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Suárez-Rico DO, Munguía-Huizar FJ, Cortés-Zárate R, Hernández-Hernández JM, González-Pozos S, Perez-Rangel A, Castillo-Romero A. Repurposing Terfenadine as a Novel Antigiardial Compound. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1332. [PMID: 37765140 PMCID: PMC10535608 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is a highly infectious protozoan that causes giardiasis, a gastrointestinal disease with short-term and long-lasting symptoms. The currently available drugs for giardiasis treatment have limitations such as side effects and drug resistance, requiring the search for new antigiardial compounds. Drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy to expedite the drug development process. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of terfenadine on Giardia lamblia trophozoites. Our results showed that terfenadine inhibited the growth and cell viability of Giardia trophozoites in a time-dose-dependent manner. In addition, using scanning electron microscopy, we identified morphological damage; interestingly, an increased number of protrusions on membranes and tubulin dysregulation with concomitant dysregulation of Giardia GiK were observed. Importantly, terfenadine showed low toxicity for Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal cell line. These findings highlight the potential of terfenadine as a repurposed drug for the treatment of giardiasis and warrant further investigation to elucidate its precise mechanism of action and evaluate its efficacy in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Osmar Suárez-Rico
- Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Calle Sierra Mojada 950, Independencia Oriente, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
| | - Francisco Javier Munguía-Huizar
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada 950, Col. Independencia, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.J.M.-H.); (R.C.-Z.)
| | - Rafael Cortés-Zárate
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada 950, Col. Independencia, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.J.M.-H.); (R.C.-Z.)
| | - José Manuel Hernández-Hernández
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Ciudad de Mexico 07360, Mexico; (J.M.H.-H.); (A.P.-R.)
| | - Sirenia González-Pozos
- Unidad de Microscopía Electrónica LaNSE, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Ciudad de Mexico 07360, Mexico;
| | - Armando Perez-Rangel
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Ciudad de Mexico 07360, Mexico; (J.M.H.-H.); (A.P.-R.)
| | - Araceli Castillo-Romero
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada 950, Col. Independencia, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.J.M.-H.); (R.C.-Z.)
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Prabakaran M, Weible LJ, Champlain JD, Jiang RY, Biondi K, Weil AA, Van Voorhis WC, Ojo KK. The Gut-Wrenching Effects of Cryptosporidiosis and Giardiasis in Children. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2323. [PMID: 37764167 PMCID: PMC10538111 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium species and Giardia duodenalis are infectious intestinal protozoan pathogens that cause alarming rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Children are more likely to have clinical symptoms due to their less developed immune systems and factors such as undernutrition, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The severity of the symptoms and clinical manifestations in children may vary from asymptomatic to life-threatening depending on the Cryptosporidium species/G. duodenalis strains and the resulting complex stepwise interactions between the parasite, the host nutritional and immunologic status, and the gut microbiome profile. Structural damages inflicted by both parasites to epithelial cells in the large and small intestines could severely impair children's gut health, including the ability to absorb nutrients, resulting in stunted growth, diminished neurocognitive development, and other long-term effects. Clinically approved cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis drugs have broad antimicrobial effects that have incomprehensible impacts on growing children's gut health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayuri Prabakaran
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (M.P.); (L.J.W.); (J.D.C.); (R.Y.J.); (A.A.W.); (W.C.V.V.)
| | - Lyssa J. Weible
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (M.P.); (L.J.W.); (J.D.C.); (R.Y.J.); (A.A.W.); (W.C.V.V.)
| | - Joshua D. Champlain
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (M.P.); (L.J.W.); (J.D.C.); (R.Y.J.); (A.A.W.); (W.C.V.V.)
| | - Ryan Ye Jiang
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (M.P.); (L.J.W.); (J.D.C.); (R.Y.J.); (A.A.W.); (W.C.V.V.)
| | - Katalina Biondi
- Human Center for Artificial Intelligence, Department of Computer Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA;
| | - Ana A. Weil
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (M.P.); (L.J.W.); (J.D.C.); (R.Y.J.); (A.A.W.); (W.C.V.V.)
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (M.P.); (L.J.W.); (J.D.C.); (R.Y.J.); (A.A.W.); (W.C.V.V.)
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (M.P.); (L.J.W.); (J.D.C.); (R.Y.J.); (A.A.W.); (W.C.V.V.)
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Hulverson MA, Michaels SA, Lee JW, Wendt KL, Tran LT, Choi R, Van Voorhis WC, Cichewicz RH, Ojo KK. Identification of Fungus-Derived Natural Products as New Antigiardial Scaffolds. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0064723. [PMID: 37039683 PMCID: PMC10269678 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00647-23] [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: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an unmet need for effective therapies for treating diseases associated with the intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia. In this study, a library of chemically validated purified natural products and fungal extracts was screened for chemical scaffolds that can inhibit the growth of G. lamblia. The phenotypic screen led to the identification of several previously unreported classes of natural product inhibitors that block the growth of G. lamblia. Hits from phenotypic screens of these naturally derived compounds are likely to possess a variety of mechanisms of action not associated with clinically used nitroimidazole and thiazolide compounds. They may therefore be effective against current drug-resistant parasite strains. IMPORTANCE There is a direct link between widespread prevalence of clinical giardiasis and poverty. This may be one of the reasons why giardiasis is a significant contributor to diarrheal morbidity, stunting, and death of children in resource-limited communities around the world. FDA-approved treatments for giardiasis include metronidazole, related nitroimidazole drugs, and albendazole. However, a substantial number of clinical infections are resistant to these treatments. The depth of the challenge is partly exacerbated by a lack of investment in the discovery and development of novel agents for treatment of giardiasis. Applicable interventions must include new drug development strategies that will result in the identification of effective therapeutics, particularly those that are inexpensive and can be quickly advanced to clinical uses, such as products from nature. This study identified novel chemical scaffolds from fungi that can form the basis of future medicinal chemistry optimization of novel antigiardial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A. Hulverson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Samantha A. Michaels
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jin Woo Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Karen L. Wendt
- Natural Products Discovery Group, Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Linh T. Tran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ryan Choi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Robert H. Cichewicz
- Natural Products Discovery Group, Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Antigiardial Activity of Foeniculum vulgare Hexane Extract and Some of Its Constituents. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11172212. [PMID: 36079594 PMCID: PMC9460038 DOI: 10.3390/plants11172212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Foeniculum vulgare is used for the treatment of diarrhea in Mexican traditional medicine. Hexane extract showed 94 % inhibition of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites at 300 μg/mL. Therefore, 20 constituents of hexane extract were evaluated to determine their antigiardial activity. Interestingly, six compounds showed good activity toward the parasite. These compounds were (1R,4S) (+)-Camphene (61%), (R)(−)-Carvone (66%), estragole (49%), p-anisaldehyde (67%), 1,3-benzenediol (56%), and trans, trans-2,4-undecadienal (97%). The aldehyde trans, trans-2,4-undecadienal was the most active compound with an IC50 value of 72.11 µg/mL against G. duodenalis trophozoites. This aldehyde was less toxic (IC50 588.8 µg/mL) than positive control metronidazole (IC50 83.5 µg/mL) against Vero cells. The above results could support the use of F. vulgare in Mexican traditional medicine.
