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Ofokansi MN, Nwoye EC, Ugwah-Oguejiofor CJ, Okoye FBC, Akah PA. Evaluation of the antimalarial and CD4 + T-cell modulatory effects of leaf methanol extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kuntze) Exell (Phyllanthaceae) in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 326:117936. [PMID: 38382655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Phyllanthus muellerianus (Kunze) Exell, a member of the Phyllanthaceae family, is a medicinal plant widely distributed in Africa. Decoctions from the leaves are used in Nigeria to treat fevers, convulsions, some neurological disorders and malaria. AIM OF THE STUDY This study is to evaluate the anti-malarial properties of methanol extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (MEPM) leaves and its ethyl acetate fraction using a murine malaria model infected with Plasmodium berghei. Additionally, we seek to investigate the potential modulatory effects of this extract and fraction on CD4+ T-cell populations in the context of malaria infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS The anti-malarial effects of the leaf methanol extract of Phyllanthus muellerianus (MEPM) were screened using three established in vivo models of anti-plasmodial screening namely the curative, suppressive and prophylactic models. The methanol extract (MEPM) was afterwards fractionated into hexane (HFPM), ethyl acetate (EAFPM), and methanol (MFPM) fractions. In the pilot anti-malarial screening of the fractions, EAFPM exhibited the best antiparasitic activity. Subsequently, EAFPM was screened for anti-malarial activity using the three models above. The effects of the MEPM and EAFPM on haematological indices (Hb and PCV) of the inoculated animals were further screened and the mean survival time (MST) of the animals was monitored. CD4+ T cells of various groups were counted before and after treatment using a flow cytometer. The EAFPM was further subjected to HPLC analysis for identification of its major compounds. RESULTS The EAFPM (100 and 200 mg/kg) elicited 88% and 93% cure respectively in the curative model, while artesunate (5 mg/kg,- the positive control) gave 87% protection. The MEPM and EAFPM also gave significant suppression of parasitemia in the suppressive model. The treated groups survived beyond 28 days as against 11 days by the control group (infected but not treated). The treated groups also prevented anaemia seen in the negative control. The EAFPM group significantly modulated the CD4+ T cell. Compounds identified were Gallocatechin, Quercetin -3-O-gallate, Ellagic acid, and Methylellagic acid rhamnoside). CONCLUSION The study established that the leaf of Phyllanthus muellerianus possesses antimalarial activity, thus lending support to its use in the folkloric treatment of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha N Ofokansi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, PMB 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
| | - Eze C Nwoye
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, PMB 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
| | - Chinenye J Ugwah-Oguejiofor
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
| | - Festus B C Okoye
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
| | - Peter A Akah
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, PMB 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
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Wang Y, Shen Y, Liang J, Wang S, Huang Y, Zhu Q, Zhang X, Yu K, Tong G, Yang C, Li Y, Wang J, Zhao Y. Neurons upregulate PD-L1 via IFN/STAT1/IRF1 to alleviate damage by CD8 + T cells in cerebral malaria. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:119. [PMID: 38715061 PMCID: PMC11077882 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03114-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most lethal complication of malaria, and survivors usually endure neurological sequelae. Notably, the cytotoxic effect of infiltrating Plasmodium-activated CD8+ T cells on cerebral microvasculature endothelial cells is a prominent feature of the experimental CM (ECM) model with blood-brain barrier disruption. However, the damage effect of CD8+ T cells infiltrating the brain parenchyma on neurons remains unclear. Based on the immunosuppressive effect of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway on T cells, our previous study demonstrated that the systemic upregulation of PD-L1 to inhibit CD8+ T cell function could effectively alleviate the symptoms of ECM mice. However, it has not been reported whether neurons can suppress the pathogenic effect of CD8+ T cells through the PD-1/PD-L1 negative immunomodulatory pathway. As the important inflammatory factor of CM, interferons can induce the expression of PD-L1 via different molecular mechanisms according to the neuro-immune microenvironment. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the direct interaction between CD8+ T cells and neurons, as well as the mechanism of neurons to alleviate the pathogenic effect of CD8+ T cells through up-regulating PD-L1 induced by IFNs. METHODS Using the ECM model of C57BL/6J mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA), morphological observations were conducted in vivo by electron microscope and IF staining. The interaction between the ECM CD8+ T cells (immune magnetic bead sorting from spleen of ECM mice) and primary cultured cortical neurons in vitro was observed by IF staining and time-lapse photography. RNA-seq was performed to analyze the signaling pathway of PD-L1 upregulation in neurons induced by IFNβ or IFNγ, and verified through q-PCR, WB, IF staining, and flow cytometry both in vitro and in vivo using IFNAR or IFNGR gene knockout mice. The protective effect of adenovirus-mediated PD-L1 IgGFc fusion protein expression was verified in ECM mice with brain stereotaxic injection in vivo and in primary cultured neurons via viral infection in vitro. RESULTS In vivo, ECM mice showed infiltration of activated CD8+ T cells and neuronal injury in the brain parenchyma. In vitro, ECM CD8+ T cells were in direct contact with neurons and induced axonal damage, as an active behavior. The PD-L1 protein level was elevated in neurons of ECM mice and in primary cultured neurons induced by IFNβ, IFNγ, or ECM CD8+ T cells in vitro. Furthermore, the IFNβ or IFNγ induced neuronal expression of PD-L1 was mediated by increasing STAT1/IRF1 pathway via IFN receptors. The increase of PD-L1 expression in neurons during PbA infection was weakened after deleting the IFNAR or IFNGR. Increased PD-L1 expression by adenovirus partially protected neurons from CD8+ T cell-mediated damage both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that both type I and type II IFNs can induce neurons to upregulate PD-L1 via the STAT1/IRF1 pathway mediated by IFN receptors to protect against activated CD8+ T cell-mediated damage, providing a targeted pathway to alleviate neuroinflammation during ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jiao Liang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Shubiao Wang
- Grade 2020 Clinical Medicine (Five-Year Program), Basic Medical College, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxiao Huang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Qinghao Zhu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xizhi Zhang
- Grade 2019 Clinical Medicine (Five-Year Program), Basic Medical College, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kangjie Yu
- Department of Pathology, Air Force Hospital of Eastern Theater, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guodong Tong
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chao Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yinghui Li
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Ya Zhao
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Air Force Medical University, 169# Changle West Road, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Fonte M, Rôla C, Santana S, Avalos-Padilla Y, Fernàndez-Busquets X, Prudêncio M, Gomes P, Teixeira C. Disclosure of cinnamic acid/4,9-diaminoacridine conjugates as multi-stage antiplasmodial hits. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 104:117714. [PMID: 38582046 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
4,9-diaminoacridines with reported antiplasmodial activity were coupled to different trans-cinnamic acids, delivering a new series of conjugates inspired by the covalent bitherapy concept. The new compounds were more potent than primaquine against hepatic stages of Plasmodium berghei, although this was accompanied by cytotoxic effects on Huh-7 hepatocytes. Relevantly, the conjugates displayed nanomolar activities against blood stage P. falciparum parasites, with no evidence of hemolytic effects below 100 µM. Moreover, the new compounds were at least 25-fold more potent than primaquine against P. falciparum gametocytes. Thus, the new antiplasmodial hits disclosed herein emerge as valuable templates for the development of multi-stage antiplasmodial drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Fonte
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Rôla
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sofia Santana
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Yunuen Avalos-Padilla
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Spain
| | - Xavier Fernàndez-Busquets
- Nanomalaria Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Spain; Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Institute (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Prudêncio
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
| | - Cátia Teixeira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Portugal
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Chiamah OC, Atieno D, Karani L, Chepng'etich J, Osano M, Gachie B, Kipkoech G, Jepkorir M, Ndungu JW, Kuria J, Kimani F, Njeru SN, Gathirwa JW. Evaluation of the antimalarial properties of Solanum incanum L. leaf extract fractions and its ability to downregulate delta aminolevulinate dehydratase to prevent the establishment of malaria infection. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 323:117613. [PMID: 38185259 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Solanum incanum L. is commonly used in traditional herbal medicine (THM) in Kenya for treating various ailments. Recent developments in disease treatment have introduced the concept of host-directed therapy (HDT). This approach involves targeting factors within the host cell that can impede the growth or replication of a pathogen. One such host factor is delta aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALAD), the second enzyme in the heme biosynthesis pathway utilized by Plasmodium for growth. Studies using mice models have shown an increase in δ-ALAD expression during Plasmodium berghei infection. Another plant in the Solanum genus, S. guaranticum, has been found to inhibit δ-ALAD in red blood cells in vitro and in the brain in vivo. Is it possible that the bioactive compounds in S. incanum extracts could also be effective in HDT for malaria treatment? AIM OF STUDY To better assess the effectiveness of S. incanum leaf extracts as a curative and prophylaxis in malaria parasite infection, and to test the plant's ability to decrease δ-ALAD expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS The leaves of S. incanum were collected, dried, and pulverized before being subjected to a successive extraction protocol to obtain crude, hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extract fractions. Phytochemical analysis was conducted on all extract fractions, followed by GC-MS analysis of the fraction with the most potent antimalarial activity. An acute toxicity study was also performed on the extracted fractions. The potency of the extract fractions as curative and prophylactic antimalarial was then evaluated in THM using Plasmodium berghei-infected mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The extract fraction with the highest activity was further evaluated at varying doses and its effect on δ-ALAD was measured using RT-qPCR. The percentage of parasitemia and chemosuppression, and mean survival time were used as indices of activity. RESULTS Phytochemical analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate and aqueous extract fractions contained high terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenols levels. However, alkaloids were only present in moderate quantities in the aqueous extract, and quinones were found in high levels only in the crude extract. Additionally, all extract fractions contained saponins in high levels but lacked tannins. While the plant extracts were found to be non-toxic, they did not exhibit curative antimalarial activity. However, all extract fractions showed prophylactic antimalarial activity, with the ethyl acetate extract having the highest percentage of chemosuppression even at doses of 250 and 1000 mg/kg. In the negative control, the expression of δ-ALAD was 5.4-fold, but this was significantly reduced to 2.3-fold when mice were treated with 250 mg/kg of the ethyl acetate fraction. GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction revealed high percentages of 2-methyloctacosane, tetracosane, and decane. CONCLUSION The fractions extracted from S. incanum leaves have been found to possess only antimalarial prophylactic properties, with the ethyl acetate extract fraction showing the most effective results. The activity of this fraction may be attributed to its ability to decrease the expression of δ-ALAD, as it contains an alkane compound implicated with enzyme-inhibitory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ogocukwu Caroline Chiamah
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
| | - Diana Atieno
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lewis Karani
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jean Chepng'etich
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Maureen Osano
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Beatrice Gachie
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gilbert Kipkoech
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mercy Jepkorir
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jecinta Wanjiru Ndungu
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - James Kuria
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Francis Kimani
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sospeter Ngoci Njeru
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jeremiah Waweru Gathirwa
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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Bravo M, Dileepan T, Dolan M, Hildebrand J, Wolford J, Hanson ID, Hamilton SE, Frosch AE, Burrack KS. IL-15 Complex-Induced IL-10 Enhances Plasmodium-specific CD4+ T Follicular Helper Differentiation and Antibody Production. J Immunol 2024; 212:992-1001. [PMID: 38305633 PMCID: PMC10932862 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300525] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Malaria, which results from infection with Plasmodium parasites, remains a major public health problem. Although humans do not develop long-lived, sterilizing immunity, protection against symptomatic disease develops after repeated exposure to Plasmodium parasites and correlates with the acquisition of humoral immunity. Despite the established role Abs play in protection from malaria disease, dysregulated inflammation is thought to contribute to the suboptimal immune response to Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection results in a fatal severe malaria disease in mice. We previously demonstrated that treatment of mice with IL-15 complex (IL-15C; IL-15 bound to an IL-15Rα-Fc fusion protein) induces IL-10 expression in NK cells, which protects mice from PbA-induced death. Using a novel MHC class II tetramer to identify PbA-specific CD4+ T cells, in this study we demonstrate that IL-15C treatment enhances T follicular helper (Tfh) differentiation and modulates cytokine production by CD4+ T cells. Moreover, genetic deletion of NK cell-derived IL-10 or IL-10R expression on T cells prevents IL-15C-induced Tfh differentiation. Additionally, IL-15C treatment results in increased anti-PbA IgG Ab levels and improves survival following reinfection. Overall, these data demonstrate that IL-15C treatment, via its induction of IL-10 from NK cells, modulates the dysregulated inflammation during Plasmodium infection to promote Tfh differentiation and Ab generation, correlating with improved survival from reinfection. These findings will facilitate improved control of malaria infection and protection from disease by informing therapeutic strategies and vaccine design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jacob Hildebrand
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota
| | | | | | - Sara E. Hamilton
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota
| | - Anne E. Frosch
- Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota
| | - Kristina S. Burrack
- Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota
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Chanu WK, Chatterjee A, Singh N, Nagaraj VA, Singh CB. Phytochemical screening, antioxidant analyses, and in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activities of herbal medicinal plant - Rotheca serrata (L.) Steane & Mabb. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 321:117466. [PMID: 37981115 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Malaria is a major global health concern that is presently challenged by the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) resistance to mainstay artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). Hence, the discovery of novel and effective antimalarial drugs is pivotal to treating and controlling malaria. For many years, traditional plant-based herbal medicines have been employed in the treatment of various illnesses. Rotheca serrata (L.) Steane & Mabb. belongs to the Lamiaceae family that has been traditionally used to treat, cure, and prevent numerous diseases including malaria. AIM The present investigation sought to assess the phytoconstituents, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, antimalarial activities of Rotheca serrata extract and its fractions. The in vitro antiplasmodial activity was assessed in chloroquine-sensitive Pf3D7 and artemisinin-resistant PfCam3.IR539T cultures, and the in vivo antimalarial activity was analyzed in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) ANKA strain-infected BALB/c mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS The fresh leaves of Rotheca serrata were extracted in methanol (RsMeOH crude leaf extract). A portion of the extract was used to prepare successive solvent fractions using ethyl acetate (RsEA) and hexane (RsHex). The in vitro antiplasmodial activity was evaluated using [3H]-hypoxanthine incorporation assays against Pf3D7 and PfCam3.IR539T cultures. In vitro cytotoxicity study on HeLa, HEK-293T, and MCF-7 cell lines was carried out using MTT assay. The human red blood cells (RBCs) were used to perform the hemolysis assays. In vitro antioxidant studies and detailed phytochemical analysis were performed using GC-MS and FTIR. The four-day Rane's test was performed to evaluate the in vivo antimalarial activity against Pb ANKA strain-infected mice. RESULTS Phytochemical quantification of Rotheca serrata extract (RsMeOH) and its fractions (RsEA and RsHex) revealed that RsMeOH crude extract and RsEA fraction had higher contents of total phenol and flavonoid than RsHex fraction. The RsEA fraction showed potent in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Pf3D7 and PfCam3.IR539T with IC50 values of 9.24 ± 0.52 μg/mL and 17.41 ± 0.43 μg/mL, respectively. The RsMeOH crude extract exhibited moderate antiplasmodial activity while the RsHex fraction showed the least antiplasmodial activity. The GC-MS and FTIR analysis of RsMeOH and RsEA revealed the presence of triterpenes, phenols, and hydrocarbons as major constituents. The RsMeOH crude extract was non-hemolytic and non-cytotoxic to HeLa, HEK-293T, and MCF-7 cell lines. The in vivo studies showed that a 1200 mg/kg dose of RsMeOH crude extract could significantly suppress parasitemia by ∼63% and prolong the survival of treated mice by ∼10 days. The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of RsMeOH was better than the RsEA fraction. CONCLUSION The findings of this study demonstrated that traditionally used herbal medicinal plants like R. serrata provide a platform for the identification and isolation of potent bioactive phytochemicals that in turn can promote the antimalarial drug research. RsMeOH crude extract and RsEA fraction showed antiplasmodial, antimalarial and antioxidant activities. Chemical fingerprinting analysis suggested the presence of bioactive phytocompounds that are known for their antimalarial effects. Further detailed investigations on RsMeOH crude extract and RsEA fraction would be needed for the identification of the entire repertoire of the active antimalarial components with potent pharmaceutical and therapeutic values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahengbam Kabita Chanu
- Plant Bioresources Division, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, 795001, Manipur, India.
