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Li Y, Zhang T, Liu X, Pan T, Li J, Yang W, Cao X, Jiang Y, Wang J, Zeng Y, Shi C, Huang H, Wang C, Wang N, Yang G. Eimeria tenella rhoptry neck protein 2 plays a key role in the process of invading the host intestinal epithelium. Vet Parasitol 2024; 332:110322. [PMID: 39366187 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024]
Abstract
The Apicomplexa parasitic phylum rhoptry neck protein 2 (RON2) plays a key role in the process of invading host cells. Eimeria tenella, an intracellular protozoan shares a similar conserved invasion pattern. However, whether E. tenella RON2 participates in the process of invading the host intestinal epithelium is poorly understood. In this study, the sequence of EtRON2 was analyzed and expressed. The expression of the truncated extracellular N-terminal fragment of EtRON2 (403-700 aa, designated EtRON2403-700) with a molecular mass of 38.3 kDa. EtRON2 in the sporozoite protein was detected at 151.4 kDa by rabbit anti-rEtRON2403-700 antibody. Immunofluorescence results showed that EtRON2 was mainly localized to the nucleus and apex of the E. tenella sporozoite. qPCR results showed that the highest expression level of EtRON2 was detected in sporulated oocysts compared with other developmental stages of E. tenella. In vitro invasion inhibition assays showed that the capacity of sporozoites to invade DF-1 cells was significantly inhibited after pretreatment with the rabbit anti-rEtRON2403-700 antibody. Silencing the EtRON2 gene by RNA interference (RNAi) significantly inhibited EtRON2 expression and significantly reduced the invasion of DF-1 cells by sporozoites. In vivo experiments revealed a significant decrease parasite burden and oocyst outputs in chicks after infection with EtRON2 gene-silenced sporozoites by cloacal inoculation. Recombinant EtRON2403-700 (rEtRON2403-700) immunizes chicks effectively against E. tenella infection by inducing humoral immunity and upregulating IFN-γ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, chicks exhibited increased relative weight gain rates, lower cecum lesion scores, and reduced oocyst outputs during the E. tenella challenge. H&E staining showed that the cecum tissue of chicks immunized with rEtRON2403-700 showed relatively mild histopathological changes. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that EtRON2 plays a key role in E. tenella invasion of the host intestinal epithelium and provides a potential target for vaccines against E. tenella infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanning Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Tongxuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Xuanrui Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Tianxu Pan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Junyi Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Wentao Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Xin Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Yanlong Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Jianzhong Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Yan Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Chunwei Shi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Haibin Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Chunfeng Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Nan Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Guilian Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Microecology and Healthy Breeding, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China; Engineering Research Center of Microecological Vaccines (Drugs) for Major Animal Diseases, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
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Uzelac A, Klun I, Djurković-Djaković O. Early immune response to Toxoplasma gondii lineage III isolates of different virulence phenotype. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1414067. [PMID: 38912206 PMCID: PMC11190176 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1414067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite of importance to human and veterinary health. The structure and diversity of the genotype population of T. gondii varies considerably with respect to geography, but three lineages, type I, II and III, are distributed globally. Lineage III genotypes are the least well characterized in terms of biology, host immunity and virulence. Once a host is infected with T.gondii, innate immune mechanisms are engaged to reduce the parasite burden in tissues and create a pro-inflammatory environment in which the TH1 response develops to ensure survival. This study investigated the early cellular immune response of Swiss-Webster mice post intraperitoneal infection with 10 tachyzoites of four distinct non-clonal genotypes of lineage III and a local isolate of ToxoDB#1. The virulence phenotype, cumulative mortality (CM) and allele profiles of ROP5, ROP16, ROP18 and GRA15 were published previously. Methods Parasite dissemination in different tissues was analyzed by real-time PCR and relative expression levels of IFNγ, IL12-p40, IL-10 and TBX21 in the cervical lymph nodes (CLN), brain and spleen were calculated using the ΔΔCt method. Stage conversion was determined by detection of the BAG1 transcript in the brain. Results Tissue dissemination depends on the virulence phenotype but not CM, while the TBX21 and cytokine levels and kinetics correlate better with CM than virulence phenotype. The earliest detection of BAG1 was seven days post infection. Only infection with the genotype of high CM (69.4%) was associated with high T-bet levels in the CLN 24 h and high systemic IFNγ expression which was sustained over the first week, while infection with genotypes of lower CM (38.8%, 10.7% and 6.8%) is characterized by down-regulation and/or low systemic levels of IFNγ. The response intensity, as assessed by cytokine levels, to the genotype of high CM wanes over time, while it increases gradually to genotypes of lower CM. Discussion The results point to the conclusion that the immune response is not correlated with the virulence phenotype and/or allele profile, but an early onset, intense pro-inflammatory response is characteristic of genotypes with high CM. Additionally, high IFNγ level in the brain may hamper stage conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Uzelac
- Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Chen Z, Cheng S, Chen X, Zhang Z, Du Y. New advances in immune mechanism and treatment during ocular toxoplasmosis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1403025. [PMID: 38799473 PMCID: PMC11116678 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1403025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is an intraocular infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. OT is manifested as retinal choroiditis and is the most common infectious cause of posterior uveitis. Invasion of the retina by T. gondii leads to disruption of the blood-ocular barrier and promotes the migration of immune cells to the ocular tissues. Cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-1β are effective for controlling parasite growth, but excessive inflammatory responses can cause damage to the host. In this review, we will discuss in detail the latest advances in the immunopathology and treatment of OT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Shizhou Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoming Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Zuhai Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
| | - Yanhua Du
- Physical Examination Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei, China
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Ewald S, Nasuhidehnavi A, Feng TY, Lesani M, McCall LI. The intersection of host in vivo metabolism and immune responses to infection with kinetoplastid and apicomplexan parasites. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0016422. [PMID: 38299836 PMCID: PMC10966954 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00164-22] [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] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYProtozoan parasite infection dramatically alters host metabolism, driven by immunological demand and parasite manipulation strategies. Immunometabolic checkpoints are often exploited by kinetoplastid and protozoan parasites to establish chronic infection, which can significantly impair host metabolic homeostasis. The recent growth of tools to analyze metabolism is expanding our understanding of these questions. Here, we review and contrast host metabolic alterations that occur in vivo during infection with Leishmania, trypanosomes, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, and Cryptosporidium. Although genetically divergent, there are commonalities among these pathogens in terms of metabolic needs, induction of the type I immune responses required for clearance, and the potential for sustained host metabolic dysbiosis. Comparing these pathogens provides an opportunity to explore how transmission strategy, nutritional demand, and host cell and tissue tropism drive similarities and unique aspects in host response and infection outcome and to design new strategies to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ewald
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Azadeh Nasuhidehnavi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Tzu-Yu Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology at the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mahbobeh Lesani
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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Macedo IS, Lara FA, Barbosa HS, Saraiva EM, Menna-Barreto RFS, Mariante RM. Human neutrophil extracellular traps do not impair in vitro Toxoplasma gondii infection. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1282278. [PMID: 38115994 PMCID: PMC10728484 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1282278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Toxoplasma gondii, responsible for causing toxoplasmosis, is a prevalent food and waterborne pathogen worldwide. It commonly infects warm-blooded animals and affects more than a third of the global human population. Once ingested, the parasite enters the host's small intestine and rapidly disseminates throughout the body via the bloodstream, infiltrating various tissues. Leukocyte-driven responses are vital against T. gondii, with neutrophils playing a dual role: swiftly recruited to infection sites, releasing inflammatory mediators, and serving as a replication hub and Trojan horses, aiding parasite spread. Neutrophils from various hosts release extracellular traps (NETs) against the protozoan. However, gaps persist regarding the mechanisms of NETs production to parasite and their significance in infection control. This study investigates the interplay between human neutrophils and T. gondii, exploring dynamics, key molecules, and signaling pathways involved in NETs production upon protozoan challenge. Methods and Results Using confocal and electron microscopy, live cell imaging, pharmacological inhibitors, and DNA quantification assays, we find that human neutrophils promptly release both classical and rapid NETs upon pathogen stimulation. The NETs structure exhibits diverse phenotypes over time and is consistently associated with microorganisms. Mechanisms involve neutrophil elastase and peptidylarginine deiminase, along with intracellular calcium signaling and the PI3K pathway. Unexpectedly, human traps do not diminish viability or infectivity, but potentially aid in capturing parasites for subsequent neutrophil phagocytosis and elimination. Discussion By revealing NETs formation mechanisms and their nuanced impact on T. gondii infection dynamics, our findings contribute to broader insights into host-pathogen relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela S. Macedo
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Flávio A. Lara
- Laboratório de Microbiologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helene S. Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elvira M. Saraiva
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia das Leishmanioses, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael M. Mariante
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Shi Y, Li J, Yang W, Chen J. Protective immunity induced by DNA vaccine containing Tg GRA35, Tg GRA42, and Tg GRA43 against Toxoplasma gondii infection in Kunming mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1236130. [PMID: 38029261 PMCID: PMC10644269 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1236130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii can cause congenital infection and abortion in humans and warm-blooded animals. T. gondii dense granule proteins, GRA35, GRA42, and GRA43, play a critical role in the establishment of chronic infection. However, their potential to induce protective immunity against T. gondii infection remains unexplored. Objective This study aimed to test the efficacy of a DNA vaccine encompassing GRA35, GRA42, and GRA43 in inducing protective immunity against the highly virulent T. gondii RH strain (type I) and the brain cyst-forming PRU strain (type II). Methods The eukaryotic plasmids pVAX-GRA35, pVAX-GRA42, and pVAX-GRA43 were constructed and formulated into two- or three-gene cocktail DNA vaccines. The indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used to analyze their expression and immunogenicity. Mice were immunized with a single-gene, two-genes, or multicomponent eukaryotic plasmid, intramuscularly. We assessed antibody levels, cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) responses, cytokines, and lymphocyte surface markers by using flow cytometry. Additionally, mouse survival and cyst numbers in the brain of mice challenged 1 to 2 months postvaccination were determined. Results Specific humoral and cellular immune responses were elicited in mice immunized with single-, two-, or three-gene cocktail DNA vaccine, as indicated by significant increases in serum antibody concentrations of total IgG, IgG2a/IgG1 ratio, cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, IL-4, and IL-10), lymphocyte proliferation, lymphocyte populations (CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes), CTL activities, and survival, as well as decreased brain cysts, in comparison with control mice. Moreover, compared with pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA42, pVAX-GRA42 + pVAX-GRA43, or pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA43, multicomponent DNA vaccine with three genes (pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA42 + pVAX-GRA43) induced the higher humoral and cellular immune responses, including serum antibody concentrations, cytokine levels, lymphocyte proliferation, lymphocyte populations, CTL activities and survival, resulting in prolonged survival time and reduced brain cyst loads. Furthermore, mice immunized with pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA42, pVAX-GRA42 + pVAX-GRA43, or pVAX-GRA35 + pVAX-GRA43 showed greater Th1 immune responses and protective efficacy than the single-gene-vaccinated groups. Conclusion These results demonstrate that TgGRA35, TgGRA42, or TgGRA43 are vaccine candidates against T. gondii infection, and the three-gene DNA vaccine cocktail conferred the strongest protection against T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youbo Shi
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jianbing Li
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Weili Yang
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jia Chen
- The Affiliated People’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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Xie L, Xing Y, Yang J, Liu M, Cai Y. Toxoplasma gondii Reactivation Aggravating Cardiac Function Impairment in Mice. Pathogens 2023; 12:1025. [PMID: 37623985 PMCID: PMC10458591 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) reactivation is common, especially among immunocompromised individuals, such as AIDS patients. The cardiac involvement associated with toxoplasmosis, however, is usually obscured by neurological deterioration. The aim of this study was to observe the alterations in cardiac functions in various landmark periods after infection and to assess whether reactivation more seriously damages the heart. METHODS We established three infection models in mice using TgCtwh6, a major strain of T. gondii prevalent in China. The groups included an acute group, chronic latent group, and reactivation group. We evaluated the cardiac function impairment via H & E staining, Masson staining, echocardiography, myocardial enzyme profiles, and cardiac troponin, and detected the expression of inflammatory factors and antioxidant factors with Western blotting. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of the macrophage marker F4/80. RESULTS Our results showed that damage to the heart occurred in the acute and reactivation groups. Impaired cardiac function manifested as a decrease in heart rate and a compensatory increase in left ventricular systolic function. Serum levels of cardiac enzymes also increased dramatically. In the chronic phase, myocardial fibrosis developed, diastolic functions became severely impaired, inflammation persisted, and macrophage expression was slightly reduced. Ultimately, reactivation infection exacerbated damage to cardiac function in mice, potentially leading to diastolic heart failure. Macrophages were strongly activated, and myocardial fibrosis was increased. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of the heart was severely affected by the infection. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results suggested that the reactivation of T. gondii infection could aggravate injury to the heart, which could be associated with a host-cell-mediated immune response and strong cytokine production by macrophages, thus representing a novel insight into the pathogenic mechanism of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linding Xie
- Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Anhui, and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yien Xing
- Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Anhui, and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Anhui, and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Anhui, and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yihong Cai
- Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, the Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology of Anhui, and the Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
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Ronizi RR, Namavari M, Moazamian E. Evaluation of the protective immune response of an attenuated strain of Toxoplasma gondii with long-term passages on the Gecko cell line. Vet Parasitol 2023; 320:109969. [PMID: 37301090 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes the zoonoses disease, named toxoplasmosis, with global prevalence. Until now, no cost-effective treatment method has been found to deal with toxoplasma, and vaccination is the best way to deal with the infection. In the case of pathogenic protozoa, mainly live vaccines have had successful results compared to other vaccine platforms. This study evaluated the efficacy of a live experimental vaccine through long-term passages on the Gecko cell line (Z1) in inducing a protective immune response in BALB/c mice. Thirty mice were divided into three equal groups; G1: the immunized/challenged group (injection of attenuated strain), G2: the immunized/unchallenged group (injection of attenuated strain), and G3: the control group (injection of culture medium).One month after immunization, the studied mice were challenged with 1ₓ103 live tachyzoites of Toxoplasma acute RH strain. We performed Serological investigations, including evaluating antibodies, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukins 2, 4, 10, and 12 (IL-2,4,10,12). At the study's end, a molecular test was performed on brain and liver tissues in the immunized groups to check the presence of parasites. The results from the serological tests for the evaluation of antibodies, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukins 10 and 12 (IL-10, 12) show a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the vaccinated group and the control group, which are essential indicators of protective immunity against toxoplasma infection. Thus, in the vaccinated group, the survival rate of mice against the challenge was 70%. Also, in group two (G2), the attenuated strain of Toxoplasma gondii had no pathogenicity, and all mice survived until the end of the study period. Molecular results also showed the absence of parasites in the brain and liver tissues in this immunized group and the parasite was found in only one case of liver tissue in G1. Therefore, the attenuated strain has caused significant and protective humoral and cellular immune responses in vaccinated groups. This study showed that with the long-term passage of the acute strain on the Gecko cell line, it is possible to quickly obtain a non-diseased attenuated strain with the ability to induce protective immunity. This successful finding can introduce further research to achieve a promising vaccine in the target animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Ramezanpoor Ronizi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Agriculture and Modern Technology, Shiraz branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Namavari
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute; Agricultural Research, Agricultural and Extension Organization, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Elham Moazamian
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Agriculture and Modern Technology, Shiraz branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
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Escobar-Guevara EE, de Quesada-Martínez ME, Roldán-Dávila YB, Alarcón de Noya B, Alfonzo-Díaz MA. Defects in immune response to Toxoplasma gondii are associated with enhanced HIV-1-related neurocognitive impairment in co-infected patients. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285976. [PMID: 37224128 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and Toxoplasma gondii can invade the central nervous system and affect its functionality. Advanced HIV-1 infection has been associated with defects in immune response to T. gondii, leading to reactivation of latent infections and development of toxoplasmic encephalitis. This study evaluates relationship between changes in immune response to T. gondii and neurocognitive impairment in HIV-1/T. gondii co-infected patients, across different stages of HIV-1 infection. The study assessed the immune response to T. gondii by measuring cytokine production in response to parasite antigens, and also neurocognitive functions by performing auditory and visual P300 cognitive evoked potentials, short term memory (Sternberg) and executive function tasks (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-WCST) in 4 groups of individuals: HIV-1/T. gondii co-infected (P2), HIV-1-infected/T. gondii-non-infected (P1), HIV-1-non-infected/T. gondii-infected (C2) and HIV-1-non-infected/T. gondii-non-infected (C1). Patients (P1 and P2) were grouped in early/asymptomatic (P1A and P2A) or late/symptomatic (P1B/C and P2B/C) according to peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocyte counts (>350 or <350/μL, respectively). Groups were compared using T-student or U-Mann-Whitney tests as appropriate, p<0.05 was considered as significantly. For P300 waves, HIV-1-infected patients (P1) had significantly longer latencies and significantly smaller amplitudes than uninfected controls, but HIV-1/T. gondii co-infected patients (P2) had significantly longer latencies and smaller amplitude than P1. P1 patients had significantly poorer results than uninfected controls in Sternberg and WCST, but P2 had significantly worse results than P1. HIV-1 infection was associated with significantly lower production of IL-2, TNF-α and IFN-γ in response to T. gondii from early/asymptomatic stages, when comparing P2 patients to C2 controls. These findings may indicate impairment in anti-parasitic response in co-infected patients, facilitating early limited reactivation of the parasitic latent infection, therefore creating cumulative damage in the brain and affecting neurocognitive functions from asymptomatic stages of HIV-1 infection, as suggested by defects in co-infected patients in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Eliel Escobar-Guevara
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunophysiology, José Maria Vargas School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Department of Immunology, José Maria Vargas School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Laboratory of Physiopathology, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research, Caracas, Venezuela
| | | | - Yhajaira Beatriz Roldán-Dávila
- Service of Infectology, José Ignacio Baldó Hospital, Caracas, Venezuela
- Department of Microbiology, José Maria Vargas School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | | | - Miguel Antonio Alfonzo-Díaz
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunophysiology, José Maria Vargas School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Department of Physiology, José Maria Vargas School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
- Academic Department, Salvador Allende Latin-American School of Medicine, San Antonio de Los Altos, Miranda State, Venezuela
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10
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Li H, Liang X, Sun W, Zhuang B, Cao Y, Zhang J, Shen J, Wang Y, Yu L. Immunological evaluation of a recombinant vaccine delivered with an analogous hyaluronic acid chitosan nanoparticle-hydrogel against Toxoplasma gondii in mice. Microb Pathog 2023; 179:106092. [PMID: 37003502 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is not only a threat to the public health but it also poses adverse impacts on the livestock industry. This study aimed to develop a recombinant vaccine composed of T. gondii microneme protein 6 (TgMIC6) and T. gondii rhoptry protein 18 (TgROP18).The vaccine was delivered with a novel vector, named analogous hyaluronic acid chitosan nanoparticle-hydrogel (AHACNP-HG) and its immune protection was evaluated. METHODS The recombinant MIC6 and ROP18 proteins were obtained by affinity chromatography and loaded onto AHACNP-HG by magnetic stirring. The characterizations of AHACNP-HG were investigated, including its structure, rheological property, nanoparticle size and zeta potential, its ability to release protein in vitro and toxicology in vivo. The immunological and anti-infection effects of AHACNP-HG/rMIC6/rROP18 were examined in the mice model. RESULTS AHACNP-HG presented a characteristic of composite system and possessed biosecurity with excellent protein control-release property. AHACNP-HG/rMIC6/rROP18 vaccine enhanced a mixed Th1/Th2 cellular immune response accompanied by an increased level of the cytokines, IFN-γ and IL-10. It also provoked a stronger humoral immune response. Additionally, after challenge with T. gondii tachyzoite, AHACNP-HG/rMIC6/rROP18 inoculation prolonged the survival time of mice. CONCLUSION Our data indicated that mixed rMIC6 and rROP18 induced strong immune response and played a certain protective role in controlling T. gondii infection, and the novel adjuvant AHACNP-HG improved modestly some immunogenicity properties in mouse model, which indicated that it can be used as a novel delivery system in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Li
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taihe People's Hospital, Fuyang, 236600, China.
| | - Xiao Liang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Wenze Sun
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Baocan Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Cao
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Junling Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Jilong Shen
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Yongzhong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Human Microenvironment and Precision Medicine of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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11
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A. PORTES JULIANA, C. VOMMARO ROSSIANE, AYRES CALDAS LUCIO, S. MARTINS-DUARTE ERICA. Intracellular life of protozoan Toxoplasma gondii: Parasitophorous vacuole establishment and survival strategies. BIOCELL 2023. [DOI: 10.32604/biocell.2023.026629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
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12
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Wang Y, Wang C, Chen H, Zhang Y, Gao N, Yu Y, Xing Y, Xie L, Wang Z, Cai Y. Protective effects of ZIP8 on Toxoplasma gondii-induced acute hepatocyte injury in mice. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106629. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Jiang D, Wu S, Xu L, Xie G, Li D, Peng H. Anti-infection roles of miR-155-5p packaged in exosomes secreted by dendritic cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:3. [PMID: 34986898 PMCID: PMC8731220 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic intracellular protozoon that is estimated to infect about 30% of the world’s population, resulting in toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients and adverse outcomes in cases of primary infection during pregnancy. Exosomes are tubular vesicles secreted by cells, and function in intercellular communication. It has been reported that the exosomes secreted by T. gondii-infected immune cells transmit infection signals to the uninfected cells. However, the mechanism and effect of the exosome transmission are still vague. We therefore investigated the function of the exosomes transmitted from DC2.4 cells infected with the T. gondii RH strain (Tg-DC-Exo) to the uninfected cells, as well as their roles in anti-infection. Methods We conducted exosome isolation and identification with ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blot (WB) analysis. Exosome uptake by recipient cells was identified by PKH67 assay. The signal transmission and the abundance of miR-155-5p were determined using transwell assay and qRT-PCR. For detection of immune responses, cytokine secretion was evaluated. The T. gondii B1 gene was determined to evaluate tachyzoite proliferation. Results We observed that Toxoplasma infection upregulated miR-155-5p expression in DC2.4 cell-secreted exosomes, and those exosomes could be ingested by murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Tg-DC-Exo and miR-155-5p stimulated host proinflammatory immune responses including increased production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and proinflammatory marker-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The NF-κB pathway was activated by downregulation of SOCS1, leading to inhibition of T. gondii tachyzoite proliferation in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions Our findings provide a novel mechanism for how infected cells transmit infection signals to the uninfected cells through exosome secretion after T. gondii infection, followed by inflammatory responses and anti-infection reactions, which may help us develop a new strategy for toxoplasmosis prevention, especially in immunocompromised patients. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05003-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Jiang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shuizhen Wu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Liqing Xu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guantai Xie
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Dongliang Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hongjuan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong Province, China.
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14
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Seizova S, Ruparel U, Garnham AL, Bader SM, Uboldi AD, Coffey MJ, Whitehead LW, Rogers KL, Tonkin CJ. Transcriptional modification of host cells harboring Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites prevents IFN gamma-mediated cell death. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 30:232-247.e6. [PMID: 34921775 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii develops a latent infection in the muscle and central nervous system that acts as a reservoir for acute-stage reactivation in vulnerable patients. Little is understood about how parasites manipulate host cells during latent infection and the impact this has on survival. We show that bradyzoites impart a unique transcriptional signature on infected host cells. Many of these transcriptional changes rely on protein export and result in the suppression of type I interferon (IFN) and IFNγ signaling more so than in acute stages. Loss of the protein export component, MYR1, abrogates transcriptional remodeling and prevents suppression of IFN signaling. Among the exported proteins, the inhibitor of STAT1 transcription (IST) plays a key role in limiting IFNγ signaling in bradyzoites. Furthermore, bradyzoite protein export protects host cells from IFNγ-mediated cell death, even when export is restricted to latent stages. These findings highlight the functional importance of host manipulation in Toxoplasma's bradyzoite stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Seizova
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Wellcome Center for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Ushma Ruparel
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alexandra L Garnham
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stefanie M Bader
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alessandro D Uboldi
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael J Coffey
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Poseida Therapeutics, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Lachlan W Whitehead
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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15
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Sánchez-López EF, Corigliano MG, Oliferuk S, Ramos-Duarte VA, Rivera M, Mendoza-Morales LF, Angel SO, Sander VA, Clemente M. Oral Immunization With a Plant HSP90-SAG1 Fusion Protein Produced in Tobacco Elicits Strong Immune Responses and Reduces Cyst Number and Clinical Signs of Toxoplasmosis in Mice. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:726910. [PMID: 34675949 PMCID: PMC8525317 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.726910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant 90kDa heat shock protein (HSP90) is a potent adjuvant that increases both humoral and cellular immune responses to diverse proteins and peptides. In this study, we explored whether Arabidopsis thaliana HSP90 (AtHsp81.2) can improve the immune effects of a Toxoplasma gondii surface antigen 1 (SAG1). We designed two constructs containing the sequence of mature antigen (SAG1m), from aa77 to aa322, and B- and T-cell antigenic epitope-containing SAG1HC, from aa221 to aa319 fused to AtHsp81.2 sequence. When comparing the transient expression in Nicotiana tabacum X-27-8 leaves, which overexpress the suppressor helper component protease HC-Pro-tobacco etch virus (TEV), to that in N. benthamiana leaves, co-agroinfiltrated with the suppressor p19, optimal conditions included 6-week-old N. benthamiana plants, 7-day time to harvest, Agrobacterium tumefaciens cultures with an OD600nm of 0.6 for binary vectors and LED lights. While AtHsp81.2-SAG1m fusion protein was undetectable by Western blot in any of the evaluated conditions, AtHsp81.2-SAG1HC was expressed as intact fusion protein, yielding up to 90μg/g of fresh weight. Besides, the AtHsp81.2-SAG1HC mRNA was strongly expressed compared to the endogenous Nicotiana tabacum elongation factor-alpha (NtEFα) gene, whereas the AtHsp81.2-SAG1m mRNA was almost undetectable. Finally, mice were orally immunized with AtHsp81.2-SAG1HC-infiltrated fresh leaves (plAtHsp81.2-SAG1HC group), recombinant AtHsp81.2-SAG1HC purified from infiltrated leaves (rAtHsp81.2-SAG1HC group), non-infiltrated fresh leaves (control group), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS group). Serum samples from plAtHsp81.2-SAG1HC-immunized mice had significantly higher levels of IgGt, IgG2a, and IgG2b anti-SAG1HC antibodies than serum from rAtHsp81.2-SAG1HC, control, and PBS groups. The number of cysts per brain in the plAtHsp81.2-SAG1HC-immunized mice was significantly reduced, and the parasite load in brain tissue was also lower in this group compared with the remaining groups. In an immunoblot assay, plant-expressed AtHsp81.2-SAG1HC was shown to react with antibodies present in sera from T. gondii-infected people. Therefore, the plant expression of a T. gondii antigen fused to the non-pathogenic adjuvant and carrier plant HSP90 as formulations against T. gondii can improve the vaccine efficacy, and plant extract can be directly used for vaccination without the need to purify the protein, making this platform a suitable and powerful biotechnological system for immunogenic antigen expression against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin F. Sánchez-López
- Laboratorio de Molecular Farming y Vacunas, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Mariana G. Corigliano
- Laboratorio de Molecular Farming y Vacunas, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Sonia Oliferuk
- Laboratorio de Molecular Farming y Vacunas, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Victor A. Ramos-Duarte
- Laboratorio de Molecular Farming y Vacunas, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano Rivera
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Luisa F. Mendoza-Morales
- Laboratorio de Molecular Farming y Vacunas, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Sergio O. Angel
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Valeria A. Sander
- Laboratorio de Molecular Farming y Vacunas, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
| | - Marina Clemente
- Laboratorio de Molecular Farming y Vacunas, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Chascomús, Argentina
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Saraav I, Cervantes-Barragan L, Olias P, Fu Y, Wang Q, Wang L, Wang Y, Mack M, Baldridge MT, Stappenbeck T, Colonna M, Sibley LD. Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection enhances susceptibility to colitis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2106730118. [PMID: 34462359 PMCID: PMC8433586 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106730118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii results in dysbiosis and enteritis, both of which revert to normal during chronic infection. However, whether infection leaves a lasting impact on mucosal responses remains uncertain. Here we examined the effect of the chemical irritant dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) on intestinal damage and wound healing in chronically infected mice. Our findings indicate that prior infection with T. gondii exacerbates damage to the colon caused by DSS and impairs wound healing by suppressing stem cell regeneration of the epithelium. Enhanced tissue damage was attributable to inflammatory monocytes that emerge preactivated from bone marrow, migrate to the intestine, and release inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide. Tissue damage was reversed by neutralization of inflammatory monocytes or nitric oxide, revealing a causal mechanism for tissue damage. Our findings suggest that chronic infection with T. gondii enhances monocyte activation to increase inflammation associated with a secondary environmental insult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iti Saraav
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Luisa Cervantes-Barragan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Philipp Olias
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Yong Fu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Qiuling Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Leran Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Matthias Mack
- Department of Nephrology, University of Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Megan T Baldridge
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Thaddeus Stappenbeck
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Marco Colonna
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - L David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110;
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Zhao N, Ming S, Sun L, Wang B, Li H, Zhang X, Zhao X. Identification and Characterization of Eimeria tenella Microneme Protein (EtMIC8). Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0022821. [PMID: 34479414 PMCID: PMC8562341 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00228-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microneme proteins (MICs) of Eimeria tenella play key roles in motility, migration, attachment, and invasion processes. More than 20 apicomplexan parasite's MICs have been identified, with nine Eimeria MICs being reported. In this study, a novel E. tenella MIC was identified, and its gene structural features, developmental expression levels, localization, role in adhesion and invasion, and immunogenicity were studied. The results showed that the open reading frame was 1,650 bp, encoding 550 amino acids. It contains a signal sequence, a transmembrane region, four low-complexity boxes, and five epidermal growth factor-like domains (EGF). Subcellular localization revealed its distribution on the membrane surface of the parasite. These characteristics are consistent with the common features of MICs and are named EtMIC8. Anti-EtMIC8 antibodies recognized a specific binding of about 100 kDa in E. tenella, which was twice as large as the prokaryotic expression (about 50 kDa), suggesting that MIC8 may exist naturally as a dimer. EtMIC8 was expressed at higher levels in sporozoites (3.08-fold) and merozoites (2.1-fold) than in sporulated oocysts. The attachment assays using a yeast surface display of MIC8 and its different domains showed that the adherence rates of EtMIC8 to host cells were significantly higher than those of the control (3.17-fold), which was the full contribution of EGF, but neither was alone. Anti-EtMIC8 antibodies significantly reduced the invasion rate of sporozoites into host cells compared to those of the control (P < 0.01). Recombinant EtMIC8-EGF peptides could provide moderate protective efficacy (anticoccidial index [ACI]: 169.7), induce humoral responses, and upregulate CD3+CD8+ lymphocyte cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Shuzhen Ming
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bingxiang Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian City, Shandong Province, China
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18
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Lymphotoxin β Receptor: a Crucial Role in Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses against Toxoplasma gondii. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00026-21. [PMID: 33753412 PMCID: PMC8316152 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00026-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The lymphotoxin β receptor (LTβR) plays an essential role in the initiation of immune responses to intracellular pathogens. In mice, the LTβR is crucial for surviving acute toxoplasmosis; however, until now, a functional analysis was largely incomplete. Here, we demonstrate that the LTβR is a key regulator required for the intricate balance of adaptive immune responses. Toxoplasma gondii-infected LTβR-deficient (LTβR−/−) mice show globally altered interferon-γ (IFN-γ) regulation, reduced IFN-γ-controlled host effector molecule expression, impaired T cell functionality, and an absent anti-parasite-specific IgG response, resulting in a severe loss of immune control of the parasites. Reconstitution of LTβR−/− mice with toxoplasma immune serum significantly prolongs survival following T. gondii infection. Notably, analysis of RNA-seq data clearly indicates a specific effect of T. gondii infection on the B cell response and isotype switching. This study uncovers the decisive role of the LTβR in cytokine regulation and adaptive immune responses to control T. gondii.