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Disease Biomarkers of Giardiasis. J Parasitol Res 2022; 2022:1932518. [PMID: 36065350 PMCID: PMC9440637 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1932518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardiasis is a common, treatable intestinal disease that adversely affects underprivileged communities living in unsanitary conditions. Giardiasis causes a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal diseases in those infected, ranging from subclinical disease that can manifest as irritable bowel syndrome with persistent abdominal symptoms. Importantly, giardiasis has been identified as a predictor of malnutrition among young children in rural areas and as a cause of waterborne mass epidemics endangering not only humans but also animals in a broad clinical, social, and economic spectrum. While the diagnosis of giardiasis is heavily dependent on the presence of cysts and/or trophozoites detected using microscopy, the intermittent cyst excretion, low infection intensity, and low sensitivity method m4akes fecal examination unrewarding, thus urging the need for an improved diagnostic method for giardiasis. Proteins are key compounds in biosynthesis, cells, tissues, and organ signaling, carrying important information related to biological and pathogenic processes, as well as pharmacological responses to therapeutic intervention, and are therefore important indicators for determining disease onset, progression, and drug treatment effectiveness. In connection with this, proteins could serve as promising biomarkers for antigen-antibody detection, as well as vaccine candidates. This article is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of proteins, serological, molecular, inflammatory, volatile, and hormonal biomarkers associated with giardiasis and their potential for diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Zhang X, Li X, Yu Y, Zhang X, Wang X, Zhang N, Chen M, Gong P, Li J. Giardia lamblia
regulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines through activating the NOD2–Rip2–ROS signaling pathway in mouse macrophages. Immunol Cell Biol 2022; 100:440-452. [DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
| | - Xin Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
| | - Yanhui Yu
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University Changchun Jilin 130021 China
| | - Xichen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
| | - Xiaocen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
| | - Mengge Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
| | - Pengtao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research Ministry of Education College of Veterinary Medicine Jilin University 5333 Xian Road Changchun Jilin 130062 China
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Loderstädt U, Frickmann H. Antimicrobial resistance of the enteric protozoon Giardia duodenalis - A narrative review. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2021; 11:29-43. [PMID: 34237023 PMCID: PMC8287975 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2021.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction As therapy-refractory giardiasis is an emerging health issue, this review aimed at summarizing mechanisms of reduced antimicrobial susceptibility in Giardia duodenalis and strategies to overcome this problem. Methods A narrative review on antimicrobial resistance in G. duodenalis was based upon a selective literature research. Results Failed therapeutic success has been observed for all standard therapies of giardiasis comprising nitroimidazoles like metronidazole or tinidazole as first line substances but also benznidazoles like albendazole and mebendazole, the nitrofuran furazolidone, the thiazolide nitazoxanide, and the aminoglycoside paromomycin. Multicausality of the resistance phenotypes has been described, with differentiated gene expression due to epigenetic and post-translational modifications playing a considerable bigger role than mutational base exchanges in the parasite DNA. Standardized resistance testing algorithms are not available and clinical evidence for salvage therapies is scarce in spite of research efforts targeting new giardicidal drugs. Conclusion In case of therapeutic failure of first line nitroimidazoles, salvage strategies including various options for combination therapy exist in spite of limited evidence and lacking routine diagnostic-compatible assays for antimicrobial susceptibility testing in G. duodenalis. Sufficiently powered clinical and diagnostic studies are needed to overcome both the lacking evidence regarding salvage therapy and the diagnostic neglect of antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Loderstädt
- 1Institute for Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hagen Frickmann
- 2Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.,3Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
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Michaels SA, Shih HW, Zhang B, Navaluna ED, Zhang Z, Ranade RM, Gillespie JR, Merritt EA, Fan E, Buckner FS, Paredez AR, Ojo KK. Methionyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitor has potent in vivo activity in a novel Giardia lamblia luciferase murine infection model. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 75:1218-1227. [PMID: 32011682 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MetRS) inhibitors are under investigation for the treatment of intestinal infections caused by Giardia lamblia. OBJECTIVES To properly analyse the therapeutic potential of the MetRS inhibitor 1717, experimental tools including a robust cell-based assay and a murine model of infection were developed based on novel strains of G. lamblia that employ luciferase reporter systems to quantify viable parasites. METHODS Systematic screening of Giardia-specific promoters and luciferase variants led to the development of a strain expressing the click beetle green luciferase. Further modifying this strain to express NanoLuc created a dual reporter strain capable of quantifying parasites in both the trophozoite and cyst stages. These strains were used to develop a high-throughput cell assay and a mouse infection model. A library of MetRS inhibitors was screened in the cell assay and Compound-1717 was tested for efficacy in the mouse infection model. RESULTS Cell viability in in vitro compound screens was quantified via bioluminescence readouts while infection loads in mice were monitored with non-invasive whole-animal imaging and faecal analysis. Compound-1717 was effective in clearing mice of Giardia infection in 3 days at varying doses, which was supported by data from enzymatic and phenotypic cell assays. CONCLUSIONS The new in vitro and in vivo assays based on luciferase expression by engineered G. lamblia strains are useful for the discovery and development of new therapeutics for giardiasis. MetRS inhibitors, as validated by Compound-1717, have promising anti-giardiasis properties that merit further study as alternative therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha A Michaels
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Han-Wei Shih
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Bailin Zhang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Edelmar D Navaluna
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Zhongsheng Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ranae M Ranade
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - J Robert Gillespie
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ethan A Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Erkang Fan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Frederick S Buckner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Kayode K Ojo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
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Ribeiro MRS, Oliveira DR, Caliari MV, Cara Machado DC, Andrade MER, Cardoso VN, Dos Santos Martins F, Nicoli JR, Gomes MA. Saccharomyces boulardii as therapeutic alternative in experimental giardiasis. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 131:460-469. [PMID: 33289232 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii with or without metronidazole in experimental giardiasis. METHODS AND RESULTS The effect of treatment with S. boulardii with or without metronidazole on the intestinal mucosa, the antioxidant defence system and the parasitic load was determined in experimental giardiasis. Eight groups of animals with infection and/or treatment with the probiotic and/or drugs for 1 week after infection with Giardia lamblia were used. A reduction of approximately 90% in the parasitic load was observed in all the treated groups. Saccharomyces boulardii attenuated the damage caused by infection in the intestinal mucosa preserving its architecture and inhibiting the oxidative stress induced by parasite and metronidazole. CONCLUSIONS Saccharomyces boulardii was effective alone or in combination with metronidazole in resolving already established G. lamblia infection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY These results suggest the use of S. boulardii as an alternative treatment for giardiasis mainly in cases of resistance or intolerance to conventional treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R S Ribeiro
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - D R Oliveira
- Department of Basic Life Sciences, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - Campus Governador Valadares, Valadares, MG, Brazil
| | - M V Caliari
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - D C Cara Machado
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - M E R Andrade
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - V N Cardoso
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - F Dos Santos Martins
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - J R Nicoli
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - M A Gomes
