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Sosa-Arroniz A, López-Monteon A, Peña-Rodríguez R, Rivera-Villanueva JM, Torres-Montero J, Ramos-Ligonio A. Efficacy of a Zn-based metalorganic framework doped with benznidazole on acute experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s13346-024-01664-0. [PMID: 38972897 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01664-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have been shown to enhance the activity of encapsulated compounds by facilitating their passage across cell membranes, thereby enabling controlled and selective release. This study investigates the efficacy of BNZ@Zn-MOFs against the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a mouse model. The particles were synthesized by electroelution (EL), doped with BZN via mechanochemistry, and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). BNZ@Zn-MOFs released 80% of the encapsulated BZN within 3 h, demonstrating no cytotoxicity in NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells. Furthermore, in a model of acute experimental T. cruzi-infection in BALB/c mice, the delivery system exhibited antiparasitic activity at a significantly lower BZN concentration compared to free BZN treatment. PCR analysis of treated mice revealed no parasite DNA in their tissues, and hematoxylin-eosin staining showed no apparent damage to tissue architecture. Additionally, serum levels of liver function enzymes remained unchanged, indicating no adverse effects on liver function. This delivery system, utilizing suboptimal BZN doses, enables the preservation of drug activity while potentially facilitating a substantial decrease in side effects associated with Chagas disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahí Sosa-Arroniz
- LADISER, Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Edificio D, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana (UV), Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009; Colonia Rafael Alvarado; C.P., Orizaba, 94340, Veracruz, México
- Maestría en Ciencias en Procesos Biológicos, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, 94340, Veracruz, México
| | - Aracely López-Monteon
- LADISER, Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Edificio D, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana (UV), Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009; Colonia Rafael Alvarado; C.P., Orizaba, 94340, Veracruz, México
- Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, 94390, Veracruz, México
| | - Rodolfo Peña-Rodríguez
- LADISER Química Órganica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, 94340, Veracruz, México
| | - José María Rivera-Villanueva
- LADISER Química Órganica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Orizaba, 94340, Veracruz, México
| | - Jesus Torres-Montero
- LADISER, Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Edificio D, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana (UV), Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009; Colonia Rafael Alvarado; C.P., Orizaba, 94340, Veracruz, México
| | - Angel Ramos-Ligonio
- LADISER, Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Edificio D, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Veracruzana (UV), Prolongación de Oriente 6 #1009; Colonia Rafael Alvarado; C.P., Orizaba, 94340, Veracruz, México.
- Asociacion Chagas con Ciencia y Conocimiento A.C., Orizaba, 94390, Veracruz, México.
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Torres V, Contreras V, Gutiérrez B, San Francisco J, Catalán A, Vega JL, Moon KM, Foster LJ, de Almeida RF, Kalergis AM, González J. Oral infectivity through carnivorism in murine model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1297099. [PMID: 38495650 PMCID: PMC10941204 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1297099] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Oral transmission of T. cruzi is probably the most frequent transmission mechanism in wild animals. This observation led to the hypothesis that consuming raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with T. cruzi may be responsible for transmitting the infection. Therefore, the general objective of this study was to investigate host-pathogen interactions between the parasite and gastric mucosa and the role of meat consumption from infected animals in the oral transmission of T. cruzi. Methods Cell infectivity assays were performed on AGS cells in the presence or absence of mucin, and the roles of pepsin and acidic pH were determined. Moreover, groups of five female Balb/c mice were fed with muscle tissue obtained from mice in the acute phase of infection by the clone H510 C8C3hvir of T. cruzi, and the infection of the fed mice was monitored by a parasitemia curve. Similarly, we assessed the infective capacity of T. cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes by infecting groups of five mice Balb/c females, which were infected orally using a nasogastric probe, and the infection was monitored by a parasitemia curve. Finally, different trypomastigote and amastigote inoculums were used to determine their infective capacities. Adhesion assays of T. cruzi proteins to AGS stomach cells were performed, and the adhered proteins were detected by western blotting using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies and by LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis. Results Trypomastigote migration in the presence of mucin was reduced by approximately 30%, whereas in the presence of mucin and pepsin at pH 3.5, only a small proportion of parasites were able to migrate (∼6%). Similarly, the ability of TCTs to infect AGS cells in the presence of mucin is reduced by approximately 20%. In all cases, 60-100% of the animals were fed meat from mice infected in the acute phase or infected with trypomastigotes or amastigotes developed high parasitemia, and 80% died around day 40 post-infection. The adhesion assay showed that cruzipain is a molecule of trypomastigotes and amastigotes that binds to AGS cells. LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis, also confirmed that transialidase, cysteine proteinases, and gp63 may be involved in TCTs attachment or invasion of human stomach cells because they can potentially interact with different proteins in the human stomach mucosa. In addition, several human gastric mucins have cysteine protease cleavage sites. Discussion Then, under our experimental conditions, consuming meat from infected animals in the acute phase allows the T. cruzi infection. Similarly, trypomastigotes and amastigotes could infect mice when administered orally, whereas cysteinyl proteinases and trans-sialidase appear to be relevant molecules in this infective process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Torres
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | | | - Bessy Gutiérrez
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Juan San Francisco
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Alejandro Catalán
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - José Luis Vega
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Kyung-Mee Moon
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rafael F. de Almeida
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Sistêmica de Tripanossomatídeos (Labtryp), Instituto Carlos Chagas Fiocruz (ICC-Fiocruz), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge González
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Research Center in Immunology and Biomedical Biotechnology of Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
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Vega JL, García A, González J, Sáez JC. A Dye Uptake Assay to Measure Large-Pore Channel Activity in Trypanosoma cruzi. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2801:87-95. [PMID: 38578415 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3842-2_7] [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] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Large-pore channels allow the exchange of ions and molecules between the intra- and extracellular compartments. These channels are structures formed by several protein families with little or no evolutionary linkages that include connexins (Cxs), pannexins (Panxs), innexins (Inxs), CALHM1, and LRRC8 proteins. Recently, we have described the unnexins (Unxs) proteins expressed in Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) that also is like to form large-pore channels at the plasma membrane. In this chapter, we describe a dye uptake method for evaluating the unnexin-formed channel function in T. cruzi, as well as the methods for evaluating their participation in the transformation of trypomastigotes into amastigotes. These methods can facilitate understanding the role of large-pore channels in the parasite's biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Vega
