1
|
Zingales B, Macedo AM. Fifteen Years after the Definition of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs: What Have We Learned? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2339. [PMID: 38137940 PMCID: PMC10744745 DOI: 10.3390/life13122339] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan causative of Chagas disease (ChD), exhibits striking genetic and phenotypic intraspecific diversity, along with ecoepidemiological complexity. Human-pathogen interactions lead to distinct clinical presentations of ChD. In 2009, an international consensus classified T. cruzi strains into six discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI to TcVI, later including TcBat, and proposed reproducible genotyping schemes for DTU identification. This article aims to review the impact of classifying T. cruzi strains into DTUs on our understanding of biological, ecoepidemiological, and pathogenic aspects of T. cruzi. We will explore the likely origin of DTUs and the intrinsic characteristics of each group of strains concerning genome organization, genomics, and susceptibility to drugs used in ChD treatment. We will also provide an overview of the association of DTUs with mammalian reservoirs, and summarize the geographic distribution, and the clinical implications, of prevalent specific DTUs in ChD patients. Throughout this review, we will emphasize the crucial roles of both parasite and human genetics in defining ChD pathogenesis and chemotherapy outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréa M. Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zingales B, Bartholomeu DC. Trypanosoma cruzi genetic diversity: impact on transmission cycles and Chagas disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2022; 117:e210193. [PMID: 35544857 PMCID: PMC9088421 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760210193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease (ChD), exhibits remarkable biological and genetic diversity, along with eco-epidemiological complexity. In order to facilitate communication among researchers aiming at the characterisation of biological and epidemiological aspects of T. cruzi, parasite isolates and strains were partitioned into seven discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI and TcBat, identifiable by reproducible genotyping protocols. Here we present the potential origin of the genetic diversity of T. cruzi and summarise knowledge about eco-epidemiological associations of DTUs with mammalian reservoirs and vectors. Circumstantial evidence of a connection between T. cruzi genotype and ChD manifestations is also discussed emphasising the role of the host’s immune response in clinical ChD progression. We describe genomic aspects of DTUs focusing on polymorphisms in multigene families encoding surface antigens that play essential functions for parasite survival both in the insect vector and the mammalian host. Such antigens most probably contributed to the parasite success in establishing infections in different hosts and exploring several niches. Gaps in the current knowledge and challenges for future research are pointed out.
Collapse
|
3
|
Tavares de Oliveira M, Sulleiro E, Silgado Gimenez A, de Lana M, Zingales B, Santana da Silva J, Marin-Neto JA, Molina I. Quantification of parasite burden of Trypanosoma cruzi and identification of Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) in blood samples of Latin American immigrants residing in Barcelona, Spain. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008311. [PMID: 32497037 PMCID: PMC7271996 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008311] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi has a high genetic and biological diversity and has been subdivided into seven genetic lineages, named TcI-TcVI and TcBat. DTUs TcI-TcII-TcV and TcVI are agents of ChD in different regions of Latin America. Due to population movements, the disease is an emergent global public health problem. Thus, the aim of this study was to quantify the parasitic load and identify the presence of T. cruzi DTUs in 101 Latin American immigrants with chronic ChD, residing in Barcelona, Spain. METHODOLOGY / PRINCIPAL FINDINGS 5ml of peripheral blood were collected in guanidine/EDTA from each patient for DNA extraction, quantification of the parasitic load and genotyping. A great variation of the parasitic load of the patients was verified: from 0.001 to 22.2 T. cruzi DNA (fg) / Blood DNA (ng). In patients from Bolivia the parasitic load was 3.76±4.43 T. cruzi DNA (fg) / Blood DNA (ng) (mean ± SD), in patients of other countries was 0.95±1.38 T. cruzi DNA (fg) / Blood DNA (ng). No statistically significant difference was observed in the parasitic load between patients with the indeterminate and cardiac forms of ChD (p = 0,57). Parasite genotyping was performed by multilocus conventional PCR. In patients from Bolivia there was a nearly equal prevalence of DTUs TcV (27/77), TcII/TcV/TcVI (26/77), and TcII/TcVI (22/77). TcVI was detected in only 2 samples (2/77). A higher prevalence of TcII/TcVI (19/24) was verified in patients of other countries, with low prevalence of TcII/TcV/TcVI (4/24) and TcV (1/24). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE In this study, low/medium parasitic load was found in all patients evaluated. Our data corroborate previous conclusions indicating that patients from the Bolivia, living in Spain, are predominantly infected by TcV, and TcVI DTUs. On the other hand, in Non-Bolivians patients TcII/TcVI predominated. Surprisingly, in our cohort of 101 patients no infection by TcI DTU was observed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maykon Tavares de Oliveira
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. PROSICS, Barcelona. Spain
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Division, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. PROSICS Barcelona. Spain
| | - Aroa Silgado Gimenez
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. PROSICS Barcelona. Spain
| | - Marta de Lana
- School of Pharmacy and Center for Research in Biological Sciences (NUPEB), Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil
| | - Bianca Zingales
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João Santana da Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - J. Antônio Marin-Neto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Division, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Israel Molina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital. PROSICS, Barcelona. Spain
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Petravicius PO, Costa-Martins AG, Silva MN, Reis-Cunha JL, Bartholomeu DC, Teixeira MM, Zingales B. Mapping benznidazole resistance in trypanosomatids and exploring evolutionary histories of nitroreductases and ABCG transporter protein sequences. Acta Trop 2019; 200:105161. [PMID: 31494121 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The nitro-heterocyclic compound benznidazole (BZ) is the first-line drug for the treatment of Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. However, therapeutic failures are common for reasons that include the influences of parasite and host genetics, the effects of toxicity on adherence to treatment, and difficulties in demonstrating parasitological cure. To obtain information on the origin of the resistance to BZ and eliminate from the scenery the participation of the host, initially we mapped the susceptibility to the drug in thirteen species of seven genera of the family Trypanosomatidae. We verified that all Trypanosoma species are sensitive to low concentrations of the drug (IC50 2.7 to 25 µM) while Non-Trypanosoma species are highly resistant to these concentrations. The two groups of parasites correspond to the major phylogenetic lineages of trypanosomatids. Next, we searched in the trypanosomatid genome databases homologs of two type-I nitroreductases (NTR-1 and OYE) and an ABC transporter (ABCG1) that have been associated with BZ resistance in T. cruzi. The predicted proteins were characterized regarding domains and used for phylogenetic analyses. Homologous NTR-1 genes were found in all trypanosomatids investigated and the structural characteristics of the enzyme suggest that it may be functional. OYE genes were absent in BZ-sensitive African trypanosomes, which excludes the participation of this enzyme in BZ bio-activation. Two copies of ABCG1 genes were observed in most BZ resistant species, while Trypanosoma species exhibit only one copy per haploid genome. Functional studies are required to verify the involvement of these genes in BZ resistance. In addition, since multiple mechanisms can contribute to BZ susceptibility, our study poses a range of organisms highly resistant to BZ in which these aspects can be investigated. Preliminary studies on BZ uptake indicate marked differences between BZ-sensitive and BZ-resistant species.
Collapse
|
5
|
Baptista MS, Alves MJM, Arantes GM, Armelin HA, Augusto O, Baldini RL, Basseres DS, Bechara EJH, Bruni-Cardoso A, Chaimovich H, Colepicolo Neto P, Colli W, Cuccovia IM, Da-Silva AM, Di Mascio P, Farah SC, Ferreira C, Forti FL, Giordano RJ, Gomes SL, Gueiros Filho FJ, Hoch NC, Hotta CT, Labriola L, Lameu C, Machini MT, Malnic B, Marana SR, Medeiros MHG, Meotti FC, Miyamoto S, Oliveira CC, Souza-Pinto NC, Reis EM, Ronsein GE, Salinas RK, Schechtman D, Schreier S, Setubal JC, Sogayar MC, Souza GM, Terra WR, Truzzi DR, Ulrich H, Verjovski-Almeida S, Winck FV, Zingales B, Kowaltowski AJ. Where do we aspire to publish? A position paper on scientific communication in biochemistry and molecular biology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 52:e8935. [PMID: 31482979 PMCID: PMC6719344 DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20198935] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The scientific publication landscape is changing quickly, with an enormous increase in options and models. Articles can be published in a complex variety of journals that differ in their presentation format (online-only or in-print), editorial organizations that maintain them (commercial and/or society-based), editorial handling (academic or professional editors), editorial board composition (academic or professional), payment options to cover editorial costs (open access or pay-to-read), indexation, visibility, branding, and other aspects. Additionally, online submissions of non-revised versions of manuscripts prior to seeking publication in a peer-reviewed journal (a practice known as pre-printing) are a growing trend in biological sciences. In this changing landscape, researchers in biochemistry and molecular biology must re-think their priorities in terms of scientific output dissemination. The evaluation processes and institutional funding for scientific publications should also be revised accordingly. This article presents the results of discussions within the Department of Biochemistry, University of São Paulo, on this subject.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M S Baptista
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - M J M Alves
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - G M Arantes
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - H A Armelin
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - O Augusto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - R L Baldini
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - D S Basseres
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - E J H Bechara
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - A Bruni-Cardoso
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - H Chaimovich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - P Colepicolo Neto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - W Colli
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - I M Cuccovia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - A M Da-Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - P Di Mascio
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - S C Farah
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - C Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - F L Forti
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - R J Giordano
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - S L Gomes
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - F J Gueiros Filho
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - N C Hoch
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - C T Hotta
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - L Labriola
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - C Lameu
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - M T Machini
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - B Malnic
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - S R Marana
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - M H G Medeiros
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - F C Meotti
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - S Miyamoto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - C C Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - N C Souza-Pinto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - E M Reis
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - G E Ronsein
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - R K Salinas
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - D Schechtman
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - S Schreier
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - J C Setubal
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - M C Sogayar
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - G M Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - W R Terra
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - D R Truzzi
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - H Ulrich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - S Verjovski-Almeida
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - F V Winck
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - B Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - A J Kowaltowski
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zingales B. Trypanosoma cruzi genetic diversity: Something new for something known about Chagas disease manifestations, serodiagnosis and drug sensitivity. Acta Trop 2018; 184:38-52. [PMID: 28941731 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.2] [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: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The genetic diversity of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan agent of Chagas disease, is widely recognized. At present, T. cruzi is partitioned into seven discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI and Tcbat. This article reviews the present knowledge on the parasite population structure, the evolutionary relationships among DTUs and their distinct, but not exclusive ecological and epidemiological associations. Different models for the origin of hybrid DTUs are examined, which agree that genetic exchange among T. cruzi populations is frequent and has contributed to the present parasite population structure. The geographic distribution of the prevalent DTUs in humans from the southern United States to Argentina is here presented and the circumstantial evidence of a possible association between T. cruzi genotype and Chagas disease manifestations is discussed. The available information suggests that parasite strains detected in patients, regardless of the clinical presentation, reflect the principal DTU circulating in the domestic transmission cycles of a particular region. In contrast, in several orally transmitted outbreaks, sylvatic strains are implicated. As a consequence of the genotypic and phenotypic differences of T. cruzi strains and the differential geographic distribution of DTUs in humans, regional variations in the sensitivity of the serological tests are verified. The natural resistance to benznidazole and nifurtimox, verified in vivo and in vitro for some parasite stocks, is not associated with any particular DTU, and does not explain the marked difference in the anti-parasitic efficacy of both drugs in the acute and chronic phases of Chagas disease. Throughout this review, it is emphasized that the interplay between parasite and host genetics should have an important role in the definition of Chagas disease pathogenesis, anti-T. cruzi immune response and chemotherapy outcome and should be considered in future investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Palace-Berl F, Pasqualoto KFM, Zingales B, Moraes CB, Bury M, Franco CH, da Silva Neto AL, Murayama JS, Nunes SL, Silva MN, Tavares LC. Investigating the structure-activity relationships of N'-[(5-nitrofuran-2-yl) methylene] substituted hydrazides against Trypanosoma cruzi to design novel active compounds. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 144:29-40. [PMID: 29247858 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected chronic tropical infection endemic in Latin America. New and effective treatments are urgently needed because the two available drugs - benznidazole (BZD) and nifurtimox (NFX) - have limited curative power in the chronic phase of the disease. We have previously reported the design and synthesis of N'-[(5-nitrofuran-2-yl) methylene] substituted hydrazides that showed high trypanocidal activity against axenic epimastigote forms of three T. cruzi strains. Here we show that these compounds are also active against a BZD- and NFX-resistant strain. Herein, multivariate approaches (hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis) were applied to a set of thirty-six formerly characterized compounds. Based on the findings from exploratory data analysis, novel compounds were designed and synthesized. These compounds showed two-to three-fold higher trypanocidal activity against epimastigote forms than the previous set and were 25-30-fold more active than BZD. Their activity was also evaluated against intracellular amastigotes by high content screening (HCS). The most active compounds (BSF-38 to BSF-40) showed a selective index (SI') greater than 200, in contrast to the SI' values of reference drugs (NFX, 16.45; BZD, > 3), and a 70-fold greater activity than BZD. These findings indicate that nitrofuran compounds designed based on the activity against epimastigote forms show promising trypanocidal activity against intracellular amastigotes, which correspond to the predominant parasite stage in the chronic phase of Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Palace-Berl
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | | | - Bianca Zingales
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carolina Borsoi Moraes
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Mariana Bury
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Caio Haddad Franco
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Adelson Lopes da Silva Neto
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - João Sussumu Murayama
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Solange Lessa Nunes
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Nunes Silva
- Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Leoberto Costa Tavares
- Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zingales B, Araujo RGA, Moreno M, Franco J, Aguiar PHN, Nunes SL, Silva MN, Ienne S, Machado CR, Brandão A. A novel ABCG-like transporter of Trypanosoma cruzi is involved in natural resistance to benznidazole. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 110:433-44. [PMID: 25946152 PMCID: PMC4489481 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760140407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Benznidazole (BZ) is one of the two drugs used for Chagas disease treatment. Nevertheless therapeutic failures of BZ have been reported, which were mostly attributed to variable drug susceptibility among Trypanosoma cruzi strains. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are involved in a variety of translocation processes and some members have been implicated in drug resistance. Here we report the characterisation of the first T. cruzi ABCG transporter gene, named TcABCG1, which is over-expressed in parasite strains naturally resistant to BZ. Comparison of TcABCG1 gene sequence of two TcI BZ-resistant strains with CL Brener BZ-susceptible strain showed several single nucleotide polymorphisms, which determined 11 amino acid changes. CL Brener transfected with TcI transporter genes showed 40-47% increased resistance to BZ, whereas no statistical significant increment in drug resistance was observed when CL Brener was transfected with the homologous gene. Only in the parasites transfected with TcI genes there was 2-2.6-fold increased abundance of TcABCG1 transporter protein. The analysis in wild type strains also suggests that the level of TcABCG1 transporter is related to BZ natural resistance. The characteristics of untranslated regions of TcABCG1 genes of BZ-susceptible and resistant strains were investigated by computational tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Margoth Moreno
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Jaques Franco
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Pedro Henrique Nascimento Aguiar
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Solange Lessa Nunes
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Nunes Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Susan Ienne
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carlos Renato Machado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Adeilton Brandão
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Franco J, Ferreira RC, Ienne S, Zingales B. ABCG-like transporter of Trypanosoma cruzi involved in benznidazole resistance: gene polymorphisms disclose inter-strain intragenic recombination in hybrid isolates. Infect Genet Evol 2015; 31:198-208. [PMID: 25660041 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Benznidazole (BZ) is one of the two drugs for Chagas disease treatment. In a previous study we showed that the Trypanosoma cruzi ABCG-like transporter gene, named TcABCG1, is over-expressed in parasite strains naturally resistant to BZ and that the gene of TcI BZ-resistant strains exhibited several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as compared to the gene of CL Brener BZ-susceptible strain. Here we report the sequence of TcABCG1 gene of fourteen T. cruzi strains, with diverse degrees of BZ sensitivity and belonging to different discrete typing units (DTUs) and Tcbat group. Although DTU-specific SNPs and amino acid changes were identified, no direct correlation with BZ-resistance phenotype was found. Thus, it is plausible that the transporter abundance is a determinant factor for drug resistance, as pointed out above. Sequence data were used for Bayesian phylogenies and network genealogy analysis. The network showed a high degree of reticulation suggesting genetic exchange between the parasites. TcI and TcII clades were clearly separated. Tcbat sequences were close to TcI. A fourth clade clustered TcABCG1 haplotypes of TcV, TcVI and TcIII strains, with closer proximity to TcI. Analysis of the recombination patterns indicated that hybrid strains contain haplotypes that are mosaics most likely derived by intragenic recombination of parental sequences. The data confirm that TcII and TcIII as the parentals of TcV and TcVI DTUs. Since genetic fingerprint of TcI was found in TcIII, we sustain the previously proposed "Two Hybridization model" for the origin of hybrid strains. Among the twenty best BLASTP hits in databases, orthologues of TcABCG1 transporter were found in Leishmania spp. and African trypanosomes, though their function remains undescribed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jaques Franco
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Renata C Ferreira
- Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva e Biocomplexidade, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo 669, 04039-032 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Susan Ienne
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Knight JM, Zingales B, Bottazzi ME, Hotez P, Zhan B. Limited antigenic variation in the Trypanosoma cruzi candidate vaccine antigen TSA-1. Parasite Immunol 2015; 36:708-12. [PMID: 25040249 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi) is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases in the Western Hemisphere. The toxicities and limited efficacies of current antitrypanosomal drugs have prompted a search for alternative technologies such as a therapeutic vaccine comprised of T. cruzi antigens, including a recombinant antigen encoding the N-terminal 65 kDa portion of Trypomastigote surface antigen-1 (TSA-1). With at least six known genetically distinct T. cruzi lineages, variability between the different lineages poses a unique challenge for the development of broadly effective therapeutic vaccine. The variability across the major lineages in the current vaccine candidate antigen TSA-1 has not previously been addressed. To assess the variation in TSA-1, we cloned and sequenced TSA-1 from several different T. cruzi strains representing three of the most clinically relevant lineages. Analysis of the different alleles showed limited variation in TSA-1 across the different strains and fit with the current theory for the evolution of the different lineages. Additionally, minimal variation in known antigenic epitopes for the HLA-A 02 allele suggests that interlineage variation in TSA-1 would not impair the range and efficacy of a vaccine containing TSA-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J M Knight
- Southwest Electronic Energy Medical Research Institute, Stafford, TX, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zingales B, Miles MA, Moraes CB, Luquetti A, Guhl F, Schijman AG, Ribeiro I. Drug discovery for Chagas disease should consider Trypanosoma cruzi strain diversity. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2014; 109:828-33. [PMID: 25317712 PMCID: PMC4238778 DOI: 10.1590/0074-0276140156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [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: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This opinion piece presents an approach to standardisation of an important aspect of Chagas disease drug discovery and development: selecting Trypanosoma cruzi strains for in vitro screening. We discuss the rationale for strain selection representing T. cruzi diversity and provide recommendations on the preferred parasite stage for drug discovery, T. cruzi discrete typing units to include in the panel of strains and the number of strains/clones for primary screens and lead compounds. We also consider experimental approaches for in vitro drug assays. The Figure illustrates the current Chagas disease drug-discovery and development landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP,
Brasil
| | - Michael A Miles
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Carolina B Moraes
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em
Energias e Matérias, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | - Alejandro Luquetti
- Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO,
Brasil
| | - Felipe Guhl
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical,
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá,
Colombia
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología
Molecular-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires,
Argentina
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ienne S, Pappas G, Benabdellah K, González A, Zingales B. Horizontal gene transfer confers fermentative metabolism in the respiratory-deficient plant trypanosomatid Phytomonas serpens. Infect Genet Evol 2012; 12:539-48. [PMID: 22293462 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Among trypanosomatids, the genus Phytomonas is the only one specifically adapted to infect plants. These hosts provide a particular habitat with a plentiful supply of carbohydrates. Phytomonas sp. lacks a cytochrome-mediated respiratory chain and Krebs cycle, and ATP production relies predominantly on glycolysis. We have characterised the complete gene encoding a putative pyruvate/indolepyruvate decarboxylase (PDC/IPDC) (548 amino acids) of P. serpens, that displays high amino acid sequence similarity with phytobacteria and Leishmania enzymes. No orthologous PDC/IPDC genes were found in Trypanosoma cruzi or T. brucei. Conservation of the PDC/IPDC gene sequence was verified in 14 Phytomonas isolates. A phylogenetic analysis shows that Phytomonas protein is robustly monophyletic with Leishmania spp. and C. fasciculata enzymes. In the trees this clade appears as a sister group of indolepyruvate decarboxylases of γ-proteobacteria. This supports the proposition that a horizontal gene transfer event from a donor phytobacteria to a recipient ancestral trypanosome has occurred prior to the separation between Phytomonas, Leishmania and Crithidia. We have measured the PDC activity in P. serpens cell extracts. The enzyme has a Km value for pyruvate of 1.4mM. The acquisition of a PDC, a key enzyme in alcoholic fermentation, explains earlier observations that ethanol is one of the major end-products of glucose catabolism under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. This represents an alternative and necessary route to reoxidise part of the NADH produced in the highly demanding glycolytic pathway and highlights the importance of this type of event in metabolic adaptation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Ienne
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zingales B, Miles MA, Campbell DA, Tibayrenc M, Macedo AM, Teixeira MMG, Schijman AG, Llewellyn MS, Lages-Silva E, Machado CR, Andrade SG, Sturm NR. The revised Trypanosoma cruzi subspecific nomenclature: rationale, epidemiological relevance and research applications. Infect Genet Evol 2011; 12:240-53. [PMID: 22226704 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 602] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2011] [Accepted: 12/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, its mammalian reservoirs, and vectors have existed in nature for millions of years. The human infection, named Chagas disease, is a major public health problem for Latin America. T. cruzi is genetically highly diverse and the understanding of the population structure of this parasite is critical because of the links to transmission cycles and disease. At present, T. cruzi is partitioned into six discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI. Here we focus on the current status of taxonomy-related areas such as population structure, phylogeographical and eco-epidemiological features, and the correlation of DTU with natural and experimental infection. We also summarize methods for DTU genotyping, available for widespread use in endemic areas. For the immediate future multilocus sequence typing is likely to be the gold standard for population studies. We conclude that greater advances in our knowledge on pathogenic and epidemiological features of these parasites are expected in the coming decade through the comparative analysis of the genomes from isolates of various DTUs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Moreno M, D'ávila DA, Silva MN, Galvão LM, Macedo AM, Chiari E, Gontijo ED, Zingales B. Trypanosoma cruzi benznidazole susceptibility in vitro does not predict the therapeutic outcome of human Chagas disease. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2011; 105:918-24. [PMID: 21120364 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762010000700014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Accepted: 08/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic failure of benznidazole (BZ) is widely documented in Chagas disease and has been primarily associated with variations in the drug susceptibility of Trypanosoma cruzi strains. In humans, therapeutic success has been assessed by the negativation of anti-T. cruzi antibodies, a process that may take up to 10 years. A protocol for early screening of the drug resistance of infective strains would be valuable for orienting physicians towards alternative therapies, with a combination of existing drugs or new anti-T. cruzi agents. We developed a procedure that couples the isolation of parasites by haemoculture with quantification of BZ susceptibility in the resultant epimastigote forms. BZ activity was standardized with reference strains, which showed IC₅₀ to BZ between 7.6-32 µM. The assay was then applied to isolates from seven chronic patients prior to administration of BZ therapy. The IC₅₀ of the strains varied from 15.6 ± 3-51.4 ± 1 µM. Comparison of BZ susceptibility of the pre-treatment isolates of patients considered cured by several criteria and of non-cured patients indicates that the assay does not predict therapeutic outcome. A two-fold increase in BZ resistance in the post-treatment isolates of two patients was verified. Based on the profile of nine microsatellite loci, sub-population selection in non-cured patients was ruled out.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margoth Moreno
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
|
16
|
Martins C, Reis-Cunha J, Silva M, Pereira E, Pappas Jr. G, Bartholomeu D, Zingales B. Identification of genes encoding hypothetical proteins in open-reading frame expressed sequence tags from mammalian stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Genet Mol Res 2011; 10:1589-630. [DOI: 10.4238/vol10-3gmr1140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
17
|
Ienne S, Pedroso A, Carmona E Ferreira R, Briones MRS, Zingales B. Network genealogy of 195-bp satellite DNA supports the superimposed hybridization hypothesis of Trypanosoma cruzi evolutionary pattern. Infect Genet Evol 2010; 10:601-6. [PMID: 20433949 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2010.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is highly diverse genetically and has been partitioned into six discrete typing units (DTUs), recently re-named T. cruzi I-VI. Although T. cruzi reproduces predominantly by binary division, accumulating evidence indicates that particular DTUs are the result of hybridization events. Two major scenarios for the origin of the hybrid lineages have been proposed. It is accepted widely that the most heterozygous TcV and TcVI DTUs are the result of genetic exchange between TcII and TcIII strains. On the other hand, the participation of a TcI parental in the current genome structure of these hybrid strains is a matter of debate. Here, sequences of the T. cruzi-specific 195-bp satellite DNA of TcI, TcII, TcIII, TcV, and TcVI strains have been used for inferring network genealogies. The resulting genealogy showed a high degree of reticulation, which is consistent with more than one event of hybridization between the Tc DTUs. The data also strongly suggest that TcIII is a hybrid with two distinct sets of satellite sequences, and that genetic exchange between TcI and TcII parentals occurred within the pedigree of the TcV and TcVI DTUs. Although satellite DNAs belong to the fast-evolving portion of eukaryotic genomes, in >100 satellite units of nine T. cruzi strains we found regions that display 100% identity. No DTU-specific consensus motifs were identified, inferring species-wide conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Ienne
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Zingales B, Andrade SG, Briones MRS, Campbell DA, Chiari E, Fernandes O, Guhl F, Lages-Silva E, Macedo AM, Machado CR, Miles MA, Romanha AJ, Sturm NR, Tibayrenc M, Schijman AG. A new consensus for Trypanosoma cruzi intraspecific nomenclature: second revision meeting recommends TcI to TcVI. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2009; 104:1051-4. [PMID: 20027478 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762009000700021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 712] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2009] [Accepted: 10/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - F Guhl
- Universidad de los Andes, Colombia
| | | | - AM Macedo
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - CR Machado
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - MA Miles
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - AJ Romanha
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | | | | | - AG Schijman
- Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Carranza JC, Kowaltowski AJ, Mendonça MAG, de Oliveira TC, Gadelha FR, Zingales B. Mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox state are unaltered in Trypanosoma cruzi isolates with compromised mitochondrial complex I subunit genes. J Bioenerg Biomembr 2009; 41:299-308. [PMID: 19618257 DOI: 10.1007/s10863-009-9228-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 06/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In trypanosomatids the involvement of mitochondrial complex I in NADH oxidation has long been debated. Here, we took advantage of natural Trypanosoma cruzi mutants which present conspicuous deletions in ND4, ND5 and ND7 genes coding for complex I subunits to further investigate its functionality. Mitochondrial bioenergetics of wild type and complex I mutants showed no significant differences in oxygen consumption or respiratory control ratios in the presence of NADH-linked substrates or FADH(2)-generating succinate. No correlation could be established between mitochondrial membrane potentials and ND deletions. Since release of reactive oxygen species occurs at complex I, we measured mitochondrial H(2)O(2) formation induced by different substrates. Significant differences not associated to ND deletions were observed among the parasite isolates, demonstrating that these mutations are not important for the control of oxidant production. Our data support the notion that complex I has a limited function in T. cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julio César Carranza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Tomazi L, Kawashita S, Pereira P, Zingales B, Briones M. Haplotype distribution of five nuclear genes based on network genealogies and Bayesian inference indicates that Trypanosoma cruzi hybrid strains are polyphyletic. Genet Mol Res 2009; 8:458-76. [DOI: 10.4238/vol8-2gmr591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
21
|
Pedroso A, Cupolillo E, Zingales B. Trypanosoma cruzi: exploring the nuclear genome of zymodeme 3 stocks by chromosome size polymorphism. Exp Parasitol 2007; 116:71-6. [PMID: 17270177 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 06/27/2006] [Revised: 09/28/2006] [Accepted: 10/06/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is emerging in the Brazilian Amazon. We evaluated the position of eight zymodeme 3 isolates from Amazonian sylvatic vectors and one human case in relation to Trypanosoma cruzi I and II major groups and hybrid strains by chromosome size polymorphism. Nineteen isolates were analyzed by mapping nine coding sequences on chromosomal bands (0.6-3.3Mbp). Numerical analysis was based on the absolute chromosomal size difference index (aCSDI). A dendrogram was obtained applying the minimum evolution criterion and considering the aCSDI values to estimate the branch lengths. The isolates were distributed in four groups. Group A clustered hybrid isolates; Groups B and C, T. cruzi II and T. cruzi I isolates, respectively. Seven Z3 stocks were clustered in Group D, which showed low intra-group diversity and was the most divergent. The proportion of two different-sized homologous chromosomes was determined. Wild vectors harboring Z3 stocks constitute a potential reservoir of human infection in the Amazon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aurélio Pedroso
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 748, CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Nogueira NFS, Gonzalez MS, Gomes JE, de Souza W, Garcia ES, Azambuja P, Nohara LL, Almeida IC, Zingales B, Colli W. Trypanosoma cruzi: involvement of glycoinositolphospholipids in the attachment to the luminal midgut surface of Rhodnius prolixus. Exp Parasitol 2007; 116:120-8. [PMID: 17306256 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2006] [Revised: 12/01/2006] [Accepted: 12/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes adhere in vivo to the luminal surface of their triatomid vector digestive tract by molecular mechanisms, as yet, unknown. Here, we show that the administration of 0.5 microM epimastigote major surface glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs) to the infected bloodmeal inhibits up to 90% parasite infection in Rhodnius prolixus. The parasite behavior was investigated in vitro using fragments of the insect midgut. The addition of GIPLs in concentration as low as 50-100 nM impaired 95% the attachment of epimastigotes. Previous treatment of GIPLs with trifluoroacetic acid to remove the terminal beta-galactofuranosyl residues reversed 50% the epimastigote in vitro attachment. The binding sites of purified GIPLs on the luminal surface of the posterior midgut were exposed by immunofluorescence microscopy. These observations indicate that GIPLs are one of the components involved in the adhesion of T. cruzi to the luminal insect midgut surface and possibly one of the determinants of parasite infection in the insect vector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadir F S Nogueira
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Baptista CS, Vêncio RZN, Abdala S, Carranza JC, Westenberger SJ, Silva MN, Pereira CADB, Galvão LMC, Gontijo ED, Chiari E, Sturm NR, Zingales B. Differential transcription profiles in Trypanosoma cruzi associated with clinical forms of Chagas disease: Maxicircle NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7 gene truncation in asymptomatic patient isolates. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 150:236-48. [PMID: 16996148 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2005] [Revised: 08/18/2006] [Accepted: 08/21/2006] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The majority of individuals in the chronic phase of Chagas disease are asymptomatic (indeterminate form). Every year 2-3% of these individuals develop severe clinical manifestations (cardiac and digestive forms). In this study a Trypanosoma cruzi DNA microarray was used to compare the transcript profiles of six human isolates: three from asymptomatic and three from cardiac patients. Seven signals were expressed differentially between the two classes of isolates, including tryparedoxin, surface protease GP63, cyclophilin, some hypothetical proteins and the pre-edited maxicircle gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 7 (ND7). The approximately 30-fold greater signal in cardiac strains for ND7 was the most pronounced of the group, and differential levels of pre-edited ND7 transcript confirmed the microarray analysis. The ND7 gene from asymptomatic isolates showed a deletion of 455bp from nt 222 to nt 677 relative to ND7 of the CL Brener reference strain. The ND7 gene structure correlated with disease manifestation for 20 isolates from clinically characterised, chronic phase patients. The ND7 lesion produces a truncated product that could impair the function of mitochondrial complex I. Possible links between the integrity of the electron transport chain and symptom presentation are discussed. We propose that ND7 and other genes of the pathway constitute valuable targets for PCR assays in the differential diagnosis of the infective T. cruzi strain. While this hypothesis requires validation by the examination of additional recent parasite isolates from patients with defined pathologies, the identification of specific molecular markers represents a promising advance in the association between parasite genetics and disease pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cassio S Baptista
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 748 CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Vêncio RZN, Patrão DFC, Baptista CS, Pereira CAB, Zingales B. BayBoots: a model-free Bayesian tool to identify class markers from gene expression data. Genet Mol Res 2006; 5:138-42. [PMID: 16755505] [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: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
One of the goals of gene expression experiments is the identification of differentially expressed genes among populations that could be used as markers. For this purpose, we implemented a model-free Bayesian approach in a user-friendly and freely available web-based tool called BayBoots. In spite of a common misunderstanding that Bayesian and model-free approaches are incompatible, we merged them in the BayBoots implementation using the Kernel density estimator and Rubin 's Bayesian Bootstrap. We used the Bayes error rate (BER) instead of the usual P values as an alternative statistical index to rank a class marker's discriminative potential, since it can be visualized by a simple graphical representation and has an intuitive interpretation. Subsequently, Bayesian Bootstrap was used to assess BER 's credibility. We tested BayBoots on microarray data to look for markers for Trypanosoma cruzi strains isolated from cardiac and asymptomatic patients. We found that the three most frequently used methods in microarray analysis: t-test, non-parametric Wilcoxon test and correlation methods, yielded several markers that were discarded by a time-consuming visual check. On the other hand, the BayBoots graphical output and ranking was able to automatically identify markers for which classification performance was consistent. BayBoots is available at: http://www.vision.ime.usp.br/~rvencio/BayBoots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Z N Vêncio