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Clark JT, Christian DA, Gullicksrud JA, Perry JA, Park J, Jacquet M, Tarrant JC, Radaelli E, Silver J, Hunter CA. IL-33 promotes innate lymphoid cell-dependent IFN-γ production required for innate immunity to Toxoplasma gondii. eLife 2021; 10:e65614. [PMID: 33929319 PMCID: PMC8121546 DOI: 10.7554/elife.65614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-33 is an alarmin required for resistance to the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, but its role in innate resistance to this organism is unclear. Infection with T. gondii promotes increased stromal cell expression of IL-33, and levels of parasite replication correlate with release of IL-33 in affected tissues. In response to infection, a subset of innate lymphoid cells (ILC) emerges composed of IL-33R+ NK cells and ILC1s. In Rag1-/-mice, where NK cells and ILC1 production of IFN-γ mediate innate resistance to T. gondii, the loss of the IL-33R resulted in reduced ILC responses and increased parasite replication. Furthermore, administration of IL-33 to Rag1-/- mice resulted in a marked decrease in parasite burden, increased production of IFN-γ, and the recruitment and expansion of inflammatory monocytes associated with parasite control. These protective effects of exogenous IL-33 were dependent on endogenous IL-12p40 and the ability of IL-33 to enhance ILC production of IFN-γ. These results highlight that IL-33 synergizes with IL-12 to promote ILC-mediated resistance to T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph T Clark
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - David A Christian
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jodi A Gullicksrud
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Joseph A Perry
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jeongho Park
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Kangwon National University College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary ScienceChuncheonRepublic of Korea
| | - Maxime Jacquet
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
- Liver Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital of Basel and University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - James C Tarrant
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Enrico Radaelli
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jonathan Silver
- Department of Respiratory Inflammation and Autoimmunity, AstraZenecaGaithersburgUnited States
| | - Christopher A Hunter
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
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Abdel-Magied AA, Ghorab DS, Elhenawy AA, Aboulfotouh NI. Immunological, histopathological, and ultrastructural evidence of steroid-induced reactivation of chronic murine toxoplasmosis. Ultrastruct Pathol 2020; 45:28-36. [PMID: 33377812 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2020.1858213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We developed a model of steroid-induced reactivation of chronic murine toxoplasmosis to mirror similar effects of steroids or other immunosuppressants in infected humans. Immunological, histopathological, and ultrastructural parameters were reported. Prior to steroid administration, mice were infected with 10 cysts of the Me49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Mice were treated with dexamethasone (DXM, 2.5 mg/kg/day in drinking water), alone or combined with Solu-Cortef (SOLU, 50 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection 3 times a week) for 7 weeks or left untreated as control. Histopathological changes and ultrastructural effects of steroids on the course of chronic toxoplasmosis were recorded. By electron microscopy, the brains of infected combined treated mice showed an increase in number of tachyzoites and bradyzoites, degeneration, and necrosis of neural cells and hydropic degeneration besides the observed rupture of toxoplasma cysts releasing free tachyzoites in brain tissue. DXM+SOLU-combined treatment also significantly increased mortality, mean brain cyst count as compared to infected untreated mice (P = .01 and). Moreover, 3/12 (25%) treated animals developed clinical signs of toxoplasmic encephalitis. This simple model of drug-induced reactivation of chronic toxoplasmosis permits investigation of host-parasite interaction and may be used for the evaluation of chemotherapeutics in immunocompromised infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Doaa S Ghorab
- Pathology Department, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Abeer A Elhenawy
- Medical Parasitology Department, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
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Deshmukh AS, Gurupwar R, Mitra P, Aswale K, Shinde S, Chaudhari S. Toxoplasma gondii induces robust humoral immune response against cyst wall antigens in chronically infected animals and humans. Microb Pathog 2020; 152:104643. [PMID: 33232762 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii differentiation from proliferating tachyzoites into latent bradyzoites is central to pathogenesis and transmission. Strong humoral immune response has been reported against tachyzoite antigens, however, antibody-mediated response towards bradyzoite antigens is poorly characterized. This work aimed to study the humoral immune response towards bradyzoite and associated cyst wall antigens particularly CST1. The immunoreactivity of 404 goats, 88 sheep and 92 human sera to recombinant (CST1 and SRS9) and native proteins of encysted bradyzoite along with well-established tachyzoite antigens (SAG1 and GRA7) was determined using ELISA, Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis (IFA). ELISA results revealed nearly 50% of sera contain T. gondii specific antibodies. Results were further validated using Western blot and IFA. T. gondii positive sera predominantly recognized the cyst wall besides the known tachyzoite surface antigens. The presence of CST1 antibodies in seropositive samples were in line with the staining patterns which were consistent with CST localization. Notably, T. gondii IgM- IgG+ sera recognize the cyst wall whereas IgM + IgG-sera recognize tachyzoite antigens indicating acute infection consistent with presence of parasite DNA. The study demonstrates a strong humoral response against bradyzoite associated cyst wall antigens across naturally infected animals and humans. CST1 emerged as a key immunomodulatory antigen which may have direct implications for clinical immunodiagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit S Deshmukh
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, DBT- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India.
| | - Rajkumar Gurupwar
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, DBT- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Pallabi Mitra
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Kalyani Aswale
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, DBT- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Shilpshri Shinde
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Nagpur, India
| | - Sandeep Chaudhari
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Nagpur, India
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Abasi E, Shahabi S, Golkar M, Khezri P, Mohammadzadeh Hajipirloo H. Evaluation of Immunogenic Effect of Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant SAG-1 Antigen with Propranolol as Adjuvant in BALB/c Mice. Adv Pharm Bull 2019; 9:632-639. [PMID: 31857968 PMCID: PMC6912185 DOI: 10.15171/apb.2019.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Propranolol as a novel adjuvant, was used to evaluate the immunogenic effect of three doses of recombinant SAG-1 (rSAG-1) antigen of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice for finding the optimal dose, and was compared with efficacy of tachyzoite lysate antigen (TLA). Methods: Eight different groups of 15 BALB/c mice received different volumes of the immunogenic material (three doses of r SAG-1 and one dose of TLA antigens), with or without propranolol adjuvant, subcutaneously. The control group mice received only PBS. Three weeks after the last immunization, the serum levels of IgG2a, IgG1 and IgG total antibodies against TLA, splenic interleukin-5 (IL-5) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (produced against TLA) and the splenic lymphocyte proliferation after adding TLA were measured to evaluate humoral and cellular immune responses. Challenge test was performed by subcutaneously injection of 1000 alive and active tachyzoites in to five mice per each group and survival days for each group of mice were recorded. Results: The mice group that received propranolol adjuvant and 20 µg of r SAG-1 antigen per dose of injection showed significantly more IFN-γ production, more proliferation of splenic lymphocytes and higher anti-TLA-specific IgG2a production (three main indexes for cell mediated immunity) in comparison with other groups. Moreover, in the challenge test, this group of mice had a significantly increased survival time, indicating the positive effect of propranolol in the more stimulating of cellular immunity that is necessary for toxoplasmosis prevention or suppress. Conclusion: Our results showed that T. gondii rSAG-1 antigen in combination with propranolol as adjuvant (which can induce Th1 related responses) are good candidates for further study to a vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmaeil Abasi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Shahram Shahabi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Majid Golkar
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Peyman Khezri
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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Petermann F, Pękowska A, Johnson CA, Jankovic D, Shih HY, Jiang K, Hudson WH, Brooks SR, Sun HW, Villarino AV, Yao C, Singleton K, Akondy RS, Kanno Y, Sher A, Casellas R, Ahmed R, O'Shea JJ. The Magnitude of IFN-γ Responses Is Fine-Tuned by DNA Architecture and the Non-coding Transcript of Ifng-as1. Mol Cell 2019; 75:1229-1242.e5. [PMID: 31377117 PMCID: PMC6754279 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), critical for host defense and tumor surveillance, requires tight control of its expression. Multiple cis-regulatory elements exist around Ifng along with a non-coding transcript, Ifng-as1 (also termed NeST). Here, we describe two genetic models generated to dissect the molecular functions of this locus and its RNA product. DNA deletion within the Ifng-as1 locus disrupted chromatin organization of the extended Ifng locus, impaired Ifng response, and compromised host defense. Insertion of a polyA signal ablated the Ifng-as1 full-length transcript and impaired host defense, while allowing proper chromatin structure. Transient knockdown of Ifng-as1 also reduced IFN-γ production. In humans, discordant expression of IFNG and IFNG-AS1 was evident in memory T cells, with high expression of this long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and low expression of the cytokine. These results establish Ifng-as1 as an important regulator of Ifng expression, as a DNA element and transcribed RNA, involved in dynamic and cell state-specific responses to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Petermann
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Catrina A Johnson
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dragana Jankovic
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Han-Yu Shih
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kan Jiang
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - William H Hudson
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stephen R Brooks
- Biodata Mining and Discovery Section, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hong-Wei Sun
- Biodata Mining and Discovery Section, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alejandro V Villarino
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chen Yao
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kentner Singleton
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rama S Akondy
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuka Kanno
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Alan Sher
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rafael Casellas
- Lymphocyte Nuclear Biology, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rafi Ahmed
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - John J O'Shea
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, NIAMS, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Singhania A, Graham CM, Gabryšová L, Moreira-Teixeira L, Stavropoulos E, Pitt JM, Chakravarty P, Warnatsch A, Branchett WJ, Conejero L, Lin JW, Davidson S, Wilson MS, Bancroft G, Langhorne J, Frickel E, Sesay AK, Priestnall SL, Herbert E, Ioannou M, Wang Q, Humphreys IR, Dodd J, Openshaw PJM, Mayer-Barber KD, Jankovic D, Sher A, Lloyd CM, Baldwin N, Chaussabel D, Papayannopoulos V, Wack A, Banchereau JF, Pascual VM, O'Garra A. Transcriptional profiling unveils type I and II interferon networks in blood and tissues across diseases. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2887. [PMID: 31253760 PMCID: PMC6599044 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10601-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how immune challenges elicit different responses is critical for diagnosing and deciphering immune regulation. Using a modular strategy to interpret the complex transcriptional host response in mouse models of infection and inflammation, we show a breadth of immune responses in the lung. Lung immune signatures are dominated by either IFN-γ and IFN-inducible, IL-17-induced neutrophil- or allergy-associated gene expression. Type I IFN and IFN-γ-inducible, but not IL-17- or allergy-associated signatures, are preserved in the blood. While IL-17-associated genes identified in lung are detected in blood, the allergy signature is only detectable in blood CD4+ effector cells. Type I IFN-inducible genes are abrogated in the absence of IFN-γ signaling and decrease in the absence of IFNAR signaling, both independently contributing to the regulation of granulocyte responses and pathology during Toxoplasma gondii infection. Our framework provides an ideal tool for comparative analyses of transcriptional signatures contributing to protection or pathogenesis in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akul Singhania
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Infection, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Christine M Graham
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Infection, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Leona Gabryšová
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Infection, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Lúcia Moreira-Teixeira
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Infection, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Evangelos Stavropoulos
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Infection, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Jonathan M Pitt
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Infection, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | - Annika Warnatsch
- Antimicrobial Defence Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - William J Branchett
- Inflammation, Repair and Development Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Laura Conejero
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Jing-Wen Lin
- Malaria Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Sophia Davidson
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Mark S Wilson
- Helminth Immunology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Gregory Bancroft
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Jean Langhorne
- Malaria Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Eva Frickel
- Host-Toxoplasma Interaction Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Abdul K Sesay
- Advanced Sequencing Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Simon L Priestnall
- Department of Pathobiology & Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Eleanor Herbert
- Department of Pathobiology & Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Marianna Ioannou
- Antimicrobial Defence Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Qian Wang
- Antimicrobial Defence Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ian R Humphreys
- Division of Infection and Immunity/Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jonathan Dodd
- Respiratory Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Peter J M Openshaw
- Respiratory Infection Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK
| | - Katrin D Mayer-Barber
- Inflammation and Innate Immunity Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Dragana Jankovic
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Alan Sher
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Clare M Lloyd
- Inflammation, Repair and Development Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Nicole Baldwin
- Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, TX, 75204, USA
| | - Damien Chaussabel
- Systems Biology and Immunology Department, Sidra Medicine, PO BOX 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Andreas Wack
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | | | - Virginia M Pascual
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Anne O'Garra
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Infection, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK.
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Secretory Microneme Proteins Induce T-Cell Recall Responses in Mice Chronically Infected with Toxoplasma gondii. mSphere 2019; 4:4/1/e00711-18. [PMID: 30814319 PMCID: PMC6393730 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00711-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Current diagnosis of toxoplasmosis relies almost exclusively on antibody detection, and while detection of IgG provides a useful estimate of prior infection, it does not alone indicate immune status. In contrast, detection of IFN-γ responses to T. gondii antigens has been used to monitor immune responsiveness in HIV-infected patients, thus providing valuable predictions about the potential for disease reactivation. However, specific T. gondii antigens that can be used in assays to detect cellular immunity remain largely undefined. In this study, we examined the diagnostic potential of microneme antigens of T. gondii using IFN-γ detection assays. Our findings demonstrate that MIC antigens (MIC1, MIC3, MIC4, and MIC6) elicit IFN-γ responses from memory T cells in chronically infected mice. Monitoring IFN-γ production by T cells stimulated with MIC antigens provided high sensitivity and specificity for detection of T. gondii infection in mice. Taken together, these studies suggest that microneme antigens might be useful as an adjunct to serological testing to monitor immune status during infection. Microneme (MIC) proteins play important roles in the recognition, adhesion, and invasion of host cells by Toxoplasma gondii. Previous studies have shown that MIC proteins are highly immunogenic in the mouse and recognized by human serum antibodies. Here we report that T. gondii antigens MIC1, MIC3, MIC4, and MIC6 were capable of inducing memory responses leading to production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) by T cells from T. gondii-infected mice. Production of IFN-γ was demonstrated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay and also intracellular cytokine staining. All four MIC antigens displayed very high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (86 to 100%) for detecting chronic infection. Interestingly, IFN-γ was produced by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in BALB/c mice but primarily by CD4+ T cells in C57BL/6 mice. Phenotypic characterization of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in BALB/c mice and CD4+ T cells in C57BL/6 mice revealed effector memory T cells (CD44hi CD62Llo) as the predominant cells that contributed to IFN-γ production in response to MIC antigens. Effector memory responses were seen in mice of different major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) haplotypes, suggesting that MIC antigens contain epitopes that are broadly recognized. IMPORTANCE Current diagnosis of toxoplasmosis relies almost exclusively on antibody detection, and while detection of IgG provides a useful estimate of prior infection, it does not alone indicate immune status. In contrast, detection of IFN-γ responses to T. gondii antigens has been used to monitor immune responsiveness in HIV-infected patients, thus providing valuable predictions about the potential for disease reactivation. However, specific T. gondii antigens that can be used in assays to detect cellular immunity remain largely undefined. In this study, we examined the diagnostic potential of microneme antigens of T. gondii using IFN-γ detection assays. Our findings demonstrate that MIC antigens (MIC1, MIC3, MIC4, and MIC6) elicit IFN-γ responses from memory T cells in chronically infected mice. Monitoring IFN-γ production by T cells stimulated with MIC antigens provided high sensitivity and specificity for detection of T. gondii infection in mice. Taken together, these studies suggest that microneme antigens might be useful as an adjunct to serological testing to monitor immune status during infection.