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Departmento de Fisiología, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Aníbal García
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Jorge González
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical Technology Department, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Juan C Sáez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso (CINV), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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Güiza J, Solís F, Valenzuela B, Arancibia D, Zamorano P, González J, Saavedra J, Neely A, Salgado M, Martínez AD, Sáez JC, Vega JL. Unnexin is a protein subunit of a large-pore channel expressed by unicellular organisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307898120. [PMID: 37487087 PMCID: PMC10400985 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307898120] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms express proteins specialized in membrane channel-based cell-cell communication that are absent in unicellular organisms. We recently described the prediction of some members of the large-pore channel family in kinetoplastids, consisting of proteins called unnexins, which share several structural features with innexin and pannexin proteins. Here, we demonstrated that the unnexin1 protein (Unx1) is delivered to the cell membrane, displaying a topology consisting of four transmembrane domains with C and N termini on the cytoplasmic side and form large-pore channels that are permeable to small molecules. Low extracellular Ca2+/Mg2+ levels or extracellular alkalinization, but not mechanical stretching, increases channel activity. The Unx1 channel mediates the influx of Ca2+ and does not form intercellular dye coupling between HeLa Unx1 transfected cells. Unx1 channel function was further evidenced by its ability to mediate ionic currents when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Downregulation of Unx1 mRNA with morpholine contains Trypanosoma cruzi invasion. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of Unx1 homologs in other protozoan parasites, suggesting a conserved function for these channel parasites in other protists. Our data demonstrate that Unx1 forms large-pore membrane channels, which may serve as a diffusional pathway for ions and small molecules that are likely to be metabolic substrates or waste products, and signaling autocrine and paracrine molecules that could be involved in cell invasion. As morpholinos-induced downregulation of Unx1 reduces the infectivity of trypomastigotes, the Unx1 channels might be an attractive target for developing trypanocide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Güiza
- Laboratory of Gap Junction Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Francisco Solís
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Bernardita Valenzuela
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Duxan Arancibia
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Pedro Zamorano
- Laboratorio de Microorganismos Extremófilos, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Jorge González
- Departamento de Tecnología Médica, Unidad de Parasitología Molecular, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
| | - Jonathan Saavedra
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Alan Neely
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Magdiel Salgado
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Agustín D. Martínez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - Juan C. Sáez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso2381850, Chile
| | - José L. Vega
- Laboratory of Gap Junction Proteins and Parasitic Diseases (GaPaL), Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
- Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta1240000, Chile
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Florin-Christensen M, Sojka D, Ganzinelli S, Šnebergerová P, Suarez CE, Schnittger L. Degrade to survive: the intricate world of piroplasmid proteases. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:532-546. [PMID: 37271664 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.04.010] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Piroplasmids of the genera Babesia, Theileria, and Cytauxzoon are tick-transmitted parasites with a high impact on animals and humans. They have complex life cycles in their definitive arthropod and intermediate vertebrate hosts involving numerous processes, including invasion of, and egress from, host cells, parasite growth, transformation, and migration. Like other parasitic protozoa, piroplasmids are equipped with different types of protease to fulfill many of such essential processes. Blockade of some key proteases, using inhibitors or antibodies, hinders piroplasmid growth, highlighting their potential usefulness in drug therapies and vaccine development. A better understanding of the functional significance of these enzymes will contribute to the development of improved control measures for the devastating animal and human diseases caused by these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina.
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 1160/31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Sabrina Ganzinelli
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Pavla Šnebergerová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 1160/31, CZ-37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, CZ-370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Carlos E Suarez
- Washington State University/Animal Disease Research Unit USDA, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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Oliveira C, Holetz FB, Alves LR, Ávila AR. Modulation of Virulence Factors during Trypanosoma cruzi Differentiation. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010032. [PMID: 36678380 PMCID: PMC9865030 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. This protozoan developed several mechanisms to infect, propagate, and survive in different hosts. The specific expression of proteins is responsible for morphological and metabolic changes in different parasite stages along the parasite life cycle. The virulence strategies at the cellular and molecular levels consist of molecules responsible for mediating resistance mechanisms to oxidative damage, cellular invasion, and immune evasion, performed mainly by surface proteins. Since parasite surface coat remodeling is crucial to invasion and infectivity, surface proteins are essential virulence elements. Understanding the factors involved in these processes improves the knowledge of parasite pathogenesis. Genome sequencing has opened the door to high-throughput technologies, allowing us to obtain a deeper understanding of gene reprogramming along the parasite life cycle and identify critical molecules for survival. This review therefore focuses on proteins regulated during differentiation into infective forms considered virulence factors and addresses the current known mechanisms acting in the modulation of gene expression, emphasizing mRNA signals, regulatory factors, and protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Oliveira
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Centre de Recherche CERVO, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Fabíola Barbieri Holetz
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Lysangela Ronalte Alves
- Laboratório de Regulação da Expressão Gênica, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Research Center in Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Disease and Immunity CHU de Quebec Research Center, University Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Andréa Rodrigues Ávila
- Laboratório de Pesquisa em Apicomplexa, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-41-33163230
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