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Wallbank BA, Pardy RD, Brodsky IE, Hunter CA, Striepen B. Cryptosporidium impacts epithelial turnover and is resistant to induced death of the host cell. mBio 2024; 15:e0172024. [PMID: 38995074 PMCID: PMC11323733 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01720-24] [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: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Infection with the apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of diarrheal disease. Cryptosporidiosis is of particular importance in infants and shows a strong association with malnutrition, both as a risk factor and as a consequence. Cryptosporidium invades and replicates within the small intestine epithelial cells. This is a highly dynamic tissue that is developmentally stratified along the villus axis. New cells emerge from a stem cell niche in the crypt and differentiate into mature epithelial cells while moving toward the villus tip, where they are ultimately shed. Here, we studied the impact of Cryptosporidium infection on this dynamic architecture. Tracing DNA synthesis in pulse-chase experiments in vivo, we quantified the genesis and migration of epithelial cells along the villus. We found proliferation and epithelial migration to be elevated in response to Cryptosporidium infection. Infection also resulted in significant cell loss documented by imaging and molecular assays. Consistent with these observations, single-cell RNA sequencing of infected intestines showed a gain of young and a loss of mature cells. Interestingly, enhanced epithelial cell loss was not a function of enhanced apoptosis of infected cells. To the contrary, Cryptosporidium-infected cells were less likely to be apoptotic than bystanders, and experiments in tissue culture demonstrated that infection provided enhanced resistance to chemically induced apoptosis to the host but not bystander cells. Overall, this study suggests that Cryptosporidium may modulate cell apoptosis and documents pronounced changes in tissue homeostasis due to parasite infection, which may contribute to its long-term impact on the developmental and nutritional state of children. IMPORTANCE The intestine must balance its roles in digestion and nutrient absorption with the maintenance of an effective barrier to colonization and breach by numerous potential pathogens. An important component of this balance is its constant turnover, which is modulated by a gain of cells due to proliferation and loss due to death or extrusion. Here, we report that Cryptosporidium infection changes the dynamics of this process increasing both gain and loss of enterocytes speeding up the villus elevator. This leads to a much more immature epithelium and a reduction of the number of those cells typically found toward the villus apex best equipped to take up key nutrients including carbohydrates and lipids. These changes in the cellular architecture and physiology of the small intestine may be linked to the profound association between cryptosporidiosis and malnutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethan A. Wallbank
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ryan D. Pardy
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Igor E. Brodsky
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christopher A. Hunter
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Brühlmann F, Perry C, Griessen C, Gunasekera K, Reymond JL, Naguleswaran A, Rottenberg S, Woods K, Olias P. TurboID mapping reveals the exportome of secreted intrinsically disordered proteins in the transforming parasite Theileria annulata. mBio 2024; 15:e0341223. [PMID: 38747635 PMCID: PMC11237503 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03412-23] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Theileria annulata is a tick-transmitted apicomplexan parasite that gained the unique ability among parasitic eukaryotes to transform its host cell, inducing a fatal cancer-like disease in cattle. Understanding the mechanistic interplay between the host cell and malignant Theileria species that drives this transformation requires the identification of responsible parasite effector proteins. In this study, we used TurboID-based proximity labeling, which unbiasedly identified secreted parasite proteins within host cell compartments. By fusing TurboID to nuclear export or localization signals, we biotinylated proteins in the vicinity of the ligase enzyme in the nucleus or cytoplasm of infected macrophages, followed by mass spectrometry analysis. Our approach revealed with high confidence nine nuclear and four cytosolic candidate parasite proteins within the host cell compartments, eight of which had no orthologs in non-transforming T. orientalis. Strikingly, all eight of these proteins are predicted to be highly intrinsically disordered proteins. We discovered a novel tandem arrayed protein family, nuclear intrinsically disordered proteins (NIDP) 1-4, featuring diverse functions predicted by conserved protein domains. Particularly, NIDP2 exhibited a biphasic host cell-cycle-dependent localization, interacting with the EB1/CD2AP/CLASP1 parasite membrane complex at the schizont surface and the tumor suppressor stromal antigen 2 (STAG2), a cohesion complex subunit, in