1
|
Brantley SE, Stouthamer CM, Kr P, Fischer ML, Hill J, Schlenke TA, Mortimer NT. Host JAK-STAT activity is a target of parasitoid wasp virulence strategies. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012349. [PMID: 38950076 PMCID: PMC11244843 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Innate immune responses that allow hosts to survive infection depend on the action of multiple conserved signaling pathways. Pathogens and parasites in turn have evolved virulence factors to target these immune signaling pathways in an attempt to overcome host immunity. Consequently, the interactions between host immune molecules and pathogen virulence factors play an important role in determining the outcome of an infection. The immune responses of Drosophila melanogaster provide a valuable model to understand immune signaling and host-pathogen interactions. Flies are commonly infected by parasitoid wasps and mount a coordinated cellular immune response following infection. This response is characterized by the production of specialized blood cells called lamellocytes that form a tight capsule around wasp eggs in the host hemocoel. The conserved JAK-STAT signaling pathway has been implicated in lamellocyte proliferation and is required for successful encapsulation of wasp eggs. Here we show that activity of Stat92E, the D. melanogaster STAT ortholog, is induced in immune tissues following parasitoid infection. Virulent wasp species are able to suppress Stat92E activity during infection, suggesting they target JAK-STAT pathway activation as a virulence strategy. Furthermore, two wasp species (Leptopilina guineaensis and Ganaspis xanthopoda) suppress phenotypes associated with a gain-of-function mutation in hopscotch, the D. melanogaster JAK ortholog, indicating that they inhibit the activity of the core signaling components of the JAK-STAT pathway. Our data suggest that parasitoid wasp virulence factors block JAK-STAT signaling to overcome fly immune defenses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanna E Brantley
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Corinne M Stouthamer
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Pooja Kr
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mary L Fischer
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Joshua Hill
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Todd A Schlenke
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Nathan T Mortimer
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hunter-Barnett S, Viney M. Gut protozoa of wild rodents - a meta-analysis. Parasitology 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38714350 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Protozoa are well-known inhabitants of the mammalian gut and so of the gut microbiome. While there has been extensive study of a number of species of gut protozoa in laboratory animals, particularly rodents, the biology of the gut protozoa of wild rodents is much less well-known. Here we have systematically searched the published literature to describe the gut protozoa of wild rodents, in total finding records of 44 genera of protozoa infecting 228 rodent host species. We then undertook meta-analyses that estimated the overall prevalence of gut protozoa in wild rodents to be 24%, with significant variation in prevalence among some host species. We investigated how host traits may affect protozoa prevalence, finding that for some host lifestyles some protozoa differed in their prevalence. This synthesis of existing data on wild rodent gut protozoa provides a better understanding of the biology of these common gut inhabitants and suggests directions for their future study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Hunter-Barnett
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Mark Viney
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Genç TT, Kaya S, Günay M, Çakaloğlu Ç. Humoral immune response of Galleria mellonella after mono- and co-injection with Hypericum perforatum extract and Candida albicans. APMIS 2024; 132:358-370. [PMID: 38344892 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Galleria mellonella is used as a model organism to study the innate immune response of insects. In this study, the humoral immune response was assessed by examining phenoloxidase activity, fungal burden, and the expression of phenoloxidase and antimicrobial peptide genes at different time point following separate and combined injections of Hypericum perforatum extract and a nonlethal dose of Candida albicans. The administration of a plant extract at low doses increased phenoloxidase activity, while higher doses had no effect. Similarly, co-injection of a low dose of the extract with the pathogen allowed half of the yeast cells to survive after 24 h. Co-injection of plant extract with the pathogen decreased the phenoloxidase activity at the end of 4 h compared to C. albicans mono-injection. The phenoloxidase gene expressions was reduced in all experimental conditions with respect to the control. When plant extracts and the pathogen were administered together, gallerimycin and hemolin gene expressions were considerably higher compared to mono-injections of plant extracts and the pathogen. The results of this study reveal that gene activation and regulatory mechanisms may change for each immune gene, and that recognition and signaling pathways may differ depending on the involved immunoregulator.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tülay Turgut Genç
- Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Serhat Kaya
- Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Melih Günay
- Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Çağla Çakaloğlu
- Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Brown GP, Shine R, Rollins LA. A biological invasion modifies the dynamics of a host-parasite arms race. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232403. [PMID: 38351807 PMCID: PMC10865005 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
By imposing novel selection pressures on both participants, biological invasions can modify evolutionary 'arms races' between hosts and parasites. A spatially replicated cross-infection experiment reveals strong spatial divergence in the ability of lungworms (Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala) to infect invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) in Australia. In areas colonized for longer than 20 years, toads are more resistant to infection by local strains of parasites than by allopatric strains. The situation reverses at the invasion front, where super-infective parasites have evolved. Invasion-induced shifts in genetic diversity and selective pressures may explain why hosts gain advantage over parasites in long-colonized areas, whereas parasites gain advantage at the invasion front.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory P. Brown
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia
| | - Lee A. Rollins
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ibrahim D, I Abdel Rahman MM, M Abd El-Ghany A, A A Hassanen E, A Al-Jabr O, A Abd El-Wahab R, Zayed S, Abd El Khalek Salem M, Nabil El Tahawy S, Youssef W, A Tolba H, E Dawod R, Taha R, H Arisha A, T Y Kishawy A. Chlorella vulgaris extract conjugated magnetic iron nanoparticles in nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Growth promoting, immunostimulant and antioxidant role and combating against the synergistic infection with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Aeromonashydrophila. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 145:109352. [PMID: 38171430 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.109352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Nile tilapia reared under intensive conditions was more susceptible for Ichthyophthirius multifilii (I. multifiliis) infection eliciting higher mortality, lower productive rate and further bacterial coinfection with Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila). The higher potency of magnetic field of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) can kill pathogens through inhibiting their viability. Herein, coating of Chlorella vulgaris extract (ChVE) with magnetic iron oxide NPs (Mag iron NPs) can create an external magnetic field that facilitates their release inside the targeted tissues. Thus, the current study is focused on application of new functionalized properties of Mag iron NPs in combination with ChVE and their efficacy to alleviate I. multifiliis and subsequent infection with A. hydrophila in Nile tilapia. Four hundred fingerlings were divided into: control group (with no additives), three groups fed control diet supplemented with ChVE, Mag iron NPs and ChVE@Mag iron NPs for 90 days. At the end of feeding trial fish were challenged with I. multifiliis and at 9 days post challenge was coinfected by A. hydrophila. A remarkable higher growth rate and an improved feed conversion ratio were detected in group fed ChVE@Mag iron-NPs. The maximum expression of antioxidant enzymes in skin and gills tissues (GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD) which came in parallel with higher serum activities of these enzymes was identified in groups received ChVE@Mag iron-NPs. Furthermore, group fed a combination of ChVE and Mag iron-NPs showed a boosted immune response (higher lysozyme, IgM, ACH50, and MPO) prior to challenge with I. multifiliis. In contrast, fish fed ChVE@Mag iron-NPs supplemented diet had lower infection (decreased by 62%) and mortality rates (decreased by 84%), as well as less visible white spots (decreased by 92 % at 12 dpi) on the body surfaces and mucous score. Interestingly, post I. multifiliis the excessive inflammatory response in gill and skin tissues was subsided by feeding on ChVE@Mag iron-NPs as proved by down regulation of IL-1β, TNFα, COX-2 and iNOS and upregulation of IL-10, and IgM, IgT and Muc-2 genes. Notably, group exposed to I. multifiliis-showed higher mortality when exposed to Aeromonas hydrophilia (increased by 43 %) while group fed ChVE@Mag iron-NPs exhibited lower morality (2%). Moreover, the bacterial loads of A. hydrophilia in fish infected by I. multifiliis and fed control diet were higher than those received dietary supplement of ChVE, Mag iron-NPs and the most reduced load was obtained in group fed ChVE@Mag iron-NPs at 7 dpi. In conclusion, ChVE@Mag iron-NPs fed fish had stronger immune barrier and antioxidant functions of skin and gills, and better survival following I. multifiliis and A. hydrophilia infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doaa Ibrahim
- Department of Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt.
