestations. Herein, we report the frequency of parasitemia among seropositive US blood donors and the potential association between parasite lineage and transfusion transmission. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Blood donors identified as T. cruzi seropositive during screening were enrolled in follow-up studies, including hemoculture testing and a risk factor questionnaire. Positive hemocultures were expanded to obtain sufficient parasites for molecular lineage determination and analysis. Country of birth, obtained from the questionnaire, was used to predict parasite lineage in the absence of demonstrable parasitemia for infected donors. RESULTS Eighteen (6.8%) of 263 seropositive donors were hemoculture positive. Among the 17 hemocultures expanded for lineage determination, TcV was identified more frequently (n = 12), compared to TcI (n = 2), TcII (n = 1), and TcVI (n = 2). When presumptive parasite lineages were compared to hemoculture results, only two of 157 (1.3%) TcI versus 13 of 38 (34.2%) TcII/TcV/TcVI non-US donors were parasitemic; three of 44 (6.8%) US donors were TcV or TcVI. CONCLUSIONS Based on lineage determination for donors with parasitemia; hemoculture positivity associated with presumptive parasite lineage; and implicated donors from US, Canadian, and Spanish transfusion cases, donors from Southern South America are significantly more likely to have parasitemia and transmit infection to blood recipients (TcII, TcV, or TcVI vs. TcI). Thus, parasite lineage may be associated with risk of transfusion-transmitted T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Leiby
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Megan L Nguyen
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Melanie C Proctor
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory, Rockville, Maryland
| | | | - Susan L Stramer
- Scientific Support Office, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, Maryland
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20
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Bontempi IA, Bizai ML, Ortiz S, Manattini S, Fabbro D, Solari A, Diez C. Simple methodology to directly genotype Trypanosoma cruzi discrete typing units in single and mixed infections from human blood samples. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 43:123-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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21
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Fraga J, Fernández-Calienes A, Montalvo AM, Maes I, Deborggraeve S, Büscher P, Dujardin JC, Van der Auwera G. Phylogenetic analysis of the Trypanosoma genus based on the heat-shock protein 70 gene. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 43:165-72. [PMID: 27180897 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosome evolution was so far essentially studied on the basis of phylogenetic analyses of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) and glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) genes. We used for the first time the 70kDa heat-shock protein gene (hsp70) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among 11 Trypanosoma species on the basis of 1380 nucleotides from 76 sequences corresponding to 65 strains. We also constructed a phylogeny based on combined datasets of SSU-rDNA, gGAPDH and hsp70 sequences. The obtained clusters can be correlated with the sections and subgenus classifications of mammal-infecting trypanosomes except for Trypanosoma theileri and Trypanosoma rangeli. Our analysis supports the classification of Trypanosoma species into clades rather than in sections and subgenera, some of which being polyphyletic. Nine clades were recognized: Trypanosoma carassi, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma grayi, Trypanosoma lewisi, T. rangeli, T. theileri, Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanozoon. These results are consistent with existing knowledge of the genus' phylogeny. Within the T. cruzi clade, three groups of T. cruzi discrete typing units could be clearly distinguished, corresponding to TcI, TcIII, and TcII+V+VI, while support for TcIV was lacking. Phylogenetic analyses based on hsp70 demonstrated that this molecular marker can be applied for discriminating most of the Trypanosoma species and clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Fraga
- Parasitology Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kouri, La Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Ilse Maes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stijn Deborggraeve
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Philippe Büscher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jean-Claude Dujardin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gert Van der Auwera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Sales-Campos H, Kappel HB, Andrade CP, Lima TP, de Castilho A, Giraldo LER, Lages-Silva E. Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcII presents higher blood parasitism than DTU TcI in an experimental model of mixed infection. Acta Parasitol 2015. [PMID: 26204180 DOI: 10.1515/ap-2015-0060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc), the causative agent of Chagas disease, affects millions of people worldwide. One of the major characteristics of T. cruzi is related to its heterogeneity due to the variability of its biological properties, parasite growth rates, infectivity, tissue tropism, morbidity and virulence among different isolates observed during experimental or human infection. Moreover, presence of mixed infections in the same host in endemic areas is a matter of study due to its impact on clinical manifestations and disease progression. In this study, we evaluated the biological behavior of two Tc I strains AQ1-7 (AQ) and MUTUM (MT) and one Tc II strain (JG) during the acute phase of infection, in unique and mixed infections. A patent blood parasitism was detected only in mice inoculated with JG strain . In addition blood parasitism parameters (peak and average blood parasitism) were positively associated when JG and AQ strains were combined. In contrast, a negative association was observed in the JG+MUTUM group. The predominance of TcII strain over TcI strains was highlighted using the LSSP-PCR technique, which was performed in samples from hemoculture. Thus, this study showed important biological differences between different T. cruzi strains and discrete typing units (DTUs) in acute phase. Finally, we observed that blood parasitism during early period of infection seems to be more related to DTU than to a specific strain.
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Effects of artesunate against Trypanosma cruzi. Exp Parasitol 2015; 156:26-31. [PMID: 26024969 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2015.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Therapy against Trypanosma cruzi relies on only two chemically related nitro-derivative drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, both limited by poor efficacy and toxicity. It is suspected that with prolonged usage of these drugs, resistant parasites will be selected, which results in risk for treatment failure over the time. Herein, we studied the in vitro activity of artesunate, the most effective drug to treat severe P. falciparum and chloroquine-resistant P. vivax, on three strains of T. cruzi originated in different regions of Latin America (Argentina, Nicaragua and Brazil). The results of these assays showed that artesunate inhibits multiplication of epimastigotes (IC50 = 50, 6.10 and 23 µM, respectively) and intracellular amastigotes (IC50 = 15, 0.12 and 6.90 µM, respectively), indicating that it represents a potent anti-T. cruzi compound in terms of inhibiting parasite multiplication in vitro. We then tested the effect of artesunate in Balb/c mice infected with Brazil strain and found that it failed to cure the infection, suggesting that the drug may be unsuitable for in vivo treatment. When infected mice were treated with high doses AS + BZ, the outcome of infection was similar to that observed in mice treated with BZ alone. Nevertheless, understanding of structure-activity relationship of artesunate might lead to the development of new and effective drugs against T. cruzi.
