RESUMO
Zika virus (ZIKV) has the ability to cross placental and brain barriers, causing congenital malformations in neonates and neurological disorders in adults. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of ZIKV-induced neurological complications in adults and congenital malformations are still not fully understood. Gas6 is a soluble TAM receptor ligand able to promote flavivirus internalization and downregulation of immune responses. Here we demonstrate that there is a correlation between ZIKV neurological complications with higher Gas6 levels and the downregulation of genes associated with anti-viral response, as type I IFN due to Socs1 upregulation. Also, Gas6 gamma-carboxylation is essential for ZIKV invasion and replication in monocytes, the main source of this protein, which was inhibited by warfarin. Conversely, Gas6 facilitates ZIKV replication in adult immunocompetent mice and enabled susceptibility to transplacental infection. Our data indicate that ZIKV promotes the upregulation of its ligand Gas6, which contributes to viral infectivity and drives the development of severe adverse outcomes during ZIKV infection.
Assuntos
Doenças do Sistema Nervoso , Infecção por Zika virus , Zika virus , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Camundongos , Placenta , Gravidez , Replicação Viral , Infecção por Zika virus/complicaçõesRESUMO
Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent cause of malaria outside of Africa. P. vivax biology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood. The role of one highly occurring phenotype in particular where infected reticulocytes cytoadhere to noninfected normocytes, forming rosettes, remains unknown. Here, using a range of ex vivo approaches, we showed that P. vivax rosetting rates were enhanced by plasma of infected patients and that total immunoglobulin M levels correlated with rosetting frequency. Moreover, rosetting rates were also correlated with parasitemia, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in infected patients. Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral leukocytes from P. vivax-infected patients with low or moderated rosetting rates identified differentially expressed genes related to human host phagocytosis pathway. In addition, phagocytosis assay showed that rosetting parasites were less phagocyted. Collectively, these results showed that rosette formation plays a role in host immune response by hampering leukocyte phagocytosis. Thus, these findings suggest that rosetting could be an effective P. vivax immune evasion strategy.
Assuntos
Malária Vivax/parasitologia , Parasitemia/imunologia , Fagocitose/imunologia , Plasmodium vivax/imunologia , Formação de Roseta , Humanos , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Interleucina-10/sangue , Interleucina-6/sangue , Malária Vivax/sangue , Malária Vivax/imunologia , Parasitemia/sangueRESUMO
Infections with Plasmodium vivax are predominant in the Americas, representing 75% of malaria cases. Previously perceived as benign, malaria vivax is, in fact, a highly debilitating and economically important disease. Considering the high complexity of the malaria parasite life cycle, it has been hypothesized that an effective vaccine formulation against Plasmodium should contain multiple antigens expressed in different parasite stages. Based on that, we analyzed a recombinant P. vivax vaccine formulation mixing the apical membrane antigen 1 ectodomain (PvAMA-1) and a full-length circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP-AllFL) previously studied by our group, which elicits a potent antibody response in mice. Genetically distinct strains of mice (C57BL/6 and BALB/c) were immunized with the proteins, alone or in combination, in the presence of poly(I:C) adjuvant, a TLR3 agonist. In C57BL/6, high-antibody titers were induced against PvAMA-1 and the three PvCSP variants (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like). Meanwhile, mixing PvAMA-1 with PvCSP-AllFL had no impact on total IgG antibody titers, which were long-lasting. Moreover, antibodies from immunized mice recognized VK210 sporozoites and blood-stage parasites by immunofluorescence assay. However, in the BALB/c model, the antibody response against PvCSP-AllFL was relatively low. PvAMA-1-specific CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T-cell responses were observed in C57BL/6 mice, and the cellular response was impaired by PvCSP-AllFL combination. More relevant, the multistage vaccine formulation provided partial protection in mice challenged with a transgenic Plasmodium berghei sporozoite expressing the homologous PvCSP protein.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have reemerged as a global health issue due to serious clinical complications. Development of specific serological assays to detect and differentiate ZIKV from other cocirculating flaviviruses for accurate diagnosis remains a challenge. METHODS: We investigated antibody responses in 51 acute ZIKV-infected adult patients from Campinas, Brazil, including 7 pregnant women who later delivered during the study. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, levels of antibody response were measured and specific epitopes identified. RESULTS: Several antibody-binding hot spots were identified in ZIKV immunogenic antigens, including membrane, envelope (E) and nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). Interestingly, specific epitopes (2 from E and 2 from NS1) strongly recognized by ZIKV-infected patients' antibodies were identified and were not cross-recognized by dengue virus (DENV)-infected patients' antibodies. Corresponding DENV peptides were not strongly recognized by ZIKV-infected patients' antibodies. Notably, ZIKV-infected pregnant women had specific epitope recognition for ZIKV NS1 (amino acid residues 17-34), which could be a potential serological marker for early ZIKV detection. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified 6 linear ZIKV-specific epitopes for early detection of ZIKV infections. We observed differential epitope recognition between ZIKV-infected and DENV-infected patients. This information will be useful for developing diagnostic methods that differentiate between closely related flaviviruses.
