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Tsagmo JMN, Rotureau B, Calvo Alvarez E. Animal models of neglected parasitic diseases: In vivo multimodal imaging of experimental trypanosomatid infections. Methods Cell Biol 2024; 188:205-236. [PMID: 38880525 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2024.04.003] [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: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
African trypanosomiases and leishmaniases are significant neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect millions globally, with severe health and socio-economic consequences, especially in endemic regions. Understanding the pathogenesis and dissemination of Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania spp. parasites within their hosts is pivotal for the development of effective interventions. Whole-body bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging systems (BLI and FLI, respectively), are powerful tools to visualize and quantify the progression and distribution of these parasites in real-time within live animal models. By combining this technology with the engineering of stable T. brucei and Leishmania spp. strains expressing luciferase and/or fluorescent proteins, crucial aspects of the infection process including the parasites' homing, the infection dynamics, the tissue tropism, or the efficacy of experimental treatments and vaccines can be deeply investigated. This methodology allows for enhanced sensitivity and resolution, elucidating previously unrecognized infection niches and dynamics. Importantly, whole-body in vivo imaging is non-invasive, enabling for longitudinal studies during the course of an infection in the same animal, thereby aligning with the "3Rs" principle of animal research. Here, we detail a protocol for the generation of dual-reporter T. brucei and L. major, and their use to infect mice and follow the spatiotemporal dynamics of infection by in vivo imaging systems. Additionally, 3D micro-computed tomography (μCT) coupled to BLI in T. brucei-infected animals is applied to gain insights into the anatomical parasite distribution. This Chapter underscores the potential of these bioimaging modalities as indispensable tools in parasitology, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies and deeper insights into host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Marc Ngoune Tsagmo
- Trypanosome Transmission Group, Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, INSERM U1201, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Brice Rotureau
- Trypanosome Transmission Group, Trypanosome Cell Biology Unit, INSERM U1201, Department of Parasites and Insect Vectors, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France; Parasitology Unit, Institut Pasteur of Guinea, Conakry, Guinea
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2
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Dey R, Alshaweesh J, Singh KP, Lypaczewski P, Karmakar S, Klenow L, Paulini K, Kaviraj S, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Singh S, Hamano S, Satoskar AR, Gannavaram S, Nakhasi HL, Matlashewski G. Production of leishmanin skin test antigen from Leishmania donovani for future reintroduction in the field. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7028. [PMID: 37919280 PMCID: PMC10622560 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42732-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The leishmanin skin test was used for almost a century to detect exposure and immunity to Leishmania, the causative agent of leishmaniasis, a major neglected tropical disease. Due to a lack of antigen used for the intradermal injection, the leishmanin skin test is no longer available. As leishmaniasis control programs are advancing and new vaccines are entering clinical trials, it is essential to re-introduce the leishmanin skin test. Here we establish a Leishmania donovani strain and describe the production, under Good Laboratory Practice conditions, of leishmanin soluble antigen used to induce the leishmanin skin test in animal models of infection and vaccination. Using a mouse model of cutaneous leishmaniasis and a hamster model of visceral leishmaniasis, soluble antigen induces a leishmanin skin test response following infection and vaccination with live attenuated Leishmania major (LmCen-/-). Both the CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells are necessary for the leishmanin skin test response. This study demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale production of leishmanin antigen addressing a major bottleneck for performing the leishmanin skin test in future surveillance and vaccine clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranadhir Dey
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jalal Alshaweesh
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Patrick Lypaczewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Subir Karmakar
- Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Hinjawadi Phase II, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Laura Klenow
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Kayla Paulini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Swarnendu Kaviraj
- Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Hinjawadi Phase II, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA
| | - Sanjay Singh
- Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Hinjawadi Phase II, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Shinjiro Hamano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
- The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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3
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Serafim TD, Iniguez E, Barletta ABF, Cecilio P, Doehl JSP, Short M, Lack J, Nair V, Disotuar M, Wilson T, Coutinho-Abreu IV, Meneses C, Andersen J, Alves E Silva TL, Oliveira F, Vega-Rodriguez J, Barillas-Mury C, Ribeiro JMC, Beverley SM, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG. Leishmania genetic exchange is mediated by IgM natural antibodies. Nature 2023; 623:149-156. [PMID: 37880367 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06655-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Host factors that mediate Leishmania genetic exchange are not well defined. Here we demonstrate that natural IgM (IgMn)1-4 antibodies mediate parasite genetic exchange by inducing the transient formation of a spherical parasite clump that promotes parasite fusion and hybrid formation. We establish that IgMn from Leishmania-free animals binds to the surface of Leishmania parasites to induce significant changes in the expression of parasite transcripts and proteins. Leishmania binding to IgMn is partially lost after glycosidase treatment, although parasite surface phosphoglycans, including lipophosphoglycan, are not required for IgMn-induced parasite clumping. Notably, the transient formation of parasite clumps is essential for Leishmania hybridization in vitro. In vivo, we observed a 12-fold increase in hybrid formation in sand flies provided a second blood meal containing IgMn compared with controls. Furthermore, the generation of recombinant progeny from mating hybrids and parental lines were only observed in sand flies provided with IgMn. Both in vitro and in vivo IgM-induced Leishmania crosses resulted in full genome hybrids that show equal patterns of biparental contribution. Leishmania co-option of a host natural antibody to facilitate mating in the insect vector establishes a new paradigm of parasite-host-vector interdependence that contributes to parasite diversity and fitness by promoting genetic exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago D 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.
| | - Eva Iniguez
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ana Beatriz F Barletta
- Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Pedro Cecilio
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Johannes S P Doehl
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mara Short
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Justin Lack
- NIAID Collaborative Bioinformatics Resource, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vinod Nair
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Maria Disotuar
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Timothy Wilson
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - 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
| | - 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
| | - John Andersen
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Thiago Luiz Alves E Silva
- Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit, 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
| | - Joel Vega-Rodriguez
- Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Mosquito Immunity and Vector Competence Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - José M C Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Stephen M Beverley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 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.
| | - 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.
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Sánchez-García L, Pérez-Torres A, Gudiño-Zayas ME, Zamora-Chimal J, Meneses C, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Becker I. Leishmania major-Infected Phlebotomus duboscqi Sand Fly Bites Enhance Mast Cell Degranulation. Pathogens 2023; 12:207. [PMID: 36839479 PMCID: PMC9960273 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites infect mammalian hosts through the bites of sand fly vectors. The response by mast cells (MC) to the parasite and vector-derived factors, delivered by sand fly bites, has not been characterized. We analyzed MC numbers and their mediators in BALB/c mice naturally infected in the ear with Leishmania major through the bite of the sand fly vector Phlebotomus duboscqi and compared them to non-infected sand fly bites. MC were found at the bite sites of infective and non-infected sand flies throughout 48 h, showing the release of granules with intense TNF-α, histamine, and tryptase staining. At 30 min and 48 h, the MC numbers were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in infected as compared to non-infected bites or controls. Neutrophil recruitment was intense during the first 6 h in the skin of infected and non-infected sand fly bites and decreased thereafter. An influx of neutrophils also occurred in lymph nodes, where a strong TNF-α stain was observed in mononuclear cells. Our data show that MC orchestrate an early inflammatory response after infected and non-infected sand fly bites, leading to neutrophilic recruitment, which potentially provides a safe passage for the parasite within the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sánchez-García
- División Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Quintana Roo, Chetumal C.P. 77039, Mexico
| | - Armando Pérez-Torres
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Laboratorio de Inmunología Comparada de Piel y Mucosas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Ciudad de México C.P. 04510, Mexico
| | - Marco E. Gudiño-Zayas
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Ciudad de México C.P. 04510, Mexico
| | - Jaime Zamora-Chimal
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Ciudad de México C.P. 04510, Mexico
| | - 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 20852, 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 20852, 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 20852, USA
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 3000, Ciudad de México C.P. 04510, Mexico
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Centrin-deficient Leishmania mexicana confers protection against Old World visceral leishmaniasis. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:157. [DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00574-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractLeishmaniasis is one of the top neglected tropical diseases with significant morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). However, this disease is also spreading in the developed world. Currently, there is a lack of effective strategies to control this disease. Vaccination can be an effective measure to control leishmaniasis and has the potential to achieve disease elimination. Recently, we have generated centrin gene-deleted new world L. mexicana (LmexCen−/−) parasites using CRISPR/Cas9 and showed that they protect mice against a homologous L. mexicana infection that causes cutaneous disease. In this study, we tested whether LmexCen−/− parasites can also protect against visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. donovani in a hamster model. We showed that immunization with LmexCen−/− parasites is safe and does not cause lesions. Furthermore, such immunization conferred protection against visceral leishmaniasis caused by a needle-initiated L. donovani challenge, as indicated by a significant reduction in the parasite burdens in the spleen and liver as well as reduced mortality. Similar control of parasite burden was also observed against a sand fly mediated L. donovani challenge. Importantly, immunization with LmexCen−/− down-regulated the disease promoting cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ resulting in higher IFN-γ/IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL4 ratios compared to non-immunized animals. LmexCen−/− immunization also resulted in long-lasting protection against L. donovani infection. Taken together, our study demonstrates that immunization with LmexCen−/− parasites is safe and efficacious against the Old World visceral leishmaniasis.
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Aljedaie MM. Epigenetic paradigms/exemplars of the macrophage: inflammasome axis in Leishmaniasis. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 477:2553-2565. [PMID: 35595955 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04460-x] [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: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The infectious paradigms have recently led to the recognition interplay of complex phenomenon underpinning disease diagnosis and prognosis. Evidently, parasitic infection studies are depicting converging trends of the epigenetic, environmental, and microbiome contributions, assisting pathogen-directed modulations of host biological system. The molecular details of epigenetic variations and memory, along with the multi-omics data at the interface of the host-pathogen level becomes strong indicator of immune cell plasticity, differentiation, and pathogen survival. Despite being one of the most important aspects of the disease's etiopathology, the epigenetic regulation of host-pathogen interactions and evolutionary epigenetics have received little attention thus far. Recent evidence has focused on the growing need to link epigenetic and microbiome modulations on parasite phenotypic plasticity and pathogen-induced host phenotypic plasticity for designing futuristic therapeutic regimes. Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical illness with varying degrees of disease severity that is linked to a trans-species and epigenetic heredity process, including the pathogen-induced host and strain-specific modulations. The review configures research findings aligning to the epigenetic epidemiology niche, involving co-evolutionary epigenetic inheritance and plasticity disease models. The epigenetic exemplars focus on the host-pathogen interactome expanse at the macrophage-inflammasome axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manei M Aljedaie
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, PO Box 173, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia.
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Preclinical validation of a live attenuated dermotropic Leishmania vaccine against vector transmitted fatal visceral leishmaniasis. Commun Biol 2021; 4:929. [PMID: 34330999 PMCID: PMC8324786 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), a potentially fatal disease is caused by Leishmania donovani parasites with no vaccine available. Here we produced a dermotropic live attenuated centrin gene deleted Leishmania major (LmCen−/−) vaccine under Good Laboratory Practices and demonstrated that a single intradermal injection confers robust and durable protection against lethal VL transmitted naturally via bites of L. donovani-infected sand flies and prevents mortality. Surprisingly, immunogenicity characteristics of LmCen−/− parasites revealed activation of common immune pathways like L. major wild type parasites. Spleen cells from LmCen−/− immunized and L. donovani challenged hamsters produced significantly higher Th1-associated cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α, and reduced expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, IL-21, compared to non-immunized challenged animals. PBMCs, isolated from healthy people from non-endemic region, upon LmCen−/− infection also induced more IFN-γ compared to IL-10, consistent with our immunogenicity data in LmCen−/− immunized hamsters. This study demonstrates that the LmCen−/− parasites are safe and efficacious against VL and is a strong candidate vaccine to be tested in a human clinical trial. Karmakar et al produced a dermotropic, live attenuated centrin gene-deleted Leishmania major (LmCen−/−) vaccine against Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). They demonstrated in hamsters that a single intradermal injection confers robust and durable protection against lethal VL that is transmitted naturally via bites of L. donovani-infected sand flies.
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Samant M, Sahu U, Pandey SC, Khare P. Role of Cytokines in Experimental and Human Visceral Leishmaniasis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:624009. [PMID: 33680991 PMCID: PMC7930837 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.624009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is the most fatal form of disease leishmaniasis. To date, there are no effective prophylactic measures and therapeutics available against VL. Recently, new immunotherapy-based approaches have been established for the management of VL. Cytokines, which are predominantly produced by helper T cells (Th) and macrophages, have received great attention that could be an effective immunotherapeutic approach for the treatment of human VL. Cytokines play a key role in forming the host immune response and in managing the formation of protective and non-protective immunities during infection. Furthermore, immune response mediated through different cytokines varies from different host or animal models. Various cytokines viz. IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, and TNF-α play an important role during protection, while some other cytokines viz. IL-10, IL-6, IL-17, TGF-β, and others are associated with disease progression. Therefore, comprehensive knowledge of cytokine response and their interaction with various immune cells is very crucial to determine appropriate immunotherapies for VL. Here, we have discussed the role of cytokines involved in VL disease progression or host protection in different animal models and humans that will determine the clinical outcome of VL and open the path for the development of rapid and accurate diagnostic tools as well as therapeutic interventions against VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Samant
- Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kumaun University, Almora, India
| | - Utkarsha Sahu
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
| | - Satish Chandra Pandey
- Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kumaun University, Almora, India
| | - Prashant Khare
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, India
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Ashwin H, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Becvar T, Lypaczewski P, Schwartz E, Greensted E, Van Bocxlaer K, Pasin M, Lipinski KS, Parkash V, Matlashewski G, Layton AM, Lacey CJ, Jaffe CL, Volf P, Kaye PM. Characterization of a new Leishmania major strain for use in a controlled human infection model. Nat Commun 2021; 12:215. [PMID: 33431825 PMCID: PMC7801518 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20569-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is widely regarded as a vaccine-preventable disease, but the costs required to reach pivotal Phase 3 studies and uncertainty about which candidate vaccines should be progressed into human studies significantly limits progress in vaccine development for this neglected tropical disease. Controlled human infection models (CHIMs) provide a pathway for accelerating vaccine development and to more fully understand disease pathogenesis and correlates of protection. Here, we describe the isolation, characterization and GMP manufacture of a new clinical strain of Leishmania major. Two fresh strains of L. major from Israel were initially compared by genome sequencing, in vivo infectivity and drug sensitivity in mice, and development and transmission competence in sand flies, allowing one to be selected for GMP production. This study addresses a major roadblock in the development of vaccines for leishmaniasis, providing a key resource for CHIM studies of sand fly transmitted cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Ashwin
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Vojtkova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Becvar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Patrick Lypaczewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eli Schwartz
- The Center for Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Elizabeth Greensted
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Katrien Van Bocxlaer
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | | | | | - Vivak Parkash
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alison M Layton
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Charles J Lacey
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Charles L Jaffe
- The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Paul M Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK.
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10
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Passos FC, Gois MB, Sousa AD, de Marinho AIL, Corvo L, Soto M, Barral-Netto M, Barral A, Baccan GC. Investigating associations between intestinal alterations and parasite load according to Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. abundance in the gut microbiota of hamsters infected by Leishmania infantum. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e200377. [PMID: 33263602 PMCID: PMC7703327 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a tropical neglected disease with high associated rates of mortality. Several studies have highlighted the importance of the intestinal tract (IT) and gut microbiota (GM) in the host immunological defense. Data in the literature on parasite life cycle and host immune defense against VL are scarce regarding the effects of infection on the IT and GM. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate changes observed in the colon of Leishmania infantum-infected hamsters, including alterations in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and GM (specifically, levels of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli). METHODS Male hamsters were inoculated with L. infantum and euthanised at four or eight months post-infection. Intestines were processed for histological analysis and GM analysis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to quantify each group of bacteria: Bifidobacterium spp. (Bf) and Lactobacillus spp (LacB). FINDINGS Infected hamsters showed histoarchitectural loss in the colon wall, with increased thickness in the submucosa and the mucosa layer, as well as greater numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes. Forms suggestive of amastigotes were seen inside mononuclear cells. L. infantum infection induced changes in ENS, as evidenced by increases in the area of colonic enteric ganglia. Despite the absence of changes in the levels of Bf and LacB during the course of infection, the relative abundance of these bacteria was associated with parasite load and histological alterations. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that L. infantum infection leads to important changes in the colon and suggest that bacteria in the GM play a protective role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabine Correia Passos
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Biondaro Gois
- Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Santo Antônio de Jesus, BA, Brasil
| | - Adenilma Duranes Sousa
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Ananda Isis Lima de Marinho
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Laura Corvo
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manoel Soto
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manoel Barral-Netto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Muniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Aldina Barral
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Muniz, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Gyselle Chrystina Baccan
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica, Salvador, BA, Brasil
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Central Asian Rodents as Model Animals for Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani Research. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091440. [PMID: 32962237 PMCID: PMC7563294 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091440] [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] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical manifestation of leishmaniases depends on parasite species, host genetic background, and immune response. Manifestations of human leishmaniases are highly variable, ranging from self-healing skin lesions to fatal visceral disease. The scope of standard model hosts is insufficient to mimic well the wide disease spectrum, which compels the introduction of new model animals for leishmaniasis research. In this article, we study the susceptibility of three Asian rodent species (Cricetulus griseus, Lagurus lagurus, and Phodopus sungorus) to Leishmania major and L. donovani. The external manifestation of the disease, distribution, as well as load of parasites and infectiousness to natural sand fly vectors, were compared with standard models, BALB/c mice and Mesocricetus auratus. No significant differences were found in disease outcomes in animals inoculated with sand fly- or culture-derived parasites. All Asian rodent species were highly susceptible to L. major. Phodopus sungorus showed the non-healing phenotype with the progressive growth of ulcerative lesions and massive parasite loads. Lagurus lagurus and C. griseus represented the healing phenotype, the latter with high infectiousness to vectors, mimicking best the character of natural reservoir hosts. Both, L. lagurus and C. griseus were also highly susceptible to L. donovani, having wider parasite distribution and higher parasite loads and infectiousness than standard model animals.
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12
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Binding of Leishmania infantum Lipophosphoglycan to the Midgut Is Not Sufficient To Define Vector Competence in Lutzomyia longipalpis Sand Flies. mSphere 2020; 5:5/5/e00594-20. [PMID: 32907950 PMCID: PMC7485685 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00594-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the presence of LPG is sufficient to define the vector competence of restrictive sand fly vectors with respect to Leishmania parasites. However, the permissiveness of other sand flies with respect to multiple Leishmania species suggests that other factors might define vector competence for these vectors. In this study, we investigated the underpinnings of Leishmania infantum survival and development in its natural vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis. We found that LPG-mediated midgut binding persists in late-stage parasites. This observation is of relevance for the understanding of vector-parasite molecular interactions and suggests that only a subset of infective metacyclic-stage parasites (metacyclics) lose their ability to attach to the midgut, with implications for parasite transmission dynamics. However, our data also demonstrate that LPG is not a determining factor in Leishmania infantum retention in the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, a permissive vector. Rather, LPG appears to be more important in protecting some parasite strains from the toxic environment generated during blood meal digestion in the insect gut. Thus, the relevance of LPG in parasite development in permissive vectors appears to be a complex issue and should be investigated on a strain-specific basis. The major surface lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania parasites is critical to vector competence in restrictive sand fly vectors in mediating Leishmania attachment to the midgut epithelium, considered essential to parasite survival and development. However, the relevance of LPG for sand flies that harbor multiple species of Leishmania remains elusive. We tested binding of Leishmania infantum wild-type (WT), LPG-defective (Δlpg1 mutants), and add-back (Δlpg1 + LPG1) lines to sand fly midguts in vitro and their survival in Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies in vivo. Le. infantum WT parasites attached to the Lu. longipalpis midgut in vitro, with late-stage parasites binding to midguts in significantly higher numbers than were seen with early-stage promastigotes. Δlpg1 mutants did not bind to Lu. longipalpis midguts, and this was rescued in the Δlpg1 + LPG1 lines, indicating that midgut binding is mediated by LPG. When Lu. longipalpis sand flies were infected with the Le. infantum WT or Le. infantum Δlpg1 or Le. infantum Δlpg1 + LPG1 line of the BH46 or BA262 strains, the BH46 Δlpg1 mutant, but not the BA262 Δlpg1 mutant, survived and grew to numbers similar to those seen with the WT and Δlpg1 + LPG1 lines. Exposure of BH46 and BA262 Δlpg1 mutants to blood-engorged midgut extracts led to mortality of the BA262 Δlpg1 but not the BH46 Δlpg1 parasites. These findings suggest that Le. infantum LPG protects parasites on a strain-specific basis early in infection, likely against toxic components of blood digestion, but that it is not necessary to prevent Le. infantum evacuation along with the feces in the permissive vector Lu. longipalpis. IMPORTANCE It is well established that the presence of LPG is sufficient to define the vector competence of restrictive sand fly vectors with respect to Leishmania parasites. However, the permissiveness of other sand flies with respect to multiple Leishmania species suggests that other factors might define vector competence for these vectors. In this study, we investigated the underpinnings of Leishmania infantum survival and development in its natural vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis. We found that LPG-mediated midgut binding persists in late-stage parasites. This observation is of relevance for the understanding of vector-parasite molecular interactions and suggests that only a subset of infective metacyclic-stage parasites (metacyclics) lose their ability to attach to the midgut, with implications for parasite transmission dynamics. However, our data also demonstrate that LPG is not a determining factor in Leishmania infantum retention in the midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, a permissive vector. Rather, LPG appears to be more important in protecting some parasite strains from the toxic environment generated during blood meal digestion in the insect gut. Thus, the relevance of LPG in parasite development in permissive vectors appears to be a complex issue and should be investigated on a strain-specific basis.
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13
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Cytokines and splenic remodelling during Leishmania donovani infection. Cytokine X 2020; 2:100036. [PMID: 33604560 PMCID: PMC7885873 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytox.2020.100036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis leads to extensive remodelling of splenic microarchitecture. Splenomegaly is associated with compartmentalised vascular remodelling. Alterations in white pulp stromal cells affects leucocyte segregation. Splenic remodelling involves multiple cytokines from diverse cellular sources. Understanding splenic remodelling may lead to new therapeutic interventions.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) causes extensive splenic pathology that contributes to dysfunctional immune responses, in part through displacement and destruction of cell populations involved in maintaining splenic structural integrity. The expression of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines is crucial in orchestrating the delicate balance that exists between host resistance and tissue pathology. In an effort to restore homeostatic balance to the local microenvironment, remodelling of the splenic architecture occurs in a compartmentalised manner to retain some level of functionality, despite persistent inflammatory pressures. Animal models of VL as well as human studies have significantly contributed to our understanding of the architectural changes that occur in the spleen during VL. Here, we review the role of cytokines in mediating microarchitectural changes associated with the development of splenomegaly during VL.
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14
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Experimental infection of Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis in BALB/c mice and Syrian golden hamsters. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3041-3051. [PMID: 32779021 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06842-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Our objective was to investigate clinical progression, presence of parasites and DNAs, parasite loads, and histological alterations in BALB/c mice and Syrian golden hamsters after intraperitoneal inoculation with Leishmania (Mundinia) martiniquensis promastigotes with a goal to choosing an appropriate animal model for visceral leishmaniasis. Infections were monitored for 16 weeks. Infected BALB/c mice were asymptomatic during the infection course. Parasite DNAs were detected in the liver at week 8 of infection, followed by clearance in most animals at week 16; whereas in the spleen, parasite DNAs were detected until week 16. These results are correlated to those obtained measuring parasite loads in both organs. No parasite DNA and no alteration in the bone marrow were observed indicating that no dissemination occurred. These results suggest the control of visceralization of L. martiniquensis by BALB/c mice. In hamsters, weight loss, cachexia, and fatigue were observed after week 11. Leishmania martiniquensis parasites were observed in tissue smears of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow by week 16. Parasite loads correlated with those from the presence of parasites and DNAs in the examined tissues. Alterations in the liver with nuclear destruction and cytoplasmic degeneration of infected hepatocytes, presence of inflammatory infiltrates, necrosis of hepatocytes, and changes in splenic architecture and reduction and deformation of white pulp in the spleen were noted. These results indicate a chronic form of visceral leishmaniasis indicating that the hamster is a suitable animal model for the study of pathological features of chronic visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. martiniquensis.
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15
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Jiménez-Antón MD, Grau M, Corral MJ, Olías-Molero AI, Alunda JM. Efficient infection of hamster with Leishmania donovani by retro-orbital inoculation. Virulence 2020; 10:711-718. [PMID: 31389288 PMCID: PMC8647847 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2019.1649587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M D Jiménez-Antón
- a Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Research group ICPVet, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Spain.,b Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre , Madrid , Spain
| | - M Grau
- a Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Research group ICPVet, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Spain.,b Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre , Madrid , Spain
| | - M J Corral
- a Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Research group ICPVet, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Spain.,b Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre , Madrid , Spain
| | - A I Olías-Molero
- a Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Research group ICPVet, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Spain.,b Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre , Madrid , Spain
| | - J M Alunda
- a Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Research group ICPVet, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Spain.,b Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre , Madrid , Spain
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16
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Saini S, Rai AK. Hamster, a close model for visceral leishmaniasis: Opportunities and challenges. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12768. [DOI: 10.1111/pim.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheetal Saini
- Department of Biotechnology Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad Praygraj India
| | - Ambak K. Rai
- Department of Biotechnology Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad Praygraj India
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17
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Coutinho-Abreu IV, Serafim TD, Meneses C, Kamhawi S, Oliveira F, Valenzuela JG. Distinct gene expression patterns in vector-residing Leishmania infantum identify parasite stage-enriched markers. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008014. [PMID: 32126078 PMCID: PMC7053709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected disease. Inside the natural sand fly vector, the promastigote forms of Leishmania undergo a series of extracellular developmental stages to reach the infectious stage, the metacyclic promastigote. There is limited information regarding the expression profile of L. infantum developmental stages inside the sand fly vector, and molecular markers that can distinguish the different parasite stages are lacking. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We performed RNAseq on unaltered midguts of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis after infection with L. infantum parasites. RNAseq was carried out at various time points throughout parasite development. Principal component analysis separated the transcripts corresponding to the different Leishmania promastigote stages, the procyclic, nectomonad, leptomonad and metacyclics. Importantly, there were a significant number of differentially expressed genes when comparing the sequential development of the various Leishmania stages in the sand fly. There were 836 differentially expressed (DE) genes between procyclic and long nectomonad promastigotes; 113 DE genes between nectomonad and leptomonad promastigotes; and 302 DE genes between leptomonad and metacyclic promastigotes. Most of the DE genes do not overlap across stages, highlighting the uniqueness of each Leishmania stage. Furthermore, the different stages of Leishmania parasites exhibited specific transcriptional enrichment across chromosomes. Using the transcriptional signatures exhibited by distinct Leishmania stages during their development in the sand fly midgut, we determined the genes predominantly enriched in each stage, identifying multiple potential stage-specific markers for L. infantum. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these findings demonstrate the transcriptional plasticity of the Leishmania parasite inside the sand fly vector and provide a repertoire of potential stage-specific markers for further development as molecular tools for epidemiological studies.
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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, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tiago D. Serafim
- 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
| | - Claudio Meneses
- 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
| | - 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
| | - 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
| | - 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, Maryland, United States of America
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18
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Comparison Between Immuno-Clinicopathological Features of Experimental and Human Visceral Leishmaniasis by Leishmania donovani. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:57-67. [PMID: 31578670 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-019-00127-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current understanding of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) depends upon the experimental model. Different species of mouse and hamster have been used as model for VL. It is already evident that the mouse model of VL is not a true reflection of the pathology of human visceral leishmaniasis (HuVL). On the other hand, hamster is reported to be a better model of VL to study the progressive as well as chronic pathology of the disease. OBJECTIVE To compare immuno-clinicopathological features of experimental VL (ExVL) and HuVL by Leishmania donovani. METHODS Hamsters were infected (15 and 60 days) and their immunological, clinical and biochemical parameters were compared with the cases of HuVL. RESULTS Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were observed in infected hamster post-infection, which are hallmarks of symptomatic HuVL cases. Clinical, biochemical and pathological manifestations of infected hamsters were consistent with that of HuVL cases, except parameters such as body weight, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase and random glucose. The absence of clear dichotomy between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was also observed after infection at different sites of infection. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), infected via the intracardiac route, constitutes a very good model for the study of experimental Leishmania donovani infections. However, certain differences in clinical presentations of infected hamsters (via intracardiac route) with HuVL suggest further optimization of this animal model like route of infection such as intradermal, which is more close to natural infection.
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19
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Van Bockstal L, Sádlová J, Suau HA, Hendrickx S, Meneses C, Kamhawi S, Volf P, Maes L, Caljon G. Impaired development of a miltefosine-resistant Leishmania infantum strain in the sand fly vectors Phlebotomus perniciosus and Lutzomyia longipalpis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2019; 11:1-7. [PMID: 31525614 PMCID: PMC6804374 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To gain insight into the propagation of miltefosine (MIL) resistance in visceral leishmaniasis, this laboratory study explored development of resistant parasites with a defective miltefosine transporter (MT) in sand flies. METHODS Infectivity, colonization of stomodeal valve and metacyclogenesis of a MIL-resistant (MIL-R) Leishmania infantum LEM3323 line with a defective MT were assessed in the natural sand fly vectors Phlebotomus perniciosus and Lutzomyia longipalpis. Given our recent description of partial drug dependency of the MT-deficient line, the impact of MIL pre-exposure on sand fly infectivity was explored as well. RESULTS A significant reduction in sand fly infection, stomodeal valve colonization and differentiation into metacyclics (determined by a lower flagellum/cell body length ratio) was observed in both vectors for MIL-R as compared to the isogenic parent MIL-susceptible line. Re-introduction of the wildtype MT gene into MIL-R tended to partially rescue the capacity to infect sand flies. Pre-exposure to MIL did not alter infectivity of the MIL-R line. CONCLUSION The MIL resistant L. infantum LEM3323 line is significantly hampered in its development and transmissibility potential in two sand fly vector species. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate whether this applies to other visceral Leishmania parasites with acquired MIL-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieselotte Van Bockstal
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jovana Sádlová
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Hamide Aslan Suau
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - 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, United States
| | - 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, United States
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
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20
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Tavares J, Santarém N, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Quantification of Leishmania Parasites in Murine Models of Visceral Infection. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1971:289-301. [PMID: 30980311 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9210-2_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is mainly caused by Leishmania donovani (India and East Africa), and Leishmania infantum (Mediterranean Basin and South America) infections. Although murine models of visceral infection lack the clinicopathological aspects of VL in humans, they have been proven useful at advancing our knowledge in the Leishmania field. Indeed, these models have been used not only to better understand the pathophysiology of the infection but also in drug and vaccine development. This chapter focuses on the protocols used to experimentally infect mice and to quantify parasite burdens in mice infected with L. infantum using limiting dilution methodology of target organs and whole-mouse in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Tavares
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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21
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Abbehusen MMC, Cunha J, Suarez MS, Teixeira C, Almeida VDA, Pereira LDS, Bordoni M, Gil-Santana L, Solcà MDS, Fraga DBM, Fischer L, Bozza PT, Veras PST, Valenzuela JG, Kamhawi S, Andrade BB, Brodskyn CI. Immunization of Experimental Dogs With Salivary Proteins From Lutzomyia longipalpis, Using DNA and Recombinant Canarypox Virus Induces Immune Responses Consistent With Protection Against Leishmania infantum. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2558. [PMID: 30519235 PMCID: PMC6251279 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Metacyclic Leishmania promastigotes are transmitted by sand flies that inject parasites and saliva into the host's skin. Previous studies have demonstrated that DNA plasmids encoding Lutzomyia longipalpis salivary proteins LJM17 and LJL143, when used to immunize dogs, resulted in a systemic and local Th1 cell-mediated immunity that interfered in parasite survival in vitro. Here we evaluated the ability of these same salivary antigens to induce anti-Leishmania immunity and to confer protection by immunizing dogs using a novel vaccination strategy more suitable for use in the field. The strategy consisted of a single dose of plasmid followed by two doses of recombinant Canarypoxvirus (rCanarypoxvirus) expressing L. longipalpis salivary proteins (LJM17 or LJL143). Thirty days after the final immunization, dogs were intradermally challenged with 107Leishmania infantum promastigotes in the presence of L. longipalpis saliva. We followed the experimentally infected dogs for 10 months to characterize clinical, parasitological, and immunological parameters. Upon vaccination, all immunized dogs presented strong and specific humoral responses with increased serum concentrations of IFN-γ, TNF, IL-7, and IL-15. The serum of dogs immunized with LJM17 also exhibited high levels of IL-2, IL-6, and IL-18. L. infantum infection was established in all experimental groups as evidenced by the presence of anti-Leishmania IgG, and by parasite detection in the spleen and skin. Dogs immunized with LJM17-based vaccines presented higher circulating levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-15, IL-18, TNF, CXCL10, and GM-CSF post-infection when compared with controls. Results demonstrated that relevant Leishmania-specific immune responses were induced following vaccination of dogs with L. longipalpis salivary antigen LJM17 administered in a single priming dose of plasmid DNA, followed by two booster doses of recombinant Canarypox vector. Importantly, a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines known to be relevant for protection against leishmaniasis was evidenced after challenging LJM17-vaccinated dogs as compared to controls. Although similar results were observed following immunization with LJL143, the pro-inflammatory response observed after immunization was attenuated following infection. Collectively, these data suggest that the LJM17-based vaccine induced an immune profile consistent with the expected protective immunity against canine leishmaniosis. These results clearly support the need for further evaluation of the LJM17 antigen, using a heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy against canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jurema Cunha
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Marcelo Bordoni
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Laurent Fischer
- Boerhinger Ingelheim, R&D, Laboratoire de Lyon Portes des Alpes, Lyon, France
| | - Patricia Torres Bozza
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruno B Andrade
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Brazil.,Multinational Organization Network Sponsoring Translational and Epidemiological Research (MONSTER) Initiative, Fundação José Silveira, Salvador, Brazil.,Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Brazil.,Universidade Salvador (UNIFACS), Laureate Universities, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Claudia I Brodskyn
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina and Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.,Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Investigação em Imunologia (III-INCT), São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Serafim TD, Coutinho-Abreu IV, Oliveira F, Meneses C, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG. Sequential blood meals promote Leishmania replication and reverse metacyclogenesis augmenting vector infectivity. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:548-555. [PMID: 29556108 PMCID: PMC6007031 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0125-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sand flies, similar to most vectors, take multiple blood meals during their lifetime1-4. The effect of subsequent blood meals on pathogens developing in the vector and their impact on disease transmission have never been examined. Here, we show that ingestion of a second uninfected blood meal by Leishmania-infected sand flies triggers dedifferentiation of metacyclic promastigotes, considered a terminally differentiated stage inside the vector 5 , to a leptomonad-like stage, the retroleptomonad promastigote. Reverse metacyclogenesis occurs after every subsequent blood meal where retroleptomonad promastigotes rapidly multiply and differentiate to metacyclic promastigotes enhancing sand fly infectiousness. Importantly, a subsequent blood meal amplifies the few Leishmania parasites acquired by feeding on infected hosts by 125-fold, and increases lesion frequency by fourfold, in twice-fed compared with single-fed flies. These findings place readily available blood sources as a critical element in transmission and propagation of vector-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago D 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
| | - 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
| | - 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
| | - 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.
| | - 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.
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23
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Melo GD, Goyard S, Lecoeur H, Rouault E, Pescher P, Fiette L, Boissonnas A, Minoprio P, Lang T. New insights into experimental visceral leishmaniasis: Real-time in vivo imaging of Leishmania donovani virulence. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005924. [PMID: 28945751 PMCID: PMC5629011 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is an insidious neglected disease with worldwide distribution. It is caused by parasites from the Leishmania donovani complex, which are able to be transmitted by different species of phlebotomine sand flies and to infect numerous mammal hosts. Despite the high number of people infected or at risk, and the remarkable quantity of studies focusing on this disease, a proper experimental model to efficiently decipher the infectious process of visceral leishmaniasis taking into account the nuances of parasite’s virulence and the duration of the infection is still lacking. Therefore, using golden Syrian hamsters and BALB/c mice, state-of-the-art genetic manipulation applied on a fully virulent L. donovani strain and in vivo imaging approaches, we describe herein three benefits for experimental visceral leishmaniasis: (i) the development of a double transfected bioluminescent (firefly luciferase) and fluorescent (E2-crimson) virulent strain of L. donovani (Ld1S_luci_E2-crimson), favoring a wide range of both in vivo and in vitro investigations, (ii) the establishment of a non-invasive mouse model to evaluate the infectious process during visceral leishmaniasis and the parasite’s virulence in real time, allowing longitudinal studies with the same animals, and (iii) the elaboration of a suitable method to reinstate (and verify anew) the virulence in a population of attenuated parasites, by recovering persistent parasites from chronic infected mice. Consequently, these results open up new perspectives on the study of visceral leishmaniasis, especially in the fields of therapeutics and vaccinology, since the model described herein renders now possible long-lasting follow up studies, with easy and accurate day-by-day verifications of the infection status along with a reduced number of laboratory animals. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov 2013-0047.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme D. Melo
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosomatidés, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Goyard
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosomatidés, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Lecoeur
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosomatidés, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Eline Rouault
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosomatidés, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Pascale Pescher
- Institut Pasteur, Unité de Parasitologie Moléculaire et Signalisation, Département de Parasites et Insectes Vecteurs, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Fiette
- Institut Pasteur, Unité d’Histopathologie Humaine et Modèles Animaux, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Boissonnas
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Inserm, UMR 1135, CNRS, ERL 8255, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI-Paris), 91 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Paola Minoprio
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosomatidés, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
| | - Thierry Lang
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratoire des Processus Infectieux à Trypanosomatidés, Département Infection et Epidémiologie, 25–28 rue du Dr Roux, Paris, France
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24
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Kamhawi S, Serafim TD. Patchy Parasitized Skin Governs Leishmania donovani Transmission to Sand Flies. Trends Parasitol 2017; 33:748-750. [PMID: 28867329 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Doehl et al. have combined empirical data with computer simulation to demonstrate that RAG-2 mice intravenously infected with Leishmania donovani form heterogeneous skin parasite patches that govern infectiousness to sand flies. This model provides a much-needed tool to explore the relevance of asymptomatic and symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis patients as infection reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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 20852, USA.
