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Mendieta D, Vásquez V, Jaén L, Pineda V, Saldaña A, Calzada JE, Samudio F. Insights into the Genetic Diversity of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis in Panama, Inferred via Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050747. [PMID: 37242417 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania and transmitted by sand fly vectors. Tegumentary leishmaniasis is the most prevalent clinical outcome in Latin America, afflicting people from 18 countries. In Panama, the annual incidence rate of leishmaniasis is as high as 3000 cases, representing a major public health problem. In endemic regions, L. panamensis is responsible for almost eighty percent of human cases that present different clinical outcomes. These differences in disease outcomes could be the result of the local interplay between L. panamensis variants and human hosts with different genetic backgrounds. The genetic diversity of L. panamensis in Panama has only been partially explored, and the variability reported for this species is based on few studies restricted to small populations and/or with poor resolutive markers at low taxonomic levels. Accordingly, in this study, we explored the genetic diversity of sixty-nine L. panamensis isolates from different endemic regions of Panama, using an MLST approach based on four housekeeping genes (Aconitase, ALAT, GPI and HSP70). Two to seven haplotypes per locus were identified, and regional differences in the genetic diversity of L. panamensis were observed. A genotype analysis evidenced the circulation of thirteen L. panamensis genotypes, a fact that might have important implications for the local control of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Mendieta
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Exactas y Tecnología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City P.O. Box 0824-00073, Panama
| | - Vanessa Vásquez
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena, Panama City P.O. Box 0816-02593, Panama
| | - Luis Jaén
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Exactas y Tecnología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City P.O. Box 0824-00073, Panama
| | - Vanessa Pineda
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena, Panama City P.O. Box 0816-02593, Panama
| | - Azael Saldaña
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Exactas y Tecnología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City P.O. Box 0824-00073, Panama
- Centro de Investigación y Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Parasitarias (CIDEP), Universidad de Panamá, Panama City P.O. Box 0824-00073, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Panama City P.O. Box 0816-02852, Panama
| | - José Eduardo Calzada
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena, Panama City P.O. Box 0816-02593, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Panama City P.O. Box 0816-02852, Panama
| | - Franklyn Samudio
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales Exactas y Tecnología, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City P.O. Box 0824-00073, Panama
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena, Panama City P.O. Box 0816-02593, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Panama City P.O. Box 0816-02852, Panama
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Gow I, Smith NC, Stark D, Ellis J. Laboratory diagnostics for human Leishmania infections: a polymerase chain reaction-focussed review of detection and identification methods. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:412. [PMID: 36335408 PMCID: PMC9636697 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05524-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infections span a range of clinical syndromes and impact humans from many geographic foci, but primarily the world's poorest regions. Transmitted by the bite of a female sand fly, Leishmania infections are increasing with human movement (due to international travel and war) as well as with shifts in vector habitat (due to climate change). Accurate diagnosis of the 20 or so species of Leishmania that infect humans can lead to the successful treatment of infections and, importantly, their prevention through modelling and intervention programs. A multitude of laboratory techniques for the detection of Leishmania have been developed over the past few decades, and although many have drawbacks, several of them show promise, particularly molecular methods like polymerase chain reaction. This review provides an overview of the methods available to diagnostic laboratories, from traditional techniques to the now-preferred molecular techniques, with an emphasis on polymerase chain reaction-based detection and typing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ineka Gow
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Nicholas C. Smith
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Damien Stark
- Department of Microbiology, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010 Australia
| | - John Ellis
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
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Wang N, Zhong X, Song X, Gu X, Lai W, Xie Y, Peng X, Yang G. Molecular and biochemical characterization of calmodulin from Echinococcus granulosus. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:597. [PMID: 29202858 PMCID: PMC5716380 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2545-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Echinococcus granulosus is a harmful cestode parasite that causes cystic echinococcosis in humans as well as various livestock species and wild animals. Calmodulin (CaM), a Ca2+ sensor protein, is widely expressed in eukaryotes and mediates a variety of cellular signaling activities. Methods In the present study, the cDNA encoding CaM in Echinococcus granulosus (rEgCaM) was successfully cloned and the molecular and biochemical characterizations carried out. The antigenicity and immunoreactivity of rEgCaM was detected and the preliminary enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based serodiagnostic potential of EgCaM was assessed. The locations of this protein in the adult worm and larval stage, and the mRNA expression in different states of E. granulosus protoscoleces (PSCs) were defined clearly. Moreover, the Ca2+-binding properties of EgCaM were measured. Results rEgCaM is a highly conserved calcium-binding protein, consisting of 149 amino acids. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that rEgCaM could be identified using E. granulosus infected sheep serum. The use of rEgCaM as an antigen was evaluated by indirect ELISA which exhibited a high sensitivity (90.3%), but low specificity (47.1%). rEgCaM was ubiquitously expressed in protoscoleces and adults of E. granulosus, as well as in the germinal layer of the cyst wall. The mRNA expression level of rEgCaM was increased from the start of H2O2 exposure and then gradually decreased because of the increased apoptosis of PSCs. In electrophoretic mobility tests and 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid assays, rEgCaM showed a typical characteristic of a calcium-binding protein. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report on CaM from E. granulosus and rEgCaM is likely to be involved in some important biological function of E. granulosus as a calcium-binding protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Xiuqin Zhong
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Xingju Song
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Xiaobin Gu
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Weiming Lai
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Yue Xie
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Xuerong Peng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Life and Basic Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Guangyou Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
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Miranda A, Samudio F, González K, Saldaña A, Brandão A, Calzada JE. Calmodulin Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism for Leishmania Identification and Typing. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 95:383-7. [PMID: 27352873 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
A precise identification of Leishmania species involved in human infections has epidemiological and clinical importance. Herein, we describe a preliminary validation of a restriction fragment length polymorphism assay, based on the calmodulin intergenic spacer region, as a tool for detecting and typing Leishmania species. After calmodulin amplification, the enzyme HaeIII yielded a clear distinction between reference strains of Leishmania mexicana, Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania infantum, Leishmania lainsoni, and the rest of the Viannia reference species analyzed. The closely related Viannia species: Leishmania braziliensis, Leishmania panamensis, and Leishmania guyanensis, are separated in a subsequent digestion step with different restriction enzymes. We have developed a more accessible molecular protocol for Leishmania identification/typing based on the exploitation of part of the calmodulin gene. This methodology has the potential to become an additional tool for Leishmania species characterization and taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aracelis Miranda
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama
| | - Franklyn Samudio
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama. Laboratorio Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kadir González
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama
| | - Azael Saldaña
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama
| | - Adeilton Brandão
- Laboratorio Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose E Calzada
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama.
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Abstract
Leishmania is an infectious protozoan parasite related to African and American trypanosomes. All Leishmania species that are pathogenic to humans can cause dermal disease. When one is confronted with cutaneous leishmaniasis, identification of the causative species is relevant in both clinical and epidemiological studies, case management, and control. This review gives an overview of the currently existing and most used assays for species discrimination, with a critical appraisal of the limitations of each technique. The consensus taxonomy for the genus is outlined, including debatable species designations. Finally, a numerical literature analysis is presented that describes which methods are most used in various countries and regions in the world, and for which purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gert Van der Auwera
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jean-Claude Dujardin
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium Antwerp University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
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Eggimann GA, Sweeney K, Bolt HL, Rozatian N, Cobb SL, Denny PW. The role of phosphoglycans in the susceptibility of Leishmania mexicana to the temporin family of anti-microbial peptides. Molecules 2015; 20:2775-85. [PMID: 25668079 PMCID: PMC6272152 DOI: 10.3390/molecules20022775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural product antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as promising agents against the Leishmania species, insect vector borne protozoan parasites causing the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis. However, recent studies have shown that the mammalian pathogenic amastigote form of L. mexicana, a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis, is resistant to the amphibian-derived temporin family of AMPs when compared to the insect stage promastigote form. The mode of resistance is unknown, however the insect and mammalian stages of Leishmania possess radically different cell surface coats, with amastigotes displaying low (or zero) quantities of lipophosphoglycan (LPG) and proteophosphoglycan (PPG), macromolecules which form thick a glycocalyx in promastigotes. It has been predicted that negatively charged LPG and PPG influence the sensitivity/resistance of promastigote forms to cationic temporins. Using LPG and PPG mutant L. mexicana, and an extended range of temporins, in this study we demonstrated that whilst LPG has little role, PPG is a major factor in promastigote sensitivity to the temporin family of AMPs, possibly due to the conferred anionic charge. Therefore, the lack of PPG seen on the surface of pathogenic amastigote L. mexicana may be implicated in their resistance to these peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela A Eggimann
- Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Chemistry and School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Kathryn Sweeney
- Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Chemistry and School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Hannah L Bolt
- Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Chemistry and School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Neshat Rozatian
- Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Chemistry and School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Steven L Cobb
- Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Chemistry and School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Paul W Denny
- Biophysical Sciences Institute, Department of Chemistry and School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
- School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Durham University, Queen's Campus, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 6BH, UK.
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