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Cura CI, Duffy T, Lucero RH, Bisio M, Péneau J, Jimenez-Coello M, Calabuig E, Gimenez MJ, Valencia Ayala E, Kjos SA, Santalla J, Mahaney SM, Cayo NM, Nagel C, Barcán L, Málaga Machaca ES, Acosta Viana KY, Brutus L, Ocampo SB, Aznar C, Cuba Cuba CA, Gürtler RE, Ramsey JM, Ribeiro I, VandeBerg JL, Yadon ZE, Osuna A, Schijman AG. Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay Using TaqMan Probes for the Identification of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs in Biological and Clinical Samples. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003765. [PMID: 25993316 PMCID: PMC4437652 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi has been classified into six Discrete Typing Units (DTUs), designated as TcI-TcVI. In order to effectively use this standardized nomenclature, a reproducible genotyping strategy is imperative. Several typing schemes have been developed with variable levels of complexity, selectivity and analytical sensitivity. Most of them can be only applied to cultured stocks. In this context, we aimed to develop a multiplex Real-Time PCR method to identify the six T. cruzi DTUs using TaqMan probes (MTq-PCR). METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The MTq-PCR has been evaluated in 39 cultured stocks and 307 biological samples from vectors, reservoirs and patients from different geographical regions and transmission cycles in comparison with a multi-locus conventional PCR algorithm. The MTq-PCR was inclusive for laboratory stocks and natural isolates and sensitive for direct typing of different biological samples from vectors, reservoirs and patients with acute, congenital infection or Chagas reactivation. The first round SL-IR MTq-PCR detected 1 fg DNA/reaction tube of TcI, TcII and TcIII and 1 pg DNA/reaction tube of TcIV, TcV and TcVI reference strains. The MTq-PCR was able to characterize DTUs in 83% of triatomine and 96% of reservoir samples that had been typed by conventional PCR methods. Regarding clinical samples, 100% of those derived from acute infected patients, 62.5% from congenitally infected children and 50% from patients with clinical reactivation could be genotyped. Sensitivity for direct typing of blood samples from chronic Chagas disease patients (32.8% from asymptomatic and 22.2% from symptomatic patients) and mixed infections was lower than that of the conventional PCR algorithm. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Typing is resolved after a single or a second round of Real-Time PCR, depending on the DTU. This format reduces carryover contamination and is amenable to quantification, automation and kit production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina I. Cura
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres”—INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomas Duffy
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres”—INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Raúl H. Lucero
- Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina
| | - Margarita Bisio
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres”—INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julie Péneau
- Laboratoire Hospitalier et Universitaire-CH Andrée Rosemon, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Matilde Jimenez-Coello
- Laboratorio Biología Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Eva Calabuig
- Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Politécnico LA FE, Valencia, Spain
| | - María J. Gimenez
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico LA FE, Valencia, Spain
| | - Edward Valencia Ayala
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Sonia A. Kjos
- Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - José Santalla
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios en Salud, Ministerio de Salud y Deportes de Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Susan M. Mahaney
- Southwest National Primate Research Center and Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nelly M. Cayo
- Instituto de Biología de la Altura, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Claudia Nagel
- Epidemiología e Infectología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Fundación Favaloro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Barcán
- Sección Infectología, Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Edith S. Málaga Machaca
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Karla Y. Acosta Viana
- Laboratorio Biología Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales “Dr. Hideyo Noguchi”, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Laurent Brutus
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement and University Paris Descartes, UMR 216, Mother and Child Facing Tropical Diseases, Paris, France
| | - Susana B. Ocampo
- Instituto de Biología de la Altura, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
| | - Christine Aznar
- Laboratoire Hospitalier et Universitaire-CH Andrée Rosemon, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Cesar A. Cuba Cuba
- Parasitologia Médica e Biologia de Vetores, Área de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasilia, Brasilia DF, Brazil
| | - Ricardo E. Gürtler
- Laboratorio de Eco-Epidemiología, Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Janine M. Ramsey
- Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico
| | - Isabela Ribeiro
- Drugs and Neglected Diseases Initiative, Genève, Switzerland
| | - John L. VandeBerg
- Southwest National Primate Research Center and Department of Genetics, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zaida E. Yadon
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), World Health Organization (WHO), Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Institute of Biotechnology, Molecular Parasitology Group, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Alejandro G. Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular “Dr. Héctor N. Torres”—INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Dutra WO, Menezes CAS, Magalhães LMD, Gollob KJ. Immunoregulatory networks in human Chagas disease. Parasite Immunol 2014; 36:377-87. [PMID: 24611805 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in all Latin America. Due to the increase in population migration, Chagas disease has spread worldwide and is now considered a health issue not only in endemic countries. While most chronically infected individuals remain asymptomatic, approximately 30% of the patients develop a potentially deadly cardiomyopathy. The exact mechanisms that underlie the establishment and maintenance of the cardiac pathology are not clear. However, there is consistent evidence that immunoregulatory cytokines are critical for orchestrating the immune response and thus influence disease development or control. While the asymptomatic (indeterminate) form represents a state of balance between the host and the parasite, the establishment of the cardiac form represents the loss of this balance. Analysis of data obtained from several studies has led to the hypothesis that the indeterminate form is associated with an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile, represented by high expression of IL-10, while cardiac form is associated with a high production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in relation to IL-10, leading to an inflammatory profile. Here, we discuss the immunoregulatory events that might influence disease outcome, as well as the mechanisms that influence the establishment of these complex immunoregulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- W O Dutra
