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King M, Carson J, Stewart MT, Gobert GN. Revisiting the Schistosoma japonicum life cycle transcriptome for new insights into lung schistosomula development. Exp Parasitol 2021; 223:108080. [PMID: 33548219 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2021.108080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Schistosome parasites are complex trematode blood flukes responsible for the disease schistosomiasis; a global health concern prevalent in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. While established transcriptomic databases are accessed ad hoc to facilitate studies characterising specific genes or gene families, a more comprehensive systematic updating of gene annotation and survey of the literature to aid in annotation and context is rarely addressed. We have reanalysed an online transcriptomic dataset originally published in 2009, where seven life cycle stages of Schistosoma japonicum were examined. Using the online pathway analysis tool Reactome, we have revisited key data from the original study. A key focus of this study was to improve the interpretation of the gene expression profile of the developmental lung-stage schistosomula, since it is one of the principle targets for worm elimination. Highly enriched transcripts, associated with lung schistosomula, were related to a number of important biological pathways including host immune evasion, energy metabolism and parasitic development. Revisiting large transcriptomic databases should be considered in the context of substantial new literature. This approach could aid in the improved understanding of the molecular basis of parasite biology. This may lead to the identification of new targets for diagnosis and therapies for schistosomes, and other helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meághan King
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Jack Carson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Michael T Stewart
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Geoffrey N Gobert
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK.
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Frahm S, Anisuzzaman A, Prodjinotho UF, Vejzagić N, Verschoor A, Prazeres da Costa C. A novel cell-free method to culture Schistosoma mansoni from cercariae to juvenile worm stages for in vitro drug testing. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006590. [PMID: 30689639 PMCID: PMC6375649 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The arsenal in anthelminthic treatment against schistosomiasis is limited and relies almost exclusively on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ). Thus, resistance to PZQ could constitute a major threat. Even though PZQ is potent in killing adult worms, its activity against earlier stages is limited. Current in vitro drug screening strategies depend on newly transformed schistosomula (NTS) for initial hit identification, thereby limiting sensitivity to new compounds predominantly active in later developmental stages. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a highly standardized, straightforward and reliable culture method to generate and maintain advanced larval stages in vitro. We present here how this method can be a valuable tool to test drug efficacy at each intermediate larval stage, reducing the reliance on animal use (3Rs). Methodology/Principal findings Cercariae were mechanically transformed into skin-stage (SkS) schistosomula and successfully cultured for up to four weeks with no loss in viability in a commercially available medium. Under these serum- and cell-free conditions, development halted at the lung-stage (LuS). However, the addition of human serum (HSe) propelled further development into liver stage (LiS) worms within eight weeks. Skin and lung stages, as well as LiS, were submitted to 96-well drug screening assays using known anti-schistosomal compounds such as PZQ, oxamniquine (OXM), mefloquine (MFQ) and artemether (ART). Our findings showed stage-dependent differences in larval susceptibility to these compounds. Conclusion With this robust and highly standardized in vitro assay, important developmental stages of S. mansoni up to LiS worms can be generated and maintained over prolonged periods of time. The phenotype of LiS worms, when exposed to reference drugs, was comparable to most previously published works for ex vivo harvested adult worms. Therefore, this in vitro assay can help reduce reliance on animal experiments in search for new anti-schistosomal drugs. Schistosomiasis remains a major health threat, predominantly in developing countries. Even though there has been some progress in search of new drugs, praziquantel remains the only available drug. Probably the most important advance in the search for new drugs was in vitro transformation of cercariae and their subsequent culture. However, hit identification in compound screenings is exclusively tested in skin stage parasites and is only confirmed for more mature worms in a subsequent step. This is in part due to the lack of an easy culture system for advance-stage parasites. We present here a reliable and highly standardized way to generate LiS worms in vitro in a cell-free culture system. The inclusion of in vitro drug tests on advanced-stage parasites in initial hit identification will help to identify compounds that might otherwise be overlooked. Furthermore, the ability to continuously observe the parasite’s development in vitro will provide an important platform for a better understanding of its maturation in the human host. Taken together, this opens up new avenues to investigate the influence of specific cell types or host proteins on the development of Schistosoma mansoni and provides an additional tool to reduce animal use in future drug discovery efforts (3Rs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Frahm
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Anisuzzaman Anisuzzaman
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
| | - Ulrich Fabien Prodjinotho
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Nermina Vejzagić
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Admar Verschoor
- Institute for Systemic Inflammation Research, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Clarissa Prazeres da Costa
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- * E-mail:
