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Mule SN, Alemán EV, Rosa-Fernandes L, Saad JS, de Oliveira GS, Martins D, Angeli CB, Brandt-Almeida D, Cortez M, Larsen MR, Shaw JJ, Teixeira MMG, Palmisano G. Leishmaniinae: Evolutionary inferences based on protein expression profiles (PhyloQuant) congruent with phylogenetic relationships among Leishmania, Endotrypanum, Porcisia, Zelonia, Crithidia, and Leptomonas. Proteomics 2024:e2100313. [PMID: 38850190 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202100313] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Evolutionary relationships among parasites of the subfamily Leishmaniinae, which comprises pathogen agents of leishmaniasis, were inferred based on differential protein expression profiles from mass spectrometry-based quantitative data using the PhyloQuant method. Evolutionary distances following identification and quantification of protein and peptide abundances using Proteome Discoverer and MaxQuant software were estimated for 11 species from six Leishmaniinae genera. Results clustered all dixenous species of the genus Leishmania, subgenera L. (Leishmania), L. (Viannia), and L. (Mundinia), sister to the dixenous species of genera Endotrypanum and Porcisia. Placed basal to the assemblage formed by all these parasites were the species of genera Zelonia, Crithidia, and Leptomonas, so far described as monoxenous of insects although eventually reported from humans. Inferences based on protein expression profiles were congruent with currently established phylogeny using DNA sequences. Our results reinforce PhyloQuant as a valuable approach to infer evolutionary relationships within Leishmaniinae, which is comprised of very tightly related trypanosomatids that are just beginning to be phylogenetically unraveled. In addition to evolutionary history, mapping of species-specific protein expression is paramount to understand differences in infection processes, tissue tropisms, potential to jump from insects to vertebrates including humans, and targets for species-specific diagnostic and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Ngao Mule
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Evaristo Villalba Alemán
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Livia Rosa-Fernandes
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Joyce S Saad
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Deivid Martins
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudia Blanes Angeli
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Deborah Brandt-Almeida
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Martin Røssel Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DK, Denmark
| | - Jeffrey J Shaw
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marta M G Teixeira
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Shokouhy M, Sarvnaz H, Taslimi Y, Lajevardi MS, Habibzadeh S, Mizbani A, Shekari F, Behbahani M, Torrecilhas AC, Rafati S. Isolation, characterization, and functional study of extracellular vesicles derived from Leishmania tarentolae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:921410. [PMID: 35992172 PMCID: PMC9381964 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.921410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania (L.) species are protozoan parasites with a complex life cycle consisting of a number of developmental forms that alternate between the sand fly vector and their host. The non-pathogenic species L. tarentolae is not able to induce an active infection in a human host. It has been observed that, in pathogenic species, extracellular vesicles (EVs) could exacerbate the infection. However, so far, there is no report on the identification, isolation, and characterization of L. tarentolae EVs. In this study, we have isolated and characterized EVs from L. tarentolaeGFP+ (tEVs) along with L. majorGFP+ as a reference and positive control. The EVs secreted by these two species demonstrated similar particle size distribution (approximately 200 nm) in scanning electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Moreover, the said EVs showed similar protein content, and GFP and GP63 proteins were detected in both using dot blot analysis. Furthermore, we could detect Leishmania-derived GP63 protein in THP-1 cells treated with tEVs. Interestingly, we observed a significant increase in the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-1β, while there were no significant differences in IL-6 levels in THP-1 cells treated with tEVs following an infection with L. major compared with another group of macrophages that were treated with L. major EVs prior to the infection. Another exciting observation of this study was a significant decrease in parasite load in tEV-treated Leishmania-infected macrophages. In addition, in comparison with another group of Leishmania-infected macrophages which was not exposed to any EVs, tEV managed to increase IFN-γ and decrease IL-6 and the parasite burden. In conclusion, we report for the first time that L. tarentolae can release EVs and provide evidence that tEVs are able to control the infection in human macrophages, making them a great potential platform for drug delivery, at least for parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Shokouhy
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hamzeh Sarvnaz
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasaman Taslimi
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahya Sadat Lajevardi
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sima Habibzadeh
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Mizbani
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Faezeh Shekari
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology Cell Science, Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic center tor Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mandana Behbahani
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
