The effects of environmental factors on the virulence of Trichomonas vaginalis

Figueroa-Angulo, Elisa E.; Rendón-Gandarilla, Francisco J.; Puente-Rivera, Jonathan; Calla, Jaeson; Cárdenas-Guerra, Rosa Elena; Ortega‐López, Jaime; Quintas-Granados, Laura Itzel; Álvarez-Sánchez, María Elizbeth; Arroyo, Rossana

doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2012.09.004

Cited by 83 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…In other organisms, gene duplication is the primary source of new genes with expression divergence and protein subcellular relocalization, and gene duplication is also related to the acquisition of new functions (36,37). Similar mechanisms have been associated with the emergence of alternative novel functions in glycolytic enzymes localized on the surface of T. vaginalis, where they exhibit new functions as adhesins or receptor molecules for ECM components, in addition to their cytoplasmic metabolic functions (6). This dual function has led to their classification as "moonlighting proteins" that can switch between functions following changes in cellular localization, or following modulation by alterations in the concentrations of certain environmental components (38,39), by posttranslational modifications, or even by a single amino acid mutation that can result in the creation of a new function (39).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…This dual function has led to their classification as "moonlighting proteins" that can switch between functions following changes in cellular localization, or following modulation by alterations in the concentrations of certain environmental components (38,39), by posttranslational modifications, or even by a single amino acid mutation that can result in the creation of a new function (39). For example, some glycolytic enzymes that are localized on the surface of T. vaginalis exhibit new functions as adhesins (6,8,9,29) or receptor molecules for ECM components, participating in hostparasite interactions (11,12). However, this topic has been controversial for the trichomonad community (4,(40)(41)(42), because like other moonlighting proteins (14,39), these molecules lack TMDs and SPs; the pathway used by the proteins to reach the parasite membrane is still unknown (14,39), and their receptors have not been identified yet.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The vagina is one of the most complex mucosal microenvironments and is constantly changing during the menstrual cycle. However, in vitro studies have shown that T. vaginalis adapts and responds to these changes, modulating the expression of multiple genes, including those encoding virulence factors, to maintain a chronic infection (6).…”

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confidence: 99%

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The Glycolytic Enzyme Triosephosphate Isomerase of Trichomonas vaginalis Is a Surface-Associated Protein Induced by Glucose That Functions as a Laminin- and Fibronectin-Binding Protein

et al. 2016

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dTriosephosphate isomerase of Trichomonas vaginalis (TvTIM) is a 27-kDa cytoplasmic protein encoded by two genes, tvtim1 and tvtim2, that participates in glucose metabolism. TvTIM is also localized to the parasite surface. Thus, the goal of this study was to identify the novel functions of the surface-associated TvTIM in T. vaginalis and to assess the effect of glucose as an environmental factor that regulates its expression and localization. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) showed that the tvtim genes were differentially expressed in response to glucose concentration. tvtim1 was overexpressed under glucose-restricted (GR) conditions, whereas tvtim2 was overexpressed under glucose-rich, or high-glucose (HG), conditions. Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assays also showed that glucose positively affected the amount and surface localization of TvTIM in T. vaginalis. Affinity ligand assays demonstrated that the recombinant TvTIM1 and TvTIM2 proteins bound to laminin (Lm) and fibronectin (Fn) but not to plasminogen. Moreover, higher levels of adherence to Lm and Fn were detected in parasites grown under HG conditions than in those grown under GR conditions. Furthermore, pretreatment of trichomonads with an anti-TvTIMr polyclonal antibody or pretreatment of Lm-or Fn-coated wells with both recombinant proteins (TvTIM1r and TvTIM2r) specifically reduced the binding of live parasites to Lm and Fn in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, T. vaginalis was exposed to different glucose concentrations during vaginal infection of women with trichomoniasis. Our data indicate that TvTIM is a surface-associated protein under HG conditions that mediates specific binding to Lm and Fn as a novel virulence factor of T. vaginalis.T richomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite responsible for human trichomoniasis, the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection, which affects over 276 million people annually worldwide (1). Infection with this organism is associated with severe health complications, such as vaginitis, preterm delivery, urethritis, prostatitis, infertility, and increases in the risks of prostate and cervical cancer. It has also been implicated in facilitating the infection and transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (2-4).To establish an infection in the vagina, T. vaginalis must cross the vaginal mucus, adhere to the vaginal and cervical epithelia, and multiply in and colonize the urogenital tract (2, 5). The vagina is one of the most complex mucosal microenvironments and is constantly changing during the menstrual cycle. However, in vitro studies have shown that T. vaginalis adapts and responds to these changes, modulating the expression of multiple genes, including those encoding virulence factors, to maintain a chronic infection (6).Energy generation is vital to the maintenance of chronic infection and depends on the availability of nutrients, such as iron and a carbon source. For T. vaginalis, glucose is the major energy source under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. With...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Glycolytic Enzyme Triosephosphate Isomerase of Trichomonas vaginalis Is a Surface-Associated Protein Induced by Glucose That Functions as a Laminin- and Fibronectin-Binding Protein

et al. 2016

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“…Biological differences between two sexes explain why women have a higher incidence of infection compared with men (Figueroa-Angulo et al 2012). These parasites expose an iron-rich environment in the vagina and a hostile, zincrich environment in the prostatic glands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zinc is a known antimicrobial chemical defense in humans. Men with less than 1.6 mM zinc in their prostatic secretions can suffer chronic prostatitis due to T. vaginalis infection (Krieger and Rein 1982;Figueroa-Angulo et al 2012). While symptomatic T. vaginalis infection in men is typically treated spontaneously within 10 days, it can remain in women for year (Hobbs et al 2008;Poole and McClelland 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trichomoniasis in older individuals: a preliminary report from Iran

et al. 2016

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Infection with Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in humans. The prevalence of infection in Iran has been reported 0.009-8 % depending on deferent socio-cultural conditions. This study aimed to determine the frequency of T. vaginalis according to age in patients referred to clinics, hospitals and medical diagnostic laboratories in Karaj city, Iran. For this purpose, fifty positive samples were collected from July 2012 to June 2014 from clinics, medical diagnostic laboratories and hospitals, then transferred to laboratory of parasitology and cultured in TYM medium. The results showed that all isolates were successfully cultured. Among 50 positive specimens, 43 cases were female and 7 cases male. The most positive cases (34 %) belonged to the ages over 50 year's group. The lowest positive cases (2 %) belonged to the ages of less than 20 years group. In Conclusion, unlike other STDs, which have a higher prevalence among adolescents and young adults, the rates of trichomoniasis are more evenly distributed among sexually active women of all age groups. However, frequency of this infection in women aged over 50 years (age of menopause) is notable and complementary studies are needed.

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