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Doenças Tropicais - INCT-DT, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Reis-Cunha JL, Mendes TADO, de Almeida Lourdes R, Ribeiro DRDS, Machado-de-Avila RA, de Oliveira Tavares M, Lemos DS, Câmara ACJ, Olórtegui CC, de Lana M, da Cunha Galvão LM, Fujiwara RT, Bartholomeu DC. Genome-wide screening and identification of new Trypanosoma cruzi antigens with potential application for chronic Chagas disease diagnosis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106304. [PMID: 25225853 PMCID: PMC4165580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, an infection that afflicts approximately 8 million people in Latin America. Diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease is currently based on serological tests because this condition is usually characterized by high anti-T. cruzi IgG titers and low parasitemia. The antigens used in these assays may have low specificity due to cross reactivity with antigens from related parasite infections, such as leishmaniasis, and low sensitivity caused by the high polymorphism among T. cruzi strains. Therefore, the identification of new T. cruzi-specific antigens that are conserved among the various parasite discrete typing units (DTUs) is still required. In the present study, we have explored the hybrid nature of the T. cruzi CL Brener strain using a broad genome screening approach to select new T. cruzi antigens that are conserved among the different parasite DTUs and that are absent in other trypanosomatid species. Peptide arrays containing the conserved antigens with the highest epitope prediction scores were synthesized, and the reactivity of the peptides were tested by immunoblot using sera from C57BL/6 mice chronically infected with T. cruzi strains from the TcI, TcII or TcVI DTU. The two T. cruzi proteins that contained the most promising peptides were expressed as recombinant proteins and tested in ELISA experiments with sera from chagasic patients with distinct clinical manifestations: those infected with T. cruzi from different DTUs and those with cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis. These proteins, named rTc_11623.20 and rTc_N_10421.310, exhibited 94.83 and 89.66% sensitivity, 98.2 and 94.6% specificity, respectively, and a pool of these 2 proteins exhibited 96.55% sensitivity and 98.18% specificity. This work led to the identification of two new antigens with great potential application in the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Luís Reis-Cunha
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo de Almeida Lourdes
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Andrez Machado-de-Avila
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Maykon de Oliveira Tavares
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Denise Silveira Lemos
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Chavez Olórtegui
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marta de Lana
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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De Paula Lima CV, Batista M, Kugeratski FG, Vincent IM, Soares MJ, Probst CM, Krieger MA, Marchini FK. LM14 defined medium enables continuous growth of Trypanosoma cruzi. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:238. [PMID: 25213265 PMCID: PMC4172853 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-014-0238-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, alternates between distinct morphological and functional forms during its life cycle. Axenic multiplication and differentiation processes of this protozoan parasite can be reproduced in vitro, enabling the isolation and study of the different evolutionary forms. Although there are several publications attempting the cultivation of T. cruzi under chemically defined conditions, in our experience none of the published media are capable of maintaining T. cruzi in continuous growth. RESULTS In this work we modified a known chemically defined medium for Trypanosoma brucei growth. The resulting LM14 and LM14B defined media enabled cultivation of five different strains of T. cruzi for more than forty passages until now. The parasite's biological characteristics such as morphology and differentiation to metacyclic trypomastigotes were maintained when defined media is used. CONCLUSIONS The establishment of a defined medium for T. cruzi cultivation is an important tool for basic biological research allowing several different approaches, providing new perspectives for further studies related to cell biology of this parasite.
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Benznidazole biotransformation and multiple targets in Trypanosoma cruzi revealed by metabolomics. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2844. [PMID: 24853684 PMCID: PMC4031082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first line treatment for Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, involves administration of benznidazole (Bzn). Bzn is a 2-nitroimidazole pro-drug which requires nitroreduction to become active, although its mode of action is not fully understood. In the present work we used a non-targeted MS-based metabolomics approach to study the metabolic response of T. cruzi to Bzn. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Parasites treated with Bzn were minimally altered compared to untreated trypanosomes, although the redox active thiols trypanothione, homotrypanothione and cysteine were significantly diminished in abundance post-treatment. In addition, multiple Bzn-derived metabolites were detected after treatment. These metabolites included reduction products, fragments and covalent adducts of reduced Bzn linked to each of the major low molecular weight thiols: trypanothione, glutathione, γ-glutamylcysteine, glutathionylspermidine, cysteine and ovothiol A. Bzn products known to be generated in vitro by the unusual trypanosomal nitroreductase, TcNTRI, were found within the parasites, but low molecular weight adducts of glyoxal, a proposed toxic end-product of NTRI Bzn metabolism, were not detected. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our data is indicative of a major role of the thiol binding capacity of Bzn reduction products in the mechanism of Bzn toxicity against T. cruzi.
