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Tian Y, Cheng Z, Ge D, Xu Z, Wang H, Li X, Tian H, Liu F, Luo D, Wang Y. ROS are required for the germinative cell proliferation and metacestode larval growth of Echinococcus multilocularis. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1410504. [PMID: 38912347 PMCID: PMC11190091 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1410504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The potentially lethal zoonotic disease alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the metacestode larval stages of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Metacestode growth and proliferation occurs within the inner organs of mammalian hosts, which is associated with complex molecular parasite-host interactions. The host has developed various ways to resist a parasitic infection, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the most important strategies. Here, we found that scavenging of ROS reduced metacestode larval growth and germinative cell proliferation in in vivo models. Furthermore, using in vitro-cultured metacestode vesicles, we found that increased ROS levels enhanced metacestode growth and germinative cell proliferation, which was achieved by positively activating the ROS-EmERK-EmHIF1α axis. These results indicate that, beside its capacity to damage the parasite, ROS also play critical roles in metacestode growth and germinative cell proliferation. This study suggests that the effects of ROS on parasite may be bidirectional during AE infection, reflecting the parasite's adaptation to the oxidative stress microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhe Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Defeng Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhijian Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Huijuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiazhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Huimin Tian
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Fan Liu
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Damin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yanhai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Parasitology Research Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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Herz M, Zarowiecki M, Wessels L, Pätzel K, Herrmann R, Braun C, Holroyd N, Huckvale T, Bergmann M, Spiliotis M, Koziol U, Berriman M, Brehm K. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of Echinococcus multilocularis larvae and germinative cell cultures reveals genes involved in parasite stem cell function. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1335946. [PMID: 38333034 PMCID: PMC10850878 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1335946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The lethal zoonosis alveolar echinococcosis is caused by tumour-like growth of the metacestode stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis within host organs. We previously demonstrated that metacestode proliferation is exclusively driven by somatic stem cells (germinative cells), which are the only mitotically active parasite cells that give rise to all differentiated cell types. The Echinococcus gene repertoire required for germinative cell maintenance and differentiation has not been characterised so far. We herein carried out Illumina sequencing on cDNA from Echinococcus metacestode vesicles, from metacestode tissue depleted of germinative cells, and from Echinococcus primary cell cultures. We identified a set of ~1,180 genes associated with germinative cells, which contained numerous known stem cell markers alongside genes involved in replication, cell cycle regulation, mitosis, meiosis, epigenetic modification, and nucleotide metabolism. Interestingly, we also identified 44 stem cell associated transcription factors that are likely involved in regulating germinative cell differentiation and/or pluripotency. By in situ hybridization and pulse-chase experiments, we also found a new general Echinococcus stem cell marker, EmCIP2Ah, and we provide evidence implying the presence of a slow cycling stem cell sub-population expressing the extracellular matrix factor Emkal1. RNA-Seq analyses on primary cell cultures revealed that metacestode-derived Echinococcus stem cells display an expanded differentiation capability and do not only form differentiated cell types of the metacestode, but also cells expressing genes specific for protoscoleces, adult worms, and oncospheres, including an ortholog of the schistosome praziquantel target, EmTRPMPZQ. Finally, we show that primary cell cultures contain a cell population expressing an ortholog of the tumour necrosis factor α receptor family and that mammalian TNFα accelerates the development of metacestode vesicles from germinative cells. Taken together, our analyses provide a robust and comprehensive characterization of the Echinococcus germinative cell transcriptome, demonstrate expanded differentiation capability of metacestode derived stem cells, and underscore the potential of primary germinative cell cultures to investigate developmental processes of the parasite. These data are relevant for studies into the role of Echinococcus stem cells in parasite development and will facilitate the design of anti-parasitic drugs that specifically act on the parasite germinative cell compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Herz
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Leonie Wessels
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Pätzel
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ruth Herrmann
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christiane Braun
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Huckvale
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Monika Bergmann
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Spiliotis
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Uriel Koziol
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Grecco A, Macchiaroli N, Pérez MG, Casulli A, Cucher MA, Rosenzvit MC. microRNA silencing in a whole worm cestode model provides insight into miR-71 function. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:699-710. [PMID: 37699506 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Parasites belonging to the class Cestoda include zoonotic species such as Echinococcus spp. and Taenia spp. that cause morbidity and mortality in endemic areas, mainly affecting pastoral and rural communities in low income countries but also upper middle income countries. Cestodes show remarkable developmental plasticity, implying tight regulation of gene expression throughout their complex life cycles. Despite the recent availability of genomic data for cestodes, little progress was made on postgenomic functional studies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key components of gene regulatory systems that guide diverse developmental processes in multicellular organisms. miR-71 is a highly expressed miRNA in cestodes, which is absent in vertebrates and targets essential parasite genes, representing a potential key player in understanding the role of miRNAs in cestodes biology. Here we used transfection with antisense oligonucleotides to perform whole worm miRNA knockdown in tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides vogae (syn. Mesocestoides corti), a laboratory model of cestodes. We believe this is the first report of miRNA knockdown at the organism level in these parasites. Our results showed that M. vogae miR-71 is involved in the control of strobilation in vitro and in the establishment of murine infection. In addition, we identified miR-71 targets in M. vogae, several of them being de-repressed upon miR-71 knockdown. This study provides new knowledge on gene expression regulation in cestodes and suggests that miRNAs could be evaluated as new selective therapeutic targets for treating Neglected Tropical Diseases prioritised by the World Health Organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Grecco
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Bioinformática de Patógenos, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías Gastón Pérez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriano Casulli
- WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology, Detection and Control of Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis. Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; European Reference Laboratory for Parasites. Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcela Alejandra Cucher
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Kaethner M, Preza M, Kaempfer T, Zumstein P, Tamponi C, Varcasia A, Hemphill A, Brehm K, Lundström-Stadelmann B. Establishment and application of unbiased in vitro drug screening assays for the identification of compounds against Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011343. [PMID: 37540716 PMCID: PMC10431624 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus s.l. are the causative agents of alveolar and cystic echinococcosis, respectively. Drug treatment options for these severe and neglected diseases are limited to benzimidazoles, which are not always efficacious, and adverse side effects are reported. Thus, novel and improved treatments are needed. In this study, the previously established platform for E. multilocularis in vitro drug assessment was adapted to E. granulosus s.s. In a first step, in vitro culture protocols for E. granulosus s.s. were established. This resulted in the generation of large amounts of E. granulosus s.s. metacestode vesicles as well as germinal layer (GL) cells. In vitro culture of these cells formed metacestode vesicles displaying structural characteristics of metacestode cysts generated in vivo. Next, drug susceptibilities of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus s.s. protoscoleces, metacestode vesicles and GL cells were comparatively assessed employing established assays including (i) metacestode vesicle damage marker release assay, (ii) metacestode vesicle viability assay, (iii) GL cell viability assay, and (iv) protoscolex motility assay. The standard drugs albendazole, buparvaquone, mefloquine, MMV665807, monepantel, niclosamide and nitazoxanide were included. MMV665807, niclosamide and nitazoxanide were active against the parasite in all four assays against both species. MMV665807 and monepantel were significantly more active against E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles, while albendazole and nitazoxanide were significantly more active against E. multilocularis GL cells. Albendazole displayed activity against E. multilocularis GL cells, but no effects were seen in albendazole-treated E. granulosus s.s. GL cells within five days. Treatment of protoscoleces with albendazole and monepantel had no impact on motility. Similar results were observed for both species with praziquantel and its enantiomers against protoscoleces. In conclusion, in vitro culture techniques and drug screening methods previously established for E. multilocularis were successfully implemented for E. granulosus s.s., allowing comparisons of drug efficacy between the two species. This study provides in vitro culture techniques for the reliable generation of E. granulosus s.s. metacestode vesicles and GL cell cultures and describes the validation of standardized in vitro drug screening methods for E. granulosus s.s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Kaethner
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Matías Preza
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kaempfer
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Zumstein
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Tamponi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Germany
| | - Britta Lundström-Stadelmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
- Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Immunization with EmCRT-Induced Protective Immunity against Echinococcus multilocularis Infection in BALB/c Mice. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7100279. [PMID: 36288020 PMCID: PMC9610995 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7100279] [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: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe parasitic zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. The identification of the antigens eliciting acquired immunity during infection is important for vaccine development against Echinococcus infection. Here, we identified that E. multilocularis calreticulin (EmCRT), a ubiquitous protein with a Ca2+-binding ability, could be recognized by the sera of mice infected with E. multilocularis. The native EmCRT was expressed on the surface of E. multilocularis larvae as well as in the secreted products of metacestode vesicles and protoscoleces (PSCs). The coding DNA for EmCRT was cloned from the mRNA of the E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles and a recombinant EmCRT protein (rEmCRT) was expressed in E. coli. Mice immunized with soluble rEmCRT formulated with Freund’s adjuvant (FA) produced a 43.16% larval vesicle weight reduction against the challenge of E. multilocularis PSCs compared to those that received the PBS control associated with a high titer of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses as well as high levels of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10), produced by splenocytes. Our results suggest that EmCRT is an immunodominant protein secreted by E. multilocularis larvae and a vaccine candidate that induces partial protective immunity in vaccinated mice against Echinococcus infection.
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Koike A, Becker F, Sennhenn P, Kim J, Zhang J, Hannus S, Brehm K. Targeting Echinococcus multilocularis PIM kinase for improving anti-parasitic chemotherapy. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010483. [PMID: 36190997 PMCID: PMC9560627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The potentially lethal zoonosis alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the metacestode larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Current AE treatment options are limited and rely on surgery as well as on chemotherapy involving benzimidazoles (BZ). BZ treatment, however, is mostly parasitostatic only, must be given for prolonged time periods, and is associated with adverse side effects. Novel treatment options are thus urgently needed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS By applying a broad range of kinase inhibitors to E. multilocularis stem cell cultures we identified the proto-oncogene PIM kinase as a promising target for anti-AE chemotherapy. The gene encoding the respective E. multilocularis ortholog, EmPim, was characterized and in situ hybridization assays indicated its expression in parasite stem cells. By yeast two-hybrid assays we demonstrate interaction of EmPim with E. multilocularis CDC25, indicating an involvement of EmPim in parasite cell cycle regulation. Small molecule compounds SGI-1776 and CX-6258, originally found to effectively inhibit human PIM kinases, exhibited detrimental effects on in vitro cultured parasite metacestode vesicles and prevented the formation of mature vesicles from parasite stem cell cultures. To improve compound specificity for EmPim, we applied a high throughput in silico modelling approach, leading to the identification of compound Z196138710. When applied to in vitro cultured metacestode vesicles and parasite cell cultures, Z196138710 proved equally detrimental as SGI-1776 and CX-6258 but displayed significantly reduced toxicity towards human HEK293T and HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Repurposing of kinase inhibitors initially designed to affect mammalian kinases for helminth disease treatment is often hampered by adverse side effects of respective compounds on human cells. Here we demonstrate the utility of high throughput in silico approaches to design small molecule compounds of higher specificity for parasite cells. We propose EmPim as a promising target for respective approaches towards AE treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akito Koike
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Jason Kim
- Immuneering Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jenny Zhang
- Immuneering Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Klaus Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Würzburg, Germany
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Shi Q, Liu C, Huo L, Tao Y, Zhang H. Silencing TUBB3 Expression Destroys the Tegument and Flame Cells of Echinococcus multilocularis Protoscoleces. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182471. [PMID: 36139331 PMCID: PMC9495074 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by infection with the larvae of Echinococcus multilocularis, is a neglected tropical disease and zoonosis that causes remarkable morbidity in humans and has economic importance in the livestock industry worldwide. The growth of this parasite resembles the invasion and proliferation of malignant tumours. Microtubules, especially the β-tubulin subunit in the exposed end, are the targets of many antitumour drugs. However, the role of TUBB3, which is the most studied isotype in solid tumours and is also a marker of biological aggressiveness associated with the modulation of tumour metastatic abilities in the growth and development of platyhelminths, is unknown. In this study, protoscoleces (PSCs) are cultivated in monophasic medium in vitro. Using electroporated short interfering RNA (siRNA), EmTUBB3 knockdown was performed with two EmTUBB3-specific siRNAs (siRNA-1 and siRNA-2). qRT–PCR was performed to detect the expression of TUBB3. PSCs viability and the evagination rate and number of body contractions were quantified under a light microscope. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the ultra-morphological changes of the parasites. After siRNA interference, the EmTUBB3 expression in E. multilocularis PSCs was significantly reduced. Reduced viability, a decreased evagination rate and a decreased number of body contractions were also documented. In particular, shrinkage and roughness of the tegument were observed. Ultrastructural changes included marked damage to flame cells, cracked cilia structures enclosed in the cell body and ruptured microtubule structures. EmTUBB3 possibly plays a crucial role in tegument and flame cell integrity in E. multilocularis PSCs. Novel drugs targeting this specific beta-tubulin isotype in E. multilocularis are potential methods for disease control and deserve further attention.
