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Nájera CA, Soares-Silva M, Maeda FY, DaRocha WD, Meneghelli I, Mendes AC, Batista MF, Silva CV, da Silveira JF, Orikaza CM, Yoshida N, Silva VG, Teixeira SMR, Bartholomeu DC, Bahia D. Trypanosoma cruzi Vps34 colocalizes with Beclin1 and plays a role in parasite invasion of the host cell by modulating the expression of a sub-group of trans-sialidases. Microbes Infect 2024:105385. [PMID: 38950642 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, can infect both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. T. cruzi gp82 and gp90 are cell surface proteins belonging to Group II trans-sialidases known to be involved in host cell binding and invasion. Phosphatidylinositol kinases (PIK) are lipid kinases that phosphorylate phospholipids in their substrates or in themselves, regulating important cellular functions such as metabolism, cell cycle and survival. Vps34, a class III PIK, regulates autophagy, trimeric G-protein signaling, and the mTOR (mammalian Target of Rapamycin) nutrient-sensing pathway. The mammalian autophagy gene Beclin1 interacts to Vps34 forming Beclin 1-Vps34 complexes involved in autophagy and protein sorting. In T. cruzi epimastigotes, (a non-infective replicative form), TcVps34 has been related to morphological and functional changes associated to vesicular trafficking, osmoregulation and receptor-mediated endocytosis. We aimed to characterize the role of TcVps34 during invasion of HeLa cells by metacyclic (MT) forms. MTs overexpressing TcVps34 showed lower invasion rates compared to controls, whilst exhibiting a significant decrease in gp82 expression in the parasite surface. In addition, we showed that T. cruzi Beclin (TcBeclin1) colocalizes with TcVps34 in epimastigotes, thus suggesting the formation of complexes that may play conserved cellular roles already described for other eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alcides Nájera
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mercedes Soares-Silva
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernando Y Maeda
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wanderson Duarte DaRocha
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Isabela Meneghelli
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara Mendes
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marina Ferreira Batista
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Claudio Vieira Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Franco da Silveira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristina M Orikaza
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nobuko Yoshida
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Viviane Grazielle Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Santuza Maria Ribeiro Teixeira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Diana Bahia
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Silberstein E, Chung CC, Debrabant A. The transcriptome landscape of 3D-cultured placental trophoblasts reveals activation of TLR2 and TLR3/7 in response to low Trypanosoma cruzi parasite exposure. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1256385. [PMID: 37799608 PMCID: PMC10548471 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1256385] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vertical transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) become a globalized health problem accounting for 22% of new cases of Chagas disease (CD). Congenital infection is now considered the main route of CD spread in non-endemic countries where no routine disease testing of pregnant women is implemented. The main mechanisms that lead to fetal infection by T. cruzi remain poorly understood. Mother-to-child transmission may occur when bloodstream trypomastigotes interact with the syncytiotrophoblasts (SYNs) that cover the placenta chorionic villi. These highly specialized cells function as a physical barrier and modulate immune responses against pathogen infections. To model the human placenta environment, we have previously used a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system of SYNs that exhibits differentiation characteristics comparable to placental trophoblasts. Further, we have shown that 3D-grown SYNs are highly resistant to T. cruzi infection. In this work, we used RNA sequencing and whole transcriptome analysis to explore the immunological signatures that drive SYNs' infection control. We found that the largest category of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are associated with inflammation and innate immunity functions. Quantitative RT-PCR evaluation of selected DEGs, together with detection of cytokines and chemokines in SYNs culture supernatants, confirmed the transcriptome data. Several genes implicated in the Toll-like receptors signaling pathways were upregulated in 3D-grown SYNs. In fact, TLR2 blockade and TLR3/7 knockdown stimulated T. cruzi growth, suggesting that these molecules play a significant role in the host cell response to infection. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of DEGs predicted the activation of canonical pathways such as S100 protein family, pathogen induced cytokine storm, wound healing, HIF1α signaling and phagosome formation after T. cruzi exposure. Our findings indicate that SYNs resist infection by eliciting a constitutive pro-inflammatory response and modulating multiple defense mechanisms that interfere with the parasite's intracellular life cycle, contributing to parasite killing and infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Silberstein
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Charles C. Chung
- High-performance Integrated Virtual Environment Team, Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Alain Debrabant
- Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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Vaccine Design against Chagas Disease Focused on the Use of Nucleic Acids. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10040587. [PMID: 35455336 PMCID: PMC9028413 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10040587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic to Central and South America. However, it has spread around the world and affects several million people. Treatment with currently available drugs cause several side effects and require long treatment times to eliminate the parasite, however, this does not improve the chronic effects of the disease such as cardiomyopathy. A therapeutic vaccine for Chagas disease may be able to prevent the disease and improve the chronic effects such as cardiomyopathy. This vaccine would be beneficial for both infected people and those which are at risk in endemic and non-endemic areas. In this article, we will review the surface antigens of T. cruzi, in order to choose those that are most antigenic and least variable, to design effective vaccines against the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Also, we discuss aspects of the design of nucleic acid-based vaccines, which have been developed and proven to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The role of co-adjuvants and delivery carriers is also discussed. We present an example of a chimeric trivalent vaccine, based on experimental work, which can be used to design a vaccine against Chagas disease.
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de Paula JI, Lopes-Torres EJ, Jacobs-Lorena M, Paes MC, Cha SJ. The Screen of a Phage Display Library Identifies a Peptide That Binds to the Surface of Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigotes and Impairs Their Infection of Mammalian Cells. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:864788. [PMID: 35359712 PMCID: PMC8960960 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.864788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundChagas is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. On the order of seven million people are infected worldwide and current therapies are limited, highlighting the urgent need for new interventions. T. cruzi trypomastigotes can infect a variety of mammalian cells, recognition and adhesion to the host cell being critical for parasite entry. This study focuses on trypomastigote surface ligands involved in cell invasion.MethodsThree selection rounds of a phage peptide display library for isolation of phages that bind to trypomastigotes, resulted in the identification of the N3 dodecapeptide. N3 peptide binding to T. cruzi developmental forms (trypomastigotes, amastigotes and epimastigotes) was evaluated by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays. Parasite invasion of Vero cells was assessed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence assays.ResultsPhage display screening identified the N3 peptide that binds preferentially to the surface of the trypomastigote and amastigote infective forms as opposed to non-infective epimastigotes. Importantly, the N3 peptide, but not a control scrambled peptide, inhibits trypomastigote invasion of Vero cells by 50%.ConclusionThe N3 peptide specifically binds to T. cruzi, and by doing so, inhibits Vero cell infection. Follow-up studies will identify the molecule on the parasite surface to which the N3 peptide binds. This putative T. cruzi ligand may advance chemotherapy design and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica I. de Paula
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores – Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG – UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo J. Lopes-Torres
- Laboratório de Helmintologia Romero Lascasas Porto, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marcia Cristina Paes
- Laboratório de Interação Tripanossomatídeos e Vetores – Departamento de Bioquímica, IBRAG – UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Marcia Cristina Paes,
| | - Sung-Jae Cha
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Sung-Jae Cha,
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da Costa KM, Marques da Fonseca L, dos Reis JS, Santos MARDC, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L, Freire-de-Lima L. Trypanosoma cruzi trans-Sialidase as a Potential Vaccine Target Against Chagas Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:768450. [PMID: 34765570 PMCID: PMC8576188 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.768450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas' disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, described in the early 20th century by the Brazilian physician Dr. Carlos Chagas. There was a great amount of research devoted to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the disease. One of the most important discoveries made since then, impacting the understanding of how the parasite interacts with the host's immune system, was the description of trans-sialidase. It is an unique enzyme, capable of masking the parasite's presence from the host, while at the same time dampening the activation of CD8+ T cells, the most important components of the immune response. Since the description of Chagas' disease in 1909, extensive research has identified important events in the disease in order to understand the biochemical mechanism that modulates T. cruzi-host cell interactions and the ability of the parasite to ensure its survival. The importance of the trans-sialidase enzyme brought life to many studies for the design of diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines. While many groups have been prolific, such efforts have encountered problems, among them: the fact that while T. cruzi have many genes that are unique to the parasite, it relies on multiple copies of them and the difficulty in providing epitopes that result in effective and robust immune responses. In this review, we aim to convey the importance of trans-sialidase as well as to provide a history, including the initial failures and the most promising successes in the chasing of a working vaccine for a disease that is endemic in many tropical countries, including Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli Monteiro da Costa
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Teixeira AAR, Carnero LR, Kuramoto A, Tang FHF, Gomes CH, Pereira NB, de Oliveira LC, Garrini R, Monteiro JS, Setubal JC, Sabino EC, Pasqualini R, Colli W, Arap W, Alves MJM, Cunha-Neto E, Giordano RJ. A refined genome phage display methodology delineates the human antibody response in patients with Chagas disease. iScience 2021; 24:102540. [PMID: 34142048 PMCID: PMC8185243 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale mapping of antigens and epitopes is pivotal for developing immunotherapies but challenging, especially for eukaryotic pathogens, owing to their large genomes. Here, we developed an integrated platform for genome phage display (gPhage) to show that unbiased libraries of the eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma cruzi enable the identification of thousands of antigens recognized by serum samples from patients with Chagas disease. Because most of these antigens are hypothetical proteins, gPhage provides evidence of their expression during infection. We built and validated a comprehensive map of Chagas disease antibody response to show how linear and putative conformation epitopes, many rich in repetitive elements, allow the parasite to evade a buildup of neutralizing antibodies directed against protein domains that mediate infection pathogenesis. Thus, the gPhage platform is a reproducible and effective tool for rapid simultaneous identification of epitopes and antigens, not only in Chagas disease but perhaps also in globally emerging/reemerging acute pathogens. Genomic shotgun phage display (gPhage) of eukaryotes is feasible and promising. gPhage allows rapid antigen ID and epitope mapping, including 3D structures. Conformation epitopes can be identified and validated by using the gPhage platform. Most Chagas disease antigens are hypothetical proteins rich in repetitive elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Azevedo Reis Teixeira
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Luis Rodriguez Carnero
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Andréia Kuramoto
- Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Fenny Hui Fen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.,Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Carlos Hernique Gomes
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Natalia Bueno Pereira
- Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Léa Campos de Oliveira
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Regina Garrini
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Jhonatas Sirino Monteiro
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - João Carlos Setubal
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ester Cerdeira Sabino
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Renata Pasqualini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.,Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Walter Colli
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Wadih Arap
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Maria Júlia Manso Alves
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Edécio Cunha-Neto
- Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil.,Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo José Giordano
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Ferri G, Edreira MM. All Roads Lead to Cytosol: Trypanosoma cruzi Multi-Strategic Approach to Invasion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:634793. [PMID: 33747982 PMCID: PMC7973469 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.634793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
T. cruzi has a complex life cycle involving four developmental stages namely, epimastigotes, metacyclic trypomastigotes, amastigotes and bloodstream trypomastigotes. Although trypomastigotes are the infective forms, extracellular amastigotes have also shown the ability to invade host cells. Both stages can invade a broad spectrum of host tissues, in fact, almost any nucleated cell can be the target of infection. To add complexity, the parasite presents high genetic variability with differential characteristics such as infectivity. In this review, we address the several strategies T. cruzi has developed to subvert the host cell signaling machinery in order to gain access to the host cell cytoplasm. Special attention is made to the numerous parasite/host protein interactions and to the set of signaling cascades activated during the formation of a parasite-containing vesicle, the parasitophorous vacuole, from which the parasite escapes to the cytosol, where differentiation and replication take place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Ferri
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martin M Edreira
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, IQUIBICEN, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de Trypanosoma, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Proteome-wide modulation of S-nitrosylation in Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes upon interaction with the host extracellular matrix. J Proteomics 2020; 231:104020. [PMID: 33096306 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.104020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes adhere to extracellular matrix (ECM) to invade mammalian host cells regulating intracellular signaling pathways. Herein, resin-assisted enrichment of thiols combined with mass spectrometry were employed to map site-specific S-nitrosylated (SNO) proteins from T. cruzi trypomastigotes incubated (MTy) or not (Ty) with ECM. We confirmed the reduction of S-nitrosylation upon incubation with ECM, associated with a rewiring of the subcellular distribution and intracellular signaling pathways. Forty, 248 and 85 SNO-peptides were identified only in MTy, Ty or in both conditions, respectively. SNO proteins were enriched in ribosome, transport, carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms. Nitrosylation of histones H2B and H3 on Cys64 and Cys126, respectively, is described. Protein-protein interaction networks revealed ribosomal proteins, proteins involved in carbon and fatty acid metabolism to be among the enriched protein complexes. Kinases, phosphatases and enzymes involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids were identified as nitrosylated and phosphorylated, suggesting a post-translational modifications crosstalk. In silico mapping of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes, previously uncharacterized, matched to four putative T. cruzi proteins expressing C-terminal NOS domain. Our results provide the first site-specific characterization of S-nitrosylated proteins in T. cruzi and their modulation upon ECM incubation before infection of the mammalian hosts. SIGNIFICANCE: Protein S-nitrosylation represents a major molecular mechanism for signal transduction by nitric oxide. We present for the first time a proteomic profile of S-nitrosylated proteins from infective forms of T. cruzi, showing a decrease in SNO proteins after incubation of the parasite with the extracellular matrix, a necessary step for the parasite invasion of the host mammalian cells. We also show for the first time nitrosylation of H2B (Cys64) and H3 (Cys126) histones, sites not conserved in higher eukaryotic cells, and suggest that some specific histone isoforms are sensitive to NO signaling. S-nitrosylation in H2B and H3 histones are more abundant in MTy. Moreover, proteins involved in translation, glycolytic pathway and fatty acid metabolism are enriched in the present dataset. Comparison of the SNO proteome and the phosphoproteome, obtained previously under the same experimental conditions, show that most of the proteins sharing both modifications are involved in metabolic pathways, transport and ribosome function. The data suggest that both PTMs are involved in reprogramming the metabolism of T. cruzi in response to environmental changes. Although NO synthesis was detected in T. cruzi, the identification of NOS remains elusive. Analysis in silico showed two genes similar in domains to NADPH-dependent cytochrome-P450 reductase and two putative oxidoreductases, but no oxygenase domain of NOS was mapped in the T. cruzi genome. It is tempting to speculate that NO synthase-like from T. cruzi and its early NO-mediated pathways triggered in response to host interaction constitute potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
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9
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Saha A, Nanavaty VP, Li B. Telomere and Subtelomere R-loops and Antigenic Variation in Trypanosomes. J Mol Biol 2019; 432:4167-4185. [PMID: 31682833 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei is a kinetoplastid parasite that causes African trypanosomiasis, which is fatal if left untreated. T. brucei regularly switches its major surface antigen, VSG, to evade the host immune responses. VSGs are exclusively expressed from subtelomeric expression sites (ESs) where VSG genes are flanked by upstream 70 bp repeats and downstream telomeric repeats. The telomere downstream of the active VSG is transcribed into a long-noncoding RNA (TERRA), which forms RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops) with the telomeric DNA. At an elevated level, telomere R-loops cause more telomeric and subtelomeric double-strand breaks (DSBs) and increase VSG switching rate. In addition, stabilized R-loops are observed at the 70 bp repeats and immediately downstream of ES-linked VSGs in RNase H defective cells, which also have an increased amount of subtelomeric DSBs and more frequent VSG switching. Although subtelomere plasticity is expected to be beneficial to antigenic variation, severe defects in subtelomere integrity and stability increase cell lethality. Therefore, regulation of the telomere and 70 bp repeat R-loop levels is important for the balance between antigenic variation and cell fitness in T. brucei. In addition, the high level of the active ES transcription favors accumulation of R-loops at the telomere and 70 bp repeats, providing an intrinsic mechanism for local DSB formation, which is a strong inducer of VSG switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Saha
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
| | - Vishal P Nanavaty
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
| | - Bibo Li
- Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, College of Science and Health Professions, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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10
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Zhao L, Kopylov M, Potter CS, Carragher B, Finn MG. Engineering the PP7 Virus Capsid as a Peptide Display Platform. ACS NANO 2019; 13:4443-4454. [PMID: 30912918 PMCID: PMC6991139 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b09683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
As self-assembling polyvalent nanoscale structures that can tolerate substantial genetic and chemical modification, virus-like particles are useful in a variety of fields. Here we describe the genetic modification and structural characterization of the Leviviridae PP7 capsid protein as a platform for the presentation of functional polypeptides. This particle was shown to tolerate the display of sequences from 1 kDa (a cell penetrating peptide) to 14 kDa (the Fc-binding double Z-domain) on its exterior surface as C-terminal genetic fusions to the coat protein. In addition, a dimeric construct allowed the presentation of exogenous loops between capsid monomers and the simultaneous presentation of two different peptides at different positions on the icosahedral structure. The PP7 particle is thereby significantly more tolerant of these types of polypeptide additions than Qβ and MS2, the other Leviviridae-derived VLPs in common use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangjun Zhao
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Mykhailo Kopylov
- National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Clinton S. Potter
- National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Bridget Carragher
- National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, 89 Convent Avenue, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - M. G. Finn
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 901 Atlantic Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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11
