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Nadia NAC, Nino LG, Cédric Y, Raoul SNS, Christian NO, Esther DD, Arnaud NKJ, Aimé ND, Lucien KFH. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and associated risk factors among pregnant women consulted in three health centers in Dschang, Cameroon. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2023; 22:e00306. [PMID: 37292119 PMCID: PMC10245320 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00306] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan responsible for one of the most common congenital infections in the world. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis in pregnant women consulted in three health centers in the city of Dschang. Methods This study was a cross-sectional study that was conducted, with a total of 242 participants. A questionnaire was administered after obtaining the free and informed consent of the participants. Blood sample was collected to assay IgG and IgM antibodies specific to Toxoplasma gondii using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and potential risk factors were evaluated with the administration questionnaire using a binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was measured at P < 0.05. Results The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 82.7%,with a seroprevalence of toxoplasma IgG of 62.8% (152), that of IgM at 11.6% (28) and that of IgG/IgM at 8.3% (20). The Saint Vincent Paul Hospital had a seroprevalence of 43.8% IgG and 8.7% IgM; followed by the Dschang District Hospital (11.6% IgG and 2.1% IgM). The seroprevalence of toxoplasma IgG (35.5%) and IgM (6.2%) was higher in multiparous pregnant women, and in the group of women who performed their first toxoplasmosis serology in the first trimester of pregnancy, 70 (28.9%), 9 (3.7%) respectively for IgG and IgM. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the possession of a cat at home or its presence in the neighborhood, the consumption of undercooked or uncooked meat and having a history of blood transfusion were found to be statistically significant risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis seroprevalence among pregnant women. Conclusion The present study revealed a high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis. Given this high seroprevalence, screening for toxoplasmosis in women of childbearing age should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noumedem Anangmo Christelle Nadia
- Department of Microbiology, Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Lemogo Giresse Nino
- Department of Microbiology, Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Yamssi Cédric
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon
| | - Simeni Njonnou Sylvain Raoul
- Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Ngongang Ouankou Christian
- Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Djeussi Doriane Esther
- Department of Physiological Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon
| | | | - Nenba Daga Aimé
- Department of Microbiology, Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Kamga Fouamno Henri Lucien
- Department of Microbiology, Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 96, Dschang, Cameroon
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Villena OC, Ryan SJ, Murdock CC, Johnson LR. Temperature impacts the environmental suitability for malaria transmission by Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi. Ecology 2022; 103:e3685. [PMID: 35315521 PMCID: PMC9357211 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Extrinsic environmental factors influence the spatiotemporal dynamics of many organisms, including insects that transmit the pathogens responsible for vector-borne diseases (VBDs). Temperature is an especially important constraint on the fitness of a wide variety of ectothermic insects. A mechanistic understanding of how temperature impacts traits of ectotherms, and thus the distribution of ectotherms and vector-borne infections, is key to predicting the consequences of climate change on transmission of VBDs like malaria. However, the response of transmission to temperature and other drivers is complex, as thermal traits of ectotherms are typically nonlinear, and they interact to determine transmission constraints. In this study, we assess and compare the effect of temperature on the transmission of two malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, by two malaria vector species, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles stephensi. We model the nonlinear responses of temperature dependent mosquito and parasite traits (mosquito development rate, bite rate, fecundity, proportion of eggs surviving to adulthood, vector competence, mortality rate, and parasite development rate) and incorporate these traits into a suitability metric based on a model for the basic reproductive number across temperatures. Our model predicts that the optimum temperature for transmission suitability is similar for the four mosquito-parasite combinations assessed in this study, but may differ at the thermal limits. More specifically, we found significant differences in the upper thermal limit between parasites spread by the same mosquito (A. stephensi) and between mosquitoes carrying P. falciparum. In contrast, at the lower thermal limit the significant differences were primarily between the mosquito species that both carried the same pathogen (e.g., A. stephensi and A. gambiae both with P. falciparum). Using prevalence data, we show that the transmission suitability metric S T $$ S(T) $$ calculated from our mechanistic model is consistent with observed P. falciparum prevalence in Africa and Asia but is equivocal for P. vivax prevalence in Asia, and inconsistent with P. vivax prevalence in Africa. We mapped risk to illustrate the number of months various areas in Africa and Asia predicted to be suitable for malaria transmission based on this suitability metric. This mapping provides spatially explicit predictions for suitability and transmission risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sadie J. Ryan