the host nucleus. In addition to STAG2, numerous NIDP2-associated host nuclear proteins implicated in various cancers were identified, shedding light on the potential role of the T. annulata exported protein family NIDP in host cell transformation and cancer-related pathways.IMPORTANCETurboID proximity labeling was used to identify secreted proteins of Theileria annulata, an apicomplexan parasite responsible for a fatal, proliferative disorder in cattle that represents a significant socio-economic burden in North Africa, central Asia, and India. Our investigation has provided important insights into the unique host-parasite interaction, revealing secreted parasite proteins characterized by intrinsically disordered protein structures. Remarkably, these proteins are conspicuously absent in non-transforming Theileria species, strongly suggesting their central role in the transformative processes within host cells. Our study identified a novel tandem arrayed protein family, with nuclear intrinsically disordered protein 2 emerging as a central player interacting with established tumor genes. Significantly, this work represents the first unbiased screening for exported proteins in Theileria and contributes essential insights into the molecular intricacies behind the malignant transformation of immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Brühlmann
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Carmen Perry
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Kapila Gunasekera
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Sven Rottenberg
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kerry Woods
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Olias
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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3
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Villares M, Lourenço N, Ktorza I, Berthelet J, Panagiotou A, Richard A, Amo A, Koziy Y, Medjkane S, Valente S, Fioravanti R, Pioche-Durieu C, Lignière L, Chevreux G, Mai A, Weitzman JB. Theileria parasites sequester host eIF5A to escape elimination by host-mediated autophagy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2235. [PMID: 38472173 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45022-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Intracellular pathogens develop elaborate mechanisms to survive within the hostile environments of host cells. Theileria parasites infect bovine leukocytes and cause devastating diseases in cattle in developing countries. Theileria spp. have evolved sophisticated strategies to hijack host leukocytes, inducing proliferative and invasive phenotypes characteristic of cell transformation. Intracellular Theileria parasites secrete proteins into the host cell and recruit host proteins to induce oncogenic signaling for parasite survival. It is unknown how Theileria parasites evade host cell defense mechanisms, such as autophagy, to survive within host cells. Here, we show that Theileria annulata parasites sequester the host eIF5A protein to their surface to escape elimination by autophagic processes. We identified a small-molecule compound that reduces parasite load by inducing autophagic flux in host leukocytes, thereby uncoupling Theileria parasite survival from host cell survival. We took a chemical genetics approach to show that this compound induced host autophagy mechanisms and the formation of autophagic structures via AMPK activation and the release of the host protein eIF5A which is sequestered at the parasite surface. The sequestration of host eIF5A to the parasite surface offers a strategy to escape elimination by autophagic mechanisms. These results show how intracellular pathogens can avoid host defense mechanisms and identify a new anti-Theileria drug that induces autophagy to target parasite removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Villares
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Nelly Lourenço
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Ivan Ktorza
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Jérémy Berthelet
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Aristeidis Panagiotou
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Aurélie Richard
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Angélique Amo
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Yulianna Koziy
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Souhila Medjkane
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Sergio Valente
- Department of Drug Chemistry & Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Rossella Fioravanti
- Department of Drug Chemistry & Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Laurent Lignière
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR 7592 Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Guillaume Chevreux
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR 7592 Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Antonello Mai
- Department of Drug Chemistry & Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
- Pasteur Institute, Cenci-Bolognetti Foundation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Jonathan B Weitzman
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, UMR7126 Epigenetics and Cell Fate, Paris, 75013, France.
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4
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Elati K, Tajeri S, Mugo RM, Obara I, Darghouth MA, Zweygarth E, Nijhof AM. In vitro infection of bovine erythrocytes with Theileria annulata merozoites as a key step in completing the T. annulata life cycle in vitro. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3647. [PMID: 38351295 PMCID: PMC10864261 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54327-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Theileria annulata is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle involving a bovine host and a tick vector. It is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and is the causative agent of tropical theileriosis, a debilitating and often fatal disease in southern Europe, northern Africa and large parts of Asia. Understanding the biology of different life cycle stages is critical for the control of tropical theileriosis and requires the use of experimental animals which poses an ethical concern. We present for the first time the in vitro infection of red blood cells (RBCs) with T. annulata differentiated schizonts. The Ankara cell line of T. annulata was cultured at 41 °C for nine days to induce merogony and subsequently incubated with purified RBCs for one to three days. Percentage of parasitized erythrocyte (PPE) over the short culture period was estimated by Giemsa staining (0.007-0.01%), Flow cytometry activated sorting (FACS) (0.02-1.1%) and observation of FACS sorted cells by confocal microscopy (0.05-0.4%). There was a significant difference in the PPE between FACS and the two other techniques (one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test, P = 0.004) but no significant difference was observed between the confocal imaging and Giemsa staining methods (ANOVA one-way followed by Tukey test, P = 0.06). Importantly, all three complementary methods confirmed the invasion of RBCs by T. annulata merozoites in vitro. Although the experimental conditions will require further optimization to increase the PPE, the in vitro infection of RBCs by T. annulata merozoites is pivotal in paving the way for the eventual completion of the T. annulata life cycle in vitro when combined with artificial tick feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khawla Elati
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 8, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Université de la Manouba, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
| | - Shahin Tajeri
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 8, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert M Mugo
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Infection Medicine, Freie Universtät Berlin, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isaiah Obara
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 8, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mohamed Aziz Darghouth
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Université de la Manouba, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Erich Zweygarth
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ard Menzo Nijhof
- Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 8, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
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5
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Sajid MS, Iqbal A, Rizwan HM, Kausar A, Tahir UB, Younus M, Maqbool M, Siddique RM, Fouad D, Ataya FS. Guardians of the Herd: Molecular Surveillance of Tick Vectors Uncovers Theileriosis Perils in Large Ruminants. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2684. [PMID: 38004696 PMCID: PMC10672939 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Theileria sp. (Piroplasmida: Theileriidae) is one of the most widely known infections transmitted by hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and has been linked to significant economic losses across the globe. The study's main emphasis was theileriosis, a disease that is common in Pakistan and has an incidence ranging from 0.6% to 33%. Through DNA screening of the vector ticks and host blood, this study sought to determine the risk of tick-borne theileriosis in populations of buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) and cattle (Bos indicus) in Toba Tek Singh district of Punjab, Pakistan. Identified tick species include Hyalomma anatolicum (35.4%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (30.2%), and R. sanguineus (25%). Tick specimens were collected from animals and their respective microenvironments. PCR assays targeting Theileria annulata were used to investigate the infection in the DNA extracted from the collected blood samples from large ruminants and salivary glands (SGs) of the Hyalomma ticks. The 18S rRNA of T. annulata was amplified using specific primers. Positive T. annulata amplicons were sequenced and verified using BLAST analysis. Overall, 50% of SGs contained T. annulate DNA. Female ticks, and those collected from cattle and from riverine environments had significantly higher (p < 0.05) rates of Theileria infection in their acini. Overall prevalence of Theileria infection was 35.9% in blood collected from large ruminants. Cattle had a substantially greater frequency of bovine theileriosis (43.2%) than buffalos (28.7%). Age and sex of large ruminants were significantly positively associated (p < 0.05) with Theileria infection. Furthermore, compared to non-riverine cattle (35%) and buffalo (19.5%), riverine cattle (52.2%) and buffalo (36.2%) showed a considerably higher prevalence. The results of this study, which is the first in Pakistan to examine the blood of large ruminants and vectorial function of Ixodid ticks in the transmission of T. annulata along with associated risk factors, offer an important insight for risk assessment of Theileria infection in livestock using vectorial infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sohail Sajid
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.B.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Asif Iqbal
- Department of Parasitology, Riphah College of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (A.I.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Hafiz Muhammad Rizwan
- Section of Parasitology, Department of Pathobiology, Khan Bahadur Chaudhary Mushtaq Ahmad College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Sub Campus UVAS, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Asma Kausar
- Livestock and Dairy Development (L&DD), Veterinary Research Institute, Lahore 54080, Pakistan;
| | - Urfa Bin Tahir
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.B.T.); (M.M.)
- Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Muhammad Younus
- Section of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, Khan Bahadur Chaudhary Mushtaq Ahmad College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Narowal, Sub Campus UVAS, Lahore 54000, Pakistan;
| | - Mahvish Maqbool
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.B.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Rao Muhammad Siddique
- Department of Parasitology, Riphah College of Veterinary Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (A.I.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Dalia Fouad
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11459, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Farid Shokry Ataya
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
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6
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Kiriyanthan RM, Radha A, Pandikumar P, Azhahianambi P, Madan N, Ignacimuthu S. Growth inhibitory effect of selected quinones from Indian medicinal plants against Theileria annulata. Exp Parasitol 2023; 254:108622. [PMID: 37758051 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Tropical Bovine Theileriosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria annulata, poses a significant threat to cattle populations. Currently, Buparvaquone is the sole effective naphthoquinone drug commercially available for its treatment. In our research, we delved into the potential of naturally occurring quinones as alternative treatments. We isolated two quinones, emodin and chrysophanol, from Rheum emodi Wall, and two more, embelin and lawsone, from Embelia ribes Burm.f. and Lawsonia inermis L. respectively. We assessed the anti-Theileria efficacy of these quinones in vitro using MTT and flow cytometric assays on T. annulata-infected bovine lymphocytes. Additionally, we evaluated their safety on uninfected bovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) and Vero cells. Emodin emerged as a promising candidate, exhibiting an IC50 value of 4 μM, surpassing that of buparvaquone. Emodin also displayed relatively low LD50 values of 1.74 mM against uninfected PBMC and 0.87 mM against Vero cells, suggesting potential safety. Remarkably, emodin demonstrated a high cell absorption rate of 71.32%. While emodin's efficacy and bioavailability are encouraging, further research is imperative to validate its safety and effectiveness for treating Tropical Bovine Theileriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Mary Kiriyanthan
- PG and Research Department of Botany, Bharathi Women's College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600108, India
| | - A Radha
- PG and Research Department of Botany, Bharathi Women's College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600108, India.
| | - Perumal Pandikumar
- Xavier Research Foundation, St Xavier's College, Palayamkottai, Tamil Nadu, 627 002, India
| | - Palavesam Azhahianambi
- Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals, Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, 600 051, India
| | - N Madan
- Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals, Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, 600 051, India
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7
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Ahlawat S, Choudhary V, Arora R, Kumar A, Kaur M, Chhabra P. Exploring the Transcriptome Dynamics of In Vivo Theileria annulata Infection in Crossbred Cattle. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1663. [PMID: 37761803 PMCID: PMC10530335 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular changes occurring in the host in response to in vivo Theileria annulata parasitic infection are not well understood. Therefore, the present study investigated the differential expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) across Theileria annulata-infected and non-infected crossbred cows. The differential expression profiles from PBMCs of infected and non-infected crossbred cows were generated by RNA sequencing. A marked difference in the expression of genes associated with innate immunity (FTH1, ACTB, ISG15) was observed between the two groups. The over-represented pathways in Theileria annulata-infected cows were associated with the immune system and regulation of the mitotic cycle. Enriched genes and pathways in non-infected animals were associated with the maintenance of chromatin integrity and cell structure. The highly connected genes identified in this study form potential candidates for further investigation into host-parasite interactions in cattle. An improved understanding of the transcriptomic dynamics during theileriosis would lead to underpinning molecular level differences related to the health status of cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonika Ahlawat
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Vikas Choudhary
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Reena Arora
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Mandeep Kaur
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Pooja Chhabra
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal 132001, Haryana, India
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8
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Barman M, Dandasena D, Suresh A, Bhandari V, Kamble S, Singh S, Subudhi M, Sharma P. Artemisinin derivatives induce oxidative stress leading to DNA damage and caspase-mediated apoptosis in Theileria annulata-transformed cells. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:78. [PMID: 37069625 PMCID: PMC10111749 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01067-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bovine theileriosis caused by the eukaryotic parasite Theileria annulata is an economically important tick-borne disease. If it is not treated promptly, this lymphoproliferative disease has a significant fatality rate. Buparvaquone (BPQ) is the only chemotherapy-based treatment available right now. However, with the emergence of BPQ resistance on the rise and no backup therapy available, it is critical to identify imperative drugs and new targets against Theileria parasites. METHODS Artemisinin and its derivatives artesunate (ARS), artemether (ARM), or dihydroartemisinin (DHART) are the primary defence line against malaria parasites. This study has analysed artemisinin and its derivatives for their anti-Theilerial activity and mechanism of action. RESULTS ARS and DHART showed potent activity against the Theileria-infected cells. BPQ in combination with ARS or DHART showed a synergistic effect. The compounds act specifically on the parasitised cells and have minimal cytotoxicity against the uninfected host cells. Treatment with ARS or DHART induces ROS-mediated oxidative DNA damage leading to cell death. Further blocking intracellular ROS by its scavengers antagonised the anti-parasitic activity of the compounds. Increased ROS production induces oxidative stress and DNA damage causing p53 activation followed by caspase-dependent apoptosis in the Theileria-infected cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings give unique insights into the previously unknown molecular pathways underpinning the anti-Theilerial action of artemisinin derivatives, which may aid in formulating new therapies against this deadly parasite. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Debabrata Dandasena
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, India
| | - Akash Suresh
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Vasundhra Bhandari
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, India
| | - Sonam Kamble
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, India
| | - Sakshi Singh
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Graduate Studies, Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, India
| | | | - Paresh Sharma
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India.
