Repurposing Terfenadine as a Novel Antigiardial Compound.

Giardia lamblia is a highly infectious protozoan that causes giardiasis, a gastrointestinal disease with short-term and long-lasting symptoms. The currently available drugs for giardiasis treatment have limitations such as side effects and drug resistance, requiring the search for new antigiardial compounds. Drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy to expedite the drug development process. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of terfenadine on Giardia lamblia trophozoites. Our results showed that terfenadine inhibited the growth and cell viability of Giardia trophozoites in a time-dose-dependent manner. In addition, using scanning electron microscopy, we identified morphological damage; interestingly, an increased number of protrusions on membranes and tubulin dysregulation with concomitant dysregulation of Giardia GiK were observed. Importantly, terfenadine showed low toxicity for Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal cell line. These findings highlight the potential of terfenadine as a repurposed drug for the treatment of giardiasis and warrant further investigation to elucidate its precise mechanism of action and evaluate its efficacy in future research.

Characterization of the rat pituitary capsule: Evidence that the cerebrospinal fluid filled the pituitary cleft and the inner side of the capsule.

In humans, the pituitary gland is covered by a fibrous capsule and is considered a continuation of the meningeal sheath. However, in rodents some studies concluded that only the pars tuberalis (PT) and pars nervosa (PN) are enwrapped by the pia mater, while others showed that the whole gland is covered by this sheath. At PT the median eminence subarachnoid drains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to its cisternal system representing a pathway to the hypothalamus. In the present study we examined the rat pituitary capsule to elucidate its configuration, its physical interaction with the pituitary border and its relationship with the CSF. Furthermore, we also revisited the histology of the pituitary cleft and looked whether CSF drained in it. To answer such questions, we used scanning and transmission electron microscopy, intracerebroventricular infusion of Evan´s blue, fluorescent beads, and sodium fluorescein. The latter was measured in the pars distalis (PD) and various intracranial tissues. We found a pituitary capsule resembling leptomeninges, thick at the dorsal side of the pars intermedia (PI) and PD, thicker at the level of PI in contiguity with the PN and thinner at the rostro-ventral side as a thin membrane of fibroblast-like cells embedded in a fibrous layer. The capsule has abundant capillaries on all sides. Our results showed that the CSFs bathe between the capsule and the surface of the whole gland, and ciliate cells are present in the pituitary border. Our data suggest that the pituitary gland intercommunicates with the central nervous system (CNS) through the CSF.

A comprehensive ultrastructural analysis of the Toxoplasma gondii cytoskeleton.

The invasive nature of Toxoplasma gondii is closely related to the properties of its cytoskeleton, which is constituted by a group of diverse structural and dynamic components that play key roles during the infection. Even if there have been numerous reports about the composition and function of the Toxoplasma cytoskeleton, the ultrastructural organization of some of these components has not yet been fully characterized. This study used a detergent extraction process and several electron microscopy contrast methods that allowed the successful isolation of the cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma tachyzoites. This process allowed for the conservation of the structures known to date and several new structures that had not been characterized at the ultrastructural level. For the first time, characterization was achieved for a group of nanofibers that allow the association between the polar apical ring and the conoid as well as the ultrastructural characterization of the apical cap of the parasite. The ultrastructure and precise location of the peripheral rings were also found, and the annular components of the basal complex were characterized. Finally, through immunoelectron microscopy, the exact spatial location of the subpellicular network inside the internal membrane system that forms the pellicle was found. The findings regarding these new structures contribute to the knowledge concerning the biology of the Toxoplasma gondii cytoskeleton. They also provide new opportunities in the search for therapeutic strategies aimed at these components with the purpose of inhibiting invasion and thus parasitism.

