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Tounkara M, Boulangé A, Thonnus M, Bringaud F, Bélem AMG, Bengaly Z, Thévenon S, Berthier D, Rivière L. Novel protein candidates for serodiagnosis of African animal trypanosomosis: Evaluation of the diagnostic potential of lysophospholipase and glycerol kinase from Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009985. [PMID: 34919562 PMCID: PMC8719729 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomosis, a parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by tsetse flies, affects both humans and animals in sub-Saharan Africa. While the human form (HAT) is now limited to foci, the animal form (AAT) is widespread and affects the majority of sub-Saharan African countries, and constitutes a real obstacle to the development of animal breeding. The control of AAT is hampered by a lack of standardized and easy-to used diagnosis tools. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of TbLysoPLA and TbGK proteins from Trypanosoma brucei brucei for AAT serodiagnosis in indirect ELISA using experimental and field sera, individually, in combination, and associated with the BiP C-terminal domain (C25) from T. congolense. These novel proteins were characterized in silico, and their sequence analysis showed strong identities with their orthologs in other trypanosomes (more than 60% for TbLysoPLA and more than 82% for TbGK). TbLysoPLA displays a low homology with cattle (<35%) and Piroplasma (<15%). However, TbGK shares more than 58% with cattle and between 45–55% with Piroplasma. We could identify seven predicted epitopes on TbLysoPLA sequence and 14 potential epitopes on TbGK. Both proteins were recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli. Their diagnostic potential was evaluated by ELISA with sera from cattle experimentally infected with T. congolense and with T.b. brucei, sera from cattle naturally infected with T. congolense, T. vivax and T.b. brucei. Both proteins used separately had poor diagnostic performance. However, used together with the BiP protein, they showed 60% of sensitivity and between 87–96% of specificity, comparable to reference ELISA tests. In conclusion, we showed that the performance of the protein combinations is much better than the proteins tested individually for the diagnosis of AAT. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is an endemic disease in sub-Saharan Africa that hinders the development of livestock production on the continent. The control of the disease is based on chemotherapy, vector control and diagnosis. Misuse, as well as the continuous/regular use of a limited number of anti-trypanosomal drugs, is responsible for the appearance of increasingly drug-resistant strains of trypanosomes. In terms of serological diagnosis, the most efficient test at present suffers from a lack of reagent standardization. Unfortunately, even the most promising candidates fail due to low sensitivity in primately or chronically infected animals. Based on this observation it seems obvious that diagnosis must be revisited. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic potential of two Trypanosoma brucei proteins, TbLysoPLA and TbGK, in indirect ELISA for antibody detection. To provide a proof of concept that the judicious association of immunoreactive proteins could improve the sensitivity and specificity of tests based on recombinant antigens, we used these molecules alone and then in combination, associated or not with the BiP protein of T. congolense. The evaluation in serological diagnosis showed that the two proteins used separately had a poor performance. However, when used together with the BiP protein, they showed a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity between 87 and 96%, comparable to the reference tests. It shows for the first time that the performance of protein combinations is much better than that of the proteins tested individually for the diagnosis of AAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magamba Tounkara
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
- Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l’Élevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - Alain Boulangé
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Montpellier, France
- INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Magali Thonnus
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | - Frédéric Bringaud
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Zakaria Bengaly
- Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l’Élevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso
| | - Sophie Thévenon
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Montpellier, France
- INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - David Berthier
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, Montpellier, France
- INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Loïc Rivière
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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Santos RB, Figueiredo A. Two sides of the same story in grapevine-pathogen interactions. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:3367-3380. [PMID: 33631010 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Proteases are an integral part of plant defence systems, and their role in plant-pathogen interactions is unequivocal. Emerging evidence suggests that different protease families contribute to the establishment not only of hypersensitive response, priming, and signalling, but also of recognition events through complex proteolytic cascades. Moreover, they play a crucial role in pathogen/microbe-associated molecular pattern (PAMP/MAMP)-triggered immunity as well as in effector-triggered immunity. However, despite important advances in our understanding of the role of proteases in plant defence, the contribution of proteases to pathogen defence in grapevine remains poorly understood. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the main grapevine pathosystems and explore the role of serine, cysteine, and aspartic proteases from both the host and pathogen point of views.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita B Santos
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Andreia Figueiredo
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisboa, Portugal
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Chimera ET, Fosgate GT, Etter EMC, Boulangé A, Vorster I, Neves L. A one health investigation of pathogenic trypanosomes of cattle in Malawi. Prev Vet Med 2021; 188:105255. [PMID: 33465642 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic protozoan trypanosomes of the genus Trypanosoma cause infections in both man and livestock in Africa. Understanding the current spatial distribution of trypanosomes, herd-level factors associated with Trypanosoma brucei infection as well as local knowledge of African trypanosomosis is key to its prevention and control. A cross-sectional study was performed that sampled 53 livestock farmers and 444 cattle throughout Malawi. Cattle were screened for trypanosomes using serology and molecular techniques. Questionnaires were administered to livestock herders and incidence of hospital diagnosed human trypanosome infections was estimated from reports submitted to the Department of Health Unit. The apparent prevalence of trypanosome species based on molecular detection was low for Trypanosoma brucei (2%; 95 % CI: 1-4 %) and Trypanosoma congolense (3%; 95 % CI: 2-5 %) but higher for Trypanosoma theileri (26 %; 95 % CI: 22-30 %). The central region of the country was identified as being at a higher risk of T.brucei infection. One of the sampled cattle was confirmed as being infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Human trypanosome cases were more frequently reported in the northern region with an estimated incidence of 5.9 cases per 100,000 people in Rumphi District. The control of zoonotic diseases that impact poor livestock herders requires a One Health approach due to the close contact between humans and their animals and the reliance on animal production for a sustainable livelihood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth T Chimera
