Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
RosaM. de Lederkremer, Maria Eugenia Giorgi, Carla Marino
Summary: The alpha-gal epitope is a sugar structure found in glycoproteins and glycolipids of non-human mammals. It has also been identified in glycoconjugates of pathogenic protozoa. Synthetic neoglycoconjugates have potential applications in diagnosis and vaccine development.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Juan M. Bustamante, Brooke E. White, Gregory K. Wilkerson, Carolyn L. Hodo, Lisa D. Auckland, Wei Wang, Stephanie McCain, Sarah A. Hamer, Ashley B. Saunders, Rick L. Tarleton
Summary: This study demonstrates that higher dose, intermittent administration of benznidazole can effectively treat Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Administration twice a week, for more than 4 months, provides the best chance for parasitological cure.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandro Bonardi, Seppo Parkkila, Claudiu T. Supuran
Summary: This study investigated the inhibition of the alpha-class carbonic anhydrase from Trypanosoma cruzi with phenols, which have a different mechanism of inhibition compared to previously studied compounds. The results showed that certain phenols were effective inhibitors of the enzyme, suggesting their potential as antiprotozoal agents.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Thais A. S. Oliveira, Tatiana M. Vieira, Viviane R. Esperandim, Carlos H. G. Martins, Lizandra G. Magalhaes, Mayker L. D. Miranda, Antonio E. M. Crotti
Summary: This study investigated the chemical composition and potential antibacterial, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic effects of the Brazilian Chrysopogon zizanioides root essential oil (CZ-EO). The results showed that CZ-EO has strong antimicrobial activity against certain bacteria and parasites, while exhibiting low cytotoxicity to host cells. These findings indicate the promising potential of CZ-EO for developing new antimicrobial, antileishmanial, and antitrypanosomal drugs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula A. Guerrero, Yoshiko Murakami, Ankita Malik, Peter H. Seeberger, Taroh Kinoshita, Daniel Varon Silva
Summary: The design, synthesis, and use of GPI fragments are reported as a potential treatment for inherited GPI deficiencies, with synthetic compounds showing promising activity in rescuing GPI biosynthesis in vitro.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Julia Poletto, Michael J. V. da Silva, Andrey P. Jacomini, Danielle L. Bidoia, Helito Volpato, Celso Vataru Nakamura, Fernanda A. Rosa
Summary: A series of 29 new pyrimidine N-acylhydrazone hybrids were synthesized and evaluated for their antiprotozoal activities, with 8 compounds showing significant activity. The most active compound 4f exhibited a high selectivity index and drug-like properties.
DRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Geanne A. Conserva, Thais A. Costa-Silva, Luis M. Quiros-Guerrero, Laurence Marcourt, Jean-Luc Wolfender, Emerson F. Queiroz, Andre G. Tempone, Joao Henrique G. Lago
Summary: Phytochemical analysis of an EtOH extract from Nectandra oppositifolia leaves revealed three flavonoids with varying levels of efficacy against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, with one flavonoid achieving parasite death by disrupting intracellular calcium levels.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Melissa Martins Oliveira, Camila Ramalho Bonturi, Bruno Ramos Salu, Maria Luiza Vilela Oliva, Renato Arruda Mortara, Cristina Mary Orikaza
Summary: This study evaluated the co-infection of T. cruzi strains G and CL in human macrophages, finding that while co-infection was rare, it may lead to different responses compared to monoinfection, influencing parasite persistence and survival of infected cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Yasmim Mendes Rocha, Emanuel Paula Magalhaes, Marlos de Medeiros Chaves, Marcia Machado Marinho, Valentina Nascimento e Melo de Oliveira, Ronaldo Nascimento de Oliveira, Tiago Lima Sampaio, Ramon R. P. P. B. de Menezes, Alice M. C. Martins, Roberto Nicolete