| | | | - Amany M Abd El-Ghany
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Eman A A Hassanen
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Omar A Al-Jabr
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reham A Abd El-Wahab
- Biochemistry Department, Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Mansoura Branch, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), 246 Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt
| | - Shimaa Zayed
- Biochemistry Department, Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Mansoura Branch, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), 246 Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt
| | - Mona Abd El Khalek Salem
- Department of Fish Diseases, Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Agriculture Research Center, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Shimaa Nabil El Tahawy
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Zagazig Branch, Animal Health Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Zagazig 44516, Egypt
| | - Wessam Youssef
- Biotechnology Department, Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), 246 Dokki, Giza 12618, Egypt
| | - Heba A Tolba
- Department of Fish Health and Management, Central Laboratory of Aquaculture Research (CLAR), AboHamad, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Egypt
| | - Rehab E Dawod
- Department of Bacteriology, Animal Health Institute, Damietta Branch, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Rahma Taha
- Department of Zoology, Animal Immunology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Ahmed H Arisha
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Asmaa T Y Kishawy
- Department of Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Johnson PTJ, Merrill TS, Calhoun DM, McDevitt-Galles T, Hobart B. Into the danger zone: How the within-host distribution of parasites controls virulence. Ecol Lett 2024; 27:e14352. [PMID: 38115188 PMCID: PMC10872350 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite the importance of virulence in epidemiological theory, the relative contributions of host and parasite to virulence outcomes remain poorly understood. Here, we use reciprocal cross experiments to disentangle the influence of host and parasite on core virulence components-infection and pathology-and understand dramatic differences in parasite-induced malformations in California amphibians. Surveys across 319 populations revealed that amphibians' malformation risk was 2.7× greater in low-elevation ponds, even while controlling for trematode infection load. Factorial experiments revealed that parasites from low-elevation sites induced higher per-parasite pathology (reduced host survival and growth), whereas there were no effects of host source on resistance or tolerance. Parasite populations also exhibited marked differences in within-host distribution: ~90% of low-elevation cysts aggregated around the hind limbs, relative to <60% from high-elevation. This offers a novel, mechanistic basis for regional variation in parasite-induced malformations while promoting a framework for partitioning host and parasite contributions to virulence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tara Stewart Merrill
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State University, St. Teresa, FL, 32358, USA
| | - Dana M. Calhoun
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Travis McDevitt-Galles
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Current address: USGS National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Brendan Hobart
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Megía-Palma R, Redondo L, Blázquez-Castro S, Barrientos R. Differential recovery ability from infections by two blood parasite genera in males of a Mediterranean lacertid lizard after an experimental translocation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 339:816-824. [PMID: 37434416 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Different blood parasites can co-infect natural populations of lizards. However, our knowledge of the host's ability to recover from them (i.e., significantly reduce parasitemia levels) is scarce. This has interest from an ecological immunology perspective. Herein, we investigate the host recovery ability in males of the lizard Psammodromus algirus infected by parasite genera Schellackia and Karyolysus. The role of lizard hosts is dissimilar in the life cycle of these two parasites, and thus different immune control of the infections is expected by the vertebrate host. As Schellackia performs both sexual and asexual reproduction cycles in lizards, we expect a better immune control by its vertebrate hosts. On the contrary, Karyolysus performs sexual reproductive cycles in vectors, hence we expect lower immune control by the lizards. We carried out a reciprocal translocation experiment during the lizards' mating season to evaluate both parasitemia and leukocyte profiles in male lizards, being one of the sampling plots close to a road with moderate traffic. These circumstances provide a combination of extrinsic (environmental stress) and intrinsic factors (reproductive vs. immune trade-offs) that may influence host's recovery ability. We recaptured 33% of the lizards, with a similar proportion in control and translocated groups. Karyolysus infected 92.3% and Schellackia 38.5% of these lizards. Hosts demonstrated ability to significantly reduce parasitemia of Schellackia but not of Karyolysus. This suggests, in line with our predictions, a differential immune relationship of lizards with these parasites, at time that supports that parasites with different phylogenetic origins should be analyzed separately in investigations of their effects on hosts. Furthermore, lizards close to the road underwent a stronger upregulation of lymphocytes and monocytes when translocated far from the road, suggesting a putative greater exposure to pathogens in the latter area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Megía-Palma
- Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), Department of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Parasitology, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Vairão, Portugal
| | - L Redondo
- Road Ecology Lab, Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Biodiversity Node S.L., Madrid, Spain
| | - S Blázquez-Castro
- Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), Department of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Parasitology, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - R Barrientos
- Road Ecology Lab, Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Born-Torrijos A, Riekenberg P, van der Meer MTJ, Nachev M, Sures B, Thieltges DW. Parasite effects on host's trophic and isotopic niches. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:749-759. [PMID: 37451950 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Wild animals are usually infected with parasites that can alter their hosts' trophic niches in food webs as can be seen from stable isotope analyses of infected versus uninfected individuals. The mechanisms influencing these effects of parasites on host isotopic values are not fully understood. Here, we develop a conceptual model to describe how the alteration of the resource intake or the internal resource use of hosts by parasites can lead to differences of trophic and isotopic niches of infected versus uninfected individuals and ultimately alter resource flows through food webs. We therefore highlight that stable isotope studies inferring trophic positions of wild organisms in food webs would benefit from routine identification of their infection status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Born-Torrijos
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands.
| | - Philip Riekenberg
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel T J van der Meer
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Milen Nachev
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Department of Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - David W Thieltges
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life-Sciences, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Maor-Landaw K, Avidor I, Rostowsky N, Salti B, Smirnov M, Ofek-Lalzar M, Levin L, Brekhman V, Lotan T. The Molecular Mechanisms Employed by the Parasite Myxobolus bejeranoi (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) from Invasion through Sporulation for Successful Proliferation in Its Fish Host. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12824. [PMID: 37629003 PMCID: PMC10454682 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Myxozoa is a unique group of obligate endoparasites in the phylum Cnidaria that can cause emerging diseases in wild and cultured fish populations. Recently, we identified a new myxozoan species, Myxobolus bejeranoi, which infects the gills of cultured tilapia while suppressing host immunity. To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this successful parasitic strategy, we conducted transcriptomics analysis of M. bejeranoi throughout the infection. Our results show that histones, which are essential for accelerated cell division, are highly expressed even one day after invasion. As the infection progressed, conserved parasitic genes that are known to modulate the host immune reaction in different parasitic taxa were upregulated. These genes included energy-related glycolytic enzymes, as well as calreticulin, proteases, and miRNA biogenesis proteins. Interestingly, myxozoan calreticulin formed a distinct phylogenetic clade apart from other cnidarians, suggesting a possible function in parasite pathogenesis. Sporogenesis was in its final stages 20 days post-exposure, as spore-specific markers were highly expressed. Lastly, we provide the first catalog of transcription factors in a Myxozoa species, which is minimized compared to free-living cnidarians and is dominated by homeodomain types. Overall, these molecular insights into myxozoan infection support the concept that parasitic strategies are a result of convergent evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keren Maor-Landaw
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Itamar Avidor
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Nadav Rostowsky
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Barbara Salti
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Margarita Smirnov
- Central Fish Health Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nir David 1080300, Israel;
| | - Maya Ofek-Lalzar
- Bioinformatic Unit, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
| | - Liron Levin
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, llse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel;
| | - Vera Brekhman
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Tamar Lotan
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
van Beest FM, Petersen HH, Krogh AK, Frederiksen ML, Schmidt NM, Hansson SV. Estimating parasite-condition relationships and potential health effects for fallow deer ( Dama dama) and red deer ( Cervus elaphus) in Denmark. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:143-152. [PMID: 37215531 PMCID: PMC10196918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Parasites can exert a substantial influence on the ecology of wildlife populations by altering host condition. Our objectives were to estimate single and multiparasite-condition relationships for fallow deer (Dama dama) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Denmark and to assess potential health effects along the parasite burden gradient. Fallow deer hosted on average two endoparasite taxa per individual (min = 0, max = 5) while red deer carried on average five parasite taxa per individual (min = 2, max = 9). Body condition of both deer species was negatively related to presence of Trichuris ssp. eggs while body condition of red deer was positively related to antibodies of the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. For the remaining parasite taxa (n = 12), we either found weak or no apparent association between infection and deer body condition or low prevalence levels restricted formal testing. Importantly, we detected a strong negative relationship between body condition and the sum of endoparasite taxa carried by individual hosts, a pattern that was evident in both deer species. We did not detect systemic inflammatory reactions, yet serology revealed reduced total protein and iron concentrations with increased parasite load in both deer species, likely due to maldigestion of forage or malabsorption of nutrients. Despite moderate sample sizes, our study highlights the importance of considering multiparasitism when assessing body condition impacts in deer populations. Moreover, we show how serum chemistry assays are a valuable diagnostic tool to detect subtle and sub-clinical health impacts of parasitism, even at low-level infestation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Floris M. van Beest
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej, 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Heidi H. Petersen
- Center for Diagnostics, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne K.H. Krogh
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 16, 1870, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Niels M. Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej, 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Sophia V. Hansson
- Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement (UMR- 5245), CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Ave. de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Castanet Tolosan, France
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Teodoro-Paulo J, Alba JM, Charlesworth S, Kant MR, Magalhães S, Duncan AB. Intraspecific variation for host immune activation by the spider mite Tetranychus evansi. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230525. [PMID: 37325599 PMCID: PMC10265008 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Many parasites can interfere with their host's defences to maximize their fitness. Here, we investigated if there is heritable variation in the spider mite Tetranychus evansi for traits associated with how they interact with their host plant. We also determined if this variation correlates with mite fecundity. Tetranychus evansi can interfere with jasmonate (JA) defences which are the main determinant of anti-herbivore immunity in plants. We investigated (i) variation in fecundity in the presence and absence of JA defences, making use of a wild-type tomato cultivar and a JA-deficient mutant (defenseless-1), and (ii) variation in the induction of JA defences, in four T. evansi field populations and 59 inbred lines created from an outbred population originating from controlled crosses of the four field populations. We observed a strong positive genetic correlation between fecundity in the presence (on wild-type) and the absence of JA defences (on defenseless-1). However, fecundity did not correlate with the magnitude of induced JA defences in wild-type plants. Our results suggest that the performance of the specialist T. evansi is not related to their ability to manipulate plant defences, either because all lines can adequately reduce levels of defences, or because they are resistant to them.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Teodoro-Paulo
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Juan M. Alba
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Steven Charlesworth
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Merijn R. Kant
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Magalhães
- cE3c—Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alison B. Duncan
- Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Muqaddas H, Mehmood N, Saarma U, Usman A, Ahmed F, Varcasia A, Sini MF, Ullah MI. First report of Echinococcus ortleppi and E. canadensis (genotype G6) from southern Punjab, Pakistan and a global overview on genetic structure and host adaptation of E. ortleppi. Acta Trop 2023:106951. [PMID: 37220843 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106951] [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: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a neglected tropical disease known mainly for its zoonotic nature. CE is endemic to Pakistan, however, the disease is not given due consideration and millions of people remain at health risk. This study was undertaken to assess the species and genotypes of E. granulosus sensu lato in sheep, buffaloes and cattle, brought to slaughterhouses of two major cities (Multan and Bahawalpur) of south Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 26 hydatid cyst specimens were characterized through complete cox1 mitochondrial gene (1609 bp) sequencing. Species and genotypes of E. granulosus sensu lato discovered in the southern Punjab consisted of E. granulosus sensu stricto (n =21), E. ortleppi (n=4) and E. canadensis G6 genotype (n=1). Of E. granulosus s.s. isolates, the genotype G3 was predominantly involved in causing infections to the livestock of this region. Since all of these species are zoonotic, wide and effective surveillance studies are required to ascertain the risks to human population in Pakistan. Additionally, a global overview on cox1 phylogenetic structure of E. ortleppi was carried out. Despite the widespread occurrence, the species is mostly limited to the southern hemisphere. The highest burden has been reported in the South America (62.15%) and Africa (28.44%) and by far the most common host is cattle, accounting for >90% of cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hira Muqaddas
- Department of Zoology, The Women University Multan, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Naunain Mehmood
- Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ammarah Usman
- Department of Zoology, The Women University Multan, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Ahmed
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Antonio Varcasia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Trejo-Meléndez VJ, Méndez-López TT, Contreras-Garduño J. The Coincidental Evolution of Virulence Partially Explains the Virulence in a Generalist Entomopathogenic. Acta Parasitol 2023:10.1007/s11686-023-00663-4. [PMID: 36806112 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00663-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The parasites' virulence is labile after jumping to a new host species, and it might derivate in gaining virulence against a new host as a side effect of living in a non-host environment (coincidental evolution of virulence hypothesis). METHODS To test this hypothesis, we monitored the experimental evolution of the Rhabditis regina nematode for over 290 generations (4 years) in three environments (strains): (1) the natural host, Phyllophaga polyphylla, (2) an alternate host, Tenebrio molitor, and (3) saprophytic medium (beef; the food that may provide evidence for the coincidental evolution of virulence). Each strain was exposed to P. polyphylla, T. molitor, or Galleria mellonella. We compared the host survival and immune response (proPO, PO, and lytic activity) of infected versus uninfected hosts. RESULTS The saprophytic nematodes gained virulence only against G. mellonella. However, the P. polyphylla strain was more effective in killing P. polyphylla than T. molitor, and the T. molitor strain was more effective against T. molitor than P. polyphylla. Additionally, one dauer larva was sufficient to kill the hosts. Finally, the immune response did not differ between the challenged and control groups. CONCLUSION The coincidental evolution of virulence partially explains our results, but they might also support the short-sighted hypothesis. Additionally, we found evidence for immunomodulation because nematodes passed unnoticed to the immune response. It is crucial to analyze the virulence of entomopathogens from the point of view of the evolution of virulence to be aware of potential scenarios that might limit biological control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor José Trejo-Meléndez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Ciudad Universitaria 3000, C.P. 04510, Coyoacán, CDMX, Mexico
- ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM. Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Texca T Méndez-López
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Ciudad Universitaria 3000, C.P. 04510, Coyoacán, CDMX, Mexico
- ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM. Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | - Jorge Contreras-Garduño
- ENES, Unidad Morelia, UNAM. Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código Postal 58190, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Low impact of tuberculosis severity on wild boar body condition. Res Vet Sci 2023; 155:161-167. [PMID: 36706665 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.01.014] [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: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Body condition (BC), is a measure to assess the health status of domestic and wild animals. When food resources are abundant, a decrease in BC may indicate an increase in the energetic expenditure due to the effects of growth, reproduction, or disease. BC impoverishment is one of the most common clinical effects of diseases progressing chronically, such as animal tuberculosis (TB) caused by bacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is the main wild TB reservoir in the Mediterranean basin. The specific aims of this work were to assess the relationship between sex, age and TB severity altogether on the BC of wild boar. For this purpose, we used the kidney fat index (KFI), to assess the impact of TB progression on the BC of 1372 hunter-harvested free-ranging wild boar in seven populations in southern Spain. Surprisingly, TB had only slight effects on wild boar BC and individuals exhibiting severe TB showed greater BC than TB-free individuals. The age (adults had greater BC than juveniles) and sex (females had greater BC than males) were the main BC determinants in wild boar. Sampling population and season explained more BC variability than individual factors, suggesting that other external factors might play an important role in the BC, and probably on the impact of the disease on this wild reservoir. The low impact of TB on wild boar BC suggests that individuals with severe TB and good BC represent potential long-term super-shedders of this pathogen.
