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Excretory-secretory products from the brown stomach worm, Teladorsagia circumcincta, exert antimicrobial activity in in vitro growth assays. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:354. [PMID: 36184586 PMCID: PMC9528173 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05443-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past decade, evidence has emerged of the ability of gastrointestinal (GI) helminth parasites to alter the composition of the host gut microbiome; however, the mechanism(s) underpinning such interactions remain unclear. In the current study, we (i) undertake proteomic analyses of the excretory-secretory products (ESPs), including secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs), of the 'brown stomach worm' Teladorsagia circumcincta, one of the major agents causing parasite gastroenteritis in temperate areas worldwide; (ii) conduct bioinformatic analyses to identify and characterise antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with putative antimicrobial activity; and (iii) assess the bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic properties of T. circumcincta EVs, and whole and EV-depleted ESPs, using bacterial growth inhibition assays. METHODS Size-exclusion chromatography was applied to the isolation of EVs from whole T. circumcincta ESPs, followed by EV characterisation via nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Proteomic analysis of EVs and EV-depleted ESPs was conducted using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and prediction of putative AMPs was performed using available online tools. The antimicrobial activities of T. circumcincta EVs and of whole and EV-depleted ESPs against Escherichia coli were evaluated using bacterial growth inhibition assays. RESULTS Several molecules with putative antimicrobial activity were identified in both EVs and EV-depleted ESPs from adult T. circumcincta. Whilst exposure of E. coli to whole ESPs resulted in a significant reduction of colony-forming units over 3 h, bacterial growth was not reduced following exposure to worm EVs or EV-depleted ESPs. CONCLUSIONS Our data points towards a bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic function of T. circumcincta ESPs, likely mediated by molecules with antimicrobial activity.
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Shalash AO, Hussein WM, Skwarczynski M, Toth I. Hookworm infection: Toward development of safe and effective peptide vaccines. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 148:1394-1419.e6. [PMID: 34872650 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hookworms are hematophagous nematode parasites that have infected a billion people worldwide. Anthelmintic drugs have limited efficacy and do not prevent reinfection. Therefore, prophylactic vaccines are in high demand. Whole parasite vaccines are allergic and unsafe; thus, research into subunit vaccines has been warranted. A comprehensive overview of protein or peptide subunit vaccines' safety, protective efficacy, and associated immune responses is provided herein. The differences between the immune responses against hookworm infection by patients from epidemic versus nonepidemic areas are discussed in detail. Moreover, the different immunologic mechanisms of protection are discussed, including those that rely on allergic and nonallergic humoral and antibody-dependent cellular responses. The allergic and autoimmune potential of hookworm antigens is also explored, as are the immunoregulatory responses induced by the hookworm secretome. The potential of oral mucosal immunizations has been overlooked. Oral immunity against hookworms is a long-lived and safer immune response that is associated with elimination of infection and protective against reinfections. However, the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal environment necessitates special oral delivery systems to unlock vaccines' protective potential. The potential for development of safer and more effective peptide- and protein-based anthelmintic vaccines is explored herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed O Shalash
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Waleed M Hussein
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mariusz Skwarczynski
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Istvan Toth
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia; School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
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3
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Mohd-Shaharuddin N, Lim YAL, Ngui R, Nathan S. Expression of Ascaris lumbricoides putative virulence-associated genes when infecting a human host. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:176. [PMID: 33757548 PMCID: PMC7985925 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04680-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ascaris lumbricoides is the most common causative agent of soil-transmitted helminth infections worldwide, with an estimated 450 million people infected with this nematode globally. It is suggested that helminths are capable of evading and manipulating the host immune system through the release of a spectrum of worm proteins which underpins their long-term survival in the host. We hypothesise that the worm overexpresses these proteins when infecting adults compared to children to cirvumvent the more robust defence mechanisms of adults. However, little is known about the parasite's genes and encoded proteins involved during A. lumbricoides infection. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the expression profile of putative virulence-associated genes during an active infection of adults and children. METHODS In this study, quantitative PCR was performed to evaluate the expression profile of putative virulence-associated genes in A. lumbricoides isolated from infected children and adults. The study was initiated by collecting adult worms expelled from adults and children following anthelminthic treatment. High-quality RNA was successfully extracted from each of six adult worms expelled by three adults and three children, respectively. Eleven putative homologues of helminth virulence-associated genes reported in previous studies were selected, primers were designed and specific amplicons of A. lumbricoides genes were noted. The expression profiles of these putative virulence-associated genes in A. lumbricoides from infected adults were compared to those in A. lumbricoides from infected children. RESULTS The putative virulence-associated genes VENOM, CADHERIN and PEBP were significantly upregulated at 166-fold, 13-fold and fivefold, respectively, in adults compared to children. Conversely, the transcription of ABA-1 (fourfold), CATH-L (threefold) and INTEGRIN (twofold) was significantly suppressed in A. lumbricoides from infected adults. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the expression profile of the putative virulence-associated genes, we propose that the encoded proteins have potential roles in evasion mechanisms, which could guide the development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Romano Ngui
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sheila Nathan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Gaikwad AS, Hu J, Chapple DG, O'Bryan MK. The functions of CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility and disease. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:689-723. [PMID: 32378701 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Members of the cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPS), antigen 5 (Ag5) and pathogenesis-related 1 (Pr-1) (CAP) superfamily of proteins are found across the bacterial, fungal, plant and animal kingdoms. Although many CAP superfamily proteins remain poorly characterized, over the past decade evidence has accumulated, which provides insights into the functional roles of these proteins in various processes, including fertilization, immune defence and subversion, pathogen virulence, venom toxicology and cancer biology. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The aim of this article is to summarize the current state of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility, organismal homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. SEARCH METHODS The scientific literature search was undertaken via PubMed database on all articles published prior to November 2019. Search terms were based on following keywords: 'CAP superfamily', 'CRISP', 'Cysteine-rich secretory proteins', 'Antigen 5', 'Pathogenesis-related 1', 'male fertility', 'CAP and CTL domain containing', 'CRISPLD1', 'CRISPLD2', 'bacterial SCP', 'ion channel regulator', 'CatSper', 'PI15', 'PI16', 'CLEC', 'PRY proteins', 'ASP proteins', 'spermatogenesis', 'epididymal maturation', 'capacitation' and 'snake CRISP'. In addition to that, reference lists of primary and review article were reviewed for additional relevant publications. OUTCOMES In this review, we discuss the breadth of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins with regards to their protein structure, biological functions and emerging significance in reproduction, health and disease. We discuss the evolution of CAP superfamily proteins from their otherwise unembellished prokaryotic predecessors into the multi-domain and neofunctionalized members found in eukaryotic organisms today. At least in part because of the rapid evolution of these proteins, many inconsistencies in nomenclature exist within the literature. As such, and in part through the use of a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the vertebrate CRISP subfamily, we have attempted to clarify this confusion, thus allowing for a comparison of orthologous protein function between species. This framework also allows the prediction of functional relevance between species based on sequence and structural conservation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS This review generates a picture of critical roles for CAP proteins in ion channel regulation, sterol and lipid binding and protease inhibition, and as ligands involved in the induction of multiple cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash S Gaikwad
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Jinghua Hu
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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5
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Bobardt SD, Dillman AR, Nair MG. The Two Faces of Nematode Infection: Virulence and Immunomodulatory Molecules From Nematode Parasites of Mammals, Insects and Plants. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:577846. [PMID: 33343521 PMCID: PMC7738434 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.577846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Helminths stage a powerful infection that allows the parasite to damage host tissue through migration and feeding while simultaneously evading the host immune system. This feat is accomplished in part through the release of a diverse set of molecules that contribute to pathogenicity and immune suppression. Many of these molecules have been characterized in terms of their ability to influence the infectious capabilities of helminths across the tree of life. These include nematodes that infect insects, known as entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) and plants with applications in agriculture and medicine. In this review we will first discuss the nematode virulence factors, which aid parasite colonization or tissue invasion, and cause many of the negative symptoms associated with infection. These include enzymes involved in detoxification, factors essential for parasite development and growth, and highly immunogenic ES proteins. We also explore how these parasites use several classes of molecules (proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids) to evade the host's immune defenses. For example, helminths release immunomodulatory molecules in extracellular vesicles that may be protective in allergy and inflammatory disease. Collectively, these nematode-derived molecules allow parasites to persist for months or even years in a host, avoiding being killed or expelled by the immune system. Here, we evaluate these molecules, for their individual and combined potential as vaccine candidates, targets for anthelminthic drugs, and therapeutics for allergy and inflammatory disease. Last, we evaluate shared virulence and immunomodulatory mechanisms between mammalian and non-mammalian plant parasitic nematodes and EPNs, and discuss the utility of EPNs as a cost-effective model for studying nematode-derived molecules. Better knowledge of the virulence and immunomodulatory molecules from both entomopathogenic nematodes and soil-based helminths will allow for their use as beneficial agents in fighting disease and pests, divorced from their pathogenic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D. Bobardt
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Adler R. Dillman
- Department of Nematology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Meera G. Nair
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
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Fercoq F, Remion E, Vallarino-Lhermitte N, Alonso J, Raveendran L, Nixon C, Le Quesne J, Carlin LM, Martin C. Microfilaria-dependent thoracic pathology associated with eosinophilic and fibrotic polyps in filaria-infected rodents. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:551. [PMID: 33160409 PMCID: PMC7648300 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04428-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary manifestations are regularly reported in both human and animal filariasis. In human filariasis, the main known lung manifestations are the tropical pulmonary eosinophilia syndrome. Its duration and severity are correlated with the presence of microfilariae. Litomosoides sigmodontis is a filarial parasite residing in the pleural cavity of rodents. This model is widely used to understand the immune mechanisms that are established during infection and for the screening of therapeutic molecules. Some pulmonary manifestations during the patent phase of infection with L. sigmodontis have been described in different rodent hosts more or less permissive to infection. METHODS Here, the permissive Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) was infected with L. sigmodontis. Prevalence and density of microfilariae and adult parasites were evaluated. Lungs were analyzed for pathological signatures using immunohistochemistry and 3D imaging techniques (two-photon and light sheet microscopy). RESULTS Microfilaremia in gerbils was correlated with parasite load, as amicrofilaremic individuals had fewer parasites in their pleural cavities. Fibrotic polypoid structures were observed on both pleurae of infected gerbils. Polyps were of variable size and developed from the visceral mesothelium over the entire pleura. The larger polyps were vascularized and strongly infiltrated by immune cells such as eosinophils, macrophages or lymphocytes. The formation of these structures was induced by the presence of adult filariae since small and rare polyps were observed before patency, but they were exacerbated by the presence of gravid females and microfilariae. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these data emphasize the role of host-specific factors in the pathogenesis of filarial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Fercoq
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Estelle Remion
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Nathaly Vallarino-Lhermitte
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Joy Alonso
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Lisy Raveendran
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Colin Nixon
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - John Le Quesne
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Leo M Carlin
- CRUK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1GH, UK
| | - Coralie Martin
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM UMR 7245), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, P52, 61 rue Buffon, 75005, Paris, France.
