Article
Immunology
Rafaella R. Costa, Joao A. Oliveira-da-Silva, Thiago A. R. Reis, Grasiele S. V. Tavares, Debora V. C. Mendonca, Camila S. Freitas, Daniela P. Lage, Vivian T. Martins, Luciana M. R. Antinarelli, Amanda S. Machado, Raquel S. Bandeira, Fernanda Ludolf, Thais T. O. Santos, Rory C. F. Brito, Maria V. Humbert, Daniel Menezes-Souza, Mariana C. Duarte, Miguel A. Chavez-Fumagalli, Bruno M. Roatt, Elaine S. Coimbra, Eduardo A. F. Coelho
Summary: Acarbose shows specific antileishmanial activity against Leishmania infantum, with low toxicity to mammalian cells. In vivo experiments using ACA/Mic in BALB/c mice infected with L. infantum demonstrate superior therapeutic effects compared to Miltefosine or free ACA treatments.
MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ana Isabel Olias-Molero, Pedro Botias, Montserrat Cuquerella, Jesus Garcia-Cantalejo, Emilia Barcia, Susana Torrado, Juan Jose Torrado, Jose Maria Alunda
Summary: This study investigated the impact of clindamycin on the intestinal microbiome and the availability and distribution of miltefosine in target organs. It was found that clindamycin significantly altered the relative abundance of the intestinal microbiome, but had no clear effect on the availability of miltefosine.
Article
Parasitology
Bianca A. Ferreira, Thaynan F. C. Martins, Elizabeth M. Coser, Viviane da L. Oliveira, Edite H. Yamashiro-Kanashiro, Mussya C. Rocha, Marcelo M. Pinto, Paulo C. Cotrim, Adriano C. Coelho
Summary: The study confirmed the endemicity of canine leishmaniasis in Embu das Artes, Brazil, and found that isolates from this region are susceptible to paromomycin and miltefosine, indicating the potential of these drugs for the clinical treatment of human visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Estela Melcon-Fernandez, Giulio Galli, Carlos Garcia-Estrada, Rafael Balana-Fouce, Rosa M. Reguera, Yolanda Perez-Pertejo
Summary: Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites, which is prevalent in East Africa, Asia, South America, and the Mediterranean Basin. The current pharmacological control of the disease is limited by the availability of old, poorly adherent drugs with adverse effects and low oral bioavailability. Resistance to first-line drugs has emerged due to misuse. However, recent research has identified nifuratel, a drug used for vaginal infections, as a promising candidate for repurposing due to its efficacy against leishmaniasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Valter V. Andrade-Neto, Karina M. Rebello, Thais M. Pereira, Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of a ternary therapy composed of itraconazole, ezetimibe, and miltefosine for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis, demonstrating synergistic effects in intracellular amastigotes. The results showed promising outcomes for low-dose ternary treatment, indicating it as a potential therapeutic alternative for visceral leishmaniasis.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Chonlada Mano, Aphisek Kongkaew, Pongsri Tippawangkosol, Anuluck Junkum, Padet Siriyasatien, Narissara Jariyapan
Summary: This study reveals the resistance of Leishmania martiniquensis to amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmpB) and miltefosine (MIL), and suggests further research into the mechanisms of this resistance and the development of effective methods to identify drug-resistant parasites.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Juliana B. T. Carnielli, Anuja Dave, Audrey Romano, Sarah Forrester, Pedro R. de Faria, Renata Monti-Rocha, Carlos H. N. Costa, Reynaldo Dietze, Ian A. Graham, Jeremy C. Mottram
Summary: In Brazil, miltefosine treatment failure in visceral leishmaniasis has been linked to the deletion of the miltefosine susceptibility locus (MSL) in Leishmania infantum. CRISPR-Cas9 was used to investigate the role of NUC1, NUC2, HLP, and TEI in miltefosine resistance mechanisms. Findings suggest that the absence of NUC1 and NUC2 from the MSL contributes to natural resistance to miltefosine in L. infantum.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Caroline R. Espada, Andreia Albuquerque-Wendt, Valentin Hornillos, Eva Gluenz, Adriano C. Coelho, Silvia R. B. Uliana
Summary: The ros3 gene copy number was found to be associated with increased miltefosine uptake and susceptibility in Leishmania. Modulating the gene copy number showed significant impact on miltefosine susceptibility, with overexpression leading to increased EC50 values and deletion resulting in higher EC50 values. This study confirms that ros3 copy number is a factor affecting differential susceptibility and uptake of miltefosine.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dimitri Bulte, Lieselotte Van Bockstal, Laura Dirkx, Magali Van den Kerkhof, Carl De Trez, Jean-Pierre Timmermans, Sarah Hendrickx, Louis Maes, Guy Caljon
Summary: The study found that MIL-R parasites induce a strong innate immune response, leading to compromised infectivity in the host, but MIL can partially restore their infectivity. Additionally, MIL may exacerbate infections with resistant parasites by reducing innate immune recognition.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yosser Zina Abdelkrim, Emna Harigua-Souiai, Imen Bassoumi-Jamoussi, Mourad Barhoumi, Josette Banroques, Khadija Essafi-Benkhadir, Michael Nilges, Arnaud Blondel, N. Kyle Tanner, Ikram Guizani
Summary: This study investigated the mode of action of cholesterol derivatives as novel LieIF4A inhibitors and found that 7-alpha-aminocholesterol has a higher binding affinity and inhibitory effect on Leishmania.