Collapse
|
15
|
Infection and Immunity. Clin Immunol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818006-8.00007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
|
16
|
Akoolo L, Rocha SC, Parveen N. Protozoan co-infections and parasite influence on the efficacy of vaccines against bacterial and viral pathogens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1020029. [PMID: 36504775 PMCID: PMC9732444 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1020029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide range of protozoan pathogens either transmitted by vectors (Plasmodium, Babesia, Leishmania and Trypanosoma), by contaminated food or water (Entamoeba and Giardia), or by sexual contact (Trichomonas) invade various organs in the body and cause prominent human diseases, such as malaria, babesiosis, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, diarrhea, and trichomoniasis. Humans are frequently exposed to multiple pathogens simultaneously, or sequentially in the high-incidence regions to result in co-infections. Consequently, synergistic or antagonistic pathogenic effects could occur between microbes that also influences overall host responses and severity of diseases. The co-infecting organisms can also follow independent trajectory. In either case, co-infections change host and pathogen metabolic microenvironments, compromise the host immune status, and affect microbial pathogenicity to influence tissue colonization. Immunomodulation by protozoa often adversely affects cellular and humoral immune responses against co-infecting bacterial pathogens and promotes bacterial persistence, and result in more severe disease symptoms. Although co-infections by protozoa and viruses also occur in humans, extensive studies are not yet conducted probably because of limited animal model systems available that can be used for both groups of pathogens. Immunosuppressive effects of protozoan infections can also attenuate vaccines efficacy, weaken immunological memory development, and thus attenuate protection against co-infecting pathogens. Due to increasing occurrence of parasitic infections, roles of acute to chronic protozoan infection on immunological changes need extensive investigations to improve understanding of the mechanistic details of specific immune responses alteration. In fact, this phenomenon should be seriously considered as one cause of breakthrough infections after vaccination against both bacterial and viral pathogens, and for the emergence of drug-resistant bacterial strains. Such studies would facilitate development and implementation of effective vaccination and treatment regimens to prevent or significantly reduce breakthrough infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lavoisier Akoolo
- Biorepository and Tissue Research Facility, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Sandra C. Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States,*Correspondence: Nikhat Parveen,
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Shey RA, Ghogomu SM, Nebangwa DN, Shintouo CM, Yaah NE, Yengo BN, Nkemngo FN, Esoh KK, Tchatchoua NMT, Mbachick TT, Dede AF, Lemoge AA, Ngwese RA, Asa BF, Ayong L, Njemini R, Vanhamme L, Souopgui J. Rational design of a novel multi-epitope peptide-based vaccine against Onchocerca volvulus using transmembrane proteins. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2022.1046522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Almost a decade ago, it was recognized that the global elimination of onchocerciasis by 2030 will not be feasible without, at least, an effective prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccine to complement chemotherapy and vector control strategies. Recent advances in computational immunology (immunoinformatics) have seen the design of novel multi-epitope onchocerciasis vaccine candidates which are however yet to be evaluated in clinical settings. Still, continued research to increase the pool of vaccine candidates, and therefore the chance of success in a clinical trial remains imperative. Here, we designed a multi-epitope vaccine candidate by assembling peptides from 14 O. volvulus (Ov) proteins using an immunoinformatics approach. An initial 126 Ov proteins, retrieved from the Wormbase database, and at least 90% similar to orthologs in related nematode species of economic importance, were screened for localization, presence of transmembrane domain, and antigenicity using different web servers. From the 14 proteins retained after the screening, 26 MHC-1 and MHC-II (T-cell) epitopes, and linear B-lymphocytes epitopes were predicted and merged using suitable linkers. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Resuscitation-promoting factor E (RPFE_MYCTU), which is an agonist of TLR4, was then added to the N-terminal of the vaccine candidate as a built-in adjuvant. Immune simulation analyses predicted strong B-cell and IFN-γ based immune responses which are necessary for protection against O. volvulus infection. Protein-protein docking and molecular dynamic simulation predicted stable interactions between the 3D structure of the vaccine candidate and human TLR4. These results show that the designed vaccine candidate has the potential to stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses and should therefore be subject to further laboratory investigation.
Collapse
|
18
|
Parasitic Infection and Immunity-A Special Biomedicines Issue. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102547. [PMID: 36289809 PMCID: PMC9599367 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious parasitic diseases that affect humans and animals remain a central health concern worldwide [...].
Collapse
|
19
|
Gemler BT, Mukherjee C, Howland CA, Huk D, Shank Z, Harbo LJ, Tabbaa OP, Bartling CM. Function-based classification of hazardous biological sequences: Demonstration of a new paradigm for biohazard assessments. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:979497. [PMID: 36277394 PMCID: PMC9585941 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.979497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioengineering applies analytical and engineering principles to identify functional biological building blocks for biotechnology applications. While these building blocks are leveraged to improve the human condition, the lack of simplistic, machine-readable definition of biohazards at the function level is creating a gap for biosafety practices. More specifically, traditional safety practices focus on the biohazards of known pathogens at the organism-level and may not accurately consider novel biodesigns with engineered functionalities at the genetic component-level. This gap is motivating the need for a paradigm shift from organism-centric procedures to function-centric biohazard identification and classification practices. To address this challenge, we present a novel methodology for classifying biohazards at the individual sequence level, which we then compiled to distinguish the biohazardous property of pathogenicity at the whole genome level. Our methodology is rooted in compilation of hazardous functions, defined as a set of sequences and associated metadata that describe coarse-level functions associated with pathogens (e.g., adherence, immune subversion). We demonstrate that the resulting database can be used to develop hazardous “fingerprints” based on the functional metadata categories. We verified that these hazardous functions are found at higher levels in pathogens compared to non-pathogens, and hierarchical clustering of the fingerprints can distinguish between these two groups. The methodology presented here defines the hazardous functions associated with bioengineering functional building blocks at the sequence level, which provide a foundational framework for classifying biological hazards at the organism level, thus leading to the improvement and standardization of current biosecurity and biosafety practices.
Collapse
|
20
|
Infection by the Parasite Myxobolus bejeranoi (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) Suppresses the Immune System of Hybrid Tilapia. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10101893. [DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myxozoa (Cnidaria) is a large group of microscopic obligate endoparasites that can cause emerging diseases, affecting wild fish populations and fisheries. Recently, the myxozoan Myxobolus bejeranoi was found to infect the gills of hybrid tilapia (Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) × Jordan/blue tilapia (O. aureus)), causing high morbidity and mortality. Here, we used comparative transcriptomics to elucidate the molecular processes occurring in the fish host following infection by M. bejeranoi. Fish were exposed to pond water containing actinospores for 24 h and the effects of minor, intermediate, and severe infections on the sporulation site, the gills, and on the hematopoietic organs, head kidney and spleen, were compared. Enrichment analysis for GO and KEGG pathways indicated immune system activation in gills at severe infection, whereas in the head kidney a broad immune suppression included deactivation of cytokines and GATA3 transcription factor responsible for T helper cell differentiation. In the spleen, the cytotoxic effector proteins perforin and granzyme B were downregulated and insulin, which may function as an immunomodulatory hormone inducing systemic immune suppression, was upregulated. These findings suggest that M. bejeranoi is a highly efficient parasite that disables the defense mechanisms of its fish host hybrid tilapia.
Collapse
|
21
|
Medina JM, Abbas MN, Bensaoud C, Hackenberg M, Kotsyfakis M. Bioinformatic Analysis of Ixodes ricinus Long Non-Coding RNAs Predicts Their Binding Ability of Host miRNAs. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179761. [PMID: 36077158 PMCID: PMC9456184 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus ticks are distributed across Europe and are a vector of tick-borne diseases. Although I. ricinus transcriptome studies have focused exclusively on protein coding genes, the last decade witnessed a strong increase in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) research and characterization. Here, we report for the first time an exhaustive analysis of these non-coding molecules in I. ricinus based on 131 RNA-seq datasets from three different BioProjects. Using this data, we obtained a consensus set of lncRNAs and showed that lncRNA expression is stable among different studies. While the length distribution of lncRNAs from the individual data sets is biased toward short length values, implying the existence of technical artefacts, the consensus lncRNAs show a more homogeneous distribution emphasizing the importance to incorporate data from different sources to generate a solid reference set of lncRNAs. KEGG enrichment analysis of host miRNAs putatively targeting lncRNAs upregulated upon feeding showed that these miRNAs are involved in several relevant functions for the tick-host interaction. The possibility that at least some tick lncRNAs act as host miRNA sponges was further explored by identifying lncRNAs with many target regions for a given host miRNA or sets of host miRNAs that consistently target lncRNAs together. Overall, our findings suggest that lncRNAs that may act as sponges have diverse biological roles related to the tick–host interaction in different tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José María Medina
- Departamentode Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Chaima Bensaoud
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Hackenberg
- Departamentode Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Laboratorio de Bioinformática, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, PTS, Instituto de Biotecnología, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (M.K.)
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (M.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Gwokyalya R, Herren JK, Weldon CW, Khamis FM, Ndlela S, Mohamed SA. Differential immune responses in new and old fruit fly-parasitoid associations: Implications for their management. Front Physiol 2022; 13:945370. [PMID: 36091407 PMCID: PMC9458847 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.945370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), and marula fruit fly, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), are major fruit-infesting tephritids across sub-Saharan Africa. Biological control of these pests using parasitic wasps has been widely adopted but with varying levels of success. Most studies investigating host-parasitoid models have focused on functional and evolutionary aspects leaving a knowledge gap about the physiological mechanisms underpinning the efficacy of parasitoids as biocontrol agents of tephritids. To better understand these physiological mechanisms, we investigated changes in the cellular immune responses of C. cosyra and B. dorsalis when exposed to the parasitic wasps, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmaed) and Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson). We found that B. dorsalis was more resistant to parasitisation, had a higher hemocyte count, and encapsulated more parasitoid eggs compared to C. cosyra, achieving up to 100% encapsulation when exposed to P. cosyrae. Exposing B. dorsalis to either parasitoid species induced the formation of a rare cell type, the giant multinucleated hemocyte, which was not observed in C. cosyra. Furthermore, compared to P. cosyrae-parasitized larvae, those of both host species parasitized by D. longicaudata had lower encapsulation rates, hemocyte counts and spreading abilities and yielded a higher number of parasitoid progeny with the highest parasitoid emergence (72.13%) recorded in C. cosyra. These results demonstrate that cellular immune responses are central to host-parasitoid interaction in tephritid fruit flies and further suggest that D. longicaudata presents greater potential as a biocontrol agent of B. dorsalis and C. cosyra in horticultural cropping systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rehemah Gwokyalya
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Rehemah Gwokyalya, , ; Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed,
| | - Jeremy K. Herren
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Christopher W. Weldon
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Fathiya M. Khamis
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Shepard Ndlela
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
- *Correspondence: Rehemah Gwokyalya, , ; Samira Abuelgasim Mohamed,
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Pascual C, Rodríguez-Canul R, Huchin-Mian JP, Mascaró M, Briones-Fourzán P, Lozano-Álvarez E, Sánchez A, Escalante K. Immune Response to Natural and Experimental Infection of Panulirus argus Virus 1 (PaV1) in Juveniles of Caribbean Spiny Lobster. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12151951. [PMID: 35953940 PMCID: PMC9367466 DOI: 10.3390/ani12151951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Experimental immunological challenges are widely used to corroborate the success of breeding programs for lines resistant to specific pathogens, to test the efficiency of new vaccines, and to improve immunity of cultured animals. The validation of experimental infection protocols is complex because it requires comparison with naturally infected organisms at different stages of the infection. The present study compares the immune response of lobsters under a natural process of viral infection (PaV1), versus the defense response of experimentally infected organisms. Innate immunity for infected lobsters was measured through cellular and plasmatic components. The results indicate that the immune response of organisms naturally or experimentally infected by PaV1 was similar, and provides the bases to corroborate that the immunological challenge was not exacerbated. Appropriate infection protocols can be useful for research aimed at increasing resistance to infectious diseases and reducing the use of antibiotics in aquaculture. Abstract Experimental infections have been used to better comprehend the immune system of organisms, and to probe for additives that generate greater resistance and help reduce antibiotic use in aquaculture. We compared the immune response of juveniles of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, infected naturally with Panulirus argus virus 1 (PaV1) versus organisms infected experimentally, to determine the analogy between both infectious processes. The immunological response was measured by hemagglutination activity, hemocyte count, and total phenoloxidase activity in plasma and hemocytes in 211 individuals that were either naturally infected (110), or had been injected with viral inoculum and followed for six months (101). The samples were classified into the following four groups according to the severity of the infection: 0, uninfected; 1, lightly; 2, moderately; and 3, severely infected), which was determined on the basis of PCR and histological criteria. A permutational MANOVA showed that both the origin (natural and experimental), and the severity of the infection contributed significantly to explain the variation in the immune response of lobsters. The lack of significance of the interaction term indicated that the immunological response changed with the severity of the infection in a similar way, regardless of its origin. The results of the present study suggest that the experimental viral infection of PaV1 produces a defense response similar to the natural pathways of contagion, and provides the bases to validate an immunological challenge protocol for the first time in crustaceans. The discussion includes the perspective of the conceptual models of immune response within an ecological context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Pascual
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, Hunucmá 97356, Mexico; (M.M.); (A.S.); (K.E.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Rossanna Rodríguez-Canul
- Laboratorio de Inmunología y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional-Unidad Mérida, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, Hunucmá 97356, Mexico;
| | - Juan Pablo Huchin-Mian
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36000, Mexico;
| | - Maite Mascaró
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, Hunucmá 97356, Mexico; (M.M.); (A.S.); (K.E.)
| | - Patricia Briones-Fourzán
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos 77580, Mexico; (P.B.-F.); (E.L.-Á.)
| | - Enrique Lozano-Álvarez
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos 77580, Mexico; (P.B.-F.); (E.L.-Á.)
| | - Ariadna Sánchez
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, Hunucmá 97356, Mexico; (M.M.); (A.S.); (K.E.)
| | - Karla Escalante
- Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, Hunucmá 97356, Mexico; (M.M.); (A.S.); (K.E.)
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Diosdado A, Simón F, Serrat J, González-Miguel J. Interaction of helminth parasites with the haemostatic system of their vertebrate hosts: a scoping review. PARASITE (PARIS, FRANCE) 2022; 29:35. [PMID: 35833785 PMCID: PMC9281497 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2022034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Helminth parasitoses are among the most prevalent health issues worldwide. Their control depends largely on unravelling host–parasite interactions, including parasitic exploitation of the host haemostatic system. The present study undertakes a scoping review of the research carried out in this field with the aim of unifying and updating concepts. Multiple keywords combined with Boolean operators were employed to design the literature search strategy. Two online databases were used to identify original peer-reviewed articles written in English and published before 1st January 2020 describing molecular interactions between helminth parasites and the host haemostatic system. Relevant data from the selected sources of evidence were extracted and analysed. Ninety-six publications reporting 259 interactions were selected. Fifty-three proteins belonging to 32 species of helminth parasites were involved in interactions with components of the host haemostatic system. Many of these proteins from both parasite and host were conserved among the different interactions identified. Most of these interactions were related to the inhibition of the coagulation system and the activation of fibrinolysis. This was associated mainly with a potential of parasites to reduce the formation of blood clots in the host and attributed to biological processes, such as parasite nutrition, survival, invasion, evasion and migration or the appearance of pathological mechanisms in the host. A wide range of helminth parasites have developed similar strategies to exploit the haemostatic system of their hosts, which could be regarded as an evolutionary conserved mechanism that could confer benefits to parasites in terms of survival and establishment in their vertebrate hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Diosdado
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Fernando Simón
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Judit Serrat
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier González-Miguel
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA-CSIC), 37008 Salamanca, Spain - Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Centre of One Health (COH), Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, H91 DK59 Galway, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Doherty JF, Matthews BJ. Host Manipulation, Gene Editing, and Non-Traditional Model Organisms: A New Frontier for Behavioral Research? FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:938644. [PMID: 38468779 PMCID: PMC10926399 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.938644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Insects and parasites dominate the biosphere, in terms of known biodiversity and mode of life, respectively. Consequently, insects play a part in many host-parasite systems, either as parasite, host, or both. Moreover, a lot of these systems involve adaptive parasite-induced changes of host phenotype (typically behavior or morphology), which is commonly known as host manipulation. While many host manipulation systems have been described within the last few decades, the proximate mechanisms that underpin host phenotypic change are still largely unknown. Given the intimate co-evolutionary history of host-parasite systems, teasing apart the intricate network of biochemical reactions involved in host manipulation requires the integration of various complementary technologies. In this perspective, we stress the importance of multidisciplinary research on host manipulation, such as high-throughput sequencing methods (genomics and transcriptomics) to search for candidate mechanisms that are activated during a manipulation event. Then, we argue that gene editing technologies, specifically the CRISPR-Cas9 system, are a powerful way to test for the functional roles of candidate mechanisms, in both the parasite and the host. Finally, given the sheer diversity of unique host-parasite systems discovered to date, there is indeed a tremendous potential to create novel non-traditional model systems that could greatly expand our capacity to test the fundamental aspects of behavior and behavioral regulation.
Collapse
|
26
|
Mucin induces CRISPR-Cas defense in an opportunistic pathogen. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3653. [PMID: 35752617 PMCID: PMC9233685 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31330-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitism by bacteriophages has led to the evolution of a variety of defense mechanisms in their host bacteria. However, it is unclear what factors lead to specific defenses being deployed upon phage infection. To explore this question, we co-evolved the bacterial fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare and its virulent phage V156 in presence and absence of a eukaryotic host signal (mucin) for sixteen weeks. The presence of mucin leads to a dramatic increase in CRISPR spacer acquisition, especially in low nutrient conditions where over 60% of colonies obtain at least one new spacer. Additionally, we show that the presence of a competitor bacterium further increases CRISPR spacer acquisition in F. columnare. These results suggest that ecological factors are important in determining defense strategies against phages, and that the phage-bacterium interactions on mucosal surfaces may select for the diversification of bacterial immune systems. It is unknown what circumstances promote particular bacterial defenses against bacterial viruses (phages). Almeida & Hoikkala et al. show that mucin, derived from mucus, greatly accelerates CRISPR-Cas defenses against phage in an opportunistic pathogen.