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of a 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivative on the evolutionary forms of Trypanosoma cruzi strain Y and studied its mechanisms of action using computational methods. The compound showed good affinity with important targets and displayed a reduction in the number of infected cells and amastigotes. These findings suggest that this oxadiazole derivative holds promise for the development of new drugs for Chagas disease.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Amilcar Flores, Cristina Alonso-Vega, Emmanuel Hermann, Mary-Cruz Torrico, Nair Alaide Montano Villarroel, Faustino Torrico, Yves Carlier, Carine Truyens
Summary: Monocytes from newborns born to Trypanosoma cruzi infected mothers are more activated and capable of controlling T. cruzi infection better than monocytes from newborns born to uninfected mothers.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ximena Volpini, Lautaro Natali, Maria Belen Brugo, Benjamin de la Cruz-Thea, Ruth Eliana Baigorri, Fabio Marcelo Cerban, Laura Fozzatti, Claudia Cristina Motran, Melina Mara Musri
Summary: Chagas disease is a neglected emerging global health problem. Trypanosoma cruzi infection promotes vascular remodeling and thickening of the aortic layers, potentially contributing to increased aortic stiffness. The expression of smooth muscle cell markers decreases while proliferative markers increase in infected mice. Cells coexpressing smooth muscle cell and macrophage markers are found in the media and adventitia layers of the aorta. Macrophage functional polarization is associated with M2-like phenotype in the adventitia.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sarra Ait Djebbara, Saria Mcheik, Pauline Percier, Noria Segueni, Antoine Poncelet, Carine Truyens
Summary: We previously found that recombinant rTcMIP can stimulate the release of IFN-γ, CCL2, and CCL3, which are important for type 1 adaptive immune response. Additionally, it can enhance antibody response and promote Th1-related antibody production. In this study, we investigated the pathways and mechanism of action of rTcMIP using cord and adult blood cells, as well as isolated NK cells and monocytes. We discovered that rTcMIP activates TLR1/2 and TLR4 independently of CD14 and induces IFN-γ production by IL-15-primed NK cells, and TNF-α secretion by monocytes and myeloid dendritic cells through the MyD88 pathway.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Bibo Li, Yanxiang Zhao
Summary: Trypanosoma brucei regularly switches its major surface antigen to evade host immune response, with telomere and subtelomere structure integrity being crucial for its survival and pathogenesis. Telomere proteins TRF and RAP1, with unique nucleic acid binding activities, play key roles in VSG expression and switching. Targeting TbTRF and TbRAP1's nucleic acid binding activities may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy against T. brucei.
Article
Parasitology
Natali de Franca Nibbering Santos, Natanael da Silva Bezerra Jr, Jamerson Ferreira de Oliveira, Denise Maria Figueiredo Araujo Duarte, Jose Cleberson dos Santos Soares, Diego Santa Clara Marques, Aline Caroline da Silva Santos, Fatima Nogueira, Valeria Rego Alves Pereira, Maria Carmo Alves de Lima, Iranildo Jose da Cruz Filho
Summary: In this study, 13 thiosemicarbazones and 16 thiazoles were synthesized and characterized. The pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds showed good bioavailability and permeability. Thiosemicarbazones exhibited moderate to high antioxidant potential and could interact with albumin and DNA. They also showed lower toxicity to mammalian cells compared to thiazoles. Both thiosemicarbazones and thiazoles exhibited cytotoxic potential against Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi parasites. However, thiosemicarbazones did not inhibit the growth of Plasmodium falciparum, while thiazoles showed growth inhibition. This study suggests that the synthesized compounds have in vitro antiparasitic potential.
EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Leandro S. Sangenito, Miria G. Pereira, Thais Souto-Padron, Marta H. Branquinha, Andre L. S. Santos
Summary: Research has shown that HIV-PIs have a significant impact on lipid metabolism and viability of Trypanosoma cruzi, causing accumulation of crystalloid-shaped lipids in reservosomes. This study provides new evidence of aspartyl peptidases presence and involvement in T. cruzi, shedding light on the mechanisms affected by lopinavir and nelfinavir in this protozoan.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Deise F. Costa, Rafael Pedro Madeira, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Heloisa Nascimento, Kleber Silva Ribeiro, Marisa Lucia Romani Paraboni, Luiz Vicente Rizzo, Claudio Silveira, Miguel N. Burnier, Marcia Serva Lowen, Joao Luis Garcia, Ricardo Gava, Vera Lucia Pereira-Chioccola, Alessandra G. Commodaro, Rubens Belfort Jr
Summary: Our study found that pork from southern Brazil may carry live T. gondii parasites, which could be associated with toxoplasmosis.
OCULAR IMMUNOLOGY AND INFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gisele Macedo Rodrigues da Cunha, Maira Araujo Azevedo, Denise Silva Nogueira, Marianna de Carvalho Climaco, Edward Valencia Ayala, Juan Atilio Jimenez Chunga, Raul Jesus Ynocente La Valle, Lucia Maria da Cunha Galvao, Egler Chiari, Carlos Ramon Nascimento Brito, Rodrigo Pedro Soares, Paula Monalisa Nogueira, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara, Ricardo Gazzinelli, Robert Hincapie, Carlos-Sanhueza Chaves, Fabricio Marcus Silva Oliveira, M. G. Finn, Alexandre Ferreira Marques
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, lacks an approved vaccine and adequate treatment for chronic infection. This study demonstrates that a vaccine utilizing virus-like particles can induce beneficial effects, including immune responses against acute and chronic infection, controlling parasitemia, and reducing heart inflammation and parasite nests in heart tissue.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Neta Regev-Rudzki, Shulamit Michaeli, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Talita Vieira Dupin, Natasha Ferraz de Campos Reis, Elizabeth Cristina Perez, Rodrigo Pedro Soares, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Patricia Xander
Summary: EVs released by L. amazonensis promastigotes exhibit a potential protective role in cutaneous leishmaniasis, with similar immunization properties in mice under different maintenance conditions.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Rafael P. Madeira, Paula Meneghetti, Lucas A. de Barros, Paula de Cassia Buck, Charles Mady, Barbara M. Ianni, Carmen Fernandez-Becerra, Ana C. Torrecilhas
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer envelopes that encase several types of molecules. They play a role in intercellular communication and can be used as biomarkers for disease detection. This study investigated the effect of different anticoagulants and purification methods on the isolation and characterization of EVs from the blood of chronic Chagas disease (CCD) patients. The results showed that anticoagulants did not interfere with the analyzed parameters and circulating EVs from CCD patients contained T. cruzi antigens and classical human exosomal markers. This protocol provides a basis for further biomarker discovery in Chagas' disease.
CELL BIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula Abou Karam, Irit Rosenhek-Goldian, Tamar Ziv, Hila Ben Ami Pilo, Ido Azuri, Anna Rivkin, Edo Kiper, Ron Rotkopf, Sidney R. Cohen, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Ori Avinoam, Alicia Rojas, Mattia Morandi, Neta Regev-Rudzki
Summary: Researchers have discovered that malaria parasites use extracellular vesicles (EVs) to deliver different subpopulations of proteins to host cells, leading to varied host responses. Small EVs are enriched in complement-system proteins, while large EVs contain proteasome subunits. Small EVs also have a higher ability to fuse with early endosome liposomes compared to large EVs.
Article
Parasitology
Rosangela Aparecida Muller de Barros, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Maria Aparecida Moraes Marciano, Monica Leszkowicz Mazuz, Vera Lucia Pereira-Chioccola, Blima Fux
Summary: This review provides an overview of various aspects of toxoplasmosis, including its status as a zoonotic infection, the importance of the one health approach in diagnosing and controlling the disease, diagnostic methods, epidemiological characteristics, genetic characterization, as well as future perspectives.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jessica V. Faria, Fernanda P. Z. Passos, Paulo H. A. da Costa, Andressa P. de Oliveira, Yasmin O. D. da Cruz, Frederico S. Castelo-Branco, Maria C. S. Lourenco, Silvane M. F. Murta, Policarpo A. S. Junior, Alice M. R. Bernardino, Monica M. Bastos, Nubia Boechat
Summary: This study designed and synthesized two new series of compounds and evaluated their activities against Chagas disease and tuberculosis. The results showed that one of the compounds had important activity against both diseases. This study reinforces the importance of this compound in antimicrobial activity and provides a starting point for the development of new drugs.
MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Mehrdad Shokouhy, Hamzeh Sarvnaz, Yasaman Taslimi, Mahya Sadat Lajevardi, Sima Habibzadeh, Amir Mizbani, Faezeh Shekari, Mandana Behbahani, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Sima Rafati
Summary: This study reports for the first time that L. tarentolae can release EVs and provides evidence that tEVs are able to control the infection in human macrophages, making them a great potential platform for drug delivery, at least for parasitic infections.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Jessica Mauer, Gabriela Xavier, Vanessa Ota, Amanda Bugiga, Adrielle Oliveira, Samar Nasser, Fernanda Mafra, Paula Asprino, Ana Torrecilhas, Pedro Pan, Rodrigo Bressan, Giovanni Salum, Renata Pelegrino, Sintia Belangero, Marcos Santoro
EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ana Maria Murta Santi, Juliana Martins Ribeiro, Joao Luis Reis-Cunha, Gabriela de Assis Burle-Caldas, Isabella Fernandes Martins Santos, Paula Alves Silva, Daniela de Melo Resende, Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu, Santuza Maria Ribeiro Teixeira, Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
Summary: In this study, the deletion of PGFS in T. cruzi did not affect the parasites' susceptibility to drugs but resulted in changes in oxidative stress tolerance and infectivity.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Nuria Cortes-Serra, Melisa Gualdron-Lopez, Maria-Jesus Pinazo, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Carmen Fernandez-Becerra
Summary: Chagas disease is a significant global public health issue, with challenges in diagnosis, treatment side effects, and the absence of preventive vaccines. However, research has shown that utilizing extracellular vesicles (EVs) released during infection can be a promising tool for developing new treatment strategies and discovering new biomarkers.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Jessica Honorato-Mauer, Gabriela Xavier, Vanessa Kiyomi Ota, Samar Nasser Chehimi, Fernanda Mafra, Cassia Cuoco, Lucas Toshio Ito, Rafaella Ormond, Paula Fontes Asprino, Adrielle Oliveira, Amanda Victoria Gomes Bugiga, Ana Claudia Torrecilhas, Rodrigo Bressan, Gisele Gus Manfro, Euripedes Constantino Miguel, Luis Augusto Rohde, Pedro Mario Pan, Giovanni Abrahao Salum, Renata Pellegrino, Sintia Belangero, Marcos Leite Santoro
Summary: This study analyzed the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) from adolescents and found a correlation between miRNA expression and mental health disorders. The results provide support for further research on utilizing EVs miRNAs as biomarkers for mental health disorders.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eduardo Barbieri, Policarpo Ademar Sales Junior, Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta, Barbara Silva
Summary: Pyrrole compounds were synthesized using the Knorr method and various derivatives were obtained by transesterification reactions. The composition of the alpha group in relation to the nitrogen heteroatom of the pyrrole nuclei was varied through acid hydrolysis, decarboxylation, electrophilic aromatic substitution, and reaction with thiosemicarbazide. Four synthesized compounds showed anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity with IC50 values ranging from 14.1 to >50 μM.
REVISTA VIRTUAL DE QUIMICA
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Ana Maria Murta Santi, Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
Summary: Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are neglected tropical diseases caused by parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. There is currently no human vaccine available and treatment options are limited. This study focuses on the antioxidant defense mechanisms and the role of specific enzymes in oxidative stress defense and drug resistance in T. cruzi and Leishmania spp.
MEMORIAS DO INSTITUTO OSWALDO CRUZ
(2022)
