1
|
Tom A, Kumar NP, Kumar A, Saini P. Interactions between Leishmania parasite and sandfly: a review. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:6. [PMID: 38052752 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08043-7] [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: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis transmission cycles are maintained and sustained in nature by the complex crosstalk of the Leishmania parasite, sandfly vector, and the mammalian hosts (human, as well as zoonotic reservoirs). Regardless of the vast research on human host-parasite interaction, there persists a substantial knowledge gap on the parasite's development and modulation in the vector component. This review focuses on some of the intriguing aspects of the Leishmania-sandfly interface, beginning with the uptake of the intracellular amastigotes from an infected host to the development of the parasite within the sandfly's alimentary canal, followed by the transmission of infective metacyclic stages to another potential host. Upon ingestion of the parasite, the sandfly hosts an intricate repertoire of immune barriers, either to evade the parasite or to ensure its homeostatic coexistence with the vector gut microbiome. Sandfly salivary polypeptides and Leishmania exosomes are co-egested with the parasite inoculum during the infected vector bite. This has been attributed to the modulation of the parasite infection and subsequent clinical manifestation in the host. While human host-based studies strive to develop effective therapeutics, a greater understanding of the vector-parasite-microbiome and human host interactions could help us to identify the targets and to develop strategies for effectively preventing the transmission of leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anns Tom
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - N Pradeep Kumar
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India
| | - Prasanta Saini
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Telleria EL, Tinoco-Nunes B, Forrest DM, Di-Blasi T, Leštinová T, Chang KP, Volf P, Pitaluga AN, Traub-Csekö YM. Evidence of a conserved mammalian immunosuppression mechanism in Lutzomyia longipalpis upon infection with Leishmania. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1162596. [PMID: 38022562 PMCID: PMC10652419 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1162596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Sand flies (Diptera: Phlebotominae) belonging to the Lutzomyia genus transmit Leishmania infantum parasites. To understand the complex interaction between the vector and the parasite, we have been investigating the sand fly immune responses during the Leishmania infection. Our previous studies showed that genes involved in the IMD, Toll, and Jak-STAT immunity pathways are regulated upon Leishmania and bacterial challenges. Nevertheless, the parasite can thrive in the vectors' gut, indicating the existence of mechanisms capable of modulating the vector defenses, as was already seen in mammalian Leishmania infections. Methods results and discussion In this study, we investigated the expression of Lutzomyia longipalpis genes involved in regulating the Toll pathway under parasitic infection. Leishmania infantum infection upregulated the expression of two L. longipalpis genes coding for the putative repressors cactus and protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP. These findings suggest that the parasite can modulate the vectors' immune response. In mammalian infections, the Leishmania surface glycoprotein GP63 is one of the inducers of host immune depression, and one of the known effectors is SHP. In L. longipalpis we found a similar effect: a genetically modified strain of Leishmania amazonensis over-expressing the metalloprotease GP63 induced a higher expression of the sand fly SHP indicating that the L. longipalpis SHP and parasite GP63 increased expressions are connected. Immuno-stained microscopy of L. longipalpis LL5 embryonic cells cultured with Leishmania strains or parasite conditioned medium showed cells internalization of parasite GP63. A similar internalization of GP63 was observed in the sand fly gut tissue after feeding on parasites, parasite exosomes, or parasite conditioned medium, indicating that GP63 can travel through cells in vitro or in vivo. When the sand fly SHP gene was silenced by RNAi and females infected by L. infantum, parasite loads decreased in the early phase of infection as expected, although no significant differences were seen in late infections of the stomodeal valve. Conclusions Our findings show the possible role of a pathway repressor involved in regulating the L. longipalpis immune response during Leishmania infections inside the insect. In addition, they point out a conserved immunosuppressive effect of GP63 between mammals and sand flies in the early stage of parasite infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erich Loza Telleria
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Bruno Tinoco-Nunes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - David M. Forrest
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Di-Blasi
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tereza Leštinová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Kwang Poo Chang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - André Nóbrega Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vomáčková Kykalová B, Sassù F, Volf P, Telleria EL. RNAi-mediated gene silencing of Phlebotomus papatasi defensins favors Leishmania major infection. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1182141. [PMID: 37265840 PMCID: PMC10230645 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1182141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Production of different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is one of the insect's prominent defense strategies, regulated mainly by Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) humoral pathways. Here we focused mainly on two AMPs of Phlebotomus papatasi, vector of Leishmania major parasites, their association with the relish transcription factor and the effective participation on Leishmania infection. Methods and results: We further characterized the role of previously described gut-specific P. papatasi defensin (PpDef1) and identified the second defensin (PpDef2) expressed in various sand fly tissues. Using the RNAi-mediated gene silencing, we report that the silencing of PpDef1 gene or simultaneous silencing of both defensin genes (PpDef1 and PpDef2) resulted in increased parasite levels in the sand fly (detectable by PCR) and higher sand fly mortality. In addition, we knocked down relish, the sole transcription factor of the IMD pathway, to evaluate the association of the IMD pathway with AMPs expression in P. papatasi. We demonstrated that the relish gene knockdown reduced the expression of PpDef2 and attacin, another AMP abundantly expressed in the sand fly body. Conclusions: Altogether, our experiments show the importance of defensins in the sand fly response toward L. major and the role of the IMD pathway in regulating AMPs in P. papatasi.
Collapse
|
4
|
Labbé F, Abdeladhim M, Abrudan J, Araki AS, Araujo RN, Arensburger P, Benoit JB, Brazil RP, Bruno RV, Bueno da Silva Rivas G, Carvalho de Abreu V, Charamis J, Coutinho-Abreu IV, da Costa-Latgé SG, Darby A, Dillon VM, Emrich SJ, Fernandez-Medina D, Figueiredo Gontijo N, Flanley CM, Gatherer D, Genta FA, Gesing S, Giraldo-Calderón GI, Gomes B, Aguiar ERGR, Hamilton JGC, Hamarsheh O, Hawksworth M, Hendershot JM, Hickner PV, Imler JL, Ioannidis P, Jennings EC, Kamhawi S, Karageorgiou C, Kennedy RC, Krueger A, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Ligoxygakis P, Meireles-Filho ACA, Minx P, Miranda JC, Montague MJ, Nowling RJ, Oliveira F, Ortigão-Farias J, Pavan MG, Horacio Pereira M, Nobrega Pitaluga A, Proveti Olmo R, Ramalho-Ortigao M, Ribeiro JMC, Rosendale AJ, Sant’Anna MRV, Scherer SE, Secundino NFC, Shoue DA, da Silva Moraes C, Gesto JSM, Souza NA, Syed Z, Tadros S, Teles-de-Freitas R, Telleria EL, Tomlinson C, Traub-Csekö YM, Marques JT, Tu Z, Unger MF, Valenzuela J, Ferreira FV, de Oliveira KPV, Vigoder FM, Vontas J, Wang L, Weedall GD, Zhioua E, Richards S, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Dillon RJ, McDowell MA. Genomic analysis of two phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania from the New and Old World. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010862. [PMID: 37043542 PMCID: PMC10138862 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance as important vectors of human disease, transmitting bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens, including the kinetoplastid parasites of the genus Leishmania, the causative agents of devastating diseases collectively termed leishmaniasis. More than 40 pathogenic Leishmania species are transmitted to humans by approximately 35 sand fly species in 98 countries with hundreds of millions of people at risk around the world. No approved efficacious vaccine exists for leishmaniasis and available therapeutic drugs are either toxic and/or expensive, or the parasites are becoming resistant to the more recently developed drugs. Therefore, sand fly and/or reservoir control are currently the most effective strategies to break transmission. To better understand the biology of sand flies, including the mechanisms involved in their vectorial capacity, insecticide resistance, and population structures we sequenced the genomes of two geographically widespread and important sand fly vector species: Phlebotomus papatasi, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, (distributed in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) and Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause visceral leishmaniasis (distributed across Central and South America). We categorized and curated genes involved in processes important to their roles as disease vectors, including chemosensation, blood feeding, circadian rhythm, immunity, and detoxification, as well as mobile genetic elements. We also defined gene orthology and observed micro-synteny among the genomes. Finally, we present the genetic diversity and population structure of these species in their respective geographical areas. These genomes will be a foundation on which to base future efforts to prevent vector-borne transmission of Leishmania parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Labbé
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Maha Abdeladhim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jenica Abrudan
- Genomic Sciences & Precision Medicine Center (GSPMC), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Alejandra Saori Araki
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo N. Araujo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Peter Arensburger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | | | - Rafaela V. Bruno
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Bueno da Silva Rivas
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vinicius Carvalho de Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jason Charamis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, Heraklion, Greece
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Iliano V. Coutinho-Abreu
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | - Alistair Darby
- Institute of Integrative Biology, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Viv M. Dillon
- Institute of Integrative Biology, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Scott J. Emrich
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | | | - Nelder Figueiredo Gontijo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Catherine M. Flanley
