1
|
Sarasombath PT, Sitthinamsuwan P, Wijit S, Panyasu K, Roongruanchai K, Silpa-Archa S, Suwansirikul M, Chortrakarnkij P, Ruenchit P, Preativatanyou K, Wongkamchai S. Integrated Histological and Molecular Analysis of Filarial Species and Associated Wolbachia Endosymbionts in Human Filariasis Cases Presenting Atypically in Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 111:829-840. [PMID: 39106844 PMCID: PMC11448521 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Atypical presentations of filariasis have posed diagnostic challenges due to the complexity of identifying the causative species and the difficulties in both diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we present the integrative histological and molecular analysis of seven atypical filariasis cases observed in regions of nonendemicity of Thailand. All filariasis cases were initially diagnosed based on histological findings. To confirm the causative species, molecular characterization based on both filarial mitochondrial (mt 12S rRNA and COI genes) and nuclear ITS1 markers was performed, together with the identification of associated Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts. Among the cases studied, Brugia pahangi (N = 3), Brugia malayi (N = 1), Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" (N = 2), and a suspected novel filarial species genetically related to Pelecitus copsychi (N = 1) were identified. By targeting the 16S rRNA gene, Wolbachia was also molecularly amplified in two cases of infection with Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis." Phylogenetic analysis further revealed that the detected Wolbachia could be classified into supergroups C and F, indicating the high genetic diversity of this endosymbiont in Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis." Furthermore, this study demonstrates the consistency between histological findings and species identification based on mitochondrial loci rather than on the nuclear ITS1. This suggests the utility of mitochondrial markers, particularly COI, as a highly sensitive and reliable diagnostic tool for the detection and differentiation of filarial species in clinical specimens. Precise identification of the causative species will facilitate accurate diagnosis and treatment and is also essential for the development of epidemiological and preventive strategies for filariasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patsharaporn T. Sarasombath
- Siriraj Integrative Center for Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panitta Sitthinamsuwan
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirirat Wijit
- Siriraj Integrative Center for Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kedsara Panyasu
- Siriraj Integrative Center for Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kosol Roongruanchai
- Siriraj Integrative Center for Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sukhum Silpa-Archa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Matya Suwansirikul
- Buddhasothorn Hospital, Ministry of Public Health, Chachoengsao, Thailand
| | - Peerasak Chortrakarnkij
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pichet Ruenchit
- Siriraj Integrative Center for Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kanok Preativatanyou
- Center of Excellence in Vector Biology and Vector-Borne Disease, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirichit Wongkamchai
- Siriraj Integrative Center for Neglected Parasitic Diseases, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rothmann-Meyer W, Naidoo K, de Waal PJ. Spirocerca lupi draft genome, vaccine and anthelmintic targets. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 259:111632. [PMID: 38834134 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111632] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Spirocerca lupi is a parasitic nematode affecting predominantly domestic dogs. It causes spirocercosis, a disease that is often fatal. The assembled draft genome of S. lupi consists of 13,627 predicted protein-coding genes and is approximately 150 Mb in length. Several known anthelmintic gene targets such as for β-Tubulin, glutamate, and GABA receptors as well as known vaccine gene targets such as cysteine protease inhibitor and cytokines were identified in S. lupi by comparing orthologs of C. elegans anthelmintic gene targets as well as orthologs to known vaccine candidates. New anthelmintic targets were predicted through an inclusion-exclusion strategy and new vaccine targets were predicted through an immunoinformatics approach. New anthelminthic targets include DNA-directed RNA polymerases, chitin synthase, polymerases, and other enzymes. New vaccine targets include cuticle collagens. These gene targets provide a starting platform for new drug identification and vaccine design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wiekolize Rothmann-Meyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Kershney Naidoo
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hybrid Field Application Scientist & Field Service Engineer, South Africa
| | - Pamela J de Waal
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Junsiri W, Kamkong P, Phojun A, Taweethavonsawat P. Unveiling zoonotic threats: molecular identification of Brugia sp. infection in a lion. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1376208. [PMID: 38681850 PMCID: PMC11047776 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1376208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Brugia malayi and B. pahangi, potential zoonotic pathogens transmitted by mosquitoes, are believed to primarily infect dogs and cats as reservoir hosts. Although previous studies have indicated nematode infections in lions, particularly in zoo environments where human contact with these reservoirs is possible, limited documentation exists regarding Brugia sp. infections in lions in Thailand. This study aims to investigate a case of Brugia infection in a lion from a zoo in Thailand. The blood sample was collected and examined from a female lion, using staining methods to morphologically identify microfilaria at the genus level. Subsequently, the PCR was employed targeting specific genes, including mitochondrial 12S rDNA, 18S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp), to confirm the species of the filarial nematode parasite. The genetic sequencing results revealed a high similarity (99-100%) to B. malayi for the 12S rDNA, 18S rDNA, COI and wsp genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide sequences from the 12S rDNA, 18S rDNA, COI and wsp genes showed that the sequences from this study belong to different clusters. This marks the inaugural documentation of molecular identification of Brugia infection in a lion, signifying that lions could function as reservoirs for this parasite and present a potential public health risk in the region. Our research underscores the effectiveness of molecular techniques and phylogenetic analysis in discerning and comprehending the evolution of filarial parasites. Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of these methods in enhancing the diagnosis, control, and prevention of zoonotic filarial nematode infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Witchuta Junsiri
