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Chai J, Wu J, Li J, Liao H, Lu W, Guo R, Shao Z, Jmel MA, Martins LA, Hackeng T, Ippel H, Dijkgraaf I, Kotsyfakis M, Xu X. Novel Amphibian Bowman-Birk-Like Inhibitor with Antioxidant and Anticoagulant Effects Ameliorates Pancreatitis Symptoms in Mice. J Med Chem 2023; 66:11869-11880. [PMID: 37610210 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious inflammatory disorder and still lacks effective therapy globally. In this study, a novel Ranacyclin peptide, Ranacin, was identified from the skin of Pelophylax nigromaculatus frog. Ranacin adopted a compact β-hairpin conformation with a disulfide bond (Cys5-Cys15). Ranacin was also demonstrated effectively to inhibit trypsin and have anticoagulant and antioxidant activities in vitro. Furthermore, the severity of pancreatitis was significantly alleviated in l-Arg-induced AP mice after treatment with Ranacin. In addition, structure-activity studies of Ranacin analogues confirmed that the sequences outside the trypsin inhibitory loop (TIL), especially at the C-terminal side, might be closely associated with the efficacy of its trypsin inhibitory activity. In conclusion, our data suggest that Ranacin can improve pancreatic injury in mice with severe AP through its multi-activity. Therefore, Ranacin is considered a potential drug candidate in AP therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Chai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiena Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinqiao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hang Liao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wancheng Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ruiyin Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zuoyan Shao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mohamed Amine Jmel
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, Budweis (Ceske Budejovice) 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Larissa Almeida Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, Budweis (Ceske Budejovice) 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Tilman Hackeng
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Ippel
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Dijkgraaf
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, Budweis (Ceske Budejovice) 37005, Czech Republic
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, N. Plastira 100, 70013 Heracklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Xueqing Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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2
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Martins LA, de Moura AS, de Miranda CM, Cardoso AF. Identification and transcriptional profile of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) lipophorin in different stages. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 2022; 111:e21959. [PMID: 35996204 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lipophorin is a major hemolymph lipoprotein found in insects with a molecular native mass of 700 kDa. In mosquitoes, two different types of apolipoproteins are characterized, apolipophorin-I (ApoLp-I, ~250 kDa) and apolipophorin-II (ApoLp-II, ~80 kDa). This concentration depends on the stage of development and the age of the insects. Lipophorins are best studied in mosquitoes of the genus Aedes and Anopheles. In this study, we analyze the lipophorin sequence and show the lipophorin purification of the Culex quinquefasciatus and the transcriptional profile of the lipophorin gene in different life cycle stages. Similar amino acid composition and molecular weights are founded in three mosquitoes species lipophorins amino acid sequence. The two subunits of purified lipophorin (Apo I and Apo II) showed molecular masses of approximately 248 and 93 kDa, like that found in other mosquitoes. A gradual increase in the lipophorin expression gene was obtained during the previtellogenic period and after feeding we obtained peak expression at 24 h after feeding. With our results, we conclude that C. quinquefasciatus protein sequence has the same characteristics as those observed in other mosquitoes and that the expression of its apolipophorins is induced by blood feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Almeida Martins
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Alexandre Santos de Moura
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ceres Maciel de Miranda
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departament of Biology, State University of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - André Franco Cardoso
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departament of Biology, State University of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso, Brazil
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3
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Medina JM, Jmel MA, Cuveele B, Gómez-Martín C, Aparicio-Puerta E, Mekki I, Kotál J, Martins LA, Hackenberg M, Bensaoud C, Kotsyfakis M. Transcriptomic analysis of the tick midgut and salivary gland responses upon repeated blood-feeding on a vertebrate host. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:919786. [PMID: 35992165 PMCID: PMC9386188 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.919786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods that use the components of their salivary glands to counter the host’s hemostatic, inflammatory, and immune responses. The tick midgut also plays a crucial role in hematophagy. It is responsible for managing blood meals (storage and digestion) and protecting against host immunity and pathogen infections. Previous transcriptomic studies revealed the complexity of tick sialomes (salivary gland transcriptomes) and mialomes (midgut transcriptomes) which encode for protease inhibitors, lipocalins (histamine-binding proteins), disintegrins, enzymes, and several other tick-specific proteins. Several studies have demonstrated that mammalian hosts acquire tick resistance against repeated tick bites. Consequently, there is an urgent need to uncover how tick sialomes and mialomes respond to resistant hosts, as they may serve to develop novel tick control strategies and applications. Here, we mimicked natural repeated