Project description:Benzoxaboroles (BoBs) feature a boron-heterocyclic core and are an important recent innovation in the development of drugs against a range of pathogens and other pathologies. A broad spectrum of pharmacology is associated with chemically diverse BoB derivatives and includes multiple modes-of-action and targets. However, a consensus MoA for BoBs targeting evolutionarily diverse protozoan pathogens has emerged with the identification of CPSF3/CPSF73 in the CPSF complex in both apicomplexan and kinetoplastida parasites. We have detected a functional connection between protein sumoylation and the BoB boron-heterocyclic scaffold using comprehensive genetic screens in Trypanosoma brucei. Strikingly, as part of this sumoylation response, members of the CPSF complex are specifically and rapidly destabilised in a SUMO and proteosome-dependent manner. Here we deposit RNAseq data quantifying the effects of the aminomethyl-benzoxaborole AN3057 exposure on the transcriptome landscape in T. brucei. Specifically, T. brucei bloodstream-form cells in logarithmic growth phase were treated with 400 nm AN3057 (3 × EC50 determined after 24h) for 20 min (T20) and 60 min (T60), respectively. Nontreated control cells were prepared in parallel. All samples were in 2 biological replicates.
Project description:The host range of African trypanosomes is influenced by innate protective molecules in the blood of primates. A subfraction of human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) containing apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein L-I, and haptoglobin-related protein is toxic to Trypanosoma brucei brucei but not the human sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. It is thought that T. b. rhodesiense evolved from a T. b. brucei-like ancestor and expresses a defense protein that ablates the antitrypanosomal activity of human HDL. To directly investigate this possibility, we developed an in vitro selection to generate human HDL-resistant T. b. brucei. Here we show that conversion of T. b. brucei from human HDL sensitive to resistant correlates with changes in the expression of the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) and abolished uptake of the cytotoxic human HDLs. Complete transcriptome analysis of the HDL-susceptible and -resistant trypanosomes confirmed that VSG switching had occurred but failed to reveal the expression of other genes specifically associated with human HDL resistance, including the serum resistance-associated gene (SRA) of T. b. rhodesiense. In addition, we found that while the original active expression site was still utilized, expression of three expression site-associated genes (ESAG) was altered in the HDL-resistant trypanosomes. These findings demonstrate that resistance to human HDLs can be acquired by T. b. brucei. Keywords: Trypanosoma, VSG, antigenic switching, HDL-resistance Bloodstream stages of the Lister strain 427 T. b. brucei (MiTat 1.2), expressing VSG221, were used in these studies. Cells were cultured in HMI-9 medium with the addition of heat inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) (10%) and Serum Plus (10%). T. b. brucei 427-221 is an antigenically stable line and contains a single copy of the vsg221 gene within the 221 expression site (221ES). At a cell density of approximately 1,000,000 cells/ml, T. b. brucei 427-221 were exposed to various amounts of human HDLs for 24 h in a 6 well plate. Surviving trypanosomes were counted using a hemocytometer then diluted into fresh HMI-9 medium and allowed to recover for 5-14 days. Once the cells had grown to a density of approximately 1,000,000 cells/ml, they were once again incubated with human HDLs. Each round of selection was performed with increasing concentrations of human HDLs and freezer stocks were prepared for each surviving population. Over nine months we conducted eight rounds of human HDL selection, resulting in a population of T. b. brucei that survived incubation with 800 μl of human HDLs (160 lytic U).
Project description:In a phenotypic screening approach of novel molecules composed of a synergistic combination of phthalimide, benzimidazole, and triazole scaffolds we discovered compounds with potent anti-leishmanial activity. The resulting early-lead compound PHT-39, which contains a trifluoromethyl substitution, demonstrated the highest efficacy in a Leishmania infantum intramacrophage assay, with an EC50 of 1.2+/- 3.2 μM.Cytotoxicity testing of PHT-39 in Hep-G2 cells indicated high selectivity of over 90-fold. To investigate the mechanism of action we carried out experiments in Trypanosoma brucei, which is also sensitive to PHT-39. Here we used a genome-wide RNAi library approach (PMID: 22278056; PMID: 21363968) to detect sensitivity determinants. This high-throughput phenotyping approach identified sensitivity determinants for PHT-39, which included a P-type ATPase that is crucial for the uptake of miltefosine and amphotericin, strongly indicating a shared route for cellular entry.
Project description:The gene expression of Trypanosoma brucei has been examined extensively in the blood of mammalian hosts and in forms found in the midgut of its arthropod vector, the tsetse fly. However, trypanosomes also undergo development within the mammalian bloodstream as they progress from morphologically M-bM-^@M-^Xslender formsM-bM-^@M-^Y to transmissible M-bM-^@M-^Xstumpy formsM-bM-^@M-^Y through morphological intermediates. This transition is temporally progressive within the first wave of parasitaemia such that gene expression can be monitored in relatively pure slender and stumpy populations as well as during the progression between these extremes. The development also represents the progression of cells from translationally active forms adapted for proliferation in the host to translationally quiescent forms, adapted for transmission. We have used metabolic labelling to quantitate translational activity in slender forms, stumpy forms and in forms undergoing early differentiation to procyclic forms in vitro. Thereafter we have examined the cohort of total mRNAs that are enriched in throughout development in the mammalian bloodstream (slender, intermediate and stumpy forms), irrespective of strain, revealing those that exhibit consistent developmental regulation rather than sample specific changes. Transcripts that cosediment with polysomes in stumpy forms and slender forms have also been identified to enrich transcripts that escape translational repression prior to transmission. Combined, the expression and polysomal association of transcripts as trypanosomes undergo development in the mammalian bloodstream haves been defined, providing a resource for trypanosome researchers. This facilitates the identification of those that undergo developmental regulation in the bloodstream and therefore those likely to have a role in the survival and capacity for transmission of stumpy forms. Examination of gene expression during life cycle stages.
Project description:mRNA expression profiles of trypanosomes from two discrete bloodstream form stages of the parasite (slender and stumpy forms), as well as during the transition of the stumpy population to the procyclic life-cycle stage were studied. Our analysis represents the first comparison of in vivo derived pleomorphic slender cells with genetically identical stumpy forms, and a first analysis of the dynamic changes in mRNA profile that accompany the transition to procyclic forms. Twenty nine RNA samples were generated (5 biological replicates of Stumpy (0h), 1h, 6h, 18h and 48h, and 4 biological replicates of slender forms. Four arrays failed QC.
Project description:Trypanosome RNA polymerase II transcription is polycistronic, individual mRNAs being excised by trans splicing and polyadenylation. In this study, we refined the previously published mathematical model for bloodstream form parasites and extended it to the procyclic form. We used the model, together with known mRNA half-lives, to predict the abundances of individual mRNAs, assuming rapid, unregulated mRNA processing; then we compared the results with measured mRNA abundances. Remarkably, the abundances of most mRNAs in procyclic forms are predicted quite well by the model, being largely explained by variations in mRNA decay rates and length. In bloodstream forms substantially more mRNAs are less abundant than predicted. We list mRNAs that are likely to show particularly slow or inefficient processing, either in both forms or with developmental regulation. We also measured ribosome occupancies of all mRNAs in trypanosomes grown in the same conditions as were used to measure mRNA turnover. In procyclic forms there was a weak positive correlation between ribosome density and mRNA half-life, suggesting cross-talk between translation and mRNA decay; ribosome density was related to the proportion of the mRNA on polysomes, indicating control of translation initiation. Ribosomal protein mRNAs in procyclics appeared to be exceptionally rapidly processed but poorly translated. Through this study, we conclude that lLevels of mRNAs in procyclic form trypanosomes are determined mainly by length and mRNA decay, with some control of precursor processing. In bloodstream forms variations in nuclear events play a larger role in transcriptome regulation, suggesting acquisition of new control mechanisms during adaptation to mammalian parasitism. Ribosome profiling and mRNA libraries were constructed in triplicate from in vitro PCF and in duplicate from in vitro T. brucei Lister427, to understand global differntial gene transcription.
