Person: Ferré Pérez, Ignacio
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First Name
Ignacio
Last Name
Ferré Pérez
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Veterinaria
Department
Sanidad Animal
Area
Sanidad Animal
Identifiers
5 results
Search Results
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Item Influence of the gestational stage on the clinical course, lesional development and parasite distribution in experimental ovine neosporosis(Veterinary Research, 2015) Arranz-Solís, David; Benavides, Julio; Regidor-Cerrillo, Javier; Fuertes, Miguel; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Ferreras, Maria Del Carmen; Collantes Fernández, Esther; Hemphill, Andrew; Pérez, Valentín; Ortega Mora, Luis MiguelNeospora caninum is considered one of the main causes of abortion in cattle, yet recent studies have also emphasised its relevance as an abortifacient in small ruminants. In order to gain deeper insight into the pathogenesis of ovine neosporosis, pregnant ewes were intravenously inoculated with 106 tachyzoites of the Nc-Spain7 isolate at days 40, 90 or 120 of gestation. Infection during the first term resulted in the death of all foetuses between days 19 and 21 post-infection, showing mainly necrotic lesions in foetal liver and the highest parasite DNA detection and burden in both placenta and foetal viscera. After infection at day 90, foetal death was also detected in all ewes, although later (34–48 days post-infection). In this group, lesions were mainly inflammatory. Foetal livers showed the lowest frequency of lesions, as well as the lowest parasite detection and burden. All ewes infected at day 120 delivered viable lambs, although 3 out of 9 showed weakness and recumbency. Neospora DNA was detected in all lambs but one, and parasite burden was similar to that observed in day 90 group. Lesions in this group showed more conspicuous infiltration of inflammatory cells and higher frequency in foetal brain and muscle when compared to both previous groups. These results highlight the crucial role that the stage of gestation plays on the course of ovine neosporosis, similar to that reported in bovine neosporosis, and open the doors to consider sheep as a valid model for exogenous transplacental transmission for ruminant neosporosis.Item Assessment of the Activity of Decoquinate and Its Quinoline-O-Carbamate Derivatives against Toxoplasma gondii In Vitro and in Pregnant Mice Infected with T. gondii Oocysts(Molecules, 2021) Ramseier, Jessica; Imhof, Dennis; Anghel, Nicoleta; Hänggeli, Kai; Beteck, Richard M.; Ortega Mora, Luis Miguel; Balmer, Vreni; Sánchez Sánchez, Roberto; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Haynes, Richard K.; Hemphill, AndrewThe quinolone decoquinate (DCQ) is widely used in veterinary practice for the treatment of bacterial and parasitic infections, most notably, coccidiosis in poultry and in ruminants. We have investigated the effects of treatment of Toxoplasma gondii in infected human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) with DCQ. This induced distinct alterations in the parasite mitochondrion within 24 h, which persisted even after long-term (500 nM, 52 days) treatment, although there was no parasiticidal effect. Based on the low half-maximal effective concentration (IC50) of 1.1 nM and the high selectivity index of >5000, the efficacy of oral treatment of pregnant mice experimentally infected with T. gondii oocysts with DCQ at 10 mg/kg/day for 5 days was assessed. However, the treatment had detrimental effects, induced higher neonatal mortality than T. gondii infection alone, and did not prevent vertical transmission. Thus, three quinoline-O-carbamate derivatives of DCQ, anticipated to have better physicochemical properties than DCQ, were assessed in vitro. One such compound, RMB060, displayed an exceedingly low IC50 of 0.07 nM, when applied concomitantly with the infection of host cells and had no impact on HFF viability at 10 µM. As was the case for DCQ, RMB060 treatment resulted in the alteration of the mitochondrial matrix and loss of cristae, but the changes became apparent at just 6 h after the commencement of treatment. After 48 h, RMB060 induced the expression of the bradyzoite antigen BAG1, but TEM did not reveal any other features reminiscent of bradyzoites. The exposure of infected cultures to 300 nM RMB060 for 52 days did not result in the complete killing of all tachyzoites, although mitochondria remained ultrastructurally damaged and there was a slower proliferation rate. The treatment of mice infected with T. gondii oocysts with RMB060 did reduce parasite burden in non-pregnant mice and dams, but vertical transmission to pups could not be prevented.Item An Early Treatment With BKI-1748 Exhibits Full Protection Against Abortion and Congenital Infection in Sheep Experimentally Infected With Toxoplasma gondii(The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2023) Sánchez Sánchez, Roberto; Imhof, Dennis; Hecker, Yanina Paola; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Re, Michela Tatiana; Moreno Gonzalo, Javier; Blanco Murcia, Francisco Javier; Mejías López, Elena; Hulverson, Matthew A.; Choi, Ryan; Arnold, Samuel L. M.; Ojo, Kayode K.; Barrett, Lynn K.; Hemphill, Andrew; Van Voorhis, Wesley