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Di Chio C, Previti S, Totaro N, De Luca F, Allegra A, Schirmeister T, Zappalà M, Ettari R. Dipeptide Nitrile CD34 with Curcumin: A New Improved Combination Strategy to Synergistically Inhibit Rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108477. [PMID: 37239824 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108477] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhodesain is the main cysteine protease of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the parasite causing the acute lethal form of Human African Trypanosomiasis. Starting from the dipeptide nitrile CD24, the further introduction of a fluorine atom in the meta position of the phenyl ring spanning in the P3 site and the switch of the P2 leucine with a phenylalanine led to CD34, a synthetic inhibitor that shows a nanomolar binding affinity towards rhodesain (Ki = 27 nM) and an improved target selectivity with respect to the parent dipeptide nitrile CD24. In the present work, following the Chou and Talalay method, we carried out a combination study of CD34 with curcumin, a nutraceutical obtained from Curcuma longa L. Starting from an affected fraction (fa) of rhodesain inhibition of 0.5 (i.e., the IC50), we observed an initial moderate synergistic action, which became a synergism for fa values ranging from 0.6 to 0.7 (i.e., 60-70% inhibition of the trypanosomal protease). Interestingly, at 80-90% inhibition of rhodesain proteolytic activity, we observed a strong synergism, resulting in 100% enzyme inhibition. Overall, in addition to the improved target selectivity of CD34 with respect to CD24, the combination of CD34 + curcumin resulted in an increased synergistic action with respect to CD24 + curcumin, thus suggesting that it is desirable to use CD34 and curcumin in combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Noemi Totaro
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Fabiola De Luca
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "Gaetano Barresi", University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria 1, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
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Drug Combination Studies of the Dipeptide Nitrile CD24 with Curcumin: A New Strategy to Synergistically Inhibit Rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214470. [PMID: 36430948 PMCID: PMC9698140 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodesain is a cysteine protease that is crucial for the life cycle of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, a parasite causing the lethal form of Human African Trypanosomiasis. CD24 is a recently developed synthetic inhibitor of rhodesain, characterized by a nanomolar affinity towards the trypanosomal protease (Ki = 16 nM), and acting as a competitive inhibitor. In the present work, we carried out a combination study of CD24 with curcumin, the multitarget nutraceutical obtained from Curcuma longa L., which we demonstrated to inhibit rhodesain in a non-competitive manner. By applying the Chou and Talalay method, we obtained an initial additive effect at IC50 (fa = 0.5, Combination Index = 1), while for the most relevant fa values, ranging from 0.6 to 1, i.e., from 60% to 100% of rhodesain inhibition, we obtained a combination index < 1, thus suggesting that an increasingly synergistic action occurred for the combination of the synthetic inhibitor CD24 and curcumin. Furthermore, the combination of the two inhibitors showed an antitrypanosomal activity better than that of CD24 alone (EC50 = 4.85 µM and 10.1 µM for the combination and CD24, respectively), thus suggesting the use of the two inhibitors in combination is desirable.
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Previti S, Ettari R, Di Chio C, Ravichandran R, Bogacz M, Hellmich UA, Schirmeister T, Cosconati S, Zappalà M. Development of Reduced Peptide Bond Pseudopeptide Michael Acceptors for the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27123765. [PMID: 35744891 PMCID: PMC9229991 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is an endemic protozoan disease widespread in the sub-Saharan region that is caused by T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense. The development of molecules targeting rhodesain, the main cysteine protease of T. b. rhodesiense, has led to a panel of inhibitors endowed with micro/sub-micromolar activity towards the protozoa. However, whilst impressive binding affinity against rhodesain has been observed, the limited selectivity towards the target still remains a hard challenge for the development of antitrypanosomal agents. In this paper, we report the synthesis, biological evaluation, as well as docking studies of a series of reduced peptide bond pseudopeptide Michael acceptors (SPR10–SPR19) as potential anti-HAT agents. The new molecules show Ki values in the low-micro/sub-micromolar range against rhodesain, coupled with k2nd values between 1314 and 6950 M−1 min−1. With a few exceptions, an appreciable selectivity over human cathepsin L was observed. In in vitro assays against T. b. brucei cultures, SPR16 and SPR18 exhibited single-digit micromolar activity against the protozoa, comparable to those reported for very potent rhodesain inhibitors, while no significant cytotoxicity up to 70 µM towards mammalian cells was observed. The discrepancy between rhodesain inhibition and the antitrypanosomal effect could suggest additional mechanisms of action. The biological characterization of peptide inhibitor SPR34 highlights the essential role played by the reduced bond for the antitrypanosomal effect. Overall, this series of molecules could represent the starting point for further investigations of reduced peptide bond-containing analogs as potential anti-HAT agents
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Affiliation(s)
- Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (M.Z.); Tel.: +39-090-676-6411 (M.Z.)
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
| | - Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via C. Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Rahul Ravichandran
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (R.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Marta Bogacz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (M.B.); (U.A.H.)
| | - Ute A. Hellmich
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; (M.B.); (U.A.H.)
- Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max von Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (R.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; (R.E.); (C.D.C.)
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (M.Z.); Tel.: +39-090-676-6411 (M.Z.)
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Development of novel dipeptide nitriles as inhibitors of rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 236:114328. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Di Chio C, Previti S, De Luca F, Allegra A, Zappalà M, Ettari R. Drug combination studies of PS-1 and quercetin against rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Nat Prod Res 2021; 36:4282-4286. [PMID: 34533390 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2021.1978993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Rhodesain is a cysteine protease crucial for the survival of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, the parasite able to induce the acute lethal form of Human African Trypanosomiasis. PS-1 is a synthetic peptidyl inhibitor of rhodesain, characterised by a picomolar binding affinity (Ki = 1.1 pM). Thus, considering the well-known antiparasitic properties of quercetin, in this study, we decided to carry out drug combination studies of PS-1 and quercetin against rhodesain, according to Chou and Talalay method, which allowed us to obtain for the most relevant fa values a nearly additive effect for the reduction of rhodesain activity from 40% to 90%, thus considering a promising strategy their use in combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Fabiola De Luca
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Pathological Anatomy and Oncology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Maiorana S, Ettari R, Previti S, Amendola G, Wagner A, Cosconati S, Hellmich UA, Schirmeister T, Zappalà M. Peptidyl Vinyl Ketone Irreversible Inhibitors of Rhodesain: Modifications of the P2 Fragment. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1552-1561. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Santina Maiorana
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Messina Viale Annunziata 98168 Messina Italy
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Messina Viale Annunziata 98168 Messina Italy
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Messina Viale Annunziata 98168 Messina Italy
| | - Giorgio Amendola
- DiSTABiFUniversity of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Annika Wagner
- Department Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ) Max von Laue Str. 9 60438 Frankfurt Germany
- Department of Chemistry Section BiochemistryUniversity of Mainz Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30 55128 Mainz Germany
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiFUniversity of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli Via Vivaldi 43 81100 Caserta Italy
| | - Ute A. Hellmich
- Department Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ) Max von Laue Str. 9 60438 Frankfurt Germany
- Department of Chemistry Section BiochemistryUniversity of Mainz Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30 55128 Mainz Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Mainz Staudingerweg 5 55128 Mainz Germany
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Messina Viale Annunziata 98168 Messina Italy
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Ettari R, Previti S, Di Chio C, Maiorana S, Allegra A, Schirmeister T, Zappalà M. Drug Synergism: Studies of Combination of RK-52 and Curcumin against Rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:806-810. [PMID: 32435388 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodesain is an enzyme essential for the life of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, a parasite causing a rapid-onset form of Human African Trypanosomiasis. RK-52 is a synthetic inhibitor of rhodesain, characterized by an impressive k second value (k second = 67000 × 103 M-1 min-1) and by a picomolar affinity toward the trypanosomal protease (K i = 38 pM). Differently, curcumin, the golden multitarget nutraceutical obtained from Curcuma longa L., was proven to inhibit rhodesain noncompetitively with an IC50 of 7.75 μM. In the present study, we carried out studies of a combination of RK-52 and curcumin toward rhodesain, by applying the Chou and Talalay approach, which led us to obtain a combination index <1 for the most relevant fa values, which means a potent synergistic effect for the reduction of rhodesain activity from 40% to 99%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Santina Maiorana
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Pathological Anatomy and Oncology, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 90100 Messina, Italy
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz, Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
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Ettari R, Previti S, Maiorana S, Amendola G, Wagner A, Cosconati S, Schirmeister T, Hellmich UA, Zappalà M. Optimization Strategy of Novel Peptide-Based Michael Acceptors for the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis. J Med Chem 2019; 62:10617-10629. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Italy, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Italy, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Santina Maiorana
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Italy, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Giorgio Amendola
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Annika Wagner
- Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Max von Laue Str. 9, Frankfurt DE 60438, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz, Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30, Mainz DE 55128, Germany
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, Mainz DE 55128, Germany
| | - Ute A. Hellmich
- Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Max von Laue Str. 9, Frankfurt DE 60438, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz, Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30, Mainz DE 55128, Germany
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Italy, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
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Korkmaz B, Caughey GH, Chapple I, Gauthier F, Hirschfeld J, Jenne DE, Kettritz R, Lalmanach G, Lamort AS, Lauritzen C, Łȩgowska M, Lesner A, Marchand-Adam S, McKaig SJ, Moss C, Pedersen J, Roberts H, Schreiber A, Seren S, Thakker NS. Therapeutic targeting of cathepsin C: from pathophysiology to treatment. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 190:202-236. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Minet C, Thévenon S, Chantal I, Solano P, Berthier D. Mini-review on CRISPR-Cas9 and its potential applications to help controlling neglected tropical diseases caused by Trypanosomatidae. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 63:326-331. [PMID: 29486366 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas system, which was originally identified as a prokaryotic defense mechanism, is increasingly being used for the functional study of genes. This technology, which is simple, inexpensive and efficient, has aroused a lot of enthusiasm in the scientific community since its discovery, and every month many publications emanate from very different communities reporting on the use of CRISPR-Cas9. Currently, there are no vaccines to control neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) caused by Trypanosomatidae, particularly Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African Trypanosomoses (AAT), and treatments are cumbersome and sometimes not effective enough. CRISPR-Cas9 has the potential to functionally analyze new target molecules that could be used for therapeutic and vaccine purposes. In this review, after briefly describing CRIPSR-Cas9 history and how it works, different applications on diseases, especially on parasitic diseases, are reviewed. We then focus the review on the use of CRISPR-Cas9 editing on Trypanosomatidae parasites, the causative agents of NTDs, which are still a terrible burden for human populations in tropical regions, and their vectors.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Anopheles/genetics
- Anopheles/parasitology
- CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/genetics
- CRISPR-Associated Protein 9/metabolism
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Cattle
- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
- Disease Models, Animal
- Drosophila/genetics
- Drosophila/parasitology
- Gene Editing/methods
- Genome, Protozoan
- Leishmania/genetics
- Leishmania/pathogenicity
- Leishmaniasis/parasitology
- Leishmaniasis/prevention & control
- Leishmaniasis/transmission
- Neglected Diseases/parasitology
- Neglected Diseases/prevention & control
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/metabolism
- Trypanosoma/genetics
- Trypanosoma/pathogenicity
- Trypanosomiasis, African/parasitology
- Trypanosomiasis, African/prevention & control
- Trypanosomiasis, African/transmission
- Trypanosomiasis, Bovine/parasitology
- Trypanosomiasis, Bovine/prevention & control
- Trypanosomiasis, Bovine/transmission
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Minet
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Sophie Thévenon
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Isabelle Chantal
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
| | - Philippe Solano
- IRD, UMR INTERTRYP IRD, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, F-34398 Montpellier, France.
| | - David Berthier
- CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, F-34398 Montpellier, France; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France.
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Eyssen LEA, Vather P, Jackson L, Ximba P, Biteau N, Baltz T, Boulangé A, Büscher P, Coetzer THT. Recombinant and native TviCATL from Trypanosoma vivax: Enzymatic characterisation and evaluation as a diagnostic target for animal African trypanosomosis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2018; 223:50-54. [PMID: 29990512 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
African animal trypanosomosis (nagana) is caused by tsetse-transmitted protozoan parasites. Their cysteine proteases are potential chemotherapeutic and diagnostic targets. The N-glycosylated catalytic domain of Trypanosoma vivax cathepsin L-like cysteine protease, rTviCATLcat, was recombinantly expressed and purified from culture supernatants while native TviCATL was purified from T. vivax Y486 parasite lysates. Typical of Clan CA, family C1 proteases, TviCATL activity is sensitive to E-64 and cystatin and substrate specificity is defined by the S2 pocket. Leucine was preferred in P2 and basic and non-bulky, hydrophobic residues accepted in P1 and P3 respectively. Reversible aldehyde inhibitors, antipain, chymostatin and leupeptin, with Arg in P1 and irreversible peptidyl chloromethylketone inhibitors with hydrophobic residues in P2 inhibited TviCATL activity. TviCATL digested host proteins: bovine haemoglobin, serum albumin, fibrinogen and denatured collagen (gelatine) over a wide pH range, including neutral to slightly acidic pH. The recombinant catalytic domain of TviCATL showed promise as a diagnostic target for detecting T. vivax infection in cattle in an indirect antibody detection ELISA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E-A Eyssen
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Perina Vather
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Laurelle Jackson
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Phindile Ximba
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Nicolas Biteau
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Université Bordeaux. UMR-CNRS 5234, 146, Rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Théo Baltz
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Université Bordeaux. UMR-CNRS 5234, 146, Rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux Cedex, France
| | - Alain Boulangé
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa; CIRAD, UMR INTERTRYP, 01009 Maputo, Mozambique; INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, 01009 Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Philippe Büscher
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Theresa H T Coetzer
- Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa.
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Awuoche EO, Weiss BL, Mireji PO, Vigneron A, Nyambega B, Murilla G, Aksoy S. Expression profiling of Trypanosoma congolense genes during development in the tsetse fly vector Glossina morsitans morsitans. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:380. [PMID: 29970164 PMCID: PMC6029126 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2964-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The tsetse transmitted parasitic flagellate Trypanosoma congolense causes animal African trypanosomosis (AAT) across sub-Saharan Africa. AAT negatively impacts agricultural, economic, nutritional and subsequently, health status of the affected populace. The molecular mechanisms that underlie T. congolense’s developmental program within tsetse are largely unknown due to considerable challenges with obtaining sufficient parasite cells to perform molecular studies. Methods In this study, we used RNA-seq to profile T. congolense gene expression during development in two distinct tsetse tissues, the cardia and proboscis. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA) and confocal laser scanning microscope was used to localize the expression of a putative protein encoded by the hypothetical protein (TcIL3000_0_02370). Results Consistent with current knowledge, genes coding several variant surface glycoproteins (including metacyclic specific VSGs), and the surface coat protein, congolense epimastigote specific protein, were upregulated in parasites in the proboscis (PB-parasites). Additionally, our results indicate that parasites in tsetse’s cardia (C-parasites) and PB employ oxidative phosphorylation and amino acid metabolism for energy. Several genes upregulated in C-parasites encoded receptor-type adenylate cyclases, surface carboxylate transporter family proteins (or PADs), transport proteins, RNA-binding proteins and procyclin isoforms. Gene ontology analysis of products of genes upregulated in C-parasites showed enrichment of terms broadly associated with nucleotides, microtubules, cell membrane and its components, cell signaling, quorum sensing and several transport activities, suggesting that the parasites colonizing the cardia may monitor their environment and regulate their density and movement in this tissue. Additionally, cell surface protein (CSP) encoding genes associated with the Fam50 ‘GARP’, ‘iii’ and ‘i’ subfamilies were also significantly upregulated in C-parasites, suggesting that they are important for the long non-dividing trypomastigotes to colonize tsetse’s cardia. The putative products of genes that were upregulated in PB-parasites were linked to nucleosomes, cytoplasm and membrane-bound organelles, which suggest that parasites in this niche undergo cell division in line with prior findings. Most of the CSPs upregulated in PB-parasites were hypothetical, thus requiring further functional characterization. Expression of one such hypothetical protein (TcIL3000_0_02370) was analyzed using immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy, which together revealed preferential expression of this protein on the entire surface coat of T. congolense parasite stages that colonize G. m. morsitans’ proboscis. Conclusion Collectively, our results provide insight into T. congolense gene expression profiles in distinct niches within the tsetse vector. Our results show that the hypothetical protein TcIL3000_0_02370, is expressed on the entire surface of the trypanosomes inhabiting tsetse’s proboscis. We discuss our results in terms of their relevance to disease transmission processes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2964-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick O Awuoche
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya. .,Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya. .,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Meru University of Science and Technology, Meru, Kenya.
