1
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Trajano-Silva LAM, Mule SN, Palmisano G. Molecular tools to regulate gene expression in Trypanosoma cruzi. Adv Clin Chem 2024; 120:169-190. [PMID: 38762241 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2024.04.008] [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] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Developing molecular strategies to manipulate gene expression in trypanosomatids is challenging, particularly with respect to the unique gene expression mechanisms adopted by these unicellular parasites, such as polycistronic mRNA transcription and multi-gene families. In the case of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the causative agent of Chagas Disease, the lack of RNA interference machinery further complicated functional genetic studies important for understanding parasitic biology and developing biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, alternative methods of performing knockout and/or endogenous labelling experiments were developed to identify and understand the function of proteins for survival and interaction with the host. In this review, we present the main tools for the genetic manipulation of T. cruzi, focusing on the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats Cas9-associated system technique widely used in this organism. Moreover, we highlight the importance of using these tools to elucidate the function of uncharacterized and glycosylated proteins. Further developments of these technologies will allow the identification of new biomarkers, therapeutic targets and potential vaccines against Chagas disease with greater efficiency and speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lays Adrianne M Trajano-Silva
- Glycoproteomic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Science II, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Simon Ngao Mule
- Glycoproteomic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Science II, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Glycoproteomic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Institute of Biomedical Science II, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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2
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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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3
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Castro JT, Brito R, Hojo-Souza NS, Azevedo B, Salazar N, Ferreira CP, Junqueira C, Fernandes AP, Vasconcellos R, Cardoso JM, Aguiar-Soares RDO, Vieira PMA, Carneiro CM, Valiate B, Toledo C, Salazar AM, Caballero O, Lannes-Vieira J, Teixeira SR, Reis AB, Gazzinelli RT. ASP-2/Trans-sialidase chimeric protein induces robust protective immunity in experimental models of Chagas' disease. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:81. [PMID: 37258518 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00676-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunization with the Amastigote Surface Protein-2 (ASP-2) and Trans-sialidase (TS) antigens either in the form of recombinant protein, encoded in plasmids or human adenovirus 5 (hAd5) confers robust protection against various lineages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Herein we generated a chimeric protein containing the most immunogenic regions for T and B cells from TS and ASP-2 (TRASP) and evaluated its immunogenicity in comparison with our standard protocol of heterologous prime-boost using plasmids and hAd5. Mice immunized with TRASP protein associated to Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol) were highly resistant to challenge with T. cruzi, showing a large decrease in tissue parasitism, parasitemia and no lethality. This protection lasted for at least 3 months after the last boost of immunization, being equivalent to the protection induced by DNA/hAd5 protocol. TRASP induced high levels of T. cruzi-specific antibodies and IFNγ-producing T cells and protection was primarily mediated by CD8+ T cells and IFN-γ. We also evaluated the toxicity, immunogenicity, and efficacy of TRASP and DNA/hAd5 formulations in dogs. Mild collateral effects were detected at the site of vaccine inoculation. While the chimeric protein associated with Poly-ICLC induced high levels of antibodies and CD4+ T cell responses, the DNA/hAd5 induced no antibodies, but a strong CD8+ T cell response. Immunization with either vaccine protected dogs against challenge with T. cruzi. Despite the similar efficacy, we conclude that moving ahead with TRASP together with Hiltonol is advantageous over the DNA/hAd5 vaccine due to pre-existing immunity to the adenovirus vector, as well as the cost-benefit for development and large-scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia T Castro
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rory Brito
- Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Natalia S Hojo-Souza
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Azevedo
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Natalia Salazar
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Caroline Junqueira
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Fernandes
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bruno Valiate
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Toledo
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Santuza R Teixeira
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo T Gazzinelli
- Centro de Tecnologia em Vacinas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Parque Tecnológico de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
- Centro de Pesquisas Rene Rachou, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Plataforma de Medicina Translacional, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Recent Advances in the Development of Adenovirus-Vectored Vaccines for Parasitic Infections. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030334. [PMID: 36986434 PMCID: PMC10058461 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines against parasites have lagged centuries behind those against viral and bacterial infections, despite the devastating morbidity and widespread effects of parasitic diseases across the globe. One of the greatest hurdles to parasite vaccine development has been the lack of vaccine strategies able to elicit the complex and multifaceted immune responses needed to abrogate parasitic persistence. Viral vectors, especially adenovirus (AdV) vectors, have emerged as a potential solution for complex disease targets, including HIV, tuberculosis, and parasitic diseases, to name a few. AdVs are highly immunogenic and are uniquely able to drive CD8+ T cell responses, which are known to be correlates of immunity in infections with most protozoan and some helminthic parasites. This review presents recent developments in AdV-vectored vaccines targeting five major human parasitic diseases: malaria, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and toxoplasmosis. Many AdV-vectored vaccines have been developed for these diseases, utilizing a wide variety of vectors, antigens, and modes of delivery. AdV-vectored vaccines are a promising approach for the historically challenging target of human parasitic diseases.