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Fantinatti M, Lopes-Oliveira LAP, Cascais-Figueredo T, Austriaco-Teixeira P, Verissimo E, Bello AR, Da-Cruz AM. Recirculation of Giardia lamblia Assemblage A After Metronidazole Treatment in an Area With Assemblages A, B, and E Sympatric Circulation. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:571104. [PMID: 33193167 PMCID: PMC7642054 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.571104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is an intestinal protozoan subdivided into eight assemblages, labeled alphabetically from A to H. Assemblages A, B, and E infect humans and can have a sympatric circulation. We investigated the assemblage recirculation in children living within a high prevalence area of Giardia infection. One hundred and ninety-four children were evaluated and 85 tested positive for Giardia by PCR. These infected individuals were recruited, treated with metronidazole and then reexamined for infections at 20 and 40 days after treatment that included PCR and the genotyping was performed by sequencing beta-giardin and glutamate dehydrogenase gene targets. Giardia assemblages A (n = 43), B (n = 21), E (n = 17), and A/E (n = 4) were identified in infected children. Assemblage A was found in all reoccurrences of infection, including four that had been infected by assemblages B and E. Since both persistence and reinfection could account for the results, the level of nucleotide homology was determined before and after treatment. Most suggested that reinfections were by the same strain, but four presented a distinct genotypic profile. The results suggest that the differences in the genotypic profiles were due to reinfections, which appear to occur with frequency in high Giardia burden areas and soon after the end of therapy. It is not yet possible to define whether the recurrent cases were related to parasite resistance. However, the evidence of rapid reinfections and ready availability of treatment raises the potential for creating resistant strains. This highlights the need to address how Giardia burden is maintained within high prevalence areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Fantinatti
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Tiara Cascais-Figueredo
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Phelipe Austriaco-Teixeira
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Erika Verissimo
- Disciplina de Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Ribeiro Bello
- Disciplina de Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alda Maria Da-Cruz
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Disciplina de Parasitologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Lopes-Oliveira LAP, Fantinatti M, Da-Cruz AM. In vitro-induction of metronidazole-resistant Giardia duodenalis is not associated with nucleotide alterations in the genes involved in pro-drug activation. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e200303. [PMID: 33146255 PMCID: PMC7607557 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardiasis is an infectious disease caused by Giardia duodenalis. The pro-drug metronidazole (MTZ) is the first-line treatment for giardiasis. Parasite’s proteins as pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), ferredoxin (Fd), nitroreductase-1 (NR-1) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) participate in MTZ activation. Here, we showed Giardia trophozoites long-term exposed to MTZ presented higher IC50 than controls, showing the drug influenced the parasite survival. That reduction in MTZ’s susceptibility does not seem to be related to mutations in the genes pfor, fd, nr-1 or trxr. It points that different mechanism as alterations in other metabolic pathways can account for Giardia resistance to MTZ therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Fantinatti
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Alda Maria Da-Cruz
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.,Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Disciplina de Parasitologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
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12
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Ehrenkaufer G, Li P, Stebbins EE, Kangussu-Marcolino MM, Debnath A, White CV, Moser MS, DeRisi J, Gisselberg J, Yeh E, Wang SC, Company AH, Monti L, Caffrey CR, Huston CD, Wang B, Singh U. Identification of anisomycin, prodigiosin and obatoclax as compounds with broad-spectrum anti-parasitic activity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008150. [PMID: 32196500 PMCID: PMC7112225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic infections are a major source of human suffering, mortality, and economic loss, but drug development for these diseases has been stymied by the significant expense involved in bringing a drug though clinical trials and to market. Identification of single compounds active against multiple parasitic pathogens could improve the economic incentives for drug development as well as simplifying treatment regimens. We recently performed a screen of repurposed compounds against the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, causative agent of amebic dysentery, and identified four compounds (anisomycin, prodigiosin, obatoclax and nithiamide) with low micromolar potency and drug-like properties. Here, we extend our investigation of these drugs. We assayed the speed of killing of E. histolytica trophozoites and found that all four have more rapid action than the current drug of choice, metronidazole. We further established a multi-institute collaboration to determine whether these compounds may have efficacy against other parasites and opportunistic pathogens. We found that anisomycin, prodigiosin and obatoclax all have broad-spectrum antiparasitic activity in vitro, including activity against schistosomes, T. brucei, and apicomplexan parasites. In several cases, the drugs were found to have significant improvements over existing drugs. For instance, both obatoclax and prodigiosin were more efficacious at inhibiting the juvenile form of Schistosoma than the current standard of care, praziquantel. Additionally, low micromolar potencies were observed against pathogenic free-living amebae (Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris and Acanthamoeba castellanii), which cause CNS infection and for which there are currently no reliable treatments. These results, combined with the previous human use of three of these drugs (obatoclax, anisomycin and nithiamide), support the idea that these compounds could serve as the basis for the development of broad-spectrum anti-parasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen Ehrenkaufer
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Pengyang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Erin E. Stebbins
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Monica M. Kangussu-Marcolino
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Anjan Debnath
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Corin V. White
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew S. Moser
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Joseph DeRisi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Jolyn Gisselberg
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ellen Yeh
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Steven C. Wang
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Ana Hervella Company
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Ludovica Monti
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Christopher D. Huston
- Department of Medicine, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Upinder Singh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
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13
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Jex AR, Svärd S, Hagen KD, Starcevich H, Emery-Corbin SJ, Balan B, Nosala C, Dawson SC. Recent advances in functional research in Giardia intestinalis. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2020; 107:97-137. [PMID: 32122532 PMCID: PMC7878119 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This review considers current advances in tools to investigate the functional biology of Giardia, it's coding and non-coding genes, features and cellular and molecular biology. We consider major gaps in current knowledge of the parasite and discuss the present state-of-the-art in its in vivo and in vitro cultivation. Advances in in silico tools, including for the modelling non-coding RNAs and genomic elements, as well as detailed exploration of coding genes through inferred homology to model organisms, have provided significant, primary level insight. Improved methods to model the three-dimensional structure of proteins offer new insights into their function, and binding interactions with ligands, other proteins or precursor drugs, and offer substantial opportunities to prioritise proteins for further study and experimentation. These approaches can be supplemented by the growing and highly accessible arsenal of systems-based methods now being applied to Giardia, led by genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic methods, but rapidly incorporating advanced tools for detection of real-time transcription, evaluation of chromatin states and direct measurement of macromolecular complexes. Methods to directly interrogate and perturb gene function have made major leaps in recent years, with CRISPr-interference now available. These approaches, coupled with protein over-expression, fluorescent labelling and in vitro and in vivo imaging, are set to revolutionize the field and herald an exciting time during which the field may finally realise Giardia's long proposed potential as a model parasite and eukaryote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron R Jex
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Staffan Svärd
- Centre for Biomedicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kari D Hagen
- College of Biological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Hannah Starcevich
- College of Biological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Samantha J Emery-Corbin
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Balu Balan
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Chris Nosala
- College of Biological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Scott C Dawson
- College of Biological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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14
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Madbouly NA, Nashee H, Elgendy AA, Rabee I, El Amir A. Encapsulation of Low Metronidazole Dose in Poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) Nanoparticles Improves Giardia intestinalis Treatment. Infect Chemother 2020; 52:550-561. [PMID: 33377322 PMCID: PMC7779986 DOI: 10.3947/ic.2020.52.4.550] [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: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The present study was designed to investigate the antigiardial efficacy of low metronidazole dose loaded-D.L-lactide-co-glycolide (LMD-PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) and to compare it with the standard high dose of metronidazole either free (HMD) or loaded on PLGA (HMD-PLGA). Materials and Methods PLGA NPs were prepared by single emulsification method, metronidazole (MTZ) was loaded in low and high doses. The nanoparticles were evaluated in vivo for mice model. The Giardia intestinalis infected mice were treated by LMD and HMD either free or PLGA NPs loaded, the parasitic load and ployclonal antigiardial serum antibodies (IgG and IgA) were recorded. Histopathological studies on intestinal and liver sections were applied. Results MTZ-PLGA NPs was successfully prepared with 81.68% encapsulation efficiency and with an average particle size of approximately 228.00 ± 43.19 nm and -32.28 ± 0.07 mV Zeta potential. Experimentally, it was observed that Giardia intestinalis infected animals administered with LMD-PLGA had completely eliminated cyst shedding and trophozoite count compared with Giardia-infected mice. Further, it was found that animals belonging to LMD-PLGA group had significantly reduced levels of antigiardial IgA (0.99 ± 0.05) antibodies in serum compared with Giardia-infected. Histopathologyically, also animals belonging to LMD-PLGA treated group had intact mucosal epithelium lining, and normal villi with no detection of G. intestinalis trophozoites. In addition to the less toxic effect on the liver tissue compared to free HMD, HMD-PLGA and infected-untreated groups using Ishak grading system. Conclusion Our study showed that PLGA nanoparticles could be atrial delivery systems for antigiardial drugs to improve their therapeutic efficacy and minimize their side effects that results from frequent dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hayam Nashee
