Characterization of excretory-secretory products from larval stages of Haemonchus contortus cultured in vitro

Roles of Cysteine Proteases in Biology and Pathogenesis of Parasites

Cysteine proteases, also known as thiol proteases, are a class of nucleophilic proteolytic enzymes containing cysteine residues in the enzymatic domain. These proteases generally play a pivotal role in many biological reactions, such as catabolic functions and protein processing, in all living organisms. They specifically take part in many important biological processes, especially in the absorption of nutrients, invasion, virulence, and immune evasion of parasitic organisms from unicellular protozoa to multicellular helminths. They can also be used as parasite diagnostic antigens and targets for gene modification and chemotherapy, as well as vaccine candidates, due to their species and even life-cycle stage specificity. This article highlights current knowledge on parasitic cysteine protease types, biological functions, and their applications in immunodiagnosis and chemotherapy.

In vitro culture of parasitic stages of Haemonchus contortus

Haemonchus contortus is a constraint to sheep production. Seeking to reduce the use of hosts and produce parasitic stages in large-scale, a 42-day in vitro culture protocol of H. contortus third-stage larvae was optimized using Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). In cell-free culture, larvae were maintained at 39.6°C, in acidic media (pH 6.1) for 3 or 6 days with Δ4-dafachronic acid followed by DMEM pH 7.4 supplemented or not with Fildes' reagent. In DMEM pH 7.4 at 37°C, supplementation with Caco-2 cells was compared to Fildes. On Day 14, fourth-stage larvae (L4) development rates in acidic media supplemented (86.8-88.4%) or not (74.4-77.8%) with Fildes and in Caco-2 cell co-culture (92.6%) were similar, and superior to DMEM pH 7.4 with Fildes (0.0%). On Day 21, Caco-2 cell co-culture resulted in higher larvae differentiation (25.0%) and lower degeneration (13.9%) compared to acidic media (1.5-8.1% and 48.6-69.9%, respectively). This is the first report of prolonged in vitro culture of H. contortus larvae using commercial media in co-culture with Caco-2 cells. Although no progression to the adult stage, Caco-2 cell co-culture resulted in morphological differentiation of H. contortus L4 and larval viability for up to 28 days.

In Vitro Nematocidal Effect and Anthelmintic Activity of Artemisia cina Against Haemonchus contortus in Gerbils and Relative Expression of Hc29 Gene in Transitional Larvae (L3-L4)

PURPOSE

(1) To assess the in vitro activity of Artemisia cina against Haemonchus contortus L₃ (HcL₃) and in transitional (L₃-L₄) larvae (HcTrL₃-L₄); (2) to quantify the relative expression of the Hc29 gene in HcTrL₃-L₄ exposed to the A. cina n-hexane extract; and (3) to assess the anthelmintic activity (AA) of the A. cina organic extracts in gerbils artificially infected with H. contortus (HcArt/inf/gerbs).

METHODS

The in vitro assay was carried out in 96-well microtitration plates. The following A. cina extracts: ethyl acetate (Ac-EtOAcEx), n-hexane (Ac-n-HexEx), and methanol (Ac-MethEx) were assessed at 1 and 2 mg/mL against HcL₃ and HcTrL₃-L₄ at 24 h exposure. Relative expression of the Hc29 gene in HcTrL₃-L₄ was obtained by RT-PCR. For assessing the AA, six groups of five HcArt/inf/gerbs were used. Groups were treated orally with 4 mg/kg BW of A. cina extracts. Five days after treatment, the gerbils were necropsied and nematodes counted.

RESULTS

The highest in vitro activities (75 and 82.6%) were shown by Ac-n-HexEx at 1 and 2 mg/mL, respectively. For HcTrL₃-L₄ the highest in vitro activities (69 and 23%) were shown by Ac-n-HexEx and isoguaiacine at 0.625 mg/mL, respectively. Also, upregulation of H. contortus Hc29 gene by 13- and 80-fold (p < 0.01) was observed on the HcTrL₃-L₄ stage after exposure to Ac-n-HexEx extract and isoguaiacine at 0.078 mg/mL, respectively. Reduction percentage was 100% in HcArt/inf/gerbs treated with Ac-n-HexEx.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the Ac-n-HexEx and isoguaiacine compound had anthelmintic efficacy against H. contortus and L₃ and HcTrL₃-L₄.

Inhibition of Protease and Egg Hatching of Haemonchus contortus by Soybean Seed Exudates

Gastrointestinal nematode infection of small ruminants causes losses in livestock production. Plant compounds show promises as alternatives to commercial anthelmintics that have been exerting selective pressures that lead to the development of drug-resistant parasites. Soybean (Glycine max) is an economical value crop, with a higher protein content compared to other legumes. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the protease inhibitors exuded from the G. max mature seeds have anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus. To obtain the soybean exudates (SEX), mature seeds were immersed in 100 mM sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.0, at 10 C, for 24 hr. Then the naturally released substances present in SEX were collected and exhaustively dialyzed (cutoff 12 kDa) against distilled water. The dialyzed seed exudates (SEXD) were heated at 100 C for 10 min and centrifuged (12,000 g, at 4 C for 15 min). The supernatant obtained was recovered and designated as the heat-treated exudate fraction (SEXDH). The protein content, protease inhibitor activity, and the effect of each fraction on H. contortus egg hatch rate were evaluated. The inhibition extent of SEX, SEXD, and SEXDH on H. contortus egg proteases was 31.1, 42.9, and 63.8%, respectively. Moreover, SEX, SEXD, and SEXDH inhibited the egg hatching with EC50 of 0.175, 0.175, and 0.241 mg ml-1, respectively. Among the commercial protease inhibitors tested, only EDTA and E-64 inhibited the H. contortus hatch rate (79.0 and 28.9%, respectively). We present evidence demonstrating that soybean exudate proteins can effectively inhibit H. contortus egg hatching. This bioactivity is displayed by thermostable proteins and provides evidence that protease inhibitors are a potential candidate for anthelmintic use.

Suppression of hyaluronidase reduces invasion and establishment of Haemonchus contortus larvae in sheep

Haemonchus contortus is a hematophagous endoparasite of small ruminants, which is responsible for huge economic losses in livestock sector. Hyaluronidase produced by infective larvae of H. contortus can degrade hyaluronic acid present in the host’s abomasal tissue. Thus, it facilitates larval tissue invasion and early establishment. We herein explored this ability of hyaluronidase in H. contortus, and tested whether hyaluronidase is utilized as a virulence factor by H. contortus while establishing the infection. We first successfully blocked the hyaluronidase gene in L3 larvae by RNA interference (RNAi), which was subsequently confirmed by qPCR, enzymatic activity, and immunohistochemistry assays. Using these larvae we then conducted in vivo and in vitro assays on sheep to assess the effects of hyaluronidase suppression on larval invasion and establishment of infection. The in vivo assay showed a significant drop in worm burden in siRNA treated group in comparison to control group. During in vitro assay we applied an ovine ex vivo model where siRNA treated group of larvae showed significantly reduced invasion of the abomasal tissue explants as compared to control group. These findings indicate that hyaluronidase plays a key role in host’s tissue invasion and larval establishment, and it is used as a virulence factor by H. contortus while establishing the infection. As an invasive virulence molecule, its functional research is thus conducive to the prevention of haemonchosis.

A daf-7-related TGF-β ligand (Hc-tgh-2) shows important regulations on the development of Haemonchus contortus

BACKGROUND

In most multicellular organisms, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling pathway is involved in regulating the growth and stem cell differentiation. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of three key molecules in this pathway in the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus, including one TGF-β type I receptor (Hc-tgfbr1), one TGF-β type II receptor (Hc-tgfbr2), and one co-Smad (Hc-daf-3), which regulated the developmental transition from the free-living to the parasitic stages of this parasite. However, almost nothing is known about the function of the TGF-β ligand (Hc-tgh-2) of H. contortus.

