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Povelones ML, Holmes NA, Povelones M. A sticky situation: When trypanosomatids attach to insect tissues. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011854. [PMID: 38128049 PMCID: PMC10734937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmission of trypanosomatids to their mammalian hosts requires a complex series of developmental transitions in their insect vectors, including stable attachment to an insect tissue. While there are many ultrastructural descriptions of attached cells, we know little about the signaling events and molecular mechanisms involved in this process. Each trypanosomatid species attaches to a specific tissue in the insect at a particular stage of its life cycle. Attachment is mediated by the flagellum, which is modified to accommodate a filament-rich plaque within an expanded region of the flagellar membrane. Attachment immediately precedes differentiation to the mammal-infectious stage and in some cases a direct mechanistic link has been demonstrated. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge of trypanosomatid attachment in insects, including structure, function, signaling, candidate molecules, and changes in gene expression. We also highlight remaining questions about this process and how the field is poised to address them through modern approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L. Povelones
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Nikki A. Holmes
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael Povelones
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Gupta D, Singh PK, Yadav PK, Narender T, Patil UK, Jain SK, Chourasia MK. Emerging strategies and challenges of molecular therapeutics in antileishmanial drug development. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 115:109649. [PMID: 36603357 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Molecular therapy refers to targeted therapies based on molecules which have been intelligently directed towards specific biomolecular structures and include small molecule drugs, monoclonal antibodies, proteins and peptides, DNA or RNA-based strategies, targeted chemotherapy and nanomedicines. Molecular therapy is emerging as the most effective strategy to combat the present challenges of life-threatening visceral leishmaniasis, where the successful human vaccine is currently unavailable. Moreover, current chemotherapy-based strategies are associated with the issues of ineffective targeting, unavoidable toxicities, invasive therapies, prolonged treatment, high treatment costs and the development of drug-resistant strains. Thus, the rational approach to antileishmanial drug development primarily demands critical exploration and exploitation of biochemical differences between host and parasite biology, immunocharacteristics of parasite homing, and host-parasite interactions at the molecular/cellular level. Following this, the novel technology-based designing and development of host and/or parasite-targeted therapeutics having leishmanicidal and immunomodulatory activity is utmost essential to improve treatment efficacy. Thus, the present review is focused on immunological and molecular checkpoint targets in host-pathogen interaction, and molecular therapeutic prospects for Leishmania intervention, and the challenges ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, M.P., India; Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India; Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad 500037, Telangana, India
| | - Pavan K Yadav
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India
| | - Tadigoppula Narender
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India
| | - Umesh K Patil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, M.P., India
| | - Sanjay K Jain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, M.P., India
| | - Manish K Chourasia
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, U.P., India.
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Phenotypical Differences between Leishmania ( Leishmania) amazonensis PH8 and LV79 Strains May Impact Survival in Mammal Host and in Phlebotomine Sand Flies. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020173. [PMID: 36839445 PMCID: PMC9965022 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020173] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously showed that L. (Leishmania) amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes of the PH8 strain generated larger lesions in mice than LV79, and that lesion-derived amastigotes from the two strains differ in their proteomes. We recently reported that PH8 promastigotes are more phagocytized by macrophages. Promastigotes' membrane-enriched proteomes showed several differences, and samples of each strain clustered based on proteomes. In this paper, we show phenotypic differences between PH8 and LV79 promastigotes that may explain the higher virulence of PH8. We compared in vitro macrophage infections by day 4 (early) and day 6 (late stationary phase) cultures, resistance to complement, and LPG characteristics. PH8 promastigotes showed a higher infectivity and were more resistant to murine complement. LPG was different between the strains, which may influence the interaction with macrophages and survival to complement. We compared the infection of the permissive vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. PH8 was more abundant in the vector's gut 72 h after feeding, which is a moment where blood digestion is finished and the parasites are exposed to the gut environment. Our results indicate that PH8 promastigotes are more infective, more resistant to complement, and infect the permissive vector more efficiently. These data suggest that PH8 is probably better adapted to the sand fly and more prone to survive in the vertebrate host.
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Comparative Proteomics and Genome-Wide Druggability Analyses Prioritized Promising Therapeutic Targets against Drug-Resistant Leishmania tropica. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010228. [PMID: 36677520 PMCID: PMC9860978 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010228] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania tropica is a tropical parasite causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in humans. Leishmaniasis is a serious public health threat, affecting an estimated 350 million people in 98 countries. The global rise in antileishmanial drug resistance has triggered the need to explore novel therapeutic strategies against this parasite. In the present study, we utilized the recently available multidrug resistant L. tropica strain proteome data repository to identify alternative therapeutic drug targets based on comparative subtractive proteomic and druggability analyses. Additionally, small drug-like compounds were scanned against novel targets based on virtual screening and ADME profiling. The analysis unveiled 496 essential cellular proteins of L. tropica that were nonhomologous to the human proteome set. The druggability analyses prioritized nine parasite-specific druggable proteins essential for the parasite's basic cellular survival, growth, and virulence. These prioritized proteins were identified to have appropriate binding pockets to anchor small drug-like compounds. Among these, UDPase and PCNA were prioritized as the top-ranked druggable proteins. The pharmacophore-based virtual screening and ADME profiling predicted MolPort-000-730-162 and MolPort-020-232-354 as the top hit drug-like compounds from the Pharmit resource to inhibit L. tropica UDPase and PCNA, respectively. The alternative drug targets and drug-like molecules predicted in the current study lay the groundwork for developing novel antileishmanial therapies.
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Polanco G, Scott NE, Lye LF, Beverley SM. Expanded Proteomic Survey of the Human Parasite Leishmania major Focusing on Changes in Null Mutants of the Golgi GDP-Mannose/Fucose/Arabinopyranose Transporter LPG2 and of the Mitochondrial Fucosyltransferase FUT1. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0305222. [PMID: 36394313 PMCID: PMC9769760 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03052-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The trypanosomatid protozoan parasite Leishmania has a significant impact on human health globally. Understanding the pathways associated with virulence within this significant pathogen is critical for identifying novel vaccination and chemotherapy targets. Within this study we leverage an ultradeep proteomic approach to improve our understanding of two virulence-associated genes in Leishmania, encoding the Golgi mannose/arabinopyranose/fucose nucleotide-sugar transporter (LPG2) and the mitochondrial fucosyltransferase (FUT1). Using deep peptide fractionation followed by complementary fragmentation approaches with higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) allowed the identification of over 6,500 proteins, nearly doubling the experimentally known Leishmania major proteome. This deep proteomic analysis revealed significant quantitative differences in both Δlpg2- and Δfut1s mutants with FUT1-dependent changes linked to marked alterations within mitochondrion-associated proteins, while LPG2-dependent changes impacted many pathways, including the secretory pathway. While the FUT1 enzyme has been shown to fucosylate peptides in vitro, no evidence for protein fucosylation was identified within our ultradeep analysis, nor did we observe fucosylated glycans within Leishmania glycopeptides isolated using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) enrichment. This work provides a critical resource for the community on the observable Leishmania proteome as well as highlighting phenotypic changes associated with LPG2 or FUT1, ablation of which may guide the development of future therapeutics. IMPORTANCE Leishmania is a widespread trypanosomatid protozoan parasite of humans, with ~12 million cases currently, ranging from mild to fatal, and hundreds of millions asymptomatically infected. This work advances knowledge of the experimental proteome by nearly 2-fold, to more than 6,500 proteins and thus provides a great resource to investigators seeking to decode how this parasite is transmitted and causes disease and to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention. The ultradeep proteomics approach identified potential proteins underlying the "persistence-without-pathology" phenotype of mutants with deletion of the Golgi nucleotide transporter LPG2, showing many alterations and several candidates. Studies of a rare mutant with deletion of the mitochondrial fucosyltransferase FUT1 revealed changes underlying its strong mitochondrial dysfunction but did not reveal examples of fucosylation of either peptides or N-glycans. This suggests that this vital protein's elusive target(s) may be more complex than the methods used could detect or that this target may not be a protein but perhaps another glycoconjugate or glycolipid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Polanco
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nichollas E. Scott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lon F. Lye
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Stephen M. Beverley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Barbosa GR, Marana SR, Stolf BS. Characterization of Leishmania ( L.) amazonensis oligopeptidase B and its role in macrophage infection. Parasitology 2022; 149:1411-1418. [PMID: 35703092 PMCID: PMC11010554 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022000816] [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: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania spp. are parasitic protozoa that cause leishmaniasis, a disease endemic in 98 countries. Leishmania promastigotes are transmitted by the vector and differentiate into amastigotes within phagocytic cells of the vertebrate host. To survive in multiple and hostile environments, the parasite has several virulence factors. Oligopeptidase B (OPB) is a serine peptidase present in prokaryotes, some eukaryotes and some higher plants. It has been considered a virulence factor in trypanosomatids, but only a few studies, performed with Old World species, analysed its role in Leishmania virulence or infectivity.L. (L.) amazonensis is an important agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. The L. (L.) amazonensis OPB encoding gene has been sequenced and analysed in silico but has never been expressed. In this work, we produced recombinant L. (L.) amazonensis OPB and showed that its pH preferences, Km and inhibition patterns are similar to those reported for L. (L.) major and L. (L.) donovani OPBs. Since Leishmania is known to secrete OPB, we performed in vitro infection assays using the recombinant enzyme. Our results showed that active OPB increased in vitro infection by L. (L.) amazonensis when present before and throughout infection. Our findings suggest that OPB is relevant to L. (L.) amazonensis infection, and that potential drugs acting through OPB will probably be effective for Old and New World Leishmania species. OPB inhibitors may eventually be explored for leishmaniasis chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Rolim Barbosa
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandro Roberto Marana
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Simonsen Stolf
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Omondi ZN, Arserim SK, Töz S, Özbel Y. Host-Parasite Interactions: Regulation of Leishmania Infection in Sand Fly. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:606-618. [PMID: 35107776 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00519-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sand flies are the only proven vectors of leishmaniases, a tropical neglected disease endemic in at least 92 countries. Vector-parasite interactions play a significant role in vector-borne disease transmission. There are various bottlenecks to Leishmania colonization of the sand fly midgut. Such bottlenecks include the production of innate immune-related molecules, digestive proteases, parasite impermeable peritrophic membrane, and resident gut microbiota. These barriers determine the parasite load transmitted and, consequently, the disease outcome in mammalian host. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular responses of both sand fly and Leishmania during infection. METHOD Here, we reviewed the published literature on sand fly-Leishmania interactions bringing together earlier and current findings to highlight new developments and research gaps in the field. CONCLUSION Recent research studies on sand fly-Leishmania interaction have revealed contrasting observations to past studies. However, how Leishmania parasites evade the sand fly immune response still needs further research. Sand fly response to Leishmania infection can be best understood by analyzing its tissue transcriptome. Better characterization of the role of midgut components could be a game changer in development of transmission-blocking strategies for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeph Nelson Omondi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Erzene Street, 35040, Bornova/Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Suha Kenan Arserim
- Vocational School of Health Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Seray Töz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Özbel
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
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de Castro Neto AL, da Silveira JF, Mortara RA. Role of Virulence Factors of Trypanosomatids in the Insect Vector and Putative Genetic Events Involved in Surface Protein Diversity. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:807172. [PMID: 35573777 PMCID: PMC9097677 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.807172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are flagellate protozoans that can infect several invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, including insects and humans. The three most studied species are the human pathogens Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. which are the causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease and different clinical forms of leishmaniasis, respectively. These parasites possess complex dixenous life cycles, with zoonotic and anthroponotic stages, and are transmitted by hematophagous insects. To colonize this myriad of hosts, they developed mechanisms, mediated by virulence factors, to infect, propagate and survive in different environments. In insects, surface proteins play roles in parasite attachment and survival in the insect gut, whilst in the mammalian host, the parasites have a whole group of proteins and mechanisms that aid them invading the host cells and evading its immune system components. Many studies have been done on the impact of these molecules in the vertebrate host, however it is also essential to notice the importance of these virulence factors in the insect vector during the parasite life cycle. When inside the insect, the parasites, like in humans, also need to survive defense mechanisms components that can inhibit parasite colonization or survival, e.g., midgut peritrophic membrane barrier, digestive enzymes, evasion of excretion alongside the digested blood meal, anatomic structures and physiological mechanisms of the anterior gut. This protection inside the insect is often implemented by the same group of virulence factors that perform roles of immune evasion in the mammalian host with just a few exceptions, in which a specific protein is expressed specifically for the insect vector form of the parasite. This review aims to discuss the roles of the virulence molecules in the insect vectors, showing the differences and similarities of modes of action of the same group of molecules in insect and humans, exclusive insect molecules and discuss possible genetic events that may have generated this protein diversity.
