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Sounart H, Voronin D, Masarapu Y, Chung M, Saarenpää S, Ghedin E, Giacomello S. Miniature spatial transcriptomics for studying parasite-endosymbiont relationships at the micro scale. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6500. [PMID: 37838705 PMCID: PMC10576761 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42237-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Several important human infectious diseases are caused by microscale-sized parasitic nematodes like filarial worms. Filarial worms have their own spatial tissue organization; to uncover this tissue structure, we need methods that can spatially resolve these miniature specimens. Most filarial worms evolved a mutualistic association with endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia. However, the mechanisms underlying the dependency of filarial worms on the fitness of these bacteria remain unknown. As Wolbachia is essential for the development, reproduction, and survival of filarial worms, we spatially explored how Wolbachia interacts with the worm's reproductive system by performing a spatial characterization using Spatial Transcriptomics (ST) across a posterior region containing reproductive tissue and developing embryos of adult female Brugia malayi worms. We provide a proof-of-concept for miniature-ST to explore spatial gene expression patterns in small sample types, demonstrating the method's ability to uncover nuanced tissue region expression patterns, observe the spatial localization of key B. malayi - Wolbachia pathway genes, and co-localize the B. malayi spatial transcriptome in Wolbachia tissue regions, also under antibiotic treatment. We envision our approach will open up new avenues for the study of infectious diseases caused by micro-scale parasitic worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Sounart
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Denis Voronin
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Yuvarani Masarapu
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew Chung
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sami Saarenpää
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Systems Genomics Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Stefania Giacomello
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SciLifeLab, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Yue G, Cao YL, Ying D, Hongchang Z, Qian SY, De Long Z, Qiang CG, Bei J, Ting WW, Mingke L. Transcriptome Profiling of Male Adult Angiostrongylus cantonensis. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2023; 18:382-389. [PMID: 37886258 PMCID: PMC10597880 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v18i3.13761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Background The pathogen of angiostrongyliasis is the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and the transcriptome profiling of the male adult was unclear. We aimed to understand how the male adults adapt, so the expression profile of A. cantonensis adult males was analyzed. Methods In order to improve the understanding of the transcriptome of adult males, RNA from three groups of male adult A. cantonensis was extracted and reverse transcribed to construct cDNA libraries. After sequencing, annotation of unigenes and transcripts was performed by querying the NR (Non-Redundant Protein Sequence Database), GO (Gene Ontology) and COG/KOG (Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins/euKaryotic Ortholog Groups) databases. Results For each group of adults, 43,260,894 raw reads and 43,200,341 clean reads were obtained. After successful assembly, 87,649 unigenes and 146,895 transcripts were obtained. Annotation of the unigenes and transcripts was identical and male adults expressed a series of genes encoding proteins specific to the male gender at the adult stage, such as proteins involved in energy metabolism, energy synthesis and transport. Expression of the ribosome pathway suggests a relationship with the physical activities during the adult male stage. Conclusion The transcriptome analysis is a good reference to understand further the expression profile of male adult A. cantonensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Yue
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu Liang Cao
- Emergency Department, South Taihu Hospital, Gangnan Road 1566, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dong Ying
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhou Hongchang
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shang Ya Qian
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhang De Long
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chen Gao Qiang
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiang Bei
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wu Wan Ting
- School of Medicine, Huzhou University & Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lu Mingke
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian, China
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Buerfent BC, Gölz L, Hofmann A, Rühl H, Stamminger W, Fricker N, Hess T, Oldenburg J, Nöthen MM, Schumacher J, Hübner MP, Hoerauf A. Transcriptome-wide analysis of filarial extract-primed human monocytes reveal changes in LPS-induced PTX3 expression levels. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2562. [PMID: 30796272 PMCID: PMC6385373 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38985-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Filarial nematodes modulate immune responses in their host to enable their survival and mediate protective effects against autoimmunity and allergies. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory capacity of extracts from the human pathogenic filaria Brugia malayi (BmA) on human monocyte responses in a transcriptome-wide manner to identify associated pathways and diseases. As previous transcriptome studies often observed quiescent responses of innate cells to filariae, the potential of BmA to alter LPS driven responses was investigated by analyzing >47.000 transcripts of monocytes from healthy male volunteers stimulated with BmA, Escherichia coli LPS or a sequential stimulation of both. In comparison to ~2200 differentially expressed genes in LPS-only stimulated monocytes, only a limited number of differentially expressed genes were identified upon BmA priming before LPS re-stimulation with only PTX3↓ reaching statistical significance after correcting for multiple testing. Nominal significant differences were reached for metallothioneins↑, MMP9↑, CXCL5/ENA-78↑, CXCL6/GCP-2↑, TNFRSF21↓, and CCL20/MIP3α↓ and were confirmed by qPCR or ELISA. Flow cytometric analysis of activation markers revealed a reduced LPS-induced expression of HLA-DR and CD86 on BmA-primed monocytes as well as a reduced apoptosis of BmA-stimulated monocytes. While our experimental design does not allow a stringent extrapolation of our results to the development of filarial pathology, several genes that were identified in BmA-primed monocytes had previously been associated with filarial pathology, supporting the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- B C Buerfent
