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Bouchet C, Umair S, Stasiuk S, Grant W, Green P, Knight J. Target screening using RNA interference in the sheep abomasal nematode parasite Haemonchus contortus. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 260:111648. [PMID: 39004228 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) on parasitic nematodes has been described as a valuable tool for screening putative targets that could be used as novel drug and/or vaccine candidates. This study aimed to set up a pipeline to identify potential targets using RNAi for vaccine/anti-parasite therapy development against Haemonchus contortus, a blood-feeding abomasal nematode parasite. The available H. contortus sequence data was mined for targets, which were tested for essentiality using RNAi electroporation assays. A total of 56 genes were identified and tested for knockdown using electroporation of first-stage larvae (L1) H. contortus with the target double-stranded RNA. Electroporation of L1 proved to be effective overall; 17 targets had a strong phenotype and significant reduction in alive H. contortus, and another 24 had a moderate phenotype with a significant reduction in larvae development. A total of 28 targets showed a significant reduction in the development of H. contortus larvae to the infective stage (L3) following the RNAi assay. Down-regulation of target transcript levels was evaluated in some targets by semi-quantitative PCR. Four out of five genes tested showed complete knockdown of mRNA levels via semi-quantitative PCR, whereas the knockdown was partial for one. In conclusion, the results indicate that the RNAi pathway is confirmed in H. contortus and that several target genes have the potential to be investigated further as possible vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saleh Umair
- AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 11-008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Susan Stasiuk
- AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 11-008, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Department of Parasitology, University of Calgary Alberta, Canada
| | - Warwick Grant
- AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 11-008, Palmerston North, New Zealand; Department of Physiology Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3083, Australia
| | - Peter Green
- AgResearch Ltd, Private Bag 11-008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Mouton S, Mougel A, Ustyantsev K, Dissous C, Melnyk O, Berezikov E, Vicogne J. Optimized protocols for RNA interference in Macrostomum lignano. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae037. [PMID: 38421640 PMCID: PMC11075559 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Macrostomum lignano, a marine free-living flatworm, has emerged as a potent invertebrate model in developmental biology for studying stem cells, germline, and regeneration processes. In recent years, many tools have been developed to manipulate this worm and to facilitate genetic modification. RNA interference is currently the most accessible and direct technique to investigate gene functions. It is obtained by soaking worms in artificial seawater containing dsRNA targeting the gene of interest. Although easy to perform, the original protocol calls for daily exchange of dsRNA solutions, usually until phenotypes are observed, which is both time- and cost-consuming. In this work, we have evaluated alternative dsRNA delivery techniques, such as electroporation and osmotic shock, to facilitate the experiments with improved time and cost efficiency. During our investigation to optimize RNAi, we demonstrated that, in the absence of diatoms, regular single soaking in artificial seawater containing dsRNA directly produced in bacteria or synthesized in vitro is, in most cases, sufficient to induce a potent gene knockdown for several days with a single soaking step. Therefore, this new and highly simplified method allows a very significant reduction of dsRNA consumption and lab work. In addition, it enables performing experiments on a larger number of worms at minimal cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Mouton
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700AD, The Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Mougel
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Kirill Ustyantsev
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700AD, The Netherlands
| | - Colette Dissous
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Oleg Melnyk
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Eugene Berezikov
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen 9700AD, The Netherlands
| | - Jérôme Vicogne
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017—CIIL—Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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Rabaan AA, Al Fares MA, Almaghaslah M, Alpakistany T, Al Kaabi NA, Alshamrani SA, Alshehri AA, Almazni IA, Saif A, Hakami AR, Khamis F, Alfaresi M, Alsalem Z, Alsoliabi ZA, Al Amri KAS, Hassoueh AK, Mohapatra RK, Arteaga-Livias K, Alissa M. Application of CRISPR-Cas System to Mitigate Superbug Infections. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2404. [PMID: 37894063 PMCID: PMC10609045 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance in bacterial strains known as superbugs is estimated to cause fatal infections worldwide. Migration and urbanization have resulted in overcrowding and inadequate sanitation, contributing to a high risk of superbug infections within and between different communities. The CRISPR-Cas system, mainly type II, has been projected as a robust tool to precisely edit drug-resistant bacterial genomes to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains effectively. To entirely opt for its potential, advanced development in the CRISPR-Cas system is needed to reduce toxicity and promote efficacy in gene-editing applications. This might involve base-editing techniques used to produce point mutations. These methods employ designed Cas9 variations, such as the adenine base editor (ABE) and the cytidine base editor (CBE), to directly edit single base pairs without causing DSBs. The CBE and ABE could change a target base pair into a different one (for example, G-C to A-T or C-G to A-T). In this review, we addressed the limitations of the CRISPR/Cas system and explored strategies for circumventing these limitations by applying diverse base-editing techniques. Furthermore, we also discussed recent research showcasing the ability of base editors to eliminate drug-resistant microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22610, Pakistan
| | - Mona A Al Fares
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manar Almaghaslah
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Dammam Medical Complex, Dammam 32245, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tariq Alpakistany
- Bacteriology Department, Public Health Laboratory, Taif 26521, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nawal A Al Kaabi
- College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
- Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Abu Dhabi 51900, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saleh A Alshamrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad A Alshehri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Abdullah Almazni
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Saif
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 62223, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahim R Hakami
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 62223, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faryal Khamis
- Infection Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Royal Hospital, Muscat 1331, Oman
| | - Mubarak Alfaresi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi 3740, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zainab Alsalem
- Department of Epidemic Diseases Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Amal K Hassoueh
- Pharmacy Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh 7790, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ranjan K Mohapatra
- Department of Chemistry, Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar 758002, India
| | - Kovy Arteaga-Livias
- Escuela de Medicina-Filial Ica, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Ica 11000, Peru
- Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huanuco 10000, Peru
| | - Mohammed Alissa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
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Thekke-Veetil T, McCoppin NK, Domier LL, Hajimorad M, Lambert KN, Lim HS, Hartman GL. Transient expression of a luciferase mRNA in plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes by electroporation. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 250:111489. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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