- Department of GeographyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
- Emerging Pathogens InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFloridaUSA
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Courtney C. Murdock
- Odum School of EcologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious DiseasesUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Center for Vaccines and ImmunologyCollege of Veterinary Medicine, University of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Riverbasin CenterUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Department of EntomologyCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Leah R. Johnson
- Department of StatisticsVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
- Computational Modeling and Data AnalyticsVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
- Department of BiologyVirginia TechBlacksburgVirginiaUSA
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3
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Manoj RRS, Latrofa MS, Epis S, Otranto D. Wolbachia: endosymbiont of onchocercid nematodes and their vectors. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:245. [PMID: 33962669 PMCID: PMC8105934 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04742-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wolbachia is an obligate intracellular maternally transmitted, gram-negative bacterium which forms a spectrum of endosymbiotic relationships from parasitism to obligatory mutualism in a wide range of arthropods and onchocercid nematodes, respectively. In arthropods Wolbachia produces reproductive manipulations such as male killing, feminization, parthenogenesis and cytoplasmic incompatibility for its propagation and provides an additional fitness benefit for the host to protect against pathogens, whilst in onchocercid nematodes, apart from the mutual metabolic dependence, this bacterium is involved in moulting, embryogenesis, growth and survival of the host. Methods This review details the molecular data of Wolbachia and its effect on host biology, immunity, ecology and evolution, reproduction, endosymbiont-based treatment and control strategies exploited for filariasis. Relevant peer-reviewed scientic papers available in various authenticated scientific data bases were considered while writing the review. Conclusions The information presented provides an overview on Wolbachia biology and its use in the control and/or treatment of vectors, onchocercid nematodes and viral diseases of medical and veterinary importance. This offers the development of new approaches for the control of a variety of vector-borne diseases. Graphic Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sara Epis
- Department of Biosciences and Pediatric CRC 'Romeo Ed Enrica Invernizzi', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy. .,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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4
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Zoonotic Implications of Onchocerca Species on Human Health. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9090761. [PMID: 32957647 PMCID: PMC7560048 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Onchocerca includes several species associated with ungulates as hosts, although some have been identified in canids, felids, and humans. Onchocerca species have a wide geographical distribution, and the disease they produce, onchocerciasis, is generally seen in adult individuals because of its large prepatency period. In recent years, Onchocerca species infecting animals have been found as subcutaneous nodules or invading the ocular tissues of humans; the species involved are O. lupi, O. dewittei japonica, O. jakutensis, O. gutturosa, and O. cervicalis. These findings generally involve immature adult female worms, with no evidence of being fertile. However, a few cases with fertile O. lupi, O. dewittei japonica, and O. jakutensis worms have been identified recently in humans. These are relevant because they indicate that the parasite’s life cycle was completed in the new host—humans. In this work, we discuss the establishment of zoonotic Onchocerca infections in humans, and the possibility of these infections to produce symptoms similar to human onchocerciasis, such as dermatitis, ocular damage, and epilepsy. Zoonotic onchocerciasis is thought to be an emerging human parasitic disease, with the need to take measures such as One Health Strategies, in order to identify and control new cases in humans.