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - Geoffrey T Fosgate
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Eric M C Etter
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; CIRAD, UMR Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risque et Ecosystèmes (ASTRE), Pretoria, South Africa; ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Alain Boulangé
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Av. de Moçambique Km 1.5, Maputo, Mozambique; CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, 01009 Maputo, Mozambique; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Ilse Vorster
- Vectors and Vector Borne Diseases Research Program, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Luis Neves
- Vectors and Vector Borne Diseases Research Program, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Av. de Moçambique Km 1.5, Maputo, Mozambique
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Dvořáková H, Leontovyč R, Macháček T, O'Donoghue AJ, Šedo O, Zdráhal Z, Craik CS, Caffrey CR, Horák P, Mikeš L. Isoforms of Cathepsin B1 in Neurotropic Schistosomula of Trichobilharzia regenti Differ in Substrate Preferences and a Highly Expressed Catalytically Inactive Paralog Binds Cystatin. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:66. [PMID: 32175287 PMCID: PMC7054455 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomula (the post-infective stages) of the neurotropic schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti possess multiple isoforms of cathepsin B1 peptidase (TrCB1.1-TrCB1.6) with involvement in nutrient digestion. The comparison of substrate preferences of TrCB1.1 and TrCB1.4 showed that TrCB1.4 had a very narrow substrate specificity and after processing it was less effective toward protein substrates when compared to TrCB1.1. Self-processing of both isoforms could be facilitated by sulfated polysaccharides due to a specific binding motif in the pro-sequence. Trans-activation by heterologous enzymes was also successfully employed. Expression profiling revealed a high level of transcription of genes encoding the enzymatically inactive paralogs TrCB1.5 and TrCB1.6. The transcription level of TrCB1.6 was comparable with that of TrCB1.1 and TrCB1.2, the most abundant active isoforms. Recombinant TrCB1.6wt, a wild type paralog with a Cys29-to-Gly substitution in the active site that renders the enzyme inactive, was processed by the active TrCB1 forms and by an asparaginyl endopeptidase. Although TrCB1.6wt lacked hydrolytic activity, endopeptidase, but not dipeptidase, activity could be restored by mutating Gly29 to Cys29. The lack of exopeptidase activity may be due to other mutations, such as His110-to-Asn in the occluding loop and Asp224-to-Gly in the main body of the mature TrCB1.6, which do not occur in the active isoforms TrCB1.1 and TrCB1.4 with exopeptidase activity. The catalytically active enzymes and the inactive TrCB1.6 paralog formed complexes with chicken cystatin, thus supporting experimentally the hypothesis that inactive paralogs could potentially regulate the activity of the active forms or protect them from being inhibited by host inhibitors. The effect on cell viability and nitric oxide production by selected immune cells observed for TrCB1.1 was not confirmed for TrCB1.6. We show here that the active isoforms of TrCB1 have different affinities for peptide substrates thereby facilitating diversity in protein-derived nutrition for the parasite. The inactive paralogs are unexpectedly highly expressed and one of them retains the ability to bind cystatins, likely due to specific mutations in the occluding loop and the enzyme body. This suggests a role in sequestration of inhibitors and protection of active cysteine peptidases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Dvořáková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Roman Leontovyč
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Macháček
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Anthony J. O'Donoghue
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ondřej Šedo
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Petr Horák
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Libor Mikeš
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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da Silva RE, Sampaio BM, Tonhosolo R, da Costa APR, da Silva Costa LE, Nieri-Bastos FA, Sperança MA, Marcili A. Exploring Leishmania infantum cathepsin as a new molecular marker for phylogenetic relationships and visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:895. [PMID: 31660874 PMCID: PMC6819481 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4463-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmania infantum, the etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis, is a neglected zoonosis that requires validation and standardization of satisfactory diagnostic methodologies. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cathepsin L-like protease as a target for making molecular diagnoses and as a phylogenetic marker enabling to understand the intraspecies variations and evolutionary history of L. infantum in Brazil. Methods We used 44 isolates of L. infantum. The cathepsin L-like gene fragments were amplified, sequenced, manually aligned and analyzed using inference methods. The sequences generated were used to search and design oligonucleotide primers to be used in reactions specific to the target parasite. Results The cathepsin L-like gene did not show any intraspecies variability among the isolates analyzed. The pair of primers proposed amplified the target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of L. infantum isolates and were effective for DNA amplification at concentrations of as low as 10− 11 ng/μl. The proposed marker did not present cross-reactions with other hemoparasites. When used for making the diagnosis in a panel of clinical samples from dogs, a positivity rate of 49.03% (102/208) was obtained, versus 14.42% (30/208) for a ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) marker. In samples from sandflies, the rate was 6.25% and from humans, 14.28%. Conclusions The results described in this work allow us to infer that CatLeish-PCR is a sensitive and specific marker for use in diagnostic trials of L. infantum and in clinical and epidemiological surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Emiliano da Silva
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Bruna Matarucco Sampaio
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Renata Tonhosolo
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Eduardo da Silva Costa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Ap Nieri-Bastos
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Márcia Aparecida Sperança
- Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.,Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil. .,Medicina Veterinária e Bem estar animal, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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6
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Durán-Pérez SA, López-Moreno HS, Jiménez-Edeza M, Parra-Unda JR, Rangel-López E, Rendón-Maldonado JG. Upregulation of Cathepsin B-like Protease Activity During Apoptosis inGiardia duodenalis. CURR PROTEOMICS 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1570164616666190204112452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:In eukaryotic cells, apoptosis signaling pathways are controlled mainly by aspartic acid cysteine proteases (caspases). However, certain unicellular microorganisms, such as Giardia duodenalis, lack these proteins. Thus, other cysteine proteases may play an important role in the parasite apoptosis signaling pathway.Objective:To understand the effect of cathepsin B-like inhibition on the cell viability of Giardia duodenalis and its cell death process.Methods:Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify apoptotic proteases. Analysis showed that cathepsin B-like protease genes from G. duodenalis were the best candidate. A homology modeling technique was used to explore in silico the inhibitory effect of E-64 against cathepsin B-like proteases from G. duodenalis genome and to examine the effect of curcumin on cathepsin B-like activity regulation. In addition, the effect of E-64 on parasite survival and DNA fragmentation was tested.Results:Eight cathepsin B-like protease coding genes were identified in silico. Interestingly, while these sequences lacked the cathepsin B characteristic occluding loop, they maintained the catalytic active- site responsible for cathepsin B activity, which was evidenced by the increase in the degradation of the Z-RR-AMC substrate, suggesting the upregulation of the activity of these proteins. Additionally, inhibition of E-64 against G. duodenalis trophozoites caused a decrease in DNA fragmentation compared to control cells and had a positive effect on parasite survival after exposure to curcumin.Conclusion:Overall, these results suggested that Giardia duodenalis might have a cell death mechanism in which cathepsin B-like proteases play an important role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Alonso Durán-Pérez
