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Oyeyemi OT, Ogundahunsi O, Schunk M, Fatem RG, Shollenberger LM. Neglected tropical disease (NTD) diagnostics: current development and operations to advance control. Pathog Glob Health 2024; 118:1-24. [PMID: 37872790 PMCID: PMC10769148 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2023.2272095] [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] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have become important public health threats that require multi-faceted control interventions. As late treatment and management of NTDs contribute significantly to the associated burdens, early diagnosis becomes an important component for surveillance and planning effective interventions. This review identifies common NTDs and highlights the progress in the development of diagnostics for these NTDs. Leveraging existing technologies to improve NTD diagnosis and improving current operational approaches for deployment of developed diagnostics are crucial to achieving the 2030 NTD elimination target. Point-of-care NTD (POC-NTD) diagnostic tools are recommended preferred diagnostic options in resource-constrained areas for mapping risk zones and monitoring treatment efficacy. However, few are currently available commercially. Technical training of remote health care workers on the use of POC-NTD diagnostics, and training of health workers on the psychosocial consequences of these diagnostics are critical in harnessing POC-NTD diagnostic potential. While the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the possibility of achieving NTD elimination in 2030 due to the disruption of healthcare services and dwindling financial support for NTDs, the possible contribution of NTDs in exacerbating COVID-19 pandemic should motivate NTD health system strengthening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyetunde T. Oyeyemi
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Virginia, USA
| | - Olumide Ogundahunsi
- The Central Office for Research and Development (CORD), University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria
| | - Mirjam Schunk
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich (LMU) institution, Munich, Germany
| | - Ramzy G. Fatem
- Schistosome Biological Supply Center, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
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Use of a small molecule integrin activator as a systemically administered vaccine adjuvant in controlling Chagas disease. NPJ Vaccines 2021; 6:114. [PMID: 34497271 PMCID: PMC8426359 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-021-00378-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of suitable safe adjuvants to enhance appropriate antigen-driven immune responses remains a challenge. Here we describe the adjuvant properties of a small molecule activator of the integrins αLβ2 and α4β1, named 7HP349, which can be safely delivered systemically independent of antigen. 7HP349 directly activates integrin cell adhesion receptors crucial for the generation of an immune response. When delivered systemically in a model of Chagas disease following immunization with a DNA subunit vaccine encoding candidate T. cruzi antigens, TcG2 and TcG4, 7HP349 enhanced the vaccine efficacy in both prophylactic and therapeutic settings. In a prophylactic setting, mice immunized with 7HP349 adjuvanted vaccine exhibited significantly improved control of acute parasite burden in cardiac and skeletal muscle as compared to vaccination alone. When administered with vaccine therapeutically, parasite burden was again decreased, with the greatest adjuvant effect of 7HP349 being noted in skeletal muscle. In both settings, adjuvantation with 7HP349 was effective in decreasing pathological inflammatory infiltrate, improving the integrity of tissue, and controlling tissue fibrosis in the heart and skeletal muscle of acutely and chronically infected Chagas mice. The positive effects correlated with increased splenic frequencies of CD8+T effector cells and an increase in the production of IFN-γ and cytolytic molecules (perforin and granzyme) by the CD4+ and CD8+ effector and central memory subsets in response to challenge infection. This demonstrates that 7HP349 can serve as a systemically administered adjuvant to enhance T cell-mediated immune responses to vaccines. This approach could be applied to numerous vaccines with no reformulation of existing stockpiles.
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Rios L, Campos EE, Menon R, Zago MP, Garg NJ. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of maternal-fetal transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi and a case for vaccine development against congenital Chagas disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165591. [PMID: 31678160 PMCID: PMC6954953 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Trypanos o ma cruzi (T. cruzi or Tc) is the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). It is common for patients to suffer from non-specific symptoms or be clinically asymptomatic with acute and chronic conditions acquired through various routes of transmission. The expecting women and their fetuses are vulnerable to congenital transmission of Tc. Pregnant women face formidable health challenges because the frontline antiparasitic drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, are contraindicated during pregnancy. However, it is worthwhile to highlight that newborns can be cured if they are diagnosed and given treatment in a timely manner. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of maternal-fetal transmission of Tc and provide a justification for the investment in the development of vaccines against congenital CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizette Rios
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - E Emanuel Campos
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Argentina
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - M Paola Zago
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Argentina.
