Mitochondria carry out several important functions in eukaryotic cells such as energy metabolism, iron-sulfur cluster assembly, apoptosis, signaling pathways, protein quality control etc. Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized on the cytosolic ribosomes and transported to the organelles by the cytosolic chaperones and mitochondrial protein import machinery based on specific targeting signals. Although, the basic principles of protein import have been explained, many questions remain unanswered, particularly for highly modified mitochondria such as hydrogenosomes. The aim of the study was to investigate protein translocation into hydrogenosomes of a human parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) with a focus on the composition, function and structure of protein translocases and the role of targeting signals. The translocase of the outer membrane (TOM) is responsible for the import of most proteins into the organelle. Even though, the presence of a TOM complex in trichomonad hydrogenosomes was predicted, its components were not known. Moreover, the generic structure of the mitochondrial TOM complex was not resolved. This study showed that the TvTOM complex is highly divergent consisting of two modified core subunits - channel- forming TvTom40 isoforms and a Tom22-like protein, and two...

The Role of TvTrxR in Drug Resistance and Characterization of TvRad51 in Homologous Recombination in Trichomonas vaginalis Abstract By Melissa Hopper University of the Pacific 2016 In recent years, prevalence of metronidazole-resistant cases of Trichomonas vaginalis has been on the rise. With nearly 10% of strains resistant to metronidazole, new treatments to combat this parasite have become a necessity. FDA-approved drug screens have identified the compound, auranofin, as an effective agent against similar protozoans. The mechanism of inhibition by auranofin has been found to proceed through inhibition of the thioredoxin-based anti-oxidant pathway, targeting the enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). In this study, auranofin was found to be an effective inhibitor of T. vaginalis TrxR activity. Auranofin was also found to be an effective inhibitor of several trichomonad strains in culture, exhibiting IC50 values comparable to metronidazole. These studies indicate that auranofin is a promising agent for treatment of trichomoniasis. Another aspect of T. vaginalis biology addressed in this study is the ability of T. vaginalis to carry out homologous recombination (HR), a process used to repair double-stranded breaks in DNA. The protein radiation sensitive protein 51 (Rad51) plays a crucial role in the process of HR in mitotic and meiotic recombination. In this study, experiments were carried out to elucidate the role of T. vaginalis Rad51 in homologous recombination. TvRad51 was found to exhibit nuclear localization and was capable of carrying out ATP hydrolysis. Rad51 was shown to be up-regulated at the protein level in T. vaginalis in response to treatment with DNA-damaging agents. In addition, TvRad51 was capable of binding the BRC repeat region of TvBRCA2. These results indicate that T. vaginalis upregulates expression of Rad51 protein in response to certain forms of DNA damage and TvRad51 may be capable of carrying out HR mediated by different binding partners.

Trichomonas vagina/is, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, has been shown to increase patients' susceptibility to HIV infection and cervical cancer; moreover, resistance to metronidazole is increasing, and new drug targets must be identified in order to combat resistant strains. T vagina/is expresses cysteine proteases that have been implicated in vaginal epithelial apoptosis as well as immune system evasion. In the past the various cysteine proteases have been studied as a group, and the following work examines, one specific protease, TvCP2, in detail through Western blot analysis, immunofluorescent staining, and recombinant expression. The experiments 5 presented here suggest that aT l-CP2 over-expressing transfectant line processes CP2 and sequesters it in cellular compartments. Previous data gives strong evidence of the secretion of cysteine protease CP4 and hints at the possibility of CP2 secretion as well; however, our results show no co-localization between CP2 and CP4 in T l-CP2 over expressing transfectants, suggesting separate trafficking and different roles. To better characterize CP2 function, we attempted to express active, recombinant protein. Although Pichia pastoris serves as a reliable expression vehicle, a processing event following translation ofTvCP2 appears to have cleaved the pro-domain and, along with it, the a-secretion signal, trapping active TvCP2 within the cellular pellet. A thioreoxintagged version ofTvCP2 has been expressed in E. coli, and preliminary experiments show it may auto-activate under certain conditions, but further experimentation is required to confirm the presence of active CP2 within the fraction purified from these cells.

