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Cao X, Huang M, Ma Y, Song X, Hu D. In vitro anti-Toxoplasma gondii effects of a coccidiostat dinitolmide. Vet Parasitol 2023; 316:109903. [PMID: 36871500 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria species, results in huge economic losses to the animal industry. Dinitolmide, a veterinary-approved coccidiostat, has a wide anticoccidial spectrum with no effect on host immunity. However, the mechanism of its anticoccidial effects remains unclear. Here, we used an in vitro culture system of T. gondii to explore the anti-Toxoplasma effect of dinitolmide and its underlying mechanism against coccidia. We show that dinitolmide has potent in vitro anti-Toxoplasma activity with the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 3.625 µg/ml. Dinitolmide treatment significantly inhibited the viability, invasion and proliferation of T. gondii tachyzoites. The recovery experiment showed that dinitolmide can completely kill T. gondii tachyzoites after 24 h of treatment. Morphologically abnormal parasites were observed after dinitolmide exposure, including asynchronous development of daughter cells and deficiency of parasite inner and outer membrane. Further electron microscopy results showed that the drug could damage the membrane structure of T. gondii. By comparative transcriptomic analysis, we found that genes related to cell apoptosis and nitric-oxide synthase were up-regulated after dinitolmide treatment, which might be responsible for parasite cell death. Meanwhile, many Sag-related sequence (srs) genes were down-regulated after treatment, which could be closely associated with the reduction of parasite invasion and proliferation capacity. Our study indicates that the coccidiostat dinitolmide has a potent inhibitory effect on T. gondii in vitro and provides insight into the mode of action of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinru Cao
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Animal Disease, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Mao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Animal Disease, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yazhen Ma
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Animal Disease, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xingju Song
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Animal Disease, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Dandan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Animal Disease, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.
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Omar M, Abdelal HO. Nitric oxide in parasitic infections: a friend or foe? J Parasit Dis 2022; 46:1147-1163. [PMID: 36457767 PMCID: PMC9606182 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01518-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex interaction between the host and the parasite remains a puzzling question. Control of parasitic infections requires an efficient immune response that must be balanced against destructive pathological consequences. Nitric oxide is a nitrogenous free radical which has many molecular targets and serves diverse functions. Apart from being a signaling messenger, nitric oxide is critical for controlling numerous infections. There is still controversy surrounding the exact role of nitric oxide in the immune response against different parasitic species. It proved protective against intracellular protozoa, as well as extracellular helminths. At the same time, it plays a pivotal role in stimulating detrimental pathological changes in the infected hosts. Several reports have discussed the anti-parasitic and immunoregulatory functions of nitric oxide, which could directly influence the control of the infection. Nevertheless, there is scarce literature addressing the harmful cytotoxic impacts of this mediator. Thus, this review provides insights into the most updated concepts and controversies regarding the dual nature and opposing sides of nitric oxide during the course of different parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Omar
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Gameyet Almohafza St. 1, Menya Al-Kamh, City of Zagazig, 44511 Sharkia Governorate Egypt
| | - Heba O. Abdelal
- LIS: Cross-National Data Center, Maison des Sciences Humaines - 5e étage, 11- porte des Sciences, L-4366 Esch-Belval, Luxembourg
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Oliveira FMS, Kraemer L, Cavalcanti da Silva C, Nogueira DS, Gazzinelli-Guimarães AC, Gazzinelli-Guimarães PH, Barbosa FS, Resende NM, Caliari MV, Gaze ST, Bartholomeu DC, Fujiwara RT, Bueno LL. Nitric oxide contributes to liver inflammation and parasitic burden control in Ascaris suum infection. Exp Parasitol 2022; 238:108267. [PMID: 35550886 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human ascariasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases worldwide. The immune response during human ascariasis is characterized by Th2 polarization and a mixed Th2/Th17 response during the pathogenesis of experimental larval ascariasis. Cytokines and other pro-inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), are involved in helminthic infections. However, the role of NO in ascariasis remains unclear. OBJECTIVES Given the importance of NO in inflammation, we aimed to determine the immunological and histopathological alterations in the livers of C57BL/6 iNOS-/- mice during A. suum infection. METHODS In this study, parasitic load was evaluated in the livers of wild type C57BL/6 and C57BL/6 iNOS-/- mice infected with A. suum. Histopathological and morphometric analyses and analysis of serum cytokines via Cytometric Bead Array were performed, and the activity of eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidase of neutrophils in the tissues were determined. RESULTS The results showed that NO is important for controlling parasitic load during infection by A. suum. C57BL/6iNOS-/- mice showed reduced inflammatory processes and less tissue damage during liver larval migration of A. suum, which is associated with a reduction in serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that NO is a crucial inflammatory molecule during Ascaris sp. infection and controls the establishment of the parasite and the development of the host immune response in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrício Marcus Silva Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lucas Kraemer
