1
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Castro-Borges W, Wilson RA. Schistosome proteomics: updates and clinical implications. Expert Rev Proteomics 2022; 19:247-261. [PMID: 36331139 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2022.2142565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schistosomes are long-lived blood dwelling helminth parasites using intricate mechanisms to invade, mature, and reproduce inside their vertebrate hosts, whilst simultaneously deploying immune evasion strategies. Their multi-tissue organization and solid body plan presents particular problems for the definition of sub-proteomes. AREAS COVERED Here, we focus on the two host-parasite interfaces of the adult worm accessible to the immune system, namely the tegument and the alimentary tract, but also on the secretions of the infective cercaria, the migrating schistosomulum and the mature egg. In parallel, we introduce the concepts of "leakyome' and 'disintegrome' to emphasize the importance of interpreting data in the context of schistosome biology so that misleading conclusions about the distinct proteome compositions are avoided. Lastly, we highlight the possible clinical implications of the reviewed proteomic findings for pathogenesis, vaccine design and diagnostics. EXPERT OPINION Proteomics has provided considerable insights into the biology of schistosomes, most importantly for rational selection of novel vaccine candidates that might confer protective immunity, but also into the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. However, given the increasing sensitivity of mass spectrometric instrumentation, we stress the need for care in data interpretation since schistosomes do not deviate from the fundamental rules of eukaryotic cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Castro-Borges
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brasil
| | - R Alan Wilson
- Department of Biology and York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
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2
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Crystallographic approach to fragment-based hit discovery against Schistosoma mansoni purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Biochem J 2021; 478:3655-3670. [PMID: 34529035 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210041] [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: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Several Schistosoma species cause Schistosomiasis, an endemic disease in 78 countries that is ranked second amongst the parasitic diseases in terms of its socioeconomic impact and human health importance. The drug recommended for treatment by the WHO is praziquantel (PZQ), but there are concerns associated with PZQ, such as the lack of information about its exact mechanism of action, its high price, its effectiveness - which is limited to the parasite's adult form - and reports of resistance. The parasites lack the de novo purine pathway, rendering them dependent on the purine salvage pathway or host purine bases for nucleotide synthesis. Thus, the Schistosoma purine salvage pathway is an attractive target for the development of necessary and selective new drugs. In this study, the purine nucleotide phosphorylase II (PNP2), a new isoform of PNP1, was submitted to a high-throughput fragment-based hit discovery using a crystallographic screening strategy. PNP2 was crystallized and crystals were soaked with 827 fragments, a subset of the Maybridge 1000 library. X-ray diffraction data was collected and structures were solved. Out of 827-screened fragments we have obtained a total of 19 fragments that show binding to PNP2. Fourteen of these fragments bind to the active site of PNP2, while five were observed in three other sites. Here we present the first fragment screening against PNP2.
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3
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Pinto-Almeida A, Mendes TMF, Ferreira P, Abecasis AB, Belo S, Anibal FF, Allegretti SM, Galinaro CA, Carrilho E, Afonso A. A Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Praziquantel-Susceptible and Praziquantel-Resistant Schistosoma mansoni Reveals Distinct Response Between Male and Female Animals. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2021.664642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease saddling millions of people in the world, mainly children living in poor rural areas. Praziquantel (PZQ) is currently the only drug used for the treatment and control of this disease. However, the extensive use of this drug has brought concern about the emergence of PZQ-resistance/tolerance by Schistosoma mansoni. Studies of Schistosoma spp. genome, transcriptome, and proteome are crucial to better understand this situation. In this in vitro study, we compare the proteomes of a S. mansoni variant strain stably resistant to PZQ and isogenic to its fully susceptible parental counterpart, identifying proteins from male and female adult parasites of PZQ-resistant and PZQ-susceptible strains, exposed and not exposed to PZQ. A total of 60 Schistosoma spp. proteins were identified, some of which present or absent in either strain, which may putatively be involved in the PZQ-resistance phenomenon. These proteins were present in adult parasites not exposed to PZQ, but some of them disappeared when these adult parasites were exposed to the drug. Understanding the development of PZQ-resistance in S. mansoni is crucial to prolong the efficacy of the current drug and develop markers for monitoring the potential emergence of drug resistance.
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4
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Philippsen GS. Transposable Elements in the Genome of Human Parasite Schistosoma mansoni: A Review. Trop Med Infect Dis 2021; 6:tropicalmed6030126. [PMID: 34287380 PMCID: PMC8293314 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed6030126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences able to transpose within the host genome and, consequently, influence the dynamics of evolution in the species. Among the possible effects, TEs insertions may alter the expression and coding patterns of genes, leading to genomic innovations. Gene-duplication events, resulting from DNA segmental duplication induced by TEs transposition, constitute another important mechanism that contributes to the plasticity of genomes. This review aims to cover the current knowledge regarding TEs in the genome of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni, an agent of schistosomiasis-a neglected tropical disease affecting at least 250 million people worldwide. In this context, the literature concerning TEs description and TEs impact on the genomic architecture for S. mansoni was revisited, displaying evidence of TEs influence on schistosome speciation-mediated by bursts of transposition-and in gene-duplication events related to schistosome-host coevolution processes, as well several instances of TEs contribution into the coding sequences of genes. These findings indicate the relevant role of TEs in the evolution of the S. mansoni genome.
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5
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Barbosa MMF, Kanno AI, Pancakova V, Gonçalves VM, Malley R, Faria LP, Leite LCC. Optimization of Expression and Purification of Schistosoma mansoni Antigens in Fusion with Rhizavidin. Mol Biotechnol 2021; 63:983-991. [PMID: 34165770 PMCID: PMC8223184 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-021-00355-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis causes significant morbidity and mortality. Vaccine efforts to date indicate the need to increase the immunogenicity of Schistosoma antigens. The multiple antigen-presenting system, whereby proteins are genetically fused to rhizavidin and affinity linked to biotinylated templates, enables the generation of robust immune responses. The objective of this work was to express and purify the S. mansoni antigens, SmTSP-2 and SmCD59.2, in fusion with rhizavidin. The fusion with rhizavidin greatly decreased the expression level of rSmTSP-2, but not rSmCD59.2, and both were expressed in the insoluble fraction, requiring optimization of culture conditions. Evaluation of different E. coli strains and media showed that BL21-DE3 cultured in Terrific Broth provided the highest expression levels of both proteins. Investigation of a range of time and temperature of induction showed that E. coli strains expressing rRzv:SmTSP-2 and rRzv:SmCD59.2 showed the highest protein production at 23 °C for 15 h. Recombinant proteins were purified by a single step of affinity chromatography allowing isolation of these proteins in high concentration and purity. The optimization process increased final soluble protein yield of rRzv:SmTSP-2 by fourfold and rRzv:SmCD59.2 by tenfold, providing ~ 20 mg/L of each protein. Optimized fusion protein production will allow antigen use in biotin–rhizavidin affinity platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayra M F Barbosa
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Biotecnologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alex I Kanno
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Violeta Pancakova
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.,UnivLyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), 69100, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Viviane M Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Richard Malley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - Leonardo P Faria
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores e Inflamação, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Luciana C C Leite
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, Av. Vital Brasil 1500, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
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6
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Zawistowska-Deniziak A, Powązka K, Pękacz M, Basałaj K, Klockiewicz M, Wiśniewski M, Młocicki D. Immunoproteomic Analysis of Dirofilaria repens Microfilariae and Adult Parasite Stages. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020174. [PMID: 33562513 PMCID: PMC7914743 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dirofilariarepens is a parasitic nematode causing a vector-borne zoonotic infection (dirofilariosis), considered an emerging problem in human and veterinary medicine. Currently, diagnosis is based on the detection of the adult parasite and microfilariae in the host tissues. However, the efficacy of tests relying on microfilariae detection is limited by microfilariae periodic occurrence. Therefore, a new reliable and affordable serological diagnostic method is needed. Better characteristic of the parasite biology and its interaction with host immune system should help to achieve this goal. This study analyzes adult and microfilariae proteomes, and the use of one-dimensional electrophoresis (1-DE) and two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) proteomics, immunoproteomics, and LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry allowed us to identify 316 potentially immunogenic proteins (75 belong to adult stage, 183 to microfilariae, and 58 are common for both). Classified by their ontology, the proteins showed important similarities and differences between both parasite stages. The most frequently identified proteins are structural, metabolic, and heat shock proteins. Additionally, real-time PCR analysis of some immunogenic targets revealed significant differences between microfilariae and adult life stages. We indicated molecules involved in parasite-host interactions and discussed their importance in parasite biology, which may help to reveal potential diagnostic antigens or select drug and vaccine targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Zawistowska-Deniziak
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland; (K.P.); (M.P.); (K.B.); (D.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-697-89-66
| | - Katarzyna Powązka
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland; (K.P.); (M.P.); (K.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Mateusz Pękacz
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland; (K.P.); (M.P.); (K.B.); (D.M.)
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (M.K.); (M.W.)
| | - Katarzyna Basałaj
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland; (K.P.); (M.P.); (K.B.); (D.M.)
| | - Maciej Klockiewicz
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (M.K.); (M.W.)
| | - Marcin Wiśniewski
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland; (M.K.); (M.W.)
| | - Daniel Młocicki
- Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland; (K.P.); (M.P.); (K.B.); (D.M.)
