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Pandey GS, Manandhar P, Shrestha BK, Sadaula A, Hayashi N, Abdelbaset AE, Silwal P, Tsubota T, Kwak ML, Nonaka N, Nakao R. Detection and characterization of vector-borne parasites and Wolbachia endosymbionts in greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Nepal. Acta Trop 2024; 258:107344. [PMID: 39097253 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107344] [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: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Vector-borne parasite infections affect both domestic and wild animals. They are often asymptomatic but can result in fatal outcomes under natural and human-induced stressors. Given the limited availability of molecular data on vector-borne parasites in Rhinoceros unicornis (greater one-horned rhinoceros), this study employed molecular tools to detect and characterize the vector-borne parasites in rescued rhinoceros in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Whole blood samples were collected from thirty-six R. unicornis during rescue and treatment operations. Piroplasmida infections were first screened using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 18S ribosomal RNA gene. Wolbachia was detected by amplifying 16S rRNA gene, while filarial nematodes were detected through amplification of 28S rRNA, COI, myoHC and hsp70 genes. Our results confirmed the presence of Theileria bicornis with a prevalence of 75% (27/36) having two previously unreported haplotypes (H8 and H9). Wolbachia endosymbionts were detected in 25% (9/36) of tested samples and belonged to either supergroup C or F. Filarial nematodes of the genera Mansonella and Onchocerca were also detected. There were no significant association between T. bicornis infections and the age, sex, or location from which the animals were rescued. The high prevalence of Theileria with novel haplotypes along with filarial parasites has important ecological and conservational implications and highlights the need to implement parasite surveillance programs for wildlife in Nepal. Further studies monitoring vector-borne pathogens and interspecies transmission among wild animals, livestock and human are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gita Sadaula Pandey
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan; National Cattle Research Program, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal
| | | | | | - Amir Sadaula
- National Trust for Nature Conservation - Biodiversity Conservation Center, Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Naoki Hayashi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan; Division of Parasitology, Veterinary Research Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Japan
| | - Abdelbaset Eweda Abdelbaset
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan; Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71515, Egypt
| | - Pradeepa Silwal
- National Trust for Nature Conservation - Biodiversity Conservation Center, Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal
| | - Toshio Tsubota
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan
| | - Mackenzie L Kwak
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan
| | - Nariaki Nonaka
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan; Division of Parasitology, Veterinary Research Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan; Division of Parasitology, Veterinary Research Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Japan.
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Holt CI, Dunning Hotopp JC. Updated annotation and meta-analysis of Brugia malayi transcriptomics data reveals consistent transcriptional profiles across time and space with some study-specific differences in adult female worm transcriptional profiles. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012511. [PMID: 39325836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics have significantly advanced our understanding of obligately host-associated microbes, where interrogation of the biology is often limited by the complexity of the biological system and limited tools. This includes the causative agents of many neglected tropical diseases, including filarial nematodes. Therefore, numerous transcriptomics studies have been undertaken on filarial nematodes. Most of these transcriptomics studies focus on Brugia malayi, which causes lymphatic filariasis and is a laboratory model for human filarial disease. Here, we undertook a meta-analysis of the publicly available B. malayi transcriptomics data enabling the direct cross comparison of samples from almost a dozen studies. This reanalysis highlights the consistency of transcriptomics results across many different studies and experimental designs from across the globe for over a decade of research, across many different generations of a sequencing technology, library preparation protocols, and differential expression tools. Males and microfilariae across samples had similar expression profiles. However, female samples were clustered into two differential expression patterns that were significantly different from one another. Largely, we confirm previous results for all studies reanalyzed including tissue-specific gene expression and anti-Wolbachia doxycycline treatment of microfilaria. However, we did not detect previously reported differential expression upon in vitro or in vivo treatment with ivermectin, albendazole, and DEC, instead identifying a consistent lack of transcriptomic change upon exposure to these anthelminthic drugs. Updated annotation has been provided that denotes poorly supported genes including those overlapping rRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Holt
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Julie C Dunning Hotopp
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Wannassi T, Sayadi A, Abbes K, Djebbi S, Naccache C, Khemakhem MM, Chermiti B. Prevalence of Wolbachia infection in field natural population of the apricot seed wasp Eurytoma samsonowi (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae). Int Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s10123-024-00593-9. [PMID: 39264544 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-024-00593-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Obligate endosymbiont bacteria associated with insects are naturally providing their hosts with essential nutrients such as vitamins and amino acids and biological services including protection from pathogens. In this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of Wolbachia infection among males and females of the parasitic apricot seed wasp (ASW) Eurytoma samsonowi Vassiliev (Vassiliev Petrograd 11: 1-15, 1915) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), a very harmful pest of apricot (Prunus armeniaca), in the oasis of Gafsa, Southern-West of Tunisia. The detection of Wolbachia infection was assessed based on the amplification of the Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene and a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) as a universal genotyping tool for Wolbachia involving the analyses of genes gatB, coxA, hcpA, fbpA, and ftsz. Confirming the screening results, Wolbachia was detected in the natural apricot wasp for the first time, with a significant difference between males (5%) and females (59%) based on wsp gene. All Wolbachia strains identified in E. samsonowi were clustered among supergroups B of Wolbachia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takwa Wannassi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Plant Protection, High Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia.
| | - Ahmed Sayadi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Plant Protection, High Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Khaled Abbes
- Department of Biological Sciences and Plant Protection, High Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Salma Djebbi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LR01ES05), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Chahnez Naccache
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LR01ES05), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Maha Mezghani Khemakhem
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LR01ES05), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Brahim Chermiti
- Department of Biological Sciences and Plant Protection, High Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem, University of Sousse, 4042, Sousse, Tunisia
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Castelli M, Nardi T, Giovannini M, Sassera D. Addictive manipulation: a perspective on the role of reproductive parasitism in the evolution of bacteria-eukaryote symbioses. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20240310. [PMID: 39288812 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0310] [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: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria encompass noteworthy reproductive manipulators of their arthropod hosts. which influence host reproduction to favour their own transmission, also exploiting toxin-antitoxin systems. Recently, multiple other bacterial symbionts of arthropods have been shown to display comparable manipulative capabilities. Here, we wonder whether such phenomena are truly restricted to arthropod hosts. We focused on protists, primary models for evolutionary investigations on eukaryotes due to their diversity and antiquity, but still overall under-investigated. After a thorough re-examination of the literature on bacterial-protist interactions with this question in mind, we conclude that such bacterial 'addictive manipulators' of protists do exist, are probably widespread, and have been overlooked until now as a consequence of the fact that investigations are commonly host-centred, thus ineffective to detect such behaviour. Additionally, we posit that toxin-antitoxin systems are crucial in these phenomena of addictive manipulation of protists, as a result of recurrent evolutionary repurposing. This indicates intriguing functional analogy and molecular homology with plasmid-bacterial interplays. Finally, we remark that multiple addictive manipulators are affiliated with specific bacterial lineages with ancient associations with diverse eukaryotes. This suggests a possible role of addictive manipulation of protists in paving the way to the evolution of bacteria associated with multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia , Pavia, Italy
| | - Tiago Nardi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia , Pavia, Italy
| | - Michele Giovannini
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa , Pisa, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Florence , Florence, Italy
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia , Pavia, Italy
- IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo , Pavia, Italy
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Cantin LJ, Gregory V, Blum LN, Foster JM. Dual RNA-seq in filarial nematodes and Wolbachia endosymbionts using RNase H based ribosomal RNA depletion. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1418032. [PMID: 38832111 PMCID: PMC11144916 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1418032] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis is caused by parasitic nematodes and is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Many filarial worms contain the bacterium Wolbachia as an obligate endosymbiont. RNA sequencing is a common technique used to study their molecular relationships and to identify potential drug targets against the nematode and bacteria. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is the most abundant RNA species, accounting for 80-90% of the RNA in a sample. To reduce sequencing costs, it is necessary to remove ribosomal reads through poly-A enrichment or ribosomal depletion. Bacterial RNA does not contain a poly-A tail, making it difficult to sequence both the nematode and Wolbachia from the same library preparation using standard poly-A selection. Ribosomal depletion can utilize species-specific oligonucleotide probes to remove rRNA through pull-down or degradation methods. While species-specific probes are commercially available for many commonly studied model organisms, there are currently limited depletion options for filarial parasites. Here, we performed total RNA sequencing from Brugia malayi containing the Wolbachia symbiont (wBm) and designed ssDNA depletion probes against their rRNA sequences. We compared the total RNA library to poly-A enriched, Terminator 5'-Phosphate-Dependent Exonuclease treated, NEBNext Human/Bacteria rRNA depleted and our custom nematode probe depleted libraries. The custom nematode depletion library had the lowest percentage of ribosomal reads across all methods, with a 300-fold decrease in rRNA when compared to the total RNA library. The nematode depletion libraries also contained the highest percentage of Wolbachia mRNA reads, resulting in a 16-1,000-fold increase in bacterial reads compared to the other enrichment and depletion methods. Finally, we found that the Brugia malayi depletion probes can remove rRNA from the filarial worm Dirofilaria immitis and the majority of rRNA from the more distantly related free living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. These custom filarial probes will allow for future dual RNA-seq experiments between nematodes and their bacterial symbionts from a single sequencing library.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey J. Cantin
- Biochemistry and Microbiology Division, New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
| | - Vanessa Gregory
- Biochemistry and Microbiology Division, New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
| | - Laura N. Blum
- Applications and Product Development, New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
| | - Jeremy M. Foster
- Biochemistry and Microbiology Division, New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
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Setegn A, Amare GA, Mihret Y. Wolbachia and Lymphatic Filarial Nematodes and Their Implications in the Pathogenesis of the Disease. J Parasitol Res 2024; 2024:3476951. [PMID: 38725798 PMCID: PMC11081757 DOI: 10.1155/2024/3476951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an infection of three closely related filarial worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. These worms can cause a devastating disease that involves acute and chronic lymphoedema of the extremities, which can cause elephantiasis in both sexes and hydroceles in males. These important public health nematodes were found to have a mutualistic relationship with intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, which is essential for the development and survival of the nematode. The host's inflammatory response to parasites and possibly also to the Wolbachia endosymbiont is the cause of lymphatic damage and disease pathogenesis. This review tried to describe and highlight the mutualistic associations between Wolbachia and lymphatic filarial nematodes and the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of lymphatic filariasis. Articles for this review were searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, and other databases. Article searching was not restricted by publication year; however, only English version full-text articles were included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abebaw Setegn
- Department of Medical Parasitology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Gashaw Azanaw Amare
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Yenesew Mihret
- Department of Medical Parasitology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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7
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Amala M, Nagarajan H, Ahila M, Nachiappan M, Veerapandiyan M, Vetrivel U, Jeyakanthan J. Unveiling the intricacies of allosteric regulation in aspartate kinase from the Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia Malayi: Mechanistic and therapeutic insights. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 267:131326. [PMID: 38569988 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131326] [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: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Aspartate kinase (AK), an enzyme from the Wolbachia endosymbiont of Brugia malayi (WBm), plays a pivotal role in the bacterial cell wall and amino acid biosynthesis, rendering it an attractive candidate for therapeutic intervention. Allosteric inhibition of aspartate kinase is a prevalent mode of regulation across microorganisms and plants, often modulated by end products such as lysine, threonine, methionine, or meso-diaminopimelate. The intricate and diverse nature of microbial allosteric regulation underscores the need for rigorous investigation. This study employs a combined experimental and computational approach to decipher the allosteric regulation of WBmAK. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations elucidate that ATP (cofactor) and ASP (substrate) binding induce a closed conformation, promoting enzymatic activity. In contrast, the binding of lysine (allosteric inhibitor) leads to enzyme inactivation and an open conformation. The enzymatic assay demonstrates the optimal activity of WBmAK at 28 °C and a pH of 8.0. Notably, the allosteric inhibition study highlights lysine as a more potent inhibitor compared to threonine. Importantly, this investigation sheds light on the allosteric mechanism governing WBmAK and imparts novel insights into structure-based drug discovery, paving the way for the development of effective inhibitors against filarial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathimaran Amala
- Structural Biology and Biocomputing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Hemavathy Nagarajan
- Structural Biology and Biocomputing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mathimaran Ahila
- Structural Biology and Biocomputing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mutharasappan Nachiappan
- Structural and Computational Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110 067, India
| | - Malaisamy Veerapandiyan
- Structural Biology and Biocomputing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Umashankar Vetrivel
- Virology & Biotechnology/Bioinformatics Division, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 031, India
| | - Jeyaraman Jeyakanthan
- Structural Biology and Biocomputing Lab, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Šiljegović S, Mouillaud T, Jiolle D, Petrić D, Ignjatović-Ćupina A, Vasić A, Paupy C, Kavran M. Dirofilaria sp. and Blood Meal Analysis in Mosquitoes Collected in Vojvodina and Mačva, and the First Report of Setaria tundra (Issaitshikoff & Rajewskaya, 1928) in Serbia. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1255. [PMID: 38731259 PMCID: PMC11083277 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are the two most widespread and important species of mosquito-borne nematodes, posing a significant threat to veterinary health and particularly affecting canines and felines. While D. immitis causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis, D. repens causes subcutaneous infections in dogs and other carnivores. Despite the extensive knowledge on these parasites, little is known about their natural vectors in Serbia. The parasite Setaria tundra, known to infect deer, has not yet been detected in Serbia but has been documented in neighboring countries. Thus, the aim of this study was to (i) further map out Dirofilaria sp. hotspots in the Vojvodina Province and detect S. tundra for the first time, (ii) detect positive mosquito species that can provide insights into how the nematodes spread in Serbia, and (iii) analyze the blood-fed female mosquitoes of species found to be infected, in order to identify the potential source of parasite infection. A total of 2902 female mosquitoes were collected across 73 locations during 2021 and 2022. Molecular biology methods, based on conventional PCR, were used to analyze non-blood-fed (2521 specimens) and blood-fed (381 specimens) female mosquitos, in order to detect filarial nematode presence and identify blood-meal sources, respectively. When the parasite genome was detected, the amplicon (cox1 gene, 650 bp fragment) was sent for Sanger sequencing, further confirming the presence of nematodes and species assignation. D. immitis was detected in three Culex pipiens mosquitoes collected in Zrenjanin (August 2021) and Glogonj and Svetozar Miletić (both in July 2021). Additionally, Setaria tundra was detected in Aedes vexans collected in Iđoš (mid-August 2021) and Aedes caspius, which was collected in Mali Iđoš (end of July 2021). This work identifies two new locations where D. immitis occurs in Vojvodina, and is the first report of S. tundra in Serbian territory. Blood-meal analysis provided insights into the preferences of mosquitoes that were positive for Dirofilaria sp. and S. tundra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Šiljegović
- Faculty of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence—One Health, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (S.Š.); (D.P.); (A.I.-Ć.)
