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Karakavuk M, Can H, Çeltik A, Karakavuk T, Gül C, Erdem HA, Pullukçu H, Taşbakan M, Taşbakan MS, Gürüz AY, Döşkaya M, Değirmenci Döşkaya A. Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains isolated from humans living in İzmir, Türkiye. Indian J Med Microbiol 2024; 49:100571. [PMID: 38554777 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100571] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular zoonotic parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Currently, clinical findings of toxoplasmosis are being related to T. gondii strains such as Type I genotype may cause high pathogenicity and Type II genotype causes a milder clinical presentation. We have showed in our previous that Type II genotype is the most frequent strain detected in stray cats and wild birds living in natural life of İzmir. The aim of this study was to assess toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in immunocompromised patients, investigate the presence of T. gondii DNA in their blood samples, and genotype the PCR positive ones. METHODS The 42 buffy-coat and serum samples were collected from immunocompromised patients who were from various clinics. Thereafter, Real-Time PCR targeting RE gene of T. gondii was performed with DNA samples obtained from buffy-coat samples. Genotyping was performed by sequencing of GRA6 and GRA7 gene regions of positive DNA samples obtained from tissues of bioassay and PCR positive samples. RESULTS According to Real-Time PCR results, T. gondii DNA was detected in 23.8% (10/42) samples. Among these 10 samples, two samples were determined as T. gondii Type II genotype. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were detected in 28.57% (12/42) samples. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the detection of Type II genotype in humans in İzmir province suggested that T. gondii infection in humans, stray cats, and wild animals may be associated to each other in terms of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammet Karakavuk
- Ege University, Odemis Vocational School, Ödemiş, İzmir, Türkiye; Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Hüseyin Can
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye; Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Section, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Aygül Çeltik
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Tuğba Karakavuk
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Ceren Gül
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Hüseyin Aytaç Erdem
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Hüsnü Pullukçu
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Meltem Taşbakan
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Mehmet Sezai Taşbakan
- Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Chest Diseases, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Adnan Yüksel Gürüz
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye; Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Mert Döşkaya
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye; Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Aysu Değirmenci Döşkaya
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye; Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Bornova, İzmir, Türkiye.
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Sousa S, Fernandes M, Correia da Costa JM. Serotyping, a challenging approach for Toxoplasma gondii typing. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1111509. [PMID: 37089607 PMCID: PMC10115974 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1111509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Genotype analysis has revealed a high genetic diversity in strains of Toxoplasma gondii, isolated from a wide range of intermediate hosts and different geographic origins. Diversity is notably striking for parasites from wild hosts in South America, generally referred as non-archetypal genotypes. Those genotypes are implicated in the etiology of severe clinical disease, multivisceral toxoplasmosis, associated with high rate of mortality in immunocompetent individuals. Can we accept specific antibodies produced during T. gondii infection as biomarkers to identify infecting genotypes? Scientific evidence supports a positive response to this question; however, the genetic diversity of T. gondii genotypes organized into 16 haplogroups and collectively defined in 6 major clades, provides a reminder of the complexity and difficulty for the purpose. This review discusses serological approaches to genotyping T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Sousa
- Center for the Study of Animal Science (CECA), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Infectious Diseases, R&D Unit, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Susana Sousa,
| | - Maria Fernandes
- Center for the Study of Animal Science, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Manuel Correia da Costa
- Center for the Study of Animal Science (CECA), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Infectious Diseases, R&D Unit, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Toxoplasma gondii Serotypes in Italian and Foreign Populations: A Cross-Sectional Study Using a Homemade ELISA Test. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081577. [PMID: 36013995 PMCID: PMC9415598 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite responsible for human toxoplasmosis. The three major clonal lineages and different recombinant strains of T. gondii have a varied global distribution. This study aimed at evaluating the epidemiological distribution of types II and I–III and recombinant or mixed T. gondii in Italians and foreigners residing in Italy, establishing an association between serotypes and demographic characteristics. We collected the sera of 188 subjects who had tested positive for specific T. gondii antibodies. The population was differentiated into groups based on sex, nationality, and place of birth (Italy, Africa, South America, Asia, or Europe (except Italy)). We then performed a homemade ELISA test that detected both the antibodies against the amino acid sequences of the three main genotype antigens (I–III) in human sera and discerned the T. gondii strains. Serotype II of T. gondii was the most prevalent in the Italian population, whereas type I–III was the most prevalent in the foreign group. Surprisingly, we observed a notable amount of recombinant or mixed serotypes in European and Italian subjects. Moreover, we showed a significant difference in the prevalence of T. gondii serotypes between men and women, Italians, and foreigners. This descriptive study is the first to investigate the epidemiological distribution of T. gondii serotypes in humans in Italy using a homemade ELISA. We considered this technique suitable for discriminating between serotypes II and I–III and, consequently, for an epidemiological study focusing on the observation of circulating T. gondii strains and clinical correlations.