- Doctorate in Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Chemistry Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Calzada de las Americas Norte 2771, Bureaucrat, 80030 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Héctor Samuel López-Moreno
- Doctorate in Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Chemistry Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Calzada de las Americas Norte 2771, Bureaucrat, 80030 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Maribel Jiménez-Edeza
- Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Chemistry Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Calzada de las Americas Norte 2771, Bureaucrat, 80030 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Jesús Ricardo Parra-Unda
- Doctorate in Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Chemistry Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Calzada de las Americas Norte 2771, Bureaucrat, 80030 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
| | - Edgar Rangel-López
- Laboratory of Amino Acids Exciters, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Manuel Velasco Suarez, Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Guadalupe Rendón-Maldonado
- Doctorate in Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Chemistry Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Calzada de las Americas Norte 2771, Bureaucrat, 80030 Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico
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7
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Abbas AH, Silva Pereira S, D'Archivio S, Wickstead B, Morrison LJ, Hall N, Hertz-Fowler C, Darby AC, Jackson AP. The Structure of a Conserved Telomeric Region Associated with Variant Antigen Loci in the Blood Parasite Trypanosoma congolense. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 10:2458-2473. [PMID: 30165630 PMCID: PMC6152948 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evy186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne disease of humans and livestock caused by African trypanosomes (Trypanosoma spp.). Survival in the vertebrate bloodstream depends on antigenic variation of Variant Surface Glycoproteins (VSGs) coating the parasite surface. In T. brucei, a model for antigenic variation, monoallelic VSG expression originates from dedicated VSG expression sites (VES). Trypanosoma brucei VES have a conserved structure consisting of a telomeric VSG locus downstream of unique, repeat sequences, and an independent promoter. Additional protein-coding sequences, known as “Expression Site Associated Genes (ESAGs)”, are also often present and are implicated in diverse, bloodstream-stage functions. Trypanosoma congolense is a related veterinary pathogen, also displaying VSG-mediated antigenic variation. A T. congolense VES has not been described, making it unclear if regulation of VSG expression is conserved between species. Here, we describe a conserved telomeric region associated with VSG loci from long-read DNA sequencing of two T. congolense strains, which consists of a distal repeat, conserved noncoding elements and other genes besides the VSG; although these are not orthologous to T. brucei ESAGs. Most conserved telomeric regions are associated with accessory minichromosomes, but the same structure may also be associated with megabase chromosomes. We propose that this region represents the T. congolense VES, and through comparison with T. brucei, we discuss the parallel evolution of antigenic switching mechanisms, and unique adaptation of the T. brucei VES for developmental regulation of bloodstream-stage genes. Hence, we provide a basis for understanding antigenic switching in T. congolense and the origins of the African trypanosome VES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hadi Abbas
- Centre for Genomic Research, Biosciences Building, Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Kufa, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Sara Silva Pereira
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Simon D'Archivio
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Wickstead
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Liam J Morrison
- Department of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Hall
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alistair C Darby
- Centre for Genomic Research, Biosciences Building, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P Jackson
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Eyssen LEA, Vather P, Jackson L, Ximba P, Biteau N, Baltz T, Boulangé A, Büscher P, Coetzer THT. Recombinant and native TviCATL from Trypanosoma vivax: Enzymatic characterisation and evaluation as a diagnostic target for animal African trypanosomosis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 223:50-54. [PMID: 29990512 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
African animal trypanosomosis (nagana) is caused by tsetse-transmitted protozoan parasites. Their cysteine proteases are potential chemotherapeutic and diagnostic targets. The N-glycosylated catalytic domain of Trypanosoma vivax cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, rTviCATLcat, was recombinantly expressed and purified from culture supernatants while native TviCATL was purified from T. vivax Y486 parasite lysates. Typical of Clan CA, family C1 proteases, TviCATL activity is sensitive to E-64 and cystatin and substrate specificity is defined by the S2 pocket. Leucine was preferred in P2 and basic and non-bulky, hydrophobic residues accepted in P1 and P3 respectively. Reversible aldehyde inhibitors, antipain, chymostatin and leupeptin, with Arg in P1 and irreversible peptidyl chloromethylketone inhibitors with hydrophobic residues in P2 inhibited TviCATL activity. TviCATL digested host proteins: bovine haemoglobin, serum albumin, fibrinogen and denatured collagen (gelatine) over a wide pH range, including neutral to slightly acidic pH. The recombinant catalytic domain of TviCATL showed promise as a diagnostic target for detecting T. vivax infection in cattle in an indirect antibody detection ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E-A Eyssen
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Perina Vather
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Laurelle Jackson
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Phindile Ximba
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Nicolas Biteau
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Université Bordeaux. UMR-CNRS 5234, 146, Rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Théo Baltz
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Université Bordeaux. UMR-CNRS 5234, 146, Rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Alain Boulangé
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, 01009 Maputo, Mozambique; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, 01009 Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Philippe Büscher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Theresa H T Coetzer
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.