- BIOINFO-USP Departamento de Estatística, Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-090 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Westenberger SJ, Cerqueira GC, El-Sayed NM, Zingales B, Campbell DA, Sturm NR. Trypanosoma cruzi mitochondrial maxicircles display species- and strain-specific variation and a conserved element in the non-coding region. BMC Genomics 2006; 7:60. [PMID: 16553959 PMCID: PMC1559615 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-7-60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2006] [Accepted: 03/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mitochondrial DNA of kinetoplastid flagellates is distinctive in the eukaryotic world due to its massive size, complex form and large sequence content. Comprised of catenated maxicircles that contain rRNA and protein-coding genes and thousands of heterogeneous minicircles encoding small guide RNAs, the kinetoplast network has evolved along with an extreme form of mRNA processing in the form of uridine insertion and deletion RNA editing. Many maxicircle-encoded mRNAs cannot be translated without this post-transcriptional sequence modification. RESULTS We present the complete sequence and annotation of the Trypanosoma cruzi maxicircles for the CL Brener and Esmeraldo strains. Gene order is syntenic with Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania tarentolae maxicircles. The non-coding components have strain-specific repetitive regions and a variable region that is unique for each strain with the exception of a conserved sequence element that may serve as an origin of replication, but shows no sequence identity with L. tarentolae or T. brucei. Alternative assemblies of the variable region demonstrate intra-strain heterogeneity of the maxicircle population. The extent of mRNA editing required for particular genes approximates that seen in T. brucei. Extensively edited genes were more divergent among the genera than non-edited and rRNA genes. Esmeraldo contains a unique 236-bp deletion that removes the 5'-ends of ND4 and CR4 and the intergenic region. Esmeraldo shows additional insertions and deletions outside of areas edited in other species in ND5, MURF1, and MURF2, while CL Brener has a distinct insertion in MURF2. CONCLUSION The CL Brener and Esmeraldo maxicircles represent two of three previously defined maxicircle clades and promise utility as taxonomic markers. Restoration of the disrupted reading frames might be accomplished by strain-specific RNA editing. Elements in the non-coding region may be important for replication, transcription, and anchoring of the maxicircle within the kinetoplast network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Westenberger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Gustavo C Cerqueira
- Department of Parasite Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Najib M El-Sayed
- Department of Parasite Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David A Campbell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles 90095, USA
| | - Nancy R Sturm
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ponce C, Ponce E, Vinelli E, Montoya A, de Aguilar V, Gonzalez A, Zingales B, Rangel-Aldao R, Levin MJ, Esfandiari J, Umezawa ES, Luquetti AO, da Silveira JF. Validation of a rapid and reliable test for diagnosis of chagas' disease by detection of Trypanosoma cruzi-specific antibodies in blood of donors and patients in Central America. J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43:5065-8. [PMID: 16207963 PMCID: PMC1248447 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.43.10.5065-5068.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 03/09/2005] [Revised: 06/14/2005] [Accepted: 07/08/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we compared the performance of the Chagas Stat-Pak rapid immunochromatographic test with a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease in Central America. Out of 3,400 blood donor samples, 156 (4.6%) were positive in both assays. Three sera out of 2,084 samples from reference laboratories were negative with the rapid test but positive with the ELISA (99.8% agreement). Agreement of 100% between the two tests was observed with 339 additional sera from patients with cardiopathies and 175 sera from potential blood donors in emergency surgical cases occurring on weekends or at night. In conclusion, Chagas Stat-Pak showed 99.6% and 99.9% sensitivity and specificity, respectively, when assayed with 5,998 serum samples. It is a sensitive and specific alternative to the ELISA, as required in medical emergencies and blood screenings in Central America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ponce
- Laboratorio Central de Referencia para Enfermedad de Chagas y Leishmaniasis, Secretaria de Salud, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Pappas GJ, Benabdellah K, Zingales B, González A. Expressed sequence tags from the plant trypanosomatid Phytomonas serpens. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2005; 142:149-57. [PMID: 15869816 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2005.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 10/21/2004] [Revised: 03/24/2005] [Accepted: 03/31/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
We have generated 2190 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a cDNA library of the plant trypanosomatid Phytomonas serpens. Upon processing and clustering the set of 1893 accepted sequences was reduced to 697 clusters consisting of 452 singletons and 245 contigs. Functional categories were assigned based on BLAST searches against a database of the eukaryotic orthologous groups of proteins (KOG). Thirty six percent of the generated sequences showed no hits against the KOG database and 39.6% presented similarity to the KOG classes corresponding to translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis. The most populated cluster contained 45 ESTs homologous to members of the glucose transporter family. This fact can be immediately correlated to the reported Phytomonas dependence on anaerobic glycolytic ATP production due to the lack of cytochrome-mediated respiratory chain. In this context, not only a number of enzymes of the glycolytic pathway were identified but also of the Krebs cycle as well as specific components of the respiratory chain. The data here reported, including a few hundred unique sequences and the description of tandemly repeated motifs and putative transcript stability motifs at untranslated mRNA ends, represent an initial approach to overcome the lack of information on the molecular biology of this organism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Georgios J Pappas
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Baptista CS, Vêncio RZN, Abdala S, Valadares MP, Martins C, de Bragança Pereira CA, Zingales B. DNA microarrays for comparative genomics and analysis of gene expression in Trypanosoma cruzi. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2005; 138:183-94. [PMID: 15555730 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2004.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 09/23/2003] [Revised: 05/25/2004] [Accepted: 06/09/2004] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi presents high genetic diversity and parasite isolates show remarkable differences in biological parameters. In this study, we evaluated whether DNA microarrays containing CL Brener cDNAs can be used for comparative genomics and for the analysis of gene expression in T. cruzi. We constructed a prototype microarray with 710 expression sequence tags of CL Brener and 20 sequences of T. cruzi strains. These probes represent 665 unique genes. Results from four hybridisations with genomic DNA of Silvio (T. cruzi I) and CL Brener (hybrid genotype) identified 9.3% of the probes (68/730) differentially represented in the two genomes. Data from eight hybridisations with cDNA obtained from three independent parasite harvests of Silvio and CL Brener disclosed 84 sequences of 730 (11.5%) that showed statistical significant (P < or = 0.01) changes in expression (1.6-6.5-fold). Some of the array-identified sequences were confirmed by Southern and Northern blot analysis. Only 20% of the probes with increased expression in Silvio or CL Brener presented higher hybridisation with genomic DNA of either strain. Approximately 2.5% (18/730) and 9.0% (65/730) of the probes were differentially expressed (P < or = 0.01), respectively, in epimastigotes and metacyclic trypomastigotes of two T. cruzi II strains isolated from chronic chagasic patients. Microarrays identified several sequences for which differences in gene copy number and/or in the levels of RNA transcripts were previously demonstrated by different approaches. The data indicate that DNA microarrays are a useful tool for comparative studies between strains and provide further evidence for a high level of post-transcriptional regulation of RNA abundance in T. cruzi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cassio Silva Baptista
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, CEP 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Elias MCQB, Vargas N, Tomazi L, Pedroso A, Zingales B, Schenkman S, Briones MRS. Comparative analysis of genomic sequences suggests that Trypanosoma cruzi CL Brener contains two sets of non-intercalated repeats of satellite DNA that correspond to T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II types. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2005; 140:221-7. [PMID: 15760661 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2004.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 10/08/2004] [Revised: 12/08/2004] [Accepted: 12/16/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 10% of the Trypanosoma cruzi genome is formed by a satellite DNA, composed by 195-bp repeats organized in 30+/-10 kb clusters in some, but not all chromosomes. Here, the satellite DNA of six representative T. cruzi strains was sequenced and used for phylogenetic inference. The results show that CL Brener contains satellite repeats from T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II strains, although type II sequences are more abundant. The presence of types I and II sequences extends previous propositions that genetic exchange between the two major T. cruzi lineages have occurred in CL Brener, although our data accommodate alternative scenarios of hybridization within T. cruzi II, as proposed by others. Altogether, present data suggest a complex origin for CL Brener. Sequence analysis of satellites isolated from chromosomal bands indicates that satellite DNA sequences are not chromosome specific. Neighbor analysis of in tandem satellite DNAs containing up to five repeats shows that each cluster contains only one type of sequence. Consequently, clusters with intercalated types I and II repeats were not found. We propose that the CL Brener genome contains large pieces of satellite DNA originated mainly from chromosomes of T. cruzi II with introgression of T. cruzi I lineage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carolina Q B Elias
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Botucatu 8628A, 04023-062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Vargas N, Pedroso A, Zingales B. Chromosomal polymorphism, gene synteny and genome size in T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II groups. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2005; 138:131-41. [PMID: 15500924 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2004.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 06/24/2004] [Revised: 08/05/2004] [Accepted: 08/15/2004] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and DNA hybridization were used to establish and compare some parameters of the molecular karyotype of nine stocks classified into Trypanosoma cruzi I and T. cruzi II groups. The isolates showed a variable number of chromosomal bands (17-22) comprised between 0.4 and 3.3 Mbp. The total number of chromosomes and the genome size were estimated based on the fluorescence intensity of SYBR Green I-stained chromosomal bands. Differences in the length of the telomeric regions among the stocks and between chromosomes of the same stock were observed. No correlation was found between the length of the telomeric region and the group to which the isolate belongs. Hybridization of 54 genetic markers revealed extensive chromosome size polymorphism. Nevertheless, the most represented pattern was the hybridization of the probes in larger chromosomes in stocks of T. cruzi II as compared to T. cruzi I. Eight putative syntenic groups, encompassing 29 non-redundant genetic markers and distributed in 11 CL Brener chromosomal bands were disclosed. The syntenic groups were conserved in all the stocks. The relative abundance of repetitive DNA sequences was determined. C6, B11/L1Tc and E12 elements presented maximum 1.7-fold variation in copy number, whereas 195-bp satellite DNA (120,000 copies in Y strain) was four- to nine-fold more abundant in T. cruzi II stocks. The novel aspects of T. cruzi karyotype here presented contribute to the comprehension of the genome organization of this parasite and will assist the assignment of scaffold to the CL Brener chromosomal bands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Vargas
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 748-CEP 05508-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Pereira CM, Franco da Silveira J, Duranti M, Cunha-Neto E, Zingales B, Castilho BA. Epitope mapping of a single repetitive unit of the B13 Trypanosoma cruzi antigen as fusions to Escherichia coli LamB protein. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2004; 235:237-42. [PMID: 15183869 DOI: 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2003] [Revised: 01/09/2004] [Accepted: 04/22/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
B13, one of the immunodominant antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi, is composed of repeats of a 12-amino-acid motif. Using synthetic peptides, the sequence FGQAAAGDK was previously shown to contain the B13 immunodominant epitope recognized by chagasic patients sera. To investigate the effects of neighboring sequences in the immunodominance, we tested serum recognition of two B13 sequences fused to LamB. GDKPSPFGQAAA-LamB and FGQAAAGDKPSP-LamB were recognized, respectively, by 15% and 80% of 80 sera reactive to B13 antigen. Recognition of FGQAAAGDKPSP-LamB was inhibited by AAAGDK-containing synthetic peptides. FGQAAAGDKPSP-LamB competed with a B13 recombinant protein containing 16.6 repeats for binding to chagasic antibodies. These results strengthen previous conclusions on the immunodominant epitope of B13 and provide a comparison of two methods for epitope mapping.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cátia M Pereira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, Rua Botucatu 862, CEP 04023-062 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Pereira CÃM, Franco da Silveira J, Duranti MÃ, Cunha-Neto E, Zingales B, Castilho BA. Epitope mapping of a single repetitive unit of the B13 Trypanosoma cruziantigen as fusions to Escherichia coliLamB protein. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2004. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2004.tb09594.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
|
33
|
Ejchel TF, Ramirez MI, Vargas N, Azevedo EB, Elias MC, Zingales B, Schenkman S. The largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II of Trypanosoma cruzi lacks the repeats in the carboxy-terminal domain and is encoded by several genes. Parasitol Int 2004; 52:243-9. [PMID: 14550480 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5769(03)00009-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The largest subunit of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) of several members of Kinetoplastida order and other early diverging eukaryote contains a serine, tyrosine and proline-rich domain in the carboxyl-terminal instead of the typical heptapeptides repeats found in most eukaryotes. The lack of these repeats seems to reflect the different control of gene transcription found in these organisms. To provide further understanding in these mechanisms, we have characterized the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II LSU) in Trypanosoma cruzi. We found that it also lacks the heptapeptide repeats in the carboxy-terminal domain, but is quite similar to the same region in the Trypanosoma brucei enzyme, suggesting a conserved role for this domain. In addition, we found several genes encoding the RNA Pol II in T. cruzi, distributed in different chromosomal bands in several isolates. Two of these genes were entirely sequenced and shown to be quite similar. The presence of several gene copies of the RNA Pol II LSU, also described in African trypanosomes might reflect a gene amplification requirement that appeared early in the evolution of these organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Flank Ejchel
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Luquetti AO, Ponce C, Ponce E, Esfandiari J, Schijman A, Revollo S, Añez N, Zingales B, Ramgel-Aldao R, Gonzalez A, Levin MJ, Umezawa ES, Franco da Silveira J. Chagas' disease diagnosis: a multicentric evaluation of Chagas Stat-Pak, a rapid immunochromatographic assay with recombinant proteins of Trypanosoma cruzi. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2003; 46:265-71. [PMID: 12944018 DOI: 10.1016/s0732-8893(03)00051-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A rapid serologic test for diagnosis of T. cruzi infection (Chagas Stat Pak) was developed using recombinant proteins in an immunochromatographic assay. This cassette format test was evaluated first in blind with a panel of 393 coded serum samples. The Chagas Stat-Pak identified 197 infected (98.5% sensitivity) and 183 non-infected individuals (94.8% specificity). A second evaluation was performed with 352 sera from four Latin America countries tested independently in each country, showing a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.6%. A third set of tests comparing sera with plasma and eluates from filter paper as well as serum preserved in 50% glycerol did show identical results as those obtained with serum. This rapid test (15 min) uses one device per sample, does not require refrigeration nor a laboratory structure or specialized skills to be performed, accepts different types of samples and may be stored for long periods of time for result checking and documentation. These attributes together with the high sensitivity and specificity demonstrated herein, make this test a suitable tool for field studies, small laboratories and emergencies at blood banks in the countryside of endemic areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro O Luquetti
- Instituto de Patologia e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiania, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi has about 10(5) copies of a 195 bp repeat, called satellite DNA, which correspond to about 10% of the total DNA. Since very little is known about satellite distribution and function in this and in many other organisms, we studied the genomic organization of satellite DNA in T. cruzi Y, CL Brener, and Silvio X10 cl1 strains. We found that satellite repeats are present in some, but not all, chromosomes in these strains. We also found that the copy number of the satellite repeats is distinct in each one of the strains. We have estimated that the satellite DNA is four to six times more abundant in Y and CL Brener strains as compared to Silvio X10 cl1. Despite these differences, the repeated units are organized in a similar way. Based on restriction nuclease digestion analysis, we found that satellite repeats are grouped in clusters comprising about 30+/-10 kb. The same cluster size was also found in the different chromosomes, as seen by two-dimensional pulsed field-gel electrophoresis. As evidenced by a fluorescence hybridization assay of spread DNA fibers, we additionally found that these clusters are constrained in specific regions of the chromosomes. Sequence analysis of several repeat units of satellite DNA of the three strains revealed a remarkable similarity with conserved nucleotide blocks separated by more variable regions. Such conserved distribution and common sequence may suggest that these repeated units might have a structural role in the T. cruzi chromosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Carolina Q B Elias
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Although all classical lines of evidence point to the fact that Trypanosoma cruzi has a predominantly clonal evolution, accumulating data show that some T. cruzi stocks are the result of hybridisation events. We evaluated whether chromosomal polymorphism would give evolutionary information on hybrid isolates. Twenty-three coding sequences were mapped on the chromosomes of nine parasite stocks, four of which are putative hybrids (CL Brener and rDNA group 1/2). Phenetic analyses of karyotype data were based on the absolute chromosomal size difference index (aCSDI), a method that assumes that the genomic distance between two organisms is the sum of the size differences between their homologous chromosomes. aCSDI-based dendrograms obtained from a variable number of probes (3-18 probes) defined in all the cases three clusters: two corresponding, respectively, to T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II groups; and a third one, to rDNA group 1/2. CL Brener was alternatively positioned in T. cruzi II or rDNA group 1/2 clusters. Three clusters were also observed in the dendrogram constructed with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) data from 18 probes. The topology of the chromosome and RFLP dendrograms is similar, with a significant correlation coefficient (r=0.86062; P<0.0001), supporting a strong structuring of the clusters. This study also revealed that hybrid stocks have a larger proportion of two different-sized homologous chromosomes, as compared with non-hybrid strains. Overall, our results show that chromosomes are valuable characters for identification of evolutionary groups, in particular, T. cruzi hybrid organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aurélio Pedroso
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes, 748, CEP 05508-000, São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
A role for parasite genetic variability in the spectrum of Chagas disease is emerging but not yet evident, in part due to an incomplete understanding of the population structure of Trypanosoma cruzi. To investigate further the observed genotypic variation at the sequence and chromosomal levels in strains of standard and field-isolated T. cruzi we have undertaken a comparative analysis of 10 regions of the genome from two isolates representing T. cruzi I (Dm28c and Silvio X10) and two from T. cruzi II (CL Brener and Esmeraldo). Amplified regions contained intergenic (non-coding) sequences from tandemly repeated genes. Multiple nucleotide polymorphisms correlated with the T. cruzi I/T. cruzi II classification. Two intergenic regions had useful polymorphisms for the design of classification probes to test on genomic DNA from other known isolates. Two adjacent nucleotide polymorphisms in HSP 60 correlated with the T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II distinction. 1F8 nucleotide polymorphisms revealed multiple subdivisions of T. cruzi II: subgroups IIa and IIc displayed the T. cruzi I pattern; subgroups IId and IIe possessed both the I and II patterns. Furthermore, isolates from subgroups IId and IIe contained the 1F8 polymorphic markers on different chromosome bands supporting a genetic exchange event that resulted in chromosomes V and IX of T. cruzi strain CL Brener. Based on these analyses, T. cruzi I and subgroup IIb appear to be pure lines, while subgroups IIa/IIc and IId/IIe are hybrid lines. These data demonstrate for the first time that IIa/IIc are hybrid, consistent with the hypothesis that genetic recombination has occurred more than once within the T. cruzi lines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy R Sturm
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, 609 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1489, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Umezawa ES, Bastos SF, Coura JR, Levin MJ, Gonzalez A, Rangel-Aldao R, Zingales B, Luquetti AO, da Silveira JF. An improved serodiagnostic test for Chagas' disease employing a mixture of Trypanosoma cruzi recombinant antigens. Transfusion 2003; 43:91-7. [PMID: 12519436 DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2003.00279.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood transfusion is one of the most important transmission routes of Chagas' disease, a major parasitic infection in Latin America. Therefore, screening for antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi is mandatory in blood banks in South America. Most of the commercial serologic tests employ epimastigote antigens and show a high number of inconclusive and false-positive results, with high economic and social costs. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS An ELISA using a mixture of three T. cruzi recombinant antigens, B13, 1F8, and H49 (mix-ELISA), was evaluated, first with a panel of well-characterized sera from 617 patients with Chagas' disease and 277 nonchagasic individuals, living in nine countries of South and Central America. Subsequently, the mix-ELISA was evaluated with 451 samples, from an endemic area of Brazil (Goiás), that were rejected from several blood banks because they presented discrepant results by two commercially available kits (indirect immunofluorescence assay, indirect hemagglutination assay, and/or ELISA). RESULTS The mix-ELISA exhibited 99.7 percent sensitivity and 98.6 percent specificity in the first evaluation with the 894 samples. In the second evaluation, 451 sera that had discrepant results in the first screening for Chagas' disease were further analyzed with the mix-ELISA. Upon consideration of the consensus results obtained with the trypomastigote excreted-secreted antigens blot test, a confirmatory test for Chagas' disease, the mix-ELISA led to a reduction in 99.6 percent in the number of discordant sera. CONCLUSION The combination of three T. cruzi recombinant antigens in a multiantigen immunoassay was highly sensitive and specific for Chagas' disease diagnosis. It is proposed that it can be applicable in blood bank screening in conjunction with the conventional serologic tests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eufrosina S Umezawa
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine of São Paulo, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi isolates can be divided into two major phylogenetic lineages-T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II. The population structure is predominantly clonal, with sexuality having no or limited influence on the evolution of the parasite. Isoenzymes and nuclear gene sequences have provided evidence that some T. cruzi strains are hybrids. Previous work of our group has shown that the putative hybrid strains designated as group 1/2 contain two types of rDNA units, corresponding to those found in T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II. In this study, the presence and transcription of the two types of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) cistrons were investigated in epimastigotes, metacyclic and tissue culture trypomastigotes of group 1/2 isolates. PCR and RT-PCR assays indicate that both types of cistrons are present in group 1/2 strains, but only type-2 genes are transcribed in all developmental stages. The structure of the promoter regions of group 1/2 was compared to reference T. cruzi I and T. cruzi II strains. In all cases, the transcription start point was mapped to a conserved A residue located approximately 1800 bp upstream the 18S rRNA gene. The distribution of rDNA clusters in chromosomal bands of group 1/2 was evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The majority of type-2 rDNA genes are localized in a 1.5 Mbp band, whereas type-1 cistrons are mostly concentrated in a 1.1 Mbp band. The structural and functional studies of group 1/2 ribosomal cistrons described here may shed light on the evolutionary processes that took place during the generation of such hybrid organisms.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Chromosome Mapping
- Cloning, Molecular
- Genes, Protozoan
- Genes, rRNA
- Genetic Variation
- Hybridization, Genetic
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- RNA, Ribosomal/analysis
- RNA, Ribosomal/classification
- RNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal/metabolism
- Sequence Alignment
- Species Specificity
- Transcription, Genetic/genetics
- Trypanosoma cruzi/classification
- Trypanosoma cruzi/genetics
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz S Stolf
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 748, Brazil
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ramirez LE, Lages-Silva E, Alvarenga-Franco F, Matos A, Vargas N, Fernandes O, Zingales B. High prevalence of Trypanosoma rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi in opossums and triatomids in a formerly-endemic area of Chagas disease in Southeast Brazil. Acta Trop 2002; 84:189-98. [PMID: 12443797 DOI: 10.1016/s0001-706x(02)00185-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In Brazil Trypanosoma rangeli has been detected in humans, sylvatic mammals and vectors in the Amazon Basin and in wild rodents in a Southern State. Here we report for the first time a high prevalence of T. rangeli in opossums and triatomids captured in peridomestic environments in a formerly-endemic area of Chagas disease in Southeast Brazil. Five molecular typing tools clearly indicate the presence of T. rangeli and Trypanosoma cruzi in mammalian reservoirs and triatomids. Twenty-one opossums (Didelphis albiventris) were captured and flagellates were detected in the blood of 57.1% (12/21) of the animals. Single infections with T. rangeli or T. cruzi were diagnosed, respectively, in 58.4 and 8.3% of the opossums. Mixed infections were observed in 33.3%. Forty-four triatomids (38 Rhodnius neglectus and 6 Panstrongylus megistus) were collected in palm trees within 50 m from human dwellings. Flagellates were observed in the digestive tract and feces of 50% of the insects. PCR assays performed in DNA samples obtained from 16 cultures of the intestinal tract revealed single infection with T. cruzi (68.7%) or T. rangeli (6.3%), as well as mixed infections (25%). T. rangeli was also detected in the hemolymph of two specimens. Genotyping revealed predominance of T. cruzi I. The data suggest that R. neglectus in conjunction with D. albiventris may be significant factors in the maintenance of the sylvatic and peridomestic cycles of T. rangeli in the region. The finding of T. cruzi and T. rangeli in triatomine species capable of domiciliation and therefore considered as alternative vectors for the parasite transmission opens up the possibility of re-establishment of Chagas disease following reinfestation of houses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Eduardo Ramirez
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas-Parasitologia, Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro, Av Getúlio Guaritá, S/N, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Mendonça MBA, Nehme NS, Santos SS, Cupolillo E, Vargas N, Junqueira A, Naiff RD, Barrett TV, Coura JR, Zingales B, Fernandes O. Two main clusters within Trypanosoma cruzi zymodeme 3 are defined by distinct regions of the ribosomal RNA cistron. Parasitology 2002; 124:177-84. [PMID: 11862994 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182001001172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is currently classified into 2 major phylogenetic lineages, T. cruzi I and II, that correlate with the formerly described zymodeme 1 and 2, respectively. Another isoenzymic group (zymodeme 3-Z3) was also described. In this study, we analysed the genetic diversity among Z3 isolates of the Brazilian Amazon by restriction fragment length polymorphism of the intergenic transcribed spacers (ITSs) of the ribosomal RNA cistron and the size of the divergent domain D7 of the 24Salpha rRNA gene. DNAs from 12 T. cruzi Z3 isolates obtained from humans (2), Panstrongylus geniculatus (1), and Rhodnius brethesi (9) were submitted to PCR amplification of the ITSs plus the 5.8S rDNA. The PCR products were digested with 4 distinct endonucleases and the profiles analysed by a numerical methodology. The phenetic dendrogram revealed a clear dichotomy in the Z3 group, defining 2 groups that were named Z3-A and Z3-B. Dimorphism was also found in the band sizes of the amplified D7 divergent domain of the 24Salpha rDNA, which showed a perfect correlation with the ITSs clustering. The organization of the ribosomal cistron was investigated by Southern blotting and shown to be conserved in the genome of the 2 Z3 groups. This study shows that the rDNA cistron allows the definition of 2 distinct subclusters in Z3 isolates.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Blotting, Southern
- Brazil
- Chagas Disease/parasitology
- DNA, Protozoan/chemistry
- DNA, Protozoan/classification
- DNA, Protozoan/genetics
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/classification
- DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics
- Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
- Genes/genetics
- Genetic Variation
- Humans
- Phylogeny
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
- RNA, Ribosomal/chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal/classification
- RNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- Trypanosoma cruzi/chemistry
- Trypanosoma cruzi/classification
- Trypanosoma cruzi/genetics
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M B A Mendonça
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical and Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Kawashita SY, Sanson GF, Fernandes O, Zingales B, Briones MR. Maximum-likelihood divergence date estimates based on rRNA gene sequences suggest two scenarios of Trypanosoma cruzi intraspecific evolution. Mol Biol Evol 2001; 18:2250-9. [PMID: 11719574 DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a003771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The phylogenetic relationships of Trypanosoma cruzi strains were inferred using maximum-likelihood from complete 18S rDNA sequences and D7-24Salpha rDNA regions from 20 representative strains of T. cruzi. For this we sequenced the 18S rDNA of 14 strains and the D7-24Salpha rDNA of four strains and aligned them to previously published sequences. Phylogenies inferred from these data sets identified four groups, named Riboclades 1, 2, 3, and 4, and a basal dichotomy that separated Riboclade 1 from Riboclades 2, 3, and 4. Substitution models and other parameters were optimized by hierarchical likelihood tests, and our analysis of the 18S rDNA molecular clock by the likelihood ratio test suggests that a taxa subset encompassing all 2,150 positions in the alignment supports rate constancy among lineages. The present analysis supports the notion that divergence dates of T. cruzi Riboclades can be estimated from 18S rDNA sequences and therefore, we present alternative evolutionary scenarios based on two different views of T. cruzi intraspecific divergence. The first assumes a faster evolutionary rate, which suggests that the divergence between T. cruzi I and II and the extant strains occurred in the Tertiary period (37-18 MYA). The other, which supports the hypothesis that the divergence between T. cruzi I and II occurred in the Cretaceous period (144-65 MYA) and the divergence of the extant strains occurred in the Tertiary period of the Cenozoic era (65-1.8 MYA), is consistent with our previously proposed hypothesis of divergence by geographical isolation and mammalian host coevolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Y Kawashita
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Macedo AM, Pimenta JR, Aguiar RS, Melo AI, Chiari E, Zingales B, Pena SD, Oliveira RP. Usefulness of microsatellite typing in population genetic studies of Trypanosoma cruzi. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2001; 96:407-13. [PMID: 11313654 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762001000300023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Through microsatellite analysis of 53 monoclonal populations of Trypanosoma cruzi, we found a remarkable degree of genetic polymorphism with no single multilocus genotype being observed more than once. The microsatellite profile proved to be stable during 70 generations of the CL Brener clone in culture. The microsatellite profiling presented also high diagnostic sensitivity since DNA amplifications could be achieved with less than 100 fg DNA, corresponding to half parasite total DNA content. Based on these technical attributes the microsatellite assay turns out to be an important tool for direct typing T. cruzi in biological samples. By using this approach we were able to type T. cruzi in feces of artificially infected bugs and in single cells sorted by FACS. The microsatellites have shown to be excellent markers for T. cruzi phylogenetic reconstruction. We used maximum parsimony based on the minimum number of mutational steps to build an unrooted Wagner network, which confirms previous conclusions based on the analysis of the D7 domain of the LSU rDNA gene that T. cruzi is composed by two major groups. We also obtained evidence that strains belonging to rRNA group 2 are subdivided into two genetically distant clusters, and that one of these clusters is more related to rRNA group (1/2). These results suggest different origins for these strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A M Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30161-970, Brasil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Diaz Añel AM, Rossi MS, Espinosa JM, Güida C, Freitas FA, Kornblihtt AR, Zingales B, Flawia MM, Torres HN. MRNA encoding a putative RNA helicase of the DEAD-box gene family is up-regulated in trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2000; 47:555-60. [PMID: 11128707 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2000.tb00089.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Differential display of mRNAs from Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote and metacyclic trypomastigote stages showed several mRNA species differing in their expression level. The cDNA corresponding to one of these mRNAs was used as a probe in Northern blots and identified a RNA product of 2.6 kb with an expression level eight or more times higher in trypomastigotes than in epimastigotes. This probe was also used to screen a genomic library of T. cruzi CL Brener clone prepared in lambda FIX. A clone of about 15 kb was selected that, after partial sequencing, revealed an open reading frame of 688 amino acids encoding a deduced protein with similarity to RNA helicases of the DEAD-box gene family. The presence of the eight conserved motifs characteristic of the DEAD protein family was observed in the T. cruzi sequence, indicating that it corresponds to a putative RNA helicase gene, which we named HelTc. Southern blot analysis indicated that HelTc is a single-copy gene. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis separation of chromosomes of several isolates of T. cruzi showed that this gene was localized in one or two chromosomal bands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A M Diaz Añel
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genetica y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Vargas N, Souto RP, Carranza JC, Vallejo GA, Zingales B. Amplification of a specific repetitive DNA sequence for Trypanosoma rangeli identification and its potential application in epidemiological investigations. Exp Parasitol 2000; 96:147-59. [PMID: 11162365 DOI: 10.1006/expr.2000.4563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma rangeli can infect humans as well as the same domestic and wild animals and triatomine vectors infected by Trypanosoma cruzi in Central and South America. This overlapping distribution complicates the epidemiology of American trypanosomiasis due to the cross-reactivity between T. rangeli and T. cruzi antigens and the presence of conserved DNA sequences in these parasites. We have isolated a T. rangeli-specific DNA repetitive element which is represented in approximately 103 copies per parasite genome and is distributed in several chromosomal bands. The 542-bp nucleotide sequence of this element, named P542, was determined and a PCR assay was standardized for its amplification. The sensitivity of the assay is high, allowing the detection of one tenth of the DNA content of a single parasite. The presence of the P542 element was confirmed in 11 T. rangeli isolates from mammalian hosts and insect vectors originating from several countries in Latin America. Negative amplification was observed with different T. cruzi strains and other trypanosomatids. The potential field application of the P542 PCR assay was investigated in simulated samples containing T. rangeli and/or T. cruzi and intestinal tract and feces of Rhodnius prolixus. Epidemiological studies were conducted in DNA preparations obtained from the digestive tracts of 12 Rhodnius colombiensis insects collected in a sylvatic area in Colombia. Positive amplification of the P542 element was obtained in 9/12 insects. We have also compared in the same samples the diagnostic performance of two PCR assays for the amplification of the variable domain of minicircle kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) and of the large subunit (LSU) of the ribosomal RNA gene of T. cruzi and T. rangeli. Data indicate that the kDNA PCR assay does not allow diagnosis of mixed infections in most insects. On the other hand, the PCR assay of the LSU RNA gene showed lower sensitivity in the detection of T. rangeli than the PCR assay of the P542 element. It is predicted that the use of sensitive detection techniques will indicate that the actual distribution of T. rangeli in America is wider than presumed.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Southern
- Chagas Disease/diagnosis
- Chagas Disease/epidemiology
- Chagas Disease/parasitology
- Colombia/epidemiology
- DNA Restriction Enzymes
- DNA, Kinetoplast/chemistry
- DNA, Kinetoplast/isolation & purification
- DNA, Protozoan/chemistry
- DNA, Protozoan/isolation & purification
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
- Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
- Humans
- Insect Vectors/parasitology
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Ribosomal/genetics
- Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
- Rhodnius/parasitology
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Species Specificity
- Trypanosoma/genetics
- Trypanosoma/isolation & purification
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Vargas
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 26.077, CEP 05513-970 São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Zingales B, Stolf BS, Souto RP, Fernandes O, Briones MR. Epidemiology, biochemistry and evolution of Trypanosoma cruzi lineages based on ribosomal RNA sequences. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2000; 94 Suppl 1:159-64. [PMID: 10677706 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761999000700020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- B Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Fernandes O, Santos S, Junqueira A, Jansen A, Cupolillo E, Campbell D, Zingales B, Coura JR. Populational heterogeneity of Brazilian Trypanosoma cruzi isolates revealed by the mini-exon and ribosomal spacers. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2000; 94 Suppl 1:195-7. [PMID: 10677714 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761999000700028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- O Fernandes
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Briones MR, Souto RP, Stolf BS, Zingales B. The evolution of two Trypanosoma cruzi subgroups inferred from rRNA genes can be correlated with the interchange of American mammalian faunas in the Cenozoic and has implications to pathogenicity and host specificity. Mol Biochem Parasitol 1999; 104:219-32. [PMID: 10593177 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(99)00155-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, is divided into two highly divergent genetic subgroups, lineages 1 and 2, which include all typed strains isolated from humans, insect vectors, and sylvatic mammals. The evolutionary origin of these two T. cruzi lineages and the clinical importance of their identification, have been the subject of intense debate. Here, using molecular phylogenetic analysis, we found that the distance between the two T. cruzi lineages is equivalent to the distance between genera Leishmania and Endotrypanum. Also, we confirmed that T. rangeli is more closely related to T. cruzi than to T. brucei using the rDNA sequence from a human strain of T. rangeli. Phylogenetic trees based on small subunit rDNA sequences further suggest that the two T. cruzi lineages diverged between 88 and 37 million years (Myr) ago. We hypothesize that lineage 2 is indigenous to South America while lineage 1 has been introduced to South America recently, along with North American placental mammals, after the connection of the Americas in the Pliocene (5 Myr ago) or with caviomorph rodents and primates in the Oligocene (38 Myr ago). This would explain the preferential association of T. cruzi lineage 2 with marsupials and of lineage 1 with human disease. These two T. cruzi lineages are likely to be distinct species, or at least subspecies, because of their different ecological and epidemiological traits and estimated long period of independent evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M R Briones
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Duranti MA, Franzoni L, Sartor G, Benedetti A, Iwai LK, Gruber A, Zingales B, Guzman F, Kalil J, Spisni A, Cunha-Neto E. Trypanosoma cruzi: conformational preferences of antigenic peptides bearing the immunodominant epitope of the B13 antigen. Exp Parasitol 1999; 93:38-44. [PMID: 10464037 DOI: 10.1006/expr.1999.4428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Trypanosoma cruzi recombinant protein B13 contains tandemly repeated domains and shows high sensitivity in the serological diagnosis of Chagas' disease. It has been shown that the immunodominant epitope of B13 is contained in the GDKPSLFGQAAAGDKPSLF-NH(2) sequence and that the hexapeptide AAAGDK seems to be the "core" of that epitope. Three peptides containing that "core" sequence, one corresponding to the entire repeat motif GDKPSLFGQAAAGDKPSLF-NH(2), pB13, and two smaller fragments, FGQAAAGDK-NH(2), S4, and QAAAGDKPS-NH(2), S5, have been tested in competitive ELISA with recombinant protein B13 in the solid phase against 40 chagasic sera from Brazilian patients. The median percentage inhibition for pB13, S4, and S5 were, respectively, 91, 86, and 68%. The possibility that the distinct antigenic activity of those peptides correlates with the existence of preferential conformational properties has been investigated by CD and NMR spectroscopy. Results indicate their propensity to adopt a helical configuration, centered in the AAAGDK sequence, and whose extent and stability directly correlates with the peptides' antigenicity. The data are discussed in the light of the existence of conformational preferences involving immunodominant epitopes in tandemly repeated antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A Duranti
- Laboratory of Transplantation Immunology, Heart Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Umezawa ES, Bastos SF, Camargo ME, Yamauchi LM, Santos MR, Gonzalez A, Zingales B, Levin MJ, Sousa O, Rangel-Aldao R, da Silveira JF. Evaluation of recombinant antigens for serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease in South and Central America. J Clin Microbiol 1999; 37:1554-60. [PMID: 10203520 PMCID: PMC84826 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.37.5.1554-1560.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The commercially available diagnostic tests for Chagas' disease employ whole extracts or semipurified fractions of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes. Considerable variation in the reproducibility and reliability of these tests has been reported by different research laboratories, mainly due to cross-reactivity with other pathogens and standardization of the reagents. The use of recombinant antigens for the serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease is recommended to increase the sensitivity and specificity of serological tests. Expressed in Escherichia coli, as fusion products with glutathione S-transferase, six T. cruzi recombinant antigens (H49, JL7, A13, B13, JL8, and 1F8) were evaluated in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Chagas' disease. The study was carried out with a panel of 541 serum samples of chagasic and nonchagasic patients from nine countries of Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela). The optimal concentration of each recombinant antigen for coating of plates was determined with the help of 125I-labelled recombinant proteins. While the specificity of the epimastigote antigen was 84% because of false positives from leishmaniasis cases, for the recombinant antigens it varied from 96.2 to 99.6%. Recombinant antigens reacted with 79 to 100% of serum samples from chronic chagasic patients. In this way, it is proposed that a mixture of a few T. cruzi recombinant antigens should be employed in a diagnostic kit to minimize individual variation and promote high sensitivity in the diagnosis of Chagas' disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E S Umezawa
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, FMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|