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Caroline Cavalcanti da Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Denise Silva Nogueira
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara Gazzinelli-Guimarães
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique Gazzinelli-Guimarães
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Nathalia Maria Resende
- Laboratory of Sciences Applied to Immunology and Biochemistry of Health and Sport. Department of of Physical Education, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Vidigal Caliari
- Laboratory of Protozooses, Department of Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Soraya Torres Gaze
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Group, René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - FIOCRUZ, Brazil
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Macháček T, Šmídová B, Pankrác J, Majer M, Bulantová J, Horák P. Nitric oxide debilitates the neuropathogenic schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti in mice, partly by inhibiting its vital peptidases. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:426. [PMID: 32819437 PMCID: PMC7439556 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04279-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Avian schistosomes, the causative agents of human cercarial dermatitis (or swimmer’s itch), die in mammals but the mechanisms responsible for parasite elimination are unknown. Here we examined the role of reactive nitrogen species, nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite, in the immune response of mice experimentally infected with Trichobilharzia regenti, a model species of avian schistosomes remarkable for its neuropathogenicity. Methods Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was localized by immunohistochemistry in the skin and the spinal cord of mice infected by T. regenti. The impact of iNOS inhibition by aminoguanidine on parasite burden and growth was then evaluated in vivo. The vulnerability of T. regenti schistosomula to NO and peroxynitrite was assessed in vitro by viability assays and electron microscopy. Additionally, the effect of NO on the activity of T. regenti peptidases was tested using a fluorogenic substrate. Results iNOS was detected around the parasites in the epidermis 8 h post-infection and also in the spinal cord 3 days post-infection (dpi). Inhibition of iNOS resulted in slower parasite growth 3 dpi, but the opposite effect was observed 7 dpi. At the latter time point, moderately increased parasite burden was also noticed in the spinal cord. In vitro, NO did not impair the parasites, but inhibited the activity of T. regenti cathepsins B1.1 and B2, the peptidases essential for parasite migration and digestion. Peroxynitrite severely damaged the surface tegument of the parasites and decreased their viability in vitro, but rather did not participate in parasite clearance in vivo. Conclusions Reactive nitrogen species, specifically NO, do not directly kill T. regenti in mice. NO promotes the parasite growth soon after penetration (3 dpi), but prevents it later (7 dpi) when also suspends the parasite migration in the CNS. NO-related disruption of the parasite proteolytic machinery is partly responsible for this effect. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Macháček
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.
| | - Barbora Šmídová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Pankrác
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia.,Center for Advanced Preclinical Imaging, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Martin Majer
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jana Bulantová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Petr Horák
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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A Dual Role for Macrophages in Modulating Lung Tissue Damage/Repair during L2 Toxocara canis Infection. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8040280. [PMID: 31810203 PMCID: PMC6963574 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8040280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages that are classically activated (M1) through the IFN-γ/STAT1 signaling pathway have a major role in mediating inflammation during microbial and parasitic infections. In some cases, unregulated inflammation induces tissue damage. In helminth infections, alternatively activated macrophages (M2), whose activation occurs mainly via the IL-4/STAT6 pathway, have a major role in mediating protection against excessive inflammation, and has been associated with both tissue repair and parasite clearance. During the lung migratory stage of Toxocara canis, the roles of M1 and M2 macrophages in tissue repair remain unknown. To assess this, we orally infected wild-type (WT) and STAT1 and STAT6-deficient mice (STAT1-/- and STAT6-/-) with L2 T. canis, and evaluated the role of M1 or M2 macrophages in lung pathology. The absence of STAT1 favored an M2 activation pattern with Arg1, FIZZ1, and Ym1 expression, which resulted in parasite resistance and lung tissue repair. In contrast, the absence of STAT6 induced M1 activation and iNOS expression, which helped control parasitic infection but generated increased inflammation and lung pathology. Next, macrophages were depleted by intratracheally inoculating mice with clodronate-loaded liposomes. We found a significant reduction in alveolar macrophages that was associated with higher lung pathology in both WT and STAT1-/- mice; in contrast, STAT6-/- mice receiving clodronate-liposomes displayed less tissue damage, indicating critical roles of both macrophage phenotypes in lung pathology and tissue repair. Therefore, a proper balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses during T. canis infection is necessary to limit lung pathology and favor lung healing.
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