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Bhalerao P, Singh S, Prajapati VK, Bhatt TK. Exploring malaria parasite surface proteins to devise highly immunogenic multi-epitope subunit vaccine for Plasmodium falciparum. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2024; 22:100377. [PMID: 38797552 PMCID: PMC11089370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgeb.2024.100377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria has remained a major health concern for decades among people living in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Plasmodium falciparum is one of the critical species that cause severe malaria and is responsible for major mortality. Moreover, the parasite has generated resistance against all WHO recommended drugs and therapies. Therefore, there is an urgent need for preventive measures in the form of reliable vaccines to achieve the target of a malaria-free world. Surface proteins are the preferable choice for subunit vaccine development because they are rapidly detected and engaged by host immune cells and vaccination-induced antibodies. Additionally, abundant surface or membrane proteins may contribute to the opsonization of pathogens by vaccine-induced antibodies. RESULTS In our study, we have listed all those surface proteins from the literature that could be functionally important and essential for infection and immune evasion of the malaria parasite. Eight Plasmodium surface and membrane proteins from the pre-erythrocyte and erythrocyte stages were shortlisted. Thirty-seven epitopes (B-cell, CTL, and HTL epitopes) from these proteins were predicted using immune-informatic tools and joined with suitable peptide linkers to design a vaccine construct. A TLR-4 agonist peptide adjuvant was added at the N-terminus of the multi-epitope series, followed by the PADRE sequence and EAAAK linker. The TLR-4 receptor was docked with the construct's anticipated model structure. The complex of vaccine and TLR-4, with the lowest energy -1514, was found to be stable under simulated physiological settings. CONCLUSION This study has provided a novel multi-epitope construct that may be exploited further for the development of an efficient vaccine for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preshita Bhalerao
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandar Sindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Satyendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandar Sindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Tarun Kumar Bhatt
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandar Sindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer 305817, Rajasthan, India.
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2
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Saini I, Joshi J, Kaur S. Leishmania vaccine development: A comprehensive review. Cell Immunol 2024; 399-400:104826. [PMID: 38669897 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2024.104826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Infectious diseases like leishmaniasis, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, leprosy and filariasis are responsible for an immense burden on public health systems. Among these, leishmaniasis is under the category I diseases as it is selected by WHO (World Health Organization) on the ground of diversity and complexity. High cost, resistance and toxic effects of Leishmania traditional drugs entail identification and development of therapeutic alternative. Since the natural infection elicits robust immunity, consistence efforts are going on to develop a successful vaccine. Clinical trials have been conducted on vaccines like Leish-F1, F2, and F3 formulated using specific Leishmania antigen epitopes. Current strategies utilize individual or combined antigens from the parasite or its insect vector's salivary gland extract, with or without adjuvant formulation for enhanced efficacy. Promising animal data supports multiple vaccine candidates (Lmcen-/-, LmexCen-/-), with some already in or heading for clinical trials. The crucial challenge in Leishmania vaccine development is to translate the research knowledge into affordable and accessible control tools that refines the outcome for those who are susceptible to infection. This review focuses on recent findings in Leishmania vaccines and highlights difficulties facing vaccine development and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Saini
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Jyoti Joshi
- Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College, Sector-32C, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sukhbir Kaur
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
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3
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Rabienia M, Mortazavidehkordi N, Roudbari Z, Daneshi R, Abdollahi A, Yousefian Langeroudi M, Behmard E, Farjadfar A. Designing of a new multi-epitope vaccine against Leishmania major using Leish-F1 epitopes: An In-silico study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295495. [PMID: 38165973 PMCID: PMC10760699 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of the disease which can cause malignant lesions on the skin. Vaccination for the prevention and treatment of leishmaniasis can be the most effective way to combat this disease. In this study, we designed a novel multi-epitope vaccine against Leishmania major (L. major) using immunoinformatics tools to assess its efficacy in silico. Sequences of Leish-F1 protein (TSA, Leif, and LMSTI1) of L. major were taken from GenBank. The helper T (Th) and cytotoxic T (Tc) epitopes of the protein were predicted. The final multi-epitope consisted of 18 CTL epitopes joined by AAY linker. There were also nine HTL epitopes in the structure of the vaccine construct, joined by GPGPG linker. The profilin adjuvant (the toll-like receptor 11 agonist) was also added into the construct by AAY Linker. There were 613 residues in the structure of the vaccine construct. The multi-epitope vaccine candidate was stable and non-allergic. The data obtained from the binding of final multi-epitope vaccine-TLR11 residues (band lengths and weighted scores) unveiled the ligand and the receptor high score of binding affinity. Moreover, in silico assessment of the vaccine construct cloning achieved its suitable expression in E. coli host. Based on these results, the current multi-epitope vaccine prevents L. major infection in silico, while further confirmatory assessments are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Rabienia
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Roudbari
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran
| | - Rasoul Daneshi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Abbas Abdollahi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | | | - Esmaeil Behmard
- School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Akbar Farjadfar
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
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4
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Sádlová J, Yeo M, Mateus DS, Phelan J, Hai LA, Bhattacharyya T, Kurtev S, Sebesta O, Myskova J, Seblova V, Andersson B, Florez de Sessions P, Volf P, Miles MA. Comparative genomics of Leishmania donovani progeny from genetic crosses in two sand fly species and impact on the diversity of diagnostic and vaccine candidates. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011920. [PMID: 38295092 PMCID: PMC10830044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Sand fly transmitted Leishmania species are responsible for severe, wide ranging, visceral and cutaneous leishmaniases. Genetic exchange can occur among natural Leishmania populations and hybrids can now be produced experimentally, with limitations. Feeding Phlebotomus orientalis or Phlebotomus argentipes on two strains of Leishmania donovani yielded hybrid progeny, selected using double drug resistance and fluorescence markers. Fluorescence activated cell sorting of cultured clones derived from these hybrids indicated diploid progeny. Multilocus sequence typing of the clones showed hybridisation and nuclear heterozygosity, although with inheritance of single haplotypes in a kinetoplastid target. Comparative genomics showed diversity of clonal progeny between single chromosomes, and extraordinary heterozygosity across all 36 chromosomes. Diversity between progeny was seen for the HASPB antigen, which has been noted previously as having implications for design of a therapeutic vaccine. Genomic diversity seen among Leishmania strains and hybrid progeny is of great importance in understanding the epidemiology and control of leishmaniasis. As an outcome of this study we strongly recommend that wider biological archives of different Leishmania species from endemic regions should be established and made available for comparative genomics. However, in parallel, performance of genetic crosses and genomic comparisons should give fundamental insight into the specificity, diversity and limitations of candidate diagnostics, vaccines and drugs, for targeted control of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Sádlová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Matthew Yeo
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London United Kingdom
| | - David S. Mateus
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London United Kingdom
| | - Jody Phelan
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London United Kingdom
| | - Le Anh Hai
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London United Kingdom
| | - Tapan Bhattacharyya
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Kurtev
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London United Kingdom
| | - Ondrej Sebesta
- Laboratory of Confocal and Fluorescence Microscopy, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Myskova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Seblova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Björn Andersson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paola Florez de Sessions
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Biomedical Sciences Institutes, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michael A. Miles
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London United Kingdom
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5
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Trivedi PD, Byrne BJ, Corti M. Evolving Horizons: Adenovirus Vectors' Timeless Influence on Cancer, Gene Therapy and Vaccines. Viruses 2023; 15:2378. [PMID: 38140619 PMCID: PMC10747483 DOI: 10.3390/v15122378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient and targeted delivery of a DNA payload is vital for developing safe gene therapy. Owing to the recent success of commercial oncolytic vector and multiple COVID-19 vaccines, adenovirus vectors are back in the spotlight. Adenovirus vectors can be used in gene therapy by altering the wild-type virus and making it replication-defective; specific viral genes can be removed and replaced with a segment that holds a therapeutic gene, and this vector can be used as delivery vehicle for tissue specific gene delivery. Modified conditionally replicative-oncolytic adenoviruses target tumors exclusively and have been studied in clinical trials extensively. This comprehensive review seeks to offer a summary of adenovirus vectors, exploring their characteristics, genetic enhancements, and diverse applications in clinical and preclinical settings. A significant emphasis is placed on their crucial role in advancing cancer therapy and the latest breakthroughs in vaccine clinical trials for various diseases. Additionally, we tackle current challenges and future avenues for optimizing adenovirus vectors, promising to open new frontiers in the fields of cell and gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Manuela Corti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (P.D.T.); (B.J.B.)
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6
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Jyotisha, Qureshi R, Qureshi IA. Development of a multi-epitope vaccine candidate for leishmanial parasites applying immunoinformatics and in vitro approaches. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1269774. [PMID: 38035118 PMCID: PMC10684680 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease, and its severity necessitates the development of a potent and efficient vaccine for the disease; however, no human vaccine has yet been approved for clinical use. This study aims to design and evaluate a multi-epitope vaccine against the leishmanial parasite by utilizing helper T-lymphocyte (HTL), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL), and linear B-lymphocyte (LBL) epitopes from membrane-bound acid phosphatase of Leishmania donovani (LdMAcP). The designed multi-epitope vaccine (LdMAPV) was highly antigenic, non-allergenic, and non-toxic, with suitable physicochemical properties. The three-dimensional structure of LdMAPV was modeled and validated, succeeded by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) studies that confirmed the high binding affinity and stable interactions between human toll-like receptors and LdMAPV. In silico disulfide engineering provided improved stability to LdMAPV, whereas immune simulation displayed the induction of both immune responses, i.e., antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, with a rise in cytokines. Furthermore, LdMAPV sequence was codon optimized and cloned into the pET-28a vector, followed by its expression in a bacterial host. The recombinant protein was purified using affinity chromatography and subjected to determine its effect on cytotoxicity, cytokines, and nitric oxide generation by mammalian macrophages. Altogether, this report provides a multi-epitope vaccine candidate from a leishmanial protein participating in parasitic virulence that has shown its potency to be a promising vaccine candidate against leishmanial parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotisha
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Rahila Qureshi
- Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
| | - Insaf Ahmed Qureshi
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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7
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Dey R, Alshaweesh J, Singh KP, Lypaczewski P, Karmakar S, Klenow L, Paulini K, Kaviraj S, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Singh S, Hamano S, Satoskar AR, Gannavaram S, Nakhasi HL, Matlashewski G. Production of leishmanin skin test antigen from Leishmania donovani for future reintroduction in the field. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7028. [PMID: 37919280 PMCID: PMC10622560 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42732-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The leishmanin skin test was used for almost a century to detect exposure and immunity to Leishmania, the causative agent of leishmaniasis, a major neglected tropical disease. Due to a lack of antigen used for the intradermal injection, the leishmanin skin test is no longer available. As leishmaniasis control programs are advancing and new vaccines are entering clinical trials, it is essential to re-introduce the leishmanin skin test. Here we establish a Leishmania donovani strain and describe the production, under Good Laboratory Practice conditions, of leishmanin soluble antigen used to induce the leishmanin skin test in animal models of infection and vaccination. Using a mouse model of cutaneous leishmaniasis and a hamster model of visceral leishmaniasis, soluble antigen induces a leishmanin skin test response following infection and vaccination with live attenuated Leishmania major (LmCen-/-). Both the CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells are necessary for the leishmanin skin test response. This study demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale production of leishmanin antigen addressing a major bottleneck for performing the leishmanin skin test in future surveillance and vaccine clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranadhir Dey
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jalal Alshaweesh
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | | | - Patrick Lypaczewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Subir Karmakar
- Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Hinjawadi Phase II, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Laura Klenow
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Kayla Paulini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Swarnendu Kaviraj
- Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Hinjawadi Phase II, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA
| | - Sanjay Singh
- Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, Hinjawadi Phase II, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Shinjiro Hamano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
- The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, CBER, FDA, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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8
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Singh R, Anand A, Mahapatra B, Saini S, Singh A, Singh S, Kumar V, Das P, Singh S, Singh RK. Adjuvantation of whole-killed Leishmania vaccine with anti-CD200 and anti-CD300a antibodies potentiates its efficacy and provides protection against wild-type parasites. Mol Immunol 2023; 163:136-146. [PMID: 37778149 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2023.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
One of the major reasons behind the limited success of vaccine candidates against all forms of leishmaniasis is the inability of parasitic antigens to induce robust cell-mediated immunity and immunological memory. Here we find, for the first time, that the adjuvantation of whole-killed Leishmania vaccine (Leishvacc) with anti-CD200 and anti-CD300a antibodies enhances CD4+ T cells mediated immunity in vaccinated mice and provides protection against wild-type parasites. The antibody adjuvantation, either alone or with a TLR4 agonist monophosphoryl A (MPL-A), induced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines viz., IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 by antigen experienced CD4+ T cells, and also enhanced their rate of conversion into their memory phenotypes against Leishvacc antigens. The antibody adjuvanted vaccine also promoted the generation of IgG2a-mediated protective humoral immunity in vaccinated mice. Further, the mice vaccinated with antibodies adjuvanted vaccine showed strong resilience against metacyclic forms of L. donovani parasites as we observed reduced clinical features such as splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, granulomatous tissues in the liver, and parasitic load in their spleen. The findings of this study demonstrate that the anti-CD200 and anti-CD300a antibodies have potential to increase the protective efficacy of the whole-killed Leishmania vaccine, and opens up a new gateway to diversify the roles of immune checkpoints in vaccine development against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Anshul Anand
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Baishakhi Mahapatra
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Shashi Saini
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Abhishek Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Samer Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute, Patna 800007, Bihar, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700010, WB, India
| | - Sangram Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Dr. RMLA University, Ayodhya 224001, India
| | - Rakesh K Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
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9
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King A. In search of a vaccine for leishmaniasis. Nature 2023:10.1038/d41586-023-02580-y. [PMID: 37592126 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-02580-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
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10
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Recent Advances in the Development of Adenovirus-Vectored Vaccines for Parasitic Infections. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030334. [PMID: 36986434 PMCID: PMC10058461 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines against parasites have lagged centuries behind those against viral and bacterial infections, despite the devastating morbidity and widespread effects of parasitic diseases across the globe. One of the greatest hurdles to parasite vaccine development has been the lack of vaccine strategies able to elicit the complex and multifaceted immune responses needed to abrogate parasitic persistence. Viral vectors, especially adenovirus (AdV) vectors, have emerged as a potential solution for complex disease targets, including HIV, tuberculosis, and parasitic diseases, to name a few. AdVs are highly immunogenic and are uniquely able to drive CD8+ T cell responses, which are known to be correlates of immunity in infections with most protozoan and some helminthic parasites. This review presents recent developments in AdV-vectored vaccines targeting five major human parasitic diseases: malaria, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis. Many AdV-vectored vaccines have been developed for these diseases, utilizing a wide variety of vectors, antigens, and modes of delivery. AdV-vectored vaccines are a promising approach for the historically challenging target of human parasitic diseases.
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11
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Knight CA, Harris DR, Alshammari SO, Gugssa A, Young T, Lee CM. Leishmaniasis: Recent epidemiological studies in the Middle East. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1052478. [PMID: 36817103 PMCID: PMC9932337 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1052478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, one of the most neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), is the third most important vector-borne disease worldwide. This disease has a global impact and severity of the infection and is greatest in the Middle East. The agent of infection is a protozoan parasite of the genus, Leishmania, and is generally transmitted by blood-sucking female sandflies. In humans, there are three clinical forms of infection: (1) cutaneous (CL), (2) mucocutaneous (ML), and (3) visceral leishmaniasis (VL). This review aims to discuss the current epidemiological status of leishmaniasis in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen with a consideration of treatment options. The elevated risk of leishmaniasis is influenced by the transmission of the disease across endemic countries into neighboring non-infected regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinyere A. Knight
- Department of Biology, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States,*Correspondence: Chinyere A. Knight,
| | - David R. Harris
- Department of Biology, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL, United States
| | | | - Ayele Gugssa
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Todd Young
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Clarence M. Lee
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
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Abstract
Leishmaniasis (visceral and cutaneous), Chagas disease and human African trypanosomiasis cause substantial death and morbidity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Although the situation has improved for human African trypanosomiasis, there remains an urgent need for new medicines to treat leishmaniasis and Chagas disease; the clinical development pipeline is particularly sparse for Chagas disease. In this Review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of the biology of the causative pathogens, particularly from the drug discovery perspective, and we explore the progress that has been made in the development of new drug candidates and the identification of promising molecular targets. We also explore the challenges in developing new clinical candidates and discuss potential solutions to overcome such hurdles.
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Dinc R. Leishmania Vaccines: the Current Situation with Its Promising Aspect for the Future. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2022; 60:379-391. [PMID: 36588414 PMCID: PMC9806502 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2022.60.6.379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a serious parasitic disease caused by Leishmania spp. transmitted through sandfly bites. This disease is a major public health concern worldwide. It can occur in 3 different clinical forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral Leishmaniasis (CL, MCL, and VL, respectively), caused by different Leishmania spp. Currently, licensed vaccines are unavailable for the treatment of human Leishmaniasis. The treatment and prevention of this disease rely mainly on chemotherapeutics, which are highly toxic and have an increasing resistance problem. The development of a safe, effective, and affordable vaccine for all forms of vector-borne disease is urgently needed to block transmission of the parasite between the host and vector. Immunological mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Leishmaniasis are complex. IL-12-driven Th1-type immune response plays a crucial role in host protection. The essential purpose of vaccination is to establish a protective immune response. To date, numerous vaccine studies have been conducted using live/attenuated/killed parasites, fractionated parasites, subunits, recombinant or DNA technology, delivery systems, and chimeric peptides. Most of these studies were limited to animals. In addition, standardization has not been achieved in these studies due to the differences in the virulence dynamics of the Leishmania spp. and the feasibility of the adjuvants. More studies are needed to develop a safe and effective vaccine, which is the most promising approach against Leishmania infection.
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Duthie MS, Machado BAS, Badaró R, Kaye PM, Reed SG. Leishmaniasis Vaccines: Applications of RNA Technology and Targeted Clinical Trial Designs. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111259. [PMID: 36365010 PMCID: PMC9695603 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania parasites cause a variety of discrete clinical diseases that present in regions where their specific sand fly vectors sustain transmission. Clinical and laboratory research indicate the potential of immunization to prevent leishmaniasis and a wide array of vaccine candidates have been proposed. Unfortunately, multiple factors have precluded advancement of more than a few Leishmania targeting vaccines to clinical trial. The recent maturation of RNA vaccines into licensed products in the context of COVID-19 indicates the likelihood of broader use of the technology. Herein, we discuss the potential benefits provided by RNA technology as an approach to address the bottlenecks encountered for Leishmania vaccines. Further, we outline a variety of strategies that could be used to more efficiently evaluate Leishmania vaccine efficacy, including controlled human infection models and initial use in a therapeutic setting, that could prioritize candidates before evaluation in larger, longer and more complicated field trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruna A S Machado
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Roberto Badaró
- SENAI Institute of Innovation (ISI) in Health Advanced Systems (CIMATEC ISI SAS), University Center SENAI/CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Paul M Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Steven G Reed
- HDT Bio, 1616 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102, USA
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15
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Rashidi S, Faraji SN, Mamaghani AJ, Hatam S, Kazemi B, Bemani P, Tabaei SJS, Hatam G. Bioinformatics analysis for the purpose of designing a novel multi-epitope DNA vaccine against Leishmania major. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18119. [PMID: 36302830 PMCID: PMC9612607 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22646-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the main infectious diseases worldwide. In the midst of all the different forms of the disease, Cutaneous Leishmania (CL) has the highest incidence in the world. Many trial vaccines have been developed with the purpose of generating long-term cell-mediated immunity to Leishmania(L) major. As there is not any multi-epitope DNA vaccine with high efficacy against L.major, the aim of this study is to design a new multi-epitope DNA vaccine in order to have effective control upon this infectious disease through the immune bioinformatics. The L.major antigens: Gp63, LACK, TSA, LmSTI1and KMP11 were selected to design a multi-epitope DNA vaccine. The initial structure of the DNA vaccine was designed, benefiting from Gen Bank's website information. Epitopes of MHC-I antigens were predicted through the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), and the selected epitopes were used to make vaccines construct along with linkers. New multi-epitope vaccine including 459 nucleic acids designed, and inserted between BamH1 and HindIII restriction sites of pCDNA3.1 mammalian expression vector. 12 epitopes among the chosen antigens were selected by two servers (IEDB and ANTIGEN). They had high stability and high antigenic power. Physicochemical features of vaccine measured by ProtParam server, and this structure was thermostable and hydrophilic. it's a suitable model to study on the animal and human phases. The designed vaccine is expected to be an effective candidate through development of (CL) vaccines. However, the effectiveness of this vaccine should also evaluate in vivo model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sama Rashidi
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Nooreddin Faraji
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amirreza Javadi Mamaghani
- grid.411600.2Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Hatam
- Science and Technology Park of Fars, ExirBitanic Company, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- grid.411600.2Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center Shahid, Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Peyman Bemani
- grid.411036.10000 0001 1498 685XDepartment of Immunology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyyed Javad Seyyed Tabaei
- grid.411600.2Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Hatam
- Science and Technology Park of Fars, ExirBitanic Company, Shiraz, Iran ,grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698 Basic Sciences in Infectious diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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16
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Lacey C, Musa A, Khalil ET, Younis B, Osman M, Wiggins R, Keding A, Kaye P. LEISH2b - A phase 2b study to assess the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of the Leishmania vaccine ChAd63-KH in post-kala azar dermal leishmaniasis. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:200. [PMID: 37252616 PMCID: PMC10213822 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17951.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases caused by various Leishmania parasite species transmitted by sand flies. They comprise a number of systemic and cutaneous syndromes including kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis, VL), cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). The leishmaniases cause significant mortality (estimated 20 - 50,000 deaths annually), morbidity, psychological sequelae, and healthcare and societal costs. Treatment modalities remain difficult. E.g., East African PKDL requires 20 days of intravenous therapy, and frequently relapsing VL is seen in the setting of HIV and immunodeficiency. We developed a new therapeutic vaccine, ChAd63-KH for VL / CL / PKDL and showed it to be safe and immunogenic in a phase 1 trial in the UK, and in a phase 2a trial in PKDL patients in Sudan. Methods: This is a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled phase 2b trial to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of ChAd63-KH in patients with persistent PKDL in Sudan. 100 participants will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive placebo or ChAd63-KH (7.5 x10 10vp i.m.) at a single time point. Follow up is for 120 days after dosing and we will compare the clinical evolution of PKDL, as well as the humoral and cellular immune responses between the two arms. Discussion: Successful development of a therapeutic vaccine for leishmaniasis would have wide-ranging direct and indirect healthcare benefits that could be realized rapidly. For PKDL patients, an effective therapeutic vaccination used alone would have very significant clinical value, reducing the need for extensive hospitalization and chemotherapy. Combining vaccine with drug (immuno-chemotherapy) might significantly increase the effective life of new drugs, with lower dose / abbreviated regimens helping to limit the emergence of drug resistance. If therapeutic benefit of ChAd63-KH can be shown in PKDL further evaluation of the vaccine in other forms of leishmaniasis should be considered. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT03969134.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Lacey
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, UK, York, UK
| | - Ahmed Musa
- Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - El Tahir Khalil
- Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Brima Younis
- Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohamed Osman
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, UK, York, UK
| | - Rebecca Wiggins
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, UK, York, UK
| | - Ada Keding
- York Trials Unit, University of York, UK, York, UK
| | - Paul Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, UK, York, UK
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17
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Uwishema O, Sapkota S, Wellington J, Onyeaka CVP, Onyeaka H. Leishmaniasis control in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 80:104263. [PMID: 35936565 PMCID: PMC9339101 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease, endemic to Africa, Asia, and South America due to inadequate access to medication and underreporting of leishmaniasis cases. Leishmaniasis has two forms: cutaneous and visceral. The fight against leishmaniasis has been greatly affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that impacted resource distribution and access to medication. Continuous effort in vaccine development and affordable therapeutics are necessary to eliminate leishmaniasis in low-income countries. Further research is necessary to determine molecular drug resistance markers in leishmaniasis patients. In this analysis, we focus on the effect of COVID-19 on leishmaniasis in Africa.
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18
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Kumari D, Mahajan S, Kour P, Singh K. Virulence factors of Leishmania parasite: Their paramount importance in unraveling novel vaccine candidates and therapeutic targets. Life Sci 2022; 306:120829. [PMID: 35872004 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease and remains a global concern for healthcare. It is caused by an opportunistic protozoan parasite belonging to the genus Leishmania and affects millions worldwide. This disease is mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and is associated with a high risk of public morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Transmission of this deadly disease is aggravated by the bite of female sand-fly vectors (Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia). With time, significant advancement in leishmaniasis-related research has been carried out to cope with the disease burden. Still, the Leishmania parasite has also co-evolved with its host and adapted successfully within the host's lethal milieu/environment. Thus, understanding and knowledge of various leishmanial virulence factors responsible for the parasitic infection are essential for exploring drug targets and vaccine candidates. The present review elucidates the importance of virulence factors in pathogenesis and summarizes the major leishmanial virulence molecules contributing to the parasitic infection during host-pathogen interaction. Furthermore, we have also elaborated on the potential contribution of leishmanial virulence proteins in developing vaccine candidates and exploring novel therapeutics against this parasitic disease. We aim to represent a clearer picture of parasite pathogenesis within the human host that can further aid in unraveling new strategies to fight against the deadly infection of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diksha Kumari
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Shavi Mahajan
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Parampreet Kour
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Kuljit Singh
- Infectious Diseases Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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19
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Mazire PH, Saha B, Roy A. Immunotherapy for visceral leishmaniasis: A trapeze of balancing counteractive forces. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 110:108969. [PMID: 35738089 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani, residing and replicating within the cells of the monocyte-macrophage (mono-mac) lineage, causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in humans. While, Leishmania infantum, is the main causative agent for zoonotic VL, where dogs are the main reservoirs of the disease. The chemotherapy is a serious problem because of restricted repertoire of drugs, drug-resistant parasites, drug-toxicity and the requirement for parenteral administration, which is a problem in resource-starved countries. Moreover, immunocompromised individuals, particularly HIV-1 infected are at higher risk of VL due to impairment in T-helper cell and regulatory cell responses. Furthermore, HIV-VL co-infected patients report poor response to conventional chemotherapy. Recent efforts are therefore directed towards devising both prophylactic and therapeutic immunomodulation. As far as prophylaxis is concerned, although canine vaccines for the disease caused by Leishmania infantum or Leishmania chagasi are available, no vaccine is available for use in humans till date. Therefore, anti-leishmanial immunotherapy triggering or manipulating the host's immune response is gaining momentum during the last two decades. Immunomodulators comprised of small molecules, anti-leishmanial peptides, complex ligands for host receptors, cytokines or their agonists and antibodies have been given trials both in experimental models and in humans. However, the success of immunotherapy in humans remains a far-off target. We, therefore, propose that devising a successful immunotherapy is an act of balancing enhanced beneficial Leishmania-specific responses and deleterious immune activation/hyperinflammation just as the swings in a trapeze.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka H Mazire
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India
| | - Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India.
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20
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The History of Live Attenuated Centrin Gene-Deleted Leishmania Vaccine Candidates. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040431. [PMID: 35456106 PMCID: PMC9025045 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, caused by an infection of the Leishmania protozoa, is a neglected tropical disease and a major health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, with approximately 350 million people worldwide at risk and 2 million new cases occurring annually. Current treatments for leishmaniasis are not highly efficacious and are associated with high costs, especially in low- and middle-income endemic countries, and high toxicity. Due to a surge in the incidence of leishmaniases worldwide, the development of new strategies such as a prophylactic vaccine has become a high priority. However, the ability of Leishmania to undermine immune recognition has limited our efforts to design safe and efficacious vaccines against leishmaniasis. Numerous antileishmanial vaccine preparations based on DNA, subunit, and heat-killed parasites with or without adjuvants have been tried in several animal models but very few have progressed beyond the experimental stage. However, it is known that people who recover from Leishmania infection can be protected lifelong against future infection, suggesting that a successful vaccine requires a controlled infection to develop immunologic memory and subsequent long-term immunity. Live attenuated Leishmania parasites that are non-pathogenic and provide a complete range of antigens similarly to their wild-type counterparts could evoke such memory and, thus, would be effective vaccine candidates. Our laboratory has developed several live attenuated Leishmania vaccines by targeted centrin gene disruptions either by homologous recombination or, more recently, by using genome editing technologies involving CRISPR-Cas9. In this review, we focused on the sequential history of centrin gene-deleted Leishmania vaccine development, along with the characterization of its safety and efficacy. Further, we discussed other major considerations regarding the transition of dermotropic live attenuated centrin gene-deleted parasites from the laboratory to human clinical trials.