Proteomic characterization of the pellicle of Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful intracellular parasites in the world. The dynamic, adhesion, invasion, and even replication capabilities of Toxoplasma are based on dynamic machinery located in the pellicle, a three membrane complex that surrounds the parasite. Among the proteins that carry out these processes are inner membrane complex (IMC) proteins, gliding-associated proteins (GAP), diverse myosins, actin, tubulin, and SRS proteins. Despite the importance of the pellicle, the knowledge of its composition is limited. Broad protein identification from an enriched pellicle fraction was obtained by independent digestion with trypsin and chymotrypsin and quantified by mass spectrometry. By trypsin digestion, 548 proteins were identified, while by chymotrypsin digestion, additional 22 proteins were identified. Besides, a group of "sequences related to SAG1" proteins (SRS) were detected together with unidentified new proteins. From identified SRS proteins, SRS51 was chosen for analysis and modeling as its similarities with crystallized adhesion proteins, exhibiting the presence of a spatial groove that is apparently involved in adhesion and cell invasion. As SRS proteins have been reported to be involved in the activation of the host's immune response, further studies could consider them as targets in the design of vaccines or of drugs against Toxoplasma. SIGNIFICANCE: To date, the proteomic composition of the pellicle of Toxoplasma is unknown. Most proteins reported in Toxoplasma pellicle have been poorly studied, and many others remain unidentified. Herein, a group of new SRS proteins is described. Some SRS proteins previously described from pellicle fraction have adhesion properties to the host cell membrane, so their study would provide data related to invasion mechanism and to open possibilities for considering them as targets in the design of immunoprotective strategies or the design of new pharmacological treatments.

Toxoplasma gondii excreted/secreted proteases disrupt intercellular junction proteins in epithelial cell monolayers to facilitate tachyzoites paracellular migration.

Toxoplasma gondii shows high dissemination and migration properties across biological barriers infecting immunologically privileged organs. Toxoplasma uses different routes for dissemination; however, the mechanisms are not fully understood. Herein, we studied the effects of proteases present in excretion/secretion products (ESPs) of Toxoplasma on MDCK cell monolayers. Ultrastructural analysis showed that ESPs of Toxoplasma disrupt the intercellular junctions (IJ) of adjacent cells. The tight junction (TJ) proteins ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 suffered a progressive decrease in protein levels upon ESPs treatment. In addition, ESPs induced mislocalization of such TJ proteins, along with the adherent junction protein E-cadherin, and this was prevented by pre-treating the ESPs with protease inhibitors. Reorganisation of cytoskeleton proteins was also observed. Endocytosis inhibitors, Dyngo®-4a and Dynasore, impeded the modifications, suggesting that TJ proteins internalisation is triggered by the ESPs proteases hence contributing to the loss of IJ. The observed disruption in TJ proteins went in line with a decrease in the transepithelial electrical resistance of the monolayers, which was significantly blocked by pre-treating ESPs with metalloprotease and serine protease inhibitors. Moreover, exposure of cell monolayers to ESPs facilitated paracellular migration of tachyzoites. Our results demonstrate that Toxoplasma ESPs contain proteases that can disrupt the IJ of epithelial monolayers and this could facilitate the paracellular route for Toxoplasma tissue dissemination and migration.

Antigiardial Activity of Acetylsalicylic Acid Is Associated with Overexpression of HSP70 and Membrane Transporters.

Giardia lamblia is a flagellated protozoan responsible for giardiasis, a worldwide diarrheal disease. The adverse effects of the pharmacological treatments and the appearance of drug resistance have increased the rate of therapeutic failures. In the search for alternative therapeutics, drug repositioning has become a popular strategy. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) exhibits diverse biological activities through multiple mechanisms. However, the full spectrum of its activities is incompletely understood. In this study we show that ASA displayed direct antigiardial activity and affected the adhesion and growth of trophozoites in a time-dose-dependent manner. Electron microscopy images revealed remarkable morphological alterations in the membrane, ventral disk, and caudal region. Using mass spectrometry and real-time quantitative reverse transcription (qRT-PCR), we identified that ASA induced the overexpression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). ASA also showed a significant increase of five ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (giABC, giABCP, giMDRP, giMRPL and giMDRAP1). Additionally, we found low toxicity on Caco-2 cells. Taken together, these results suggest an important role of HSPs and ABC drug transporters in contributing to stress tolerance and protecting cells from ASA-induced stress.

Curcumin Attenuates the Pathogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica by Regulating the Expression of Virulence Factors in an Ex-Vivo Model Infection.