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Transcriptional effects of electroporation on Echinococcus multilocularis primary cell culture. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1155-1168. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07427-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Stoll K, Bergmann M, Spiliotis M, Brehm K. A MEKK1 - JNK mitogen activated kinase (MAPK) cascade module is active in Echinococcus multilocularis stem cells. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0010027. [PMID: 34879059 PMCID: PMC8687709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The metacestode larval stage of the fox-tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis causes alveolar echinococcosis by tumour-like growth within the liver of the intermediate host. Metacestode growth and development is stimulated by host-derived cytokines such as insulin, fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor via activation of cognate receptor tyrosine kinases expressed by the parasite. Little is known, however, concerning signal transmission to the parasite nucleus and cross-reaction with other parasite signalling systems. Methodology/Principal findings Using bioinformatic approaches, cloning, and yeast two-hybrid analyses we identified a novel mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) cascade module that consists of E. multilocularis orthologs of the tyrosine kinase receptor interactor Growth factor receptor-bound 2, EmGrb2, the MAPK kinase kinase EmMEKK1, a novel MAPK kinase, EmMKK3, and a close homolog to c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), EmMPK3. Whole mount in situ hybridization analyses indicated that EmMEKK1 and EmMPK3 are both expressed in E. multilocularis germinative (stem) cells but also in differentiated or differentiating cells. Treatment with the known JNK inhibitor SP600125 led to a significantly reduced formation of metacestode vesicles from stem cells and to a specific reduction of proliferating stem cells in mature metacestode vesicles. Conclusions/Significance We provide evidence for the expression of a MEKK1-JNK MAPK cascade module which, in mammals, is crucially involved in stress responses, cytoskeletal rearrangements, and apoptosis, in E. multilocularis stem cells. Inhibitor studies indicate an important role of JNK signalling in E. multilocularis stem cell survival and/or maintenance. Our data are relevant for molecular and cellular studies into crosstalk signalling mechanisms that govern Echinococcus stem cell function and introduce the JNK signalling cascade as a possible target of chemotherapeutics against echinococcosis. The metacestode larva of the tapeworm E. multilocularis grows infiltrative, like a malignant tumour, within the liver of the host thus causing the lethal disease alveolar echinococcosis. Previous work established that the metacestode senses signals of host hormones and cytokines by expressing surface receptors that share high homology with respective host receptors. However, little is known how these signals are transmitted from the parasite cell surface to the nucleus to alter gene expression. In this work, the authors present a module of several protein kinases that typically transmit cytokine signals from surface receptors to central regulators called mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). The authors demonstrate that this module is active in parasite stem cells, which drive the development of metacestode larva. They also show that inhibitors directed against one component of the module, EmMPK3, affect maintenance and/or survival of stem cells in the metacestode and prevent the formation of metacestode larva from parasite cell cultures. This information facilitates molecular and cellular studies to unravel the complex signalling network that regulate Echinococcus stem cell proliferation in response to host signals. Furthermore, these data could open new ways of anti-parasitic chemotherapy by introducing EmMPK3 as a possible drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Stoll
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Monika Bergmann
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Spiliotis
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Maca against Echinococcosis?-A Reverse Approach from Patient to In Vitro Testing. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101335. [PMID: 34684284 PMCID: PMC8537204 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101335] [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: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-based treatment of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) with benzimidazoles is in most cases non-curative, thus has to be taken lifelong. Here, we report on a 56-year-old male AE patient who received standard benzimidazole treatment and biliary plastic stents, and additionally self-medicated himself with the Peruvian plant extract Maca (Lepidium meyenii). After 42 months, viable parasite tissue had disappeared. Based on this striking observation, the anti-echinococcal activity of Maca was investigated in vitro and in mice experimentally infected with Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes. Albendazole (ABZ)-treated mice and mice treated with an ABZ+Maca combination exhibited a significantly reduced parasite burden compared to untreated or Maca-treated mice. As shown by a newly established UHPLC-MS/MS-based measurement of ABZ-metabolites, the presence of Maca during the treatment did not alter ABZ plasma levels. In vitro assays corroborated these findings, as exposure to Maca had no notable effect on E. multilocularis metacestodes, and in cultures of germinal layer cells, possibly unspecific, cytotoxic effects of Maca were observed. However, in the combined treatments, Maca inhibited the activity of ABZ in vitro. While Maca had no direct anti-parasitic activity, it induced in vitro proliferation of murine spleen cells, suggesting that immunomodulatory properties could have contributed to the curative effect seen in the patient.
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Grimm J, Krickl J, Beck A, Nell J, Bergmann M, Tappe D, Grüner B, Barth TFE, Brehm K. Establishing and evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Echinococcus multilocularis in human tissue. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009155. [PMID: 33630840 PMCID: PMC7906421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by metacestode larva of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. AE diagnostics currently rely on imaging techniques supported by serology, but unequivocal detection of AE is difficult. Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods to detect tapeworm DNA in biopsies have been suggested for several species, no validated protocol adhering to accepted guidelines has so far been presented for AE diagnostics. We herein established a PCR protocol for metacestode biopsies and technically evaluated the method using isolated parasite DNA and cells, biopsies of clinically relevant material, and formalin fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human tissue blocks. We compared the results with an immunochemical (IHC) approach using the monoclonal antibody Em2G11 specific for the antigen Em2 of E. mulitlocularis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Based on tapeworm 12S rDNA sequences we established and validated a PCR protocol for robust detection of as little as 50 parasite cells per specimen and report 127 cases of positive identification of Echinococcus species in samples from humans and animals. For further validation, we analyzed 45 liver, heart, brain, and soft tissue samples as well as cytological probes of aspirates of FFPE-material from 18 patients with clinically confirmed AE. Of each patient we analyzed (i) fully viable lesions with laminated layer; (ii) tissue with mAbEm2G11-positive small particles of E. multilocularis (spems); (iii) mAbEm2G11-negative tissue adjacent to the main lesion; and (iv) lymph node tissue with mAbEm2G11-positive spems. To identify the areas for the PCR-based approach, we performed IHC-staining with the monoclonal antibody Em2G11. Micro-dissected tissue of these areas was then used for PCR-analysis. 9 of 15 analyzed samples with viable E. multilocularis lesions with laminated layer were positive by PCR. Of this group, all samples preserved for less than 6 years (6/6) were tested positive. 11 of 15 samples of spems and 7 of 9 samples of the control group mAbEm2G11-negative tissue were negative by PCR. We further show that all probes from lymph nodes with spems are PCR negative. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We present a sensitive PCR method for the detection of E. multilocularis in human tissue, particularly in fresh biopsy material and tissue blocks stored for less than 5 years. While the diagnostic sensitivity of material containing only spems was higher using IHC, PCR detection was possible in IHC negative liver tissue and in patients with negative serology. Our results support the view that spems do not contain parasitic DNA or viable cells of the parasite. spems thus most probably do not directly contribute to metastasis formation during AE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Krickl
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Annika Beck
- Institute of Pathology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Juliane Nell
- Institute of Pathology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Monika Bergmann
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Beate Grüner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital and Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Brehm
- Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Herz M, Brehm K. Serotonin stimulates Echinococcus multilocularis larval development. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:14. [PMID: 33407815 PMCID: PMC7789706 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04533-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Serotonin is a phylogenetically ancient molecule that is widely distributed in most metazoans, including flatworms. In addition to its role as a neurotransmitter, serotonin acts as a morphogen and regulates developmental processes. Although several studies have focused on the serotonergic nervous system in parasitic flatworms, little is known on the role of serotonin in flatworm development. Methods To study the effects of serotonin on proliferation and development of the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis, we cloned the genes encoding the E. multilocularis serotonin transporter (SERT) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), analyzed gene expression by transcriptome analysis and whole mount in situ hybridization (WMISH) and performed cell culture experiments. Results We first characterized orthologues encoding the SERT and TPH, the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin biosynthesis. WMISH and transcriptomic analyses indicated that the genes for both SERT and TPH are expressed in the parasite nervous system. Long-term treatment of parasite stem cell cultures with serotonin stimulated development towards the parasite metacestode stage. Mature metacestode vesicles treated with serotonin showed increased rates of incorporation of the thymidine analogue 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), indicating stimulated cell proliferation. In contrast, treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine strongly affected the viability of parasite cells. Paroxetine also caused structural damage in metacestode vesicles, suggesting that serotonin transport is crucial for the integrity of parasite vesicles. Conclusions Our results indicate that serotonin plays an important role in E. multilocularis development and proliferation, providing evidence that the E. multilocularis SERT and TPH are expressed in the nervous system of the protoscolex. Our results further suggest that the E. multilocularis SERT has a secondary role outside the nervous system that is essential for parasite integrity and survival. Since serotonin stimulated E. multilocularis metacestode development and proliferation, serotonin might also contribute to the formation and growth of the parasite in the liver.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Herz
- Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2/E1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2/E1, 97080, Würzburg, Germany.