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Kanno AI, Barbosa MMF, Moraes L, Leite LCC. SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development and how Brazil is contributing. Genet Mol Biol 2021; 44:e20200320. [PMID: 33818582 PMCID: PMC8020624 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2020-0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic calls for coordinated efforts by the scientific community for the development of vaccines. The most advanced strategies have focused on modifications of technologies that were already under development for other viruses, such as SARS, MERS, and even Influenza. Classic and new technologies, such as inactivated and attenuated viruses (non-replicative and replicative), DNA and mRNA vaccines, and nanoparticles containing SARS-CoV-2 antigens, are some of the strategies currently investigated. Although there is a very high expectation for the effectiveness of the most advanced vaccine candidates, there are still no established correlates of protection. Previous experience in vaccine development for other pathogens shows that differences in vaccine formulation can result in diverse immune responses and consequently, different protective properties. Therefore the importance of continuing investigations on a broad range of strategies. Expertise in vaccine development in Brazil was refocused to the new coronavirus. Impressive collaboration between institutions will support further developments until we have available a safe, effective, and economically viable vaccine. Established competence and collaborations will allow preparedness for future challenges and can also be used to address local issues as neglected infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex I Kanno
- Instituto Butantan, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mayra M F Barbosa
- Instituto Butantan, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luana Moraes
- Instituto Butantan, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo, Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana C C Leite
- Instituto Butantan, Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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6
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Rios L, Campos EE, Menon R, Zago MP, Garg NJ. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of maternal-fetal transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi and a case for vaccine development against congenital Chagas disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165591. [PMID: 31678160 PMCID: PMC6954953 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Trypanos o ma cruzi (T. cruzi or Tc) is the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). It is common for patients to suffer from non-specific symptoms or be clinically asymptomatic with acute and chronic conditions acquired through various routes of transmission. The expecting women and their fetuses are vulnerable to congenital transmission of Tc. Pregnant women face formidable health challenges because the frontline antiparasitic drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, are contraindicated during pregnancy. However, it is worthwhile to highlight that newborns can be cured if they are diagnosed and given treatment in a timely manner. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis of maternal-fetal transmission of Tc and provide a justification for the investment in the development of vaccines against congenital CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizette Rios
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - E Emanuel Campos
- Instituto de Patología Experimental, Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Salta, Argentina
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - 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, USA; Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
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7
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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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8
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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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9
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Gerlach T, Elbahesh H, Saletti G, Rimmelzwaan GF. Recombinant influenza A viruses as vaccine vectors. Expert Rev Vaccines 2019; 18:379-392. [PMID: 30777467 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2019.1582338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Various viruses, including poxviruses, adenoviruses and vesicular stomatitis virus, have been considered as vaccine vectors for the delivery of antigens of interest in the development of vaccines against newly emerging pathogens. AREAS COVERED Here, we review results that have been obtained with influenza A viruses (IAV) as vaccine vectors. With the advent of reverse genetics technology, IAV-based recombinant vaccine candidates have been constructed that induce protective immunity to a variety of different pathogens of interest, including West Nile virus, Plasmodium falciparum and respiratory syncytial virus. The various cloning strategies to produce effective and attenuated, safe to use IAV-based viral vectors are discussed. EXPERT COMMENTARY It was concluded that IAV-based vector system has several advantages and holds promise for further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gerlach
- a Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ) , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) , Hannover , Germany
| | - Husni Elbahesh
- a Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ) , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) , Hannover , Germany
| | - Giulietta Saletti
- a Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ) , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) , Hannover , Germany
| | - Guus F Rimmelzwaan
- a Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (RIZ) , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) , Hannover , Germany
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10
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Matthews QL, Farrow AL, Rachakonda G, Gu L, Nde P, Krendelchtchikov A, Pratap S, Sakhare SS, Sabbaj S, Lima MF, Villalta F. Epitope Capsid-Incorporation: New Effective Approach for Vaccine Development for Chagas Disease. Pathog Immun 2016; 1:214-233. [PMID: 27709126 PMCID: PMC5046838 DOI: 10.20411/pai.v1i2.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Previously we reported that a hexon-modified adenovirus (Ad) vector containing the invasive neutralizing epitope of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) trypomastigote gp83 (Ad5-gp83) provided immunoprotection against T. cruzi infection. The purpose of this work was to design an improved vaccine for T. cruzi using a novel epitope capsid incorporation strategy. Thus, we evaluated the immunoprotection raised by co-immunization with Ad5-gp83 and an Ad vector containing an epitope (ASP-M) of the T. cruzi amastigote surface protein 2. Methods: Protein IX (pIX)-modified Ad vector (Ad5-pIX-ASP-M) was generated, characterized, and validated. C3H/He mice were immunized with Ad5-pIX-ASP-M and Ad5-gp83 and the cell-mediated responses were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay and intracellular staining. Immunized mice were challenged with T. cruzi to evaluate the vaccine efficacy. Results: Our findings indicate that Ad5-pIX-ASP-M was viable. Specific CD8+ T-cell mediated responses prior to the challenge show an increase in IFNγ and TNFα production. A single immunization with Ad5-pIX-ASP-M provided protection from T. cruzi infection, but co-immunizations with Ad5-pIX-ASP-M and Ad5-gp83 provided a higher immunoprotection and increased survival rate of mice. Conclusions: Overall, these results suggest that the combination of gp83 and ASP-M specific epitopes onto the capsid-incorporated adenoviruses would provide superior protection against Chagas disease as compared with Ad5-gp83 alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiana L Matthews
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
| | - Anitra L Farrow
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
| | - Linlin Gu
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Pius Nde
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
| | | | - Siddharth Pratap
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
| | - Shruti S Sakhare
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
| | - Steffanie Sabbaj
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
| | - Maria F Lima
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
| | - Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN
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11
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Status of vaccine research and development of vaccines for Chagas disease. Vaccine 2016; 34:2996-3000. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.03.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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A Novel Vaccine Approach for Chagas Disease Using Rare Adenovirus Serotype 48 Vectors. Viruses 2016; 8:78. [PMID: 26978385 PMCID: PMC4810268 DOI: 10.3390/v8030078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increasing amount of people afflicted worldwide with Chagas disease and an increasing prevalence in the United States, there is a greater need to develop a safe and effective vaccine for this neglected disease. Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is the most common adenovirus vector used for gene therapy and vaccine approaches, but its efficacy is limited by preexisting vector immunity in humans resulting from natural infections. Therefore, we have employed rare serotype adenovirus 48 (Ad48) as an alternative choice for adenovirus/Chagas vaccine therapy. In this study, we modified Ad5 and Ad48 vectors to contain T. cruzi’s amastigote surface protein 2 (ASP-2) in the adenoviral early gene. We also modified Ad5 and Ad48 vectors to utilize the “Antigen Capsid-Incorporation” strategy by adding T. cruzi epitopes to protein IX (pIX). Mice that were immunized with the modified vectors were able to elicit T. cruzi-specific humoral and cellular responses. This study indicates that Ad48-modified vectors function comparable to or even premium to Ad5-modified vectors. This study provides novel data demonstrating that Ad48 can be used as a potential adenovirus vaccine vector against Chagas disease.
