Prostaglandin D2 induces programmed cell death in Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream form

Parasitic infections: A new frontier for PGD2 functions

Prostaglandin (PG)D2 is produced and/or triggered by different parasites to modulate the course of the infection. These findings position PGD2 as a therapeutic target and suggest potential beneficial effects of repositioned drugs that target its synthesis or receptor engagement. However, recent in vivo data may suggest a more nuanced role and warrants further investigation of the role of PGD2 during the full course and complexity of parasitic infections.

Vitamin B12 blocked Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense-driven disruption of the blood brain barrier, and normalized nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels in a mouse model

Infection with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (T.b.r) causes acute Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) in Africa. This study determined the effect of vitamin B12 on T.b.r -driven pathological events in a mouse model. Mice were randomly assigned into four groups; group one was the control. Group two was infected with T.b.r; group three was supplemented with 8 mg/kg vitamin B12 for two weeks; before infection with T.b.r. For group four, administration of vitamin B12 was started from the 4th days post-infection with T.b.r. At 40 days post-infection, the mice were sacrificed to obtain blood, tissues, and organs for various analyses. The results showed that vitamin B12 administration enhanced the survival rate of T.b.r infected mice, and prevented T.b.r-induced disruption of the blood-brain barrier and decline in neurological performance. Notably, T.b.r-induced hematological alteration leading to anaemia, leukocytosis and dyslipidemia was alleviated by vitamin B12. T.b.r-induced elevation of the liver alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin as well as the kidney damage markers urea, uric acid and creatinine were attenuated by vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 blocked T.b.r-driven rise in TNF-α and IFN-γ, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde. T.b.r-induced depletion of GSH levels were attenuated in the presence of vitamin B12 in the brain, spleen and liver tissues; a clear indication of the antioxidant activity of vitamin B12. In conclusion, treatment with vitamin B12 potentially protects against various pathological events associated with severe late-stage HAT and presents a great opportunity for further scrutiny to develop an adjunct therapy for severe late-stage HAT.

The Trypanosome-Derived Metabolite Indole-3-Pyruvate Inhibits Prostaglandin Production in Macrophages by Targeting COX2

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of the neglected tropical disease human African trypanosomiasis, otherwise known as sleeping sickness. Trypanosomes have evolved many immune-evasion mechanisms to facilitate their own survival, as well as prolonging host survival to ensure completion of the parasitic life cycle. A key feature of the bloodstream form of T. brucei is the secretion of aromatic keto acids, which are metabolized from tryptophan. In this study, we describe an immunomodulatory role for one of these keto acids, indole-3-pyruvate (I3P). We demonstrate that I3P inhibits the production of PGs in activated macrophages. We also show that, despite the reduction in downstream PGs, I3P augments the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX2). This increase in COX2 expression is mediated in part via inhibition of PGs relieving a negative-feedback loop on COX2. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor also participates in this effect. However, the increase in COX2 expression is of little functionality, as we also provide evidence to suggest that I3P targets COX activity. This study therefore details an evasion strategy by which a trypanosome-secreted metabolite potently inhibits macrophage-derived PGs, which might promote host and trypanosome survival.

Fatty acid oxidation participates in resistance to nutrient-depleted environments in the insect stages of Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas disease, is a digenetic flagellated protist that infects mammals (including humans) and reduviid insect vectors. Therefore, T. cruzi must colonize different niches in order to complete its life cycle in both hosts. This fact determines the need of adaptations to face challenging environmental cues. The primary environmental challenge, particularly in the insect stages, is poor nutrient availability. In this regard, it is well known that T. cruzi has a flexible metabolism able to rapidly switch from carbohydrates (mainly glucose) to amino acids (mostly proline) consumption. Also established has been the capability of T. cruzi to use glucose and amino acids to support the differentiation process occurring in the insect, from replicative non-infective epimastigotes to non-replicative infective metacyclic trypomastigotes. However, little is known about the possibilities of using externally available and internally stored fatty acids as resources to survive in nutrient-poor environments, and to sustain metacyclogenesis. In this study, we revisit the metabolic fate of fatty acid breakdown in T. cruzi. Herein, we show that during parasite proliferation, the glucose concentration in the medium can regulate the fatty acid metabolism. At the stationary phase, the parasites fully oxidize fatty acids. [U-14C]-palmitate can be taken up from the medium, leading to CO2 production. Additionally, we show that electrons are fed directly to oxidative phosphorylation, and acetyl-CoA is supplied to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which can be used to feed anabolic pathways such as the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. Finally, we show as well that the inhibition of fatty acids mobilization into the mitochondrion diminishes the survival to severe starvation, and impairs metacyclogenesis.

Neuropathogenesis caused by Trypanosoma brucei, still an enigma to be unveiled

Trypanosoma brucei is one of the protozoa parasites that can enter the brain and cause injury associated with toxic effects of parasite-derived molecules or with immune responses against infection. Other protozoa parasites with brain tropism include Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Amoeba, and, eventually, other Trypanosomatids such as T. cruzi and Leishmania. Together, these parasites affect billions of people worldwide and are responsible for more than 500.000 deaths annually. Factors determining brain tropism, mechanisms of invasion as well as processes ongoing inside the brain are not well understood. But, they depend on the parasite involved. The pathogenesis caused by T. brucei initiates locally in the area of parasite inoculation, soon trypanosomes rich the blood, and the disease enters in the so-called early stage. The pathomechanisms in this phase have been described, even molecules used to combat the disease are effective during this period. Later, the disease evolves towards a late-stage, characterized by the presence of parasites in the central nervous system (CNS), the so-called meningo-encephalitic stage. This phase of the disease has not been sufficiently examined and remains a matter of investigation. Here, I stress the importance of delve into the study of the neuropathogenesis caused by T. brucei, which will enable the identification of pathways that may be targeted to overcome parasites that reached the CNS. Finally, I highlight the impact that the application of tools developed in the last years in the field of neuroscience will have on the study of neglected tropical diseases.

Glutamine Analogues Impair Cell Proliferation, the Intracellular Cycle and Metacyclogenesis in Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi is the aetiologic agent of Chagas disease, which affects people in the Americas and worldwide. The parasite has a complex life cycle that alternates among mammalian hosts and insect vectors. During its life cycle, T. cruzi passes through different environments and faces nutrient shortages. It has been established that amino acids, such as proline, histidine, alanine, and glutamate, are crucial to T. cruzi survival. Recently, we described that T. cruzi can biosynthesize glutamine from glutamate and/or obtain it from the extracellular environment, and the role of glutamine in energetic metabolism and metacyclogenesis was demonstrated. In this study, we analysed the effect of glutamine analogues on the parasite life cycle. Here, we show that glutamine analogues impair cell proliferation, the developmental cycle during the infection of mammalian host cells and metacyclogenesis. Taken together, these results show that glutamine is an important metabolite for T. cruzi survival and suggest that glutamine analogues can be used as scaffolds for the development of new trypanocidal drugs. These data also reinforce the supposition that glutamine metabolism is an unexplored possible therapeutic target.

