Toward an understanding of the molecular mechanism for successful blood feeding by coupling proteomics analysis with pharmacological testing of horsefly salivary glands

Antioxidant peptides, the guardian of life from oxidative stress

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during oxidative metabolism in aerobic organisms. Under normal conditions, ROS production and elimination are in a relatively balanced state. However, under internal or external environmental stress, such as high glucose levels or UV radiation, ROS production can increase significantly, leading to oxidative stress. Excess ROS production not only damages biomolecules but is also closely associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as skin photoaging, diabetes, and cancer. Antioxidant peptides (AOPs) are naturally occurring or artificially designed peptides that can reduce the levels of ROS and other pro-oxidants, thus showing great potential in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases. In this review, we discussed ROS production and its role in inducing oxidative stress-related diseases in humans. Additionally, we discussed the sources, mechanism of action, and evaluation methods of AOPs and provided directions for future studies on AOPs.

Peptidomics Analysis Reveals the Buccal Gland of Jawless Vertebrate Lamprey as a Source of Multiple Bioactive Peptides

Various proteins with antibacterial, anticoagulant, and anti-inflammatory properties have been identified in the buccal glands of jawless blood-sucking vertebrate lampreys. However, studies on endogenous peptides in the buccal gland of lampreys are limited. In this study, 4528 endogenous peptides were identified from 1224 precursor proteins using peptidomics and screened for bioactivity in the buccal glands of the lamprey, Lethenteron camtschaticum. We synthesized four candidate bioactive peptides (VSLNLPYSVVRGEQFVVQA, DIPVPEVPILE, VVQLPPVVLGTFG, and VPPPPLVLPPASVK), calculated their secondary structures, and validated their bioactivity. The results showed that the peptide VSLNLPYSVVRGEQFVVQA possessed anti-inflammatory activity, which significantly increased the expression of anti-inflammatory factors and decreased the expression of inflammatory factors in THP-1 cells. The peptide VVQLPPVVLGTFG showed antibacterial activity against some gram-positive bacteria. The peptide VSLNLPYSVVRGEQFVQA possessed good ACE inhibitory activity at low concentrations, but no dose-related correlation was observed. Our study revealed that the buccal glands of the jawless vertebrate lamprey are a source of multiple bioactive peptides, which will provide new insights into the blood-sucking mechanism of lamprey.

An insight into the female and male Sabethes cyaneus mosquito salivary glands transcriptome

Mosquitoes are responsible for the death and debilitation of millions of people every year due to the pathogens they can transmit while blood feeding. While a handful of mosquitoes, namely those in the Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex genus, are the dominant vectors, many other species belonging to different genus are also involved in various pathogen cycles. Sabethes cyaneus is one of the many poorly understood mosquito species involved in the sylvatic cycle of Yellow Fever Virus. Here, we report the expression profile differences between male and female of Sa.cyaneus salivary glands (SGs). We find that female Sa.cyaneus SGs have 165 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated genes compared to male SGs. Most of the up-regulated genes have unknown functions, however, odorant binding proteins, such as those in the D7 protein family, and mucins were among the top 30 genes. We also performed various in vitro activity assays of female SGs. In the activity analysis we found that female SG extracts inhibit coagulation by blocking factor Xa and has endonuclease activity. Knowledge about mosquitoes and their physiology are important for understanding how different species differ in their ability to feed on and transmits pathogens to humans. These results provide us with an insight into the Sabethes SG activity and gene expression that expands our understanding of mosquito salivary glands.

A deeper insight into the sialome of male and female Ochlerotatus triseriatus mosquitoes

Over the last 20 years, advancements in sequencing technologies have highlighted the unique composition of the salivary glands of blood-feeding arthropods. Further biochemical and structural data demonstrated that salivary proteins can disrupt host hemostasis, inflammation and immunity, which favors pathogen transmission. Previously, a Sanger-based sialome of adult Ochlerotatus triseriatus female salivary glands was published based on 731 expressed sequence tag (ESTs). Here, we revisited O. triseriatus salivary gland contents using an Illumina-based sequencing approach of both male and female tissues. In the current data set, we report 10,317 DNA coding sequences classified into several functional classes. The translated transcripts also served as a reference database for proteomic analysis of O. triseriatus female saliva, in which unique peptides from 101 proteins were found. Finally, comparison of male and female libraries allowed for the identification of female-enriched transcripts that are potentially related to blood acquisition and virus transmission.

Novel contact-kinin inhibitor sylvestin targets thromboinflammation and ameliorates ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Increasing evidence indicates that ischemic stroke is a thromboinflammatory disease in which the contact-kinin pathway has a central role by activating pro-coagulant and pro-inflammatory processes. The blocking of distinct members of the contact-kinin pathway is a promising strategy to control ischemic stroke. Here, a plasma kallikrein and active FXII (FXIIa) inhibitor (sylvestin, contained 43 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 4790.4 Da) was first identified from forest leeches (Haemadipsa sylvestris). Testing revealed that sylvestin prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time without affecting prothrombin time. Thromboelastography and clot retraction assays further showed that it extended clotting time in whole blood and inhibited clot retraction in platelet-rich plasma. In addition, sylvestin prevented thrombosis in vivo in FeCl3-induced arterial and carrageenan-induced tail thrombosis models. The potential role of sylvestin in ischemic stroke was evaluated by transient and permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion models. Sylvestin administration profoundly protected mice from ischemic stroke by counteracting intracerebral thrombosis and inflammation. Importantly, sylvestin showed no signs of bleeding tendency. The present study identifies sylvestin is a promising contact-kinin pathway inhibitor that can proffer profound protection from ischemic stroke without increased risk of bleeding.

Integrated analysis of the sialotranscriptome and sialoproteome of the rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis

Over the last 20 years, advances in sequencing technologies paired with biochemical and structural studies have shed light on the unique pharmacological arsenal produced by the salivary glands of hematophagous arthropods that can target host hemostasis and immune response, favoring blood acquisition and, in several cases, enhancing pathogen transmission. Here we provide a deeper insight into Xenopsylla cheopis salivary gland contents pairing transcriptomic and proteomic approaches. Sequencing of 99 pairs of salivary glands from adult female X. cheopis yielded a total of 7432 coding sequences functionally classified into 25 classes, of which the secreted protein class was the largest. The translated transcripts also served as a reference database for the proteomic study, which identified peptides from 610 different proteins. Both approaches revealed that the acid phosphatase family is the most abundant salivary protein group from X. cheopis. Additionally, we report here novel sequences similar to the FS-H family, apyrases, odorant and hormone-binding proteins, antigen 5-like proteins, adenosine deaminases, peptidase inhibitors from different subfamilies, proteins rich in Glu, Gly, and Pro residues, and several potential secreted proteins with unknown function. SIGNIFICANCE: The rat flea X. cheopis is the main vector of Yersinia pestis, the etiological agent of the bubonic plague responsible for three major pandemics that marked human history and remains a burden to human health. In addition to Y. pestis fleas can also transmit other medically relevant pathogens including Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. The studies of salivary proteins from other hematophagous vectors highlighted the importance of such molecules for blood acquisition and pathogen transmission. However, despite the historical and clinical importance of X. cheopis little is known regarding their salivary gland contents and potential activities. Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of X. cheopis salivary composition using next generation sequencing methods paired with LC-MS/MS analysis, revealing its unique composition compared to the sialomes of other blood-feeding arthropods, and highlighting the different pathways taken during the evolution of salivary gland concoctions. In the absence of the X. cheopis genome sequence, this work serves as an extended reference for the identification of potential pharmacological proteins and peptides present in flea saliva.