- Chemistry Laboratory, Abou El Nomros Central Hospital, Giza, Egypt
| | | | - Ibraheem Rabee
- Department of Parasitology, Theodore Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
| | - Azza El Amir
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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15
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Méndez ST, Castillo-Villanueva A, Martínez-Mayorga K, Reyes-Vivas H, Oria-Hernández J. Structure-based identification of a potential non-catalytic binding site for rational drug design in the fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase from Giardia lamblia. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11779. [PMID: 31409864 PMCID: PMC6692403 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48192-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is the causal agent of giardiasis, one of the most prevalent parasitosis in the world. Even though effective pharmacotherapies against this parasite are available, the disadvantages associated with its use call for the development of new antigiardial compounds. Based on the Giardia dependence on glycolysis as a main energy source, glycolytic enzymes appear to be attractive targets with antiparasitic potential. Among these, fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase (GlFBPA) has been highlighted as a promising target for drug design. Current efforts are based on the design of competitive inhibitors of GlFBPA; however, in the kinetic context of metabolic pathways, competitive inhibitors seem to have low potential as therapeutic agents. In this work, we performed an experimental and in silico structure-based approach to propose a non-catalytic binding site which could be used as a hot spot for antigardial drug design. The druggability of the selected binding site was experimentally tested; the alteration of the selected region by site directed mutagenesis disturbs the catalytic properties and the stability of the enzyme. A computational automated search of binding sites supported the potential of this region as functionally relevant. A preliminary docking study was performed, in order to explore the feasibility and type of molecules to be able to accommodate in the proposed binding region. Altogether, the results validate the proposed region as a specific molecular binding site with pharmacological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara-Teresa Méndez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica-Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Alcaldía Coyoacán, CP 04530, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Adriana Castillo-Villanueva
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica-Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Alcaldía Coyoacán, CP 04530, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Karina Martínez-Mayorga
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Alcaldía Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Horacio Reyes-Vivas
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica-Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Alcaldía Coyoacán, CP 04530, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Jesús Oria-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica-Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, Alcaldía Coyoacán, CP 04530, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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16
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In vitro and ex vivo evaluation of the anti-Giardia duodenalis activity of the supernatant of Slab51 (SivoMixx). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213385. [PMID: 30845190 PMCID: PMC6405091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects on Giardia duodenalis of Slab51 probiotic supernatants were evaluated in vitro and ex vivo. In vitro, Slab51 (101 UFC) was cultured and the obtained supernatant was filtered, adjusted at pH 7, and added (100μl/ml) as such (Slab51 FS) or after heat-treatment, to G. duodenalis cultures to evaluate its effects on G. duodenalis trophozoites growth and adherence. For comparison, negative and metronidazole (20μg/ml) treated controls were used. The morphological and ultrastructural alterations of G. duodenals trophozoites following treatment with Slab51 FS supernatant were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Ex vivo, mice duodenal portions were cultivated in standard conditions with 5x105G. duodenalis trophozoites/ml, while to further five duodenal portions similarly cultured and infected, Slab51 FS 200μl was added. After 12 and 18h, samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and histologically processed to score Giardia infection and cell damage. Cell proliferation/apoptosis was scored by Ki67, TUNEL and Caspase–3 tests. All experiments were conducted in triplicate throughout the study. All data were statistically evaluated (P< 0.05). Results showed that Slab51 FS significantly reduced Giardia growth and adherence respect to negative controls, but its efficacy was overall lower than that of metronidazole. Moreover, the effects of Slab51 FS were significantly lowered by heat-treatment and this reduction was statistically higher at 90°C than at 56°C, indicating a heat-sensitive nature of active Slab51 FS compounds. At the ultrastructural level, Slab51 FS treated Giardia trophozoites were swelling, increased in size and showed alterations of their cellular membrane and vacuole patterns, loss of the nuclear envelope and nuclear architecture. In ex vivo trials, viable G. duodenalis trophozoites and enterocyte TUNEL+ and Caspase-3 expression were significantly reduced in intestinal sections added with Slab51 FS, while enterocyte Ki67 expression was significantly increased, confirming the anti-G. duodenalis activity of Slab51 FS observed in vitro. In conclusion, results from this study showed that the fresh culture supernatant of the commercial probiotic Slab51 has anti-G. duodenalis properties both in vitro and ex vivo in a mouse model.
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17
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Palomo-Ligas L, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez F, Ochoa-Maganda VY, Cortés-Zárate R, Charles-Niño CL, Castillo-Romero A. Identification of a novel potassium channel (GiK) as a potential drug target in Giardia lamblia: Computational descriptions of binding sites. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6430. [PMID: 30834181 PMCID: PMC6397635 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The protozoan Giardia lamblia is the causal agent of giardiasis, one of the main diarrheal infections worldwide. Drug resistance to common antigiardial agents and incidence of treatment failures have increased in recent years. Therefore, the search for new molecular targets for drugs against Giardia infection is essential. In protozoa, ionic channels have roles in their life cycle, growth, and stress response. Thus, they are promising targets for drug design. The strategy of ligand-protein docking has demonstrated a great potential in the discovery of new targets and structure-based drug design studies. Methods In this work, we identify and characterize a new potassium channel, GiK, in the genome of Giardia lamblia. Characterization was performed in silico. Because its crystallographic structure remains unresolved, homology modeling was used to construct the three-dimensional model for the pore domain of GiK. The docking virtual screening approach was employed to determine whether GiK is a good target for potassium channel blockers. Results The GiK sequence showed 24–50% identity and 50–90% positivity with 21 different types of potassium channels. The quality assessment and validation parameters indicated the reliability of the modeled structure of GiK. We identified 110 potassium channel blockers exhibiting high affinity toward GiK. A total of 39 of these drugs bind in three specific regions. Discussion The GiK pore signature sequence is related to the small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SKCa). The predicted binding of 110 potassium blockers to GiK makes this protein an attractive target for biological testing to evaluate its role in the life cycle of Giardia lamblia and potential candidate for the design of novel antigiardial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissethe Palomo-Ligas
- Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Filiberto Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Química, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Verónica Yadira Ochoa-Maganda
- Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Rafael Cortés-Zárate
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Claudia Lisette Charles-Niño
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Araceli Castillo-Romero
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
