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Alhazmi A, Sidney LE, Hopkinson A, Elsheikha HM. Comparative cytotoxicity of Acanthamoeba castellanii-derived conditioned medium on human corneal epithelial and stromal cells. Acta Trop 2024; 257:107288. [PMID: 38901524 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107288] [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: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Soluble factors in the secretome of Acanthamoeba castellanii play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). Investigating the pathological effects of A. castellanii-derived conditioned medium (ACCM) on ocular cells can provide insights into the damage inflicted during AK. This study examined ACCM-induced cytotoxicity in primary human corneal stromal cells (CSCs) and a human SV40 immortalized corneal epithelial cell line (ihCECs) at varying ACCM concentrations (25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %). MTT, AlamarBlue, Sulforhodamine B, lactate dehydrogenase, and Caspase-3/7 activation assays were used to assess the impact of ACCM on the cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis. Additionally, fluorescent staining was used to reveal actin cytoskeleton changes. ACCM exposure significantly decreased cell viability, increased apoptosis, and disrupted the actin cytoskeleton, particularly at higher concentrations and longer exposures. Proteases were found to mediate these cytopathogenic effects, highlighting the need for characterization of A. castellanii proteases as key virulence factors in AK pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Alhazmi
- Academic Ophthalmology, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK; Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laura E Sidney
- Academic Ophthalmology, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Andy Hopkinson
- Academic Ophthalmology, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
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2
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Nagar P, Bhowmick K, Chawla A, Malik MZ, Subbarao N, Kaur I, Dhar SK. Plasmodium falciparum cysteine protease Falcipain 3: A potential enzyme for proteolytic processing of histone acetyltransferase PfGCN5. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2024. [PMID: 38924147 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2630] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
In spite of 150 years of studying malaria, the unique features of the malarial parasite, Plasmodium, still perplex researchers. One of the methods by which the parasite manages its gene expression is epigenetic regulation, the champion of which is PfGCN5, an essential enzyme responsible for acetylating histone proteins. PfGCN5 is a ∼170 kDa chromatin-remodeling enzyme that harbors the conserved bromodomain and acetyltransferase domain situated in its C-terminus domain. Although the PfGCN5 proteolytic processing is essential for its activity, the specific protease involved in this process still remains elusive. Identification of PfGCN5 interacting proteins through immunoprecipitation (IP) followed by LC-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of food vacuolar proteins, such as the cysteine protease Falcipain 3 (FP3), in addition to the typical members of the PfGCN5 complex. The direct interaction between FP3 and PfGCN5 was further validated by in vitro pull-down assay as well as IP assay. Subsequently, use of cysteine protease inhibitor E64d led to the inhibition of protease-specific processing of PfGCN5 with concomitant enrichment and co-localization of PfGCN5 and FP3 around the food vacuole as evidenced by confocal microscopy as well as electron microscopy. Remarkably, the proteolytic cleavage of the nuclear protein PfGCN5 by food vacuolar protease FP3 is exceptional and atypical in eukaryotic organisms. Targeting the proteolytic processing of GCN5 and the associated protease FP3 could provide a novel approach for drug development aimed at addressing the growing resistance of parasites to current antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Nagar
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Krishanu Bhowmick
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- The Institute for Bioelectronic Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - Aishwarya Chawla
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Md Zubbair Malik
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Dasman, Kuwait
| | - Naidu Subbarao
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Inderjeet Kaur
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana, India
| | - Suman Kumar Dhar
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- TERI School of Advanced Studies, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India
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3
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Wirjanata G, Lin J, Dziekan JM, El Sahili A, Chung Z, Tjia S, Binte Zulkifli NE, Boentoro J, Tham R, Jia LS, Go KD, Yu H, Partridge A, Olsen D, Prabhu N, Sobota RM, Nordlund P, Lescar J, Bozdech Z. Identification of an inhibitory pocket in falcilysin provides a new avenue for malaria drug development. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:743-759.e8. [PMID: 38593807 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Identification of new druggable protein targets remains the key challenge in the current antimalarial development efforts. Here we used mass-spectrometry-based cellular thermal shift assay (MS-CETSA) to identify potential targets of several antimalarials and drug candidates. We found that falcilysin (FLN) is a common binding partner for several drug candidates such as MK-4815, MMV000848, and MMV665806 but also interacts with quinoline drugs such as chloroquine and mefloquine. Enzymatic assays showed that these compounds can inhibit FLN proteolytic activity. Their interaction with FLN was explored systematically by isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography, revealing a shared hydrophobic pocket in the catalytic chamber of the enzyme. Characterization of transgenic cell lines with lowered FLN expression demonstrated statistically significant increases in susceptibility toward MK-4815, MMV000848, and several quinolines. Importantly, the hydrophobic pocket of FLN appears amenable to inhibition and the structures reported here can guide the development of novel drugs against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grennady Wirjanata
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Jianqing Lin
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; Infectious Diseases Labs & Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 138648 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jerzy Michal Dziekan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Abbas El Sahili
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Zara Chung
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Seth Tjia
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | | | - Josephine Boentoro
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Roy Tham
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Lai Si Jia
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Ka Diam Go
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Han Yu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | | | - David Olsen
- Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Nayana Prabhu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Radoslaw M Sobota
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138673, Singapore; Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pär Nordlund
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julien Lescar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; Antimicrobial Resistance Interdisciplinary Research Group, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
| | - Zbynek Bozdech
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
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4
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Mule SN, Saad JS, Sauter IP, Fernandes LR, de Oliveira GS, Quina D, Tano FT, Brandt-Almeida D, Padrón G, Stolf BS, Larsen MR, Cortez M, Palmisano G. The protein map of the protozoan parasite Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum during growth phase transition and temperature stress. J Proteomics 2024; 295:105088. [PMID: 38237666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2024.105088] [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: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites cause a spectrum of diseases termed leishmaniasis, which manifests in two main clinical forms, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Leishmania promastigotes transit from proliferative exponential to quiescent stationary phases inside the insect vector, a relevant step that recapitulates early molecular events of metacyclogenesis. During the insect blood meal of the mammalian hosts, the released parasites interact initially with the skin, an event marked by temperature changes. Deep knowledge on the molecular events activated during Leishmania-host interactions in each step is crucial to develop better therapies and to understand the pathogenesis. In this study, the proteomes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis (La), Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (Lb), and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum (syn L. L. chagasi) (Lc) were analyzed using quantitative proteomics to uncover the proteome modulation in three different conditions related to growth phases and temperature shifts: 1) exponential phase (Exp); 2) stationary phase (Sta25) and; 3) stationary phase subjected to heat stress (Sta34). Functional validations were performed using orthogonal techniques, focusing on α-tubulin, gp63 and heat shock proteins (HSPs). Species-specific and condition-specific modulation highlights the plasticity of the Leishmania proteome, showing that pathways related to metabolism and cytoskeleton are significantly modulated from exponential to stationary growth phases, while protein folding, unfolded protein binding, signaling and microtubule-based movement were differentially altered during temperature shifts. This study provides an in-depth proteome analysis of three Leishmania spp., and contributes compelling evidence of the molecular alterations of these parasites in conditions mimicking the interaction of the parasites with the insect vector and vertebrate hosts. SIGNIFICANCE: Leishmaniasis disease manifests in two main clinical forms according to the infecting Leishmania species and host immune responses, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. In Brazil, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is associated with L. braziliensis and L. amazonensis, while visceral leishmaniasis, also called kala-azar, is caused by L. infantum. Leishmania parasites remodel their proteomes during growth phase transition and changes in their mileu imposed by the host, including temperature. In this study, we performed a quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics to compare the proteome of three New world Leishmania species, L. amazonensis (La), L. braziliensis (Lb) and L. infantum (syn L. chagasi) (Lc) in three conditions: a) exponential phase at 25 °C (Exp); b) stationary phase at 25 °C (Sta25) and; c) stationary phase subjected to temperature stress at 34 °C (Sta34). This study provides an in-depth proteome analysis of three Leishmania spp. with varying pathophysiological outcomes, and contributes compelling evidence of the molecular alterations of these parasites in conditions mimicking the interaction of the parasites with the insect vector and vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ngao Mule
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joyce Silva Saad
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ismael Pretto Sauter
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Livia Rosa Fernandes
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Quina
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabia Tomie Tano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Deborah Brandt-Almeida
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Padrón
- Center for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Beatriz Simonsen Stolf
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Martin R Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Analytical Glycoimmunology Group, Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia.
