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Guerra RO, do Carmo Neto JR, da Silva PEF, Franco PIR, Barbosa RM, de Albuquerque Martins T, Costa-Madeira J, de Assunção TSF, de Oliveira CJF, Machado JR, Silva Teixeira LDA, Rodrigues WF, Júnior VR, Silva ACA, da Silva MV. Metallic nanoparticles and treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis: A systematic review. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2024; 83:127404. [PMID: 38364464 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cutaneous leishmaniasis (LC) is an infectious vector-borne disease caused by parasites belonging to the genus Leishmania. Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been investigated as alternatives for the treatment of LC owing to their small size and high surface area. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of MNPs in the treatment of LC through experimental, in vitro and in vivo investigations. METHODS The databases used were MEDLINE/ PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Science Direct. Manual searches of the reference lists of the included studies and grey literature were also performed. English language and experimental in vitro and in vivo studies using different Leishmania species, both related to MNP treatment, were included. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021248245). RESULTS A total of 93 articles were included. Silver nanoparticles are the most studied MNPs, and L. tropica is the most studied species. Among the mechanisms of action of MNPs in vitro, we highlight the production of reactive oxygen species, direct contact of MNPs with the biomolecules of the parasite, and release of metal ions. CONCLUSION MNPs may be considered a promising alternative for the treatment of LC, but further studies are needed to define their efficacy and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania, Goiás, Brazil.
| | - Priscilla Elias Ferreira da Silva
- Post Graduation Course of Tropical Medicine and Infectology, Institute of Healthy Science´s, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pablo Igor Ribeiro Franco
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Rafaela Miranda Barbosa
- Department of Basic and Applied Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Tarcísio de Albuquerque Martins
- Post-Graduation Course of Healthy Science, Institute of Healthy Science, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juliana Costa-Madeira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Thais Soares Farnesi de Assunção
- Post Graduation Course of Tropical Medicine and Infectology, Institute of Healthy Science´s, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana Reis Machado
- Department of General Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luciana de Almeida Silva Teixeira
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Healthy Science, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Wellington Francisco Rodrigues
- Post-Graduation Course of Healthy Science, Institute of Healthy Science, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Virmondes Rodrigues Júnior
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Brazil
| | - Anielle Christine Almeida Silva
- Laboratory of New Nanostructured and Functional Materials, Physics Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinicius da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Brazil.
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Ribeiro Franco PI, do Carmo Neto JR, Guerra RO, Ferreira da Silva PE, Braga YLL, Nunes Celes MR, de Menezes LB, Miguel MP, Machado JR. Melatonin: A look at protozoal and helminths. Biochimie 2024; 219:96-109. [PMID: 37541568 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.07.021] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin is a pleiotropic neurohormone found in different animal, plant, and microorganism species. It is a product resulting from tryptophan metabolism in the pineal gland and is widely known for its ability to synchronize the circadian rhythm to antitumor functions in different types of cancers. The molecular mechanisms responsible for its immunomodulatory, antioxidant and cytoprotective effects involve binding to high-affinity G protein-coupled receptors and interactions with intracellular targets that modulate signal transduction pathways. In vitro and in vivo studies have reported the therapeutic potential of melatonin in different infectious and parasitic diseases. In this review, the protective and pathophysiological roles of melatonin in fighting protozoan and helminth infections and the possible mechanisms involved against these stressors will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Igor Ribeiro Franco
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
| | - José Rodrigues do Carmo Neto
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Rhanoica Oliveira Guerra
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Escola de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Elias Ferreira da Silva
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Yarlla Loyane Lira Braga
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Mara Rúbia Nunes Celes
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Liliana Borges de Menezes
- Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Setor de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Marina Pacheco Miguel
- Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil; Setor de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
| | - Juliana Reis Machado
- Departamento de Patologia, Genética e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil
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3
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Dehghani A, Mamizadeh M, Karimi A, Hosseini SA, Siamian D, Shams M, Ghiabi S, Basati G, Abaszadeh A. Multi-epitope vaccine design against leishmaniasis using IFN-γ inducing epitopes from immunodominant gp46 and gp63 proteins. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2024; 22:100355. [PMID: 38494264 PMCID: PMC10860880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100355] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
There is no currently approved human vaccine against leishmaniasis. Utilization of immunogenic antigens and their epitopes capable of enhancing immune responses against leishmaniasis is a crucial step for rational in silico vaccine design. The objective of this study was to generate and evaluate a potential vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis, designed by immunodominant proteins from gp46 and gp63 of Leishmania major, which can stimulate helper T-lymphocytes (HTL) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL). For this aim, the IFN-γ-inducing MHC-I and MHC-II binders were predicted for each examined protein (gp46 and gp63) and connected with appropriate linkers, along with an adjuvant (Mycobacterium tuberculosis L7/L12) and a histidine tag. The vaccine's stability, antigenicity, structure, and interaction with the TLR-4 receptor were evaluated in silico. The resulting chimeric vaccine was composed of 344 amino acids and had a molecular weight of 35.64 kDa. Physico-chemical properties indicated that it was thermotolerant, soluble, highly antigenic, and non-allergenic. Predictions of the secondary and tertiary structures were made, and further analyses confirmed that the vaccine construct could interact with the human TLR-4 receptor. Virtual immune simulation demonstrated strong stimulation of T-cell responses, particularly by an increase in IFN-γ, following vaccination. In summary, the in silico data indicated that the vaccine candidate showed high antigenicity in humans. It was also found to trigger significant levels of clearance mechanisms and other components of the cellular immune profile. Nevertheless, further wet experiments are required to properly assess the efficacy of this multi-epitope vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Dehghani
- Department of Nursery, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Mina Mamizadeh
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Atena Karimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran
| | - Seyyed Amir Hosseini
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Siamian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Shadan Ghiabi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholam Basati
- Department of Biochemistry, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Amir Abaszadeh
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
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Salaiza-Suazo N, Porcel-Aranibar R, Cañeda-Guzmán IC, Ruiz-Remigio A, Zamora-Chimal J, Delgado-Domínguez J, Cervantes-Sarabia R, Carrada-Figueroa G, Sánchez-Barragán B, Leal-Ascencio VJ, Pérez-Torres A, Rodríguez-Martínez HA, Becker I. Eosinophils of patients with localized and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis: Differential response to Leishmania mexicana, with insights into mechanisms of damage inflicted upon the parasites by eosinophils. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296887. [PMID: 38359037 PMCID: PMC10868813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Eosinophils are mainly associated with parasitic infections and allergic manifestations. They produce many biologically active substances that contribute to the destruction of pathogens through the degranulation of microbicidal components and inflammatory tissue effects. In leishmaniasis, eosinophils have been found within inflammatory infiltrate with protective immunity against the parasite. We analyzed the responses of eosinophils from patients with localized (LCL) and diffuse (DCL) cutaneous leishmaniasis, as well as from healthy subjects, when exposed to Leishmania mexicana. All DCL patients exhibited blood eosinophilia, along with elevated eosinophil counts in non-ulcerated nodules. In contrast, only LCL patients with prolonged disease progression showed eosinophils in their blood and cutaneous ulcers. Eosinophils from DCL patients secreted significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-13, compared to eosinophils from LCL patients. Additionally, DCL patients displayed higher serum levels of anti-Leishmania IgG antibodies. We also demonstrated that eosinophils from both LCL and DCL patients responded to L. mexicana promastigotes with a robust oxidative burst, which was equally intense in both patient groups and significantly higher than in healthy subjects. Coincubation of eosinophils (from donors with eosinophilia) with L. mexicana promastigotes in vitro revealed various mechanisms of parasite damage associated with different patterns of granule exocytosis: 1) localized degranulation on the parasite surface, 2) the release of cytoplasmic membrane-bound "degranulation sacs" containing granules, 3) release of eosinophil extracellular traps containing DNA and granules with major basic protein. In conclusion, eosinophils damage L. mexicana parasites through the release of granules via diverse mechanisms. However, despite DCL patients having abundant eosinophils in their blood and tissues, their apparent inability to provide protection may be linked to the release of cytokines and chemokines that promote a Th2 immune response and disease progression in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norma Salaiza-Suazo
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Roxana Porcel-Aranibar
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Isabel Cristina Cañeda-Guzmán
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Adriana Ruiz-Remigio
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jaime Zamora-Chimal
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - José Delgado-Domínguez
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Rocely Cervantes-Sarabia
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Georgina Carrada-Figueroa
- División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (UJAT), Tabasco, México
| | | | - Victor Javier Leal-Ascencio
- Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Dr. Juan Graham, Secretaría de Salud del Estado de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México
| | - Armando Pérez-Torres
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Héctor A. Rodríguez-Martínez
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
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5
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Muhammed Hassan G, Zuhair Ali H, Muhammed Hussein W. Evaluation of IL-8, nitric oxide and macrophage inhibitory factor as clinical circulatory markers in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, before and during sodium stibogluconate treatment. Cytokine 2024; 173:156450. [PMID: 37988922 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2023.156450] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The clinical spectrum of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), an intracellular parasitic pathogen, ranges from a single sore healing to chronic crusty lesions with a manifestation of treatment resistance. The complicated interaction between Leishmania bodies and the early immune response, including innate and adaptive mechanisms, determines the evolution of nodules. This study examined the levels of the chemoattractant interleukin 8 (IL-8), pro-inflammatory nitric oxide (NO), and immunoregulatory macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) in the serum of subjects recently diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis, in parallel with patients being monitored during consecutive sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) treatment. A total of 161 serum samples of newly diagnosed individuals and patients undergoing pentostam injections were collected form an endemic area of Diyala, east central of Iraq. Sandwich ELISA was used to measure the level of IL-8, NO and MIF in the studied groups. Results of circulatory markers levels showed a considerable difference in all groups, with IL-8 being exceptionally higher in the first two groups of pretreated and dose-1 (191.5, 273.64) pg/ml respectively, while NO was found to be lower than in control subjects, particularly in the pretreated group (12.08 µmol/L) and MIF level was significantly higher in the pretreated group, which was (7.18 pg/ml). These findings can provide insights for distinction of disease phase and monitoring treatment efficacy along consecutive dosages, particularly in populations where CL is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghuffran Muhammed Hassan
- Deptartment of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Al-Jaderiya Campus, Baghdad 10071, Iraq
| | - Hayder Zuhair Ali
- Deptartment of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Al-Jaderiya Campus, Baghdad 10071, Iraq.
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Pawłowska M, Mila-Kierzenkowska C, Szczegielniak J, Woźniak A. Oxidative Stress in Parasitic Diseases-Reactive Oxygen Species as Mediators of Interactions between the Host and the Parasites. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 13:38. [PMID: 38247462 PMCID: PMC10812656 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13010038] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays a significant role in the development and course of parasitic infections, both in the attacked host organism and the parasite organism struggling to survive. The host uses large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mainly superoxide anion (O2•-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), to fight the developing parasitic disease. On the other hand, the parasite develops the most effective defense mechanisms and resistance to the effects of ROS and strives to survive in the host organism it has colonized, using the resources and living environment available for its development and causing the host's weakening. The paper reviews the literature on the role of oxidative stress in parasitic diseases, which are the most critical epidemiological problem worldwide. The most common parasitosis in the world is malaria, with 300-500 million new cases and about 1 million deaths reported annually. In Europe and Poland, the essential problem is intestinal parasites. Due to a parasitic infection, the concentration of antioxidants in the host decreases, and the concentration of products of cellular components oxidation increases. In response to the increased number of reactive oxygen species attacking it, the parasites have developed effective defense mechanisms, including primarily the action of antioxidant enzymes, especially superoxide dismutase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH)-dependent complexes glutathione and thioredoxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Pawłowska
- Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (C.M.-K.); (A.W.)
| | - Celestyna Mila-Kierzenkowska
- Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (C.M.-K.); (A.W.)
| | - Jan Szczegielniak
- Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, 45-758 Opole, Poland;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration’s Specialist Hospital of St. John Paul II, 48-340 Glucholazy, Poland
| | - Alina Woźniak
- Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (C.M.-K.); (A.W.)
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Naz S, Aroosh A, Raza N, Islam A, Fatima A, Ozbel Y, Toz S, Hayat O, Waseem S. Comparative analysis of the severity and progression of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania tropica in untreated and glucantime-treated patients. Acta Trop 2023; 248:107023. [PMID: 37717686 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107023] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Millions of people worldwide are affected by cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a disease that has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Understanding the immune responses responsible for tissue damage or the process of lesion healing plays a pivotal role in shaping optimal treatment strategies. In this study, we investigated immunological phenotypes for three groups: glucantime treated (n = 30) and untreated (n = 30) CL patients infected with Leishmania tropica (L. tropica), and healthy controls (n = 20). T-lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+), and B lymphocytes (CD14+ and CD19+) were isolated using antibody-conjugated microbeads and magnetic field isolation to achieve high purity. A higher significant difference was observed between T-lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+), and B-lymphocytes (CD14+ and CD19+) cells in CL-infected groups before and after treatment (p < 0.0001). When compared, there was also a significant difference among T-lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+), B lymphocytes (CD14+ and CD19+) p < 0.0001, p < 0.0005, and p < 0.0007, respectively between CL-infected individuals (before and after treatment) to controls. Our findings suggest that an increased proportion of these cells seen in treated patients may mediate healing, while it is also possible that they may contribute to tissue injury. Understanding the immune system and lesion size of CL can help develop immunotherapies and comprehend the evolution of this parasitic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumaila Naz
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
| | - Aiman Aroosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Naeem Raza
- Department of Dermatology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (MH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Arshad Islam
- Department of Pathology, Government Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institution, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Anam Fatima
- Department of Medicine, Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Yusuf Ozbel
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Seray Toz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Obaid Hayat
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
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8
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Basmenj ER, Arastonejad M, Mamizadeh M, Alem M, KhalatbariLimaki M, Ghiabi S, Khamesipour A, Majidiani H, Shams M, Irannejad H. Engineering and design of promising T-cell-based multi-epitope vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19421. [PMID: 37940672 PMCID: PMC10632461 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46408-1] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a very common parasitic infection in subtropical areas worldwide. Throughout decades, there have been challenges in vaccine design and vaccination against CL. The present study introduced novel T-cell-based vaccine candidates containing IFN-γ Inducing epitopic fragments from Leishmania major (L. major) glycoprotein 46 (gp46), cathepsin L-like and B-like proteases, histone H2A, glucose-regulated protein 78 (grp78) and stress-inducible protein 1 (STI-1). For this aim, top-ranked human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-specific, IFN-γ Inducing, antigenic, CD4+ and CD8+ binders were highlighted. Four vaccine candidates were generated using different spacers (AAY, GPGPG, GDGDG) and adjuvants (RS-09 peptide, human IFN-γ, a combination of both, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Resuscitation promoting factor E (RpfE)). Based on the immune simulation profile, those with RS-09 peptide (Leish-App) and RpfE (Leish-Rpf) elicited robust immune responses and their tertiary structure were further refined. Also, molecular docking of the selected vaccine models with the human toll-like receptor 4 showed proper interactions, particularly for Leish-App, for which molecular dynamics simulations showed a stable connection with TLR-4. Upon codon optimization, both models were finally ligated into the pET28a( +) vector. In conclusion, two potent multi-epitope vaccine candidates were designed against CL and evaluated using comprehensive in silico methods, while further wet experiments are, also, recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahshid Arastonejad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Mina Mamizadeh
- Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Mahsa Alem
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mahdi KhalatbariLimaki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Shadan Ghiabi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 14155-6383, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Majidiani
- Healthy Aging Research Centre, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.