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Knüsel S, Jenni A, Benninger M, Bütikofer P, Roditi I. Persistence of Trypanosoma brucei as early procyclic forms and social motility are dependent on glycosylphosphatidylinositol transamidase. Mol Microbiol 2021; 117:802-817. [PMID: 34954848 PMCID: PMC9303471 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐linked molecules are surface‐exposed membrane components that influence the infectivity, virulence and transmission of many eukaryotic pathogens. Procyclic (insect midgut) forms of Trypanosoma brucei do not require GPI‐anchored proteins for growth in suspension culture. Deletion of TbGPI8, and inactivation of the GPI:protein transamidase complex, is tolerated by cultured procyclic forms. Using a conditional knockout, we show TbGPI8 is required for social motility (SoMo). This collective migration by cultured early procyclic forms has been linked to colonization of the tsetse fly digestive tract. The SoMo‐negative phenotype was observed after a lag phase with respect to loss of TbGPI8 and correlated with an unexpectedly slow loss of procyclins, the major GPI‐anchored proteins. Procyclins are not essential for SoMo, however, suggesting a requirement for at least one other GPI‐anchored protein. Loss of TbGPI8 initiates the transition from early to late procyclic forms; this effect was observed in a subpopulation in suspension culture, and was more pronounced when cells were cultured on SoMo plates. Our results indicate two, potentially interlinked, scenarios that may explain the previously reported failure of TbGPI8 deletion mutants to establish a midgut infection in the tsetse fly: interference with stage‐specific gene expression and absence of SoMo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Knüsel
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aurelio Jenni
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Chemical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mattias Benninger
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Bütikofer
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Isabel Roditi
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
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Salloum T, Tokajian S, Hirt RP. Advances in Understanding Leishmania Pathobiology: What Does RNA-Seq Tell Us? Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:702240. [PMID: 34540827 PMCID: PMC8440825 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.702240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by a protozoa parasite from over 20 Leishmania species. The clinical manifestations and the outcome of the disease vary greatly. Global RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analyses emerged as a powerful technique to profile the changes in the transcriptome that occur in the Leishmania parasites and their infected host cells as the parasites progresses through their life cycle. Following the bite of a sandfly vector, Leishmania are transmitted to a mammalian host where neutrophils and macrophages are key cells mediating the interactions with the parasites and result in either the elimination the infection or contributing to its proliferation. This review focuses on RNA-Seq based transcriptomics analyses and summarizes the main findings derived from this technology. In doing so, we will highlight caveats in our understanding of the parasite’s pathobiology and suggest novel directions for research, including integrating more recent data highlighting the role of the bacterial members of the sandfly gut microbiota and the mammalian host skin microbiota in their potential role in influencing the quantitative and qualitative aspects of leishmaniasis pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Salloum
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Sima Tokajian
- Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Robert P Hirt
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Guo H, Damerow S, Penha L, Menzies S, Polanco G, Zegzouti H, Ferguson MAJ, Beverley SM. A broadly active fucosyltransferase LmjFUT1 whose mitochondrial localization and activity are essential in parasitic Leishmania. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2108963118. [PMID: 34385330 PMCID: PMC8379939 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108963118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycoconjugates play major roles in the infectious cycle of the trypanosomatid parasite Leishmania While GDP-Fucose synthesis is essential, fucosylated glycoconjugates have not been reported in Leishmania major [H. Guo et al., J. Biol. Chem. 292, 10696-10708 (2017)]. Four predicted fucosyltransferases appear conventionally targeted to the secretory pathway; SCA1/2 play a role in side-chain modifications of lipophosphoglycan, while gene deletion studies here showed that FUT2 and SCAL were not essential. Unlike most eukaryotic glycosyltransferases, the predicted α 1-2 fucosyltransferase encoded by FUT1 localized to the mitochondrion. A quantitative "plasmid segregation" assay, expressing FUT1 from the multicopy episomal pXNG vector in a chromosomal null ∆fut1- background, established that FUT1 is essential. Similarly, "plasmid shuffling" confirmed that both enzymatic activity and mitochondrial localization were required for viability, comparing import-blocked or catalytically inactive enzymes, respectively. Enzymatic assays of tagged proteins expressed in vivo or of purified recombinant FUT1 showed it had a broad fucosyltransferase activity including glycan and peptide substrates. Unexpectedly, a single rare ∆fut1- segregant (∆fut1s ) was obtained in rich media, which showed severe growth defects accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction and loss, all of which were restored upon FUT1 reexpression. Thus, FUT1 along with the similar Trypanosoma brucei enzyme TbFUT1 [G. Bandini et al., bioRxiv, https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/726117v2 (2021)] joins the eukaryotic O-GlcNAc transferase isoform as one of the few glycosyltransferases acting within the mitochondrion. Trypanosomatid mitochondrial FUT1s may offer a facile system for probing mitochondrial glycosylation in a simple setting, and their essentiality for normal growth and mitochondrial function renders it an attractive target for chemotherapy of these serious human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Guo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Sebastian Damerow
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, College of Life Science, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Luciana Penha
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Stefanie Menzies
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Gloria Polanco
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | | | - Michael A J Ferguson
- Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Wellcome Trust Biocentre, College of Life Science, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M Beverley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110;
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O'Neal AJ, Butler LR, Rolandelli A, Gilk SD, Pedra JH. Lipid hijacking: a unifying theme in vector-borne diseases. eLife 2020; 9:61675. [PMID: 33118933 PMCID: PMC7595734 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne illnesses comprise a significant portion of human maladies, representing 17% of global infections. Transmission of vector-borne pathogens to mammals primarily occurs by hematophagous arthropods. It is speculated that blood may provide a unique environment that aids in the replication and pathogenesis of these microbes. Lipids and their derivatives are one component enriched in blood and are essential for microbial survival. For instance, the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, among others, have been shown to scavenge and manipulate host lipids for structural support, metabolism, replication, immune evasion, and disease severity. In this Review, we will explore the importance of lipid hijacking for the growth and persistence of these microbes in both mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya J O'Neal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - L Rainer Butler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Agustin Rolandelli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Stacey D Gilk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Joao Hf Pedra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
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Bourdeau P, Rowton E, Petersen C. Impact of different Leishmania reservoirs on sand fly transmission: Perspectives from xenodiagnosis and other one health observations. Vet Parasitol 2020; 287:109237. [PMID: 33160145 PMCID: PMC8035349 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania has biologically adapted to specific phlebotomine sand flies through long co-evolution. The ability of Leishmania spp. to bind to sand fly midgut allows each Leishmania species to propagate and differentiate into infectious promastigotes and be transmitted. Sand fly feeding upon a mammalian host is the first step towards being infected and a host of Leishmania. Once deposited into the skin, host susceptibility to infection vs. ability to mount a sterilizing immune response predicts which hosts could be reservoirs of different Leishmania spp. Materials, in addition to parasites, are expelled during sand fly during feeding, including salivary antigens and other factors that promote local inflammatory responses. These factors aid visceralization of infection increasing the likelihood that systemic infection is established. Any environmental factor that increases sand fly biting of a particular host increases that host's role in Leishmania transmission. First descriptions of reservoir species were based on association with local human disease and ability to observe infected leukocytes on cytology. This approach was one pathogen for one reservoir host. Advances in sensitive molecular tools greatly increased the breadth of mammals found to host Leishmania infection. Visceralizing species of Leishmania, particularly L. infantum, are now known to have multiple mammalian hosts. L. donovani, long been described as an anthroponotic parasite, was recently identified through molecular and serologic surveys to have additional mammalian hosts. The epidemiological role of these animals as a source of parasites to additional hosts via vector transmission is not known. Current evidence suggests that dogs and other domestic animals either control infection or do not have sufficient skin parasitemia to be a source of L. donovani to P. argentipes. Further xenodiagnosis and characterization of skin parasitemia in these different hosts is required to more broadly understand which Leishmania spp. hosts can be a source of parasites to sand flies and which ones are dead-end hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Bourdeau
- Laboratoire de Dermatologie, Parasitologie et Mycologie, ONIRIS, Ecole Nationale Veterinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation Nantes-Atlantique, Nantes, France; Immunology Program, Department of Internal Medicine and Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Edgar Rowton
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Immunology Program, Department of Internal Medicine and Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Christine Petersen
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, USA; Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Coralville, IA, 52241, USA; Immunology Program, Department of Internal Medicine and Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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14
