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Cabrera A, Berná L, López L, Faral-Tello P, Arevalo AP, Crispo M, Francia ME, Robello C. New insights into phenotype and genotype relationships in Neospora caninum. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1214971. [PMID: 37662990 PMCID: PMC10469931 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1214971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The successful isolation of four new Neospora caninum strains from different regions and with different backgrounds (obtained from an abortion storm or congenitally infected and asymptomatic calves) allowed us previously to characterize natural isolates, finding differences in phenotype and microsatellites. Given the variability observed, we wondered in this work whether these differences had consequences in virulence, invasion and vertical transmission using cell cultures and murine neosporosis models. In addition, we performed the genomic analysis and SNP comparative studies of the NcURU isolates. The results obtained in this work allowed us to establish that NcURU isolates are of low virulence and have unique phenotypic characteristics. Likewise, sequencing their genomes has allowed us to delve into the genetic singularities underlying these phenotypes, as well as the common mutated genes. This work opens a new perspective for diagnostic purposes and formulating possible vaccines based on attenuated strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Cabrera
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno -UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Luisa Berná
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno -UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Genómica Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía López
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno -UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno -UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana Paula Arevalo
- Laboratory Animals Biotechnology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Martina Crispo
- Laboratory Animals Biotechnology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Maria E. Francia
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno -UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Faral-Tello P, Pagotto R, Bollati-Fogolín M, Francia ME. Modeling the human placental barrier to understand Toxoplasma gondii´s vertical transmission. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1130901. [PMID: 36968102 PMCID: PMC10034043 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1130901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite that can infect virtually any warm-blooded animal. Acquired infection during pregnancy and the placental breach, is at the core of the most devastating consequences of toxoplasmosis. T. gondii can severely impact the pregnancy’s outcome causing miscarriages, stillbirths, premature births, babies with hydrocephalus, microcephaly or intellectual disability, and other later onset neurological, ophthalmological or auditory diseases. To tackle T. gondii’s vertical transmission, it is important to understand the mechanisms underlying host-parasite interactions at the maternal-fetal interface. Nonetheless, the complexity of the human placenta and the ethical concerns associated with its study, have narrowed the modeling of parasite vertical transmission to animal models, encompassing several unavoidable experimental limitations. Some of these difficulties have been overcome by the development of different human cell lines and a variety of primary cultures obtained from human placentas. These cellular models, though extremely valuable, have limited ability to recreate what happens in vivo. During the last decades, the development of new biomaterials and the increase in stem cell knowledge have led to the generation of more physiologically relevant in vitro models. These cell cultures incorporate new dimensions and cellular diversity, emerging as promising tools for unraveling the poorly understood T. gondii´s infection mechanisms during pregnancy. Herein, we review the state of the art of 2D and 3D cultures to approach the biology of T. gondii pertaining to vertical transmission, highlighting the challenges and experimental opportunities of these up-and-coming experimental platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Romina Pagotto
- Cell Biology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Maria E. Francia
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- *Correspondence: Maria E. Francia,
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Faral-Tello P, Greif G, Romero S, Cabrera A, Oviedo C, González T, Libisch G, Arévalo AP, Varela B, Verdes JM, Crispo M, Basmadjián Y, Robello C. Trypanosoma cruzi Isolates Naturally Adapted to Congenital Transmission Display a Unique Strategy of Transplacental Passage. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0250422. [PMID: 36786574 PMCID: PMC10100920 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02504-22] [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: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is mainly transmitted by vertical transmission (VT) in nonendemic areas and in endemic areas where vector control programs have been successful. For the present study, we isolated natural Trypanosoma cruzi strains vertically transmitted through three generations and proceeded to study their molecular mechanism of VT using mice. No parasitemia was detected in immunocompetent mice, but the parasites were able to induce an immune response and colonize different organs. VT experiments revealed that infection with different strains did not affect mating, pregnancy, or resorption, but despite low parasitemia, VT strains reached the placenta and resulted in higher vertical transmission rates than strains of either moderate or high virulence. While the virulent strain modulated more than 2,500 placental genes, VT strains modulated 150, and only 29 genes are shared between them. VT strains downregulated genes associated with cell division and replication and upregulated immunomodulatory genes, leading to anti-inflammatory responses and tolerance. The virulent strain stimulated a strong proinflammatory immune response, and this molecular footprint correlated with histopathological analyses. We describe a unique placental response regarding the passage of T. cruzi VT isolates across the maternal-fetal interphase, challenging the current knowledge derived mainly from studies of laboratory-adapted or highly virulent strains. IMPORTANCE The main findings of this study are that we determined that there are Trypanosoma cruzi strains adapted to transplacental transmission and completely different from the commonly used laboratory reference strains. This implies a specific strategy for the vertical transmission of Chagas disease. It is impressive that the strains specialized for vertical transmission modify the gene expression of the placenta in a totally different way than the reference strains. In addition, we describe isolates of T. cruzi that cannot be transmitted transplacentally. Taken together, these results open up new insights into the molecular mechanisms of this insect vector-independent transmission form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno/UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Greif
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno/UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Selva Romero
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Andrés Cabrera
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno/UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Unidad de Microbiología, Instituto de Patobiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cristina Oviedo
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Telma González
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gabriela Libisch
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno/UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana Paula Arévalo
- Laboratory Animal Biotechnology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Belén Varela
- Unidad de Patología, Departamento de Patobiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - José Manuel Verdes
- Unidad de Patología, Departamento de Patobiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Martina Crispo
- Laboratory Animal Biotechnology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Yester Basmadjián
- Departamento de Parasitología y Micología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno/UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Díaz-Viraqué F, Chiribao ML, Paes-Vieira L, Machado MR, Faral-Tello P, Tomasina R, Trochine A, Robello C. New Insights into the Role of the Trypanosoma cruzi Aldo-Keto Reductase TcAKR. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12010085. [PMID: 36678433 PMCID: PMC9860839 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010085] [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: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is distributed worldwide, affecting around 7 million people; there is no effective treatment, and it constitutes a leading cause of disability and premature death in the Americas. Only two drugs are currently approved for the treatment, Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, and both have to be activated by reducing the nitro-group. The T. cruzi aldo-keto reductase (TcAKR) has been related to the metabolism of benznidazole. TcAKR has been extensively studied, being most efforts focused on characterizing its implication in trypanocidal drug metabolism; however, little is known regarding its biological role. Here, we found that TcAKR is confined, throughout the entire life cycle, into the parasite mitochondria providing new insights into its biological function. In particular, in epimastigotes, TcAKR is associated with the kinetoplast, which suggests additional roles of the protein. The upregulation of TcAKR, which does not affect TcOYE expression, was correlated with an increase in PGF2α, suggesting that this enzyme is related to PGF2α synthesis in T. cruzi. Structural analysis showed that TcAKR contains a catalytic tetrad conserved in the AKR superfamily. Finally, we found that TcAKR is also involved in Nfx metabolization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florencia Díaz-Viraqué
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - María Laura Chiribao
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Lisvane Paes-Vieira
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Matias R. Machado
- Unidad de Proteínas Recombinantes, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11300, Uruguay
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Ramiro Tomasina
- Laboratory of Apicomplexan Biology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo and Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11300, Uruguay
| | - Andrea Trochine
- Centro de Referencia en Levaduras y Tecnología Cervecera (CRELTEC), Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales (IPATEC), CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Quintral 1250, San Carlos de Bariloche 8400, Argentina
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Correspondence:
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Freire T, Landeira M, Giacomini C, Festari MF, Pittini Á, Cardozo V, Brosque A, Monin L, da Costa V, Faral-Tello P, Robello C, Osinaga E. Trypanosoma cruzi-Derived Molecules Induce Anti-Tumour Protection by Favouring Both Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315032. [PMID: 36499361 PMCID: PMC9739173 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315032] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Thus, the development of strategies against this type of cancer is of high value. Parasite infections can correlate with lower cancer incidence in humans and their use as vaccines has been recently explored in preclinical models. In this study, we investigated whether immunisations with a Trypanosoma cruzi lysate from epimastigotes protect from lung tumour growth in mice. We also explore the role of parasite glycans in the induction of the protective immune response. A pre-clinical murine cancer model using the lung tumour cell line LL/2 was used to evaluate the anti-tumour potential, both in preventive and therapeutic settings, of a T. cruzi epimastigote-derived protein lysate. Immunisation with the parasite lysate prevents tumour growth and induces both humoral and cellular anti-tumour immune responses to LL-2 cancer cells. The induced immunity and tumour protection were associated with the activation of natural killer (NK) cells, the production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumour cell cytotoxicity. We also show that mannose residues in the T. cruzi lysate induce Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling. The evaluated T. cruzi lysate possesses anti-tumour properties likely by activating innate and adaptive immunity in a process where carbohydrates seem to be essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Freire
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Correspondence: (T.F.); (E.O.)
| | - Mercedes Landeira
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Cecilia Giacomini
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica, Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Química, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2124, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - María Florencia Festari
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Álvaro Pittini
- Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Glicobiología e Inmunología Tumoral, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Viviana Cardozo
- Laboratorio de Glicobiología e Inmunología Tumoral, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Alina Brosque
- Laboratorio de Glicobiología e Inmunología Tumoral, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Leticia Monin
- Laboratorio de Glicobiología e Inmunología Tumoral, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Valeria da Costa
- Laboratorio de Inmunomodulación y Vacunas, Departamento Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Eduardo Osinaga
- Departamento de Inmunobiología, Facultad de Medicina, UdelaR, Gral Flores 2125, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Laboratorio de Glicobiología e Inmunología Tumoral, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Correspondence: (T.F.); (E.O.)
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Berná L, Greif G, Pita S, Faral-Tello P, Díaz-Viraqué F, Souza RDCMD, Vallejo GA, Alvarez-Valin F, Robello C. Maxicircle architecture and evolutionary insights into Trypanosoma cruzi complex. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009719. [PMID: 34437557 PMCID: PMC8425572 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We sequenced maxicircles from T. cruzi strains representative of the species evolutionary diversity by using long-read sequencing, which allowed us to uncollapse their repetitive regions, finding that their real lengths range from 35 to 50 kb. T. cruzi maxicircles have a common architecture composed of four regions: coding region (CR), AT-rich region, short (SR) and long repeats (LR). Distribution of genes, both in order and in strand orientation are conserved, being the main differences the presence of deletions affecting genes coding for NADH dehydrogenase subunits, reinforcing biochemical findings that indicate that complex I is not functional in T. cruzi. Moreover, the presence of complete minicircles into maxicircles of some strains lead us to think about the origin of minicircles. Finally, a careful phylogenetic analysis was conducted using coding regions of maxicircles from up to 29 strains, and 1108 single copy nuclear genes from all of the DTUs, clearly establishing that taxonomically T. cruzi is a complex of species composed by group 1 that contains clades A (TcI), B (TcIII) and D (TcIV), and group 2 (1 and 2 do not coincide with groups I and II described decades ago) containing clade C (TcII), being all hybrid strains of the BC type. Three variants of maxicircles exist in T. cruzi: a, b and c, in correspondence with clades A, B, and C from mitochondrial phylogenies. While A and C carry maxicircles a and c respectively, both clades B and D carry b maxicircle variant; hybrid strains also carry the b- variant. We then propose a new nomenclature that is self-descriptive and makes use of both the phylogenetic relationships and the maxicircle variants present in T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Berná
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Sección Biomatemática—Unidad de Genómica Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Greif
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sebastián Pita
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Sección Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Florencia Díaz-Viraqué
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Gustavo Adolfo Vallejo
- Laboratorio de investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical (LIPT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Tolima, Tolima, Colombia
| | - Fernando Alvarez-Valin