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - L Gölz
- Department of Orthodontics, Center of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Orthodontics and Orofacial Orthopedics, University Hospital of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - A Hofmann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - H Rühl
- Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - W Stamminger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - N Fricker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - T Hess
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - J Oldenburg
- Institute of Experimental Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - M M Nöthen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - J Schumacher
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genomics, Life & Brain Center, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - M P Hübner
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - A Hoerauf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, University Hospital of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany
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Bennuru S, O'Connell EM, Drame PM, Nutman TB. Mining Filarial Genomes for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets. Trends Parasitol 2017; 34:80-90. [PMID: 29031509 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Filarial infections of humans cause some of the most important neglected tropical diseases. The global efforts for eliminating filarial infections by mass drug administration programs may require additional tools (safe macrofilaricidal drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic biomarkers). The accurate and sensitive detection of viable parasites is essential for diagnosis and for surveillance programs. Current community-wide treatment modalities do not kill the adult filarial worms effectively; hence, there is a need to identify and develop safe macrofilaricidal drugs. High-throughput sequencing, mass spectroscopy methods and advances in computational biology have greatly accelerated the discovery process. Here, we describe post-genomic developments toward the identification of diagnostic biomarkers and drug targets for the filarial infection of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasisekhar Bennuru
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Elise M O'Connell
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Papa M Drame
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas B Nutman
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lustigman
- Molecular Parasitology, New York Blood Center, New York, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Alexandra Grote
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
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Wang Q, Rosa BA, Nare B, Powell K, Valente S, Rotili D, Mai A, Marshall GR, Mitreva M. Targeting Lysine Deacetylases (KDACs) in Parasites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004026. [PMID: 26402733 PMCID: PMC4581690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to an increasing problem of drug resistance among almost all parasites species ranging from protists to worms, there is an urgent need to explore new drug targets and their inhibitors to provide new and effective parasitic therapeutics. In this regard, there is growing interest in exploring known drug leads of human epigenetic enzymes as potential starting points to develop novel treatments for parasitic diseases. This approach of repurposing (starting with validated targets and inhibitors) is quite attractive since it has the potential to reduce the expense of drug development and accelerate the process of developing novel drug candidates for parasite control. Lysine deacetylases (KDACs) are among the most studied epigenetic drug targets of humans, and a broad range of small-molecule inhibitors for these enzymes have been reported. In this work, we identify the KDAC protein families in representative species across important classes of parasites, screen a compound library of 23 hydroxamate- or benzamide-based small molecules KDAC inhibitors, and report their activities against a range of parasitic species, including the pathogen of malaria (Plasmodium falciparum), kinetoplastids (Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania donovani), and nematodes (Brugia malayi, Dirofilaria immitis and Haemonchus contortus). Compound activity against parasites is compared to that observed against the mammalian cell line (L929 mouse fibroblast) in order to determine potential parasite-versus-host selectivity). The compounds showed nanomolar to sub-nanomolar potency against various parasites, and some selectivity was observed within the small panel of compounds tested. The possible binding modes of the active compounds at the different protein target sites within different species were explored by docking to homology models to help guide the discovery of more selective, parasite-specific inhibitors. This current work supports previous studies that explored the use of KDAC inhibitors in targeting Plasmodium to develop new anti-malarial treatments, and also pioneers experiments with these KDAC inhibitors as potential new anthelminthics. The selectivity observed begins to address the challenges of targeting specific parasitic diseases while limiting host toxicity. Due to pandemic drug resistance in the treatment of parasitic infections, there is an urgent need to identify novel drug targets and their associated drug compounds. Although “drug repurposing”, i.e. the application of known drugs and compounds to new indications such as infectious diseases, provides a cost effective approach in the development of novel therapeutics, selectivity is one of the major obstacles to overcome in getting such compounds into clinical trials as anti-parasitic drugs. Using the lysine deacetylases (KDACs) as an example, we explored the activities of a panel of known inhibitors against the KDAC targets in a range of parasitic organisms. The computational study of their binding modes to the targets (by docking the compounds to the homology models within different organisms in comparison with the human proteins) helps to rationalize the different activities observed and provide insight on the optimization of lead compounds to improve selectivity. Our work provides support of “drug repurposing” in the treatment of parasitic diseases, and demonstrates the necessity of optimizing these leads for the ultimate goal of preparing them for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Bruce A. Rosa
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Bakela Nare
- SCYNEXIS, Inc, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kerrie Powell
- SCYNEXIS, Inc, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sergio Valente
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy
| | - Dante Rotili
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonello Mai
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, Roma, Italy
| | - Garland R. Marshall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Departments of Genetics and of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Ma GX, Zhou RQ, Song ZH, Zhu HH, Zhou ZY, Zeng YQ. Molecular mechanism of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 (PP1cα-PP1r7) in spermatogenesis of Toxocara canis. Acta Trop 2015; 149:148-54. [PMID: 26026715 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Toxocariasis is one of the most important, but neglected, zoonoses, which is mainly caused by Toxocara canis. To better understand the role of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) in reproductive processes of male adult T. canis, differential expression analysis was used to reveal the profiles of PP1 catalytic subunit α (PP1cα) gene Tc-stp-1 and PP1 regulatory subunit 7 (PP1r7) gene TcM-1309. Indirect fluorescence immunocytochemistry was carried out to determine the subcellular distribution of PP1cα. Double-stranded RNA interference (RNAi) assays were employed to illustrate the function and mechanism of PP1cα in male adult reproduction. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) showed transcriptional consistency of Tc-stp-1 and TcM-1309 in sperm-producing germline tissues and localization research showed cytoplasmic distribution of PP1cα in sf9 cells, which indicated relevant involvements of PP1cα and PP1r7 in spermatogenesis. Moreover, spatiotemporal transcriptional differences of Tc-stp-1 were determined by gene knockdown analysis, which revealed abnormal morphologies and blocked meiotic divisions of spermatocytes by phenotypic aberration scanning, thereby highlighting the crucial involvement of PP1cα in spermatogenesis. These results revealed a PP1cα-PP1r7 mechanism by which PP1 regulates kinetochore-microtubule interactions in spermatogenesis and provided important clues to identify novel drug or vaccine targets for toxocariasis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Xu Ma
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rongchang Campus, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Qiong Zhou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rongchang Campus, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhen Hui Song
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rongchang Campus, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Hong Zhu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rongchang Campus, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, People's Republic of China
| | - Zuo Yong Zhou
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rongchang Campus, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Qin Zeng
- College of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 402460, People's Republic of China
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Luck AN, Evans CC, Riggs MD, Foster JM, Moorhead AR, Slatko BE, Michalski ML. Concurrent transcriptional profiling of Dirofilaria immitis and its Wolbachia endosymbiont throughout the nematode life cycle reveals coordinated gene expression. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1041. [PMID: 25433394 PMCID: PMC4289336 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dirofilaria immitis, or canine heartworm, is a filarial nematode parasite that infects dogs and other mammals worldwide. Current disease control relies on regular administration of anthelmintic preventives, however, relatively poor compliance and evidence of developing drug resistance could warrant alternative measures against D. immitis and related human filarial infections be taken. As with many other filarial nematodes, D. immitis contains Wolbachia, an obligate bacterial endosymbiont thought to be involved in providing certain critical metabolites to the nematode. Correlations between nematode and Wolbachia transcriptomes during development have not been examined. Therefore, we detailed the developmental transcriptome of both D. immitis and its Wolbachia (wDi) in order to gain a better understanding of parasite-endosymbiont interactions throughout the nematode life cycle. Results Over 215 million single-end 50 bp reads were generated from total RNA from D. immitis adult males and females, microfilariae (mf) and third and fourth-stage larvae (L3 and L4). We critically evaluated the transcriptomes of the various life cycle stages to reveal sex-biased transcriptional patterns, as well as transcriptional differences between larval stages that may be involved in larval maturation. Hierarchical clustering revealed both D. immitis and wDi transcriptional activity in the L3 stage is clearly distinct from other life cycle stages. Interestingly, a large proportion of both D. immitis and wDi genes display microfilarial-biased transcriptional patterns. Concurrent transcriptome sequencing identified potential molecular interactions between parasite and endosymbiont that are more prominent during certain life cycle stages. In support of metabolite provisioning between filarial nematodes and Wolbachia, the synthesis of the critical metabolite, heme, by wDi appears to be synchronized in a stage-specific manner (mf-specific) with the production of heme-binding proteins in D. immitis. Conclusions Our integrated transcriptomic study has highlighted interesting correlations between Wolbachia and D. immitis transcription throughout the life cycle and provided a resource that may be used for the development of novel intervention strategies, not only for the treatment and prevention of D. immitis infections, but of other closely related human parasites as well. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1041) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Michelle L Michalski
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WI 54901, USA.
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Choi YJ, Aliota MT, Mayhew GF, Erickson SM, Christensen BM. Dual RNA-seq of parasite and host reveals gene expression dynamics during filarial worm-mosquito interactions. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e2905. [PMID: 24853112 PMCID: PMC4031193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasite biology, by its very nature, cannot be understood without integrating it with that of the host, nor can the host response be adequately explained without considering the activity of the parasite. However, due to experimental limitations, molecular studies of parasite-host systems have been predominantly one-sided investigations focusing on either of the partners involved. Here, we conducted a dual RNA-seq time course analysis of filarial worm parasite and host mosquito to better understand the parasite processes underlying development in and interaction with the host tissue, from the establishment of infection to the development of infective-stage larva. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using the Brugia malayi-Aedes aegypti system, we report parasite gene transcription dynamics, which exhibited a highly ordered developmental program consisting of a series of cyclical and state-transitioning temporal patterns. In addition, we contextualized these parasite data in relation to the concurrent dynamics of the host transcriptome. Comparative analyses using uninfected tissues and different host strains revealed the influence of parasite development on host gene transcription as well as the influence of the host environment on parasite gene transcription. We also critically evaluated the life-cycle transcriptome of B. malayi by comparing developmental stages in the mosquito relative to those in the mammalian host, providing insight into gene expression changes underpinning the mosquito-borne parasitic lifestyle of this heteroxenous parasite. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The data presented herein provide the research community with information to design wet lab experiments and select candidates for future study to more fully dissect the whole set of molecular interactions of both organisms in this mosquito-filarial worm symbiotic relationship. Furthermore, characterization of the transcriptional program over the complete life cycle of the parasite, including stages within the mosquito, could help devise novel targets for control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jun Choi
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Matthew T. Aliota
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - George F. Mayhew
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Sara M. Erickson
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Bruce M. Christensen
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
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Gene expression analysis distinguishes tissue-specific and gender-related functions among adult Ascaris suum tissues. Mol Genet Genomics 2013; 288:243-60. [PMID: 23572074 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-013-0743-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 03/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Over a billion people are infected by Ascaris spp. intestinal parasites. To clarify functional differences among tissues of adult A. suum, we compared gene expression by various tissues of these worms by expression microarray methods. The A. suum genome was sequenced and assembled to allow generation of microarray elements. Expression of over 40,000 60-mer elements was investigated in a variety of tissues from both male and female adult worms. Nearly 50 percent of the elements for which signal was detected exhibited differential expression among different tissues. The unique profile of transcripts identified for each tissue clarified functional distinctions among tissues, such as chitin binding in the ovary and peptidase activity in the intestines. Interestingly, hundreds of gender-specific elements were characterized in multiple non-reproductive tissues of female or male worms, with most prominence of gender differences in intestinal tissue. A. suum genes from the same family were frequently expressed differently among tissues. Transcript abundance for genes specific to A. suum, by comparison to Caenorhabditis elegans, varied to a greater extent among tissues than for genes conserved between A. suum and C. elegans. Analysis using C. elegans protein interaction data identified functional modules conserved between these two nematodes, resulting in identification of functional predictions of essential subnetworks of protein interactions and how these networks may vary among nematode tissues. A notable finding was very high module similarity between adult reproductive tissues and intestine. Our results provide the most comprehensive assessment of gene expression among tissues of a parasitic nematode to date.