| | - Morteza Shams
- Zoonotic Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
| | - Hamid Irannejad
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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9
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Junior JDES, de Souza JL, da Silva LS, da Silva CC, do Nascimento TA, de Souza MLG, da Cunha AF, Batista JDS, Neto JPDM, Guerra MVDF, Ramasawmy R. A fine mapping of single nucleotide variants and haplotype analysis of IL13 gene in patients with Leishmania guyanensis-cutaneous leishmaniasis and plasma cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1232488. [PMID: 37908348 PMCID: PMC10613733 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1232488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Leishmaniasis continues to pose a substantial health burden in 97 countries worldwide. The progression and outcome of Leishmania infection are influenced by various factors, including the cytokine milieu, the skin microbiota at the infection site, the specific Leishmania species involved, the genetic background of the host, and the parasite load. In endemic regions to leishmaniasis, only a fraction of individuals infected actually develops the disease. Overexpression of IL-13 in naturally resistant C57BL/6 mice renders them susceptible to L. major infection. Haplotypes constructed from several single nucleotide variant (SNV) along a chromosome fragment may provide insight into any SNV near the fragment that may be genuinely associated with a phenotype in genetic association studies. Methods We investigated nine SNVs (SNV1rs1881457A>C, SNV2rs1295687C>G, SNV3rs2069744C>T, SNV4rs2069747C>T, SNV5rs20541A>G, SNV6rs1295685A>G, SNV7rs848A>C, SNV8rs2069750G >C, and SNV9rs847T>C) spanning the entire IL13 gene in patients with L. guyanensis cutaneous leishmaniasis (Lg-CL). Results Our analysis did not reveal any significant association between the SNVs and susceptibility/protection against Lg-CL development. However, haplotype analysis, excluding SNV4rs2069747 and SNV8rs2069750 due to low minor allele frequency, revealed that carriers of the haplotype CCCTAAC had a 93% reduced likelihood developing Lg-CL. Similarly, the haplotypes ACCCGCT (ORadj=0.02 [95% CI 0.00-0.07]; p-value, 6.0×10-19) and AGCTAAC (ORadj=0.00[95% CI 0.00-0.00]; p-value 2.7×10-12) appeared to provide protection against the development of Lg-CL. Conversely, carriers of haplotype ACCTGCC have 190% increased likelihood of developing Lg-CL (ORadj=2.9 [95%CI 1.68-5.2]; p-value, 2.5×10-6). Similarly, haplotype ACCCAAT (ORadj=2.7 [95%CI 1.5-4.7]; p-value, 3.2×10-5) and haplotype AGCCGCC are associated with susceptibility to the development of Lg-CL (ORadj=1.7[95%CI 1.04-2.8]; p-value, 0.01). In our investigation, we also found a correlation between the genotypes of rs2069744, rs20541, rs1295685, rs847, and rs848 and plasma IL-5 levels among Lg-Cl patients. Furthermore, rs20541 showed a correlation with plasma IL-13 levels among Lg-Cl patients, while rs2069744 and rs848 showed a correlation with plasma IL-4 levels among the same group. Conclusions Overall, our study identifies three haplotypes of IL13 associated with resistance to disease development and three haplotypes linked to susceptibility. These findings suggest the possibility of a variant outside the gene region that may contribute, in conjunction with other genes, to differences in susceptibility and partially to the pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- José do Espírito Santo Junior
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Josué Lacerda de Souza
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazonia Legal (Rede Bionorte), Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Lener Santos da Silva
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazonia Legal (Rede Bionorte), Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Cilana Chagas da Silva
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Tuanny Arruda do Nascimento
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Marcus Vinitius de Farias Guerra
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Rajendranath Ramasawmy
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazonia Legal (Rede Bionorte), Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Genomic Health Surveillance Network: Optimization of Assistance and Research in The State of Amazonas – REGESAM, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
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10
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Garduño-Félix KG, Rochín-Medina JJ, Murua-López CC, López-Moreno HS, Ramírez K. Biostimulated-sesame sprout extracts as potential agents against Leishmania mexicana. Lett Appl Microbiol 2023; 76:ovad115. [PMID: 37777833 DOI: 10.1093/lambio/ovad115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania mexicana is one of the causal agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Current antileishmanial chemotherapeutics have demonstrated adverse side effects; thus, alternative treatments are needed. In this study, we performed in silico and in vitro analyses of the leishmanicidal potential of the most abundant phenolic compounds identified in black sesame sprouts biostimulated with Bacillus clausii. The molecular docking analysis showed strong interactions (binding free energies between -6.5 and -9.5 kcal/mol) of sesaminol 2-O-triglucoside, pinoresinol dihexoside, isoverbascoside, and apigenin with the arginase, leishmanolysin, cysteine peptidase B, and pyruvate kinase leishmanial enzymes. Furthermore, almost all phenolic compounds interacted with the active site residues of L. mexicana enzymes. In vitro, the B. clausii-biostimulated sprout phenolic extracts and apigenin inhibited the growth of promastigotes with IC50 values of 0.08 mg gallic acid equivalent/mL and 6.42 μM (0.0017 mg/mL), respectively. Additionally, in the macrophage infection model, cells treated with B. clausii-biostimulated sprout phenolic extracts and infected with L. mexicana exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) reduced nitric oxide production and decreased parasite burden. Altogether, our study provides important data related to high efficacy and less toxic natural antileishmanial candidates against promastigotes of L. mexicana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karime G Garduño-Félix
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular y Bioactivos, Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Culiacán, 80220 Culiacán, México
| | - Jesús J Rochín-Medina
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular y Bioactivos, Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Culiacán, 80220 Culiacán, México
| | - Carolina C Murua-López
- CAC BB-UAS-264. Posgrados de la Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autonóma de Sinaloa, 80030 Culiacán, México
| | - Héctor S López-Moreno
- CAC BB-UAS-264. Posgrados de la Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autonóma de Sinaloa, 80030 Culiacán, México
| | - Karina Ramírez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular y Bioactivos, Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Culiacán, 80220 Culiacán, México
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11
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Belo VS, Bruhn FRP, Barbosa DS, Câmara DCP, Simões TC, Buzanovsky LP, Duarte AGS, de Melo SN, Cardoso DT, Donato LE, Maia-Elkhoury ANS, Werneck GL. Temporal patterns, spatial risks, and characteristics of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Brazil in the first twenty years of the 21st Century. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011405. [PMID: 37285388 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is a significant public health issue in Brazil. The present ecological study describes the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of TL cases reported in the country, and analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of the incidences and risks of occurrence across the five geopolitical regions and 27 federative units. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Data regarding new cases of TL notified between 2001 and 2020 were obtained from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Joinpoint and spatial and temporal generalized additive models were used to establish trends in the evolution of TL during the target period. The incidence rate for the entire period was 226.41 cases/100,000 inhabitants. All regions of Brazil showed trends of decreasing incidence rates, albeit with fluctuations at specific times, with the exception of the Southeast where rates have increased since 2014, most particularly in Minas Gerais state. The disease was concentrated predominantly in the North region, with Acre state leading the incidence rank in the whole country, followed by Mato Grosso (Midwest), Maranhão and Bahia (Northeast) states. The spatial distribution of the risk of TL occurrence in relation to the annual averages was relatively stable throughout the period. The cutaneous form of TL was predominant and cases most frequently occurred in rural areas and among men of working age. The ages of individuals contracting TL tended to increase during the time series. Finally, the proportion of confirmations by laboratory tests was lower in the Northeast. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE TL shows a declining trend in Brazil, but its widespread occurrence and the presence of areas with increasing incidence rates demonstrate the persistent relevance of this disease and the need for constant monitoring. Our findings reinforce the importance of temporal and spatial tools in epidemiologic surveillance routines and are valuable for targeting preventive and control actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinícius Silva Belo
- Campus Centro-Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fábio Raphael Pascoti Bruhn
- Departamento de Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - David Soeiro Barbosa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniel Cardoso Portela Câmara
- Laboratório de Imunologia Viral, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taynãna César Simões
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lia Puppim Buzanovsky
- Centro Pan-Americano de Febre Aftosa, Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anna Gabryela Sousa Duarte
- Campus Centro-Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Saulo Nascimento de Melo
- Campus Centro-Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Diogo Tavares Cardoso
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | - Guilherme Loureiro Werneck
- Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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12
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Ekmekci TR, Güder H. Erysipeloid Leishmaniasis: A Case Series. Cureus 2023; 15:e39026. [PMID: 37323333 PMCID: PMC10265924 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39026] [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] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis can present in many different clinical forms. Diagnosis of atypical forms is often delayed. It is useful to keep in mind the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, a mimicking disease, to reduce unnecessary treatment and patient morbidity. Erysipeloid leishmaniasis should be considered when presented as long-term erysipelas-like lesions that do not respond to antibiotics. We want to present our five patients with erysipeloid leishmaniasis, one of the atypical clinical forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuğba R Ekmekci
- Dermatology, Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, TUR
| | - Hüsna Güder
- Dermatology, Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, TUR
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13
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de Mesquita TGR, Junior JDES, de Souza JL, da Silva LS, do Nascimento TA, de Souza MLG, Guerra MVDF, Ramasawmy R. Variants of NOD2 in Leishmania guyanensis-infected patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis and correlations with plasma circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281814. [PMID: 36795715 PMCID: PMC9934361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniases, a group of vector-borne diseases, are caused by the protozoan intracellular parasite Leishmania (L.) and are transmitted by the phlebotomine sandflies. A wide range of clinical manifestations in L- infection is observed. The clinical outcome ranges from asymptomatic, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) to severe mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) or visceral leishmaniasis (VL), depending on the L. species. Interestingly, only a fraction of L.-infected individuals progress to disease development, suggesting a key role of host genetics in the clinical outcome. NOD2 plays a critical role in the control of host defense and inflammation. The NOD2-RIK2 pathway is involved in developing a Th1- type response in patients with VL and C57BL/6 mice infected with L. infantum. We investigated whether variants in the NOD2 gene (R702W rs2066844, G908R rs2066845, and L1007fsinsC rs2066847) are associated with susceptibility to CL caused by L. guyanensis (Lg) in 837 patients with Lg-Cl and 797 healthy controls (HC) with no history of leishmaniasis. Both patients and HC are from the same endemic area of the Amazonas state of Brazil. The variants R702W and G908R were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and L1007fsinsC was by direct nucleotide sequencing. The minor allele frequency (MAF) of L1007fsinsC was 0.5% among the patients with Lg-CL and 0.6% in the healthy controls group. R702W genotypes frequencies were similar in both groups. Only 1% and 1.6% were heterozygous for G908R among the patients with Lg-CL and HC, respectively. None of the variants revealed any association with susceptibility to the development of Lg-CL. Correlations of genotypes with the level of plasma cytokines revealed that individuals with the mutant alleles of R702W tend to have low levels of IFN-γ. G908R heterozygotes also tend to have low IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-8. Variants of NOD2 are not involved in the pathogenesis of Lg-CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirza Gabrielle Ramos de Mesquita
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | - José do Espírito Santo Junior
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Josué Lacerda de Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Lener Santos da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazonia Legal (Rede Bionorte), Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - Mara Lúcia Gomes de Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinitius de Farias Guerra
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Rajendranath Ramasawmy
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Amazonia Legal (Rede Bionorte), Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Genomic Health Surveillance Network: Optimization of Assistance and Research in The State of Amazonas – REGESAM, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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14
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Albino SL, da Silva Moura WC, dos Reis MML, Sousa GLS, da Silva PR, de Oliveira MGC, Borges TKDS, Albuquerque LFF, de Almeida SMV, de Lima MDCA, Kuckelhaus SAS, Nascimento IJDS, Junior FJBM, da Silva TG, de Moura RO. ACW-02 an Acridine Triazolidine Derivative Presents Antileishmanial Activity Mediated by DNA Interaction and Immunomodulation. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:204. [PMID: 37259353 PMCID: PMC9967605 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The present study proposed the synthesis of a novel acridine derivative not yet described in the literature, chemical characterization by NMR, MS, and IR, followed by investigations of its antileishmanial potential. In vitro assays were performed to assess its antileishmanial activity against L. amazonensis strains and cytotoxicity against macrophages through MTT assay and annexin V-FITC/PI, and the ability to perform an immunomodulatory action using CBA. To investigate possible molecular targets, its interaction with DNA in vitro and in silico targets were evaluated. As results, the compound showed good antileishmanial activity, with IC50 of 6.57 (amastigotes) and 94.97 (promastigotes) µg mL-1, associated with non-cytotoxicity to macrophages (CC50 > 256.00 µg mL-1). When assessed by flow cytometry, 99.8% of macrophages remained viable. The compound induced an antileishmanial effect in infected macrophages and altered TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6 expression, suggesting a slight immunomodulatory activity. DNA assay showed an interaction with the minor grooves due to the hyperchromic effect of 47.53% and Kb 1.17 × 106 M-1, and was sustained by docking studies. Molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA calculations propose cysteine protease B as a possible target. Therefore, this study demonstrates that the new compound is a promising molecule and contributes as a model for future works.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonaly Lima Albino
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Inovação Terapêutica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Willian Charles da Silva Moura
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Malu Maria Lucas dos Reis
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Gleyton Leonel Silva Sousa
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Química, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Pablo Rayff da Silva
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Produtos Naturais, Sintéticos e Bioativos, Universidade Federal da Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil
| | | | - Tatiana Karla dos Santos Borges
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular, Área de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Lucas Fraga Friaça Albuquerque
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular, Área de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | | | - Maria do Carmo Alves de Lima
- Laboratório de Química e Inovação Terapêutica, Departamento de Antibióticos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Selma Aparecida Souza Kuckelhaus
- Área de Morfologia, Faculdade de Medicina—UnB, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro/Asa Norte, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Igor José dos Santos Nascimento
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | | | | | - Ricardo Olímpio de Moura
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
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15
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de Sousa JMS, Nunes TADL, Rodrigues RRL, de Sousa JPA, Val MDCA, Coelho FADR, dos Santos ALS, Maciel NB, de Souza VMR, Machado YAA, Sousa PSDA, de Araújo AR, Rocha JA, de Sousa DP, da Silva MV, Arcanjo DDR, Rodrigues KADF. Cytotoxic and Antileishmanial Effects of the Monoterpene β-Ocimene. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:183. [PMID: 37259336 PMCID: PMC9960243 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a group of infectious-parasitic diseases with high mortality rates, and endemic in many regions of the globe. The currently available drugs present serious problems such as high toxicity, costs, and the emergence of drug resistance. This has stimulated research into new antileishmania drugs based on natural products and their derivatives. β-Ocimene is a monoterpene found naturally in the essential oils of many plant species which presents antileishmanial activity, and which has not yet been evaluated for its potential to inhibit the etiological agent of leishmaniasis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of β-ocimene against Leishmania amazonensis, its cytotoxicity, and potential mechanisms of action. β-Ocimene presented direct activity against the parasite, with excellent growth inhibition of promastigotes (IC50 = 2.78 μM) and axenic amastigotes (EC50 = 1.12 μM) at concentrations non-toxic to RAW 264.7 macrophages (CC50 = 114.5 µM). The effect is related to changes in membrane permeability and resulting abnormalities in the parasitic cell shape. These were, respectively, observed in membrane integrity and atomic force microscopy assays. β-Ocimene was also shown to act indirectly, with greater activity against intra-macrophagic amastigotes (EC50 = 0.89 μM), increasing TNF-α, nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), with lysosomal effects, as well as promoting decreases in IL-10 and IL-6. Against intra-macrophagic amastigote forms the selectivity index was higher than the reference drugs, being 469.52 times more selective than meglumine antimoniate, and 42.88 times more selective than amphotericin B. Our results suggest that β-ocimene possesses promising in vitro antileishmania activity and is a potential candidate for investigation in in vivo assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julyanne Maria Saraiva de Sousa
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Thaís Amanda de Lima Nunes
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Raiza Raianne Luz Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - João Paulo Araújo de Sousa
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | | | - Francisco Alex da Rocha Coelho
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Airton Lucas Sousa dos Santos
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Nicolle Barreira Maciel
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Maria Rodrigues de Souza
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Yasmim Alves Aires Machado
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sérgio de Araújo Sousa
- Research Group on Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Bernardo 65550-000, MA, Brazil
| | - Alyne Rodrigues de Araújo
- Research Center in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Jefferson Almeida Rocha
- Research Group on Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Bernardo 65550-000, MA, Brazil
- Research Center in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Parnaíba Delta Federal University, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil
| | - Damião Pergentino de Sousa
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus I, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
| | - Marcos Vinicius da Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil
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16
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Alizadeh Z, Omidnia P, Altalbawy FMA, Gabr GA, Obaid RF, Rostami N, Aslani S, Heidari A, Mohammadi H. Unraveling the role of natural killer cells in leishmaniasis. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 114:109596. [PMID: 36700775 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109596] [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: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
NK cells are known as frontline responders that are efficient in combating several maladies as well as leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania spp. As such they are being investigated to be used for adoptive transfer therapy and vaccine. In spite of the lack of antigen-specific receptors at their surface, NK cells can selectively recognize pathogens, accomplished by the activation of the receptors on the NK cell surface and also as the result of their effector functions. Activation of NK cells can occur through interaction between TLR-2 expressed on NK cells and. LPG of Leishmania parasites. In addition, NK cell activation can occur by cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ and IL-12) that also lead to producing cytokines and chemokines and lysis of target cells. This review summarizes several evidences that support NK cells activation for controlling leishmaniasis and the potentially lucrative roles of NK cells during leishmaniasis. Furthermore, we discuss strategies of Leishmania parasites in inhibiting NK cell functions. Leishmania LPG can utilizes TLR2 to evade host-immune responses. Also, Leishmania GP63 can directly binds to NK cells and modulates NK cell phenotype. Finally, this review analyzes the potentialities to harness NK cells effectiveness in therapy regimens and vaccinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Alizadeh
- Department of Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Farag M A Altalbawy
- National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), University of Cairo, Giza 12613, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, University College of Duba, University of Tabuk, Duba 71911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gamal A Gabr
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia; Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Rasha Fadhel Obaid
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Narges Rostami
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saeed Aslani
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aliehsan Heidari
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Hamed Mohammadi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
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17
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Centrin-deficient Leishmania mexicana confers protection against Old World visceral leishmaniasis. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:157. [DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00574-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractLeishmaniasis is one of the top neglected tropical diseases with significant morbidity and mortality in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). However, this disease is also spreading in the developed world. Currently, there is a lack of effective strategies to control this disease. Vaccination can be an effective measure to control leishmaniasis and has the potential to achieve disease elimination. Recently, we have generated centrin gene-deleted new world L. mexicana (LmexCen−/−) parasites using CRISPR/Cas9 and showed that they protect mice against a homologous L. mexicana infection that causes cutaneous disease. In this study, we tested whether LmexCen−/− parasites can also protect against visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. donovani in a hamster model. We showed that immunization with LmexCen−/− parasites is safe and does not cause lesions. Furthermore, such immunization conferred protection against visceral leishmaniasis caused by a needle-initiated L. donovani challenge, as indicated by a significant reduction in the parasite burdens in the spleen and liver as well as reduced mortality. Similar control of parasite burden was also observed against a sand fly mediated L. donovani challenge. Importantly, immunization with LmexCen−/− down-regulated the disease promoting cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ resulting in higher IFN-γ/IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL4 ratios compared to non-immunized animals. LmexCen−/− immunization also resulted in long-lasting protection against L. donovani infection. Taken together, our study demonstrates that immunization with LmexCen−/− parasites is safe and efficacious against the Old World visceral leishmaniasis.
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18
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Naz S, Aroosh A, Raza N, Islam A, Ozbel Y, Toz S, Ahmed H, Waseem S. Multiparametric approach to assess the disease severity and progression of cutaneous leishmaniasis infection. Acta Trop 2022; 235:106659. [PMID: 35988821 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106659] [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: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), an infection caused by Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) and Leishmania major (L. major) is primarily determined by inflammation-mediated immune cells. The immune response mainly depends on cells and molecules related to T-cells that influence susceptibility and disease development. Understanding the immunological mechanisms that cause tissue injury or lesion healing is critical for developing appropriate treatment strategies. In the present study, T-cells profile and cell-free mitochondrial DNA (CF mt-DNA) were investigated in CL patients infected with L. tropica (n = 34) and L. major (n = 2) and compared with non-infected healthy controls (n = 20). There was a significant (p<0.0001) difference between CD4+ T-cells among L. tropica and L. major CL-infected groups as compared to control while no significant difference (p = 0.8597) was found in the percentages of CD8+ T-cells. When L. tropica and L. major CL-infected individuals were compared to controls, the levels of IL-4 and expression of CF mt-DNA were significantly higher (p<0.0001). Higher levels of CF mt-DNA were detected in CL patients, irrespective of the infective Leishmania species. We proposed that the levels of CF mt-DNA and IL-4 in CL-infected individuals can be used to determine the disease progression. A better understanding of these biomarkers and evaluation of the immune responses in CL patients might benefit the development of vaccines and immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumaila Naz
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
| | - Aiman Aroosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Naeem Raza
- Department of Dermatology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (MH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Arshad Islam
- Department of Pathology, Government Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institution, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Yusuf Ozbel
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Seray Toz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Haroon Ahmed
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, Pakistan
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19
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Mohseni F, Sharifi I, Oliaee RT, Babaei Z, Mostafavi M, Almani PGN, Keyhani A, Salarkia E, Sharifi F, Nave HH, Bamorovat M, Alahdin S, Sarlak M, Tavakoly R. Antiproliferative properties of Turmerone on Leishmania major: Modes of action confirmed by antioxidative and immunomodulatory roles. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 84:101797. [PMID: 35325685 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101797] [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: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of leishmaniasis by conventional synthetic compounds has faced a serious challenge worldwide. This study was performed to evaluate the effect and modes of action of aromatic Turmerone on the Leishmania major intra-macrophage amastigotes, the causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World. In the findings, the mean numbers of L. major amastigotes in macrophages were significantly decreased in exposure to Turmerone plus meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®; MA) than MA alone, especially at 50 µg/mL. In addition, Turmerone demonstrated no cytotoxicity as the selectivity index (SI) was 21.1; while it induced significant apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner on L. major promastigotes. In silico molecular docking analyses indicated an affinity of Turmerone to IL-12, with the MolDock score of - 96.8 kcal/mol; which may explain the increased levels of Th1 cytokines and decreased level of IL-10. The main mechanism of action is more likely associated with stimulating a powerful antioxidant and promoting the immunomodulatory roles in the killing of the target organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Mohseni
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | | | - Zahra Babaei
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mahshid Mostafavi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | | | - Alireza Keyhani
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ehsan Salarkia
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sharifi
- Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hossein Hosseini Nave
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sodabeh Alahdin
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Meysam Sarlak
- Department of Biotechnology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rahele Tavakoly
- Student Research Committee, School of Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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20
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Magalhães TBDS, Silva DKC, Teixeira JDS, De Lima JDT, Barbosa-Filho JM, Moreira DRM, Guimarães ET, Soares MBP. A Betulinic Acid Derivative, BA5, Induces G0/G1 Cell Arrest, Apoptosis Like-Death, and Morphological Alterations in Leishmania sp. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:846123. [PMID: 35392556 PMCID: PMC8981292 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.846123] [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: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis are endemic diseases caused by different species of intracellular parasites of the genus Leishmania. Due to the high toxicity and drug resistance of current antileishmanial drugs, it is necessary to identify new and more effective drugs. Previously, we investigated the immunomodulatory and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi action of BA5, a derivative of betulinic acid. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro activity of BA5 against different species of Leishmania and their action mechanism. BA5 exhibited low cytotoxicity against macrophages and inhibited the proliferation of promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (IC50 = 4.5 ± 1.1 μM), Leishmania major (IC50 = 3.0 ± 0.8 μM), Leishmania braziliensis (IC50 = 0.9 ± 1.1 μM) and Leishmania infantum (IC50 = 0.15 ± 0.05 μM). Incubation with BA5 reduced the percentage of Leishmania amazonensis-infected macrophages and the number of intracellular parasites (IC50 = 4.1 ± 0.7 μM). To understand the mechanism of action underlying BA5 antileishmanial activity (incubation at IC50/2, IC50 or 2xIC50 values of the drug), we investigated ultrastructural changes by scanning electron microscopy and evaluated cell cycle, membrane mitochondrial potential, and cell death against promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis by flow cytometry. Promastigotes incubated with BA5 presented membrane blebbing, flagella damage, increased size, and body deformation. Flow cytometry analysis showed that parasite death is mainly caused by apoptosis-like death, arrested cell cycle in G0/G1 phase and did not alter the membrane mitochondrial potential of Leishmania amazonensis. Surprisingly, the combination of BA5 and amphotericin B, an assay used to determine the degree of drug interaction, revealed synergistic effects (CI = 0.15 ± 0.09) on promastigotes forms of Leishmania amazonensis. In conclusion, BA5 compound is an effective and selective antileishmanial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Barbosa Dos Santos Magalhães
- Laboratório de Histotécnica e Cultura Celular, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Universidade Do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Salvador, Brazil.,Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Dahara Keyse Carvalho Silva
- Laboratório de Histotécnica e Cultura Celular, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Universidade Do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Salvador, Brazil.,Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Jessica da Silva Teixeira
- Laboratório de Histotécnica e Cultura Celular, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Universidade Do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Salvador, Brazil.,Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Juliana Dizaira Teles De Lima
- Laboratório de Histotécnica e Cultura Celular, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Universidade Do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Salvador, Brazil.,Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | | | - Diogo Rodrigo Magalhães Moreira
- Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Elisalva Teixeira Guimarães
- Laboratório de Histotécnica e Cultura Celular, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Universidade Do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Salvador, Brazil.,Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Milena Botelho Pereira Soares
- Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil.,Instituto Senai de Inovação Em Sistemas Avançados Em Saúde, SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador, Brazil
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21
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Volpedo G, Pacheco-Fernandez T, Holcomb EA, Zhang WW, Lypaczewski P, Cox B, Fultz R, Mishan C, Verma C, Huston RH, Wharton AR, Dey R, Karmakar S, Oghumu S, Hamano S, Gannavaram S, Nakhasi HL, Matlashewski G, Satoskar AR. Centrin-deficient Leishmania mexicana confers protection against New World cutaneous leishmaniasis. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:32. [PMID: 35236861 PMCID: PMC8891280 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00449-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected protozoan disease affecting over 12 million people globally with no approved vaccines for human use. New World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by L. mexicana is characterized by the development of chronic non-healing skin lesions. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique, we have generated live attenuated centrin knockout L. mexicana (LmexCen-/-) parasites. Centrin is a cytoskeletal protein important for cellular division in eukaryotes and, in Leishmania, is required only for intracellular amastigote replication. We have investigated the safety and immunogenicity characteristics of LmexCen-/- parasites by evaluating their survival and the cytokine production in bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro. Our data shows that LmexCen-/- amastigotes present a growth defect, which results in significantly lower parasitic burdens and increased protective cytokine production in infected BMDMs and BMDCs, compared to the wild type (WT) parasites. We have also determined the safety and efficacy of LmexCen-/- in vivo using experimental murine models of L. mexicana. We demonstrate that LmexCen-/- parasites are safe and do not cause lesions in susceptible mouse models. Immunization with LmexCen-/- is also efficacious against challenge with WT L. mexicana parasites in genetically different BALB/c and C57BL/6 mouse models. Vaccinated mice did not develop cutaneous lesions, displayed protective immunity, and showed significantly lower parasitic burdens at the infection site and draining lymph nodes compared to the control group. Overall, we demonstrate that LmexCen-/- parasites are safe and efficacious against New World cutaneous leishmaniasis in pre-clinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Volpedo
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Thalia Pacheco-Fernandez
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Erin A Holcomb
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Wen-Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Patrick Lypaczewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Blake Cox
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Rebecca Fultz
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Chelsea Mishan
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Chaitenya Verma
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ryan H Huston
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Abigail R Wharton
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ranadhir Dey
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Subir Karmakar
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Steve Oghumu
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Shinjiro Hamano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Leadership Program, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. .,Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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22
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Effects of terpenes in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis: a systematic review of preclinical evidence. Pharmacol Res 2022; 177:106117. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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23
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Kumari D, Singh K. Exploring the paradox of defense between host and Leishmania parasite. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 102:108400. [PMID: 34890999 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, still remains a global concern for the healthcare sector. The primary causative agents of the disease comprise diverse leishmanial species, leading to recurring failures in disease diagnosis and delaying the initiation of appropriate chemotherapy. Various species of the Leishmania parasite cause diverse clinical manifestations ranging from skin ulcers to systemic infections. Therefore, host immunity in response to different forms of infecting species of Leishmania becomes pivotal in disease progression or regression. Thus, understanding the paradox of immune arsenals during host and parasite interface becomes crucial to eliminate this deadly disease. In the present review, we have elaborated on the immunological perspectives of the disease and discussed primary host immune cells that form a defense line to counteract parasite infection. Furthermore, we also have shed light on the immune cells and effector molecules responsible for parasite survival in host lethal milieu/ environment. Next, we have highlighted recent molecules/compounds showing potent leishmanicidal activities pertaining to their pro-oxidant and immuno-modulatory mechanisms. This review addresses an immuno-biological overview of the factors influencing the parasitic disease, as this knowledge can aid in the unraveling/ identification of potential biomarkers, novel therapeutics, and vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diksha Kumari
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Kuljit Singh
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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24
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Gabriel ÁM, Galué-Parra A, Pereira WLA, Pedersen KW, da Silva EO. Leishmania 360°: Guidelines for Exosomal Research. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2081. [PMID: 34683402 PMCID: PMC8537887 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102081] [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: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites are a group of kinetoplastid pathogens that cause a variety of clinical disorders while maintaining cell communication by secreting extracellular vesicles. Emerging technologies have been adapted for the study of Leishmania-host cell interactions, to enable the broad-scale analysis of the extracellular vesicles of this parasite. Leishmania extracellular vesicles (LEVs) are spheroidal nanoparticles of polydispersed suspensions surrounded by a layer of lipid membrane. Although LEVs have attracted increasing attention from researchers, many aspects of their biology remain unclear, including their bioavailability and function in the complex molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis. Given the importance of LEVs in the parasite-host interaction, and in the parasite-parasite relationships that have emerged during the evolutionary history of these organisms, the present review provides an overview of the available data on Leishmania, and formulates guidelines for LEV research. We conclude by reporting direct methods for the isolation of specific LEVs from the culture supernatant of the promastigotes and amastigotes that are suitable for a range of different downstream applications, which increases the compatibility and reproducibility of the approach for the establishment of optimal and comparable isolation conditions and the complete characterization of the LEV, as well as the critical immunomodulatory events triggered by this important group of parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Áurea Martins Gabriel
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of NOVA University of Lisbon, IHMT-UNL, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
- Laboratory of Structural Biology of Institute of Biological Sciences of Federal University of Pará, Av. Augusto Correa 01, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.G.-P.); (E.O.d.S.)
| | - Adan Galué-Parra
- Laboratory of Structural Biology of Institute of Biological Sciences of Federal University of Pará, Av. Augusto Correa 01, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.G.-P.); (E.O.d.S.)
| | | | | | - Edilene Oliveira da Silva
- Laboratory of Structural Biology of Institute of Biological Sciences of Federal University of Pará, Av. Augusto Correa 01, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (A.G.-P.); (E.O.d.S.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Structural Biology and Bioimaging, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
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25
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de Mesquita TGR, Junior JDES, de Lacerda TC, Queiroz KLGD, Júnior CMDS, Neto JPDM, Gomes LAM, de Souza MLG, Guerra MVDF, Ramasawmy R. Variants of MIRNA146A rs2910164 and MIRNA499 rs3746444 are associated with the development of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania guyanensis and with plasma chemokine IL-8. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009795. [PMID: 34543271 PMCID: PMC8483412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania are intracellular protozoan parasites that cause a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations in genetically susceptible individuals with an insufficient or balanced Th1 immune response to eliminate the parasite. MiRNAs play important regulatory role in numerous biological processes including essential cellular functions. miR146-a acts as an inhibitor of interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) present in the toll-like receptors pathway while miR499a modulates TGF-β and TNF signalling pathways. Here, we investigated whether MIRNA146A rs2910164 and MIRNA499 rs3746444 variants are associated with the development of L. guyanensis (Lg)-cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). The variants MIR146A rs2910164 and MIR499A rs3746444 were assessed in 850 patients with Lg-CL and 891 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Plasma cytokines were measured using the BioPlex assay. Carriers of rs2910164 CC genotype have 30% higher odds of developing CL (ORadjage/sex = 1.3 [95%CI 0.9–1.8]; Padjage/sex 0.14) compared to individuals with the genotype GG (ORadjage/sex = 0.77 [95%CI 0.56–1.0]; Padjage/sex 0.14) if exposed to Lg-infection. Heterozygous GC individuals also showed lower odds of developing CL (ORadjage/sex = 0.77 [95%CI 0.5–1.1]; Padjage/sex 0.09). Homozygosity for the allele C is suggestive of an association with the development of Lg-CL among exposed individuals to Lg-infection. However, the odds of developing CL associated with the CC genotype was evident only in male individuals (ORadjage = 1.3 [95% CI = 0.9–2.0]; Padjage = 0.06). Individuals homozygous for the G allele tend to have higher plasma IL-8 and CCL5. Similarly, for the MIR499A rs3746444, an association with the G allele was only observed among male individuals (OR = 1.4 [1.0–1.9]; P = 0.009). In a dominant model, individuals with the G allele (GG-GA) when compared to the AA genotype reveals that carriers of the G allele have 40% elevated odds of developing Lg-CL (ORadjage = 1.4 [1.1–1.9]). Individuals with the GG genotype have higher odds of developing Lg-CL (ORadjage/sex = 2.0 [95%CI 0.83–5.0]; Padjage = 0.01. Individuals homozygous for the G allele have higher plasma IL-8. Genetic combinations of both variants revealed that male individuals exposed to Lg bearing three or four susceptible alleles have higher odds of developing Lg-CL (OR = 2.3 [95% CI 1.0–4.7]; p = 0.017). Both MIR146A rs2910164 and MIR499A rs3746444 are associated with the development of Lg-CL and this association is prevalent in male individuals. Leishmaniasis is caused by infection with Leishmania parasites. In regions with the presence of Leishmania parasites, all people do not develop the disease despite similar exposure. Only a proportion of inhabitants progress to the development of disease. Clinical manifestations depend on the vector and Leishmania species, as well the host genetic background and genetically determined immune responses. miRNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression and many biological processes including immune pathways. miR-146a targets TRAF6 and IRAK1 genes, that encode key adaptor molecules downstream of toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs are critical in immune response to Leishmania-infection. miR499-a modulates inflammation-related signalling pathways such as TGFβ, TNFα and TLR pathways. In this study, we showed that MIR146A and MIR499A variants are risk factors to developing cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. guyanensis in Amazonas state of Brazil. Individuals with these variants are susceptible to the development of CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tirza Gabrielle Ramos de Mesquita