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13
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Camargo de Lima J, Floriani MA, Debarba JA, Paludo GP, Monteiro KM, Moura H, Barr JR, Zaha A, Ferreira HB. Dynamics of protein synthesis in the initial steps of strobilation in the model cestode parasite Mesocestoides corti (syn. vogae). J Proteomics 2020; 228:103939. [PMID: 32798775 PMCID: PMC10491476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Mesocestoides corti (syn. vogae) is a useful model for developmental studies of platyhelminth parasites of the Cestoda class, such as Taenia spp. or Echinococcus spp. It has been used in studies to characterize cestode strobilation, i.e. the development of larvae into adult worms. So far, little is known about the initial molecular events involved in cestode strobilation and, therefore, we carried out a study to characterize newly synthesized (NS) proteins upon strobilation induction. An approach based on bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging and mass spectrometry was used to label, isolate, identify, and quantify NS proteins in the initial steps of M. corti strobilation. Overall, 121 NS proteins were detected exclusively after induction of strobilation, including proteins related to development pathways, such as insulin and notch signaling. Metabolic changes that take place in the transition from the larval stage to adult worm were noted in special NS protein subsets related to developmental processes, such as focal adhesion, cell leading edge, and maintenance of location. The data shed light on mechanisms underlying early steps of cestode strobilation and enabled identification of possible developmental markers. We also consider the use of developmental responsive proteins as potential drug targets for developing novel anthelmintics. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Larval cestodiases are life-threatening parasitic diseases that affect both man and domestic animals worldwide. Cestode parasites present complex life cycles, in which they undergo major morphological and physiological changes in the transition from one life-stage to the next. One of these transitions occurs during cestode strobilation, when the mostly undifferentiated and non-segmented larval or pre-adult form develops into a fully segmented and sexually differentiated (strobilated) adult worm. Although the proteomes of bona fide larvae and strobialted adults have been previously characterized for a few cestode species, little is still known about the dynamic of protein synthesis during the early steps of cestode strobilation. Now, the assessment of newly synthesized (NS) proteins within the first 48 h of strobilation the model cestode M. corti allowed to shed light on molecular mechanisms that are triggered by strobilation induction. The functional analyses of this repertoire of over a hundred NS proteins pointed out to changes in metabolism and activation of classical developmental signaling pathways in early strobilation. Many of the identified NS proteins may become valuable cestode developmental markers and their involvement in vital processes make them also good candidate targets for novel anthelmintic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeferson Camargo de Lima
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular e Celular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Maiara Anschau Floriani
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - João Antônio Debarba
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular e Celular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Prado Paludo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular e Celular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Karina Mariante Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular e Celular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Hercules Moura
- Biological Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Clinical Chemistry Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - John R Barr
- Biological Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Clinical Chemistry Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Arnaldo Zaha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular e Celular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Henrique Bunselmeyer Ferreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular e Celular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil; Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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14
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McCusker P, Hussain W, McVeigh P, McCammick E, Clarke NG, Robb E, McKay FM, Brophy PM, Timson DJ, Mousley A, Marks NJ, Maule AG. RNA interference dynamics in juvenile Fasciola hepatica are altered during in vitro growth and development. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2020; 14:46-55. [PMID: 32866764 PMCID: PMC7475519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
For over a decade RNA interference (RNAi) has been an important molecular tool for functional genomics studies in parasitic flatworms. Despite this, our understanding of RNAi dynamics in many flatworm parasites, such as the temperate liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), remains rudimentary. The ability to maintain developing juvenile fluke in vitro provides the opportunity to perform functional studies during development of the key pathogenic life stage. Here, we investigate the RNAi competence of developing juvenile liver fluke. Firstly, all life stages examined possess, and express, core candidate RNAi effectors encouraging the hypothesis that all life stages of F. hepatica are RNAi competent. RNAi effector analyses supported growing evidence that parasitic flatworms have evolved a separate clade of RNAi effectors with unknown function. Secondly, we assessed the impact of growth/development during in vitro culture on RNAi in F. hepatica juveniles and found that during the first week post-excystment liver fluke juveniles exhibit quantitatively lower RNAi mediated transcript knockdown when maintained in growth inducing media. This did not appear to occur in older in vitro juveniles, suggesting that rapidly shifting transcript dynamics over the first week following excystment alters RNAi efficacy after a single 24 h exposure to double stranded (ds)RNA. Finally, RNAi efficiency was found to be improved through use of a repeated dsRNA exposure methodology that has facilitated silencing of genes in a range of tissues, thereby increasing the utility of RNAi as a functional genomics tool in F. hepatica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul McCusker
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
| | - Wasim Hussain
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Paul McVeigh
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Erin McCammick
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Nathan G Clarke
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Emily Robb
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Fiona M McKay
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Peter M Brophy
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - David J Timson
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
| | - Angela Mousley
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Nikki J Marks
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Aaron G Maule
- Microbe and Pathogen Biology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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15
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Pérez MG, Spiliotis M, Rego N, Macchiaroli N, Kamenetzky L, Holroyd N, Cucher MA, Brehm K, Rosenzvit MC. Deciphering the role of miR-71 in Echinococcus multilocularis early development in vitro. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007932. [PMID: 31881019 PMCID: PMC6957206 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Echinococcosis represents a major public health problem worldwide and is considered a neglected disease by the World Health Organization. The etiological agents are Echinococcus tapeworms, which display elaborate developmental traits that imply a complex control of gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small regulatory RNAs, are involved in the regulation of many biological processes such as development and metabolism. They act through the repression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) usually by binding to the 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR). Previously, we described the miRNome of several Echinococcus species and found that miRNAs are highly expressed in all life cycle stages, suggesting an important role in gene expression regulation. However, studying the role of miRNAs in helminth biology remains a challenge. To develop methodology for functional analysis of miRNAs in tapeworms, we performed miRNA knockdown experiments in primary cell cultures of Echinococcus multilocularis, which mimic the development of metacestode vesicles from parasite stem cells in vitro. First, we analysed the miRNA repertoire of E. multilocularis primary cells by small RNA-seq and found that miR-71, a bilaterian miRNA absent in vertebrate hosts, is one of the top five most expressed miRNAs. Using genomic information and bioinformatic algorithms for miRNA binding prediction, we found a high number of potential miR-71 targets in E. multilocularis. Inhibition of miRNAs can be achieved by transfection of antisense oligonucleotides (anti-miRs) that block miRNA function. To this end, we evaluated a variety of chemically modified anti-miRs for miR-71 knockdown. Electroporation of primary cells with 2’-O-methyl modified anti-miR-71 led to significantly reduced miR-71 levels. Transcriptomic analyses showed that several predicted miR-71 targets were up-regulated in anti-miR-treated primary cells, including genes potentially involved in parasite development, host parasite interaction, and several genes of as yet unknown function. Notably, miR-71-silenced primary cell cultures showed a strikingly different phenotype from control cells and did not develop into fully mature metacestodes. These findings indicate an important function of miR-71 in Echinococcus development and provide, for the first time, methodology to functionally study miRNAs in a tapeworm. Echinococcosis, caused by the larval stages of tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus, is a neglected disease that affects millions of people world-wide. These parasites show elaborate developmental features that rely on a complex control of gene expression. microRNAs are small molecules which have been discovered in the last decades and control gene expression in animals, plants and viruses. microRNAs are highly expressed in several tapeworms but their biological function in these parasites is unknown. Assuming that microRNAs will be important for parasite development, we analysed the function of these molecules in Echinococcus multilocularis, employing an in vitro model that mimics the first developmental transitions which occur in the human host. By artificially decreasing the concentration of the highest expressed microRNA, we observed phenotypic alterations and inhibition of development. In addition, we identified possible mRNA molecules targeted by microRNAs and found that some of these are known for being involved in developmental processes in other organisms. This work provides novel methodology to study microRNA function in tapeworms. Furthermore, highly expressed parasite microRNAs that are absent in the host but fulfil an important role in parasite developmental processes can serve as selective drug targets against the underlying diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Gastón Pérez
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Markus Spiliotis
- University of Würzburg, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Natalia Rego
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Unidad de Bioinformática, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marcela Alejandra Cucher
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Klaus Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (KB); (MCR)
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (KB); (MCR)
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Rozario T, Quinn EB, Wang J, Davis RE, Newmark PA. Region-specific regulation of stem cell-driven regeneration in tapeworms. eLife 2019; 8:48958. [PMID: 31549962 PMCID: PMC6821492 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Tapeworms grow at rates rivaling the fastest-growing metazoan tissues. To propagate they shed large parts of their body; to replace these lost tissues they regenerate proglottids (segments) as part of normal homeostasis. Their remarkable growth and regeneration are fueled by adult somatic stem cells that have yet to be characterized molecularly. Using the rat intestinal tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, we find that regenerative potential is regionally limited to the neck, where head-dependent extrinsic signals create a permissive microenvironment for stem cell-driven regeneration. Using transcriptomic analyses and RNA interference, we characterize and functionally validate regulators of tapeworm growth and regeneration. We find no evidence that stem cells are restricted to the regeneration-competent neck. Instead, lethally irradiated tapeworms can be rescued when cells from either regeneration-competent or regeneration-incompetent regions are transplanted into the neck. Together, the head and neck tissues provide extrinsic cues that regulate stem cells, enabling region-specific regeneration in this parasite. Many worms have remarkable abilities to regrow and repair their bodies. The parasitic tapeworms, for example, can reach lengths of several meters and grow much more quickly than tissues in humans and other complex animals. This growth allows tapeworms to counteract the continual loss of the segments that make up their bodies, known as proglottids – a process that happens throughout their lives. The capacity to regenerate thousands of lost body segments and maintain an overall body length suggests that tapeworms have groups of stem cells in their body which can grow and divide to produce the new body parts. Yet, regeneration in tapeworms has not been closely studied. Rozario et al. have now examined Hymenolepsis diminuta, the rat tapeworm, and identified the neck of the tapeworm as crucial for its ability to regrow lost body segments. Further analysis identified two genes, zmym3 and pogzl, that are essential for cell division during tapeworm growth. However, Rozario et al. showed that these genes are active elsewhere in the worm’s body and that it is the conditions found specifically in the tapeworm’s neck that create the right environment for stem cells to enable regeneration of new segments. Tapeworms provide a valuable example for studying the growth of stem cells and these findings highlight the important role that the cells’ surroundings play in driving stem cell activity. These findings could also lead to new insights into how stem cells behave in other animals and could potentially lead to new approaches to prevent or treat tapeworm infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Rozario
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, United States
| | - Edward B Quinn
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, United States
| | - Jianbin Wang
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, United States
| | - Richard E Davis
- RNA Bioscience Initiative, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, United States
| | - Phillip A Newmark
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, United States.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, United States.,Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
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Activity of Thymus capitatus essential oil components against in vitro cultured Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes and germinal layer cells. Parasitology 2019; 146:956-967. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182019000295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe essential oil (EO) of Thymus capitatus, seven fractions (F1–F7) obtained from silica gel chromatography, and several pure EO components were evaluated with respect to in vitro activities against Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes and germinal layer (GL) cells. Attempts to evaluate physical damage in metacestodes by phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) assay failed because EO and F1–F7 interfered with the PGI-activity measurements. A metacestode viability assay based on Alamar Blue, as well as transmission electron microscopy, demonstrated that exposure to EO, F2 and F4 impaired metacestode viability. F2 and F4 exhibited higher toxicity against metacestodes than against mammalian cells, whereas EO was as toxic to mammalian cells as to the parasite. However, none of these fractions exhibited notable activity against isolated E. multilocularis GL cells. Analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that carvacrol was the major component of the EO (82.4%), as well as of the fractions F3 (94.4%), F4 (98.1%) and F5 (90.7%). Other major components of EO were β-caryophyllene, limonene, thymol and eugenol. However, exposure of metacestodes to these components was ineffective. Thus, fractions F2 and F4 of T. capitatus EO contain potent anti-echinococcal compounds, but the activities of these two fractions are most likely based on synergistic effects between several major and minor constituents.
