Trypanosoma Rhodesiense Research Articles

5'Chloropuromycin. Inhibition of protein synthesis and antitrypanosomal activity.

A facile, two-step conversion of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) into 5'-deoxy-PAN (5) via 5'-chloro-5'-deoxy-PAN (1) was accomplished. Replacement of the 5'-OH group of PAN with H or Cl resulted in the elimination of kidney toxicity associated with the administration of PAN. The corresponding puromycin derivatives, 5'-chloro-5'-deoxypuromycin (4) and 5'-deoxypuromycin (6), derived from 1 and 5, respectively, were compared in a ribosomal peptidyltransferase assay. Both compounds were excellent substrates for the transpeptidation reaction, confirming our previous observations with 6 that the 5'-OH of puromycin is not essential for activity at the ribosomal level. Thus, 4 represents a new puromycin derivative that retains puromycin-like activity at the ribosomal site but is capable of releasing only a nonnephrotoxic aminonucleoside upon enzymatic release of the p-methoxyphenylalanyl side chain. The chloro derivative 4 exhibited significant antitrypanosomal activity in mice infected with Trypanosoma rhodesiense. The 5'-deoxy derivative 6 was inactive against trypanosomes.

Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium berghei, Trypanosoma rhodesiense: Antiprotozoal effects of some amidine types

A series of 39 diamidines and cyclic congeners was investigated for antiprotozoal effects in standard animal models. The test systems employed were the following: Leishmania donovani in hamsters, Plasmodium berghei (trophozoite) in mice, and Trypanosoma rhodesiense in mice. None of the compounds was found to exhibit appreciable antimalaria or antileishmanial activity. One compound, 2,5-bis(4-guanylphenyl)furan dihydrochloride, was identified as having antitrypanosomal activity in the same range as pentamidine, and deemed worthy of further study.

Suppression of parasite antigen-specific lymphoid blastogenesis in African trypanosomiasis.

Inbred C57BL/6J mice were infected with either Trypanosoma rhodesiense organisms of Walter Reed Army Trypanozoon antigenic type 3 or 5 (WRATat 3 or WRATat 5) or were immunized with soluble trypanosomal antigens. Spleen cells obtained from immunized hosts undergo blastogenesis, measured by thymidine incorporation, when exposed to trypanosomal antigens in vitro. Spleens obtained from mice infected with T. rhodesiense organisms do not respond or respond only minimally to trypanosomal antigens in vitro. Spleen cells of infected mice suppress the trypanosomal antigen-induced proliferative response of spleen cells from immunized mice in co-culture experiments. The suppressive activity was found in both the plastic adherent and plastic nonadherent spleen cell populations. The in vitro responses of normal spleen cells to LPS and Con A were also suppressed by spleen cells obtained from infected mice.

Immunization of mice with Trypanosoma rhodesiense exposed to ultraviolet irradiation.

Exposure time of Trypanosoma rhodesiense as short as 1 minute to ultraviolet (U.V.) light prevents the organisms from causing infection. Live trypanosome challenge of mice immunized with U.V.-irradiated trypanosomes results in sterile immunity. This allows a method for the induction of protective immunity to experimental trypanosomiasis which can be performed in most laboratories using U.V. germicidal lamps found in sterile hoods.

Localization of phosphatases in Trypanosoma rhodesiense.

Phosphatase activity in Trypanosoma rhodesiense has been examined histochemically by light and electron microscopy and by enzymatic assay in homogenate fractions. Using a method with lead as capture ion, acid phosphatase was found in lysosome-like vesicles and in the flagellar pocket. No alkaline adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) was detectable by this method. Direct assay of p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity in homogenate fractions showed that acid phosphatase activity was strongly membrane-bound, but that activity at pH 9 was minimal in both soluble and particulate fractions. "Endogenous" ATPase activity was localized specifically and reproducibly in the mitochondrial membranes and under the plasma membrane of he flagellum. This nonenzymic reaction product could not be eradicated by glycerol extraction or glucose depletion. Unlike the membrane staining, which was manifest only after lead treatment, heat-resistant electron-dense material was found in the matrix of lysosomal vesicles in trypanosomes fixed in glutaraldehyde only and not subjected to further treatment with heavy metal reagents. X-ray emission analysis showed the presence of calcium and phosphorus, indicating that the matrix might have a phosphate storage function.

Lymphocyte function in experimental African trypanosomiasis: IV. Immunosuppression and suppressor cells in the athymic [formula omitted] mouse

The role of T cells in the development and expression of antigen-nonspecific immunosuppression in experimental African trypanosomiasis was addressed. Nude ( nu nu ) C57BL/ 6 NIH mice and their thymus-bearing ( nu + ) littermates were infected with Trypanosoma rhodesiense and examined for suppression of splenic B-cell responses in vitro to the mitogen LPS. All animals developed splenic unresponsiveness to LPS. Further, both nu/nu and nu/ + infected mice displayed suppressor cell activity in their spleen cell populations upon transfer to normal uninfected mouse spleen cell cultures. On the basis of these findings we suggest that both the generalized immunosuppression and the development of suppressor cell activity in the spleens of mice infected with T. rhodesiense are T-independent processes.

Trypanosoma rhodesiense: Chemical and immunological characterization of variant-specific surface coat glycoproteins

Soluble surface coat glycoproteins were purified by concanavalin A affinity chromatography from variant populations of Trypanosoma rhodesiense (Wellcome strain). Each variant yielded a glycoprotein consisting of a single polypeptide chain. The apparent molecular weights of the different glycoproteins ranged from 58 000 to 67 000. Charge heterogeneity analyses resolved from 1 to 3 closely spaced components with isoelectric points that were considerably different from variant to variant. Amino acid analyses revealed notable variations in amino acid compositions. Immunization of mice with purified glycoprotein protected them from homologous variant trypanosome infection. Hyperimmune sera raised to purified glycoproteins were obtained from rabbits and produced single precipitin lines in immunoelectrophoretic or immunodiffusion tests with homologous glycoproteins. No interaction could be detected in heterologous antiserum-glycoprotein combinations. Only variant homologous trypanosomes were agglutinated by antisera. Surface coat glycoproteins prepared from clone populations of variants were chemically and immunologically indistinguishable from the glycoproteins of original uncloned variants. The observed immunogenic specificity and chemical uniqueness of the glycoprotein preparations identify them as variant-specific surface coat antigens responsible for antigenic variability in T. rhodesiense.

Detection and composition of immune complexes in experimental African trypanosomiasis.

Humoral immune responses in experimental African trypanosomiasis were assessed in rabbits infected with Trypanosoma rhodesiense. Immune complexes as measured by a Clq binding assay or a Clq solid-phase assay were detected by day 10 and increased progressively through day 28. Immune complexes analyzed by double diffusion in agar or enzyme immunoassay contained immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG consistently, and usually C3. In one serum, immune complexes contained trypanosomal antigens in addition to C3, IgG, and IgM. By sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation Clq-binding immune complex-like materials were shown to contain IgG, IgM, and C3, sedimentating as intermediate (between 7S and 19S) or as higher-molecular-weight (greater than 19S) aggregates. Serum IgM and IgG antibodies to trypanosomes were measured by enzyme immunoassay. IgM antibodies were detected by day 7, rose to peak by day 14, and declined slowly thereafter. IgG antibodies were detected by day 14 and continued to rise through day 32. Total IgM and IgG measured by radial immunodiffusion paralleled the corresponding changes in antibody levels. Host immune responses, in part directed to trypanosomal antigens, produced circulating immune complexes containing bound C3; these may be deposited in tissue or may serve as a serological marker of immune complex-mediated tissue injury.

Evidence for depletion of Ia+ macrophages and associated immunosuppression in African trypanosomiasis.

The percentage of Ia antigen-bearing (Ia+) macrophages was significantly lower in mice infected with Trypanosoma rhodesiense than in normal controls. The degree of difference varied with the source of macrophages and time course of infection. The percentage of Ia+ macrophages isolated from spleens 10 days after infection was 71% of that in the controls, and depletion continued until Ia+ macrophages were almost undetectable 30 days after infection. The rate of depletion was slower in the peritoneal cavity. In contrast, Ia+ macrophages were not significantly depleted from the lymph nodes until 30 days after infection. The ability of macrophages from trypanosome-infected mice to present listerial antigen to sensitized T cells was significantly lower than in controls. Immune T cells had significantly less ability (43% of controls) to incorporate thymidine when exposed to splenic macrophages from infected mice during the early stage of disease. This loss of antigen presentation increased during the course of infection. Peritoneal macrophages also exhibited an early loss of ability to present antigen, but no significant decline occurred thereafter. No significant loss of antigen had occurred in the lymph node macrophages 10 days after infection, but during the later stages of the disease a significant loss was detected. Treatment of macrophages from infected and control mice with anti-Iab serum and complement inhibited their ability to present antigen. Our results demonstrate that Ia+ macrophages and their distribution can influence the ability of infected animals to process antigens and may therefore account in part for the immunosuppression observed in trypanosomiasis.