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - José do Espírito Santo Junior
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Thais Carneiro de Lacerda
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marcus Vinitius de Farias Guerra
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Genomic Health Surveillance Network: Optimization of Assistance and Research in The State of Amazonas–REGESAM, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Rajendranath Ramasawmy
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Doutor Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- Genomic Health Surveillance Network: Optimization of Assistance and Research in The State of Amazonas–REGESAM, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Passero LFD, Brunelli EDS, Sauini T, Amorim Pavani TF, Jesus JA, Rodrigues E. The Potential of Traditional Knowledge to Develop Effective Medicines for the Treatment of Leishmaniasis. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:690432. [PMID: 34220515 PMCID: PMC8248671 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.690432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects people living in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. There are few therapeutic options for treating this infectious disease, and available drugs induce severe side effects in patients. Different communities have limited access to hospital facilities, as well as classical treatment of leishmaniasis; therefore, they use local natural products as alternative medicines to treat this infectious disease. The present work performed a bibliographic survey worldwide to record plants used by traditional communities to treat leishmaniasis, as well as the uses and peculiarities associated with each plant, which can guide future studies regarding the characterization of new drugs to treat leishmaniasis. A bibliographic survey performed in the PubMed and Scopus databases retrieved 294 articles related to traditional knowledge, medicinal plants and leishmaniasis; however, only 20 were selected based on the traditional use of plants to treat leishmaniasis. Considering such studies, 378 quotes referring to 292 plants (216 species and 76 genera) that have been used to treat leishmaniasis were recorded, which could be grouped into 89 different families. A broad discussion has been presented regarding the most frequent families, including Fabaceae (27 quotes), Araceae (23), Solanaceae and Asteraceae (22 each). Among the available data in the 378 quotes, it was observed that the parts of the plants most frequently used in local medicine were leaves (42.3% of recipes), applied topically (74.6%) and fresh poultices (17.2%). The contribution of Latin America to studies enrolling ethnopharmacological indications to treat leishmaniasis was evident. Of the 292 plants registered, 79 were tested against Leishmania sp. Future studies on leishmanicidal activity could be guided by the 292 plants presented in this study, mainly the five species Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae), Cedrela odorata L. (Meliaceae), Copaifera paupera (Herzog) Dwyer (Fabaceae), Musa × paradisiaca L. (Musaceae), and Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae), since they are the most frequently cited in articles and by traditional communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Felipe D Passero
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Institute for Advanced Studies of Ocean, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erika Dos Santos Brunelli
- Center for Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies (CEE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thamara Sauini
- Center for Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies (CEE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais Fernanda Amorim Pavani
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research Group (GPQFfesp), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Adriana Jesus
- Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM50), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliana Rodrigues
- Center for Ethnobotanical and Ethnopharmacological Studies (CEE), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Akuffo R, Sanchez C, Chicharro C, Carrillo E, Attram N, Mosore MT, Yeboah C, Kotey NK, Boakye D, Ruiz-Postigo JA, Moreno J, Wilson M, Sarfo B, Anto F. Detection of cutaneous leishmaniasis in three communities of Oti Region, Ghana. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009416. [PMID: 34029326 PMCID: PMC8177633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common type of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Ghana, some studies in the Volta region have detected Leishmania parasites among persons with skin ulcers. Methodology/Principal findings Using a cross-sectional study design, the prevalence of CL in three communities of the Oti Region of Ghana was investigated. Demographic and epidemiological data were obtained by a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 426 (12.4%) out of 3,440 participants screened had at least one skin ulcer. Of 595 skin ulcers sampled and tested by PCR for Leishmania infection, 150 (25.2%) ulcers from 136 individuals tested positive, accounting for an overall CL prevalence of 31.9% among persons with skin ulcers. Individual community CL prevalence of 23.2%, 29.8%, and 36.8% was observed in Ashiabre, Keri, and Sibi Hilltop respectively among persons with skin ulcers. Conclusions/Significance Confirmation of CL in the study area suggests an active cycle of transmission of Leishmania infection. The observation of skin ulcers which tested negative to Leishmania infection suggests a need to test for additional causes of skin ulcers such as Treponema pallidum pertenue and Mycobacterium ulcerans in the study area. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania and is transmitted by various species of female sandflies. CL usually begins as painless nodules and is usually characterized by skin ulcers which may be single or multiple. Although ulcers due to CL are often self-healing, they may become painful and result in scarring after healing. Typically, CL occurs on exposed parts of the body such as the neck, limbs, and face, which may be easily accessible to sandflies. Although cases of CL had previously been reported in some parts of the Volta region of Ghana, no previous case of CL had been reported in the Oti region. This study was initiated following reports of skin ulcers which were suggestive of CL in some communities of the Oti region. This study confirmed Leishmania infection in 150(25.5%) out of 595 skin ulcer samples obtained from 426 study participants. Given that 445(74,8%) of the skin ulcers tested negative for Leishmania parasite suggests a need for investigation of additional causes of skin ulcers such as yaws and Buruli ulcer in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Akuffo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Carmen Sanchez
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Chicharro
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eugenia Carrillo
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Naiki Attram
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Clara Yeboah
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3, Ghana Detachment, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Daniel Boakye
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jose-Antonio Ruiz-Postigo
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Wilson
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bismark Sarfo
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Francis Anto
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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Nitric-oxide releasing chitosan nanoparticles towards effective treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Nitric Oxide 2021; 113-114:31-38. [PMID: 33940194 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health problem caused by Leishmania parasites that produce destructive and disfiguring skin conditions. There is an urgent need for alternative topical therapies due to the limitations of current systemic treatments. Recently, we have synthesized nitric oxide-releasing chitosan nanoparticles (NONPs) and shown their potential in vitro against Leishmania amazonensis. Herein we evaluated the application of NONPs for the treatment of CL on infected BALB/c mice. Mice were treated with topical administration of increasing concentrations of NONPs and disease progression was investigated regarding parasite load, lesion thickness, and pain score. As a result, we observed a dose-dependent NONPs effect. Parasite burden and lesion thickness were substantially lower on animals receiving NONPs at a 2 mM concentration compared to untreated control. Moreover, the clinical presentation of the lesions did not show any visible signs of ulcer, suggesting clinical healing in these animals. This successful outcome was sustained for at least 21 days after therapy even in one single dose. Thus, we demonstrate that NONPs are suitable for topical administration, and represent an attractive approach to treat CL.
