1
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Ebrahim SA, Dweck HK, Weiss BL, Carlson JR. A volatile sex attractant of tsetse flies. Science 2023; 379:eade1877. [PMID: 36795837 PMCID: PMC10204727 DOI: 10.1126/science.ade1877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Tsetse flies transmit trypanosomes-parasites that cause devastating diseases in humans and livestock-across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Chemical communication through volatile pheromones is common among insects; however, it remains unknown if and how such chemical communication occurs in tsetse flies. We identified methyl palmitoleate (MPO), methyl oleate, and methyl palmitate as compounds that are produced by the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans and elicit strong behavioral responses. MPO evoked a behavioral response in male-but not virgin female-G. morsitans. G. morsitans males mounted females of another species, Glossina fuscipes, when they were treated with MPO. We further identified a subpopulation of olfactory neurons in G. morsitans that increase their firing rate in response to MPO and showed that infecting flies with African trypanosomes alters the flies' chemical profile and mating behavior. The identification of volatile attractants in tsetse flies may be useful for reducing disease spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimaa A.M. Ebrahim
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hany K.M. Dweck
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Brian L. Weiss
- Dept. of Epidemiology of Microbial Disease, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - John R. Carlson
- Dept. of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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2
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Lee MH, Medina Munoz M, Rio RVM. The Tsetse Metabolic Gambit: Living on Blood by Relying on Symbionts Demands Synchronization. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:905826. [PMID: 35756042 PMCID: PMC9218860 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.905826] [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: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies have socioeconomic significance as the obligate vector of multiple Trypanosoma parasites, the causative agents of Human and Animal African Trypanosomiases. Like many animals subsisting on a limited diet, microbial symbiosis is key to supplementing nutrient deficiencies necessary for metabolic, reproductive, and immune functions. Extensive studies on the microbiota in parallel to tsetse biology have unraveled the many dependencies partners have for one another. But far less is known mechanistically on how products are swapped between partners and how these metabolic exchanges are regulated, especially to address changing physiological needs. More specifically, how do metabolites contributed by one partner get to the right place at the right time and in the right amounts to the other partner? Epigenetics is the study of molecules and mechanisms that regulate the inheritance, gene activity and expression of traits that are not due to DNA sequence alone. The roles that epigenetics provide as a mechanistic link between host phenotype, metabolism and microbiota (both in composition and activity) is relatively unknown and represents a frontier of exploration. Here, we take a closer look at blood feeding insects with emphasis on the tsetse fly, to specifically propose roles for microRNAs (miRNA) and DNA methylation, in maintaining insect-microbiota functional homeostasis. We provide empirical details to addressing these hypotheses and advancing these studies. Deciphering how microbiota and host activity are harmonized may foster multiple applications toward manipulating host health, including identifying novel targets for innovative vector control strategies to counter insidious pests such as tsetse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason H Lee
- Department of Biology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Miguel Medina Munoz
- Department of Biology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States.,Department of Bacteriology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Rita V M Rio
- Department of Biology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
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3
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Walsh B, Hill KL. Right place, right time: Environmental sensing and signal transduction directs cellular differentiation and motility in Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:930-941. [PMID: 33434370 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei and other African trypanosomes are vector-borne parasites that cause substantial human suffering across sub-Saharan Africa. The T. brucei life cycle is punctuated by numerous developmental stages, each occurring in a specific environmental niche and characterized by a unique morphology, metabolism, surface protein coat, and gene expression profile. The environmental cues and signaling pathways that drive transitions between these stages remain incompletely understood. Recent studies have started to fill this gap in knowledge. Likewise, several new studies have expanded our understanding of parasite movement through specific tissues and the parasite's ability to alter movement in response to external cues. Life cycle stage differentiation and motility are intimately integrated phenomena, as parasites must be at the right place (i.e., within a specific environmental milieu) at the right time (i.e., when they are appropriately staged and preadapted for perceiving and responding to signals) in order to complete their life cycle. In this review, we highlight some of the recent work that has transformed our understanding of signaling events that control parasite differentiation and motility. Increased knowledge of T. brucei environmental sensing and signal transduction advances our understanding of parasite biology and may direct prospective chemotherapeutic and transmission blockade strategies that are critical to eradication efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna Walsh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kent L Hill
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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4
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Yang L, Weiss BL, Williams AE, Aksoy E, de Silva Orfano A, Son JH, Wu Y, Vigneron A, Karakus M, Aksoy S. Paratransgenic manipulation of a tsetse microRNA alters the physiological homeostasis of the fly's midgut environment. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009475. [PMID: 34107000 PMCID: PMC8216540 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies are vectors of parasitic African trypanosomes, the etiological agents of human and animal African trypanosomoses. Current disease control methods include fly-repelling pesticides, fly trapping, and chemotherapeutic treatment of infected people and animals. Inhibiting tsetse's ability to transmit trypanosomes by strengthening the fly's natural barriers can serve as an alternative approach to reduce disease. The peritrophic matrix (PM) is a chitinous and proteinaceous barrier that lines the insect midgut and serves as a protective barrier that inhibits infection with pathogens. African trypanosomes must cross tsetse's PM in order to establish an infection in the fly, and PM structural integrity negatively correlates with trypanosome infection outcomes. Bloodstream form trypanosomes shed variant surface glycoproteins (VSG) into tsetse's gut lumen early during the infection establishment, and free VSG molecules are internalized by the fly's PM-producing cardia. This process results in a reduction in the expression of a tsetse microRNA (miR275) and a sequential molecular cascade that compromises PM integrity. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are critical in regulating many physiological processes. In the present study, we investigated the role(s) of tsetse miR275 by developing a paratransgenic expression system that employs tsetse's facultative bacterial endosymbiont, Sodalis glossinidius, to express tandem antagomir-275 repeats (or miR275 sponges). This system induces a constitutive, 40% reduction in miR275 transcript abundance in the fly's midgut and results in obstructed blood digestion (gut weights increased by 52%), a significant increase (p-value < 0.0001) in fly survival following infection with an entomopathogenic bacteria, and a 78% increase in trypanosome infection prevalence. RNA sequencing of cardia and midgut tissues from paratransgenic tsetse confirmed that miR275 regulates processes related to the expression of PM-associated proteins and digestive enzymes as well as genes that encode abundant secretory proteins. Our study demonstrates that paratransgenesis can be employed to study microRNA regulated pathways in arthropods that house symbiotic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Brian L. Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Adeline E. Williams
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Emre Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alessandra de Silva Orfano
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jae Hak Son
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Yineng Wu
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Aurelien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mehmet Karakus
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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5
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Medina Munoz M, Brenner C, Richmond D, Spencer N, Rio RVM. The holobiont transcriptome of teneral tsetse fly species of varying vector competence. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:400. [PMID: 34058984 PMCID: PMC8166097 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07729-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tsetse flies are the obligate vectors of African trypanosomes, which cause Human and Animal African Trypanosomiasis. Teneral flies (newly eclosed adults) are especially susceptible to parasite establishment and development, yet our understanding of why remains fragmentary. The tsetse gut microbiome is dominated by two Gammaproteobacteria, an essential and ancient mutualist Wigglesworthia glossinidia and a commensal Sodalis glossinidius. Here, we characterize and compare the metatranscriptome of teneral Glossina morsitans to that of G. brevipalpis and describe unique immunological, physiological, and metabolic landscapes that may impact vector competence differences between these two species. Results An active expression profile was observed for Wigglesworthia immediately following host adult metamorphosis. Specifically, ‘translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis’ followed by ‘coenzyme transport and metabolism’ were the most enriched clusters of orthologous genes (COGs), highlighting the importance of nutrient transport and metabolism even following host species diversification. Despite the significantly smaller Wigglesworthia genome more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between interspecific isolates (n = 326, ~ 55% of protein coding genes) than between the corresponding Sodalis isolates (n = 235, ~ 5% of protein coding genes) likely reflecting distinctions in host co-evolution and adaptation. DEGs between Sodalis isolates included genes involved in chitin degradation that may contribute towards trypanosome susceptibility by compromising the immunological protection provided by the peritrophic matrix. Lastly, G. brevipalpis tenerals demonstrate a more immunologically robust background with significant upregulation of IMD and melanization pathways. Conclusions These transcriptomic differences may collectively contribute to vector competence differences between tsetse species and offers translational relevance towards the design of novel vector control strategies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07729-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Medina Munoz
- Department of Biology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Caitlyn Brenner
- Department of Biology, Washington and Jefferson College, Washington, PA, 15301, USA
| | - Dylan Richmond
- Department of Biology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Noah Spencer
- Department of Biology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Rita V M Rio
- Department of Biology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA.
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6
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Rose C, Casas-Sánchez A, Dyer NA, Solórzano C, Beckett AJ, Middlehurst B, Marcello M, Haines LR, Lisack J, Engstler M, Lehane MJ, Prior IA, Acosta-Serrano Á. Trypanosoma brucei colonizes the tsetse gut via an immature peritrophic matrix in the proventriculus. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:909-916. [DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-0707-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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7
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Roma JS, D’Souza S, Somers PJ, Cabo LF, Farsin R, Aksoy S, Runyen-Janecky LJ, Weiss BL. Thermal stress responses of Sodalis glossinidius, an indigenous bacterial symbiont of hematophagous tsetse flies. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007464. [PMID: 31738754 PMCID: PMC6887450 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) house a taxonomically diverse microbiota that includes environmentally acquired bacteria, maternally transmitted symbiotic bacteria, and pathogenic African trypanosomes. Sodalis glossinidius, which is a facultative symbiont that resides intra and extracellularly within multiple tsetse tissues, has been implicated as a mediator of trypanosome infection establishment in the fly’s gut. Tsetse’s gut-associated population of Sodalis are subjected to marked temperature fluctuations each time their ectothermic fly host imbibes vertebrate blood. The molecular mechanisms that Sodalis employs to deal with this heat stress are unknown. In this study, we examined the thermal tolerance and heat shock response of Sodalis. When grown on BHI agar plates, the bacterium exhibited the most prolific growth at 25oC, and did not grow at temperatures above 30oC. Growth on BHI agar plates at 31°C was dependent on either the addition of blood to the agar or reduction in oxygen levels. Sodalis was viable in liquid cultures for 24 hours at 30oC, but began to die upon further exposure. The rate of death increased with increased temperature. Similarly, Sodalis was able to survive for 48 hours within tsetse flies housed at 30oC, while a higher temperature (37oC) was lethal. Sodalis’ genome contains homologues of the heat shock chaperone protein-encoding genes dnaK, dnaJ, and grpE, and their expression was up-regulated in thermally stressed Sodalis, both in vitro and in vivo within tsetse fly midguts. Arrested growth of E. coli dnaK, dnaJ, or grpE mutants under thermal stress was reversed when the cells were transformed with a low copy plasmid that encoded the Sodalis homologues of these genes. The information contained in this study provides insight into how arthropod vector enteric commensals, many of which mediate their host’s ability to transmit pathogens, mitigate heat shock associated with the ingestion of a blood meal. Microorganisms associated with insects must cope with fluctuating temperatures. Because symbiotic bacteria influence the biology of their host, how they respond to temperature changes will have an impact on the host and other microorganisms in the host. The tsetse fly and its symbionts represent an important model system for studying thermal tolerance because the fly feeds exclusively on vertebrate blood and is thus exposed to dramatic temperature shifts. Tsetse flies house a microbial community that can consist of symbiotic and environmentally acquired bacteria, viruses, and parasitic African trypanosomes. This work, which makes use of tsetse’s commensal endosymbiont, Sodalis glossinidius, is significance because it represents the only examination of thermal tolerance mechanisms in a bacterium that resides indigenously within an arthropod disease vector. A better understanding of the biology of thermal tolerance in Sodalis provides insight into thermal stress survival in other insect symbionts and may yield information to help control vector-borne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Santinni Roma
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Shaina D’Souza
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Patrick J. Somers
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Leah F. Cabo
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ruhan Farsin
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Laura J. Runyen-Janecky
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LJR-J); (BLW)
| | - Brian L. Weiss
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: (LJR-J); (BLW)