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Nazer MR, Abbaszadeh S, Anbari K, Shams M. A review of the most important medicinal herbs affecting giardiasis. JOURNAL OF HERBMED PHARMACOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.15171/jhp.2019.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection due to the protozoa giardia is one of the most common parasitic infections in the world. Millions of people across the world acquire this infection each year. The most common clinical symptoms of giardiasis include abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea, indigestion, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, and oily feces with bad smell. Drugs used for giardiasis lead to certain side effects, such as unpleasant taste in the mouth, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, headache and leukopenia. Considering the importance of giardiasis infection, it is essential to identify anti-parasitic herbal drugs to eliminate cystic and trophozoite types of this disease. Hence, this article is aimed to report the medicinal plants that are used in Iranian traditional medicine against giardiasis. The information in this review study was obtained from scientific articles indexed in databases such as ISI, PubMed, Scopus, SID, Magiran and Google Scholar that were retrieved using the search terms giardia, protozoa, herbs, extracts and essential oils. Medicinal plants such as Lavandula stoechas, Ferula assa-foetida, Tanacetum parthenium, Allium paradoxum, Chenopodium botrys, Carum copticum, Allium sativum, Artemisia annua, Allium ascalonicum, ZizIphora clinopodioides, Zataria multiflorahad, Eucalyptus globulus, Lippia beriandievi, Punica granatum are among the most important herbs used in Iranian herbal medicine as anti-giardiasis agents. These herbs are good candidates to produce natural and effective drugs for giardia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Reza Nazer
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Saber Abbaszadeh
- Student Research Committee, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Khatereh Anbari
- Community Medicine Department, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, khorramabad, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
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19
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Gadelha APR, Bravim B, Vidal J, Reignault LC, Cosme B, Huber K, Bracher F, de Souza W. Alterations on growth and cell organization of Giardia intestinalis trophozoites after treatment with KH-TFMDI, a novel class III histone deacetylase inhibitor. Int J Med Microbiol 2019; 309:130-142. [PMID: 30665874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardia trophozoites have developed resistance mechanisms to currently available compounds, leading to treatment failures. In this context, the development of new additional agents is mandatory. Sirtuins, which are class III NAD+-dependent histone deacetylases, have been considered important targets for the development of new anti-parasitic drugs. Here, we evaluated the activity of KH-TFMDI, a novel 3-arylideneindolin-2-one-type sirtuin inhibitor, on G. intestinalis trophozoites. This compound decreased the trophozoite growth presenting an IC50 value lower than nicotinamide, a moderately active inhibitor of yeast and human sirtuins. Light and electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of multinucleated cell clusters suggesting that the cytokinesis could be compromised in treated trophozoites. Cell rounding, concomitantly with the folding of the ventro-lateral flange and flagella internalization, was also observed. These cells eventually died by a mechanism which lead to DNA/nuclear damage, formation of multi-lamellar bodies and annexin V binding on the parasite surface. Taken together, these data show that KH-TFMDI has significant effects against G. intestinalis trophozoites proliferation and structural organization and suggest that histone deacetylation pathway should be explored on this protozoon as target for chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula R Gadelha
- Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Bravim
- Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Juliana Vidal
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lissa Catherine Reignault
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruno Cosme
- Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Kilian Huber
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Franz Bracher
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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20
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The single cyclic nucleotide-specific phosphodiesterase of the intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia represents a potential drug target. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005891. [PMID: 28915270 PMCID: PMC5617230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Giardiasis is an intestinal infection correlated with poverty and poor drinking water quality, and treatment options are limited. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Giardia infections afflict nearly 33% of people in developing countries, and 2% of the adult population in the developed world. This study describes the single cyclic nucleotide-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) of G. lamblia and assesses PDE inhibitors as a new generation of anti-giardial drugs. Methods An extensive search of the Giardia genome database identified a single gene coding for a class I PDE, GlPDE. The predicted protein sequence was analyzed in-silico to characterize its domain structure and catalytic domain. Enzymatic activity of GlPDE was established by complementation of a PDE-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, and enzyme kinetics were characterized in soluble yeast lysates. The potency of known PDE inhibitors was tested against the activity of recombinant GlPDE expressed in yeast and against proliferating Giardia trophozoites. Finally, the localization of epitope-tagged and ectopically expressed GlPDE in Giardia cells was investigated. Results Giardia encodes a class I PDE. Catalytically important residues are fully conserved between GlPDE and human PDEs, but sequence differences between their catalytic domains suggest that designing Giardia-specific inhibitors is feasible. Recombinant GlPDE hydrolyzes cAMP with a Km of 408 μM, and cGMP is not accepted as a substrate. A number of drugs exhibit a high degree of correlation between their potency against the recombinant enzyme and their inhibition of trophozoite proliferation in culture. Epitope-tagged GlPDE localizes as dots in a pattern reminiscent of mitosomes and to the perinuclear region in Giardia. Conclusions Our data strongly suggest that inhibition of G. lamblia PDE activity leads to a profound inhibition of parasite proliferation and that GlPDE is a promising target for developing novel anti-giardial drugs. Cellular signaling by the cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP is ubiquitously found in organisms from human to unicellular parasites. Cyclic nucleotide-specific phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are pivotal regulators of these signaling processes and these enzymes represent important drug targets for a variety of diseases. Eleven PDE families are distinguished in humans and selective inhibition of a single human PDE family without targeting others is feasible. In parasites, interference in the signaling mechanism by PDE inhibition may be fatal. The diarrhea-causing parasite Giardia lamblia contains only one single PDE, named GlPDE. GlPDE activity is highly impaired by a range of PDE inhibitors, which also suppress parasite proliferation in vitro. Thus, there is a good agreement between PDE inhibition and parasite drug susceptibility. We demonstrate molecular differences between human PDEs and GlPDE that can be exploited for the development of GlPDE-selective inhibitors. Finally, our data may suggest localization of GlPDE to mitosome organelles, which are absent in human cells and thus are in the focus as possible targets for the treatment of giardiasis. This may add to the notion that GlPDE represents a potential target for the development of novel anti-giardial drugs.
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Giardia Colonizes and Encysts in High-Density Foci in the Murine Small Intestine. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00343-16. [PMID: 28656177 PMCID: PMC5480036 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00343-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Giardia is a single-celled parasite causing significant diarrheal disease in several hundred million people worldwide. Due to limited access to the site of infection in the gastrointestinal tract, our understanding of the dynamics of Giardia infections in the host has remained limited and largely inferred from laboratory culture. To better understand Giardia physiology and colonization in the host, we developed imaging methods to quantify Giardia expressing bioluminescent physiological reporters in two relevant animal models. We discovered that parasites primarily colonize and encyst in the proximal small intestine in discrete, high-density foci. We also show that high parasite density contributes to encystation initiation. Giardia lamblia is a highly prevalent yet understudied protistan parasite causing significant diarrheal disease worldwide. Hosts ingest Giardia cysts from contaminated sources. In the gastrointestinal tract, cysts excyst to become motile trophozoites, colonizing and attaching to the gut epithelium. Trophozoites later differentiate into infectious cysts that are excreted and contaminate the environment. Due to the limited accessibility of the gut, the temporospatial dynamics of giardiasis in the host are largely inferred from laboratory culture and thus may not mirror Giardia physiology in the host. Here, we have developed bioluminescent imaging (BLI) to directly interrogate and quantify the in vivo temporospatial dynamics of Giardia infection, thereby providing an improved murine model to evaluate anti-Giardia drugs. Using BLI, we determined that parasites primarily colonize the proximal small intestine nonuniformly in high-density foci. By imaging encystation-specific bioreporters, we show that encystation initiates shortly after inoculation and continues throughout the duration of infection. Encystation also initiates in high-density foci in the proximal small intestine, and high density contributes to the initiation of encystation in laboratory culture. We suggest that these high-density in vivo foci of colonizing and encysting Giardia likely result in localized disruption to the epithelium. This more accurate visualization of giardiasis redefines the dynamics of the in vivo Giardia life cycle, paving the way for future mechanistic studies of density-dependent parasitic processes in the host. IMPORTANCEGiardia is a single-celled parasite causing significant diarrheal disease in several hundred million people worldwide. Due to limited access to the site of infection in the gastrointestinal tract, our understanding of the dynamics of Giardia infections in the host has remained limited and largely inferred from laboratory culture. To better understand Giardia physiology and colonization in the host, we developed imaging methods to quantify Giardia expressing bioluminescent physiological reporters in two relevant animal models. We discovered that parasites primarily colonize and encyst in the proximal small intestine in discrete, high-density foci. We also show that high parasite density contributes to encystation initiation.
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Giardia intestinalis mitosomes undergo synchronized fission but not fusion and are constitutively associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. BMC Biol 2017; 15:27. [PMID: 28372543 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0361-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondria of opisthokonts undergo permanent fission and fusion throughout the cell cycle. Here, we investigated the dynamics of the mitosomes, the simplest forms of mitochondria, in the anaerobic protist parasite Giardia intestinalis, a member of the Excavata supergroup of eukaryotes. The mitosomes have abandoned typical mitochondrial traits such as the mitochondrial genome and aerobic respiration and their single role known to date is the formation of iron-sulfur clusters. RESULTS In live experiments, no fusion events were observed between the mitosomes in G. intestinalis. Moreover, the organelles were highly prone to becoming heterogeneous. This suggests that fusion is either much less frequent or even absent in mitosome dynamics. Unlike in mitochondria, division of the mitosomes was absolutely synchronized and limited to mitosis. The association of the nuclear and the mitosomal division persisted during the encystation of the parasite. During the segregation of the divided mitosomes, the subset of the organelles between two G. intestinalis nuclei had a prominent role. Surprisingly, the sole dynamin-related protein of the parasite seemed not to be involved in mitosomal division. However, throughout the cell cycle, mitosomes associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), although none of the known ER-tethering complexes was present. Instead, the ER-mitosome interface was occupied by the lipid metabolism enzyme long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first report on the dynamics of mitosomes. We show that together with the loss of metabolic complexity of mitochondria, mitosomes of G. intestinalis have uniquely streamlined their dynamics by harmonizing their division with mitosis. We propose that this might be a strategy of G. intestinalis to maintain a stable number of organelles during cell propagation. The lack of mitosomal fusion may also be related to the secondary reduction of the organelles. However, as there are currently no reports on mitochondrial fusion in the whole Excavata supergroup, it is possible that the absence of mitochondrial fusion is an ancestral trait common to all excavates.
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Matadamas-Martínez F, Castillo R, Hernández-Campos A, Méndez-Cuesta C, de Souza W, Gadelha AP, Nogueda-Torres B, Hernández JM, Yépez-Mulia L. Proteomic and ultrastructural analysis of the effect of a new nitazoxanide-N-methyl-1H-benzimidazole hybrid against Giardia intestinalis. Res Vet Sci 2016; 105:171-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2016.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Antioxidant defence systems in the protozoan pathogen Giardia intestinalis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2016; 206:56-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Abstract
Diarrhoea is one of the most commonly occurring diseases. This article presents a review of the current state of the treatment of acute infectious diarrhoea, as well as of the most important pathogens. The general principles of the therapy of diarrhoea are exemplified, followed by a description of the targeted antimicrobial therapy of the most important bacterial gastrointestinal infections, including salmonellosis, shigellosis and Campylobacter infections, as well as infections with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, yersiniosis and cholera. Diarrhoea caused by toxigenic Clostridium difficile strains has increased in incidence and in severity. These infections will therefore be described in detail, including important new aspects of treatment. Symptomatic therapy is still the most important component of the treatment of infectious diarrhoea. However, empirical antibiotic therapy should be considered for severely ill patients with a high frequency of stools, fever, bloody diarrhoea, underlying immune deficiency, advanced age or significant comorbidities. Increasing resistance, in particular against fluoroquinolones, must be taken into consideration. Therapy with motility inhibitors is not recommended for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections, Clostridium difficile infections (CDI), and severe colitis. The macrocyclic antibiotic fidaxomicin can reduce the rate of recurrent disease in CDI. Furthermore, evidence for the benefits of faecal microbiota transplantation as a treatment option for multiple recurrences of CDI is increasing. In conclusion, the treatment of acute diarrhoea is still primarily supportive. General empirical antibiotic therapy for acute diarrhoea is not evidence-based.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Lübbert
- a Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology , Leipzig University Hospital , Leipzig , Germany
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The Critical Role of the Cytoskeleton in the Pathogenesis of Giardia. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015; 2:155-162. [PMID: 27347476 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-015-0026-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is a flagellated parasite of the gut and causes significant morbidity worldwide. Novel druggable targets are sorely needed due to Giardia's prevalence and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Giardia's conserved and unique cytoskeletal features, such as its eight flagella and ventral disc, are required for host colonization by facilitating motility, attachment, and cell division. Therapies that target these processes could interfere with trophozoite colonization, reduce the time or severity of the infection, and reduce the number of infectious cysts shed into the environment. This requires vetting and prioritizing critical cellular processes and identifying specific Giardia proteins in those processes as targets. It is time to leverage the wealth of data gathered through genome sequencing and proteomic studies, and new insights on the cytoskeleton of Giardia to design effective new drugs to treat giardiasis.
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Martínez-Espinosa R, Argüello-García R, Saavedra E, Ortega-Pierres G. Albendazole induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in the parasitic protozoan Giardia duodenalis. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:800. [PMID: 26300866 PMCID: PMC4526806 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The control of Giardia duodenalis infections is carried out mainly by drugs, among these albendazole (ABZ) is commonly used. Although the cytotoxic effect of ABZ usually involves binding to β-tubulin, it has been suggested that oxidative stress may also play a role in its parasiticidal mechanism. In this work the effect of ABZ in Giardia clones that are susceptible or resistant to different concentrations (1.35, 8, and 250 μM) of this drug was analyzed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were induced by ABZ in susceptible clones and this was associated with a decrease in growth that was alleviated by cysteine supplementation. Remarkably, ABZ-resistant clones exhibited partial cross-resistance to H2O2, whereas a Giardia H2O2-resistant strain can grow in the presence of ABZ. Lipid oxidation and protein carbonylation in ABZ-treated parasites did not show significant differences as compared to untreated parasites; however, ABZ induced the formation of 8OHdG adducts and DNA degradation, indicating nucleic acid oxidative damage. This was supported by observations of histone H2AX phosphorylation in ABZ-susceptible trophozoites treated with 250 μM ABZ. Flow cytometry analysis showed that ABZ partially arrested cell cycle in drug-susceptible clones at G2/M phase at the expense of cells in G1 phase. Also, ABZ treatment resulted in phosphatidylserine exposure on the parasite surface, an event related to apoptosis. All together these data suggest that ROS induced by ABZ affect Giardia genetic material through oxidative stress mechanisms and subsequent induction of apoptotic-like events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Martínez-Espinosa
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional México City, Mexico
| | - Raúl Argüello-García
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional México City, Mexico
| | - Emma Saavedra
- Department of Biochemistry, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez México City, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Ortega-Pierres
- Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional México City, Mexico
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Guo F, Ortega-Pierres G, Argüello-García R, Zhang H, Zhu G. Giardia fatty acyl-CoA synthetases as potential drug targets. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:753. [PMID: 26257723 PMCID: PMC4510421 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Giardiasis caused by Giardia intestinalis (syn. G. lamblia, G. duodenalis) is one of the leading causes of diarrheal parasitic diseases worldwide. Although limited drugs to treat giardiasis are available, there are concerns regarding toxicity in some patients and the emerging drug resistance. By data-mining genome sequences, we observed that G. intestinalis is incapable of synthesizing fatty acids (FA) de novo. However, this parasite has five long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetases (GiACS1 to GiACS5) to activate FA scavenged from the host. ACS is an essential enzyme because FA need to be activated to form acyl-CoA thioesters before they can enter subsequent metabolism. In the present study, we performed experiments to explore whether some GiACS enzymes could serve as drug targets in Giardia. Based on the high-throughput datasets and protein modeling analyses, we initially studied the GiACS1 and GiACS2, because genes encoding these two enzymes were found to be more consistently expressed in varied parasite life cycle stages and when interacting with host cells based on previously reported transcriptome data. These two proteins were cloned and expressed as recombinant proteins. Biochemical analysis revealed that both had apparent substrate preference toward palmitic acid (C16:0) and myristic acid (C14:0), and allosteric or Michaelis–Menten kinetics on palmitic acid or ATP. The ACS inhibitor triacsin C inhibited the activity of both enzymes (IC50 = 1.56 μM, Ki = 0.18 μM for GiACS1, and IC50 = 2.28 μM, Ki = 0.23 μM for GiACS2, respectively) and the growth of G. intestinalis in vitro (IC50 = 0.8 μM). As expected from giardial evolutionary characteristics, both GiACSs displayed differences in overall folding structure as compared with their human counterparts. These observations support the notion that some of the GiACS enzymes may be explored as drug targets in this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengguang Guo
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas USA
| | - Guadalupe Ortega-Pierres
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City Mexico
| | - Raúl Argüello-García
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City Mexico
| | - Haili Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas USA
| | - Guan Zhu
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas USA
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Abstract
The microaerophilic parasite Giardia lamblia is a causative agent of dysentery affecting hundreds of millions of people around the globe every year. The symptoms of the disease, commonly referred to as giardiasis, are diarrhea, nausea, and malabsorption. Treatment of giardiasis is exclusively based on chemotherapy with antigiardial drugs, including metronidazole, albendazole, and nitazoxanide. In this review, all drugs currently used in the treatment of Giardia infections are discussed with a special emphasis on treatment failure and drug resistance.