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Patchana Kamkong
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Aunchisa Phojun
- Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, The Zoological Park Organization, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Piyanan Taweethavonsawat
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Biomarkers in Animals Parasitology Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sinha A, Li Z, Poole CB, Morgan RD, Ettwiller L, Lima NF, Ferreira MU, Fombad FF, Wanji S, Carlow CKS. Genomes of the human filarial parasites Mansonella perstans and Mansonella ozzardi. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1139343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The filarial parasites Mansonella ozzardi and Mansonella perstans, causative agents of mansonellosis, infect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, yet remain among the most understudied of the human filarial pathogens. M. ozzardi is highly prevalent in Latin American countries and Caribbean Islands, while M. perstans is predominantly found in sub-Saharan Africa as well as in a few areas in South America. In addition to the differences in their geographical distribution, the two parasites are transmitted by different insect vectors, as well as exhibit differences in their responses to commonly used anthelminthic drugs. The lack of genome information has hindered investigations into the biology and evolution of Mansonella parasites and understanding the molecular basis of the clinical differences between species. In the current study, high quality genomes of two independent clinical isolates of M. perstans from Cameroon and two M. ozzardi isolates one from Brazil and one from Venezuela are reported. The genomes are approximately 76 Mb in size, encode about 10,000 genes each, and are largely complete based on BUSCO scores of about 90%, similar to other completed filarial genomes. These sequences represent the first genomes from Mansonella parasites and enabled a comparative genomic analysis of the similarities and differences between Mansonella and other filarial parasites. Horizontal DNA transfers (HDT) from mitochondria (nuMTs) as well as transfers from genomes of endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria (nuWTs) to the host nuclear genome were identified and analyzed. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of known targets of anti-filarial drugs diethylcarbamazine (DEC), ivermectin and mebendazole revealed that all known target genes were present in both species, except for the DEC target encoded by gon-2 gene, which is fragmented in genome assemblies from both M. ozzardi isolates. These new reference genome sequences will provide a valuable resource for further studies on biology, symbiosis, evolution and drug discovery.
Collapse
|
5
|
Bhumiratana A, Nunthawarasilp P, Intarapuk A, Pimnon S, Ritthison W. Emergence of zoonotic Brugia pahangi parasite in Thailand. Vet World 2023; 16:752-765. [PMID: 37235155 PMCID: PMC10206978 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.752-765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic Brugia pahangi parasite infections in humans have emerged over two decades in Southeast Asia (SEA), including Malaysia and Thailand. The species is commonly found in domestic cats and dogs as the natural reservoir hosts. The sporadic transmission pattern of B. pahangi zoonosis causes childhood infections in Thailand and adulthood infections in Malaysia. It is crucial to understand the vulnerability in how zoonotic B. pahangi parasite is transmitted to susceptible persons in receptive settings and the exposure to the infection under impoverished environment to which the human-vector-animal interactions are related. This acquisition of knowledge will help multiple health science professions to apply One Health approach to strengthening the capacity in diagnosis and surveillance, and hence detecting and monitoring the "lingering" zoonotic B. pahangi infections present in vulnerable populations in Thailand and elsewhere in SEA. In this review article, the authors focused on articulating the concepts of plantation-related zoonotic B. pahangi filariasis by updating current knowledge of B. pahangi life cycle, vector's life cycle and current state of research on the epidemiology and ecology of B. pahangi zoonosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adisak Bhumiratana
- Thammasat University Research Unit in One Health and EcoHealth, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12121, Thailand
| | | | - Apiradee Intarapuk
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mahanakorn University of Technology, Bangkok 10530, Thailand
| | - Suntorn Pimnon
- Faculty of Public Health, Bangkokthonburi University, Bangkok 10170, Thailand
| | - Wanapa Ritthison
- Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 6 Chonburi, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wong ML, Zulzahrin Z, Vythilingam I, Lau YL, Sam IC, Fong MY, Lee WC. Perspectives of vector management in the control and elimination of vector-borne zoonoses. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1135977. [PMID: 37025644 PMCID: PMC10070879 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1135977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The complex transmission profiles of vector-borne zoonoses (VZB) and vector-borne infections with animal reservoirs (VBIAR) complicate efforts to break the transmission circuit of these infections. To control and eliminate VZB and VBIAR, insecticide application may not be conducted easily in all circumstances, particularly for infections with sylvatic transmission cycle. As a result, alternative approaches have been considered in the vector management against these infections. In this review, we highlighted differences among the environmental, chemical, and biological control approaches in vector management, from the perspectives of VZB and VBIAR. Concerns and knowledge gaps pertaining to the available control approaches were discussed to better understand the prospects of integrating these vector control approaches to synergistically break the transmission of VZB and VBIAR in humans, in line with the integrated vector management (IVM) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 2004.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Li Wong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Zulhisham Zulzahrin