Identification of a metallothionein gene and the role of biological thiols in stress induced by short-term Cd exposure in Ostrinia nubilalis

Cadmium (Cd) is a non-essential metal that is highly toxic to all living forms, characterized by an extremely high affinity for thiol (SH) groups. The aim of this work was to identify and experimentally verify metallothionein gene and to analyze the role of biological thiols in stress induced by short-term Cd exposure in Ostrinia nubilalis, one of the most important corn pests. The coding region of a metallothionein (MT) gene in O. nubilalis was identified, encoding protein, OnMT1, which contains 46 amino acids, including 12 cysteine residues, and has no aromatic amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that OnMT1 clustered together with metallothionein from Bombyx mori. Structural bioinformatics analysis strongly suggests that OnMT1 is a metallothionein with affinity for multiple transition metals. Further, in order to elucidate the role of biological thiols, O. nubilalis L5 larvae were exposed to increasing Cd concentrations in diet (6.85, 41.71, 77.35 mg kg^-1) during a 48 h period, after which Cd concentration in larvae was measured (3.50, 12.02, 47.37 mg kg^-1, respectively). Due to short-term Cd exposure, concentration of free protein SH groups and relative expression of OnMT1 and thioredoxin (Trx) genes was elevated, while the reduced glutathione content remained unchanged. The presented results provide evidence that OnMT1 plays a role in Cd detoxification and homeostasis, and confirm the importance of biological thiols, especially OnMT1 and Trx, in the early response of O. nubilalis to Cd poisoning, indicating interaction between Cd and thiol-linked redox reactions. Insects provide valuable insight into molecular adaptations to metals.

Proteases and pseudoproteases in parasitic arthropods of clinical importance

Parasitic arthropods feed on blood or skin tissue and share comparable repertoires of proteases involved in haematophagy, digestion, egg development and immunity. While proteolytically active proteases of multiple classes dominate, an increasing number of pseudoproteases have been discovered that have no proteolytic function but are pharmacologically active biomolecules, evolved to carry out alternative functions as regulatory, antihaemostatic, anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory compounds. In this review, we provide an overview of proteases and pseudoproteases from clinically important arthropod parasites. Many of these act in central biological pathways of parasite survival and host-parasite interaction and may be potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Conformation-Specific Blockade of αIIbβ3 by a Non-RGD Peptide to Inhibit Platelet Activation without Causing Significant Bleeding and Thrombocytopenia

Bleeding and thrombocytopenia to readministration are the most serious side effects of clinical integrin αIIbβ3 antagonists such as RGD-containing peptides. Here we show that a non-RGD peptide ZDPI, identified from skin secretions of Amolops loloensis, inhibited platelet aggregation induced by agonists, such as adenosine diphosphate, collagen, arachidonic acid, PAR1AP, and integrin αIIbβ3 allosteric activator, and reduces soluble fibrinogen binding to activated platelets without perturbing adhesion numbers on immobilized fibrinogen. Further study showed that ZDPI preferred to bind to the active conformation of integrin αIIbβ3, and thus inhibited c-Src-mediated integrin signaling transduction. In contrast to currently used clinical blockers of integrin αIIbβ3, which are all conformation-unspecific blockers, ZDPI conformation specifically binds to activated integrin αIIbβ3, subsequently suppressing platelet spreading. In vivo study revealed that ZDPI inhibited carotid arterial thrombosis with limited bleeding and thrombocytopenia. A non-RGD peptide which targets the active conformation of integrin αIIbβ3, such as ZDPI, might be an excellent candidate or template to develop antithrombotics without significant bleeding and thrombocytopenia side effects.

Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Periplaneta americana extract and underlying mechanisms

Periplaneta americana is a common traditional Chinese medicinal material which has been used to treat arthritis, fever, aches, pains, and inflammation of the extremities for several hundred years. However, little scientific data exists in literature to support its use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Periplaneta americana extract (PAE) and explore its underlying mechanism. The antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were evaluated by LPS-induced fever, carrageenan-induced paw edema, abdominal writhing, hot plate and formalin tests, respectively. The mechanism of action was explored by antioxidant activity analysis, inflammatory cytokines expression and febrile mediator measurement, and pathway activation analysis. The results from UHPLC-HRMS indicated that the extract was found to contain dopamine, coumarin, dipeptide, vitamin, organic acid, amino acid and its metabolites, and other organic compounds. PAE showed in a dose-dependent manner antioxidant activity and reduced the protein production and mRNA expression of NO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. Moreover, PAE significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the writhing responses and licking time in formalin tests, increased response latency in the hot plate test, reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema and inflammation in mice, decreased LPS-induced rT increase in rats. Furthermore, PAE treatment markedly inhibited the increase in the levels of NO, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, PGE₂ and cAMP in plasma of fevered rat, greatly suppressed the activation of inflammatory response pathway and the change of MDA and GSH concentration, MPO and SOD activity as well as FRAP capacity in paw induced by carrageenan injection. In conclusion, the findings suggested that PAE produced potential antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects by reducing production of endogenous inflammatory mediators and blocking the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway which support the claim for its traditional use in the treatment of various diseases.

Insect Cecropins, Antimicrobial Peptides with Potential Therapeutic Applications

The alarming escalation of infectious diseases resistant to conventional antibiotics requires urgent global actions, including the development of new therapeutics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent potential alternatives in the treatment of multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections. Here, we focus on Cecropins (Cecs), a group of naturally occurring AMPs in insects, and on synthetic Cec-analogs. We describe their action mechanisms and antimicrobial activity against MDR bacteria and other pathogens. We report several data suggesting that Cec and Cec-analog peptides are promising antibacterial therapeutic candidates, including their low toxicity against mammalian cells, and anti-inflammatory activity. We highlight limitations linked to the use of peptides as therapeutics and discuss methods overcoming these constraints, particularly regarding the introduction of nanotechnologies. New formulations based on natural Cecs would allow the development of drugs active against Gram-negative bacteria, and those based on Cec-analogs would give rise to therapeutics effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Cecs and Cec-analogs might be also employed to coat biomaterials for medical devices as an approach to prevent biomaterial-associated infections. The cost of large-scale production is discussed in comparison with the economic and social burden resulting from the progressive diffusion of MDR infectious diseases.

Proteomes of the female salivary glands of Simulium nigrogilvum and Simulium nodosum, the main human-biting black flies in Thailand

Although several studies have reported pharmacological and immunological activity, as well as the role of black flies in transmitting pathogens to vertebrate hosts through salivary glands (SG) during blood feeding, SG proteomes of the anthropophilic black flies in Thailand have never been reported. Therefore, this study determined the SG proteomes of female S. nigrogilvum and S. nodosum. Sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and two-dimensional (2-DE) gels containing separated SG proteins of individual species were subjected to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS) and an orthologous protein search from eukaryotic organism, nematocera and simuliidae databases for total protein identification. SDS-PAGE and protein staining revealed at least 13 and 9 major protein bands in the SGs of female S. nigrogilvum and S. nodosum, respectively, as well as several minor ones. The 2-DE demonstrated a total of 56 and 41 protein spots for S. nigrogilvum and S. nodosum, respectively. Most of the proteins obtained in both species were enzymes involved in blood feeding, including proteases, apyrases, hyaluronidases, aminopeptidase and elastase. The results obtained in this study provided a new body of knowledge for a better understanding on the role of salivary gland proteins in these black fly species in Thailand.

An immunosuppressive peptide from the horsefly inhibits inflammation by repressing macrophage maturation and phagocytosis

Ectoparasites repress host immune responses while they obtain nutrition from their hosts. Understanding the immunosuppressive mechanisms between ectoparasites and their hosts will provide new strategies to develop potential immunosuppressive drugs against immune disorder diseases. Previously, we have discovered that a small peptide, immunoregulin HA, from the horsefly (Hybomitra atriperoides) may play an immunosuppressive role in rat splenocytes. However, the targeting cells and detailed mechanisms of immunoregulin HA in immunosuppressive reactions are not well defined. Here, we show that immunoregulin HA reduces the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Interestingly, we discover that the major cytokines repressed by immunoregulin HA are secreted by macrophages, rather than by T cells. Furthermore, immunoregulin HA inhibits macrophage maturation and phagocytosis. Mechanically, the activations of c-JUN N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase upon LPS stimulation are decreased by immunoregulin HA. Consistently, immunoregulin HA treatment exhibits an anti-inflammatory activity in a mouse model of adjuvant-induced paw inflammation. Taken together, our data reveal that immunoregulin HA conducts the anti-inflammatory activity by blocking macrophage functions.

The salivary hyaluronidase and apyrase of the sand fly Sergentomyia schwetzi (Diptera, Psychodidae)

Current knowledge of sand fly salivary components has been based solely on Lutzomyia and Phlebotomus species which feed mainly on mammals; their hyaluronidases and apyrases were demonstrated to significantly affect blood meal intake and transmission of vector-borne pathogens. Members of the third sand fly genus Sergentomyia preferentially feed on reptiles but some of them are considered as Leishmania and arboviruses vectors; however, nothing is known about their salivary components that might be relevant for pathogens transmission. Here, marked hyaluronidase and apyrase activities were demonstrated in the saliva of a Sergentomyia schwetzi colony maintained on geckos. Hyaluronidase of S. schwetzi cleaved hyaluronan as the prominent substrate, and was active over a broad pH range from 4.0 to 8.0, with a sharp peak at pH 5.0. SDS PAGE zymography demonstrated the monomeric character of the enzyme, which remained active in reducing conditions. The apparent molecular weight of 43 kDa was substantially lower than in any sand fly species tested so far and may indicate relatively low grade of the glycosylation of the enzyme. The apyrase of S. schwetzi was typical strictly Ca2+ dependent Cimex-family apyrase. It was active over a pH range from 6.5 to 9.0, with a peak of activity at pH 8.5, and had an ATPase/ADPase ratio of 0.9. The apyrase activity increased during the first 3 days post-emergence, then reached a plateau and remained relatively constant until day 8. In comparison with a majority of Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia species tested to date, both the hyaluronidase and apyrase activities of S. schwetzi were relatively low, which may reflect an adaptation of this sand fly to blood feeding on non-mammalian hosts.

Hematobin is a novel immunomodulatory protein from the saliva of the horn fly Haematobia irritans that inhibits the inflammatory response in murine macrophages

Background

The horn fly Haematobia irritans is a blood-sucking ectoparasite responsible for substantial economic loss of livestock. Like other hematophagous arthropods species, the successful blood-feeding of H. irritans is highly dependent on the modulation of the host’s hemostasis and immune system. Here, we evaluated the biological activity of hematobin (HTB), a protein recently identified in the H. irritans saliva, on macrophage biology. The goal was to understand the putative interactions between the components of H. irritans saliva and the early host immune responses.

Results

Thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the presence or absence of recombinant HTB. The presence of the salivary protein in the cultures inhibited nitric oxide production and decreased the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression induced by LPS plus IFN-γ. The tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40) levels were also reduced in the macrophages pre-incubated with HTB; these findings correlated to the decreased NF-κB expression. The biological activities described here were not associated with changes in annexin V binding to macrophages suggesting that HTB does not induce cell death. In addition, the activity of HTB seems to be specific to macrophages because no changes were observed in lymphocyte proliferation or cytokine production.

Conclusions

We describe here the first bioactive salivary protein of H. irritans. We characterized its ability to modulate macrophage inflammatory response, and the results can help explain how horn flies modulate the host immune system to feed on blood.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3017-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Dipteran's Novel Sucker Punch: Evolution of Arthropod Atypical Venom with a Neurotoxic Component in Robber Flies (Asilidae, Diptera)

Predatory robber flies (Diptera, Asilidae) have been suspected to be venomous due to their ability to overpower well-defended prey. However, details of their venom composition and toxin arsenal remained unknown. Here, we provide a detailed characterization of the venom system of robber flies through the application of comparative transcriptomics, proteomics and functional morphology. Our results reveal asilid venoms to be dominated by peptides and non-enzymatic proteins, and that the majority of components in the crude venom is represented by just ten toxin families, which we have named Asilidin1-10. Contrary to what might be expected for a liquid-feeding predator, the venoms of robber flies appear to be rich in novel peptides, rather than enzymes with a putative pre-digestive role. The novelty of these peptides suggests that the robber fly venom system evolved independently from hematophagous dipterans and other pancrustaceans. Indeed, six Asilidins match no other venom proteins, while three represent known examples of peptide scaffolds convergently recruited to a toxic function. Of these, members of Asilidin1 closely resemble cysteine inhibitor knot peptides (ICK), of which neurotoxic variants occur in cone snails, assassin bugs, scorpions and spiders. Synthesis of one of these putative ICKs, U-Asilidin₁-Mar1a, followed by toxicity assays against an ecologically relevant prey model revealed that one of these likely plays a role as a neurotoxin involved in the immobilization of prey. Our results are fundamental to address these insights further and to understand processes that drive venom evolution in dipterans as well as other arthropods.

Joannsin, a novel Kunitz-type FXa inhibitor from the venom of Prospirobolus joannsi

The repugnatorial glands of millipedes release various defensive chemical secretions. Although varieties of such defensive secretions have been studied, none of them is protein or peptide. Herein, a novel factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor named joannsin was identified and characterised from repugnatorial glands of Prospirobolus joannsi. Joannsin is composed of 72 amino acid residues including six cysteines, which form three intra-molecular disulfide bridges. It is a member of Kunitz-type protease inhibitor family, members of which are also found in the secretory glands of other arthropods. Recombinant joannsin exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity against trypsin and FXa with a Ki of 182.7 ± 14.6 and 29.5 ± 4.7 nM, respectively. Joannsin showed strong anti-thrombosis functions in vitro and in vivo. Joannsin is the first peptide component in millipede repugnatorial glands to be identified and is a potential candidate and/or template for the development of anti-thrombotic agents. These results also indicated that there is Kunitz-type protease inhibitor toxin in millipede repugnatorial glands as in other arthropods secretory glands.

Anopheline salivary protein genes and gene families: an evolutionary overview after the whole genome sequence of sixteen Anopheles species

BACKGROUND

Mosquito saliva is a complex cocktail whose pharmacological properties play an essential role in blood feeding by counteracting host physiological response to tissue injury. Moreover, vector borne pathogens are transmitted to vertebrates and exposed to their immune system in the context of mosquito saliva which, in virtue of its immunomodulatory properties, can modify the local environment at the feeding site and eventually affect pathogen transmission. In addition, the host antibody response to salivary proteins may be used to assess human exposure to mosquito vectors. Even though the role of quite a few mosquito salivary proteins has been clarified in the last decade, we still completely ignore the physiological role of many of them as well as the extent of their involvement in the complex interactions taking place between the mosquito vectors, the pathogens they transmit and the vertebrate host. The recent release of the genomes of 16 Anopheles species offered the opportunity to get insights into function and evolution of salivary protein families in anopheline mosquitoes.

RESULTS

Orthologues of fifty three Anopheles gambiae salivary proteins were retrieved and annotated from 18 additional anopheline species belonging to the three subgenera Cellia, Anopheles, and Nyssorhynchus. Our analysis included 824 full-length salivary proteins from 24 different families and allowed the identification of 79 novel salivary genes and re-annotation of 379 wrong predictions. The comparative, structural and phylogenetic analyses yielded an unprecedented view of the anopheline salivary repertoires and of their evolution over 100 million years of anopheline radiation shedding light on mechanisms and evolutionary forces that contributed shaping the anopheline sialomes.

CONCLUSIONS

We provide here a comprehensive description, classification and evolutionary overview of the main anopheline salivary protein families and identify two novel candidate markers of human exposure to malaria vectors worldwide. This anopheline sialome catalogue, which is easily accessible as hyperlinked spreadsheet, is expected to be useful to the vector biology community and to improve the capacity to gain a deeper understanding of mosquito salivary proteins facilitating their possible exploitation for epidemiological and/or pathogen-vector-host interaction studies.

Express Sequence Tag Analysis - Identification of Anseriformes Trypsin Genes from Full-Length cDNA Library of the Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and Characterization of Their Structure and Function

Trypsins are key proteins important in animal protein digestion by breaking down the peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of lysine and arginine residues, hence it has been used widely in various biotechnological processes. In the current study, a full-length cDNA library with capacity of 5·10(5) CFU/ml from the duck (Anas platyrhynchos) was constructed. Using express sequence tag (EST) sequencing, genes coding two trypsins were identified and two full-length trypsin cDNAs were then obtained by rapid-amplification of cDNA end (RACE)-PCR. Using Blast, they were classified into the trypsin I and II subfamilies, but both encoded a signal peptide, an activation peptide, and a 223-a.a. mature protein located in the C-terminus. The two deduced mature proteins were designated as trypsin-IAP and trypsin-IIAP, and their theoretical isoelectric points (pI) and molecular weights (MW) were 7.99/23466.4 Da and 4.65/24066.0 Da, respectively. Molecular characterizations of genes were further performed by detailed bioinformatics analysis. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that trypsin-IIAP has an evolution pattern distinct from trypsin-IAP, suggesting its evolutionary advantage. Then the duck trypsin-IIAP was expressed in an Escherichia coli system, and its kinetic parameters were measured. The three dimensional structures of trypsin-IAP and trypsin-IIAP were predicted by homology modeling, and the conserved residues required for functionality were identified. Two loops controlling the specificity of the trypsin and the substrate-binding pocket represented in the model are almost identical in primary sequences and backbone tertiary structures of the trypsin families.

