Tripti De

Kinetoplastid Membrane Protein-11 DNA Vaccination Induces Complete Protection against Both Pentavalent Antimonial-Sensitive and -Resistant Strains of Leishmania donovani That Correlates with Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity and IL-4 Generation: Evidence for Mixed Th1- and Th2-Like Responses in Visceral Leishmaniasis

The emergence of an increasing number of Leishmania donovani strains resistant to pentavalent antimonials (SbV), the first line of treatment for visceral leishmaniasis worldwide, accounts for decreasing efficacy of chemotherapeutic interventions. A kinetoplastid membrane protein-11 (KMP-11)-encoding construct protected extremely susceptible golden hamsters from both pentavalent antimony responsive (AG83) and antimony resistant (GE1F8R) virulent L. donovani challenge. All the KMP-11 DNA vaccinated hamsters continued to survive beyond 8 mo postinfection, with the majority showing sterile protection. Vaccinated hamsters showed reversal of T cell anergy with functional IL-2 generation along with vigorous specific anti-KMP-11 CTL-like response. Cytokines known to influence Th1- and Th2-like immune responses hinted toward a complex immune modulation in the presence of a mixed Th1/Th2 response in conferring protection against visceral leishmaniasis. KMP-11 DNA vaccinated hamsters were protected by a surge in IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 levels along with extreme down-regulation of IL-10. Surprisingly the prototype candidature of IL-4, known as a disease exacerbating cytokine, was found to have a positive correlation to protection. Contrary to some previous reports, inducible NO synthase was actively synthesized by macrophages of the protected hamsters with concomitant high levels of NO production. This is the first report of a vaccine conferring protection to both antimony responsive and resistant Leishmania strains reflecting several aspects of clinical visceral leishmaniasis.

Hybrid Cell Vaccination Resolves Leishmania donovani Infection by Eliciting a Strong CD8+ Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Response with Concomitant Suppression of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) but Not IL-4 or IL-13

ABSTRACT There is an acute dearth of therapeutic interventions against visceral leishmaniasis that is required to restore an established defective cell-mediated immune response. Hence, formulation of effective immunotherapy requires the use of dominant antigen(s) targeted to elicit a specific antiparasitic cellular immune response. We implemented hybrid cell vaccination therapy in Leishmania donovani-infected BALB/c mice by electrofusing dominant Leishmania antigen kinetoplastid membrane protein 11 (KMP-11)-transfected bone marrow-derived macrophages from BALB/c mice with allogeneic bone marrow-derived dendritic cells from C57BL/6 mice. Hybrid cell vaccine (HCV) cleared the splenic and hepatic parasite burden, eliciting KMP-11-specific major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Moreover, splenic lymphocytes of HCV-treated mice not only showed the enhancement of gamma interferon but also marked an elevated expression of the Th2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 at both transcriptional and translational levels. On the other hand, IL-10 production from splenic T cells was markedly suppressed as a result of HCV therapy. CD8+ T-cell depletion completely abrogated HCV-mediated immunity and the anti-KMP-11 CTL response. Interestingly, CD8+ T-cell depletion completely abrogated HCV-induced immunity, resulting in a marked increase of IL-10 but not of IL-4 and IL-13. The present study reports the first implementation of HCV immunotherapy in an infectious disease model, establishing strong antigen-specific CTL generation as a correlate of HCV-mediated antileishmanial immunity that is reversed by in vivo CD8+ T-cell depletion of HCV-treated mice. Our findings might be extended to drug-nonresponsive visceral leishmaniasis patients, as well as against multiple infectious diseases with pathogen-specific immunodominant antigens.

Use of an Attenuated Leishmanial Parasite as an Immunoprophylactic and Immunotherapeutic Agent against Murine Visceral Leishmaniasis

ABSTRACT The ability of the leishmanial parasite UR6 to act as an immunoprophylactic and immunotherapeutic agent against Leishmania donovani infection in BALB/c mice was investigated. Unlike the virulent L. donovani AG83 (MOHOM/IN/1983/AG83), UR6 given through intracardiac route failed to induce visceral infection, but when it was injected subcutaneously, UR6 induced a short-lived and localized self-healing skin lesion. Priming of peritoneal macrophages with UR6 in vitro induced superoxide (O2−) generation, whereas similar experiments with virulent AG83 inhibited O2− generation. It was observed that priming of mice with either live or sonicated UR6 in the absence of any adjuvant provided strong protection against subsequent virulent challenge. Further, UR6-primed infected mice not only displayed a strong antileishmanial delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response but also showed an elevated level of the serum antileishmanial immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) isotype, whereas infected mice failed to mount any antileishmanial DTH response and showed an elevated level of IgG1. This indicates that UR6 priming and subsequent L. donovani infection allowed the expansion of Th1 cells. Our studies indicate that UR6 has potential to be used as an immunoprophylactic and immunotherapeutic agent against experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

In vivo and in vitro antileishmanial activity of Bungarus caeruleus snake venom through alteration of immunomodulatory activity.