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Quintana JF, Babayan SA, Buck AH. Small RNAs and extracellular vesicles in filarial nematodes: From nematode development to diagnostics. Parasite Immunol 2017; 39. [PMID: 27748953 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to communicate with their hosts in order to survive and successfully establish an infection. The transfer of RNA within extracellular vesicles (EVs) has recently been described as a mechanism that could contribute to this communication in filarial nematodes. It has been shown that these EVs are loaded with several types of RNAs, including microRNAs, leading to the hypothesis that parasites could actively use these molecules to manipulate host gene expression and to the exciting prospect that these pathways could result in new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the literature on the diverse RNAi pathways that operate in nematodes and more specifically our current knowledge of extracellular RNA (exRNA) and EVs derived from filarial nematodes in vitro and within their hosts. We further detail some of the issues and questions related to the capacity of RNA-mediated communication to function in parasite-host interactions and the ability of exRNA to enable us to distinguish and detect different nematode parasites in their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Quintana
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection & Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S A Babayan
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - A H Buck
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research and Centre for Immunity, Infection & Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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6
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Cordaux R, Gilbert C. Evolutionary Significance of Wolbachia-to-Animal Horizontal Gene Transfer: Female Sex Determination and the f Element in the Isopod Armadillidium vulgare. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8070186. [PMID: 28753988 PMCID: PMC5541319 DOI: 10.3390/genes8070186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events from bacteria to animals have been reported in the past years, many of which involve Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts and their invertebrate hosts. Most transferred Wolbachia genes are neutrally-evolving fossils embedded in host genomes. A remarkable case of Wolbachia HGT for which a clear evolutionary significance has been demonstrated is the “f element”, a nuclear Wolbachia insert involved in female sex determination in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare. The f element represents an instance of bacteria-to-animal HGT that has occurred so recently that it was possible to infer the donor (feminizing Wolbachia closely related to the wVulC Wolbachia strain of A. vulgare) and the mechanism of integration (a nearly complete genome inserted by micro-homology-mediated recombination). In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the f element and discuss arising perspectives regarding female sex determination, unstable inheritance, population dynamics and the molecular evolution of the f element. Overall, the f element unifies three major areas in evolutionary biology: symbiosis, HGT and sex determination. Its characterization highlights the tremendous impact sex ratio distorters can have on the evolution of sex determination mechanisms and sex chromosomes in animals and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Cordaux
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7267, Bât. B8, 5 rue Albert Turpin, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, France.
| | - Clément Gilbert
- Laboratoire Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7267, Bât. B8, 5 rue Albert Turpin, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers CEDEX 9, France.
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7
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Dunning Hotopp JC, Slatko BE, Foster JM. Targeted Enrichment and Sequencing of Recent Endosymbiont-Host Lateral Gene Transfers. Sci Rep 2017; 7:857. [PMID: 28405008 PMCID: PMC5429809 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00814-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lateral gene transfer (LGT) from microbial symbionts to invertebrate animals is described at an increasing rate, particularly between Wolbachia endosymbionts and their diverse invertebrate hosts. We sought to assess the use of a capture system to cost-effectively sequence such LGT from the host genome. The sequencing depth of Illumina paired end data obtained with a Wolbachia capture system correlated well with that for an Illumina paired end data set used to detect LGT in Wolbachia-depleted B. malayi (p-value: <2e-16). Using a sequencing depth threshold of two or three standard deviations above the mean, 96.9% or 96.7% of positions, respectively, are predicted in the same manner between the two datasets, with 24.7% or 42.5% of the known 49.0 kbp of LGT sequence predicted correctly, respectively. Prior qPCR results for nuwts showed similar correlations for both datasets supporting our conclusion that oligonucleotide-based capture methods can be used to obtain sequences from Wolbachia-host LGT. However, at least 121 positions had a minority of the reads supporting the endosymbiont reference base call using the capture data, illustrating that sequence reads from endosymbiont-host LGTs can confound endosymbiont genome projects, erroneously altering the called consensus genome, a problem that is irrespective to the sequencing technology or platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie C Dunning Hotopp
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
| | - Barton E Slatko
- Genome Biology Division, New England Biolabs, Inc., 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
| | - Jeremy M Foster
- Genome Biology Division, New England Biolabs, Inc., 240 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
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8
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Lefoulon E, Giannelli A, Makepeace BL, Mutafchiev Y, Townson S, Uni S, Verocai GG, Otranto D, Martin C. Whence river blindness? The domestication of mammals and host-parasite co-evolution in the nematode genus Onchocerca. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:457-470. [PMID: 28344097 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The genus Onchocerca includes 34 described species and represents one of the largest genera of the filarial nematodes within the family Onchocercidae. Representative members of this genus are mainly parasites of ungulates, with some exceptions such as Onchocerca lupi and Onchocerca volvulus, infecting carnivores and/or humans. For a long time, the evolutionary relationships amongst onchocercids remained poorly studied, as the systematics of this genus was impaired by the high morphological variability of species included in the taxon. Although some molecular phylogenies were developed, these studies were mainly focused on bovine Onchocerca spp. and O. volvulus, including assessments of Wolbachia endosymbionts. In the present study, we analysed 13 Onchocerca spp. from a larger host spectrum using a panel of seven different genes. Analysis of the coxI marker supports its usefulness for the identification of species within the genus. The evolutionary history of the genus has been herein revised by multi-gene phylogenies, presenting three strongly supported clades of Onchocerca spp. Analyses of co-evolutionary scenarios between Onchocerca and their vertebrate hosts underline the effect of domestication on Onchocerca speciation. Our study indicates that a host switch event occurred between Bovidae, Canidae and humans. Cophylogenetic analyses between Onchocerca and the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia indicate the strongest co-evolutionary pattern ever registered within the filarial nematodes. Finally, this dataset indicates that the clade composed by O. lupi, Onchocerca gutturosa, Onchocerca lienalis, Onchocerca ochengi and O. volvulus derived from recent speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Lefoulon
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245), Sorbonne Universités, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Alessio Giannelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Yasen Mutafchiev
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Simon Townson
- Tropical Parasitic Diseases Unit, Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, Harrow, Middlesex, United Kingdom
| | - Shigehiko Uni
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Guilherme G Verocai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Coralie Martin
- Unité Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245), Sorbonne Universités, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Paris, France.
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Pietri JE, DeBruhl H, Sullivan W. The rich somatic life of Wolbachia. Microbiologyopen 2016; 5:923-936. [PMID: 27461737 PMCID: PMC5221451 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia is an intracellular endosymbiont infecting most arthropod and some filarial nematode species that is vertically transmitted through the maternal lineage. Due to this primary mechanism of transmission, most studies have focused on Wolbachia interactions with the host germline. However, over the last decade many studies have emerged highlighting the prominence of Wolbachia in somatic tissues, implicating somatic tissue tropism as an important aspect of the life history of this endosymbiont. Here, we review our current understanding of Wolbachia-host interactions at both the cellular and organismal level, with a focus on Wolbachia in somatic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose E Pietri
- Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Heather DeBruhl
- Biological Sciences Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, USA
| | - William Sullivan
- Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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10
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Slatko BE, Luck AN, Dobson SL, Foster JM. Wolbachia endosymbionts and human disease control. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2014; 195:88-95. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2014.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Abstract
Nematodes are abundant and diverse, and include many parasitic species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses have shown that parasitism of plants and animals has arisen at least 15 times independently. Extant nematode species also display lifestyles that are proposed to be on the evolutionary trajectory to parasitism. Recent advances have permitted the determination of the genomes and transcriptomes of many nematode species. These new data can be used to further resolve the phylogeny of Nematoda, and identify possible genetic patterns associated with parasitism. Plant-parasitic nematode genomes show evidence of horizontal gene transfer from other members of the rhizosphere, and these genes play important roles in the parasite-host interface. Similar horizontal transfer is not evident in animal parasitic groups. Many nematodes have bacterial symbionts that can be essential for survival. Horizontal transfer from symbionts to the nematode is also common, but its biological importance is unclear. Over 100 nematode species are currently targeted for sequencing, and these data will yield important insights into the biology and evolutionary history of parasitism. It is important that these new technologies are also applied to free-living taxa, so that the pre-parasitic ground state can be inferred, and the novelties associated with parasitism isolated.
