1
|
Caridi TL, Mariño-Polo F, Farra CG, Mingus AM, Memon A, Grijalva MJ, Bates BR. Health literacy & Chagas disease knowledge: A cross-sectional study in Southern Loja Province, Ecuador. PEC INNOVATION 2024; 4:100287. [PMID: 38799258 PMCID: PMC11126796 DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2024.100287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Objective Health literacy is associated with many patient outcomes. This study sought to determine the association between a person's level of health literacy and their knowledge about Chagas disease. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted with people living in two counties in rural Loja Province, Ecuador who attended a mobile health clinic. The communities in which the study was conducted are at high risk of Chagas disease and have limited access to both health care and educational resources. The Spanish version of Short Assessment for Health Literacy measured health literacy. The Chagas Disease Knowledge questionnaire measured knowledge of Chagas disease. T-tests and correlational analysis were used to assess associations. Results Overall 85 people participated in this study. A majority of the respondents were female (64.1%), and a plurality were married (40.7%) and had education less than secondary (40.7%). The average age of the sample was 44.31 ± 18.85. Health literacy levels and Chagas disease knowledge in the communities were low. About half of people had inadequate health literacy. No association between health literacy and Chagas knowledge was found. Conclusion Health literacy levels and Chagas disease knowledge were not found to be correlated. Explanations for the lack of association may include common causes of inadequate investment in Chagas disease education as well as neglect of health systems in rural Ecuador. Efforts to improve both health literacy and Chagas disease knowledge in poorer, rural areas of Ecuador are needed. Innovation This is the first study to assess relationships between health literacy and knowledge of Chagas disease in an uninfected population. For novel conditions, relationships between health literacy and disease knowledge should be investigated before communication campaigns are adapted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Talia L. Caridi
- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, 6775 Bobcat Way Dublin, Ohio 43016, Dublin, OH, USA
| | - Fernanda Mariño-Polo
- Facultad de Medicina, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octubre 1076, Quito 170143, Ecuador
| | - Cora G. Farra
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Bentley Annex 162, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Alison M. Mingus
- Honors Tutorial College, Ohio University, 35 Park Place, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Athar Memon
- School of Communication Studies, Ohio University, 418 Schoonover Center for Communication, 20 East Union Street, Athens, OH, USA
| | - Mario J. Grijalva
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, 191 West Union Street, Athens, OH, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Department, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Irvine Hall 112, Athens, OH, USA
- Center for Research on Health in Latin America, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Calle San Pedro y Pambacienda, Quito 170530, Ecuador
| | - Benjamin R. Bates
- School of Communication Studies, Ohio University, 418 Schoonover Center for Communication, 20 East Union Street, Athens, OH, USA
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, 191 West Union Street, Athens, OH, USA
- Center for Research on Health in Latin America, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Calle San Pedro y Pambacienda, Quito 170530, Ecuador
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mendes IC, Dos Reis Bertoldo W, Miranda-Junior AS, Assis AVD, Repolês BM, Ferreira WRR, Chame DF, Souza DDL, Pavani RS, Macedo AM, Franco GR, Serra E, Perdomo V, Menck CFM, da Silva Leandro G, Fragoso SP, Barbosa Elias MCQ, Machado CR. DNA lesions that block transcription induce the death of Trypanosoma cruzi via ATR activation, which is dependent on the presence of R-loops. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 141:103726. [PMID: 39096697 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103726] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease and a peculiar eukaryote with unique biological characteristics. DNA damage can block RNA polymerase, activating transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER), a DNA repair pathway specialized in lesions that compromise transcription. If transcriptional stress is unresolved, arrested RNA polymerase can activate programmed cell death. Nonetheless, how this parasite modulates these processes is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that T. cruzi cell death after UV irradiation, a genotoxic agent that generates lesions resolved by TC-NER, depends on active transcription and is signaled mainly by an apoptotic-like pathway. Pre-treated parasites with α-amanitin, a selective RNA polymerase II inhibitor, become resistant to such cell death. Similarly, the gamma pre-irradiated cells are more resistant to UV when the transcription processes are absent. The Cockayne Syndrome B protein (CSB) recognizes blocked RNA polymerase and can initiate TC-NER. Curiously, CSB overexpression increases parasites' cell death shortly after UV exposure. On the other hand, at the same time after irradiation, the single-knockout CSB cells show resistance to the same treatment. UV-induced fast death is signalized by the exposition of phosphatidylserine to the outer layer of the membrane, indicating a cell death mainly by an apoptotic-like pathway. Furthermore, such death is suppressed in WT parasites pre-treated with inhibitors of ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR), a key DDR kinase. Signaling for UV radiation death may be related to R-loops since the overexpression of genes associated with the resolution of these structures suppress it. Together, results suggest that transcription blockage triggered by UV radiation activates an ATR-dependent apoptosis-like mechanism in T. cruzi, with the participation of CSB protein in this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Cecilia Mendes
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Willian Dos Reis Bertoldo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Adalberto Sales Miranda-Junior
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Antônio Vinícius de Assis
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Bruno Marçal Repolês
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Wesley Roger Rodrigues Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Daniela Ferreira Chame
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Daniela De Laet Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Raphael Souza Pavani
- Laboratório Especial de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, MG, São Paulo, SP 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Andrea Mara Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Glória Regina Franco
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil
| | - Esteban Serra
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, CONICET, 2000 Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 2000 Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Virginia Perdomo
- Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 2000 Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Carlos Frederico Martins Menck
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Giovana da Silva Leandro
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | | | | | - Carlos Renato Machado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 30161-970, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dai X, Wu X, Jiang J, Rong L. Modeling the impact of non-human host predation on the transmission of Chagas disease. Math Biosci 2024; 374:109230. [PMID: 38851529 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2024.109230] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
In addition to the traditional transmission route via the biting-and-defecating process, non-human host predation of triatomines is recognized as another significant avenue for Chagas disease transmission. In this paper, we develop an eco-epidemiological model to investigate the impact of predation on the disease's spread. Two critical thresholds, Rvp (the basic reproduction number of triatomines) and R0p (the basic reproduction number of the Chagas parasite), are derived to delineate the model's dynamics. Through the construction of appropriate Lyapunov functions and the application of the Bendixson-Dulac theorem, the global asymptotic stabilities of the equilibria are fully established. The vector-free equilibrium E0 is globally stable when Rvp<1. E1, the disease-free equilibrium, is globally stable when Rvp>1 and R0p<1, while the endemic equilibrium E∗ is globally stable when both Rvp>1 and R0p>1. Numerical simulations highlight that the degree of host predation on triatomines, influenced by non-human hosts activities, can variably increase or decrease the Chagas disease transmission risk. Specifically, low or high levels of host predation can reduce R0p to below unity, while intermediate levels may increase the infected host populations, albeit with a reduction in R0p. These findings highlight the role played by non-human hosts and offer crucial insights for the prevention and control of Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Dai
- School of Science, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, 201306, PR China
| | - Xiaotian Wu
- School of Science, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, 201306, PR China.
| | - Jiao Jiang
- School of Science, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, 201306, PR China
| | - Libin Rong
- Department of Mathematics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ungogo MA, de Koning HP. Drug resistance in animal trypanosomiases: Epidemiology, mechanisms and control strategies. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 25:100533. [PMID: 38555795 PMCID: PMC10990905 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Animal trypanosomiasis (AT) is a complex of veterinary diseases known under various names such as nagana, surra, dourine and mal de caderas, depending on the country, the infecting trypanosome species and the host. AT is caused by parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, and the main species infecting domesticated animals are T. brucei brucei, T. b. rhodesiense, T. congolense, T. simiae, T. vivax, T. evansi and T. equiperdum. AT transmission, again depending on species, is through tsetse flies or common Stomoxys and tabanid flies or through copulation. Therefore, the geographical spread of all forms of AT together is not restricted to the habitat of a single vector like the tsetse fly and currently includes almost all of Africa, and most of South America and Asia. The disease is a threat to millions of companion and farm animals in these regions, creating a financial burden in the billions of dollars to developing economies as well as serious impacts on livestock rearing and food production. Despite the scale of these impacts, control of AT is neglected and under-resourced, with diagnosis and treatments being woefully inadequate and not improving for decades. As a result, neither the incidence of the disease, nor the effectiveness of treatment is documented in most endemic countries, although it is clear that there are serious issues of resistance to the few old drugs that are available. In this review we particularly look at the drugs, their application to the various forms of AT, and their mechanisms of action and resistance. We also discuss the spread of veterinary trypanocide resistance and its drivers, and highlight current and future strategies to combat it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marzuq A Ungogo
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Harry P de Koning
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Resende CAA, Ribeiro AJ, Gandra IB, Silva KA, Lopes LDS, Barcelos ICDS, Couto CAP, de Faria MT, Pereira SP, Xavier SR, Machado JM, da Paz MC, Chaves AT, Coelho EAF, Giunchetti RC, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Dutra WO, Gonçalves AAM, Galdino AS. Recombinant proteins as promising antigens applied to the immunodiagnosis of Chagas disease: a scoping review. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1420226. [PMID: 39139374 PMCID: PMC11319188 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1420226] [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: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important public health problem, occurring mainly in Latin America. The disease has a major social and economical effect, negatively impacting the life of the infected individuals, and bringing great costs to public health. An early and accurate diagnosis is essential for administration of early treatment. In addition, prognostic tests may aid disease management, decreasing hospitalization costs. However, the serological diagnostic scenario for CD still faces several challenges, making the development of new diagnostic kits a pressing matter. Facing this scenario, several researchers have expanded efforts in developing and testing new antigens, such as recombinant proteins and recombinant multiepitope proteins, with promising results. These recombinant antigens offer several advantages, such as improved sensitivity and specificity, in addition to facilitated scaling. Also, it has been possible to observe a rising number of studies using ELISA and point-of-care platforms, employing these antigens in the past few years. Among them, recombinant proteins were the most applied antigens, demonstrating great capacity to discriminate between positive and negative samples. Although fewer in number, recombinant multiepitope proteins also demonstrated an improved diagnostic performance. Indeed, a great number of studies employing these antigens showed sensitivity and specificity values above 90%, greatly impacting diagnostic accuracy. Nevertheless, despite the good results found, it is still possible to observe some bottlenecks in the development of new antigens, such as the scarcity of tests with sera from the acute phase and the variability of results in different geographic areas. In this sense, aiming to contribute to control and health programs, the continuous search for a more accurate serological diagnosis is essential, both for the acute and chronic phases of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ananias Aparecido Resende
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Anna Júlia Ribeiro
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Isadora Braga Gandra
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Kamila Alves Silva
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Lucas da Silva Lopes
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Isabelle Caroline dos Santos Barcelos
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Carolina Alves Petit Couto
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Mariana Teixeira de Faria
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Paula Pereira
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Sandra Rodrigues Xavier
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Juliana Martins Machado
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Mariana Campos da Paz
- Laboratory of Bioactives and Nanobiotechnology, Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Ana Thereza Chaves
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Antônio Ferraz Coelho
- Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Department of Morphology, National Institute of Science and Technology on Tropical Diseases (INCT-T), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Miguel Angel Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Walderez Ornelas Dutra
- Laboratory of Biology of Cell Interactions, Department of Morphology, National Institute of Science and Technology on Tropical Diseases (INCT-T), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Alice Maia Gonçalves
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| | - Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino
- Microorganism Biotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Science and Technology on Industrial Biotechnology (INCT-BI), Federal University of São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Proaño-Bolaños C, Morán-Marcillo G, Espinosa de Los Monteros-Silva N, Bermúdez-Puga S, Salazar MA, Blasco-Zúñiga A, Cuesta S, Molina C, Espinosa F, Meneses L, Rojas-Silva P, Zapata Mena S, Sáenz FE, Rivera I M, Costales JA. Bioactivity of synthetic peptides from Ecuadorian frog skin secretions against Leishmania mexicana, Plasmodium falciparum, and Trypanosoma cruzi. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0333923. [PMID: 39012112 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03339-23] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and malaria are major parasitic diseases disproportionately affecting the underprivileged population in developing nations. Finding new, alternative anti-parasitic compounds to treat these diseases is crucial because of the limited number of options currently available, the side effects they cause, the need for long treatment courses, and the emergence of drug-resistant parasites. Anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) derived from amphibian skin secretions are small bioactive molecules capable of lysing the cell membrane of pathogens while having low toxicity against human cells. Here, we report the anti-parasitic activity of five AMPs derived from skin secretions of three Ecuadorian frogs: cruzioseptin-1, cruzioseptin-4 (CZS-4), and cruzioseptin-16 from Cruziohyla calcarifer; dermaseptin-SP2 from Agalychnis spurrelli; and pictuseptin-1 from Boana picturata. These five AMPs were chemically synthesized. Initially, the hemolytic activity of CZS-4 and its minimal inhibitory concentration against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans were determined. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity of the synthetic AMPs against mammalian cells and their anti-parasitic activity against Leishmania mexicana promastigotes, erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum and mammalian stages of Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated in vitro. The five AMPs displayed activity against the pathogens studied, with different levels of cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. In silico molecular docking analysis suggests this bioactivity may occur via pore formation in the plasma membrane, resulting in microbial lysis. CZS-4 displayed anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic activities with low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Further studies about this promising AMP are required to gain a better understanding of its activity.IMPORTANCEChagas disease, malaria, and leishmaniasis are major tropical diseases that cause extensive morbidity and mortality, for which available treatment options are unsatisfactory because of limited efficacy and side effects. Frog skin secretions contain molecules with anti-microbial properties known as anti-microbial peptides. We synthesized five peptides derived from the skin secretions of different species of tropical frogs and tested them against cultures of the causative agents of these three diseases, parasites known as Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania mexicana. All the different synthetic peptides studied showed activity against one of more of the parasites. Peptide cruzioseptin-4 is of special interest since it displayed intense activity against parasites while being innocuous against cultured mammalian cells, which indicates it does not simply hold general toxic properties; rather, its activity is specific against the parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Proaño-Bolaños
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Giovanna Morán-Marcillo
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador
| | | | - Sebastián Bermúdez-Puga
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador
- Department of Biochemical-Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mateo A Salazar
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Citogenética y Biomoléculas de Anfibios (LICBA), Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Ailín Blasco-Zúñiga
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Citogenética y Biomoléculas de Anfibios (LICBA), Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sebastián Cuesta
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Carolina Molina
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Franklin Espinosa
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lorena Meneses