Leishmaniasis threatens more than 350 million people worldwide specially in tropical and subtropical region. Antileishmanial drugs that are currently available have various limitations. The search of new drugs from natural products (plants, animals) possessing antileishmanial activity is ventured throughout the world. The present study deals with the antileishmanial activity of Bungarus caeruleus snake venom (BCV) on in vitro promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania donovani parasite and leishmania infected BALB/c mice. The effect of BCV on peritoneal macrophage, release of cytokines from the activated macrophages, production of nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species and cytokines were studied in vivo and in vitro. IC50 value of BCV on L. donovani promastigote was 14.5 μg/ml and intracellular amastigote was 11.2 μg/ml. It activated peritoneal macrophages, significantly increased cytokines and interleukin production. BCV (20 μg/kg and 40 μg/kg body weight of mice) decreased parasite count by 54.9% and 74.2% in spleen and 41.4% and 60.4% in liver of infected BALB/c mice. BCV treatment significantly increased production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, ROS, NO in infected mice. Histological studies showed decreased granuloma formation in treated liver as compared with control. Liver and spleen structure was partially restored due to BCV treatment in infected mice. The present study revealed that BCV possessed antileishmanial activity against L. donovani parasite in vivo and in vitro and this activity was partly mediated through immunomodulatory activity involving macrophages.

Infectivity and attenuation of Leishmania donovani promastigotes: association of galactosyl transferase with loss of parasite virulence.

During the course of long-term in vitro cultivation of Leishmania donovani parasites, the promastigotes were found to lose their infectivity. Lectin agglutination studies revealed that there is an up-regulation of terminally exposed galactose residues on the noninfective promastigotes. The enzyme galactosyl transferase was absent in the infective form but present in the non-infective form of the parasites. An association between galactosylation and loss of infectivity was also observed. We propose that the enzyme galactosyl transferase is developmentally regulated and induces galactosylation of surface carbohydrates.

115 kDa serine protease confers sustained protection to visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania donovani via IFN-γ induced down-regulation of TNF-α mediated MMP-9 activity.

Visceral leishmaniasis caused by the intracellular parasite Leishmania donovani is a major public health problem in the developing world. The emergence of increasing number of L. donovani strains resistance to antimonial drugs recommended worldwide requires the intervention of effective vaccine strategy for treatment of VL. In the present study L. donovani culture derived, soluble, secretory serine protease (pSP) has been shown to be vaccine target of VL. Protection from VL could be achieved by the use of safer vaccine which generally requires an adjuvant for induction of strong Th1 response. To assess the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of pSP as vaccine candidate in mouse model we used IL-12 as adjuvant. BALB/c mice immunized with pSP+IL-12 were protected significantly from challenged infection even after four months by reducing the parasite load in liver and spleen and suppressed the development of the disease along with an increase in IgG2a antibody level in serum, enhanced delayed type hypersensitivity and strong T-cell proliferation. Groups receiving pSP+IL-12 had an augmented pSP antigen specific Th1 cytokines like IFN-γ and TNF-α response with concomitant decrease of Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 after vaccination. In this study the vaccine efficacy of pSP was further assessed for its prophylactic potential by enumerating matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) profile which has been implicated in various diseases. MMP-9 associated with different microbial infections is controlled by their natural inhibitors (TIMPS) and by some cytokines. In this study pSP was found to regulate excessive inflammation by modulating the balance between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression. This modulatory effect has also been demonstrated by IFN-γ mediated down regulation of TNF-α induced MMP-9 expression in activated murine macrophages. This is the first report where a secretory L. donovani serine protease (pSP) adjuvanted with IL-12 could also act as protective imunogen by modifying cytokine mediated MMP-9 expression in experimental VL. These findings elucidate the mechanisms of regulation of MMP-9 following infection of L. donovani in vaccinated animals and thus pave the way for developing new immunotherapeutic interventions for VL.

In Situ Immunolocalization and Stage-Dependent Expression of a Secretory Serine Protease in Leishmania donovani and Its Role as a Vaccine Candidate

ABSTRACT Proteases have been found to play essential roles in many biological processes, including the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis. Most parasites rely on their intracellular and extracellular protease repertoire to invade and multiply in mammalian host cells. However, few studies have addressed serine proteases in Leishmania and their role in host pathogenesis. Here we report the intracellular distribution of a novel L. donovani secretory serine protease in the flagellar pocket, as determined by immunogold labeling. Flow cytometry and confocal immunofluorescence analysis revealed that the expression of the protease diminishes sequentially from virulent to attenuated strains of this species and is also highly associated with the metacyclic stage of L. donovani promastigotes. The level of internalization of parasites treated with the anti-115-kDa antibody into host macrophages was significantly reduced from that of non-antibody-treated parasites, suggesting that this serine protease probably plays a role in the infection process. In vivo studies confirmed that this serine protease is a potential vaccine candidate. Altogether, the 115-kDa serine protease might play vital roles in L. donovani pathogenesis and hence could be recognized as a potential candidate for drug design.