Hyaluronidase activity in the salivary glands of tabanid flies

Tabanids are haematophagous insects that act as biological and mechanical vectors of various diseases, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. The saliva of these insects contains strong anticoagulant and vasodilatory activities as well as immunoregulatory peptides. Here we demonstrate pronounced hyaluronidase (hyase) activity in ten tabanid species of the genera Chrysops, Haematopota, Hybomitra and Tabanus. Compared to other haematophagous insects, the ability of tabanid hyases to hydrolyze hyaluronic acid (HA) is extremely high, for example the enzyme activity of Hybomitra muehlfeldi was found to be 32-fold higher than the salivary hyase activity of the sand fly Phlebotomus papatasi. Hyases of all ten tabanid species tested also cleaved chondroitin sulfate A, another glycosaminoglycan present in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates. The pH optimum of the enzyme activity was measured in eight tabanid species; the hyase of Haemopota pluvialis was the only one with optimum at pH 4.0, while in the other seven species the activity optimum was at 5.0. SDS PAGE zymography showed the monomeric character of the enzymes in all tabanid species tested. Under non-reducing conditions the activities were visible as single bands with estimated MW between 35 and 52 kDa. The very high hyaluronidase activity in tabanid saliva might be related to their aggressive biting behavior as well as to their high efficiency as mechanical vectors. As they are supposedly involved in the enlargement of feeding hematomas, hyases might contribute to the mechanical transmission of pathogens. Pathogens present in vector mouthparts are co-inoculated into the vertebrate host together with saliva and may benefit from increased tissue permeability and the immunomodulatory activity of the salivary hyase.

A Deep Insight into the Sialome of Rhodnius neglectus, a Vector of Chagas Disease

BACKGROUND

Triatomines are hematophagous insects that act as vectors of Chagas disease. Rhodnius neglectus is one of these kissing bugs found, contributing to the transmission of this American trypanosomiasis. The saliva of hematophagous arthropods contains bioactive molecules responsible for counteracting host haemostatic, inflammatory, and immune responses.

METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry-based protein identification were performed to investigate the content of triatomine R. neglectus saliva. We deposited 4,230 coding DNA sequences (CDS) in GenBank. A set of 636 CDS of proteins of putative secretory nature was extracted from the assembled reads, 73 of them confirmed by proteomic analysis. The sialome of R. neglectus was characterized and serine protease transcripts detected. The presence of ubiquitous protein families was revealed, including lipocalins, serine protease inhibitors, and antigen-5. Metalloproteases, disintegrins, and odorant binding protein families were less abundant.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

The data presented improve our understanding of hematophagous arthropod sialomes, and aid in understanding hematophagy and the complex interplay among vectors and their vertebrate hosts.

Anticoagulant activity of crude extract of Holotrichia diomphalia larvae

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Holotrichia diomphalia larvae are one classical folk medicinal material in East Asia which has clinically been used to promote blood circulation and dispel blood stasis for several hundred years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The anticoagulant activity of crude extract of H. diomphalia larvae (CEHDL) in vitro and in vivo was evaluated to explore its mechanism as antithrombotic medicine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of CEHDL on plasma recalcification time, platelet aggregation, bleeding time, hydrolysis of fibrinogen and fibrin were measured with normal human plasma, plasma-rich platelet, transected mouse tails and bovine fibrinogen; the anti-thrombosis activities of CEHDL in vitro and in vivo were analyzed with clots lysis assay and carrageenan-induced mouse tail thrombosis model.

RESULTS

CEHDL was found to contain large numbers of proteins and could inhibit blood coagulation and platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CEHDL preferentially cleaved α- and β-chains followed by γ-chains of fibrinogen. Besides, CEHDL could directly degrade fibrin rather than activate plasminogen. It has been noted that fibrinogenolytic activity of CEHDL could be unaffected by metal ions such as Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Zn(2+), Fe(2+), Fe(3+), Cu(2+) and buffers with pH 3-10. Moreover, protease inhibitors like TPSI, aprotinin, leupetin, PMSF, DTT and EDTA only slightly or not inhibited fibrinogenolytic activity of CEHDL. However, CEHDL could be completely inactivated at 75°C and 100°C. In addition, CEHDL exhibited anti-thrombosis activities in both blood clot lysis assay and carrageenan-induced thrombosis model.

CONCLUSION

CEHDL possessed potent anticoagulant activity and several fibrin(ogen)olytic agents from H. diomphalia larvae were responsible for its antithrombotic effect as medicine.

Centipede venoms and their components: resources for potential therapeutic applications

Venomous animals have evolved with sophisticated bio-chemical strategies to arrest prey and defend themselves from natural predators. In recent years, peptide toxins from venomous animals have drawn considerable attention from researchers due to their surprising chemical, biochemical, and pharmacological diversity. Similar to other venomous animals, centipedes are one of the crucial venomous arthropods that have been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years in China. Despite signifying pharmacological importance, very little is known about the active components of centipede venoms. More than 500 peptide sequences have been reported in centipede venomous glands by transcriptome analysis, but only a small number of peptide toxins from centipede has been functionally described. Like other venomous animals such as snakes, scorpions, and spiders, the venom of centipedes could be an excellent source of peptides for developing drugs for treatments as well as bio-insecticides for agrochemical applications. Although centipede venoms are yet to be adequately studied, the venom of centipedes as well as their components described to date, should be compiled to help further research. Therefore, based on previous reports, this review focusses on findings and possible therapeutic applications of centipede venoms as well as their components.

A potent anti-inflammatory peptide from the salivary glands of horsefly

Background

A diverse group of physiologically active peptides/proteins are present in the salivary glands of horsefly Tabanus yao (Diptera, Tabanidae) that facilitate acquisition of blood meal. However, their roles in the regulation of local inflammation remains poorly understood.

Methods

Induction expression profiles of immune-related molecules in the salivary glands of T. yao was analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) after bacterial feeding. A significantly up-regulated molecule (cecropin-TY1) was selected for anti-inflammatory assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. The transcription levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were quantified by qPCR. Nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by Griess reagent. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The inflammatory signals were assayed by Western blotting analysis. The secondary structure of cecropin-TY1 was measured by Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Interaction of cecropin-TY1 with LPS was evaluated by the dissociation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated LPS aggregates and neutralization of LPS determined by a quantitative Chromogenic End-point Tachypleus amebocyte lysate (TAL) assay kit. Homology modeled structure analysis and mutation of key residues/structures were performed to understand its structure-activity relationship.

Results

Cecropin-TY1 was demonstrated to possess high anti-inflammatory activity and low cytotoxicity toward mouse macrophages. In LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophage, addition of cecropin-TY1 significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further study revealed that cecropin-TY1 inhibited inflammatory cytokine production by blocking activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and transcriptional nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signals. Cecropin-TY1 even interacted with LPS and neutralized LPS. The secondary structure analysis revealed that cecropin-TY1 adopted unordered structures in hydrophobic environment but converted to α-helical confirmation in membrane mimetic environments. Homology modeled structure analysis demonstrated that cecropin-TY1 adopted two α-helices (Leu3-Thr24, Ile27-Leu38) linked by a hinge (Leu25-Pro26) and the structure surface was partly positively charged. Structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that several key residues/structures are crucial for its anti-inflammatory activity including α-helices, aromatic residue Trp2, positively charged residues Lys and Arg, hinge residue Pro26 and N-terminal amidation.

Conclusions

We found a novel anti-inflammatory function of horsefly-derived cecropin-TY1 peptide, laying groundwork for better understanding the ectoparasite-host interaction of horsefly with host and highlighting its potency in anti-inflammatory therapy for sepsis and endotoxin shock caused by Gram-negative bacterial infections.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1149-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A cecropin-like antimicrobial peptide with anti-inflammatory activity from the black fly salivary glands

BACKGROUND

Several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) belonging to the cecropin family have been identified from the salivary glands of different black fly species, however, the immunological functions for these molecules were poorly understood.