Use of monoclonal antibody to immunochemically characterize variant-specific surface coat glycoprotein from Trypanosoma rhodesiense.

Monoclonal antibodies were employed to study the molecular basis for charge heterogeneity in variant-specific surface coat glycoprotein prepared from clone CP3B4 of the Wellcome strain of Trypanosoma rhodesiense. Thirteen hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for CP3B4 were obtained by fusing murine plasmacytoma cells to spleen cells from mice immunized with purified surface coat glycoprotein. The clone population of CP3B4 trypanosomes was shown to be homogeneous by means of immunofluorescent assays using culture supernatants from each of the 13 hybridomas. No cross-reactivity was found with other variant antigenic types of the same serodeme. Ascitic fluids were generated from 4 of the hybridomas and th molecular and epitopic specificities of the fluids or their IgG fractions were determined isoelectrofocusing of immunoprecipitates of radioiodinated glycoprotein antigen followed by autoradiography revealed that all 3 major components of the charge heterogeneous CP3B4 surface-coat glycoprotein were immunoprecipitated by each of the 4 monoclonal IgG fractions. Immunofluorescent staining of live trypanosomes was obtained with only one of the 4 ascitic fluids. The results show that charge heterogeneity does not derive from a heterogeneous population of parasites. Furthermore, the data indicate that there are at least 2 different epitopic specificities exhibited by the monoclonal antibodies tested and that each of the 3 charge heterogeneous components of the surface coat glycoprotein contains these epitopes. Charge heterogeneity of CP3B4 surface coat glycoprotein may be attributed to post-translational modification or to limited proteolysis.

Pathology of experimental African trypanosomiasis in rabbits infected with Trypanosoma rhodesiense.

The pathologic response of New Zealand White rabbits to experimental infection with Trypanosoma rhodesiense is described. Autopsies of 18 rabbits killed from 30-44 days after infection revealed focal perivascular inflammation of the ears, eyes and testes. Examination by electron microscopy revealed extravascular trypanosomes in the dermis of the ear and interstitium of testes. Deposits of IgG, IgM and C3 were in renal glomeruli associated with glomerular hypercellularity; proteinuria was present as evidenced by an increase in tubular hyaline droplets. There was marked hyperplasia of lymph nodes and spleen with generalized increase in the number of macrophage and plasma cells. In contrast there was thymic atrophy. The findings suggest an immunologic host response associated with severe localized vascular injury.

Synthesis of potential inhibitors of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase for testing as antiprotozoal agents. 2. 1-Substituted hypoxanthines

Evidence incicating that effective in vivo inhibition of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT, EC 2.4.2.8) should produce antiprotozoal activity without significant toxic effects on mammalian hosts prompted syntheses of 1-substituted hypoxanthines bearing functionalized side chains whose groupings might interact with appropriate groupings of HGPRT to form covalent bonds or strong hydrophobic bonds. 3-(Fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl, 4-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl, 4-chlorobenzoyl, and bromacetyl derivatives of two parent amines, 1-(2-aminoethyl)-hypoxanthine and 1-(4-aminobenzyl)hypoxanthine, were synthesized for evaluation in this connection. None of these compounds extended the life span of Plasmodium berghei infected mice or showed significant in vitro inhibition of HGPRT from H.Ep.-2 cells, but 1-[2-(bromoacetamido)ethyl]hypoxanthine displayed in vivo activity against Trypanosoma rhodesiense.