METHODS

Here, the temporal transcription profiles of Hc-tgh-2 at eight different developmental stages and spatial expression patterns of Hc-TGH-2 in adult female and male worms of H. contortus have been examined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In addition, RNA interference (RNAi) by soaking was employed to assess the importance of Hc-tgh-2 in the development from exsheathed third-stage larvae (xL3s) to fourth-stage larvae (L4s) in H. contortus.

RESULTS

Hc-tgh-2 was continuously transcribed in all eight developmental stages of H. contortus studied with the highest level in the infective third-stage larvae (iL3) and Hc-TGH-2 was located in the muscle of the body wall, intestine, ovary of adult females and testes of adult males. Silencing Hc-tgh-2 by the specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), decreased the transcript level of Hc-tgh-2 and resulted in fewer xL3s developing to L4s in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that the TGF-β ligand, Hc-TGH-2, could play important roles in the developmental transition from the free-living (L3s) to the parasitic stage (L4s). Furthermore, it may also take part in the processes such as digestion, absorption, host immune response and reproductive development in H. contortus adults.

High throughput LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis of excretory-secretory products from short-term in vitro culture of Haemonchus contortus

Parasitic nematodes of humans, animals and plants have a major, adverse impact on global health and agricultural production worldwide. To cope with their surrounding environment in and the immune attack from the host, excretory-secretory (ES) proteins are released by nematodes to orchestrate or regulate parasite-host interactions. In the present study, we characterised the ES products from short-term (12 h) in vitro culture of different developmental stages/sexes of Haemonchus contortus (one of the most important parasitic nematodes of livestock animals worldwide) using a high throughput tandem mass-spectrometry, underpinned by the most recent genomic dataset. In total, 878 unique proteins from key developmental stages/sexes (third-stage and fourth-stage larvae, and female and male adults) were identified and quantified with high confidence. Bioinformatic analyses showed noteworthy ES protein alterations during the transition from the free-living to the parasitic phase, especially for proteins which are likely involved in nutrient digestion and acquisition as well as parasite-host interactions, such as proteolytic cascade-related peptidases, glycoside hydrolases, C-type lectins and sperm-coating protein/Tpx/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1/Sc7 (= SCP/TAPS) proteins. Our findings provide an avenue to better explore interactive processes between the host and this highly significant parasitic nematode, to underpin the search for novel drug and vaccine targets. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study represents a comprehensive proteomic analysis of the secretome of key developmental stages/sexes of H. contortus maintained in short-term in vitro culture. High throughput LC-MS/MS analysis of ES products allowed the identification of a large repertoire of proteins (secretome) and the establishment of a new proteomic database for H. contortus. The secretome of H. contortus undergoes substantial changes during the nematode's transition from free-living to parasitic stages, suggesting a constant adaptation to different environments outside of and within the host animal. Understanding the host-parasite relationship at the molecular level could assist significantly in the development of intervention strategies (i.e. novel drugs and vaccines) against H. contortus and related nematodes.

Helminth secretomes reflect different lifestyles and parasitized hosts

Helminths cause a number of medical and agricultural problems and are a major cause of parasitic infections in humans, animals and plants. Comparative analysis of helminth genes and genomes are important to understand the genomic biodiversity and evolution of parasites and their hosts in terms of different selective pressures in their habitats. The interactions between the infective organisms and their hosts are mediated in large part by secreted proteins, known collectively as the "secretome". Proteins secreted by parasites are able to modify a host's environment and modulate their immune system. The composition and function of this set of proteins varies depending on the ecology, lifestyle and environment of an organism. The present study aimed to predict, in silico, the secretome in 44 helminth species including Nematoda (31 species) and Platyhelminthes (13 species) and, understand the diversity and evolution of secretomes. Secretomes from plant helminths range from 7.6% (943 proteins) to 13.9% (2,077 proteins) of the filtered proteome with an average of 10.2% (1,412 proteins) and from free-living helminths range from 4.4% (870 proteins) to 13% (3,121 proteins) with an average of 9.8% (2,126 proteins), respectively, and thus are considerably larger secretomes in relation to animal helminth secretomes which range from 4.2% (431 proteins) to 11.8% (2,419 proteins) of the proteomes, with an average of 7.1% (804 proteins). Across 44 secretomes in different helminth species, we found five conserved domains: (i) PF00014 (Kunitz/Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor domain), (ii) PF00046 (Homeobox domain), (iii) PF00188 (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins), (iv) PF00085 (Thioredoxin) and (v) PF07679 (Immunoglobulin I-set domain). Our results detected secreted proteins associated with invasion, infection, adhesion and immunoregulation processes as protease inhibitors and cytokines, among other functions. In summary, this study will contribute towards the understanding of host-parasite interactions and possibly identify new molecular targets for the treatment or diagnosis of helminthiases.

