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Marcolino LMC, Pinto JG, Ferreira I, Godoi BH, de Azevedo Canevari R, Ferreira-Strixino J. Molecular effects of photodynamic therapy with curcumin on Leishmania major promastigotes. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:146. [PMID: 38418645 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08155-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease mainly affecting low-income populations. Conventional treatment involves several side effects, is expensive, and, in addition, protozoa can develop resistance. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative in treating the disease. PDT involves applying light at a specific wavelength to activate a photosensitive compound (photosensitizer, PS), to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Curcumin and its photochemical characteristics make it a good candidate for photodynamic therapy. Studies evaluating gene expression can help to understand the molecular events involved in the cell death caused by PDT. In the present study, RNA was extracted from promastigotes from the control and treated groups after applying PDT. RT-qPCR was performed to verify the expression of the putative ATPase beta subunit (ATPS), ATP synthase subunit A (F0F1), argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS), ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2), glycoprotein 63 (GP63), superoxide dismutase (FeSODA), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) genes (QR). The results suggest that PDT altered the expression of genes that participate in oxidative stress and cell death pathways, such as ATPS, FeSODA, and G6PD. The ATP-F0F1, ASS, and GP63 genes did not have their expression altered. However, it is essential to highlight that other genes may be involved in the molecular mechanisms of oxidative stress and, consequently, in the death of parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Maria Cortez Marcolino
- Photobiology Applied to Health (PhotoBioS Lab), Universidade Do Vale Do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José Dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Guerra Pinto
- Photobiology Applied to Health (PhotoBioS Lab), Universidade Do Vale Do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José Dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabelle Ferreira
- Photobiology Applied to Health (PhotoBioS Lab), Universidade Do Vale Do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José Dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Henrique Godoi
- Photobiology Applied to Health (PhotoBioS Lab), Universidade Do Vale Do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José Dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Renata de Azevedo Canevari
- Cancer Molecular Biology Laboratory, Universidade Do Vale Do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José Dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Ferreira-Strixino
- Photobiology Applied to Health (PhotoBioS Lab), Universidade Do Vale Do Paraíba, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José Dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
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Boniface PK, Sano CM, Elizabeth FI. Unveiling the Targets Involved in the Quest of Antileishmanial Leads Using In silico Methods. Curr Drug Targets 2021; 21:681-712. [PMID: 32003668 DOI: 10.2174/1389450121666200128112948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease associated with several clinical manifestations, including cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral forms. As currently available drugs have some limitations (toxicity, resistance, among others), the target-based identification has been an important approach to develop new leads against leishmaniasis. The present study aims to identify targets involved in the pharmacological action of potent antileishmanial compounds. METHODS The literature information regarding molecular interactions of antileishmanial compounds studied over the past half-decade is discussed. The information was obtained from databases such as Wiley, SciFinder, Science Direct, National Library of Medicine, American Chemical Society, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Scopus, Springer, Google Scholar, Web of Science, etc. Results: Numerous in vitro antileishmanial compounds showed affinity and selective interactions with enzymes such as arginase, pteridine reductase 1, trypanothione reductase, pyruvate kinase, among others, which are crucial for the survival and virulence of the Leishmania parasite. CONCLUSION The in-silico activity of small molecules (enzymes, proteins, among others) might be used as pharmacological tools to develop candidate compounds for the treatment of leishmaniasis. As some pharmacologically active compounds may act on more than one target, additional studies of the mechanism (s) of action of potent antileishmanial compounds might help to better understand their pharmacological action. Also, the optimization of promising antileishmanial compounds might improve their biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pone K Boniface
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cinthya M Sano
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ferreira I Elizabeth
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Amiri-Dashatan N, Rezaei-Tavirani M, Zali H, Koushki M, Ahmadi N. Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals differentially expressed proteins in Leishmania major metacyclogenesis. Microb Pathog 2020; 149:104557. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Elucidating the possible mechanism of action of some pathogen box compounds against Leishmania donovani. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008188. [PMID: 32275665 PMCID: PMC7176276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) which is closely associated with poverty and has gained much relevance recently due to its opportunistic coinfection with HIV. It is a protozoan zoonotic disease transmitted by a dipteran Phlebotomus, Lutzomyia/ Sergentomyia sandfly; during blood meals on its vertebrate intermediate hosts. It is a four-faceted disease with its visceral form being more deadly if left untreated. It is endemic across the tropics and sub-tropical regions of the world. It can be considered the third most important NTD after malaria and lymphatic filariasis. Currently, there are numerous drawbacks on the fight against leishmaniasis which includes: non-availability of vaccines, limited availability of drugs, high cost of mainstay drugs and parasite resistance to current treatments. In this study, we screened the antileishmanial activity, selectivity, morphological alterations, cell cycle progression and apoptotic potentials of six Pathogen box compounds from Medicine for Malaria Venture (MMV) against Leishmania donovani promastigotes and amastigotes. From this study, five of the compounds showed great promise as lead chemotherapeutics based on their high selectivity against the Leishmania donovani parasite when tested against the murine mammalian macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line (with a therapeutic index ranging between 19–914 (promastigotes) and 1–453 (amastigotes)). The cell cycle progression showed growth arrest at the G0-G1 phase of mitotic division, with an indication of apoptosis induced by two (2) of the pathogen box compounds tested. Our findings present useful information on the therapeutic potential of these compounds in leishmaniasis. We recommend further in vivo studies on these compounds to substantiate observations made in the in vitro study. There are numerous drawbacks in the fight against leishmaniasis which includes difficulty in drug administration, lengthy time of treatment, high toxicity, adverse side effects, high cost of drugs and increasing parasite resistance to treatment. These have made the search for new antileishmanial chemotherapeutics very essential. The Medicine for Malaria Venture (MMV) with the aim of accelerating drug development for poverty-related diseases has assembled some 400 diverse, drug-like molecules active against neglected diseases called the Pathogen box compounds. Thus, in this study we explored the antileishmanial potency and elucidated some possible mechanisms of action of some of the compounds against the Leishmania donovani parasites. The six compounds studied caused a distortion in the mitochondrion morphology, loss of kinetoplastid DNA and eventual nuclear degeneration upon treatment for 72 hours. Parasites treated with two of the cytocidal compounds MMV676057 (E03C) and MMV688942 (D06A) showed no significant programmed cell death due to apoptosis when compared to the untreated parasites but rather showed a cell cycle growth arrest in the G0-G1 and S-phases.
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Chandrakar P, Gunaganti N, Parmar N, Kumar A, Singh SK, Rashid M, Wahajuddin M, Mitra K, Narender T, Kar S. β-Amino acid derivatives as mitochondrial complex III inhibitors of L. donovani: A promising chemotype targeting visceral leishmaniasis. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 182:111632. [PMID: 31499363 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
β-amino acids and their analogues are gathering increased attention not only because of their antibacterial and antifungal activity, but also for their use in designing peptidomimetics with increased oral bioavailability and resistance to metabolic degradation. In this study, a series of α-phenyl substituted chalcones, α-phenyl, β-amino substituted dihydrochalcones and β-amino acid derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their antileishmanial efficacy against experimental visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Among all synthesized derivatives, 10c showed promising antileishmanial efficacy against both extracellular promastigote and intracellular amastigote (IC50 8.2 μM and 20.5 μM respectively) of L. donovani with negligible cytotoxic effect towards J774 macrophages and Vero cells. 10c effectively reduced spleen and liver parasite burden (>90%) in both hamster and Balb/c model of VL without any hepatotoxicity. In vitro pharmacokinetic analysis showed that 10c was stable in gastric fluid and plasma of Balb/c mice at 10 μg/ml. Further analysis of the molecular mechanism revealed that 10c entered into the parasite by depolarizing the plasma membrane rather than forming nonspecific pores and induced molecular events like loss in mitochondrial membrane potential with a gradual decline in ATP production. This, in turn, did not induce programmed cell death of the parasite; rather 10c induced bioenergetic collapse of the parasite by decreasing ATP synthesis through specific inhibition of mitochondrial complex III activity. Altogether, our results allude to the therapeutic potential of β-amino acid derivatives as novel antileishmanials, identifying them as lead compounds for further exploration in the design of potent candidates for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Chandrakar
- Parasitology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India
| | - Naresh Gunaganti
- Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Naveen Parmar
- Parasitology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Sandeep Kumar Singh
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India; Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India; Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - M Wahajuddin
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India; Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Kalyan Mitra
- Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India
| | - Tadigopula Narender
- Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India.
| | - Susanta Kar
- Parasitology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, BS-10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, New Delhi, India.
