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Wendt G, Collins JJ. Horizontal gene transfer of a functional cki homolog in the human pathogen Schistosoma mansoni. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.27.596073. [PMID: 38853947 PMCID: PMC11160599 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.27.596073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, causing devastating morbidity and mortality in the developing world. The parasites are protected by a skin-like tegument, and maintenance of this tegument is controlled by a schistosome ortholog of the tumor suppressor TP53. To understand mechanistically how p53-1 controls tegument production, we identified a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor homolog (cki) that was co-expressed with p53-1. RNA interference of cki resulted in a hyperproliferation phenotype, that, in combination with p53-1 RNA interference yielded abundant tumor-like growths, indicating that cki and p53-1 are bona fide tumor suppressors in Schistosoma mansoni. Interestingly, cki homologs are widely present throughout parasitic flatworms but evidently absent from their free-living ancestors, suggesting this cki homolog came from an ancient horizontal gene transfer event. This in turn implies that the evolution of parasitism in flatworms may have been aided by a highly unusual means of metazoan genetic inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Wendt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
| | - James J Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
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2
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You Y, Chen X, Huo L, Chen L, Chen G, Gu M, Yi C, Wang J, Hu W. An improved medium for in vitro studies of female reproduction and oviposition in Schistosoma japonicum. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:116. [PMID: 38454463 PMCID: PMC10918852 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06191-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is a disease primarily caused by eggs laid by pathogens called schistosomes. Among the schistosome species infecting humans, Schistosoma japonicum possesses the largest fecundity; each adult female produces an average of 3500 eggs per day. The lack of proper culture conditions supporting continuous oviposition in vitro has precluded detailed investigation of mechanisms regulating sexual maturation and egg production in Schistosoma japonicum. METHODS We optimized in vitro culture conditions by replacing reagents that are part of the classical ABC169 medium. Fast Blue BB staining and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) labeling were applied to observe the sexual development status of the females. In vitro RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to validate the capability of the modified medium. The detection of male β-alanyl-tryptamine (BATT) was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). RESULTS Both m-AB169 (1640) and AB169 (1640) media are capable of facilitating the sexual development of paired virgin female S. japonicum, as well as sustaining the mature reproductive organs and egg production of adult S. japonicum for at least 22 days in vitro. M-AB169 (1640) provided a more stable condition for supporting the sexual maturity of female S. japonicum, as evidenced by the consistent initiation of egg production compared with AB169 (1640). Through a comparative analysis of S. japonicum and S. mansoni in diverse media, we demonstrated that these closely related species display distinct demands for their sexual development and egg production, suggesting a potential influence of nutritional factors on the observed variations in host ranges among different schistosome species. Importantly, we successfully identified the presence of the pheromone β-alanyl-tryptamine (BATT) in S. japonicum, previously identified in S. mansoni, highlighting its conserved role in schistosome reproductive development. Through the employment of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) treatment to silence two genes that are involved in either the male (gli1, glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1) or female (vf1, vitellogenic factor 1) side in male-induced female reproductive development of S. mansoni, we confirmed that the combination of m-AB169 (1640) and RNAi technology has the capacity to facilitate in vitro studies of S. japonicum's reproductive and oviposition processes. CONCLUSIONS We developed a novel medium, m-AB169 (1640), that not only maintains the mature reproductive organs and continuous oviposition of adult female Schistosoma japonicum for up to 22 days but also supports the reproductive development and subsequent egg-laying of virgin females after pairing with male worms. This study provides a valuable in vitro platform for functional studies of the mechanisms underlying the fascinating biology of the female sexual development and egg production of S. japonicum, which may accelerate the development of new strategies targeting schistosome egg production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin You
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lele Huo
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Longlong Chen
- Metabonomics and Systems Biology Laboratory at Shanghai International Centre for Molecular Phenomics, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gongwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengjie Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cun Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jipeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research On Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
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Li X, Weth O, Haimann M, Möscheid MF, Huber TS, Grevelding CG. Rhodopsin orphan GPCR20 interacts with neuropeptides and directs growth, sexual differentiation, and egg production in female Schistosoma mansoni. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0219323. [PMID: 38047698 PMCID: PMC10783048 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02193-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Schistosomes cause schistosomiasis, one of the neglected tropical diseases as defined by the WHO. For decades, the treatment of schistosomiasis relies on a single drug, praziquantel. Due to its wide use, there is justified fear of resistance against this drug, and a vaccine is not available. Besides its biological relevance in signal transduction processes, the class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is also well suited for drug design. Against this background, we characterized one GPCR of Schistosoma mansoni, SmGPCR20, at the molecular and functional level. We identified two potential neuropeptides (NPPs) as ligands, SmNPP26 and SmNPP40, and unraveled their roles, in combination with SmGPCR20, in neuronal processes controlling egg production, oogenesis, and growth of S. mansoni females. Since eggs are closely associated with the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis, our results contribute to the understanding of processes leading to egg production in schistosomes, which is under the control of pairing in this exceptional parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuesong Li
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Oliver Weth
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Martin Haimann
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Max F. Möscheid
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Theresa S. Huber
- Institute for Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Takeuchi T, Nakamura R, Hamasaki M, Oyama M, Hamano S, Hatanaka T. In vitro evaluation of the effect of galectins on Schistosoma mansoni motility. BMC Res Notes 2023; 16:266. [PMID: 37817269 PMCID: PMC10566010 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-023-06530-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Galectins are sugar-binding proteins that participate in many biological processes, such as immunity, by regulating host immune cells and their direct interaction with pathogens. They are involved in mediating infection by Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic trematode that causes schistosomiasis. However, their direct effects on schistosomes have not been investigated. RESULTS We found that galectin-2 recognizes S. mansoni glycoconjugates and investigated whether galectin-1, 2, and 3 can directly affect S. mansoni in vitro. Adult S. mansoni were treated with recombinant galectin-1, 2, and 3 proteins or praziquantel, a positive control. Treatment with galectin-1, 2, and 3 had no significant effect on S. mansoni motility, and no other differences were observed under a stereoscopic microscope. Hence, galectin-1, 2, and 3 may have a little direct effect on S. mansoni. However, they might play a role in the infection in vivo via the modulation of the host immune response or secretory molecules from S. mansoni. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the direct effect of galectins on S. mansoni and helps in understanding the roles of galectins in S. mansoni infection in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoharu Takeuchi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama, 350-0295, Japan.
| | - Risa Nakamura
- Department of Parasitology, Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- Leading Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Megumi Hamasaki
- Department of Parasitology, Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Midori Oyama
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama, 350-0295, Japan
| | - Shinjiro Hamano
- Department of Parasitology, Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- The Joint Usage/Research Center on Tropical Disease, Nagasaki University, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- Leading Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Tomomi Hatanaka
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, 1-1 Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama, 350-0295, Japan
- School of Medicine, Tokai University, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
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Shakir EMN, Rinaldi G, Kirk RS, Walker AJ. Schistosoma mansoni excretory-secretory products induce protein kinase signalling, hyperkinesia, and stem cell proliferation in the opposite sex. Commun Biol 2023; 6:985. [PMID: 37752334 PMCID: PMC10522684 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05333-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult male and female schistosomes in copula dwell within human blood vessels and lay eggs that cause the major Neglected Tropical Disease human schistosomiasis. How males and females communicate to each other is poorly understood; however, male-female physical interaction is known to be important. Here, we investigate whether excretory-secretory products (ESPs), released into the external milieu by mature Schistosoma mansoni, might induce responses in the opposite sex. We demonstrate that ESPs adhere to the surface of opposite sex worms inducing the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathways, particularly in the parasite tegument. Furthermore, we show that mature worms stimulated signalling in juvenile worms. Strikingly, we demonstrate that ESPs from the opposite sex promote stem cell proliferation, in an ERK- and p38 MAPK-dependent manner, in the tegument and within the testes of males, and the ovaries and vitellaria of females. Hyperkinesia also occurs following opposite sex ESP exposure. Our findings support the hypothesis that male and female schistosomes may communicate over distance to modulate key processes underlying worm development and disease progression, opening unique avenues for schistosomiasis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman M N Shakir
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Edward Llwyd Building, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Ruth S Kirk
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Anthony J Walker
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, UK.