Infection with the enteric protozoan Entamoeba histolytica is still a serious public health problem, especially in developing countries. Amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of the amoebiasis, and it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications in some people. ALA can be cured by metronidazole (MTZ); however, because it has poor activity against luminal trophozoites, 40-60% of treated patients get repeated episodes of invasive disease and require repeated treatments that can induce resistance to MTZ, this may emerge as an important public health problem. Anti-virulence strategies that impair the virulence of pathogens are one of the novel approaches to solving the problem. In this study, we found that low doses of curcumin (10 and 50 µM) attenuate the virulence of E. histolytica without affecting trophozoites growth or triggering liver injury. Curcumin (CUR) decreases the expression of genes associated with E. histolytica virulence (gal/galnac lectin, ehcp1, ehcp5, and amoebapore), and is correlated with significantly lower amoebic invasion. In addition, oxidative stress is critically involved in the etiopathology of amoebic liver abscess; our results show no changes in mRNA expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) after E. histolytica infection, with or without CUR. This study provides clear evidence that curcumin could be an anti-virulence agent against E. histolytica, and makes it an attractive potential starting point for effective treatments that reduce downstream amoebic liver abscess.

Proteomic and structural characterization of self-assembled vesicles from excretion/secretion products of Toxoplasma gondii.

After the cell invasion, the parasite Toxoplasma gondii locates within a parasitophorous vacuole to proliferate. It continuously modifies the composition of the parasitophorous vacuole by the secretion of GRA and ROP proteins, some of which become inserted into the vacuole membrane, remain as soluble proteins or involved in the intravacuolar network. In this report, we analyze the excretion/secretion products and the vesicles released by extracellular tachyzoites, this structures were morphologically analyzed by electron microscopy and characterized by mass spectrometry. The structural analysis showed parasites secreting in vitro individual vesicles with similarities to ectosomes and exosomes and which characterized to self-assembly in vitro forming vesicle-tubular structures morphologically similar to the intravacuolar network from infected cells. The vesicle-tubular structures were recognized with antibodies against ROP2 and GRA2. In addition, analysis by Western blot evidenced proteins from the secretory organelles. A detailed proteomic analysis of exosomes, ectosomes and soluble proteins released in vitro is here reported. Presence of GRA proteins in secretions from resting extracellular parasites indicates that these molecules are not exclusively secreted within the parasitophorous vacuole of the infected cell as reported but they are constitutively excreted/secreted even in an extracellular condition. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD013767. SIGNIFICANCE: Extracellular tachyzoites constitutively secrete components that previously were considered be secreted only within the parasitophorous vacuole, suggesting that in the infected host these molecules are in direct interaction with cells and molecules of the host cell including those of the immune response.

Characterization of metalloproteases and serine proteases of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and their effect on epithelial cells.

Toxoplasma gondii can infect all nucleated cells from warm-blooded organisms. After infection, Toxoplasma spreads throughout the body and migrates across biological barriers, such as the intestinal and blood-brain barriers, as well as the placenta in pregnant women. The mechanisms for parasite dissemination are still unknown; however, proteases could play a role as a virulence factor. The aim of this study was to detect and to characterize proteases in whole-cell extracts and in excretion/secretion products from tachyzoites of the RH strain isolated from infected mice. Both fractions were analyzed by gelatin and casein zymography and by azocasein degradation. The biochemical characterization of proteases included standardization of optimal conditions for their activation, such as pH, the presence of cofactors, and a reducing agent. In both fractions, we detected at least nine gelatin-degrading metalloproteases in the range of 50 to 290 kDa. The proteases present in the excretion/secretion products were found as soluble proteins and not associated with exosome-like vesicles or other secretory vesicles. Moreover, by using casein zymography, it was possible to detect three serine proteases. Exposure of MDCK cells to excretion/secretion products modified the organization of the cell monolayer, and this effect was reverted after washing thoroughly with PBS and inhibition by metalloprotease and serine protease inhibitors. Proteomic analysis of excretion/secretion products identified 19 proteases. These findings suggest that tachyzoites of a highly virulent strain of Toxoplasma use a battery of proteases to modify the epithelium, probably as a strategy to facilitate their tissue dissemination.