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Indra Vythilingam
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - I-Ching Sam
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Wenn-Chyau Lee
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs (A*STAR ID Labs), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mattick J, Libro S, Bromley R, Chaicumpa W, Chung M, Cook D, Khan MB, Kumar N, Lau YL, Misra-Bhattacharya S, Rao R, Sadzewicz L, Saeung A, Shahab M, Sparklin BC, Steven A, Turner JD, Tallon LJ, Taylor MJ, Moorhead AR, Michalski M, Foster JM, Dunning Hotopp JC. X-treme loss of sequence diversity linked to neo-X chromosomes in filarial nematodes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009838. [PMID: 34705823 PMCID: PMC8575316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009838] [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: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The sequence diversity of natural and laboratory populations of Brugia pahangi and Brugia malayi was assessed with Illumina resequencing followed by mapping in order to identify single nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions. In natural and laboratory Brugia populations, there is a lack of sequence diversity on chromosome X relative to the autosomes (πX/πA = 0.2), which is lower than the expected (πX/πA = 0.75). A reduction in diversity is also observed in other filarial nematodes with neo-X chromosome fusions in the genera Onchocerca and Wuchereria, but not those without neo-X chromosome fusions in the genera Loa and Dirofilaria. In the species with neo-X chromosome fusions, chromosome X is abnormally large, containing a third of the genetic material such that a sizable portion of the genome is lacking sequence diversity. Such profound differences in genetic diversity can be consequential, having been associated with drug resistance and adaptability, with the potential to affect filarial eradication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Mattick
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Silvia Libro
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Robin Bromley
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Wanpen Chaicumpa
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Matthew Chung
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Darren Cook
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammad Behram Khan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nikhil Kumar
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yee-Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Ramakrishna Rao
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lisa Sadzewicz
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Atiporn Saeung
- Center of Insect Vector Study, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Mohd Shahab
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Benjamin C. Sparklin
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew Steven
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Luke J. Tallon
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R. Moorhead
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michelle Michalski
- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Jeremy M. Foster
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Julie C. Dunning Hotopp
- Institute for Genome Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hübner MP, Townson S, Gokool S, Tagboto S, Maclean MJ, Verocai GG, Wolstenholme AJ, Frohberger SJ, Hoerauf A, Specht S, Scandale I, Harder A, Glenschek-Sieberth M, Hahnel SR, Kulke D. Evaluation of the in vitro susceptibility of various filarial nematodes to emodepside. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2021; 17:27-35. [PMID: 34339934 PMCID: PMC8347670 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Filariae are vector-borne nematodes responsible for an enormous burden of disease. Human lymphatic filariasis, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, and onchocerciasis (caused by Onchocerca volvulus) are neglected parasitic diseases of major public health significance in tropical regions. To date, therapeutic efforts to eliminate human filariasis have been hampered by the lack of a drug with sufficient macrofilaricidal and/or long-term sterilizing effects that is suitable for use in mass drug administration (MDA) programs, particularly in areas co-endemic with Loa loa, the causative agent of loiasis. Emodepside, a semi-synthetic cyclooctadepsipeptide, has been shown to have broad-spectrum efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes in a variety of mammalian hosts, and has been approved as an active ingredient in dewormers for cats and dogs. This paper evaluates, compares (where appropriate) and summarizes the in vitro effects of emodepside against a range of filarial nematodes at various developmental stages. Emodepside inhibited the motility of all tested stages of filariae frequently used as surrogate species for preclinical investigations (Acanthocheilonema viteae, Brugia pahangi, Litomosoides sigmodontis, Onchocerca gutturosa, and Onchocerca lienalis), human-pathogenic filariae (B. malayi) and filariae of veterinary importance (Dirofilaria immitis) in a concentration-dependent manner. While motility of all filariae was inhibited, both stage- and species-specific differences were observed. However, whether these differences were detected because of stage- and/or species-specific factors or as a consequence of variations in protocol parameters among the participating laboratories (such as purification of the parasites, read-out units, composition of media, incubation conditions, duration of incubation etc.) remains unclear. This study, however, clearly shows that emodepside demonstrates broad-spectrum in vitro activity against filarial nematode species across different genera and can therefore be validated as a promising candidate for the treatment of human filariases, including onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Simon Townson
- Griffin Institute (formerly Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research), London, HA1 3UJ, United Kingdom.
