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Wang D, Jiang P, Yang X, Zhang J, Chen T, Hu M, Cacciò SM, Yin J, Zhu G. Novel strategy to quantify the viability of oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis, a risk factor of the waterborne protozoan pathogens of public health concern. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 258:121788. [PMID: 38810599 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121788] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
While waters might be contaminated by oocysts from >40 Cryptosporidium species, only viable oocysts of C. parvum and C. hominis truly pose the main health risk to the immunocompetent population. Oocyst viability is also an important but often neglected risk factor in monitoring waterborne parasites. However, commonly used methods in water monitoring and surveys cannot distinguish species (microscopic observation) or oocyst viability (PCR), as dead oocysts in water could retain gross structure and DNA content for weeks to months. Here, we report new TaqMan qRT-PCR/qPCR assays for quantitative detection of viable C. parvum and C. hominis oocysts. By targeting a hypothetical protein-encoding gene cgd6_3920 that is highly expressed in oocysts and variable between species, the qRT-PCR/qPCR assays achieve excellent analytical specificity and sensitivity (limit of quantification [LOQ] = 0.25 and 1.0 oocyst/reaction). Using calibration curves, the number and ratio of viable oocysts in specimens could be calculated. Additionally, we also establish a TaqMan-18S qPCR for cost-effective screening of pan-Cryptosporidium-positive specimens (LOQ = 0.1 oocyst/reaction). The assay feasibility is validated using field water (N = 43) and soil (79) specimens from 17 locations in Changchun, China, which detects four Cryptosporidium species from seven locations, including three gp60-subtypes (i.e., IIdA19G1, IIdA17G1 and IIdA24G2) of C. parvum oocysts showing varied viability ratios. These new TaqMan q(RT)-PCR assays supplement current methods in the survey of waters and other samples (e.g., surfaces, foods and beverages), and are applicable to assessing the efficiency of oocyst deactivation protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Peng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jifei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Min Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Simone M Cacciò
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Jigang Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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Chen H, Wang D, Wang C, Jiang P, Liu M, Yin J, Yu Y. Lower micromolar activity of the antifungal imidazoles on the bacterial-type bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhE) in Cryptosporidium parvum and in vitro efficacy against the zoonotic parasite. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 25:100551. [PMID: 38875756 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100551] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum is a waterborne and foodborne zoonotic protozoan parasite, a causative agent of moderate to severe diarrheal diseases in humans and animals. However, fully effective treatments are unavailable for medical and veterinary uses. There is a need to explore new drug targets for potential development of new therapeutics. Because C. parvum relies on anaerobic metabolism to produce ATP, fermentative enzymes in this parasite are attractive targets for exploration. In this study, we investigated the ethanol-fermentation in the parasite and characterized the basic biochemical features of a bacterial-type bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase, namely CpAdhE. We also screened 3892 chemical entries from three libraries and identified 14 compounds showing >50% inhibition on the enzyme activity of CpAdhE. Intriguingly, antifungal imidazoles and unsaturated fatty acids are the two major chemical groups among the top hits. We further characterized the inhibitory kinetics of selected imidazoles and unsaturated fatty acids on CpAdhE. These compounds displayed lower micromolar activities on CpAdhE (i.e., IC50 values ranging from 0.88 to 11.02 μM for imidazoles and 8.93 to 35.33 μM for unsaturated fatty acids). Finally, we evaluated the in vitro anti-cryptosporidial efficacies and cytotoxicity of three imidazoles (i.e., tioconazole, miconazole and isoconazole). The three antifungal imidazoles exhibited lower micromolar efficacies against the growth of C. parvum in vitro (EC50 values ranging from 4.85 to 10.41 μM and selectivity indices ranging from 5.19 to 10.95). The results provide a proof-of-concept data to support that imidazoles are worth being further investigated for potential development of anti-cryptosporidial therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichuan Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Dongqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Chenchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Peng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Mingxiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Jigang Yin
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Yonglan Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Dąbrowska J, Sroka J, Cencek T. Investigating Cryptosporidium spp. Using Genomic, Proteomic and Transcriptomic Techniques: Current Progress and Future Directions. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12867. [PMID: 37629046 PMCID: PMC10454211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a widespread disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Cryptosporidium spp., which infects various vertebrate species, including humans. Once unknown as a gastroenteritis-causing agent, Cryptosporidium spp. is now recognized as a pathogen causing life-threatening disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. Advances in diagnostic methods and increased awareness have led to a significant shift in the perception of Cryptosporidium spp. as a pathogen. Currently, genomic and proteomic studies play a main role in understanding the molecular biology of this complex-life-cycle parasite. Genomics has enabled the identification of numerous genes involved in the parasite's development and interaction with hosts. Proteomics has allowed for the identification of protein interactions, their function, structure, and cellular activity. The combination of these two approaches has significantly contributed to the development of new diagnostic tools, vaccines, and drugs for cryptosporidiosis. This review presents an overview of the significant achievements in Cryptosporidium research by utilizing genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Dąbrowska
- Department of Parasitology and Invasive Disease, National Veterinary Research Institute, Partyzantów 57 Avenue, 24-100 Puławy, Poland (T.C.)