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Gómez-Chávez F, Cañedo-Solares I, Ortiz-Alegría LB, Flores-García Y, Luna-Pastén H, Figueroa-Damián R, Mora-González JC, Correa D. Maternal Immune Response During Pregnancy and Vertical Transmission in Human Toxoplasmosis. Front Immunol 2019; 10:285. [PMID: 30846989 PMCID: PMC6393384 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis distributed worldwide, caused by the ingestion of contaminated water/food with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. If a pregnant woman is infected with this parasite, it may be transmitted to the fetus and produce ocular, neurological, or systemic damage with variable severity. The strength and profile of mother's immune response have been suggested as important factors involved in vertical transmission rate and severity of clinical outcome in the congenitally infected fetus. The aim of this work was to evaluate a possible relation between the mother's immune response during pregnancy and congenital transmission to the fetus. We obtained peripheral blood from T. gondii infected pregnant woman and tested it for anti T. gondii (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, and IgA) in serum. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated to analyze the in vitro effect of soluble T. gondii antigens on proliferation and production of cytokines. We found that IgG2-4 and IgA antibodies and lymphocytes proliferation, especially CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ were positive in a higher proportion of cases in transmitter than in non-transmitter women. Furthermore, IgG2-3 and IgA anti-Toxoplasma antibody levels were higher in those mothers who transmitted the infection than in those who did not. Interestingly, a higher proportion of positive cases to IFN-γ and negatives to the immunoregulatory cytokine TGF-β, were related to T. gondii vertical transmission. Our descriptive results are consistent with the paradoxical previous observations in murine models of congenital toxoplasmosis, which suggest that an increased immune response that protects the mothers from a disseminated or severe disease, and should protect the fetus from infection, is positively related to parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Gómez-Chávez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.,Cátedras CONACyT-Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Irma Cañedo-Solares
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luz Belinda Ortiz-Alegría
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yevel Flores-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Héctor Luna-Pastén
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Figueroa-Damián
- Servicio de infectología e Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Dolores Correa
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
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Magombedze G, Marino S. Mathematical and computational approaches in understanding the immunobiology of granulomatous diseases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Chen Y, Sharma S, Assis PA, Jiang Z, Elling R, Olive AJ, Hang S, Bernier J, Huh JR, Sassetti CM, Knipe DM, Gazzinelli RT, Fitzgerald KA. CNBP controls IL-12 gene transcription and Th1 immunity. J Exp Med 2018; 215:3136-3150. [PMID: 30442645 PMCID: PMC6279399 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20181031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
These studies reveal a previously unrecognized role for Cnbp as a novel transcriptional regulator engaged downstream of innate immune receptors controlling the c-Rel–IL-12–Th1 axis, which has important implications for both host defense and inflammatory disease. An inducible program of inflammatory gene expression is a hallmark of antimicrobial defenses. Recently, cellular nucleic acid–binding protein (CNBP) was identified as a regulator of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB)–dependent proinflammatory cytokine gene expression. Here, we generated mice lacking CNBP and found that CNBP regulates a very restricted gene signature that includes IL-12β. CNBP resides in the cytosol of macrophages and translocates to the nucleus in response to diverse microbial pathogens and pathogen-derived products. Cnbp-deficient macrophages induced canonical NF-κB/Rel signaling normally but were impaired in their ability to control the activation of c-Rel, a key driver of IL-12β gene transcription. The nuclear translocation and DNA-binding activity of c-Rel required CNBP. Lastly, Cnbp-deficient mice were more susceptible to acute toxoplasmosis associated with reduced production of IL-12β, as well as a reduced T helper type 1 (Th1) cell IFN-γ response essential to controlling parasite replication. Collectively, these findings identify CNBP as important regulator of c-Rel–dependent IL-12β gene transcription and Th1 immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongzhi Chen
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Shruti Sharma
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.,Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Patricia A Assis
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Zhaozhao Jiang
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Roland Elling
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Andrew J Olive
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Saiyu Hang
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jennifer Bernier
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Jun R Huh
- Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Christopher M Sassetti
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - David M Knipe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ricardo T Gazzinelli
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.,Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Katherine A Fitzgerald
- Program in Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA .,Centre for Molecular Inflammation Research, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Trondheim, Norway
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Tu V, Yakubu R, Weiss LM. Observations on bradyzoite biology. Microbes Infect 2018; 20:466-476. [PMID: 29287987 PMCID: PMC6019562 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Tachyzoites of the Apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii cause acute infection, disseminate widely in their host, and eventually differentiate into a latent encysted form called bradyzoites that are found within tissue cysts. During latent infection, whenever transformation to tachyzoites occurs, any tachyzoites that develop are removed by the immune system. In contrast, cysts containing bradyzoites are sequestered from the immune system. In the absence of an effective immune response released organisms that differentiate into tachyzoites cause acute infection. Tissue cysts, therefore, serve as a reservoir for the reactivation of toxoplasmosis when the host becomes immunocompromised by conditions such as HIV infection, organ transplantation, or due to the impaired immune response that occurs when pathogens are acquired in utero. While tachyzoites and bradyzoites are well defined morphologically, there is no clear consensus on how interconversion occurs or what exact signal(s) mediate this transformation. Advances in research methods have facilitated studies on T. gondii bradyzoites providing important new insights into the biology of latent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Tu
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rama Yakubu
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Louis M Weiss
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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Dunay IR, Diefenbach A. Group 1 innate lymphoid cells in Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasite Immunol 2018; 40. [PMID: 29315653 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a group of lymphocytes that carry out important functions in immunity to infections and in organ homeostasis at epithelial barrier surfaces. ILCs are innate immune cells that provide an early source of cytokines to initiate immune responses against pathogens. Cytotoxic ILCs (i.e. conventional (c)NK cells) and several subsets of helper-like ILCs are the major branches of the ILC family. Conventional NK cells and group 1 ILCs share several characteristics such as surface receptors and the ability to produce IFN-γ upon activation, but they differ in their developmental paths and in their dependence on specific transcription factors. Infection of mice with the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is followed by a strong Th1-mediated immune response. Previous studies indicate that NK1.1+ cells contribute to the production of IFN-γ and TNF and cytotoxicity during acute T. gondii infection. Upon oral infection, the parasite infects intestinal enterocytes, and within the lamina propria, innate immune responses lead to initial parasite control although the infection disseminates widely and persists long-term in immune privileged sites despite adaptive immunity. Upon parasite entry into the small intestine, during the acute stage, ILC1 produce high levels of IFN-γ and TNF protecting barrier surfaces, thus essentially contributing to early parasite control. We will discuss here the role of innate lymphocytes during T. gondii infection in the context of the only recently appreciated diversity of ILC subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- I R Dunay
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - A Diefenbach
- Department of Microbiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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31
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The roles of galectins in parasitic infections. Acta Trop 2018; 177:97-104. [PMID: 28986248 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 09/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Galectins is a family of multifunctional lectins. Fifteen galectins have been identified from a variety of cells and tissues of vertebrates and invertebrates. Galectins have been shown to play pivotal roles in host-pathogen interaction such as adhesion of pathogens to host cells and activation of host innate and adaptive immunity. In recent years, the roles of galectins during parasite infections have gained increasing attention. Galectins produced by different hosts can act as pattern recognition receptors detecting conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns of parasites, while galectins produced by parasites can modulate host responses. This review summarizes some recent studies on the roles of galectins produced by parasitic protozoa, nematodes, and trematodes and their hosts. Understanding the roles of galectins in host-parasite interactions may provide targets for immune intervention and therapies of parasitic infections.
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Ashour DS, Saad AE, Dawood LM, Zamzam Y. Immunological interaction between Giardia cyst extract and experimental toxoplasmosis. Parasite Immunol 2017; 40. [PMID: 29130475 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is mostly associated with other intestinal parasitic infections especially Giardia due to shared mode of peroral infection. Toxoplasma and Giardia induce a strong T-helper 1- immune response. Our aim was to induce a protective immune response that results in significant impact on intestinal and extra-intestinal phases of Toxoplasma infection. This study was conducted in experimental animals and assessment of Giardia cyst extract effect on Toxoplasma infection was investigated by histopathological examination of small intestine and brain, Toxoplasma cyst count and iNOS staining of the brain, measurement of IFN-γ and TGF-β in intestinal tissues. Results showed that the brain Toxoplasma cyst number was decreased in mice infected with Toxoplasma then received Giardia cyst extract as compared to mice infected with Toxoplasma only. This effect was produced because Giardia cyst extract augmented the immune response to Toxoplasma infection as evidenced by severe inflammatory reaction in the intestinal and brain tissues, increased levels of IFN-γ and TGF-β in intestinal tissues and strong iNOS staining of the brain. In conclusion, Giardia cyst extract generated a protective response against T. gondii infection. Therefore, Giardia antigen will be a suitable candidate for further researches as an immunomodulatory agent against Toxoplasma infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Ashour
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - A E Saad
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - L M Dawood
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Y Zamzam
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
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Mokua Mose J, Muchina Kamau D, Kagira JM, Maina N, Ngotho M, Njuguna A, Karanja SM. Development of Neurological Mouse Model for Toxoplasmosis Using Toxoplasma gondii Isolated from Chicken in Kenya. PATHOLOGY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:4302459. [PMID: 28630781 PMCID: PMC5463144 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4302459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Animal models for the toxoplasmosis are scarce and have limitations. In this study, a neurological mouse model was developed in BALB/c mice infected intraperitoneally with 15 cysts of a Toxoplasma gondii isolate. The mice were monitored for 42 days and euthanized at different time points. Another group of mice were orally treated with dexamethasone (DXM: 2.66 mg/kg daily, 5.32 mg/kg daily) at 42 days after infection and monitored for a further 42 days. A mortality rate of 15% and 28.6% was observed in mice given 2.66 mg/kg/day and 5.32 mg/kg/day of DXM, respectively. The mean cyst numbers in the brain of DXM treated mice increased up to twofold compared with chronically infected untreated mice. Infections up to 42 days were associated with an increase in both IgM and IgG levels but following dexamethasone treatment, IgM levels declined but IgG levels continued on rising. The brain of toxoplasmosis infected mice showed mononuclear cellular infiltrations, neuronal necrosis, and cuffing. The severity of pathology was higher in mice treated with dexamethasone compared to the positive control groups. The findings of this study demonstrate that DXM-induced reactivation of chronic toxoplasmosis may be a useful development of laboratory animal model in outbred mice used for in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Mokua Mose
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kenya Methodist University, P.O. Box 45240-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Muchina Kamau
- Department of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - John Maina Kagira
- Department of Animal Sciences, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Naomi Maina
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Maina Ngotho
- Department of Animal Health & Production, Mount Kenya University, P.O. Box 342-01000, Thika 342-01000, Kenya
| | - Adele Njuguna
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Simon Muturi Karanja
- Department of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), P.O. Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
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Matos L, Muñoz MDC, Molina JM, Ferrer O, Rodríguez F, Pérez D, López AM, Martín S, Hermosilla C, Taubert A, Ruiz A. Humoral immune responses of experimentally Eimeria ninakholyakimovae -infected goat kids. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2017; 51:60-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Evaluation of Recombinant SRS3 Antigen for Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016. [DOI: 10.5812/archcid.35612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Ocular toxoplasmosis: susceptibility in respect to the genes encoding the KIR receptors and their HLA class I ligands. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36632. [PMID: 27827450 PMCID: PMC5101474 DOI: 10.1038/srep36632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the genes encoding the KIR receptors and their HLA ligands in the susceptibility of ocular toxoplasmosis. A total of 297 patients serologically-diagnosed with toxoplasmosis were selected and stratified according to the presence (n = 148) or absence (n = 149) of ocular scars/lesions due to toxoplasmosis. The group of patients with scars/lesions was further subdivided into two groups according to the type of ocular manifestation observed: primary (n = 120) or recurrent (n = 28). Genotyping was performed by PCR-SSOP. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Chi-square test, and odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was also calculated to evaluate the risk association. The activating KIR3DS1 gene was associated with increased susceptibility for ocular toxoplasmosis. The activating KIR together with their HLA ligands (KIR3DS1-Bw4-80Ile and KIR2DS1+/C2++ KIR3DS1+/Bw4-80Ile+) were associated with increased susceptibility for ocular toxoplasmosis and its clinical manifestations. KIR-HLA inhibitory pairs -KIR2DL3/2DL3-C1/C1 and KIR2DL3/2DL3-C1- were associated with decreased susceptibility for ocular toxoplasmosis and its clinical forms, while the KIR3DS1−/KIR3DL1+/Bw4-80Ile+ combination was associated as a protective factor against the development of ocular toxoplasmosis and, in particular, against recurrent manifestations. Our data demonstrate that activating and inhibitory KIR genes may influence the development of ocular toxoplasmosis.
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Targeted disruption of CK1α in Toxoplasma gondii increases acute virulence in mice. Eur J Protistol 2016; 56:90-101. [PMID: 27567091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2016.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, encodes two casein kinase 1 (CK1) isoforms, CK1α and CK1β, with only CK1α having enzyme activity. Here we investigated the biological role of CK1α by construction of a CK1α deletion mutant (Δck1α) based on the type I parasite, and complement the mutant with restored expression of CK1α. Deletion of CK1α resulted in markedly defective parasite replication in vitro. Infected mice with Δck1α parasite caused suppression of IL-12 production, severe liver damage, higher tissue burdens, and short survival time relative to the CK1α-positive parental strain. Western blot analysis revealed that deletion of CK1α led to increased activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 in infected mice and bone marrow-derived microphages. The transcriptome analysis showed that deletion of CK1α may increase expression of rhoptry proteins (ROPs). Western blot showed enhanced expression of ROP16 in the Δck1α parasite as compared with the wild-type and complemented parasites. These findings demonstrated that deletion of CK1α may increase acute virulence of T. gondii in mice by increased expression of ROPs, activation of STAT3, and suppression of IL-12 production, which have important implications for elucidating regulation mechanism of virulence factors for T. gondii.
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Tomasik J, Schultz TL, Kluge W, Yolken RH, Bahn S, Carruthers VB. Shared Immune and Repair Markers During Experimental Toxoplasma Chronic Brain Infection and Schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2016; 42:386-95. [PMID: 26392628 PMCID: PMC4753603 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbv134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Chronic neurologic infection with Toxoplasma gondii is relatively common in humans and is one of the strongest known risk factors for schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the exact neuropathological mechanisms linking T gondii infection and schizophrenia remain unclear. Here we utilize a mouse model of chronic T gondii infection to identify protein biomarkers that are altered in serum and brain samples at 2 time points during chronic infection. Furthermore, we compare the identified biomarkers to those differing between "postmortem" brain samples from 35 schizophrenia patients and 33 healthy controls. Our findings suggest that T gondii infection causes substantial and widespread immune activation indicative of neural damage and reactive tissue repair in the animal model that partly overlaps with changes observed in the brains of schizophrenia patients. The overlapping changes include increases in C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interferon gamma (IFNγ), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). Potential roles of these factors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis are discussed. Identifying a defined set of markers shared within the pathophysiological landscape of these diseases could be a key step towards understanding their specific contributions to pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Tomasik
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK;,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tracey L. Schultz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Wolfgang Kluge
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robert H. Yolken
- Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sabine Bahn
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK;,Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;, Joint last authors/ these authors contributed equally to the study
| | - Vern B. Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI;, Joint last authors/ these authors contributed equally to the study
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MIF Promotes Classical Activation and Conversion of Inflammatory Ly6C(high) Monocytes into TipDCs during Murine Toxoplasmosis. Mediators Inflamm 2016; 2016:9101762. [PMID: 27057101 PMCID: PMC4789477 DOI: 10.1155/2016/9101762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) mediates immunity against Toxoplasma gondii infection by inducing inflammatory cytokines required to control the parasite replication. However, the role of this inflammatory mediator in the cell-mediated immune response against this infection is still poorly understood. Here, we used T. gondii-infected WT and Mif−/− mice to analyze the role of MIF in the maturation of CD11b+ and CD8α+ dendritic cells (DCs). We found that MIF promotes maturation of CD11b+ but not CD8α+ DCs, by inducing IL-12p70 production and CD86 expression. Infected Mif−/− mice showed significantly lower numbers of TNF and inducible nitric oxide synthase- (iNOS-) producing DCs (TipDCs) compared to infected WT mice. The adoptive transfer of Ly6Chigh monocytes into infected WT or Mif−/− mice demonstrated that MIF participates in the differentiation of Ly6Chigh monocytes into TipDCs. In addition, infected Mif−/− mice display a lower percentage of IFN-γ-producing natural killer (NK) cells compared to WT mice, which is associated with reducing numbers of TipDCs in Mif−/− mice. Furthermore, administration of recombinant MIF (rMIF) into T. gondii-infected Mif−/− mice restored the numbers of TipDCs and reversed the susceptible phenotype of Mif−/− mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate an important role for MIF inducing cell-mediated immunity to T. gondii infection.
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Ibañez AE, Coria LM, Carabajal MV, Delpino MV, Risso GS, Cobiello PG, Rinaldi J, Barrionuevo P, Bruno L, Frank F, Klinke S, Goldbaum FA, Briones G, Giambartolomei GH, Pasquevich KA, Cassataro J. A bacterial protease inhibitor protects antigens delivered in oral vaccines from digestion while triggering specific mucosal immune responses. J Control Release 2015; 220:18-28. [PMID: 26456256 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
We report here that a bacterial protease inhibitor from Brucella spp. called U-Omp19 behaves as an ideal constituent for a vaccine formulation against infectious diseases. When co-administered orally with an antigen (Ag), U-Omp19: i) can bypass the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting stomach and intestine proteases and consequently increases the half-life of the co-administered Ag at immune inductive sites: Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes while ii) it induces the recruitment and activation of antigen presenting cells (APCs) and increases the amount of intracellular Ag inside APCs. Therefore, mucosal as well as systemic Ag-specific immune responses, antibodies, Th1, Th17 and CD8(+) T cells are enhanced when U-Omp19 is co-administered with the Ag orally. Finally, this bacterial protease inhibitor in an oral vaccine formulation confers mucosal protection and reduces parasite loads after oral challenge with virulent Toxoplasma gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Esteban Ibañez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lorena Mirta Coria
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marianela Verónica Carabajal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Delpino
- Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) Laboratorio de Inmunogenética, Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín", Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Sofía Risso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Gonzalez Cobiello
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jimena Rinaldi
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, IIBBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paula Barrionuevo
- Instituto de Medicina Experimental (CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Bruno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernanda Frank
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Klinke
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, IIBBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Gabriel Briones
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Hernán Giambartolomei
- Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) Laboratorio de Inmunogenética, Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín", Facultad de Medicina, UBA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Karina Alejandra Pasquevich
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juliana Cassataro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-"Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde" Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM) CONICET, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Hwang S, Khan IA. CD8+ T cell immunity in an encephalitis model of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Semin Immunopathol 2015; 37:271-9. [PMID: 25944514 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-015-0483-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infection induces a robust CD8 T cell immunity in the infected host, which is critical for keeping chronic infection under control. IFNγ production and cytolytic activity exhibited by CD8 T cells are critical functions needed to prevent the reactivation of latent infection. Paradoxically, the susceptible mice infected with the parasite develop encephalitis irrespective of the presence of vigorous CD8 T cell immunity. Recent studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that these animals have defect in the memory CD8 T cell population, which become dysfunctional due to exhibition of inhibitory receptors like PD-1. Although the blockade of PD-1-PDL-1 pathway rescues the CD8 response, PD-1(hi) expressing cells are refractory to the treatment. In this review, we discuss the development of CD8 memory response during chronic infection, mechanism responsible for their dysfunctionality, and possible therapeutic measures that can be taken to reverse the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- SuJin Hwang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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Zaph C, Artis D. Parasitic Infection of the Mucosal Surfaces. Mucosal Immunol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-415847-4.00054-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Oksanen A, Aittomäki S, Jankovic D, Ortutay Z, Pulkkinen K, Hämäläinen S, Rokka A, Corthals GL, Watford WT, Junttila I, O'Shea JJ, Pesu M. Proprotein convertase FURIN constrains Th2 differentiation and is critical for host resistance against Toxoplasma gondii. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:5470-9. [PMID: 25355923 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin enzymes proteolytically convert immature proproteins into bioactive molecules, and thereby they serve as key regulators of cellular homeostasis. The archetype proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin, FURIN, is a direct target gene of the IL-12/STAT4 pathway and it is upregulated in Th1 cells. We have previously demonstrated that FURIN expression in T cells critically regulates the maintenance of peripheral immune tolerance and the functional maturation of pro-TGF-β1 in vivo, but FURIN's role in cell-mediated immunity and Th polarization has remained elusive. In this article, we show that T cell-expressed FURIN is essential for host resistance against a prototypic Th1 pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii, and for the generation of pathogen-specific Th1 lymphocytes, including Th1-IL-10 cells. FURIN-deficient Th cells instead show elevated expression of IL-4R subunit α on cell surface, sensitized IL-4/STAT6 signaling, and a propensity to polarize toward the Th2 phenotype. By exploring FURIN-interacting proteins in Jurkat T cells with Strep-Tag purification and mass spectrometry, we further identify an association with a cytoskeleton modifying Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate/dedicator of cytokinesis 2 protein complex and unravel that FURIN promotes F-actin polymerization, which has previously been shown to downregulate IL-4R subunit α cell surface expression and promote Th1 responses. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that in addition to peripheral immune tolerance, T cell-expressed FURIN is also a central regulator of cell-mediated immunity and Th1/2 cell balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Oksanen
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Saara Aittomäki
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Dragana Jankovic
- Immunobiology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Zsuzsanna Ortutay
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Kati Pulkkinen
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Sanna Hämäläinen
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Anne Rokka
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Garry L Corthals
- Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1090 GD Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wendy T Watford
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
| | - Ilkka Junttila
- Fimlab Laboratories, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, 33101 Tampere, Finland; School of Medicine, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland; and
| | - John J O'Shea
- Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Marko Pesu
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, BioMediTech, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland; Fimlab Laboratories, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, 33101 Tampere, Finland; Department of Dermatology, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, 33101 Tampere, Finland
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Sun X, Mei M, Zhang X, Han F, Jia B, Wei X, Chang Z, Lu H, Yin J, Chen Q, Jiang N. The extracellular matrix protein mindin as a novel adjuvant elicits stronger immune responses for rBAG1, rSRS4 and rSRS9 antigens of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:429. [PMID: 25091724 PMCID: PMC4131031 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vaccines are the most effective agents to control infections. However, recombinant vaccines often do not elicit strong immune responses. Protein antigens combined with proper adjuvants have been widely used to induce immune responses, especially the humoral immune responses, against various pathogens, including parasites. The extracellular matrix protein mindin has been recognised as an immune facilitator for initiating innate immune responses. It has therefore been expected to be a potentially potent adjuvant in the development of novel vaccines. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mindin could facilitate the induction of antigen-specific immune responses to recombinant antigens (rBAG1, rSRS4 and rSRS9) of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice. Methods In this study, we explored the adjuvant effect of the recombinant mindin in the generation of specific Th1 and Th2 responses to each of three T. gondii antigens, BAG1, SRS4 and SRS9. All mice in the experimental groups received either antigen alone or in combination with Freund’s adjuvant or with the recombinant mindin. The immune responses after immunisation were measured by ELISA and lymphoproliferative assays. The immunised mice were challenged with live T. gondii tachyzoites, and the protection efficiency was compared between the groups. Results Our results revealed that mindin as an adjuvant could facilitate the recombinant proteins to efficiently stimulate humoral and cellular responses, including antigen-specific IgG1 and IgG2a, as well as lymphocyte proliferation. Furthermore, significantly improved protection against T. gondii infection was observed in the mindin group compared with that of Freund’s adjuvant and no-adjuvant groups. Conclusions The extracellular matrix protein mindin can effectively induce antigen-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Our study provides a valuable basis for the development of an efficient, safe, non-toxic vaccine adjuvant for future use in humans and animals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-429) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Xi An Da Lu 5333, Changchun 5333, China.