| | - Aditi Chatterjee
- Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 751023, Odisha, India; School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, Odisha, India.
| | - Nalini Singh
- Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 751023, Odisha, India.
| | | | - Chingakham Brajakishor Singh
- Plant Bioresources Division, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, 795001, Manipur, India.
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Adedayo BC, Komolafe T, Ojueromi OO, Oboh G. Evaluation of Andrographis paniculata-supplemented Diet on the reproductive indices of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 321:117558. [PMID: 38092319 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The King of Bitters (Andrographis paniculata) is a plant used to cure a wide range of infectious diseases which includes malaria, fever and others. However, there is a paucity of scientific evidence of its effect on male reproductive indices during malaria treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of supplemented diet on antiplasmodial, hematological and male reproductive indices in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. MATERIALS AND METHODS Aqueous extract of A. paniculata (King of Bitters, KGB) was prepared and the total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined. Forty-two mice, weighing 20-25 g, were distributed into 7 groups consisting of 6 mice each. The mice were innoculated with strain NK65 Plasmodium berghei (Chloroquine, CQ sensitive) and the parasitemia suppression was assessed. The mice were fed with the dietary supplementation of KGB at varying inclusions (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) and administered 10 mg/kg CQ (which served as the positive control) for 5 consecutive days after infection was established. The reactive malondialdeahyde (MDA), antioxidant [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH)] and the hematological (hemoglobin, packed cell volume and red blood cell) parameters in the infected mice were determined. The reproductive indices (serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm viability) and testis histopathology were also assessed. RESULT The result revealed that KGB had a total phenol content of 32.55 mgGAE/g and total flavonoid content of 19.71 mgQUE/g. The infected mice treated with the dietary supplementation of KGB showed significantly decreased (p < 0.05) parasitaemia and MDA levels. Furthermore, the 7.5% dietary inclusion showed significant improvement in the antioxidant, hematological and reproductive indices as well as the restoration of testis morphology as seen in the histopathology plate of the infected mice treated with KGB. Hence, this study suggests that the KGB- supplemented diet (7.5%) may be a potential alternative and complementary therapy in the treatment of malaria infection and reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bukola Christiana Adedayo
- Functional Food and Nutraceutical Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
| | - Toluwase Komolafe
- Functional Food and Nutraceutical Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Opeyemi Oluwafemi Ojueromi
- Functional Food and Nutraceutical Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria; Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Ganiyu Oboh
- Functional Food and Nutraceutical Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
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Mitchell G, Torres L, Fishbaugher ME, Lam M, Chuenchob V, Zalpuri R, Ramasubban S, Baxter CN, Flannery EL, Harupa A, Mikolajczak SA, Jorgens DM. Correlative light-electron microscopy methods to characterize the ultrastructural features of the replicative and dormant liver stages of Plasmodium parasites. Malar J 2024; 23:53. [PMID: 38383417 PMCID: PMC10882739 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04862-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The infection of the liver by Plasmodium parasites is an obligatory step leading to malaria disease. Following hepatocyte invasion, parasites differentiate into replicative liver stage schizonts and, in the case of Plasmodium species causing relapsing malaria, into hypnozoites that can lie dormant for extended periods of time before activating. The liver stages of Plasmodium remain elusive because of technical challenges, including low infection rate. This has been hindering experimentations with well-established technologies, such as electron microscopy. A deeper understanding of hypnozoite biology could prove essential in the development of radical cure therapeutics against malaria. RESULTS The liver stages of the rodent parasite Plasmodium berghei, causing non-relapsing malaria, and the simian parasite Plasmodium cynomolgi, causing relapsing malaria, were characterized in human Huh7 cells or primary non-human primate hepatocytes using Correlative Light-Electron Microscopy (CLEM). Specifically, CLEM approaches that rely on GFP-expressing parasites (GFP-CLEM) or on an immunofluorescence assay (IFA-CLEM) were used for imaging liver stages. The results from P. berghei showed that host and parasite organelles can be identified and imaged at high resolution using both CLEM approaches. While IFA-CLEM was associated with more pronounced extraction of cellular content, samples' features were generally well preserved. Using IFA-CLEM, a collection of micrographs was acquired for P. cynomolgi liver stage schizonts and hypnozoites, demonstrating the potential of this approach for characterizing the liver stages of Plasmodium species causing relapsing malaria. CONCLUSIONS A CLEM approach that does not rely on parasites expressing genetically encoded tags was developed, therefore suitable for imaging the liver stages of Plasmodium species that lack established protocols to perform genetic engineering. This study also provides a dataset that characterizes the ultrastructural features of liver stage schizonts and hypnozoites from the simian parasite species P. cynomolgi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Mitchell
- Open Innovation at Global Health Disease Area, Biomedical Research, Novartis, Emeryville, CA, USA.
| | - Laura Torres
- Open Innovation at Global Health Disease Area, Biomedical Research, Novartis, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | - Melanie Lam
- Open Innovation at Global Health Disease Area, Biomedical Research, Novartis, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Vorada Chuenchob
- Global Health Disease Area, Biomedical Research, Novartis, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Reena Zalpuri
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Shreya Ramasubban
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Caitlin N Baxter
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Erika L Flannery
- Global Health Disease Area, Biomedical Research, Novartis, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Anke Harupa
- Global Health Disease Area, Biomedical Research, Novartis, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | - Danielle M Jorgens
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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9
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Hong H, Moon K, Trinh TTT, Eom TH, Park H, Kim HS, Yeo SJ. Evaluation of the antimalarial activity of SAM13-2HCl with morpholine amide (SKM13 derivative) against antimalarial drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei infected ICR mice. Parasites Hosts Dis 2024; 62:42-52. [PMID: 38443769 PMCID: PMC10915268 DOI: 10.3347/phd.23093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Antimalarial drugs are an urgently need and crucial tool in the campaign against malaria, which can threaten public health. In this study, we examined the cytotoxicity of the 9 antimalarial compounds chemically synthesized using SKM13-2HCl. Except for SKM13-2HCl, the 5 newly synthesized compounds had a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) > 100 µM, indicating that they would be less cytotoxic than SKM13-2HCl. Among the 5 compounds, only SAM13-2HCl outperformed SKM13-2HCl for antimalarial activity, showing a 3- and 1.3-fold greater selective index (SI) (CC50/IC50) than SKM13-2HCl in vitro against both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine -resistant (K1) Plasmodium falciparum strains, respectively. Thus, the presence of morpholine amide may help to effectively suppress human-infectious P. falciparum parasites. However, the antimalarial activity of SAM13-2HCl was inferior to that of the SKM13-2HCl template compound in the P. berghei NK65-infected mouse model, possibly because SAM13-2HCl had a lower polarity and less efficient pharmacokinetics than SKM13-2HCl. SAM13-2HCl was more toxic in the rodent model. Consequently, SAM13-2HCl containing morpholine was selected from screening a combination of pharmacologically significant structures as being the most effective in vitro against human-infectious P. falciparum but was less efficient in vivo in a P. berghei-infected animal model when compared with SKM13-2HCl. Therefore, SAM13-2HCl containing morpholine could be considered a promising compound to treat chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum infections, although further optimization is crucial to maintain antimalarial activity while reducing toxicity in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyelee Hong
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080,
Korea
| | - Kwonmo Moon
- College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538,
Korea
| | - Thuy-Tien Thi Trinh
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Medical Research Center, Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080,
Korea
| | - Tae-Hui Eom
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080,
Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538,
Korea
| | - Hak Sung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538,
Korea
| | - Seon-Ju Yeo
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080,
Korea
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Medical Research Center, Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080,
Korea
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10
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Zhang Y, Liang Z, Xing H, Yu C, Liang J, Xu Q, Song J, He Z. A model of pregnancy-associated malaria for inducing adverse pregnancy outcomes in ICR mouse. Exp Parasitol 2024; 257:108686. [PMID: 38158008 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Based on understanding of placental pathological features and safe medication in pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM), establishment of a stable pregnant mouse infection model with Plasmodium was urgently needed. METHODS ICR mice with vaginal plugs detected were randomly divided into post-pregnancy infection (Malaria+) and uninfected pregnancy (Malaria-) cohorts. Age-matched mice that had not been mated were infected as pre-pregnancy infection group (Virgin control), which were subsequently mated with ICR males. All mice were inoculated with 1 × 106Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected RBCs by intraperitoneal injection, and the same amount of saline was given to Malaria- group. We recorded the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes and the amounts of offspring in each group. RESULTS The Virgin group mice were unable to conceive normally, and vaginal bleeding, abortion, or stillbirth appeared in the Malaria+ group. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was extremely high and statistically significant compared with the control (Malaria-) group (P < 0.05), of which placenta exhibited pathological features associated with human gestational malaria. CONCLUSIONS The intraperitoneal injection of 1 × 106Plasmodium berghei ANKA-infected RBCs could establish a model of pregnancy-associated malaria in ICR mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Zhang
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Zhiming Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510700, China
| | - Haoyu Xing
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Chuyi Yu
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Jianming Liang
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Qin Xu
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Jianping Song
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Zhouqing He
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, China.
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11
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Chaniad P, Phuwajaroanpong A, Plirat W, Konyanee A, Septama AW, Punsawad C. Assessment of antimalarial activity of crude extract of Chan-Ta-Lee-La and Pra-Sa-Chan-Dang formulations and their plant ingredients for new drug candidates of malaria treatment: In vitro and in vivo experiments. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296756. [PMID: 38206944 PMCID: PMC10783769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296756] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance have become a significant problem worldwide. The search for natural products to develop novel antimalarial drugs is challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the antimalarial and toxicological effects of Chan-Ta-Lee-La (CTLL) and Pra-Sa-Chan-Dang (PSCD) formulations and their plant ingredients. The crude extracts of CTLL and PSCD formulations and their plant ingredients were evaluated for in vitro antimalarial activity using Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase enzyme and toxicity to Vero and HepG2 cells using the tetrazolium salt method. An extract from the CTLL and PSCD formulations exhibiting the highest selectivity index value was selected for further investigation using Peter's 4-day suppressive test, curative test, prophylactic test, and acute oral toxicity in mice. The phytochemical constituents were characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results showed that ethanolic extracts of CTLL and PSCD formulations possessed high antimalarial activity (half maximal inhibitory concentration = 4.88, and 4.19 g/mL, respectively) with low cytotoxicity. Ethanolic extracts of the CTLL and PSCD formulations demonstrated a significant dose-dependent decrease in parasitemia in mice. The ethanolic CTLL extract showed the greatest suppressive effect after 4 days of suppressive (89.80%) and curative (35.94%) testing at a dose of 600 mg/kg. Moreover, ethanolic PSCD extract showed the highest suppressive effect in the prophylactic test (65.82%) at a dose of 600 mg/kg. There was no acute toxicity in mice treated with ethanolic CTLL and PSCD extracts at 2,000 mg/kg bodyweight. GC-MS analysis revealed that the most abundant compounds in the ethanolic CTLL extract were linderol, isoborneol, eudesmol, linoleic acid, and oleic acid, whereas ethyl 4-methoxycinnamate was the most commonly found compound in the ethanolic PSCD extract, followed by 3-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one, flamenol, oleic acid amide, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. In conclusions, ethanolic CTLL and PSCD extracts exhibited high antimalarial efficacy in vitro. The ethanolic CTLL extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg exhibited the highest antimalarial activity in the 4-day suppressive and curative tests, whereas the ethanolic PSCD extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg showed the highest antimalarial activity in the prophylactic test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prapaporn Chaniad
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Arisara Phuwajaroanpong
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Walaiporn Plirat
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Atthaphon Konyanee
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Abdi Wira Septama
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Traditional Medicine, Cibinong Science Center, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), West Java, Indonesia
| | - Chuchard Punsawad
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
- Research Center in Tropical Pathobiology, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
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12
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Pollenus E, Possemiers H, Knoops S, Prenen F, Vandermosten L, Thienpont C, Abdurahiman S, Demeyer S, Cools J, Matteoli G, Vanoirbeek JAJ, Vande Velde G, Van den Steen PE. Single cell RNA sequencing reveals endothelial cell killing and resolution pathways in experimental malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1011929. [PMID: 38236930 PMCID: PMC10826972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011929] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium parasites cause malaria, a global health disease that is responsible for more than 200 million clinical cases and 600 000 deaths each year. Most deaths are caused by various complications, including malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ARDS). Despite the very rapid and efficient killing of parasites with antimalarial drugs, 15% of patients with complicated malaria succumb. This stresses the importance of investigating resolution mechanisms that are involved in the recovery from these complications once the parasite is killed. To study the resolution of MA-ARDS, P. berghei NK65-infected C57BL/6 mice were treated with antimalarial drugs after onset of symptoms, resulting in 80% survival. Micro-computed tomography revealed alterations of the lungs upon infection, with an increase in total and non-aerated lung volume due to edema. Whole body plethysmography confirmed a drastically altered lung ventilation, which was restored during resolution. Single-cell RNA sequencing indicated an increased inflammatory state in the lungs upon infection, which was accompanied by a drastic decrease in endothelial cells, consistent with CD8+ T cell-mediated killing. During resolution, anti-inflammatory pathways were upregulated and proliferation of endothelial cells was observed. MultiNicheNet interactome analysis identified important changes in the ligand-receptor interactions during disease resolution that warrant further exploration in order to develop new therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, our study provides insights in pro-resolving pathways that limit inflammation and promote endothelial cell proliferation in experimental MA-ARDS. This information may be useful for the design of adjunctive treatments to enhance resolution after Plasmodium parasite killing by antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Pollenus
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Possemiers
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Knoops
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fran Prenen
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen Vandermosten
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chloë Thienpont
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Saeed Abdurahiman
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Translational Research in Gastro-Intestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Demeyer
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Leukemia, Department of Human Genetics, VIB—KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Cools
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Leukemia, Department of Human Genetics, VIB—KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Gianluca Matteoli
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Translational Research in Gastro-Intestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen A. J. Vanoirbeek
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philippe E. Van den Steen
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Tamuli R, Nguyen T, Macdonald JR, Pierens GK, Fisher GM, Andrews KT, Adewoyin FB, Omisore NO, Odaibo AB, Feng Y. Isolation and In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of Secondary Metabolites from Clerodendrum polycephalum Baker against Plasmodium Malaria Parasites. J Nat Prod 2023; 86:2661-2671. [PMID: 37972998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Chemical investigation of the antimalarial medicinal plant Clerodendrum polycephalum led to the isolation of five new diterpenoids, including ajugarins VII-X (1-4) and teuvincenone K (5), along with four known compounds, namely, 12,16-epoxy-6,11,14,17-tetrahydroxy-17(15 → 16)-abeo-5,8,11,13,15-abietapentaen-7-one (6), methyl pheophorbide A (7), loliolide (8), and acacetin (9). The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, circular dichroism, as well as density functional theory calculations. All compounds were evaluated for in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 malaria parasites with methyl pheophorbide A (7) showing the strongest activity (IC50 4.49 μM). Subsequent in vivo testing in a Plasmodium berghei chemosuppression model showed that compound 7 significantly attenuated peripheral blood parasitemia, leading to 79% and 87% chemosuppression following oral doses at 10 and 20 mg/kg, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roktima Tamuli
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Thanh Nguyen
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Jacinta R Macdonald
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Gregory K Pierens
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Gillian M Fisher
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Katherine T Andrews
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Francis B Adewoyin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State 220282, Nigeria
| | - Nusrat O Omisore
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State 220282, Nigeria
| | - Alexander B Odaibo
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State 200005, Nigeria
| | - Yunjiang Feng
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
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14
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McLellan JL, Sausman W, Reers AB, Bunnik EM, Hanson KK. Single-cell quantitative bioimaging of P. berghei liver stage translation. mSphere 2023; 8:e0054423. [PMID: 37909773 PMCID: PMC10732057 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00544-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Plasmodium parasites cause malaria in humans. New multistage active antimalarial drugs are needed, and a promising class of drugs targets the core cellular process of translation, which has many potential molecular targets. During the obligate liver stage, Plasmodium parasites grow in metabolically active hepatocytes, making it challenging to study core cellular processes common to both host cells and parasites, as the signal from the host typically overwhelms that of the parasite. Here, we present and validate a flexible assay to quantify Plasmodium liver stage translation using a technique to fluorescently label the newly synthesized proteins of both host and parasite followed by computational separation of their respective nascent proteomes in confocal image sets. We use the assay to determine whether a test set of known compounds are direct or indirect liver stage translation inhibitors and show that the assay can also predict the mode of action for novel antimalarial compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L. McLellan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - William Sausman
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Ashley B. Reers
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Evelien M. Bunnik
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Kirsten K. Hanson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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15
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Corral-Ruiz GM, Pérez-Vega MJ, Galán-Salinas A, Mancilla-Herrera I, Barrios-Payán J, Fabila-Castillo L, Hernández-Pando R, Sánchez-Torres LE. Thymic atrophy induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA and Plasmodium yoelii 17XL infection. Immunol Lett 2023; 264:4-16. [PMID: 37875239 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is the anatomical site where T cells undergo a complex process of differentiation, proliferation, selection, and elimination of autorreactive cells which involves molecular signals in different intrathymic environment. However, the immunological functions of the thymus can be compromised upon exposure to different infections, affecting thymocyte populations. In this work, we investigated the impact of malaria parasites on the thymus by using C57BL/6 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and Plasmodium yoelii 17XL; these lethal infection models represent the most severe complications, cerebral malaria, and anemia respectively. Data showed a reduction in the thymic weight and cellularity involving different T cell maturation stages, mainly CD4-CD8- and CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, as well as an increased presence of apoptotic cells, leading to significant thymic cortex reduction. Thymus atrophy showed no association with elevated serum cytokines levels, although increased glucocorticoid levels did. The severity of thymic damage in both models reached the same extend although it occurs at different stages of infection, showing that thymic atrophy does not depend on parasitemia level but on the specific host-parasite interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Corral-Ruiz
- Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Posgrado en Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - M J Pérez-Vega
- Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Posgrado en Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - A Galán-Salinas
- Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico; Posgrado en Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - I Mancilla-Herrera
- Departamento de Infectología e Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - J Barrios-Payán
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - L Fabila-Castillo
- Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - R Hernández-Pando
- Sección de Patología Experimental, Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - L E Sánchez-Torres
- Departamento de Inmunología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico.
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16
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Deligianni E, Pizzi E, Kavelaki I, Siden-Kiamos I, Sapienza FU, Fioravanti R, Garzoli S, Pace T, Ponzi M, Ragno R, Currà C. Screening of the activity of sixty essential oils against plasmodium early mosquito stages in vitro and machine learning analysis reveals new putative inhibitors of malaria parasites. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023; 23:87-93. [PMID: 38000094 PMCID: PMC10709126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Malaria, an infectious disease with a tremendous impact on human health is caused by Plasmodium parasites, and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. New approaches to control the disease involve transmission blocking strategies aiming to target the parasite in the mosquito. Here, we investigated the putative inhibitory activity of essential oils and their components on the early mosquito stages of the parasite. We employed an in vitro assay of gametocyte-to-ookinete development of the rodent model parasite Plasmodium berghei combined with high content screening. 60 essential oils with known composition were tested. The results revealed that fifteen EOs had inhibitory activity. Furthermore, a machine learning approach was used to identify the putative inhibitory components. Five of the most important chemical components indicated by the machine learning-based models were actually confirmed by the experimental approach. This combined approach was used for the first time to identify the potential transmission blocking activity of essential oils and single components at the zygote and ookinete stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Deligianni
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Elisabetta Pizzi
- Servizio Grandi Strumentazioni e Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ioanna Kavelaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Inga Siden-Kiamos
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Filippo Umberto Sapienza
- Rome Center for Molecular Design-RCMD, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, University Sapienza of Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Fioravanti
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Garzoli
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tomasino Pace
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Ponzi
- Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rino Ragno
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Chiara Currà
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece.
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17
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Jeje TO, Bando H, Azad MTA, Fukuda Y, Oluwafemi IE, Kato K. Antiplasmodial and interferon-gamma-modulating activities of the aqueous extract of stone breaker (Phyllanthus niruri Linn.) in malaria infection. Parasitol Int 2023; 97:102789. [PMID: 37473798 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum parasites are the primary cause of malaria across Africa. The problem of drug resistance to malaria is ever growing and novel therapeutic strategies need to be developed, particularly those targeting the parasite and also the host or host-pathogen interaction. Previous studies have shown that the development of cerebral malaria (CM) is related to dysregulation of the immune system in a murine malaria model of experimental cerebral malaria. It involves a complex interaction of events and interferon-gamma seems to be the unifying factor. Therefore, the antiplasmodial activity targeting the parasite and immunomodulatory strategies that reduce overall host inflammation, with IFN-γ in focus, could delay CM onset and prove beneficial in malaria infection therapy. Phyllanthus niruri is used to treat fever and other symptoms of malaria in Nigeria. Its modes of action as an anti-malarial remedy have not been exhaustively investigated. This study therefore examined the aqueous extract of P. niruri (PE) for its antiplasmodial activity in vitro using the Plasmodium falciparum HB3 strain. Furthermore, in vivo murine malaria model using the Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain was used to investigate its anti-malarial effects. We showed that PE has multiple anti-malarial effects, including anti-parasitic and host immunomodulatory activities. Co-culture of P. falciparum with PE and some of its phytoconstituents drastically reduced parasite number. PE also decreased parasitemia, and increased the survival of infected mice. We also observed that the integrity of the blood-brain barrier was maintained in the PE-treated mice. The results confirmed that PE showed moderate antiplasmodial activity. In vivo murine malaria model using P. berghei ANKA for experimental cerebral malaria revealed that PE suppressed parasite growth, and modulate the production of interferon-gamma. The findings demonstrate that PE affects malaria progression, targeting parasites and host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Olawale Jeje
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, School of Science, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Hironori Bando
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
| | - Md Thoufic Anam Azad
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan; Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
| | - Yasuhiro Fukuda
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
| | | | - Kentaro Kato
- Laboratory of Sustainable Animal Environment, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 232-3 Yomogida, Naruko-onsen, Osaki, Miyagi 989-6711, Japan.
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18
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Yao G, Min H, Yu X, Liu F, Cui L, Cao Y. A nanoparticle vaccine displaying the ookinete PSOP25 antigen elicits transmission-blocking antibody response against Plasmodium berghei. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:403. [PMID: 37932796 PMCID: PMC10626823 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06020-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Safe and effective vaccines are crucial for the control and eventual elimination of malaria. Novel approaches to optimize and improve vaccine efficacy are urgently required. Nanoparticle-based delivery platforms are considered potent and powerful tools for vaccine development. METHODS In this study, we developed a transmission-blocking vaccine against malaria by conjugating the ookinete surface antigen PSOP25 to the Acinetobacter phage coat protein AP205, forming virus-like particles (VLPs) using the SpyTag/SpyCatcher adaptor system. The combination of AP205-2*SpyTag with PSOP25-SpyCatcher resulted in the formation of AP205-PSOP25 complexes (VLP-PSOP25). The antibody titers and avidity of serum from each immunization group were assessed by ELISA. Western blot and IFA were performed to confirm the specific reactivity of the elicit antisera to the native PSOP25 in Plasmodium berghei ookinetes. Both in vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to evaluate the transmission-blocking activity of VLP-PSOP25 vaccine. RESULTS Immunization of mice with VLP-PSOP25 could induced higher levels of high-affinity antibodies than the recombinant PSOP25 (rPSOP25) alone or mixtures of untagged AP205 and rPSOP25 but was comparable to rPSOP25 formulated with alum. Additionally, the VLP-PSOP25 vaccine enhanced Th1-type immune response with remarkably increased levels of IgG2a subclass. The antiserum generated by VLP-PSOP25 specifically recognizes the native PSOP25 antigen in P. berghei ookinetes. Importantly, antisera generated by inoculation with the VLP-PSOP25 could inhibit ookinete development in vitro and reduce the prevalence of infected mosquitoes or oocyst intensity in direct mosquito feeding assays. CONCLUSIONS Antisera elicited by immunization with the VLP-PSOP25 vaccine confer moderate transmission-reducing activity and transmission-blocking activity. Our results support the utilization of the AP205-SpyTag/SpyCatcher platform for next-generation TBVs development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixiang Yao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Hui Min
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xinxin Yu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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19
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Oke CE, Reece SE, Schneider P. Testing a non-destructive assay to track Plasmodium sporozoites in mosquitoes over time. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:401. [PMID: 37925480 PMCID: PMC10625196 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06015-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The extrinsic incubation period (EIP), defined as the time it takes for malaria parasites in a mosquito to become infectious to a vertebrate host, is one of the most influential parameters for malaria transmission but remains poorly understood. The EIP is usually estimated by quantifying salivary gland sporozoites in subsets of mosquitoes, which requires terminal sampling. However, assays that allow repeated sampling of individual mosquitoes over time could provide better resolution of the EIP. METHODS We tested a non-destructive assay to quantify sporozoites of two rodent malaria species, Plasmodium chabaudi and Plasmodium berghei, expelled throughout 24-h windows, from sugar-soaked feeding substrates using quantitative-PCR. RESULTS The assay is able to quantify sporozoites from sugar-soaked feeding substrates, but the prevalence of parasite-positive substrates was low. Various methods were attempted to increase the detection of expelled parasites (e.g. running additional technical replicates; using groups rather than individual mosquitoes), but these did not increase the detection rate, suggesting that expulsion of sporozoites is variable and infrequent. CONCLUSIONS We reveal successful detection of expelled sporozoites from sugar-soaked feeding substrates. However, investigations of the biological causes underlying the low detection rate of sporozoites (e.g. mosquito feeding behaviour, frequency of sporozoite expulsion or sporozoite clumping) are needed to maximise the utility of using non-destructive assays to quantify sporozoite dynamics. Increasing detection rates will facilitate the detailed investigation on infection dynamics within mosquitoes, which is necessary to explain the highly variable EIP of Plasmodium and to improve understanding of malaria transmission dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Oke
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Sarah E Reece
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petra Schneider
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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20
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Mishra A, Varshney A, Mishra S. Regulation of Atg8 membrane deconjugation by cysteine proteases in the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:344. [PMID: 37910326 PMCID: PMC11073460 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05004-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
During macroautophagy, the Atg8 protein is conjugated to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in autophagic membranes. In Apicomplexan parasites, two cysteine proteases, Atg4 and ovarian tumor unit (Otu), have been identified to delipidate Atg8 to release this protein from membranes. Here, we investigated the role of cysteine proteases in Atg8 conjugation and deconjugation and found that the Plasmodium parasite consists of both activities. We successfully disrupted the genes individually; however, simultaneously, they were refractory to deletion and essential for parasite survival. Mutants lacking Atg4 and Otu showed normal blood and mosquito stage development. All mice infected with Otu KO sporozoites became patent; however, Atg4 KO sporozoites either failed to establish blood infection or showed delayed patency. Through in vitro and in vivo analysis, we found that Atg4 KO sporozoites invade and normally develop into early liver stages. However, nuclear and organelle differentiation was severely hampered during late stages and failed to mature into hepatic merozoites. We found a higher level of Atg8 in Atg4 KO parasites, and the deconjugation of Atg8 was hampered. We confirmed Otu localization on the apicoplast; however, parasites lacking Otu showed no visible developmental defects. Our data suggest that Atg4 is the primary deconjugating enzyme and that Otu cannot replace its function completely because it cleaves the peptide bond at the N-terminal side of glycine, thereby irreversibly inactivating Atg8 during its recycling. These findings highlight a role for the Atg8 deconjugation pathway in organelle biogenesis and maintenance of the homeostatic cellular balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akancha Mishra
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Aastha Varshney
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India
| | - Satish Mishra
- Division of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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21
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Johnson TO, Adegboyega AE, Johnson GI, Umedum NL, Bamidele OD, Elekan AO, Tarkaa CT, Mahe A, Abdulrahman A, Adeyemi OE, Okafor D, Yusuf AJ, Atewolara-Odule OC, Ogunmoye AO, Ishaya T. Uncovering the inhibitory potentials of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf and its bioactive compounds against Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase for malaria therapy. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:9787-9796. [PMID: 36411736 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2146750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Malaria control efforts have been hampered due to the emergence of resistant malaria parasite strains and the coinciding events of Covid-19. The quest for more effective and safe treatment alternatives is driving a slew of new studies that must be accelerated if malaria can be overcome. Due to its reported antimalarial activity, we studied the effects of extract and fractions of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf on Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) activity using an in vitro assay. This was followed by an anti-plasmodial study using Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and an in silico identification of the plant's phytochemicals with possible pLDH-inhibitory activity. The activity of pLDH was significantly reduced in the presence of ethanol extract and various solvent fractions of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf, with the ethyl acetate fraction having the best inhibitory activity, which was comparable to that of the standard drug (chloroquine). The ethyl acetate fraction at 100 and 200 mg/Kg also suppressed the parasitaemia of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice by 76 and 80% respectively. Among the 53 compounds docked against pLDH, (-)-alpha-Cadinol, (+)-alpha-phellandrene, and spathulenol, all terpenes from the ethyl acetate fraction of P. nivosus leaf extract, demonstrated docking scores comparable to that of chloroquine. The three chemicals, like chloroquine, displayed important molecular interactions with the amino acid residues of the enzyme's NADH-binding site. According to the in silico ADMET study, the three terpenes have suitable drug-like abilities, pharmacokinetic features, and safety profiles. Hence, they could be considered for further development as antimalarial drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titilayo Omolara Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Jaris Computational Biology Center, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Abayomi Emmanuel Adegboyega
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Jaris Computational Biology Center, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Grace I Johnson
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Jaris Computational Biology Center, Jos, Nigeria
- College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Ngozi L Umedum
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | - Olasunkanmi D Bamidele
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Ayodele O Elekan
- Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
| | - Christopher T Tarkaa
- Cell Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Asma'u Mahe
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria
| | - Adamu Abdulrahman
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Olugbenga E Adeyemi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Desmond Okafor
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Amina J Yusuf
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Tanko Ishaya
- Department of Computer Science, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
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22
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Tatsinkou LLT, Fossi BT, Sotoing GT, Mambou HMAY, Ivo PEA, Achidi EA. Prophylactic effects of probiotic bacterium Latilactobacillus sakei on haematological parameters and cytokine profile of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA during early malaria infection. Life Sci 2023; 331:122056. [PMID: 37652156 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a deadly parasitic disease caused a by protozoan parasite of the genus plasmodium. The challenges facing by chemotherapy and vector control couple with the lack of vaccine against malaria necessitate an urgent need for the development of alternative treatment regimens to combat this disease. One possible antimalarial treatment regimen is the use of probiotic bacteria as dietary supplements. Traditionally fermented milk is a rich source of probiotic bacteria that up to date, very few studies have been carried out on their immunoprotective effects against early malaria infection in mice. This study sought to assess the prophylactic activities of a probiotic bacterium Latilactobacillus sakei on malaria and inflammation in Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The probiotic bacterium was isolated from the Fulani's traditionally fermented milk and identified using the sequencing of the 16S r RNA gene. The repository activity of L. sakei on malaria was assessed using the method described by Peters with slight modification. Eighty-four BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two sets of seven groups of six mice each. One set received orally different doses of L. sakei Chloroquine and Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine for seven days before infection while the other set received for fourteen days before infection with 0.1 mL of 107Plasmodium berghei. Parasitaemia density, haematological parameters and inflammatory cytokines profile were evaluated. Data were presented as Mean ± SEM and analysed using SPSS version 20.0. The results of this study revealed that L. sakei significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in dose dependent manner parasite load, body weight loss and reduction of body temperature in all the treated mice when compare to untreated mice. Leukocytopenia, thrombocytosis and inflammation were also found to be significantly (p < 0.05) prevented in treated mice as compared to untreated mice. This study suggested that L sakei possesses immunomodulation and protective effects on early malaria infection in Plasmodium berghei mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bertrand Tatsinkou Fossi
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - Germain Taiwe Sotoing
- Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | | | - Eric Akum Achidi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, PO Box 63, Buea, Cameroon
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23
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Mukherjee S, Ghosh S, Bawali S, Chatterjee R, Saha A, Sengupta A, Keswani T, Sarkar S, Ghosh P, Chakraborty S, Khamaru P, Bhattacharyya A. Administration of soluble gp130Fc disrupts M-1 macrophage polarization, dendritic cell activation, MDSC expansion and Th-17 induction during experimental cerebral malaria. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 123:110671. [PMID: 37494839 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory effect of IL-6 on various immune cells plays a crucial role during experimental cerebral malaria pathogenesis. IL-6 neutralization can restore distorted ratios of myeloid dendritic cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells as well as the balance between Th-17 and T-regulatory cells. IL-6 can also influence immune cells through classical and trans IL-6 signalling pathways. As trans IL-6 signalling is reportedly involved during malaria pathogenesis, we focused on studying the effects of trans IL-6 signalling blockade on various immune cell populations and how they regulate ECM progression. Results show that administration of sgp130Fc recombinant chimera protein lowers the parasitemia, increases the survivability of Plasmodium berghei ANKA infected mice, and restores the distorted ratios of M1/M2 macrophage, mDC/pDC, and Th-17/Treg. IL-6 trans signalling blockade has been found to affect both expansion of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and expression of inflammatory markers on them during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection indicating that trans IL-6 signalling might regulate various immune cells and their function during ECM. In this work for the first time, we delineate the effect of sgp130Fc administration on influencing the immunological changes within the host secondary lymphoid organ during ECM induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Mukherjee
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Soubhik Ghosh
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Sriparna Bawali
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Rimbik Chatterjee
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Atreyee Saha
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Anirban Sengupta
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Tarun Keswani
- Center for Immunological and Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 149 13th Street Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Samrat Sarkar
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Pronabesh Ghosh
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Sayan Chakraborty
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Poulomi Khamaru
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India
| | - Arindam Bhattacharyya
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta. 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700019, West Bengal, India.