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Staderini M, Piquero M, Abengózar MÁ, Nachér-Vázquez M, Romanelli G, López-Alvarado P, Rivas L, Bolognesi ML, Menéndez JC. Structure-activity relationships and mechanistic studies of novel mitochondria-targeted, leishmanicidal derivatives of the 4-aminostyrylquinoline scaffold. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 171:38-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Ferreira TN, Pita-Pereira D, Costa SG, Brazil RP, Moraes CS, Díaz-Albiter HM, Genta FA. Transmission blocking sugar baits for the control of Leishmania development inside sand flies using environmentally friendly beta-glycosides and their aglycones. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:614. [PMID: 30501613 PMCID: PMC6271627 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3122-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of American visceral leishmaniasis, a disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. Adults of this insect feed on blood (females only) or sugar from plant sources, but their digestion of carbohydrates is poorly studied. Beta-glycosides as esculin and amygdalin are plant compounds and release toxic compounds as esculetin and mandelonitrile when hydrolyzed. Beta-glucosidase and trehalase are essential enzymes in sand fly metabolism and participate in sugar digestion. It is therefore possible that the toxic portions of these glycosides, released during digestion, affect sand fly physiology and the development of Leishmania. Results We tested the oral administration to sand flies of amygdalin, esculin, mandelonitrile, and esculetin in the sugar meal. These compounds significantly decreased the longevity of Lutzomyia longipalpis females and males. Lutzomyia longipalpis adults have significant hydrolytic activities against esculin and feeding on this compound cause changes in trehalase and β-glucosidase activities. Female trehalase activity is inhibited in vitro by esculin. Esculin is naturally fluorescent, so its ingestion may be detected and quantified in whole insects or tissue samples stored in methanol. Mandelonitrile neither affected the amount of sugar ingested by sand flies nor showed repellent activity. Our results show that mandelonitrile significantly reduces the viability of L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, L. infantum and L. mexicana, in a concentration-dependent manner. Esculetin caused a similar effect, reducing the number of L. infantum and L. mexicana. Female L. longipalpis fed on mandelonitrile had a reduction in the number of parasites and prevalence of infection after seven days of infection with L. mexicana, either by counting in a Neubauer chamber or by qPCR assays. Conclusions Glycosides have significant effects on L. longipalpis longevity and metabolism and also affect the development of parasites in culture and inside the insect. These observations might help to conceptualize new vector control strategies using transmission blocking sugar baits. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3122-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tainá Neves Ferreira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela Pita-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Samara Graciane Costa
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Reginaldo Peçanha Brazil
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Caroline Silva Moraes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hector Manuel Díaz-Albiter
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Unidad Villahermosa, Villahermosa, México
| | - Fernando Ariel Genta
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. .,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Onchuru TO, Martinez AJ, Kaltenpoth M. The cotton stainer's gut microbiota suppresses infection of a cotransmitted trypanosomatid parasite. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:3408-3419. [PMID: 29972876 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary and ecological success of many insects is attributed to mutualistic partnerships with bacteria that confer hosts with novel traits including food digestion, nutrient supplementation, detoxification of harmful compounds and defence against natural enemies. Dysdercus fasciatus firebugs (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae), commonly known as cotton stainers, possess a simple but distinctive gut bacterial community including B vitamin-supplementing Coriobacteriaceae symbionts. In addition, their guts are often infested with the intestinal trypanosomatid parasite Leptomonas pyrrhocoris (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). In this study, using experimental bioassays and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we report on the protective role of the D. fasciatus gut bacteria against L. pyrrhocoris. We artificially infected 2nd instars of dysbiotic and symbiotic insects with a parasite culture and measured parasite titres, developmental time and survival rates. Our results show that L. pyrrhocoris infection increases developmental time and slightly modifies the quantitative composition of the gut microbiota. More importantly, we found significantly higher parasite titres and a tendency towards lower survival rates in parasite-infected dysbiotic insects compared to symbiotic controls, indicating that the gut bacteria successfully interfere with the establishment or proliferation of L. pyrrhocoris. The colonization of symbiotic bacteria on the peritrophic matrix along the gut wall, as revealed by FISH, likely acts as a barrier blocking parasite attachment or entry into the hemolymph. Our findings show that in addition to being nutritionally important, D. fasciatus' gut bacteria complement the host's immune system in preventing parasite invasions and that a stable gut microbial community is integral for the host's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas O Onchuru
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iOME), Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Adam J Martinez
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iOME), Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Martin Kaltenpoth
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iOME), Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
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Smith L, Serrano DR, Mauger M, Bolás-Fernández F, Dea-Ayuela MA, Lalatsa A. Orally Bioavailable and Effective Buparvaquone Lipid-Based Nanomedicines for Visceral Leishmaniasis. Mol Pharm 2018; 15:2570-2583. [PMID: 29762040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Nanoenabled lipid-based drug delivery systems offer a platform to overcome challenges encountered with current failed leads in the treatment of parasitic and infectious diseases. When prepared with FDA or EMA approved excipients, they can be readily translated without the need for further toxicological studies, while they remain affordable and amenable to scale-up. Buparvaquone (BPQ), a hydroxynapthoquinone with in vitro activity in the nanomolar range, failed to clinically translate as a viable treatment for visceral leishmaniasis due to its poor oral bioavailability limited by its poor aqueous solubility (BCS Class II drug). Here we describe a self-nanoemulsifying system (SNEDDS) with high loading and thermal stability up to 6 months in tropical conditions and the ability to enhance the solubilization capacity of BPQ in gastrointestinal media as demonstrated by flow-through cell and dynamic in vitro lipolysis studies. BPQ SNEDDS demonstrated an enhanced oral bioavailability compared to aqueous BPQ dispersions (probe-sonicated), resulting in an increased plasma AUC0-24 by 55% that is 4-fold higher than any previous reported values for BPQ formulations. BPQ SNEDDS can be adsorbed on low molecular glycol chitosan polymers forming solid dispersions that when compressed into tablets allow the complete dissolution of BPQ in gastrointestinal media. BPQ SNEDDS and BPQ solid SNEDDS demonstrated potent in vitro efficacy in the nanomolar range (<37 nM) and were able to near completely inhibit parasite replication in the spleen while also demonstrating 48 ± 48 and 56 ± 23% inhibition of the parasite replication in the liver, respectively, compared to oral miltefosine after daily administration over 10 days. The proposed platform technology can be used to elicit a range of cost-effective and orally bioavailable noninvasive formulations for a range of antiparasitic and infectious disease drugs that are needed for closing the global health innovation gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Smith
- Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences , University of Portsmouth , White Swan Road , Portsmouth PO1 2DT , U.K
| | - Dolores R Serrano
- Departament of Pharmaceutics and Food Technology and Instituto Universitario de Farmacia Industrial (IUFI) , School of Pharmacy, University Complutense , Avenida Complutense , 28040 Madrid , Spain
| | - Marion Mauger
- Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences , University of Portsmouth , White Swan Road , Portsmouth PO1 2DT , U.K
| | - Francisco Bolás-Fernández
- Departament of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Pharmacy , Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n , 28040 Madrid , Spain
| | - Maria Auxiliadora Dea-Ayuela
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud , Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera , Edificio Seminario s/n , 46113 Moncada , Valencia , Spain
| | - Aikaterini Lalatsa
- Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences , University of Portsmouth , White Swan Road , Portsmouth PO1 2DT , U.K
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Phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum species trigger mitochondrial dysfunction in Leishmania amazonensis. Parasitology 2018; 145:1199-1209. [PMID: 29482667 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018000203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Bioactive molecules isolated from plants are promising sources for the development of new therapies against leishmaniasis. We investigated the leishmanicidal activity of cariphenone A (1), isouliginosin B (2) and uliginosin B (3) isolated from Hypericum species. Promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis were incubated with compounds 1-3 at concentrations 1-100 µm for 48 h. The anti-promastigote effect of compounds was also tested in combinations. The cytotoxicity against macrophages and human erythrocytes were determined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and hemolysis assay, respectively. The compounds 1-3 showed high leishmanicidal activity against promastigotes, IC50 values of 10.5, 17.5 and 11.3 µm, respectively. Synergistic interactions were found to the associations of compounds 1 and 2 [Σ fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) = 0.41], and 2 and 3 (ΣFIC = 0.28) on promastigotes. All Hypericum compounds induced mitochondrial hyperpolarization and reactive oxygen species production in promastigotes. The compounds showed low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells, high selectivity index and killed intracellular amastigotes probably mediated by oxidative stress. These results indicate that these compounds are promising candidates for the development of drugs against leishmaniasis.