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Moescheid MF, Puckelwaldt O, Beutler M, Haeberlein S, Grevelding CG. Defining an optimal control for RNAi experiments with adult Schistosoma mansoni. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9766. [PMID: 37328492 PMCID: PMC10276032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36826-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In parasites such as Schistosoma mansoni, gene knockdown by RNA interference (RNAi) has become an indispensable tool for functional gene characterization. To distinguish target-specific RNAi effects versus off-target effects, controls are essential. To date, however, there is still no general agreement about suitable RNAi controls, which limits the comparability between studies. To address this point, we investigated three selected dsRNAs for their suitability as RNAi controls in experiments with adult S. mansoni in vitro. Two dsRNAs were of bacterial origin, the neomycin resistance gene (neoR) and the ampicillin resistance gene (ampR). The third one, the green fluorescent protein gene (gfp), originated from jellyfish. Following dsRNA application, we analyzed physiological parameters like pairing stability, motility, and egg production as well as morphological integrity. Furthermore, using RT-qPCR we evaluated the potential of the used dsRNAs to influence transcript patterns of off-target genes, which had been predicted by si-Fi (siRNA-Finder). At the physiological and morphological levels, we observed no obvious changes in the dsRNA treatment groups compared to an untreated control. However, we detected remarkable differences at the transcript level of gene expression. Amongst the three tested candidates, we suggest dsRNA of the E. coli ampR gene as the most suitable RNAi control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max F Moescheid
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Oliver Puckelwaldt
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Mandy Beutler
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Simone Haeberlein
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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Li X, Weth O, Haeberlein S, Grevelding CG. Molecular characterization of Sm tdc-1 and Sm ddc-1 discloses roles as male-competence factors for the sexual maturation of Schistosoma mansoni females. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1173557. [PMID: 37305409 PMCID: PMC10252128 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1173557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Schistosomes are the only mammalian flatworms that have evolved separate sexes. A key question of schistosome research is the male-dependent sexual maturation of the female since a constant pairing contact with a male is required for the onset of gonad development in the female. Although this phenomenon is long known, only recently a first peptide-based pheromone of males was identified that contributes to the control of female sexual development. Beyond this, our understanding of the molecular principles inducing the substantial developmental changes in a paired female is still rudimentary. Objectives Previous transcriptomic studies have consistently pointed to neuronal genes being differentially expressed and upregulated in paired males. These genes included Smp_135230 and Smp_171580, both annotated as aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylases (DOPA decarboxylases). Here, we characterized both genes and investigated their roles in male-female interaction of S. mansoni. Methodologies/findings Sequence analyses indicated that Smp_135230 represents an L-tyrosine decarboxylase (Smtdc-1), whereas Smp_171580 represents a DOPA decarboxylase (Smddc-1). By qRT-PCR, we confirmed the male-specific and pairing-dependent expression of both genes with a significant bias toward paired males. RNA-interference experiments showed a strong influence of each gene on gonad differentiation in paired females, which was enhanced by double knockdown. Accordingly, egg production was significantly reduced. By confocal laser scanning microscopy, a failure of oocyte maturation was found in paired knockdown females. Whole-mount in situ hybridization patterns exhibited the tissue-specific occurrence of both genes in particular cells at the ventral surface of the male, the gynecophoral canal, which represents the physical interface of both genders. These cells probably belong to the predicted neuronal cluster 2 of S. mansoni. Conclusion Our results suggest that Smtdc-1 and Smddc-2 are male-competence factors that are expressed in neuronal cells at the contact zone between the genders as a response of pairing to subsequently control processes of female sexual maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christoph G. Grevelding
- Institute for Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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Silveira GO, Coelho HS, Pereira ASA, Miyasato PA, Santos DW, Maciel LF, Olberg GGG, Tahira AC, Nakano E, Oliveira MLS, Amaral MS, Verjovski-Almeida S. Long non-coding RNAs are essential for Schistosoma mansoni pairing-dependent adult worm homeostasis and fertility. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011369. [PMID: 37146077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The trematode parasite Schistosoma mansoni causes schistosomiasis, which affects over 200 million people worldwide. Schistosomes are dioecious, with egg laying depending on the females' obligatory pairing with males. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides with low or no protein-coding potential that have been involved in other species with reproduction, stem cell maintenance, and drug resistance. In S. mansoni, we recently showed that the knockdown of one lncRNA affects the pairing status of these parasites. Here, we re-analyzed public RNA-Seq data from paired and unpaired adult male and female worms and their gonads, obtained from mixed-sex or single-sex cercariae infections, and found thousands of differentially expressed pairing-dependent lncRNAs among the 23 biological samples that were compared. The expression levels of selected lncRNAs were validated by RT-qPCR using an in vitro unpairing model. In addition, the in vitro silencing of three selected lncRNAs showed that knockdown of these pairing-dependent lncRNAs reduced cell proliferation in adult worms and their gonads, and are essential for female vitellaria maintenance, reproduction, and/or egg development. Remarkably, in vivo silencing of each of the three selected lncRNAs significantly reduced worm burden in infected mice by 26 to 35%. Whole mount in situ hybridization experiments showed that these pairing-dependent lncRNAs are expressed in reproductive tissues. These results show that lncRNAs are key components intervening in S. mansoni adult worm homeostasis, which affects pairing status and survival in the mammalian host, thus presenting great potential as new therapeutic target candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert O Silveira
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helena S Coelho
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adriana S A Pereira
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia A Miyasato
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daisy W Santos
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas F Maciel
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovanna G G Olberg
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana C Tahira
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliana Nakano
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Murilo S Amaral
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Laboratório de Ciclo Celular, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Padalino G, Coghlan A, Pagliuca G, Forde-Thomas JE, Berriman M, Hoffmann KF. Using ChEMBL to Complement Schistosome Drug Discovery. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1359. [PMID: 37242601 PMCID: PMC10220823 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases. Until an effective vaccine is registered for use, the cornerstone of schistosomiasis control remains chemotherapy with praziquantel. The sustainability of this strategy is at substantial risk due to the possibility of praziquantel insensitive/resistant schistosomes developing. Considerable time and effort could be saved in the schistosome drug discovery pipeline if available functional genomics, bioinformatics, cheminformatics and phenotypic resources are systematically leveraged. Our approach, described here, outlines how schistosome-specific resources/methodologies, coupled to the open-access drug discovery database ChEMBL, can be cooperatively used to accelerate early-stage, schistosome drug discovery efforts. Our process identified seven compounds (fimepinostat, trichostatin A, NVP-BEP800, luminespib, epoxomicin, CGP60474 and staurosporine) with ex vivo anti-schistosomula potencies in the sub-micromolar range. Three of those compounds (epoxomicin, CGP60474 and staurosporine) also demonstrated potent and fast-acting ex vivo effects on adult schistosomes and completely inhibited egg production. ChEMBL toxicity data were also leveraged to provide further support for progressing CGP60474 (as well as luminespib and TAE684) as a novel anti-schistosomal compound. As very few compounds are currently at the advanced stages of the anti-schistosomal pipeline, our approaches highlight a strategy by which new chemical matter can be identified and quickly progressed through preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Padalino
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Redwood Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3NB, UK
| | - Avril Coghlan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK;
| | | | | | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, 120 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK;
| | - Karl F. Hoffmann
- The Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK;
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Padalino G, Celatka CA, Rienhoff Jr. HY, Kalin JH, Cole PA, Lassalle D, Forde-Thomas J, Chalmers IW, Brancale A, Grunau C, Hoffmann KF. Chemical modulation of Schistosoma mansoni lysine specific demethylase 1 (SmLSD1) induces wide-scale biological and epigenomic changes. Wellcome Open Res 2023; 8:146. [PMID: 37520936 PMCID: PMC10375057 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18826.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Schistosoma mansoni, a parasitic worm species responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, undergoes strict developmental regulation of gene expression that is carefully controlled by both genetic and epigenetic processes. As inhibition of S. mansoni epigenetic machinery components impairs key transitions throughout the parasite's digenetic lifecycle, a greater understanding of how epi-drugs affect molecular processes in schistosomes could lead to the development of new anthelmintics. Methods: In vitro whole organism assays were used to assess the anti-schistosomal activity of 39 Homo sapiens Lysine Specific Demethylase 1 (HsLSD1) inhibitors on different parasite life cycle stages. Moreover, tissue-specific stains and genomic analysis shed light on the effect of these small molecules on the parasite biology. Results: Amongst this collection of small molecules, compound 33 was the most potent in reducing ex vivo viabilities of schistosomula, juveniles, miracidia and adults. At its sub-lethal concentration to adults (3.13 µM), compound 33 also significantly impacted oviposition, ovarian as well as vitellarian architecture and gonadal/neoblast stem cell proliferation. ATAC-seq analysis of adults demonstrated that compound 33 significantly affected chromatin structure (intragenic regions > intergenic regions), especially in genes differentially expressed in cell populations (e.g., germinal stem cells, hes2 + stem cell progeny, S1 cells and late female germinal cells) associated with these ex vivo phenotypes. KEGG analyses further highlighted that chromatin structure of genes associated with sugar metabolism as well as TGF-beta and Wnt signalling were also significantly perturbed by compound 33 treatment. Conclusions: This work confirms the importance of histone methylation in S. mansoni lifecycle transitions, suggesting that evaluation of LSD1 - targeting epi-drugs may facilitate the search for next-generation anti-schistosomal drugs. The ability of compound 33 to modulate chromatin structure as well as inhibit parasite survival, oviposition and stem cell proliferation warrants further investigations of this compound and its epigenetic target SmLSD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Padalino
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 3NB, UK
| | | | | | - Jay H. Kalin
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Philip A. Cole
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Josephine Forde-Thomas
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Iain W. Chalmers
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Andrea Brancale
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 3NB, UK
| | | | - Karl F. Hoffmann
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, SY23 3DA, UK
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11
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Liu L, Zhang Z, Liu H, Zhu S, Zhou T, Wang C, Hu M. Identification and characterisation of the haemozoin of Haemonchus contortus. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:88. [PMID: 36879311 PMCID: PMC9990328 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05714-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most haematophagous organisms constantly suck the host's haemoglobin, which produces toxic free haem. This toxic haem aggregation into the nontoxic crystallisation complex known as haemozoin represents one of the most important detoxification pathways in living organisms, but very little is known about the features of haemozoin in parasitic nematodes. Here, we identified and characterised the haemozoin of an economically significant blood-sucking nematode, Haemonchus contortus. METHODS Using electron microscopy, spectrophotometry analyses and biochemical approaches, haemozoin crystallisation was identified and characterised in parasitic fourth-stage larvae (L4s) and/or adult worms as well as L4s of in vitro culture. RESULTS The haemozoin was formed in intestinal lipid droplets of the parasitic L4s and adult worms. The characterisation of the haemozoin showed regularly spherical structures and had a 400-nm absorption peak. Furthermore, the haemozoin in in vitro cultured L4s was associated with the culture time and concentration of red blood cells added into the medium, and its formation could be inhibited by chloroquine-derived drugs. CONCLUSIONS This work provides detailed insight into the haemozoin formation of H. contortus and should have important implications for developing novel therapeutic targets against this parasite or related haematophagous organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zongshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shengnan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Taoxun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chunqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Min Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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12
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Planarians to schistosomes: an overview of flatworm cell-types and regulators. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e7. [PMID: 36644809 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x22000621] [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: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease that afflicts over 200 million people globally. Schistosomes, the aetiological agent of schistosomiasis, are parasitic flatworms that propagate between molluscan and mammalian hosts. Inside the mammalian host, schistosomes rapidly grow over 100-fold in size and develop into a sexually mature male or female that thrives in the bloodstream for several decades. Recent work has identified schistosome stem cells as the source that drives parasite transmission, reproduction and longevity. Moreover, studies have begun to uncover molecular programmes deployed by stem cells that are essential for tissue development and maintenance, parasite survival and immune evasion. Such programmes are reminiscent of neoblast-driven development and regeneration of planarians, the free-living flatworm relative of schistosomes. Over the last few decades, research in planarians has employed modern functional genomic tools that significantly enhanced our understanding of stem cell-driven animal development and regeneration. In this review, we take a broad stroke overview of major flatworm organ systems at the cellular and molecular levels. We summarize recent advances on genetic regulators that play critical roles in differentiation and maintenance of flatworm cell types. Finally, we provide perspectives on how investigation of basic parasite biology is critical to discovering new approaches to battle schistosomiasis.
