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Tom A, Kumar NP, Kumar A, Saini P. Interactions between Leishmania parasite and sandfly: a review. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:6. [PMID: 38052752 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08043-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis transmission cycles are maintained and sustained in nature by the complex crosstalk of the Leishmania parasite, sandfly vector, and the mammalian hosts (human, as well as zoonotic reservoirs). Regardless of the vast research on human host-parasite interaction, there persists a substantial knowledge gap on the parasite's development and modulation in the vector component. This review focuses on some of the intriguing aspects of the Leishmania-sandfly interface, beginning with the uptake of the intracellular amastigotes from an infected host to the development of the parasite within the sandfly's alimentary canal, followed by the transmission of infective metacyclic stages to another potential host. Upon ingestion of the parasite, the sandfly hosts an intricate repertoire of immune barriers, either to evade the parasite or to ensure its homeostatic coexistence with the vector gut microbiome. Sandfly salivary polypeptides and Leishmania exosomes are co-egested with the parasite inoculum during the infected vector bite. This has been attributed to the modulation of the parasite infection and subsequent clinical manifestation in the host. While human host-based studies strive to develop effective therapeutics, a greater understanding of the vector-parasite-microbiome and human host interactions could help us to identify the targets and to develop strategies for effectively preventing the transmission of leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anns Tom
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - N Pradeep Kumar
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- ICMR- Vector Control Research Centre, Puducherry, India
| | - Prasanta Saini
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (Field Station), Kottayam, Kerala, India.
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Pinheiro LS, Andrade-Neto VV, Mantuano-Barradas M, Pereira EC, Barbosa RCF, de Oliveira MCC, Menna-Barreto RFS, Cunha-Júnior EF, Torres-Santos EC. Biological effects of trans, trans-farnesol in Leishmania amazonensis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1221246. [PMID: 38035328 PMCID: PMC10687452 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1221246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Farnesol, derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate in the sterols biosynthetic pathway, is a molecule with three unsaturations and four possible isomers. Candida albicans predominantly secretes the trans, trans-farnesol (t, t-FOH) isomer, known for its role in regulating the virulence of various fungi species and modulating morphological transition processes. Notably, the evolutionary divergence in sterol biosynthesis between fungi, including Candida albicans, and trypanosomatids resulted in the synthesis of sterols with the ergostane skeleton, distinct from cholesterol. This study aims to assess the impact of exogenously added trans, trans-farnesol on the proliferative ability of Leishmania amazonensis and to identify its presence in the lipid secretome of the parasite. Methods The study involved the addition of exogenous trans, trans-farnesol to evaluate its interference with the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes. Proliferation, cell cycle, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial functionality were assessed as indicators of the effects of trans, trans-farnesol. Additionally, lipid secretome analysis was conducted, focusing on the detection of trans, trans-farnesol and related products derived from the precursor, farnesyl pyrophosphate. In silico analysis was employed to identify the sequence for the farnesene synthase gene responsible for producing these isoprenoids in the Leishmania genome. Results Exogenously added trans, trans-farnesol was found to interfere with the proliferation of L. amazonensis promastigotes, inhibiting the cell cycle without causing DNA fragmentation or loss of mitochondrial functionality. Despite the absence of trans, trans-farnesol in the culture supernatant, other products derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate, specifically α-farnesene and β-farnesene, were detected starting on the fourth day of culture, continuing to increase until the tenth day. Furthermore, the identification of the farnesene synthase gene in the Leishmania genome through in silico analysis provided insights into the enzymatic basis of isoprenoid production. Discussion The findings collectively offer the first insights into the mechanism of action of farnesol on L. amazonensis. While trans, trans-farnesol was not detected in the lipid secretome, the presence of α-farnesene and β-farnesene suggests alternative pathways or modifications in the isoprenoid metabolism of the parasite. The inhibitory effects on proliferation and cell cycle without inducing DNA fragmentation or mitochondrial dysfunction raise questions about the specific targets and pathways affected by exogenous trans, trans-farnesol. The identification of the farnesene synthase gene provides a molecular basis for understanding the synthesis of related isoprenoids in Leishmania. Further exploration of these mechanisms may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies against Leishmania infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliane Sena Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Teófilo Otoni, MG, Brazil
| | - Valter Viana Andrade-Neto
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcio Mantuano-Barradas
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Elisa Cavalcante Pereira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Edézio Ferreira Cunha-Júnior
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Unidade Integrada de Pesquisa em Produtos Bioativos e Biociências, Centro Multidisciplinar UFRJ-Macaé, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macaé, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos
- Laboratório de Bioquímica de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Suschinel R, Jaimes-Mogollón AL, Gutiérrez-Marín R, Peña-Cortés LC, Mendoza-Ibarra JA, Flórez-Gélvez J, Dumbravă C, Uzunof M, Simion VE, Ionescu R. Challenges during the realization of an international research project on leishmaniasis in Colombia. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1143939. [PMID: 37081957 PMCID: PMC10111427 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1143939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that belongs to the top 10 neglected tropical diseases. It mainly affects the poor population from tropical and subtropical areas of the World, which lacks sufficient resources and means to fight against this disease. With this in mind, the European Commission has funded an international collaborative research project in which are participating various institutions from South America, North Africa and Europe. The main objective of this project is the development of a fast, less expensive, non-invasive and easy to use alternative method for leishmaniasis diagnosis in dogs, one of the main reservoirs of leishmaniasis spread to humans. In this perspective article, we present our personal insight and opinion regarding the challenges of realizing a joint international research project on leishmaniasis in Colombia, a country where leishmaniasis is endemic, as well as regarding the involvement of the Public Health institutions and the local population from this country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Suschinel
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Aylen Lisset Jaimes-Mogollón
- GISM Group, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Pamplona, Ciudad Universitaria, Pamplona, Colombia
| | - Reinaldo Gutiérrez-Marín
- GIEPATI Group, Faculty of Health, University of Pamplona, Ciudad Universitaria, Pamplona, Colombia
| | - Luís Carlos Peña-Cortés
- GICA Group, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Pamplona, Ciudad Universitaria, Pamplona, Colombia
| | | | - José Flórez-Gélvez
- GICA Group, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Pamplona, Ciudad Universitaria, Pamplona, Colombia
| | - Cătălin Dumbravă
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marius Uzunof
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Spiru Haret University, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Radu Ionescu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
- *Correspondence: Radu Ionescu
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Labbé F, Abdeladhim M, Abrudan J, Araki AS, Araujo RN, Arensburger P, Benoit JB, Brazil RP, Bruno RV, Bueno da Silva Rivas G, Carvalho de Abreu V, Charamis J, Coutinho-Abreu IV, da Costa-Latgé SG, Darby A, Dillon VM, Emrich SJ, Fernandez-Medina D, Figueiredo Gontijo N, Flanley CM, Gatherer D, Genta FA, Gesing S, Giraldo-Calderón GI, Gomes B, Aguiar ERGR, Hamilton JGC, Hamarsheh O, Hawksworth M, Hendershot JM, Hickner PV, Imler JL, Ioannidis P, Jennings EC, Kamhawi S, Karageorgiou C, Kennedy RC, Krueger A, Latorre-Estivalis JM, Ligoxygakis P, Meireles-Filho ACA, Minx P, Miranda JC, Montague MJ, Nowling RJ, Oliveira F, Ortigão-Farias J, Pavan MG, Horacio Pereira M, Nobrega Pitaluga A, Proveti Olmo R, Ramalho-Ortigao M, Ribeiro JMC, Rosendale AJ, Sant’Anna MRV, Scherer SE, Secundino NFC, Shoue DA, da Silva Moraes C, Gesto JSM, Souza NA, Syed Z, Tadros S, Teles-de-Freitas R, Telleria EL, Tomlinson C, Traub-Csekö YM, Marques JT, Tu Z, Unger MF, Valenzuela J, Ferreira FV, de Oliveira KPV, Vigoder FM, Vontas J, Wang L, Weedall GD, Zhioua E, Richards S, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Dillon RJ, McDowell MA. Genomic analysis of two phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania from the New and Old World. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010862. [PMID: 37043542 PMCID: PMC10138862 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance as important vectors of human disease, transmitting bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens, including the kinetoplastid parasites of the genus Leishmania, the causative agents of devastating diseases collectively termed leishmaniasis. More than 40 pathogenic Leishmania species are transmitted to humans by approximately 35 sand fly species in 98 countries with hundreds of millions of people at risk around the world. No approved efficacious vaccine exists for leishmaniasis and available therapeutic drugs are either toxic and/or expensive, or the parasites are becoming resistant to the more recently developed drugs. Therefore, sand fly and/or reservoir control are currently the most effective strategies to break transmission. To better understand the biology of sand flies, including the mechanisms involved in their vectorial capacity, insecticide resistance, and population structures we sequenced the genomes of two geographically widespread and important sand fly vector species: Phlebotomus papatasi, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, (distributed in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) and Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause visceral leishmaniasis (distributed across Central and South America). We categorized and curated genes involved in processes important to their roles as disease vectors, including chemosensation, blood feeding, circadian rhythm, immunity, and detoxification, as well as mobile genetic elements. We also defined gene orthology and observed micro-synteny among the genomes. Finally, we present the genetic diversity and population structure of these species in their respective geographical areas. These genomes will be a foundation on which to base future efforts to prevent vector-borne transmission of Leishmania parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Labbé
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Maha Abdeladhim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jenica Abrudan
- Genomic Sciences & Precision Medicine Center (GSPMC), Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Alejandra Saori Araki
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ricardo N. Araujo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Peter Arensburger
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | | | - Rafaela V. Bruno
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Bueno da Silva Rivas
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vinicius Carvalho de Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jason Charamis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, Heraklion, Greece
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Iliano V. Coutinho-Abreu
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | | | - Alistair Darby
- Institute of Integrative Biology, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Viv M. Dillon
- Institute of Integrative Biology, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Scott J. Emrich
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | | | - Nelder Figueiredo Gontijo
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Catherine M. Flanley
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Derek Gatherer
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Fernando A. Genta
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sandra Gesing
- Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Gloria I. Giraldo-Calderón
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
- Dept. Ciencias Biológicas & Dept. Ciencias Básicas Médicas, Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Bruno Gomes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - James G. C. Hamilton
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Omar Hamarsheh
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine
| | - Mallory Hawksworth
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jacob M. Hendershot
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Paul V. Hickner
- USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jean-Luc Imler
- CNRS-UPR9022 Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire and Faculté des Sciences de la Vie-Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
| | - Emily C. Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Charikleia Karageorgiou
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
- Genomics Group – Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Biology Lab, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ryan C. Kennedy
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Medical Entomology Branch, Dept. Microbiology, Bundeswehr Hospital, Hamburg, Germany
- Medical Zoology Branch, Dept. Microbiology, Central Bundeswehr Hospital, Koblenz, Germany
| | - José M. Latorre-Estivalis
- Laboratorio de Insectos Sociales, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias, Universidad de Buenos Aires - CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Petros Ligoxygakis
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Development and Genetics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Patrick Minx
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jose Carlos Miranda
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, CPqGM, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Michael J. Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ronald J. Nowling
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Marcio G. Pavan
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Fisiologia de Insetos, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, IOC, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Horacio Pereira
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Andre Nobrega Pitaluga
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roenick Proveti Olmo
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigao
- F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - José M. C. Ribeiro
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew J. Rosendale
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mauricio R. V. Sant’Anna
- Laboratório de Fisiologia de Insetos Hematófagos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Steven E. Scherer
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Douglas A. Shoue
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | | | - Nataly Araujo Souza
- Laboratory Interdisciplinar em Vigilancia Entomologia em Diptera e Hemiptera, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Zainulabueddin Syed
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Samuel Tadros
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | | | - Erich L. Telleria
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - João Trindade Marques
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhijian Tu
- Fralin Life Science Institute and Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Maria F. Unger
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jesus Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Flávia V. Ferreira
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Karla P. V. de Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Felipe M. Vigoder
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John Vontas
- Molecular Entomology Lab, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
- Pesticide Science Lab, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens Greece
| | - Lihui Wang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Olivette, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Gareth D. Weedall
- Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Liverpool, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Elyes Zhioua
- Vector Ecology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Stephen Richards
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wesley C. Warren
- Department of Animal Sciences, Department of Surgery, Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology & Evolution and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rod J. Dillon
- Division of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- Eck Institute for Global Health, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
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Talyuli OAC, Oliveira JHM, Bottino-Rojas V, Silveira GO, Alvarenga PH, Barletta ABF, Kantor AM, Paiva-Silva GO, Barillas-Mury C, Oliveira PL. The Aedes aegypti peritrophic matrix controls arbovirus vector competence through HPx1, a heme-induced peroxidase. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011149. [PMID: 36780872 PMCID: PMC9956595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the main vectors of arboviruses. The peritrophic matrix (PM) is an extracellular layer that surrounds the blood bolus. It acts as an immune barrier that prevents direct contact of bacteria with midgut epithelial cells during blood digestion. Here, we describe a heme-dependent peroxidase, hereafter referred to as heme peroxidase 1 (HPx1). HPx1 promotes PM assembly and antioxidant ability, modulating vector competence. Mechanistically, the heme presence in a blood meal induces HPx1 transcriptional activation mediated by the E75 transcription factor. HPx1 knockdown increases midgut reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by the DUOX NADPH oxidase. Elevated ROS levels reduce microbiota growth while enhancing epithelial mitosis, a response to tissue damage. However, simultaneous HPx1 and DUOX silencing was not able to rescue bacterial population growth, as explained by increased expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which occurred only after double knockdown. This result revealed hierarchical activation of ROS and AMPs to control microbiota. HPx1 knockdown produced a 100-fold decrease in Zika and dengue 2 midgut infection, demonstrating the essential role of the mosquito PM in the modulation of arbovirus vector competence. Our data show that the PM connects blood digestion to midgut immunological sensing of the microbiota and viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio A. C. Talyuli