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Lundström-Stadelmann B, Rufener R, Ritler D, Zurbriggen R, Hemphill A. The importance of being parasiticidal… an update on drug development for the treatment of alveolar echinococcosis. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019; 15:e00040. [PMID: 32095613 PMCID: PMC7034016 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The lethal disease alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the metacestode stage of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Current chemotherapeutical treatment of AE relies on albendazole and mebendazole, with the caveat that these compounds are not parasiticidal. Drugs have to be taken for a prolonged period of time, often life-long, which can cause adverse effects and reduces the patients' quality of life. In some individuals, benzimidazoles are inactive or cause toxicity, leading to treatment discontinuation. Alternatives to benzimidazoles are urgently needed. Over the recent years, in vivo and in vitro models for low-to-medium throughput drug discovery against AE have been set in place. In vitro drug tests include the phosphoglucose-isomerase (PGI) assay to measure physical damage induced to metacestodes, and viability assays to assess parasiticidal activity against metacestodes and stem cells. In vitro models are also employed for studies on mechanisms of action. In vivo models are thus far based on rodents, mainly mice, and benefits could be gained in future by comparative approaches in naturally infected dogs or captive monkeys. For the identification of novel drugs against AE, a rare disease with a low expected market return, drug-repurposing is the most promising strategy. A variety of chemically synthesized compounds as well as natural products have been analyzed with respect to in vitro and/or in vivo activities against AE. We here review and discuss the most active of these compounds including anti-infective compounds (benzimidazoles, nitazoxanide, amphotericin B, itraconazole, clarithromycin, DB1127, and buparvaquone), the anti-infective anti-malarials (artemisinin, ozonids, mefloquine, and MMV665807) and anti-cancer drugs (isoflavones, 2-methoxyestradiol, methotrexate, navelbine, vincristine, kinase inhibitors, metallo-organic ruthenium complexes, bortezomib, and taxanes). Taking into account the efficacy as well as the potential availability for patients, the most promising candidates are new formulations of benzimidazoles and mefloquine. Future drug-repurposing approaches should also target the energy metabolism of E. multilocularis, in particular the understudied malate dismutation pathway, as this offers an essential target in the parasite, which is not present in mammals. Benzimidazoles are used to treat AE, but new drugs are needed. New drugs against AE can be identified by drug repurposing. Drugs against other infectious diseases and cancer can be repurposed against AE. Most promising are new formulations of benzimidazoles and mefloquine. Future approaches should include targeting the energy metabolism of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Lundström-Stadelmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Reto Rufener
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dominic Ritler
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Zurbriggen
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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19
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Förster S, Koziol U, Schäfer T, Duvoisin R, Cailliau K, Vanderstraete M, Dissous C, Brehm K. The role of fibroblast growth factor signalling in Echinococcus multilocularis development and host-parasite interaction. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0006959. [PMID: 30849083 PMCID: PMC6426264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a lethal zoonosis caused by the metacestode larva of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. The infection is characterized by tumour-like growth of the metacestode within the host liver, leading to extensive fibrosis and organ-failure. The molecular mechanisms of parasite organ tropism towards the liver and influences of liver cytokines and hormones on parasite development are little studied to date. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We show that the E. multilocularis larval stage expresses three members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor family with homology to human FGF receptors. Using the Xenopus expression system we demonstrate that all three Echinococcus FGF receptors are activated in response to human acidic and basic FGF, which are present in the liver. In all three cases, activation could be prevented by addition of the tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor BIBF 1120, which is used to treat human cancer. At physiological concentrations, acidic and basic FGF significantly stimulated the formation of metacestode vesicles from parasite stem cells in vitro and supported metacestode growth. Furthermore, the parasite's mitogen activated protein kinase signalling system was stimulated upon addition of human FGF. The survival of metacestode vesicles and parasite stem cells were drastically affected in vitro in the presence of BIBF 1120. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our data indicate that mammalian FGF, which is present in the liver and upregulated during fibrosis, supports the establishment of the Echinococcus metacestode during AE by acting on an evolutionarily conserved parasite FGF signalling system. These data are valuable for understanding molecular mechanisms of organ tropism and host-parasite interaction in AE. Furthermore, our data indicate that the parasite's FGF signalling systems are promising targets for the development of novel drugs against AE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Förster
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Uriel Koziol
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
- Universidad de la República, Facultad de Ciencias, Sección Biología Celular, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Tina Schäfer
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Raphael Duvoisin
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katia Cailliau
- CNRS UMR 8576, University of Lille, Villeneuve d’Asq, France
| | - Mathieu Vanderstraete
- Center for Infection and Immunology of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- Center for Infection and Immunology of Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS-UMR 8204, University of Lille, Lille, France
| | - Klaus Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
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20
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Basika T, Paludo GP, Araujo FM, Salim AC, Pais F, Maldonado L, Macchiaroli N, Camargo de Lima J, Rosenzvit M, Oliveira GC, Kamenetzky L, Ferreira HB. Transcriptomic profile of two developmental stages of the cestode parasite Mesocestoides corti. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2019; 229:35-46. [PMID: 30797776 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cestode development involves complex morphological and physiological changes. Here, we performed a differential expression analysis of gene transcripts between two developmental stages of the model cestode Mesocestoides corti. A RNA-seq-based approach was used to compare the transcriptomes of the tetrathyridium (larval, TT) and strobilated worm (ST) stages of the parasite. We found 19,053 transcripts, from which ∼45% were complete matches to genes previously annotated in the available M. corti draft genome sequence, ∼24% were considered novel isoforms, and ∼24% were considered potential novel transcripts. Stage-specific transcripts were found for both TTs (66) and STs (136), along with shared transcripts significantly overrepresented in one stage (342 in TTs, and 559 in STs). Differential expression and Gene Ontology term enrichment analyzes provided evidence of upregulation of different sets of transcripts associated with 'cytoskeleton', 'metabolism' and 'oxidation-reduction' processes in each stage, suggesting functional involvement of the corresponding genes with stage-specific features. Transcripts and processes enriched in the TT reflect typical larval processes that occur with the parasite in the intermediate host, such as asexual reproduction and budding, as well as active migration from the peritoneum to the liver and vice versa. In STs, transcripts associated with 'development', 'cell growth', and 'morphogenesis' were enriched, along with processes related to sexual reproduction, represented by the upregulation of numerous transcription factors, protein kinases, and histones. Overall, our results contributed to significantly increase the knowledge on the M. corti gene repertoire and expression profile in two developmental stages. Functional implications for the biology of larval and adult cestode parasites and for host-parasite interactions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Basika
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia (CBiot), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, CBiot, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, CBiot, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - G P Paludo
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia (CBiot), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, CBiot, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - F M Araujo
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - A C Salim
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - F Pais
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - L Maldonado
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - N Macchiaroli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Camargo de Lima
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia (CBiot), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, CBiot, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - M Rosenzvit
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G C Oliveira
- Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - L Kamenetzky
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - H B Ferreira
- Laboratório de Genômica Estrutural e Funcional, Centro de Biotecnologia (CBiot), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Cestódeos, CBiot, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, CBiot, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Biociências, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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21
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Wang H, Li J, Zhang C, Guo B, Wei Q, Li L, Yang N, Peter McManus D, Gao X, Zhang W, Wen H. Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto: silencing of thioredoxin peroxidase impairs the differentiation of protoscoleces into metacestodes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 25:57. [PMID: 30474598 PMCID: PMC6254101 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2018055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a cosmopolitan parasitic disease caused by infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Thioredoxin peroxidase (TPx) may play an essential role in the antioxidant defence system of E. granulosus s.l. as neither catalase nor glutathione peroxidase activities have been detected in the parasite. However, it is not known whether TPx affects the survival and growth of E. granulosus s.l. during development. In this study, three fragments of siRNA specific for EgTPx (siRNA-1/2/3) were designed and transfected into protoscoleces of E. granulosus sensu stricto by electroporation. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that siRNA-3 significantly reduced the expression of EgTPx. Coincidentally, knockdown of EgTPx expression in protoscoleces with siRNA-3 significantly reduced the viability of the parasite under oxidative stress induced by 0.6 mM H2O2. In vitro culture studies showed that protoscoleces treated with siRNA-3 reduced pre-microcyst formation. In vivo experiments showed that injecting mice intraperitoneally with protoscoleces treated with siRNA-3 resulted in a significant reduction in the number, size and weight of CE cysts compared with those of control animals. Silencing of EgTPx led to the impairment of growth of E. granulosus s.s. both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that EgTPx is an important factor for protoscoleces survival and plays an important role in the antioxidant defence against the host during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Branch of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Changji, Xinjiang 831100, PR China - State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Chuanshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Baoping Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Qin Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Liang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Ning Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Donald Peter McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia
| | - Xiaoli Gao
- Pharmacy College of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830011, PR China
| | - Wenbao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China
| | - Hao Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention, Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Clinical Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, PR China - Branch of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Changji, Xinjiang 831100, PR China
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22
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Grubor NM, Jovanova-Nesic KD, Shoenfeld Y. Liver cystic echinococcosis and human host immune and autoimmune follow-up: A review. World J Hepatol 2017; 9:1176-1189. [PMID: 29109850 PMCID: PMC5666304 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i30.1176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an infectious disease caused by the larvae of parasite Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). To successfully establish an infection, parasite release some substances and molecules that can modulate host immune functions, stimulating a strong anti-inflammatory reaction to carry favor to host and to reserve self-survival in the host. The literature was reviewed using MEDLINE, and an open access search for immunology of hydatidosis was performed. Accumulating data from animal experiments and human studies provided us with exciting insights into the mechanisms involved that affect all parts of immunity. In this review we used the existing scientific data and discuss how these findings assisted with a better understanding of the immunology of E. granulosus infection in man. The aim of this study is to point the several facts that challenge immune and autoimmune responses to protect E. granulosus from elimination and to minimize host severe pathology. Understanding the immune mechanisms of E. granulosus infection in an intermediate human host will provide, we believe, a more useful treatment with immunomodulating molecules and possibly better protection from parasitic infections. Besides that, the diagnosis of CE has improved due to the application of a new molecular tool for parasite identification by using of new recombinant antigens and immunogenic peptides. More studies for the better understanding of the mechanisms of parasite immune evasion is necessary. It will enable a novel approach in protection, detection and improving of the host inflammatory responses. In contrast, according to the "hygiene hypothesis", clinical applications that decrease the incidence of infection in developed countries and recently in developing countries are at the origin of the increasing incidence of both allergic and autoimmune diseases. Thus, an understanding of the immune mechanisms of E. granulosus infection is extremely important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikica M Grubor
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, First Surgical University Hospital, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katica D Jovanova-Nesic
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Virology, Vaccine and Sera-Torlak, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
- European Center for Peace and Development, University for Peace in the United Nation established in Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Yehuda Shoenfeld
- Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, 5265601 Tel-Hashomer, Tel Aviv, Israel
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23
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Fontenla S, Rinaldi G, Smircich P, Tort JF. Conservation and diversification of small RNA pathways within flatworms. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:215. [PMID: 28893179 PMCID: PMC5594548 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-1061-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Small non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs, and gene silencing mediated by RNA interference have been described in free-living and parasitic lineages of flatworms, but only few key factors of the small RNA pathways have been exhaustively investigated in a limited number of species. The availability of flatworm draft genomes and predicted proteomes allowed us to perform an extended survey of the genes involved in small non-coding RNA pathways in this phylum. Results Overall, findings show that the small non-coding RNA pathways are conserved in all the analyzed flatworm linages; however notable peculiarities were identified. While Piwi genes are amplified in free-living worms they are completely absent in all parasitic species. Remarkably all flatworms share a specific Argonaute family (FL-Ago) that has been independently amplified in different lineages. Other key factors such as Dicer are also duplicated, with Dicer-2 showing structural differences between trematodes, cestodes and free-living flatworms. Similarly, a very divergent GW182 Argonaute interacting protein was identified in all flatworm linages. Contrasting to this, genes involved in the amplification of the RNAi interfering signal were detected only in the ancestral free living species Macrostomum lignano. We here described all the putative small RNA pathways present in both free living and parasitic flatworm lineages. Conclusion These findings highlight innovations specifically evolved in platyhelminths presumably associated with novel mechanisms of gene expression regulation mediated by small RNA pathways that differ to what has been classically described in model organisms. Understanding these phylum-specific innovations and the differences between free living and parasitic species might provide clues to adaptations to parasitism, and would be relevant for gene-silencing technology development for parasitic flatworms that infect hundreds of million people worldwide. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-017-1061-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Fontenla
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP11800, Montevideo, MVD, Uruguay
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Pablo Smircich
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP11800, Montevideo, MVD, Uruguay.,Laboratorio de Interacciones Moleculares, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Jose F Tort
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP11800, Montevideo, MVD, Uruguay.