Article
Parasitology
Ana Maria Murta Santi, Paula Alves Silva, Isabella Fernandes Martins Santos, Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
Summary: FeSOD-A is essential in L. infantum and plays a crucial role in defense against oxidative stress and infectivity. FeSOD-A-deficient parasites deregulate metabolic pathways related to antimony and miltefosine resistance.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Ayelen Luczywo, Ismael Pretto Sauter, Thalita Camelo da Silva Ferreira, Mauro Cortez, Gustavo P. Romanelli, Gabriel Sathicq, Silvia E. Asis
Summary: A series of 2-styryl-4-quinolinecarboxylic acids were synthesized under microwave irradiation settings, showing promising antileishmanial activity against intracellular parasites. Compounds 4 and 5, with 2-chloro or 4-chlorostyryl moieties, were considered the most hopeful agents due to their significant parasite killing effect inside infected macrophages.
JOURNAL OF HETEROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bianca A. Ferreira, Gustavo de A. Santos, Elizabeth M. Coser, Juliana M. Sousa, Monica E. A. Gama, Leonidas L. B. Junior, Fabricio S. Pessoa, Mayara I. S. Lima, Silvia R. B. Uliana, Adriano C. Coelho
Summary: This study isolated a species of Leishmania parasite from a pediatric patient with visceral leishmaniasis and found that the patient did not respond to chemotherapy. In vitro susceptibility assays showed that the parasite was sensitive to all the drugs currently used in the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Raquel Garcia-Hernandez, Jose Ignacio Manzano, Ana Perea-Martinez, Francisco Gamarro
Summary: Leishmaniasis is the second most important neglected tropical parasitic disease after malaria. New therapeutic strategies are required due to the limited effectiveness of chemotherapy caused by drug resistance. This study investigated the transcriptomic changes in host cells after infection with Leishmania infantum isolates with different drug susceptibilities. The results revealed variations in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the infected host cells depending on the Leishmania line. The findings provide insights into potential therapeutic markers and the host transcriptomic changes associated with drug-resistant L. infantum clinical isolates.
OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Joan Marti-Carreras, Marina Carrasco, Marcel Gomez-Ponce, Marc Noguera-Julian, Roser Fisa, Cristina Riera, Maria Magdalena Alcover, Xavier Roura, Lluis Ferrer, Olga Francino
Summary: The emergence of drug-resistant strains of Leishmania infantum poses an increasing threat to dogs and humans. By using nanopore sequencing and the LeishGenApp diagnosis platform, this study identified epidemiological, drug resistance, and pathogenicity biomarkers in L. infantum.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chris Van Ginneken, Miriam Ayuso, Lieselotte Van Bockstal, Steven Van Cruchten
Summary: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is commonly observed in pig production, resulting in differences in organ growth. Insufficient uteroplacental nutrient transfer is the main cause of IUGR. Supplementing arginine and glutamine in the sow's diet improves placenta growth and reduces IUGR incidence. IUGR piglets have higher mortality rates and morbidity. Surveillance during farrowing and individual nutrient supplementation can reduce mortality rates. However, long-term consequences of IUGR, including persistent structural deficits in organs, cannot be reversed.