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Can H, Aksoy Gökmen A, Döşkaya M, Erkunt Alak S, Değirmenci Döşkaya A, Karakavuk M, Köseoğlu AE, Karakavuk T, Gül C, Güvendi M, Gül A, Gürüz AY, Kaya S, Mercier A, Ün C. Development of a new serotyping ELISA for Toxoplasma gondii type II, type III and Africa 1 lineages using in silico peptide discovery methods, well categorized feline and human outbreak serum samples. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:110. [PMID: 35100997 PMCID: PMC8802539 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07088-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Discovery of new Toxoplasma gondii serotyping epitopes is important due to reports showing the influence of genotype on the severity of toxoplasmosis. In Turkey, genotypes belonging to type II, type III and Africa 1 lineages were mainly detected. The present study focused on to find out epitopes with high discriminative capacity to serotype these genotypes using well characterized strains isolated from Turkey. METHODS To meet this objective, GRA6 and GRA7 genes were sequenced from strains belonging to the type II, III and Africa 1 lineages, and B cell epitopes inside these sequences were predicted by Bcepred and additional docking analysis was performed with B cell receptor. Based on these analyses, 22 peptides harboring lineage specific epitopes were synthesized. Then, the serotyping potency of these peptides was tested using peptide ELISA and well categorized serum samples collected from stray cats infected with genotypes of the different lineages type II (n:9), III (n:1) and Africa 1 (n:1). As a result of peptide-ELISA, a serotyping schema was constructed with peptides that show high discriminative capacity and this assay was validated by sera collected from humans after an outbreak (n:30) and mother/newborn pair sera (n:3). Later, the validated serotyping schema was used to serotype a larger group of human (n:38) and cat (n:24) sera. RESULTS Among 22 peptides, GRA6II/c, GRA7III/d, and GRA6 Africa 1/b epitopes have shown discriminative capacity. During the validation of peptide-ELISA, the serotype of toxoplasmosis outbreak and mother/newborn cases were detected to be serotype II. Moreover, the analyses in a larger group showed that serotype II was prevalent in humans and stray cats. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results showed that the serotyping schema could be successfully used to serotype T. gondii infections caused by type II, III and Africa 1 genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hüseyin Can
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.
- Vaccine Development, Application and Research Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.
| | - Ayşegül Aksoy Gökmen
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mert Döşkaya
- Vaccine Development, Application and Research Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Sedef Erkunt Alak
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Aysu Değirmenci Döşkaya
- Vaccine Development, Application and Research Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Karakavuk
- Vaccine Development, Application and Research Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
- Ege University Ödemiş Technical Training College, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Efe Köseoğlu
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Tuğba Karakavuk
- Graduate Faculty of Natural and Applied Science Biotechnology Program, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ceren Gül
- Graduate Faculty of Natural and Applied Science Biotechnology Program, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mervenur Güvendi
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Aytül Gül
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Adnan Yüksel Gürüz
- Vaccine Development, Application and Research Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Selçuk Kaya
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Aurélien Mercier
- Centre National de Référence (CNR) Toxoplasmose/Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center (BRC), Centre Hospitalier-Universitaire Dupuytren, Limoges, France
- INSERM, Université Limoges, CHU Limoges, IRD, U1094 Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Institut d'Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, GEIST, Limoges, France
| | - Cemal Ün
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
- Vaccine Development, Application and Research Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
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Biosensor Based Immunoassay: A New Approach for Serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11082065. [PMID: 34443896 PMCID: PMC8401488 DOI: 10.3390/nano11082065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is the most reported parasitic zoonosis in Europe, with implications in human health and in the veterinary field. There is an increasing need to develop serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in view of greater sensitivity and efficiency, through the definition of new targets and new methodologies. Nanotechnology is a promising approach, with impact in the development of point-of-care devices. The aim of this work was to develop a simple but highly efficient method for Toxoplasma gondii serotyping based on gold nanoparticles. A simple colorimetric method was developed using gold nanoparticles modified with the synthetic polymorphic peptide derived from GRA6 antigen specific for type II T. gondii. The method of preparation of the gold nanoprobes and the experimental conditions for the detection were found to be critical for a sensitive discrimination between positive and negative sera. The optimized method was used to detect antibodies anti-GRA6II both in mice and human serum samples. These results clearly demonstrate that a biosensor-based immunoassay using AuNPs conjugated with polymorphic synthetic peptides can be developed and used as a serotyping device
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Arranz-Solís D, Carvalheiro CG, Zhang ER, Grigg ME, Saeij JPJ. Toxoplasma GRA Peptide-Specific Serologic Fingerprints Discriminate Among Major Strains Causing Toxoplasmosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:621738. [PMID: 33680990 PMCID: PMC7935526 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.621738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The severity of toxoplasmosis depends on a combination of host and parasite factors. Among them, the Toxoplasma strain causing the infection is an important determinant of the disease outcome. Type 2 strains dominate in Europe, whereas in North America type 2, followed by type 3 and 12 strains are commonly isolated from wildlife and patients. To identify the strain type a person is infected with, serological typing provides a promising alternative to the often risky and not always possible biopsy-based DNA methods of genotyping. However, despite recent advances in serotyping, improvements in the sensitivity and specificity are still needed, and it does not yet discriminate among the major Toxoplasma lineages infecting people. Moreover, since infections caused by non-1/2/3 strains have been associated with more severe disease, the ability to identify these is critical. In the present study we investigated the diagnostic potential of an ELISA-based assay using 28 immunogenic Toxoplasma peptides derived from a recent large-scale peptide array screen. Our results show that a discrete number of peptides, derived from Toxoplasma dense granule proteins (GRA3, GRA5, GRA6, and GRA7) was sufficient to discriminate among archetypal strains that infect mice and humans. The assay specifically relies on ratios that compare individual serum reactivities against GRA-specific polymorphic peptide variants in order to determine a "reactivity fingerprint" for each of the major strains. Importantly, nonarchetypal strains that possess a unique combination of alleles, different from types 1/2/3, showed either a non-reactive, or different combinatorial, mixed serum reactivity signature that was diagnostic in its own right, and that can be used to identify these strains. Of note, we identified a distinct "HG11/12" reactivity pattern using the GRA6 peptides that is able to distinguish HG11/12 from archetypal North American/European strain infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Arranz-Solís
- Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Veterinary Medicine School 3A, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Cristina G. Carvalheiro
