scholarly journals AMA1-Deficient Toxoplasma gondii Parasites Transiently Colonize Mice and Trigger an Innate Immune Response That Leads to Long-Lasting Protective Immunity

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 2475-2486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Lagal ◽  
Márcia Dinis ◽  
Dominique Cannella ◽  
Daniel Bargieri ◽  
Virginie Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Distinct Type ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Type I ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen 1 ◽  
Immunocompromised Mice

The apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) protein was believed to be essential for the perpetuation of two Apicomplexa parasite genera,PlasmodiumandToxoplasma, until we genetically engineered viable parasites lackingAMA1. The reduction in invasiveness of theToxoplasma gondiiRH-AMA1 knockout (RH-AMA1KO) tachyzoite population,in vitro, raised key questions about the outcome associated with these tachyzoites once inoculated in the peritoneal cavity of mice. In this study, we used AMNIS technology to simultaneously quantify and image the parasitic process driven by AMA1KOtachyzoites. We report their ability to colonize and multiply in mesothelial cells and in both resident and recruited leukocytes. While the RH-AMA1KOpopulation amplification is rapidly lethal in immunocompromised mice, it is controlled in immunocompetent hosts, where immune cells in combination sense parasites and secrete proinflammatory cytokines. This innate response further leads to a long-lasting status immunoprotective against a secondary challenge by high inocula of the homologous type I or a distinct type IIT. gondiigenotypes. While AMA1 is definitively not an essential protein for tachyzoite entry and multiplication in host cells, it clearly assists the expansion of parasite populationin vivo.

scholarly journals ROP18-Mediated Transcriptional Reprogramming of HEK293T Cell Reveals New Roles of ROP18 in the Interplay Between Toxoplasma gondii and the Host Cell

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie-Xi Li ◽  
Jun-Jun He ◽  
Hany M. Elsheikha ◽  
Jun Ma ◽  
Xiao-Pei Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Hek293t Cell ◽  
Effector Proteins ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Pathway Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Type I ◽  
Human Embryonic Kidney Cells ◽  
Pathway Enrichment

Toxoplasma gondii secretes a number of virulence-related effector proteins, such as the rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18). To further broaden our understanding of the molecular functions of ROP18, we examined the transcriptional response of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) to ROP18 of type I T. gondii RH strain. Using RNA-sequencing, we compared the transcriptome of ROP18-expressing HEK293T cells to control HEK293T cells. Our analysis revealed that ROP18 altered the expression of 750 genes (467 upregulated genes and 283 downregulated genes) in HEK293T cells. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix– and immune–related GO terms and pathways. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were involved in several disease-related pathways, such as nervous system diseases and eye disease. ROP18 significantly increased the alternative splicing pattern “retained intron” and altered the expression of 144 transcription factors (TFs). These results provide new insight into how ROP18 may influence biological processes in the host cells via altering the expression of genes, TFs, and pathways. More in vitro and in vivo studies are required to substantiate these findings.

scholarly journals Hydroxylamine and Carboxymethoxylamine Can Inhibit Toxoplasma gondii Growth through an Aspartate Aminotransferase-Independent Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jixu Li ◽  
Huanping Guo ◽  
Eloiza May Galon ◽  
Yang Gao ◽  
Seung-Hun Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Lytic Cycle ◽  
Type I ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mechanism Of Inhibition

ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite and a successful parasitic pathogen in diverse organisms and host cell types. Hydroxylamine (HYD) and carboxymethoxylamine (CAR) have been reported as inhibitors of aspartate aminotransferases (AATs) and interfere with the proliferation in Plasmodium falciparum. Therefore, AATs are suggested as drug targets against Plasmodium. The T. gondii genome encodes only one predicted AAT in both T. gondii type I strain RH and type II strain PLK. However, the effects of HYD and CAR, as well as their relationship with AAT, on T. gondii remain unclear. In this study, we found that HYD and CAR impaired the lytic cycle of T. gondii in vitro, including the inhibition of invasion or reinvasion, intracellular replication, and egress. Importantly, HYD and CAR could control acute toxoplasmosis in vivo. Further studies showed that HYD and CAR could inhibit the transamination activity of rTgAAT in vitro. However, our results confirmed that deficiency of AAT in both RH and PLK did not reduce the virulence in mice, although the growth ability of the parasites was affected in vitro. HYD and CAR could still inhibit the growth of AAT-deficient parasites. These findings indicated that HYD and CAR inhibition of T. gondii growth and control of toxoplasmosis can occur in an AAT-independent pathway. Overall, further studies focusing on the elucidation of the mechanism of inhibition are warranted. Our study hints at new substrates of HYD and CAR as potential drug targets to inhibit T. gondii growth.

scholarly journals Toxoplasma gondii Co-opts the Unfolded Protein Response To Enhance Migration and Dissemination of Infected Host Cells

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Augusto ◽  
Jennifer Martynowicz ◽  
Parth H. Amin ◽  
Nada S. Alakhras ◽  
Mark H. Kaplan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Host Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Migratory Activity ◽  
Unfolded Protein ◽  
The Unfolded Protein Response

ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that reconfigures its host cell to promote pathogenesis. One consequence of Toxoplasma parasitism is increased migratory activity of host cells, which facilitates dissemination. Here, we show that Toxoplasma triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR) in host cells through calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We further identify a novel role for the host ER stress sensor protein IRE1 in Toxoplasma pathogenesis. Upon infection, Toxoplasma activates IRE1, engaging its noncanonical role in actin remodeling through the binding of filamin A. By inducing cytoskeletal remodeling via IRE1 oligomerization in host cells, Toxoplasma enhances host cell migration in vitro and dissemination of the parasite to host organs in vivo. Our study has identified novel mechanisms used by Toxoplasma to induce dissemination of infected cells, providing new insights into strategies for treatment of toxoplasmosis. IMPORTANCE Cells that are infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii exhibit heightened migratory activity, which facilitates dissemination of the infection throughout the body. In this report, we identify a new mechanism used by Toxoplasma to hijack its host cell and increase its mobility. We further show that the ability of Toxoplasma to increase host cell migration involves not the enzymatic activity of IRE1 but rather IRE1 engagement with actin cytoskeletal remodeling. Depletion of IRE1 from infected host cells reduces their migration in vitro and significantly hinders dissemination of Toxoplasma in vivo. Our findings reveal a new mechanism underlying host-pathogen interactions, demonstrating how host cells are co-opted to spread a persistent infection around the body.

scholarly journals Neurotrophin Receptor TrkC Is an Entry Receptor for Trypanosoma cruzi in Neural, Glial, and Epithelial Cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 4081-4087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Weinkauf ◽  
Ryan Salvador ◽  
Mercio PereiraPerrin
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Chagas Disease ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Chinese Hamster ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Neurotrophin Receptor ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTTrypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, infects a variety of mammalian cells in a process that includes multiple cycles of intracellular division and differentiation starting with host receptor recognition by a parasite ligand(s). Earlier work in our laboratory showed that the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) receptor TrkC is activated byT. cruzisurfacetrans-sialidase, also known as parasite-derived neurotrophic factor (PDNF). However, it has remained unclear whether TrkC is used byT. cruzito enter host cells. Here, we show that a neuronal cell line (PC12-NNR5) relatively resistant toT. cruzibecame highly susceptible to infection when overexpressing human TrkC but not human TrkB. Furthermore,trkCtransfection conferred an ∼3.0-fold intracellular growth advantage. Sialylation-deficient Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) epithelial cell lines Lec1 and Lec2 also became much more permissive toT. cruziafter transfection with thetrkCgene. Additionally, NT-3 specifically blockedT. cruziinfection of the TrkC-NNR5 transfectants and of naturally permissive TrkC-bearing Schwann cells and astrocytes, as did recombinant PDNF. Two specific inhibitors of Trk autophosphorylation (K252a and AG879) and inhibitors of Trk-induced MAPK/Erk (U0126) and Akt kinase (LY294002) signaling, but not an inhibitor of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, abrogated TrkC-mediated cell invasion. Antibody to TrkC blockedT. cruziinfection of the TrkC-NNR5 transfectants and of cells that naturally express TrkC. The TrkC antibody also significantly and specifically reduced cutaneous infection in a mouse model of acute Chagas' disease. TrkC is ubiquitously expressed in the peripheral and central nervous systems, and in nonneural cells infected byT. cruzi, including cardiac and gastrointestinal muscle cells. Thus, TrkC is implicated as a functional PDNF receptor in cell entry, independently of sialic acid recognition, mediating broadT. cruziinfection bothin vitroandin vivo.

