In Vitro Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Activity Evaluation of a New Series of Quinazolin-4(3H)-one Derivatives

Toxoplasmosis post serious threaten to human health, leading to severely eye and brain disease, especially for immunocompromised patients and pregnant women. The multiple side effects and long dosing period of current main treatment regiments calls for high effective and low toxicity anti-toxoplasmosis drugs. Herein, we report our efforts to synthesize a series of 2-(piperazin-1-yl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives and investigate their activity against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro based on cell phenotype screening. Among the 26 compounds, 8w and 8x with diaryl ether moiety at the side chain of piperazine exhibited good efficacy to inhibit T. gondii, with IC₅₀ values of 4 μM and 3 μM, respectively. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies implies that hydrophobic aryl at the side chain would be preferred for improvement of activity. Molecular docking study reveals these two compounds appeared high affinity to TgCDPK1 by interaction with the hydrophobic pocket of ATP-binding cleft.     

Development of an in vitro model of Toxoplasma gondii cyst formation

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii tissue cyst reactivation is a major pathogenic mechanism in ocular toxoplasmosis, disease associated with AIDS and organ transplantation. The mechanisms associated with cyst formation and reactivation have not been elucidated. The complexity of studying these issues in animal models has led to the development of in vitro tissue culture strategies for cyst formation. In the present study we have adopted the human embryonic lung fibroblast (HEL) as the host cell and have compared the cyst forming abilities of eight clinical isolates. We describe by transmission electron microscopy and quantitative light microscopy the development of cysts in vitro. The numbers of in vitro cysts increased with time for all isolates. Cyst cultures were stabilised by manipulation of the free parasite load, an observation not previously recorded. Thus, in this paper we describe a viable model for the analysis of the mechanisms of Toxoplasma cyst development.     

弓形虫RH株SAG1基因序列体外扩增及生物信息学分析

根据sAG1基因序列,自行设计一对寡核苷酸引物,利用PCR技术从弓形虫RH株基因组DNA中成功扩增出编码SAG1抗原的基因片段,扩增出的基因片段大小与预期长度（1006bp）相符,结果经测序验证,并利用生物信息学方法对SAG1蛋白理化性质、结构和功能进行了预测．     

A Cell Culture System for Study of the Development of Toxoplasma gondii Bradyzoites

ABSTRACT. Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite and a major opportunistic pathogen under AIDS-induced conditions, where it causes encephalitis when the bradyzoite (cyst) stage is reactivated. A bradyzoite-specific Mab, 74.1.8, reacting with a 28 kDa antigen, was used to study bradyzoite development in vitro by immuno-electron microscopy and immunofluorescence in human fibroblasts infected with ME49 strain T. gondii . Bradyzoites were detected in tissue culture within 3 days of infection. Free floating cyst-like structures were also identified. Western blotting demonstrated the expression of bradyzoite antigens in these free-floating cysts as well as in the monolayer. Bradyzoite development was increased by using media adjusted to pH 6.8 or 8.2. The addition of γ-interferon at day 3 of culture while decreasing the total number of cysts formed prevented tachyzoite overgrowth and enabled study of in vitro bradyzoites for up to 25 days. The addition of IL-6 increased the number of cysts released into the medium and increased the number of cysts formed at pH 7.2. Confirmation of bradyzoite development in vitro was provided by electron microscopy. It is possible that the induction of an acute phase response in the host cell may be important for bradyzoite differentiation. This system should allow further studies on the effect of various agents on the development of bradyzoites.     