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Galuppo MK, de Rezende E, Forti FL, Cortez M, Cruz MC, Teixeira AA, Giordano RJ, Stolf BS. CD100/Sema4D Increases Macrophage Infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in a CD72 Dependent Manner. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1177. [PMID: 29922261 PMCID: PMC5996280 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is caused by trypanosomatid protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which infect preferentially macrophages. The disease affects 12 million people worldwide, who may present cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral forms. Several factors influence the form and severity of the disease, and the main ones are the Leishmania species and the host immune response. CD100 is a membrane bound protein that can also be shed. It was first identified in T lymphocytes and latter shown to be induced in macrophages by inflammatory stimuli. The soluble CD100 (sCD100) reduces migration and expression of inflammatory cytokines in human monocytes and dendritic cells, as well as the intake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) by human macrophages. Considering the importance of macrophages in Leishmania infection and the potential role of sCD100 in the modulation of macrophage phagocytosis and activation, we analyzed the expression and distribution of CD100 in murine macrophages and the effects of sCD100 on macrophage infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Here we show that CD100 expression in murine macrophages increases after infection with Leishmania. sCD100 augments infection and phagocytosis of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis promastigotes by macrophages, an effect dependent on macrophage CD72 receptor. Besides, sCD100 enhances phagocytosis of zymosan particles and infection by Trypanosoma cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana K Galuppo
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eloiza de Rezende
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabio L Forti
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mario C Cruz
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andre A Teixeira
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo J Giordano
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Beatriz S Stolf
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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12
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Ribeiro KS, Vasconcellos CI, Soares RP, Mendes MT, Ellis CC, Aguilera-Flores M, de Almeida IC, Schenkman S, Iwai LK, Torrecilhas AC. Proteomic analysis reveals different composition of extracellular vesicles released by two Trypanosoma cruzi strains associated with their distinct interaction with host cells. J Extracell Vesicles 2018; 7:1463779. [PMID: 29696081 PMCID: PMC5912195 DOI: 10.1080/20013078.2018.1463779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiologic agent of Chagas disease, releases vesicles containing a wide range of surface molecules known to affect the host immunological responses and the cellular infectivity. Here, we compared the secretome of two distinct strains (Y and YuYu) of T. cruzi, which were previously shown to differentially modulate host innate and acquired immune responses. Tissue culture-derived trypomastigotes of both strains secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs), as demonstrated by electron scanning microscopy. EVs were purified by exclusion chromatography or ultracentrifugation and quantitated using nanoparticle tracking analysis. Trypomastigotes from YuYu strain released higher number of EVs than those from Y strain, enriched with virulence factors trans-sialidase (TS) and cruzipain. Proteomic analysis confirmed the increased abundance of proteins coded by the TS gene family, mucin-like glycoproteins, and some typical exosomal proteins in the YuYu strain, which also showed considerable differences between purified EVs and vesicle-free fraction as compared to the Y strain. To evaluate whether such differences were related to parasite infectivity, J774 macrophages and LLC-MK2 kidney cells were preincubated with purified EVs from both strains and then infected with Y strain trypomastigotes. EVs released by YuYu strain caused a lower infection but higher intracellular proliferation in J774 macrophages than EVs from Y strain. In contrast, YuYu strain-derived EVs caused higher infection of LLC-MK2 cells than Y strain-derived EVs. In conclusion, quantitative and qualitative differences in EVs and secreted proteins from different T. cruzi strains may correlate with infectivity/virulence during the host-parasite interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maria Tays Mendes
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Marcela Aguilera-Flores
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Igor Correia de Almeida
- Border Biomedical Research Center, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Sergio Schenkman
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leo Kei Iwai
- Laboratório Especial de Toxicologia Aplicada (LETA), Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
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13