scholarly journals Expression, Purification, and Biological Characterization of Babesia microti Apical Membrane Antigen 1

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 3890-3901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prasun Moitra ◽  
Hong Zheng ◽  
Vivek Anantharaman ◽  
Rajdeep Banerjee ◽  
Kazuyo Takeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apical Membrane ◽  
The United States ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Type I ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen 1 ◽  
Apical Membrane Antigen ◽  
Extracellular Region

The intraerythrocytic apicomplexanBabesia microti, the primary causative agent of human babesiosis, is a major public health concern in the United States and elsewhere. Apicomplexans utilize a multiprotein complex that includes a type I membrane protein called apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) to invade host cells. We have isolated the full-lengthB. microtiAMA1 (BmAMA1) gene and determined its nucleotide sequence, as well as the amino acid sequence of the AMA1 protein. This protein contains an N-terminal signal sequence, an extracellular region, a transmembrane region, and a short conserved cytoplasmic tail. It shows the same domain organization as the AMA1 orthologs from piroplasm, coccidian, and haemosporidian apicomplexans but differs from all other currently known piroplasmida, including otherBabesiaandTheileriaspecies, in lacking two conserved cysteines in highly variable domain III of the extracellular region. Minimal polymorphism was detected in BmAMA1 gene sequences of parasite isolates from six babesiosis patients from Nantucket. Immunofluorescence microscopy studies showed that BmAMA1 is localized on the cell surface and cytoplasm near the apical end of the parasite. Native BmAMA1 from parasite lysate and refolded recombinant BmAMA1 (rBmAMA1) expressed inEscherichia colireacted with a mouse anti-BmAMA1 antibody using Western blotting.In vitrobinding studies showed that both native BmAMA1 and rBmAMA1 bind to human red blood cells (RBCs). This binding is trypsin and chymotrypsin treatment sensitive but neuraminidase independent. Incubation ofB. microtiparasites in human RBCs with a mouse anti-BmAMA1 antibody inhibited parasite growth by 80% in a 24-h assay. Based on its antigenically conserved nature and potential role in RBC invasion, BmAMA1 should be evaluated as a vaccine candidate.

scholarly journals SpyAD, a Moonlighting Protein of Group A Streptococcus Contributing to Bacterial Division and Host Cell Adhesion

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 2890-2901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilena Gallotta ◽  
Giovanni Gancitano ◽  
Giampiero Pietrocola ◽  
Marirosa Mora ◽  
Alfredo Pezzicoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Division ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Group A Streptococcus ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Moonlighting Protein ◽  
Group A

ABSTRACTGroup A streptococcus (GAS) is a human pathogen causing a wide repertoire of mild and severe diseases for which no vaccine is yet available. We recently reported the identification of three protein antigens that in combination conferred wide protection against GAS infection in mice. Here we focused our attention on the characterization of one of these three antigens, Spy0269, a highly conserved, surface-exposed, and immunogenic protein of unknown function. Deletion of thespy0269gene in a GAS M1 isolate resulted in very long bacterial chains, which is indicative of an impaired capacity of the knockout mutant to properly divide. Confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that the protein was mainly localized at the cell septum and could interactin vitrowith the cell division protein FtsZ, leading us to hypothesize that Spy0269 is a member of the GAS divisome machinery. Predicted structural domains and sequence homologies with known streptococcal adhesins suggested that this antigen could also play a role in mediating GAS interaction with host cells. This hypothesis was confirmed by showing that recombinant Spy0269 could bind to mammalian epithelial cellsin vitroand thatLactococcus lactisexpressing Spy0269 on its cell surface could adhere to mammalian cellsin vitroand to mice nasal mucosain vivo. On the basis of these data, we believe that Spy0269 is involved both in bacterial cell division and in adhesion to host cells and we propose to rename this multifunctional moonlighting protein as SpyAD (StreptococcuspyogenesAdhesion andDivision protein).