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13
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Yang WB, Luo F, Zhang W, Sun CS, Tan C, Zhou A, Hu W. Inhibition of signal peptidase complex expression affects the development and survival of Schistosoma japonicum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1136056. [PMID: 36936776 PMCID: PMC10020623 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1136056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis, the second most neglected tropical disease defined by the WHO, is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease infecting approximately 250 million people globally. This debilitating disease has seriously threatened public health, while only one drug, praziquantel, is used to control it. Because of this, it highlights the significance of identifying more satisfactory target genes for drug development. Protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is vital to the subsequent localization of secretory and transmembrane proteins. The signal peptidase complex (SPC) is an essential component of the translocation machinery and functions to cleave the signal peptide sequence (SP) of secretory and membrane proteins entering the ER. Inhibiting the expression of SPC can lead to the abolishment or weaker cleavage of the signal peptide, and the accumulation of uncleaved protein in the ER would affect the survival of organisms. Despite the evident importance of SPC, in vivo studies exploring its function have yet to be reported in S. japonicum. Methods The S. japonicum SPC consists of four proteins: SPC12, SPC18, SPC22 and SPC25. RNA interference was used to investigate the impact of SPC components on schistosome growth and development in vivo. qPCR and in situ hybridization were applied to localize the SPC25 expression. Mayer's carmalum and Fast Blue B staining were used to observe morphological changes in the reproductive organs of dsRNA-treated worms. The effect of inhibitor treatment on the worm's viability and pairing was also examined in vitro. Results Our results showed that RNAi-SPC delayed the worm's normal development and was even lethal for schistosomula in vivo. Among them, the expression of SPC25 was significantly higher in the developmental stages of the reproductive organs in schistosomes. Moreover, SPC25 possessed high expression in the worm tegument, testes of male worms and the ovaries and vitellarium of female worms. The SPC25 knockdown led to the degeneration of reproductive organs, such as the ovaries and vitellarium of female worms. The SPC25 exhaustion also reduced egg production while reducing the pathological damage of the eggs to the host. Additionally, the SPC-related inhibitor AEBSF or suppressing the expression of SPC25 also impacted cultured worms' pairing and viability in vitro. Conclusions These data demonstrate that SPC is necessary to maintain the development and reproduction of S. japonicum. This research provides a promising anti-schistosomiasis drug target and discovers a new perspective on preventing worm fecundity and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Bin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Fang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng-Song Sun
- Central Laboratory, Anhui Provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Anhui, China
| | - Cong Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - An Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Department of Microbiology and Microbial Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Hu,
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14
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Zhong H, Jin Y. Single-sex schistosomiasis: a mini review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1158805. [PMID: 37153566 PMCID: PMC10154636 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1158805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by dioecious blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma and second to malaria as a parasitic disease with significant socio-economic impacts. Mating is essential for maturation of male and female schistosomes and for females to lay of eggs, which are responsible for the pathogenesis and propagation of the life cycle beyond the mammalian host. Single-sex schistosomes, which do not produce viable eggs without mating, have been overlooked given the symptomatic paucity of the single-sex schistosomiasis and limited diagnostic toolkit. Besides, single-sex schistosomes are less sensitive to praziquantel. Therefore, these issues should be considered to achieve the elimination of this infection disease. The aim of this review is to summarize current progress in research of single-sex schistosomes and host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhong
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yamei Jin
- National Reference Laboratory for Animal Schistosomiasis, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yamei Jin,
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15
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Sex-inducing effects toward planarians widely present among parasitic flatworms. iScience 2022; 26:105776. [PMID: 36594009 PMCID: PMC9804148 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Various parasitic flatworms infect vertebrates for sexual reproduction, often causing devastating diseases in their hosts. Consequently, flatworms are of great socioeconomic and biomedical importance. Although the cessation of parasitic flatworm sexual reproduction is a major target of anti-parasitic drug design, little is known regarding bioactive compounds controlling flatworm sexual maturation. Using the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis, we observed that sex-inducing substances found in planarians are also widespread in parasitic flatworms, such as monogeneans and flukes (but not in tapeworms). Reverse-phase HPLC analysis revealed the sex-inducing substance(s) eluting around the tryptophan retention time in the fluke Calicophoron calicophorum, consistent with previous studies on the planarian Bipalium nobile, suggesting that the substance(s) is likely conserved among flatworms. Moreover, six of the 18 ovary-inducing substances identified via transcriptome and metabolome analyses are involved in purine metabolism. Our findings provide a basis for understanding and modifying the life cycles of various parasitic flatworms.
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16
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Robb E, McCammick EM, Wells D, McVeigh P, Gardiner E, Armstrong R, McCusker P, Mousley A, Clarke N, Marks NJ, Maule AG. Transcriptomic analysis supports a role for the nervous system in regulating growth and development of Fasciola hepatica juveniles. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010854. [PMCID: PMC9639813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Fasciola spp. liver flukes have significant impacts in veterinary and human medicine. The absence of a vaccine and increasing anthelmintic resistance threaten sustainable control and underscore the need for novel flukicides. Functional genomic approaches underpinned by in vitro culture of juvenile Fasciola hepatica facilitate control target validation in the most pathogenic life stage. Comparative transcriptomics of in vitro and in vivo maintained 21 day old F. hepatica finds that 86% of genes are expressed at similar levels across maintenance treatments suggesting commonality in core biological functioning within these juveniles. Phenotypic comparisons revealed higher cell proliferation and growth rates in the in vivo juveniles compared to their in vitro counterparts. These phenotypic differences were consistent with the upregulation of neoblast-like stem cell and cell-cycle associated genes in in vivo maintained worms. The more rapid growth/development of in vivo juveniles was further evidenced by a switch in cathepsin protease expression profiles, dominated by cathepsin B in in vitro juveniles and by cathepsin L in in vivo juveniles. Coincident with more rapid growth/development was the marked downregulation of both classical and peptidergic neuronal signalling components in in vivo maintained juveniles, supporting a role for the nervous system in regulating liver fluke growth and development. Differences in the miRNA complements of in vivo and in vitro juveniles identified 31 differentially expressed miRNAs, including fhe-let-7a-5p, fhe-mir-124-3p and miRNAs predicted to target Wnt-signalling, which supports a key role for miRNAs in driving the growth/developmental differences in the in vitro and in vivo maintained juvenile liver fluke. Widespread differences in the expression of neuronal genes in juvenile fluke grown in vitro and in vivo expose significant interplay between neuronal signalling and the rate of growth/development, encouraging consideration of neuronal targets in efforts to dysregulate growth/development for parasite control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Robb
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (ER); (EMM); (AGM)
| | - Erin M. McCammick
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (ER); (EMM); (AGM)
| | - Duncan Wells
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McVeigh
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Erica Gardiner
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Armstrong
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McCusker
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Mousley
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Nathan Clarke
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Nikki J. Marks
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron G. Maule
- Microbes & Pathogen Biology, The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (ER); (EMM); (AGM)
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17
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Wheeler NJ, Gallo KJ, Rehborg EJG, Ryan KT, Chan JD, Zamanian M. wrmXpress: A modular package for high-throughput image analysis of parasitic and free-living worms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010937. [PMID: 36399491 PMCID: PMC9718391 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in high-throughput and high-content imaging technologies require concomitant development of analytical software capable of handling large datasets and generating relevant phenotypic measurements. Several tools have been developed to analyze drug response phenotypes in parasitic and free-living worms, but these are siloed and often limited to specific instrumentation, worm species, and single phenotypes. No unified tool exists to analyze diverse high-content phenotypic imaging data of worms and provide a platform for future extensibility. We have developed wrmXpress, a unified framework for analyzing a variety of phenotypes matched to high-content experimental assays of free-living and parasitic nematodes and flatworms. We demonstrate its utility for analyzing a suite of phenotypes, including motility, development/size, fecundity, and feeding, and establish the package as a platform upon which to build future custom phenotypic modules. We show that wrmXpress can serve as an analytical workhorse for anthelmintic screening efforts across schistosomes, filarial nematodes, and free-living model nematodes and holds promise for enabling collaboration among investigators with diverse interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas J. Wheeler
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Kendra J. Gallo
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Elena J. G. Rehborg
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Kaetlyn T. Ryan
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - John D. Chan
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin United States of America
| | - Mostafa Zamanian
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin United States of America
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18
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Girod V, Houssier R, Sahmer K, Ghoris MJ, Caby S, Melnyk O, Dissous C, Senez V, Vicogne J. A self-purifying microfluidic system for identifying drugs acting against adult schistosomes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220648. [PMID: 36465675 PMCID: PMC9709518 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of novel antihelmintic molecules to combat the development and spread of schistosomiasis, a disease caused by several Schistosoma flatworm species, mobilizes significant research efforts worldwide. With a limited number of biochemical assays for measuring the viability of adult worms, the antischistosomicidal activity of molecules is usually evaluated by a microscopic observation of worm mobility and/or integrity upon drug exposure. Even if these phenotypical assays enable multiple parameters analysis, they are often conducted during several days and need to be associated with image-based analysis to minimized subjectivity. We describe here a self-purifying microfluidic system enabling the selection of healthy adult worms and the identification of molecules acting instantly on the parasite. The worms are assayed in a dynamic environment that eliminates unhealthy worms that cannot attach firmly to the chip walls prior to being exposed to the drug. The detachment of the worms is also used as second step readout for identifying active compounds. We have validated this new fluidic screening approach using the two major antihelmintic drugs, praziquantel and artemisinin. The reported dynamic system is simple to produce and to parallelize. Importantly, it enables a quick and sensitive detection of antischistosomal compounds in no more than one hour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Girod
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 – CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille F-59000, France
- CNRS, University of Tokyo, IRL2820 – LIMMS, Lille F-59000, France
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
- University of Lille, CNRS, UPHF, JUNIA, CLI, UMR 8520 – IEMN – Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie, Villeneuve d'Ascq F-59650, France
| | - Robin Houssier
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 – CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille F-59000, France
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Karin Sahmer