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Panunzi LG, Agüero F. A genome-wide analysis of genetic diversity in Trypanosoma cruzi intergenic regions. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2839. [PMID: 24784238 PMCID: PMC4006747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is the causal agent of Chagas Disease. Recently, the genomes of representative strains from two major evolutionary lineages were sequenced, allowing the construction of a detailed genetic diversity map for this important parasite. However this map is focused on coding regions of the genome, leaving a vast space of regulatory regions uncharacterized in terms of their evolutionary conservation and/or divergence. METHODOLOGY Using data from the hybrid CL Brener and Sylvio X10 genomes (from the TcVI and TcI Discrete Typing Units, respectively), we identified intergenic regions that share a common evolutionary ancestry, and are present in both CL Brener haplotypes (TcII-like and TcIII-like) and in the TcI genome; as well as intergenic regions that were conserved in only two of the three genomes/haplotypes analyzed. The genetic diversity in these regions was characterized in terms of the accumulation of indels and nucleotide changes. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Based on this analysis we have identified i) a core of highly conserved intergenic regions, which remained essentially unchanged in independently evolving lineages; ii) intergenic regions that show high diversity in spite of still retaining their corresponding upstream and downstream coding sequences; iii) a number of defined sequence motifs that are shared by a number of unrelated intergenic regions. A fraction of indels explains the diversification of some intergenic regions by the expansion/contraction of microsatellite-like repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo G. Panunzi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas – Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, Universidad de San Martín – CONICET, Sede San Marítn, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernán Agüero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas – Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, Universidad de San Martín – CONICET, Sede San Marítn, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: ;
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Trochine A, Alvarez G, Corre S, Faral-Tello P, Durán R, Batthyany CI, Cerecetto H, González M, Robello C. Trypanosoma cruzi chemical proteomics using immobilized benznidazole. Exp Parasitol 2014; 140:33-8. [PMID: 24632192 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 01/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Benznidazole (Bzn) is a nitroimidazole drug currently used as first line treatment against Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Although the drug has been used since the late 1960s, its mechanism of action is not fully understood. In an attempt to study Bzn mode of action, a structurally modified derivative of the drug was synthesized and immobilized into a solid matrix. This allowed enrichment of T. cruzi proteins capable of binding immobilized Bzn, which were subsequently analysed by mass spectrometry. The proteins identified as specific non-covalent Bzn interactors were a homologue of the bacterial YjeF proteins, a Sec23A orthologue and the aldo-ketoreductase family member TcAKR. TcAKR is closely related to other enzymes previously associated with Bzn reductive activation such as NTRI and TcOYE. Thus, our untargeted search for Bzn binding partners allowed us to encounter proteins that could be related to drug reductive activation and/or resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Trochine
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Guzmán Alvarez
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Sandra Corre
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Rosario Durán
- Unidad de Proteómica y Bioquímica Analíticas, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Carlos I Batthyany
- Unidad de Proteómica y Bioquímica Analíticas, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Hugo Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Mercedes González
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Carlos Robello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Huete-Pérez JA, Flores-Obando RE, Ghedin E, Caffrey CR. Genomic and proteomic approaches for Chagas’ disease: critical analysis of diagnostic methods. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2014; 5:521-30. [PMID: 16013970 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.5.4.521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that results in heart and digestive complications. The first draft of the parasite genome is now complete and it is expected that, along with the published genomic and proteomic analyses discussed herein, it will lead to the identification of crucial genes and proteins directly associated with disease. This article reviews the current research trends addressing host-parasite interaction, parasite genetic variability and diagnosis. These advances will certainly bring about major developments not only in our understanding of Trypanosoma cruzi biology, but also in the application of new technologies to disease prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge A Huete-Pérez
- Sandler Center for Basic Research in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, QB3 Building, Box 2550, 1700 4 Street, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Abstract
American trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America, where an estimated 10-14 million people are infected, and an emerging disease in Europe and the USA. Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted by blood-sucking bugs of the family Reduviidae. Rhodnius prolixus, Panstrongylus megistus, Triatoma infestans, and T. dimidiata are the main vectors in the sylvatic cycle. Non vector-borne transmission includes blood transfusion, congenital and oral transmission, transplantation, and accidental infections. Most cases of acute infection occur in childhood and are usually asymptomatic, although severe myocarditis and meningoencephalitis may occur. Approximately 30% of T. cruzi-infected people will develop the chronic stage of the disease. Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy is characterized by progressive heart failure, arrhythmias, intraventricular conduction defects, sudden death, and peripheral thromboembolism. Acute exacerbation can occur in individuals with involvement of cellular immunity such as advanced AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), and transplant-associated immunosuppression. Neurological involvement may present with encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, or a space-occupying cerebral lesion called chagoma. Chagas disease is a major cause of ischemic stroke in Latin America. Several epidemiological studies have found an association between T. cruzi infection and cardioembolic ischemic stroke. Benznidazole and nifurtimox are the two available trypanocide drugs against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Carod-Artal
- Neurology Department, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK and Health Sciences and Medicine Faculty, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Barcelona, Spain.