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Zhao L, He K, Jiang C, Wang G, Hu S, Wang T, Qian W, Wei Z, Xiong J, Miao W, Yan W. Comparative Genomic and Transcriptomic Profiling Revealed the Molecular Basis of Starch Promoting the Growth and Proliferation of Balantioides coli. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101608. [PMID: 37238038 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbohydrates are the main source of nutrition for B. coli, supplying energy for cell growth and development. The research aimed at investigating the mechanism of starch on the growth and replication of B. coli. Single-cell separation was used to isolate single trophozoites of B. coli under a stereomicroscope, transcriptomic profiling was conducted based on the SMART-seq2 single-cell RNA-seq method. Comparative genomic analysis was performed on B. coli and eight other ciliates to obtain specific and expanded gene families of B. coli. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were used to analyze the key genes of B. coli under the action of starch in the present study. The results of single-cell RNA-seq depicts starch affected the growth and replication of B. coli in two ways: (1) the cell cycle was positively promoted by the activation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway via glycolysis; (2) the cell autophagy was suppressed through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Genes involved in endocytosis, carbohydrate utilization, and the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway were highly enriched in both specific and expanded gene families of B. coli. Starch can be ingested and hydrolyzed into glucose, in turn affecting various biological processes of B. coli. The molecular mechanism of the effect of starch on the growth and proliferation of B. coli by promoting cell cycle and inhibiting the autophagy of trophozoites has been elucidated in our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhuo Zhao
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Kai He
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chuanqi Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Guangying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Suhui Hu
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Tianqi Wang
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Weifeng Qian
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Zhiguo Wei
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
| | - Jie Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wei Miao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wenchao Yan
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China
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Late Embryogenesis Abundant Proteins Contribute to the Resistance of Toxoplasma gondii Oocysts against Environmental Stresses. mBio 2023; 14:e0286822. [PMID: 36809045 PMCID: PMC10128015 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02868-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii oocysts, which are shed in large quantities in the feces from infected felines, are very stable in the environment, resistant to most inactivation procedures, and highly infectious. The oocyst wall provides an important physical barrier for sporozoites contained inside oocysts, protecting them from many chemical and physical stressors, including most inactivation procedures. Furthermore, sporozoites can withstand large temperature changes, even freeze-thawing, as well as desiccation, high salinity, and other environmental insults; however, the genetic basis for this environmental resistance is unknown. Here, we show that a cluster of four genes encoding Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA)-related proteins are required to provide Toxoplasma sporozoites resistance to environmental stresses. Toxoplasma LEA-like genes (TgLEAs) exhibit the characteristic features of intrinsically disordered proteins, explaining some of their properties. Our in vitro biochemical experiments using recombinant TgLEA proteins show that they have cryoprotective effects on the oocyst-resident lactate dehydrogenase enzyme and that induced expression in E. coli of two of them leads to better survival after cold stress. Oocysts from a strain in which the four LEA genes were knocked out en bloc were significantly more susceptible to high salinity, freezing, and desiccation compared to wild-type oocysts. We discuss the evolutionary acquisition of LEA-like genes in Toxoplasma and other oocyst-producing apicomplexan parasites of the Sarcocystidae family and discuss how this has likely contributed to the ability of sporozoites within oocysts to survive outside the host for extended periods. Collectively, our data provide a first molecular detailed view on a mechanism that contributes to the remarkable resilience of oocysts against environmental stresses. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are highly infectious and may survive in the environment for years. Their resistance against disinfectants and irradiation has been attributed to the oocyst and sporocyst walls by acting as physical and permeability barriers. However, the genetic basis for their resistance against stressors like changes in temperature, salinity, or humidity, is unknown. We show that a cluster of four genes encoding Toxoplasma Late Embryogenesis Abundant (TgLEA)-related proteins are important for this resistance to environmental stresses. TgLEAs have features of intrinsically disordered proteins, explaining some of their properties. Recombinant TgLEA proteins show cryoprotective effects on the parasite's lactate dehydrogenase, an abundant enzyme in oocysts, and expression in E. coli of two TgLEAs has a beneficial effect on growth after cold stress. Moreover, oocysts from a strain lacking all four TgLEA genes were more susceptible to high salinity, freezing, and desiccation compared to wild-type oocysts, highlighting the importance of the four TgLEAs for oocyst resilience.
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Suarez P, Alonso JL, Gómez G, Vidal G. Performance of sewage treatment technologies for the removal of Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp.: Toward water circularity. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 324:116320. [PMID: 36183529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. are parasites that cause diseases in the population. Most of parasite diseases regarding the consumption of drinking water polluted with sewage are caused by Cryptosporidium sp. or Giardia sp. it is because of the incomplete disinfection of the wastewater treatment. Therefore, in this work the removal or inactivation efficiency of different treatment technologies presented by around 40 scientific studies was evaluated, with a view to water circularity. For Cryptosporidium sp., we conclude that the most efficient secondary technologies are aerobic technologies, which remove between 0.00 and 2.17 log units (Ulog), with activated sludge presenting the greatest efficiency, and that the tertiary technologies with the greatest removal are those that use ultrasound, which reach removal values of 3.17 Ulog. In the case of Giardia sp., the secondary technologies with the greatest removal are anaerobic technologies, with values between 0.00 and 3.80 Ulog, and the tertiary technologies with the greatest removal are those that combine filtration with UV or a chemical disinfection agent. Despite the removal values obtained, the greatest concern remains detecting and quantifying the infectious forms of both parasites in effluents; therefore, although the technologies perform adequately, discharge effluents must be monitored with more sensitive techniques, above all aiming for circularity of the treated water in a context of the water scarcity that affects some parts of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Suarez
- Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, 4070386, Chile
| | - José Luis Alonso
- Instituto de Ingeniería del Agua y Medio Ambiente, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera 14, P.O. Box 46022, Valencia, Spain
| | - Gloria Gómez
- Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, 4070386, Chile
| | - Gladys Vidal
- Environmental Engineering & Biotechnology Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, 4070386, Chile.
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Targeting the alternative oxidase (AOX) for human health and food security, a pharmaceutical and agrochemical target or a rescue mechanism? Biochem J 2022; 479:1337-1359. [PMID: 35748702 PMCID: PMC9246349 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Some of the most threatening human diseases are due to a blockage of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC). In a variety of plants, fungi, and prokaryotes, there is a naturally evolved mechanism for such threats to viability, namely a bypassing of the blocked portion of the ETC by alternative enzymes of the respiratory chain. One such enzyme is the alternative oxidase (AOX). When AOX is expressed, it enables its host to survive life-threatening conditions or, as in parasites, to evade host defenses. In vertebrates, this mechanism has been lost during evolution. However, we and others have shown that transfer of AOX into the genome of the fruit fly and mouse results in a catalytically engaged AOX. This implies that not only is the AOX a promising target for combating human or agricultural pathogens but also a novel approach to elucidate disease mechanisms or, in several cases, potentially a therapeutic cure for human diseases. In this review, we highlight the varying functions of AOX in their natural hosts and upon xenotopic expression, and discuss the resulting need to develop species-specific AOX inhibitors.
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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.