- University of Lille, IMT Lille Douai, University of Artois, JUNIA, ULR 4515 – LGCgE, Laboratoire de Génie Civil et géo-Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Marie-José Ghoris
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Stéphanie Caby
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Oleg Melnyk
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Colette Dissous
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Vincent Senez
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277 – CANTHER – Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Lille F-59000, France
- CNRS, University of Tokyo, IRL2820 – LIMMS, Lille F-59000, France
| | - Jérôme Vicogne
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1019-UMR9017 – Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France
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19
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Wheeler NJ, Hallem EA, Zamanian M. Making sense of sensory behaviors in vector-borne helminths. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:841-853. [PMID: 35931639 PMCID: PMC9481669 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Migrations performed by helminths are impressive and diverse, and accumulating evidence shows that many are controlled by sophisticated sensory programs. The migrations of vector-borne helminths are particularly complex, requiring precise, stage-specific regulation. We review the contrasting states of knowledge on snail-borne schistosomes and mosquito-borne filarial nematodes. Rich observational data exist for the chemosensory behaviors of schistosomes, while the molecular sensory pathways in nematodes are well described. Recent investigations on the molecular mechanisms of sensation in schistosomes and filarial nematodes have revealed some features conserved within their respective phyla, but adaptations correlated with parasitism are pronounced. Technological developments are likely to extend these advances, and we forecast how these technologies may be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas J Wheeler
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Elissa A Hallem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mostafa Zamanian
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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20
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Wendt GR, Shiroor DA, Adler CE, Collins JJ. Convergent evolution of a genotoxic stress response in a parasite-specific p53 homolog. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2205201119. [PMID: 36067283 PMCID: PMC9478680 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2205201119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
P53 is a widely studied tumor suppressor that plays important roles in cell-cycle regulation, cell death, and DNA damage repair. P53 is found throughout metazoans, even in invertebrates that do not develop malignancies. The prevailing theory for why these invertebrates possess a tumor suppressor is that P53 originally evolved to protect the germline of early metazoans from genotoxic stress such as ultraviolet radiation. This theory is largely based upon functional data from only three invertebrates, omitting important groups of animals including flatworms. Previous studies in the freshwater planarian flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea suggested that flatworm P53 plays an important role in stem cell maintenance and skin production, but these studies did not directly test for any tumor suppressor functions. To better understand the function of P53 homologs across diverse flatworms, we examined the function of two different P53 homologs in the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni. The first P53 homolog (p53-1) is orthologous to S. mediterranea P53(Smed-p53) and human TP53 and regulates flatworm stem cell maintenance and skin production. The second P53 homolog (p53-2) is a parasite-specific paralog that is conserved across parasitic flatworms and is required for the normal response to genotoxic stress in S. mansoni. We then found that Smed-p53 does not seem to play any role in the planarian response to genotoxic stress. The existence of this parasite-specific paralog that bears a tumor suppressor-like function in parasitic flatworms implies that the ability to respond to genotoxic stress in parasitic flatworms may have arisen from convergent evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- George R. Wendt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235
| | - Divya A. Shiroor
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Carolyn E. Adler
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - James J. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235
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21
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A Krüppel-like factor is required for development and regeneration of germline and yolk cells from somatic stem cells in planarians. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001472. [PMID: 35839223 PMCID: PMC9286257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually reproducing animals segregate their germline from their soma. In addition to gamete-producing gonads, planarian and parasitic flatworm reproduction relies on yolk cell–generating accessory reproductive organs (vitellaria) supporting development of yolkless oocytes. Despite the importance of vitellaria for flatworm reproduction (and parasite transmission), little is known about this unique evolutionary innovation. Here, we examine reproductive system development in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea, in which pluripotent stem cells generate both somatic and germ cell lineages. We show that a homolog of the pluripotency factor Klf4 is expressed in primordial germ cells (PGCs), presumptive germline stem cells (GSCs), and yolk cell progenitors. Knockdown of this klf4-like (klf4l) gene results in animals that fail to specify or maintain germ cells; surprisingly, they also fail to maintain yolk cells. We find that yolk cells display germ cell–like attributes and that vitellaria are structurally analogous to gonads. In addition to identifying a new proliferative cell population in planarians (yolk cell progenitors) and defining its niche, our work provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that flatworm germ cells and yolk cells share a common evolutionary origin.
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22
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Lopes-Junior EH, Bertevello CR, de Oliveira Silveira G, Guedes CB, Rodrigues GD, Ribeiro VS, Amaral MS, Kanamura CT, Pinto PLS, Krüger RF, Verjovski-Almeida S, Oliveira KC. Human tumor necrosis factor alpha affects the egg-laying dynamics and glucose metabolism of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms in vitro. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:176. [PMID: 35610661 PMCID: PMC9128126 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05278-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have described the effects of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α) on Schistosoma mansoni. hTNF-α affects the worm’s development, metabolism, egg-laying, gene expression and protein phosphorylation. The available data on the influence of hTNF-α on egg-laying in S. mansoni are controversial, but understanding the mechanism of egg-laying regulation in this species is essential in combating schistosomiasis. We characterized the effects of in vitro treatment of S. mansoni adult worms with different doses of hTNF-α (5, 20 and 40 ng/ml) for 5 days. We explored the effects on egg-laying rate, glucose levels, ATP metabolism, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of lactate dehydrogenase, glucose transporters and the parasite gene which acts as an hTNF-α receptor, SmTNFR. hTNF-α influenced egg-laying in a time- and dose-dependent manner: at a dose of 40 ng/ml, egg-laying increased on day 2 and decreased on days 3 and 4; at 20 ng/ml, egg-laying decreased on day 3; while at 5 ng/ml, egg-laying decreased on day 4. The total number of eggs produced was not affected by the different treatments, but the egg-laying dynamics were: the median egg-laying time decreased significantly with treatment, and egg developmental stages and size were also affected. At 5 and 20 ng/ml hTNF-α, lactate production diminished on day 3 up to day 5, while glucose uptake increased on day 5. At 40 ng/ml, glucose uptake diminished on day 1 up to day 3, while ATP accumulation was detected on day 5. No significant changes in mRNA expression were detected in any of the treatments. We found that crosstalk involving hTNF-α and parasite signaling plays a role in the fine-scale regulation of the worm’s metabolism and physiology, and points to new strategies for disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ednilson Hilário Lopes-Junior
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Claudio Romero Bertevello
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gilbert de Oliveira Silveira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Banca Guedes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gratchela Dutra Rodrigues
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Viviane Sousa Ribeiro
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Rodrigo Ferreira Krüger
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katia Cristina Oliveira
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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23
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Schistosome dipeptide of love. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:493-495. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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24
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Chen R, Wang J, Gradinaru I, Vu HS, Geboers S, Naidoo J, Ready JM, Williams NS, DeBerardinis RJ, Ross EM, Collins JJ. A male-derived nonribosomal peptide pheromone controls female schistosome development. Cell 2022; 185:1506-1520.e17. [PMID: 35385687 PMCID: PMC9058237 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomes cause morbidity and death throughout the developing world due to the massive numbers of eggs female worms deposit into the blood of their host. Studies dating back to the 1920s show that female schistosomes rely on constant physical contact with a male worm both to become and remain sexually mature; however, the molecular details governing this process remain elusive. Here, we uncover a nonribosomal peptide synthetase that is induced in male worms upon pairing with a female and find that it is essential for the ability of male worms to stimulate female development. We demonstrate that this enzyme generates β-alanyl-tryptamine that is released by paired male worms. Furthermore, synthetic β-alanyl-tryptamine can replace male worms to stimulate female sexual development and egg laying. These data reveal that peptide-based pheromone signaling controls female schistosome sexual maturation, suggesting avenues for therapeutic intervention and uncovering a role for nonribosomal peptides as metazoan signaling molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jipeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Irina Gradinaru
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hieu S Vu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sophie Geboers
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jacinth Naidoo
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Joseph M Ready
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Noelle S Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Elliott M Ross
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - James J Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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25
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Luo F, Yang W, Yin M, Mo X, Pang Y, Sun C, Zhu B, Zhang W, Yi C, Li Z, Wang J, Xu B, Feng Z, Huang Y, Lu Y, Hu W. A chromosome-level genome of the human blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum identifies the genomic basis of host-switching. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110638. [PMID: 35385741 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution and adaptation of S. japonicum, a zoonotic parasite that causes human schistosomiasis, remain unclear because of the lack of whole-genome data. We construct a chromosome-level S. japonicum genome and analyze it together with 72 samples representing six populations of the entire endemic region. We observe a Taiwan zoophilic lineage splitting from zoonotic populations ∼45,000 years ago, consistent with the divergent history of their intermediate hosts. Interestingly, we detect a severe population bottleneck in S. japonicum, largely coinciding with human history in Asia during the last glacial maximum. We identify several genomic regions underlying natural selection, including GATAD2A and Lmln, both showing remarkable differentiation among different areas. RNAi knockdown suggests association of GATAD2A with parasite development and infection in definitive hosts, while Lmln relates to the specificity of the intermediate hosts. Our study provides insights into the evolution of S. japonicum and serves as a resource for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Luo
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbin Yang
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingbo Yin
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojin Mo
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhong Pang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC) and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chengsong Sun
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingkuan Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cun Yi
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhidan Li
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jipeng Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Feng
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangyi Huang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC) and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics (ICG), Peking University, Beijing, China; College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wei Hu
- Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Fudan University, Shanghai, China; College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.