- Sección Biomatemática—Unidad de Genómica Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero-Patógeno, Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
- * E-mail:
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Arias DG, Cabeza MS, Echarren ML, Faral-Tello P, Iglesias AA, Robello C, Guerrero SA. On the functionality of a methionine sulfoxide reductase B from Trypanosoma cruzi. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 158:96-114. [PMID: 32682073 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methionine is an amino acid susceptible to be oxidized to give a racemic mixture of R and S forms of methionine sulfoxide (MetSO). This posttranslational modification has been reported to occur in vivo under either normal or stress conditions. The reduction of MetSO to methionine is catalyzed by methionine sulfoxide reductases (MSRs), thiol-dependent enzymes present in almost all organisms. These enzymes can reduce specifically one or another of the isomers of MetSO (free and protein-bound). This redox modification could change the structure and function of many proteins, either concerned in redox or other metabolic pathways. The study of antioxidant systems in Trypanosoma cruzi has been mainly focused on the involvement of trypanothione, a specific redox component for these organisms. Though, little information is available concerning mechanisms for repairing oxidized methionine residues in proteins, which would be relevant for the survival of these pathogens in the different stages of their life cycle. METHODS We report an in vitro functional and in vivo cellular characterization of methionine sulfoxide reductase B (MSRB, specific for protein-bound MetSO R-enantiomer) from T. cruzi strain Dm28c. RESULTS MSRB exhibited both cytosolic and mitochondrial localization in epimastigote cells. From assays involving parasites overexpressing MSRB, we observed the contribution of this protein to increase the general resistance against oxidative damage, the infectivity of trypomastigote cells, and intracellular replication of the amastigote stage. Also, we report that epimastigotes overexpressing MSRB exhibit inhibition of the metacyclogenesis process; this suggesting the involvement of the proteins as negative modulators in this cellular differentiation. CONCLUSIONS AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This report contributes to novel insights concerning redox metabolism in T. cruzi. Results herein presented support the importance of enzymatic steps involved in the metabolism of L-Met and in repairing oxidized macromolecules in this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego G Arias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Matías S Cabeza
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María L Echarren
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacción Hospedero-Patógeno, UBM, Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacción Hospedero-Patógeno, UBM, Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay; Departamento de Bioquímica - Facultad de Medicina - Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sergio A Guerrero
- Laboratorio de Enzimología Molecular - Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas - Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
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8
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Faral-Tello P, Greif G, Satragno D, Basmadjián Y, Robello C. Leishmania infantum isolates exhibit high infectivity and reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B. RSC Med Chem 2020; 11:913-918. [PMID: 33479686 PMCID: PMC7651856 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00073f] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by a protozoan parasite of the Leishmania species in over 98 countries in five continents. Visceral leishmaniasis is one of the main forms of the disease and is mainly caused by Leishmania infantum, whose main vector is the dipteran Lutzomyia longipalpis. The presence of the vector in Uruguay was recorded for the first time in 2010 and an autochthonous outbreak of canine visceral leishmaniasis occurred in the northern locality of the country in 2015. We report the isolation in blood-free FBS-supplemented defined media of five isolates responsible for the referred outbreak, and characterize them in terms of their growth as promastigotes, infectivity and replication in human derived monocytes and drug resistance. Results indicate similar promastigote growth among the strains, enhanced infectivity and replication for the five strains isolated from the Uruguayan outbreak when compared with reference strains from South America, equivalent drug susceptibility for miltefosine and nifurtimox and a significant difference in IC50 values for amphotericin B between the Uruguayan strains, 3-4 fold higher than the reference strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno , Unidad de Biología Molecular , Institut Pasteur de Montevideo , Mataojo 2020 , Montevideo , 11400 , Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Greif
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno , Unidad de Biología Molecular , Institut Pasteur de Montevideo , Mataojo 2020 , Montevideo , 11400 , Uruguay
| | - Dinora Satragno
- Centro Hospital Veterinario , Facultad de Veterinaria , Universidad de la República , Uruguay
| | - Yester Basmadjián
- Departamento de Parasitología , Instituto de Higiene , Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de la República , Montevideo , Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno , Unidad de Biología Molecular , Institut Pasteur de Montevideo , Mataojo 2020 , Montevideo , 11400 , Uruguay
- Departamento de Bioquímica , Facultad de Medicina , Universidad de la República , Montevideo , Uruguay .
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9
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Correa R, Coronado L, Caballero Z, Faral-Tello P, Robello C, Spadafora C. Author Correction: Extracellular vesicles carrying lactate dehydrogenase induce suicide in increased population density of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12717. [PMID: 32719474 PMCID: PMC7385490 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69582-y] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Correa
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.,Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, 522 510, A.P., India.,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
| | - Lorena Coronado
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
| | - Zuleima Caballero
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
| | | | | | - Carmenza Spadafora
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama. .,Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
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10
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Faral-Tello P, Greif G, Satragno D, Basmadjián Y, Robello C. Correction: Leishmania infantum isolates exhibit high infectivity and reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B. RSC Med Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.1039/d0md90026e] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Correction for ‘Leishmania infantum isolates exhibit high infectivity and reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B’ by Paula Faral-Tello et al., RSC Med. Chem., 2020, DOI: 10.1039/d0md00073f.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno
- Unidad de Biología Molecular
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo
- Montevideo
- Uruguay
| | - Gonzalo Greif
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno
- Unidad de Biología Molecular
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo
- Montevideo
- Uruguay
| | - Dinora Satragno
- Centro Hospital Veterinario
- Facultad de Veterinaria
- Universidad de la República
- Uruguay
| | - Yester Basmadjián
- Departamento de Parasitología
- Instituto de Higiene
- Facultad de Medicina
- Universidad de la República
- Montevideo
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratorio de Interacciones Hospedero Patógeno
- Unidad de Biología Molecular
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo
- Montevideo
- Uruguay
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11
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Aguilera E, Perdomo C, Espindola A, Corvo I, Faral-Tello P, Robello C, Serna E, Benítez F, Riveros R, Torres S, Vera de Bilbao NI, Yaluff G, Alvarez G. A Nature-Inspired Design Yields a New Class of Steroids Against Trypanosomatids. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24203800. [PMID: 31652542 PMCID: PMC6832524 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24203800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis are neglected endemic protozoan diseases recognized as public health problems by the World Health Organization. These diseases affect millions of people around the world however, efficient and low-cost treatments are not available. Different steroid molecules with antimicrobial and antiparasitic activity were isolated from diverse organisms (ticks, plants, fungi). These molecules have complex structures that make de novo synthesis extremely difficult. In this work, we designed new and simpler compounds with antiparasitic potential inspired in natural steroids and synthesized a series of nineteen steroidal arylideneketones and thiazolidenehydrazines. We explored their biological activity against Leishmania infantum, Leishmania amazonensis, and Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro and in vivo. We also assayed their genotoxicity and acute toxicity in vitro and in mice. The best compound, a steroidal thiosemicarbazone compound 8 (ID_1260) was active in vitro (IC50 200 nM) and in vivo (60% infection reduction at 50 mg/kg) in Leishmania and T. cruzi. It also has low toxicity in vitro and in vivo (LD50 >2000 mg/kg) and no genotoxic effects, being a promising compound for anti-trypanosomatid drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Aguilera
- Grupo de Química Medicinal-Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo C.P. 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Cintya Perdomo
- Laboratorio de Moléculas Bioactivas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 (km 363), Paysandú C.P. 60000, Uruguay.
| | - Alejandra Espindola
- Laboratorio de Moléculas Bioactivas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 (km 363), Paysandú C.P. 60000, Uruguay.
| | - Ileana Corvo
- Laboratorio de Moléculas Bioactivas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 (km 363), Paysandú C.P. 60000, Uruguay.