Experimental infection by Haemonchus contortus in lambs: influence of disease on purine levels in serum

The aim of this study was to evaluate the purine levels of lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. A total of 12 healthy lambs were divided into two groups, composed of 6 animals each: Group A represented the healthy animals (uninfected), while in Group B the animals were infected with 15 000 larvae of H. contortus. Blood was drawn on days 15, 45 and 75 post-infection (PI) in order to perform the purine analysis (ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid) by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in serum. On day 15 PI a significant (P<0·05) increase in the levels of ATP and inosine was observed in the infected animals, unlike the levels of ADP, adenosine, xanthine and uric acid which were reduced. On day 45 PI a significant (P<0·05) increase in the ATP and xanthine levels in infected animals was observed, contrasting with reduced levels of ADP and uric acid. Finally, on day 75 PI an increase occurred in the levels of ATP, adenosine and hypoxanthine in infected lambs, concomitant with a reduction in the levels of ADP and uric acid (P<0·05). These changes in purine levels may influence the inflammatory process and the pathological events.

Changes in Heligmosomoides polygyrus glycoprotein pattern by saponins impact the BALB/c mice immune response

Saponins of marigold (Calendula officinalis), in particular derivatives of 3-O-monoglucuronide of oleanolic acid, are able to reduce infectivity of Heligmosomoides polygyrus in mice. The purpose of this study was to understand the immune activation provoked by third-stage larvae exposed to marigold glucuronides. We also examined the pattern of glycosylation of larval antigens which appeared to be crucial for induction of cytokine production in BALB/c mice; higher concentrations of IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-10 and TNF-α were observed in serum or intestine one week post infection. Three weeks later, in the chronic phase of infection, cells in culture were able to produce IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17. Restimulation of cells with H. polygyrus antigen resulted in reduced production of IL-6, and TNF-α. The pattern of cytokine production co-existed with reduced expression of terminal glucose, α-linked mannose, N-acetyl-galactosamine, β-galactose, N-acetyl-glucosamine and α-fucose in several protein bands. Galactose, as a new terminal carbohydrate residue appeared in 20-24kDa protein bands. The number of immunogenic epitopes in parasitic antigens was reduced; only three protein bands of 56, 26 and 12kDa were recognized by IgG1. These studies provide a model system to find the glycosylated molecules expressed on nematodes that improve establishment and survival and characterize cytokine production in mice infected with larvae exposed to saponin. Identification of these molecules is the first step in the recognition of key antigenic epitopes able to induce protective or tolerogenic immune responses.

Neutrophil and eosinophil chemotactic factors in the excretory/secretory products of sheep abomasal nematode parasites: NCF and ECF in abomasal nematodes

Both eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF) and neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) activities were demonstrated in excretory/secretory (ES) products and homogenates of Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae and adult worms in a modified checkerboard assay using a micro-chemotaxis chamber. Neutrophil chemotaxis was seen in 28 of 35 experiments and eosinophil chemotaxis in 20 of 38 experiments. Chemokinetic activity for neutrophils and eosinophils (accounting for 40-50% of total cell migration) was also apparent in only three parasite products for each cell type. Significant NCF activity was present in six of seven adult worm ES products (three of four from T. circumcincta and in all three from H. contortus) and ECF activity in four of five adult ES products, whereas fewer L3 incubates, particularly of T. circumcincta, contained chemotactic activity. All parasite homogenates, with one exception for ECF, were chemotactic for both neutrophils and eosinophils. The sequential use of cellulose ultrafiltration membranes of decreasing pore size did not identify precisely the molecular weight of the NCF and ECF but indicated that the active chemicals were greater than 10 kDa and probably greater than 30 kDa.