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Henrique M. Oliveira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departments of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Gilbert O. Silveira
- Laboratório de Expressão Genica em Eucariotos, Instituto Butantan and Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia H. Alvarenga
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Beatriz F. Barletta
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Asher M. Kantor
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gabriela O. Paiva-Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Barillas-Mury
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Pedro L. Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Omondi ZN, Arserim SK, Töz S, Özbel Y. Host-Parasite Interactions: Regulation of Leishmania Infection in Sand Fly. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:606-618. [PMID: 35107776 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-022-00519-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Sand flies are the only proven vectors of leishmaniases, a tropical neglected disease endemic in at least 92 countries. Vector-parasite interactions play a significant role in vector-borne disease transmission. There are various bottlenecks to Leishmania colonization of the sand fly midgut. Such bottlenecks include the production of innate immune-related molecules, digestive proteases, parasite impermeable peritrophic membrane, and resident gut microbiota. These barriers determine the parasite load transmitted and, consequently, the disease outcome in mammalian host. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular responses of both sand fly and Leishmania during infection. METHOD Here, we reviewed the published literature on sand fly-Leishmania interactions bringing together earlier and current findings to highlight new developments and research gaps in the field. CONCLUSION Recent research studies on sand fly-Leishmania interaction have revealed contrasting observations to past studies. However, how Leishmania parasites evade the sand fly immune response still needs further research. Sand fly response to Leishmania infection can be best understood by analyzing its tissue transcriptome. Better characterization of the role of midgut components could be a game changer in development of transmission-blocking strategies for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeph Nelson Omondi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Erzene Street, 35040, Bornova/Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Suha Kenan Arserim
- Vocational School of Health Sciences, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
| | - Seray Töz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Özbel
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
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7
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Cecílio P, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Oliveira F. Sand flies: Basic information on the vectors of leishmaniasis and their interactions with Leishmania parasites. Commun Biol 2022; 5:305. [PMID: 35379881 PMCID: PMC8979968 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03240-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-sucking arthropods transmit a variety of human pathogens acting as disseminators of the so-called vector-borne diseases. Leishmaniasis is a spectrum of diseases caused by different Leishmania species, transmitted quasi worldwide by sand flies. However, whereas many laboratories focus on the disease(s) and etiological agents, considerably less study the respective vectors. In fact, information on sand flies is neither abundant nor easy to find; aspects including basic biology, ecology, and sand-fly-Leishmania interactions are usually reported separately. Here, we compile elemental information on sand flies, in the context of leishmaniasis. We discuss the biology, distribution, and life cycle, the blood-feeding process, and the Leishmania-sand fly interactions that govern parasite transmission. Additionally, we highlight some outstanding questions that need to be answered for the complete understanding of parasite–vector–host interactions in leishmaniasis. In this review, numerous aspects of sand flies as vectors of Leishmania parasites—from biology to the vector parasite interactions—are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Cecílio
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA. .,i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP), Porto, Portugal.
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
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8
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Talyuli OAC, Bottino-Rojas V, Polycarpo CR, Oliveira PL, Paiva-Silva GO. Non-immune Traits Triggered by Blood Intake Impact Vectorial Competence. Front Physiol 2021; 12:638033. [PMID: 33737885 PMCID: PMC7960658 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.638033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-feeding arthropods are considered an enormous public health threat. They are vectors of a plethora of infectious agents that cause potentially fatal diseases like Malaria, Dengue fever, Leishmaniasis, and Lyme disease. These vectors shine due to their own physiological idiosyncrasies, but one biological aspect brings them all together: the requirement of blood intake for development and reproduction. It is through blood-feeding that they acquire pathogens and during blood digestion that they summon a collection of multisystemic events critical for vector competence. The literature is focused on how classical immune pathways (Toll, IMD, and JAK/Stat) are elicited throughout the course of vector infection. Still, they are not the sole determinants of host permissiveness. The dramatic changes that are the hallmark of the insect physiology after a blood meal intake are the landscape where a successful infection takes place. Dominant processes that occur in response to a blood meal are not canonical immunological traits yet are critical in establishing vector competence. These include hormonal circuitries and reproductive physiology, midgut permeability barriers, midgut homeostasis, energy metabolism, and proteolytic activity. On the other hand, the parasites themselves have a role in the outcome of these blood triggered physiological events, consistently using them in their favor. Here, to enlighten the knowledge on vector-pathogen interaction beyond the immune pathways, we will explore different aspects of the vector physiology, discussing how they give support to these long-dated host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio A C Talyuli
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carla R Polycarpo
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pedro L Oliveira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriela O Paiva-Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Cecílio P, Oristian J, Meneses C, Serafim TD, Valenzuela JG, Cordeiro da Silva A, Oliveira F. Engineering a vector-based pan-Leishmania vaccine for humans: proof of principle. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18653. [PMID: 33122717 PMCID: PMC7596519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75410-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a spectrum of diseases transmitted by sand fly vectors that deposit Leishmania spp. parasites in the host skin during blood feeding. Currently, available treatment options are limited, associated with high toxicity and emerging resistance. Even though a vaccine for human leishmaniasis is considered an achievable goal, to date we still do not have one available, a consequence (amongst other factors) of a lack of pre-clinical to clinical translatability. Pre-exposure to uninfected sand fly bites or immunization with defined sand fly salivary proteins was shown to negatively impact infection. Still, cross-protection reports are rare and dependent on the phylogenetic proximity of the sand fly species, meaning that the applicability of a sand fly saliva-based vaccine will be limited to a defined geography, one parasite species and one form of leishmaniasis. As a proof of principle of a future vector saliva-based pan-Leishmania vaccine, we engineered through a reverse vaccinology approach that maximizes translation to humans, a fusion protein consisting of immunogenic portions of PdSP15 and LJL143, sand fly salivary proteins demonstrated as potential vaccine candidates against cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, respectively. The in silico analysis was validated ex vivo, through T cell proliferation experiments, proving that the fusion protein (administered as a DNA vaccine) maintained the immunogenicity of both PdSP15 and LJL143. Additionally, while no significant effect was detected in the context of L. major transmission by P. duboscqi, this DNA vaccine was defined as partially protective, in the context of L. major transmission by L. longipalpis sand flies. Importantly, a high IFNγ response alone was not enough to confer protection, that mainly correlated with low T cell mediated Leishmania-specific IL-4 and IL-10 responses, and consequently with high pro/anti-inflammatory cytokine ratios. Overall our immunogenicity data suggests that to design a potentially safe vector-based pan-Leishmania vaccine, without geographic restrictions and against all forms of leishmaniasis is an achievable goal. This is why we propose our approach as a proof-of principle, perhaps not only applicable to the anti-Leishmania vector-based vaccines' field, but also to other branches of knowledge that require the design of multi-epitope T cell vaccines with a higher potential for translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Cecílio
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP), Porto, Portugal
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - James Oristian
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Claudio Meneses
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Tiago D Serafim
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA
| | - Anabela Cordeiro da Silva
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP), Porto, Portugal.
