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Special Issue "Trichomonas vaginalis Infection"

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A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitic Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 4189

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Dr. Tiana Tasca

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Guest Editor

Grupo de Pesquisa em Tricomonas, Faculdade de Farmácia e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga 2752, Porto Alegre 90610-000, RS, Brazil
Interests: Trichomonas vaginalis; anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity; pathogenicity; parasite–host interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite the urogenital pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis being discovered in 1836 by Alfred Donné, there is still a lot to understand about how this parasite is responsible for the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Outstanding studies have contributed with genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data on T. vaginalis–host interaction. However, gaps on drug resistance detection, the role of endosymbionts in trichomonads biology and even an approved and feasible in vivo model of infection remain to be answered. The purpose of this Special Issue on “Trichomonas vaginalis infection” is to publish the current state of recent research on topics related to this parasitic infection: pathogenesis mechanisms, parasite–host interaction, the role of endosymbionts, cell death, and drug resistance mechanisms. We are looking forward to your contributions.

Dr. Tiana Tasca
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Trichomonas vaginalis–host interaction
endosymbionts
pathogenesis
cell death
drug resistance

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 6160 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trichomonas vaginalis: Monolayer and Cluster Formation—Ultrastructural Aspects Using High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy

Sharmila Fiama das Neves Ortiz

Raphael Verdan

Fabio da Silva de Azevedo Fortes

and

Marlene Benchimol

Pathogens 2023, 12(12), 1381; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12121381 - 23 Nov 2023

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Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis is an extracellular protozoan parasite that causes human trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects approximately 270 million people worldwide. The phenomenon of T. vaginalis adhesion to inert substrates has been described in several reports. Still, very few studies on cluster formation have been conducted, and more detailed analyses of the contact regions between the parasites’ membranes in these aggregate formations have not been carried out. The present study aims to show that T. vaginalis forms a tight monolayer, similar to an epithelium, with parasites firmly adhered to the culture flask bottom by interdigitations and in the absence of host cells. In addition, we analyzed and compared the formation of the clusters, focusing on parasite aggregates that float in the culture flasks. We employed various imaging techniques, including high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, cytochemistry, TEM tomography, and dye injection. We analyzed whether the monolayer behaves as an epithelium, analyzing cell junctions, cell communication, and ultrastructural aspects, and concluded that monolayer formation differs from cluster formation in many aspects. The monolayers form strong adhesion, whereas the clusters have fragile attachments. We did not find fusion or the passage of molecules between neighbor-attached cells; there is no need for different strains to form filopodia, cytonemes, and extracellular vesicles during cluster and monolayer formation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trichomonas vaginalis Infection)

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18 pages, 1915 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Peptidases Are Potential Targets of Copper(II)-1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione Complex, a Promising and Potent New Drug against Trichomonas vaginalis

Graziela Vargas Rigo

Fernanda Gomes Cardoso

Matheus Mendonça Pereira

and

Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12050745 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 836

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis is responsible for 156 million new cases per year worldwide. When present asymptomatically, the parasite can lead to serious complications, such as development of cervical and prostate cancer. As infection increases the acquisition and transmission of HIV, the control of trichomoniasis represents an important niche for the discovery and development of new antiparasitic molecules. This urogenital parasite synthesizes several molecules that allow the establishment and pathogenesis of infection. Among them, peptidases occupy key roles as virulence factors, and the inhibition of these enzymes has become an important mechanism for modulating pathogenesis. Based on these premises, our group recently reported the potent anti-T. vaginalis action of the metal-based complex [Cu(phendione)₃](ClO₄)₂.4H₂O (Cu-phendione). In the present study, we evaluated the influence of Cu-phendione on the modulation of proteolytic activities produced by T. vaginalis by biochemical and molecular approaches. Cu-phendione showed strong inhibitory potential against T. vaginalis peptidases, especially cysteine- and metallo-type peptidases. The latter revealed a more prominent effect at both the post-transcriptional and post-translational levels. Molecular Docking analysis confirmed the interaction of Cu-phendione, with high binding energy (−9.7 and −10.7 kcal·mol⁻¹, respectively) at the active site of both TvMP50 and TvGP63 metallopeptidases. In addition, Cu-phendione significantly reduced trophozoite-mediated cytolysis in human vaginal (HMVII) and monkey kidney (VERO) epithelial cell lineages. These results highlight the antiparasitic potential of Cu-phendione by interaction with important T. vaginalis virulence factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trichomonas vaginalis Infection)

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12 pages, 2309 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Identification of Trichomonas vaginalis 5-Nitroimidazole Resistance Targets

Keonte J. Graves

Colin Reily

Hemant K. Tiwari

Vinodh Srinivasasainagendra

William Evan Secor

Jan Novak

and

Christina A. Muzny

Pathogens 2023, 12(5), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12050692 - 10 May 2023

Viewed by 1455

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection. 5-nitroimidazoles are the only FDA-approved medications for T. vaginalis treatment. However, 5-nitroimidazole resistance has been increasingly recognized and may occur in up to 10% of infections. We aimed to delineate mechanisms of T. vaginalis resistance using transcriptome profiling of metronidazole (MTZ)-resistant and sensitive T. vaginalis clinical isolates. In vitro, 5-nitroimidazole susceptibility testing was performed to determine minimum lethal concentrations (MLCs) for T. vaginalis isolates obtained from women who had failed treatment (n = 4) or were successfully cured (n = 4). RNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and biostatistical analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the MTZ-resistant vs. sensitive T. vaginalis isolates. RNA sequencing identified 304 DEGs, 134 upregulated genes and 170 downregulated genes in the resistant isolates. Future studies with more T. vaginalis isolates with a broad range of MLCs are needed to determine which genes may represent the best alternative targets in drug-resistant strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trichomonas vaginalis Infection)

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Review

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12 pages, 1180 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mycoplasma hominis and Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii in Trichomonas vaginalis: Peaceful Cohabitants or Contentious Roommates?

and

Pathogens 2023, 12(9), 1083; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12091083 - 25 Aug 2023

Viewed by 890

Abstract

Trichomonas vaginalis is a pathogenic protozoan diffused worldwide capable of infecting the urogenital tract in humans, causing trichomoniasis. One of its most intriguing aspects is the ability to establish a close relationship with endosymbiotic microorganisms: the unique association of T. vaginalis with the bacterium Mycoplasma hominis represents, to date, the only example of an endosymbiosis involving two true human pathogens. Since its discovery, several aspects of the symbiosis between T. vaginalis and M. hominis have been characterized, demonstrating that the presence of the intracellular guest strongly influences the pathogenic characteristics of the protozoon, making it more aggressive towards host cells and capable of stimulating a stronger proinflammatory response. The recent description of a further symbiont of the protozoon, the newly discovered non-cultivable mycoplasma Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii, makes the picture even more complex. This review provides an overview of the main aspects of this complex microbial consortium, with particular emphasis on its effect on protozoan pathobiology and on the interplays among the symbionts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trichomonas vaginalis Infection)

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