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Panesso MP, Cancela M, Corá RK, Paes JA, Paludo GP, Ferreira HB. Ribonucleotide reductase as a therapeutic target for drug repurposing as anthelmintics. Exp Parasitol 2023; 255:108641. [PMID: 37949425 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108641] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Visceral cestodiases, like echinococcoses and cysticercoses, are zoonoses of worldwide distribution and are responsible for public health problems in many countries, especially in underdeveloped regions. Current treatments have low efficiency and there are few drugs currently in use for chemotherapy, making the development of new anthelmintics an urgent matter. The nucleotide salvage pathways are the only ones available for nucleotide synthesis in cestodes and other parasitic helminths, and, here, we used in silico approaches to assess the potential of the enzymes in these pathways as targets for drug repurposing as anthelminthics. First, a genomic survey allowed to identify a repertoire of 28 enzymes of the purine and pyrimidine salvage pathways from the cestode Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. Regarding purines, the parasite relies on salvaging free bases rather than salvaging nucleosides. Pyrimidines, on the other hand, can be salvaged from both bases and nucleosides. Druggability of the parasite enzymes was assessed, as well as the availability of commercial inhibitors for them. Druggable enzymes were then ranked according to their potential for drug repurposing and the 17 most promising enzymes were selected for evolutionary analyses. The constructed phylogenetic trees allowed to assess the degree of conservation among ortholog enzymes from parasitic helminths and their mammalian hosts. Positive selection is absent in all assessed flatworm enzymes. A potential target enzyme for drug repurposing, ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), was selected for further assessment. RNR 3D-modelling showed structural similarities between the E. granulosus and the human orthologs suggesting that inhibitors of the human RNR should be effective against the E. granulosus enzyme. In line with that, E. granulosus protoscolices treated in vitro with the inhibitor hydroxyurea had their viability and DNA synthesis reduced. These results are consistent with nucleotide synthesis inhibition and confirm the potential of a nucleotide salvage inhibitors for repurposing as an anthelmintic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Pasa Panesso
- Laboratôrio de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Martin Cancela
- Laboratôrio de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Renato Kulakowski Corá
- Laboratôrio de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Andrade Paes
- Laboratôrio de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Prado Paludo
- Laboratôrio de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Henrique Bunselmeyer Ferreira
- Laboratôrio de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Zhang G, Zhang Y, Jing L, Zhao H. Lead exposure induced developmental nephrotoxicity in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) via oxidative stress-based PI3K/AKT pathway inhibition and NF-κB pathway activation. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 268:109599. [PMID: 36893933 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2023.109599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Birds are sensitive to environmental pollution and lead (Pb) contamination could negatively affect nearly all avian organs and systems including kidney of excretive system. Thereby, we used a biological model species-Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) to examine the nephrotoxic effects of Pb exposure and possible toxic mechanism of Pb on birds. Quail chicks of 7-day-old were exposed to 50 ppm Pb of low dose and high dose of 500 ppm and 1000 ppm Pb in drinking water for five weeks. The results showed that Pb exposure induced kidney weight increase while body weight and length reduction. The increase of uric acid (UA), creatinine (CREA) and cystatin c (Cys C) in the plasma suggested renal dysfunction. Moreover, both microstructural and ultrastructural changes demonstrated obvious kidney damages. In particular, renal tubule epithelial cells and glomeruli swelling indicated renal inflammation. Furthermore, changes in the content and activity of oxidative stress markers suggested that Pb caused excessive oxidative stress in the kidney. Pb exposure also induced abnormal apoptosis in the kidney. In addition, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed that Pb disturbed molecular pathways and signaling related with renal function. Especially, Pb exposure resulted in an increase in renal uric acid synthesis by disrupting purine metabolism. Pb caused apoptotic increment by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT) pathway and induced aggravated inflammation by activating Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. The study implied that Pb caused nephrotoxicity through structural damages, uric acid metabolism disorder, oxidation imbalance, apoptosis and inflammatory pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaixia Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Lingyang Jing
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Hongfeng Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