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Singh PK, Kushwaha S, Mohd S, Pathak M, Misra-Bhattacharya S. In vitro gene silencing of independent phosphoglycerate mutase (iPGM) in the filarial parasite Brugia malayi. Infect Dis Poverty 2013; 2:5. [PMID: 23849829 PMCID: PMC3707094 DOI: 10.1186/2049-9957-2-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM) enzyme catalyzes the interconversion of 2- and 3-phosphoglycerate in the glycolytic /gluconeogenic pathways that are present in the majority of cellular organisms. They can be classified as cofactor-dependent PGM (dPGM) or cofactor-independent PGM (iPGM). Vertebrates, yeasts, and many bacteria have only dPGM, while higher plants, nematodes, archaea, and many other bacteria have only iPGM. A small number of bacteria, including Escherichia coli and certain archaea and protozoa, contain both forms. The silencing of ipgm in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has demonstrated the importance of this enzyme in parasite viability and, therefore, its potential as an anthelmintic drug target. In this study, the role of the Brugia malayi (B. malayi) ipgm in parasite viability, microfilaria release, embryogenesis, and in vivo development of infective larvae post-gene silencing was explored by applying ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference studies. RESULTS The in vitro ipgm gene silencing by small interfering RNA (siRNA) leads to severe phenotypic deformities in the intrauterine developmental stages of female worms with a drastic reduction (~90%) in the motility of adult parasites and a significantly reduced (80%) release of microfilariae (mf) by female worms in vitro. Almost half of the in vitro-treated infective L3 displayed sluggish movement. The in vivo survival and development of siRNA-treated infective larvae (L3) was investigated in the peritoneal cavity of jirds where a ~45% reduction in adult worm establishment was observed. CONCLUSION The findings clearly suggest that iPGM is essential for both larval and adult stages of B. malayi parasite and that it plays a pivotal role in female worm embryogenesis. The results thus validate the Bm-iPGM as a putative anti-filarial drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar Singh
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, UP, 226021, India
| | - Susheela Kushwaha
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, UP, 226021, India
| | - Shahab Mohd
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, UP, 226021, India
| | - Manisha Pathak
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, UP, 226021, India
| | - Shailja Misra-Bhattacharya
- Division of Parasitology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, UP, 226021, India
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Using existing drugs as leads for broad spectrum anthelmintics targeting protein kinases. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003149. [PMID: 23459584 PMCID: PMC3573124 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
As one of the largest protein families, protein kinases (PKs) regulate nearly all processes within the cell and are considered important drug targets. Much research has been conducted on inhibitors for PKs, leading to a wealth of compounds that target PKs that have potential to be lead anthelmintic drugs. Identifying compounds that have already been developed to treat neglected tropical diseases is an attractive way to obtain lead compounds inexpensively that can be developed into much needed drugs, especially for use in developing countries. In this study, PKs from nematodes, hosts, and DrugBank were identified and classified into kinase families and subfamilies. Nematode proteins were placed into orthologous groups that span the phylum Nematoda. A minimal kinome for the phylum Nematoda was identified, and properties of the minimal kinome were explored. Orthologous groups from the minimal kinome were prioritized for experimental testing based on RNAi phenotype of the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog, transcript expression over the life-cycle and anatomic expression patterns. Compounds linked to targets in DrugBank belonging to the same kinase families and subfamilies in the minimal nematode kinome were extracted. Thirty-five compounds were tested in the non-parasitic C. elegans and active compounds progressed to testing against nematode species with different modes of parasitism, the blood-feeding Haemonchus contortus and the filarial Brugia malayi. Eighteen compounds showed efficacy in C. elegans, and six compounds also showed efficacy in at least one of the parasitic species. Hypotheses regarding the pathway the compounds may target and their molecular mechanism for activity are discussed. Parasitic nematode infection is a large global health and economic problem, infecting around 2 billion people and costing $100 billion in crops and livestock. People in developing countries often live on one dollar per day, so treatments cannot be expensive, therefore using pre-existing drugs as lead compounds provides an economical way to begin to develop affordable treatments. Protein kinases were chosen as the focus of this work due to the large number of pre-existing drugs that target them and their important role in regulating almost all activities in the cell. Herein we describe a set of protein kinases conserved in diverse nematode species and experimental screening results of pre-existing drugs that target these kinases. The compounds that show in vitro efficacy in both C. elegans and parasitic nematodes, H. contortus or B. malayi have potential to be optimized further. These compounds have potential to provide accessible treatment to people in developing countries, as well as improving the health of livestock and boosting food production globally.
