1
|
Chunda VC, Fombad FF, Kien CA, Ebai R, Esofi F, Ntuh AN, Ouam E, Gandjui NVT, Ekanya R, Nietcho F, Nchang LC, Magha C, Njouendou AJ, Enyong P, Hoerauf A, Wanji S, Ritter M. Comparative development of human filariae Loa loa, Onchocerca volvulus and Mansonella perstans in immunocompromised mouse strains. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2024; 5:1293632. [PMID: 38655273 PMCID: PMC7615855 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2024.1293632] [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] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mouse models of human filarial infections are not only urgently needed to investigate the biology of the nematodes and their modulation of the host's immunity, but will also provide a platform to screen and test novel anti-filarial drugs. Recently, murine Loa loa infection models have been stablished using immunocompromised mouse strains, whereas murine Mansonella perstans infections have not been implemented until now. Methods Therefore, we aim to establish experimental M. perstans infections using the immunocompromised mouse strains RAG2IL-2Rγ-/- (lack B, T and natural killer cells), IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- (impaired IL-4/5 signalling and eosinophil activation) and NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wj l/SzJ (NOD scid gamma, NSG) BALB/c mice (lack mature lymphocytes) through subcutaneous (s.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) inoculation of infective stage 3 larvae (L3) isolated from engorged vectors. Results In total, 145 immunocompromised mice have been inoculated with 3,250 M. perstans, 3,337 O. volvulus, and 2,720 Loa loa L3 to comparatively analyse which immunocompromised mouse strain is susceptible to human filarial infections. Whereas, no M. perstans and O. volvulus L3 could be recovered upon 2-63 days post-inoculation, a 62-66% Loa loa L3 recovery rate could be achieved in the different mouse strains. Gender of mice, type of inoculation (s.c. or i.p.) or time point of analysis (2-63 days post inoculation) did not interfere with the success of L3 recovery. In addition, administration of the immune suppressants hydrocortisone, prednisolone and cyclophosphamide did not restore M. perstans L3 recovery rates. Discussion These findings show that RAG2IL-2Rg-/-BALB/c and C57BL/6, IL-4Rα/IL-5-/- BALB/c and NSG mice were not susceptible to M. perstans and O. volvulus L3 inoculation using the applied methods, whereas Loa loa infection could be maintained. Further studies should investigate if humanized immunocompromised mice might be susceptible to M. perstans. and O. volvulus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valerine C. Chunda
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Fanny Fri Fombad
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Chi Anizette Kien
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Rene Ebai
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Frederick Esofi
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Anna Ning Ntuh
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Emmanuel Ouam
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Narcisse Victor Tchamatchoua Gandjui
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Relindis Ekanya
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Franck Nietcho
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Lucy Cho Nchang
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Chefor Magha
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Abdel Jelil Njouendou
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Peter Enyong
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
- German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Parasite and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wu F, Chen X, Du Z, Chen Y, Tong D, Zhang J, Yang Y, Ma G, Du A. Proteomic differences between extracellular vesicles and extracellular vesicle-depleted excretory/secretory products of barber's pole worm. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:17. [PMID: 38217036 PMCID: PMC10785392 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06092-6] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Components of excretory/secretory products (ESPs) of helminths have been proposed as vaccine targets and shown to play a role in modulating host immune responses for decades. Such research interest is further increased by the discovery of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the ESPs of parasitic worms. Although efforts have been made to reveal the cargos of EVs, little is known about the proteomic differences between EVs and canonical ESPs released by parasitic worms from animals. METHODS The total ESPs of Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm) were obtained by short-term in vitro culturing of young adult worms, and small EVs were isolated from ESPs using an ultracentrifugation method. Data-dependent acquisition (DDA) label-free Nano-LC-MS/MS was used to quantify the proteomic difference between small EVs and EV-depleted ESPs of H. contortus. Functional annotation and enrichment of the differential proteins were performed regarding cellular components, molecular functions, pathways, and/or biological processes. RESULTS A total of 1697 proteins were identified in small EVs and EV-depleted ESPs of H. contortus adult worms, with 706 unique proteins detected in the former and 597 unique proteins in the latter. It was revealed that proteins in small EVs are dominantly cytoplasmic, whereas proteins in EV-depleted ESPs are mainly extracellular; canonical ESPs such as proteases and small GTPases were abundantly detected in small EVs, and SCP/TAP-, DUF-, and GLOBIN domain-containing proteins were mainly found in EV-depleted ESPs. Compared with well-characterised proteins in small EVs, about 50% of the proteins detected in EV-depleted ESPs were poorly characterised. CONCLUSIONS There are remarkable differences between small EVs and EV-depleted ESPs of H. contortus in terms of protein composition. Immune modulatory effects caused by nematode ESPs are possibly contributed mainly by the proteins in small EVs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xueqiu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhendong Du
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yanqiong Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Danni Tong