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Resende LA, Aguiar-Soares RDDO, Moreira NDD, Ferreira SDA, Lanna MF, Cardoso JMDO, Mathias FAS, Coura-Vital W, Mariano RMDS, Leite JC, Silveira P, de Carvalho TF, Santos RL, da Silveira-Lemos D, Martins-Filho OA, Dutra WO, Reis AB, Giunchetti RC. In vitro Infectivity of Strains Isolated From Dogs Naturally Infected With Leishmania infantum Present a Distinct Pathogenic Profile in Hamsters. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:496. [PMID: 32984376 PMCID: PMC7483547 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe disease caused by Leishmania infantum. Dogs are the parasite's main reservoir, favoring its transmission in the urban environment. The analysis of L. infantum from infected dogs contributes to the identification of more virulent parasites, thereby supporting basic and applied studies such as vaccinal and therapeutic strategies. We proposed the in vitro and in vivo characterization of L. infantum strains from naturally infected dogs from a VL endemic area based on an infectivity and pathogenicity analysis. DH82 canine macrophages were infected in vitro with different strains for infectivity analysis, showing distinct infectivity profiles. The strains that showed greater and lesser infectivity using in vitro analyses (616 and 614, respectively) were used to infect hamsters for pathogenicity analysis. The group infected with strain 616 showed 100% survival while the group infected with strain 614 showed 50% after seven months of follow up. Furthermore, the 614 strain induced more noticeable clinicopathological changes and biochemical abnormalities in liver function, along with high inflammation and parasite load in the liver and spleen. We confirmed high variability of infectivity and pathogenicity in L. infantum strains from infected dogs. The results support the belief that screening for L. infantum infectivity using in vitro experiments is inadequate when it comes to selecting the most pathogenic strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucilene Aparecida Resende
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Nádia das Dores Moreira
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (Cipharma), Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Sidney de Almeida Ferreira
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia Parasitária, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - Mariana Ferreira Lanna
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | | | | | - Wendel Coura-Vital
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (Cipharma), Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Laboratório de Pesquisa em Epidemiologia e Citologia, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Reysla Maria da Silveira Mariano
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline Costa Leite
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Patricia Silveira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Furtado de Carvalho
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Renato Lima Santos
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Denise da Silveira-Lemos
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Grupo Integrado de Pesquisas em Biomarcadores, Instituto René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina, Universidade José Do Rosário Vellano, UNIFENAS, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Walderez Ornelas Dutra
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Barbosa Reis
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil.,Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas (Cipharma), Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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15
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Binding of Leishmania infantum Lipophosphoglycan to the Midgut Is Not Sufficient To Define Vector Competence in Lutzomyia longipalpis Sand Flies. mSphere 2020; 5:5/5/e00594-20. [PMID: 32907950 PMCID: PMC7485685 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00594-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the presence of LPG is sufficient to define the vector competence of restrictive sand fly vectors with respect to Leishmania parasites. However, the permissiveness of other sand flies with respect to multiple Leishmania species suggests that other factors might define vector competence for these vectors. In this study, we investigated the underpinnings of Leishmania infantum survival and development in its natural vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis. We found that LPG-mediated midgut binding persists in late-stage parasites. This observation is of relevance for the understanding of vector-parasite molecular interactions and suggests that only a subset of infective metacyclic-stage parasites (metacyclics) lose their ability to attach to the midgut, with implications for parasite transmission dynamics. However, our data also demonstrate that LPG is not a determining factor in Leishmania infantum retention in the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, a permissive vector. Rather, LPG appears to be more important in protecting some parasite strains from the toxic environment generated during blood meal digestion in the insect gut. Thus, the relevance of LPG in parasite development in permissive vectors appears to be a complex issue and should be investigated on a strain-specific basis. The major surface lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania parasites is critical to vector competence in restrictive sand fly vectors in mediating Leishmania attachment to the midgut epithelium, considered essential to parasite survival and development. However, the relevance of LPG for sand flies that harbor multiple species of Leishmania remains elusive. We tested binding of Leishmania infantum wild-type (WT), LPG-defective (Δlpg1 mutants), and add-back (Δlpg1 + LPG1) lines to sand fly midguts in vitro and their survival in Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies in vivo. Le. infantum WT parasites attached to the Lu. longipalpis midgut in vitro, with late-stage parasites binding to midguts in significantly higher numbers than were seen with early-stage promastigotes. Δlpg1 mutants did not bind to Lu. longipalpis midguts, and this was rescued in the Δlpg1 + LPG1 lines, indicating that midgut binding is mediated by LPG. When Lu. longipalpis sand flies were infected with the Le. infantum WT or Le. infantum Δlpg1 or Le. infantum Δlpg1 + LPG1 line of the BH46 or BA262 strains, the BH46 Δlpg1 mutant, but not the BA262 Δlpg1 mutant, survived and grew to numbers similar to those seen with the WT and Δlpg1 + LPG1 lines. Exposure of BH46 and BA262 Δlpg1 mutants to blood-engorged midgut extracts led to mortality of the BA262 Δlpg1 but not the BH46 Δlpg1 parasites. These findings suggest that Le. infantum LPG protects parasites on a strain-specific basis early in infection, likely against toxic components of blood digestion, but that it is not necessary to prevent Le. infantum evacuation along with the feces in the permissive vector Lu. longipalpis. IMPORTANCE It is well established that the presence of LPG is sufficient to define the vector competence of restrictive sand fly vectors with respect to Leishmania parasites. However, the permissiveness of other sand flies with respect to multiple Leishmania species suggests that other factors might define vector competence for these vectors. In this study, we investigated the underpinnings of Leishmania infantum survival and development in its natural vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis. We found that LPG-mediated midgut binding persists in late-stage parasites. This observation is of relevance for the understanding of vector-parasite molecular interactions and suggests that only a subset of infective metacyclic-stage parasites (metacyclics) lose their ability to attach to the midgut, with implications for parasite transmission dynamics. However, our data also demonstrate that LPG is not a determining factor in Leishmania infantum retention in the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, a permissive vector. Rather, LPG appears to be more important in protecting some parasite strains from the toxic environment generated during blood meal digestion in the insect gut. Thus, the relevance of LPG in parasite development in permissive vectors appears to be a complex issue and should be investigated on a strain-specific basis.
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16
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Jesus-Santos FH, Lobo-Silva J, Ramos PIP, Descoteaux A, Lima JB, Borges VM, Farias LP. LPG2 Gene Duplication in Leishmania infantum: A Case for CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:408. [PMID: 32903718 PMCID: PMC7438834 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
On the surface of the Leishmania promastigote, phosphoglycans (PG) such as lipophosphoglycan (LPG), proteophosphoglycan (PPG), free phosphoglycan polymers (PGs), and acid phosphatases (sAP), are dominant and contribute to the invasion and survival of Leishmania within the host cell by modulating macrophage signaling and intracellular trafficking. Phosphoglycan synthesis depends on the Golgi GDP-mannose transporter encoded by the LPG2 gene. Aiming to investigate the role of PG-containing molecules in Leishmania infantum infection process, herein we describe the generation and characterization of L. infantum LPG2-deficient parasites. This gene was unexpectedly identified as duplicated in the L. infantum genome, which impaired gene targeting using the conventional homologous recombination approach. This limitation was circumvented by the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Knockout parasites were selected by agglutination assays using CA7AE antibodies followed by a lectin (RCA 120). Five clones were isolated and molecularly characterized, all revealing the expected edited genome, as well as the complete absence of LPG and PG-containing molecule expression. Finally, the deletion of LPG2 was found to impair the outcome of infection in human neutrophils, as demonstrated by a pronounced reduction (~83%) in intracellular load compared to wild-type parasite infection. The results obtained herein reinforce the importance of LPG and other PGs as virulence factors in host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávio Henrique Jesus-Santos
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Lobo-Silva
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Pablo Ivan Pereira Ramos
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Albert Descoteaux
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Jonilson Berlink Lima
- Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western of Bahia (UFOB), Barreiras, Brazil
| | - Valéria Matos Borges
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Paiva Farias
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
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17
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Pandey SC, Kumar A, Samant M. Genetically modified live attenuated vaccine: A potential strategy to combat visceral leishmaniasis. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12732. [PMID: 32418227 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by a protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani mainly influencing the population of tropical and subtropical regions across the globe. The arsenal of drugs available is limited, and prolonged use of such drugs makes parasite to become resistant. Therefore, it is very imperative to develop a safe, cost-effective and inexpensive vaccine against VL. Although in recent years, many strategies have been pursued by researchers, so far only some of the vaccine candidates reached for clinical trial and more than half of them are still in pipeline. There is now a broad consent among Leishmania researchers that the perseverance of parasite is very essential for eliciting a protective immune response and may perhaps be attained by live attenuated parasite vaccination. For making a live attenuated parasite, it is very essential to ensure that the parasite is deficient of virulence and should further study genetically modified parasites to perceive the mechanism of pathogenesis. So it is believed that in the near future, a complete understanding of the Leishmania genome will explore clear strategies to discover a novel vaccine. This review describes the need for a genetically modified live attenuated vaccine against VL, and obstacles associated with its development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Chandra Pandey
- Cell and Molecular biology laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kumaun University, Almora, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Kumaun University, Nainital, India
| | - Awanish Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, India
| | - Mukesh Samant
- Cell and Molecular biology laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kumaun University, Almora, India
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18
