Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is one of the causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), known as sleeping sickness. The parasite invades the central nervous system and causes severe encephalitis that is fatal if left untreated. We have previously identified ecotin-like inhibitors of se...

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Main Authors: David Jessula Levy, Amy Goundry, Raquel S S Laires, Tatiana F R Costa, Carlos Mendes Novo, Dennis J Grab, Jeremy C Mottram, Ana Paula C A Lima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-06-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0009526&type=printable
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author David Jessula Levy
Amy Goundry
Raquel S S Laires
Tatiana F R Costa
Carlos Mendes Novo
Dennis J Grab
Jeremy C Mottram
Ana Paula C A Lima
author_facet David Jessula Levy
Amy Goundry
Raquel S S Laires
Tatiana F R Costa
Carlos Mendes Novo
Dennis J Grab
Jeremy C Mottram
Ana Paula C A Lima
author_sort David Jessula Levy
collection DOAJ
description Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is one of the causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), known as sleeping sickness. The parasite invades the central nervous system and causes severe encephalitis that is fatal if left untreated. We have previously identified ecotin-like inhibitors of serine peptidases, named ISPs, in trypanosomatid parasitic protozoa. Here, we investigated the role of ISP2 in bloodstream form T. b. rhodesiense. We generated gene-deficient mutants lacking ISP2 (Δisp2), which displayed a growth profile in vitro similar to that of wild-type (WT) parasites. C57BL/6 mice infected with Δisp2 displayed lower blood parasitemia, a delayed hind leg pathological phenotype and survived longer. The immune response was examined at two time-points that corresponded with two peaks of parasitemia. At 4 days, the spleens of Δisp2-infected mice had a greater percentage of NOS2+ myeloid cells, IFN-γ+-NK cells and increased TNF-α compared to those infected with WT and parasites re-expressing ISP2 (Δisp2:ISP2). By 13 days the increased NOS2+ population was sustained in Δisp2-infected mice, along with increased percentages of monocyte-derived dendritic cells, as well as CD19+ B lymphocytes, and CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes. Taken together, these findings indicate that ISP2 contributes to T. b. rhodesiense virulence in mice and attenuates the inflammatory response during early infection.
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spelling doaj-art-c08c22115c764719b4f414f0aed7bf4e2025-08-20T03:44:39ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352021-06-01156e000952610.1371/journal.pntd.0009526Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.David Jessula LevyAmy GoundryRaquel S S LairesTatiana F R CostaCarlos Mendes NovoDennis J GrabJeremy C MottramAna Paula C A LimaTrypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is one of the causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), known as sleeping sickness. The parasite invades the central nervous system and causes severe encephalitis that is fatal if left untreated. We have previously identified ecotin-like inhibitors of serine peptidases, named ISPs, in trypanosomatid parasitic protozoa. Here, we investigated the role of ISP2 in bloodstream form T. b. rhodesiense. We generated gene-deficient mutants lacking ISP2 (Δisp2), which displayed a growth profile in vitro similar to that of wild-type (WT) parasites. C57BL/6 mice infected with Δisp2 displayed lower blood parasitemia, a delayed hind leg pathological phenotype and survived longer. The immune response was examined at two time-points that corresponded with two peaks of parasitemia. At 4 days, the spleens of Δisp2-infected mice had a greater percentage of NOS2+ myeloid cells, IFN-γ+-NK cells and increased TNF-α compared to those infected with WT and parasites re-expressing ISP2 (Δisp2:ISP2). By 13 days the increased NOS2+ population was sustained in Δisp2-infected mice, along with increased percentages of monocyte-derived dendritic cells, as well as CD19+ B lymphocytes, and CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes. Taken together, these findings indicate that ISP2 contributes to T. b. rhodesiense virulence in mice and attenuates the inflammatory response during early infection.https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0009526&type=printable
spellingShingle David Jessula Levy
Amy Goundry
Raquel S S Laires
Tatiana F R Costa
Carlos Mendes Novo
Dennis J Grab
Jeremy C Mottram
Ana Paula C A Lima
Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.
title_full Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.
title_fullStr Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.
title_full_unstemmed Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.
title_short Role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 (ISP2) of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host.
title_sort role of the inhibitor of serine peptidase 2 isp2 of trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in parasite virulence and modulation of the inflammatory responses of the host
url https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0009526&type=printable
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