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Vázquez ME, Zabala BA, Mesías AC, Biscari L, Kaufman CD, Alloatti A, Siano F, Picariello G, Corbalán NS, Lenis BA, Toscano MA, Parodi CM, Brandán CMP, Acuña L. Protective Efficacy of the Epitope-Conjugated Antigen N-Tc52/TSkb20 in Mitigating Trypanosoma cruzi Infection through CD8+ T-Cells and IFNγ Responses. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:621. [PMID: 38932350 PMCID: PMC11209121 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a major public health challenge affecting millions in Latin America and worldwide. Although significant progress has been made in vector control, no vaccine exists to prevent infection or mitigate disease pathogenesis. We developed a rationally designed chimeric protein vaccine, N-Tc52/TSkb20, incorporating immunodominant epitopes from two T. cruzi antigens, the amino-terminal portion of Tc52 and the TSkb20 epitope derived from trans-sialidase. The objectives of this study were to construct and characterize the antigen and evaluate its protective potential in an immunoprophylactic murine model of T. cruzi infection. The N-Tc52/TSkb20 protein was recombinantly expressed in E. coli and its identity was confirmed using mass spectrometry and Western blotting. Immunization with the chimeric protein significantly controlled parasitemia and reduced the heart, colon, and skeletal muscle parasite burdens compared to non-vaccinated mice. Protection was superior to vaccination with the individual parental antigen components. Mechanistically, the vaccine induced potent CD8+ T-cell and IFNγ responses against the incorporated epitopes and a protective IgG antibody profile. A relatively low IL-10 response favored early parasite control. These results validate the promising multi-epitope approach and support the continued development of this type of rational vaccine design strategy against Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Elisa Vázquez
- Unidad de Biotecnología y Protozoarios, Instituto de Patología Experimental “Dr. Miguel Ángel Basombrío”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta A4400, Argentina; (M.E.V.); (B.A.Z.); (A.C.M.); (C.M.P.)
| | - Brenda A. Zabala
- Unidad de Biotecnología y Protozoarios, Instituto de Patología Experimental “Dr. Miguel Ángel Basombrío”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta A4400, Argentina; (M.E.V.); (B.A.Z.); (A.C.M.); (C.M.P.)
| | - Andrea C. Mesías
- Unidad de Biotecnología y Protozoarios, Instituto de Patología Experimental “Dr. Miguel Ángel Basombrío”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta A4400, Argentina; (M.E.V.); (B.A.Z.); (A.C.M.); (C.M.P.)
| | - Lucia Biscari
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario, IDICER—CONICET—UNR, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (L.B.); (C.D.K.); (A.A.)
| | - Cintia D. Kaufman
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario, IDICER—CONICET—UNR, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (L.B.); (C.D.K.); (A.A.)
| | - Andrés Alloatti
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario, IDICER—CONICET—UNR, Rosario 2000, Argentina; (L.B.); (C.D.K.); (A.A.)
| | - Francesco Siano
- Istituto di Scienze dell’ Alimentazione—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 83100 Avellino, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.)
| | - Gianluca Picariello
- Istituto di Scienze dell’ Alimentazione—Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 83100 Avellino, Italy; (F.S.); (G.P.)
| | - Natalia S. Corbalán
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta A4400, Argentina;
| | - Bladimiro A. Lenis
- Unidad de Conocimiento Traslacional, Hospital Arturo Oñativia, Salta A4400, Argentina; (B.A.L.); (M.A.T.)
| | - Marta A. Toscano
- Unidad de Conocimiento Traslacional, Hospital Arturo Oñativia, Salta A4400, Argentina; (B.A.L.); (M.A.T.)
| | - Cecilia M. Parodi
- Unidad de Biotecnología y Protozoarios, Instituto de Patología Experimental “Dr. Miguel Ángel Basombrío”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta A4400, Argentina; (M.E.V.); (B.A.Z.); (A.C.M.); (C.M.P.)
| | - Cecilia M. Pérez Brandán
- Unidad de Biotecnología y Protozoarios, Instituto de Patología Experimental “Dr. Miguel Ángel Basombrío”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta A4400, Argentina; (M.E.V.); (B.A.Z.); (A.C.M.); (C.M.P.)
| | - Leonardo Acuña
- Unidad de Biotecnología y Protozoarios, Instituto de Patología Experimental “Dr. Miguel Ángel Basombrío”, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta A4400, Argentina; (M.E.V.); (B.A.Z.); (A.C.M.); (C.M.P.)
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Rodríguez-Morales O, Mendoza-Téllez EJ, Morales-Salinas E, Arce-Fonseca M. Effectiveness of Nitazoxanide and Electrolyzed Oxiding Water in Treating Chagas Disease in a Canine Model. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051479. [PMID: 37242721 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051479] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, and affects seven million people in Latin America. Side effects and the limited efficacy of current treatment have led to new drug research. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) in a canine model of experimental CD. Náhuatl dogs were infected with the T. cruzi H8 strain and NTZ- or EOW-treated orally for 10 days. Seronegativity was shown at 12 months post-infection (mpi) in the NTZ-, EOW-, and benznidazole (BNZ)-treated groups. The NTZ and BNZ groups had high levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12B, and IL-1β at 1.5 mpi and low levels of IL-10. Electrocardiographic studies showed alterations from 3 mpi and worsening at 12 mpi; NTZ treatment produced fewer cardiac pathomorphological changes compared to EOW, similar to BNZ treatment. There was no cardiomegaly in any group. In conclusion, although NTZ and EOW did not prevent changes in cardiac conductivity, they were able to avoid the severity of heart damage in the chronic phase of CD. NTZ induced a favorable proinflammatory immune response after infection, being a better option than EOW as a possible treatment for CD after BNZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology of Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Erika Jocelin Mendoza-Téllez
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology of Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Morales-Salinas
- Department of Pathology of Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Col. Copilco Universidad, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics, Department of Molecular Biology of Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
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Montalvo-Ocotoxtle IG, Rojas-Velasco G, Rodríguez-Morales O, Arce-Fonseca M, Baeza-Herrera LA, Arzate-Ramírez A, Meléndez-Ramírez G, Manzur-Sandoval D, Lara-Romero ML, Reyes-Ortega A, Espinosa-González P, Palacios-Rosas E. Chagas Heart Disease: Beyond a Single Complication, from Asymptomatic Disease to Heart Failure. J Clin Med 2022; 11:7262. [PMID: 36555880 PMCID: PMC9784121 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11247262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in developing countries. It is estimated that 6 to 7 million people worldwide are infected, and it is predicted that it will be responsible for 200,000 deaths by 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers Chagas disease (CD) as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), which must be acknowledged and detected in time, as it remains a clinical and diagnostic challenge in both endemic and non-endemic regions and at different levels of care. The literature on CC was analyzed by searching different databases (Medline, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO) from 1968 until October 2022. Multicenter and bioinformatics trials, systematic and bibliographic reviews, international guidelines, and clinical cases were included. The reference lists of the included papers were checked. No linguistic restrictions or study designs were applied. This review is intended to address the current incidence and prevalence of CD and to identify the main pathogenic mechanisms, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isis G. Montalvo-Ocotoxtle
- Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Rojas-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Luis A. Baeza-Herrera
- Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Arturo Arzate-Ramírez
- Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Meléndez-Ramírez
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging Department, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Daniel Manzur-Sandoval
- Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Mayra L. Lara-Romero
- Academic Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Ex Hacienda Sta. Catarina Mártir S/N. San Andrés Cholula, Puebla 72810, Mexico
| | - Antonio Reyes-Ortega
- Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Patricia Espinosa-González
- Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Erika Palacios-Rosas
- Academic Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Ex Hacienda Sta. Catarina Mártir S/N. San Andrés Cholula, Puebla 72810, Mexico
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Busselman RE, Hamer SA. Chagas Disease Ecology in the United States: Recent Advances in Understanding Trypanosoma cruzi Transmission Among Triatomines, Wildlife, and Domestic Animals and a Quantitative Synthesis of Vector-Host Interactions. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2021; 10:325-348. [PMID: 34758274 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-013120-043949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease present in the Americas, is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is transmitted by triatomine kissing bug vectors. Hundreds of vertebrate host species are involved in the ecology of Chagas disease. The sylvatic nature of most triatomines found in the United States accounts for high levels of animal infections but few reports of human infections. This review focuses on triatomine distributions and animal infections in the southern United States. A quantitative synthesis of available US data from triatomine bloodmeal analysis studies shows that dogs, humans, and rodents are key taxa for feeding triatomines. Imperfect and unvalidated diagnostic tools in wildlife complicate the study of animal T. cruzi infections, and integrated vector management approaches are needed to reduce parasite transmission in nature. The diversity of animal species involved in Chagas disease ecology underscores the importance of a One Health approach for disease research and management. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Volume 10 is February 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Busselman