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Risk Factors and Primary Prevention of Congenital Chagas Disease in a Nonendemic Country. Clin Infect Dis 2012; 56:496-502. [DOI: 10.1093/cid/cis910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Andrade SG, Campos RF, Steindel M, Guerreiro ML, Magalhães JB, Almeida MCD, Reis JN, Santos VC, Valadares HMS, Reis MGD, Macedo AM. Biological, biochemical and molecular features of Trypanosoma cruzi strains isolated from patients infected through oral transmission during a 2005 outbreak in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil: its correspondence with the new T. cruzi Taxonomy Consensus (2009). Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2012; 106:948-56. [PMID: 22241116 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000800009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2011] [Accepted: 09/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined strains of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from patients with acute Chagas disease that had been acquired by oral transmission in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil (2005) and two isolates that had been obtained from a marsupial (Didelphis aurita) and a vector (Triatoma tibiamaculata). These strains were characterised through their biological behaviour and isoenzymic profiles and genotyped according to the new Taxonomy Consensus (2009) based on the discrete typing unities, that is, T. cruzi genotypes I-VI. All strains exhibited the biological behaviour of biodeme type II. In six isolates, late peaks of parasitaemia, beyond the 20th day, suggested a double infection with biodemes II + III. Isoenzymes revealed Z2 or mixed Z1 and Z2 profiles. Genotyping was performed using three polymorphic genes (cytochrome oxidase II, spliced leader intergenic region and 24Sα rRNA) and the restriction fragment length polymorphism of the kDNA minicircles. Based on these markers, all but four isolates were characterised as T. cruzi II genotypes. Four mixed populations were identified: SC90, SC93 and SC97 (T. cruzi I + T. cruzi II) and SC95 (T. cruzi I + T. cruzi VI). Comparison of the results obtained by different methods was essential for the correct identification of the mixed populations and major lineages involved indicating that characterisation by different methods can provide new insights into the relationship between phenotypic and genotypic aspects of parasite behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Gumes Andrade
- Laboratório de Chagas Experimental, Autoimunidade e Imunologia Celular, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fiocruz, Salvador, BA, Brasil.
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Aquilino C, Gonzalez Rubio ML, Seco EM, Escudero L, Corvo L, Soto M, Fresno M, Malpartida F, Bonay P. Differential trypanocidal activity of novel macrolide antibiotics; correlation to genetic lineage. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40901. [PMID: 22859958 PMCID: PMC3409201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report the systematic study of the anti-trypanocidal activity of some new products derived from S. diastatus on 14 different T. cruzi strains spanning the six genetic lineages of T. cruzi. As the traditional growth inhibition curves giving similar IC(50) showed great differences on antibiotic and lineage tested, we decided to preserve the wealth of information derived from each inhibition curve and used an algorithm related to potency of the drugs, combined in a matrix data set used to generate a cluster tree. The cluster thus generated based just on drug susceptibility data closely resembles the phylogenies of the lineages derived from genetic data and provides a novel approach to correlate genetic data with phenotypes related to pathogenesis of Chagas disease. Furthermore we provide clues on the drugs mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Aquilino
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Luisa Gonzalez Rubio
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Maria Seco
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leticia Escudero
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Corvo
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Soto
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Fresno
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pedro Bonay
- Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa”, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Veloso VM, Guedes PMDM, de Lana M, Martins HR, Carneiro CM, da Câmara ACJ, D'Ávila DA, Caldas IS, Galvão LMDC, Chiari E, Bahia MT. Genetic modulation in Be-78 and Y Trypanosoma cruzi strains after long-term infection in Beagle dogs revealed by molecular markers. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2012; 12:1128-35. [PMID: 22554652 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2011] [Revised: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The genetic profile of Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated in parasite populations isolated from Beagle dogs experimentally infected with Be-78 and Y strains that present distinct biological and genetic characteristics. Molecular characterization of the isolates obtained 30days and 2years after infection was carried out. For typing MLEE, sequence polymorphisms of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene (COII) and RAPD profiles were used. The profiles of MLEE were the same for the parental Be-78 strains as their respective isolates. However, changes of MLEE profile were observed in two T. cruzi isolates from dogs inoculated with Y strain. Changes in the mitochondrial DNA (COII) and RAPD profiles of the Y strain were also observed. The dendogram constructed by UPGMA with RAPD results indicated two major branches. Global data show that the genetic modulation in polyclonal strains during the long-term infection occurred and was strain-dependent. This study still suggests that each host (here each dog) harbors a determinate T. cruzi population that may change or be modulated throughout long-term infection. This might to hinder the observation of correlation between the genetics of T. cruzi and their biological properties and behavior in different host species due to the complexity of the parasite-host interaction in which probably the genetic background of both should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanja Maria Veloso
- Departamento de Farmácia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Rua Costa Sena 171, Centro, CEP 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