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5
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Mahdavi Poor B, Rashedi J, Asgharzadeh V, Mirmazhary A, Gheitarani N. Proteases of Acanthamoeba. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:19. [PMID: 38063887 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08059-z] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The members of genus Acanthamoeba are the etiological agent of uncommon but severe or even fatal opportunistic infections in human beings. The presence of different classes of intracellular and extracellular proteases including serine proteases, cysteine proteases, and metalloproteases has been well documented in environmental and clinical isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. However, the role of the proteolytic enzymes in physiological, biological, and pathological mechanisms of the amoeba remains partially investigated. Some attempts have been conducted using various methods to determine the profile of proteases (number, class, optimal conditions, and activity of the enzymes), and possible pathogenicity mechanism of the proteolytic enzymes (various protein substrate degradation, cytopathic effect on different cell lines). In some cases, it was attempted to correlate intracellular and extracellular protease profile with pathogenicity potential of strains. This review revealed that the protease profile of different strains of Acanthamoeba was extremely complex, therefore, further comprehensive studies with application of a combination of various methods may help to elucidate the role of the enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behroz Mahdavi Poor
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht Ave, Azadi St, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Jalil Rashedi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht Ave, Azadi St, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Vahid Asgharzadeh
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amirali Mirmazhary
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht Ave, Azadi St, Tabriz, Iran
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6
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Yang N, Matthew MA, Yao C. Roles of Cysteine Proteases in Biology and Pathogenesis of Parasites. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1397. [PMID: 37374899 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cysteine proteases, also known as thiol proteases, are a class of nucleophilic proteolytic enzymes containing cysteine residues in the enzymatic domain. These proteases generally play a pivotal role in many biological reactions, such as catabolic functions and protein processing, in all living organisms. They specifically take part in many important biological processes, especially in the absorption of nutrients, invasion, virulence, and immune evasion of parasitic organisms from unicellular protozoa to multicellular helminths. They can also be used as parasite diagnostic antigens and targets for gene modification and chemotherapy, as well as vaccine candidates, due to their species and even life-cycle stage specificity. This article highlights current knowledge on parasitic cysteine protease types, biological functions, and their applications in immunodiagnosis and chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawu Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre P.O. Box 334, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Maurice A Matthew
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre P.O. Box 334, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre P.O. Box 334, Saint Kitts and Nevis
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Soprano LL, Ferrero MR, Jacobs T, Couto AS, Duschak VG. Hallmarks of the relationship between host and Trypanosoma cruzi sulfated glycoconjugates along the course of Chagas disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1028496. [PMID: 37256110 PMCID: PMC10225527 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1028496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
American Trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease (ChD), a major problem that is still endemic in large areas of Latin America, is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. This agent holds a major antigen, cruzipain (Cz). Its C-terminal domain (C-T) is retained in the glycoprotein mature form and bears several post-translational modifications. Glycoproteins containing sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides have been mostly implicated in numerous specific procedures of molecular recognition. The presence of sulfated oligosaccharides was demonstrated in Cz, also in a minor abundant antigen with serine-carboxypeptidase (SCP) activity, as well as in parasite sulfatides. Sulfate-bearing glycoproteins in Trypanosomatids are targets of specific immune responses. T. cruzi chronically infected subjects mount specific humoral immune responses to sulfated Cz. Unexpectedly, in the absence of infection, mice immunized with C-T, but not with sulfate-depleted C-T, showed ultrastructural heart anomalous pathological effects. Moreover, the synthetic anionic sugar conjugate GlcNAc6SO3-BSA showed to mimic the N-glycan-linked sulfated epitope (sulfotope) humoral responses that natural Cz elicits. Furthermore, it has been reported that sulfotopes participate via the binding of sialic acid Ig-like-specific lectins (Siglecs) to sulfosialylated glycoproteins in the immunomodulation by host-parasite interaction as well as in the parasite infection process. Strikingly, recent evidence involved Cz-sulfotope-specific antibodies in the immunopathogenesis and infection processes during the experimental ChD. Remarkably, sera from chronically T. cruzi-infected individuals with mild disease displayed higher levels of IgG2 antibodies specific for sulfated glycoproteins and sulfatides than those with more severe forms of the disease, evidencing that T. cruzi sulfotopes are antigenic independently of the sulfated glycoconjugate type. Ongoing assays indicate that antibodies specific for sulfotopes might be considered biomarkers of human cardiac ChD progression, playing a role as predictors of stability from the early mild stages of chronic ChD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana L. Soprano
- Area of Protein Biochemistry and Parasite Glycobiology, Research Department National Institute of Parasitology (INP)”Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, National Administration of Health Institutes (ANLIS)-Malbrán, National Health Department, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano R. Ferrero
- Max-Planck Heart and Lung Laboratory, Research Institute in Biomedicine in Buenos Aires (IBioBA), Argentine-Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Jacobs
- Immunology Department, Bernhard Notch Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alicia S. Couto
- Faculty in Exact and Natural Sciences (FCEN), Chemical Organic Department-National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Center of CarboHydrates (CHIHIDECAR), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vilma G. Duschak
- Area of Protein Biochemistry and Parasite Glycobiology, Research Department National Institute of Parasitology (INP)”Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben”, National Administration of Health Institutes (ANLIS)-Malbrán, National Health Department, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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León-Sicairos CR, Figueroa-Angulo EE, Calla-Choque JS, Arroyo R. The Non-Canonical Iron-Responsive Element of IRE-tvcp12 Hairpin Structure at the 3'-UTR of Trichomonas vaginalis TvCP12 mRNA That Binds TvHSP70 and TvACTN-3 Can Regulate mRNA Stability and Amount of Protein. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040586. [PMID: 37111472 PMCID: PMC10143249 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040586] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common sexually transmitted parasites in humans. This protozoan has high iron requirements for growth, metabolism, and virulence. However, iron concentrations also differentially modulate T. vaginalis gene expression as in the genes encoding cysteine proteinases TvCP4 and TvCP12. Our goal was to identify the regulatory mechanism mediating the upregulation of tvcp12 under iron-restricted (IR) conditions. Here, we showed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemistry assays that IR conditions increase mRNA stability and amount of TvCP12. RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assay (REMSA), UV cross-linking, and competition assays demonstrated that a non-canonical iron-responsive element (IRE)-like structure at the 3'-untranslated region of the tvcp12 transcript (IRE-tvcp12) specifically binds to human iron regulatory proteins (IRPs) and to atypical RNA-binding cytoplasmic proteins from IR trichomonads, such as HSP70 and α-Actinin 3. These data were confirmed by REMSA supershift and Northwestern blot assays. Thus, our findings show that a positive gene expression regulation under IR conditions occurs at the posttranscriptional level possibly through RNA-protein interactions between atypical RNA-binding proteins and non-canonical IRE-like structures at the 3'-UTR of the transcript by a parallel mechanism to the mammalian IRE/IRP system that can be applied to other iron-regulated genes of T. vaginalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia R León-Sicairos
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center of Research and Advanced Studies of IPN (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Elisa E Figueroa-Angulo
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center of Research and Advanced Studies of IPN (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Jaeson S Calla-Choque
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center of Research and Advanced Studies of IPN (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Rossana Arroyo
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center of Research and Advanced Studies of IPN (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN # 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
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9
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Abdala ME, Rivero MB, Luque ME, Di Lullo D, Luna BE, Carranza PG, Volta BJ, Rivero FD. Proteomic analysis of proteins released by Tritrichomonas foetus: Identification of potential targets for the development of new diagnostic methods. Vet Parasitol 2023; 316:109890. [PMID: 36878106 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109890] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Bovine trichomonosis (BT), a disease of the bovine urogenital tract, is caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus (Tf). Tf causes endometritis, infertility, and premature death of the embryo, which generates considerable economic losses. The proteins released can mediate fundamental interactions between the pathogen and the host, triggering factors associated with the symptomatology, immune evasion and pathogenesis characteristic of the species. However, little is known about the profile of the proteins released by Tf. In order to contribute to their knowledge, we performed an isolation protocol and a proteomic profiling of the supernatant (SN) content of six Tf isolates. A total of 662 proteins present in the SN of Tf were detected, out of which 121 were shared by the six isolates, while the remaining 541 were found in at least one of the isolates studied. The comparative analyses using the databases of Tf strain genome K revealed 32.9% of uncharacterized proteins. The bioinformatic analyses showed that the main molecular functions predicted were binding (47.9%) and catalytic activity (38.2%). Additionally, we performed immunodetection assays to evidence the antigenic potential of SN proteins. Interestingly, we observed great ability to detect SN proteins from all six isolates using serum from immunized mice and infected bulls. A complementary mass spectrometry assay allowed us to determine that the proteins that showed the strongest signal intensity in the immunoassays were Grp78 (A0A1J4IZS3) and Ap65 (A0A1J4JSR1). This work represents the first proteomic characterization of Tf SN proteins and their antigenic potential, which might be interesting for the future design of new diagnosis and treatment methods for BT.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Eugenia Abdala
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias (FAyA-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - María Belén Rivero
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Melchor Emilio Luque
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias (FAyA-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - David Di Lullo
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Bruno Elías Luna
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Pedro Gabriel Carranza
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias (FAyA-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Bibiana J Volta
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias (FAyA-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Fernando David Rivero
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Inmunología y Microbiología (LaBIM), Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD), CONICET-UNSE, Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Facultad de Agronomía y Agroindustrias (FAyA-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
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10
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Patra J, Rana D, Arora S, Pal M, Mahindroo N. Falcipains: Biochemistry, target validation and structure-activity relationship studies of inhibitors as antimalarials. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 252:115299. [PMID: 36996716 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a tropical disease with significant morbidity and mortality burden caused by Plasmodium species in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Pathogenic Plasmodium species have lately become increasingly resistant to approved chemotherapeutics and combination therapies. Therefore, there is an emergent need for identifying new druggable targets and novel chemical classes against the parasite. Falcipains, cysteine proteases required for heme metabolism in the erythrocytic stage, have emerged as promising drug targets against Plasmodium species that infect humans. This perspective discusses the biology, biochemistry, structural features, and genetics of falcipains. The efforts to identify selective or dual inhibitors and their structure-activity relationships are reviewed to give a perspective on the design of novel compounds targeting falcipains for antimalarial activity evaluating reasons for hits and misses for this important target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeevan Patra
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Energy Acres, Bidholi, Via Prem Nagar, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
| | - Devika Rana
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Smriti Arora
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Energy Acres, Bidholi, Via Prem Nagar, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
| | - Mintu Pal
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, Punjab, 151001, India
| | - Neeraj Mahindroo
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Energy Acres, Bidholi, Via Prem Nagar, Uttarakhand, 248007, India; School of Health Sciences and Technology, Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, 124 Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra, 411038, India.
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11
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Thunes NC, Mohammed HH, Evenhuis JP, Lipscomb RS, Pérez-Pascual D, Stevick RJ, Birkett C, Conrad RA, Ghigo JM, McBride MJ. Secreted peptidases contribute to virulence of fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1093393. [PMID: 36816589 PMCID: PMC9936825 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1093393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Flavobacterium columnare causes columnaris disease in freshwater fish in both natural and aquaculture settings. This disease is often lethal, especially when fish population density is high, and control options such as vaccines are limited. The type IX secretion system (T9SS) is required for F. columnare virulence, but secreted virulence factors have not been fully identified. Many T9SS-secreted proteins are predicted peptidases, and peptidases are common virulence factors of other pathogens. T9SS-deficient mutants, such as ΔgldN and ΔporV, exhibit strong defects in secreted proteolytic activity. The F. columnare genome has many peptidase-encoding genes that may be involved in nutrient acquisition and/or virulence. Mutants lacking individual peptidase-encoding genes, or lacking up to ten peptidase-encoding genes, were constructed and examined for extracellular proteolytic activity, for growth defects, and for virulence in zebrafish and rainbow trout. Most of the mutants retained virulence, but a mutant lacking 10 peptidases, and a mutant lacking the single peptidase TspA exhibited decreased virulence in rainbow trout fry, suggesting that peptidases contribute to F. columnare virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C. Thunes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Haitham H. Mohammed
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States,Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Jason P. Evenhuis
- National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV, United States
| | - Ryan S. Lipscomb
- National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV, United States
| | - David Pérez-Pascual
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Rebecca J. Stevick
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Clayton Birkett
- National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Kearneysville, WV, United States
| | - Rachel A. Conrad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jean-Marc Ghigo
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Cité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 6047, Genetics of Biofilms Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Mark J. McBride
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, United States,*Correspondence: Mark J. McBride,
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12
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Comparative Degradome Analysis of the Bovine Piroplasmid Pathogens Babesia bovis and Theileria annulata. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020237. [PMID: 36839509 PMCID: PMC9965338 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia bovis and Theileria annulata are tick-borne hemoprotozoans that impact bovine health and are responsible for considerable fatalities in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Both pathogens infect the same vertebrate host, are closely related, and contain similar-sized genomes; however, they differ in invertebrate host specificity, absence vs. presence of a schizont stage, erythrocyte invasion mechanism, and transovarial vs. transstadial transmission. Phylogenetic analysis and bidirectional best hit (BBH) identified a similar number of aspartic, metallo, and threonine proteinases and nonproteinase homologs. In contrast, a considerably increased number of S54 serine rhomboid proteinases and S9 nonproteinase homologs were identified in B. bovis, whereas C1A cysteine proteinases and A1 aspartic nonproteinase homologs were found to be expanded in T. annulata. Furthermore, a single proteinase of families S8 (subtilisin-like protein) and C12 (ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase), as well as four nonproteinase homologs, one with dual domains M23-M23 and three with S9-S9, were exclusively present in B. bovis. Finally, a pronounced difference in species-specific ancillary domains was observed between both species. We hypothesize that the observed degradome differences represent functional correlates of the dissimilar life history features of B. bovis and T. annulata. The presented improved classification of piroplasmid proteinases will facilitate an informed choice for future in-depth functional studies.
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13
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Kramer L, Sarkar A, Foderaro T, Markley AL, Lee J, Edstrom H, Sharma S, Gill E, Traylor MJ, Fox JM. Genetically Encoded Detection of Biosynthetic Protease Inhibitors. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:83-94. [PMID: 36574400 PMCID: PMC10072156 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00384] [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: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Proteases are an important class of drug targets that continue to drive inhibitor discovery. These enzymes are prone to resistance mutations, yet their promise for treating viral diseases and other disorders continues to grow. This study develops a general approach for detecting microbially synthesized protease inhibitors and uses it to screen terpenoid pathways for inhibitory compounds. The detection scheme relies on a bacterial two-hybrid (B2H) system that links protease inactivation to the transcription of a swappable reporter gene. This system, which can accomodate multiple biochemical outputs (i.e., luminescence and antibiotic resistance), permitted the facile incorporation of four disease-relevant proteases. A B2H designed to detect the inactivation of the main protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 enabled the identification of a terpenoid inhibitor of modest potency. An analysis of multiple pathways that make this terpenoid, however, suggested that its production was necessary but not sufficient to confer a survival advantage in growth-coupled assays. This finding highlights an important challenge associated with the use of genetic selection to search for inhibitors─notably, the influence of pathway toxicity─and underlines the value of including multiple pathways with overlapping product profiles in pathway screens. This study provides a detailed experimental framework for using microbes to screen libraries of biosynthetic pathways for targeted protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Kramer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80303, United States
| | - Ankur Sarkar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80303, United States
| | - Tom Foderaro
- Think Bioscience, Inc., 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
| | - Andrew L Markley
- Think Bioscience, Inc., 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
| | - Jessica Lee
- Think Bioscience, Inc., 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
| | - Hannah Edstrom
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80303, United States
| | - Shajesh Sharma
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80303, United States
| | - Eden Gill
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80303, United States
| | - Matthew J Traylor
- Think Bioscience, Inc., 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80309, United States
| | - Jerome M Fox
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado80303, United States
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14
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Wang Y, Jiang L, Zhao Y, Ju X, Wang L, Jin L, Fine RD, Li M. Biological characteristics and pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1147077. [PMID: 37089530 PMCID: PMC10113681 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1147077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic protozoa, which exists widely in nature and is mainly distributed in soil and water. Acanthamoeba usually exists in two forms, trophozoites and cysts. The trophozoite stage is one of growth and reproduction while the cyst stage is characterized by cellular quiescence, commonly resulting in human infection, and the lack of effective monotherapy after initial infection leads to chronic disease. Acanthamoeba can infect several human body tissues such as the skin, cornea, conjunctiva, respiratory tract, and reproductive tract, especially when the tissue barriers are damaged. Furthermore, serious infections can cause Acanthamoeba keratitis, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, skin, and lung infections. With an increasing number of Acanthamoeba infections in recent years, the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba is becoming more relevant to mainstream clinical care. This review article will describe the etiological characteristics of Acanthamoeba infection in detail from the aspects of biological characteristic, classification, disease, and pathogenic mechanism in order to provide scientific basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Acanthamoeba infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuehua Wang
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Linzhe Jiang
- General Surgery, Jilin People’s Hospital, Jilin City, China
| | - Yitong Zhao
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Xiaohong Ju
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin City, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Jilin City, China
| | - Ryan D. Fine
- Center for Human Genetics and Genomics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Mingguang Li
- College of Laboratory Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin City, China
- *Correspondence: Mingguang Li,
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15
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Moreira VP, da Silva Mela MF, dos Anjos LR, Saraiva LF, Arenas Velásquez AM, Kalaba P, Fabisiková A, Clementino LDC, Aufy M, Studenik C, Gajic N, Prado-Roller A, Magalhães A, Zehl M, Figueiredo ID, Baviera AM, Cilli EM, Graminha MAS, Lubec G, Gonzalez ERP. Novel Selective and Low-Toxic Inhibitor of LmCPB2.8ΔCTE (CPB) One Important Cysteine Protease for Leishmania Virulence. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1903. [PMID: 36551331 PMCID: PMC9775234 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent, yet neglected disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. In the search for newer, safer, and more effective antileishmanial compounds, we herein present a study of the mode of action in addition to a detailed structural and biological characterization of LQOF-G6 [N-benzoyl-N'-benzyl-N″-(4-tertbutylphenyl)guanidine]. X-ray crystallography and extensive NMR experiments revealed that LQOF-G6 nearly exclusively adopts the Z conformation stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The investigated guanidine showed selective inhibitory activity on Leishmania major cysteine protease LmCPB2.8ΔCTE (CPB) with ~73% inhibition and an IC50-CPB of 6.0 µM. This compound did not show any activity against the mammalian homologues cathepsin L and B. LQOF-G6 has been found to be nontoxic toward both organs and several cell lines, and no signs of hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity were observed from the analysis of biochemical clinical plasma markers in the treated mice. Docking simulations and experimental NMR measurements showed a clear contribution of the conformational parameters to the strength of the binding in the active site of the enzyme, and thus fit the differences in the inhibition values of LQOF-G6 compared to the other guanidines. Furthermore, the resulting data render LQOF-G6 suitable for further development as an antileishmanial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Partite Moreira
- Fine Organic Chemistry Lab, School of Sciences and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-080, Brazil
| | | | - Luana Ribeiro dos Anjos
- Fine Organic Chemistry Lab, School of Sciences and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-080, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Figueiredo Saraiva
- Laboratory of Luminescence in Materials and Sensors, School of Sciences and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-560, Brazil
| | | | - Predrag Kalaba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Josef Holaubek Platz 2, UZAII, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Fabisiková
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mohammed Aufy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Josef Holaubek Platz 2, UZAII (2D 259), 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Studenik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Josef Holaubek Platz 2, UZAII (2D 259), 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Natalie Gajic
- Centre for X-ray Structure Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 40-42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Prado-Roller
- Centre for X-ray Structure Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 40-42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alvicler Magalhães
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Chemistry School, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, Brazil
| | - Martin Zehl
- Mass Spectrometry Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Amanda Martins Baviera
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Maffud Cilli
- Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Marcia A. S. Graminha
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil
| | - Gert Lubec
- Department of Neuroproteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Eduardo R. Perez Gonzalez
- Fine Organic Chemistry Lab, School of Sciences and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente 19060-080, Brazil
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16
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Rodríguez-Mera IB, Carrasco-Yépez MM, Vásquez-Moctezuma I, Correa-Basurto J, Salinas GR, Castillo-Ramírez DA, Rosales-Cruz É, Rojas-Hernández S. Role of cathepsin B of Naegleria fowleri during primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:3287-3303. [PMID: 36125528 PMCID: PMC9485797 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07660-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in humans and experimental animals. It has been suggested that cysteine proteases of parasites play key roles in metabolism, nutrient uptake, host tissue invasion, and immune evasion. The aim of this work was to evaluate the presence, expression, and role of cathepsin B from N. fowleri in vitro and during PAM. Rabbit-specific polyclonal antibodies against cathepsin B were obtained from rabbit immunization with a synthetic peptide obtained by bioinformatic design. In addition, a probe was designed from mRNA for N. fowleri cathepsin B. Both protein and messenger were detected in fixed trophozoites, trophozoites interacted with polymorphonuclear and histological sections of infected mice. The main cathepsin B distribution was observed in cytoplasm or membrane mainly pseudopods and food-cups while messenger was in nucleus and cytoplasm. Surprisingly, both the messenger and enzyme were observed in extracellular medium. To determine cathepsin B release, we used trophozoites supernatant recovered from nasal passages or brain of infected mice. We observed the highest release in supernatant from recovered brain amoebae, and when we analyzed molecular weight of secreted proteins by immunoblot, we found 30 and 37 kDa bands which were highly immunogenic. Finally, role of cathepsin B during N. fowleri infection was determined; we preincubated trophozoites with E-64, pHMB or antibodies with which we obtained 60%, 100%, and 60% of survival, respectively, in infected mice. These results suggest that cathepsin B plays a role during pathogenesis caused by N. fowleri mainly in adhesion and contributes to nervous tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzel Berenice Rodríguez-Mera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Salvador Díaz Mirón Esq. Plan de San Luis S/N, Miguel Hidalgo, Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de México, CDMX, 11340, México
| | - María Maricela Carrasco-Yépez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Ambiental, Estado de México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Grupo CyMA, UIICSE, FES Iztacala, Tlalnepantla de Baz, México
| | - Ismael Vásquez-Moctezuma
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Ciudad de Mexico, México
| | - José Correa-Basurto
- Laboratorio de Modelado Molecular y Diseño de Fármacos, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Ciudad de Mexico, México
| | - Gema Ramírez- Salinas
- Laboratorio de Modelado Molecular y Diseño de Fármacos, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Ciudad de Mexico, México
| | - Diego Arturo Castillo-Ramírez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Salvador Díaz Mirón Esq. Plan de San Luis S/N, Miguel Hidalgo, Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de México, CDMX, 11340, México
| | - Érika Rosales-Cruz
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Ciudad de Mexico, México
| | - Saúl Rojas-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Salvador Díaz Mirón Esq. Plan de San Luis S/N, Miguel Hidalgo, Casco de Santo Tomas, Ciudad de México, CDMX, 11340, México.
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17
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Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) Is Engaged in the Intracellular Survival of the Protozoan Parasite Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0032422. [PMID: 35993771 PMCID: PMC9476911 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00324-22] [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: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania (L.) amazonensis infects and replicates inside host macrophages due to subversion of the innate host cell response. In the present study, we demonstrate that TLR3 is required for the intracellular growth of L. (L.) amazonensis. We observed restricted intracellular infection of TLR3-/- mouse macrophages, reduced levels of IFN1β and IL-10, and increased levels of IL-12 upon L. (L.) amazonensis infection, compared with their wild-type counterparts. Accordingly, in vivo infection of TLR3-/- mice with L. (L.) amazonensis displayed a significant reduction in lesion size. Leishmania (L.) amazonensis infection induced TLR3 proteolytic cleavage, which is a process required for TLR3 signaling. The chemical inhibition of TLR3 cleavage or infection by CPB-deficient mutant L. (L.) mexicana resulted in reduced parasite load and restricted the expression of IFN1β and IL-10. Furthermore, we show that the dsRNA sensor molecule PKR (dsRNA-activated protein kinase) cooperates with TLR3 signaling to potentiate the expression of IL-10 and IFN1β and parasite survival. Altogether, our results show that TLR3 signaling is engaged during L. (L.) amazonensis infection and this component of innate immunity modulates the host cell response.
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18
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Dipeptidylcarboxypeptidase of Leishmania donovani: A potential vaccine molecule against experimental visceral leishmaniasis. Cell Immunol 2022; 375:104529. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Gallenti R, Hussein HE, Alzan HF, Suarez CE, Ueti M, Asurmendi S, Benitez D, Araujo FR, Rolls P, Sibeko-Matjila K, Schnittger L, Florin-Christensen M. Unraveling the Complexity of the Rhomboid Serine Protease 4 Family of Babesia bovis Using Bioinformatics and Experimental Studies. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030344. [PMID: 35335668 PMCID: PMC8956091 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030344] [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: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia bovis, a tick-transmitted apicomplexan protozoon, infects cattle in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. In the apicomplexans Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, rhomboid serine protease 4 (ROM4) fulfills an essential role in host cell invasion. We thus investigated B. bovis ROM4 coding genes; their genomic organization; their expression in in vitro cultured asexual (AS) and sexual stages (SS); and strain polymorphisms. B. bovis contains five rom4 paralogous genes in chromosome 2, which we have named rom4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5. There are moderate degrees of sequence identity between them, except for rom4.3 and 4.4, which are almost identical. RT-qPCR analysis showed that rom4.1 and rom4.3/4.4, respectively, display 18-fold and 218-fold significantly higher (p < 0.01) levels of transcription in SS than in AS, suggesting a role in gametogenesis-related processes. In contrast, transcription of rom4.4 and 4.5 differed non-significantly between the stages. ROM4 polymorphisms among geographic isolates were essentially restricted to the number of tandem repeats of a 29-amino acid sequence in ROM4.5. This sequence repeat is highly conserved and predicted as antigenic. B. bovis ROMs likely participate in relevant host−pathogen interactions and are possibly useful targets for the development of new control strategies against this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romina Gallenti
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INTA-CONICET), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (R.G.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Hala E. Hussein
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (H.E.H.); (H.F.A.); (C.E.S.); (M.U.)
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Heba F. Alzan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (H.E.H.); (H.F.A.); (C.E.S.); (M.U.)
- Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Research Unit, National Research Center, Giza 12622, Egypt
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (H.E.H.); (H.F.A.); (C.E.S.); (M.U.)
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal Disease Research Unit, (USDA-ARS), Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Massaro Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; (H.E.H.); (H.F.A.); (C.E.S.); (M.U.)
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal Disease Research Unit, (USDA-ARS), Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Sebastián Asurmendi
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular (IABiMo), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INTA-CONICET), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina;
| | - Daniel Benitez
- Estación Experimental Agropecuaria (EEA)-Mercedes, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Mercedes 3470, Argentina;
| | | | - Peter Rolls
- Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, Tick Fever Centre, Wacol, QLD 4076, Australia;
| | - Kgomotso Sibeko-Matjila
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa;
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INTA-CONICET), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (R.G.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Mónica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria—Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INTA-CONICET), Hurlingham 1686, Argentina; (R.G.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
- Correspondence:
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20
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Soprano LL, Ferrero MR, Landoni M, García GA, Esteva MI, Couto AS, Duschak VG. Cruzipain Sulfotopes-Specific Antibodies Generate Cardiac Tissue Abnormalities and Favor Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in the BALB/c Mice Model of Experimental Chagas Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:814276. [PMID: 35059328 PMCID: PMC8763857 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.814276] [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: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi cruzipain (Cz) bears a C-terminal domain (C-T) that contains sulfated epitopes “sulfotopes” (GlcNAc6S) on its unique N-glycosylation site. The effects of in vivo exposure to GlcNAc6S on heart tissue ultrastructure, immune responses, and along the outcome of infection by T. cruzi, were evaluated in a murine experimental model, BALB/c, using three independent strategies. First, mice were pre-exposed to C-T by immunization. C-T-immunized mice (C-TIM) showed IgG2a/IgG1 <1, induced the production of cytokines from Th2, Th17, and Th1 profiles with respect to those of dC-TIM, which only induced IL-10 respect to the control mice. Surprisingly, after sublethal challenge, both C-TIM and dC-TIM showed significantly higher parasitemia and mortality than the control group. Second, mice exposed to BSA-GlcNAc6S as immunogen (BSA-GlcNAc6SIM) showed: severe ultrastructural cardiac alterations while BSA-GlcNAcIM conserved the regular tissue architecture with slight myofibril changes; a strong highly specific humoral-immune-response reproducing the IgG-isotype-profile obtained with C-TIM; and a significant memory-T-cell-response demonstrating sulfotope-immunodominance with respect to BSA-GlcNAcIM. After sublethal challenge, BSA-GlcNAc6SIM showed exacerbated parasitemias, despite elevated IFN-γ levels were registered. In both cases, the abrogation of ultrastructural alterations when using desulfated immunogens supported the direct involvement of sulfotopes and/or indirect effect through their specific antibodies, in the induction of tissue damage. Finally, a third strategy using a passive transference of sulfotope-specific antibodies (IgG-GlcNAc6S) showed the detrimental activity of IgG-GlcNAc6S on mice cardiac tissue, and mice treated with IgG-GlcNAc6S after a sublethal dose of T. cruzi, surprisingly reached higher parasitemias than control groups. These findings confirmed the indirect role of the sulfotopes, via their IgG-GlcNAc6S, both in the immunopathogenicity as well as favoring T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana L Soprano
- Area of Biochemistry of Proteins and Glycobiology of Parasites, Research Department, National Institute of Parasitology "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Health Department, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA, 1063), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano R Ferrero
- Area of Biochemistry of Proteins and Glycobiology of Parasites, Research Department, National Institute of Parasitology "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Health Department, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA, 1063), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Malena Landoni
- Organic Chemistry Department, Natural and Exact Sciences Faculty; Research Center in Carbohydrates (CIHIDECAR), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela A García
- Area of Biochemistry of Proteins and Glycobiology of Parasites, Research Department, National Institute of Parasitology "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Health Department, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA, 1063), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mónica I Esteva
- Area of Biochemistry of Proteins and Glycobiology of Parasites, Research Department, National Institute of Parasitology "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Health Department, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA, 1063), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alicia S Couto
- Organic Chemistry Department, Natural and Exact Sciences Faculty; Research Center in Carbohydrates (CIHIDECAR), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vilma G Duschak
- Area of Biochemistry of Proteins and Glycobiology of Parasites, Research Department, National Institute of Parasitology "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben", ANLIS-Malbrán, Health Department, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA, 1063), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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21
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Florin-Christensen M, Wieser SN, Suarez CE, Schnittger L. In Silico Survey and Characterization of Babesia microti Functional and Non-Functional Proteases. Pathogens 2021; 10:1457. [PMID: 34832610 PMCID: PMC8621943 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis caused by the intraerythrocytic apicomplexan Babesia microti is an expanding tick-borne zoonotic disease that may cause severe symptoms and death in elderly or immunocompromised individuals. In light of an increasing resistance of B. microti to drugs, there is a lack of therapeutic alternatives. Species-specific proteases are essential for parasite survival and possible chemotherapeutic targets. However, the repertoire of proteases in B. microti remains poorly investigated. Herein, we employed several combined bioinformatics tools and strategies to organize and identify genes encoding for the full repertoire of proteases in the B. microti genome. We identified 64 active proteases and 25 nonactive protease homologs. These proteases can be classified into cysteine (n = 28), serine (n = 21), threonine (n = 14), asparagine (n = 7), and metallopeptidases (n = 19), which, in turn, are assigned to a total of 38 peptidase families. Comparative studies between the repertoire of B. bovis and B. microti proteases revealed differences among sensu stricto and sensu lato Babesia parasites that reflect their distinct evolutionary history. Overall, this data may help direct future research towards our understanding of the biology and pathogenicity of Babesia parasites and to explore proteases as targets for developing novel therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Sarah N. Wieser
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA 99163, USA;
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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22
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Roh H, Kim N, Lee Y, Park J, Kim BS, Lee MK, Park CI, Kim DH. Dual-Organ Transcriptomic Analysis of Rainbow Trout Infected With Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Through Co-Expression and Machine Learning. Front Immunol 2021; 12:677730. [PMID: 34305907 PMCID: PMC8296305 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.677730] [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: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is a major pathogen that causes a high mortality rate in trout farms. However, systemic responses to the pathogen and its interactions with multiple organs during the course of infection have not been well described. In this study, dual-organ transcriptomic responses in the liver and head kidney and hemato-serological indexes were profiled under I. multifiliis infection and recovery to investigate systemic immuno-physiological characteristics. Several strategies for massive transcriptomic interpretation, such as differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Poisson linear discriminant (PLDA), and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) models were used to investigate the featured genes/pathways while minimizing the disadvantages of individual methods. During the course of infection, 6,097 and 2,931 DEGs were identified in the head kidney and liver, respectively. Markers of protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, oxidative phosphorylation, and the proteasome were highly expressed. Likewise, simultaneous ferroptosis and cellular reconstruction was observed, which is strongly linked to multiple organ dysfunction. In contrast, pathways relevant to cellular replication were up-regulated in only the head kidney, while endocytosis- and phagosome-related pathways were notably expressed in the liver. Moreover, interestingly, most immune-relevant pathways (e.g., leukocyte trans-endothelial migration, Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis) were highly activated in the liver, but the same pathways in the head kidney were down-regulated. These conflicting results from different organs suggest that interpretation of co-expression among organs is crucial for profiling of systemic responses during infection. The dual-organ transcriptomics approaches presented in this study will greatly contribute to our understanding of multi-organ interactions under I. multifiliis infection from a broader perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- HyeongJin Roh
- Department of Aquatic Life Medicine, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Nameun Kim
- Department of Aquatic Life Medicine, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Yoonhang Lee
- Department of Aquatic Life Medicine, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Jiyeon Park
- Department of Aquatic Life Medicine, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea
| | - Bo Seong Kim
- Aquatic Disease Control Division, National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), Busan, South Korea
| | - Mu Kun Lee
- Korean Aquatic Organism Disease Inspector Association, Busan, South Korea
| | - Chan-Il Park
- Department of Marine Biology & Aquaculture, College of Marine Science, Gyeongsang National University, Tongyeong, South Korea
| | - Do-Hyung Kim
- Department of Aquatic Life Medicine, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea
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23
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Saleh M, Abdel-Baki AAS, Dkhil MA, El-Matbouli M, Al-Quraishy S. Proteins of the Ciliated Protozoan Parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Identified in Common Carp Skin Mucus. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070790. [PMID: 34206679 PMCID: PMC8308598 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070790] [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: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The skin mucus is the fish primary defense barrier protecting from infections via the skin epidermis. In a previous study, we have investigated the proteome of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) skin mucus at two different time points (1 and 9 days) post-exposure to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Applying a nano-LC ESI MS/MS technique, we have earlier revealed that the abundance of 44 skin mucus proteins has been differentially regulated including proteins associated with host immune responses and wound healing. Herein, in skin mucus samples, we identified six proteins of I. multifiliis associated with the skin mucus in common carp. Alpha and beta tubulins were detected in addition to the elongation factor alpha, 26S proteasome regulatory subunit, 26S protease regulatory subunit 6B, and heat shock protein 90. The identified proteins are likely involved in motility, virulence, and general stress during parasite growth and development after parasite attachment and invasion. Two KEGG pathways, phagosome and proteasome, were identified among these parasite proteins, mirroring the proteolytic and phagocytic activities of this parasite during host invasion, growth, and development, which represent a plausible host invasion strategy of this parasite. The results obtained from this study can support revealing molecular aspects of the interplay between carp and I. multifiliis and may help us understand the I. multifiliis invasion strategy at the skin mucus barrier. The data may advance the development of novel drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics suitable for the management and prevention of ichthyophthiriosis in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Saleh
- Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-(12)-5077-4736
| | - Abdel-Azeem S. Abdel-Baki
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.-A.S.A.-B.); (M.A.D.); (S.A.-Q.)
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62521, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. Dkhil
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.-A.S.A.-B.); (M.A.D.); (S.A.-Q.)
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt
| | - Mansour El-Matbouli
- Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Saleh Al-Quraishy
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.-A.S.A.-B.); (M.A.D.); (S.A.-Q.)
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24
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Genome of the fatal tapeworm Sparganum proliferum uncovers mechanisms for cryptic life cycle and aberrant larval proliferation. Commun Biol 2021; 4:649. [PMID: 34059788 PMCID: PMC8166898 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02160-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cryptic parasite Sparganum proliferum proliferates in humans and invades tissues and organs. Only scattered cases have been reported, but S. proliferum infection is always fatal. However, S. proliferum’s phylogeny and life cycle remain enigmatic. To investigate the phylogenetic relationships between S. proliferum and other cestode species, and to examine the mechanisms underlying pathogenicity, we sequenced the entire genomes of S. proliferum and a closely related non–life-threatening tapeworm Spirometra erinaceieuropaei. Additionally, we performed larvae transcriptome analyses of S. proliferum plerocercoid to identify genes involved in asexual reproduction in the host. The genome sequences confirmed that the S. proliferum has experienced a clearly distinct evolutionary history from S. erinaceieuropaei. Moreover, we found that nonordinal extracellular matrix coordination allows asexual reproduction in the host, and loss of sexual maturity in S. proliferum are responsible for its fatal pathogenicity to humans. Our high-quality reference genome sequences should be valuable for future studies of pseudophyllidean tapeworm biology and parasitism. Kikuchi et al. sequence the genome of the fatal tapeworm Sparganum proliferum and a closely related non–life-threatening tapeworm Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, and describe its genomic features suggesting the natural history and molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenicity. Their findings indicate that nonordinal extracellular matrix coordination is important for its asexual reproduction, and suggest that loss of sexual maturity contributes to the fatal pathogenicity of S. proliferum to humans.
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25
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Xu J, Yue WW, Xu YXY, Hao HN, Liu RD, Long SR, Wang ZQ, Cui J. Molecular characterization of a novel aspartyl protease-1 from Trichinella spiralis. Res Vet Sci 2020; 134:1-11. [PMID: 33276221 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize the biological properties of a novel aspartic protease-1 from Trichinella spiralis (TsASP1) and evaluate its potential in inducing immune response. TsASP1 gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). On Western blotting analysis with anti-rTsASP1 serum, native TsASP1 was detected in various T. spiralis phases other than newborn larvae (NBL). qPCR results showed that TsASP1 transcription was the highest in intestinal infective larvae (IIL) and the lowest in the NBL stage. Immunofluorescence test result shows that native TsASP1 was principally localized in stichosome, muscle cells of muscle larvae (ML) and IIL, and surrounded intrauterine embryos in female adult worms (AW). After silencing TsASP1 gene of the ML by siRNA, the worm development was significantly inhibited, showed by shorter AW and more wrinkles and longitudinal crack on epicuticle of AW on scanning electron microscopy; the AW and ML burdens were reduced by 41.82 and 56.36% respectively, compared with the control siRNA or PBS group (P < 0.001). Immunization of mice with rTsASP1 elicited an evident antibody response (serum IgG, IgG1/IgG2a and enteral sIgA), and systemic (spleen) and intestinal local mucosal (mesenteric lymph node) cellular immune response, demonstrated by a prominent elevation of IFN-γ and IL-4. The results suggested TsASP1 participated in T. spiralis development and survival in host, and immunization of mice with rTsASP1 induced systemic/intestinal local mucosal humoral and cellular immune response against Trichinella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Xu
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Wen Wen Yue
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Yang Xiu Yue Xu
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Hui Nan Hao
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Ruo Dan Liu
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Shao Rong Long
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Zhong Quan Wang
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China.
| | - Jing Cui
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China.
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26
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Lechuga GC, Napoleão-Pêgo P, Bottino CCG, Pinho RT, Provance-Jr DW, De-Simone SG. Trypanosoma cruzi Presenilin-Like Transmembrane Aspartyl Protease: Characterization and Cellular Localization. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10111564. [PMID: 33212923 PMCID: PMC7698364 DOI: 10.3390/biom10111564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing detection of infections of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, in non-endemic regions beyond Latin America has risen to be a major public health issue. With an impact in the millions of people, current treatments rely on antiquated drugs that produce severe side effects and are considered nearly ineffective for the chronic phase. The minimal progress in the development of new drugs highlights the need for advances in basic research on crucial biochemical pathways in T. cruzi to identify new targets. Here, we report on the T. cruzi presenilin-like transmembrane aspartyl enzyme, a protease of the aspartic class in a unique phylogenetic subgroup with T. vivax separate from protozoans. Computational analyses suggest it contains nine transmembrane domains and an active site with the characteristic PALP motif of the A22 family. Multiple linear B-cell epitopes were identified by SPOT-synthesis analysis with Chagasic patient sera. Two were chosen to generate rabbit antisera, whose signal was primarily localized to the flagellar pocket, intracellular vesicles, and endoplasmic reticulum in parasites by whole-cell immunofluorescence. The results suggest that the parasitic presenilin-like enzyme could have a role in the secretory pathway and serve as a target for the generation of new therapeutics specific to the T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme C. Lechuga
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Paloma Napoleão-Pêgo
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
| | - Carolina C. G. Bottino
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
| | - Rosa T. Pinho
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil;
| | - David W. Provance-Jr
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
- Interdisciplinary Medical Research Laboratory, FIOCRUZ, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Salvatore G. De-Simone
- Center for Technological Development in Health/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Diseases of Neglected Population (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (G.C.L.); (P.N.-P.); (C.C.G.B.); (D.W.P.-J.)
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 24220-008, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-21-3865-8183
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Liechti N, Schürch N, Bruggmann R, Wittwer M. Nanopore sequencing improves the draft genome of the human pathogenic amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16040. [PMID: 31690847 PMCID: PMC6831594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52572-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri is an environmental protist found in soil and warm freshwater sources worldwide and is known for its ability to infect humans and causing a rapid and mostly fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. When contaminated water enters the nose, the facultative parasite follows the olfactory nerve and enters the brain by crossing the cribriform plate where it causes tissue damage and haemorrhagic necrosis. Although N. fowleri has been studied for several years, the mechanisms of pathogenicity are still poorly understood. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge on the genomic level and the current reference assembly is limited in contiguity. To improve the draft genome and to investigate pathogenicity factors, we sequenced the genome of N. fowleri using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). Assembly and polishing of the long reads resulted in a high-quality draft genome whose N50 is 18 times higher than the previously published genome. The prediction of potentially secreted proteins revealed a large proportion of enzymes with a hydrolysing function, which could play an important role during the pathogenesis and account for the destructive nature of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. The improved genome provides the basis for further investigation unravelling the biology and the pathogenic potential of N. fowleri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Liechti
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Schürch
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland
| | - Rémy Bruggmann
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Wittwer
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland.
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28
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Aggarwal S, Paliwal D, Kaushik D, Gupta GK, Kumar A. Synthesis, Antimalarial Evaluation and SAR Study of Some 1,3,5-Trisubstituted Pyrazoline Derivatives. LETT ORG CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1570178616666190212145754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis of a novel series of 1,3,5-trisubstitiuted pyrazoline was achieved by refluxing
chalcone derivative with different heteroaryl hydrazines. The newly synthesized compounds were
characterized by 1H NMR, 13CNMR, mass spectral and elemental analysis data. The synthetic series of
novel pyrazoline hybrids was screened for in vitro schizont maturation assay against chloroquine sensitive
3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Most of the compounds showed promising in vitro antimalarial
activity against CQ sensitive strain. The preliminary structure-activity relationship study showed
that quinoline substituted analog at position N-1 showed maximum activity followed by benzothiazole
substitution, while phenyl substitution lowers the antimalarial activity. The observed activity was persistent
by the docking study on P. falciparum cystein protease falcipain-2. The pharmacokinetic properties
were also studied using ADME prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deepika Paliwal
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, India
| | - Dhirender Kaushik
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, India
| | - Girish Kumar Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, M.M. College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala 133203, India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, India
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29
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Evaluation of quinoxaline compounds as ligands of a site adjacent to S2 (AS2) of cruzain. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2019; 29:2197-2202. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2019.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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30
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Xue Q. Pathogen proteases and host protease inhibitors in molluscan infectious diseases. J Invertebr Pathol 2019; 166:107214. [PMID: 31348922 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2019.107214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The development of infectious diseases represents an outcome of dynamic interactions between the disease-producing agent's pathogenicity and the host's self-defense mechanism. Proteases secreted by pathogenic microorganisms and protease inhibitors produced by host species play an important role in the process. This review aimed at summarizing major findings in research on pathogen proteases and host protease inhibitors that had been proposed to be related to the development of mollusk diseases. Metalloproteases and serine proteases respectively belonging to Family M4 and Family S8 of the MEROPS system are among the most studied proteases that may function as virulence factors in mollusk pathogens. On the other hand, a mollusk-specific family (Family I84) of novel serine protease inhibitors and homologues of the tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease have been studied for their potential in the molluscan host defense. In addition, research at the genomic and transcriptomic levels showed that more proteases of pathogens and protease inhibitor of hosts are likely involved in mollusk disease processes. Therefore, the pathological significance of interactions between pathogen proteases and host protease inhibitors in the development of molluscan infectious diseases deserves more research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinggang Xue
- Zhejiang Key Lab of Aquatic Germplasm Resources, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China; Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266071, China.
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31
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Kazemirad E, Reisi Nafchi H, Latifi A, Raoofian R, Mohebali M, Hajjaran H. Comparison of Cysteine Protease B Gene Expression between Clinical Isolates of Leishmania tropica, Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2019. [DOI: 10.29252/jommid.7.3.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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32
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Mishra M, Singh V, Singh S. Structural Insights Into Key Plasmodium Proteases as Therapeutic Drug Targets. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:394. [PMID: 30891019 PMCID: PMC6411711 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria, caused by protozoan of genus Plasmodium, remains one of the highest mortality infectious diseases. Malaria parasites have a complex life cycle, easily adapt to their host’s immune system and have evolved with an arsenal of unique proteases which play crucial roles in proliferation and survival within the host cells. Owing to the existing knowledge of enzymatic mechanisms, 3D structures and active sites of proteases, they have been proven to be opportune for target based drug development. Here, we discuss in depth the crucial roles of essential proteases in Plasmodium life cycle and particularly focus on highlighting the atypical “structural signatures” of key parasite proteases which have been exploited for drug development. These features, on one hand aid parasites pathogenicity while on the other hand could be effective in designing targeted and very specific inhibitors for counteracting them. We conclude that Plasmodium proteases are suitable as multistage targets for designing novel drugs with new modes of action to combat malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasi Mishra
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Dadri, India
| | - Vigyasa Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Shailja Singh
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar University, Dadri, India.,Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
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33
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Mazumdar R, Nöbauer K, Hummel K, Hess M, Bilic I. Molecular characterization of Histomonas meleagridis exoproteome with emphasis on protease secretion and parasite-bacteria interaction. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212429. [PMID: 30807611 PMCID: PMC6391000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The exoproteome of parasitic protists constitutes extracellular proteins that play a fundamental role in host-parasite interactions. Lytic factors, especially secreted proteases, are capable of modulating tissue invasion, thereby aggravating host susceptibility. Despite the important role of exoproteins during infection, the exoproteomic data on Histomonas meleagridis are non-existent. The present study employed traditional 1D-in-gel-zymography (1D-IGZ) and micro-LC-ESI-MS/MS (shotgun proteomics), to investigate H. meleagridis exoproteomes, obtained from a clonal virulent and an attenuated strain. Both strains were maintained as mono-eukaryotic monoxenic cultures with Escherichia coli. We demonstrated active in vitro secretion kinetics of proteases by both parasite strains, with a widespread proteolytic activity ranging from 17 kDa to 120 kDa. Based on protease inhibitor susceptibility assay, the majority of proteases present in both exoproteomes belonged to the family of cysteine proteases and showed stronger activity in the exoproteome of a virulent H. meleagridis. Shotgun proteomics, aided by customized database search, identified 176 proteins including actin, potential moonlighting glycolytic enzymes, lytic molecules such as pore-forming proteins (PFPs) and proteases like cathepsin-L like cysteine protease. To quantify the exoproteomic differences between the virulent and the attenuated H. meleagridis cultures, a sequential window acquisition of all theoretical spectra mass spectrometric (SWATH-MS) approach was applied. Surprisingly, results showed most of the exoproteomic differences to be of bacterial origin, especially targeting metabolism and locomotion. By deciphering such molecular signatures, novel insights into a complex in vitro protozoan- bacteria relationship were elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rounik Mazumdar
- Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Nöbauer
- VetCORE, Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Hummel
- VetCORE, Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Hess
- Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Innovative Poultry Vaccines (IPOV), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ivana Bilic
- Clinic for Poultry and Fish Medicine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
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34
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Insights into the tracking of the cysteine proteinase B COOH-terminal polypeptide of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis by surface plasmon resonance. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1249-1259. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06238-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Loesbanluechai D, Kotanan N, de Cozar C, Kochakarn T, Ansbro MR, Chotivanich K, White NJ, Wilairat P, Lee MCS, Gamo FJ, Sanz LM, Chookajorn T, Kümpornsin K. Overexpression of plasmepsin II and plasmepsin III does not directly cause reduction in Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to artesunate, chloroquine and piperaquine. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2018; 9:16-22. [PMID: 30580023 PMCID: PMC6304341 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin derivatives and their partner drugs in artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) have played a pivotal role in global malaria mortality reduction during the last two decades. The loss of artemisinin efficacy due to evolving drug-resistant parasites could become a serious global health threat. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is a well tolerated and generally highly effective ACT. The implementation of a partner drug in ACTs is critical in the control of emerging artemisinin resistance. Even though artemisinin is highly effective in parasite clearance, it is labile in the human body. A partner drug is necessary for killing the remaining parasites when the pulses of artemisinin have ceased. A population of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Cambodia and adjacent countries has become resistant to piperaquine. Increased copy number of the genes encoding the haemoglobinases Plasmepsin II and Plasmepsin III has been linked with piperaquine resistance by genome-wide association studies and in clinical trials, leading to the use of increased plasmepsin II/plasmepsin III copy number as a molecular marker for piperaquine resistance. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of plasmepsin II and plasmepsin III in the 3D7 genetic background failed to change the susceptibility of P. falciparum to artemisinin, chloroquine and piperaquine by both a standard dose-response analysis and a piperaquine survival assay. Whilst plasmepsin copy number polymorphism is currently implemented as a molecular surveillance resistance marker, further studies to discover the molecular basis of piperaquine resistance and potential epistatic interactions are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duangkamon Loesbanluechai
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Molecular Medicine Program, Multidisciplinary Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Namfon Kotanan
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Cristina de Cozar
- Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, 28760, Spain
| | - Theerarat Kochakarn
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Megan R Ansbro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA; Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Kesinee Chotivanich
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Nicholas J White
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, United Kingdom
| | - Prapon Wilairat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Marcus C S Lee
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Francisco Javier Gamo
- Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, 28760, Spain
| | - Laura Maria Sanz
- Tres Cantos Medicine Development Campus, GlaxoSmithKline, Parque Tecnológico de Madrid, Tres Cantos, 28760, Spain
| | - Thanat Chookajorn
- Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine Unit (GEM), Centre of Excellence in Malaria Research, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
| | - Krittikorn Kümpornsin
- Parasites and Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, United Kingdom.
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Holzmuller P, Geiger A, Nzoumbou-Boko R, Pissarra J, Hamrouni S, Rodrigues V, Dauchy FA, Lemesre JL, Vincendeau P, Bras-Gonçalves R. Trypanosomatid Infections: How Do Parasites and Their Excreted-Secreted Factors Modulate the Inducible Metabolism of l-Arginine in Macrophages? Front Immunol 2018; 9:778. [PMID: 29731753 PMCID: PMC5921530 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mononuclear phagocytes (monocytes, dendritic cells, and macrophages) are among the first host cells to face intra- and extracellular protozoan parasites such as trypanosomatids, and significant expansion of macrophages has been observed in infected hosts. They play essential roles in the outcome of infections caused by trypanosomatids, as they can not only exert a powerful antimicrobial activity but also promote parasite proliferation. These varied functions, linked to their phenotypic and metabolic plasticity, are exerted via distinct activation states, in which l-arginine metabolism plays a pivotal role. Depending on the environmental factors and immune response elements, l-arginine metabolites contribute to parasite elimination, mainly through nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, or to parasite proliferation, through l-ornithine and polyamine production. To survive and adapt to their hosts, parasites such as trypanosomatids developed mechanisms of interaction to modulate macrophage activation in their favor, by manipulating several cellular metabolic pathways. Recent reports emphasize that some excreted-secreted (ES) molecules from parasites and sugar-binding host receptors play a major role in this dialog, particularly in the modulation of the macrophage's inducible l-arginine metabolism. Preventing l-arginine dysregulation by drugs or by immunization against trypanosomatid ES molecules or by blocking partner host molecules may control early infection and is a promising way to tackle neglected diseases including Chagas disease, leishmaniases, and African trypanosomiases. The present review summarizes recent knowledge on trypanosomatids and their ES factors with regard to their influence on macrophage activation pathways, mainly the NO synthase/arginase balance. The review ends with prospects for the use of biological knowledge to develop new strategies of interference in the infectious processes used by trypanosomatids, in particular for the development of vaccines or immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Holzmuller
- CIRAD, Montpellier, France.,UMR 117 ASTRE "Animal, Santé, Territoire, Risques et Ecosystèmes", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne Geiger
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Romaric Nzoumbou-Boko
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Bordeaux, France.,CHU Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Bordeaux, France
| | - Joana Pissarra
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Sarra Hamrouni
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Valérie Rodrigues
- CIRAD, Montpellier, France.,UMR 117 ASTRE "Animal, Santé, Territoire, Risques et Ecosystèmes", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédéric-Antoine Dauchy
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Bordeaux, France.,CHU Bordeaux, Département des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Loup Lemesre
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Vincendeau
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France.,Univ. Bordeaux, UMR 177 INTERTRYP, Bordeaux, France.,CHU Bordeaux, Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Bordeaux, France
| | - Rachel Bras-Gonçalves
- UMR 177 INTERTRYP "Interactions Hôte-Vecteur-Parasite-Environnement dans les maladies tropicales négligées dues aux Trypanosomatidae", Univ. Montpellier (I-MUSE), CIRAD, IRD, Univ. Bordeaux 2, Univ. Lyon 1, Montpellier, France
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Ascencio ME, Florin-Christensen M, Mamoun CB, Weir W, Shiels B, Schnittger L. Cysteine Proteinase C1A Paralog Profiles Correspond with Phylogenetic Lineages of Pathogenic Piroplasmids. Vet Sci 2018; 5:E41. [PMID: 29673170 PMCID: PMC6024612 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci5020041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Piroplasmid parasites comprising of Babesia, Theileria, and Cytauxzoon are transmitted by ticks to farm and pet animals and have a significant impact on livestock industries and animal health in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In addition, diverse Babesia spp. infect humans as opportunistic hosts. Molecular phylogeny has demonstrated at least six piroplasmid lineages exemplified by B. microti, B. duncani, C. felis, T. equi, Theileria sensu stricto (T. annulata, T. parva, and T. orientalis) and Babesia sensu stricto (B. bovis, B. bigemina, and B. ovis). C1A cysteine-proteinases (C1A-Cp) are papain-like enzymes implicated in pathogenic and vital steps of the parasite life cycle such as nutrition and host cell egress. An expansion of C1A-Cp of T. annulata and T. parva with respect to B. bovis and B. ovis was previously described. In the present work, C1A-Cp paralogs were identified in available genomes of species pertaining to each piroplasmid lineage. Phylogenetic analysis revealed eight C1A-Cp groups. The profile of C1A-Cp paralogs across these groups corroborates and defines the existence of six piroplasmid lineages. C. felis, T. equi and Theileria s.s. each showed characteristic expansions into extensive families of C1A-Cp paralogs in two of the eight groups. Underlying gene duplications have occurred as independent unique evolutionary events that allow distinguishing these three piroplasmid lineages. We hypothesize that C1A-Cp paralog families may be associated with the advent of the schizont stage. Differences in the invertebrate tick host specificity and/or mode of transmission in piroplasmid lineages might also be associated with the observed C1A-Cp paralog profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano E Ascencio
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina.
- National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina.
| | - Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina.
- National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina.
| | - Choukri B Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - William Weir
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Brian Shiels
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Nicolas Repetto s/n, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina.
- National Council of Scientific and Technological Research (CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina.
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Kumar G, Tanwar O, Kumar J, Akhter M, Sharma S, Pillai CR, Alam MM, Zama MS. Pyrazole-pyrazoline as promising novel antimalarial agents: A mechanistic study. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 149:139-147. [PMID: 29499486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.01.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A series of pyrazole-pyrazoline substituted with benzenesulfonamide were synthesized and evaluated for their antimalarial activity in vitro and in vivo. The compounds were active against both chloroquine (CQ) sensitive (3D7) and CQ resistant (RKL-9) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Seven compounds (7e, 7i, 7j, 7l, 7m, 7o and 7p) exhibiting EC50 less than 2 μM. A mechanistic study of compound 7o revealed that these compound act through the inhibition of β-hematin. The study indicated that these compounds can serve as lead compounds for further development of potent antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Kumar
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Omprakash Tanwar
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Jitender Kumar
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Mymoona Akhter
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India.
| | - Supriya Sharma
- National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Sector 8, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110077, India
| | - C R Pillai
- National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR), Sector 8, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Md Mumtaz Alam
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - M S Zama
- Drug Design and Medicinal Chemistry Lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
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Choudhary S, Singh PK, Verma H, Singh H, Silakari O. Success stories of natural product-based hybrid molecules for multi-factorial diseases. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 151:62-97. [PMID: 29605809 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Complex diseases comprises of highly complicated etiology resulting in limited applicability of conventional targeted therapies. Consequently, conventional medicinal compounds suffer major failure when used for such disease conditions. Additionally, development of multidrug resistance (MDR), adverse drug reactions and clinical specificity of single targeted drug therapy has increased thrust for novel drug therapy. In this rapidly evolving era, natural product-based discovery of hybrid molecules or multi-targeted drug therapies have shown promising results and are trending now a days. Historically, nature has blessed human with different sources viz. plant, animal, microbial, marine and ethnopharmaceutical sources which has given a wide variety of medicinally active compounds. These compounds from natural origin are always choice of interest of medicinal chemists because of their minimum side effects. Hybrid molecules synthesized by fusing or conjugating different active molecules obtained from these sources are reported to synergistically block different pathways which contribute in the pathogenesis of complex diseases. This review strives to encompass all natural product-derived hybrid molecules which act as multi-targeting agents striking various targets involved in different pathways of complex diseased conditions reported in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalki Choudhary
- Molecular Modelling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Molecular Modelling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | - Himanshu Verma
- Molecular Modelling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India
| | | | - Om Silakari
- Molecular Modelling Lab (MML), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, 147002, India.
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40
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Bhattacharyya A, Babu C. Caesalpinia bonduc serine proteinase inhibitor CbTI–2: Exploring the conformational features and antimalarial activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2017; 103:294-306. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Gentekaki E, Curtis BA, Stairs CW, Klimeš V, Eliáš M, Salas-Leiva DE, Herman EK, Eme L, Arias MC, Henrissat B, Hilliou F, Klute MJ, Suga H, Malik SB, Pightling AW, Kolisko M, Rachubinski RA, Schlacht A, Soanes DM, Tsaousis AD, Archibald JM, Ball SG, Dacks JB, Clark CG, van der Giezen M, Roger AJ. Extreme genome diversity in the hyper-prevalent parasitic eukaryote Blastocystis. PLoS Biol 2017; 15:e2003769. [PMID: 28892507 PMCID: PMC5608401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Blastocystis is the most prevalent eukaryotic microbe colonizing the human gut, infecting approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. Although Blastocystis has been linked to intestinal disorders, its pathogenicity remains controversial because most carriers are asymptomatic. Here, the genome sequence of Blastocystis subtype (ST) 1 is presented and compared to previously published sequences for ST4 and ST7. Despite a conserved core of genes, there is unexpected diversity between these STs in terms of their genome sizes, guanine-cytosine (GC) content, intron numbers, and gene content. ST1 has 6,544 protein-coding genes, which is several hundred more than reported for ST4 and ST7. The percentage of proteins unique to each ST ranges from 6.2% to 20.5%, greatly exceeding the differences observed within parasite genera. Orthologous proteins also display extreme divergence in amino acid sequence identity between STs (i.e., 59%-61% median identity), on par with observations of the most distantly related species pairs of parasite genera. The STs also display substantial variation in gene family distributions and sizes, especially for protein kinase and protease gene families, which could reflect differences in virulence. It remains to be seen to what extent these inter-ST differences persist at the intra-ST level. A full 26% of genes in ST1 have stop codons that are created on the mRNA level by a novel polyadenylation mechanism found only in Blastocystis. Reconstructions of pathways and organellar systems revealed that ST1 has a relatively complete membrane-trafficking system and a near-complete meiotic toolkit, possibly indicating a sexual cycle. Unlike some intestinal protistan parasites, Blastocystis ST1 has near-complete de novo pyrimidine, purine, and thiamine biosynthesis pathways and is unique amongst studied stramenopiles in being able to metabolize α-glucans rather than β-glucans. It lacks all genes encoding heme-containing cytochrome P450 proteins. Predictions of the mitochondrion-related organelle (MRO) proteome reveal an expanded repertoire of functions, including lipid, cofactor, and vitamin biosynthesis, as well as proteins that may be involved in regulating mitochondrial morphology and MRO/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) interactions. In sharp contrast, genes for peroxisome-associated functions are absent, suggesting Blastocystis STs lack this organelle. Overall, this study provides an important window into the biology of Blastocystis, showcasing significant differences between STs that can guide future experimental investigations into differences in their virulence and clarifying the roles of these organisms in gut health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Gentekaki
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Bruce A. Curtis
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Courtney W. Stairs
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Vladimír Klimeš
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Eliáš
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Dayana E. Salas-Leiva
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Emily K. Herman
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Laura Eme
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Maria C. Arias
- Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576 CNRS-USTL, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- CNRS UMR 7257, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- INRA, USC 1408 AFMB, Marseille, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mary J. Klute
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hiroshi Suga
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Nanatsuka 562, Shobara, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shehre-Banoo Malik
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Arthur W. Pightling
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Martin Kolisko
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Alexander Schlacht
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Darren M. Soanes
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Anastasios D. Tsaousis
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - John M. Archibald
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, CIFAR Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Toronto, Canada
| | - Steven G. Ball
- Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR8576 CNRS-USTL, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d’Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Joel B. Dacks
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - C. Graham Clark
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew J. Roger
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, CIFAR Program in Integrated Microbial Biodiversity, Toronto, Canada
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Structural Characterization of Acidic M17 Leucine Aminopeptidases from the TriTryps and Evaluation of Their Role in Nutrient Starvation in Trypanosoma brucei. mSphere 2017; 2:mSphere00226-17. [PMID: 28815215 PMCID: PMC5557676 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00226-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Leucine aminopeptidases (LAPs) catalyze the hydrolysis of the N-terminal amino acid of peptides and are considered potential drug targets. They are involved in multiple functions ranging from host cell invasion and provision of essential amino acids to site-specific homologous recombination and transcription regulation. In kinetoplastid parasites, there are at least three distinct LAPs. The availability of the crystal structures provides important information for drug design. Here we report the structure of the acidic LAPs from three kinetoplastids in complex with different inhibitors and explore their role in Trypanosoma brucei survival under various nutrient conditions. Importantly, the acidic LAP is dispensable for growth both in vitro and in vivo, an observation that questions its use as a specific drug target. While LAP-A is not essential, leucine depletion and subcellular localization studies performed under starvation conditions suggest a possible function of LAP-A in the response to nutrient restriction. Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) is found in all kingdoms of life and catalyzes the metal-dependent hydrolysis of the N-terminal amino acid residue of peptide or amino acyl substrates. LAPs have been shown to participate in the N-terminal processing of certain proteins in mammalian cells and in homologous recombination and transcription regulation in bacteria, while in parasites, they are involved in host cell invasion and provision of essential amino acids for growth. The enzyme is essential for survival in Plasmodium falciparum, where its drug target potential has been suggested. We report here the X-ray structures of three kinetoplastid acidic LAPs (LAP-As from Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Leishmania major) which were solved in the metal-free and unliganded forms, as well as in a number of ligand complexes, providing insight into ligand binding, metal ion requirements, and oligomeric state. In addition, we analyzed mutant cells defective in LAP-A in Trypanosoma brucei, strongly suggesting that the enzyme is not required for the growth of this parasite either in vitro or in vivo. In procyclic cells, LAP-A was equally distributed throughout the cytoplasm, yet upon starvation, it relocalizes in particles that concentrate in the perinuclear region. Overexpression of the enzyme conferred a growth advantage when parasites were grown in leucine-deficient medium. Overall, the results suggest that in T. brucei, LAP-A may participate in protein degradation associated with nutrient depletion. IMPORTANCE Leucine aminopeptidases (LAPs) catalyze the hydrolysis of the N-terminal amino acid of peptides and are considered potential drug targets. They are involved in multiple functions ranging from host cell invasion and provision of essential amino acids to site-specific homologous recombination and transcription regulation. In kinetoplastid parasites, there are at least three distinct LAPs. The availability of the crystal structures provides important information for drug design. Here we report the structure of the acidic LAPs from three kinetoplastids in complex with different inhibitors and explore their role in Trypanosoma brucei survival under various nutrient conditions. Importantly, the acidic LAP is dispensable for growth both in vitro and in vivo, an observation that questions its use as a specific drug target. While LAP-A is not essential, leucine depletion and subcellular localization studies performed under starvation conditions suggest a possible function of LAP-A in the response to nutrient restriction.
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Roy KK. Targeting the active sites of malarial proteases for antimalarial drug discovery: approaches, progress and challenges. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2017; 50:287-302. [PMID: 28668681 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is an infectious disease causing vast mortality and morbidity worldwide. Although antimalarial drugs are effective in several parts of the world, there is a serious threat to malaria control as malaria parasites are continuously developing widespread resistance against currently available antimalarial drugs, including artemisinin. Such widespread antimalarial drug resistance confirms the need to improve the efficacy of existing or new drugs as well as to develop alternative treatments through the identification of novel drug targets and the development of candidate drugs. Similar to proteases in other parasitic diseases such as leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, Chagas disease and African sleeping sickness, malarial proteases constitute the major virulence factors in malaria. Malarial proteases belong to several classes and many of them have been targeted for the design and discovery of antimalarial agents. This review summarises the approaches, progress and challenges in the design of small-molecule inhibitors as antimalarial drugs targeting the inhibition of various malarial proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuldeep K Roy
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India.
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Correa AF, Bastos IMD, Neves D, Kipnis A, Junqueira-Kipnis AP, de Santana JM. The Activity of a Hexameric M17 Metallo-Aminopeptidase Is Associated With Survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:504. [PMID: 28396657 PMCID: PMC5366330 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the most prevalent human pathogens causing millions of deaths in the last years. Moreover, tuberculosis (TB) treatment has become increasingly challenging owing to the emergence of multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Thus, there is an immediate need for the development of new anti-TB drugs. Proteases appear to be a promising approach and may lead to shortened and effective treatments for drug-resistant TB. Although the M. tuberculosis genome predicts more than 100 genes encoding proteases, only a few of them have been studied. Aminopeptidases constitute a set of proteases that selectively remove amino acids from the N-terminus of proteins and peptides and may act as virulence factors, essential for survival and maintenance of many microbial pathogens. Here, we characterized a leucine aminopeptidase of M. tuberculosis (MtLAP) as a cytosolic oligomeric metallo-aminopeptidase. Molecular and enzymatic properties lead us to classify MtLAP as a typical member of the peptidase family M17. Furthermore, the aminopeptidase inhibitor bestatin strongly inhibited MtLAP activity, in vitro M. tuberculosis growth and macrophage infection. In murine model of TB, bestatin treatment reduced bacterial burden and lesion in the lungs of infected mice. Thus, our data suggest that MtLAP participates in important metabolic pathways of M. tuberculosis necessary for its survival and virulence and consequently may be a promising target for new anti-TB drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre F Correa
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Biologia Universidade de BrasíliaBrasília, Brazil; Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública Universidade Federal de GoiásGoiânia, Brazil
| | - Izabela M D Bastos
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Biologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília, Brazil
| | - David Neves
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Biologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília, Brazil
| | - Andre Kipnis
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública Universidade Federal de Goiás Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Ana P Junqueira-Kipnis
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública Universidade Federal de Goiás Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Jaime M de Santana
- Laboratório de Interação Patógeno-Hospedeiro, Instituto de Biologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília, Brazil
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Mastan BS, Narwal SK, Dey S, Kumar KA, Mishra S. Plasmodium berghei plasmepsin VIII is essential for sporozoite gliding motility. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:239-245. [PMID: 28192122 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium aspartic proteases, termed plasmepsins (PMs) play many critical roles such as haemoglobin degradation, cleavage of PEXEL proteins and sporozoite development in the parasite life cycle. Most of the plasmepsins are well characterized, however the role of PM VIII in Plasmodium remains unknown. Here, we elucidate the functions of PM VIII (PBANKA_132910) in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei (Pb). By targeted gene deletion, we show that PbPM VIII is critical for sporozoite egress from an oocyst and gliding motility, which is a prerequisite for the invasion of salivary glands and subsequent transmission to the vertebrate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babu S Mastan
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Sunil Kumar Narwal
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Sandeep Dey
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Kota Arun Kumar
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
| | - Satish Mishra
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India.