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
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10
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Van Bockstal L, Hendrickx S, Maes L, Caljon G. Sand Fly Studies Predict Transmission Potential of Drug-resistant Leishmania. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:785-795. [PMID: 32713762 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania parasites have the capacity to rapidly adapt to changing environments in their digenetic life cycle which alternates between a vertebrate and an invertebrate host. Emergence of resistance following drug exposure can evoke phenotypic alterations that affect several aspects of parasite fitness in both hosts. Current studies of the impact of resistance are mostly limited to interactions with the mammalian host and characterization of in vitro parasite growth and differentiation. Development in the vector and transmission capacity have been largely ignored. This review reflects on the impact of drug resistance on its spreading potential with specific focus on the use of the sand fly infection model to evaluate parasite development in the vector and the ensuing transmission potential of drug-resistant phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieselotte Van Bockstal
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sarah Hendrickx
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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11
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Lipoproteins from vertebrate host blood plasma are involved in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote agglutination and participate in interaction with the vector insect, Rhodnius prolixus. Exp Parasitol 2018; 195:24-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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12
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Sadlova J, Homola M, Myskova J, Jancarova M, Volf P. Refractoriness of Sergentomyia schwetzi to Leishmania spp. is mediated by the peritrophic matrix. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006382. [PMID: 29617364 PMCID: PMC5902042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The peritrophic matrix (PM) is an acellular chitin-containing envelope which in most blood sucking insects encloses the ingested blood meal and protects the midgut epithelium. Type I PM present in sand flies and other blood sucking batch feeders is secreted around the meal by the entire midgut in response to feeding. Here we tested the hypothesis that in Sergentomyia schwetzi the PM creates a physical barrier that prevents escape of Leishmania parasites from the endoperitrophic space. Methodology/Principal findings Morphology and ultrastructure of the PM as well the production of endogenous chitinase in S. schwetzi were compared with three sand fly species, which are natural vectors of Leishmania. Long persistence of the PM in S. schwetzi was not accompanied by different morphology or decreased production of chitinase. To confirm the role of the PM in refractoriness of S. schwetzi to Leishmania parasites, culture supernatant from the fungus Beauveria bassiana containing chitinase was added to the infective bloodmeal to disintegrate the PM artificially. In females treated with B. bassiana culture supernatants the PM was weakened and permeable, lacking multilayered inner structure; Leishmania colonized the midgut and the stomodeal valve and produced metacyclic forms. In control females Leishmania infections were lost during defecation. Conclusions/Significance Persistence of the PM till defecation of the bloodmeal represents an important factor responsible for refractoriness of S. schwetzi to Leishmania development. Leishmania major as well as L. donovani promastigotes survived defecation and developed late-stage infections only in females with PM disintegrated artificially by B. bassiana culture supernatants containing exogenous chitinase. Phlebotomine sand flies are the main vectors of Leishmania parasites. However, only about ten percent of the described sand fly species are proven or suspected vectors. Several factors controlling vector competence act during the early phase of infection preceding defecation of bloodmeal remnants. Sand flies of the genus Sergentomyia including S. schwetzi were repeatedly suggested to be involved in Leishmania transmission in Africa. Here, we tested the hypothesis that S. schwetzi is refractory to all Leishmania species tested due to the long persistence of the peritrophic matrix, the chitinous envelope which surrounds ingested blood within the sand fly midgut. Addition of exogenous chitinase to the S. schwetzi infectious bloodmeal led to disintegration of the peritrophic matrix which allowed Leishmania parasites to escape into the midgut and produce mature infections with colonization of the stomodeal valve and generation of infective metacyclic forms. Parasites in control flies were not able to escape from the peritrophic matrix and were lost with the defecation of blood remnants. The study strongly suggests that in S. schwetzi the peritrophic matrix forms an important barrier for the development of Leishmania parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| | - Miroslav Homola
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Myskova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Magdalena Jancarova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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13
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Population genetics analysis of Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies from Egypt and Jordan based on mitochondrial cytochrome b haplotypes. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:214. [PMID: 29587873 PMCID: PMC5872541 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2785-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies are major vectors of Leishmania major and phlebovirus infection in North Africa and across the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent. Population genetics is a valuable tool in understanding the level of genetic variability present in vector populations, vector competence, and the development of novel control strategies. This study investigated the genetic differentiation between P. papatasi populations in Egypt and Jordan that inhabit distinct ecotopes and compared this structure to P. papatasi populations from a broader geographical range. METHODS A 461 base pair (bp) fragment from the mtDNA cytochrome b (cyt b) gene was PCR amplified and sequenced from 116 individual female sand flies from Aswan and North Sinai, Egypt, as well as Swaimeh and Malka, Jordan. Haplotypes were identified and used to generate a median-joining network, F ST values and isolation-by-distance were also evaluated. Additional sand fly individuals from Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Tunisia and Turkey were included as well as previously published haplotypes to provide a geographically broad genetic variation analysis. RESULTS Thirteen haplotypes displaying nine variant sites were identified from P. papatasi collected in Egypt and Jordan. No private haplotypes were identified from samples in North Sinai, Egypt, two were observed in Aswan, Egypt, four from Swaimeh, Jordan and two in Malka, Jordan. The Jordan populations clustered separately from the Egypt populations and produced more private haplotypes than those from Egypt. Pairwise F ST values fall in the range 0.024-0.648. CONCLUSION The clustering patterns and pairwise F ST values indicate a strong differentiation between Egyptian and Jordanian populations, although this population structure is not due to isolation-by-distance. Other factors, such as environmental influences and the genetic variability in the circulating Le. major parasites, could possibly contribute to this heterogeneity. The present study aligns with previous reports in that pockets of genetic differentiation exists between populations of this widely dispersed species but, overall, the species remains relatively homogeneous.
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14
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Verma S, Das S, Mandal A, Ansari MY, Kumari S, Mansuri R, Kumar A, Singh R, Saini S, Abhishek K, Kumar V, Sahoo GC, Das P. Role of inhibitors of serine peptidases in protecting Leishmania donovani against the hydrolytic peptidases of sand fly midgut. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:303. [PMID: 28645315 PMCID: PMC5481909 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2239-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 06/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis, the sand fly midgut is considered to be an important site for vector-parasite interaction. Digestive enzymes including serine peptidases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, which are secreted in the midgut are one of the obstacles for Leishmania in establishing a successful infection. The presence of some natural inhibitors of serine peptidases (ISPs) has recently been reported in Leishmania. In the present study, we deciphered the role of these ISPs in the survival of Leishmania donovani in the hostile sand fly midgut environment. METHODS In silico and co-immunoprecipitation studies were performed to observe the interaction of L. donovani ISPs with trypsin and chymotrypsin. Zymography and in vitro enzyme assays were carried out to observe the inhibitory effect of purified recombinant ISPs of L. donovani (rLdISPs) on trypsin, chymotrypsin and the sand fly midgut peptidases. The expression of ISPs in the amastigote to promastigote transition stages were studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. The role of LdISP on the survival of ISP overexpressed (OE) and ISP knocked down (KD) Leishmania parasites inside the sand fly gut was investigated by in vitro and in vivo cell viability assays. RESULTS We identified two ecotin-like genes in L. donovani, LdISP1 and LdISP2. In silico and co-immunoprecipitation results clearly suggest a strong interaction of LdISP molecules with trypsin and chymotrypsin. Zymography and in vitro enzyme assay confirmed the inhibitory effect of rLdISP on trypsin, chymotrypsin and the sand fly midgut peptidases. The expression of LdISP2 was found to be strongly associated with the amastigote to promastigote phase transition. The activities of the digestive enzymes were found to be significantly reduced in the infected sand flies when compared to uninfected. To our knowledge, our study is the first report showing the possible reduction of chymotrypsin activity in L. donovani infected sand flies compared to uninfected. Interestingly, during the early transition stage, substantial killing was observed in ISP2 knocked down (ISP2KD) parasites compared to wild type (WT), whereas ISP1 knocked down (ISP1KD) parasites remained viable. Therefore, our study clearly indicates that LdISP2 is a more effective inhibitor of serine peptidases than LdISP1. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that the lack of ISP2 is detrimental to the parasites during the early transition from amastigotes to promastigotes. Moreover, the results of the present study demonstrated for the first time that LdISP2 has an important role in the inhibition of peptidases and promoting L. donovani survival inside the Phlebotomus argentipes midgut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudha Verma
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Sushmita Das
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar 801105 India
| | - Abhishek Mandal
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Md Yousuf Ansari
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844101 India
- MM College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Mullana, Ambala, 133207 India
| | - Sujata Kumari
- Department of Vector Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Rani Mansuri
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844101 India
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Ruby Singh
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Savita Saini
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar 844101 India
| | - Kumar Abhishek
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Vector Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Ganesh Chandra Sahoo
- Department of Bioinformatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar 800007 India
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15
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Midgut morphological changes and autophagy during metamorphosis in sand flies. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 368:513-529. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2586-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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16
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Malta J, Martins GF, Weng JL, Fernandes KM, Munford ML, Ramalho-Ortigão M. Effects of specific antisera targeting peritrophic matrix-associated proteins in the sand fly vector Phlebotomus papatasi. Acta Trop 2016; 159:161-9. [PMID: 27012717 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In many hematophagous insects, the peritrophic matrix (PM) is formed soon after a blood meal (PBM) to compartmentalize the food bolus. The PM is an important component of vector competence, functioning as a barrier to the development of many pathogens including parasites of the genus Leishmania transmitted by sand flies. PM morphology and permeability are associated with the proteins that are part of the PM scaffolding, including several peritrophins, and chitin fibers. Here, we assessed the effects of specific antisera targeting proteins thought to be an integral part of the PM scaffolding and its process of maturation and degradation. Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies were fed with red blood cells reconstituted with antisera targeting the chitinase PpChit1, and the peritrophin PpPer2. Sand fly midguts were dissected at different time points and processed for light microscopy (LM), confocal and transmission electron (TEM) microscopies (24, 42-46, 48 and 72h PBM), scanning electron (SEM) (48h PBM) and atomic force (AFM) (30h PBM) microscopies. TEM and WGA-FITC staining indicate PM degradation was significantly delayed following feeding of flies on anti-PpChit1. AFM analysis at 30h PBM point to an increase in roughness' amplitude of the PM of flies that fed on either anti-PpChit1 or anti-PpPer2. Collective, our data suggest that antibodies targeting PM-associated proteins affects the kinetics of PM maturation, delaying its degradation and disruption and are potential targets on transmission-blocking vaccines strategies.
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17
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de Oliveira DMS, da Silva BJM, de Sena CBC, Lima JAN, Vasconcelos Dos Santos T, Silveira FT, Silva EO. Comparative analysis of carbohydrate residues in the midgut of phlebotomines (Diptera: Psychodidae) from colony and field populations from Amazon, Brazil. Exp Parasitol 2016; 168:31-8. [PMID: 27264642 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis are worldwide diseases that occur in 98 countries including Brazil, transmitted by the bite of female phlebotomines during blood feeding. In Brazil it is known that some species of sand flies as Lutzomyia longipalpis sensun latum (vector of Leishmania infantum chagasi), Lutzomyia flaviscutellata (vector of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis) and Lutzomyia antunesi [suspected vector of Leishmania (Viannia) lindenbergi] are incriminated of transmitting the parasite Leishmania for the vertebrate host. The phlebotomine-parasite is mediated by the attachment of the promastigote lipophosphoglycan (LPG) to the midgut epithelium. However, another mechanism that is LPG-independent and mediated by N-acetyl-galactosamine (GalNAc) seems to occur in some species of phlebotomines that are classified as permissive. The aim of this study was to characterize the carbohydrate residues that, probably, play a role in parasite attachment to the midgut of phlebotomine from colony and field populations from the Brazilian Amazonian region. We observed the presence of GalNAc, mannose, galactose and GlcNAc in all phlebotomine species. A binding assay between L. (L.) amazonensis and L. i.chagasi to the midguts of different species of phlebotomines was performed. The attachment of both Leishmania and vector species suggests the presence of GalNAc on the midgut surfaces. Thus, these results suggested that GalNAc is a possible binding sites of Leishmania in sand flies from the Brazilian Amazonian region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi Marcos Souza de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil; Laboratory of Structural Biology, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Bruno José Martins da Silva
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil; Laboratory of Structural Biology, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | | | - José Aprígio Nunes Lima
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis 'Prof Dr. Ralph Lainson', Evandro Chagas Institute, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Pará, 67030-000, Brazil
| | - Thiago Vasconcelos Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis 'Prof Dr. Ralph Lainson', Evandro Chagas Institute, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Pará, 67030-000, Brazil
| | - Fernando Tobias Silveira
- Laboratory of Leishmaniasis 'Prof Dr. Ralph Lainson', Evandro Chagas Institute, Ministry of Health, Ananindeua, Pará, 67030-000, Brazil; Tropical Medicine Nucleus, Federal University of Pará, Bélem, Pará, 66055-240, Brazil
| | - Edilene Oliveira Silva
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil; Laboratory of Structural Biology, Belém, Pará, 66075-900, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil.