| | - Suzanne Gokool
- Griffin Institute (formerly Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research), London, HA1 3UJ, United Kingdom.
| | - Senyo Tagboto
- Griffin Institute (formerly Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research), London, HA1 3UJ, United Kingdom.
| | - Mary J Maclean
- National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, Clinical and Translational Immunology Section, Laboratory of Immunology, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 10N113, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Guilherme G Verocai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, (current Address: INRAE Centre Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France), Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4467 TAMU College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Adrian J Wolstenholme
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, (current Address: INRAE Centre Val de Loire, 37380 Nouzilly, France), Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Stefan J Frohberger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Achim Harder
- Independent Scholar, Europaring 54, 51109, Cologne, Germany.
| | | | - Steffen R Hahnel
- Elanco Animal Health, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany.
| | - Daniel Kulke
- Elanco Animal Health, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany; Iowa State University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, 2008 Vet Med, Ames, IA, 50011, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Qing X, Kulkeaw K, Wongkamchai S, Tsui SKW. Mitochondrial Genome of Brugia malayi Microfilariae Isolated From a Clinical Sample. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.637805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis is a neglected parasitic disease that is a leading cause of long-term disability. Information obtained from genome sequencing of filarial worm can help us identify systems in the worm that are likely to be useful for novel drug design. Brugia (B.) malayi is still the only lymphatic-dwelling filarial parasite with a nearly complete, fully annotated, and published genome. However, most previous studies were based on the FR3 strain of B. malayi, which originally was isolated from a human patient, and was adapted to the rodent model, then maintained in laboratories for more than 60 years. It is uncertain whether genetic variation exists, thus, sequencing of clinical isolates of lymphatic dwelling filarial parasites is a high priority. Here, we report for the first time the complete mitochondrial genome of B. malayi microfilariae from clinical isolate. Complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the microfilariae isolated from a blood sample taken from a Thai subject living in Narathiwat Province, which is an endemic area of brugian filariasis, was assembled with sequencing reads obtained by Illumina sequencing. Gene annotation, phylogenetic analysis and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were deployed. A complete 13,658-bp mt genome of B. malayi microfilaria was obtained, and it shows 68x coverage. Based on gene annotation, the mt genome consists of 12 protein-coding, two rRNA, and 23 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis using all protein sequences of DNA sequences of mt genome or cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) revealed a close relationship among three lymphatic filariae (i.e., B. timori, zoonotic B. pahangi, and Wuchereria spp.). The SNPs in the COX1 gene can differentiate microfilariae of B. malayi in human from those found in canine. Furthermore, the number, order and transcription, and direction of B. malayi microfilariae mitochondrial genes were the same as those found in the FR3 strain of B. malayi. The comparison on mitochondrial genome of B. malayi could have important implications on the development of a new intervention or vaccine to treat or prevent this disease in endemic areas/regions around the world.