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21
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Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic and vector-borne infectious disease that is caused by the genus Leishmania belonging to the trypanosomatid family. The protozoan parasite has a digenetic life cycle involving a mammalian host and an insect vector. Leishmaniasisis is a worldwide public health problem falling under the neglected tropical disease category, with over 90 endemic countries, and approximately 1 million new cases and 20,000 deaths annually. Leishmania infection can progress toward the development of species–specific pathologic disorders, ranging in severity from self-healing cutaneous lesions to disseminating muco-cutaneous and fatal visceral manifestations. The severity and the outcome of leishmaniasis is determined by the parasite’s antigenic epitope characteristics, the vector physiology, and most importantly, the immune response and immune status of the host. This review examines the nature of host–pathogen interaction in leishmaniasis, innate and adaptive immune responses, and various strategies that have been employed for vaccine development.
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22
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Long-Term In Vitro Passaging Had a Negligible Effect on Extracellular Vesicles Released by Leishmania amazonensis and Induced Protective Immune Response in BALB/c Mice. J Immunol Res 2022; 2021:7809637. [PMID: 34977257 PMCID: PMC8720021 DOI: 10.1155/2021/7809637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Depending on Leishmania species and the presence/absence of virulence factors, Leishmania extracellular vesicles (EVs) can differently stimulate host immune cells. This work is aimed at characterizing and evaluating the protective role of EVs released by Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes under different maintenance conditions. Initially, using a control strain, we standardized 26°C as the best release temperature to obtain EVs with a potential protective role in the experimental leishmaniasis model. Then, long-term (LT-P) promastigotes of L. amazonensis were obtained after long-term in vitro culture (100 in vitro passages). In vivo-derived (IVD-P) promastigotes of L. amazonensis were selected after 3 consecutive experimental infections in BALB/c mice. Those strains developed similar lesion sizes except for IVD-P at 8 weeks post infection. No differences in EV production were detected in both strains. However, the presence of LPG between LT-P and IVD-P EVs was different. Groups of mice immunized with EVs emulsified in the adjuvant and challenged with IVD-P parasites showed decreased lesion size and parasitic load compared with the nonimmunized groups. The immunization regimen with two doses showed high IFN-γ and IgG2a titers in challenged mice with either IVD-P or LT-P EVs. IL-4 and IL-10 were detected in immunized mice, suggesting a mixed Th1/Th2 profile. EVs released by either IVD-P or LT-P induced a partial protective effect in an immunization model. Thus, our results uncover a potential protective role of EVs from L. amazonensis for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Moreover, long-term maintenance under in vitro conditions did not seem to affect EV release and their immunization properties in mice.
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23
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Abstract
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan Leishmania parasites that are transmitted through female sandfly bites. The disease is predominantly endemic to the tropics and semi-tropics and has been reported in more than 98 countries. Due to the side effects of anti-Leishmania drugs and the emergence of drug-resistant isolates, there is currently no encouraging prospect of introducing an effective therapy for the disease. Hence, it seems that the key to disease control management is the introduction of an effective vaccine, particularly against its cutaneous form. Advances in understanding underlying immune mechanisms are feasibale using a variety of candidate antigens, including attenuated live parasites, crude antigens, pure or recombinant Leishmania proteins, Leishmania genes encoding protective proteins, as well as immune system activators from the saliva of parasite vectors. However, there is still no vaccine against different types of human leishmaniasis. In this study, we review the works conducted or being performed in this field.
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24
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Tsakiri M, Naziris N, Demetzos C. Innovative vaccine platforms against infectious diseases: Under the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Pharm 2021; 610:121212. [PMID: 34687816 PMCID: PMC8527590 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2021.121212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
While classic vaccines have proved greatly efficacious in eliminating serious infectious diseases, innovative vaccine platforms open a new pathway to overcome dangerous pandemics via the development of safe and effective formulations. Such platforms play a key role either as antigen delivery systems or as immune-stimulators that induce both innate and adaptive immune responses. Liposomes or lipid nanoparticles, virus-like particles, nanoemulsions, polymeric or inorganic nanoparticles, as well as viral vectors, all belong to the nanoscale and are the main categories of innovative vaccines that are currently on the market or in clinical and preclinical phases. In this paper, we review the above formulations used in vaccinology and we discuss their connection with the development of safe and effective prophylactic vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
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25
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Adegboye O, Field MA, Kupz A, Pai S, Sharma D, Smout MJ, Wangchuk P, Wong Y, Loiseau C. Natural-Product-Based Solutions for Tropical Infectious Diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev 2021; 34:e0034820. [PMID: 34494873 PMCID: PMC8673330 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00348-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
About half of the world's population and 80% of the world's biodiversity can be found in the tropics. Many diseases are specific to the tropics, with at least 41 diseases caused by endemic bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Such diseases are of increasing concern, as the geographic range of tropical diseases is expanding due to climate change, urbanization, change in agricultural practices, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity. While traditional medicines have been used for centuries in the treatment of tropical diseases, the active natural compounds within these medicines remain largely unknown. In this review, we describe infectious diseases specific to the tropics, including their causative pathogens, modes of transmission, recent major outbreaks, and geographic locations. We further review current treatments for these tropical diseases, carefully consider the biodiscovery potential of the tropical biome, and discuss a range of technologies being used for drug development from natural resources. We provide a list of natural products with antimicrobial activity, detailing the source organisms and their effectiveness as treatment. We discuss how technological advancements, such as next-generation sequencing, are driving high-throughput natural product screening pipelines to identify compounds with therapeutic properties. This review demonstrates the impact natural products from the vast tropical biome have in the treatment of tropical infectious diseases and how high-throughput technical capacity will accelerate this discovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oyelola Adegboye
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Vector-Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Matt A. Field
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Garvin Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Andreas Kupz
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Saparna Pai
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Dileep Sharma
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- College of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael J. Smout
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Phurpa Wangchuk
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Yide Wong
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Claire Loiseau
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
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26
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Lymphatic filariasis and visceral leishmaniasis coinfection: A review on their epidemiology, therapeutic, and immune responses. Acta Trop 2021; 224:106117. [PMID: 34464587 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Coinfection is less commonly observed in individuals around the world, yet it is more common than the single infection. Around 800 million people worldwide are infected with helminths as a result of various diseases. Lymphatic filariasis (LF) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are chronic, deadly, crippling, and debilitating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that are endemic in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Due to poor hygienic conditions, poverty, and genetic predisposition, those living in endemic areas are more likely to develop both leishmaniasis and filariasis. One of the key challenges in the management of LF/VL coinfection is the development of an effective therapeutic strategy that not only treats the first episode of VL but also prevents LF. However, there is a scarcity of knowledge and data on the relationship between LF and VL coinfection. While reviewing it was apparent that only a few studies relevant to LF/VL coinfections have been reported from southeastern Spain, Sudan, and the Indian subcontinents, highlighting the need for greater research in the most affected areas. We also looked at LF and VL as a single disease and also as a coinfection. Some features of the immune response evolved in mammalian hosts against LF and VL alone or against coinfection are also discussed, including epidemiology, therapeutic regimens, and vaccines. In addition to being potentially useful in clinical research, our findings imply the need for improved diagnostic methodology and therapeutics, which could accelerate the deployment of more specific and effective diagnosis for treatments to lessen the impact of VL/LF coinfections in the population.
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27
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Keenan T, Spears RJ, Akkad S, Mahon CS, Hatton NE, Walton J, Noble A, Yates ND, Baumann CG, Parkin A, Signoret N, Fascione MA. A Tale of Two Bioconjugations: pH Controlled Divergent Reactivity of Protein α-oxo-Aldehydes in Competing α-oxo-Mannich and Catalyst-Free Aldol Ligations. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:2387-2400. [PMID: 34751550 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Site-selective chemical methods for protein bioconjugation have revolutionized the fields of cell and chemical biology through the development of novel protein/enzyme probes bearing fluorescent, spectroscopic, or even toxic cargos. Herein, we report two new methods for the bioconjugation of α-oxo aldehyde handles within proteins using small molecule aniline and/or phenol probes. The "α-oxo-Mannich" and "catalyst-free aldol" ligations both compete for the electrophilic α-oxo aldehyde, which displays pH divergent reactivity proceeding through the "Mannich" pathway at acidic pH to afford bifunctionalized bioconjugates, and the "catalyst-free aldol" pathway at neutral pH to afford monofunctionalized bioconjugates. We explore the substrate scope and utility of both of these bioconjugations in the construction of neoglycoproteins, in the process formulating a mechanistic rationale for how both pathways intersect with each other at different reaction pH's.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Keenan
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Richard J. Spears
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Saeed Akkad
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Clare S. Mahon
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom DH1 3LE
| | - Natasha E. Hatton
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Julia Walton
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Amanda Noble
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Nicholas D. Yates
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | | | - Alison Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Nathalie Signoret
- Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
| | - Martin A. Fascione
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, United Kingdom YO10 5DD
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Khatonier R, Ahmed G, Sarmah P, Narain K, Khan AM. Immunomodulatory role of Th17 pathway in experimental visceral leishmaniasis. Immunobiology 2021; 226:152148. [PMID: 34773853 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2021.152148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar is a vector borne protozoan infection caused by Leishmania donovani in the Indian subcontinent mainly India, Nepal and Bangladesh. It is a major public health problem in these countries mostly affecting the socio-economically poor population. Leishmaniasis ranks the third most important disease after malaria and filariasis but is still considered as one of the neglected tropical diseases of the world. For development of better therapeutic agents and effective vaccine against VL, there is a need to understand host immunological changes that play a vital role during course of infection. Therefore, we investigated the role of Th17 pathway in Balb/c mice during Leishmania donovani infection and treatment with amphotericin B. Mice were divided in four groups i.e. Control, Infected, Uninfected treated and Infected treated. The cytokine levels were estimated in the spleen of Balb/c mice on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 17, 21, 28, 35, 45 and 60 post infection and during course of treatment. The mRNA levels of the Th17 pathway during active Leishmania donovani infection and after treatment were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and protein levels by flow cytometry and ELISA. Results of our study revealed that active infection was associated with low levels of Th17 cytokines IL-17, IL-22 and IL-23 and elevated levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β. Amphotericin B treatment restored production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 and IL-22. The levels of transcription factor RORγt were found to correlate with the levels of IL-17 during infection and also after chemotherapy whereas STAT3 levels were elevated during infection and vice versa after treatment. The findings of this study suggest that Th17 cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 are associated with protection against VL infection and development of any interventions or chemotherapeutic agents targeting Th17 pathway could be an important approach for VL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasmita Khatonier
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, North-eastern Region, Post Box No-105, Dibrugarh 786001, Assam, India
| | - Giasuddin Ahmed
- Department of Biotechnology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Pallab Sarmah
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, North-eastern Region, Post Box No-105, Dibrugarh 786001, Assam, India
| | - Kanwar Narain
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, North-eastern Region, Post Box No-105, Dibrugarh 786001, Assam, India
| | - Abdul Mabood Khan
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases (ECD), Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.
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Kaye PM, Mohan S, Mantel C, Malhame M, Revill P, Le Rutte E, Parkash V, Layton AM, Lacey CJ, Malvolti S. Overcoming roadblocks in the development of vaccines for leishmaniasis. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:1419-1430. [PMID: 34727814 PMCID: PMC9844205 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1990043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The leishmaniases represent a group of parasitic diseases caused by infection with one of several species of Leishmania parasites. Disease presentation varies because of differences in parasite and host genetics and may be influenced by additional factors such as host nutritional status or co-infection. Studies in experimental models of Leishmania infection, vaccination of companion animals and human epidemiological data suggest that many forms of leishmaniasis could be prevented by vaccination, but no vaccines are currently available for human use. AREAS COVERED We describe some of the existing roadblocks to the development and implementation of an effective leishmaniasis vaccine, based on a review of recent literature found on PubMed, BioRxiv and MedRxiv. In addition to discussing scientific unknowns that hinder vaccine candidate identification and selection, we explore gaps in knowledge regarding the commercial and public health value propositions underpinning vaccine development and provide a route map for future research and advocacy. EXPERT OPINION Despite significant progress, leishmaniasis vaccine development remains hindered by significant gaps in understanding that span the vaccine development pipeline. Increased coordination and adoption of a more holistic view to vaccine development will be required to ensure more rapid progress in the years ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Sakshi Mohan
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | | | | | - Paul Revill
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Epke Le Rutte
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vivak Parkash
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Alison M. Layton
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
| | - Charles J.N. Lacey
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
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Protective Efficacy in a Hamster Model of a Multivalent Vaccine for Human Visceral Leishmaniasis (MuLeVaClin) Consisting of the KMP11, LEISH-F3+, and LJL143 Antigens in Virosomes, Plus GLA-SE Adjuvant. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112253. [PMID: 34835379 PMCID: PMC8618729 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe clinical form of leishmaniasis, fatal if untreated. Vaccination is the most cost-effective approach to disease control; however, to date, no vaccines against human VL have been made available. This work examines the efficacy of a novel vaccine consisting of the Leishmania membrane protein KMP11, LEISH-F3+ (a recombinant fusion protein, composed of epitopes of the parasite proteins nucleoside hydrolase, sterol-24-c-methyltransferase, and cysteine protease B), and the sand fly salivary protein LJL143, in two dose ratios. The inclusion of the TLR4 agonist GLA-SE as an adjuvant, and the use of virosomes (VS) as a delivery system, are also examined. In a hamster model of VL, the vaccine elicited antigen-specific immune responses prior to infection with Leishmania infantum. Of note, the responses were greater when higher doses of KMP11 and LEISH-F3+ proteins were administered along with the GLA-SE adjuvant and/or when delivered within VS. Remarkably, hamsters immunized with the complete combination (i.e., all antigens in VS + GLA-SE) showed significantly lower parasite burdens in the spleen compared to those in control animals. This protection was underpinned by a more intense, specific humoral response against the KMP11, LEISH-F3+, and LJL143 antigens in vaccinated animals, but a significantly less intense antibody response to the pool of soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA). Overall, these results indicate that this innovative vaccine formulation confers protection against L. infantum infection, supporting the advancement of the vaccine formulation into process development and manufacturing and the conduction of toxicity studies towards future phase I human clinical trials.
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Preclinical validation of a live attenuated dermotropic Leishmania vaccine against vector transmitted fatal visceral leishmaniasis. Commun Biol 2021; 4:929. [PMID: 34330999 PMCID: PMC8324786 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02446-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), a potentially fatal disease is caused by Leishmania donovani parasites with no vaccine available. Here we produced a dermotropic live attenuated centrin gene deleted Leishmania major (LmCen−/−) vaccine under Good Laboratory Practices and demonstrated that a single intradermal injection confers robust and durable protection against lethal VL transmitted naturally via bites of L. donovani-infected sand flies and prevents mortality. Surprisingly, immunogenicity characteristics of LmCen−/− parasites revealed activation of common immune pathways like L. major wild type parasites. Spleen cells from LmCen−/− immunized and L. donovani challenged hamsters produced significantly higher Th1-associated cytokines including IFN-γ, TNF-α, and reduced expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, IL-21, compared to non-immunized challenged animals. PBMCs, isolated from healthy people from non-endemic region, upon LmCen−/− infection also induced more IFN-γ compared to IL-10, consistent with our immunogenicity data in LmCen−/− immunized hamsters. This study demonstrates that the LmCen−/− parasites are safe and efficacious against VL and is a strong candidate vaccine to be tested in a human clinical trial. Karmakar et al produced a dermotropic, live attenuated centrin gene-deleted Leishmania major (LmCen−/−) vaccine against Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). They demonstrated in hamsters that a single intradermal injection confers robust and durable protection against lethal VL that is transmitted naturally via bites of L. donovani-infected sand flies.
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Abstract
The leishmanin skin test (LST) has been used for decades to detect exposure and immunity to the parasite Leishmania, the causative agent of the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis. In the LST, Leishmania antigen (leishmanin) is intradermally injected into the forearm. In an individual who has been previously infected, a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction results in a measurable induration at the site of the injection, indicating that previous exposure to Leishmania has resulted in the development of cell-mediated immunity. LST positivity is associated with long-lasting protective immunity against reinfection, most notably as reported for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Despite efforts over the past few decades, leishmanin antigen is no longer produced under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions anywhere in the world. Consequently, the use of the LST in epidemiological studies has declined in favor of serological and molecular tests. In this review, we provide a historical overview of the LST and justification for the reintroduction of leishmanin. A GMP-grade leishmanin can be used to detect immunity in vivo by the LST and can be investigated for use in an interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), which may serve as an in vitro version of the LST. The LST will be a valuable tool for surveillance and epidemiological studies in support of the VL elimination programs and as a surrogate marker of immunity in vaccine clinical trials.
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Parkash V, Ashwin H, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Jones G, Martin N, Greensted E, Allgar V, Kamhawi S, Valenzuela JG, Layton AM, Jaffe CL, Volf P, Kaye PM, Lacey CJN. A clinical study to optimise a sand fly biting protocol for use in a controlled human infection model of cutaneous leishmaniasis (the FLYBITE study). Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:168. [PMID: 34693027 PMCID: PMC8506224 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16870.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniasis is a globally important yet neglected parasitic disease transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. With new candidate vaccines in or near the clinic, a controlled human challenge model (CHIM) using natural sand fly challenge would provide a method for early evaluation of prophylactic efficacy. Methods : We evaluated the biting frequency and adverse effects resulting from exposure of human volunteers to bites of either Phlebotomus papatasi or P. duboscqi, two natural vectors of Leishmania major. 12 healthy participants were recruited (mean age 40.2 ± 11.8 years) with no history of significant travel to regions where L. major-transmitting sand flies are prevalent. Participants were assigned to either vector by 1:1 allocation and exposed to five female sand flies for 30 minutes in a custom biting chamber. Bite frequency was recorded to confirm a bloodmeal was taken. Participant responses and safety outcomes were monitored using a visual analogue scale (VAS), clinical examination, and blood biochemistry. Focus groups were subsequently conducted to explore participant acceptability. Results: All participants had at least one successful sand fly bite with none reporting any serious adverse events, with median VAS scores of 0-1/10 out to day 21 post-sand fly bite. Corresponding assessment of sand flies confirmed that for each participant at least 1/5 sand flies had successfully taken a bloodmeal (overall mean 3.67±1.03 bites per participant). There was no significant difference between P. papatasi and P. duboscqi in the number of bites resulting from 5 sand flies applied to human participants (3.3±0.81 vs 3.00±1.27 bites per participant; p=0.56) . In the two focus groups (n=5 per group), themes relating to positive participant-reported experiences of being bitten and the overall study, were identified. Conclusions: These results validate a protocol for achieving successful sand fly bites in humans that is safe, well-tolerated and acceptable for participants. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT03999970 (27/06/2019).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivak Parkash
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, N.Yorks, YO10 5DD, UK
- Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Helen Ashwin
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, N.Yorks, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Vojtkova
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Georgina Jones
- School of Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Nina Martin
- School of Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK
| | - Elizabeth Greensted
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, N.Yorks, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Victoria Allgar
- Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jesus G. Valenzuela
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Alison M. Layton
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, N.Yorks, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Charles L. Jaffe
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Hebrew University – Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Paul M. Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, N.Yorks, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Charles J. N. Lacey
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, N.Yorks, YO10 5DD, UK
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Savar NS, Vallet T, Azizi M, Arashkia A, Lundstrom K, Vignuzzi M, Niknam HM. Quantitative evaluation of PpSP15-LmSTI1 fusion gene expression following transfection with an alphavirus-derived self-amplifying mRNA and conventional DNA vaccine platforms. Mol Cell Probes 2021; 59:101749. [PMID: 34214632 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2021.101749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
New vaccine platforms are crucial to address complex parasitic infections such as cutaneous leishmaniasis. Self-amplifying mRNA (SAM) based vaccines represent the next generation nucleic acid-based platform. In the present study, we compared the expression levels of PpSP15-LmSTI1 fusion gene in BHK-21 cells following transfection with Semliki Forest virus (SFV)-derived SAM, SFV-derived plasmid DNA (pSFV-PD) and conventional plasmid DNA (pcDNA3.1+). PpSP15-LmSTI1 fusion gene expression levels were evaluated at different time points, using quantitative Real-time PCR. All data were validated and normalized by two internal control genes. According to the results, mean values of relative expression were significantly higher for SFV-PD SAM/fusion than pcDNA/fusion and pSFV-PD/fusion at all concentrations and time points. Our results showed that higher levels of PpSp15-LmSTI1 antigen expression could be achieved using a SAM vector than pcDNA and pSFV-PD, making it a valuable and efficient alternative to conventional plasmid DNA-based vaccines against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Vallet
- Institut Pasteur, Viral Populations and Pathogenesis Unit, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique UMR, 3569, Paris, France
| | - Masoumeh Azizi
- Molecular Medicine Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arash Arashkia
- Virology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Marco Vignuzzi
- Institut Pasteur, Viral Populations and Pathogenesis Unit, Centre National de La Recherche Scientifique UMR, 3569, Paris, France.
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Fortunato AK, Glasser CP, Watson JA, Lu Y, Rychtář J, Taylor D. Mathematical modelling of the use of insecticide-treated nets for elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar, India. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201960. [PMID: 34234949 PMCID: PMC8242840 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a deadly neglected tropical disease caused by a parasite Leishmania donovani and spread by female sand flies Phlebotomus argentipes. There is conflicting evidence regarding the role of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) on the prevention of VL. Numerous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of ITNs. However, KalaNet, a large trial in Nepal and India did not support those findings. The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the situation by mathematical modelling. We expand a mathematical model of VL transmission based on the KalaNet trial and incorporate the use of ITNs explicitly into the model. One of the major contributions of this work is that we calibrate the model based on the available epidemiological data, generally independent of the KalaNet trial. We validate the model on data collected during the KalaNet trial. We conclude that in order to eliminate VL, the ITN usage would have to stay above 96%. This is higher than the 91% ITNs use at the end of the trial which may explain why the trial did not show a positive effect from ITNs. At the same time, our model indicates that asymptomatic individuals play a crucial role in VL transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Fortunato
- Department of Mathematics, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173, USA
| | - Casey P. Glasser
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-1026, USA
| | - Joy A. Watson
- Department of Mathematics and Economics, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USA
| | - Yongjin Lu
- Department of Mathematics and Economics, Virginia State University, Petersburg, VA 23806, USA
| | - Jan Rychtář
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2014, USA
| | - Dewey Taylor
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2014, USA
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Mota CA, Oyama J, Souza Terron Monich MD, Brustolin AÁ, Perez de Souza JV, Murase LS, Ghiraldi Lopes LD, Silva Santos TD, Vieira Teixeira JJ, Verzignassi Silveira TG. Three decades of clinical trials on immunotherapy for human leishmaniases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Immunotherapy 2021; 13:693-721. [PMID: 33853344 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2020-0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Current treatments for leishmaniases are not satisfactory, thus alternatives are needed. We searched for clinical trials with immunotherapeutic approaches for patients with leishmaniasis. Materials & methods: Out of 205 articles, 24 clinical trials were selected, and eight submitted to meta-analysis. Results: A reduction in healing time was observed in patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis treated with pentavalent antimony plus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and therapeutic vaccines. Overall meta-analysis indicated that immunotherapy associated with the standard chemotherapy generated a significantly reduced risk of treatment failure than the pentavalent antimony alone (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Our review confirmed the efficacy of immunotherapies for the treatment of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis and highlighted the importance of clinical trials using immunotherapies for leishmaniases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Alves Mota
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Jully Oyama
- Graduate Program in Bioscience & Physiopathology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Aline Ávila Brustolin
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - João Vítor Perez de Souza
- Graduate Program in Bioscience & Physiopathology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Letícia Sayuri Murase
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Luciana Dias Ghiraldi Lopes
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Thais da Silva Santos
- Graduate Program in Bioscience & Physiopathology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Jorge Juarez Vieira Teixeira
- Laboratory of Leishmaniases, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Thaís Gomes Verzignassi Silveira
- Laboratory of Leishmaniases, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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Younis BM, Osman M, Khalil EAG, Santoro F, Furini S, Wiggins R, Keding A, Carraro M, Musa AEA, Abdarahaman MAA, Mandefield L, Bland M, Aebischer T, Gabe R, Layton AM, Lacey CJN, Kaye PM, Musa AM. Safety and immunogenicity of ChAd63-KH vaccine in post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis patients in Sudan. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2366-2377. [PMID: 33781913 PMCID: PMC8261165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a chronic, stigmatizing skin condition occurring frequently after apparent clinical cure from visceral leishmaniasis. Given an urgent need for new treatments, we conducted a phase IIa safety and immunogenicity trial of ChAd63-KH vaccine in Sudanese patients with persistent PKDL. LEISH2a (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02894008) was an open-label three-phase clinical trial involving sixteen adult and eight adolescent patients with persistent PKDL (median duration, 30 months; range, 6-180 months). Patients received a single intramuscular vaccination of 1 × 1010 viral particles (v.p.; adults only) or 7.5 × 1010 v.p. (adults and adolescents), with primary (safety) and secondary (clinical response and immunogenicity) endpoints evaluated over 42-120 days follow-up. AmBisome was provided to patients with significant remaining disease at their last visit. ChAd63-KH vaccine showed minimal adverse reactions in PKDL patients and induced potent innate and cell-mediated immune responses measured by whole-blood transcriptomics and ELISpot. 7/23 patients (30.4%) monitored to study completion showed >90% clinical improvement, and 5/23 (21.7%) showed partial improvement. A logistic regression model applied to blood transcriptomic data identified immune modules predictive of patients with >90% clinical improvement. A randomized controlled trial to determine whether these clinical responses were vaccine-related and whether ChAd63-KH vaccine has clinical utility is underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brima M Younis
- Department of Clinical Pathology & Immunology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Army Ave., Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mohamed Osman
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Eltahir A G Khalil
- Department of Clinical Pathology & Immunology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Army Ave., Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Francesco Santoro
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Simone Furini
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Rebecca Wiggins
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Ada Keding
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Monica Carraro
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Anas E A Musa
- Department of Clinical Pathology & Immunology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Army Ave., Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mujahid A A Abdarahaman
- Department of Clinical Pathology & Immunology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Army Ave., Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Laura Mandefield
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Martin Bland
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | | | - Rhian Gabe
- Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Alison M Layton
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Charles J N Lacey
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Paul M Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Ahmed M Musa
- Department of Clinical Pathology & Immunology, Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Army Ave., Khartoum, Sudan.
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Abstract
Purpose of Review The goal of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of cutaneous, mucosal, and visceral leishmaniasis. We will describe the most recent findings and suggest areas of further research in the leishmaniasis field. Recent Findings This article reviews newer leishmaniasis tests (including rapid diagnostic tests using rK39 antibodies), vaccine candidates, and updated treatment recommendations. Summary While leishmaniasis is a complex disease, learning the prominent clinical manifestations and major parasite species can guide the recommendations for diagnosis and treatment.
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Pacheco-Fernandez T, Volpedo G, Gannavaram S, Bhattacharya P, Dey R, Satoskar A, Matlashewski G, Nakhasi HL. Revival of Leishmanization and Leishmanin. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:639801. [PMID: 33816344 PMCID: PMC8010169 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.639801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis includes a spectrum of diseases ranging from debilitating cutaneous to fatal visceral infections. This disease is caused by the parasitic protozoa of the genus Leishmania that is transmitted by infected sandflies. Over 1 billion people are at risk of leishmaniasis with an annual incidence of over 2 million cases throughout tropical and subtropical regions in close to 100 countries. Leishmaniasis is the only human parasitic disease where vaccination has been successful through a procedure known as leishmanization that has been widely used for decades in the Middle East. Leishmanization involved intradermal inoculation of live Leishmania major parasites resulting in a skin lesion that following natural healing provided protective immunity to re-infection. Leishmanization is however no longer practiced due to safety and ethical concerns that the lesions at the site of inoculation that can last for months in some people. New genome editing technologies involving CRISPR has now made it possible to engineer safer attenuated strains of Leishmania, which induce protective immunity making way for a second generation leishmanization that can enter into human trials. A major consideration will be how the test the efficacy of a vaccine in the midst of the visceral leishmaniasis elimination program. One solution will be to use the leishmanin skin test (LST) that was also used for decades to determine exposure and immunity to Leishmania. The LST involves injection of antigen from Leishmania in the skin dermis resulting in a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) immune reaction associated with a Th1 immune response and protection against visceral leishmaniasis. Reintroduction of novel approaches for leishmanization and the leishmanin skin test can play a major role in eliminating leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia Pacheco-Fernandez
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Greta Volpedo
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Sreenivas Gannavaram
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Parna Bhattacharya
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Ranadhir Dey
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Abhay Satoskar
- Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Hira L Nakhasi
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD, United States
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Garza-Tovar TF, Sacriste-Hernández MI, Juárez-Durán ER, Arenas R. An overview of the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Fac Rev 2021; 9:28. [PMID: 33659960 PMCID: PMC7886081 DOI: 10.12703/r/9-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by species of Leishmania, with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, such as cutaneous, visceral, and mucocutaneous presentations. Many drugs are used for its treatment, and a current effective one is a pentavalent antimonial, especially in developing countries. In this review, we discuss recent proposed therapies as well as their side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eder R Juárez-Durán
- Mycology Section, "Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez" General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Roberto Arenas
- Mycology Section, "Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez" General Hospital, Mexico City, Mexico
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41
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Lu G, Shan S, Zainab B, Ayaz Z, He J, Xie Z, Rashid U, Zhang D, Mehmood Abbasi A. Novel vaccine design based on genomics data analysis: A review. Scand J Immunol 2021; 93:e12986. [PMID: 33043473 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Modification of pathogenic strains with the passage of time is responsible for evolution in the timeline of vaccine development for last 30 years. Recent advancements in computational vaccinology on the one hand and genome sequencing approaches on the other have generated new hopes in vaccine development. The aim of this review was to discuss the evolution of vaccines, their characteristics and limitations. In this review, we highlighted the evolution of vaccines, from first generation to the current status, pointing out how different vaccines have emerged and different approaches that are being followed up in the development of more rational vaccines against a wide range of diseases. Data were collected using Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge, Scopus and Science Hub, whereas computational tools such as NCBI, GeneMANIA and STRING were used to analyse the pathways of vaccine action. Innovative tools, such as computational tools, recombinant technologies and intra-dermal devices, are currently being investigated in order to improve the immunological response. New technologies enlightened the interactions of host proteins with pathogenic proteins for vaccine candidate development, but still there is a need of integrating transcriptomic and proteomic approaches. Although immunization with genomics data is a successful approach, its advantages must be assessed case by case and its applicability depends on the nature of the agent to be immunized, the nature of the antigen and the type of immune response required to achieve effective protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangli Lu
- Institute of Business, School of Business, Henan University, Henan, China
| | - Sharui Shan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University (Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Hospital), Guangzhou, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bibi Zainab
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Zainab Ayaz
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jialiang He
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Zhenxing Xie
- Basic School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Umer Rashid
- Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Dalin Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Arshad Mehmood Abbasi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
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42
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Pandey RK, Dikhit MR, Lokhande KB, Pandey K, Das P, Bimal S. An immunoprophylactic evaluation of Ld-ODC derived HLA-A0201 restricted peptides against visceral leishmaniasis. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2021; 40:6086-6096. [PMID: 33602055 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1876773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Five (5) HLA-A 0201 restricted epitopes of ornithine decarboxylase derived from Leishmania donovani (Ld-ODC) were examined by reverse vaccinology to develop prophylactics against visceral leishmaniasis (VL). These consensus epitopes comprising (P1: RLMPSAHAI, P2: LLDQYQIHL, P3: GLYHSFNCI, P4: AVLEVLSAL and P5: RLPASPAAL) were observed and presented by diverse HLA alleles screened by immune-informatics tools. These epitopes were also observed for strong stability for appropriate immune response in in silico screening and molecular dynamics. Top five selected epitopes filtered from population coverage analysis and TAP binding affinity were identified and evaluated against treated cases of VL subjects. Experiments were run individually with synthetic peptides or as the cocktail of peptides. A major population of CD8+ T cells were predominantly IFN-γ producers but not the IL-10 cytokines and shown with granzyme-B activity. Therefore, it can be concluded that the screened HLA-A0201 restricted epitope hotspots derived from Leishmania ODC can trigger CD8+ T cells, which can skew other immune cells functions toward protection. However, a detailed analysis can explore its potentiality as a vaccine candidate.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Kishor Pandey
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Hajipur, India.,Division of Immunology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Manas Ranjan Dikhit
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Kiran Bharat Lokhande
- Department of Pharmacoinformatics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, India
| | - Krishna Pandey
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
| | - Sanjiva Bimal
- Division of Immunology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India
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Salari S, Sharifi I, Bamorovat M, Ghasemi Nejad Almani P. The immunity of the recombinant prokaryotic and eukaryotic subunit vaccines against cutaneous leishmaniasis. Microb Pathog 2021; 153:104807. [PMID: 33609648 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis counts as one of the most neglected tropical diseases. Despite the amount of research perceived in this field, no fully effective and approved vaccine against this disease is yet available in humans. In this study, LACK and KMP11 antigens were constructed simultaneously by recombinant methods in prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems and were compared and assessed along with the CpG adjuvant in BALB/c mice. In the prokaryotic method, LACK and KMP11 protein gene sequences were synthesized in pET28a-TEV vector. In order to extract these two proteins after expression, His-tag and S-tag sequences were added to the constructs, respectively for LACK and KMP11. The pET28a-TEV-LACK/KMP11 construct was transformed into Escherichia coli, and the inserts were verified by Colony PCR. Pure proteins were verified by western blot, and groups of BALB/c mice were injected with the created prokaryotic recombinant proteins along with an ODN CpG adjuvant. In the eukaryotic method, antigen sequences were constructed in the pLEXSY-neo 2.1 vector, E.coli Top10 strain was cloned in the bacteria, and after being linearized were transfected into Leishmania tarentolae genome. After recombinant strains were selected, they were verified by molecular methods. After the extraction and purification of the protein using the method above, groups of mice were injected with the recombinant antigens and ODN CpG adjuvant. Eukaryotic subunit vaccines showed more effective immunization compared with prokaryotic vaccines and caused an immune system shift towards Th1 and protection. Protein expression in L. tarentolae by the constructs created in this host contains Post-Translational Modifications. The constructed protein will be significantly similar to eukaryotic proteins, considering that they are identical epitopes. More comprehensive studies aiming to improve the effectiveness of this vaccine are being conducted to improve immune profiles and immunological memory stimulation in future designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Salari
- Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Afzalipour Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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44
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Katebi A, Varshochian R, Riazi-Rad F, Ganjalikhani-Hakemi M, Ajdary S. Combinatorial delivery of antigen and TLR agonists via PLGA nanoparticles modulates Leishmania major-infected-macrophages activation. Pharmacotherapy 2021; 137:111276. [PMID: 33485119 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Appropriate activation of macrophages is critical for the elimination of Leishmania parasites, which resides in this cell. Some species of Leishmania (L.) fails to stimulate macrophages and establish a chronic infection. To overcome this suppression and induce an innate immune response, the effect of PLGA-encapsulated soluble antigens of Leishmania (SLA) along with agonists of TLR1/2 (Pam3CSK4) and TLR7/8 (R848) nanoparticles (NPs) on activation of L. major-infected-macrophages were investigated and were compared with those of soluble formulations. SLA and R848 were encapsulated into the PLGA, while Pam3CSK4 adsorbed onto the surface of nanoparticles. The kinetics of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and iNOS genes expression were investigated by qPCR over 72 h. The parasite load was also quantified by qPCR. The results indicated that engulfment of L. major promastigotes does not induce any pro-inflammatory cytokines expression by macrophages; however, the infected-cells are capable of responding to the TLRs agonists, and a lesser extent, to the SLA stimulation. Encapsulation resulted in increased strength of the IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and increased and prolonged time of iNOS expression. Also, encapsulation showed the leishmanicidal activity by decreasing parasite load in treated NPs formulations. Among the different combinations of the components, the triple (SLA-R848-Pam3CSK4) forms promoted the highest activation of macrophages, followed by dual SLA-Pam3CSK4 and SLA-R848 NPs. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that the addition of SLA in combination with TLR1/2 and TLR7/8 agonists either in NPs or in soluble forms overcome the suppression of L. major-infected macrophages. Moreover, encapsulation increases the strength and duration of the cytokines and iNOS expression, in parallel with decreasing parasite load, suggesting a longer availability or delivery of the NPs into the macrophages. These findings highlight the advantages of particulate therapeutic vaccine formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asal Katebi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR, Iran.
| | - Reyhaneh Varshochian
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR, Iran; Nanotechnology Research Centre, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR, Iran.
| | - Farhad Riazi-Rad
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR, Iran.
| | - Mazdak Ganjalikhani-Hakemi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR, Iran.
| | - Soheila Ajdary
- Department of Immunology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IR, Iran.
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45
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Ashwin H, Sadlova J, Vojtkova B, Becvar T, Lypaczewski P, Schwartz E, Greensted E, Van Bocxlaer K, Pasin M, Lipinski KS, Parkash V, Matlashewski G, Layton AM, Lacey CJ, Jaffe CL, Volf P, Kaye PM. Characterization of a new Leishmania major strain for use in a controlled human infection model. Nat Commun 2021; 12:215. [PMID: 33431825 PMCID: PMC7801518 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20569-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is widely regarded as a vaccine-preventable disease, but the costs required to reach pivotal Phase 3 studies and uncertainty about which candidate vaccines should be progressed into human studies significantly limits progress in vaccine development for this neglected tropical disease. Controlled human infection models (CHIMs) provide a pathway for accelerating vaccine development and to more fully understand disease pathogenesis and correlates of protection. Here, we describe the isolation, characterization and GMP manufacture of a new clinical strain of Leishmania major. Two fresh strains of L. major from Israel were initially compared by genome sequencing, in vivo infectivity and drug sensitivity in mice, and development and transmission competence in sand flies, allowing one to be selected for GMP production. This study addresses a major roadblock in the development of vaccines for leishmaniasis, providing a key resource for CHIM studies of sand fly transmitted cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Ashwin
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Vojtkova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Becvar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Patrick Lypaczewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Eli Schwartz
- The Center for Geographic Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Elizabeth Greensted
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Katrien Van Bocxlaer
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | | | | | - Vivak Parkash
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Greg Matlashewski
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alison M Layton
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Charles J Lacey
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Charles L Jaffe
- The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Paul M Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK.