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Molecular Parasitology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth R. Zhang
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Molecular Parasitology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael E. Grigg
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Molecular Parasitology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jeroen P. J. Saeij
- Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Veterinary Medicine School 3A, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Jeroen P. J. Saeij,
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Serotyping, host genes and cytokines response in human ocular toxoplasmosis. Microb Pathog 2020; 148:104465. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Nsiangani-Lusambo N, Reyes-Guanes J, Uribe-Reina P, Kaimbo Wa Kaimbo D, Mumba Ngoyi D, de-la-Torre A. Ocular Toxoplasmosis in Africa: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2020; 30:342-347. [PMID: 32976046 DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1801761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To present a narrative review about ocular toxoplasmosis epidemiology, disease burden and prevalent African parasitic strains. METHODS An initial search for MeSH terms was conducted with a posterior advanced search in two electronic databases. Full text reading was performed. RESULTS Animal African studies have identified Toxoplasma gondii type II, type III, Africa 1, and Africa 3 strains. Seroprevalence varies from 6.4% to 74.5%. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of epidemiology and serotyping information about ocular toxoplasmosis. African studies have demonstrated that uveitis patients present high frequencies of ocular toxoplasmosis. There is a lack of studies describing specific clinical characteristics, which can be related, to environmental and socioeconomic factors, parasite serotype and genotype, and genetic susceptibility of the host. CONCLUSION As Toxoplasma gondii has more virulent strains in the Southern hemisphere, it is relevant to determine African strain types and the correlation between the infecting strains and the clinical manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Nsiangani-Lusambo
- Eye Department, University Clinic, Medical School, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Juliana Reyes-Guanes
- Escuela Superior de Oftalmología del Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Colombia.,Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencia (Neuros), Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Pilar Uribe-Reina
- Escuela Superior de Oftalmología del Instituto Barraquer de América, Bogotá, Colombia.,Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencia (Neuros), Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Dieudonné Kaimbo Wa Kaimbo
- Eye Department, University Clinic, Medical School, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Dieudonné Mumba Ngoyi
- Parasitology Department, University Clinic, Medical School, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Alejandra de-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación en Neurociencia (Neuros), Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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Do Toxoplasma gondii apicoplast proteins have antigenic potential? An in silico study. Comput Biol Chem 2020; 84:107158. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2019.107158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Arranz-Solís D, Cordeiro C, Young LH, Dardé ML, Commodaro AG, Grigg ME, Saeij JPJ. Serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Using Peptide Membrane Arrays. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:408. [PMID: 31850240 PMCID: PMC6895565 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii can cause chronic infections in most warm-blooded animals, including humans. In the USA, strains belonging to four different Toxoplasma clonal lineages (types 1, 2, 3, and 12) are commonly isolated, whereas strains not belonging to these lineages are predominant in other continents such as South America. Strain type plays a pivotal role in determining the severity of Toxoplasma infection. Therefore, it is epidemiologically relevant to develop a non-invasive and inexpensive method for determining the strain type in Toxoplasma infections and to correlate the genotype with disease outcome. Serological typing is based on the fact that many host antibodies are raised against immunodominant parasite proteins that are highly polymorphic between strains. However, current serological assays can only reliably distinguish type 2 from non-type 2 infections. To improve these assays, mouse, rabbit, and human infection serum were reacted against 950 peptides from 62 different polymorphic Toxoplasma proteins by using cellulose membrane peptide arrays. This allowed us to identify the most antigenic peptides and to pinpoint the most relevant polymorphisms that determine strain specificity. Our results confirm the utility of previously described peptides and identify novel peptides that improve and increase the specificity of the assay. In addition, a large number of novel proteins showed potential to be used for Toxoplasma diagnosis. Among these, peptides derived from several rhoptry, dense granule, and surface proteins represented promising candidates that may be used in future experiments to improve Toxoplasma serotyping. Moreover, a redesigned version of the published GRA7 typing peptide performed better and specifically distinguished type 3 from non-type 3 infections in sera from mice, rabbits, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Arranz-Solís
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia Cordeiro
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States.,Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Lucy H Young
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marie Laure Dardé
- Faculty of Medicine, Parasitologie-Mycologie, UMR INSERM 1094, National Reference Center and Biological Resource Center for Toxoplasmosis, CHU Dupuytren 2, Limoges, France
| | - Alessandra G Commodaro
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael E Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jeroen P J Saeij
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Xicoténcatl-García L, Enriquez-Flores S, Correa D. Testing New Peptides From Toxoplasma gondii SAG1, GRA6, and GRA7 for Serotyping: Better Definition Using GRA6 in Mother/Newborns Pairs With Risk of Congenital Transmission in Mexico. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:368. [PMID: 31709197 PMCID: PMC6819317 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii variant influences clinical profile in human congenital and ocular toxoplasmosis. Parasite genotyping represents a challenge due to insufficient amount of genetic material of the protozoan in the host samples, and isolates are hard to obtain, especially from pediatric patients. An alternative is serotyping, which is based on the presence of specific antibodies against polymorphic proteins related to virulence; the more widely used are GRA6 and GRA7, but most works report cross reactions among the classical strains (I, II, and III). We designed new peptides of GRA6, GRA7, and SAG1 proteins, with more SNPs among the three clonal strains than those previously designed. This was done by identifying BcR and polymorphic epitopes by means of bioinformatics; then we designed peptides with linkers joining the specific regions and predicted their 3D structure. With the commercial molecules synthesized on the basis of these designs, we tested 86 serum samples from 42 mother/newborn pairs and two congenitally infected newborns, by indirect ELISA. We implemented a strategy to determine the serotype based on scatter plots and a mathematical formula, using ratios among reactivity indexes to peptides. We found low frequency of samples reactive to GRA7 and SAG1, and cross reactions between GRA6 serotypes I and III; we modified these later peptides and largely improved distinction among the three clonal strains. The chronicity of the infection negatively affected the reactivity index against the peptides. Serotyping both members of the mother/child pair improves the test, i.e., among 26% of them only one member was positive. Serotype I was the most frequent (38%), which was congruent with previous genotyping results in animals and humans of the same area. This serotype was significantly more frequent among mothers who transmitted the infection to their offspring than among those who did not (53 vs. 8%, p = 0.04) and related to disease dissemination in congenitally infected children, although non-significantly. In conclusion, serotyping using the improved GRA6 peptide triad is useful to serotype T. gondii in humans and could be implemented for clinical management and epidemiological studies, to provide information on the parasite type in specific areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizbeth Xicoténcatl-García