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de Freitas E Silva R, von Stebut E. Unraveling the Role of Immune Checkpoints in Leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:620144. [PMID: 33776999 PMCID: PMC7990902 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.620144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis are Neglected Tropical Diseases affecting millions of people every year in at least 98 countries and is one of the major unsolved world health issues. Leishmania is a parasitic protozoa which are transmitted by infected sandflies and in the host they mainly infect macrophages. Immunity elicited against those parasites is complex and immune checkpoints play a key role regulating its function. T cell receptors and their respective ligands, such as PD-1, CTLA-4, CD200, CD40, OX40, HVEM, LIGHT, 2B4 and TIM-3 have been characterized for their role in regulating adaptive immunity against different pathogens. However, the exact role those receptors perform during Leishmania infections remains to be better determined. This article addresses the key role immune checkpoints play during Leishmania infections, the limiting factors and translational implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esther von Stebut
- Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Sezavar M, Sharifi I, Ghasemi Nejad Almani P, Kazemi B, Davoudi N, Salari S, Salarkia E, Khosravi A, Bamorovat M. The potential therapeutic role of PTR1 gene in non-healing anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e23670. [PMID: 33283321 PMCID: PMC7957997 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug resistance is a common phenomenon frequently observed in countries where leishmaniasis is endemic. Due to the production of the pteridine reductase enzyme (PTR1), drugs lose their efficacy, and consequently, the patient becomes unresponsive to treatment. This study aimed to compare the in vitro effect of meglumine antimoniate (MA) on non- healing Leishmania tropica isolates and on MA transfected non-healing one to PTR1. METHODS Two non-healing and one healing isolates of L. tropica were collected from patients who received two courses or one cycle of intralesional MA along with biweekly liquid nitrogen cryotherapy or systemic treatment alone, respectively. After confirmation of L. tropica isolates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the recombinant plasmid pcDNA-rPTR (antisense) was transfected via electroporation and cultured on M199. Isolates in form of promastigotes were treated with different concentrations of MA and read using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) value was calculated. The amastigotes were grown in mouse macrophages and were similarly treated with various concentrations of MA. The culture glass slides were stained, and the mean number of intramacrophage amastigotes and infected macrophages were assessed in triplicate for both stages. RESULTS All three transfected isolates displayed a reduction in optical density compared with the promastigotes in respective isolates, although there was no significant difference between non-healing and healing isolates. In contrast, in the clinical form (amastigotes), there was a significant difference between non-healing and healing isolates (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results indicated that the PTR1 gene reduced the efficacy of the drug, and its inhibition by antisense and could improve the treatment of non-healing cases. These findings have future implications in the prophylactic and therapeutic modality of non- healing Leishmania isolates to drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monireh Sezavar
- Department of Experimental SciencesFaculty of Allied medicineAlborz University of Medical SciencesKarajIran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | | | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Research CentreShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Biotechnology Department, School of Advanced Technologies in MedicineShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesIran
| | - Noushin Davoudi
- Department of BiotechnologyPasteur Institute of IranTehranIran
| | - Samira Salari
- Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research CenterKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | - Ehsan Salarkia
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | - Ahmad Khosravi
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
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First molecular identification of Leishmania major in Phlebotomus papatasi in an outbreak cutaneous leishmaniasis area in Iraq. Acta Trop 2021; 215:105807. [PMID: 33385365 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is transmitted by Phlebotomine sand fly vectors, among which Phlebotomus papatasi is prevalent in Western Asia, Northern Africa and Southern Europe, and it is known as a vector for Leishmania major parasite in the world. However, in Iraq, morphological studies showed that P. papatasi is a predominant sand fly species and hypothesised to transmit CL causing Leishmania species including L. major and L. tropica. Few studies have found Leishmania species in sand flies in mixed pools of samples in this country. Accurate identification of sand flies as vectors of Leishmania species is required in Iraq. The current study aims to identify sand fly species, using both morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses, in a region where CL tends to be endemic. Furthermore, molecular phylogenetic analysis has also used to confirm Leishmania species in the sand fly samples collected in 11 villages between Diyala and Sulaymaniyah Provinces. For the first time, we have found L. major in three individual sand flies, one engorged (with fresh blood meal) and two non-engorged (without visible fresh blood meal) P. papatasi females in an area of CL outbreaks since 2014-till now due to civil wars and internal conflicts happen in the region. Further study should be performed on sand fly population and Leishmania reservoirs in this region.
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de Freitas E Silva R, Gálvez RI, Pereira VRA, de Brito MEF, Choy SL, Lotter H, Bosurgi L, Jacobs T. Programmed Cell Death Ligand (PD-L)-1 Contributes to the Regulation of CD4 + T Effector and Regulatory T Cells in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:574491. [PMID: 33193363 PMCID: PMC7642203 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.574491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) affects up to one million people every year and treatments are costly and toxic. The regulation of the host immune response is complex and the knowledge of how CD4+ T cells are activated and maintained during Leishmania infection is still limited. Current therapies aim to target programmed cell death (PD)-1 and programmed cell death ligand (PD-L)-1 in order to boost T cell activity. However, the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis during Leishmania infection is still unclear. In this study, we found that patients with active and post-treatment CL displayed different subsets of CD4+PD-1+ T cells. Accordingly, L. major-infected mice upregulated PD-1 on activated CD4+ T effector cells and PD-L1 on resident macrophages and infiltrating monocytes at the site of infection. L. major-infected Pdl1−/− mice expressed lower levels of MHCII and higher levels of CD206 on macrophages and monocytes and, more importantly, the lack of PD-L1 contributed to a reduced frequency of CD4+Ly6Chi T effector cells and an increase of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells at the site of infection and in draining lymph nodes. Additionally, the lack of PD-L1 was associated with lower production of IL-27 by infiltrating monocytes and lower levels of the Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α produced by CD4+ T effector cells. Pdl1−/− mice initially exhibited larger lesions despite having a similar parasite load. Our results describe for the first time how the interruption of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis influences the immune response against CL and suggests that this axis regulates the balance between CD4+Ly6Chi T effector cells and CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael de Freitas E Silva
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Natural Sciences, University of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Brazil
| | - Rosa Isela Gálvez
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Siew Ling Choy
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hannelore Lotter
- Department of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lidia Bosurgi
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.,I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Jacobs
- Protozoa Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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Th1 concomitant immune response mediated by IFN-γ protects against sand fly delivered Leishmania infection: Implications for vaccine design. Cytokine 2020; 147:155247. [PMID: 32873468 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an unresolved global health problem with a high socio-economic impact. Data generated in mouse models has revealed that the Th1 response, with IL-12, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 as prominent cytokines, predominantly controls the disease progression. Premised on these findings, all examined vaccine formulations have been aimed at generating a long-lived memory Th1 response. However, all vaccine formulations with the exception of live Leishmania inoculation (leishmanization) have failed to sufficiently protect against sand fly delivered infection. It has been recently unraveled that sand fly dependent factors may compromise pre-existing Th1 memory. Further scrutinizing the immune response after leishmanization has uncovered the prominent role of early (within hours) and robust IFN-γ production (Th1 concomitant immunity) in controlling the sand fly delivered secondary infection. The response is dependent upon parasite persistence and subclinical ongoing primary infection. The immune correlates of concomitant immunity (Resident Memory T cells and Effector T subsets) mitigate the early effects of sand fly delivered infection and help to control the disease. In this review, we have described the early events after sand fly challenge and the role of Th1 concomitant immunity in the protective immune response in leishmanized resistant mouse model, although leishmanization is under debate for human use. Undoubtedly, the lessons we learn from leishmanization must be further implemented in alternative vaccine approaches.
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Performance of a universal PCR assay to identify different Leishmania species causative of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:431. [PMID: 32854753 PMCID: PMC7450935 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04261-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The characterization of Leishmania species is important for clinical management of the diseases and the epidemiological control of the parasite distribution. Most of the published polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification methods lack the ability to identify all species complexes, have low performance and usually need post-PCR procedures. There is a need for improving the diagnosis of CL by development of an accurate affordable PCR method to identify all Leishmania species in clinical specimens. METHODS We designed an optimized a PCR amplifying the internal transcribed spacer 2 sequence of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS2) aligned from different strains of CL-causing Leishmania species in the Old World. The performance of the method was evaluated on lesion samples from several CL suspected patients and the limit of detection (LOD) was determined on DNA of promastigotes from reference strains. RESULTS The universal PCR enabled simultaneous discrimination of L. major, L. tropica and L. infantum using one primer pair in one reaction. Stained smear microscopy and Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) medium culture alone detected 77.27% (17/22) and 72.73% (16/22) of the positive CL samples, respectively. The PCR assay showed 100% sensitivity (22/22) (95% CI: 84.56-100%) and 100% specificity (3/3) (95% CI: 29.24-100%) for species identification on isolates from lesion scraping/exudate and 100% sensitivity (13/13) (95% CI: 75.29-100%) and 100% specificity (11/11) (95% CI: 71.51-100%) for species identification on biopsy samples of CL patients, while being capable to successfully amplify as little as 0.01-0.1 pg of Leishmania DNA from cultured promastigotes. CONCLUSIONS We present a validated easy-to-use affordable universal PCR assay to identify the most common Old World Leishmania species causing CL. This PCR assay could be used as a sensitive/specific technique to diagnose CL-causing Leishmania species in clinical samples with high accuracy.
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