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Kühne V, Verstraete R, van Ostade X, Büscher P. Experimental Evidence on the Nature of the Antigen in the Direct Agglutination Test for Visceral Leishmaniasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 102:788-796. [PMID: 32124719 PMCID: PMC7124922 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The direct agglutination test (DAT) for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the serodiagnostic test for VL that has the most robust sensitivity and specificity in the field across all endemic regions. It is based on trypsin-treated and formaldehyde-fixed whole promastigote cells from Leishmania donovani. The exact identity and nature of the epitopes on the DAT antigen that cause agglutination with VL patients' sera are currently unknown. In this study, we performed antigen-inhibition studies which revealed that lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and the DAT antigen share epitopes. Antibody inhibition with a monoclonal antibody directed against the phosphoglycan repeat epitope of LPG showed that this is not the epitope that reacts with human sera. Oxidation of carbohydrates by sodium metaperiodate did not alter the reactivity of human sera with the DAT antigen and LPG. This indicates that carbohydrates do not play a role in the reaction of the DAT antigen with antibodies in serum from VL patients, and that they also are not involved in the reaction of LPG with the same serum. We conclude that the noncarbohydrate moiety of LPG, that is, the core-anchor fragment, and potentially other noncarbohydrate epitopes on the surface of the DAT antigen are responsible for its agglutination with antibodies from VL patients. As LPG plays a role in the DAT reaction, this could facilitate the following: 1) incorporation of LPG, preferably the synthetic version of the core-anchor fragment, into an immunochromatographic test format that is more adapted as a point-of-care test (short incubation, little training, and equipment needed) than DAT and 2) enhancing the quality control for the production of the DAT antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Kühne
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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19
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Azevedo LG, de Queiroz ATL, Barral A, Santos LA, Ramos PIP. Proteins involved in the biosynthesis of lipophosphoglycan in Leishmania: a comparative genomic and evolutionary analysis. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:44. [PMID: 32000835 PMCID: PMC6993435 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmania spp. are digenetic parasites capable of infecting humans and causing a range of diseases collectively known as leishmaniasis. The main mechanisms involved in the development and permanence of this pathology are linked to evasion of the immune response. Crosstalk between the immune system and particularities of each pathogenic species is associated with diverse disease manifestations. Lipophosphoglycan (LPG), one of the most important molecules present on the surface of Leishmania parasites, is divided into four regions with high molecular variability. Although LPG plays an important role in host-pathogen and vector-parasite interactions, the distribution and phylogenetic relatedness of the genes responsible for its synthesis remain poorly explored. The recent availability of full genomes and transcriptomes of Leishmania parasites offers an opportunity to leverage insight on how LPG-related genes are distributed and expressed by these pathogens. RESULTS Using a phylogenomics-based framework, we identified a catalog of genes involved in LPG biosynthesis across 22 species of Leishmania from the subgenera Viannia and Leishmania, as well as 5 non-Leishmania trypanosomatids. The evolutionary relationships of these genes across species were also evaluated. Nine genes related to the production of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor were highly conserved among compared species, whereas 22 genes related to the synthesis of the repeat unit presented variable conservation. Extensive gain/loss events were verified, particularly in genes SCG1-4 and SCA1-2. These genes act, respectively, on the synthesis of the side chain attached to phosphoglycans and in the transfer of arabinose residues. Phylogenetic analyses disclosed evolutionary patterns reflective of differences in host specialization, geographic origin and disease manifestation. CONCLUSIONS The multiple gene gain/loss events identified by genomic data mining help to explain some of the observed intra- and interspecies variation in LPG structure. Collectively, our results provide a comprehensive catalog that details how LPG-related genes evolved in the Leishmania parasite specialization process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Gentil Azevedo
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
- Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
| | - Artur Trancoso Lopo de Queiroz
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
| | - Aldina Barral
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
- Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia (iii-INCT), São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Luciane Amorim Santos
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
| | - Pablo Ivan Pereira Ramos
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Post-graduate Program in Biotechnology and Investigative Medicine, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
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20
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Hall AR, Blakeman JT, Eissa AM, Chapman P, Morales-García AL, Stennett L, Martin O, Giraud E, Dockrell DH, Cameron NR, Wiese M, Yakob L, Rogers ME, Geoghegan M. Glycan–glycan interactions determine Leishmania attachment to the midgut of permissive sand fly vectors. Chem Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0sc03298k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Force spectroscopy was used to measure the adhesion of Leishmania to synthetic mimics of galectins on the sand fly midgut.
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21
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Mule SN, Saad JS, Fernandes LR, Stolf BS, Cortez M, Palmisano G. Protein glycosylation inLeishmaniaspp. Mol Omics 2020; 16:407-424. [DOI: 10.1039/d0mo00043d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein glycosylation is a co- and post-translational modification that, inLeishmaniaparasites, plays key roles in vector–parasite–vertebrate host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ngao Mule
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory
- Department of Parasitology
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
- University of Sao Paulo
- Sao Paulo - 05508-000
| | - Joyce Silva Saad
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory
- Department of Parasitology
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
- University of Sao Paulo
- Sao Paulo - 05508-000
| | - Livia Rosa Fernandes
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory
- Department of Parasitology
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
- University of Sao Paulo
- Sao Paulo - 05508-000
| | - Beatriz S. Stolf
- Department of Parasitology
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
- University of Sao Paulo
- Sao Paulo
- Brazil
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Department of Parasitology
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
- University of Sao Paulo
- Sao Paulo
- Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- GlycoProteomics Laboratory
- Department of Parasitology
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
- University of Sao Paulo
- Sao Paulo - 05508-000
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22
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Misra P, Singh S. Site specific microbiome of Leishmania parasite and its cross-talk with immune milieu. Immunol Lett 2019; 216:79-88. [PMID: 31678358 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2019.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microbiota consists of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms found in all multicellular organisms. These micro-organisms are found in or on many parts of the body, including the intestinal tract, skin, mouth, and the reproductive tract. This review focuses on interplay of site specific microbiota, vector microbiota along with immune response and severity of Leishmaniasis. Herein, we have reviewed and summarized the counter effect of microbiome post infection with the Leishmania parasite. We have studied skin microbiome along with the gut microbiome of sand-fly which is the vector for transmission of this disease. Our major focus was to understand the skin and gut microbiome during Leishmania infection,their interaction and effect on immunological responses generated during the infection.Moreover, systems biology approach is envisioned to enumerate bacterial species in skin microbiota and Phlebotmus gut microbiota during Leishmania infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Misra
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, India
| | - Shailza Singh
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune 411007, India.
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23
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Butenko A, Kostygov AY, Sádlová J, Kleschenko Y, Bečvář T, Podešvová L, Macedo DH, Žihala D, Lukeš J, Bates PA, Volf P, Opperdoes FR, Yurchenko V. Comparative genomics of Leishmania (Mundinia). BMC Genomics 2019; 20:726. [PMID: 31601168 PMCID: PMC6787982 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6126-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trypanosomatids of the genus Leishmania are parasites of mammals or reptiles transmitted by bloodsucking dipterans. Many species of these flagellates cause important human diseases with clinical symptoms ranging from skin sores to life-threatening damage of visceral organs. The genus Leishmania contains four subgenera: Leishmania, Sauroleishmania, Viannia, and Mundinia. The last subgenus has been established recently and remains understudied, although Mundinia contains human-infecting species. In addition, it is interesting from the evolutionary viewpoint, representing the earliest branch within the genus and possibly with a different type of vector. Here we analyzed the genomes of L. (M.) martiniquensis, L. (M.) enriettii and L. (M.) macropodum to better understand the biology and evolution of these parasites. Results All three genomes analyzed were approximately of the same size (~ 30 Mb) and similar to that of L. (Sauroleishmania) tarentolae, but smaller than those of the members of subgenera Leishmania and Viannia, or the genus Endotrypanum (~ 32 Mb). This difference was explained by domination of gene losses over gains and contractions over expansions at the Mundinia node, although only a few of these genes could be identified. The analysis predicts significant changes in the Mundinia cell surface architecture, with the most important ones relating to losses of LPG-modifying side chain galactosyltransferases and arabinosyltransferases, as well as β-amastins. Among other important changes were gene family contractions for the oxygen-sensing adenylate cyclases and FYVE zinc finger-containing proteins. Conclusions We suggest that adaptation of Mundinia to different vectors and hosts has led to alternative host-parasite relationships and, thereby, made some proteins redundant. Thus, the evolution of genomes in the genus Leishmania and, in particular, in the subgenus Mundinia was mainly shaped by host (or vector) switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anzhelika Butenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.,Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Alexei Y Kostygov
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.,Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Jovana Sádlová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yuliya Kleschenko
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tomáš Bečvář
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Podešvová
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Diego H Macedo
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - David Žihala
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, České Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Paul A Bates
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Fred R Opperdoes
- de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic. .,Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.