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Nascentes GAN, Hernández CG, Rabelo RADS, Coelho RF, Morais FRD, Marques T, Batista LR, Meira WSF, Oliveira CJFD, Lages Silva E, Ramírez LE. The Driving of Immune Response by Th1 Adjuvants in Immunization of Mice with Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei Elicits a Controversial Infection Control. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:317-25. [PMID: 26959861 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In previous studies, we have demonstrated that inoculation with a Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei (avirulent RM1 strain) was able to reduce parasitemia in mice challenged with T. cruzi, although it was not able to prevent histopathological lesions. Th1 response stimulation by immunization is necessary for T. cruzi infection control, but the resistance is also dependent on immunoregulatory mechanisms, which can be induced by adjuvants. Thus, we evaluated whether inoculation of T. cruzi marinkellei associated with administration of different adjuvants would be capable of inducing different patterns of immune response to maximize the immune response against T. cruzi (virulent Romildo strain) infection. Two hundred eighty nonisogenic mice were divided into 14 groups according to the immunization scheme and the subsequent challenge with virulent Romildo T. cruzi strain. Nonimmunized groups and animals inoculated without adjuvants were also included. Immune protection was not observed with Th2 adjuvants (incomplete Freund's adjuvant [IFA] and Alum) due to high parasitemia. Th1/Th2-polarizing adjuvants also did not induce immune protection because inulin was unable to maintain survival, and immune-stimulating complexes induced intense inflammatory processes. Animals sensitized with RM1 strain without adjuvants were able to reduce parasitemia, increase survival, and protect against severe histological lesions, followed by adequate cytokine stimulation. Finally, our results demonstrate that the early and balanced IFN-γ production becomes critical to promote protection and that Th1 adjuvant elicited a controversial infection control due to increased histopathological damage. Therefore, the host's immunomodulation remains one of the most important challenges in the research for effective protection against T. cruzi infection. Similarly, the identification of protective antigens in the RM1 strain of T. cruzi marinkellei may contribute to further studies on vaccine development against human Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Antonio Nogueira Nascentes
- 1 Microbiology and Immunology Discipline, Federal Institute of Education , Science and Technology at Triângulo Mineiro (IFTM), Uberaba, Brazil
| | - César Gómez Hernández
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Rosiley Aparecida de Souza Rabelo
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Raquel Fernandes Coelho
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Rossetto de Morais
- 3 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP) , Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Marques
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Lara Rocha Batista
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Wendell Sérgio Ferreira Meira
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Carlo José Freire de Oliveira
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Eliane Lages Silva
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
| | - Luis Eduardo Ramírez
- 2 Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba, Brazil
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Adenovirus Specific Pre-Immunity Induced by Natural Route of Infection Does Not Impair Transduction by Adenoviral Vaccine Vectors in Mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145260. [PMID: 26679149 PMCID: PMC4682971 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant human adenovirus serotype 5 (HAd5V) vectors are gold standards of T-cell immunogenicity as they efficiently induce also humoral responses to exogenous antigens, in particular when used in prime-boost protocols. Some investigators have shown that pre-existing immunity to adenoviruses interferes with transduction by adenoviral vectors, but the actual extent of this interference is not known since it has been mostly studied in mice using unnatural routes of infection and virus doses. Here we studied the effects of HAd5V-specific immune responses induced by intranasal infection on the transduction efficiency of recombinant adenovirus vectors. Of interest, when HAd5V immunity was induced in mice by the natural respiratory route, the pre-existing immunity against HAd5V did not significantly interfere with the B and T-cell immune responses against the transgene products induced after a prime/boost inoculation protocol with a recombinant HAd5V-vector, as measured by ELISA and in vivo cytotoxic T-cell assays, respectively. We also correlated the levels of HAd5V-specific neutralizing antibodies (Ad5NAbs) induced in mice with the levels of Ad5NAb titers found in humans. The data indicate that approximately 60% of the human serum samples tested displayed Ad5NAb levels that could be overcome with a prime-boost vaccination protocol. These results suggest that recombinant HAd5V vectors are potentially useful for prime-boost vaccination strategies, at least when pre-existing immunity against HAd5V is at low or medium levels.
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15
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Pereira IR, Vilar-Pereira G, Marques V, da Silva AA, Caetano B, Moreira OC, Machado AV, Bruna-Romero O, Rodrigues MM, Gazzinelli RT, Lannes-Vieira J. A human type 5 adenovirus-based Trypanosoma cruzi therapeutic vaccine re-programs immune response and reverses chronic cardiomyopathy. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004594. [PMID: 25617628 PMCID: PMC4305326 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a prototypical neglected tropical disease. Specific immunity promotes acute phase survival. Nevertheless, one-third of CD patients develop chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) associated with parasite persistence and immunological unbalance. Currently, the therapeutic management of patients only mitigates CCC symptoms. Therefore, a vaccine arises as an alternative to stimulate protective immunity and thereby prevent, delay progression and even reverse CCC. We examined this hypothesis by vaccinating mice with replication-defective human Type 5 recombinant adenoviruses (rAd) carrying sequences of amastigote surface protein-2 (rAdASP2) and trans-sialidase (rAdTS) T. cruzi antigens. For prophylactic vaccination, naïve C57BL/6 mice were immunized with rAdASP2+rAdTS (rAdVax) using a homologous prime/boost protocol before challenge with the Colombian strain. For therapeutic vaccination, rAdVax administration was initiated at 120 days post-infection (dpi), when mice were afflicted by CCC. Mice were analyzed for electrical abnormalities, immune response and cardiac parasitism and tissue damage. Prophylactic immunization with rAdVax induced antibodies and H-2Kb-restricted cytotoxic and interferon (IFN)γ-producing CD8+ T-cells, reduced acute heart parasitism and electrical abnormalities in the chronic phase. Therapeutic vaccination increased survival and reduced electrical abnormalities after the prime (analysis at 160 dpi) and the boost (analysis at 180 and 230 dpi). Post-therapy mice exhibited less heart injury and electrical abnormalities compared with pre-therapy mice. rAdVax therapeutic vaccination preserved specific IFNγ-mediated immunity but reduced the response to polyclonal stimuli (anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28), CD107a+ CD8+ T-cell frequency and plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels. Moreover, therapeutic rAdVax reshaped immunity in the heart tissue as reduced the number of perforin+ cells, preserved the number of IFNγ+ cells, increased the expression of IFNγ mRNA but reduced inducible NO synthase mRNA. Vaccine-based immunostimulation with rAd might offer a rational alternative for re-programming the immune response to preserve and, moreover, recover tissue injury in Chagas’ heart disease. The idea that Chagas disease (CD) has an important autoimmune involvement contributed to delay the development of therapies and vaccines. CD is a parasitic neglected disease which afflicts millions of people mostly in Latin America. The cardiac form is the main clinical manifestation of CD. Currently, patients with access to therapy receive medicaments that only mitigate symptoms. Because of the limited prospect of treatment, vaccine reemerged as a strategy to prevent infection, interfere with CD progression and, moreover, reverse heart abnormalities. Here we tested a recombinant adenovirus carrying sequences of ASP2 and TS T. cruzi antigens (rAdVax) as prophylactic and therapeutic tool using a model of chronic Chagas’ heart disease. We showed that prophylactic vaccination reduced heart parasite load, inflammation and electrical abnormalities. The rAdVax therapeutic vaccination also reduced heart injury and improved electrical function, preserved specific IFNγ-mediated immunity but reduced response to polyclonal stimuli, CD107a+ CD8+ T-cell frequency and plasma nitric oxide levels. Moreover, therapeutic rAdVax preserved the number IFNγ+ cells, but decreased perforin+ cells in the heart tissue. Therefore, our results support the hypothesis that vaccination can modify the immunological unbalance that concurs to Chagas’ heart disease to improve prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Resende Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Virgínia Marques
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andrea Alice da Silva
- Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bráulia Caetano
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratório de Vírus Respiratórios e do Sarampo, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Vieira Machado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Oscar Bruna-Romero
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Maurício Martins Rodrigues
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Tostes Gazzinelli