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24
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Valot B, Rognon B, Prenel A, Baraquin A, Knapp J, Anelli M, Richou C, Bresson-Hadni S, Grenouillet F, Wang J, Vuitton DA, Gottstein B, Millon L. Screening of antigenic vesicular fluid proteins of Echinococcus multilocularis as potential viability biomarkers to monitor drug response in alveolar echinococcosis patients. Proteomics Clin Appl 2017; 11. [PMID: 28697272 DOI: 10.1002/prca.201700010] [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: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The only drugs available to treat alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are mostly parasitostatic and in many cases prescribed for life. Decision criteria for discontinuation rely on the absence of parasitic viability. The aim of the present study is to search for candidate proteins that may exhibit good potential as biomarkers for viability. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Sixteen serum samples (five healthy controls, 11 patients with AE), are used. AE-patients are classified into three groups "Cured" (n = 2), "ABZ-responders" (n = 4) and "ABZ-nonresponders" (n = 5). Immunoreactive proteins from vesicular fluid (VF) are identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS analysis after immunoprecipitation (IP) using all 16 serum samples. RESULTS Shotgun analysis of VF lead to the identification of 107 E. multilocularis proteins. Comparative proteomics reveal nine proteins more abundant in IP eluates from ABZ-nonresponder patients (cathepsin b, prosaposin a preprotein, actin modulator protein, fucosidase alpha L1 tissue, gluthatione-S-tranferase, beta galactosidase, elongation factor 2, H17g protein tegumental antigen, and NiemannPick C2 protein). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Detection of antibodies against these proteins by ELISA could be helpful to monitor the course of alveolar echinococcosis under albendazole (ABZ) treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoît Valot
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Bénédicte Rognon
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Parasitology-Mycology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Anais Prenel
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Alice Baraquin
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Jenny Knapp
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Parasitology-Mycology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Mathilde Anelli
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France
| | - Carine Richou
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Echinococcosis, and French National Reference Centre for Alveolar Echinococcosis, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France.,Hepatology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Solange Bresson-Hadni
- Parasitology-Mycology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Echinococcosis, and French National Reference Centre for Alveolar Echinococcosis, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Frederic Grenouillet
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Parasitology-Mycology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Junhua Wang
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Angèle Vuitton
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Echinococcosis, and French National Reference Centre for Alveolar Echinococcosis, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Laurence Millon
- UMR/CNRS 6249 Chrono-Environnement, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.,Parasitology-Mycology Department, University Hospital of Besançon, Besançon, France
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25
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Ritler D, Rufener R, Sager H, Bouvier J, Hemphill A, Lundström-Stadelmann B. Development of a movement-based in vitro screening assay for the identification of new anti-cestodal compounds. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005618. [PMID: 28520724 PMCID: PMC5448807 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal cestodes are infecting millions of people and livestock worldwide, but treatment is mainly based on one drug: praziquantel. The identification of new anti-cestodal compounds is hampered by the lack of suitable screening assays. It is difficult, or even impossible, to evaluate drugs against adult cestodes in vitro due to the fact that these parasites cannot be cultured in microwell plates, and adult and larval stages in most cases represent different organisms in terms of size, morphology, and metabolic requirements. We here present an in vitro-drug screening assay based on Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces, which represent precursors of the scolex (hence the anterior part) of the adult tapeworm. This movement-based assay can serve as a model for an adult cestode screen. Protoscoleces are produced in large numbers in Mongolian gerbils and mice, their movement is measured and quantified by image analysis, and active compounds are directly assessed in terms of morphological effects. The use of the 384-well format minimizes the amount of parasites and compounds needed and allows rapid screening of a large number of chemicals. Standard drugs showed the expected dose-dependent effect on movement and morphology of the protoscoleces. Interestingly, praziquantel inhibited movement only partially within 12 h of treatment (at concentrations as high as 100 ppm) and did thus not act parasiticidal, which was also confirmed by trypan blue staining. Enantiomers of praziquantel showed a clear difference in their minimal inhibitory concentration in the motility assay and (R)-(-)-praziquantel was 185 times more active than (S)-(-)-praziquantel. One compound named MMV665807, which was obtained from the open access MMV (Medicines for Malaria Venture) Malaria box, strongly impaired motility and viability of protoscoleces. Corresponding morphological alterations were visualized by scanning electron microscopy, and demonstrated that this compound exhibits a mode of action clearly distinct from praziquantel. Thus, MMV665807 represents an interesting lead for further evaluation. Tapeworms (cestodes) are a medically important group of helminths that infect humans and animals all around the globe. The clinical signs caused by intestinal infection with adult cestodes are mostly mild, in contrast to the more severe disease symptoms inflicted by infection with the tissue-dwelling larval stages of the same species. Praziquantel is the main drug in use against intestinal cestode infections. Development of resistance and treatment failures have been reported in trematodes, and are expected to become a problem in the future also in the case of cestode infections. Therefore, new treatment options against intestinal helminths are needed. To date, there is no in vitro-based whole-organism screening assay available that allows screening of candidate drugs with potential activity against adult cestodes. We established and characterized of a screening assay in 384-well format, which serves as a model for adult stage parasites by using Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces and their loss of motility as a read-out. This novel assay showed that drugs with known activity against adult cestodes inhibited motility of protoscoleces. The movement-based assay identified MMV665807 as a novel compound with profound activity against protoscoleces, and potentially also adult cestodes. Light- and electron microscopical assessments of protoscoleces treated with praziquantel and MMV665807 point towards different modes of action of the two drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Ritler
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Reto Rufener
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
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26
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Brehm K, Koziol U. Echinococcus-Host Interactions at Cellular and Molecular Levels. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2017; 95:147-212. [PMID: 28131363 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The potentially lethal zoonotic diseases alveolar and cystic echinococcosis are caused by the metacestode larval stages of the tapeworms Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus, respectively. In both cases, metacestode growth and proliferation occurs within the inner organs of mammalian hosts, which is associated with complex molecular host-parasite interactions that regulate nutrient uptake by the parasite as well as metacestode persistence and development. Using in vitro cultivation systems for parasite larvae, and informed by recently released, comprehensive genome and transcriptome data for both parasites, these molecular host-parasite interactions have been subject to significant research during recent years. In this review, we discuss progress in this field, with emphasis on parasite development and proliferation. We review host-parasite interaction mechanisms that occur early during an infection, when the invading oncosphere stage undergoes a metamorphosis towards the metacestode, and outline the decisive role of parasite stem cells during this process. We also discuss special features of metacestode morphology, and how this parasite stage takes up nutrients from the host, utilizing newly evolved or expanded gene families. We comprehensively review mechanisms of host-parasite cross-communication via evolutionarily conserved signalling systems and how the parasite signalling systems might be exploited for the development of novel chemotherapeutics. Finally, we point to an urgent need for the development of functional genomic techniques in this parasite, which will be imperative for hypothesis-driven analyses into Echinococcus stem cell biology, developmental mechanisms and immunomodulatory activities, which are all highly relevant for the development of anti-infective measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - U Koziol
- University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Koziol U. Evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo) of cestodes. Exp Parasitol 2016; 180:84-100. [PMID: 27939766 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cestodes (tapeworms) have complex adaptations to their obligatory parasitic life-style. Among these adaptations, they show many evolutionary innovations in their development, including complex life-cycles with multiple hosts and life-stages, several independent origins of asexual reproduction, and the evolution of segmentation as a mean to generate massive reproductive output. Therefore, cestodes offer many opportunities for the investigation of the evolutionary origins of developmental novelties (evo-devo). However, cestodes have not been exploited as major models for evo-devo research due to the considerable technical difficulties involved in their study. In this review, a panoramic view is given of classical aspects, methods and hypothesis of cestode development, together with recent advances in phylogenetics, genomics, culture methods, and comparative analysis of cestode gene expression. Together with the availability of powerful models for related free-living flatworms, these developments should encourage the incorporation of these fascinating parasites into the first-line of evo-devo research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uriel Koziol
- Sección Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Uruguay.