Assuntos
Epitopos/imunologia , Proteínas não Estruturais Virais/imunologia , Infecção por Zika virus/imunologia , Zika virus/imunologia , Doença Aguda , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Formação de Anticorpos/imunologia , Brasil , Reações Cruzadas/imunologia , Dengue/imunologia , Dengue/virologia , Vírus da Dengue/imunologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Testes Sorológicos , Adulto Jovem , Infecção por Zika virus/virologiaRESUMO
Vaccine development against Plasmodium vivax malaria lags behind that for Plasmodium falciparum. To narrow this gap, we administered recombinant antigens based on P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP) to mice. We expressed in Pichia pastoris two chimeric proteins by merging the three central repeat regions of different CSP alleles (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like). The first construct (yPvCSP-AllFL) contained the fused repeat regions flanked by N- and C-terminal regions. The second construct (yPvCSP-AllCT) contained the fused repeat regions and the C-terminal domain, plus RI region. Mice were vaccinated with three doses of yPvCSP in adjuvants Poly (I:C) or Montanide ISA720. We also used replication-defective adenovirus vectors expressing CSP of human serotype 5 (AdHu5) and chimpanzee serotype 68 (AdC68) for priming mice which were subsequently boosted twice with yPvCSP proteins in Poly (I:C) adjuvant. Regardless of the regime used, immunized mice generated high IgG titres specific to all CSP alleles. After challenge with P. berghei ANKA transgenic parasites expressing Pb/PvVK210 or Pb/PvVK247 sporozoites, significant time delays for parasitemia were observed in all vaccinated mice. These vaccine formulations should be clinically tried for their potential as protective universal vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
Assuntos
Vacinas Antimaláricas/imunologia , Malária Vivax/imunologia , Malária Vivax/prevenção & controle , Plasmodium vivax/imunologia , Proteínas de Protozoários/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes/imunologia , Adenoviridae/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/imunologia , Afinidade de Anticorpos/imunologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Vetores Genéticos/administração & dosagem , Vetores Genéticos/química , Imunização , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Vacinas Antimaláricas/genética , Malária Vivax/mortalidade , Camundongos , Plasmodium vivax/genética , Proteínas de Protozoários/química , Proteínas de Protozoários/genéticaRESUMO
Plasmodium vivax is the most common species that cause malaria outside of the African continent. The development of an efficacious vaccine would contribute greatly to control malaria. Recently, using bacterial and adenoviral recombinant proteins based on the P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP), we demonstrated the possibility of eliciting strong antibody-mediated immune responses to each of the three allelic forms of P. vivax CSP (PvCSP). In the present study, recombinant proteins representing the PvCSP alleles (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like), as well as a hybrid polypeptide, named PvCSP-All epitopes, were generated. This hybrid containing the conserved C-terminal of the PvCSP and the three variant repeat domains in tandem were successfully produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris. After purification and biochemical characterization, they were used for the experimental immunization of C57BL/6 mice in a vaccine formulation containing the adjuvant Poly(I:C). Immunization with a recombinant protein expressing all three different allelic forms in fusion elicited high IgG antibody titers reacting with all three different allelic variants of PvCSP. The antibodies targeted both the C-terminal and repeat domains of PvCSP and recognized the native protein on the surface of P. vivax sporozoites. More importantly, mice that received the vaccine formulation were protected after challenge with chimeric Plasmodium berghei sporozoites expressing CSP repeats of P. vivax sporozoites (Pb/PvVK210). Our results suggest that it is possible to elicit protective immunity against one of the most common PvCSP alleles using soluble recombinant proteins expressed by P. pastoris. These recombinant proteins are promising candidates for clinical trials aiming to develop a multiallele vaccine against P. vivax malaria.
RESUMO
Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infections have been linked to different levels of clinical outcomes, ranging from mild rash and fever to severe neurological complications and congenital malformations. Methods: We investigated the clinical and immunological response, focusing on the immune mediators profile in 95 acute ZIKV-infected adult patients from Campinas, Brazil. These patients included 6 pregnant women who later delivered during the course of this study. Clinical observations were recorded during hospitalization. Levels of 45 immune mediators were quantified using multiplex microbead-based immunoassays. Results: Whereas 11.6% of patients had neurological complications, 88.4% displayed mild disease of rash and fever. Several immune mediators were specifically higher in ZIKV-infected patients, and levels of interleukin 10, interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and hepatocyte growth factor differentiated between patients with or without neurological complications. Interestingly, higher levels of interleukin 22, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, TNF-α, and IP-10 were observed in ZIKV-infected pregnant women carrying fetuses with fetal growth-associated malformations. Notably, infants with congenital central nervous system deformities had significantly higher levels of interleukin 18 and IP-10 but lower levels of hepatocyte growth factor than those without such abnormalities born to ZIKV-infected mothers. Conclusions: This study identified several key markers for the control of ZIKV pathogenesis. This will allow a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ZIKV infection in patients.