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Mittal N, Muthuswami R, Madhubala R. The mitochondrial SIR2 related protein 2 (SIR2RP2) impacts Leishmania donovani growth and infectivity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005590. [PMID: 28493888 PMCID: PMC5441637 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite is the major causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. Increased toxicity and resistance to the existing repertoire of drugs has been reported. Hence, an urgent need exists for identifying newer drugs and drug targets. Previous reports have shown sirtuins (Silent Information Regulator) from kinetoplastids as promising drug targets. Leishmania species code for three SIR2 (Silent Information Regulator) related proteins. Here, we for the first time report the functional characterization of SIR2 related protein 2 (SIR2RP2) of L. donovani. Methodology Recombinant L. donovani SIR2RP2 was expressed in E. coli and purified. The enzymatic functions of SIR2RP2 were determined. The subcellular localization of LdSIR2RP2 was done by constructing C-terminal GFP-tagged full-length LdSIR2RP2. Deletion mutants of LdSIR2RP2 were generated in Leishmania by double targeted gene replacement methodology. These null mutants were tested for their proliferation, virulence, cell cycle defects, mitochondrial functioning and sensitivity to known SIR2 inhibitors. Conclusion Our data suggests that LdSIR2RP2 possesses NAD+-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. However, NAD+-dependent deacetylase and desuccinylase activities were not detected. The protein localises to the mitochondrion of the promastigotes. Gene deletion studies showed that ΔLdSIR2RP2 null mutants had restrictive growth phenotype associated with accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase and compromised mitochondrial functioning. The null mutants had attenuated infectivity. Deletion of LdSIR2RP2 resulted in increased sensitivity of the parasites to the known SIR2 inhibitors. The sirtuin inhibitors inhibited the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of recombinant LdSIR2RP2. In conclusion, sirtuins could be used as potential new drug targets for visceral leishmaniasis. Sirtuins are present in most organisms, including plants, bacteria, and animals. They play a vital role in promoting an organism’s health and survival. These proteins are involved in the regulation of several functions in eukaryotic cells, including transcriptional repression, recombination, cell cycle, cellular responses to DNA-damaging agents, and longevity. Sirtuins are known to be involved in regulation of vital cellular processes. Hence, they have been proposed as promising targets for the development of antiparasitic drugs. Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite that causes visceral leishmaniasis is known to express three sirtuins; SIR2RP1, SIR2RP2, and SIR2RP3. We have worked on the functional characterization of the SIR2RP2 protein from L. donovani in this study. We report that the SIR2RP2 is an NAD+-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase. This protein is present in the mitochondrion of the promastigotes and deletion of both copies of the gene caused reduced growth, compromised mitochondrial functioning and cell cycle arrest in the transgenic parasites. The transgenic parasites also had reduced infectivity. Deletion of LdSIR2RP2 resulted in increased sensitivity of the parasites to the known sirtuin inhibitors. Furthermore, the sirtuin inhibitors were found to inhibit the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of LdSIR2RP2 thus, indicating that parasitic sirtuins can be exploited as drug targets for antileishmanial chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimisha Mittal
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Rohini Muthuswami
- Chromatin Remodelling Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Rentala Madhubala
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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12
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The Symbiotic Bacterium Fuels the Energy Metabolism of the Host Trypanosomatid Strigomonas culicis. Protist 2017; 168:253-269. [DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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13
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Dasgupta S. Mitochondrial clock: moderating evolution of early eukaryotes in light of the Proterozoic oceans. Biologia (Bratisl) 2016. [DOI: 10.1515/biolog-2016-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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14
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Targeting the Cytochrome bc1 Complex of Leishmania Parasites for Discovery of Novel Drugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:4972-82. [PMID: 27297476 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00850-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Endochin-like quinolones (ELQs) are potent and specific inhibitors of cytochrome bc1 from Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii and show promise for novel antiparasitic drug development. To determine whether the mitochondrial electron transport chain of Leishmania parasites could be targeted similarly for drug development, we investigated the activity of 134 structurally diverse ELQs. A cohort of ELQs was selectively toxic to amastigotes of Leishmania mexicana and L. donovani, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) in the low micromolar range, but the structurally similar hydroxynaphthoquinone buparvaquone was by far the most potent inhibitor of electron transport, ATP production, and intracellular amastigote growth. Cytochrome bc1 is thus a promising target for novel antileishmanial drugs, and further improvements on the buparvaquone scaffold are warranted for development of enhanced therapeutics.
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15
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Globin-coupled heme containing oxygen sensor soluble adenylate cyclase in Leishmania prevents cell death during hypoxia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:16790-5. [PMID: 24082109 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1304145110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Globin and adenylate cyclase play individually numerous crucial roles in eukaryotic organisms. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of globins and adenylate cyclase from prokaryotic to eukaryotic organisms suggests that they share an early common ancestor, even though these proteins execute different functions in these two kingdoms. The latest studies of biological signaling molecules in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms have discovered a new class of heme-containing proteins that act as sensors. The protein of the globin family is still unknown in the trypanosomatid parasites, Trypanosome and Leishmania. In addition, globin-coupled heme containing adenylate cyclase is undescribed in the literature. Here we report a globin-coupled heme containing adenylate cyclase (HemAC-Lm) in the unicellular eukaryotic organism Leishmania. The protein exhibits spectral properties similar to neuroglobin and cytoglobin. Localization studies and activity measurements demonstrate that the protein is present in cytosol and oxygen directly stimulates adenylate cyclase activity in vivo and in vitro. Gene knockdown and overexpression studies suggest that O2-dependent cAMP signaling via protein kinase A plays a fundamental role in cell survival through suppression of oxidative stress under hypoxia. In addition, the enzyme-dependent cAMP generation shows a stimulatory as well as inhibitory role in cell proliferation of Leishmania promastigotes during normoxia. Our work begins to clarify how O2-dependent cAMP generation by adenylate cyclase is likely to function in cellular adaptability under various O2 tensions.