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Desiatkina O, Mösching M, Anghel N, Boubaker G, Amdouni Y, Hemphill A, Furrer J, Păunescu E. New Nucleic Base-Tethered Trithiolato-Bridged Dinuclear Ruthenium(II)-Arene Compounds: Synthesis and Antiparasitic Activity. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238173. [PMID: 36500266 PMCID: PMC9738179 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Aiming toward compounds with improved anti-Toxoplasma activity by exploiting the parasite auxotrophies, a library of nucleobase-tethered trithiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II)-arene conjugates was synthesized and evaluated. Structural features such as the type of nucleobase and linking unit were progressively modified. For comparison, diruthenium hybrids with other type of molecules were also synthesized and assessed. A total of 37 compounds (diruthenium conjugates and intermediates) were evaluated in a primary screening for in vitro activity against transgenic Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites constitutively expressing β-galactosidase (T. gondii β-gal) at 0.1 and 1 µM. In parallel, the cytotoxicity in non-infected host cells (human foreskin fibroblasts, HFF) was determined by alamarBlue assay. Twenty compounds strongly impairing parasite proliferation with little effect on HFF viability were subjected to T. gondii β-gal half maximal inhibitory concentration determination (IC50) and their toxicity for HFF was assessed at 2.5 µM. Two promising compounds were identified: 14, ester conjugate with 9-(2-oxyethyl)adenine, and 36, a click conjugate bearing a 2-(4-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl substituent, with IC50 values of 0.059 and 0.111 µM respectively, significantly lower compared to pyrimethamine standard (IC50 = 0.326 µM). Both 14 and 36 exhibited low toxicity against HFF when applied at 2.5 µM and are candidates for potential treatment options in a suitable in vivo model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Desiatkina
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Mösching
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicoleta Anghel
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ghalia Boubaker
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yosra Amdouni
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Université de la Manouba, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julien Furrer
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Emilia Păunescu
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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Li Y, Liu M, Rizk MA, Moumouni PFA, Lee SH, Galon EM, Guo H, Gao Y, Li J, Beshbishy AM, Nugraha AB, Ji S, Tumwebaze MA, Benedicto B, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I, Xuan X. Drug screening of food and drug administration-approved compounds against Babesia bovis in vitro. Exp Parasitol 2020; 210:107831. [PMID: 31926147 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Babesia (B.) bovis is one of the main etiological agents of bovine babesiosis, causes serious economic losses to the cattle industry. Control of bovine babesiosis has been hindered by the limited treatment selection for B. bovis, thus, new options are urgently needed. We explored the drug library and unbiasedly screened 640 food and drug administration (FDA) approved drug compounds for their inhibitory activities against B. bovis in vitro. The initial screening identified 13 potentially effective compounds. Four potent compounds, namely mycophenolic acid (MPA), pentamidine (PTD), doxorubicin hydrochloride (DBH) and vorinostat (SAHA) exhibited the lowest IC50 and then selected for further evaluation of their in vitro efficacies using viability, combination inhibitory and cytotoxicity assays. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of MPA, PTD, DBH, SAHA were 11.38 ± 1.66, 13.12 ± 4.29, 1.79 ± 0.15 and 45.18 ± 7.37 μM, respectively. Of note, DBH exhibited IC50 lower than that calculated for the commonly used antibabesial drug, diminazene aceturate (DA). The viability result revealed the ability of MPA, PTD, DBH, SAHA to prevent the regrowth of treated parasite at 4 × and 2 × of IC50. Antagonistic interactions against B. bovis were observed after treatment with either MPA, PTD, DBH or SAHA in combination with DA. Our findings indicate the richness of FDA approved compounds by novel potent antibabesial candidates and the identified potent compounds especially DBH might be used for the treatment of animal babesiosis caused by B. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchang Li
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Mingming Liu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Mohamed Abdo Rizk
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, 35516, Egypt
| | - Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Seung-Hun Lee
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan; College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea
| | - Eloiza May Galon
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Huanping Guo
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yang Gao
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Jixu Li
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Amani Magdy Beshbishy
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Arifin Budiman Nugraha
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Jl. Agatis Kampus IPB Dramaga, Bogor, 16680, Indonesia
| | - Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Maria Agnes Tumwebaze
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Byamukama Benedicto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ikuo Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
