3 research outputs found
Characterization and follow-up of Trypanosoma cruzi natural populations refractory to etiological chemotherapy in oral chagas disease patients
We aimed to characterize the genetic constitution of natural T. cruzi populations involved in an Oral Chagas Disease (OCD) outbreak at a rural school of the community of Chichiriviche de la Costa, Venezuela, which affected patients did not respond to the etiological treatment. Peripheral blood samples and/or hemocultures were obtained from twenty-nine OCD patients at time of diagnosis or along nine years of Post-treatment (Tx) follow-up. The IgG serology, T. cruzi discrete typing units (DTU), satellite DNA-qPCR parasitic loads, and minicircle signatures were determined at Pre-Tx and after Tx. The serological titles and parasitic loads changed after treatment, with a significant decrease of IgG titers (Spearmanâs r value= -0.961) and median parasite loads from 2.869 [IQR = 2.113 to 3.720] to 0.105 [IQR = -1.147 to 1.761] log10 par eq. /mL at Pre-Tx and Post-Tx, respectively, suggesting infection evolution from acute to chronic phase, without seroconversion or parasitological eradication, which was indicative of treatment failure. All patients were infected with T. cruzi DTU I populations. At Pre-Tx their median Jaccard genetic distances were 0.775 [IQR = 0.708 to 0.882], decreasing in genetic variability towards the end of follow-up (Mann-Whitney U test p= 0.0031). Interestingly, no Post-Tx minicircle signature was identical to its Pre-Tx counterpart population in a same patient, revealing selection of parasite subpopulations between the primary infection and Post-Tx. The parasitic populations isolated from hemocultures showed a lower number of bands in the minicircle signatures with respect to the signatures obtained directly from the patientsâ blood samples, demonstrating a process of parasitic selection and reduction of the population variability that initially infected the patients. Decrease of parasitic loads after treatment as well as Pre- and Post-Tx intra-TcI diversity might be a consequence of both, natural evolution of the acute infection to the chronic phase and persistence of refractory populations due to Tx selection.Fil: Muñoz Calderon, Arturo Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en IngenierĂa GenĂ©tica y BiologĂa Molecular "Dr. HĂ©ctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: DĂaz Bello, Zoraida. Universidad Central de Venezuela; VenezuelaFil: AlarcĂłn de Noya, BelkisyolĂ©. Universidad Central de Venezuela; VenezuelaFil: Noya GonzĂĄlez, Oscar O.. Universidad Central de Venezuela; VenezuelaFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en IngenierĂa GenĂ©tica y BiologĂa Molecular "Dr. HĂ©ctor N. Torres"; Argentin
Sharing of antigens between Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles albimanus AntĂgenos compartidos entre Plasmodium falciparum y Anopheles albimanus
The presence of common antigens between Plasmodium falciparum and Anopheles albimanus was demonstrated. Different groups of rabbits were immunized with: crude extract from female An. albimanus (EAaF), red blood cells infected with Plasmodium falciparum (EPfs), and the SPf66 synthetic malaria vaccine. The rabbit's polyclonal antibodies were evaluated by ELISA, Multiple Antigen Blot Assay (MABA), and immunoblotting. All extracts were immunogenic in rabbits according to these three techniques, when they were evaluated against the homologous antigens. Ten molecules were identified in female mosquitoes and also in P. falciparum antigens by the autologous sera. The electrophoretic pattern by SDS-PAGE was different for the three antigens evaluated. Cross-reactions between An. albimanus and P. falciparum were found by ELISA, MABA, and immunoblotting. Anti-P. falciparum and anti-SPf66 antibodies recognized ten and five components in the EAaF crude extract, respectively. Likewise, immune sera against female An. albimanus identified four molecules in the P. falciparum extract antigen. As far as we know, this is the first work that demonstrates shared antigens between anophelines and malaria parasites. This finding could be useful for diagnosis, vaccines, and the study of physiology of the immune response to malaria.<br>EpĂtopes de antĂgenos compartidos entre Plasmodium falciparum y Anopheles albimanus fueron identificados. Diferentes grupos de conejos fueron inmunizados con: extracto crudo de mosquito hembra de An. albimanus (EAaH), glĂłbulos rojos infectados con P. falciparum (EPfs) y la vacuna antimalĂĄrica sintĂ©tica SPf66. Los anticuerpos policlonales producidos en conejos fueron evaluados por ELISA, inmunoensayo simultĂĄneo de mĂșltiples antĂgenos (MABA) e Immunoblotting. Todos los extractos resultaron inmunogĂ©nicos cuando se evaluaron por ELISA, MABA e Immunoblotting. Diez molĂ©culas fueron identificadas en los mosquitos hembras y diez en los antĂgenos de P. falciparum por los sueros autĂłlogos. El patrĂłn electroforĂ©tico por SDS-EGPA fue diferente para los tres antĂgenos evaluados. La reactividad cruzada de molĂ©culas entre An. albimanus y P. falciparum fue demostrada por ELISA, MABA e Immunoblotting. Anticuerpos anti-P. falciparum y anti-SPf66 reconocieron diez y cinco componentes respectivamente en el extracto crudo de anofelinos (EAaH). Asimismo, sueros inmunes contra An. albimanus hembra identificaron cuatro molĂ©culas en el extracto del antĂgeno de P. falciparum. Hasta el presente, este es el primer estudio en el que se demuestra la presencia de antĂgenos compartidos entre anofelinos y los parĂĄsitos de malaria. Este hallazgo podrĂa ser de relevancia para el diagnĂłstico, vacunas e interpretaciĂłn de la fisiopatologĂa de la respuesta inmunitaria en malaria