Immunolocalization and characterization of two novel proteases in Leishmania donovani: putative roles in host invasion and parasite development.

Two novel intracellular proteases having identical molecular mass (58 kDa) were purified from virulent Indian strain of Leishmania donovani by a combination of aprotinin-agarose affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography and finally continuous elution electrophoresis. Both of these proteases migrate in SDS-PAGE as a single homogeneous bands suggesting monomeric nature of these proteases. The enzyme activity of one of the proteases was inhibited by serine protease inhibitor aprotinin and another one was inhibited by metalloprotease inhibitor 1, 10 phenanthroline. The purified enzymes were thus of serine protease (SP-Ld) and metalloprotease (MP-Ld) type. The optimal pH for protease activity is 8.0 and 7.5 for SP-Ld and MP-Ld respectively. The temperature optimum for SP-Ld is 28 °C and for MP-Ld is 37 °C showing their thermostability upto 60 °C. Broad substrate (both natural and synthetic) specificity and the effect of Ca2+ upon these enzymes suggested novelty of these proteases. Kinetic data indicate that SP-Ld is of trypsin like as BAPNA appears to be the best substrate and MP-Ld seems to be collagenase type as it degrades azocoll with maximum efficiency. Both immunofluorescence and immune-gold electron microscopy studies revealed that the SP-Ld is localized in the flagellar pocket as well as at the surface of the parasite, whereas MP-Ld is located extensively near the flagellar pocket region. This work also suggests that the uses of anti SP-Ld and anti MP-Ld antibodies are quite significant in interfering with the process of parasite invasion and multiplication respectively. Thus the major role of SP-Ld could be predicted in invasion process as it down regulates the phagocytic activity of macrophages, and MP-Ld appears to play important roles in parasitic development.

UDP-Gal: N-acetylglucosamine β 1–4 galactosyltransferase expressing live attenuated parasites as vaccine for visceral leishmaniasis

As compared to cutaneous leishmaniasis, vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has received limited attention. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that an UDP-Galactose: N-acetylglucosamine β 1–4 galactosyltransferase (GenBank Accession No. EF159943) expressing attenuated LD clonal population (A-LD) is able to confer protection against the experimental challenge with the virulent LD AG83 parasite. A-LD was also effective in established leishmania infection. The vaccinated animals showed both cell mediated (in vitro T-cell proliferation, and DTH response) and humoral responses (Th1 type). These results demonstrate the potential of the attenuated clones as an immunotherapeutic and immunoprophylactic agent against visceral leishmaniasis.

In vitro anti-leishmanial efficacy of potato tuber extract (PTEx): leishmanial serine protease(s) as putative target.

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) causes major health problems in the tropical and subtropical world. Most of the antileishmanial modern therapies with different formulations of pentavalent antimonials, Miltefosine, Amphotericin B etc. are not satisfactory in recent times due to high toxicity to the host and present rising strain resistance issues. So there is an urgent need to develop new, safe and cost-effective drugs against leishmaniasis. In this regard, bioactive phytocomponents may lead to the discovery of new medicines with appropriate efficiency. The prominent roles played by Leishmania proteases in the virulence of this parasite make them very promising targets for the development of current therapeutics of leishmaniasis. As part of a search for novel drugs, we have evaluated in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of serine protease inhibitor rich fraction (PTEx) obtained from potato tuber. The extract (PTEx) was prepared by sodium bisulfite fractionation and inhibitors were identified by reverse zymography. Inhibition study of PTEx in gelatin-zymogram and spectrophotometric assay using BApNA and BTpNA as substrate reveal its strong inhibitory activity against trypsin as well as serine proteases present in cell lysate of Leishmania donovani infective strain. The in vitro MTT based colorimetric assay as well as ex vivo L. donovani infected macrophages showed reduced parasite viability and intracellular parasite load with IC50 = 312.5 ± 0.1 μg/ml and IC50 82.3 ± 0.2 μg/ml of PTEx respectively in a concentration dependent manner. This anti-leishmanial effect was also preceded by PTEx induced acute formation of ROS and prolonged NO generation. The PTEx has no significant cytotoxic effect on host macrophages. So taken together, these findings indicate that PTEx has promising leishmanicidal effect and thus this study provides a new perspective of natural serine protease inhibitor from potato tuber on the development of new drug against leishmaniasis.