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7
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Angiogenesis in cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis: does the Wolbachia surface protein have a pro- or anti-angiogenic effect? J Helminthol 2020; 94:e162. [PMID: 32519634 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x20000450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria immitis produces inflammation, blood vessel obstruction and hypoxia, which are required conditions for the beginning of the process of neovascularization. Since D. immitis harbours intracellular symbiotic Wolbachia bacterium, the global understanding of the angiogenic process requires the analysis of the effect of the parasite molecules, but also that of Wolbachia. Canine primary lung microvascular endothelial cells were treated with the recombinant Wolbachia surface protein (rWSP) and the expression of angiogenic factors like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (VEGF-A), sFlt, membrane Endoglin (mEndoglin) and soluble Endoglin (sEndoglin), as well as the in vitro formation of pseudocapillaries, were measured. The analyses showed a significant increase in the expression of pro-angiogenic VEGF-A and anti-angiogenic sEndoglin, together with a significant decrease in both pro-angiogenic mEndoglin and pseudocapillary formation, compared to untreated controls. Due to the complexity of the angiogenic process and its relationship with other physiological processes like inflammation and fibrinolysis, these results might suggest that rWSP participate in various mechanisms related to each other and its effects might depend either on the balance between them or on the moment of their occurrence.
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Wang T, Ma G, Ang CS, Korhonen PK, Koehler AV, Young ND, Nie S, Williamson NA, Gasser RB. High throughput LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis of excretory-secretory products from short-term in vitro culture of Haemonchus contortus. J Proteomics 2019; 204:103375. [PMID: 31071474 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes of humans, animals and plants have a major, adverse impact on global health and agricultural production worldwide. To cope with their surrounding environment in and the immune attack from the host, excretory-secretory (ES) proteins are released by nematodes to orchestrate or regulate parasite-host interactions. In the present study, we characterised the ES products from short-term (12 h) in vitro culture of different developmental stages/sexes of Haemonchus contortus (one of the most important parasitic nematodes of livestock animals worldwide) using a high throughput tandem mass-spectrometry, underpinned by the most recent genomic dataset. In total, 878 unique proteins from key developmental stages/sexes (third-stage and fourth-stage larvae, and female and male adults) were identified and quantified with high confidence. Bioinformatic analyses showed noteworthy ES protein alterations during the transition from the free-living to the parasitic phase, especially for proteins which are likely involved in nutrient digestion and acquisition as well as parasite-host interactions, such as proteolytic cascade-related peptidases, glycoside hydrolases, C-type lectins and sperm-coating protein/Tpx/antigen 5/pathogenesis related-1/Sc7 (= SCP/TAPS) proteins. Our findings provide an avenue to better explore interactive processes between the host and this highly significant parasitic nematode, to underpin the search for novel drug and vaccine targets. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study represents a comprehensive proteomic analysis of the secretome of key developmental stages/sexes of H. contortus maintained in short-term in vitro culture. High throughput LC-MS/MS analysis of ES products allowed the identification of a large repertoire of proteins (secretome) and the establishment of a new proteomic database for H. contortus. The secretome of H. contortus undergoes substantial changes during the nematode's transition from free-living to parasitic stages, suggesting a constant adaptation to different environments outside of and within the host animal. Understanding the host-parasite relationship at the molecular level could assist significantly in the development of intervention strategies (i.e. novel drugs and vaccines) against H. contortus and related nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Guangxu Ma
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Pasi K Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Anson V Koehler
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Neil D Young
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Shuai Nie
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Nicholas A Williamson
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Felce JH, Sezgin E, Wane M, Brouwer H, Dustin ML, Eggeling C, Davis SJ. CD45 exclusion- and cross-linking-based receptor signaling together broaden FcεRI reactivity. Sci Signal 2018; 11:11/561/eaat0756. [PMID: 30563863 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aat0756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
For many years, the high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E (IgE) FcεRI, which is expressed by mast cells and basophils, has been widely held to be the exemplar of cross-linking (that is, aggregation dependent) signaling receptors. We found, however, that FcεRI signaling could occur in the presence or absence of receptor cross-linking. Using both cell and cell-free systems, we showed that FcεRI signaling was stimulated by surface-associated monovalent ligands through the passive, size-dependent exclusion of the receptor-type tyrosine phosphatase CD45 from plasma membrane regions of FcεRI-ligand engagement. Similarly to the T cell receptor, FcεRI signaling could also be initiated in a ligand-independent manner. These data suggest that a simple mechanism of CD45 exclusion-based receptor triggering could function together with cross-linking-based FcεRI signaling, broadening mast cell and basophil reactivity by enabling these cells to respond to both multivalent and surface-presented monovalent antigens. These findings also strengthen the case that a size-dependent, phosphatase exclusion-based receptor triggering mechanism might serve generally to facilitate signaling by noncatalytic immune receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Felce
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.,Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.,Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Erdinc Sezgin
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Madina Wane
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.,Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Heather Brouwer
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.,Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, UK.
| | - Christian Eggeling
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
| | - Simon J Davis
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK. .,Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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Polinas M, Mele S, Padrós F, Merella P, Antuofermo E, Gouraguine A, Reñones O. Ecological and histopathological aspects of Didymodiclinus sp. (Trematoda: Didymozoidae) parasite of the dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus (Osteichthyes: Serranidae), from the western Mediterranean Sea. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2018; 41:1385-1393. [PMID: 29926922 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.12836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe) is an ecologically and commercially important fish species of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal rocky habitats. Despite records of didymozoid infections in several grouper species, the identification and pathogenesis of these parasites in E. marginatus are lacking. The aim of this study is to characterize the didymozoids of E. marginatus, particularly their mechanisms of infection and histopathological features. Dusky groupers (n = 205) were caught off Majorca Island (western Mediterranean Sea) and examined for parasites. Of the fish sampled, 45% were infected with white and yellow didymozoid capsules and brown nodules, found on the gills and pseudobranchs. Parasite abundance had a strong positive relationship with the fish length; only fish larger than 20 cm were infected, suggesting infection via consumption of an intermediate host, for which E. marginatus size was a limiting factor. The capsules contained two convoluted viable adult trematodes, identified as Didymodiclinus sp., in close contact with host capillary vessels, with no evidence of the tissue inflammatory response. Conversely, nodules containing degraded parasites were surrounded by an intense inflammatory infiltrate. The findings suggest that Didymodiclinus sp. have the potential to evade the host's immune system by inhibiting the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Polinas
- Anatomia Patologica, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mele
- Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Francesc Padrós
- Fish Diseases Diagnostic Service, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Paolo Merella
- Parassitologia e Malattie Parassitarie, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Antuofermo
- Anatomia Patologica, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Adam Gouraguine
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - Olga Reñones
- Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Palma, Spain
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11
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Lustigman S, Makepeace BL, Klei TR, Babayan SA, Hotez P, Abraham D, Bottazzi ME. Onchocerca volvulus: The Road from Basic Biology to a Vaccine. Trends Parasitol 2017; 34:64-79. [PMID: 28958602 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 08/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Human onchocerciasis - commonly known as river blindness - is one of the most devastating yet neglected tropical diseases, leaving many millions in sub-Saharan Africa blind and/or with chronic disabilities. Attempts to eliminate onchocerciasis, primarily through the mass drug administration of ivermectin, remains challenging and has been heightened by the recent news that drug-resistant parasites are developing in some populations after years of drug treatment. Needed, and needed now, in the fight to eliminate onchocerciasis are new tools, such as preventive and therapeutic vaccines. This review summarizes the progress made to advance the onchocerciasis vaccine from the research laboratory into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lustigman
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Thomas R Klei
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Simon A Babayan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow and Moredun Research Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Peter Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David Abraham
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Niche-specific gene expression in a parasitic nematode; increased expression of immunomodulators in Teladorsagia circumcincta larvae derived from host mucosa. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7214. [PMID: 28775251 PMCID: PMC5543109 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07092-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Metazoan parasites have to survive in many different niches in order to complete their life-cycles. In the absence of reliable methods to manipulate parasite genomes and/or proteomes, identification of the molecules critical for parasite survival within these niches has largely depended on comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of different developmental stages of the parasite; however, changes may reflect differences associated with transition between developmental stages rather than specific adaptations to a particular niche. In this study, we compared the transcriptome of two fourth-stage larval populations of the nematode parasite, Teladorsagia circumcincta, which were of the same developmental stage but differed in their location within the abomasum, being either mucosal-dwelling (MD) or lumen-dwelling (LD). Using RNAseq, we identified 57 transcripts which were significantly differentially expressed between MD and LD larvae. Of these transcripts, the majority (54/57) were up-regulated in MD larvae, one of which encoded for an ShKT-domain containing protein, Tck6, capable of modulating ovine T cell cytokine responses. Other differentially expressed transcripts included homologues of ASP-like proteins, proteases, or excretory-secretory proteins of unknown function. Our study demonstrates the utility of niche- rather than stage-specific analysis of parasite transcriptomes to identify parasite molecules of potential importance for survival within the host.
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13
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Silvarrey MC, Echeverría S, Costábile A, Castillo E, Paulino M, Esteves A. Identification of novel CAP superfamily protein members of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces. Acta Trop 2016; 158:59-67. [PMID: 26899679 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Echinoccocus granulosus is the causative agent of Cyst Echinococcosis, a zoonotic infection affecting humans and livestock representing a public health and an economic burden for several countries. Despite decades of investigation an effective vaccine still remains to be found. Parasitic cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5 and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins (CAPs) have been proposed as vaccine candidates against helmith's infection. In this work we have identified two novel proteins of this superfamily expressed at the protoescoleces larval stage named EgVAL1 and EgVAL2. The open reading frame sequences were deduced. The aminoacidic sequence was analyzed and confronted against already known vertebrate' and helminth's proteins sequences in order to infer putative functions. Immunolocalization studies were also performed. The obtained data supported by immunolocalization studies and homology models suggest that these proteins could be involved in protease activity inhibition.
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14
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Chi Y, Wang X, Le X, Ju Y, Guan T, Li H. Exposure to double-stranded RNA mediated by tobacco rattle virus leads to transcription up-regulation of effector gene Mi-vap-2 from Meloidogyne incognita and promotion of pathogenicity in progeny. Int J Parasitol 2016; 46:105-13. [PMID: 26545953 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Meloidogyne spp. are economically important plant parasites and cause enormous damage to agriculture world-wide. These nematodes use secreted effectors which modify host cells, allowing them to obtain the nutrients required for growth and development. A better understanding of the roles of effectors in nematode parasitism is critical for understanding the mechanisms of nematode-host interactions. In this study, Mi-vap-2 of Meloidogyne incognita, a gene encoding a venom allergen-like protein, was targeted by RNA interference mediated by the tobacco rattle virus. Unexpectedly, compared with a wild type line, a substantial up-regulation of Mi-vap-2 transcript was observed in juveniles collected at 7 days p.i. from Nicotiana benthamiana agroinfiltrated with TRV::vap-2. This up-regulation of the targeted transcript did not impact development of females or the production of galls, nor the number of females on the TRV::vap-2 line. In a positive control line, the transcript of Mi16D10 was knocked down in juveniles from the TRV::16D10 line at 7 days p.i., resulting in a significant inhibition of nematode development. The up-regulation of Mi-vap-2 triggered by TRV-RNAi was inherited by the progeny of the nematodes exposed to double-stranded RNA. Meanwhile, a substantial increase in Mi-VAP-2 expression in those juvenile progeny was revealed by ELISA. This caused an increase in the number of galls (71.2%) and females (84.6%) produced on seedlings of N. benthamiana compared with the numbers produced by control nematodes. Up-regulation of Mi-vap-2 and its encoded protein therefore enhanced pathogenicity of the nematodes, suggesting that Mi-vap-2 may be required for successful parasitism during the early parasitic stage of M. incognita.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuankai Chi
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China
| | - Xiuhu Le
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China
| | - Yuliang Ju
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China
| | - Tinglong Guan
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, PR China.
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15
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Enhanced humoral response to influenza vaccine in aged mice with a novel adjuvant, rOv-ASP-1. Vaccine 2016; 34:887-92. [PMID: 26795365 PMCID: PMC4731280 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Influenza-specific antibody levels were significantly increased after immunization with TIV + rOv-ASP-1 in aged mice. rOv-ASP-1 was superior to the conventional adjuvant alum in inducing specific IgG after TIV immunization in aged mice. Co-administration of rOv-ASP-1 induced cross-reactive antibody and enhanced cross-protection.
Immunization is the best way to prevent seasonal epidemics and pandemics of influenza. There are two kinds of influenza vaccines available in the United States: an inactivated vaccine (TIV) and an attenuated vaccine; however, only TIV is approved for immunization of the elderly population. While the aged population has the highest rate of influenza vaccination, the protective efficacy is low as evidenced by elderly individuals having the highest mortality associated with influenza. Recently, we reported that an adjuvant derived from the helminth parasite Onchocerca volvulus, named O. volvulus activation-associated secreted protein-1 (Ov-ASP-1), can significantly enhance the protective efficacy of an inactivated vaccine (TIV) in young adult mice. In the current study, we examined whether this recombinant Ov-ASP-1 (rOv-ASP-1) can enhance the efficacy of TIV in aged mice as well. While primary immunization with TIV alone produced only a low level of influenza-specific antibodies (total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2c) in aged mice, the antibody levels were significantly increased after immunization with TIV + rOv-ASP-1. More importantly, the level of the total IgG in aged mice administered TIV + rOv-ASP-1 was comparable to that of young adult mice immunized with TIV alone. Co-administration of rOv-ASP-1 induced a low level of cross-reactive antibody and enhanced the protective efficacy of TIV in aged mice, reflected by significantly increased survival after challenge with a heterologous influenza virus. rOv-ASP-1 was also superior to the conventional adjuvant alum in inducing specific IgG after TIV immunization in aged mice, and in conferring protection after challenge. These results demonstrate that rOv-ASP-1 may serve as a potential adjuvant for influenza vaccine to improve the efficacy of protection in the elderly.
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16
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McNulty SN, Rosa BA, Fischer PU, Rumsey JM, Erdmann-Gilmore P, Curtis KC, Specht S, Townsend RR, Weil GJ, Mitreva M. An Integrated Multiomics Approach to Identify Candidate Antigens for Serodiagnosis of Human Onchocerciasis. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015; 14:3224-33. [PMID: 26472727 PMCID: PMC4762623 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.051953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Improved diagnostic methods are needed to support ongoing efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness). This study used an integrated approach to identify adult female Onchocerca volvulus antigens that can be explored for developing serodiagnostic tests. The first step was to develop a detailed multi-omics database of all O. volvulus proteins deduced from the genome, gene transcription data for different stages of the parasite including eight individual female worms (providing gene expression information for 94.8% of all protein coding genes), and the adult female worm proteome (detecting 2126 proteins). Next, female worm proteins were purified with IgG antibodies from onchocerciasis patients and identified using LC-MS with a high-resolution hybrid quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A total of 241 immunoreactive proteins were identified among those bound by IgG from infected individuals but not IgG from uninfected controls. These included most of the major diagnostic antigens described over the past 25 years plus many new candidates. Proteins of interest were prioritized for further study based on a lack of conservation with orthologs in the human host and other helminthes, their expression pattern across the life cycle, and their consistent expression among individual female worms. Based on these criteria, we selected 33 proteins that should be carried forward for testing as serodiagnostic antigens to supplement existing diagnostic tools. These candidates, together with the extensive pan-omics dataset generated in this study are available to the community (http://nematode.net) to facilitate basic and translational research on onchocerciasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha N McNulty
- From the ‡McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St Louis, Missouri 63108
| | - Bruce A Rosa
- From the ‡McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St Louis, Missouri 63108
| | - Peter U Fischer
- §Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Jeanne M Rumsey
- ¶Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Petra Erdmann-Gilmore
- ¶Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Kurt C Curtis
- §Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Sabine Specht
- **Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany 53127
| | - R Reid Townsend
- ¶Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110; ‖Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Gary J Weil
- §Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- From the ‡McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St Louis, Missouri 63108; §Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110;
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17
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Philippsen GS, Wilson RA, DeMarco R. Accelerated evolution of schistosome genes coding for proteins located at the host-parasite interface. Genome Biol Evol 2015; 7:431-43. [PMID: 25567667 PMCID: PMC4350168 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evu287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Study of proteins located at the host–parasite interface in schistosomes might provide clues about the mechanisms utilized by the parasite to escape the host immune system attack. Micro-exon gene (MEG) protein products and venom allergen-like (VAL) proteins have been shown to be present in schistosome secretions or associated with glands, which led to the hypothesis that they are important components in the molecular interaction of the parasite with the host. Phylogenetic and structural analysis of genes and their transcripts in these two classes shows that recent species-specific expansion of gene number for these families occurred separately in three different species of schistosomes. Enrichment of transposable elements in MEG and VAL genes in Schistosoma mansoni provides a credible mechanism for preferential expansion of gene numbers for these families. Analysis of the ratio between synonymous and nonsynonymous substitution rates (dN/dS) in the comparison between schistosome orthologs for the two classes of genes reveals significantly higher values when compared with a set of a control genes coding for secreted proteins, and for proteins previously localized in the tegument. Additional analyses of paralog genes indicate that exposure of the protein to the definitive host immune system is a determining factor leading to the higher than usual dN/dS values in those genes. The observation that two genes encoding S. mansoni vaccine candidate proteins, known to be exposed at the parasite surface, also display similar evolutionary dynamics suggests a broad response of the parasite to evolutionary pressure imposed by the definitive host immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele S Philippsen
- Departamento de Física e Ciência Interdisciplinar, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R Alan Wilson
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Department of Biology, University of York, United Kingdom
| | - Ricardo DeMarco
- Departamento de Física e Ciência Interdisciplinar, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
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18
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Woo HS, Kim TY, Sohn WM, Yong TS. A tegument-specific venom allergen-like protein of Clonorchis sinensis. Parasitol Res 2014; 114:329-33. [PMID: 25403376 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4212-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Venom allergen-like (VAL) proteins, members of the SCP/TAPS (sperm coating protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7) protein superfamily, have been reported from several parasitic helminths. As little is known about their biological functions, a VAL protein of the Chinese liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis was cloned and characterized. A complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding a 25-kDa protein was identified from an EST database of C. sinensis. A BLAST search revealed that the protein shares 46% sequence identity with Schistosoma mansoni VAL 13 protein, and thus, the protein was named CsVAL13. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that the SCP/TAPS domain of CsVAL13 shares 39-46% sequence identity with VAL proteins from parasitic helminths. His and Tyr, which help to stabilize protein structure, were highly conserved across the VAL protein sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the SCP/TAPS domain of the CsVAL13 sequence clusters together with other group 2 VAL protein sequences. In the homology-modeled structure of CsVAL13, an α-β-α sandwich and residues for a putative active site were highly conserved. Immune sera were obtained from BALB/c mice immunized with the recombinant CsVAL13 protein. Immunohistochemical localization using the immune sera revealed that CsVAL13 was distributed mainly in the tegument and intrauterine eggs of adult C. sinensis. These findings suggest that CsVAL13 may be involved in host-parasite interactions and immune stimulation on the surrounding host environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hea Sun Woo
- Department of Environmental Medical Biology and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 120-752, South Korea
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19
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Ovine IgA-reactive proteins from Teladorsagia circumcincta infective larvae. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:743-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Revised: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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20
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Yoshino TP, Brown M, Wu XJ, Jackson CJ, Ocadiz-Ruiz R, Chalmers IW, Kolb M, Hokke CH, Hoffmann KF. Excreted/secreted Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like 9 (SmVAL9) modulates host extracellular matrix remodelling gene expression. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:551-63. [PMID: 24859313 PMCID: PMC4079936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni VAL9 (SmVAL9) is a secreted N-linked glycoprotein containing a unique, difucosyl modification. SmVAL9 is found throughout miracidia/sporocyst parenchymal cell inclusions/vesicles and germinal cells. SmVAL9 differentially regulates murine and snail matrix metalloproteinases.
The Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like (SmVAL) protein family consists of 29 members, each possessing a conserved α-β-α sandwich tertiary feature called the Sperm-coating protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 (SCP/TAPS) domain. While the SmVALs have been found in both excretory/secretory (E/S) products and in intra/sub-tegumental (non-E/S) fractions, the role(s) of this family in host/parasite relationships or schistosome developmental processes remains poorly resolved. In order to begin quantifying SmVAL functional diversity or redundancy, dissecting the specific activity (ies) of individual family members is necessary. Towards this end, we present the characterisation of SmVAL9; a protein previously found enriched in both miracidia/sporocyst larval transformation proteins and in egg secretions. While our study confirms that SmVAL9 is indeed found in soluble egg products and miracidia/sporocyst larval transformation proteins, we find it to be maximally transcribed/translated in miracidia and subsequently down-regulated during in vitro sporocyst development. SmVAL9 localisation within sporocysts appears concentrated in parenchymal cells/vesicles as well as associated with larval germinal cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that egg-derived SmVAL9 carries an N-linked glycan containing a schistosome-specific difucosyl element and is an immunogenic target during chronic murine schistosomiasis. Finally, we demonstrate that recombinant SmVAL9 affects the expression of extracellular matrix, remodelling matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) gene products in both Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic cell (BgMMP1) and Mus musculus bone marrow-derived macrophage (MmMMP2, MmMMP9, MmMMP12, MmMMP13, MmMMP14, MmMMP28, TIMP1 and TIMP2) in vitro cultures. These findings importantly suggest that excreted/secreted SmVAL9 participates in tissue reorganisation/extracellular matrix remodelling during intra-mammalian egg translocation, miracidia infection and intra-molluscan sporocyst development/migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Yoshino
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Martha Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Xiao-Jun Wu
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Colin J Jackson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Ramon Ocadiz-Ruiz
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Iain W Chalmers
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Marlen Kolb
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Cornelis H Hokke
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Room 3.31, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK.
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21
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Concannon MA, Jiang J. The effect of adjuvants on vaccine-induced antibody response against influenza in aged mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 9:89-94. [PMID: 32215006 PMCID: PMC7089211 DOI: 10.1007/s11515-014-1301-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
While influenza remains a major threat to public health, researchers continue to search for a universal solution to improving the efficacy of the influenza vaccine. Even though influenza affects people of all different ages, it can be extremely hazardous to people of 65 years of age or older since that is the population that makes up the high majority of the death toll caused by influenza-related diseases. Elderly individuals suffer the effects of immunosenescence as they age, which is the diminishing of the overall immune response. Immunosenescence occurs by specifically affecting the adaptive immune response which controls the establishment of immunity after vaccination or infection. There are many studies under way that are trying to find a resolution to the problem of the influenza vaccine not providing enough protection in the elderly population. One of the possible strategies is to seek the use of an optimal adjuvant, an immunological agent that can enhance immune responses, with the current vaccine formulation. Here, we used the murine model to review the effects of adjuvants on the antibody response to influenza vaccines in aged mice. Since adjuvants can enhance the production of important inflammatory cytokines and activation of dendritic cells, the stimulation of these cells are boosted to increase the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine in aged mice which would hopefully translate to the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Concannon
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Jiu Jiang
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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22
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Jiang J, Fisher EM, Hensley SE, Lustigman S, Murasko DM, Shen H. Antigen sparing and enhanced protection using a novel rOv-ASP-1 adjuvant in aqueous formulation with influenza vaccines. Vaccine 2014; 32:2696-702. [PMID: 24681229 PMCID: PMC4080630 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
rOv-ASP-1 enhances a stronger antibody response to influenza vaccine. rOv-ASP-1 enhances cross-reactive antibody responses to influenza vaccine. rOv-ASP-1 enhances the protection afforded by an inactivated influenza vaccine after challenge with a heterologous influenza virus.
Influenza is one of the most common infectious diseases endangering the health of humans, especially young children and the elderly. Although vaccination is the most effective means of protection against influenza, frequent mutations in viral surface antigens, low protective efficacy of the influenza vaccine in the elderly, slow production process and the potential of vaccine supply shortage during a pandemic are significant limitations of current vaccines. Adjuvants have been used to enhance the efficacy of a variety of vaccines; however, no adjuvant is included in current influenza vaccines approved in the United States. In this study, we found that a novel adjuvant, rOv-ASP-1, co-administrated with inactivated influenza vaccine using an aqueous formulation, substantially improved the influenza-specific antibody response and protection against lethal infection in a mouse model. rOv-ASP-1 enhanced the magnitude of the specific antibody response after immunization with low doses of influenza vaccine, allowing antigen-sparring by 10-fold. The rOv-ASP-1 formulated vaccine induced a more rapid response and a stronger Th1-associated antibody response compared to vaccine alone and to the vaccine formulated with the adjuvant alum. Importantly, rOv-ASP-1 significantly enhanced cross-reactive antibody responses and protection against challenge with an antigenically distinct strain. These results demonstrate that rOv-ASP-1 is an effective adjuvant that: (1) accelerates and enhances the specific antibody response induced by influenza vaccine; (2) allows for antigen sparing; and (3) augments a Th1-biased and cross-reactive antibody response that confers protection against an antigenically distinct strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiu Jiang
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, 3245 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; DMX Inc., West Chester, PA 19382, USA
| | - Erin M Fisher
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, 3245 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | - Sara Lustigman
- Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Donna M Murasko
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, 3245 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Hao Shen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 3610 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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23
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Fitzsimmons CM, Falcone FH, Dunne DW. Helminth Allergens, Parasite-Specific IgE, and Its Protective Role in Human Immunity. Front Immunol 2014; 5:61. [PMID: 24592267 PMCID: PMC3924148 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Th2 immune response, culminating in eosinophilia and IgE production, is not only characteristic of allergy but also of infection by parasitic worms (helminths). Anti-parasite IgE has been associated with immunity against a range of helminth infections and many believe that IgE and its receptors evolved to help counter metazoan parasites. Allergens (IgE-antigens) are present in only a small minority of protein families and known IgE targets in helminths belong to these same families (e.g., EF-hand proteins, tropomyosin, and PR-1 proteins). During some helminth infection, especially with the well adapted hookworm, the Th2 response is moderated by parasite-expressed molecules. This has been associated with reduced allergy in helminth endemic areas and worm infection or products have been proposed as treatments for allergic conditions. However, some infections (especially Ascaris) are associated with increased allergy and this has been linked to cross-reactivity between worm proteins (e.g., tropomyosins) and highly similar molecules in dust-mites and insects. The overlap between allergy and helminth infection is best illustrated in Anisakis simplex, a nematode that when consumed in under-cooked fish can be both an infective helminth and a food allergen. Nearly 20 molecular allergens have been isolated from this species, including tropomyosin (Ani s 3) and the EF-hand protein, Ani s troponin. In this review, we highlight aspects of the biology and biochemistry of helminths that may have influenced the evolution of the IgE response. We compare dominant IgE-antigens in worms with clinically important environmental allergens and suggest that arrays of such molecules will provide important information on anti-worm immunity as well as allergy.
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Marker genes for activation of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and RNAi development in the ovine nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta. J Helminthol 2013; 89:208-16. [PMID: 24345514 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x13000801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The nematode Teladorsagia circumcincta is a major cause of parasitic gastroenteritis in sheep in temperate regions. The development of resistance to the major anthelmintic classes used for its control is a threat to small ruminant farming sustainability. Vaccination is a potential alternative control method for this nematode. Gene datasets can be exploited to identify potential vaccine candidates and these validated further by methods such as RNA interference (RNAi) prior to vaccine trials. Previous reports indicate that RNAi in parasitic nematodes is inconsistent and, to date, there are no internal controls that indicate activation of the RNAi pathway in response to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). The present aims were to determine whether or not the transcription levels of potential marker genes in the RNAi pathway could indicate activation of the pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans and to develop an RNAi platform in T. circumcincta. In C. elegans, transcript levels of three candidate marker genes, Ce-dcr-1 (Dicer), Ce-ego-1 (Enhancer of Glp-One family member) and Ce-rsd-3 (RNAi Spreading Defective), were analysed and results indicated that activation of the pathway had no effect on transcript levels of these genes. In T. circumcincta, two vaccine candidate genes from the Activation-associated Secreted Protein (ASP) family were targets for knockdown. RNAi experiments showed successful silencing of both targets, although inconsistencies in efficacy were observed. After testing a number of parameters that might affect variability, it was found that the length of the storage period of the larvae plays an important role in the consistency of the RNAi results.
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Menon R, Gasser RB, Mitreva M, Ranganathan S. An analysis of the transcriptome of Teladorsagia circumcincta: its biological and biotechnological implications. BMC Genomics 2012; 13 Suppl 7:S10. [PMID: 23282110 PMCID: PMC3521389 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-s7-s10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Teladorsagia circumcincta (order Strongylida) is an economically important parasitic nematode of small ruminants (including sheep and goats) in temperate climatic regions of the world. Improved insights into the molecular biology of this parasite could underpin alternative methods required to control this and related parasites, in order to circumvent major problems associated with anthelmintic resistance. The aims of the present study were to define the transcriptome of the adult stage of T. circumcincta and to infer the main pathways linked to molecules known to be expressed in this nematode. Since sheep develop acquired immunity against T. circumcincta, there is some potential for the development of a vaccine against this parasite. Hence, we infer excretory/secretory molecules for T. circumcincta as possible immunogens and vaccine candidates. RESULTS A total of 407,357 ESTs were assembled yielding 39,852 putative gene sequences. Conceptual translation predicted 24,013 proteins, which were then subjected to detailed annotation which included pathway mapping of predicted proteins (including 112 excreted/secreted [ES] and 226 transmembrane peptides), domain analysis and GO annotation was carried out using InterProScan along with BLAST2GO. Further analysis was carried out for secretory signal peptides using SignalP and non-classical sec pathway using SecretomeP tools. For ES proteins, key pathways, including Fc epsilon RI, T cell receptor, and chemokine signalling as well as leukocyte transendothelial migration were inferred to be linked to immune responses, along with other pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases and infectious diseases, which warrant detailed future studies. KAAS could identify new and updated pathways like phagosome and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum. Domain analysis for the assembled dataset revealed families of serine, cysteine and proteinase inhibitors which might represent targets for parasite intervention. InterProScan could identify GO terms pertaining to the extracellular region. Some of the important domain families identified included the SCP-like extracellular proteins which belong to the pathogenesis-related proteins (PRPs) superfamily along with C-type lectin, saposin-like proteins. The 'extracellular region' that corresponds to allergen V5/Tpx-1 related, considered important in parasite-host interactions, was also identified. Six cysteine motif (SXC1) proteins, transthyretin proteins, C-type lectins, activation-associated secreted proteins (ASPs), which could represent potential candidates for developing novel anthelmintics or vaccines were few other important findings. Of these, SXC1, protein kinase domain-containing protein, trypsin family protein, trypsin-like protease family member (TRY-1), putative major allergen and putative lipid binding protein were identified which have not been reported in the published T. circumcincta proteomics analysis. Detailed analysis of 6,058 raw EST sequences from dbEST revealed 315 putatively secreted proteins. Amongst them, C-type single domain activation associated secreted protein ASP3 precursor, activation-associated secreted proteins (ASP-like protein), cathepsin B-like cysteine protease, cathepsin L cysteine protease, cysteine protease, TransThyretin-Related and Venom-Allergen-like proteins were the key findings. CONCLUSIONS We have annotated a large dataset ESTs of T. circumcincta and undertaken detailed comparative bioinformatics analyses. The results provide a comprehensive insight into the molecular biology of this parasite and disease manifestation which provides potential focal point for future research. We identified a number of pathways responsible for immune response. This type of large-scale computational scanning could be coupled with proteomic and metabolomic studies of this parasite leading to novel therapeutic intervention and disease control strategies. We have also successfully affirmed the use of bioinformatics tools, for the study of ESTs, which could now serve as a benchmark for the development of new computational EST analysis pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjeeta Menon
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of a putative activation-associated secreted protein from Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Parasitol Res 2012. [PMID: 23192529 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3198-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Activation-associated secreted protein (ASP) had been found in many helminthes, which was associated with pathogenesis and stage transition. A complementary DNA (cDNA) sequence encoding a putative two-domain ASP was obtained from an Angiostrongylus cantonensis fourth-stage larvae cDNA library, which we designated as AgASP. The cDNA of AgASP contains an open reading frame encoding 424 amino acids, the first 19 residues being a putative secretion signal. The expression pattern of this protein was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. We found that this protein expressed most highly in the brain-stage larvae (Lbr) of this parasite and existed in the excretory/secretory products of this stage. Immunofluorescence showed it existed in the lumen of the Lbr. The recombinant protein can be recognized by the infection sera from mice (nonpermissive host), while it cannot be recognized by infection sera from rats (permissive host). The infiltration of neutrophils in infected nonpermissive host can be lessened by immunizing this host with this protein (immunized vs control group, 13.7 ± 10.2 vs 65.5 ± 19.2). These findings suggest that this protein plays a role in the pathogenesis of human angiostrongyliasis and is worthy of further study.
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Britton C, Samarasinghe B, Knox DP. Ups and downs of RNA interference in parasitic nematodes. Exp Parasitol 2012; 132:56-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2011] [Revised: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Chalmers IW, Hoffmann KF. Platyhelminth Venom Allergen-Like (VAL) proteins: revealing structural diversity, class-specific features and biological associations across the phylum. Parasitology 2012; 139:1231-45. [PMID: 22717097 PMCID: PMC3435950 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182012000704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2012] [Revised: 03/23/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
During platyhelminth infection, a cocktail of proteins is released by the parasite to aid invasion, initiate feeding, facilitate adaptation and mediate modulation of the host immune response. Included amongst these proteins is the Venom Allergen-Like (VAL) family, part of the larger sperm coating protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 (SCP/TAPS) superfamily. To explore the significance of this protein family during Platyhelminthes development and host interactions, we systematically summarize all published proteomic, genomic and immunological investigations of the VAL protein family to date. By conducting new genomic and transcriptomic interrogations to identify over 200 VAL proteins (228) from species in all 4 traditional taxonomic classes (Trematoda, Cestoda, Monogenea and Turbellaria), we further expand our knowledge related to platyhelminth VAL diversity across the phylum. Subsequent phylogenetic and tertiary structural analyses reveal several class-specific VAL features, which likely indicate a range of roles mediated by this protein family. Our comprehensive analysis of platyhelminth VALs represents a unifying synopsis for understanding diversity within this protein family and a firm context in which to initiate future functional characterization of these enigmatic members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain W Chalmers
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK.
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Yan X, Cheng XY, Wang YS, Luo J, Mao ZC, Ferris VR, Xie BY. Comparative transcriptomics of two pathogenic pinewood nematodes yields insights into parasitic adaptation to life on pine hosts. Gene 2012; 505:81-90. [PMID: 22705985 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Revised: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/18/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Bursaphelenchus mucronatus are migratory endoparasitic nematodes that live in pine trees. To gain insight into their molecular similarities and differences, transcriptomes of the two nematodes were analysed. A total of 23,765 and 21,782 contigs (>300 bp) were obtained from B. xylophilus and B. mucronatus, respectively. More than 80% of the contigs could map to each other's transcriptome reciprocally. A total of 23,467 and 21,370 Open Reading Frames were predicted, respectively. Besides those known parasitism-related proteins, six new venom allergen-like proteins (VAPs) were found, which were not homologous to known VAPs. Enzymes involved in xenobiotic biodegradation were abundant in the two transcriptomes based on KEGG functional annotation. Metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 comprised the main detoxification pathways. The mRNA expression levels of detoxification genes in nematodes living in the host were higher than those in nematodes feeding on fungus. However, there were fewer enzymes involved in the α-pinene degradation. Our results indicate that the two pinewood nematodes have evolved similar molecular mechanisms to adapt to life on pine hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Moreno Y, Gros PP, Tam M, Segura M, Valanparambil R, Geary TG, Stevenson MM. Proteomic analysis of excretory-secretory products of Heligmosomoides polygyrus assessed with next-generation sequencing transcriptomic information. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1370. [PMID: 22039562 PMCID: PMC3201918 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2011] [Accepted: 09/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The murine parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus is a convenient experimental model to study immune responses and pathology associated with gastrointestinal nematode infections. The excretory-secretory products (ESP) produced by this parasite have potent immunomodulatory activity, but the protein(s) responsible has not been defined. Identification of the protein composition of ESP derived from H. polygyrus and other relevant nematode species has been hampered by the lack of genomic sequence information required for proteomic analysis based on database searches. To overcome this, a transcriptome next generation sequencing (RNA-seq) de novo assembly containing 33,641 transcripts was generated, annotated, and used to interrogate mass spectrometry (MS) data derived from 1D-SDS PAGE and LC-MS/MS analysis of ESP. Using the database generated from the 6 open reading frames deduced from the RNA-seq assembly and conventional identification programs, 209 proteins were identified in ESP including homologues of vitellogenins, retinol- and fatty acid-binding proteins, globins, and the allergen V5/Tpx-1-related family of proteins. Several potential immunomodulators, such as macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cysteine protease inhibitors, galectins, C-type lectins, peroxiredoxin, and glutathione S-transferase, were also identified. Comparative analysis of protein annotations based on the RNA-seq assembly and proteomics revealed processes and proteins that may contribute to the functional specialization of ESP, including proteins involved in signalling pathways and in nutrient transport and/or uptake. Together, these findings provide important information that will help to illuminate molecular, biochemical, and in particular immunomodulatory aspects of host-H. polygyrus biology. In addition, the methods and analyses presented here are applicable to study biochemical and molecular aspects of the host-parasite relationship in species for which sequence information is not available. Gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections are major causes of human and animal disease. Much of their morbidity is associated with establishment of chronic infections in the host, reflecting the deployment of mechanisms to evade and modulate the immune response. The molecules responsible for these activities are poorly known. The proteins released from nematode species as excretory-secretory products (ESP) have potent immunomodulatory effects. The murine parasite Heligmosomoides bakeri (polygyrus) has served as a model to understand several aspects related to GI nematode infections. Here, we aimed to identify the protein components of H. polygyrus ESP through a proteomic approach, but the lack of genomic sequence information for this organism limited our ability to identify proteins by relying on comparisons between experimental and database-predicted mass spectra. To overcome these difficulties, we used transcriptome next-generation sequencing and several bioinformatic tools to generate and annotate a sequence assembly for this parasite. We used this information to support the protein identification process. Among the 209 proteins identified, we delineated particular processes and proteins that define the functional specialization of ESP. This work provides valuable data to establish a path to identify and understand particular parasite proteins involved in the orchestration of immune evasion events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yovany Moreno
- Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pierre-Paul Gros
- Centre for the Study of Host Resistance and Centre for Host Parasite Interactions, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mifong Tam
- Centre for the Study of Host Resistance and Centre for Host Parasite Interactions, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mariela Segura
- Centre for the Study of Host Resistance and Centre for Host Parasite Interactions, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rajesh Valanparambil
- Centre for the Study of Host Resistance and Centre for Host Parasite Interactions, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Timothy G. Geary
- Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mary M. Stevenson
- Centre for the Study of Host Resistance and Centre for Host Parasite Interactions, The Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Cantacessi C, Gasser RB. SCP/TAPS proteins in helminths--where to from now? Mol Cell Probes 2011; 26:54-9. [PMID: 22005034 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2011.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Revised: 10/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/03/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
A diverse array of proteins belonging to the SCP/TAPS 'family' has been described for various eukaryotic organisms, including parasites. Although SCP/TAPS proteins have been hypothesized to play key roles in various fundamental biological processes, such as host-pathogen interactions and defence mechanisms, there is still a limited understanding of the precise roles of these proteins. Here, we review current knowledge of key SCP/TAPS proteins of helminths and their proposed roles in parasite-host interactions. Molecular investigations of these molecules in parasites and the integration of structural and functional data could lead to new and innovative approaches for the treatment and control of parasitic diseases, with important biotechnological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Cantacessi
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Parker-Manuel SJ, Ivens AC, Dillon GP, Wilson RA. Gene expression patterns in larval Schistosoma mansoni associated with infection of the mammalian host. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1274. [PMID: 21912711 PMCID: PMC3166049 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The infective schistosome cercaria develops within the intramolluscan daughter sporocyst from an undifferentiated germ ball, during which synthesis of proteins essential for infection occurs. When the aquatic cercaria locates the mammalian host it rapidly penetrates into the epidermis using glandular secretions. It then undergoes metamorphosis into the schistosomulum, including replacement of its tegument surface membranes, a process taking several days before it exits the skin. Patterns of gene expression underlying this transition have been characterised. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS All gene models from the S. mansoni genome (www.GeneDB.org) were incorporated into a high-density oligonucleotide array. Double-stranded cDNA from germ balls, cercariae, and day 3 schistosomula was hybridised to the array without amplification. Statistical analysis was performed using Bioconductor to reveal differentially transcribed loci. Genes were categorised on the basis of biological process, tissue association or molecular function to aid understanding of the complex processes occurring. Genes necessary for DNA replication were enriched only in the germ ball, while those involved in translation were up-regulated in the germ ball and/or day 3 schistosomulum. Different sets of developmental genes were up-regulated at each stage. A large number of genes encoding elastases and invadolysins, and some venom allergen-like proteins were up-regulated in the germ ball, those encoding cysteine and aspartic proteases in the cercaria and schistosomulum. Micro exon genes encoding variant secreted proteins were highly up-regulated in the schistosomulum along with tegument and gut-associated genes, coincident with remodelling of the parasite body. Genes encoding membrane proteins were prominently up-regulated in the cercaria and/or day 3 schistosomulum. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our study highlights an expanded number of transcripts encoding proteins potentially involved in skin invasion. It illuminates the process of metamorphosis into the schistosomulum and highlights the very early activation of gut-associated genes whilst revealing little change in the parasite's energy metabolism or stress responses.
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Kalyanasundaram R, Balumuri P. Multivalent vaccine formulation with BmVAL-1 and BmALT-2 confer significant protection against challenge infections with Brugia malayi in mice and jirds. Res Rep Trop Med 2011; 2011:45-56. [PMID: 21760754 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s13679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE: Lymphatic filariasis, a mosquito-borne infection, affects 120 million people in 83 different countries. Mass drug administration is fully underway in several parts of the world to eradicate this infection by year 2020. Drugs alone are highly efficient treatments, but long-term sustainable prophylaxis requires an effective vaccine. No vaccines are available for humans and animals despite several potential candidate vaccine antigens having been identified. Brugia malayi vespid venom allergen homolog-like protein (BmVAL-1) and B. malayi abundant larval transcript (BmALT-2) are two of the most promising vaccine candidates. We evaluated various vaccination regimens consisting of DNA and protein antigens and evaluated the potential of monovalent and multivalent vaccine formulations in mice and jird animal models. METHODS: Mice and jirds were vaccinated with monovalent DNA preparations of BmVAL-1 or BmALT-2 in pVAX-1 vector or monovalent protein preparations of rBmVAL-1 and rBmALT-2 in alum using a homologous or heterologous prime boost approach. These vaccine regimens were then compared with a multivalent vaccine formulation consisting of DNA or hybrid protein formulation of the two antigens. Challenge experiments were performed with B. malayi L3 in mice and jirds to evaluate the degree of protection, and immunological parameters were determined in mice and humans to elucidate the characteristics of the protective immune responses. RESULTS: Vaccination with monovalent BmVAL-1 vaccine conferred 39% (DNA vaccine) to 54% (DNA prime and protein boost) protection in mice. A similar degree of protection was observed in jirds (50% to 52%). Monovalent BmALT-2 afforded 51% to 75% protection in mice and 58% to 79% protection in jirds. Our testing of a multivalent formulation of BmVAL-1 and BmALT-2, showed 57% to 82% protection in mice and 77% to 85% protection in jirds. A heterologous prime boost approach using the multivalent vaccine gave the highest degree of protection in both mice and jirds. Serological analysis in mice showed that BmVAL-1 vaccination induced an IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 antibody response, whereas BmALT-2 vaccination predominantly induced an IgG1 and IgG3 antibody response. Cytokine responses of antigen-responding cells in the spleen secreted predominantly IFN-γ and IL-5 in response to BmVAL-1, and IL-4, and IL-5 in response to BmALT-2. CONCLUSION: A multivalent vaccine formulation of BmVAL-1 and BmALT-2 given as a prime boost regimen gave significant protection against lymphatic filariasis caused by B. malayi in mice and jirds. Because putatively immune endemic normal subjects also carry protective antibodies against BmVAL-1 and BmALT-2, developing this multivalent formulation as a prophylactic vaccine against B. malayi for human and veterinary use has great potential.
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Abstract
SUMMARYSuccessful metazoan parasitism, among many other factors, requires a supply of nutrients and the removal of waste products. There is a prerequisite for a parasite-defined vasculature. The angiogenic mechanism(s) involved presumably depend on the characteristics of the tissue- and vascular system-dwelling, parasitic helminths. Simplistically, 2 possibilities or a combination of both have been considered in this review. The multifactorial induction of parasitic helminth-associated neovascularization could arise through, either a host-, a parasite- or a host-/parasite-dependent, angiogenic switch. Most studies appear to support the first and third hypotheses, but evidence exists for the intrahepatic cestodeEchinococcus multilocularis, the free-living nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansand the intravascular trematodeSchistosoma mansonifor the second inference. In contrast, the nematode anti-coagulant protein NAPc2 from adultAncylostoma caninumis also an anti-angiogenic factor.
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Teladorsagia circumcincta: Activation-associated secreted proteins in excretory/secretory products of fourth stage larvae are targets of early IgA responses in infected sheep. Exp Parasitol 2010; 125:329-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Revised: 02/24/2010] [Accepted: 02/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Expression and immune response analysis of Schistosoma japonicum VAL-1, a homologue of vespid venom allergens. Parasitol Res 2010; 106:1413-8. [PMID: 20306204 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-1817-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2010] [Accepted: 02/23/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Many parasites such as trematodes and nematodes have been found to express members of a gene family variously termed as venom allergen-like protein (VAL) or sperm-coating protein (SCP)-like protein. The molecular functions of these proteins remain unclear. We isolated the corresponding gene from Schistosoma japonicum, which we designated as Sj-VAL-1. The cDNA of Sj-VAL-1 contains an open reading frame encoding 221 amino acids, the first 25 residues being a putative secretion signal. RT-PCR analysis confirmed that Sj-VAL-1 was transcribed mainly in cercariae and eggs stages. Western blot analysis indicated that Sj-VAL-1 protein was an egg excretory-secretory products (ES products). Immunofluorescence showed it was secreted by eggs, head gland, and penetration glands of cercariae. In S. japonicum-infected mice, Sj-VAL-1-specific antibody significantly increased 6 weeks after infection and a higher level of IgG1 antibody contrast to IgG2a antibody indicated that a polarized Th2 immune response could be induced by Sj-VAL-1. These findings suggest that Sj-VAL-1 must play a role in the interaction between parasite and host. Its role as a potential modulator of immune function or as a pathogenic factor of granuloma formation in schistosomiasis needs further study.
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Abstract
In this article, we provide the results of experimental studies demonstrating that corneal avascularity is an active process involving the production of anti-angiogenic factors, which counterbalance the pro-angiogenic/lymphangiogenic factors that are upregulated during wound healing. We also summarize pertinent published reports regarding corneal neovascularization (NV), corneal lymphangiogenesis and corneal angiogenic/lymphangiogenic privilege. We outline the clinical causes of corneal NV, and discuss the angiogenic proteins (VEGF and bFGF) and angiogenesis regulatory proteins. We also describe the role of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2, -7, and MT1-MMP, anti-angiogenic factors, and lymphangiogenic regulatory proteins during corneal wound healing. Established and potential new therapies for the treatment of corneal neovascularization are also discussed.
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Attout T, Hoerauf A, Dénécé G, Debrah AY, Marfo-Debrekyei Y, Boussinesq M, Wanji S, Martinez V, Mand S, Adjei O, Bain O, Specht S, Martin C. Lymphatic vascularisation and involvement of Lyve-1+ macrophages in the human onchocerca nodule. PLoS One 2009; 4:e8234. [PMID: 20011036 PMCID: PMC2784295 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2009] [Accepted: 10/03/2009] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Onchocerciasis, caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, is a parasitic disease leading to debilitating skin disease and blindness, with major economic and social consequences. The pathology of onchocerciasis is principally considered to be a consequence of long-standing host inflammatory responses. In onchocerciasis a subcutaneous nodule is formed around the female worms, the core of which is a dense infiltrate of inflammatory cells in which microfilariae are released. It has been established that the formation of nodules is associated with angiogenesis. In this study, we show using specific markers of endothelium (CD31) and lymphatic endothelial cells (Lyve-1, Podoplanin) that not only angiogenesis but also lymphangiogenesis occurs within the nodule. 7% of the microfilariae could be found within the lymphatics, but none within blood vessels in these nodules, suggesting a possible route of migration for the larvae. The neovascularisation was associated with a particular pattern of angio/lymphangiogenic factors in nodules of onchocerciasis patients, characterized by the expression of CXCL12, CXCR4, VEGF-C, Angiopoietin-1 and Angiopoietin-2. Interestingly, a proportion of macrophages were found to be positive for Lyve-1 and some were integrated into the endothelium of the lymphatic vessels, revealing their plasticity in the nodular micro-environment. These results indicate that lymphatic as well as blood vascularization is induced around O. volvulus worms, either by the parasite itself, e.g. by the release of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors, or by consecutive host immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarik Attout
- USM 307, Parasitologie comparée et Modèles expérimentaux, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Achim Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Gaëlle Dénécé
- USM 307, Parasitologie comparée et Modèles expérimentaux, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Alexander Yaw Debrah
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Samuel Wanji
- Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
| | - Valérie Martinez
- Service de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Sabine Mand
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ohene Adjei
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Odile Bain
- USM 307, Parasitologie comparée et Modèles expérimentaux, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Sabine Specht
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Coralie Martin
- USM 307, Parasitologie comparée et Modèles expérimentaux, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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Fitzsimmons CM, Dunne DW. Survival of the fittest: allergology or parasitology? Trends Parasitol 2009; 25:447-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2009.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2009] [Revised: 06/05/2009] [Accepted: 07/08/2009] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Costa AFDV, Gasser RB, Dias SRC, Rabelo EML. Male-enriched transcription of genes encoding ASPs and Kunitz-type protease inhibitors in Ancylostoma species. Mol Cell Probes 2009; 23:298-303. [PMID: 19646525 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2009.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2009] [Revised: 07/22/2009] [Accepted: 07/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Various transcripts coding for proteins considered to be central to parasite-host interactions were identified previously as male-enriched in the hookworm Ancylostoma braziliense. Among these genes were an ASP-5-like homologue and a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor. The present study extends this previous work to investigate similar molecules in other hookworms (Ancylostomatidae). Specifically, partial cDNA sequences encoding three different ASP molecules and two different Kunitz-type protease inhibitors were isolated, and the differential transcription between adult male and female worms was compared by conventional and quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR for three species, A. braziliense, Ancylostoma caninum and Ancylostoma ceylanicum. In accordance with previous findings, male-enriched transcription was observed for all molecules explored. Based on this information, it is hypothesized that adult males are responsible for producing proteins essential to the survival of hookworms inside the host and for supporting developmental and reproductive processes in female worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Flávia D V Costa
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Presidente Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, CEP 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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41
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Cantacessi C, Campbell BE, Visser A, Geldhof P, Nolan MJ, Nisbet AJ, Matthews JB, Loukas A, Hofmann A, Otranto D, Sternberg PW, Gasser RB. A portrait of the "SCP/TAPS" proteins of eukaryotes--developing a framework for fundamental research and biotechnological outcomes. Biotechnol Adv 2009; 27:376-88. [PMID: 19239923 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2009.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2008] [Revised: 02/05/2009] [Accepted: 02/11/2009] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
A wide range of proteins belonging to the SCP/TAPS "family" has been described for various eukaryotic organisms, including plants and animals (vertebrates and invertebrates, such as helminths). Although SCP/TAPS proteins have been proposed to play key roles in a number of fundamental biological processes, such as host-pathogen interactions and defence mechanisms, there is a paucity of information on their genetic relationships, structures and functions, and there is no standardised nomenclature for these proteins. A detailed analysis of the relationships of members of the SCP/TAPS family of proteins, based on key protein signatures, could provide a foundation for investigating these areas. In this article, we review the current state of knowledge of key SCP/TAPS proteins of eukaryotes, with an emphasis on those from parasitic helminths, and undertake a comprehensive, systematic phylogenetic analysis of currently available full-length protein sequence data (considering characteristic protein signatures or motifs) to infer relationships and provide a framework (based on statistical support) for the naming of these proteins. This framework is intended to guide genomic and molecular biological explorations of key SCP/TAPS molecules associated with infectious diseases of plants and animals. In particular, fundamental investigations of these molecules in parasites and the integration of structural and functional data could lead to new and innovative approaches for the control of parasitic diseases, with important biotechnological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Australia
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42
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Gibbs GM, Roelants K, O'Bryan MK. The CAP superfamily: cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins--roles in reproduction, cancer, and immune defense. Endocr Rev 2008; 29:865-97. [PMID: 18824526 DOI: 10.1210/er.2008-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 364] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins (CAP) superfamily members are found in a remarkable range of organisms spanning each of the animal kingdoms. Within humans and mice, there are 31 and 33 individual family members, respectively, and although many are poorly characterized, the majority show a notable expression bias to the reproductive tract and immune tissues or are deregulated in cancers. CAP superfamily proteins are most often secreted and have an extracellular endocrine or paracrine function and are involved in processes including the regulation of extracellular matrix and branching morphogenesis, potentially as either proteases or protease inhibitors; in ion channel regulation in fertility; as tumor suppressor or prooncogenic genes in tissues including the prostate; and in cell-cell adhesion during fertilization. This review describes mammalian CAP superfamily gene expression profiles, phylogenetic relationships, protein structural properties, and biological functions, and it draws into focus their potential role in health and disease. The nine subfamilies of the mammalian CAP superfamily include: the human glioma pathogenesis-related 1 (GLIPR1), Golgi associated pathogenesis related-1 (GAPR1) proteins, peptidase inhibitor 15 (PI15), peptidase inhibitor 16 (PI16), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), CRISP LCCL domain containing 1 (CRISPLD1), CRISP LCCL domain containing 2 (CRISPLD2), mannose receptor like and the R3H domain containing like proteins. We conclude that overall protein structural conservation within the CAP superfamily results in fundamentally similar functions for the CAP domain in all members, yet the diversity outside of this core region dramatically alters target specificity and, therefore, the biological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard M Gibbs
- Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Australia.