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Derek Gatherer
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando A. Genta
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sandra Gesing
- Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Gloria I. Giraldo-Calderón
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Dept. Ciencias Biológicas & Dept. Ciencias Básicas Médicas, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Bruno Gomes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - James G. C. Hamilton
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Omar Hamarsheh
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Mallory Hawksworth
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jacob M. Hendershot
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Paul V. Hickner
- USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jean-Luc Imler
- CNRS-UPR9022 Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire and Faculté des Sciences de la Vie-Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Emily C. Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Charikleia Karageorgiou
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
- Genomics Group – Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Biology Lab, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ryan C. Kennedy
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Medical Entomology Branch, Dept. Microbiology, Bundeswehr Hospital, Hamburg, Germany
- Medical Zoology Branch, Dept. Microbiology, Central Bundeswehr Hospital, Koblenz, Germany
| | - José M. Latorre-Estivalis
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Petros Ligoxygakis
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Development and Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Patrick Minx
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jose Carlos Miranda
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, CPqGM, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Michael J. Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ronald J. Nowling
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Marcio G. Pavan
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Horacio Pereira
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Andre Nobrega Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roenick Proveti Olmo
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigao
- F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Rosendale
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mauricio R. V. Sant’Anna
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Steven E. Scherer
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Douglas A. Shoue
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | | | - Nataly Araujo Souza
- Laboratory Interdisciplinar em Vigilancia Entomologia em Diptera e Hemiptera, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Zainulabueddin Syed
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Samuel Tadros
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | - Erich L. Telleria
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - João Trindade Marques
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Fralin Life Science Institute and Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Maria F. Unger
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jesus Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Flávia V. Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Karla P. V. de Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Felipe M. Vigoder
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John Vontas
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
- Pesticide Science Lab, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens Greece
| | - Lihui Wang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Gareth D. Weedall
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Elyes Zhioua
- Vector Ecology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Stephen Richards
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wesley C. Warren
- Department of Animal Sciences, Department of Surgery, Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology & Evolution and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rod J. Dillon
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
|
6
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Barletta Ferreira AB, Bahia AC, Pitaluga AN, Barros E, Gama dos Santos D, Bottino-Rojas V, Kubota MS, Oliveira PLD, Pimenta PFP, Traub-Csekö YM, Sorgine MHF. Sexual Dimorphism in Immune Responses and Infection Resistance in Aedes aegypti and Other Hematophagous Insect Vectors. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.847109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in immune function is prevalent across different species, where males trade their ability to fight pathogens for a practical reproductive function while females favor an extended lifespan. In insects, these differences in immune function reflect an evolutionary life strategy, where females have a presumably more robust immune system than insect males. Here, we evaluate immune functioning in four male and female insect vectors, Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae), Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera, Culicidae), Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera, Psychodidae) and Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae). We show evidence that challenges the concept of immune sexual dimorphism in three of these insect vectors. In the three Diptera species, A. aegypti, A. aquasalis and L. longipalpis that transmit arboviruses, Plasmodium spp. (Haemospororida, Plasmodiidae) and Leishmania spp. (Trypanosomatida, Trypanosomatidae), respectively, unchallenged adult males express higher levels of immune-related genes than adult females and immature developmental stages. The main components of the Toll, IMD, and Jak/STAT pathways and antimicrobial effectors are highly expressed in whole-body males. Additionally, males present lower midgut basal microbiota levels than females. In A. aegypti mosquitoes, the differences in immune gene expression and microbiota levels are established in adult mosquitoes but are not present at the recently emerged adults and pupal stage. Antibiotic treatment does not affect the consistently higher expression of immune genes in males, except defensin, which is reduced significantly after microbiota depletion and restored after re-introduction. Our data suggest that Diptera males have a basal state of activation of the immune system and that activation of a more robust response through systemic immune challenge acutely compromises their survival. The ones who survive clear the infection entirely. Females follow a different strategy where a moderate immune reaction render higher tolerance to infection and survival. In contrast, hematophagous adult males of the Hemiptera vector R. prolixus, which transmits Trypanosoma cruzi, present no differences in immune activation compared to females, suggesting that diet differences between males and females may influence immune sexual dimorphism. These findings expand our understanding of the biology of insect vectors of human pathogens, which can help to direct the development of new strategies to limit vector populations.
Collapse
|
8
|
Telleria EL, Azevedo-Brito DA, Kykalová B, Tinoco-Nunes B, Pitaluga AN, Volf P, Traub-Csekö YM. Leishmania infantum Infection Modulates the Jak-STAT Pathway in Lutzomyia longipalpis LL5 Embryonic Cells and Adult Females, and Affects Parasite Growth in the Sand Fly. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2021.747820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) belonging to the Lutzomyia genus transmit zoonoses in the New World. Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of Leishmania infantum, which is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. To identify key molecular aspects involved in the interaction between vector and pathogens and contribute to developing disease transmission controls, we investigated the sand fly innate immunity mediated by the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Jak-STAT) pathway in response to L. infantum infection. We used two study models: L. longipalpis LL5 embryonic cells co-cultured with L. infantum and sand fly females artificially infected with the parasite. We used qPCR to follow the L. longipalpis gene expression of molecules involved in the Jak-STAT pathway. Also, we modulated the Jak-STAT mediated immune response to understand its role in Leishmania parasite infection. For that, we used RNAi to silence the pathway regulators, protein inhibitor of activated STATs (PIAS) in LL5 cells, and STAT in adult females. In addition, the pathway suppression effect on parasite development within the vector was assessed by light microscopy in late-phase infection. The silencing of the repressor PIAS in LL5 cells led to a moderate increase in a protein tyrosine phosphatase 61F (PTP61F) expression. It suggests a compensatory regulation between these two repressors. L. infantum co-culture with LL5 cells upregulated repressors PIAS, suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS), and PTP61F. It also downmodulated virus-induced RNA-1 (VIR-1), a pathway effector, indicating that the parasite could repress the Jak-STAT pathway in LL5 cells. In Leishmania-infected L. longipalpis females, STAT and the antimicrobial peptide attacin were downregulated on the third day post-infection, suggesting a correlation that favors the parasite survival at the end of blood digestion in the sand fly. The antibiotic treatment of infected females showed that the reduction of gut bacteria had little effect on the Jak-STAT pathway regulation. STAT gene silencing mediated by RNAi reduced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and favored Leishmania growth in sand flies on the first day post-infection. These results indicate that STAT participated in the iNOS regulation with subsequent effect on parasite survival.
Collapse
|
9
|
Kykalová B, Tichá L, Volf P, Loza Telleria E. Phlebotomus papatasi Antimicrobial Peptides in Larvae and Females and a Gut-Specific Defensin Upregulated by Leishmania major Infection. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112307. [PMID: 34835433 PMCID: PMC8625375 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomus papatasi is the vector of Leishmania major, causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World. We investigated whether P. papatasi immunity genes were expressed toward L. major, commensal gut microbes, or a combination of both. We focused on sand fly transcription factors dorsal and relish and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) attacin and defensin and assessed their relative gene expression by qPCR. Sand fly larvae were fed food with different bacterial loads. Relish and AMPs gene expressions were higher in L3 and early L4 larval instars, while bacteria 16S rRNA increased in late L4 larval instar, all fed rich-microbe food compared to the control group fed autoclaved food. Sand fly females were treated with an antibiotic cocktail to deplete gut bacteria and were experimentally infected by Leishmania. Compared to non-infected females, dorsal and defensin were upregulated at early and late infection stages, respectively. An earlier increase of defensin was observed in infected females when bacteria recolonized the gut after the removal of antibiotics. Interestingly, this defensin gene expression occurred specifically in midguts but not in other tissues of females and larvae. A gut-specific defensin gene upregulated by L. major infection, in combination with gut-bacteria, is a promising molecular target for parasite control strategies.
Collapse
|
10
|
Bombaça ACS, Gandara ACP, Ennes-Vidal V, Bottino-Rojas V, Dias FA, Farnesi LC, Sorgine MH, Bahia AC, Bruno RV, Menna-Barreto RFS. Aedes aegypti Infection With Trypanosomatid Strigomonas culicis Alters Midgut Redox Metabolism and Reduces Mosquito Reproductive Fitness. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:732925. [PMID: 34485182 PMCID: PMC8414984 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.732925] [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: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit arboviruses of important global health impact, and their intestinal microbiota can influence vector competence by stimulating the innate immune system. Midgut epithelial cells also produce toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) by dual oxidases (DUOXs) that are essential players in insect immunity. Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenous trypanosomatid that naturally inhabits mosquitoes; it hosts an endosymbiotic bacterium that completes essential biosynthetic pathways of the parasite and influences its oxidative metabolism. Our group previously showed that S. culicis hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-resistant (WTR) strain is more infectious to A. aegypti mosquitoes than the wild-type (WT) strain. Here, we investigated the influence of both strains on the midgut oxidative environment and the effect of infection on mosquito fitness and immunity. WT stimulated the production of superoxide by mitochondrial metabolism of midgut epithelial cells after 4 days post-infection, while WTR exacerbated H2O2 production mediated by increased DUOX activity and impairment of antioxidant system. The infection with both strains also disrupted the fecundity and fertility of the females, with a greater impact on reproductive fitness of WTR-infected mosquitoes. The presence of these parasites induced specific transcriptional modulation of immune-related genes, such as attacin and defensin A during WTR infection (11.8- and 6.4-fold, respectively) and defensin C in WT infection (7.1-fold). Thus, we propose that A. aegypti oxidative response starts in early infection time and does not affect the survival of the H2O2-resistant strain, which has a more efficient antioxidant system. Our data provide new biological aspects of A. aegypti–S. culicis relationship that can be used later in alternative vector control strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina S Bombaça
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Caroline P Gandara
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor Ennes-Vidal
- Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Felipe A Dias
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luana C Farnesi
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos H Sorgine
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Artrópodes Hematófagos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Bahia
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Insetos e Parasitos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafaela V Bruno
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM/CNPq), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Leishmaniasis: the act of transmission. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:976-987. [PMID: 34389215 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of vector transmission to pathogen establishment is largely underrated. For Leishmania, transmission by sand flies is critical to early survival involving an irreproducible myriad of parasite, vector, and host molecules acting in concert to promote infection at the bite site. Here, we review recent breakthroughs that provide consequential insights into how vector transmission of Leishmania unfolds. We focus on recent work pertaining to the effect of gut microbiota, sand fly immunity, and changes in metacyclogenesis upon multiple blood meals, on Leishmania development and transmission. We also explore how sand fly saliva, egested parasite molecules and vector gut microbiota, and bleeding have been implicated in modulating the early innate host response to Leishmania, affecting the phenotype of neutrophils and monocytes arriving at the bite site.
Collapse
|
12
|
Gut Microbiota Dynamics in Natural Populations of Pintomyia evansi under Experimental Infection with Leishmania infantum. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061214. [PMID: 34199688 PMCID: PMC8228094 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pintomyia evansi is recognized by its vectorial competence in the transmission of parasites that cause fatal visceral leishmaniasis in rural and urban environments of the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The effect on and the variation of the gut microbiota in female P. evansi infected with Leishmania infantum were evaluated under experimental conditions using 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq sequencing. In the coinfection assay with L. infantum, 96.8% of the midgut microbial population was composed mainly of Proteobacteria (71.0%), followed by Cyanobacteria (20.4%), Actinobacteria (2.7%), and Firmicutes (2.7%). In insect controls (uninfected with L. infantum) that were treated or not with antibiotics, Ralstonia was reported to have high relative abundance (55.1–64.8%), in contrast to guts with a high load of infection from L. infantum (23.4–35.9%). ASVs that moderately increased in guts infected with Leishmania were Bacillus and Aeromonas. Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric variance statistical inference showed statistically significant intergroup differences in the guts of P. evansi infected and uninfected with L. infantum (p < 0.05), suggesting that some individuals of the microbiota could induce or restrict Leishmania infection. This assay also showed a negative effect of the antibiotic treatment and L. infantum infection on the gut microbiota diversity. Endosymbionts, such as Microsporidia infections (<2%), were more often associated with guts without Leishmania infection, whereas Arsenophonus was only found in guts with a high load of Leishmania infection and treated with antibiotics. Finally, this is the first report that showed the potential role of intestinal microbiota in natural populations of P. evansi in susceptibility to L. infantum infection.
Collapse
|
13
|
Sloan MA, Sadlova J, Lestinova T, Sanders MJ, Cotton JA, Volf P, Ligoxygakis P. The Phlebotomus papatasi systemic transcriptional response to trypanosomatid-contaminated blood does not differ from the non-infected blood meal. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:15. [PMID: 33407867 PMCID: PMC7789365 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis, caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, is a disease that affects up to 8 million people worldwide. Parasites are transmitted to human and animal hosts through the bite of an infected sand fly. Novel strategies for disease control require a better understanding of the key step for transmission, namely the establishment of infection inside the fly. Methods The aim of this work was to identify sand fly systemic transcriptomic signatures associated with Leishmania infection. We used next generation sequencing to describe the transcriptome of whole Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies when fed with blood alone (control) or with blood containing one of three trypanosomatids: Leishmania major, L. donovani and Herpetomonas muscarum, the latter being a parasite not transmitted to humans. Results Of the trypanosomatids studied, only L. major was able to successfully establish an infection in the host P. papatasi. However, the transcriptional signatures observed after each parasite-contaminated blood meal were not specific to success or failure of a specific infection and they did not differ from each other. The transcriptional signatures were also indistinguishable after a non-contaminated blood meal. Conclusions The results imply that sand flies perceive Leishmania as just one feature of their microbiome landscape and that any strategy to tackle transmission should focus on the response towards the blood meal rather than parasite establishment. Alternatively, Leishmania could suppress host responses. These results will generate new thinking around the concept of stopping transmission by controlling the parasite inside the insect.![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Sloan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Lestinova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mandy J Sanders
- The Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - James A Cotton
- The Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petros Ligoxygakis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
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.
Collapse
|
15
|
Coutinho-Abreu IV, Serafim TD, Meneses C, Kamhawi S, Oliveira F, Valenzuela JG. Leishmania infection induces a limited differential gene expression in the sand fly midgut. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:608. [PMID: 32887545 PMCID: PMC7487717 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sand flies are the vectors of Leishmania parasites. To develop in the sand fly midgut, Leishmania multiplies and undergoes various stage differentiations giving rise to the infective form, the metacyclic promastigotes. To determine the changes in sand fly midgut gene expression caused by the presence of Leishmania, we performed RNA-Seq of uninfected and Leishmania infantum-infected Lutzomyia longipalpis midguts from seven different libraries corresponding to time points which cover the various Leishmania developmental stages. RESULTS The combined transcriptomes resulted in the de novo assembly of 13,841 sand fly midgut transcripts. Importantly, only 113 sand fly transcripts, about 1%, were differentially expressed in the presence of Leishmania parasites. Further, we observed distinct differentially expressed sand fly midgut transcripts corresponding to the presence of each of the various Leishmania stages suggesting that each parasite stage influences midgut gene expression in a specific manner. Two main patterns of sand fly gene expression modulation were noted. At early time points (days 1-4), more transcripts were down-regulated by Leishmania infection at large fold changes (> 32 fold). Among the down-regulated genes, the transcription factor Forkhead/HNF-3 and hormone degradation enzymes were differentially regulated on day 2 and appear to be the upstream regulators of nutrient transport, digestive enzymes, and peritrophic matrix proteins. Conversely, at later time points (days 6 onwards), most of the differentially expressed transcripts were up-regulated by Leishmania infection with small fold changes (< 32 fold). The molecular functions of these genes have been associated with the metabolism of lipids and detoxification of xenobiotics. CONCLUSION Overall, our data suggest that the presence of Leishmania produces a limited change in the midgut transcript expression profile in sand flies. Further, Leishmania modulates sand fly gene expression early on in the developmental cycle in order to overcome the barriers imposed by the midgut, yet it behaves like a commensal at later time points where a massive number of parasites in the anterior midgut results only in modest changes in midgut gene expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iliano V Coutinho-Abreu
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Tiago Donatelli Serafim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Claudio Meneses
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Forrest DM, Batista M, Marchini FK, Tempone AJ, Traub-Csekö YM. Proteomic analysis of exosomes derived from procyclic and metacyclic-like cultured Leishmania infantum chagasi. J Proteomics 2020; 227:103902. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
17
|
Silva Fernandes TL, Pereira-Filho AA, Nepomuneno DB, de Freitas Milagres T, Ferreira Malta LG, D'Ávila Pessoa GC, Koerich LB, Pereira MH, Araujo RN, Gontijo NDF, Viana Sant'Anna MR. Galactosamine reduces sandfly gut protease activity through TOR downregulation and increases Lutzomyia susceptibility to Leishmania. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 122:103393. [PMID: 32360958 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In sandflies, males and females feed on carbohydrates but females must get a blood meal for egg maturation. Using artificial blood meals, this study aimed to understand how galactosamine interferes with sandfly digestive physiology. We also used galactosamine to manipulate the digestive physiology of Lutzomyia longipalpis to investigate its influence on sandfly digestion and Leishmania development within their insect vectors. Galactosamine was capable to reduce Lu. longipalpis trypsinolytic activity in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was specific to galactosamine as other similar sugars were not able to affect sandfly trypsin production. An excess of amino acids supplemented with the blood meal and 15 mM galactosamine was able to abrogate the reduction of the trypsinolytic activity caused by galactosamine, suggesting this phenomenon may be related to an impairment of amino acid detection by sandfly enterocytes. The TOR inhibitor rapamycin reduces trypsin activity in the L. longipalpis midgut. Galactosamine reduces the phosphorylation of the TOR pathway repressor 4EBP, downregulating TOR activity in the gut of L. longipalpis. Galactosamine reduces sandfly oviposition, causes an impact on sandfly longevity and specifically reduces sandfly gut proteases whereas increasing α-glycosidase activity. The administration of 15 and 30 mM galactosamine increased the number of promastigote forms of Le. mexicana and Le. infantum in galactosamine-treated L. longipalpis. Our results showed that galactosamine influences amino acid sensing, reduces sandfly gut protease activity through TOR downregulation, and benefits Leishmania growth within the Lu. longipalpis gut.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Lima Silva Fernandes
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Alves Pereira-Filho
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Denise Barguil Nepomuneno
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Tarcísio de Freitas Milagres
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luccas Gabriel Ferreira Malta
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Grasielle Caldas D'Ávila Pessoa
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Barbosa Koerich
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcos Horácio Pereira
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Nascimento Araujo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nelder de Figueiredo Gontijo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Roberto Viana Sant'Anna
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
CRISPR/Cas9 Mutagenesis in Phlebotomus papatasi: the Immune Deficiency Pathway Impacts Vector Competence for Leishmania major. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01941-19. [PMID: 31455654 PMCID: PMC6712399 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01941-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sand flies are the natural vectors for the Leishmania species that produce a spectrum of diseases in their mammalian hosts, including humans. Studies of sand fly/Leishmania interactions have been limited by the absence of genome editing techniques applicable to these insects. In this report, we adapted CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) technology to the Phlebotomus papatasi sand fly, a natural vector for Leishmania major, targeting the sand fly immune deficiency (IMD) pathway in order to decipher its contribution to vector competence. We established a protocol for transformation in P. papatasi and were able to generate transmissible null mutant alleles for Relish (Rel), the only transcription factor of the IMD pathway. While the maintenance of a homozygous mutant stock was severely compromised, we were able to establish in an early generation their greater susceptibility to infection with L. major Flies carrying different heterozygous mutant alleles variably displayed a more permissive phenotype, presenting higher loads of parasites or greater numbers of infective-stage promastigotes. Together, our data show (i) the successful adaptation of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to sand flies and (ii) the impact of the sand fly immune response on vector competence for Leishmania parasites.IMPORTANCE Sand flies are the natural vectors of Leishmania parasites. Studies of sand fly/Leishmania interactions have been limited by the lack of successful genomic manipulation of these insects. This paper shows the first example of successful targeted mutagenesis in sand flies via adaptation of the CRISPR/Cas9 editing technique. We generated transmissible null mutant alleles of relish, a gene known to be essential for the control of immune response in other insects. In addition to the expected higher level of susceptibility to bacteria, the mutant flies presented higher loads of parasites when infected with L. major, showing that the sand fly immune response impacts its vector competence for this pathogen.
Collapse
|
19
|
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.
Collapse
|
20
|
Di-Blasi T, Telleria EL, Marques C, Couto RDM, da Silva-Neves M, Jancarova M, Volf P, Tempone AJ, Traub-Csekö YM. Lutzomyia longipalpis TGF-β Has a Role in Leishmania infantum chagasi Survival in the Vector. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:71. [PMID: 30972305 PMCID: PMC6445956 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasing number of studies concerning insect immunity, Lutzomyia longipalpis immune responses in the presence of Leishmania infantum chagasi infection has not been widely investigated. The few available studies analyzed the role of the Toll and IMD pathways involved in response against Leishmania and microbial infections. Nevertheless, effector molecules responsible for controlling sand fly infections have not been identified. In the present study we investigated the role a signal transduction pathway, the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) pathway, on the interrelation between L. longipalpis and L. i. chagasi. We identified an L. longipalpis homolog belonging to the multifunctional cytokine TGF-β gene family (LlTGF-β), which is closely related to the activin/inhibin subfamily and potentially involved in responses to infections. We investigated this gene expression through the insect development and in adult flies infected with L. i. chagasi. Our results showed that LlTGF-β was expressed in all L. longipalpis developmental stages and was upregulated at the third day post L. i. chagasi infection, when protein levels were also higher as compared to uninfected insects. At this point blood digestion is finished and parasites are in close contact with the insect gut. In addition, we investigated the role of LlTGF-β on L. longipalpis infection by L. i. chagasi using either gene silencing by RNAi or pathway inactivation by addition of the TGF-β receptor inhibitor SB431542. The blockage of the LlTGF-β pathway increased significantly antimicrobial peptides expression and nitric oxide levels in the insect gut, as expected. Both methods led to a decreased L. i. chagasi infection. Our results show that inactivation of the L. longipalpis TGF-β signal transduction pathway reduce L. i. chagasi survival, therefore suggesting that under natural conditions the parasite benefits from the insect LlTGF-β pathway, as already seen in Plamodium infection of mosquitoes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Di-Blasi
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Parasitology Department, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Christiane Marques
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo de Macedo Couto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Monique da Silva-Neves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Magdalena Jancarova
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Petr Volf
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Antonio Jorge Tempone
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
da Silva Gonçalves D, Iturbe-Ormaetxe I, Martins-da-Silva A, Telleria EL, Rocha MN, Traub-Csekö YM, O'Neill SL, Sant'Anna MRV, Moreira LA. Wolbachia introduction into Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) cell lines and its effects on immune-related gene expression and interaction with Leishmania infantum. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:33. [PMID: 30646951 PMCID: PMC6332621 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3227-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The leishmaniases are important neglected diseases caused by Leishmania spp. which are transmitted by sand flies, Lutzomyia longipalpis being the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. The methodologies for leishmaniasis control are not efficient, causing 1.5 million reported cases annually worldwide, therefore showing the need for development of novel strategies and interventions to control transmission of the disease. The bacterium Wolbachia pipientis is being used to control viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue and Zika, and its introduction in disease vectors has been effective against parasites such as Plasmodium. Here we show the first successful establishment of Wolbachia into two different embryonic cell lines from L. longipalpis, LL-5 and Lulo, and analysed its effects on the sand fly innate immune system, followed by in vitro Leishmania infantum interaction. RESULTS Our results show that LL-5 cells respond to wMel and wMelPop-CLA strains within the first 72 h post-infection, through the expression of antimicrobial peptides and inducible nitric oxide synthase resulting in a decrease of Wolbachia detection in the early stages of infection. In subsequent passages, the wMel strain was not able to infect any of the sand fly cell lines while the wMelPop-CLA strain was able to stably infect Lulo cells and LL-5 at lower levels. In Wolbachia stably infected cells, the expression of immune-related genes involved with downregulation of the IMD, Toll and Jak-Stat innate immune pathways was significantly decreased, in comparison with the uninfected control, suggesting immune activation upon Wolbachia transinfection. Furthermore, Wolbachia transinfection did not promote a negative effect on parasite load in those cells. CONCLUSIONS Initial strong immune responses of LL5 cells might explain the inefficiency of stable infections in these cells while we found that Lulo cells are more permissive to infection with Wolbachia causing an effect on the cell immune system, but not against in vitro L. infantum interaction. This establishes Lulo cells as a good system for the adaptation of Wolbachia in L. longipalpis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela da Silva Gonçalves
- Grupo Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, 30190-002. Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Iñaki Iturbe-Ormaetxe
