title: Toxoplasma gondii: effects of neuwiedase, a metalloproteinase from Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom, on the invasion and replication of human fibroblasts in vitro.
abstract: The major aim to the present study was to determine the effects of neuwiedase, a metalloproteinase isolated from Bothrops neuwiedi snake venom, on invasion and replication of Toxoplasma gondii in human fibroblasts in vitro. Neuwiedase treatment was done on host cells previously infected with T. gondii or on parasite before fibroblast infection. When treatments were done after or before infection, infection rates were inhibited in 71% and 61%, respectively. Considering that therapy protocols currently used in T. gondii infection cause considerable side effects, particularly in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women, the results of neuwiedase treatment described herein could be taken into account for the development of new synthetic therapeutic agents, mainly due to the capacity of this enzyme to degrade extracellular matrix components, such as laminin, fibronectin and type I collagen, which is important to interfere in T. gondii host cell invasion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Natural Products, Institute of Genetic and Biochemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, 38400-902 Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Machado
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Robson J Oliveira
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.forename: Deise Aparecida Oliveira
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mineo
authors.forename: Carlos Ueira
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: David Nascimento Silva
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Maria Inês
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Homsi-Brandeburgo
authors.forename: Veridiana Melo
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Amélia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8; D014757:Viper Venoms; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C414740:neuwiedase