| | - Nisha J Garg
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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Lokugamage N, Choudhuri S, Davies C, Chowdhury IH, Garg NJ. Antigen-Based Nano-Immunotherapy Controls Parasite Persistence, Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress, and Cardiac Fibrosis, the Hallmarks of Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy, in A Mouse Model of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010096. [PMID: 32098116 PMCID: PMC7157635 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas cardiomyopathy is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc). We identified two candidate antigens (TcG2 and TcG4) that elicit antibodies and T cell responses in naturally infected diverse hosts. In this study, we cloned TcG2 and TcG4 in a nanovector and evaluated whether nano-immunotherapy (referred as nano2/4) offers resistance to chronic Chagas disease. For this, C57BL/6 mice were infected with Tc and given nano2/4 at 21 and 42 days post-infection (pi). Non-infected, infected, and infected mice treated with pcDNA3.1 expression plasmid encoding TcG2/TcG4 (referred as p2/4) were used as controls. All mice responded to Tc infection with expansion and functional activation of splenic lymphocytes. Flow cytometry showed that frequency of splenic, poly-functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing interferon-γ, perforin, and granzyme B were increased by immunotherapy (Tc.nano2/4 > Tc.p2/4) and associated with 88%–99.7% decline in cardiac and skeletal (SK) tissue levels of parasite burden (Tc.nano2/4 > Tc.p2/4) in Chagas mice. Subsequently, Tc.nano2/4 mice exhibited a significant decline in peripheral and tissues levels of oxidative stress (e.g., 4-hydroxynonenal, protein carbonyls) and inflammatory infiltrate that otherwise were pronounced in Chagas mice. Further, nano2/4 therapy was effective in controlling the tissue infiltration of pro-fibrotic macrophages and established a balanced environment controlling the expression of collagens, metalloproteinases, and other markers of cardiomyopathy and improving the expression of Myh7 (encodes β myosin heavy chain) and Gsk3b (encodes glycogen synthase kinase 3) required for maintaining cardiac contractility in Chagas heart. We conclude that nano2/4 enhances the systemic T cell immunity that improves the host’s ability to control chronic parasite persistence and Chagas cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandadeva Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA; (N.L.); (S.C.); (I.H.C.)
| | - Subhadip Choudhuri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA; (N.L.); (S.C.); (I.H.C.)
| | - Carolina Davies
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Universidad Nacional de Salta-CONICET, Salta 4400, Argentina;
| | - Imran Hussain Chowdhury
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA; (N.L.); (S.C.); (I.H.C.)
| | - Nisha Jain Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA; (N.L.); (S.C.); (I.H.C.)
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, UTMB, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-409-747-6865
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Rios LE, Vázquez-Chagoyán JC, Pacheco AO, Zago MP, Garg NJ. Immunity and vaccine development efforts against Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2019; 200:105168. [PMID: 31513763 PMCID: PMC7409534 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent for Chagas disease (CD). There is a critical lack of methods for prevention of infection or treatment of acute infection and chronic disease. Studies in experimental models have suggested that the protective immunity against T. cruzi infection requires the elicitation of Th1 cytokines, lytic antibodies and the concerted activities of macrophages, T helper cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In this review, we summarize the research efforts in vaccine development to date and the challenges faced in achieving an efficient prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine against human CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizette E Rios
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Vázquez-Chagoyán
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Antonio Ortega Pacheco
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - M Paola Zago
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Argentina
| | - Nisha J Garg
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.
