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Alvarado-Ocampo J, Abrahams-Sandí E, Retana-Moreira L. Overview of extracellular vesicles in pathogens with special focus on human extracellular protozoan parasites. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2024; 119:e240073. [PMID: 39319874 PMCID: PMC11421424 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760240073] [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: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid-bilayered membrane-delimited particles secreted by almost any cell type, involved in different functions according to the cell of origin and its state. From these, cell to cell communication, pathogen-host interactions and modulation of the immune response have been widely studied. Moreover, these vesicles could be employed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including infections produced by pathogens of diverse types; regarding parasites, the secretion, characterisation, and roles of EVs have been studied in particular cases. Moreover, the heterogeneity of EVs presents challenges at every stage of studies, which motivates research in this area. In this review, we summarise some aspects related to the secretion and roles of EVs from several groups of pathogens, with special focus on the most recent research regarding EVs secreted by extracellular protozoan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Alvarado-Ocampo
- Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Elizabeth Abrahams-Sandí
- Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, San José, Costa Rica
- Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Microbiología, Departamento de Parasitología, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Lissette Retana-Moreira
- Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Microbiología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, San José, Costa Rica
- Universidad de Costa Rica, Facultad de Microbiología, Departamento de Parasitología, San José, Costa Rica
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Mpeyako LA, Hart AJ, Bailey NP, Carlton JM, Henrissat B, Sullivan SA, Hirt RP. Comparative genomics between Trichomonas tenax and Trichomonas vaginalis: CAZymes and candidate virulence factors. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1437572. [PMID: 39086644 PMCID: PMC11288935 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1437572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The oral trichomonad Trichomonas tenax is increasingly appreciated as a likely contributor to periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease induced by dysbiotic microbiota, in humans and domestic animals and is strongly associated with its worst prognosis. Our current understanding of the molecular basis of T. tenax interactions with host cells and the microbiota of the oral cavity are still rather limited. One laboratory strain of T. tenax (Hs-4:NIH/ATCC 30207) can be grown axenically and two draft genome assemblies have been published for that strain, although the structural and functional annotation of these genomes is not available. Methods GenSAS and Galaxy were used to annotate two publicly available draft genomes for T. tenax, with a focus on protein-coding genes. A custom pipeline was used to annotate the CAZymes for T. tenax and the human sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, the most well-characterized trichomonad. A combination of bioinformatics analyses was used to screen for homologs of T. vaginalis virulence and colonization factors within the T. tenax annotated proteins. Results Our annotation of the two T. tenax draft genome sequences and their comparison with T. vaginalis proteins provide evidence for several candidate virulence factors. These include candidate surface proteins, secreted proteins and enzymes mediating potential interactions with host cells and/or members of the oral microbiota. The CAZymes annotation identified a broad range of glycoside hydrolase (GH) families, with the majority of these being shared between the two Trichomonas species. Discussion The presence of candidate T. tenax virulence genes supports the hypothesis that this species is associated with periodontitis through direct and indirect mechanisms. Notably, several GH proteins could represent potential new virulence factors for both Trichomonas species. These data support a model where T. tenax interactions with host cells and members of the oral microbiota could synergistically contribute to the damaging inflammation characteristic of periodontitis, supporting a causal link between T. tenax and periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenshina A. Mpeyako
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Adam J. Hart
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas P. Bailey
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jane M. Carlton
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering), Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Steven A. Sullivan
- Department of Biology, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Robert P. Hirt
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Kochanowsky JA, Mira PM, Elikaee S, Muratore K, Rai AK, Riestra AM, Johnson PJ. Trichomonas vaginalis extracellular vesicles up-regulate and directly transfer adherence factors promoting host cell colonization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2401159121. [PMID: 38865261 PMCID: PMC11194581 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401159121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis, a common sexually transmitted parasite that colonizes the human urogenital tract, secretes extracellular vesicles (TvEVs) that are taken up by human cells and are speculated to be taken up by parasites as well. While the crosstalk between TvEVs and human cells has led to insight into host:parasite interactions, roles for TvEVs in infection have largely been one-sided, with little known about the effect of TvEV uptake by T. vaginalis. Approximately 11% of infections are found to be coinfections of multiple T. vaginalis strains. Clinical isolates often differ in their adherence to and cytolysis of host cells, underscoring the importance of understanding the effects of TvEV uptake within the parasite population. To address this question, our lab tested the ability of a less adherent strain of T. vaginalis, G3, to take up fluorescently labeled TvEVs derived from both itself (G3-EVs) and TvEVs from a more adherent strain of the parasite (B7RC2-EVs). Here, we showed that TvEVs generated from the more adherent strain are internalized more efficiently compared to the less adherent strain. Additionally, preincubation of G3 parasites with B7RC2-EVs increases parasite aggregation and adherence to host cells. Transcriptomics revealed that TvEVs up-regulate expression of predicted parasite membrane proteins and identified an adherence factor, heteropolysaccharide binding protein (HPB2). Finally, using comparative proteomics and superresolution microscopy, we demonstrated direct transfer of an adherence factor, cadherin-like protein, from TvEVs to the recipient parasite's surface. This work identifies TvEVs as a mediator of parasite:parasite communication that may impact pathogenesis during mixed infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Kochanowsky