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White Bear J, Long T, Skinner D, McKerrow JH. Predictions of novel Schistosoma mansoni - human protein interactions consistent with experimental data. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13092. [PMID: 30166569 PMCID: PMC6117258 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31272-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection by the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni involves a variety of cross-species protein- protein interactions. The pathogen expresses a diverse arsenal of proteins that facilitate the breach of physical and biochemical barriers present in skin evasion of the immune system, and digestion of human plasma proteins including albumin and hemoglobin, allowing schistosomes to reside in the host for years. However, only a small number of specific interactions between S. mansoni and human proteins have been identified. We present and apply a protocol that generates testable predictions of S. mansoni-human protein interactions. In this study, we have preliminary predictions of novel interactions between schistosome and human proteins relevant to infection and the ability of the parasite to evade the immune system. We applied a computational whole-genome comparative approach to predict potential S. mansoni-human protein interactions based on similarity to known protein complexes. We first predict S. mansoni -human protein interactions based on similarity to known protein complexes. Putative interactions were then scored and assessed using several contextual filters, including the use of annotation automatically derived from literature using a simple natural language processing methodology. Next, in vitro experiments were carried out between schistosome and host proteins to validate several prospective predictions. Our method predicted 7 out of the 10 previously known cross-species interactions involved in pathogenesis between S. mansoni and its human host. Interestingly, two novel putative interactions involving Schistosoma proteins, the cercarial elastase SmCE, and the adult tegument surface protein Sm29, were also predicted and experimentally characterized. Preliminary data suggest that elafin, a host endogenous serine protease inhibitor, may be a novel substrate for SmCE. Additionally, CD59, an inhibitor of the membrane attack complex, could interact with Sm29. Furthermore, the application framework provides an integrated methodology for investigation of host-pathogen interactions and an extensive source of orthogonal data for experimental analysis. We have made the predictions available for community perusal.
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Affiliation(s)
- J White Bear
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Graduate Group in Bioinformatics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory 244 Wood St, Lexington, MA, USA.
| | - Thavy Long
- Department of Pathology and Sandler Center for Basic Research in Parasitic Diseases, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- INRA - InTheRes - UMR 1436, Equipe Transporteurs Membranaires et Résistance, 180, Chemin de Tournefeuille, Toulouse, France
| | - Danielle Skinner
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - James H McKerrow
- Department of Pathology and Sandler Center for Basic Research in Parasitic Diseases, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
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Blohm AS, Mäder P, Quack T, Lu Z, Hahnel S, Schlitzer M, Grevelding CG. Derivatives of biarylalkyl carboxylic acid induce pleiotropic phenotypes in adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:3831-42. [PMID: 27230017 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5146-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomes and other parasitic platyhelminths cause infectious diseases of worldwide significance for humans and animals. Despite their medical and economic importance, vaccines are not available and the number of drugs is alarmingly limited. For most platyhelminths including schistosomes, Praziquantel (PZQ) is the commonly used drug. With respect to its regular application in mass treatment programs, however, there is increasing concern about resistance development.Previous studies demonstrated that inhibitors used to treat non-parasitic human diseases may be useful to be tested for their effects on parasites. To this end, we focused on biarylalkyl carboxylic acids (BACAs) as basis, which had been shown before to be interesting candidates in the context of finding alternative approaches to treat diabetes mellitus. We tested 32 chemically modified derivatives of these substances (biarylalkyl carboxylic acid derivatives (BACADs)) for their effects on adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro. Treatment with 18 BACADs resulted in egg production-associated phenotypes and reduced pairing stability. In addition, 12 of these derivatives affected vitality and/or caused severe tegument damage, gut dilatation, or other forms of tissue disintegration which led to the death of worms. In most cases (10/12), one derivative caused more than one phenotype at a time. In vitro experiments in the presence of serum albumin (SA) and alpha-acidic glycoprotein (AGP) indicated a varying influence of these blood components on the effects of two selected derivatives. The variety of observed phenotypes suggested that different targets were hit. The results demonstrated that BACADs are interesting substances with respect to their anti-schistosomal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane S Blohm
- BFS, Institut for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, 35392, Germany
| | - Patrick Mäder
- Institute for Pharmaceutic Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, 35032, Germany
| | - Thomas Quack
- BFS, Institut for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, 35392, Germany
| | - Zhigang Lu
- BFS, Institut for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, 35392, Germany
| | - Steffen Hahnel
- BFS, Institut for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, 35392, Germany
| | - Martin Schlitzer
- Institute for Pharmaceutic Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, 35032, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- BFS, Institut for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, 35392, Germany.
