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Santos AAN, Ribeiro PDS, da França GV, Souza FN, Ramos EAG, Figueira CP, Reis MG, Costa F, Ristow P. Leptospira interrogans biofilm formation in Rattus norvegicus (Norway rats) natural reservoirs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009736. [PMID: 34495971 PMCID: PMC8451993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) is the main reservoir host of pathogenic Leptospira, the causative agent of leptospirosis, in urban environments. Pathogenic Leptospira forms biofilms in the environment, possibly contributing for bacterial survival and maintenance. Nonetheless, biofilms have not yet been studied in natural animal reservoirs presenting leptospiral renal carriage. Here, we described biofilm formation by pathogenic Leptospira inside the renal tubules of R. norvegicus naturally infected and captured in an urban slum endemic for leptospirosis. From the 65 rats carrying Leptospira in their kidneys, 24 (37%) presented biofilms inside the renal tubules. The intensity of leptospiral colonization in the renal tubules (OR: 1.00; 95% CI 1.05–1.1) and the type of occlusion pattern of the colonized renal tubules (OR: 3.46; 95% CI 1.20–9.98) were independently associated with the presence of Leptospira biofilm. Our data showed that Leptospira interrogans produce biofilms during renal chronic colonization in rat reservoirs, suggesting a possible role for leptospiral biofilms in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis and bacterial carriage in host reservoirs. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira bacteria. The main reservoir hosts of Leptospira are the brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), which are chronically colonized in the kidneys. Leptospires form biofilms, which are communities of microorganisms embedded in an extracellular polysaccharidic matrix. Leptospira pathogenesis in reservoir hosts is poorly understood. We captured 87 brown rats from an impoverished urban community that is endemic for leptospirosis. To investigate the biofilm in the rats’ kidneys, we co-localized leptospires and saccharides of the biofilm extracellular matrix in the renal tubules, using immunohistochemistry anti-Leptospira and carbohydrate staining, respectively. We quantified Leptospira using molecular tools and characterized the biofilm using electron microscopy. We analysed demographic data to identify variables correlated with renal carriage. We found that Leptospira infected 78 rats. From those, 65 were positive for immunohistochemistry in the kidneys and 24 (37%) were biofilm-positive. We found significant positive correlation between the intensity of colonization and the presence of biofilm in the kidneys. The intensity of colonization was also associated with the rats’ gender and age. Biofilm formation by Leptospira in the kidneys of natural reservoir rats fills a gap into the knowledge of leptospirosis pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Fábio Neves Souza
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mitermayer G. Reis
- Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil
- Faculty of Medicine of Bahia, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Federico Costa
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Paula Ristow
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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2
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Carvalho‐Pereira TSA, Souza FN, Santos LRDN, Pedra GG, Minter A, Bahiense TC, Reis MG, Ko AI, Childs JE, Silva EM, Costa F, Begon M. Coinfection modifies carriage of enzootic and zoonotic parasites in Norway rats from an urban slum. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ticiana S. A. Carvalho‐Pereira
- Instituto de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Salvador Brazil
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ministério da Saúde Salvador Brazil
- Institute of Integrative Biology University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Fábio Neves Souza
- Instituto de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Salvador Brazil
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ministério da Saúde Salvador Brazil
| | | | | | - Amanda Minter
- Institute of Integrative Biology University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Thiago Campanharo Bahiense
- Instituto de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Salvador Brazil
| | - Mitermayer Galvão Reis
- Instituto de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Salvador Brazil
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ministério da Saúde Salvador Brazil
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease Yale School of Public Health New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Albert Icksang Ko
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease Yale School of Public Health New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - James E. Childs
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease Yale School of Public Health New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Eduardo M. Silva
- Instituto de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Salvador Brazil
| | - Federico Costa
- Instituto de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) Salvador Brazil
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ministério da Saúde Salvador Brazil
- Institute of Integrative Biology University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease Yale School of Public Health New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - Mike Begon