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sergio Enriquez-Flores
- Laboratorio de Errores Innatos del Metabolismo y Tamiz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Dolores Correa
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico
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12
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Behavioral evaluation of BALB/c (Mus musculus) mice infected with genetically distinct strains of Toxoplasma gondii. Microb Pathog 2018; 126:279-286. [PMID: 30447421 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In relation to behavioral changes in rodents infected with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), it is believed that the genotype of the infecting strain can have some influence. In this sense, the present work has sought to evaluate the effect of chronic infection by genetically distinct cystogenic strains of T. gondii on the behavior of mice. For this, experimental models of infection with ME-49 (type II) and VEG (type III) strains were developed in isogenic BALB/c mice. ELISA test was performed to evaluate the humoral immune response and real-time PCR test to quantify parasites in the CNS. Behavioral tests such as passive avoidance, open-field and Y-maze tests were also used for, respectively, evaluation of learning and memory, locomotor activity and aversion to feline odor. The results showed that mice infected with VEG strain had higher total IgG level of anti-toxoplasma, higher tissue burden of T. gondii in the CNS, reduction in the long-term memory, lower activity (mobility) and lower aversion to cat urine and l-felinine than mice infected with ME-49 strain. The results suggest that different T. gondii genotypes have a differential impact on behavioral changes in infected mice.
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Importance of serological cross-reactivity among Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia spp., Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp. and Besnoitia besnoiti. Parasitology 2017; 144:851-868. [PMID: 28241894 PMCID: PMC5471829 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp., Hammondia spp. and Besnoitia besnoiti are genetically related cyst-forming coccidia. Serology is frequently used for the identification of T. gondii, Neospora spp. and B. besnoiti-exposed individuals. Serologic cross-reactions occur in different tests among animals infected with T. gondii and H. hammondi, as well as among animals infected by T. gondii and N. caninum. Infections caused by N. caninum and N. hughesi are almost indistinguishable by serology. Neospora caninum, B. besnoiti and Sarcocystis spp. infections in cattle show some degree of serologic cross-reactivity. Antibody cross-reactivity between Neospora spp. and H. heydorni-infected animals is suspected, but not proven to occur. We review serologic cross-reactivity among animals and/or humans infected with T. gondii, Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp., Hammondia spp. and B. besnoiti. Emphasis is laid upon antigens and serological methods for N. caninum diagnosis which were tested for cross-reactivity with related protozoa. Species-specific antigens, as well as stage-specific proteins have been identified in some of these parasites and have promising use for diagnosis and epidemiological surveys.
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Vilares A, Gargaté MJ, Ferreira I, Martins S, Gomes JP. Molecular and virulence characterization of Toxoplasma gondii strains isolated from humans in Portugal. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:979-985. [PMID: 28138769 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5374-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis which infects all warm-blooded vertebrates, including mammals and birds. The majority of studies conducted in Europe have revealed that more than 80 % of strains isolated from human infections belong to genotype II, whereas genotypes I and III are responsible for a small number of cases. Atypical and recombinant strains are generally associated with more severe infections. In Portugal, there is a lack of data concerning genetic diversity as the classical typing studies in humans have never been performed. We aimed to determine the Sag2 and microsatellite-based (TUB2, TgM-A, W35, B17, B18) genotypes of T. gondii isolated from humans in Portugal, as well as to study their virulence in mice. We analyzed 48 strains from congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis collected during the last two decades. Sag2-based genotyping of T. gondii was achieved in all 48 strains where 35 (73 %) were classified as type II and 13 (27 %) were type I. The multilocus PCR of five microsatellites allowed the classification of 10 strains (21 %) as recombinant strains that had been previously identified as type II or I by Sag2 typing. Seven out of the 48 strains, including three type I, three recombinant, and one type I, were virulent in mice. This study constitutes the first evidence of recombinant strains circulating in Portugal in humans from congenital infection, highlighting the need for a better evaluation of these strains as their phenotype is still barely understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabela Vilares
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Maria João Gargaté
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Idalina Ferreira
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Martins
- National Reference Laboratory of Parasitic and Fungal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Gomes
- Research and Development Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal.,Bioinformatics Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
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Richini-Pereira VB, Marson PM, Silva RCD, Langoni H. Genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis spp. in road-killed wild mammals from the Central Western Region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2016; 49:602-607. [DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0270-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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Liu Q, Wang ZD, Huang SY, Zhu XQ. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and typing of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:292. [PMID: 26017718 PMCID: PMC4451882 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0902-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonosis with medical and veterinary importance worldwide. The disease is mainly contracted by ingesting undercooked or raw meat containing viable tissue cysts, or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts. The diagnosis and genetic characterization of T. gondii infection is crucial for the surveillance, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis. Traditional approaches for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis include etiological, immunological and imaging techniques. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis has been improved by the emergence of molecular technologies to amplify parasite nucleic acids. Among these, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular techniques have been useful for the genetic characterization of T. gondii. Serotyping methods based on polymorphic polypeptides have the potential to become the choice for typing T. gondii in humans and animals. In this review, we summarize conventional non-DNA-based diagnostic methods, and the DNA-based molecular techniques for the diagnosis and genetic characterization of T. gondii. These techniques have provided foundations for further development of more effective and accurate detection of T. gondii infection. These advances will contribute to an improved understanding of the epidemiology, prevention and control of toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan 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, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ze-Dong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Si-Yang Huang
- 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, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China.