| | - Tiago D Serafim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
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25
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Duthie MS, Pereira L, Favila M, Hofmeyer KA, Reed SJ, Metangmo S, Townsend S, Laurance JD, Picone A, Misquith A, Hossain F, Ghosh P, Khan MAA, Guderian J, Bailor HR, Liang H, Vergara J, Oliveira F, Howard RF, Kamhawi S, Mondal D, Coler RN, Valenzuela JG, Reed SG. A defined subunit vaccine that protects against vector-borne visceral leishmaniasis. NPJ Vaccines 2017; 2:23. [PMID: 29263878 PMCID: PMC5627294 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-017-0025-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine development for vector-borne pathogens may be accelerated through the use of relevant challenge models, as has been the case for malaria. Because of the demonstrated biological importance of vector-derived molecules in establishing natural infections, incorporating natural challenge models into vaccine development strategies may increase the accuracy of predicting efficacy under field conditions. Until recently, however, there was no natural challenge model available for the evaluation of vaccine candidates against visceral leishmaniasis. We previously demonstrated that a candidate vaccine against visceral leishmaniasis containing the antigen LEISH-F3 could provide protection in preclinical models and induce potent T-cell responses in human volunteers. In the present study, we describe a next generation candidate, LEISH-F3+, generated by adding a third antigen to the LEISH-F3 di-fusion protein. The rationale for adding a third component, derived from cysteine protease (CPB), was based on previously demonstrated protection achieved with this antigen, as well as on recognition by human T cells from individuals with latent infection. Prophylactic immunization with LEISH-F3+formulated with glucopyranosyl lipid A adjuvant in stable emulsion significantly reduced both Leishmania infantum and L. donovani burdens in needle challenge mouse models of infection. Importantly, the data obtained in these infection models were validated by the ability of LEISH-F3+/glucopyranosyl lipid A adjuvant in stable emulsion to induce significant protection in hamsters, a model of both infection and disease, following challenge by L. donovani-infected Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies, a natural vector. This is an important demonstration of vaccine protection against visceral leishmaniasis using a natural challenge model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm S. Duthie
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Lais Pereira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852 USA
| | - Michelle Favila
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Kimberly A. Hofmeyer
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - S. Jim Reed
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Sonia Metangmo
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852 USA
| | - Shannon Townsend
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852 USA
| | - John D. Laurance
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Alessandro Picone
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Ayesha Misquith
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Faria Hossain
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Laboratory Sciences Division, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Prakash Ghosh
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Laboratory Sciences Division, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Anik Ashfaq Khan
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Laboratory Sciences Division, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jeffery Guderian
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - H. Remy Bailor
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Hong Liang
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
| | - Julie Vergara
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 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 20852 USA
| | - Randall F. Howard
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 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 20852 USA
| | - Dinesh Mondal
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Laboratory Sciences Division, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rhea N. Coler
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 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 20852 USA
| | - Steven G. Reed
- Infectious Disease Research Institute, 1616 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98102 USA
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26
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Valverde JG, Paun A, Inbar E, Romano A, Lewis M, Ghosh K, Sacks D. Increased Transmissibility of Leishmania donovani From the Mammalian Host to Vector Sand Flies After Multiple Exposures to Sand Fly Bites. J Infect Dis 2017; 215:1285-1293. [PMID: 28329329 PMCID: PMC5853764 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with active visceral leishmaniasis are important reservoirs in the anthroponotic transmission cycle of Leishmania donovani. The role of the blood or skin as a source of infection to sand flies remains unclear, and the possible effect of multiple exposures to fly bites on transmissibility has not been addressed. Methods L. donovani-infected hamsters underwent xenodiagnoses with Lutzomyia longipalpis on the same or different sites on the abdomen on 2 consecutive days or by artificial feeding on the skin or blood. Results The transmission of L. donovani from sick hamsters to flies was surprisingly low (mean, 24% of fed flies). New flies fed on the same site acquired significantly more infections (mean, 61%; P < .0001). By artificial feeding, flies could acquire infection from blood and skin. However, only artificial feeding on blood produced infections that correlated with the natural feeding (R = 0.792; P < .0001). Infections acquired from blood increased dramatically for blood obtained after exposure to bites, as did the parasitemia level and the number of monocytes in the circulation. Conclusions The bites of uninfected sand flies favor the transmissibility of L. donovani by infected hosts, owing to a systemic effect that exposure to bites has on the parasitemia. Patients with active visceral leishmaniasis are important reservoirs in the anthroponotic transmission cycle of Leishmania donovani. Using the hamster model of visceral disease, we demonstrate that prior exposure to bites of uninfected sand flies potentiates their ability to transmit infection to the vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna G Valverde
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Andrea Paun
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ehud Inbar
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Audrey Romano
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michael Lewis
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Kashinath Ghosh
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David Sacks
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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27
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Cannet A, Akhoundi M, Michel G, Marty P, Delaunay P. Experimental infection of Phlebotomus perniciosus by bioluminescent Leishmania infantum using murine model and artificial feeder. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017; 111:495-500. [PMID: 27439032 PMCID: PMC4981113 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that is transmitted by sandflies and caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In the present study, we carried out a screening on the experimental infection of Phlebotomus pernioucus by bioluminescent Leishmania infantum using murine model and artificial feeder. We developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based method to determine individually the number of Leishmania promastigotes fed by infected flies. Among 1840 new emerged female sand flies, 428 were fed on the infected mice. After their death, they were analysed individually by RT-PCR. Our results demonstrated just a single Leishmania positive female at sixth day post meal. A total of 1070 female sand flies were exposed in contact with artificial feeder containing the human blood with two different quantities of Leishmania parasites: 2.106/mL and 1.107/mL. A blood meal including 1.107/mL LUC-promastigotes was proposed to 270 females and 75 (28%) flies were engorged. Among them, 44 (59%) were positive by RT-PCR analysis, with a relative average of 50551 Leishmania parasites. In case of blood feeding of females with 2.106/mL promastigotes, 57 out of 800 (7%) females succeed to feed from artificial feeder which 22 (39%) were positive with a relative average of 6487 parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Cannet
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Nice, France
| | - Mohammad Akhoundi
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital de l'Archet, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Nice, France
| | - Gregory Michel
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Nice, France
| | - Pierre Marty
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Nice, France.,Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital de l'Archet, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Nice, France
| | - Pascal Delaunay
- Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, Nice, France.,Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Hôpital de l'Archet, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Nice, France
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28
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Imaging visceral leishmaniasis in real time with golden hamster model: Monitoring the parasite burden and hamster transcripts to further characterize the immunological responses of the host. Parasitol Int 2017; 66:933-939. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Srivastava S, Mishra J, Gupta AK, Singh A, Shankar P, Singh S. Laboratory confirmed miltefosine resistant cases of visceral leishmaniasis from India. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:49. [PMID: 28137296 PMCID: PMC5282768 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-1969-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Miltefosine unresponsive and relapse cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are increasingly being reported. However, there has been no laboratory confirmed reports of miltefosine resistance in VL. Here, we report two laboratory confirmed cases of VL from India. METHODS Two patients with VL were referred to us with suspected VL. The first patient was a native of the VL endemic state of Bihar, but residing in Delhi, a VL non-endemic area. He was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and antipyretics but was unresponsive to treatment. The second patient was from Jharkhand state in eastern India (adjoining Bihar), another endemic state for VL. He was refractory to anti-leishmanial treatment, which included administration of miltefosine. Following investigation, both patients were serologically positive for VL, and blood buffy coat from both patients grew Leishmania donovani. The isolates derived from both cases were characterized for their drug susceptibility, genetically characterised, and SNPs typed for LdMT and LdROS gene expression. Both patients were successfully treated with amphotericin B. RESULTS The in vitro drug susceptibility assays carried out on both isolates showed good IC50 values to amphotericin B (0.1 ± 0.0004 μg/ml and 0.07 ± 0.0019 μg/ml). One isolate was refractory to SbIII with an IC50 of > 200 μM while the second isolate was sensitive to SbIII with an IC50 of 36.70 ± 3.2 μM. However, in both the isolates, IC50 against miltefosine was more than 10-fold higher (> 100 μM) than the standard strain DD8 (6.8 ± 0.1181 μM). Furthermore, genetic analyses demonstrated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (354Tyr↔Phe and 1078Phe↔Tyr) in the LdMT gene of the parasites. CONCLUSIONS Here, we document two laboratory confirmed cases of miltefosine resistant VL from India. Our finding highlights the urgent need to establish control measures to prevent the spread of these strains. We also propose that LdMT gene mutation analysis could be used as a molecular marker of miltefosine resistance in L. donovani.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Srivastava
- 0000 0004 1767 6103grid.413618.9Division of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Jyotsna Mishra
- 0000 0004 1767 6103grid.413618.9Division of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Kumar Gupta
- 0000 0004 1767 6103grid.413618.9Division of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Singh
- 0000 0004 1767 6103grid.413618.9Division of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Prem Shankar
- 0000 0004 1767 6103grid.413618.9Division of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sarman Singh
- 0000 0004 1767 6103grid.413618.9Division of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Abstract
Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are amongst the most devastating infectious diseases of our time, affecting millions of people worldwide. The treatment of these serious diseases rely on a few chemotherapeutic agents, most of which are of parenteral use and induce severe side-effects. Furthermore, rates of treatment failure are high and have been linked to drug resistance in some areas. Here, we reviewed data on current chemotherapy practice in leishmaniasis. Drug resistance and mechanisms of resistance are described as well as the prospects for applying drug combinations for leishmaniasis chemotherapy. It is clear that efforts for discovering new drugs applicable to leishmaniasis chemotherapy are essential. The main aspects on the various steps of drug discovery in the field are discussed.
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31
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Kauffmann F, Dumetz F, Hendrickx S, Muraille E, Dujardin JC, Maes L, Magez S, De Trez C. In vivocharacterization of two additionalLeishmania donovanistrains using the murine and hamster model. Parasite Immunol 2016; 38:290-302. [DOI: 10.1111/pim.12316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Kauffmann
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM); Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB); Brussels Belgium
- Department of Structural Biology Research Center; Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB); Brussels Belgium
| | - F. Dumetz
- Molecular Parasitology Unit; Department of Biomedical Sciences; Institute of Tropical Medicine; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - S. Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology; Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH); University of Antwerp; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - E. Muraille
- Laboratory of Parasitology; Université Libre de Bruxelles; Brussels Belgium
| | - J.-C. Dujardin
- Molecular Parasitology Unit; Department of Biomedical Sciences; Institute of Tropical Medicine; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - L. Maes
- Laboratory of Parasitology; Université Libre de Bruxelles; Brussels Belgium
| | - S. Magez
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM); Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB); Brussels Belgium
- Department of Structural Biology Research Center; Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB); Brussels Belgium
| | - C. De Trez
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology (CMIM); Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB); Brussels Belgium
- Department of Structural Biology Research Center; Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB); Brussels Belgium
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Xenodiagnosis on dogs with visceral leishmaniasis: Canine and sand fly aspects related to the parasite transmission. Vet Parasitol 2016; 223:120-6. [PMID: 27198788 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
One of the main limitations for the effective control of canine leishmaniasis in endemic areas is the difficulty in identifying infectious dogs. The objective of this study was to determine factors, related to dogs and to parasite detection in sand flies, which are associated with the positive xenodiagnosis of Leishmania infantum using the vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. The xenodiagnosis was performed in 50 owned dogs residing in endemic areas, which were divided into three different groups: G1-26 dogs proved to be infected and classified by severity of VL clinical signs on physical examination; G2-15 dogs proved to be infected and classified by severity of clinical signs and intensity of laboratory abnormalities; G3-nine dogs that were seropositive for anti-Leishmania IgG in ELISA tests. Parasite search in the sand flies after having fed on dogs in the xenodiagnosis was performed by both methodologies, PCR and dissection followed by microscopy. In G1, 58% (15/26) of dogs were able to transmit Leishmania to the vector, when parasite detection in sand flies were performed by PCR technique, 5 days after blood meal, whereas in G2, 53% (8/15) transmitted the parasite to the vector, however, confirmation was performed by direct observation of parasite through optical miscroscopy held 10 days after blood meal. Rate of infectiousness of dogs to sand flies was positively associated to severity of disease (p=0.042 and p=0.040), regardless the method used for clinical classification or for parasite detection in sand flies after xenodiagnosis. In G1 30% (3/10) of dogs with subclinical infection were infectious to the vector, while 80% (12/16) of dogs with clinical disease were also infectious. Even more, 17% (1/6) of dogs that had moderate disease were infectious to the sand flies, while 78% (7/9) of dogs with severe disease were infectious in G2. Still in G2, the proportion of sand flies infected (grade of infectiousness) was significantly lower (p=0.0098) when they fed on dogs with moderate disease (1%) in comparison with dogs with severe disease (38%). The dogs from G3 presented a rate of infectiousness of 11% (1/9), demonstrating that the indirect ELISA is not a good indicator of infectiousness and, therefore, should not be used as a confirmatory test for the euthanasia of dogs, as it is currently done in Brazil.