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA;
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA;
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DNA Vaccine Treatment in Dogs Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. J Immunol Res 2020; 2020:9794575. [PMID: 32455143 PMCID: PMC7222601 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9794575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a chronic and potentially lethal disorder caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and an effective treatment has not been developed for chronic Chagas disease. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a therapeutic DNA vaccine containing T. cruzi genes in dogs with experimentally induced Chagas disease through clinical, pathological, and immunological analyses. Infection of Beagle dogs with the H8 T. cruzi strain was performed intraperitoneally with 3500 metacyclic trypomastigotes/kg body weight. Two weeks after infection, plasmid DNA immunotherapy was administered thrice at 15-day intervals. The clinical (physical and cabinet studies), immunological (antibody and cytokine profiles and lymphoproliferation), and macro- and microscopic pathological findings were described. A significant increase in IgG and cell proliferation was recorded after immunotherapy, and the highest stimulation index (3.02) was observed in dogs treated with the pBCSSP4 plasmid. The second treatment with both plasmids induced an increase in IL-1, and the third treatment with the pBCSSP4 plasmid induced an increase in IL-6. The pBCSP plasmid had a good Th1 response regulated by high levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, whereas the combination of the two plasmids did not have a synergistic effect. Electrocardiographic studies registered lower abnormalities and the lowest number of individuals with abnormalities in each group treated with the therapeutic vaccine. Echocardiograms showed that the pBCSSP4 plasmid immunotherapy preserved cardiac structure and function to a greater extent and prevented cardiomegaly. The two plasmids alone controlled the infection moderately by a reduction in the inflammatory infiltrates in heart tissue. The immunotherapy was able to reduce the magnitude of cardiac lesions and modulate the cellular immune response; the pBCSP treatment showed a clear Th1 response; and pBCSSP4 induced a balanced Th1/Th2 immune response that prevented severe cardiac involvement. The pBCSSP4 plasmid had a better effect on most of the parameters evaluated in this study; therefore, this plasmid can be considered an optional treatment against Chagas disease in naturally infected dogs.
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Rodríguez-Morales O, Roldán FJ, Vargas-Barrón J, Parra-Benítez E, Medina-García MDL, Vergara-Bello E, Arce-Fonseca M. Echocardiographic Findings in Canine Model of Chagas Disease Immunized with DNA Trypanosoma cruzi Genes. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E648. [PMID: 32283649 PMCID: PMC7222844 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (ChD) is considered an emerging disease in the USA and Europe. Trypanosoma cruzi genes encoding a trans-sialidase protein and an amastigote-specific glycoprotein were tested as vaccines in canine model. The aim for this study was determining the prophylactic effect of these genes in experimentally infected dogs by echocardiography evaluation to compare with our findings obtained by other techniques published previously. Low fractional-shortening values of non-vaccinated dogs suggested an impairment in general cardiac function. Low left ventricular ejection fraction values found in infected dogs suggested myocardial injury regardless of whether they were vaccinated. Low left ventricular diastolic/systolic diameters suggested that progressive heart damage or heart dilation could be prevented by DNA vaccination. Systolic peak time was higher in non-vaccinated groups, increasing vulnerability to malignant arrhythmias and sudden death. High left ventricular volume suggested a decrease in wall thickness that might lead to increased size of the heart cavity, except in the pBCSP plasmid-vaccinated dogs. There was an echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular dilation and reduction in systolic function in experimental chagasic dogs. Echocardiography allowed a more complete follow-up of the pathological process in the living patient than with other techniques like electrocardiography, anatomopathology, and histopathology, being the method of choice for characterizing the clinical stages of ChD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - Francisco-Javier Roldán
- Department of Echocardiography, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (F.-J.R.); (J.V.-B.)
| | - Jesús Vargas-Barrón
- Department of Echocardiography, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (F.-J.R.); (J.V.-B.)
| | - Enrique Parra-Benítez
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - María de Lourdes Medina-García
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - Emilia Vergara-Bello
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Cardiology “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City 14080, Mexico; (O.R.-M.); (E.P.-B.); (M.d.L.M.-G.); (E.V.-B.)