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Boulangé A, Pillay D, Chevtzoff C, Biteau N, Comé de Graça V, Rempeters L, Theodoridis D, Baltz T. Development of a rapid antibody test for point-of-care diagnosis of animal African trypanosomosis. Vet Parasitol 2017; 233:32-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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10
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Oliveira LC, Okamoto DN, Oliveira JR, Kondo MY, Gouvea IE, Biteau N, Baltz T, Murakami MT, Juliano L, Juliano MA. Analysis of peptidase activities of a cathepsin B-like (TcoCBc1) from Trypanosoma congolense. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2014; 1844:1260-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2014.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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11
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Rodrigues AC, Ortiz PA, Costa-Martins AG, Neves L, Garcia HA, Alves JM, Camargo EP, Alfieri SC, Gibson W, Teixeira MM. Congopain genes diverged to become specific to Savannah, Forest and Kilifi subgroups of Trypanosoma congolense, and are valuable for diagnosis, genotyping and phylogenetic inferences. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 23:20-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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12
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Zhou M, Suganuma K, Ruttayaporn N, Nguyen TT, Yamasaki S, Igarashi I, Kawazu SI, Suzuki Y, Inoue N. Identification and characterization of a Trypanosoma congolense 46 kDa protein as a candidate serodiagnostic antigen. J Vet Med Sci 2014; 76:799-806. [PMID: 24492330 PMCID: PMC4108761 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.13-0462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma congolense is a major livestock pathogen in
Africa, causing large economic losses with serious effects on animal health. Reliable
serodiagnostic tests are therefore urgently needed to control T.
congolense infection. In this study, we have identified one T.
congolense protein as a new candidate serodiagnostic antigen. The 46.4 kDa
protein (TcP46, Gene ID: TcIL3000.0.25950) is expressed 5.36 times higher in metacyclic
forms than epimastigote forms. The complete nucleotide sequences of TcP46 contained an
open reading frame of 1,218 bp. Southern blot analysis indicated that at least two copies
of the TcP46 gene were tandemly-arranged in the T. congolense genome. The
recombinant TcP46 (rTcP46) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a
glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. Western blot analysis and confocal laser
scanning microscopy revealed that the native TcP46 protein is expressed in the cytoplasm
during all life-cycle stages of the parasite. Moreover, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA) based on rTcP46 detected the specific antibodies as early as 8 days
post-infection from mice experimentally infected with T. congolense. No
cross-reactivity was observed in the rTcP46-based ELISA against serum samples from cattle
experimentally infected with Babesia bigemina, B. bovis and
Anaplasma marginale. These results suggest that rTcP46 could be used as
a serodiagnostic antigen for T. congolense infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Zhou
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
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13
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Recombinant expression and biochemical characterisation of two alanyl aminopeptidases of Trypanosoma congolense. Exp Parasitol 2013; 135:675-84. [PMID: 24177338 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma congolense is a haemoprotozoan parasite that causes African animal trypanosomosis, a wasting disease of cattle and small ruminants. Current control methods are unsatisfactory and no conventional vaccine exists due to antigenic variation. An anti-disease vaccine approach to control T. congolense has been proposed requiring the identification of parasitic factors that cause disease. Immunoprecipitation of T. congolense antigens using sera from infected trypanotolerant cattle allowed the identification of several immunogenic antigens including two M1 type aminopeptidases (APs). The two APs were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. As the APs were expressed as insoluble inclusion bodies it was necessary to develop a method for solubilisation and subsequent refolding to restore conformation and activity. The refolded APs both showed a distinct substrate preference for H-Ala-AMC, an optimum pH of 8.0, puromycin-sensitivity, inhibition by bestatin and amastatin, and cytoplasmic localisation. The two APs are expressed in procyclic metacyclic and bloodstream form parasites. Down-regulation of both APs by RNAi resulted in a slightly reduced growth rate in procyclic parasites in vitro.
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14
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Identification of trans-sialidases as a common mediator of endothelial cell activation by African trypanosomes. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003710. [PMID: 24130501 PMCID: PMC3795030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding African Trypanosomiasis (AT) host-pathogen interaction is the key to an "anti-disease vaccine", a novel strategy to control AT. Here we provide a better insight into this poorly described interaction by characterizing the activation of a panel of endothelial cells by bloodstream forms of four African trypanosome species, known to interact with host endothelium. T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. b. gambiense activated the endothelial NF-κB pathway, but interestingly, not T. b. brucei. The parasitic TS (trans-sialidases) mediated this NF-κB activation, remarkably via their lectin-like domain and induced production of pro-inflammatory molecules not only in vitro but also in vivo, suggesting a considerable impact on pathogenesis. For the first time, TS activity was identified in T. b. gambiense BSF which distinguishes it from the subspecies T. b. brucei. The corresponding TS were characterized and shown to activate endothelial cells, suggesting that TS represent a common mediator of endothelium activation among trypanosome species with divergent physiopathologies.
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15
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Rogé S, Van Reet N, Odiwuor S, Tran T, Schildermans K, Vandamme S, Vandenberghe I, Vervecken W, Gillingwater K, Claes F, Devreese B, Guisez Y, Büscher P. Recombinant expression of trypanosome surface glycoproteins in Pichia pastoris for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi infection. Vet Parasitol 2013; 197:571-9. [PMID: 23747105 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2012] [Revised: 02/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Serodiagnosis of surra, which causes vast economic losses in livestock, is still based on native antigens purified from bloodstream form Trypanosoma (T.) evansi grown in rodents. To avoid the use of laboratory rodents in antigen preparation we expressed fragments of the invariant surface glycoprotein (ISG) 75, cloned from T. brucei gambiense cDNA, and the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) RoTat 1.2, cloned from T. evansi gDNA, recombinantly in Pichia (P.) pastoris. The M5 strain of this yeast has an engineered N-glycosylation pathway resulting in homogenous Man5GlcNAc2 N-glycosylation which resembles the predominant Man9-5GlcNAc2 oligomannose structures in T. brucei. The secreted recombinant antigens were affinity purified with yields of up to 10mg and 20mg per liter cell culture of rISG 7529-465-E and rRoTat 1.223-385-H respectively. In ELISA, both recombinant proteins discriminated between pre-immune and immune serum samples of 25 goats experimentally infected with T. evansi. The diagnostic potential of rRoTat 1.223-385-H but not of rISG 7529-465-E was confirmed with sera of naturally infected and control dromedary camels. The results suggest that rRoTat 1.223-385-H expressed in P. pastoris requires further evaluation before it could replace native RoTat 1.2 VSG for serodiagnosis of surra, thus eliminating the use of laboratory animals for antigen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rogé
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Parasite Diagnostics, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Laboratory for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
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16
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Jackson AP, Allison HC, Barry JD, Field MC, Hertz-Fowler C, Berriman M. A cell-surface phylome for African trypanosomes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2121. [PMID: 23556014 PMCID: PMC3605285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell surface of Trypanosoma brucei, like many protistan blood parasites, is crucial for mediating host-parasite interactions and is instrumental to the initiation, maintenance and severity of infection. Previous comparisons with the related trypanosomatid parasites T. cruzi and Leishmania major suggest that the cell-surface proteome of T. brucei is largely taxon-specific. Here we compare genes predicted to encode cell surface proteins of T. brucei with those from two related African trypanosomes, T. congolense and T. vivax. We created a cell surface phylome (CSP) by estimating phylogenies for 79 gene families with putative surface functions to understand the more recent evolution of African trypanosome surface architecture. Our findings demonstrate that the transferrin receptor genes essential for bloodstream survival in T. brucei are conserved in T. congolense but absent from T. vivax and include an expanded gene family of insect stage-specific surface glycoproteins that includes many currently uncharacterized genes. We also identify species-specific features and innovations and confirm that these include most expression site-associated genes (ESAGs) in T. brucei, which are absent from T. congolense and T. vivax. The CSP presents the first global picture of the origins and dynamics of cell surface architecture in African trypanosomes, representing the principal differences in genomic repertoire between African trypanosome species and provides a basis from which to explore the developmental and pathological differences in surface architectures. All data can be accessed at: http://www.genedb.org/Page/trypanosoma_surface_phylome. The African trypanosome (Trypanosoma brucei) is a single-celled, vector-borne parasite that causes Human African Trypanosomiasis (or ‘sleeping sickness’) throughout sub-Saharan Africa and, along with related species T. congolense and T. vivax, a similar disease in wild and domestic animals. Together, the African trypanosomes have significant effects on human and animal health and associated costs for socio-economic development in Africa. Genes expressed on the trypanosome cell surface are instrumental in causing disease and sustaining infection by resisting the host immune system. Here we compare repertoires of genes with predicted cell-surface expression in T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax and estimate the phylogeny of each predicted cell-surface gene family. This ‘cell-surface phylome’ (CSP) provides a detailed analysis of species-specific gene families and of gene gain and loss in shared families, aiding the identification of surface proteins that may mediate specific aspects of pathogenesis and disease progression. Overall, the CSP suggests that each trypanosome species has modified its surface proteome uniquely, indicating that T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax have subtly distinct mechanisms for interacting with both vertebrate and insect hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Jackson
- Pathogen Genomics Group, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom.
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17
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Guegan F, Plazolles N, Baltz T, Coustou V. Erythrophagocytosis of desialylated red blood cells is responsible for anaemia during Trypanosoma vivax infection. Cell Microbiol 2013; 15:1285-303. [PMID: 23421946 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomal infection-induced anaemia is a devastating scourge for cattle in widespread regions. Although Trypanosoma vivax is considered as one of the most important parasites regarding economic impact in Africa and South America, very few in-depth studies have been conducted due to the difficulty of manipulating this parasite. Several hypotheses were proposed to explain trypanosome induced-anaemia but mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Here, we characterized a multigenic family of trans-sialidases in T. vivax, some of which are released into the host serum during infection. These enzymes are able to trigger erythrophagocytosis by desialylating the major surface erythrocytes sialoglycoproteins, the glycophorins. Using an ex vivo assay to quantify erythrophagocytosis throughout infection, we showed that erythrocyte desialylation alone results in significant levels of anaemia during the acute phase of the disease. Characterization of virulence factors such as the trans-sialidases is vital to develop a control strategy against the disease or parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Guegan
- Microbiologie fondamentale et Pathogénicité, UMR 5234, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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18
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Unciti-Broceta JD, Maceira J, Morales S, García-Pérez A, Muñóz-Torres ME, Garcia-Salcedo JA. Nicotinamide inhibits the lysosomal cathepsin b-like protease and kills African trypanosomes. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:10548-57. [PMID: 23443665 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.449207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide, a soluble compound of the vitamin B3 group, has antimicrobial activity against several microorganisms ranging from viruses to parasite protozoans. However, the mode of action of this antimicrobial activity is unknown. Here, we investigate the trypanocidal activity of nicotinamide on Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African trypanosomiasis. Incubation of trypanosomes with nicotinamide causes deleterious defects in endocytic traffic, disruption of the lysosome, failure of cytokinesis, and, ultimately, cell death. At the same concentrations there was no effect on a cultured mammalian cell line. The effects on endocytosis and vesicle traffic were visible within 3 h and can be attributed to inhibition of lysosomal cathepsin b-like protease activity. The inhibitory effect of nicotinamide was confirmed by a direct activity assay of recombinant cathepsin b-like protein. Taken together, these data demonstrate that inhibition of the lysosomal protease cathepsin b-like blocks endocytosis, causing cell death. In addition, these results demonstrate for the first time the inhibitory effect of nicotinamide on a protease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Unciti-Broceta
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (IBIG), Av. Dr. Olóriz 16, 18012 Granada, Granada, Spain
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19
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Coustou V, Plazolles N, Guegan F, Baltz T. Sialidases play a key role in infection and anaemia in Trypanosoma congolense animal trypanosomiasis. Cell Microbiol 2012; 14:431-45. [PMID: 22136727 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01730.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Animal African trypanosomiasis is a major constraint to livestock productivity and has an important impact on millions of people in developing African countries. This parasitic disease, caused mainly by Trypanosoma congolense, results in severe anaemia leading to animal death. In order to characterize potential targets for an anti-disease vaccine, we investigated a multigenic trans-sialidase family (TcoTS) in T. congolense. Sialidase and trans-sialidase activities were quantified for the first time, as well as the tightly regulated TcoTS expression pattern throughout the life cycle. Active enzymes were expressed in bloodstream form parasites and released into the blood during infection. Using genetic tools, we demonstrated a significant correlation between TcoTS silencing and impairment of virulence during experimental infection with T. congolense. Reduced TcoTS expression affected infectivity, parasitaemia and pathogenesis development. Immunization-challenge experiments using recombinant TcoTS highlighted their potential protective use in an anti-disease vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Coustou
- Univ. de Bordeaux, Microbiologie fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Bordeaux, France.
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20
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Caffrey CR, Lima AP, Steverding D. Cysteine peptidases of kinetoplastid parasites. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2011; 712:84-99. [PMID: 21660660 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-8414-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
We review Clan CA Family C1 peptidases of kinetoplastid parasites (Trypanosoma and Leishmania) with respect to biochemical and genetic diversity, genomic organization and stage-specificity and control of expression. We discuss their contributions to parasite metabolism, virulence and pathogenesis and modulation of the host's immune response. Their applications as vaccine candidates and diagnostic markers as well as their chemical and genetic validation as drug targets are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor R Caffrey
- Sandler Center for Drug Discovery, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, Byers Hall, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
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21
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Serodiagnosis of bovine trypanosomosis based on HSP70/BiP inhibition ELISA. Vet Parasitol 2010; 173:39-47. [PMID: 20637547 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2010] [Revised: 06/08/2010] [Accepted: 06/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Animal trypanosomosis is a serious constraint to livestock productivity in tropical and sub-tropical countries. The pathogenic trypanosomes in bovidae are Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax, T. brucei and T. evansi. Current serological tests to detect trypanosome infections are based on the use of whole trypanosome lysates; their potential is limited by antigen instability, lack of reproducibility and lack of test specificity due to the antibody's long persistence after treatment. The development of new tests based on recombinant technology that could be standardized and applied on a large scale at low cost would be very helpful. The major invariant antigen recognized by T. congolense infected cattle belongs to the heat shock protein (HSP) 70 family and is closely related to mammalian Immunoglobulin Binding Protein (BiP). To improve the initial ELISA based on a recombinant fragment of HSP70/BiP, we developed an inhibition ELISA using an anti-BiP monoclonal antibody and a full-length fusion protein expressed in E. coli. Here we report on the development of the test and provide an initial assessment of its performance using sets of sera from experimental infections and from naturally infected cattle maintained in tsetse infested areas of Africa. The HSP70/BIP-based inhibition ELISA shows a good sensitivity in cattle experimentally infected with T. congolense, with an improved sensitivity in secondary infections. One major advantage, particularly for its further application in national laboratories, is that one single set of reagents and one single procedure are sufficient to apply on different mammalian host species infected with different trypanosome species.
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22
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Pillay D, Boulangé AF, Coetzer THT. Expression, purification and characterisation of two variant cysteine peptidases from Trypanosoma congolense with active site substitutions. Protein Expr Purif 2010; 74:264-71. [PMID: 20609389 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2010.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2010] [Revised: 06/25/2010] [Accepted: 06/28/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Congopain, the major cysteine peptidase of Trypanosoma congolense is an attractive candidate for an anti-disease vaccine and target for the design of specific inhibitors. A complicating factor for the inclusion of congopain in a vaccine is that multiple variants of congopain are present in the genome of the parasite. In order to determine whether the variant congopain-like genes code for peptidases with enzymatic activities different to those of congopain, two variants were cloned and expressed. Two truncated catalytic domain variants were recombinantly expressed in Pichia pastoris. The two expressed catalytic domain variants differed slightly from one another in substrate preferences and also from that of C2 (the recombinant truncated form of congopain). Surprisingly, a variant with the catalytic triad Ser(25), His(159) and Asn(175) was shown to be active against classical cysteine peptidase substrates and inhibited by E-64, a class-specific cysteine protease inhibitor. Both catalytic domain clones and C2 had pH optima of either 6.0 or 6.5 implying that these congopain-like proteases are likely to be expressed and active in the bloodstream of the host animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davita Pillay
- School of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa
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23
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Complete in vitro life cycle of Trypanosoma congolense: development of genetic tools. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2010; 4:e618. [PMID: 20209144 PMCID: PMC2830455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2009] [Accepted: 01/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Animal African trypanosomosis, a disease mainly caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma congolense, is a major constraint to livestock productivity and has a significant impact in the developing countries of Africa. RNA interference (RNAi) has been used to study gene function and identify drug and vaccine targets in a variety of organisms including trypanosomes. However, trypanosome RNAi studies have mainly been conducted in T. brucei, as a model for human infection, largely ignoring livestock parasites of economical importance such as T. congolense, which displays different pathogenesis profiles. The whole T. congolense life cycle can be completed in vitro, but this attractive model displayed important limitations: (i) genetic tools were currently limited to insect forms and production of modified infectious BSF through differentiation was never achieved, (ii) in vitro differentiation techniques lasted several months, (iii) absence of long-term bloodstream forms (BSF) in vitro culture prevented genomic analyses. Methodology/Principal Findings We optimized culture conditions for each developmental stage and secured the differentiation steps. Specifically, we devised a medium adapted for the strenuous development of stable long-term BSF culture. Using Amaxa nucleofection technology, we greatly improved the transfection rate of the insect form and designed an inducible transgene expression system using the IL3000 reference strain. We tested it by expression of reporter genes and through RNAi. Subsequently, we achieved the complete in vitro life cycle with dramatically shortened time requirements for various wild type and transgenic strains. Finally, we established the use of modified strains for experimental infections and underlined a host adaptation phase requirement. Conclusions/Significance We devised an improved T. congolense model, which offers the opportunity to perform functional genomics analyses throughout the whole life cycle. It represents a very useful tool to understand pathogenesis mechanisms and to study potential therapeutic targets either in vitro or in vivo using a mouse model. Trypanosoma congolense is a parasite responsible for severe disease of African livestock. Its life cycle is complex and divided into two phases, one in the tsetse fly vector and one in the bloodstream of the mammalian host. Molecular tools for gene function analyses in parasitic organisms are essential. Previous studies described the possibility of completing the entire T. congolense life cycle in vitro. However, the model showed major flaws including the absence of stable long-term culture of the infectious bloodstream forms, a laborious time-consuming period to perform the cycle and a lack of genetic tools. We therefore aimed to develop a standardized model convenient for genetic engineering. We succeeded in producing long-term cultures of all the developmental stages on long-term, to define all the differentiation steps and to finally complete the whole cycle in vitro. This improved model offers the opportunity to conduct phenotype analyses of genetically modified strains throughout the in vitro cycle and also during experimental infections.
