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De Marco Verissimo C, Jewhurst HL, Dobó J, Gál P, Dalton JP, Cwiklinski K. Fasciola hepatica is refractory to complement killing by preventing attachment of mannose binding lectin (MBL) and inhibiting MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs) with serpins. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010226. [PMID: 35007288 PMCID: PMC8782513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system is a first-line innate host immune defence against invading pathogens. It is activated via three pathways, termed Classical, Lectin and Alternative, which are mediated by antibodies, carbohydrate arrays or microbial liposaccharides, respectively. The three complement pathways converge in the formation of C3-convertase followed by the assembly of a lethal pore-like structure, the membrane attack complex (MAC), on the pathogen surface. We found that the infectious stage of the helminth parasite Fasciola hepatica, the newly excysted juvenile (NEJ), is resistant to the damaging effects of complement. Despite being coated with mannosylated proteins, the main initiator of the Lectin pathway, the mannose binding lectin (MBL), does not bind to the surface of live NEJ. In addition, we found that recombinantly expressed serine protease inhibitors secreted by NEJ (rFhSrp1 and rFhSrp2) selectively prevent activation of the complement via the Lectin pathway. Our experiments demonstrate that rFhSrp1 and rFhSrp2 inhibit native and recombinant MBL-associated serine proteases (MASPs), impairing the primary step that mediates C3b and C4b deposition on the NEJ surface. Indeed, immunofluorescence studies show that MBL, C3b, C4b or MAC are not deposited on the surface of NEJ incubated in normal human serum. Taken together, our findings uncover new means by which a helminth parasite prevents the activation of the Lectin complement pathway to become refractory to killing via this host response, in spite of presenting an assortment of glycans on their surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina De Marco Verissimo
- Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Heather L. Jewhurst
- Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - József Dobó
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Gál
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - John P. Dalton
- Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Krystyna Cwiklinski
- Centre for One Health and Ryan Institute, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Davey SD, Chalmers IW, Fernandez-Fuentes N, Swain MT, Smith D, Abbas Abidi SM, Saifullah MK, Raman M, Ravikumar G, McVeigh P, Maule AG, Brophy PM, Morphew RM. In silico characterisation of the complete Ly6 protein family in Fasciola gigantica supported through transcriptomics of the newly-excysted juveniles. Mol Omics 2021; 18:45-56. [PMID: 34781332 PMCID: PMC8763315 DOI: 10.1039/d1mo00254f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Fasciola gigantica is one of the aetiological trematodes associated with fascioliasis, which heavily impacts food-production systems and human and animal welfare on a global scale. In the absence of a vaccine, fascioliasis control and treatment is restricted to pasture management, such as clean grazing, and a limited array of chemotherapies, to which signs of resistance are beginning to appear. Research into novel control strategies is therefore urgently required and the advent of ‘omics technologies presents considerable opportunity for novel drug and vaccine target discovery. Here, interrogation of the first available F. gigantica newly excysted juvenile (NEJ) transcriptome revealed several protein families of current interest to parasitic flatworm vaccine research, including orthologues of mammalian complement regulator CD59 of the Ly6 family. Ly6 proteins have previously been identified on the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni and induced protective immunity in vaccination trials. Incorporating the recently available F. gigantica genome, the current work revealed 20 novel Ly6 family members in F. gigantica and, in parallel, significantly extended the F. hepatica complement from 3 to 18 members. Phylogenetic analysis revealed several distinct clades within the family, some of which are unique to Fasciola spp. trematodes. Analysis of available proteomic databases also revealed three of the newly discovered FhLy6s were present in extracellular vesicles, which have previously been prioritised in studying the host-parasite interface. The presentation of this new transcriptomic resource, in addition to the Ly6 family proteins here identified, represents a wealth of opportunity for future vaccine research. Incorporating the recently available F. gigantica genome, the current work revealed 20 novel Ly6 family members in F. gigantica and, in parallel, significantly extended the F. hepatica complement from 3 to 18 members.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D Davey
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK.
| | - Iain W Chalmers
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK.
| | | | - Martin T Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK.
| | - Dan Smith
- Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Syed M Abbas Abidi
- Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202001, India
| | - Mohammad K Saifullah
- Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, 202001, India
| | - Muthusamy Raman
- Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600051, India
| | | | - Paul McVeigh
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Aaron G Maule
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Peter M Brophy
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK.
| | - Russell M Morphew
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK.
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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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Zhang XX, Cwiklinski K, Hu RS, Zheng WB, Sheng ZA, Zhang FK, Elsheikha HM, Dalton JP, Zhu XQ. Complex and dynamic transcriptional changes allow the helminth Fasciola gigantica to adjust to its intermediate snail and definitive mammalian hosts. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:729. [PMID: 31606027 PMCID: PMC6790025 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6103-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tropical liver fluke, Fasciola gigantica causes fasciolosis, an important disease of humans and livestock. We characterized dynamic transcriptional changes associated with the development of the parasite in its two hosts, the snail intermediate host and the mammalian definitive host. RESULTS Differential gene transcription analysis revealed 7445 unigenes transcribed by all F. gigantica lifecycle stages, while the majority (n = 50,977) exhibited stage-specific expression. Miracidia that hatch from eggs are highly transcriptionally active, expressing a myriad of genes involved in pheromone activity and metallopeptidase activity, consistent with snail host finding and invasion. Clonal expansion of rediae within the snail correlates with increased expression of genes associated with transcription, translation and repair. All intra-snail stages (miracidia, rediae and cercariae) require abundant cathepsin L peptidases for migration and feeding and, as indicated by their annotation, express genes putatively involved in the manipulation of snail innate immune responses. Cercariae emerge from the snail, settle on vegetation and become encysted metacercariae that are infectious to mammals; these remain metabolically active, transcribing genes involved in regulation of metabolism, synthesis of nucleotides, pH and endopeptidase activity to assure their longevity and survival on pasture. Dramatic growth and development following infection of the mammalian host are associated with high gene transcription of cell motility pathways, and transport and catabolism pathways. The intra-mammalian stages temporally regulate key families of genes including the cathepsin L and B proteases and their trans-activating peptidases, the legumains, during intense feeding and migration through the intestine, liver and bile ducts. While 70% of the F. gigantica transcripts share homology with genes expressed by the temperate liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, gene expression profiles of the most abundantly expressed transcripts within the comparable lifecycle stages implies significant species-specific gene regulation. CONCLUSIONS Transcriptional profiling of the F. gigantica lifecycle identified key metabolic, growth and developmental processes the parasite undergoes as it encounters vastly different environments within two very different hosts. Comparative analysis with F. hepatica provides insight into the similarities and differences of these parasites that diverged > 20 million years ago, crucial for the future development of novel control strategies against both species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Krystyna Cwiklinski
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science (NCBES), School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Rui-Si Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Bin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhao-An Sheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530005, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu-Kai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - John P Dalton
- National Centre for Biomedical and Engineering Science (NCBES), School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Shao S, Sun X, Chen Y, Zhan B, Zhu X. Complement Evasion: An Effective Strategy That Parasites Utilize to Survive in the Host. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:532. [PMID: 30949145 PMCID: PMC6435963 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic infections induce host immune responses that eliminate the invading parasites. However, parasites have evolved to develop many strategies to evade host immune attacks and survive in a hostile environment. The complement system acts as the first line of immune defense to eliminate the invading parasites by forming the membrane attack complex (MAC) and promoting an inflammatory reaction on the surface of invading parasites. To date, the complement activation pathway has been precisely delineated; however, the manner in which parasites escape complement attack, as a survival strategy in the host, is not well understood. Increasing evidence has shown that parasites develop sophisticated strategies to escape complement-mediated killing, including (i) recruitment of host complement regulatory proteins on the surface of the parasites to inhibit complement activation; (ii) expression of orthologs of host RCA to inhibit complement activation; and (iii) expression of parasite-encoded proteins, specifically targeting different complement components, to inhibit complement function and formation of the MAC. In this review, we compiled information regarding parasitic abilities to escape host complement attack as a survival strategy in the hostile environment of the host and the mechanisms underlying complement evasion. Effective escape of host complement attack is a crucial step for the survival of parasites within the host. Therefore, those proteins expressed by parasites and involved in the regulation of the complement system have become important targets for the development of drugs and vaccines against parasitic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Shao
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ximeng Sun
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhan
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Xinping Zhu
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Haçarız O, Sayers GP. Genererating a core cluster of Fasciola hepatica virulence and immunomodulation-related genes using a comparative in silico approach. Res Vet Sci 2018; 117:271-276. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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7
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Cwiklinski K, Jewhurst H, McVeigh P, Barbour T, Maule AG, Tort J, O'Neill SM, Robinson MW, Donnelly S, Dalton JP. Infection by the Helminth Parasite Fasciola hepatica Requires Rapid Regulation of Metabolic, Virulence, and Invasive Factors to Adjust to Its Mammalian Host. Mol Cell Proteomics 2018; 17:792-809. [PMID: 29321187 PMCID: PMC5880117 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra117.000445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The parasite Fasciola hepatica infects a broad range of mammals with
impunity. Following ingestion of parasites (metacercariae) by the host, newly
excysted juveniles (NEJ) emerge from their cysts, rapidly penetrate the duodenal wall
and migrate to the liver. Successful infection takes just a few hours and involves
negotiating hurdles presented by host macromolecules, tissues and micro-environments,
as well as the immune system. Here, transcriptome and proteome analysis of ex
vivo F. hepatica metacercariae and NEJ reveal the rapidity and multitude
of metabolic and developmental alterations that take place in order for the parasite
to establish infection. We found that metacercariae despite being encased in a cyst
are metabolically active, and primed for infection. Following excystment, NEJ expend
vital energy stores and rapidly adjust their metabolic pathways to cope with their
new and increasingly anaerobic environment. Temperature increases induce neoblast
proliferation and the remarkable up-regulation of genes associated with growth and
development. Cysteine proteases synthesized by gastrodermal cells are secreted to
facilitate invasion and tissue degradation, and tegumental transporters, such as
aquaporins, are varied to deal with osmotic/salinity changes. Major proteins of the
total NEJ secretome include proteases, protease inhibitors and anti-oxidants, and an
array of immunomodulators that likely disarm host innate immune effector cells. Thus,
the challenges of infection by F. hepatica parasites are met by
rapid metabolic and physiological adjustments that expedite tissue invasion and
immune evasion; these changes facilitate parasite growth, development and maturation.
Our molecular analysis of the critical processes involved in host invasion has
identified key targets for future drug and vaccine strategies directed at preventing
parasite infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna Cwiklinski
- From the ‡School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK;
| | - Heather Jewhurst
- From the ‡School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Paul McVeigh
- From the ‡School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.,§Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Tara Barbour
- From the ‡School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Aaron G Maule
- From the ‡School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.,§Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jose Tort
- ¶Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | | | - Mark W Robinson
- From the ‡School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.,§Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Sheila Donnelly
- **The i3 Institute and School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
| | - John P Dalton
- From the ‡School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.,§Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
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Morgan BP, Boyd C, Bubeck D. Molecular cell biology of complement membrane attack. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 72:124-132. [PMID: 28647534 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The membrane attack complex (MAC) is the pore-forming toxin of the complement system, a relatively early evolutionary acquisition that confers upon complement the capacity to directly kill pathogens. The MAC is more than just a bactericidal missile, having the capacity when formed on self-cells to initiate a host of cell activation events that can have profound consequences for tissue homeostasis in the face of infection or injury. Although the capacity of complement to directly kill pathogens has been recognised for over a century, and the pore-forming killing mechanism for at least 50 years, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding precisely how MAC mediates its killing and cell activation activities. A recent burst of new information on MAC structure provides context and opportunity to re-assess the ways in which MAC kills bacteria and modulates cell functions. In this brief review we will describe key aspects of MAC evolution, function and structure and seek to use the new structural information to better explain how the MAC works.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Paul Morgan
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF144XN, UK.