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Moreira NDD, Vitoriano-Souza J, Roatt BM, Vieira PMDA, Coura-Vital W, Cardoso JMDO, Rezende MT, Ker HG, Giunchetti RC, Carneiro CM, Reis AB. Clinical, hematological and biochemical alterations in hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentally infected with Leishmania infantum through different routes of inoculation. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:181. [PMID: 27030128 PMCID: PMC4815141 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1464-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis remains among the most important parasitic diseases in the developing world and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most fatal. The hamster Mesocricetus auratus is a susceptible model for the characterization of the disease, since infection of hamsters with L. infantum reproduces the clinical and pathological features of human VL. In this context, it provides a unique opportunity to study VL in its active form. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical, biochemical, and hematological changes in male hamsters infected through different routes and strains of L. infantum. Methods In the current study, hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were infected with the L. infantum strains (WHO/MHOM/BR/74/PP75 and MCAN/BR/2008/OP46) by intradermal, intraperitoneal and intracardiac routes. The animals were monitored for a nine month follow-up period. Results The hamsters showed clinical signs similar to those observed in classical canine and human symptomatic VL, including splenomegaly, severe weight loss, anemia, and leucopenia. Therefore the OP46 strain was more infective, clinical signs were more frequent and more exacerbated in IC group with 80 to 100 % of the animals showing splenomegaly, in the last month infection. Additionally, desquamation, hair loss and external mucocutaneous lesions and ulcers localized in the snout, accompanied by swelling of the paws in all animals, were observed. Consequently, the animals presented severe weight loss/cachexia, hunched posture, an inability to eat or drink, and non-responsiveness to external stimuli. Furthermore, regardless of strain, route of inoculum and time assessed, the animals showed renal and hepatic alterations, with increased serum levels of urea and creatinine as well as elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Conclusions These results strongly suggest that the inoculation through the intracardiac route resulted in a higher severity among infections, especially in the sixth and ninth month after infection via intracardiac, exhibited clinical manifestations and biochemical/hematological findings similar to human visceral leishmaniasis. Therefore, we suggest that this route must be preferentially used in experimental infections for pathogenesis studies of VL in the hamster model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nádia das Dores Moreira
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil.,Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Juliana Vitoriano-Souza
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Bruno Mendes Roatt
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Paula Melo de Abreu Vieira
- Laboratório de Morfopatologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Wendel Coura-Vital
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Jamille Mirelle de Oliveira Cardoso
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Mariana Trevisan Rezende
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Henrique Gama Ker
- Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Claudia Martins Carneiro
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil.,Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Alexandre Barbosa Reis
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Biológicas/NUPEB, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil. .,Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
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Rodrigues V, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Laforge M, Silvestre R, Estaquier J. Regulation of immunity during visceral Leishmania infection. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:118. [PMID: 26932389 PMCID: PMC4774109 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1412-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Unicellular eukaryotes of the genus Leishmania are collectively responsible for a heterogeneous group of diseases known as leishmaniasis. The visceral form of leishmaniasis, caused by L. donovani or L. infantum, is a devastating condition, claiming 20,000 to 40,000 lives annually, with particular incidence in some of the poorest regions of the world. Immunity to Leishmania depends on the development of protective type I immune responses capable of activating infected phagocytes to kill intracellular amastigotes. However, despite the induction of protective responses, disease progresses due to a multitude of factors that impede an optimal response. These include the action of suppressive cytokines, exhaustion of specific T cells, loss of lymphoid tissue architecture and a defective humoral response. We will review how these responses are orchestrated during the course of infection, including both early and chronic stages, focusing on the spleen and the liver, which are the main target organs of visceral Leishmania in the host. A comprehensive understanding of the immune events that occur during visceral Leishmania infection is crucial for the implementation of immunotherapeutic approaches that complement the current anti-Leishmania chemotherapy and the development of effective vaccines to prevent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | | | - Ricardo Silvestre
- School of Health Sciences, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Jérôme Estaquier
- CNRS FR3636, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France. .,Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
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Martín-Martín I, Jiménez M, González E, Eguiluz C, Molina R. Natural transmission of Leishmania infantum through experimentally infected Phlebotomus perniciosus highlights the virulence of Leishmania parasites circulating in the human visceral leishmaniasis outbreak in Madrid, Spain. Vet Res 2015; 46:138. [PMID: 26645907 PMCID: PMC4673772 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-015-0281-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A human leishmaniasis outbreak is occurring in the Madrid region, Spain, with the parasite and vector involved being Leishmania infantum and Phlebotomus perniciosus respectively. The aim of this study was to investigate the virulence of L. infantum isolates from the focus using a natural transmission model. Hamsters were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation (IP) or by bites of sand flies experimentally infected with L. infantum isolates obtained from P. perniciosus collected in the outbreak area (IPER/ES/2012/BOS1FL1 and IPER/ES/2012/POL2FL6) and a well characterized L. infantum strain JPCM5 (MCAN/ES/98/LLM-877). Hamster infections were monitored by clinical examination, serology, culture, parasite burden, Giemsa-stained imprints, PCR, histopathology and xenodiagnostic studies. Establishment of infection of L. infantum was achieved with the JPCM5 strain and outbreak isolates by both P. perniciosus infective bites or IP route. However, high virulence of BOS1FL1 and POL2FL6 isolates was highlighted by the clinical outcome of disease, high parasite detection in spleen and liver, high parasitic loads and positivity of Leishmania serology. Transmission by bite of POL2FL6 infected flies generated a slower progression of clinical disease than IP infection, but both groups were infective to P. perniciosus by xenodiagnosis at 2 months post-infection. Conversely, hamsters inoculated with JPCM5 were not infective to sand flies. Histopathology studies confirmed the wide spread of POL2FL6 parasites to several organs. A visceral leishmaniasis model that mimics the natural transmission in nature allowed us to highlight the high virulence of isolates that are circulating in the focus. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the outbreak epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Martín-Martín
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, Majadahonda, 28220, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Maribel Jiménez
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, Majadahonda, 28220, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Estela González
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, Majadahonda, 28220, Madrid, Spain.
| | - César Eguiluz
- Unidad de Veterinaria, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, Majadahonda, 28220, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ricardo Molina
- Unidad de Entomología Médica, Servicio de Parasitología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo s/n, Majadahonda, 28220, Madrid, Spain.
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Reed SG, Coler RN, Mondal D, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG. Leishmania vaccine development: exploiting the host-vector-parasite interface. Expert Rev Vaccines 2015; 15:81-90. [PMID: 26595093 PMCID: PMC6019289 DOI: 10.1586/14760584.2016.1105135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies, fatal if untreated, and with no available human vaccine. In rodents, cellular immunity to Leishmania parasite proteins as well as salivary proteins of the sand fly is associated with protection, making them worthy targets for further exploration as vaccines. This review discusses the notion that a combination vaccine including Leishmania and vector salivary antigens may improve vaccine efficacy by targeting the parasite at its most vulnerable stage just after transmission. Furthermore, we put forward the notion that better modeling of natural transmission is needed to test efficacy of vaccines. For example, the fact that individuals living in endemic areas are exposed to sand fly bites and will mount an immune response to salivary proteins should be considered in pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of leishmaniasis vaccines. Nevertheless, despite remaining obstacles there is good reason to be optimistic that safe and effective vaccines against leishmaniasis can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S G Reed
- a Infectious Disease Research Institute , Seattle WA , USA
- b Department of Global Health , University of Washington , Seattle WA , USA
| | - R N Coler
- a Infectious Disease Research Institute , Seattle WA , USA
- b Department of Global Health , University of Washington , Seattle WA , USA
| | - D Mondal
- c International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Centre for Nutrition and Food Security , Parasitology Laboratory , Dhaka , Bangladesh
| | - S Kamhawi
- d Vector Molecular Biology Section, LMVR , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH , Rockville , MD , USA
| | - J G Valenzuela
- d Vector Molecular Biology Section, LMVR , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH , Rockville , MD , USA
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Sadlova J, Seblova V, Votypka J, Warburg A, Volf P. Xenodiagnosis of Leishmania donovani in BALB/c mice using Phlebotomus orientalis: a new laboratory model. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:158. [PMID: 25881258 PMCID: PMC4364506 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0765-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In areas endemic for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), the majority of infected hosts remain asymptomatic but potentially infectious to biting sand flies. Their infectiousness for sand fly vectors is crucial for the transmission of the disease and can be quantified only by xenodiagnosis. However, in the case of human hosts, xenodiagnosis can be problematic for ethical and logistic reasons. The BALB/c mouse model described in this paper was designed to enable xenodiagnostic studies on VL hosts circumventing the need for human volunteers, it permits xenodiagnosis using the same individual host repeatedly, over several months. Methods BALB/c mice were intradermally inoculated in the ear pinnae with Leishmania donovani, primarily metacyclic stages isolated from the thoracic midguts of experimentally-infected Phlebotomus orientalis females. Naïve sand flies were allowed to feed on anaesthetized mice in 1-3-weeks- interval, firstly on the site of inoculation of L. donovani (weeks 2–8 post infection, p.i.), later on the whole body of mice (weeks 9 – 15 p.i.). Infections of sand flies were evaluated microscopically or by PCR analysis. Results Although infected mice did not show any signs of disease, 19% (N = 876) of the P. orientalis females that fed at the site of inoculation, became infected. The majority of L. donovani-positive females (76%) had heavy infections with their stomodeal valves colonized by attached parasites. Inoculated mouse ears remained infective for sand flies until week 15 p.i. Females feeding on other parts of the body remained negative with exception of two groups feeding on contralateral ears by week 12 p.i. On week 15, however, these two mice returned negative at xenodiagnosis of the contralateral ears. In sacrificed mice, the highest parasite numbers were found in inoculated ears and their draining lymph nodes. Infections were detected also in the spleen, liver, blood and rarely in the contralateral ear. Conclusions The study showed that BALB/c mice harbored parasites in sufficient numbers to promote heavy infections in P. orientalis and thus comprised a suitable laboratory model for xenodiagnoses of L. donovani. Parasites persisted in the inoculation site and were found transmissible for months to sand flies biting on the same site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague 2, Vinicna 7, 128 44, Czech Republic.
| | - Veronika Seblova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague 2, Vinicna 7, 128 44, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Votypka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague 2, Vinicna 7, 128 44, Czech Republic.
| | - Alon Warburg
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague 2, Vinicna 7, 128 44, Czech Republic.