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12
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Koutsovoulos G, Makepeace B, Tanya VN, Blaxter M. Palaeosymbiosis revealed by genomic fossils of Wolbachia in a strongyloidean nematode. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004397. [PMID: 24901418 PMCID: PMC4046930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia are common endosymbionts of terrestrial arthropods, and are also found in nematodes: the animal-parasitic filaria, and the plant-parasite Radopholus similis. Lateral transfer of Wolbachia DNA to the host genome is common. We generated a draft genome sequence for the strongyloidean nematode parasite Dictyocaulus viviparus, the cattle lungworm. In the assembly, we identified nearly 1 Mb of sequence with similarity to Wolbachia. The fragments were unlikely to derive from a live Wolbachia infection: most were short, and the genes were disabled through inactivating mutations. Many fragments were co-assembled with definitively nematode-derived sequence. We found limited evidence of expression of the Wolbachia-derived genes. The D. viviparus Wolbachia genes were most similar to filarial strains and strains from the host-promiscuous clade F. We conclude that D. viviparus was infected by Wolbachia in the past, and that clade F-like symbionts may have been the source of filarial Wolbachia infections. Bovine lungworms are economically important nematode parasites of cattle. We have sequenced the genome of the bovine lungworm to provide information for drug and vaccine discovery. Within the lungworm genome we found extensive evidence of an ancient association between the lungworm and a bacterium called Wolbachia. The lungworm Wolbachia is now a “fossil” in the genome, but tells of an ancient infection. Association between lungworms, and related nematode worms, and Wolbachia was not known previously. We have used the lungworm Wolbachia sequence to explore the history of nematode-Wolbachia interactions, particularly the jumping of these symbionts between arthropods and nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Koutsovoulos
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Benjamin Makepeace
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent N. Tanya
- Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Développement, Regional Centre of Wakwa, Ngaoundéré, Adamawa Region, Cameroon
| | - Mark Blaxter
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Brelsfoard C, Tsiamis G, Falchetto M, Gomulski LM, Telleria E, Alam U, Doudoumis V, Scolari F, Benoit JB, Swain M, Takac P, Malacrida AR, Bourtzis K, Aksoy S. Presence of extensive Wolbachia symbiont insertions discovered in the genome of its host Glossina morsitans morsitans. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2728. [PMID: 24763283 PMCID: PMC3998919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) are the cyclical vectors of Trypanosoma spp., which are unicellular parasites responsible for multiple diseases, including nagana in livestock and sleeping sickness in humans in Africa. Glossina species, including Glossina morsitans morsitans (Gmm), for which the Whole Genome Sequence (WGS) is now available, have established symbiotic associations with three endosymbionts: Wigglesworthia glossinidia, Sodalis glossinidius and Wolbachia pipientis (Wolbachia). The presence of Wolbachia in both natural and laboratory populations of Glossina species, including the presence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events in a laboratory colony of Gmm, has already been shown. We herein report on the draft genome sequence of the cytoplasmic Wolbachia endosymbiont (cytWol) associated with Gmm. By in silico and molecular and cytogenetic analysis, we discovered and validated the presence of multiple insertions of Wolbachia (chrWol) in the host Gmm genome. We identified at least two large insertions of chrWol, 527,507 and 484,123 bp in size, from Gmm WGS data. Southern hybridizations confirmed the presence of Wolbachia insertions in Gmm genome, and FISH revealed multiple insertions located on the two sex chromosomes (X and Y), as well as on the supernumerary B-chromosomes. We compare the chrWol insertions to the cytWol draft genome in an attempt to clarify the evolutionary history of the HGT events. We discuss our findings in light of the evolution of Wolbachia infections in the tsetse fly and their potential impacts on the control of tsetse populations and trypanosomiasis. African trypanosomes are transmitted to man and animals by tsetse fly, a blood sucking insect. Tsetse flies include all Glossina species with the genome of Glossina morsitans morsitans (Gmm) being sequenced under the International Glossina Genome Initiative. The endosymbionts Wigglesworthia glossinidia, Sodalis glossinidius and Wolbachia pipientis (Wolbachia) have been found to establish symbiotic associations with Gmm. Wolbachia is known to be present in natural and laboratory populations of Glossina species. In this study we report the genome sequence of the Wolbachia strain that is associated with Gmm. With the aid of in silico and molecular and cytogenetic analyses, multiple insertions of the Wolbachia genome were revealed and confirmed in Gmm chromosome. Comparison of the cytoplasmic Wolbachia draft genome and the chromosomal insertions enabled us to infer the evolutionary history of the Wolbachia horizontal transfer events. These findings are discussed in relation to their impact on the development of Wolbachia-based strategies for the control of tsetse flies and trypanosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey Brelsfoard
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Natural Sciences, St. Catharine College, St. Catharine, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - George Tsiamis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Greece
| | - Marco Falchetto
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italia
| | - Ludvik M. Gomulski
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italia
| | - Erich Telleria
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Uzma Alam
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Vangelis Doudoumis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Greece
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italia
| | - Joshua B. Benoit
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, McMicken College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Martin Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Penglais, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Takac
- Institute of Zoology, Section of Molecular and Applied Zoology, Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Anna R. Malacrida
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italia
| | - Kostas Bourtzis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Greece
- Biomedical Sciences Research Center Al. Fleming, Vari, Greece
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail: (KB); (SA)
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: (KB); (SA)
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