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24
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Beneke T, Demay F, Hookway E, Ashman N, Jeffery H, Smith J, Valli J, Becvar T, Myskova J, Lestinova T, Shafiq S, Sadlova J, Volf P, Wheeler RJ, Gluenz E. Genetic dissection of a Leishmania flagellar proteome demonstrates requirement for directional motility in sand fly infections. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007828. [PMID: 31242261 PMCID: PMC6615630 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania possesses a single flagellum, which is remodelled during the parasite’s life cycle from a long motile flagellum in promastigote forms in the sand fly to a short immotile flagellum in amastigotes residing in mammalian phagocytes. This study examined the protein composition and in vivo function of the promastigote flagellum. Protein mass spectrometry and label free protein enrichment testing of isolated flagella and deflagellated cell bodies defined a flagellar proteome for L. mexicana promastigote forms (available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD011057). This information was used to generate a CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library of 100 mutants to screen for flagellar defects. This first large-scale knockout screen in a Leishmania sp. identified 56 mutants with altered swimming speed (52 reduced and 4 increased) and defined distinct mutant categories (faster swimmers, slower swimmers, slow uncoordinated swimmers and paralysed cells, including aflagellate promastigotes and cells with curled flagella and disruptions of the paraflagellar rod). Each mutant was tagged with a unique 17-nt barcode, providing a simple barcode sequencing (bar-seq) method for measuring the relative fitness of L. mexicana mutants in vivo. In mixed infections of the permissive sand fly vector Lutzomyia longipalpis, paralysed promastigotes and uncoordinated swimmers were severely diminished in the fly after defecation of the bloodmeal. Subsequent examination of flies infected with a single paralysed mutant lacking the central pair protein PF16 or an uncoordinated swimmer lacking the axonemal protein MBO2 showed that these promastigotes did not reach anterior regions of the fly alimentary tract. These data show that L. mexicana need directional motility for successful colonisation of sand flies. Leishmania are protozoan parasites, transmitted between mammals by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. Promastigote forms in the sand fly have a long flagellum, which is motile and used for anchoring the parasites to prevent clearance with the digested blood meal remnants. To dissect flagellar functions and their importance in life cycle progression, we generated here a comprehensive list of >300 flagellar proteins and produced a CRISPR-Cas9 gene knockout library of 100 mutant Leishmania. We studied their behaviour in vitro before examining their fate in the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Measuring mutant swimming speeds showed that about half behaved differently compared to the wild type: a few swam faster, many slower and some were completely paralysed. We also found a group of uncoordinated swimmers. To test whether flagellar motility is required for parasite migration from the fly midgut to the foregut from where they reach the next host, we infected sand flies with a mixed mutant population. Each mutant carried a unique tag and tracking these tags up to nine days after infection showed that paralysed and uncoordinated Leishmania were rapidly lost from flies. These data indicate that directional swimming is important for successful colonisation of sand flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Beneke
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - François Demay
- University of Lille 1, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Edward Hookway
- Research Department of Pathology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole Ashman
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Jeffery
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - James Smith
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Valli
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tomas Becvar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Myskova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Lestinova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Shahaan Shafiq
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Richard John Wheeler
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Gluenz
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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25
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Abstract
Background Leishmania development in the sand fly gut leads to highly infective forms called metacyclic promastigotes. This process can be routinely mimicked in culture. Gene expression–profiling studies by transcriptome analysis have been performed with the aim of studying promastigote forms in the sand fly gut, as well as differences between sand fly–and culture-derived promastigotes. Findings Transcriptome analysis has revealed the crucial role of the microenvironment in parasite development within the sand fly gut because substantial differences and moderate correlation between the transcriptomes of cultured and sand fly–derived promastigotes have been found. Sand fly–derived metacyclics are more infective than metacyclics in culture. Therefore, some caution should be exercised when using cultured promastigotes, depending on the experimental design. The most remarkable examples are the hydrophilic acidic surface protein/small endoplasmic reticulum protein (HASP/SHERP) cluster, the glycoprotein 63 (gp63), and autophagy genes, which are up-regulated in sand fly–derived promastigotes compared with cultured promastigotes. Because HASP/SHERP genes are up-regulated in nectomonad and metacyclic promastigotes in the sand fly, the encoded proteins are not metacyclic specific. Metacyclic promastigotes are distinguished by morphology and high infectivity. Isolating them from the sand fly gut is not exempt from technical difficulty, because other promastigote forms remain in the gut even 15 days after infection. Leishmania major procyclic promastigotes within the sand fly gut up-regulate genes involved in cell cycle regulation and glucose catabolism, whereas metacyclics increase transcript levels of fatty acid biosynthesis and ATP-coupled proton transport genes. Most parasite's signal transduction pathways remain uncharacterized. Future elucidation may improve understanding of parasite development, particularly signaling molecule-encoding genes in sand fly versus culture and between promastigote forms in the sand fly gut. Conclusions Transcriptome analysis has been demonstrated to be technically efficacious to study differential gene expression in sand fly gut promastigote forms. Transcript and protein levels are not well correlated in these organisms (approximately 25% quantitative coincidences), especially under stress situations and at differentiation processes. However, transcript and protein levels behave similarly in approximately 60% of cases from a qualitative point of view (increase, decrease, or no variation). Changes in translational efficiency observed in other trypanosomatids strongly suggest that the differences are due to translational regulation and regulation of the steady-state protein levels. The lack of low-input sample strategies does not allow translatome and proteome analysis of sand fly–derived promastigotes so far.
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26
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Ronet C, Passelli K, Charmoy M, Scarpellino L, Myburgh E, Hauyon La Torre Y, Turco S, Mottram JC, Fasel N, Luther SA, Beverley SM, Launois P, Tacchini-Cottier F. TLR2 Signaling in Skin Nonhematopoietic Cells Induces Early Neutrophil Recruitment in Response to Leishmania major Infection. J Invest Dermatol 2018; 139:1318-1328. [PMID: 30594488 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neutrophils are rapidly recruited to the mammalian skin in response to infection with the cutaneous Leishmania pathogen. The parasites use neutrophils to establish the disease; however, the signals driving early neutrophil recruitment are poorly known. Here, we identified the functional importance of TLR2 signaling in this process. Using bone marrow chimeras and immunohistology, we identified the TLR2-expressing cells involved in this early neutrophil recruitment to be of nonhematopoietic origin. Keratinocytes are damaged and briefly in contact with the parasites during infection. We show that TLR2 triggering by Leishmania major is required for their secretion of neutrophil-attracting chemokines. Furthermore, TLR2 triggering by L. major phosphoglycans is critical for neutrophil recruitment to negatively affect disease development, as shown by better control of lesion size and parasite load in Tlr2-/- compared with wild-type infected mice. Conversely, restoring early neutrophil presence in Tlr2-/- mice through injection of wild-type neutrophils or CXCL1 at the onset of infection resulted in delayed disease resolution comparable to that observed in wild-type mice. Taken together, our data show a crucial role for TLR2-expressing nonhematopoietic skin cells in the recruitment of the first wave of neutrophils after L. major infection, a process that delays disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Ronet
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland; World Health Organization Immunology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Katiuska Passelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland; World Health Organization Immunology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Mélanie Charmoy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland; World Health Organization Immunology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Leo Scarpellino
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Elmarie Myburgh
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Yazmin Hauyon La Torre
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland; World Health Organization Immunology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Turco
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Jeremy C Mottram
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Nicolas Fasel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Sanjiv A Luther
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Stephen M Beverley
- Molecular Microbiology Department, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Pascal Launois
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland; World Health Organization Immunology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Tacchini-Cottier
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland; World Health Organization Immunology Research and Training Center, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland.
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27
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Genomic Analysis of Colombian Leishmania panamensis strains with different level of virulence. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17336. [PMID: 30478412 PMCID: PMC6255768 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35778-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment of Leishmania infection in mammalian hosts and the subsequent manifestation of clinical symptoms require internalization into macrophages, immune evasion and parasite survival and replication. Although many of the genes involved in these processes have been described, the genetic and genomic variability associated to differences in virulence is largely unknown. Here we present the genomic variation of four Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis strains exhibiting different levels of virulence in BALB/c mice and its application to predict novel genes related to virulence. De novo DNA sequencing and assembly of the most virulent strain allowed comparative genomics analysis with sequenced L. (Viannia) panamensis and L. (Viannia) braziliensis strains, and showed important variations at intra and interspecific levels. Moreover, the mutation detection and a CNV search revealed both base and structural genomic variation within the species. Interestingly, we found differences in the copy number and protein diversity of some genes previously related to virulence. Several machine-learning approaches were applied to combine previous knowledge with features derived from genomic variation and predict a curated set of 66 novel genes related to virulence. These genes can be prioritized for validation experiments and could potentially become promising drug and immune targets for the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.
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28
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Parasitic diseases that pose a threat to human life include leishmaniasis - caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania species. Existing drugs have limitations due to deleterious side effects like teratogenicity, high cost and drug resistance. This calls for the need to have an insight into therapeutic aspects of disease. Areas covered: We have identified different drug targets via. molecular, imuunological, metabolic as well as by system biology approaches. We bring these promising drug targets into light so that they can be explored to their maximum. In an effort to bridge the gaps between existing knowledge and prospects of drug discovery, we have compiled interesting studies on drug targets, thereby paving the way for establishment of better therapeutic aspects. Expert opinion: Advancements in technology shed light on many unexplored pathways. Further probing of well established pathways led to the discovery of new drug targets. This review is a comprehensive report on current and emerging drug targets, with emphasis on several metabolic targets, organellar biochemistry, salvage pathways, epigenetics, kinome and more. Identification of new targets can contribute significantly towards strengthening the pipeline for disease elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Sundar
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, UP, India
| | - Bhawana Singh
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, UP, India
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29
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Sunter J, Gull K. Shape, form, function and Leishmania pathogenicity: from textbook descriptions to biological understanding. Open Biol 2018; 7:rsob.170165. [PMID: 28903998 PMCID: PMC5627057 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The shape and form of protozoan parasites are inextricably linked to their pathogenicity. The evolutionary pressure associated with establishing and maintaining an infection and transmission to vector or host has shaped parasite morphology. However, there is not a 'one size fits all' morphological solution to these different pressures, and parasites exhibit a range of different morphologies, reflecting the diversity of their complex life cycles. In this review, we will focus on the shape and form of Leishmania spp., a group of very successful protozoan parasites that cause a range of diseases from self-healing cutaneous leishmaniasis to visceral leishmaniasis, which is fatal if left untreated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Sunter
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
| | - Keith Gull
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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30
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Lázaro-Souza M, Matte C, Lima JB, Arango Duque G, Quintela-Carvalho G, de Carvalho Vivarini Á, Moura-Pontes S, Figueira CP, Jesus-Santos FH, Gazos Lopes U, Farias LP, Araújo-Santos T, Descoteaux A, Borges VM. Leishmania infantum Lipophosphoglycan-Deficient Mutants: A Tool to Study Host Cell-Parasite Interplay. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:626. [PMID: 29675001 PMCID: PMC5896263 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is the major surface glycoconjugate of metacyclic Leishmania promastigotes and is associated with virulence in various species of this parasite. Here, we generated a LPG-deficient mutant of Leishmania infantum, the foremost etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. The L. infantum LPG-deficient mutant (Δlpg1) was obtained by homologous recombination and complemented via episomal expression of LPG1 (Δlpg1 + LPG1). Deletion of LPG1 had no observable effect on parasite morphology or on the presence of subcellular organelles, such as lipid droplets. While both wild-type and add-back parasites reached late phase in axenic cultures, the growth of Δlpg1 parasites was delayed. Additionally, the deletion of LPG1 impaired the outcome of infection in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. Although no significant differences were observed in parasite load after 4 h of infection, survival of Δlpg1 parasites was significantly reduced at 72 h post-infection. Interestingly, L. infantum LPG-deficient mutants induced a strong NF-κB-dependent activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) promoter compared to wild type and Δlpg1 + LPG1 parasites. In conclusion, the L. infantum Δlpg1 mutant constitutes a powerful tool to investigate the role(s) played by LPG in host cell-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Lázaro-Souza
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil.,Department of Legal Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Christine Matte
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique -Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Jonilson B Lima
- Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western of Bahia, Barreiras, Brazil
| | - Guillermo Arango Duque