Collapse
|
10
|
Xu L, Yang J, Xu M, Shan D, Wu Z, Yuan D. Speciation and adaptive evolution reshape antioxidant enzymatic system diversity across the phylum Nematoda. BMC Biol 2020; 18:181. [PMID: 33243226 PMCID: PMC7694339 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00896-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nematodes have evolved to survive in diverse ecological niches and can be a serious burden on agricultural economy, veterinary medicine, and public health. Antioxidant enzymes in parasitic nematodes play a critical role in defending against host oxidative stress. However, the features of the evolution of antioxidant enzymes in the phylum Nematoda remain elusive. Results Here, we systematically investigated the evolution and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in the genomes of 59 nematodes and transcriptomes of 20 nematodes. Catalase has been independently lost in several orders, suggesting that it is unnecessary for some nematodes. Unlike in mammals, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase is widely distributed in nematodes, among which it has evolved independently. We found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) has been present throughout nematode evolutionary process, and the extracellular isoform (SOD3) is diverged from the corresponding enzyme in mammals and has undergone duplication and differentiation in several nematodes. Moreover, the evolution of intracellular and extracellular SOD isoforms in filaria strongly indicates that extracellular SOD3 originated from intracellular SOD1 and underwent rapid evolution to form the diversity of extracellular SOD3. We identify a novel putative metal-independent extracellular SOD presenting independently in Steinernema and Strongyloididae lineage that featured a high expression level in Strongyloides larvae. Sequence divergence of SOD3 between parasitic nematodes and their closest free-living nematode, the specifically high expression in the parasitic female stage, and presence in excretory-secretory proteome of Strongyloides suggest that SOD3 may be related with parasitism. Conclusions This study advances our understanding of the complex evolution of antioxidant enzymes across Nematoda and provides targets for controlling parasitic nematode diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lian Xu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.,Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jian Yang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Ministry of Education and Jiangsu Province, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of Ecology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Dai Shan
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Dongjuan Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Isolation and Propagation of Laboratory Strains and a Novel Flea-Derived Field Strain of Wolbachia in Tick Cell Lines. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8070988. [PMID: 32630209 PMCID: PMC7409115 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8070988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are intracellular endosymbionts of several invertebrate taxa, including insects and nematodes. Although Wolbachia DNA has been detected in ticks, its presence is generally associated with parasitism by insects. To determine whether or not Wolbachia can infect and grow in tick cells, cell lines from three tick species, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus microplus, were inoculated with Wolbachia strains wStri and wAlbB isolated from mosquito cell lines. Homogenates prepared from fleas collected from cats in Malaysia were inoculated into an I. scapularis cell line. Bacterial growth and identity were monitored by microscopy and PCR amplification and sequencing of fragments of Wolbachia genes. The wStri strain infected Ixodes spp. cells and was maintained through 29 passages. The wAlbB strain successfully infected Ixodes spp. and R. microplus cells and was maintained through 2–5 passages. A novel strain of Wolbachia belonging to the supergroup F, designated wCfeF, was isolated in I. scapularis cells from a pool of Ctenocephalides sp. cat fleas and maintained in vitro through two passages over nine months. This is the first confirmed isolation of a Wolbachia strain from a flea and the first isolation of any Wolbachia strain outside the “pandemic” A and B supergroups. The study demonstrates that tick cells can host multiple Wolbachia strains, and can be added to panels of insect cell lines to improve success rates in isolation of field strains of Wolbachia.
Collapse
|
12
|
Junaid OQ, Vythilingam I, Khaw LT, Sivanandam S, Mahmud R. Effect of Brugia pahangi co-infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1301-1315. [PMID: 32179986 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06632-4] [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: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Malaria and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are two leading and common mosquito-borne parasitic diseases worldwide. These two diseases are co-endemic in many tropical and sub-tropical regions and are known to share vectors. The interactions between malaria and filarial parasites are poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed at establishing the interactions that occur between Brugia pahangi and Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) co-infection in gerbils. Briefly, the gerbils were matched according to age, sex, and weight and grouped into filarial-only infection, PbA-only infection, co-infection, and control group. The parasitemia, survival and clinical assessment of the gerbils were monitored for a period of 30 days post Plasmodium infection. The immune responses of gerbils to both mono and co-infection were monitored. Findings show that co-infected gerbils have higher survival rate than PbA-infected gerbils. Food and water consumption were significantly reduced in both PbA-infected and co-infected gerbils, although loss of body weight, hypothermia, and anemia were less severe in co-infected gerbils. Plasmodium-infected gerbils also suffered hypoglycemia, which was not observed in co-infected gerbils. Furthermore, gerbil cytokine responses to co-infection were significantly higher than PbA-only-infected gerbils, which is being suggested as a factor for their increased longevity. Co-infected gerbils had significantly elicited interleukin-4, interferon-gamma, and tumor necrotic factor at early stage of infection than PbA-infected gerbils. Findings from this study suggest that B. pahangi infection protect against severe anemia and hypoglycemia, which are manifestations of PbA infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olawale Quazim Junaid
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University of Kashere, PMB 0182, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.
| | - Indra Vythilingam
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Loke Tim Khaw
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, 57000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sinnadurai Sivanandam
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rohela Mahmud
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Voronin D, Schnall E, Grote A, Jawahar S, Ali W, Unnasch TR, Ghedin E, Lustigman S. Pyruvate produced by Brugia spp. via glycolysis is essential for maintaining the mutualistic association between the parasite and its endosymbiont, Wolbachia. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008085. [PMID: 31568486 PMCID: PMC6791551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human parasitic nematodes are the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and onchocerciasis (river blindness), diseases that are endemic to more than 80 countries and that consistently rank in the top ten for the highest number of years lived with disability. These filarial nematodes have evolved an obligate mutualistic association with an intracellular bacterium, Wolbachia, a symbiont that is essential for the successful development, reproduction, and survival of adult filarial worms. Elimination of the bacteria causes adult worms to die, making Wolbachia a primary target for developing new interventional tools to combat filariases. To further explore Wolbachia as a promising indirect macrofilaricidal drug target, the essential cellular processes that define the symbiotic Wolbachia-host interactions need to be identified. Genomic analyses revealed that while filarial nematodes encode all the enzymes necessary for glycolysis, Wolbachia does not encode the genes for three glycolytic enzymes: hexokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase. These enzymes are necessary for converting glucose into pyruvate. Wolbachia, however, has the full complement of genes required for gluconeogenesis starting with pyruvate, and for energy metabolism via the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Therefore, we hypothesized that Wolbachia might depend on host glycolysis to maintain a mutualistic association with their parasitic host. We did conditional experiments in vitro that confirmed that glycolysis and its end-product, pyruvate, sustain this symbiotic relationship. Analysis of alternative sources of pyruvate within the worm indicated that the filarial lactate dehydrogenase could also regulate the local intracellular concentration of pyruvate in proximity to Wolbachia and thus help control bacterial growth via molecular interactions with the bacteria. Lastly, we have shown that the parasite's pyruvate kinase, the enzyme that performs the last step in glycolysis, could be a potential novel anti-filarial drug target. Establishing that glycolysis is an essential component of symbiosis in filarial worms could have a broader impact on research focused on other intracellular bacteria-host interactions where the role of glycolysis in supporting intracellular survival of bacteria has been reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Voronin
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Emily Schnall
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Alexandra Grote
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Shabnam Jawahar
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Waleed Ali
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Thomas R. Unnasch
- Center for Global Health Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bakowski MA, McNamara CW. Advances in Antiwolbachial Drug Discovery for Treatment of Parasitic Filarial Worm Infections. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019; 4:tropicalmed4030108. [PMID: 31323841 PMCID: PMC6789823 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed4030108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The intracellular bacteria now known as Wolbachia were first described in filarial worms in the 1970s, but the idea of Wolbachia being used as a macrofilaricidal target did not gain wide attention until the early 2000s, with research in filariae suggesting the requirement of worms for the endosymbiont. This new-found interest prompted the eventual organization of the Anti-Wolbachia Consortium (A-WOL) at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, who, among others have been active in the field of antiwolbachial drug discovery to treat filarial infections. Clinical proof of concept studies using doxycycline demonstrated the utility of the antiwolbachial therapy, but efficacious treatments were of long duration and not safe for all infected. With the advance of robotics, automation, and high-speed computing, the search for superior antiwolbachials shifted away from smaller studies with a select number of antibiotics to high-throughput screening approaches, centered largely around cell-based phenotypic screens due to the rather limited knowledge about, and tools available to manipulate, this bacterium. A concomitant effort was put towards developing validation approaches and in vivo models supporting drug discovery efforts. In this review, we summarize the strategies behind and outcomes of recent large phenotypic screens published within the last 5 years, hit compound validation approaches and promising candidates with profiles superior to doxycycline, including ones positioned to advance into clinical trials for treatment of filarial worm infections.
Collapse
|
15
|
Bakowski MA, Shiroodi RK, Liu R, Olejniczak J, Yang B, Gagaring K, Guo H, White PM, Chappell L, Debec A, Landmann F, Dubben B, Lenz F, Struever D, Ehrens A, Frohberger SJ, Sjoberg H, Pionnier N, Murphy E, Archer J, Steven A, Chunda VC, Fombad FF, Chounna PW, Njouendou AJ, Metuge HM, Ndzeshang BL, Gandjui NV, Akumtoh DN, Kwenti TDB, Woods AK, Joseph SB, Hull MV, Xiong W, Kuhen KL, Taylor MJ, Wanji S, Turner JD, Hübner MP, Hoerauf A, Chatterjee AK, Roland J, Tremblay MS, Schultz PG, Sullivan W, Chu XJ, Petrassi HM, McNamara CW. Discovery of short-course antiwolbachial quinazolines for elimination of filarial worm infections. Sci Transl Med 2019; 11:11/491/eaav3523. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav3523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic filarial nematodes cause debilitating infections in people in resource-limited countries. A clinically validated approach to eliminating worms uses a 4- to 6-week course of doxycycline that targetsWolbachia, a bacterial endosymbiont required for worm viability and reproduction. However, the prolonged length of therapy and contraindication in children and pregnant women have slowed adoption of this treatment. Here, we describe discovery and optimization of quinazolines CBR417 and CBR490 that, with a single dose, achieve >99% elimination ofWolbachiain the in vivoLitomosoides sigmodontisfilarial infection model. The efficacious quinazoline series was identified by pairing a primary cell-based high-content imaging screen with an orthogonal ex vivo validation assay to rapidly quantifyWolbachiaelimination inBrugia pahangifilarial ovaries. We screened 300,368 small molecules in the primary assay and identified 288 potent and selective hits. Of 134 primary hits tested, only 23.9% were active in the worm-based validation assay, 8 of which contained a quinazoline heterocycle core. Medicinal chemistry optimization generated quinazolines with excellent pharmacokinetic profiles in mice. Potent antiwolbachial activity was confirmed inL. sigmodontis,Brugia malayi, andOnchocerca ochengiin vivo preclinical models of filarial disease and in vitro selectivity againstLoa loa(a safety concern in endemic areas). The favorable efficacy and in vitro safety profiles of CBR490 and CBR417 further support these as clinical candidates for treatment of filarial infections.
Collapse
|
16
|
Shey RA, Ghogomu SM, Njume FN, Gainkam LOT, Poelvoorde P, Mutesa L, Robert A, Humblet P, Munyampundu JP, Kamgno J, Lelubre C, Vanhamme L, Souopgui J. Prediction and validation of the structural features of Ov58GPCR, an immunogenic determinant of Onchocerca volvulus. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202915. [PMID: 30256790 PMCID: PMC6157839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Onchocerciasis is a severely debilitating yet neglected tropical disease (NTD) that creates social stigma, generates and perpetuates poverty, and leads ultimately in some cases to irreversible unilateral or bilateral blindness if untreated. Consequently, the disease is a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Many control programs have been launched for the disease with moderate successes achieved. This mitigated hit is partially due to the lingering need for reliable, non-invasive and easily applicable tools for mapping endemic regions and post-elimination surveillance. In this work, bioinformatics analyses combined with immunological assays were applied in a bid to develop potential tools for diagnosis and assessing the success of drug treatment programs. We report that (i) the O. volvulus antigen, Ov58GPCR is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) conserved in related nematodes, (ii) synthetic peptides predicted to be in the extracellular domain (ECD) of Ov58GPCR are indeed immunogenic epitopes in actively-infected individuals, (iii) synthetic peptide cocktails discriminate between actively-infected individuals, treated individuals and healthy African controls, (iv) polyclonal antibodies against one of the peptides or against the bacterially-expressed ECD reacted specifically with the native antigen of O. volvulus total and surface extracts, (v) Ov58GPCR is transcribed in both larvae and adult parasite stages, (vi) IgG and IgE responses to the recombinant ECD decline with ivermectin treatment. All these findings suggest that the extracellular domain and synthetic peptides of Ov58GPCR, as well as the specific immune response generated could be harnessed in the context of disease diagnosis and surveillance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Adamu Shey
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies Campus, Gosselies, Hainaut, Belgium
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Stephen Mbigha Ghogomu
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Ferdinand Ngale Njume
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies Campus, Gosselies, Hainaut, Belgium
- Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Biotechnology Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Lea Olive Tchouate Gainkam
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies Campus, Gosselies, Hainaut, Belgium
| | - Philippe Poelvoorde
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies Campus, Gosselies, Hainaut, Belgium
| | - Leon Mutesa
- Center for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Annie Robert
- Faculté de santé publique, Institut de recherche expérimentale et clinique, Pôle d'épidémiologie et biostatistique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-champs, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Perrine Humblet
- École de santé publique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Munyampundu
- Center for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Joseph Kamgno
- Department of Epidemiology, Centre for research on filariasis and other tropical diseases, (CRFilMT), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Christophe Lelubre
- Laboratoire de Médecine Expérimentale, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - Unité 222, CHU Charleroi (Hôpital André Vésale), Montigny-Le-Tilleul, Belgium
| | - Luc Vanhamme
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies Campus, Gosselies, Hainaut, Belgium
| | - Jacob Souopgui
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology and Molecular Medicine, IBMM Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies Campus, Gosselies, Hainaut, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bennuru S, O'Connell EM, Drame PM, Nutman TB. Mining Filarial Genomes for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets. Trends Parasitol 2017; 34:80-90. [PMID: 29031509 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Filarial infections of humans cause some of the most important neglected tropical diseases. The global efforts for eliminating filarial infections by mass drug administration programs may require additional tools (safe macrofilaricidal drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic biomarkers). The accurate and sensitive detection of viable parasites is essential for diagnosis and for surveillance programs. Current community-wide treatment modalities do not kill the adult filarial worms effectively; hence, there is a need to identify and develop safe macrofilaricidal drugs. High-throughput sequencing, mass spectroscopy methods and advances in computational biology have greatly accelerated the discovery process. Here, we describe post-genomic developments toward the identification of diagnostic biomarkers and drug targets for the filarial infection of humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sasisekhar Bennuru
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Elise M O'Connell
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Papa M Drame
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas B Nutman
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lustigman
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Alexandra Grote
