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Pinto AI, Caldas C, Santarém N, Luelmo S, Costa I, Martins C, Monteiro R, Conde S, Tavares R, da Silva AC. Leishmania and HIV co-infection: first naturally Leishmania strain presenting decreased susceptibility to miltefosine, recovered from a patient in Portugal. J Infect Public Health 2024; 17:810-818. [PMID: 38522155 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2024.03.008] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Europe, up to 70% of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases occurring in adults living with HIV. People living with HIV with VL co-infection often display persistent parasitemia, requiring chronic intermittent anti-Leishmania therapies. Consequently, frequent VL relapses and higher mortality rates are common in these individuals. As such, it is of paramount importance to understand the reasons for parasite persistence to improve infection management. METHODS To outline possible causes for treatment failure in the context of HIV-VL, we followed a person living with HIV-VL co-infection for nine years in a 12-month period. We characterized: HIV-related clinicopathological alterations (CD4+ T counts and viremia) and Leishmania-specific seroreactivity, parasitemia, quantification of pro-inflammatory cytokines upon stimulation and studied a Leishmania clinical isolate recovered during this period. RESULTS The subject presented controlled viremia and low CD4+ counts. The subject remained PCR positive for Leishmania and also seropositive. The cellular response to parasite antigens was erratic. The isolate was identified as the first Leishmania infantum case with evidence of decreased miltefosine susceptibility in Portugal. CONCLUSION Treatment failure is a multifactorial process driven by host and parasite determinants. Still, the real-time determination of drug susceptibility profiles in clinical isolates is an unexplored resource in the monitoring of VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Pinto
- Host-Parasite Interaction Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, i3S, 4200-135 Oporto, Portugal.
| | - Cátia Caldas
- Infectious Disease Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, 4200-319 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Host-Parasite Interaction Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, i3S, 4200-135 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Sara Luelmo
- Host-Parasite Interaction Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, i3S, 4200-135 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Inês Costa
- Host-Parasite Interaction Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, i3S, 4200-135 Oporto, Portugal; Microbiology Department, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Martins
- Host-Parasite Interaction Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, i3S, 4200-135 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Monteiro
- Host-Parasite Interaction Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, i3S, 4200-135 Oporto, Portugal; Microbiology Department, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Sílvia Conde
- Clinical Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, 4200-319 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Tavares
- Infectious Disease Department, Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, 2674-514 Loures, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro da Silva
- Host-Parasite Interaction Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde da Universidade do Porto, i3S, 4200-135 Oporto, Portugal; Microbiology Department, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Oporto, Portugal
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2
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Carvalho DT, Teixeira M, Luelmo S, Santarém N, Pinto E, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Sousa E. Synthesis and Evaluation of Marine-Inspired Compounds Result in Hybrids with Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial Activities. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:551. [PMID: 37999375 PMCID: PMC10671849 DOI: 10.3390/md21110551] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products are a very rich source for obtaining new compounds with therapeutic potential. In the search for new antiparasitic and antimicrobial agents, molecular hybrids were designed based on the structures of antimicrobial marine quinazolinones and eugenol, a natural phenolic compound. Following reports of the therapeutic potential of quinazolinones and eugenol derivatives, it was expected that the union of these pharmacophores could generate biologically relevant substances. The designed compounds were obtained by classical synthetic procedures and were characterized by routine spectrometric techniques. Nine intermediates and final products were then evaluated in vitro against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania infantum. Antifungal and antibacterial activity were also evaluated. Six compounds (9b, 9c, 9d, 10b, 10c, and 14) showed mild activity against T. brucei with IC50 in the range of 11.17-31.68 μM. Additionally, intermediate 9c showed anti-Leishmania activity (IC50 7.54 μM) and was six times less cytotoxic against THP-1 cells. In conclusion, novel derivatives with a simple quinazolinone scaffold showing selectivity against parasites without antibacterial and antifungal activities were disclosed, paving the way for new antitrypanosomal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Teixeira Carvalho
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Laboratory of Research in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Food and Drugs, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Rua Gabriel Monteiro da Silva 700, Alfenas 37130-001, Brazil
| | - Melissa Teixeira
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (N.S.); (E.P.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
| | - Sara Luelmo
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (N.S.); (E.P.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Eugénia Pinto
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (N.S.); (E.P.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (N.S.); (E.P.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratory of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
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3
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Santarém N, Cardoso L, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Advances in Leishmania Research: From Basic Parasite Biology to Disease Control. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030696. [PMID: 36985269 PMCID: PMC10052070 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Leishmania (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) currently comprises just over 50 species, of which about 20 cause several syndromes in humans, collectively known as leishmaniasis or "leishmaniases" [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, and CECAV-Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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4
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Lima CM, Santarém N, Neves NC, Sarmento P, Carrapato C, de Sousa R, Cardoso L, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Serological and Molecular Survey of Leishmania infantum in a Population of Iberian Lynxes ( Lynx pardinus). Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122447. [PMID: 36557700 PMCID: PMC9788222 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122447] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum, the sand fly-transmitted protozoan parasite responsible for leishmaniasis in humans, dogs, and cats, is endemic in the Iberian Peninsula. However, the impact of L. infantum infection on the conservation of the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is unknown. Herein, we describe for the first time the occurrence of L. infantum infection among a population of reintroduced and wild-born L. pardinus living in the Portuguese Guadiana Valley Park. The presence of infection was addressed by molecular detection of Leishmania kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) in 35 lynxes, with further confirmation of L. infantum species performed by an internally transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 sequencing. Eight blood samples were positive for kDNA, and ITS-1 sequencing confirmed the presence of L. infantum in two of those samples. Exposure to Leishmania was screened in a group of 36 lynxes using an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and a multi-antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using SPLA, rK39, and CPX as Leishmania-specific antigens. Four animals presented a positive IFAT at a dilution of 1:40. Eight samples were considered seropositive to all ELISA Leishmania-specific antigens. Agreement between PCR, IFAT, and all ELISA antigens was found for 1 in 27 samples. These results highlight the susceptibility of autochthonous L. pardinus to L. infantum infection. Further investigation is required to assess the impact of L. infantum infection on this wild species conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara M. Lima
- Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (L.C.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
| | - Nuno Costa Neves
- Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), 7800-298 Beja, Portugal
| | - Pedro Sarmento
- Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), 7800-298 Beja, Portugal
| | - Carlos Carrapato
- Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), 7800-298 Beja, Portugal
| | - Rita de Sousa
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Disease Research (CEVDI), National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, and CECAV—Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (L.C.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (L.C.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
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5
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Esteves S, Costa I, Luelmo S, Santarém N, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Leishmania Vesicle-Depleted Exoproteome: What, Why, and How? Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122435. [PMID: 36557688 PMCID: PMC9781507 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122435] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a vector-borne parasitic protozoan disease, is among the most important neglected tropical diseases. In the absence of vaccines, disease management is challenging. The available chemotherapy is suboptimal, and there are growing concerns about the emergence of drug resistance. Thus, a better understanding of parasite biology is essential to generate new strategies for disease control. In this context, in vitro parasite exoproteome characterization enabled the identification of proteins involved in parasite survival, pathogenesis, and other biologically relevant processes. After 2005, with the availability of genomic information, these studies became increasingly feasible and revealed the true complexity of the parasite exoproteome. After the discovery of Leishmania extracellular vesicles (EVs), most exoproteome studies shifted to the characterization of EVs. The non-EV portion of the exoproteome, named the vesicle-depleted exoproteome (VDE), has been mostly ignored even if it accounts for a significant portion of the total exoproteome proteins. Herein, we summarize the importance of total exoproteome studies followed by a special emphasis on the available information and the biological relevance of the VDE. Finally, we report on how VDE can be studied and disclose how it might contribute to providing biologically relevant targets for diagnosis, drug, and vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Esteves
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Costa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Luelmo
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: (N.S.); (A.C.-d.-S.)
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6
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Lopes A, Santarém N, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Carvalho MA. Pyrimido[5,4- d]pyrimidine-Based Compounds as a Novel Class of Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial Agents. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1427-1433. [PMID: 36105326 PMCID: PMC9465711 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00170] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleeping sickness and leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases that threaten millions of people. The currently available therapies present several limitations, including high toxicity, lack of efficacy, and emerging drug resistance, prompting a search for novel therapeutic agents. In this work, we designed, synthesized, and in vitro evaluated the activity of new pyrimido[5,4-d]pyrimidines against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania infantum (promastigote and amastigote forms). The cytotoxicity of the compounds against the THP1 cell line was also assessed. Most tested compounds presented low micromolar activity against T. brucei with IC50 values in the range between 0.9 and 13.4 μM, and one compound also showed activity against L. infantum (IC50 = 3.13 μM). Several molecules presented a selectivity index higher than 10. The most active compound against booth parasites is derivative 4c, with IC50 = 0.94 μM (SI > 107) against T. brucei and IC50 = 3.13 μM (SI > 32) against L. infantum. This data enabled the identification of a new promising molecular scaffold for developing a novel class of antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Lopes
- Centre
of Chemistry, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Departamento
de Química, Escola de Ciências
da Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Instituto
de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
da Universidade do Porto, R. Alfredo Allen 208 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento
de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade
de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP), 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Instituto
de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
da Universidade do Porto, R. Alfredo Allen 208 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento
de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade
de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP), 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Instituto
de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
da Universidade do Porto, R. Alfredo Allen 208 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento
de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade
de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto (FFUP), 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - M. Alice Carvalho
- Centre
of Chemistry, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Departamento
de Química, Escola de Ciências
da Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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7
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De Marchi JGB, Cé R, Onzi G, Alves ACS, Santarém N, Cordeiro da Silva A, Pohlmann AR, Guterres SS, Ribeiro AJ. IgG functionalized polymeric nanoparticles for oral insulin administration. Int J Pharm 2022; 622:121829. [PMID: 35580686 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The oral route is the best way to administer a drug; however, fitting peptide drugs in this route is a major challenge. In insulin cases, less than 0.5% of the administered dose achieves systemic circulation. Oral delivery by nanoparticles can increase insulin permeability across the intestinal epithelium while maintaining its structure and activity until release in the gut. This system can be improved to increase permeability across intestinal cells through active delivery. This study aimed to improve a nanoparticle formulation by promoting functionalization of its surface with immunoglobulin G to increase its absorption by intestinal epithelium. The characterization of formulations showed an adequate size and a good entrapment efficiency. Functionalized nanoparticles led to a desirable increase in insulin release time. Differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy and paper chromatography proved the interactions of nanoparticle components. With immunoglobulin G, the nanoparticle size was slightly increased, which did not show aggregate formation. The developed functionalized nanoparticle formulation proved to be adequate to carry insulin and potentially increase its internalization by epithelial gut cells, being a promising alternative to the existing formulations for orally administered low-absorption peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G B De Marchi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; Universidade de Coimbra, Faculdade de Farmácia, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - R Cé
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90650-001, Brazil
| | - G Onzi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil
| | - A C S Alves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90650-001, Brazil
| | - N Santarém
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - A Cordeiro da Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; i(3)S, IBMC, Rua Alfredo Allen, Porto, Portugal
| | - A R Pohlmann
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90650-001, Brazil
| | - S S Guterres
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil
| | - A J Ribeiro
- Universidade de Coimbra, Faculdade de Farmácia, Coimbra, Portugal; i(3)S, IBMC, Rua Alfredo Allen, Porto, Portugal.
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8
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Long S, Duarte D, Carvalho C, Oliveira R, Santarém N, Palmeira A, Resende DISP, Silva AMS, Moreira R, Kijjoa A, Cordeiro da Silva A, Nogueira F, Sousa E, Pinto MMM. Indole-Containing Pyrazino[2,1- b]quinazoline-3,6-diones Active against Plasmodium and Trypanosomatids. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:225-235. [PMID: 35178179 PMCID: PMC8842117 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria, leishmaniasis, and sleeping sickness are potentially fatal diseases that represent a real health risk for more than 3,5 billion people. New antiparasitic compounds are urgent leading to a constant search for novel scaffolds. Herein, pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones containing indole alkaloids were explored for their antiparasitic potential against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania infantum. The synthetic libraries furnished promising hit compounds that are species specific (7, 12) or with broad antiparasitic activity (8). Structure-activity relationships were more evident for Plasmodium with anti-isomers (1S,4R) possessing excellent antimalarial activity, while the presence of a substituent on the anthranilic acid moiety had a negative effect on the activity. Hit compounds against malaria did not inhibit β-hematin, and in silico studies predicted these molecules as possible inhibitors for prolyl-tRNA synthetase both from Plasmodium and Leishmania. These results disclosed a potential new chemotype for further optimization toward novel and affordable antiparasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solida Long
- Laboratório
de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal,Department
of Bioengineering, Royal University of Phnom
Penh, Russian Confederation
Blvd, 12156 Phnom
Penh, Cambodia
| | - Denise Duarte
- Global
Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina
Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla Carvalho
- Parasite
Disease Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia
Molecular e Celular, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Rafael Oliveira
- Global
Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina
Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite
Disease Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia
Molecular e Celular, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia Palmeira
- Laboratório
de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal,CIIMAR
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e
Ambiental, Terminal de
Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Diana I. S. P. Resende
- Laboratório
de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal,CIIMAR
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e
Ambiental, Terminal de
Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Artur M. S. Silva
- QOPNA
- Química
Orgânica, Produtos Naturais e Agroalimentares, Departamento
de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rui Moreira
- Research
Institute for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Sciences (iMed.UL), Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-019 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Anake Kijjoa
- CIIMAR
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e
Ambiental, Terminal de
Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal,ICBAS-Instituto
de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro da Silva
- Parasite
Disease Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia
Molecular e Celular, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal,Departamento
de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Nogueira
- Global
Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina
Tropical, IHMT, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal,. Phone: +351 213652600
| | - Emília Sousa
- Laboratório
de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal,CIIMAR
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e
Ambiental, Terminal de
Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal,. Phone: +351-220428689
| | - Madalena M. M. Pinto
- Laboratório
de Química Orgânica e Farmacêutica, Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal,CIIMAR
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e
Ambiental, Terminal de
Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
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9
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Barroso C, Carvalho P, Carvalho C, Santarém N, Gonçalves JFM, Rodrigues PNS, Neves JV. The Diverse Piscidin Repertoire of the European Sea Bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax): Molecular Characterization and Antimicrobial Activities. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134613. [PMID: 32610543 PMCID: PMC7369796 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish rely on their innate immune responses to cope with the challenging aquatic environment, with antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) being one of the first line of defenses. Piscidins are a group of fish specific AMPs isolated in several species. However, in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchuslabrax), the piscidin family remains poorly understood. We identified six different piscidins in sea bass, performed an in-depth molecular characterization and evaluated their antimicrobial activities against several bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Sea bass piscidins present variable amino acid sequences and antimicrobial activities, and can be divided in different sub groups: group 1, formed by piscidins 1 and 4; group 2, constituted by piscidins 2 and 5, and group 3, formed by piscidins 6 and 7. Additionally, we demonstrate that piscidins 1 to 5 possess a broad effect on multiple microorganisms, including mammalian parasites, while piscidins 6 and 7 have poor antibacterial and antiparasitic activities. These results raise questions on the functions of these peptides, particularly piscidins 6 and 7. Considering their limited antimicrobial activity, these piscidins might have other functional roles, but further studies are necessary to better understand what roles might those be.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Barroso
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.C.); (N.S.); (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Iron and Innate Immunity, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Programa Doutoral em Biologia Molecular e Celular (MCbiology), ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Pedro Carvalho
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
| | - Carla Carvalho
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.C.); (N.S.); (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Parasite Disease, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.C.); (N.S.); (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Parasite Disease, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - José F. M. Gonçalves
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
- CIIMAR—Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro N. S. Rodrigues
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.C.); (N.S.); (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Iron and Innate Immunity, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
| | - João V. Neves
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.C.); (N.S.); (P.N.S.R.); (J.V.N.)
- Iron and Innate Immunity, IBMC—Instituto de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (P.C.); (J.F.M.G.)
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10
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Linciano P, Cullia G, Borsari C, Santucci M, Ferrari S, Witt G, Gul S, Kuzikov M, Ellinger B, Santarém N, Cordeiro da Silva A, Conti P, Bolognesi ML, Roberti M, Prati F, Bartoccini F, Retini M, Piersanti G, Cavalli A, Goldoni L, Bertozzi SM, Bertozzi F, Brambilla E, Rizzo V, Piomelli D, Pinto A, Bandiera T, Costi MP. Identification of a 2,4-diaminopyrimidine scaffold targeting Trypanosoma brucei pteridine reductase 1 from the LIBRA compound library screening campaign. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 189:112047. [PMID: 31982652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The LIBRA compound library is a collection of 522 non-commercial molecules contributed by various Italian academic laboratories. These compounds have been designed and synthesized during different medicinal chemistry programs and are hosted by the Italian Institute of Technology. We report the screening of the LIBRA compound library against Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major pteridine reductase 1, TbPTR1 and LmPTR1. Nine compounds were active against parasitic PTR1 and were selected for cell-based parasite screening, as single agents and in combination with methotrexate (MTX). The most interesting TbPTR1 inhibitor identified was 4-(benzyloxy)pyrimidine-2,6-diamine (LIB_66). Subsequently, six new LIB_66 derivatives were synthesized to explore its Structure-Activity-Relationship (SAR) and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties. The results indicate that PTR1 has a preference to bind inhibitors, which resemble its biopterin/folic acid substrates, such as the 2,4-diaminopyrimidine derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Linciano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Gregorio Cullia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Borsari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Matteo Santucci
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Stefania Ferrari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Gesa Witt
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology - ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sheraz Gul
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology - ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology - ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Ellinger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology - ScreeningPort, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal and Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro da Silva
- Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal and Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde, Universidade Do Porto, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Paola Conti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bolognesi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marinella Roberti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Federica Prati
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Bartoccini
- Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Michele Retini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Chemistry, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Piazza Rinascimento 6, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Giovanni Piersanti
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Section of Chemistry, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Piazza Rinascimento 6, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavalli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126, Bologna, Italy; Computational and Chemical Biology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Luca Goldoni
- Analytical Chemistry Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Sine Mandrup Bertozzi
- Analytical Chemistry Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Fabio Bertozzi
- PharmaChemistry Line, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Enzo Brambilla
- PharmaChemistry Line, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Rizzo
- PharmaChemistry Line, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 92697-4625, USA
| | - Andrea Pinto
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziano Bandiera
- PharmaChemistry Line, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Costi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125, Modena, Italy.
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11
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Mendes Costa D, Cecílio P, Santarém N, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Tavares J. Murine infection with bioluminescent Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes applied to drug discovery. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18989. [PMID: 31831809 PMCID: PMC6908656 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55474-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is an important vector-borne neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites. Current anti-Leishmania chemotherapy is unsatisfactory, justifying the continued search for alternative treatment options. Herein, we demonstrate that luciferase-expressing Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes, unlike promastigotes, are highly infectious to BALB/c mice and thus generate a robust bioluminescent signal in target organs, such as the liver and the spleen, as early as two weeks after infection. Treatment with the reference drugs amphotericin B and miltefosine was effective at reducing parasite burdens. This model allows the assessment of treatment efficacy using whole-mouse bioluminescence imaging without the need to wait several weeks for spleen infections to be detectable by this non-invasive method. In conclusion, we propose the use of this model in an initial approach to evaluate the treatment efficacy of promising chemical entities without having to sacrifice large numbers of animals or to wait several days for a readout.
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12
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Lima C, Santarém N, Nieto J, Moreno J, Carrillo E, Bartholomeu DC, Bueno LL, Fujiwara R, Amorim C, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. The Use of Specific Serological Biomarkers to Detect CaniLeish Vaccination in Dogs. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:373. [PMID: 31709270 PMCID: PMC6821643 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) prevention in the Mediterranean basin is considered essential to stop human zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis. In this context, vaccination of dogs is expected to have a significant impact in disease control. CaniLeish® (Virbac Animal Health) is one of a few CanL vaccines that are at this moment licensed in Europe. This vaccine contains purified excreted-secreted proteins of Leishmania having several antigens/immunogens with potential to influence serological response. Therefore, it is important to know if CaniLeish vaccination increased the diagnostic challenges associated with conventional serology, limiting the value of some antigens. To address this 20 dogs from a cohort of 35 healthy dogs that were vaccinated, maintained indoor for 1 month and then returned to their natural domiciles for 2 years. After this period, they were re-called to evaluate their clinical/parasitological condition and assess the evolution of seroreactivity against different antigens: soluble promastigote Leishmania antigens (SPLA), recombinant protein Leishmania infantum cytosolic peroxiredoxin, recombinant protein K39 (rK39), recombinant protein K28 and recombinant kinesin degenerated derived repeat using ELISA. Two years after vaccination all vaccinated non-infected animals were seropositive for SPLA. For the other antigens the serological profile was indistinguishable from non-infected animals. Moreover, vaccinated animals presented a characteristic relative serological profile, with higher normalized serological response to SPLA than rK39. This fact enabled to distinguish with sensitivity 92.3% and specificity 95.4%, vaccinated non-infected dogs from infected and non-infected dogs. Ultimately, relative serological profile enabled the detection of healthy vaccinated animals enabling more accurate serological surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lima
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Javier Nieto
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Javier Moreno
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Eugenia Carrillo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Leishmaniasis, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lilian Lacerda Bueno
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Fujiwara
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Célia Amorim
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Porto, Portugal
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13
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Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is mainly caused by Leishmania donovani (India and East Africa), and Leishmania infantum (Mediterranean Basin and South America) infections. Although murine models of visceral infection lack the clinicopathological aspects of VL in humans, they have been proven useful at advancing our knowledge in the Leishmania field. Indeed, these models have been used not only to better understand the pathophysiology of the infection but also in drug and vaccine development. This chapter focuses on the protocols used to experimentally infect mice and to quantify parasite burdens in mice infected with L. infantum using limiting dilution methodology of target organs and whole-mouse in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Tavares
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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14
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Abstract
The study of in vitro infections is essential to evaluate distinct aspects of Leishmania biology and also invaluable for more meaningful in vitro screening of promising chemical entities. Macrophage-like cells lines from different origins are amenable to Leishmania infection. Cell lines due to their stability and standardization potential are highly valued for their capacity to support reproducible infections and consistent data. In fact, these cells have been a mainstay of leishmaniasis research for more than 40 years. In this context, the human monocytic THP-1 cell line is commonly used as it can be differentiated with phorbol-12myristate-13-acetate (PMA) into macrophages that are susceptible to Leishmania infection. In this section, we will describe generalities concerning the use of cell lines for in vitro Leishmania infection using THP-1 derived macrophages and Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes expressing luciferase associated to preclinical drug screening as example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Santarém
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Parasite Disease Group, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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15
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Pérez-Cabezas B, Santarém N, Cecílio P, Silva C, Silvestre R, A M Catita J, Cordeiro da Silva A. More than just exosomes: distinct Leishmania infantum extracellular products potentiate the establishment of infection. J Extracell Vesicles 2018; 8:1541708. [PMID: 30455859 PMCID: PMC6237156 DOI: 10.1080/20013078.2018.1541708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of secretion pathways for effector molecule delivery by microorganisms is a trademark of pathogenesis. Leishmania extracellular vesicles (EVs) were shown to have significant immunomodulatory potential. Still, they will act in conjunction with other released parasite-derived products that might modify the EVs effects. Notwithstanding, the immunomodulatory properties of these non-vesicular components and their influence in the infectious process remains unknown. To address this, we explored both in vitro and in vivo the immunomodulatory potential of promastigotes extracellular material (EXO), obtained as a whole or separated in two different fractions: EVs or vesicle depleted EXO (VDE). Using an air pouch model, we observed that EVs and VDE induced a dose-dependent cell recruitment profile different from the one obtained with parasites, attracting significantly fewer neutrophils and more dendritic cells (DCs). Additionally, when we co-inoculated parasites with extracellular products a drop in cell recruitment was observed. Moreover, in vitro, while VDE (but not EVs) downregulated the expression of DCs and macrophages activation markers, both products were able to diminish the responsiveness of these cells to LPS. Finally, the presence of Leishmania infantum extracellular products in the inoculum promoted a dose-dependent infection potentiation in vivo, highlighting their relevance for the infectious process. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that EVs are not the only relevant players among the parasite exogenous products. This, together with the dose-dependency observed, opens new avenues to the comprehension of Leishmania infectious process. The approach presented here should be exploited to revisit existing data and considered for future studies in other infection models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Pérez-Cabezas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Cecílio
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cátia Silva
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Microbiology and Infection Research Domain, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - José A M Catita
- FP-ENAS Research Unit, UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit, CEBIMED, Biomedical Research Centre, Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal.,Paralab, SA, Valbom, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro da Silva
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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16
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Belo R, Santarém N, Pereira C, Pérez-Cabezas B, Macedo F, Leite-de-Moraes M, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Leishmania infantum Exoproducts Inhibit Human Invariant NKT Cell Expansion and Activation. Front Immunol 2017; 8:710. [PMID: 28674535 PMCID: PMC5474685 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infantum is one of the major parasite species associated with visceral leishmaniasis, a severe form of the disease that can become lethal if untreated. This obligate intracellular parasite has developed diverse strategies to escape the host immune response, such as exoproducts (Exo) carrying a wide range of molecules, including parasite virulence factors, which are potentially implicated in early stages of infection. Herein, we report that L. infantum Exo and its two fractions composed of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and vesicle-depleted-exoproducts (VDEs) inhibit human peripheral blood invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell expansion in response to their specific ligand, the glycolipid α-GalactosylCeramide (α-GalCer), as well as their capacity to promptly produce IL-4 and IFNγ. Using plate-bound CD1d and α-GalCer, we found that Exo, EV, and VDE fractions reduced iNKT cell activation in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that they prevented α-GalCer presentation by CD1d molecules. This direct effect on CD1d was confirmed by the observation that CD1d:α-GalCer complex formation was impaired in the presence of Exo, EV, and VDE fractions. Furthermore, lipid extracts from the three compounds mimicked the inhibition of iNKT cell activation. These lipid components of L. infantum exoproducts, including EV and VDE fractions, might compete for CD1-binding sites, thus blocking iNKT cell activation. Overall, our results provide evidence for a novel strategy through which L. infantum can evade immune responses of mammalian host cells by preventing iNKT lymphocytes from recognizing glycolipids in a TCR-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Belo
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Institute for Investigation and Innovation in Health (i3S), Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Immunopathology, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, CNRS UMR 8253 and INSERM UMR 1151, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Institute for Investigation and Innovation in Health (i3S), Porto, Portugal
| | - Cátia Pereira
- Cell Activation and Gene Expression, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Institute for Investigation and Innovation in Health (i3S), Porto, Portugal
| | - Begoña Pérez-Cabezas
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Institute for Investigation and Innovation in Health (i3S), Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Macedo
- Cell Activation and Gene Expression, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Institute for Investigation and Innovation in Health (i3S), Porto, Portugal.,Department of Medical Science, Aveiro University, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Maria Leite-de-Moraes
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation and Immunopathology, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, CNRS UMR 8253 and INSERM UMR 1151, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), Institute for Investigation and Innovation in Health (i3S), Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Faria J, Loureiro I, Santarém N, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Tavares J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Leishmania infantum Asparagine Synthetase A Is Dispensable for Parasites Survival and Infectivity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004365. [PMID: 26771178 PMCID: PMC4714757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing interest in asparagine (Asn) metabolism has currently been observed in cancer and infection fields. Asparagine synthetase (AS) is responsible for the conversion of aspartate into Asn in an ATP-dependent manner, using ammonia or glutamine as a nitrogen source. There are two structurally distinct AS: the strictly ammonia dependent, type A, and the type B, which preferably uses glutamine. Absent in humans and present in trypanosomatids, AS-A was worthy of exploring as a potential drug target candidate. Appealingly, it was reported that AS-A was essential in Leishmania donovani, making it a promising drug target. In the work herein we demonstrate that Leishmania infantum AS-A, similarly to Trypanosoma spp. and L. donovani, is able to use both ammonia and glutamine as nitrogen donors. Moreover, we have successfully generated LiASA null mutants by targeted gene replacement in L. infantum, and these parasites do not display any significant growth or infectivity defect. Indeed, a severe impairment of in vitro growth was only observed when null mutants were cultured in asparagine limiting conditions. Altogether our results demonstrate that despite being important under asparagine limitation, LiAS-A is not essential for parasite survival, growth or infectivity in normal in vitro and in vivo conditions. Therefore we exclude AS-A as a suitable drug target against L. infantum parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Faria
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Protein Crystallography Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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18
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Yáñez-Mó M, Siljander PRM, Andreu Z, Zavec AB, Borràs FE, Buzas EI, Buzas K, Casal E, Cappello F, Carvalho J, Colás E, Cordeiro-da Silva A, Fais S, Falcon-Perez JM, Ghobrial IM, Giebel B, Gimona M, Graner M, Gursel I, Gursel M, Heegaard NHH, Hendrix A, Kierulf P, Kokubun K, Kosanovic M, Kralj-Iglic V, Krämer-Albers EM, Laitinen S, Lässer C, Lener T, Ligeti E, Linē A, Lipps G, Llorente A, Lötvall J, Manček-Keber M, Marcilla A, Mittelbrunn M, Nazarenko I, Nolte-'t Hoen ENM, Nyman TA, O'Driscoll L, Olivan M, Oliveira C, Pállinger É, Del Portillo HA, Reventós J, Rigau M, Rohde E, Sammar M, Sánchez-Madrid F, Santarém N, Schallmoser K, Ostenfeld MS, Stoorvogel W, Stukelj R, Van der Grein SG, Vasconcelos MH, Wauben MHM, De Wever O. Biological properties of extracellular vesicles and their physiological functions. J Extracell Vesicles 2015; 4:27066. [PMID: 25979354 PMCID: PMC4433489 DOI: 10.3402/jev.v4.27066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3461] [Impact Index Per Article: 384.6] [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: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as potent vehicles of intercellular communication, both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This is due to their capacity to transfer proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, thereby influencing various physiological and pathological functions of both recipient and parent cells. While intensive investigation has targeted the role of EVs in different pathological processes, for example, in cancer and autoimmune diseases, the EV-mediated maintenance of homeostasis and the regulation of physiological functions have remained less explored. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the physiological roles of EVs, which has been written by crowd-sourcing, drawing on the unique EV expertise of academia-based scientists, clinicians and industry based in 27 European countries, the United States and Australia. This review is intended to be of relevance to both researchers already working on EV biology and to newcomers who will encounter this universal cell biological system. Therefore, here we address the molecular contents and functions of EVs in various tissues and body fluids from cell systems to organs. We also review the physiological mechanisms of EVs in bacteria, lower eukaryotes and plants to highlight the functional uniformity of this emerging communication system.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Yáñez-Mó
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Sta Cristina, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, UAM, Madrid, Spain; ;
| | - Pia R-M Siljander
- Extracellular Vesicle Research, Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Zoraida Andreu
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Sta Cristina, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Apolonija Bedina Zavec
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Francesc E Borràs
- IVECAT Group - "Germans Trias i Pujol" Research Institute, Badalona, Spain
- Nephrology Service - "Germans Trias i Pujol" University Hospital, Badalona, Spain
| | - Edit I Buzas
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Buzas
- Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Enriqueta Casal
- Metabolomics Unit, CIC bioGUNE, CIBERehd, Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Francesco Cappello
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neuroscience, Human Anatomy Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy
| | - Joana Carvalho
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Expression Regulation in Cancer, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Eva Colás
- Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational Oncology, Vall Hebron Institute of Research and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da Silva
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Stefano Fais
- Anti-Tumour Drugs Section, Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Juan M Falcon-Perez
- Metabolomics Unit, CIC bioGUNE, CIBERehd, Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Bernd Giebel
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mario Gimona
- Spinal Cord Injury & Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsklinikum, Salzburger Landeskliniken GesmbH (SALK), Salzburg, Austria
| | - Michael Graner
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ihsan Gursel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Thorlab-Therapeutic Oligonucleotide Research Lab, Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mayda Gursel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Niels H H Heegaard
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Analytical Protein Chemistry, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology & Genetics, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - An Hendrix
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Kierulf
- Bood Cell Research Group, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Maja Kosanovic
- Department of Immunochemistry and Glycobiology, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, INEP, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Veronika Kralj-Iglic
- Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva-Maria Krämer-Albers
- Molecular Cell Biology and Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Saara Laitinen
- Research and Cell Services, Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Cecilia Lässer
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas Lener
- Spinal Cord Injury & Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsklinikum, Salzburger Landeskliniken GesmbH (SALK), Salzburg, Austria
| | - Erzsébet Ligeti
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Aija Linē
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
| | - Georg Lipps
- Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Alicia Llorente
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital - The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Lötvall
- Krefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mateja Manček-Keber
- National Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory of Biotechnology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- EN→FIST Centre of Excellence, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Antonio Marcilla
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Mittelbrunn
- Department of Vascular Biology and Inflammation, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irina Nazarenko
- Institute for Environmental Health Sciences and Hospital Infection ControlMedical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Esther N M Nolte-'t Hoen
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tuula A Nyman
- Institute of Biotechnology, (Viikinkaari 1), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lorraine O'Driscoll
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mireia Olivan
- Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational Oncology, Vall Hebron Institute of Research and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carla Oliveira
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Expression Regulation in Cancer, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Éva Pállinger
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hernando A Del Portillo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Reventós
- Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational Oncology, Vall Hebron Institute of Research and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Ciències Bàsiques, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marina Rigau
- Research Unit in Biomedicine and Translational Oncology, Vall Hebron Institute of Research and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Rohde
- Spinal Cord Injury & Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsklinikum, Salzburger Landeskliniken GesmbH (SALK), Salzburg, Austria
| | - Marei Sammar
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
| | - Francisco Sánchez-Madrid
- Department of Vascular Biology and Inflammation, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Madrid, Spain
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain
| | - N Santarém
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Katharina Schallmoser
- Spinal Cord Injury & Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (SCI-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Salzburg, Austria
- Department of Blood Group Serology and Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsklinikum, Salzburger Landeskliniken GesmbH (SALK), Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Willem Stoorvogel
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roman Stukelj
- Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Susanne G Van der Grein
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - M Helena Vasconcelos
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Cancer Drug Resistance Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto (FFUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Marca H M Wauben
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Olivier De Wever
- Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology and Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Loureiro I, Faria J, Clayton C, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Santarém N, Roy N, Cordeiro-da-Siva A, Tavares J. Ribose 5-phosphate isomerase B knockdown compromises Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream form infectivity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e3430. [PMID: 25568941 PMCID: PMC4287489 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribose 5-phosphate isomerase is an enzyme involved in the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway, and catalyzes the inter-conversion of D-ribose 5-phosphate and D-ribulose 5-phosphate. Trypanosomatids, including the agent of African sleeping sickness namely Trypanosoma brucei, have a type B ribose-5-phosphate isomerase. This enzyme is absent from humans, which have a structurally unrelated ribose 5-phosphate isomerase type A, and therefore has been proposed as an attractive drug target waiting further characterization. In this study, Trypanosoma brucei ribose 5-phosphate isomerase B showed in vitro isomerase activity. RNAi against this enzyme reduced parasites' in vitro growth, and more importantly, bloodstream forms infectivity. Mice infected with induced RNAi clones exhibited lower parasitaemia and a prolonged survival compared to control mice. Phenotypic reversion was achieved by complementing induced RNAi clones with an ectopic copy of Trypanosoma cruzi gene. Our results present the first functional characterization of Trypanosoma brucei ribose 5-phosphate isomerase B, and show the relevance of an enzyme belonging to the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway in the context of Trypanosoma brucei infection. Within the non-oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway, ribose 5-phosphate isomerase catalyzes the inter-conversion of ribose 5-phosphate and ribulose 5-phosphate. There are two types of ribose 5-phosphate isomerase, namely A and B. The presence of type B in Trypanosoma brucei, and its absence in humans, make this protein a promising drug target. African sleeping sickness is a serious parasitic disease that relies on limited chemotherapeutic options for control. In our study, a functional characterization of Trypanosoma brucei ribose 5-phosphate isomerase B is reported. Biochemical studies confirmed enzyme isomerase activity and its downregulation by RNAi affected mainly parasites infectivity in vivo. Overall this study shows that ribose 5-phosphate isomerase depletion is detrimental for parasites infectivity under host pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Faria
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Christine Clayton
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ-ZMBH cv Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Protein Crystallography Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nilanjan Roy
- Ashok & Rita Patel Institute of Integrated Study & Research in Biotechnology & Allied Sciences, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Dist-Anand, Gujarat, India
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Siva
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail: (ACdS); (JT)
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail: (ACdS); (JT)
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Cecílio P, Pérez-Cabezas B, Santarém N, Maciel J, Rodrigues V, Cordeiro da Silva A. Deception and manipulation: the arms of leishmania, a successful parasite. Front Immunol 2014; 5:480. [PMID: 25368612 PMCID: PMC4202772 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania spp. are intracellular parasitic protozoa responsible for a group of neglected tropical diseases, endemic in 98 countries around the world, called leishmaniasis. These parasites have a complex digenetic life cycle requiring a susceptible vertebrate host and a permissive insect vector, which allow their transmission. The clinical manifestations associated with leishmaniasis depend on complex interactions between the parasite and the host immune system. Consequently, leishmaniasis can be manifested as a self-healing cutaneous affliction or a visceral pathology, being the last one fatal in 85–90% of untreated cases. As a result of a long host–parasite co-evolutionary process, Leishmania spp. developed different immunomodulatory strategies that are essential for the establishment of infection. Only through deception and manipulation of the immune system, Leishmania spp. can complete its life cycle and survive. The understanding of the mechanisms associated with immune evasion and disease progression is essential for the development of novel therapies and vaccine approaches. Here, we revise how the parasite manipulates cell death and immune responses to survive and thrive in the shadow of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Cecílio
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Begoña Pérez-Cabezas
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Joana Maciel
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Vasco Rodrigues
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro da Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMC), University of Porto , Porto , Portugal ; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
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Gama A, Elias J, Ribeiro AJ, Alegria N, Schallig HD, Silva F, Santarém N, Cardoso L, Cotovio M. Cutaneous leishmaniosis in a horse from northern Portugal. Vet Parasitol 2014; 200:189-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Revised: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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22
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Loureiro I, Faria J, Clayton C, Ribeiro SM, Roy N, Santarém N, Tavares J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Knockdown of asparagine synthetase A renders Trypanosoma brucei auxotrophic to asparagine. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2578. [PMID: 24340117 PMCID: PMC3854871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Asparagine synthetase (AS) catalyzes the ATP-dependent conversion of aspartate into asparagine using ammonia or glutamine as nitrogen source. There are two distinct types of AS, asparagine synthetase A (AS-A), known as strictly ammonia-dependent, and asparagine synthetase B (AS-B), which can use either ammonia or glutamine. The absence of AS-A in humans, and its presence in trypanosomes, suggested AS-A as a potential drug target that deserved further investigation. We report the presence of functional AS-A in Trypanosoma cruzi (TcAS-A) and Trypanosoma brucei (TbAS-A): the purified enzymes convert L-aspartate into L-asparagine in the presence of ATP, ammonia and Mg2+. TcAS-A and TbAS-A use preferentially ammonia as a nitrogen donor, but surprisingly, can also use glutamine, a characteristic so far never described for any AS-A. TbAS-A knockdown by RNAi didn't affect in vitro growth of bloodstream forms of the parasite. However, growth was significantly impaired when TbAS-A knockdown parasites were cultured in medium with reduced levels of asparagine. As expected, mice infections with induced and non-induced T. brucei RNAi clones were similar to those from wild-type parasites. However, when induced T. brucei RNAi clones were injected in mice undergoing asparaginase treatment, which depletes blood asparagine, the mice exhibited lower parasitemia and a prolonged survival in comparison to similarly-treated mice infected with control parasites. Our results show that TbAS-A can be important under in vivo conditions when asparagine is limiting, but is unlikely to be suitable as a drug target. The amino acid asparagine is important not only for protein biosynthesis, but also for nitrogen homeostasis. Asparagine synthetase catalyzes the synthesis of this amino acid. There are two forms of asparagine synthetase, A and B. The presence of type A in trypanosomes, and its absence in humans, makes this protein a potential drug target. Trypanosomes are responsible for serious parasitic diseases that rely on limited drug therapeutic options for control. In our study we present a functional characterization of trypanosomes asparagine synthetase A. We describe that Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi type A enzymes are able to use either ammonia or glutamine as a nitrogen donor, within the conversion of aspartate into asparagine. Furthermore, we show that asparagine synthetase A knockdown renders Trypanosoma brucei auxotrophic to asparagine. Overall, this study demonstrates that interfering with asparagine metabolism represents a way to control parasite growth and infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Faria
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Christine Clayton
- Zentrum für Molekulare Biologie der Universität Heidelberg, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandra Macedo Ribeiro
- Protein Crystallography Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nilanjan Roy
- Ashok and Rita Patel Institute of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Allied Sciences, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail: (JT); (ACdS)
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail: (JT); (ACdS)
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Santarém N, Racine G, Silvestre R, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Ouellette M. Exoproteome dynamics in Leishmania infantum. J Proteomics 2013; 84:106-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2013.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Revised: 03/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Santarém N, Silvestre R, Tavares J, Silva M, Cabral S, Maciel J, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Immune response regulation by leishmania secreted and nonsecreted antigens. J Biomed Biotechnol 2012; 2007:85154. [PMID: 17710243 PMCID: PMC1940321 DOI: 10.1155/2007/85154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2006] [Revised: 03/06/2007] [Accepted: 04/29/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania infection consists in two sequential events, the host cell colonization followed by the proliferation/dissemination of the parasite. In this review, we discuss the importance of two distinct sets of molecules, the secreted and/or surface and the nonsecreted antigens. The importance of the immune response against secreted and surface antigens is noted in the establishment of the infection and we dissect the contribution of the nonsecreted antigens in the immunopathology associated with leishmaniasis, showing the importance of these panantigens during the course of the infection. As a further example of proteins belonging to these two different groups, we include several laboratorial observations on Leishmania Sir2 and LicTXNPx as excreted/secreted proteins and LmS3arp and
LimTXNPx as nonsecreted/panantigens. The role of these two groups of antigens in the immune response observed during the infection is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Santarém
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Cabral
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Maciel
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Aníbal Cunha 164, 4099-030 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
- *Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva:
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Moreira D, Santarém N, Loureiro I, Tavares J, Silva AM, Amorim AM, Ouaissi A, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Silvestre R. Impact of continuous axenic cultivation in Leishmania infantum virulence. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1469. [PMID: 22292094 PMCID: PMC3265455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2011] [Accepted: 11/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental infections with visceral Leishmania spp. are frequently performed referring to stationary parasite cultures that are comprised of a mixture of metacyclic and non-metacyclic parasites often with little regard to time of culture and metacyclic purification. This may lead to misleading or irreproducible experimental data. It is known that the maintenance of Leishmania spp. in vitro results in a progressive loss of virulence that can be reverted by passage in a mammalian host. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the loss of virulence in culture comparing the in vitro and in vivo infection and immunological profile of L. infantum stationary promastigotes submitted to successive periods of in vitro cultivation. To evaluate the effect of axenic in vitro culture in parasite virulence, we submitted L. infantum promastigotes to 4, 21 or 31 successive in vitro passages. Our results demonstrated a rapid and significant loss of parasite virulence when parasites are sustained in axenic culture. Strikingly, the parasite capacity to modulate macrophage activation decreased significantly with the augmentation of the number of in vitro passages. We validated these in vitro observations using an experimental murine model of infection. A significant correlation was found between higher parasite burdens and lower number of in vitro passages in infected Balb/c mice. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that the virulence deficit caused by successive in vitro passages results from an inadequate capacity to differentiate into amastigote forms. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that the use of parasites with distinct periods of axenic in vitro culture induce distinct infection rates and immunological responses and correlated this phenotype with a rapid loss of promastigote differentiation capacity. These results highlight the need for a standard operating protocol (SOP) when studying Leishmania species. Protozoan of the genus Leishmania undergo several developmental transitions during its life cycle. Leishmania alternates between two morphologically distinct forms, promastigotes (insect stage) and amastigotes (vertebrate stage). Most of the available information about Leishmania spp. has been obtained from studying in vitro cultured promastigotes, an excellent experimental model for the different developmental stages present in the insect vector. Although promastigotes are grown in a controlled environment, the maintenance of long term culture results in loss of virulence, which can lead to a misinterpretation and often contradictory experimental results. It is then of great interest to unravel the defects arising from sustained axenic parasite culture in laboratory settings. The authors demonstrate a correlation between the maintenance of parasite culture with a growing defect of the promastigote form to differentiate in the mammalian amastigote form. This research provides a biological explanation for the loss of virulence due to sustained parasite culture and discusses the impact for all experimental work done with visceral Leishmania species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Moreira
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Santarém
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Inês Loureiro
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Marta Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Marina Amorim
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ali Ouaissi
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INSERM, UMR, CNRS 5235, Université Montpellier II, Montpellier, France
| | - Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Neves BM, Silvestre R, Resende M, Ouaissi A, Cunha J, Tavares J, Loureiro I, Santarém N, Silva AM, Lopes MC, Cruz MT, Cordeiro da Silva A. Activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and impairment of nuclear factor-kappaB: molecular mechanisms behind the arrested maturation/activation state of Leishmania infantum-infected dendritic cells. Am J Pathol 2010; 177:2898-911. [PMID: 21037075 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.100367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the complex interactions between Leishmania and dendritic cells (DCs) is central to the modulation of the outcome of this infection, given that an effective immune response against Leishmania is dependent on the successful activation and maturation of DCs. We report here that Leishmania infantum promastigotes successfully infect mouse bone marrow-derived DCs without triggering maturation, as shown by a failure in the up-regulation of CD40 and CD86 expression, and that parasites strongly counteract the lipopolysaccharide-triggered maturation of DCs. A small increase in interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-10 transcription and secretion and a decrease in IL-6 were observed in infected cells. This arrested DC maturation state is actively promoted by parasites because heat-killed or fixed parasites increased cytokine and costimulatory molecule expression. At a molecular level, L. infantum rapidly induced activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, whereas no effect was observed in the c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase proinflammatory pathways. Moreover, parasites actively promoted cleavage of the nuclear factor-κB p65(RelA) subunit, causing its impairment. The blockade of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt by either treatment of bone marrow-derived DCs with wortmannin or transfection with an Akt dominant-negative mutant resulted in a strong decrease in infection rates, revealing for the first time a crucial role of this pathway on Leishmania engulfment by DCs. Overall, our data indicate that activation of Akt and impairment of nuclear factor-κB are responsible for immunogenicity subversion of L. infantum-infected DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Miguel Neves
- Faculdade de Farmácia, and Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Silvestre R, Schallig H, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Santarém N, Cunha J, Teixeira L. Evaluation of Leishmania Species Reactivity in Human Serologic Diagnosis of Leishmaniasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009. [DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2009.81.202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Silvestre R, Santarém N, Teixeira L, Cunha J, Schallig H, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Evaluation of Leishmania species reactivity in human serologic diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009; 81:202-208. [PMID: 19635870] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The sensitivities and specificities of IgG-ELISA and IgG flow cytometry based techniques using different Leishmania species were determined using sera collected from 40 cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis patients. The flow cytometry technique, using promastigote parasite forms, performed better than total soluble extract IgG-ELISA. At the species level, the use of Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania major as antigens in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) decreased the overall sensitivity. To assess the specificity of these tests, sera from malaria, toxoplasmosis, amoebiasis, schistosomiasis, and leprosy patients were used. We also included sera from Leishmania non-infected endemic individuals. The cutaneous species displayed a decreased specificity in both assays. Although more sensitive, flow cytometry using promastigote parasite forms generally presented lower levels of specificity when compared with total extract of IgG-ELISA. Overall, the results of the study show the potential of IgG flow cytometry for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. Although highly sensitive, a refinement of the flow cytometry method should be performed to improve the overall specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Silvestre
- Parasite Disease Group, IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
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Carvalho S, Cruz T, Santarém N, Castro H, Costa V, Tomás AM. Heme as a source of iron to Leishmania infantum amastigotes. Acta Trop 2009; 109:131-5. [PMID: 19013419 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2008] [Revised: 10/03/2008] [Accepted: 10/14/2008] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Amastigotes, the mammalian stage of Leishmania, must acquire iron from molecules accessing the macrophage parasitophorous vacuole (PV) where they inhabit. These molecules likely include non-heme and heme-bound forms of iron. Here we demonstrate that, in addition to the previously documented use of ferrous iron, Leishmania amastigotes are also capable of exploiting iron from hemin and hemoglobin for nutritional purposes. Moreover, evidence is presented that a ligand at the surface of amastigotes binds hemin with high-affinity (Kd=0.044nM). This ligand may function in intracellular transport of heme while hemoglobin internalization occurs through a different molecule. The co-existence in Leishmania amastigotes of different processes to acquire iron could constitute an infective strategy, ensuring parasites a substantial advantage in situations of iron limitation.
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Silvestre R, Cordeiro-Da-Silva A, Santarém N, Vergnes B, Sereno D, Ouaissi A. SIR2-deficient Leishmania infantum induces a defined IFN-gamma/IL-10 pattern that correlates with protection. J Immunol 2007; 179:3161-70. [PMID: 17709531 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.179.5.3161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The ability to manipulate the Leishmania genome to create genetically modified parasites by introducing or eliminating genes is considered a powerful alternative for developing a new generation vaccine against leishmaniasis. Previously, we showed that the deletion of one allele of the Leishmania infantum silent information regulatory 2 (LiSIR2) locus was sufficient to dramatically affect amastigote axenic proliferation. Furthermore, LiSIR2 single knockout (LiSIR2(+/-)) amastigotes were unable to replicate in vitro inside macrophages. Because this L. infantum mutant persisted in BALB/c mice for up to 6 wk but failed to establish an infection, we tested its ability to provide protection toward a virulent L. infantum challenge. Strikingly, vaccination with a single i.p. injection of LiSIR2(+/-) single knockout elicits complete protection. Thus, vaccinated BALB/c mice showed a reversal of T cell anergy with specific anti-Leishmania cytotoxic activity and high levels of NO production. Moreover, vaccinated mice simultaneously generated specific anti-Leishmania IgG Ab subclasses suggestive of both type 1 and type 2 responses. A strong correlation was found between the elimination of the parasites and an increased Leishmania-specific IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio. Therefore, we propose that the polarization to a high IFN-gamma/low IL-10 ratio after challenge is a clear indicator of vaccine success. Furthermore these mutants, which presented attenuated virulence, represent a good model to understand the correlatives of protection in visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Silvestre
- Departamento de Bioquímica da Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal
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Santarém N, Tomás A, Ouaissi A, Tavares J, Ferreira N, Manso A, Campino L, Correia JM, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. Antibodies against a Leishmania infantum peroxiredoxin as a possible marker for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis and for monitoring the efficacy of treatment. Immunol Lett 2005; 101:18-23. [PMID: 15885803 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2005.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Diagnosis of leishmaniasis is frequently based on serological methods, such as direct agglutination, immunofluorescence tests and ELISA assays with Leishmania total extracts, as antigen, however due to highly inconclusive results, more reliable tests are needed. In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to a number of recombinant proteins (LmSIR2, LmS3a, LimTXNPx, LicTXNPx and LiTXN1) highly conserved among Leishmania species, were evaluated by ELISA in Leishmania infantum infected children from an endemic area of Portugal. We found that sera from children patients had antibodies against the different recombinant proteins, LicTXNPx presented the highest immuno-reactivity compared to the other and the most often recognized in the case of acute visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Moreover, in children treated with meglumine antimoniate or amphotericin B, antibodies against some of the recombinant proteins declined, whereas conventional serology using crude extracts showed little or no difference between the pre- and post-treatment values. The highest reduction was observed in the case of antibodies against the LicTXNPx protein. These results suggest that the antibodies against LicTXNPx might be a useful constituent of a defined serological test for the diagnosis and the monitoring of the therapeutic response in VL. The monitoring and follow-up in a large-scale field trials of such marker in areas where leishmaniasis is endemic will lend support to this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Santarém
- Faculdade de Farmácia da, Universidade do Porto, Rua Anibal Cunha, 164, 4050-047 Porto, Portugal
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