Trichomoniasis affects 170 million people worldwide, and 7.4 million in the USA. There is increasing focus on the role of cysteine proteases in Trichomonas vaginalis because of their role in virulence of other parasitic protozoa. Determining their location and function will provide insight about their role in the pathogenicity of T. vaginalis and their feasibility as a drug target. This study begins to characterize the first sequenced cysteine protease (CP1). E. coli and P. pastoris expression systems were developed to produce CP1 to generate antiserum, and to have enough active protein for biochemical characterization. Secondly, endogenous and epitope tagged CP1 were localized in T. vaginalis vesicles. These vesicles were confirmed to have alkaline phosphatase activity which is a characteristic of lysosomes. Lastly, deletion mutants of CP1 were created to determine the role of the prodomain in targeting CP1 to vesicles.

A strain of Trichomonas vaginalis infected with a double-stranded RNA virus showed pronounced cytopathology in the form of giant syncytia generated by the recruitment of single cells. The giant cells ultimately lysed, releasing virus into the culture medium. In the infected cells, clusters of electron-dense particles resembling viral structures were found in the cytoplasm. In addition, distinctive inclusions composed of similar particles were present in the nuclei of some cells. Double-stranded viral RNA of 5.5 kbp was demonstrated in both cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions from these cells. Viral particles collected from the cell-free culture supernatant were of the same shape and size as the RNA virus isolated from a strain of T. vaginalis described previously (Wang and Wang, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 260: 3697-3702, 1985; Wang and Wang, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 83: 7956-7986) which does not show this cytopathology.

Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually-transmitted parasite that is the causative agent in the disease trichomoniasis. Resistance to the only FDA-approved medication to this disease, metronidazole, has been on the increase giving rise to the need for finding targets for new inhibitors to exploit. New inhibitors can target enzymes such as 4-coumarate:CoA ligase and S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. Another potential target is a cathepsin D-like protease found in T. vaginalis . This aspartic protease in humans is responsible for degrading proteins in the lysosome, and degrading hemoglobin in P. falciparum as the homologue plasmepsin. Searching the gene database, only one cathepsin-D like protease was discovered throughout the organism's genome. Utilizing RT-PCR, this gene is found to be expressed in two different strains of the organism. Transfection of an epitope-tagged version of this cathepsin D-like protease into T. vaginalis was accomplished, and subsequent immunofluorescence of this tagged version shows it to be localized in intracellular compartments, which can be colocalized using the SNARE and VAMP proteins found in T. vaginalis .

L'objectif de ce travail consiste en la synthèse de nouveaux 5-nitroimidazoles fonctionnalisés à visée thérapeutique. Dans un premier temps, l'étude de la réactivité du 4-bromo-1,2-diméthyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole vis-à-vis du couplage de Suzuki-Miyaura sous irradiation micro-ondes a permis la synthèse de nouveaux produits substitués en position 4 par différents groupements aryle ou styryle. Dans un second temps, la réactivité LD-SRN1 a été étudiée entre le 4-[4-(chlorométhyl)phényl]-1,2-diméthyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole et différents nucléophiles centrés sur l'atome de carbone ou de soufre. Cette étude a révélé l'importance de la température dans l'activation de la réaction par transfert monoélectronique. De nouveaux dérivés substitués en position 4 par divers groupements sulfonyles ont ensuite été synthétisés, par réactions SN2 et SNAr entre des dérivés 5-nitroimidazolés et différents anions sulfinates. Cette synthèse a été suivie par la mise au point de tests biologiques sur Trichomonas vaginalis. L'activité trichomonacide a été évaluée sur certaines de ces molécules, à l'origine de relations structure-activité montrant l'influence de la position du groupement sulfonyle substituant le noyau 5-nitroimidazole. La dernière partie de ce travail décrit une réaction de O-arylation pallado-catalysée inattendue et originale, d'un dérivé fluoré en série nitro(o-nitrophényl)imidazole impliquant des acides arylboroniques dans les conditions opératoires de la réaction de Suzuki-Miyaura. / The aim of this work consists of the synthesis of new potentially bioactive functionalized 5-nitroimidazoles. Initially, the reactivity study of the 4-bromo-1,2-dimethyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole under microwave-assisted Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling conditions gave new derivatives substituted by various aryl or styryl groups in 4-position. In a second step the 4-[4-(chloromethyl)phenyl]-1,2-dimethyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole was prepared in order to study LD-SRN1 reactivity with different carbon and sulphur centered nucleophiles. This study pointed the role of the temperature for the electron transfer reactions. Then, new 4-position sulfonyl substituted derivatives were synthesized by SN2 and SNAr reactions between sulfinate anions and three substrates in 5-nitroimidazole series. This synthesis was followed by the development of biological assays on Trichomonas vaginalis. This assay was performed on some of these molecules, which revealed a relation between the structure and the position of the sulfonyl group and the antitrichomonas activity. The last part of this work describes an unexpected and original palladium-catalyzed O-arylation in fluorinated nitro(o-nitrophenyl)imidazole series involving arylboronic acids under Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction conditions.