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique -Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Graziele Quintela-Carvalho
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil.,Department of Legal Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Baiano (IFBaiano), Alagoinhas, Brazil
| | - Áislan de Carvalho Vivarini
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Center of Health Science, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sara Moura-Pontes
- Department of Legal Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Cláudio P Figueira
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Flávio H Jesus-Santos
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil.,Department of Legal Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Ulisses Gazos Lopes
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Carlos Chagas Filho Biophysics Institute, Center of Health Science, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo P Farias
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Théo Araújo-Santos
- Center of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Western of Bahia, Barreiras, Brazil
| | - Albert Descoteaux
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique -Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Valéria M Borges
- Laboratory of Inflammation and Biomarkers, Gonçalo Moniz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil.,Department of Legal Medicine, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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31
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Butenko A, Vieira TDS, Frolov AO, Opperdoes FR, Soares RP, Kostygov AY, Lukeš J, Yurchenko V. Leptomonas pyrrhocoris: Genomic insight into Parasite's Physiology. Curr Genomics 2018; 19:150-156. [PMID: 29491743 PMCID: PMC5814963 DOI: 10.2174/1389202918666170815143331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptomonas pyrrhocoris is a parasite of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus. This flagellate has been recently proposed as a model species for studying different aspects of the biology of monoxenous trypanosomatids, including host - parasite interactions. During its life cycle L. pyrrhocoris never tightly attaches to the epithelium of the insect gut. In contrast, its dixenous relatives (Leishmania spp.) establish a stable infection via attachment to the intestinal walls of their insect hosts. MATERIAL AND METHODS This process is mediated by chemical modifications of the cell surface lipophosphoglycans. In our study we tested whether the inability of L. pyrrhocoris to attach to the firebug's midgut is associated with the absence of these glycoconjugates. We also analyzed evolution of the proteins involved in proper lipophosphoglycan assembly, cell attachment and establishment of a stable infection in L. pyrrhocoris, L. seymouri, and Leishmania spp. Our comparative analysis demonstrated differences in SCG/L/R repertoire between the two parasite subgenera, Leishmania and Viannia, which may be related to distinct life strategies in various Leishmania spp. The genome of L. pyrrhocoris encodes 6 SCG genes, all of which are quite divergent from their orthologs in the genus Leishmania. Using direct probing with an antibody recognizing the β-Gal side chains of lipophosphoglycans, we confirmed that these structures are not synthesized in L. pyrrhocoris. CONCLUSION We conclude that either the SCG enzymes are not active in this species (similarly to SCG5/7 in L. major), or they possess a different biochemical activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anzhelika Butenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Tamara da Silva Vieira
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Alexander O. Frolov
- Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg199034, Russia
| | - Fred R. Opperdoes
- de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rodrigo P. Soares
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou/FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Alexei Yu. Kostygov
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg199034, Russia
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Toronto, ONM5G1Z8, Canada
| | - Vyacheslav Yurchenko
- Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budejovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
- Institute of Environmental Technologies, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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32
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New insights to structure and immunological features of Leishmania lipophosphoglycan3. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 95:1369-1374. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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Verma S, Das S, Mandal A, Ansari MY, Kumari S, Mansuri R, Kumar A, Singh R, Saini S, Abhishek K, Kumar V, Sahoo GC, Das P. Role of inhibitors of serine peptidases in protecting Leishmania donovani against the hydrolytic peptidases of sand fly midgut. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:303. [PMID: 28645315 PMCID: PMC5481909 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2239-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis, the sand fly midgut is considered to be an important site for vector-parasite interaction. Digestive enzymes including serine peptidases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, which are secreted in the midgut are one of the obstacles for Leishmania in establishing a successful infection. The presence of some natural inhibitors of serine peptidases (ISPs) has recently been reported in Leishmania. In the present study, we deciphered the role of these ISPs in the survival of Leishmania donovani in the hostile sand fly midgut environment. METHODS In silico and co-immunoprecipitation studies were performed to observe the interaction of L. donovani ISPs with trypsin and chymotrypsin. Zymography and in vitro enzyme assays were carried out to observe the inhibitory effect of purified recombinant ISPs of L. donovani (rLdISPs) on trypsin, chymotrypsin and the sand fly midgut peptidases. The expression of ISPs in the amastigote to promastigote transition stages were studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. The role of LdISP on the survival of ISP overexpressed (OE) and ISP knocked down (KD) Leishmania parasites inside the sand fly gut was investigated by in vitro and in vivo cell viability assays. RESULTS We identified two ecotin-like genes in L. donovani, LdISP1 and LdISP2. In silico and co-immunoprecipitation results clearly suggest a strong interaction of LdISP molecules with trypsin and chymotrypsin. Zymography and in vitro enzyme assay confirmed the inhibitory effect of rLdISP on trypsin, chymotrypsin and the sand fly midgut peptidases. The expression of LdISP2 was found to be strongly associated with the amastigote to promastigote phase transition. The activities of the digestive enzymes were found to be significantly reduced in the infected sand flies when compared to uninfected. To our knowledge, our study is the first report showing the possible reduction of chymotrypsin activity in L. donovani infected sand flies compared to uninfected. Interestingly, during the early transition stage, substantial killing was observed in ISP2 knocked down (ISP2KD) parasites compared to wild type (WT), whereas ISP1 knocked down (ISP1KD) parasites remained viable. Therefore, our study clearly indicates that LdISP2 is a more effective inhibitor of serine peptidases than LdISP1. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the lack of ISP2 is detrimental to the parasites during the early transition from amastigotes to promastigotes. Moreover, the results of the present study demonstrated for the first time that LdISP2 has an important role in the inhibition of peptidases and promoting L. donovani survival inside the Phlebotomus argentipes midgut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudha Verma
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Sushmita Das
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar 801105 India
| | - Abhishek Mandal
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Md Yousuf Ansari
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844101 India
- MM College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala, 133207 India
| | - Sujata Kumari
- Department of Vector Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Rani Mansuri
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844101 India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Ruby Singh
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Savita Saini
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844101 India
| | - Kumar Abhishek
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Vector Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Ganesh Chandra Sahoo
- Department of Bioinformatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
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Guo H, Novozhilova NM, Bandini G, Turco SJ, Ferguson MAJ, Beverley SM. Genetic metabolic complementation establishes a requirement for GDP-fucose in Leishmania. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:10696-10708. [PMID: 28465349 PMCID: PMC5481574 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.778480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To survive in its sand fly vector, the trypanosomatid protozoan parasite Leishmania first attaches to the midgut to avoid excretion, but eventually it must detach for transmission by the next bite. In Leishmania major strain Friedlin, this is controlled by modifications of the stage-specific adhesin lipophosphoglycan (LPG). During differentiation to infective metacyclics, d-arabinopyranose (d-Arap) caps the LPG side-chain galactose residues, blocking interaction with the midgut lectin PpGalec, thereby leading to parasite detachment and transmission. Previously, we characterized two closely related L. major genes (FKP40 and AFKP80) encoding bifunctional proteins with kinase/pyrophosphorylase activities required for salvage and conversion of l-fucose and/or d-Arap into the nucleotide-sugar substrates required by glycosyltransferases. Whereas only AFKP80 yielded GDP-d-Arap from exogenous d-Arap, both proteins were able to salvage l-fucose to GDP-fucose. We now show that Δafkp80− null mutants ablated d-Arap modifications of LPG as predicted, whereas Δfkp40− null mutants resembled wild type (WT). Fucoconjugates had not been reported previously in L. major, but unexpectedly, we were unable to generate fkp40−/afkp80− double mutants, unless one of the A/FKPs was expressed ectopically. To test whether GDP-fucose itself was essential for Leishmania viability, we employed “genetic metabolite complementation.” First, the trypanosome de novo pathway enzymes GDP-mannose dehydratase (GMD) and GDP-fucose synthetase (GMER) were expressed ectopically; from these cells, the Δfkp40−/Δafkp80− double mutant was now readily obtained. As expected, the Δfkp40−/Δafkp80−/+TbGMD-GMER line lacked the capacity to generate GDP-Arap, while synthesizing abundant GDP-fucose. These results establish a requirement for GDP-fucose for L. major viability and predict the existence of an essential fucoconjugate(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Guo
- From the Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Natalia M Novozhilova
- the Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, and
| | - Giulia Bandini
- the Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Science, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Salvatore J Turco
- the Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, and
| | - Michael A J Ferguson
- the Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Science, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen M Beverley
- From the Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110,
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Beneke T, Madden R, Makin L, Valli J, Sunter J, Gluenz E. A CRISPR Cas9 high-throughput genome editing toolkit for kinetoplastids. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2017; 4:170095. [PMID: 28573017 PMCID: PMC5451818 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), CRISPR-associated gene 9 (Cas9) genome editing is set to revolutionize genetic manipulation of pathogens, including kinetoplastids. CRISPR technology provides the opportunity to develop scalable methods for high-throughput production of mutant phenotypes. Here, we report development of a CRISPR-Cas9 toolkit that allows rapid tagging and gene knockout in diverse kinetoplastid species without requiring the user to perform any DNA cloning. We developed a new protocol for single-guide RNA (sgRNA) delivery using PCR-generated DNA templates which are transcribed in vivo by T7 RNA polymerase and an online resource (LeishGEdit.net) for automated primer design. We produced a set of plasmids that allows easy and scalable generation of DNA constructs for transfections in just a few hours. We show how these tools allow knock-in of fluorescent protein tags, modified biotin ligase BirA*, luciferase, HaloTag and small epitope tags, which can be fused to proteins at the N- or C-terminus, for functional studies of proteins and localization screening. These tools enabled generation of null mutants in a single round of transfection in promastigote form Leishmania major, Leishmania mexicana and bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei; deleted genes were undetectable in non-clonal populations, enabling for the first time rapid and large-scale knockout screens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Eva Gluenz
- Author for correspondence: Eva Gluenz e-mail:
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Atayde VD, Hassani K, da Silva Lira Filho A, Borges AR, Adhikari A, Martel C, Olivier M. Leishmania exosomes and other virulence factors: Impact on innate immune response and macrophage functions. Cell Immunol 2016; 309:7-18. [PMID: 27499212 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2016.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites are the causative agents of the leishmaniases, a collection of vector-borne diseases that range from simple cutaneous to fatal visceral forms. Employing potent immune modulation mechanisms, Leishmania is able to render the host macrophage inactive and persist inside its phagolysosome. In the last few years, the role of exosomes in Leishmania-host interactions has been increasingly investigated. For instance, it was reported that Leishmania exosome release is augmented following temperature shift, a condition mimicking parasite's entry into its mammalian host. Leishmania exosomes were found to strongly affect macrophage cell signaling and functions, similarly to whole parasites. Importantly, these vesicles were shown to be pro-inflammatory, capable to recruit neutrophils at their inoculation site exacerbating the pathology. In this review, we provide the most recent insights on the role of exosomes and other virulence factors, especially the surface protease GP63, in Leishmania-host interactions, deepening our knowledge on leishmaniasis and paving the way for the development of new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Diniz Atayde
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Heath Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Kasra Hassani
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Heath Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Alonso da Silva Lira Filho
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Heath Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Andrezza Raposo Borges
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Heath Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Anupam Adhikari
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Heath Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Caroline Martel
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Heath Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Martin Olivier
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 3775 University Street, Montréal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada; Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Heath Program, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Boulevard Décarie, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
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Genomic Appraisal of the Multifactorial Basis for In Vitro Acquisition of Miltefosine Resistance in Leishmania donovani. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:4089-100. [PMID: 27114280 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00478-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of the Leishmania donovani complex are the causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the most severe form of leishmaniasis, with high rates of mortality if left untreated. Leishmania parasites are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female sandflies (Diptera: Phlebotominae), and approximately 500,000 new cases of VL are reported each year. In the absence of a safe human vaccine, chemotherapy, along with vector control, is the sole tool with which to fight the disease. Miltefosine (hexadecylphosphatidylcholine [HePC]), an antitumoral drug, is the only successful oral treatment for VL. In the current study, we describe the phenotypic traits of L. donovani clonal lines that have acquired resistance to HePC. We performed whole-genome and RNA sequencing of these resistant lines to provide an inclusive overview of the multifactorial acquisition of experimental HePC resistance, circumventing the challenge of identifying changes in membrane-bound proteins faced by proteomics. This analysis was complemented by assessment of the in vitro infectivity of HePC-resistant parasites. Our work underscores the importance of complementary "omics" to acquire the most comprehensive insight for multifaceted processes, such as HePC resistance.