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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
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Li X, Yin J, Wang D, Gao X, Zhang Y, Wu M, Zhu G. The mucin-like, secretory type-I transmembrane glycoprotein GP900 in the apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum is cleaved in the secretory pathway and likely plays a lubrication role. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:170. [PMID: 35581607 PMCID: PMC9111948 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05286-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic parasite and member of the phylum Apicomplexa with unique secretory organelles, including a rhoptry, micronemes and dense granules that discharge their contents during parasite invasion. The mucin-like glycoprotein GP900 with a single transmembrane domain is an immunodominant antigen and micronemal protein. It is relocated to the surface of excysted sporozoites and shed to form trails by sporozoites exhibiting gliding motility (gliding sporozoites). However, the biological process underlying its relocation and shedding remains unclear. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether GP900 is present as a transmembrane protein anchored to the plasma membrane on the surface of sporozoites and whether it is cleaved before being shed from the sporozoites. METHODS Two anti-GP900 antibodies, a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the long N-terminal domain (GP900-N) and a rabbit polyclonal antibody (pAb) to the short C-terminal domain (GP900-C), were produced for the detection of intact and cleaved GP900 proteins in sporozoites and other parasite developmental stages by microscopic immunofluorescence assay and in discharged molecules by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Both anti-GP900 antibodies recognized the apical region of unexcysted and excysted sporozoites. However, anti-GP900-N (but not anti-GP900-C) also stained both the pellicles/surface of excysted sporozoites and the trails of gliding sporozoites. Both antibodies stained the intracellular meronts, both developing and developed, but not the macro- and microgamonts. Additionally, the epitope was recognized by anti-GP900-N (but not anti-GP900-C) and detected in the secretions of excysted sporozoites and intracellular parasites. CONCLUSIONS GP900 is present in sporozoites and intracellular meronts, but absent in sexual stages. It is stored in the micronemes of sporozoites, but enters the secretory pathway during excystation and invasion. The short cytoplasmic domain of GP900 is cleaved in the secretory pathway before it reaches the extracellular space. The molecular features and behavior of GP900 imply that it plays mainly a lubrication role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, The Institute of Zoonosis, The College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Jigang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, The Institute of Zoonosis, The College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Dongqiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, The Institute of Zoonosis, The College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, The Institute of Zoonosis, The College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, The Institute of Zoonosis, The College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Mingbo Wu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, The Institute of Zoonosis, The College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Guan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, The Institute of Zoonosis, The College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
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Tomazic ML, Marugan-Hernandez V, Rodriguez AE. Next-Generation Technologies and Systems Biology for the Design of Novel Vaccines Against Apicomplexan Parasites. Front Vet Sci 2022; 8:800361. [PMID: 35071390 PMCID: PMC8777213 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.800361] [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: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa are the causative agents of important diseases such as malaria, toxoplasmosis or cryptosporidiosis in humans, and babesiosis and coccidiosis in animals. Whereas the first human recombinant vaccine against malaria has been approved and recently recommended for wide administration by the WHO, most other zoonotic parasitic diseases lack of appropriate immunoprophylaxis. Sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, and statistics, have opened the "omics" era into apicomplexan parasites, which has led to the development of systems biology, a recent field that can significantly contribute to more rational design for new vaccines. The discovery of novel antigens by classical approaches is slow and limited to very few antigens identified and analyzed by each study. High throughput approaches based on the expansion of the "omics", mainly genomics and transcriptomics have facilitated the functional annotation of the genome for many of these parasites, improving significantly the understanding of the parasite biology, interactions with the host, as well as virulence and host immune response. Developments in genetic manipulation in apicomplexan parasites have also contributed to the discovery of new potential vaccine targets. The present minireview does a comprehensive summary of advances in "omics", CRISPR/Cas9 technologies, and in systems biology approaches applied to apicomplexan parasites of economic and zoonotic importance, highlighting their potential of the holistic view in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariela Luján Tomazic
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (IPVET), INTA-CONICET, Hurlingham, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Catedra de Biotecnología, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Nie J, Yin J, Wang D, Wang C, Zhu G. Implication of Potential Differential Roles of the Two Phosphoglucomutase Isoforms in the Protozoan Parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. Pathogens 2021; 11:pathogens11010021. [PMID: 35055969 PMCID: PMC8781159 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010021] [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: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) catalyzes the conversion between glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate in the glycolysis/glucogenesis pathway. PGM1s are typically cytosolic enzymes in organisms lacking chloroplasts. However, the protozoan Cryptosporidium parasites possess two tandemly duplicated PGM1 genes evolved by a gene duplication after their split from other apicomplexans. Moreover, the downstream PGM1 isoform contains an N-terminal signal peptide, predicting a non-cytosolic location. Here we expressed recombinant proteins of the two PGM1 isoforms from the zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum, namely CpPGM1A and CpPGM1B, and confirmed their enzyme activity. Both isoforms followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics towards glucose-1-phosphate (Km = 0.17 and 0.13 mM, Vmax = 7.30 and 2.76 μmol/min/mg, respectively). CpPGM1A and CpPGM1B genes were expressed in oocysts, sporozoites and intracellular parasites at a similar pattern of expression, however CpPGM1A was expressed at much higher levels than CpPGM1B. Immunofluorescence assay showed that CpPGM1A was present in the cytosol of sporozoites, however this was enriched towards the plasma membranes in the intracellular parasites; whereas CpPGM1B was mainly present under sporozoite pellicle, although relocated to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane in the intracellular development. These observations indicated that CpPGM1A played a house-keeping function, while CpPGM1B played a different biological role that remains to be defined by future investigations.
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Abstract
Proteasomes are compartmentalized, ATP-dependent, N-terminal nucleophile hydrolases that play essentials roles in intracellular protein turnover. They are present in all 3 kingdoms. Pharmacological inhibition of proteasomes is detrimental to cell viability. Proteasome inhibitor rugs revolutionize the treatment of multiple myeloma. Proteasomes in pathogenic microbes such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), and other parasites and worms have been validated as therapeutic targets. Starting with Mtb proteasome, efforts in developing inhibitors selective for microbial proteasomes have made great progress lately. In this review, we describe the strategies and pharmacophores that have been used in developing proteasome inhibitors with potency and selectivity that spare human proteasomes and highlight the development of clinical proteasome inhibitor candidates for treatment of leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Finally, we discuss the future challenges and therapeutical potentials of the microbial proteasome inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Gang Lin
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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13
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Tucker MS, O’Brien CN, Jenkins MC, Rosenthal BM. Dynamically expressed genes provide candidate viability biomarkers in a model coccidian. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258157. [PMID: 34597342 PMCID: PMC8486141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Eimeria parasites cause enteric disease in livestock and the closely related Cyclosporacayetanensis causes human disease. Oocysts of these coccidian parasites undergo maturation (sporulation) before becoming infectious. Here, we assessed transcription in maturing oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, a widespread chicken parasite, predicted gene functions, and determined which of these genes also occur in C. cayetanensis. RNA-Sequencing yielded ~2 billion paired-end reads, 92% of which mapped to the E. acervulina genome. The ~6,900 annotated genes underwent temporally-coordinated patterns of gene expression. Fifty-three genes each contributed >1,000 transcripts per million (TPM) throughout the study interval, including cation-transporting ATPases, an oocyst wall protein, a palmitoyltransferase, membrane proteins, and hypothetical proteins. These genes were enriched for 285 gene ontology (GO) terms and 13 genes were ascribed to 17 KEGG pathways, defining housekeeping processes and functions important throughout sporulation. Expression differed in mature and immature oocysts for 40% (2,928) of all genes; of these, nearly two-thirds (1,843) increased their expression over time. Eight genes expressed most in immature oocysts, encoding proteins promoting oocyst maturation and development, were assigned to 37 GO terms and 5 KEGG pathways. Fifty-six genes underwent significant upregulation in mature oocysts, each contributing at least 1,000 TPM. Of these, 40 were annotated by 215 GO assignments and 9 were associated with 18 KEGG pathways, encoding products involved in respiration, carbon fixation, energy utilization, invasion, motility, and stress and detoxification responses. Sporulation orchestrates coordinated changes in the expression of many genes, most especially those governing metabolic activity. Establishing the long-term fate of these transcripts in sporulated oocysts and in senescent and deceased oocysts will further elucidate the biology of coccidian development, and may provide tools to assay infectiousness of parasite cohorts. Moreover, because many of these genes have homologues in C. cayetanensis, they may prove useful as biomarkers for risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Tucker
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, United States of America
| | - Celia N. O’Brien
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, United States of America
| | - Mark C. Jenkins
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, United States of America
| | - Benjamin M. Rosenthal
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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14
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Wang C, Wang D, Nie J, Gao X, Yin J, Zhu G. Unique Tubulin-Based Structures in the Zoonotic Apicomplexan Parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091921. [PMID: 34576816 PMCID: PMC8464796 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parasites are known to be highly divergent from other apicomplexan species at evolutionary and biological levels. Here we provide evidence showing that the zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum also differs from other apicomplexans, such as Toxoplasma gondii, by possessing only two tubulin-based filamentous structures, rather than an array of subpellicular microtubules. Using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody against C. parvum β-tubulin (CpTubB), we observed a long and a short microtubule that are rigid and stable in the sporozoites and restructured during the intracellular parasite development. In asexual development (merogony), the two restructuring microtubules are present in pairs (one pair per nucleus or merozoites). In sexual developmental stages, tubulin-based structures are detectable only in microgametes, but undetectable in macrogametes. These observations indicate that C. parvum parasites use unique microtubule structures that differ from other apicomplexans as part of their cytoskeletal elements.
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15
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Sun H, Li J, Wang L, Yin K, Xu C, Liu G, Xiao T, Huang B, Wei Q, Gong M, Cao J. Comparative Proteomics Analysis for Elucidating the Interaction Between Host Cells and Toxoplasma gondii. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:643001. [PMID: 34055664 PMCID: PMC8158437 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.643001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, a representative model organism belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa, can infect almost all warm-blooded organisms, including humans. The invasion of host cells via host–parasite interaction is the key step for T. gondii to complete its life cycle. Herein we performed tandem mass tag analysis to investigate global proteomic changes in host cells (human foreskin fibroblasts, HFFs) [HFFs infected with T. gondii (HT) vs. HFFs (H)] and T. gondii [HT vs. T. gondii (T)] during intracellular infection. Overall, 3477 and 1434 proteins were quantified, of which 375 and 1099 proteins were differentially expressed (adjusted p-value < 0.05 and >1.5 or <0.67-fold change) in host cells and T. gondii, respectively. T. gondii invasion relies on the secretion of numerous secretory proteins, which originate from three secretory organelles: micronemes, rhoptries, and dense granules. In the HT vs. T group, few secretory proteins were upregulated, such as microneme proteins (MICs: MIC6, MIC10), rhoptry bulb proteins (ROPs: ROP5, ROP17), and dense granule proteins (GRAs: GRA4, GRA5, GRA12). In contrast, dozens of known secretory proteins were significantly downregulated in T. gondii-infected HFFs. In HFFs, gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed a large number of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) enriched in metabolic processes and immune-associated signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, cAMP, and Rap1 signaling pathways. Further, in case of T. gondii, DEPs were involved in ribosome biogenesis, citrate cycle, and galactose metabolism, indicating that cell biosynthesis and metabolism of T. gondii were altered after host cell invasion. These findings reveal novel modifications in the proteome of host cells as well as T. gondii, helping us better understand the mechanisms underlying host–parasite interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sun
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China.,National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), National Health Commission of People's Republic of China Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.,The School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Li
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Longjiang Wang
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Kun Yin
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Chao Xu
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Gongzhen Liu
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Ting Xiao
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Bingcheng Huang
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Qingkuan Wei
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Maoqing Gong
- Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jining City, China
| | - Jianping Cao
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), National Health Commission of People's Republic of China Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.,The School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang T, Gao X, Wang D, Zhao J, Zhang N, Li Q, Zhu G, Yin J. A Single-Pass Type I Membrane Protein from the Apicomplexan Parasite Cryptosporidium parvum with Nanomolar Binding Affinity to Host Cell Surface. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9051015. [PMID: 34066754 PMCID: PMC8151451 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum is a globally recognized zoonotic parasite of medical and veterinary importance. This parasite mainly infects intestinal epithelial cells and causes mild to severe watery diarrhea that could be deadly in patients with weakened or defect immunity. However, its molecular interactions with hosts and pathogenesis, an important part in adaptation of parasitic lifestyle, remain poorly understood. Here we report the identification and characterization of a C. parvum T-cell immunomodulatory protein homolog (CpTIPH). CpTIPH is a 901-aa single-pass type I membrane protein encoded by cgd5_830 gene that also contains a short Vibrio, Colwellia, Bradyrhizobium and Shewanella (VCBS) repeat and relatively long integrin alpha (ITGA) N-terminus domain. Immunofluorescence assay confirmed the location of CpTIPH on the cell surface of C. parvum sporozoites. In congruence with the presence of VCBS repeat and ITGA domain, CpTIPH displayed high, nanomolar binding affinity to host cell surface (i.e., Kd(App) at 16.2 to 44.7 nM on fixed HCT-8 and CHO-K1 cells, respectively). The involvement of CpTIPH in the parasite invasion is partly supported by experiments showing that an anti-CpTIPH antibody could partially block the invasion of C. parvum sporozoites into host cells. These observations provide a strong basis for further investigation of the roles of CpTIPH in parasite-host cell interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (X.G.); (D.W.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences and Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (X.G.); (D.W.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
| | - Dongqiang Wang
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (X.G.); (D.W.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
| | - Jixue Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China;
| | - Nan Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (X.G.); (D.W.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
| | - Qiushi Li
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (X.G.); (D.W.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
- Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Guan Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (X.G.); (D.W.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jigang Yin
- Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (X.G.); (D.W.); (N.Z.); (Q.L.)
- Correspondence: (G.Z.); (J.Y.)
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Yu X, Guo F, Mouneimne RB, Zhu G. Cryptosporidium parvum Elongation Factor 1α Participates in the Formation of Base Structure at the Infection Site During Invasion. J Infect Dis 2021; 221:1816-1825. [PMID: 31872225 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptosporidium is a genus of apicomplexan parasites, the causative agents of cryptosporidiosis in humans and/or animals. Although most apicomplexans parasitize within the host cell cytosols, Cryptosporidium resides on top of host cells, but it is embraced by a double-layer parasitophorous vacuole membrane derived from host cell. There is an electron-dense band to separate the parasite from host cell cytoplasm, making it as an intracellular but extracytoplasmic parasite. However, little is known on the molecular machinery at the host cell-parasite interface. METHODS Cryptosporidium parvum at various developmental stages were obtained by infecting HCT-8 cells cultured in vitro. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect CpEF1α with a polyclonal antibody and host cell F-actin with rhodamine-phalloidin. Recombinant CpEF1α protein was used to evaluate its effect on the invasion by the parasite. RESULTS We discovered that a C parvum translation elongation factor 1α (CpEF1α) was discharged from the invading sporozoites into host cells, forming a crescent-shaped patch that fully resembles the electron-dense band. At the same time, host cell F-actin aggregated to form a globular-shaped plug beneath the CpEF1α patch. The CpEF1α patch remained for most of the time but became weakened and dissolved upon the completion of the invasion process. In addition, recombinant CpEF1α protein could effectively interfere the invasion of sporozoites into host cells. CONCLUSIONS CpEF1α plays a role in the parasite invasion by participating in the formation of electron-dense band at the base of the parasite infection site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Yu
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Fengguang Guo
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Rola Barhoumi Mouneimne
- Department of Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Guan Zhu
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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18
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Radioprotective effects of Cryptosporidium parvum lysates on normal cells. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 178:121-135. [PMID: 33636272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Two fractions, small and big (CpL-S, CpL-B), from Cryptosporidium parvum lysate (CpL) were prepared and its radioprotective activity was evaluated on normal cells. Both fractions improved cell viability of normal cells in a dose-dependent manner. 20 μg CpL-S and CpL-B improved cell viability of 10 Gy irradiated COS-7 cells by 38% and 34% respectively, while in HaCat cells 16% and 18% improved cell viability was observed, respectively. CpL-S scavenged IR-induced ROS more effectively compared to the CpL-B, 50% more in COS-7 cells and 15% more in HaCat cells. There was a significant reduction of γH2AX, Rad51, and pDNA-PKcs foci in CpL-S treated cells compared to control or CpL-B group at an early time point as well as late time point. In 3D skin tissue, CpL-S reduced the number of γH2AX positive cells by 31%, compared to control, while CpL-B reduced by 9% (p < 0.005) at 1 h post 10 Gy irradiation and 22% vs 6% at 24 h post-IR (p < 0.005). Taken together, CpL-S significantly improved cell viability and prevented radiation-induced DNA damage in normal cells as well as 3D skin tissues by effectively scavenging ROS generated by ionizing radiation. CpL-S can be a candidate for radioprotector development.
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Li Y, Baptista RP, Sateriale A, Striepen B, Kissinger JC. Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA in Cryptosporidium parvum Reveals Significant Stage-Specific Antisense Transcription. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 10:608298. [PMID: 33520737 PMCID: PMC7840661 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.608298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a protist parasite that has been identified as the second leading cause of moderate to severe diarrhea in children younger than two and a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Cryptosporidium has a complex, obligate, intracellular but extra cytoplasmic lifecycle in a single host. How genes are regulated in this parasite remains largely unknown. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical regulatory roles, including gene expression across a broad range of organisms. Cryptosporidium lncRNAs have been reported to enter the host cell nucleus and affect the host response. However, no systematic study of lncRNAs in Cryptosporidium has been conducted to identify additional lncRNAs. In this study, we analyzed a C. parvum in vitro strand-specific RNA-seq developmental time series covering both asexual and sexual stages to identify lncRNAs associated with parasite development. In total, we identified 396 novel lncRNAs, mostly antisense, with 86% being differentially expressed. Surprisingly, nearly 10% of annotated mRNAs have an antisense transcript. lncRNAs occur most often at the 3' end of their corresponding sense mRNA. Putative lncRNA regulatory regions were identified and many appear to encode bidirectional promoters. A positive correlation between lncRNA and upstream mRNA expression was observed. Evolutionary conservation and expression of lncRNA candidates was observed between C. parvum, C. hominis and C. baileyi. Ten C. parvum protein-encoding genes with antisense transcripts have P. falciparum orthologs that also have antisense transcripts. Three C. parvum lncRNAs with exceptional properties (e.g., intron splicing) were experimentally validated using RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. This initial characterization of the C. parvum non-coding transcriptome facilitates further investigations into the roles of lncRNAs in parasite development and host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Li
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Rodrigo P. Baptista
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Adam Sateriale
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Boris Striepen
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jessica C. Kissinger
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Rojas-Pirela M, Andrade-Alviárez D, Rojas V, Kemmerling U, Cáceres AJ, Michels PA, Concepción JL, Quiñones W. Phosphoglycerate kinase: structural aspects and functions, with special emphasis on the enzyme from Kinetoplastea. Open Biol 2020; 10:200302. [PMID: 33234025 PMCID: PMC7729029 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.200302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is a glycolytic enzyme that is well conserved among the three domains of life. PGK is usually a monomeric enzyme of about 45 kDa that catalyses one of the two ATP-producing reactions in the glycolytic pathway, through the conversion of 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (1,3BPGA) to 3-phosphoglycerate (3PGA). It also participates in gluconeogenesis, catalysing the opposite reaction to produce 1,3BPGA and ADP. Like most other glycolytic enzymes, PGK has also been catalogued as a moonlighting protein, due to its involvement in different functions not associated with energy metabolism, which include pathogenesis, interaction with nucleic acids, tumorigenesis progression, cell death and viral replication. In this review, we have highlighted the overall aspects of this enzyme, such as its structure, reaction kinetics, activity regulation and possible moonlighting functions in different protistan organisms, especially both free-living and parasitic Kinetoplastea. Our analysis of the genomes of different kinetoplastids revealed the presence of open-reading frames (ORFs) for multiple PGK isoforms in several species. Some of these ORFs code for unusually large PGKs. The products appear to contain additional structural domains fused to the PGK domain. A striking aspect is that some of these PGK isoforms are predicted to be catalytically inactive enzymes or ‘dead’ enzymes. The roles of PGKs in kinetoplastid parasites are analysed, and the apparent significance of the PGK gene duplication that gave rise to the different isoforms and their expression in Trypanosoma cruzi is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maura Rojas-Pirela
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Valparaiso 2373223, Chile
| | - Diego Andrade-Alviárez
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaiso, Valparaiso 2373223, Chile
| | - Ulrike Kemmerling
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago de Chile 8380453, Santigo de Chile
| | - Ana J Cáceres
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Paul A Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK.,Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Juan Luis Concepción
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
| | - Wilfredo Quiñones
- Laboratorio de Enzimología de Parásitos, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Los Andes, Mérida 5101, Venezuela
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21
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Cryptosporidium: host and parasite transcriptome in infection. Curr Opin Microbiol 2020; 58:138-145. [PMID: 33160225 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is a waterborne gastrointestinal parasite that causes outbreaks of diarrheal disease worldwide. Despite the impact of this parasite on human health there are no effective drugs or vaccines. Transcriptomic data can provide insights into host-parasite interactions that lead to identification of targets for therapeutic interventions. However, for Cryptosporidium, interpreting transcriptomes has been challenging, in part due to the presence of multiple life cycle stages, the lack of appropriate host cells and the inability to culture the parasite through its complete life cycle. The recent improvements in cell culture and the ability to tag and isolate specific life cycle stages will radically improve transcriptomic data and advance our understanding of Cryptosporidium host-parasite interactions.
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Abstract
Cryptosporidium has historically been a difficult organism to work with, and molecular genomic data for this important pathogen have typically lagged behind other prominent protist pathogens. CryptoDB ( http://cryptodb.org/ ) was launched in 2004 following the appearance of draft genome sequences for both C. parvum and C. hominis. CryptoDB merged with the EuPathDB Bioinformatics Resource Center family of databases ( https://eupathdb.org ) and has been maintained and updated regularly since its establishment. These resources are freely available, are web-based, and permit users to analyze their own sequence data in the context of reference genome sequences in our user workspaces. Advances in technology have greatly facilitated Cryptosporidium research in the last several years greatly enhancing and extending the data and types of data available for this genus. Currently, 13 genome sequences are available for 9 species of Cryptosporidium as well as the distantly related Gregarina niphandrodes and two free-living alveolate outgroups of the Apicomplexa, Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis. Recent years have seen several new genome sequences for both existing and new Cryptosporidium species as well as transcriptomics, proteomics, SNP, and isolate population surveys. This chapter introduces the extensive data mining and visualization capabilities of the EuPathDB software platform and introduces the data types and tools that are currently available for Cryptosporidium. Key features are demonstrated with Cryptosporidium-relevant examples and explanations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Warrenfeltz
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jessica C Kissinger
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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The transcriptome of Cryptosporidium oocysts and intracellular stages. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7856. [PMID: 31133645 PMCID: PMC6536522 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44289-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cryptosporidiosis is caused primarily by two species of apicomplexan parasites, Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis. Although infection of cell monolayers with sporozoites does not support the complete parasite life cycle, the in vitro system is used to study the asexual phase of multiplication, which consists of two generations of merogony. To better understand host-parasite interaction and to gain insight into gene regulatory processes driving the complex life cycle of Cryptosporidium parasites, we analyzed the transcriptome of C. parvum in oocysts, sporozoites and infected cell monolayers 2–48 h post-infection. Analysis of RNA-Seq data from replicate oocyst, sporozoite and intracellular samples revealed significant differences between transcriptomes expressed outside and inside the host cell. Compared to the transcriptome found in the host cell, the oocyst transcriptome is less diverse. Biological processes significantly over-represented intracellularly relate to biosynthetic processes. Genes significantly overexpressed in oocysts show evidence of specialized functions not found in other Apicomplexa. A more comprehensive view of gene regulation during the Cryptosporidium life cycle will require the analysis of later time points during the infection, particularly of the poorly studied sexual phase of the life cycle.
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Zhang S, Wang Y, Wu H, Li N, Jiang J, Guo Y, Feng Y, Xiao L. Characterization of a Species-Specific Insulinase-Like Protease in Cryptosporidium parvum. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:354. [PMID: 30894838 PMCID: PMC6415594 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum is an intracellular protozoan that can cause severe diarrhea in humans and various mammals. Results of a comparative genomic analysis indicated that genes encoding two C. parvum-specific insulinase-like proteases (INS19 and INS20), cgd6_5510 and cgd6_5520, are lost in many Cryptosporidium species. In this study, we provided evidence indicating that cgd6_5510 and cgd6_5520 are fragments of a full gene (cgd6_5520-5510) encoding one insulinase-like protease (INS20-19) that is similar in structure to classic insulinases. We expressed cgd6_5510 in Escherichia coli for antiserum preparation and found the protein (INS19) that was partially degraded. A ~180 kDa protein of INS20-19 was specifically recognized by the polyclonal anti-INS19 antiserum in sporozoite lysate. We observed that INS20-19 is likely a protein with high expression in the apical region of sporozoites, and neutralization of the protein led to a partial reduction of parasite load in HCT-8 and MDBK cell cultures at 24 h. Taken together, our findings support the involvement of INS20-19 in the invasion or early developmental process of C. parvum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Haizhen Wu
- School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianlin Jiang
- Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yaqiong Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaoyu Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Xiao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
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25
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Dhal AK, Pani A, Mahapatra RK, Yun SI. In-silico screening of small molecule inhibitors against Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) of Cryptosporidium parvum. Comput Biol Chem 2018; 77:44-51. [PMID: 30240985 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite which causes waterborne diseases known as Cryptosporidiosis. It is an acute enteric diarrheal disease being severe in the case of immunocompromised individuals and children. C. parvum mainly depends on the glycolysis process for energy production and LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase) is a key controller of this process. In this study from different in-silico approaches such as structure-based, ligand-based and de novo drug design; a total of 40 compounds were selected for docking studies against LDH. The study reported a compound CHEMBL1784973 from Pathogen Box as the best inhibitor in terms of docking score and pharmacophoric features. Furthermore, the binding mode of the best-reported inhibitor was validated through molecular dynamics simulation for a time interval of 70 ns in water environment. The findings resulted in the stable conformation of the inhibitor in the active site of the protein. This study will be helpful for experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajit Kumar Dhal
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Alok Pani
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561756, South Korea
| | | | - Soon-Il Yun
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 561756, South Korea.
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Lippuner C, Ramakrishnan C, Basso WU, Schmid MW, Okoniewski M, Smith NC, Hässig M, Deplazes P, Hehl AB. RNA-Seq analysis during the life cycle of Cryptosporidium parvum reveals significant differential gene expression between proliferating stages in the intestine and infectious sporozoites. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:413-422. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Evolution of the Apicomplexan Sugar Transporter Gene Family Repertoire. Int J Genomics 2017; 2017:1707231. [PMID: 28555190 PMCID: PMC5438862 DOI: 10.1155/2017/1707231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexan protist parasites utilize host sugars transported into the parasite by sugar transporter proteins for use as an energy source. We performed a phylum-wide phylogenetic analysis of the apicomplexan sugar transporter repertoire. Phylogenetic analyses revealed six major subfamilies of apicomplexan sugar transporters. Transporters in one subfamily have undergone expansions in Piroplasma species and Gregarina niphandrodes, while other subfamilies are highly divergent and contain genes found in only one or two species. Analyses of the divergent apicomplexan subfamilies revealed their presence in ciliates, indicating their alveolate ancestry and subsequent loss in chromerids and many apicomplexans.
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Real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) assay targeting MIC1 for detection of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis oocysts. Exp Parasitol 2016; 172:61-67. [PMID: 27998735 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Both Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis are often associated with cryptosporidiosis in humans, but whereas humans are the main host for C. hominis, C. parvum is zoonotic and able to infect a variety of species. The oocyst transmission stages of both species of parasites are morphologically identical and molecular techniques, usually polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are required to distinguish between oocysts detected by standard methods in environmental samples, such as water. In this study, we developed two primer sets for real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), targeting the MIC1 transcript in C. parvum (CpMIC1) and C. hominis (ChMIC1). Using these primer sets, we were not only able to detect low numbers of C. parvum and C. hominis oocysts (down to 5 oocysts in 10 μl, and down to 1 oocyst using diluted RNA samples), but also distinguish between them. One of the primer sets targeted an exon only occurring in CpMIC1, thereby providing a tool for distinguishing C. parvum from other Cryptosporidium species. Although mRNA has been suggested as a tool for assessing viability of Cryptosporidium oocysts, as it is short-lived and may have high transcription, this NASBA assay detected MIC1 mRNA in inactivated oocysts. RNA within the oocysts seems to be protected from degradation, even when the oocysts have been killed by heating or freeze-thawing. Thus, our approach detects both viable and non-viable oocysts, and RNA does not seem to be a suitable marker for assessing oocyst viability.
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29
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Ifeonu OO, Chibucos MC, Orvis J, Su Q, Elwin K, Guo F, Zhang H, Xiao L, Sun M, Chalmers RM, Fraser CM, Zhu G, Kissinger JC, Widmer G, Silva JC. Annotated draft genome sequences of three species of Cryptosporidium: Cryptosporidium meleagridis isolate UKMEL1, C. baileyi isolate TAMU-09Q1 and C. hominis isolates TU502_2012 and UKH1. Pathog Dis 2016; 74:ftw080. [PMID: 27519257 PMCID: PMC5407061 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftw080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Human cryptosporidiosis is caused primarily by Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum and C. meleagridis. To accelerate research on parasites in the genus Cryptosporidium, we generated annotated, draft genome sequences of human C. hominis isolates TU502_2012 and UKH1, C. meleagridis UKMEL1, also isolated from a human patient, and the avian parasite C. baileyi TAMU-09Q1. The annotation of the genome sequences relied in part on RNAseq data generated from the oocyst stage of both C. hominis and C. baileyi. The genome assembly of C. hominis is significantly more complete and less fragmented than that available previously, which enabled the generation of a much-improved gene set for this species, with an increase in average gene length of 500 bp relative to the protein-encoding genes in the 2004 C. hominis annotation. Our results reveal that the genomes of C. hominis and C. parvum are very similar in both gene density and average gene length. These data should prove a valuable resource for the Cryptosporidium research community. The release of the draft genome sequence, and corresponding annotation, of Cryptosporidium baileyi, C. hominis isolates TU502_2012 and UKH1, and C. meleagridis, will accelerate research on Cryptosporidium parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olukemi O Ifeonu
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Marcus C Chibucos
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Joshua Orvis
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Qi Su
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kristin Elwin
- Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, Public Health Wales Microbiology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK
| | - Fengguang Guo
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Haili Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Lihua Xiao
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Mingfei Sun
- Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China 510640
| | - Rachel M Chalmers
- Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, Public Health Wales Microbiology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea SA2 8QA, UK
| | - Claire M Fraser
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Guan Zhu
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jessica C Kissinger
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, Institute of Bioinformatics and Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Giovanni Widmer
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Joana C Silva
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Swann J, Jamshidi N, Lewis NE, Winzeler EA. Systems analysis of host-parasite interactions. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2015; 7:381-400. [PMID: 26306749 PMCID: PMC4679367 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases caused by protozoan pathogens lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year in addition to substantial suffering and socioeconomic decline for millions of people worldwide. The lack of effective vaccines coupled with the widespread emergence of drug‐resistant parasites necessitates that the research community take an active role in understanding host–parasite infection biology in order to develop improved therapeutics. Recent advances in next‐generation sequencing and the rapid development of publicly accessible genomic databases for many human pathogens have facilitated the application of systems biology to the study of host–parasite interactions. Over the past decade, these technologies have led to the discovery of many important biological processes governing parasitic disease. The integration and interpretation of high‐throughput ‐omic data will undoubtedly generate extraordinary insight into host–parasite interaction networks essential to navigate the intricacies of these complex systems. As systems analysis continues to build the foundation for our understanding of host–parasite biology, this will provide the framework necessary to drive drug discovery research forward and accelerate the development of new antiparasitic therapies. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2015, 7:381–400. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1311 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Swann
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Neema Jamshidi
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nathan E Lewis
- Department of Pediatrics and Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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31
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UV irradiation responses in Giardia intestinalis. Exp Parasitol 2015; 154:25-32. [PMID: 25825252 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2015.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The response to ultraviolet light (UV) radiation, a natural stressor to the intestinal protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis, was studied to deepen the understanding of how the surrounding environment affects the parasite during transmission. UV radiation at 10 mJ/cm(2) kills Giardia cysts effectively whereas trophozoites and encysting parasites can recover from UV treatment at 100 mJ/cm(2) and 50 mJ/cm(2) respectively. Staining for phosphorylated histone H2A showed that UV treatment induces double-stranded DNA breaks and flow cytometry analyses revealed that UV treatment of trophozoites induces DNA replication arrest. Active DNA replication coupled to DNA repair could be an explanation to why UV light does not kill trophozoites and encysting cells as efficiently as the non-replicating cysts. We also examined UV-induced gene expression responses in both trophozoites and cysts using RNA sequencing (RNA seq). UV radiation induces small overall changes in gene expression in Giardia but cysts show a stronger response than trophozoites. Heat shock proteins, kinesins and Nek kinases are up-regulated, whereas alpha-giardins and histones are down-regulated in UV treated trophozoites. Expression of variable surface proteins (VSPs) is changed in both trophozoites and cysts. Our data show that Giardia cysts have limited ability to repair UV-induced damage and this may have implications for drinking- and waste-water treatment when setting criteria for the use of UV disinfection to ensure safe water.
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Characterization of a novel otubain-like cysteine protease of Cryptosporidium parvum. Parasitol Int 2014; 63:580-3. [PMID: 24709083 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Revised: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Otubains are a recently discovered family of cysteine proteases that participate in the ubiquitin pathway. Here, we partially characterized the biochemical properties of a cysteine protease of Cryptosporidium parvum, which is closely related to otubains. The gene encoding otubain-like cysteine protease of C. parvum (CpOTU) contained the aspartate, cysteine and histidine residues that form the catalytic triad of otubains. The modified ubiquitin-associated domain and LxxL motif were identified in CpOTU. The recombinant CpOTU showed the isopeptidase activity at neutral pH values and its activity was effectively inhibited by ubiquitin aldehyde, N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetic acid. Interestingly, CpOTU had an unusual C-terminal extension of 217 amino acids compared to mammalian otubains, and the C-terminal extension is essential for the activity of the enzyme. Expression of CpOTU peaked in the oocyst stage of the parasite, which suggested its potential physiological role for the oocyst stage.