Selon les dernières estimations de l'OMS, on enregistre chaque année dans le monde 498.9 millions de nouveaux cas d'infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST) dont 276.4 millions sont dus au parasite Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis). Au niveau du tractus génital, la colonisation et l’irritation de la muqueuse vaginale par T. vaginalis favorisent la survenue de complications infectieuses. Ces infections associées peuvent conduire à des infections chroniques et avoir à terme des conséquences graves (stérilité, rupture prématuré du placenta, mort prématurée du nourrisson). De plus, ces infections vaginales représentent des facteurs qui favorisent les infections par le Virus d’Immunodéficience Humaine (VIH-1).A l’heure actuelle, la lutte contre ce type d’infections consiste à agir tant au niveau curatif, que préventif. Ainsi, l’objectif de ce projet est de développer de nouvelles formulations pour la prévention et le traitement des pathogènes qui colonisent les muqueuses vaginales. Dans ce contexte, la formulation que nous proposons est composée de metronidazole inclut dans un hydrogel thermogélifiant à base de pluronic® F127 et de chitosane. Il a été montré que cet hydrogel conserve ces propriétés physiques à une température physiologique même après dilution dans les fluides vaginaux. Ces hydrogels sont stables et permettent une libération prolongée du metronidazole. La formulation n’a montré aucune toxicité envers les cellules HeLa ni envers la muqueuse vaginale porcine. L’efficacité de cette formulation a été prouvée envers T. vaginalis et présente un effet protecteur envers les cellules HeLa en présence de T. vaginalis. L’ensemble des résultats suggère donc la capacité́ de cette formulation à constituer une double barrière, physique et pharmacologique, protectrice de la muqueuse vaginale vis-à-vis de T. vaginalis. / According to the latest WHO estimates, 498 millions of new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are recorded annually in the world, including 276.4 million due to the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis). In the genital tract colonization and irritation of the vaginal mucosa by T. vaginalis promote the occurrence of infectious complications. Associated infections can lead to chronic infections and eventually have serious consequences (infertility, premature placental abruption, premature death). In addition, these vaginal infections can promote infection by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1).Currently, the fight against these infections is to act at curative and preventive level. Thus, the objective of this project is to develop new formulations for the prevention and treatment of pathogens that colonize the vaginal mucosa. In this context, we propose a formulation composed of metronidazole and chitosan include in a thermogelling hydrogel of pluronic F127®.It was shown that the hydrogel retains its physical properties even at a physiological temperature and after dilution in the vaginal fluids. These hydrogels are stable and allow a sustained release of the metronidazole. The formulation showed no toxicity against HeLa cells or porcine vaginal mucosa. The effectiveness of this formulation has been proven against T vaginalis and has a protective effect on HeLa cells in the presence of T. vaginalis. The overall results therefore suggest the ability of this formulation to form a double barrier, physical and pharmacological, than protect vaginal mucosa against T. vaginalis.

