Electrolyzed Oxidizing Water Modulates the Immune Response in BALB/c Mice Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi

Chagas disease is a major public health problem in Latin America. The mixed Th1/Th2 immune response is required against Trypanosoma cruzi. Electrolyzed oxidizing water (EOW) has been shown to have germicidal efficacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the EOW effectiveness in T. cruzi-infected BALB/c mice clinically, immunologically, and histologically. The severity of the infection was assessed by parasitaemia, general health condition, mortality, mega syndromes, and histological lesions. IgG, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-1 beta levels were quantified. The EOW administration showed a beneficial effect on parasitaemia, general physical condition, and mortality. High levels of IgG1 at 50 days postinfection were observed. Prophylactic EOW treatment was able to induce a predominantly TH1 immune response based on an IgG2a levels increase at the late acute phase, and a 10-fold increase of IFN-gamma in whole acute phase. EOW was able to control the acute phase infection as effectively as benznidazole. Splenomegaly was caused by EOW treatment and lymphadenopathy was stimulated by T. cruzi infection in all groups. Severe tissue damage was not prevented by EOW treatments. Moderate efficacy may be due to immunomodulatory properties and not to a direct toxic effect on the parasite.

Download Full-text

Recombinant Enolase of Trypanosoma cruzi as a Novel Vaccine Candidate against Chagas Disease in a Mouse Model of Acute Infection

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2018/8964085 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Minerva Arce-Fonseca ◽

María Cristina González-Vázquez ◽

Olivia Rodríguez-Morales ◽

Verónica Graullera-Rivera ◽

Alberto Aranda-Fraustro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Acute Phase ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Parasite Burden ◽

Protozoan Parasite ◽

World Health ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Th2 Immune Response

Trypanosoma cruzi is the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease, which is considered by the World Health Organization to be a neglected tropical disease. Two drugs exist for the treatment of Chagas disease, nifurtimox and benznidazole; they are only effective in the acute phase, and a vaccine is currently not available. In this study, we used the recombinant enolase from T. cruzi H8 strain (MHOM/MX/1992/H8 Yucatán) (rTcENO) and its encoding DNA (pBKTcENO) to immunize mice and evaluate their protective effects in an experimental murine model of acute phase infection. Our results showed that mice vaccinated with rTcENO or its encoding DNA were able to generate typical specific antibodies (IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b), suggesting that a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response was induced. The parasite burden in the blood was reduced to 69.8% and 71% in mice vaccinated with rTcENO and pBKTcENO, respectively. The group vaccinated with rTcENO achieved 75% survival, in contrast to the group vaccinated with pBKTcENO that showed no survival in comparison to the control groups. Moreover, rTcENO immunization elevated the production of IFN-γ and IL-2 after the parasite challenge, suggesting that the Th1-type immune response was polarized. These results indicated that rTcENO could be used as a vaccine against Chagas disease.

Download Full-text

Impact of the Extracellular Vesicles Derived From Trypanosoma cruzi: A Paradox in Host Response and Lipid Metabolism Modulation

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fcimb.2021.768124 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Heloisa D’Avila ◽

Núbia Pereira de Souza ◽

Ana Luíza da Silva Albertoni ◽

Laíris Cunha Campos ◽

Pollianne Garbero Rampinelli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Lipid Metabolism ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Extracellular Vesicles ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Host Immune Response ◽

High Rate ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Parasite Survival

Chagas disease is a major public health problem, especially in the South and Central America region. Its incidence is related to poverty and presents a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of Chagas disease is complex and involves many interactive pathways between the hosts and the Trypanosoma cruzi. Several factors have been implicated in parasite-host interactions, including molecules secreted by infected cells, lipid mediators and most recent, extracellular vesicles (EVs). The EVs of T. cruzi (EVsT) were reported for the first time in the epimastigote forms about 42 years ago. The EVsT are involved in paracrine communication during the infection and can have an important role in the inflammatory modulation and parasite escape mechanism. However, the mechanisms by which EVs employ their pathological effects are not yet understood. The EVsT seem to participate in the activation of macrophages via TLR2 triggering the production of cytokines and a range of other molecules, thus modulating the host immune response which promotes the parasite survival. Moreover, new insights have demonstrated that EVsT induce lipid body formation and PGE2 synthesis in macrophages. This phenomenon is followed by the inhibition of the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antigen presentation, causing decreased parasitic molecules and allowing intracellular parasite survival. Therefore, this mini review aims to discuss the role of the EVs from T. cruzi as well as its involvement in the mechanisms that regulate the host immune response in the lipid metabolism and its significance for the Chagas disease pathophysiology.