- Laboratorio de Química Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Patricio Rojas-Silva
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sonia Zapata Mena
- Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Fabián E Sáenz
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Miryan Rivera I
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Citogenética y Biomoléculas de Anfibios (LICBA), Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina (CISeAL), Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jaime A Costales
- Centro de Investigación para la Salud en América Latina, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fontes ND, Habib FL, Leony LM, Freitas NEM, Silva ÂAO, Dantas-Torres F, da Silva Sales KG, da Câmara ACJ, de Araújo-Neto VT, Amorim LDAF, Celedon PAF, Zanchin NIT, Santos FLN. Evaluation of chimeric recombinant antigens for the serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs: a promising tool for Chagas disease surveillance. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:305. [PMID: 39010122 PMCID: PMC11251128 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06376-5] [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: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease (CD), a neglected parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, poses a significant health threat in Latin America and has emerged globally because of human migration. Trypanosoma cruzi infects humans and over 100 other mammalian species, including dogs, which are important sentinels for assessing the risk of human infection. Nonetheless, the serodiagnosis of T. cruzi in dogs is still impaired by the absence of commercial tests. In this study, we investigated the diagnostic accuracy of four chimeric recombinant T. cruzi IBMP antigens (IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.4) for detecting anti-T. cruzi antibodies in dogs, using latent class analysis (LCA). METHODS We examined 663 canine serum samples, employing indirect ELISA with the chimeric antigens. LCA was utilized to establish a latent variable as a gold standard for T. cruzi infection, revealing distinct response patterns for each antigen. RESULTS The IBMP (Portuguese acronym for the Molecular Biology Institute of Paraná) antigens achieved area under the ROC curve (AUC) values ranging from 90.9% to 97.3%. The highest sensitivity was attributed to IBMP-8.2 (89.8%), while IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.4 achieved 73.5%, 79.6%, and 85.7%, respectively. The highest specificity was observed for IBMP-8.4 (98.6%), followed by IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.1 with specificities of 98.3%, 94.4%, and 92.7%, respectively. Predictive values varied according to prevalence, indicating higher effectiveness in endemic settings. CONCLUSIONS Our findings underscore the remarkable diagnostic performance of IBMP-8.2 and IBMP-8.4 for the serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs, representing a promising tool for the diagnosis of CD in dogs. These chimeric recombinant antigens may not only enhance CD surveillance strategies but also hold broader implications for public health, contributing to the global fight against this neglected tropical disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natália Dantas Fontes
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Lopes Habib
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Maia Leony
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
- Interdisciplinary Research Group in Biotechnology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (GRUPIBE), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-BA), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Natália Erdens Maron Freitas
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
- Interdisciplinary Research Group in Biotechnology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (GRUPIBE), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-BA), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Ângelo Antônio Oliveira Silva
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
- Interdisciplinary Research Group in Biotechnology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (GRUPIBE), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-BA), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, Brazil
| | - Kamila Gaudêncio da Silva Sales
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, Brazil
| | - Antônia Cláudia Jácome da Câmara
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Nilson Ivo Tonin Zanchin
- Laboratory of Structural Biology & Protein Engineering, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Curitiba, Brazil
- Integrated Translational Program in Chagas disease from Fiocruz - Fio-Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fred Luciano Neves Santos
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil.
- Interdisciplinary Research Group in Biotechnology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (GRUPIBE), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ-BA), Salvador, Brazil.
- Integrated Translational Program in Chagas disease from Fiocruz - Fio-Chagas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Budel ML, Alegretti AP, Prado NP, Machado FP, Bauer AC, Manfro RC. Outcomes of kidney transplant recipients exposed to Chagas disease under Benznidazole prophylaxis. A single center 10-year experience. Transpl Infect Dis 2024:e14336. [PMID: 38980983 DOI: 10.1111/tid.14336] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease (ChD) is endemic in many parts of the world and can be transmitted through organ transplantation or reactivated by immunosuppression. Organs from infected donors are occasionally used for transplantation, and the best way of managing the recipients remains a subject of debate. METHODS We present a single-center cohort study describing a 10-year experience of kidney transplantation in patients at risk of donor-derived ChD and or reactivation. Patients received prophylactic treatment with Benznidazole and were monitored for transmission or reactivation. Monitoring included assessing direct parasitemia, serology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS Fifty-seven kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) were enrolled in the study. Forty-four patients (77.2%) were at risk of primary ChD infection, nine patients (15.8%) were at risk of disease reactivation, and four patients (7.0%) were at risk of both. All patients received Benznidazole prophylaxis, starting on the first day after transplantation. Parasitemia was assessed in 51 patients (89.5%), serology also in 51 patients (89.5%), and PCR in 40 patients (70.2%). None of the patients exhibited clinically or laboratory-detectable signs of disease. A single patient experienced a significant side effect, a cutaneous rash with intense pruritus. At 1-year post-transplantation, the patient and graft survival rates were 96.5% and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSION In this study, no donor-derived or reactivation of Trypanosoma cruzi infection occurred in KTRs receiving Benznidazole prophylaxis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Budel
- Division of Nephrology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Ana P Alegretti
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Natália P Prado
- Division of Nephrology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fabiani P Machado
- Division of Nephrology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Andrea C Bauer
- Division of Nephrology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Division of Transplantation, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Division of Medical College, Medical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Roberto C Manfro
- Division of Nephrology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Division of Transplantation, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Division of Medical College, Medical School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Silva TA, Thomas D, Siqueira-Neto JL, Calvet CM. Pirfenidone Prevents Heart Fibrosis during Chronic Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7302. [PMID: 39000409 PMCID: PMC11242150 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137302] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a severe outcome of Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Clinical evidence revealed a correlation between fibrosis levels with impaired cardiac performance in CD patients. Therefore, we sought to analyze the effect of inhibitors of TGF-β (pirfenidone), p38-MAPK (losmapimod) and c-Jun (SP600125) on the modulation of collagen deposition in cardiac fibroblasts (CF) and in vivo models of T. cruzi chronic infection. Sirius Red/Fast Green dye was used to quantify both collagen expression and total protein amount, assessing cytotoxicity. The compounds were also used to treat C57/Bl6 mice chronically infected with T. cruzi, Brazil strain. We identified an anti-fibrotic effect in vitro for pirfenidone (TGF-β inhibitor, IC50 114.3 μM), losmapimod (p38 inhibitor, IC50 17.6 μM) and SP600125 (c-Jun inhibitor, IC50 3.9 μM). This effect was independent of CF proliferation since these compounds do not affect T. cruzi-induced host cell multiplication as measured by BrdU incorporation. Assays of chronic infection of mice with T. cruzi have shown a reduction in heart collagen by pirfenidone. These results propose a novel approach to fibrosis therapy in CD, with the prospect of repurposing pirfenidone to prevent the onset of ECM accumulation in the hearts of the patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Araújo Silva
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil;
| | - Diane Thomas
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (D.T.); (J.L.S.-N.)
| | - Jair L. Siqueira-Neto
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (D.T.); (J.L.S.-N.)
| | - Claudia Magalhaes Calvet
- Cellular Ultrastructure Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Cecere MC, Gaspe MS, Macchiaverna NP, Enriquez GF, Alvedro A, Laiño MA, Alvarado-Otegui JA, Cardinal MV, Gürtler RE. Slow recovery rates and spatial aggregation of Triatoma infestans populations in an area with high pyrethroid resistance in the Argentine Chaco. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:287. [PMID: 38956689 PMCID: PMC11220979 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06366-7] [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: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of pyrethroid resistance has threatened the elimination of Triatoma infestans from the Gran Chaco ecoregion. We investigated the status and spatial distribution of house infestation with T. infestans and its main determinants in Castelli, a municipality of the Argentine Chaco with record levels of triatomine pyrethroid resistance, persistent infestation over 2005-2014, and limited or no control actions over 2015-2020. METHODS We conducted a 2-year longitudinal survey to assess triatomine infestation by timed manual searches in a well-defined rural section of Castelli including 14 villages and 234 inhabited houses in 2018 (baseline) and 2020, collected housing and sociodemographic data by on-site inspection and a tailored questionnaire, and synthetized these data into three indices generated by multiple correspondence analysis. RESULTS The overall prevalence of house infestation in 2018 (33.8%) and 2020 (31.6%) virtually matched the historical estimates for the period 2005-2014 (33.7%) under recurrent pyrethroid sprays. While mean peridomestic infestation remained the same (26.4-26.7%) between 2018 and 2020, domestic infestation slightly decreased from 12.2 to 8.3%. Key triatomine habitats were storerooms, domiciles, kitchens, and structures occupied by chickens. Local spatial analysis showed significant aggregation of infestation and bug abundance in five villages, four of which had very high pyrethroid resistance approximately over 2010-2013, suggesting persistent infestations over space-time. House bug abundance within the hotspots consistently exceeded the estimates recorded in other villages. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the presence and relative abundance of T. infestans in domiciles were strongly and negatively associated with indices for household preventive practices (pesticide use) and housing quality. Questionnaire-derived information showed extensive use of pyrethroids associated with livestock raising and concomitant spillover treatment of dogs and (peri) domestic premises. CONCLUSIONS Triatoma infestans populations in an area with high pyrethroid resistance showed slow recovery and propagation rates despite limited or marginal control actions over a 5-year period. Consistent with these patterns, independent experiments confirmed the lower fitness of pyrethroid-resistant triatomines in Castelli compared with susceptible conspecifics. Targeting hotspots and pyrethroid-resistant foci with appropriate house modification measures and judicious application of alternative insecticides with adequate toxicity profiles are needed to suppress resistant triatomine populations and prevent their eventual regional spread.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Carla Cecere
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - María Sol Gaspe
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Paula Macchiaverna
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Fabián Enriquez
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Alvedro
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Julián Antonio Alvarado-Otegui
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marta Victoria Cardinal
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Esteban Gürtler
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dantas RO. INFLUENCE OF ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY IMPAIRMENT ON UPPER AND LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER PRESSURE IN CHAGAS DISEASE. ARQUIVOS DE GASTROENTEROLOGIA 2024; 61:e23174. [PMID: 38896574 DOI: 10.1590/s0004-2803.24612023-174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease causes digestive anatomic and functional changes, including the loss of the myenteric plexus and abnormal esophageal radiologic and manometric findings. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of abnormal esophageal radiologic findings, cardiac changes, distal esophageal contractions, and complaints of dysphagia and constipation in upper (UES) and lower (LES) esophageal sphincter basal pressure in Chagas disease patients. METHODS The study evaluated 99 patients with Chagas disease and 40 asymptomatic normal volunteers. The patients had normal esophageal radiologic examination (n=61) or esophageal retention without an increase in esophageal diameter (n=38). UES and LES pressure was measured with the rapid pull-through method in a 4-channel water-perfused round catheter. Before manometry, the patients were asked about dysphagia and constipation and submitted to electrocardiography and chest radiography. RESULTS The amplitude of esophageal distal contraction decreased from controls to chagasic patients with esophageal retention. The proportion of failed and simultaneous contractions increased in patients with abnormal radiologic examination (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in UES and LES pressure between the groups. UES pressure was similar between Chagas disease patients with cardiomegaly (n=27, 126.5±62.7 mmHg) and those without it (n=72, 144.2±51.6 mmHg, P=0.26). Patients with constipation had lower LES pressure (n=23, 34.7±20.3 mmHg) than those without it (n=76, 42.9±20.5 mmHg, P<0.03). CONCLUSION Chagas disease patients with absent or mild esophageal radiologic involvement had no significant changes in UES and LES basal pressure. Constipation complaints are associated with decreased LES basal pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Oliveira Dantas
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto SP, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Albaqami FF, Altharawi A, Althurwi HN, Alharthy KM. From proteome to candidate vaccines: target discovery and molecular dynamics-guided multi-epitope vaccine engineering against kissing bug. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1413893. [PMID: 38915396 PMCID: PMC11194308 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1413893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite that causes the tropical ailment known as Chagas disease, which has its origins in South America. Globally, it has a major impact on health and is transported by insect vector that serves as a parasite. Given the scarcity of vaccines and the limited treatment choices, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of core proteomics to explore a potential reverse vaccine candidate with high antigenicity. Methods To identify the immunodominant epitopes, T. cruzi core proteomics was initially explored. Consequently, the vaccine sequence was engineered to possess characteristics of non-allergenicity, antigenicity, immunogenicity, and enhanced solubility. After modeling the tertiary structure of the human TLR4 receptor, the binding affinities were assessed employing molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). Results Docking of the final vaccine design with TLR4 receptors revealed substantial hydrogen bond interactions. A server-based methodology for immunological simulation was developed to forecast the effectiveness against antibodies (IgM + IgG) and interferons (IFN-g). The MDS analysis revealed notable levels of structural compactness and binding stability with average RMSD of 5.03 Aring;, beta-factor 1.09e+5 Å, Rg is 44.7 Aring; and RMSF of 49.50 Aring;. This is followed by binding free energies calculation. The system stability was compromised by the complexes, as evidenced by their corresponding Gibbs free energies of -54.6 kcal/mol. Discussion Subtractive proteomics approach was applied to determine the antigenic regions of the T cruzi. Our study utilized computational techniques to identify B- and T-cell epitopes in the T. cruzi core proteome. In current study the developed vaccine candidate exhibits immunodominant features. Our findings suggest that formulating a vaccine targeting the causative agent of Chagas disease should be the initial step in its development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faisal F. Albaqami
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Altharawi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan N. Althurwi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid M. Alharthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ochoa-Diaz MM, Orozco-Garcia D, Fernandez-Vasquez RS, Eyes-Escalante M. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Chagas a Neglected Tropical Disease in Rural Communities of the Colombian Caribbean, CHAGCOV Study. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:1148-1156. [PMID: 38592371 PMCID: PMC11182857 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00833-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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Chagas disease (CD) a Neglected Tropical Diseases is an important public health issue in countries where is still endemic, included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Traditionally restricted to rural areas with diverse routes of transmissions from vectorial to oral with acute manifestations but being more common diagnosed in chronic stages. The aim of this investigation was to characterize the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to Chagas disease (CD) in two rural settlements of the Colombian Caribbean with previous records of the disease and/or the parasite. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive study was made in two rural settlements in Colombia and surveillance instrument was developed to measure Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) related to Chagas disease (CD). RESULTS In a population with > 60% women and access to social security around 66.5%; 81,6% were homeowners with access to water and electricity > 90% but only 9% of sewerage. The level of knowledge about CD was around 62% but lack of specificity about comprehension of transmission routes (74,6%), and symptoms (85,3%) were found; concluding that 86% of the surveyed sample had very poor level of knowledge about the disease despite preventive campaigns carried out in the two communities studied. CONCLUSIONS Despite of a low frequency of CD in this Caribbean areas, the presence of vector, risk factors plus poor level of knowledge about the disease justify that public health intervention strategies should be implemented and monitored over time to maintain uninterrupted surveillance of Chagas Disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita M Ochoa-Diaz
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Sinú Seccional Cartagena, 130001, Cartagena, Colombia.
- Research Group GIBACUS, Tropical Medicine, Cartagena, Colombia.
| | - Daniela Orozco-Garcia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Sinú Seccional Cartagena, 130001, Cartagena, Colombia
- Research Group GIBACUS, Tropical Medicine, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Ronald S Fernandez-Vasquez
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Sinú Seccional Cartagena, 130001, Cartagena, Colombia
- Research Group GIBACUS, Tropical Medicine, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Melisa Eyes-Escalante
- School of Biology, Tropical Medicine Doctorate, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla, Colombia
- Research Group Biodiversidad del Caribe Colombiano, Barranquilla, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Aldfer MM, Hulpia F, van Calenbergh S, De Koning HP. Mapping the transporter-substrate interactions of the Trypanosoma cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter reveals the basis for its high affinity and selectivity for hypoxanthine and guanine and lack of nucleoside uptake. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 258:111616. [PMID: 38401850 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111616] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite and the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that continues to spread to new areas. Yet, Chagas disease is still only treated with two related nitro compounds that are insufficiently effective and cause severe side effects. Nucleotide metabolism is one of the known vulnerabilities of T. cruzi, as they are auxotrophic for purines, and nucleoside analogues have been shown to have genuine promise against this parasite in vitro and in vivo. Since purine antimetabolites require efficient uptake through transporters, we here report a detailed characterisation of the T. cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter with the aim of elucidating the interactions between TcrNB1 and its substrates and finding the positions that can be altered in the design of novel antimetabolites without losing transportability. Systematically determining the inhibition constants (Ki) of purine analogues for TcrNB1 yielded their Gibbs free energy of interaction, ΔG0. Pairwise comparisons of substrate (hypoxanthine, guanine, adenine) and analogues allowed us to determine that optimal binding affinity by TcrNB1 requires interactions with all four nitrogen residues of the purine ring, with N1 and N9, in protonation state, functioning as presumed hydrogen bond donors and unprotonated N3 and N7 as hydrogen bond acceptors. This is the same interaction pattern as we previously described for the main nucleobase transporters of Trypanosoma brucei spp. and Leishmania major and makes it the first of the ENT-family genes that is functionally as well as genetically conserved between the three main kinetoplast pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M Aldfer
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK
| | - Fabian Hulpia
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Serge van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Harry P De Koning
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Barbosa JMC, Pedra-Rezende Y, Mata-Santos HA, Vilar-Pereira G, Melo TGD, Ramos IP, Gibaldi D, Moreira OC, Nunes DF, Batista MM, Lannes-Vieira J, Daliry A, Salomão K. Preclinical evaluation of combined therapy with amiodarone and low-dose benznidazole in a mouse model of chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116742. [PMID: 38754265 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116742] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagasic chronic cardiomyopathy (CCC) is the primary clinical manifestation of Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Current therapeutic options for CD are limited to benznidazole (Bz) and nifurtimox. Amiodarone (AMD) has emerged as most effective drug for treating the arrhythmic form of CCC. To address the effects of Bz and AMD we used a preclinical model of CCC. Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with T. cruzi and subjected to oral treatment for 30 consecutive days, either as monotherapy or in combination. AMD in monotherapy decreased the prolonged QTc interval, the incidence of atrioventricular conduction disorders and cardiac hypertrophy. However, AMD monotherapy did not impact parasitemia, parasite load, TNF concentration and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiac tissue. Alike Bz therapy, the combination of Bz and AMD (Bz/AMD), improved cardiac electric abnormalities detected T. cruzi-infected mice such as decrease in heart rates, enlargement of PR and QTc intervals and increased incidence of atrioventricular block and sinus arrhythmia. Further, Bz/AMD therapy ameliorated the ventricular function and reduced parasite burden in the cardiac tissue and parasitemia to a degree comparable to Bz monotherapy. Importantly, Bz/AMD treatment efficiently reduced TNF concentration in the cardiac tissue and plasma and had beneficial effects on immunological abnormalities. Moreover, in the cardiac tissue Bz/AMD therapy reduced fibronectin and collagen deposition, mitochondrial damage and production of ROS, and improved sarcomeric and gap junction integrity. Our study underlines the potential of the Bz/AMD therapy, as we have shown that combination increased efficacy in the treatment of CCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Magalhães Chaves Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Fisiopatologia Clínica e Experimental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yasmin Pedra-Rezende
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Hílton Antônio Mata-Santos
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratório de Análise e Desenvolvimento de Inibidores Enzimáticos e Laboratório Multiusuário de Análises por RMN, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Vilar-Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Galvão de Melo
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Isalira Peroba Ramos
- Centro Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniel Gibaldi
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio C Moreira
- Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela Ferreira Nunes
- Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Meuser Batista
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseli Lannes-Vieira
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Anissa Daliry
- Laboratório de Fisiopatologia Clínica e Experimental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kelly Salomão
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Torchelsen FKVDS, Mazzeti AL, Mosqueira VCF. Drugs in preclinical and early clinical development for the treatment of Chagas´s disease: the current status. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024; 33:575-590. [PMID: 38686546 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2349289] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease is spreading faster than expected in different countries, and little progress has been reported in the discovery of new drugs to combat Trypanosoma cruzi infection in humans. Recent clinical trials have ended with small hope. The pathophysiology of this neglected disease and the genetic diversity of parasites are exceptionally complex. The only two drugs available to treat patients are far from being safe, and their efficacy in the chronic phase is still unsatisfactory. AREAS COVERED This review offers a comprehensive examination and critical review of data reported in the last 10 years, and it is focused on findings of clinical trials and data acquired in vivo in preclinical studies. EXPERT OPINION The in vivo investigations classically in mice and dog models are also challenging and time-consuming to attest cure for infection. Poorly standardized protocols, availability of diagnosis methods and disease progression markers, the use of different T. cruzi strains with variable benznidazole sensitivities, and animals in different acute and chronic phases of infection contribute to it. More synchronized efforts between research groups in this field are required to put in evidence new promising substances, drug combinations, repurposing strategies, and new pharmaceutical formulations to impact the therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Karoline Vieira da Silva Torchelsen
- School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
- Post-Graduation Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Lia Mazzeti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Health, Academic Unit of Passos, University of Minas Gerais State, Passos, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Thangavel H, Dhanyalayam D, Kim M, Lizardo K, Sidrat T, Lopez JG, Wang X, Bansal S, Nagajyothi JF. Adipocyte-released adipomes in Chagas cardiomyopathy: Impact on cardiac metabolic and immune regulation. iScience 2024; 27:109672. [PMID: 38660407 PMCID: PMC11039351 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109672] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection leads to Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCM), with varying manifestations such as inflammatory hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and dilated cardiomyopathy. The factors responsible for the increasing risk of progression to CCM are not fully understood. Previous studies link adipocyte loss to CCM progression, but the mechanism triggering CCM pathogenesis remains unexplored. Our study uncovers that T. cruzi infection triggers adipocyte apoptosis, leading to the release of extracellular vesicles named "adipomes". We developed an innovative method to isolate intact adipomes from infected mice's adipose tissue and plasma, showing they carry unique lipid cargoes. Large and Small adipomes, particularly plasma-derived infection-associated L-adipomes (P-ILA), regulate immunometabolic signaling and induce cardiomyopathy. P-ILA treatment induces hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in wild-type mice and worsens cardiomyopathy severity in post-acute-infected mice by regulating adipogenic/lipogenic and mitochondrial functions. These findings highlight adipomes' pivotal role in promoting inflammation and impairing myocardial function during cardiac remodeling in CD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hariprasad Thangavel
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | - Dhanya Dhanyalayam
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | - Michelle Kim
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | - Kezia Lizardo
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | - Tabinda Sidrat
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | | | - Xiang Wang
- Rutgers University Molecular Imaging Core (RUMIC), Rutgers Translational Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Shivani Bansal
- Departnment of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jyothi F. Nagajyothi
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Tao Y, Zheng D, Zou W, Guo T, Liao G, Zhou W. Targeting the cysteine biosynthesis pathway in microorganisms: Mechanism, structure, and drug discovery. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116461. [PMID: 38691891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116461] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Owing to the global health crisis of resistant pathogenic infections, researchers are emphasizing the importance of novel prevention and control strategies. Existing antimicrobial drugs predominantly target a few pathways, and their widespread use has pervasively increased drug resistance. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new antimicrobial drugs with novel targets and chemical structures. The de novo cysteine biosynthesis pathway, one of the microbial metabolic pathways, plays a crucial role in pathogenicity and drug resistance. This pathway notably differs from that in humans, thereby representing an unexplored target for developing antimicrobial drugs. Herein, we have presented an overview of cysteine biosynthesis pathways and their roles in the pathogenicity of various microorganisms. Additionally, we have investigated the structure and function of enzymes involved in these pathways as well as have discussed drug design strategies and structure-activity relationships of the enzyme inhibitors. This review provides valuable insights for developing novel antimicrobials and offers new avenues to combat drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Dandan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Wei Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Guojian Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| | - Wei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ribeiro AJ, Silva KA, Lopes LDS, Resende CAA, Couto CAP, Gandra IB, Pereira IAG, Barcelos ICDS, Pereira SP, Xavier SR, Tavares GDSV, Machado JM, Da Paz MC, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Coelho EAF, Giunchetti RC, Chaves AT, Dutra WO, Gonçalves AAM, Galdino AS. The use of peptides for immunodiagnosis of human Chagas disease. Amino Acids 2024; 56:35. [PMID: 38698213 PMCID: PMC11065921 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-024-03394-6] [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: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, continues to be a serious public health problem in Latin America, worsened by the limitations in its detection. Given the importance of developing new diagnostic methods for this disease, the present review aimed to verify the number of publications dedicated to research on peptides that demonstrate their usefulness in serodiagnosis. To this end, a bibliographic survey was conducted on the PubMed platform using the keyword "peptide" or "epitope" combined with "Chagas disease" or "Trypanosoma cruzi"; "diagno*" or "serodiagnosis" or "immunodiagnosis", without period restriction. An increasing number of publications on studies employing peptides in ELISA and rapid tests assays was verified, which confirms the expansion of research in this field. It is possible to observe that many of the peptides tested so far originate from proteins widely used in the diagnosis of Chagas, and many of them are part of commercial tests developed. In this sense, as expected, promising results were obtained for several peptides when tested in ELISA, as many of them exhibited sensitivity and specificity values above 90%. Furthermore, some peptides have been tested in several studies, confirming their diagnostic potential. Despite the promising results observed, it is possible to emphasize the need for extensive testing of peptides, using different serological panels, in order to confirm their potential. The importance of producing an effective assay capable of detecting the clinical stages of the disease, as well as new immunogenic antigens that enable new serological diagnostic tools for Chagas disease, is evident.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Julia Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Kamila Alves Silva
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Lucas da Silva Lopes
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ananias Aparecido Resende
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Carolina Alves Petit Couto
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Isadora Braga Gandra
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Isabela Amorim Gonçalves Pereira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Isabelle Caroline Dos Santos Barcelos
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Paula Pereira
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Sandra Rodrigues Xavier
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Grasiele de Sousa Viera Tavares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Juliana Martins Machado
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Mariana Campos Da Paz
- Laboratório de Bioativos e Nanobiotecnologia, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Miguel Angel Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa, 04000, Peru
| | - Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ana Thereza Chaves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-100, Brazil
| | - Walderez Ornelas Dutra
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ana Alice Maia Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil
| | - Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Divinópolis, e Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biotecnologia Industrial (INCT-BI), Divinópolis, MG, 35501-296, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Maldonado E, Canobra P, Oyarce M, Urbina F, Miralles VJ, Tapia JC, Castillo C, Solari A. In Vitro Identification of Phosphorylation Sites on TcPolβ by Protein Kinases TcCK1, TcCK2, TcAUK1, and TcPKC1 and Effect of Phorbol Ester on Activation by TcPKC of TcPolβ in Trypanosoma cruzi Epimastigotes. Microorganisms 2024; 12:907. [PMID: 38792752 PMCID: PMC11124317 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050907] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is caused by the single-flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects several million people worldwide. Understanding the signal transduction pathways involved in this parasite's growth, adaptation, and differentiation is crucial. Understanding the basic mechanisms of signal transduction in T. cruzi could help to develop new drugs to treat the disease caused by these protozoa. In the present work, we have demonstrated that Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) can quickly increase the levels of both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of T. cruzi DNA polymerase beta (TcPolβ) in tissue-cultured trypomastigotes. The in vitro phosphorylation sites on TcPolβ by protein kinases TcCK1, TcCK2, TcAUK1, and TcPKC1 have been identified by Mass Spectrometry (MS) analysis and with antibodies against phosphor Ser-Thr-Tyr. MS analysis indicated that these protein kinases can phosphorylate Ser and Thr residues on several sites on TcPolβ. Unexpectedly, it was found that TcCK1 and TcPKC1 can phosphorylate a different Tyr residue on TcPolβ. By using a specific anti-phosphor Tyr monoclonal antibody, it was determined that TcCK1 can be in vitro autophosphorylated on Tyr residues. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) can activate the PKC to stimulate the TcPolβ phosphorylation and enzymatic activity in T. cruzi epimastigotes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edio Maldonado
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Paz Canobra
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Matías Oyarce
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Fabiola Urbina
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Vicente J. Miralles
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, 46110 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Julio C. Tapia
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| | - Christian Castillo
- Programa de Anatomía y Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile;
| | - Aldo Solari
- Programa de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (P.C.); (M.O.); (F.U.); (J.C.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Schaub GA. Interaction of Trypanosoma cruzi, Triatomines and the Microbiota of the Vectors-A Review. Microorganisms 2024; 12:855. [PMID: 38792688 PMCID: PMC11123833 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050855] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the interactions between Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, its vectors, triatomines, and the diverse intestinal microbiota of triatomines, which includes mutualistic symbionts, and highlights open questions. T. cruzi strains show great biological heterogeneity in their development and their interactions. Triatomines differ from other important vectors of diseases in their ontogeny and the enzymes used to digest blood. Many different bacteria colonize the intestinal tract of triatomines, but only Actinomycetales have been identified as mutualistic symbionts. Effects of the vector on T. cruzi are indicated by differences in the ability of T. cruzi to establish in the triatomines and in colonization peculiarities, i.e., proliferation mainly in the posterior midgut and rectum and preferential transformation into infectious metacyclic trypomastigotes in the rectum. In addition, certain forms of T. cruzi develop after feeding and during starvation of triatomines. Negative effects of T. cruzi on the triatomine vectors appear to be particularly evident when the triatomines are stressed and depend on the T. cruzi strain. Effects on the intestinal immunity of the triatomines are induced by ingested blood-stage trypomastigotes of T. cruzi and affect the populations of many non-symbiotic intestinal bacteria, but not all and not the mutualistic symbionts. After the knockdown of antimicrobial peptides, the number of non-symbiotic bacteria increases and the number of T. cruzi decreases. Presumably, in long-term infections, intestinal immunity is suppressed, which supports the growth of specific bacteria, depending on the strain of T. cruzi. These interactions may provide an approach to disrupt T. cruzi transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Günter A Schaub
- Zoology/Parasitology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Uribe-Querol E, Rosales C. Neutrophils versus Protozoan Parasites: Plasmodium, Trichomonas, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Entameoba. Microorganisms 2024; 12:827. [PMID: 38674770 PMCID: PMC11051968 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040827] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant polymorphonuclear granular leukocytes in human blood and are an essential part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are efficient cells that eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi, but their role in dealing with protozoan parasitic infections remains controversial. At sites of protozoan parasite infections, a large number of infiltrating neutrophils is observed, suggesting that neutrophils are important cells for controlling the infection. Yet, in most cases, there is also a strong inflammatory response that can provoke tissue damage. Diseases like malaria, trichomoniasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and amoebiasis affect millions of people globally. In this review, we summarize these protozoan diseases and describe the novel view on how neutrophils are involved in protection from these parasites. Also, we present recent evidence that neutrophils play a double role in these infections participating both in control of the parasite and in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Uribe-Querol
- Laboratorio de Biología del Desarrollo, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Carlos Rosales
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Santos Ferreira DA, de Castro Levatti EV, Santa Cruz LM, Costa AR, Migotto ÁE, Yamada AY, Camargo CH, Christodoulides M, Lago JHG, Tempone AG. Saturated Iso-Type Fatty Acids from the Marine Bacterium Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens with Anti-Trypanosomal Potential. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:499. [PMID: 38675459 PMCID: PMC11053438 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040499] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a Neglected Tropical Disease with limited and ineffective therapy. In a search for new anti-trypanosomal compounds, we investigated the potential of the metabolites from the bacteria living in the corals and sediments of the southeastern Brazilian coast. Three corals, Tubastraea coccinea, Mussismilia hispida, Madracis decactis, and sediments yielded 11 bacterial strains that were fully identified by MALDI-ToF/MS or gene sequencing, resulting in six genera-Vibrio, Shewanella, Mesoflavibacter, Halomonas, Bacillus, and Alteromonas. To conduct this study, EtOAc extracts were prepared and tested against Trypanosoma cruzi. The crude extracts showed IC50 values ranging from 15 to 51 μg/mL against the trypomastigotes. The bacterium Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens was selected for fractionation, resulting in an active fraction (FII) with IC50 values of 17.7 μg/mL and 23.8 μg/mL against the trypomastigotes and amastigotes, respectively, with neither mammalian cytotoxicity nor hemolytic activity. Using an NMR and ESI-HRMS analysis, the FII revealed the presence of unsaturated iso-type fatty acids. Its lethal action was investigated, leading to a protein spectral profile of the parasite altered after treatment. The FII also induced a rapid permeabilization of the plasma membrane of the parasite, leading to cell death. These findings demonstrate that these unsaturated iso-type fatty acids are possible new hits against T. cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Agnes Santos Ferreira
- Pathophysiology Laboratory, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, Sao Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.S.F.); (E.V.d.C.L.)
| | | | - Lucas Monteiro Santa Cruz
- Centre of Organic Contaminants, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 355, Sao Paulo 01246-000, SP, Brazil; (L.M.S.C.); (A.R.C.)
| | - Alan Roberto Costa
- Centre of Organic Contaminants, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 355, Sao Paulo 01246-000, SP, Brazil; (L.M.S.C.); (A.R.C.)
| | - Álvaro E. Migotto
- Centre for Marine Biology, Universidade de São Paulo, Rodovia Doutor Manoel Hipólito do Rego, km. 131,5, Pitangueiras, Sao Sebastiao 11612-109, SP, Brazil;
| | - Amanda Yaeko Yamada
- Centre of Bacteriology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351, Sao Paulo 01246-000, SP, Brazil; (A.Y.Y.); (C.H.C.)
| | - Carlos Henrique Camargo
- Centre of Bacteriology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351, Sao Paulo 01246-000, SP, Brazil; (A.Y.Y.); (C.H.C.)
| | - Myron Christodoulides
- Molecular Microbiology, School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK;
| | - João Henrique G. Lago
- Centre of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Universidade Federal do ABC, Sao Paulo 09210-580, SP, Brazil
| | - Andre Gustavo Tempone
- Pathophysiology Laboratory, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brazil, 1500, Sao Paulo 05503-900, SP, Brazil; (D.A.S.F.); (E.V.d.C.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Mancino C, Pollet J, Zinger A, Jones KM, Villar MJ, Leao AC, Adhikari R, Versteeg L, Tyagi Kundu R, Strych U, Giordano F, Hotez PJ, Bottazzi ME, Taraballi F, Poveda C. Harnessing RNA Technology to Advance Therapeutic Vaccine Antigens against Chagas Disease. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:15832-15846. [PMID: 38518375 PMCID: PMC10996878 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) (American trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is a parasitic disease endemic in 21 countries in South America, with increasing global spread. When administered late in the infection, the current antiparasitic drugs do not prevent the onset of cardiac illness leading to chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy. Therefore, new therapeutic vaccines or immunotherapies are under development using multiple platforms. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of developing an mRNA-based therapeutic CD vaccine targeting two known T. cruzi vaccine antigens (Tc24─a flagellar antigen and ASP-2─an amastigote antigen). We present the mRNA engineering steps, preparation, and stability of the lipid nanoparticles and evaluation of their uptake by dendritic cells, as well as their biodistribution in c57BL/J mice. Furthermore, we assessed the immunogenicity and efficacy of two mRNA-based candidates as monovalent and bivalent vaccine strategies using an in vivo chronic mouse model of CD. Our results show several therapeutic benefits, including reductions in parasite burdens and cardiac inflammation, with each mRNA antigen, especially with the mRNA encoding Tc24, and Tc24 in combination with ASP-2. Therefore, our findings demonstrate the potential of mRNA-based vaccines as a therapeutic option for CD and highlight the opportunities for developing multivalent vaccines using this approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mancino
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Jeroen Pollet
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Assaf Zinger
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Laboratory
for Bioinspired Nano Engineering and Translational Therapeutics, Department
of Chemical Engineering, Technion−Israel
Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
- Cardiovascular
Sciences Department, Houston Methodist Academic
Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Neurosurgery
Department, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Kathryn M. Jones
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Maria José Villar
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ana Carolina Leao
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Rakesh Adhikari
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Leroy Versteeg
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Cell Biology
and Immunology Group, Wageningen University
& Research, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Rakhi Tyagi Kundu
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Federica Giordano
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Department
of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798, United States
| | - Francesca Taraballi
- Center
for Musculoskeletal Regeneration, Houston
Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Orthopedics
and Sports Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Cristina Poveda
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
- Texas
Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Lapierre TJWJD, Farago DN, de Moura Lodi Cruz MGF, de Melo Resende D, de Oliveira ACR, Dos Santos BRM, de Oliveira Souza F, Michelan-Duarte S, Chelucci RC, Andricopulo AD, Ferreira LLG, Pilau EJ, Murta SMF, de Oliveira Rezende Júnior C. Evaluation and discovery of novel benzothiazole derivatives as promising hits against Leishmania infantum. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14525. [PMID: 38627214 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14525] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
An early exploration of the benzothiazole class against two kinetoplastid parasites, Leishmania infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi, has been performed after the identification of a benzothiazole derivative as a suitable antileishmanial initial hit. The first series of derivatives focused on the acyl fragment of its class, evaluating diverse linear and cyclic, alkyl and aromatic substituents, and identified two other potent compounds, the phenyl and cyclohexyl derivatives. Subsequently, new compounds were designed to assess the impact of the presence of diverse substituents on the benzothiazole ring or the replacement of the endocyclic sulfur by other heteroatoms. All compounds showed relatively low cytotoxicity, resulting in decent selectivity indexes for the most active compounds. Ultimately, the in vitro ADME properties of these compounds were assessed, revealing a satisfying water solubility, gastrointestinal permeability, despite their low metabolic stability and high lipophilicity. Consequently, compounds 5 and 6 were identified as promising hits for further hit-to-lead exploration within this benzothiazole class against L. infantum, thus providing promising starting points for the development of antileishmanial candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Danilo Nascimento Farago
- Laboratório de Síntese de Candidatos a Fármacos, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Daniela de Melo Resende
- Grupo de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ Minas), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Adriane Cristina Rosa de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Síntese de Candidatos a Fármacos, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Brenda Rosa Macedo Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Síntese de Candidatos a Fármacos, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Felipe de Oliveira Souza
- Laboratório de Biomoléculas e Espectrometria de Massas (LaBioMass), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Simone Michelan-Duarte
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional (LQMC), Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rafael C Chelucci
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional (LQMC), Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriano D Andricopulo
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional (LQMC), Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo L G Ferreira
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal e Computacional (LQMC), Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Jorge Pilau
- Laboratório de Biomoléculas e Espectrometria de Massas (LaBioMass), Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
- Grupo de Genômica Funcional de Parasitos, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ Minas), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Celso de Oliveira Rezende Júnior
- Laboratório de Síntese de Candidatos a Fármacos, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Vargas-Munévar L, Borja-Fajardo J, Sandoval-Aldana A, García WQ, Moreno EM, Henriquez JC, Stashenko E, García LT, García-Beltrán O. Microencapsulation of Theobroma cacao L polyphenols: A high-value approach with in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116307. [PMID: 38401521 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116307] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (CHD) is the highest economic burden parasitosis worldwide and the most important cardiac infection, without therapeutic alternatives to halt or reverse its progression. In CHD-experimental models, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds have demonstrated therapeutic potential in cardiac dysfunction. Theobroma cacao polyphenols are potent natural antioxidants with cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory action, which are susceptible to degradation, requiring technological approaches to guarantee their protection, stability, and controlled release. Here, 21 cocoa polyphenol-rich microencapsulates were produced by spray-drying and freeze-drying techniques using two wall materials (maltodextrin and gum arabic). Chemical (total and individual phenolic content and antioxidant activity), structural (morphology), and biological parameters (cytotoxicity, trypanocidal, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities) were assessed to determine the most efficient microencapsulation conditions on Trypanosoma cruzi-infected myocardioblast and macrophage cells. Significant antiproliferative properties against infected cells (superior to benznidazole) were found in two microencapsulates which also exhibited cardioprotective properties against oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vargas-Munévar
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia
| | | | | | - Wendy Quintero García
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia
| | - Erika Moreno Moreno
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia
| | - Juan Camilo Henriquez
- National Research Center for the Agroindustrialization of Aromatic and Medicinal Tropical Species (CENIVAM), Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia
| | - Elena Stashenko
- National Research Center for the Agroindustrialization of Aromatic and Medicinal Tropical Species (CENIVAM), Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia
| | - Liliana Torcoroma García
- Posgradute Department in Infectious Disease, Universidad de Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia.
| | - Olimpo García-Beltrán
- Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O' Higgins, Santiago 8370854, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemáticas, Universidad de Ibagué, Ibagué 730002, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Parvez A, Lee JS, Alam W, Tayara H, Chong KT. Integrated Computational Approaches for Drug Design Targeting Cruzipain. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3747. [PMID: 38612558 PMCID: PMC11011879 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073747] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cruzipain inhibitors are required after medications to treat Chagas disease because of the need for safer, more effective treatments. Trypanosoma cruzi is the source of cruzipain, a crucial cysteine protease that has driven interest in using computational methods to create more effective inhibitors. We employed a 3D-QSAR model, using a dataset of 36 known inhibitors, and a pharmacophore model to identify potential inhibitors for cruzipain. We also built a deep learning model using the Deep purpose library, trained on 204 active compounds, and validated it with a specific test set. During a comprehensive screening of the Drug Bank database of 8533 molecules, pharmacophore and deep learning models identified 1012 and 340 drug-like molecules, respectively. These molecules were further evaluated through molecular docking, followed by induced-fit docking. Ultimately, molecular dynamics simulation was performed for the final potent inhibitors that exhibited strong binding interactions. These results present four novel cruzipain inhibitors that can inhibit the cruzipain protein of T. cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aiman Parvez
- Department of Electronics and Information Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea; (A.P.); (W.A.)
| | - Jeong-Sang Lee
- Department of Functional Food and Biotechnology, College of Medical Sciences, Jeonju University, Jeonju 55069, Republic of Korea;
| | - Waleed Alam
- Department of Electronics and Information Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea; (A.P.); (W.A.)
| | - Hilal Tayara
- School of International Engineering and Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Kil To Chong
- Department of Electronics and Information Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea; (A.P.); (W.A.)
- Advances Electronics and Information Research Center, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Morilla MJ, Ghosal K, Romero EL. Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: a critical review. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 15:333-349. [PMID: 38590427 PMCID: PMC11000002 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.15.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is the most important endemic parasitosis in South America and represents a great socioeconomic burden for the chronically ill and their families. The only currently available treatment against CD is based on the oral administration of benznidazole, an agent, developed in 1971, of controversial effectiveness on chronically ill patients and toxic to adults. So far, conventional pharmacological approaches have failed to offer more effective and less toxic alternatives to benznidazole. Nanomedicines reduce toxicity and increase the effectiveness of current oncological therapies. Could nanomedicines improve the treatment of the neglected CD? This question will be addressed in this review, first by critically discussing selected reports on the performance of benznidazole and other molecules formulated as nanomedicines in in vitro and in vivo CD models. Taking into consideration the developmental barriers for nanomedicines and the degree of current technical preclinical efforts, a prospect of developing nanomedicines against CD will be provided. Not surprisingly, we conclude that structurally simpler formulations with minimal production cost, such as oral nanocrystals and/or parenteral nano-immunostimulants, have the highest chances of making it to the market to treat CD. Nonetheless, substantive political and economic decisions, key to facing technological challenges, are still required regarding a realistic use of nanomedicines effective against CD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Morilla
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kajal Ghosal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, 188, Raja Subodh Chandra Mallick Rd., Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Eder Lilia Romero
- Nanomedicine Research and Development Centre (NARD), Science and Technology Department, National University of Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Pavan TBS, Leony LM, de Souza WV, Santos EF, Tavares Daltro R, Erdens Maron Freitas N, Medrado Vasconcelos LC, Lopes Habib F, Silva AAO, Alejandra Fiorani Celedon P, Dias Sampaio D, Tonin Zanchin NI, Longhi SA, Neves Santos FL. Post-therapeutic cure criterion in chronic Chagas disease using Trypanosoma cruzi chimeric proteins. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2024; 71:2024.004. [PMID: 38526232 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.004] [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: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909. Causative treatment can be achieved with two drugs: benznidazole or Nifurtimox. There are some gaps that hinder progress in eradicating the disease. There is no test that can efficiently assess cure control after treatment. Currently, the decline in anti-T. cruzi antibody titres is assessed with conventional serological tests, which can take years. However, the search for new markers of cure must continue to fill this gap. The present study aimed to evaluate the decline in serological titres using chimeric proteins after treatment with benznidazole in chronic patients diagnosed with CD. It was a prospective cross-sectional cohort study between 2000 and 2004 of T. cruzi-positive participants from the Añatuya region (Argentina) treated with benznidazole. Serum samples from ten patients were collected before treatment (day zero) and after the end of treatment (2, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months). For the detection of anti-T. cruzi antibodies, an indirect ELISA was performed using two chimeric recombinant proteins (IBMP-8.1 and IBMP-8.4) as antigens. The changes in reactivity index within the groups before and after treatment were evaluated using the Friedman test. All participants experienced a decrease in serological titres after treatment with benznidazole, especially IBMP-8.1. However, due to the small number of samples and the short follow-up period, it is premature to conclude that this molecule serves as a criterion for sustained cure. Further studies are needed to validate tests based on these or other biomarkers to demonstrate parasitological cure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tycha Bianca Sabaini Pavan
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Maia Leony
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Wayner Vieira de Souza
- Department of Public Health, Aggeu Magalhaes Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-PE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Emily Ferreira Santos
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Ramona Tavares Daltro
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Natalia Erdens Maron Freitas
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Lopes Habib
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Angelo Antonio Oliveira Silva
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Paola Alejandra Fiorani Celedon
- Molecular Biology of Trypanosomatids Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-PR), Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
| | - Daniel Dias Sampaio
- Department Brazil's Family Health Strategy, Municipal Health Department, Tremedal, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Nilson Ivo Tonin Zanchin
- Structural Biology and Protein Engineering Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-PR), Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
| | - Silvia Andrea Longhi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Chagas Disease, Institute for Research on Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology "Dr Hector Torres", National Scientific and Technological Research Council, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fred Luciano Neves Santos
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Goncalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
- Chagas Disease Translational Research Program (Fio-Chagas), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-RJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Gonzáles-Córdova RA, Dos Santos TR, Gachet-Castro C, Andrade Vieira J, Trajano-Silva LAM, Sakamoto-Hojo ET, Baqui MMA. Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces DNA double-strand breaks and activates DNA damage response pathway in host epithelial cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5225. [PMID: 38433244 PMCID: PMC10909859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53589-w] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, invades many cell types affecting numerous host-signalling pathways. During the T. cruzi infection, we demonstrated modulations in the host RNA polymerase II activity with the downregulation of ribonucleoproteins affecting host transcription and splicing machinery. These alterations could be a result of the initial damage to the host DNA caused by the presence of the parasite, however, the mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, we examined whether infection by T. cruzi coincided with enhanced DNA damage in the host cell. We studied the engagement of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathways at the different time points (0-24 h post-infection, hpi) by T. cruzi in LLC-MK2 cells. In response to double-strand breaks (DSB), maximum phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX is observed at 2hpi and promotes recruitment of the DDR p53-binding protein (53BP1). During T. cruzi infection, Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM) and DNA-PK protein kinases remained active in a time-dependent manner and played roles in regulating the host response to DSB. The host DNA lesions caused by the infection are likely orchestrated by the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway to maintain the host genome integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raul Alexander Gonzáles-Córdova
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Thamires Rossi Dos Santos
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Camila Gachet-Castro
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Johnathan Andrade Vieira
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Lays Adrianne Mendonça Trajano-Silva
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Elza Tiemi Sakamoto-Hojo
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Munira Muhammad Abdel Baqui
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo-USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Diaz AP, Canal CAM, Valdés AJ, Delgado JEG, Varela-M RE. GSK-3 kinase a putative therapeutic target in trypanosomatid parasites. Braz J Infect Dis 2024; 28:103736. [PMID: 38467387 PMCID: PMC10955101 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2024.103736] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are an important group of parasites that predominate in tropical and subtropical areas of the planet, which cause diseases that are classified as forgotten and neglected by the world health organization. In this group of parasites, we find Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Leishmania spp, for which there is no vaccine available, and its control has focused mainly on pharmacological treatment. Due to the poverty situation where these diseases are found and the biological complexity of these parasites, there are multiple variables to control, including the diversity of species, the complexity of their life cycles, drug resistance, cytotoxicity, the limited use in pregnant women, the high costs of treatment and the little-known pharmacological mechanisms of action, among others. It is therefore necessary to find new strategies and approaches for the treatment of these parasitic diseases. Among these new approaches is the rational search for new targets based on the allosteric inhibition of protein kinases, which have been little studied in trypanosomatids. Among these kinases, we find Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK-3), a kinase of great pharmacological interest, which is under intense basic and clinical research by pharmaceutical companies for the treatment of cancer. This kinase, highly studied in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway signaling in humans, has an orthologous gene in these parasites (GSK-3 s), which has proven to be essential for them in response to different challenges; Therefore, it is notable to increase research in this kinase in order to achieve a broad structural and functional characterization in the different species of trypanosomatids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - R E Varela-M
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zahedifard F, Bansal M, Sharma N, Kumar S, Shen S, Singh P, Rathi B, Zoltner M. Phenotypic screening reveals a highly selective phthalimide-based compound with antileishmanial activity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012050. [PMID: 38527083 PMCID: PMC10994559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012050] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Pharmacophores such as hydroxyethylamine (HEA) and phthalimide (PHT) have been identified as potential synthons for the development of compounds against various parasitic infections. In order to further advance our progress, we conducted an experiment utilising a collection of PHT and HEA derivatives through phenotypic screening against a diverse set of protist parasites. This approach led to the identification of a number of compounds that exhibited significant effects on the survival of Entamoeba histolytica, Trypanosoma brucei, and multiple life-cycle stages of Leishmania spp. The Leishmania hits were pursued due to the pressing necessity to expand our repertoire of reliable, cost-effective, and efficient medications for the treatment of leishmaniases. Antileishmanials must possess the essential capability to efficiently penetrate the host cells and their compartments in the disease context, to effectively eliminate the intracellular parasite. Hence, we performed a study to assess the effectiveness of eradicating L. infantum intracellular amastigotes in a model of macrophage infection. Among eleven L. infantum growth inhibitors with low-micromolar potency, PHT-39, which carries a trifluoromethyl substitution, demonstrated the highest efficacy in the intramacrophage assay, with an EC50 of 1.2 +/- 3.2 μM. Cytotoxicity testing of PHT-39 in HepG2 cells indicated a promising selectivity of over 90-fold. A chemogenomic profiling approach was conducted using an orthology-based method to elucidate the mode of action of PHT-39. This genome-wide RNA interference library of T. brucei identified sensitivity determinants for PHT-39, which included a P-type ATPase that is crucial for the uptake of miltefosine and amphotericin, strongly indicating a shared route for cellular entry. Notwithstanding the favourable properties and demonstrated efficacy in the Plasmodium berghei infection model, PHT-39 was unable to eradicate L. major infection in a murine infection model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Currently, PHT-39 is undergoing derivatization to optimize its pharmacological characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Zahedifard
- Drug Discovery and Evaluation Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Biocev, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Meenakshi Bansal
- H. G. Khorana Centre for Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Department of Chemistry, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Sonepat Haryana, India
| | - Neha Sharma
- H. G. Khorana Centre for Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram, University of Science & Technology, Murthal, Sonepat Haryana, India
| | - Siqi Shen
- Drug Discovery and Evaluation Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Biocev, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Priyamvada Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Miranda House, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Delhi School of Public Health, Institution of Eminence, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Brijesh Rathi
- H. G. Khorana Centre for Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- Delhi School of Public Health, Institution of Eminence, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Martin Zoltner
- Drug Discovery and Evaluation Unit, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Biocev, Vestec, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Pelizaro BI, Batista JCZ, Portapilla GB, das Neves AR, Silva F, Carvalho DB, Shiguemoto CYK, Pessatto LR, Paredes-Gamero EJ, Cardoso IA, Luccas PH, Nonato MC, Lopes NP, Galvão F, Oliveira KMP, Cassemiro NS, Silva DB, Piranda EM, Arruda CCP, de Albuquerque S, Baroni ACM. Design and Synthesis of Novel 3-Nitro-1 H-1,2,4-triazole-1,2,3-triazole-1,4-disubstituted Analogs as Promising Antitrypanosomatid Agents: Evaluation of In Vitro Activity against Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis. J Med Chem 2024; 67:2584-2601. [PMID: 38305199 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
A series of 28 compounds, 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole, were synthesized by click-chemistry with diverse substitution patterns using medicinal chemistry approaches, such as bioisosterism, Craig-plot, and the Topliss set with excellent yields. Overall, the analogs demonstrated relevant in vitro antitrypanosomatid activity. Analog 15g (R1 = 4-OCF3-Ph, IC50 = 0.09 μM, SI = >555.5) exhibited an outstanding antichagasic activity (Trypanosoma cruzi, Tulahuen LacZ strain) 68-fold more active than benznidazole (BZN, IC50 = 6.15 μM, SI = >8.13) with relevant selectivity index, and suitable LipE = 5.31. 15g was considered an appropriate substrate for the type I nitro reductases (TcNTR I), contributing to a likely potential mechanism of action for antichagasic activity. Finally, 15g showed nonmutagenic potential against Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA98, TA100, and TA102). Therefore, 3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazole 15g is a promising antitrypanosomatid candidate for in vivo studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno I Pelizaro