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13
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Britton C, Samarasinghe B, Knox DP. Ups and downs of RNA interference in parasitic nematodes. Exp Parasitol 2012; 132:56-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2011] [Revised: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Jiang D, Malone J, Townsend R, Weil GJ, Li B. Multiplex proteomics analysis of gender-associated proteins in Brugia malayi. Int J Parasitol 2012; 42:841-50. [PMID: 22819962 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2012] [Revised: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gender-associated (GA) genes are important for the development and reproduction of filarial nematodes. Identification and characterization of GA genes may provide insight into major pathways and processes involved in development and reproduction. The recent completion of the Brugia malayi genome has provided a good foundation for proteomics studies. Multiplex protein labelling and two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) combined with MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem MS were used to identify GA proteins. Thirty male and 32 female associated proteins were identified in this study. Many of these GA genes have homologues in Caenorhabditis elegans (83% male and 69% female), and most of the homologues have severe RNA interference (RNAi) phenotypes (72% male and 55% female) in C. elegans. Functional analysis showed that the male-associated genes are enriched for energy production, metabolic processes and cytoskeleton, while the female-associated genes are enriched for RNA modification and transcription. GA genes encode many excreted/secreted proteins. In situ localization studies showed that GA genes are mainly expressed in reproductive organs, and this is further evidence for their involvement in reproduction. Improved understanding of the basic biology of filarial nematodes may lead to improved tools for prevention and treatment of filarial infections. This study combined proteomics, in situ hybridization (ISH) and bioinformatics in a systems biology approach to improve understanding of gender differences and key proteins involved in reproduction in filarial worms. Advanced proteomics methods and bioinformatics led to the identification of 62 GA proteins for B. malayi. ISH revealed that most of those GA genes are expressed during embryogenesis or spermatogenesis. ISH results were consistent with RNAi data for C. elegans that linked the homologues of the B. malayi proteins to gamete production and embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daojun Jiang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Li BW, Wang Z, Rush AC, Mitreva M, Weil GJ. Transcription profiling reveals stage- and function-dependent expression patterns in the filarial nematode Brugia malayi. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:184. [PMID: 22583769 PMCID: PMC3414817 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Brugia malayi is a nematode parasite that causes lymphatic filariasis, a disfiguring and disabiling tropical disease. Although a first draft genome sequence was released in 2007, very little is understood about transcription programs that govern developmental changes required for the parasite’s development and survival in its mammalian and insect hosts. Results We used a microarray with probes that represent some 85% of predicted genes to generate gene expression profiles for seven parasite life cycle stages/sexes. Approximately 41% of transcripts with detectable expression signals were differentially expressed across lifecycle stages. Twenty-six percent of transcripts were exclusively expressed in a single parasite stage, and 27% were expressed in all stages studied. K-means clustering of differentially expressed transcripts revealed five major transcription patterns that were associated with parasite lifecycle stages or gender. Examination of known stage-associated transcripts validated these data sets and suggested that newly identified stage or gender-associated transcripts may exercise biological functions in development and reproduction. The results also indicate that genes with similar transcription patterns were often involved in similar functions or cellular processes. For example, nuclear receptor family gene transcripts were upregulated in gene expression pattern four (female-enriched) while protein kinase gene family transcripts were upregulated in expression pattern five (male-enriched). We also used pair-wise comparisons to identify transcriptional changes between life cycle stages and sexes. Conclusions Analysis of gene expression patterns of lifecycle in B. malayi has provided novel insights into the biology of filarial parasites. Proteins encoded by stage-associated and/or stage-specific transcripts are likely to be critically important for key parasite functions such as establishment and maintenance of infection, development, reproduction, and survival in the host. Some of these may be useful targets for vaccines or new drug treatments for filariasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben-Wen Li
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St, Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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16
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Lustigman S, Geldhof P, Grant WN, Osei-Atweneboana MY, Sripa B, Basáñez MG. A research agenda for helminth diseases of humans: basic research and enabling technologies to support control and elimination of helminthiases. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1445. [PMID: 22545160 PMCID: PMC3335859 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful and sustainable intervention against human helminthiases depends on optimal utilisation of available control measures and development of new tools and strategies, as well as an understanding of the evolutionary implications of prolonged intervention on parasite populations and those of their hosts and vectors. This will depend largely on updated knowledge of relevant and fundamental parasite biology. There is a need, therefore, to exploit and apply new knowledge and techniques in order to make significant and novel gains in combating helminthiases and supporting the sustainability of current and successful mass drug administration (MDA) programmes. Among the fields of basic research that are likely to yield improved control tools, the Disease Reference Group on Helminth Infections (DRG4) has identified four broad areas that stand out as central to the development of the next generation of helminth control measures: 1) parasite genetics, genomics, and functional genomics; 2) parasite immunology; 3) (vertebrate) host–parasite interactions and immunopathology; and 4) (invertebrate) host–parasite interactions and transmission biology. The DRG4 was established in 2009 by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). The Group was given the mandate to undertake a comprehensive review of recent advances in helminthiases research in order to identify notable gaps and highlight priority areas. This paper summarises recent advances and discusses challenges in the investigation of the fundamental biology of those helminth parasites under the DRG4 Group's remit according to the identified priorities, and presents a research and development agenda for basic parasite research and enabling technologies that will help support control and elimination efforts against human helminthiases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lustigman
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, USA.