| | - Théo Mouillaud
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Montpellier University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 34090 Montpellier, France; (T.M.); (D.J.); (C.P.)
| | - Davy Jiolle
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Montpellier University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 34090 Montpellier, France; (T.M.); (D.J.); (C.P.)
| | - Dušan Petrić
- Faculty of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence—One Health, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (S.Š.); (D.P.); (A.I.-Ć.)
| | - Aleksandra Ignjatović-Ćupina
- Faculty of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence—One Health, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (S.Š.); (D.P.); (A.I.-Ć.)
| | - Ana Vasić
- Scientific Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia, Janisa Janulisa 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Christophe Paupy
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Montpellier University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 34090 Montpellier, France; (T.M.); (D.J.); (C.P.)
| | - Mihaela Kavran
- Faculty of Agriculture, Centre of Excellence—One Health, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (S.Š.); (D.P.); (A.I.-Ć.)
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Sharmin Z, Samarah H, Aldaya Bourricaudy R, Ochoa L, Serbus LR. Cross-validation of chemical and genetic disruption approaches to inform host cellular effects on Wolbachia abundance in Drosophila. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1364009. [PMID: 38591028 PMCID: PMC10999648 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1364009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria are widespread in nature, present in half of all insect species. The success of Wolbachia is supported by a commensal lifestyle. Unlike bacterial pathogens that overreplicate and harm host cells, Wolbachia infections have a relatively innocuous intracellular lifestyle. This raises important questions about how Wolbachia infection is regulated. Little is known about how Wolbachia abundance is controlled at an organismal scale. Methods This study demonstrates methodology for rigorous identification of cellular processes that affect whole-body Wolbachia abundance, as indicated by absolute counts of the Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene. Results Candidate pathways, associated with well-described infection scenarios, were identified. Wolbachia-infected fruit flies were exposed to small molecule inhibitors known for targeting those same pathways. Sequential tests in D. melanogaster and D. simulans yielded a subset of chemical inhibitors that significantly affected whole-body Wolbachia abundance, including the Wnt pathway disruptor, IWR-1 and the mTOR pathway inhibitor, Rapamycin. The implicated pathways were genetically retested for effects in D. melanogaster, using inducible RNAi expression driven by constitutive as well as chemically-induced somatic GAL4 expression. Genetic disruptions of armadillo, tor, and ATG6 significantly affected whole-body Wolbachia abundance. Discussion As such, the data corroborate reagent targeting and pathway relevance to whole-body Wolbachia infection. The results also implicate Wnt and mTOR regulation of autophagy as important for regulation of Wolbachia titer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinat Sharmin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Hani Samarah
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Rafael Aldaya Bourricaudy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Laura Ochoa
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Laura Renee Serbus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Biomolecular Sciences Institute, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
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10
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Muslim A, Aazmi S, Er YX, Shahrizal S, Lim YAL. Ascaris lumbricoides harbors a distinct gut microbiota profile from its human host: Preliminary insights. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2024; 34:e00223. [PMID: 38323096 PMCID: PMC10844936 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2024.e00223] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In indigenous populations where soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections are endemic, STH parasites (i.e., Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworms) often co-exist and co-evolve with the gut microbiota of their human hosts. The association between STH infections and the gut microbiota of the colonized human hosts has been established, but few studies explored the gut microbiota of the parasites. This preliminary study aimed to characterize the microbiota of the STH parasite for further understanding the STH parasite-host relationship. The gut microbial genomic DNA from four adult A. lumbricoides worms recovered from a six-year-old indigenous Negrito boy living in an STH-endemic village in Perak, Peninsular Malaysia was extracted and sequenced for the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA. The microbiota profiles of these worms were characterized and compared with the gut microbiota of their human host, including the profiles from four STH-positive and three STH-negative individuals from the same tribe and village. The gut microbial structure of A. lumbricoides was found to be differed significantly from their human host. The worms contained lower gut bacterial abundance and diversity than human. This difference was evident in the beta diversity analysis which showed a clear separation between the two sample types. While both Firmicutes (52.3%) and Bacteroidetes (36.6%) are the predominant phyla followed by Proteobacteria (7.2%) in the human gut, the microbiota of Ascaris gut is highly dominated by Firmicutes, constituting 84.2% relative abundance (mainly from the genus Clostridium), followed by Proteobacteria (11.1%), Tenericutes (1.8%) and Bacteroidetes (1.5%). The parasites were also found to alter the microbial structure of the human gut following infection based on the relatively higher bacterial abundance in STH-positive versus STH-negative participants. Further studies with a greater number of Ascaris adults and human hosts are needed to confirm the gut microbiota profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azdayanti Muslim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sungai Buloh Campus), Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
- Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- Microbiome Health and Environment (MiHeaRT), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Shafiq Aazmi
- Microbiome Health and Environment (MiHeaRT), Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
- School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yi Xian Er
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shezryna Shahrizal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (Sungai Buloh Campus), Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Mathews A, Pasupuleti J, Shameem U. Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasite infections in country chicken from Visakhapatnam district Andhra Pradesh India. J Parasit Dis 2024; 48:95-107. [PMID: 38440751 PMCID: PMC10909052 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-023-01644-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Birds in a free environment carry huge risk of helminth parasite infections affecting the health of poultry and thereby indirectly leading to great economic loss. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, intensity and species diversity of gastrointestinal helminth parasites (GIH) of country chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) from local chicken markets of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 300 gastrointestinal tract (GIT) samples were examined from January to December 2021 and the collected parasites were separated, counted, identified and statistically analysed. The overall prevalence of infection was found to be 87% with an intensity of 139.29. The study showed high prevalence with mixed infections (66%), whereas the prevalence with individual groups i.e. cestodes, nematodes and trematodes was found to be 83.00%, 70.33%, and 0.67% respectively. Altogether 10 parasite species were identified viz. Raillietina echinobothrida being the most dominant with a prevalence of 72.67%, followed by Raillietina tetragona (62.00%), Heterakis gallinarum (59.33%), Ascaridia galli (45.33%), Davainea proglottina (43.00%), Amoebotaenia cuneata (42.67%), Raillietina cesticillus (38.33%), Hymenolepis sp. 1 (36.00%), Cotugnia spp. (29.67%) and the least was Hymenolepis sp. 2 (21.00%). In month-wise data, highest prevalence was recorded in July (100%), and the highest seasonal prevalence was recorded in summer (90%), followed by monsoon (87%) and winter (84%). No major significant difference in prevalence was noted between males (88.51%) and females (85.53%). Hosts with high body temperature and low GIT pH levels showed increased prevalence and parasite intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisha Mathews
- Department of Zoology, College of Science and Technology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003 India
| | - Janakiram Pasupuleti
- Department of Marine Living Resources, College of Science and Technology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003 India
| | - Ummey Shameem
- Department of Zoology, College of Science and Technology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003 India
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12
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Cantin LJ, Dunning Hotopp JC, Foster JM. Improved metagenome assemblies through selective enrichment of bacterial genomic DNA from eukaryotic host genomic DNA using ATAC-seq. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1352378. [PMID: 38426058 PMCID: PMC10902005 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1352378] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Genomics can be used to study the complex relationships between hosts and their microbiota. Many bacteria cannot be cultured in the laboratory, making it difficult to obtain adequate amounts of bacterial DNA and to limit host DNA contamination for the construction of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). For example, Wolbachia is a genus of exclusively obligate intracellular bacteria that live in a wide range of arthropods and some nematodes. While Wolbachia endosymbionts are frequently described as facultative reproductive parasites in arthropods, the bacteria are obligate mutualistic endosymbionts of filarial worms. Here, we achieve 50-fold enrichment of bacterial sequences using ATAC-seq (Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing) with Brugia malayi nematodes, containing Wolbachia (wBm). ATAC-seq uses the Tn5 transposase to cut and attach Illumina sequencing adapters to accessible DNA lacking histones, typically thought to be open chromatin. Bacterial and mitochondrial DNA in the lysates are also cut preferentially since they lack histones, leading to the enrichment of these sequences. The benefits of this include minimal tissue input (<1 mg of tissue), a quick protocol (<4 h), low sequencing costs, less bias, correct assembly of lateral gene transfers and no prior sequence knowledge required. We assembled the wBm genome with as few as 1 million Illumina short paired-end reads with >97% coverage of the published genome, compared to only 12% coverage with the standard gDNA libraries. We found significant bacterial sequence enrichment that facilitated genome assembly in previously published ATAC-seq data sets from human cells infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and C. elegans contaminated with their food source, the OP50 strain of E. coli. These results demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of using ATAC-seq to easily obtain bacterial genomes to aid in symbiosis, infectious disease, and microbiome research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey J. Cantin
- Biochemistry and Microbiology Division, New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
| | - Julie C. Dunning Hotopp
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jeremy M. Foster
- Biochemistry and Microbiology Division, New England BioLabs, Ipswich, MA, United States
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Voronin D, Tricoche N, Peguero R, Kaminska AM, Ghedin E, Sakanari JA, Lustigman S. Repurposed Drugs That Activate Autophagy in Filarial Worms Act as Effective Macrofilaricides. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:256. [PMID: 38399310 PMCID: PMC10891619 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are two neglected tropical diseases caused by filarial nematodes that utilize insect vectors for transmission to their human hosts. Current control strategies are based on annual or biannual mass drug administration (MDA) of the drugs Ivermectin or Ivermectin plus Albendazole, respectively. These drug regimens kill the first-stage larvae of filarial worms (i.e., microfilariae) and interrupt the transmission of infections. MDA programs for these microfilaricidal drugs must be given over the lifetime of the filarial adult worms, which can reach 15 years in the case of Onchocerca volvulus. This is problematic because of suboptimal responses to ivermectin in various endemic regions and inefficient reduction of transmission even after decades of MDA. There is an urgent need for the development of novel alternative treatments to support the 2030 elimination goals of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. One successful approach has been to target Wolbachia, obligatory endosymbiotic bacteria on which filarial worms are dependent for their survival and reproduction within the human host. A 4-6-week antibiotic therapy with doxycycline, for example, resulted in the loss of Wolbachia that subsequently led to extensive apoptosis of somatic cells, germline, embryos, and microfilariae, as well as inhibition of fourth-stage larval development. However, this long-course regimen has limited use in MDA programs. As an alternative approach to the use of bacteriostatic antibiotics, in this study, we focused on autophagy-inducing compounds, which we hypothesized could disturb various pathways involved in the interdependency between Wolbachia and filarial worms. We demonstrated that several such compounds, including Niclosamide, an FDA-approved drug, Niclosamide ethanolamine (NEN), and Rottlerin, a natural product derived from Kamala trees, significantly reduced the levels of Wolbachia in vitro. Moreover, when these compounds were used in vivo to treat Brugia pahangi-infected gerbils, Niclosamide and NEN significantly decreased adult worm survival, reduced the release of microfilariae, and decreased embryonic development depending on the regimen and dose used. All three drugs given orally significantly reduced Wolbachia loads and induced an increase in levels of lysosome-associated membrane protein in worms from treated animals, suggesting that Niclosamide, NEN, and Rottlerin were effective in causing drug-induced autophagy in these filarial worms. These repurposed drugs provide a new avenue for the clearance of adult worms in filarial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Voronin