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Beckmann S, Long T, Scheld C, Geyer R, Caffrey CR, Grevelding CG. Serum albumin and α-1 acid glycoprotein impede the killing of Schistosoma mansoni by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Imatinib. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2014; 4:287-95. [PMID: 25516839 PMCID: PMC4266805 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Abl tyrosine-kinase inhibitor Imatinib is toxic to S. mansoni in vitro but not in vivo in rodents. Blood components like serum albumin and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) negated Imatinib’s toxicity in vitro. Erythromycin partially restored the toxicity of Imatinib in vitro. High levels of AGP upon infection make rodents poor models for examining some small molecule inhibitors.
In the search for new drugs and drug targets to treat the flatworm disease schistosomiasis, protein kinases (PKs) have come under particular scrutiny because of their essential roles in developmental and physiological processes in schistosome parasites. In this context the application of the anti-cancer Abl tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor Imatinib (Gleevec/Glivec; STI-571) to adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro has indicated negative effects on diverse physiological processes including survival. Motivated by these in vitro findings, we performed in vivo experiments in rodent models of S. mansoni infection. Unexpectedly, Imatinib had no effect on worm burden or egg-production. We found that the blood components serum albumin (SA) and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP or orosomucoid) negated Imatinib’s deleterious effects on adult S. mansoni and schistosomula (post-infective larvae) in vitro. This negative effect was partially reversed by erythromycin. AGP synthesis can increase as a consequence of inflammatory processes or infection; in addition upon infection AGP levels are 6–8 times higher in mice compared to humans. Therefore, mice and probably other rodents are poor infection models for measuring the effects of Imatinib in vivo. Accordingly, we suggest the routine evaluation of the ability of AGP and SA to block in vitro anti-schistosomal effects of small molecules like Imatinib prior to laborious and expensive animal experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Beckmann
- BFS, Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thavy Long
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases and the Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christina Scheld
- BFS, Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Geyer
- Institute for Biochemistry, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases and the Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Schistosomula, pre-adults and adults of Schistosoma mansoni ingest fluorescence-labelled albumin in vitro and in vivo: implication for a drug-targeting model. Parasitology 2010; 137:1645-52. [PMID: 20500919 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182010000405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Bilharziosis is one of the most important helminthal infections in humans and is caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. Three different life stages of the parasite occur within the mammalian host: schistosomula located in the skin, pre-adults located in the lung and adult worms located in the portal venous system. Erythrocytes are a major source of nutrient supply for adults. However, sources of nutrition for the developing stages are still unclear. METHODS To investigate whether schistosomula, pre-adults and adults of Schistosoma mansoni ingest human serum albumin (HSA) in vitro, these life stages were incubated with aminofluorescein-labelled human serum albumin (Afl-HSA) for 5 h. To test the uptake of albumin in vivo, the albumin conjugate was given intravenously to S. mansoni infected NMRI mice 24 h before harvesting the 3 life stages. RESULTS In comparison to the control group schistosomula, pre-adults, and adults showed an accumulation of Afl-HSA within the oesophagus and intestinal caecum in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that albumin seems to be a major source of energy supply for the early schistosomal life stages and an additive energy support for adult worms. Since albumin has been used successfully as a drug carrier for chemotherapeutic substances against malignant disorders, further studies will focus on albumin as a carrier for anthelminthics in a drug-targeting model.