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26
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Rozario T, Collins JJ, Newmark PA. The good, the bad, and the ugly: From planarians to parasites. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 147:345-373. [PMID: 35337455 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Platyhelminthes can perhaps rightly be described as a phylum of the good, the bad, and the ugly: remarkable free-living worms that colonize land, river, and sea, which are often rife with color and can display extraordinary regenerative ability; parasitic worms like schistosomes that cause devastating disease and suffering; and monstrous tapeworms that are the stuff of nightmares. In this chapter, we will explore how our research expanded beyond free-living planarians to their gruesome parasitic cousins. We start with Schistosoma mansoni, which is not a new model; however, approaching these parasites from a developmental perspective required a reinvention that may hold generalizable lessons to basic biologists interested in pivoting to disease models. We then turn to our (re)establishment of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta, a once-favorite model that had been largely forgotten by the molecular biology revolution. Here we tell our stories in three, first-person narratives in order to convey personal views of our experiences. Welcome to the dark side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tania Rozario
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.
| | - James J Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
| | - Phillip A Newmark
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Morgridge Institute for Research, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States.
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27
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Kumagai T, Shimogawara R, Ichimura K, Iwanaga S. Calpain inhibitor suppresses both extracellular vesicle-mediated secretion of miRNAs and egg production from paired adults of Schistosoma japonicum. Parasitol Int 2022; 87:102540. [PMID: 35007765 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been reported to be secreted from Schistosoma japonicum at all developmental stages. However, the reproduction and communication mechanisms between the paired adults through the EVs in dioecious Trematoda have not been reported. In this study, EVs containing many exosome-like vesicles and microvesicles were observed in the supernatants of paired adults cultured in vitro, and abundant selected miRNAs were contained in them. In particular, the female-specific miR-bantam was present only in vesicles and was hardly secreted outside the vesicles. In this study, we found that male-female pairing induced secretion of miR-3479 and miR-bantam in EVs, but not of male-specific miR-61. Furthermore, ingestion of mouse erythrocytes also increased the production of miRNAs in paired adult and single female worms. Vesicles were found in the tegument of females treated with erythrocytes under electron microscopy. After the paired worms were treated with several inhibitors against the secretion of EVs, only calpain inhibitor (calpeptin) significantly reduced the amount of miRNA in EVs. Furthermore, the worms treated with only calpeptin inhibited egg production in vitro. Together, these results indicate that qualitative miRNA production through EVs regulated by calpain plays a role in egg production in S. japonicum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kumagai
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.
| | - Rieko Shimogawara
- Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Koichiro Ichimura
- Department of Anatomy and Life Structure, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Shiroh Iwanaga
- Department of Molecular Protozoology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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28
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Schistosoma mansoni α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (SmNAGAL) regulates coordinated parasite movement and egg production. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009828. [PMID: 35025955 PMCID: PMC8791529 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
α-galactosidase (α-GAL) and α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (α-NAGAL) are two glycosyl hydrolases responsible for maintaining cellular homeostasis by regulating glycan substrates on proteins and lipids. Mutations in the human genes encoding either enzyme lead to neurological and neuromuscular impairments seen in both Fabry- and Schindler/Kanzaki- diseases. Here, we investigate whether the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, also contains functionally important α-GAL and α-NAGAL proteins. As infection, parasite maturation and host interactions are all governed by carefully-regulated glycosylation processes, inhibiting S. mansoni's α-GAL and α-NAGAL activities could lead to the development of novel chemotherapeutics. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of putative α-GAL/α-NAGAL protein types showed Smp_089290 to be the only S. mansoni protein to contain the functional amino acid residues necessary for α-GAL/α-NAGAL substrate cleavage. Both α-GAL and α-NAGAL enzymatic activities were higher in females compared to males (p<0.05; α-NAGAL > α-GAL), which was consistent with smp_089290's female biased expression. Spatial localisation of smp_089290 revealed accumulation in parenchymal cells, neuronal cells, and the vitellaria and mature vitellocytes of the adult schistosome. siRNA-mediated knockdown (>90%) of smp_089290 in adult worms significantly inhibited α-NAGAL activity when compared to control worms (siLuc treated males, p<0.01; siLuc treated females, p<0.05). No significant reductions in α-GAL activities were observed in the same extracts. Despite this, decreases in α-NAGAL activities correlated with a significant inhibition in adult worm motility as well as in egg production. Programmed CRISPR/Cas9 editing of smp_089290 in adult worms confirmed the egg reduction phenotype. Based on these results, Smp_089290 was determined to act predominantly as an α-NAGAL (hereafter termed SmNAGAL) in schistosome parasites where it participates in coordinating movement and oviposition processes. Further characterisation of SmNAGAL and other functionally important glycosyl hydrolases may lead to the development of a novel anthelmintic class of compounds.
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29
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Silveira GO, Coelho HS, Amaral MS, Verjovski-Almeida S. Long non-coding RNAs as possible therapeutic targets in protozoa, and in Schistosoma and other helminths. Parasitol Res 2021; 121:1091-1115. [PMID: 34859292 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07384-5] [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: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) emerged in the past 20 years due to massive amounts of scientific data regarding transcriptomic analyses. They have been implicated in a plethora of cellular processes in higher eukaryotes. However, little is known about lncRNA possible involvement in parasitic diseases, with most studies only detecting their presence in parasites of human medical importance. Here, we review the progress on lncRNA studies and their functions in protozoans and helminths. In addition, we show an example of knockdown of one lncRNA in Schistosoma mansoni, SmLINC156349, which led to in vitro parasite adhesion, motility, and pairing impairment, with a 20% decrease in parasite viability and 33% reduction in female oviposition. Other observed phenotypes were a decrease in the proliferation rate of both male and female worms and their gonads, and reduced female lipid and vitelline droplets that are markers for well-developed vitellaria. Impairment of female worms' vitellaria in SmLINC156349-silenced worms led to egg development deficiency. All those results demonstrate the great potential of the tools and methods to characterize lncRNAs as potential new therapeutic targets. Further, we discuss the challenges and limitations of current methods for studying lncRNAs in parasites and possible solutions to overcome them, and we highlight the future directions of this exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert O Silveira
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Helena S Coelho
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Murilo S Amaral
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil.
| | - Sergio Verjovski-Almeida
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil. .,Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-900, Brazil.
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30
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Rawlinson KA, Reid AJ, Lu Z, Driguez P, Wawer A, Coghlan A, Sankaranarayanan G, Buddenborg SK, Soria CD, McCarthy C, Holroyd N, Sanders M, Hoffmann KF, Wilcockson D, Rinaldi G, Berriman M. Daily rhythms in gene expression of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. BMC Biol 2021; 19:255. [PMID: 34852797 PMCID: PMC8638415 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01189-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The consequences of the earth’s daily rotation have led to 24-h biological rhythms in most organisms. Even some parasites are known to have daily rhythms, which, when in synchrony with host rhythms, can optimise their fitness. Understanding these rhythms may enable the development of control strategies that take advantage of rhythmic vulnerabilities. Recent work on protozoan parasites has revealed 24-h rhythms in gene expression, drug sensitivity and the presence of an intrinsic circadian clock; however, similar studies on metazoan parasites are lacking. To address this, we investigated if a metazoan parasite has daily molecular oscillations, whether they reveal how these longer-lived organisms can survive host daily cycles over a lifespan of many years and if animal circadian clock genes are present and rhythmic. We addressed these questions using the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni that lives in the vasculature for decades and causes the tropical disease schistosomiasis. Results Using round-the-clock transcriptomics of male and female adult worms collected from experimentally infected mice, we discovered that ~ 2% of its genes followed a daily pattern of expression. Rhythmic processes included a stress response during the host’s active phase and a ‘peak in metabolic activity’ during the host’s resting phase. Transcriptional profiles in the female reproductive system were mirrored by daily patterns in egg laying (eggs are the main drivers of the host pathology). Genes cycling with the highest amplitudes include predicted drug targets and a vaccine candidate. These 24-h rhythms may be driven by host rhythms and/or generated by a circadian clock; however, orthologs of core clock genes are missing and secondary clock genes show no 24-h rhythmicity. Conclusions There are daily rhythms in the transcriptomes of adult S. mansoni, but they appear less pronounced than in other organisms. The rhythms reveal temporally compartmentalised internal processes and host interactions relevant to within-host survival and between-host transmission. Our findings suggest that if these daily rhythms are generated by an intrinsic circadian clock then the oscillatory mechanism must be distinct from that in other animals. We have shown which transcripts oscillate at this temporal scale and this will benefit the development and delivery of treatments against schistosomiasis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01189-9.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam J Reid
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Zhigang Lu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Patrick Driguez
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.,King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anna Wawer
- Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Avril Coghlan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Mandy Sanders
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - David Wilcockson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental, and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
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31
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Romero AA, Cobb SA, Collins JNR, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ, Collins JJ. The Schistosoma mansoni nuclear receptor FTZ-F1 maintains esophageal gland function via transcriptional regulation of meg-8.3. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010140. [PMID: 34910770 PMCID: PMC8673669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes infect over 200 million of the world's poorest people, but unfortunately treatment relies on a single drug. Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate diverse processes in metazoans, yet few have been functionally characterized in schistosomes. During a systematic analysis of nuclear receptor function, we found that an FTZ-F1-like receptor was essential for parasite survival. Using a combination of transcriptional profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), we discovered that the micro-exon gene meg-8.3 is a transcriptional target of SmFTZ-F1. We found that both Smftz-f1 and meg-8.3 are required for esophageal gland maintenance as well as integrity of the worm's head. Together, these studies define a new role for micro-exon gene function in the parasite and suggest that factors associated with the esophageal gland could represent viable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aracely A. Romero
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sarah A. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Julie N. R. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - David J. Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - James J. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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Excretion patterns of Schistosoma mansoni antigens CCA and CAA by adult male and female worms, using a mouse model and ex vivo parasite cultures. Parasitology 2021; 149:306-313. [PMID: 34736550 PMCID: PMC10097511 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021001839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Assays which enable the detection of schistosome gut-associated circulating anodic (CAA) and cathodic (CCA) antigen in serum or urine are increasingly used as a diagnostic tool for schistosome infection. However, little is known about the production and clearance of these circulating antigens in relation to the sex and reproductive maturity of the parasite. Here we describe CAA and CCA excretion patterns by exploring a mouse model after exposure to 36 male-only, female-only and mixed (male/female) Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. We found that serum and urine CAA levels, analysed at 3 weeks intervals, peaked at 6 weeks post-infection. Worms recovered after perfusion at 14 weeks were cultured ex vivo. Male parasites excreted more circulating antigens than females, in the mouse model as well as ex vivo. In mixed infections (supporting egg production), serum CAA levels correlated to the number of recovered worms, whereas faecal egg counts or Schistosoma DNA in stool did not. No viable eggs and no inflammation were seen in the livers from mice infected with female worms only. Ex vivo, CAA levels were higher than CCA levels. Our study confirms that CAA levels reflect worm burden and allows detection of low-level single-sex infections.