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Meyvis Y, Callewaert N, Gevaert K, Timmerman E, Van Durme J, Schymkowitz J, Rousseau F, Vercruysse J, Claerebout E, Geldhof P. Hybrid N-glycans on the host protective activation-associated secreted proteins of Ostertagia ostertagi and their importance in immunogenicity. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2008; 161:67-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2008.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2008] [Revised: 05/14/2008] [Accepted: 05/14/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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BRITTON C. Genetically modified parasites and the immune response. Parasite Immunol 2008; 30:191-3. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2008.01018.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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MacDonald AJ, Libri NA, Lustigman S, Barker SJ, Whelan MA, Semper AE, Rosenberg WM. A novel, helminth-derived immunostimulant enhances human recall responses to hepatitis C virus and tetanus toxoid and is dependent on CD56+ cells for its action. Clin Exp Immunol 2008; 152:265-73. [PMID: 18341617 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2008.03623.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We have described previously an immunostimulant derived from Onchocerca volvulus, the helminth parasite that causes onchocerciasis. Recombinant O. volvulus activation-associated secreted protein-1 (rOv-ASP-1) was a potent adjuvant for antibody and cellular responses to protein, polypeptide and small peptide antigens. Our aims were to determine whether rOv-ASP-1 is immunostimulatory for human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and, if so, whether it could augment cellular responses against human pathogen antigens in vitro. Cytokines from rOv-ASP-1-stimulated human PBMC were measured by a fluorescence activated cell sorter-based multiplex assay. Recall responses of normal healthy donor (NHD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (c-HCV)-infected patient PBMC to tetanus toxoid (TT) or HCV core (HCVco) antigen, respectively, were measured by interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assays. Interferon-gamma was the predominant cytokine induced by rOv-ASP-1. 77.3% of NHD anti-TT and 88.9% of c-HCV anti-HCVco responses were enhanced by rOv-ASP-1. The immunostimulant effect was dependent upon contact between CD56+ and CD56- fractions of PBMC. We have described a helminth-derived protein that can act as an immunostimulant for human recall responses in vitro to TT and, perhaps more importantly, HCV antigens in patients with chronic HCV infection. Our longer-term goal would be to boost anti-viral responses in chronic infections such as HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J MacDonald
- iQur Ltd, Mailpoint 811, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.
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Visser A, Van Zeveren A, Meyvis Y, Peelaers I, Van den Broeck W, Gevaert K, Vercruysse J, Claerebout E, Geldhof P. Gender-enriched transcription of activation associated secreted proteins in Ostertagia ostertagi. Int J Parasitol 2008; 38:455-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2007.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2007] [Revised: 08/17/2007] [Accepted: 08/21/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Chalmers IW, McArdle AJ, Coulson RM, Wagner MA, Schmid R, Hirai H, Hoffmann KF. Developmentally regulated expression, alternative splicing and distinct sub-groupings in members of the Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like (SmVAL) gene family. BMC Genomics 2008; 9:89. [PMID: 18294395 PMCID: PMC2270263 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2007] [Accepted: 02/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Sperm-coating protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 (SCP/TAPS) domain is found across phyla and is a major structural feature of insect allergens, mammalian sperm proteins and parasitic nematode secreted molecules. Proteins containing this domain are implicated in diverse biological activities and may be important for chronic host/parasite interactions. Results We report the first description of an SCP/TAPS gene family (Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like (SmVALs)) in the medically important Platyhelminthes (class Trematoda) and describe individual members' phylogenetic relationships, genomic organization and life cycle expression profiles. Twenty-eight SmVALs with complete SCP/TAPS domains were identified and comparison of their predicted protein features and gene structures indicated the presence of two distinct sub-families (group 1 & group 2). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that this group 1/group 2 split is zoologically widespread as it exists across the metazoan sub-kingdom. Chromosomal localisation and PCR analysis, coupled to inspection of the current S. mansoni genomic assembly, revealed that many of the SmVAL genes are spatially linked throughout the genome. Quantitative lifecycle expression profiling demonstrated distinct SmVAL expression patterns, including transcripts specifically associated with lifestages involved in definitive host invasion, transcripts restricted to lifestages involved in the invasion of the intermediate host and transcripts ubiquitously expressed. Analysis of SmVAL6 transcript diversity demonstrated statistically significant, developmentally regulated, alternative splicing. Conclusion Our results highlight the existence of two distinct SCP/TAPS protein types within the Platyhelminthes and across taxa. The extensive lifecycle expression analysis indicates several SmVAL transcripts are upregulated in infective stages of the parasite, suggesting that these particular protein products may be linked to the establishment of chronic host/parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain W Chalmers
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK.
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Wang X, Li H, Hu Y, Fu P, Xu J. Molecular cloning and analysis of a new venom allergen-like protein gene from the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Exp Parasitol 2007; 117:133-40. [PMID: 17481609 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2007.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2007] [Revised: 03/15/2007] [Accepted: 03/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
A new venom allergen-like protein gene isolated from Meloidogyne incognita (designated Mi-vap-2) was cloned and analysed. The genomic clone of Mi-vap-2 is 1917-bp long, contains three introns, which range in size from 39 to 797 bp, and four exons ranging in size from 37 to 361 bp. The cDNA of Mi-vap-2 contains an open reading frame encoding 294 amino acids, being the first 16 residues a putative secretion signal. Southern blot analysis suggested that Mi-vp-2 is probably a member of a small multigene family. In situ hybridization analysis showed that the transcripts of Mi-vap-2 accumulated exclusively within the subventral oesophageal gland cells of M. incognita. RT-PCR analyses confirmed that Mi-vap-2 was transcribed mainly in the pre-parasitic second-stage and early post-inoculated juveniles. Results indicated that this venom allergen-like protein gene may play an important role in establishment of the parasitic relationship between plants and nematodes.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigens, Helminth/chemistry
- Antigens, Helminth/genetics
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Southern
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Complementary/chemistry
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Helminth/chemistry
- DNA, Helminth/genetics
- Female
- Helminth Proteins/chemistry
- Helminth Proteins/genetics
- In Situ Hybridization
- Solanum lycopersicum/parasitology
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Plant Roots/parasitology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Helminth/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Sequence Alignment
- Tylenchoidea/chemistry
- Tylenchoidea/genetics
- Tylenchoidea/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Anand SB, Gnanasekar M, Thangadurai M, Prabhu PR, Kaliraj P, Ramaswamy K. Immune response studies with Wuchereria bancrofti vespid allergen homologue (WbVAH) in human lymphatic filariasis. Parasitol Res 2007; 101:981-8. [PMID: 17558521 PMCID: PMC2763210 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-007-0571-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2007] [Accepted: 04/26/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A homologue of Brugia malayi venom allergen (BmVAH) was cloned from the infective stages (L3) of Wuchereria bancrofti. Sequence analysis showed 90% sequence identity between WbVAH and BmVAH. Recombinant WbVAH was then expressed and purified. VAH from other nematode parasites is being evaluated as potential vaccine candidates. Because W. bancrofti infections are more prevalent than B. malayi, it will significantly benefit using W. bancrofti antigens for vaccine development. In this study, we have evaluated the human immune responses to rWbVAH in putatively immune individuals who live in the endemic regions (endemic normal, EN) to determine the vaccine potential of WbVAH. These responses were then compared to those in infected individuals (microfilaraemic, MF and chronic pathology, CP). Results show that EN subjects carry WbVAH-specific IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3 circulating antibodies. It is interesting to note that CP patients also carried antibodies against WbVAH that was mainly of the IgG3 isotype. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from EN individuals responded strongly to rWbVAH by proliferating and secreting IFN-gamma. PBMC from MF patients also proliferated in response to rWbVAH but secreted mainly IL-10. Thus, there was a clear dichotomy in the cytokine production by infected patients vs individuals who are putatively immune (EN). Although vaccine potential of WbVAH has not been established yet, our findings suggest that WbVAH mediated immune responses in EN individuals is primarily Th1-biased. Further vaccination studies are underway in animal models to determine the role of WbVAH in protective immunity against W. bancrofti and B. malayi infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Setty Balakrishnan Anand
- S. B. Anand · M. Thangadurai · P. R. Prabhu · P. Kaliraj, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
- M. Gnanasekar · K. Ramaswamy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, USA,
| | - Munirathinam Gnanasekar
- S. B. Anand · M. Thangadurai · P. R. Prabhu · P. Kaliraj, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
- M. Gnanasekar · K. Ramaswamy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, USA,
| | - Mani Thangadurai
- S. B. Anand · M. Thangadurai · P. R. Prabhu · P. Kaliraj, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
- M. Gnanasekar · K. Ramaswamy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, USA,
| | - Prince R. Prabhu
- S. B. Anand · M. Thangadurai · P. R. Prabhu · P. Kaliraj, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
- M. Gnanasekar · K. Ramaswamy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, USA,
| | - Perumal Kaliraj
- S. B. Anand · M. Thangadurai · P. R. Prabhu · P. Kaliraj, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
- M. Gnanasekar · K. Ramaswamy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, USA,
| | - Kalyanasundaram Ramaswamy
- S. B. Anand · M. Thangadurai · P. R. Prabhu · P. Kaliraj, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai 600025, India
- M. Gnanasekar · K. Ramaswamy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Illinois, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107, USA,
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Britos L, Lalanne AI, Castillo E, Cota G, Señorale M, Marín M. Mesocestoides corti (syn. vogae, cestoda): Characterization of genes encoding cysteine-rich secreted proteins (CRISP). Exp Parasitol 2007; 116:95-102. [PMID: 17258202 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2006] [Revised: 11/21/2006] [Accepted: 11/29/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
With the aim of identifying genes involved in development and parasite adaptation in cestodes, four coding sequences were isolated from the cyclophyllidean Mesocestoides corti larval stage (tetrathyridium). Genes showed significant similarity to the cysteine-rich secreted protein (CRISP) encoding genes, a large family that includes stage and tissue-specific genes from diverse organisms, many associated with crucial biological processes. The full-length McCrisp2 cDNA encodes a predicted protein of 202 residues in length, containing 10 cysteines and a putative signal peptide. The expression level of McCrisp2 was estimated by Real-time PCR, relative to GAPDH, showing an increase of 75% in segmented worms compared to tetrathyridia. By in situ hybridization, McCrisp2 expression was localized mainly at the larvae apical region of tetrathyridia and in the proglottids of segmented worms. Taken together our results suggest a possible role for M. corti CRISP proteins as ES products, potentially involved in differentiation processes as proposed for homologs in other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Britos
- Sección Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, CP 11400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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