- Institute of Integrative Biology University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
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PANTI-MAY JA, DE ANDRADE RRC, GURUBEL-GONZÁLEZ Y, PALOMO-ARJONA E, SODÁ-TAMAYO L, MEZA-SULÚ J, RAMÍREZ-SIERRA M, DUMONTEIL E, VIDAL-MARTÍNEZ VM, MACHAÍN-WILLIAMS C, DE OLIVEIRA D, REIS MG, TORRES-CASTRO MA, ROBLES MR, HERNÁNDEZ-BETANCOURT SF, COSTA F. A survey of zoonotic pathogens carried by house mouse and black rat populations in Yucatan, Mexico. Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:2287-2295. [PMID: 28689507 PMCID: PMC6231242 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268817001352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The house mouse (Mus musculus) and the black rat (Rattus rattus) are reservoir hosts for zoonotic pathogens, several of which cause neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Studies of the prevalence of these NTD-causing zoonotic pathogens, in house mice and black rats from tropical residential areas are scarce. Three hundred and two house mice and 161 black rats were trapped in 2013 from two urban neighbourhoods and a rural village in Yucatan, Mexico, and subsequently tested for Trypanosoma cruzi, Hymenolepis diminuta and Leptospira interrogans. Using the polymerase chain reaction we detected T. cruzi DNA in the hearts of 4·9% (8/165) and 6·2% (7/113) of house mice and black rats, respectively. We applied the sedimentation technique to detect eggs of H. diminuta in 0·5% (1/182) and 14·2% (15/106) of house mice and black rats, respectively. Through the immunofluorescent imprint method, L. interrogans was identified in 0·9% (1/106) of rat kidney impressions. Our results suggest that the black rat could be an important reservoir for T. cruzi and H. diminuta in the studied sites. Further studies examining seasonal and geographical patterns could increase our knowledge on the epidemiology of these pathogens in Mexico and the risk to public health posed by rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. A. PANTI-MAY
- Doctorado en Ciencias Agropecuarias, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - R. R. C. DE ANDRADE
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brasil
| | - Y. GURUBEL-GONZÁLEZ
- Departamento de Zoología, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - E. PALOMO-ARJONA
- Departamento de Zoología, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - L. SODÁ-TAMAYO
- Departamento de Zoología, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - J. MEZA-SULÚ
- Departamento de Zoología, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - M. RAMÍREZ-SIERRA
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - E. DUMONTEIL
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - V. M. VIDAL-MARTÍNEZ
- Laboratorio de Patología Acuática, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Merida, Merida, Mexico
| | - C. MACHAÍN-WILLIAMS
- Laboratorio de Arbovirología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - D. DE OLIVEIRA
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brasil
| | - M. G. REIS
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brasil
| | - M. A. TORRES-CASTRO
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Emergentes y Re-emergentes, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales ‘Dr. Hideyo Noguchi’, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - M. R. ROBLES
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - S. F. HERNÁNDEZ-BETANCOURT
- Departamento de Zoología, Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Mexico
| | - F. COSTA
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brasil
- Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil
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LigB subunit vaccine confers sterile immunity against challenge in the hamster model of leptospirosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005441. [PMID: 28301479 PMCID: PMC5370146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases, including zoonoses such as leptospirosis, have a major impact on rural and poor urban communities, particularly in developing countries. This has led to major investment in antipoverty vaccines that focus on diseases that influence public health and thereby productivity. While the true, global, impact of leptospirosis is unknown due to the lack of adequate laboratory diagnosis, the WHO estimates that incidence has doubled over the last 15 years to over 1 million cases that require hospitalization every year. Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. and is spread through direct contact with infected animals, their urine or contaminated water and soil. Inactivated leptospirosis vaccines, or bacterins, are approved in only a handful of countries due to the lack of heterologous protection (there are > 250 pathogenic Leptospira serovars) and the serious side-effects associated with vaccination. Currently, research has focused on recombinant vaccines, a possible solution to these problems. However, due to a lack of standardised animal models, rigorous statistical analysis and poor reproducibility, this approach has met with limited success. We evaluated a subunit vaccine preparation, based on a conserved region of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like B protein (LigB(131–645)) and aluminium hydroxide (AH), in the hamster model of leptospirosis. The vaccine conferred significant protection (80.0–100%, P < 0.05) against mortality in vaccinated animals in seven independent experiments. The efficacy of the LigB(131–645)/AH vaccine ranged from 87.5–100% and we observed sterile immunity (87.5–100%) among the vaccinated survivors. Significant levels of IgM