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Gupta S, Salgado-Jiménez B, Lokugamage N, Vázquez-Chagoyán JC, Garg NJ. TcG2/TcG4 DNA Vaccine Induces Th1 Immunity Against Acute Trypanosoma cruzi Infection: Adjuvant and Antigenic Effects of Heterologous T. rangeli Booster Immunization. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1456. [PMID: 31293599 PMCID: PMC6606718 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Chagas cardiomyopathy is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc). Two antigenic candidates, TcG2 and TcG4, are recognized by antibodies in naturally infected dogs and humans; and these vaccine candidates provided protection from Tc infection in mice and dogs. Trypanosoma rangeli (Tr) is non-pathogenic to mammals and shown to elicit cross-reactive anti-Tc antibodies. In this study, we investigated if fixed Tr (fTr) can further enhance the efficacy of the TcG2/TcG4 DNA vaccine. Methods and Results: C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TcG2/TcG4 DNA vaccine and fTr (delivered as an adjuvant or in prime-boost approach), and challenged with Tc. Serology studies showed that fTr (±quil-A) elicited Tc- and Tr-reactive IgGs that otherwise were not stimulated by TcG2/TcG4 vaccine only, and quil-A had suppressive effects on fTr-induced IgGs. After challenge infection, TcG2/TcG4-vaccinated mice exhibited potent expansion of antigen- and Tc-specific IgGs that were not boosted by fTr±quil-A. Flow cytometry analysis showed that TcG2/TcG4-induced dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages (Mφ) responded to challenge infection by expression of markers of antigen uptake, processing, and presentation, and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. TcG2/TcG4-induced CD4+T cells acquired Th1 phenotype and expressed markers that orchestrate adaptive immunity. A fraction of vaccine-induced CD4+T cells exhibited iTreg phenotype responsible for aversion of self-injurious immune responses. Further, TcG2/TcG4-vaccinated mice exhibited potent expansion of poly-functional CD8+T cells with TNF-α/IFN-γ production and cytolytic phenotype post-infection. Subsequently, tissue parasites and pathology were hardly detectable in TcG2/TcG4-vaccinated/infected mice. Inclusion of fTr±quil-A had no clear additive effects in improving the Tc-specific adaptive immunity and parasite control than was noted in mice vaccinated with TcG2/TcG4 alone. Non-vaccinated mice lacked sufficient activation of Th1 CD4+/CD8+T cells, and exhibited >10-fold higher levels of tissue parasite burden than was noted in vaccinated/infected mice. Conclusion:TcG2/TcG4 vaccine elicits highly effective immunity, and inclusion of fTr is not required to improve the efficacy of DNA vaccine against acute Tc infection in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivali Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Berenice Salgado-Jiménez
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Nandadeva Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Vázquez-Chagoyán
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico
| | - Nisha Jain Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
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Ohyama K, Huy NT, Yoshimi H, Kishikawa N, Nishizawa JE, Roca Y, Revollo Guzmán RJ, Velarde FUG, Kuroda N, Hirayama K. Proteomic profile of circulating immune complexes in chronic Chagas disease. Parasite Immunol 2016; 38:609-17. [PMID: 27223052 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Immune complexes (ICs) are the direct and real-time products of humoral immune responses. The identification of constituent foreign or autoantigens within ICs might bring new insights into the pathology of infectious diseases. We applied immune complexome analysis of plasma to the study of Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Twenty seropositive plasma samples including cardiac and/or megacolon determinate patients (n = 11) and indeterminate (n = 9) were analysed along with 10 seronegative individuals to characterize the antigens bound to circulating ICs. We identified 39 T. cruzi antigens and 114 human autoantigens specific to patients with Chagas. Among those antigens, two T. cruzi antigens (surface protease GP63, glucose-6-isomerase) and six human autoantigens (CD180 antigen, ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen beta chain, fibrinogen beta chain isoform 2 preprotein, isoform gamma-A of fibrinogen γ-chain, serum paraoxonase) were detected in more than 50% of the patients tested. Human isoform short of complement factor H-related protein 2 and trans-sialidase of T. cruzi were more frequently found in the indeterminate (5/9 for both) compared with in the determinate Chagas (0/11, P = 0·046 for human, 1/11, P = 0·0498 for T. cruzi). The immune complexome could illustrate the difference of immune status between clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Ohyama
- Course of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.,Nagasaki University Research Centre for Genomic Instability and Carcinogenesis (NRGIC), Nagasaki, Japan
| | - N T Huy
- Department of Clinical Product Development, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - H Yoshimi
- Course of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - N Kishikawa
- Course of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Y Roca
- Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP), Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | - R J Revollo Guzmán
- Centro Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENETROP), Santa Cruz, Bolivia
| | | | - N Kuroda
- Course of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - K Hirayama
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
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Hotez PJ, Pecoul B, Rijal S, Boehme C, Aksoy S, Malecela M, Tapia-Conyer R, Reeder JC. Eliminating the Neglected Tropical Diseases: Translational Science and New Technologies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0003895. [PMID: 26934395 PMCID: PMC4774924 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Today, the World Health Organization recognizes 17 major parasitic and related infections as the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Despite recent gains in the understanding of the nature and prevalence of NTDs, as well as successes in recent scaled-up preventive chemotherapy strategies and other health interventions, the NTDs continue to rank among the world’s greatest global health problems. For virtually all of the NTDs (including those slated for elimination under the auspices of a 2012 London Declaration for NTDs and a 2013 World Health Assembly resolution [WHA 66.12]), additional control mechanisms and tools are needed, including new NTD drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and vector control agents and strategies. Elimination will not be possible without these new tools. Here we summarize some of the key challenges in translational science to develop and introduce these new technologies in order to ensure success in global NTD elimination efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Hotez
- Sabin Vaccine Institute and Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Bernard Pecoul
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Suman Rijal
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), Delhi, India
| | - Catharina Boehme
- Foundation for Innovative new Diagnostics (FIND), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | | | | | - John C Reeder
- UNICEF/UNDP/ World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), Geneva, Switzerland
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Tanowitz HB, Machado FS, Spray DC, Friedman JM, Weiss OS, Lora JN, Nagajyothi J, Moraes DN, Garg NJ, Nunes MCP, Ribeiro ALP. Developments in the management of Chagas cardiomyopathy. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2015; 13:1393-409. [PMID: 26496376 DOI: 10.1586/14779072.2015.1103648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Over 100 years have elapsed since the discovery of Chagas disease and there is still much to learn regarding pathogenesis and treatment. Although there are antiparasitic drugs available, such as benznidazole and nifurtimox, they are not totally reliable and often toxic. A recently released negative clinical trial with benznidazole in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy further reinforces the concerns regarding its effectiveness. New drugs and new delivery systems, including those based on nanotechnology, are being sought. Although vaccine development is still in its infancy, the reality of a therapeutic vaccine remains a challenge. New ECG methods may help to recognize patients prone to developing malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The management of heart failure, stroke and arrhythmias also remains a challenge. Although animal experiments have suggested that stem cell based therapy may be therapeutic in the management of heart failure in Chagas cardiomyopathy, clinical trials have not been promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert B Tanowitz
- a Department of Pathology , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA.,b Department of Medicine , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA
| | - Fabiana S Machado
- c Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Science , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.,d Program in Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical School , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - David C Spray
- b Department of Medicine , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA.,e Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA
| | - Joel M Friedman
- f Department of Physiology & Biophysics , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA
| | - Oren S Weiss
- a Department of Pathology , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA
| | - Jose N Lora
- a Department of Pathology , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx , NY , USA
| | - Jyothi Nagajyothi
- g Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School , Rutgers University , Newark , NJ , USA
| | - Diego N Moraes
- d Program in Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical School , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.,h Department of Internal Medicine and University Hospital , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - Nisha Jain Garg
- i Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity , University of Texas Medical Branch , Galveston , TX , USA
| | - Maria Carmo P Nunes
- d Program in Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical School , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.,h Department of Internal Medicine and University Hospital , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - Antonio Luiz P Ribeiro
- d Program in Health Sciences: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical School , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil.,h Department of Internal Medicine and University Hospital , Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