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46
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Sasso E, D'Alise AM, Zambrano N, Scarselli E, Folgori A, Nicosia A. New viral vectors for infectious diseases and cancer. Semin Immunol 2020; 50:101430. [PMID: 33262065 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2020.101430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Since the discovery in 1796 by Edward Jenner of vaccinia virus as a way to prevent and finally eradicate smallpox, the concept of using a virus to fight another virus has evolved into the current approaches of viral vectored genetic vaccines. In recent years, key improvements to the vaccinia virus leading to a safer version (Modified Vaccinia Ankara, MVA) and the discovery that some viruses can be used as carriers of heterologous genes encoding for pathological antigens of other infectious agents (the concept of 'viral vectors') has spurred a new wave of clinical research potentially providing for a solution for the long sought after vaccines against major diseases such as HIV, TB, RSV and Malaria, or emerging infectious diseases including those caused by filoviruses and coronaviruses. The unique ability of some of these viral vectors to stimulate the cellular arm of the immune response and, most importantly, T lymphocytes with cell killing activity, has also reawakened the interest toward developing therapeutic vaccines against chronic infectious diseases and cancer. To this end, existing vectors such as those based on Adenoviruses have been improved in immunogenicity and efficacy. Along the same line, new vectors that exploit viruses such as Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), Measles Virus (MV), Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), have emerged. Furthermore, technological progress toward modifying their genome to render some of these vectors incompetent for replication has increased confidence toward their use in infant and elderly populations. Lastly, their production process being the same for every product has made viral vectored vaccines the technology of choice for rapid development of vaccines against emerging diseases and for 'personalised' cancer vaccines where there is an absolute need to reduce time to the patient from months to weeks or days. Here we review the recent developments in viral vector technologies, focusing on novel vectors based on primate derived Adenoviruses and Poxviruses, Rhabdoviruses, Paramixoviruses, Arenaviruses and Herpesviruses. We describe the rationale for, immunologic mechanisms involved in, and design of viral vectored gene vaccines under development and discuss the potential utility of these novel genetic vaccine approaches in eliciting protection against infectious diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Sasso
- Nouscom srl, Via di Castel Romano 100, 00128 Rome, Italy; Ceinge-Biotecnologie Avanzate S.C. A.R.L., via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy.
| | | | - Nicola Zambrano
- Ceinge-Biotecnologie Avanzate S.C. A.R.L., via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | | | | | - Alfredo Nicosia
- Ceinge-Biotecnologie Avanzate S.C. A.R.L., via Gaetano Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
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47
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Ranjan R, Das P, Vijayakumar S. Differentially modulated proteins associated with Leishmaniasis-a systematic review of in-vivo and in-vitro studies. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:9159-9178. [PMID: 33113081 PMCID: PMC7591689 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05936-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput proteomic technologies are widely used for understanding the disease mechanism, drug-resistant mechanism, and to identify drug targets and markers for diagnostics. Studies with proteomics applications, relating to Leishmaniasis, are being constantly reported in the literature. However, from such studies, a readily accessible knowledge of differentially modulated proteins associated with Leishmaniasis is lacking. Hence, we performed a systematic review concerning differentially modulated proteins (DMP) in Leishmania as well as host infected with Leishmania from the published articles between the years 2000 and 2019. This review is classified into five different sections, namely, DMP in the host after Leishmania infection, DMP between different strains of Leishmania, DMP in drug-resistant Leishmania, DMP in Leishmania under stress, and DMP in different life stages of Leishmania. A lot of consensuses could be observed among the DMP in drug-resistant and stressed Leishmania. In addition to the review, a database was constructed with the data collected in this study (protein accession ID, protein name, gene name, host organism, experimental conditions, fold change, and regulatory data). A total of 2635 records are available in the database. We believe this review and the database will help the researcher in understanding the disease better and provide information for the targeted proteomics study related to Leishmaniasis. Database availability: http://ldepdb.biomedinformri.com/ .
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Ranjan
- Department of Statistics/Bioinformatics Centre, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council for Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, 800007, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Department of Molecular Biology/Bioinformatics Centre, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council for Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, 800007, India
| | - Saravanan Vijayakumar
- Department of Statistics/Bioinformatics Centre, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council for Medical Research, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, 800007, India.
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48
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Zheng Z, Chen J, Ma G, Satoskar AR, Li J. Integrative genomic, proteomic and phenotypic studies of Leishmania donovani strains revealed genetic features associated with virulence and antimony-resistance. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:510. [PMID: 33046138 PMCID: PMC7552375 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04397-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Emerging drug resistance of Leishmania species poses threaten to the effective control and elimination programme of this neglected tropical disease. Methods In this work, we conducted drug-resistance testing, whole genome resequencing and proteome profiling for a recently reported clinical isolate with supposed drug resistance (HCZ), and two reference sensitive strains (DD8 and 9044) of Leishmania donovani, to explore molecular mechanisms underlying drug resistance in this parasite. Results With reference to DD8 and 9044 strains, HCZ isolate showed higher-level virulence and clear resistance to antimonials in promastigote culture, infected macrophages and animal experiment. Pairwise genomic comparisons revealed genetic variations (86 copy number variations, 271 frameshift mutations in protein-coding genes and two site mutations in non-coding genes) in HCZ isolate that were absent from the reference sensitive strains. Proteomic analysis indicated different protein expression between HCZ isolate and reference strains, including 69 exclusively detected proteins and 82 consistently down-/upregulated molecules in the HCZ isolate. Integrative analysis showed linkage of 12 genomic variations (gene duplication, insertion and deletion) and their protein expression changes in HCZ isolate, which might be associated with pathogenic and antimony-resistant phenotype. Functional annotation analyses further indicated that molecules involved in nucleotide-binding, fatty acid metabolism, oxidation-reduction and transport might play a role in host-parasite interaction and drug-resistance. Conclusions This comprehensive integrative work provided novel insights into the genetic basis underlying virulence and resistance, suggesting new aspects to be investigated for a better intervention against L. donovani and associated diseases.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwan Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangxu Ma
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Abhay R Satoskar
- Department of Pathology, Ohio State University Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
| | - Jiao Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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49
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Thompson AM, O'Connor PD, Marshall AJ, Yardley V, Maes L, Gupta S, Launay D, Braillard S, Chatelain E, Wan B, Franzblau SG, Ma Z, Cooper CB, Denny WA. Heteroaryl ether analogues of an antileishmanial 7-substituted 2-nitroimidazooxazine lead afford attenuated hERG risk: In vitro and in vivo appraisal. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 209:112914. [PMID: 33268145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Previous investigation of the potent antileishmanial properties of antitubercular 7-substituted 2-nitroimidazo[2,1-b][1,3]oxazines with biaryl side chains led to our development of a new clinical candidate for visceral leishmaniasis (DNDI-0690). Within a collaborative backup program, a racemic monoaryl lead (3) possessing comparable activity in mice but a greater hERG liability formed the starting point for our pursuit of efficacious second generation analogues having good solubility and safety. Asymmetric synthesis and appraisal of its enantiomers first established that chiral preferences for in vivo efficacy were species dependent and that neither form afforded a reduced hERG risk. However, in line with our findings in a structurally related series, less lipophilic heteroaryl ethers provided significant solubility enhancements (up to 16-fold) and concomitantly attenuated hERG inhibition. One promising pyridine derivative (49) displayed 100% oral bioavailability in mice and delivered a 96% parasite burden reduction when dosed at 50 mg/kg in a Leishmania donovani mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Thompson
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Patrick D O'Connor
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Andrew J Marshall
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
| | - Vanessa Yardley
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Suman Gupta
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India
| | - Delphine Launay
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Louis Dunant, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie Braillard
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Louis Dunant, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, 15 Chemin Louis Dunant, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Baojie Wan
- Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Scott G Franzblau
- Institute for Tuberculosis Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Zhenkun Ma
- Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, 40 Wall Street, New York, 10005, USA
| | | | - William A Denny
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
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50
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Sayedahmed EE, Mittal SK. A potential approach for assessing the quality of human and nonhuman adenoviral vector preparations. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE RECHERCHE VETERINAIRE 2020; 84:314-318. [PMID: 33012981 PMCID: PMC7491003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Various types of human and nonhuman adenoviral (AdV) vectors are being used as gene delivery vectors in preclinical and clinical investigations. The objective of this study was to determine the ratio between the 2 best assays that would effectively address the variability in the titration of various AdV vectors in different cell lines and help obtain consistent results in preclinical and clinical studies using different AdV vectors. Here, we compared plaque-forming units, tissue culture infectious dose 50, focus-forming units (FFU), virus particle (VP) count, and genome copy number (GCN) of purified preparations of human AdV type C5, bovine AdV type 3, and porcine AdV type 3 to determine a correlation between infectious and noninfectious virus particles. Our results suggest that a VP:FFU or a VP:GCN ratio could accurately reflect the quality of an AdV preparation and could serve as an indicator to control batch-to-batch variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekramy E Sayedahmed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue Institute for Immunology, Inflammation and Infectious Disease and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Suresh K Mittal
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue Institute for Immunology, Inflammation and Infectious Disease and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
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