4-Arylthiosemicarbazide derivatives as a new class of tyrosinase inhibitors and anti-Toxoplasma gondii agents

We report herein anti-proliferation effects of 4-arylthiosemicarbazides, with a cyclopentane substitution at N1 position, on highly virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Among them, the highest in vitro anti-Toxoplasma activity was found with the meta-iodo derivative. Further experiments demonstrated inhibitory effects of thiosemicarbazides on tyrosinase (Tyr) activity, and good correlation was found between percentage of Tyr inhibition and IC_50Tg. To confirm the concept that thiosemicarbazides are able to disrupt tyrosine metabolism in Toxoplasma tachyzoites, the most potent Tyr inhibitors were tested for their efficacy of T. gondii growth inhibition. All of them significantly reduced the number of tachyzoites in the parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs) compared to untreated cells, as well as inhibited tachyzoites growth by impeding cell division. Collectively, these results indicate that compounds with the thiosemicarbazide scaffold are able to disrupt tyrosine metabolism in Toxoplasma tachyzoites by deregulation of their crucial enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrH).     

舍曲林抗新生隐球菌的体外及动物实验研究

目的评估舍曲林抗新生隐球菌的效果。方法实验分为6组,分别为空白对照组、10 mg/mL氟康唑、10 mg/mL舍曲林、20 mg/mL舍曲林、10 mg/mL氟康唑联用10 mg/mL舍曲林以及10 mg/mL氟康唑联用20 mg/mL舍曲林组。通过体外药敏试验及BALBc小鼠新生隐球菌动物探讨各组间抗隐球菌效果的差异。结果体外药敏试验发现舍曲林可有效降低新生隐球菌菌落数,当与氟康唑联用时抑菌效果更显著。动物实验发现2种浓度的舍曲林都可明显降低感染小鼠实验早期脑、肺组织的新生隐球菌菌落数,但在实验后期,低浓度的舍曲林对感染小鼠脑组织失去抑菌作用。脑、肺组织中,舍曲林治疗对新生隐球菌的抗菌效果均不如氟康唑。舍曲林与氟康唑联合用药对新生隐球菌模型小鼠肺组织的抗菌效果强于单用舍曲林或氟康唑。结论舍曲林具有抗新生隐球菌的作用,当与氟康唑联合用药时可起到协同作用。     

Activity of Fluorinated Curcuminoids against Leishmania major and Toxoplasma gondii Parasites

A new 3,4-difluorobenzylidene analog of curcumin, CDF, was recently reported, which demonstrated significantly enhanced bioavailability and in vivo anticancer activity compared with curcumin. For highlighting the antiparasitic behavior of CDF, we tested this compound together with its new O-methylated analog MeCDF against Leishmania major and Toxoplasma gondii parasites. Both CDF and MeCDF were tested in vitro against L. major and T. gondii. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity against Vero cells and macrophages was determined and selectivity indices were calculated. The DPPH radical scavenging activity assay was carried out in order to determine the antioxidant activity of the test compounds. Both compounds showed high activities against both parasite forms with EC₅₀ values in the (sub-)micromolar range (0.35 to 0.8 μM for CDF, 0.31 to 1.2 μM for MeCDF). The higher activity of CDF against L. major amastigotes when compared with MeCDF can in parts be attributed to the antioxidant activity of CDF while MeCDF lacking any antioxidant activity was more active than CDF against T. gondii parasites. In conclusion, CDF and MeCDF are promising antiparasitic drug candidates due to their high activities against L. major and T. gondii parasites.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii activity of a novel scaffold of thiazolidinone derivatives

We designed and synthesised novel N-substituted 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one derivatives for the evaluation of their anti-Toxoplasma gondii efficacy. This scaffold was functionalised both at the N1-hydrazine portion with three structurally different moieties and at the lactam nitrogen with substituted benzyl groups selected on the basis of our previous structure-activity relationships studies. Using three different assay methods, the compounds were assessed in vitro to determine both the levels of efficacy against the tachyzoites of T. gondii (IC₅₀?=?5–148?μM), as well as any evidence of cytotoxicity towards human host cells (TD₅₀?=?68 to ≥320?μM). Results revealed that ferrocene-based thiazolidinones can possess potent anti-tachyzoite activity (TI =2–64).     