| | - Brian L Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Paul O Mireji
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.,Centre for Geographic Medicine Research - Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Aurélien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Benson Nyambega
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Maseno University, Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya
| | - Grace Murilla
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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13
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Abstract
This study assessed the virulence of Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of camel trypanosomiasis (surra), affecting mainly camels among other hosts in Africa, Asia and South America, with high mortality and morbidity. Using Swiss white mice, we assessed virulence of 17 T. evansi isolates collected from surra endemic countries. We determined parasitaemia, live body weight, packed cell volume (PCV) and survivorship in mice, for a period of 60 days' post infection. Based on survivorship, the 17 isolates were classified into three virulence categories; low (31-60 days), moderate (11-30 days) and high (0-10 days). Differences in survivorship, PCV and bodyweights between categories were significant and correlated (P < 0.05). Of the 10 Kenyan isolates, four were of low, five moderate and one (Type B) of high virulence. These findings suggest differential virulence between T. evansi isolates. In conclusion, these results show that the virulence of T. evansi may be region specific, the phenotype of the circulating parasite should be considered in the management of surra. There is also need to collect more isolates from other surra endemic regions to confirm this observation.
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14
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Previti S, Ettari R, Cosconati S, Amendola G, Chouchene K, Wagner A, Hellmich UA, Ulrich K, Krauth-Siegel RL, Wich PR, Schmid I, Schirmeister T, Gut J, Rosenthal PJ, Grasso S, Zappalà M. Development of Novel Peptide-Based Michael Acceptors Targeting Rhodesain and Falcipain-2 for the Treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). J Med Chem 2017; 60:6911-6923. [PMID: 28763614 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the development of a class of peptide-based inhibitors as novel antitrypanosomal and antimalarial agents. The inhibitors are based on a characteristic peptide sequence for the inhibition of the cysteine proteases rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and falcipain-2 of Plasmodium falciparum. We exploited the reactivity of novel unsaturated electrophilic functions such as vinyl-sulfones, -ketones, -esters, and -nitriles. The Michael acceptors inhibited both rhodesain and falcipain-2, at nanomolar and micromolar levels, respectively. In particular, the vinyl ketone 3b has emerged as a potent rhodesain inhibitor (k2nd = 67 × 106 M-1 min-1), endowed with a picomolar binding affinity (Ki = 38 pM), coupled with a single-digit micromolar activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (EC50 = 2.97 μM), thus being considered as a novel lead compound for the discovery of novel effective antitrypanosomal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli , Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Giorgio Amendola
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli , Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Khawla Chouchene
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances Naturelles UR/11-ES-74, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax , Route de l'aeroport, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Annika Wagner
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt , Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, DE 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ute A Hellmich
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt , Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, DE 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kathrin Ulrich
- Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University , Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, DE 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Luise Krauth-Siegel
- Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University , Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, DE 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter R Wich
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Staudingerweg 5, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ira Schmid
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Staudingerweg 5, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Staudingerweg 5, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jiri Gut
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California , 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94110, United States
| | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California , 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94110, United States
| | - Silvana Grasso
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
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15
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Ferreira LG, Andricopulo AD. Targeting cysteine proteases in trypanosomatid disease drug discovery. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 180:49-61. [PMID: 28579388 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease and human African trypanosomiasis are endemic conditions in Latin America and Africa, respectively, for which no effective and safe therapy is available. Efforts in drug discovery have focused on several enzymes from these protozoans, among which cysteine proteases have been validated as molecular targets for pharmacological intervention. These enzymes are expressed during the entire life cycle of trypanosomatid parasites and are essential to many biological processes, including infectivity to the human host. As a result of advances in the knowledge of the structural aspects of cysteine proteases and their role in disease physiopathology, inhibition of these enzymes by small molecules has been demonstrated to be a worthwhile approach to trypanosomatid drug research. This review provides an update on drug discovery strategies targeting the cysteine peptidases cruzain from Trypanosoma cruzi and rhodesain and cathepsin B from Trypanosoma brucei. Given that current chemotherapy for Chagas disease and human African trypanosomiasis has several drawbacks, cysteine proteases will continue to be actively pursued as valuable molecular targets in trypanosomatid disease drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo G Ferreira
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional, Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone 1100, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Adriano D Andricopulo
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional, Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida João Dagnone 1100, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil.
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16
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Stijlemans B, Radwanska M, De Trez C, Magez S. African Trypanosomes Undermine Humoral Responses and Vaccine Development: Link with Inflammatory Responses? Front Immunol 2017; 8:582. [PMID: 28596768 PMCID: PMC5442186 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomosis is a debilitating disease of great medical and socioeconomical importance. It is caused by strictly extracellular protozoan parasites capable of infecting all vertebrate classes including human, livestock, and game animals. To survive within their mammalian host, trypanosomes have evolved efficient immune escape mechanisms and manipulate the entire host immune response, including the humoral response. This report provides an overview of how trypanosomes initially trigger and subsequently undermine the development of an effective host antibody response. Indeed, results available to date obtained in both natural and experimental infection models show that trypanosomes impair homeostatic B-cell lymphopoiesis, B-cell maturation and survival and B-cell memory development. Data on B-cell dysfunctioning in correlation with parasite virulence and trypanosome-mediated inflammation will be discussed, as well as the impact of trypanosomosis on heterologous vaccine efficacy and diagnosis. Therefore, new strategies aiming at enhancing vaccination efficacy could benefit from a combination of (i) early parasite diagnosis, (ii) anti-trypanosome (drugs) treatment, and (iii) anti-inflammatory treatment that collectively might allow B-cell recovery and improve vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Stijlemans
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Myeloid Cell Immunology Lab, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Magdalena Radwanska
- Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Carl De Trez
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Structural Biology Research Centre (SBRC), VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Magez
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.,Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Ghent University Global Campus, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, South Korea
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17
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Ettari R, Pinto A, Tamborini L, Angelo IC, Grasso S, Zappalà M, Capodicasa N, Yzeiraj L, Gruber E, Aminake MN, Pradel G, Schirmeister T, De Micheli C, Conti P. Synthesis and biological evaluation of papain-family cathepsin L-like cysteine protease inhibitors containing a 1,4-benzodiazepine scaffold as antiprotozoal agents. ChemMedChem 2014; 9:1817-25. [PMID: 24919925 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201402079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Novel papain-family cathepsin L-like cysteine protease inhibitors endowed with antitrypanosomal and antimalarial activity were developed, through an optimization study of previously developed inhibitors. In the present work, we studied the structure-activity relationships of these derivatives, with the aim to develop new analogues with a simplified and more synthetically accessible structure and with improved antiparasitic activity. The structure of the model compounds was significantly simplified by modifying or even eliminating the side chain appended at the C3 atom of the benzodiazepine scaffold. In addition, a simple methylene spacer of appropriate length was inserted between the benzodiazepine ring and the 3-bromoisoxazoline moiety. Several rhodesain and falcipain-2 inhibitors displaying single-digit micromolar or sub-micromolar antiparasitic activity against one or both parasites were identified, with activities that were one order of magnitude more potent than the model compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano (Italy).