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Teixeira SM, de Paiva RMC, Kangussu-Marcolino MM, Darocha WD. Trypanosomatid comparative genomics: Contributions to the study of parasite biology and different parasitic diseases. Genet Mol Biol 2012; 35:1-17. [PMID: 22481868 PMCID: PMC3313497 DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572012005000008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2005, draft sequences of the genomes of Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania major, also known as the Tri-Tryp genomes, were published. These protozoan parasites are the causative agents of three distinct insect-borne diseases, namely sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, all with a worldwide distribution. Despite the large estimated evolutionary distance among them, a conserved core of ~6,200 trypanosomatid genes was found among the Tri-Tryp genomes. Extensive analysis of these genomic sequences has greatly increased our understanding of the biology of these parasites and their host-parasite interactions. In this article, we review the recent advances in the comparative genomics of these three species. This analysis also includes data on additional sequences derived from other trypanosmatid species, as well as recent data on gene expression and functional genomics. In addition to facilitating the identification of key parasite molecules that may provide a better understanding of these complex diseases, genome studies offer a rich source of new information that can be used to define potential new drug targets and vaccine candidates for controlling these parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santuza M Teixeira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Zingales B, Miles MA, Campbell DA, Tibayrenc M, Macedo AM, Teixeira MMG, Schijman AG, Llewellyn MS, Lages-Silva E, Machado CR, Andrade SG, Sturm NR. The revised Trypanosoma cruzi subspecific nomenclature: rationale, epidemiological relevance and research applications. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2011; 12:240-53. [PMID: 22226704 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 610] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2011] [Accepted: 12/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, its mammalian reservoirs, and vectors have existed in nature for millions of years. The human infection, named Chagas disease, is a major public health problem for Latin America. T. cruzi is genetically highly diverse and the understanding of the population structure of this parasite is critical because of the links to transmission cycles and disease. At present, T. cruzi is partitioned into six discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI. Here we focus on the current status of taxonomy-related areas such as population structure, phylogeographical and eco-epidemiological features, and the correlation of DTU with natural and experimental infection. We also summarize methods for DTU genotyping, available for widespread use in endemic areas. For the immediate future multilocus sequence typing is likely to be the gold standard for population studies. We conclude that greater advances in our knowledge on pathogenic and epidemiological features of these parasites are expected in the coming decade through the comparative analysis of the genomes from isolates of various DTUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Gómez-Hernández C, Rezende-Oliveira K, Nascentes GAN, Batista LR, Kappel HB, Martinez-Ibarra JA, Trujillo Contreras F, Lages-Silva E, Ramírez LE. Molecular characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi Mexican strains and their behavior in the mouse experimental model. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2011; 44:684-90. [DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822011005000058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2010] [Accepted: 06/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: For a long time, the importance of Chagas disease in Mexico, where many regarded it as an exotic malady, was questioned. Considering the great genetic diversity among isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi, the importance of this biological characterization, and the paucity of information on the clinical and biological aspects of Chagas disease in Mexico, this study aimed to identify the molecular and biological characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from different endemic areas of this country, especially of the State of Jalisco. METHODS: Eight Mexican Trypanosoma cruzi strains were biologically and genetically characterized (PCR specific for Trypanosoma cruzi, multiplex-PCR, amplification of space no transcript of the genes of the mini-exon, amplification of polymorphic regions of the mini-exon, classification by amplification of intergenic regions of the spliced leader genes, RAPD - (random amplified polymorphic DNA). RESULTS: Two profiles of parasitaemia were observed, patent (peak parasitaemia of 4.6×10(6) to 10(7) parasites/mL) and subpatent. In addition, all isolates were able to infect 100% of the animals. The isolates mainly displayed tropism for striated (cardiac and skeletal) muscle. PCR amplification of the mini-exon gene classified the eight strains as TcI. The RAPD technique revealed intraspecies variation among isolates, distinguishing strains isolated from humans and triatomines and according to geographic origin. CONCLUSIONS: The Mexican T. cruzi strains are myotrophic and belong to group TcI.
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Souza RT, Lima FM, Barros RM, Cortez DR, Santos MF, Cordero EM, Ruiz JC, Goldenberg S, Teixeira MMG, da Silveira JF. Genome size, karyotype polymorphism and chromosomal evolution in Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23042. [PMID: 21857989 PMCID: PMC3155523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Accepted: 07/04/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Trypanosoma cruzi genome was sequenced from a hybrid strain (CL Brener). However, high allelic variation and the repetitive nature of the genome have prevented the complete linear sequence of chromosomes being determined. Determining the full complement of chromosomes and establishing syntenic groups will be important in defining the structure of T. cruzi chromosomes. A large amount of information is now available for T. cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei, providing the opportunity to compare and describe the overall patterns of chromosomal evolution in these parasites. Methodology/Principal Findings The genome sizes, repetitive DNA contents, and the numbers and sizes of chromosomes of nine strains of T. cruzi from four lineages (TcI, TcII, TcV and TcVI) were determined. The genome of the TcI group was statistically smaller than other lineages, with the exception of the TcI isolate Tc1161 (José-IMT). Satellite DNA content was correlated with genome size for all isolates, but this was not accompanied by simultaneous amplification of retrotransposons. Regardless of chromosomal polymorphism, large syntenic groups are conserved among T. cruzi lineages. Duplicated chromosome-sized regions were identified and could be retained as paralogous loci, increasing the dosage of several genes. By comparing T. cruzi and T. brucei chromosomes, homologous chromosomal regions in T. brucei were identified. Chromosomes Tb9 and Tb11 of T. brucei share regions of syntenic homology with three and six T. cruzi chromosomal bands, respectively. Conclusions Despite genome size variation and karyotype polymorphism, T. cruzi lineages exhibit conservation of chromosome structure. Several syntenic groups are conserved among all isolates analyzed in this study. The syntenic regions are larger than expected if rearrangements occur randomly, suggesting that they are conserved owing to positive selection. Mapping of the syntenic regions on T. cruzi chromosomal bands provides evidence for the occurrence of fusion and split events involving T. brucei and T. cruzi chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata T. Souza
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fábio M. Lima
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roberto Moraes Barros
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Danielle R. Cortez
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Michele F. Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Esteban M. Cordero