Trypanosoma rhodesiense: Semiautomated microtesting for quantitation of antitrypanosomal activity in vitro

A rapid, semiautomated microdilution method was developed to measure the antitrypanosomal activity of large numbers of compounds against blood form Trypanosoma rhodesiense at 37 C in vitro. Parasites harvested from infected rats were incubated for 3 hr in microtitration plates with serial dilutions of test compounds. Inhibition of uptake of radiolabeled thymidine and l-leucine by the parasites served as indicators of antitrypanosomal activity. Repeated measurements of the activity of ethidium bromide demonstrated the sensitivity and precision of the method. Several additional antitrypanosomal drugs were tested in vitro and all except tryparsamide (a pentavalent arsenical) and suramin (a complex polyanion) were consistent with in vivo activity. Antimicrobial agents which are not effective antitrypanosomal drugs failed to show activity in vitro. Other compounds active in vitro included allopurinol and a number of aromatic diamidines, carbamodithioic acid derivatives, and 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones. This in vitro microtest system was developed as a primary screen for the selection of active compounds in a new Antitrypanosomal Drug Development Program.

Activity of 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones against Trypanosoma rhodesiense in vitro.

Twenty-seven 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones and analogs were tested for antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma rhodesiense using a semiautomated in vitro assay system. Activity was determined by relative inhibition of uptake of two radiolabeled macromolecular precursors, [methyl-3H]thymidine and L-[U-14C]leucine, as compared to untreated controls. It was observed that the nitrogen atom of the pyridyl moiety of the 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones was essential for antitrypanosomal activity. The 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones generally inhibited the uptake of L-[U-14C]leucine to a greater extent than they inhibited [methyl-3H]thymidine uptake. Twenty-four of the 27 compounds tested exhibited activity comparable to that found for the antitrypanosomal agent ethidium bromide.

Variable severity of glomerulonephritis in inbred rats infected with Trypanosoma rhodesiense. Correlation with immunoglobulin class-specific antibody responses to trypanosomal antigens and total IgM levels.

Five strains of inbred rats (ACI, BUF, F344, WF and WL) were infected with Trypanosoma rhodesiense and killed at 28 days for renal pathology and serological studies. The BUF strain demonstrated the most consistent and severe glomerulonephritis, accompanied by high titer IgM antibodies to trypanosomes and high total IgM levels. The WL strain demonstrated mild glomerulonephritis but prominent PAS (+) intracytoplasmic inclusions in proximal convoluted tubules, accompanied by low titer IgM antibodies and slightly elevated total IgM levels. All strains had low to medium titer IgG1 and IgGa antibodies to trypanosomes. Serial serologic studies in BUF rats showed peak titers of IgM, IgGa and IgG1 antibodies to trypanosomal antigens at 10 days. Immune complexes as measured by a C1q binding assay were elevated at 10 days, 3 days following the first detectable antibody responses, and remained so through the 30th day.

Synthesis and antitrypanosomal activity of some bis(4-guanylphenyl) five- and six-membered ring heterocycles.

2,5-Bis(4-guanylphenyl)-1,3-oxazole, 2,5-bis(4-guanylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole and -1,3,4-thiadiazole, and 3,6-bis(4-guanylphenyl)pyridazine and several of their "cyclic guanyl" analogues have been synthesized. 2,5-Bis(4-guanylphenyl)-1,3-oxazole and -1,3,4-thiadiazole showed good activity, whithout acute toxicity, against Trypanosoma rhodesiense in mice, producing cures at a 3 mg/kg dosage level. This activity is comparable to stilbamidine, hydroxystilbamidine, and pentamidine in this test. In contrast, 2,5-bis(4-guanylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole shows a sharp reduction in activity in our test system. Generally, the cyclic guanyl analogues exhibit low orders of activity, and toxicity begins to appear at moderate dosage levels. All guanyl and cyclic guanyl compounds were synthesized from bisnitrile precursors by way of imidate ester hydrochlorides in a classical Pinner-type approach.