- Department of General Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland
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7
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Liu C, Yin J, Hu W, Zhang H. Glycogen Phosphorylase: A Drug Target of Amino Alcohols in Echinococcus granulosus, Predicted by a Computer-Aided Method. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:557039. [PMID: 33329421 PMCID: PMC7719768 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.557039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinococcosis is an important parasitic disease that threats human health and animal husbandry worldwide. However, the low cure rate of clinical drugs for this disease is a challenge. Hence, novel compounds and specific drug targets are urgently needed. In this study, we identified drug targets of amino alcohols with effects on Echinococcus species. The drug targets were predicted with the idTarget web server. Corresponding three-dimensional structures of the drug targets were built after sequence BLAST analysis and homology modeling. After further screening by molecular docking, the activities of the candidate targets were validated in vitro. We ultimately identified glycogen phosphorylase as a potential drug target for amino alcohols. There are two genes coding glycogen phosphorylase in Echinococcus granulosus (EgGp1 and EgGp2). EgGp1 was abundant in E. granulosus PSCs, while EgGp2 was abundant in the cysts. These proteins were located at suckers and somas of E. granulosus PSCs and near the rostellum of cysts developed from PSCs. The effective compounds docked into a pocket consisting of E124, K543 and K654 and affected (either inhibited or enhanced) the activity of E. granulosus glycogen phosphorylase. In this study, we designed a method to predict drug targets for echinococcosis treatment based on inverse docking. The candidate targets found by this method can contribute not only to understanding of the modes of action of amino alcohols but also to modeling-aided drug design based on targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congshan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health (MOH), National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhai Yin
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health (MOH), National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health (MOH), National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haobing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health (MOH), National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
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8
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Młocicki D, Sulima A, Bień J, Näreaho A, Zawistowska-Deniziak A, Basałaj K, Sałamatin R, Conn DB, Savijoki K. Immunoproteomics and Surfaceomics of the Adult Tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2487. [PMID: 30483248 PMCID: PMC6240649 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In cestodiasis, mechanical and molecular contact between the parasite and the host activates the immune response of the host and may result in inflammatory processes, leading to ulceration and intestinal dysfunctions. The aim of the present study was to identify antigenic proteins of the adult cestode Hymenolepis diminuta by subjecting the total protein extracts from adult tapeworms to 2DE immunoblotting (two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with immunoblotting) using sera collected from experimentally infected rats. A total of 36 protein spots cross-reacting with the rat sera were identified using LC-MS/MS. As a result, 68 proteins, including certain structural muscle proteins (actin, myosin, and paramyosin) and moonlighters (heat shock proteins, kinases, phosphatases, and glycolytic enzymes) were identified; most of these were predicted to possess binding and/or catalytic activity required in various metabolic and cellular processes, and reported here as potential antigens of the adult cestode for the first time. As several of these antigens can also be found at the cell surface, the surface-associated proteins were extracted and subjected to in-solution digestion for LC-MS/MS identification (surfaceomics). As a result, a total of 76 proteins were identified, from which 31 proteins, based on 2DE immunoblotting, were predicted to be immunogenic. These included structural proteins actin, myosin and tubulin as well as certain moonlighting proteins (heat-shock chaperones) while enzymes with diverse catalytic activities were found as the most dominating group of proteins. In conclusion, the present study shed new light into the complexity of the enteric cestodiasis by showing that the H. diminuta somatic proteins exposed to the host possess immunomodulatory functions, and that the immune response of the host could be stimulated by diverse mechanisms, involving also those triggering protein export via yet unknown pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Młocicki
- Department of General Biology and ParasitologyMedical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Witold Stefański Institute of ParasitologyPolish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Sulima
- Department of General Biology and ParasitologyMedical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Bień
- Witold Stefański Institute of ParasitologyPolish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anu Näreaho
- Department of Veterinary BiosciencesUniversity of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Katarzyna Basałaj
- Witold Stefański Institute of ParasitologyPolish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rusłan Sałamatin
- Department of General Biology and ParasitologyMedical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Parasitology and Vector-Borne DiseasesNational Institute of Public Health–National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
| | - David Bruce Conn
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA, United States
- One Health Center, Berry CollegeMount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Kirsi Savijoki
- Division of Pharmaceutical BiosciencesUniversity of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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9
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Morais SB, Figueiredo BC, Assis NRG, Homan J, Mambelli FS, Bicalho RM, Souza C, Martins VP, Pinheiro CS, Oliveira SC. Schistosoma mansoni SmKI-1 or Its C-Terminal Fragment Induces Partial Protection Against S. mansoni Infection in Mice. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1762. [PMID: 30105029 PMCID: PMC6077287 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Current schistosomiasis control strategies are mainly based on chemotherapy, but the development of a vaccine against this parasitic disease would contribute to a long-lasting decrease in disease spectrum and transmission. When it comes to vaccine candidates, several genes encoding Schistosoma mansoni proteins expressed at the mammalian host-parasite interface have been tested. Among the most promising molecules are the proteins present on the tegument and digestive tract of the parasite. In this study, we evaluate the potential of SmKI-1, the first Kunitz-type protease inhibitor functionally characterized in S. mansoni, as a vaccine candidate. Bioinformatic analysis points to the C-terminal fragment as the main region of the molecule responsible for the development of a potential protective immune response induced by SmKI-1. Therefore, for the vaccine formulations, we produced the recombinant (r) SmKI-1 and two different fragments, its Kunitz (KI) domain and its C-terminal tail. First, we demonstrate that mice immunized with recombinant SmKI-1 (rSmKI-1) or its fragments, formulated with Freund's adjuvant, induced the production of IgG-specific antibodies. Further, all vaccine formulations tested here also induced a Th1-type of immune response, as suggested by the production of IFN-γ and TNF-α by protein-stimulated cultured splenocytes. However, the protective effect conferred by vaccination was only observed in groups which received rSmKI-1 or C-terminal domain vaccines. Mice administered with rSmKI-1 demonstrated reduction of 47% in worm burden, 36% in egg number in mouse livers, and 33% in area of liver granulomas. Additionally, mice injected with C-terminal domain showed reduction of 28% in worm burden, 38% in egg number in liver, and 25% in area of liver granulomas. In contrast, KI domain immunization was unable to reduce worm burden and ameliorate liver pathology after challenge infection. Taken together, our data demonstrated that SmKI-1 is a potential candidate for use in a vaccine to control schistosomiasis, and its C-terminal tail seems to be the main region of the molecule responsible for protection conferred by this antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suellen B Morais
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia (MCT), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Barbara C Figueiredo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia (MCT), Salvador, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica e Biofísica do Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Natan R G Assis
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia (MCT), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Jane Homan
- ioGenetics LLC, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Fábio S Mambelli
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo M Bicalho
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Cláudia Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Vicente P Martins
- Departamento de Biologia Celular do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Carina S Pinheiro
- Departamento de Biointeração do Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Sergio C Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia do Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia (MCT), Salvador, Brazil
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10
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Schistosome vaccines: problems, pitfalls and prospects. Emerg Top Life Sci 2017; 1:641-650. [PMID: 33525844 DOI: 10.1042/etls20170094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human schistosomiasis caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma remains an important public health problem in spite of concerted efforts at control. An effective vaccine would be a useful addition to control strategies that currently rely on chemotherapy, but such a product is not imminent. In this review, likely causes for the lack of progress are first considered. These include the strategies used by worms to evade the immune response, concepts that have misdirected the field, an emphasis on internal antigens, and the use of the laboratory mouse for vaccine testing. On a positive note, recent investigations on self-cure by the rhesus macaque offer the most promising context for vaccine development. The identification of proteins at the parasite-host interface, especially those of the esophageal glands involved in blood processing, has provided an entirely new category of vaccine candidates that merit evaluation.
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11
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Elhenawy AA, Ashour RH, Nabih N, Shalaby NM, El-karef AA, Abou-El-Wafa HS. Insulin growth factor inhibitor as a potential new anti-schistosoma drug: An in vivo experimental study. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 95:1346-1358. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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12
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Fernández-Delgado M, Cortez J, Sulbarán G, Matos C, Incani RN, Ballén DE, Cesari IM. Differential distribution and biochemical characteristics of hydrolases among developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni may offer new anti-parasite targets. Parasitol Int 2016; 66:816-820. [PMID: 27693560 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni enzymes play important roles in host-parasite interactions and are potential targets for immunological and/or pharmacological attack. The aim of this study was to comparatively assess the presence of hydrolytic activities (phosphatases, glycosidases, aminopeptidases) in soluble (SF) and membrane (MF) fractions from different S. mansoni developmental stages (schistosomula 0 and 3h, juveniles, and adult worms of 28 and 45days-old, respectively), by using simple enzyme-substrate microassays. Our results show and confirm the prominent presence of alkaline phosphatase (AlP) activity in the MF of all the above parasite stages, highlighting also the relevant presence of MF-associated α-mannosidase (α-MAN) activity in juveniles. A soluble AlP activity, together with β-N-D-acetylglucosaminidase (β-NAG), and α-MAN activities, was detected in SF of schistosomulum 0h. Soluble β-NAG, α-MAN, acid phosphatase (AcP), leucin (LAP) and alanine (AAP) aminopeptidase activities were also seen in the SF of the other different developmental stages. This work shows different soluble and membrane-associated hydrolytic capacities in each S. mansoni developmental stage from schistosomula to adults that might be exploitable as potential new targets for immune and/or chemoprophylactic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milagro Fernández-Delgado
- Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Jackeline Cortez
- Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Guiden Sulbarán
- Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - César Matos
- Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Renzo Nino Incani
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Carabobo, Valencia, Venezuela.