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Chen R, Mao Y, Wang J, Liu M, Qiao Y, Zheng L, Su Y, Ke Q, Zheng W. Molecular mechanisms of an antimicrobial peptide piscidin (Lc-pis) in a parasitic protozoan, Cryptocaryon irritans. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:192. [PMID: 29703140 PMCID: PMC6389114 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4565-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptocaryon irritans is an obligate parasitic ciliate protozoan that can infect various commercially important mariculture fish species and cause high lethality and economic loss. Current methods of controlling this parasite with chemicals or antibiotics are widely considered to be environmentally harmful. Piscidins with broad spectrum antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities were found to have potent activity against C. irritans. Little, however, has been understood about the killing mechanisms of piscidins in parasites. Results In total, 57.12, 50.44, 55.86 and 47.87 million raw reads were generated from untreated theront and trophont, and piscidin (Lc-pis) treated theront and trophont libraries, respectively. After de novo assembly, 966,609 unigenes were generated with an average length of 420 bp: among these, 618,629 unigenes showed identity with sequences in one or more databases, with some showing to be significantly manipulated by Lc-pis treatment. The species classification showed that more than 25.8% unigenes from trophonts were homologous to the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) and less than 3.8% unigenes from theronts were matched. The homologous unigenes demonstrated that the tissue from host could exist in trophonts and might be transported to parasite via vesicular transports. Our analysis showed that regulatory transcripts were involved in vesicular trafficking. Among transcripts induced by Lc-pis, most genes up-regulated in treated and untreated theronts were involved in cell migration and apoptosis related pathways. Few transcripts were found to be down-regulated in treated and untreated trophonts related to cell structure and migration after treatment. Conclusions This is the first transcriptome analysis of C. irritans exposed to Lc-pis, which enhanced the genomic resources and provided novel insights into molecular mechanisms of ciliates treated by cationic antimicrobial peptide. Our comprehensive transcriptome analysis can facilitate the identification of potential drug targets and vaccines candidates for controlling this devastating fish pathogen. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4565-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruanni Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China.,State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Fujian Fuding Seagull Fishing Food Co., Ltd, Ningde, Fujian, 352103, China
| | - Yong Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China.,State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Fujian Fuding Seagull Fishing Food Co., Ltd, Ningde, Fujian, 352103, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China.,State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Fujian Fuding Seagull Fishing Food Co., Ltd, Ningde, Fujian, 352103, China
| | - Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China
| | - Ying Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China
| | - Libing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China
| | - Yongquan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361005, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Fujian Fuding Seagull Fishing Food Co., Ltd, Ningde, Fujian, 352103, China.
| | - Qiaozhen Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Fujian Fuding Seagull Fishing Food Co., Ltd, Ningde, Fujian, 352103, China
| | - Weiqiang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Fujian Fuding Seagull Fishing Food Co., Ltd, Ningde, Fujian, 352103, China
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6
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Mycophenolic acid induces differentiation of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain tachyzoites into bradyzoites and formation of cyst-like structure in vitro. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:547-563. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5738-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Zulfiqar B, Jones AJ, Sykes ML, Shelper TB, Davis RA, Avery VM. Screening a Natural Product-Based Library against Kinetoplastid Parasites. Molecules 2017; 22:E1715. [PMID: 29023425 PMCID: PMC6151456 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites cause vector-borne parasitic diseases including leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Chagas disease. These Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) impact on some of the world's lowest socioeconomic communities. Current treatments for these diseases cause severe toxicity and have limited efficacy, highlighting the need to identify new treatments. In this study, the Davis open access natural product-based library was screened against kinetoplastids (Leishmania donovani DD8, Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi) using phenotypic assays. The aim of this study was to identify hit compounds, with a focus on improved efficacy, selectivity and potential to target several kinetoplastid parasites. The IC50 values of the natural products were obtained for L. donovani DD8, T. b. brucei and T. cruzi in addition to cytotoxicity against the mammalian cell lines, HEK-293, 3T3 and THP-1 cell lines were determined to ascertain parasite selectivity. Thirty-one compounds were identified with IC50 values of ≤ 10 µM against the kinetoplastid parasites tested. Lissoclinotoxin E (1) was the only compound identified with activity across all three investigated parasites, exhibiting IC50 values < 5 µM. In this study, natural products with the potential to be new chemical starting points for drug discovery efforts for kinetoplastid diseases were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Zulfiqar
- Discovery Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Amy J Jones
- Discovery Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Melissa L Sykes
- Discovery Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Todd B Shelper
- Discovery Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Natural Product Chemistry, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.