Collapse
|
27
|
de Freitas Almeida GM, Hoikkala V, Ravantti J, Rantanen N, Sundberg LR. Mucin induces CRISPR-Cas defense in an opportunistic pathogen. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3653. [PMID: 35752617 DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.10.455787v1.abstract] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitism by bacteriophages has led to the evolution of a variety of defense mechanisms in their host bacteria. However, it is unclear what factors lead to specific defenses being deployed upon phage infection. To explore this question, we co-evolved the bacterial fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare and its virulent phage V156 in presence and absence of a eukaryotic host signal (mucin) for sixteen weeks. The presence of mucin leads to a dramatic increase in CRISPR spacer acquisition, especially in low nutrient conditions where over 60% of colonies obtain at least one new spacer. Additionally, we show that the presence of a competitor bacterium further increases CRISPR spacer acquisition in F. columnare. These results suggest that ecological factors are important in determining defense strategies against phages, and that the phage-bacterium interactions on mucosal surfaces may select for the diversification of bacterial immune systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Magno de Freitas Almeida
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, Jyväskylä, Finland
- Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ville Hoikkala
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Janne Ravantti
- University of Helsinki, Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Noora Rantanen
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Lotta-Riina Sundberg
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Nanoscience Center, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Dhal AK, Panda C, Yun SIL, Mahapatra RK. An update on Cryptosporidium biology and therapeutic avenues. J Parasit Dis 2022; 46:923-939. [PMID: 35755159 PMCID: PMC9215156 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01510-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium species has been identified as an important pediatric diarrheal pathogen in resource-limited countries, particularly in very young children (0–24 months). However, the only available drug (nitazoxanide) has limited efficacy and can only be prescribed in a medical setting to children older than one year. Many drug development projects have started to investigate new therapeutic avenues. Cryptosporidium’s unique biology is challenging for the traditional drug discovery pipeline and requires novel drug screening approaches. Notably, in recent years, new methods of oocyst generation, in vitro processing, and continuous three-dimensional cultivation capacities have been developed. This has enabled more physiologically pertinent research assays for inhibitor discovery. In a short time, many great strides have been made in the development of anti-Cryptosporidium drugs. These are expected to eventually turn into clinical candidates for cryptosporidiosis treatment in the future. This review describes the latest development in Cryptosporidium biology, genomics, transcriptomics of the parasite, assay development, and new drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajit Kumar Dhal
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024 India
| | - Chinmaya Panda
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024 India
| | - Soon-IL Yun
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896 Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896 Republic of Korea
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Zhang X, Wang Y, Gong P, Wang X, Zhang N, Chen M, Wei R, Zhang X, Li X, Li J. Neospora caninum Evades Immunity via Inducing Host Cell Mitophagy to Inhibit Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines in a ROS-Dependent Manner. Front Immunol 2022; 13:827004. [PMID: 35355995 PMCID: PMC8959673 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.827004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan that mainly infects cattle to cause abortion and significant economic losses worldwide. A better understanding of the immune evasion mechanisms of N. caninum could help to search for an effective approach to prevent and treat neosporosis. Mitophagy is used by some viruses to evade host immune surveillance. However, host cell mitophagy and its effect on N. caninum infection is unclear. In the present study, N. caninum-induced host cell mitophagy and its role in parasite infection were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the regulation of N. caninum-induced host cell mitophagy on the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), the secretions of proinflammatory cytokines, and the signals of p38, ERK, and Nlrp3 inflammasome were explored. Our results showed that autophagosomes and co-localization of LC3 with mitochondria were observed in N. caninum-infected macrophages. The mtDNA/nDNA ratio and the levels of mitochondrial marker proteins (Hsp60 and Tim23) were decreased with the increase of N. caninum numbers or infection time. N. caninum could induce mitophagy in brain and peritoneal lavage fluid cells of mice. Promoting mitophagy via mitophagy inducers (CCCP) could shorten survival time, decrease body weight, increase parasite load, and attenuate secretion of cytokines in N. caninum infected mice. CCCP treatment decreased the production of cytokines and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and increased parasite burden in N. caninum-infected macrophages. Furthermore, CCCP or NAC (ROS inhibitor) treatment could inhibit ERK signal, Nlrp3 inflammasome, and cytokine production, while promote p38 signal in N. caninum-infected macrophages. The opposite results were obtained when using a mitophagy inhibitor (Mdivi1). Taken together, N. caninum-induced mitophagy could regulate the activations of p38, ERK, Nlrp3 inflammasome to inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines in a ROS-dependent manner to escape host immune surveillance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuru Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Pengtao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaocen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mengge Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ran Wei
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xichen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xin Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Kumar A, Nimsarkar P, Singh S. Probing the Interactions Responsible for the Structural Stability of Trypanothione Reductase Through Computer Simulation and Biophysical Characterization. Protein J 2022; 41:230-244. [PMID: 35364760 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-022-10052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
With the necessity to develop antileishmanial drugs with substrate specificity, trypanothione reductase (TryR) has gained popularity in parasitology. TryR is unique to be present only in trypanosomatids and is functionally similar to glutathione in mammals. It protects against oxidative stress exerted by the host defense mechanism. The TryR enzyme is essential for the survival of Leishmania parasites in the host as it reduces trypanothione and aids in neutralizing hydrogen peroxide produced by the host macrophages during infection. Henceforth, it becomes vital to decipher their functional stability and behaviour in the presence of denaturants. Our study is focused on structural, functional and behavioural stability aspects of TryR with different concentrations of Urea, Guanidinium chloride, alcohol based compounds followed by extensive molecular dynamics simulations in a lipid bilayer system. The results obtained from the study reveal an interesting insight into the possible mechanisms of modulation of the structure, function and stability of the TryR protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Kumar
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Prajakta Nimsarkar
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Shailza Singh
- National Centre for Cell Science, NCCS Complex, Ganeshkhind, SP Pune University Campus, Pune, 411007, India.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ros A, Schmidt-Posthaus H, Brinker A. Mitigating human impacts including climate change on proliferative kidney disease in salmonids of running waters. JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES 2022; 45:497-521. [PMID: 35100455 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, an increasing number of reports have identified a decline in salmonid populations, possibly linked to infection with the parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae and the corresponding disease, that is, proliferative kidney disease (PKD). The life cycle of this myxozoan parasite includes sessile bryozoan species as invertebrate host, which facilitates the distribution of the parasite in running waters. As the disease outcome is temperature dependent, the impact of the disease on salmonid populations is increasing with global warming due to climate change. The goal of this review is to provide a detailed overview of measures to mitigate the effects of PKD on salmonid populations. It first summarizes the parasite life cycle, temperature-driven disease dynamics and new immunological and molecular research into disease resistance and, based on this, discusses management possibilities. Sophisticated management actions focusing on local adaptation of salmonid populations, restoration of the riverine ecosystem and keeping water temperatures cool are necessary to reduce the negative effects of PKD. Such actions include temporary stocking with PKD-resistant salmonids, as this may assist in conserving current populations that fail to reproduce.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Ros
- Fisheries Research Station of Baden-Württemberg, LAZBW, Langenargen, Germany
| | - Heike Schmidt-Posthaus
- Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Brinker
- Fisheries Research Station of Baden-Württemberg, LAZBW, Langenargen, Germany
- University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Kalia I, Anand R, Quadiri A, Bhattacharya S, Sahoo B, Singh AP. Plasmodium berghei-Released Factor, PbTIP, Modulates the Host Innate Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2022; 12:699887. [PMID: 34987497 PMCID: PMC8721568 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.699887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium parasite has to cross various immunological barriers for successful infection. Parasites have evolved mechanisms to evade host immune responses, which hugely contributes to the successful infection and transmission by parasites. One way in which a parasite evades immune surveillance is by expressing molecular mimics of the host molecules in order to manipulate the host responses. In this study, we report a Plasmodium berghei hypothetical protein, PbTIP (PbANKA_124360.0), which is a Plasmodium homolog of the human T-cell immunomodulatory protein (TIP). The latter possesses immunomodulatory activities and suppressed the host immune responses in a mouse acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) model. The Plasmodium berghei protein, PbTIP, is expressed on the merozoite surface and exported to the host erythrocyte surface upon infection. It is shed in the blood circulation by the activity of an uncharacterized membrane protease(s). The shed PbTIP could be detected in the host serum during infection. Our results demonstrate that the shed PbTIP exhibits binding on the surface of macrophages and reduces their inflammatory cytokine response while upregulating the anti-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β and IL-10. Such manipulated immune responses are observed in the later stage of malaria infection. PbTIP induced Th2-type gene transcript changes in macrophages, hinting toward its potential to regulate the host immune responses against the parasite. Therefore, this study highlights the role of a Plasmodium-released protein, PbTIP, in immune evasion using macrophages, which may represent the critical strategy of the parasite to successfully survive and thrive in its host. This study also indicates the human malaria parasite TIP as a potential diagnostic molecule that could be exploited in lateral flow-based immunochromatographic tests for malaria disease diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inderjeet Kalia
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajesh Anand
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Afshana Quadiri
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Shreya Bhattacharya
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Department of Biological Sciences and Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India
| | - Agam Prasad Singh
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Davies CE, Thomas JE, Malkin SH, Batista FM, Rowley AF, Coates CJ. Hematodinium sp. infection does not drive collateral disease contraction in a crustacean host. eLife 2022; 11:70356. [PMID: 35179494 PMCID: PMC8856654 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Host, pathogen, and environment are determinants of the disease triangle, the latter being a key driver of disease outcomes and persistence within a community. The dinoflagellate genus Hematodinium is detrimental to crustaceans globally - considered to suppress the innate defences of hosts, making them more susceptible to co-infections. Evidence supporting immune suppression is largely anecdotal and sourced from diffuse accounts of compromised decapods. We used a population of shore crabs (Carcinus maenas), where Hematodinium sp. is endemic, to determine the extent of collateral infections across two distinct environments (open-water, semi-closed dock). Using a multi-resource approach (PCR, histology, haematology, population genetics, eDNA), we identified 162 Hematodinium-positive crabs and size/sex-matched these to 162 Hematodinium-free crabs out of 1191 analysed. Crabs were interrogated for known additional disease-causing agents; haplosporidians, microsporidians, mikrocytids, Vibrio spp., fungi, Sacculina, trematodes, and haemolymph bacterial loads. We found no significant differences in occurrence, severity, or composition of collateral infections between Hematodinium-positive and Hematodinium-free crabs at either site, but crucially, we recorded site-restricted blends of pathogens. We found no gross signs of host cell immune reactivity towards Hematodinium in the presence or absence of other pathogens. We contend Hematodinium sp. is not the proximal driver of co-infections in shore crabs, which suggests an evolutionary drive towards latency in this environmentally plastic host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Davies
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica E Thomas
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie H Malkin
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Frederico M Batista
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.,Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Weymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew F Rowley
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Coates
- Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Pulkkinen K, Ketola T, Laakso J, Mappes J, Sundberg L. Rich resource environment of fish farms facilitates phenotypic variation and virulence in an opportunistic fish pathogen. Evol Appl 2022; 15:417-428. [PMID: 35386393 PMCID: PMC8965373 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation is suggested to facilitate the persistence of environmentally growing pathogens under environmental change. Here, we hypothesized that the intensive farming environment induces higher phenotypic variation in microbial pathogens than natural environment, because of high stochasticity for growth and stronger survival selection compared to the natural environment. We tested the hypothesis with an opportunistic fish pathogen Flavobacterium columnare isolated either from fish farms or from natural waters. We measured growth parameters of two morphotypes from all isolates in different resource concentrations and two temperatures relevant for the occurrence of disease epidemics at farms and tested their virulence using a zebrafish (Danio rerio) infection model. According to our hypothesis, isolates originating from the fish farms had higher phenotypic variation in growth between the morphotypes than the isolates from natural waters. The difference was more pronounced in higher resource concentrations and the higher temperature, suggesting that phenotypic variation is driven by the exploitation of increased outside‐host resources at farms. Phenotypic variation of virulence was not observed based on isolate origin but only based on morphotype. However, when in contact with the larger fish, the less virulent morphotype of some of the isolates also had high virulence. As the less virulent morphotype also had higher growth rate in outside‐host resources, the results suggest that both morphotypes can contribute to F. columnare epidemics at fish farms, especially with current prospects of warming temperatures. Our results suggest that higher phenotypic variation per se does not lead to higher virulence, but that environmental conditions at fish farms could select isolates with high phenotypic variation in bacterial population and hence affect evolution in F. columnare at fish farms. Our results highlight the multifaceted effects of human‐induced environmental alterations in shaping epidemiology and evolution in microbial pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katja Pulkkinen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science University of Jyväskylä Finland
| | - Tarmo Ketola
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science University of Jyväskylä Finland
| | - Jouni Laakso
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki Finland
| | - Johanna Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science University of Jyväskylä Finland
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki Finland
| | - Lotta‐Riina Sundberg
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science University of Jyväskylä Finland
- Nanoscience Center University of Jyväskylä Finland
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Iwaloye O, Elekofehinti OO, Kikiowo B, Fadipe TM, Akinjiyan MO, Ariyo EO, Aiyeku OO, Adewumi NA. Discovery of Traditional Chinese Medicine Derived Compounds as Wild Type and Mutant Plasmodium falciparum Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors: Induced Fit Docking and ADME Studies. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2021; 18:554-569. [PMID: 32729419 DOI: 10.2174/1570163817999200729122753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a bid to come up with effective compounds as inhibitors for antimalarial treatment, we built a library of 2,000 traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)-derived compounds retrieved from TCM Database@Taiwan. METHODS The active sites of both the wild type and mutant Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolatereductase (pfDHFR) were explored using computational tools. pfDHFR, one of the prime drug targets in the prevention of malaria infection induced by the female anopheles mosquito has continued to offer resistance to drugs (antifolates) due to mutation in some of the key amino acid residues crucial for its inhibition. RESULTS We utilized virtual throughput screening and glide XP docking to screen the compounds, and 8 compounds were found to have promising docking scores with both the wild type and mutant pfDHFR. They were further subjected to Induce Fit Docking (IFD) to affirm their inhibitory potency. The ADME properties and biological activity spectrum of the compounds were also considered. The inhibition profile of the compounds revealed that a number of compounds formed intermolecular interactions with ASP54, ILE14, LEU164, SER108/ASN108, ARG122 and ASP58. Most of the compounds can be considered as drug candidates due to their antiprotozoal activities and accordance with the Lipinski's Rule of Five (ROF). CONCLUSION The outcome of the present study should further be investigated to attest the efficacy of these compounds as better drug candidates than the antifolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi Iwaloye
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Olusola Olalekan Elekofehinti
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Babatomiwa Kikiowo
- Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Toyin Mary Fadipe
- Department of Bioscience, International Institute of Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - Moses Orimoloye Akinjiyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Esther Opeyemi Ariyo
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Olabisi Olapade Aiyeku
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| | - Nicholas Adeyemi Adewumi
- Department of Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology Unit, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Geraghty S, Koutsouveli V, Hall C, Chang L, Sacristan-Soriano O, Hill M, Riesgo A, Hill A. Establishment of Host-Algal Endosymbioses: Genetic Response to Symbiont Versus Prey in a Sponge Host. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6427630. [PMID: 34791195 PMCID: PMC8633732 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri and its Chlorella-like algal partner is an emerging model for studying animal: algal endosymbiosis. The sponge host is a tractable laboratory organism, and the symbiotic algae are easily cultured. We took advantage of these traits to interrogate questions about mechanisms that govern the establishment of durable intracellular partnerships between hosts and symbionts in facultative symbioses. We modified a classical experimental approach to discern the phagocytotic mechanisms that might be co-opted to permit persistent infections, and identified genes differentially expressed in sponges early in the establishment of endosymbiosis. We exposed algal-free E. muelleri to live native algal symbionts and potential food items (bacteria and native heat-killed algae), and performed RNA-Seq to compare patterns of gene expression among treatments. We found a relatively small but interesting suite of genes that are differentially expressed in the host exposed to live algal symbionts, and a larger number of genes triggered by host exposure to heat-killed algae. The upregulated genes in sponges exposed to live algal symbionts were mostly involved in endocytosis, ion transport, metabolic processes, vesicle-mediated transport, and oxidation–reduction. One of the host genes, an ATP-Binding Cassette transporter that is downregulated in response to live algal symbionts, was further evaluated for its possible role in the establishment of the symbiosis. We discuss the gene expression profiles associated with host responses to living algal cells in the context of conditions necessary for long-term residency within host cells by phototrophic symbionts as well as the genetic responses to sponge phagocytosis and immune-driven pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Geraghty
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Virginia, USA.,Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
| | - Vasiliki Koutsouveli
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Chelsea Hall
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Virginia, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lillian Chang
- Department of Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, USA
| | - Oriol Sacristan-Soriano
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Virginia, USA.,Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Blanes (CEAB, CSIC), Blanes, Spain
| | - Malcolm Hill
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Virginia, USA.,Department of Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, USA
| | - Ana Riesgo
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid, Spain
| | - April Hill
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Virginia, USA.,Department of Biology, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Hanrio E, Batley J, Dungan CF, Dang C. Immunoassays and diagnostic antibodies for Perkinsus spp. pathogens of marine molluscs. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2021; 147:13-23. [PMID: 34734570 DOI: 10.3354/dao03635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Perkinsus sp. protozoans are parasites of a wide variety of molluscs around the world and are responsible for episodes of mass mortalities and large economic losses for aquaculture industries and fisheries. The first step towards the management of infectious episodes is the reliable detection of Perkinsus species. While historic methods for diagnosis of Perkinsus sp. infections in mollusc hosts include histological, in vitro, molecular-genetic, and immunoassays, antibody-based diagnostic assays may prove most practical with development of improved reagents and techniques. This paper reviews historic developments of antibodies against Perkinsus species, and of diagnostic immunoassays. Thirteen research papers reported the development of antibodies against Perkinsus sp. or their extracellular products, mainly P. olseni and P. marinus. Nine of those tested the cross-reactivity of their antibodies against different life stages or species than the one used as immunogen. While all antibodies raised against trophozoites labelled hypnospores, several antibodies raised against hypnospores did not label trophozoites, suggesting antigenic differences between those cell types. Antibody specificity studies showed that there is antigenic heterogeneity between Perkinsus species and Perkinsus-like organisms, and also that common epitopes occur among Perkinsus species, as well as some dinoflagellates. This review summarizes the current knowledge and aims at helping the future development of Perkinsus species-specific antibodies and immunoassays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eliot Hanrio
- The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Holzer AS, Piazzon MC, Barrett D, Bartholomew JL, Sitjà-Bobadilla A. To React or Not to React: The Dilemma of Fish Immune Systems Facing Myxozoan Infections. Front Immunol 2021; 12:734238. [PMID: 34603313 PMCID: PMC8481699 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.734238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myxozoans are microscopic, metazoan, obligate parasites, belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. In contrast to the free-living lifestyle of most members of this taxon, myxozoans have complex life cycles alternating between vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Vertebrate hosts are primarily fish, although they are also reported from amphibians, reptiles, trematodes, mollusks, birds and mammals. Invertebrate hosts include annelids and bryozoans. Most myxozoans are not overtly pathogenic to fish hosts, but some are responsible for severe economic losses in fisheries and aquaculture. In both scenarios, the interaction between the parasite and the host immune system is key to explain such different outcomes of this relationship. Innate immune responses contribute to the resistance of certain fish strains and species, and the absence or low levels of some innate and regulatory factors explain the high pathogenicity of some infections. In many cases, immune evasion explains the absence of a host response and allows the parasite to proliferate covertly during the first stages of the infection. In some infections, the lack of an appropriate regulatory response results in an excessive inflammatory response, causing immunopathological consequences that are worse than inflicted by the parasite itself. This review will update the available information about the immune responses against Myxozoa, with special focus on T and B lymphocyte and immunoglobulin responses, how these immune effectors are modulated by different biotic and abiotic factors, and on the mechanisms of immune evasion targeting specific immune effectors. The current and future design of control strategies for myxozoan diseases is based on understanding this myxozoan-fish interaction, and immune-based strategies such as improvement of innate and specific factors through diets and additives, host genetic selection, passive immunization and vaccination, are starting to be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Astrid S Holzer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - M Carla Piazzon
- Fish Pathology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS-CSIC), Castellón, Spain
| | - Damien Barrett
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Jerri L Bartholomew
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Ariadna Sitjà-Bobadilla
- Fish Pathology Group, Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS-CSIC), Castellón, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Cui Y, Wang X, Xu J, Liu X, Wang X, Pang J, Song Y, Yu M, Song W, Luo X, Liu M, Sun S. PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS OF TAENIA SOLIUM CYST FLUID BY SHOTGUN LC-MS/MS. J Parasitol 2021; 107:799-809. [PMID: 34648630 DOI: 10.1645/20-65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Taenia solium cysts were collected from pig skeletal muscle and analyzed via a shotgun proteomic approach to identify known proteins in the cyst fluid and to explore host-parasite interactions. Cyst fluid was aseptically collected and analyzed with shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Gene alignment and annotation were performed using Blast2GO software followed by gene ontology analysis of the annotated proteins. The pathways were further analyzed with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network map was generated using STRING software. A total of 158 known proteins were identified, most of which were low-molecular-mass proteins. These proteins were mainly involved in cellular and metabolic processes, and their molecular functions were predominantly related to catalytic activity and binding functions. The pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the known proteins were mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis signaling pathways. The nodes in the PPI network mainly consisted of enzymes involved in sugar metabolism. The cyst fluid proteins screened in this study may play important roles in the interaction between the cysticerci and the host. The shotgun LC-MS/MS, gene ontology, KEGG, and PPI network map data will be used to identify and analyze the cyst fluid proteome of cysticerci, which will provide a basis for further exploration of the invasion and activities of T. solium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaxuan Cui
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Tongliao 028042, China
| | - Xinrui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Tongliao 028042, China
| | - Jing Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Tongliao 028042, China
| | - Xiaolei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Xuelin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Jianda Pang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Yining Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Tongliao 028042, China
| | - Mingchuan Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Tongliao 028042, China
| | - Weiyi Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Tongliao 028042, China
| | - Xuenong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Mingyuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225000, China
| | - Shumin Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Tongliao 028042, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Wellham PAD, Hafeez A, Gregori A, Brock M, Kim DH, Chandler D, de Moor CH. Culture Degeneration Reduces Sex-Related Gene Expression, Alters Metabolite Production and Reduces Insect Pathogenic Response in Cordyceps militaris. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9081559. [PMID: 34442638 PMCID: PMC8400478 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cordyceps militaris is an entomopathogenic ascomycete, known primarily for infecting lepidopteran larval (caterpillars) and pupal hosts. Cordycepin, a secondary metabolite produced by this fungus has anti-inflammatory properties and other pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the biological role of this adenosine derivate and its stabilising compound pentostatin in the context of insect infection the life cycle of C. militaris. During repeated subcultivation under laboratory conditions a degeneration of C. militaris marked by decreasing levels of cordycepin production can occur. Here, using degenerated and parental control strains of an isolate of C. militaris, we found that lower cordycepin production coincides with the decline in the production of various other metabolites as well as the reduced expression of genes related to sexual development. Additionally, infection of Galleria mellonella (greater wax moth) caterpillars indicated that cordycepin inhibits the immune response in host haemocytes. Accordingly, the pathogenic response to the degenerated strain was reduced. These data indicate that there are simultaneous changes in sexual reproduction, secondary metabolite production, insect immunity and infection by C. militaris. This study may have implications for biological control of insect crop pests by fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter A. D. Wellham
- Gene Regulation and RNA Biology Laboratory, Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.)
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
- Fungal Genetics and Biology Group, School of Life Sciences, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - Abdul Hafeez
- Gene Regulation and RNA Biology Laboratory, Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.)
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - Andrej Gregori
- Mycomedica d.o.o., Podkoren 72, 4280 Kranjska Gora, Slovenia;
| | - Matthias Brock
- Fungal Genetics and Biology Group, School of Life Sciences, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - Dong-Hyun Kim
- Centre for Analytical Bioscience, Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK;
| | - David Chandler
- Warwick Crop Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Warwick CV35 9EF, UK;
| | - Cornelia H. de Moor
- Gene Regulation and RNA Biology Laboratory, Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; (P.A.D.W.); (A.H.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Aldea-Sánchez P, Ramírez-Cáceres GE, Rezende EL, Bozinovic F. Heat Tolerance, Energetics, and Thermal Treatments of Honeybees Parasitized With Varroa. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.656504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ongoing global change affects both wildlife and economically relevant species, which are now subjected to combined challenges from climate change and higher exposure to pathogens. Honeybee colonies worldwide are under threat by higher temperatures and the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, hence we studied the impact of these combined challenges in the thermal biology and energetics of Apis mellifera. We estimated the heat tolerance and energy expenditure (CO2 production and VCO2) of honeybees acclimated to different temperatures (32 and 38°C) and subjected to different levels of parasitism (0, 1, and 2 mites). Heat tolerance was quantified employing thermal death time (TDT) curves describing how survival times vary as a function of temperature, which differed significantly between treatments. Warm-acclimated uninfected bees exhibited a higher thermal tolerance than their cold-acclimated counterparts, but parasitism by Varroa resulted in a substantial drop in tolerance rendering TDT curves of parasitized bees virtually indistinguishable. Accordingly, VCO2 increased dramatically in parasitized bees (46.5 and 67.1% with 1 and 2 Varroa, respectively), suggesting that Varroa impinges on substantial costs on energy expenditure which, in combination with lower fat reserves due to parasitism, should have synergistic effects on bees’ survival and performance. Results provide conclusive evidence of the detrimental impact of Varroa on heat tolerance that undermines potentially adaptive responses associated with thermal acclimation. Results also show that heat treatments are a realistic venue to control Varroa, and we discuss how TDT curves may be employed to optimize management strategies in this context.
Collapse
|
42
|
Shakibapour M, Kefayat A, Reza Mofid M, Shojaie B, Mohamadi F, Maryam Sharafi S, Mahmoudzadeh M, Yousofi Darani H. Anti-cancer immunoprotective effects of immunization with hydatid cyst wall antigens in a non-immunogenic and metastatic triple-negative murine mammary carcinoma model. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 99:107955. [PMID: 34247052 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer vaccines have gained lots of attention as the future of cancer treatment. However, poor immunogenicity of tumor-associated antigens often fails to induce an efficient immune response against the tumor. Strange anti-tumor immune responses at the parasite-infected patients due to cross-reactivity have been reported in various studies. Therefore, parasite antigens with significant immunogenicity and high epitope homology with cancer antigens may activate a strong immune response against cancer cells. Herein, the sera of immunized rabbits with the hydatid cyst wall (HCW) antigens were incubated with 4 T1 mammary carcinoma cells to investigate cross-reactivity between the HCW antigens antisera and surface antigens of the breast cancer cells. Also, the SDS-PAGE profile of HCW antigens was prepared and incubated with the breast cancer patients' sera and considerable reactivity was observed between their sera and a specific band (~27/28 kDa) according to Western blotting analyzes. Then, the protein bands with cross-reactivity with breast cancer patients' sera were utilized for prophylactic immunizations of Balb/c mice. The immunoprotective effect of immunization with the HCW antigens caused significant inhibition of 4 T1 breast tumor growth, decrease of metastasis, and enlargement of the tumor-bearing mice survival time in comparison with PBS and pure immune adjuvant injected groups. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that the ~ 27/28 kDa band has numbers of proteins/polypeptides with a high degree of homology with cancer cells antigens which can be the reason for this cross-reactivity and anti-tumor immune response. Taking together, immunization with HCW antigens would be a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy after further investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahshid Shakibapour
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Kefayat
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Prevention Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Mofid
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Behrokh Shojaie
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Mohamadi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seydeh Maryam Sharafi
- Environment Research Centre, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mahmoudzadeh
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Prevention Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Yousofi Darani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Towards an ecosystem model of infectious disease. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:907-918. [PMID: 34002048 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Increasingly intimate associations between human society and the natural environment are driving the emergence of novel pathogens, with devastating consequences for humans and animals alike. Prior to emergence, these pathogens exist within complex ecological systems that are characterized by trophic interactions between parasites, their hosts and the environment. Predicting how disturbance to these ecological systems places people and animals at risk from emerging pathogens-and the best ways to manage this-remains a significant challenge. Predictive systems ecology models are powerful tools for the reconstruction of ecosystem function but have yet to be considered for modelling infectious disease. Part of this stems from a mistaken tendency to forget about the role that pathogens play in structuring the abundance and interactions of the free-living species favoured by systems ecologists. Here, we explore how developing and applying these more complete systems ecology models at a landscape scale would greatly enhance our understanding of the reciprocal interactions between parasites, pathogens and the environment, placing zoonoses in an ecological context, while identifying key variables and simplifying assumptions that underly pathogen host switching and animal-to-human spillover risk. As well as transforming our understanding of disease ecology, this would also allow us to better direct resources in preparation for future pandemics.