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Sacks DL, Melby PC. Animal models for the analysis of immune responses to leishmaniasis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 108:19.2.1-19.2.24. [PMID: 25640990 DOI: 10.1002/0471142735.im1902s108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This unit focuses on the murine model of cutaneous leishmaniasis and models of visceral leishmaniasis in mice and hamsters. Each basic protocol describes the methods used to inoculate parasites and to evaluate infections with regard to lesion progression and visceralization, and quantification of parasite load.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Sacks
- National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter C Melby
- University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas
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Oryan A. Plant-derived compounds in treatment of leishmaniasis. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH 2015; 16:1-19. [PMID: 27175144 PMCID: PMC4789233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected public health problem caused by the protozoan species belonging to the genus Leishmania affecting mostly the poor populations of developing countries. The causative organism is transmitted by female sandflies. Cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral clinical manifestations are the most frequent forms of leishmaniasis. Chemotherapy still relies on the use of pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, paromomycin, miltefosin and liposomal amphotericin B. However, the application of these drugs is limited due to low efficacy, life-threatening side effects, high toxicity, induction of parasite resistance, length of treatment and high cost. Given the fact that antileishmanial vaccines may not become available in the near future, the search for better drugs should be continued. Natural products may offer an unlimited source of chemical diversity to identify new drug modules. New medicines should be less toxic or non-toxic, safe, more efficient, less expensive and readily available antileishmanial agents, especially for low-income populations. In the present review, special focus is on medicinal plants used against leishmanaiasis. The bioactive phytocompounds present in the plant derivatives including the crude extracts, essential oils, and other useful compounds can be a good source for discovering and producing new antileishmanial medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Oryan
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
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40
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Kamhawi S, Oliveira F, Valenzuela JG. Using humans to make a human leishmaniasis vaccine. Sci Transl Med 2014; 6:234fs18. [PMID: 24786322 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3009118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The cellular immune response to peptide pools from conserved Leishmania antigens in leishmaniasis-immune individuals identified epitopes for a human DNA vaccine (Das et al., this issue).
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Affiliation(s)
- 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 20852, USA
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Evaluation of IL-22 polymorphism in patients with visceral leishmaniasis. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(14)60674-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Abdeladhim M, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG. What's behind a sand fly bite? The profound effect of sand fly saliva on host hemostasis, inflammation and immunity. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 28:691-703. [PMID: 25117872 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2014] [Revised: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Sand flies are blood-feeding insects and vectors of the Leishmania parasite. For many years, saliva of these insects has represented a gold mine for the discovery of molecules with anti-hemostatic and immuno-modulatory activities. Furthermore, proteins in sand fly saliva have been shown to be a potential vaccine against leishmaniasis and also markers of vector exposure. A bottleneck to progress in these areas of research has been the identification of molecules responsible for the observed activities and properties of saliva. Over the past decade, rapid advances in transcriptomics and proteomics resulted in the completion of a number of sialomes (salivary gland transcriptomes) and the expression of several recombinant salivary proteins from different species of sand fly vectors. This review will provide readers with a comprehensive update of recent advances in the characterization of these salivary molecules and their biological activities and offer insights pertaining to their protective effect against leishmaniasis and their potential as markers of vector exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Abdeladhim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, United States
| | - 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 20852, United States.
| | - 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 20852, United States.
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A canine model of experimental infection with Leishmania (L.) mexicana. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:361. [PMID: 25108307 PMCID: PMC4138396 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a tropical disease affecting over one million patients annually and Leishmania (L.) mexicana is one of the major etiological agents in the Americas. Here we established the first experimental infection of L. (L.) mexicana in canids. METHODS Beagle dogs were infected intradermally with culture-derived L. (L.) mexicana. We followed skin ulcer development, histopathological signs, parasite burden and the immune status of the infected dogs. RESULTS All infected dogs developed uniform oval-craterform ulcers similar to those observed in humans, associated with mixed T helper 1/T helper 2 immune responses. Parasites were detected in the healed lesions 15 weeks post-infection. Higher anti-Leishmania IgG levels correlated with larger lesions and high IgG1/IgG2 ratio was associated with some level of splenomegaly. CONCLUSIONS The canine model described in this work will be of use for further understanding of L. (L.) mexicana immunopathogenensis, and for drug and vaccine development.
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Kamhawi S, Aslan H, Valenzuela JG. Vector saliva in vaccines for visceral leishmaniasis: a brief encounter of high consequence? Front Public Health 2014; 2:99. [PMID: 25152872 PMCID: PMC4126209 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies and remains the most serious form of the disease with no available human vaccine. Repeatedly, studies have demonstrated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a number of sand fly salivary proteins against cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. All Leishmania species including agents of VL are co-deposited into the skin together with vector saliva. Generally, the immune response to a protective salivary protein in vaccinated animals is rapid and possibly acts on the parasites soon after delivery into the skin by the bite of an infective sand fly. This is followed by the development of a stronger Leishmania-specific immunity in saliva-vaccinated animals compared to controls. Considering that several of the most efficacious protective molecules were identified from a proven vector of VL, we put forward the notion that a combination vaccine that includes a Leishmania antigen and a vector salivary protein has the potential to improve vaccine efficacy by targeting the parasite at it most vulnerable stage just after transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - Hamide Aslan
- 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
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Guha R, Das S, Ghosh J, Sundar S, Dujardin JC, Roy S. Antimony resistant Leishmania donovani but not sensitive ones drives greater frequency of potent T-regulatory cells upon interaction with human PBMCs: role of IL-10 and TGF-β in early immune response. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2995. [PMID: 25032977 PMCID: PMC4102415 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In India the sand fly, Phlebotomus argentipes, transmitted parasitic disease termed kala-azar is caused by Leishmania donovani (LD) in humans. These immune-evading parasites have increasingly developed resistance to the drug sodium antimony gluconate in endemic regions. Lack of early diagnosis methods for the disease limits the information available regarding the early interactions of this parasite with either human tissues or cell lineages. We reasoned that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy human beings could help compare some of their immune signatures once they were exposed for up to 8 days, to either pentavalent antimony sensitive (SbS-LD) or resistant (SbR-LD) Leishmania donovani isolates. At day 2, PBMC cultures exposed to SbS-LD and SbR-LD stationary phase promastigotes had four and seven fold higher frequency of IL-10 secreting monocyte-macrophage respectively, compared to cultures unexposed to parasites. Contrasting with the CD4+CD25−CD127− type-1 T-regulatory (Tr1) cell population that displayed similar features whatever the culture conditions, there was a pronounced increase in the IL-10 producing CD4+CD25+CD127low/− inducible T-regulatory cells (iTregs) in the PBMC cultures sampled at day 8 post addition of SbR-LD. Sorted iTregs from different cultures on day 8 were added to anti-CD3/CD28 induced naïve PBMCs to assess their suppressive ability. We observed that iTregs from SbR-LD exposed PBMCs had more pronounced suppressive ability compared to SbS-LD counterpart on a per cell basis and is dependent on both IL-10 and TGF-β, whereas IL-10 being the major factor contributing to the suppressive ability of iTregs sorted from PBMC cultures exposed to SbS–LD. Of note, iTreg population frequency value remained at the basal level after addition of genetically modified SbR-LD lacking unique terminal sugar in surface glycan. Even with limitations of this artificial in vitro model of L. donovani-human PBMC interactions, the present findings suggest that SbR-LD have higher immunomodulatory capacity which may favour aggressive pathology. The disease Kala-azar is caused by Leishmania donovani (LD). The disease is characterized by the depression of cellular immune response. In the Indian subcontinent LD parasites are mostly resistant to commonly used antileishmanial drug, like sodium antimony gluconate (SAG). It is known that infection with pentavalent antimony (Sb)-resistant parasites induces aggressive pathology- the cause is still not known. Sb-resistant parasites endowed with unique glycan which may also play an important role in the pathogenesis as following removal of terminal sugar of glycan these parasites behave like sensitive parasites. The diagnosis of the disease is possible after the disease sets in and therefore limited information is available on the host-parasite interaction at the onset of disease. As a surrogate of in vivo scenario we studied the interaction between normal human PBMC with Sb-sensitive and Sb-resistant parasites. The Sb-resistant parasites upon interaction with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro produced two distinct inhibitory cytokines, IL-10 and TGF-β. Similar experiment with Sb-sensitive LD induced much less amount of above cytokines. Thus aggressive pathology induced by Sb-resistant LD, may be, in part attributed to production of dual inhibitory cytokines where surface glycan of the parasite may play a decisive role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Guha
- Division of Infectious diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Shantanabha Das
- Division of Infectious diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - June Ghosh
- Division of Infectious diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Shyam Sundar
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Banaras, India
| | | | - Syamal Roy
- Division of Infectious diseases and Immunology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a chronic parasitic disease associated with severe immune dysfunction. Treatment options are limited to relatively toxic drugs, and there is no vaccine for humans available. Hence, there is an urgent need to better understand immune responses following infection with Leishmania species by studying animal models of disease and clinical samples from patients. Here, we review recent discoveries in these areas and highlight shortcomings in our knowledge that need to be addressed if better treatment options are to be developed and effective vaccines designed.