Assuntos
Citocinas/sangue , Malformações do Sistema Nervoso/epidemiologia , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/epidemiologia , Infecção por Zika virus/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Biomarcadores/sangue , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Feminino , Retardo do Crescimento Fetal/virologia , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Malformações do Sistema Nervoso/virologia , Gravidez , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/virologia , Resultado da Gravidez , Carga Viral , Adulto Jovem , Zika virus , Infecção por Zika virus/complicaçõesRESUMO
Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed malaria species and the most prevalent species of malaria in America and Asia. Vaccine development against P. vivax is considered a priority in the global program for the eradication of malaria. Earlier studies have characterized the Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA-1) ectodomain and the C-terminal region (19kDa) of the Merozoite Surface Protein 1 (MSP-1) of P. vivax as immunodominant antigens. Based on this characterization, we designed a chimeric recombinant protein containing both merozoite immunodominant domains (PvAMA166-MSP119). The recombinant PvAMA166-MSP119 was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and used to immunize two different mouse strains (BALB/c and C57BL/6) in the presence of the Poly (I:C) as an adjuvant. Immunization with the chimeric protein induced high antibody titers against both proteins in both strains of mice as detected by ELISA. Antisera also recognized the native proteins expressed on the merozoites of mature P. vivax schizonts. Moreover, this antigen was able to induce IFN-gamma-secreting cells in C57BL/6 mice. These findings indicate that this novel yeast recombinant protein containing PvAMA166 and PvMSP119 is advantageous, because of improved antibody titers and cellular immune response. Therefore, this formulation should be further developed for pre-clinical trials in non-human primates as a potential candidate for a P. vivax vaccine.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Protozoários/imunologia , Vacinas Antimaláricas/imunologia , Proteínas de Membrana/imunologia , Proteína 1 de Superfície de Merozoito/imunologia , Plasmodium vivax/imunologia , Proteínas de Protozoários/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/imunologia , Adjuvantes Imunológicos/administração & dosagem , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Antígenos de Protozoários/genética , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Leucócitos Mononucleares/imunologia , Vacinas Antimaláricas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Antimaláricas/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteína 1 de Superfície de Merozoito/genética , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Pichia/genética , Poli I-C/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Protozoários/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Vacinas Sintéticas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Sintéticas/genética , Vacinas Sintéticas/imunologiaRESUMO
Malaria remains a world-threatening disease largely because of the lack of a long-lasting and fully effective vaccine. MAEBL is a type 1 transmembrane molecule with a chimeric cysteine-rich ectodomain homologous to regions of the Duffy binding-like erythrocyte binding protein and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) antigens. Although MAEBL does not appear to be essential for the survival of blood-stage forms, ectodomains M1 and M2, homologous to AMA1, seem to be involved in parasite attachment to erythrocytes, especially M2. MAEBL is necessary for sporozoite infection of mosquito salivary glands and is expressed in liver stages. Here, the Plasmodium yoelii MAEBL-M2 domain was expressed in a prokaryotic vector. C57BL/6J mice were immunized with doses of P. yoelii recombinant protein rPyM2-MAEBL. High levels of antibodies, with balanced IgG1 and IgG2c subclasses, were achieved. rPyM2-MAEBL antisera were capable of recognizing the native antigen. Anti-MAEBL antibodies recognized different MAEBL fragments expressed in CHO cells, showing stronger IgM and IgG responses to the M2 domain and repeat region, respectively. After a challenge with P. yoelii YM (lethal strain)-infected erythrocytes (IE), up to 90% of the immunized animals survived and a reduction of parasitemia was observed. Moreover, splenocytes harvested from immunized animals proliferated in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of rPyM2-MAEBL. Protection was highly dependent on CD4(+), but not CD8(+), T cells toward Th1. rPyM2-MAEBL antisera were also able to significantly inhibit parasite development, as observed in ex vivo P. yoelii erythrocyte invasion assays. Collectively, these findings support the use of MAEBL as a vaccine candidate and open perspectives to understand the mechanisms involved in protection.
Assuntos
Vacinas Antimaláricas/imunologia , Malária/prevenção & controle , Plasmodium yoelii/imunologia , Proteínas de Protozoários/química , Proteínas de Protozoários/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/imunologia , Eritrócitos/parasitologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imunização , Malária/imunologia , Malária/mortalidade , Malária/parasitologia , Vacinas Antimaláricas/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Antimaláricas/química , Vacinas Antimaláricas/genética , Masculino , Merozoítos/química , Merozoítos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Merozoítos/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Plasmodium yoelii/química , Plasmodium yoelii/genética , Plasmodium yoelii/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Proteínas de Protozoários/administração & dosagem , Proteínas de Protozoários/genética , Esporozoítos/química , Esporozoítos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Esporozoítos/imunologiaRESUMO
There is now a growing body of evidence that challenges the current view that Plasmodium vivax-infected erythrocyte (Pv-iE) are unable to sequester. Here we used ex vivo adhesion assays with Pv-iE before and after maturation to demonstrate a higher binding potential of schizonts compared to other asexual stages. These experimental results are correlated with our observations in a panel of 50 vivax malaria patients where schizonts were completely absent in 27 isolates, and few schizonts were observed in the remaining patients. These observations prompt a paradigm shift in P. vivax biology and open avenues to investigate the role of Pv-iE sequestration.