Contribution to the epidemiology of Trypanosoma rhodesiense sleeping sickness in Lower Kitete, northern Tanzania, by the cultural practices of the Masai

The control of Trypanosoma rhodesiense sleeping sickness by clinical methods is often complicated by the existence of animal reservoir hosts which greatly contribute to the persistence of the disease in many parts of East Africa. The control of sleeping sickness should, therefore, include control of the vector and elimination of the reservoir hosts. Another factor which is often ignored, when planning sleeping sickness control measures, is the influence of cultural practices of the resident human population on the epidemiology of the disease in any given location in East Africa. At Lower Kitete, northern Tanzania, trypanosomiasis due to T. rhodesiense is occupational in nature so that many of the individuals are infected in Lossitete Forest while engaged in various activities. The factors favouring infection within the area, and the role played by the cultural practices of the Masai around the area in bringing about the outbreak of an epidemic, are discussed. The importance of understanding the cultural practices and occupational tendencies of the Masai in Lower Kitete, where trypanosomiasis outbreaks have occurred in the last 10 years, is stressed. With such an understanding the management of trypanosomiasis at Lower Kitete may be successful.

Lymphocyte function in experimental African trypanosomiasis. III. Loss of lymph node cell responsiveness.

The relationship between immunosuppression and suppressor cell activity in the lymphoid organs of animals with experimental African trypanosomiasis has been examined further. In the present study we measure the primary in vitro PFC response to SRBC by spleen and lymph node cells from Trypanosoma rhodesiense infected or drug-cured C57BL/6 mice. Passive transfer experiments with this culture system tested for the presence or absence of suppressor cells. We demonstrate that infected mice exhibit immunosuppression in the spleen cell population several weeks before becoming suppressed at the level of the lymph node cell populations. Although suppressor cells are present in immunosuppressed spleen cell populations, suppression of lymph node cell responsiveness was not attributable to suppressor cells detectable withi, lymph nodes. After Berenil treatment of terminally infected mice immunocompetence was restored gradually, first to the lymph node cells and subsequently to the spleen cell population. Recovery of spleen cell responsiveness was attributable to the loss of detectable suppressor cell activity within spleens. These results demonstrate that there is anatomical restriction of the suppressor cell population to trypanosome-infected mouse spleen and that loss of immunocompetence in the lymph nodes may be due to factors unrelated to suppressor cell effects.

ChemInform Abstract: A NEW CHEMICAL SERIES ACTIVE AGAINST AFRICAN TRYPANOSOMES: BENZYLTRIPHENYLPHOSPHONIUM SALTS

Antitrypanosomal activity for benzyltriphenylphosphonium salts is reported for the first time. Testing was conducted using Trypanosoma rhodesiense infected mice. Of 70 phosphorus-containing compounds tested, 21 were active. Sixteen of these active chemical species were benzyltriphenylphosphonium salts. Four were nonbenzyl triphenyl compounds. The remaining active drug was a benzyldiphenylphosphonium salt.

Lymphocyte Function in Experimental African Trypanosomiasis

Abstract Cellular mechanisms of immunosuppression were studied in C57BL/6 mice chronically infected with the human pathogen Trypanosoma rhodesiense. Mice lost the capacity to mount primary in vitro splenic PFC responses to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) within 3 days of infection. The addition of normal mouse spleen cells to infected spleen cell cultures failed to restore responsiveness and, in addition, resulted in the acquisition of unresponsiveness by the normal cells. Parasites present in infected spleen cell cultures were not directly responsible for the suppression observed. Immunosuppression was attributable to suppressor cells present in infected spleens, as assessed by the ability of infected spleen cells to suppress normal spleen cell responses to SRBC. The suppressor cell population could be removed on nylon wool or Sephadex G-10 columns, was insensitive to treatment with anti-Thy 1.2 serum and C, and could be enriched for by adherence to tissue culture dishes. We suggest, therefore, that the splenic suppressor cell is a macrophage. The suppressor macrophage may be present in low concentration within a larger nonsuppressive pool of splenic macrophages since suppressor effects were not evident when <104 adherent cells were transferred to normal cells in dose-response studies. There was good correlation between the appearance of immunosuppression and the presence of suppressor cells in that infected mouse spleen cells exhibited suppressor cell capacity at the time when such cultures became unresponsive to SRBC. Suppressor cells were absent, however, from lymphoid organs other than the spleen, and infected lymph node cell cultures were capable of generating a significant primary in vitro PFC response to SRBC. On the basis of our studies, we suggest that the spleen is the major target organ for immunosuppression in T. rhodesiense infected mice, and that suppression is attributable to the emergence of a suppressor macrophage population that is restricted to the spleen.