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Identification of relevant prognostic values of cytokeratin 20 and cytokeratin 7 expressions in lung cancer. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20171086. [PMID: 28827446 PMCID: PMC5672087 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20171086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors harmful to human health. Cytokeratin (CK) is highly conserved and differentiated related to the proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells. The aim of the study was to explore expressions of CK20 and CK7 and corresponding prognostic values in patients with lung cancer. Our study included 258 cases of patients confirmed with lung cancer. Expressions of CK20 and CK7 mRNA and protein were detected using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively, followed by the performance of immunohistochemistry staining. Associations of CK20 and CK7 with the clinical parameters and prognosis of lung cancer patients were further analyzed. There were obvious differences regarding the positive expression of CK20 in different T stage, lymph node metastasis, invasion, size, and clinical stage subgroups; besides, significant differences in the positive expression of CK7 were also observed in subgroups of different sex, age, lymph node metastasis, invasion, and differentiation. Furthermore, effects of age, smoking, T stage, lymph node metastasis and invasion, size, and CK7 expressions were significant on the survival of patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis, T stage, and CK7 expression were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of involved patients (all P<0.05), while age, smoking, and invasion had no marked relation to the survival time of patients with lung cancer (all P>0.05). Positive CK20 and CK7 expressions are detected in patients with lung cancer; positive expression of CK7 associated with pathological features of lymph node metastasis and T stage may be independent clinical parameters for poor prognosis of patients with lung cancer.
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14
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Freire-de-Lima L, Gentile LB, da Fonseca LM, da Costa KM, Santos Lemos J, Jacques LR, Morrot A, Freire-de-Lima CG, Nunes MP, Takiya CM, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L. Role of Inactive and Active Trypanosoma cruzi Trans-sialidases on T Cell Homing and Secretion of Inflammatory Cytokines. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1307. [PMID: 28744279 PMCID: PMC5504189 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Trans-sialidase from Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc-TS) belongs to a superfamily of proteins that may have enzymatic activity. While enzymatically active members (Tc-aTS) are able to transfer sialic acid from the host cell sialyl-glycoconjugates onto the parasite or to other molecules on the host cell surface, the inactive members (Tc-iTS) are characterized by their lectinic properties. Over the last 10 years, several papers demonstrated that, individually, Tc-aTS or Tc-iTS is able to modulate several biological events. Since the genes encoding Tc-iTS and Tc-aTS are present in the same copy number, and both proteins portray similar substrate-specificities as well, it would be plausible to speculate that such molecules may compete for the same sialyl-glycan structures and govern numerous immunobiological phenomena. However, their combined effect has never been evaluated in the course of an acute infection. In this study, we investigated the ability of both proteins to modulate the production of inflammatory signals, as well as the homing of T cells to the cardiac tissue of infected mice, events that usually occur during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection. The results showed that the intravenous administration of Tc-iTS, but not Tc-aTS protected the cardiac tissue from injury caused by reduced traffic of inflammatory cells. In addition, the ability of Tc-aTS to modulate the production of inflammatory cytokines was attenuated and/or compromised when Tc-iTS was co-injected in the same proportions. These results suggest that although both proteins present structural similarities and compete for the same sialyl-glycan epitopes, they might present distinct immunomodulatory properties on T cells following T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luciana B Gentile
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo M da Fonseca
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kelli M da Costa
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jessica Santos Lemos
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucas Rodrigues Jacques
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Morrot
- Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo CruzRio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciência da Saúde - Sala D1-035, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Célio G Freire-de-Lima
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marise P Nunes
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo CruzRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Christina M Takiya
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose O Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucia Mendonça-Previato
- Laboratório de Glicobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
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15
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Geisler F, Leube RE. Epithelial Intermediate Filaments: Guardians against Microbial Infection? Cells 2016; 5:cells5030029. [PMID: 27355965 PMCID: PMC5040971 DOI: 10.3390/cells5030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermediate filaments are abundant cytoskeletal components of epithelial tissues. They have been implicated in overall stress protection. A hitherto poorly investigated area of research is the function of intermediate filaments as a barrier to microbial infection. This review summarizes the accumulating knowledge about this interaction. It first emphasizes the unique spatial organization of the keratin intermediate filament cytoskeleton in different epithelial tissues to protect the organism against microbial insults. We then present examples of direct interaction between viral, bacterial, and parasitic proteins and the intermediate filament system and describe how this affects the microbe-host interaction by modulating the epithelial cytoskeleton, the progression of infection, and host response. These observations not only provide novel insights into the dynamics and function of intermediate filaments but also indicate future avenues to combat microbial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Geisler