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Toxoplasma gondii upregulates interleukin-12 to prevent Plasmodium berghei-induced experimental cerebral malaria. Infect Immun 2014; 82:1343-53. [PMID: 24396042 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01259-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A chronic infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii has previously been shown to protect mice against subsequent viral, bacterial, or protozoal infections. Here we have shown that a chronic T. gondii infection can prevent Plasmodium berghei ANKA-induced experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) in C57BL/6 mice. Treatment with soluble T. gondii antigens (STAg) reduced parasite sequestration and T cell infiltration in the brains of P. berghei-infected mice. Administration of STAg also preserved blood-brain barrier function, reduced ECM symptoms, and significantly decreased mortality. STAg treatment 24 h post-P. berghei infection led to a rapid increase in serum levels of interleukin 12 (IL-12) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ). By 5 days after P. berghei infection, STAg-treated mice had reduced IFN-γ levels compared to those of mock-treated mice, suggesting that reductions in IFN-γ at the time of ECM onset protected against lethality. Using IL-10- and IL-12βR-deficient mice, we found that STAg-induced protection from ECM is IL-10 independent but IL-12 dependent. Treatment of P. berghei-infected mice with recombinant IL-12 significantly decreased parasitemia and mortality. These data suggest that IL-12, either induced by STAg or injected as a recombinant protein, mediates protection from ECM-associated pathology potentially through early induction of IFN-γ and reduction in parasitemia. These results highlight the importance of early IL-12 induction in protection against ECM.
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Morsy MMF, Abdelaziz NA, Boghdady AM, Ahmed H, Abul Fadl EM, Ismail MA. Lack of association between endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS 4 b/a) gene polymorphism and rheumatic heart disease. Mod Rheumatol 2014. [DOI: 10.3109/s10165-009-0225-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Jia B, Lu H, Liu Q, Yin J, Jiang N, Chen Q. Genome-wide comparative analysis revealed significant transcriptome changes in mice after Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:161. [PMID: 23734932 PMCID: PMC3679772 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that can modulate host responses and presumably host behavior. Host responses as well as pathogenesis vary depending on the parasite strains that are responsible for infection. In immune competent individuals, T. gondii preferentially infects tissues of the central nervous systems (CNS), which might be an additional factor in certain psychiatric disorders. While in immune-compromised individuals and pregnant women, the parasite can cause life-threatening infections. With the availability of the genome-wide investigation platform, the global responses in gene expression of the host after T. gondii infection can be systematically investigated. METHODS Total RNA of brain tissues and peripheral lymphocytes of BALB/C mice infected with RH and ME 49 strain T. gondii as well as that of healthy mice were purified and converted to cRNA with incorporated Cy5-CTP (experimental samples), or Cy3-CTP (control samples). The labeled cRNA probes were hybridized to the Whole Mouse Genome Microarray. The impact of parasite infection on gene expression in both brain tissues and peripheral lymphocytes were analyzed. Differentially expressed genes were revalidated with real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR). RESULTS Data indicated that the genes associated with immunity were up-regulated after infection by the two parasite strains, but significant up-regulation was observed in both brain tissues and peripheral lymphocytes of mice infected with ME49 strain compared to that infected by RH strain. The pathways related to pathogenesis of the nervous system were more significantly up-regulated in mice infected with RH strain. CONCLUSIONS Genetically distinct T. gondii strains showed clear differences in modulation of host pathophysiological and immunological responses in both brain tissue and peripheral lymphocytes. It was likely that some of the host responses to T. gondii infection were universal, but the immune response and CNS reaction were in a strain-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyin Jia
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Xi An Da Lu 5333, Changchun 130062, China.
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Sa Q, Woodward J, Suzuki Y. IL-2 produced by CD8+ immune T cells can augment their IFN-γ production independently from their proliferation in the secondary response to an intracellular pathogen. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 190:2199-207. [PMID: 23359502 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1202256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii induces a potent resistance against reinfection, and IFN-γ production by CD8(+) T cells is crucial for the protective immunity. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the secondary response remain to be elucidated. In the current study, we examined the role of IL-2 in IFN-γ production by CD8(+) immune T cells in their secondary responses using T. gondii-specific CD8(+) T cell hybridomas and splenic CD8(+) immune T cells from chronically infected mice. The majority (92%) of CD8(+) T cell hybridomas produced large amounts of IFN-γ only when a low amount (0.5 ng/ml) of exogenous IL-2 was provided in combination with T. gondii Ags. Inhibition of cell proliferation by mitomycin C did not affect the enhancing effect of IL-2 on the IFN-γ production, and significant increases in transcription factor T-bet expression were associated with the IL-2-mediated IFN-γ amplification. Splenic CD8(+) immune T cells produced similar low levels of IL-2 in the secondary response to T. gondii, and a blocking of IL-2 signaling by anti-IL-2Rα Ab or inhibitors of JAK1 and JAK3 significantly reduced IFN-γ production of the T cells. This IL-2-mediated upregulation of IFN-γ production was observed in mitomycin C-treated CD8(+) immune T cells, thus independent from their cell division. Therefore, endogenous IL-2 produced by CD8(+) immune T cells can play an important autocrine-enhancing role on their IFN-γ production in the secondary responses to T. gondii, suggesting an importance of induction of CD8(+) immune T cells with an appropriate IL-2 production for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qila Sa
- Department of Microbiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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Behnke MS, Fentress SJ, Mashayekhi M, Li LX, Taylor GA, Sibley LD. The polymorphic pseudokinase ROP5 controls virulence in Toxoplasma gondii by regulating the active kinase ROP18. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002992. [PMID: 23144612 PMCID: PMC3493473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Secretory polymorphic serine/threonine kinases control pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii in the mouse. Genetic studies show that the pseudokinase ROP5 is essential for acute virulence, but do not reveal its mechanism of action. Here we demonstrate that ROP5 controls virulence by blocking IFN-γ mediated clearance in activated macrophages. ROP5 was required for the catalytic activity of the active S/T kinase ROP18, which phosphorylates host immunity related GTPases (IRGs) and protects the parasite from clearance. ROP5 directly regulated activity of ROP18 in vitro, and both proteins were necessary to avoid IRG recruitment and clearance in macrophages. Clearance of both the Δrop5 and Δrop18 mutants was reversed in macrophages lacking Irgm3, which is required for IRG function, and the virulence defect was fully restored in Irgm3−/− mice. Our findings establish that the pseudokinase ROP5 controls the activity of ROP18, thereby blocking IRG mediated clearance in macrophages. Additionally, ROP5 has other functions that are also Irgm3 and IFN-γ dependent, indicting it plays a general role in governing virulence factors that block immunity. The ability of microorganisms to cause disease in their hosts is often mediated by proteins that are secreted by the pathogen into the host cell as a means of disarming host signaling. Previous studies with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii have revealed that secretion of parasite protein kinases into the host cell mediates virulence in mouse, a natural host for transmission. Curiously, some of these virulence factors are active protein kinases, while other related pseudokinases lack enzymatic activity; hence, it was unclear how they functioned in promoting virulence. In the present work we demonstrate that ROP5, an inactive member of this protein kinase family, regulates the active protein kinase ROP18, which normally prevents clearance of the parasite in interferon-activated macrophages. Allosteric regulation of enzymes is a common theme in biology, but this is the first example of such a mechanism regulating a pathogen virulence factor. The potential advantage of such a layered process is that it might allow greater temporal or spatial control and perhaps protect the parasite from disabling strategies by the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Behnke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Sarah J. Fentress
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Mona Mashayekhi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lucy X. Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Gregory A. Taylor
- Departments of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, and Immunology, Division of Geriatrics, and Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - L. David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Wiehagen KR, Corbo-Rodgers E, Li S, Staub ES, Hunter CA, Morrisey EE, Maltzman JS. Foxp4 is dispensable for T cell development, but required for robust recall responses. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42273. [PMID: 22912696 PMCID: PMC3418275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors regulate T cell fates at every stage of development and differentiation. Members of the Foxp family of forkhead transcription factors are essential for normal T lineage development; Foxp3 is required for T regulatory cell generation and function, and Foxp1 is necessary for generation and maintenance of naïve T cells. Foxp4, an additional member of the Foxp family, is highly homologous to Foxp1 and has been shown to dimerize with other Foxp proteins. We report the initial characterization of Foxp4 in T lymphocytes. Foxp4 is expressed in both thymocytes and peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We used a CD4Cre mediated approach to evaluate the cell autonomous role for Foxp4 in murine T lymphocytes. T cell development, peripheral cellularity and cell surface phenotype are normal in the absence of Foxp4. Furthermore, Foxp3+ T regulatory cells develop normally in Foxp4 deficient animals and naïve Foxp4 deficient CD4 T cells can differentiate to inducible T regulatory cells in vitro. In wild-type T cells, expression of Foxp4 increases following activation, but deletion of Foxp4 does not affect T cell proliferative responses or in vitro effector T cell differentiation. In vivo, despite effective control of Toxoplasma gondii and acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infections, effector cytokine production during antigen specific recall responses are reduced in the absence of Foxp4. We conclude that Foxp4 is dispensable for T cell development, but necessary for normal T cell cytokine recall responses to antigen following pathogenic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla R. Wiehagen
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Evann Corbo-Rodgers
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Shanru Li
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth S. Staub
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Christopher A. Hunter
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Edward E. Morrisey
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jonathan S. Maltzman
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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