Microglia in neuropathology caused by protozoan parasites

Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is the most severe consequence of some parasitic infections. Protozoal infections comprise a group of diseases that together affect billions of people worldwide and, according to the World Health Organization, are responsible for more than 500000 deaths annually. They include African and American trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and amoebiasis. Mechanisms underlying invasion of the brain parenchyma by protozoa are not well understood and may depend on parasite nature: a vascular invasion route is most common. Immunosuppression favors parasite invasion into the CNS and therefore the host immune response plays a pivotal role in the development of a neuropathology in these infectious diseases. In the brain, microglia are the resident immune cells active in defense against pathogens that target the CNS. Beside their direct role in innate immunity, they also play a principal role in coordinating the trafficking and recruitment of other immune cells from the periphery to the CNS. Despite their evident involvement in the neuropathology of protozoan infections, little attention has given to microglia-parasite interactions. This review describes the most prominent features of microglial cells and protozoan parasites and summarizes the most recent information regarding the reaction of microglial cells to parasitic infections. We highlight the involvement of the periphery-brain axis and emphasize possible scenarios for microglia-parasite interactions.

Inflammatory and Pro-resolving Lipids in Trypanosomatid Infections: A Key to Understanding Parasite Control

Pathogenic trypanosomatids (Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania spp.) are protozoan parasites that cause neglected diseases affecting millions of people in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. In the process of infection, trypanosomatids evade and survive the immune system attack, which can lead to a chronic inflammatory state that induces cumulative damage, often killing the host in the long term. The immune mediators involved in this process are not entirely understood. Most of the research on the immunologic control of protozoan infections has been focused on acute inflammation. Nevertheless, when this process is not terminated adequately, permanent damage to the inflamed tissue may ensue. Recently, a second process, called resolution of inflammation, has been proposed to be a pivotal process in the control of parasite burden and establishment of chronic infection. Resolution of inflammation is an active process that promotes the normal function of injured or infected tissues. Several mediators are involved in this process, including eicosanoid-derived lipids, cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and interleukin (IL)-10, and other proteins such as Annexin-V. For example, during T. cruzi infection, pro-resolving lipids such as 15-epi-lipoxin-A4 and Resolvin D1 have been associated with a decrease in the inflammatory changes observed in experimental chronic heart disease, reducing inflammation and fibrosis, and increasing host survival. Furthermore, Resolvin D1 modulates the immune response in cells of patients with Chagas disease. In Leishmania spp. infections, pro-resolving mediators such as Annexin-V, lipoxins, and Resolvin D1 are related to the modulation of cutaneous manifestation of the disease. However, these mediators seem to have different roles in visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis. Finally, although T. brucei infections are less well studied in terms of their relationship with inflammation, it has been found that arachidonic acid-derived lipids act as key regulators of the host immune response and parasite burden. Also, cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β may be related to increased infection. Knowledge about the inflammation resolution process is necessary to understand the host–parasite interplay, but it also offers an interesting opportunity to improve the current therapies, aiming to reduce the detrimental state induced by chronic protozoan infections.

Staurosporine: new lease of life for parent compound of today's novel and highly successful anti-cancer drugs

Staurosporine, together with such examples as penicillin, aspirin, ivermectin and sildenafil, exemplifies the role that serendipity has in drug discovery and why 'finding things without actually searching for them' retains a prominent role in drug discovery. Hitherto not clinically useful, due to its potency and promiscuity, new delivery technology is opening up new horizons for what was previously just the parent compound of innovative, highly-successful anti-cancer agents.

Human African trypanosomiasis: How do the parasites enter and cause dysfunctions of the nervous system in murine models?

In this review we describe how Trypanosoma brucei brucei, a rodent pathogenic strain of African trypanosomes, can invade the nervous system, first by localization to the choroid plexus, the circumventricular organs (CVOs) and peripheral ganglia, which have fenestrated vessels, followed by crossing of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the white matter, hypothalamus, thalamus and basal ganglia. White blood cells (WBCs) pave the way for the trypanosome neuroinvasion. Experiments with immune deficient mice show that the invasion of WBCs is initiated by the toll-like receptor 9, followed by an augmentation phase that depends on the cytokine IFN-γ and the chemokine CXCL10. Nitric oxide (NO) derived from iNOS then prevents a break-down of the BBB and non-regulated passage of cells. This chain of events is relevant for design of better diagnostic tools to distinguish the different stages of the disease as well as for better understanding of the pathogenesis of the nervous system dysfunctions, which include circadian rhythm changes with sleep pattern disruption, pain syndromes, movement disorders and mental disturbances including dementia.

Novel Activity of a Synthetic Decapeptide Against Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites

The killer peptide KP is a synthetic decapeptide derived from the sequence of the variable region of a recombinant yeast killer toxin-like microbicidal single-chain antibody. KP proved to exert significant activities against diverse microbial and viral pathogens through different mechanisms of action, but little is known of its effect on apicomplexan protozoa. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of KP against Toxoplasma gondii, a globally widespread protozoan parasite of great medical interest. The effect of KP treatment and its potential mechanism of action on T. gondii were evaluated by various methods, including light microscopy, quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In the presence of KP, the number of T. gondii tachyzoites able to invade Vero cells and the parasite intracellular proliferation were significantly reduced. Morphological observation and analysis of apoptotic markers suggested that KP is able to trigger an apoptosis-like cell death in T. gondii. Overall, our results indicate that KP could be a promising candidate for the development of new anti-Toxoplasma drugs with a novel mechanism of action.

Andrographolide induces oxidative stress-dependent cell death in unicellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei

African sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease in humans and livestock caused by Trypanosoma brucei throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Absence of appropriate vaccines and prevalence of drug resistance proclaim that a new way of therapeutic interventions is essential against African trypanosomiasis. In the present study, we have looked into the effect of andrographolide (andro), a diterpenoid lactone from Andrographis paiculata on Trypanosoma brucei PRA 380. Although andro has been recognized as a promosing anti-cancer drug, its usefulness against Trypanosoma spp remained unexplored. Andro showed promising anti-trypanosomal activity with an IC₅₀ value of 8.3μM assessed through SYBR Green cell viability assay and also showed no cytotoxicity towards normal murine macrophages. Cell cycle analysis revealed that andro could induce sub-G₀/G₁ phase arrest. Flow cytometric analysis also revealed that incubation with andro caused exposure of phosphatidyl serine to the outer leaflet of plasma membrane in T. brucei PCF. This event was preceded by andro-induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δym) and elevation of cytosolic calcium. Andro also caused elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as lipid peroxidation level, and depletion in reduced thiol levels. Taken together, these data indicate that andro has promising antitrypanosomal activity mediated by promoting oxidative stress and depolarizing the mitochondrial membrane potential and thereby triggering an apoptosis-like programmed cell death. Therefore, this study merits further investigation to the therapeutic possibility of using andro for the treatment of African trypanosomiasis.

Inhibitory effects of (+)-spectaline and iso-6-spectaline from Senna spectabilis on the growth and ultrastructure of human-infective species Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense bloodstream form

In our ongoing work searching for new trypanocidal lead compounds from Malaysian plants, two known piperidine alkaloids (+)-spectaline (1) and iso-6-spectaline (2) were isolated from the leaves of Senna spectabilis (sin. Cassia spectabilis). Analysis of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra showed that 1 and 2 presented analytical and spectroscopic data in full agreement with those published in the literature. All compounds were screened in vitro against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in comparison to the standard drug pentamidine. Compound 1 and 2 inhibited growth of T. b. rhodesiense with an IC₅₀ value of 0.41 ± 0.01 μM and 0.71 ± 0.01 μM, without toxic effect on L6 cells with associated a selectivity index of 134.92 and 123.74, respectively. These data show that piperidine alkaloids constitute a class of natural products that feature a broad spectrum of biological activities, and are potential templates for the development of new trypanocidal drugs. To our knowledge, the compounds are being reported for the first time to have inhibitory effects on T. b. rhodesiense. The ultrastructural alterations in the trypanosome induced by 1 and 2, leading to programmed cell death were characterized using electron microscopy. These alterations include wrinkling of the trypanosome surface, formation of autophagic vacuoles, disorganization of kinetoplast, and swelling of the mitochondria. These findings evidence a possible autophagic cell death.

Amphotericin B induces apoptosis-like programmed cell death in Naegleria fowleri and Naegleria gruberi

Naegleria fowleri and Naegleria gruberi belong to the free-living amoebae group. It is widely known that the non-pathogenic species N. gruberi is usually employed as a model to describe molecular pathways in this genus, mainly because its genome has been recently described. However, N. fowleri is an aetiological agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, an acute and fatal disease. Currently, the most widely used drug for its treatment is amphotericin B (AmB). It was previously reported that AmB has an amoebicidal effect in both N. fowleri and N. gruberi trophozoites by inducing morphological changes that resemble programmed cell death (PCD). PCD is a mechanism that activates morphological, biochemical and genetic changes. However, PCD has not yet been characterized in the genus Naegleria. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the typical markers to describe PCD in both amoebae. These results showed that treated trophozoites displayed several parameters of apoptosis-like PCD in both species. We observed ultrastructural changes, an increase in reactive oxygen species, phosphatidylserine externalization and a decrease in intracellular potassium, while DNA degradation was evaluated using the TUNEL assay and agarose gels, and all of these parameters are related to PCD. Finally, we analysed the expression of apoptosis-related genes, such as sir2 and atg8, in N. gruberi. Taken together, our results showed that AmB induces the morphological, biochemical and genetic changes of apoptosis-like PCD in the genus Naegleria.

African Trypanosomes Undermine Humoral Responses and Vaccine Development: Link with Inflammatory Responses?

African trypanosomosis is a debilitating disease of great medical and socioeconomical importance. It is caused by strictly extracellular protozoan parasites capable of infecting all vertebrate classes including human, livestock, and game animals. To survive within their mammalian host, trypanosomes have evolved efficient immune escape mechanisms and manipulate the entire host immune response, including the humoral response. This report provides an overview of how trypanosomes initially trigger and subsequently undermine the development of an effective host antibody response. Indeed, results available to date obtained in both natural and experimental infection models show that trypanosomes impair homeostatic B-cell lymphopoiesis, B-cell maturation and survival and B-cell memory development. Data on B-cell dysfunctioning in correlation with parasite virulence and trypanosome-mediated inflammation will be discussed, as well as the impact of trypanosomosis on heterologous vaccine efficacy and diagnosis. Therefore, new strategies aiming at enhancing vaccination efficacy could benefit from a combination of (i) early parasite diagnosis, (ii) anti-trypanosome (drugs) treatment, and (iii) anti-inflammatory treatment that collectively might allow B-cell recovery and improve vaccination.

Antiparasitic lethality of sulfonamidebenzamides in kinetoplastids

A sulfonamidebenzamide series was assessed for anti-kinetoplastid parasite activity based on structural similarity to the antiparasitic drug, nifurtimox. Through structure-activity optimization, derivatives with limited mammalian cell toxicity and increased potency toward African trypanosomes and Leishmania promastigotes were developed. Compound 22 had the best potency against the trypanosome (EC₅₀=0.010μM) while several compounds showed ∼10-fold less potency against Leishmania promastigotes without impacting mammalian cells (EC₅₀>25μM). While the chemotype originated from an unrelated optimization program aimed at selectively activating an apoptotic pathway in mammalian cancer cells, our preliminary results suggest that a distinct mechanism of action from that observed in mammalian cells is responsible for the promising activity observed in parasites.

African trypanosomes and brain infection - the unsolved question

African trypanosomes induce sleeping sickness. The parasites are transmitted during the blood meal of a tsetse fly and appear primarily in blood and lymph vessels, before they enter the central nervous system. During the latter stage, trypanosomes induce a deregulation of sleep-wake cycles and some additional neurological disorders. Historically, it was assumed that trypanosomes cross the blood-brain barrier and settle somewhere between the brain cells. The brain, however, is a strictly controlled and immune-privileged area that is completely surrounded by a dense barrier that covers the blood vessels: this is the blood-brain barrier. It is known that some immune cells are able to cross this barrier, but this requires a sophisticated mechanism and highly specific cell-cell interactions that have not been observed for trypanosomes within the mammalian host. Interestingly, trypanosomes injected directly into the brain parenchyma did not induce an infection. Likewise, after an intraperitoneal infection of rats, Trypanosoma brucei brucei was not observed within the brain, but appeared readily within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the meninges. Therefore, the parasite did not cross the blood-brain barrier, but the blood-CSF barrier, which is formed by the choroid plexus, i.e. the part of the ventricles where CSF is produced from blood. While there is no question that trypanosomes are able to invade the brain to induce a deadly encephalopathy, controversy exists about the pathway involved. This review lists experimental results that support crossing of the blood-brain barrier and of the blood-CSF barrier and discuss the implications that either pathway would have on infection progress and on the survival strategy of the parasite. For reasons discussed below, we prefer the latter pathway and suggest the existence of an additional distinct meningeal stage, from which trypanosomes could invade the brain via the Virchow-Robin space thereby bypassing the blood-brain barrier. We also consider healthy carriers, i.e. people living symptomless with the disease for up to several decades, and discuss implications the proposed meningeal stage would have for new anti-trypanosomal drug development. Considering the re-infection of blood, a process called relapse, we discuss the likely involvement of the newly described glymphatic connection between the meningeal space and the lymphatic system, that seems also be important for other infectious diseases.

Transcriptome and proteome analyses and the role of atypical calpain protein and autophagy in the spliced leader silencing pathway in Trypanosoma brucei

Under persistent ER stress, Trypanosoma brucei parasites induce the spliced leader silencing (SLS) pathway. In SLS, transcription of the SL RNA gene, the SL donor to all mRNAs, is extinguished, arresting trans-splicing and leading to programmed cell death (PCD). In this study, we investigated the transcriptome following silencing of SEC63, a factor essential for protein translocation across the ER membrane, and whose silencing induces SLS. The proteome of SEC63-silenced cells was analyzed with an emphasis on SLS-specific alterations in protein expression, and modifications that do not directly result from perturbations in trans-splicing. One such protein identified is an atypical calpain SKCRP7.1/7.2. Co-silencing of SKCRP7.1/7.2 and SEC63 eliminated SLS induction due its role in translocating the PK3 kinase. This kinase initiates SLS by migrating to the nucleus and phosphorylating TRF4 leading to shut-off of SL RNA transcription. Thus, SKCRP7.1 is involved in SLS signaling and the accompanying PCD. The role of autophagy in SLS was also investigated; eliminating autophagy through VPS34 or ATG7 silencing demonstrated that autophagy is not essential for SLS induction, but is associated with PCD. Thus, this study identified factors that are used by the parasite to cope with ER stress and to induce SLS and PCD.