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Rudolf E Leube
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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16
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Li Y, Shah-Simpson S, Okrah K, Belew AT, Choi J, Caradonna KL, Padmanabhan P, Ndegwa DM, Temanni MR, Corrada Bravo H, El-Sayed NM, Burleigh BA. Transcriptome Remodeling in Trypanosoma cruzi and Human Cells during Intracellular Infection. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005511. [PMID: 27046031 PMCID: PMC4821583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracellular colonization and persistent infection by the kinetoplastid protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, underlie the pathogenesis of human Chagas disease. To obtain global insights into the T. cruzi infective process, transcriptome dynamics were simultaneously captured in the parasite and host cells in an infection time course of human fibroblasts. Extensive remodeling of the T. cruzi transcriptome was observed during the early establishment of intracellular infection, coincident with a major developmental transition in the parasite. Contrasting this early response, few additional changes in steady state mRNA levels were detected once mature T. cruzi amastigotes were formed. Our findings suggest that transcriptome remodeling is required to establish a modified template to guide developmental transitions in the parasite, whereas homeostatic functions are regulated independently of transcriptomic changes, similar to that reported in related trypanosomatids. Despite complex mechanisms for regulation of phenotypic expression in T. cruzi, transcriptomic signatures derived from distinct developmental stages mirror known or projected characteristics of T. cruzi biology. Focusing on energy metabolism, we were able to validate predictions forecast in the mRNA expression profiles. We demonstrate measurable differences in the bioenergetic properties of the different mammalian-infective stages of T. cruzi and present additional findings that underscore the importance of mitochondrial electron transport in T. cruzi amastigote growth and survival. Consequences of T. cruzi colonization for the host include dynamic expression of immune response genes and cell cycle regulators with upregulation of host cholesterol and lipid synthesis pathways, which may serve to fuel intracellular T. cruzi growth. Thus, in addition to the biological inferences gained from gene ontology and functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes in parasite and host, our comprehensive, high resolution transcriptomic dataset provides a substantially more detailed interpretation of T. cruzi infection biology and offers a basis for future drug and vaccine discovery efforts. In-depth knowledge of the functional processes governing host colonization and transmission of pathogenic microorganisms is essential for the advancement of effective intervention strategies. This study focuses on Trypanosoma cruzi, the vector-borne protozoan parasite responsible for human Chagas disease and the leading cause of infectious myocarditis worldwide. To gain global insights into the biology of this parasite and its interaction with mammalian host cells, we have exploited a deep-sequencing approach to generate comprehensive, high-resolution transcriptomic maps for mammalian-infective stages of T. cruzi with the simultaneous interrogation of the human host cell transcriptome across an infection time course. We demonstrate that the establishment of intracellular T. cruzi infection in mammalian host cells is accompanied by extensive remodeling of the parasite and host cell transcriptomes. Despite the lack of transcriptional control mechanisms in trypanosomatids, our analyses identified functionally-enriched processes within sets of developmentally-regulated transcripts in T. cruzi that align with known or predicted biological features of the parasite. The novel insights into the biology of intracellular T. cruzi infection and the regulation of amastigote development gained in this study establish a unique foundation for functional network analyses that will be instrumental in providing functional links between parasite dependencies and host functional pathways that have the potential to be exploited for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sheena Shah-Simpson
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kwame Okrah
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - A Trey Belew
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jungmin Choi
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kacey L Caradonna
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Prasad Padmanabhan
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David M Ndegwa
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - M Ramzi Temanni
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Héctor Corrada Bravo
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Najib M El-Sayed
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America.,Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Barbara A Burleigh
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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