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marlies Boeren, Pieter Meysman, Kris Laukens, Peter Ponsaerts, Benson Ogunjimi, Peter Delputte
Summary: Herpesviruses manipulate immune recognition by T cells through hijacking the MHC I and MHC II antigen presentation pathways. The MHC immune evasion strategies of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are illustrated. MHC-T cell interactions in HSV-1 and VZV-infected neural ganglia are described, with CD8+ T cells playing a major role in controlling neuronal HSV-1 infection and CD4+ T cells being important in controlling VZV infection. Autologous human stem-cell-derived in vitro models provide valuable tools for studying these neuroimmune interactions.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aiva Plotniece, Arkadij Sobolev, Claudiu T. Supuran, Fabrizio Carta, Fredrik Bjoerkling, Henrik Franzyk, Jari Yli-Kauhaluoma, Koen Augustyns, Paul Cos, Linda De Vooght, Matthias Govaerts, Juliana Aizawa, Paeivi Tammela, Raivis Zalubovskis
Summary: Natural products and analogues are valuable sources for the discovery of antibacterial drugs. The identification of bacterial metalloenzymes and the synthesis of selective inhibitors are interesting for the development of antibacterial agents due to increasing drug resistance. Peptide nucleic acids represent a novel strategy for targeting pathogens through antisense inhibition and development of antisense peptide nucleic acids. The review also discusses alternative therapeutic options and optimized in vitro and in vivo models for studying biofilm-related infections along with an overview of drug delivery nanosystems.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Kevin Van Tichelen, Sara Prims, Miriam Ayuso, Lieselotte Van Bockstal, Celine Van Kerschaver, Mario Vandaele, Jeroen Degroote, Steven Van Cruchten, Joris Michiels, Chris Van Ginneken
Summary: The increase in litter sizes of sows over the past three decades has resulted in higher proportions of low birth weight piglets and increased pre-weaning mortality. This study investigated the use of a dense milk replacer to improve the performance of low birth weight piglets. The results showed no significant effect of the milk replacer on the survival or performance of the piglets, suggesting that perinatal management is more important for their survival than supplementation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Zheng, Susanne Schroeder, Georgi K. Kanev, Sanaa S. Botros, Samia William, Abdel-Nasser A. Sabra, Louis Maes, Guy Caljon, Carmen Gil, Ana Martinez, Irene G. Salado, Koen Augustyns, Ewald Edink, Maarten Sijm, Erik de Heuvel, Iwan J. P. de Esch, Tiffany van der Meer, Marco Siderius, Geert Jan Sterk, David Brown, Rob Leurs
Summary: This study investigated the potential of Schistosoma mansoni phosphodiesterase SmPDE4A as a new drug target for schistosomiasis. The researchers cloned, isolated, and characterized the full-length and catalytic domains of SmPDE4A. They found that SmPDE4A resembles human PDE4 more than parasite PDEs. Screening of PDE inhibitors identified tetrahydrophthalazinones and benzamides as potential hits, but further evaluation showed that the inhibitors were not effective against S. mansoni, suggesting that SmPDE4A is not a suitable target for anti-schistosomiasis therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maxime Sahun, Angela Privat-Maldonado, Abraham Lin, Naomi De Roeck, Lisa Van der Heyden, Michael Hillen, Johan Michiels, Gunther Steenackers, Evelien Smits, Kevin K. Arien, Philippe G. Jorens, Peter Delputte, Annemie Bogaerts
Summary: As highlighted by the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viruses have become a growing burden on health, the global economy, and the environment. The control of virus transmission through contact with contaminated materials is a major challenge in hospital settings, and current disinfection methods have limitations. A study found that non-thermal plasma can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2 on commonly found healthcare materials, offering a potential alternative solution for rapid, efficient, and low-cost disinfection.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Elise Van Breedam, Tamariche Buyle-Huybrecht, Jonas Govaerts, Pieter Meysman, Andrea Bours, Marlies Boeren, Julia Di Stefano, Thalissa Caers, Hans De Reu, Laura Dirkx, Jolien Schippers, Esther Bartholomeus, Marielle Lebrun, Catherine Sadzot-Delvaux, Paulina Rybakowska, Marta E. Alarcon-Riquelme, Concepcion Maranon, Kris Laukens, Peter Delputte, Benson Ogunjimi, Peter Ponsaerts
