Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain

Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the infection of the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), and safe and effective therapeutic drugs are lacking. Mitochondria, is an important organelle that maintains T. gondii survival, however, drugs targeting mitochondria are la...

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Main Authors: Zhendi Liu, Jiao Mo, Yetian Li, Siyang Liu, Qingyuan Zeng, Jili Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-03-01
Series:Parasites & Vectors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06187-8
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author Zhendi Liu
Jiao Mo
Yetian Li
Siyang Liu
Qingyuan Zeng
Jili Zhang
author_facet Zhendi Liu
Jiao Mo
Yetian Li
Siyang Liu
Qingyuan Zeng
Jili Zhang
author_sort Zhendi Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the infection of the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), and safe and effective therapeutic drugs are lacking. Mitochondria, is an important organelle that maintains T. gondii survival, however, drugs targeting mitochondria are lacking. Methods The cytotoxicity of BAM15 was detected by CCK-8 and the in vitro effects of BAM15 was detected by qPCR, plaque assay and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the ultrastructural changes of T. gondii after BAM15 treatment were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and further the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), ATP level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of T. gondii after BAM15 treatment were detected. The pharmacokinetic experiments and in vivo infection assays were performed in mice to determine the in vivo effect of BAM15. Results BAM15 had excellent anti-T. gondii activity in vitro and in vivo with an EC50 value of 1.25 μM, while the IC50 of BAM15 in Vero cells was 27.07 μM. Notably, BAM15 significantly inhibited proliferation activity of T. gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain (PRU), caused T. gondii death. Furthermore, BAM15 treatment induced T. gondii mitochondrial vacuolation and autolysis by TEM. Moreover, the decrease in ΔΨm and ATP level, as well as the increase in ROS production further confirmed the changes Conclusions Our study identifies a useful T. gondii mitochondrial inhibitor, which may also serve as a leading molecule to develop therapeutic mitochondrial inhibitors in toxoplasmosis.’ Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj.art-42d7440dee1b4c8694669f3a7478c46e2024-03-05T17:51:01ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052024-03-0117111110.1186/s13071-024-06187-8Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strainZhendi Liu0Jiao Mo1Yetian Li2Siyang Liu3Qingyuan Zeng4Jili Zhang5Health Science Center, Ningbo UniversityHealth Science Center, Ningbo UniversityHealth Science Center, Ningbo UniversityHealth Science Center, Ningbo UniversityHealth Science Center, Ningbo UniversityHealth Science Center, Ningbo UniversityAbstract Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the infection of the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), and safe and effective therapeutic drugs are lacking. Mitochondria, is an important organelle that maintains T. gondii survival, however, drugs targeting mitochondria are lacking. Methods The cytotoxicity of BAM15 was detected by CCK-8 and the in vitro effects of BAM15 was detected by qPCR, plaque assay and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the ultrastructural changes of T. gondii after BAM15 treatment were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and further the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), ATP level and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of T. gondii after BAM15 treatment were detected. The pharmacokinetic experiments and in vivo infection assays were performed in mice to determine the in vivo effect of BAM15. Results BAM15 had excellent anti-T. gondii activity in vitro and in vivo with an EC50 value of 1.25 μM, while the IC50 of BAM15 in Vero cells was 27.07 μM. Notably, BAM15 significantly inhibited proliferation activity of T. gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain (PRU), caused T. gondii death. Furthermore, BAM15 treatment induced T. gondii mitochondrial vacuolation and autolysis by TEM. Moreover, the decrease in ΔΨm and ATP level, as well as the increase in ROS production further confirmed the changes Conclusions Our study identifies a useful T. gondii mitochondrial inhibitor, which may also serve as a leading molecule to develop therapeutic mitochondrial inhibitors in toxoplasmosis.’ Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06187-8BAM15Toxoplasma gondiiInvasionProliferationTEM
spellingShingle Zhendi Liu
Jiao Mo
Yetian Li
Siyang Liu
Qingyuan Zeng
Jili Zhang
Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain
Parasites & Vectors
BAM15
Toxoplasma gondii
Invasion
Proliferation
TEM
title Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain
title_full Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain
title_fullStr Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain
title_full_unstemmed Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain
title_short Effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent BAM15 against the Toxoplasma gondii RH strain and Prugniaud strain
title_sort effect of the mitochondrial uncoupling agent bam15 against the toxoplasma gondii rh strain and prugniaud strain
topic BAM15
Toxoplasma gondii
Invasion
Proliferation
TEM
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06187-8
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