METHODS

A novel cecropin-like antimicrobial peptide (SibaCec) was purified using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) from the salivary glands of the black fly Simulium bannaense. The amino acid sequence of SibaCec was determined by a combination method of automated Edman degradation and cDNA sequencing. The morphologic changes of Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli treated with SibaCec were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to analyze the mRNA expression of the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Nitric oxide (NO) generation was examined using a Griess assay and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) were assessed by Western blotting analysis. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was performed to evaluate the secondary structure of SibaCec in solvent environment. Interaction of SibaCec with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)- conjugated LPS aggregates. Neutralization of LPS by SibaCec was assayed with the chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test. qPCR was also used to analyze the expression of SibaCec mRNA in the salivary glands of insects after oral infection with the bacteria E.coli.

RESULTS

SibaCec possessed potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, and showed low cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells. SEM analysis indicated that SibaCec killed bacteria through the disruption of cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, SibaCec significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-1β (IL-1β) and interferon-6 (IL-6) by blocking the activation of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling pathways. It mainly adopted an α-helix conformation in membrane-mimetic environments. SibaCec could interact and neutralize LPS. Infection of black flies with bacteria caused an upregulation of the expression of SibaCec.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated that in addition to the bactericidal capacity, SibaCec can function as immune regulator, inhibiting host secretion of inflammatory factors.

An insight into the sialome of the horse fly, Tabanus bromius

Blood feeding animals face their host's defenses against tissue injury and blood loss while attempting to feed. One adaptation to surmount these barriers involves the evolution of a salivary potion that disarms their host's inflammatory and anti-hemostatic processes. The composition of the peptide moiety of this potion, or sialome (from the Greek sialo = saliva), can be deducted in part by proper interpretation of the blood feeder' sialotranscriptome. In this work we disclose the sialome of the blood feeding adult female Tabanus bromius. Following assembly of over 75 million Illumina reads (101 nt long) 16,683 contigs were obtained from which 4078 coding sequences were extracted. From these, 320 were assigned as coding for putative secreted proteins. These 320 contigs mapped 85% of the reads. The antigen-5 proteins family was studied in detail, indicating three Tabanus specific clades with and without disintegrin domains, as well as with and without leukotriene binding domains. Defensins were also detailed; a clade of salivary tabanid peptides was found lacking the propeptide domain ending in the KR dipeptide signaling furin cleavage. Novel protein families were also disclosed. Viral transcripts were identified closely matching the Kotonkan virus capsid proteins. Full length Mariner transposases were also identified. A total of 3043 coding sequences and their protein products were deposited in Genbank. Hyperlinked excel spreadsheets containing the coding sequences and their annotation are available at http://exon.niaid.nih.gov/transcriptome/T_bromius/Tbromius-web.xlsx (hyperlinked excel spreadsheet, 11 MB) and http://exon.niaid.nih.gov/transcriptome/T_bromius/Tbromius-SA.zip (Standalone excel with all local links, 360 MB). These sequences provide for a platform from which further proteomic studies may be designed to identify salivary proteins from T. bromius that are of pharmacological interest or used as immunological markers of host exposure.

An immunoregulatory peptide from tsetse fly salivary glands of Glossina morsitans morsitans

Tsetse fly Glossina morsitans morsitans is an important insect vector of African trypanosomes, which cause human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). As other hematophagous arthropods, tsetse fly relies heavily on the pharmacological propriety of their saliva to suppress host's immune reactions and get blood meal. However little information is available on immune regulators from testes fly. An immunoregulatory peptide named Gloss 2 containing amino acid sequence of QKNDTAFSCHFFEIYL SNCFNKEKYIKNYLQIM has been identified from salivary glands of the tsetse fly of G. morsitans morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae). Gloss 2 has the ability to inhibit the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse splenocytes. Besides, Gloss 2 significantly suppressed the LPS-induced activation of MAPK signaling pathway through blocking phosphorylations of JNK, Erk and P38. Gloss 2 probably inhibits host inflammatory responses by inhibiting secretion of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-6. Considering IL-10's ability to promote humoral immune responses by enhancing class II expression B cells and inducing immunoglobulin (Ig) production, Gloss 2 may inhibit host humoral immune response by inhibiting IL-10 secretion. The immune-suppression may facilitate the blood feeding of tsetse fly and transmission of African trypanosomes to hosts.

Why do we study animal toxins?

Venom (toxins) is an important trait evolved along the evolutionary tree of animals. Our knowledges on venoms, such as their origins and loss, the biological relevance and the coevolutionary patterns with other organisms are greatly helpful in understanding many fundamental biological questions, i.e., the environmental adaptation and survival competition, the evolution shaped development and balance of venoms, and the sophisticated correlations among venom, immunity, body power, intelligence, their genetic basis, inherent association, as well as the cost-benefit and trade-offs of biological economy. Lethal animal envenomation can be found worldwide. However, from foe to friend, toxin studies have led lots of important discoveries and exciting avenues in deciphering and fighting human diseases, including the works awarded the Nobel Prize and lots of key clinic therapeutics. According to our survey, so far, only less than 0.1% of the toxins of the venomous animals in China have been explored. We emphasize on the similarities shared by venom and immune systems, as well as the studies of toxin knowledge-based physiological toxin-like proteins/peptides (TLPs). We propose the natural pairing hypothesis. Evolution links toxins with humans. Our mission is to find out the right natural pairings and interactions of our body elements with toxins, and with endogenous toxin-like molecules. Although, in nature, toxins may endanger human lives, but from a philosophical point of view, knowing them well is an effective way to better understand ourselves. So, this is why we study toxins.

Sexual differences in the sialomes of the zebra tick, Rhipicephalus pulchellus

Ticks rely exclusively on vertebrate blood for their survival. During feeding ticks inject into their hosts a sophisticated salivary potion that overcomes host hemostasis and adverse inflammatory responses. These mediators may also enhance pathogen transmission. Knowledge of the tick salivary protein repertoire may lead to vaccine targets to disrupt feeding and/or parasite transmission as well as to the discovery of novel pharmacological agents. Male saliva may also assist reproduction because males use their mouthparts to lubricate and introduce their spermatophores into the females' genital pore. The analyses of the sialomes of male and female ticks independently allow us to understand the strategy used by each gender to feed successfully. We sequenced cDNA libraries from pools of salivary glands from adult male and female Rhipicephalus pulchellus feeding at different time points, using the Illumina HiSeq protocol. De novo assembly of a total of 241,229,128 paired-end reads lead to extraction of 50,460 coding sequences (CDS), 11,277 of which had more than 75% coverage to known transcripts, or represented novel sequences, and were submitted to GenBank. Additionally, we generated the proteome, from the salivary gland extracts of male and female R. pulchellus, yielding a total of 454 and 2063 proteins respectively which were identified by one or more peptides with at least 95% confidence. The data set is presented as an annotated hyperlinked Excel spreadsheet, describing 121 putative secreted protein families. Female and male specific transcripts were identified.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This annotated R. pulchellus database represents a mining field for future experiments involving the resolution of time-dependent transcript expression in this tick species, as well as to define novel vaccine targets and discover novel pharmaceuticals. Gender specific proteins may represent different repertoires of pharmacological reagents to assist feeding by each sex, and in males may represent proteins that assist reproduction similarly to seminal proteins in other animals.

Purification and characterization of a novel defensin from the salivary glands of the black fly, Simulium bannaense

Background

Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are haematophagous insects that can cause allergic reactions and act as vectors of pathogens. Although their saliva has been thought to contain a diverse array of physiologically active molecules, little information is available on antimicrobial factors in black fly salivary glands, especially no defensins have been reported so far.

Methods

A novel cationic defensin designated SibaDef was purified using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) from the salivary glands of the black fly Simulium bannaense. The amino acid sequence of SibaDef was determined by a combination method of automated Edman degradation and cDNA sequencing. The morphologic changes of Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus subtilis treated with SibaDef were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to analyze the expression of SibaDef mRNA in whole bodies of insects after oral infection with the bacteria S. aureus or B. subtilis.