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16
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Voak AA, Gobalakrishnapillai V, Seifert K, Balczo E, Hu L, Hall BS, Wilkinson SR. An essential type I nitroreductase from Leishmania major can be used to activate leishmanicidal prodrugs. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:28466-76. [PMID: 23946481 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.494781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitroaromatic prodrugs are used to treat a range of microbial infections with selectivity achieved by specific activation reactions. For trypanosomatid parasites, this is mediated by type I nitroreductases. Here, we demonstrate that the causative agent of leishmaniasis, Leishmania major, expresses an FMN-containing nitroreductase (LmNTR) that metabolizes a wide range of substrates, and based on electron donor and acceptor preferences, it may function as an NADH:quinone oxidoreductase. Using gene deletion approaches, we demonstrate that this activity is essential to L. major promastigotes, the parasite forms found in the insect vector. Intriguingly, LmNTR(+/-) heterozygote promastigote parasites could readily differentiate into infectious metacyclic cells but these were unable to establish infections in cultured mammalian cells and caused delayed pathology in mice. Furthermore, we exploit the LmNTR activity evaluating a library of nitrobenzylphosphoramide mustards using biochemical and phenotypic screens. We identify a subset of compounds that display significant growth inhibitory properties against the intracellular parasite form found in the mammalian hosts. The leishmanicidal activity was shown to be LmNTR-specific as the LmNTR(+/-) heterozygote promastigotes displayed resistance to the most potent mustards. We conclude that LmNTR can be targeted for drug development by exploiting its prodrug activating property or by designing specific inhibitors to block its endogenous function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Voak
- From the Queen Mary Pre-Clinical Drug Discovery Group, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
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17
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García-Hernández R, Manzano JI, Castanys S, Gamarro F. Leishmania donovani develops resistance to drug combinations. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1974. [PMID: 23285310 PMCID: PMC3527373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug combinations for the treatment of leishmaniasis represent a promising and challenging chemotherapeutic strategy that has recently been implemented in different endemic areas. However, the vast majority of studies undertaken to date have ignored the potential risk that Leishmania parasites could develop resistance to the different drugs used in such combinations. As a result, this study was designed to elucidate the ability of Leishmania donovani to develop experimental resistance to anti-leishmanial drug combinations. The induction of resistance to amphotericin B/miltefosine, amphotericin B/paromomycin, amphotericin B/SbIII, miltefosine/paromomycin, and SbIII/paromomycin was determined using a step-wise adaptation process to increasing drug concentrations. Intracellular amastigotes resistant to these drug combinations were obtained from resistant L. donovani promastigote forms, and the thiol and ATP levels and the mitochondrial membrane potential of the resistant lines were analysed. Resistance to drug combinations was obtained after 10 weeks and remained in the intracellular amastigotes. Additionally, this resistance proved to be unstable. More importantly, we observed that promastigotes/amastigotes resistant to one drug combination showed a marked cross-resistant profile to other anti-leishmanial drugs. Additionally, the thiol levels increased in resistant lines that remained protected against the drug-induced loss of ATP and mitochondrial membrane potential. We have therefore demonstrated that different resistance patterns can be obtained in L. donovani depending upon the drug combinations used. Resistance to the combinations miltefosine/paromomycin and SbIII/paromomycin is easily obtained experimentally. These results have been validated in intracellular amastigotes, and have important relevance for ensuring the long-term efficacy of drug combinations. Leishmania is a protozoan parasite that infects human macrophages to produce the neglected tropical disease known as leishmaniasis. Chemotherapy is currently the only treatment option for leishmaniasis. First-line therapies include pentavalent antimonials, except in some regions in the Indian subcontinent, the liposomal formulation of amphotericin B, miltefosine and paromomycin. The WHO has recently recommended a combined therapy in order to extend the life expectancy of these compounds. However, resistance could be induced in Leishmania if this approach is not applied in a controlled and regulated way, thus resulting in a rapid loss of efficacy of not one but two therapeutic options. In light of this, we have designed relevant experimental studies in order to determine whether Leishmania parasites are able to develop resistance to the different potential anti-leishmanial drug combinations that will be used in the near future. The results obtained could help us to predict the success of drug combination therapy. Experimental resistance of Leishmania donovani promastigotes to drug combinations was obtained after 10 weeks and remained in the intracellular amastigotes. We therefore conclude that L. donovani can easily develop resistance to drug combinations mainly miltefosine/paromomycin and SbIII/paromomycin. These results have been validated in intracellular amastigotes and are of considerable interest for future prediction of the success of drug combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel García-Hernández
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Manzano
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Santiago Castanys
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisco Gamarro
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, IPBLN-CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Granada, Spain
- * E-mail:
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18
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Michels PAM, Avilán L. The NAD+ metabolism of Leishmania, notably the enzyme nicotinamidase involved in NAD+ salvage, offers prospects for development of anti-parasite chemotherapy. Mol Microbiol 2011; 82:4-8. [PMID: 21854468 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07810.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
NAD+ plays multiple, essential roles in the cell. As a cofactor in many redox reactions it is key in the cellular energy metabolism and as a substrate it participates in many reactions leading to a variety of covalent modifications of enzymes with major roles in regulation of expression and metabolism. Cells may have the ability to produce this metabolite either via alternative de novo synthesis pathways and/or by different salvage pathways. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Gazanion et al. (2011) demonstrate that Leishmania species can only rely on the salvage of NAD+ building blocks. One of the enzymes involved, nicotinamidase, is absent from human cells. The enzyme is important for growth of Leishmania infantum and essential for establishing an infection. The crystal structure of the parasite protein has been solved and shows prospects for design of inhibitors to be used as leads for development of new drugs. Indeed, NAD+ metabolism is currently being considered as a promising drug target in various diseases and the vulnerability of Leishmania for interference of this metabolism has been proved in previous work by the same group, by showing that administration of NAD+ precursors has detrimental effect on the pathogenic, amastigote stage of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A M Michels
- Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, de Duve Institute and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 74, Postal Box B1.74.01, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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19
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Costa TL, Ribeiro-Dias F, Oliveira MA, Bezerra JC, Vinaud MC. Energetic metabolism of axenic promastigotes of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Exp Parasitol 2011; 128:438-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2011] [Revised: 05/16/2011] [Accepted: 05/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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20
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Duncan R, Gannavaram S, Dey R, Debrabant A, Lakhal-Naouar I, Nakhasi HL. Identification and characterization of genes involved in leishmania pathogenesis: the potential for drug target selection. Mol Biol Int 2011; 2011:428486. [PMID: 22091403 PMCID: PMC3200065 DOI: 10.4061/2011/428486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Revised: 03/26/2011] [Accepted: 04/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying and characterizing Leishmania donovani genes and the proteins they encode for their role in pathogenesis can reveal the value of this approach for finding new drug targets. Effective drug targets are likely to be proteins differentially expressed or required in the amastigote life cycle stage found in the patient. Several examples and their potential for chemotherapeutic disruption are presented. A pathway nearly ubiquitous in living cells targeted by anticancer drugs, the ubiquitin system, is examined. New findings in ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like modifiers in Leishmania show how disruption of those pathways could point to additional drug targets. The programmed cell death pathway, now recognized among protozoan parasites, is reviewed for some of its components and evidence that suggests they could be targeted for antiparasitic drug therapy. Finally, the endoplasmic reticulum quality control system is involved in secretion of many virulence factors. How disruptions in this pathway reduce virulence as evidence for potential drug targets is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Duncan
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
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21
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The 8-aminoquinoline analogue sitamaquine causes oxidative stress in Leishmania donovani promastigotes by targeting succinate dehydrogenase. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2011; 55:4204-10. [PMID: 21670183 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00520-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 8-aminoquinoline analogue sitamaquine (SQ) is an oral antileishmanial drug currently undergoing phase 2b clinical trials for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of action of this drug in Leishmania donovani promastigotes. SQ causes a dose-dependent inhibition of complex II (succinate dehydrogenase) of the respiratory chain in digitonin-permeabilized promastigotes, together with a drop in intracellular ATP levels and a decrease of the mitochondrial electrochemical potential. This is associated with increases of reactive oxygen species and intracellular Ca(2+) levels, a higher percentage of the population with sub-G(1) DNA content, and exposure of phosphatidylserine. Taken together, these results support a lethal mechanism for SQ that involves inhibition of the respiratory chain complex II, which in turn triggers oxidative stress and finally leads to an apoptosis-like death of Leishmania parasites.
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22
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Saunders EC, Ng WW, Chambers JM, Ng M, Naderer T, Krömer JO, Likic VA, McConville MJ. Isotopomer profiling of Leishmania mexicana promastigotes reveals important roles for succinate fermentation and aspartate uptake in tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) anaplerosis, glutamate synthesis, and growth. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:27706-17. [PMID: 21636575 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.213553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites proliferate within nutritionally complex niches in their sandfly vector and mammalian hosts. However, the extent to which these parasites utilize different carbon sources remains poorly defined. In this study, we have followed the incorporation of various (13)C-labeled carbon sources into the intracellular and secreted metabolites of Leishmania mexicana promastigotes using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and (13)C NMR. [U-(13)C]Glucose was rapidly incorporated into intermediates in glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the cytoplasmic carbohydrate reserve material, mannogen. Enzymes involved in the upper glycolytic pathway are sequestered within glycosomes, and the ATP and NAD(+) consumed by these reactions were primarily regenerated by the fermentation of phosphoenolpyruvate to succinate (glycosomal succinate fermentation). The initiating enzyme in this pathway, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, was exclusively localized to the glycosome. Although some of the glycosomal succinate was secreted, most of the C4 dicarboxylic acids generated during succinate fermentation were further catabolized in the TCA cycle. A high rate of TCA cycle anaplerosis was further suggested by measurement of [U-(13)C]aspartate and [U-(13)C]alanine uptake and catabolism. TCA cycle anaplerosis is apparently needed to sustain glutamate production under standard culture conditions. Specifically, inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase with sodium fluoroacetate resulted in the rapid depletion of intracellular glutamate pools and growth arrest. Addition of high concentrations of exogenous glutamate alleviated this growth arrest. These findings suggest that glycosomal and mitochondrial metabolism in Leishmania promastigotes is tightly coupled and that, in contrast to the situation in some other trypanosomatid parasites, the TCA cycle has crucial anabolic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor C Saunders
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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23
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Tafenoquine, an antiplasmodial 8-aminoquinoline, targets leishmania respiratory complex III and induces apoptosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2010; 54:5344-51. [PMID: 20837758 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00790-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tafenoquine (TFQ), an 8-aminoquinoline analogue of primaquine, which is currently under clinical trial (phase IIb/III) for the treatment and prevention of malaria, may represent an alternative treatment for leishmaniasis. In this work, we have studied the mechanism of action of TFQ against Leishmania parasites. TFQ impaired the overall bioenergetic metabolism of Leishmania promastigotes, causing a rapid drop in intracellular ATP levels without affecting plasma membrane permeability. TFQ induced mitochondrial dysfunction through the inhibition of cytochrome c reductase (respiratory complex III) with a decrease in the oxygen consumption rate and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. This was accompanied by ROS production, elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) levels and concomitant nuclear DNA fragmentation. We conclude that TFQ targets Leishmania mitochondria, leading to an apoptosis-like death process.
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Luque-Ortega JR, Cruz LJ, Albericio F, Rivas L. The antitumoral depsipeptide IB-01212 kills Leishmania through an apoptosis-like process involving intracellular targets. Mol Pharm 2010; 7:1608-17. [PMID: 20715776 DOI: 10.1021/mp100035f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
IB-01212, an antitumoral cyclodepsipeptide isolated from the mycelium of the marine fungus Clonostachys sp., showed leishmanicidal activity at a low micromolar range of concentrations on promastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite. Despite its cationic and amphipathic character, shared with other membrane active antibiotic peptides, IB-01212 did not cause plasma membrane lesions large enough to allow the entrance of the vital dye SYTOX green (MW = 600), even at concentrations causing full lethality of the parasite. Having ruled out massive disruption of the plasma membrane, we surmised the involvement of intracellular targets. Proof of concept for this assumption was provided by the mitochondrial dysfunction caused by IB-01212, which finally caused the death of the parasite through an apoptotic-like process. The size of the cycle, the preservation of the C2 symmetry, and the nature of the bonds linking the two tetrapeptide halves participate in the modulation of the leishmanicidal activity exerted by this compound. Here we discuss the potential of IB-01212 as a lead for new generations of surrogates to be used in chemotherapy treatments against Leishmania .
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan R Luque-Ortega
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040-Madrid, Spain
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25
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Dey R, Meneses C, Salotra P, Kamhawi S, Nakhasi HL, Duncan R. Characterization of a Leishmania stage-specific mitochondrial membrane protein that enhances the activity of cytochrome c oxidase and its role in virulence. Mol Microbiol 2010; 77:399-414. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07214.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
SUMMARYLeishmania spp. are sandfly-transmitted protozoa parasites that cause a spectrum of diseases in humans. Many enzymes involved in Leishmania central carbon metabolism differ from their equivalents in the mammalian host and are potential drug targets. In this review we summarize recent advances in our understanding of Leishmania central carbon metabolism, focusing on pathways of carbon utilization that are required for growth and pathogenesis in the mammalian host. While Leishmania central carbon metabolism shares many features in common with other pathogenic trypanosomatids, significant differences are also apparent. Leishmania parasites are also unusual in constitutively expressing most core metabolic pathways throughout their life cycle, a feature that may allow these parasites to exploit a range of different carbon sources (primarily sugars and amino acids) rapidly in both the insect vector and vertebrate host. Indeed, recent gene deletion studies suggest that mammal-infective stages are dependent on multiple carbon sources in vivo. The application of metabolomic approaches, outlined here, are likely to be important in defining aspects of central carbon metabolism that are essential at different stages of mammalian host infection.
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Luque-Ortega JR, Rivas L. Characterization of the leishmanicidal activity of antimicrobial peptides. Methods Mol Biol 2010; 618:393-420. [PMID: 20094878 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60761-594-1_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
This chapter describes the basic methodology to assay the activity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) on Leishmania, a human protozoan parasite. The protocols included can be methodologically divided into two major blocks. The first one addresses the basic technology for growth of the different stages of Leishmania, assessment of leishmanicidal activity, and monitoring of plasma membrane permeabilization. The second block encompasses the monitoring of bioenergetic parameters of the parasite, visualization of structural damage by transmission electron microscopy, or those methods more closely related to the involvement of intracellular AMP targets, as subcellular localization of the peptide and induction of parasite apoptosis.
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28
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Acetate and succinate production in amoebae, helminths, diplomonads, trichomonads and trypanosomatids: common and diverse metabolic strategies used by parasitic lower eukaryotes. Parasitology 2009; 137:1315-31. [PMID: 20028611 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182009991843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Parasites that often grow anaerobically in their hosts have adopted a fermentative strategy relying on the production of partially oxidized end products, including lactate, glycerol, ethanol, succinate and acetate. This review focuses on recent progress in understanding acetate production in protist parasites, such as amoebae, diplomonads, trichomonads, trypanosomatids and in the metazoan parasites helminths, as well as the succinate production pathway(s) present in some of them. We also describe the unconventional organisation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle associated with the fermentative strategy adopted by the procyclic trypanosomes, which may resemble the probable structure of the primordial TCA cycle in prokaryotes.
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29
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Algranati ID. Polyamine metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi: studies on the expression and regulation of heterologous genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis. Amino Acids 2009; 38:645-51. [PMID: 19956988 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-009-0425-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2009] [Accepted: 09/06/2009] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Biochemical studies have shown that Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii are the only eukaryotic organisms so far described which are auxotrophic for polyamines. Both parasites are unable to carry out the de novo biosynthesis of putrescine, and therefore they need the addition of exogenous polyamines to the culture medium for their normal proliferation. Further investigations at the molecular level have demonstrated that the wild-type T. cruzi genome does not contain ornithine or arginine decarboxylase-like nucleic acid sequences, and that the corresponding genes have been presumably lost during evolution. Since T. cruzi behaves as a deletion mutant for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and arginine decarboxylase (ADC) genes, this parasite has been selected to study the regulation of the expression of heterologous genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis in other organisms. The resulting transgenic parasites have been useful tools to analyze the different stages of gene expression after transformation, as well as the mechanisms of drug resistance induction and the post-translational processing of enzyme precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- I D Algranati
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Ave. Patricias Argentinas 435, 1405, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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30
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Cruz LJ, Luque-Ortega JR, Rivas L, Albericio F. Kahalalide F, an antitumor depsipeptide in clinical trials, and its analogues as effective antileishmanial agents. Mol Pharm 2009; 6:813-24. [PMID: 19317431 DOI: 10.1021/mp8001039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a human parasitic disease caused by infection by the protozoan Leishmania spp. Chemotherapy is currently the only treatment available, but its efficacy is increasingly challenged by the rising incidence of resistance and the frequent severe side effects associated with first-line drugs. Thus the development of leads with distinct mechanisms of action is urgently needed. A strategy often used for this purpose consists of assaying for leishmanicidal activity drugs formerly developed for other applications, such as amphotericin B (antifungal) or miltefosine (antitumor), among others, to profit from previous pharmacological and toxicological studies. Kahalalide F (KF) is a tumoricidal cyclic depsipeptide currently under phase II clinical trials for several types of cancer and psoriasis. Its mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. Here we report the leishmanicidal activity of KF and its synthetic analogues at a micromolar range of concentrations. Its lethality is strongly linked to the alteration of the plasma membrane (PM) of the parasite based on (i) a rapid depolarization of the PM and uptake of the vital dye SYTOX Green upon its addition; (ii) evidence of severe morphological damage to the membrane of the parasite, as shown by transmission electron microscopy; and (iii) a rapid drop in the intracellular ATP levels, which correlates significantly with the leishmanicidal activity for active analogues, some of them with significant improvement of their therapeutic index with respect to the parental molecule. In addition to the basic knowledge obtained, this class of lethal mechanism is considerably less prone to the induction of resistance than classical drugs. All together, these observations foster further studies for the optimization of KF and its analogues as new anti-Leishmania leads with a new mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis J Cruz
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona Science Park, University of Barcelona, 08028-Barcelona, Spain
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31
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Luque-Ortega JR, van't Hof W, Veerman ECI, Saugar JM, Rivas L. Human antimicrobial peptide histatin 5 is a cell-penetrating peptide targeting mitochondrial ATP synthesis in Leishmania. FASEB J 2008; 22:1817-28. [PMID: 18230684 DOI: 10.1096/fj.07-096081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Histatin 5 (Hst5) is a human salivary antimicrobial peptide that targets fungal mitochondria. In the human parasitic protozoa Leishmania, the mitochondrial ATP production is essential, as it lacks the bioenergetic switch between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation described in some yeasts. On these premises, Hst5 activity was assayed on both stages of its life cycle, promastigotes and amastigotes (LC(50)=7.3 and 14.4 microM, respectively). In a further step, its lethal mechanism was studied. The main conclusions drawn were as follows: 1) Hst5 causes limited and temporary damage to the plasma membrane of the parasites, as assessed by electron microscopy, depolarization, and entrance of the vital dye SYTOX Green; 2) Hst5 translocates into the cytoplasm of Leishmania in an achiral receptor-independent manner with accumulation into the mitochondrion, as shown by confocal microscopy; and 3) Hst5 produces a bioenergetic collapse of the parasite, caused essentially by the decrease of mitochondrial ATP synthesis through inhibition of F(1)F(0)-ATPase, with subsequent fast ATP exhaustion. By using the Hst5 enantiomer, it was found that the key steps of its lethal mechanism involved no chiral recognition. Hst5 thus constitutes the first leishmanicidal peptide with a defined nonstereospecific intracellular target. The prospects of its development, by its own or as a carrier molecule for other leishmanicidal molecules, into a novel anti-Leishmania drug with a preferential subcellular accumulation are discussed.
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Bouzaidi-Tiali N, Giglione C, Bulliard Y, Pusnik M, Meinnel T, Schneider A. Type 3 peptide deformylases are required for oxidative phosphorylation in Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Microbiol 2007; 65:1218-28. [PMID: 17651388 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05867.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Peptide deformylase (PDF) catalyses the removal of the formyl group from the first methionine of nascent proteins. Type 1 PDFs are found in bacteria and have orthologues in most eukaryotes. Type 2 PDFs are restricted to bacteria. Type 3 enzymes are found in Archaea and trypanosomatids and have not been studied experimentally yet. Thus, TbPDF1 and TbPDF2, the two PDF orthologues of the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma brucei, are of type 3. An experimental analysis of these enzymes shows that both are mitochondrially localized, but that only TbPDF1 is essential for normal growth. Recombinant TbPDF1 exhibits PDF activity with a substrate specificity identical to that of bacterial enzymes. Consistent with these results, TbPDF1 is required for oxidative but not for mitochondrial substrate-level phosphorylation. Ablation of TbPDF2, in contrast, does neither affect growth on standard medium nor oxidative phosphorylation. However, a reduced level of TbPDF2 slows down growth in a medium that selects for highly efficient oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, combined ablation of TbPDF1 and TbPDF2 results in an earlier growth arrest than is observed by downregulation of TbPDF1 alone. These results suggest that TbPDF2 is functionally linked to TbPDF1, and that it can influence the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabile Bouzaidi-Tiali
- Department of Biology/Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
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Opperdoes FR, Coombs GH. Metabolism of Leishmania: proven and predicted. Trends Parasitol 2007; 23:149-58. [PMID: 17320480 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2007.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2006] [Revised: 01/04/2007] [Accepted: 02/09/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The complete analysis of the genomes of three major trypanosomatid parasites has facilitated comparison of the metabolic capabilities of each, as predicted from gene sequences. Not surprisingly, there are differences but is it possible to correlate these with the lives of the parasites themselves and make further predictions of the meaning and physiological importance of the apparently parasite-specific metabolism? In this article, we relate gene predictions with the results from experimental studies. We also speculate on the key metabolic adaptations of Leishmania and reasons why it differs from Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred R Opperdoes
- Research Unit for Tropical Diseases and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology and Catholic University of Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 74-75, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Luque-Ortega JR, Rivas L. Miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine) inhibits cytochrome c oxidase in Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51:1327-32. [PMID: 17283192 PMCID: PMC1855476 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01415-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Miltefosine (hexadecylphosphocholine [HePC]) is currently on trial as a first-choice, orally active drug for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis when resistance to organic pentavalent antimonials becomes epidemic. However, data on the targets involved in its leishmanicidal mechanism have, until now, been only fragmentary. We have carried out a systematic study of the alterations induced on the bioenergetic metabolism of Leishmania donovani promastigotes by HePC. Overnight incubation with HePC caused a significant decline in the intracellular ATP levels of the parasites, together with a reduction in the oxygen consumption rate and mitochondrial depolarization, while the integrity of the plasma membrane remained undamaged. In a further step, the effects of HePC on the respiratory chain were addressed in digitonized parasites. The inhibition of the oxygen consumption rate caused by HePC was not reverted either with the uncoupling agent carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone or with tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine plus ascorbate, which feeds the electron transport chain at the level of cytochrome c. These results suggest that cytochrome c oxidase is a likely target in the complex leishmanicidal mechanism of HePC. This was further confirmed from the finding that this enzyme was specifically inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by HePC, but not the cytochrome c reductase, ruling out an unspecific effect of HePC on the respiratory chain.
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Michels PAM, Bringaud F, Herman M, Hannaert V. Metabolic functions of glycosomes in trypanosomatids. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2006; 1763:1463-77. [PMID: 17023066 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2006.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2006] [Revised: 08/17/2006] [Accepted: 08/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Protozoan Kinetoplastida, including the pathogenic trypanosomatids of the genera Trypanosoma and Leishmania, compartmentalize several important metabolic systems in their peroxisomes which are designated glycosomes. The enzymatic content of these organelles may vary considerably during the life-cycle of most trypanosomatid parasites which often are transmitted between their mammalian hosts by insects. The glycosomes of the Trypanosoma brucei form living in the mammalian bloodstream display the highest level of specialization; 90% of their protein content is made up of glycolytic enzymes. The compartmentation of glycolysis in these organelles appears essential for the regulation of this process and enables the cells to overcome short periods of anaerobiosis. Glycosomes of all other trypanosomatid forms studied contain an extended glycolytic pathway catalyzing the aerobic fermentation of glucose to succinate. In addition, these organelles contain enzymes for several other processes such as the pentose-phosphate pathway, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, purine salvage, and biosynthetic pathways for pyrimidines, ether-lipids and squalenes. The enzymatic content of glycosomes is rapidly changed during differentiation of mammalian bloodstream-form trypanosomes to the forms living in the insect midgut. Autophagy appears to play an important role in trypanosomatid differentiation, and several lines of evidence indicate that it is then also involved in the degradation of old glycosomes, while a population of new organelles containing different enzymes is synthesized. The compartmentation of environment-sensitive parts of the metabolic network within glycosomes would, through this way of organelle renewal, enable the parasites to adapt rapidly and efficiently to the new conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A M Michels
- Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Université catholique de Louvain, ICP-TROP 74.39, Avenue Hippocrate 74, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.
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Bringaud F, Rivière L, Coustou V. Energy metabolism of trypanosomatids: adaptation to available carbon sources. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 149:1-9. [PMID: 16682088 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2006] [Revised: 03/30/2006] [Accepted: 03/31/2006] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Some development stages of the trypanosomatid protozoan parasites are well adapted to in vitro culture. They can be maintained in rich medium containing large excess of glucose and amino acids, which they use as carbon sources for ATP production. Under these growth conditions, carbon sources are converted into partially oxidized end products by so-called aerobic fermentation. Surprisingly, some species, such as the Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Crithidia insect stages, prefer consuming glucose to amino acids, although their natural habitat is L-proline-rich. This review focuses on recent progress in understanding glucose and l-proline metabolism of insect stages, how these metabolic processes are regulated, and the rationale of the aerobic fermentation strategies developed by these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Bringaud
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle des Trypanosomatides, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, UMR-5162 CNRS, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France.
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Hannaert V, Bringaud F, Opperdoes FR, Michels PAM. Evolution of energy metabolism and its compartmentation in Kinetoplastida. KINETOPLASTID BIOLOGY AND DISEASE 2003; 2:11. [PMID: 14613499 PMCID: PMC317351 DOI: 10.1186/1475-9292-2-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2003] [Accepted: 10/28/2003] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Kinetoplastida are protozoan organisms that probably diverged early in evolution from other eukaryotes. They are characterized by a number of unique features with respect to their energy and carbohydrate metabolism. These organisms possess peculiar peroxisomes, called glycosomes, which play a central role in this metabolism; the organelles harbour enzymes of several catabolic and anabolic routes, including major parts of the glycolytic and pentosephosphate pathways. The kinetoplastid mitochondrion is also unusual with regard to both its structural and functional properties.In this review, we describe the unique compartmentation of metabolism in Kinetoplastida and the metabolic properties resulting from this compartmentation. We discuss the evidence for our recently proposed hypothesis that a common ancestor of Kinetoplastida and Euglenida acquired a photosynthetic alga as an endosymbiont, contrary to the earlier notion that this event occurred at a later stage of evolution, in the Euglenida lineage alone. The endosymbiont was subsequently lost from the kinetoplastid lineage but, during that process, some of its pathways of energy and carbohydrate metabolism were sequestered in the kinetoplastid peroxisomes, which consequently became glycosomes. The evolution of the kinetoplastid glycosomes and the possible selective advantages of these organelles for Kinetoplastida are discussed. We propose that the possession of glycosomes provided metabolic flexibility that has been important for the organisms to adapt easily to changing environmental conditions. It is likely that metabolic flexibility has been an important selective advantage for many kinetoplastid species during their evolution into the highly successful parasites today found in many divergent taxonomic groups.Also addressed is the evolution of the kinetoplastid mitochondrion, from a supposedly pluripotent organelle, attributed to a single endosymbiotic event that resulted in all mitochondria and hydrogenosomes of extant eukaryotes. Furthermore, indications are presented that Kinetoplastida may have acquired other enzymes of energy and carbohydrate metabolism by various lateral gene transfer events different from those that involved the algal- and alpha-proteobacterial-like endosymbionts responsible for the respective formation of the glycosomes and mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Véronique Hannaert
- Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 74, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Bringaud
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie Moléculaire, Université Victor Segalen, Bordeaux II, UMR-CNRS 5016, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Fred R Opperdoes
- Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 74, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Paul AM Michels
- Research Unit for Tropical Diseases, Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology and Laboratory of Biochemistry, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate 74, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Ralton JE, Naderer T, Piraino HL, Bashtannyk TA, Callaghan JM, McConville MJ. Evidence that intracellular beta1-2 mannan is a virulence factor in Leishmania parasites. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:40757-63. [PMID: 12902334 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m307660200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania mexicana proliferates within macrophage phagolysosomes in the mammalian host. In this study we provide evidence that a novel class of intracellular beta1-2 mannan oligosaccharides is important for parasite survival in host macrophages. Mannan (degree of polymerization 4-40) is expressed at low levels in non-pathogenic promastigote stages but constitutes 80 and 90% of the cellular carbohydrate in the two developmental stages that infect macrophages, non-dividing promastigotes, and lesion-derived amastigotes, respectively. Mannan is catabolized when parasites are starved of glucose, suggesting a reserve function, and developmental stages having low mannan levels or L. mexicana GDPMP mutants lacking all mannose molecules are highly sensitive to glucose starvation. Environmental stresses, such as mild heat shock or the heat shock protein-90 inhibitor, geldanamycin, that trigger the differentiation of promastigotes to amastigotes, result in a 10-25-fold increase in mannan levels. Developmental stages with low mannan levels or L. mexicana mutants lacking mannan do not survive heat shock and are unable to differentiate to amastigotes or infect macrophages in vitro. In contrast, a L. mexicana mutant deficient only in components of the mannose-rich surface glycocalyx differentiates normally and infects macrophages in vitro. Collectively, these data provide strong evidence that mannan accumulation is important for parasite differentiation and survival in macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie E Ralton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Gupta N, Goyal N, Singha UK, Bhakuni V, Roy R, Rastogi AK. Characterization of intracellular metabolites of axenic amastigotes of Leishmania donovani by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Acta Trop 1999; 73:121-33. [PMID: 10465052 DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(99)00020-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular metabolites of long-term in vitro cultured axenic amastigotes of Leishmania donovani (strain Dd8) were determined and compared with those of promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, employing proton NMR spectroscopy. The presence of two new metabolites, i.e. betaine and beta-hydroxybutyrate were reported. Betaine was detected in all the three stages being highest in the promastigotes while beta-hydroxybutyrate could be detected only in promastigotes and axenic amastigotes. Among other metabolites, succinate and valine were found in higher quantities in intracellular amastigotes and axenic amastigotes than in promastigotes. Acetoacetate was present only in axenic and intracellular amastigotes. The comparative metabolite profile of different parasite forms reveals that axenic amastigotes seem to represent an intermediate stage between promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes in spite of their strong resemblance to intracellular amastigotes in morphology, infectivity, biochemical studies and even in the manifestation of amastigote specific A2 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Gupta
- Division of Biochemistry, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
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Tielens AG, Van Hellemond JJ. Differences in Energy Metabolism Between Trypanosomatidae. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998; 14:265-72. [PMID: 17040781 DOI: 10.1016/s0169-4758(98)01263-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although various members of the family Trypanosomatidae generate energy in a similar way, fundamental differences also exist and are not always recognized. In this review, Louis Tielens and Jaap Van Hellemond discuss the known differences in carbohydrate metabolism among trypanosomatids, and especially compare Leishmania with trypanosomatids such as Trypanosoma brucei and Phytomonas spp. Special attention will be paid to differences in end-products of carbohydrate degradation, to differences in anaerobic capacities between the various trypanosomatids and to the components of their respiratory chains, including the presence or absence of a plant-like alternative oxidase. Furthermore, evidence will be discussed which indicates that the succinate produced by trypanosomatids is formed mainly via an oxidative pathway and not via reduction of fumarate, a process known to occur in parasitic helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
- A G Tielens
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry and Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, PO Box 80176, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Van Hellemond JJ, Simons B, Millenaar FF, Tielens AG. A gene encoding the plant-like alternative oxidase is present in Phytomonas but absent in Leishmania spp. J Eukaryot Microbiol 1998; 45:426-30. [PMID: 9703678 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1998.tb05094.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The constituents of the respiratory chain are believed to differ among the trypanosomatids; bloodstream stages of African trypanosomes and Phytomonas promastigotes oxidize ubiquinol by a ubiquinol:oxygen oxidoreductase, also known as alternative oxidase, whereas Leishmania spp. oxidize ubiquinol via a classic cytochrome-containing respiratory chain. The molecular basis for this elementary difference in ubiquinol oxidation by the mitochondrial electron-transport chain in distinct trypanosomatids was investigated. The presence of a gene encoding the plant-like alternative oxidase could be demonstrated in Phytomonas and Trypanosoma brucei, trypanosomatids that are known to contain alternative oxidase activity. Our results further demonstrated that Leishmania spp. lack a gene encoding the plant-like alternative oxidase, and therefore, all stages of Leishmania spp. will lack the alternative oxidase protein. The observed fundamental differences between the respiratory chains of distinct members of the trypanosomatid family are thus caused by the presence or absence of a gene encoding the plant-like alternative oxidase.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Van Hellemond
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
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Alvarez-Fortes E, Ruiz-Pérez LM, Bouillaud F, Rial E, Rivas L. Expression and regulation of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 from brown adipose tissue in Leishmania major promastigotes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 1998; 93:191-202. [PMID: 9662704 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(98)00029-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rat uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) was successfully translated in transfected Leishmania major promastigotes. Immune electron microscopy revealed that the protein was exclusively in the mitochondria. UCP1 expression was about 350,000 copies per promastigote, accounting for 4.7% of the total mitochondrial protein. In intact parasites, expression of UCP1 induced a slight increase in respiratory rate and a modest decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi(m)). In contrast, in digitonin-permeabilized parasites, a significantly lower value both in delta psi(m) (57 +/- 10 vs 153 +/- 12 mV) and respiratory control ratio (0.99 vs 1.54) were observed for UCP1 versus control parasites, although when UCP1 activity was inhibited by bovine serum albumin (BSA) and GDP, control values were restored. Therefore, a fully functional UCP1 was present and only partially inhibited in vivo by endogenous purine nucleotides. However, neither ATP levels, growth rate nor mitochondrial protein import differed significantly between both types of parasites. Expression of the pore-like mutant UCP1 delta 9 was deleterious to the organism. Consequently, Leishmania was capable of expressing and importing into mitochondria proteins from higher eukaryotes lacking an N-terminal targeting pre-sequence as UCP1. As described previously, parasite metabolism had only a limited tolerance to mitochondrial disfunction. Transfection of Leishmania with foreign proteins which play an important regulatory role in metabolism is a useful tool to study both parasite metabolism in general, and alternative pathways involved in maintaining internal homeostasis.
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Van Hellemond JJ, Opperdoes FR, Tielens AG. Trypanosomatidae produce acetate via a mitochondrial acetate:succinate CoA transferase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1998; 95:3036-41. [PMID: 9501211 PMCID: PMC19690 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.6.3036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogenosome-containing anaerobic protists, such as the trichomonads, produce large amounts of acetate by an acetate:succinate CoA transferase (ASCT)/succinyl CoA synthetase cycle. The notion that mitochondria and hydrogenosomes may have originated from the same alpha-proteobacterial endosymbiont has led us to look for the presence of a similar metabolic pathway in trypanosomatids because these are the earliest-branching mitochondriate eukaryotes and because they also are known to produce acetate. The mechanism of acetate production in these organisms, however, has remained unknown. Four different members of the trypanosomatid family: promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana mexicana, L. infantum and Phytomonas sp., and procyclics of Trypanosoma brucei were analyzed as well as the parasitic helminth Fasciola hepatica. They all use a mitochondrial ASCT for the production of acetate from acetyl CoA. The succinyl CoA that is produced during acetate formation by ASCT is recycled presumably to succinate by a mitochondrial succinyl CoA synthetase, concomitantly producing ATP from ADP. The ASCT of L. mexicana mexicana promastigotes was further characterized after partial purification of the enzyme. It has a high affinity for acetyl CoA (Km 0.26 mM) and a low affinity for succinate (Km 6.9 mM), which shows that significant acetate production can occur only when high mitochondrial succinate concentrations prevail. This study identifies a metabolic pathway common to mitochondria and hydrogenosomes, which strongly supports a common origin for these two organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Van Hellemond
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry and Institute of Biomembranes, Utrecht University, P. O. Box 80176, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands
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