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Pękacz M, Basałaj K, Młocicki D, Kamaszewski M, Carretón E, Morchón R, Wiśniewski M, Zawistowska-Deniziak A. Molecular insights and antibody response to Dr20/22 in dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria repens. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12979. [PMID: 38839868 PMCID: PMC11153217 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63523-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Subcutaneous dirofilariasis, caused by the parasitic nematode Dirofilaria repens, is a growing concern in Europe, affecting both dogs and humans. This study focused on D. repens Dr20/22, a protein encoded by an alt (abundant larval transcript) gene family. While well-documented in L3 larvae of other filariae species, this gene family had not been explored in dirofilariasis. The research involved cloning Dr20/22 cDNA, molecular characterization, and evaluating its potential application in the diagnosis of dirofilariasis. Although Real-Time analysis revealed mRNA expression in both adult worms and microfilariae, the native protein remained undetected in lysates from both developmental stages. This suggests the protein's specificity for L3 larvae and may be related to a process called SLTS (spliced leader trans-splicing), contributing to stage-specific gene expression. The specificity of the antigen for invasive larvae positions it as a promising early marker for dirofilariasis. However, ELISA tests using sera from infected and uninfected dogs indicated limited diagnostic utility. While further research is required, our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular and immunological aspects of host-parasite interactions and could offer insights into the parasite's strategies for evading the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Pękacz
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Basałaj
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Daniel Młocicki
- Department of General Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Kamaszewski
- Department of Ichthyology and Biotechnology in Aquaculture, Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elena Carretón
- Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus Arucas, Arucas, 35413, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Morchón
- Zoonotic Diseases and One Health Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marcin Wiśniewski
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 02-095, Warsaw, Poland.
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Surtani S, Kailashiya J, Ansari MA, Dash D, Yadav AK, Kumar A. Platelet functions in lymphatic filariasis patients. Microvasc Res 2024; 152:104642. [PMID: 38070864 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2023.104642] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Filariasis is a chronic disease where parasitic worms survive in human hosts even for decades and lead to complications like lymphedema and elephantiasis. Despite the persistent existence of filarial parasites in human hosts, fatal and thrombotic complications are not known, unlike other parasitic diseases like malaria. This suggests that filarial parasites might be affecting the host's platelet functions. This study was conducted to examine platelet functions in confirmed filariasis patients and healthy controls. Results showed that filariasis patients had larger platelets, inhibited aggregation, and slower speed of aggregation, compared to controls. However, in vivo markers of platelet activation and degranulation (beta thromboglobulin and soluble P-selectin) were not affected. Observations suggested that there is increased platelet turnover, cellular apoptosis and inhibited platelet functions in filariasis patients compared to controls. Platelet function inhibition was not associated with the duration of disease, lymphedema-affected organs, or gender of patients. This study confirms that filarial parasites modulate platelet functions in human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Surtani
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Jyotsna Kailashiya
- Centre for Advanced Research on Platelet Signaling & Thrombosis Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Mumtaz Ahmad Ansari
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Sundarlal Hospital, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Debabrata Dash
- Centre for Advanced Research on Platelet Signaling & Thrombosis Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Awadesh Kumar Yadav
- National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Thammasonthijarern N, Boonnak K, Reamtong O, Krasae T, Thankansakul J, Phongphaew W, Ampawong S, Adisakwattana P. Amelioration of ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation in a mouse model by Trichinella spiralis novel cystatin. Vet World 2023; 16:2366-2373. [PMID: 38152266 PMCID: PMC10750734 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2366-2373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Asthma, a chronic disease affecting humans and animals, has recently become increasingly prevalent and steadily widespread. The alternative treatment of asthma using helminth infections or helminth-derived immunomodulatory molecules (IMs) has been evaluated and demonstrated significant amelioration of disease severity index in vitro and in vivo. Trichinella spiralis, a parasitic nematode and its IMs, elicits a potential to relieve asthma and other immune-related disorders. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory function of recombinant T. spiralis novel cystatin (rTsCstN) in ameliorating acute inflammatory asthma disorders in a murine model. Materials and Methods Female BALB/c mice were sensitized using intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA)/alum and subsequently challenged with intranasal administration of OVA alone or OVA + rTsCstN for 3 consecutive days, producing OVA-induced allergic asthma models. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of rTsCstN, the inflammatory cells and cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E levels in serum were assessed. Histological alterations in the lung tissues were determined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and eventually scored for the extent of inflammatory cell infiltration. Results The asthmatic mouse models challenged with OVA + rTsCstN demonstrated a significant reduction of eosinophils (p < 0.01), macrophages (p < 0.05), and cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.05) and interferon (IFN)-γ (p < 0.05) in BALF when compared with the mice challenged with OVA alone. However, the levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 remained unchanged. Histological examination revealed that mice administered OVA + rTsCstN were less likely to have inflammatory cell infiltration in their perivascular and peribronchial lung tissues than those administered OVA alone. Conclusion Recombinant T. spiralis novel cystatin demonstrated immunomodulatory effects to reduce severe pathogenic alterations in asthma mouse models, encouraging a viable alternative treatment for asthma and other immunoregulatory disorders in humans and animals in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nipa Thammasonthijarern
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kobporn Boonnak
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Onrapak Reamtong
- Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanyaluk Krasae
- Laboratory Animal Science Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Janyaporn Thankansakul
- Kasetsart University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wallaya Phongphaew
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sumate Ampawong
- Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Poom Adisakwattana
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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Leitão JH, Feliciano JR, Amdare N. Advances in Human Pathogen Control-A 21st Century Challenge. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1449. [PMID: 37766126 PMCID: PMC10537114 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of new pathogens, coupled with the reemergence of old pathogens and the steep worldwide increase in multiple resistances to available antimicrobials, poses major challenges to human health at the global scale [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge H Leitão
- Department of Bioengineering (DBE), Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), The Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy (i4HB), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana R Feliciano
- Department of Bioengineering (DBE), Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), The Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy (i4HB), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nitin Amdare
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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Mersha FB, McClung CM, Chen M, Ruse CI, Foster JM. Defining the filarial N-glycoproteome by glycosite mapping in the human parasitic nematode Brugia malayi. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7951. [PMID: 37193733 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34936-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
N-linked glycosylation is a critical post translational modification of eukaryotic proteins. N-linked glycans are present on surface and secreted filarial proteins that play a role in host parasite interactions. Examples of glycosylated Brugia malayi proteins have been previously identified but there has not been a systematic study of the N-linked glycoproteome of this or any other filarial parasite. In this study, we applied an enhanced N-glyco FASP protocol using an engineered carbohydrate-binding protein, Fbs1, to enrich N-glycosylated peptides for analysis by LC-MS/MS. We then mapped the N-glycosites on proteins from three host stages of the parasite: adult female, adult male and microfilariae. Fbs1 enrichment of N-glycosylated peptides enhanced the identification of N-glycosites. Our data identified 582 N-linked glycoproteins with 1273 N-glycosites. Gene ontology and cell localization prediction of the identified N-glycoproteins indicated that they were mostly membrane and extracellular proteins. Comparing results from adult female worms, adult male worms, and microfilariae, we find variability in N-glycosylation at the protein level as well as at the individual N-glycosite level. These variations are highlighted in cuticle N-glycoproteins and adult worm restricted N-glycoproteins as examples of proteins at the host parasite interface that are well positioned as potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers.
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microRNAs: Critical Players during Helminth Infections. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010061. [PMID: 36677353 PMCID: PMC9861972 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally through their interaction with the 3' untranslated regions (3' UTR) of target mRNAs, affecting their stability and/or translation. Therefore, miRNAs regulate biological processes such as signal transduction, cell death, autophagy, metabolism, development, cellular proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs is associated with infectious diseases, where miRNAs modulate important aspects of the parasite-host interaction. Helminths are parasitic worms that cause various neglected tropical diseases affecting millions worldwide. These parasites have sophisticated mechanisms that give them a surprising immunomodulatory capacity favoring parasite persistence and establishment of infection. In this review, we analyze miRNAs in infections caused by helminths, emphasizing their role in immune regulation and its implication in diagnosis, prognosis, and the development of therapeutic strategies.
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