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marta M. G. Teixeira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Franco da Silveira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Analyses of 32 loci clarify phylogenetic relationships among Trypanosoma cruzi lineages and support a single hybridization prior to human contact. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1272. [PMID: 21829751 PMCID: PMC3149036 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The genetic diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, has been traditionally divided in two major groups, T. cruzi I and II, corresponding to discrete typing units TcI and TcII-VI under a recently proposed nomenclature. The two major groups of T. cruzi seem to differ in important biological characteristics, and are thus thought to represent a natural division relevant for epidemiological studies and development of prophylaxis. To understand the potential connection between the different manifestations of Chagas disease and variability of T. cruzi strains, it is essential to have a correct reconstruction of the evolutionary history of T. cruzi. Methodology/Principal Findings Nucleotide sequences from 32 unlinked loci (>26 Kilobases of aligned sequence) were used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of strains representing the known genetic variability of T. cruzi. Thorough phylogenetic analyses show that the original classification of T. cruzi in two major lineages does not reflect its evolutionary history and that there is only strong evidence for one major and recent hybridization event in the history of this species. Furthermore, estimates of divergence times using Bayesian methods show that current extant lineages of T. cruzi diverged very recently, within the last 3 million years, and that the major hybridization event leading to hybrid lineages TcV and TcVI occurred less than 1 million years ago, well before the contact of T. cruzi with humans in South America. Conclusions/Significance The described phylogenetic relationships among the six major genetic subdivisions of T. cruzi should serve as guidelines for targeted epidemiological and prophylaxis studies. We suggest that it is important to reconsider conclusions from previous studies that have attempted to uncover important biological differences between the two originally defined major lineages of T. cruzi especially if those conclusions were obtained from single or few strains. Trypanosoma cruzi is the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease, a major health problem in Latin America. The genetic diversity of this parasite has been traditionally divided in two major groups: T. cruzi I and II, which can be further divided in six major genetic subdivisions (subgroups TcI-TcVI). T. cruzi I and II seem to differ in important biological characteristics, and are thought to represent a natural division relevant for epidemiological studies and development of prophylaxis. Having a correct reconstruction of the evolutionary history of T. cruzi is essential for understanding the potential connection between the genetic and phenotypic variability of T. cruzi with the different manifestations of Chagas disease. Here we present results from a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of T. cruzi using more than 26 Kb of aligned sequence data. We show strong evidence that T. cruzi II (TcII-VI) is not a natural evolutionary group but a paraphyletic lineage and that all major lineages of T. cruzi evolved recently (<3 million years ago [mya]). Furthermore, the sequence data is consistent with one major hybridization event having occurred in this species recently (< 1 mya) but well before T. cruzi entered in contact with humans in South America.
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Minning TA, Weatherly DB, Flibotte S, Tarleton RL. Widespread, focal copy number variations (CNV) and whole chromosome aneuploidies in Trypanosoma cruzi strains revealed by array comparative genomic hybridization. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:139. [PMID: 21385342 PMCID: PMC3060142 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Accepted: 03/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite and the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, an important public health problem in Latin America. T. cruzi is diploid, almost exclusively asexual, and displays an extraordinarily diverse population structure both genetically and phenotypically. Yet, to date the genotypic diversity of T. cruzi and its relationship, if any, to biological diversity have not been studied at the whole genome level. Results In this study, we used whole genome oligonucleotide tiling arrays to compare gene content in biologically disparate T. cruzi strains by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). We observed that T. cruzi strains display widespread and focal copy number variations (CNV) and a substantially greater level of diversity than can be adequately defined by the current genetic typing methods. As expected, CNV were particularly frequent in gene family-rich regions containing mucins and trans-sialidases but were also evident in core genes. Gene groups that showed little variation in copy numbers among the strains tested included those encoding protein kinases and ribosomal proteins, suggesting these loci were less permissive to CNV. Moreover, frequent variation in chromosome copy numbers were observed, and chromosome-specific CNV signatures were shared by genetically divergent T. cruzi strains. Conclusions The large number of CNV, over 4,000, reported here uphold at a whole genome level the long held paradigm of extraordinary genome plasticity among T. cruzi strains. Moreover, the fact that these heritable markers do not parse T. cruzi strains along the same lines as traditional typing methods is strongly suggestive of genetic exchange playing a major role in T. cruzi population structure and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A Minning
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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Risso MG, Sartor PA, Burgos JM, Briceño L, Rodríguez EM, Guhl F, Chavez OT, Espinoza B, Monteón VM, Russomando G, Schijman AG, Bottasso OA, Leguizamón MS. Immunological identification of Trypanosoma cruzi lineages in human infection along the endemic area. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 84:78-84. [PMID: 21212206 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Genotyping studies show a polarized geographic distribution of Trypanosoma cruzi lineages in humans. Here, we assessed their distribution along Latin America through an immunological approach we designated Western blot (WB) assay with Trypomastigote small-surface antigen (TSSA) I and TSSA II (TSSA-WB). These antigens are expressed by T. cruzi I (TCI; now TcI) and T. cruzi II (TCII; reclassified as TcII to TcVI) parasites. TSSA-WB showed good concordance with genotyping tests. An unexpected frequency of TSSA II recognition was observed in Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico (northern region of Latin America). In Argentina and Paraguay (southern region), immunophenotyping confirmed the already reported TCII (TcII to TcVI) dominance. The lineage distribution between these regions showed significant difference but not among countries within them (except for Colombia and Venezuela). TSSA-WB shows TCII emergence in the northern region where TCI was reported as dominant or even as the unique T. cruzi lineage infecting humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marikena G Risso