Summary: Using hiPSC-derived neural cell models, the study investigated the interactions between VZV and neural cells. It was found that macrophages were unable to mount an antiviral immune response in VZV-infected hiPSC-neurons. Further analysis suggested the involvement of other cell types in orchestrating an efficient antiviral immune response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Marina-Stefania Stroe, Lieselotte Van Bockstal, Allan Valenzuela, Miriam Ayuso, Karen Leys, Pieter Annaert, Sebastien Carpentier, Anne Smits, Karel Allegaert, Adrian Zeltner, Antonius Mulder, Chris Van Ginneken, Steven Van Cruchten
Summary: Animal models provide valuable information on human disease mechanisms and (patho)physiological factors affecting drug development. Nonclinical data is critical for understanding pediatric disease conditions and developing new drug therapies. This study aimed to develop a neonatal Gottingen Minipig model for investigating the impact of systemic hypoxia and therapeutic hypothermia on drug disposition in perinatal asphyxia.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Laure Verstraete, Juliana Aizawa, Matthias Govaerts, Linda De Vooght, Rob Lavigne, Jan Michiels, Bram van den Bergh, Paul Cos
Summary: The importance of targeting persister cells in antibiotic therapies is increasingly evident as they contribute to relapsing infections and the development of antibiotic resistance. This study focused on persistence in the clinically relevant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is associated with chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. The researchers optimized a mouse model to simulate these lung infections and found that the survival levels of P. aeruginosa in the model correlated with survival levels measured in traditional persistence assays. These findings validate current techniques for studying persistence and provide opportunities to explore new persistence mechanisms and antipersister strategies in vivo.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Zheng, An Matheeussen, Louis Maes, Guy Caljon, Geert Jan Sterk, Rob Leurs
Summary: Malaria remains a significant health threat, causing thousands of deaths each year. This study aimed to enhance the antimalarial potency of a hit compound and discovered a promising analog with higher potency against Plasmodium falciparum. Several other analogs with potent antimalarial activity were also identified, which can be further optimized for potential antimalarial drug development.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xander Bertels, Sven Hanoteaux, Raphael Janssens, Hadrien Maloux, Bavo Verhaegen, Peter Delputte, Tim Boogaerts, Alexander L. N. van Nuijs, Delphine Brogna, Catherine Linard, Jonathan Marescaux, Christian Didy, Rosalie Pype, Nancy H. C. Roosens, Koenraad Van Hoorde, Marie Lesenfants, Lies Lahousse
Summary: This study examines the relationship between wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) data and incident COVID-19 cases. It finds that wastewater flow rate and PMMoV concentration are associated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in wastewater. However, the variability of variants and autocorrelation may affect the interpretability and predictive power of WBE data.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Laurence Van Moll, Milan Wouters, Jeroen De Smet, Linda De Vooght, Peter Delputte, Mik Van Der Borght, Paul Cos
Summary: This study demonstrates the antimicrobial activity and lipopolysaccharide-binding ability of two cecropin peptides from the black soldier fly. These peptides show promise as potential anti-Pseudomonas drugs by reducing inflammation and binding to LPS. However, their activity is affected by salt concentration, indicating the need for further optimization.
Review
Cell Biology
Dimitri Bulte, Chiara Rigamonti, Alessandro Romano, Alessandra Mortellaro
Summary: Inflammasome complexes and their receptor proteins play crucial roles in regulating innate immune response and inflammation. However, their abnormal activation and gene mutations contribute to the development of human autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. In the past decade, significant progress has been made in understanding inflammasome biology and activation mechanisms. This overview provides up-to-date information on various inflammasomes, their mechanisms, and their involvement in common diseases.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maxime Sahun, Angela Privat-Maldonado, Abraham Lin, Naomi De Roeck, Lisa Van der Heyden, Johan Michiels, Gunther Steenackers, Evelien Smits, Kevin K. Arien, Philippe G. Jorens, Peter Delputte, Annemie Bogaerts
Summary: As highlighted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viruses have become a growing burden on health, the global economy, and the environment. The control of transmission through contact with contaminated materials is a major challenge, particularly in hospital settings. However, the current disinfection methods in hospitals have several drawbacks, leading to shortages and waste, thus prompting the search for alternative solutions.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)