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Stadelmann B, Rufener R, Aeschbacher D, Spiliotis M, Gottstein B, Hemphill A. Screening of the Open Source Malaria Box Reveals an Early Lead Compound for the Treatment of Alveolar Echinococcosis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004535. [PMID: 26967740 PMCID: PMC4788259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The metacestode (larval) stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis causes alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a very severe and in many cases incurable disease. To date, benzimidazoles such as albendazole and mebendazole are the only approved chemotherapeutical treatment options. Benzimidazoles inhibit metacestode proliferation, but do not act parasiticidal. Thus, benzimidazoles have to be taken a lifelong, can cause adverse side effects such as hepatotoxicity, and are ineffective in some patients. We here describe a newly developed screening cascade for the evaluation of the in vitro efficacy of new compounds that includes assessment of parasiticidal activity. The Malaria Box from Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), comprised of 400 commercially available chemicals that show in vitro activity against Plasmodium falciparum, was repurposed. Primary screening was carried out at 10 μM by employing the previously described PGI assay, and resulted in the identification of 24 compounds that caused physical damage in metacestodes. Seven out of these 24 drugs were also active at 1 μM. Dose-response assays revealed that only 2 compounds, namely MMV665807 and MMV665794, exhibited an EC50 value below 5 μM. Assessments using human foreskin fibroblasts and Reuber rat hepatoma cells showed that the salicylanilide MMV665807 was less toxic for these two mammalian cell lines than for metacestodes. The parasiticidal activity of MMV665807 was then confirmed using isolated germinal layer cell cultures as well as metacestode vesicles by employing viability assays, and its effect on metacestodes was morphologically evaluated by electron microscopy. However, both oral and intraperitoneal application of MMV665807 to mice experimentally infected with E. multilocularis metacestodes did not result in any reduction of the parasite load. The fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis causes a deadly disease in humans that is characterized by cancer-like parasite growth in the liver of patients. Hence E. multilocularis is ideally removed by radical resection. However, as this is not always possible, patients are treated by chemotherapy to stop further parasite growth. To date, the drugs in use cannot kill the parasite E. multilocularis and they also induce side-effects, therefore new options for treatment are needed. We here screened a library of 400 compounds with proven activity against Plasmodium falciparum, the cause of malaria, for their effects against E. multilocularis in vitro. We developed and refined an in vitro screening cascade and developed an assay that can identify compounds with parasiticidal effects against E. multilocularis cells. We here show that MMV665807 acts parasiticidal as demonstrated by in vitro viability tests and by electron microscopy. In the mouse infection model the drug was not active, but work will focus on the evaluation of derivatives with improved bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties to achieve parasiticidal activity not only in vitro, but also in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britta Stadelmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Reto Rufener
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Denise Aeschbacher
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Markus Spiliotis
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
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Moguel B, Moreno-Mendoza N, Bobes RJ, Carrero JC, Chimal-Monroy J, Díaz-Hernández ME, Herrera-Estrella L, Laclette JP. Transient transgenesis of the tapeworm Taenia crassiceps. SPRINGERPLUS 2015; 4:496. [PMID: 26389021 PMCID: PMC4571025 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-015-1278-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Human and porcine cysticercosis is caused by the larval stage of the flatworm Taenia solium (Cestoda). Infestation of the human brain, also known as neurocysticercosis, is the most common parasite disease of the central nervous system worldwide. Significant advances in the understanding of the disease have been achieved using the Taenia crassiceps murine model. We describe here a successful transfection protocol of T. crassiceps cysticerci as the first step to approach a number of currently inaccessible biological questions on cysticercosis. T. crassiceps cysticerci (ORF strain) were microinjected with the plasmid pcDNA3.1/NT-GFP-TOPO, encoding the green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter (CMV). Twelve hours after the microinjection, GFP fluorescence gradually developed in patches associated to bud structures in the bladder wall of cysts. Fluorescence reached a peak at 24-48 h and lasted up to 72 h after the microinjection. Immunohistochemical studies on tissue sections of transfected cysts using an anti-GFP antibody, demonstrated co-localization of the antibody and the GFP fluorescence in the tegumentary cytoplasm and subtegumentary cytons. To validate at the mRNA level the expression of GFP, we carried out RT-PCR using two pairs of nested primers. Results showed expression of GFP-mRNA at 24 h post-transfection. Moreover, western blot assays of crude extracts of transfected cysts, carried out using the anti-GFP specific antibody, showed the expected protein band of 27 kDa, demonstrating that the GFP expression started at 24 after plasmid microinjection and was maintained up to 72 h. These findings will facilitate the development of functional genomics approaches applied to this model of cysticercosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Moguel
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510 México DF, México
| | - Norma Moreno-Mendoza
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510 México DF, México
| | - Raúl J Bobes
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510 México DF, México
| | - Julio C Carrero
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510 México DF, México
| | - Jesús Chimal-Monroy
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510 México DF, México
| | - Martha E Díaz-Hernández
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510 México DF, México
| | - Luis Herrera-Estrella
- National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity-cinvestav, Km 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Gto México
| | - Juan P Laclette
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510 México DF, México
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Abstract
Alveolar and cystic echinococcosis, caused by the metacestode larval stages of the tapeworms Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus, respectively, are life-threatening diseases and very difficult to treat. The introduction of benzimidazole-based chemotherapy, which targets parasite β-tubulin, has significantly improved the life-span and prognosis of echinococcosis patients. However, benzimidazoles show only parasitostatic activity, are associated with serious adverse side effects and have to be administered for very long time periods, underlining the need for new drugs. Very recently, the nuclear genomes of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus have been characterised, revealing a plethora of data for gaining a deeper understanding of host-parasite interaction, parasite development and parasite evolution. Combined with extensive transcriptome analyses of Echinococcus life cycle stages these investigations also yielded novel clues for targeted drug design. Recent years also witnessed significant advancements in the molecular and cellular characterisation of the Echinococcus 'germinative cell' population, which forms a unique stem cell system that differs from stem cells of other organisms in the expression of several genes associated with the maintenance of pluripotency. As the only parasite cell type capable of undergoing mitosis, the germinative cells are central to all developmental transitions of Echinococcus within the host and to parasite expansion via asexual proliferation. In the present article, we will briefly introduce and discuss recent advances in Echinococcus genomics and stem cell research in the context of drug design and development. Interestingly, it turns out that benzimidazoles seem to have very limited effects on Echinococcus germinative cells, which could explain the high recurrence rates observed after chemotherapeutic treatment of echinococcosis patients. This clearly indicates that future efforts into the development of parasitocidal drugs should also target the parasite's stem cell system.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Koziol
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany; Sección Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - K Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany.
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Hu D, Song X, Xie Y, Zhong X, Wang N, Zheng Y, Gu X, Wang T, Peng X, Yang G. Molecular insights into a tetraspanin in the hydatid tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:311. [PMID: 26055542 PMCID: PMC4464875 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0926-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus (class Cestoda; family Taeniidae), is a neglected tropical disease that results in morbidity and mortality in millions of humans, as well as in huge economic losses in the livestock industry globally. Proteins from the tetraspanin family in parasites have recently become regarded as crucial molecules in interaction with hosts in parasitism and are therefore suitable for the development of vaccines and diagnostic agents. However, no information is available to date on E. granulosus tetraspanin. Methods In this study, a uroplakin-I-like tetraspanin (Eg-TSP1) of E. granulosus was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The immunolocalization of Eg-TSP1 in different life stages of E. granulosus was determined using specific polyclonal antibody. The antibody and cytokine profiles of mice that immunized with recombinant Eg-TSP1 (rEg-TSP1) were measured for the immunogenicity analysis of this protein. Additionally, we use RNA interference method to explore the biological function of Eg-TSP1 in larva of E. granulosus. Results Immunofluorescence analysis showed that endogenous Eg-TSP1 mainly localized in the tegument of larvae and adults. Significantly elevated levels of antibodies IgG1 and IgG2a and of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12 were observed in the sera of mice after immunization with rEg-TSP1, suggesting a typical T helper (Th)1-mediated immune response elicited by rEg-TSP1. On further probing the role of Eg-TSP1 in E. granulosus by RNA interference, we found that a thinner tegmental distal cytoplasm was induced in protoscoleces treated with siRNA-132 compared to controls. Conclusions This is the first report characterizing a tetraspanin from the tapeworm E. granulosus. Our results suggest that Eg-TSP1 is associated with biogenesis of the tegument and maintenance of structural integrity of E. granulosus and could therefore be a candidate intervention target for control of hydatid disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0926-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Hu
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Xingju Song
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Yue Xie
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Xiuqin Zhong
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Yu Zheng
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Xiaobin Gu
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Xuerong Peng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Life and Basic Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
| | - Guangyou Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.
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Cucher M, Macchiaroli N, Kamenetzky L, Maldonado L, Brehm K, Rosenzvit MC. High-throughput characterization of Echinococcus spp. metacestode miRNomes. Int J Parasitol 2015; 45:253-67. [PMID: 25659494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Echinococcosis is a worldwide zoonosis of great public health concern, considered a neglected disease by the World Health Organisation. The cestode parasites Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) and Echinococcus multilocularis are the main aetiological agents. In the intermediate host, these parasites display particular developmental traits that lead to different patterns of disease progression. In an attempt to understand the causes of these differences, we focused on the analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding regulatory RNAs with major roles in development of animals and plants. In this work, we analysed the small RNA expression pattern of the metacestode, the stage of sanitary relevance, and provide a detailed description of Echinococcus miRNAs. Using high-throughput small RNA sequencing, we believe that we have carried out the first experimental identification of miRNAs in E. multilocularis and have expanded the Echinococcus miRNA catalogue to 38 miRNA genes, including one miRNA only present in E. granulosus s. l. Our findings show that although both species share the top five highest expressed miRNAs, 13 are differentially expressed, which could be related to developmental differences. We also provide evidence that uridylation is the main miRNA processing mechanism in Echinococcus spp. These results provide detailed information on Echinococcus miRNAs, which is the first step in understanding their role in parasite biology and disease establishment and/or progression, and their future potential use as drug or diagnostic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Cucher
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas Maldonado
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Brehm K, Koziol U. On the importance of targeting parasite stem cells in anti-echinococcosis drug development. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:72. [PMID: 25526547 PMCID: PMC4271656 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2014070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The life-threatening diseases alveolar and cystic echinococcoses are caused by larvae of the tapeworms Echinococcus multilocularis and E. granulosus, respectively. In both cases, intermediate hosts, such as humans, are infected by oral uptake of oncosphere larvae, followed by asexual multiplication and almost unrestricted growth of the metacestode within host organs. Besides surgery, echinococcosis treatment relies on benzimidazole-based chemotherapy, directed against parasite beta-tubulin. However, since beta-tubulins are highly similar between cestodes and humans, benzimidazoles can only be applied at parasitostatic doses and are associated with adverse side effects. Mostly aiming at identifying alternative drug targets, the nuclear genome sequences of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus have recently been characterized, revealing a large number of druggable targets that are expressed by the metacestode. Furthermore, recent cell biological investigations have demonstrated that E. multilocularis employs pluripotent stem cells, called germinative cells, which are the only parasite cells capable of proliferation and which give rise to all differentiated cells. Hence, the germinative cells are the crucial cell type mediating proliferation of E. multilocularis, and most likely also E. granulosus, within host organs and should also be responsible for parasite recurrence upon discontinuation of chemotherapy. Interestingly, recent investigations have also indicated that germinative cells might be less sensitive to chemotherapy because they express a beta-tubulin isoform with limited affinity to benzimidazoles. In this article, we briefly review the recent findings concerning Echinococcus genomics and stem cell research and propose that future research into anti-echinococcosis drugs should also focus on the parasite’s stem cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Uriel Koziol
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany - Sección Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Hemphill A, Stadelmann B, Rufener R, Spiliotis M, Boubaker G, Müller J, Müller N, Gorgas D, Gottstein B. Treatment of echinococcosis: albendazole and mebendazole--what else? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:70. [PMID: 25526545 PMCID: PMC4271654 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2014073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The search for novel therapeutic options to cure alveolar echinococcosis (AE), due to the metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis, is ongoing, and these developments could also have a profound impact on the treatment of cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the closely related Echinococcus granulosus s.l. Several options are being explored. A viable strategy for the identification of novel chemotherapeutically valuable compounds includes whole-organism drug screening, employing large-scale in vitro metacestode cultures and, upon identification of promising compounds, verification of drug efficacy in small laboratory animals. Clearly, the current focus is targeted towards broad-spectrum anti-parasitic or anti-cancer drugs and compound classes that are already marketed, or that are in development for other applications. The availability of comprehensive Echinococcus genome information and gene expression data, as well as significant progress on the molecular level, has now opened the door for a more targeted drug discovery approach, which allows exploitation of defined pathways and enzymes that are essential for the parasite. In addition, current in vitro and in vivo models that are used to assess drug efficacy should be optimized and complemented by methods that give more detailed information on the host-parasite interactions that occur during drug treatments. The key to success is to identify, target and exploit those parasite molecules that orchestrate activities essential to parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hemphill
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Britta Stadelmann
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Reto Rufener
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Markus Spiliotis
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Ghalia Boubaker
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Joachim Müller
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Norbert Müller
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Gorgas
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinical Radiology, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Gottstein
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Berne, Switzerland
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Profound activity of the anti-cancer drug bortezomib against Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes identifies the proteasome as a novel drug target for cestodes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3352. [PMID: 25474446 PMCID: PMC4256282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A library of 426 FDA-approved drugs was screened for in vitro activity against E. multilocularis metacestodes employing the phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) assay. Initial screening at 20 µM revealed that 7 drugs induced considerable metacestode damage, and further dose-response studies revealed that bortezomib (BTZ), a proteasome inhibitor developed for the chemotherapy of myeloma, displayed high anti-metacestodal activity with an EC50 of 0.6 µM. BTZ treatment of E. multilocularis metacestodes led to an accumulation of ubiquinated proteins and unequivocally parasite death. In-gel zymography assays using E. multilocularis extracts demonstrated BTZ-mediated inhibition of protease activity in a band of approximately 23 kDa, the same size at which the proteasome subunit beta 5 of E. multilocularis could be detected by Western blot. Balb/c mice experimentally infected with E. multilocularis metacestodes were used to assess BTZ treatment, starting at 6 weeks post-infection by intraperitoneal injection of BTZ. This treatment led to reduced parasite weight, but to a degree that was not statistically significant, and it induced adverse effects such as diarrhea and neurological symptoms. In conclusion, the proteasome was identified as a drug target in E. multilocularis metacestodes that can be efficiently inhibited by BTZ in vitro. However, translation of these findings into in vivo efficacy requires further adjustments of treatment regimens using BTZ, or possibly other proteasome inhibitors. Tapeworms (cestodes) are a class of important human pathogens, causing very severe diseases in man such as alveolar echinococcosis (Echinococcus multilocularis), cystic echinococcosis (E. granulosus) and neurocysticercosis (Taenia solium). Current treatments are mainly based on benzimidazoles that show some limited activity against cestode larvae, but often do not kill them. These compounds have to be taken for extended periods of time, and can cause adverse side-effects. Cestode infections cause neglected diseases and the pharmaceutical industry is generally not interested in investments for developing novel bioactive compounds. In this study we focus on a panel of FDA-approved drugs and assessed them in E. multilocularis, which causes the most deadly of all helminth infections. One compound, the anti-cancer drug bortezomib, exhibits considerable in vitro activity against E. multilocularis metacestodes, and we provide evidence that it acts on the proteasome. In experimentally infected mice bortezomib activity was lower than the currently used albendazole and induced adverse effects. Bortezomib is therefore not a useful drug for treatment of Echinococcus larvae, but our results demonstrate that in future studies the cestode proteasome should gain more attention as a drug target.
