Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis : differences and similarities to evade the innate immune system

Visceral leishmaniasis is a severe form of the disease, caused by Leishmania infantum in the New World. Patients present an anergic immune response that favors parasite establishment and spreading through tissues like bone marrow and liver. On the other hand, Leishmania braziliensis causes localized cutaneous lesions, which can be self-healing in some individuals. Interactions between host and parasite are essential to understand disease pathogenesis and progression. In this context, dendritic cells (DCs) act as essential bridges that connect innate and adaptive immune responses. In this way, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of these two Leishmania species, in some aspects of human DCs’ biology for better understanding of the evasion mechanisms of Leishmania from host innate immune response. To do so, DCs were obtained from monocytes from whole peripheral blood of healthy volunteer donors and from those infected with L. infantum or L. braziliensis for 24 h. We observed similar rates of infection (around 40%) as well as parasite burden for both Leishmania species. Concerning surface molecules, we observed that both parasites induced CD86 expres-sion when DCs were infected for 24 h. On the other hand, we detected a lower surface expression of CD209 in the presence of both L. braziliensis and L. infantum, but only the last one promoted the survival of DCs after 24 h. Therefore, DCs infected by both Leishmania species showed a higher expression of CD86 and a decrease of CD209 expression, suggesting that both enter DCs through CD209 molecule. However, only L. infantum had the ability to inhibit DC apoptotic death, as an evasion mechanism that enables its spreading to organs like bone marrow and liver. Lastly, L. braziliensis was more silent parasite, once it did not inhibit DC apoptosis in our in vitro model

PD-L1 may mediate T-cell exhaustion in a case of early diffuse Leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis

Introduction: Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is a rare disease form associated with Leishmania (L.) amazonensis in South America. It represents the “anergic” pole of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis, and the explanation for its resistance to treatment remains elusive. We aimed to study some possible immunological mechanisms involved in the poor DCL treatment response by evaluating some cell surface molecules obtained from a patient with DCL by flow cytometry. Case presentation: A 65-year-old DCL patient who initially failed to respond to the standard treatment for the disease showed vacuolated macrophages filled with amastigotes in lesion biopsy, and L. (L.) amazonensis was identified through ITS1PCR amplification. The Leishmania skin test and indirect immunofluorescence analysis revealed negative results. Peripheral blood from the patient was collected after a few months of treatment, when the patient presented with no lesion. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed ex vivo and in vitro after 48 h of stimulation with soluble L. (L.) amazonensis antigen (SLA). Cell death, surface molecules, and intracellular molecules, such as IFN-γ and granzyme B, were analyzed in the cells using flow cytometry. Analysis of the surface markers showed an increased expression of the inhibitory molecule programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in the monocytes restimulated with SLA (approximately 65%), whereas the negative controls were 35% positive for PD-L1. Conversely, compared with the negative controls, we observed a decrease in CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells (8.32 versus 1.7%) and CD8+IFN-γ+ T cells (14% versus 1%). We also observed a relevant decrease in the granzyme B levels in the CD8+ T cells, from 31% in the negative controls to 5% after SLA restimulation. Conclusion: The dysfunctional activation of PD-L1 inhibitory pathway after Leishmania antigen stimulation and reduced levels of IFN-gamma and granzyme B-producing cells could be closely related to unresponssiveness to standard drug treatment of DCL patient

Avaliação de interação entre neutrófilos e leishmania braziliensis

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2013-10-15T12:18:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 sarah_falcao. Avaliação...2013.pdf: 3048010 bytes, checksum: 6d0d112498f296909639914a28ec6b23 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2013-10-15T12:18:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 sarah_falcao. Avaliação...2013.pdf: 3048010 bytes, checksum: 6d0d112498f296909639914a28ec6b23 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilA leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) tem como principal agente etiológico a L. braziliensis e é uma das afecções dermatológicas que merece mais atenção, por seu alto coeficiente de detecção e sua capacidade de produzir deformidades. O neutrófilo é considerado a primeira linha de defesa contra agentes infecciosos ou substâncias estranhas e o seu rápido recrutamento para os tecidos é fundamental para o sistema imune inato. No modelo murino de infecção por L. braziliensis, mostramos um constante recrutamento de neutrófilos para o sítio de infecção. Baseados nesses resultados, nós formulamos uma hipótese que os neutrófilos desempenham um papel importante durante os estágios iniciais de infecção com L. braziliensis. Assim, conduzimos experimentos com neutrófilos recrutados com tioglicolato e neutrófilos derivados de medula óssea. Inicialmente, observamos que os neutrófilos são prontamente infectados com parasitas opsonizados com soro fresco. O contato entre neutrófilos e L. braziliensis ativou os neutrófilos, aumentando a expressão de CD18 e diminuindo a expressão de CD62L. Essa ativação levou à produção de superóxido, secreção de elastase e liberação de TNF-a. O contato com L. braziliensis não impediu a apoptose dos neutrófilos e a destruição dos parasitas internalizados. Utilizando anticorpos específicos para neutrófilos, observamos o aumento significativo no número de parasitas em animais depletados de neutrófilos. Em paralelo, o contato dos neutrófilos com L. braziliensis levou à secreção de quimiocinas, capazes de induzir o recrutamento de células dendríticas. Os neutrófilos, portanto, desempenham um papel importante no combate ao parasita no período inicial da infecção por L. braziliensis.L. braziliensis is the main etiological agent of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, a disease that deserves further attention due to the high detection rate and ability to produce deformities. The neutrophil is considered the first line of defense against infectious agents or foreign substances and their rapid recruitment into tissues is critical for the innate immune system. In a murine model of infection with L. braziliensis, we showed a constant recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection. Based on this finding, we hypothesized that neutrophil may a play an important role during the initial stages of L. braziliensis infection. Experiments were conducted used thyoglycolate-recruited and bone marrow-derived neutrophils. We initially observed that neutrophils are readily infected by fresh serum-opsonized parasites. Neutrophil upon L. braziliensis interaction, neutrophil became activated, increasing the expression of CD18 and decreasing the expression of CD62L. This activation led to the production of superoxide, neutrophil elastase secretion and release of TNF-a. Neutrophil infection with L. braziliensis did not prevented neutrophil apoptosis or destruction of internalized parasites. Using a neutrophil depleting antibody, we detected a significant increase in parasites numbers in neutrophil-depleted mice. In parallel, the contact of neutrophils with L. braziliensis led to secretion of chemokines, able to induce the recruitment of dendritic cells. Therefore, we can conclude that neutrophils play an important role in combating parasite during initial infection by L. braziliensi

