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da Silva Bortoleti BT, Camargo PG, Gonçalves MD, Tomiotto-Pellissier F, Silva TF, Concato VM, Detoni MB, Bidóia DL, da Silva Lima CH, Rodrigues CR, Bispo MDLF, de Macedo FC, Conchon-Costa I, Miranda-Sapla MM, Wowk PF, Pavanelli WR. Effect of a thiohydantoin salt derived from l-Arginine on Leishmania amazonensis and infected cells: Insights from biological effects to molecular docking interactions. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 403:111216. [PMID: 39218371 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111216] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania and is responsible for more than 1 million new cases and 70,000 deaths annually worldwide. Treatment has high costs, toxicity, complex and long administration time, several adverse effects, and drug-resistant strains, therefore new therapies are urgently needed. Synthetic compounds have been highlighted in the medicinal chemistry field as a strong option for drug development against different diseases. Organic salts (OS) have multiple biological activities, including activity against protozoa such as Leishmania spp. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro leishmanicidal activity and death mechanisms of a thiohydantoin salt derived from l-arginine (ThS) against Leishmania amazonensis. We observed that ThS treatment inhibited promastigote proliferation, increased ROS production, phosphatidylserine exposure and plasma membrane permeabilization, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, lipid body accumulation, autophagic vacuole formation, cell cycle alteration, and morphological and ultrastructural changes, showing parasites death. Additionally, ThS presents low cytotoxicity in murine macrophages (J774A.1), human monocytes (THP-1), and sheep erythrocytes. ThS in vitro cell treatment reduced the percentage of infected macrophages and the number of amastigotes per macrophage by increasing ROS production and reducing TNF-α levels. These results highlight the potential of ThS among thiohydantoins, mainly related to the arginine portion, as a leishmanicidal drug for future drug strategies for leishmaniasis treatment. Notably, in silico investigation of key targets from L. amazonensis, revealed that a ThS compound from the l-arginine amino acid strongly interacts with arginase (ARG) and TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE), suggesting its potential as a Leishmania inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Taciane da Silva Bortoleti
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Postgraduate Program, Carlos Chagas Institute, (ICC/Fiocruz/PR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Priscila Goes Camargo
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Chemistry Department, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Manoela Daiele Gonçalves
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Biotransformation and Phytochemistry, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Postgraduate Program, Carlos Chagas Institute, (ICC/Fiocruz/PR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Taylon Felipe Silva
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Virginia Marcia Concato
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Mariana Barbosa Detoni
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Danielle Larazin Bidóia
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Rangel Rodrigues
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ivete Conchon-Costa
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Pryscilla Fanini Wowk
- Carlos Chagas Institute (ICC/Fiocruz/PR), Molecular Immunology and Cellular Group, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Wander Rogério Pavanelli
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
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Wu J, Sheng Y, Mai S, Zhong Y, Dai S, Luo Y, Sheng X. The function of the ATG8 in the cilia and cortical microtubule maintenance of Euplotes amieti. PROTOPLASMA 2024:10.1007/s00709-024-01957-8. [PMID: 38769089 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-024-01957-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy regulates the formation of primary cilia, which in turn affects autophagy. The relationship between autophagy and cilia is known to be bidirectional although the specific mechanisms involved have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we found for the first time that ATG8 protein localizes in the basal body of the dorsal kineties and the base of the ventral cirri in Euplotes amieti. ATG8 protein maintains the structural integrity of cilia and plays a role in the construction of the cortical ciliature and microtubule cytoskeleton associated with cilia. ATG8 gene interference leads to the degradation of IFT88, the transport protein in cilia, thus inhibiting the generation of cilia, and affecting the swing of cilia. This influences the swimming speed and cilia pattern, leading to death in Euplotes amieti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Sheng
- Laboratory of Basic Medical Morphology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shihuan Mai
- School of Medical Imaging, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhao Zhong
- School of Medical Imaging, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengrong Dai
- School of Medical Imaging, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yupeng Luo
- School of Medical Imaging, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Sheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, People's Republic of China.
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Granato JDT, Silva ETD, Lemos ASDO, Machado PDA, Midlej VDV, Antinarelli LMR, Silva Neto AFD, Souza MVN, Coimbra ES. 4-Quinolinylhydrazone analogues kill Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis by inducing apoptosis and mitochondria-dependent pathway cell death. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14535. [PMID: 38772877 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Despite efforts, available alternatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis are still scarce. In this work we tested a class of 15 quinolinylhydrazone analogues and presented data that support the use of the most active compound in cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania amazonensis. In general, the compounds showed activity at low concentrations for both parasitic forms (5.33-37.04 μM to promastigotes, and 14.31-61.98 μM to amastigotes). In addition, the best compound (MHZ15) is highly selective for the parasite. Biochemical studies indicate that the treatment of promastigotes with MHZ15 leads the loss of mitochondrial potential and increase in ROS levels as the primary effects, which triggers accumulation of lipid droplets, loss of plasma membrane integrity and apoptosis hallmarks, including DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure. These effects were similar in the intracellular form of the parasite. However, in this parasitic form there is no change in plasma membrane integrity in the observed treatment time, which can be attributed to metabolic differences and the resilience of the amastigote. Also, ultrastructural changes such as vacuolization suggesting autophagy were observed. The in vivo effectiveness of MHZ15 in the experimental model of cutaneous leishmaniasis was carried out in mice of the BALB/c strain infected with L. amazonensis. The treatment by intralesional route showed that MHZ15 acted with great efficiency with significantly reduction in the parasite load in the injured paws and draining lymph nodes, without clinical signs of distress or compromise of animal welfare. In vivo toxicity was also evaluated and null alterations in the levels of hepatic enzymes aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase was observed. The data presented herein demonstrates that MHZ15 exhibits a range of favorable characteristics conducive to the development of an antileishmanial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana da Trindade Granato
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Emerson Teixeira da Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos Farmanguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ari Sérgio de Oliveira Lemos
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Patrícia de Almeida Machado
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victor do Valle Midlej
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana Maria Ribeiro Antinarelli
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adolfo Firmino da Silva Neto
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinícius Nora Souza
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Instituto de Tecnologia em Fármacos Farmanguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elaine Soares Coimbra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Yadav N, Sharma K, Sengupta S, Singh S. Triethyl phosphine decorated cerium oxide nanoparticles exhibit selective killing of the unicellular protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:413. [PMID: 38009165 PMCID: PMC10665285 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03813-7] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, Leishmaniasis affects underprivileged communities of the nations and chemotherapy remains one of the preferred treatment options. However, the cytotoxicity, side effects, and cost of the present chemotherapies limit their utilization. Auranofin [an organogold compound having significant structural similarity with triethyl-phosphine (TEP)] has been reported as an effective therapy for Leishmaniasis treatment. Considering the high cost of gold and the strong affinity of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) to phosphine ligands, we designed TEP-decorated CeNPs (CeNPs-TEP) and used them as a novel antileishmanial agent. The hydrodynamic size of synthesized CeNPs and CeNPs-TEP was observed to be 22.2 ± 3.7 nm and 92.11 ± 6.2 nm, respectively. CeNPs-TEP provided aqueous stability to TEP as TEP alone is extremely unstable in water. Exposure of CeNPs-TEP showed ~ 60 and ~ 82% cell death in Leishmania donovani Ag83 promastigotes after 24 and 48 h, respectively. The same concentration of CeNPs-TEP did not affect the cellular viability of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells significantly. The oxidative stress and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane were also observed after the treatment of CeNPs-TEP. Exposure of CeNPs-TEP induced a ~ 2.2-fold increase in ROS generation inside Leishmania donovani Ag83 cells. Dual staining with ethidium bromide and acridine orange reveals that these processes ultimately result in cell death. The results conclude that a combination of CeNPs and TEP could open the door for developing novel antileishmanial therapeutics in the future. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03813-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Yadav
- Division of Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Central Campus, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009 India
| | - Kikku Sharma
- Division of Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Central Campus, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009 India
| | - Souvik Sengupta
- Division of Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Central Campus, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009 India
| | - Sanjay Singh
- Division of Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Central Campus, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009 India
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Opposite Journalist Colony, Near Gowlidoddy, Extended Q-City Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Telangana 500032 India
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Chao-Pellicer J, Arberas-Jiménez I, Fuchs F, Sifaoui I, Piñero JE, Lorenzo-Morales J, Scheid P. Repurposing of Nitroxoline as an Alternative Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis Treatment. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1280. [PMID: 37627700 PMCID: PMC10451279 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12081280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA), Naegleria fowleri is the etiological agent of a fatal disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Once infection begins, the lesions generated in the central nervous system (CNS) result in the onset of symptoms leading to death in a short period of time. Currently, there is no standardized treatment against the infection, which, due to the high virulence of the parasite, results in a high case fatality rate (>97%). Therefore, it is essential to search for new therapeutic sources that can generate a rapid elimination of the parasite. In recent years, there have already been several successful examples of drug repurposing, such as Nitroxoline, for which, in addition to its known bioactive properties, anti-Balamuthia activity has recently been described. Following this approach, the anti-Naegleria activity of Nitroxoline was tested. Nitroxoline displayed low micromolar activity against two different strains of N. fowleri trophozoites (IC50 values of 1.63 ± 0.37 µM and 1.17 ± 0.21 µM) and against cyst stages (IC50 of 1.26 ± 0.42 μM). The potent anti-parasitic activity compared to the toxicity produced (selectivity index of 3.78 and 5.25, respectively) in murine macrophages and human cell lines (reported in previous studies), together with the induction of programmed cell death (PCD)-related events in N. fowleri make Nitroxoline a great candidate for an alternative PAM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Chao-Pellicer
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; (J.C.-P.); (I.A.-J.); (I.S.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Iñigo Arberas-Jiménez
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; (J.C.-P.); (I.A.-J.); (I.S.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Frieder Fuchs
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Central Hospital Koblenz, 56072 Koblenz, Germany;
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital Cologne, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, 50935 Cologne, Germany
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; (J.C.-P.); (I.A.-J.); (I.S.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - José E. Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; (J.C.-P.); (I.A.-J.); (I.S.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain; (J.C.-P.); (I.A.-J.); (I.S.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Patrick Scheid
- Parasitology Lab., Central Military Hospital Koblenz, 56072 Koblenz, Germany
- Department of Biology, Working Group Parasitology and Infection Biology, University Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, Germany
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Wang G, Wang Y, Wang K, Zhao H, Liu M, Liang W, Li D. Perillaldehyde Functions as a Potential Antifungal Agent by Triggering Metacaspase-Independent Apoptosis in Botrytis cinerea. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0052623. [PMID: 37191530 PMCID: PMC10269628 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00526-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold, is an important plant pathogen causing preharvest and postharvest diseases. Due to the extensive use of commercial fungicides, fungicide-resistant strains have emerged. Natural compounds with antifungal properties are widely present in various kinds of organisms. Perillaldehyde (PA), derived from the plant species Perilla frutescens, is generally recognized as a potent antimicrobial substance and to be safe to humans and the environment. In this study, we demonstrated that PA could significantly inhibit the mycelial growth of B. cinerea and reduced its pathogenicity on tomato leaves. We also found that PA had a significant protective effect on tomato, grape, and strawberry. The antifungal mechanism of PA was investigated by measuring the reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, the intracellular Ca2+ level, the mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA fragmentation, and phosphatidylserine exposure. Further analyses revealed that PA promoted protein ubiquitination and induced autophagic activities and then triggered protein degradation. When the two metacaspase genes, BcMca1 and BcMca2, were knocked out from B. cinerea, all mutants did not exhibit reduced sensitivity to PA. These findings demonstrated that PA could induce metacaspase-independent apoptosis in B. cinerea. Based on our results, we proposed that PA could be used as an effective control agent for gray mold management. IMPORTANCE Botrytis cinerea causes gray mold disease, is considered one of the most important dangerous pathogens worldwide, and leads to severe economic losses worldwide. Due to the lack of resistant varieties of B. cinerea, gray mold control has mainly relied on application of synthetic fungicides. However, long-term and extensive use of synthetic fungicides has increased fungicide resistance in B. cinerea and is harmful to humans and the environment. In this study, we found that perillaldehyde has a significant protective effect on tomato, grape, and strawberry. We further characterized the antifungal mechanism of PA on B. cinerea. Our results indicated that PA induced apoptosis that was independent of metacaspase function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanbo Wang
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yadi Wang
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Kunchun Wang
- The Linzi Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Zibo, China
| | - Haonan Zhao
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Mengjie Liu
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenxing Liang
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Delong Li
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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Durand PM, Ramsey G. The concepts and origins of cell mortality. HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE LIFE SCIENCES 2023; 45:23. [PMID: 37289372 DOI: 10.1007/s40656-023-00581-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Organismal death is foundational to the evolution of life, and many biological concepts such as natural selection and life history strategy are so fashioned only because individuals are mortal. Organisms, irrespective of their organization, are composed of basic functional units-cells-and it is our understanding of cell death that lies at the heart of most general explanatory frameworks for organismal mortality. Cell death can be exogenous, arising from transmissible diseases, predation, or other misfortunes, but there are also endogenous forms of death that are sometimes the result of adaptive evolution. These endogenous forms of death-often labeled programmed cell death, PCD-originated in the earliest cells and are maintained across the tree of life. Here, we consider two problematic issues related to PCD (and cell mortality generally). First, we trace the original discoveries of cell death from the nineteenth century and place current conceptions of PCD in their historical context. Revisions of our understanding of PCD demand a reassessment of its origin. Our second aim is thus to structure the proposed origin explanations of PCD into coherent arguments. In our analysis we argue for the evolutionary concept of PCD and the viral defense-immunity hypothesis for the origin of PCD. We suggest that this framework offers a plausible account of PCD early in the history of life, and also provides an epistemic basis for the future development of a general evolutionary account of mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre M Durand
- Department of Philosophy, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - Grant Ramsey
- Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Ramos-Milaré ÁCFH, Sydor BG, Brustolin AÁ, Lera-Nonose DSSL, Oyama J, Silva EL, Caetano W, Campanholi KSS, Demarchi IG, Silveira TGV, Lonardoni MVC. In vitro effects of lapachol and β-lapachone against Leishmania amazonensis. Braz J Med Biol Res 2023; 56:e12693. [PMID: 37255095 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x2023e12693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide, and special attention should be given to treatment because the available drugs have limitations, which can lead to low therapeutic adherence and parasitic resistance. This study evaluated the activity of the bioactive naphthoquinones, lapachol and β-lapachone, against Leishmania amazonensis. The cell alterations were evaluated in vitro on promastigote and amastigote forms. The lethal dose (LD50) at 24, 48, and 72 h on the promastigote's forms using lapachol was 75.60, 72.82, and 58.85 μg/mL and for β-lapachone was 0.65, 1.24, and 0.71 μg/mL, respectively. The naphthoquinones significantly inhibited the survival rate of L. amazonensis amastigotes at 83.11, 57.59, and 34.95% for lapachol (82.28, 41.14, and 20.57 µg/mL), and 78.49, 83.25, and 80.22% for β-lapachone (3.26, 1.63, and 0.815 µg/mL). The compounds on the promastigote's forms led to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, induced changes in the integrity of the membrane, caused damage to cells suggestive of the apoptotic process, and showed inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 production. The results showed that these naphthoquinones are promising candidates for research on new drugs with anti-Leishmania activity derived from natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Á C F H Ramos-Milaré
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - B G Sydor
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - A Á Brustolin
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - D S S L Lera-Nonose
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - J Oyama
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biociências e Fisiopatologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - E L Silva
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - W Caetano
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - K S S Campanholi
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - I G Demarchi
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - T G V Silveira
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
| | - M V C Lonardoni
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil
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9
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Almeida FS, Vanderley SER, Comberlang FC, Andrade AGD, Cavalcante-Silva LHA, Silva EDS, Palmeira PHDS, Amaral IPGD, Keesen TSL. Leishmaniasis: Immune Cells Crosstalk in Macrophage Polarization. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8050276. [PMID: 37235324 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8050276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a complex infectious parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, belonging to a group of neglected tropical diseases. It establishes significant global health challenges, particularly in socio-economically disadvantaged regions. Macrophages, as innate immune cells, play a crucial role in initiating the inflammatory response against the pathogens responsible for this disease. Macrophage polarization, the process of differentiating macrophages into pro-inflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes, is essential for the immune response in leishmaniasis. The M1 phenotype is associated with resistance to Leishmania infection, while the M2 phenotype is predominant in susceptible environments. Notably, various immune cells, including T cells, play a significant role in modulating macrophage polarization by releasing cytokines that influence macrophage maturation and function. Furthermore, other immune cells can also impact macrophage polarization in a T-cell-independent manner. Therefore, this review comprehensively examines macrophage polarization's role in leishmaniasis and other immune cells' potential involvement in this intricate process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Silva Almeida
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Shayenne Eduarda Ramos Vanderley
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Fernando Cézar Comberlang
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Arthur Gomes de Andrade
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Luiz Henrique Agra Cavalcante-Silva
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Edson Dos Santos Silva
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique de Sousa Palmeira
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Ian P G do Amaral
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Tatjana S L Keesen
- Immunology of Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
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10
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Chao-Pellicer J, Arberas-Jiménez I, Delgado-Hernández S, Sifaoui I, Tejedor D, García-Tellado F, Piñero JE, Lorenzo-Morales J. Cyanomethyl Vinyl Ethers Against Naegleria fowleri. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37167960 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri is a pathogenic amoeba that causes a fulminant and rapidly progressive disease affecting the central nervous system called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Moreover, the disease is fatal in more than 97% of the reported cases, mostly affecting children and young people after practicing aquatic activities in nontreated fresh and warm water bodies contaminated with these amoebae. Currently, the treatment of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is based on a combination of different antibiotics and antifungals, which are not entirely effective and lead to numerous side effects. In the recent years, research against PAM is focused on the search of novel, less toxic, and fully effective antiamoebic agents. Previous studies have reported the activity of cyano-substituted molecules in different protozoa. Therefore, the activity of 46 novel synthetic cyanomethyl vinyl ethers (QOET-51 to QOET-96) against two type strains of N. fowleri (ATCC 30808 and ATCC 30215) was determined. The data showed that QOET-51, QOET-59, QOET-64, QOET-67, QOET-72, QOET-77, and QOET-79 were the most active molecules. In fact, the selectivity index (CC50/IC50) was sixfold higher when compared to the activities of the drugs of reference. In addition, the mechanism of action of these compounds was studied, with the aim to demonstrate the induction of a programmed cell death process in N. fowleri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Chao-Pellicer
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, La Laguna 38203, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias 38200, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28220, Spain
| | - Iñigo Arberas-Jiménez
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, La Laguna 38203, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias 38200, Spain
| | - Samuel Delgado-Hernández
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avda. Fco. Sánchez 3, La Laguna 38206, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Química. Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife 38206, Spain
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, La Laguna 38203, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias 38200, Spain
| | - David Tejedor
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avda. Fco. Sánchez 3, La Laguna 38206, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Química. Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife 38206, Spain
| | - Fernando García-Tellado
- Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avda. Fco. Sánchez 3, La Laguna 38206, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Química. Unidad Departamental de Química Analítica, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife 38206, Spain
| | - José E Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, La Laguna 38203, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias 38200, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28220, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, La Laguna 38203, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Islas Canarias 38200, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28220, Spain
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11
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Sun P, Wang C, Zhang Y, Tang X, Hu D, Xie F, Hao Z, Suo J, Yu Y, Suo X, Liu X. Transcriptome profile of halofuginone resistant and sensitive strains of Eimeria tenella. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1141952. [PMID: 37065111 PMCID: PMC10098198 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1141952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The antiparasitic drug halofuginone is important for controlling apicomplexan parasites. However, the occurrence of halofuginone resistance is a major obstacle for it to the treatment of apicomplexan parasites. Current studies have identified the molecular marker and drug resistance mechanisms of halofuginone in Plasmodium falciparum. In this study, we tried to use transcriptomic data to explore resistance mechanisms of halofuginone in apicomplexan parasites of the genus Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae). After halofuginone treatment of E. tenella parasites, transcriptome analysis was performed using samples derived from both resistant and sensitive strains. In the sensitive group, DEGs associated with enzymes were significantly downregulated, whereas the DNA damaging process was upregulated after halofuginone treatment, revealing the mechanism of halofuginone-induced parasite death. In addition, 1,325 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between halofuginone resistant and sensitive strains, and the DEGs related to translation were significantly downregulated after halofuginone induction. Overall, our results provide a gene expression profile for further studies on the mechanism of halofuginone resistance in E. tenella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoyue Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinming Tang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dandan Hu
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Fujie Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenkai Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingxia Suo
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yonglan Yu
- Department of Clinic Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xun Suo
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xun Suo,
| | - Xianyong Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health Security, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Xianyong Liu,
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12
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Romano PS, Akematsu T, Besteiro S, Bindschedler A, Carruthers VB, Chahine Z, Coppens I, Descoteaux A, Alberto Duque TL, He CY, Heussler V, Le Roch KG, Li FJ, de Menezes JPB, Menna-Barreto RFS, Mottram JC, Schmuckli-Maurer J, Turk B, Tavares Veras PS, Salassa BN, Vanrell MC. Autophagy in protists and their hosts: When, how and why? AUTOPHAGY REPORTS 2023; 2:2149211. [PMID: 37064813 PMCID: PMC10104450 DOI: 10.1080/27694127.2022.2149211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic protists are a group of organisms responsible for causing a variety of human diseases including malaria, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis, among others. These diseases, which affect more than one billion people globally, mainly the poorest populations, are characterized by severe chronic stages and the lack of effective antiparasitic treatment. Parasitic protists display complex life-cycles and go through different cellular transformations in order to adapt to the different hosts they live in. Autophagy, a highly conserved cellular degradation process, has emerged as a key mechanism required for these differentiation processes, as well as other functions that are crucial to parasite fitness. In contrast to yeasts and mammals, protist autophagy is characterized by a modest number of conserved autophagy-related proteins (ATGs) that, even though, can drive the autophagosome formation and degradation. In addition, during their intracellular cycle, the interaction of these pathogens with the host autophagy system plays a crucial role resulting in a beneficial or harmful effect that is important for the outcome of the infection. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on autophagy and other related mechanisms in pathogenic protists and their hosts. We sought to emphasize when, how, and why this process takes place, and the effects it may have on the parasitic cycle. A better understanding of the significance of autophagy for the protist life-cycle will potentially be helpful to design novel anti-parasitic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Silvia Romano
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Takahiko Akematsu
- Department of Biosciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Vern B Carruthers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zeinab Chahine
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Isabelle Coppens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Baltimore 21205, MD, USA
| | - Albert Descoteaux
- Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut national de la recherche scientifique, Laval, QC
| | - Thabata Lopes Alberto Duque
- Autophagy Inflammation and Metabolism Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Cynthia Y He
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Volker Heussler
- Institute of Cell Biology.University of Bern. Baltzerstr. 4 3012 Bern
| | - Karine G Le Roch
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of California Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Feng-Jun Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Jeremy C Mottram
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Patricia Sampaio Tavares Veras
- Laboratory of Host-Parasite Interaction and Epidemiology, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Fiocruz-Bahia
- National Institute of Science and Technology of Tropical Diseases - National Council for Scientific Research and Development (CNPq)
| | - Betiana Nebai Salassa
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - María Cristina Vanrell
- Laboratorio de Biología de Trypanosoma cruzi y de la célula hospedadora. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. (IHEM-CONICET-UNCUYO). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Av. Libertador 80 (5500), Mendoza, Argentina
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13
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de Souza CC, de Azevedo-França JA, Barrias E, Cavalcante SCF, Vieira EG, Ferreira AMDC, de Souza W, Navarro M. Silver and copper-benznidazole derivatives as potential antiparasitic metallodrugs: Synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 239:112047. [PMID: 36428157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.112047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Currently the only drug available to treat Chagas disease in Brazil is benznidazole (BZN). Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover and develop new anti- Trypanosoma cruzi candidates. In our continuous effort to enhance clinical antiparasitic drugs using synergistic strategy, BZN was coordinated to silver and copper ions to enhance its effectiveness to treat that illness. In this work, the syntheses of four novel metal-BZN complexes, [Ag(BZN)2]NO3·H2O (1), [CuCl2(BZN)(H2O)]·1/2CH3CN (2), [Ag(PPh3)2(BZN)2]NO3·H2O (3), and [Cu(PPh3)2(BNZ)2]NO3·2H2O (4), and their characterization using multiple analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as Infrared (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H, 13C, 31P), UV-Visible (UV-Vis), Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), conductivity and elemental analysis are described. IC50 (Half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values of Ag-BZN compounds are about five to ten times lower than benznidazole itself in both proliferation stages of the parasite (epimastigotes and amastigotes). The cytotoxicity of both compounds in human cells (fibroblasts and hepatocytes) are comparable to BZN, indicating that Ag-BZN complexes can be more selective than BZN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassiano Cunha de Souza
- Laboratório de Química Bioinorgânica e Catálise, Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - José Aleixo de Azevedo-França
- Laboratório de Química Bioinorgânica e Catálise, Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Emile Barrias
- Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, INMETRO, Xerém, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Eduardo Guimarães Vieira
- Laboratório de Bioinorgânica, Catálise e Farmacologia, Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Da Costa Ferreira
- Laboratório de Bioinorgânica, Catálise e Farmacologia, Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia (INBEB) and Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maribel Navarro
- Laboratório de Química Bioinorgânica e Catálise, Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
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14
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Gonzalez-Pastor R, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Rodríguez-Pólit C, Mayorga-Ramos A, Guamán LP, Barba-Ostria C. Current Landscape of Methods to Evaluate Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Extracts. Molecules 2023; 28:1068. [PMID: 36770734 PMCID: PMC9920787 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural extracts have been and continue to be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, from infectious diseases to cancer, based on their convenience and therapeutic potential. Natural products derived from microbes, plants, and animals offer a broad variety of molecules and chemical compounds. Natural products are not only one of the most important sources for innovative drug development for animal and human health, but they are also an inspiration for synthetic biology and chemistry scientists towards the discovery of new bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals. This is particularly relevant in the current context, where antimicrobial resistance has risen as a global health problem. Thus, efforts are being directed toward studying natural compounds' chemical composition and bioactive potential to generate drugs with better efficacy and lower toxicity than existing molecules. Currently, a wide range of methodologies are used to analyze the in vitro activity of natural extracts to determine their suitability as antimicrobial agents. Despite traditional technologies being the most employed, technological advances have contributed to the implementation of methods able to circumvent issues related to analysis capacity, time, sensitivity, and reproducibility. This review produces an updated analysis of the conventional and current methods to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Gonzalez-Pastor
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Saskya E. Carrera-Pacheco
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Johana Zúñiga-Miranda
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Cristina Rodríguez-Pólit
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Arianna Mayorga-Ramos
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Linda P. Guamán
- Biomedical Research Center (CENBIO), Eugenio Espejo School of Health Sciences, Universidad UTE, Quito 170527, Ecuador
| | - Carlos Barba-Ostria
- School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito 170901, Ecuador
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15
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San Nicolás-Hernández D, Bethencourt-Estrella CJ, López-Arencibia A, Hernández-Álvarez E, Sifaoui I, Bazzocchi IL, Lorenzo-Morales J, Jiménez IA, Piñero JE. Withaferin A-silyl ether analogs as potential anti-kinetoplastid agents targeting the programmed cell death. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 157:114012. [PMID: 36399830 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114012] [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: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Current therapies of leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, two of the most widespread neglected tropical diseases, have limited efficacy and toxic side effects. In this regard, natural products play an important role in overcoming the current need for new antiparasitic agents. The present study reports the leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activities of twenty-four known silyl-ether derivatives of withaferin A. Eleven compounds from this series (4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22 and 25) showed a potent dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes respectively, even higher than the references drugs, miltefosine and benznidazole. Among them, the most promising compound, derivative 10, exhibited approximately 34-fold higher leishmanicidal activity and 49-fold higher trypanocidal activity compared to the reference drugs, as well as lower cytotoxicity. Moreover, compounds 4, 7, 10, 12 and 15 were more active than the reference drugs against the amastigote forms of L. amazonensis, presenting a high selectivity index. Assays performed to study the ATP levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, plasma membrane permeability, chromatin condensation, reactive oxygen species and autophagy indicated that these withaferin A-silyl analogs appear to induce events characteristic of apoptosis-like and also autophagy leading to programmed cell death. These findings support the therapeutic potential of withaferin A-related steroids as anti-Leishmania and Trypanosoma agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desirée San Nicolás-Hernández
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofısico Fco. Sanchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Carlos J Bethencourt-Estrella
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofısico Fco. Sanchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Atteneri López-Arencibia
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofısico Fco. Sanchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Eduardo Hernández-Álvarez
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna, Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofısico Fco. Sanchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Isabel L Bazzocchi
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna, Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofısico Fco. Sanchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ignacio A Jiménez
- Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de La Laguna, Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 2, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - José E Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofısico Fco. Sanchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain; Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Red de Investigación Cooperativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Inst. de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Lai JW, Maah MJ, Tan KW, Sarip R, Lim YAL, Ganguly R, Khaw LT, Ng CH. Dinuclear and mononuclear metal(II) polypyridyl complexes against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and their mode of action. Malar J 2022; 21:386. [PMID: 36528584 PMCID: PMC9758846 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04406-0] [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: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria remains one of the most virulent and deadliest parasitic disease in the world, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. Widespread occurrence of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains from the Greater Mekong Subregion is alarming. This hinders the national economies, as well as being a major drawback in the effective control and elimination of malaria worldwide. Clearly, an effective anti-malarial drug is urgently needed. METHODS The dinuclear and mononuclear copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes were synthesized in ethanolic solution and characterized by various physical measurements (FTIR, CHN elemental analysis, solubility, ESI-MS, UV-Visible, conductivity and magnetic moment, and NMR). X-ray crystal structure of the dicopper(II) complex was determined. The in vitro haemolytic activities of these metal complexes were evaluated spectroscopically on B+ blood while the anti-malarial potency was performed in vitro on blood stage drug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 (Pf3D7) and artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum IPC5202 (Pf5202) with fluorescence dye. Mode of action of metal complexes were conducted to determine the formation of reactive oxygen species using PNDA and DCFH-DA dyes, JC-1 depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, malarial 20S proteasome inhibition with parasite lysate, and morphological studies using Giemsa and Hoechst stains. RESULTS Copper(II) complexes showed anti-malarial potency against both Pf3D7 and Pf5202 in sub-micromolar to micromolar range. The zinc(II) complexes were effective against Pf3D7 with excellent therapeutic index but encountered total resistance against Pf5202. Among the four, the dinuclear copper(II) complex was the most potent against both strains. The zinc(II) complexes caused no haemolysis of RBC while copper(II) complexes induced increased haemolysis with increasing concentration. Further mechanistic studies of both copper(II) complexes on both Pf3D7 and Pf5202 strains showed induction of ROS, 20S malarial proteasome inhibition, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and morphological features indicative of apoptosis. CONCLUSION The dinuclear [Cu(phen)-4,4'-bipy-Cu(phen)](NO3)4 is highly potent and can overcome the total drug-resistance of Pf5202 towards chloroquine and artemisinin. The other three copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes were only effective towards the drug-sensitive Pf3D7, with the latter causing no haemolysis of RBC. Their mode of action involves multiple targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wei Lai
- grid.10347.310000 0001 2308 5949Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Jamil Maah
- grid.10347.310000 0001 2308 5949Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kong Wai Tan
- grid.10347.310000 0001 2308 5949Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rozie Sarip
- grid.10347.310000 0001 2308 5949Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
- grid.10347.310000 0001 2308 5949Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rakesh Ganguly
- grid.410868.30000 0004 1781 342XShiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Loke Tim Khaw
- grid.411729.80000 0000 8946 5787Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chew Hee Ng
- grid.411729.80000 0000 8946 5787Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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17
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In silico insight of cell-death-related proteins in photosynthetic cyanobacteria. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:511. [PMID: 35864385 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03130-2] [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: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are a large group of ubiquitously found photosynthetic prokaryotes that are constantly exposed to different kinds of stressors of varying intensities and seem to overcome these in a precise and regulated manner. However, a high dose and duration of given stress induce cell death in a few select cyanobacteria, mainly to protect other cells (altruism). Despite the recent findings for the presence of biochemical and molecular hallmarks of cell death in cyanobacteria, it is yet a sketchily understood phenomenon. Regulation of metacaspase-like genes during Programmed Cell Death suggests it to be a genetically controlled mechanism like other eukaryotes. In addition to providing a comprehensive understanding of the current status of cell death in cyanobacteria, this review has used in silico analyses to directly compare the existence of some important molecular players operating in the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Phylogenetic trees for all sequences indicate a cluster with a common ancestry and also a divergence from sequences of eukaryotic origin. To the best of our knowledge, such a comparison (except for orthocaspases) has not been attempted earlier and hopes to encourage workers in the field to investigate this altruistic phenomenon in detail.