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Rao RU, Huang Y, Abubucker S, Heinz M, Crosby SD, Mitreva M, Weil GJ. Effects of doxycycline on gene expression in Wolbachia and Brugia malayi adult female worms in vivo. J Biomed Sci 2012; 19:21. [PMID: 22321609 PMCID: PMC3352068 DOI: 10.1186/1423-0127-19-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most filarial nematodes contain Wolbachia symbionts. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of doxycycline on gene expression in Wolbachia and adult female Brugia malayi. Methods Brugia malayi infected gerbils were treated with doxycycline for 6-weeks. This treatment largely cleared Wolbachia and arrested worm reproduction. RNA recovered from treated and control female worms was labeled by random priming and hybridized to the Version 2- filarial microarray to obtain expression profiles. Results and discussion Results showed significant changes in expression for 200 Wolbachia (29% of Wolbachia genes with expression signals in untreated worms) and 546 B. malayi array elements after treatment. These elements correspond to known genes and also to novel genes with unknown biological functions. Most differentially expressed Wolbachia genes were down-regulated after treatment (98.5%). In contrast, doxycycline had a mixed effect on B. malayi gene expression with many more genes being significantly up-regulated after treatment (85% of differentially expressed genes). Genes and processes involved in reproduction (gender-regulated genes, collagen, amino acid metabolism, ribosomal processes, and cytoskeleton) were down-regulated after doxycycline while up-regulated genes and pathways suggest adaptations for survival in response to stress (energy metabolism, electron transport, anti-oxidants, nutrient transport, bacterial signaling pathways, and immune evasion). Conclusions Doxycycline reduced Wolbachia and significantly decreased bacterial gene expression. Wolbachia ribosomes are believed to be the primary biological target for doxycycline in filarial worms. B. malayi genes essential for reproduction, growth and development were also down-regulated; these changes are consistent with doxycycline effects on embryo development and reproduction. On the other hand, many B. malayi genes involved in energy production, electron-transport, metabolism, anti-oxidants, and others with unknown functions had increased expression signals after doxycycline treatment. These results suggest that female worms are able to compensate in part for the loss of Wolbachia so that they can survive, albeit without reproductive capacity. This study of doxycycline induced changes in gene expression has provided new clues regarding the symbiotic relationship between Wolbachia and B. malayi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramakrishna U Rao
- Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, St, Louis, Missouri, USA.
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Choi YJ, Ghedin E, Berriman M, McQuillan J, Holroyd N, Mayhew GF, Christensen BM, Michalski ML. A deep sequencing approach to comparatively analyze the transcriptome of lifecycle stages of the filarial worm, Brugia malayi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2011; 5:e1409. [PMID: 22180794 PMCID: PMC3236722 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2011] [Accepted: 10/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Developing intervention strategies for the control of parasitic nematodes continues to be a significant challenge. Genomic and post-genomic approaches play an increasingly important role for providing fundamental molecular information about these parasites, thus enhancing basic as well as translational research. Here we report a comprehensive genome-wide survey of the developmental transcriptome of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi. Methodology/Principal Findings Using deep sequencing, we profiled the transcriptome of eggs and embryos, immature (≤3 days of age) and mature microfilariae (MF), third- and fourth-stage larvae (L3 and L4), and adult male and female worms. Comparative analysis across these stages provided a detailed overview of the molecular repertoires that define and differentiate distinct lifecycle stages of the parasite. Genome-wide assessment of the overall transcriptional variability indicated that the cuticle collagen family and those implicated in molting exhibit noticeably dynamic stage-dependent patterns. Of particular interest was the identification of genes displaying sex-biased or germline-enriched profiles due to their potential involvement in reproductive processes. The study also revealed discrete transcriptional changes during larval development, namely those accompanying the maturation of MF and the L3 to L4 transition that are vital in establishing successful infection in mosquito vectors and vertebrate hosts, respectively. Conclusions/Significance Characterization of the transcriptional program of the parasite's lifecycle is an important step toward understanding the developmental processes required for the infectious cycle. We find that the transcriptional program has a number of stage-specific pathways activated during worm development. In addition to advancing our understanding of transcriptome dynamics, these data will aid in the study of genome structure and organization by facilitating the identification of novel transcribed elements and splice variants. Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a tropical disease affecting over 120 million people worldwide. More than 40 million people live with painful, disfiguring symptoms that can cause severe debilitation and social stigma. The disease is caused by infection with thread-like filarial nematodes (roundworms) that have a complex parasitic lifecycle involving both human and mosquito hosts. In the study, the authors profiled the transcriptome (the set of genes transcribed into messenger RNA rather than all of those in the genome) of the human filarial worm Brugia malayi in different lifecyle stages using deep sequencing technology. The analysis revealed major transitions in RNA expression from eggs through larval stages to adults. Using statistical approaches, the authors identified groups of genes with distinct life stage dependent transcriptional patterns, with particular emphasis on genes displaying sex-biased or germline-enriched patterns and those displaying significant changes during larval development. This study presents a first comprehensive analysis of the lifecycle transcriptome of B. malayi, providing fundamental molecular information that should help researchers better understand parasite biology and could provide clues for the development of more effective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jun Choi
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Elodie Ghedin
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew Berriman
- The Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline McQuillan
- The Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- The Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - George F. Mayhew
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Bruce M. Christensen
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Michelle L. Michalski
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Martin J, Abubucker S, Heizer E, Taylor CM, Mitreva M. Nematode.net update 2011: addition of data sets and tools featuring next-generation sequencing data. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 40:D720-8. [PMID: 22139919 PMCID: PMC3245159 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkr1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematode.net (http://nematode.net) has been a publicly available resource for studying nematodes for over a decade. In the past 3 years, we reorganized Nematode.net to provide more user-friendly navigation through the site, a necessity due to the explosion of data from next-generation sequencing platforms. Organism-centric portals containing dynamically generated data are available for over 56 different nematode species. Next-generation data has been added to the various data-mining portals hosted, including NemaBLAST and NemaBrowse. The NemaPath metabolic pathway viewer builds associations using KOs, rather than ECs to provide more accurate and fine-grained descriptions of proteins. Two new features for data analysis and comparative genomics have been added to the site. NemaSNP enables the user to perform population genetics studies in various nematode populations using next-generation sequencing data. HelmCoP (Helminth Control and Prevention) as an independent component of Nematode.net provides an integrated resource for storage, annotation and comparative genomics of helminth genomes to aid in learning more about nematode genomes, as well as drug, pesticide, vaccine and drug target discovery. With this update, Nematode.net will continue to realize its original goal to disseminate diverse bioinformatic data sets and provide analysis tools to the broad scientific community in a useful and user-friendly manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Martin
- The Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63108, USA
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Sharma B. Kinetic Characterisation of Phosphofructokinase Purified from Setaria cervi: A Bovine Filarial Parasite. Enzyme Res 2011; 2011:939472. [PMID: 21941634 PMCID: PMC3173978 DOI: 10.4061/2011/939472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Revised: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphofructokinase (PFK), a regulatory enzyme in glycolytic pathway, has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from adult female Setaria cervi and partially characterized. For this enzyme, the Lineweaver-Burk's double reciprocal plots of initial rates and D-fructose-6-phosphate (F-6-P) or Mg-ATP concentrations for varying values of cosubstrate concentration gave intersecting lines indicating that Km values for F-6-P (1.05 mM) and ATP (3 μM) were independent of each other. S. cervi PFK, when assayed at inhibitory concentration of ATP (>0.1 mM), exhibited sigmoidal behavior towards binding with F-6-P with a Hill coefficient (n) value equal to 1.8 and 1.7 at 1.0 and 0.33 mM ATP, respectively. D-fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) competitively inhibited the filarial enzyme: Ki and Hill coefficient values being 0.18 μM and 2.0, respectively. Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) also inhibited the enzyme competitively with the Ki value equal to 0.8 mM. The Hill coefficient values (>1.5) for F-6-P (at inhibitory concentration of ATP) and FDP suggested its positive cooperative kinetics towards F-6-P and FDP, showing presence of more than one binding sites for these molecules in enzyme protein and allosteric nature of the filarial enzyme. The product inhibition studies gave us the only compatible mechanism of random addition process with a probable orientation of substrates and products on the enzyme surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bechan Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211002, India
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