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Zhou DH, Wang ZX, Zhou CX, He S, Elsheikha HM, Zhu XQ. Comparative proteomic analysis of virulent and avirulent strains of Toxoplasma gondii reveals strain-specific patterns. Oncotarget 2017; 8:80481-80491. [PMID: 29113319 PMCID: PMC5655214 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Research exploring the proteome of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts has gained momentum over the past few years. However, little is known about the oocyst's protein repertoires that contribute to differential virulence among T. gondii strains. Here, we used isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation-based proteomic analysis of oocysts of two T. gondii strains exhibiting the virulent PYS (ToxoDB#9) phenotype versus the less virulent PRU (Type II, ToxoDB#1) phenotype. Our aim was to determine protein expression patterns that contribute to the virulence of a particular phenotype. A total of 2,551 proteins were identified, of which 374 were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) (|log2 fold change| ≥ 0.58 and P < 0.05). DEPs included 192 increased and 182 decreased proteins. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses revealed a large number of DEPs enriched in various metabolic processes. Protein interaction network analysis using STRING identified inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), Bifunctional GMP synthase/glutamine amidotransferase protein, Glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase, and Citrate synthase as the top four hubs. Of the 22 virulence proteins commonly expressed in the oocysts of the two strains, 13 and 2 proteins were increased in PYS strain and PRU strain, respectively. Also, 10 and 3 of the 22 identified oocyst wall proteins showed higher expression in oocysts of PRU strain and PYS strain, respectively. These findings revealed new proteomic differences in the oocysts of T. gondii strains of different genotypic backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China
| | - Ze-Xiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China
| | - Chun-Xue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China
- Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, 250012, PR China
| | - Shuai He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province, 230036, PR China
| | - Hany M. Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, PR China
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Yao JY, Xu Y, Yuan XM, Yin WL, Yang GL, Lin LY, Pan XY, Wang CF, Shen JY. Proteomic analysis of differentially expressed proteins in the two developmental stages of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Parasitol Res 2016; 116:637-646. [PMID: 27864673 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5328-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ichthyophthirius is a severe disease of farmed freshwater fish caused by the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich). This disease can lead to considerable economic loss, but the protein profiles in different developmental stages of the parasite remain unknown. In the present study, proteins from trophonts and theronts of Ich were identified by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ). A total of 2300 proteins were identified in the two developmental stages, of which 1520 proteins were differentially expressed. Among them, 84 proteins were uniquely expressed in the theronts stage, while 656 proteins were expressed only in trophonts. The differentially expressed proteins were catalogued (assorted) to various functions of Ich life cycle, including biological process, cellular component, and molecular function that occur at distinct stages. Using a 1.5-fold change in expression as a physiologically significant benchmark, a lot of differentially expressed proteins were reliably quantified by iTRAQ analysis. Two hundred forty upregulated and 57 downregulated proteins in the trophonts stage were identified as compared with theronts. The identified proteins were involved in various functions of the I. multifiliis life cycle, including binding, catalytic activity, structural molecule activity, and transporter activity. Further investigation of the transcriptional levels of periplasmic immunogenic protein, transketolase, zinc finger, isocitrate dehydrogenase, etc., from the different protein profiles using quantitative RT-PCR showed identical results to the iTRAQ analysis. This work provides an effective resource to further our understanding of Ich biology, and lays the groundwork for the identification of potential drug targets and vaccines candidates for the control of this devastating fish pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yun Yao
- Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Xue-Mei Yuan
- Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Wen-Lin Yin
- Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Gui-Lian Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Provincial Engineering Research Center of Animal Probiotics, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China
| | - Ling-Yun Lin
- Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Pan
- Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China
| | - Chun-Feng Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jilin Provincial Engineering Research Center of Animal Probiotics, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, 130118, China.
| | - Jin-Yu Shen
- Agriculture Ministry Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001, China.
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Mycophenolic Acid and Its Derivatives as Potential Chemotherapeutic Agents Targeting Inosine Monophosphate Dehydrogenase in Trypanosoma congolense. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:4391-3. [PMID: 27139487 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02816-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the trypanocidal activity of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and its derivatives for Trypanosoma congolense The proliferation of T. congolense was completely inhibited by adding <1 μM MPA and its derivatives. In addition, the IMP dehydrogenase in T. congolense was molecularly characterized as the target of these compounds. The results suggest that MPA and its derivatives have the potential to be new candidates as novel trypanocidal drugs.