Project description:Trypanosomes were sorted (0 cells, 1 cell, 50 cells) using a FACSaria III (BD Biosciences; precision: single-cell; nozzle: 100 µm). Forward-scatter area (FCS-A) versus side-scatter area (SSC-A) was used to gate the cells. Trypanosomes were sorted in 48-wells plate (Brand) filled with 2.6 µL of lysis buffer (0.01 µL of RNAse inhibitor (Takara) and 1x Lysis buffer (Takara) in RNAse-free water). Immediately after sorting cells were placed on ice for 5 minutes and stored at -80 °C. 50 and single trypanosomes were prepared using SMART-Seq v4 Ultra Low Input RNA Kit (Takara) using one fourth of reagents volumes compared to the supplier instructions. PCR amplification was performed using 26 cycles using supplier recommendations. cDNA was purified using XP beads (Beckman Coulter) and recovered in 15 µL of elution buffer (Takara). Libraries were quantified using the Qubit Hs Assay (Life Technologies) and the qualities of the libraries were further monitored using a Bioanalyzer (Agilent). Similar to what has been published previously 19, 1 ng of cDNA was subjected to a tagmentation-based protocol (Nextera XT, Illumina) using one-quarter of the recommended volumes, 10 minuntes for tagmentation at 55 °C and 1 minute extension time during PCR amplification. Libraries were pooled (96 libraries for NextSeq) and sequencing was performed in paired-end mode for 2 × 75 cycles using Illumina's NextSeq 500.
Project description:Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are cells with high regenerative and immunosuppressive capacity that are known to be very potent donors of functional mitochondria to all surrounding cells, including immune cells. As metabolism shapes immune cell response and phenotype, mitochondrial transfer might be one of the main immunosuppressive mechanisms used by stem cells. However, the precise mechanism underlying horizontal mitochondrial transfer and its effect on some cell populations has yet to be discovered. In our project, we have shown that MSCs transfer mitochondria to B lymphocytes less efficiently in comparison to other immune populations. To describe the effect of mitochondrial transfer on activated B lymphocytes, MSCs were co-cultivated with B lymphocytes which were activated prior to co-cultivation. Then B cell acceptors and non-acceptors of mitochondria were sorted for further RNA isolation and the performance of bulk RNA-seq.
Project description:Cy3 and Cy5 direct labelled RNA from Bloodstream MiTat1.1 trypanosomes and Procyclic 427 Lister were hybridized onto JCVI Trypanosoma brucei oligoarrays (version2). Procyclic RNA were used as control for data analysis.
Project description:The host range of African trypanosomes is influenced by innate protective molecules in the blood of primates. A subfraction of human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) containing apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein L-I, and haptoglobin-related protein is toxic to Trypanosoma brucei brucei but not the human sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. It is thought that T. b. rhodesiense evolved from a T. b. brucei-like ancestor and expresses a defense protein that ablates the antitrypanosomal activity of human HDL. To directly investigate this possibility, we developed an in vitro selection to generate human HDL-resistant T. b. brucei. Here we show that conversion of T. b. brucei from human HDL sensitive to resistant correlates with changes in the expression of the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) and abolished uptake of the cytotoxic human HDLs. Complete transcriptome analysis of the HDL-susceptible and -resistant trypanosomes confirmed that VSG switching had occurred but failed to reveal the expression of other genes specifically associated with human HDL resistance, including the serum resistance-associated gene (SRA) of T. b. rhodesiense. In addition, we found that while the original active expression site was still utilized, expression of three expression site-associated genes (ESAG) was altered in the HDL-resistant trypanosomes. These findings demonstrate that resistance to human HDLs can be acquired by T. b. brucei. Keywords: Trypanosoma, VSG, antigenic switching, HDL-resistance