- World Mosquito Program, Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, 12 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Andrea Martins-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitos e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitos e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Marcele Neves Rocha
- Grupo Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, 30190-002. Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Yara M Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitos e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Brasil, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Scott L O'Neill
- World Mosquito Program, Institute of Vector-Borne Disease, Monash University, 12 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Maurício Roberto Viana Sant'Anna
- Laboratório de Insetos Hematófagos, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas/UFMG, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901. Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Luciano Andrade Moreira
- Grupo Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Augusto de Lima 1715, 30190-002. Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Martin-Martin I, Aryan A, Meneses C, Adelman ZN, Calvo E. Optimization of sand fly embryo microinjection for gene editing by CRISPR/Cas9. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006769. [PMID: 30180160 PMCID: PMC6150542 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology has rapidly emerged as a very effective tool for gene editing. Although great advances on gene editing in the medical entomology field have arisen, no attempts of gene editing have been reported in sand flies, the vectors of Leishmaniasis. Methodology/Principal findings Here, we described a detailed protocol for sand fly embryo microinjection taking into consideration the sand fly life cycle, and manipulation and oviposition requirements of this non-model organism. Following our microinjection protocol, a hatching rate of injected embryos of 11.90%-14.22% was achieved, a rate consistent with other non-model organism dipterans such as mosquitoes. Essential factors for the adaptation of CRISPR/Cas9 technology to the sand fly field were addressed including the selection of a target gene and the design and production of sgRNA. An in vitro cleavage assay was optimized to test the activity of each sgRNA and a protocol for Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (spCas9) protein expression and purification was described. Relevant considerations for a successful gene editing in the sand fly such as specifics of embryology and double-stranded break DNA repair mechanisms were discussed. Conclusion and significance The step-by-step methodology reported in this article will be of significant use for setting up a sand fly embryo microinjection station for the incorporation of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the sand fly field. Gene editing strategies used in mosquitoes and other model insects have been adapted to work with sand flies, providing the tools and relevant information for adapting gene editing techniques to the vectors of Leishmaniasis. Gene editing in sand flies will provide essential information on the biology of these vectors of medical and veterinary relevance and will rise a better understanding of vector-parasite-host interactions. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, based on the adaptive immune system in bacteria and archaea against viral infections, has been adapted and has rapidly emerged as a very effective genetic engineering tool in many organisms. Although great advances on gene editing in the medical entomology field have arisen, no attempts have been reported in sand flies, the vectors of Leishmania spp. Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected parasitic diseases with twelve million people affected worldwide. Despite their importance as disease vectors, sand fly genetics and molecular studies are limited when compared to other insects. In this article, gene editing strategies used in mosquitoes and other model insects have been adapted to work with sand flies, providing the tools and relevant information for adapting embryo microinjection techniques to sand flies, an essential step in a successful gene editing experiment. We believe gene editing in sand flies will provide essential information of medical and veterinary relevance on the biology of these vectors, and will further a better understanding of vector-parasite-host interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ines Martin-Martin
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Azadeh Aryan
- Department of Entomology and Fralin Life Science Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Claudio Meneses
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Zach N. Adelman
- Department of Entomology and Agrilife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Eric Calvo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
In this review, we explore the state-of-the-art of sand fly relationships with microbiota, viruses and Leishmania, with particular emphasis on the vector immune responses. Insect-borne diseases are a major public health problem in the world. Phlebotomine sand flies are proven vectors of several aetiological agents including viruses, bacteria and the trypanosomatid Leishmania, which are responsible for diseases such as viral encephalitis, bartonellosis and leishmaniasis, respectively. All metazoans in nature coexist intimately with a community of commensal microorganisms known as microbiota. The microbiota has a fundamental role in the induction, maturation and function of the host immune system, which can modulate host protection from pathogens and infectious diseases. We briefly review viruses of public health importance present in sand flies and revisit studies done on bacterial and fungal gut contents of these vectors. We bring this information into the context of sand fly development and immune responses. We highlight the immunity mechanisms that the insect utilizes to survive the potential threats involved in these interactions and discuss the recently discovered complex interactions among microbiota, sand fly, Leishmania and virus. Additionally, some of the alternative control strategies that could benefit from the current knowledge are considered.
Collapse
|
24
|
Ferreira FV, Aguiar ERGR, Olmo RP, de Oliveira KPV, Silva EG, Sant'Anna MRV, Gontijo NDF, Kroon EG, Imler JL, Marques JT. The small non-coding RNA response to virus infection in the Leishmania vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006569. [PMID: 29864168 PMCID: PMC6002125 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sandflies are well known vectors for Leishmania but also transmit a number of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Few studies have addressed the interaction between sandflies and arboviruses. RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms utilize small non-coding RNAs to regulate different aspects of host-pathogen interactions. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is a broad antiviral mechanism in insects. In addition, at least in mosquitoes, another RNAi mechanism mediated by PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs) is activated by viral infection. Finally, endogenous microRNAs (miRNA) may also regulate host immune responses. Here, we analyzed the small non-coding RNA response to Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in the sandfly Lutzoymia longipalpis. We detected abundant production of virus-derived siRNAs after VSV infection in adult sandflies. However, there was no production of virus-derived piRNAs and only mild changes in the expression of vector miRNAs in response to infection. We also observed abundant production of virus-derived siRNAs against two other viruses in Lutzomyia Lulo cells. Together, our results suggest that the siRNA but not the piRNA pathway mediates an antiviral response in sandflies. In agreement with this hypothesis, pre-treatment of cells with dsRNA against VSV was able to inhibit viral replication while knock-down of the central siRNA component, Argonaute-2, led to increased virus levels. Our work begins to elucidate the role of RNAi mechanisms in the interaction between L. longipalpis and viruses and should also open the way for studies with other sandfly-borne pathogens. Sandflies are important insect vectors that transmit many species of Leishmania, bacteria and viruses. We know very little about how this insect vector responds to viral infection. RNA interference (RNAi) utilizes small non-coding RNAs to regulate different aspects of animal physiology, including immune responses. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) mediate a major antiviral response in insects. Virus-derived PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) can also be generated during infection, at least in some insects. Finally, endogenous microRNAs (miRNA) can regulate the host response to infection. Here we show that virus infection triggers activation of the siRNA pathway but not production of piRNAs in the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Furthermore, activation or inhibition of the siRNA pathway had a direct effect on viral replication. We also show that virus infection caused mild changes to the expression of endogenous miRNAs. Our work describes for the first time a model to study virus infection in sandflies and highlights the importance of the siRNA pathway for the control of virus infection in L. longipalpis. The framework described here can be used to explore other aspects of the vector-pathogen interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flávia Viana Ferreira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Eric Roberto Guimarães Rocha Aguiar
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Roenick Proveti Olmo
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Karla Pollyanna Vieira de Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Emanuele Guimarães Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Maurício Roberto Viana Sant'Anna
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nelder de Figueiredo Gontijo
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Erna Geessien Kroon
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jean Luc Imler
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS M3I/UPR9022, Inserm MIR/U1257, Strasbourg, France
| | - João Trindade Marques
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Leishmania proteophosphoglycans regurgitated from infected sand flies accelerate dermal wound repair and exacerbate leishmaniasis via insulin-like growth factor 1-dependent signalling. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006794. [PMID: 29352310 PMCID: PMC5792026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by female phlebotomine sand flies as they bloodfeed by lacerating the upper capillaries of the dermis with their barbed mouthparts. In the sand fly midgut secreted proteophosphoglycans from Leishmania form a biological plug known as the promastigote secretory gel (PSG), which blocks the gut and facilitates the regurgitation of infective parasites. The interaction between the wound created by the sand fly bite and PSG is not known. Here we nanoinjected a sand fly egested dose of PSG into BALB/c mouse skin that lead to the differential expression of 7,907 transcripts. These transcripts were transiently up-regulated during the first 6 hours post-wound and enriched for pathways involved in inflammation, cell proliferation, fibrosis, epithelial cell differentiation and wound remodelling. We found that PSG significantly accelerated wound healing in vitro and in mice; which was associated with an early up-regulation of transcripts involved in inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα) and inflammatory cell recruitment (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL2), followed 6 days later by enhanced expression of transcripts associated with epithelial cell proliferation, fibroplasia and fibrosis (FGFR2, EGF, EGFR, IGF1). Dermal expression of IGF1 was enhanced following an infected sand fly bite and was acutely responsive to the deposition of PSG but not the inoculation of parasites or sand fly saliva. Antibody blockade of IGF1 ablated the gel’s ability to promote wound closure in mouse ears and significantly reduced the virulence of Leishmania mexicana infection delivered by an individual sand fly bite. Dermal macrophages recruited to air-pouches on the backs of mice revealed that IGF1 was pivotal to the PSG’s ability to promote macrophage alternative activation and Leishmania infection. Our data demonstrate that through the regurgitation of PSG Leishmania exploit the wound healing response of the host to the vector bite by promoting the action of IGF1 to drive the alternative activation of macrophages. Female phlebotomine sand flies efficiently transmit Leishmania parasites, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. During transmission, promastigote secretory gel (PSG) regurgitated from the blocked sand fly gut promote Leishmania infection and exacerbates disease. Here we investigate mouse ear-skin response to PSG and find that a significant proportion of up-regulated transcripts are involved in wound healing. Following a wound to skin preconditioned with PSG, key transcripts associated with inflammation and cell recruitment were enhanced by 4 hours and those associated with epithelial cell differentiation, proliferation and fibrosis were enhanced in the late phase of wound healing; including insulin growth factor-1 (IGF1) and its receptor. The presence of PSG significantly accelerated wound closure in vitro and in vivo, and this was directed by the presence of IGF1. IGF1 was essential to both the wound healing and disease-exacerbating properties of PSG, arising from its ability to alternatively activate macrophages. IGF1-blockade efficiently reduced the virulence of Leishmania infection from sand fly bite transmission indicating that it is essential to the function of PSG during natural infection. Our findings open the dual possibility of exploiting PSG, or defined components thereof, as a novel wound healing therapy and provide new targets for anti-leishmanial therapeutic design.