| | - Diana E Ballén
- Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Italo M Cesari
- Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela
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Magalhães LG, Lima TC, de Paula RG, Morais ER, Aguiar DP, Gardinassi LG, Garcia GR, Laurentiz RS, Rodrigues V, Bastos JK, Filho AA, Yatsuda AP, Cunha WR, Silva ML. Effects of (−)-6,6′-dinitrohinokinin on adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni: a proteomic analyses. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bjp.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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14
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The omic approach to parasitic trematode research—a review of techniques and developments within the past 5 years. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:2523-43. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5079-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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15
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de Abreu da Silva IC, Carneiro VC, Vicentino ARR, Aguilera EA, Mohana-Borges R, Thiengo S, Fernandez MA, Fantappié MR. The distinct C-terminal acidic domains of HMGB proteins are functionally relevant in Schistosoma mansoni. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:253-62. [PMID: 26820302 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2015] [Revised: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Schistosoma mansoni High Mobility Group Box (HMGB) proteins SmHMGB1, SmHMGB2 and SmHMGB3 share highly conserved HMG box DNA binding domains but have significantly different C-terminal acidic tails. Here, we used three full-length and tailless forms of the S. mansoni HMGB proteins to examine the functional roles of their acidic tails. DNA binding assays revealed that the different lengths of the acidic tails among the three SmHMGB proteins significantly and distinctively influenced their DNA transactions. Spectroscopic analyses indicated that the longest acidic tail of SmHMGB3 contributes to the structural stabilisation of this protein. Using immunohistochemical analysis, we showed distinct patterns of SmHMGB1, SmHMGB2 and SmHMGB3 expression in different tissues of adult worms. RNA interference approaches indicated a role for SmHMGB2 and SmHMGB3 in the reproductive system of female worms, whereas for SmHMGB1 no clear phenotype was observed. Schistosome HMGB proteins can be phosphorylated, acetylated and methylated. Importantly, the acetylation and methylation of schistosome HMGBs were greatly enhanced upon removal of the acidic tail. These data support the notion that the C-terminal acidic tails dictate the differences in the structure, expression and function of schistosome HMGB proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Caetano de Abreu da Silva
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vitor Coutinho Carneiro
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Amanda Roberta Revoredo Vicentino
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Ronaldo Mohana-Borges
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Silvana Thiengo
- Laboratório de Malacologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil
| | | | - Marcelo Rosado Fantappié
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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16
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Oliveira KC, Carvalho MLP, Bonatto JMC, Schechtman D, Verjovski-Almeida S. Human TNF-α induces differential protein phosphorylation in Schistosoma mansoni adult male worms. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:817-28. [PMID: 26547565 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4812-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni and its vertebrate host have a complex and intimate connection in which several molecular stimuli are exchanged and affect both organisms. Human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is known to induce large-scale gene expression changes in the parasite and to affect several parasite biological processes such as metabolism, egg laying, and worm development. Until now, the molecular mechanisms for TNF-α activity in worms are not completely understood. Here, we aimed at exploring the effect of hTNF-α on S. mansoni protein phosphorylation by 2D gel electrophoresis followed by a quantitative analysis of phosphoprotein staining and protein identification by mass spectrometry. We analyzed three biological replicates of adult male worms exposed to hTNF-α and successfully identified 32 protein spots with a statistically significant increase in phosphorylation upon in vitro exposure to hTNF-α. Among the differentially phosphorylated proteins, we found proteins involved in metabolism, such as glycolysis, galactose metabolism, urea cycle, and aldehyde metabolism, as well as proteins related to muscle contraction and to cytoskeleton remodeling. The most differentially phosphorylated protein (30-fold increase in phosphorylation) was 14-3-3, whose function is known to be modulated by phosphorylation, belonging to a signal transduction protein family that regulates a variety of processes in all eukaryotic cells. Further, 75% of the identified proteins are known in mammals to be related to TNF-α signaling, thus suggesting that TNF-α response may be conserved in the parasite. We propose that this work opens new perspectives to be explored in the study of the molecular crosstalk between host and pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia C Oliveira
- Núcleo de Enteroparasitas, Centro de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, 01614-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Disciplina de Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana L P Carvalho
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - José Matheus C Bonatto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Debora Schechtman
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. .,Instituto Butantan, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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17
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Dvořák J, Fajtová P, Ulrychová L, Leontovyč A, Rojo-Arreola L, Suzuki BM, Horn M, Mareš M, Craik CS, Caffrey CR, O'Donoghue AJ. Excretion/secretion products from Schistosoma mansoni adults, eggs and schistosomula have unique peptidase specificity profiles. Biochimie 2015; 122:99-109. [PMID: 26409899 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is one of a number of chronic helminth diseases of poverty that severely impact personal and societal well-being and productivity. Peptidases (proteases) are vital to successful parasitism, and can modulate host physiology and immunology. Interference of peptidase action by specific drugs or vaccines can be therapeutically beneficial. To date, research on peptidases in the schistosome parasite has focused on either the functional characterization of individual peptidases or their annotation as part of global genome or transcriptome studies. We were interested in functionally characterizing the complexity of peptidase activity operating at the host-parasite interface, therefore the excretory-secretory products of key developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni that parasitize the human were examined. Using class specific peptidase inhibitors in combination with a multiplex substrate profiling assay, a number of unique activities derived from endo- and exo-peptidases were revealed in the excretory-secretory products of schistosomula (larval migratory worms), adults and eggs. The data highlight the complexity of the functional degradome for each developmental stage of this parasite and facilitate further enquiry to establish peptidase identity, physiological and immunological function, and utility as drug or vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Dvořák
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague CZ - 142 20, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, The Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice CZ - 370 05, Czech Republic; Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague CZ - 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague CZ - 166 10, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague CZ - 121 08, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Ulrychová
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague CZ - 142 20, Czech Republic; Dept. of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague CZ - 128 44, Czech Republic
| | - Adrian Leontovyč
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague CZ - 166 10, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Prague CZ - 121 08, Czech Republic
| | - Liliana Rojo-Arreola
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases and the Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Brian M Suzuki
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases and the Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague CZ - 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague CZ - 166 10, Czech Republic
| | - Charles S Craik
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases and the Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Anthony J O'Donoghue
- Dept. of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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18
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Gleichsner AM, Thiele EA, Minchella DJ. It's All about Those Bases: The Need for Incorporating Parasite Genetic Heterogeneity into the Development of Schistosome Vaccines. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003805. [PMID: 26086424 PMCID: PMC4472511 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa M. Gleichsner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Elizabeth A. Thiele
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, United States of America
| | - Dennis J. Minchella
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
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19
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Figueiredo BCP, Ricci ND, de Assis NRG, de Morais SB, Fonseca CT, Oliveira SC. Kicking in the Guts: Schistosoma mansoni Digestive Tract Proteins are Potential Candidates for Vaccine Development. Front Immunol 2015; 6:22. [PMID: 25674091 PMCID: PMC4309203 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease that represents a major health problem in at least 74 tropical and subtropical countries. Current disease control strategies consist mainly of chemotherapy, which cannot prevent recurrent re-infection of people living in endemic area. In the last decades, many researchers made a remarkable effort in the search for an effective vaccine to provide long-term protection. Parasitic platyhelminthes of Schistosoma genus, which cause the disease, live in the blood vessels of definitive hosts where they are bathed in host blood for many years. Among the most promising molecules as vaccine candidates are the proteins present in the host–parasite interface, so numerous tegument antigens have been assessed and the achieved protection never got even close to 100%. Besides the tegument, the digestive tract is the other major site of host–parasite interface. Since parasites feed on blood, they need to swallow a considerable amount of blood for nutrient acquisition. Host blood ingested by schistosomes passes through the esophagus and reaches the gut where many peptidases catalyze the proteolysis of blood cells. Recent studies show the emergence of antigens related to the parasite blood feeding, such as esophageal gland proteins, proteases, and other proteins related to nutrient uptake. Herein, we review what is known about Schistosoma mansoni digestive tract proteins, emphasizing the ones described as potential vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Castro-Pimentel Figueiredo
- Laboratório de Imunologia de Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - Natasha Delaqua Ricci
- Laboratório de Imunologia de Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - Natan Raimundo Gonçalves de Assis
- Laboratório de Imunologia de Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - Suellen Batistoni de Morais
- Laboratório de Imunologia de Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - Cristina Toscano Fonseca
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Laboratório de Esquistossomose do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
| | - Sergio Costa Oliveira
- Laboratório de Imunologia de Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais (INCT-DT), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Ministério de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte , Brazil
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20
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Morel M, Vanderstraete M, Cailliau K, Lescuyer A, Lancelot J, Dissous C. Compound library screening identified Akt/PKB kinase pathway inhibitors as potential key molecules for the development of new chemotherapeutics against schistosomiasis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2014; 4:256-66. [PMID: 25516836 PMCID: PMC4266776 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A wide range of PK inhibitors affects schistosome viability and reproduction. Structure and activity of the Akt/PKB protein are highly conserved in Schistosoma mansoni. Commercial Akt inhibitors are active on the recombinant SmAkt protein. Akt pathway inhibitors have schistosomicidal activity in vitro. SmAkt can be considered as a potential target for the control of schistosomiasis.
