Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.2.1.23 (beta-galactosidase)
 14,648 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We tested two Trypanosoma cruzi recombinant antigens in a diagnostic test for Chagas' disease. These antigens were a cytoplasmic repetitive antigen (CRA) and a flagellar repetitive antigen (FRA). The results indicate that the recombinant antigens give better results when used in combination than when used separately, and that the removal of the beta-galactosidase portion of the recombinant fusion proteins increases the specificity of the diagnostic test for Chagas' disease. In addition, a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which involves the use of peroxidase-labeled antigens to detect the immune-complexes, was developed and compared with a conventional ELISA. The results indicate that the recombinant (CRA+FRA) ELISA is better than the conventional ELISA in the diagnosis of Chagas' disease, providing 100% specificity and sensitivity in all sera tested to date. The recombinant ELISA was compared with conventional serologic tests (hemagglutination and immunofluorescence) for Chagas' disease diagnosis, and the results show that the recombinant ELISA does not give rise to false-positive results that are observed with the two other tests. The use of the recombinant ELISA should be useful in the prevention of transmission of Chagas' disease by blood transfusions.
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PMID:Use of recombinant antigens for the accurate immunodiagnosis of Chagas' disease. 157 89

The structure of the N-linked oligosaccharide of the 85-kDa surface glycoprotein (Tc-85) from the infective trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi was investigated. Tc-85 metabolically labeled with [14C]glucose was purified by affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose. Binding to the lectin was lost on treatment of Tc-85 with neuraminidase. The N-linked asialo-oligosaccharide was released by endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F digestion of asialo-Tc-85 and was further analyzed using specific exoglycosidases. [14C]fucose was detected after alpha-L-fucosidase treatment or mild acid hydrolysis. The afucosyl oligosaccharide was 3H-labeled by the galactose oxidase-NaB3H4 method. [3H]Galactose was released by alpha-galactosidase, and only then was beta-galactosidase effective in removing another galactose. The gal(alpha 1-3)gal unit was demonstrated by periodate oxidation studies on the [3H]galactose-labeled asialo-glycoprotein. The presence of gal(alpha 1-3)gal in Tc-85 could be related to the recent finding of elevated antibody levels against this epitope in patients with Chagas' disease.
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PMID:The N-linked carbohydrate chain of the 85-kilodalton glycoprotein from Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes contains sialyl, fucosyl and galactosyl (alpha 1-3)galactose units. 210 74

The target molecules on the cell surface of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes reacting with lytic anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies from chronic patients with Chagas' disease (Ch anti-Gal) have been purified by solvent extraction and identified as glycoconjugates migrating in the 74-96-kDa range (F2 antigen) and in the 120-200-kDa range (F3 antigen) on SDS-PAGE. The F3 antigen was tested for binding to Ch and normal human serum (NHS) anti-Gal and to MoAb 3C9. We observed that Ch anti-Gal and MoAb 3C9, but not NHS anti-Gal, bind strongly to the trypomastigote glycoconjugates. These antibodies, however, did not compete with each other for binding to F3 molecules, indicating that they are recognizing different epitopes. Binding of Ch anti-Gal to F3 antigen is abolished by treatment of these molecules with alpha- but not beta-galactosidase. Binding of 3C9 MoAb is abolished by treatment of F3 with sialidase. F2/F3 antigens absorbed Ch anti-Gal as well as lytic antibodies from total chagasic sera. These antigens also specifically discriminate between the serum reactivity of patients with active Chagas' disease and those of sera from cured patients, drug-treated patients with dissociated serology (positive conventional serology, negative trypanolytic activity), healthy individuals, and patients with several other infectious diseases. We also observed that F2/F3 antigens are anchored to the parasite membrane via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). The alpha-galactosyl epitopes recognized by Ch anti-Gal are present in a series of O-linked oligosaccharide chains in the mucin-like glycoprotein component of the complex.
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PMID:GPI-anchored glycoconjugates from Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes are recognized by lytic anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies isolated from patients with chronic Chagas' disease. 808 Dec 63

Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), the etiological agent of Chagas' disease, lives free within the cytoplasm of infected host cells. This intracellular niche suggests that parasite antigens may be processed and presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules for recognition by CD8+ T cells. However, the parasite persists indefinitely in the mammalian host, indicating its success at evading immune clearance. It has been shown that T. cruzi interferes with processing and presentation of antigenic peptides in the MHC class II pathway. This investigation sought to determine whether interference in MHC class I processing and presentation occurs with T. cruzi infection. Surface expression of MHC class I molecules was found to be unaffected or up-regulated by T. cruzi infection in vitro. A model system employing a beta-galactosidase (beta-gal)-specific murine cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line (0805B) showed: (i) in vitro infection of mouse peritoneal macrophages or J774 cells with T. cruzi did not inhibit MHC class I presentation of exogenous peptide (a nine-amino acid epitope of beta-gal) to the CTL line, (ii) in vitro infection of a beta-gal-expressing 3T3 cell line (LZEJ) with T. cruzi did not inhibit MHC class I presentation of the endogenous protein to the CTL line and (iii) mouse renal adenocarcinoma cells infected with T. cruzi and subsequently infected with adenovirus expressing beta-gal were able to present antigen to the beta-gal-specific CTL line. These findings indicate that the failure of the immune response to clear T. cruzi does not result from global interference by the parasite with MHC class I processing and presentation. Parasites engineered to express beta-gal were unable to sensitize infected antigen-presenting cells in vitro to lysis by the CTL 0805B line. This was probably due to the intracellular localization of the beta-gal within the parasite and its inaccessibility to the host cell cytoplasm.
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PMID:Trypanosoma cruzi infection does not impair major histocompatibility complex class I presentation of antigen to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. 936 8