and IgG were induced among vaccinated animals, although they did not correlate with immunity. A mixed IgG1/IgG2 subclass profile was associated with the subunit vaccine, compared to the predominant IgG2 profile seen in bacterin vaccinated hamsters. These findings suggest that LigB(131–645) is a vaccine candidate against leptospirosis with potential ramifications to public and veterinary health. Leptospirosis, also known as Weil’s disease, is spread by contact with infected animals or with water and soil containing pathogenic spirochaetes belonging to the Leptospira genus. Leptospirosis is a serious public health problem that can cause kidney failure, pulmonary complications and can be fatal. Due to its similarity to other tropical fevers, leptospirosis is difficult to diagnose. It occurs mainly in developing countries with tropical climates and the WHO considers it one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases in the world. Existing vaccines, known as bacterins, are not recommended for general use and cause serious side-effects. Advances in the field of leptospirosis research have identified leptospiral proteins for use in a recombinant vaccine. However, evaluations using animal models reported mixed success and this has raised doubts as to their usefulness. The current study reports, for the first time, the evaluation of a subunit vaccine that reproducibly protected hamsters against leptospirosis and that induced sterile immunity among survivors. Significant antibody levels were induced in vaccinated animals and the antibody profile was characterised and found to be different to that induced by a bacterin vaccine. These observations suggest that we have identified a potential vaccine candidate for human an animal leptospirosis.
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DE OLIVEIRA D, FIGUEIRA CP, ZHAN L, PERTILE AC, PEDRA GG, GUSMÃO IM, WUNDER EA, RODRIGUES G, RAMOS EAG, KO AI, CHILDS JE, REIS MG, COSTA F. Leptospira in breast tissue and milk of urban Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). Epidemiol Infect 2016; 144:2420-9. [PMID: 27019024 PMCID: PMC5437553 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268816000637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The disease is globally distributed and a major public health concern. The Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) is the main reservoir of the pathogen in urban slums of developing and developed countries. The potential routes of intra-specific leptospire transmission in rats are largely unknown. Herein, we identified pathogenic Leptospira spp. in breast tissue and milk of naturally infected rats. We examined kidney, breast tissue and milk from 24 lactating rats for the presence of leptospires using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and scanning electronic microscopy. All 24 rats had evidence for Leptospira in the kidneys, indicating chronic carriage. The majority of kidney-positive rats had detectable leptospires in milk (18, 75%) and breast tissue (16, 67%), as evidenced by immunofluorescence assay and immunohistochemistry. Four (17%) milk samples and two (8%) breast tissue samples were positive by quantitative real-time PCR. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of leptospires in breast tissue. No major pathological changes in breast tissue were found. This study, for the first time, identified leptospires in the milk and breast tissue of wild Norway rats, suggesting the possibility of milk-borne transmission of leptospirosis to neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. DE OLIVEIRA
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
| | - C. P. FIGUEIRA
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
| | - L. ZHAN
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - A. C. PERTILE
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
| | - G. G. PEDRA
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
| | - I. M. GUSMÃO
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
| | - E. A. WUNDER
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - G. RODRIGUES
- Centro de Controle de Zoonoses, Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
| | - E. A. G. RAMOS
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
| | - A. I. KO
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - J. E. CHILDS
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M. G. REIS
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Bahia, UFBA, Salvador, Brazil
| | - F. COSTA
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, UFBA, Salvador, Brazil
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da Cunha CEP, Felix SR, Neto ACPS, Campello-Felix A, Kremer FS, Monte LG, Amaral MG, de Oliveira Nobre M, da Silva ÉF, Hartleben CP, McBride AJA, Dellagostin OA. Infection with Leptospira kirschneri Serovar Mozdok: First Report from the Southern Hemisphere. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 94:519-21. [PMID: 26755566 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a global zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. In this study, we characterized two Leptospira kirschneri serogroup Pomona serovar Mozdok isolates, one obtained from a dog and the other from a patient with severe leptospirosis, 4 years later. Histopathological analysis showed that both isolates caused severe tissue damage when used to infect hamsters. While L. kirschneri serogroup Pomona serovar Mozdok is endemic in animals in Europe, there is only one report of human leptospirosis in the literature. Although strains belonging to L. kirschneri serogroup Pomona have been identified in cases of human leptospirosis in Europe, serovar Mozdok has not yet been implicated. The 4-year interval between isolations and the fact that this is the first report of serovar Mozdok as the causative agent of human leptospirosis in the southern hemisphere, demonstrates its epidemiological importance to public health. Moreover, the presence of serovar Mozdok in Brazil has the potential to affect vaccine and diagnostic test development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Eduardo Pouey da Cunha
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Samuel Rodrigues Felix
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Amilton Clair Pinto Seixas Neto
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Anelize Campello-Felix
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Frederico Schmitt Kremer
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Garcia Monte
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Marta Gonçalves Amaral
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Márcia de Oliveira Nobre
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Éverton Fagonde da Silva
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Pinho Hartleben
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Alan John Alexander McBride
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Odir Antonio Dellagostin
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
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7
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Forster KM, Hartwig DD, Oliveira TL, Bacelo KL, Schuch R, Amaral MG, Dellagostin OA. DNA prime-protein boost based vaccination with a conserved region of leptospiral immunoglobulin-like A and B proteins enhances protection against leptospirosis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 110:989-95. [PMID: 26676320 PMCID: PMC4708018 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760150222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of
theLeptospira genus. Vaccination with bacterins has severe
limitations. Here, we evaluated the N-terminal region of the leptospiral
immunoglobulin-like B protein (LigBrep) as a vaccine candidate against leptospirosis
using immunisation strategies based on DNA prime-protein boost, DNA vaccine, and
subunit vaccine. Upon challenge with a virulent strain ofLeptospira
interrogans, the prime-boost and DNA vaccine approaches induced
significant protection in hamsters, as well as a specific IgG antibody response and
sterilising immunity. Although vaccination with recombinant fragment of LigBrep also
produced a strong antibody response, it was not immunoprotective. These results
highlight the potential of LigBrep as a candidate antigen for an effective vaccine
against leptospirosis and emphasise the use of the DNA prime-protein boost as an
important strategy for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine M Forster
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Daiane D Hartwig
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Thaís L Oliveira
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Kátia L Bacelo
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Schuch
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Marta G Amaral
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
| | - Odir A Dellagostin
- Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil
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8
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Costa F, Porter FH, Rodrigues G, Farias H, de Faria MT, Wunder EA, Osikowicz LM, Kosoy MY, Reis MG, Ko AI, Childs JE. Infections by Leptospira interrogans, Seoul virus, and Bartonella spp. among Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the urban slum environment in Brazil. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014; 14:33-40. [PMID: 24359425 PMCID: PMC3880909 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) are reservoir hosts for zoonotic pathogens that cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans. Studies evaluating the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in tropical Norway rat populations are rare, and data on co-infection with multiple pathogens are nonexistent. Herein, we describe the prevalence of leptospiral carriage, Seoul virus (SEOV), and Bartonella spp. infection independently, in addition to the rates of co-infection among urban, slum-dwelling Norway rats in Salvador, Brazil, trapped during the rainy season from June to August of 2010. These data were complemented with previously unpublished Leptospira and SEOV prevalence information collected in 1998. Immunofluorescence staining of kidney impressions was used to identify Leptospira interrogans in 2010, whereas isolation was used in 1998, and western blotting was used to detect SEOV antibodies in 2010, whereas enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used in 1998: in 2010, Bartonella spp. were isolated from a subsample of rats. The most common pathogen in both years was Leptospira spp. (83%, n=142 in 1998, 63%, n=84 in 2010). SEOV was detected in 18% of individuals in both 1998 and 2010 (n=78 in 1998; n=73 in 2010), and two species of Bartonella were isolated from 5 of 26 rats (19%) tested in 2010. The prevalence of all agents increased significantly with rat mass/age. Acquisition of Leptospira spp. occurred at a younger mass/age than SEOV and Bartonella spp. infection, suggesting differences in the transmission dynamics of these pathogens. These data indicate that Norway rats in Salvador serve as reservoir hosts for all three of these zoonotic pathogens and that the high prevalence of leptospiral carriage in Salvador rats poses a high degree of risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Costa
- 1 Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz , Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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Soares LM, Macedo JO, de Azevedo EC, Santos CS, Sampaio MDQ, Santos ACD, Reis MGD, Athanazio DA. Immunomodulatory treatment with thalidomide in experimental leptospirosis in Golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2013; 108:105-11. [DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trt112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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10
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Hartwig DD, Bacelo KL, Oliveira PDD, Oliveira TL, Seixas FK, Amaral MG, Hartleben CP, McBride AJA, Dellagostin OA. Mannosylated LigANI produced in Pichia pastoris protects hamsters against leptospirosis. Curr Microbiol 2013; 68:524-30. [PMID: 24343176 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-013-0505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 10/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The C-terminal region of the Leptospiral immunoglobulin-like A protein (LigA) contains six carboxy-terminal Ig-like repeat domains (LigANI). Subunit vaccine preparations based on recombinant LigANI produced in Escherichia coli, are promising vaccine candidates, albeit with variable efficacy. In the present study, LigANI was expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris using a 12 L bioreactor to produce mannosylated LigANI (mLigANI) for use in a vaccine preparation against leptospirosis. Hamsters immunized with a mLigANI vaccine preparation produced a significant IgG antibody response (P < 0.001) and were protected (83.3 %; P < 0.001) against lethal challenge with 36× LD50 of a virulent strain of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni. A vaccine preparation based on demannosylated mLigANI (nmLigANI) elicited an immune response in hamsters, but did not afford protection. The production of mLigANI in bioreactor by P. pastoris yielded ~50 mg L(-1) of recombinant protein. P. pastoris is a potential platform for the production of leptospiral antigens on an industrial scale. The results demonstrate that LigANI secreted by P. pastoris on mannosylated form (mLigANI) protect hamsters as subunit vaccine of L. interrogans lethal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane D Hartwig
- Unidade de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil,
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11
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A prime-boost strategy using the novel vaccine candidate, LemA, protects hamsters against leptospirosis. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2013; 20:747-52. [PMID: 23515012 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00034-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Toward developing an effective vaccine capable of conferring heterologous protection, the putative lipoprotein LemA, which presents an M3 epitope similar to that of Listeria, was evaluated as a vaccine candidate in the hamster model of leptospirosis. LemA is conserved (>70% pairwise identity) among the pathogenic Leptospira spp., indicating its potential in stimulating a cross-protective immune response. Using different vaccination strategies, including prime-boost, DNA vaccine, and a subunit preparation, recombinant LemA conferred different levels of protection in hamsters. Significant protection against mortality was observed for the prime-boost and the DNA vaccine strategies, which showed 87.5% (P < 0.01) and 62.5% (P < 0.05) efficacy, respectively. Although the subunit vaccine preparation protected 50.0% of immunized hamsters, the level of protection was not significant. None of the hamsters in the control groups survived challenge with a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. Characterization of the immune response found that the strongest antibody response was stimulated by the subunit vaccine preparation, followed by the prime-boost strategy. The DNA vaccine failed to elicit an antibody response in immunized hamsters.
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Detection and quantification of Leptospira interrogans in hamster and rat kidney samples: immunofluorescent imprints versus real-time PCR. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32712. [PMID: 22393440 PMCID: PMC3290571 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A major limitation in the clinical management and experimental research of leptospirosis is the poor performance of the available methods for the direct detection of leptospires. In this study, we compared real-time PCR (qPCR), targeting the lipL32 gene, with the immunofluorescent imprint method (IM) for the detection and quantification of leptospires in kidney samples from the rat and hamster experimental models of leptospirosis. Using a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni, a chronic infection was established in the rat model, which were euthanized 28 days post-infection, while the hamster model simulated an acute infection and the hamsters were euthanized eight days after inoculation. Leptospires in the kidney samples were detected using culture isolation, qPCR and the IM, and quantified using qPCR and the IM. In both the acute and chronic infection models, the correlation between quantification by qPCR and the IM was found to be positive and statistically significant (P<0.05). Therefore, this study demonstrates that the IM is a viable alternative for not only the detection but also the quantification of leptospires, particularly when the use of qPCR is not feasible.