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18
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Rodrigues AC, Ortiz PA, Costa-Martins AG, Neves L, Garcia HA, Alves JM, Camargo EP, Alfieri SC, Gibson W, Teixeira MM. Congopain genes diverged to become specific to Savannah, Forest and Kilifi subgroups of Trypanosoma congolense, and are valuable for diagnosis, genotyping and phylogenetic inferences. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 23:20-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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19
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Recombinant expression and biochemical characterisation of two alanyl aminopeptidases of Trypanosoma congolense. Exp Parasitol 2013; 135:675-84. [PMID: 24177338 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma congolense is a haemoprotozoan parasite that causes African animal trypanosomosis, a wasting disease of cattle and small ruminants. Current control methods are unsatisfactory and no conventional vaccine exists due to antigenic variation. An anti-disease vaccine approach to control T. congolense has been proposed requiring the identification of parasitic factors that cause disease. Immunoprecipitation of T. congolense antigens using sera from infected trypanotolerant cattle allowed the identification of several immunogenic antigens including two M1 type aminopeptidases (APs). The two APs were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. As the APs were expressed as insoluble inclusion bodies it was necessary to develop a method for solubilisation and subsequent refolding to restore conformation and activity. The refolded APs both showed a distinct substrate preference for H-Ala-AMC, an optimum pH of 8.0, puromycin-sensitivity, inhibition by bestatin and amastatin, and cytoplasmic localisation. The two APs are expressed in procyclic metacyclic and bloodstream form parasites. Down-regulation of both APs by RNAi resulted in a slightly reduced growth rate in procyclic parasites in vitro.
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20
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Nakayima J, Nakao R, Alhassan A, Hayashida K, Namangala B, Mahama C, Afakye K, Sugimoto C. Genetic diversity among Trypanosoma (Duttonella) vivax strains from Zambia and Ghana, based on cathepsin L-like gene. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 20:24. [PMID: 23815966 PMCID: PMC3718526 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2013024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary relationships of Trypanosoma (Duttonella) vivax genotypes between West Africa and Southern Africa can provide information on the epidemiology and control of trypanosomosis. Cattle blood samples from Zambia and Ghana were screened for T. vivax infection using specie-specific PCR and sequencing analysis. Substantial polymorphism was obtained from phylogenetic analysis of sequences of cathepsin L-like catalytic domains. T. vivax from Ghana clustered together with West African and South American sequences, while T. vivax from Zambia formed one distinct clade and clustered with East African and Southern African sequences. This study suggests existence of distinct genetic diversity between T. vivax genotypes from West Africa and Zambia as per their geographical origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesca Nakayima
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan - National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), P.O. Box 96 Tororo, Uganda
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21
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Ettari R, Tamborini L, Angelo IC, Micale N, Pinto A, De Micheli C, Conti P. Inhibition of Rhodesain as a Novel Therapeutic Modality for Human African Trypanosomiasis. J Med Chem 2013; 56:5637-58. [DOI: 10.1021/jm301424d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli
25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Tamborini
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli
25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Ilenia C. Angelo
- Dipartimento di Scienze del
Farmaco e Prodotti per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Nicola Micale
- Dipartimento di Scienze del
Farmaco e Prodotti per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Andrea Pinto
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli
25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Carlo De Micheli
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli
25, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Conti
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli
25, 20133 Milano, Italy
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22
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Branquinha MH, Marinho FA, Sangenito LS, Oliveira SSC, Goncalves KC, Ennes-Vidal V, d'Avila-Levy CM, Santos ALS. Calpains: potential targets for alternative chemotherapeutic intervention against human pathogenic trypanosomatids. Curr Med Chem 2013; 20:3174-85. [PMID: 23899207 PMCID: PMC4181241 DOI: 10.2174/0929867311320250010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2012] [Revised: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The treatment for both leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis, which are severe human infections caused by trypanosomatids belonging to Leishmania and Trypanosoma genera, respectively, is extremely limited because of concerns of toxicity and efficacy with the available anti-protozoan drugs, as well as the emergence of drug resistance. Consequently, the urgency for the discovery of new trypanosomatid targets and novel bioactive compounds is particularly necessary. In this context, the investigation of changes in parasite gene expression between drug resistant/sensitive strains and in the up-regulation of virulence-related genes in infective forms has brought to the fore the involvement of calpain-like proteins in several crucial pathophysiological processes performed by trypanosomatids. These studies were encouraged by the publication of the complete genome sequences of three human pathogenic trypanosomatids, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania major, which allowed in silico analyses that in turn directed the identification of numerous genes with interesting chemotherapeutic characteristics, including a large family of calpain-related proteins, in which to date 23 genes were assigned as calpains in T. brucei, 40 in T. cruzi and 33 in L. braziliensis. In the present review, we intend to add to these biochemical/biological reports the investigations performed upon the inhibitory capability of calpain inhibitors against human pathogenic trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Branquinha
- Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes-IMPG, Centro de Ciências da Saúde-CCS, Bloco Esubsolo, Sala 05, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro-UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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23
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Effect of adjuvants on the humoral immune response to congopain in mice and cattle. BMC Vet Res 2012; 8:63. [PMID: 22621378 PMCID: PMC3532191 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We investigated several adjuvants for their effects on the humoral immune response in both mice and cattle using the central domain of congopain (C2), the major cysteine protease of Trypanosoma congolense, as a model for developing a vaccine against animal trypanosomosis. The magnitude and sustainability of the immune response against C2 and the occurrence of a booster effect of infection, an indirect measure of the presence of memory cells, were determined by ELISA, while spectrofluorometry was used to determine and measure the presence of enzyme-inhibiting antibodies. Results Mice immunized with recombinant C2 in TiterMax™, Adjuphos™, purified saponin Quil A™ or Gerbu™ showed the best response according to the evaluation criteria and the latter three were chosen for the cattle vaccination study. The cattle were challenged with T. congolense four and a half months after the last booster. Cattle immunized with recombinant C2 in purified saponin Quil A™ showed the best antibody response according to the measured parameters. Conclusions We identified purified saponin Quil A™ as a good adjuvant for immunizations with C2. The results from this study will be useful in future attempts to develop an effective anti-disease vaccine against African trypanosomosis.
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24
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Identification and characterization of cysteine proteinases of Trypanosoma evansi. Parasitol Res 2011; 109:559-65. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2284-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/01/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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25
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Boulangé AF, Khamadi SA, Pillay D, Coetzer THT, Authié E. Production of congopain, the major cysteine protease of Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense, in Pichia pastoris reveals unexpected dimerisation at physiological pH. Protein Expr Purif 2010; 75:95-103. [PMID: 20828616 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2010.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2010] [Revised: 09/01/2010] [Accepted: 09/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
African animal trypanosomosis (nagana) is arguably the most important parasitic disease affecting livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. Since none of the existing control measures are entirely satisfactory, vaccine development is being actively pursued. However, due to antigenic variation, the quest for a conventional vaccine has proven elusive. As a result, we have sought an alternative 'anti-disease vaccine approach', based on congopain, a cysteine protease of Trypanosoma congolense, which was shown to have pathogenic effects in vivo. Congopain was initially expressed as a recombinant protein in bacterial and baculovirus expression systems, but both the folding and yield obtained proved inadequate. Hence alternative expression systems were investigated, amongst which Pichia pastoris proved to be the most suitable. We report here the expression of full length, and C-terminal domain-truncated congopain in the methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris. Differences in yield were observed between full length and truncated proteins, the full length producing 2-4 mg of protein per litre of culture, while the truncated form produced 20-30 mg/l. The protease was produced as a proenzyme, but underwent spontaneous activation when acidified (pH <5). To investigate whether this activation was due to autolysis, we produced an inactive mutant (active site Cys→Ala) by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant form was produced at a much higher rate, up to 100mg/l culture, as a proenzyme. It did not undergo spontaneous cleavage of the propeptide when subjected to acidic pH suggesting an autocatalytic process of activation for congopain. These recombinant proteins displayed a very unusual feature for cathepsin L-like proteinases, i.e. complete dimerisation at pH >6, and by reversibly monomerising at acidic pH <5. This attribute is of utmost importance in the context of an anti-disease vaccine, given that the epitopes recognised by the sera of trypanosome-infected trypanotolerant cattle appear dimer-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain F Boulangé
- UMR 17 IRD-CIRAD Trypanosomes, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. ,
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Pillay D, Boulangé AF, Coetzer THT. Expression, purification and characterisation of two variant cysteine peptidases from Trypanosoma congolense with active site substitutions. Protein Expr Purif 2010; 74:264-71. [PMID: 20609389 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2010.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2010] [Revised: 06/25/2010] [Accepted: 06/28/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Congopain, the major cysteine peptidase of Trypanosoma congolense is an attractive candidate for an anti-disease vaccine and target for the design of specific inhibitors. A complicating factor for the inclusion of congopain in a vaccine is that multiple variants of congopain are present in the genome of the parasite. In order to determine whether the variant congopain-like genes code for peptidases with enzymatic activities different to those of congopain, two variants were cloned and expressed. Two truncated catalytic domain variants were recombinantly expressed in Pichia pastoris. The two expressed catalytic domain variants differed slightly from one another in substrate preferences and also from that of C2 (the recombinant truncated form of congopain). Surprisingly, a variant with the catalytic triad Ser(25), His(159) and Asn(175) was shown to be active against classical cysteine peptidase substrates and inhibited by E-64, a class-specific cysteine protease inhibitor. Both catalytic domain clones and C2 had pH optima of either 6.0 or 6.5 implying that these congopain-like proteases are likely to be expressed and active in the bloodstream of the host animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davita Pillay
- School of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa
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Holzmuller P, Grébaut P, Cuny G, Biron DG. Tsetse flies, trypanosomes, humans and animals: what is proteomics revealing about their crosstalks? Expert Rev Proteomics 2010; 7:113-26. [PMID: 20121481 DOI: 10.1586/epr.09.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Human and animal African trypanosomoses, or sleeping sickness and Nagana, are neglected vector-borne parasitic diseases caused by protozoa belonging to the Trypanosoma genus. Advances in proteomics offer new tools to better understand host-vector-parasite crosstalks occurring during the complex parasitic developmental cycle, and to determine the outcome of both transmission and infection. In this review, we summarize proteomics studies performed on African trypanosomes and on the interactions with their vector and mammalian hosts. We discuss the contributions and pitfalls of using diverse proteomics tools, and argue about the interest of pathogenoproteomics, both to generate advances in basic research on the best knowledge and understanding of host-vector-pathogen interactions, and to lead to the concrete development of new tools to improve diagnosis and treatment management of trypanosomoses in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Holzmuller
- CIRAD UMR 17 Trypanosomes, UMR 177 IRD-CIRAD Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les Trypanosomoses, TA A-17/G, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
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Abstract
SUMMARYAnti-trypanosomiasis vaccination still remains the best theoretical option in the fight against a disease that is continuously hovering between its wildlife reservoir and its reservoir in man and livestock. While antigentic variation of the parasite surface coat has been considered the major obstacle in the development of a functional vaccine, recent research into the biology of B cells has indicated that the problems might go further than that. This paper reviews past and current attempts to design both anti-trypanosome vaccines, as well as vaccines directed towards the inhibition of infection-associated pathology.
