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Marzano-Miranda A, Pereira Cardoso-Oliveira G, Carla de Oliveira I, Carvalho Mourão L, Reis Cussat L, Gomes Fraga V, Delfin Chávez Olórtegui C, Jesus Fernandes Fontes C, Castanheira Bartholomeu D, Braga EM. Identification and serological responses to a novel Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 ( PvMSP-1) derived synthetic peptide: a putative biomarker for malaria exposure. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17632. [PMID: 38948214 PMCID: PMC11212635 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The integration of diagnostic methods holds promise for advancing the surveillance of malaria transmission in both endemic and non-endemic regions. Serological assays emerge as valuable tools to identify and delimit malaria transmission, serving as a complementary method to rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and thick smear microscopy. Here, we evaluate the potential of antibodies directed against peptides encompassing the entire amino acid sequence of the PvMSP-1 Sal-I strain as viable serological biomarkers for P. vivax exposure. Methods We screened peptides encompassing the complete amino acid sequence of the Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 1 (PvMSP-1) Sal-I strain as potential biomarkers for P. vivax exposure. Here, immunodominant peptides specifically recognized by antibodies from individuals infected with P. vivax were identified using the SPOT-synthesis technique followed by immunoblotting. Two 15-mer peptides were selected based on their higher and specific reactivity in immunoblotting assays. Subsequently, peptides p70 and p314 were synthesized in soluble form using SPPS (Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis) and tested by ELISA (IgG, and subclasses). Results This study unveils the presence of IgG antibodies against the peptide p314 in most P. vivax-infected individuals from the Brazilian Amazon region. In silico B-cell epitope prediction further supports the utilization of p314 as a potential biomarker for evaluating malaria transmission, strengthened by its amino acid sequence being part of a conserved block of PvMSP-1. Indeed, compared to patients infected with P. falciparum and uninfected individuals never exposed to malaria, P. vivax-infected patients have a notably higher recognition of p314 by IgG1 and IgG3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Marzano-Miranda
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luiza Carvalho Mourão
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Letícia Reis Cussat
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Gomes Fraga
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Erika M. Braga
- Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Zingales B, Macedo AM. Fifteen Years after the Definition of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs: What Have We Learned? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2339. [PMID: 38137940 PMCID: PMC10744745 DOI: 10.3390/life13122339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan causative of Chagas disease (ChD), exhibits striking genetic and phenotypic intraspecific diversity, along with ecoepidemiological complexity. Human-pathogen interactions lead to distinct clinical presentations of ChD. In 2009, an international consensus classified T. cruzi strains into six discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI to TcVI, later including TcBat, and proposed reproducible genotyping schemes for DTU identification. This article aims to review the impact of classifying T. cruzi strains into DTUs on our understanding of biological, ecoepidemiological, and pathogenic aspects of T. cruzi. We will explore the likely origin of DTUs and the intrinsic characteristics of each group of strains concerning genome organization, genomics, and susceptibility to drugs used in ChD treatment. We will also provide an overview of the association of DTUs with mammalian reservoirs, and summarize the geographic distribution, and the clinical implications, of prevalent specific DTUs in ChD patients. Throughout this review, we will emphasize the crucial roles of both parasite and human genetics in defining ChD pathogenesis and chemotherapy outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréa M. Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
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Castro JT, Brito R, Hojo-Souza NS, Azevedo B, Salazar N, Ferreira CP, Junqueira C, Fernandes AP, Vasconcellos R, Cardoso JM, Aguiar-Soares RDO, Vieira PMA, Carneiro CM, Valiate B, Toledo C, Salazar AM, Caballero O, Lannes-Vieira J, Teixeira SR, Reis AB, Gazzinelli RT. ASP-2/Trans-sialidase chimeric protein induces robust protective immunity in experimental models of Chagas' disease. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:81. [PMID: 37258518 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00676-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunization with the Amastigote Surface Protein-2 (ASP-2) and Trans-sialidase (TS) antigens either in the form of recombinant protein, encoded in plasmids or human adenovirus 5 (hAd5) confers robust protection against various lineages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Herein we generated a chimeric protein containing the most immunogenic regions for T and B cells from TS and ASP-2 (TRASP) and evaluated its immunogenicity in comparison with our standard protocol of heterologous prime-boost using plasmids and hAd5. Mice immunized with TRASP protein associated to Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol) were highly resistant to challenge with T. cruzi, showing a large decrease in tissue parasitism, parasitemia and no lethality. This protection lasted for at least 3 months after the last boost of immunization, being equivalent to the protection induced by DNA/hAd5 protocol. TRASP induced high levels of T. cruzi-specific antibodies and IFNγ-producing T cells and protection was primarily mediated by CD8+ T cells and IFN-γ. We also evaluated the toxicity, immunogenicity, and efficacy of TRASP and DNA/hAd5 formulations in dogs. Mild collateral effects were detected at the site of vaccine inoculation. While the chimeric protein associated with Poly-ICLC induced high levels of antibodies and CD4+ T cell responses, the DNA/hAd5 induced no antibodies, but a strong CD8+ T cell response. Immunization with either vaccine protected dogs against challenge with T. cruzi. Despite the similar efficacy, we conclude that moving ahead with TRASP together with Hiltonol is advantageous over the DNA/hAd5 vaccine due to pre-existing immunity to the adenovirus vector, as well as the cost-benefit for development and large-scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia T Castro
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rory Brito
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Natalia S Hojo-Souza
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Azevedo
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natalia Salazar
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Caroline Junqueira
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Fernandes
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bruno Valiate
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Toledo
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Santuza R Teixeira
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo T Gazzinelli
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Moreira OC, Fernandes AG, Gomes NLDS, Dos Santos CM, Jacomasso T, Costa ADT, Nascimento LDOR, Hasslocher-Moreno AM, do Brasil PEAA, Morello LG, Marchini FK, Krieger MA, Britto C. Validation of the NAT Chagas IVD Kit for the Detection and Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi in Blood Samples of Patients with Chagas Disease. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1236. [PMID: 37374019 DOI: 10.3390/life13061236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the absence of validated biomarkers to control the cure of Chagas disease, PCR-based diagnosis is being used as the main tool for an early indication of therapeutic failure. However, since it is considered a technique of complex reproducibility, mainly due to difficulties in establishing accurate controls to guarantee the quality of the reaction, the use of PCR for Chagas disease diagnosis is restricted to specialized centers. In an effort to disseminate the molecular diagnosis of Chagas disease and its applications, new diagnostic kits based on qPCR have been made available in the market in recent years. Here, we show the results of the validation of the NAT Chagas kit (Nucleic Acid Test for Chagas Disease) for the detection and quantification of T. cruzi in blood samples of patients suspected of Chagas disease infection. The kit, composed of a TaqMan duplex reaction targeting the T. cruzi satellite nuclear DNA and an exogenous internal amplification control, presented a reportable range from 104 to 0.5 parasite equivalents/mL and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 parasite equivalents/mL of blood. In addition, the NAT Chagas kit detected T. cruzi belonging to all six discrete typing units (DTUs-TcI to TcVI), similarly to the in-house real-time PCR performed with commercial reagents, which has been selected as the best performance assay in the international consensus for the validation of qPCR for Chagas disease. In the clinical validation presented here, the kit showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity when compared to the consensus in-house real-time PCR assay. Thus, the NAT Chagas kit, which is produced entirely in Brazil under the international standards of good manufacturing practices (GMP), appears as an excellent alternative to enable the molecular diagnosis of Chagas disease in public and private diagnostic centers, as well as to facilitate the monitoring of patients under etiological treatment participating in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otacilio C Moreira
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Alice Gomes Fernandes
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Natalia Lins da Silva Gomes
- Real Time PCR Platform RPT09A, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Carolina Messias Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Thiago Jacomasso
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Dias Tavares Costa
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | | | - Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno
- Laboratory of Clinical Research in Chagas Disease, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | - Luis Gustavo Morello
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | - Fabricio Klerynton Marchini
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurelio Krieger
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute/Fiocruz, Curitiba 81310-020, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Endemic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
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