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Ruvalcaba-Trejo LI, Sturm NR. The Trypanosoma cruzi Sylvio X10 strain maxicircle sequence: the third musketeer. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:58. [PMID: 21261994 PMCID: PMC3040149 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease has a diverse pathology caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is indigenous to Central and South America. A pronounced feature of the trypanosomes is the kinetoplast, which is comprised of catenated maxicircles and minicircles that provide the transcripts involved in uridine insertion/deletion RNA editing. T. cruzi exchange genetic material through a hybridization event. Extant strains are grouped into six discrete typing units by nuclear markers, and three clades, A, B, and C, based on maxicircle gene analysis. Clades A and B are the more closely related. Representative clade B and C maxicircles are known in their entirety, and portions of A, B, and C clades from multiple strains show intra-strain heterogeneity with the potential for maxicircle taxonomic markers that may correlate with clinical presentation. Results To perform a genome-wide analysis of the three maxicircle clades, the coding region of clade A representative strain Sylvio X10 (a.k.a. Silvio X10) was sequenced by PCR amplification of specific fragments followed by assembly and comparison with the known CL Brener and Esmeraldo maxicircle sequences. The clade A rRNA and protein coding region maintained synteny with clades B and C. Amino acid analysis of non-edited and 5'-edited genes for Sylvio X10 showed the anticipated gene sequences, with notable frameshifts in the non-edited regions of Cyb and ND4. Comparisons of genes that undergo extensive uridine insertion and deletion display a high number of insertion/deletion mutations that are likely permissible due to the post-transcriptional activity of RNA editing. Conclusion Phylogenetic analysis of the entire maxicircle coding region supports the closer evolutionary relationship of clade B to A, consistent with uniparental mitochondrial inheritance from a discrete typing unit TcI parental strain and studies on smaller fragments of the mitochondrial genome. Gene variance that can be corrected by RNA editing hints at an unusual depth for maxicircle taxonomic markers, which will aid in the ability to distinguish strains, their corresponding symptoms, and further our understanding of the T. cruzi population structure. The prevalence of apparently compromised coding regions outside of normally edited regions hints at undescribed but active mechanisms of genetic exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura I Ruvalcaba-Trejo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1489, USA
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Kiran U, Khan S, Mirza KJ, Ram M, Abdin M. SCAR markers: A potential tool for authentication of herbal drugs. Fitoterapia 2010; 81:969-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2010.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2010] [Revised: 08/06/2010] [Accepted: 08/06/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Phylogenetic character mapping of proteomic diversity shows high correlation with subspecific phylogenetic diversity in Trypanosoma cruzi. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:20411-6. [PMID: 21059959 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1015496107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed a phylogenetic character mapping on 26 stocks of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite responsible for Chagas disease, and 2 stocks of the sister taxon T. cruzi marinkellei to test for possible associations between T. cruzi-subspecific phylogenetic diversity and levels of protein expression, as examined by proteomic analysis and mass spectrometry. We observed a high level of correlation (P < 10(-4)) between genetic distance, as established by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, and proteomic dissimilarities estimated by proteomic Euclidian distances. Several proteins were found to be specifically associated to T. cruzi phylogenetic subdivisions (discrete typing units). This study explores the previously uncharacterized links between infraspecific phylogenetic diversity and gene expression in a human pathogen. It opens the way to searching for new vaccine and drug targets and for identification of specific biomarkers at the subspecific level of pathogens.
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Fampa P, Lisboa CV, Zahner V, Jansen AM, Ramirez MI. Wide Proteolytic Activity Survey Reinforces Heterogeneity Among Trypanosoma cruzi TCI and TCII Wild Populations. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 10:839-45. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Fampa
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Viviane Zahner
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Sistemática, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcel Ivan Ramirez
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Sequencing and analysis of chromosomal extremities of Trypanosoma rangeli in comparison with Trypanosoma cruzi lineages. Parasitol Res 2010; 108:459-66. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2087-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2010] [Accepted: 09/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Cura CI, Mejía-Jaramillo AM, Duffy T, Burgos JM, Rodriguero M, Cardinal MV, Kjos S, Gurgel-Gonçalves R, Blanchet D, De Pablos LM, Tomasini N, da Silva A, Russomando G, Cuba CAC, Aznar C, Abate T, Levin MJ, Osuna A, Gürtler RE, Diosque P, Solari A, Triana-Chávez O, Schijman AG. Trypanosoma cruzi I genotypes in different geographical regions and transmission cycles based on a microsatellite motif of the intergenic spacer of spliced-leader genes. Int J Parasitol 2010; 40:1599-607. [PMID: 20670628 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2010] [Revised: 06/07/2010] [Accepted: 06/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The intergenic region of spliced-leader (SL-IR) genes from 105 Trypanosoma cruzi I (Tc I) infected biological samples, culture isolates and stocks from 11 endemic countries, from Argentina to the USA were characterised, allowing identification of 76 genotypes with 54 polymorphic sites from 123 aligned sequences. On the basis of the microsatellite motif proposed by Herrera et al. (2007) to define four haplotypes in Colombia, we could classify these genotypes into four distinct Tc I SL-IR groups, three corresponding to the former haplotypes Ia (11 genotypes), Ib (11 genotypes) and Id (35 genotypes); and one novel group, Ie (19 genotypes). Genotypes harbouring the Tc Ic motif were not detected in our study. Tc Ia was associated with domestic cycles in southern and northern South America and sylvatic cycles in Central and North America. Tc Ib was found in all transmission cycles from Colombia. Tc Id was identified in all transmission cycles from Argentina and Colombia, including Chagas cardiomyopathy patients, sylvatic Brazilian samples and human cases from French Guiana, Panama and Venezuela. Tc Ie gathered five samples from domestic Triatoma infestans from northern Argentina, nine samples from wild Mepraia spinolai and Mepraia gajardoi and two chagasic patients from Chile and one from a Bolivian patient with chagasic reactivation. Mixed infections by Tc Ia+Tc Id, Tc Ia+Tc Ie and Tc Id+Tc Ie were detected in vector faeces and isolates from human and vector samples. In addition, Tc Ia and Tc Id were identified in different tissues from a heart transplanted Chagas cardiomyopathy patient with reactivation, denoting histotropism. Trypanosoma cruzi I SL-IR genotypes from parasites infecting Triatoma gerstaeckeri and Didelphis virginiana from USA, T. infestans from Paraguay, Rhodnius nasutus and Rhodnius neglectus from Brazil and M. spinolai and M. gajardoi from Chile are to our knowledge described for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina I Cura
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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