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Schemczssen-Graeff Z, Silva CR, de Freitas PNN, Constantin PP, Pileggi SAV, Olchanheski LR, Pileggi M. Probiotics as a strategy for addressing helminth infections in low-income countries: Working smarter rather than richer. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116363. [PMID: 38871336 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116363] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Helminth infections, which affect approximately 1.5 billion individuals worldwide (mainly children), are common in low- and middle-income tropical countries and can lead to various diseases. One crucial factor affecting the occurrence of these diseases is the reduced diversity of the gut microbiome due to antibiotic use. This reduced diversity compromises immune health in hosts and alters host gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. Helminth infections may produce complex biochemical signatures that could serve as therapeutic targets. Such therapies include next-generation probiotics, live biotherapeutic products, and biochemical drug approaches. Probiotics can bind ferric hydroxide, reducing the iron that is available to opportunistic microorganisms. They also produce short-chain fatty acids associated with immune response modulation, oral tolerance facilitation, and inflammation reduction. In this review, we examine the potential link between these effects and epigenetic changes in immune response-related genes by analyzing methyltransferase-related genes within probiotic strains discussed in the literature. The identified genes were only correlated with methylation in bacterial genes. Various metabolic interactions among hosts, helminth parasites, and intestinal microbiomes can impact the immune system, potentially aiding or hindering worm expulsion through chemical signaling. Implementing a comprehensive strategy using probiotics may reduce the impact of drug-resistant helminth strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelinda Schemczssen-Graeff
- Comparative Immunology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Parasitology, and Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Caroline Rosa Silva
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | | | - Paola Pereira Constantin
- Department of Biotechnology, Genetics and Cell Biology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Sônia Alvim Veiga Pileggi
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Life Sciences and Health Institute, Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics Department, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
| | - Luiz Ricardo Olchanheski
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Life Sciences and Health Institute, Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics Department, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
| | - Marcos Pileggi
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Life Sciences and Health Institute, Structural and Molecular Biology, and Genetics Department, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Brazil.
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Petrová M, Hurníková Z, Lauková A, Dvorožňáková E. Antiparasitic Activity of Enterocin M and Durancin-like from Beneficial Enterococci in Mice Experimentally Infected with Trichinella spiralis. Microorganisms 2024; 12:923. [PMID: 38792753 PMCID: PMC11123709 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Beneficial/probiotic strains protect the host from pathogens by competitive displacement and production of antibacterial substances, i.e., bacteriocins. The antiparasitic potential of bacteriocins/enterocins and their producing strains in experimental murine trichinellosis were tested as a new therapeutic strategy. Enterocin M and Durancin-like and their producers Enterococcus faecium CCM8558 and Enterococcus durans ED26E/7 were administered daily to mice that were challenged with Trichinella spiralis. Our study confirmed the antiparasitic effect of enterocins/enterococci, which reduced the number of adults in the intestine (Enterocin M-43.8%, E. faecium CCM8558-54.5%, Durancin-like-16.4%, E. durans ED26E/7-35.7%), suppressed the Trichinella reproductive capacity ex vivo (Enterocin M-61%, E. faecium CCM8558-74%, Durancin-like-38%, E. durans ED26E/7-66%), and reduced the number of muscle larvae (Enterocin M-39.6%, E. faecium CCM8558-55.7%, Durancin-like-15%, E. durans ED26E/7-36.3%). The direct effect of enterocins on Trichinella fecundity was documented by an in vitro test in which Durancin-like showed a comparable reducing effect to Enterocin M (40-60%) in contrast to the ex vivo test. The reducing activity of T.spiralis infection induced by Enterocin M was comparable to its strain E. faecium CCM8558; Durancin-like showed lower antiparasitic activity than its producer E. durans ED26E/7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Petrová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia; (M.P.); (Z.H.)
| | - Zuzana Hurníková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia; (M.P.); (Z.H.)
| | - Andrea Lauková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia;
| | - Emília Dvorožňáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia; (M.P.); (Z.H.)
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Liu S, Yan Z, Peng Y, Liu Y, Li Y, Xu D, Gong Y, Cui Z, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Wang D, Pan W, Yang X. Lentinan has a beneficial effect on cognitive deficits induced by chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:454. [PMID: 38093309 PMCID: PMC10717010 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06023-5] [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: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is increasingly considered a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. However, there is only limited information on the development of drugs for T. gondii infection. Lentinan from Lentinula edodes is a bioactive ingredient with the potential to enhance anti-infective immunity. The present study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of lentinan on T. gondii-associated cognitive deficits in mice. METHODS A chronic T. gondii infection mouse model was established by administering 10 cysts of T. gondii by gavage. Lentinan was intraperitoneally administered 2 weeks before infection. Behavioral tests, RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy and Golgi-Cox staining were performed to assess the effect of lentinan on cognitive deficits and neuropathology in vivo. In vitro, the direct and indirect effects of lentinan on the proliferation of T. gondii tachyzoites were evaluated in the absence and presence of BV-2 cells, respectively. RESULTS Lentinan prevented T. gondii-induced cognitive deficits and altered the transcriptome profile of genes related to neuroinflammation, microglial activation, synaptic function, neural development and cognitive behavior in the hippocampus of infected mice. Moreover, lentinan reduced the infection-induced accumulation of microglia and downregulated the mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, the neurite and synaptic ultrastructural damage in the hippocampal CA1 region due to infection was ameliorated by lentinan administration. Lentinan decreased the cyst burden in the brains of infected mice, which was correlated with behavioral performance. In line with this finding, lentinan could significantly inhibit the proliferation of T. gondii tachyzoites in the microglial cell line BV2, although lentinan had no direct inhibitory effect on parasite growth. CONCLUSIONS Lentinan prevents cognitive deficits via the improvement of neurite impairment and synaptic loss induced by T. gondii infection, which may be associated with decreased cyst burden in the brain. Overall, our findings indicate that lentinan can ameliorate T. gondii-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxi Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- National Experimental Demonstration Center for Basic Medicine Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ziyi Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- National Experimental Demonstration Center for Basic Medicine Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunqiu Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiling Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Daxiang Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuying Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zeyu Cui
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yongshui Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yumei Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, 256603, Shandong, China
| | - Dahui Wang
- Liangshan College (Li Shui) China, Lishui University, Lishui, 323000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Wei Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China.
- National Experimental Demonstration Center for Basic Medicine Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Xiaoying Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221004, Jiangsu, China.
- National Experimental Demonstration Center for Basic Medicine Education, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Vargová M, Revajová V, Lauková A, Hurníková Z, Dvorožňáková E. Modulatory Effect of Beneficial Enterococci and Their Enterocins on the Blood Phagocytes in Murine Experimental Trichinellosis. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1930. [PMID: 37763333 PMCID: PMC10532878 DOI: 10.3390/life13091930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriocins (enterocins) represent a new therapeutic strategy in various intestinal and non-intestinal infections. In antiparasitic defence, an oxidative inflammation of phagocytes is effective in destroying new-born Trichinella spiralis larvae. The strains Enterococcus faecium CCM8558 and E. durans ED26E/7 and their enterocins, enterocin M and a durancin-like enterocin, respectively, were administered daily, and mice were then infected with T. spiralis larvae on the seventh day of treatment. Phagotest and Bursttest kits were used to detect the phagocytosis and respiratory burst in blood leukocytes. T. spiralis infection inhibited phagocytosis from day 11 post-infection (dpi) during the migration of new-born larvae into the muscles. E. faecium CCM8558, E. durans ED26E/7, and the durancin-like enterocin increased phagocytic activity from day 11 dpi. Both strains and their enterocins (enterocin M and durancin-like) stimulated the ingestion capability of phagocytes from 18 to 32 dpi. Enterococci/enterocins therapy prevented a reduction in cells with respiratory burst caused by T. spiralis infection from 11 dpi. The enzymatic activity of phagocytes was stimulated on 18 and 25 dpi, particularly by E. faecium CCM8558 and enterocin M. Enterocin M and the durancin-like enterocin were as effective in stimulating phagocytosis as the bacterial strains that produce them. The stimulation of phagocytosis could contribute to decreased larval migration and reduced parasite burden in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Vargová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (M.V.); (Z.H.)
| | - Viera Revajová
- Department of Morphological Disciplines, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, 04181 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Andrea Lauková
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia;
| | - Zuzana Hurníková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (M.V.); (Z.H.)
| | - Emília Dvorožňáková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; (M.V.); (Z.H.)
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