Collapse
|
26
|
Martins-da-Silva A, Telleria EL, Batista M, Marchini FK, Traub-Csekö YM, Tempone AJ. Identification of Secreted Proteins Involved in Nonspecific dsRNA-Mediated Lutzomyia longipalpis LL5 Cell Antiviral Response. Viruses 2018; 10:v10010043. [PMID: 29346269 PMCID: PMC5795456 DOI: 10.3390/v10010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematophagous insects transmit infectious diseases. Sand flies are vectors of leishmaniasis, but can also transmit viruses. We have been studying immune responses of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. We identified a non-specific antiviral response in L. longipalpis LL5 embryonic cells when treated with non-specific double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). This response is reminiscent of interferon response in mammals. We are investigating putative effectors for this antiviral response. Secreted molecules have been implicated in immune responses, including interferon-related responses. We conducted a mass spectrometry analysis of conditioned medium from LL5 cells 24 and 48 h after dsRNA or mock treatment. We identified 304 proteins. At 24 h, 19 proteins had an abundance equal or greater than 2-fold change, while the levels of 17 proteins were reduced when compared to control cells. At the 48 h time point, these numbers were 33 and 71, respectively. The two most abundant secreted peptides at 24 h in the dsRNA-transfected group were phospholipid scramblase, an interferon-inducible protein that mediates antiviral activity, and forskolin-binding protein (FKBP), a member of the immunophilin family, which mediates the effect of immunosuppressive drugs. The transcription profile of most candidates did not follow the pattern of secreted protein abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Martins-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Michel Batista
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional, Instituto Carlos Chagas-Fiocruz, Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil.
- Plataforma Espectrometria de Massas-RPT02H, Instituto Carlos Chagas-Fiocruz, Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil.
| | - Fabricio Klerynton Marchini
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional, Instituto Carlos Chagas-Fiocruz, Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil.
- Plataforma Espectrometria de Massas-RPT02H, Instituto Carlos Chagas-Fiocruz, Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil.
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Antonio Jorge Tempone
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Louradour I, Monteiro CC, Inbar E, Ghosh K, Merkhofer R, Lawyer P, Paun A, Smelkinson M, Secundino N, Lewis M, Erram D, Zurek L, Sacks D. The midgut microbiota plays an essential role in sand fly vector competence for Leishmania major. Cell Microbiol 2017; 19. [PMID: 28580630 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
For many arthropod vectors, the diverse bacteria and fungi that inhabit the gut can negatively impact pathogen colonization. Our attempts to exploit antibiotic treatment of colonized Phlebotomus duboscqi sand flies in order to improve their vector competency for Leishmania major resulted instead in flies that were refractory to the development of transmissible infections due to the inability of the parasite to survive and to colonize the anterior midgut with infective, metacyclic stage promastigotes. The parasite survival and development defect could be overcome by feeding the flies on different symbiont bacteria but not by feeding them on bacterial supernatants or replete medium. The inhibitory effect of the dysbiosis was moderated by lowering the concentration of sucrose (<30% w/v) used in the sugar feeds to maintain the colony. Exposure of promastigotes to 30% sucrose was lethal to the parasite in vitro. Confocal imaging revealed that the killing in vivo was confined to promastigotes that had migrated to the anterior plug region, corresponding to the highest concentrations of sucrose. The data suggest that sucrose utilization by the microbiota is essential to promote the appropriate osmotic conditions required for the survival of infective stage promastigotes in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Louradour
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Carolina Cunha Monteiro
- Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ehud Inbar
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kashinath Ghosh
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Richard Merkhofer
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Phillip Lawyer
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrea Paun
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Margery Smelkinson
- Biological Imaging Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nagila Secundino
- Laboratory of Medical Entomology, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Michael Lewis
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Dinesh Erram
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Ludek Zurek
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - David Sacks
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Infection-derived lipids elicit an immune deficiency circuit in arthropods. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14401. [PMID: 28195158 PMCID: PMC5316886 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The insect immune deficiency (IMD) pathway resembles the tumour necrosis factor receptor network in mammals and senses diaminopimelic-type peptidoglycans present in Gram-negative bacteria. Whether unidentified chemical moieties activate the IMD signalling cascade remains unknown. Here, we show that infection-derived lipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl diacylglycerol (PODAG) stimulate the IMD pathway of ticks. The tick IMD network protects against colonization by three distinct bacteria, that is the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the rickettsial agents Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. marginale. Cell signalling ensues in the absence of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins and the adaptor molecules Fas-associated protein with a death domain (FADD) and IMD. Conversely, biochemical interactions occur between x-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and the E2 conjugating enzyme Bendless. We propose the existence of two functionally distinct IMD networks, one in insects and another in ticks. The insect IMD signalling pathway detects invading pathogens. Here the authors show that ticks have an alternative IMD system that lacks peptidoglycan receptors, IMD and FADD, and is instead reliant on interaction of the E3 ligase XIAP with the E2 conjugating enzyme Bendless.
Collapse
|
29
|
The Gut Microbiome of the Vector Lutzomyia longipalpis Is Essential for Survival of Leishmania infantum. mBio 2017; 8:mBio.01121-16. [PMID: 28096483 PMCID: PMC5241394 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01121-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The vector-borne disease leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania species protozoa, is transmitted to humans by phlebotomine sand flies. Development of Leishmania to infective metacyclic promastigotes in the insect gut, a process termed metacyclogenesis, is an essential prerequisite for transmission. Based on the hypothesis that vector gut microbiota influence the development of virulent parasites, we sequenced midgut microbiomes in the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis with or without Leishmania infantum infection. Sucrose-fed sand flies contained a highly diverse, stable midgut microbiome. Blood feeding caused a decrease in microbial richness that eventually recovered. However, bacterial richness progressively decreased in L. infantum-infected sand flies. Acetobacteraceae spp. became dominant and numbers of Pseudomonadaceae spp. diminished coordinately as the parasite underwent metacyclogenesis and parasite numbers increased. Importantly, antibiotic-mediated perturbation of the midgut microbiome rendered sand flies unable to support parasite growth and metacyclogenesis. Together, these data suggest that the sand fly midgut microbiome is a critical factor for Leishmania growth and differentiation to its infective state prior to disease transmission. Leishmania infantum, a parasitic protozoan causing fatal visceral leishmaniasis, is transmitted to humans through the bite of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Development of the parasite to its virulent metacyclic state occurs in the sand fly gut. In this study, the microbiota within the Lu. longipalpis midgut was delineated by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing, revealing a highly diverse community composition that lost diversity as parasites developed to their metacyclic state and increased in abundance in infected flies. Perturbing sand fly gut microbiota with an antibiotic cocktail, which alone had no effect on either the parasite or the fly, arrested both the development of virulent parasites and parasite expansion. These findings indicate the importance of bacterial commensals within the insect vector for the development of virulent pathogens, and raise the possibility that impairing the microbial composition within the vector might represent a novel approach to control of vector-borne diseases.