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Rodrigues AC, Garcia HA, Ortiz PA, Cortez AP, Martinkovic F, Paiva F, Batista JS, Minervino AH, Campaner M, Pral EM, Alfieri SC, Teixeira MMG. Cysteine proteases of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri: cathepsin L-like gene sequences as targets for phylogenetic analysis, genotyping diagnosis. Parasitol Int 2010; 59:318-25. [PMID: 20230907 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2009] [Revised: 03/01/2010] [Accepted: 03/08/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Although Trypanosomatheileri and allied trypanosomes are the most widespread trypanosomes in bovids little is known about proteolytic enzymes in these species. We have characterized genes encoding for cathepsin L-like (CATL) cysteine proteases from isolates of cattle, water buffalo and deer that largely diverged from homologues of other trypanosome species. Analysis of 78 CATL catalytic domain sequences from 22 T. theileri trypanosomes disclosed 6 genotypes tightly clustered together into the T. theileri clade. The CATL genes in these trypanosomes are organized in tandem arrays of approximately 1.7kb located in 2 chromosomal bands of 600-720kb. A diagnostic PCR assay targeting CATL sequences detected T. theileri of all genotypes from cattle, buffaloes and cervids and also from tabanid vectors. Expression of T. theileri cysteine proteases was demonstrated by proteolytic activity in gelatin gels and hydrolysis of Z-Phe-Arg-AMC substrate. Results from this work agree with previous data using ribosomal and spliced leader genes demonstrating that CATL gene sequences are useful for diagnosis, population genotyping and evolutionary studies of T. theileri trypanosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana C Rodrigues
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Manful T, Mulindwa J, Frank FM, Clayton CE, Matovu E. A search for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense diagnostic antigens by proteomic screening and targeted cloning. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9630. [PMID: 20224787 PMCID: PMC2835760 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2010] [Accepted: 02/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The only available diagnostic method for East African trypanosomiasis is light microscopy of blood samples. A simple immunodiagnostic would greatly aid trypanosomiasis control. Methodology and Principal Findings To find trypanosome proteins that are specifically recognised by sera from human sleeping sickness patients, we have screened the Trypanosoma brucei brucei proteome by Western blotting. Using cytosolic, cytoskeletal and glycosomal fractions, we found that the vast majority of abundant trypanosome proteins is not specifically recognised by patient sera. We identified phosphoglycerate kinase (PGKC), heat shock protein (HSP70), and histones H2B and H3 as possible candidate diagnostic antigens. These proteins, plus paraflagellar rod protein 1, rhodesain (a cysteine protease), and an extracellular fragment of the Trypanosoma brucei nucleoside transporter TbNT10, were expressed in E. coli and tested for reactivity with patient and control sera. Only TbHSP70 was preferentially recognized by patient sera, but the sensitivity and specificity were insufficient for use of TbHSP70 alone as a diagnostic. Immunoprecipitation using a native protein extract revealed no specifically reacting proteins. Conclusions No abundant T. brucei soluble, glycosomal or cytoskeletal protein is likely to be useful in diagnosis. To find useful diagnostic antigens it will therefore be necessary to use more sophisticated proteomic methods, or to test a very large panel of candidate proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Manful
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julius Mulindwa
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Fernanda M. Frank
- Cátedra de Inmunología IDEHU (UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Christine E. Clayton
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Enock Matovu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Magez S, Radwanska M. African trypanosomiasis and antibodies: implications for vaccination, therapy and diagnosis. Future Microbiol 2010; 4:1075-87. [PMID: 19824795 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.09.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
African trypanosomiasis causes devastating effects on human populations and livestock herds in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Control of the disease is hampered by the lack of any efficient vaccination results in a field setting, and the severe side effects of current drug therapies. In addition, with the exception of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infections, the diagnosis of trypanosomiasis has to rely on microscopic analysis of blood samples, as other specific tools are nonexistent. However, new developments in biotechnology, which include loop-mediated isothermal amplification as an adaptation to conventional PCR, as well as the antibody engineering that has allowed the development of Nanobody technology, offer new perspectives in both the detection and treatment of trypanosomiasis. In addition, recent data on parasite-induced B-cell memory destruction offer new insights into mechanisms of vaccine failure, and should lead us towards new strategies to overcome trypanosome defenses operating against the host immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Magez
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Interactions, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, Rijvisschestraat 120, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium.
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Ortiz P, Maia da Silva F, Cortez A, Lima L, Campaner M, Pral E, Alfieri S, Teixeira M. Genes of cathepsin L-like proteases in Trypanosoma rangeli isolates: markers for diagnosis, genotyping and phylogenetic relationships. Acta Trop 2009; 112:249-59. [PMID: 19683503 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2009] [Revised: 07/27/2009] [Accepted: 07/28/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We have sequenced genes encoding cathepsin L-like (CatL-like) cysteine proteases from isolates of Trypanosoma rangeli from humans, wild mammals and Rhodnius species of Central and South America. Phylogenetic trees of sequences encoding mature CatL-like enzymes of T. rangeli and homologous genes from other trypanosomes, Leishmania spp. and bodonids positioned sequences of T. rangeli (rangelipain) closest to T. cruzi (cruzipain). Phylogenetic tree of kinetoplastids based on sequences of CatL-like was totally congruent with those derived from SSU rRNA and gGAPDH genes. Analysis of sequences from the CatL-like catalytic domains of 17 isolates representative of the overall phylogenetic diversity and geographical range of T. rangeli supported all the lineages (A-D) previously defined using ribosomal and spliced leader genes. Comparison of the proteolytic activities of T. rangeli isolates revealed heterogeneous banding profiles of cysteine proteases in gelatin gels, with differences even among isolates of the same lineage. CatL-like sequences proved to be excellent targets for diagnosis and genotyping of T. rangeli by PCR. Data from CatL-like encoding genes agreed with results from previous studies of kDNA markers, and ribosomal and spliced leader genes, thereby corroborating clonal evolution, independent transmission cycles and the divergence of T. rangeli lineages associated with sympatric species of Rhodnius.
