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Alberione MP, González-Ruiz V, von Rohr O, Rudaz S, Soldati-Favre D, Izquierdo L, Kloehn J. N-acetylglucosamine supplementation fails to bypass the critical acetylation of glucosamine-6-phosphate required for Toxoplasma gondii replication and invasion. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011979. [PMID: 38900808 PMCID: PMC11218972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The cell surface of Toxoplasma gondii is rich in glycoconjugates which hold diverse and vital functions in the lytic cycle of this obligate intracellular parasite. Additionally, the cyst wall of bradyzoites, that shields the persistent form responsible for chronic infection from the immune system, is heavily glycosylated. Formation of glycoconjugates relies on activated sugar nucleotides, such as uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). The glucosamine-phosphate-N-acetyltransferase (GNA1) generates N-acetylglucosamine-6-phosphate critical to produce UDP-GlcNAc. Here, we demonstrate that downregulation of T. gondii GNA1 results in a severe reduction of UDP-GlcNAc and a concomitant drop in glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs), leading to impairment of the parasite's ability to invade and replicate in the host cell. Surprisingly, attempts to rescue this defect through exogenous GlcNAc supplementation fail to completely restore these vital functions. In depth metabolomic analyses elucidate diverse causes underlying the failed rescue: utilization of GlcNAc is inefficient under glucose-replete conditions and fails to restore UDP-GlcNAc levels in GNA1-depleted parasites. In contrast, GlcNAc-supplementation under glucose-deplete conditions fully restores UDP-GlcNAc levels but fails to rescue the defects associated with GNA1 depletion. Our results underscore the importance of glucosamine-6-phosphate acetylation in governing T. gondii replication and invasion and highlight the potential of the evolutionary divergent GNA1 in Apicomplexa as a target for the development of much-needed new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pía Alberione
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Olivier von Rohr
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serge Rudaz
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Jafari MM, Azimzadeh Tabrizi Z, Dayer MS, Kazemi-Sefat NA, Mohtashamifard M, Mohseni R, Bagheri A, Bahadory S, Karimipour-Saryazdi A, Ghaffarifar F. Immune system roles in pathogenesis, prognosis, control, and treatment of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 124:110872. [PMID: 37660595 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the protozoan causative agent of toxoplasmosis in humans and warm-blooded animals. Recent studies have illustrated that the immune system plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis by triggering immune cytokines like IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ and immune cells like DCs, Th1, and Th17. On the other hand, some immune components can serve as prognosis markers of toxoplasmosis. In healthy people, the disease is often asymptomatic, but immunocompromised people and newborns may suffer severe symptoms and complications. Therefore, the immune prognostic markers may provide tools to measure the disease progress and help patients to avoid further complications. Immunotherapies using monoclonal antibody, cytokines, immune cells, exosomes, novel vaccines, and anti-inflammatory molecules open new horizon for toxoplasmosis treatment. In this review article, we discussed the immunopathogenesis, prognosis, and immunotherapy of Toxoplasma gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mahdi Jafari
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Azimzadeh Tabrizi
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Saaid Dayer
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mahshid Mohtashamifard
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rahimeh Mohseni
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atefeh Bagheri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Bahadory
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Karimipour-Saryazdi
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
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3
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Development of CRISPR-Mediated Nucleic Acid Detection Technologies and Their Applications in the Livestock Industry. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13112007. [PMID: 36360244 PMCID: PMC9690124 DOI: 10.3390/genes13112007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid rate of virus transmission and pathogen mutation and evolution highlight the necessity for innovative approaches to the diagnosis and prevention of infectious diseases. Traditional technologies for pathogen detection, mostly PCR-based, involve costly/advanced equipment and skilled personnel and are therefore not feasible in resource-limited areas. Over the years, many promising methods based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and the associated protein systems (CRISPR/Cas), i.e., orthologues of Cas9, Cas12, Cas13 and Cas14, have been reported for nucleic acid detection. CRISPR/Cas effectors can provide one-tube reaction systems, amplification-free strategies, simultaneous multiplex pathogen detection, visual colorimetric detection, and quantitative identification as alternatives to quantitative PCR (qPCR). This review summarizes the current development of CRISPR/Cas-mediated molecular diagnostics, as well as their design software and readout methods, highlighting technical improvements for integrating CRISPR/Cas technologies into on-site applications. It further highlights recent applications of CRISPR/Cas-based nucleic acid detection in livestock industry, including emerging infectious diseases, authenticity and composition of meat/milk products, as well as sex determination of early embryos.
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Lunghi M, Kloehn J, Krishnan A, Varesio E, Vadas O, Soldati-Favre D. Pantothenate biosynthesis is critical for chronic infection by the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Nat Commun 2022; 13:345. [PMID: 35039477 PMCID: PMC8764084 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27996-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme A (CoA) is an essential molecule acting in metabolism, post-translational modification, and regulation of gene expression. While all organisms synthesize CoA, many, including humans, are unable to produce its precursor, pantothenate. Intriguingly, like most plants, fungi and bacteria, parasites of the coccidian subgroup of Apicomplexa, including the human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, possess all the enzymes required for de novo synthesis of pantothenate. Here, the importance of CoA and pantothenate biosynthesis for the acute and chronic stages of T. gondii infection is dissected through genetic, biochemical and metabolomic approaches, revealing that CoA synthesis is essential for T. gondii tachyzoites, due to the parasite's inability to salvage CoA or intermediates of the pathway. In contrast, pantothenate synthesis is only partially active in T. gondii tachyzoites, making the parasite reliant on its uptake. However, pantothenate synthesis is crucial for the establishment of chronic infection, offering a promising target for intervention against the persistent stage of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emmanuel Varesio
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (MZ 2.0), University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Oscar Vadas
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
- Protein and peptide purification platform, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Ma QN, Wang M, Zheng LB, Lin ZQ, Ehsan M, Xiao XX, Zhu XQ. RAA-Cas12a-Tg: A Nucleic Acid Detection System for Toxoplasma gondii Based on CRISPR-Cas12a Combined with Recombinase-Aided Amplification (RAA). Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081644. [PMID: 34442722 PMCID: PMC8401747 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the intracellular protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, is a significant parasitic zoonosis with a world-wide distribution. As a main transmission route, human infection can be acquired by the ingestion of T. gondii oocysts from the environment (e.g., soil, water, fruits and vegetables). Regarding the detection of T. gondii oocysts in environmental samples, the development of a time-saving, cost-effective and highly sensitive technique is crucial for the surveillance, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. In this study, we developed a new method by combining recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) with CRISPR-Cas12a, designated as the RAA-Cas12a-Tg system. Here, we compared this system targeting the 529 bp repeat element (529 bp-RE) with the routine PCR targeting both 529 bp-RE and ITS-1 gene, respectively, to assess its ability to detect T. gondii oocysts in soil samples. Our results indicated that the 529 bp RE-based RAA-Cas12a-Tg system was able to detect T. gondii successfully in nearly an hour at body temperature and was more sensitive than the routine PCR assay. The sensitivity of this system reached as low as 1 fM with high specificity. Thus, RAA-Cas12a-Tg system provided a rapid, sensitive and easily operable method for point-of-care detection of T. gondii oocysts in soil, which will facilitate the control of T. gondii infection in humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao-Ni Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (Q.-N.M.); (M.W.)
| | - Meng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (Q.-N.M.); (M.W.)
| | - Lai-Bao Zheng
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Sanitary Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (L.-B.Z.); (Z.-Q.L.)
| | - Zi-Qin Lin
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Sanitary Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (L.-B.Z.); (Z.-Q.L.)
| | - Muhammad Ehsan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan;
| | - Xing-Xing Xiao
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Sanitary Microbiology, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; (L.-B.Z.); (Z.-Q.L.)
- Correspondence: (X.-X.X.); (X.-Q.Z.)
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (Q.-N.M.); (M.W.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Yunnan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
- Correspondence: (X.-X.X.); (X.-Q.Z.)