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jingju Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yi Yang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Guangxu Ma
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Aifang Du
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sutrave S, Richter MH. The Truman Show for Human Helminthic Parasites: A Review of Recent Advances in In Vitro Cultivation Platforms. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1708. [PMID: 37512881 PMCID: PMC10384154 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout history, parasites and parasitic diseases have been humankind's constant companions, as evidenced by the findings of tapeworm eggs in ancient, mummified remains. Helminths are responsible for causing severe, long-term, and debilitating infectious diseases worldwide, especially affecting economically challenged nations due to prevailing deficits in access to sanitation, proper hygiene practices, and healthcare infrastructure. Socio-ecological drivers, such as poverty, migration, and climate change, continue to contribute to parasites and their disease vectors being spread beyond known endemic zones. The study of parasitic diseases has had a fair amount of success leading to the development of new chemotherapeutic agents and the implementation of parasite eradication programs. However, further progress in this direction has been hampered by the challenges of culturing some of these parasites in in vitro systems for efficient availability, basic life cycle, infection studies, and effectiveness of novel treatment strategies. The complexity of the existing models varies widely, depending on the parasite and its life cycle, ranging from basic culture methods to advanced 3D systems. This review aims to highlight the research conducted so far in culturing and maintaining parasites in an in vitro setting, thereby contributing to a better understanding of pathogenicity and generating new insights into their lifecycles in the hopes of leading to effective treatments and prevention strategies. This work is the first comprehensive outline of existing in vitro models for highly transmissible helminth diseases causing severe morbidity and mortality in humans globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Smita Sutrave
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Heinrich Richter
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Marriott AE, Dagley JL, Hegde S, Steven A, Fricks C, DiCosty U, Mansour A, Campbell EJ, Wilson CM, Gusovsky F, Ward SA, Hong WD, O'Neill P, Moorhead A, McCall S, McCall JW, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. Dirofilariasis mouse models for heartworm preclinical research. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1208301. [PMID: 37426014 PMCID: PMC10324412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1208301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dirofilariasis, including heartworm disease, is a major emergent veterinary parasitic infection and a human zoonosis. Currently, experimental infections of cats and dogs are used in veterinary heartworm preclinical drug research. Methods As a refined alternative in vivo heartworm preventative drug screen, we assessed lymphopenic mouse strains with ablation of the interleukin-2/7 common gamma chain (γc) as susceptible to the larval development phase of Dirofilaria immitis. Results Non-obese diabetic (NOD) severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)γc-/- (NSG and NXG) and recombination-activating gene (RAG)2-/-γc-/- mouse strains yielded viable D. immitis larvae at 2-4 weeks post-infection, including the use of different batches of D. immitis infectious larvae, different D. immitis isolates, and at different laboratories. Mice did not display any clinical signs associated with infection for up to 4 weeks. Developing larvae were found in subcutaneous and muscle fascia tissues, which is the natural site of this stage of heartworm in dogs. Compared with in vitro-propagated larvae at day 14, in vivo-derived larvae had completed the L4 molt, were significantly larger, and contained expanded Wolbachia endobacteria titres. We established an ex vivo L4 paralytic screening system whereby assays with moxidectin or levamisole highlighted discrepancies in relative drug sensitivities in comparison with in vitro-reared L4 D. immitis. We demonstrated effective depletion of Wolbachia by 70%-90% in D. immitis L4 following 2- to 7-day oral in vivo exposures of NSG- or NXG-infected mice with doxycycline or the rapid-acting investigational drug, AWZ1066S. We validated NSG and NXG D. immitis mouse models as a filaricide screen by in vivo treatments with single injections of moxidectin, which mediated a 60%-88% reduction in L4 larvae at 14-28 days. Discussion Future adoption of these mouse models will benefit end-user laboratories conducting research and development of novel heartworm preventatives via increased access, rapid turnaround, and reduced costs and may simultaneously decrease the need for experimental cat or dog use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. E. Marriott
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. L. Dagley
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - S. Hegde
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Steven
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - C. Fricks
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - U. DiCosty
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - A. Mansour
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - E. J. Campbell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - C. M. Wilson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - F. Gusovsky
- Eisai Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - S. A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - W. D. Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - P. O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Moorhead
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - S. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - J. W. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - M. J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. D. Turner
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Karunakaran I, Ritter M, Pfarr K, Klarmann-Schulz U, Debrah AY, Debrah LB, Katawa G, Wanji S, Specht S, Adjobimey T, Hübner MP, Hoerauf A. Filariasis research - from basic research to drug development and novel diagnostics, over a decade of research at the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Bonn, Germany. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2023; 4:1126173. [PMID: 38655130 PMCID: PMC7615856 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2023.1126173] [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] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Filariae are vector borne parasitic nematodes, endemic in tropical and subtropical regions causing avoidable infections ranging from asymptomatic to stigmatizing and disfiguring disease. The filarial species that are the major focus of our institution's research are Onchocerca volvulus causing onchocerciasis (river blindness), Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia spp. causing lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), Loa loa causing loiasis (African eye worm), and Mansonella spp causing mansonellosis. This paper aims to showcase the contribution of our institution and our collaborating partners to filarial research and covers decades of long research spanning basic research using the Litomosoides sigmodontis animal model to development of drugs and novel diagnostics. Research with the L. sigmodontis model has been extensively useful in elucidating protective immune responses against filariae as well as in identifying the mechanisms of filarial immunomodulation during metabolic, autoimmune and infectious diseases. The institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany has also been actively involved in translational research in contributing to the identification of new drug targets and pre-clinical drug research with successful and ongoing partnership with sub-Saharan Africa, mainly Ghana (the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR)), Cameroon (University of Buea (UB)) and Togo (Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Contrôle de Qualité des Denrées Alimentaires (LAMICODA)), Asia and industry partners. Further, in the direction of developing novel diagnostics that are sensitive, time, and labour saving, we have developed sensitive qPCRs as well as LAMP assays and are currently working on artificial intelligence based histology analysis for onchocerciasis. The article also highlights our ongoing research and the need for novel animal models and new drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indulekha Karunakaran
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Kenneth Pfarr
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ute Klarmann-Schulz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexander Yaw Debrah
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Linda Batsa Debrah
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Gnatoulma Katawa
- Unité de Recherche en Immunologie et Immunomodulation (UR2IM)/Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Contrôle de Qualité des Denrées Alimentaires (LAMICODA), Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Biologiques et Alimentaires, Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Parasites and Vector Research Unit (PAVRU), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tomabu Adjobimey
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Marriott AE, Furlong Silva J, Pionnier N, Sjoberg H, Archer J, Steven A, Kempf D, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. A mouse infection model and long-term lymphatic endothelium co-culture system to evaluate drugs against adult Brugia malayi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010474. [PMID: 35671324 PMCID: PMC9205518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of new drugs targeting adult-stage lymphatic filarial nematodes is hindered by the lack of a robust long-term in vitro culture model. Testing potential direct-acting and anti-Wolbachia therapeutic candidates against adult lymphatic filariae in vitro requires their propagation via chronic infection of gerbils. We evaluated Brugia malayi parasite burden data from male Mongolian gerbils compared with two immune-deficient mouse strains highly susceptible to B. malayi: CB.17 Severe-Combined Immmuno-Deficient (SCID) and interleukin-4 receptor alpha, interleukin-5 double knockout (IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/-) mice. Adult worms generated in IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/- mice were tested with different feeder cells (human embryonic kidney cells, human adult dermal lymphatic endothelial cells and human THP-1 monocyte differentiated macrophages) and comparative cell-free conditions to optimise and validate a long-term in vitro culture system. Cultured parasites were compared against those isolated from mice using motility scoring, metabolic viability assay (MTT), ex vivo microfilariae release assay and Wolbachia content by qPCR. A selected culture system was validated as a drug screen using reference anti-Wolbachia (doxycycline, ABBV-4083 / flubentylosin) or direct-acting compounds (flubendazole, suramin). BALB/c IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/- or CB.17 SCID mice were superior to Mongolian gerbils in generating adult worms and supporting in vivo persistence for periods of up to 52 weeks. Adult females retrieved from BALB/c IL-4Rα-/-IL-5-/- mice could be cultured for up to 21 days in the presence of a lymphatic endothelial cell co-culture system with comparable motility, metabolic activity and Wolbachia titres to those maintained in vivo. Drug studies confirmed significant Wolbachia depletions or direct macrofilaricidal activities could be discerned when female B. malayi were cultured for 14 days. We therefore demonstrate a novel methodology to generate adult B. malayi in vivo and accurately evaluate drug efficacy ex vivo which may be adopted for drug screening with the dual benefit of reducing overall animal use and improving anti-filarial drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy E. Marriott
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Julio Furlong Silva
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas Pionnier
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Hanna Sjoberg
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - John Archer
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steven
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dale Kempf
- Pharmaceutical R&D, AbbVie, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph D. Turner
- Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics & Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wiszniewsky A, Layland LE, Arndts K, Wadephul LM, Tamadaho RSE, Borrero-Wolff D, Chunda VC, Kien CA, Hoerauf A, Wanji S, Ritter M. Adoptive Transfer of Immune Cells Into RAG2IL-2Rγ-Deficient Mice During Litomosoides sigmodontis Infection: A Novel Approach to Investigate Filarial-Specific Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2021; 12:777860. [PMID: 34868049 PMCID: PMC8636703 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.777860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite long-term mass drug administration programmes, approximately 220 million people are still infected with filariae in endemic regions. Several research studies have characterized host immune responses but a major obstacle for research on human filariae has been the inability to obtain adult worms which in turn has hindered analysis on infection kinetics and immune signalling. Although the Litomosoides sigmodontis filarial mouse model is well-established, the complex immunological mechanisms associated with filarial control and disease progression remain unclear and translation to human infections is difficult, especially since human filarial infections in rodents are limited. To overcome these obstacles, we performed adoptive immune cell transfer experiments into RAG2IL-2Rγ-deficient C57BL/6 mice. These mice lack T, B and natural killer cells and are susceptible to infection with the human filaria Loa loa. In this study, we revealed a long-term release of L. sigmodontis offspring (microfilariae) in RAG2IL-2Rγ-deficient C57BL/6 mice, which contrasts to C57BL/6 mice which normally eliminate the parasites before patency. We further showed that CD4+ T cells isolated from acute L. sigmodontis-infected C57BL/6 donor mice or mice that already cleared the infection were able to eliminate the parasite and prevent inflammation at the site of infection. In addition, the clearance of the parasites was associated with Th17 polarization of the CD4+ T cells. Consequently, adoptive transfer of immune cell subsets into RAG2IL-2Rγ-deficient C57BL/6 mice will provide an optimal platform to decipher characteristics of distinct immune cells that are crucial for the immunity against rodent and human filarial infections and moreover, might be useful for preclinical research, especially about the efficacy of macrofilaricidal drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wiszniewsky
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Laura E Layland
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kathrin Arndts
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Lisa M Wadephul
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Ruth S E Tamadaho
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Dennis Borrero-Wolff
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| | - Valerine C Chunda
- Parasite and Vector Biology Research Unit, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Chi Anizette Kien
- Parasite and Vector Biology Research Unit, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.,German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), Partner Site Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Parasite and Vector Biology Research Unit, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Research Foundation for Tropical Diseases and the Environment (REFOTDE), Buea, Cameroon
| | - Manuel Ritter
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP), University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ngwewondo A, Scandale I, Specht S. Onchocerciasis drug development: from preclinical models to humans. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3939-3964. [PMID: 34642800 PMCID: PMC8599318 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07307-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Twenty diseases are recognized as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by World Health Assembly resolutions, including human filarial diseases. The end of NTDs is embedded within the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, under target 3.3. Onchocerciasis afflicts approximately 20.9 million people worldwide with > 90% of those infected residing in Africa. Control programs have made tremendous efforts in the management of onchocerciasis by mass drug administration and aerial larviciding; however, disease elimination is not yet achieved. In the new WHO roadmap, it is recognized that new drugs or drug regimens that kill or permanently sterilize adult filarial worms would significantly improve elimination timelines and accelerate the achievement of the program goal of disease elimination. Drug development is, however, handicapped by high attrition rates, and many promising molecules fail in preclinical development or in subsequent toxicological, safety and efficacy testing; thus, research and development (R&D) costs are, in aggregate, very high. Drug discovery and development for NTDs is largely driven by unmet medical needs put forward by the global health community; the area is underfunded and since no high return on investment is possible, there is no dedicated drug development pipeline for human filariasis. Repurposing existing drugs is one approach to filling the drug development pipeline for human filariasis. The high cost and slow pace of discovery and development of new drugs has led to the repurposing of “old” drugs, as this is more cost-effective and allows development timelines to be shortened. However, even if a drug is marketed for a human or veterinary indication, the safety margin and dosing regimen will need to be re-evaluated to determine the risk in humans. Drug repurposing is a promising approach to enlarging the pool of active molecules in the drug development pipeline. Another consideration when providing new treatment options is the use of combinations, which is not addressed in this review. We here summarize recent advances in the late preclinical or early clinical stage in the search for a potent macrofilaricide, including drugs against the nematode and against its endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adela Ngwewondo
- Centre of Medical Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), P.O. Box13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|