Results

Surprisingly, the phylogenetic analysis of defensin-related amino acid sequences demonstrated that SibaDef is most closely related to defensins from the human body louse Pediculus humanus corporis (Anoplura: Pediculidae), rather than to other dipteran defensins. SibaDef showed potent antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.83 μM to 2.29 μM. SEM analysis indicated that SibaDef killed microorganisms through the disruption of cell membrane integrity. The transcript levels of SibaDef in the bacteria-immunized flies increased with the time course, reaching maximum at 36 h and then slowly decreased from that time point.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that SibaDef is involved in the innate humoral response of the black fly S. bannaense, and it might play a significant role in the defence against microorganisms in both sugar and blood meals.

A potent anti-thrombosis peptide (vasotab TY) from horsefly salivary glands

Vasotab TY is a KGD (Lys-Gly-Asp)-containing peptide identified from salivary glands of the horsefly of Tabanus yao. We have previously reported that vasotab TY showed a strong vasodilator activity. In the present study, vasotab TY was found to inhibit platelet aggregation effectively. It completely inhibited platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) at the concentration of 9.6μg/ml. Vasotab TY significantly reduced thrombus weight in rat arteriovenous shunt model and inhibited thrombosis in carrageenan-induced mouse tail thrombosis model in vivo. Vasotab TY competitively bound to glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) with eptifibatide, a well-known KGD-containing cyclic heptapeptide containing high specificity and high affinity for GPIIb/IIIa, suggesting that it is an antagonist of the fibrinogen receptor GPIIb/IIIa on the surface of platelet. The KGD motif in vasotab TY may facilitate the binding of it to GPIIb/IIIa. Vasotab TY showed a half-life of more than 1h in vivo. It showed little side effects including little bleeding, no hemolytic activity on human blood red cells and no cytotoxicity on human keratinocyte and THP-1 cells. Combined its vasodilator and platelet inhibitory functions, vasotab TY might be an excellent candidate for the development of clinical anti-thrombosis medicines.

An insight into the sialome of the frog biting fly, Corethrella appendiculata

The Nematocera infraorder Culicomorpha is believed to have descended from bloodfeeding ancestors over 200 million years ago, generating bloodfeeding and non-bloodfeeding flies in two superfamilies, the Culicoidea-containing the mosquitoes, the frog-feeding midges, the Chaoboridae, and the Dixidae-and the Chironomoidea-containing the black flies, the ceratopogonids, the Chironomidae, and the Thaumaleidae. Blood feeding requires many adaptations, including development of a sophisticated salivary potion that disarms host hemostasis, the physiologic mechanism comprising platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction, and blood clotting. The composition of the sialome (from the Greek sialo = saliva) from bloodfeeding animals can be inferred from analysis of their salivary gland transcriptome. While members of the mosquitoes, black flies, and biting midges have provided sialotranscriptome descriptions, no species of the frog-biting midges has been thus analyzed. We describe in this work the sialotranscriptome of Corethrella appendiculata, revealing a complex potion of enzymes, classical nematoceran protein families involved in blood feeding, and novel protein families unique to this species of frog-feeding fly. Bacterial (Wolbachia) and novel viral sequences were also discovered.

cgMolluscidin, a novel dibasic residue repeat rich antimicrobial peptide, purified from the gill of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas

A 5.5 kDa antimicrobial peptide consisting of 55 amino acids, cgMolluscidin, was purified from the acidified gill extract of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, by ion-exchange and C18 reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. By comparing the N-terminal amino acid sequences and the molecular weight of this peptide with those of other known antimicrobial peptides, it has been revealed that this peptide had no homology with any known peptides. cgMolluscidin showed potent antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus (minimal effective concentrations [MECs]; 1.3-31.3 μg/mL), and Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus ([MECs]; 0.4-2.3 μg/mL), without hemolytic activity. However, cgMolluscidin did not show any significant activity against Candida albicans. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cgMolluscidin showed no hit in public protein databases, while the nucleotide sequence had a 99% homology (E value = 0) with only the unknown ESTs sequenced by C. gigas EST project. Tissue distribution of the cgMolluscidin mRNA suggests that it is constitutively expressed as a mature form in a non-tissue-specific manner. The cgMolluscidin mRNA expression level was significantly up-regulated at 12 h (2.8-fold) post injection with Vibrio sp. This peptide is highly basic and contains several dibasic residue repeats including Lysine-Lysine or Lysine-Arginine in the sequence, but may not form an ordered structure. These results suggest that cgMolluscidin might be an oyster-specific novel antimicrobial peptide.

Tryptogalinin is a tick Kunitz serine protease inhibitor with a unique intrinsic disorder

BACKGROUND

A salivary proteome-transcriptome project on the hard tick Ixodes scapularis revealed that Kunitz peptides are the most abundant salivary proteins. Ticks use Kunitz peptides (among other salivary proteins) to combat host defense mechanisms and to obtain a blood meal. Most of these Kunitz peptides, however, remain functionally uncharacterized, thus limiting our knowledge about their biochemical interactions.

RESULTS

We discovered an unusual cysteine motif in a Kunitz peptide. This peptide inhibits several serine proteases with high affinity and was named tryptogalinin due to its high affinity for β-tryptase. Compared with other functionally described peptides from the Acari subclass, we showed that tryptogalinin is phylogenetically related to a Kunitz peptide from Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, also reported to have a high affinity for β-tryptase. Using homology-based modeling (and other protein prediction programs) we were able to model and explain the multifaceted function of tryptogalinin. The N-terminus of the modeled tryptogalinin is detached from the rest of the peptide and exhibits intrinsic disorder allowing an increased flexibility for its high affinity with its inhibiting partners (i.e., serine proteases).

CONCLUSIONS

By incorporating experimental and computational methods our data not only describes the function of a Kunitz peptide from Ixodes scapularis, but also allows us to hypothesize about the molecular basis of this function at the atomic level.

An insight into the sialotranscriptome of Triatoma matogrossensis, a kissing bug associated with fogo selvagem in South America

Triatoma matogrossensis is a Hemiptera that belongs to the oliveirai complex, a vector of Chagas' disease that feeds on vertebrate blood in all life stages. Hematophagous insects' salivary glands (SGs) produce potent pharmacologic compounds that counteract host hemostasis, including anticlotting, antiplatelet, and vasodilatory molecules. Exposure to T. matogrossensis was also found to be a risk factor associated with the endemic form of the autoimmune skin disease pemphigus foliaceus, which is described in the same regions where Chagas' disease is observed in Brazil. To obtain a further insight into the salivary biochemical and pharmacologic diversity of this kissing bug and to identify possible allergens that might be associated with this autoimmune disease, a cDNA library from its SGs was randomly sequenced. We present the analysis of a set of 2,230 (SG) cDNA sequences, 1,182 of which coded for proteins of a putative secretory nature.

Proteomics and transcriptome analysis coupled with pharmacological test reveals the diversity of anti-thrombosis proteins from the medicinal insect, Eupolyphaga sinensis

The insect of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker has been used as traditional anti-thrombosis medicine without bleeding risk for several hundreds years in eastern countries. Our previous work has identified a bi-functional anti-thrombosis protein containing both direct-acting fibrin(ogen)olytic and plasminogen-activating activities from the insect. By proteomics and transcriptome analysis, 105 serine proteases belonging to four families were identified from the ground beetle, E. sinensis and the classification is for serine proteases of this organism. Pharmacological test indicated that 5 (eupolytin 1-5) of them have the abilities to hydrolyze fibrin(ogen) and/or activate plasminogen. The current work revealed the extreme diversity of anti-thrombosis components in E. sinensis and anti-thrombosis molecular mechanisms of the traditional medicinal insect, and provided many templates for the development of new thrombolytic agents. Especially, these proteins, which contain both plasmin- and PA (plasminogen-activating)-like activities, are excellent candidates for anti-thrombosis medicines.

Salivary gland transcriptomes and proteomes of Phlebotomus tobbi and Phlebotomus sergenti, vectors of leishmaniasis

Background

Phlebotomus tobbi is a vector of Leishmania infantum, and P. sergenti is a vector of Leishmania tropica. Le. infantum and Le. tropica typically cause visceral or cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively, but Le. infantum strains transmitted by P. tobbi can cause cutaneous disease. To better understand the components and possible implications of sand fly saliva in leishmaniasis, the transcriptomes of the salivary glands (SGs) of these two sand fly species were sequenced, characterized and compared.

Methodology/Principal Findings

cDNA libraries of P. tobbi and P. sergenti female SGs were constructed, sequenced, and analyzed. Clones (1,152) were randomly picked from each library, producing 1,142 high-quality sequences from P. tobbi and 1,090 from P. sergenti. The most abundant, secreted putative proteins were categorized as antigen 5-related proteins, apyrases, hyaluronidases, D7-related and PpSP15-like proteins, ParSP25-like proteins, PpSP32-like proteins, yellow-related proteins, the 33-kDa salivary proteins, and the 41.9-kDa superfamily of proteins. Phylogenetic analyses and multiple sequence alignments of putative proteins were used to elucidate molecular evolution and describe conserved domains, active sites, and catalytic residues. Proteomic analyses of P. tobbi and P. sergenti SGs were used to confirm the identification of 35 full-length sequences (18 in P. tobbi and 17 in P. sergenti). To bridge transcriptomics with biology P. tobbi antigens, glycoproteins, and hyaluronidase activity was characterized.

Conclusions

This analysis of P. sergenti is the first description of the subgenus Paraphlebotomus salivary components. The investigation of the subgenus Larroussius sand fly P. tobbi expands the repertoire of salivary proteins in vectors of Le. infantum. Although P. tobbi transmits a cutaneous form of leishmaniasis, its salivary proteins are most similar to other Larroussius subgenus species transmitting visceral leishmaniasis. These transcriptomic and proteomic analyses provide a better understanding of sand fly salivary proteins across species and subgenera that will be vital in vector-pathogen and vector-host research.

Phlebotomine female sand flies require a blood meal for egg development, and it is during the blood feeding that pathogens can be transmitted to a host. Leishmania parasites are among these pathogens and can cause disfiguring cutaneous or even possibly fatal visceral disease. The Leishmania parasites are deposited into the bite wound along with the sand fly saliva. The components of the saliva have many pharmacologic and immune functions important in blood feeding and disease establishment. In this article, the authors identify and investigate the protein components of saliva of two important vectors of leishmaniasis, Phlebotomus tobbi and P. sergenti, by sequencing the transcriptomes of the salivary glands. We then compared the predicted protein sequences of these salivary proteins to those of other bloodsucking insects to elucidate the similarity in composition, structure, and enzymatic activity. Finally, this descriptive analysis of P. tobbi and P. sergenti transcriptomes can aid future research in identifying molecules for epidemiologic assays and in investigating sand fly-host interactions.

Purification and characterization of two new allergens from the venom of Vespa magnifica

Due to poor diagnostic facilities and a lack of medical alertness, allergy to Vespa wasps may be underestimated. Few allergens have been identified from Vespa wasps.

Possible native allergen proteins were purified from the wasp venoms (WV) (Vespa magnifica Smith) by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, respectively. Their sequences were determined by Edman degradation and cDNA cloning. Their allergenicities were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition tests (ELISA-IT), immunoblots, and skin prick tests (SPTs). Their cross allergencities with Tab y 2 and Tab y 5 purified from the horsefly (Tabanus yao Macquart) were also determined. Two native allergens were identified from the WV, respectively. They are a 25-KDa antigen 5 protein (Ag5) (Vesp ma 5) and a 35-KDa hyaluronidase (Vesp ma 2). They represented major allergens in Vespa magnifica by immunoblots and SPTs. ELISA inhibition of pooled sera IgE reactivity to both the WV and the horsefly salivary gland extracts (HSGE) using four purified allergens (Vesp ma 2, Vesp ma 5 and previously purified Tab y 2 and Tab y 5) was significant. Their cross allergenicities were confirmed by ELISA-IT, immunoblots, and SPTs. They represented the cross reactive allergens from wasp and horsefly and proved the so called wasp-horsefly syndrome.

A deep insight into the sialotranscriptome of the gulf coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum

Background

Saliva of blood sucking arthropods contains compounds that antagonize their hosts' hemostasis, which include platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction and blood clotting; saliva of these organisms also has anti-inflammatory and immunomodullatory properties. Perhaps because hosts mount an active immune response against these compounds, the diversity of these compounds is large even among related blood sucking species. Because of these properties, saliva helps blood feeding as well as help the establishment of pathogens that can be transmitted during blood feeding.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have obtained 1,626,969 reads by pyrosequencing a salivary gland cDNA library from adult females Amblyomma maculatum ticks at different times of feeding. Assembly of this data produced 72,441 sequences larger than 149 nucleotides from which 15,914 coding sequences were extracted. Of these, 5,353 had >75% coverage to their best match in the non-redundant database from the National Center for Biotechnology information, allowing for the deposition of 4,850 sequences to GenBank. The annotated data sets are available as hyperlinked spreadsheets. Putative secreted proteins were classified in 133 families, most of which have no known function.

Conclusions/Significance

This data set of proteins constitutes a mining platform for novel pharmacologically active proteins and for uncovering vaccine targets against A. maculatum and the diseases they carry.

An insight into the sialome of Simulium guianense (DIPTERA:SIMulIIDAE), the main vector of River Blindness Disease in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the composition and function of the saliva in black flies such as Simulium guianense, the main vector of river blindness disease in Brazil. The complex salivary potion of hematophagous arthropods counteracts their host's hemostasis, inflammation, and immunity.

RESULTS

Transcriptome analysis revealed ubiquitous salivary protein families--such as the Antigen-5, Yellow, Kunitz domain, and serine proteases--in the S. guianense sialotranscriptome. Insect-specific families were also found. About 63.4% of all secreted products revealed protein families found only in Simulium. Additionally, we found a novel peptide similar to kunitoxin with a structure distantly related to serine protease inhibitors. This study revealed a relative increase of transcripts of the SVEP protein family when compared with Simulium vittatum and S. nigrimanum sialotranscriptomes. We were able to extract coding sequences from 164 proteins associated with blood and sugar feeding, the majority of which were confirmed by proteome analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results contribute to understanding the role of Simulium saliva in transmission of Onchocerca volvulus and evolution of salivary proteins in black flies. It also consists of a platform for mining novel anti-hemostatic compounds, vaccine candidates against filariasis, and immuno-epidemiologic markers of vector exposure.

Effect of saliva from horse fly Hybomitra bimaculata on kinetic properties of Na,K-ATPase: possible role in regulation of relaxation

The possible involvement of salivary gland extract (SGE) from horse flies in modifying hyperpolarization and relaxation via alterations in functional properties of sarcolemmal Na,K-ATPase in the host tissue was tested in vitro by application of various amounts of SGE from Hybomitra bimaculata.SGE in the amount of 3 µg proteins representing approximately the equivalent of one salivary gland of Hybomitra bimaculata induced a stimulatory effect on Na,K-ATPase at all ATP concentrations applied. This effect resulted from the improved ATP-binding site affinity in the Na,K-ATPase molecule, as implicated by the reduction in K(M). Increasing the amount of SGE to 6.5 µg resulted in inhibition of the enzyme, which was characterized by reduction in V(max) and also K(M). This suggests that in the presence of relatively high Hybomitra bimaculata SGE concentration some SGE components affect Na,K-ATPase, when ATP is already bound to the enzyme.Our results indicate that SGE from the horse fly Hybomitra bimaculata contain at least two different biologically active compounds modifying the acute recovery and maintenance of excitability during contractile activity in the host tissue by affecting Na,K-ATPase with opposite effects, depending on the ratio of SGE-proteins to proteins of the host tissue.

A novel allergen Tab y 1 with inhibitory activity of platelet aggregation from salivary glands of horseflies

BACKGROUND

Horsefly sting causes allergic reactions in human body. However, our knowledge on horsefly allergens remains poor.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the novel horsefly allergens and characterize their properties.

METHODS

A native allergen protein Tab y 1 (apyrase) was purified from the salivary glands of the horsefly Tabanus yao Macquart by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Its sequence was determined by Edman degradation and cDNA cloning. Its allergenicity was assessed by immunoblotting for specific IgE, basophil activation test, skin prick test (SPT), and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Tab y 1 showed a single diffusion band of 70 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Seventy percent (7/10) of patients with horsefly allergy tested positive to Tab y 1 in SPT; sera from 81% (30/37) of patients reacted to Tab y 1 on western blots. Purified Tab y 1 reduced approximately 42% sera IgE reactivity to horsefly salivary gland extract on a competitive ELISA. Tab y 1 upregulated the expression of CD63 and CCR3 on passively sensitized basophils by up to approximately 4.9-fold. Tab y 1 also showed enzymatic activity to hydrolyze ATP and ADP, and potent antiplatelet aggregation and antithrombotic activities.

CONCLUSION

The current work identified a novel major allergen of horsefly, Tab y 1, with antiplatelet aggregation and antithrombotic activities, which implicates Tab y 1 in helping horseflies suck host blood, meanwhile causing allergy in their human hosts.

A novel family of RGD-containing disintegrins (Tablysin-15) from the salivary gland of the horsefly Tabanus yao targets αIIbβ3 or αVβ3 and inhibits platelet aggregation and angiogenesis

A novel family of RGD-containing molecules (Tablysin-15) has been molecularly characterised from the salivary gland of the haematophagous horsefly Tabanus yao. Tablysin-15 does not share primary sequence homology to any disintegrin discovered so far, and displays an RGD motif in the N-terminus of the molecule. It is also distinct from disintegrins from Viperidae since its mature form is not released from a metalloproteinase precursor. Tablysin-15 exhibits high affinity binding for platelet αIIbβ3 and endothelial cell αVβ3 integrins, but not for α5β1 or α2β1. Accordingly, it blocks endothelial cell adhesion to vitronectin (IC50 ~1 nM) and marginally to fibronectin (IC50 ~1 μM), but not to collagen. It also inhibits fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced endothelial cell proliferation, and attenuates tube formation in vitro. In platelets, Tablysin-15 inhibits aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and convulxin, and prevents static platelet adhesion to immobilised fibrinogen. In addition, solid-phase assays and flow cytometry demonstrates that αIIbβ3 binds to Tablysin-15. Moreover, immobilised Tablysin-15 supports platelet adhesion by a mechanism which was blocked by anti-integrin αIIbβ3 monoclonal antibody (e.g. abciximab) or by EDTA. Furthermore, Tablysin-15 dose-dependently attenuates thrombus formation to collagen under flow. Consistent with these findings, Tablysin-15 displays antithrombotic properties in vivo suggesting that it is a useful tool to block αIIbβ3, or as a prototype to develop antithrombotics. The RGD motif in the unique sequence of Tablysin-15 represents a novel template for studying the structure-function relationship of the disintegrin family of inhibitors.

A bi-functional anti-thrombosis protein containing both direct-acting fibrin(ogen)olytic and plasminogen-activating activities

Direct-acting fibrin(ogen)olytic agents such as plasmin have been proved to contain effective and safety thrombolytic potential. Unfortunately, plasmin is ineffective when administered by the intravenous route because it was neutralized by plasma antiplasmin. Direct-acting fibrin(ogen)olytic agents with resistance against antiplasmin will brighten the prospect of anti-thrombosis. As reported in 'Compendium of Materia Medica', the insect of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker has been used as traditional anti-thrombosis medicine without bleeding risk for several hundreds years. Currently, we have identified a fibrin(ogen)olytic protein (Eupolytin1) containing both fibrin(ogen)olytic and plasminogen-activating (PA) activities from the beetle, E. sinensis.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the role of native and recombinant eupolytin1 in fibrin(ogen)olytic and plasminogen-activating processes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using thrombus animal model, eupolytin1 was proved to contain strong and rapid thrombolytic ability and safety in vivo, which are better than that of urokinase. Most importantly, no bleeding complications were appeared even the intravenous dose up to 0.12 µmol/kg body weight (3 times of tested dose which could completely lyse experimental thrombi) in rabbits. It is the first report of thrombolytic agents containing both direct-acting fibrin(ogen)olytic and plasminogen-activating activities.

CONCLUSIONS

The study identified novel thrombolytic agent with prospecting clinical potential because of its bi-functional merits containing both plasmin- and PA-like activities and unique pharmacological kinetics in vivo.

Gene expression analyses of immune responses in Atlantic salmon during early stages of infection by salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) revealed bi-phasic responses coinciding with the copepod-chalimus transition

Background

The salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer), an ectoparasitic copepod with a complex life cycle causes significant losses in salmon aquaculture. Pesticide treatments against the parasite raise environmental concerns and their efficacy is gradually decreasing. Improvement of fish resistance to lice, through biological control methods, needs better understanding of the protective mechanisms. We used a 21 k oligonucleotide microarray and RT-qPCR to examine the time-course of immune gene expression changes in salmon skin, spleen, and head kidney during the first 15 days after challenge, which encompassed the copepod and chalimus stages of lice development.

Results

Large scale and highly complex transcriptome responses were found already one day after infection (dpi). Many genes showed bi-phasic expression profiles with abrupt changes between 5 and 10 dpi (the copepod-chalimus transitions); the greatest fluctuations (up- and down-regulation) were seen in a large group of secretory splenic proteases with unknown roles. Rapid sensing was witnessed with induction of genes involved in innate immunity including lectins and enzymes of eicosanoid metabolism in skin and acute phase proteins in spleen. Transient (1-5 dpi) increase of T-cell receptor alpha, CD4-1, and possible regulators of lymphocyte differentiation suggested recruitment of T-cells of unidentified lineage to the skin. After 5 dpi the magnitude of transcriptomic responses decreased markedly in skin. Up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases in all studied organs suggested establishment of a chronic inflammatory status. Up-regulation of putative lymphocyte G0/G1 switch proteins in spleen at 5 dpi, immunoglobulins at 15 dpi; and increase of IgM and IgT transcripts in skin indicated an onset of adaptive humoral immune responses, whereas MHCI appeared to be down-regulated.

Conclusions

Atlantic salmon develops rapid local and systemic reactions to L. salmonis, which, however, do not result in substantial level of protection. The dramatic changes observed after 5 dpi can be associated with metamorphosis of copepod, immune modulation by the parasite, or transition from innate to adaptive immune responses.

A further insight into the sialome of the tropical bont tick, Amblyomma variegatum

Background

Ticks--vectors of medical and veterinary importance--are themselves also significant pests. Tick salivary proteins are the result of adaptation to blood feeding and contain inhibitors of blood clotting, platelet aggregation, and angiogenesis, as well as vasodilators and immunomodulators. A previous analysis of the sialotranscriptome (from the Greek sialo, saliva) of Amblyomma variegatum is revisited in light of recent advances in tick sialomes and provides a database to perform a proteomic study.

Results

The clusterized data set has been expertly curated in light of recent reviews on tick salivary proteins, identifying many new families of tick-exclusive proteins. A proteome study using salivary gland homogenates identified 19 putative secreted proteins within a total of 211 matches.

Conclusions

The annotated sialome of A. variegatum allows its comparison to other tick sialomes, helping to consolidate an emerging pattern in the salivary composition of metastriate ticks; novel protein families were also identified. Because most of these proteins have no known function, the task of functional analysis of these proteins and the discovery of novel pharmacologically active compounds becomes possible.

Insight into the salivary transcriptome and proteome of Dipetalogaster maxima

Dipetalogaster maxima is a blood-sucking Hemiptera that inhabits sylvatic areas in Mexico. It usually takes its blood meal from lizards, but following human population growth, it invaded suburban areas, feeding also on humans and domestic animals. Hematophagous insect salivary glands produce potent pharmacologic compounds that counteract host hemostasis, including anticlotting, antiplatelet, and vasodilatory molecules. To obtain further insight into the salivary biochemical and pharmacologic complexity of this insect, a cDNA library from its salivary glands was randomly sequenced. Salivary proteins were also submitted to one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (1DE and 2DE) followed by mass spectrometry analysis. We present the analysis of a set of 2728 cDNA sequences, 1375 of which coded for proteins of a putative secretory nature. The saliva 2DE proteome displayed approximately 150 spots. The mass spectrometry analysis revealed mainly lipocalins, pallidipins, antigen 5-like proteins, and apyrases. The redundancy of sequence identification of saliva-secreted proteins suggests that proteins are present in multiple isoforms or derive from gene duplications.