| | - Courtney Boyd
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, 506 Sir Ernst Chain Building, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Doryen Bubeck
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College, 506 Sir Ernst Chain Building, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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9
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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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10
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Haçarız O, Akgün M, Kavak P, Yüksel B, Sağıroğlu MŞ. Comparative transcriptome profiling approach to glean virulence and immunomodulation-related genes of Fasciola hepatica. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:366. [PMID: 25956885 PMCID: PMC4429430 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1539-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fasciola hepatica causes chronic liver disease, fasciolosis, leading to significant losses in the livestock economy and concerns for human health in many countries. The identification of F. hepatica genes involved in the parasite's virulence through modulation of host immune system is utmost important to comprehend evasion mechanisms of the parasite and develop more effective strategies against fasciolosis. In this study, to identify the parasite's putative virulence genes which are associated with host immunomodulation, we explored whole transcriptome of an adult F. hepatica using current transcriptome profiling approaches integrated with detailed in silico analyses. In brief, the comparison of the parasite transcripts with the specialised public databases containing sequence data of non-parasitic organisms (Dugesiidae species and Caenorhabditis elegans) or of numerous pathogens and investigation of the sequences in terms of nucleotide evolution (directional selection) and cytokine signaling relation were conducted. RESULTS NGS of the whole transcriptome resulted in 19,534,766 sequence reads, yielding a total of 40,260 transcripts (N₅₀ = 522 bp). A number of the parasite transcripts (n = 1,671) were predicted to be virulence-related on the basis of the exclusive homology with the pathogen-associated data, positive selection or relationship with cytokine signaling. Of these, a group of the virulence-related genes (n = 62), not previously described, were found likely to be associated with immunomodulation based on in silico functional categorisation, showing significant sequence similarities with various immune receptors (i.e. MHC I class, TGF-β receptor, toll/interleukin-1 receptor, T-cell receptor, TNF receptor, and IL-18 receptor accessory protein), cytokines (i.e. TGF-β, interleukin-4/interleukin-13 and TNF-α), cluster of differentiations (e.g. CD48 and CD147) or molecules associated with other immunomodulatory mechanisms (such as regulation of macrophage activation). Some of the genes (n = 5) appeared to be under positive selection (Ka/Ks > 1), imitating proteins associated with cytokine signaling (through sequence homologies with thrombospondin type 1, toll/interleukin-1 receptor, TGF-β receptor and CD147). CONCLUSIONS With a comparative transcriptome profiling approach, we have identified a number of potential immunomodulator genes of F. hepatica (n = 62), which are firstly described here, could be employed for the development of better strategies (including RNAi) in the battle against both zoonotically and economically important disease, fasciolosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orçun Haçarız
- TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, P.O. Box 21, 41470, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Mete Akgün
- TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, Information Technologies Institute, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Pınar Kavak
- TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, Information Technologies Institute, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Bayram Yüksel
- TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, P.O. Box 21, 41470, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Mahmut Şamil Sağıroğlu
- TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, Information Technologies Institute, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
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11
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Toet H, Piedrafita DM, Spithill TW. Liver fluke vaccines in ruminants: strategies, progress and future opportunities. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:915-27. [PMID: 25200351 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The development of a vaccine for Fasciola spp. in livestock is a challenge and would be advanced by harnessing our knowledge of acquired immune mechanisms expressed by resistant livestock against fluke infection. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity directed to the surface tegument of juvenile/immature flukes is a host immune effector mechanism, suggesting that antigens on the surface of young flukes may represent prime candidates for a fluke vaccine. A Type 1 immune response shortly after fluke infection is associated with resistance to infection in resistant sheep, indicating that vaccine formulations should attempt to induce Type 1 responses to enhance vaccine efficacy. In cattle or sheep, an optimal fluke vaccine would need to reduce mean fluke burdens in a herd below the threshold of 30-54 flukes to ensure sustainable production benefits. Fluke infection intensity data suggest that vaccine efficacy of approximately 80% is required to reduce fluke burdens below this threshold in most countries. With the increased global prevalence of triclabendazole-resistant Fasciolahepatica, it may be commercially feasible in the short term to introduce a fluke vaccine of reasonable efficacy that will provide economic benefits for producers in regions where chemical control of new drug-resistant fluke infections is not viable. Commercial partnerships will be needed to fast-track new candidate vaccines using acceptable adjuvants in relevant production animals, obviating the need to evaluate vaccine antigens in rodent models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Toet
- Department of Agricultural Sciences and Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - David M Piedrafita
- School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Federation University, Churchill, Victoria 3842, Australia
| | - Terry W Spithill
- Department of Agricultural Sciences and Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.
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