Parasiticidal effect of synthetic bovine lactoferrin peptides on the enteric parasite Giardia intestinalis.
Giardia intestinalis is the most common infectious protozoan parasite in children. Despite the effectiveness of some drugs, the disease remains a major worldwide problem. Consequently, the search for new treatments is important for disease eradication. Biological molecules with antimicrobial properties represent a promising alternative to combat pathogens. Bovine lactoferrin (bLF) is a key component of the innate host defense system, and its peptides have exhibited strong antimicrobial activity. Based on these properties, we evaluated the parasiticidal activity of these peptides on G. intestinalis. Trophozoites were incubated with different peptide concentrations for different periods of time, and the growth or viability was determined by carboxyfluorescein-succinimidyl-diacetate-ester (CFDA) and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Endocytosis of peptides was investigated by confocal microscopy, damage was analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and the type of programmed cell death was analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results showed that the LF peptides had giardicidal activity. The LF peptides interacted with G. intestinalis and exposure to LF peptides correlated with an increase in the granularity and vacuolization of the cytoplasm. Additionally, the formation of pores, extensive membrane disruption, and programmed cell death was observed in trophozoites treated with LF peptides. Our results demonstrate that LF peptides exhibit potent in vitro antigiardial activity.
a CIASaP, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa. Cedros y Sauces, Fracc. Fresnos Culiacán 80246, Sinaloa, México.
Hugo
H
Aguilar-Diaz
a CIASaP, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa. Cedros y Sauces, Fracc. Fresnos Culiacán 80246, Sinaloa, México.|b Departamento de Investigación, Hospital de la Mujer, Boulevard Miguel Tamayo Espinoza de los Monteros S/N, Col. Desarrollo Urbano Tres Ríos, Culiacán 80020, Sinaloa, México.
Adrian
A
Canizalez-Roman
c Centro Regional de Investigación en Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Calle 4a, Avenida Norte esquina con Calle 19 Pte S/N, Centro, Tapachula 30700, Chiapas, Mexico.
Tomas
T
Nepomuceno-Mejia
d Laboratorio Inmunobiología, Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Ciudad Universitaria, México DF 04510, México.
Francisco
F
Gallardo-Vera
e Servicio Académico de Microscopía Electrónica de Barrido, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D. F. 04510, México.
Yolanda
Y
Hornelas-Orozco
f Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University, 1081 LA, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Kamran
K
Nazmi
f Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam and VU University, 1081 LA, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jan G M
JG
Bolscher
g Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México, DF 04510, México.
Julio Cesar
JC
Carrero
h Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Avenida de las Américas y Josefa Ortiz (Ciudad Universitaria), Culiacán 80030, Sinaloa, México.
Claudia
C
Leon-Sicairos
a CIASaP, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa. Cedros y Sauces, Fracc. Fresnos Culiacán 80246, Sinaloa, México.|i Departamento de Investigación, Hospital Pediátrico de Sinaloa, Boulevard Constitución S/N, Col. Jorge Almada, Culiacan 80200, Sinaloa, México.
Nidia
N
Leon-Sicairos
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D007781:Lactoferrin
Giardia; LF chimera; chimère LF; giardiase; giardiasis; lactoferrin; lactoferrine; parasiticidal; parasiticide; peptides