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Wu Q, Feng Z, Hu W. Reduction of autofluorescence in whole adult worms of Schistosoma japonicum for immunofluorescence assay. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:532. [PMID: 34649608 PMCID: PMC8515762 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05027-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunofluorescence assay is one of methods to understand the spatial biology by visualizing localization of biomolecules in cells and tissues. Autofluorescence, as a common phenomenon in organisms, is a background signal interfering the immunolocalization assay of schistosome biomolecules, and may lead to misinterpretation of the biomolecular function. However, applicable method for reducing the autofluorescence in Schistosoma remains unclear. In order to find a suitable method for reducing autofluorescence of schistosomes, different chemical reagents, such as Sudan black B (SBB), trypan blue (TB), copper sulfate (CuSO4), Tris-glycine (Gly), and ammonia/ethanol (AE), at different concentrations and treatment time were tested, and SBB and CuSO4 were verified for the effect of blocking autofluorescence in immunofluorescence to localize the target with anti-SjCRT antibody. By comparing the autofluorescence characteristics of different conditions, it was found that SBB, TB and CuSO4 had a certain degree of reducing autofluorescence effect, and the best effect in females was using 50 mM CuSO4 for 6 h and in males was 0.5% SBB for 6 h. Furthermore, we have applied the optimized conditions to the immunofluorescence of SjCRT protein, and the results revealed that the immunofluorescence signal of SjCRT was clearly visible without autofluorescence interference. We present an effective method to reduce autofluorescence in male and female worm of Schistosoma japonicum for immunofluorescence assay, which could be helpful to better understand biomolecular functions. Our method provides an idea for immunofluorescence assay in other flukes with autofluoresence. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunfeng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Feng
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology On Parasite-Host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention & Fudan University, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, People's Republic of China. .,National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology On Parasite-Host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention & Fudan University, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.
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Alwan SN, LoVerde PT. The effect of fs800 on female egg production in Schistosoma mansoni. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 245:111412. [PMID: 34492240 PMCID: PMC10838108 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
During schistosomiasis, the paired Schistosoma mansoni female produces about 300 eggs each day. These eggs are responsible for the clinical picture and the transmission of the disease. During female development and egg production, fs800 is expressed only in female vitelline cells. Blast search of fs800 did not show similarities with any published sequences by NCBI. We hypothesize that the product of this gene plays a role in S. mansoni egg production. By using RNA interference to knockdown fs800 and quantitative PCR to measure the gene expression in the female schistosomes, we were able to demonstrate that fs800 product is crucial for viable egg production, it has no effect on worm health or male-female pairing. Our data suggest fs800 inhibition as a potential target to prevent transmission and pathology of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sevan N Alwan
- Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.
| | - Philip T LoVerde
- Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA; Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UT Health at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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Assessment of reference genes at six different developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni for quantitative RT-PCR. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16816. [PMID: 34413342 PMCID: PMC8376997 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96055-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reverse-transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is the most used, fast, and reproducible method to confirm large-scale gene expression data. The use of stable reference genes for the normalization of RT-qPCR assays is recognized worldwide. No systematic study for selecting appropriate reference genes for usage in RT-qPCR experiments comparing gene expression levels at different Schistosoma mansoni life-cycle stages has been performed. Most studies rely on genes commonly used in other organisms, such as actin, tubulin, and GAPDH. Therefore, the present study focused on identifying reference genes suitable for RT-qPCR assays across six S. mansoni developmental stages. The expression levels of 25 novel candidates that we selected based on the analysis of public RNA-Seq datasets, along with eight commonly used reference genes, were systematically tested by RT-qPCR across six developmental stages of S. mansoni (eggs, miracidia, cercariae, schistosomula, adult males and adult females). The stability of genes was evaluated with geNorm, NormFinder and RefFinder algorithms. The least stable candidate reference genes tested were actin, tubulin and GAPDH. The two most stable reference genes suitable for RT-qPCR normalization were Smp_101310 (Histone H4 transcription factor) and Smp_196510 (Ubiquitin recognition factor in ER-associated degradation protein 1). Performance of these two genes as normalizers was successfully evaluated with females maintained unpaired or paired to males in culture for 8 days, or with worm pairs exposed for 16 days to double-stranded RNAs to silence a protein-coding gene. This study provides reliable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis using samples from six different S. mansoni life-cycle stages.
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Lu Z, Sankaranarayanan G, Rawlinson KA, Offord V, Brindley PJ, Berriman M, Rinaldi G. The Transcriptome of Schistosoma mansoni Developing Eggs Reveals Key Mediators in Pathogenesis and Life Cycle Propagation. FRONTIERS IN TROPICAL DISEASES 2021; 2:713123. [PMID: 36389622 PMCID: PMC7613829 DOI: 10.3389/fitd.2021.713123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, the most important helminthic disease of humanity, is caused by infection with parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. The disease is driven by parasite eggs becoming trapped in host tissues, followed by inflammation and granuloma formation. Despite abundant transcriptome data for most developmental stages of the three main human-infective schistosome species—Schistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum and S. haematobium—the transcriptomic profiles of developing eggs remain under unexplored. In this study, we performed RNAseq of S. mansoni eggs laid in vitro during early and late embryogenesis, days 1-3 and 3-6 post-oviposition, respectively. Analysis of the transcriptomes identified hundreds of up-regulated genes during the later stage, including venom allergen-like (VAL) proteins, well-established host immunomodulators, and genes involved in organogenesis of the miracidium larva. In addition, the transcriptomes of the in vitro laid eggs were compared with existing publicly available RNA-seq datasets from S. mansoni eggs collected from the livers of rodent hosts. Analysis of enriched GO terms and pathway annotations revealed cell division and protein synthesis processes associated with early embryogenesis, whereas cellular metabolic processes, microtubule-based movement, and microtubule cytoskeleton organization were enriched in the later developmental time point. This is the first transcriptomic analysis of S. mansoni embryonic development, and will facilitate our understanding of infection pathogenesis, miracidial development and life cycle progression of schistosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Lu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kate A. Rawlinson
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Offord
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
- Correspondence: Gabriel Rinaldi,
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37
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Wu W, LoVerde PT. Identification and evolution of nuclear receptors in Platyhelminths. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250750. [PMID: 34388160 PMCID: PMC8363021 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the first complete set of Platyhelminth nuclear receptors (NRs) from Schistosoma mansoni were identified a decade ago, more flatworm genome data is available to identify their NR complement and to analyze the evolutionary relationship of Platyhelminth NRs. NRs are important transcriptional modulators that regulate development, differentiation and reproduction of animals. In this study, NRs are identified in genome databases of thirty-three species including in all Platyhelminth classes (Rhabditophora, Monogenea, Cestoda and Trematoda). Phylogenetic analysis shows that NRs in Platyhelminths follow two different evolutionary lineages: 1) NRs in a free-living freshwater flatworm (Schmidtea mediterranea) and all parasitic flatworms share the same evolutionary lineage with extensive gene loss. 2) NRs in a free-living intertidal zone flatworm (Macrostomum lignano) follow a different evolutionary lineage with a feature of multiple gene duplication and gene divergence. The DNA binding domain (DBD) is the most conserved region in NRs which contains two C4-type zinc finger motifs. A novel zinc finger motif is identified in parasitic flatworm NRs: the second zinc finger of parasitic Platyhelminth HR96b possesses a CHC2 motif which is not found in NRs of all other animals studied to date. In this study, novel NRs (members of NR subfamily 3 and 6) are identified in flatworms, this result demonstrates that members of all six classical NR subfamilies are present in the Platyhelminth phylum. NR gene duplication, loss and divergence in Platyhelminths are analyzed along with the evolutionary relationship of Platyhelminth NRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Wu
- Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Philip T. LoVerde
- Departments of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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38
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Lam HYP, Liang TR, Peng SY. Ameliorative effects of Schisandrin B on Schistosoma mansoni-induced hepatic fibrosis in vivo. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009554. [PMID: 34161342 PMCID: PMC8259995 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is second only to malaria as the most devastating parasitic disease in the world. It is caused by the helminths Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni), S. haematobium, or S. japonicum. Typically, patients with schistosomiasis suffer from symptoms of liver fibrosis and hepatosplenomegaly. Currently, patients were treated with praziquantel. Although praziquantel effectively kills the worm, it cannot prevent re-infection or resolve liver fibrosis. Also, current treatment options are not ample to completely cure liver fibrosis and splenic damages. Moreover, resistance of praziquantel has been reported in vivo and in vitro studies. Therefore, finding new effective treatment agents is urgently needed. Schisandrin B (Sch B) of Schisandra chinensis has been shown to protect against different liver injuries including fatty liver disease, hepatotoxicity, fibrosis, and hepatoma. We herein investigate the potential of using Sch B to treat S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis. Results from the present study demonstrate that Sch B is beneficial in treating S. mansoni-induced liver fibrosis and splenic damages, through inhibition of inflammasome activation and apoptosis; and aside from that regulates host immune responses. Besides, Sch B treatment damages male adult worm in the mice, consequently helps to reduce egg production and lessen the parasite burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Yin Pekkle Lam
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Ruei Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Yi Peng
