Douglas G. Mack

Triclosan inhibits the growth of Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii by inhibition of apicomplexan Fab I

Fab I, enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase (ENR), is an enzyme used in fatty acid synthesis. It is a single chain polypeptide in plants, bacteria, and mycobacteria, but is part of a complex polypeptide in animals and fungi. Certain other enzymes in fatty acid synthesis in apicomplexan parasites appear to have multiple forms, homologous to either a plastid, plant-like single chain enzyme or more like the animal complex polypeptide chain. We identified a plant-like Fab I in Plasmodium falciparum and modelled the structure on the Brassica napus and Escherichia coli structures, alone and complexed to triclosan (5-chloro-2-[2,4 dichlorophenoxy] phenol]), which confirmed all the requisite features of an ENR and its interactions with triclosan. Like the remarkable effect of triclosan on a wide variety of bacteria, this compound markedly inhibits growth and survival of the apicomplexan parasites P. falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii at low (i.e. IC50 congruent with150-2000 and 62 ng/ml, respectively) concentrations. Discovery and characterisation of an apicomplexan Fab I and discovery of triclosan as lead compound provide means to rationally design novel inhibitory compounds.

HLA-class II genes modify outcome of Toxoplasma gondii infection

Associations between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) (i.e. human major histocompatibility complex [MHC]) genes and susceptibility to infections and inflammatory processes have been described, but causal relationships have not been proven. We characterized effects of HLA-DQ alleles on outcome of congenital toxoplasma infection and found that among Caucasians, the DQ3 gene frequency was significantly higher in infected infants with hydrocephalus (0.783) than infected infants without hydrocephalus (0.444) or published normal controls (0.487). We then developed a novel animal model to definitively determine the effect of these HLA DQ molecules on the severity of toxoplasmosis. Human MHC-Class II transgenes reduced parasite burden and necrosis in brains of mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Consistent with the observed association between DQ3 and hydrocephalus in human infants, in the murine model the DQ3(DQ8; DQB1*0302) gene protected less than DQ1 (DQ6; DQB1*0601). Our findings definitively prove a cause and effect relationship between human MHC genes and resistance to infection, provide novel means to characterise human immune responses that are protective or pathogenic in infections, and are important for vaccine development.

Delivery of antimicrobials into parasites

To eliminate apicomplexan parasites, inhibitory compounds must cross host cell, parasitophorous vacuole, and parasite membranes and cyst walls, making delivery challenging. Here, we show that short oligomers of arginine enter Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and encysted bradyzoites. Triclosan, which inhibits enoyl-ACP reductase (ENR), conjugated to arginine oligomers enters extracellular tachyzoites, host cells, tachyzoites inside parasitophorous vacuoles within host cells, extracellular bradyzoites, and bradyzoites within cysts. We identify, clone, and sequence T. gondii enr and produce and characterize enzymatically active, recombinant ENR. This enzyme has the requisite amino acids to bind triclosan. Triclosan released after conjugation to octaarginine via a readily hydrolyzable ester linkage inhibits ENR activity, tachyzoites in vitro, and tachyzoites in mice. Delivery of an inhibitor to a microorganism via conjugation to octaarginine provides an approach to transporting antimicrobials and other small molecules to sequestered parasites, a model system to characterize transport across multiple membrane barriers and structures, a widely applicable paradigm for treatment of active and encysted apicomplexan and other infections, and a generic proof of principle for a mechanism of medicine delivery.