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Portia M. Mira
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Samira Elikaee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Katherine Muratore
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Anand Kumar Rai
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Angelica M. Riestra
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA92182
| | - Patricia J. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
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Trujillo EN, Flores BA, Romero IV, Moran JA, Leka A, Ramirez AD, Ear J, Mercer F. Complement receptor 3 is required for maximum in vitro trogocytic killing of the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis by human neutrophil-like cells. Parasite Immunol 2024; 46:e13025. [PMID: 38372623 PMCID: PMC11090219 DOI: 10.1111/pim.13025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) is a parasite that causes trichomoniasis, a prevalent sexually-transmitted infection. Neutrophils are found at the site of infection, and can rapidly kill the parasite in vitro, using trogocytosis. However, the specific molecular players in neutrophil killing of Tv are unknown. Here, we show that complement proteins play a role in Tv killing by human neutrophil-like cells (NLCs). Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated NLCs deficient in each of three complement receptors (CRs) known to be expressed on human neutrophils: CR1, CR3, and CR4. Using in vitro trogocytosis assays, we found that CR3, but not CR1 or CR4 is required for maximum trogocytosis of the parasite by NLCs, with NLCs lacking CR3 demonstrating ~40% reduction in trogocytosis, on average. We also observed a reduction in NLC killing of Tv in CR3 knockout, but not CR1 or CR4 knockout NLCs. On average, NLCs lacking CR3 had ~50% reduction in killing activity. We also used a parallel approach of pre-incubating NLCs with blocking antibodies against CR3, which similarly reduced NLC killing of parasites. These data support a model in which Tv is opsonized by the complement protein iC3b, and bound by neutrophil CR3 receptor, to facilitate trogocytic killing of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma N. Trujillo
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Barbara A. Flores
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Isabel V. Romero
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Jose A. Moran
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Aljona Leka
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Ashley D. Ramirez
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Jason Ear
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Frances Mercer
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
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Ortiz SFDN, Verdan R, Fortes FDSDA, Benchimol M. Trichomonas vaginalis: Monolayer and Cluster Formation-Ultrastructural Aspects Using High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy. Pathogens 2023; 12:1381. [PMID: 38133266 PMCID: PMC10747464 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is an extracellular protozoan parasite that causes human trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects approximately 270 million people worldwide. The phenomenon of T. vaginalis adhesion to inert substrates has been described in several reports. Still, very few studies on cluster formation have been conducted, and more detailed analyses of the contact regions between the parasites' membranes in these aggregate formations have not been carried out. The present study aims to show that T. vaginalis forms a tight monolayer, similar to an epithelium, with parasites firmly adhered to the culture flask bottom by interdigitations and in the absence of host cells. In addition, we analyzed and compared the formation of the clusters, focusing on parasite aggregates that float in the culture flasks. We employed various imaging techniques, including high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, cytochemistry, TEM tomography, and dye injection. We analyzed whether the monolayer behaves as an epithelium, analyzing cell junctions, cell communication, and ultrastructural aspects, and concluded that monolayer formation differs from cluster formation in many aspects. The monolayers form strong adhesion, whereas the clusters have fragile attachments. We did not find fusion or the passage of molecules between neighbor-attached cells; there is no need for different strains to form filopodia, cytonemes, and extracellular vesicles during cluster and monolayer formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharmila Fiama das Neves Ortiz
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina de Precisão, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (S.F.d.N.O.); (R.V.)
| | - Raphael Verdan
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina de Precisão, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (S.F.d.N.O.); (R.V.)
| | - Fabio da Silva de Azevedo Fortes
- BIOTRANS-CAXIAS Campus, Universidade do Grande Rio, UNIGRANRIO, Rio de Janeiro 96200-000, Brazil;
- Laboratório de Terapia e Fisiologia Celular e Molecular, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 23070-200, Brazil
| | - Marlene Benchimol
- BIOTRANS-CAXIAS Campus, Universidade do Grande Rio, UNIGRANRIO, Rio de Janeiro 96200-000, Brazil;
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens e Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
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