Strongyloides stercoralis: Amphidial neuron pair ASJ triggers significant resumption of development by infective larvae under host-mimicking in vitro conditions

Resumption of development by infective larvae (L3i) of parasitic nematodes upon entering a host is a critical first step in establishing a parasitic relationship with a definitive host. It is also considered equivalent to exit from the dauer stage by the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Initiation of feeding, an early event in this process, is induced in vitro in L3i of Strongyloides stercoralis, a parasite of humans, other primates and dogs, by culturing the larvae in DMEM with 10% canine serum and 5mM glutathione at 37 degrees C with 5% CO(2). Based on the developmental neurobiology of C. elegans, resumption of development by S. stercoralis L3i should be mediated, in part at least, by neurons homologous to the ASJ pair of C. elegans. To test this hypothesis, the ASJ neurons in S. stercoralis first-stage larvae (L1) were ablated with a laser microbeam. This resulted in a statistically significant (33%) reduction in the number of L3i that resumed feeding in culture. In a second expanded investigation, the thermosensitive ALD neurons, along with the ASJ neurons, were ablated, but there was no further decrease in the initiation of feeding by these worms compared to those in which only the ASJ pair was ablated.

Effects of excretory/secretory products of Haemonchus contortus on cell vacuolation

Excretory/secretory (ES) products of the gastric nematode, Haemonchus contortus, have been implicated in the inhibition of gastric acid secretion which follows infection. Parietal cell vacuolation has been observed in abomasal sections from parasitised sheep, and ES prepared in vitro has been reported to cause vacuolation and to increase neutral red (NR) uptake in epithelial cell cultures. We have used the latter approach to examine, at the cellular level, the effects of ES prepared from L3 and adult nematodes. Both NR uptake and cellular vacuolation were increased following exposure to larval or adult ES products. ES preparations from adult worms induced more extensive vacuolation then those from L3 worms and, as with VacA treatment, adherent cells remained viable despite high levels of vacuolation. Whereas VacA-induced vacuolation resulted in NR uptake predominantly localised in vacuoles, this appeared not to be the case with ES-induced vacuolation, suggesting that different mechanisms might be involved. Both ES and VacA exposure was associated with an increased rate of cell detachment.

Cholinesterase and phosphatase activities in adults and infective-stage larvae of levamisole-resistant and levamisole-susceptible isolates of Haemonchus contortus

Cholinesterase (ChE) and acid phosphatase (AP) activities, but not alkaline phosphatase activities, were detected in cytosolic and membrane-bound fractions of adult and infective-stage larvae of levamisole-resistant and levamisole-susceptible Haemonchus contortus. In contrast to other gastrointestinal nematodes, the ChE activity was higher in L3 than in adults and, in both cases, was mainly associated with membranes. ChE activity was inhibited by Triton X-100 and was only detected in membrane-bound fractions when the detergent was removed. Differences between resistant and susceptible L3 were observed in the response to inhibitors (cytosolic fraction) and in the enzymatic content (membrane-bound fraction). Phosphatase activity was detected at acidic pH in all fractions, being higher in the adult than in the L3 stage. In the former, most of the enzyme was localized in the membrane-bound fractions, whereas in the latter it was mainly in cytosolic fractions. This difference could be correlated with the activity in the gut. In inhibition assays, a difference between cytosolic fractions from resistant and susceptible adults was observed in their response to 1 mmol/L tartaric acid.