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Dellagostin OA, Grassmann AA, Hartwig DD, Félix SR, da Silva ÉF, McBride AJA. Recombinant vaccines against leptospirosis. HUMAN VACCINES 2011; 7:1215-24. [PMID: 22048111 DOI: 10.4161/hv.7.11.17944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Leptospirosis is an important neglected infectious disease that occurs in urban environments, as well as in rural regions worldwide. Rodents, the principal reservoir hosts of pathogenic Leptospira spp., and other infected animals shed the bacteria in their urine. During occupational or even recreational activities, humans that come into direct contact with infected animals or with a contaminated environment, particularly water, are at risk of infection. Prevention of urban leptospirosis is largely dependent on sanitation measures that are often difficult to implement, especially in developing countries. Vaccination with inactivated whole-cell preparations (bacterins) has limited efficacy due to the wide antigenic variation of the pathogen. Intensive efforts towards developing improved recombinant vaccines are ongoing. During the last decade, many reports on the evaluation of recombinant vaccines have been published. Partial success has been obtained with some surface-exposed protein antigens. The combination of protective antigens and new adjuvants or delivery systems may result in the much-needed effective vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odir A Dellagostin
- Unidade de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
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Attenuated nephritis in inducible nitric oxide synthase knockout C57BL/6 mice and pulmonary hemorrhage in CB17 SCID and recombination activating gene 1 knockout C57BL/6 mice infected with Leptospira interrogans. Infect Immun 2011; 79:2936-40. [PMID: 21576342 DOI: 10.1128/iai.05099-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of pulmonary hemorrhage (PH) in mice unable to produce functional B and T lymphocytes and to explore the effect of an inducible nitric oxide synthase gene (Inos) knockout (KO) on the frequency/severity of interstitial nephritis in vivo. We studied the outcome of infection by the virulent Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Cop. The animals used were Inos KO mice, recombination activating gene 1 (Rag1) KO mice, CB17 severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, and the respective wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 and BALB/c controls. The Inos KO and WT mice survived with no clinical symptoms of leptospirosis. The frequency and severity of nephritis was significantly lower in the Inos KO mice. All of the Rag1 KO and SCID animals died of acute leptospirosis, whereas all of the WT mice survived. PH was observed in 57 and 94% of Rag1 KO mice and in 83 and 100% of SCID mice, using inoculum doses of 10(7) and 10(6) leptospires, respectively. There was no evidence of PH in the WT controls. In conclusion, the loss of the Inos gene had a negligible effect on the outcome of leptospiral infection, although we observed a reduced susceptibility for interstitial nephritis in this group. Of note, the absence of functional B- and T-cell lymphocytes did not preclude the occurrence of PH. These data provide evidence that PH in leptospirosis may not be related only to autoimmune mechanisms.
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Santos CS, Macedo JO, Bandeira M, Chagas-Junior AD, McBride AJA, McBride FWC, Reis MG, Athanazio DA. Different outcomes of experimental leptospiral infection in mouse strains with distinct genotypes. J Med Microbiol 2010; 59:1101-1106. [PMID: 20558584 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.021089-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse disease model has the advantage of a broad array of immunological and genetic tools available for basic research. Some studies on transgenic and/or mutant mouse strains as models for experimental leptospirosis have been reported; however, the wider use of such models is hampered by a poor understanding of the outcome of experimental leptospiral infection among the different mouse strains available. Here, the outcome of infection by a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae strain Cop was studied in four commonly used wild-type mouse strains: A, CBA, BALB/c and C57BL/6. The end points evaluated in this study were survival, presence of kidney lesions, leptospiral load in kidney samples, microscopic agglutination test titre and anti-leptospiral IgG antibody levels. As expected, none of the mouse strains were susceptible to lethal leptospirosis. However, these strains developed specific pathologies associated with sublethal leptospirosis. The A and C57BL/6 strains exhibited a high leptospiral load in kidney samples and the CBA and C57BL/6 strains developed severe inflammatory lesions, whilst the BALB/c strain proved to be the most resistant to subclinical leptospirosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleiton S Santos
- Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Júlio O Macedo
- Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Adenizar D Chagas-Junior
- Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Alan J A McBride
- Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Mitermayer G Reis
- Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.,Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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