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Bryant AS, Akimori D, Stoltzfus JDC, Hallem EA. A standard workflow for community-driven manual curation of Strongyloides genome annotations. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220443. [PMID: 38008112 PMCID: PMC10676816 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0443] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in the functional genomics and bioinformatics toolkits for Strongyloides species have positioned these species as genetically tractable model systems for gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes. As community interest in mechanistic studies of Strongyloides species continues to grow, publicly accessible reference genomes and associated genome annotations are critical resources for researchers. Genome annotations for multiple Strongyloides species are broadly available via the WormBase and WormBase ParaSite online repositories. However, a recent phylogenetic analysis of the receptor-type guanylate cyclase (rGC) gene family in two Strongyloides species highlights the potential for errors in a large percentage of current Strongyloides gene models. Here, we present three examples of gene annotation updates within the Strongyloides rGC gene family; each example illustrates a type of error that may occur frequently within the annotation data for Strongyloides genomes. We also extend our analysis to 405 previously curated Strongyloides genes to confirm that gene model errors are found at high rates across gene families. Finally, we introduce a standard manual curation workflow for assessing gene annotation quality and generating corrections, and we discuss how it may be used to facilitate community-driven curation of parasitic nematode biodata. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Strongyloides: omics to worm-free populations'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astra S. Bryant
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Damia Akimori
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental PhD Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Elissa A. Hallem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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2
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Gallo KJ, Wheeler NJ, Elmi AM, Airs PM, Zamanian M. Pharmacological Profiling of a Brugia malayi Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor as a Putative Antiparasitic Target. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0118822. [PMID: 36602350 PMCID: PMC9872666 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01188-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversification of anthelmintic targets and mechanisms of action will help ensure the sustainable control of nematode infections in response to the growing threat of drug resistance. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are established drug targets in human medicine but remain unexploited as anthelmintic substrates despite their important roles in nematode neuromuscular and physiological processes. Bottlenecks in exploring the druggability of parasitic nematode GPCRs include a limited helminth genetic toolkit and difficulties establishing functional heterologous expression. In an effort to address some of these challenges, we profile the function and pharmacology of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the human parasite Brugia malayi, an etiological agent of human lymphatic filariasis. While acetylcholine-gated ion channels are intensely studied as targets of existing anthelmintics, comparatively little is known about metabotropic receptor contributions to parasite cholinergic signaling. Using multivariate phenotypic assays in microfilariae and adults, we show that nicotinic and muscarinic compounds disparately affect parasite fitness traits. We identify a putative G protein-linked acetylcholine receptor of B. malayi (Bma-GAR-3) that is highly expressed across intramammalian life stages and adapt spatial RNA in situ hybridization to map receptor transcripts to critical parasite tissues. Tissue-specific expression of Bma-gar-3 in Caenorhabditis elegans (body wall muscle, sensory neurons, and pharynx) enabled receptor deorphanization and pharmacological profiling in a nematode physiological context. Finally, we developed an image-based feeding assay as a reporter of pharyngeal activity to facilitate GPCR screening in parasitized strains. We expect that these receptor characterization approaches and improved knowledge of GARs as putative drug targets will further advance the study of GPCR biology across medically important nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra J. Gallo
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nicolas J. Wheeler
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Abdifatah M. Elmi
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Paul M. Airs
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Mostafa Zamanian
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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3
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Doyle SR. Improving helminth genome resources in the post-genomic era. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:831-840. [PMID: 35810065 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Rapid advancement in high-throughput sequencing and analytical approaches has seen a steady increase in the generation of genomic resources for helminth parasites. Now, helminth genomes and their annotations are a cornerstone of numerous efforts to compare genetic and transcriptomic variation, from single cells to populations of globally distributed parasites, to genome modifications to understand gene function. Our understanding of helminths is increasingly reliant on these genomic resources, which are primarily static once published and vary widely in quality and completeness between species. This article seeks to highlight the cause and effect of this variation and argues for the continued improvement of these genomic resources - even after their publication - which is necessary to provide a more accurate and complete understanding of the biology of these important pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Doyle
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SA, UK.