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24
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Özel Y, Çavuş İ, Ünlü M, Özbilgin A. [Investigation of the Efficacy of Cinnamaldehyde, Cannabidiol and Eravacycline in a Malaria Model]. MIKROBIYOL BUL 2023; 57:608-624. [PMID: 37885389 DOI: 10.5578/mb.20239949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
In this study, it was aimed to investigate the antimalarial activity of cinnamaldehyde (CIN) and cannabidiol (CBD) which have shown various biological activities such as potent antimicrobial activity and eravacycline (ERA), a new generation tetracycline derivative, in an in vivo malaria model. The cytotoxic activities of the active substances were determined by the MTT method against L929 mouse fibroblasts and their antimalarial activity were determined by the four-day test in an in vivo mouse model. In this study, five groups were formed: the CIN group, the CBD group, the ERA group, the chloroquine group (CQ) and the untreated group (TAG). 2.5 x 107 parasites/mL of P.berghei-infected erythrocyte suspension was administered IP to all mice. The determined doses of active substances were given to the mice by oral gavage in accordance with the four-day test and the parasitemia status in the mice was controlled for 21 days with smear preparations made from the blood taken from the tail end of the mice. The IC50 values, which express the cytotoxic activity values of the active substances were determined as 27.55 μg/mL, 16.40 μM and 48.82 μg/mL for CIN, CBD and ERA, respectively. The mean parasitemia rate in untreated mice was 33% on day nine and all mice died on day 11. On the ninth day, when compared with the TAG group, no parasites were observed in the CIN group, while the average parasitemia was 0.08% in the CBD group and 17.8% in the ERA group. Compared to the mice in the TAG group, the life expectancy of the other groups was prolonged by eight days in the CIN group, 12 days in the CBD group and eight days in the ERA group. It has been determined that all three active subtances tested in this study suppressed the development of Plasmodium parasites in an in vivo mouse model and prolonged the life span of the mice. It is thought that the strong antimalarial activity of CIN and CBD shown in the study and the possible positive effect of ERA on the clinical course can be improved by combining them with the existing and potential antimalarial molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yener Özel
- Balıkesir University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Balıkesir, Türkiye
| | - İbrahim Çavuş
- Manisa Celal Bayar University Institute of Health Sciences, Manisa, Türkiye
| | - Mehmet Ünlü
- Balıkesir University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Balıkesir, Türkiye
| | - Ahmet Özbilgin
- Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Parasitology, Manisa, Türkiye
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25
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HARAGUCHI A, TAKANO M, HAKOZAKI J, NAKAYAMA K, NAKAMURA S, YOSHIKAWA Y, FUKUMOTO S, KUSAKISAKO K, IKADAI H. Formation of free oocysts in Anopheles mosquitoes injected with Plasmodium ookinetes. J Vet Med Sci 2023; 85:921-928. [PMID: 37407494 PMCID: PMC10539829 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.23-0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria needs new strategies for its control. Plasmodium spp., the causative agent of malaria, is transmitted by mosquitoes. These parasites develop into oocysts and sporozoites in the body of the mosquitoes. A deeper understanding of oocysts that produce the infectious form of the parasite, sporozoites, can facilitate the development of novel countermeasures. However, the isolation of Plasmodium oocysts is challenging as these are formed between midgut epithelial cells and basal lamina after gametocytes enter the mosquito's body through blood feeding. Further research on oocysts has been impeded by issues related to oocyst isolation. Therefore, in this study, we injected Plasmodium into mosquitoes-an artificial and unique method-and aimed to clarify how oocysts were formed in mosquitoes after Plasmodium injection and whether free oocysts were formed from the mosquito tissue. Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain) ookinetes cultured in vitro were injected into the thoracic body cavity (hemocoel) of female and male Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes. Oocysts were formed in the body of female and male mosquitoes at 14 days post injection. In addition, oocysts formed as a result of injection developed into sporozoites, which were infectious to mice. These findings suggest that P. berghei can complete its developmental stage in mosquitoes by injection. Some of the oocysts formed were free from mosquito tissue, and it was possible to collect oocysts with minimal contamination of mosquito tissue. These free oocysts can be used for investigating oocyst proteins and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asako HARAGUCHI
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Makoto TAKANO
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Jun HAKOZAKI
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko NAKAYAMA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Sakure NAKAMURA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yasunaga YOSHIKAWA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Shinya FUKUMOTO
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kodai KUSAKISAKO
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
| | - Hiromi IKADAI
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Aomori, Japan
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Veeragoni D, Deshpande SS, Singh V, Misra S, Mutheneni SR. In vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using Sargassum tenerrimum - a marine seaweed. Acta Trop 2023; 245:106982. [PMID: 37406792 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Green nanotechnology has recently attracted a lot of attention as a potential technique for drug development. In the present study, silver nanoparticles were synthesised by using Sargassum tenerrimum, a marine seaweed crude extract (Ag-ST), and evaluated for antimalarial activity in both in vitro and in vivo models. The results showed that Ag-ST nanoparticles exhibited good antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values 7.71±0.39 µg/ml and 23.93±2.27 µg/ml against P. falciparum and P. berghei respectively. These nanoparticles also showed less haemolysis activity suggesting their possible use in therapeutics. Further, P. berghei infected C57BL/6 mice were used for the four-day suppressive, curative and prophylactic assays where it was noticed that the Ag-ST nanoparticles significantly reduced the parasitaemia and there were no toxic effects observed in the biochemical and haematological parameters. Further to understand its possible toxic effects, both in vitro and in vivo genotoxicological studies were performed which revealed that these nanoparticles are non-genotoxic in nature. The possible antimalarial activity of Ag-ST may be due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals and silver ions. Moreover, the phytochemicals prevent the nonspecific release of ions responsible for low genotoxicity. Together, the bio-efficacy and toxicology outcomes demonstrated that the green synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag-ST) could be a cutting-edge alternative for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dileepkumar Veeragoni
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Shruti S Deshpande
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Vineeta Singh
- Parasite and Host Biology Group, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, Dwarka, New Delhi, India
| | - Sunil Misra
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Srinivasa Rao Mutheneni
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana, India; Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Suleiman MA, Usman MA, Awogbamila SO, Idris UA, Ibrahim FB, Mohammed HO. Therapeutic activity of eugenol towards mitigation of anaemia and oxidative organ damage caused by Plasmodium berghei. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 255:111577. [PMID: 37329986 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The parasite responsible for causing malaria infection, Plasmodium, is known to exhibit resistance to a number of already available treatments. This has prompted the continue search for new antimalarial drugs ranging from medicinal plant parts to synthetic compounds. In lieu of this, the mitigative action of the bioactive compound, eugenol towards P. berghei-induced anaemia and oxidative organ damage was investigated following a demonstration of in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial effects. Mice were infected with chloroquine-sensitive strain of P. berghei and thereafter treated with eugenol at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) for seven days. The packed cell volume and redox sensitive biomarkers in the liver, brain and spleen were measured. Our result demonstrated that eugenol significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the P. berghei-associated anaemia at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW. In addition, the compound, at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW, significantly (p < 0.05) alleviated the P. berghei-induced organ damage. This evidently confirmed that eugenol plays an ameliorative role towards P. berghei-related pathological alterations. Hence, the study opens up a new therapeutic use of eugenol against plasmodium parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukhtar Adeiza Suleiman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
| | - Mohammed Aliyu Usman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | | | - Umar Adam Idris
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Fatima Binta Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Halimat-Oyibo Mohammed
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
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Nyariki JN, Kimani NM, Kibet PS, Kinuthia GK, Isaac AO. Coenzyme Q10 exhibits anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory thereby decelerating the occurrence of experimental cerebral malaria. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 255:111579. [PMID: 37385350 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral Malaria (CM) is associated with the complex neurological syndrome, whose pathology is mediated by severe inflammatory processes following infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Coenzyme-Q10 (Co-Q10) is a potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic agent with numerous clinical applications. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of oral administration of Co-Q10 on the initiation or regulation of inflammatory immune response during experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). For this purpose, the pre-clinical effect of Co-Q10 was evaluated in C57BL/6 J mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA). Treatment with Co-Q10 resulted in the reduction of infiltrating parasite load, greatly improved the survival rate of PbA-infected mice that occurred independent of parasitaemia and prevented PbA-induced disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. Exposure to Co-Q10 resulted in the reduction of infiltration of effector CD8 + T cells in the brain and secretion of cytolytic Granzyme B molecules. Notably, Co-Q10-treated mice had reduced levels of CD8 +T cell chemokines CXCR3, CCR2, and CCR5 in the brain following PbA-infection. Brain tissue analysis showed a reduction in the levels of inflammatory mediators TNF- α, CCL3, and RANTES in Co-Q10 administered mice. In addition, Co-Q10 modulated the differentiation and maturation of both splenic and brain dendritic cells and cross-presentation (CD8α+DCs) during ECM. Remarkably, Co-Q10 was very effective in decreasing levels of CD86, MHC-II, and CD40 in macrophages associated with ECM pathology. Exposure to Co-Q10 resulted in increased expression levels of Arginase-1 and Ym1/chitinase 3-like 3, which is linked to ECM protection. Furthermore, Co-Q10 supplementation prevented PbA-induced depletion of Arginase and CD206 mannose receptor levels. Co-Q10 abrogated PbA-driven elevation in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-6 levels. In conclusion, the oral supplementation with Co-Q10 decelerates the occurrence of ECM by preventing lethal inflammatory immune responses and dampening genes associated with inflammation and immune-pathology during ECM, and offers an inimitable opening for developing an anti-inflammatory agent against cerebral malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Nyabuga Nyariki
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Technical of University of Kenya, P.O Box 52428-00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Njogu M Kimani
- Department of Physical Sciences, University of Embu, P.O Box 6-60100 Embu, Kenya
| | - Peter Shikuku Kibet
- Department of Pathology, Hematology and Blood Transfusion thematic unit, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Geoffrey K Kinuthia
- Department of Science & Public Health, Daystar University, PO Box 44400-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Alfred Orina Isaac
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, School Health Sciences and Biomedical Sciences, Technical University of Kenya, P.O Box 52428-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
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Buendía-González FO, Cervantes-Candelas LA, Aguilar-Castro J, Fernández-Rivera O, Nolasco-Pérez TDJ, López-Padilla MS, Chavira-Ramírez DR, Cervantes-Sandoval A, Legorreta-Herrera M. DHEA Induces Sex-Associated Differential Patterns in Cytokine and Antibody Levels in Mice Infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12549. [PMID: 37628731 PMCID: PMC10454633 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is the most lethal parasitic disease worldwide; the severity of symptoms and mortality are higher in men than in women, exhibiting an evident sexual dimorphism in the immune response; therefore, the contribution of 17β-estradiol and testosterone to this phenomenon has been studied. Both hormones differentially affect several aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the precursor of both hormones and is the sexual steroid in higher concentrations in humans, with immunomodulatory properties in different parasitic diseases; however, the involvement of DHEA in this sexual dimorphism has not been studied. In the case of malaria, the only information is that higher levels of DHEA are associated with reduced Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia. Therefore, this work aims to analyze the DHEA contribution to the sexual dimorphism of the immune response in malaria. We assessed the effect of modifying the concentration of DHEA on parasitemia, the number of immune cells in the spleen, cytokines, and antibody levels in plasma of CBA/Ca mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (P. berghei ANKA). DHEA differentially affected the immune response in males and females: it decreased IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-4 concentrations only in females, whereas in gonadectomized males, it increased IgG2a and IgG3 antibodies. The results presented here show that DHEA modulates the immune response against Plasmodium differently in each sex, which helps to explain the sexual dimorphism present in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fidel Orlando Buendía-González
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Luis Antonio Cervantes-Candelas
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
| | - Jesús Aguilar-Castro
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Omar Fernández-Rivera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Teresita de Jesús Nolasco-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - Monserrat Sofía López-Padilla
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
| | - David Roberto Chavira-Ramírez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México 14080, Mexico;
| | - Armando Cervantes-Sandoval
- Laboratorio de Aplicaciones Computacionales, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico;
| | - Martha Legorreta-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 09230, Mexico; (F.O.B.-G.); (L.A.C.-C.); (J.A.-C.); (O.F.-R.); (T.J.N.-P.); (M.S.L.-P.)
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Mogaka S, Mulei I, Njoki P, Ogila K, Waihenya R, Onditi F, Ozwara H. Antimalarial Efficacy and Safety of Senna occidentalis (L.) Link Root Extract in Plasmodium berghei-Infected BALB/c Mice. Biomed Res Int 2023; 2023:8296195. [PMID: 37583959 PMCID: PMC10425254 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8296195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Emergence of Plasmodium resistance to antimalarial drugs presents a major drawback in efforts to control malaria. To address this problem, there is an urgent and continuous need for the development of new and effective antimalarial agents. Senna occidentalis (L.) link extract has exhibited in vitro antiplasmodial activity in many pharmacological studies. To our knowledge, data on its in vivo antimalarial efficacy is still very limited. A recent study demonstrated that polar extracts from the plant roots inhibit Plasmodium berghei proliferation in a mouse model. This study further describes the efficacy and safety of a methanolic root extract of the plant as an antimalarial agent by demonstrating its effect on hematological, biochemical, and histological parameters of Plasmodium berghei-infected BALB/c mice. Methods Rane's test, a curative approach, was used to evaluate the antimalarial efficacy of Senna occidentalis methanolic root extract in Plasmodium berghei-infected BALB/c mice. The effect of the extract on both hematological and biochemical parameters was evaluated using automated analyzers. Kidney, liver, lung, spleen, and brain tissues were harvested from euthanized mice and examined for changes in organ architecture. Results This study demonstrates that methanolic root extract of Senna occidentalis significantly inhibited Plasmodium berghei parasitemia in BALB/c mice (p < 0.01). Infected mice that were treated with the extract depicted a significantly low level of total leucocytes (p < 0.01), red blood cell distribution width (p < 0.01), and a significantly high hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001) compared to the infected animals that were administered with the vehicle only. The infected animals that were treated with the extract exhibited a significantly low level of urea, creatinine, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.05), compared to the infected animals that were given the vehicle only. The level of sodium, potassium and chloride ions, lymphocytes, granulocytes, hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, total protein, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total platelets, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width of the infected animals treated with the extract was not significantly different from those of the infected animals that were given the vehicle only (p > 0.05). The extract alleviated organ pathological changes in the infected mice. The extract did not induce any remarkable adverse effect on the growth, hematological, and biochemical parameters of uninfected animals (p > 0.05). In addition, administration of the extract did not alter the gross appearance and histological architecture of the organs, implying that the extract was well tolerated in mice. Conclusions Senna occidentalis methanolic root extract exhibited good antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei and may be safe in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Mogaka
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O. Box 24481, Karen, 00502 Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Isaac Mulei
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053, 00625 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peninah Njoki
- Department of Medical Science, Technical University of Mombasa, P.O. Box 90420-80100, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Kenneth Ogila
- Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rebecca Waihenya
- Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. Box 62000-00200 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Faith Onditi
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O. Box 24481, Karen, 00502 Nairobi, Kenya
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hastings Ozwara
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O. Box 24481, Karen, 00502 Nairobi, Kenya
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Saeed S, Tremp AZ, Dessens JT. Plasmodium berghei oocysts possess fatty acid synthesis and scavenging routes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12700. [PMID: 37543672 PMCID: PMC10404217 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39708-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites carry out fatty acid synthesis (FAS) in their apicoplast organelle via a bacterially related (type II) enzymatic pathway. In the vertebrate host, exoerythrocytic Plasmodium stages rely on FAS, whereas intraerythrocytic stages depend on scavenging FA from their environment. In the mosquito, P. falciparum oocysts express and rely on FAS enzymes for sporozoite formation, but P. yoelii oocysts do not express, nor depend on, FAS enzymes and thus rely on FA scavenging to support sporogony. In P. berghei, FAS enzymes are similarly expendable for sporogony, indicating it conforms to the P. yoelii scenario. We show here that P. berghei, unexpectedly, expresses FAS enzymes throughout oocyst development. These findings indicate that P. berghei can employ FAS alongside FA scavenging to maximise sporogony and transmission, and is more similar to P. falciparum than previously assumed with respect to FA acquisition by the oocyst. The ability of oocysts to switch between FAS and scavenging could be an important factor in the non-competitive relationship of resource exploitation between Plasmodium parasites and their mosquito vectors, which shapes parasite virulence both in the insect and vertebrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Saeed
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Annie Z Tremp
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Johannes T Dessens
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
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Ariefta NR, Pagmadulam B, Hatano M, Ikeda N, Isshiki K, Matoba K, Igarashi M, Nihei CI, Nishikawa Y. Antiplasmodial Activity Evaluation of a Bestatin-Related Aminopeptidase Inhibitor, Phebestin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0160622. [PMID: 37314349 PMCID: PMC10353437 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01606-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing burden and spread of resistant malaria parasites remains an immense burden to public health. These factors have driven the demand to search for a new therapeutic agent. From our screening, phebestin stood out with nanomolar efficacy against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. Phebestin was initially identified as an aminopeptidase N inhibitor. Phebestin inhibited the in vitro multiplication of the P. falciparum 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) and K1 (chloroquine-resistant) strains at IC50 values of 157.90 ± 6.26 nM and 268.17 ± 67.59 nM, respectively. Furthermore, phebestin exhibited no cytotoxic against human foreskin fibroblast cells at 2.5 mM. In the stage-specific assay, phebestin inhibited all parasite stages at 100 and 10-fold its IC50 concentration. Using 72-h in vitro exposure of phebestin at concentrations of 1 μM on P. falciparum 3D7 distorted the parasite morphology, showed dying signs, shrank, and prevented reinvasion of RBCs, even after the compound was washed from the culture. An in silico study found that phebestin binds to P. falciparum M1 alanyl aminopeptidase (PfM1AAP) and M17 leucyl aminopeptidase (PfM17LAP), as observed for bestatin. In vivo evaluation using P. yoelii 17XNL-infected mice with administrations of 20 mg/kg phebestin, once daily for 7 days, resulted in significantly lower parasitemia peaks in the phebestin-treated group (19.53%) than in the untreated group (29.55%). At the same dose and treatment, P. berghei ANKA-infected mice showed reduced parasitemia levels and improved survival compared to untreated mice. These results indicate that phebestin is a promising candidate for development as a potential therapeutic agent against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanang R. Ariefta
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Baldorj Pagmadulam
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Japan
- Laboratory of Microbial Synthesis, Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Masaki Hatano
- Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko Ikeda
- Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunio Isshiki
- Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Matoba
- Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Coh-ichi Nihei
- Institute of Microbial Chemistry (BIKAKEN), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Japan
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Nolasco-Pérez TDJ, Cervantes-Candelas LA, Buendía-González FO, Aguilar-Castro J, Fernández-Rivera O, Salazar-Castañón VH, Legorreta-Herrera M. Immunomodulatory effects of testosterone and letrozole during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1146356. [PMID: 37384220 PMCID: PMC10296187 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1146356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Malaria is one of the leading health problems globally. Plasmodium infection causes pronounced sexual dimorphism, and the lethality and severity are more remarkable in males than in females. To study the role of testosterone in the susceptibility and mortality of males in malaria, it is common to increase its concentration. However, this strategy does not consider the enzyme CYP19A1 aromatase, which can transform it into oestrogens. Methods To avoid the interference of oestrogens, we inhibited in vivo CYP19A1 aromatase with letrozole and increased the testosterone level by exogen administration before infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. We measured the impact on free testosterone, 17β-oestradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in plasma; additionally, we evaluated parasitaemia, body temperature, body mass, glucose levels and haemoglobin concentration. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of testosterone on the immune response; we quantified the CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, CD19+, Mac-3+ and NK cells in the spleen and the plasma concentrations of the cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-, IL-10, TNF-α and IL-17A. Finally, we quantified the levels of antibodies. Results We found that mice treated with the combination of letrozole and testosterone and infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA had increased concentrations of free testosterone and DHEA but decreased levels of 17β-oestradiol. As a result, parasitaemia increased, leading to severe anaemia. Interestingly, testosterone increased temperature and decreased glucose concentration as a possible testosterone-mediated regulatory mechanism. The severity of symptomatology was related to critical immunomodulatory effects generated by free testosterone; it selectively increased CD3+CD8+ T and CD19+ cells but decreased Mac-3+. Remarkably, it reduced IL-17A concentration and increased IL-4 and TNF-α. Finally, it increased IgG1 levels and the IgG1/IgG2a ratio. In conclusion, free testosterone plays an essential role in pathogenesis in male mice by increasing CD8+ and decreasing Mac3+ cells and mainly reducing IL-17A levels, which is critical in the development of anaemia. Our results are important for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the exacerbated inflammatory response in infectious diseases and would be useful for the future development of alternative therapies to reduce the mortality generated by inflammatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresita de Jesús Nolasco-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología en Moléculas de Interés Biológico, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luis Antonio Cervantes-Candelas
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología en Moléculas de Interés Biológico, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Fidel Orlando Buendía-González
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología en Moléculas de Interés Biológico, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Jesús Aguilar-Castro
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología en Moléculas de Interés Biológico, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Omar Fernández-Rivera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología en Moléculas de Interés Biológico, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Víctor Hugo Salazar-Castañón
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología en Moléculas de Interés Biológico, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Martha Legorreta-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología en Moléculas de Interés Biológico, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Kaushansky A, Minkah N. Liver-stage Plasmodium infection tunes clinical outcomes. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:321-322. [PMID: 36935339 PMCID: PMC10634323 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Chora and colleagues show that infection of the liver by Plasmodium modulates severity of disease in the experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model by generating gamma delta (ɣδ) T cells that produce IL-17. This work calls into question the long-standing assumption that liver infection does not modulate severity of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Kaushansky
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Nana Minkah
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Calit J, Araújo JE, Deng B, Miura K, Gaitán XA, Araújo MDS, Medeiros JF, Long CA, Simeonov A, Eastman RT, Bargieri DY. Novel Transmission-Blocking Antimalarials Identified by High-Throughput Screening of Plasmodium berghei Ookluc. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0146522. [PMID: 36856421 PMCID: PMC10112123 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01465-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Safe and effective malaria transmission-blocking chemotherapeutics would allow a community-level approach to malaria control and eradication efforts by targeting the mosquito sexual stage of the parasite life cycle. However, only a single drug, primaquine, is currently approved for use in reducing transmission, and drug toxicity limits its widespread implementation. To address this limitation in antimalarial chemotherapeutics, we used a recently developed transgenic Plasmodium berghei line, Ookluc, to perform a series of high-throughput in vitro screens for compounds that inhibit parasite fertilization, the initial step of parasite development within the mosquito. Screens of antimalarial compounds, approved drug collections, and drug-like molecule libraries identified 185 compounds that inhibit parasite maturation to the zygote form. Seven compounds were further characterized to block gametocyte activation or to be cytotoxic to formed zygotes. These were further validated in mosquito membrane-feeding assays using Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. This work demonstrates that high-throughput screens using the Ookluc line can identify compounds that are active against the two most relevant human Plasmodium species and provides a list of compounds that can be explored for the development of new antimalarials to block transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Calit
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jessica E. Araújo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária-PIVEM, Laboratório de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia/Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Bingbing Deng
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiomara A. Gaitán
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maisa da Silva Araújo
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária-PIVEM, Laboratório de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Jansen F. Medeiros
- Plataforma de Produção e Infecção de Vetores da Malária-PIVEM, Laboratório de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia/Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Carole A. Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Anton Simeonov
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Richard T. Eastman
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Y. Bargieri
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Mogaka S, Molu H, Kagasi E, Ogila K, Waihenya R, Onditi F, Ozwara H. Senna occidentalis (L.) Link root extract inhibits Plasmodium growth in vitro and in mice. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:71. [PMID: 36879244 PMCID: PMC9987147 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03854-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Senna occidentalis (L.) Link has been used worldwide in traditional treatment of many diseases and conditions including snakebite. In Kenya, a decoction from the plant roots taken orally, is used as a cure for malaria. Several studies have demonstrated that extracts from the plant possess antiplasmodial activity, in vitro. However, the safety and curative potency of the plant root against established malaria infection is yet to be scientifically validated, in vivo. On the other hand, there are reports on variation in bioactivity of extracts obtained from this plant species, depending on the plant part used and place of origin among other factors. In this study, we demonstrated the antiplasmodial activity of Senna occidentalis roots extract in vitro, and in mice. METHODS Methanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, hexane and water extracts of S. occidentalis root were tested for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, strain 3D7. Cytotoxicity of the most active solvent extracts was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the curative potency in Plasmodium berghei infected mice evaluated by Rane's test. RESULTS All of the solvent extracts tested in this study inhibited the propagation of P. falciparum, strain 3D7, in vitro, with polar extracts being more active than non-polar ones. Methanolic extracts had the highest activity (IC50 = 1.76) while hexane extract displayed the lowest activity (IC50 = 18.47). At the tested concentrations, methanolic and aqueous extracts exhibited high selectivity index against P. falciparum strain 3D7 (SI > 10) in the cytotoxicity assay. Further, the extracts significantly suppressed the propagation of P. berghei parasites (P < 0.05) in vivo and increased the survival time of the infected mice (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Senna occidentalis (L.) Link root extract inhibits the propagation of malaria parasites in vitro and in BALB/c mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeon Mogaka
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O Box 24481, Karen, Nairobi, 00502, Kenya.
- Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Halkano Molu
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O Box 24481, Karen, Nairobi, 00502, Kenya
| | - Esther Kagasi
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O Box 24481, Karen, Nairobi, 00502, Kenya
| | - Kenneth Ogila
- Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rebeccah Waihenya
- Department of Zoology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O Box 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Faith Onditi
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O Box 24481, Karen, Nairobi, 00502, Kenya
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hastings Ozwara
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, P.O Box 24481, Karen, Nairobi, 00502, Kenya
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Ong HW, Truong A, Kwarcinski F, de Silva C, Avalani K, Havener TM, Chirgwin M, Galal KA, Willis C, Krämer A, Liu S, Knapp S, Derbyshire ER, Zutshi R, Drewry DH. Discovery of potent Plasmodium falciparum protein kinase 6 (PfPK6) inhibitors with a type II inhibitor pharmacophore. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 249:115043. [PMID: 36736152 PMCID: PMC10052868 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating disease that causes significant global morbidity and mortality. The rise of drug resistance against artemisinin-based combination therapy demonstrates the necessity to develop alternative antimalarials with novel mechanisms of action. We report the discovery of Ki8751 as an inhibitor of essential kinase PfPK6. 79 derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for PfPK6 inhibition and antiplasmodial activity. Using group efficiency analyses, we established the importance of key groups on the scaffold consistent with a type II inhibitor pharmacophore. We highlight modifications on the tail group that contribute to antiplasmodial activity, cumulating in the discovery of compound 67, a PfPK6 inhibitor (IC50 = 13 nM) active against the P. falciparum blood stage (EC50 = 160 nM), and compound 79, a PfPK6 inhibitor (IC50 < 5 nM) with dual-stage antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum blood stage (EC50 = 39 nM) and against P. berghei liver stage (EC50 = 220 nM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wee Ong
- Structural Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Anna Truong
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Frank Kwarcinski
- Luceome Biotechnologies, L.L.C, 1665 E. 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Chandi de Silva
- Luceome Biotechnologies, L.L.C, 1665 E. 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Krisha Avalani
- Luceome Biotechnologies, L.L.C, 1665 E. 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Tammy M Havener
- Structural Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Michael Chirgwin
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Kareem A Galal
- Structural Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Caleb Willis
- Luceome Biotechnologies, L.L.C, 1665 E. 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA
| | - Andreas Krämer
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Shubin Liu
- Research Computing Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3420, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3420, USA
| | - Stefan Knapp
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Emily R Derbyshire
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
| | - Reena Zutshi
- Luceome Biotechnologies, L.L.C, 1665 E. 18th Street, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA.