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Grote A, Lustigman S, Ghedin E. Lessons from the genomes and transcriptomes of filarial nematodes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2017; 215:23-29. [PMID: 28126543 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Human filarial infections are a leading cause of morbidity in the developing world. While a small arsenal of drugs exists to treat these infections, there remains a tremendous need for the development of additional interventions. Recent genome sequences and transcriptome analyses of filarial nematodes have provided novel biological insight and allowed for the prediction of novel drug targets as well as potential vaccine candidates. In this review, we discuss the currently available data, insights gained into the metabolism of these organisms, and how the filaria field can move forward by leveraging these data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Grote
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, USA
| | | | - Elodie Ghedin
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Cotton JA, Bennuru S, Grote A, Harsha B, Tracey A, Beech R, Doyle SR, Dunn M, Dunning Hotopp JC, Holroyd N, Kikuchi T, Lambert O, Mhashilkar A, Mutowo P, Nursimulu N, Ribeiro JMC, Rogers MB, Stanley E, Swapna LS, Tsai IJ, Unnasch TR, Voronin D, Parkinson J, Nutman TB, Ghedin E, Berriman M, Lustigman S. The genome of Onchocerca volvulus, agent of river blindness. Nat Microbiol 2016; 2:16216. [PMID: 27869790 PMCID: PMC5310847 DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2016.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Human onchocerciasis is a serious neglected tropical disease caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus that can lead to blindness and chronic disability. Control of the disease relies largely on mass administration of a single drug, and the development of new drugs and vaccines depends on a better knowledge of parasite biology. Here, we describe the chromosomes of O. volvulus and its Wolbachia endosymbiont. We provide the highest-quality sequence assembly for any parasitic nematode to date, giving a glimpse into the evolution of filarial parasite chromosomes and proteomes. This resource was used to investigate gene families with key functions that could be potentially exploited as targets for future drugs. Using metabolic reconstruction of the nematode and its endosymbiont, we identified enzymes that are likely to be essential for O. volvulus viability. In addition, we have generated a list of proteins that could be targeted by Federal-Drug-Agency-approved but repurposed drugs, providing starting points for anti-onchocerciasis drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A. Cotton
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Sasisekhar Bennuru
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Alexandra Grote
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Bhavana Harsha
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Alan Tracey
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Robin Beech
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Stephen R. Doyle
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Matthew Dunn
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Julie C. Dunning Hotopp
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Taisei Kikuchi
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Olivia Lambert
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Amruta Mhashilkar
- Global Health Infectious Disease Research Program, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
| | - Prudence Mutowo
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Nirvana Nursimulu
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3G4, Canada
- Division of Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Jose M. C. Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Matthew B. Rogers
- Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224, USA
| | - Eleanor Stanley
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Lakshmipuram S. Swapna
- Division of Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Isheng J. Tsai
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Thomas R. Unnasch
- Global Health Infectious Disease Research Program, Department of Global Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
| | - Denis Voronin
- New York Blood Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - John Parkinson
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 3G4, Canada
- Division of Molecular Structure and Function, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Thomas B. Nutman
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ward JD. Rendering the Intractable More Tractable: Tools from Caenorhabditis elegans Ripe for Import into Parasitic Nematodes. Genetics 2015; 201:1279-94. [PMID: 26644478 PMCID: PMC4676526 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.182717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent and rapid advances in genetic and molecular tools have brought spectacular tractability to Caenorhabditis elegans, a model that was initially prized because of its simple design and ease of imaging. C. elegans has long been a powerful model in biomedical research, and tools such as RNAi and the CRISPR/Cas9 system allow facile knockdown of genes and genome editing, respectively. These developments have created an additional opportunity to tackle one of the most debilitating burdens on global health and food security: parasitic nematodes. I review how development of nonparasitic nematodes as genetic models informs efforts to import tools into parasitic nematodes. Current tools in three commonly studied parasites (Strongyloides spp., Brugia malayi, and Ascaris suum) are described, as are tools from C. elegans that are ripe for adaptation and the benefits and barriers to doing so. These tools will enable dissection of a huge array of questions that have been all but completely impenetrable to date, allowing investigation into host-parasite and parasite-vector interactions, and the genetic basis of parasitism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan D Ward
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
| |
Collapse
|