Article
Ethanolic Extract of the Fungus Trichoderma asperelloides Induces Ultrastructural Effects and Death on Leishmania amazonensis
Registro en:
LOPES, Danielle de Sousa et al. Ethanolic Extract of the Fungus Trichoderma asperelloides Induces Ultrastructural Effects and Death on Leishmania amazonensis. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol, v. 10. Article 306, July 2020.
2235-2988
10.3389/fcimb.2020.00306
Autor
Lopes, Denielle de Souza
Santos, Uener Ribeiro dos
Anjos, Danielle Oliveira dos
Silva Júnior, Lauro José Caires da
Paula, Vanderlúcia Fonseca de
Santos, Marcos André Vannier
Jardim, Izaltina Silva
Gomes, Thiago Castro
Pirovani, Carlos Priminho
Santos, Jane Lima
Resumen
The Trichoderma genus comprises several species of fungi whose diversity of secondary
metabolites represents a source of potential molecules with medical application. Because
of increased pathogen resistance and demand for lower production costs, the search for
new pharmacologically active molecules effective against pathogens has become more
intense. This is particularly evident in the case of American cutaneous leishmaniasis due
to the high toxicity of current treatments, parenteral administration, and increasing rate
of refractory cases. We have previously shown that a fungus from genus Trichoderma
can be used for treating cerebral malaria in mouse models and inhibit biofilm formation.
Here, we evaluated the effect of the ethanolic extract of Trichoderma asperelloides
(Ext-Ta) and its fractions on promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis,
a major causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. Ext-Ta displayed
leishmanicidal action on L. amazonensis parasites, and its pharmacological activity
was associated with the low-molecular-weight fraction (LMWF) of Ext-Ta. Ultrastructural
analysis demonstrated morphological alterations in the mitochondria and the flagellar
pocket of promastigotes, with increased lipid body and acidocalcisome formation,
microtubule disorganization of the cytoplasm, and intense vacuolization of the cytoplasm
when amastigotes were present. We suggest the antiparasitic activity of Trichoderma
fungi as a promising tool for developing chemotherapeutic leishmanicidal agents.