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Kloehn J, Lunghi M, Varesio E, Dubois D, Soldati-Favre D. Untargeted Metabolomics Uncovers the Essential Lysine Transporter in Toxoplasma gondii. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11080476. [PMID: 34436417 PMCID: PMC8399914 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11080476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites are responsible for devastating diseases, including malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. Current treatments are limited by emerging resistance to, as well as the high cost and toxicity of existing drugs. As obligate intracellular parasites, apicomplexans rely on the uptake of many essential metabolites from their host. Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is auxotrophic for several metabolites, including sugars (e.g., myo-inositol), amino acids (e.g., tyrosine), lipidic compounds and lipid precursors (cholesterol, choline), vitamins, cofactors (thiamine) and others. To date, only few apicomplexan metabolite transporters have been characterized and assigned a substrate. Here, we set out to investigate whether untargeted metabolomics can be used to identify the substrate of an uncharacterized transporter. Based on existing genome- and proteome-wide datasets, we have identified an essential plasma membrane transporter of the major facilitator superfamily in T. gondii-previously termed TgApiAT6-1. Using an inducible system based on RNA degradation, TgApiAT6-1 was depleted, and the mutant parasite's metabolome was compared to that of non-depleted parasites. The most significantly reduced metabolite in parasites depleted in TgApiAT6-1 was identified as the amino acid lysine, for which T. gondii is predicted to be auxotrophic. Using stable isotope-labeled amino acids, we confirmed that TgApiAT6-1 is required for efficient lysine uptake. Our findings highlight untargeted metabolomics as a powerful tool to identify the substrate of orphan transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (D.S.-F.); Tel.: +41-22-379-57-16 (J.K.); +41-22-379-56-72 (D.S.-F.)
| | - Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
| | - Emmanuel Varesio
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mass Spectrometry Core Facility (MZ 2.0), University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - David Dubois
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (M.L.); (D.D.)
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (D.S.-F.); Tel.: +41-22-379-57-16 (J.K.); +41-22-379-56-72 (D.S.-F.)
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Yang J, He Z, Chen C, Li S, Qian J, Zhao J, Fang R. Toxoplasma gondii Infection Inhibits Histone Crotonylation to Regulate Immune Response of Porcine Alveolar Macrophages. Front Immunol 2021; 12:696061. [PMID: 34322124 PMCID: PMC8312545 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.696061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, causing serious public health problems. Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) is a newly discovered posttranslational modification (PTM), which is first identified on histones and has been proved relevant to procreation regulation, transcription activation, and cell signaling pathway. However, the biological functions of histone crotonylation have not yet been reported in macrophages infected with T. gondii. As a result, a total of 1,286 Kcr sites distributed in 414 proteins were identified and quantified, demonstrating the existence of crotonylation in porcine alveolar macrophages. According to our results, identified histones were overall downregulated. HDAC2, a histone decrotonylase, was found to be significantly increased, which might be the executor of histone Kcr after parasite infection. In addition, T. gondii infection inhibited the crotonylation of H2B on K12, contributing on the suppression of epigenetic regulation and NF-κB activation. Nevertheless, the reduction of histone crotonylation induced by parasite infection could promote macrophage proliferation via activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The present findings point to a comprehensive understanding of the biological functions of histone crotonylation in porcine alveolar macrophages, thereby providing a certain research basis for the mechanism research on the immune response of host cells against T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengming He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengjie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Senyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiahui Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Ka'e AC, Sosso SM, Fokam J, Simo RK, Essama SR, Nka AD, Yagai B, Dzukou CJN, Tchouaket MCT, Chenwi C, Abba A, Fainguem N, Zam MKN, Yimga JF, Colizzi V, Ndjolo A. Anti-Toxoplasmic Immunoglobulin G Quantitation Correlates with Immunovirological Parameters of HIV-Infected Cameroonians. Curr HIV Res 2021; 19:73-83. [PMID: 32885755 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x18666200903172523] [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: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is still a neglected common opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals, who are mainly people living with HIV (PLHIV) in whom reactivation of toxoplasmosis may occur with advanced HIV conditions in resource-limited settings (RLS). OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess the correlation between anti-toxoplasmic immunoglobulin G (anti-Toxo IgG) concentration and the immuno-virological status of PLHIV. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in the year 2018 among 100 PLHIV aged ≥18 years in Yaounde-Cameroon. For each participant, anti-Toxo IgG, CD4-T lymphocytes, and plasma viral load (PVL) were measured using ELISA, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR, respectively. RESULTS Overall, 56% of the participants were seropositive for anti-Toxo IgG, while 33% were negative and 11% were equivocal. All (n=19) those with PVL>1000 copies/mL were seropositive to anti-Toxo IgG versus 52.85% (37/70) with PVL<1000 copies/mL; p<0.0001. Interestingly, all (n=11) those with severe immunodeficiency (T-CD4<200 cells/μL) were positive to anti-Toxo IgG versus 57.69% (45/78) with T-CD4>200 cells/μL; p<0.0001. Most importantly, PVL and anti- Toxo IgG concentration were positively correlated (r = 0.54; p<0.0001), while T-CD4 and anti- Toxo IgG concentration were negatively correlated (r = - 0.70; p<0.0001). Adjusting age, gender, immune status, and virological profile in logistic regression shows that only immune status was independently associated with the serological status of toxoplasmosis (p=0.0004). CONCLUSION In Cameroon, about half of PLHIV might be seropositive to anti-Toxo IgG, with decreasing immunity appearing as a risk of toxoplasmosis relapse. Thus, in the context of immunodeficiency, routine quantification of anti-Toxo IgG would alleviate the programmatic burden of this opportunistic infection in RLS with the generalized HIV epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Christelle Ka'e
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Samuel Martin Sosso
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Joseph Fokam
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Rachel Kamgaing Simo
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Sara Riwom Essama
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Alex Durand Nka
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Bouba Yagai
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | - Michel Carlos Tommo Tchouaket
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Collins Chenwi
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Aissatou Abba
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Nadine Fainguem
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Marie Krystel Nnomo Zam
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Junie Flore Yimga
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
| | | | - Alexis Ndjolo
- Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaounde, Cameroon
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Xiao J, Bhondoekhan F, Seaberg EC, Yang O, Stosor V, Margolick JB, Yolken RH, Viscidi RP. Serological Responses to Toxoplasma gondii and Matrix Antigen 1 Predict the Risk of Subsequent Toxoplasmic Encephalitis in People Living with HIV. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:e2270-e2277. [PMID: 33388768 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinically useful predictors for fatal toxoplasmosis are lacking. We investigated the value of serological assays for antibodies to whole Toxoplasma antigens and to peptide antigens of the Toxoplasma cyst protein MAG1, for predicting incident toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in people living with HIV (PLWH). METHODS We performed a nested case control study, conducted within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), using serum samples obtained 2 years prior to diagnosis of TE from 28 cases, and 37 HIV disease-matched Toxoplasma seropositive controls at matched time-points. Sera were tested for Toxoplasma antibodies using a commercial assay and for antibodies to MAG1_4.2 and MAG1_5.2 peptides in ELISA. RESULTS Two years prior to clinical diagnosis, 68% of TE cases were MAG1_4.2 seropositive compared with 16% of controls (OR 25.0, 95% CI 3.14-199.18). Corresponding results for MAG1_5.2 seropositivity were 36% and 14% (OR 3.6, 95% CI 0.95-13.42). Higher levels of antibody to MAG1_4.2 (OR 18.5 per doubling of the OD value, 95% CI 1.41-242) and to Toxoplasma (OR 2.91 for each OD unit increase, 95% CI 1.48-5.72) were also associated with the risk of TE. When seropositivity was defined as the presence of MAG1 antibody or relatively high levels of Toxoplasma antibody, the sensitivity was 89% and specificity was 68% for subsequent TE. CONCLUSIONS Antibodies to MAG1 showed predictive value on the occurrence of TE in PLWH, and the predictive performance was further improved by adding the levels of Toxoplasma antibody. These measures could be clinically useful for predicting subsequent diseases in multiple at-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchun Xiao
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fiona Bhondoekhan
- F Bhondoekhan, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Eric C Seaberg
- F Bhondoekhan, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Otto Yang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Valentina Stosor
- Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Organ Transplantation, Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL , USA
| | - Joseph B Margolick
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD , USA
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Raphael P Viscidi
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD , USA