Extracellular Vesicles Released from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Neutrophils Promote Macrophage Autophagy and Decrease Intracellular Mycobacterial Survival.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In the lungs, macrophages and neutrophils are the first immune cells that have contact with the infecting mycobacteria. Neutrophils are phagocytic cells that kill microorganisms through several mechanisms, which include the lytic enzymes and antimicrobial peptides that are found in their lysosomes, and the production of reactive oxygen species. Neutrophils also release extracellular vesicles (EVs) (100-1,000 nm in diameter) to the extracellular milieu; these EVs consist of a lipid bilayer surrounding a hydrophilic core and participate in intercellular communication. We previously demonstrated that human neutrophils infected in vitro with Mtb H37Rv release EVs (EV-TB), but the effect of these EVs on other cells relevant for the control of Mtb infection, such as macrophages, has not been completely analyzed. In this study, we characterized the EVs produced by non-stimulated human neutrophils (EV-NS), and the EVs produced by neutrophils stimulated with an activator (PMA), a peptide derived from bacterial proteins (fMLF) or Mtb, and observed that the four EVs differed in their size. Ligands for toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/6 were detected in EV-TB, and these EVs favored a modest increase in the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules CD80, a higher expression of CD86, and the production of higher amounts of TNF-α and IL-6, and of lower amounts of TGF-ß, in autologous human macrophages, compared with the other EVs. EV-TB reduced the amount of intracellular Mtb in macrophages, and increased superoxide anion production in these cells. TLR2/6 ligation and superoxide anion production are known inducers of autophagy; accordingly, we found that EV-TB induced higher expression of the autophagy-related marker LC3-II in macrophages, and the co-localization of LC3-II with Mtb inside infected macrophages. The intracellular mycobacterial load increased when autophagy was inhibited with wortmannin in these cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that neutrophils produce different EVs in response to diverse activators, and that EV-TB activate macrophages and promote the clearance of intracellular Mtb through early superoxide anion production and autophagy induction, which is a novel role for neutrophil-derived EVs in the immune response to Mtb.

Amoebicidal activity of curcumin on Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to investigate the amoebicidal potential of curcumin on Entamoeba histolytica, as well as its synergistic effect with metronidazole. METHODS: Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites were exposed to 100, 200 and 300 µm of curcumin, for 6, 12 and 24 h. Consequently, the viability of cells was determined by trypan blue exclusion test. All specimens were further analysed by scanning electron microscopy. For drug combination experiment, the Chou-Talalay method was used. KEY FINDINGS: Curcumin affected the growth and cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The higher inhibitory effects were observed with 300 µm at 24 h; 65.5% of growth inhibition and only 28.8% of trophozoites were viable. Additionally, curcumin also altered adhesion and the morphology of the trophozoites. Scanning electron microscopy revealed treated trophozoites with damages on the membrane, size alterations and parasites with loss of cellular integrity. In addition, the combination of curcumin + metronidazole exhibited a synergistic effect; the activity of both drugs was improved. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report evaluating the effectiveness of curcumin against E. histolytica. Our results suggest that CUR could be considered for evaluation in future pharmacological studies as a promising amoebicidal agent or as complementary therapy.

Mycophenolic acid induces differentiation of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain tachyzoites into bradyzoites and formation of cyst-like structure in vitro.

The biochemical and structural changes that occur during the conversion of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites to bradyzoites and the formation of tissue cyst are not well understood. Maintaining cells infected with T. gondii type II and III strains under stress conditions induces the tachyzoite-bradyzoite in vitro differentiation, along with the formation of cyst-like structures. However, due to the long exposure to such conditions required to induce the differentiation, the severe damages in the host cell and the low encystation frequency, it has been difficult to dissect in more detail these processes. Here, we successfully induced the in vitro formation of Toxoplasma cysts-like structures from tachyzoites of the type I RH strain by treating with mycophenolic acid, an inhibitor of the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. Mycophenolic acid is a drug widely used for HXGPRT positive selection of Toxoplasma mutant strains along with xanthine incubation in the culture medium; under such conditions, formation of tissue cysts has not been reported. We show that the exposure of extracellular tachyzoites to mycophenolic acid in absence of xanthine, followed by host cell invasion, triggered their differentiation into cyst-like structures. The differential expression of CST1, BAG1, and SAG1 molecules, as well as the structural modifications of infected cells, was characterized during the formation of cyst-like structures in vitro. These findings will allow the characterization of signaling pathways involved in tachyzoite to bradyzoite conversion and formation of tissue cysts.