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18
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Li S, Qian J, Xu M, Yang J, He Z, Zhao T, Zhao J, Fang R. A new adenine nucleotide transporter located in the ER is essential for maintaining the growth of Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010665. [PMID: 35788770 PMCID: PMC9286291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the subcellular site where secretory protein folding, glycosylation and sulfation of membrane-bound proteins, proteoglycans, and lipids occur. The protein folding and degradation in the lumen of the ER require high levels of energy in the form of ATP. Biochemical and genetic approaches show that ATP must first be translocated across ER membrane by particular transporters before serving as substrates and energy sources in the lumenal reactions. Here we describe an ATP/ADP transporter residing in the ER membranes of T.gondii. Immunofluorescence (IFA) assay in transgenic TgANT1-HA tag revealed that TgANT1 is a protein specifically expressed in the ER. In vitro assays, functional integration of TgANT in the cytoplasmic membrane of intact E. coli cells reveals high specificity for an ATP/ADP antiport. The depletion of TgANT leads to fatal growth defects in T.gondii, including a significant slowdown in replication, no visible plaque formation, and reduced ability to invade. We also found that the amino acid mutations in two domains of TgANT lead to the complete loss of its function. Since these two domains are conserved in multiple species, they may share the same transport mechanism. Our results indicate that TgANT is the only ATP/ADP transporter in the ER of T. gondii, and the lack of ATP in the ER is the cause of the death of T. gondii. The secretory protein of T. gondii is essential for its invasion and normal growth in host cells, all the secretory proteins are synthesized in the ER before being destined for these distinct organelles, such as apicoplast, microneme, dense granule and rhoptry. ER ATP is demanded to support secretory protein folding and trafficking, and the level of ER ATP determines which proteins are able to be directed to the distinct organelles. In theory, the supply of ATP in the ER is necessary for T. gondii. However, the transport mechanism and importance of the ER ATP in T. gondii are still unclear. In our study, we identified an ATP/ADP transporter (TgANT) located in the ER and verified its function through various methods. Unlike the ER ATP/ADP transporter in mammals, we proved that TgANT is functionally specific; the deletion of TgANT caused the interruption of the supply of ATP in the ER, which leads to fatal phenotypic defects of T. gondii. Our research further expands the understanding of the growth regulation in T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jiahui Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhengming He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tongjie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Rui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- * E-mail:
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Docampo R, Vercesi AE. Mitochondrial Ca 2+ and Reactive Oxygen Species in Trypanosomatids. Antioxid Redox Signal 2022; 36:969-983. [PMID: 34218689 PMCID: PMC9125514 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2021.0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Significance: Millions of people are infected with trypanosomatids and new therapeutic approaches are needed. Trypanosomatids possess one mitochondrion per cell and its study has led to discoveries of general biological interest. These mitochondria, as in their animal counterparts, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and have evolved enzymatic and nonenzymatic defenses against them. Mitochondrial calcium ion (Ca2+) overload leads to generation of ROS and its study could lead to relevant information on the biology of trypanosomatids and to novel drug targets. Recent Advances: Mitochondrial Ca2+ is normally involved in maintaining the bioenergetics of trypanosomes, but when Ca2+ overload occurs, it is associated with cell death. Trypanosomes lack key players in the mechanism of cell death described in mammalian cells, although mitochondrial Ca2+ overload results in collapse of their membrane potential, production of ROS, and cytochrome c release. They are also very resistant to mitochondrial permeability transition, and cell death after mitochondrial Ca2+ overload depends on generation of ROS. Critical Issues: In this review, we consider the mechanisms of mitochondrial oxidant generation and removal and the involvement of Ca2+ in trypanosome cell death. Future Directions: More studies are required to determine the reactions involved in generation of ROS by the mitochondria of trypanosomatids, their enzymatic and nonenzymatic defenses against ROS, and the occurrence and composition of a mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 36, 969-983.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Docampo
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
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20
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Pedra-Rezende Y, Macedo IS, Midlej V, Mariante RM, Menna-Barreto RFS. Different Drugs, Same End: Ultrastructural Hallmarks of Autophagy in Pathogenic Protozoa. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:856686. [PMID: 35422792 PMCID: PMC9002357 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.856686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites interact with a wide variety of organisms ranging from bacteria to humans, representing one of the most common causes of parasitic diseases and an important public health problem affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The current treatment for these parasitic diseases remains unsatisfactory and, in some cases, very limited. Treatment limitations together with the increased resistance of the pathogens represent a challenge for the improvement of the patient’s quality of life. The continuous search for alternative preclinical drugs is mandatory, but the mechanisms of action of several of these compounds have not been described. Electron microscopy is a powerful tool for the identification of drug targets in almost all cellular models. Interestingly, ultrastructural analysis showed that several classes of antiparasitic compounds induced similar autophagic phenotypes in trypanosomatids, trichomonadids, and apicomplexan parasites as well as in Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba spp. with the presence of an increased number of autophagosomes as well as remarkable endoplasmic reticulum profiles surrounding different organelles. Autophagy is a physiological process of eukaryotes that maintains homeostasis by the self-digestion of nonfunctional organelles and/or macromolecules, limiting redundant and damaged cellular components. Here, we focus on protozoan autophagy to subvert drug effects, discussing its importance for successful chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Pedra-Rezende
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isabela S Macedo
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victor Midlej
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Mariante
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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21
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Kim H, Lee AR, Jeon KY, Ko EJ, Cha HJ, Ock MS. Transcriptome analysis of the pathogenic ciliate Miamiensis avidus after hydrogen peroxide treatment. KOSIN MEDICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.7180/kmj.21.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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22
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Arberas-Jiménez I, Rizo-Liendo A, Nocchi N, Sifaoui I, Chao-Pellicer J, Souto ML, Suárez-Gómez B, Díaz-Marrero AR, Fernández JJ, Piñero JE, Lorenzo-Morales J. Sesquiterpene lactones as potential therapeutic agents against Naegleria fowleri. Pharmacotherapy 2022; 147:112694. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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La SR, Ndhlovu A, Durand PM. The Ancient Origins of Death Domains Support the 'Original Sin' Hypothesis for the Evolution of Programmed Cell Death. J Mol Evol 2022; 90:95-113. [PMID: 35084524 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-021-10044-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of caspase homologs in bacteria highlighted the relationship between programmed cell death (PCD) evolution and eukaryogenesis. However, the origin of PCD genes in prokaryotes themselves (bacteria and archaea) is poorly understood and a source of controversy. Whether archaea also contain C14 peptidase enzymes and other death domains is largely unknown because of a historical dearth of genomic data. Archaeal genomic databases have grown significantly in the last decade, which allowed us to perform a detailed comparative study of the evolutionary histories of PCD-related death domains in major archaeal phyla, including the deepest branching phyla of Candidatus Aenigmarchaeota, Candidatus Woesearchaeota, and Euryarchaeota. We identified death domains associated with executioners of PCD, like the caspase homologs of the C14 peptidase family, in 321 archaea sequences. Of these, 15.58% were metacaspase type I orthologues and 84.42% were orthocaspases. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses revealed a scattered distribution of orthocaspases and metacaspases in deep-branching bacteria and archaea. The tree topology was incongruent with the prokaryote 16S phylogeny suggesting a common ancestry of PCD genes in prokaryotes and subsequent massive horizontal gene transfer coinciding with the divergence of archaea and bacteria. Previous arguments for the origin of PCD were philosophical in nature with two popular propositions being the "addiction" and 'original sin' hypotheses. Our data support the 'original sin' hypothesis, which argues for a pleiotropic origin of the PCD toolkit with pro-life and pro-death functions tracing back to the emergence of cellular life-the Last Universal Common Ancestor State.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Ri La
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Andrew Ndhlovu
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Pierre M Durand
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Paula JC, Fernandes NS, Karam TK, Baréa P, Sarragiotto MH, Ueda-Nakamura T, Silva SO, Nakamura CV. β-carbolines RCC and C5 induce death of Leishmania amazonensis intracellular amastigotes. Future Microbiol 2021; 17:99-110. [PMID: 34913373 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0263] [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: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by Leishmania spp., and its treatment is limited. The β-carbolines have shown activity against kinetoplastids. Aim: To evaluate the activity and effects of the β-carbolines, N-{2-[(4,6-bis(isopropylamino)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]ethyl}-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-β-carboline-3-carboxamide (RCC) and N-benzyl-1-(4-methoxy)phenyl-9H-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide (C5), against L. amazonensis intracellular amastigotes and to suggest their mechanism of action. Methods: We analyzed the activity and cytotoxicity of β-carbolines and the morphological alterations by electron microscopy. Mitochondrial membrane potential, production nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, lipidic bodies, autophagic vacuoles and ATP were also evaluated. Results & conclusion: The results showed that RCC and C5 are active against intracellular amastigotes and were able to induce oxidative stress and ultrastructural alterations such as accumulation of lipid bodies and autophagic vacuoles, leading to parasite death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica C Paula
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Nilma S Fernandes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Thaysa K Karam
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Paula Baréa
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil
| | - Maria H Sarragiotto
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil
| | - Tania Ueda-Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Sueli O Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Celso V Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
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Ebrahimi M, Montazeri M, Ahmadi A, Nami S, Hamishehkar H, Shahrivar F, Bakhtiar NM, Nissapatorn V, Spotin A, Ahmadpour E. Nanoliposomes increases Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis and apoptotic activities of metronidazole. Acta Trop 2021; 224:106156. [PMID: 34599888 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide. As current trichomoniasis chemotherapies have many side effects, we examined the Anti-Trichomonas effects of nano-liposomal metronidazole (NLMTZ) compared to metronidazole (MTZ) in vitro. Liposomes were produced using the thin film hydration-sonication technique with a slight modification coated with MTZ. The average hydrodynamic diameter of monodispersed NLMTZ was evaluated by DLS and the morphological measurements were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of NLMTZ and MTZ (5, 10, 20 and 40 µg/mL) on T. vaginalis trophozoites (105 cells/mL) in trypticase-yeast extract-maltose (TYM) medium were evaluated in different exposure times. Then, cell viability, IC50, SEM analysis and the expression of the metacaspase gene were assessed by qRT-PCR. Growth inhibition of MTZ in a concentration of 40 μg/mL was 39.34% after 3 h, whereas NLMTZ caused 51% growth inhibition after 3 h and lysed Trichomonas completely after 12 h. The IC50 values were estimated at 31.51 and 15.90 μg/mL after a 6 h exposure for MTZ and NLMTZ, respectively. Moreover, both T. vaginalis treated with MTZ and NLMTZ had high levels of metacaspase mRNA expression relative to the control groups (P< 0.05). A significant difference was observed between the apoptotic intensities of T. vaginalis treated with MTZ and NLMTZ (P< 0.05). This study showed that nano-liposomal MTZ is a potentially excellent approach for the treatment of trichomoniasis in vitro, although further studies are needed before consideration of clinical trials.
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López-Arencibia A, Sifaoui I, Reyes-Batlle M, Bethencourt-Estrella CJ, San Nicolás-Hernández D, Lorenzo-Morales J, Piñero JE. Discovery of New Chemical Tools against Leishmania amazonensis via the MMV Pathogen Box. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1219. [PMID: 34959620 PMCID: PMC8708704 DOI: 10.3390/ph14121219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania causes a spectrum of diseases and there are over 1 million infections each year. Current treatments are toxic, expensive, and difficult to administer, and resistance to them is emerging. In this study, we screened the antileishmanial activity of the Pathogen Box compounds from the Medicine for Malaria Venture against Leishmania amazonensis, and compared their structures and cytotoxicity. The compounds MMV676388 (3), MMV690103 (5), MMV022029 (7), MMV022478 (9) and MMV021013 (10) exerted a significant dose-dependent inhibition effect on the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Moreover, studies on the mechanism of cell death showed that compounds 3 and 5 induced an apoptotic process while the compounds 7, 9 and 10 seem to induce an autophagic mechanism. The present findings underline the potential of these five molecules as novel therapeutic leishmanicidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atteneri López-Arencibia
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ines Sifaoui
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Reyes-Batlle
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos J. Bethencourt-Estrella
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Desirée San Nicolás-Hernández
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - José E. Piñero
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Campus de Anchieta, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez, S/N, 38203 La Laguna, Spain; (I.S.); (M.R.-B.); (C.J.B.-E.); (D.S.N.-H.); (J.E.P.)