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Alcolea PJ, Alonso A, Domínguez M, Parro V, Jiménez M, Molina R, Larraga V. Influence of the Microenvironment in the Transcriptome of Leishmania infantum Promastigotes: Sand Fly versus Culture. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004693. [PMID: 27163123 PMCID: PMC4862625 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum in the Mediterranean Basin, where domestic dogs and wild canids are the main reservoirs. The promastigote stage replicates and develops within the gut of blood-sucking phlebotomine sand flies. Mature promastigotes are injected in the dermis of the mammalian host and differentiate into the amastigote stage within parasitophorous vacuoles of phagocytic cells. The major vector of L. infantum in Spain is Phlebotomus perniciosus. Promastigotes are routinely axenized and cultured to mimic in vitro the conditions inside the insect gut, which allows for most molecular, cellular, immunological and therapeutical studies otherwise inviable. Culture passages are known to decrease infectivity, which is restored by passage through laboratory animals. The most appropriate source of promastigotes is the gut of the vector host but isolation of the parasite is technically challenging. In fact, this option is not viable unless small samples are sufficient for downstream applications like promastigote cultures and nucleic acid amplification. In this study, in vitro infectivity and differential gene expression have been studied in cultured promastigotes at the stationary phase and in promastigotes isolated from the stomodeal valve of the sand fly P. perniciosus. About 20 ng RNA per sample could be isolated. Each sample contained L. infantum promastigotes from 20 sand flies. RNA was successfully amplified and processed for shotgun genome microarray hybridization analysis. Most differentially regulated genes are involved in regulation of gene expression, intracellular signaling, amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis of surface molecules. Interestingly, meta-analysis by hierarchical clustering supports that up-regulation of 22.4% of the differentially regulated genes is specifically enhanced by the microenvironment (i.e. sand fly gut or culture). The correlation between cultured and naturally developed promastigotes is strong but not very high (Pearson coefficient R2 = 0.727). Therefore, the influence of promastigote culturing should be evaluated case-by-case in experimentation. The protozoan parasite Leishmania infantum causes visceral leishmaniasis in humans and is responsible for a recent outbreak reported in central Spain. Domestic dogs and wild canids are the main reservoirs. The life cycle of the parasite involves two stages and two hosts. The motile promastigote stage differentiates within the gut of the sand fly vector host and develops into non-motile amastigotes within phagocytes of the mammalian host. Promastigotes are routinely cultured in liquid media because it is assumed that they mimic the conditions within the gut of the insect. Therefore, the culture model is used in most studies about the biology of the parasite, pathogenesis and development of vaccines and new compounds for treatment. Isolating promastigotes from the natural microenvironment (i.e. the vector host) is desirable but technically challenging. We were able to perform a high-throughput analysis of gene expression thanks to mRNA amplification. The over-expressed genes detected may influence life cycle progression depending on the promastigote microenvironment (i.e. culture or vector host). Upcoming studies based on these results may reveal new therapeutic targets or vaccine candidates. Our results suggest that evaluating the influence of cultures in experimentation is convenient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J. Alcolea
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Departamento de Microbiología Molecular y Biología de las Infecciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Ana Alonso
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Departamento de Microbiología Molecular y Biología de las Infecciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Domínguez
- Unidad de Inmunología Microbiana, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Virología e Inmunología Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Parro
- Laboratorio de Ecología Molecular, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial “Esteban Terradas”—Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maribel Jiménez
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Virología e Inmunología Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Molina
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Virología e Inmunología Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vicente Larraga
- Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Departamento de Microbiología Molecular y Biología de las Infecciones, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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Mitra P. Pathogenicity of Leishmania donovani is associated with the high expression of a group low molecular weight proteins. Trop Parasitol 2015; 5:106-17. [PMID: 26629453 PMCID: PMC4557149 DOI: 10.4103/2229-5070.162521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: With few exceptions, members of the Leishmania donovani complex such as L. donovani, L. infantum and L. chagashi are the etiological agents of visceral leishmaniasis or kala-azar. Promastigotes of Leishmania spp. lose their Pathogenicity; the ability to establish infection in a susceptible host, after prolonged culture. The molecular basis of this evolution of pathogenic to nonpathogenic culture has not been very well understood. It has been proposed that the loss of pathogenicity is associated with the gradual disappearance of selective parasite proteins. An alternative hypothesis is that during prolonged culture, the pathogenic clonal population of the parasite is deleted from the mixed population due to their selection pressure. This clonal deletion is proposed to be responsible for the emergence of the nonpathogenic population. Study Methodology and Results: We have a done a series of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by western blot experiments to study the antigenic profile of few L. donovani isolates of Indian origin. We observed a gradual and significant downregulation of expression of a group of low molecular weight proteins (LMW, molecular weight 20–30 kDa) which are associated with loss of pathogenicity. These proteins are recognized only by antiserum raised against the whole cell extract of one of the pathogenic Indian L. donovani isolates, Ag83, and remained undetected by antiserum raised against the nonpathogenic AG83 isolates. These LMW proteins were also present in the nonpathogenic extract in very low levels and remained undetected by the virulent serum, indicating a phenomenon of simultaneous downregulation of the expression and altered immunogenicity. LMW proteins were universally expressed in all early passage Indian isolate we tested and also detected in two clones obtained from pathogenic parasite culture. The antigenic patterns of none of the eight clones obtained from nonpathogenic culture were not exactly similar with the pathogenic clones. Conclusion: Therefore, our data strongly support the hypothesis that the loss of pathogenicity of L. donovani is associated with a change in antigenic profile, but not due the selective deletion of pathogenic clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Partha Mitra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4122, Australia
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Di-Blasi T, Lobo AR, Nascimento LM, Córdova-Rojas JL, Pestana K, Marín-Villa M, Tempone AJ, Telleria EL, Ramalho-Ortigão M, McMahon-Pratt D, Traub-Csekö YM. The flagellar protein FLAG1/SMP1 is a candidate for Leishmania-sand fly interaction. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015; 15:202-9. [PMID: 25793476 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a serious problem that affects mostly poor countries. Various species of Leishmania are the agents of the disease, which take different clinical manifestations. The parasite is transmitted by sandflies, predominantly from the Phlebotomus genus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World. During development in the gut, Leishmania must survive various challenges, which include avoiding being expelled with blood remnants after digestion. It is believed that attachment to the gut epithelium is a necessary step for vector infection, and molecules from parasites and sand flies have been implicated in this attachment. In previous work, monoclonal antibodies were produced against Leishmania. Among these an antibody was obtained against Leishmania braziliensis flagella, which blocked the attachment of Leishmania panamensis flagella to Phlebotomus papatasi guts. The protein recognized by this antibody was identified and named FLAG1, and the complete FLAG1 gene sequence was obtained. This protein was later independently identified as a small, myristoylated protein and called SMP1, so from now on it will be denominated FLAG1/SMP1. The FLAG1/SMP1 gene is expressed in all developmental stages of the parasite, but has higher expression in promastigotes. The anti-FLAG1/SMP1 antibody recognized the flagellum of all Leishmania species tested and generated the expected band by western blots. This antibody was used in attachment and infection blocking experiments. Using the New World vector Lutzomyia longipalpis and Leishmania infantum chagasi, no inhibition of attachment ex vivo or infection in vivo was seen. On the other hand, when the Old World vectors P. papatasi and Leishmania major were used, a significant decrease of both attachment and infection were seen in the presence of the antibody. We propose that FLAG1/SMP1 is involved in the attachment/infection of Leishmania in the strict vector P. papatasi and not the permissive vector L. longipalpis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Di-Blasi
- 1 Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz , FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Gurung P, Kanneganti TD. Innate immunity against Leishmania infections. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1286-94. [PMID: 26249747 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a major health problem that affects more than 300 million people throughout the world. The morbidity associated with the disease causes serious economic burden in Leishmania endemic regions. Despite the morbidity and economic burden associated with Leishmaniasis, this disease rarely gets noticed and is still categorized under neglected tropical diseases. The lack of research combined with the ability of Leishmania to evade immune recognition has rendered our efforts to design therapeutic treatments or vaccines challenging. Herein, we review the literature on Leishmania from innate immune perspective and discuss potential problems as well as solutions and future directions that could aid in identifying novel therapeutic targets to eliminate this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajwal Gurung
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
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Abstract
Galactose salvage in Leishmania major is mediated by UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase (USP). USP is not rate limiting for glycocalyx biosynthesis under standard growth conditions. Salvage by USP contributes to glycoconjugate biosynthesis but is insufficient on its own.
Leishmaniases are a set of tropical and sub-tropical diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania whose severity ranges from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral infections. Leishmania parasites synthesise a wide array of cell surface and secreted glycoconjugates that play important roles in infection. These glycoconjugates are particularly abundant in the promastigote form and known to be essential for establishment of infection in the insect midgut and effective transmission to the mammalian host. Since they are rich in galactose, their biosynthesis requires an ample supply of UDP-galactose. This nucleotide-sugar arises from epimerisation of UDP-glucose but also from an uncharacterised galactose salvage pathway. In this study, we evaluated the role of the newly characterised UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase (USP) of Leishmania major in UDP-galactose biosynthesis. Upon deletion of the USP encoding gene, L. major lost the ability to synthesise UDP-galactose from galactose-1-phosphate but its ability to convert glucose-1-phosphate into UDP-glucose was fully maintained. Thus USP plays a role in UDP-galactose activation but does not significantly contribute to the de novo synthesis of UDP-glucose. Accordingly, USP was shown to be dispensable for growth and glycoconjugate biosynthesis under standard growth conditions. However, in a mutant seriously impaired in the de novo synthesis of UDP-galactose (due to deficiency of the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase) addition of extracellular galactose increased biosynthesis of the cell surface lipophosphoglycan. Thus under restrictive conditions, such as those encountered by Leishmania in its natural habitat, galactose salvage by USP may play a substantial role in biosynthesis of the UDP-galactose pool. We hypothesise that USP recycles galactose from the blood meal within the midgut of the insect for synthesis of the promastigote glycocalyx and thereby contributes to successful vector infection.
