1
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Mancino C, Pollet J, Zinger A, Jones KM, Villar MJ, Leao AC, Adhikari R, Versteeg L, Tyagi Kundu R, Strych U, Giordano F, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Taraballi F, Poveda C. Harnessing RNA Technology to Advance Therapeutic Vaccine Antigens against Chagas Disease. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:15832-15846. [PMID: 38518375 PMCID: PMC10996878 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) (American trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is a parasitic disease endemic in 21 countries in South America, with increasing global spread. When administered late in the infection, the current antiparasitic drugs do not prevent the onset of cardiac illness leading to chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, new therapeutic vaccines or immunotherapies are under development using multiple platforms. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of developing an mRNA-based therapeutic CD vaccine targeting two known T. cruzi vaccine antigens (Tc24─a flagellar antigen and ASP-2─an amastigote antigen). We present the mRNA engineering steps, preparation, and stability of the lipid nanoparticles and evaluation of their uptake by dendritic cells, as well as their biodistribution in c57BL/J mice. Furthermore, we assessed the immunogenicity and efficacy of two mRNA-based candidates as monovalent and bivalent vaccine strategies using an in vivo chronic mouse model of CD. Our results show several therapeutic benefits, including reductions in parasite burdens and cardiac inflammation, with each mRNA antigen, especially with the mRNA encoding Tc24, and Tc24 in combination with ASP-2. Therefore, our findings demonstrate the potential of mRNA-based vaccines as a therapeutic option for CD and highlight the opportunities for developing multivalent vaccines using this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mancino
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Assaf Zinger
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Laboratory
for Bioinspired Nano Engineering and Translational Therapeutics, Department
of Chemical Engineering, Technion−Israel
Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
- Cardiovascular
Sciences Department, Houston Methodist Academic
Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Neurosurgery
Department, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Maria José Villar
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ana Carolina Leao
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Rakesh Adhikari
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Cell Biology
and Immunology Group, Wageningen University
& Research, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Rakhi Tyagi Kundu
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Federica Giordano
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Francesca Taraballi
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Orthopedics
and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
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2
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García-Torres I, De la Mora-De la Mora I, López-Velázquez G, Cabrera N, Flores-López LA, Becker I, Herrera-López J, Hernández R, Pérez-Montfort R, Enríquez-Flores S. Repurposing of rabeprazole as an anti- Trypanosoma cruzi drug that targets cellular triosephosphate isomerase. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2231169. [PMID: 37401012 PMCID: PMC10351538 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2231169] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of American trypanosomiasis, which mainly affects populations in Latin America. Benznidazole is used to control the disease, with severe effects in patients receiving this chemotherapy. Previous studies have demonstrated the inhibition of triosephosphate isomerase from T. cruzi, but cellular enzyme inhibition has yet to be established. This study demonstrates that rabeprazole inhibits both cell viability and triosephosphate isomerase activity in T. cruzi epimastigotes. Our results show that rabeprazole has an IC50 of 0.4 µM, which is 14.5 times more effective than benznidazole. Additionally, we observed increased levels of methyl-glyoxal and advanced glycation end products after the inhibition of cellular triosephosphate isomerase by rabeprazole. Finally, we demonstrate that the inactivation mechanisms of rabeprazole on triosephosphate isomerase of T. cruzi can be achieved through the derivatization of three of its four cysteine residues. These results indicate that rabeprazole is a promising candidate against American trypanosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itzhel García-Torres
- Laboratorio de Biomoléculas y Salud Infantil, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, México
| | | | | | - Nallely Cabrera
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Luis Antonio Flores-López
- CONAHCYT Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Laboratorio de Biomoléculas y Salud Infantil, CDMX, México
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Juliana Herrera-López
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Roberto Hernández
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Ruy Pérez-Montfort
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Sergio Enríquez-Flores
- Laboratorio de Biomoléculas y Salud Infantil, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, México
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3
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Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Properties of Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from Stevia spp.: In Vitro and In Silico Studies. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020647. [PMID: 36839969 PMCID: PMC9961625 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Stevia species (Asteraceae) have been a rich source of terpenoid compounds, mainly sesquiterpene lactones, several of which show antiprotozoal activity. In the search for new trypanocidal compounds, S. satureiifolia var. satureiifolia and S. alpina were studied. Two sesquiterpene lactones, santhemoidin C and 2-oxo-8-deoxyligustrin, respectively, were isolated. These compounds were assessed in vitro against Trypanosoma cruzi stages, showing IC50 values of 11.80 and 4.98 on epimastigotes, 56.08 and 26.19 on trypomastigotes and 4.88 and 20.20 µM on amastigotes, respectively. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on Vero cells by the MTT assay. The effect of the compounds on trypanothyone reductase (TcTR), Trans-sialidase (TcTS) and the prolyl oligopeptidase of 80 kDa (Tc80) as potential molecular targets of T. cruzi was investigated. Santhemoidin C inhibited oligopeptidase activity when tested against recombinant Tc80 using a fluorometric assay, reaching an IC50 of 34.9 µM. Molecular docking was performed to study the interaction between santhemoidin C and the Tc80 protein, reaching high docking energy levels. Plasma membrane shedding and cytoplasmic vacuoles, resembling autophagosomes, were detected by transmission microscopy in parasites treated with santhemoidin C. Based on these results, santhemoidin C represents a promising candidate for further studies in the search for new molecules for the development of trypanocidal drugs.
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Petrenko DE, Karlinsky DM, Gordeeva VD, Arapidi GP, Britikova EV, Britikov VV, Nikolaeva AY, Boyko KM, Timofeev VI, Kuranova IP, Mikhailova AG, Bocharov EV, Rakitina TV. Crystal Structure of Inhibitor-Bound Bacterial Oligopeptidase B in the Closed State: Similarity and Difference between Protozoan and Bacterial Enzymes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032286. [PMID: 36768612 PMCID: PMC9917282 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032286] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The crystal structure of bacterial oligopeptidase B from Serratia proteamaculans (SpOpB) in complex with a chloromethyl ketone inhibitor was determined at 2.2 Å resolution. SpOpB was crystallized in a closed (catalytically active) conformation. A single inhibitor molecule bound simultaneously to the catalytic residues S532 and H652 mimicked a tetrahedral intermediate of the catalytic reaction. A comparative analysis of the obtained structure and the structure of OpB from Trypanosoma brucei (TbOpB) in a closed conformation showed that in both enzymes, the stabilization of the D-loop (carrying the catalytic D) in a position favorable for the formation of a tetrahedral complex occurs due to interaction with the neighboring loop from the β-propeller. However, the modes of interdomain interactions were significantly different for bacterial and protozoan OpBs. Instead of a salt bridge (as in TbOpB), in SpOpB, a pair of polar residues following the catalytic D617 and a pair of neighboring arginine residues from the β-propeller domain formed complementary oppositely charged surfaces. Bioinformatics analysis and structural modeling show that all bacterial OpBs can be divided into two large groups according to these two modes of D-loop stabilization in closed conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David M. Karlinsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Veronika D. Gordeeva
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Georgij P. Arapidi
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, 119435 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, 117303 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena V. Britikova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220141 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Vladimir V. Britikov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220141 Minsk, Belarus
| | | | - Konstantin M. Boyko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir I. Timofeev
- Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, Federal Scientific Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119333 Moscow, Russia
| | - Inna P. Kuranova
- Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, Federal Scientific Research Centre “Crystallography and Photonics” of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119333 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna G. Mikhailova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eduard V. Bocharov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Phystech School of Biological and Medical Physics, 117303 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana V. Rakitina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Baharin A, Ting TY, Goh HH. Post-Proline Cleaving Enzymes (PPCEs): Classification, Structure, Molecular Properties, and Applications. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:1330. [PMID: 35631755 PMCID: PMC9147577 DOI: 10.3390/plants11101330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Proteases or peptidases are hydrolases that catalyze the breakdown of polypeptide chains into smaller peptide subunits. Proteases exist in all life forms, including archaea, bacteria, protozoa, insects, animals, and plants due to their vital functions in cellular processing and regulation. There are several classes of proteases in the MEROPS database based on their catalytic mechanisms. This review focuses on post-proline cleaving enzymes (PPCEs) from different peptidase families, as well as prolyl endoprotease/oligopeptidase (PEP/POP) from the serine peptidase family. To date, most PPCEs studied are of microbial and animal origins. Recently, there have been reports of plant PPCEs. The most common PEP/POP are members of the S9 family that comprise two conserved domains. The substrate-limiting β-propeller domain prevents unwanted digestion, while the α/β hydrolase catalyzes the reaction at the carboxyl-terminal of proline residues. PPCEs display preferences towards the Pro-X bonds for hydrolysis. This level of selectivity is substantial and has benefited the brewing industry, therapeutics for celiac disease by targeting proline-rich substrates, drug targets for human diseases, and proteomics analysis. Protein engineering via mutagenesis has been performed to improve heat resistance, pepsin-resistant capability, specificity, and protein turnover of PPCEs for pharmacological applications. This review aims to synthesize recent structure-function studies of PPCEs from different families of peptidases to provide insights into the molecular mechanism of prolyl cleaving activity. Despite the non-exhaustive list of PPCEs, this is the first comprehensive review to cover the biochemical properties, biological functions, and biotechnological applications of PPCEs from the diverse taxa.
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Elucidation of the Conformational Transition of Oligopeptidase B by an Integrative Approach Based on the Combination of X-ray, SAXS, and Essential Dynamics Sampling Simulation. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12050712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Oligopeptidase B (OPB) is the least studied group from the prolyl oligopeptidase family. OPBs are found in bacteria and parasitic protozoa and represent pathogenesis factors of the corresponding infections. OPBs consist of two domains connected by a hinge region and have the characteristics of conformational dynamics, which include two types of movements: the bridging/separation of α/β-hydrolase catalytic and β-propeller-regulatory domains and the movement of a loop carrying catalytic histidine, which regulates an assembly/disassembly of the catalytic triad. In this work, an elucidation of the interdomain dynamics of OPB from Serratia proteamaculans (SpOPB) with and without modification of the hinge region was performed using a combination of X-ray diffraction analysis and small-angle X-ray scattering, which was complemented with an essential dynamics sampling (EDS) simulation. The first crystal structure of catalytically deficient SpOPB (SpOPBS532A) with an intact hinge sequence is reported. Similarly to SpOPB with modified hinges, SpOPBS532A was crystallized in the presence of spermine and adopted an intermediate conformation in the crystal lattice. Despite the similarity of the crystal structures, a difference in the catalytic triad residue arrangement was detected, which explained the inhibitory effect of the hinge modification. The SpOPBS532A structure reconstituted to the wild-type form was used as a starting point to the classical MD followed by EDS simulation, which allowed us to simulate the domain separation and the transition of the enzyme from the intermediate to open conformation. The obtained open state model was in good agreement with the experimental SAXS data.
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Vaccine Design against Chagas Disease Focused on the Use of Nucleic Acids. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10040587. [PMID: 35455336 PMCID: PMC9028413 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10040587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic to Central and South America. However, it has spread around the world and affects several million people. Treatment with currently available drugs cause several side effects and require long treatment times to eliminate the parasite, however, this does not improve the chronic effects of the disease such as cardiomyopathy. A therapeutic vaccine for Chagas disease may be able to prevent the disease and improve the chronic effects such as cardiomyopathy. This vaccine would be beneficial for both infected people and those which are at risk in endemic and non-endemic areas. In this article, we will review the surface antigens of T. cruzi, in order to choose those that are most antigenic and least variable, to design effective vaccines against the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Also, we discuss aspects of the design of nucleic acid-based vaccines, which have been developed and proven to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The role of co-adjuvants and delivery carriers is also discussed. We present an example of a chimeric trivalent vaccine, based on experimental work, which can be used to design a vaccine against Chagas disease.
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8
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Pathogen diversity, immunity, and the fate of infections: lessons learned from Trypanosoma cruzi human–host interactions. THE LANCET MICROBE 2022; 3:e711-e722. [DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(21)00265-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
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9
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Petrenko DE, Timofeev VI, Britikov VV, Britikova EV, Kleymenov SY, Vlaskina AV, Kuranova IP, Mikhailova AG, Rakitina TV. First Crystal Structure of Bacterial Oligopeptidase B in an Intermediate State: The Roles of the Hinge Region Modification and Spermine. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10101021. [PMID: 34681120 PMCID: PMC8533160 DOI: 10.3390/biology10101021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Oligopeptidase B is a two-domain, trypsin-like peptidase from parasitic protozoa and bacteria which belongs to the least studied group of prolyloligopeptidases. In this study, we describe for the first time a crystal structure of bacterial oligopeptidase B and compare it with those of protozoan oligopeptidases B and related prolyloligopeptidases. The enzyme was crystallized in the presence of spermine and contained a modified sequence of the interdomain linker. Both factors were key for crystallization. The structure showed an uncommon intermediate conformation with a domain arrangement intermediate between open and closed conformations found in the crystals of ligand-free and inhibitor-bound prolyloligopeptidases, respectively. To evaluate the impact of the modification and spermine in the obtained conformation, small-angle X-ray scattering was applied, which showed that in solution wild-type enzymes adopt the open conformation and spermine causes a transition to the intermediate state, while the modification is associated with a partial transition. We suggest that spermine-dependent conformational transition replicates the behavior of the enzyme in bacterial cells and the intermediate state, which is rarely detected in vitro, and might be widely distributed in vivo, and so should be considered during computational studies, including those aimed wanting to develop the small molecule inhibitors targeting prolyloligopeptidases. Abstract Oligopeptidase B (OpB) is a two-domain, trypsin-like serine peptidase belonging to the S9 prolyloligopeptidase (POP) family. Two domains are linked by a hinge region that participates in the transition of the enzyme between two major states—closed and open—in which domains and residues of the catalytic triad are located close to each other and separated, respectively. In this study, we described, for the first time, a structure of OpB from bacteria obtained for an enzyme from Serratia proteomaculans with a modified hinge region (PSPmod). PSPmod was crystallized in a conformation characterized by a disruption of the catalytic triad together with a domain arrangement intermediate between open and closed states found in crystals of ligand-free and inhibitor-bound POP, respectively. Two additional derivatives of PSPmod were crystallized in the same conformation. Neither wild-type PSP nor its corresponding mutated variants were susceptible to crystallization, indicating that the hinge region modification was key in the crystallization process. The second key factor was suggested to be polyamine spermine since all crystals were grown in its presence. The influences of the hinge region modification and spermine on the conformational state of PSP in solution were evaluated by small-angle X-ray scattering. SAXS showed that, in solution, wild-type PSP adopted the open state, spermine caused the conformational transition to the intermediate state, and spermine-free PSPmod contained molecules in the open and intermediate conformations in dynamic equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry E. Petrenko
- National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.E.P.); (A.V.V.)
| | - Vladimir I. Timofeev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
- Federal Scientific Research Center “Crystallography and Photonics”, RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia;
- Correspondence: (V.I.T.); (T.V.R.)
| | - Vladimir V. Britikov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220141 Minsk, Belarus; (V.V.B.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Elena V. Britikova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 220141 Minsk, Belarus; (V.V.B.); (E.V.B.)
| | - Sergey Y. Kleymenov
- Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center “Fundamentals of Biotechnology”, RAS, 119071 Moscow, Russia;
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, RAS, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna V. Vlaskina
- National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia; (D.E.P.); (A.V.V.)
| | - Inna P. Kuranova
- Federal Scientific Research Center “Crystallography and Photonics”, RAS, 119333 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Anna G. Mikhailova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Tatiana V. Rakitina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia;
- Correspondence: (V.I.T.); (T.V.R.)
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10
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López L, Chiribao ML, Girard MC, Gómez KA, Carasi P, Fernandez M, Hernandez Y, Robello C, Freire T, Piñeyro MD. The cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase from Trypanosoma cruzi induces a pro-inflammatory Th1 immune response in a peroxidatic cysteine-dependent manner. Immunology 2021; 163:46-59. [PMID: 33410127 PMCID: PMC8044337 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (c-TXNPx) is a 2-Cys peroxiredoxin (Prx) with an important role in detoxifying host cell oxidative molecules during parasite infection. c-TXNPx is a virulence factor, as its overexpression enhances parasite infectivity and resistance to exogenous oxidation. As Prxs from other organisms possess immunomodulatory properties, we studied the effects of c-TXNPx in the immune response and analysed whether the presence of the peroxidatic cysteine is necessary to mediate these properties. To this end, we used a recombinant c-TXNPx and a mutant version (c-TXNPxC52S) lacking the peroxidatic cysteine. We first analysed the oligomerization profile, oxidation state and peroxidase activity of both proteins by gel filtration, Western blot and enzymatic assay, respectively. To investigate their immunological properties, we analysed the phenotype and functional activity of macrophage and dendritic cells and the T-cell response by flow cytometry after injection into mice. Our results show that c-TXNPx, but not c-TXNPxC52S, induces the recruitment of IL-12/23p40-producing innate antigen-presenting cells and promotes a strong specific Th1 immune response. Finally, we studied the cellular and humoral immune response developed in the context of parasite natural infection and found that only wild-type c-TXNPx induces proliferation and high levels of IFN-γ secretion in PBMC from chronic patients without demonstrable cardiac manifestations. In conclusion, we demonstrate that c-TXNPx possesses pro-inflammatory properties that depend on the presence of peroxidatic cysteine that is essential for peroxidase activity and quaternary structure of the protein and could contribute to rational design of immune-based strategies against Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía López
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Desarrollo de VacunasDepartamento de InmunobiologíaFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de La RepúblicaMontevideoUruguay
- Unidad de Biología MolecularInstitut Pasteur MontevideoMontevideoUruguay
| | - María Laura Chiribao
- Unidad de Biología MolecularInstitut Pasteur MontevideoMontevideoUruguay
- Departamento de BioquímicaFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de La RepúblicaMontevideoUruguay
| | - Magalí C. Girard
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de las Infecciones por TripanosomátidosInstituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI‐CONICET)Buenos AiresArgentina
| | - Karina A. Gómez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de las Infecciones por TripanosomátidosInstituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI‐CONICET)Buenos AiresArgentina
| | - Paula Carasi
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Desarrollo de VacunasDepartamento de InmunobiologíaFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de La RepúblicaMontevideoUruguay
| | - Marisa Fernandez
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología ‘Doctor Mario Fatala Chabén’Buenos AiresArgentina
| | - Yolanda Hernandez
- Instituto Nacional de Parasitología ‘Doctor Mario Fatala Chabén’Buenos AiresArgentina
| | - Carlos Robello
- Unidad de Biología MolecularInstitut Pasteur MontevideoMontevideoUruguay
- Departamento de BioquímicaFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de La RepúblicaMontevideoUruguay
| | - Teresa Freire
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Desarrollo de VacunasDepartamento de InmunobiologíaFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de La RepúblicaMontevideoUruguay
| | - María Dolores Piñeyro
- Unidad de Biología MolecularInstitut Pasteur MontevideoMontevideoUruguay
- Departamento de BioquímicaFacultad de MedicinaUniversidad de La RepúblicaMontevideoUruguay
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11
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Dumonteil E, Herrera C. The Case for the Development of a Chagas Disease Vaccine: Why? How? When? Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6010016. [PMID: 33530605 PMCID: PMC7851737 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a major neglected tropical disease, transmitted predominantly by triatomine insect vectors, but also through congenital and oral routes. While endemic in the Americas, it has turned into a global disease. Because of the current drug treatment limitations, a vaccine would represent a major advancement for better control of the disease. Here, we review some of the rationale, advances, and challenges for the ongoing development of a vaccine against Chagas disease. Recent pre-clinical studies in murine models have further expanded (i) the range of vaccine platforms and formulations tested; (ii) our understanding of the immune correlates for protection; and (iii) the extent of vaccine effects on cardiac function, beyond survival and parasite burden. We further discuss outstanding issues and opportunities to move Chagas disease development forward in the near future.
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12
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Update on relevant trypanosome peptidases: Validated targets and future challenges. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1869:140577. [PMID: 33271348 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2020.140577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of the American Trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the agents of Sleeping sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis, HAT), as well as Trypanosoma brucei brucei, the agent of the cattle disease nagana, contain cysteine, serine, threonine, aspartyl and metallo peptidases. The most abundant among these enzymes are the cysteine proteases from the Clan CA, the Cathepsin L-like cruzipain and rhodesain, and the Cathepsin B-like enzymes, which have essential roles in the parasites and thus are potential targets for chemotherapy. In addition, several other proteases, present in one or both parasites, have been characterized, and some of them are also promising candidates for the developing of new drugs. Recently, new inhibitors, with good selectivity for the parasite proteasomes, have been described and are very promising as lead compounds for the development of new therapies for these neglected diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Play and interplay of proteases in health and disease".
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13
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Mansoldo FRP, Carta F, Angeli A, Cardoso VDS, Supuran CT, Vermelho AB. Chagas Disease: Perspectives on the Past and Present and Challenges in Drug Discovery. Molecules 2020; 25:E5483. [PMID: 33238613 PMCID: PMC7700143 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease still has no effective treatment option for all of its phases despite being discovered more than 100 years ago. The development of commercial drugs has been stagnating since the 1960s, a fact that sheds light on the question of how drug discovery research has progressed and taken advantage of technological advances. Could it be that technological advances have not yet been sufficient to resolve this issue or is there a lack of protocol, validation and standardization of the data generated by different research teams? This work presents an overview of commercial drugs and those that have been evaluated in studies and clinical trials so far. A brief review is made of recent target-based and phenotypic studies based on the search for molecules with anti-Trypanosoma cruzi action. It also discusses how proteochemometric (PCM) modeling and microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) can help in the case of the lack of a 3D protein structure; more specifically, Trypanosoma cruzi carbonic anhydrase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Raposo Passos Mansoldo
- BIOINOVAR-Biocatalysis, Bioproducts and Bioenergy, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (F.R.P.M.); (V.d.S.C.)
| | - Fabrizio Carta
- Neurofarba Department, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy; (F.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Andrea Angeli
- Neurofarba Department, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy; (F.C.); (A.A.)
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers Department, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 700487 Iasi, Romania
| | - Veronica da Silva Cardoso
- BIOINOVAR-Biocatalysis, Bioproducts and Bioenergy, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (F.R.P.M.); (V.d.S.C.)
| | - Claudiu T. Supuran
- Neurofarba Department, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy; (F.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Alane Beatriz Vermelho
- BIOINOVAR-Biocatalysis, Bioproducts and Bioenergy, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (F.R.P.M.); (V.d.S.C.)
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14
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Cerny N, Bivona AE, Sanchez Alberti A, Trinitario SN, Morales C, Cardoso Landaburu A, Cazorla SI, Malchiodi EL. Cruzipain and Its Physiological Inhibitor, Chagasin, as a DNA-Based Therapeutic Vaccine Against Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Immunol 2020; 11:565142. [PMID: 33162979 PMCID: PMC7583359 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.565142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic in 21 Latin American countries and the southern United States and now is spreading into several other countries due to migration. Despite the efforts to control the vector throughout the Americas, currently, there are almost seven million infected people worldwide, causing ~10,000 deaths per year, and 70 million people at risk to acquire the infection. Chagas disease treatment is restricted only to two parasiticidal drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, which are effective during the acute and early infections but have not been found to be as effective in chronic infection. No prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine for human use has been communicated at this moment. Here, we evaluate in a mouse model a therapeutic DNA vaccine combining Cruzipain (Cz), a T. cruzi cysteine protease that proved to be protective in several settings, and Chagasin (Chg), which is the natural Cz inhibitor. The DNAs of both antigens, as well as a plasmid encoding GM-CSF as adjuvant, were orally administrated and delivered by an attenuated Salmonella strain to treat mice during the acute phase of T. cruzi infection. The bicomponent vaccine based on Salmonella carrying Cz and Chg (SChg+SCz) was able to improve the protection obtained by each antigen as monocomponent therapeutic vaccine and significantly increased the titers of antigen- and parasite-specific antibodies. More importantly, the bicomponent vaccine triggered a robust cellular response with interferon gamma (IFN-γ) secretion that rapidly reduced the parasitemia during the acute phase and decreased the tissue damage in the chronic stage of the infection, suggesting it could be an effective tool to ameliorate the pathology associated to Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Cerny
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Microbiología Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Augusto Ernesto Bivona
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Microbiología Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés Sanchez Alberti
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Microbiología Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Nicolás Trinitario
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Microbiología Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celina Morales
- Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Cardoso Landaburu
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Microbiología Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia Inés Cazorla
- Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Microbiología Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Laboratorio de Inmunología, Centro de Referencia Para Lactobacilos (CERELA-CONICET), Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Emilio Luis Malchiodi
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU, UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Departamento de Microbiología Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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15
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Antonoglou MB, Sánchez Alberti A, Redolfi DM, Bivona AE, Fernández Lynch MJ, Noli Truant S, Sarratea MB, Iannantuono López LV, Malchiodi EL, Fernández MM. Heterologous Chimeric Construct Comprising a Modified Bacterial Superantigen and a Cruzipain Domain Confers Protection Against Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1279. [PMID: 32695105 PMCID: PMC7338481 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is an endemic chronic parasitosis in Latin America affecting more than 7 million people. Around 100 million people are currently at risk of acquiring the infection; however, no effective vaccine has been developed yet. Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of this parasitosis and as an intracellular protozoan it can reside within different tissues, mainly muscle cells, evading host immunity and allowing progression towards the chronic stage of the disease. Considering this intracellular parasitism triggers strong cellular immunity that, besides being necessary to limit infection, is not sufficient to eradicate the parasite from tissues, a differential immune response is required and new strategies for vaccines against Chagas disease need to be explored. In this work, we designed, cloned and expressed a chimeric molecule, named NCz-SEGN24A, comprising a parasite antigen, the N-terminal domain of the major cysteine protease of T. cruzi, cruzipain (Nt-Cz), and a non-toxic form of the staphylococcal superantigen (SAg) G, SEG, with the residue Asn24 mutated to Ala (N24A). The mutant SAg SEGN24A, retains its ability to trigger classical activation of macrophages without inducing T cell apoptosis. To evaluate, as a proof of concept, the immunogenicity and efficacy of the chimeric immunogen vs. its individual antigens, C3H mice were immunized intramuscularly with NCz-SEGN24A co-adjuvanted with CpG-ODN, or the recombinant proteins Nt-Cz plus SEGN24A with the same adjuvant. Vaccinated mice significantly produced Nt-Cz-specific IgG titers after immunization and developed higher IgG2a than IgG1 titers. Specific cell-mediated immunity was assessed by in-vivo DTH and significant responses were obtained. To assess protection, mice were challenged with trypomastigotes of T. cruzi. Both schemes reduced the parasite load throughout the acute phase, but only mice immunized with NCz-SEGN24A showed significant differences against control; moreover, these mice maintained 100% survival. These results encourage testing mutated superantigens fused to specific antigens as immune modulators against pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Antonoglou
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés Sánchez Alberti
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela María Redolfi
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Augusto Ernesto Bivona
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Julieta Fernández Lynch
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofía Noli Truant
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Belén Sarratea
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Valeria Iannantuono López
- Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emilio Luis Malchiodi
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marisa Mariel Fernández
- Cátedra de Inmunología, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Lasse C, Azevedo CS, de Araújo CN, Motta FN, Andrade MA, Rocha AP, Sampaio I, Charneau S, Gèze M, Grellier P, Santana JM, Bastos IMD. Prolyl Oligopeptidase From Leishmania infantum: Biochemical Characterization and Involvement in Macrophage Infection. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1060. [PMID: 32547514 PMCID: PMC7271538 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is a flagellated protozoan and one of the main causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis. This disease usually affects the human reticuloendothelial system, can cause death and available therapies may lead to serious side effects. Since it is a neglected tropical disease, the incentives for the development of new drugs are insufficient. It is important to know Leishmania virulence factors that contribute most to the disease in order to develop drugs. In the present work, we have produced L. infantum prolyl oligopeptidase (rPOPLi) in Escherichia coli, and investigated its biochemical properties as well as the effect of POP inhibitors on its enzymatic activity and on the inhibition of the macrophage infection by L. infantum. The optimal activity occurred at pH 7.5 and 37°C in the presence of DTT, the latter increased rPOPLi catalytic efficiency 5-fold on the substrate N-Suc-Gly-Pro-Leu-Gly-Pro-AMC. The enzyme was inhibited by TPCK, TLCK and by two POP specific inhibitors, Z-Pro-prolinal (ZPP, IC50 4.2 nM) and S17092 (IC50 3.5 nM). Besides being a cytoplasmic enzyme, POPLi is also found in punctuate structures within the parasite cytoplasm or associated with the parasite plasma membrane in amastigotes and promastigotes, respectively. Interestingly, S17092 and ZPP prevented parasite invasion in murine macrophages, supporting the involvement of POPLi in the invasive process of L. infantum. These data suggest POPLi as a virulence factor that offers potential as a target for designing new antileishmanial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Lasse
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Clênia S Azevedo
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,UMR 7245 MCAM, Musèum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Carla N de Araújo
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Faculty of Ceilandia, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Flávia N Motta
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Faculty of Ceilandia, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Milene A Andrade
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,UMR 7245 MCAM, Musèum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Amanda Pereira Rocha
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Iracyara Sampaio
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Sébastien Charneau
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marc Gèze
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Musèum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.,CeMIM, Musèum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Grellier
- UMR 7245 MCAM, Musèum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Jaime M Santana
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Izabela M D Bastos
- Pathogen-Host Interface Laboratory, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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17
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Sanchez Alberti A, Bivona AE, Matos MN, Cerny N, Schulze K, Weißmann S, Ebensen T, González G, Morales C, Cardoso AC, Cazorla SI, Guzmán CA, Malchiodi EL. Mucosal Heterologous Prime/Boost Vaccination Induces Polyfunctional Systemic Immunity, Improving Protection Against Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Immunol 2020; 11:128. [PMID: 32153562 PMCID: PMC7047160 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There are several unmet needs in modern immunology. Among them, vaccines against parasitic diseases and chronic infections lead. Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is an excellent example of a silent parasitic invasion that affects millions of people worldwide due to its progression into the symptomatic chronic phase of infection. In search for novel vaccine candidates, we have previously introduced Traspain, an engineered trivalent immunogen that was designed to address some of the known mechanisms of T. cruzi immune evasion. Here, we analyzed its performance in different DNA prime/protein boost protocols and characterized the systemic immune response associated with diverse levels of protection. Formulations that include a STING agonist, like c-di-AMP in the boost doses, were able to prime a Th1/Th17 immune response. Moreover, comparison between them showed that vaccines that were able to prime polyfunctional cell-mediated immunity at the CD4 and CD8 compartment enhanced protection levels in the murine model. These findings contribute to a better knowledge of the desired vaccine-elicited immunity against T. cruzi and promote the definition of a vaccine correlate of protection against the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Sanchez Alberti
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Augusto E Bivona
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marina N Matos
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kai Schulze
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sebastian Weißmann
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Ebensen
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Germán González
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celina Morales
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro C Cardoso
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia I Cazorla
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos A Guzmán
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "Prof. Ricardo A. Margni" (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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18
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Bivona AE, Alberti AS, Cerny N, Trinitario SN, Malchiodi EL. Chagas disease vaccine design: the search for an efficient Trypanosoma cruzi immune-mediated control. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165658. [PMID: 31904415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is currently endemic to 21 Latin-American countries and has also become a global concern because of globalization and mass migration of chronically infected individuals. Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination might contribute to control the infection and the pathology, as complement of other strategies such as vector control and chemotherapy. Ideal prophylactic vaccine would produce sterilizing immunity; however, a reduction of the parasite burden would prevent progression from Trypanosoma cruzi infection to Chagas disease. A therapeutic vaccine for Chagas disease may improve or even replace the treatment with current drugs which have several side effects and require long term treatment that frequently leads to therapeutic withdrawal. Here, we will review some aspects about sub-unit vaccines, the rationale behind the selection of the immunogen, the role of adjuvants, the advantages and limitations of DNA-based vaccines and the idea of therapeutic vaccines. One of the main limitations to advance vaccine development against Chagas disease is the high number of variables that must be considered and the lack of uniform criteria among research laboratories. To make possible comparisons, much of this review will be focused on experiments that kept many variables constant including antigen mass/doses, type of eukaryotic plasmid, DNA-delivery system, mice strain and sex, lethal and sublethal model of infection, and similar immunogenicity and efficacy assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augusto E Bivona
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Dr. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrés Sánchez Alberti
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Dr. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Dr. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián N Trinitario
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Dr. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Dr. Ricardo A. Margni (IDEHU), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología and Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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19
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Rios LE, Vázquez-Chagoyán JC, Pacheco AO, Zago MP, Garg NJ. Immunity and vaccine development efforts against Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2019; 200:105168. [PMID: 31513763 PMCID: PMC7409534 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent for Chagas disease (CD). There is a critical lack of methods for prevention of infection or treatment of acute infection and chronic disease. Studies in experimental models have suggested that the protective immunity against T. cruzi infection requires the elicitation of Th1 cytokines, lytic antibodies and the concerted activities of macrophages, T helper cells, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In this review, we summarize the research efforts in vaccine development to date and the challenges faced in achieving an efficient prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine against human CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizette E Rios
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Vázquez-Chagoyán
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México
| | - Antonio Ortega Pacheco
- Departamento de Salud Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - M Paola Zago
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Argentina
| | - Nisha J Garg
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1070, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.
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20
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Motta FN, Azevedo CDS, Neves BP, Araújo CND, Grellier P, Santana JMD, Bastos IMD. Oligopeptidase B, a missing enzyme in mammals and a potential drug target for trypanosomatid diseases. Biochimie 2019; 167:207-216. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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21
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Dumonteil E, Herrera C, Buekens P. A therapeutic preconceptional vaccine against Chagas disease: A novel indication that could reduce congenital transmission and accelerate vaccine development. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006985. [PMID: 30703092 PMCID: PMC6354953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, and Vector Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Pierre Buekens
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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22
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Ferrer MJ, Wehrendt DP, Bonilla M, Comini MA, Tellez-Iñón MT, Potenza M. Production of Recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi Antigens in Leishmania tarentolae. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1955:105-118. [PMID: 30868522 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are unicellular organisms that colonize a wide diversity of environments and hosts. For instance, Trypanosoma cruzi is a human pathogen responsible for Chagas diseases, while Leishmania tarentolae infects amphibians and became a biotechnological tool suitable for recombinant protein expression. T. cruzi antigens are needed for the development of improved epitope-based methods for diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease. Molecular cloning for the production of recombinant proteins offers the possibility to obtain T. cruzi antigens at high yield and purity. L. tarentolae appears as the ideal expression host to obtain recombinant T. cruzi antigens with a structure and posttranslational modifications typical of trypanosomatids. In this chapter, we present a protocol for the analytical to mid-scale production of recombinant T. cruzi antigens, using L. tarentolae as expression host (LEXSY® inducible system).
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Ferrer
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, "Dr. Héctor Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diana Patricia Wehrendt
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, "Dr. Héctor Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Bonilla
- Group Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marcelo Alberto Comini
- Group Redox Biology of Trypanosomes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Teresa Tellez-Iñón
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, "Dr. Héctor Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Potenza
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, "Dr. Héctor Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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