Protein kinases (PKs) are one of the largest protein families in most eukaryotic organisms. These enzymes are involved in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and metabolism and a large number of the anticancer drugs currently used are directed against PKs. The structure and function of PKs are well conserved throughout evolution. In schistosome parasites, PKs were shown to be involved in essential functions at every stage of the parasite life cycle, making these enzymes promising anti-parasite drug targets. In this study, we tested a panel of commercial inhibitors for various PKs and analyzed their effects on pairing and egg production by schistosomes as well as their toxicity towards schistosomula larvae. Results obtained confirmed the deleterious effect of PK targeting on Schistosoma mansoni physiology and the important function of different tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases in the biology and reproduction of this parasite. They also indicated for the first time that the Protein kinase B (also called Akt) which is a major downstream target of many receptor tyrosine kinases and a central player at the crossroads of signal transduction pathways activated in response to growth factors and insulin, can constitute a novel target for anti-schistosome chemotherapy. Structural and functional studies have shown that SmAkt is a conserved kinase and that its activity can be inhibited by commercially available Akt inhibitors. In treated adult worms, Akt/PKB kinase pathway inhibitors induced profound alterations in pairing and egg laying and they also greatly affected the viability of schistosomula larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Morel
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- Laboratoire de Régulation des Signaux de Division, Université Lille 1 Sciences et Technology, EA 4479, IFR 147, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Arlette Lescuyer
- Laboratoire de Régulation des Signaux de Division, Université Lille 1 Sciences et Technology, EA 4479, IFR 147, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Julien Lancelot
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- CIIL - Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille, Université Lille Nord de France, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 59019 Lille Cedex, France
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21
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Dias SRC, Boroni M, Rocha EA, Dias TL, de Laet Souza D, Oliveira FMS, Bitar M, Macedo AM, Machado CR, Caliari MV, Franco GR. Evaluation of the Schistosoma mansoni Y-box-binding protein (SMYB1) potential as a vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis. Front Genet 2014; 5:174. [PMID: 24966869 PMCID: PMC4052899 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease, and after malaria, is the second most important tropical disease in public health. A vaccine that reduces parasitemia is desirable to achieve mass treatment with a low cost. Although potential antigens have been identified and tested in clinical trials, no effective vaccine against schistosomiasis is available. Y-box-binding proteins (YBPs) regulate gene expression and participate in a variety of cellular processes, including transcriptional and translational regulation, DNA repair, cellular proliferation, drug resistance, and stress responses. The Schistosoma mansoni ortholog of the human YB-1, SMYB1, is expressed in all stages of the parasite life cycle. Although SMYB1 binds to DNA or RNA oligonucleotides, immunohistochemistry assays demonstrated that it is primarily localized in the cytoplasm of parasite cells. In addition, SMYB1 interacts with a protein involved in mRNA processing, suggesting that SMYB1 functions in the turnover, transport, and/or stabilization of RNA molecules during post-transcriptional gene regulation. Here we report the potential of SMYB1 as a vaccine candidate. We demonstrate that recombinant SMYB1 stimulates the production of high levels of specific IgG1 antibodies in a mouse model. The observed levels of specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies indicate an actual protection against cercariae challenge. Animals immunized with rSMYB1 exhibited a 26% reduction in adult worm burden and a 28% reduction in eggs retained in the liver. Although proteins from the worm tegument are considered optimal targets for vaccine development, this study demonstrates that unexposed cytoplasmic proteins can reduce the load of intestinal worms and the number of eggs retained in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia R C Dias
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Mariana Boroni
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Elizângela A Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Thomaz L Dias
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Daniela de Laet Souza
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Fabrício M S Oliveira
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Mainá Bitar
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Andrea M Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Carlos R Machado
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marcelo V Caliari
- Departamento de Patologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Glória R Franco
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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22
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Vanderstraete M, Gouignard N, Cailliau K, Morel M, Hahnel S, Leutner S, Beckmann S, Grevelding CG, Dissous C. Venus kinase receptors control reproduction in the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004138. [PMID: 24875530 PMCID: PMC4038586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The Venus Kinase Receptor (VKR) is a single transmembrane molecule composed of an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain close to that of insulin receptor and an extracellular Venus Flytrap (VFT) structure similar to the ligand binding domain of many class C G Protein Coupled Receptors. This receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) was first discovered in the platyhelminth parasite Schistosoma mansoni, then in a large variety of invertebrates. A single vkr gene is found in most genomes, except in S. mansoni in which two genes Smvkr1 and Smvkr2 exist. VKRs form a unique family of RTKs present only in invertebrates and their biological functions are still to be discovered. In this work, we show that SmVKRs are expressed in the reproductive organs of S. mansoni, particularly in the ovaries of female worms. By transcriptional analyses evidence was obtained that both SmVKRs fulfill different roles during oocyte maturation. Suppression of Smvkr expression by RNA interference induced spectacular morphological changes in female worms with a strong disorganization of the ovary, which was dominated by the presence of primary oocytes, and a defect of egg formation. Following expression in Xenopus oocytes, SmVKR1 and SmVKR2 receptors were shown to be activated by distinct ligands which are L-Arginine and calcium ions, respectively. Signalling analysis in Xenopus oocytes revealed the capacity of SmVKRs to activate the PI3K/Akt/p70S6K and Erk MAPK pathways involved in cellular growth and proliferation. Additionally, SmVKR1 induced phosphorylation of JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). Activation of JNK by SmVKR1 was supported by the results of yeast two-hybrid experiments identifying several components of the JNK pathway as specific interacting partners of SmVKR1. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the functions of SmVKR in gametogenesis, and particularly in oogenesis and egg formation. By eliciting signalling pathways potentially involved in oocyte proliferation, growth and migration, these receptors control parasite reproduction and can therefore be considered as potential targets for anti-schistosome therapies. Schistosomiasis is a chronic, debilitating disease affecting more than 200 million people in the world caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. Pathology is mainly due to massive egg production by parasites and formation of granulomas around the eggs trapped in liver and different organs. Therefore, targeting the molecular processes responsible for gonad development or egg production in schistosomes appears as a valuable strategy to reduce pathogenesis and dissemination of schistosomiasis. In the present study, we investigated the importance of Venus Kinase Receptors (VKRs) which are unusual receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) with an extracellular Venus Flytrap (VFT) ligand-binding domain in the control of reproduction of schistosomes. SmVKRs are expressed in female ovaries of Schistosoma mansoni and the knock-down of their expression provoked dramatic alterations of the oocyte content in ovaries and reduction of egg formation. SmVKRs were also shown to activate different signalling pathways potentially involved in oocyte proliferation, growth and migration. Therefore our results demonstrate that VKRs are essential actors of oogenesis and egg formation in S. mansoni. Moreover, their presence in a large variety of invertebrate species including other helminth parasites and insect parasite vectors can open new perspectives in the control of various vector-borne infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nadège Gouignard
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Katia Cailliau
- EA 4479, IFR 147, Universite Lille 1 Sciences et Technologies, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Marion Morel
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Steffen Hahnel
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Silke Leutner
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Svenja Beckmann
- Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Colette Dissous
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University Lille Nord de France, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
- * E-mail:
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Campos TDL, Young ND, Korhonen PK, Hall RS, Mangiola S, Lonie A, Gasser RB. Identification of G protein-coupled receptors in Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni by comparative genomics. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:242. [PMID: 24884876 PMCID: PMC4100253 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease affecting ~200 million people worldwide. Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni are two relatively closely related schistosomes (blood flukes), and the causative agents of urogenital and hepatointestinal schistosomiasis, respectively. The availability of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data sets for these two schistosomes now provides unprecedented opportunities to explore their biology, host interactions and schistosomiasis at the molecular level. A particularly important group of molecules involved in a range of biological and developmental processes in schistosomes and other parasites are the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Although GPCRs have been studied in schistosomes, there has been no detailed comparison of these receptors between closely related species. Here, using a genomic-bioinformatic approach, we identified and characterised key GPCRs in S. haematobium and S. mansoni (two closely related species of schistosome). METHODS Using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Support Vector Machine (SVM)-based pipeline, we classified and sub-classified GPCRs of S. haematobium and S. mansoni, combined with phylogenetic and transcription analyses. RESULTS We identified and classified classes A, B, C and F as well as an unclassified group of GPCRs encoded in the genomes of S. haematobium and S. mansoni. In addition, we characterised ligand-specific subclasses (i.e. amine, peptide, opsin and orphan) within class A (rhodopsin-like). CONCLUSIONS Most GPCRs shared a high degree of similarity and conservation, except for members of a particular clade (designated SmGPR), which appear to have diverged between S. haematobium and S. mansoni and might explain, to some extent, some of the underlying biological differences between these two schistosomes. The present set of annotated GPCRs provides a basis for future functional genomic studies of cellular GPCR-mediated signal transduction and a resource for future drug discovery efforts in schistosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neil D Young
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Paveley RA, Bickle QD. Automated imaging and other developments in whole-organism anthelmintic screening. Parasite Immunol 2014; 35:302-13. [PMID: 23581722 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 04/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Helminth infections still represent a huge public health problem throughout the developing world and in the absence of vaccines control is based on periodic mass drug administration. Poor efficacy of some anthelmintics and concerns about emergence of drug resistance has highlighted the need for new drug discovery. Most current anthelmintics were discovered through in vivo screening of selected compounds in animal models but recent approaches have shifted towards screening for activity against adult or larval stages in vitro. Larvae are normally available in greater numbers than adults, can often be produced in vitro and are small enough for microplate assays. However, the manual visualization of drug effects in vitro is subjective, laborious and slow. This can be overcome by application of automated readouts including high-content imaging. Incorporated into robotically controlled HTS platforms such methods allow the very large compound collections being made available by the pharmaceutical industry or academic organizations to be screened against helminths for the first time, invigorating the drug discovery pipeline. Here, we review the status of whole-organism screens based on in vitro activity against living worms and highlight the recent progress towards automated image-based readouts.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Paveley
- Department of Infection and Immunity, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Zhang M, Hong Y, Han Y, Han H, Peng J, Qiu C, Yang J, Lu K, Fu Z, Lin J. Proteomic analysis of tegument-exposed proteins of female and male Schistosoma japonicum worms. J Proteome Res 2013; 12:5260-70. [PMID: 23909873 DOI: 10.1021/pr400476a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The interplay between sexes is a prerequisite for female growth, reproductive maturation, and egg production, and the basis of schistosome pathopoiesis and propagation. The tegument is in direct contact with the host environment and its surface membranes are particularly crucial for schistosome survival in the definitive host. In this study, a streptavidin-biotin affinity purification technique combined with LC-MS/MS was used to analyze putative tegument-exposed proteins in female and male adult Schistosoma japonicum worms. In total, 179 proteins were identified in females and 300 in males, including 119 proteins common to both sexes, and 60 female biased and 181 male biased proteins. Some (e.g., serpin and CD36-like class B scavenger receptor) were involved in host-schistosome interactions, while some (e.g., gynecophoral canal protein) were important in the interplay between sexes. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that proteins involved in protein glycosylation and lysosome were highly expressed in females, while proteins involved in intracellular signal transduction, regulation of actin filament polymerization, and proteasome core complex were highly expressed in males. These results might elucidate physiological differences between the sexes. Our study provides new insights into schistosome growth and sexual maturity in the final host and permits the screening of vaccine candidates or drug targets for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai 200241, P.R. China
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26
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Hahnel S, Lu Z, Wilson RA, Grevelding CG, Quack T. Whole-organ isolation approach as a basis for tissue-specific analyses in Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2336. [PMID: 23936567 PMCID: PMC3723596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is one of the most important parasitic diseases worldwide, second only to malaria. Schistosomes exhibit an exceptional reproductive biology since the sexual maturation of the female, which includes the differentiation of the reproductive organs, is controlled by pairing. Pathogenicity originates from eggs, which cause severe inflammation in their hosts. Elucidation of processes contributing to female maturation is not only of interest to basic science but also considering novel concepts combating schistosomiasis. Methodology/Principal Findings To get direct access to the reproductive organs, we established a novel protocol using a combined detergent/protease-treatment removing the tegument and the musculature of adult Schistosoma mansoni. All steps were monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and bright-field microscopy (BF). We focused on the gonads of adult schistosomes and demonstrated that isolated and purified testes and ovaries can be used for morphological and structural studies as well as sources for RNA and protein of sufficient amounts for subsequent analyses such as RT-PCR and immunoblotting. To this end, first exemplary evidence was obtained for tissue-specific transcription within the gonads (axonemal dynein intermediate chain gene SmAxDynIC; aquaporin gene SmAQP) as well as for post-transcriptional regulation (SmAQP). Conclusions/Significance The presented method provides a new way of getting access to tissue-specific material of S. mansoni. With regard to many still unanswered questions of schistosome biology, such as elucidating the molecular processes involved in schistosome reproduction, this protocol provides opportunities for, e.g., sub-transcriptomics and sub-proteomics at the organ level. This will promote the characterisation of gene-expression profiles, or more specifically to complete knowledge of signalling pathways contributing to differentiation processes, so discovering involved molecules that may represent potential targets for novel intervention strategies. Furthermore, gonads and other tissues are a basis for cell isolation, opening new perspectives for establishing cell lines, one of the tools desperately needed in the post-genomic era. As a neglected disease, schistosomiasis is still an enormous problem in the tropics and subtropics. Since the 1980s, Praziquantel (PZQ) has been the drug of choice but can be anticipated to lose efficacy in the future due to emerging resistance. Alternative drugs or efficient vaccines are still lacking, strengthening the need for the discovery of novel strategies and targets for combating schistosomiasis. One avenue is to understand the unique reproductive biology of this trematode in more detail. Sexual maturation of the adult female depends on a constant pairing with the male. This is a crucial prerequisite for the differentiation of the female reproductive organs such as the vitellarium and ovary, and consequently for the production of mature eggs. These are needed for life-cycle maintenance, but they also cause pathogenesis. With respect to adult males, the production of mature sperm is essential for fertilisation and life-cycle progression. In our study we present a convenient and inexpensive method to isolate reproductive tissues from adult schistosomes in high amounts and purity, representing a source for gonad-specific RNA and protein, which will serve for future sub-transcriptome and -proteome studies helping to characterise genes, or to unravel differentiation programs in schistosome gonads. Beyond that, isolated organs may be useful for approaches to establish cell cultures, desperately needed in the post-genomic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Hahnel
- Institute of Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Dual targeting of insulin and venus kinase Receptors of Schistosoma mansoni for novel anti-schistosome therapy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2226. [PMID: 23696913 PMCID: PMC3656120 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chemotherapy of schistosomiasis relies on a single drug, Praziquantel (PZQ) and mass-use of this compound has led to emergence of resistant strains of Schistosoma mansoni, therefore pointing out the necessity to find alternative drugs. Through their essential functions in development and metabolism, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) could represent valuable drug targets for novel anti-schistosome chemotherapies. Taking advantage of the similarity between the catalytic domains of S. mansoni insulin receptors (SmIR1 and SmIR2) and Venus Kinase Receptors (SmVKR1 and SmVKR2), we studied the possibility to fight schistosomes by targeting simultaneously the four receptors with a single drug. Methodology/Principal Findings Several commercial RTK inhibitors were tested for their potential to inhibit the kinase activities of SmIR1, SmIR2, SmVKR1 and SmVKR2 intracellular domains (ICD) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. We measured the inhibitory effect of chemicals on meiosis resumption induced by the active ICD of the schistosome kinases in oocytes. The IR inhibitor, tyrphostin AG1024, was the most potent inhibitory compound towards SmIR and SmVKR kinases. In vitro studies then allowed us to show that AG1024 affected the viability of both schistosomula and adult worms of S. mansoni. At micromolar doses, AG1024 induced apoptosis and caused schistosomula death in a dose-dependent manner. In adult worms, AG1024 provoked alterations of reproductive organs, as observed by confocal laser scanner microscopy. With 5 µM AG1024, parasites were no more feeding and laying eggs, and they died within 48 h with 10 µM. Conclusion/Significance IRs and VKRs are essential in S. mansoni for key biological processes including glucose uptake, metabolism and reproduction. Our results demonstrate that inhibiting the kinase potential and function of these receptors by a single chemical compound AG1024 at low concentrations, leads to death of schistosomula and adult worms. Thus, AG1024 represents a valuable hit compound for further design of anti-kinase drugs applicable to anti-schistosome chemotherapy. Schistosomiasis is a chronic, debilitating disease that affects over 200 million people in the world. The pathology of schistosomiasis is caused mainly by host immune responses to parasite eggs and due to the formation of granulomas in liver and other tissues. There is no vaccine for schistosomiasis and treatment relies essentially on a single drug, Praziquantel. However, reduced susceptibility of schistosome isolates to Praziquantel has been reported, raising serious concerns about the need to develop new drugs against schistosomes. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) control many cellular and developmental processes and they are important targets in cancer therapy. In this paper, we have investigated the possibility to fight schistosomes by targeting with a single drug, insulin receptors (IRs) involved in parasite growth and metabolism and Venus Kinase Receptors (VKRs) which are unusual IR-like RTKs expressed in the parasite reproductive organs of Schistosoma mansoni. Diverse RTK inhibitors have been tested on kinase activities of these RTKs. The well-known IR inhibitor, tyrphostin AG1024, was demonstrated to be a potent inhibitor of both S. mansoni VKRs and IRs, able to induce in vitro death of larvae and adult worms at micromolar doses. AG1024 could represent a good hit compound for the development of novel drugs against schistosomes.