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Nancy Tricoche
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ricardo Peguero
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anna Maria Kaminska
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Judy A. Sakanari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Hamid A, Mäser P, Mahmoud AB. Drug Repurposing in the Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases. Molecules 2024; 29:635. [PMID: 38338378 PMCID: PMC10856722 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29030635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Repurposing is a universal mechanism for innovation, from the evolution of feathers to the invention of Velcro tape. Repurposing is particularly attractive for drug development, given that it costs more than a billion dollars and takes longer than ten years to make a new drug from scratch. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a large number of drug repurposing activities. At the same time, it has highlighted potential pitfalls, in particular when concessions are made to the target product profile. Here, we discuss the pros and cons of drug repurposing for infectious diseases and analyze different ways of repurposing. We distinguish between opportunistic and rational approaches, i.e., just saving time and money by screening compounds that are already approved versus repurposing based on a particular target that is common to different pathogens. The latter can be further distinguished into divergent and convergent: points of attack that are divergent share common ancestry (e.g., prokaryotic targets in the apicoplast of malaria parasites), whereas those that are convergent arise from a shared lifestyle (e.g., the susceptibility of bacteria, parasites, and tumor cells to antifolates due to their high rate of DNA synthesis). We illustrate how such different scenarios can be capitalized on by using examples of drugs that have been repurposed to, from, or within the field of anti-infective chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Hamid
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan;
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, 4123 Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Abdelhalim Babiker Mahmoud
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Khartoum, Khartoum 11111, Sudan;
- Department of Microbial Natural Products, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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15
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Yang K, Zhang HY, Wang P, Jin GX, Chu D. Both symbionts and environmental factors contribute to shape the microbiota in a pest insect, Sogatella furcifera. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1336345. [PMID: 38348307 PMCID: PMC10860895 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1336345] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Bacterial symbionts are prevalent in arthropods globally and play a vital role in the fitness and resistance of hosts. While several symbiont infections have been identified in the white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera, the impact of environmental factors on the microbiota within S. furcifera remains elusive. Methods In this study, a total of 142 S. furcifera individuals from 18 populations were collected from 14 locations across six countries (China, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos) analyzed with 2bRAD-M sequencing, to examine the effects of symbionts on the microbiota in the S. furcifera population, as well as the vital effects of environmental factors on the bacterial communities. Results and discussion Based on the results, in S. furcifera, the presence of symbionts Wolbachia and Cardinium negatively influenced the abundance of other bacteria, including Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, and Lysinibacillus, while Wolbachia infection significantly decreased the diversity of the microbial community. Moreover, several environmental factors, including longitude, latitude, temperature, and precipitation, affected the abundance of symbionts and microbiota diversity in S. furcifera. These results collectively highlight the vital role of Wolbachia in S. furcifera microbiota, as well as the intricate effects of environmental factors on the bacterial communities of S. furcifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yang
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Province Centre for Bioinvasions and Eco-security, Qingdao, China
| | - Hua-Yue Zhang
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Province Centre for Bioinvasions and Eco-security, Qingdao, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Province Centre for Bioinvasions and Eco-security, Qingdao, China
| | - Gui-Xiu Jin
- Linyi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Linyi, China
| | - Dong Chu
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Shandong Province Centre for Bioinvasions and Eco-security, Qingdao, China
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16
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Huggins LG, Atapattu U, Young ND, Traub RJ, Colella V. Development and validation of a long-read metabarcoding platform for the detection of filarial worm pathogens of animals and humans. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:28. [PMID: 38245715 PMCID: PMC10799534 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-03159-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Filarial worms are important vector-borne pathogens of a large range of animal hosts, including humans, and are responsible for numerous debilitating neglected tropical diseases such as, lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia spp., as well as loiasis caused by Loa loa. Moreover, some emerging or difficult-to-eliminate filarioid pathogens are zoonotic using animals like canines as reservoir hosts, for example Dirofilaria sp. 'hongkongensis'. Diagnosis of filariasis through commonly available methods, like microscopy, can be challenging as microfilaremia may wane below the limit of detection. In contrast, conventional PCR methods are more sensitive and specific but may show limited ability to detect coinfections as well as emerging and/or novel pathogens. Use of deep-sequencing technologies obviate these challenges, providing sensitive detection of entire parasite communities, whilst also being better suited for the characterisation of rare or novel pathogens. Therefore, we developed a novel long-read metabarcoding assay for deep-sequencing the filarial nematode cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene on Oxford Nanopore Technologies' (ONT) MinION™ sequencer. We assessed the overall performance of our assay using kappa statistics to compare it to commonly used diagnostic methods for filarial worm detection, such as conventional PCR (cPCR) with Sanger sequencing and the microscopy-based modified Knott's test (MKT). RESULTS We confirmed our metabarcoding assay can characterise filarial parasites from a diverse range of genera, including, Breinlia, Brugia, Cercopithifilaria, Dipetalonema, Dirofilaria, Onchocerca, Setaria, Stephanofilaria and Wuchereria. We demonstrated proof-of-concept for this assay by using blood samples from Sri Lankan dogs, whereby we identified infections with the filarioids Acanthocheilonema reconditum, Brugia sp. Sri Lanka genotype and zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. 'hongkongensis'. When compared to traditionally used diagnostics, such as the MKT and cPCR with Sanger sequencing, we identified an additional filarioid species and over 15% more mono- and coinfections. CONCLUSIONS Our developed metabarcoding assay may show broad applicability for the metabarcoding and diagnosis of the full spectrum of filarioids from a wide range of animal hosts, including mammals and vectors, whilst the utilisation of ONT' small and portable MinION™ means that such methods could be deployed for field use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G Huggins
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.
| | - Ushani Atapattu
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Neil D Young
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Traub
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia
| | - Vito Colella
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia
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Yadav A, Yadav S, Alam A. A Landscape on Lymphatic Filariasis with its Effects and Recent Advanced Treatments. RECENT ADVANCES IN ANTI-INFECTIVE DRUG DISCOVERY 2024; 19:197-215. [PMID: 38317463 DOI: 10.2174/0127724344266902231117112109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis is an infection caused by parasites that poses a significant health, social, and economic burden, affecting a vast population that exceeds 120 million individuals globally. The Etiology of the infection is attributed to three nematode parasites, namely Wuchereria bancrofti, B. timori, and Brugia malayi, as well as which are phylogenetically related. These parasites are transmitted to humans via mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles, Aedes genera, and Culex. As per the estimation provided by the WHO, the current number of individuals infected with filariasis stands at approximately 120 million across 81 countries. Furthermore, it is estimated that around 1.34 billion individuals reside in regions that are endemic to filariasis, thereby putting them at risk of contracting the disease. Different synthetic drugs such as Ivermectin, Doxycycline, Albendazole, and Suramin are used in the treatment. Some natural plants are Azadirachta indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Zingiber officinal, as well as, some marine sources are also included for better treatment. We also touch briefly on a few additional filarial diseases. Although there are only a few medications available to treat filariasis, their frequent usage may result in drug resistance. Furthermore, there is no effective vaccination for the treatment of filariasis. Due to these restrictions, it has been crucial to create new anti-filarial medications, which motivates researchers to find novel pharmaceuticals with anti-filarial action. In this article, we examine the latest achievements in the anti-filarial area, including the many forms of filariasis and their historical contexts, elimination programmes, various therapeutic classes (both synthetic and natural), investigated product-derived targets as well as clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agrima Yadav
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shikha Yadav
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Aftab Alam
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medical and Allied Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Perles L, Otranto D, Barreto W, de Macedo G, Lia R, Mendoza-Roldan J, Herrera H, de Oliveira C, Machado R, André M. Mansonella sp. and associated Wolbachia endosymbionts in ring-tailed coatis ( Nasua nasua) in periurban areas from Midwestern Brazil. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:14-19. [PMID: 37584011 PMCID: PMC10424073 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Coatis (Nasua nasua) are wild carnivorous well adapted to anthropized environments especially important because they act as reservoirs hosts for many arthropod-borne zoonotic pathogens. Information about filarioids from coatis and associated Wolbachia spp. in Brazil is scant. To investigate the diversity of filarial nematodes, blood samples (n = 100 animals) were obtained from two urban areas in midwestern Brazil and analyzed using blood smears and buffy coats and cPCR assays based on the cox1, 12S rRNA, 18S rRNA, hsp70 and myoHC genes for nematodes and 16S rRNA for Wolbachia. When analyzing coati blood smears and buffy coats, 30% and 80% of the samples presented at least one microfilaria, respectively. Twenty-five cox1 sequences were obtained showing 89% nucleotide identity with Mansonella ozzardi. Phylogenetic analyses clustered cox1 sequences herein obtained within the Mansonella spp. clade. Sequences of both myoHC and two hsp70 genes showed 99.8% nucleotide identity with Mansonella sp. and clustered into a clade within Mansonella sp., previously detected in coatis from Brazil. Two blood samples were positive for Wolbachia, with a 99% nucleotide identity with Wolbachia previously found in Mansonella perstans, Mansonella ozzardi and Mansonella atelensis and in ectoparasites of the genus Pseudolynchia, Melophagus and Cimex. The study showed a high prevalence of Mansonella sp. in the coati population examined, suggesting that this animal species play a role as reservoirs of a novel, yet to be described, species within the Onchocercidae family.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Perles
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, Jaboticabal, 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - D. Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70100, Valenzano, Italy
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, 6516738695, Hamedan, Iran
| | - W.T.G. Barreto
- Post-Graduation of Ecology and Conservation, Mato Grosso do Sul Federal University, Campo Grande, 13471-410, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - G.C. de Macedo
- Laboratory of Parasitic Biology, Environmental Sciences and Farming Sustainability, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande, 13471-410, MS, Brazil
| | - R.P. Lia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70100, Valenzano, Italy
| | - J.A. Mendoza-Roldan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70100, Valenzano, Italy
| | - H.M. Herrera
- Post-Graduation of Ecology and Conservation, Mato Grosso do Sul Federal University, Campo Grande, 13471-410, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Laboratory of Parasitic Biology, Environmental Sciences and Farming Sustainability, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande, 13471-410, MS, Brazil
| | - C.E. de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Parasitic Biology, Environmental Sciences and Farming Sustainability, Dom Bosco Catholic University, Campo Grande, 13471-410, MS, Brazil
| | - R.Z. Machado
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, Jaboticabal, 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - M.R. André
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Zona Rural, Jaboticabal, 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil
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Perlmutter JI, Atadurdyyeva A, Schedl ME, Unckless RL. Wolbachia enhances the survival of Drosophila infected with fungal pathogens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.30.560320. [PMID: 37873081 PMCID: PMC10592616 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.30.560320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria of arthropods are at the forefront of basic and translational research on multipartite host-symbiont-pathogen interactions. These microbes are vertically inherited from mother to offspring via the cytoplasm. They are the most widespread endosymbionts on the planet due to their infamous ability to manipulate the reproduction of their hosts to spread themselves in a population, and to provide a variety of fitness benefits to their hosts. Importantly, some strains of Wolbachia can inhibit viral pathogenesis within and between arthropod hosts. Mosquitoes carrying the wMel Wolbachia strain of Drosophila melanogaster have a greatly reduced capacity to spread viruses like dengue and Zika to humans. Therefore, Wolbachia are the basis of several global vector control initiatives. While significant research efforts have focused on viruses, relatively little attention has been given to Wolbachia-fungal interactions despite the ubiquity of fungal entomopathogens in nature. Here, we demonstrate that Wolbachia increase the longevity of their Drosophila melanogaster hosts when challenged with a spectrum of yeast and filamentous fungal pathogens. We find that this pattern can vary based on host genotype, sex, and fungal species. Further, Wolbachia correlates with higher fertility and reduced pathogen titers during initial fungal infection, indicating a significant fitness benefit. This study demonstrates Wolbachia's role in diverse fungal pathogen interactions and determines that the phenotype is broad, but with several variables that influence both the presence and strength of the phenotype. These results enhance our knowledge of the strategies Wolbachia uses that likely contribute to such a high global symbiont prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aylar Atadurdyyeva
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Margaret E. Schedl
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Robert L. Unckless
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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Kamkong P, Jitsamai W, Thongmeesee K, Ratthawongjirakul P, Taweethavonsawat P. Genetic diversity and characterization of Wolbachia endosymbiont in canine filariasis. Acta Trop 2023; 246:107000. [PMID: 37567493 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107000] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Canine filariasis is caused by nematodes from the family Onchocercidae, which is transmitted by arthropod vectors. The disease is commonly found in Southeast Asia and exists worldwide. Some filarial nematodes are associated with intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, which plays an important role in embryogenesis, molting, and the long-term survival of adult worms. This study aims to characterize Wolbachia sp. and determine the association between Wolbachia and canine filarial nematode species in Thailand. A total of 46 dog blood samples that were naturally infected with filarial nematodes were obtained to identify filarial nematode species by Giemsa stained under a light microscope and confirmed using the molecular technique. In order to characterize Wolbachia sp., the nested PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene showed that all samples of Dirofilaria immitis and fifteen samples of Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis were grouped into Wolbachia supergroup C. In addition, all samples of Brugia spp. and five samples of Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis were classified into Wolbachia supergroup D. The genetic diversity analysis conducted using the 16S rRNA gene revealed a similar result when analyzed through phylogenetic tree analysis. This is the first genetic diversity study of Wolbachia of Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis in infected dogs in Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patchana Kamkong
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Graduate Program of Molecular Sciences in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Biomarkers in Animal Parasitology Research Group, Thailand
| | - Wanarit Jitsamai
- Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kritsada Thongmeesee
- Veterinary Pathobiology Graduate Program, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Panan Ratthawongjirakul
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Piyanan Taweethavonsawat
- Biomarkers in Animal Parasitology Research Group, Thailand; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Parasitology Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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Wenzel M, Aquadro CF. Wolbachia infection at least partially rescues the fertility and ovary defects of several new Drosophila melanogaster bag of marbles protein-coding mutants. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1011009. [PMID: 37871129 PMCID: PMC10621935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011009] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The D. melanogaster protein coding gene bag of marbles (bam) plays a key role in early male and female reproduction by forming complexes with partner proteins to promote differentiation in gametogenesis. Like another germline gene, Sex lethal, bam genetically interacts with the endosymbiont Wolbachia, as Wolbachia rescues the reduced fertility of a bam hypomorphic mutant. Here, we explored the specificity of the bam-Wolbachia interaction by generating 22 new bam mutants, with ten mutants displaying fertility defects. Nine of these mutants trend towards rescue by the wMel Wolbachia variant, with eight statistically significant at the fertility and/or cytological level. In some cases, fertility was increased a striking 20-fold. There is no specificity between the rescue and the known binding regions of bam, suggesting wMel does not interact with one singular bam partner to rescue the reproductive phenotype. We further tested if wMel interacts with bam in a non-specific way, by increasing bam transcript levels or acting upstream in germline stem cells. A fertility assessment of a bam RNAi knockdown mutant reveals that wMel rescue is specific to functionally mutant bam alleles and we find no obvious evidence of wMel interaction with germline stem cells in bam mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miwa Wenzel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Charles F. Aquadro
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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22
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Pikula J, Piacek V, Bandouchova H, Bartlova M, Bednarikova S, Burianova R, Danek O, Jedlicka P, Masova S, Nemcova M, Seidlova V, Zukalova K, Zukal J. Case report: Filarial infection of a parti-coloured bat: Litomosa sp. adult worms in abdominal cavity and microfilariae in bat semen. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1284025. [PMID: 37808105 PMCID: PMC10551455 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1284025] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Filarial infections have been understudied in bats. Likewise, little is known about pathogens associated with the reproductive system in chiropterans. While semen quality is critical for reproductive success, semen-borne pathogens may contribute to reproductive failure. Methods For the first time we performed electroejaculation and used computer-assisted semen analysis to provide baseline data on semen quality in a parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus). Results The semen quality values measured in the V. murinus male appeared high (semen concentration = 305.4 × 106/mL; progressive and motile sperm = 46.58 and 60.27%, respectively). As an incidental finding, however, microfilariae were observed in the bat semen examined. At necropsy, eight adult filarial worms, later genetically identified as Litomosa sp., were found in the peritoneal cavity, close to the stomach, of the same particoloured bat male dying as a result of dysmicrobia and haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in a wildlife rescue centre. Histopathology revealed microfilariae in the testicular connective tissue and the epidydimal connective and fat tissues. A PCR assay targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 confirmed that adult worms from the peritoneal cavity and testicular microfilariae were of the same filarial species. Mildly engorged argasid mite larvae attached to the bat skin proved negative for filarial DNA and the adult filarial worms proved negative for endosymbiont Wolbachia. Conclusion While the standard filarial life cycle pattern involves a vertebrate definitive host and an invertebrate vector, represented by a blood-sucking ectoparasite, our finding suggests that microfilariae of this nematode species may also be semen-borne, with transmission intensity promoted by the polygynous mating system of vespertilionid bats in which an infected male mates with many females during the autumn swarming. Presence of microfilariae may be expected to decrease semen quality and transmission via this route may challenge the success of reproductive events in females after mating. Further investigation will be necessary to better understand the bat-parasite interaction and the life cycle of this filarial worm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Pikula
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Vladimir Piacek
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Hana Bandouchova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marie Bartlova
- Department of Plant Origin Food Sciences, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Sarka Bednarikova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Romana Burianova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ondrej Danek
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Petr Jedlicka
- Institute of Scientific Instruments of the Czech Academy of Sciences v.v.i., Brno, Czechia
| | - Sarka Masova
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Monika Nemcova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Veronika Seidlova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Katerina Zukalova
- Department of Ecology and Diseases of Zoo Animals, Game, Fish and Bees, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Zukal
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
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Irvine A, Huws SA, Atkinson LE, Mousley A. Exploring the antimicrobial peptidome of nematodes through phylum-spanning in silico analyses highlights novel opportunities for pathogen control. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011618. [PMID: 37672536 PMCID: PMC10506718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011618] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) are key constituents of the invertebrate innate immune system and provide critical protection against microbial threat. Nematodes display diverse life strategies where they are exposed to heterogenous, microbe rich, environments highlighting their need for an innate immune system. Within the Ecdysozoa, arthropod AMPs have been well characterised, however nematode-derived AMP knowledge is limited. In this study the distribution and abundance of putative AMP-encoding genes was examined in 134 nematode genomes providing the most comprehensive profile of AMP candidates within phylum Nematoda. Through genome and transcriptome analyses we reveal that phylum Nematoda is a rich source of putative AMP diversity and demonstrate (i) putative AMP group profiles that are influenced by nematode lifestyle where free-living nematodes appear to display enriched putative AMP profiles relative to parasitic species; (ii) major differences in the putative AMP profiles between nematode clades where Clade 9/V and 10/IV species possess expanded putative AMP repertoires; (iii) AMP groups with highly restricted profiles (e.g. Cecropins and Diapausins) and others [e.g. Nemapores and Glycine Rich Secreted Peptides (GRSPs)] which are more widely distributed; (iv) complexity in the distribution and abundance of CSαβ subgroup members; and (v) that putative AMPs are expressed in host-facing life stages and biofluids of key nematode parasites. These data indicate that phylum Nematoda displays diversity in putative AMPs and underscores the need for functional characterisation to reveal their role and importance to nematode biology and host-nematode-microbiome interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allister Irvine
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon A. Huws
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Louise E. Atkinson
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Mousley
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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24
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Wenzel M, Aquadro CF. Wolbachia infection at least partially rescues the fertility and ovary defects of several new Drosophila melanogaster bag of marbles protein-coding mutants. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.20.532813. [PMID: 37645949 PMCID: PMC10461928 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.20.532813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The D. melanogaster protein coding gene bag of marbles ( bam ) plays a key role in early male and female reproduction by forming complexes with partner proteins to promote differentiation in gametogenesis. Like another germline gene, Sex lethal , bam genetically interacts with the endosymbiont Wolbachia , as Wolbachia rescues the reduced fertility of a bam hypomorphic mutant. Here, we explored the specificity of the bam-Wolbachia interaction by generating 22 new bam mutants, with ten mutants displaying fertility defects. Nine of these mutants trend towards rescue by the w Mel Wolbachia variant, with eight statistically significant at the fertility and/or cytological level. In some cases, fertility was increased a striking 20-fold. There is no specificity between the rescue and the known binding regions of bam , suggesting w Mel does not interact with one singular bam partner to rescue the reproductive phenotype. We further tested if w Mel interacts with bam in a non-specific way, by increasing bam transcript levels or acting upstream in germline stem cells. A fertility assessment of a bam RNAi knockdown mutant reveals that w Mel rescue is specific to functionally mutant bam alleles and we find no obvious evidence of w Mel interaction with germline stem cells in bam mutants. Author Summary Reproduction in the Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly is dependent on the bag of marbles ( bam ) gene, which acts early in the process of generating eggs and sperm. Mutations to this gene negatively impact the fertility of the fly, causing it to be sterile or have fewer progeny. Interestingly, we find that the bacteria Wolbachia , which resides within reproductive cells across a wide range of insects, partially restores the fertility and ovary phenotype of several bam mutants of which the resultant Bam protein is altered from wildtype. The protein function of Bam is further suggested to be important by the lack of rescue for a fly that has a fertility defect due to low expression of a non-mutated bam gene. Previous work makes similar conclusions about Wolbachia with another reproductive gene, Sex lethal ( Sxl ), highlighting the potential for rescue of fertility mutants to occur in a similar way across different genes. An understanding of the ways in which Wolbachia can affect host reproduction provides us with context with which to frame Wolbachia 's impact on host genes, such as bam and Sxl, and consider the evolutionary implications of Wolbachia 's infection in D. melanogaster fruit flies.
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25
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Medina P, Russell SL, Corbett-Detig R. Deep data mining reveals variable abundance and distribution of microbial reproductive manipulators within and among diverse host species. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288261. [PMID: 37432953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial symbionts that manipulate the reproduction of their hosts are important factors in invertebrate ecology and evolution, and are being leveraged for host biological control. Infection prevalence restricts which biological control strategies are possible and is thought to be strongly influenced by the density of symbiont infection within hosts, termed titer. Current methods to estimate infection prevalence and symbiont titers are low-throughput, biased towards sampling infected species, and rarely measure titer. Here we develop a data mining approach to estimate symbiont infection frequencies within host species and titers within host tissues. We applied this approach to screen ~32,000 publicly available sequence samples from the most common symbiont host taxa, discovering 2,083 arthropod and 119 nematode infected samples. From these data, we estimated that Wolbachia infects approximately 44% of all arthropod and 34% of all nematode species, while other reproductive manipulators only infect 1-8% of arthropod and nematode species. Although relative titers within hosts were highly variable within and between arthropod species, a combination of arthropod host species and Wolbachia strain explained approximately 36% of variation in Wolbachia titer across the dataset. To explore potential mechanisms for host control of symbiont titer, we leveraged population genomic data from the model system Drosophila melanogaster. In this host, we found a number of SNPs associated with titer in candidate genes potentially relevant to host interactions with Wolbachia. Our study demonstrates that data mining is a powerful tool to detect bacterial infections and quantify infection intensities, thus opening an array of previously inaccessible data for further analysis in host-symbiont evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paloma Medina
- Genomics Institute, Department of Biomolecular Engineering UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
| | - Shelbi L Russell
- Genomics Institute, Department of Biomolecular Engineering UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
| | - Russell Corbett-Detig
- Genomics Institute, Department of Biomolecular Engineering UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America
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26
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Guo W, Zhang M, Lin L, Zeng C, Zhang Y, He X. Bacterial Community Survey of Wolbachia-Infected Parthenogenetic Parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) Treated with Antibiotics and High Temperature. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098448. [PMID: 37176154 PMCID: PMC10179479 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia has been shown to induce thelytokous parthenogenesis in Trichogramma species, which have been widely used as biological control agents around the world. Little is known about the changes of bacterial community after restoring arrhenotokous or bisexual reproduction in the T. pretiosum. Here, we investigate the emergence of males of T. pretiosum through curing experiments (antibiotics and high temperature), crossing experiments, and high-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing (rRNA-seq). The results of curing experiments showed that both antibiotics and high temperatures could cause the thelytokous T. pretiosum to produce male offspring. Wolbachia was dominant in the thelytokous T. pretiosum bacterial community with 99.01% relative abundance. With the relative abundance of Wolbachia being depleted by antibiotics, the diversity and relative content of other endosymbiotic bacteria increased, and the reproductive mode reverted from thelytoky to arrhenotoky in T. pretiosum. Although antibiotics did not eliminate Wolbachia in T. pretiosum, sulfadiazine showed an advantage in restoring entirely arrhenotokous and successive bisexual reproduction. This study was the first to demonstrate the bacterial communities in parthenogenetic Trichogramma before and after antibiotics or high-temperature treatment. Our findings supported the hypothesis that Wolbachia titer-dependence drives a reproduction switch in T. pretiosum between thelytoky and arrhenotoky.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Meijiao Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Liangguan Lin
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Chenxu Zeng
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yuping Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Xiaofang He
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Pesticide Innovation and Application, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Latrofa MS, Varotto-Boccazzi I, Louzada-Flores VN, Iatta R, Mendoza-Roldan JA, Roura X, Zatelli A, Epis S, Bandi C, Otranto D. Interaction between Wolbachia pipientis and Leishmania infantum in heartworm infected dogs. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:77. [PMID: 36850014 PMCID: PMC9972713 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05662-y] [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: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wolbachia is a Gram-negative endosymbiont associated with several species of arthropods and filarioid nematodes, including Dirofilaria immitis. This endosymbiont may elicit a Th1 response, which is a component of the immunity against Leishmania infantum. METHODS To investigate the interactions between Wolbachia of D. immitis and L. infantum in naturally infected dogs and cytokine circulation, dogs without clinical signs (n = 187) were selected. Dogs were tested for microfilariae (mfs) by Knott, for female antigens of D. immitis by SNAP, and for anti-L. infantum antibodies by IFAT and assigned to four groups. Dogs of group 1 (G1) and 2 (G2) were positive for D. immitis and positive or negative to L. infantum, respectively. Dogs of group 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) were negative to D. immitis and positive or negative to L. infantum, respectively. Wolbachia and L. infantum DNA was quantified by real-time PCR (qPCR) in dog blood samples. A subset of dogs (n = 65) was examined to assess pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production using an ELISA test. RESULTS Of 93 dogs positive to D. immitis with circulating mfs, 85% were positive to Wolbachia, with the highest amount of DNA detected in G1 and the lowest in dogs with low mfs load in G1 and G2. Among dogs positive to L. infantum, 66% from G1 showed low antibody titer, while 48.9% from G3 had the highest antibody titer. Of 37 dogs positive to Wolbachia from G1, 26 (70.3%) had low antibody titers to L. infantum (1:160). Among cytokines, TNFα showed the highest mean concentration in G1 (246.5 pg/ml), IFNγ being the one most represented (64.3%). IL-10 (1809.5 pg/ml) and IL-6 (123.5 pg/ml) showed the highest mean concentration in dogs from G1. A lower percentage of dogs producing IL-4 was observed in all groups examined, with the highest mean concentration (2794 pg/ml) recorded in G2. CONCLUSION Results show the association of D. immitis and Wolbachia with the lower antibody titers of L. infantum in co-infected dogs, suggesting the hypothesis that the endosymbiont may affect the development of the patent leishmaniosis. However, due to the limitations associated with the heterogeneity of naturally infected dogs in field conditions, results should be validated by investigation on experimental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stefania Latrofa
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberta Iatta
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Xavier Roura
- grid.7080.f0000 0001 2296 0625Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Zatelli
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Sara Epis
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy ,grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Pediatric CRC ‘Fondazione Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi’, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Bandi
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy ,grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Pediatric CRC ‘Fondazione Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi’, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. .,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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28
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Eco-evolutionary implications of helminth microbiomes. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e22. [PMID: 36790127 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of helminth parasites has long been seen as an interplay between host resistance to infection and the parasite's capacity to bypass such resistance. However, there has recently been an increasing appreciation of the role of symbiotic microbes in the interaction of helminth parasites and their hosts. It is now clear that helminths have a different microbiome from the organisms they parasitize, and sometimes amid large variability, components of the microbiome are shared among different life stages or among populations of the parasite. Helminths have been shown to acquire microbes from their parent generations (vertical transmission) and from their surroundings (horizontal transmission). In this latter case, natural selection has been strongly linked to the fact that helminth-associated microbiota is not simply a random assemblage of the pool of microbes available from their organismal hosts or environments. Indeed, some helminth parasites and specific microbial taxa have evolved complex ecological relationships, ranging from obligate mutualism to reproductive manipulation of the helminth by associated microbes. However, our understanding is still very elementary regarding the net effect of all microbiome components in the eco-evolution of helminths and their interaction with hosts. In this non-exhaustible review, we focus on the bacterial microbiome associated with helminths (as opposed to the microbiome of their hosts) and highlight relevant concepts and key findings in bacterial transmission, ecological associations, and taxonomic and functional diversity of the bacteriome. We integrate the microbiome dimension in a discussion of the evolution of helminth parasites and identify fundamental knowledge gaps, finally suggesting research avenues for understanding the eco-evolutionary impacts of the microbiome in host-parasite interactions in light of new technological developments.
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Saengsawang P, Desquesnes M, Yangtara S, Chalermwong P, Thongtip N, Jittapalapong S, Inpankaew T. Molecular detection of Loxodontofilaria spp. in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) from elephant training camps in Thailand. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 92:101910. [PMID: 36427455 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Filarial infection is an important disease in human and animal medicine. Several filarial worms are of importance, especially nematodes in the Onchocercidae. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is an endangered animal and is very important from several socio-economic and ecological aspects in Thailand. Various parasites can be found in elephants; however, data related to filarial infections in elephants is limited. The objective of this study was to detect filaria in the blood of Asian elephants in Thailand, based on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Blood samples were collected from 208 Asian elephants and detected for filaria using PCR, targeting the region of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2), the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), and the RNA polymerase II large subunit (rbp1). In total, 4.33% (9 out of 208) of the sampled elephants had Loxodontofilaria spp. DNA with 100% query coverage. In addition, the obtained cox1 and rbp1 sequences matched with Loxodontofilaria sp., Onchocerca sp., and Dirofilaria sp. There were no identified risk factors (sex, age, location, and packed cell volume) related to Loxodontofilaria infection in elephants. The analyses of the phylogeny of ITS2 sequences demonstrated that the Loxodotofilaria-positive sequences were closely related to Onchocerca dewittei japonica and Onchocerca dewittei dewittei with 100% query coverage. Notably, the concatenated phylogenetic trees of ITS2 and the cox1 and rbp1 genes were closely similar to Loxodontofilaria sp. To describe in detail the genomic DNA of Loxodontofilaria spp., other genes should be additionally studied using a more discriminatory technique, such as DNA barcoding or whole genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phirabhat Saengsawang
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand; One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Marc Desquesnes
- InterTryp, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (ENVT), Toulouse, France
| | - Sarawut Yangtara
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
| | | | - Nikorn Thongtip
- Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
| | | | - Tawin Inpankaew
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
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30
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Dudzic JP, Curtis CI, Gowen BE, Perlman SJ. A highly divergent Wolbachia with a tiny genome in an insect-parasitic tylenchid nematode. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221518. [PMID: 36168763 PMCID: PMC9515626 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1518] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia symbionts are the most successful host-associated microbes on the planet, infecting arthropods and nematodes. Their role in nematodes is particularly enigmatic, with filarial nematode species either 100% infected and dependent on symbionts for reproduction and development, or not at all infected. We have discovered a highly divergent strain of Wolbachia in an insect-parasitic tylenchid nematode, Howardula sp., in a nematode clade that has not previously been known to harbour Wolbachia. While this nematode is 100% infected with Wolbachia, we did not detect it in related species. We sequenced the Howardula symbiont (wHow) genome and found that it is highly reduced, comprising only 550 kilobase pairs of DNA, approximately 35% smaller than the smallest Wolbachia nematode symbiont genomes. The wHow genome is a subset of all other Wolbachia genomes and has not acquired any new genetic information. While it has lost many genes, including genes involved in cell wall synthesis and cell division, it has retained the entire haem biosynthesis pathway, suggesting that haem supplementation is critical. wHow provides key insights into our understanding of what are the lower limits of Wolbachia cells, as well as the role of Wolbachia symbionts in the biology and convergent evolution of diverse parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan P Dudzic
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Caitlin I Curtis
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brent E Gowen
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steve J Perlman
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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31
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Yushin VV, Gliznutsa LA, Ryss A. Ultrastructural detection of intracellular bacterial symbionts in the wood-inhabiting nematode Bursaphelenchus mucronatus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae). NEMATOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15685411-bja10192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Summary
Ultrastructural observations of the wood-inhabiting fungal- and plant-feeding nematode, Bursaphelenchus mucronatus, revealed intracellular bacteria in the male and female gonads. In males, bacteria were present inside the testis epithelial cells, spermatocytes, spermatids and immature spermatozoa. Spermatheca of females contained amoeboid pseudopod-bearing mature spermatozoa with bacteria closely associated with the sperm nucleus. Tissues of the females studied were free from bacteria. The gram-negative bacteria in their localisation, size, ultrastructure, and especially characteristic internal bundle of parallel filaments, were identified preliminary as related to the genus Cardinium (Bacteroidetes), which includes obligate endosymbionts of diverse arthropods and is known to be associated with several species of plant-parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir V. Yushin
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Lyubov A. Gliznutsa
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Alexander Ryss
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg 199034, Russia
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32
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Martinez J, Ant TH, Murdochy SM, Tong L, da Silva Filipe A, Sinkins SP. Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of Wolbachia strain wAlbA reveals Wolbachia-associated plasmids are common. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010406. [PMID: 36121852 PMCID: PMC9560607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are widespread maternally-transmitted bacteria of arthropods that often spread by manipulating their host's reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Their invasive potential is currently being harnessed in field trials aiming to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia genomes commonly harbour prophage regions encoding the cif genes which confer their ability to induce CI. Recently, a plasmid-like element was discovered in wPip, a Wolbachia strain infecting Culex mosquitoes; however, it is unclear how common such extra-chromosomal elements are in Wolbachia. Here we sequenced the complete genome of wAlbA, a strain of the symbiont found in Aedes albopictus, after eliminating the co-infecting and higher density wAlbB strain that previously made sequencing of wAlbA challenging. We show that wAlbA is associated with two new plasmids and identified additional Wolbachia plasmids and related chromosomal islands in over 20% of publicly available Wolbachia genome datasets. These plasmids encode a variety of accessory genes, including several phage-like DNA packaging genes as well as genes potentially contributing to host-symbiont interactions. In particular, we recovered divergent homologues of the cif genes in both Wolbachia- and Rickettsia-associated plasmids. Our results indicate that plasmids are common in Wolbachia and raise fundamental questions around their role in symbiosis. In addition, our comparative analysis provides useful information for the future development of genetic tools to manipulate and study Wolbachia symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Martinez
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas H. Ant
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shivan M. Murdochy
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lily Tong
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Ana da Silva Filipe
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Steven P. Sinkins
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Louzada-Flores VN, Kramer L, Brianti E, Napoli E, Mendoza-Roldan JA, Bezerra-Santos MA, Latrofa MS, Otranto D. Treatment with doxycycline is associated with complete clearance of circulating Wolbachia DNA in Dirofilaria immitis-naturally infected dogs. Acta Trop 2022; 232:106513. [PMID: 35598650 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are endosymbionts of parasitic filarial nematodes, including Dirofilaria immitis, and are a target for the treatment of canine heartworm disease. In the present study, 53 naturally-infected dogs were divided in three groups, based on their positivity to D. immitis by antigen and Knott tests, to assess the efficacy of doxycycline treatment in eliminating Wolbachia from circulating blood. At T0, dogs that scored positive to both tests (G1) or to antigen only (G2) were submitted to doxycycline (10 mg/kg BID PO) treatment and to 10% Imidacloprid + 2.5% Moxidectin (Advocate®), while those negative to both tests (G3) received only 10% Imidacloprid + 2.5% Moxidectin (Advocate®). All dogs were followed-up for one year, monthly treated with Advocate® and regularly monitored by antigen and Knott tests. During the whole period, all blood samples were screened for Wolbachia-D. immitis DNA load by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). At T0, 88.2% of the microfilariemic dogs were positive for Wolbachia DNA, while none of the dogs from G2 or G3 were positive. Wolbachia DNA was no longer detectable in dogs from G1 following 1 month of doxycycline treatment and microfilariae (mfs) were cleared at T2. All dogs from the G1 and G2 were negative for D. immitis antigen at 12 months. Results of this study suggest that successful elimination of mfs by doxycycline is associated with complete clearance of Wolbachia DNA in D. immitis-naturally infected dogs.
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Shropshire JD, Hamant E, Conner WR, Cooper BS. cifB-transcript levels largely explain cytoplasmic incompatibility variation across divergent Wolbachia. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac099. [PMID: 35967981 PMCID: PMC9364212 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Divergent hosts often associate with intracellular microbes that influence their fitness. Maternally transmitted Wolbachia bacteria are the most common of these endosymbionts, due largely to cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that kills uninfected embryos fertilized by Wolbachia-infected males. Closely related infections in females rescue CI, providing a relative fitness advantage that drives Wolbachia to high frequencies. One prophage-associated gene (cifA) governs rescue, and two contribute to CI (cifA and cifB), but CI strength ranges from very strong to very weak for unknown reasons. Here, we investigate CI-strength variation and its mechanistic underpinnings in a phylogenetic context across 20 million years (MY) of Wolbachia evolution in Drosophila hosts diverged up to 50 MY. These Wolbachia encode diverse Cif proteins (100% to 7.4% pairwise similarity), and AlphaFold structural analyses suggest that CifB sequence similarities do not predict structural similarities. We demonstrate that cifB-transcript levels in testes explain CI strength across all but two focal systems. Despite phylogenetic discordance among cifs and the bulk of the Wolbachia genome, closely related Wolbachia tend to cause similar CI strengths and transcribe cifB at similar levels. This indicates that other non-cif regions of the Wolbachia genome modulate cif-transcript levels. CI strength also increases with the length of the host's larval life stage, presumably due to prolonged cif action. Our findings reveal that cifB-transcript levels largely explain CI strength, while highlighting other covariates. Elucidating CI's mechanism contributes to our understanding of Wolbachia spread in natural systems and to improving the efficacy of CI-based biocontrol of arboviruses and agricultural pests globally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily Hamant
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - William R Conner
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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35
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Sheehy L, Cutler J, Weedall GD, Rae R. Microbiome Analysis of Malacopathogenic Nematodes Suggests No Evidence of a Single Bacterial Symbiont Responsible for Gastropod Mortality. Front Immunol 2022; 13:878783. [PMID: 35515005 PMCID: PMC9065361 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.878783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematodes and bacteria are prevalent in soil ecosystems, and some have evolved symbiotic relationships. In some cases, symbionts carry out highly specialized functions: a prime example being entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), which vector bacteria (Xenorhabdus or Photorhabdus) into insect hosts, killing them to provide a food source for the nematodes. It is thought that the commercially available malacopathogenic (kills slugs and snails) biocontrol nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita vectors a bacterium (Moraxella osloensis) into slugs to kill them. To investigate this further we used a metagenomic approach to profile the bacteria present in the commercial strain of P. hermaphrodita, a wild strain of P. hermaphrodita and two other Phasmarhabditis species (P. californica and P. neopapillosa), after they had killed their slug host (Deroceras invadens). We show that these nematodes do not exclusively associate with one bacterium but a range of species, with members of the phyla Pseudomonadota, Bacillota, Actinobacteriota and Bacteroidota the most prevalent. The commercial strain of P. hermaphrodita had the least diverse bacterial community. Furthermore, we found that the bacterium P. hermaphrodita has been cultured on for 25 years is not the expected species M. osloensis but is Psychrobacter spp. and the only strain of the Phasmarhabditis species to associate with Psychrobacter spp. was the commercial strain of P. hermaphrodita. In summary, we found no evidence to show that P. hermaphrodita rely exclusively on one bacterium to cause host mortality but found variable and diverse bacterial communities associated with these nematodes in their slug hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sheehy
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - James Cutler
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth D Weedall
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Robbie Rae
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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36
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Swart Z, Duong TA, Wingfield BD, Postma A, Slippers B. The relevance of studying insect-nematode interactions for human disease. Pathog Glob Health 2022; 116:140-145. [PMID: 34726122 PMCID: PMC9090338 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2021.1996796] [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] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate-parasitic nematodes cause debilitating, chronic infections in millions of people worldwide. The burden of these so-called 'neglected tropical diseases' is often carried by poorer socioeconomic communities in part because research on parasitic nematodes and their vertebrate hosts is challenging and costly. However, complex biological and pathological processes can be modeled in simpler organisms. Here, we consider how insight into the interactions between entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), their insect hosts and bacterial symbionts may reveal novel treatment targets for parasitic nematode infections. We argue that a combination of approaches that target nematodes, as well as the interaction of pathogens with insect vectors and bacterial symbionts, offer potentially effective, but underexplored opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zorada Swart
- Department of Biochemistry Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Tuan A. Duong
- Department of Biochemistry Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Brenda D. Wingfield
- Department of Biochemistry Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Alisa Postma
- Department of Biochemistry Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Bernard Slippers
- Department of Biochemistry Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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37
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Strunov A, Schmidt K, Kapun M, Miller WJ. Restriction of Wolbachia Bacteria in Early Embryogenesis of Neotropical Drosophila Species via Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mediated Autophagy. mBio 2022; 13:e0386321. [PMID: 35357208 PMCID: PMC9040723 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03863-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are maternally transmitted intracellular bacteria that are not only restricted to the reproductive organs but also found in various somatic tissues of their native hosts. The abundance of the endosymbiont in the soma, usually a dead end for vertically transmitted bacteria, causes a multitude of effects on life history traits of their hosts, which are still not well understood. Thus, deciphering the host-symbiont interactions on a cellular level throughout a host's life cycle is of great importance to understand their homeostatic nature, persistence, and spreading success. Using fluorescent and transmission electron microscopy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of Wolbachia tropism in soma and germ line of six Drosophila species at the intracellular level during host development. Our data uncovered diagnostic patterns of infections to embryonic primordial germ cells and to particular cells of the soma in three different neotropical Drosophila species that have apparently evolved independently. We further found that restricted patterns of Wolbachia tropism are determined in early embryogenesis via selective autophagy, and their spatially restricted infection patterns are preserved in adult flies. We observed tight interactions of Wolbachia with membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, which might play a scaffolding role for autophagosome formation and subsequent elimination of the endosymbiont. Finally, by analyzing D. simulans lines transinfected with nonnative Wolbachia, we uncovered that the host genetic background regulates tissue tropism of infection. Our data demonstrate a novel and peculiar mechanism to limit and spatially restrict bacterial infection in the soma during a very early stage of host development. IMPORTANCE All organisms are living in close and intimate interactions with microbes that cause conflicts but also cooperation between both unequal genetic partners due to their different innate interests of primarily enhancing their own fitness. However, stable symbioses often result in homeostatic interaction, named mutualism, by balancing costs and benefits, where both partners profit. Mechanisms that have evolved to balance and stably maintain homeostasis in mutualistic relationships are still quite understudied; one strategy is to "domesticate" potentially beneficial symbionts by actively controlling their replication rate below a critical and, hence, costly threshold, and/or to spatially and temporally restrict their localization in the host organism, which, in the latter case, in its most extreme form, is the formation of a specialized housing organ for the microbe (bacteriome). However, questions remain: how do these mutualistic associations become established in their first place, and what are the mechanisms for symbiont control and restriction in their early stages? Here, we have uncovered an unprecedented symbiont control mechanism in neotropical Drosophila species during early embryogenesis. The fruit fly evolved selective autophagy to restrict and control the proliferation of its intracellular endosymbiont Wolbachia in a defined subset of the stem cells as soon as the host's zygotic genome is activated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Strunov
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katy Schmidt
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Kapun
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Central Research Laboratories, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang J. Miller
- Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Ehrens A, Hoerauf A, Hübner MP. Current perspective of new anti-Wolbachial and direct-acting macrofilaricidal drugs as treatment strategies for human filariasis. GMS INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 10:Doc02. [PMID: 35463816 PMCID: PMC9006451 DOI: 10.3205/id000079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Filarial diseases like lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis belong to the Neglected Tropical Diseases and remain a public health problem in endemic countries. Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis can lead to stigmatizing pathologies and present a socio-economic burden for affected people and their endemic countries. Current treatment recommendations by the WHO include mass drug administration with ivermectin for the treatment of onchocerciasis and a combination of ivermectin, albendazole and diethylcarbamazine (DEC) for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis in areas that are not co-endemic for onchocerciasis or loiasis. Limitations of these treatment strategies are due to potential severe adverse events in onchocerciasis and loiasis patients following DEC or ivermectin treatment, respectively, the lack of a macrofilaricidal efficacy of those drugs and the risk of drug resistance development. Thus, to achieve the elimination of transmission of onchocerciasis and the elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem by 2030, the WHO defined in its roadmap that new alternative treatment strategies with macrofilaricidal compounds are required. Within a collaboration of the non-profit organizations Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and partners from academia and industry, several new promising macrofilaricidal drug candidates were identified, which will be discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Ehrens
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marc P. Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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39
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Bazzocchi C, Genchi M, Lucchetti C, Cafiso A, Ciuca L, McCall J, Kramer LH, Vismarra A. Transporter gene expression and Wolbachia quantification in adults of Dirofilaria immitis treated in vitro with ivermectin or moxidectin alone or in combination with doxycycline for 12 hours. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 249:111475. [PMID: 35346758 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111475] [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: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Due to their marked larvicidal activity, macrocyclic lactones (MLs) are used for the prevention of heartworm disease ( Dirofilaria immitis) in dogs. They have also been shown to eliminate adult parasites after long-term administration, with a so-called "slow-kill" effect. In addition, recent studies have established that a combination of doxycycline, which eliminates the endosymbiont Wolbachia, and MLs has superior adulticide effects when compared to MLs alone. It has been hypothesized that the apparent synergism between doxycycline/MLs may be due to interaction with drug efflux transport proteins. The aim of the present study was to evaluate gene expression of several transport proteins in D. immitis adults treated in vitro either with doxycycline alone, ivermectin alone, moxidectin alone, or a combination of ivermectin or moxidectin with doxycycline for 12h. Quantitative PCR analysis showed a sex-dependent response to treatments. In female worms, Dim-pgp-10, Dim-haf-1 and Dim-haf-5 were upregulated compared to controls with doxycycline alone and when combined with ivermectin. Moxidectin did not induce any changes in gene expression. In males, moxidectin administered alone induced a slight increase in Dim-pgp-10, Dim-pgp-11and Di-avr-14, while ivermectin in combination with doxycycline produced significant upregulation of the ML receptor Di-avr-14. These results suggest possible synergism between the two drug classes and different susceptibility of males vs. females to adulticide effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bazzocchi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Marco Genchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Lucchetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cafiso
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Lavinia Ciuca
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Federico Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy
| | - John McCall
- TRS Labs Inc, 215 Paradise Blvd, Athens, GA 30607, USA
| | - Laura Helen Kramer
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Alice Vismarra
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Veterinarie, Università di Parma, via del Taglio, 10, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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40
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García-Sánchez AM, Miller AZ, Caldeira AT, Cutillas C. Bacterial communities from Trichuris spp. A contribution to deciphering the role of parasitic nematodes as vector of pathogens. Acta Trop 2022; 226:106277. [PMID: 34919951 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Microbiome taxa associated with parasitic nematodes is unknown. These invertebrate parasites could act not only as reservoirs and vectors for horizontally transferred virulence factors, but could also provide a potential pool of future emerging pathogens. Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris suis are geohelminths parasitizing the caecum of primates, including humans, and pigs, respectively. The present work is a preliminary study to evaluate the bacterial communities associated with T. trichiura and T. suis, using High Throughput Sequencing and checking the possible presence of pathogens in these nematodes, to determine whether parasitic helminths act as vectors for bacterial pathogens in human and animal hosts. Five T. trichiura adult specimens were obtained from the caecum of macaque (Macaca sylvanus) and two T. suis adults were collected from the caecum of swine (Sus scrofa domestica). The 16S rRNA gene HTS approach was employed to investigate the composition and diversity of bacterial communities in Trichuris spp., with special emphasis at its intestinal level. All samples showed a rich colonization by bacteria, included, preferently, in the phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. A total of 36 phyla and more than 200 families were identified in the samples. Potential pathogen bacteria were detected in these helminths related to the genera Bartonella, Mycobacterium, Rickettsia, Salmonella, Escherichia/Shigella, Aeromonas and Clostridium. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in Trichuris spp. would position these species as a new threat to humans since these nematodes could spread new diseases. This study will also contribute to the understanding of the host-microbiota relation.
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Hahn MA, Piecyk A, Jorge F, Cerrato R, Kalbe M, Dheilly NM. Host phenotype and microbiome vary with infection status, parasite genotype, and parasite microbiome composition. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:1577-1594. [PMID: 35000227 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A growing literature demonstrates the impact of helminths on their host gut microbiome. We investigated whether the stickleback host microbiome depends on eco-evolutionary variables by testing the impact of exposure to the cestode parasite Schistocephalus solidus with respect to infection success, host genotype, parasite genotype, and parasite microbiome composition. We observed constitutive differences in the microbiome of sticklebacks of different origin, and those differences increased when sticklebacks exposed to the parasite resisted infection. In contrast, the microbiome of successfully infected sticklebacks varied with parasite genotype. More specifically, we revealed that the association between microbiome and immune gene expression increased in infected individuals and varied with parasite genotype. In addition, we showed that S. solidus hosts a complex endo- microbiome and that bacterial abundance in the parasite correlates with expression of host immune genes. Within this comprehensive analysis we demonstrated that (i) parasites contribute to modulating the host microbiome through both successful and unsuccessful infection, (ii) when infection is successful, the host microbiome varies with parasite genotype due to genotype-dependent variation in parasite immunomodulation, and (iii) the parasite-associated microbiome is distinct from its host's and impacts the host immune response to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Hahn
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Agnes Piecyk
- Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz, Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
| | - Fátima Jorge
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert Cerrato
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Martin Kalbe
- Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz, Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany
| | - Nolwenn M Dheilly
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.,ANSES, Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail - Laboratoire de Ploufragan-Plouzané, Unité Génétique Virale de Biosécurité, Ploufragan, France.,UMR 1161 Virology ANSES/INRAE/ENVA, ANSES Animal Health Laboratory, 94704, Maisons-Alfort, France
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McCann K, Grant W, Doyle SR. The genome sequence of the Australian filarial nematode, Cercopithifilaria johnstoni. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:259. [PMID: 34796277 PMCID: PMC8564745 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17258.2] [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] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a genome assembly and annotation of an individual female
Cercopithifilaria johnstoni, a parasitic filarial nematode that is transmitted by hard ticks (Ixodidae) to infect a broad range of native Australian murid and marsupial hosts. The genome sequence is 76.9 Mbp in length, and although in draft form (N50 = 99 kbp, N50[n] = 232), is largely complete based on universally conserved orthologs (BUSCOs; genome = 94.9%, protein = 96.5%) and relative to other related filarial species. These data represent the first genomic resources for the genus
Cercopithifilaria, a group of parasites with a broad host range, and form the basis for comparative analysis with the human-infective parasite,
Onchocerca volvulus, both of which are responsible for similar eye and skin pathologies in their respective hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty McCann
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Warwick Grant
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Stephen R Doyle
- Parasites & Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
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McCann K, Grant W, Doyle SR. The genome sequence of the Australian filarial nematode, Cercopithifilaria johnstoni. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:259. [PMID: 34796277 PMCID: PMC8564745 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17258.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a genome assembly and annotation of an individual female Cercopithifilaria johnstoni, a parasitic filarial nematode that is transmitted by hard ticks (Ixodidae) to infect a broad range of native Australian murid and marsupial hosts. The genome sequence is 76.9 Mbp in length, and although in draft form (N50 = 99 kbp, N50[n] = 232), is largely complete based on universally conserved orthologs (BUSCOs; genome = 94.9%, protein = 96.5%) and relative to other related filarial species. These data represent the first genomic resources for the genus Cercopithifilaria, a group of parasites with a broad host range, and form the basis for comparative analysis with the human-infective parasite, Onchocerca volvulus, both of which are responsible for similar eye and skin pathologies in their respective hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty McCann
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Warwick Grant
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Stephen R. Doyle
- Parasites & Microbes Programme, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK
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Ngwewondo A, Scandale I, Specht S. Onchocerciasis drug development: from preclinical models to humans. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3939-3964. [PMID: 34642800 PMCID: PMC8599318 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07307-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Twenty diseases are recognized as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by World Health Assembly resolutions, including human filarial diseases. The end of NTDs is embedded within the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, under target 3.3. Onchocerciasis afflicts approximately 20.9 million people worldwide with > 90% of those infected residing in Africa. Control programs have made tremendous efforts in the management of onchocerciasis by mass drug administration and aerial larviciding; however, disease elimination is not yet achieved. In the new WHO roadmap, it is recognized that new drugs or drug regimens that kill or permanently sterilize adult filarial worms would significantly improve elimination timelines and accelerate the achievement of the program goal of disease elimination. Drug development is, however, handicapped by high attrition rates, and many promising molecules fail in preclinical development or in subsequent toxicological, safety and efficacy testing; thus, research and development (R&D) costs are, in aggregate, very high. Drug discovery and development for NTDs is largely driven by unmet medical needs put forward by the global health community; the area is underfunded and since no high return on investment is possible, there is no dedicated drug development pipeline for human filariasis. Repurposing existing drugs is one approach to filling the drug development pipeline for human filariasis. The high cost and slow pace of discovery and development of new drugs has led to the repurposing of “old” drugs, as this is more cost-effective and allows development timelines to be shortened. However, even if a drug is marketed for a human or veterinary indication, the safety margin and dosing regimen will need to be re-evaluated to determine the risk in humans. Drug repurposing is a promising approach to enlarging the pool of active molecules in the drug development pipeline. Another consideration when providing new treatment options is the use of combinations, which is not addressed in this review. We here summarize recent advances in the late preclinical or early clinical stage in the search for a potent macrofilaricide, including drugs against the nematode and against its endosymbiont, Wolbachia pipientis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Ngwewondo
- Centre of Medical Research, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), P.O. Box13033, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Scandale
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sabine Specht
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, Chemin Camille-Vidart 15, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland.