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline C Z Batista
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Humana, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900,Brazil
| | - Gisele B Portapilla
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Amarith R das Neves
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900, Brazil
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Humana, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900,Brazil
| | - Fernanda Silva
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Humana, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900,Brazil
| | - Diego B Carvalho
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Y K Shiguemoto
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Lucas R Pessatto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular (BioMol) e Cultivos Celulares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande,Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900 ,Brazil
| | - Edgar J Paredes-Gamero
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular (BioMol) e Cultivos Celulares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande,Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900 ,Brazil
| | - Iara A Cardoso
- Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903 ,Brazil
| | - Pedro H Luccas
- Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903 ,Brazil
| | - M Cristina Nonato
- Laboratório de Cristalografia de Proteínas, Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903 ,Brazil
| | - Norberto P Lopes
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Produtos Naturais e Sintéticos, Departamento de Ciências Biomoleculares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Galvão
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79804-970, Brazil
| | - Kelly M P Oliveira
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79804-970, Brazil
| | - Nadla S Cassemiro
- Laboratório de Produtos Naturais e Espectrometria de Massas (LAPNEM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande ,Mato Grosso do SulCEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Denise B Silva
- Laboratório de Produtos Naturais e Espectrometria de Massas (LAPNEM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande ,Mato Grosso do SulCEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Eliane M Piranda
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Humana, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900,Brazil
| | - Carla C P Arruda
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Humana, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900,Brazil
| | - Sergio de Albuquerque
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Adriano C M Baroni
- Laboratório de Síntese e Química Medicinal (LASQUIM), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Alimentos e Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Mato Grossso do Sul- UFMS, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Torres V, Contreras V, Gutiérrez B, San Francisco J, Catalán A, Vega JL, Moon KM, Foster LJ, de Almeida RF, Kalergis AM, González J. Oral infectivity through carnivorism in murine model of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1297099. [PMID: 38495650 PMCID: PMC10941204 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1297099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Oral transmission of T. cruzi is probably the most frequent transmission mechanism in wild animals. This observation led to the hypothesis that consuming raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with T. cruzi may be responsible for transmitting the infection. Therefore, the general objective of this study was to investigate host-pathogen interactions between the parasite and gastric mucosa and the role of meat consumption from infected animals in the oral transmission of T. cruzi. Methods Cell infectivity assays were performed on AGS cells in the presence or absence of mucin, and the roles of pepsin and acidic pH were determined. Moreover, groups of five female Balb/c mice were fed with muscle tissue obtained from mice in the acute phase of infection by the clone H510 C8C3hvir of T. cruzi, and the infection of the fed mice was monitored by a parasitemia curve. Similarly, we assessed the infective capacity of T. cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes by infecting groups of five mice Balb/c females, which were infected orally using a nasogastric probe, and the infection was monitored by a parasitemia curve. Finally, different trypomastigote and amastigote inoculums were used to determine their infective capacities. Adhesion assays of T. cruzi proteins to AGS stomach cells were performed, and the adhered proteins were detected by western blotting using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies and by LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis. Results Trypomastigote migration in the presence of mucin was reduced by approximately 30%, whereas in the presence of mucin and pepsin at pH 3.5, only a small proportion of parasites were able to migrate (∼6%). Similarly, the ability of TCTs to infect AGS cells in the presence of mucin is reduced by approximately 20%. In all cases, 60-100% of the animals were fed meat from mice infected in the acute phase or infected with trypomastigotes or amastigotes developed high parasitemia, and 80% died around day 40 post-infection. The adhesion assay showed that cruzipain is a molecule of trypomastigotes and amastigotes that binds to AGS cells. LC-MS/MS and bioinformatics analysis, also confirmed that transialidase, cysteine proteinases, and gp63 may be involved in TCTs attachment or invasion of human stomach cells because they can potentially interact with different proteins in the human stomach mucosa. In addition, several human gastric mucins have cysteine protease cleavage sites. Discussion Then, under our experimental conditions, consuming meat from infected animals in the acute phase allows the T. cruzi infection. Similarly, trypomastigotes and amastigotes could infect mice when administered orally, whereas cysteinyl proteinases and trans-sialidase appear to be relevant molecules in this infective process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Torres
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | | | - Bessy Gutiérrez
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Juan San Francisco
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Alejandro Catalán
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - José Luis Vega
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Kyung-Mee Moon
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Leonard J. Foster
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rafael F. de Almeida
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Sistêmica de Tripanossomatídeos (Labtryp), Instituto Carlos Chagas Fiocruz (ICC-Fiocruz), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alexis M. Kalergis
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Endocrinología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge González
- Molecular Parasitology Unit, Medical Technology Department, University of Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
- Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Research Center in Immunology and Biomedical Biotechnology of Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Pitt SJ, Gunn A. The One Health Concept. Br J Biomed Sci 2024; 81:12366. [PMID: 38434675 PMCID: PMC10902059 DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2024.12366] [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: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The concept of One Health has been developed as the appreciation that human health is intricately connected to those of other animals and the environment that they inhabit. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and noticeable effects of climate change have encouraged national and international cooperation to apply One Health strategies to address key issues of health and welfare. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals have established targets for health and wellbeing, clean water and sanitation, climate action, as well as sustainability in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The One Health Quadripartite comprises the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH-formerly OIE), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). There are six areas of focus which are Laboratory services, Control of zoonotic diseases, Neglected tropical diseases, Antimicrobial resistance, Food safety and Environmental health. This article discusses the concept of One Health by considering examples of infectious diseases and environmental issues under each of those six headings. Biomedical Scientists, Clinical Scientists and their colleagues working in diagnostic and research laboratories have a key role to play in applying the One Health approach to key areas of healthcare in the 21st Century.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J. Pitt
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Gunn
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abedin S, Adeleke OA. State of the art in pediatric nanomedicines. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s13346-024-01532-x. [PMID: 38324166 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01532-x] [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] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the continuous development of innovative nanopharmaceuticals is expanding their biomedical and clinical applications. Nanomedicines are being revolutionized to circumvent the limitations of unbound therapeutic agents as well as overcome barriers posed by biological interfaces at the cellular, organ, system, and microenvironment levels. In many ways, the use of nanoconfigured delivery systems has eased challenges associated with patient differences, and in our opinion, this forms the foundation for their potential usefulness in developing innovative medicines and diagnostics for special patient populations. Here, we present a comprehensive review of nanomedicines specifically designed and evaluated for disease management in the pediatric population. Typically, the pediatric population has distinguishing needs relative to those of adults majorly because of their constantly growing bodies and age-related physiological changes, which often need specialized drug formulation interventions to provide desirable therapeutic effects and outcomes. Besides, child-centric drug carriers have unique delivery routes, dosing flexibility, organoleptic properties (e.g., taste, flavor), and caregiver requirements that are often not met by traditional formulations and can impact adherence to therapy. Engineering pediatric medicines as nanoconfigured structures can potentially resolve these limitations stemming from traditional drug carriers because of their unique capabilities. Consequently, researchers from different specialties relentlessly and creatively investigate the usefulness of nanomedicines for pediatric disease management as extensively captured in this compilation. Some examples of nanomedicines covered include nanoparticles, liposomes, and nanomicelles for cancer; solid lipid and lipid-based nanostructured carriers for hypertension; self-nanoemulsifying lipid-based systems and niosomes for infections; and nanocapsules for asthma pharmacotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saba Abedin
- College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Oluwatoyin A Adeleke
- College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Libardi SH, Ahmad A, Ferreira FB, Oliveira RJ, Caruso ÍP, Melo FA, de Albuquerque S, Cardoso DR, Burtoloso ACB, Borges JC. Interaction between diterpene icetexanes and old yellow enzymes of Leishmania braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:129192. [PMID: 38216013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129192] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Old Yellow Enzymes (OYEs) are flavin-dependent redox enzymes that promote the asymmetric reduction of activated alkenes. Due to the high importance of flavoenzymes in the metabolism of organisms, the interaction between OYEs from the parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania braziliensis and three diterpene icetexanes (brussonol and two analogs), were evaluated in the present study, and differences in the binding mechanism and inhibition capacity of these molecules were examined. Although the aforementioned compounds showed poor and negligible activities against T. cruzi and L. braziliensis cells, respectively, the experiments with the purified enzymes indicated that the interaction occurs by divergent mechanisms. Overall, the ligands' inhibitory effect depends on their accessibility to the N5 position of the flavin's isoalloxazine ring. The results also indicated that the OYEs found in both parasites share structural similarities and showed affinities for the diterpene icetexanes in the same range. Nevertheless, the interaction between OYEs and ligands is directed by enthalpy and/or entropy in distinct ways. In conclusion, the binding site of both OYEs exhibits remarkable plasticity, and a large range of different molecules, including that can be substrates and inhibitors, can bind this site. This plasticity should be considered in drug design using OYE as a target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia H Libardi
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Anees Ahmad
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ronaldo J Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e Educação, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, 38064-200 Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Ícaro P Caruso
- Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) - UNESP, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis and Centro Nacional para Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernando A Melo
- Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) - UNESP, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Sergio de Albuquerque
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP CEP 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Daniel R Cardoso
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio C B Burtoloso
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Júlio C Borges
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
de Oliveira Souza JE, Gomes SMR, Lima AKC, de Souza Brito AC, Da-Silva SAG, de Carvalho Santos Lopes AH, Silva-Neto MAC, Atella GC, Dutra PML. Influence of CK2 protein kinase activity on the interaction between Trypanosoma cruzi and its vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:80. [PMID: 38163833 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08085-x] [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: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease, endemic from Latin America, is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is transmitted by triatomine feces. This parasite undergoes complex morphological changes through its life cycle, promoted by significant changes in signal transduction pathways. The activity of protein kinase CK2 has been described in trypanosomatids. Using a specific peptide and radioactive ATP, we identified CK2 activity on the cellular surface and the cytoplasmic content in Trypanosoma cruzi, apart from the secreted form. Dephosphorylated casein promoted an increase of 48% in the secreted CK2 activity. Total extract of peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c and inactivated human serum promoted an increase of 67% and 36%, respectively, in this activity. The protein secreted by parasites was purified by HPLC and had shown compatibility with the catalytic subunit of mammalian CK2. Incubation of the parasites with CK2 inhibitors, added to the culture medium, prevented their growth. The opposite was observed when CK2 activators were used. Results of interaction between Trypanosoma cruzi and the gut of the vector have revealed that, in the presence of CK2 inhibitors, there is a reduction in the association rate. A similar inhibition profile was seen in the Trypanosoma cruzi-macrophages interaction, confirming the importance of this enzyme in the life cycle of this protozoan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Eliza de Oliveira Souza
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Shayane Martins Rodrigues Gomes
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Karina Castro Lima
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Andréia Carolinne de Souza Brito
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvia Amaral Gonçalves Da-Silva
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Geórgia Correa Atella
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Patricia Maria Lourenço Dutra
- Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (FCM), State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Saha A, Pushpa, Moitra S, Basak D, Brahma S, Mondal D, Molla SH, Samadder A, Nandi S. Targeting Cysteine Proteases and their Inhibitors to Combat Trypanosomiasis. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2135-2169. [PMID: 37340748 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230619160509] [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: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosomiasis, caused by protozoan parasites of the Trypanosoma genus, remains a significant health burden in several regions of the world. Cysteine proteases play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Trypanosoma parasites and have emerged as potential therapeutic targets for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs. INTRODUCTION This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of cysteine proteases in trypanosomiasis and their potential as therapeutic targets. We discuss the biological significance of cysteine proteases in Trypanosoma parasites and their involvement in essential processes, such as host immune evasion, cell invasion, and nutrient acquisition. METHODS A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies and research articles on the role of cysteine proteases and their inhibitors in trypanosomiasis. The selected studies were critically analyzed to extract key findings and provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. RESULTS Cysteine proteases, such as cruzipain, TbCatB and TbCatL, have been identified as promising therapeutic targets due to their essential roles in Trypanosoma pathogenesis. Several small molecule inhibitors and peptidomimetics have been developed to target these proteases and have shown promising activity in preclinical studies. CONCLUSION Targeting cysteine proteases and their inhibitors holds great potential for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs against trypanosomiasis. The identification of potent and selective cysteine protease inhibitors could significantly contribute to the combat against trypanosomiasis and improve the prospects for the treatment of this neglected tropical disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aloke Saha