Antigiardial Activity of Podophyllotoxin-Type Lignans from Bursera fagaroides var. fagaroides.

Giardiasis, a diarrheal disease, is highly prevalent in developing countries. Several drugs are available for the treatment of this parasitosis; unfortunately, all of them have variable efficacies and adverse effects. Bursera fagaroides has been known for its anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal properties in Mexican traditional medicine. We investigated the in vitro anti-giardial activities of four podophyllotoxin-type lignans from Bursera fagaroides var. fagaroides, namely, 5'-desmethoxy-ß-peltatin-A-methylether (5-DES), acetylpodophyllotoxin (APOD), burseranin (BUR), and podophyllotoxin (POD). All lignans affected the Giardia adhesion and electron microscopy images revealed morphological alterations in the caudal region, ventral disk, membrane, and flagella, to different extents. Only 5-DES, APOD, and POD caused growth inhibition. Using the Caco-2 human cell line as a model of the intestinal epithelium, we demonstrated that APOD displayed direct antigiardial killing activity and low toxicity on Caco-2 cells. This finding makes it an attractive potential starting point for new antigiardial drugs.

Curcumin alters the cytoskeleton and microtubule organization on trophozoites of Giardia lamblia.

Giardia lamblia is a worldwide protozoan responsible for a significant number of intestinal infections. There are several drugs for the treatment of giardiasis, but they often cause side effects. Curcumin, a component of turmeric, has antigiardial activity; however, the molecular target and mechanism of antiproliferative activity are not clear. The effects of curcumin on cellular microtubules have been widely investigated. Since tubulin is the most abundant protein in the cytoskeleton of Giardia, to elucidate whether curcumin has activity against the microtubules of this parasite, we treated trophozoites with curcumin and the cells were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. Curcumin inhibited Giardia proliferation and adhesion in a time-concentration-dependent mode. The higher inhibitory concentrations of curcumin (3 and 15µM) disrupted the cytoskeletal structures of trophozoites; the damage was evident on the ventral disk, flagella and in the caudal region, also the membrane was affected. The immunofluorescence images showed altered distribution of tubulin staining on ventral disk and flagella. Additionally, we found that curcumin caused a clear reduction of tubulin expression. By docking analysis and molecular dynamics we showed that curcumin has a high probability to bind at the interface of the tubulin dimer close to the vinblastine binding site. All the data presented indicate that curcumin may inhibit Giardia proliferation by perturbing microtubules.

The shift in GH3 cell shape and cell motility is dependent on MLCK and ROCK.

Cytoskeletal organization, actin-myosin contractility and the cell membrane together regulate cell morphology in response to the cell environment, wherein the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an indispensable component. Plasticity in cell shape enables cells to adapt their migration mode to their surroundings. GH3 endocrine cells respond to different ECM proteins, acquiring different morphologies: a rounded on collagen I-III (C I-III) and an elongated on collagen IV (C IV). However, the identities of the molecules that participate in these responses remain unknown. Considering that actin-myosin contractility is crucial to maintaining cell shape, we analyzed the participation of MLCK and ROCK in the acquisition of cell shape, the generation of cellular tension and the cell motility mode. We found that a rounded shape with high cortical tension depends on MLCK and ROCK, whereas in cells with an elongated shape, MLCK is the primary protein responsible for cell spreading. Further, in cells with a slow and directionally persistent motility, MLCK predominates, while rapid and erratic movement is ROCK-dependent. This behavior also correlates with GTPase activation. Cells on C I-III exhibited higher Rho-GTPase activity than cells on C IV and vice versa with Rac-GTPase activity, showing a plastic response of GH3 cells to their environment, leading to the generation of different cytoskeleton and membrane organizations and resulting in two movement strategies, rounded and fibroblastoid-like.