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
Almost 20 % of all infectious human diseases are vector borne and, together, are responsible for over one million deaths per annum. Over the past decade, the decreasing costs of massively parallel sequencing technologies have facilitated the agnostic interrogation of insect vector genomes, giving medical entomologists access to an ever-expanding volume of high-quality genomic and transcriptomic data. In this review, we highlight how genomics resources have provided new insights into the physiology, behavior, and evolution of human disease vectors within the context of the global health landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David C Rinker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - R Jason Pitts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Laurence J Zwiebel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Program in Developmental Biology, and Institutes of Chemical Biology and Global Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Tinoco-Nunes B, Telleria EL, da Silva-Neves M, Marques C, Azevedo-Brito DA, Pitaluga AN, Traub-Csekö YM. The sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis LL5 embryonic cell line has active Toll and Imd pathways and shows immune responses to bacteria, yeast and Leishmania. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:222. [PMID: 27098567 PMCID: PMC4839078 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1507-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America. Sandfly immune responses are poorly understood. In previous work we showed that these vector insects respond to bacterial infections by modulating a defensin gene expression and activate the Imd pathway in response to Leishmania infection. Aspects of innate immune pathways in insects (including mosquito vectors of human diseases) have been revealed by studying insect cell lines, and we have previously demonstrated antiviral responses in the L. longipalpis embryonic cell line LL5. Methods The expression patterns of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and transcription factors were evaluated after silencing the repressors of the Toll pathway (cactus) and Imd pathway (caspar). AMPs and transcription factor expression patterns were also evaluated after challenge with heat-killed bacteria, heat-killed yeast, or live Leishmania. Results These studies showed that LL5 cells have active Toll and Imd pathways, since they displayed an increased expression of AMP genes following silencing of the repressors cactus and caspar, respectively. These pathways were also activated by challenges with bacteria, yeast and Leishmania infantum chagasi. Conclusions We demonstrated that L. longipalpis LL5 embryonic cells respond to immune stimuli and are therefore a good model to study the immunological pathways of this important vector of leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Tinoco-Nunes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Erich Loza Telleria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Monique da Silva-Neves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Christiane Marques
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daisy Aline Azevedo-Brito
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - André Nóbrega Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Yara Maria Traub-Csekö
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Di-Blasi
- 1 Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz , FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
de Bekker C, Ohm RA, Loreto RG, Sebastian A, Albert I, Merrow M, Brachmann A, Hughes DP. Gene expression during zombie ant biting behavior reflects the complexity underlying fungal parasitic behavioral manipulation. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:620. [PMID: 26285697 PMCID: PMC4545319 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1812-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adaptive manipulation of animal behavior by parasites functions to increase parasite transmission through changes in host behavior. These changes can range from slight alterations in existing behaviors of the host to the establishment of wholly novel behaviors. The biting behavior observed in Carpenter ants infected by the specialized fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l. is an example of the latter. Though parasitic manipulation of host behavior is generally assumed to be due to the parasite's gene expression, few studies have set out to test this. RESULTS We experimentally infected Carpenter ants to collect tissue from both parasite and host during the time period when manipulated biting behavior is experienced. Upon observation of synchronized biting, samples were collected and subjected to mixed RNA-Seq analysis. We also sequenced and annotated the O. unilateralis s.l. genome as a reference for the fungal sequencing reads. CONCLUSIONS Our mixed transcriptomics approach, together with a comparative genomics study, shows that the majority of the fungal genes that are up-regulated during manipulated biting behavior are unique to the O. unilateralis s.l. genome. This study furthermore reveals that the fungal parasite might be regulating immune- and neuronal stress responses in the host during manipulated biting, as well as impairing its chemosensory communication and causing apoptosis. Moreover, we found genes up-regulated during manipulation that putatively encode for proteins with reported effects on behavioral outputs, proteins involved in various neuropathologies and proteins involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charissa de Bekker
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Entomology and Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, 16802, PA, USA.
| | - Robin A Ohm
- Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584, CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Raquel G Loreto
- Department of Entomology and Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, 16802, PA, USA
- CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, 70040-020, DF, Brazil
| | - Aswathy Sebastian
- Bioinformatics Consulting Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, 16802, PA, USA
| | - Istvan Albert
- Bioinformatics Consulting Center, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, 16802, PA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, 16802, PA, USA
| | - Martha Merrow
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Goethestrasse 31, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Brachmann
- Faculty of Biology, Section Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Grosshaderner Strasse 2-4, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - David P Hughes
- Department of Entomology and Department of Biology, Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania, 16802, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Ma X, Li X, Dong S, Xia Q, Wang F. A Fas associated factor negatively regulates anti-bacterial immunity by promoting Relish degradation in Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 63:144-151. [PMID: 26101847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Negative regulation is required to keep NF-κB-dependent immune response under tight control. In previous study, we have identified a Fas associated factor (FAF) family member in Bombyx mori, BmFAF, and proposed it may act as a negative regulator in immune response. In this study, we found knock-down of BmFAF by RNAi led to a remarkable increase in transcriptional level of several antimicrobial peptide genes, including BmCecropinA1 and BmMoricin, and higher survival rate to Gram-negative bacterial infection. We also confirmed the regulatory role of BmFAF in suppressing NF-κB-dependent transcription by employing an inducible promoter in BmE cells. Consistent with these physiological phenotypes, BmFAF suppressed the activity of the essential transcription factor, Relish, in IMD signaling pathway by promoting its proteasomal degradation through direct interaction. In addition, by constructing various truncation mutants, we further demonstrated that UBA domain in BmFAF is required for the inhibitory role, and potential ubiquitination also occurs in this domain. Taken together, our results suggest that BmFAF is a negative regulator of IMD pathway by mediating degradation of Relish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Xianyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Shifeng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Qingyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China
| | - Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Heerman M, Weng JL, Hurwitz I, Durvasula R, Ramalho-Ortigao M. Bacterial Infection and Immune Responses in Lutzomyia longipalpis Sand Fly Larvae Midgut. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003923. [PMID: 26154607 PMCID: PMC4495979 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The midgut microbial community in insect vectors of disease is crucial for an effective immune response against infection with various human and animal pathogens. Depending on the aspects of their development, insects can acquire microbes present in soil, water, and plants. Sand flies are major vectors of leishmaniasis, and shown to harbor a wide variety of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Sand fly larval stages acquire microorganisms from the soil, and the abundance and distribution of these microorganisms may vary depending on the sand fly species or the breeding site. Here, we assess the distribution of two bacteria commonly found within the gut of sand flies, Pantoea agglomerans and Bacillus subtilis. We demonstrate that these bacteria are able to differentially infect the larval digestive tract, and regulate the immune response in sand fly larvae. Moreover, bacterial distribution, and likely the ability to colonize the gut, is driven, at least in part, by a gradient of pH present in the gut. Symbiotic microorganisms influence many aspects of the physiology of their hosts. In insects, symbiotic bacteria are able among other things to modulate the immune response and the development of the insect from larval stages to adult. Many bacteria first gain access to insect tissues, such as the gut, during larval development, and are acquired from the environment. Thus, depending on the insect ecology, aquatic vs. terrestrial, the bacterial gut flora found in insects can vary widely. Little is known about the events that follow bacterial infection in larval guts and the driving forces for colonization of the gut by such bacteria. We investigated the distribution of two bacteria, a Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and a Gram-negative (Pantoea agglomerans) fed to sand fly larvae. Our results indicate that bacteria distribution in the larval gut is driven by their ability to multiply at a given pH, as pH in the gut also varies. Gut distribution by these bacteria lead to an immune response that the sand fly larva is able to modulate according to the bacterial species. Our findings can influence development of paratransgenic approaches that utilize bacterial symbionts to control vector population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Heerman
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Ju-Lin Weng
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Ivy Hurwitz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Ravi Durvasula
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigao
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Sant'Anna MRV, Diaz-Albiter H, Aguiar-Martins K, Al Salem WS, Cavalcante RR, Dillon VM, Bates PA, Genta FA, Dillon RJ. Colonisation resistance in the sand fly gut: Leishmania protects Lutzomyia longipalpis from bacterial infection. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:329. [PMID: 25051919 PMCID: PMC4112039 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Phlebotomine sand flies transmit the haemoflagellate Leishmania, the causative agent of human leishmaniasis. The Leishmania promastigotes are confined to the gut lumen and are exposed to the gut microbiota within female sand flies. Here we study the colonisation resistance of yeast and bacteria in preventing the establishment of a Leishmania population in sand flies and the ability of Leishmania to provide colonisation resistance towards the insect bacterial pathogen Serratia marcescens that is also pathogenic towards Leishmania. Methods We isolated microorganisms from wild-caught and laboratory-reared female Lutzomyia longipalpis, identified as Pseudozyma sp. Asaia sp. and Ochrobactrum intermedium. We fed the females with a sugar meal containing the microorganisms and then subsequently fed them with a bloodmeal containing Leishmania mexicana and recorded the development of the Leishmania population. Further experiments examined the effect of first colonising the sand fly gut with L. mexicana followed by feeding with, Serratia marcescens, an insect bacterial pathogen. The mortality of the flies due to S. marcescens was recorded in the presence and absence of Leishmania. Results There was a reduction in the number of flies harbouring a Leishmania population that had been pre-fed with Pseudozyma sp. and Asaia sp. or O. intermedium. Experiments in which L. mexicana colonised the sand fly gut prior to being fed an insect bacterial pathogen, Serratia marcescens, showed that the survival of flies with a Leishmania infection was significantly higher compared to flies without Leishmania infection. Conclusions The yeast and bacterial colonisation experiments show that the presence of sand fly gut microorganisms reduce the potential for Leishmania to establish within the sand fly vector. Sand flies infected with Leishmania were able to survive an attack by the bacterial pathogen that would have killed the insect and we concluded that Leishmania may benefit its insect host whilst increasing the potential to establish itself in the sand fly vector. We suggest that the increased ability of the sand fly to withstand a bacterial entomopathogen, due to the presence of the Leishmania, may provide an evolutionary pressure for the maintenance of the Leishmania-vector association. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-329) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rod J Dillon
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Gene expression differences underlying genotype-by-genotype specificity in a host-parasite system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:3496-501. [PMID: 24550506 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1318628111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In many systems, host-parasite evolutionary dynamics have led to the emergence and maintenance of diverse parasite and host genotypes within the same population. Genotypes vary in key attributes: Parasite genotypes vary in ability to infect, host genotypes vary in susceptibility, and infection outcome is frequently the result of both parties' genotypic identities. These host-parasite genotype-by-genotype (GH × GP) interactions influence evolutionary and ecological dynamics in important ways. Interactions can be produced through genetic variation; however, here, we assess the role of variable gene expression as an additional source of GH × GP interactions. The bumblebee Bombus terrestris and its trypanosome gut parasite Crithidia bombi are a model system for host-parasite matching. Full-transcriptome sequencing of the bumblebee host revealed that different parasite genotypes indeed induce fundamentally different host expression responses and host genotypes vary in their responses to the infecting parasite genotype. It appears that broadly and successfully infecting parasite genotypes lead to reduced host immune gene expression relative to unexposed bees but induce the expression of genes responsible for controlling gene expression. Contrastingly, a poorly infecting parasite genotype induced the expression of immunologically important genes, including antimicrobial peptides. A targeted expression assay confirmed the transcriptome results and also revealed strong host genotype effects. In all, the expression of a number of genes depends on the host genotype and the parasite genotype and the interaction between both host and parasite genotypes. These results suggest that alongside sequence variation in coding immunological genes, variation that controls immune gene expression can also produce patterns of host-parasite specificity.
Collapse
|
38
|
Bacterial feeding, Leishmania infection and distinct infection routes induce differential defensin expression in Lutzomyia longipalpis. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:12. [PMID: 23311993 PMCID: PMC3573903 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phlebotomine insects harbor bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens that can cause diseases of public health importance. Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the New World. Insects can mount a powerful innate immune response to pathogens. Defensin peptides take part in this response and are known to be active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and some parasites. We studied the expression of a defensin gene from Lutzomyia longipalpis to understand its role in sand fly immune response. METHODS We identified, sequenced and evaluated the expression of a L. longipalpis defensin gene by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The gene sequence was compared to other vectors defensins and expression was determined along developmental stages and after exposure of adult female L. longipalpis to bacteria and Leishmania. RESULTS Phylogenetic analysis showed that the L. longipalpis defensin is closely related to a defensin from the Old World sand fly Phlebotomus duboscqi. Expression was high in late L4 larvae and pupae in comparison to early larval stages and newly emerged flies. Defensin expression was modulated by oral infection with bacteria. The Gram-positive Micrococcus luteus induced early high defensin expression, whilst the Gram-negative entomopathogenic Serratia marcescens induced a later response. Bacterial injection also induced defensin expression in adult insects. Female sand flies infected orally with Leishmania mexicana showed no significant difference in defensin expression compared to blood fed insects apart from a lower defensin expression 5 days post Leishmania infection. When Leishmania was introduced into the hemolymph by injection there was no induction of defensin expression until 72 h later. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that L. longipalpis modulates defensin expression upon bacterial and Leishmania infection, with patterns of expression that are distinct among bacterial species and routes of infection.
Collapse
|
39
|
Pereira TC, Evangelista CCS, Borges G, Zanotti-Magalhães EM, Magalhães LA, Lopes-Cendes I. Applications of RNA Interference in Schistosomiasis: Gene Function Identification and Development of New Therapies. ISRN PARASITOLOGY 2012; 2013:247036. [PMID: 27335847 PMCID: PMC4890885 DOI: 10.5402/2013/247036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The study of Schistosoma species has undergone a dramatic change in recent years mainly due to transcriptome, proteome, and genome analyses. In order to better understand the biology of the parasite and to develop new and more efficient/specific drugs, scientists have now the task to translate genetic information into functional data. The present paper aims to review the use of RNA interference (RNAi), a versatile technique used in gene silencing, for the dissection of the cellular/molecular biology of Schistosoma spp. In addition, we will review information on the recent development of a new generation of RNA-based drugs. Examples of specific experimental approaches will be presented and discussed, such as identification of gene function, development of therapies by targeting eggs, miracidia (as a strategy for environmental use), sporocysts (for infestation control in the intermediate host), and schistosomula/adult worms (as a treatment strategy). Furthermore, some of the main advantages, drawbacks, and future directions of these new applications and techniques will also be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Campos Pereira
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), 14040 901 Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Carolina Silva Evangelista
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), 14040 901 Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Borges
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), 14040 901 Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Augusto Magalhães
- Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-862 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Iscia Lopes-Cendes
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-887 Campinas, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Leishmaniases are vector-borne parasitic diseases with 0.9 - 1.4 million new human cases each year worldwide. In the vectorial part of the life-cycle, Leishmania development is confined to the digestive tract. During the first few days after blood feeding, natural barriers to Leishmania development include secreted proteolytic enzymes, the peritrophic matrix surrounding the ingested blood meal and sand fly immune reactions. As the blood digestion proceeds, parasites need to bind to the midgut epithelium to avoid being excreted with the blood remnant. This binding is strictly stage-dependent as it is a property of nectomonad and leptomonad forms only. While the attachment in specific vectors (P. papatasi, P. duboscqi and P. sergenti) involves lipophosphoglycan (LPG), this Leishmania molecule is not required for parasite attachment in other sand fly species experimentally permissive for various Leishmania. During late-stage infections, large numbers of parasites accumulate in the anterior midgut and produce filamentous proteophosphoglycan creating a gel-like plug physically obstructing the gut. The parasites attached to the stomodeal valve cause damage to the chitin lining and epithelial cells of the valve, interfering with its function and facilitating reflux of parasites from the midgut. Transformation to metacyclic stages highly infective for the vertebrate host is the other prerequisite for effective transmission. Here, we review the current state of knowledge of molecular interactions occurring in all these distinct phases of parasite colonization of the sand fly gut, highlighting recent discoveries in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dostálová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Vinicna 7, 12844 Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | | |
Collapse
|