scholarly journals Role of Toxoplasma gondii Chloroquine Resistance Transporter in Bradyzoite Viability and Digestive Vacuole Maintenance

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geetha Kannan ◽  
Manlio Di Cristina ◽  
Aric J. Schultz ◽  
My-Hang Huynh ◽  
Fengrong Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Chloroquine Resistance ◽  
Congenital Defects ◽  
Functional Link ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chloroquine Resistance Transporter

ABSTRACT Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous pathogen that can cause encephalitis, congenital defects, and ocular disease. T. gondii has also been implicated as a risk factor for mental illness in humans. The parasite persists in the brain as slow-growing bradyzoites contained within intracellular cysts. No treatments exist to eliminate this form of parasite. Although proteolytic degradation within the parasite lysosome-like vacuolar compartment (VAC) is critical for bradyzoite viability, whether other aspects of the VAC are important for parasite persistence remains unknown. An ortholog of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (CRT), TgCRT, has previously been identified in T. gondii. To interrogate the function of TgCRT in chronic-stage bradyzoites and its role in persistence, we knocked out TgCRT in a cystogenic strain and assessed VAC size, VAC digestion of host-derived proteins and parasite autophagosomes, and the viability of in vitro and in vivo bradyzoites. We found that whereas parasites deficient in TgCRT exhibit normal digestion within the VAC, they display a markedly distended VAC and their viability is compromised both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, impairing VAC proteolysis in TgCRT-deficient bradyzoites restored VAC size, consistent with a role for TgCRT as a transporter of products of digestion from the VAC. In conjunction with earlier studies, our current findings suggest a functional link between TgCRT and VAC proteolysis. This study provides further evidence of a crucial role for the VAC in bradyzoite persistence and a new potential VAC target to abate chronic Toxoplasma infection. IMPORTANCE Individuals chronically infected with the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii are at risk of experiencing reactivated disease that can result in progressive loss of vision. No effective treatments exist for chronic toxoplasmosis due in part to a poor understanding of the biology underlying chronic infection and a lack of well-validated potential targets. We show here that a T. gondii transporter is functionally linked to protein digestion within the parasite lysosome-like organelle and that this transporter is necessary to sustain chronic infection in culture and in experimentally infected mice. Ablating the transporter results in severe bloating of the lysosome-like organelle. Together with earlier work, this study suggests the parasite’s lysosome-like organelle is vital for parasite survival, thus rendering it a potential target for diminishing infection and reducing the risk of reactivated disease.

scholarly journals The ketolide antibiotics HMR 3647 and HMR 3004 are active against Toxoplasma gondii in vitro and in murine models of infection.

1997 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 2137-2140 ◽  
Author(s):  
F G Araujo ◽  
A A Khan ◽  
T L Slifer ◽  
A Bryskier ◽  
J S Remington
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Protozoan Parasite ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
New Class ◽  
Human Foreskin Fibroblasts ◽  
Significant Toxicity ◽  
Different Strains

Ketolides are a new class of macrolide antibiotics that have been shown to be active against a variety of bacteria including macrolide-resistant bacteria and mycobacteria. We examined two ketolides, HMR 3647 and HMR 3004, for their in vitro and in vivo activities against the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In vitro, both ketolides at concentrations as low as 0.05 microg/ml markedly inhibited replication of tachyzoites of the RH strain within human foreskin fibroblasts. HMR 3004 demonstrated some toxicity for host cells after they were exposed to 5 microg of the drug per ml for 72 h. In contrast, HMR 3647 did not show any significant toxicity even at concentrations as high as 25 microg/ml. In vivo, both ketolides provided remarkable protection against death in mice lethally infected intraperitoneally with tachyzoites of the RH strain or orally with tissue cysts of the C56 strain of T. gondii. A dosage of 100 mg of HMR 3647 per kg of body weight per day administered for 10 days protected 50% of mice infected with tachyzoites. The same dosage of HMR 3004 protected 100% of the mice. In mice infected with cysts, a dosage of 30 mg of HMR 3647 per kg per day protected 100% of the mice, whereas a dosage of 40 mg of HMR 3004 per kg per day protected 75% of the mice. These results demonstrate that HMR 3647 and HMR 3004 possess excellent activities against two different strains of T. gondii and may be useful for the treatment of toxoplasmosis in humans.