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Helm JR, Hertz-Fowler C, Aslett M, Berriman M, Sanders M, Quail MA, Soares MB, Bonaldo MF, Sakurai T, Inoue N, Donelson JE. Analysis of expressed sequence tags from the four main developmental stages of Trypanosoma congolense. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2009; 168:34-42. [PMID: 19559733 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2009] [Revised: 06/15/2009] [Accepted: 06/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma congolense is one of the most economically important pathogens of livestock in Africa. Culture-derived parasites of each of the three main insect stages of the T. congolense life cycle, i.e., the procyclic, epimastigote and metacyclic stages, and bloodstream stage parasites isolated from infected mice, were used to construct stage-specific cDNA libraries and expressed sequence tags (ESTs or cDNA clones) in each library were sequenced. Thirteen EST clusters encoding different variant surface glycoproteins (VSGs) were detected in the metacyclic library and 26 VSG EST clusters were found in the bloodstream library, 6 of which are shared by the metacyclic library. Rare VSG ESTs are present in the epimastigote library, and none were detected in the procyclic library. ESTs encoding enzymes that catalyze oxidative phosphorylation and amino acid metabolism are about twice as abundant in the procyclic and epimastigote stages as in the metacyclic and bloodstream stages. In contrast, ESTs encoding enzymes involved in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and nucleotide metabolism are about the same in all four developmental stages. Cysteine proteases, kinases and phosphatases are the most abundant enzyme groups represented by the ESTs. All four libraries contain T. congolense-specific expressed sequences not present in the Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi genomes. Normalized cDNA libraries were constructed from the metacyclic and bloodstream stages, and found to be further enriched for T. congolense-specific ESTs. Given that cultured T. congolense offers an experimental advantage over other African trypanosome species, these ESTs provide a basis for further investigation of the molecular properties of these four developmental stages, especially the epimastigote and metacyclic stages for which it is difficult to obtain large quantities of organisms. The T. congolense EST databases are available at: http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Projects/T_congolense/EST_index.shtml. The sequence data have been submitted to EMBL under the following accession numbers: FN263376-FN292969.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared R Helm
- Department of Biochemistry, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Huson LEJ, Authié E, Boulangé AF, Goldring JPD, Coetzer THT. Modulation of the immunogenicity of the Trypanosoma congolense cysteine protease, congopain, through complexation with alpha(2)-macroglobulin. Vet Res 2009; 40:52. [PMID: 19549486 PMCID: PMC2713678 DOI: 10.1051/vetres/2009036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2009] [Accepted: 06/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma congolense is the main causative agent of livestock trypanosomosis. Congopain, the major lysosomal cysteine proteinase of T. congolense, contributes to disease pathogenesis, and antibody-mediated inhibition of this enzyme may contribute to mechanisms of trypanotolerance. The potential of different adjuvants to facilitate the production of antibodies that would inhibit congopain activity was evaluated in the present study. Rabbits were immunised with the recombinant catalytic domain of congopain (C2), either without adjuvant, with Freund’s adjuvant or complexed with bovine or rabbit α2-macroglobulin (α2M). The antibodies were assessed for inhibition of congopain activity. Rabbits immunised with C2 alone produced barely detectable anti-C2 antibody levels and these antibodies had no effect on recombinant C2 or native congopain activity. Rabbits immunised with C2 and Freund’s adjuvant produced the highest levels of anti-C2 antibodies. These antibodies either inhibited C2 and native congopain activity to a small degree, or enhanced their activity, depending on time of production after initial immunisation. Rabbits receiving C2-α2M complexes produced moderate levels of anti-C2 antibodies and these antibodies consistently showed the best inhibition of C2 and native congopain activity of all the antibodies, with maximum inhibition of 65%. Results of this study suggest that antibodies inhibiting congopain activity could be raised in livestock with a congopain catalytic domain-α2M complex. This approach improves the effectiveness of the antigen as an anti-disease vaccine candidate for African trypanosomosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Elizabeth Joan Huson
- School of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus), Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
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Synthetic nonamer peptides derived from insect defensin mediate the killing of African trypanosomes in axenic culture. Parasitol Res 2009; 105:217-25. [PMID: 19308456 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1389-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2008] [Accepted: 02/27/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic antimicrobial 9-mer peptides (designated as peptides A and B) designed on the basis of insect defensins and their effects on the growth of African trypanosomes were examined using two isolates of Trypanosoma congolense, IL1180 and IL3338, and two isolates of Trypanosoma brucei brucei, ILTat1.1and GUTat 3.1, under axenic culture conditions. Both peptides inhibited the growth of all bloodstream form (BSF) trypanosomes at 200-400 microg/mL in the complete growth medium, with peptide A being more potent than peptide B. In addition, these peptides exhibited efficient killing at 5-20 microg/mL on BSF trypanosomes suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, whereas procyclic insect forms in the same medium were more refractory to the killing. Electron microscopy revealed that the peptides induced severe defects in the cell membrane integrity of the parasites. The insect defensin-based peptides up to either 200 or 400 microg/mL showed no cell killing or growth inhibition on NIH3T3 murine fibroblasts. The results suggest that the design of suitable synthetic insect defensin-based 9-mer peptides might provide potential novel trypanocidal drugs.
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Grébaut P, Chuchana P, Brizard JP, Demettre E, Seveno M, Bossard G, Jouin P, Vincendeau P, Bengaly Z, Boulangé A, Cuny G, Holzmuller P. Identification of total and differentially expressed excreted-secreted proteins from Trypanosoma congolense strains exhibiting different virulence and pathogenicity. Int J Parasitol 2009; 39:1137-50. [PMID: 19285981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2008] [Revised: 02/05/2009] [Accepted: 02/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Animal trypanosomosis is a major constraint to livestock productivity in the tropics and has a significant impact on the life of millions of people globally (mainly in Africa, South America and south-east Asia). In Africa, the disease in livestock is caused mainly by Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The extracellular position of trypanosomes in the bloodstream of their host requires consideration of both the parasite and its naturally excreted-secreted factors (secretome) in the course of pathophysiological processes. We therefore developed and standardised a method to produce purified proteomes and secretomes of African trypanosomes. In this study, two strains of T. congolense exhibiting opposite properties of both virulence and pathogenicity were further investigated through their secretome expression and its involvement in host-parasite interactions. We used a combined proteomic approach (one-dimensional SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry) to characterise the whole and differentially expressed protein contents of secretomes. The molecular identification of differentially expressed trypanosome molecules and their correlation with either the virulence process or pathogenicity are discussed with regard to their potential as new diagnostic or therapeutic tools against animal trypanosomosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Grébaut
- CIRAD UMR 17 Trypanosomes (UMR 177 IRD-CIRAD Interactions Hôtes-Vecteurs-Parasites dans les Trypanosomoses), TA A-17/G, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Host-parasite interactions in trypanosomiasis: on the way to an antidisease strategy. Infect Immun 2009; 77:1276-84. [PMID: 19168735 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01185-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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38
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Cathepsin L-like genes of Trypanosoma vivax from Africa and South America--characterization, relationships and diagnostic implications. Mol Cell Probes 2008; 23:44-51. [PMID: 19063960 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2008.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2008] [Revised: 11/16/2008] [Accepted: 11/16/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We characterized sequences from genes encoding cathepsin L-like (CatL-like) cysteine proteases from African and South American isolates of Trypanosoma vivax and T. vivax-like organisms, and evaluated their suitability as genetic markers for population structure analysis and diagnosis. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences corresponding to CatL-like catalytic domains revealed substantial polymorphism, and clades of sequences (TviCatL1-9) were separated by large genetic distances. TviCatL1-4 sequences were from cattle isolates from West Africa (Nigeria and Burkina Faso) and South America (Brazil and Venezuela), which belonged to the same T. vivax genotype. T. vivax-like genotypes from East Africa showed divergent sequences, including TviCatL5-7 for isolates from Mozambique and TviCatL8-9 for an isolate from Kenya. Phylogenetic analysis of CatL-like gene data supported the relationships among trypanosome species reflected in the phylogenies based on the analysis of small subunit (SSU) of ribosomal RNA gene sequence data. The discovery of different CatL-like sequences for each genotype, defined previously by ribosomal DNA data, indicate that these sequences provide useful targets for epidemiological and population genetic studies. Regions in CatL-like sequences shared by all T. vivax genotypes but not by other trypanosomes allowed the establishment of a specific and sensitive diagnostic PCR for epidemiological studies in South America and Africa.