C.; Ortega Mora, Luis MiguelCongenital toxoplasmosis in humans and in other mammalian species, such as small ruminants, is a well-known cause of abortion and fetal malformations. The calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (CDPK1) inhibitor BKI-1748 has shown a promising safety profile for its use in humans and a good efficacy against Toxoplasma gondii infection in vitro and in mouse models. Ten doses of BKI-1748 given every other day orally in sheep at 15 mg/kg did not show systemic or pregnancy-related toxicity. In sheep experimentally infected at 90 days of pregnancy with 1000 TgShSp1 oocysts, the BKI-1748 treatment administered from 48 hours after infection led to complete protection against abortion and congenital infection. In addition, compared to infected/untreated sheep, treated sheep showed a drastically lower rectal temperature increase and none showed IgG seroconversion throughout the study. In conclusion, BKI-1748 treatment in pregnant sheep starting at 48 hours after infection was fully effective against congenital toxoplasmosis.Item Systemic and local immune responses in sheep after Neospora caninum experimental infection at early, mid and late gestation(Veterinary Research, 2016) Arranz-Solís, David; Benavides, Julio; Regidor-Cerrillo, Javier; Horcajo Iglesias, María Del Pilar; Castaño, Pablo; Ferreras, María del Carmen; Jiménez-Pelayo, Laura; Collantes Fernández, Esther; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Hemphill, Andrew; Pérez, Valentín; Ortega Mora, Luis MiguelBesides its importance in cattle, Neospora caninum may also pose a high risk as abortifacient for small ruminants. We have recently demonstrated that the outcome of experimental infection of pregnant sheep with 106 Nc-Spain7 tachyzoites is strongly dependent on the time of gestation. In the current study, we assessed peripheral and local immune response in those animals. Serological analysis revealed earlier and higher IFN-γ and IgG responses in ewes infected at early (G1) and mid (G2) gestation, when abortion occurred. IL-4 was not detected in sera from any sheep. Inflammatory infiltrates in the placenta mainly consisted of CD8+ and, to a lesser extent, CD4+ T cells and macrophages (CD163+). The infiltrate was more intense in sheep infected at mid-gestation. In the foetal mesenchyme, mostly free tachyzoites were found in animals infected at G1, while those infected in G2 displayed predominantly particulate antigen, and parasitophorous vacuoles were detected in sheep infected at G3. A similar pattern of placental cytokine mRNA expression was found in all groups, displaying a strengthened upregulation of IFN-γ and IL-4 and milder increases of TNF-α and IL-10, reminiscent of a mixed Th1 and Th2 response. IL-12 and IL-6 were only slightly upregulated in G2, and TGF-β was downregulated in G1 and G2, suggestive of limited T regulatory (Treg) cell activity. No significant expression of TLR2 or TLR4 could be detected. In summary, this study confirms the pivotal role of systemic and local immune responses at different times of gestation during N. caninum infection in sheep.Item A short-term treatment with BKI-1294 does not protect foetuses from sheep experimentally infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites during pregnancy(International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 2021) Sánchez Sánchez, Roberto; Ferré Pérez, Ignacio; Re, Michela Tatiana; Pérez Arroyo, Bárbara; Cleofé Resta, Darío; Herrero García, Victor; Pizarro Díaz, Manuel; Ferrer, Luis Miguel; Ruiz, Hector; Vallejo García, Raquel; Benavides, Julio; Hulverson, Matthew A.; Choi, Ryan; Whitman, Grant R.; Hemphill, Andrew; Van Voorhis, Wesley C.; Ortega Mora, Luis MiguelThe Neospora caninum Calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (NcCDPK1) inhibitor BKI-1294 had demonstrated excellent efficacy in a pregnant mouse model of neosporosis, and was also highly efficacious in a pregnant sheep model of toxoplasmosis. In this work, we present the efficacy of BKI-1294 treatment (dosed 5 times orally every 48 h) starting 48 h after intravenous infection of sheep with 105 Nc-Spain7 tachyzoites at mid-pregnancy. In the dams, BKI-1294 plasma concentrations were above the IC50 for N. caninum for 12–15 days. In treated sheep, when they were compared to untreated ones, we observed a minor increase in rectal temperature, higher IFNγ levels after blood stimulation in vitro, and a minor increase of IgG levels against N. caninum soluble antigens through day 28 post-infection. Additionally, the anti-NcSAG1 and anti-NcSAG4 IgGs were lower in treated dams on days 21 and 42 post-infection. However, BKI-1294 did not protect against abortion (87% foetal mortality in both infected groups, treated and untreated) and did not reduce transplacental transmission, parasite load or lesions in placentomes and foetal brain. The lack of foetal protection was likely caused by short systemic exposure in the dams and suboptimal foetal exposure to this parasitostatic drug, which was unable to reduce replication of the likely established N. caninum tachyzoites in the foetus at the moment of treatment. New BKIs with a very low plasma clearance and good ability to cross the blood-brain and placental barriers need to be developed.