| | - 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, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225009, People's Republic of China.
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Xiao J, Yolken RH. Strain hypothesis of Toxoplasma gondii infection on the outcome of human diseases. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2015; 213:828-45. [PMID: 25600911 DOI: 10.1111/apha.12458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is an exceptionally successful food and waterborne parasite that infects approximately 1 billion people worldwide. Genotyping of T. gondii isolates from all continents revealed a complex population structure. Recent research supports the notion that T. gondii genotype may be associated with disease severity. Here, we (1) discuss molecular and serological approaches for designation of T. gondii strain type, (2) overview the literatures on the association of T. gondii strain type and the outcome of human disease and (3) explore possible mechanisms underlying these strain-specific pathology and severity of human toxoplasmosis. Although no final conclusions can be drawn, it is clear that virulent strains (e.g. strains containing type I or atypical alleles) are significantly more often associated with increased frequency and severity of human toxoplasmosis. The significance of highly virulent strains can cause severe diseases in immunocompetent patients and might implicated in brain disorders such as schizophrenia should led to reconsideration of toxoplasmosis. Further studies that combine parasite strain typing and human factor analysis (e.g. immune status and genetic background) are required for better understanding of human susceptibility or resistance to toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Xiao
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology; Department of Pediatrics; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Baltimore MD USA
| | - R. H. Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology; Department of Pediatrics; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Baltimore MD USA
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Genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Portugal, Austria and Israel reveals higher genetic variability within the type II lineage. Parasitology 2015; 142:948-57. [PMID: 25677825 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182015000050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study compared genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from Portugal, Austria and Israel. For this, we genotyped 90 T. gondii isolates (16 from Portugal, 67 from Austria and 7 from Israel) using 10 nested PCR-restriction length polymorphism (RFLP) genetic markers and 15 microsatellite (MS) markers. By PCR-RFLP typing, 7 isolates from Portugal chickens were identified as type II (ToxoDB #1 or #3), 4 were type III (ToxoDB #2) and the remaining 4 isolates have unique genotype pattern were designated as ToxoDB #254. One mouse virulent isolate from a bovine fetus (Bos taurus) in Portugal was type I (ToxoDB #10) at all loci and designated as TgCowPr1. All 67 isolates from Austria and 7 from Israel were type II (ToxoDB #1 or #3). By MS typing, many additional genetic variations were revealed among the type II and type III isolates. Phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates from the same geographical locations tend to cluster together, and there is little overlapping of genotypes among different locations. This study demonstrated that the MS markers can provide higher discriminatory power to reveal association of genotypes with geographical locations. Future studies of the type II strains in Europe by these MS markers will be useful to reveal transmission patterns of the parasite.
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Pleyer U, Schlüter D, Mänz M. Ocular toxoplasmosis: recent aspects of pathophysiology and clinical implications. Ophthalmic Res 2014; 52:116-23. [PMID: 25248050 DOI: 10.1159/000363141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an extremely successful opportunistic parasite which infects approximately one third of the human population worldwide. The impact of this parasite on human health becomes particularly manifest in congenital damage with infection and subsequent inflammation of neuronal tissues including the retina. Although advances in our understanding could be achieved in ocular toxoplasmosis, large gaps still exist on factors influencing the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this potentially blinding disease. We are only at the beginning of understanding the complex biology of this parasite and its mechanisms of invasion, virulence and interaction with the host's immune response. Since it is a preventable cause of blindness, it is necessary to assess factors that have the potential to control this disease in the future. This mini review will focus on recent advances in postnatal acquired ocular infection and the factors that may influence its prevalence and functional outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Pleyer
- Eye Clinic, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Ma JS, Sasai M, Ohshima J, Lee Y, Bando H, Takeda K, Yamamoto M. Selective and strain-specific NFAT4 activation by the Toxoplasma gondii polymorphic dense granule protein GRA6. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 211:2013-32. [PMID: 25225460 PMCID: PMC4172224 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20131272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ma et al. show that the Toxoplasma gondii polymorphic dense granule protein GRA6 triggers the activation of the host transcription factor NFAT4, thus affecting the host immune response and maximizing parasite virulence. Toxoplasma gondii infection results in co-option and subversion of host cellular signaling pathways. This process involves discharge of T. gondii effector molecules from parasite secretory organelles such as rhoptries and dense granules. We report that the T. gondii polymorphic dense granule protein GRA6 regulates activation of the host transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells 4 (NFAT4). GRA6 overexpression robustly and selectively activated NFAT4 via calcium modulating ligand (CAMLG). Infection with wild-type (WT) but not GRA6-deficient parasites induced NFAT4 activation. Moreover, GRA6-deficient parasites failed to exhibit full virulence in local infection, and the treatment of WT mice with an NFAT inhibitor mitigated virulence of WT parasites. Notably, NFAT4-deficient mice displayed prolonged survival, decreased recruitment of CD11b+ Ly6G+ cells to the site of infection, and impaired expression of chemokines such as Cxcl2 and Ccl2. In addition, infection with type I parasites culminated in significantly higher NFAT4 activation than type II parasites due to a polymorphism in the C terminus of GRA6. Collectively, our data suggest that GRA6-dependent NFAT4 activation is required for T. gondii manipulation of host immune responses to maximize the parasite virulence in a strain-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Su Ma
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Miwa Sasai
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Jun Ohshima
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Youngae Lee
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hironori Bando
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Takeda
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Masahiro Yamamoto
- Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan Department of Immunoparasitology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, and Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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Epidemiological review of Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans and animals in Portugal. Parasitology 2014; 141:1699-708. [PMID: 25215422 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182014001413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis. However, data from Portugal are limited and a considerable part of the literature is in Portuguese. Currently, the rate of congenital infection in Portugal is unknown, and almost nothing is known of sequelae of congenital toxoplasmosis. There is no recent general population-based serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii in humans in Portugal. In addition, there is little information on genetic characteristics of T. gondii in animals and humans. In the present paper, we review prevalence, clinical spectrum and epidemiology of T. gondii in humans and animals in Portugal. This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, physicians and veterinarians.