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Atkinson HJ, Babbitt PC, Sajid M. The global cysteine peptidase landscape in parasites. Trends Parasitol 2009; 25:573-81. [PMID: 19854678 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2009.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2009] [Revised: 08/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of sequenced genomes has expanded the already sizeable population of cysteine peptidases from parasites. Characterization of a few of these enzymes has ascribed key roles to peptidases in parasite life cycles and has also shed light on mechanisms of pathogenesis. Here we discuss recent observations on the physiological activities of cysteine peptidases of parasitic organisms, paired with a global view of all cysteine peptidases from the MEROPS database grouped by similarity. This snapshot of the landscape of parasite cysteine peptidases is complex and highly populated, suggesting that expansion of research beyond the few 'model' parasite peptidases is now timely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly J Atkinson
- UCSF Graduate Program in Biological and Medical Informatics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158-2330, USA
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25
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Giroud C, Ottones F, Coustou V, Dacheux D, Biteau N, Miezan B, Van Reet N, Carrington M, Doua F, Baltz T. Murine Models for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense disease progression--from silent to chronic infections and early brain tropism. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2009; 3:e509. [PMID: 19721701 PMCID: PMC2728506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2009] [Accepted: 07/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense remains highly prevalent in west and central Africa and is lethal if left untreated. The major problem is that the disease often evolves toward chronic or asymptomatic forms with low and fluctuating parasitaemia producing apparently aparasitaemic serological suspects who remain untreated because of the toxicity of the chemotherapy. Whether the different types of infections are due to host or parasite factors has been difficult to address, since T. b. gambiense isolated from patients is often not infectious in rodents thus limiting the variety of isolates. Methodology/Principal findings T. b. gambiense parasites were outgrown directly from the cerebrospinal fluid of infected patients by in vitro culture and analyzed for their molecular polymorphisms. Experimental murine infections showed that these isolates could be clustered into three groups with different characteristics regarding their in vivo infection properties, immune response and capacity for brain invasion. The first isolate induced a classical chronic infection with a fluctuating blood parasitaemia, an invasion of the central nervous system (CNS), a trypanosome specific-antibody response and death of the animals within 6–8 months. The second group induced a sub-chronic infection resulting in a single wave of parasitaemia after infection, followed by a low parasitaemia with no parasites detected by microscope observations of blood but detected by PCR, and the presence of a specific antibody response. The third isolate induced a silent infection characterised by the absence of microscopically detectable parasites throughout, but infection was detectable by PCR during the whole course of infection. Additionally, specific antibodies were barely detectable when mice were infected with a low number of this group of parasites. In both sub-chronic and chronic infections, most of the mice survived more than one year without major clinical symptoms despite an early dissemination and growth of the parasites in different organs including the CNS, as demonstrated by bioluminescent imaging. Conclusions/Significance Whereas trypanosome characterisation assigned all these isolates to the homogeneous Group I of T. b. gambiense, they clearly induce very different infections in mice thus mimicking the broad clinical diversity observed in HAT due to T. b. gambiense. Therefore, these murine models will be very useful for the understanding of different aspects of the physiopathology of HAT and for the development of new diagnostic tools and drugs. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is responsible for more than 90% of reported cases of human African trypanosomosis (HAT). Infection can last for months or even years without major signs or symptoms of infection, but if left untreated, sleeping sickness is always fatal. In the present study, different T. b. gambiense field isolates from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with HAT were adapted to growth in vitro. These isolates belong to the homogeneous Group 1 of T. b. gambiense, which is known to induce a chronic infection in humans. In spite of this, these isolates induced infections ranging from chronic to silent in mice, with variations in parasitaemia, mouse lifespan, their ability to invade the CNS and to elicit specific immune responses. In addition, during infection, an unexpected early tropism for the brain as well as the spleen and lungs was observed using bioluminescence analysis. The murine models presented in this work provide new insights into our understanding of HAT and allow further studies of parasite tropism during infection, which will be very useful for the treatment and the diagnosis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Giroud
- UMR 5234, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, IFR66, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
| | - Florence Ottones
- UMR 5234, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, IFR66, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
| | - Virginie Coustou
- UMR 5234, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, IFR66, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
| | - Denis Dacheux
- UMR 5234, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, IFR66, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
| | - Nicolas Biteau
- UMR 5234, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, IFR66, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
| | - Benjamin Miezan
- Projet de recherches cliniques sur la trypanosomiase (PRCT), Daloa, Ivory Coast
| | - Nick Van Reet
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Department of Parasitology, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mark Carrington
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Felix Doua
- Projet de recherches cliniques sur la trypanosomiase (PRCT), Daloa, Ivory Coast
| | - Théo Baltz
- UMR 5234, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, IFR66, Université Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail:
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Kinetoplastid papain-like cysteine peptidases. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 167:12-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2009] [Revised: 04/21/2009] [Accepted: 04/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Helm JR, Hertz-Fowler C, Aslett M, Berriman M, Sanders M, Quail MA, Soares MB, Bonaldo MF, Sakurai T, Inoue N, Donelson JE. Analysis of expressed sequence tags from the four main developmental stages of Trypanosoma congolense. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 168:34-42. [PMID: 19559733 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2009] [Revised: 06/15/2009] [Accepted: 06/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma congolense is one of the most economically important pathogens of livestock in Africa. Culture-derived parasites of each of the three main insect stages of the T. congolense life cycle, i.e., the procyclic, epimastigote and metacyclic stages, and bloodstream stage parasites isolated from infected mice, were used to construct stage-specific cDNA libraries and expressed sequence tags (ESTs or cDNA clones) in each library were sequenced. Thirteen EST clusters encoding different variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) were detected in the metacyclic library and 26 VSG EST clusters were found in the bloodstream library, 6 of which are shared by the metacyclic library. Rare VSG ESTs are present in the epimastigote library, and none were detected in the procyclic library. ESTs encoding enzymes that catalyze oxidative phosphorylation and amino acid metabolism are about twice as abundant in the procyclic and epimastigote stages as in the metacyclic and bloodstream stages. In contrast, ESTs encoding enzymes involved in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and nucleotide metabolism are about the same in all four developmental stages. Cysteine proteases, kinases and phosphatases are the most abundant enzyme groups represented by the ESTs. All four libraries contain T. congolense-specific expressed sequences not present in the Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi genomes. Normalized cDNA libraries were constructed from the metacyclic and bloodstream stages, and found to be further enriched for T. congolense-specific ESTs. Given that cultured T. congolense offers an experimental advantage over other African trypanosome species, these ESTs provide a basis for further investigation of the molecular properties of these four developmental stages, especially the epimastigote and metacyclic stages for which it is difficult to obtain large quantities of organisms. The T. congolense EST databases are available at: http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Projects/T_congolense/EST_index.shtml. The sequence data have been submitted to EMBL under the following accession numbers: FN263376-FN292969.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared R Helm
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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28
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Grébaut P, Chuchana P, Brizard JP, Demettre E, Seveno M, Bossard G, Jouin P, Vincendeau P, Bengaly Z, Boulangé A, Cuny G, Holzmuller P. Identification of total and differentially expressed excreted-secreted proteins from Trypanosoma congolense strains exhibiting different virulence and pathogenicity. Int J Parasitol 2009; 39:1137-50. [PMID: 19285981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2008] [Revised: 02/05/2009] [Accepted: 02/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Animal trypanosomosis is a major constraint to livestock productivity in the tropics and has a significant impact on the life of millions of people globally (mainly in Africa, South America and south-east Asia). In Africa, the disease in livestock is caused mainly by Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The extracellular position of trypanosomes in the bloodstream of their host requires consideration of both the parasite and its naturally excreted-secreted factors (secretome) in the course of pathophysiological processes. We therefore developed and standardised a method to produce purified proteomes and secretomes of African trypanosomes. In this study, two strains of T. congolense exhibiting opposite properties of both virulence and pathogenicity were further investigated through their secretome expression and its involvement in host-parasite interactions. We used a combined proteomic approach (one-dimensional SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry) to characterise the whole and differentially expressed protein contents of secretomes. The molecular identification of differentially expressed trypanosome molecules and their correlation with either the virulence process or pathogenicity are discussed with regard to their potential as new diagnostic or therapeutic tools against animal trypanosomosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Grébaut
- CIRAD UMR 17 Trypanosomes (UMR 177 IRD-CIRAD Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les Trypanosomoses), TA A-17/G, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Proline racemases are conserved mitogens: characterization of a Trypanosoma vivax proline racemase. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 165:170-9. [PMID: 19428664 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2008] [Revised: 01/24/2009] [Accepted: 02/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi proline racemases (TcPRAC) are the only eukaryotic proline racemases described so far. Except their role in the interconversion of free L- and D-proline enantiomers, parasite TcPRACs are involved in major T. cruzi biological pathways. These essential enzymes are implicated in the process of parasite differentiation and the acquisition of virulence during metacyclogenesis and are currently considered as key targets for drug development against Chagas' disease. In this study, we searched for the presence of TcPRAC gene homologues among other trypanosomatid genomes. Despite the high degree of gene synteny observed in Kinetoplastidae genomes, PRAC genes are missing in Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma congolense and Leishmania spp. genomes. Interestingly, we identified a hypothetical PRAC gene in Trypanosoma vivax that is the major hemoparasite responsible for livestock trypanosomiasis, a serious economical impact for most of African and South American countries. We report here that the product of this T. vivax gene is bona fide a proline racemase with an activity comparable to the one we described previously for TcPRAC. Inhibition studies using the pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid confirmed that this compound is a competitive inhibitor for both TcPRAC and TvPRAC enzymes. Similarly to TcPRAC and all members of the racemase family studied so far in other pathogenic and nosocomial bacteria, our results show that TvPRAC is a T-cell-independent B-cell mitogen. Therefore the product of the novel TvPRAC gene identified in T. vivax and reported herein has the potential to be used as a drug target for this parasite-based trypanosomiasis.
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Tsuji A, Kikuchi Y, Ogawa K, Saika H, Yuasa K, Nagahama M. Purification and characterization of cathepsin B-like cysteine protease from cotyledons of daikon radish, Raphanus sativus. FEBS J 2008; 275:5429-43. [PMID: 18959767 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2008.06674.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant cathepsin B-like cysteine protease (CBCP) plays a role in disease resistance and in protein remobilization during germination. The ability of animal cathepsin B to function as a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase has been attributed to the presence of a dihistidine (His110-His111) motif in the occluding loop, which represents a unique structure of cathepsin B. However, a dihistidine motif is not present in the predicted sequence of the occluding loop of plant CBCP, as determined from cDNA sequence analysis, and the loop is shorter. In an effort to investigate the enzymatic properties of plant CBCP, which possesses the unusual occluding loop, we have purified CBCP from the cotyledons of daikon radish (Raphanus sativus) by chromatography through Sephacryl S-200, DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite and organomercurial-Sepharose. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 28 kDa by SDS/PAGE under reducing conditions. The best synthetic substrate for CBCP was t-butyloxycarbonyl Leu-Arg-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl 7-amide, as is the case with human cathepsin B. However, the endopeptidase activity of CBCP towards glucagon and adrenocorticotropic hormone showed broad cleavage specificity. Human cathepsin B preferentially cleaves model peptides via its dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase activity, whereas daikon CBCP displays both endopeptidase and exopeptidase activities. In addition, CBCP was found to display carboxymonopeptidase activity against the substrate o-aminobenzoyl-Phe-Arg-Phe(4-NO(2)). Daikon CBCP is less sensitive (1/7000) to CA-074 than human cathepsin B. Expression analysis of CBCP at the protein and RNA levels indicated that daikon CBCP activity in cotyledons is regulated by post-transcriptional events during germination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Tsuji
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Japan.
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