| | - David H Drewry
- Structural Genomics Consortium and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Wichers-Misterek JS, Binder AM, Mesén-Ramírez P, Dorner LP, Safavi S, Fuchs G, Lenz TL, Bachmann A, Wilson D, Frischknecht F, Gilberger TW. A Microtubule-Associated Protein Is Essential for Malaria Parasite Transmission. mBio 2023; 14:e0331822. [PMID: 36625655 PMCID: PMC9973338 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03318-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Mature gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum display a banana (falciform) shape conferred by a complex array of subpellicular microtubules (SPMT) associated with the inner membrane complex (IMC). Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) define MT populations and modulate interaction with pellicular components. Several MAPs have been identified in Toxoplasma gondii, and homologues can be found in the genomes of Plasmodium species, but the function of these proteins for asexual and sexual development of malaria parasites is still unknown. Here, we identified a novel subpellicular MAP, termed SPM3, that is conserved within the genus Plasmodium, especially within the subgenus Laverania, but absent in other Apicomplexa. Conditional knockdown and targeted gene disruption of Pfspm3 in Plasmodium falciparum cause severe morphological defects during gametocytogenesis, leading to round, nonfalciform gametocytes with an aberrant SPMT pattern. In contrast, Pbspm3 knockout in Plasmodium berghei, a species with round gametocytes, caused no defect in gametocytogenesis, but sporozoites displayed an aberrant motility and a dramatic defect in invasion of salivary glands, leading to a decreased efficiency in transmission. Electron microscopy revealed a dissociation of the SPMT from the IMC in Pbspm3 knockout parasites, suggesting a function of SPM3 in anchoring MTs to the IMC. Overall, our results highlight SPM3 as a pellicular component with essential functions for malaria parasite transmission. IMPORTANCE A key structural feature driving the transition between different life cycle stages of the malaria parasite is the unique three-membrane pellicle, consisting of the parasite plasma membrane (PPM) and a double membrane structure underlying the PPM termed the inner membrane complex (IMC). Additionally, there are numerous linearly arranged intramembranous particles (IMPs) linked to the IMC, which likely link the IMC to the subpellicular microtubule cytoskeleton. Here, we identified, localized, and characterized a novel subpellicular microtubule-associated protein unique to the genus Plasmodium. The knockout of this protein in the human-pathogenic species P. falciparum resulted in malformed gametocytes and aberrant microtubules. We confirmed the microtubule association in the P. berghei rodent malaria homologue and show that its knockout results in a perturbed microtubule architecture, aberrant sporozoite motility, and decreased transmission efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Stephan Wichers-Misterek
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Annika M. Binder
- Integrative Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paolo Mesén-Ramírez
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lilian Patrick Dorner
- Integrative Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Soraya Safavi
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gwendolin Fuchs
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias L. Lenz
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Unit for Evolutionary Immunogenomics, Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Bachmann
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Hamburg-Borstel-Lübeck-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Danny Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Friedrich Frischknecht
- Integrative Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tim-Wolf Gilberger
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Hamburg, Germany
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Erhunse N, Omoregie ES, Sahal D. Antiplasmodial and antimalarial evaluation of a Nigerian hepta-herbal Agbo-iba decoction: Identification of magic bullets and possible facilitators of drug action. J Ethnopharmacol 2023; 301:115807. [PMID: 36223842 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Malaria remains one of the most important pathogenic infectious diseases. Although Africa suffers the greatest brunt, a sizeable proportion of her population still relies on herbal medicines for reasons of cost as well as the belief etched in the minds of consumers that herbal medicines are safer and more efficacious than Modern medicines. Agbo-iba; a concoction of two or more than two plants is commonly used for the management of malaria in Nigeria. AIM OF THE STUDY This study assessed the safety and efficacy of a hepta-herbal Agbo-iba (HHA) antimalarial decoction used for the management of malaria in Benin city, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS Assessment was done against malaria parasite in culture as well as in vivo in pre-clinical murine model of malaria. RESULTS HHA (IC50Pf3D7 50 μg/ml) was moderately potent and only one of its constituent plants Annickia affinis (IC50Pf3D7 1.49 μg/ml) was far more potent, while all others were moderately active to inactive against the parasite in vitro. HHA showed good selectivity in vitro and was safe at 2 g/kg in mice. However, at 100 mg/kg oral dose, while HHA suppressed parasite growth by 56.76%, the suppression caused by A.affinis was only 32.46% in mice malaria suggesting the existence of synergistic partner(s) in the herbal formula. LCMS revealed the presence of quaternary protoberberine alkaloids (QPAs) in A.affinis and HHA. CONCLUSIONS Although QPAs have strong in vitro antiplasmodial activity, their in vivo antimalarial activity is undermined by being substrates of Permeability glycoprotein (Pgp) efflux pump. Our study suggests that inhibitor(s) of Pgp in HHA could improve the bioavailability of QPAs in mice fed the herbal combo. Further, molecules from other HHA constituent plants may also contribute to the better potency observed for the polyherbal in vivo. These possibilities were validated by the curative antimalarial study at 100 mg/kg, where A.affinis was inactive but the HHA suppressed parasite growth by 44.45%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nekpen Erhunse
- Malaria Drug Discovery Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, P.M.B, 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
| | - Ehimwenma Sheena Omoregie
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, P.M.B, 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
| | - Dinkar Sahal
- Malaria Drug Discovery Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India.
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40
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Chatterjee A, Singh N, Chanu WK, Singh CB, Nagaraj VA. Phytochemical screening, cytotoxicity assessment and evaluation of in vitro antiplasmodial and in vivo antimalarial activities of Mentha spicata L. methanolic leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol 2022; 298:115636. [PMID: 35998785 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Malaria causes extensive morbidity and mortality, and the decreasing efficacy of artemisinin and its partner drugs has posed a serious concern. Therefore, it is important to identify new antimalarials, and the natural compounds from plants provide a promising platform. Mentha spicata L. representing the Lamiaceae family has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases including malaria. AIM OF THE STUDY This study was aimed at evaluating the antiplasmodial activity of M. spicata methanolic leaf extract using Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) cultures (Pf3D7 and artemisinin (ART)-resistant PfCam3.IR539T strains) and antimalarial activity using Plasmodium berghei (Pb)-infected mice. Dry leaf powder and methanolic leaf extract were examined for in vivo antimalarial activity and the efficacy of oral versus parenteral administration was compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS Leaves of M. spicata were collected and extracted using 70% methanol in water (v/v). [3H]-hypoxanthine incorporation assays and Giemsa-stained smears were used to assess the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of M. spicata methanolic extract against Pf3D7 and ART-resistant PfCam3.IR539T strains. Cytotoxicity was evaluated in HeLa and HEK-293T cell lines using MTT assays. Hemolysis assays were performed using red blood cells (RBCs). In vivo antimalarial activities of M. spicata dry leaf powder and methanolic leaf extract were examined in P. berghei-infected mice by Rane's curative test and Peters' 4-day suppressive test. RESULTS Phytochemical screening of M. spicata methanolic leaf extract indicated the presence of reducing sugars, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, glycosides, sterols, saponins, alkaloids, coumarins, tannins, carbohydrates, and proteins. In vitro studies carried out using Pf cultures showed that M. spicata methanolic leaf extract had significant antiplasmodial activity against Pf3D7 cultures with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 57.99 ± 2.82 μg/ml. The extract was also effective against ART-resistant PfCam3.IR539T strain with an IC50 of 71.23 ± 3.85 μg/ml. The extract did not show significant in vitro cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and in vivo toxicity. In vivo studies performed using Pb-infected mice treated with M. spicata dry leaf powder and methanolic leaf extract showed ∼50% inhibition in parasite growth at 1500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg doses, respectively. There was also a significant delay in the mortality of treated mice. Parenteral administration was found to be appropriate for the in vivo treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our in vitro and in vivo findings from Pf and Pb parasites suggested the therapeutic potential of M. spicata leaf extract as an antimalarial. M. spicata leaf extract could also inhibit the growth of ART-resistant Pf strain. Further studies on fractionation and active component analysis of M. spicata leaf extract would be required to identify the bioactive phytochemicals having pharmaceutical and therapeutic values. Such efforts would help us in developing new antimalarials to combat malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Chatterjee
- Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 751023, Odisha, India; School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751024, Odisha, India.
| | - Nalini Singh
- Infectious Disease Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 751023, Odisha, India.
| | - Wahengbam Kabita Chanu
- Plant Bioresources Division, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, 795001, Manipur, India.
| | - Chingakham Brajakishor Singh
- Plant Bioresources Division, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development, Imphal, 795001, Manipur, India.
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Tekalign E, Tadege G, Fisseha N, Nureye D. Suppressive, Curative, and Prophylactic Effects of Maesa lanceolata Forssk. against Rodent Malaria Parasite Plasmodium berghei. Biomed Res Int 2022; 2022:8901555. [PMID: 36411769 PMCID: PMC9675603 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8901555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The artemisinin partial resistance is believed to be spread to artemisinin-based combination therapy partner drugs. As a result, new antiplasmodial compounds are required to treat resistant malaria infections. In the invention of antimalarial substances, claimed medical plants are precious resources. So, the current study was designed to assess the antiplasmodial effects of Maesa lanceolata in mice. In this study, preliminary phytoconstituent and in vivo acute oral toxicity tests were done. Early infection, established infection, and residual infection tests were employed to determine the antimalarial effects of the test drugs. Three doses (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) of the extracts were provided orally to the test mice. Analysis of variance (one-way) followed by post hoc Tukey's test was used to analyze the difference between and within groups. Terpenoids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids were detected in the phytochemical constituent analysis. Both 80% methanolic crude extract and solvent fractions had no toxic result at the 2000 mg/kg dose. All test drug doses suppressed parasite levels in a significant manner at all tests. The activity of chloroform fraction (maximum percentage suppression, 81.28%) overwhelms the crude extract activity. The curative effects of 80% methanolic crude extract, with a maximum of 80.22% parasitemia suppression, were greater than its suppressive and prophylactic effects. The 400 mg/kg dose of chloroform fraction resulted in a maximum survival period (18 days) than other doses of tested materials. The results of this investigation provide support for the activity of M. lanceolata leaf extract against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyob Tekalign
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, P.O. Box 260, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Getnet Tadege
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Nebeyi Fisseha
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia
| | - Dejen Nureye
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan-Aman, Ethiopia
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Trinh TTT, Yun SY, Bae GJ, Moon K, Hong H, Eum TH, Kim YA, Kim SA, Park H, Kim HS, Yeo SJ. Anti-malarial activity of HCl salt of SKM13 (SKM13-2HCl). Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022; 20:113-120. [PMID: 36375338 PMCID: PMC9771833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is among the most devastating and widespread tropical parasitic diseases in developing countries. To prevent a potential public health emergency, there is an urgent need for new antimalarial drugs, with single-dose cures, broad therapeutic potential, and novel mechanism of action. We synthesized HCl salt of SKM13 (SKM13-2HCl) based on the modification of SKM13 to improve solubility in water. The anti-malarial activity of the synthesized drug was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo models. The selective index indicated that SKM13-2HCl showed the same effectiveness with SKM13 in Plasmodium falciparum in in-vitro. Even though, in vivo mouse study demonstrated that SKM13 (20 mg/kg) at single dose could not completely inhibit P. berghei growth in blood. The survival rate increased from 33 to 90% at 15 days after infection. However, SKM13-2HCl (20 mg/kg) at a single dose increased the survival rate up to 100% at the same duration. Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) showed that solubility in water of SKM13 and SKM13-2HCL was 0.389 mg/mL and 417 mg/mL, respectively. Pharmacokinetics (PK) analysis corresponded to the increased solubility of SKM13-2HCl over SKM13. Haematological parameters [red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin level, and haematocrit level] supported the comparable efficacy of SKM13 and SKM13-2HCl in a 4-day suppression test. One mode of these drugs was found to be activating phosphorylation of eIF2α, hallmark of ER-stress, to kill parasite. Novel salt derivative of SKM13 (SKM13-2HCl) have enhanced anti-malarial activity against P. falciparum with endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress and salt form of SKM13 is an excellent direction to develop anti-malarial drug candidate in mice model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Tien Thi Trinh
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Medical Research Center, Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Yeon Yun
- Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Gum-Ju Bae
- Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwonmo Moon
- College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Wonkwang University, 460, Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyelee Hong
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hui Eum
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ah Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Wonkwang University, 460, Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Ai Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Wonkwang University, 460, Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Zoonosis Research Center, Department of Infection Biology, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hak Sung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Wonkwang University, 460, Iksan-daero, Iksan, 54538, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seon-Ju Yeo
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Medical Research Center, Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea; Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
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Chhibber-Goel J, Shukla A, Shanmugam D, Sharma A. Profiling of metabolic alterations in mice infected with malaria parasites via high-resolution metabolomics. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 252:111525. [PMID: 36209797 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria infection can result in distinct clinical outcomes from asymptomatic to severe. The association between patho-physiological changes and molecular changes in the host, and their correlation with severity of malaria progression is not fully understood. METHODS In this study, we addressed mass spectrometry-based temporal profiling of serum metabolite levels from mice infected with Plasmodium berhgei (strain ANKA). RESULTS We show global perturbations and identify changes in specific metabolites in correlation with disease progression. While metabolome-wide changes were apparent in late-stage malaria, a subset of metabolites exhibited highly correlated changes with disease progression. These metabolites changed early on following infection and either continued or maintained the change as mice developed severe disease. Some of these have the potential to be sentinel metabolites for severe malaria. Moreover, glycolytic metabolites, purine nucleotide precursors, tryptophan and its bioactive derivatives were many fold decreased in late-stage disease. Interestingly, uric acid, a metabolic waste reported to be elevated in severe human malaria, increased with disease progression, and subsequently appears to be detoxified into allantoin. This detoxification mechanism is absent in humans as they lack the enzyme uricase. CONCLUSIONS We have identified candidate marker metabolites that may be of relevance in the context of human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Chhibber-Goel
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anurag Shukla
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Dhanasekaran Shanmugam
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Amit Sharma
- Molecular Medicine, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110067, India; ICMR-National institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi 110077, India.
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Akinyele ST, Elusiyan CA, Omisore NO, Adewunmi CO. ANTIMALARIAL activities and alkaloids from Crinum jagus (Thomps) DANDY. J Ethnopharmacol 2022; 296:115359. [PMID: 35605920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Locally, among the Yoruba speaking people of South Western, Nigeria, the bulb of Crinum jagus (CJ), known as "ogede odo" is used to treat malaria and as an anthelmintic among other uses. AIMS OF THIS STUDY Study aimed at identifying the purified active fractions and constituents of this fraction in an antiplasmodial activity-guided process. MATERIALS AND METHODS Antiplasmodial activity-guided fractionation of the bulb and leaf extracts of CJ was investigated against chloroquine-sensitive (NK 65) Plasmodium berghei using 4-day suppressive and prophylactic methods. Molluscicidal activity of the extracts was assayed on adult Biomphalaria glabrata molluscs following WHO test protocols. Fractionation and purification of the active bulb extract was achieved using various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques to isolate its constituents. Isolated compounds were identified using different spectroscopic methods. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Both extracts had oral median lethal dose (LD50) greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.). The leaf extract had 40% lethality on molluscs while the bulb extract was inactive. The chemosuppressive and prophylactic antimalarial effects of the bulb extract were 76.55 ± 2.76% and 90.49 ± 2.70% (p<0.05) respectively at 1000 mg/kg b. wt. while the reference drugs; chloroquine and pyrimethamine, had 80.26 ± 3.09% and 50.39 ± 6.80% chemosuppressive effects, respectively. Lycorine (1) and crinamine (2) were isolated from the alkaloidal fraction with 71.36 ± 12.54% antiplasmodial activity. CONCLUSION The leaf and bulb extracts of Crinum jagus displayed low molluscicidal and moderate antimalarial activities. Lycorine and crinamine were identified from the antiplasmodial alkaloidal active fraction of the bulb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Toluwani Akinyele
- Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 220005 Osun State, Nigeria.
| | - Christianah Abimbola Elusiyan
- Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 220005 Osun State, Nigeria.
| | - Nusrat Omotayo Omisore
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 220005 Osun State, Nigeria.
| | - Clement Oladapo Adewunmi
- Drug Research and Production Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 220005 Osun State, Nigeria.
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Aguilar-Castro J, Cervantes-Candelas LA, Buendía-González FO, Fernández-Rivera O, Nolasco-Pérez TDJ, López-Padilla MS, Chavira-Ramírez DR, Cervantes-Sandoval A, Legorreta-Herrera M. Testosterone induces sexual dimorphism during infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:968325. [PMID: 36237427 PMCID: PMC9551224 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.968325] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is the most lethal parasitic disease worldwide; men exhibit higher mortality and more severe symptomatology than women; however, in most studies of immune response in malaria, sex is not considered a variable. Sex hormones 17β-oestradiol and testosterone are responsible for the main physiological differences between sexes. When interacting with their receptors on different immune cells, they modify the expression of genes that modulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and synthesis of cytokines. The immunosuppressive activity of testosterone is well accepted; however, its participation in the sexual dimorphism of the immune response to malaria has not been studied. In this work, we analysed whether altering the concentration of testosterone, through increasing the concentration of this hormone for exogenous administration for three weeks, or gonadectomy before infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA affects different cells of the immune response necessary for parasite clearance. We also assessed the concentration of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in male and female CBA/Ca mice infected or not with the parasite. Our results show that testosterone changes affect females more than males, resulting in sex-associated patterns. Testosterone administration increased parasitaemia in intact males while reducing it in intact females leading to a dimorphic pattern. In addition, gonadectomy increased parasitaemia in both sexes. Moreover, testosterone administration prevented both weight loss caused by the infection in females and hypothermia in gonadectomized mice of both sexes. Boosting testosterone concentration increased CD3+ and CD8+ populations but decreased the B220+ cells exclusively in females. Additionally, testosterone reduced IFN-γ concentration and increased IL-6 levels only in females, while in males, testosterone increased the number of NK cells. Finally, gonadectomy decreased TNF-α concentration in both sexes. Our results demonstrate that testosterone induces different patterns depending on sex and testosterone concentration. The results of this work contribute to understanding the impact of modifying testosterone concentration on the immune response specific against Plasmodium and the participation of this hormone in sexual dimorphism in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Aguilar-Castro
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Luis Antonio Cervantes-Candelas
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Fidel Orlando Buendía-González
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Omar Fernández-Rivera
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Teresita de Jesús Nolasco-Pérez
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Monserrat Sofía López-Padilla
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - David Roberto Chavira-Ramírez
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Armando Cervantes-Sandoval
- Laboratorio de Aplicaciones Computacionales, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Martha Legorreta-Herrera
- Unidad de Investigación Química Computacional, Síntesis y Farmacología de Moléculas de Interés Biológico. Laboratorio de Inmunología Molecular, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Martha Legorreta-Herrera,
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Lv L, Xu Z, Zhao M, Gao J, Jiang R, Wang Q, Shi X. Mannose inhibits Plasmodium parasite growth and cerebral malaria development via regulation of host immune responses. Front Immunol 2022; 13:859228. [PMID: 36211381 PMCID: PMC9546034 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.859228] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
D-mannose can be transported into a variety of cells via glucose transporter (GLUT), and supraphysiological levels of D-mannose impairs tumor growth and modulates immune cell function through mechanisms such as interference with glycolysis and induction of oxidative stress. Blood-stage Plasmodium mainly depends on glycolysis for energy supply and pathological immune response plays a vital role in cerebral malaria. However, it is not clear whether mannose affects malaria blood-stage infection. Here, we fed D-mannose to Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and found weight loss and reduced parasitemia without apparent side effects. Compromised parasitemia in C57BL/6 mice was accompanied by an increase in splenic macrophages compared to an untreated group. When mannose was applied to a rodent experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model, the incidence of ECM decreased. Expression of activation marker CD69 on T cells in peripheral blood and the brain were reduced, and cerebral migration of activated T cells was prevented by decreased expression of CXCR3. These findings suggest that mannose inhibits Plasmodium infection by regulating multiple host immune responses and could serve as a potential strategy for facilitating malaria treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Lv
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zihao Xu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, China
| | - Meichen Zhao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, China
| | - Rumeng Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, China
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Qian Wang, ; Xiaoyu Shi,
| | - Xiaoyu Shi
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Qian Wang, ; Xiaoyu Shi,
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Mughal H, Bell EC, Mughal K, Derbyshire ER, Freundlich JS. Random Forest Model Predictions Afford Dual-Stage Antimalarial Agents. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1553-1562. [PMID: 35894649 PMCID: PMC9987178 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The need for novel antimalarials is apparent given the continuing disease burden worldwide, despite significant drug discovery advances from the bench to the bedside. In particular, small-molecule agents with potent efficacy against both the liver and blood stages of Plasmodium parasite infection are critical for clinical settings as they would simultaneously prevent and treat malaria with a reduced selection pressure for resistance. While experimental screens for such dual-stage inhibitors have been conducted, the time and cost of these efforts limit their scope. Here, we have focused on leveraging machine learning approaches to discover novel antimalarials with such properties. A random forest modeling approach was taken to predict small molecules with in vitro efficacy versus liver-stage Plasmodium berghei parasites and a lack of human liver cell cytotoxicity. Empirical validation of the model was achieved with the realization of hits with liver-stage efficacy after prospective scoring of a commercial diversity library and consideration of structural diversity. A subset of these hits also demonstrated promising blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum efficacy. These 18 validated dual-stage antimalarials represent novel starting points for drug discovery and mechanism of action studies with significant potential for seeding a new generation of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haseeb Mughal
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Elise C. Bell
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Khadija Mughal
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Emily R. Derbyshire
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Joel S. Freundlich
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Ave, Newark, NJ, 07103
- Department of Medicine, Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Pathogens, Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103
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Possemiers H, Pollenus E, Prenen F, Knoops S, Koshy P, Van den Steen PE. Experimental malaria-associated acute kidney injury is independent of parasite sequestration and resolves upon antimalarial treatment. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:915792. [PMID: 36004329 PMCID: PMC9394429 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.915792] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a important global disease with more than 200 million cases and 600 000 deaths each year. Malaria-associated acute kidney injury (MAKI) may occur in up to 40% of patients with severe malaria and is associated with increased mortality. Histopathological characteristics of AKI in malaria are acute tubular injury, interstitial nephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, collapsing glomerulopathy and glomerulonephritis. We observed that C57BL/6 mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65 (PbNK65) develop MAKI in parallel with malaria-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (MA-ARDS). MAKI pathology was associated with proteinuria, acute tubular injury and collapse of glomerular capillary tufts, which resolved rapidly after treatment with antimalarial drugs. Importantly, parasite sequestration was not detected in the kidneys in this model. Furthermore, with the use of skeleton binding protein-1 (SBP-1) KO PbNK65 parasites, we found that parasite sequestration in other organs and its subsequent high parasite load are not required for the development of experimental MAKI. Similar proteinuria, histopathological features, and increases in kidney expression of interferon-γ, TNF-α, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was observed in both infected groups despite a significant difference in parasite load. Taken together, we introduce a model of experimental AKI in malaria with important similarities to AKI in malaria patients. Therefore, this mouse model might be important to further study the pathogenesis of AKI in malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Possemiers
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emilie Pollenus
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fran Prenen
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Knoops
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Priyanka Koshy
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philippe E. Van den Steen
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, KU, Leuven, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Philippe E. Van den Steen,
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Jia X, Liu F, Bai J, Zhang Y, Cui L, Cao Y, Luo E. Phosphatase inhibitors BVT-948 and alexidine dihydrochloride inhibit sexual development of the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022; 19:81-88. [PMID: 35792443 PMCID: PMC9260261 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.06.003] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background With the emergence of resistance to front-line antimalarials, there is an urgent need to develop new medicines, including those targeting sexual development. This study aimed to assess the activity of a panel of phosphatase inhibitors against the sexual development of Plasmodium berghei and evaluate their potential as transmission-blocking agents. Methods Twenty-five compounds were screened for transmission-blocking activity in vitro using the P. berghei ookinete culture assay. The inhibitory effects on male gametogenesis, gamete-ookinete, and zygote-ookinete formation were evaluated. The transmission-blocking activity of two compounds was evaluated using an in vivo mosquito feeding assay. Their cytotoxic effects were assessed on the human cell line HepG2. Results Twelve compounds inhibited P. berghei ookinete formation with an IC50 < 10 μM. Two compounds, BVT-948 and alexidine dihydrochloride, significantly inhibited different developmental stages from gametogenesis through ookinete maturation. They also showed a substantial in vivo transmission-blocking activity by the mosquito feeding assay. Conclusions Some phosphatase inhibitors effectively inhibited Plasmodium sexual development and exhibited evident transmission-blocking activity, suggesting that phosphatases are valid targets for antimalarial development. BVT-948 and alexidine·2HCl inhibit sexual developmental stages of Plasmodium. BVT-948 and alexidine·2HCl show a substantial transmission-blocking activity. BVT-948 and alexidine·2HCl show a relatively low cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells. Phosphatases are valid targets for antimalarial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xitong Jia
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
| | - Jie Bai
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China
| | - Yongzhe Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China; Department of Nephrology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110004, China
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 3720 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 304, Tampa, FL, 33612-9415, USA
| | - Yaming Cao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China.
| | - Enjie Luo
- Department of Pathogen Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, China.
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50
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Maya-Maldonado K, Cardoso-Jaime V, Hernández-Martínez S, Recio-Tótoro B, Bello-Garcia D, Hernández-Hernández FDLC, Lanz-Mendoza H. Plasmodium exposure alters midgut epithelial cell dynamics during the immune memory in Anopheles albimanus. Dev Comp Immunol 2022; 133:104424. [PMID: 35447160 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2022.104424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Immunological priming in insects is defined as a previous contact with non-virulent pathogens, which induces protection after a second virulent infection. The mechanism of this process is not well understood. We have observed midgut DNA synthesis (endoreplication) in Plasmodium berghei exposure mosquitoes (primed) and after the immune challenge, which could be an essential component of the priming response in the mosquito. Endoreplication requires cell cycle components re-direction to make multiple DNA copies. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand the role of cell cycle components in priming. Here, we analyzed the expression of the cyclins A, B, E, and AurkA, and the endoreplication components NOTCH and HNT in the mosquito Anopheles albimanus; after priming with non-infective Plasmodium berghei and challenged with an infective P. berghei. The overexpression of cell cycle elements occurred seven days after priming with a quick reduction 24 h after the challenge. Hnt and NOTCH overexpression occurred 24 h after priming. Antimicrobial peptide cecropin is quickly overexpressed after 24 h in primed mosquitoes, then is downregulated at day seven and overexpressed again after parasite challenge. We also found that DNA synthesis occurs in cells with different nuclear sizes, suggesting a change in midgut epithelial dynamics after Plasmodium exposure. Inhibition of DNA synthesis via cisplatin revealed that DNA synthesis is required for priming to limit Plasmodium infection. Our results indicate the importance of cell cycle components on DNA synthesis and Notch pathway during priming response in An. albimanus mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal Maya-Maldonado
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, CP. 07360, Ciudad de México, México; Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Victor Cardoso-Jaime
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, CP. 07360, Ciudad de México, México; Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Salvador Hernández-Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Benito Recio-Tótoro
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Deane Bello-Garcia
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Fidel de la Cruz Hernández-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, CP. 07360, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Humberto Lanz-Mendoza
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, CP. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
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