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Dell'Oca N, Basika T, Corvo I, Castillo E, Brindley PJ, Rinaldi G, Tort JF. RNA interference in Fasciola hepatica newly excysted juveniles: long dsRNA induces more persistent silencing than siRNA. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 197:28-35. [PMID: 25307443 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In trematodes RNA interference is the current tool of choice for functional analysis of genes since classical reverse genetic approaches remain unavailable. Whereas this approach has been optimized in schistosomes, few reports are available for other trematodes, likely reflecting the difficulties in the establishment of the technology. Here we standardized conditions for RNAi in the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, the causative agent of fasciolosis, one of the most problematic infections affecting livestock worldwide. Targeting a single copy gene, encoding leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) as a model, we refined delivery conditions which identified electro-soaking, i.e. electroporation and subsequent incubation as efficient for introduction of small RNAs into the fluke. Knock down of LAP was achieved with as little as 2.5 μg/ml dsRNA concentrations, which may reduce or obviate off-target effects. However, at these concentrations, tracking incorporation by fluorescent labeling was difficult. While both long dsRNA and short interfering RNA (siRNA) are equally effective at inducing a short-term knock down, dsRNA induced persistent silencing up to 21 days after treatment, suggesting that mechanisms of amplification of the interfering signal can be present in this pathogen. Persistent silencing of the invasive stage for up to 3 weeks (close to what it takes for the fluke to reach the liver) opens the possibility of using RNAi for the validation of putative therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Dell'Oca
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Tatiana Basika
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Ileana Corvo
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Estela Castillo
- Sección Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Republica (UDELAR), Iguá 4225, CP 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, The George Washington University, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
| | - Jose F Tort
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UDELAR), Gral. Flores 2125, CP 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Targeting Echinococcus multilocularis stem cells by inhibition of the Polo-like kinase EmPlk1. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2870. [PMID: 24901228 PMCID: PMC4046951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a life-threatening disease caused by larvae of the fox-tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. Crucial to AE pathology is continuous infiltrative growth of the parasite's metacestode stage, which is driven by a population of somatic stem cells, called germinative cells. Current anti-AE chemotherapy using benzimidazoles is ineffective in eliminating the germinative cell population, thus leading to remission of parasite growth upon therapy discontinuation. Methodology/Principal findings We herein describe the characterization of EmPlk1, encoded by the gene emplk1, which displays significant homologies to members of the Plk1 sub-family of Polo-like kinases that regulate mitosis in eukaryotic cells. We demonstrate germinative cell-specific expression of emplk1 by RT-PCR, transcriptomics, and in situ hybridization. We also show that EmPlk1 can induce germinal vesicle breakdown when heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes, indicating that it is an active kinase. This activity was significantly suppressed in presence of BI 2536, a Plk1 inhibitor that has been tested in clinical trials against cancer. Addition of BI 2536 at concentrations as low as 20 nM significantly blocked the formation of metacestode vesicles from cultivated Echinococcus germinative cells. Furthermore, low concentrations of BI 2536 eliminated the germinative cell population from mature metacestode vesicles in vitro, yielding parasite tissue that was no longer capable of proliferation. Conclusions/Significance We conclude that BI 2536 effectively inactivates E. multilocularis germinative cells in parasite larvae in vitro by direct inhibition of EmPlk1, thus inducing mitotic arrest and germinative cell killing. Since germinative cells are decisive for parasite proliferation and metastasis formation within the host, BI 2536 and related compounds are very promising compounds to complement benzimidazoles in AE chemotherapy. The lethal disease AE is characterized by continuous and infiltrative growth of the metacestode larva of the tapeworm E. multilocularis within host organs. This cancer-like progression is exclusively driven by a population of parasite stem cells (germinative cells) that have to be eliminated for an effective cure of the disease. Current treatment options, using benzimidazoles, are parasitostatic only, and thus obviously not effective in germinative cell killing. We herein describe a novel, druggable parasite enzyme, EmPlk1, that specifically regulates germinative cell proliferation. We show that a compound, BI 2536, originally designed to inhibit the human ortholog of EmPlk1, can also inhibit the parasite protein at low doses. Furthermore, low doses of BI 2536 eliminated germinative cells from Echinococcus larvae in vitro and prevented parasite growth and development. We propose that BI 2536 and related compounds are promising drugs to complement current benzimidazole treatment for achieving parasite killing.
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Koziol U, Rauschendorfer T, Zanon Rodríguez L, Krohne G, Brehm K. The unique stem cell system of the immortal larva of the human parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. EvoDevo 2014; 5:10. [PMID: 24602211 PMCID: PMC4015340 DOI: 10.1186/2041-9139-5-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It is believed that in tapeworms a separate population of undifferentiated cells, the germinative cells, is the only source of cell proliferation throughout the life cycle (similar to the neoblasts of free living flatworms). In Echinococcus multilocularis, the metacestode larval stage has a unique development, growing continuously like a mass of vesicles that infiltrate the tissues of the intermediate host, generating multiple protoscoleces by asexual budding. This unique proliferation potential indicates the existence of stem cells that are totipotent and have the ability for extensive self-renewal. Results We show that only the germinative cells proliferate in the larval vesicles and in primary cell cultures that undergo complete vesicle regeneration, by using a combination of morphological criteria and by developing molecular markers of differentiated cell types. The germinative cells are homogeneous in morphology but heterogeneous at the molecular level, since only sub-populations express homologs of the post-transcriptional regulators nanos and argonaute. Important differences are observed between the expression patterns of selected neoblast marker genes of other flatworms and the E. multilocularis germinative cells, including widespread expression in E. multilocularis of some genes that are neoblast-specific in planarians. Hydroxyurea treatment results in the depletion of germinative cells in larval vesicles, and after recovery following hydroxyurea treatment, surviving proliferating cells grow as patches that suggest extensive self-renewal potential for individual germinative cells. Conclusions In E. multilocularis metacestodes, the germinative cells are the only proliferating cells, presumably driving the continuous growth of the larval vesicles. However, the existence of sub-populations of the germinative cells is strongly supported by our data. Although the germinative cells are very similar to the neoblasts of other flatworms in function and in undifferentiated morphology, their unique gene expression pattern and the evolutionary loss of conserved stem cells regulators suggest that important differences in their physiology exist, which could be related to the unique biology of E. multilocularis larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany.
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Evolution, molecular epidemiology and perspectives on the research of taeniid parasites with special emphasis on Taenia solium. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 23:150-60. [PMID: 24560729 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Human cysticercosis is known since old historical times in Greece and China; however, human infections by tapeworms have accompanied human beings for more that hundred thousand years. The disease is tightly bound to poverty and lack of hygiene, and has been eradicated in developed countries, but continues being a public health problem in developing countries of Latin-American, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, and is also remerging in a number of non endemic countries. It is considered a neglected disease. Here we revise a number of key scientific contributions on taeniid biology that open new avenues for more effective approaches to the control of cysticercosis. The evolution of flatworms and class Cestoda is analyzed, with special emphasis on the emergence of taeniid parasites and the colonization of the human species by tapeworms. The complex molecular host-parasite interplay in this relationship as result of co-evolution between two distantly related organisms. The relevant host and parasite's factors, in the prospect of identifying species-specific molecular markers useful in epidemiological studies carried out in endemic countries. The new possibilities arising with the characterization of the genomes for several species of tapeworms, including a deeper understanding of these organisms, as well as improved tools for diagnosis, vaccination and drug treatment. The need to revise the current control and management strategies for this tropical neglected disease.