- Laboratório de Imunologia Celular e Bioquímica de Fungos e Protozoários, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, ; Sima Rafati, ;
| | - Sima Rafati
- Department of Immunotherapy and Leishmania Vaccine Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, ; Sima Rafati, ;
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3
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Differences in Charge Distribution in Leishmania tarentolae Leishmanolysin Result in a Reduced Enzymatic Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147660. [PMID: 35887004 PMCID: PMC9321319 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania tarentolae is a non-pathogenic trypanosomatid isolated from lizards widely used for heterologous protein expression and extensively studied to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of leishmaniasis. The repertoire of leishmanolysin genes was reported to be expanded in L. tarentolae genome, but no proteolytic activity was detected. Here, we analyzed L. tarentolae leishmanolysin proteins from the genome to the structural levels and evaluated the enzymatic activity of the wild-type and overexpressing mutants of leishmanolysin. A total of 61 leishmanolysin sequences were retrieved from the L. tarentolae genome. Five of them were selected for phylogenetic analysis, and for three of them, we built 3D models based on the crystallographic structure of L. major ortholog. Molecular dynamics simulations of these models disclosed a less negative electrostatic potential compared to the template. Subsequently, L. major LmjF.10.0460 and L. tarentolae LtaP10.0650 leishmanolysins were cloned in a pLEXSY expression system into L. tarentolae. Proteins from the wild-type and the overexpressing parasites were submitted to enzymatic analysis. Our results revealed that L. tarentolae leishmanolysins harbor a weak enzymatic activity about three times less abundant than L. major leishmanolysin. Our findings strongly suggest that the less negative electrostatic potential of L. tarentolae leishmanolysin can be the reason for the reduced proteolytic activity detected in this parasite.
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Hickson J, Athayde LFA, Miranda TG, Junior PAS, Dos Santos AC, da Cunha Galvão LM, da Câmara ACJ, Bartholomeu DC, de Souza RDCM, Murta SMF, Nahum LA. Trypanosoma cruzi iron superoxide dismutases: insights from phylogenetics to chemotherapeutic target assessment. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:194. [PMID: 35668508 PMCID: PMC9169349 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05319-2] [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: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Components of the antioxidant defense system in Trypanosoma cruzi are potential targets for new drug development. Superoxide dismutases (SODs) constitute key components of antioxidant defense systems, removing excess superoxide anions by converting them into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the genes coding for iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) in T. cruzi strains from an evolutionary perspective. Methods In this study, molecular biology methods and phylogenetic studies were combined with drug assays. The FeSOD-A and FeSOD-B genes of 35 T. cruzi strains, belonging to six discrete typing units (Tcl–TcVI), from different hosts and geographical regions were amplified by PCR and sequenced using the Sanger method. Evolutionary trees were reconstructed based on Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. Drugs that potentially interacted with T. cruzi FeSODs were identified and tested against the parasites. Results Our results suggest that T. cruzi FeSOD types are members of distinct families. Gene copies of FeSOD-A (n = 2), FeSOD-B (n = 4) and FeSOD-C (n = 4) were identified in the genome of the T. cruzi reference clone CL Brener. Phylogenetic inference supported the presence of two functional variants of each FeSOD type across the T. cruzi strains. Phylogenetic trees revealed a monophyletic group of FeSOD genes of T. cruzi TcIV strains in both distinct genes. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that gene duplication followed by divergence shaped the evolution of T. cruzi FeSODs. Two drugs, mangafodipir and polaprezinc, that potentially interact with T. cruzi FeSODs were identified and tested in vitro against amastigotes and trypomastigotes: mangafodipir had a low trypanocidal effect and polaprezinc was inactive. Conclusions Our study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular biodiversity of T. cruzi FeSODs. Herein we provide a successful approach to the study of gene/protein families as potential drug targets. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05319-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Hickson
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Functional genomics of parasites group; Biosystems informatics, bioengineering and genomic group), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lucas Felipe Almeida Athayde
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Functional genomics of parasites group; Biosystems informatics, bioengineering and genomic group), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thainá Godinho Miranda
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Functional genomics of parasites group; Biosystems informatics, bioengineering and genomic group), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.,Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Policarpo Ademar Sales Junior
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Functional genomics of parasites group; Biosystems informatics, bioengineering and genomic group), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Anderson Coqueiro Dos Santos
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lúcia Maria da Cunha Galvão
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte State, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Antônia Cláudia Jácome da Câmara
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte State, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rita de Cássia Moreira de Souza
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Functional genomics of parasites group; Biosystems informatics, bioengineering and genomic group), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Functional genomics of parasites group; Biosystems informatics, bioengineering and genomic group), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Laila Alves Nahum
- René Rachou Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Functional genomics of parasites group; Biosystems informatics, bioengineering and genomic group), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. .,Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. .,Promove College of Technology, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Kent RS, Briggs EM, Colon BL, Alvarez C, Silva Pereira S, De Niz M. Paving the Way: Contributions of Big Data to Apicomplexan and Kinetoplastid Research. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:900878. [PMID: 35734575 PMCID: PMC9207352 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.900878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the age of big data an important question is how to ensure we make the most out of the resources we generate. In this review, we discuss the major methods used in Apicomplexan and Kinetoplastid research to produce big datasets and advance our understanding of Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Trypanosoma and Leishmania biology. We debate the benefits and limitations of the current technologies, and propose future advancements that may be key to improving our use of these techniques. Finally, we consider the difficulties the field faces when trying to make the most of the abundance of data that has already been, and will continue to be, generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn S. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Emma M. Briggs
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Beatrice L. Colon
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Catalina Alvarez
- de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sara Silva Pereira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mariana De Niz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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6
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Anuntasomboon P, Siripattanapipong S, Unajak S, Choowongkomon K, Burchmore R, Leelayoova S, Mungthin M, E-kobon T. Comparative Draft Genomes of Leishmania orientalis Isolate PCM2 (Formerly Named Leishmania siamensis) and Leishmania martiniquensis Isolate PCM3 from the Southern Province of Thailand. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11040515. [PMID: 35453714 PMCID: PMC9031872 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary This study successfully sequenced the draft genomes of the southern isolates of Leishmania orientalis and Leishmania martiniquensis in Thailand. The comparison with the genomes of the northern isolates revealed species-level similarity with a level of genome and proteome variation, suggesting the different emerging strains. Comparing the proteins of these southern strains to those of the northern ones and 14 other Leishmania species showed six protein groups with numerous unique proteins: 53 for the southern strain PCM2 of L. orientalis and 97 for the strain PCM3 of L. martiniquensis. Some of these proteins were related to virulence, drug resistance, drug target, and stress response, which could be targeted for further experimental characterization. Therefore, the findings could initiate further genetic and population genomic investigation, and the close monitoring of L. orientalis and L. martiniquensis in Thailand and neighboring regions. Abstract (1) Background: Autochthonous leishmaniasis, a sandfly-borne disease caused by the protozoan parasites Leishmania orientalis (formerly named Leishmania siamensis) and Leishmania martiniquensis, has been reported for immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients in the southern province of Thailand. Apart from the recent genomes of the northern isolates, limited information is known on the emergence and genetics of these parasites. (2) Methods: This study sequenced and compared the genomes of L. orientalis isolate PCM2 and L. martiniquensis isolate PCM3 with those of the northern isolates and other 14 Leishmania species using short-read whole-genome sequencing methods and comparative bioinformatic analyses. (3) Results: The genomes of the southern isolates of L. orientalis and L. martiniquensis were 30.01 Mbp and 32.39 Mbp, and the comparison with the genomes of the northern isolates revealed species-level similarity with a level of genome and proteome variation, suggesting the different strains. Comparative proteome analysis showed six protein groups with 53 unique proteins for the strain PCM2 and 97 for the strain PCM3. Certain proteins were related to virulence, drug resistance, and stress response. (4) Conclusion: Therefore, the findings could indicate the need for more genetic and population genomic investigation, and the close monitoring of L. orientalis and L. martiniquensis in Thailand and neighboring regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pornchai Anuntasomboon
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Sasimanas Unajak
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.U.); (K.C.)
| | - Kiattawee Choowongkomon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; (S.U.); (K.C.)
| | - Richard Burchmore
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK;
| | - Saovanee Leelayoova
- Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.L.); (M.M.)
| | - Mathirut Mungthin
- Department of Parasitology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.L.); (M.M.)