The presence of Tregs does not preclude immunity to reinfection with Leishmania braziliensis

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2013-11-25T13:42:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Falcao Sarah C The presence....pdf: 1178741 bytes, checksum: b3bdc8d97d71c98db69b74045fd87057 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2013-11-25T13:42:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Falcao Sarah C The presence....pdf: 1178741 bytes, checksum: b3bdc8d97d71c98db69b74045fd87057 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia. BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Universidade Federal da Bahia. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia. BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia. BrasilLeishmania spp. cause a broad spectrum of diseases collectively known as leishmaniasis. Leishmania braziliensis is the main etiological agent of American cutaneous leishmaniasis and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. During experimental infection with L. braziliensis, BALB/c mice develop an adaptive immune response that is associated with lesion healing and, in parallel, parasite persistence within draining lymph nodes (dLNs). In the Leishmania major model of cutaneous leishmaniasis, regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in immune regulation, preventing pathological immune responses but at the same time precluding sterile cure. In this study we investigated the role of Tregs during experimental infection with L. braziliensis. CD4+CD25+ T cells were detected throughout the duration of clinical disease both at the ear and in dLNs of infected mice. These cells expressed Treg markers such as glucocorticoid-induced TNF-receptor-related protein (GITR), the a chain of the aeb7 integrin (CD103), and the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor, Foxp3, and were able to suppress the proliferation of CD4+CD25 cells. Importantly, a high frequency of Foxp3+ cells accumulated at the site of infection and in dLNs. We next investigated the outcome of a reinfection with L. braziliensis in terms of Treg distribution and disease reactivation. Interestingly, a secondary inoculation with L. braziliensis did not preclude an efficient recall response to L. braziliensis at a distal site, despite the presence of Tregs. Within dLNs, reinfection did not promote parasite dissemination or a differential recruitment of either CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ or CD4+IL-10+ T cells. On the contrary, parasites were mainly detected in the LN draining the primary infection site where a high frequency of CD4+IFN-c+ T cells was also present. Collectively these data show that during experimental infection, Tregs are present in healed mice but this population does not compromise an effective immune response upon reinfection with L. braziliensis

PD-L1 May Mediate T-Cell Exhaustion in a Case of Early Diffuse Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania (L.) amazonensis

IntroductionDiffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) is a rare disease form associated with Leishmania (L.) amazonensis in South America. It represents the “anergic” pole of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis, and the explanation for its resistance to treatment remains elusive. We aimed to study some possible immunological mechanisms involved in the poor DCL treatment response by evaluating some cell surface molecules obtained from a patient with DCL by flow cytometry.Case presentationA 65-year-old DCL patient who initially failed to respond to the standard treatment for the disease showed vacuolated macrophages filled with amastigotes in lesion biopsy, and L. (L.) amazonensis was identified through ITS1PCR amplification. The Leishmania skin test and indirect immunofluorescence analysis revealed negative results. Peripheral blood from the patient was collected after a few months of treatment, when the patient presented with no lesion. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed ex vivo and in vitro after 48 h of stimulation with soluble L. (L.) amazonensis antigen (SLA). Cell death, surface molecules, and intracellular molecules, such as IFN-γ and granzyme B, were analyzed in the cells using flow cytometry. Analysis of the surface markers showed an increased expression of the inhibitory molecule programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in the monocytes restimulated with SLA (approximately 65%), whereas the negative controls were 35% positive for PD-L1. Conversely, compared with the negative controls, we observed a decrease in CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells (8.32 versus 1.7%) and CD8+IFN-γ+ T cells (14% versus 1%). We also observed a relevant decrease in the granzyme B levels in the CD8+ T cells, from 31% in the negative controls to 5% after SLA restimulation.ConclusionThe dysfunctional activation of PD-L1 inhibitory pathway after Leishmania antigen stimulation and reduced levels of IFN-gamma and granzyme B-producing cells could be closely related to unresponssiveness to standard drug treatment of DCL patient

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora