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Pei X, Zhu J, Wang Y, Zhang F, He Y, Li Y, Si Y. Placental galectins: a subfamily of galectins lose the ability to bind β-galactosides with new structural features†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:799-811. [PMID: 37672213 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Galectins are a phylogenetically conserved family of soluble β-galactoside binding proteins. There are 16 different of galectins, each with a specific function determined by its distinct distribution and spatial structure. Galectin-13, galectin-14, and galectin-16 are distinct from other galectin members in that they are primarily found in placental tissue. These galectins, also referred to as placental galectins, play critical roles in regulating pregnancy-associated processes, such as placenta formation and maternal immune tolerance to the embedded embryo. The unique structural characteristics and the inability to bind lactose of placental galectins have recently received significant attention. This review primarily examines the novel structural features of placental galectins, which distinguish them from the classic galectins. Furthermore, it explores the correlation between these structural features and the loss of β-galactoside binding ability. In addition, the newly discovered functions of placental galectins in recent years are also summarized in our review. A detailed understanding of the roles of placental galectins may contribute to the discovery of new mechanisms causing numerous pregnancy diseases and enable the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the treatment of these diseases, ultimately benefiting the health of mothers and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Pei
- Jilin Province Key Laboratory on Chemistry and Biology of Natural Drugs in Changbai Mountain, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
- Xuzhou Tongshan Maocun High School, Xuzhou 221135, China
| | - Jiahui Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Fali Zhang
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Yufeng He
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Yuchun Li
- Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, China
| | - Yunlong Si
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
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Zerna G, Cameron TC, Toet H, Spithill TW, Beddoe T. Bovine Natural Antibody Relationships to Specific Antibodies and Fasciola hepatica Burdens after Experimental Infection and Vaccination with Glutathione S-Transferase. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9020058. [PMID: 35202313 PMCID: PMC8876122 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9020058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica is the causative agent of fasciolosis, a significant parasitic disease occurring worldwide. Despite ongoing efforts, there is still no vaccine to control liver fluke infections in livestock. Recently, it has been suggested that natural antibodies (NAbs) can amplify specific antibodies (SpAb) and have a direct killing effect, but it is unknown if this phenomenon occurs during parasitic helminth infection or targeted vaccination. NAbs are antibodies produced by the innate immune system, capable of binding antigens without prior exposure. This study explores the role of bovine NAbs, using the exogenous glycoprotein keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), in response to F. hepatica infection and SpAb production after infection and vaccination. The cattle’s NAbs were differently influenced by parasite infection and vaccination, with an increase in KLH-binding IgG and IgM levels after infection and reduced KLH-binding IgM levels following vaccination. Underlying NAbs reacting to KLH showed no correlations to the final fluke burdens after experimental infection or vaccination. However, NAbs reacting to whole-worm extract (WWE) prior to infection were positively correlated to increased fluke burdens within the infected bovine host. Furthermore, after infection, the specific IgG reacting to WWE was positively reflected by the underlying NAb IgG response. Following subcutaneous vaccination with F. hepatica native glutathione S-transferase (GST), there was a non-significant 33% reduction in fluke burden. Vaccinated animals with higher underlying NAbs had a higher induction of vaccine-induced SpAbs, with trends observed between KLH-binding IgM and anti-GST IgG and IgM. Our findings provide a platform to allow further investigation to determine if NAb levels could mirror fluke-SpAb production for exploitation in a combined selective breeding and vaccination program. Additionally, this work suggests that liver fluke could possibly evade the host’s immune system by utilising surface-bound IgM NAbs.
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Swan J, Sakthivel D, Beddoe T, Stear M, Piedrafita D, Preston S. Evaluation of the Role of Galectins in Parasite Immunity. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2442:475-515. [PMID: 35320542 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2055-7_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Galectin-11 (LGALS-11) and galectin-14 (LGALS-14) are ruminant specific galectins, first reported in sheep. Although their roles in parasite immunity are still being elucidated, it appears that they influence protection against parasites. In gastrointestinal infections with the nematode Haemonchus contortus, both galectin-11 and galectin-14 appear to be protective. However, in a chronic infection of liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, these galectins may aid parasite survival. To unravel the structural, functional, and ligand profile of galectin-11 and galectin-14, recombinant production of these proteins is vital. Here we present the recombinant production of soluble galectin-11 and galectin-14 from domestic sheep for in vitro and structural biology studies. These methods include parasite cultivation and infection, galectin staining of host and parasite tissue, surface staining of parasites with recombinant galectins, pull-down assays to identify endogenous galectin binding proteins, and in vitro assays to monitor the effect of galectins on parasite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Swan
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science and Centre for Agri Bioscience (Agri Bio), La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Dhanasekaran Sakthivel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Travis Beddoe
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science and Centre for Agri Bioscience (Agri Bio), La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Stear
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science and Centre for Agri Bioscience (Agri Bio), La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David Piedrafita
- School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University Australia, Mt Helen, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Preston
- School of Science, Psychology and Sport, Federation University Australia, Mt Helen, VIC, Australia.
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Bennett APS, Robinson MW. Trematode Proteomics: Recent Advances and Future Directions. Pathogens 2021; 10:348. [PMID: 33809501 PMCID: PMC7998542 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Trematodes cause disease in millions of people worldwide, but the absence of commercial vaccines has led to an over-reliance on a handful of monotherapies to control infections. Since drug-resistant fluke populations are emerging, a deeper understanding of parasite biology and host interactions is required to identify new drug targets and immunogenic vaccine candidates. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics represents a key tool to that end. Recent studies have capitalised on the wider availability of annotated helminth genomes to achieve greater coverage of trematode proteomes and discover new aspects of the host-parasite relationship. This review focusses on these latest advances. These include how the protein components of fluke extracellular vesicles have given insight into their biogenesis and cellular interactions. In addition, how the integration of transcriptome/proteome datasets has revealed that the expression and secretion of selected families of liver fluke virulence factors and immunomodulators are regulated in accordance with parasite development and migration within the mammalian host. Furthermore, we discuss the use of immunoproteomics as a tool to identify vaccine candidates associated with protective antibody responses. Finally, we highlight how established and emerging technologies, such as laser microdissection and single-cell proteomics, could be exploited to resolve the protein profiles of discrete trematode tissues or cell types which, in combination with functional tools, could pinpoint optimal targets for fluke control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark W. Robinson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK;
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Ngwasiri NN, Brattig NW, Ndjonka D, Liebau E, Paguem A, Leusder D, Kingsley MT, Eisenbarth A, Renz A, Daniel AM. Galectins from Onchocerca ochengi and O. volvulus and their immune recognition by Wistar rats, Gudali zebu cattle and human hosts. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:5. [PMID: 33407120 PMCID: PMC7788699 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-02064-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During the last two decades research on animal filarial parasites, especially Onchocerca ochengi, infecting cattle in savanna areas of Africa revealed that O. ochengi as an animal model has biological features that are similar to those of O. volvulus, the aetiological agent of human onchocerciasis. There is, however, a paucity of biochemical, immunological and pathological data for O. ochengi. Galectins can be generated by parasites and their hosts. They are multifunctional molecules affecting the interaction between filarial parasites and their mammalian hosts including immune responses. This study characterized O. ochengi galectin, verified its immunologenicity and established its immune reactivity and that of Onchocerca volvulus galectin. Results The phylogenetic analysis showed the high degree of identity between the identified O. ochengi and the O. volvulus galectin-1 (ß-galactoside-binding protein-1) consisting only in one exchange of alanine for serine. O. ochengi galectin induced IgG antibodies during 28 days after immunization of Wistar rats. IgG from O. ochengi-infected cattle and O. volvulus-infected humans cross-reacted with the corresponding galectins. Under the applied experimental conditions in a cell proliferation test, O. ochengi galectin failed to significantly stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from O. ochengi-infected cattle, regardless of their parasite load. Conclusion An O. ochengi galectin gene was identified and the recombinantly expressed protein was immunogenic. IgG from Onchocerca-infected humans and cattle showed similar cross-reaction with both respective galectins. The present findings reflect the phylogenetic relationship between the two parasites and endorse the appropriateness of the cattle O. ochengi model for O. volvulus infection research. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12866-020-02064-3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Norbert W Brattig
- Department Molecular Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Eva Liebau
- University of Muenster, Münster, Germany
| | - Archile Paguem
- University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.,Department Comparative Zoology, Eberhard Karls University, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Manchang Tanyi Kingsley
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.,Veterinary Research Laboratory, IRAD Wakwa Regional Centre, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Albert Eisenbarth
- Department Comparative Zoology, Eberhard Karls University, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Tübingen, Germany.,Programme Onchocercoses, Station of the University of Tübingen, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Alfons Renz
- Department Comparative Zoology, Eberhard Karls University, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, Tübingen, Germany.,Programme Onchocercoses, Station of the University of Tübingen, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
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Wilkie J, Cameron TC, Beddoe T. Characterization of a profilin-like protein from Fasciola hepatica. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10503. [PMID: 33354436 PMCID: PMC7727368 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10503] [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: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fasciola hepatica is the causative agent of fasciolosis, an important disease of humans and livestock around the world. There is an urgent requirement for novel treatments for F. hepatica due to increasing reports of drug resistance appearing around the world. The outer body covering of F. hepatica is referred to as the tegument membrane which is of crucial importance for the modulation of the host response and parasite survival; therefore, tegument proteins may represent novel drug or vaccine targets. Previous studies have identified a profilin-like protein in the tegument of F. hepatica. Profilin is a regulatory component of the actin cytoskeleton in all eukaryotic cells, and in some protozoan parasites, profilin has been shown to drive a potent IL-12 response. This study characterized the identified profilin form F. hepatica (termed FhProfilin) for the first time. Recombinant expression of FhProfilin resulted in a protein approximately 14 kDa in size which was determined to be dimeric like other profilins isolated from a range of eukaryotic organisms. FhProfilin was shown to bind poly-L-proline (pLp) and sequester actin monomers which is characteristic of the profilin family; however, there was no binding of FhProfilin to phosphatidylinositol lipids. Despite FhProfilin being a component of the tegument, it was shown not to generate an immune response in experimentally infected sheep or cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Wilkie
- Centre for Livestock Interactions with Pathogens (CLiP), La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science and Centre for AgriBioscience (AgriBio), La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Timothy C Cameron
- Centre for Livestock Interactions with Pathogens (CLiP), La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science and Centre for AgriBioscience (AgriBio), La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Travis Beddoe
- Centre for Livestock Interactions with Pathogens (CLiP), La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Science and Centre for AgriBioscience (AgriBio), La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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Proteomic Profiling of the Liver, Hepatic Lymph Nodes, and Spleen of Buffaloes Infected with Fasciola gigantica. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9120982. [PMID: 33255373 PMCID: PMC7759843 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9120982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we used an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomics technology to characterize the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the liver, hepatic lymph nodes (hLNs), and spleen of buffaloes infected with Fasciola gigantica (F. gigantica). We also used the parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) method to verify the expression levels of the DEPs in the three infected tissues. At three days post-infection (dpi), 225, 1821, and 364 DEPs were detected in the liver, hLNs, and spleen, respectively. At 42 dpi, 384, 252, and 214 DEPs were detected in the liver, hLNs, and spleen, respectively. At 70 dpi, 125, 829, and 247 DEPs were detected in the liver, hLNs, and spleen, respectively. Downregulation of metabolism was prominent in infected livers at all time points, and upregulation of immune responses was marked in the hLNs during early infection (three dpi); however, no changes in the immune response were detected at the late stages of infection (42 and 70 dpi). Compared to the hLNs, there was no significant upregulation in the levels of immune responses in the infected spleen. All the identified DEPs were used to predict the subcellular localization of the proteins, which were related to extracellular space and membrane and were involved in host immune responses. Further PRM analysis confirmed the expression of 18 proteins. These data provide the first simultaneous proteomic profiles of multiple organs of buffaloes experimentally infected with F. gigantica.
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