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Experimental Vaccines against Chagas Disease: A Journey through History. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:489758. [PMID: 26090490 PMCID: PMC4452192 DOI: 10.1155/2015/489758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, which is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is primarily a vector disease endemic in 21 Latin American countries, including Mexico. Although many vector control programs have been implemented, T. cruzi has not been eradicated. The development of an anti-T. cruzi vaccine for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes may significantly contribute to the transmission control of Chagas disease. Immune protection against experimental infection with T. cruzi has been studied since the second decade of the last century, and many types of immunogens have been used subsequently, such as killed or attenuated parasites and new DNA vaccines. This primary prevention strategy appears feasible, effective, safe, and inexpensive, although problems remain. The objective of this review is to summarize the research efforts about the development of vaccines against Chagas disease worldwide. A thorough literature review was conducted by searching PubMed with the terms “Chagas disease” and “American trypanosomiasis” together with “vaccines” or “immunization”. In addition, reports and journals not cited in PubMed were identified. Publications in English, Spanish, and Portuguese were reviewed.
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Aparicio-Burgos JE, Zepeda-Escobar JA, de Oca-Jimenez RM, Estrada-Franco JG, Barbabosa-Pliego A, Ochoa-García L, Alejandre-Aguilar R, Rivas N, Peñuelas-Rivas G, Val-Arreola M, Gupta S, Salazar-García F, Garg NJ, Vázquez-Chagoyán JC. Immune protection against Trypanosoma cruzi induced by TcVac4 in a canine model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003625. [PMID: 25853654 PMCID: PMC4390229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in southern parts of the American continent. Herein, we have tested the protective efficacy of a DNA-prime/T. rangeli-boost (TcVac4) vaccine in a dog (Canis familiaris) model. Dogs were immunized with two-doses of DNA vaccine (pcDNA3.1 encoding TcG1, TcG2, and TcG4 antigens plus IL-12- and GM-CSF-encoding plasmids) followed by two doses of glutaraldehyde-inactivated T. rangeli epimastigotes (TrIE); and challenged with highly pathogenic T. cruzi (SylvioX10/4) isolate. Dogs given TrIE or empty pcDNA3.1 were used as controls. We monitored post-vaccination and post-challenge infection antibody response by an ELISA, parasitemia by blood analysis and xenodiagnosis, and heart function by electrocardiography. Post-mortem anatomic and pathologic evaluation of the heart was conducted. TcVac4 induced a strong IgG response (IgG2>IgG1) that was significantly expanded post-infection, and moved to a nearly balanced IgG2/IgG1 response in chronic phase. In comparison, dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only developed high IgG titers with IgG2 predominance in response to T. cruzi infection. Blood parasitemia, tissue parasite foci, parasite transmission to triatomines, electrocardiographic abnormalities were significantly lower in TcVac4-vaccinated dogs than was observed in dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only. Macroscopic and microscopic alterations, the hallmarks of chronic Chagas disease, were significantly decreased in the myocardium of TcVac4-vaccinated dogs. We conclude that TcVac4 induced immunity was beneficial in providing resistance to T. cruzi infection, evidenced by control of chronic pathology of the heart and preservation of cardiac function in dogs. Additionally, TcVac4 vaccination decreased the transmission of parasites from vaccinated/infected animals to triatomines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José A. Zepeda-Escobar
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Roberto Montes de Oca-Jimenez
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - José G. Estrada-Franco
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Alberto Barbabosa-Pliego
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Laucel Ochoa-García
- Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Pública del Instituto Salud del Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, México
| | - Nancy Rivas
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, México
| | - Giovanna Peñuelas-Rivas
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Margarita Val-Arreola
- Hospital General de Zona No. 2, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Irapuato, México
| | - Shivali Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Felix Salazar-García
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Nisha J. Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, and Faculty of the Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Juan C. Vázquez-Chagoyán
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
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Arce-Fonseca M, Rios-Castro M, Carrillo-Sánchez SDC, Martínez-Cruz M, Rodríguez-Morales O. Prophylactic and therapeutic DNA vaccines against Chagas disease. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:121. [PMID: 25885641 PMCID: PMC4343048 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0738-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a zoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi in which the most affected organ is the heart. Conventional chemotherapy has a very low effectiveness; despite recent efforts, there is currently no better or more effective treatment available. DNA vaccines provide a new alternative for both prevention and treatment of a variety of infectious disorders, including Chagas disease. Recombinant DNA technology has allowed some vaccines to be developed using recombinant proteins or virus-like particles capable of inducing both a humoral and cellular specific immune response. This type of immunization has been successfully used in preclinical studies and there are diverse models for viral, bacterial and/or parasitic diseases, allergies, tumors and other diseases. Therefore, several research groups have been given the task of designing a DNA vaccine against experimental infection with T. cruzi. In this review we explain what DNA vaccines are and the most recent studies that have been done to develop them with prophylactic or therapeutic purposes against Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics. Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Martha Rios-Castro
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics. Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Silvia del Carmen Carrillo-Sánchez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics. Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Mariana Martínez-Cruz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics. Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Proteomics. Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, C.P. 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Rodríguez-Morales O, Pedro-Martínez E, Hernández-Pichardo JE, Alejandre-Aguilar R, Aranda-Fraustro A, Graullera-Rivera V, Arce-Fonseca M. Sperm morphological features associated with chronic Chagas disease in the semen of experimentally infected dogs. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014; 91:810-5. [PMID: 25114010 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of trypanosomatids in the reproductive systems of different mammals (causing genital lesions in the acute stage of the disease) may predispose the animals to low semen quality. However, there are no studies examining the alterations in the sperm morphological features in the chronic stage of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Knowledge of these aspects is important to understand the other ways of transmission of the Chagas disease. Progressive motility, mass motility, concentration, and sperm morphology of 84 ejaculates of dogs that were chronically infected with T. cruzi were evaluated. Most of the findings were consistent with the reference values and with those obtained from healthy control dogs. The scrotal circumference was not correlated with spermatozoa concentration in the infected animals. In conclusion, the T. cruzi Ninoa (MHOM/MX/1994/Ninoa) strain does not cause significant alterations in the semen quality of dogs experiencing chronic Chagas disease (at concentrations of 5 × 10(4) to 1 × 10(6) parasites per animal).
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elvia Pedro-Martínez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Ernesto Hernández-Pichardo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alberto Aranda-Fraustro
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Verónica Graullera-Rivera
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Agricultural and Animal Production, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez," Mexico City, Mexico
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Rodríguez-Morales O, Carrillo-Sánchez SC, García-Mendoza H, Aranda-Fraustro A, Ballinas-Verdugo MA, Alejandre-Aguilar R, Rosales-Encina JL, Vallejo M, Arce-Fonseca M. Effect of the plasmid-DNA vaccination on macroscopic and microscopic damage caused by the experimental chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the canine model. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:826570. [PMID: 24163822 PMCID: PMC3791577 DOI: 10.1155/2013/826570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2013] [Revised: 07/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The dog is considered the main domestic reservoir for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and a suitable experimental animal model to study the pathological changes during the course of Chagas disease (CD). Vaccine development is one of CD prevention methods to protect people at risk. Two plasmids containing genes encoding a trans-sialidase protein (TcSP) and an amastigote-specific glycoprotein (TcSSP4) were used as DNA vaccines in a canine model. Splenomegaly was not found in either of the recombinant plasmid-immunized groups; however, cardiomegaly was absent in animals immunized only with the plasmid containing the TcSSP4 gene. The inflammation of subendocardial and myocardial tissues was prevented only with the immunization with TcSSP4 gene. In conclusion, the vaccination with these genes has a partial protective effect on the enlargement of splenic and cardiac tissues during the chronic CD and on microscopic hearth damage, since both plasmids prevented splenomegaly but only one avoided cardiomegaly, and the lesions in heart tissue of dog immunized with plasmid containing the TcSSP4 gene covered only subepicardial tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Rodríguez-Morales
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Silvia C. Carrillo-Sánchez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Humberto García-Mendoza
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Alberto Aranda-Fraustro
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Martha A. Ballinas-Verdugo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
- Department of Parasitology, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del I.P.N., Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala, Col. Sto. Tomás, Miguel Hidalgo, 11340 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - José Luis Rosales-Encina
- Department of Infectomics and Molecular Pathogenesis, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Avenida Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Maite Vallejo
- Department of Sociomedical Research, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
| | - Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología “Ignacio Chávez”, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, DF, Mexico
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Carabarin-Lima A, González-Vázquez MC, Rodríguez-Morales O, Baylón-Pacheco L, Rosales-Encina JL, Reyes-López PA, Arce-Fonseca M. Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) in Mexico: an update. Acta Trop 2013; 127:126-35. [PMID: 23643518 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated organism that is transmitted mainly to humans through the infected feces of triatomine kissing bugs (vector transmission in endemic areas) or by transfusion of infected blood, donations of infected organ, or transmission from an infected mother to her child at birth. Chagas disease was first described in 1909 by the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, and due to the parasite's distribution throughout North, Central and South America, the disease is commonly known as American trypanosomiasis. However, this disease is now present in non-endemic countries such as Canada, the United States of America, and several countries in Europe (principally Spain). Moreover, Chagas disease was recently designated by the World Health Organization as one of the main neglected tropical diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the research efforts recently described in studies conducted in Mexico on Chagas disease. In this country, there are no existing vector control programs. In addition, there is no consensus on the diagnostic methods for acute and chronic Chagas disease in maternity wards and blood banks, and trypanocidal therapy is not administered to chronic patients. The actual prevalence of the disease is unknown because no official reporting of cases is performed. Therefore, the number of people infected by different routes of transmission (vector, congenital, blood transfusion, organ transplantation, or oral) is unknown. We believe that by promoting education about Chagas disease in schools starting at the basic elementary level and including reinforcement at higher education levels will ensure that the Mexican population would be aware of this health problem and that the control measures adopted will have more acceptance and success. We hope that this review sensitizes the relevant authorities and that the appropriate measures to reduce the risk of infection by T. cruzi are undertaken to provide the Mexican people a better quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Carabarin-Lima
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
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Arce-Fonseca M, Ballinas-Verdugo MA, Zenteno ERA, Suárez-Flores D, Carrillo-Sánchez SC, Alejandre-Aguilar R, Rosales-Encina JL, Reyes PA, Rodríguez-Morales O. Specific humoral and cellular immunity induced by Trypanosoma cruzi DNA immunization in a canine model. Vet Res 2013; 44:15. [PMID: 23497041 PMCID: PMC3601012 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease has a high incidence in Mexico and other Latin American countries. Because one of the most important known methods of prevention is vector control, which has been effective only in certain areas of South America, the development of a vaccine to protect people at risk has been proposed. In this study, we assessed the cellular and humoral immune response generated following immunization with pBCSP and pBCSSP4 plasmids containing the genes encoding a trans-sialidase protein (present in all three forms of T. cruzi) and an amastigote specific glycoprotein, respectively, in a canine model. Thirty-five beagle dogs were divided randomly into 5 groups (n = 7) and were immunized twice intramuscularly with 500 μg of pBCSSP4, pBCSP, pBk-CMV (empty plasmid) or saline solution. Fifteen days after the last immunization the 4 groups were infected intraperitoneally with 500 000 metacyclic trypomastigotes. The fifth group was unimmunized/infected. The parasitaemia in the immunized/infected dogs was for a shorter period (14 vs. 29 days) and the parasite load was lower. The concentration of IgG1 (0.612 ± 0.019 O.D.) and IgG2 (1.167 ± 0.097 O.D.) subclasses was measured (absorbance) 15 days after the last immunization with both recombinant plasmids, the majority of which were IgG2. The treatment of parasites using the serum from dogs immunized with pBCSP and pBCSSP4 plasmids produced 54% (± 11.8) and 68% (± 21.4) complement-mediated lysis, respectively. At 12 h post immunization, an increase in cytokines was not observed; however, vaccination with pBCSSP4 significantly increased the levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 at 9 months post-infection. The recombinant plasmid immunization stimulated the spleen cell proliferation showing a positive stimulatory index above 2.0. In conclusion, immunization using both genes effectively induces a humoral and cellular immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minerva Arce-Fonseca
- Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", Juan Badiano No, 1, Col, Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City, CP 14080, Mexico.
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