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Meira CS, Guimarães ET, Dos Santos JAF, Moreira DRM, Nogueira RC, Tomassini TCB, Ribeiro IM, de Souza CVC, Ribeiro Dos Santos R, Soares MBP. In vitro and in vivo antiparasitic activity of Physalis angulata L. concentrated ethanolic extract against Trypanosoma cruzi. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2015; 22:969-974. [PMID: 26407938 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current treatment of Chagas disease, endemic in Latin America and emerging in several countries, is limited by the frequent side effects and variable efficacy of benznidazole. Natural products are an important source for the search for new drugs. AIM/HYPOTHESIS Considering the great potential of natural products as antiparasitic agents, we investigated the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of a concentrated ethanolic extract of Physalis angulata (EEPA). METHODS Cytotoxicity to mammalian cells was determined using mouse peritoneal macrophages. The antiparasitic activity was evaluated against axenic epimastigote and bloodstream trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi, and against amastigote forms using T. cruzi-infected macrophages. Cell death mechanism was determined in trypomastigotes by flow cytometry analysis after annexin V and propidium iodide staining. The efficacy of EEPA was examined in vivo in an acute model of infection by monitoring blood parasitaemia and survival rate 30 days after treatment. The effect against trypomastigotes of EEPA and benznidazole acting in combination was evaluated. RESULTS EEPA effectively inhibits the epimastigote growth (IC50 2.9 ± 0.1 µM) and reduces bloodstream trypomastigote viability (EC50 1.7 ± 0.5 µM). It causes parasite cell death by necrosis. EEPA impairs parasite infectivity as well as amastigote development in concentrations noncytotoxic to mammalian cells. In mice acutely-infected with T. cruzi, EEPA reduced the blood parasitaemia in 72.7%. When combined with benznidazole, EEPA showed a synergistic anti-T. cruzi activity, displaying CI values of 0.8 ± 0.07 at EC50 and 0.83 ± 0.1 at EC90. CONCLUSION EEPA has antiparasitic activity against T. cruzi, causing cell death by necrosis and showing synergistic activity with benznidazole. These findings were reinforced by the observed efficacy of EEPA in reducing parasite load in T. cruzi-mice. Therefore, this represents an important source of antiparasitic natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cássio Santana Meira
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Elisalva Teixeira Guimarães
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Jamyle Andrade Ferreira Dos Santos
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Ivone Maria Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais-PN2-Extração, Isolamento e Purificação, Farmanguinhos-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Claudia Valeria Campos de Souza
- Laboratório de Química de Produtos Naturais-PN2-Extração, Isolamento e Purificação, Farmanguinhos-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Milena Botelho Pereira Soares
- Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular, Hospital São Rafael, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
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11
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Espíndola JWP, Cardoso MVDO, Filho GBDO, Oliveira e Silva DA, Moreira DRM, Bastos TM, Simone CAD, Soares MBP, Villela FS, Ferreira RS, Castro MCABD, Pereira VRA, Murta SMF, Sales Junior PA, Romanha AJ, Leite ACL. Synthesis and structure–activity relationship study of a new series of antiparasitic aryloxyl thiosemicarbazones inhibiting Trypanosoma cruzi cruzain. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 101:818-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.06.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Gupta S, Garg NJ. A Two-Component DNA-Prime/Protein-Boost Vaccination Strategy for Eliciting Long-Term, Protective T Cell Immunity against Trypanosoma cruzi. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004828. [PMID: 25951312 PMCID: PMC4423834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the long-term efficacy of a two-component subunit vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TcG2/TcG4 vaccine delivered by a DNA-prime/Protein-boost (D/P) approach and challenged with T. cruzi at 120 or 180 days post-vaccination (dpv). We examined whether vaccine-primed T cell immunity was capable of rapid expansion and intercepting the infecting T. cruzi. Our data showed that D/P vaccine elicited CD4+ (30-38%) and CD8+ (22-42%) T cells maintained an effector phenotype up to 180 dpv, and were capable of responding to antigenic stimulus or challenge infection by a rapid expansion (CD8>CD4) with type 1 cytokine (IFNγ+ and TFNα+) production and cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity. Subsequently, challenge infection at 120 or 180 dpv, resulted in 2-3-fold lower parasite burden in vaccinated mice than was noted in unvaccinated/infected mice. Co-delivery of IL-12- and GMCSF-encoding expression plasmids provided no significant benefits in enhancing the anti-parasite efficacy of the vaccine-induced T cell immunity. Booster immunization (bi) with recombinant TcG2/TcG4 proteins 3-months after primary vaccine enhanced the protective efficacy, evidenced by an enhanced expansion (1.2-2.8-fold increase) of parasite-specific, type 1 CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and a potent CTL response capable of providing significantly improved (3-4.5-fold) control of infecting T. cruzi. Further, CD8+T cells in vaccinated/bi mice were predominantly of central memory phenotype, and capable of responding to challenge infection 4-6-months post bi by a rapid expansion to a poly-functional effector phenotype, and providing a 1.5-2.3-fold reduction in tissue parasite replication. We conclude that the TcG2/TcG4 D/P vaccine provided long-term anti-T. cruzi T cell immunity, and bi would be an effective strategy to maintain or enhance the vaccine-induced protective immunity against T. cruzi infection and Chagas disease. Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, represents the third greatest tropical disease burden in the world. No vaccine or suitable treatment is available for control of this infection. Based upon several studies we have conducted, we believe that TcG2 and TcG4 candidate antigens that are highly conserved in T. cruzi, expressed in clinically relevant forms of the parasite, and recognized by both B and T cell responses in multiple hosts, are an excellent choice for subunit vaccine development. In this study, we demonstrate that the delivery of TcG2 and TcG4 as a DNA-prime/protein-boost vaccine provided long-term protection from challenge infection, and this protection was associated with elicitation of long-lived CD8+ effector T cells. The longevity and efficacy of vaccine could be enhanced by booster immunization. We believe that this is the first report demonstrating a) a subunit vaccine can be useful in achieving long-term protection against T. cruzi infection and Chagas disease, and b) the effector T cells can be long-lived and play a role in vaccine elicited protection from parasitic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivali Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (NJG)
| | - Nisha J. Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SG); (NJG)
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Aparicio-Burgos JE, Zepeda-Escobar JA, de Oca-Jimenez RM, Estrada-Franco JG, Barbabosa-Pliego A, Ochoa-García L, Alejandre-Aguilar R, Rivas N, Peñuelas-Rivas G, Val-Arreola M, Gupta S, Salazar-García F, Garg NJ, Vázquez-Chagoyán JC. Immune protection against Trypanosoma cruzi induced by TcVac4 in a canine model. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003625. [PMID: 25853654 PMCID: PMC4390229 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in southern parts of the American continent. Herein, we have tested the protective efficacy of a DNA-prime/T. rangeli-boost (TcVac4) vaccine in a dog (Canis familiaris) model. Dogs were immunized with two-doses of DNA vaccine (pcDNA3.1 encoding TcG1, TcG2, and TcG4 antigens plus IL-12- and GM-CSF-encoding plasmids) followed by two doses of glutaraldehyde-inactivated T. rangeli epimastigotes (TrIE); and challenged with highly pathogenic T. cruzi (SylvioX10/4) isolate. Dogs given TrIE or empty pcDNA3.1 were used as controls. We monitored post-vaccination and post-challenge infection antibody response by an ELISA, parasitemia by blood analysis and xenodiagnosis, and heart function by electrocardiography. Post-mortem anatomic and pathologic evaluation of the heart was conducted. TcVac4 induced a strong IgG response (IgG2>IgG1) that was significantly expanded post-infection, and moved to a nearly balanced IgG2/IgG1 response in chronic phase. In comparison, dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only developed high IgG titers with IgG2 predominance in response to T. cruzi infection. Blood parasitemia, tissue parasite foci, parasite transmission to triatomines, electrocardiographic abnormalities were significantly lower in TcVac4-vaccinated dogs than was observed in dogs given TrIE or empty plasmid DNA only. Macroscopic and microscopic alterations, the hallmarks of chronic Chagas disease, were significantly decreased in the myocardium of TcVac4-vaccinated dogs. We conclude that TcVac4 induced immunity was beneficial in providing resistance to T. cruzi infection, evidenced by control of chronic pathology of the heart and preservation of cardiac function in dogs. Additionally, TcVac4 vaccination decreased the transmission of parasites from vaccinated/infected animals to triatomines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José A. Zepeda-Escobar
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Roberto Montes de Oca-Jimenez
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - José G. Estrada-Franco
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Alberto Barbabosa-Pliego
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Laucel Ochoa-García
- Laboratorio Estatal de Salud Pública del Instituto Salud del Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, México
| | - Nancy Rivas
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Departamento de Parasitología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, México
| | - Giovanna Peñuelas-Rivas
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Margarita Val-Arreola
- Hospital General de Zona No. 2, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Irapuato, México
| | - Shivali Gupta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Felix Salazar-García
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Nisha J. Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, and Faculty of the Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, and the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Juan C. Vázquez-Chagoyán
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Estado de México, Toluca, México
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de Araujo FF, Nagarkatti R, Gupta C, Marino AP, Debrabant A. Aptamer-based detection of disease biomarkers in mouse models for chagas drug discovery. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e3451. [PMID: 25569299 PMCID: PMC4287562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug discovery initiatives, aimed at Chagas treatment, have been hampered by the lack of standardized drug screening protocols and the absence of simple pre-clinical assays to evaluate treatment efficacy in animal models. In this study, we used a simple Enzyme Linked Aptamer (ELA) assay to detect T. cruzi biomarker in blood and validate murine drug discovery models of Chagas disease. In two mice models, Apt-29 ELA assay demonstrated that biomarker levels were significantly higher in the infected group compared to the control group, and upon Benznidazole treatment, their levels reduced. However, biomarker levels in the infected treated group did not reduce to those seen in the non-infected treated group, with 100% of the mice above the assay cutoff, suggesting that parasitemia was reduced but cure was not achieved. The ELA assay was capable of detecting circulating biomarkers in mice infected with various strains of T. cruzi parasites. Our results showed that the ELA assay could detect residual parasitemia in treated mice by providing an overall picture of the infection in the host. They suggest that the ELA assay can be used in drug discovery applications to assess treatment efficacy in-vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Fortes de Araujo
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rana Nagarkatti
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Charu Gupta
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ana Paula Marino
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Cazorla SI, Matos MN, Cerny N, Ramirez C, Alberti AS, Bivona AE, Morales C, Guzmán CA, Malchiodi EL. Oral multicomponent DNA vaccine delivered by attenuated Salmonella elicited immunoprotection against American trypanosomiasis. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:698-707. [PMID: 25160983 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We have reported that attenuated Salmonella (S) carrying plasmids encoding the cysteine protease cruzipain (Cz) protects against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Here, we determined whether immunoprotection could be improved by the oral coadministration of 3 Salmonella carrying the plasmids that encode the antigens Cz, Tc52, and Tc24. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized mice presented an increased antibody response against each antigen compared with those in the single antigen-immunized groups, as well as higher trypomastigotes antibody-mediated lyses and cell invasion inhibition compared with controls. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized and -challenged mice rendered lower parasitemia. Weight loss after infection was detected in all mice except those in the SCz+STc52+STc24 group. Moreover, cardiomyopathy-associated enzyme activity was significantly lower in SCz+STc24+STc52-immunized mice compared with controls. Few or no abnormalities were found in muscle tissues of SCz+STc24+STc52-immunized mice, whereas controls presented with inflammatory foci, necrosis, and amastigote nests. We conclude that a multicomponent approach that targets several invasion and metabolic mechanisms improves protection compared with single-component vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia I Cazorla
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Marina N Matos
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Carolina Ramirez
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Andrés Sanchez Alberti
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Augusto E Bivona
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Celina Morales
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina UBA, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos A Guzmán
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
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16
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Moreira DRM, Lima Leite AC, Cardoso MVO, Srivastava RM, Hernandes MZ, Rabello MM, da Cruz LF, Ferreira RS, de Simone CA, Meira CS, Guimaraes ET, da Silva AC, dos Santos TAR, Pereira VRA, Pereira Soares MB. Structural Design, Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of Thiazolidinones with Enhanced Anti-Trypanosoma cruziActivity. ChemMedChem 2013; 9:177-88. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Physalins B and F, seco-steroids isolated from Physalis angulata L., strongly inhibit proliferation, ultrastructure and infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitology 2013; 140:1811-21. [PMID: 24001147 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013001297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We previously observed that physalins have immunomodulatory properties, as well as antileishmanial and antiplasmodial activities. Here, we investigated the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of physalins B, D, F and G. We found that physalins B and F were the most potent compounds against trypomastigote and epimastigote forms of T. cruzi. Electron microscopy of trypomastigotes incubated with physalin B showed disruption of kinetoplast, alterations in Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum, followed by the formation of myelin-like figures, which were stained with MDC to confirm their autophagic vacuole identity. Physalin B-mediated alteration in Golgi apparatus was likely due to T. cruzi protease perturbation; however physalins did not inhibit activity of the trypanosomal protease cruzain. Flow cytometry examination showed that cell death is mainly caused by necrosis. Treatment with physalins reduced the invasion process, as well as intracellular parasite development in macrophage cell culture, with a potency similar to benznidazole. We observed that a combination of physalins and benznidazole has a greater anti-T. cruzi activity than when compounds were used alone. These results indicate that physalins, specifically B and F, are potent and selective trypanocidal agents. They cause structural alterations and induce autophagy, which ultimately lead to parasite cell death by a necrotic process.
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