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11
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Bessho T, Okada T, Kimura C, Shinohara T, Tomiyama A, Imamura A, Kuwamura M, Nishimura K, Fujimori K, Shuto S, Ishibashi O, Kubata BK, Inui T. Novel Characteristics of Trypanosoma brucei Guanosine 5'-monophosphate Reductase Distinct from Host Animals. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004339. [PMID: 26731263 PMCID: PMC4701174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabolic pathway of purine nucleotides in parasitic protozoa is a potent drug target for treatment of parasitemia. Guanosine 5’-monophosphate reductase (GMPR), which catalyzes the deamination of guanosine 5’-monophosphate (GMP) to inosine 5’-monophosphate (IMP), plays an important role in the interconversion of purine nucleotides to maintain the intracellular balance of their concentration. However, only a few studies on protozoan GMPR have been reported at present. Herein, we identified the GMPR in Trypanosoma brucei, a causative protozoan parasite of African trypanosomiasis, and found that the GMPR proteins were consistently localized to glycosomes in T. brucei bloodstream forms. We characterized its recombinant protein to investigate the enzymatic differences between GMPRs of T. brucei and its host animals. T. brucei GMPR was distinct in having an insertion of a tandem repeat of the cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) domain, which was absent in mammalian and bacterial GMPRs. The recombinant protein of T. brucei GMPR catalyzed the conversion of GMP to IMP in the presence of NADPH, and showed apparent affinities for both GMP and NADPH different from those of its mammalian counterparts. Interestingly, the addition of monovalent cations such as K+ and NH4+ to the enzymatic reaction increased the GMPR activity of T. brucei, whereas none of the mammalian GMPR’s was affected by these cations. The monophosphate form of the purine nucleoside analog ribavirin inhibited T. brucei GMPR activity, though mammalian GMPRs showed no or only a little inhibition by it. These results suggest that the mechanism of the GMPR reaction in T. brucei is distinct from that in the host organisms. Finally, we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of ribavirin on the proliferation of trypanosomes in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting the availability of ribavirin to develop a new therapeutic agent against African trypanosomiasis. Only a limited number of therapeutics for human African trypanosomiasis also known as African sleeping sickness is available today, and it narrows the choice of the drugs to escape from the side effects and the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. The parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma brucei is the causative reagent of African trypanosomiasis, and is infective to various mammalian species. T. brucei and its mammalian hosts share almost the same metabolic machinery, and therefore it is important to understand the differences in biochemical properties of the metabolic enzymes between T. brucei and its hosts. Here we report that guanosine 5’-monophosphate reductase (GMPR) of T. brucei showed apparent differences in its primary structure and biochemical properties from those of its host counterparts, and was more sensitive to purine nucleotide analogs such as monophosphate forms of ribavirin and mizoribine than were the host GMPRs. Furthermore, ribavirin prevented the proliferation of trypanosomes in vitro. Our present findings may imply the availability of ribavirin and/or its derivatives in a treatment of African trypanosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoaki Bessho
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Okada
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chihiro Kimura
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shinohara
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ai Tomiyama
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Akira Imamura
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kuwamura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nishimura
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Izumisano, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ko Fujimori
- Laboratory of Biodefense and Regulation, Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan
| | - Satoshi Shuto
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry for Drug Development, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Osamu Ishibashi
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Takashi Inui
- Laboratory of Biological Macromolecules, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail:
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12
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Zhou CX, Zhou DH, Elsheikha HM, Liu GX, Suo X, Zhu XQ. Global Metabolomic Profiling of Mice Brains following Experimental Infection with the Cyst-Forming Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139635. [PMID: 26431205 PMCID: PMC4592003 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The interplay between the Apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii and its host has been largely studied. However, molecular changes at the metabolic level in the host central nervous system and pathogenesis-associated metabolites during brain infection are largely unexplored. We used a global metabolomics strategy to identify differentially regulated metabolites and affected metabolic pathways in BALB/c mice during infection with T. gondii Pru strain at 7, 14 and 21 days post-infection (DPI). The non-targeted Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics analysis detected approximately 2,755 retention time-exact mass pairs, of which more than 60 had significantly differential profiles at different stages of infection. These include amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and vitamins. The biological significance of these metabolites is discussed. Principal Component Analysis and Orthogonal Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis showed the metabolites' profile to change over time with the most significant changes occurring at 14 DPI. Correlated metabolic pathway imbalances were observed in carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, energetic metabolism and fatty acid oxidation. Eight metabolites correlated with the physical recovery from infection-caused illness were identified. These findings indicate that global metabolomics adopted in this study is a sensitive approach for detecting metabolic alterations in T. gondii-infected mice and generated a comparative metabolic profile of brain tissue distinguishing infected from non-infected host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Xue Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Dong-Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
| | - Hany M. Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
| | - Guang-Xue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
| | - Xun Suo
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
- * E-mail: (XS); (XQZ)
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
- * E-mail: (XS); (XQZ)
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13