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38203 La Laguna, Spain
- Red de Investigación Colaborativa en Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red M.P. (CIBER) de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Bortoleti BTDS, Gonçalves MD, Tomiotto-Pellissier F, Camargo PG, Assolini JP, Concato VM, Detoni MB, Bidóia DL, Bispo MDLF, Lima CHDS, de Macedo FC, Conchon-Costa I, Miranda-Sapla MM, Wowk PF, Pavanelli WR. Investigation of the antileishmanial activity and mechanisms of action of acetyl-thiohydantoins. Chem Biol Interact 2021; 351:109690. [PMID: 34637778 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2021.109690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The currently available treatment options for leishmaniasis are associated with high costs, severe side effects, and high toxicity. In previous studies, thiohydantoins demonstrated some pharmacological activities and were shown to be potential hit compounds with antileishmanial properties. The present study further explored the antileishmanial effect of acetyl-thiohydantoins against Leishmania amazonensis and determined the main processes involved in parasite death. We observed that compared to thiohydantoin nuclei, acetyl-thiohydantoin treatment inhibited the proliferation of promastigotes. This treatment caused alterations in cell cycle progression and parasite size and caused morphological and ultrastructural changes. We then investigated the mechanisms involved in the death of the protozoan; there was an increase in ROS production, phosphatidylserine exposure, and plasma membrane permeabilization and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, resulting in an accumulation of lipid bodies and the formation of autophagic vacuoles on these parasites and confirming an apoptosis-like process. In intracellular amastigotes, selected acetyl-thiohydantoins reduced the percentage of infected macrophages and the number of amastigotes/macrophages by increasing ROS production and reducing TNF-α levels. Moreover, thiohydantoins did not induce cytotoxicity in murine macrophages (J774A.1), human monocytes (THP-1), or sheep erythrocytes. In silico and in vitro analyses showed that acetyl-thiohydantoins exerted in vitro antileishmanial effects on L. amazonensis promastigotes in apoptosis-like and amastigote forms by inducing ROS production and reducing TNF-α levels, indicating that they are good candidates for drug discovery studies in leishmaniasis treatment. Additionally, we carried out molecular docking analyses of acetyl-thiohydantoins on two important targets of Leishmania amazonensis: arginase and TNF-alpha converting enzyme. The results suggested that the acetyl groups in the N1-position of the thiohydantoin ring and the ring itself could be pharmacophoric groups due to their affinity for binding amino acid residues at the active site of both enzymes via hydrogen bond interactions. These results demonstrate that thiohydantoins are promising hit compounds that could be used as antileishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Taciane da Silva Bortoleti
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Postgraduate Program, Carlos Chagas Institute, (ICC/Fiocruz/PR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Manoela Daiele Gonçalves
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Biotransformation and Phytochemistry, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Postgraduate Program, Carlos Chagas Institute, (ICC/Fiocruz/PR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Priscila Goes Camargo
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Research on Bioactive Molecules, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Assolini
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Virginia Marcia Concato
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Mariana Barbosa Detoni
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Danielle Larazin Bidóia
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernando Cesar de Macedo
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Research on Bioactive Molecules, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ivete Conchon-Costa
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | - Wander Rogério Pavanelli
- State University of Londrina (UEL/PR), Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
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Marcolino LMC, Pereira AHC, Pinto JG, Mamone LA, Strixino JF. CELLULAR AND METABOLIC CHANGES AFTER PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY IN LEISHMANIA PROMASTIGOTES. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2021; 35:102403. [PMID: 34161856 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease, regarded by WHO as a public health problem that has presented a significant increase in the recent years. Conventional treatment is toxic and leads to serious side effects. Photodynamic therapy has been studied as a treatment to cutaneous leishmaniasis. This study aimed to evaluate the cell viability, morphological changes, type of cell death, production of reactive oxygen species, and changes in the mitochondrial membrane and DNA fragmentation in Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania major promastigotes. Confocal microscopy was used to quantify the fluorescence emitted by JC-1, Annexin V, and propidium iodide reagents. The trypan blue exclusion test was used to evaluate the viability of the cells, the mitochondrial activity was verified with MTT, and the morphological changes were analyzed for SEM and DNA damage using the comet assay. PDT using curcumin at 500, 125, and 31,25 μg/mL decreased the viability of the parasites and induced changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential. The production of reactive oxygen species was dose-dependent and was observed only in the groups submitted to PDT. DNA damage was also observed in the parasite cells. The morphology of the cells was affected mainly at the highest curcumin concentration, resulting in rounded cells with a shortened flagellum. When the type of cell death was analyzed, the prevalence of apoptosis was noted. The results support the use of curcumin as photosensitizer in PDT against Leishmania promastigotes in the treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Maria Cortez Marcolino
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil.
| | - André Henrique Correia Pereira
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil
| | - Juliana Guerra Pinto
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil
| | - Leandro Ariel Mamone
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias (CIPYP), CONICET and Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Córdoba 2351 1er subsuelo, Ciudad de Buenos Aires CP1120AAF, Argentina
| | - Juliana Ferreira Strixino
- Photobiology Applied to Health - Universidade do Vale do Paraíba. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, Urbanova, São José dos Campos, S.P, Brazil.
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29
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In vitro study of the trypanocidal activity of anilinophenanthrolines against Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitol Int 2021; 83:102338. [PMID: 33766741 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is present in Latin America, North America, Europe, and Asia, where between 6 and 7 million people are infected. This illness is transmitted mainly by the insect vector during blood feeding and by oral transmission. Chagas disease is treated with benznidazole and its effectiveness depends on which phase of the disease the treatment starts. Therefore, the identification of new compounds with anti-Chagas activities is important. Protozoan parasites present cysteine proteases, important for host cell infection and differentiation, which have been explored as valid targets against pathogenic parasites. In the present study, the effects of 10 new 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives were evaluated on T. cruzi. Three of them were effective against amastigotes (IC50 from 0.5 to 3 μM), epimastigotes (IC50 from 0.5 to at least 10 μM) and trypomastigotes (and LD50 from 1 to 10 μM), and they were not toxic to mammalian cells (CC50 ≥ 20 μM). These compounds also promoted the formation of autophagosomes, alter the level of heterochromatin condensation, caused the loss of kDNA topology, and the elongated cell body shape. Apart from ultrastructural alterations, an increased generation of ROS and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential were observed. Therefore, these drugs revealed potential trypanocidal effects and warrant further antiparasitic studies against Chagas disease.
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30
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Elamin M, Al-Olayan E, Abdel-Gaber R, Yehia RS. Anti-proliferative and apoptosis induction activities of curcumin on Leishmania major. Rev Argent Microbiol 2021; 53:240-247. [PMID: 33531168 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a major vector-borne disease triggered by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by the bite of phlebotomine female sand flies. This parasite causes a wide range of human diseases, from localized self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and apoptotic effects of curcumin on Leishmania major promastigotes (MHOM/SA/84/JISH) and to assess these effects on the cell cycle of promastigotes. The MTT colorimetric assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity and proliferation of promastigotes. Additionally, flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle. The Annexin V/propidium iodide staining technique followed by flow cytometry was used to study the cell death induced by curcumin. In this study curcumin showed a potent antileishmanial effect, exhibiting cytotoxicity against L. major promastigotes. At 80μM, the survival in curcumin treated promastigotes reached 22%; however, the median lethal concentration of curcumin (LC50) was 35μM. The drug exerted its cytotoxic effect by inducing apoptosis. Curcumin-induced cell death in promastigotes reached 82.5% at 80μM concentration. In addition, curcumin delayed the cell cycle in the S-phase inhibiting cell proliferation. Thus, curcumin was shown to be effective against L. major promastigotes. Therefore, curcumin merits further research studies to demonstrate its efficacy in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Elamin
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ebtsam Al-Olayan
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rewaida Abdel-Gaber
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
| | - Ramy S Yehia
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
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31
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Machado PDA, Gomes PS, Midlej V, Coimbra ES, de Matos Guedes HL. PF-429242, a Subtilisin Inhibitor, Is Effective in vitro Against Leishmania infantum. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:583834. [PMID: 33584607 PMCID: PMC7876069 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.583834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
PF-429242 is an inhibitor of subtilisin, an important protease found in Leishmania. However, studies regarding the effect of PF-429242 on Leishmania are scarce. In this work we evaluated the antileishmanial effect of PF-429242 against Leishmania infantum and the mechanism involved in the death of the parasite. PF-429242 had low toxicity against mammalian cells (peritoneal macrophages) (CC50 = 189.07 μM) and presented activity against L. infantum promastigotes (IC50 = 2.78 μM) and intracellular amastigotes (IC50 = 14.07 μM), indicating selectivity toward the parasite. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as staining of L. infantum promastigotes with MitoTracker® Red, rhodamine 123 and MitoSOX, revealed that the mitochondria was a potential target of PF-429242. In addition, PF-429242 caused an accumulation of neutral lipids in promastigotes, which was demonstrated by Nile Red staining and TEM, and induced oxidative stress (H2DCFDA staining). Furthermore the formation of autophagic vacuoles in L. infantum promastigotes was observed by MDC staining and TEM. However, the killing induced by PF-429242 in L. infantum promastigotes appeared to be unrelated to apoptosis and/or necrosis as there was no phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation or alterations in the permeability of the parasite plasma membrane, as assessed by annexin V-FITC, TUNEL and propidium iodide staining, respectively. The morphological and ultrastructural evaluation of the promastigotes by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and TEM, revealed the presence of parasites with flagellar defects. TEM analysis of the intracellular amastigotes indicated that mitochondrial damage and autophagy could also be involved in the death of these forms after treatment with PF-429242. In addition, PF-429242 treatment stimulated NO production from infected macrophage, but only at a high concentration (100 μM), as well as an increase of TNF levels after treatment with 10 μM of PF-429242. The compound did not stimulate ROS or IL-10 production. Together, these data highlight the antileishmanial potential of PF-429242, inducing several cellular alterations in the parasite, such as mitochondrial damage, neutral lipids accumulation, oxidative stress and autophagy which culminate in the death of L. infantum, as well as modulating host cellular responses that favor the development of an immune response against the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia de Almeida Machado
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Núcleo de Pesquisa em Parasitologia (NUPEP), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | - Pollyanna Stephanie Gomes
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victor Midlej
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elaine Soares Coimbra
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Parasitologia (NUPEP), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil
| | - Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,UFRJ Campus Duque de Caxias Professor Geraldo Cidade - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Duque de Caxias, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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32