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Hernández-Bolio GI, Torres-Tapia LW, Moo-Puc R, Peraza-Sánchez SR. Antigiardial activity of flavonoids from leaves of Aphelandra scabra. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bjp.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Bahadur V, Mastronicola D, Singh AK, Tiwari HK, Pucillo LP, Sarti P, Singh BK, Giuffrè A. Antigiardial activity of novel triazolyl-quinolone-based chalcone derivatives: when oxygen makes the difference. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:256. [PMID: 25904901 PMCID: PMC4389562 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Giardiasis is a common diarrheal disease worldwide caused by the protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis. It is urgent to develop novel drugs to treat giardiasis, due to increasing clinical resistance to the gold standard drug metronidazole (MTZ). New potential antiparasitic compounds are usually tested for their killing efficacy against G. intestinalis under anaerobic conditions, in which MTZ is maximally effective. On the other hand, though commonly regarded as an ‘anaerobic pathogen,’ G. intestinalis is exposed to relatively high O2 levels in vivo, living attached to the mucosa of the proximal small intestine. It is thus important to test the effect of O2 when searching for novel potential antigiardial agents, as outlined in a previous study [Bahadur et al. (2014) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 58, 543]. Here, 45 novel chalcone derivatives with triazolyl-quinolone scaffold were synthesized, purified, and characterized by high resolution mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. Efficacy of the compounds against G. intestinalis trophozoites was tested under both anaerobic and microaerobic conditions, and selectivity was assessed in a counter-screen on human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. MTZ was used as a positive control in the assays. All the tested compounds proved to be more effective against the parasite in the presence of O2, with the exception of MTZ that was less effective. Under anaerobiosis eighteen compounds were found to be as effective as MTZ or more (up to three to fourfold); the same compounds proved to be up to >100-fold more effective than MTZ under microaerobic conditions. Four of them represent potential candidates for the design of novel antigiardial drugs, being highly selective against Giardia trophozoites. This study further underlines the importance of taking O2 into account when testing novel potential antigiardial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Bahadur
- Bio-Organic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi, India
| | - Daniela Mastronicola
- CNR Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology Rome, Italy ; Department of Biochemical Sciences and Istituto Pasteur - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - Amit K Singh
- Bio-Organic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi, India
| | - Hemandra K Tiwari
- Bio-Organic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi, India
| | - Leopoldo P Pucillo
- L. Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Sarti
- CNR Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology Rome, Italy ; Department of Biochemical Sciences and Istituto Pasteur - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy
| | - Brajendra K Singh
- Bio-Organic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi, India
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Nausea, Vomiting, and Noninflammatory Diarrhea. MANDELL, DOUGLAS, AND BENNETT'S PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2015. [PMCID: PMC7173487 DOI: 10.1016/b978-1-4557-4801-3.00100-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Amer EI, Mossallam SF, Mahrous H. Therapeutic enhancement of newly derived bacteriocins against Giardia lamblia. Exp Parasitol 2014; 146:52-63. [PMID: 25300763 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Revised: 09/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Trials for identifying efficient anti-giardial agents are still ongoing. Nowadays, bacteriocins have attracted the attention as potential antimicrobial compounds. For the first time, the current study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of bacteriocins derived from newly isolated Egyptian strains of probiotics Lactobacilli; L. acidophilus (P106) and L. plantarum (P164) against Giardia lamblia. Bacteriocins' efficacy was evaluated both in vitro; by growth inhibition and adherence assays, and in vivo; through estimation of parasite density, intestinal histopathological examination and ultrastructural analysis of Giardia trophozoites. In vivo bacteriocins' clinical safety was assessed. In vitro results proved that 50 µg of L. acidophilus bacteriocin induced reduction of the mean Giardia lamblia trophozoites by 58.3 ± 4.04%, while at lower concentrations of 10 and 20 µg of both L. acidophilus and L. plantarum, non significant reduction of the mean parasite density was achieved. In vitro trophozoites adherence was susceptible to the tested bacteriocins at all studied concentrations with variable degrees, while the highest adherence reduction was demonstrated using 50 µg of L acidophilus bacteriocin. In vivo, oral inoculation of 50 µg/mouse L. acidophilus bacteriocin for 5 successive days resulted in a noteworthy decline of the intestinal parasite density, along with amelioration of intestinal pathology of infected mice. Ultrastructural examination proved thatfive doses of L. acidophilus bacteriocin showed marked changes in cellular architecture of the trophozoites with evident disorganization of the cell membrane, adhesive disc and cytoplasmic components. This is the first reported study of the safe anti-giardial efficacy of L. acidophilus (P106) derived bacteriocin, hence highlighting its great promise as a potential therapeutic safe alternative to existing commercial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eglal I Amer
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
| | - Shereen F Mossallam
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
| | - Hoda Mahrous
- Industrial Biotechnology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Sadat City University, Egypt
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Lübbert C, Weis S. [Drug therapy of infectious diarrhea. Part 2: Chronic diarrhea]. Internist (Berl) 2014; 54:1513-9. [PMID: 23917963 DOI: 10.1007/s00108-013-3337-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Diarrheal diseases are among the most common diseases worldwide. In this review the current treatment recommendations for acute (Part 1) and chronic (Part 2) infectious diarrhea are summarized and typical enteropathogens are discussed. The second part of the article describes chronic diarrhea, its related pathogens and treatment. In contrast to acute diarrhea which is mainly caused by viral and typical bacterial pathogens, chronic diarrhea has mainly non-infectious origins. Protozoal pathogens, such as Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica in particular are found and more rarely bacterial pathogens, such as Tropheryma whipplei. Opportunistic pathogens cause diarrhea in immunocompromised patients, such as in HIV patients. In these patients cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis or infections with Cryptosporidium spp., Cyclospora cayetanensis, Isospora belli or microsporidia have to be considered. Besides targeted specific antimicrobial therapy, anti-retroviral drugs improving the underlying immunosuppression and thus the reconstitution of the adaptive immune response remain a cornerstone of the treatment in HIV-positive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lübbert
- Fachbereich Infektions- und Tropenmedizin, Klinik und Poliklinik für Gastroenterologie und Rheumatologie, Department für Innere Medizin, Neurologie und Dermatologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, AöR, Liebigstr. 20, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland,
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Escobedo AA, Hanevik K, Almirall P, Cimerman S, Alfonso M. Management of chronic Giardia infection. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 12:1143-57. [PMID: 25059638 DOI: 10.1586/14787210.2014.942283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Advances in our understanding of chronic giardiasis (CG) may improve our care of patients in this stage of the disease. This review proposes a new concept of CG and highlights the recent advances in our understanding and management of this condition. According to this review, management requires, initially, an accurate diagnosis, which may exclude several conditions that can mimic CG. Optimal treatment requires a tailored approach which includes the recognition of the known modifiable causes of this health condition, assessment of symptoms and potential complications, their treatment utilizing, if necessary, a multidisciplinary team, and an ongoing monitoring for the effect of therapy - weighing the efficacy of individual drugs - all of these together may lead to a successful treatment of CG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel A Escobedo
- Academic Paediatric Hospital "Pedro Borrás", Calle F No. 616 esquina 27, Plaza, La Habana, CP 10400, Cuba
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Watkins RR, Eckmann L. Treatment of giardiasis: current status and future directions. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2014; 16:396. [PMID: 24493628 DOI: 10.1007/s11908-014-0396-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Giardiasis is a common yet neglected cause of diarrheal illness worldwide. Antimicrobial therapy is usually but not always effective and drug resistance has become an increasing concern. Several promising drug candidates have been recently identified that can overcome antibiotic resistance in Giardia. These include derivatives of 5-nitroimidazoles and benzimidazoles, as well as hybrid compounds created from combinations of different antigiardial drugs. High-throughput screening of large compound libraries has been a productive strategy for identifying antigiardial activity in drugs already approved for other indications, e.g. auranofin. This article reviews the current treatment of giardiasis, mechanisms of resistance, advances in drug and vaccine development, and directions for further research on this significant human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R Watkins
- Department of Internal Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA,
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O(2)-dependent efficacy of novel piperidine- and piperazine-based chalcones against the human parasite Giardia intestinalis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 58:543-9. [PMID: 24217695 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00990-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Giardia intestinalis is the most frequent protozoan agent of intestinal diseases worldwide. Though commonly regarded as an anaerobic pathogen, it preferentially colonizes the fairly oxygen-rich mucosa of the proximal small intestine. Therefore, when testing new potential antigiardial drugs, O2 should be taken into account, since it also reduces the efficacy of metronidazole, the gold standard drug against giardiasis. In this study, 46 novel chalcones were synthesized by microwave-assisted Claisen-Schmidt condensation, purified, characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry, (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy, and tested for their toxicity against G. intestinalis under standard anaerobic conditions. As a novel approach, compounds showing antigiardial activity under anaerobiosis were also assayed under microaerobic conditions, and their selectivity against parasitic cells was assessed in a counterscreen on human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Among the tested compounds, three [30(a), 31(e), and 33] were more effective in the presence of O2 than under anaerobic conditions and killed the parasite 2 to 4 times more efficiently than metronidazole under anaerobiosis. Two of them [30(a) and 31(e)] proved to be selective against parasitic cells, thus representing potential candidates for the design of novel antigiardial drugs. This study highlights the importance of testing new potential antigiardial agents not only under anaerobic conditions but also at low, more physiological O2 concentrations.
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Mejia R, Vicuña Y, Broncano N, Sandoval C, Vaca M, Chico M, Cooper PJ, Nutman TB. A novel, multi-parallel, real-time polymerase chain reaction approach for eight gastrointestinal parasites provides improved diagnostic capabilities to resource-limited at-risk populations. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 88:1041-7. [PMID: 23509117 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.12-0726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites has traditionally relied on stool microscopy, which has low diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. We have developed a novel, rapid, high-throughput quantitative multi-parallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) platform. Species-specific primers/probes were used for eight common gastrointestinal parasite pathogens: Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis. Stool samples from 400 13-month-old children in rural Ecuador were analyzed and the qPCR was compared with a standard direct wet mount slide for stool microscopy, as were 125 8-14-year-old children before and after anthelmintic treatment. The qPCR showed higher detection rates for all parasites compared with direct microscopy, Ascaris (7.0% versus 5.5%) and for Giardia (31.5% versus 5.8%). Using an enhanced DNA extraction method, we were able to detect T. trichiura DNA. These assays will be useful to refine treatment options for affected populations, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rojelio Mejia
- Helminth Immunology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Muñoz Gutiérrez J, Aldasoro E, Requena A, Comin AM, Pinazo MJ, Bardají A, Oliveira I, Valls ME, Gascon J. Refractory giardiasis in Spanish travellers. Travel Med Infect Dis 2012; 11:126-9. [PMID: 23218784 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2012.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Revised: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Drug failure is a common cause of symptom persistence after treatment of imported Giardia duodenalis. In this retrospective study we describe a high prevalence of refractory giardiasis in people attended in a travel clinic in Spain, especially those with infections acquired in Asia. Moreover, we discuss various treatment strategies to tackle G. duodenalis that is refractory to nitroimidazoles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Muñoz Gutiérrez
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
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Leitsch D, Schlosser S, Burgess A, Duchêne M. Nitroimidazole drugs vary in their mode of action in the human parasite Giardia lamblia. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2012; 2:166-70. [PMID: 24533278 PMCID: PMC3862438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2012.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2012] [Revised: 04/25/2012] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Giardia lamblia (syn. duodenalis, intestinalis) is a globally occurring micro-aerophilic human parasite that causes gastrointestinal disease. Standard treatment of G. lamblia infections is based on the 5-nitroimidazole drugs metronidazole and tinidazole. In two other micro-aerophilic parasites, Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis, 5-nitroimidazole drugs bind to proteins involved in the thioredoxin-mediated redox network and disrupt the redox equilibrium by inhibiting thioredoxin reductase and depleting intracellular thiol pools. The major aim of this study was to assess whether nitroimidazoles exert a similar toxic effect on G. lamblia physiology. The 5-nitroimidazoles metronidazole and tinidazole were found to bind to the same subset of proteins including thioredoxin reductase. However, in contrast to E. histolytica and T. vaginalis, none of the other proteins bound are candidates for being involved in the thioredoxin-mediated redox network. Translation elongation factor EF-1γ, an essential factor in protein synthesis, was widely degraded upon treatment with 5-nitroimidazoles. 2-Nitroimidazole (azomycin) and the 5-nitroimidazole ronidazole did not bind to any G. lamblia proteins, which is in contrast to previous findings in E. histolytica and T. vaginalis. All nitroimidazoles tested reduced intracellular thiol pools in G. lamblia, but metronidazole, also in contrast to the situation in the other two parasites, had the slightest effect. Taken together, our results suggest that nitroimidazole drugs affect G. lamblia in a fundamentally different way than E. histolytica and T. vaginalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Leitsch
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine at the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sarah Schlosser
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine at the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anita Burgess
- Division of Cancer and Cell Biology, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michael Duchêne
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine at the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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