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Elkrewi M, Moldovan MA, Picard MAL, Vicoso B. Schistosome W-linked genes inform temporal dynamics of sex chromosome evolution and suggest candidate for sex determination. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:5345-5358. [PMID: 34146097 PMCID: PMC8662593 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes, the human parasites responsible for snail fever, are female-heterogametic. Different parts of their ZW sex chromosomes have stopped recombining in distinct lineages, creating "evolutionary strata" of various ages. While the Z-chromosome is well characterized at the genomic and molecular level, the W-chromosome has remained largely unstudied from an evolutionary perspective, as only a few W-linked genes have been detected outside of the model species Schistosoma mansoni. Here, we characterize the gene content and evolution of the W-chromosomes of S. mansoni and of the divergent species S. japonicum. We use a combined RNA/DNA k-mer based pipeline to assemble around one hundred candidate W-specific transcripts in each of the species. About half of them map to known protein coding genes, the majority homologous to S. mansoni Z-linked genes. We perform an extended analysis of the evolutionary strata present in the two species (including characterizing a previously undetected young stratum in S. japonicum) to infer patterns of sequence and expression evolution of W-linked genes at different time points after recombination was lost. W-linked genes show evidence of degeneration, including high rates of protein evolution and reduced expression. Most are found in young lineage-specific strata, with only a few high expression ancestral W-genes remaining, consistent with the progressive erosion of non-recombining regions. Among these, the splicing factor U2AF2 stands out as a promising candidate for primary sex determination, opening new avenues for understanding the molecular basis of the reproductive biology of this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Elkrewi
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
| | - Mikhail A Moldovan
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria.,Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marion A L Picard
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria.,Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Beatriz Vicoso
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
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Nanes Sarfati D, Li P, Tarashansky AJ, Wang B. Single-cell deconstruction of stem-cell-driven schistosome development. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:790-802. [PMID: 33893056 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomes cause one of the most devastating neglected tropical diseases, schistosomiasis. Their transmission is accomplished through a complex life cycle with two obligate hosts and requires multiple radically different body plans specialized for infecting and reproducing in each host. Recent single-cell transcriptomic studies on several schistosome body plans provide a comprehensive map of their cell types, which include stem cells and their differentiated progeny along an intricate developmental hierarchy. This progress not only extends our understanding of the basic biology of the schistosome life cycle but can also inform new therapeutic and preventive strategies against the disease, as blocking the development of specific cell types through genetic manipulations has shown promise in inhibiting parasite survival, growth, and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pengyang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Validation of a human-serum-based in vitro growth method for drug screening on juvenile development stages of Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009313. [PMID: 33784302 PMCID: PMC8034724 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis affects over 200 million people worldwide but only praziquantel is available for treatment and control. Drug discovery is often based on phenotypic drug screening, involving different parasite stages retrieved from infected mice. Aiming to reduce animal use, we validated an in vitro growth method for juvenile Schistosoma mansoni for the purpose of drug sensitivity assays. Methodology/Principal findings We compared inter–batch variability of serum, worm size and organ development, gender distribution, and drug sensitivity between in vitro and in vivo grown worms over different life stages. In vitro developed S. mansoni in Hybridoma medium supplemented with 20% human serum were similar in size as in vivo worms until 28 days of incubation (males 1.4 ± 0.2 mm, females 1.1 ± 0.5 mm long). qPCR analysis revealed similar gender distribution both on newly transformed schistosomula and worms grown for 21 days. Worms developed in vitro and in vivo were similarly sensitive to praziquantel from 7 to 35 days of development with the exception of 21 days of development, where a slightly lower activity was observed for the in vitro grown worms (IC50: 0.54 μM in vitro, 0.14 μM in vivo 72 hours post-incubation). The evaluation of five additional drugs revealed a similar sensitivity on worms developed for 21 days, with the exception of mefloquine, where we observed a 10-fold lower sensitivity on in vitro developed schistosomes when compared to in vivo grown (IC50: 4.43 μM in vitro, 0.48 μM in vivo). Conclusion A large number of juvenile S. mansoni worms can be grown in vitro, which show similar drug sensitivity, gender distribution, size and morphology as the worms recovered from rodents, supporting the use of this method in drug screening efforts. Schistosomiasis is a water-borne disease affecting over 200 million people worldwide and praziquantel is the only drug available for treatment. Although this drug is effective on all Schistosoma species on the adult stage of development, its activity is only partial against early infection stages. In addition, this has been the only drug in use for over 40 years, a situation that poses selective pressure towards resistant worms and highlights the urgent need of new drugs. The discovery and development of new drugs is often based on drug screenings, performed on worms collected from infected mammals. In line with animal welfare recommendations and aiming to increase throughput and reduce the assay costs, we validated a recently established in vitro method to grow juvenile S. mansoni as a drug screening tool. The in vitro established worms have similar gender distribution, size and drug sensitivity as worms collected from mice.
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Mughal MN, Grevelding CG, Haeberlein S. First insights into the autophagy machinery of adult Schistosoma mansoni. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:571-585. [PMID: 33713647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a disease of global importance caused by parasitic flatworms, schistosomes, which cause pathogenicity through eggs laid by the female worm inside the host's blood vessels. Maintenance of cellular homeostasis is crucial for parasites, as for other organisms, and is quite likely important for schistosome reproduction and vitality. We hypothesize a role for autophagy in these processes, an evolutionarily conserved and essential cellular degradation pathway. Here, for the first known time, we shed light on the autophagy machinery and its involvement in pairing-dependent processes, vitality and reproduction of Schistosoma mansoni. We identified autophagy genes by in silico analyses and determined the influence of in vitro culture on the transcriptional expression in male and female worms using quantitative real-time PCR. Among the identified autophagy genes were Beclin, Ambra1, Vps34, DRAM, DAP1, and LC3B, of which some showed a sex-dependent expression. Specifically, the death-associated protein DAP1 was significantly more highly expressed in females compared with males, while for the damage-regulated autophagy modulator DRAM it was the opposite. Furthermore, in-vitro culture significantly changed the transcript expression level of DAP1 in female worms. Next, worms were treated with an autophagy inducer (rapamycin) or inhibitors (bafilomycin A1, wortmannin and spautin-1) to evaluate effects on autophagy protein expression, worm vitality, and reproduction. The conversion of the key autophagy protein LC3B, a marker for autophagic activity, was increased by rapamycin and blocked by bafilomycin. All inhibitors affected worm fitness, egg production, and negatively affected the morphology of gonads and intestine. In summary, autophagy genes in S. mansoni show an interesting sex-dependent expression pattern and manipulation of autophagy in S. mansoni by inhibitors induced detrimental effects, which encourages subsequent studies to identify antischistosomal targets within the autophagy machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudassar N Mughal
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Simone Haeberlein
- Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg (BFS), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstr. 81, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
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43
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You H, Jones MK, Whitworth DJ, McManus DP. Innovations and Advances in Schistosome Stem Cell Research. Front Immunol 2021; 12:599014. [PMID: 33746946 PMCID: PMC7973109 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.599014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes infect about 250 million people globally causing the devastating and persistent disease of schistosomiasis. These blood flukes have a complicated life cycle involving alternating infection of freshwater snail intermediate and definitive mammalian hosts. To survive and flourish in these diverse environments, schistosomes transition through a number of distinct life-cycle stages as a result of which they change their body plan in order to quickly adapt to each new environment. Current research suggests that stem cells, present in adults and larvae, are key in aiding schistosomes to facilitate these changes. Given the recent advances in our understanding of schistosome stem cell biology, we review the key roles that two major classes of cells play in the different life cycle stages during intramolluscan and intramammalian development; these include the germinal cells of sporocysts involved in asexual reproduction in molluscan hosts and the neoblasts of adult worms involved in sexual reproduction in human and other mammalian hosts. These studies shed considerable new light in revealing the stem cell heterogeneity driving the propagation of the schistosome life cycle. We also consider the possibility and value of establishing stem cell lines in schistosomes to advance schistosomiasis research. The availability of such self-renewable resources will provide new platforms to study stem cell behavior and regulation, and to address fundamental aspects of schistosome biology, reproductive development and survival. In turn, such studies will create new avenues to unravel individual gene function and to optimize genome-editing processes in blood flukes, which may lead to the design of novel intervention strategies for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong You
- Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Malcolm K Jones
- Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Deanne J Whitworth
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald P McManus
- Department of Immunology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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44
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Huson KM, Morphew RM, Winters A, Cookson A, Hauck B, Brophy PM. In vitro screening as an anthelmintic discovery pipeline for Calicophoron daubneyi: nutritive media and rumen environment-based approaches. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1351-1362. [PMID: 33547506 PMCID: PMC7940163 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07066-2] [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: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Paramphistomosis can lead to morbidity and mortality of ruminant livestock within tropical and sub-tropical climates. In recent decades, rumen fluke has become an emerging infection in temperate climates across Western Europe, with Calicophoron daubneyi, the primary species present. Clinical outbreaks with C. daubneyi larvae are reported and adults might be responsible for production losses. There is not currently a widely licensed anthelmintic product available to control C. daubneyi. In this study, three existing flukicide anthelmintics were tested for efficacy against mature C. daubneyi, comparing a standard in vitro culturing assay and a new more relevant rumen fluid based in vitro compound screening protocol. The new rumen based screen confirmed that oxyclozanide was active against adult C. daubneyi and identified activity with praziquantel. The study highlighted the downstream value of incorporating relevant in vitro screening for anthelmintic discovery pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Huson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK.,Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Large Park, Hillsborough, BT26 6DR, UK
| | - R M Morphew
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - A Winters
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - A Cookson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - B Hauck
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - P M Brophy
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK.
