Proteomics of Trypanosoma evansi Infection in Rodents

Abstract

Background Trypanosoma evansi infections, commonly called ‘surra’, cause significant economic losses to livestock industry. While this infection is mainly restricted to large animals such as camels, donkeys and equines, recent reports indicate their ability to infect humans. There are no World Animal Health Organization (WAHO) prescribed diagnostic tests or vaccines available against this disease and the available drugs show significant toxicity. There is an urgent need to develop improved methods of diagnosis and control measures for this disease. Unlike its related human parasites T. brucei and T. cruzi whose genomes have been fully sequenced T. evansi genome sequence remains unavailable and very little efforts are being made to develop improved methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment. With a view to identify potential diagnostic markers and drug targets we have studied the clinical proteome of T. evansi infection using mass spectrometry (MS).Methodology/Principal FindingsUsing shot-gun proteomic approach involving nano-lc Quadrupole Time Of Flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry we have identified over 160 proteins expressed by T. evansi in mice infected with camel isolate. Homology driven searches for protein identification from MS/MS data led to most of the matches arising from related Trypanosoma species. Proteins identified belonged to various functional categories including metabolic enzymes; DNA metabolism; transcription; translation as well as cell-cell communication and signal transduction. TCA cycle enzymes were strikingly missing, possibly suggesting their low abundances. The clinical proteome revealed the presence of known and potential drug targets such as oligopeptidases, kinases, cysteine proteases and more.Conclusions/SignificancePrevious proteomic studies on Trypanosomal infections, including human parasites T. brucei and T. cruzi, have been carried out from lab grown cultures. For T. evansi infection this is indeed the first ever proteomic study reported thus far. In addition to providing a glimpse into the biology of this neglected disease, our study is the first step towards identification of diagnostic biomarkers, novel drug targets as well as potential vaccine candidates to fight against T. evansi infections.

Production and preliminary evaluation of Trypanosoma evansi HSP70 for antibody detection in Equids

“…The purified protein cluster of 62-66 kDa was excised from the gel and further processed for LC/MS/MS analysis (Roy et al 2010). The peptides obtained from band were eluted and subjected to nano-LC based RPLC, interfaced with Hybrid Mass Spectrometry.…”

Quinapyramine Sulfate-Loaded Sodium Alginate Nanoparticles Show Enhanced Trypanocidal Activity

“…The disease has been recorded worldwide and is a major constraint to livestock productivity in Asia, Africa and South America. It infects a wide range of domestic animals such as camels, horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, buffaloes, dogs, pigs, sheep and goats [1][2][3]. The infection has also been recorded in tigers, cats and elephants [1,4].…”

Apoptotic-like activity of staurosporine in axenic cultures of Trypanosoma evansi

“…This suggests the existence of cell death-PKC-related is similar in higher eukaryotes. The presence of cysteine proteinases and metacaspases has been reported in T. evansi 28,37 , but there is no consistent data in trypanosomatids regarding the caspase implication in apoptotic-like death 13,34 . However, apoptosis mediated by proteases dissimilar to classical caspases have been reported by numerous authors 5,30 .…”

“…There is an imperative need to develop control measures for trypanosomosis by using the efficacy of the new molecule inhibitors. Very little effort is being made to develop improved methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment 28 . Therefore, we look for potential targets related to apoptosis in T. evansi.…”