A functional BH3 domain in an aquaporin from Leishmania infantum

Despite the absence of sequences showing significant similarity to any of the members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins in protozoa, experiments carried out in yeast or trypanosomatids have demonstrated that ectopic expression of some of these members alters their response to different death stimuli. Because the BH3 domain is the smallest common signature in all the proteins of this family of apoptosis regulators and also because they are essential for molecular interactions between antagonistic members, we looked for sequences with significant similarity to the BH3 motif in the Leishmania infantum genome. Among the top scoring ones, we found the MYLALQNLGDEV amino-acid stretch at the C terminus of a previously described aquaporin, now renamed as Li-BH3AQP. This motif is highly conserved in homologous proteins from other species of the Leishmania genus. The association of Li-BH3AQP with human Bcl-XL was demonstrated by both co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid experiments. Ectopic expression of Li-BH3AQP reduced viability of HeLa cells and this deleterious effect was abrogated by the simultaneous overexpression of Bcl-XL. Although we were not able to demonstrate a reduction in parasite viability when the protein was overexpressed in Leishmania promastigotes, a prodeath effect could be observed when the parasites overexpressing Li-BH3AQP were treated with staurosporine or antimycin A. Surprisingly, these parasites were more resistant, compared with wild-type parasites, to hypotonic stress or nutrient deprivation. The prodeath activity was abolished upon replacement of two highly conserved amino acids in this BH3 domain. Taken together, these results point to Li-BH3AQP as the first non-enzymatic protein ever described in trypanosomatids that is involved in cell death.

Ergosterone-coupled Triazol molecules trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and acidocalcisomal Ca2+ release in Leishmania mexicana promastigotes

The protozoan parasite Leishmania causes a variety of sicknesses with different clinical manifestations known as leishmaniasis. The chemotherapy currently in use is not adequate because of their side effects, resistance occurrence, and recurrences. Investigations looking for new targets or new active molecules focus mainly on the disruption of parasite specific pathways. In this sense, ergosterol biosynthesis is one of the most attractive because it does not occur in mammals. Here, we report the synthesis of ergosterone coupled molecules and the characterization of their biological activity on Leishmania mexicana promastigotes. Molecule synthesis involved three steps: ergosterone formation using Jones oxidation, synthesis of Girard reagents, and coupling reaction. All compounds were obtained in good yield and high purity. Results show that ergosterone-triazol molecules (Erg-GTr and Erg-GTr₂) exhibit an antiproliferative effect in low micromolar range with a selectivity index ~10 when compared to human dermic fibroblasts. Addition of Erg-GTr or Erg-GTr₂ to parasites led to a rapid [Ca²⁺]_cyt increase and acidocalcisomes alkalinization, indicating that Ca²⁺ was released from this organelle. Evaluation of cell death markers revealed some apoptosis-like indicators, as phosphatidylserine exposure, DNA damage, and cytosolic vacuolization and autophagy exacerbation. Furthermore, mitochondrion hyperpolarization and superoxide production increase were detected already 6 hours after drug addition, denoting that oxidative stress is implicated in triggering the observed phenotype. Taken together our results indicate that ergosterone-triazol coupled molecules induce a regulated cell death process in the parasite and may represent starting point molecules in the search of new chemotherapeutic agents to combat leishmaniasis.

Characterization of an African trypanosome mutant refractory to lectin-induced death

Incubation of African trypanosomes with the lectin concanavalin A (conA) leads to alteration in cellular DNA content, DNA degradation, and surface membrane blebbing. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a conA-refractory Trypanosoma brucei line. These insect stage parasites were resistant to conA killing, with a median lethal dose at least 50-fold greater than the parental line. Fluorescence-based experiments revealed that the resistant cells bound less lectin when compared to the parental line. Western blotting and mass spectrometry confirmed that the resistant line lacked an N-glycan required for conA binding on the cellular receptors, EP procyclin proteins. The failure to N-glycosylate the EP procyclins was not the consequence of altered N-glycan precursor biosynthesis, as another glycosylated protein (Fla1p) was normally modified. These findings support the likelihood that resistance to conA was a consequence of failure to bind the lectin trigger.

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Concanavalin A is toxic to Trypanosoma brucei.

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A mutant has been identified that is resistant to the concanavalin A killing.

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The mutant does not properly N-glycosylate the major lectin receptor, hence its resistance.

The response of trypanosomes and other eukaryotes to ER stress and the spliced leader RNA silencing (SLS) pathway in Trypanosoma brucei

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is induced when the quality control machinery of the cell is overloaded with unfolded proteins or when one of the functions of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is perturbed. Here, I describe UPR in yeast and mammals, and compare it to what we know about pathogenic fungi and the parasitic protozoans from the order kinetoplastida, focusing on the novel pathway the spliced leader silencing (SLS) in Trypanosoma brucei. Trypanosomes lack conventional transcription regulation, and thus, lack most of the UPR machinery present in other eukaryotes. Trypanosome genes are transcribed in polycistronic units that are processed by trans-splicing and polyadenylation. In trans-splicing, which is essential for processing of each mRNA, an exon known as the spliced leader (SL) is added to all mRNAs from a small RNA, the SL RNA. Under severe ER stress, T. brucei elicits the SLS pathway. In SLS, the transcription of the SL RNA gene is extinguished, and the entire transcription complex dissociates from the SL RNA promoter. Induction of SLS is mediated by an ER-associated kinase (PK3) that migrates to the nucleus, where it phosphorylates the TATA-binding protein (TRF4), leading shut-off of SL RNA transcription. As a result, trans-splicing is inhibited and the parasites activate a programmed cell death (PCD) pathway. Despite the ability to sense the ER stress, the different eukaryotes, especially unicellular parasites and pathogenic fungi, developed a variety of unique and different ways to sense and adjust to this stress in a manner different from their host.

Intravital imaging of a massive lymphocyte response in the cortical dura of mice after peripheral infection by trypanosomes

Peripheral infection by Trypanosoma brucei, the protozoan responsible for sleeping sickness, activates lymphocytes, and, at later stages, causes meningoencephalitis. We have videoed the cortical meninges and superficial parenchyma of C56BL/6 reporter mice infected with T.b.brucei. By use of a two-photon microscope to image through the thinned skull, the integrity of the tissues was maintained. We observed a 47-fold increase in CD2+ T cells in the meninges by 12 days post infection (dpi). CD11c+ dendritic cells also increased, and extravascular trypanosomes, made visible either by expression of a fluorescent protein, or by intravenous injection of furamidine, appeared. The likelihood that invasion will spread from the meninges to the parenchyma will depend strongly on whether the trypanosomes are below the arachnoid membrane, or above it, in the dura. Making use of optical signals from the skull bone, blood vessels and dural cells, we conclude that up to 40 dpi, the extravascular trypanosomes were essentially confined to the dura, as were the great majority of the T cells. Inhibition of T cell activation by intraperitoneal injection of abatacept reduced the numbers of meningeal T cells at 12 dpi and their mean speed fell from 11.64 ± 0.34 μm/min (mean ± SEM) to 5.2 ± 1.2 μm/min (p = 0.007). The T cells occasionally made contact lasting tens of minutes with dendritic cells, indicative of antigen presentation. The population and motility of the trypanosomes tended to decline after about 30 dpi. We suggest that the lymphocyte infiltration of the meninges may later contribute to encephalitis, but have no evidence that the dural trypanosomes invade the parenchyma.

African trypanosomes are motile parasites that cause sleeping sickness. They multiply first in the blood then cause death mainly by effects on the brain: immune system cells, including T cells and dendritic cells, play major roles in this. Thinking we might see the attack on the brain, we infected mice with trypanosomes and used a two-photon microscope, which allowed us to image the superficial brain and the delicate tissue between the skull and the brain called the meninges without making a hole in the skull. The mice (which were anesthetized) had been genetically modified so that T cells and dendritic cells were fluorescent, as were the trypanosomes. We did not notice much happening in the brain itself, but in the meninges, in a compartment called the dura, huge numbers of T cells and dendritic cells appeared. Trypanosomes also moved from the blood into this compartment. Since T cells, dendritic cells and trypanosomes had not been videoed in the meninges before, we began by observing them carefully: their numbers, their movements and their interactions. The accumulation of lymphocytes is a sign of meningitis, a feature of infection by a wide range of pathogens and our results suggest interesting future work.