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo C.P. 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Carlos Robello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo C.P. 11400, Uruguay.
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay.
| | - Elva Serna
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
| | - Fátima Benítez
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
| | - Rocío Riveros
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
| | - Susana Torres
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
| | - Ninfa I Vera de Bilbao
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
| | - Gloria Yaluff
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, San Lorenzo C.P. 2169., Paraguay.
| | - Guzmán Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Moléculas Bioactivas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Ruta 3 (km 363), Paysandú C.P. 60000, Uruguay.
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12
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Correa R, Coronado L, Caballero Z, Faral-Tello P, Robello C, Spadafora C. Extracellular vesicles carrying lactate dehydrogenase induce suicide in increased population density of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5042. [PMID: 30911042 PMCID: PMC6434017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41697-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Even with access to sufficient nutrients and atmosphere, Plasmodium falciparum can barely be cultured at maximum growth capacity in vitro conditions. Because of this behavior, it has been suggested that P. falciparum has self-regulatory mechanisms in response to density stress. Only recently has this process begun to be acknowledged and characteristics of a programmed cell death been assigned to the parasite at high parasitaemia in vitro cultures. In searching for death signals within the parasite community, we have found that extracellular vesicles (EVs) of P. falciparum from high parasitaemia cultures are able to induce programmed cell death processes in the population. A comparative proteomic analysis of EVs from low (EVL) and high (EVH) parasitaemia cultures was conducted, pointing to lactate dehydrogenase from P. falciparum (PfLDH) as the only parasite protein overexpressed in the later. Although the major function of P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) is the conversion of pyruvate to lactate, a key process in the production of energy in most living organisms, we investigated its possible role in the mechanism of parasite density control by intercellular signaling, given that PfLDH had already been listed as a component of extracellular vesicles of P. falciparum. In this study we present evidence of the EV-associated PfLDH regulation of parasite population by inducing apoptosis in highly parasitized cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Correa
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
- Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, 522 510, A.P., India
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
| | - Lorena Coronado
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
| | - Zuleima Caballero
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama
| | | | | | - Carmenza Spadafora
- Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Diseases, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP). City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación, Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
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13
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Libisch MG, Faral-Tello P, Garg NJ, Radi R, Piacenza L, Robello C. Early Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Triggers mTORC1-Mediated Respiration Increase and Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Human Primary Cardiomyocytes. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1889. [PMID: 30166980 PMCID: PMC6106620 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagasic chronic cardiomyopathy is one of the most frequent and severe manifestations of Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The pathogenic and biochemical mechanisms responsible for cardiac lesions remain not completely understood, although it is clear that hypertrophy and subsequent heart dilatation is in part caused by the direct infection of cardiomyocytes. In this work, we evaluated the initial response of human cardiomyocytes to T. cruzi infection by transcriptomic profiling. Immediately after infection, cardiomyocytes dramatically change their gene expression patterns, up regulating most of the genes encoding for respiratory chain, oxidative phosphorylation and protein synthesis. We found that these changes correlate with an increase in basal and maximal respiration, as well as in spare respiratory capacity, which is accompanied by mitochondrial biogenesis pgc-1α independent. We also demonstrate that these changes are mediated by mTORC1 and reversed by rapamycin, resembling the molecular mechanisms described for the non-chagasic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The results of the present work identify that early during infection, the activation of mTORC1, mitochondrial biogenesis and improvement in oxidative phosphorylation are key biochemical changes that provide new insights into the host response to parasite infection and the pathogenesis of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. The finding that this phenotype can be reversed opens a new perspective in the treatment of Chagas disease, through the identification of host targets, and the use of combined parasite and host targeted therapies, in order to prevent chagasic cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gabriela Libisch
- Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Interactions-UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Interactions-UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Nisha J Garg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Rafael Radi
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Lucía Piacenza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Robello
- Laboratory of Host-Pathogen Interactions-UBM, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Center for Free Radical and Biomedical Research, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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14
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Satragno D, Faral-Tello P, Canneva B, Verger L, Lozano A, Vitale E, Greif G, Soto C, Robello C, Basmadjián Y. Autochthonous Outbreak and Expansion of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis, Uruguay. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 23:536-538. [PMID: 28221113 PMCID: PMC5382754 DOI: 10.3201/eid2303.160377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report an outbreak of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Uruguay. Blood specimens from 11/45 dogs tested positive for Leishmania spp. Specimens of Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies were captured; typing revealed Leishmania infantum. Our findings document an expansion of visceral leishmaniasis to southern South America and risk for vectorborne transmission to humans.