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Liu F, Hu W, Cui SJ, Chi M, Fang CY, Wang ZQ, Yang PY, Han ZG. Insight into the host-parasite interplay by proteomic study of host proteins copurified with the human parasite, Schistosoma japonicum. Proteomics 2007; 7:450-62. [PMID: 17211827 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200600465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The tegument proteins of schistosome have attracted the most attention in studies of host-parasite interplay, while the host proteins acting at the host-parasite interface remained largely elusive. Here, we undertook a high-throughput proteomic approach to characterize the schistosome-adsorbed host proteins. Fifty five distinct host proteins were confidently identified in S. japonicum samples, including cercaria, schistosomula, adults, eggs, and miracidia, together with tegument and eggshell preparations, of which 23 and 38 host proteins were identified in adult worms and eggs, respectively. Among the schistosome-adsorbed host proteins, host neutrophil elastases were found in the granuloma initiated by schistosome egg deposition, implying that the host innate immune molecules could participate in the granuloma formation for fighting against schistosome invasion, except for the adaptive immune system. In addition, some host proteins, such as proteinase inhibitor and superoxide dismutase, might be utilized by schistosome to counteract or attenuate the host attacks. These parasite-adsorbed host proteins will provide new insights into the host immune responses against schistosome infection, the evasive behavior of the adult worms, and the granuloma formation, which could render an in-depth understanding for the host-parasite interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University and Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, P. R. China
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McIntosh RS, Jones FM, Dunne DW, McKerrow JH, Pleass RJ. Characterization of immunoglobulin binding by schistosomes. Parasite Immunol 2006; 28:407-19. [PMID: 16916364 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2006.00829.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Although controversial, schistosomes are believed to cloak themselves in antibody through non-specific interactions with the immunoglobulin (Ig) molecule. The acquisition of host Ig by the schistosome may mask its foreign status and/or interfere with Fc-dependent functions. We report experiments aimed at characterizing the interaction between Ig-Fc and paramyosin, a schistosome Fc-receptor previously reported to bind human IgG. We show that certain Ig classes, in particular murine IgG2b and IgG3, are not only able to bind recombinant paramyosin, but also associate with other parasite proteins. The Fc region of IgG contains four hydrophobic patches, two of which are known to interact with distinct molecules: one in the Cgamma2-Cgamma3 interdomain region bound by protein G, mannose binding lectin (MBL), and the neonatal Fc-receptor (FcRn), and one at the top of the Cgamma2 domain bound by phagocytic FcgammaRs and C1q. We provisionally discounted the involvement of these regions, since IgG binding by paramyosin did not inhibit FcgammaR-mediated NADPH respiratory bursts, and protein G was unable to block IgG binding to paramyosin. Given their apparent low affinity, we postulate hydrogen bonding between reactive residues in a hydrophobic patch at the bottom of the Cgamma3 domain and negatively charged Glu or Asp amino acids in paramyosin.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S McIntosh
- Institute of Genetics, School of Biology, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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Liu F, Lu J, Hu W, Wang SY, Cui SJ, Chi M, Yan Q, Wang XR, Song HD, Xu XN, Wang JJ, Zhang XL, Zhang X, Wang ZQ, Xue CL, Brindley PJ, McManus DP, Yang PY, Feng Z, Chen Z, Han ZG. New perspectives on host-parasite interplay by comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of Schistosoma japonicum. PLoS Pathog 2006; 2:e29. [PMID: 16617374 PMCID: PMC1435792 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.0020029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2005] [Accepted: 03/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis remains a serious public health problem with an estimated 200 million people infected in 76 countries. Here we isolated ~ 8,400 potential protein-encoding cDNA contigs from Schistosoma japonicum after sequencing circa 84,000 expressed sequence tags. In tandem, we undertook a high-throughput proteomics approach to characterize the protein expression profiles of a number of developmental stages (cercariae, hepatic schistosomula, female and male adults, eggs, and miracidia) and tissues at the host-parasite interface (eggshell and tegument) by interrogating the protein database deduced from the contigs. Comparative analysis of these transcriptomic and proteomic data, the latter including 3,260 proteins with putative identities, revealed differential expression of genes among the various developmental stages and sexes of S. japonicum and localization of putative secretory and membrane antigens, enzymes, and other gene products on the adult tegument and eggshell, many of which displayed genetic polymorphisms. Numerous S. japonicum genes exhibited high levels of identity with those of their mammalian hosts, whereas many others appeared to be conserved only across the genus Schistosoma or Phylum Platyhelminthes. These findings are expected to provide new insights into the pathophysiology of schistosomiasis and for the development of improved interventions for disease control and will facilitate a more fundamental understanding of schistosome biology, evolution, and the host-parasite interplay. Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in the developing world. Schistosoma japonicum, the Oriental blood fluke, causes intestinal schistosomiasis in China and the Philippines. Knowledge of the genome and proteome of this worm should improve understanding of biomedical aspects of schistosomiasis. This study represents the first major attempt to characterize the majority of the expressed genes and proteins of a human blood fluke through rigorous, high-throughput genomic and proteomic methodologies. The findings of this study provide a unique resource of numerous schistosome genes and information on protein profiles of the different developmental stages of S. japonicum. Many of the newly discovered proteins are localized on the surface of the worm and its eggs, and they are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. Furthermore, genetic variants found in many of these new genes likely reflect the ability of this important human pathogen to adapt and respond to environmental pressures and the capacity of the parasite to respond to anti-schistosomal therapies. Comparison of these S. japonicum genes with those from mammals and other organisms will facilitate advances in the understanding of blood fluke biology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
- Proteomic Center and Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiong Lu
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Hu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng-Yue Wang
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Jian Cui
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Chi
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Yan
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Rong Wang
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Huai-Dong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Nian Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Ju-Jun Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang-Lin Zhang
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Qin Wang
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Liang Xue
- Department of Parasitology, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Donald P McManus
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research and Australian Center for International Health and Nutrition, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peng-Yuan Yang
- Proteomic Center and Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Feng
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhu Chen
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze-Guang Han
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
- * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail:
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Wippersteg V, Ribeiro F, Liedtke S, Kusel JR, Grevelding CG. The uptake of Texas Red-BSA in the excretory system of schistosomes and its colocalisation with ER60 promoter-induced GFP in transiently transformed adult males. Int J Parasitol 2003; 33:1139-43. [PMID: 13678630 DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7519(03)00168-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The excretory system of schistosomes has focused some attention during the last years since accumulating evidence suggests that it plays an important role in the host-parasite interaction. Signalling molecules such as phosphatases, but also proteases have been localised in the excretory system. To some extent, however, localisation studies are limited by the fact that sections of fixed specimens are used. In this study, we tested the fluorescent molecules FITC-dextran and Texas Red-BSA for their ability to enter the excretory system of living Schistosoma mansoni males. It is demonstrated that the dyes selectively stain the excretory tubules which are widely distributed along the worm body. This finding was used to investigate whether the staining of worms with Texas Red-BSA can help to localise transgene activity in worms which were transiently transformed by particle bombardment. A vector was used for transformation which contained the green fluorescent protein gene, under the control of the regulatory elements of the cysteine protease ER60 gene. After transformation and staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that ER60-induced green fluorescent protein activity colocalises with Texas Red-BSA in the excretory tubules. The results suggest a role for ER60 during the host-parasite interaction. Furthermore, the colocalisation approach introduced here opens further perspectives to characterise gene-expression profiles in this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Wippersteg
- Institute for Genetics, Genetic Parasitology and Center for Biological and Medical Research, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225, Dusseldorf, Germany
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11
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Stehle G, Sinn H, Wunder A, Schrenk HH, Stewart JC, Hartung G, Maier-Borst W, Heene DL. Plasma protein (albumin) catabolism by the tumor itself--implications for tumor metabolism and the genesis of cachexia. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 1997; 26:77-100. [PMID: 9298326 DOI: 10.1016/s1040-8428(97)00015-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- G Stehle
- I. Department of Medicine, Faculty for Clinical Medicine, Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
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Abstract
Fluorescent lipophilic compounds can be used to label the surface membrane of Schistosoma mansoni by adding the compound in small amounts of organic solvents to aqueous medium in vitro. Under these conditions it is difficult to follow routes of distribution of the label. Here we have absorbed nitrobenzoxadiazolamine methylamino-(NBD)-ceramides to positively charged Dowex beads, and incubated the labelled beads with living parasites. The NBD-ceramide transfers to the surface membrane as a patch 50-100 microns in diameter, after which the label can be seen localized in the gut and in a very concentrated form in organelles within the oesophageal gland cells. Subsequently the labelled compound can be found in organelles within other body cells, including subtegumental cells. We show that the labelled ceramide has been transported from the patch in the surface membrane through internal membrane systems to the destination in the gut and oesophageal gland and not transported through the gut via the external medium. A different pattern was observed when NBD-cholesterol was used. The pharynx was rapidly labelled when NBD-cholesterol was added in medium with or without serum or attached to red blood cells only. Diffuse labelling of the surface membrane and oesophageal gland occurred. We have demonstrated a novel route of lipid transport within the parasite. The route requires the surface membrane to have very specialized regions to facilitate such transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Moffat
- Biochemistry Department, University of Glasgow
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