Phenotypic diversity and drug susceptibility of Trypanosoma cruzi TcV clinical isolates

PLoS One. 2018 Sep 5;13(9):e0203462. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203462. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi is a genetically heterogeneous group of organisms that cause Chagas disease. It has been long suspected that the clinical outcome of the disease and response to therapeutic agents are, at least in part, related to the genetic characteristics of the parasite. Herein, we sought to validate the significance of the genotype of T. cruzi isolates recovered from patients with different clinical forms of Chagas disease living in Argentina on their biological behaviour and susceptibility to drugs. Genotype identification of the newly established isolates confirmed the reported predominance of TcV, with a minor frequency of TcI. Epimastigote sensitivity assays demonstrated marked dissimilar responses to benznidazole, nifurtimox, pentamidine and dihydroartemisinin in vitro. Two TcV isolates exhibiting divergent response to benznidazole in epimastigote assays were further tested for the expression of anti-oxidant proteins. Benznidazole-resistant BOL-FC10A epimastigotes had decreased expression of Old Yellow Enzyme and cytosolic superoxide dismutase, and overexpression of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and tryparedoxin- 1, compared to benznidazole-susceptible AR-SE23C parasites. Drug sensitivity assays on intracellular amastigotes and trypomastigotes reproduced the higher susceptibility of AR-SE23C over BOL-FC10A parasites to benznidazole observed in epimastigotes assays. However, the susceptibility/resistance profile of amastigotes and trypomastigotes to nifurtimox, pentamidine and dihydroartemisinin varied markedly with respect to that of epimastigotes. C3H/He mice infected with AR-SE23C trypomastigotes had higher levels of parasitemia and mortality rate during the acute phase of infection compared to mice infected with BOL-FC10A trypomastigotes. Treatment of infected mice with benznidazole or nifurtimox was efficient to reduce patent parasitemia induced by either isolate. Nevertheless, qPCR performed at 70 dpi revealed parasite DNA in the blood of mice infected with AR-SE23C but not in BOL-FC10A infected mice. These results demonstrate high level of intra-type diversity which may represent an important obstacle for the testing of chemotherapeutic agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Argentina
  • Chagas Disease / drug therapy
  • Chagas Disease / genetics
  • Chagas Disease / metabolism*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Drug Resistance / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Genotype*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenotype*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / genetics
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / metabolism*
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Trypanocidal Agents

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants of Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica, Fondo para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2010 N° 2148, PICT 2013 N° 2828 to MP), and FOCANLIS 2010 to JB. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.