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fiocruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Division of Infectious Disease and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Sarwar UN, Novik L, Enama ME, Plummer SA, Koup RA, Nason MC, Bailer RT, McDermott AB, Roederer M, Mascola JR, Ledgerwood JE, Graham BS. Homologous boosting with adenoviral serotype 5 HIV vaccine (rAd5) vector can boost antibody responses despite preexisting vector-specific immunity in a randomized phase I clinical trial. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106240. [PMID: 25264782 PMCID: PMC4179264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Needle-free delivery improves the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines but is also associated with more local reactogenicity. Here we report the first comparison of Biojector and needle administration of a candidate rAd5 HIV vaccine. Methods Thirty-one adults, 18–55 years, 20 naive and 11 prior rAd5 vaccine recipients were randomized to receive single rAd5 vaccine via needle or Biojector IM injection at 1010 PU in a Phase I open label clinical trial. Solicited reactogenicity was collected for 5 days; clinical safety and immunogenicity follow-up was continued for 24 weeks. Results Overall, injections by either method were well tolerated. There were no serious adverse events. Frequency of any local reactogenicity was 16/16 (100%) for Biojector compared to 11/15 (73%) for needle injections. There was no difference in HIV Env-specific antibody response between Biojector and needle delivery. Env-specific antibody responses were more than 10-fold higher in subjects receiving a booster dose of rAd5 vaccine than after a single dose delivered by either method regardless of interval between prime and boost. Conclusions Biojector delivery did not improve antibody responses to the rAd5 vaccine compared to needle administration. Homologous boosting with rAd5 gene-based vectors can boost insert-specific antibody responses despite pre-existing vector-specific immunity. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00709605 NCT00709605
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Affiliation(s)
- Uzma N. Sarwar
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Laura Novik
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Mary E. Enama
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Sarah A. Plummer
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Koup
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Martha C. Nason
- Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Robert T. Bailer
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Adrian B. McDermott
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Mario Roederer
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - John R. Mascola
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Julie E. Ledgerwood
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Barney S. Graham
- Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Cazorla SI, Matos MN, Cerny N, Ramirez C, Alberti AS, Bivona AE, Morales C, Guzmán CA, Malchiodi EL. Oral multicomponent DNA vaccine delivered by attenuated Salmonella elicited immunoprotection against American trypanosomiasis. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:698-707. [PMID: 25160983 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We have reported that attenuated Salmonella (S) carrying plasmids encoding the cysteine protease cruzipain (Cz) protects against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Here, we determined whether immunoprotection could be improved by the oral coadministration of 3 Salmonella carrying the plasmids that encode the antigens Cz, Tc52, and Tc24. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized mice presented an increased antibody response against each antigen compared with those in the single antigen-immunized groups, as well as higher trypomastigotes antibody-mediated lyses and cell invasion inhibition compared with controls. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized and -challenged mice rendered lower parasitemia. Weight loss after infection was detected in all mice except those in the SCz+STc52+STc24 group. Moreover, cardiomyopathy-associated enzyme activity was significantly lower in SCz+STc24+STc52-immunized mice compared with controls. Few or no abnormalities were found in muscle tissues of SCz+STc24+STc52-immunized mice, whereas controls presented with inflammatory foci, necrosis, and amastigote nests. We conclude that a multicomponent approach that targets several invasion and metabolic mechanisms improves protection compared with single-component vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia I Cazorla
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Marina N Matos
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Natacha Cerny
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Carolina Ramirez
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Andrés Sanchez Alberti
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Augusto E Bivona
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
| | - Celina Morales
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina UBA, Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos A Guzmán
- Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Emilio L Malchiodi
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Dr. R. A. Margni, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad de Buenos Aires (CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), UBA-CONICET and Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, UBA
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18
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Farrow AL, Rachakonda G, Gu L, Krendelchtchikova V, Nde PN, Pratap S, Lima MF, Villalta F, Matthews QL. Immunization with Hexon modified adenoviral vectors integrated with gp83 epitope provides protection against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3089. [PMID: 25144771 PMCID: PMC4140675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. Chagas disease is an endemic infection that affects over 8 million people throughout Latin America and now has become a global challenge. The current pharmacological treatment of patients is unsuccessful in most cases, highly toxic, and no vaccines are available. The results of inadequate treatment could lead to heart failure resulting in death. Therefore, a vaccine that elicits neutralizing antibodies mediated by cell-mediated immune responses and protection against Chagas disease is necessary. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The "antigen capsid-incorporation" strategy is based upon the display of the T. cruzi epitope as an integral component of the adenovirus' capsid rather than an encoded transgene. This strategy is predicted to induce a robust humoral immune response to the presented antigen, similar to the response provoked by native Ad capsid proteins. The antigen chosen was T. cruzi gp83, a ligand that is used by T. cruzi to attach to host cells to initiate infection. The gp83 epitope, recognized by the neutralizing MAb 4A4, along with His6 were incorporated into the Ad serotype 5 (Ad5) vector to generate the vector Ad5-HVR1-gp83-18 (Ad5-gp83). This vector was evaluated by molecular and immunological analyses. Vectors were injected to elicit immune responses against gp83 in mouse models. Our findings indicate that mice immunized with the vector Ad5-gp83 and challenged with a lethal dose of T. cruzi trypomastigotes confer strong immunoprotection with significant reduction in parasitemia levels, increased survival rate and induction of neutralizing antibodies. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This data demonstrates that immunization with adenovirus containing capsid-incorporated T. cruzi antigen elicits a significant anti-gp83-specific response in two different mouse models, and protection against T. cruzi infection by eliciting neutralizing antibodies mediated by cell-mediated immune responses, as evidenced by the production of several Ig isotypes. Taken together, these novel results show that the recombinant Ad5 presenting T. cruzi gp83 antigen is a useful candidate for the development of a vaccine against Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anitra L. Farrow
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Linlin Gu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Valentina Krendelchtchikova
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Pius N. Nde
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Siddharth Pratap
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Maria F. Lima
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Qiana L. Matthews
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
- Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
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CD8(+) T cell-mediated immunity during Trypanosoma cruzi infection: a path for vaccine development? Mediators Inflamm 2014; 2014:243786. [PMID: 25104879 PMCID: PMC4102079 DOI: 10.1155/2014/243786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
MHC-restricted CD8+ T cells are important during infection with the intracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Experimental studies performed in the past 25 years have elucidated a number of features related to the immune response mediated by these T cells, which are important for establishing the parasite/host equilibrium leading to chronic infection. CD8+ T cells are specific for highly immunodominant antigens expressed by members of the trans-sialidase family. After infection, their activation is delayed, and the cells display a high proliferative activity associated with high apoptotic rates. Although they participate in parasite control and elimination, they are unable to clear the infection due to their low fitness, allowing the parasite to establish the chronic phase when these cells then play an active role in the induction of heart immunopathology. Vaccination with a number of subunit recombinant vaccines aimed at eliciting specific CD8+ T cells can reverse this path, thereby generating a productive immune response that will lead to the control of infection, reduction of symptoms, and reduction of disease transmission. Due to these attributes, activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes may constitute a path for the development of a veterinarian or human vaccine.
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Barbosa RPA, Salgado APC, Garcia CC, Filho BG, Gonçalves APDF, Lima BHF, Lopes GAO, Rachid MA, Peixoto ACC, de Oliveira DB, Ataíde MA, Zirke CA, Cotrim TM, Costa ÉA, Almeida GMDF, Russo RC, Gazzinelli RT, Machado ADMV. Protective immunity and safety of a genetically modified influenza virus vaccine. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98685. [PMID: 24927156 PMCID: PMC4057169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant influenza viruses are promising viral platforms to be used as antigen delivery vectors. To this aim, one of the most promising approaches consists of generating recombinant viruses harboring partially truncated neuraminidase (NA) segments. To date, all studies have pointed to safety and usefulness of this viral platform. However, some aspects of the inflammatory and immune responses triggered by those recombinant viruses and their safety to immunocompromised hosts remained to be elucidated. In the present study, we generated a recombinant influenza virus harboring a truncated NA segment (vNA-Δ) and evaluated the innate and inflammatory responses and the safety of this recombinant virus in wild type or knock-out (KO) mice with impaired innate (Myd88 -/-) or acquired (RAG -/-) immune responses. Infection using truncated neuraminidase influenza virus was harmless regarding lung and systemic inflammatory response in wild type mice and was highly attenuated in KO mice. We also demonstrated that vNA-Δ infection does not induce unbalanced cytokine production that strongly contributes to lung damage in infected mice. In addition, the recombinant influenza virus was able to trigger both local and systemic virus-specific humoral and CD8+ T cellular immune responses which protected immunized mice against the challenge with a lethal dose of homologous A/PR8/34 influenza virus. Taken together, our findings suggest and reinforce the safety of using NA deleted influenza viruses as antigen delivery vectors against human or veterinary pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Polidoro Alves Barbosa
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Ana Paula Carneiro Salgado
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Cristiana Couto Garcia
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Mecânica Pulmonar, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Bruno Galvão Filho
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | | | - Braulio Henrique Freire Lima
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Mecânica Pulmonar, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Gabriel Augusto Oliveira Lopes
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Mecânica Pulmonar, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Milene Alvarenga Rachid
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Andiara Cristina Cardoso Peixoto
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Mecânica Pulmonar, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Danilo Bretas de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Marco Antônio Ataíde
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Carla Aparecida Zirke
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Tatiane Marques Cotrim
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Érica Azevedo Costa
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Gabriel Magno de Freitas Almeida
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Remo Castro Russo
- Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Laboratório de Imunologia e Mecânica Pulmonar, Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Ricardo Tostes Gazzinelli
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Vieira HGS, Grynberg P, Bitar M, Pires SDF, Hilário HO, Macedo AM, Machado CR, de Andrade HM, Franco GR. Proteomic analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi response to ionizing radiation stress. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97526. [PMID: 24842666 PMCID: PMC4026238 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, is extremely resistant to ionizing radiation, enduring up to 1.5 kGy of gamma rays. Ionizing radiation can damage the DNA molecule both directly, resulting in double-strand breaks, and indirectly, as a consequence of reactive oxygen species production. After a dose of 500 Gy of gamma rays, the parasite genome is fragmented, but the chromosomal bands are restored within 48 hours. Under such conditions, cell growth arrests for up to 120 hours and the parasites resume normal growth after this period. To better understand the parasite response to ionizing radiation, we analyzed the proteome of irradiated (4, 24, and 96 hours after irradiation) and non-irradiated T. cruzi using two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry for protein identification. A total of 543 spots were found to be differentially expressed, from which 215 were identified. These identified protein spots represent different isoforms of only 53 proteins. We observed a tendency for overexpression of proteins with molecular weights below predicted, indicating that these may be processed, yielding shorter polypeptides. The presence of shorter protein isoforms after irradiation suggests the occurrence of post-translational modifications and/or processing in response to gamma radiation stress. Our results also indicate that active translation is essential for the recovery of parasites from ionizing radiation damage. This study therefore reveals the peculiar response of T. cruzi to ionizing radiation, raising questions about how this organism can change its protein expression to survive such a harmful stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Priscila Grynberg
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Mainá Bitar
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Simone da Fonseca Pires
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Heron Oliveira Hilário
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Andrea Mara Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Carlos Renato Machado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Hélida Monteiro de Andrade
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Glória Regina Franco
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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