Genetic analysis of influences on survival following Toxoplasma gondii infection

Survival of mice during the acute stage of Toxoplasma gondii infection was not influenced by the MHC Class I gene, L(d), but was influenced by the MHC Class II genes, Ia and Ie. As unexplained variability was noted in our initial studies of influence of the L(d) gene on survival, influence of the L(d) gene region on survival in the presence of a number of variables was studied. Although route of administration and dose of parasites, and age and gender of the mice markedly influenced outcome of T. gondii infection, the Class I L(d) gene did not modify survival in any of these circumstances. In separate studies, using mice with a differing genetic background, i.e. H-2(b), C57BL/10 mice, presence of Ia or Ie alone diminished survival even though presence of Ia reduced parasite burden. When neither or both the Ia and Ie genes were present together, survival was greater. In separate analyses of our studies of AxB BxA recombinant inbred mice, similar influences of MHC genes on survival and parasite burden following peroral infection were confirmed. Previously undescribed associations of novel genetic loci and survival and parasite burden also were identified. Genetic loci associated with enhanced survival included D8Mit42, D1Mit3, Iapls1-16, D8Mit14, Hoxb, Mpmv29, Pmv45, and Emv-2; genetic loci associated with reduced parasite burden included H-2, D17Mit62, D17Mit83, D17Mit21, D17Mit34, D17Mit47, D18Mit4, and Gln3-5. These studies demonstrate the importance of MHC region genes (but not L(d)) for survival, and the influence of other novel genes, and endogenous and exogenous variables on survival and parasite burden specified by host genes following T. gondii infection.

In vitro effects of artemisinin ether, cycloguanil hydrochloride (alone and in combination with sulfadiazine), quinine sulfate, mefloquine, primaquine phosphate, trifluoperazine hydrochloride, and verapamil on Toxoplasma gondii.

The in vitro effect of the following antimicrobial agents on Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were studied: artemisinin ether (arteether), cycloguanil hydrochloride (cycloguanil), mefloquine, primaquine phosphate, and quinine sulfate, as well as the calcium channel blocker verapamil and the calmodulin inhibitor trifluoperazine hydrochloride. Arteether at > or = 0.5 micrograms/ml and cycloguanil at > or = 1.0 micrograms/ml inhibited T. gondii in vitro. Cycloguanil (2.5 micrograms/ml) combined with a noninhibitory concentration of sulfadiazine (25 micrograms/ml) inhibited T. gondii more than cycloguanil alone. Neither primaquine phosphate, mefloquine, nor quinine sulfate had an inhibitory effect on intracellular T. gondii. Verapamil and trifluoperazine hydrochloride were not inhibitor at lower physiologic concentrations, but higher physiologic concentrations were toxic to cell cultures in vitro and therefore our assay could not be used to assess their effects.

Secretory IgA, Antibody to SAG1 H-2 Class I-Restricted CD8+ T-Lymphocytes and the Int-1 Locus in Protection Against Toxoplasma Gondii

A murine model of peroral and congenital infection was developed to study protection against Toxoplasma gondii as infection is naturally acquired. Immunization with a temperature sensitive mutant (ts4) T. gondii was found to confer protection against peroral and congenital infection using this model. As it was possible to elicit a protective immune response against infection, immune mechanisms potentially important to protection in this model were characterized and correlates during human infections were sought.

Characterization of ribonuclease P from Toxoplasma gondii

Summary Toxoplasma gondii ribonuclease P (RNase P) activity was identified and characterized. The enzyme cleaved the precursor of Escherichia coli tyrosine transfer RNA at a position identical to the site recognized by E. coli RNase P. The enzyme has a broad pH optimum from 7 to 9, is more active at 42°C than at 32°C and 37°C, and is relatively stable at 37°C and 42°C, but not at 56°C. Its activity is stimulated significantly as the concentration of Mg +2 is increased to 100 mM, but some activity remains in the presence of less than 1 μM free Mg +2 ; Ca +2 stimulates activity modestly up to 25 mM. Toxoplasma gondii RNase P differs from host (murine peritoneal exudate cells) RNase P, as indicated by its elution from cationic ion exchange columns at a relatively high salt concentration. It is effectively inhibited by mature tRNA and inactivated by pretreatment with micrococcal nuclease, thus indicating the presence of an essential RNA component. Correspondingly, a number of RNA molecules, ranging in size from about 170 to 490 nucleotides, are found in T. gondii RNase P containing fractions. This study provides the basis for further characterization of the structure and function of T. gondii RNase P and it extends the range of organisms in which RNase P has been characterized.