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Gopu B, Kour P, Pandian R, Singh K. Insights into the drug screening approaches in leishmaniasis. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 114:109591. [PMID: 36700771 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a tropically neglected disease, is responsible for the high mortality and morbidity ratio in poverty-stricken areas. Currently, no vaccine is available for the complete cure of the disease. Current chemotherapeutic regimens face the limitations of drug resistance and toxicity concerns indicating a great need to develop better chemotherapeutic leads that are orally administrable, potent, non-toxic, and cost-effective. The anti-leishmanial drug discovery process accelerated the desire for large-scale drug screening assays and high-throughput screening (HTS) technology to identify new chemo-types that can be used as potential drug molecules to control infection. Using the HTS approach, about one million compounds can be screened daily within the shortest possible time for biological activity using automation tools, miniaturized assay formats, and large-scale data analysis. Classical and modern in vitro screening assays have led to the progression of active compounds further to ex vivo and in vivo studies. In the present review, we emphasized on the HTS approaches employed in the leishmanial drug discovery program. Recent in vitro screening assays are widely explored to discover new chemical scaffolds. Developing appropriate experimental animal models and their related techniques is necessary to understand the pathophysiological processes and disease host responses, paving the way for unraveling novel therapies against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boobalan Gopu
- Animal House Facility, Pharmacology Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Parampreet Kour
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Ramajayan Pandian
- Animal House Facility, Pharmacology Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Kuljit Singh
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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2
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Floro e Silva M, Roque GAS, Machado DDA, Rocha FJS, Giorgio S. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis replicates in mouse bone marrow. Acta Trop 2022; 230:106407. [PMID: 35304124 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by species of the protozoan Leishmania. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis causes the cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms of the disease. Experimental cutaneous infection of mice is one of the most important preclinical research models of leishmaniasis. Here, we investigated the course of infection in mice inoculated with two reference strains of L. (V.) braziliensis (MHOM/BR/00/BA788 strain [BA] and MHOM/BR/94/H-3227 strain [CE]). Although both parasite strains induced detectable footpad lesions, BA-infected mice developed small non-ulcerated lesions that self-healed, whereas CE-infected mice developed small non-ulcerated lesions that did not regress. The parasites were detected in the footpad lesions, lymph nodes draining the site of inoculation, spleen, and bone marrow of mice infected with BA or CE parasites at 6 and 25 weeks post-inoculation. These data indicate that L (V.) braziliensis-infected mice harbor parasites that spread, even when these animals do not display overt lesions. In addition, this is the first report of the presence of the parasite in the bone marrow of mice inoculated with L. (V.) braziliensis.
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3
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Miranda DEDO, Sales KGDS, Figueredo LA, de Oliveira SA, do Nascimento AV, Torres DJL, Sumova P, Volf P, Brandão-Filho SP, de Albuquerque SDCG, de Lorena VMB, Dantas-Torres F. Effects of Migonemyia migonei salivary gland homogenates on Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection in BALB/c mice. Acta Trop 2022; 227:106271. [PMID: 34906551 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is the most widespread clinical form of leishmaniasis in the Americas. Migonemyia migonei is a widely distributed phlebotomine sand fly species in Brazil and has been implicated as a vector for L. (V.) braziliensis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of salivary gland homogenates (SGH) of Mg. migonei on the course of L. (V.) braziliensis infection in BALB/c mice. Mice were separated into four groups (six mice per group): CTRL (uninfected mice); SGH (mice inoculated with Mg. migonei SGH); SGH+LEISH (mice inoculated with Mg. migonei SGH plus L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes); LEISH (mice inoculated with L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes). Mice were followed up for 8 weeks and the cellular immune response was evaluated by flow cytometry at the end of the experiment. Analysis of cytokine production by splenic cells stimulated with 0.5 SGH, 0.25 SGH of Mg. migonei or L. (V.) braziliensis soluble antigen stimulation (LSA) demonstrated that upon stimulation with SGH 0.25, the production of IL-17A and TNF was not sustained in the SGH group, with decreasing levels of these cytokines after 5 days compared to 3 days of incubation. Analyzing the production of cytokines after LSA stimulation, we observed lower levels of IL-17A in the SGH group after 5 days compared to 3 days. The same was observed for IFN-γ in the SGH group. Yet, the levels of TNF were significantly higher in the LEISH group after 5 days compared to 3 days. Among SGH+LEISH and LEISH mice, three animals in each group developed skin lesions on the tail, the mean lesion size was significantly higher in the LEISH group. Our study suggests that Mg. migonei SGH may modulate BALB/c immune response, as reflected by the low production or early decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines in splenic cell cultures following stimulation with L. (V.) braziliensis antigen. Our data also suggest that Mg. migonei saliva may reduce the lesion size in BALB/c mice, but further research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luciana Aguiar Figueredo
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Sheilla Andrade de Oliveira
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Diego José Lira Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Petr Volf
- Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sinval Pinto Brandão-Filho
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
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Passero LFD, Brunelli EDS, Sauini T, Amorim Pavani TF, Jesus JA, Rodrigues E. The Potential of Traditional Knowledge to Develop Effective Medicines for the Treatment of Leishmaniasis. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:690432. [PMID: 34220515 PMCID: PMC8248671 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.690432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects people living in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. There are few therapeutic options for treating this infectious disease, and available drugs induce severe side effects in patients. Different communities have limited access to hospital facilities, as well as classical treatment of leishmaniasis; therefore, they use local natural products as alternative medicines to treat this infectious disease. The present work performed a bibliographic survey worldwide to record plants used by traditional communities to treat leishmaniasis, as well as the uses and peculiarities associated with each plant, which can guide future studies regarding the characterization of new drugs to treat leishmaniasis. A bibliographic survey performed in the PubMed and Scopus databases retrieved 294 articles related to traditional knowledge, medicinal plants and leishmaniasis; however, only 20 were selected based on the traditional use of plants to treat leishmaniasis. Considering such studies, 378 quotes referring to 292 plants (216 species and 76 genera) that have been used to treat leishmaniasis were recorded, which could be grouped into 89 different families. A broad discussion has been presented regarding the most frequent families, including Fabaceae (27 quotes), Araceae (23), Solanaceae and Asteraceae (22 each). Among the available data in the 378 quotes, it was observed that the parts of the plants most frequently used in local medicine were leaves (42.3% of recipes), applied topically (74.6%) and fresh poultices (17.2%). The contribution of Latin America to studies enrolling ethnopharmacological indications to treat leishmaniasis was evident. Of the 292 plants registered, 79 were tested against Leishmania sp. Future studies on leishmanicidal activity could be guided by the 292 plants presented in this study, mainly the five species Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae), Cedrela odorata L. (Meliaceae), Copaifera paupera (Herzog) Dwyer (Fabaceae), Musa × paradisiaca L. (Musaceae), and Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae), since they are the most frequently cited in articles and by traditional communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Felipe D Passero
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Institute for Advanced Studies of Ocean, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erika Dos Santos Brunelli
- Center for Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies (CEE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thamara Sauini
- Center for Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies (CEE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais Fernanda Amorim Pavani
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research Group (GPQFfesp), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Adriana Jesus
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliana Rodrigues
- Center for Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies (CEE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Karmakar S, Nath S, Sarkar B, Chakraborty S, Paul S, Karan M, Pal C. Insect vectors' saliva and gut microbiota as a blessing in disguise: probability versus possibility. Future Microbiol 2021; 16:657-670. [PMID: 34100305 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0239] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Drawing of host blood is a natural phenomenon during the bite of blood-probing insect vectors. Along with the blood meal, the vectors introduce salivary components and a trail of microbiota. In the case of infected vectors, the related pathogen accompanies the aforementioned biological components. In addition to Anopheles gambiae or Anopheles stephensi, the bites of other nonmalarial vectors cannot be ignored in malaria-endemic regions. Similarly, the bite incidence of Phlebotomus papatasi cannot be ignored in visceral leishmaniasis-endemic regions. Even the chances of getting bitten by uninfected vectors are higher than the infected vectors. We have discussed the probability or possibility of uninfected, infected, and/or nonvector's saliva and gut microbiota as a therapeutic option leading to the initial deterrent to pathogen establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Karmakar
- Cellular Immunology & Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India.,Vector Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India
| | - Supriya Nath
- Cellular Immunology & Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India.,Vector Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India
| | - Biswajyoti Sarkar
- Cellular Immunology & Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India.,Vector Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India
| | - Sondipon Chakraborty
- Vector Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India
| | - Sharmistha Paul
- Vector Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India
| | - Mintu Karan
- Vector Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India
| | - Chiranjib Pal
- Cellular Immunology & Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India.,Vector Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, West Bengal State University, Barasat, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, 700126, India
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Silveira FT. What makes mucosal and anergic diffuse cutaneous leishmaniases so clinically and immunopathogically different? A review in Brazil. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2019; 113:505-516. [PMID: 31140559 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trz037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a parasitic protozoan disease caused by different Leishmania species widely distributed throughout Latin America. Fifteen Leishmania species belonging to the subgenera Viannia, Leishmania and Mundinia are known to cause ACL. Seven of these species are found in Brazil, of which Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis have the highest potential to cause mucosal (ML) and anergic diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL), respectively, the most severe forms of ACL. The clinical and immunopathological differences between these two clinical forms are reviewed here, taking into account their different physiopathogenic mechanisms of dissemination from cutaneous lesions to mucosal tissues in the case of ML and to almost all body surfaces in the case of anergic DCL. We also discuss some immunopathogenic mechanisms of species-specific Leishmania antigens (from the subgenera Viannia and Leishmania) that are most likely associated with the clinical and immunopathological differences between ML and anergic DCL. Those discussions emphasize the pivotal importance of some surface antigens of L. (V.) braziliensis and L. (L.) amazonensis, such as lipophosphoglycan, phosphatidylserine and CD200 (an immunoregulatory molecule that inhibits macrophage activation), that have been shown to exert strong influences on the clinical and immunopathological differences between ML and anergic DCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando T Silveira
- Leishmaniasis Laboratory Prof. Dr. Ralph Lainson, Parasitology Department, Evandro Chagas Institute, Rod. BR 316-KM 07, Levilândia, Ananindeua, Pará State, Brazil
- Nucleus of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará State, Brazil
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Aires J, Casanova C, Vernal S, Nascimento M, Rodrigues S, Lerner EA, Roselino AM. Maxadilan-simile expression in Nyssomyia neivai, a sandfly vector in an endemic region of Brazil, and its immunogenicity in patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017; 112:116-122. [PMID: 28177045 PMCID: PMC5293120 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760160351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maxadilan (Max) is a salivary component in the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva 1912), a vector of visceral leishmaniasis. Max has a powerful vasodilatory effect and is a candidate vaccine that has been tested in experimental leishmaniasis. Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto 1926) is a vector of the pathogen responsible for American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) in Brazil. OBJECTIVE We searched for Max expression in Ny. neivai and for antibodies against Max in ATL patients. METHODS cDNA and protein were extracted from the cephalic segment, including salivary glands, of Ny. neivai and analysed by polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and blotting assays. The results were compared with data obtained from Lu. longipalpis samples. We quantified antibodies against Max in serum samples from 41 patients with ATL (31 and 10 with the cutaneous and mucocutaneous forms, respectively) and 63 controls from the endemic northeastern region of São Paulo state, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. FINDINGS Recognition of a Max-simile peptide by specific antibodies confirmed expression of a Max sequence in Ny. neivai (GenBank EF601123.1). Compared to controls, patients with ATL presented higher levels of antibodies against Max (p = 0.004); 24.4% of the patients with ATL and 3.2% of the controls presented anti-Max levels above the cutoff index (p = 0.014). The anti-Max levels were not associated with the specific clinical form of ATL, leishmanin skin test response, absence or presence of amastigotes in histopathologic exam, results of indirect immunofluorescence testing for leishmaniasis, or duration of cutaneous form disease. MAIN CONCLUSION High serum anti-Max levels did not protect patients against ATL, but confirmed previous natural exposure to Ny. neivai bites in this ATL endemic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Aires
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Divisão de Dermatologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Claudio Casanova
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Mogi Guaçu, SP, Brasil
| | - Sebastian Vernal
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Divisão de Dermatologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Margarida Nascimento
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Laboratório de Sorologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Sandra Rodrigues
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
| | - Ethan A Lerner
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ana Maria Roselino
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Divisão de Dermatologia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.,Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil
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McDowell MA. Vector-transmitted disease vaccines: targeting salivary proteins in transmission (SPIT). Trends Parasitol 2015; 31:363-72. [PMID: 26003330 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
More than half the population of the world is at risk for morbidity and mortality from vector-transmitted diseases, and emerging vector-transmitted infections are threatening new populations. Rising insecticide resistance and lack of efficacious vaccines highlight the need for novel control measures. One such approach is targeting the vector-host interface by incorporating vector salivary proteins in anti-pathogen vaccines. Debate remains about whether vector saliva exposure exacerbates or protects against more severe clinical manifestations, induces immunity through natural exposure or extends to all vector species and associated pathogens. Nevertheless, exploiting this unique biology holds promise as a viable strategy for the development of vaccines against vector-transmitted diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann McDowell
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
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