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Trifloxystrobin blocks the growth of Theileria parasites and is a promising drug to treat Buparvaquone resistance. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1253. [DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03981-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractTheileria parasites are responsible for devastating cattle diseases, causing major economic losses across Africa and Asia. Theileria spp. stand apart from other apicomplexa parasites by their ability to transform host leukocytes into immortalized, hyperproliferating, invasive cells that rapidly kill infected animals. The emergence of resistance to the theilericidal drug Buparvaquone raises the need for new anti-Theileria drugs. We developed a microscopy-based screen to reposition drugs from the open-access Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Pathogen Box. We show that Trifloxystrobin (MMV688754) selectively kills lymphocytes or macrophages infected with Theileria annulata or Theileria parva parasites. Trifloxystrobin treatment reduced parasite load in vitro as effectively as Buparvaquone, with similar effects on host gene expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle. Trifloxystrobin also inhibited parasite differentiation to merozoites (merogony). Trifloxystrobin inhibition of parasite survival is independent of the parasite TaPin1 prolyl isomerase pathway. Furthermore, modeling studies predicted that Trifloxystrobin and Buparvaquone could interact distinctly with parasite Cytochrome B and we show that Trifloxystrobin was still effective against Buparvaquone-resistant cells harboring TaCytB mutations. Our study suggests that Trifloxystrobin could provide an effective alternative to Buparvaquone treatment and represents a promising candidate for future drug development against Theileria spp.
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10
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Connelley T, Nicastri A, Sheldrake T, Vrettou C, Fisch A, Reynisson B, Buus S, Hill A, Morrison I, Nielsen M, Ternette N. Immunopeptidomic Analysis of BoLA-I and BoLA-DR Presented Peptides from Theileria parva Infected Cells. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10111907. [PMID: 36423003 PMCID: PMC9699068 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Theileria parva is the causative agent of East Coast fever, usually a fatal disease for cattle, which is prevalent in large areas of eastern, central, and southern Africa. Protective immunity against T. parva is mediated by CD8+ T cells, with CD4+ T-cells thought to be important in facilitating the full maturation and development of the CD8+ T-cell response. T. parva has a large proteome, with >4000 protein-coding genes, making T-cell antigen identification using conventional screening approaches laborious and expensive. To date, only a limited number of T-cell antigens have been described. Novel approaches for identifying candidate antigens for T. parva are required to replace and/or complement those currently employed. In this study, we report on the use of immunopeptidomics to study the repertoire of T. parva peptides presented by both BoLA-I and BoLA-DR molecules on infected cells. The study reports on peptides identified from the analysis of 13 BoLA-I and 6 BoLA-DR datasets covering a range of different BoLA genotypes. This represents the most comprehensive immunopeptidomic dataset available for any eukaryotic pathogen to date. Examination of the immunopeptidome data suggested the presence of a large number of coprecipitated and non-MHC-binding peptides. As part of the work, a pipeline to curate the datasets to remove these peptides was developed and used to generate a final list of 74 BoLA-I and 15 BoLA-DR-presented peptides. Together, the data demonstrated the utility of immunopeptidomics as a method to identify novel T-cell antigens for T. parva and the importance of careful curation and the application of high-quality immunoinformatics to parse the data generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Connelley
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Annalisa Nicastri
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Tara Sheldrake
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Christina Vrettou
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Andressa Fisch
- Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Av Bandeirantes, Ribeirão Preto 3900, Brazil
| | - Birkir Reynisson
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Soren Buus
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adrian Hill
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Ivan Morrison
- The Roslin Institute, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Morten Nielsen
- Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, San Martín CP1650, Argentina
| | - Nicola Ternette
- The Jenner Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, The University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
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11