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15
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Pizzo C, Faral-Tello P, Yaluff G, Serna E, Torres S, Vera N, Saiz C, Robello C, Mahler G. New approach towards the synthesis of selenosemicarbazones, useful compounds for Chagas' disease. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 109:107-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.12.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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16
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Márquez VE, Arias DG, Chiribao ML, Faral-Tello P, Robello C, Iglesias AA, Guerrero SA. Redox metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi. Biochemical characterization of dithiol glutaredoxin dependent cellular pathways. Biochimie 2014; 106:56-67. [PMID: 25110158 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In Trypanosoma cruzi, the modification of thiols by glutathionylation-deglutathionylation and its potential relation to protective, regulatory or signaling functions have been scarcely explored. Herein we characterize a dithiolic glutaredoxin (TcrGrx), a redox protein with deglutathionylating activity, having potential functionality to control intracellular homeostasis of protein and non-protein thiols. The catalytic mechanism followed by TcrGrx was found dependent on thiol concentration. Results suggest that TcrGrx operates as a dithiolic or a monothiolic Grx, depending on GSH concentration. TcrGrx functionality to mediate reduction of protein and non-protein disulfides was studied. TcrGrx showed a preference for glutathionylated substrates respect to protein disulfides. From in vivo assays involving TcrGrx overexpressing parasites, we observed the contribution of the protein to increase the general resistance against oxidative damage and intracellular replication of the amastigote stage. Also, studies performed with epimastigotes overexpressing TcrGrx strongly suggest the involvement of the protein in a cellular pathway connecting an apoptotic stimulus and apoptotic-like cell death. Novel information is presented about the participation of this glutaredoxin not only in redox metabolism but also in redox signaling pathways in T. cruzi. The influence of TcrGrx in several parasite physiological processes suggests novel insights about the protein involvement in redox signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanina E Márquez
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CONICET-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego G Arias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CONICET-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Maria L Chiribao
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Carlos Robello
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alberto A Iglesias
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CONICET-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Sergio A Guerrero
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, CONICET-UNL, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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17
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Trochine A, Alvarez G, Corre S, Faral-Tello P, Durán R, Batthyany CI, Cerecetto H, González M, Robello C. Trypanosoma cruzi chemical proteomics using immobilized benznidazole. Exp Parasitol 2014; 140:33-8. [PMID: 24632192 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2014.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 01/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Benznidazole (Bzn) is a nitroimidazole drug currently used as first line treatment against Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Although the drug has been used since the late 1960s, its mechanism of action is not fully understood. In an attempt to study Bzn mode of action, a structurally modified derivative of the drug was synthesized and immobilized into a solid matrix. This allowed enrichment of T. cruzi proteins capable of binding immobilized Bzn, which were subsequently analysed by mass spectrometry. The proteins identified as specific non-covalent Bzn interactors were a homologue of the bacterial YjeF proteins, a Sec23A orthologue and the aldo-ketoreductase family member TcAKR. TcAKR is closely related to other enzymes previously associated with Bzn reductive activation such as NTRI and TcOYE. Thus, our untargeted search for Bzn binding partners allowed us to encounter proteins that could be related to drug reductive activation and/or resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Trochine
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Guzmán Alvarez
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Sandra Corre
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Paula Faral-Tello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Rosario Durán
- Unidad de Proteómica y Bioquímica Analíticas, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Carlos I Batthyany
