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Effects of a putrescine analog on Giardia lamblia

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Abstract

The protozoan Giardia lamblia is the most frequent intestinal parasite of first-world countries and a major cause of waterborne disorder often referred to as traveler’s diarrhea. We have previously noticed that the putrescine analog 1,4-diamino-2-butanone (DAB) remarkably inhibits the growth of anaerobic trichomonad and Trypanosoma cruzi parasites. Here, we examined the role of polyamines in Giardia cells using this putrescine analog. DAB impaired parasite proliferation dose-dependently. The analog induced increased flagella numbers and sometimes four ventral disks as well as asymmetrical division, indicating truncated or deregulated cytokinesis. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that DAB also triggered the encystment process. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) detection. Trophozoites incubated either with 1 mM of DAB or putrescine for 18 h displayed increased lipoperoxide levels. Addition of 200 μM aminoguanidine, a polyamine/diamine oxidase inhibitor, partially reverted the DAB, but not the putrescine effects, indicating that the DAB effects are due, at least in part, to DAB oxidation end products. These data indicate that polyamines play a role in Giardia cell division, differentiation, and antioxidant defenses.

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Abbreviations

DAB:

1,4-diamino-2-butanone

AG:

aminoguanidine

TBA:

thiobarbituric acid

TBARS:

thiobarbituric acid reactive substances

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the valuable technical assistance of Claudio Pereira Figueira and secretarial assistance of Elisângela Sodré. WS, MFO, and MAVS are CNPq research fellows. All the experiments reported here comply with Brazilian laws and norms of the Health Ministry.

This study is supported by TDR, FIOCRUZ, CNPq, PROCAD/CAPES, FAPESB.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    C. Maia & W. De Souza

  2. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Waldemar Falcão 121, Candeal, Salvador, 40296-710, Bahia, Brazil

    A. Lanfredi-Rangel, K. G. Santana-Anjos & M. A. Vannier-Santos

  3. Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    M. F. Oliveira

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  1. C. Maia
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  2. A. Lanfredi-Rangel
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  3. K. G. Santana-Anjos
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  4. M. F. Oliveira
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  5. W. De Souza
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  6. M. A. Vannier-Santos
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Correspondence to M. A. Vannier-Santos.

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Maia, C., Lanfredi-Rangel, A., Santana-Anjos, K.G. et al. Effects of a putrescine analog on Giardia lamblia . Parasitol Res 103, 363–370 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-0981-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-008-0981-9

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