In vitro reactivation of Ancylostoma caninum tissue-arrested third-stage larvae by transforming growth factor-beta

Developmental arrest in Ancylostoma caninum is associated with preparasitic, free-living third-stage (L3) larvae, as well as anthelmintic-resilient hypobiotic L3 larvae within the tissues of an infected dog. With the tissue-arrested larvae, pregnancy and, more specifically, the hormonal effects of estrogen and prolactin mediate reactivation resulting in transmammary transmission of infection to nursing puppies. Estrogen and prolactin have been shown to be critically involved in upregulation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta2 during pregnancy, and studies on the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans further implicate TGF-beta and insulin-like signaling pathways with larval arrest and reactivation. In this report, an in vitro assay was used to show that neither estrogen, prolactin, nor insulin had a direct effect on the feeding/reactivation response of tissue-arrested larvae; however, TGF-beta isoforms 1 and 2 both had significant stimulatory effects that were comparable to the effects of dog serum. The stimulatory effects of serum could be blocked by preincubation with anti-TGF-beta antibodies. Taken together, the results support the hypothesis that during pregnancy, host-derived TGF-beta can signal a parasite-encoded receptor to trigger the reactivation of tissue-arrested larvae. TGF-beta had no effect on preparasitic larvae, suggesting that different signals may be involved in reactivation of the 2 different arrested forms of A. caninum L3 larvae.

Characterisation of Haemonchus contortus-derived cell populations propagated in vitro in a tissue culture environment and their potential to induce protective immunity in sheep

Cell populations derived from viable Haemonchus contortus L(3) larvae were propagated in vitro in a tissue culture environment for a prolonged period (>48 months). Microscopic evaluation of H. contortus-derived cell populations revealed gross morphological characteristics highly analogous to those described for cell types originating from species of plant nematodes propagated in vitro in a tissue culture environment for a briefer period of time (<6 months). The characterisation of extracts harvested from tissue culture populations of H. contortus-derived cells by SDS-PAGE analysis detected molecular fractions of approximately 29, 45, 55, and 200-kDa that closely correlated with reports for preparations obtained from intact/viable H. contortus larvae. Complementary investigations detected the dual biochemical expression of phosphohydrolase and aminopeptidase-M activities based on the hydrolysis of the synthetic enzyme-specific substrates, para-nitrophenylphosphate and leucine-para-nitroanaline, respectively. The identification of phosphohydrolase and aminopeptidase-M-like biochemical activity in fractions harvested from H. contortus-derived cell populations and propagated in vitro in tissue culture served as evidence validating their parasitic-origin. Further validation of H. contortus-derived cell populations propagated in tissue culture entailed the formulation of Triton X-100 extracts containing potential immunoprotective antigens with SEAM adjuvant and its administration by intramuscular injection (100 microg total protein) to healthy sheep (n=8) on day 0 (left rear-limb) and day +14 (right rear-limb). Animals on day 28 subsequently received a single oral challenge of 10,000 infective L(3)-stage H. contortus larvae. Applying ELISA methodologies, increases in antigen-specific IgM and IgG were detected in ovine serum samples. Interpretation of experimental findings revealed that sheep with the greatest antigen-specific humoral immune responses (IgG titre 1/3125) also demonstrated a degree of reduced abomasal H. contortuslarvae burdens (60% reduction). Polyclonal antibody from immunoprotected sheep was subsequently found to recognise both the: (i), digestive tract; and (ii), antigen extracts associated with intact/viable H. contortus larvae. These experimental findings reveal the potential feasibility of propagating parasite-derived cell populations in an in vitro tissue culture environment in a manner that retains their ability to express immunoprotective antigenic fractions.

A developmentally regulated hyaluronidase of Haemonchus contortus

The trichostrongylid nematode Haemonchus contortus released a hyaluronic acid-degrading enzyme during in vitro development from the third (L3) to fourth (L4) larval stage. The enzyme did not degrade chondroitin sulfate A. Enzyme activity was optimal between pH 4.0 and 6.0, and the enzyme was inhibited by high concentrations of NaCl; the divalent cations Cu2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, and Mn2+ were not inhibitory. The hyaluronidase had a molecular mass estimated at 57 kDa by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and at 111 kDa by substrate sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (reducing and nonreducing conditions), suggesting the formation of a dimer during the electrophoretic separation conditions. The level of hyaluronidase released during in vitro development peaked between 24 and 48 hr in culture and then gradually decreased, with little or no activity present in the 168-hr culture fluid. The enzyme was not detected in culture fluid from 24-hr incubations of either the mid-L4 stage (obtained from sheep 7 days postinfection) or the adult stage (obtained from sheep 30-35 days postinfection). The temporal expression of the hyaluronidase suggested a role for this enzyme in the early stages of the L3-L4 developmental process.

Characterization of acid phosphatase and phosphorylcholine hydrolase in adult Haemonchus contortus

An acid phosphatase (AP) and a phosphorylcholine hydrolase (PCH) were detected in excretory-secretory (ESP) products from adult Haemonchus contortus. The AP had a pH optimum of 4.5 and was inhibited by tartaric acid and sodium fluoride, but not by o-phenanthroline. The AP hydrolyzed paranitrophenol (pnp)-phosphate and to a lesser extent pnp-phenyl-phosphonate but did not hydrolyze diester substrates. Purified AP consisted of heterodimers with relative molecular weight (Mr) of 41.9 and 48.7 kDa and had a native molecular weight of 98 kDa by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). The PCH had a pH optimum of about 9.5 and was inhibited by EDTA and o-phenanthroline but not by the specific phospholipase inhibitor D609. The specific activity of PCH in the ESP was approximately 25-fold less than that of AP. PCH also hydrolyzed 5'-thymidine monophosphate-pnp at a rate about 40% lower than pnp-phosphorylcholine but did not hydrolyze 3'-thymidine monophosphate-pnp. Partial purification of PCH suggests an Mr of 50.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and an Mr of 102 kDa by SEC. Both AP and PHC were secreted in vitro in a time-dependent manner and had their highest concentrations in the intestine. The results indicate that H. contortus adults secrete significant amounts of AP that might be a digestive enzyme. PCH is also an intestinal enzyme and is secreted in lesser amounts than AP. The PCH is probably not a phospholipase C but has some characteristics of a type I phosphodiesterase.

Proteinases and associated genes of parasitic helminths

Many parasites have deployed proteinases to accomplish some of the tasks imposed by a parasitic life style, including tissue penetration, digestion of host tissue for nutrition and evasion of host immune responses. Information on proteinases from trematodes, cestodes and nematode parasites is reviewed, concentrating on those worms of major medical and economical importance. Their biochemical characterization is discussed, along with their putative biological roles and, where available, their associated genes. For example, proteinases expressed by the various stages of the schistosome life-cycle, in particular the well-characterized cercarial elastase which is involved in the penetration of the host skin and the variety of proteinases, such as cathepsin B (Sm31), cathepsin L1, cathepsin L2, cathepsin D, cathepsin C and legumain (Sm32), which are believed to be involved in the catabolism of host haemoglobin. The various endo- and exoproteinases of Fasciola hepatica, the causative agent of liver fluke disease, are reviewed, and recent reports of how these enzymes have been successfully employed in cocktail vaccines are discussed. The various proteinases of cestodes and of the diverse superfamilies of parasitic nematodes are detailed, with special attention being given to those parasites for which most is known, including species of Taenia, Echinococcus, Spirometra, Necator, Acylostoma and Haemonchus. By far the largest number of papers in the literature and entries to the sequence data bases dealing with proteinases of parasitic helminths report on enzymes belonging to the papain superfamily of cysteine proteinases. Accordingly, the final section of the review is devoted to a phylogenetic analysis of this superfamily using over 150 published sequences. This analysis shows that the papain superfamily can be divided into two major branches. Branch A contains the cathepin Bs, the cathepsin Cs and a novel family termed cathepsin Xs, while Branch B contains the cruzipains, cathepsin Ls, papain-like and aleurain/cathepsin H-like proteinases. The relationships of the helminth proteinases, and similar proteinases from protozoan parasites and other organisms, within these groups are discussed.

A hemolytic factor from Haemonchus contortus alters erythrocyte morphology

A hemolytic factor from adult Haemonchus contortus caused distinct morphological changes in the surface of sheep red blood cells (RBCs). After a 15 min exposure to the hemolytic factor, hemolysis was not detected in incubation media, but RBCs were spherical in shape with numerous surface projections compared to control cells that were smooth-surfaced biconcave disks. After 30 min, a time at which significant hemolysis occurred, echinocytes were formed, and after 90 min, cells were severely disrupted with many visible holes in membranes. No RBC ghosts were observed. RBCs from four other mammalian species were lysed by the H. contortus hemolytic factor. However, the rate of hemolysis varied with a relative order of sheep approximately rabbit>goat>pig>calf. The morphology of RBCs from all four species was significantly altered after 30 min incubation with the degree of morphological changes related to the degree of hemolysis. These results support the hypothesis that the hemolytic factor acts as a pore-forming agent, although a phospholipase or other enzyme might play a role in solubilization of cell membranes.

Viability of eggs, filariform larvae and adults of Strongyloides venezuelensis (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) maintained in vitro

The present study was performed to check the viability of eggs, filariform larvae and adults of Strongyloides venezuelensis exposed to various conditions for an in vitro maintenance. The eggs in the feces remained viable for about 25 days at 4 degrees C and 15 days at room temperature. However, the isolated eggs in sterile saline lost their viability within 24 hr at 4 degrees C. The eggs in morula stage were very sensitive to air drying and rapidly lost their viability (< or = 12 hr). Filariform larvae survived for a maximum period of 45 days in fecal suspension and 28 days in 0.12% nutrient broth in polyvinyl culture bags maintained at 20 degrees C. On the other hand, those isolated from nutrient broth cultures survived for a maximum period of 32 days in tap water and 22 days in sterile saline at 20 degrees C. The mature adult worms obtained from experimentally infected rats survived maximally for 9 days in serum supplemented (10% rat-serum) 0.12% nutrient broth and 4 days in serum free nutrient broth at 37 degrees C while the culture media were changed at an alternate day. The adult female worms deposited fertile eggs in serum supplemented and serum free nutrient broth cultures, however, the hatched larvae (L1) were not able to develop to the filariform stage in the culture media and found to die within 24 hr of maintenance. The present findings on an in vitro maintenance of different stages of S. venezuelensis may provide useful information for biological and biochemical studies with Strongyloides species.

The in vitro uptake of albumin by adult Haemonchus contortus is altered by extracorporeal digestion

FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-labeled albumin was used as a substrate to further characterize the digestion of host blood proteins by adult Haemonchus contortus. Isolated H. contortus intestine degraded FITC-albumin; degradation was completely inhibited by E-64, a specific inhibitor of cysteine proteases. The in vitro uptake and degradation of FITC-albumin by parasites was also evaluated. Uptake of fluorescence was demonstrated; greater than 50% of the fluorescence was associated with degraded FITC-albumin. However, both the uptake and degradation of FITC-albumin were reduced by about 85%. Additionally, when parasites were incubated in the presence of specific inhibitors of cysteine proteases, degradation of FITC-albumin was shown to occur rapidly in the media during in vitro incubation. This degradation was blocked completely by the presence of cysteine protease inhibitors. These results indicate that the rapid extracorporeal digestion of FITC-albumin (mediated by secreted cysteine proteases) produce relatively high concentrations of low molecular weight FITC-labeled fragments and alters the kinetics of uptake of fluorescence by the parasite. These fragments rather than FITC-albumin are rapidly taken up by the parasites. Thus in vitro demonstration of a definitive role for the cysteine proteases as intestinal digestive enzymes in H. contortus is compromised by the enzyme's extracorporeal activity. This extracorporeal cysteine protease activity may represent the enzyme's predominant activity.