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Abstract
The ability of Leishmania parasites to infect and persist in the antigen-presenting cell population of their mammalian hosts is dependent on their ability to gain entry to their host and host cells, to survive the mammalian cell environment, and to suppress or evade the protective immune response mechanisms of their hosts. A multitude of genes and their products have been implicated in each of these virulence-enhancing strategies to date, and we present an overview of the nature and known function of such virulence genes.
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Eppe G, El Bkassiny S, Vincent SP. Galactofuranose Biosynthesis: Discovery, Mechanisms and Therapeutic Relevance. CARBOHYDRATES IN DRUG DESIGN AND DISCOVERY 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/9781849739993-00209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Galactofuranose, the atypical and thermodynamically disfavored form of d-galactose, has in reality a very old history in chemistry and biochemistry. The purpose of this book chapter is to give an overview on the fundamental aspects of the galactofuranose biosynthesis, from the biological occurrence to the search of inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Eppe
- University of Namur, Département de Chimie, Laboratoire de Chimie Bio-Organique rue de Bruxelles 61 B-5000 Namur Belgium
| | - Sandy El Bkassiny
- University of Namur, Département de Chimie, Laboratoire de Chimie Bio-Organique rue de Bruxelles 61 B-5000 Namur Belgium
| | - Stéphane P. Vincent
- University of Namur, Département de Chimie, Laboratoire de Chimie Bio-Organique rue de Bruxelles 61 B-5000 Namur Belgium
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Sangshetti JN, Kalam Khan FA, Kulkarni AA, Arote R, Patil RH. Antileishmanial drug discovery: comprehensive review of the last 10 years. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra02669e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This review covers the current aspects of leishmaniasis including marketed drugs, new antileishmanial agents, and possible drug targets of antileishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rohidas Arote
- Department of Molecular Genetics
- School of Dentistry
- Seoul National University
- Seoul
- Republic of Korea
| | - Rajendra H. Patil
- Department of Biotechnology
- Savitribai Phule Pune University
- Pune 411007
- India
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Phillips MR, Turco SJ. Characterization of a ricin-resistant mutant of Leishmania donovani that expresses lipophosphoglycan. Glycobiology 2014; 25:428-37. [PMID: 25472443 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwu130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The abundant cell-surface lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania parasites plays a central role throughout the eukaryote's life cycle. A number of LPG-defective mutants and their complementing genes have been isolated and have proven invaluable in assessing the importance of LPG and related glycoconjugates in parasite virulence. While ricin agglutination selection protocols frequently result in lpg- mutants, one Leishmania donovani variant we isolated, named JABBA, was found to be lpg+. Procyclic (logarithmic) JABBA expresses significant amounts of a large-sized LPG, larger than observed from procyclic wild type but similar in size to LPG from wild type from metacyclic (stationary) phase. Structural analysis of the LPG from logarithmically grown JABBA by capillary electrophoresis protocols revealed that it averaged 30 repeat units composed of the unsubstituted Gal(β1,4)Man(α1)-PO4 typical of wild-type L. donovani. Analysis of JABBA LPG caps indicated that 20% is branched trisaccharide Gal(β1,4)[Glc(β1,2)]Man and tetrasaccharide Gal(β1,4)[Glc(β1,2)Man(α1,2)]Man instead of the usual Gal(β1,4)Man and Man(α1,2)Man terminating caps. Consistent with these structural observations, analyses of the relevant glycosyltransferases in JABBA microsomes involved in LPG biosynthesis showed a 2-fold increase in elongating mannosylphosphoryltransferase activity and up-regulation of a β-glucosyltransferase activity. Furthermore, the caps of JABBA LPG are cryptic in presentation as shown by the loss of binding by the lectins, ricin, peanut agglutinin and concanavalin A and reduced accessibility of the terminal galactose residues to oxidation by galactose oxidase. These results indicate that LPG from JABBA is intriguingly similar to the larger LPG in wild-type parasites that arises following the differentiation of the non-infectious procyclic promastigotes to infectious, metacyclic forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Salvatore J Turco
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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A lectin from Dioclea violacea Interacts with midgut surface of Lutzomyia migonei, unlike its homologues, Cratylia floribunda lectin and Canavalia gladiata lectin. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:239208. [PMID: 25431778 PMCID: PMC4238264 DOI: 10.1155/2014/239208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand fly. Susceptibility and refractoriness to Leishmania depend on the outcome of multiple interactions that take place within the sand fly gut. Promastigote attachment to sand fly midgut epithelium is essential to avoid being excreted together with the digested blood meal. Promastigote and gut sand fly surface glycans are important ligands in this attachment. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the interaction of three lectins isolated from leguminous seeds (Diocleinae subtribe), D-glucose and D-mannose-binding, with glycans on Lutzomyia migonei midgut. To study this interaction the lectins were labeled with FITC and a fluorescence assay was performed. The results showed that only Dioclea violacea lectin (DVL) was able to interact with midgut glycans, unlike Cratylia floribunda lectin (CFL) and Canavalia gladiata lectin (CGL). Furthermore, when DVL was blocked with D-mannose the interaction was inhibited. Differences of spatial arrangement of residues and volume of carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) may be the cause of the fine specificity of DVL for glycans in the surface on Lu. migonei midgut. The findings in this study showed the presence of glycans in the midgut with glucose/mannose residues in its composition and these residues may be important in interaction between Lu. migonei midgut and Leishmania.
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Structural comparison of lipophosphoglycan from Leishmania turanica and L. major, two species transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi. Parasitol Int 2014; 63:683-6. [PMID: 24863491 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Revised: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania major has a major role in the attachment to Phlebotomus papatasi midgut. Here, we investigated the comparative structural features of LPG of L. turanica, another species transmitted by P. papatasi. The mAb WIC 79.3, specific for terminal Gal(β1,3) side-chains, strongly reacted with L. turanica LPG. In contrast, L. turanica LPG was not recognized by arabinose-specific mAb 3F12. In conclusion, LPGs from L. major and L. turanica are similar, with the latter being less arabinosylated than L. major's. The high galactose content in L. turanica LPG is consistent with its predicted recognition by P. papatasi lectin PpGalec.
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Bras-Gonçalves R, Petitdidier E, Pagniez J, Veyrier R, Cibrelus P, Cavaleyra M, Maquaire S, Moreaux J, Lemesre JL. Identification and characterization of new Leishmania promastigote surface antigens, LaPSA-38S and LiPSA-50S, as major immunodominant excreted/secreted components of L. amazonensis and L. infantum. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 24:1-14. [PMID: 24614507 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We have previously demonstrated that sera from dogs vaccinated with excreted/secreted antigens (ESA) of Leishmania infantum promastigotes (LiESAp) mainly recognized an immunodominant antigen of 54 kDa. An anti-LiESAp-specific IgG2 humoral response was observed and associated to Th1-type response in vaccinated dogs. This response was highly correlated with a long-lasting and strong LiESAp-vaccine protection toward L. infantum experimental infection. In addition, it was also shown that dogs from the vaccinated group developed a selective IgG2 response against an immunodominant antigen of 45 kDa of Leishmania amazonensis ESA promastigotes (LaESAp). In order to identify and characterize these immunodominant antigens, a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb F5) was produced by immunization against LaESAp. It was found to recognize the major antigenic targets of both LaESAp and LiESAp. Analysis with mAb F5 of L. amazonensis amastigote and promastigote cDNA expression libraries enabled the identification of clones encoding proteins with significant structural homology to the promastigote surface antigens named PSA-2/gp-46. Among them, one clone presented a full-length cDNA and encoded a novel L. amazonensis protein of 38.6 kDa calculated molecular mass (LaPSA-38S) sharing an amino acid sequence consistent with that of the PSA polymorphic family and a N-terminal signal peptide, characteristic of a secreted protein. We then screened a L. infantum promastigote DNA cosmid library using a cDNA probe derived from the LaPSA-38S gene and identified a full-length clone of a novel excreted/secreted protein of L. infantum with a calculated molecular mass of 49.2 kDa and named LiPSA-50S. The fact that a significant immunological reactivity was observed against PSA, suggests that these newly identified proteins could have an important immunoregulatory influence on the immune response. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that (i) these proteins were naturally excreted/secreted by viable Leishmania promastigotes and amastigotes, and (ii) they are selectively recognized by vaccinated and protected dogs.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Protozoan/blood
- Antibodies, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Protozoan/immunology
- Antigens, Surface/immunology
- Base Sequence
- Dog Diseases/immunology
- Dog Diseases/parasitology
- Dogs/blood
- Dogs/parasitology
- Immunodominant Epitopes/immunology
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Leishmania infantum/immunology
- Leishmania mexicana/immunology
- Leishmaniasis Vaccines
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/immunology
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/prevention & control
- Leishmaniasis, Visceral/immunology
- Leishmaniasis, Visceral/prevention & control
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Protozoan Proteins/immunology
- Protozoan Proteins/metabolism
- Sequence Alignment
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Vaccination
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Bras-Gonçalves
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
| | - Elodie Petitdidier
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Julie Pagniez
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Renaud Veyrier
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Prisca Cibrelus
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Mireille Cavaleyra
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Sarah Maquaire
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Jérôme Moreaux
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Jean-Loup Lemesre
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR177 IRD/CIRAD "Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les maladies infectieuses à trypanosomatidae", 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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Abstract
This review describes the worldwide situation of visceral and tegumentary leishmaniasis with an emphasis on diagnosis, including methods for the detection of antibodies, antigens, parasite DNA and of skin testing. The advantages and problems of each method are discussed and the need for a rapid, sensitive and low-cost diagnostic method for use in field conditions is highlighted. Recent advances in Leishmania genome sequencing, the use of DNA microarrays and protein microarray methodologies and their potential use for leishmaniasis diagnosis are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alberto P Tavares
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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