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Abstract
SUMMARYCryptosporidiumhost cell interaction remains fairly obscure compared with other apicomplexans such asPlasmodiumorToxoplasma. The reason for this is probably the inability of this parasite to complete its life cyclein vitroand the lack of a system to genetically modifyCryptosporidium. However, there is a substantial set of data about the molecules involved in attachment and invasion and about the host cell pathways involved in actin arrangement that are altered by the parasite. Here we summarize the recent advances in research on host cell infection regarding the excystation process, attachment and invasion, survival in the cell, egress and the available data on omics.
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Jenkins MC, Widmer G, O'Brien C, Bauchan G, Murphy C, Santin M, Fayer R. A highly divergent 33 kDa Cryptosporidium parvum antigen. J Parasitol 2014; 100:527-31. [PMID: 24601821 DOI: 10.1645/13-433.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies comparing the genome sequences of Cryptosporidium parvum with Cryptosporidium hominis identified a number of highly divergent genes that might reflect positive selection for host specificity. In the present study, the C. parvum DNA sequence cgd8-5370, which encodes a protein whose amino acid sequence differs appreciably from its homologue in C. hominis , was cloned by PCR and expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli . Antisera raised against the recombinant cgd8-5370 antigen strongly recognized a unique 33 kDa protein in immunoblots from reducing and non-reducing SDS-PAGE of native C. parvum protein. However, anti-Cp33 sera did not recognize the native 33 kDa homologue in C. hominis . In an immunofluorescence assay (IFA), anti-Cp33 serum recognized an antigen in the anterior end of air-dried C. parvum sporozoites but failed to bind at any sites in C. hominis sporozoites, indicating its specificity for C. parvum . IFA staining of live C. parvum sporozoites with anti-Cp33 serum failed to bind to the parasite, indicating that the CP33 antigen is not on the sporozoite surface, which is consistent with topology predictions based on the encoded amino acid sequence. RT-PCR analysis of cgd8-5370 mRNA before or during C. parvum oocyst excystation revealed transcripts only in excysting sporozoites. Thus, Cp33 represents one of a small number of proteins shown to differentiate C. parvum from C. hominis sporozoites and oocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Jenkins
- Environmental, Microbial, and Food Safety Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
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Bhat N, Wojczyk BS, DeCicco M, Castrodad C, Spitalnik SL, Ward HD. Identification of a family of four UDP-polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferases in Cryptosporidium species. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2013; 191:24-7. [PMID: 23954365 PMCID: PMC3856541 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2013.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2013] [Revised: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although mucin-type O-glycans are critical for Cryptosporidium infection, the enzymes catalyzing their synthesis have not been studied. Here, we report four UDP N-acetyl-α-D-galactosamine:polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferases (ppGalNAc-Ts) from the genomes of C. parvum, C. hominis and C. muris. All are Type II membrane proteins which include a cytoplasmic tail, a transmembrane domain, a stem region, a glycosyltransferase family 2 domain and a C-terminal ricin B lectin domain. All are expressed during C. parvum infection in vitro, with Cp-ppGalNAc-T1 and -T4 expressed at 24 h and Cp-ppGalNAc-T2 and -T3 at 48 and 72 h post-infection, suggesting that their expression may be developmentally regulated. C. parvum sporozoite lysates display ppGalNAc-T enzymatic activity against non-glycosylated and pre-glycosylated peptides suggesting that they contain enzymes capable of glycosylating both types of substrates. The importance of mucin-type O-glycans in Cryptosporidium-host cell interactions raises the possibility that Cp-ppGalNAc-Ts may serve as targets for intervention in cryptosporidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najma Bhat
- Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Boguslaw S. Wojczyk
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Maria DeCicco
- Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Tufts University Sackler School of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Steven L. Spitalnik
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Honorine D. Ward
- Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Tufts University Sackler School of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston, MA, United States
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Haçarız O, Sayers G. Fasciola hepatica - where is 28S ribosomal RNA? Exp Parasitol 2013; 135:426-9. [PMID: 23954260 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Advanced molecular biology techniques are currently used to develop new effective strategies against fasciolosis. Assessment of the quality of extracted total RNA is an important step prior to commencing many molecular biology methods such as transcriptomics. However, RNA quality assessment is complicated for some organisms, including Fasciola hepatica, by the absence of a 28S rRNA peak/band, when assessed with modern protocols. In this study, electrophoretic profiles of F. hepatica ribosomal RNAs were evaluated using microfluidics capillary based and conventional non-denaturing gel electrophoresis methods. An important modification to recommended protocols, the exclusion of heat-denaturation step, in the microfluidics capillary based electrophoresis is critical to visualise the expected 28S rRNA and obtain an RNA integrity number (RIN). The intensity of the 28S rRNA band is reduced by the effect of non-denaturing gel electrophoresis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orçun Haçarız
- TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute, P.O. Box 21, 41470 Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
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Guo A, Cai J, Gong W, Yan H, Luo X, Tian G, Zhang S, Zhang H, Zhu G, Cai X. Transcriptome analysis in chicken cecal epithelia upon infection by Eimeria tenella in vivo. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64236. [PMID: 23737974 PMCID: PMC3667848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccidiosis, caused by various Eimeria species, is a major parasitic disease in chickens. However, our understanding on how chickens respond to coccidian infection is highly limited at both molecular and cellular levels. The present study employed the Affymetrix chicken genome array and performed transcriptome analysis on chicken cecal epithelia in response to infection for 4.5 days in vivo by the cecal-specific species E. tenella. By Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM), we have identified 7,099 probe sets with q-values at <0.05, in which 4,033 and 3,066 genes were found to be up- or down-regulated in response to parasite infection. The reliability of the microarray data were validated by real-time qRT-PCR of 20 genes with varied fold changes in expression (i.e., correlation coefficient between microarray and qRT-PCR datasets: R (2) = 0.8773, p<0.0001). Gene ontology analysis, KEGG pathway mapping and manual annotations of regulated genes indicated that up-regulated genes were mainly involved in immunity/defense, responses to various stimuli, apoptosis/cell death and differentiation, signal transduction and extracellular matrix (ECM), whereas down-regulated genes were mainly encoding general metabolic enzymes, membrane components, and some transporters. Chickens mustered complex cecal eipthelia molecular and immunological responses in response to E. tenella infection, which included pathways involved in cytokine production and interactions, natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, and intestinal IgA production. In response to the pathogenesis and damage caused by infection, chicken cecal epithelia reduced general metabolism, DNA replication and repair, protein degradation, and mitochondrial functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aijiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianping Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongbin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuenong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guangfu Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shaohua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haili Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Guan Zhu
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Adjunct Professorship, Institute of Genetics, College of Life Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuepeng Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Institute of Veterinary Research, China Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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