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Exploitation of auxotrophies and metabolic defects in Toxoplasma as therapeutic approaches. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:109-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2013] [Revised: 09/22/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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14
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Cloning, characterization and validation of inosine 5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase of Babesia gibsoni as molecular drug target. Parasitol Int 2013; 62:87-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Revised: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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15
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Identification of differentially expressed proteins in sulfadiazine resistant and sensitive strains of Toxoplasma gondii using difference-gel electrophoresis (DIGE). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2013; 3:35-44. [PMID: 24533291 PMCID: PMC3862439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Treatment options for toxoplasmosis in humans are generally limited to the use of sulfonamide and/or pyrimethamine-based compounds. However, there is increasing evidence for clinical therapy failures in patients suggesting the existence of drug resistance in these classes of drug. In vitro resistance to sulfadiazine has been detected in three strains of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from clinical cases. In order to begin to understand the mechanisms of resistance, we undertook a difference-gel electrophoresis (DIGE) approach combined with mass spectrometry to identify proteins that are differentially expressed in sulfadiazine-resistance strains of the parasite. Naturally resistant strains TgA 103001 (Type I), TgH 32006 (Type II) and TgH 32045 (Type II variant) were compared to sensitive strains RH (Type I) and ME-49 (Type II) using DIGE and the modulated proteins analyzed using LC–MS/MS. In total, 68 differentially expressed protein spots were analyzed by mass spectrometer and 31 unique proteins, including four hypothetical proteins, were identified. Among the differentially expressed proteins, 44% were over-expressed in resistant strains and 56% were over-expressed in sensitive strains. The virulence-associated rhoptry protein, ROP2A, was found in greater abundance in both naturally resistant Type II strains TgH 32006 and TgH 32045 compared to the sensitive strain ME-49. Enolase 2 and IMC1 were found to be in greater abundance in sensitive strains RH and ME-49, and MIC2 was found to be more abundant in the sensitive strain ME-49. Proteins regulation of ROP2, MIC2, ENO2, IMC1 and GRA7 were confirmed by Western blot analysis. In addition, gene expression patterns of ROP2, MIC2, ENO2 and IMC1 were analyzed with qRT-PCR. This study provides the first proteomics insights into sulfadiazine resistance in T. gondii resistant strains isolated from clinical cases.
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Key Words
- DIGE
- Drug resistance
- EF1-α, elongation factor 1 alpha
- ENO2, enolase 2
- G3PDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
- GRA2, dense granule protein 2
- GRA7, dense granule protein 7
- Hsp70, heat shock protein 70
- Hsp90, heat shock protein 90
- MIC1, microneme protein 1
- MIC2, microneme protein 2
- PP2C, protein phosphatase 2C
- ROP2, rhoptry protein 2
- ROP9, rhoptry protein 9
- Sulfadiazine
- TgCDPK1, Toxoplasma gondii calcium-dependent protein kinase 1
- Toxoplasma gondii
- eIF-5A, translation initiation factor 5A
- small Hsp20, small heat shock protein 20
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Determination of protein subcellular localization in apicomplexan parasites. Trends Parasitol 2012; 28:546-54. [PMID: 22995720 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2012.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Revised: 08/22/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Parasites from the phylum Apicomplexa include causative agents of serious diseases including malaria (Plasmodium spp.) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii). Apicomplexan parasites infect thousands of types of animal cells and send their proteins to an array of compartments within their own cell, as well as exporting proteins into and beyond their host cell. Ascertaining destinations to which individual proteins are delivered allows researchers to better understand parasite biology and to identify potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Our toolkit for establishing subcellular locations of apicomplexan proteins is becoming more extensive and specialized, and here we review developments in this technology.
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Cassidy-Hanley DM, Cordonnier-Pratt MM, Pratt LH, Devine C, Mozammal Hossain M, Dickerson HW, Clark TG. Transcriptional profiling of stage specific gene expression in the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2011; 178:29-39. [PMID: 21524669 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2011.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2011] [Revised: 03/30/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The parasitic ciliate, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich), is among the most important protozoan pathogens of freshwater fish. Ichthyophthirius cannot be grown in cell culture, and the development of effective prophylactic and therapeutic treatments has been hampered by a lack of information regarding genes involved in virulence, differentiation and growth. To help address this issue, we have generated EST libraries from the two major stages of the parasite life cycle that infect and develop within host tissues. A total of 25,084 ESTs were generated from non-normalized libraries prepared from polyA+ RNA of infective theronts and host-associated trophonts, respectively. Cluster analysis identified 5311 unique transcripts (UniScripts), of which 2091 were contigs and 3220 singletons. Extrapolation of the data based on rates of EST discovery suggests that more than half the expected protein-coding genes of I. multifiliis are represented in this data. BLASTX comparisons against GenBank nr, UniProtKB (SwissProt and TrEMBL), as well as Tetrahymena thermophila, Plasmodium falciparum, and Paramecium tetraurelia protein databases produced 3694 significant (E-value ≤1e(-10)) hits, of which 1178 were annotated using gene ontology (GO) analysis. A high proportion of UniScripts (63%) showed similarity to other ciliate proteins. When combined with expression profiling data, GO ontology analysis of Biological Process, Cellular Component, and Molecular Function revealed interesting differences in gene families expressed in the two stages. Indeed, the most abundant transcripts were highly stage-specific and coincided with the metabolic activities associated with each stage. This work provides an effective genomics resource to further our understanding of Ichthyophthirius biology, and lays the groundwork for the identification of potential drug targets and vaccines candidates for the control of this devastating fish pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna M Cassidy-Hanley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States.
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Lee EH, Kim KH. Identification of differentially expressed genes in parasitic phase Miamiensis avidus (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatia) using suppression subtractive hybridization. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2011; 94:135-142. [PMID: 21648242 DOI: 10.3354/dao02320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Miamiensis avidus, a causative agent of scuticociliatosis in cultured marine fish, can live not only in seawater as a free-living organism but also in fish as a parasite. In this study, a cDNA library of representative mRNAs more specific to parasitic phase M. avidus was generated using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), and 520 clones selected from the SSH library were single-run sequenced. The differential gene expression patterns were confirmed by semi-quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Of the 510 SSH clones, 21 clones of 6 putative genes did not match sequences in the public database. The expectation values (E-values) of 117 clones encoding 9 putative genes were greater than 1 x 10(-5). The other 372 clones that met the criterion of E value <1 x 10-5 were matched to 26 known sequences in the database. Genes associated with signal transduction, cell proliferation, membrane transportation, protein translocation, and transcription regulation were preferentially expressed in parasitic phase M. avidus. The differential gene expression may be needed for the ciliates to survive in the host fish, and the corresponding proteins might be used as antigen candidates for development of scuticociliatosis vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hye Lee
- Department of Aquatic Life Medicine, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-737, South Korea
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Sharling L, Liu X, Gollapalli DR, Maurya SK, Hedstrom L, Striepen B. A screening pipeline for antiparasitic agents targeting cryptosporidium inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2010; 4:e794. [PMID: 20706578 PMCID: PMC2919388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2010] [Accepted: 07/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is responsible for significant disease burden among children in developing countries. In addition Cryptosporidiosis can result in chronic and life-threatening enteritis in AIDS patients, and the currently available drugs lack efficacy in treating these severe conditions. The discovery and development of novel anti-cryptosporidial therapeutics has been hampered by the poor experimental tractability of this pathogen. While the genome sequencing effort has identified several intriguing new targets including a unique inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), pursuing these targets and testing inhibitors has been frustratingly difficult. Methodology and Principal Findings Here we have developed a pipeline of tools to accelerate the in vivo screening of inhibitors of C. parvum IMPDH. We have genetically engineered the related parasite Toxoplasma gondii to serve as a model of C. parvum infection as the first screen. This assay provides crucial target validation and a large signal window that is currently not possible in assays involving C. parvum. To further develop compounds that pass this first filter, we established a fluorescence-based assay of host cell proliferation, and a C. parvum growth assay that utilizes automated high-content imaging analysis for enhanced throughput. Conclusions and Significance We have used these assays to evaluate C. parvum IMPDH inhibitors emerging from our ongoing medicinal chemistry effort and have identified a subset of 1,2,3-triazole ethers that exhibit excellent in vivo selectivity in the T. gondii model and improved anti-cryptosporidial activity. Persistent diarrhea is a leading cause of illness and death among impoverished children, and a growing share of this disease burden can be attributed to the parasite Cryptosporidium. There are no vaccines to prevent Cryptosporidium infection, and the treatment options are limited and unreliable. Critically, no effective treatment exists for children or adults suffering from AIDS. Cryptosporidium presents many technical obstacles for drug discovery; perhaps the most important roadblock is the difficulty of monitoring drug action. Here we have developed a set of methods to accelerate the drug discovery process for cryptosporidiosis. We exploit the opportunities for experimental manipulation in the related parasite Toxoplasma to genetically engineer a Cryptosporidium model. This new model parasite mirrors the metabolism of Cryptosporidium for a particularly promising drug target that supplies the building blocks for DNA and RNA. Drug effectiveness can be assayed through simple fluorescence measurements for many candidates. Using this assay as an initial filter, and adapting other assays to a high throughput format, we identify several novel chemical compounds that exhibit markedly improved anti-cryptosporidial activity and excellent selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Sharling
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Deviprasad R. Gollapalli
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sushil K. Maurya
- Department of Biochemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lizbeth Hedstrom
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Boris Striepen