Ce travail de thèse est consacré à la synthèse et l’évaluation biologique de nouveaux nitromidazoles à potentialités anti-infectieuses. Dans les trois premiers chapitres, nous avons abordé les propriétés biologiques des 5-nitroimidazoles, et la synthèse de nouveaux composés fonctionnalisés en positions 2 et 4 dans le but d'améliorer l'activité sur les souches résistantes au métronidazole, le 5-nitroimidazole de référence, tout en contrôlant au mieux la mutagénicité. Nous avons développé une méthode de couplage régiosélectif de Suzuki-Miyaura en position 4 du 2,4-dibromo-1-méthyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole, suivi d’un deuxième couplage de Suzuki-Miyaura ou de Sonogashira par méthodologie « one-pot » séquentielle en position 2. Cette méthodologie nous a permis d’obtenir 30 nouveaux composés qui ont été testés pour leur propriétés antibactériennes et antiparasitaires. Une dizaine de composés ont été synthétisés par méthodologie TDAE sur le 4-[4-(chlorométhyl)phényl]-1,2-diméthyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole. Dans le dernier chapitre, nous avons initié un travail de pharmacomodulation en série imidazooxazole, motif bien connu pour ses propriétés antituberculeuses et antileishmaniennes. Nous avons présenté la synthèse et l’évaluation biologique de dérivés 5-nitroimidazooxazoles et 7-nitro-2,3-dihydroimidazo[5,1-b]oxazoles. La synthèse de dérivés 6-nitroimidazooxazoles fonctionnalisés en position 5 est en cours de développement et nous avons présenté quelques essais de CH-arylation sur le 2-méthyl-6-nitro-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]oxazole. / We have developed in this work the synthesis and the biological evaluation of novel nitromidazoles with anti-infectious potentialities. In the first three parts, we discussed the biological properties of 5-nitroimidazole scaffold, and the synthesis of new compounds functionalized at 2- and 4-position in order to improve the activity on metronidazole-resistant strains, while controlling mutagenicity. We developed a regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura cross- coupling reaction at 4-position of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole, followed by a second Suzuki-Miyaura or Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction at 2-position by a "one-pot" sequential process. This methodology has enabled us to obtain 30 new products which were tested for their antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. Twelve compounds were synthesized by TDAE methodology on {4- [4- (chloromethyl) phenyl]} -1,2-dimethyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole. In the last part, we initiated a work of pharmacomodulation in imidazooxazole series, scaffold well-known for its antituberculous and antileishmanial properties. We have described the synthesis and the biological evaluation of 6-functionalized 5-nitroimidazooxazole and 7-nitro-2,3-dihydroimidazo [5,1-b]oxazole derivatives. We have presented some CH-arylation assays on 2-methyl-6-nitro-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]oxazole to obtain 5-functionalized 6-nitroimidazooxazole derivatives.

Trichomonas vaginalis is flagelated microaerophilic protozoan parasite from Excavata group, which causes trichomoniasis, the most common nonviral sexually transmitted disease in the world. It causes vaginitis in women and uretritis in man and it can also cause problems for example during pregnancy. This thesis is aimed on the characterisation of hydrogenosomal iron-sulfur flavoproteins (ISF) from Trichomonas vaginalis, proteins, which were only recently discovered in the proteome of hydrogenosome of T. vaginalis. Specifically, we have focused on characterisation of ISF3 which is, according to our data, active homodimer and binds flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and iron-sulphur centre in its active site. The iron- sulphur centre is not characterised yet. ISF3 is able to reduce oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, sodium nitrate and metronidazole also in the enzymatic system with PFO and ferredoxin. Next, I tried to reduce ammonium sulphate with ISF3, but unsuccessfully. These results correspond with the activities obtained for ISF from Methanosarcina thermophila, where ISF reduces oxygen and hydrogen peroxide to water. In addition, ISF3 is able to reduce nitrogen compounds. It is important according to the fact, that metronidazole is a drug from the group of 5−nitroimidazoles. The other results show the decrease...