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Choudhary S, Kashyap SS, Martin RJ, Robertson AP. Advances in our understanding of nematode ion channels as potential anthelmintic targets. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2022; 18:52-86. [PMID: 35149380 PMCID: PMC8841521 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ion channels are specialized multimeric proteins that underlie cell excitability. These channels integrate with a variety of neuromuscular and biological functions. In nematodes, the physiological behaviors including locomotion, navigation, feeding and reproduction, are regulated by these protein entities. Majority of the antinematodal chemotherapeutics target the ion channels to disrupt essential biological functions. Here, we have summarized current advances in our understanding of nematode ion channel pharmacology. We review cys-loop ligand gated ion channels (LGICs), including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), acetylcholine-chloride gated ion channels (ACCs), glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls), and GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) receptors, and other ionotropic receptors (transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and potassium ion channels). We have provided an update on the pharmacological properties of these channels from various nematodes. This article catalogs the differences in ion channel composition and resulting pharmacology in the phylum Nematoda. This diversity in ion channel subunit repertoire and pharmacology emphasizes the importance of pursuing species-specific drug target research. In this review, we have provided an overview of recent advances in techniques and functional assays available for screening ion channel properties and their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Choudhary
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Sudhanva S Kashyap
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Richard J Martin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Alan P Robertson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Dai Z, Ren J, Tong X, Hu H, Lu K, Dai F, Han MJ. The Landscapes of Full-Length Transcripts and Splice Isoforms as Well as Transposons Exonization in the Lepidopteran Model System, Bombyx mori. Front Genet 2021; 12:704162. [PMID: 34594358 PMCID: PMC8476886 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.704162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an important model system for the order Lepidoptera. Currently, based on third-generation sequencing, the chromosome-level genome of Bombyx mori has been released. However, its transcripts were mainly assembled by using short reads of second-generation sequencing and expressed sequence tags which cannot explain the transcript profile accurately. Here, we used PacBio Iso-Seq technology to investigate the transcripts from 45 developmental stages of Bombyx mori. We obtained 25,970 non-redundant high-quality consensus isoforms capturing ∼60% of previous reported RNAs, 15,431 (∼47%) novel transcripts, and identified 7,253 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with a large proportion of novel lncRNA (∼56%). In addition, we found that transposable elements (TEs) exonization account for 11,671 (∼45%) transcripts including 5,980 protein-coding transcripts (∼32%) and 5,691 lncRNAs (∼79%). Overall, our results expand the silkworm transcripts and have general implications to understand the interaction between TEs and their host genes. These transcripts resource will promote functional studies of genes and lncRNAs as well as TEs in the silkworm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongrui Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,WESTA College, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianyu Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoling Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hai Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kunpeng Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fangyin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Min-Jin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Noack S, Harrington J, Carithers DS, Kaminsky R, Selzer PM. Heartworm disease - Overview, intervention, and industry perspective. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2021; 16:65-89. [PMID: 34030109 PMCID: PMC8163879 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis, also known as heartworm, is a major parasitic threat for dogs and cats around the world. Because of its impact on the health and welfare of companion animals, heartworm disease is of huge veterinary and economic importance especially in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Within the animal health market many different heartworm preventive products are available, all of which contain active components of the same drug class, the macrocyclic lactones. In addition to compliance issues, such as under-dosing or irregular treatment intervals, the occurrence of drug-resistant heartworms within the populations in the Mississippi River areas adds to the failure of preventive treatments. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the disease, summarize the current disease control measures and highlight potential new avenues and best practices for treatment and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Noack
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Binger Str. 173, 55216, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - John Harrington
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, 1730 Olympic Drive, 30601, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Douglas S Carithers
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, 3239 Satellite Blvd, 30096, Duluth, GA, USA
| | - Ronald Kaminsky
- paraC Consulting, Altenstein 13, 79685, Häg-Ehrsberg, Germany
| | - Paul M Selzer
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Binger Str. 173, 55216, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany.
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Xie Y, Xiao J, Zhou X, Gu X, He R, Xu J, Jing B, Peng X, Yang G. Global transcriptome landscape of the rabbit protozoan parasite Eimeria stiedae. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:308. [PMID: 34099031 PMCID: PMC8186055 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04811-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria stiedae is a widespread and economically significant disease of rabbits. The lack of studies on the life-cycle development and host interactions of E. stiedae at the molecular level has hampered our understanding of its pathogenesis. Methods In this study, we present a comprehensive transcriptome landscape of E. stiedae to illustrate its dynamic development from unsporulated oocysts to sporulated oocysts, merozoites, and gametocytes, and to identify genes related to parasite-host interactions during parasitism using combined PacBio single-molecule real-time and Illumina RNA sequencing followed by bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR validation. Results In total, 12,582 non-redundant full-length transcripts were generated with an average length of 1808 bp from the life-cycle stages of E. stiedae. Pairwise comparisons between stages revealed 8775 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showing highly significant description changes, which compiled a snapshot of the mechanisms underlining asexual and sexual biology of E. stiedae including oocyst sporulation between unsporulated and sporulated oocysts; merozoite replication between sporulated oocysts and merozoites; and gametophyte development and gamete generation between merozoites and gametocytes. Further, 248 DEGs were grouped into nine series clusters and five groups by expression patterns, and showed that parasite–host interaction-related genes predominated in merozoites and gametocytes and were mostly involved in steroid biosynthesis and lipid metabolism and carboxylic acid. Additionally, co-expression analyses identified genes associated with development and host invasion in unsporulated and sporulated oocysts and immune interactions during gametocyte parasitism. Conclusions This is the first study, to our knowledge, to use the global transcriptome profiles to decipher molecular changes across the E. stiedae life cycle, and these results not only provide important information for the molecular characterization of E. stiedae, but also offer valuable resources to study other apicomplexan parasites with veterinary and public significance. Graphic Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04811-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Xie
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Xiao
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaobin Gu
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Ran He
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo Jing
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Xuerong Peng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Life and Basic Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - Guangyou Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, Sichuan, China.
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Bryant AS, Hallem EA. The Wild Worm Codon Adapter: a web tool for automated codon adaptation of transgenes for expression in non-Caenorhabditis nematodes. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:6259089. [PMID: 33914084 PMCID: PMC8496300 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Advances in genomics techniques are expanding the range of nematode species that are amenable to transgenesis. Due to divergent codon usage biases across species, codon optimization is often a critical step for the successful expression of exogenous transgenes in nematodes. Platforms for generating DNA sequences codon-optimized for the free-living model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are broadly available. However, until now such tools did not exist for non-Caenorhabditis nematodes. We therefore developed the Wild Worm Codon Adapter, a tool for rapid transgene codon optimization for expression in non-Caenorhabditis nematodes. The app includes built-in optimization for parasitic nematodes in the Strongyloides, Nippostrongylus, and Brugia genera as well as the predatory nematode Pristionchus pacificus. The app also supports custom optimization for any species using user-provided optimization rules. In addition, the app supports automated insertion of synthetic or native introns, as well as the analysis of codon bias in transgene and native sequences. Here, we describe this web-based tool and demonstrate how it may be used to analyze genome-wide codon bias in Strongyloides species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astra S Bryant
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Elissa A Hallem
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Corresponding author: University of California, Los Angeles, MIMG, 237 BSRB, 615 Charles E. Young Dr. S., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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