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Vonlaufen N, Naguleswaran A, Coppens I, Sullivan WJ. MYST family lysine acetyltransferase facilitates ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase-mediated DNA damage response in Toxoplasma gondii. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:11154-61. [PMID: 20159970 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.066134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYST family of lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) function in a wide variety of cellular operations, including gene regulation and the DNA damage response. Here we report the characterization of the second MYST family KAT in the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (TgMYST-B). Toxoplasma causes birth defects and is an opportunistic pathogen in the immunocompromised, the latter due to its ability to convert into a latent cyst (bradyzoite). We demonstrate that TgMYST-B can gain access to the parasite nucleus and acetylate histones. Overexpression of recombinant, tagged TgMYST-B reduces growth rate in vitro and confers protection from a DNA-alkylating agent. Expression of mutant TgMYST-B produced no growth defect and failed to protect against DNA damage. We demonstrate that cells overexpressing TgMYST-B have increased levels of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase and phosphorylated H2AX and that TgMYST-B localizes to the ATM kinase gene. Pharmacological inhibitors of ATM kinase or KATs reverse the slow growth phenotype seen in parasites overexpressing TgMYST-B. These studies are the first to show that a MYST KAT contributes to ATM kinase gene expression, further illuminating the mechanism of how ATM kinase is up-regulated to respond to DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Vonlaufen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA
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21
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizbeth Hedstrom
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, MS009, 415 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454, USA.
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22
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Shu Q, Nair V. Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) as a target in drug discovery. Med Res Rev 2008; 28:219-32. [PMID: 17480004 DOI: 10.1002/med.20104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a key enzyme of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis and is viewed as an important target in the quest for discovery of drugs in the antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer therapeutic areas. This review focuses on the medicinal chemistry, drug discovery and chemical biology of IMPDH. Examples of IMP and cofactor site-directed inhibitors, allosteric inhibitors and isoform-selective inhibitors are presented. Comparison of IMPDHs from different organisms is also made to facilitate the design of species-selective IMPDH inhibitors for drug discovery. Special emphasis in the review is placed on IMPDH from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingning Shu
- The Center for Drug Discovery and the Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, R. C. Wilson PH, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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Sherman IW. References. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s0065-308x(08)00430-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Abstract
Synthesis de novo, acquisition by salvage and interconversion of purines and pyrimidines represent the fundamental requirements for their eventual assembly into nucleic acids as nucleotides and the deployment of their derivatives in other biochemical pathways. A small number of drugs targeted to nucleotide metabolism, by virtue of their effect on folate biosynthesis and recycling, have been successfully used against apicomplexan parasites such as Plasmodium and Toxoplasma for many years, although resistance is now a major problem in the prevention and treatment of malaria. Many targets not involving folate metabolism have also been explored at the experimental level. However, the unravelling of the genome sequences of these eukaryotic unicellular organisms, together with increasingly sophisticated molecular analyses, opens up possibilities of introducing new drugs that could interfere with these processes. This review examines the status of established drugs of this type and the potential for further exploiting the vulnerability of apicomplexan human pathogens to inhibition of this key area of metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Hyde
- Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7ND, UK.
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Dobie F, Berg A, Boitz JM, Jardim A. Kinetic characterization of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase of Leishmania donovani. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 152:11-21. [PMID: 17173987 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2006] [Revised: 11/08/2006] [Accepted: 11/14/2006] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomatid protozoan pathogens are purine auxotrophs that are highly dependent on the enzyme inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) for the synthesis of guanylate nucleotides. Enzymatic characterization of the Leishmania donovani IMPDH (LdIMPDH) overexpressed in E. coli revealed that this enzyme was highly specific for the substrates IMP and NAD(+) with K(m)(app) values of 33 and 390 microM, respectively. In contrast to other IMPDHs, LdIMPDH exhibits no substrate inhibition in high concentrations of NAD(+). Kinetic studies revealed that XMP and GMP were inhibitors with K(i) values of approximately 26 and 210 microM, respectively, suggesting that these nucleotides may regulate LdIMPDH activity. Mycophenolic acid was also a potent inhibitor of L. donovani IMPDH with a K(i) value of approximately 25 nM. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and subcellular fractionation localized LdIMPDH to the glycosome. Protein-protein interaction assays revealed that LdIMPDH associated tightly with glycosomal protein sorting receptor LdPEX5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick Dobie
- Institute of Parasitology, Macdonald Campus of McGill University, 21, 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada H9X 3V9
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