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Ozubek S, Ulucesme MC, Cirak VY, Aktas M. Detection of Theileria orientalis Genotypes from Cattle in Kyrgyzstan. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101185. [PMID: 36297242 PMCID: PMC9606894 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ikeda and chitose genotypes of Theileria orientalis, which for many years were thought to be benign, cause a disease that results in significant economic losses in the cattle industry. This study was carried out in order to determine the genotypes of T. orientalis in cattle in Kyrgyzstan, and 149 archived DNA samples known to be T. orientalis were analyzed by the PCR amplification of the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene region. Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed to uncover the nucleotide changes in the archived DNA samples, and 15 samples showing different band profiles were subjected to sequence analysis. As a result of the sequence analysis, it was seen that the samples belonged to the buffeli and chitose A genotypes. In order to identify mixed genotypes, PCR was performed using primers specific for these genotypes, and buffeli (type 3), chitose (type 1) and buffeli+chitose were found to be positive in 26.2%, 2% and 71.8% of samples, respectively. As a result of this study, we showed the presence of buffeli (type 3) and chitose (type 1) genotypes of T. orientalis in cattle in Kyrgyzstan. Comprehensive epidemiological studies are needed to understand the clinical infections caused by the pathogenic chitose A and to determine the geographical distribution and different genotypes of T. orientalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sezayi Ozubek
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig 23119, Turkiye
- Correspondence:
| | - Mehmet Can Ulucesme
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig 23119, Turkiye
| | - Veli Yılgor Cirak
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa 23119, Turkiye
| | - Munir Aktas
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig 23119, Turkiye
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12
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Jenkins C, Micallef ML, Padula MP, Bogema DR. Characterisation of the Theileria orientalis Piroplasm Proteome across Three Common Genotypes. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11101135. [PMID: 36297192 PMCID: PMC9610513 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria orientalis is an emerging apicomplexan pathogen of cattle occurring in areas populated by the principal vector tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. Unlike transforming Theileria spp. that induce cancer-like proliferation of lymphocytes via their schizont stage, T. orientalis destroys host erythrocytes during its piroplasm phase resulting in anaemia. The underlying pathogenic processes of T. orientalis infection are poorly understood; consequently, there are no vaccines for prevention of T. orientalis infection and chemotherapeutic options are limited. To identify antigens expressed during the piroplasm phase of T. orientalis, including those which may be useful targets for future therapeutic development, we examined the proteome across three common genotypes of the parasite (Ikeda, Chitose and Buffeli) using preparations of piroplasms purified from bovine blood. A combination of Triton X-114 extraction, one-dimensional electrophoresis and LC-MS/MS identified a total of 1113 proteins across all genotypes, with less than 3% of these representing host-derived proteins. Just over three quarters of T. orientalis proteins (78%) identified were from the aqueous phase of the TX-114 extraction representing cytosolic proteins, with the remaining 22% from the detergent phase, representing membrane-associated proteins. All enzymes involved in glycolysis were expressed, suggesting that this is the major metabolic pathway used during the T. orientalis piroplasm phase. Proteins involved in binding and breakdown of haemoglobin were also identified, suggesting that T. orientalis uses haemoglobin as a source of amino acids. A number of proteins involved in host cell interaction were also identified which may be suitable targets for the development of chemotherapeutics or vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Jenkins
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-4640-6396
| | - Melinda L. Micallef
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia
| | - Matthew P. Padula
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Daniel R. Bogema
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia
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13
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Liu J, Guan G, Yin H. Theileria annulata. Trends Parasitol 2021; 38:265-266. [PMID: 34848168 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China; Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, PR China.
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14
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Plasmepsin-like Aspartyl Proteases in Babesia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101241. [PMID: 34684190 PMCID: PMC8540915 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan genomes encode multiple pepsin-family aspartyl proteases (APs) that phylogenetically cluster to six independent clades (A to F). Such diversification has been powered by the function-driven evolution of the ancestral apicomplexan AP gene and is associated with the adaptation of various apicomplexan species to different strategies of host infection and transmission through various invertebrate vectors. To estimate the potential roles of Babesia APs, we performed qRT-PCR-based expressional profiling of Babesia microti APs (BmASP2, 3, 5, 6), which revealed the dynamically changing mRNA levels and indicated the specific roles of individual BmASP isoenzymes throughout the life cycle of this parasite. To expand on the current knowledge on piroplasmid APs, we searched the EuPathDB and NCBI GenBank databases to identify and phylogenetically analyse the complete sets of APs encoded by the genomes of selected Babesia and Theileria species. Our results clearly determine the potential roles of identified APs by their phylogenetic relation to their homologues of known function—Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsins (PfPM I–X) and Toxoplasma gondii aspartyl proteases (TgASP1–7). Due to the analogies with plasmodial plasmepsins, piroplasmid APs represent valuable enzymatic targets that are druggable by small molecule inhibitors—candidate molecules for the yet-missing specific therapy for babesiosis.
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