Download Full-text

Development of new dinuclear Fe(III) coordination compounds with in vitro nanomolar antitrypanosomal activity

Dalton Transactions ◽

10.1039/d1dt01048d ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Felipe Figuerôa Moreira ◽

Juliana de Araujo Portes ◽

Nathalia Florencia Barros Azeredo ◽

Christiane Fernandes ◽

Adolfo Horn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Health Problem ◽

Coordination Compounds ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Neglected Tropical Disease ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Protozoan Pathogen

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is the major public health problem affecting about 6 to 7 million people worldwide,...

Download Full-text

The Key Roles of Interferon Lambda in Human Molecular Defense against Respiratory Viral Infections

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9120989 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 989

Author(s):

Alexey A. Lozhkov ◽

Sergey A. Klotchenko ◽

Edward S. Ramsay ◽

Herman D. Moshkoff ◽

Dmitry A. Moshkoff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Epithelial Tissue ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Type Iii ◽

Respiratory Viral Infections ◽

Type Iii Ifn

Interferons (IFN) are crucial for the innate immune response. Slightly more than two decades ago, a new type of IFN was discovered: the lambda IFN (type III IFN). Like other IFN, the type III IFN display antiviral activity against a wide variety of infections, they induce expression of antiviral, interferon-stimulated genes (MX1, OAS, IFITM1), and they have immuno-modulatory activities that shape adaptive immune responses. Unlike other IFN, the type III IFN signal through distinct receptors is limited to a few cell types, primarily mucosal epithelial cells. As a consequence of their greater and more durable production in nasal and respiratory tissues, they can determine the outcome of respiratory infections. This review is focused on the role of IFN-λ in the pathogenesis of respiratory viral infections, with influenza as a prime example. The influenza virus is a major public health problem, causing up to half a million lethal infections annually. Moreover, the virus has been the cause of four pandemics over the last century. Although IFN-λ are increasingly being tested in antiviral therapy, they can have a negative influence on epithelial tissue recovery and increase the risk of secondary bacterial infections. Therefore, IFN-λ expression deserves increased scrutiny as a key factor in the host immune response to infection.

Download Full-text

COVID-19 and Hyperinflammation: Role of Steroid in Mild Disease

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jammr/2020/v32i2330712 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 18-22

Author(s):

Jhasaketan Meher ◽

Manish Kumar Nayak

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Case Series ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Cytokine Storm ◽

Multiorgan Dysfunction ◽

Mild Disease ◽

Persistent Symptoms

Current COVID-19 has become a major public health problem because of its pandemicity, with wide spectrum of disease manifestation. SARS-COV-2 can have a varied clinical manifestation ranging from asymptomatic, mild symptomatic to severe disease like acute respiratory distress syndrome, cytokine storm, and multiorgan dysfunction. It has been described in literature that cytokine storm/hyperinflammation arises as result of dysregulated immune response leading to excessive release of various cytokines which causes multiorgan dysfunction. But there is paucity of literature describing the immune response and hyperinflammation in mild disease which may cause unremitting symptoms. Here we describe a case series of three patients with mild disease, who had persistent symptoms beyond 1 week and managed with low dose steroid after confirming it to be hyperinflammation. So it is imperative to detect the hyperinflammatory phase to halt the disease progression. Also we have discussed the role of immune system and role of steroid in COVID-19.

Download Full-text

Bacillus Subtilis Spores as Delivery System for Nasal Plasmodium Falciparum Circumsporozoite Surface Protein Immunization in a Murine Model

10.21203/rs.3.rs-777937/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Edilene M. de Almeida ◽

Késsia Caroline Souza Alves ◽

Maria Gabriella Santos de Vasconcelos ◽

Thiago Serrão Pinto ◽

Juliane Corrêa Glória ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Surface Protein ◽

Humoral Response ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Th2 Immune Response ◽

The World ◽

Protein Immunization ◽

Vaccine Carrier ◽

Full Protection

Abstract Malaria remains a widespread public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, and there is still no vaccine available for full protection. In recent years, it has been observed that spores of Bacillus subtillis can act as a vaccine carrier and adjuvant, promoting an elevated humoral response after co-administration with antigens either coupled or integrated to their surface. In our study, B. subtillis spores from the KO7 strain were used to couple the recombinant CSP protein of P. falciparum (rPfCSP), and the nasal humoral-induced immune response in Balb/C mice was evaluated. Our results demonstrate that the spores coupled to rPfCSP increase the immunogenicity of the antigen, which induces high levels of serum IgG, and with balanced Th1/Th2 immune response, being detected antibodies in serum samples for 250 days. Therefore, the use of B. subtilis spores appears to be promising for use as an adjuvant in a vaccine formulation.

