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Mitalo NS, Waiganjo NN, Mokua Mose J, Bosire DO, Oula JO, Orina Isaac A, Nyabuga Nyariki J. Coinfection with Schistosoma mansoni Enhances Disease Severity in Human African Trypanosomiasis. J Trop Med 2023; 2023:1063169. [PMID: 37954132 PMCID: PMC10637842 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1063169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and schistosomiasis are neglected parasitic diseases found in the African continent. This study was conducted to determine how primary infection with Schistosoma mansoni affects HAT disease progression with a secondary infection with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (T.b.r) in a mouse model. Methods Female BALB-c mice (6-8 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups of 12 mice each. The different groups were infected with Schistosoma mansoni (100 cercariae) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (5.0 × 104) separately or together. Twenty-one days after infection with T.b.r, mice were sacrificed and samples were collected for analysis. Results The primary infection with S. mansoni significantly enhanced successive infection by the T.b.r; consequently, promoting HAT disease severity and curtailing host survival time. T.b.r-induced impairment of the neurological integrity and breach of the blood-brain barrier were markedly pronounced on coinfection with S. mansoni. Coinfection with S. mansoni and T.b.r resulted in microcytic hypochromic anemia characterized by the suppression of RBCs, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red cell indices. Moreover, coinfection of the mice with the two parasites resulted in leukocytosis which was accompanied by the elevation of basophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. More importantly, coinfection resulted in a significant elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, creatinine, urea, and uric acid, which are the markers of liver and kidney damage. Meanwhile, S. mansoni-driven dyslipidemia was significantly enhanced by the coinfection of mice with T.b.r. Moreover, coinfection with S. mansoni and T.b.r led to a strong immune response characterized by a significant increase in serum TNF-α and IFN-γ. T.b.r infection enhanced S. mansoni-induced depletion of cellular-reduced glutathione (GSH) in the brain and liver tissues, indicative of lethal oxidative damage. Similarly, coinfection resulted in a significant rise in nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Conclusion Primary infection with S. mansoni exacerbates disease severity of secondary infection with T.b.r in a mouse model that is associated with harmful inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and organ injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy S. Mitalo
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - Naomi N. Waiganjo
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - John Mokua Mose
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - David O. Bosire
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - James O. Oula
- Department of Biomedical Science & Technology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - Alfred Orina Isaac
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
| | - James Nyabuga Nyariki
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428, Nairobi 00200, Kenya
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Impact of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Coinfection on the Evolution of Schistosoma mansoni-Induced Granulomatous Liver Injury in Mice. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:8319465. [PMID: 31019973 PMCID: PMC6451801 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8319465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The pathogens Schistosoma mansoni and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis share common geographic areas, determining infectious diseases with high mortality rates worldwide. Histopathological and immunological changes induced by each pathogen are well understood; however, the host responses to S. mansoni and P. brasiliensis coinfection are still unknown. Thus, we investigated liver damage and cytokines production in a murine model acutely and chronically coinfected with these pathogens. Fourty male Swiss mice were infected with S. mansoni and P. brasiliensis alone or coinfected. The animals were euthanized with 50 (acute infection) and 120 (chronic infection) days of infection. All infected animals exhibited liver inflammation. Intense granulomatous inflammation was detected in animals infected with S. mansoni alone and those coinfected. Productive and involutive granulomas were clearly observed in acute and chronic infections, respectively. Granuloma size was reduced in the acute phase and increased in the chronic phase of S. mansoni and P. brasiliensis coinfection, compared with animals infected only with S. mansoni. In the chronic phase of infection, the granulomatous inflammation in coinfected animals was characterized by intense neutrophils accumulation and reduced eosinophils number. IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-5 circulating levels were increased in all infected groups. Coinfected animals presented attenuated IFN-γ and IL-4 production in the acute and chronic infections. Taken together, our findings indicate that coinfected animals exhibited a differential modulation of granulomatous inflammation during the acute and chronic phases of infection, which was potentially associated with a divergent profile of cytokines production and migration of neutrophils and eosinophils in response to S. mansoni and P. brasiliensis antigenic stimulation.
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Flórez-Vargas O, Bramhall M, Noyes H, Cruickshank S, Stevens R, Brass A. The quality of methods reporting in parasitology experiments. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101131. [PMID: 25076044 PMCID: PMC4116335 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing concern both inside and outside the scientific community over the lack of reproducibility of experiments. The depth and detail of reported methods are critical to the reproducibility of findings, but also for making it possible to compare and integrate data from different studies. In this study, we evaluated in detail the methods reporting in a comprehensive set of trypanosomiasis experiments that should enable valid reproduction, integration and comparison of research findings. We evaluated a subset of other parasitic (Leishmania, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Trichuris and Schistosoma) and non-parasitic (Mycobacterium) experimental infections in order to compare the quality of method reporting more generally. A systematic review using PubMed (2000-2012) of all publications describing gene expression in cells and animals infected with Trypanosoma spp was undertaken based on PRISMA guidelines; 23 papers were identified and included. We defined a checklist of essential parameters that should be reported and have scored the number of those parameters that are reported for each publication. Bibliometric parameters (impact factor, citations and h-index) were used to look for association between Journal and Author status and the quality of method reporting. Trichuriasis experiments achieved the highest scores and included the only paper to score 100% in all criteria. The mean of scores achieved by Trypanosoma articles through the checklist was 65.5% (range 32-90%). Bibliometric parameters were not correlated with the quality of method reporting (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient <-0.5; p>0.05). Our results indicate that the quality of methods reporting in experimental parasitology is a cause for concern and it has not improved over time, despite there being evidence that most of the assessed parameters do influence the results. We propose that our set of parameters be used as guidelines to improve the quality of the reporting of experimental infection models as a pre-requisite for integrating and comparing sets of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Flórez-Vargas
- Bio-health Informatics Group, School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Bramhall
- Bio-health Informatics Group, School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Harry Noyes
- School of Biological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sheena Cruickshank
- Manchester Immunology Group, Faculty of Life Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Stevens
- Bio-health Informatics Group, School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andy Brass
- Bio-health Informatics Group, School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Immunology Group, Faculty of Life Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Aires ADL, Ximenes ECPA, Barbosa VX, Góes AJDS, Souza VMO, Albuquerque MCPDA. β-Lapachone: a naphthoquinone with promising antischistosomal properties in mice. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2014; 21:261-267. [PMID: 24090700 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2013.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Revised: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The activity of β-lapachone (3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-naphthol[1,2-b]pyran-5,6-dione, β-lap) against different stages of Schistosoma mansoni was investigated in mice. Mice infected with 50 cercariae (BH strain) were intraperitoneally treated at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days, starting on the 1st, 14th, 28th and 45th days after infection, to evaluate the effect of β-lap on skin schistosomula, lung schistosomula, young worms (before oviposition) and adult worms (after oviposition), respectively. All animals were euthanized 60 days after infection. β-Lap significantly reduced (p<0.001) the number of worms in 29.78%, 37.2%, 24.2% and 40.22% when administered during the phases of skin schistosomula, lung schistosomula, young worms and adult worms, respectively. Significant reduction was also achieved in terms of female burden. In all groups, there was significant reduction in the number of eggs and granulomas in the hepatic tissue. When the intervention was performed during the phase of adult worms, β-lap reduced the size of hepatic granulomas and changed the oogram pattern, lowering the percentage of immature eggs and increasing the percentage of mature and dead eggs. Our data indicate that β-lap has moderate antischistosomal properties. Its molecule may also be used as a prototype for synthesis of new naphthoquinone derivatives with potential schistosomicidal properties. Further studies with different formulations containing β-lap are needed to clearly establish the best dose and route of administration and its mechanism of action against schistosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- André de Lima Aires
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Centro de Ciências da Saúde - Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Vanessa Xavier Barbosa
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Alexandre José da Silva Góes
- Centro de Ciências Biológicas - Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Mônica Camelo Pessôa de Azevedo Albuquerque
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami (LIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Centro de Ciências da Saúde - Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
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Tu Y, Hu Y, Fan G, Chen Z, Liu L, Man D, Liu S, Tang C, Zhang Y, Dai W. Protective effects of membrane-anchored and secreted DNA vaccines encoding fatty acid-binding protein and glutathione S-transferase against Schistosoma japonicum. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86575. [PMID: 24466157 PMCID: PMC3900569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to explore the high performance bivalent DNA-based vaccine against schistosomes, SjFABP and Sj26GST were selected and used to construct a vaccine. Two strategies were used to construct the bivalent DNA vaccine. In the first strategy, a plasmid encoding antigen in the secreted form was used, while in the other, a plasmid encoding a truncated form of SjFABP and Sj26GST targeted to the cell surface was used. Various parameters, including antibody and cytokine response, proliferation, histopathological examination, and characterization of T cell subsets were used to evaluate the type of immune response and the level of protection against challenge infection. Injection with secreted pIRES-sjFABP-sj26GST significantly increased the levels of antibody, splenocyte proliferation, and production of IFN-γ, compared with membrane-anchored groups. Analysis of splenic T cell subsets showed that the secreted vaccine significantly increased the percentage of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T cells. Liver immunopathology (size of liver granulomas) was significantly reduced in the secreted group compared with the membrane-anchored groups. Moreover, challenge experiments showed that the worm and egg burdens were significantly reduced in animals immunized with recombinant vaccines. Most importantly, secreted Sj26GST-SjFABP markedly enhanced protection, by reducing worm and egg burdens by 31.8% and 24.78%, respectively, while the membrane-anchored group decreased worm and egg burdens by 24.80% and 18.80%, respectively. Taken together, these findings suggest that the secretory vaccine is more promising than the membrane-anchored vaccine, and provides support for the development and application of this vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqin Tu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail: (WD); (YH)
| | - Guorun Fan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhihao Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dandan Man
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shuojie Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chengwu Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yin Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wuxing Dai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail: (WD); (YH)
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