Oxidative stress damage in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is inhibited by Cyclosporin A

Cyclosporin A (CsA) specifically inhibits the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Opening of the mPTP, which is triggered by high levels of matrix [Ca2+] and/or oxidative stress, leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and thus to cell death by either apoptosis or necrosis. In the present study, we analysed the response of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote parasites to oxidative stress with 5 mm H2O2, by studying several features related to programmed cell death and the effects of pre-incubation with 1 μm of CsA. We evaluated TcPARP cleavage, DNA integrity, cytochrome c translocation, Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, reactive oxygen species production. CsA prevented parasite oxidative stress damage as it significantly inhibited DNA degradation, cytochrome c translocation to cytosol and TcPARP cleavage. The calcein-AM/CoCl2 assay, used as a selective indicator of mPTP opening in mammals, was also performed in T. cruzi parasites. H2O2 treatment decreased calcein fluorescence, but this decline was partially inhibited by pre-incubation with CsA. Our results encourage further studies to investigate if there is a mPTP-like pore and a mitochondrial cyclophilin involved in this protozoan parasite.

A comparison of neurodegeneration linked with neuroinflammation in different brain areas of rats after intracerebroventricular colchicine injection

Colchicine induces neurodegeneration, but the extent of neurodegeneration in different areas of the brain in relation to neuroinflammation remains unclear. Such information may be useful to allow for the development of a model to compare colchicine-induced neurodegeneration with other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The present study was designed to investigate the extent of neurodegeneration along with neuroinflammation in different areas of the brain, e.g. frontal cortex, parietal cortex, occipital cortex, corpus striatum, amygdala and hippocampus, in rats along with memory impairment 21 days after a single intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of colchicine. Memory parameters were measured before and after icv colchicine injection in all test groups of rats (control, sham-operated, colchicine-injected [ICIR] rats). On Day 21 post-injection, rats from all groups were anesthesized and tissues from the various brain areas were collected for assessment of biomarkers of neuroinflammation (i.e. levels of ROS, nitrite and proinflammatory cytokines TNFα and IL-1β) and neurodegeneration (assessed histologically). The single injection of colchicine resulted in impaired memory and neurodegeneration (significant presence of plaques, Nissl granule chromatolysis) in various brain areas (frontal cortex, amygdala, parietal cortex, corpus striatum), with maximum severity in the hippocampus. While IL-1β, TNFα, ROS and nitrite levels were altered in different brain areas in the ICIR rats, these parameters had their greatest change in the hippocampus. This study showed that icv injection of colchicine caused strong neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of rats and the increases in neurodegeneration were corroborated with those of neuroinflammation at the site. The present study also showed that the extent of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in different brain areas of the colchicine-injected rats were AD-like and supported the fact that such rats might have the ability to serve as a sporadic model of AD.

Cyclical appearance of African trypanosomes in the cerebrospinal fluid: new insights in how trypanosomes enter the CNS

It is textbook knowledge that human infective forms of Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness, enter the brain across the blood-brain barrier after an initial phase of weeks (rhodesiense) or months (gambiense) in blood. Based on our results using an animal model, both statements seem questionable. As we and others have shown, the first infection relevant crossing of the blood brain border occurs via the choroid plexus, i.e. via the blood-CSF barrier. In addition, counting trypanosomes in blood-free CSF obtained by an atlanto-occipital access revealed a cyclical infection in CSF that was directly correlated to the trypanosome density in blood infection. We also obtained conclusive evidence of organ infiltration, since parasites were detected in tissues outside the blood vessels in heart, spleen, liver, eye, testis, epididymis, and especially between the cell layers of the pia mater including the Virchow-Robin space. Interestingly, in all organs except pia mater, heart and testis, trypanosomes showed either a more or less degraded appearance of cell integrity by loss of the surface coat (VSG), loss of the microtubular cytoskeleton and loss of the intracellular content, or where taken up by phagocytes and degraded intracellularly within lysosomes. This is also true for trypanosomes placed intrathecally into the brain parenchyma using a stereotactic device. We propose a different model of brain infection that is in accordance with our observations and with well-established facts about the development of sleeping sickness.

Apoptosis-like cell death pathways in the unicellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii following treatment with apoptosis inducers and chemotherapeutic agents: a proof-of-concept study

Ancient pathways of an apoptosis-like cell death have been identified in unicellular eukaryotes including protozoan parasites. Here, we examined programmed cell death in the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii which is a common intracellular pathogen of humans and warm-blooded animals. Treatment of extracellular T. gondii with various pro-apoptotic stimuli significantly induced DNA strand breaks as revealed by TUNEL and flow cytometry. Using staurosporine or miltefosine as pro-apoptotic stimuli, parasites also presented a reduced cell size, i.e. pyknosis and externalized phosphatidylserine while the plasma membrane remained intact. Importantly, staurosporine also induced DNA strand breaks in intracellular T. gondii. Data mining of the Toxoplasma genome resource identified 17 putative cell death-associated genes encoding proteases, a nuclease and several apoptosis regulators. Staurosporine-treated parasites but not controls strongly up-regulated several of these genes in a time-dependent fashion with a putative PDCD2 protein being more than 100-fold up-regulated. However, the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) remained intact and caspase-like activity increased only slightly during staurosporine-triggered cell death. As compared to staurosporine, the transcriptional response of parasites to miltefosine was more restricted but PDCD2 was again strongly induced. Furthermore, T. gondii lost their ΔΨ_m and rapidly presented strong caspase-like activity during miltefosine treatment. Consequently, protease inhibitors abrogated miltefosine-induced but not staurosporine-induced Toxoplasma cell death. Finally, toxoplasmacidal drugs triggered DNA strand breaks in extracellular T. gondii. Interestingly, clindamycin also induced markers of an apoptosis-like cell death in intracellular parasites. Together, the data indicate that T. gondii possesses ancient apoptosis-like cell death machinery which can be triggered by chemotherapeutic agents.

Programmed cell death in Leishmania: biochemical evidence and role in parasite infectivity

Demonstration of features of a programmed cell death (PCD) pathway in protozoan parasites initiated a great deal of interest and debate in the field of molecular parasitology. Several of the markers typical of mammalian apoptosis have been shown in Leishmania which suggested the existence of an apoptosis like death in these organisms. However, studies to elucidate the downstream events associated with phosphotidyl serine exposure, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and caspase-like activities in cells undergoing such cell death remain an ongoing challenge. Recent advances in genome sequencing, chemical biology should help to solve some of these challenges. Leishmania genetic mutants that lack putative regulators/effectors of PCD pathway should not only help to demonstrate the mechanisms of PCD but also provide tools to better understand the putative role for this pathway in population control and in the establishment of a successful infection of the host.

Spliced leader RNA silencing (SLS) - a programmed cell death pathway in Trypanosoma brucei that is induced upon ER stress

Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. The parasite cycles between its insect (procyclic form) and mammalian hosts (bloodstream form). Trypanosomes lack conventional transcription regulation, and their genes are transcribed in polycistronic units that are processed by trans-splicing and polyadenylation. In trans-splicing, which is essential for processing of each mRNA, an exon, the spliced leader (SL) is added to all mRNAs from a small RNA, the SL RNA. Trypanosomes lack the machinery for the unfolded protein response (UPR), which in other eukaryotes is induced under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Trypanosomes respond to such stress by changing the stability of mRNAs, which are essential for coping with the stress. However, under severe ER stress that is induced by blocking translocation of proteins to the ER, treatment of cells with chemicals that induce misfolding in the ER, or extreme pH, trypanosomes elicit the spliced leader silencing (SLS) pathway. In SLS, the transcription of the SL RNA gene is extinguished, and tSNAP42, a specific SL RNA transcription factor, fails to bind to its cognate promoter. SLS leads to complete shut-off of trans-splicing. In this review, I discuss the UPR in mammals and compare it to the ER stress response in T. brucei leading to SLS. I summarize the evidence supporting the notion that SLS is a programmed cell death (PCD) pathway that is utilized by the parasites to substitute for the apoptosis observed in higher eukaryotes under prolonged ER stress. I present the hypothesis that SLS evolved to expedite the death process, and rapidly remove from the population unfit parasites that, by elimination via SLS, cause minimal damage to the parasite population.

Late stage infection in sleeping sickness

At the turn of the 19^th century, trypanosomes were identified as the causative agent of sleeping sickness and their presence within the cerebrospinal fluid of late stage sleeping sickness patients was described. However, no definitive proof of how the parasites reach the brain has been presented so far. Analyzing electron micrographs prepared from rodent brains more than 20 days after infection, we present here conclusive evidence that the parasites first enter the brain via the choroid plexus from where they penetrate the epithelial cell layer to reach the ventricular system. Adversely, no trypanosomes were observed within the parenchyma outside blood vessels. We also show that brain infection depends on the formation of long slender trypanosomes and that the cerebrospinal fluid as well as the stroma of the choroid plexus is a hostile environment for the survival of trypanosomes, which enter the pial space including the Virchow-Robin space via the subarachnoid space to escape degradation. Our data suggest that trypanosomes do not intend to colonize the brain but reside near or within the glia limitans, from where they can re-populate blood vessels and disrupt the sleep wake cycles.

Involvement of TatD nuclease during programmed cell death in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei

In this report, we describe the involvement of TatD nuclease during programmed cell death (PCD) in the human protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. T. brucei TatD nuclease showed intrinsic DNase activity, was localized in the cytoplasm and translocated to the nucleus when cells were treated with inducers previously demonstrated to cause PCD in T. brucei. Overexpression of TatD nuclease resulted in elevated PCD and conversely, loss of TatD expression by RNAi conferred significant resistance to the induction of PCD in T. brucei. Co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed that TatD nuclease interacts with endonucleaseG suggesting that these two nucleases could form a DNA degradation complex in the nucleus. Together, biochemical activity, RNAi and subcellular localization results demonstrate the role of TatD nuclease activity in DNA degradation during PCD in these evolutionarily ancient eukaryotic organisms. Further, in conjunction with endonucleaseG, TatD may represent a critical nuclease in a caspase-independent PCD pathway in trypanosomatid parasites since caspases have not been identified in these organisms.

Bioactive lipids in Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite. Chagas disease remains a serious health problem in large parts of Mexico and Central and South America, where it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This disease is being increasingly recognized in non-endemic regions due to immigration. Heart disease develops in 10-30% of infected individuals. It is increasingly clear that parasite- and host-derived bioactive lipids potently modulate disease progression. Many of the changes that occur during acute and chronic Chagas disease can be accounted for by the effects of arachidonic acid (AA)-derived lipids such as leukotrienes, lipoxins, H(P)ETEs, prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxane. During the course of infection with T. cruzi, changes in circulating levels of AA metabolites are observed. Antagonism of PG synthesis with cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors has both beneficial and adverse effects. Treatment with COX inhibitors during acute infection may result in increased parasite load and mortality. However, treatment instituted during chronic infection may be beneficial with no increase in mortality and substantial improvement with cardiac function. Recently, T. cruzi infection of mice deficient in AA biosynthetic enzymes for various pathways has yielded more insightful data than pharmacological inhibition and has highlighted the potential deleterious effects of inhibitors due to "off-target" actions. Using COX-1 null mice, it was observed that parasite biosynthesis is dependent upon host metabolism, that the majority of TXA(2) liberated during T. cruzi infection is derived from the parasite and that this molecule may act as a quorum sensor to control parasite growth/differentiation. Thus, eicosanoids present during acute infection may act as immunomodulators aiding the transition to, and maintenance of, the chronic stage of the disease. It is also likely that the same mediators that initially function to ensure host survival may later contribute to cardiovascular damage. Collectively, the eicosanoids represent a new series of targets for therapy in Chagas disease with defined potential therapeutic windows in which to apply these agents for greatest effect. A deeper understanding of the mechanism of action of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may provide clues to the differences between host responses in acute and chronic T. cruzi infection.

Distinct Toll-like receptor signals regulate cerebral parasite load and interferon α/β and tumor necrosis factor α-dependent T-cell infiltration in the brains of Trypanosoma brucei-infected mice

BACKGROUND

The penetration of T cells and trypanosomes into the brain parenchyma is a major pathogenetic event in African trypanosomiasis.

METHODS

The role of innate immune responses in the penetration of T cells and Trypanosoma brucei brucei into the brain was studied in knockout mice by using double immunofluorescent staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that Toll-like receptor (TLR)-MyD88-mediated signaling is required for T-cell and parasite penetration into the brain and microglial activation, besides controlling parasitemia and antigen-specific T-cell activation. Among different TLR-deficient mice studied, TLR9 mediated parasitemia control and T-cell penetration into the brain. TLR-MyD88 signals increased levels of interferon (IFN) β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α transcripts in the brains of infected mice and both TNF-α and IFN-α/β, receptors promoted T-cell and trypanosoma infiltration into the brain parenchyma. Both resident and infiltrating inflammatory cells in the brain controlled parasite densities in a TLR2- and TLR9-MyD88-mediated manner. However, neither IFN-α/β nor TNF-α contributed to parasite control in the brain.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that innate immune TLR signals stimulate the expression of TNF-α and IFN-α/β that initiate brain invasion of T cells and trypanosomes, and control T. brucei brucei load in the brain by molecules distinct from these.

A tryparedoxin-dependent peroxidase protects African trypanosomes from membrane damage

Hydroperoxide detoxification in African trypanosomes is achieved by 2-Cys-peroxiredoxin (TXNPx)- and non-selenium glutathione peroxidase (Px)-type enzymes which both obtain their reducing equivalents from the unique trypanothione/tryparedoxin system. Previous RNA interference approaches revealed that the cytosolic TXNPx and the Px-type enzymes are essential for Trypanosoma brucei. Because of partially overlapping in vitro substrate specificities and subcellular localisation the physiological function of the individual enzymes was not yet clear. As shown here, TXNPx and Px are expressed at comparable levels and in their active reduced state. Px-overexpressing parasites were less sensitive toward linoleic acid hydroperoxide but not hydrogen peroxide. Kinetic studies confirmed that Px-but not TXNPx-reduces lipophilic hydroperoxides including phospholipids with high efficiency. Most interestingly, the severe proliferation defect of Px-depleted bloodstream cells could be rescued by Trolox, but not by hydrophilic antioxidants, in the medium. This allowed us to knock-out the three Px genes individually and thus to distinguish their in vivo role. Deletion of the cytosolic Px I and II resulted in extremely fast membrane peroxidation followed by cell lysis. Cells lacking specifically the mitochondrial Px III showed a transient growth retardation and cardiolipin peroxidation but adapted within 24h to normal proliferation.

T. brucei infection reduces B lymphopoiesis in bone marrow and truncates compensatory splenic lymphopoiesis through transitional B-cell apoptosis

African trypanosomes of the Trypanosoma brucei species are extracellular protozoan parasites that cause the deadly disease African trypanosomiasis in humans and contribute to the animal counterpart, Nagana. Trypanosome clearance from the bloodstream is mediated by antibodies specific for their Variant Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) coat antigens. However, T. brucei infection induces polyclonal B cell activation, B cell clonal exhaustion, sustained depletion of mature splenic Marginal Zone B (MZB) and Follicular B (FoB) cells, and destruction of the B-cell memory compartment. To determine how trypanosome infection compromises the humoral immune defense system we used a C57BL/6 T. brucei AnTat 1.1 mouse model and multicolor flow cytometry to document B cell development and maturation during infection. Our results show a more than 95% reduction in B cell precursor numbers from the CLP, pre-pro-B, pro-B, pre-B and immature B cell stages in the bone marrow. In the spleen, T. brucei induces extramedullary B lymphopoiesis as evidenced by significant increases in HSC-LMPP, CLP, pre-pro-B, pro-B and pre-B cell populations. However, final B cell maturation is abrogated by infection-induced apoptosis of transitional B cells of both the T1 and T2 populations which is not uniquely dependent on TNF-, Fas-, or prostaglandin-dependent death pathways. Results obtained from ex vivo co-cultures of living bloodstream form trypanosomes and splenocytes demonstrate that trypanosome surface coat-dependent contact with T1/2 B cells triggers their deletion. We conclude that infection-induced and possibly parasite-contact dependent deletion of transitional B cells prevents replenishment of mature B cell compartments during infection thus contributing to a loss of the host's capacity to sustain antibody responses against recurring parasitemic waves.

African trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei species is fatal in both humans and animals and cannot be combated by vaccination because of extensive parasite antigenic variation. Effective trypanosome control and clearance from the bloodstream involves the action of antibodies specific for the parasite's highly diverse variable surface glycoprotein antigens. However, experimental infections in mice have shown that trypanosomiasis elicits a rapid process of B cell exhaustion and loss of protective antibody responses. Indeed, both marginal zone B cells, the first line of defense against blood-borne pathogens like T. brucei parasites, and follicular B cells, which are the major source for developing high-affinity antibody-producing plasma cells and memory B cells, become depleted during infection. In addition, existing B-cell memory, both against parasite antigens and non related pathogens, is destroyed early on in infection. Here, we demonstrate that during infection, B cell development is decreased in the bone marrow and early B cell development is taken over by the spleen. However, full maturation of developing B cells is abrogated by the occurrence of transitional B cell apoptosis. This impairs the replenishment of the mature marginal zone and follicular B cell pools and prevents the buildup of protective immunity against successive parasitemic waves.

Apoptosis stalks Plasmodium falciparum maintained in continuous culture condition

Background

Growth kinetic of Plasmodium falciparum in culture or in the host fall short of expected growth rate considering that there are 4 x 10⁶/µL red blood cell (RBCs) available for invasion and about 16 merozoites growing in each infected RBC. This study determined whether apoptotic machinery is operable to keep the parasite population under check.

Methods

A synchronized culture of P. falciparum (Dd2 strain) was initiated at 0.5% ring stage parasitaemia and kept under conditions not limiting for RBCs and nutrient by adjusting hematocrit to 5% at each schizogony and changing growth media daily. Parasite growth pattern and morphology was evaluated by blood smear microscopy and flow-cytometry using SYBR green. The apoptotic processes were evaluated for evidence of: DNA fragmentation by TUNEL, collapse of mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) by TMRE, expression of metacaspse gene by RT-qPCR and by probing parasite proteins with anti-caspase antibodies.

Results

From the seeding parasitaemia of 0.5%, the parasites doubled every 48 hours to a parasitaemia of 4%. Thereafter, the growth stagnated and the culture consistently crashed at about 6% parasitaemia. ΔΨ_m potential collapsed as the parasite density increased and DNA fragmentation increased steadily from 0.2% to ~6%. The expression of metacaspase gene and protein was observed in all stages, but their abundance was variable among the stages.

Conclusion

These findings suggest existence of P. falciparum quorum sensing that keep the parasite population under check.

Impact of protozoan cell death on parasite-host interactions and pathogenesis

PCD in protozoan parasites has emerged as a fascinating field of parasite biology. This not only relates to the underlying mechanisms and their evolutionary implications but also to the impact on the parasite-host interactions within mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors. During recent years, common functions of apoptosis and autophagy in protozoa and during parasitic infections have emerged. Here, we review how distinct cell death pathways in Trypanosoma, Leishmania, Plasmodium or Toxoplasma may contribute to regulation of parasite cell densities in vectors and mammalian hosts, to differentiation of parasites, to stress responses, and to modulation of the host immunity. The examples provided indicate crucial roles of PCD in parasite biology. The existence of PCD pathways in these organisms and the identification as being critical for parasite biology and parasite-host interactions could serve as a basis for developing new anti-parasitic drugs that take advantage of these pathways.

Targeting essential pathways in trypanosomatids gives insights into protozoan mechanisms of cell death

Apoptosis is a normal component of the development and health of multicellular organisms. However, apoptosis is now considered a prerogative of unicellular organisms, including the trypanosomatids of the genera Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania spp., causative agents of some of the most important neglected human diseases. Trypanosomatids show typical hallmarks of apoptosis, although they lack some of the key molecules contributing to this process in metazoans, like caspase genes, Bcl-2 family genes and the TNF-related family of receptors. Despite the lack of these molecules, trypanosomatids appear to have the basic machinery to commit suicide. The components of the apoptotic execution machinery of these parasites are slowly coming into light, by targeting essential processes and pathways with different apoptogenic agents and inhibitors. This review will be confined to the events known to drive trypanosomatid parasites to apoptosis.

Symmetrical choline-derived dications display strong anti-kinetoplastid activity

OBJECTIVES

to investigate the anti-kinetoplastid activity of choline-derived analogues with previously reported antimalarial efficacy.

METHODS

from an existing choline analogue library, seven antimalarial compounds, representative of the first-, second- and third-generation analogues previously developed, were assessed for activity against Trypanosoma and Leishmania spp. Using a variety of techniques, the effects of choline analogue exposure on the parasites were documented and a preliminary investigation of their mode of action was performed.

RESULTS

the activities of choline-derived compounds against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania mexicana were determined. The compounds displayed promising anti-kinetoplastid activity, particularly against T. brucei, to which 4/7 displayed submicromolar EC(50) values for the wild-type strain. Low micromolar concentrations of most compounds cleared trypanosome cultures within 24-48 h. The compounds inhibit a choline transporter in Leishmania, but their entry may not depend only on this carrier; T. b. brucei lacks a choline carrier and the mode of uptake remains unclear. The compounds had no effect on the overall lipid composition of the cells, cell cycle progression or cyclic adenosine monophosphate production or short-term effects on intracellular calcium levels. However, several of the compounds, displayed pronounced effects on the mitochondrial membrane potential; this action was not associated with production of reactive oxygen species but rather with a slow rise of intracellular calcium levels and DNA fragmentation.

CONCLUSIONS

the choline analogues displayed strong activity against kinetoplastid parasites, particularly against T. b. brucei. In contrast to their antimalarial activity, they did not act on trypanosomes by disrupting choline salvage or phospholipid metabolism, instead disrupting mitochondrial function, leading to chromosomal fragmentation.