- Unidad de Proteómica y Bioquímica Analíticas, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avenida Italia 3318, CP 11600, Montevideo, Uruguay; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Hugo Cerecetto
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Mercedes González
- Grupo de Química Medicinal, Laboratorio de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias-Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Carlos Robello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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18
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Faral-Tello P, Liang M, Mahler G, Wipf P, Robello C. Imidazolium compounds are active against all stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2013; 43:262-8. [PMID: 24359836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2013.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 05/19/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Imidazolium salts are best known for their applications in organic synthesis as room-temperature ionic liquids, or as precursors of stable carbenes, but they also show important biological properties such as anti-oxidative effects, induction of mitochondrial membrane permeabilisation and inhibition of the infection cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. For these reasons, and since chemotherapy for Chagas disease is inefficient, the aim of this study was to test the use of imidazolium compounds against the kinetoplastid haemoflagellate aetiological agent for this disease, namely Trypanosoma cruzi. The results show that five of the tested compounds are more effective than the reference drug benznidazole against the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi. Moreover, intracellular amastigotes were also affected by the compounds, which showed lower toxicity in host cells. Transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that the tested agents induced alterations of the kinetoplast and particularly of the mitochondria, leading to extraordinary swelling of the organelle. These results further demonstrate that the test agents with the best profile are those bearing symmetrical bulky substituents at N(1) and N(3), displaying promising activity against all forms of T. cruzi, interesting selectivity indexes and exceptional activity at low doses. Accordingly, these agents represent promising candidates for the treatment of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faral-Tello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mary Liang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Graciela Mahler
- Cátedra de Química Farmacéutica, DQO, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Avenida General Flores 2124, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Carlos Robello
- Unidad de Biología Molecular, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo, Uruguay; Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Avenida General Flores 2425, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Faral-Tello P, Mirazo S, Dutra C, Pérez A, Geis-Asteggiante L, Frabasile S, Koncke E, Davyt D, Cavallaro L, Heinzen H, Arbiza J. Cytotoxic, virucidal, and antiviral activity of South American plant and algae extracts. ScientificWorldJournal 2012; 2012:174837. [PMID: 22619617 PMCID: PMC3349323 DOI: 10.1100/2012/174837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection has a prevalence of 70% in the human population. Treatment is based on acyclovir, valacyclovir, and foscarnet, three drugs that share the same mechanism of action and of which resistant strains have been isolated from patients. In this aspect, innovative drug therapies are required. Natural products offer unlimited opportunities for the discovery of antiviral compounds. In this study, 28 extracts corresponding to 24 plant species and 4 alga species were assayed in vitro to detect antiviral activity against HSV-1. Six of the methanolic extracts inactivated viral particles by direct interaction and 14 presented antiviral activity when incubated with cells already infected. Most interesting antiviral activity values obtained are those of Limonium brasiliense, Psidium guajava, and Phyllanthus niruri, which inhibit HSV-1 replication in vitro with 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) values of 185, 118, and 60 μg/mL, respectively. For these extracts toxicity values were calculated and therefore selectivity indexes (SI) obtained. Further characterization of the bioactive components of antiviral plants will pave the way for the discovery of new compounds against HSV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faral-Tello
- Sección Virología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay
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Pizzo C, Faral-Tello P, Salinas G, Fló M, Robello C, Wipf P, Graciela Mahler S. Selenosemicarbazones as potent cruzipain inhibitors and their antiparasitic properties against Trypanosoma cruzi. Med Chem Commun 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2md00283c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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