Toxoplasma gondii Chitinase Induces Macrophage Activation

Author(s):Show less -

Almeida, Fausto ^[1] ; Sardinha-Silva, Aline ^[1] ; da Silva, Thiago Aparecido ^[1] ; Pessoni, Andre Moreira ^[1] ; Pinzan, Camila Figueiredo ^[1] ; Paiva Alegre-Maller, Ana Claudia ^[1] ; Ceclio, Nerry Tatiana ^[1] ; Moretti, Nilmar Silvio ^[2] ; Lima Damsio, Andre Ricardo ^[3] ; Pedersoli, Wellington Ramos ^[4] ; Mineo, Jose Roberto ^[5] ; Silva, Roberto Nascimento ^[4] ; Roque-Barreira, Maria Cristina ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol Celular & Mol & Bioagentes Patogen, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Bioquim & Biol Tecidual, Inst Biol, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Bioquim & Imunol, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Lab Imunoparasitol, Dept Imunol Microbiol & Parasitol, BR-38400902 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 10, n. 12 DEC 10 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite found worldwide that is able to chronically infect almost all vertebrate species, especially birds and mammalians. Chitinases are essential to various biological processes, and some pathogens rely on chitinases for successful parasitization. Here, we purified and characterized a chitinase from T. gondii. The enzyme, provisionally named Tg\_chitinase, has a molecular mass of 13.7 kDa and exhibits a Km of 0.34 mM and a Vmax of 2.64. The optimal environmental conditions for enzymatic function were at pH 4.0 and 50 degrees C. Tg\_chitinase was immunolocalized in the cytoplasm of highly virulent T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites, mainly at the apical extremity. Tg\_chitinase induced macrophage activation as manifested by the production of high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, a pathogenic hallmark of T. gondii infection. In conclusion, to our knowledge, we describe for the first time a chitinase of T. gondii tachyzoites and provide evidence that this enzyme might influence the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/10741-8 - Effect of N-glycosylation inhibition on the transcriptional and proteomic profiles of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
• Grantee: Fausto Bruno dos Reis Almeida
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral