scholarly journals Thermoresponsive Copolymer Nanovectors Improve the Bioavailability of Retrograde Inhibitors in the Treatment of Leishmania Infections

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evan Craig ◽  
Anna Calarco ◽  
Raffaele Conte ◽  
Veronica Ambrogi ◽  
Giovanna Gomez d’Ayala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Cutaneous Lesions ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Nanoparticle Aggregates ◽  
Hydrophobic Molecule ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Viable Approach ◽  
Drug Resistant Strains

Clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis range from self-healing, cutaneous lesions to fatal infections of the viscera. With no preventative Leishmania vaccine available, the frontline option against leishmaniasis is chemotherapy. Unfortunately, currently available anti-Leishmania drugs face several obstacles, including toxicity that limits dosing and emergent drug resistant strains in endemic regions. It is, therefore, imperative that more effective drug formulations with decreased toxicity profiles are developed. Previous studies had shown that 2-(((5-Methyl-2-thienyl)methylene)amino)-N-phenylbenzamide (also called Retro-2) has efficacy against Leishmania infections. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) analogs of Retro-2, using the dihydroquinazolinone (DHQZ) base structure, were subsequently described that are more efficacious than Retro-2. However, considering the hydrophobic nature of these compounds that limits their solubility and uptake, the current studies were initiated to determine whether the solubility of Retro-2 and its SAR analogs could be enhanced through encapsulation in amphiphilic polymer nanoparticles. We evaluated encapsulation of these compounds in the amphiphilic, thermoresponsive oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-co-pentafluorostyrene (PFG30) copolymer that forms nanoparticle aggregates upon heating past temperatures of 30°C. The hydrophobic tracer, coumarin 6, was used to evaluate uptake of a hydrophobic molecule into PFG30 aggregates. Mass spectrometry analysis showed considerably greater delivery of encapsulated DHQZ analogs into infected cells and more rapid shrinkage of L. amazonensis communal vacuoles. Moreover, encapsulation in PFG30 augmented the efficacy of Retro-2 and its SAR analogs to clear both L. amazonensis and L. donovani infections. These studies demonstrate that encapsulation of compounds in PFG30 is a viable approach to dramatically increase bioavailability and efficacy of anti-Leishmania compounds.

scholarly journals Can We Harness Immune Responses to Improve Drug Treatment in Leishmaniasis?

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1069
Author(s):  
Raphael Taiwo Aruleba ◽  
Katharine C. Carter ◽  
Frank Brombacher ◽  
Ramona Hurdayal
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Cutaneous Lesions ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Visceral Disease ◽  
Control And Eradication

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease that has been neglected in priority for control and eradication of malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Collectively, over one seventh of the world’s population is at risk of being infected with 0.7–1.2 million new infections reported annually. Clinical manifestations range from self-healing cutaneous lesions to fatal visceral disease. The first anti-leishmanial drugs were introduced in the 1950′s and, despite several shortcomings, remain the mainstay for treatment. Regardless of this and the steady increase in infections over the years, particularly among populations of low economic status, research on leishmaniasis remains under funded. This review looks at the drugs currently in clinical use and how they interact with the host immune response. Employing chemoimmunotherapeutic approaches may be one viable alternative to improve the efficacy of novel/existing drugs and extend their lifespan in clinical use.

scholarly journals Host Cell Calpains Can Cleave Structural Proteins from the Enterovirus Polyprotein

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Laajala ◽  
Minna M. Hankaniemi ◽  
Juha A. E. Määttä ◽  
Vesa P. Hytönen ◽  
Olli H. Laitinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Structural Proteins ◽  
Calpain Inhibitor ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Viral Proteases ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Calpain 2

Enteroviruses are small RNA viruses that cause diseases with various symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Enterovirus proteins are translated as a single polyprotein, which is cleaved by viral proteases to release capsid and nonstructural proteins. Here, we show that also cellular calpains have a potential role in the processing of the enteroviral polyprotein. Using purified calpains 1 and 2 in an in vitro assay, we show that addition of calpains leads to an increase in the release of VP1 and VP3 capsid proteins from P1 of enterovirus B species, detected by western blotting. This was prevented with a calpain inhibitor and was dependent on optimal calcium concentration, especially for calpain 2. In addition, calpain cleavage at the VP3-VP1 interface was supported by a competition assay using a peptide containing the VP3-VP1 cleavage site. Moreover, a mass spectrometry analysis showed that calpains can cleave this same peptide at the VP3-VP1 interface, the cutting site being two amino acids aside from 3C’s cutting site. Furthermore, we show that calpains cannot cleave between P1 and 2A. In conclusion, we show that cellular proteases, calpains, can cleave structural proteins from enterovirus polyprotein in vitro. Whether they assist polyprotein processing in infected cells remains to be shown.

