Interaction Forces Drive the Environmental Transmission of Pathogenic Protozoa

Dumètre, Aurélien; Aubert, Dominique; Puech, Pierre-Henri; Hohweyer, Jeanne; Azas, Nadine; Villena, Isabelle

doi:10.1128/aem.06488-11

Cited by 53 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 123 publications

(152 reference statements)

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“…The oocyst wall layers in T. gondii are assumed to differ in their thickness and molecular content, the inner one being thicker, less electron-dense and more resistant to chemical degradation than the outer one (8). Using fluorescence imaging and EM combined with different treatments, we provide insights on the structure and chemistry of the wall of T. gondii oocysts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Facing the external environment, the oocyst wall acts as a primary barrier to physical and chemical attacks as long as its complex polymeric organization is perfectly maintained (8,12,26). Different, but complementary, approaches have been applied to investigate the structure and molecular basis of the oocyst wall resilience, such as EM (9,12,24,51) and proteomics studies (10,12).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…How these different proteins are processed and/or packed to form the oocyst wall is still not clear (8). Current models support a strong contribution of protein-tyrosine cross-linking in the formation and hardening of the oocyst wall in Toxoplasma-related coccidia (8,12,26,28) and results in the development of its typical blue autofluorescence (AF) under UV excitation (10,26,28,29) (SI Appendix, Fig. S1B).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…S1B). This complex polymeric organization also suggests an important robustness of the T. gondii oocyst wall in terms of mechanics (8,26). Thus, measuring mechanical properties of the T. gondii oocyst wall appears to be relevant to addressing the respective roles of structure and chemistry of each layer of the oocyst wall in the overall resistance of the oocyst to various physical and chemical agents (8).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Infections lead to possible deleterious ocular and neurological complications and even death (7). In this context, a global effort has emerged to decipher the basic structures (8,9) and biological processes of the oocyst (10)(11)(12)(13) that allow the parasite to survive different environmental conditions and disinfectants (14)(15)(16)(17)(18).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Mechanics of the Toxoplasma gondii oocyst wall

Dumètre

Dubey

Ferguson

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The ability of microorganisms to survive under extreme conditions is closely related to the physicochemical properties of their wall. In the ubiquitous protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the oocyst stage possesses a bilayered wall that protects the dormant but potentially infective parasites from harsh environmental conditions until their ingestion by the host. None of the common disinfectants are effective in killing the parasite because the oocyst wall acts as a primary barrier to physical and chemical attacks. Here, we address the structure and chemistry of the wall of the T. gondii oocyst by combining wall surface treatments, fluorescence imaging, EM, and measurements of its mechanical characteristics by using atomic force microscopy. Elasticity and indentation measurements indicated that the oocyst wall resembles common plastic materials, based on the Young moduli, E, evaluated by atomic force microscopy. Our study demonstrates that the inner layer is as robust as the bilayered wall itself. Besides wall mechanics, our results suggest important differences regarding the nonspecific adhesive properties of each layer. All together, these findings suggest a key biological role for the oocyst wall mechanics in maintaining the integrity of the T. gondii oocysts in the environment or after exposure to disinfectants, and therefore their potential infectivity to humans and animals.oocyst structure | oocyst integrity | oocyst resistance | Toxoplasma infectivity | transmission

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanics of the Toxoplasma gondii oocyst wall

Dumètre

Dubey

Ferguson

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Fate and transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in repacked soil columns: Influence of soil properties and surfactant

Darnault

Peng

et al. 2022

Vadose Zone Journal

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A series of laboratory experiments was performed to investigate the transport and retention of viable C. parvum oocysts in soil columns homogeneously packed with loamy sand soils (Lewiston and Greenson series) and sandy loam soils (Sparta and Gilford series), and under hydrologic conditions involving the presence of an anionic surfactant—Aerosol 22 in artificial rainfall. To characterize the effect of surfactant on the mobility of C. parvum oocysts in the soils used in this study, these results were compared with previous laboratory‐scale column experiments of a previous study using soils contaminated with oocysts, under conditions identical to those described here except for the absence of the surfactant in the percolating water. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection and quantification of C. parvum oocysts in soil leachates to assess their breakthrough and in soil matrices to characterize their spatial distribution. Alterations in the rate and extent of transport of C. parvum oocysts were discerned per the physicochemical parameters analyzed—soil types, soil chemistry, and surfactant—and resulted in either the enhancement or hinderance of C. parvum oocysts adsorption to surfaces, and their movement in soils. In the case of loamy sand soils, the transport of C. parvum oocysts through the soil matrices increased with the application of surfactant for Sparta series and remained at a similar level for Gilford series. Regarding sandy loam soils, the movement of C. parvum oocysts through the soil matrices increased for Greenson series and decreased for Lewiston series with the application of surfactant.

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Research Commentary: Association of Zoonotic Pathogens with Fresh, Estuarine, and Marine Macroaggregates

et al. 2012

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Aquatic macroaggregates (flocs ≥ 0.5 mm) provide an important mechanism for vertical flux of nutrients and organic matter in aquatic ecosystems, yet their role in the transport and fate of zoonotic pathogens is largely unknown. Terrestrial pathogens that enter coastal waters through contaminated freshwater runoff may be especially prone to flocculation due to fluid dynamics and electrochemical changes that occur where fresh and marine waters mix. In this study, laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate whether zoonotic pathogens (Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Salmonella) and a virus surrogate (PP7) are associated with aquatic macroaggregates and whether pathogen aggregation is enhanced in saline waters. Targeted microorganisms showed increased association with macroaggregates in estuarine and marine waters, as compared with an ultrapure water control and natural freshwater. Enrichment factor estimations demonstrated that pathogens are 2-4 orders of magnitude more concentrated in aggregates than in the estuarine and marine water surrounding the aggregates. Pathogen incorporation into aquatic macroaggregates may influence their transmission to susceptible hosts through settling and subsequent accumulation in zones where aggregation is greatest, as well as via enhanced uptake by invertebrates that serve as prey for marine animals or as seafood for humans.

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Interaction Forces Drive the Environmental Transmission of Pathogenic Protozoa

Cited by 53 publications

References 123 publications

Mechanics of the Toxoplasma gondii oocyst wall

Mechanics of the Toxoplasma gondii oocyst wall

Fate and transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in repacked soil columns: Influence of soil properties and surfactant

Research Commentary: Association of Zoonotic Pathogens with Fresh, Estuarine, and Marine Macroaggregates

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