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Schlüter D, Däubener W, Schares G, Groß U, Pleyer U, Lüder C. Animals are key to human toxoplasmosis. Int J Med Microbiol 2014; 304:917-29. [PMID: 25240467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an extremely sucessfull protozoal parasite which infects almost all mamalian species including humans. Approximately 30% of the human population worldwide is chronically infected with T. gondii. In general, human infection is asymptomatic but the parasite may induce severe disease in fetuses and immunocompromised patients. In addition, T. gondii may cause sight-threatening posterior uveitis in immunocompetent patients. Apart from few exceptions, humans acquire T. gondii from animals. Both, the oral uptake of T. gondii oocysts released by specific hosts, i.e. felidae, and of cysts persisting in muscle cells of animals result in human toxoplasmosis. In the present review, we discuss recent new data on the cell biology of T. gondii and parasite diversity in animals. In addition, we focus on the impact of these various parasite strains and their different virulence on the clinical outcome of human congenital toxoplasmosis and T. gondii uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schlüter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Infection Control and Prevention, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Walter Däubener
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Pleyer
- Eye Clinic, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
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Characterization of ROP18 alleles in human toxoplasmosis. Parasitol Int 2014; 63:463-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2013.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2013] [Revised: 09/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Ocular toxoplasmosis past, present and new aspects of an old disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 39:77-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2013.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Tolba MM, El-Taweel HA, Khalil SS, Hazzah WA, Heshmat MG. Genotype analysis of T. gondii strains associated with human infection in Egypt. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:1563-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3801-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Silveira C, Gargano N, Kijlstra A, Petersen E. Toxoplasmavaccines: appropriate end points and sample size in future human clinical trials. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2014; 7:905-8. [DOI: 10.1586/eri.09.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Maksimov P, Zerweck J, Dubey JP, Pantchev N, Frey CF, Maksimov A, Reimer U, Schutkowski M, Hosseininejad M, Ziller M, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in cats (Felis domesticus) reveals predominance of type II infections in Germany. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80213. [PMID: 24244652 PMCID: PMC3820565 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cats are definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii and play an essential role in the epidemiology of this parasite. The study aims at clarifying whether cats are able to develop specific antibodies against different clonal types of T. gondii and to determine by serotyping the T. gondii clonal types prevailing in cats as intermediate hosts in Germany. Methodology To establish a peptide-microarray serotyping test, we identified 24 suitable peptides using serological T. gondii positive (n=21) and negative cat sera (n=52). To determine the clonal type-specific antibody response of cats in Germany, 86 field sera from T. gondii seropositive naturally infected cats were tested. In addition, we analyzed the antibody response in cats experimentally infected with non-canonical T. gondii types (n=7). Findings Positive cat reference sera reacted predominantly with peptides harbouring amino acid sequences specific for the clonal T. gondii type the cats were infected with. When the array was applied to field sera from Germany, 98.8% (85/86) of naturally-infected cats recognized similar peptide patterns as T. gondii type II reference sera and showed the strongest reaction intensities with clonal type II-specific peptides. In addition, naturally infected cats recognized type II-specific peptides significantly more frequently than peptides of other type-specificities. Cats infected with non-canonical types showed the strongest reactivity with peptides presenting amino-acid sequences specific for both, type I and type III. Conclusions Cats are able to mount a clonal type-specific antibody response against T. gondii. Serotyping revealed for most seropositive field sera patterns resembling those observed after clonal type II-T. gondii infection. This finding is in accord with our previous results on the occurrence of T. gondii clonal types in oocysts shed by cats in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Maksimov
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
| | | | - Jitender P. Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, USDA, ARS, ANRI, BARC-East, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- Vet Med Labor GmbH, Division of IDEXX Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Caroline F. Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aline Maksimov
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ulf Reimer
- JPT, Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mike Schutkowski
- Institute for Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Department of Enzymology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Mario Ziller
- Workgroup Biomathematics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
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Masatani T, Matsuo T, Tanaka T, Terkawi MA, Lee EG, Goo YK, Aboge GO, Yamagishi J, Hayashi K, Kameyama K, Cao S, Nishikawa Y, Xuan X. TgGRA23, a novel Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein associated with the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and intravacuolar network. Parasitol Int 2013; 62:372-9. [PMID: 23583316 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2013.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Revised: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite, which relies on a specialized compartment, the parasitophorous vacuole (PV), to survive within host cells. Dense granules within the parasite release a large variety of proteins to maintain the integrity of the vacuole structure. Here, we identified a novel dense granule protein in T. gondii, TgGRA23, which is a homolog of the Sarcocystis muris dense granule protein, SmDG32. Recombinant TgGRA23 (rTgGRA23) expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein was used to raise antisera in mice and rabbits. Immunoblotting showed that antisera from the immunized mice and rabbits reacted with parasite lysates to yield a 21-kDa native protein. In addition, immuno-electron microscopic examination showed that TgGRA23 resides in the dense granules, PV membrane and intravacuolar network of the parasite. To confirm the precise subcellular localization of TgGRA23 in T. gondii, an immunofluorescent antibody test was performed using dense granule markers. Notably, TgGRA23 co-localized with other dense granule proteins including TgGRA4 and TgGRA7, in the extracellular-stage parasites. Biochemical experiments indicated that TgGRA23 is insoluble and may form an electrostatic complex that is resistant to non-ionic detergents. Furthermore, specific antibodies to TgGRA23 were detected during the chronic stage of Toxoplasma infection in mice. Our results suggest that TgGRA23 is an as yet unknown member of the T. gondii dense granule proteins, and that it may be involved in remodeling or maintenance of the PV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsunori Masatani
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
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Specific antibody responses against Neospora caninum recombinant rNcGRA7, rNcSAG4, rNcBSR4 and rNcSRS9 proteins are correlated with virulence in mice. Parasitology 2013; 140:569-79. [PMID: 23343779 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012002041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The intraspecific diversity of Neospora caninum is a determinant for in vivo parasite virulence and in vitro parasite behaviour. The relationship between isolate virulence and specific antibody responses against key parasite proteins has not been well characterized. The response kinetics and the differences in specific anti-rNcGRA7, -rNcSAG4, -rNcBSR4 and -rNcSRS9 antibody levels were analysed by recombinant protein-based ELISA in groups of mice inoculated with 10 different N. caninum isolates that differ in their virulence. The majority of the virulence parameters analysed correlated with the specific antibody levels against the 4 recombinant proteins. The antibodies developed against the highly immunogenic protein NcGRA7 were significantly higher in mice inoculated with high virulence isolates than in those inoculated with low-to-moderate virulence isolates in both non-pregnant and pregnant mouse models. Moreover, these levels were correlated with the anti-N. caninum IgG1 and IgG2a responses and the in vitro tachyzoite yield at 56 h. The antibodies directed against the bradyzoite-specific proteins were not detected in a non-pregnant mouse model. However, some seropositive mice were found in groups inoculated with high virulence isolates in a pregnant mouse model. NcGRA7 and NcSAG4 are proteins clearly correlated with virulence, and to a lesser extent NcBSR4 and NcSRS9 proteins. Moreover, antibodies to bradyzoite-specific proteins appear to also be related to virulence in mice. Further analyses should be performed in order to verify the usefulness of these proteins as predictive markers for virulence in an experimental bovine model of neosporosis.
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Galvan-Ramirez MDLL, Troyo R, Roman S, Calvillo-Sanchez C, Bernal-Redondo R. A systematic review and meta-analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the Mexican population. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:271. [PMID: 23181616 PMCID: PMC3549773 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii and at least one-third of the world's population has detectable T. gondii antibodies. The seroprevalence of T.gondii ranges from 15% to 50% among the Mexican general population. The aim of this work was to determine the mean prevalence and weighted mean prevalence of T. gondii infection, and to evaluate the epidemiological transition of infection in Mexico. METHODS Pub Med, Lilacs, Medline, Latindex, Google Scholar data bases were searched to retrieve reports from 1951 up to 2012 regarding prevalence data, diagnostic tests and risk factors of infection among the adult population. Data collection and criteria eligibility was established in order to determine the crude prevalence (proportion of positive cases) of each study, together with weighted population prevalence according to individual research group categories to limit the bias that may impose the heterogeneous nature of the reports. A Forest Plot chart and linear regression analysis were performed by plotting the prevalence of infection reported from each study over a period of sixty years. RESULTS A total of 132 studies were collected from 41 publications that included 70,123 individuals. The average mean prevalence was 27.97%, and weighted mean prevalence was 19.27%. Comparisons among different risk groups showed that the weighted prevalence was higher in women with miscarriages (36.03%), immunocompromised patients (28.54%), mentally-ill patients (38.52%) and other risk groups (35.13%). Toxoplasma infection among the Mexican population showed a downward trend of 0.1%/year over a period of sixty years that represents a 5.8% reduction in prevalence. CONCLUSIONS This analysis showed a downward trend of infection; however, there are individuals at high risk for infection such as immunocompromised patients, mentally-ill patients and pregnant women. Further research is required to provide better prevention strategies, effective diagnostic testing and medical management of patients. Educational efforts are required to avoid the transmission of infection in populations that cannot be controlled by drugs alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ma de la Luz Galvan-Ramirez
- Department of Physiology, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada # 950 Edificio N, Col. Independencia, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44320, México
| | - Rogelio Troyo
- Department of Physiology, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada # 950 Edificio N, Col. Independencia, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44320, México
| | - Sonia Roman
- Department of Molecular Biology in Medicine, Civil Hospital of Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde”, University of Guadalajara, Hospital #278, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44280, Mexico
| | - Carlos Calvillo-Sanchez
- Department of Physiology, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Sierra Mojada # 950 Edificio N, Col. Independencia, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44320, México