tick bites in a laboratory setting and analyzed gene expression dynamics in the salivary glands and midguts of adult female ticks. Rabbits were subjected to a primary (feeding on a naive host) and a secondary infestation of the same host (we re-exposed the hosts but to other ticks). We used single salivary glands and midguts dissected from individual siblings adult pathogen-free female Ixodes ricinus to reduce genetic variability between individual ticks. The comprehensive analysis of 88 obtained RNA-seq data sets allows us to provide high-quality annotated sialomes and mialomes from individual ticks. Comparisons between fed/unfed, timepoints, and exposures yielded as many as 3000 putative differentially expressed genes (DEG). Interestingly, when classifying the exposure DEGs by means of a clustering approach we observed that the majority of these genes show increased expression at early feeding time-points in the mid-gut of re-exposed ticks. The existence of clearly defined groups of genes with highly similar responses to re-exposure suggests the existence of molecular swiches. In silico functional analysis shows that these early feeding reexposure response genes form a dense interaction network at protein level being related to virtually all aspects of gene expression regulation and glycosylation. The processed data is available through an easy-to-use database-associated webpage (https://arn.ugr.es/IxoriDB/) that can serve as a valuable resource for tick research.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Medina
- Dpto. de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Lab. de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Granada, Spain
| | - Mohamed Amine Jmel
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czechia
| | - Brent Cuveele
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czechia
| | - Cristina Gómez-Martín
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Program Imaging and Biomarkers, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ernesto Aparicio-Puerta
- Dpto. de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Lab. de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Granada, Spain
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Imen Mekki
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Jan Kotál
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czechia
| | | | - Michael Hackenberg
- Dpto. de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- Lab. de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Granada, Spain
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Michail Kotsyfakis, ; Chaima Bensaoud,
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Budweis, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Michail Kotsyfakis, ; Chaima Bensaoud,
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Kascakova B, Kotal J, Martins LA, Berankova Z, Langhansova H, Calvo E, Crossley JA, Havlickova P, Dycka F, Prudnikova T, Kuty M, Kotsyfakis M, Chmelar J, Kuta Smatanova I. Structural and biochemical characterization of the novel serpin Iripin-5 from Ixodes ricinus. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:1183-1196. [PMID: 34473088 PMCID: PMC8573701 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321007920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Iripin-5 is the main Ixodes ricinus salivary serpin, which acts as a modulator of host defence mechanisms by impairing neutrophil migration, suppressing nitric oxide production by macrophages and altering complement functions. Iripin-5 influences host immunity and shows high expression in the salivary glands. Here, the crystal structure of Iripin-5 in the most thermodynamically stable state of serpins is described. In the reactive-centre loop, the main substrate-recognition site of Iripin-5 is likely to be represented by Arg342, which implies the targeting of trypsin-like proteases. Furthermore, a computational structural analysis of selected Iripin-5-protease complexes together with interface analysis revealed the most probable residues of Iripin-5 involved in complex formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Kascakova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kotal
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Larissa Almeida Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Berankova
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Langhansova
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eric Calvo
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Joel A. Crossley
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Havlickova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Dycka
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tatyana Prudnikova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Kuty
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jindrich Chmelar
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Kuta Smatanova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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5
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Chai J, Chen X, Ye T, Zeng B, Zeng Q, Wu J, Kascakova B, Martins LA, Prudnikova T, Smatanova IK, Kotsyfakis M, Xu X. Characterization and functional analysis of cathelicidin-MH, a novel frog-derived peptide with anti-septicemic properties. eLife 2021; 10:64411. [PMID: 33875135 PMCID: PMC8057816 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides form part of the innate immune response and play a vital role in host defense against pathogens. Here we report a new antimicrobial peptide belonging to the cathelicidin family, cathelicidin-MH (cath-MH), from the skin of Microhyla heymonsivogt frog. Cath-MH has a single α-helical structure in membrane-mimetic environments and is antimicrobial against fungi and bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast to other cathelicidins, cath-MH suppresses coagulation by affecting the enzymatic activities of tissue plasminogen activator, plasmin, β-tryptase, elastase, thrombin, and chymase. Cath-MH protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis, effectively ameliorating multiorgan pathology and inflammatory cytokine through its antimicrobial, LPS-neutralizing, coagulation suppressing effects as well as suppression of MAPK signaling. Taken together, these data suggest that cath-MH is an attractive candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of septic shock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Chai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tiaofei Ye
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baishuang Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingye Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiena Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Barbora Kascakova
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska, Czech Republic
| | - Larissa Almeida Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska, Czech Republic
| | - Tatyana Prudnikova
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska, Czech Republic
| | - Ivana Kuta Smatanova
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branisovska, Czech Republic
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska, Czech Republic
| | - Xueqing Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Campanini EB, Pedrino M, Martins LA, Athaide Neta OS, Carazzolle MF, Ciancaglini I, Malavazi I, Costa-Leonardo AM, de Melo Freire CC, Nunes FMF, da Cunha AF. Expression profiles of neotropical termites reveal microbiota-associated, caste-biased genes and biotechnological targets. Insect Mol Biol 2021; 30:152-164. [PMID: 33247845 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Termites are well recognized by their complex development trajectories, involving dynamic differentiation process between non-reproductive castes, workers and soldiers. These insects are associated with endosymbiotic microorganisms, which help in lignocellulose digestion and nitrogen metabolism. Aiming to identify genes harbouring biotechnological potential, we analyzed workers and soldiers RNA-Seq data of three neotropical termites: Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Velocitermes heteropterus (Isoptera: Termitidae) and Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera: Termitidae). We observed differences in the microbiota associated with each termite family, and found protists' genes in both Termitidae species. We found an opposite pattern of caste-biased gene expression between H. tenuis and the termitids studied. Moreover, the two termitids are considerably different concerning the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional annotation indicated considerable differences in caste-biased gene content between V. heteropterus and C. cumulans, even though they share similar diet and biological niche. Among the most DEGs, we highlighted those involved in caste differentiation and cellulose digestion, which are attractive targets for studying more efficient technologies for termite control, biomass digestion and other biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- E B Campanini
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - M Pedrino
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - L A Martins
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - O S Athaide Neta
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - M F Carazzolle
- Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - I Ciancaglini
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - I Malavazi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - A M Costa-Leonardo
- Laboratório de Cupins, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), campus de Rio Claro, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - C C de Melo Freire
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - F M F Nunes
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - A F da Cunha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
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7
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Chlastáková A, Kotál J, Beránková Z, Kaščáková B, Martins LA, Langhansová H, Prudnikova T, Ederová M, Kutá Smatanová I, Kotsyfakis M, Chmelař J. Iripin-3, a New Salivary Protein Isolated From Ixodes ricinus Ticks, Displays Immunomodulatory and Anti-Hemostatic Properties In Vitro. Front Immunol 2021; 12:626200. [PMID: 33732248 PMCID: PMC7957079 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.626200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick saliva is a rich source of pharmacologically and immunologically active molecules. These salivary components are indispensable for successful blood feeding on vertebrate hosts and are believed to facilitate the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Here we present the functional and structural characterization of Iripin-3, a protein expressed in the salivary glands of the tick Ixodes ricinus, a European vector of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. Belonging to the serpin superfamily of protease inhibitors, Iripin-3 strongly inhibited the proteolytic activity of serine proteases kallikrein and matriptase. In an in vitro setup, Iripin-3 was capable of modulating the adaptive immune response as evidenced by reduced survival of mouse splenocytes, impaired proliferation of CD4+ T lymphocytes, suppression of the T helper type 1 immune response, and induction of regulatory T cell differentiation. Apart from altering acquired immunity, Iripin-3 also inhibited the extrinsic blood coagulation pathway and reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bone marrow-derived macrophages. In addition to its functional characterization, we present the crystal structure of cleaved Iripin-3 at 1.95 Å resolution. Iripin-3 proved to be a pluripotent salivary serpin with immunomodulatory and anti-hemostatic properties that could facilitate tick feeding via the suppression of host anti-tick defenses. Physiological relevance of Iripin-3 activities observed in vitro needs to be supported by appropriate in vivo experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Chlastáková
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jan Kotál
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Zuzana Beránková
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Barbora Kaščáková
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Larissa Almeida Martins
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Helena Langhansová
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Tatyana Prudnikova
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Monika Ederová
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Ivana Kutá Smatanová
- Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jindřich Chmelař
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
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8
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Martins LA, Palmisano G, Cortez M, Kawahara R, de Freitas Balanco JM, Fujita A, Alonso BI, Barros-Battesti DM, Braz GRC, Tirloni L, Esteves E, Daffre S, Fogaça AC. The intracellular bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii exerts an inhibitory effect on the apoptosis of tick cells. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:603. [PMID: 33261663 PMCID: PMC7706286 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04477-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsia rickettsii is a tick-borne obligate intracellular bacterium that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a life-threatening illness. To obtain an insight into the vector-pathogen interactions, we assessed the effects of infection with R. rickettsii on the proteome cells of the tick embryonic cell line BME26. METHODS The proteome of BME26 cells was determined by label-free high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Also evaluated were the effects of infection on the activity of caspase-3, assessed by the hydrolysis of a synthetic fluorogenic substrate in enzymatic assays, and on the exposition of phosphatidyserine, evaluated by live-cell fluorescence microscopy after labeling with annexin-V. Finally, the effects of activation or inhibition of caspase-3 activity on the growth of R. rickettsii in BME26 cells was determined. RESULTS Tick proteins of different functional classes were modulated in a time-dependent manner by R. rickettsii infection. Regarding proteins involved in apoptosis, certain negative regulators were downregulated at the initial phase of the infection (6 h) but upregulated in the middle of the exponential phase of the bacterial growth (48 h). Microorganisms are known to be able to inhibit apoptosis of the host cell to ensure their survival and proliferation. We therefore evaluated the effects of infection on classic features of apoptotic cells and observed DNA fragmentation exclusively in noninfected cells. Moreover, both caspase-3 activity and phosphatidylserine exposition were lower in infected than in noninfected cells. Importantly, while the activation of caspase-3 exerted a detrimental effect on rickettsial proliferation, its inhibition increased bacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results show that R. rickettsii modulates the proteome and exerts an inhibitory effect on apoptosis in tick cellsthat seems to be important to ensure cell colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Almeida Martins
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, USA
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauro Cortez
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rebeca Kawahara
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - André Fujita
- Department of Computational Science, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Iglesias Alonso
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Gloria Regina Cardoso Braz
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Eliane Esteves
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sirlei Daffre
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Andréa Cristina Fogaça
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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9
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Martins LA, Bensaoud C, Kotál J, Chmelař J, Kotsyfakis M. Tick salivary gland transcriptomics and proteomics. Parasite Immunol 2020; 43:e12807. [PMID: 33135186 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
'Omics' technologies have facilitated the identification of hundreds to thousands of tick molecules that mediate tick feeding and play a role in the transmission of tick-borne diseases. Deep sequencing methodologies have played a key role in this knowledge accumulation, profoundly facilitating the study of the biology of disease vectors lacking reference genomes. For example, the nucleotide sequences of the entire set of tick salivary effectors, the so-called tick 'sialome', now contain at least one order of magnitude more transcript sequences compared to similar projects based on Sanger sequencing. Tick feeding is a complex and dynamic process, and while the dynamic 'sialome' is thought to mediate tick feeding success, exactly how transcriptome dynamics relate to tick-host-pathogen interactions is still largely unknown. The identification and, importantly, the functional analysis of the tick 'sialome' is expected to shed light on this 'black box'. This information will be crucial for developing strategies to block pathogen transmission, not only for anti-tick vaccine development but also the discovery and development of new, pharmacologically active compounds for human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Almeida Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Kotál
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Chmelař
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, 37005, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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10
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Bensaoud C, Martins LA, Aounallah H, Hackenberg M, Kotsyfakis M. Emerging roles of non-coding RNAs in vector-borne infections. J Cell Sci 2020; 134:134/5/jcs246744. [PMID: 33154170 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.246744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are nucleotide sequences that are known to assume regulatory roles previously thought to be reserved for proteins. Their functions include the regulation of protein activity and localization and the organization of subcellular structures. Sequencing studies have now identified thousands of ncRNAs encoded within the prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, leading to advances in several fields including parasitology. ncRNAs play major roles in several aspects of vector-host-pathogen interactions. Arthropod vector ncRNAs are secreted through extracellular vesicles into vertebrate hosts to counteract host defense systems and ensure arthropod survival. Conversely, hosts can use specific ncRNAs as one of several strategies to overcome arthropod vector invasion. In addition, pathogens transmitted through vector saliva into vertebrate hosts also possess ncRNAs thought to contribute to their pathogenicity. Recent studies have addressed ncRNAs in vectors or vertebrate hosts, with relatively few studies investigating the role of ncRNAs derived from pathogens and their involvement in establishing infections, especially in the context of vector-borne diseases. This Review summarizes recent data focusing on pathogen-derived ncRNAs and their role in modulating the cellular responses that favor pathogen survival in the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector, as well as host ncRNAs that interact with vector-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czechia
| | - Larissa Almeida Martins
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czechia
| | - Hajer Aounallah
- Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, LR11IPT03, Service d'entomologie médicale, 1002, Tunis, Tunisie.,Innovation and Development Laboratory, Innovation and Development Center, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Michael Hackenberg
- Dpto. de Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain.,Lab. de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, Granada 18100, Spain
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, Ceske Budejovice (Budweis), Czechia
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11
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Martins LA, Kotál J, Bensaoud C, Chmelař J, Kotsyfakis M. Small protease inhibitors in tick saliva and salivary glands and their role in tick-host-pathogen interactions. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics 2020; 1868:140336. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2019.140336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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12
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Rosa Júnior M, Amorim AC, Baldon IV, Martins LA, Pereira RM, Campos RP, Gonçalves SS, Velloso TRG, Peçanha P, Falqueto A. Paracoccidioidomycosis of the Central Nervous System: CT and MR Imaging Findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019; 40:1681-1688. [PMID: 31515216 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Paracoccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection mainly caused by the thermodimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the neuroimaging findings from 24 patients with CNS paracoccidioidomycosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis focusing on the radiologic characteristics of CNS paracoccidioidomycosis. The 24 selected patients underwent MR imaging and/or CT, and the diagnosis was made by the presence of typical neuroimaging features, combined with fungus isolation, a serologic test, or the presence of disseminated disease. RESULTS Headache was the most common neurologic symptom, while the pseudotumoral form was the most common pattern. The number of lesions ranged from 1 to 11, with most localized on the frontal lobe with >2-cm lesions. CT showed mainly hypoattenuating lesions, whereas MR imaging demonstrated mainly hyposignal lesions on T1WI and T2WI. Furthermore, ring enhancement was present in most patients. The "dual rim sign" on SWI occurred in 100% of our patients with lesions of >2 cm. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of CNS paracoccidioidomycosis is difficult. Nevertheless, imaging examinations can play an important role in the diagnosis and evaluation of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A C Amorim
- Radiology (A.C.A., I.V.B., L.A.M., R.M.P.), Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio de Moraes da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, HUCAM/UFES/EBSERH, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - I V Baldon
- Radiology (A.C.A., I.V.B., L.A.M., R.M.P.), Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio de Moraes da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, HUCAM/UFES/EBSERH, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - L A Martins
- Radiology (A.C.A., I.V.B., L.A.M., R.M.P.), Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio de Moraes da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, HUCAM/UFES/EBSERH, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - R M Pereira
- Radiology (A.C.A., I.V.B., L.A.M., R.M.P.), Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio de Moraes da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, HUCAM/UFES/EBSERH, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - R P Campos
- Department of Neuroradiology (R.P.C.), Hospital Meridional, Cariacica, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | | | | | - P Peçanha
- Infectious Disease (P.P., A.F.), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - A Falqueto
- Infectious Disease (P.P., A.F.), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
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13
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Wearick-Silva LE, Orso R, Martins LA, Creutzberg KC, Centeno-Silva A, Xavier LL, Grassi-Oliveira R, Mestriner RG. Dual influences of early life stress induced by limited bedding on walking adaptability and Bdnf/TrkB and Drd1/Drd2 gene expression in different mouse brain regions. Behav Brain Res 2018; 359:66-72. [PMID: 30347225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Evidence suggests early life stress impairs development, quality of life and increases vulnerability to disease. One important aspect of the stress experience is its impact on cognitive-motor performance, which includes the ability to adapt walking according to the environmental conditions. This study aimed to investigate how early-life stress affects walking adaptability of mice, while investigating BDNF/TrkB and Drd1/Drd2 expression in different brain regions. Methods Briefly, we exposed male C56BL/6 to the limited bedding protocol (LB) from post-natal day (PND) 2 to PND9 and then tested animals in the ladder walking task at PND60. RT-qPCR was used to investigate gene expression in the mPFC, hippocampus, motor cortex and cerebellum 2 h after the task Results LB induced a wide range of variability and therefore two distinct subgroups of animals within the LB group were established: a) superior performance (LB-SP); and b) inferior performance (LB-IP), compared to controls. Additionally, Drd1 gene expression was increased in the mPFC of LB-IP animals and in the cerebellum of LB-SP animals, while Drd2 expression was reduced in the hippocampus of the LB-IP group. BDNF exon IV gene expression in the mPFC and motor cortex was increased in both the LB-IP and LB-SP subgroups. TrkB gene expression in the hippocampus was reduced in the LB-IP group. A strong negative correlation was found between walking adaptability performance and BDNF exon IV gene expression in the motor cortex. Conversely, a positive correlation was found between walking adaptability performance and TrkB expression in the mPFC and a negative correlation in the hippocampus. Both Drd1 and Drd2 gene expression were negatively correlated with the ability to adapt walking. Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest exposure to early life stress leads to distinct walking adaptability phenotypes, which may be related to Drd1, Drd2, Bdnf exon IV and TrkB gene expression in brain regions that influence walking adaptability.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Wearick-Silva
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - R Orso
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - L A Martins
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair Research Group, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - K C Creutzberg
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - A Centeno-Silva
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - L L Xavier
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair Research Group, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - R Grassi-Oliveira
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - R G Mestriner
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair Research Group, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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14
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Previato do Amaral PFG, Otutumi LK, Rodrigues GV, Lima ET, Fernandes JIM, Vendrame A, Mezalira TS, Suenaga SS, Sestari DAO, Cestari IED, Martins LA. ASSESSMENT OF BENZOPHENANTHRIDINE AND PROTOPINE ALKALOIDS IN BROILER CHALLENGED AND NOT BY SALMONELLA HEIDELBERG. Rev Bras Cienc Avic 2016. [DOI: 10.1590/1806-9061-2015-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - ET Lima
- Federal University of Paraná, Brazil
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15
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Pinto JGG, Martins LA, Cavalheiro JS, Acorsi MJ, Pedrini SCB, Soares AMVC, Oliveira SL. Cytokine production in lungs and adrenal glands of high and low antibody producing mice infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Med Mycol 2006; 44:505-14. [PMID: 16966167 DOI: 10.1080/13693780600760781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice genetically selected for high (H) and low (L) antibody production (HIV-A and LIV-A) were used in an experimental model of paracoccidioidomycosis. In a previous work, it was observed that male HIV-A animals were more susceptible to the infection due to adrenal gland damage. Male HIV-A and LIV-A animals were intravenously inoculated with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (strain 18) and sacrificed 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after inoculation. At each time interval, lungs and adrenals were removed to estimate recoverability of the fungus, as well as to determine Th1 (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) and Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine profiles. While viable fungi recoverability from the lungs of HIV-A mice was higher after 4 and 8 weeks, there was less fungal recovery from the adrenals of LIV-A animals after the 2nd week, with total fungal elimination after the 8th week. With regard to Th2 cytokines, there was an inhibition in IL-4 production in the organs from infected animals, the extent of which varied according to the organ and the time period after initiation of infection. IL-10 production was found to be lower in both organs. Determination of Th1 cytokines revealed that IFN-gamma production increased in both organs, mainly in the adrenal of LIV-A after 8 and 10 weeks, when these animals showed a total fungal elimination. A significant difference was observed between HIV-A and LIV-A concerning TNF-alpha production in both organs and at all recovery times, in that LIV-A produced a higher level of this cytokine, mainly in the adrenal. These results may explain the high susceptibility of HIV-A to P. brasiliensis infection, is due, at least in part, to adrenal involvement. The higher production of Th1 cytokines by LIV-A in comparison to HIV-A mice may account for LIV-A resistance to P. brasiliensis infection. Our data reveal the importance of this experimental model in the study of the adrenal involvement in paracoccidioidomycosis, since this gland may be highly compromised in the patients, leading to the development of Addison's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G G Pinto
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences InstituteUNESP-São Paulo State University, Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil
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Abstract
Focusing primarily on McClung's hypothesis linking the extra chromosome (X) to gender determination, the article studies some contributions derived from the initial stages in development of the chromosome theory of gender determination. The arguments of McClung and others are analyzed, along with the reaction of the era's scientific community. Although McClung's hypothesis was wrong, it triggered a series of research studies that eventually led to clarification of the question. Even mistaken hypotheses, when adopted for investigation and testing, can contribute to scientific development.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Martins
- Grupo de historia e teoria da ciencia na Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brasil
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