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McGillan P, Berry NG, Nixon GL, Leung SC, Webborn PJH, Wenlock MC, Kavanagh S, Cassidy A, Clare RH, Cook DA, Johnston KL, Ford L, Ward SA, Taylor MJ, Hong WD, O’Neill PM. Development of Pyrazolopyrimidine Anti- Wolbachia Agents for the Treatment of Filariasis. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1421-1426. [PMID: 34527179 PMCID: PMC8436242 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
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Anti-Wolbachia therapy has been identified as
a viable treatment for combating filarial diseases. Phenotypic screening
revealed a series of pyrazolopyrimidine hits with potent anti-Wolbachia activity. This paper focuses on the exploration
of the SAR for this chemotype, with improvement of metabolic stability
and solubility profiles using medicinal chemistry approaches. Organic
synthesis has enabled functionalization of the pyrazolopyrimidine
core at multiple positions, generating a library of compounds of which
many analogues possess nanomolar activity against Wolbachia
in vitro with improved DMPK parameters. A lead compound, 15f, was selected for in vivo pharmacokinetics
(PK) profiling in mice. The combination of potent anti-Wolbachia activity in two in vitro assessments plus the exceptional
oral PK profiles in mice puts this lead compound in a strong position
for in vivo proof-of-concept pharmacodynamics studies
and demonstrates the strong potential for further optimization and
development of this series for treatment of filariasis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul McGillan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Neil G. Berry
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Gemma L. Nixon
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Suet C. Leung
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J. H. Webborn
- Drug Safety & Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca U.K., Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Mark C. Wenlock
- Drug Safety & Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca U.K., Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Kavanagh
- Oncology Safety Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology & Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB2 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Cassidy
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel H. Clare
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Darren A. Cook
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Kelly L. Johnston
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
- Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Louise Ford
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - W. David Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Paul M. O’Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
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Growth and Maintenance of Wolbachia in Insect Cell Lines. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12080706. [PMID: 34442272 PMCID: PMC8396524 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Wolbachia is an intracellular bacterium that occurs in arthropods and in filarial worms. First described nearly a century ago in the reproductive tissues of Culex pipiens mosquitoes, Wolbachia is now known to occur in roughly 50% of insect species, and has been considered the most abundant intracellular bacterium on earth. In insect hosts, Wolbachia modifies reproduction in ways that facilitate spread of the microbe within the host population, but otherwise is relatively benign. In this “gene drive” capacity, Wolbachia provides a tool for manipulating mosquito populations. In mosquitoes, Wolbachia causes cytoplasmic incompatibility, in which the fusion of egg and sperm nuclei is disrupted, and eggs fail to hatch, depending on the presence/absence of Wolbachia in the parent insects. Recent findings demonstrate that Wolbachia from infected insects can be transferred into mosquito species that do not host a natural infection. When transinfected into Aedes aegypti, an important vector of dengue and Zika viruses, Wolbachia causes cytoplasmic incompatibility and, in addition, decreases the mosquito’s ability to transmit viruses to humans. This review addresses the maintenance of Wolbachia in insect cell lines, which provide a tool for high-level production of infectious bacteria. In vitro technologies will improve use of Wolbachia for pest control, and provide the microbiological framework for genetic engineering of this promising biocontrol agent. Abstract The obligate intracellular microbe, Wolbachia pipientis (Rickettsiales; Anaplasmataceae), is a Gram-negative member of the alpha proteobacteria that infects arthropods and filarial worms. Although closely related to the genera Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, which include pathogens of humans, Wolbachia is uniquely associated with invertebrate hosts in the clade Ecdysozoa. Originally described in Culex pipiens mosquitoes, Wolbachia is currently represented by 17 supergroups and is believed to occur in half of all insect species. In mosquitoes, Wolbachia acts as a gene drive agent, with the potential to modify vector populations; in filarial worms, Wolbachia functions as a symbiont, and is a target for drug therapy. A small number of Wolbachia strains from supergroups A, B, and F have been maintained in insect cell lines, which are thought to provide a more permissive environment than the natural host. When transferred back to an insect host, Wolbachia produced in cultured cells are infectious and retain reproductive phenotypes. Here, I review applications of insect cell lines in Wolbachia research and describe conditions that facilitate Wolbachia infection and replication in naive host cells. Progress in manipulation of Wolbachia in vitro will enable genetic and biochemical advances that will facilitate eventual genetic engineering of this important biological control agent.
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Niamsi-Emalio Y, Nana-Djeunga HC, Chesnais CB, Pion SDS, Tchatchueng-Mbougua JB, Boussinesq M, Basáñez MG, Kamgno J. Unusual Localization of Blood-Borne Loa loa Microfilariae in the Skin Depends on Microfilarial Density in the Blood: Implications for Onchocerciasis Diagnosis in Coendemic Areas. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:S158-S164. [PMID: 33909066 PMCID: PMC8201578 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The diagnostic gold standard for onchocerciasis relies on identification and enumeration of (skin-dwelling) Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae (mf) using the skin snip technique (SST). In a recent study, blood-borne Loa loa mf were found by SST in individuals heavily infected with L. loa, and microscopically misidentified as O. volvulus due to their superficially similar morphology. This study investigates the relationship between L. loa microfilarial density (Loa MFD) and the probability of testing SST positive. Methods A total of 1053 participants from the (onchocerciasis and loiasis coendemic) East Region in Cameroon were tested for (1) Loa MFD in blood samples, (2) O. volvulus presence by SST, and (3) Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 antibody positivity to Ov16 by rapid diagnostic test (RDT). A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) model was used to perform a supervised classification of SST status and identify a Loa MFD threshold above which it is highly likely to find L. loa mf in skin snips. Results Of 1011 Ov16-negative individuals, 28 (2.8%) tested SST positive and 150 (14.8%) were L. loa positive. The range of Loa MFD was 0–85 200 mf/mL. The CART model subdivided the sample into 2 Loa MFD classes with a discrimination threshold of 4080 (95% CI, 2180–12 240) mf/mL. The probability of being SST positive exceeded 27% when Loa MFD was >4080 mf/mL. Conclusions The probability of finding L. loa mf by SST increases significantly with Loa MFD. Skin-snip polymerase chain reaction would be useful when monitoring onchocerciasis prevalence by SST in onchocerciasis–loiasis coendemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Niamsi-Emalio
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Hugues C Nana-Djeunga
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Cédric B Chesnais
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMI233/INSERM U1175, Université de Montpellier , Montpellier, France
| | - Sébastien D S Pion
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMI233/INSERM U1175, Université de Montpellier , Montpellier, France
| | - Jules B Tchatchueng-Mbougua
- Service d'Epidémiologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Membre du Réseau International des Instituts Pasteur, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Michel Boussinesq
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMI233/INSERM U1175, Université de Montpellier , Montpellier, France
| | - María-Gloria Basáñez
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis and London Centre for Neglected Tropical Disease Research, Dep artment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Kamgno
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Kupritz J, Martin J, Fischer K, Curtis KC, Fauver JR, Huang Y, Choi YJ, Beatty WL, Mitreva M, Fischer PU. Isolation and characterization of a novel bacteriophage WO from Allonemobius socius crickets in Missouri. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250051. [PMID: 34197460 PMCID: PMC8248633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are endosymbionts of numerous arthropod and some nematode species, are important for their development and if present can cause distinct phenotypes of their hosts. Prophage DNA has been frequently detected in Wolbachia, but particles of Wolbachia bacteriophages (phage WO) have been only occasionally isolated. Here, we report the characterization and isolation of a phage WO of the southern ground cricket, Allonemobius socius, and provided the first whole-genome sequence of phage WO from this arthropod family outside of Asia. We screened A. socius abdomen DNA extracts from a cricket population in eastern Missouri by quantitative PCR for Wolbachia surface protein and phage WO capsid protein and found a prevalence of 55% and 50%, respectively, with many crickets positive for both. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies against Wolbachia surface protein showed many Wolbachia clusters in the reproductive system of female crickets. Whole-genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore MinION and Illumina technology allowed for the assembly of a high-quality, 55 kb phage genome containing 63 open reading frames (ORF) encoding for phage WO structural proteins and host lysis and transcriptional manipulation. Taxonomically important regions of the assembled phage genome were validated by Sanger sequencing of PCR amplicons. Analysis of the nucleotides sequences of the ORFs encoding the large terminase subunit (ORF2) and minor capsid (ORF7) frequently used for phage WO phylogenetics showed highest homology to phage WOAu of Drosophila simulans (94.46% identity) and WOCin2USA1 of the cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata (99.33% identity), respectively. Transmission electron microscopy examination of cricket ovaries showed a high density of phage particles within Wolbachia cells. Isolation of phage WO revealed particles characterized by 40–62 nm diameter heads and up to 190 nm long tails. This study provides the first detailed description and genomic characterization of phage WO from North America that is easily accessible in a widely distributed cricket species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonah Kupritz
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - John Martin
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kerstin Fischer
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Kurt C. Curtis
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Joseph R. Fauver
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Yuefang Huang
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Young-Jun Choi
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Wandy L. Beatty
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Peter U. Fischer
- Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Blok DJ, Kamgno J, Pion SD, Nana-Djeunga HC, Niamsi-Emalio Y, Chesnais CB, Mackenzie CD, Klion AD, Fletcher DA, Nutman TB, de Vlas SJ, Boussinesq M, Stolk WA. Feasibility of Onchocerciasis Elimination Using a "Test-and-not-treat" Strategy in Loa loa Co-endemic Areas. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:e1047-e1055. [PMID: 33289025 PMCID: PMC8204788 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin is the main strategy for onchocerciasis elimination. Ivermectin is generally safe, but is associated with serious adverse events in individuals with high Loa loa microfilarial densities (MFD). Therefore, ivermectin MDA is not recommended in areas where onchocerciasis is hypo-endemic and L loa is co-endemic. To eliminate onchocerciasis in those areas, a test-and-not-treat (TaNT) strategy has been proposed. We investigated whether onchocerciasis elimination can be achieved using TaNT and the required duration. Methods We used the individual-based model ONCHOSIM to predict the impact of TaNT on onchocerciasis microfilarial (mf) prevalence. We simulated precontrol mf prevalence levels from 2% to 40%. The impact of TaNT was simulated under varying levels of participation, systematic nonparticipation, and exclusion from ivermectin resulting from high L loa MFD. For each scenario, we assessed the time to elimination, defined as bringing onchocerciasis mf prevalence below 1.4%. Results In areas with 30% to 40% precontrol mf prevalence, the model predicted that it would take between 14 and 16 years to bring the mf prevalence below 1.4% using conventional MDA, assuming 65% participation. TaNT would increase the time to elimination by up to 1.5 years, depending on the level of systematic nonparticipation and the exclusion rate. At lower exclusion rates (≤2.5%), the delay would be less than 6 months. Conclusions Our model predicts that onchocerciasis can be eliminated using TaNT in L loa co-endemic areas. The required treatment duration using TaNT would be only slightly longer than in areas with conventional MDA, provided that participation is good.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Blok
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph Kamgno
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Sebastien D Pion
- IRD UMI 233-INSERM U1175-Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Hugues C Nana-Djeunga
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Yannick Niamsi-Emalio
- Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Cedric B Chesnais
- IRD UMI 233-INSERM U1175-Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Amy D Klion
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Daniel A Fletcher
- Department of Bioengineering and the Biophysics Program, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Thomas B Nutman
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Sake J de Vlas
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michel Boussinesq
- IRD UMI 233-INSERM U1175-Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Wilma A Stolk
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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50
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Kaur R, Shropshire JD, Cross KL, Leigh B, Mansueto AJ, Stewart V, Bordenstein SR, Bordenstein SR. Living in the endosymbiotic world of Wolbachia: A centennial review. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:879-893. [PMID: 33945798 PMCID: PMC8192442 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The most widespread intracellular bacteria in the animal kingdom are maternally inherited endosymbionts of the genus Wolbachia. Their prevalence in arthropods and nematodes worldwide and stunning arsenal of parasitic and mutualistic adaptations make these bacteria a biological archetype for basic studies of symbiosis and applied outcomes for curbing human and agricultural diseases. Here, we conduct a summative, centennial analysis of living in the Wolbachia world. We synthesize literature on Wolbachia's host range, phylogenetic diversity, genomics, cell biology, and applications to filarial, arboviral, and agricultural diseases. We also review the mobilome of Wolbachia including phage WO and its essentiality to hallmark reproductive phenotypes in arthropods. Finally, the Wolbachia system is an exemplar for discovery-based science education using biodiversity, biotechnology, and bioinformatics lessons. As we approach a century of Wolbachia research, the interdisciplinary science of this symbiosis stands as a model for consolidating and teaching the integrative rules of endosymbiotic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupinder Kaur
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
| | - J Dylan Shropshire
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Karissa L Cross
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Brittany Leigh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Alexander J Mansueto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Victoria Stewart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Sarah R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Seth R Bordenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Microbiome Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37235, USA.
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