Download Full-text

Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in Amoebae enhances subsequent invasion of mammalian cells

10.1101/2021.11.25.469992 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fauzy Nasher ◽

Brendan W. Wren

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Acanthamoeba Castellanii ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Unicellular Eukaryote ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Survival Assay ◽

Insight Into

The ubiquitous unicellular eukaryote, Acanthamoeba, is known to play a role in the survival and dissemination of Campylobacter jejuni. C. jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis world-wide and is a major public health problem. The ability of C. jejuni to interact and potentially invade epithelial cells is thought to be key for disease development in humans. We examined C. jejuni grown under standard laboratory conditions,11168HCBA with that harvested from within Acanthamoeba castellanii (11168HAC/CBA) or Acanthamoeba polyphaga (11168HAP/CBA), and compared their ability to invade different cell lines. C. jejuni harvested from within amoebae had a ~3.7-fold increase in invasiveness into T84 human epithelial cells and a striking ~11-fold increase for re-entry into A. castellanii cells. We also investigated the invasiveness and survivability of six diverse representative C. jejuni strains within Acanthamoeba spp., our results confirm that invasion and survivability is likely host cell dependent. Our survival assay data led us to conclude that Acanthamoeba spp. are a transient host for C. jejuni and that survival within amoebae pre-adapts C. jejuni and enhances subsequent cell invasion. This study provides new insight into C. jejuni interactions with amoebae and its increased invasiveness potential in mammalian hosts.

Download Full-text

The Blockade of Interleukin-2 During the Acute Phase of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Reveals Its Dominant Regulatory Role

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fcimb.2021.758273 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Jorge Nihei ◽

Fabiola Cardillo ◽

Jose Mengel

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

T Cells ◽

Regulatory T Cells ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Acute Phase ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Tissue Specific

Trypanosoma cruzi infection causes Chagas’ disease in humans. The infection activates the innate and adaptative immunity in an orchestrated immune response to control parasite growth, guaranteeing host survival. Despite an effective immune response to the parasite in the acute phase, the infection progresses to a chronic stage. The parasite infects different tissues such as peripheral neurons, the brain, skeletal muscle, and heart muscle, among many others. It is evident now that tissue-specific immune responses may develop along with anti-parasite immunity. Therefore, mechanisms to regulate immunity and to ensure tissue-specific tolerance are operating during the infection. Studying those immunoregulatory mechanisms is fundamental to improve host protection or control inflammatory reactions that may lead to pathology. The role of IL-2 during T. cruzi infection is not established. IL-2 production by T cells is strongly down-modulated early in the disease by unknown mechanisms and remains low during the chronic phase of the disease. IL-2 activates NK cells, CD4, and CD8 T cells and may be necessary to immunity development. Also, the expansion and maintenance of regulatory T cells require IL-2. Thus, IL-2 may be a key cytokine involved in promoting or down-regulating immune responses, probably in a dose-dependent manner. This study blocked IL-2 during the acute T. cruzi infection by using a neutralizing monoclonal antibody. The results show that parasitemia and mortality rate was lower in animals treated with anti-IL-2. The percentages and total numbers of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells diminished within three weeks of infection. The numbers of splenic activated/memory CD4 and CD8 splenic T cells increased during the acute infection. T cells producing IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-10 also augmented in anti-IL-2-treated infected mice. The IL-2 blockade also increased the numbers of inflammatory cells in the heart and skeletal muscles and the amount of IL-17 produced by heart T cells. These results suggest that IL-2 might be involved in the immune regulatory response during the acute T. cruzi infection, dampening T cell activation through the expansion/maintenance of regulatory T cells and regulating IL-17 production. Therefore, the IL-2 pathway is an attractive target for therapeutic purposes in acute and chronic phases of Chagas’ disease.

Download Full-text

Understanding the immune responses involved in mediating protection or immunopathology during leishmaniasis

Biochemical Society Transactions ◽

10.1042/bst20200606 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Thalia Pacheco-Fernandez ◽

Greta Volpedo ◽

Chaitenya Verma ◽

Abhay R. Satoskar

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Host Immune Response ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Leishmania Infection ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Wide Range ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Leishmania Parasites

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) transmitted by the sand fly and is a major public health problem worldwide. Infections caused by Leishmania clinically manifest as a wide range of diseases, such as cutaneous (CL), diffuse cutaneous (DCL), mucosal (MCL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The host innate and adaptative immune responses play critical roles in the defense against leishmaniasis. However, Leishmania parasites also manipulate the host immune response for their survival and replication. In addition, other factors such as sand fly salivary proteins and microbiota also promote disease susceptibility and parasite spread by modulating local immune response. Thus, a complex interplay between parasite, sand fly and the host immunity governs disease severity and outcome. In this review, we discuss the host immune response during Leishmania infection and highlight the factors associated with resistance or susceptibility.

Download Full-text