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Pouchkina-Stantcheva NN, Cunningham LJ, Hrčkova G, Olson PD. RNA-mediated gene suppression and in vitro culture in Hymenolepis microstoma. Int J Parasitol 2013; 43:641-6. [PMID: 23639265 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Revised: 03/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Hymenolepis microstoma, the mouse bile-duct tapeworm, is a classical rodent-hosted model that provides easy laboratory access to all stages of the life cycle. Recent characterisation of its genome has greatly advanced its utility for molecular research, albeit contemporary techniques such as those for assaying gene function have yet to be developed in the system. Here we present research on the development of RNA-mediated gene suppression via RNA interference (RNAi), and on in vitro culture of the enteric, adult phase of the life cycle to support this work. We demonstrate up to 80% quantitative suppression of a Hox transcript via soaking activated juvenile worms with double-stranded RNAs. However, we were unable to achieve segmentation of the worms in culture despite extensive manipulations of the culture media and supplements, preventing functional interpretation. An alternative, in vivo approach to RNAi was also tested by exposing cysticercoids prior to inoculation in mice, but fluorescent labelling showed that the RNAs did not sufficiently penetrate the cyst body and no difference in expression was found between exposed and control groups grown in vivo. Genomic and transcriptomic data revealed that H. microstoma has two orthologs each of Dicer, Drosha and Ago-1-like genes and that expression of one of the Ago-1 genes appears exclusive to germline development, suggesting that two or more independent RNA-mediated pathways are in operation. These studies demonstrate the viability of RNAi in H. microstoma and extend the utility of the model for research in the genomic era.
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The genomes of four tapeworm species reveal adaptations to parasitism. Nature 2013; 496:57-63. [PMID: 23485966 PMCID: PMC3964345 DOI: 10.1038/nature12031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 515] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Tapeworms cause debilitating neglected diseases that can be deadly and often require surgery due to ineffective drugs. Here we present the first analysis of tapeworm genome sequences using the human-infective species Echinococcus multilocularis, E. granulosus, Taenia solium and the laboratory model Hymenolepis microstoma as examples. The 115-141 megabase genomes offer insights into the evolution of parasitism. Synteny is maintained with distantly related blood flukes but we find extreme losses of genes and pathways ubiquitous in other animals, including 34 homeobox families and several determinants of stem cell fate. Tapeworms have species-specific expansions of non-canonical heat shock proteins and families of known antigens; specialised detoxification pathways, and metabolism finely tuned to rely on nutrients scavenged from their hosts. We identify new potential drug targets, including those on which existing pharmaceuticals may act. The genomes provide a rich resource to underpin the development of urgently needed treatments and control.
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Olson PD, Zarowiecki M, Kiss F, Brehm K. Cestode genomics - progress and prospects for advancing basic and applied aspects of flatworm biology. Parasite Immunol 2012; 34:130-50. [PMID: 21793855 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01319.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Characterization of the first tapeworm genome, Echinococcus multilocularis, is now nearly complete, and genome assemblies of E. granulosus, Taenia solium and Hymenolepis microstoma are in advanced draft versions. These initiatives herald the beginning of a genomic era in cestodology and underpin a diverse set of research agendas targeting both basic and applied aspects of tapeworm biology. We discuss the progress in the genomics of these species, provide insights into the presence and composition of immunologically relevant gene families, including the antigen B- and EG95/45W families, and discuss chemogenomic approaches toward the development of novel chemotherapeutics against cestode diseases. In addition, we discuss the evolution of tapeworm parasites and introduce the research programmes linked to genome initiatives that are aimed at understanding signalling systems involved in basic host-parasite interactions and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- P D Olson
- Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
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Hagen J, Lee EF, Fairlie WD, Kalinna BH. Functional genomics approaches in parasitic helminths. Parasite Immunol 2012; 34:163-82. [PMID: 21711361 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01306.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
As research on parasitic helminths is moving into the post-genomic era, an enormous effort is directed towards deciphering gene function and to achieve gene annotation. The sequences that are available in public databases undoubtedly hold information that can be utilized for new interventions and control but the exploitation of these resources has until recently remained difficult. Only now, with the emergence of methods to genetically manipulate and transform parasitic worms will it be possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in nutrition, metabolism, developmental switches/maturation and interaction with the host immune system. This review focuses on functional genomics approaches in parasitic helminths that are currently used, to highlight potential applications of these technologies in the areas of cell biology, systems biology and immunobiology of parasitic helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hagen
- Department of Veterinary Science, Centre for Animal Biotechnology, The University of Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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Nono JK, Pletinckx K, Lutz MB, Brehm K. Excretory/secretory-products of Echinococcus multilocularis larvae induce apoptosis and tolerogenic properties in dendritic cells in vitro. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1516. [PMID: 22363826 PMCID: PMC3283565 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis larvae, is a chronic disease associated with considerable modulation of the host immune response. Dendritic cells (DC) are key effectors in shaping the immune response and among the first cells encountered by the parasite during an infection. Although it is assumed that E.multilocularis, by excretory/secretory (E/S)-products, specifically affects DC to deviate immune responses, little information is available on the molecular nature of respective E/S-products and their mode of action. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We established cultivation systems for exposing DC to live material from early (oncosphere), chronic (metacestode) and late (protoscolex) infectious stages. When co-incubated with Echinococcus primary cells, representing the invading oncosphere, or metacestode vesicles, a significant proportion of DC underwent apoptosis and the surviving DC failed to mature. In contrast, DC exposed to protoscoleces upregulated maturation markers and did not undergo apoptosis. After pre-incubation with primary cells and metacestode vesicles, DC showed a strongly impaired ability to be activated by the TLR ligand LPS, which was not observed in DC pre-treated with protoscolex E/S-products. While none of the larvae induced the secretion of pro-inflammatory IL-12p70, the production of immunosuppressive IL-10 was elevated in response to primary cell E/S-products. Finally, upon incubation with DC and naïve T-cells, E/S-products from metacestode vesicles led to a significant expansion of Foxp3+ T cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report on the induction of apoptosis in DC by cestode E/S-products. Our data indicate that the early infective stage of E. multilocularis is a strong inducer of tolerance in DC, which is most probably important for generating an immunosuppressive environment at an infection phase in which the parasite is highly vulnerable to host attacks. The induction of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells through metacestode E/S-products suggests that these cells fulfill an important role for parasite persistence during chronic echinococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Komguep Nono
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katrien Pletinckx
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Manfred B. Lutz
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Virology and Immunobiology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract
Parasitic diseases cause important losses in public and veterinary health worldwide. Novel drugs, more reliable diagnostic techniques and vaccine candidates are urgently needed. Due to the complexity of parasites and the intricate relationship with their hosts, development of successful tools to fight parasites has been very limited to date. The growing information on individual parasite genomes is now allowing the use of a broader range of potential strategies to gain deeper insights into the host-parasite relationship and has increased the possibilities to develop molecular-based tools in the field of parasitology. Nevertheless, functional studies of respective genes are still scarce. The RNA interference phenomenon resulting in the regulation of protein expression through the specific degradation of defined mRNAs, and more specifically the possibility of artificially induce it, has shown to be a powerful tool for the investigation of proteins function in many organisms. Recent advances in the design and delivery of targeting molecules allow efficient and highly specific gene silencing in different types of parasites, pointing out this technology as a powerful tool for the identification of novel vaccine candidates or drug targets at the high-throughput level in the near future, and could enable researchers to functionally annotate parasite genomes. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview on the current advances and pitfalls in gene silencing mechanisms, techniques, applications and prospects in animal parasites.
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Cai K, Hua G, Ahmad S, Liang A, Han L, Wu C, Yang F, Yang L. Action mechanism of inhibin α-subunit on the development of Sertoli cells and first wave of spermatogenesis in mice. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25585. [PMID: 21998670 PMCID: PMC3187785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 09/06/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibin is an important marker of Sertoli cell (SC) activity in animals with impaired spermatogenesis. However, the precise relationship between inhibin and SC activity is unknown. To investigate this relationship, we partially silenced both the transcription and translation of the gene for the α-subunit of inhibin, Inha, using recombinant pshRNA vectors developed with RNAi-Ready pSIREN-RetroQ-ZsGreen Vector (Clontech Laboratories, Mountain View, Calif). We found that Inha silencing suppresses the cell-cycle regulators Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E and up-regulates the cell-cycle inhibitor P21 (as detected by Western blot analysis), thereby increasing the number of SCs in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and decreasing the amount in the S-phase of the cell cycle (as detected by flow cytometry). Inha silencing also suppressed Pdgfa, Igf1, and Kitl mRNA levels and up-regulated Tgfbrs, Inhba, Inhbb, Cyp11a1, Dhh, and Tjp1 mRNA levels (as indicated by real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR] analysis). These findings indicate that Inha has the potential to influence the availability of the ligand inhibin and its antagonist activin in the SC in an autocrine manner and inhibit the progression of SC from G1 to S. It may also participate in the development of the blood–testis barrier, Leydig cells, and spermatogenesis through its effect on Dhh, Tjp1, Kitl, and Pdgfa. Real-time PCR and Western blot analyses of Inha, Inhba, and Inhbb mRNA and Inha levels over time show that Inha plays an important role in the formation of round spermatid during the first wave of spermatogenesis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailai Cai
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guohua Hua
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sibtain Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Livestock Management, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Aaixin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Han
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Canjie Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Feifei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liguo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Ministry of China, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Draft genome sequences for Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni are now available. The schistosome genome encodes ∼13,000 protein-encoding genes for which the functions of few are well understood. Nonetheless, the new genes represent potential intervention targets, and molecular tools are being developed to determine their importance. Over the past 15 years, noteworthy progress has been achieved towards development of tools for gene manipulation and transgenesis of schistosomes. A brief history of genetic manipulation is presented, along with a review of the field with emphasis on reports of integration of transgenes into schistosome chromosomes.
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Förster S, Günthel D, Kiss F, Brehm K. Molecular characterisation of a serum-responsive, DAF-12-like nuclear hormone receptor of the fox-tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. J Cell Biochem 2011; 112:1630-42. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.23073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Cucher M, Prada L, Mourglia-Ettlin G, Dematteis S, Camicia F, Asurmendi S, Rosenzvit M. Identification of Echinococcus granulosus microRNAs and their expression in different life cycle stages and parasite genotypes. Int J Parasitol 2011; 41:439-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2010] [Revised: 11/10/2010] [Accepted: 11/12/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Cunningham LJ, Olson PD. Description of Hymenolepis microstoma (Nottingham strain): a classical tapeworm model for research in the genomic era. Parasit Vectors 2010; 3:123. [PMID: 21194465 PMCID: PMC3023764 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2010] [Accepted: 12/31/2010] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hymenolepis microstoma (Dujardin, 1845) Blanchard, 1891, the mouse bile duct tapeworm, is a rodent/beetle-hosted laboratory model that has been used in research and teaching since its domestication in the 1950s. Recent characterization of its genome has prompted us to describe the specific strain that underpins these data, anchoring its identity and bringing the 150+ year-old original description up-to-date. RESULTS Morphometric and ultrastructural analyses were carried out on laboratory-reared specimens of the 'Nottingham' strain of Hymenolepis microstoma used for genome characterization. A contemporary description of the species is provided including detailed illustration of adult anatomy and elucidation of its taxonomy and the history of the specific laboratory isolate. CONCLUSIONS Our work acts to anchor the specific strain from which the H. microstoma genome has been characterized and provides an anatomical reference for researchers needing to employ a model tapeworm system that enables easy access to all stages of the life cycle. We review its classification, life history and development, and briefly discuss the genome and other model systems being employed at the beginning of a genomic era in cestodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas J Cunningham
- Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Peter D Olson
- Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
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