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Hryzhak IH. Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can promote chronic liver diseases in HIV-infected individuals. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2020; 67. [PMID: 33281122 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Liver pathologies and infection with Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) are widespread among HIV-infected patients. However, a possible contribution of toxoplasmosis to the development of various forms of liver diseases in HIV-infected individuals has not yet been determined. This research is a retrospective cohort study. Medical cards of 907 HIV-positive patients, including 119 individuals who died, were studied. The patients were divided into two groups: 531 patients were seropositive to T. gondii and 376 seronegative. General liver pathology was more widespread among patients seropositive to T. gondii than in seronegative patients (63.1 ± 2.1% and 51.9 ± 2.6%, respectively, p < 0.001). The association of seropositive to T. gondii with general liver pathology is weak both in the whole cohort (Pearson's contingency coefficient C = 0.112), and among the deceased patients (C = 0.228). Chronic HBV-HCV coinfection was more common in the seropositive than in seronegative individuals as it was found both in entire cohorts (26.0 ± 1.9% and 18.6 ± 2.0%, respectively, p = 0.010) and in died patients (31.0 ± 5.5% and 14.6 ± 5.1%, respectively, p = 0.041). Toxoplasma gondii had a weak role in distributing of HBV-HCV coinfection between cohorts (C = 0.187). In both cohorts in patients with chronic hepatitis, regardless of its etiology, there was no significant difference in alanine transaminase activity (ALT). Cirrhosis of the liver occurred 4.5 times more often in deceased seropositive patients than in the entire seropositive cohort (23.9 ± 5.1 and 5.3 ± 2.0, respectively, p = 0.0006) whereas it no significantly increased in seronegative cohort (10.4 ± 4.4 against 4.8 ± 1.1, p > 0.05). In them T. gondii is weakly involved in cirrhosis formation (C = 0.168). Thus, in HIV-infected patients, T. gondii is a weak nonspecific adjunct that supports chronic liver inflammation and progression of cirrhosis, regardless of etiology, but does not influence the degree of hepatitis activity. The increased prevalence of HBV-HCV coinfection in patients seropositive for T. gondii may be related to their risk factor behaviour associated with uncontrolled blood contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihor H Hryzhak
- Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University (Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine)
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ERGEN P, YILMAZ-KARADAĞ F, AYDIN Ö. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in HIV-infected patients admitted to a university hospital. JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND MEDICINE 2020. [DOI: 10.32322/jhsm.752358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Nasiru Wana M, Mohd Moklas MA, Watanabe M, Nordin N, Zasmy Unyah N, Alhassan Abdullahi S, Ahmad Issa Alapid A, Mustapha T, Basir R, Abd. Majid R. A Review on the Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Humans and Animals Reported in Malaysia from 2008-2018. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4809. [PMID: 32635389 PMCID: PMC7369958 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Human toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in Malaysia has increased since it was first reported in 1973 as shown in previous reviews of 1991 and 2007. However, over a decade since the last review, comprehensive data on toxoplasmosis in Malaysia is lacking. This work aimed at reviewing articles on toxoplasmosis research in Malaysia in order to identify the research gaps, create public awareness, and efforts made so far and proffer management options on the disease. The present review examines the available published research articles from 2008 to 2018 related to toxoplasmosis research conducted in Malaysia. The articles reviewed were retrieved from nine credible databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, Springer, Wiley online library, Ovid, and Cochrane using the keywords; Malaysia, toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasma encephalitis, seroprevalence, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, pregnant women, genotype strain, anti-toxoplasma antibodies, felines, and vaccine. The data highlighted seropositive cases from healthy community members in Pangkor Island (59.7%) and among migrant workers (57.4%) at alarming rates, as well as 42.5% in pregnant women. Data on animal seroprevalence were limited and there was no information on cats as the definitive host. Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii from HIV patients; pregnant women, and domestic cats is lacking. This present review on toxoplasmosis is beneficial to researchers, health workers, animal health professionals, and policymakers. Therefore, attention is required to educate and enlighten health workers and the general public about the risk factors associated with T. gondii infection in Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Nasiru Wana
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.N.W.); (N.Z.U.); (S.A.A.); (A.A.I.A.); (T.M.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, 740272 Bauchi, Nigeria
| | - Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Malaika Watanabe
- Department of Companion Animal Medicine & Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Norshariza Nordin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Ngah Zasmy Unyah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.N.W.); (N.Z.U.); (S.A.A.); (A.A.I.A.); (T.M.)
| | - Sharif Alhassan Abdullahi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.N.W.); (N.Z.U.); (S.A.A.); (A.A.I.A.); (T.M.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Bayero University Kano, 700241 Kano, Nigeria
| | - Ashraf Ahmad Issa Alapid
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.N.W.); (N.Z.U.); (S.A.A.); (A.A.I.A.); (T.M.)
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science-Alasaba, University of Gharyan, 010101 Gharyan, Libya
| | - Tijjani Mustapha
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (M.N.W.); (N.Z.U.); (S.A.A.); (A.A.I.A.); (T.M.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yobe State University Damaturu, 620101 Damaturu, Nigeria
| | - Rusliza Basir
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Roslaini Abd. Majid
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, National Defence University of Malaysia, Kem Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Selangor, Malaysia
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Kloehn J, Harding CR, Soldati-Favre D. Supply and demand-heme synthesis, salvage and utilization by Apicomplexa. FEBS J 2020; 288:382-404. [PMID: 32530125 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The Apicomplexa phylum groups important human and animal pathogens that cause severe diseases, encompassing malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. In common with most organisms, apicomplexans rely on heme as cofactor for several enzymes, including cytochromes of the electron transport chain. This heme derives from de novo synthesis and/or the development of uptake mechanisms to scavenge heme from their host. Recent studies have revealed that heme synthesis is essential for Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites, as well as for the mosquito and liver stages of Plasmodium spp. In contrast, the erythrocytic stages of the malaria parasites rely on scavenging heme from the host red blood cell. The unusual heme synthesis pathway in Apicomplexa spans three cellular compartments and comprises enzymes of distinct ancestral origin, providing promising drug targets. Remarkably given the requirement for heme, T. gondii can tolerate the loss of several heme synthesis enzymes at a high fitness cost, while the ferrochelatase is essential for survival. These findings indicate that T. gondii is capable of salvaging heme precursors from its host. Furthermore, heme is implicated in the activation of the key antimalarial drug artemisinin. Recent findings established that a reduction in heme availability corresponds to decreased sensitivity to artemisinin in T. gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, providing insights into the possible development of combination therapies to tackle apicomplexan parasites. This review describes the microeconomics of heme in Apicomplexa, from supply, either from de novo synthesis or scavenging, to demand by metabolic pathways, including the electron transport chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kloehn
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Clare R Harding
- Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
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Global status of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in people living with HIV. AIDS 2020; 34:469-474. [PMID: 31714356 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000002424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Toxoplasma infection remains as the most common cause of focal brain lesions among people living with HIV (PLHIV) despite the decline in opportunistic infections with the introduction of antiretroviral treatment. This study was conducted to provide a summary of evidence about the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and prevalence of active T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among PLHIV. DESIGN Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct and EMBASE were searched from 1997 to July 2018. All peer-reviewed original research articles describing T. gondii infection among PLHIV with different diagnostic methods were included. METHODS Incoherence and heterogeneity between studies were quantified by I index and Cochran's Q test. Publication and population bias were assessed with funnel plots and Egger's regression asymmetry test. All statistical analyses were performed using StatsDirect. RESULTS In total, 111 studies from 37 countries assessing 66 139 blood samples were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of T. gondii infection among PLHIV was 3.24% by IgM and 26.22% by molecular methods using the random-effects model. Pooled seroprevalence of T. gondii by IgG was 44.22%. There was a relationship between Toxoplasma prevalence and sex, raw meat consumption, contact with cat and knowledge about toxoplasmosis. CONCLUSION High Toxoplasma seroprevalence among PLHIV observed in this study emphasizes the need for implementing screening and prophylaxis tailored to the local context. Owing to the serious and significant clinical manifestations of the parasite in case of reactivation, early identification of seropositivity for initiating prophylaxis among those with a CD4 cell count of less than 200 cells/ml is recommended.
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Day TC, McNaughton KA, Naples AJ, McPartland JC. Self-reported social impairments predict depressive disorder in adults with autism spectrum disorder. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 24:297-306. [PMID: 31238701 PMCID: PMC6930361 DOI: 10.1177/1362361319857375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In adults with autism spectrum disorder, co-occurring psychiatric conditions are prevalent, and depression is one of the most common co-occurring disorders. This study examined the relationship between depression and cognitive ability, autism symptom severity, and self-reported social impairments in autism spectrum disorder. A total of 33 adults with autism spectrum disorder and 28 adults with typical development completed a standardized psychiatric interview, cognitive test, measure of clinician-rated autism symptom severity, and self-report of social impairments. Nine participants with autism spectrum disorder (27%) met the criteria for a depressive disorder (autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder). Relatively more females with autism spectrum disorder had a co-occurring depressive disorder. The typical development group had a higher intelligence quotient than the autism spectrum disorder group, but the autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder group did not differ from the typical development or autism spectrum disorder group. While the autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder group had lower clinician-rated autism symptom severity than the autism spectrum disorder group, the autism spectrum disorder + depressive disorder group reported more social impairments than the autism spectrum disorder group. Self-reported social impairments predicted depression in adults with autism spectrum disorder when accounting for symptom severity and cognitive ability. These findings suggest that more self-perceived social impairments are related to depressive disorders in autism spectrum disorder, and may help clinicians identify individuals who are vulnerable in developing a co-occurring depressive disorder. Future directions include follow-up studies with larger cohorts and longitudinal designs to support inferences regarding directionality of these relationships.
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Pan M, Li M, Li L, Song Y, Hou L, Zhao J, Shen B. Identification of Novel Dense-Granule Proteins in Toxoplasma gondii by Two Proximity-Based Biotinylation Approaches. J Proteome Res 2018; 18:319-330. [PMID: 30362762 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic pathogen infecting humans and a variety of vertebrate animals. Secretory dense-granule proteins (GRAs) play diverse roles in the mediation of host-parasite interactions and facilitate parasitism, but many of them still remain to be identified. Here, we used two proximity-based protein labeling techniques to identify novel GRA proteins. Taking GRA1 as bait, transgenic strains expressing GRA1-BirA* or GRA1-APEX were constructed to biotinylate GRAs. Using these methods, a total of 46 proteins were identified, 20 of which were known GRA proteins. Among these 46, 17 were identified by both strategies, and 14 out of the 17 were known GRAs. The other three were all confirmed to localize to dense granules. Nonetheless a significant portion of the proteins were only identified by either APEX or BirA*, indicating that there are differences between these methods. Of the 26 novel GRAs, 5 were validated as bona fide GRAs by localization studies. The majority of these novel GRAs are only present in coccidian parasites and are likely dispensable for parasite growth in vitro; they may play roles during animal infections. The identification of novel GRAs laid the foundation for further studies investigating the mechanisms underlying parasite-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070
| | - Mingjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070
| | - Longjiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070
| | - Yongle Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070
| | - Lun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China.,Hubei Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070
| | - Bang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine , Huazhong Agricultural University , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China , 430070.,Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine , Wuhan , Hubei , PR China
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