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Teixeira C, Gomes R, Oliveira F, Meneses C, Gilmore DC, Elnaiem DEA, Valenzuela JG, Kamhawi S. Characterization of the early inflammatory infiltrate at the feeding site of infected sand flies in mice protected from vector-transmitted Leishmania major by exposure to uninfected bites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2781. [PMID: 24762408 PMCID: PMC3998922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mice exposed to sand fly saliva are protected against vector-transmitted Leishmania major. Although protection has been related to IFN- γ producing T cells, the early inflammatory response orchestrating this outcome has not been defined. Methodology/Principal findings Mice exposed to uninfected P. duboscqi bites and naïve mice were challenged with L. major-infected flies to characterize their early immune response at the bite site. Mostly, chemokine and cytokine transcript expression post-infected bites was amplified in exposed compared to naïve mice. In exposed mice, induced chemokines were mostly involved in leukocyte recruitment and T cell and NK cell activation; IL-4 was expressed at 6 h followed by IFN-γ and iNOS2 as well as IL-5 and IL-10 expression. In naïve animals, the transcript expression following Leishmania-infected sand fly bites was suppressed. Expression profiles translated to an earlier and significantly larger recruitment of leukocytes including neutrophils, macrophages, Gr+ monocytes, NK cells and CD4+ T cells to the bite site of exposed compared to naïve mice post-infected bites. Additionally, up to 48 hours post-infected bites the number of IFN-γ-producing CD4+T cells and NK cells arriving at the bite site was significantly higher in exposed compared to naïve mice. Thereafter, NK cells become cytolytic and persist at the bite site up to a week post-bite. Conclusion/Significance The quiet environment induced by a Leishmania-infected sand fly bite in naïve mice was significantly altered in animals previously exposed to saliva of uninfected flies. We propose that the enhanced recruitment of Gr+ monocytes, NK cells and CD4 Th1 cells observed at the bite site of exposed mice creates an inhospitable environment that counters the establishment of L. major infection. Sand flies transmit Leishmania parasites during bloodfeeding. Salivary molecules are deposited alongside parasites and can reshape the host's immune response to infection. Exposure to uninfected sand fly bites or immunization with salivary molecules protects the host against Leishmania infection. Here we show that mice exposed to bites of uninfected Phlebotomus duboscqi sand flies are protected against P. duboscqi-transmitted L. major and characterize the formerly unknown early cellular infiltrate at the bite site following L.major vector-transmission. The kinetics and nature of the inflammatory response at the bite site of exposed mice were notably different from those of naïve mice showing an amplified expression of cytokines and chemokines after parasite transmission. The transcripts reflected a faster and more robust infiltrate of immune cells to the bite site of exposed mice composed of neutrophils, macrophages, monocytes, NK cells and CD4+ T cells. In addition, there was an increased influx of activated IFN-γ producing CD4+ T cells and Granzyme B-producing mature NK cells in exposed animals. These findings suggest that the observed robust and persistent proinflammatory response in exposed animals restrict parasite multiplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Teixeira
- 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
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fiocruz, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Regis Gomes
- 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
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fiocruz, Bahia, Brazil
| | - 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
| | - Claudio Meneses
- 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
| | - Dana C. Gilmore
- 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
| | - Dia-Eldin A. Elnaiem
- Department of Zoology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, Maryland, United States of America
| | - 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, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JGV); (SK)
| | - 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
- * E-mail: (JGV); (SK)
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Lee MF, Yang KJ, Wang NM, Chiu YT, Chen PC, Chen YH. The development of a murine model for Forcipomyia taiwana (biting midge) allergy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91871. [PMID: 24651257 PMCID: PMC3961268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 02/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Forcipomyia taiwana (biting midge) allergy is the most prevalent biting insect allergy in Taiwan. An animal model corresponding to the human immuno-pathologic features of midge allergy is needed for investigating the mechanisms and therapies. This study successfully developed a murine model of Forcipomyia taiwana allergy. METHODS BALB/c mice were sensitized intra-peritoneally with midge extract on days 0, 7, 14, 21 then intra-dermally on days 28, 31 and 35. Serum midge-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a were measured every 14 days by indirect ELISA. The mice were challenged intradermally with midge extract at day 40 and then sacrificed. Proliferation and cytokine production of splenocytes after stimulation with midge extract were determined by MTT assay and ELISA, respectively. The cytokine mRNA expression in response to midge stimulation was analyzed by RT-PCR. RESULTS Serum IgE, total IgG, and IgG1 antibody levels against midge extract were significantly higher in the midge-sensitized mice than in the control mice. After the two-step sensitization, all mice in the midge-sensitized group displayed immediate itch and plasma extravasation reactions in response to challenge with midge extract. Skin histology from midge-sensitized mice showed marked eosinophil and lymphocyte infiltrations similar to that observed in humans. Stimulation of murine splenocytes with midge extract elicited significant proliferation, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and IFN-γ protein production, and up-regulation of mRNA in a dose-dependent manner in the midge-sensitized group, but not in the control group. CONCLUSIONS A murine model of midge bite allergy has been successfully developed using a two-step sensitization protocol. The sensitized mice have very similar clinical and immunologic reactions to challenge with midge proteins as the reactions of human to midge bites. This murine model may be a useful platform for future research and the development of treatment strategies for insect bite allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mey-Fann Lee
- Department of Medical Research Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Jei Yang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Nancy M. Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Tsung Chiu
- Department of Medical Research Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chih Chen
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsing Chen
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Inbar E, Akopyants NS, Charmoy M, Romano A, Lawyer P, Elnaiem DEA, Kauffmann F, Barhoumi M, Grigg M, Owens K, Fay M, Dobson DE, Shaik J, Beverley SM, Sacks D. The Mating Competence of Geographically Diverse Leishmania major Strains in Their Natural and Unnatural Sand Fly Vectors. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003672. [PMID: 23935521 PMCID: PMC3723561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Invertebrate stages of Leishmania are capable of genetic exchange during their extracellular growth and development in the sand fly vector. Here we explore two variables: the ability of diverse L. major strains from across its natural range to undergo mating in pairwise tests; and the timing of the appearance of hybrids and their developmental stage associations within both natural (Phlebotomus duboscqi) and unnatural (Lutzomyia longipalpis) sand fly vectors. Following co-infection of flies with parental lines bearing independent drug markers, doubly-drug resistant hybrid progeny were selected, from which 96 clonal lines were analyzed for DNA content and genotyped for parent alleles at 4–6 unlinked nuclear loci as well as the maxicircle DNA. As seen previously, the majority of hybrids showed ‘2n’ DNA contents, but with a significant number of ‘3n’ and one ‘4n’ offspring. In the natural vector, 97% of the nuclear loci showed both parental alleles; however, 3% (4/150) showed only one parental allele. In the unnatural vector, the frequency of uniparental inheritance rose to 10% (27/275). We attribute this to loss of heterozygosity after mating, most likely arising from aneuploidy which is both common and temporally variable in Leishmania. As seen previously, only uniparental inheritance of maxicircle kDNA was observed. Hybrids were recovered at similar efficiencies in all pairwise crosses tested, suggesting that L. major lacks detectable ‘mating types’ that limit free genetic exchange. In the natural vector, comparisons of the timing of hybrid formation with the presence of developmental stages suggest nectomonads as the most likely sexually competent stage, with hybrids emerging well before the first appearance of metacyclic promastigotes. These studies provide an important perspective on the prevalence of genetic exchange in natural populations of L. major and a guide for experimental studies to understand the biology of mating. Leishmania are pathogenic protozoa characterized by substantial diversity in the sand fly species that can transmit them, in the mammalian species that can serve as their reservoir hosts, and in the disease forms and severity of the clinical outcomes they can produce in humans. The possibility that this diversity has arisen, at least in part, by a process involving genetic exchange was recently given experimental support by the recovery of hybrid parasites from sand flies co-infected with two strains of Leishmania major. Here, we demonstrate the sexual competency of L. major strains originating across the full geographic range of this parasite species, and in both natural and unnatural sand fly vectors. Our genotype analyses of a large number of hybrid clones confirmed that they inherited both parental alleles at the majority of chromosomal marker loci analyzed, consistent with a meiotic process, while kinetoplast DNA was inherited from only one parent. Surprisingly, a few nuclear loci were sometimes inherited from only one parent, suggesting loss of heterozygosity. The early timing of hybrid recovery suggests that nectomonad promastigotes are the most likely mating competent stage of the parasite. These studies provide the strongest evidence to date that sex is a component of the natural reproductive strategy of L. major.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehud Inbar
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Natalia S. Akopyants
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Melanie Charmoy
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Audrey Romano
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Phillip Lawyer
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Dia-Eldin A. Elnaiem
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Florence Kauffmann
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mourad Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Michael Grigg
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Katherine Owens
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Michael Fay
- Biostatistics Research Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Deborah E. Dobson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jahangheer Shaik
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Stephen M. Beverley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Sacks
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Vanaerschot M, Huijben S, Van den Broeck F, Dujardin JC. Drug resistance in vectorborne parasites: multiple actors and scenarios for an evolutionary arms race. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2013; 38:41-55. [PMID: 23815683 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistant pathogens emerge faster than new drugs come out of drug discovery pipelines. Current and future drug options should therefore be better protected, requiring a clear understanding of the factors that contribute to the natural history of drug resistance. Although many of these factors are relatively well understood for most bacteria, this proves to be more complex for vectorborne parasites. In this review, we discuss considering three key models (Plasmodium, Leishmania and Schistosoma) how drug resistance can emerge, spread and persist. We demonstrate a multiplicity of scenarios, clearly resulting from the biological diversity of the different organisms, but also from the different modes of action of the drugs used, the specific within- and between-host ecology of the parasites, and environmental factors that may have direct or indirect effects. We conclude that integrated control of drug-resistant vectorborne parasites is not dependent upon chemotherapy only, but also requires a better insight into the ecology of these parasites and how their transmission can be impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Vanaerschot
- Unit of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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