Proteomic analysis of calcium-dependent secretion in Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that invades a wide range of nucleated cells. In the course of intracellular parasitism, the parasite releases a large variety of proteins from three secretory organelles, namely, micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules. Elevation of intracellular Ca(2+) in the parasite causes microneme discharge, and microneme secretion is essential for the invasion. In this study, we performed a proteomic analysis of the Ca(2+)-dependent secretion to evaluate the protein repertoire. We found that Ca(2+)-mobilising agents, such as thapsigargin, NH(4)Cl, ethanol and a Ca(2+) ionophore, A23187, promoted the secretion of the parasite proteins. The proteins, artificially secreted by A23187, were used in a comparative proteomic analysis by 2-DE followed by PMF analysis and/or N-terminal sequencing. Major known microneme proteins (MICs), such as MIC2, MIC4, MIC6 and MIC10 and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1), were identified, indicating that the proteomic analysis worked accurately. Interestingly, new members of secretory proteins, namely rhoptry protein 9 (ROP9) and Toxoplasma SPATR (TgSPATR), which was a homologue of a Plasmodium secreted protein with an altered thrombospondin repeat (SPATR), were detected in Ca(2+)-dependent secretion. Thus, we succeeded in detecting Ca(2+)-dependent secretory proteins in T. gondii, which contained novel secretory proteins.     

中药大蒜素体外抗弓形虫效应及其机制的研究

目的 观察大蒜提取物体外抗弓形虫的作用效果及其机制.方法 将弓形虫RH株速殖子与兔肾细胞共同培养,加入不同浓度的大蒜素(实验组)和磺胺嘧啶(阳性对照组),培养不同时间后取出细胞,固定染色后观察细胞感染率及每个纳虫泡中弓形虫速殖子的数量;采用MTT比色法观察大蒜素对弓形虫速殖子侵袭细胞及其正常细胞增殖的影响;采用台盼兰着色法观察大蒜素对弓形虫速殖子活性的影响;采用TUNEL末端标记法检测弓形虫速殖子凋亡率,对药物的效应和机制进行探讨.结果 (1)10～80 μg/ml的大蒜素能抗弓形虫的感染,呈现剂量依赖性,与时间无明显的相关性.(2)40 μg/ml、80 μg/ml的大蒜素不能抑制细胞的增殖,对细胞无明显的毒副作用;160 μg/ml的大蒜素对细胞有明显的毒副作用.(3)大蒜素80 μg/ml时,台盼兰着色率最高,弓形虫的活力最低.(4)大蒜素80 μg/ml的浓度时,弓形虫速殖子凋亡率最高.结论 大蒜素可以抑制弓形虫速殖子的活力、对宿主细胞的感染力、在细胞内的增殖,无明显的毒副作用,最适宜浓度为80 μg/ml.大蒜素是一种良好的抗弓形虫药物,诱导弓形虫速殖子凋亡是其抗弓形虫机制之一.     

Developmental capacity of rat embryos produced by in vivo or in vitro fertilization

This work compares the ability of rat zygotes fertilized in vitro or in vivo to develop into viable embryos. All oocytes were from adult cyclic females. After the first cleavage, the zygotes were transferred to oviducts of pseudopregnant recipients. Their fate was examined on day 13 at laparotomy and again on day 20. Ninety-five of 146 in vivo fertilized zygotes developed into normal sized 13-day fetuses and 72 (55%) to apparently normal near-term fetuses. Forty-six of 135 in vitro fertilized zygotes developed up to day 13, and 30 (24%) developed to term. It appears that the probability that in vitro fertilized rat zygotes will develop into viable embryos is about half the chance of in vivo fertilized zygotes. Since the two types of zygotes were morphologically identical, the morphological appearance of the two-cell stage is not an adequate criterion for judging developmental potential.     

Evaluation of a rapid ELISA technique for detection of circulating antigens of Toxoplasma gondii

To evaluate a modified rapid ELISA method for detecting CAg during Toxoplasma gondii infection, we analyzed the specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA method by using experimental Toxoplasma infection in rabbits and also tested this method in human samples including 5428 serum, 548 cerebrospinal fluid and two breast milk samples. We prepared PcAb, and used it for rapid one-step sandwich ELISA testing in which an incubation time in the regular ELISA procedure was omitted. This method detected CAg at the concentration of 31.2 ng/mL, and no cross-reaction was found with antigens of protozoa (Cryptosporidium parvum, Plasmodium falciparum), trematode (Schistosoma japonicum, Paragonimus sp.) and nematode (Brugia malayi, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichinella spiralis). CAg was detected in rabbit serum 3 days after infection, and optical density values reached a peak 9-13 days after infection, then declined gradually. Among human serum samples, the positive rate of CAg was 2.11% in cerebral paralysis patients, whereas it was 0.22% or 0.71% in patients without neurological symptoms or in uncomplicated pregnant women. The difference among these three groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The positive rate of cerebrospinal fluid samples from cerebral paralysis patients was 10.58%. There is a statistically significant difference between the positive rates of meat-packing workers and blood donors (P < 0.01). In the retrospective analysis, CAg was detected in accordance with the onset of clinical symptoms, suggesting that CAg could reflect the clinical course in humans. Together with these results, CAg detected in the modified rapid sandwich ELISA could be a sensitive marker for acute and active infection of T. gondii.     

弓形虫感染实验动物模型的特点及建模方案的选择

弓形虫感染对人类生活和畜牧业发展构成严重威胁。弓形虫感染实验动物模型是进行弓形虫学相关研究的基础条件之一。在实际研究工作中,根据不同的实验目的、选取不同的实验动物和以不同的实验方法所建立的实验动物模型,呈现出复杂和多变的特点。这一方面可以满足不同实验的需要,但同时也在实验结果的评价上导致一定程度的不足。根据弓形虫感染实验动物模型的不同特点,针对特定的实验目的,选择适合方法建立适合的实验动物模型,是进行相关弓形虫学研究的有效基础和前提。     

Direct inhibition of cytochrome c-induced caspase activation in vitro by Toxoplasma gondii reveals novel mechanisms of interference with host cell apoptosis

The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is known to inhibit apoptosis of its host cell. The molecular mechanisms of this interference are, however, not yet completely understood. We show here that viable parasites prominently inhibited the activation of caspase 3/7 induced by cytochrome c, dATP and dithiothreitol in cytosolic extracts of human-derived Jurkat leukemic T cells. In contrast, granzyme B-induced caspase activity was only slightly diminished. De novo protein biosynthesis by T. gondii was dispensable for the inhibition of cytochrome c-induced caspase activation. Furthermore, a complete parasite lysate or, more importantly, molecules released by extracellular parasites mediated the interaction with the caspase cascade. The cell-free system applied here is thus a valuable tool to study the interaction of T. gondii and possibly other intracellular pathogens with host cell apoptosis.     

Construction of Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoite expressing the green fluorescent protein

The bradyzoite stage of Toxoplasma gondii is a key step in the parasite life cycle. For a better understanding of this stage, a sensitive system to detect the tissue cysts would be required. In this study, we generated the T. gondii cyst-forming strain PLK expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under control of the dense granule protein 1 promoter, which works at both the tachyzoite and the bradyzoite stages. The bradyzoites with GFP fluorescence within both small and large cysts were detectable in the brain of mice infected with the recombinant PLK. Indeed, the bradyzoites expressing GFP had infectivity to mice. This study shows that transfection of the cyst-forming strain with GFP gene under control of the GRA1 promoter could be a useful approach for the study of the bradyzoite stage of T. gondii.     

体内和体外评价法分析内生真菌粗提取物的抗氧化活性

对几株经初筛具较高抗氧化活性的疏花水柏枝的内生真菌展开研究,在体内和体外两种方法下分析了其抗氧化能力。本研究选择1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH)法、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)试剂盒和铁氰化钾还原力测定法来评价内生真菌的体外抗氧化活性,并对不同方法进行了比较分析;建立并优化了大肠杆菌的氧化损伤模型,并将内生真菌对其保护作用与对人神经母瘤细胞SH-SY5Y的氧化损伤保护作用进行比较,分析了不同内生真菌在体内的抗氧化活性。结果表明体内和体外的抗氧化分析方法存在一定偏差,体外分析中活性最高的菌株是SJ-12和QY-1,体内分析中对大肠杆菌抗氧化保护效果最好的菌株也是QY-1和SJ-12,但对神经细胞保护效果最好的菌株是QY-1和MG-9。综合几种方法,本实验证明了内生真菌QY-1及其发酵产物具较强的抗氧化活性,可以作为潜在的新型抗氧化剂开发利用。     

Differences in sperm function in vitro but not in vivo between inbred and random-bred mice

Genetic variation in spermatozoa was used to examine mechanisms important for fertilization in the mouse. A significantly greater proportion of cauda epididymal sperm from C57BL/6 (inbred) males were motile than from random-bred (CFW) males. Random-bred sperm, however, were able to fertilize a significantly greater percentage of eggs in vitro than were inbred sperm. When sperm of these two genotypes were used for insemination in vivo, and the penetrated eggs cultured through the first cleavage, the levels of cleavage were similar, suggesting that neither levels of sperm motility nor sperm penetration in vitro accurately reflect the ability of the same sperm populations to penetrate eggs in vivo.     

Proteomic profiling of extracellular vesicles secreted from Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii infects a wide range of hosts worldwide, including humans and domesticated animals causing toxoplasmosis disease. Recently, exosomes, small extracellular vesicles (EV) that contain nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids derived from their original cells were linked with disease protection. The effect of EVs derived from T. gondii on the immune response and its relevance in a physiological context is unknown. Here we disclose the first proteomic profiling of T. gondii EVs compared to EVs isolated from a human foreskin fibroblast infected cell line cultured in a vesicle‐free medium. Our results reveal a broad range of canonical exosomes proteins. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD004895.     

弓形虫上海株的棒状体蛋白ROP2的克隆表达及纯化

根据已发表基因序列(GenBank登录号为Z36906)设计引物,以弓形虫(Toxoplasma gondii)上海本地株的基因组DNA为模板,扩增编码ROP2(rhpotry protein2)蛋白的基因片段,定向克隆至表达质粒pET32a(+),重组质粒经限制性酶切鉴定后测序,结果表明插入片段长度为1044bp,与GenBank上登录的序列相比,同源性为96%-100%,其中与弓形虫RH株的rop2基因同源性为100%。重组原核表达质粒pET32a-rop2转化至大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经诱导可表达分子量约60.9kD的融合蛋白,能被感染弓形虫RH株的绵羊阳性血清识别。     

Preparation of matrine ethosome,its percutaneous permeation in vitro and anti-inflammatory activity in vivo in rats

The aim of this work was to evaluate the preparation of matrine ethosome and the percutaneous permeation in vitro and the anti-inflammatory activity in vivo in the rat skin. The matrine ethosomes were prepared by the ethanol injection-sonication method. The particle size of the ethosomes was measured by a laser particle-size analyzer, and the entrapment efficiency was detected by ultracentrifugation. The anti-inflammatory activity in vivo of the matrine formulations was determined by a reflection spectrophotometer. In this study, we found that the average particle size of matrine ethosomes was in the range of 50–200?nm with a narrow distribution, and the entrapment efficiency was in the range of 40–90%. Compared with other formulations, matrine ethosomes had the largest 24-hour accumulative permeation quantity (60.5%) and with no permeation lag time. Matrine ethosomes were able to make the induced erythema disappear more rapidly than the nonethosomes formulations of matrine. This study reveals that the average particle size of matrine ethosomes decreases with the increase of ethanol concentration and increases with the increase of phospholipid concentration, while the entrapment efficiency increases with the increase of the concentration of both ethanol and phospholipid. Matrine ethosomes can increase the percutaneous permeation of matrine in the experiment in vitro and improve the anti-inflammatory activity of matrine in vivo in rat skin.