scholarly journals Nucleolar Phosphoprotein NPM1 Interacts With Porcine Circovirus Type 3 Cap Protein and Facilitates Viral Replication

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangwei Song ◽  
Lei Hou ◽  
Dan Wang ◽  
Li Wei ◽  
Shanshan Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Porcine Circovirus Type ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Cellular Proteins ◽  
Porcine Circovirus ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Swine Industry ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Type 3

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is a recently discovered virus with potentially significant implications on the global swine industry. PCV3 replication involves the entry of the viral capsid (Cap) protein with nucleolar localization signals into the nucleus. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, nucleolar phosphoprotein NPM1 was identified as one of the cellular proteins bound to PCV3 Cap. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that PCV3 Cap interacts directly with NPM1, where the region binding with NPM1 is mapped to amino acid residues 1–38 of Cap. Upon co-transfection, the expression of Cap protein promoted the redistribution of NPM1, which translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and colocalized with Cap in cultured PK15 cells. NPM1 expression was upregulated and translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in PCV3-infected cells, upon siRNA-mediated depletion, or upon treatment with NPM1 inhibitor in PK15 cells with impaired PCV3 replication, as evidenced by decreased levels of viral DNA synthesis and protein expression. By contrast, the replication of PCV3 was enhanced in stably NPM1-expressing cells via a lentivirus-delivered system. Taken together, these findings indicate that NPM1 interacts with PCV3 Cap and plays a crucial role in PCV3 replication.

scholarly journals Protective or Detrimental? Understanding the Role of Host Immunity in Leishmaniasis

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila dos Santos Meira ◽  
Lashitew Gedamu
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cells ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Host Immunity ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Insect Vector ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Cutaneous Lesions ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells

The intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease of major public health concern, estimated to affect 12 million people worldwide. The clinical manifestations of leishmaniasis are highly variable and can range from self-healing localized cutaneous lesions to life-threatening disseminated visceral disease. Once introduced into the skin by infected sandflies, Leishmania parasites interact with a variety of immune cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes, dendritic cells (DCs), and macrophages. The resolution of infection requires a finely tuned interplay between innate and adaptive immune cells, culminating with the activation of microbicidal functions and parasite clearance within host cells. However, several factors derived from the host, insect vector, and Leishmania spp., including the presence of a double-stranded RNA virus (LRV), can modulate the host immunity and influence the disease outcome. In this review, we discuss the immune mechanisms underlying the main forms of leishmaniasis, some of the factors involved with the establishment of infection and disease severity, and potential approaches for vaccine and drug development focused on host immunity.

Spectrophotometry Measurement of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Hamilton Harbour Sediments

1991 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.P. Murphy ◽  
H. Brouwer ◽  
M.E. Fox ◽  
E. Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Total Concentration ◽  
Coal Tar ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Hamilton Harbour

Abstract Eighty-one sediment cores were collected to determine the extent of coal tar contamination in a toxic area of Hamilton Harbour. Over 800 samples were analyzed by a UV spectrophotometric technique that was standardized with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. The coal tar distribution was variable. The highest concentrations were near the Stelco outfalls and the Hamilton-Wentworth combined sewer outfalls. The total concentration of the 16 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 48,300 m3 of near-surface sediments exceeded 200 µg/g.

scholarly journals Effect of Ocular Hypertension on D-β-Aspartic Acid-Containing Proteins in the Retinas of Rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Kanamoto ◽  
Takashi Tachibana ◽  
Yasushi Kitaoka ◽  
Toshio Hisatomi ◽  
Yasuhiro Ikeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Ocular Hypertension ◽  
Aspartic Acid ◽  
Atp Synthase ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Protein Band ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Sds Page

Purpose. To investigate the effect of ocular hypertension-induced isomerization of aspartic acid in retinal proteins. Methods. Adult Wistar rats with ocular hypertension were used as an experimental model. D-β-aspartic acid-containing proteins were isolated by SDS-PAGE and western blot with an anti-D-β-aspartic acid antibody and identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The concentration of ATP was measured by ELISA. Results. D-β-aspartic acid was expressed in a protein band at around 44.5 kDa at much higher quantities in the retinas of rats with ocular hypertension than in those of normotensive rats. The 44.5 kDa protein band was mainly composed of α-enolase, S-arrestin, and ATP synthase subunits α and β, in both the ocular hypertensive and normotensive retinas. Moreover, increasing intraocular pressure was correlated with increasing ATP concentrations in the retinas of rats. Conclusion. Ocular hypertension affected the expression of proteins containing D-β-aspartic acid, including ATP synthase subunits, and up-regulation of ATP in the retinas of rats.

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