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46
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Integrated Activity and Genetic Profiling of Secreted Peptidases in Cryptococcus neoformans Reveals an Aspartyl Peptidase Required for Low pH Survival and Virulence. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006051. [PMID: 27977806 PMCID: PMC5158083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is a major cause of mortality in immunocompromised individuals, resulting in more than 600,000 deaths per year. Many human fungal pathogens secrete peptidases that influence virulence, but in most cases the substrate specificity and regulation of these enzymes remains poorly understood. The paucity of such information is a roadblock to our understanding of the biological functions of peptidases and whether or not these enzymes are viable therapeutic targets. We report here an unbiased analysis of secreted peptidase activity and specificity in C. neoformans using a mass spectrometry-based substrate profiling strategy and subsequent functional investigations. Our initial studies revealed that global peptidase activity and specificity are dramatically altered by environmental conditions. To uncover the substrate preferences of individual enzymes and interrogate their biological functions, we constructed and profiled a ten-member gene deletion collection of candidate secreted peptidases. Through this deletion approach, we characterized the substrate specificity of three peptidases within the context of the C. neoformans secretome, including an enzyme known to be important for fungal entry into the brain. We selected a previously uncharacterized peptidase, which we term Major aspartyl peptidase 1 (May1), for detailed study due to its substantial contribution to extracellular proteolytic activity. Based on the preference of May1 for proteolysis between hydrophobic amino acids, we screened a focused library of aspartyl peptidase inhibitors and identified four high-affinity antagonists. Finally, we tested may1Δ strains in a mouse model of C. neoformans infection and found that strains lacking this enzyme are significantly attenuated for virulence. Our study reveals the secreted peptidase activity and specificity of an important human fungal pathogen, identifies responsible enzymes through genetic tests of their function, and demonstrates how this information can guide the development of high affinity small molecule inhibitors. Many pathogenic organisms secrete peptidases. The activity of these enzymes often contributes to virulence, making their study crucial for understanding host-pathogen biology and developing therapeutics. In this report, we employed an unbiased, activity-based profiling assay to examine the secreted peptidases of a fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, which is responsible for 40% of AIDS-related deaths. We discovered which peptidases are secreted, identified their substrate specificity, and interrogated their biological functions. Through this analysis, we identified a principal enzyme responsible for the extracellular peptidase activity of C. neoformans, May1, and demonstrated its importance for growth in acidic environments. Characterization of its substrate preferences allowed us to identify compounds that are potent substrate-based inhibitors of May1 activity. Finally, we found that the presence of this enzyme promotes virulence in a mouse model of infection. Our comprehensive study reveals the expression, regulation and function of C. neoformans secreted peptidases, including evidence for the role of a novel aspartyl peptidase in virulence.
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Rubin E, Werneburg GT, Pales Espinosa E, Thanassi DG, Allam B. Identification and characterization of peptidases secreted by quahog parasite unknown (QPX), the protistan parasite of hard clams. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2016; 122:21-33. [PMID: 27901501 DOI: 10.3354/dao03058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Quahog parasite unknown (QPX) is a protistan parasite capable of causing deadly infections in the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria, one of the most valuable shellfish species in the USA. QPX is an extracellular parasite found mostly in the connective tissue of clam mantle and, in more severe cases of infection, other clam organs. Histopathologic examinations revealed that QPX cells within clam tissues are typically surrounded by hollow areas that have been hypothesized to be, at least in part, a result of extracellular digestion of clam proteins by the parasite. We investigated peptidase activity in QPX extracellular secretions using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing gelatin as a co-polymerized substrate. Multiple peptidase activity bands of molecular weights ranging from 20 to 100 kDa were detected in QPX secretions derived from a variety of culture media. One major band of approximately 35 kDa was composed of subtilisin-like peptidases that were released by QPX cells in all studied media, suggesting that these are the most common peptidases used by QPX for nutrient acquisition. PCR quantification of mRNA encoding QPX subtilisins revealed that their expression changes with the protein substrate used in the culture media. A fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used to fractionate QPX extracellular secretions. An FPLC-fraction containing a subtilisin-type serine peptidase was able to digest clam plasma proteins, suggesting that this peptidase might be involved in the disease process, and making it a good candidate for further investigation as a possible virulence factor of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Rubin
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000, USA
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Forrest CM, McNair K, Vincenten MCJ, Darlington LG, Stone TW. Selective depletion of tumour suppressors Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) and neogenin by environmental and endogenous serine proteases: linking diet and cancer. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:772. [PMID: 27716118 PMCID: PMC5054602 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2795-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The related tumour suppressor proteins Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) and neogenin are absent or weakly expressed in many cancers, whereas their insertion into cells suppresses oncogenic behaviour. Serine proteases influence the initiation and progression of cancers although the mechanisms are unknown. METHODS The effects of environmental (bacterial subtilisin) and endogenous mammalian (chymotrypsin) serine proteases were examined on protein expression in fresh, normal tissue and human neuroblastoma and mammary adenocarcinoma lines. Cell proliferation and migration assays (chemoattraction and wound closure) were used to examine cell function. Cells lacking DCC were transfected with an ectopic dcc plasmid. RESULTS Subtilisin and chymotrypsin selectively depleted DCC and neogenin from cells at nanomolar concentrations without affecting related proteins. Cells showed reduced adherence and increased migration, but after washing they re-attached within 24 h, with recovery of protein expression. These effects are induced by chymotryptic activity as they are prevented by chymostatin and the soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitor typical of many plant protease inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS Bacillus subtilis, which secretes subtilisin is widely present in soil, the environment and the intestinal contents, while subtilisin itself is used in meat processing, animal feed probiotics and many household cleaning agents. With chymotrypsin present in chyme, blood and tissues, these proteases may contribute to cancer development by depleting DCC and neogenin. Blocking their activity by Bowman-Birk inhibitors may explain the protective effects of a plant diet. Our findings identify a potential non-genetic contribution to cancer cell behaviour which may explain both the association of processed meats and other factors with cancer incidence and the protection afforded by plant-rich diets, with significant implications for cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Forrest
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Kara McNair
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Maria C J Vincenten
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | | | - Trevor W Stone
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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Martínez-Castillo M, Cárdenas-Zúñiga R, Coronado-Velázquez D, Debnath A, Serrano-Luna J, Shibayama M. Naegleria fowleri after 50 years: is it a neglected pathogen? J Med Microbiol 2016; 65:885-896. [PMID: 27381464 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been 50 years since the first case of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), an acute and rapidly fatal disease of the central nervous system (CNS), was reported in Australia. It is now known that the aetiological agent of PAM is Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that is commonly known as 'the brain-eating amoeba'. N. fowleri infects humans of different ages who are in contact with water contaminated with this micro-organism. N. fowleri is distributed worldwide and is found growing in bodies of freshwater in tropical and subtropical environments. The number of PAM cases has recently increased, and the rate of recovery from PAM has been estimated at only 5 %. Amphotericin B has been used to treat patients with PAM. However, it is important to note that there is no specific treatment for PAM. Moreover, this amoeba is considered a neglected micro-organism. Researchers have exerted great effort to design effective drugs to treat PAM and to understand the pathogenesis of PAM over the past 50 years, such as its pathology, molecular and cellular biology, diagnosis and prevention, and its biological implications, including its pathogenic genotypes, its distribution and its ecology. Given the rapid progression of PAM and its high mortality rate, it is important that investigations continue and that researchers collaborate to gain better understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease and, consequently, to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this devastating infection of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Martínez-Castillo
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Roberto Cárdenas-Zúñiga
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Daniel Coronado-Velázquez
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Anjan Debnath
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jesús Serrano-Luna
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
| | - Mineko Shibayama
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute, Av. IPN 2508, Mexico City 07360, Mexico
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50
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Grewal JS, McLuskey K, Das D, Myburgh E, Wilkes J, Brown E, Lemgruber L, Gould MK, Burchmore RJ, Coombs GH, Schnaufer A, Mottram JC. PNT1 Is a C11 Cysteine Peptidase Essential for Replication of the Trypanosome Kinetoplast. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:9492-500. [PMID: 26940875 PMCID: PMC4850289 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.714972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The structure of a C11 peptidase PmC11 from the gut bacterium, Parabacteroides merdae, has recently been determined, enabling the identification and characterization of a C11 orthologue, PNT1, in the parasitic protozoon Trypanosoma brucei. A phylogenetic analysis identified PmC11 orthologues in bacteria, archaea, Chromerids, Coccidia, and Kinetoplastida, the latter being the most divergent. A primary sequence alignment of PNT1 with clostripain and PmC11 revealed the position of the characteristic His-Cys catalytic dyad (His99 and Cys136), and an Asp (Asp134) in the potential S1 binding site. Immunofluorescence and cryoelectron microscopy revealed that PNT1 localizes to the kinetoplast, an organelle containing the mitochondrial genome of the parasite (kDNA), with an accumulation of the protein at or near the antipodal sites. Depletion of PNT1 by RNAi in the T. brucei bloodstream form was lethal both in in vitro culture and in vivo in mice and the induced population accumulated cells lacking a kinetoplast. In contrast, overexpression of PNT1 led to cells having mislocated kinetoplasts. RNAi depletion of PNT1 in a kDNA independent cell line resulted in kinetoplast loss but was viable, indicating that PNT1 is required exclusively for kinetoplast maintenance. Expression of a recoded wild-type PNT1 allele, but not of an active site mutant restored parasite viability after induction in vitro and in vivo confirming that the peptidase activity of PNT1 is essential for parasite survival. These data provide evidence that PNT1 is a cysteine peptidase that is required exclusively for maintenance of the trypanosome kinetoplast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaspreet S Grewal
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom, the Department of Biology, Centre for Immunology and Infection, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Karen McLuskey
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Debanu Das
- the Joint Center for Structural Genomics, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025
| | - Elmarie Myburgh
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom, the Department of Biology, Centre for Immunology and Infection, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Wilkes
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Brown
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom, the Department of Biology, Centre for Immunology and Infection, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Leandro Lemgruber
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew K Gould
- the Institute of Immunology and Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection, and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J Burchmore
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
| | - Graham H Coombs
- the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Achim Schnaufer
- the Institute of Immunology and Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection, and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy C Mottram
- From the Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom, the Department of Biology, Centre for Immunology and Infection, University of York, Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom,
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