| | - Teerasak E-kobon
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
- Omics Center for Agriculture, Bioresources, Food and Health, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +66-812-85-4672
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Antonia AL, Barnes AB, Martin AT, Wang L, Ko DC. Variation in Leishmania chemokine suppression driven by diversification of the GP63 virulence factor. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009224. [PMID: 34710089 PMCID: PMC8577781 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease with diverse outcomes ranging from self-healing lesions, to progressive non-healing lesions, to metastatic spread and destruction of mucous membranes. Although resolution of cutaneous leishmaniasis is a classic example of type-1 immunity leading to self-healing lesions, an excess of type-1 related inflammation can contribute to immunopathology and metastatic spread. Leishmania genetic diversity can contribute to variation in polarization and robustness of the immune response through differences in both pathogen sensing by the host and immune evasion by the parasite. In this study, we observed a difference in parasite chemokine suppression between the Leishmania (L.) subgenus and the Viannia (V.) subgenus, which is associated with severe immune-mediated pathology such as mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. While Leishmania (L.) subgenus parasites utilize the virulence factor and metalloprotease glycoprotein-63 (gp63) to suppress the type-1 associated host chemokine CXCL10, L. (V.) panamensis did not suppress CXCL10. To understand the molecular basis for the inter-species variation in chemokine suppression, we used in silico modeling to identify a putative CXCL10-binding site on GP63. The putative CXCL10 binding site is in a region of gp63 under significant positive selection, and it varies from the L. major wild-type sequence in all gp63 alleles identified in the L. (V.) panamensis reference genome. Mutating wild-type L. (L.) major gp63 to the L. (V.) panamensis sequence at the putative binding site impaired cleavage of CXCL10 but not a non-specific protease substrate. Notably, Viannia clinical isolates confirmed that L. (V.) panamensis primarily encodes non-CXCL10-cleaving gp63 alleles. In contrast, L. (V.) braziliensis has an intermediate level of activity, consistent with this species having more equal proportions of both alleles. Our results demonstrate how parasite genetic diversity can contribute to variation in immune responses to Leishmania spp. infection that may play critical roles in the outcome of infection. Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites and spread by the bites of infected sand flies. Most cases of leishmaniasis present as self-healing sores that are resolved by a balanced immune response. Other cases of leishmaniasis involve spread to sites distant from the original bite, including damage of the inner surfaces of the mouth and nose. These cases of leishmaniasis involve an excessive immune response. Leishmania parasites produce virulence factor proteins, such as GP63, to trick the immune system into mounting a weaker response. GP63 specifically degrades signaling proteins that attract and activate certain immune cells. Here, we demonstrate that Leishmania parasite species have evolved to differ in their ability to degrade signaling proteins. In Leishmania species known to cause more immune-mediated tissue damage, the GP63 virulence factor has evolved to not degrade specific immune signaling proteins, thus attracting, and activating more immune cells. Our results demonstrate how diversity among Leishmania parasite species can contribute to variation in immune responses that may play critical roles in the outcome of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro L. Antonia
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Alyson B. Barnes
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Amelia T. Martin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Liuyang Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Dennis C. Ko
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Comparative genomics of Leishmania isolates from Brazil confirms the presence of Leishmania major in the Americas. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:1047-1057. [PMID: 34329650 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.05.009] [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: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania (Leishmania) major is an important agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis, having as a vector sandflies belonging to the genus Phlebotomus. Although this species has been described as restricted to the Old World, parasites similar to L. major have been isolated from South American patients who have never travelled abroad. These parasites were named "L. major-like", and several studies have been carried out to characterise them biochemically, molecularly, and biologically. However, the phylogenetic origin of these isolates is still unknown. In the present study we characterised three L. major-like isolates, named BH49, BH121 and BH129, using comparative genomics approaches. We evaluated the presence of gene and segmental duplications/deletions and the presence of aneuploidies that could explain the differences in infectivity observed in the BH49 and BH121 isolates. All isolates presented a pattern of mosaic aneuploidy and gene copy number variation, which are common in the genus Leishmania. Virulence factors such as phosphatases and peptidases were found to have increased gene copy numbers in the infective isolate, which could explain the difference in infectivity previously observed between BH121 and BH49. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that BH49, BH121 and BH129 L. major-like grouped with L. major isolates, and suggest they were imported from the Old World in at least two independent events. We suggest that new epidemiological inquiries should also evaluate L. major infections in South America, to assess the epidemiological importance of this species in the New World.