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Silva LL, Marcet-Houben M, Nahum LA, Zerlotini A, Gabaldón T, Oliveira G. The Schistosoma mansoni phylome: using evolutionary genomics to gain insight into a parasite's biology. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:617. [PMID: 23148687 PMCID: PMC3534613 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2012] [Accepted: 10/22/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosoma mansoni is one of the causative agents of schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects about 237 million people worldwide. Despite recent efforts, we still lack a general understanding of the relevant host-parasite interactions, and the possible treatments are limited by the emergence of resistant strains and the absence of a vaccine. The S. mansoni genome was completely sequenced and still under continuous annotation. Nevertheless, more than 45% of the encoded proteins remain without experimental characterization or even functional prediction. To improve our knowledge regarding the biology of this parasite, we conducted a proteome-wide evolutionary analysis to provide a broad view of the S. mansoni's proteome evolution and to improve its functional annotation. RESULTS Using a phylogenomic approach, we reconstructed the S. mansoni phylome, which comprises the evolutionary histories of all parasite proteins and their homologs across 12 other organisms. The analysis of a total of 7,964 phylogenies allowed a deeper understanding of genomic complexity and evolutionary adaptations to a parasitic lifestyle. In particular, the identification of lineage-specific gene duplications pointed to the diversification of several protein families that are relevant for host-parasite interaction, including proteases, tetraspanins, fucosyltransferases, venom allergen-like proteins, and tegumental-allergen-like proteins. In addition to the evolutionary knowledge, the phylome data enabled us to automatically re-annotate 3,451 proteins through a phylogenetic-based approach rather than solely sequence similarity searches. To allow further exploitation of this valuable data, all information has been made available at PhylomeDB (http://www.phylomedb.org). CONCLUSIONS In this study, we used an evolutionary approach to assess S. mansoni parasite biology, improve genome/proteome functional annotation, and provide insights into host-parasite interactions. Taking advantage of a proteome-wide perspective rather than focusing on individual proteins, we identified that this parasite has experienced specific gene duplication events, particularly affecting genes that are potentially related to the parasitic lifestyle. These innovations may be related to the mechanisms that protect S. mansoni against host immune responses being important adaptations for the parasite survival in a potentially hostile environment. Continuing this work, a comparative analysis involving genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data from other helminth parasites, other parasites, and vectors will supply more information regarding parasite's biology as well as host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Lopes Silva
- Grupo de Genômica e Biologia Computacional, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30190-002, Brazil
- Centro de Excelência em Bioinformática, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais – UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marina Marcet-Houben
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laila Alves Nahum
- Grupo de Genômica e Biologia Computacional, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30190-002, Brazil
- Centro de Excelência em Bioinformática, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Faculdade Infórium de Tecnologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-180, Brazil
| | - Adhemar Zerlotini
- Centro de Excelência em Bioinformática, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Laboratório Multiusuário de Bioinformática, Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guilherme Oliveira
- Grupo de Genômica e Biologia Computacional, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Tropicais. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30190-002, Brazil
- Centro de Excelência em Bioinformática, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz – FIOCRUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Cantacessi C, Mulvenna J, Young ND, Kasny M, Horak P, Aziz A, Hofmann A, Loukas A, Gasser RB. A deep exploration of the transcriptome and "excretory/secretory" proteome of adult Fascioloides magna. Mol Cell Proteomics 2012; 11:1340-53. [PMID: 22899770 PMCID: PMC3494180 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m112.019844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2012] [Revised: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic liver flukes of the family Fasciolidae are responsible for major socioeconomic losses worldwide. However, at present, knowledge of the fundamental molecular biology of these organisms is scant. Here, we characterize, for the first time, the transcriptome and secreted proteome of the adult stage of the "giant liver fluke," Fascioloides magna, using Illumina sequencing technology and one-dimensional SDS-PAGE and OFFGEL protein electrophoresis, respectively. A total of ∼54,000,000 reads were generated and assembled into ∼39,000 contiguous sequences (contigs); ∼20,000 peptides were predicted and classified based on homology searches, protein motifs, gene ontology, and biological pathway mapping. From the predicted proteome, 48.1% of proteins could be assigned to 384 biological pathway terms, including "spliceosome," "RNA transport," and "endocytosis." Putative proteins involved in amino acid degradation were most abundant. Of the 835 secreted proteins predicted from the transcriptome of F. magna, 80 were identified in the excretory/secretory products from this parasite. Highly represented were antioxidant proteins, followed by peptidases (particularly cathepsins) and proteins involved in carbohydrate metabolism. The integration of transcriptomic and proteomic datasets generated herein sets the scene for future studies aimed at exploring the potential role(s) that molecules might play at the host-parasite interface and for establishing novel strategies for the treatment or control of parasitic fluke infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Cantacessi
- From the ‡Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
- §Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - Jason Mulvenna
- ‖Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Neil D. Young
- From the ‡Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Martin Kasny
- ‡‡Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Horak
- ‡‡Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ammar Aziz
- §Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- §§Eskitis Institute for Cell and Molecular Therapies, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- §Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- From the ‡Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Lei L, Cheng L, Hou J, Guo S, Zhu C, Shi Y, Jiang Y, Lin J. Prevention of Schistosoma japonicum infection in mice with long-acting praziquantel implants. Exp Parasitol 2012; 131:442-7. [PMID: 22705923 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2012] [Revised: 05/31/2012] [Accepted: 05/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This work reports the prevention outcomes of a praziquantel (PZQ) implant against the infection of Schistosoma japonicum in mice. The PZQ implant produced stable plasma PZQ concentrations in a range of 100-1300 ng/mL for a period of 70 days, by releasing PZQ in subcutaneous tissues in a sustained manner. To assess the prevention effects, the mice were infected at varying times after implantation. All the mice were sacrificed at 6 weeks after infection for worm and egg recovery and counting, worm morphological examination, determination of egg-hatching rates, and analysis of hepatic histology. The infection was successfully prevented for mice with early infection times (within 2-3 weeks), as nearly no worms, paired worms, eggs, or miracidia were recovered. However, in mice with late infection times (after 3 weeks), the prevention effects were diminished due to the decreased plasma PZQ concentrations at late times. Interestingly, the implants showed robust prevention effects on repeated infection at 1 and 3 weeks. In the infection-prevented mouse livers, no granuloma formation or granulomatous inflammation was observed. The results demonstrated that by blocking the development of infecting miracidia and by deactivating the eggs, the PZQ implants encouragingly prevented the S. japonicum infection and avoided liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Lei
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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31
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Proteomics at the schistosome-mammalian host interface: any prospects for diagnostics or vaccines? Parasitology 2012; 139:1178-94. [PMID: 22717150 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012000339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Since 2004 there has been a remarkable increment in our knowledge of the proteins and glycans that reside at, or are released from the surfaces of schistosomes in the mammalian host. Initial characterization of the soluble proteome permits distinctions to be made between the parasite secretome and its necrotome. The principal proteins secreted by the cercaria to gain access to the skin have been described as well as those released by migrating schistosomula. An inventory of transporters, enzymes and structural proteins has been shown to reside the tegument surface, but also immunoglobulins, complement factors and host CD44. The secreted membranocalyx that overlies the plasma membrane may contain a small number of proteins, not simply acting as physical barrier, but its lipid composition remains elusive. Analysis of worm vomitus has provided insights into blood feeding, increasing the number of known lysosomal hydrolases, and identifying a series of carrier proteins potentially involved in uptake of lipids and inorganic ions by the gut epithelium. The egg secretions that aid escape from the tissues include a mixture of MEG-2 and MEG-3 family variant proteins. The utility of identified proteins for the development of new diagnostics, and their potential as vaccines candidates is evaluated.
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Gauci CG, Jayashi CM, Gonzalez AE, Lackenby J, Lightowlers MW. Protection of pigs against Taenia solium cysticercosis by immunization with novel recombinant antigens. Vaccine 2012; 30:3824-8. [PMID: 22521850 PMCID: PMC3383989 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Revised: 03/23/2012] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant antigens from the oncosphere stage of the parasite Taenia solium were expressed in Escherichia coli. The TSOL16, TSOL45-1A and TSOL45-1B recombinant antigens, each consisting of fibronectin type III (FnIII) domain S, were produced as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST) and maltose binding protein (MBP). Groups of pigs were immunized twice with the GST fusions of the antigens and boosted a third time with the MBP fusions prior to receiving a challenge infection with T. solium eggs. The TSOL16 antigen was found to be capable of inducing high levels of immunity in pigs against a challenge infection with T. solium. Immunological investigations identified differences in immune responses in the pigs vaccinated with the various antigens. The results demonstrate that the TSOL16 antigen could be a valuable adjunct to current porcine vaccination approaches and may allow the further development of new vaccination strategies against T. solium cysticercosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles G Gauci
- University of Melbourne, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
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Swain MT, Larkin DM, Caffrey CR, Davies SJ, Loukas A, Skelly PJ, Hoffmann KF. Schistosoma comparative genomics: integrating genome structure, parasite biology and anthelmintic discovery. Trends Parasitol 2011; 27:555-64. [PMID: 22024648 PMCID: PMC3223292 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2011.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma genomes provide a comprehensive resource for identifying the molecular processes that shape parasite evolution and for discovering novel chemotherapeutic or immunoprophylactic targets. Here, we demonstrate how intragenus and intergenus comparative genomics can be used to drive these investigations forward, illustrate the advantages and limitations of these approaches and review how post-genomic technologies offer complementary strategies for genome characterisation. Although sequencing and functional characterisation of other schistosome/platyhelminth genomes continues to expedite anthelmintic discovery, we contend that future priorities should equally focus on improving assembly quality, and chromosomal assignment, of existing schistosome/platyhelminth genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin T Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
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34
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Cheng L, Lei L, Guo S, Zhu C, Rong H, Guo D, Zhang L, Jiang Y, Lin J. Schistosoma japonicum: Treatment of different developmental stages in mice with long-acting praziquantel implants. Exp Parasitol 2011; 129:254-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Revised: 08/03/2011] [Accepted: 08/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Walker AJ. Insights into the functional biology of schistosomes. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:203. [PMID: 22013990 PMCID: PMC3206467 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The need to discover new treatments for human schistosomiasis has been an important driver for molecular research on schistosomes, a major breakthrough being the publication of the Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum genomes in 2009. This 'Primer' considers recent advances in the understanding of schistosome biology by providing a snapshot of selected areas of contemporary functional schistosome research, including that on the genome, the tegument, cell signalling and developmental biology, offering biologists a valuable insight into the life of these fascinating parasites at the basic and molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony John Walker
- School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT12EE, UK.