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18
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van den Bogaart E, de Bes HM, Balraadjsing PPS, Mens PF, Adams ER, Grobusch MP, van Die I, Schallig HDFH. Leishmania donovani infection drives the priming of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells during Plasmodium falciparum co-infections. Parasite Immunol 2015; 37:453-69. [PMID: 26173941 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Functional impairment of dendritic cells (DCs) is part of a survival strategy evolved by Leishmania and Plasmodium parasites to evade host immune responses. Here, the effects of co-exposing human monocyte-derived DCs to Leishmania donovani promastigotes and Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes were investigated. Co-stimulation resulted in a dual, dose-dependent effect on DC differentiation which ranged from semi-mature cells, secreting low interleukin(-12p70 levels to a complete lack of phenotypic maturation in the presence of high parasite amounts. The effect was mainly triggered by the Leishmania parasites, as illustrated by their ability to induce semi-mature, interleukin-10-producing DCs, that poorly responded to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Conversely, P. falciparum blood-stage forms failed to activate DCs and only slightly interfered with lipopolysaccharide effects. Stimulation with high L. donovani concentrations triggered phosphatidylserine translocation, whose onset presented after initiating the maturation impairment process. When added in combination, the two parasites could co-localize in the same DCs, confirming that the leading effects of Leishmania over Plasmodium may not be due to mutual exclusion. Altogether, these results suggest that in the presence of visceral leishmaniasis-malaria co-infections, Leishmania-driven effects may overrule the more silent response elicited by P. falciparum, shaping host immunity towards a regulatory pattern and possibly delaying disease resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- E van den Bogaart
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H M de Bes
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P P S Balraadjsing
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - P F Mens
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - E R Adams
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M P Grobusch
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - I van Die
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, VU University Medical Centre (VUMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - H D F H Schallig
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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19
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Di-Blasi T, Lobo AR, Nascimento LM, Córdova-Rojas JL, Pestana K, Marín-Villa M, Tempone AJ, Telleria EL, Ramalho-Ortigão M, McMahon-Pratt D, Traub-Csekö YM. The flagellar protein FLAG1/SMP1 is a candidate for Leishmania-sand fly interaction. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2015; 15:202-9. [PMID: 25793476 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a serious problem that affects mostly poor countries. Various species of Leishmania are the agents of the disease, which take different clinical manifestations. The parasite is transmitted by sandflies, predominantly from the Phlebotomus genus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World. During development in the gut, Leishmania must survive various challenges, which include avoiding being expelled with blood remnants after digestion. It is believed that attachment to the gut epithelium is a necessary step for vector infection, and molecules from parasites and sand flies have been implicated in this attachment. In previous work, monoclonal antibodies were produced against Leishmania. Among these an antibody was obtained against Leishmania braziliensis flagella, which blocked the attachment of Leishmania panamensis flagella to Phlebotomus papatasi guts. The protein recognized by this antibody was identified and named FLAG1, and the complete FLAG1 gene sequence was obtained. This protein was later independently identified as a small, myristoylated protein and called SMP1, so from now on it will be denominated FLAG1/SMP1. The FLAG1/SMP1 gene is expressed in all developmental stages of the parasite, but has higher expression in promastigotes. The anti-FLAG1/SMP1 antibody recognized the flagellum of all Leishmania species tested and generated the expected band by western blots. This antibody was used in attachment and infection blocking experiments. Using the New World vector Lutzomyia longipalpis and Leishmania infantum chagasi, no inhibition of attachment ex vivo or infection in vivo was seen. On the other hand, when the Old World vectors P. papatasi and Leishmania major were used, a significant decrease of both attachment and infection were seen in the presence of the antibody. We propose that FLAG1/SMP1 is involved in the attachment/infection of Leishmania in the strict vector P. papatasi and not the permissive vector L. longipalpis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Di-Blasi
- 1 Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz , FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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20
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Pruzinova K, Sadlova J, Seblova V, Homola M, Votypka J, Volf P. Comparison of Bloodmeal Digestion and the Peritrophic Matrix in Four Sand Fly Species Differing in Susceptibility to Leishmania donovani. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128203. [PMID: 26030610 PMCID: PMC4452187 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The early stage of Leishmania development in sand flies is closely connected with bloodmeal digestion. Here we compared various parameters of bloodmeal digestion in sand flies that are either susceptible (Phlebotomus argentipes and P. orientalis) or refractory (P. papatasi and Sergentomyia schwetzi) to Leishmania donovani, to study the effects on vector competence. The volume of the bloodmeal ingested, time of defecation of bloodmeal remnants, timing of formation and degradation of the peritrophic matrix (PM) and dynamics of proteolytic activities were compared in four sand fly species. Both proven vectors of L. donovani showed lower trypsin activity and slower PM formation than refractory species. Interestingly, the two natural L. donovani vectors strikingly differed from each other in secretion of the PM and midgut proteases, with P. argentipes possessing fast bloodmeal digestion with a very high peak of chymotrypsin activity and rapid degradation of the PM. Experimental infections of P. argentipes did not reveal any differences in vector competence in comparison with previously studied P. orientalis; even the very low initial dose (2×103 promastigotes/ml) led to fully developed late-stage infections with colonization of the stomodeal valve in about 40% of females. We hypothesise that the period between the breakdown of the PM and defecation of the bloodmeal remnants, i.e. the time frame when Leishmania attach to the midgut in order to prevent defecation, could be one of crucial parameters responsible for the establishment of Leishmania in the sand fly midgut. In both natural L. donovani vectors this period was significantly longer than in S. schwetzi. Both vectors are equally susceptible to L. donovani; as average bloodmeal volumes taken by females of P. argentipes and P. orientalis were 0.63 μl and 0.59 μl, respectively, an infective dose corresponding to 1-2 parasites was enough to initiate mature infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Pruzinova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jovana Sadlova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Veronika Seblova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Homola
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Votypka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Volf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Sigle LT, Ramalho-Ortigão M. Kazal-type serine proteinase inhibitors in the midgut of Phlebotomus papatasi. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 108:671-8. [PMID: 24037187 PMCID: PMC3970688 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276108062013001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are important disease vectors of parasites of
the genus Leishmania, as well as bacteria and viruses.
Following studies of the midgut transcriptome of Phlebotomus
papatasi, the principal vector of Leishmania
major, two non-classical Kazal-type serine proteinase inhibitors were
identified (PpKzl1 and PpKzl2). Analyses of
expression profiles indicated that PpKzl1 and
PpKzl2 transcripts are both regulated by blood-feeding in
the midgut of P. papatasi and are also expressed in males,
larva and pupa. We expressed a recombinant PpKzl2 in a mammalian expression
system (CHO-S free style cells) that was applied to in vitro studies to assess
serine proteinase inhibition. Recombinant PpKzl2 inhibited α-chymotrypsin to
9.4% residual activity and also inhibited α-thrombin and trypsin to 33.5% and
63.9% residual activity, suggesting that native PpKzl2 is an active serine
proteinase inhibitor and likely involved in regulating digestive enzymes in the
midgut. Early stages of Leishmania are susceptible to killing
by digestive proteinases in the sandfly midgut. Thus, characterising serine
proteinase inhibitors may provide new targets and strategies to prevent
transmission of Leishmania.
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Alipour H, Darabi H, Dabbaghmanesh T, Bonyani M. Entomological study of sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in Asalouyeh, the heartland of an Iranian petrochemical industry. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2014; 4:S242-5. [PMID: 25183089 DOI: 10.12980/apjtb.4.2014c678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE TO INVESTIGATE THE FAUNA AND SEASONAL ACTIVITY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SAND FLIES (DIPTERA: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in Asalouyeh, the heartland of an Iranian petrochemical industry, Southern Iran, as a oil rich district. Sand flies are the vectors of at least three different kinds of disease, the most important of which is leishmaniasis, and it is a major public health problem in Iran with increased annual occurrence of clinical episodes. METHODS A total of 3 497 sand flies of rural regions were collected by sticky traps fixed, and cleared in puris medium and identified morphologically, twice a month from April to March 2008. RESULTS Predominant species included four of genus Phlebotomus (Phlebotomus alexandri Sinton, 1928, Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli, 1910, Phlebotomus bergeroti Parrot and Phlebotomus sergenti Parrot) and one of genus Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia tiberiadis Alder, Theodor & Lourie, 1930). The most prevalent species was Phlebotomus papatasi, presented 56.4% of the identified flies. The others were Phlebotomus sergenti (22.5%), Phlebotomus alexandri (4.5%), Phlebotomus bergeroti (12%) and Sergentomyia tiberiadis (5%) as well. The percentage of females (68%) was more than that of males (32%). The abundance of sand flies represented two peaks of activity; one in early May and the other one in the first half of September in the region. CONCLUSION Phlebotomus papatasi is the probable vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the region. Further molecular studies are needed to determine the definite vector of the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamzeh Alipour
- Department of Medical Entomology, School of Health and Nutrition, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hossien Darabi
- The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, Bushehr University of Medical Science, Bushehr, Iran
| | | | - Mehdi Bonyani
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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23
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Abrudan J, Ramalho-Ortigão M, O'Neil S, Stayback G, Wadsworth M, Bernard M, Shoue D, Emrich S, Lawyer P, Kamhawi S, Rowton ED, Lehane MJ, Bates PA, Valenzeula JG, Tomlinson C, Appelbaum E, Moeller D, Thiesing B, Dillon R, Clifton S, Lobo NF, Wilson RK, Collins FH, McDowell MA. The characterization of the Phlebotomus papatasi transcriptome. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 22:211-232. [PMID: 23398403 PMCID: PMC3594503 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
As important vectors of human disease, phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance to human health, transmitting several emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. The most devastating of the sand fly transmitted infections are the leishmaniases, causing significant mortality and morbidity in both the Old and New World. Here we present the first global transcriptome analysis of the Old World vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) and compare this transcriptome to that of the New World vector of visceral leishmaniasis, Lutzomyia longipalpis. A normalized cDNA library was constructed using pooled mRNA from Phlebotomus papatasi larvae, pupae, adult males and females fed sugar, blood, or blood infected with Leishmania major. A total of 47 615 generated sequences was cleaned and assembled into 17 120 unique transcripts. Of the assembled sequences, 50% (8837 sequences) were classified using Gene Ontology (GO) terms. This collection of transcripts is comprehensive, as demonstrated by the high number of different GO categories. An in-depth analysis revealed 245 sequences with putative homology to proteins involved in blood and sugar digestion, immune response and peritrophic matrix formation. Twelve of the novel genes, including one trypsin, two peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRP) and nine chymotrypsins, have a higher expression level during larval stages. Two novel chymotrypsins and one novel PGRP are abundantly expressed upon blood feeding. This study will greatly improve the available genomic resources for P. papatasi and will provide essential information for annotation of the full genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenica Abrudan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Marcelo Ramalho-Ortigão
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Phillip Lawyer
- Intracellular Parasite Biology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA
| | - Shaden Kamhawi
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA
| | - Edgar D. Rowton
- Entomology Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 530 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | | - Paul A. Bates
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Jesus G. Valenzeula
- Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, USA
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- The Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 63108, USA
| | - Elizabeth Appelbaum
- The Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 63108, USA
| | - Deborah Moeller
- The Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 63108, USA
| | - Brenda Thiesing
- The Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 63108, USA
| | - Rod Dillon
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Sandra Clifton
- The Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 63108, USA
| | - Neil F. Lobo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Richard K. Wilson
- The Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 63108, USA
| | - Frank H. Collins
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Coutinho-Abreu IV, Sharma NK, Robles-Murguia M, Ramalho-Ortigao M. Characterization of Phlebotomus papatasi peritrophins, and the role of PpPer1 in Leishmania major survival in its natural vector. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2132. [PMID: 23516661 PMCID: PMC3597473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Accepted: 02/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The peritrophic matrix (PM) plays a key role in compartmentalization of the blood meal and as barrier to pathogens in many disease vectors. To establish an infection in sand flies, Leishmania must escape from the endoperitrophic space to prevent excretion with remnants of the blood meal digestion. In spite of the role played regarding Leishmania survival, little is known about sand fly PM molecular components and structural organization. We characterized three peritrophins (PpPer1, PpPer2, and PpPer3) from Phlebotomus papatasi. PpPer1 and PpPer2 display, respectively, four and one chitin-binding domains (CBDs). PpPer3 on the other hand has two CBDs, one mucin-like domain, and a putative domain with hallmarks of a CBD, but with changes in key amino acids. Temporal and spatial expression analyses show that PpPer1 is expressed specifically in the female midgut after blood feeding. PpPer2 and PpPer3 mRNAs were constitutively expressed in midgut and hindgut, with PpPer3 also being expressed in Malpighian tubules. PpPer2 was the only gene expressed in developmental stages. Interestingly, PpPer1 and PpPer3 expression are regulated by Le. major infection. Recombinant PpPer1, PpPer2 and PpPer3 were obtained and shown to display similar biochemical profiles as the native; we also show that PpPer1 and PpPer2 are able to bind chitin. Knockdown of PpPer1 led to a 44% reduction in protein, which in spite of producing an effect on the percentage of infected sand flies, resulted in a 39% increase of parasite load at 48 h. Our data suggest that PpPer1 is a component for the P. papatasi PM and likely involved in the PM role as barrier against Le. major infection. For a successful development within the midgut of the sand fly vector, Leishmania must overcome several barriers imposed by the vector that include the digestive proteases secreted within the midgut following a blood meal by the insect, the need to escape from the endoperitrophic space, and attachment to the midgut epithelia to prevent excretion with the remnants of the blood meal. The sand fly peritrophic matrix (PM) constitutes an important barrier against the establishment of Leishmania within the sand fly and if trapped within the PM these parasites will be passed along with the remnants of the blood meal. Despite the role of sand fly PM on Leishmania development, characterization of its molecular components and assessment of their roles against Leishmania are lacking. Thereby, we performed the molecular characterization of three P. papatasi peritrophins named PpPer1, PpPer2, and PpPer3. Overall, we demonstrated that: (1) PpPer3 displays a putative CBD domain that might have undertaken neo-functionalization, (2) PpPer1 and PpPer3 genes display differential gene expression upon Le. major infection; and (3) PpPer1 seems to be an important component for the function of P. papatasi PM as a barrier against Le. major infection.
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Bacterial feeding, Leishmania infection and distinct infection routes induce differential defensin expression in Lutzomyia longipalpis. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:12. [PMID: 23311993 PMCID: PMC3573903 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phlebotomine insects harbor bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens that can cause diseases of public health importance. Lutzomyia longipalpis is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the New World. Insects can mount a powerful innate immune response to pathogens. Defensin peptides take part in this response and are known to be active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and some parasites. We studied the expression of a defensin gene from Lutzomyia longipalpis to understand its role in sand fly immune response. METHODS We identified, sequenced and evaluated the expression of a L. longipalpis defensin gene by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The gene sequence was compared to other vectors defensins and expression was determined along developmental stages and after exposure of adult female L. longipalpis to bacteria and Leishmania. RESULTS Phylogenetic analysis showed that the L. longipalpis defensin is closely related to a defensin from the Old World sand fly Phlebotomus duboscqi. Expression was high in late L4 larvae and pupae in comparison to early larval stages and newly emerged flies. Defensin expression was modulated by oral infection with bacteria. The Gram-positive Micrococcus luteus induced early high defensin expression, whilst the Gram-negative entomopathogenic Serratia marcescens induced a later response. Bacterial injection also induced defensin expression in adult insects. Female sand flies infected orally with Leishmania mexicana showed no significant difference in defensin expression compared to blood fed insects apart from a lower defensin expression 5 days post Leishmania infection. When Leishmania was introduced into the hemolymph by injection there was no induction of defensin expression until 72 h later. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that L. longipalpis modulates defensin expression upon bacterial and Leishmania infection, with patterns of expression that are distinct among bacterial species and routes of infection.
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Araújo APOD, Telleria EL, Dutra JDMF, Júlio RM, Traub-Csekö YM. Disruption of the peritrophic matrix by exogenous chitinase feeding reduces fecundity in Lutzomyia longipalpis females. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2012; 107:543-5. [PMID: 22666867 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762012000400016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lutzomyia longipalpis is the most important vector of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil. When female sandflies feed on blood, a peritrophic matrix (PM) is formed around the blood bolus. The PM is secreted by midgut cells and composed of proteins, glycoproteins and chitin microfibrils. The PM functions as both a physical barrier against pathogens present in the food bolus and blood meal digestion regulator. Previous studies of mosquitoes and sandflies have shown that the absence of a PM, resulting from adding an exogenous chitinase to the blood meal, accelerates digestion. In the present study, we analysed biological factors associated with the presence of a PM in L. longipalpis females. Insects fed blood containing chitinase (BCC) accelerated egg-laying relative to a control group fed blood without chitinase. However, in the BCC-fed insects, the number of females that died without laying eggs was higher and the number of eggs laid per female was lower. The eggs in both groups were viable and generated adults. Based on these data, we suggest that the absence of a PM accelerates nutrient acquisition, which results in premature egg production and oviposition; however, the absence of a PM reduces the total number of eggs laid per female. Reduced fecundity in the absence of a PM may be due to inefficient nutrient conversion or the loss of the protective role of the PM.
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27
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Zauli RC, Yokoyama-Yasunaka JK, Miguel DC, Moura AS, Pereira LI, da Silva IA, Lemes LG, Dorta ML, de Oliveira MA, Pitaluga AN, Ishikawa EA, Rodrigues JC, Traub-Cseko YM, Bijovsky AT, Ribeiro-Dias F, Uliana SR. A dysflagellar mutant of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis isolated from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:11. [PMID: 22236464 PMCID: PMC3271977 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasites of the Leishmania genus alternate between the flagellated extracellular promastigote stage and intracellular amastigotes. Here we report the characterization of a Leishmania isolate, obtained from a cutaneous leishmaniasis patient, which presents peculiar morphological features. Methods The parasite was cultured in vitro and characterized morphologically using optical and electron microscopy. Identification was performed based on monoclonal antibodies and internal ribosomal spacer typing. In vitro macrophage cultures, murine experimental models and sand fly infections were used to evaluate infectivity in vitro and in vivo. Results The isolate was identified as Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. In the atypical promastigotes grown in culture, a short flagellum surrounded or interrupted by a protuberance of disorganized material was observed. A normal axoneme was present close to the basal body but without elongation much further outside the flagellar pocket. A disorganized swelling at the precocious end of the axoneme coincided with the lack of a paraflagellar rod structure. The isolate was able to infect macrophages in vitro, induce lesions in BALB/c mice and infect Lutzomyia longipalpis. Conclusions Notwithstanding the lack of an extracellular flagellum, this isolate infects macrophages in vitro and produces lesions when inoculated into mice. Moreover, it is able to colonize phlebotomine sand flies. Considering the importance attributed to the flagellum in the successful infection and survival of Leishmania in the insect midgut and in the invasion of macrophages, these findings may bring new light into the infectious mechanisms of L. (V.) braziliensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogéria C Zauli
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
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