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Li Y, Feng H, Jin L, Xin X, Yuan Q. A novel vector-based RNAi method using mouse U6 promoter-driven shRNA expression in the filamentous fungus Blakeslea trispora. Biotechnol Lett 2021; 43:1821-1830. [PMID: 34185215 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-021-03155-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There are several studies on the use of RNA interference (RNAi) for gene function analysis in fungi. However, most studies on filamentous fungi are based on in vitro-transcribed or -synthesized small interfering RNA (siRNA), and only a few have reported the use of vector-based RNAi. Here we want to develop and evaluate a new vector-based RNAi method using the mouse U6 promoter to drive short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression in the filamentous fungi. METHODS Molecular techniques were employed to develop and evaluate a new vector-based RNAi method using the mouse U6 promoter to drive short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression in the filamentous fungus Blakeslea trispora. RESULTS We characterized the mouse U6 promoter and utilized it for the expression of shRNA in B. trispora. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting analyses, we confirmed the decrease in the mRNA and protein expression of carRA, respectively, in cells transformed with the mouse U6 promoter-driven shRNA expression vector. This indicated that the shRNA was transcribed from the mouse U6 promoter and correctly processed into siRNA and that the mouse U6 promoter exhibited transcription ability in the filamentous fungi. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the mouse U6 promoter that drives the expression of shRNA vectors may serve as a novel tool for RNAi induction in filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Li
- Department of Biotechnology, Beijing Polytechnic, No. 9, Liang Shuihe First Street, Yi Zhuang Economic & Technological Development Zone, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Hui Feng
- Department of Biotechnology, Beijing Polytechnic, No. 9, Liang Shuihe First Street, Yi Zhuang Economic & Technological Development Zone, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Lihua Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, Beijing Polytechnic, No. 9, Liang Shuihe First Street, Yi Zhuang Economic & Technological Development Zone, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Xiulan Xin
- Department of Biotechnology, Beijing Polytechnic, No. 9, Liang Shuihe First Street, Yi Zhuang Economic & Technological Development Zone, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Qipeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, No. 15 East Road of North Third Ring, Chao Yang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
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2
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Ittiprasert W, Mann VH, Karinshak SE, Coghlan A, Rinaldi G, Sankaranarayanan G, Chaidee A, Tanno T, Kumkhaek C, Prangtaworn P, Mentink-Kane MM, Cochran CJ, Driguez P, Holroyd N, Tracey A, Rodpai R, Everts B, Hokke CH, Hoffmann KF, Berriman M, Brindley PJ. Programmed genome editing of the omega-1 ribonuclease of the blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni. eLife 2019; 8:41337. [PMID: 30644357 PMCID: PMC6355194 DOI: 10.7554/elife.41337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing has yet to be reported in species of the Platyhelminthes. We tested this approach by targeting omega-1 (ω1) of Schistosoma mansoni as proof of principle. This secreted ribonuclease is crucial for Th2 polarization and granuloma formation. Schistosome eggs were exposed to Cas9 complexed with guide RNA complementary to ω1 by electroporation or by transduction with lentiviral particles. Some eggs were also transfected with a single stranded donor template. Sequences of amplicons from gene-edited parasites exhibited Cas9-catalyzed mutations including homology directed repaired alleles, and other analyses revealed depletion of ω1 transcripts and the ribonuclease. Gene-edited eggs failed to polarize Th2 cytokine responses in macrophage/T-cell co-cultures, while the volume of pulmonary granulomas surrounding ω1-mutated eggs following tail-vein injection into mice was vastly reduced. Knock-out of ω1 and the diminished levels of these cytokines following exposure showcase the novel application of programmed gene editing for functional genomics in schistosomes. Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease that can cause serious health problems, including damage to the liver and kidneys, infertility and bladder cancer. Nearly a quarter billion people are currently infected, mostly in poor regions of sub-Saharan Africa, the Philippines and Brazil. A freshwater worm known as Schistosoma mansoni causes the disease. These parasites enter the human body by burrowing into the skin; once in the bloodstream, they move to various organs where they rapidly start to reproduce. Their eggs release several molecules, including a protein known as omega-1 ribonuclease, which can damage the surrounding tissues. A gene editing technique called CRISPR/Cas9 allows scientists to precisely target and then deactivate the genetic information a cell needs to produce a given protein. While the tool has been used in other species before, it was unknown if it could be applied to S. mansoni. Here, Ittiprasert et al. harnessed CRISPR/Cas9 to deactivate the gene that codes for omega-1 ribonuclease and create parasites that do not produce the protein, or only very little of it. The experiments showed that mice infected with the gene-edited worm eggs displayed far fewer symptoms of schistosomiasis compared to those that carry the non-edited parasites. Alongside this work, Arunsan et al. used CRISPR/Cas9 to inactivate a gene in another species of worm that can cause liver cancer in humans. Together, these findings demonstrate for the first time that the gene editing method can be adapted for use in parasitic flatworms, which are a major public health problem in tropical climates. This tool should help scientists understand how the parasites invade and damage our bodies, and provide new ideas for treatment and disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wannaporn Ittiprasert
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.,Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Victoria H Mann
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.,Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Shannon E Karinshak
- Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Avril Coghlan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Apisit Chaidee
- Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Toshihiko Tanno
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States.,Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States
| | - Chutima Kumkhaek
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Laboratory, National Heart, Lungs and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Pannathee Prangtaworn
- Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Christina J Cochran
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Patrick Driguez
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Tracey
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Rutchanee Rodpai
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Bart Everts
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Cornelis H Hokke
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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Developmental Sensitivity in Schistosoma mansoni to Puromycin To Establish Drug Selection of Transgenic Schistosomes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:AAC.02568-17. [PMID: 29760143 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02568-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is considered the most important disease caused by helminth parasites, in terms of morbidity and mortality. Tools to facilitate gain- and loss-of-function approaches can be expected to precipitate the discovery of novel interventions, and drug selection of transgenic schistosomes would facilitate the establishment of stable lines of engineered parasites. Sensitivity of developmental stages of schistosomes to the aminonucleoside antibiotic puromycin was investigated. For the schistosomulum and sporocyst stages, viability was quantified by fluorescence microscopy following dual staining with fluorescein diacetate and propidium iodine. By 6 days in culture, the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) for schistosomula was 19 μg/ml whereas the sporocysts were 45-fold more resilient. Puromycin potently inhibited the development of in vitro-laid eggs (LC50, 68 ng/ml) but was less effective against liver eggs (LC50, 387 μg/ml). Toxicity for adult stages was evaluated using the xCELLigence-based, real-time motility assay (xWORM), which revealed LC50s after 48 h of 4.9 and 17.3 μg/ml for male and female schistosomes, respectively. Also, schistosomula transduced with pseudotyped retrovirus encoding the puromycin resistance marker were partially rescued when cultured in the presence of the antibiotic. Together, these findings will facilitate selection on puromycin of transgenic schistosomes and the enrichment of cultures of transgenic eggs and sporocysts to facilitate the establishment of schistosome transgenic lines. Streamlining schistosome transgenesis with drug selection will open new avenues to understand parasite biology and hopefully lead to new interventions for this neglected tropical disease.
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Chira S, Gulei D, Hajitou A, Berindan-Neagoe I. Restoring the p53 'Guardian' Phenotype in p53-Deficient Tumor Cells with CRISPR/Cas9. Trends Biotechnol 2018; 36:653-660. [PMID: 29478674 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2017] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
With an increasing prevalence in the human population, cancer has become one of the most investigated fields of medicine. Among the potential targets for cancer therapy is the tumor suppressor gene TP53, which is found in a mutated state in approximately 50% of human cancers and is often associated with poor prognosis. We propose a novel, highly tumor-specific delivery system for TP53, based on the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology. This system will restore the normal p53 phenotype in tumor cells by replacing the mutant TP53 gene with a functional copy, leading to sustained expression of p53 protein and tumor regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergiu Chira
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Diana Gulei
- MedFuture Research Center for Advanced Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Amin Hajitou
- Cancer Phage Therapy Group, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, W12 0NN London, UK
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; MedFuture Research Center for Advanced Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Functional Genomics and Experimental Pathology, Oncology Institute Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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5
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Li Q, Wang W, Zhao N, Li P, Xin Y, Hu W. Identification and validation of a Schistosoma japonicum U6 promoter. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:281. [PMID: 28583151 PMCID: PMC5460494 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2207-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background RNA polymerase III promoters have been widely used to express short hairpin-RNA (shRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and small guide RNA (sgRNA) in gene functional analysis in a variety of organisms including Schistosoma mansoni. However, no endogenous RNA polymerase III promoters have been identified in Schistosoma japonicum. The lack of appropriate promoters in S. japonicum has hindered its gene functional analysis. Identification of functional promoters in S. japonicum is therefore in urgent need. Results Via sequence alignment, a 347 bp sequence upstream from the coding region of S. japonicum U6 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) was identified, cloned, and named as S. japonicum U6 (sjU6) promoter. A sgRNA sequence named as sgRNA970 was designed, and its Cas9 nuclease guiding activity was confirmed by in vitro cleavage assay. The sjU6 promoter was ligated with sgRNA970 coding sequence by overlap PCR to generate a sjU6-sgRNA970 expression cassette. The expression cassette was inserted into a lentiviral plasmid to construct the pHBLV-sgRNA970 plasmid. First, we tested the sjU6 promoter activity in HEK293 cells by transfecting HEK293 cells with the pHBLV-sgRNA970 plasmid. RT-PCR amplification of the total RNA from the transfected HEK293 cells confirmed the presence of sgRNA970 transcript and indicated sjU6 promoter was functional to initiate transcription in HEK293 cells. Then we transduced the lentivirus expressing Cas9-ZsGreen fusion protein into 14 dpi schistosomula to test whether lentivirus was capable to induce exogenous gene expression in S. japonicum. Fluorescence microscopy and western blot results confirmed the expression of Cas9-ZsGreen fusion protein in S. japonicum. Therefore, this lentiviral system was adapted to test promoter activity in S. japonicum. Finally, we transduced 14 dpi S. japonicum with lentivirus produced from the pHBLV-sgRNA970 plasmid. RT-PCR amplification of the total RNA from transduced schistosomula confirmed the presence of sgRNA970 transcript and therefore indicated sjU6 promoter was functional to initiate transcription in S. japonicum. Conclusion To our knowledge, sjU6 promoter would be the first identified and validated endogenous RNA polymerase III promoter in S. japonicum, which could be used for future CRISPR/Cas9 studies in S. japonicum. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2207-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Wan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yue Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China. .,Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of MOH, WHO Cooperation Center for Tropical Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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6
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Suttiprapa S, Rinaldi G, Tsai IJ, Mann VH, Dubrovsky L, Yan HB, Holroyd N, Huckvale T, Durrant C, Protasio AV, Pushkarsky T, Iordanskiy S, Berriman M, Bukrinsky MI, Brindley PJ. HIV-1 Integrates Widely throughout the Genome of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005931. [PMID: 27764257 PMCID: PMC5072744 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is the most important helminthic disease of humanity in terms of morbidity and mortality. Facile manipulation of schistosomes using lentiviruses would enable advances in functional genomics in these and related neglected tropical diseases pathogens including tapeworms, and including their non-dividing cells. Such approaches have hitherto been unavailable. Blood stream forms of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent of the hepatointestinal schistosomiasis, were infected with the human HIV-1 isolate NL4-3 pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein. The appearance of strong stop and positive strand cDNAs indicated that virions fused to schistosome cells, the nucleocapsid internalized and the RNA genome reverse transcribed. Anchored PCR analysis, sequencing HIV-1-specific anchored Illumina libraries and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of schistosomes confirmed chromosomal integration; >8,000 integrations were mapped, distributed throughout the eight pairs of chromosomes including the sex chromosomes. The rate of integrations in the genome exceeded five per 1,000 kb and HIV-1 integrated into protein-encoding loci and elsewhere with integration bias dissimilar to that of human T cells. We estimated ~ 2,100 integrations per schistosomulum based on WGS, i.e. about two or three events per cell, comparable to integration rates in human cells. Accomplishment in schistosomes of post-entry processes essential for HIV-1replication, including integrase-catalyzed integration, was remarkable given the phylogenetic distance between schistosomes and primates, the natural hosts of the genus Lentivirus. These enigmatic findings revealed that HIV-1 was active within cells of S. mansoni, and provided the first demonstration that HIV-1 can integrate into the genome of an invertebrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sutas Suttiprapa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Phyathai, Rachthewee, Bangkok
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Muang Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Isheng J. Tsai
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Victoria H. Mann
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Larisa Dubrovsky
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Hong-bin Yan
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, The People's Republic of China
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Huckvale
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Durrant
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Anna V. Protasio
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Tatiana Pushkarsky
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Sergey Iordanskiy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael I. Bukrinsky
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Paul J. Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
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7