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Assessing the composition of the plasma membrane of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and L. (L.) amazonensis using label-free proteomics. Exp Parasitol 2020; 218:107964. [PMID: 32822697 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107964] [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: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are causative agents of leishmaniasis, a wide range of diseases affecting 12 million people worldwide. The species L. infantum and L. amazonensis are etiologic agents of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively. Most proteome analyses of Leishmania have been carried out on whole-cell extracts, but such an approach tends to underrepresent membrane-associated proteins due to their high hydrophobicity and low solubility. Considering the relevance of this category of proteins in virulence, invasiveness and the host-parasite interface, this study applied label-free proteomics to assess the plasma membrane sub-proteome of L. infantum and L. amazonensis. The number of proteins identified in L. infantum and L. amazonensis promastigotes was 1168 and 1455, respectively. After rigorous data processing and mining, 157 proteins were classified as putative plasma membrane-associated proteins, of which 56 proteins were detected in both species, six proteins were detected only in L. infantum and 39 proteins were exclusive to L. amazonensis. The quantitative analysis revealed that two proteins were more abundant in L. infantum, including the glucose transporter 2, and five proteins were more abundant in L. amazonensis. The identified proteins associated with distinct processes and functions. In this regard, proteins of L. infantum were linked to metabolic processes whereas L. amazonensis proteins were involved in signal transduction. Moreover, transmembrane transport was a significant process among the group of proteins detected in both species and members of the superfamily of ABC transporters were highly represented. Interestingly, some proteins of this family were solely detected in L. amazonensis, such as ABCA9. GP63, a well-known virulence factor, was the only GPI-anchored protein identified in the membrane preparations of both species. Finally, we found several proteins with uncharacterized functions, including differentially abundant ones, highlighting a gap in the study of Leishmania proteins. Proteins characterization could provide a better biological understanding of these parasites and deliver new possibilities regarding the discovery of therapeutic targets, drug resistance and vaccine candidates.
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Lauthier JJ, Ruybal P, Barroso PA, Hashiguchi Y, Marco JD, Korenaga M. Development of a Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for Pan-Leishmania. Acta Trop 2020; 201:105189. [PMID: 31580847 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Since the description of the Leishmania genus, its identification and organization have been a challenge. A high number of molecular markers have been developed to resolve phylogenetic differences at the species level and for addressing key epidemiological and population genetics questions. Based on Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE), Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) schemes have been developed using different gene candidates. From 38 original gene targets proposed by other authors, 27 of them were chosen. In silico selection was made by analyzing free access genomic sequence data of 33 Leishmania species, one Paraleishmania representative, and one outgroup, in order to select the best 15 loci. De novo amplifications and primers redesign of these 15 genes were analyzed over a panel of 20 reference strains and isolates. Phylogenetic analysis was made at every step. Two MLST schemes were selected. The first one was based on the analysis of three-gene fragments, and it is suitable for species assignment as well as basic phylogenetic studies. By the addition of seven-genes, an approach based on the analysis of ten-gene fragments was also proposed. This is the first work that two optimized MLST schemes have been suggested, validated against a phylogenetically diverse panel of Leishmania isolates. MLST is potentially a powerful phylogenetic approach, and most probably the new gold standard for Leishmania spp. characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Jose Lauthier
- Parasitology Department, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Okocho Kohasu, Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture 783-8505, Japan.
| | - Paula Ruybal
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM). Facultad de Medicina. Paraguay 2155 Piso: 12, CABA (1121). Argentina
| | - Paola Andrea Barroso
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta / CONICET, Salta, Argentina
| | - Yoshihisa Hashiguchi
- Parasitology Department, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Okocho Kohasu, Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture 783-8505, Japan; Departamento de Parasitología y Medicina Tropical, Carrera de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Jorge Diego Marco
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Salta / CONICET, Salta, Argentina
| | - Masataka Korenaga
- Parasitology Department, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Okocho Kohasu, Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture 783-8505, Japan.
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Antonia AL, Gibbs KD, Trahair ED, Pittman KJ, Martin AT, Schott BH, Smith JS, Rajagopal S, Thompson JW, Reinhardt RL, Ko DC. Pathogen Evasion of Chemokine Response Through Suppression of CXCL10. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:280. [PMID: 31440475 PMCID: PMC6693555 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Clearance of intracellular pathogens, such as Leishmania (L.) major, depends on an immune response with well-regulated cytokine signaling. Here we describe a pathogen-mediated mechanism of evading CXCL10, a chemokine with diverse antimicrobial functions, including T cell recruitment. Infection with L. major in a human monocyte cell line induced robust CXCL10 transcription without increasing extracellular CXCL10 protein concentrations. We found that this transcriptionally independent suppression of CXCL10 is mediated by the virulence factor and protease, glycoprotein-63 (gp63). Specifically, GP63 cleaves CXCL10 after amino acid A81 at the base of a C-terminal alpha-helix. Cytokine cleavage by GP63 demonstrated specificity, as GP63 cleaved CXCL10 and its homologs, which all bind the CXCR3 receptor, but not distantly related chemokines, such as CXCL8 and CCL22. Further characterization demonstrated that CXCL10 cleavage activity by GP63 was produced by both extracellular promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Crucially, CXCL10 cleavage impaired T cell chemotaxis in vitro, indicating that cleaved CXCL10 cannot signal through CXCR3. Ultimately, we propose CXCL10 suppression is a convergent mechanism of immune evasion, as Salmonella enterica and Chlamydia trachomatis also suppress CXCL10. This commonality suggests that counteracting CXCL10 suppression may provide a generalizable therapeutic strategy against intracellular pathogens. Importance Leishmaniasis, an infectious disease that annually affects over one million people, is caused by intracellular parasites that have evolved to evade the host's attempts to eliminate the parasite. Cutaneous leishmaniasis results in disfiguring skin lesions if the host immune system does not appropriately respond to infection. A family of molecules called chemokines coordinate recruitment of the immune cells required to eliminate infection. Here, we demonstrate a novel mechanism that Leishmania (L.) spp. employ to suppress host chemokines: a Leishmania-encoded protease cleaves chemokines known to recruit T cells that fight off infection. We observe that other common human intracellular pathogens, including Chlamydia trachomatis and Salmonella enterica, reduce levels of the same chemokines, suggesting a strong selective pressure to avoid this component of the immune response. Our study provides new insights into how intracellular pathogens interact with the host immune response to enhance pathogen survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro L. Antonia
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Kyle D. Gibbs
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Esme D. Trahair
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Kelly J. Pittman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Amelia T. Martin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Benjamin H. Schott
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jeffrey S. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sudarshan Rajagopal
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - J. Will Thompson
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, Center for Genomics and Computational Biology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Richard Lee Reinhardt
- Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Dennis C. Ko
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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Castro Neto AL, Brito ANALM, Rezende AM, Magalhães FB, de Melo Neto OP. In silico characterization of multiple genes encoding the GP63 virulence protein from Leishmania braziliensis: identification of sources of variation and putative roles in immune evasion. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:118. [PMID: 30732584 PMCID: PMC6367770 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5465-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The leishmaniasis are parasitic diseases caused by protozoans of the genus Leishmania, highly divergent eukaryotes, characterized by unique biological features. To survive in both the mammalian hosts and insect vectors, these pathogens make use of a number of mechanisms, many of which are associated with parasite specific proteases. The metalloprotease GP63, the major Leishmania surface antigen, has been found to have multiple functions required for the parasite’s survival. GP63 is encoded by multiple genes and their copy numbers vary considerably between different species and are increased in those from the subgenus Viannia, including L. braziliensis. Results By comparing multiple sequences from Leishmania and related organisms this study sought to characterize paralogs in silico, evaluating their differences and similarities and the implications for the GP63 function. The Leishmania GP63 genes are encoded on chromosomes 10, 28 and 31, with the genes from the latter two chromosomes more related to genes found in insect or plant parasites. Those from chromosome 10 have experienced independent expansions in numbers in Leishmania, especially in L. braziliensis. These could be clustered in three groups associated with different mRNA 3′ untranslated regions as well as distinct C-terminal ends for the encoded proteins, with presumably distinct expression patterns and subcellular localizations. Sequence variations between the chromosome 10 genes were linked to intragenic recombination events, mapped to the external surface of the proteins and predicted to be immunogenic, implying a role against the host immune response. Conclusions Our results suggest a greater role for the sequence variation found among the chromosome 10 GP63 genes, possibly related to the pathogenesis of L. braziliensis and closely related species within the mammalian host. They also indicate different functions associated to genes mapped to different chromosomes. For the chromosome 10 genes, variable subcellular localizations were found to be most likely associated with multiple functions and target substrates for this versatile protease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5465-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur L Castro Neto
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.,Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz-Pernambuco), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Adriana N A L M Brito
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz-Pernambuco), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Antonio M Rezende
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz-Pernambuco), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Franklin B Magalhães
- Centro Universitário Tabosa de Almeida - ASCES/UNITA, Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Osvaldo P de Melo Neto
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz-Pernambuco), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
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Campos DA, Pereira EC, Jardim R, Cuadrat RRC, Bernardes JS, Dávila AMR. Homology Inference Based on a Reconciliation Approach for the Comparative Genomics of Protozoa. Evol Bioinform Online 2018; 14:1176934318785138. [PMID: 30034216 PMCID: PMC6048835 DOI: 10.1177/1176934318785138] [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: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protozoa parasites are responsible for several diseases in tropical countries, such as malaria, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, amebiasis, and giardiasis, which together threaten millions of people around the world. In addition, most of the classic parasitic diseases due to protozoa are zoonotic. Understanding the biology of these organisms plays a relevant role in combating these diseases. Using homology inference and comparative genomics, this study targeted 3 protozoan species from different Phyla: Cryptosporidium muris (Apicomplexa), Entamoeba invadens (Amoebozoa), and Trypanosoma grayi (Euglenozoa). In this study, we propose a new approach for the identification of homologs, based on the reconciliation of the results of 2 different homology inference software programs. Our results showed that 46.1% (59/128) of the groups inferred by our reconciliation approach could be validated using this methodology. These validated groups are here called homologous Supergroups and were compared with SUPERFAMILY and Pfam Clans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darueck A Campos
- Acre Federal Institute of Education,
Science and Technology, Rio Branco, Brazil
- Computational and Systems Biology
Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elisa C Pereira
- Computational and Systems Biology
Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Jardim
- Computational and Systems Biology
Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael RC Cuadrat
- Computational and Systems Biology
Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Bioinformatics core facility, Max Planck
Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Juliana S Bernardes
- Biologie Computationnelle et
Quantitative, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Alberto MR Dávila
- Computational and Systems Biology
Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Scholte LLS, Pascoal-Xavier MA, Nahum LA. Helminths and Cancers From the Evolutionary Perspective. Front Med (Lausanne) 2018; 5:90. [PMID: 29713629 PMCID: PMC5911458 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Helminths include free-living and parasitic Platyhelminthes and Nematoda which infect millions of people worldwide. Some Platyhelminthes species of blood flukes (Schistosoma haematobium, Schistosoma japonicum, and Schistosoma mansoni) and liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini) are known to be involved in human cancers. Other helminths are likely to be carcinogenic. Our main goals are to summarize the current knowledge of human cancers caused by Platyhelminthes, point out some helminth and human biomarkers identified so far, and highlight the potential contributions of phylogenetics and molecular evolution to cancer research. Human cancers caused by helminth infection include cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal hepatocellular carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and urinary bladder cancer. Chronic inflammation is proposed as a common pathway for cancer initiation and development. Furthermore, different bacteria present in gastric, colorectal, and urogenital microbiomes might be responsible for enlarging inflammatory and fibrotic responses in cancers. Studies have suggested that different biomarkers are involved in helminth infection and human cancer development; although, the detailed mechanisms remain under debate. Different helminth proteins have been studied by different approaches. However, their evolutionary relationships remain unsolved. Here, we illustrate the strengths of homology identification and function prediction of uncharacterized proteins from genome sequencing projects based on an evolutionary framework. Together, these approaches may help identifying new biomarkers for disease diagnostics and intervention measures. This work has potential applications in the field of phylomedicine (evolutionary medicine) and may contribute to parasite and cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa L. S. Scholte
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Vice-Presidência de Pesquisa e Coleções Biológicas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A. Pascoal-Xavier
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Departamento de Anatomia Patológica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Laila A. Nahum