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Ruszczyk A, Forlenza M, Joerink M, Ribeiro CMS, Jurecka P, Wiegertjes GF. Trypanoplasma borreli cysteine proteinase activities support a conservation of function with respect to digestion of host proteins in common carp. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 32:1348-1361. [PMID: 18571233 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2008.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2007] [Revised: 04/17/2008] [Accepted: 05/05/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Trypanoplasma borreli is an extracellular parasite that is transmitted by a leech vector and is naturally found in the blood of cyprinid fish. High parasitemia and associated severe anemia together with splenomegaly are typical of infection of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. Papain-like cysteine proteinases expressed by trypanosome parasites contribute to the pathogenicity of trypanosomes, and are considered an important target for the development of new trypanocidal drugs. T. borreli is a member of the Parabodonida, sharing a common ancestor with the other Kinetoplastida. We demonstrate the presence of a cysteine proteinase expressed by T. borreli. Alignment of the sequence with other kinetoplastid cysteine proteinase sequences supports the phylogenetic hypotheses based on analyses of ribosomal RNA genes. We expressed the T. borreli cysteine proteinase in Escherichia coli, refolded the purified protein into a biologically active proteinase and showed it has cathepsin L-like activity. Addition of the (non)active proteinase to in vitro-derived carp head kidney-derived macrophages did not significantly modulate macrophage activity. Immunization of carp with the recombinant proteinase did induce a very high increase in proteinase-specific antibodies but only slightly lowered parasitemia. Digestion of host hemoglobin and immunoglobulin by the cysteine proteinase likely contribute to the pathogenicity of T. borreli. The possibility that digestion by the cysteine proteinase of host transferrin could contribute to an innate activation profile of macrophages in vivo is discussed. Our findings suggest a conservation of function with respect to cysteine proteinase activity in the Parabodonida in support of the hypotheses on the phylogeny of the Kinetoplastida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Ruszczyk
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Molecular and biochemical characterization of a cathepsin B-like protease family unique to Trypanosoma congolense. EUKARYOTIC CELL 2008; 7:684-97. [PMID: 18281598 DOI: 10.1128/ec.00405-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cysteine proteases have been shown to be essential virulence factors and drug targets in trypanosomatids and an attractive antidisease vaccine candidate for Trypanosoma congolense. Here, we describe an important amplification of genes encoding cathepsin B-like proteases unique to T. congolense. More than 13 different genes were identified, whereas only one or two highly homologous genes have been identified in other trypanosomatids. These proteases grouped into three evolutionary clusters: TcoCBc1 to TcoCBc5 and TcoCBc6, which possess the classical catalytic triad (Cys, His, and Asn), and TcoCBs7 to TcoCBs13, which contains an unusual catalytic site (Ser, Xaa, and Asn). Expression profiles showed that members of the TcoCBc1 to TcoCBc5 and the TcoCBs7 to TcoCBs13 groups are expressed mainly in bloodstream forms and localize in the lysosomal compartment. The expression of recombinant representatives of each group (TcoCB1, TcoCB6, and TcoCB12) as proenzymes showed that TcoCBc1 and TcoCBc6 are able to autocatalyze their maturation 21 and 31 residues, respectively, upstream of the predicted start of the catalytic domain. Both displayed a carboxydipeptidase function, while only TcoCBc1 behaved as an endopeptidase. TcoCBc1 exhibited biochemical differences regarding inhibitor sensitivity compared to that of other cathepsin B-like proteases. Recombinant pro-TcoCBs12 did not automature in vitro, and the pepsin-matured enzyme was inactive in tests with cathepsin B fluorogenic substrates. In vivo inhibition studies using CA074Me (a cell-permeable cathepsin B-specific inhibitor) demonstrated that TcoCB are involved in lysosomal protein degradation essential for survival in bloodstream form. Furthermore, TcoCBc1 elicited an important immune response in experimentally infected cattle. We propose this family of proteins as a potential therapeutic target and as a plausible antigen for T. congolense diagnosis.
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Ruszczyk A, Forlenza M, Savelkoul HFJ, Wiegertjes GF. Molecular cloning and functional characterisation of a cathepsin L-like proteinase from the fish kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma carassii. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 24:205-214. [PMID: 18162408 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2007.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2007] [Revised: 10/19/2007] [Accepted: 10/26/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma carassii is a fish kinetoplastid parasite that belongs to the family Trypanosomatida. In the present study we cloned a cathepsin L-like proteinase from T. carassii. The nucleotide sequence of 1371bp translated into a preproprotein of 456 amino acids. The preproprotein contained the oxyanion hole (Gln), the active triad formed by Cys, His and Asn and the conserved ERFNIN-like, GNFD and GCNGG motifs, characteristic for cathepsin L proteinases. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the T. carassii cysteine proteinase clustered with other cathepsin L-like proteinases from the Trypanosomatida. We produced a recombinant T. carassii cysteine proteinase in Escherichia coli and demonstrated that it has cathepsin L activity. Immunization of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) with the recombinant protein induced a very high increase in proteinase-specific antibodies but only slightly lowered parasitaemia. Our findings suggest that the T. carassii cysteine proteinase is highly conserved within the Trypanosomatida with respect to structure and activity but is not a major protective antigen in carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Ruszczyk
- Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Nikolskaia OV, de A. Lima APC, Kim YV, Lonsdale-Eccles JD, Fukuma T, Scharfstein J, Grab DJ. Blood-brain barrier traversal by African trypanosomes requires calcium signaling induced by parasite cysteine protease. J Clin Invest 2006; 116:2739-47. [PMID: 16998589 PMCID: PMC1570376 DOI: 10.1172/jci27798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2005] [Accepted: 08/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we investigated why bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense cross human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), a human blood-brain barrier (BBB) model system, at much greater efficiency than do T. b. brucei. After noting that T. b. gambiense displayed higher levels of cathepsin L-like cysteine proteases, we investigated whether these enzymes contribute to parasite crossing. First, we found that T. b. gambiense crossing of human BMECs was abrogated by N-methylpiperazine-urea-Phe-homopheylalanine-vinylsulfone-benzene (K11777), an irreversible inhibitor of cathepsin L-like cysteine proteases. Affinity labeling and immunochemical studies characterized brucipain as the K11777-sensitive cysteine protease expressed at higher levels by T. b. gambiense. K11777-treated T. b. gambiense failed to elicit calcium fluxes in BMECs, suggesting that generation of activation signals for the BBB is critically dependant on brucipain activity. Strikingly, crossing of T. b. brucei across the BBB was enhanced upon incubation with brucipain-rich supernatants derived from T. b. gambiense. The effects of the conditioned medium, which correlated with ability to evoke calcium fluxes, were canceled by K11777, but not by the cathepsin B inhibitor CA074. Collectively, these in vitro studies implicate brucipain as a critical driver of T. b. gambiense transendothelial migration of the human BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V. Nikolskaia
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ana Paula C. de A. Lima
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuri V. Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - John D. Lonsdale-Eccles
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Toshihide Fukuma
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Julio Scharfstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Dennis J. Grab
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Department of Parasitology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
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Chenik M, Lakhal S, Ben Khalef N, Zribi L, Louzir H, Dellagi K. Approaches for the identification of potential excreted/secreted proteins of Leishmania major parasites. Parasitology 2006; 132:493-509. [PMID: 16388694 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182005009546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2005] [Revised: 09/28/2005] [Accepted: 10/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites are able to survive in host macrophages despite the harsh phagolysosomal vacuoles conditions. This could reflect, in part, their capacity to secrete proteins that may play an essential role in the establishment of infection and serve as targets for cellular immune responses. To characterize Leishmania major proteins excreted/secreted early after promastigote entry into the host macrophage, we have generated antibodies against culture supernatants of stationary-phase promastigotes collected 6 h after incubation in conditions that partially reproduce those prevailing in the parasitophorous vacuole. The screening of an L. major cDNA library with these antibodies led us to isolate 33 different cDNA clones that we report here. Sequence analysis revealed that the corresponding proteins could be classified in 3 groups: 9 proteins have been previously described as excreted/secreted in Leishmania and/or other species; 11 correspond to known proteins already characterized in Leishmania and/or other species although it is unknown whether they are excreted/secreted and 13 code for unknown proteins. Interestingly, the latter are transcribed as shown by RT-PCR and some of them are stage regulated. The L. major excreted/secreted proteins may constitute putative virulence factors, vaccine candidates and/or new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chenik
- WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Leishmaniasis, Laboratoire d'Immunopathologie, Vaccinologie et Génétique Moléculaire, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, 13, Place Pasteur 1002 Tunis-Belvédére, Tunisia.