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45
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Li P, Nanes Sarfati D, Xue Y, Yu X, Tarashansky AJ, Quake SR, Wang B. Single-cell analysis of Schistosoma mansoni identifies a conserved genetic program controlling germline stem cell fate. Nat Commun 2021; 12:485. [PMID: 33473133 PMCID: PMC7817839 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20794-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms causing one of the most prevalent infectious diseases from which millions of people are currently suffering. These parasites have high fecundity and their eggs are both the transmissible agents and the cause of the infection-associated pathology. Given its biomedical significance, the schistosome germline has been a research focus for more than a century. Nonetheless, molecular mechanisms that regulate its development are only now being understood. In particular, it is unknown what balances the fate of germline stem cells (GSCs) in producing daughter stem cells through mitotic divisions versus gametes through meiosis. Here, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on juvenile schistosomes and capture GSCs during de novo gonadal development. We identify a genetic program that controls the proliferation and differentiation of GSCs. This program centers around onecut, a homeobox transcription factor, and boule, an mRNA binding protein. Their expressions are mutually dependent in the schistosome male germline, and knocking down either of them causes over-proliferation of GSCs and blocks germ cell differentiation. We further show that this germline-specific regulatory program is conserved in the planarian, schistosome's free-living evolutionary cousin, but the function of onecut has changed during evolution to support GSC maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - Yuan Xue
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Xi Yu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - Stephen R Quake
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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46
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Santos LL, Santos J, Gouveia MJ, Bernardo C, Lopes C, Rinaldi G, Brindley PJ, da Costa JMC. Urogenital Schistosomiasis-History, Pathogenesis, and Bladder Cancer. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10020205. [PMID: 33429985 PMCID: PMC7826813 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10020205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is the most important helminthiasis worldwide in terms of morbidity and mortality. Most of the infections occurs in Africa, which about two thirds are caused by Schistosoma haematobium. The infection with S. haematobium is considered carcinogenic leading to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Additionally, it is responsible for female genital schistosomiasis leading to infertility and higher risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Remarkably, a recent outbreak in Corsica (France) drew attention to its potential re-mergence in Southern Europe. Thus far, little is known related to host-parasite interactions that trigger carcinogenesis. However, recent studies have opened new avenues to understand mechanisms on how the parasite infection can lead cancer and other associated pathologies. Here, we present a historical perspective of schistosomiasis, and review the infection-associated pathologies and studies on host-parasite interactions that unveil tentative mechanisms underlying schistosomiasis-associated carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lúcio Lara Santos
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics, Research Centre, Portuguese Oncology Institute—Porto (IPO-Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (L.L.S.); (C.L.)
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute—Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
- Urology Department, Hospital Américo Boavida, Luanda 00200, Angola;
| | - Júlio Santos
- Urology Department, Hospital Américo Boavida, Luanda 00200, Angola;
| | - Maria João Gouveia
- Center for the Study in Animal Science (CECA/ICETA), University of Porto, Rua de D. Manuel II, Apt 55142, 4051-401 Porto, Portugal;
- Centre for Parasite Biology and Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Rua Alexandre Herculano 321, 4000-055 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Bernardo
- Hormones and Cancer Lab, Institute of Biomedicine, iBiMED, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Carlos Lopes
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics, Research Centre, Portuguese Oncology Institute—Porto (IPO-Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; (L.L.S.); (C.L.)
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute—Porto (IPO-Porto), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK;
| | - Paul J. Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA;
- Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA
| | - José M. Correia da Costa
- Center for the Study in Animal Science (CECA/ICETA), University of Porto, Rua de D. Manuel II, Apt 55142, 4051-401 Porto, Portugal;
- Centre for Parasite Biology and Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Rua Alexandre Herculano 321, 4000-055 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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47
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Du X, McManus DP, French JD, Jones MK, You H. CRISPR/Cas9: A new tool for the study and control of helminth parasites. Bioessays 2020; 43:e2000185. [PMID: 33145822 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent reports of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in parasitic helminths open up new avenues for research on these dangerous pathogens. However, the complex morphology and life cycles inherent to these parasites present obstacles for the efficient application of CRISPR/Cas9-targeted mutagenesis. This is especially true with the trematode flukes where only modest levels of gene mutation efficiency have been achieved. Current major challenges in the application of CRISPR/Cas9 for study of parasitic worms thus lie in enhancing gene mutation efficiency and overcoming issues involved in host passage so that mutated parasites survive. Strategies developed for CRISPR/Cas9 studies on Caenorhabditis elegans, protozoa and mammalian cells, including novel delivery methods, the choice of selectable markers, and refining mutation precision represent novel tactics whereby these impediments can be overcome. Furthermore, employing CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene drive to interfere with vector transmission represents a novel approach for the control of parasitic worms that is worthy of further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Du
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Donald P McManus
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Juliet D French
- Genetics & Computational Biology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Malcolm K Jones
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hong You
- Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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48
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Wang J, Paz C, Padalino G, Coghlan A, Lu Z, Gradinaru I, Collins JNR, Berriman M, Hoffmann KF, Collins JJ. Large-scale RNAi screening uncovers therapeutic targets in the parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Science 2020; 369:1649-1653. [PMID: 32973031 PMCID: PMC7877197 DOI: 10.1126/science.abb7699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Schistosome parasites kill 250,000 people every year. Treatment of schistosomiasis relies on the drug praziquantel. Unfortunately, a scarcity of molecular tools has hindered the discovery of new drug targets. Here, we describe a large-scale RNA interference (RNAi) screen in adult Schistosoma mansoni that examined the function of 2216 genes. We identified 261 genes with phenotypes affecting neuromuscular function, tissue integrity, stem cell maintenance, and parasite survival. Leveraging these data, we prioritized compounds with activity against the parasites and uncovered a pair of protein kinases (TAO and STK25) that cooperate to maintain muscle-specific messenger RNA transcription. Loss of either of these kinases results in paralysis and worm death in a mammalian host. These studies may help expedite therapeutic development and invigorate studies of these neglected parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jipeng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Carlos Paz
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Gilda Padalino
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK
| | - Avril Coghlan
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Zhigang Lu
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Irina Gradinaru
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Julie N R Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Karl F Hoffmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK
| | - James J Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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49
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Formenti F, Cortés A, Brindley PJ, Cantacessi C, Rinaldi G. A bug's life: Delving into the challenges of helminth microbiome studies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008446. [PMID: 32911483 PMCID: PMC7482834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Formenti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - Alba Cortés
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Departament de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacèutica i Parasitologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Burjassot, València, Spain
| | - Paul J Brindley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, and Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Cinzia Cantacessi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel Rinaldi
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
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50
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Lee J, Chong T, Newmark PA. The esophageal gland mediates host immune evasion by the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:19299-19309. [PMID: 32737161 PMCID: PMC7431036 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2006553117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms that cause schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease affecting over 200 million people. Schistosomes develop multiple body plans while navigating their complex life cycle, which involves two different hosts: a mammalian definitive host and a molluscan intermediate host. Their survival and propagation depend upon proliferation and differentiation of stem cells necessary for parasite homeostasis and reproduction. Infective larvae released from snails carry a handful of stem cells that serve as the likely source of new tissues as the parasite adapts to life inside the mammalian host; however, the role of these stem cells during this critical life cycle stage remains unclear. Here, we characterize stem cell fates during early intramammalian development. Surprisingly, we find that the esophageal gland, an accessory organ of the digestive tract, develops before the rest of the digestive system is formed and blood feeding is initiated, suggesting a role in processes beyond nutrient uptake. To explore such a role, we examine schistosomes that lack the esophageal gland due to knockdown of a forkhead-box transcription factor, Sm-foxA, which blocks development and maintenance of the esophageal gland, without affecting the development of other somatic tissues. Intriguingly, schistosomes lacking the esophageal gland die after transplantation into naive mice, but survive in immunodeficient mice lacking B cells. We show that parasites lacking the esophageal gland are unable to lyse ingested immune cells within the esophagus before passing them into the gut. These results unveil an immune-evasion mechanism mediated by the esophageal gland, which is essential for schistosome survival and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayhun Lee
- Regenerative Biology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715
| | - Tracy Chong
- Regenerative Biology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715
| | - Phillip A Newmark
- Regenerative Biology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI 53715;
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715
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