Apoptotic markers in protozoan parasites

The execution of the apoptotic death program in metazoans is characterized by a sequence of morphological and biochemical changes that include cell shrinkage, presentation of phosphatidylserine at the cell surface, mitochondrial alterations, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, membrane blebbing and the formation of apoptotic bodies. Methodologies for measuring apoptosis are based on these markers. Except for membrane blebbing and formation of apoptotic bodies, all other events have been observed in most protozoan parasites undergoing cell death. However, while techniques exist to detect these markers, they are often optimised for metazoan cells and therefore may not pick up subtle differences between the events occurring in unicellular organisms and multi-cellular organisms.

In this review we discuss the markers most frequently used to analyze cell death in protozoan parasites, paying special attention to changes in cell morphology, mitochondrial activity, chromatin structure and plasma membrane structure/permeability. Regarding classical regulators/executors of apoptosis, we have reviewed the present knowledge of caspase-like and nuclease activities.

Programmed cell death in unicellular parasites: a prerequisite for sustained infection?

The detection of markers typical for metazoan programmed cell death (PCD) in diverse protozoan parasites raised a debate about the evolution of PCD processes and its impact on the biology of single-celled parasites. By applying the unified criteria recently developed for metazoan cell death, the conclusion is made that cell death in protozoan parasites also occurs in a programmed fashion. Several molecules or pathways which regulate PCD in higher eukaryotes have been implicated in the death of unicellular parasites. Furthermore, we emphasize that PCD enables the regulation of parasite densities in distinct host compartments and aids in avoiding inflammatory responses, thereby facilitating a sustained infection. We therefore propose that PCD pathways might represent ideal targets to combat protozoan parasites by their own means.

Diverse effects on mitochondrial and nuclear functions elicited by drugs and genetic knockdowns in bloodstream stage Trypanosoma brucei

Background

The options for treating the fatal disease human African trypanosomiasis are limited to a few drugs that are toxic or facing increasing resistance. New drugs that kill the causative agents, subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei, are therefore urgently needed. Little is known about the cellular mechanisms that lead to death of the pathogenic bloodstream stage.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We therefore conducted the first side by side comparison of the cellular effects of multiple death inducers that target different systems in bloodstream form parasites, including six drugs (pentamidine, prostaglandin D₂, quercetin, etoposide, camptothecin, and a tetrahydroquinoline) and six RNAi knockdowns that target distinct cellular functions. All compounds tested were static at low concentrations and killed at high concentrations. Dead parasites were rapidly quantified by forward and side scatter during flow cytometry, as confirmed by ethidium homodimer and esterase staining, making these assays convenient for quantitating parasite death. The various treatments yielded different combinations of defects in mitochondrial potential, reactive oxygen species, cell cycle, and genome segregation. No evidence was seen for phosphatidylserine exposure, a marker of apoptosis. Reduction in ATP levels lagged behind decreases in live cell number. Even when the impact on growth was similar at 24 hours, drug-treated cells showed dramatic differences in their ability to further proliferate, demonstrating differences in the reversibility of effects induced by the diverse compounds.

Conclusions/Significance

Parasites showed different phenotypes depending on the treatment, but none of them were clear predictors of whether apparently live cells could go on to proliferate after drugs were removed. We therefore suggest that clonal proliferation assays may be a useful step in selecting anti-trypanosomal compounds for further development. Elucidating the genetic or biochemical events initiated by the compounds with the most profound effects on subsequent proliferation may identify new means to activate death pathways.

The parasite Trypanosoma brucei causes human African trypanosomiasis, which is fatal unless treated. Currently used drugs are toxic, difficult to administer, and often are no longer effective due to drug resistance. The search for new drugs is long and expensive, and determining which compounds are worth pursuing is a key challenge in that process. In this study we sought to determine whether different compounds elicited different responses in the mammalian-infective stage of the parasite. We also examined whether genetic knockdown of parasite molecules led to similar responses. Our results show that, depending on the treatment, the replication of the parasite genomes, proper division of the cell, and mitochondrial function can be affected. Surprisingly, these different responses were not able to predict which compounds affected the long term proliferative potential of T. brucei. We found that some of the compounds had irreversible effects on the parasites within one day, so that even cells that appeared healthy could not proliferate. We suggest that determining which compounds set the parasites on a one-way journey to death may provide a means of identifying those that could lead to drugs with high efficacy.

Design and evaluation of Trypanosoma brucei metacaspase inhibitors

Metacaspase (MCA) is an important enzyme in Trypanosoma brucei, absent from humans and differing significantly from the orthologous human caspases. Therefore MCA constitutes a new attractive drug target for antiparasitic chemotherapeutics, which needs further characterization to support the discovery of innovative drug candidates. A first series of inhibitors has been prepared on the basis of known substrate specificity and the predicted catalytic mechanism of the enzyme. In this Letter we present the first inhibitors of TbMCA2 with low micromolar enzymatic and antiparasitic activity in vitro combined with low cytotoxicity.

Persistent ER stress induces the spliced leader RNA silencing pathway (SLS), leading to programmed cell death in Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosomes are parasites that cycle between the insect host (procyclic form) and mammalian host (bloodstream form). These parasites lack conventional transcription regulation, including factors that induce the unfolded protein response (UPR). However, they possess a stress response mechanism, the spliced leader RNA silencing (SLS) pathway. SLS elicits shut-off of spliced leader RNA (SL RNA) transcription by perturbing the binding of the transcription factor tSNAP42 to its cognate promoter, thus eliminating trans-splicing of all mRNAs. Induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in procyclic trypanosomes elicits changes in the transcriptome similar to those induced by conventional UPR found in other eukaryotes. The mechanism of up-regulation under ER stress is dependent on differential stabilization of mRNAs. The transcriptome changes are accompanied by ER dilation and elevation in the ER chaperone, BiP. Prolonged ER stress induces SLS pathway. RNAi silencing of SEC63, a factor that participates in protein translocation across the ER membrane, or SEC61, the translocation channel, also induces SLS. Silencing of these genes or prolonged ER stress led to programmed cell death (PCD), evident by exposure of phosphatidyl serine, DNA laddering, increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, increase in cytoplasmic Ca²⁺, and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as typical morphological changes observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ER stress response is also induced in the bloodstream form and if the stress persists it leads to SLS. We propose that prolonged ER stress induces SLS, which serves as a unique death pathway, replacing the conventional caspase-mediated PCD observed in higher eukaryotes.

Trypanosomes are the causative agent of major parasitic diseases such as African sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease that affect millions of people mostly in developing countries. These organisms diverged very early from the eukaryotic linage and possess unique molecular mechanisms such as trans-splicing and RNA editing. Trypanosomes lack polymerase II promoters that govern the transcription of protein coding genes. Eukaryotes respond to unfolding of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by a distinct transcriptional programming known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). In this study, we demonstrate that despite the lack of transcriptional regulation, procyclic trypanosomes change their transcriptome as a response to ER stress by differential mRNA stabilization. Prolonged ER stress induces a unique process, the spliced leader RNA silencing (SLS), that shuts off the trans-splicing and the production of all mRNAs. SLS is induced both by prolonged ER stress and by knock-down of factors involved in ER translocation in both life stages of the parasite. SLS induces programmed cell death (PCD) evident by the hallmark of apoptosis in metazoa (DNA fragmentation, membrane flipping and ultrastructural changes). We propose that SLS serves as a unique death pathway replacing the conventional caspase-mediated PCD observed in higher eukaryotes.