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Faculdade Promove de Tecnologia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Singh N, Goel R, Jain E. Differential Metabolic Pathway Analysis of the Proteomes of Leishmania donovani and Leptomonas seymouri. Proteomics Clin Appl 2018; 12:e1600087. [PMID: 29469990 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201600087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although in trypanosomatids, monoxeny (Leptomonas) is ancestral to dixeny (Leishmania), however clinical cases of visceral leishmanisis with Leptomonas co-infection are increasingly being reported from India. Using a proteogenomic approach, a detailed proteome analysis of these two kinetoplastid parasites viz., Leishmania and its sister Leptomonas, to catalog the key proteins associated with and therefore possibly responsible for phenotype changes in Leptomonas evolution and domestication as co-infection with Leishmania is carried out. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN LC-MS/MS is utilized for this proteomic purpose. One Leishmania donovani WHO reference strain and two Leptomonas seymouri isolates, which are originally isolated from clinical cases of kala azar patients with different inherent drug sensitivity viz., responsive and unresponsive, are used in this study. RESULTS A network analysis, leveraging protein-protein interaction data helped to find the roles of the proteins in carbon metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites which is seen to be altered under stress conditions like drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The information provided about the metabolic pathways modulated when contrasting these two phenotypes may lead to the development of new strategies to block parasite differentiation within the host and to also circumvent the problem of drug resistance. This proteomic study also offers new grounds for the investigation of novel hypothetical proteins potentially playing a role in evolutionary biology the knowledge of which is essential for treatment of patients co-infected with these two kinetoplastid parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeloo Singh
- Biochemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Renu Goel
- Drug Discovery Research Centre (DDRC), Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Haryana, India
| | - Ekta Jain
- Consulting Bioinformatician, M.res Bioinformatics, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, Affiliated with Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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Reis-Cunha JL, Valdivia HO, Bartholomeu DC. Gene and Chromosomal Copy Number Variations as an Adaptive Mechanism Towards a Parasitic Lifestyle in Trypanosomatids. Curr Genomics 2018; 19:87-97. [PMID: 29491737 PMCID: PMC5814966 DOI: 10.2174/1389202918666170911161311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are a group of kinetoplastid parasites including some of great public health importance, causing debilitating and life-long lasting diseases that affect more than 24 million people worldwide. Among the trypanosomatids, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and species from the Leishmania genus are the most well studied parasites, due to their high prevalence in human infections. These parasites have an extreme genomic and phenotypic variability, with a massive expansion in the copy number of species-specific multigene families enrolled in host-parasite interactions that mediate cellular invasion and immune evasion processes. As most trypanosomatids are heteroxenous, and therefore their lifecycles involve the transition between different hosts, these parasites have developed several strategies to ensure a rapid adaptation to changing environments. Among these strategies, a rapid shift in the repertoire of expressed genes, genetic variability and genome plasticity are key mechanisms. Trypanosomatid genomes are organized into large directional gene clusters that are transcribed polycistronically, where genes derived from the same polycistron may have very distinct mRNA levels. This particular mode of transcription implies that the control of gene expression operates mainly at post-transcriptional level. In this sense, gene duplications/losses were already associated with changes in mRNA levels in these parasites. Gene duplications also allow the generation of sequence variability, as the newly formed copy can diverge without loss of function of the original copy. Recently, aneuploidies have been shown to occur in several Leishmania species and T. cruzi strains. Although aneuploidies are usually associated with debilitating phenotypes in superior eukaryotes, recent data shows that it could also provide increased fitness in stress conditions and generate drug resistance in unicellular eukaryotes. In this review, we will focus on gene and chromosomal copy number variations and their relevance to the evolution of trypanosomatid parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Luís Reis-Cunha
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Laboratório de Imunologia e Genômica de Parasitos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Hugo O. Valdivia
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Laboratório de Imunologia e Genômica de Parasitos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Biomédicas y Medioambientales, Callao, Peru
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Laboratório de Imunologia e Genômica de Parasitos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Biomédicas y Medioambientales, Callao, Peru
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Leishmania-based expression systems. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:7377-85. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7712-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2016] [Revised: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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