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Maksimov P, Zerweck J, Maksimov A, Hotop A, Groß U, Spekker K, Däubener W, Werdermann S, Niederstrasser O, Petri E, Mertens M, Ulrich RG, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Analysis of clonal type-specific antibody reactions in Toxoplasma gondii seropositive humans from Germany by peptide-microarray. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34212. [PMID: 22470537 PMCID: PMC3314601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Different clonal types of Toxoplasma gondii are thought to be associated with distinct clinical manifestations of infections. Serotyping is a novel technique which may allow to determine the clonal type of T. gondii humans are infected with and to extend typing studies to larger populations which include infected but non-diseased individuals. Methodology A peptide-microarray test for T. gondii serotyping was established with 54 previously published synthetic peptides, which mimic clonal type-specific epitopes. The test was applied to human sera (n = 174) collected from individuals with an acute T. gondii infection (n = 21), a latent T. gondii infection (n = 53) and from T. gondii-seropositive forest workers (n = 100). Findings The majority (n = 124; 71%) of all T. gondii seropositive human sera showed reactions against synthetic peptides with sequences specific for clonal type II (type II peptides). Type I and type III peptides were recognized by 42% (n = 73) or 16% (n = 28) of the human sera, respectively, while type II–III, type I–III or type I–II peptides were recognized by 49% (n = 85), 36% (n = 62) or 14% (n = 25) of the sera, respectively. Highest reaction intensities were observed with synthetic peptides mimicking type II-specific epitopes. A proportion of the sera (n = 22; 13%) showed no reaction with type-specific peptides. Individuals with acute toxoplasmosis reacted with a statistically significantly higher number of peptides as compared to individuals with latent T. gondii infection or seropositive forest workers. Conclusions Type II-specific reactions were overrepresented and higher in intensity in the study population, which was in accord with genotyping studies on T. gondii oocysts previously conducted in the same area. There were also individuals with type I- or type III-specific reactions. Well-characterized reference sera and further specific peptide markers are needed to establish and to perform future serotyping approaches with higher resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Maksimov
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Wusterhausen, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
| | | | - Aline Maksimov
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Wusterhausen, Germany
| | - Andrea Hotop
- German National Consulting Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- German National Consulting Laboratory for Toxoplasmosis, Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katrin Spekker
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Walter Däubener
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Marc Mertens
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Wusterhausen, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Wusterhausen, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
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Sousa S, Canada N, Correia da Costa JM, Dardé ML. Serotyping of naturally Toxoplasma gondii infected meat-producing animals. Vet Parasitol 2009; 169:24-8. [PMID: 20083355 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Revised: 12/10/2009] [Accepted: 12/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Serotyping was previously described as a promising method for typing strains of Toxoplasma gondii. The majority of precedent studies utilized serum samples collected from human patients with different T. gondii-associated pathologies. The aim of this work was to study the applicability of the same procedure for serotyping naturally infected meat-producing animals. An ELISA test based on GRA6 and GRA7 C-terminal polymorphic peptides was used. Peptide GRA6II has polymorphisms specific for the archetypal strains type II, GRA6I/III for strains type I and III, GRA7I for strains type I and GRA7III for strains type III. As reference material, and to validate this approach, serum samples from eleven free-range chickens and fifteen pigs used for Toxoplasma genotypes isolation were selected. These strains integrate the Biological Resource Centre (BRC) ToxoBS Bank. Three serum samples from chickens and two from pigs had serotyping results in agreement with genotyping. Thirty-five serum samples from chickens, twenty-nine from pigs and fifty from sheep, seropositive for T. gondii, from which no isolate was obtained, were also serotyped. Serotype III appeared significantly more frequent among sheep. Our results show that serotyping still need refinement, but may become a valuable tool for typing Toxoplasma strains from animal origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Sousa
- Centro de Imunologia e Biologia Parasitária (CIBP), CSPGF, INSA Porto, Portugal.
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Severe pulmonary toxoplasmosis after allo-SCT in two patients: from Toxoplasma genotyping to clinical management. Bone Marrow Transplant 2009; 45:580-3. [PMID: 19597419 DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2009.167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Selection of polymorphic peptides from GRA6 and GRA7 sequences of Toxoplasma gondii strains to be used in serotyping. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2009; 16:1158-69. [PMID: 19494084 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00092-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii isolates obtained from geographical environments other than Europe and North America revealed the existence of atypical strains that are not included in the three archetypal clonal lineages (lineages I, II, and III). GRA6 and GRA7 are polymorphic genes that have been used for the genotyping of Toxoplasma. The coding regions of GRA6 and GRA7 from 49 nonarchetypal strains were sequenced and compared with the sequences of type I, II, and III reference strains. Eighteen and 10 different amino acid sequences were found for GRA6 and GRA7, respectively. The polymorphisms found between the different sequences were analyzed, with the objective of defining peptides to be used for the serotyping of Toxoplasma infections. Two peptides specific for clonal lineages I and III (peptides GRA7I and GRA7III, respectively) were selected from the GRA7 locus. Three peptides specific for some atypical strains (peptides Am6, Af6, and Am7) were selected from both the GRA6 and the GRA7 loci. Serum samples from humans infected with Toxoplasma strains of known genotypes were serotyped with the selected peptides. Peptide GRA7III seems to be a good candidate for the serotyping of infections caused by type III strains. Peptide GRA7I had a very low sensitivity. Peptides Am6 and Af6 had low specificities, since they reacted with serum samples from patients infected with strains belonging to the three archetypal lineages. Although peptide Am7 was specific, it had low sensitivity.
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