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Perdereau C, Godat E, Maurel MC, Hazouard E, Diot E, Lalmanach G. Cysteine cathepsins in human silicotic bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2005; 1762:351-6. [PMID: 16303289 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2005.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2005] [Revised: 10/05/2005] [Accepted: 10/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Mature, active cysteine cathepsins (CPs) were identified in human inflammatory bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) supernatants from patients suffering from silicosis by both western blot and surface plasmon resonance analyses. BALFs are not a reservoir of activatable proforms, since no autocatalytic maturation at acidic pH occurs. Cathepsin H is the most profuse among studied CPs (median value: 36.5 nM), while cathepsins B and L are the two most abundant thiol-dependent endoproteases. The overall concentration of active cathepsins B, H, K, L, and S is approximately 10-fold lower than their concentration in BALF supernatants from patients suffering from inflammatory acute lung injuries (962+/-347 nM).The cathepsins (approximately 70 nM)/cystatin-like inhibitors (approximately 9 nM) ratio is unbalanced in favor of enzymes ( approximately 8-fold). This presence of uncontrolled CPs suggests that they may contribute, in addition to matrix metalloproteases, to the lung tissue breakdown/remodeling occurring during silicosis, although their exact contribution to interstitial inflammation remains to be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Perdereau
- INSERM U618, Protéases et Vectorisation Pulmonaires, Equipe Protéases et Pathologies Pulmonaires, Université François Rabelais, Faculté de Médecine, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, F-37032 Tours Cedex, France
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Florent I, Lecaille F, Montagne JJ, Gauthier F, Schrével J, Lalmanach G. Labelling of four distinct trophozoite falcipains of Plasmodium falciparum by a cystatin-derived probe. Biol Chem 2005; 386:401-6. [PMID: 15899703 DOI: 10.1515/bc.2005.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Trophozoite cysteine protease (TCP) activity, isolated from Plasmodium falciparum soluble 100,000 g extracts, displayed native falcipain-1 kinetic parameters towards peptidyl substrates. The labelling of either isolated TCP or soluble 100,000 g extracts by a cystatin-derived probe (biotinyl-Leu-Val-Gly-CHN2) revealed a single band of ca. 30 kDa by SDS-PAGE, which was resolved into four spots displaying isoelectric points (pI) from 4.7 to 5.3 after two-dimensional separation. The molecular mass and pI correspond to those of falcipain-3, falcipain-2, falcipain-2' and falcipain-1, respectively. The two central spots were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry as falcipain-2 and falcipain-2'. This activity-based probe represents a potential tool for profiling active falcipains in parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Florent
- Biologie Fonctionnelle des Protozoaires, Département Régulation, Dévelopement, Diversité Moléculaire, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 61, rue Buffon, F-75005 Paris, France.
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Mackey ZB, O'Brien TC, Greenbaum DC, Blank RB, McKerrow JH. A cathepsin B-like protease is required for host protein degradation in Trypanosoma brucei. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:48426-33. [PMID: 15326171 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m402470200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification and analysis of Clan CA (papain) cysteine proteases in primitive protozoa and metazoa have suggested that this enzyme family is more diverse and biologically important than originally thought. The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei is the etiological agent of African sleeping sickness. The cysteine protease activity of this organism is a validated drug target as first recognized by the killing of the parasite with the diazomethane inhibitor Z-Phe-Ala-CHN(2) (where Z is benzyloxycarbonyl). Whereas the presumed target of this inhibitor was rhodesain (also brucipain, trypanopain), the major cathepsin L-like cysteine protease of T. brucei, genomic analysis has now identified tbcatB, a cathepsin B-like cysteine protease as a possible inhibitor target. The mRNA of tbcatB is more abundantly expressed in the bloodstream versus the procyclic form of the parasite. Induction of RNA interference against rhodesain did not result in an abnormal phenotype in cultured T. brucei. However, induction of RNA interference against tbcatB led to enlargement of the endosome, accumulation of fluorescein isothiocyanate-transferrin, defective cytokinesis after completion of mitosis, and ultimately the death of cultured parasites. Therefore, tbcatB, but not rhodesain, is essential for T. brucei survival in culture and is the most likely target of the diazomethane protease inhibitor Z-Phe-Ala-CHN(2) in T. brucei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary B Mackey
- Department of Pathology Tropical Disease Research Unit, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
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Aoki H, Nazmul Ahsan M, Watabe S. Heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris and single-step purification of a cysteine proteinase from northern shrimp. Protein Expr Purif 2003; 31:213-21. [PMID: 14550639 DOI: 10.1016/s1046-5928(03)00196-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A distinct cysteine proteinase (NsCys) of northern shrimp Pandalus borealis belonging to cathepsin L subgroup of the papain superfamily has been overexpressed as a precursor form (proNsCys) in Pichia pastoris. We adopted a simple and quick procedure to generate an expression cassette by constructing a donor vector harboring proNsCys followed by recombination with an acceptor vector in a way so that the proNsCys gene was placed downstream of the methanol-inducible AOX1 promoter and alpha-mating factor signal sequence gene. In addition, we used glycerol complex medium that supported high growth of yeast before induction while induction was carried out in minimal methanol medium thereby facilitating the secreted protein to be purified with a single size-exclusion chromatography. The recombinant enzyme was purified in two enzymatically active fractions: both corresponding to mature NsCys with, however, the major one comprising two molecular species of NsCys which had their severed prodomain non-covalently attached. The overall yield was about 100 mg of crude or 60 mg of purified recombinant enzyme comprising both mature and prodomain-attached forms of NsCys per liter of yeast culture. The recombinant NsCys was biologically active as observed by gelatin zymography and its ability to cleave Z-Phe-Arg-MCA, a synthetic substrate for cathepsin L. The development of the system reported here provides a cost-effective and easy to manipulate expression system to obtain large quantities of fully functional shrimp enzyme that will enable the functional characterization of this unique enzyme for both research and industrial purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Aoki
- Laboratory of Aquatic Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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Serveau C, Boulangé A, Lecaille F, Gauthier F, Authié E, Lalmanach G. Procongopain from Trypanosoma congolense is processed at basic pH: an unusual feature among cathepsin L-like cysteine proteases. Biol Chem 2003; 384:921-7. [PMID: 12887059 DOI: 10.1515/bc.2003.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Congopain, the major cysteine protease from Trypanosoma congolense, is synthesized as an inactive zymogen, and further converted into its active form after removal of the proregion, most probably via an autocatalytic mechanism. Processing of recombinant procongopain occurs via an apparent one-step or a multistep mechanism depending on the ionic strength. The auto-activation is pH-dependent, with an optimum at pH 4.0, and no activation observed at pH 6.0. After addition of dextran sulfate (10 microg/ml), an approx. 20-fold increase of processing (expressed as enzymatic activity) is observed. Furthermore, in the presence of dextran sulfate, procongopain can be processed at pH 8.0, an unusual feature among papain-like enzymes. Detection of procongopain and trypanosomal enzymatic activity in the plasma of T. congolense-infected cattle, together with the capacity of procongopain to be activated at weakly basic pH, suggest that procongopain may be extracellularly processed in the presence of blood vessel glycosaminoglycans, supporting the hypothesis that congopain acts as a pathogenic factor in host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Serveau
- Protéases et Vectorisation, INSERM EMI-U 00.10, Laboratoire d'Enzymologie et Chimie des Protéines, Faculté de Médecine, Université François Rabelais, F-37032 Tours, France
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