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Pushpa
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Susmita Moitra
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Deblina Basak
- Endocrinology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Sayandeep Brahma
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Dipu Mondal
- Cell and Developmental Biology Special, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Sabir Hossen Molla
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Asmita Samadder
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Lab., Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, Nadia, 741235, India
| | - Sisir Nandi
- Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Affiliated to Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University), Kashipur, 244713, India
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Trindade AFV, Silva WT, Lima VP, Mendonça VA, Lacerda ACR, Ávila MR, de Oliveira LFF, de Almeida ILGI, Silva KLS, de Oliveira LFL, Carvalho LMS, da Cruz Ferreira PH, de Faria SCC, Mediano MFF, Figueiredo PHS, Costa HS. Assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy using Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire: A validation study. Trop Med Int Health 2024; 29:6-12. [PMID: 37952931 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13944] [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] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC) is the most severe clinical form of Chagas disease and, in association with psychosocial factors, can compromise the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of affected patients. To date, there is no specific instrument to assess the HRQoL of these patients, and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLwHFQ), specific for heart failure, is being used both in research and current clinical practice. Therefore, we aimed to verify the validity of the MLwHFQ in the assessment of HRQoL of patients with ChC. METHODS Fifty patients with ChC (50.6 ± 10.1 years, NYHA I-III) were evaluated. The MLwHFQ, Short-Form of Health Survey (SF-36), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Human Activity Profile (HAP) were applied. All patients underwent echocardiography and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET). RESULTS The MLwHFQ score correlated with almost all SF-36 domains (with r-value ranging from -0.38 to -0.69), except pain (p = 0.118). The MLwHFQ score also correlated with the BDI score (r = 0.748; p < 0.001), HAP score (r = -0.558; p = 0.001), peak oxygen uptake (r = -0.352; p = 0.01), and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.329; p = 0.021). There was no significant difference in the score found on the MLwHFQ among NYHA classes (p = 0.101), as well as between patients with systolic dysfunction (n = 30) and preserved cardiac function (n = 20) (p = 0.058). Similarly, there was no significant difference in the score found on the physical (p = 0.423) and mental (p = 0.858) components of SF-36 between patients with systolic dysfunction and preserved cardiac function (p = 0.271 and p = 0.609, respectively). There was also no difference in the mental component of SF-36 among NYHA classes (p = 0.673). However, the HRQoL using the physical component of SF-36 was worse in advanced NYHA classes (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION MLwHF correlated with most SF-36 HRQoL domains, depressive symptoms, physical activity, and systolic function and seems to be valid in assessing the HRQoL of ChC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Flávia Vieira Trindade
- Physiotherapy Department, Healthy and Biological Sciences Faculty, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Brasil
| | - Whesley Tanor Silva
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Vanessa Pereira Lima
- Physiotherapy Department, Healthy and Biological Sciences Faculty, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Brasil
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Vanessa Amaral Mendonça
- Physiotherapy Department, Healthy and Biological Sciences Faculty, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Brasil
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda
- Physiotherapy Department, Healthy and Biological Sciences Faculty, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Brasil
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Matheus Ribeiro Ávila
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Lucas Fróis Fernandes de Oliveira
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Keity Lamary Souza Silva
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Liliany Mara Silva Carvalho
- Postgraduate course of Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Paulo Henrique da Cruz Ferreira
- Postgraduate course of Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Sanny Cristina Castro de Faria
- Postgraduate course of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo
- Physiotherapy Department, Healthy and Biological Sciences Faculty, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Brasil
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Henrique Silveira Costa
- Physiotherapy Department, Healthy and Biological Sciences Faculty, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, Brasil
- Postgraduate course of Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Suto Y, Inoue N, Tagod MSO, Onizuka Y, Nobuta T, Ishii M, Inaoka DK, Kanamitsu K, Yamagiwa N, Nakajima-Shimada J. In Vitro and in Vivo Study of a Photostable Quinone Compound with Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy against Chagas Disease. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2024; 72:389-392. [PMID: 38644164 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c24-00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi poses a significant health challenge in rural areas of Latin America. The current pharmacological options exhibit notable side effects, demand prolonged administration, and display limited efficacy. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop drugs that are safe and clinically effective. Previously, we identified a quinone compound (designated as compound 2) with potent antiprotozoal activity, based on the chemical structure of komaroviquinone, a natural product renowned for its antitrypanosomal effects. However, compound 2 was demonstrated considerably unstable to light. In this study, we elucidated the structure of the light-induced degradation products of compound 2 and probed the correlation between the quinone ring's substituents and its susceptibility to light. Our findings led to the discovery of quinones with significantly enhanced light stability, some of which exhibiting antitrypanosomal activity. The most promising compound was evaluated for drug efficacy in a mouse model of Chagas disease, revealing where a notable reduction in blood parasitemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Suto
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare
| | - Nagisa Inoue
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma University
| | | | - Yoko Onizuka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma University
| | - Tomoya Nobuta
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare
| | - Mayumi Ishii
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
| | - Kayoko Kanamitsu
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo
| | | | - Junko Nakajima-Shimada
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Parasitology, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Gunma University
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Prates JLB, Lopes JR, Chin CM, Ferreira EI, Dos Santos JL, Scarim CB. Discovery of Novel Inhibitors of Cruzain Cysteine Protease of Trypanosoma cruzi. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2285-2308. [PMID: 37888814 DOI: 10.2174/0109298673254864230921090519] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic disease endemic in several developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 6-8 million people worldwide are inflicted by CD. The scarcity of new drugs, mainly for the chronic phase, is the main reason for treatment limitation in CD. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover new targets for which new therapeutical agents could be developed. Cruzain cysteine protease (CCP) is a promising alternative because this enzyme exhibits pleiotropic effects by acting as a virulence factor, modulating host immune cells, and interacting with host cells. This systematic review was conducted to discover new compounds that act as cruzain inhibitors, and their effects in vitro were studied through enzymatic assays and molecular docking. Additionally, the advances and perspectives of these inhibitors are discussed. These findings are expected to contribute to medicinal chemistry in view of the design of new, safe, and efficacious inhibitors against Trypanosoma cruzi CCP detected in the last decade (2013-2022) to provide scaffolds for further optimization, aiming toward the discovery of new drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- João Lucas Bruno Prates
- Department of Drugs and Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
- Chemistry Institute Araraquara, São Paulo State University (UNESP), SP, Brazil
| | - Juliana Romano Lopes
- Department of Drugs and Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Chung Man Chin
- Department of Drugs and Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
- Union of the Colleges of the Great Lakes (UNILAGO), School of Medicine, Advanced Research Center in Medicine, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Igne Ferreira
- LAPEN-Laboratory of Design and Synthesis of Chemotherapeutic Agents Potentially Active on Neglected Diseases, Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jean Leandro Dos Santos
- Department of Drugs and Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
- Chemistry Institute Araraquara, São Paulo State University (UNESP), SP, Brazil
| | - Cauê Benito Scarim
- Department of Drugs and Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Agarwal DS, Beteck RM, Ilbeigi K, Caljon G, Legoabe LJ. Design and synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-chalcone conjugates as antikinetoplastid agents. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14400. [PMID: 37994272 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14400] [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: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
A library of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-appended chalcones were synthesized and characterized using 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and HRMS. The synthesized analogues were screened for their antikinetoplastid activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Leishmania infantum. The analogues were also tested for their cytotoxicity activity against human lung fibroblasts and primary mouse macrophages. Among all screened derivatives, 7f was found to be the most active against T. cruzi and T. b. brucei exhibiting IC50 values of 8.5 and 1.35 μM, respectively. Against T. b. rhodesiense, 7e was found to be the most active with an IC50 value of 1.13 μM. All synthesized active analogues were found to be non-cytotoxic against MRC-5 and PMM with selectivity indices of up to more than 50.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devesh S Agarwal
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Richard M Beteck
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Kayhan Ilbeigi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, Infla-med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, Infla-med Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lesetja J Legoabe
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Silva ML, Sales FS, Levatti EVC, Antar GM, Tempone AG, Lago JHG, Jerz G. Evaluation of Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of Chemical Constituents from Baccharis sphenophylla Isolated Using High-Performance Countercurrent Chromatography. Molecules 2023; 29:212. [PMID: 38202795 PMCID: PMC10780275 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010212] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Endemic in 21 countries, Chagas disease, also known as American Trypanosomiasis, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The available drugs for the treatment of this disease, benznidazole and nifurtimox, are outdated and display severe side effects. Thus, the discovery of new drugs is crucial. Based on our continuous studies aiming towards the discovery of natural products with anti-T. cruzi potential, the MeOH extract from aerial parts of Baccharis sphenophylla Dusén ex. Malme (Asteraceae) displayed activity against this parasite and was subjected to high-performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC), to obtain one unreported syn-labdane diterpene - sphenophyllol (1) - as well as the known compounds gaudichaudol C (2), ent-kaurenoic acid (3), hispidulin (4), eupafolin (5), and one mixture of di-O-caffeoylquinic acids (6-8). Compounds 1-8 were characterized by analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) data. When tested against trypomastigote forms, isolated labdane diterpenes 1 and 2 displayed potent activity, with EC50 values of 20.1 μM and 2.9 μM, respectively. The mixture of chlorogenic acids 6-8, as well as the isolated flavones 4 and 5, showed significant activity against the clinically relevant amastigotes, with EC50 values of 24.9, 12.8, and 2.7 μM, respectively. Nonetheless, tested compounds 1-8 displayed no cytotoxicity against mammalian cells (CC50 > 200 μM). These results demonstrate the application of HPCCC as an important tool to isolate bioactive compounds from natural sources, including the antitrypanosomal extract from B. sphenophylla, allowing for the development of novel strategic molecular prototypes against tropical neglected diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matheus L. Silva
- Center for Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, Santo André 09210-580, Brazil; (M.L.S.); (F.S.S.)
| | - Felipe S. Sales
- Center for Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, Santo André 09210-580, Brazil; (M.L.S.); (F.S.S.)
| | - Erica V. C. Levatti
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05508-040, Brazil; (E.V.C.L.); (A.G.T.)
| | - Guilherme M. Antar
- Department of Agrarian and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo, São Mateus 29932-540, Brazil;
| | - Andre G. Tempone
- Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05508-040, Brazil; (E.V.C.L.); (A.G.T.)
| | - João Henrique G. Lago
- Center for Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC, Santo André 09210-580, Brazil; (M.L.S.); (F.S.S.)
| | - Gerold Jerz
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Technical University of Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Rios LE, Lokugamage N, Choudhuri S, Chowdhury IH, Garg NJ. Subunit nanovaccine elicited T cell functional activation controls Trypanosoma cruzi mediated maternal and placental tissue damage and improves pregnancy outcomes in mice. NPJ Vaccines 2023; 8:188. [PMID: 38104118 PMCID: PMC10725459 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-023-00782-z] [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: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated a candidate vaccine effect against maternal Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc) infection and improved pregnancy outcomes. For this, TcG2 and TcG4 were cloned in a nanoplasmid optimized for delivery, antigen expression, and regulatory compliance (nano2/4 vaccine). Female C57BL/6 mice were immunized with nano2/4, infected (Tc SylvioX10), and mated 7-days post-infection to enable fetal development during the maternal acute parasitemia phase. Females were euthanized at E12-E17 (gestation) days. Splenic and placental T-cell responses were monitored by flow cytometry. Maternal and placental/fetal tissues were examined for parasites by qPCR and inflammatory infiltrate by histology. Controls included age/immunization-matched non-pregnant females. Nano2/4 exhibited no toxicity and elicited protective IgG2a/IgG1 response in mice. Nano2/4 signaled a splenic expansion of functionally active CD4+ effector/effector memory (Tem) and central memory (Tcm) cells in pregnant mice. Upon challenge infection, nano2/4 increased the splenic CD4+ and CD8+T cells in all mice and increased the proliferation of CD4+Tem, CD4+Tcm, and CD8+Tcm subsets producing IFNγ and cytolytic molecules (PRF1, GZB) in pregnant mice. A balanced serum cytokines/chemokines response and placental immune characteristics indicated that pregnancy prevented the overwhelming damaging immune response in mice. Importantly, pregnancy itself resulted in a significant reduction of parasites in maternal and fetal tissues. Nano2/4 was effective in arresting the Tc-induced tissue inflammatory infiltrate, necrosis, and fibrosis in maternal and placental tissues and improving maternal fertility, placental efficiency, and fetal survival. In conclusion, we show that maternal nano2/4 vaccination is beneficial in controlling the adverse effects of Tc infection on maternal health, fetal survival, and pregnancy outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lizette Elaine Rios
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UTMB, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Nandadeva Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Subhadip Choudhuri
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Imran Hussain Chowdhury
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Nisha Jain Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, USA.
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity (IHII), UTMB, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences (SIVS), UTMB, Galveston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Herrera C, Bernabé KJ, Dumonteil E, DeCuir J, Thompson JM, Avendano M, Tu W, Leonhardt MM, Northland BA, Frederick J, Prieto B, Paternina-Caicedo A, Ortega E, Fonseca M, Hincapie M, Echeverri M. Assessment of Community Awareness and Screening of Chagas Disease in the Latin American Community of Greater New Orleans. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:515. [PMID: 38133447 PMCID: PMC10747578 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8120515] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a public health problem in the Americas, from the southern United States (USA) to Argentina. In the USA, less than 1% of domestic cases have been identified and less than 0.3% of total cases have received treatment. Little is known about affected immigrant Latin American communities. A prospective study was conducted to assess knowledge about Chagas disease among the Latin American community living in the Greater New Orleans area. Participants answered a baseline questionnaire, viewed a short educational video presentation, completed a post-presentation questionnaire, and were screened with an FDA-approved blood rapid diagnostic test (RDT). A total of 154 participants from 18 Latin American countries (n = 138) and the USA (n = 16) were enrolled and screened for Trypanosoma cruzi infection. At baseline, 57% of the participants knew that Chagas disease is transmitted through an insect vector, and 26% recognized images of the vector. Following the administration of an educational intervention, the participants' knowledge regarding vector transmission increased to 91% and 35% of participants were able to successfully identify images of the vector. Five participants screened positive for T. cruzi infection, indicating a 3.24% [95%CI: 1.1-7.5%] prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection within the Latin American community of the New Orleans area. Results highlight the urgent need for improving access to education and diagnostics of Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Herrera
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Kerlly J. Bernabé
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - James DeCuir
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Julie M. Thompson
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Mariana Avendano
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Weihong Tu
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Maxwell M. Leonhardt
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (M.M.L.); (B.A.N.)
| | - Bianka A. Northland
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (M.M.L.); (B.A.N.)
| | - Jynx Frederick
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (K.J.B.); (E.D.); (J.D.); (J.M.T.); (M.A.); (W.T.); (J.F.)
| | - Bryn Prieto
- Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - Angel Paternina-Caicedo
- Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - Emma Ortega
- Office of Public Health-Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, LA 70802, USA;
| | - Maria Fonseca
- College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA; (M.F.); (M.H.); (M.E.)
| | - Marcela Hincapie
- College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA; (M.F.); (M.H.); (M.E.)
| | - Margarita Echeverri
- College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA; (M.F.); (M.H.); (M.E.)
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
García-Torres I, De la Mora-De la Mora I, López-Velázquez G, Cabrera N, Flores-López LA, Becker I, Herrera-López J, Hernández R, Pérez-Montfort R, Enríquez-Flores S. Repurposing of rabeprazole as an anti- Trypanosoma cruzi drug that targets cellular triosephosphate isomerase. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2231169. [PMID: 37401012 PMCID: PMC10351538 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2231169] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of American trypanosomiasis, which mainly affects populations in Latin America. Benznidazole is used to control the disease, with severe effects in patients receiving this chemotherapy. Previous studies have demonstrated the inhibition of triosephosphate isomerase from T. cruzi, but cellular enzyme inhibition has yet to be established. This study demonstrates that rabeprazole inhibits both cell viability and triosephosphate isomerase activity in T. cruzi epimastigotes. Our results show that rabeprazole has an IC50 of 0.4 µM, which is 14.5 times more effective than benznidazole. Additionally, we observed increased levels of methyl-glyoxal and advanced glycation end products after the inhibition of cellular triosephosphate isomerase by rabeprazole. Finally, we demonstrate that the inactivation mechanisms of rabeprazole on triosephosphate isomerase of T. cruzi can be achieved through the derivatization of three of its four cysteine residues. These results indicate that rabeprazole is a promising candidate against American trypanosomiasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Itzhel García-Torres
- Laboratorio de Biomoléculas y Salud Infantil, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, México
| | | | | | - Nallely Cabrera
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Luis Antonio Flores-López
- CONAHCYT Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Laboratorio de Biomoléculas y Salud Infantil, CDMX, México
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Juliana Herrera-López
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Roberto Hernández
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Ruy Pérez-Montfort
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Estructural, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX, México
| | - Sergio Enríquez-Flores
- Laboratorio de Biomoléculas y Salud Infantil, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, CDMX, México
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Paredes Franco JC, Sampaio Guther ML, Lima ML, Ferguson MAJ. Characterisation of TcFUT1, a mitochondrial fucosyltransferase from Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 256:111590. [PMID: 37652239 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111590] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Previous work has shown that the TbFUT1 and LmjFUT1 genes encode essential fucosyltransferases located inside the single mitochondria of the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major, respectively. However, nothing was known about the orthologous gene TcFUT1 or its gene product in Trypanosoma cruzi, aetiological agent of Chagas disease. In this study, we describe the overexpression of TcFUT1 with a C-terminal 6xMyc epitope tag in T. cruzi epimastigote cells. Overexpressed and immunoprecipitated TcFUT1-6xMyc was used to demonstrate enzymatic activity and to explore substrate specificity. This defined TcFUT1 as a GDP-Fuc : βGal α1-2 fucosyltransferase with a strict requirement for acceptor glycans with non-reducing terminal Galβ1-3GlcNAc structures. This differs from the specificity of the T. brucei orthologue TbFUT1, which can also tolerate non-reducing terminal Galβ1-4GlcNAc and Galβ1-4Glc acceptor sites. Immunofluorescence microscopy using α-Myc tag antibodies also showed a mitochondrial location for TcFUT1 in T. cruzi epimastigote cells. Collectively, these results are like those described for TbFUT1 and LmjFUT1 from T. brucei and L. major, suggesting that FUT1 gene products have conserved function for across the trypanosomatids and may share therapeutic target potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carlos Paredes Franco
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5HN, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Lucia Sampaio Guther
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5HN, United Kingdom
| | - Marta L Lima
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5HN, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A J Ferguson
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5HN, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Morales-Velásquez M, Barón-Vera JP, Pulgarín-Osorio MI, Sánchez-Jiménez MM, Ospina-Villa JD. Identification of the ATPase alpha subunit of Trypanosoma cruzi as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of Chagas disease. Biomarkers 2023; 28:599-607. [PMID: 37667642 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2023.2255756] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease (CD) is considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) a neglected disease endemic to the Americas, but it has spread throughout the world due to migrations. The disease is almost 100% curable if detected in time. Still, the lack of rapid diagnostic tests with sufficient sensitivity and specificity leads to a chronic phase with a mortality of about 50,000 people worldwide per year. METHODS Using the total proteins extracted from serum samples of patients confirmed with chronic phase CD; we performed the Bio-SELEX strategy. The best aptamers were selected using next-generation sequencing (NGS) based on their most abundant sequences (reads and rpm). Then, selected aptamers were used to isolate potential biomarkers directly from serum samples of patients with chronic phase CD using pull-down and mass spectrometry experiments. RESULTS CH1 aptamer was the aptamer selected after the NGS results analysis. The pull-down and mass spectrometry experiments identified the presence of the ATPase alpha subunit of T. cruzi circulating in serum samples of patients with chronic phase CD. CONCLUSIONS We report the ATPase alpha subunit of T. cruzi as a potential biomarker for chronic phase CD and CH1 aptamer as a potential tool for diagnosing CD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Morales-Velásquez
- Tropical Medicine, Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical - ICMT, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia
| | - J P Barón-Vera
- Tropical Medicine, Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical - ICMT, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia
| | - M I Pulgarín-Osorio
- Tropical Medicine, Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical - ICMT, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia
| | - M M Sánchez-Jiménez
- Tropical Medicine, Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical - ICMT, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia
| | - J D Ospina-Villa
- Tropical Medicine, Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical - ICMT, Universidad CES, Medellin, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Santos EF, Daltro RT, Regis-Silva CG, Pavan TBS, de Oliveira FA, da Silva ÂM, Almeida RP, Gonçalves NLS, Sampaio DD, Santos FN, Marchini FK, Celedon PAF, Zanchin NIT, Santos FLN. Assessment of Cross-Reactivity of Chimeric Trypanosoma cruzi Antigens with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A: Implications for Accurate Diagnostics. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3470. [PMID: 37998606 PMCID: PMC10670697 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13223470] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This study focuses on developing accurate immunoassays for diagnosing Chagas disease (CD), a challenging task due to antigenic similarities between Trypanosoma cruzi and other parasites, leading to cross-reactivity. To address this challenge, chimeric recombinant T. cruzi antigens (IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.2, IBMP-8.3, and IBMP-8.4) were synthesized to enhance specificity and reduce cross-reactivity in tests. While these antigens showed minimal cross-reactivity with leishmaniasis, their performance with other trypanosomatid infections was unclear. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of these IBMP antigens for detecting CD in patients with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A, a parasite linked to visceral leishmaniasis-like symptoms in Brazil. This study involved seven Crithidia sp. LVH-60A patients and three Leishmania infantum patients. The results indicated that these IBMP antigens displayed 100% sensitivity, with specificity ranging from 87.5% to 100%, and accuracy values between 90% and 100%. No cross-reactivity was observed with Crithidia sp. LVH-60A, and only one L. infantum-positive sample showed limited cross-reactivity with IBMP-8.1. This study suggests that IBMP antigens offer promising diagnostic performance, with minimal cross-reactivity in regions where T. cruzi and other trypanosomatids are prevalent. However, further research with a larger number of Crithidia sp. LVH-60A-positive samples is needed to comprehensively evaluate antigen cross-reactivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily F. Santos
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (E.F.S.); (C.G.R.-S.); (T.B.S.P.); (N.L.S.G.)
| | - Ramona T. Daltro
- Integrated Translational Program in Chagas Disease from Fiocruz (Fio-Chagas), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-RJ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (R.T.D.); (N.I.T.Z.)
| | - Carlos G. Regis-Silva
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (E.F.S.); (C.G.R.-S.); (T.B.S.P.); (N.L.S.G.)
- Integrated Translational Program in Chagas Disease from Fiocruz (Fio-Chagas), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-RJ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (R.T.D.); (N.I.T.Z.)
| | - Tycha B. S. Pavan
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (E.F.S.); (C.G.R.-S.); (T.B.S.P.); (N.L.S.G.)
| | - Fabrícia A. de Oliveira
- Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital/EBSERH, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-676, SE, Brazil; (F.A.d.O.); (Â.M.d.S.); (R.P.A.)
| | - Ângela M. da Silva
- Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital/EBSERH, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-676, SE, Brazil; (F.A.d.O.); (Â.M.d.S.); (R.P.A.)
- Department of Medicine, University Hospital (BSERH), Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-676, SE, Brazil
| | - Roque P. Almeida
- Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital/EBSERH, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-676, SE, Brazil; (F.A.d.O.); (Â.M.d.S.); (R.P.A.)
- Department of Medicine, University Hospital (BSERH), Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju 49060-676, SE, Brazil
| | - Noilson L. S. Gonçalves
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (E.F.S.); (C.G.R.-S.); (T.B.S.P.); (N.L.S.G.)
| | - Daniel D. Sampaio
- Brazil’s Family Health Strategy, Municipal Health Department, Tremedal City Hall, Tremedal 45170-000, BA, Brazil;
| | - Faber N. Santos
- Faculty of Medicine, Santo Agostinho College (FASA), Education Technology Healthcare, Vitória da Conquista 45028-100, BA, Brazil;
| | - Fabricio K. Marchini
- Molecular Biology Institute of Paraná, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil;
- Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute (ICC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-PR), Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil
| | - Paola A. F. Celedon
- Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Biology of Trypanosomatids, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-PR), Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil;
| | - Nilson I. T. Zanchin
- Integrated Translational Program in Chagas Disease from Fiocruz (Fio-Chagas), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-RJ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (R.T.D.); (N.I.T.Z.)
- Structural Biology and Protein Engineering Laboratory, Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-PR), Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil
| | - Fred L. N. Santos
- Advanced Public Health Laboratory, Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-BA), Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil; (E.F.S.); (C.G.R.-S.); (T.B.S.P.); (N.L.S.G.)
- Integrated Translational Program in Chagas Disease from Fiocruz (Fio-Chagas), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz-RJ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil; (R.T.D.); (N.I.T.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|