scholarly journals Assessment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pantothenate Kinase Vulnerability through Target Knockdown and Mechanistically Diverse Inhibitors

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 3312-3326 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. K. Kishore Reddy ◽  
Sudhir Landge ◽  
Sudha Ravishankar ◽  
Vikas Patil ◽  
Vikas Shinde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Kinetic Studies ◽  
Antimycobacterial Activity ◽  
Type I ◽  
Pantothenate Kinase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rate Limiting Step

ABSTRACTPantothenate kinase (PanK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of pantothenate, the first committed and rate-limiting step toward coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis. In our earlier reports, we had established that the type I isoform encoded by thecoaAgene is an essential pantothenate kinase inMycobacterium tuberculosis, and this vital information was then exploited to screen large libraries for identification of mechanistically different classes of PanK inhibitors. The present report summarizes the synthesis and expansion efforts to understand the structure-activity relationships leading to the optimization of enzyme inhibition along with antimycobacterial activity. Additionally, we report the progression of two distinct classes of inhibitors, the triazoles, which are ATP competitors, and the biaryl acetic acids, with a mixed mode of inhibition. Cocrystallization studies provided evidence of these inhibitors binding to the enzyme. This was further substantiated with the biaryl acids having MIC against the wild-typeM. tuberculosisstrain and the subsequent establishment of a target link with an upshift in MIC in a strain overexpressing PanK. On the other hand, the ATP competitors had cellular activity only in aM. tuberculosisknockdown strain with reduced PanK expression levels. Additionally,in vitroandin vivosurvival kinetic studies performed with aM. tuberculosisPanK (MtPanK) knockdown strain indicated that the target levels have to be significantly reduced to bring in growth inhibition. The dual approaches employed here thus established the poor vulnerability of PanK inM. tuberculosis.

scholarly journals A Conserved PapB Family Member, TosR, Regulates Expression of the Uropathogenic Escherichia coli RTX Nonfimbrial Adhesin TosA while Conserved LuxR Family Members TosE and TosF Suppress Motility

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 3644-3656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Engstrom ◽  
Christopher J. Alteri ◽  
Harry L. T. Mobley
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Virulence Factors ◽  
Upper Urinary Tract ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Promoter Regions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tract Infections

ABSTRACTA heterogeneous subset of extraintestinal pathogenicEscherichia coli(ExPEC) strains, referred to as uropathogenicE. coli(UPEC), causes most uncomplicated urinary tract infections. However, no core set of virulence factors exists among UPEC strains. Instead, the focus of the analysis of urovirulence has shifted to studying broad classes of virulence factors and the interactions between them. For example, the RTX nonfimbrial adhesin TosA mediates adherence to host cells derived from the upper urinary tract. The associatedtosoperon is well expressedin vivobut poorly expressedin vitroand encodes TosCBD, a predicted type 1 secretion system. TosR and TosEF are PapB and LuxR family transcription factors, respectively; however, no role has been assigned to these potential regulators. Thus, the focus of this study was to determine how TosR and TosEF regulatetosAand affect the reciprocal expression of adhesins and flagella. Among a collection of sequenced UPEC strains, 32% (101/317) were found to encode TosA, and nearly all strains (91% [92/101]) simultaneously carried the putative regulatory genes. Deletion oftosRalleviatestosArepression. Thetospromoter was localized upstream oftosRusing transcriptional fusions of putative promoter regions withlacZ. TosR binds to this region, affecting a gel shift. A 100-bp fragment 220 to 319 bp upstream oftosRinhibits binding, suggesting localization of the TosR binding site. TosEF, on the other hand, downmodulate motility when overexpressed by preventing the expression offliC, encoding flagellin. Deletion oftosEFincreased motility. Thus, we present an additional example of the reciprocal control of adherence and motility.

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