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Zamanian M, Andersen EC. Prospects and challenges of CRISPR/Cas genome editing for the study and control of neglected vector-borne nematode diseases. FEBS J 2016; 283:3204-21. [PMID: 27300487 PMCID: PMC5053252 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 06/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases caused by parasitic nematodes inflict an immense health and socioeconomic burden throughout much of the developing world. Current estimates indicate that more than two billion people are infected with nematodes, resulting in the loss of 14 million disability-adjusted life years per annum. Although these parasites cause significant mortality, they primarily cause chronic morbidity through a wide range of severe clinical ailments. Treatment options for nematode infections are restricted to a small number of anthelmintic drugs, and the rapid expansion of anthelmintic mass drug administration raises concerns of drug resistance. Preservation of existing drugs is necessary, as well as the development of new treatment options and methods of control. We focus this review on how the democratization of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology can be enlisted to improve our understanding of the biology of nematode parasites and our ability to treat the infections they cause. We will first explore how this robust method of genome manipulation can be used to newly exploit the powerful model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for parasitology research. We will then discuss potential avenues to develop CRISPR/Cas9 editing protocols in filarial nematodes. Lastly, we will propose potential ways in which CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to engineer gene drives that target the transmission of mosquito-borne filarial nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Zamanian
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonILUSA
| | - Erik C. Andersen
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonILUSA
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8
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Knocking down schistosomes - promise for lentiviral transduction in parasites. Trends Parasitol 2015; 31:324-32. [PMID: 25933926 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Underpinned by major advances in our understanding of the genomes of schistosomes, progress in the development of functional genomic tools is providing unique prospects to gain insights into the intricacies of the biology of these blood flukes, their host relationships, and the diseases that they cause. This article reviews some key applications of double-stranded RNA interference (RNAi) in Schistosoma mansoni, appraises delivery systems for transgenesis and stable gene silencing, considers ways of increasing efficiency and specificity of gene silencing, and discusses the prospects of using a lentivirus delivery system for future functional genomic-phenomic explorations of schistosomes and other parasites. The ability to achieve effective and stable gene perturbation in parasites has major biological implications and could facilitate the development of new interventions.
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9
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Hagen J, Scheerlinck JPY, Young ND, Gasser RB, Kalinna BH. Prospects for Vector-Based Gene Silencing to Explore Immunobiological Features of Schistosoma mansoni. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2015; 88:85-122. [PMID: 25911366 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2015.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a prevalent, socioeconomically important disease of humans caused by parasites of the genus Schistosoma (schistosomes or blood flukes). Currently, more than 200 million people worldwide are infected with schistosomes. Despite major research efforts, there is only one drug routinely used for effective treatment, and no vaccine is available to combat schistosomiasis. The purpose of the present article is to (1) provide a background on the parasites and different forms of disease; (2) describe key immunomolecular aspects of disease induced in the host; and (3) critically appraise functional genomic methods employed to explore parasite biology, parasite-host interactions and disease at the molecular level. Importantly, the article also describes the features and advantages of lentiviral delivery of artificial microRNAs to silence genes. It also discusses the first successful application of such an approach in schistosomes, in order to explore the immunobiological role of selected target proteins known to be involved in egg-induced disease. The lentiviral transduction system provides exciting prospects for future, fundamental investigations of schistosomes, and is likely to have broad applicability to other eukaryotic pathogens and infectious diseases. The ability to achieve effective and stable gene perturbation in parasites has major biotechnological implications, and might facilitate the development of radically new methods for the treatment and control of parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Hagen
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jean-Pierre Y Scheerlinck
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Neil D Young
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bernd H Kalinna
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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10
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Botelho MC, Alves H, Barros A, Rinaldi G, Brindley PJ, Sousa M. The role of estrogens and estrogen receptor signaling pathways in cancer and infertility: the case of schistosomes. Trends Parasitol 2015; 31:246-50. [PMID: 25837311 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic flatworm that infects more than 100 million people, mostly in the developing world, is the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis, and is associated with a high incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder. Schistosomiasis haematobia also appears to negatively influence fertility, and is particularly associated with female infertility. Given that estrogens and estrogen receptors are key players in human reproduction, we speculate that schistosome estrogen-like molecules may contribute to infertility through hormonal imbalances. Here, we review recent findings on the role of estrogens and estrogen receptors on both carcinogenesis and infertility associated with urogenital schistosomiasis and discuss the basic hormonal mechanisms that might be common in cancer and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica C Botelho
- INSA, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP, Institute of Pathology and Molecular Immunology of the University of Porto, Portugal.
| | - Helena Alves
- INSA, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alberto Barros
- Centre for Reproductive Genetics Prof. Alberto Barros, Porto, Portugal; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Tropical and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Tropical and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - Mário Sousa
- Department of Microscopy, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Multidisciplinary Unit for Biomedical Research-UMIB, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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11
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Omega-1 knockdown in Schistosoma mansoni eggs by lentivirus transduction reduces granuloma size in vivo. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5375. [PMID: 25400038 PMCID: PMC4243216 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, one of the most important neglected tropical diseases worldwide, is caused by flatworms (blood flukes or schistosomes) that live in the bloodstream of humans. The hepatointestinal form of this debilitating disease results from a chronic infection with Schistosoma mansoni or Schistosoma japonicum. No vaccine is available to prevent schistosomiasis, and treatment relies predominantly on the use of a single drug, praziquantel. In spite of considerable research effort over the years, very little is known about the complex in vivo events that lead to granuloma formation and other pathological changes during infection. Here we use, for the first time, a lentivirus-based transduction system to deliver microRNA-adapted short hairpin RNAs (shRNAmirs) into the parasite to silence and explore selected protein-encoding genes of S. mansoni implicated in the disease process. This gene-silencing system has potential to be used for functional genomic–phenomic studies of a range of socioeconomically important pathogens. Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, is caused by flatworms such as Schistosoma mansoni. Here, Hagen et al. describe a lentivirus-based transduction system to deliver microRNA-adapted small hairpin RNAs into S. mansoni to inhibit transcription of selected genes implicated in the disease process.
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12
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Rinaldi G, Young ND, Honeycutt JD, Brindley PJ, Gasser RB, Hsieh MH. New research tools for urogenital schistosomiasis. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:861-9. [PMID: 25240172 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 200,000,000 people have schistosomiasis (schistosome infection). Among the schistosomes, Schistosoma haematobium is responsible for the most infections, which are present in 110 million people globally, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. This pathogen causes an astonishing breadth of sequelae: hematuria, anemia, dysuria, stunting, uremia, bladder cancer, urosepsis, and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection. Refined estimates of the impact of schistosomiasis on quality of life suggest that it rivals malaria. Despite S. haematobium's importance, relevant research has lagged. Here, we review advances that will deepen knowledge of S. haematobium. Three sets of breakthroughs will accelerate discoveries in the pathogenesis of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS): (1) comparative genomics, (2) the development of functional genomic tools, and (3) the use of animal models to explore S. haematobium-host interactions. Comparative genomics for S. haematobium is feasible, given the sequencing of multiple schistosome genomes. Features of the S. haematobium genome that are conserved among platyhelminth species and others that are unique to S. haematobium may provide novel diagnostic and drug targets for UGS. Although there are technical hurdles, the integrated use of these approaches can elucidate host-pathogen interactions during this infection and can inform the development of techniques for investigating schistosomes in their human and snail hosts and the development of therapeutics and vaccines for the control of UGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Rinaldi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C
| | - Neil D Young
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael H Hsieh
- Biomedical Research Institute, Rockville, Maryland Children's National Health System, Washington, D.C
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13
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Pseudotyped murine leukemia virus for schistosome transgenesis: approaches, methods and perspectives. Transgenic Res 2014; 23:539-56. [DOI: 10.1007/s11248-013-9779-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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14
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Liang S, Knight M, Jolly ER. Polyethyleneimine mediated DNA transfection in schistosome parasites and regulation of the WNT signaling pathway by a dominant-negative SmMef2. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2332. [PMID: 23936566 PMCID: PMC3723562 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a serious global problem and the second most devastating parasitic disease following malaria. Parasitic worms of the genus Schistosoma are the causative agents of schistosomiasis and infect more than 240 million people worldwide. The paucity of molecular tools to manipulate schistosome gene expression has made an understanding of genetic pathways in these parasites difficult, increasing the challenge of identifying new potential drugs for treatment. Here, we describe the use of a formulation of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as an alternative to electroporation for the efficacious transfection of genetic material into schistosome parasites. We show efficient expression of genes from a heterologous CMV promoter and from the schistosome Sm23 promoter. Using the schistosome myocyte enhancer factor 2 (SmMef2), a transcriptional activator critical for myogenesis and other developmental pathways, we describe the development of a dominant-negative form of the schistosome Mef2. Using this mutant, we provide evidence that SmMef2 may regulate genes in the WNT pathway. We also show that SmMef2 regulates its own expression levels. These data demonstrate the use of PEI to facilitate effective transfection of nucleic acids into schistosomes, aiding in the study of schistosome gene expression and regulation, and development of genetic tools for the characterization of molecular pathways in these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Liang
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Matty Knight
- Biomedical Research Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Emmitt R. Jolly
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Abstract
Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms that cause schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects hundreds of millions worldwide. Treatment and control of schistosomiasis relies almost entirely on the single drug praziquantel (PZQ), making the prospect of emerging drug resistance particularly worrisome. This review will survey reports of PZQ (and other drug) resistance in schistosomes and other platyhelminths, and explore mechanisms by which drug resistance might develop. Newer genomic and post-genomic strategies that offer the promise of better understanding of how drug resistance might arise in these organisms will be discussed. These approaches could also lead to insights into the mode of action of these drugs and potentially provide markers for monitoring the emergence of resistance.
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16
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Transcriptional responses of in vivo praziquantel exposure in schistosomes identifies a functional role for calcium signalling pathway member CamKII. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003254. [PMID: 23555262 PMCID: PMC3610926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment for clinical schistosomiasis has relied centrally on the broad spectrum anthelmintic praziquantel; however, there is limited information on its mode of action or the molecular response of the parasite. This paper presents a transcriptional and functional approach to defining the molecular responses of schistosomes to praziquantel. Differential gene expression in Schistosoma japonicum was investigated by transcriptome-wide microarray analysis of adult worms perfused from infected mice after 0.5 to 24 hours after oral administration of sub-lethal doses of praziquantel. Genes up-regulated initially in male parasites were associated with "Tegument/Muscle Repair" and "Lipid/Ion Regulation" functions and were followed by "Drug Resistance" and "Ion Regulation" associated genes. Prominent responses induced in female worms included up-regulation of "Ca(2+) Regulation" and "Drug Resistance" genes and later by transcripts of "Detoxification" and "Pathogen Defense" mechanisms. A subset of highly over-expressed genes, with putative drug resistance/detoxification roles or Ca(2+)-dependant/modulatory functions, were validated by qPCR. The leading candidate among these was CamKII, a putative calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II delta chain. RNA interference was employed to knockdown CamKII in S. japonicum to determine the role of CamKII in the response to praziquantel. After partial-knockdown, schistosomes were analysed using IC50 concentrations (50% worm motility) and quantitative monitoring of parasite movement. When CamKII transcription was reduced by 50-69% in S. japonicum, the subsequent effect of an IC50 dosage of praziquantel was exacerbated, reducing motility from 47% to 27% in female worms and from 61% to 23% in males. These observations indicated that CamKII mitigates the effects of praziquantel, probably through stabilising Ca(2+) fluxes within parasite muscles and tegument. Together, these studies comprehensively charted transcriptional changes upon exposure to praziquantel and, notably, identified CamKII as potentially central to the, as yet undefined, mode of action of praziquantel.
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17
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New frontiers in schistosoma genomics and transcriptomics. J Parasitol Res 2012; 2012:849132. [PMID: 23227308 PMCID: PMC3512318 DOI: 10.1155/2012/849132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes are digenean blood flukes of aves and mammals comprising 23 species. Some species are causative agents of human schistosomiasis, the second major neglected disease affecting over 230 million people worldwide. Modern technologies including the sequencing and characterization of nucleic acids and proteins have allowed large-scale analyses of parasites and hosts, opening new frontiers in biological research with potential biomedical and biotechnological applications. Nuclear genomes of the three most socioeconomically important species (S. haematobium, S. japonicum, and S. mansoni) have been sequenced and are under intense investigation. Mitochondrial genomes of six Schistosoma species have also been completely sequenced and analysed from an evolutionary perspective. Furthermore, DNA barcoding of mitochondrial sequences is used for biodiversity assessment of schistosomes. Despite the efforts in the characterization of Schistosoma genomes and transcriptomes, many questions regarding the biology and evolution of this important taxon remain unanswered. This paper aims to discuss some advances in the schistosome research with emphasis on genomics and transcriptomics. It also aims to discuss the main challenges of the current research and to point out some future directions in schistosome studies.
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18
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Shao H, Li X, Nolan TJ, Massey HC, Pearce EJ, Lok JB. Transposon-mediated chromosomal integration of transgenes in the parasitic nematode Strongyloides ratti and establishment of stable transgenic lines. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002871. [PMID: 22912584 PMCID: PMC3415448 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2012] [Accepted: 07/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic transformation is a potential tool for analyzing gene function and thereby identifying new drug and vaccine targets in parasitic nematodes, which adversely affect more than one billion people. We have previously developed a robust system for transgenesis in Strongyloides spp. using gonadal microinjection for gene transfer. In this system, transgenes are expressed in promoter-regulated fashion in the F1 but are silenced in subsequent generations, presumably because of their location in repetitive episomal arrays. To counteract this silencing, we explored transposon-mediated chromosomal integration of transgenes in S. ratti. To this end, we constructed a donor vector encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the Ss-act-2 promoter with flanking inverted tandem repeats specific for the piggyBac transposon. In three experiments, free-living Strongyloides ratti females were transformed with this donor vector and a helper plasmid encoding the piggyBac transposase. A mean of 7.9% of F1 larvae were GFP-positive. We inoculated rats with GFP-positive F1 infective larvae, and 0.5% of 6014 F2 individuals resulting from this host passage were GFP-positive. We cultured GFP-positive F2 individuals to produce GFP-positive F3 L3i for additional rounds of host and culture passage. Mean GFP expression frequencies in subsequent generations were 15.6% in the F3, 99.0% in the F4, 82.4% in the F5 and 98.7% in the F6. The resulting transgenic lines now have virtually uniform GFP expression among all progeny after at least 10 generations of passage. Chromosomal integration of the reporter transgenes was confirmed by Southern blotting and splinkerette PCR, which revealed the transgene flanked by S. ratti genomic sequences corresponding to five discrete integration sites. BLAST searches of flanking sequences against the S. ratti genome revealed integrations in five contigs. This result provides the basis for two powerful functional genomic tools in S. ratti: heritable transgenesis and insertional mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongguang Shao
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Xinshe Li
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Nolan
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Holman C. Massey
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Edward J. Pearce
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - James B. Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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19
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Rinaldi G, Eckert SE, Tsai IJ, Suttiprapa S, Kines KJ, Tort JF, Mann VH, Turner DJ, Berriman M, Brindley PJ. Germline transgenesis and insertional mutagenesis in Schistosoma mansoni mediated by murine leukemia virus. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002820. [PMID: 22911241 PMCID: PMC3406096 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional studies will facilitate characterization of role and essentiality of newly available genome sequences of the human schistosomes, Schistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum and S. haematobium. To develop transgenesis as a functional approach for these pathogens, we previously demonstrated that pseudotyped murine leukemia virus (MLV) can transduce schistosomes leading to chromosomal integration of reporter transgenes and short hairpin RNA cassettes. Here we investigated vertical transmission of transgenes through the developmental cycle of S. mansoni after introducing transgenes into eggs. Although MLV infection of schistosome eggs from mouse livers was efficient in terms of snail infectivity, >10-fold higher transgene copy numbers were detected in cercariae derived from in vitro laid eggs (IVLE). After infecting snails with miracidia from eggs transduced by MLV, sequencing of genomic DNA from cercariae released from the snails also revealed the presence of transgenes, demonstrating that transgenes had been transmitted through the asexual developmental cycle, and thereby confirming germline transgenesis. High-throughput sequencing of genomic DNA from schistosome populations exposed to MLV mapped widespread and random insertion of transgenes throughout the genome, along each of the autosomes and sex chromosomes, validating the utility of this approach for insertional mutagenesis. In addition, the germline-transmitted transgene encoding neomycin phosphotransferase rescued cultured schistosomules from toxicity of the antibiotic G418, and PCR analysis of eggs resulting from sexual reproduction of the transgenic worms in mice confirmed that retroviral transgenes were transmitted to the next (F1) generation. These findings provide the first description of wide-scale, random insertional mutagenesis of chromosomes and of germline transmission of a transgene in schistosomes. Transgenic lines of schistosomes expressing antibiotic resistance could advance functional genomics for these significant human pathogens. DATABASE ACCESSION: Sequence data from this study have been submitted to the European Nucleotide Archive (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl) under accession number ERP000379.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Rinaldi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, (UDELAR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sabine E. Eckert
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Isheng J. Tsai
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sutas Suttiprapa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kristine J. Kines
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - José F. Tort
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, (UDELAR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Victoria H. Mann
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Turner
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Berriman
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
- Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
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