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Ndhlovu A, Durand PM, Ramsey G. Programmed cell death as a black queen in microbial communities. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:1110-1119. [PMID: 33253458 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) in unicellular organisms is in some instances an altruistic trait. When the beneficiaries are clones or close kin, kin selection theory may be used to explain the evolution of the trait, and when the trait evolves in groups of distantly related individuals, group or multilevel selection theory is invoked. In mixed microbial communities, the benefits are also available to unrelated taxa. But the evolutionary ecology of PCD in communities is poorly understood. Few hypotheses have been offered concerning the community role of PCD despite its far-reaching effects. The hypothesis we consider here is that PCD is a black queen. The Black Queen Hypothesis (BQH) outlines how public goods arising from a leaky function are exploited by other taxa in the community. Black Queen (BQ) traits are essential for community survival, but only some members bear the cost of possessing them, while others lose the trait In addition, BQ traits have been defined in terms of adaptive gene loss, and it is unknown whether this has occurred for PCD. Our conclusion is that PCD fulfils the two most important criteria of a BQ (leakiness and costliness), but that more empirical data are needed for assessing the remaining two criteria. In addition, we hold that for viewing PCD as a BQ, the original BQH needs to include social traits. Thus, despite some empirical and conceptual shortcomings, the BQH provides a helpful avenue for investigating PCD in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Ndhlovu
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Pierre M Durand
- Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Grant Ramsey
- Institute of Philosophy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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33
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Albuquerque RDDG, Oliveira AP, Ferreira C, Passos CLA, Fialho E, Soares DC, Amaral VF, Bezerra GB, Esteves RS, Santos MG, Albert ALM, Rocha L. Anti-Leishmania amazonensis activity of the terpenoid fraction from Eugenia pruniformis leaves. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2020; 92:e20201181. [PMID: 33295583 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202020201181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania and includes cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral clinical forms. Drugs currently available for leishmaniasis treatment present high toxicity, and development of parasite resistance. Plants constitute an important source of compounds with leishmanicidal potential. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-Leishmania amazonensis activity of the terpenoid fraction of Eugenia pruniformis leaves (TF-EpL). TF-EpL was active against the promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of L. amazonensis with IC50(24h) value of 43.60μg/mL and 44.77μg/mL, respectively. TF-EpL altered the cell cycle of the parasite, increasing 2.32-fold the cells in the Sub-G0/G1 phase. TF-EpL also changed the ΔΨm and increased ROS and the number of annexin-V-PI positive promastigotes, which suggests incidental death. β-sitosterol, ursolic acid, corosolic acid and asiatic acid were isolated from TF-EpL. The results showed the antileishmanial activity of E. pruniformis terpenoids and its potential for further studies as a source of new drugs for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo D D G Albuquerque
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Laboratório de Tecnologia de Produtos Naturais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Rua Dr. Mário Vianna, 523, Santa Rosa, 24241-000 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Adriana P Oliveira
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório Multidisciplinar de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Christian Ferreira
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Alimentos Funcionais, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos L A Passos
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Alimentos Funcionais, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Eliane Fialho
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Alimentos Funcionais, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Cidade Universitária, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Deivid C Soares
- Laboratório de Imunobiologia das Leishmanioses, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, Cidade Universitária, 21941-902 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Veronica F Amaral
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Imunobiologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, Centro, 24020-140 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabrielle B Bezerra
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Imunobiologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, Centro, 24020-140 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ricardo S Esteves
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Laboratório de Tecnologia de Produtos Naturais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Rua Dr. Mário Vianna, 523, Santa Rosa, 24241-000 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcelo G Santos
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Ciências, Faculdade de Formação de Professores, Rua Dr. Francisco Portela, 1470, Patronato, 24435-005 São Gonçalo, RJ, Brazil
| | - AndrÉ L M Albert
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Av. Brasil, 4365, Manguinhos, 21041-361 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Leandro Rocha
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Laboratório de Tecnologia de Produtos Naturais, Faculdade de Farmácia, Rua Dr. Mário Vianna, 523, Santa Rosa, 24241-000 Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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Update on relevant trypanosome peptidases: Validated targets and future challenges. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1869:140577. [PMID: 33271348 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2020.140577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of the American Trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the agents of Sleeping sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis, HAT), as well as Trypanosoma brucei brucei, the agent of the cattle disease nagana, contain cysteine, serine, threonine, aspartyl and metallo peptidases. The most abundant among these enzymes are the cysteine proteases from the Clan CA, the Cathepsin L-like cruzipain and rhodesain, and the Cathepsin B-like enzymes, which have essential roles in the parasites and thus are potential targets for chemotherapy. In addition, several other proteases, present in one or both parasites, have been characterized, and some of them are also promising candidates for the developing of new drugs. Recently, new inhibitors, with good selectivity for the parasite proteasomes, have been described and are very promising as lead compounds for the development of new therapies for these neglected diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Play and interplay of proteases in health and disease".
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Teixeira de Moraes Gomes PA, Veríssimo de Oliveira Cardoso M, Dos Santos IR, Amaro de Sousa F, da Conceição JM, Gouveia de Melo Silva V, Duarte D, Pereira R, Oliveira R, Nogueira F, Alves LC, Brayner FA, da Silva Santos AC, Rêgo Alves Pereira V, Lima Leite AC. Dual Parasiticidal Activities of Phthalimides: Synthesis and Biological Profile against Trypanosoma cruzi and Plasmodium falciparum. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:2164-2175. [PMID: 32813331 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease and malaria are two neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that prevail in tropical and subtropical regions in 149 countries. Chagas is also present in Europe, the US and Australia due to immigration of asymptomatic infected individuals. In the absence of an effective vaccine, the control of both diseases relies on chemotherapy. However, the emergence of parasite drug resistance is rendering currently available drugs obsolete. Hence, it is crucial to develop new molecules. Phthalimides, thiosemicarbazones, and 1,3-thiazoles have been used as scaffolds to obtain antiplasmodial and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents. Herein we present the synthesis of 24 phthalimido-thiosemicarbazones (3 a-x) and 14 phthalimido-thiazoles (4 a-n) and the corresponding biological activity against T. cruzi, Plasmodium falciparum, and cytotoxicity against mammalian cell lines. Some of these compounds showed potent inhibition of T. cruzi at low cytotoxic concentrations in RAW 264.7 cells. The most active compounds, 3 t (IC50 =3.60 μM), 3 h (IC50 =3.75 μM), and 4 j (IC50 =4.48 μM), were more active than the control drug benznidazole (IC50 =14.6 μM). Overall, the phthalimido-thiosemicarbazone derivatives were more potent than phthalimido-thiazole derivatives against T. cruzi. Flow cytometry assay data showed that compound 4 j was able to induce necrosis and apoptosis in trypomastigotes. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that T. cruzi trypomastigote cells treated with compounds 3 h, 3 t, and 4 j at IC50 concentrations promoted changes in the shape, flagella, and surface of the parasite body similar to those observed in benznidazole-treated cells. The compounds with the highest antimalarial activity were the phthalimido-thiazoles 4 l (IC50 =1.2 μM), 4 m (IC50 =1.7 μM), and 4 n (IC50 =2.4 μM). Together, these data revealed that phthalimido derivatives possess a dual antiparasitic profile with potential effects against T. cruzi and lead-like characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcos Veríssimo de Oliveira Cardoso
- Laboratório de Prospecção de Moléculas Bioativas Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental para o Semiárido, Universidade de Pernambuco, 56328-903, Petrolina, PE, Brazil
| | - Ignes Regina Dos Santos
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50740-535, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Amaro de Sousa
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50740-535, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Juliana Maria da Conceição
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50740-535, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Gouveia de Melo Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50740-535, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Denise Duarte
- Unidade de Ensino e Investigação de Parasitologia Médica, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira no 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Raquel Pereira
- Unidade de Ensino e Investigação de Parasitologia Médica, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira no 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rafael Oliveira
- Unidade de Ensino e Investigação de Parasitologia Médica, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira no 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fátima Nogueira
- Unidade de Ensino e Investigação de Parasitologia Médica, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira no 100, 1349-008, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luiz Carlos Alves
- Laboratório de imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Campus UFPE, 50670-901, Recife PE, Brazil.,Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 50670-420, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Fabio André Brayner
- Laboratório de imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Campus UFPE, 50670-901, Recife PE, Brazil.,Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, 50670-420, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ana Cristina Lima Leite
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 50740-535, Recife, PE, Brazil
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de Paula JC, Bakoshi ABK, Lazarin-Bidóia D, Ud Din Z, Rodrigues-Filho E, Ueda-Nakamura T, Nakamura CV. Antiproliferative activity of the dibenzylideneacetone derivate (E)-3-ethyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)but‑3-en-2-one in Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2020; 211:105653. [PMID: 32777226 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease is one of the most prevalent neglected diseases in the world. The illness is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle and three morphologically distinct developmental stages. Nowadays, the only treatment is based on two nitro-derivative drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, which cause serious side effects. Since the treatment is limited, the search for new treatment options for patients with Chagas disease is highly necessary. In this study we analyzed the substance A11K3, a dibenzylideneacetone (DBA). DBAs have an acyclic dienone attached to aryl groups in both β-positions and studies have shown that they have biological activity against tumors cells, bacteria, and protozoa such as T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. Here we show that A11K3 is active against all three T. cruzi evolutionary forms: the epimastigote (IC50 = 3.3 ± 0.8), the trypomastigote (EC50 = 24 ± 4.3) and the intracellular amastigote (IC50 = 9.3 ± 0.5 µM). A cytotoxicity assay in LLCMK2 cells showed a CC50 of 239.2 ± 15.7 µM giving a selectivity index (CC50/IC50) of 72.7 for epimastigotes, 9.9 for trypomastigotes and 25.9 for intracellular amastigotes. Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of the parasites treated with A11K3 by TEM and SEM revealed alterations in the Golgi complex, mitochondria, plasma membrane and cell body, with an increase of autophagic vacuoles and lipid bodies. Biochemical assays of A11K3-treated T. cruzi showed an increase of ROS, plasma membrane ruptures, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization with a decrease in ATP and accumulation of autophagic vacuoles. The results lead to the hypothesis that A11K3 causes death of the protozoan through events such as plasma membrane and mitochondrial alterations and autophagy, characteristic of cell collapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Carreira de Paula
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR CEP 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Amanda Beatriz Kawano Bakoshi
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR CEP 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Danielle Lazarin-Bidóia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR CEP 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Zia Ud Din
- LaBioMMi, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, São Carlos, SP 13.565-905, Brazil
| | - Edson Rodrigues-Filho
- LaBioMMi, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, CP 676, São Carlos, SP 13.565-905, Brazil
| | - Tania Ueda-Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR CEP 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Bloco B-08, Av. Colombo 5790, Maringá, PR CEP 87020-900, Brazil.
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Azeredo CM, Saraiva MF, de Oliveira MR, Barbosa G, de Almeida MV, de Souza MVN, Soares MJ. The terpenic diamine GIB24 inhibits the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, with proteomic analysis of drug-resistant epimastigotes. Chem Biol Interact 2020; 330:109165. [PMID: 32771326 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2020.109165] [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: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The effect of N-geranyl-ethane-1,2-diamine dihydochloride (GIB24), a synthetic diamine, was assayed against different developmental forms of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (strain Dm28c). The compound was effective against culture epimastigote forms (IC50/24h = 5.64 μM; SI = 16.4) and intracellular amastigotes (IC50/24h = 12.89 μM; SI = 7.18), as detected by the MTT methodology and by cell counting, respectively. Incubation of epimastigotes for 6h with 6 μM GIB24 (IC50/24h value) resulted in significant dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, prior to permeabilization of the plasma membrane. Rounded epimastigotes with cell size reduction were observed by scanning electron microscopy. These morpho-physiological changes induced by GIB24 suggest an incidental death process. Treatment of infected Vero cells did not prevent the intracellular amastigotes from completing the intracellular cycle. However, there was a decrease in the number of released parasites, increasing the ratio amastigotes/trypomastigotes. Proteomic analysis of 15 μM GIB24 resistant epimastigotes indicated that the compound acts mainly on mitochondrial components involved in the Krebs cycle and in maintaining the oxidative homeostasis of the parasites. Our data suggest that GIB24 is active against the main morphological forms of T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Maria Azeredo
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gisele Barbosa
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maurilio José Soares
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz-PR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
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38
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Silva RCMC, Fox EGP, Gomes FM, Feijó DF, Ramos I, Koeller CM, Costa TFR, Rodrigues NS, Lima AP, Atella GC, Miranda K, Schoijet AC, Alonso GD, de Alcântara Machado E, Heise N. Venom alkaloids against Chagas disease parasite: search for effective therapies. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10642. [PMID: 32606423 PMCID: PMC7327076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67324-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is an important disease affecting millions of patients in the New World and is caused by a protozoan transmitted by haematophagous kissing bugs. It can be treated with drugs during the early acute phase; however, effective therapy against the chronic form of Chagas disease has yet to be discovered and developed. We herein tested the activity of solenopsin alkaloids extracted from two species of fire ants against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiologic agent of Chagas disease. Although IC50 determinations showed that solenopsins are more toxic to the parasite than benznidazole, the drug of choice for Chagas disease treatment, the ant alkaloids presented a lower selectivity index. As a result of exposure to the alkaloids, the parasites became swollen and rounded in shape, with hypertrophied contractile vacuoles and intense cytoplasmic vacuolization, possibly resulting in osmotic stress; no accumulation of multiple kinetoplasts and/or nuclei was detected. Overexpressing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-an enzyme essential for osmoregulation that is a known target of solenopsins in mammalian cells-did not prevent swelling and vacuolization, nor did it counteract the toxic effects of alkaloids on the parasites. Additional experimental results suggested that solenopsins induced a type of autophagic and programmed cell death in T. cruzi. Solenopsins also reduced the intracellular proliferation of T. cruzi amastigotes in infected macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner and demonstrated activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense bloodstream forms, which is another important aetiological kinetoplastid parasite. The results suggest the potential of solenopsins as novel natural drugs against neglected parasitic diseases caused by kinetoplastids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael C M Costa Silva
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Eduardo G P Fox
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.,Red Imported Fire Ant Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, People's Republic of China
| | - Fabio M Gomes
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.,Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Daniel F Feijó
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Isabela Ramos
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Carolina M Koeller
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Tatiana F R Costa
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Nathalia S Rodrigues
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Ana P Lima
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Georgia C Atella
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Kildare Miranda
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Alejandra C Schoijet
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo D Alonso
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), C1428ADN, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Ednildo de Alcântara Machado
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil. .,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Norton Heise
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.
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Bhattacharya A, Corbeil A, do Monte-Neto RL, Fernandez-Prada C. Of Drugs and Trypanosomatids: New Tools and Knowledge to Reduce Bottlenecks in Drug Discovery. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070722. [PMID: 32610603 PMCID: PMC7397081 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [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: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis (Leishmania species), sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei), and Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) are devastating and globally spread diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites. At present, drugs for treating trypanosomatid diseases are far from ideal due to host toxicity, elevated cost, limited access, and increasing rates of drug resistance. Technological advances in parasitology, chemistry, and genomics have unlocked new possibilities for novel drug concepts and compound screening technologies that were previously inaccessible. In this perspective, we discuss current models used in drug-discovery cascades targeting trypanosomatids (from in vitro to in vivo approaches), their use and limitations in a biological context, as well as different examples of recently discovered lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Bhattacharya
- Department of Microbiology, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal 700 126, India;
| | - Audrey Corbeil
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
| | | | - Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-450-773-8521 (ext. 32802)
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40
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Correa R, Caballero Z, De León LF, Spadafora C. Extracellular Vesicles Could Carry an Evolutionary Footprint in Interkingdom Communication. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:76. [PMID: 32195195 PMCID: PMC7063102 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are minute particles secreted by the cells of living organisms. Although the functional role of EVs is not yet clear, recent work has highlighted their role in intercellular communication. Here, we expand on this view by suggesting that EVs can also mediate communication among interacting organisms such as hosts, pathogens and vectors. This inter-kingdom communication via EVs is likely to have important evolutionary consequences ranging from adaptation of parasites to specialized niches in the host, to host resistance and evolution and maintenance of parasite virulence and transmissibility. A potential system to explore these consequences is the interaction among the human host, the mosquito vector and Plasmodium parasite involved in the malaria disease. Indeed, recent studies have found that EVs derived from Plasmodium infected red blood cells in humans are likely mediating the parasite's transition from the asexual to sexual stage, which might facilitate transmission to the mosquito vector. However, more work is needed to establish the adaptive consequences of this EV signaling among different taxa. We suggest that an integrative molecular approach, including a comparative phylogenetic analysis of the molecules (e.g., proteins and nucleic acids) derived from the EVs of interacting organisms (and their closely-related species) in the malaria system will prove useful for understanding interkingdom communication. Such analyses will also shed light on the evolution and persistence of host, parasite and vector interactions, with implications for the control of vector borne infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Correa
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Cientificas y Servicios de Alta Tecnologia (INDICASAT AIP), Panama, Panama.,Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, India
| | - Zuleima Caballero
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Cientificas y Servicios de Alta Tecnologia (INDICASAT AIP), Panama, Panama
| | - Luis F De León
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carmenza Spadafora
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Cientificas y Servicios de Alta Tecnologia (INDICASAT AIP), Panama, Panama
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41
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Sangenito LS, Menna-Barreto RFS, d'Avila-Levy CM, Branquinha MH, Santos ALS. Repositioning of HIV Aspartyl Peptidase Inhibitors for Combating the Neglected Human Pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:6590-6613. [PMID: 31187704 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190610152934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the flagellate parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a wellknown neglected tropical disease. This parasitic illness affects 6-7 million people and can lead to severe myocarditis and/or complications of the digestive tract. The changes in its epidemiology facilitate co-infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), making even more difficult the diagnosis and prognosis. The parasitic infection is reactivated in T. cruzi/HIV co-infection, with the appearance of unusual manifestations in the chronic phase and the exacerbation of classical clinical signs. The therapeutic arsenal to treat Chagas disease, in all its clinical forms, is restricted basically to two drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox. Both drugs are extremely toxic and the therapeutic efficacy is still unclear, making the clinical treatment a huge issue to be solved. Therefore, it seems obvious the necessity of new tangible approaches to combat this illness. In this sense, the repositioning of approved drugs appears as an interesting and viable strategy. The discovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Aspartyl Peptidase Inhibitors (HIV-PIs) represented a milestone in the treatment of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and, concomitantly, a marked reduction in both the incidence and prevalence of important bacterial, fungal and parasitic co-infections was clearly observed. Taking all these findings into consideration, the present review summarizes the promising and beneficial data concerning the effects of HIV-PIs on all the evolutionary forms of T. cruzi and in important steps of the parasite's life cycle, which highlight their possible application as alternative drugs to treat Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro S Sangenito
- Laboratorio de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rubem F S Menna-Barreto
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cláudia M d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratorio de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marta H Branquinha
- Laboratorio de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André L S Santos
- Laboratorio de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Cardozo Pinto de Arruda C, de Jesus Hardoim D, Silva Rizk Y, da Silva Freitas de Souza C, Zaverucha do Valle T, Bento Carvalho D, Nosomi Taniwaki N, de Morais Baroni AC, da Silva Calabrese K. A Triazole Hybrid of Neolignans as a Potential Antileishmanial Agent by Triggering Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Molecules 2019; 25:molecules25010037. [PMID: 31861910 PMCID: PMC6983227 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the search for new compounds with antileishmanial activity, we synthesized a triazole hybrid analogue of the neolignans grandisin and machilin G (LASQUIM 25), which was previously found highly active against both promastigotes and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. In this work, we investigated the leishmanicidal effects of LASQUIM 25 to identify the mechanisms involved in the cell death of L. amazonensis promastigotes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed marked effects of LASQUIM 25 (IC50 = 7.2 µM) on the morphology of promastigote forms, notably on mitochondria. The direct action of the triazole derivative on the parasite was noticed over time from 2 h to 48 h, and cells displayed several ultrastructural alterations characteristic of apoptotic cells. Also, flow cytometric analysis (FACS) after TMRE staining detected changes in mitochondrial membrane potential after LASQUIM 25 treatment (64.83% labeling versus 83.38% labeling in nontreated cells). On the other hand, FACS after PI staining in 24 h-treatment showed a slight alteration in the integrity of the cell membrane, a necrotic event (16.76% necrotic cells versus 3.19% staining in live parasites). An abnormal secretion of lipids was observed, suggesting an exocytic activity. Another striking finding was the presence of autophagy-related lysosome-like vacuoles, suggesting an autophagic cell death that may arise as consequence of mitochondrial stress. Taken together, these results suggest that LASQUIM 25 leishmanicidal mechanisms involve some degree of mitochondrial dysregulation, already evidenced by the treatment with the IC50 of this compound. This effect may be due to the presence of a methylenedioxy group originated from machilin G, whose toxicity has been associated with the capacity to generate electrophilic intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cardozo Pinto de Arruda
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Humana, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil
- Correspondence: (C.C.P.d.A.); (K.d.S.C.); Tel.: +55-67-3345-7369 (C.C.P.d.A.); +55-21-2562-1879 (K.d.S.C.)
| | - Daiana de Jesus Hardoim
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Yasmin Silva Rizk
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Celeste da Silva Freitas de Souza
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Tânia Zaverucha do Valle
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
| | - Diego Bento Carvalho
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil; (D.B.C.); (A.C.d.M.B.)
| | - Noemi Nosomi Taniwaki
- Núcleo de Microscopia Eletrônica, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 01246-000 São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil;
| | - Adriano Cesar de Morais Baroni
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil; (D.B.C.); (A.C.d.M.B.)
| | - Kátia da Silva Calabrese
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Protozoologia (LIMP), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; (D.d.J.H.); (Y.S.R.); (C.d.S.F.d.S.); (T.Z.d.V.)
- Correspondence: (C.C.P.d.A.); (K.d.S.C.); Tel.: +55-67-3345-7369 (C.C.P.d.A.); +55-21-2562-1879 (K.d.S.C.)
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Abstract
Leishmaniases still represent a global scourge and new therapeutic tools are necessary to replace the current expensive, difficult to administer treatments that induce numerous adverse effects and for which resistance is increasingly worrying. In this context, the particularly original organization of the Leishmania parasite in comparison to higher eukaryotes is a great advantage. It allows for the development of new, very specific, and thus non-cytotoxic treatments. Among these originalities, Leishmania cell death can be cited. Despite a classic pattern of apoptosis, key mammalian apoptotic proteins are not present in Leishmania, such as caspases, cell death receptors, and anti-apoptotic molecules. Recent studies have helped to develop a better understanding of parasite cell death, identifying new proteins or even new apoptotic pathways. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on Leishmania cell death, describing its physiological roles and its phenotype, and discusses the involvement of various proteins: endonuclease G, metacaspase, aquaporin Li-BH3AQP, calpains, cysteine proteinase C, LmjHYD36 and Lmj.22.0600. From these data, potential apoptotic pathways are suggested. This review also offers tools to identify new Leishmania cell death effectors. Lastly, different approaches to use this knowledge for the development of new therapeutic tools are suggested: either inhibition of Leishmania cell death or activation of cell death for instance by treating cells with proteins or peptides involved in parasite death fused to a cell permeant peptide or encapsulated into a lipidic vector to target intra-macrophagic Leishmania cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Basmaciyan
- UMR PAM A, Valmis Team, 2 rue Angélique Ducoudray, BP 37013, 21070 Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Magali Casanova
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, LISM, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 13402 Marseille Cedex 09, France
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A novel nanoliposomal formulation of the FDA approved drug Halofantrine causes cell death of Leishmania donovani promastigotes in vitro. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2019.123852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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45
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Novel indol-3-yl-thiosemicarbazone derivatives: Obtaining, evaluation of in vitro leishmanicidal activity and ultrastructural studies. Chem Biol Interact 2019; 315:108899. [PMID: 31738906 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.108899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases still represent serious public health problems, since the high and steady emergence of resistant strains is evident. Because parasitic infections are distributed predominantly in developing countries, less toxic, more efficient, safer and more accessible drugs have become desirable in the treatment of the infected population. This is the case of leishmaniasis, an infectious disease caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania sp., responsible for triggering pathological processes from the simplest to the most severe forms leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In the search for new leishmanicidal drugs, the thiosemicarbazones and the indole fragments have been identified as promising structures for leishmanicidal activity. The present study proposes the synthesis and structural characterization of new indole-thiosemicarbazone derivatives (2a-j), in addition to performing in vitro evaluations through cytotoxicity assays using macrophages (J774) activity against forms of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania amazonensis promastigote as well as ultrastructural analyzes in promastigotes of L. infantum. Results show that the indole-thiosemicarbazone derivatives were obtained with yield values varying from 32.09 to 94.64%. In the evaluation of cytotoxicity, the indole-thiosemicarbazone compounds presented CC50 values between 53.23 and 357.97 μM. Concerning the evaluation against L. amazonensis promastigote forms, IC50 values ranged between 12.31 and > 481.52 μM, while the activity against L. infantum promastigotes obtained IC50 values between 4.36 and 23.35 μM. The compounds 2d and 2i tested against L. infantum were the most promising in the series, as they showed the lowest IC50 values: 5.60 and 4.36 respectively. The parasites treated with the compounds 2d and 2i showed several structural alterations, such as shrinkage of the cell body, shortening and loss of the flagellum, intense mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization of the cytoplasm leading the parasite to cellular unviability. Therefore, the indole-thiosemicarbazone compounds are promising because they yield considerable synthesis, have low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells and act as leishmanicidal agents.
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Lima ML, Romanelli MM, Borborema SE, Johns DM, Migotto AE, Lago JHG, Tempone AG. Antitrypanosomal activity of isololiolide isolated from the marine hydroid Macrorhynchia philippina (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa). Bioorg Chem 2019; 89:103002. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Basmaciyan L, Azas N, Casanova M. A potential acetyltransferase involved in Leishmania major metacaspase-dependent cell death. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:266. [PMID: 31133064 PMCID: PMC6537415 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3526-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, there is no satisfactory treatment for leishmaniases, owing to the cost, mode of administration, side effects and to the increasing emergence of drug resistance. As a consequence, the proteins involved in Leishmania apoptosis seem a target of choice for the development of new therapeutic tools against these neglected tropical diseases. Indeed, Leishmania cell death, while phenotypically similar to mammalian apoptosis, is very peculiar, involving no homologue of the key mammalian apoptotic proteins such as caspases and death receptors. Furthermore, very few proteins involved in Leishmania apoptosis have been identified. RESULTS We identified a protein involved in Leishmania apoptosis from a library of genes overexpressed during Leishmania differentiation during which autophagy occurs. Indeed, the gene was overexpressed when L. major cell death was induced by curcumin or miltefosine. Furthermore, its overexpression increased L. major curcumin- and miltefosine-induced apoptosis. This gene, named LmjF.22.0600, whose expression is dependent on the expression of the metacaspase, another apoptotic protein, encodes a putative acetyltransferase. CONCLUSIONS This new protein, identified as being involved in Leishmania apoptosis, will contribute to a better understanding of Leishmania death, which is needed owing to the absence of a satisfactory treatment against leishmaniases. It will also allow a better understanding of the original apoptotic pathways of eukaryotes in general, while evidence of the existence of such pathways is accumulating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Basmaciyan
- UMR PAM A, Valmis team, 2 rue Angélique Ducoudray, BP 37013, 21070 Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Nadine Azas
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Casanova
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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Basmaciyan L, Robinson DR, Azas N, Casanova M. (De)glutamylation and cell death in Leishmania parasites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007264. [PMID: 31017892 PMCID: PMC6502457 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are flagellated protozoan parasites that are very unusual in terms of cytoskeleton organization but also in terms of cell death. Most of the Trypanosomatid cytoskeleton consists of microtubules, forming different substructures including a subpellicular corset. Oddly, the actin network appears structurally and functionally different from other eukaryotic actins. And Trypanosomatids have an apoptotic phenotype under cell death conditions, but the pathways involved are devoid of key mammal proteins such as caspases or death receptors, and the triggers involved in apoptotic induction remain unknown. In this article, we have studied the role of the post-translational modifications, deglutamylation and polyglutamylation, in Leishmania. We have shown that Leishmania apoptosis was linked to polyglutamylation and hypothesized that the cell survival process autophagy was linked to deglutamylation. A balance seems to be established between polyglutamylation and deglutamylation, with imbalance inducing microtubule or other protein modifications characterizing either cell death if polyglutamylation was prioritized, or the cell survival process of autophagy if deglutamylation was prioritized. This emphasizes the role of post-translational modifications in cell biology, inducing cell death or cell survival of infectious agents. Leishmania are unique unicellular organisms in terms of cytoskeleton organization and mechanisms of cell death. For example, the major cytoskeletal components of these parasites are microtubules, which form a subpellicular corset. In terms of cell death, an apoptotic phenotype has been characterized in Leishmania but the pathways remain unknown, being devoid of key mammal cell death proteins. In a previous article, we demonstrated that the cytoskeleton of this parasite is extensively glutamylated but, paradoxically, overexpression or inhibition of polyglutamylase expression have limited visible cellular consequences. In this manuscript, we have highlighted the link between polyglutamylation and Leishmania cell death, suggesting the importance of the polyglutamylation/deglutamylation balance in this parasite. Further, we have identified, for the first time in Leishmania, deglutamylases, among which one that, in an original manner, deglutamylates glutamates at branching points but also long glutamate side chains. This work emphasizes the role of post-translational modifications as essential regulators of protein function, not only of mammal cells such as neurons or ciliated/flagellated cells, but also of infectious agents. This work suggests an important and discernible “live or die”—“cell death or autophagy” balance pathway and the conceptual mechanism that is involved in cellular decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Basmaciyan
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | - Nadine Azas
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Magali Casanova
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- * E-mail:
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Semicarbazone derivatives as promising therapeutic alternatives in leishmaniasis. Exp Parasitol 2019; 201:57-66. [PMID: 31004571 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo leishmanicidal activity of synthetic compounds, containing a semicarbazone scaffold as a peptide mimetic framework. The leishmanicidal effect against amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis was also evaluated at concentration of 100 μM-0.01 nM. The derivatives 2e, 2f, 2g and 1g, beyond the standards miltefosine and pentamidine, significantly diminished the number of L. amazonensis amastigotes in macrophages. These derivatives were also active against amastigotes of L. braziliensis. As 2g presented potent leishmanicidal activity against the amastigotes of L. amazonensis in macrophages, we also investigated the in vivo leishmanicidal activity of this compound against L. amazonensis. Approximately 105L. amazonensis promastigotes were subcutaneously inoculated into the dermis of the right ear of BALB/c mice, which were subsequently treated with 2g (p.o. or i.p.), miltefosine (p.o.) or glucantime (i.p.) at 30 μmol/kg/day x 28 days. Thus, a similar reduction in the lesion size was observed after the administration of 2g through oral (63.7 ± 10.1%) and intraperitoneal (61.8 ± 3.7%) routes. A larger effect was observed after treatment with miltefosine (97.7 ± 0.4%), and glucantime did not exhibit activity at the dose administered. With respect to the ear parasite load, 2g diminished the number of parasites by p.o. (30.5 ± 5.1%) and i.p. (33.3 ± 4.3%) administration. In addition, 2g induced in vitro apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle alterations on L. amazonensis promastigotes. In summary, the derivative 2g might represent a lead candidate for antileishmanial drugs, as this compound displayed pronounced leishmanicidal activity.
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50
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Tavares GS, Mendonça DV, Lage DP, Antinarelli LM, Soyer TG, Senna AJ, Matos GF, Dias DS, Ribeiro PA, Batista JP, Poletto JM, Brandão GC, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Pereira GR, Coimbra ES, Coelho EA. In vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of a fluoroquinoline derivate against Leishmania infantum and Leishmania amazonensis species. Acta Trop 2019; 191:29-37. [PMID: 30586571 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
New therapeutics against leishmaniasis are desirable, since the current drugs applied against this disease complex presents problems, such as the toxicity, high cost and/or parasite resistance. In the present study, a new fluoroquinoline derivate, namely 7-chloro-N-(4-fluorophenethyl)quinolin-4-amine or GF1061, was evaluated regarding to its in vitro antileishmanial action against Leishmania infantum and L. amazonensis species, as well as by its toxicity in mammalian cells and efficacy in the treatment of infected macrophages. The mechanism of action of this molecule in L. amazonensis and the therapeutic efficacy in infected BALB/c mice were also evaluated. Results showed that GF1061 was effective against both parasite species, showing selectivity index (SI) of 38.7 and 42.7 against L. infantum and L. amazonensis promastigotes, respectively, and of 45.0 and 48.9 against the amastigotes, respectively. Amphotericin B (AmpB), used as control, showed SI values of 6.6 and 8.8 against L. infantum and L. amazonensis promastigotes, respectively, and of 2.2 and 2.7 against the amastigotes, respectively. The molecule was effective in treat infected macrophages, as well as it induced alterations in the mitochondrial membrane potential, increase in the reactive oxygen species production, and in the cell integrity of the parasites. Regarding to the in vivo experiments, BALB/c mice (n = 8 per group) were subcutaneously infected with 106L. amazonensis stationary promastigotes and, 60 days post-infection, they received saline or were treated during 10 days, once a day, with AmpB (1 mg/kg body weight) or GF1061 (5 mg/kg body weight). One day after the treatment, the infected tissue, spleen, liver, and draining lymph node (dLN) of the animals were collected, and the parasite load was evaluated. GF1061-treated mice, as compared to the saline and AmpB groups, showed significant reductions in the parasitism in the infected tissue (66% and 62%, respectively), liver (69% and 44%, respectively), spleen (71% and 38%, respectively), and dLN (72% and 48%, respectively). In conclusion, results suggested that GF1061 may be considered as a possible therapeutic target to be evaluated against leishmaniasis in other mammalian hosts.
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