Collapse
|
44
|
Tobias ZJC, Fowler AE, Blakeslee AMH, Darling JA, Torchin ME, Miller AW, Ruiz GM, Tepolt CK. Invasion history shapes host transcriptomic response to a body-snatching parasite. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4321-4337. [PMID: 34162013 PMCID: PMC10128110 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
By shuffling biogeographical distributions, biological invasions can both disrupt long-standing associations between hosts and parasites and establish new ones. This creates natural experiments with which to study the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. In estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico, the white-fingered mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) is infected by a native parasitic barnacle, Loxothylacus panopaei (Rhizocephala), which manipulates host physiology and behaviour. In the 1960s, L. panopaei was introduced to the Chesapeake Bay and has since expanded along the southeastern Atlantic coast, while host populations in the northeast have so far been spared. We use this system to test the host's transcriptomic response to parasitic infection and investigate how this response varies with the parasite's invasion history, comparing populations representing (i) long-term sympatry between host and parasite, (ii) new associations where the parasite has invaded during the last 60 years and (iii) naïve hosts without prior exposure. A comparison of parasitized and control crabs revealed a core response, with widespread downregulation of transcripts involved in immunity and moulting. The transcriptional response differed between hosts from the parasite's native range and where it is absent, consistent with previous observations of increased susceptibility in populations lacking exposure to the parasite. Crabs from the parasite's introduced range, where prevalence is highest, displayed the most dissimilar response, possibly reflecting immune priming. These results provide molecular evidence for parasitic manipulation of host phenotype and the role of gene regulation in mediating host-parasite interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J C Tobias
- MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, Cambridge and Woods Hole, MA, USA.,Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.,Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amy E Fowler
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | - John A Darling
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Mark E Torchin
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | | | - Gregory M Ruiz
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA
| | - Carolyn K Tepolt
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.,Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Higher mortality of the less suitable brown trout host compared to the principal Atlantic salmon host when infested with freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) glochidia. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2401-2413. [PMID: 33844065 PMCID: PMC8263406 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07145-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a highly host-specific parasite, with an obligate parasitic stage on salmonid fish. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta f. trutta and Salmo trutta f. fario) are the only hosts in their European distribution. Some M. margaritifera populations exclusively infest either Atlantic salmon or brown trout, while others infest both hosts with one salmonid species typically being the principal host and the other a less suitable host. Glochidial abundance, prevalence and growth are often used as parameters to measure host suitability, with the most suitable host species displaying the highest parameters. However, it is not known if the degree of host specialisation will negatively influence host fitness (virulence) among different host species. In this study we examined the hypothesis that glochidial infestation would result in differential virulence in two salmonid host species and that lower virulence would be observed on the most suitable host. Atlantic salmon and brown trout were infested with glochidia from two M. margaritifera populations that use Atlantic salmon as their principal host, and the difference in host mortality among infested and control (sham infested) fish was examined. Higher mortality was observed in infested brown trout (the less suitable host) groups, compared to the other test groups. Genetic assignment was used to identify offspring from individual mother mussels. We found that glochidia from individual mothers can infest both the salmonid hosts; however, some mothers displayed a bias towards either salmon or trout. We believe that the differences in host-dependent virulence and the host bias displayed by individual mothers were a result of genotype × genotype interactions between the glochidia and their hosts, indicating that there is an underlying genetic component for this parasite-host interaction.
Collapse
|
46
|
Habig B, Chowdhury S, Monfort SL, Brown JL, Swedell L, Foerster S. Predictors of helminth parasite infection in female chacma baboons ( Papio ursinus). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021; 14:308-320. [PMID: 33898232 PMCID: PMC8056146 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Helminth parasite infection can impose major consequences on host fitness. Several factors, including individual characteristics of hosts, environmental conditions, and patterns of coinfection, are thought to drive variation in parasite risk. Here, we report on four key drivers of parasite infection-phase of reproduction, steroid hormone profiles, rainfall, and patterns of coinfection-in a population of wild female chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) in South Africa. We collected data on reproductive state and hormone profiles over a 3-year span, and quantified helminth parasite burdens in 2955 fecal samples from 24 female baboons. On a host level, we found that baboons are sensitive to parasite infection during the costliest phases of the reproductive cycle: pregnant females harbored higher intensities of Protospirura eggs than cycling and lactating females; lactating and cycling females had a higher probability of Oesophagostomum infection than pregnant females; and cycling females exhibited lower Trichuris egg counts than pregnant and lactating females. Steroid hormones were associated with both immunoenhancing and immunosuppressive properties: females with high glucocorticoid concentrations exhibited high intensities of Trichuris eggs but were at low risk of Oesophagostomum infection; females with high estrogen and progestagen concentrations exhibited high helminth parasite richness; and females with high progestagen concentrations were at high risk of Oesophagostomum infection but exhibited low Protospirura egg counts. We observed an interaction between host reproductive state and progestagen concentrations in infection intensity of Protospirura: pregnant females exhibited higher intensities and non-pregnant females exhibited lower intensities of Protospirura eggs with increasing progestagen concentrations. At a population level, rainfall patterns were dominant drivers of parasite risk. Lastly, helminth parasites exhibited positive covariance, suggesting that infection probability increases if a host already harbors one or more parasite taxa. Together, our results provide a holistic perspective of factors that shape variation in parasite risk in a wild population of animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bobby Habig
- Department of Biology, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY, 11367, USA
| | - Shahrina Chowdhury
- Department of Anthropology, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA
- Anthropology Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York NY, 10016, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, Anthropology Program, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Steven L. Monfort
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | - Janine L. Brown
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA
| | - Larissa Swedell
- Anthropology Program, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York NY, 10016, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, Anthropology Program, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Flushing, NY, 11367, USA
- Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Steffen Foerster
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Exogenous Integrin αIIbβ3 Inhibitors Revisited: Past, Present and Future Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073366. [PMID: 33806083 PMCID: PMC8036306 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The integrin αIIbβ3 is the most abundant integrin on platelets. Upon platelet activation, the integrin changes its conformation (inside-out signalling) and outside-in signalling takes place leading to platelet spreading, platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. Bloodsucking parasites such as mosquitoes, leeches and ticks express anticoagulant and antiplatelet proteins, which represent major sources of lead compounds for the development of useful therapeutic agents for the treatment of haemostatic disorders or cardiovascular diseases. In addition to hematophagous parasites, snakes also possess anticoagulant and antiplatelet proteins in their salivary glands. Two snake venom proteins have been developed into two antiplatelet drugs that are currently used in the clinic. The group of proteins discussed in this review are disintegrins, low molecular weight integrin-binding cysteine-rich proteins, found in snakes, ticks, leeches, worms and horseflies. Finally, we highlight various oral antagonists, which have been tested in clinical trials but were discontinued due to an increase in mortality. No new αIIbβ3 inhibitors are developed since the approval of current platelet antagonists, and structure-function analysis of exogenous disintegrins could help find platelet antagonists with fewer adverse side effects.
Collapse
|
48
|
Abou El-Ela AS, Dessoky ES, Masry S, Arshad A, Munawar A, Qamer S, Abdelkhalek A, Behiry SI, Kordy A. Plasticity in life features, parasitism and super-parasitism behavior of Bracon hebetor, an important natural enemy of Galleria mellonella and other lepidopteran host species. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:3351-3361. [PMID: 34121872 PMCID: PMC8176007 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.02.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The wasp, Bracon hebetor Say, is an important potential biocontrol agent of a wide range of lepidopteran insect species. The current study was subjected to compare these ectoparasitoid fitness traits on different host species belonging to the order Lepidoptera. Moreover, we determine the population dynamic with different host densities, sex ratio patterns, super-parasitism, longevity, paralysis success, and reproductive potential under laboratory conditions. Our results revealed that oviposition increased with an increase in host density, while the adult emergence and egg hatching were decreased due to the super-parasitism on host larvae. A higher male and female-biased population were observed when virgin and mated females offered fresh hosts. Adults' longevity was recorded more in females than males when kept only with bee honey + royal jelly + host larvae. The mean duration of egg-adult development was recorded higher on Galleria mellonella and lowest on Busseola fusca. The parasitization rate, super-parasitism, and cumulative fecundity of mated and virgin female wasps with different host species were observed higher on specific host Galleria mellonella while it was lower on Phthorimaea operculella. Furthermore, the parasitoids having mating experience preferred fresh, while the parasitoids' lack of mating experiences preferred paralyzed host under olfactometer test. Besides, this research has produced novel facts on the biology of parasitic wasp, B. hebetor that may guide the advancement of sustainable biological control programs to control lepidopteran pests.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amr S. Abou El-Ela
- Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, Alexandria 21531, Egypt
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 310000, China
| | - Eldessoky S. Dessoky
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad Masry
- Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, ALCRI, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El Arab City, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
- Research and Development Division, ADAFSA, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Aqsa Arshad
- Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Asim Munawar
- Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 310000, China
| | - Samina Qamer
- Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ahmed Abdelkhalek
- Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, ALCRI, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El Arab City, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
- Corresponding author at: Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, ALCRI, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El Arab City, Alexandria 21934, Egypt.
| | - Said I. Behiry
- Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, Alexandria 21531, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Kordy
- Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, Alexandria 21531, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Stoldt M, Klein L, Beros S, Butter F, Jongepier E, Feldmeyer B, Foitzik S. Parasite Presence Induces Gene Expression Changes in an Ant Host Related to Immunity and Longevity. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:95. [PMID: 33451085 PMCID: PMC7828512 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Most species are either parasites or exploited by parasites, making parasite-host interactions a driver of evolution. Parasites with complex life cycles often evolve strategies to facilitate transmission to the definitive host by manipulating their intermediate host. Such manipulations could explain phenotypic changes in the ant Temnothorax nylanderi, the intermediate host of the cestode Anomotaenia brevis. In addition to behavioral and morphological alterations, infected workers exhibit prolonged lifespans, comparable to that of queens, which live up to two decades. We used transcriptomic data from cestodes and ants of different castes and infection status to investigate the molecular underpinnings of phenotypic alterations in infected workers and explored whether the extended lifespan of queens and infected workers has a common molecular basis. Infected workers and queens commonly upregulated only six genes, one of them with a known anti-aging function. Both groups overexpressed immune genes, although not the same ones. Our findings suggest that the lifespan extension of infected workers is not achieved via the expression of queen-specific genes. The analysis of the cestodes' transcriptome revealed dominant expression of genes of the mitochondrial respiratory transport chain, which indicates an active metabolism and shedding light on the physiology of the parasite in its cysticercoid stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marah Stoldt
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (L.K.); (S.F.)
| | - Linda Klein
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (L.K.); (S.F.)
| | - Sara Beros
- Max Planck Institute for the Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute for Molecular Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Evelien Jongepier
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F), Molecular Ecology, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany;
| | - Susanne Foitzik
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (L.K.); (S.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Effects of Curcumin and Its Analogues on Infectious Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1291:75-101. [PMID: 34331685 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-56153-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases (IDs) are life-threatening illnesses, which result from the spread of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. IDs are a major challenge for the healthcare systems around the world, leading to a wide variety of clinical manifestations and complications. Despite the capability of frontline-approved medications to partially prevent or mitigate the invasion and subsequent damage of IDs to host tissues and cells, problems such as drug resistance, insufficient efficacy, unpleasant side effects, and high expenses stand in the way of their beneficial applications. One strategy is to evaluate currently explored and available bioactive compounds as possible anti-microbial agents. The natural polyphenol curcumin has been postulated to possess various properties including anti-microbial activities. Studies have shown that it possess pleiotropic effects against bacterial- and parasitic-associating IDs including drug-resistant strains. Curcumin can also potentiate the efficacy of available anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic drugs in a synergistic fashion. In this review, we summarize the findings of these studies along with reported controversies of native curcumin and its analogues, alone and in combination, toward its application in future studies as a natural anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic agent.
Collapse
|