The pathogenesis of tissue damage in chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection has been a subject of long-standing debate. Conventional staining methods reveal a paucity of parasites in tissues from chronically infected individuals, which has led to the theory that the pathologic findings may be primarily autoimmune in origin. Immunostaining for T. cruzi antigens or in situ PCR methods show evidence for parasite components in chronic tissues; however, these methods do not address whether the stained material represents parasite debris or live organisms. An improved method for detecting intact T. cruzi in tissues was developed by making a genetically engineered strain that expresses Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. The expression of this enzyme allows the detection of T. cruzi in tissues by using the histochemical stain 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-Gal). The technique was used to monitor tissue parasitism and its relation to pathologic findings in the mouse model of Chagas' disease. Parasites were easily visible as bright blue structures in skeletal muscle, heart, bladder, peripheral nerve, liver, spleen, adrenal gland, brain, and adipose tissue in acutely infected mice. The number of viable parasites diminished >100-fold when tissues from 3-week-infected mice were compared with those from 10-month-infected mice. However, even at the lower level, parasites were clearly recognizable in sections of skeletal muscle and bladder at the 10-month time point. Inflammation remained robust in skeletal muscle, bladder, and sciatic nerve despite the near disappearance of parasites, suggesting three possibilities: exuberant host reactions to the few remaining parasites, autoimmune inflammation, or reactions to retained parasite antigens in the tissues.
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PMID:Detection of live Trypanosoma cruzi in tissues of infected mice by using histochemical stain for beta-galactosidase. 986 42

The development of new drugs against Chagas disease is a priority since the currently available medicines have toxic effects, partial efficacy and are targeted against the acute phase of disease. At present, there is no drug to treat the chronic stage. In this study, we have optimized a whole cell-based assay for high throughput screening of compounds that inhibit infection of mammalian cells by Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. A 2000-compound chemical library was screened using a recombinant T. cruzi (Tulahuen strain) expressing beta-galactosidase. Three hits were selected for their high activity against T. cruzi and low toxicity to host cells in vitro: PCH1, NT1 and CX1 (IC(50): 54, 190 and 23 nM, respectively). Each of these three compounds presents a different mechanism of action on intracellular proliferation of T. cruzi amastigotes. CX1 shows strong trypanocidal activity, an essential characteristic for the development of drugs against the chronic stage of Chagas disease where parasites are found intracellular in a quiescent stage. NT1 has a trypanostatic effect, while PCH1 affects parasite division. The three compounds also show high activity against intracellular T. cruzi from the Y strain and against the related kinetoplastid species Leishmania major and L. amazonensis. Characterization of the anti-T. cruzi activity of molecules chemically related to the three library hits allowed the selection of two compounds with IC(50) values of 2 nM (PCH6 and CX2). These values are approximately 100 times lower than those of the medicines used in patients against T. cruzi. These results provide new candidate molecules for the development of treatments against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis.
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PMID:Identification of three classes of heteroaromatic compounds with activity against intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi by chemical library screening. 1923 93

We developed a new method for the quantification of parasites in tissue. Trypanosoma cruzi strain CL parasites were genetically engineered to express the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase gene, lacZ and this enzyme is able to catalyze a colorimetric reaction with chlorophenol red beta-D: galactopyranoside (CPRG) as the substrate. The animals were infected with clone CL Brener strain B5 of T. cruzi and treated with benznidazole in order to verify the reduction in the number of parasites in tissue study by quantifying the enzyme beta-galactosidase. The assay demonstrates a reduction in the number of parasites in the groups treated. Thus, this test can be used to test other substances with the aim of verifying the effectiveness in the chronic phase of experimental Chagas' disease.
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PMID:New method for quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi in animal's tissue in the chronic phase of experimental Chagas' disease. 2017 4

The reduction of parasitism tissue upon treatment with two lignano lactones, namely (-)- cubebin (CUB) and (-)-hinokinin (HNK), was evaluated in the chronic phase of Chagas' disease by quantifying the enzyme beta-galactosidase expressed by the CL B5 clone strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Tissue karyometry was also performed. Treatment with the assessed lignans led to a larger reduction in parasitism tissue in all evaluated organs, compared with benznidazole (BZN). Oral treatment with CUB or HNK was more effective. Karyometry results demonstrated that the infected control animals had increased nuclear area compared with uninfected controls, indicating cellular hypertrophy. Results also revealed that use of CUB or HNK was able to significantly prevent this increase, and a slight decrease in the nuclear area was observed, compared with mice treated with BZN. Taken together, these data demonstrate that CUB and HNK could be considered as potential compounds for the development of new drugs for treatment of Chagas' disease.
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PMID:Reduction of parasitism tissue by treatment of mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi with lignano lactones. 2044 Jun 25

Chagas disease is a tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is endemic in Central and South America. Few treatments are available with effectiveness limited to the early (acute) stage of disease, significant toxicity and widespread drug resistance. In this work we report the outcome of a HTS-ready assay chemical library screen to identify novel, nontoxic, small-molecule inhibitors of T. cruzi. We have selected 50 compounds that possess hydrazone as a common group. The compounds were screened using recombinant T. cruzi (Tulahuen strain) expressing beta-galactosidase. A 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis was performed using descriptors calculated from comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). Our findings show that of the fifty selected hydrazones, compounds LpQM-19, 28 and 31 displayed the highest activity against T. cruzi, leading to a selectivity index (SI) of 20-fold. The 3D-QSAR analysis indicates that a particular electrostatic arrangement, where electron-deficient atoms are aligned along the molecule main axis positively correlates with compound biological activity. These results provide new candidate molecules for the development of treatments against Chagas disease.
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PMID:Compound profiling and 3D-QSAR studies of hydrazone derivatives with activity against intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi. 2696 73