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Poland GA, Ovsyannikova IG, Kennedy RB, Haralambieva IH, Jacobson RM. Vaccinomics and a new paradigm for the development of preventive vaccines against viral infections. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2011; 15:625-36. [PMID: 21732819 PMCID: PMC3166201 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2011.0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In this article we define vaccinomics as the integration of immunogenetics and immunogenomics with systems biology and immune profiling. Vaccinomics is based on the use of cutting edge, high-dimensional (so called "omics") assays and novel bioinformatics approaches to the development of next-generation vaccines and the expansion of our capabilities in individualized medicine. Vaccinomics will allow us to move beyond the empiric "isolate, inactivate, and inject" approach characterizing past vaccine development efforts, and toward a more detailed molecular and systemic understanding of the carefully choreographed series of biological processes involved in developing viral vaccine-induced "immunity." This enhanced understanding will then be applied to overcome the obstacles to the creation of effective vaccines to protect against pathogens, particularly hypervariable viruses, with the greatest current impact on public health. Here we provide an overview of how vaccinomics will inform vaccine science, the development of new vaccines and/or clinically relevant biomarkers or surrogates of protection, vaccine response heterogeneity, and our understanding of immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Poland
- Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
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Song X, Shen J, Wen H, Zhong Z, Luo Q, Chu D, Qi Y, Xu Y, Wei W. Impact of Schistosoma japonicum infection on collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice: a murine model of human rheumatoid arthritis. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23453. [PMID: 21858123 PMCID: PMC3152573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2011] [Accepted: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The hygiene hypothesis suggests that helminth infections prevent a range of autoimmune diseases. Methodology/Principal Findings To investigate the effects of S. japonicum infection on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), male DBA/1 mice were challenged with unisexual or bisexual S. japonicum cercariae two weeks prior to bovine type II collagen (CII) immunization or at the onset of CIA. S. japonicum infection prior to CII immunization significantly reduced the severity of CIA. ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) showed that the levels of anti-CII IgG and IgG2a were reduced in prior schistosome-infected mice, while anti-CII IgG1 was elevated. Splenocyte proliferation against both polyclonal and antigen-specific stimuli was reduced by prior schistosome infection as measured by tritiated thymidine incorporation (3H-TdR). Cytokine profiles and CD4+ T cells subpopulation analysis by ELISA and flow cytometry (FCM) demonstrated that prior schistosome infection resulted in a significant down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and Th1 cells, together with up-regulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and Th2 cells. Interestingly, the expansion of Treg cells and the reduction of Th17 cells were only observed in bisexually infected mice. In addition, prior schistosome infection notably reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) in the inflamed joint. However, the disease was exacerbated at one week after infection when established CIA mice were challenged with bisexual cercariae. Conclusion/Significance Our data provide direct evidence that the Th2 response evoked by prior S. japonicum infection can suppress the Th1 response and pro-inflammatory mediator and that bisexual infection with egg-laying up-regulates the Treg response and down-regulates the Th17 response, resulting in an amelioration of autoimmune arthritis. The beneficial effects might depend on the establishment of a Th2-dominant response rather than the presence of the eggs. Our results suggest that anti-inflammatory molecules from the parasite could treat autoimmune diseases.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/immunology
- Arthritis, Experimental/immunology
- Arthritis, Experimental/metabolism
- Arthritis, Experimental/pathology
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology
- Cell Proliferation
- Cells, Cultured
- Collagen Type II/immunology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Female
- Humans
- Hygiene Hypothesis
- Immunization
- Interferon-gamma/immunology
- Interferon-gamma/metabolism
- Interleukin-4/immunology
- Interleukin-4/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred DBA
- Schistosoma japonicum/immunology
- Schistosoma japonicum/parasitology
- Schistosomiasis japonica/immunology
- Severity of Illness Index
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
- Th2 Cells/immunology
- Th2 Cells/metabolism
- Therapy with Helminths
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Song
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Anhui Cardiovascular Research, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jilong Shen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Huiqin Wen
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhengrong Zhong
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qinli Luo
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Deyong Chu
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yao Qi
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuanhong Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology, and The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Loukas A, Gaze S, Mulvenna JP, Gasser RB, Brindley PJ, Doolan DL, Bethony JM, Jones MK, Gobert GN, Driguez P, McManus DP, Hotez PJ. Vaccinomics for the major blood feeding helminths of humans. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2011; 15:567-77. [PMID: 21679087 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2010.0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Approximately one billion people are infected with hookworms and/or blood flukes (schistosomes) in developing countries. These two parasites are responsible for more disability adjusted life years lost than most other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and together, are second only to malaria. Although anthelmintic drugs are effective and widely available, they do not protect against reinfection, resistant parasites are likely to emerge, and mass drug administration programs are unsustainable. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of vaccines against these parasites. In recent years, there have been major advances in our understanding of hookworms and schistosomes at the molecular level through the use of "omics" technologies. The secretomes of these parasites have been characterized using transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, and newly developed gene manipulation and silencing techniques, and the proteins of interest are now the target of novel antigen discovery approaches, notably immunomics. This research has resulted in the discovery, development, and early stage clinical trials of subunit vaccines against hookworms and schistosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Loukas
- Queensland Tropical Health Alliance, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
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De la Torre Escudero E, Manzano-Román R, Valero L, Oleaga A, Pérez-Sánchez R, Hernández-González A, Siles-Lucas M. Comparative proteomic analysis of Fasciola hepatica juveniles and Schistosoma bovis schistosomula. J Proteomics 2011; 74:1534-44. [PMID: 21621657 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2011.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2011] [Revised: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein interactions between host and parasites can influence the infection success and severity. The aim of this investigation was to identify the proteins from two trematodes potentially localized at the host-parasite interface. We performed the proteomic profiles from in vivo obtained immature lung stage Schistosoma bovis schistosomula and in vitro excysted juveniles from Fasciola hepatica, parasites of ruminants and man usually giving rise to chronic infections. Proteomes from those parasites were obtained after digestion with trypsin and the peptides generated were identified by mass spectrometry, both before and after parasites' treatment with 70% methanol. The comparison of the two proteome sets from each parasite and between them, the analysis of their relative abundance and of their potential exposure to the host from living parasites, together with the specific immunolocalization of two of the identified molecules, show that this approach could assist in the identification of parasite exposed proteins and in the definition of molecules common for the two parasites with potential interaction with the host. Further characterization of these molecules could guide to define new common anti-parasitic targets and potential vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- E De la Torre Escudero
- Parasitology Laboratory, IRNASA (CSIC), Cordel de Merinas, 40-52, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
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40
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Hong Y, Peng J, Jiang W, Fu Z, Liu J, Shi Y, Li X, Lin J. Proteomic analysis of schistosoma japonicum schistosomulum proteins that are differentially expressed among hosts differing in their susceptibility to the infection. Mol Cell Proteomics 2011; 10:M110.006098. [PMID: 21593212 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m110.006098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a tropical, parasitic disease affecting humans and several animal species. The aim of this study was to identify proteins involved in the growth and survival of the parasitic forms inside a host. Schistosomula of Schistosoma japonicum were isolated from three different hosts: the susceptible BALB/c mice; the Wistar rats, which have a considerably lower susceptibility; and the resistant reed vole, Microtus fortis. Soluble proteins of the schistosomula collected from the above three hosts 10 days postinfection were subjected to two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. Comparative proteomic analyses revealed that 39, 21, and 25 protein spots were significantly differentially expressed between schistosomula from mice and rats, mice and reed voles, or rats and reed voles, respectively (ANCOVA, p < 0.05). Further, the protein spots were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem MS. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins were essentially those involved in the metabolism of proteins, ribonucleotides, or carbohydrates, or in stress response or cellular movement. This study represents the first attempt at profiling S. japonicum living in different states and provides a basis for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms in the development and survival of S. japonicum in different host environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hong
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Shanghai 200241, PR China
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Bergquist R, Lustigman S. Control of important helminthic infections vaccine development as part of the solution. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2010; 73:297-326. [PMID: 20627146 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-308x(10)73010-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Among the tools available for the control of helminth infections, chemotherapy has come to totally dominate the field. In the veterinary field, development of drug resistance has appeared but this is not (yet) a problem in the control of human diseases. Although there is no vaccine commercially available for any human parasitic infection yet, recent progress in vaccine development is making this a future possibility for several diseases. The goal of chemotherapy is to alleviate infection and morbidity in the definitive host, or reduce transmission, while the effect of available vaccine candidates would mainly be to influence transmission through targeting the intermediate or reservoir host, when the infection is zoonotic. Apart from this general scheme, there are also vaccine candidates targeting the parasites in the definitive host, in particular the early developmental stages, which should reduce the risk of drug failure. Since the biological targets in most cases are different, vaccination would be synergistic with drug therapy. This review covers diseases caused by helminthes in both humans and animals and includes examples of diseases caused by cestodes, nematodes and trematodes. The focus is on infections for which vaccine development has been undertaken for a long time, resulting in products that could realistically become integrated into control strategies in the near future.
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Zhong ZR, Zhou HB, Li XY, Luo QL, Song XR, Wang W, Wen HQ, Yu L, Wei W, Shen JL. Serological proteome-oriented screening and application of antigens for the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis japonica. Acta Trop 2010; 116:1-8. [PMID: 20451489 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2010.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2009] [Revised: 04/26/2010] [Accepted: 04/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis remains a major parasitic disease, with 200 million people infected and 779 million people at risk worldwide. The lack of reliable diagnostic techniques makes this disease difficult to control. In an attempt to discover useful candidates for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis, proteomics in combination with western blotting were employed in this study. This serological proteome assay yielded more than 30 immunodominant spots. Ten of these spots were precisely matched with a homologous two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) gel and successfully identified by LC/MS-MS as corresponding to four different proteins. Of these proteins, SjLAP and SjFBPA were successfully expressed, and their recombinant protein products were further applied in the diagnosis of human Schistosomiasis japonica using ELISA. The ELISA results revealed sensitivities of 98.1% and 87.8% for acute and chronic schistosomiasis with rSjLAP and 100% and 84.7% with rSjFBPA, whereas the assays showed a specificity of 96.7% with both recombinant proteins. After treatment with praziquantel, the titres of the antibodies against both antigens declined significantly (P<0.001). Our data therefore suggest that these antibody-oriented recombinant proteins had a high efficacy for the diagnosis of S. japonica, and 2-DE based screening followed by LC/MS-MS has promising potential in the screening of candidate antigens for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis.
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43
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Gobert GN. Applications for profiling the schistosome transcriptome. Trends Parasitol 2010; 26:434-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2010.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2009] [Revised: 04/16/2010] [Accepted: 04/26/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China: the era of the Three Gorges Dam. Clin Microbiol Rev 2010; 23:442-66. [PMID: 20375361 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00044-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential impact of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on schistosomiasis transmission in China has invoked considerable global concern. The TGD will result in changes in the water level and silt deposition downstream, favoring the reproduction of Oncomelania snails. Combined with blockages of the Yangtze River's tributaries, these changes will increase the schistosomiasis transmission season within the marshlands along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The changing schistosome transmission dynamics necessitate a comprehensive strategy to control schistosomiasis. This review discusses aspects of the epidemiology and transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in China and considers the pathology, clinical outcomes, diagnosis, treatment, immunobiology, and genetics of schistosomiasis japonica together with an overview of current progress in vaccine development, all of which will have an impact on future control efforts. The use of synchronous praziquantel (PZQ) chemotherapy for humans and domestic animals is only temporarily effective, as schistosome reinfection occurs rapidly. Drug delivery requires a substantial infrastructure to regularly cover all parts of an area of endemicity. This makes chemotherapy expensive and, as compliance is often low, a less than satisfactory control option. There is increasing disquiet about the possibility that PZQ-resistant schistosomes will develop. Consequently, as mathematical modeling predicts, vaccine strategies represent an essential component in the future control of schistosomiasis in China. With the inclusion of focal mollusciciding, improvements in sanitation, and health education into the control scenario, China's target of reducing the level of schistosome infection to less than 1% by 2015 may be achievable.
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Metabolite-biomarker investigations in the life cycle of and infection with Schistosoma. Parasitology 2010; 137:1425-35. [PMID: 20550753 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182010000545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Schistosome infection is endemic in many Third World countries and affects an estimated 200 million individuals. Over the last few years, a number of investigations have focused on small molecule biomarkers of this infection. These studies were aimed at discovering key molecules relating to the life cycle of the parasite or deciphering metabolic change in the host during infection. In this review these studies are further divided into targeted approaches to find compounds and fingerprinting techniques i.e. metabonomics. A species-specific metabolite or group of biomarkers of the infection have yet to be discovered. For this reason a critical discussion contrasting with established diagnostic methods and future prospects are also provided.
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Mulvenna J, Sripa B, Brindley PJ, Gorman J, Jones MK, Colgrave ML, Jones A, Nawaratna S, Laha T, Suttiprapa S, Smout MJ, Loukas A. The secreted and surface proteomes of the adult stage of the carcinogenic human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini. Proteomics 2010; 10:1063-78. [PMID: 20049860 PMCID: PMC3038172 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200900393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2009] [Accepted: 11/30/2009] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Infection with the human liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, is a serious public health problem in Thailand, Laos and nearby locations in Southeast Asia. Both experimental and epidemiological evidence strongly implicate liver fluke infection in the etiology of one of the liver cancer subtypes, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). To identify parasite proteins critical for liver fluke survival and the etiology of CCA, OFFGEL electrophoresis and multiple reaction monitoring were employed to characterize 300 parasite proteins from the O. viverrini excretory/secretory products and, utilizing selective labeling and sequential solubilization, from the host-exposed tegument. The excretory/secretory included a complex mixture of proteins that have been associated with cancers, including proteases of different mechanistic classes and orthologues of mammalian growth factors and anti-apoptotic proteins. Also identified was a cysteine protease inhibitor which, in other helminth pathogens, induces nitric oxide production by macrophages, and, hence may contribute to malignant transformation of inflamed cells. More than 160 tegumental proteins were identified using sequential solubilization of isolated teguments, and a subset of these was localized to the surface membrane of the tegument by labeling living flukes with biotin and confirming surface localization with fluorescence microscopy. These included annexins, which are potential immuno-modulators, and orthologues of the schistosomiasis vaccine antigens Sm29 and tetraspanin-2. Novel roles in pathogenesis were suggested for the tegument-host interface since more than ten surface proteins had no homologues in the public databases. The O. viverrini proteins identified here provide an extensive catalogue of novel leads for research on the pathogenesis of opisthorchiasis and the development of novel interventions for this disease and CCA, as well as providing a scaffold for sequencing the genome of this fluke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Mulvenna
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Qld, Australia.
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Gobert GN, Tran MH, Moertel L, Mulvenna J, Jones MK, McManus DP, Loukas A. Transcriptional changes in Schistosoma mansoni during early schistosomula development and in the presence of erythrocytes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2010; 4:e600. [PMID: 20161728 PMCID: PMC2817720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2009] [Accepted: 12/17/2009] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomes cause more mortality and morbidity than any other human helminth, but control primarily relies on a single drug that kills adult worms. The newly transformed schistosomulum stage is susceptible to the immune response and is a target for vaccine development and rational drug design. Methodology/Principal Findings To identify genes which are up-regulated during the maturation of Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula in vitro, we cultured newly transformed parasites for 3 h or 5 days with and without erythrocytes and compared their transcriptional profiles using cDNA microarrays. The most apparent changes were in the up-regulation of genes between 3 h and 5 day schistosomula involved in blood feeding, tegument and cytoskeletal development, cell adhesion, and stress responses. The most highly up-regulated genes included a tegument tetraspanin Sm-tsp-3 (1,600-fold up-regulation), a protein kinase, a novel serine protease and serine protease inhibitor, and intestinal proteases belonging to distinct mechanistic classes. The inclusion of erythrocytes in the culture medium resulted in a general but less pronounced increase in transcriptional activity, with the highest up-regulation of genes involved in iron metabolism, proteolysis, and transport of fatty acids and sugars. Conclusions We have identified the genes that are up-regulated during the first 5 days of schistosomula development in vitro. Using a combination of gene silencing techniques and murine protection studies, some of these highly up-regulated transcripts can be targeted for future development of new vaccines and drugs. Schistosome blood flukes cause more mortality and morbidity than any other human worm infection, but current control methods primarily rely on a single drug. There is a desperate need for new approaches to control this parasite, including vaccines. People become infected when the free-swimming larva, the cercaria, enters through the skin and becomes the schistosomulum. Schistosomula are susceptible to immune responses during their first few days in the host before they become adult parasites. We characterised the genes that these newly transformed parasites switch on when they enter the host to identify molecules that are critical for survival in the human host. Some of these highly up-regulated genes can be targeted for future development of new vaccines and drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey N. Gobert
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mai H. Tran
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Luke Moertel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason Mulvenna
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- School of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alex Loukas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Driguez P, Doolan DL, Loukas A, Felgner PL, McManus DP. Schistosomiasis vaccine discovery using immunomics. Parasit Vectors 2010; 3:4. [PMID: 20181031 PMCID: PMC2837634 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2010] [Accepted: 01/28/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent publication of the Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni genomes has expanded greatly the opportunities for post-genomic schistosomiasis vaccine research. Immunomics protein microarrays provide an excellent application of this new schistosome sequence information, having been utilised successfully for vaccine antigen discovery with a range of bacterial and viral pathogens, and malaria. Accordingly, we have designed and manufactured a Schistosoma immunomics protein microarray as a vaccine discovery tool. The microarray protein selection combined previously published data and in silico screening of available sequences for potential immunogens based on protein location, homology to known protective antigens, and high specificity to schistosome species. Following cloning, selected sequences were expressed cell-free and contact-printed onto nitrocellulose microarrays. The reactivity of microarray proteins with antisera from schistosomiasis-exposed/resistant animals or human patients can be measured with labelled secondary antibodies and a laser microarray scanner; highly reactive proteins can be further assessed as putative vaccines. This highly innovative technology has the potential to transform vaccine research for schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases of humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Driguez
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, The Queensland Institute of Medical Institute, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
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49
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Bergquist R, Tanner M. Controlling Schistosomiasis in Southeast Asia. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2010; 72:109-44. [DOI: 10.1016/s0065-308x(10)72005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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