Modificación ultraestructural de las membranas derivadas del retículo endoplasmático y morfogénesis del virus de la hepatitis C en muestras de hígado humano / Ultrastructural remodelling of e ndoplasmic reticulum-derived membranes and hepatitis C virus morphogenesis in human liver samples

Introducción: la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C es una de las causas principales de la enfermedad del hígado a nivel mundial. La utilización de la cepa del virus de la hepatitis C, JFH1 en cultivo de células de hepatoma ha permitido el avance de la comprensión del ciclo de vida viral. No obstante, se conoce poco sobre la morfogénesis del virus de la hepatitis C. Las dificultades para detectar el ensamblaje viral en este modelo de cultivo celular, así como los bajos niveles y complejidad de las partículas del virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes y chimpancés infectados limitan el estudio de la morfogénesis viral.Objetivo: estudiar las características ultraestructurales y los eventos de ensamblaje viral en hepatocitos de pacientes infectados con el virus de la hepatitis C.Métodos: se utilizaron muestras de biopsias de hígado de pacientes infectados, anticuerpos específicos para el virus de la hepatitis C y técnicas de microscopía e inmunomicroscopía electrónica.Resultados: la infección por el virus de la hepatitis C se relacionó con una modificación de las membranas derivadas del retículo endoplasmático y con diferentes microambientes citoplasmáticos en los hepatocitos de individuos infectados. La dilatación del retículo endoplasmático y la formación de diferentes vesículas de membrana son características que se asocian con los complejos de replicación viral. Resulta interesante destacar la detección del ensamblaje de partículas semejantes a la cápsida y al virus de la hepatitis C cerca de complejos de membrana con alta densidad electrónica y estructuras tubulares. Las proteínas estructurales del virus de la hepatitis C se detectaron en el retículo endoplasmático .Conclusiones: estos eventos sugieren que el proceso temprano de ensamblaje de las nucleocápsidas y del virión ocurre en las membranas del retículoendoplasmático que se asocian con estos microambientes citoplasmáticos en los hepatocitos humanos(AU)

Introduction: hepatitis C virus infection is considered as a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Despite recent advances in understanding the hepatitis C virus life cycle using the highly replicative JFH1 strain in human hepatoma cells, little is known about hepatitis C virus morphogenesis. Low levels of hepatitis C virus assembly in this cell culture model as well as low levels and complexity of hepatitis C virus particles in infected humans and chimpanzees have hampered the study of hepatitis C virus morphogenesis in vivo.Objetivo: to study the ultrastructural features and viral assembly events in hepatocytes from HCV hepatitis C virus-infected patients.Methods: liver needle biopsies samples of patients with hepatitis C virus infection, specific antibodies against hepatitis C virus and transmission electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy analyses were used in this study.Results: ultrastructural studies in liver biopsies from hepatitis C virus-infected patients revealed that hepatitis C virus infection was related with remodelling of endoplasmic reticulum-derived membranes and with a variety of cytoplasmic microenvironments in hepatocytes. Dilated endoplasmic reticulum and formation of various membrane vesicles are features that have been associated with the viral replication complex. Interestingly, hepatitis C virus-like particles and core-like particles budding and assembly were observed near convoluted electron-dense membranes and tubular structures. Particularly, hepatitis C virus structural proteins localize to the endoplasmic reticulum.Conclusions: these events indicate that hepatitis C virus nucleocapsids and early virion assembly take place atendoplasmic reticulum membranes that are associated with these cytoplasmic microenvironments in human hepatocytes(AU)

A new type of quinoxalinone derivatives affects viability, invasion, and intracellular growth of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro.

Quinoxalinone derivatives, identified as VAM2 compounds (7-nitroquinoxalin-2-ones), were evaluated against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites of the RH strain. The VAM2 compounds were previously synthesized based on the design obtained from an in silico prediction with the software TOMOCOMD-CARDD. From the ten VAM2 drugs tested, several showed a deleterious effect on tachyzoites. However, VAM2-2 showed the highest toxoplasmicidal activity generating a remarkable decrease in tachyzoite viability (in about 91 %) and a minimal alteration in the host cell. An evident inhibition of host cell invasion by tachyzoites previously treated with VAM2-2 was observed in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, remarkable alterations were observed in the pellicle parasite, such as swelling, roughness, and blebbing. Toxoplasma motility was inhibited, and subpellicular cytoskeleton integrity was altered, inducing a release of its components to the soluble fraction. VAM2-2 showed a clear and specific deleterious effect on tachyzoites viability, structural integrity, and invasive capabilities with limited effects in host cells morphology and viability. VAM2-2 minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) was determined as 3.3 µM ± 1.8. Effects of quinoxalinone derivatives on T. gondii provide the basis for a future therapeutical alternative in the treatment of toxoplasmosis.

GH3 tumor pituitary cell cytoskeleton and plasma membrane arrangement are determined by extracellular matrix proteins: implications on motility, proliferation and hormone secretion.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) influences different physiological and pathophysiological aspects of the cell. The ECM consists in a complex network of macromolecules with characteristic biochemical properties that allow cells to sense their environments inducing different signals and changing cell behavior. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the participation of different ECM proteins in cell morphology and its implication on motility, proliferation and hormone secretion in GH3 cells, a tumor pituitary cell. GH3 cells were cultured with a defined medium on collagens I/III and IV, fibronectin and laminin. GH3 cells express α2 integrin subunit de novo. The cells responded to the ECM proteins with differentiated cell surface morphologies and membrane protrusions. A rounded shape with small membrane blebs, weak substrate adhesion and high motility was observed in cells on C I/III and fibronectin, while on C IV and laminin cells were viewed elongated and adhered. Differences on actin cytoskeleton, cytoskeletal-associated vinculin and phospho-MLC showed that ECM proteins determine the cytoskeleton organization. Cell proliferation showed dependency on the ECM protein, observing a higher rate in cells on collagen I/III. Prolactin secretion was higher in cells with small blebs, but an unchangeable response to EGF was obtained with the ECM proteins, suggesting is a consequence of cortical actin arrangement. We ascribe the functional differences of the GH3 cells to the cytoskeletal organization. Overall, the data showed that ECM plays a critical role in GH3 cells modulating different cellular comportment and evidenced the importance of the ECM composition of pituitary adenomas.

Proteomic characterization of the subpellicular cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites.

Toxoplasma, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in animals and humans, has a subpellicular cytoskeleton that is involved in motility, cell shape and invasion. Knowledge of components of the cytoskeleton is necessary to understand the invasion mechanisms as well as for the identification of possible therapeutic targets. To date, most cytoskeletal components of Toxoplasma remain unidentified due mainly to the lack of reproducible methods for their isolation. Based on the successful isolation of the cytoskeleton, it was possible to report for the first time, the proteomic characterization of the subpellicular cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma formed by 95 cytoskeletal proteins through proteomic analysis by tandem mass spectrometry of one dimension SDS PAGE. By bioinformatic analysis of the data, proteins were classified as: 18 conventional cytoskeletal proteins; 10 inner membrane complex proteins, including 7 with alveolin repeats; 5 new proteins with alveolin like repeats; 37 proteins associated with other organelles and 25 novel proteins of unknown function. One of the alveolin like proteins not previously described in Toxoplasma named TgArticulin was partially characterized with a specific monoclonal antibody. Presence of TgArticulin was exclusively associated with the cytoskeleton fraction with a cortical distribution. Functions for the several molecules identified are proposed. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This manuscript describes, for the first time, the proteome of the subpellicular cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma gondii. The importance of this study is related to the role of the cytoskeleton in the highly invasive capability of a parasite that causes abortion, blindness, and death by encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Proteomic characterization of the cytoskeleton of T. gondii tachyzoites was possible by the development of a successful procedure for the isolation of the subpellicular cytoskeleton. Knowledge of the composition of the cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma is fundamental for the understanding of the motility and host cell invasion mechanisms, and for the future design and development of toxoplasmicidal drugs with effects against specific components of the cytoskeleton of this parasite that are absent in mammal host cells.