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8
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Aksoy S. Tsetse peritrophic matrix influences for trypanosome transmission. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 118:103919. [PMID: 31425686 PMCID: PMC6853167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Tsetse flies are important vectors of parasitic African trypanosomes, agents of human and animal trypanosomiasis. Easily administrable and effective tools for disease control in the mammalian host are still lacking but reduction of the tsetse vector populations can reduce disease. An alternative approach is to reduce the transmission of trypanosomes in the tsetse vector. The gut peritrophic matrix (PM) has emerged as an important regulator of parasite transmission success in tsetse. Tsetse has a Type II PM that is constitutively produced by cells in the cardia organ. Tsetse PM lines the entire gut and functions as an immunological barrier to prevent the gut epithelia from responding to commensal environmental microbes present in the gut lumen. Tsetse PM also functions as a physical barrier to trypanosome infections that enter into the gut lumen in an infective blood meal. For persistence in the gut, African trypanosomes have developed an adaptive manipulative process to transiently reduce PM efficacy. The process is mediated by mammalian trypanosome surface coat proteins, Variant Surface Glycoproteins (VSGs) which are shed in the gut lumen and taken up by cardia cells. The mechanism of PM reduction involves a tsetse microRNA (miR-275) which acts thru the Wnt signaling pathway. The PM efficacy is once again reduced later in the infection process to enable the gut established parasites to reenter into the gut lumen to colonize the salivary glands, an essential process for transmission. The ability to modulate PM integrity can lead to innovative approaches to reduce disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College St, LEPH 624, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
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9
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Attardo GM, Abd-Alla AMM, Acosta-Serrano A, Allen JE, Bateta R, Benoit JB, Bourtzis K, Caers J, Caljon G, Christensen MB, Farrow DW, Friedrich M, Hua-Van A, Jennings EC, Larkin DM, Lawson D, Lehane MJ, Lenis VP, Lowy-Gallego E, Macharia RW, Malacrida AR, Marco HG, Masiga D, Maslen GL, Matetovici I, Meisel RP, Meki I, Michalkova V, Miller WJ, Minx P, Mireji PO, Ometto L, Parker AG, Rio R, Rose C, Rosendale AJ, Rota-Stabelli O, Savini G, Schoofs L, Scolari F, Swain MT, Takáč P, Tomlinson C, Tsiamis G, Van Den Abbeele J, Vigneron A, Wang J, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Weirauch MT, Weiss BL, Wilson RK, Zhao X, Aksoy S. Comparative genomic analysis of six Glossina genomes, vectors of African trypanosomes. Genome Biol 2019; 20:187. [PMID: 31477173 PMCID: PMC6721284 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-019-1768-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are the vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse flies are distinguished from other Diptera by unique adaptations, including lactation and the birthing of live young (obligate viviparity), a vertebrate blood-specific diet by both sexes, and obligate bacterial symbiosis. This work describes the comparative analysis of six Glossina genomes representing three sub-genera: Morsitans (G. morsitans morsitans, G. pallidipes, G. austeni), Palpalis (G. palpalis, G. fuscipes), and Fusca (G. brevipalpis) which represent different habitats, host preferences, and vectorial capacity. RESULTS Genomic analyses validate established evolutionary relationships and sub-genera. Syntenic analysis of Glossina relative to Drosophila melanogaster shows reduced structural conservation across the sex-linked X chromosome. Sex-linked scaffolds show increased rates of female-specific gene expression and lower evolutionary rates relative to autosome associated genes. Tsetse-specific genes are enriched in protease, odorant-binding, and helicase activities. Lactation-associated genes are conserved across all Glossina species while male seminal proteins are rapidly evolving. Olfactory and gustatory genes are reduced across the genus relative to other insects. Vision-associated Rhodopsin genes show conservation of motion detection/tracking functions and variance in the Rhodopsin detecting colors in the blue wavelength ranges. CONCLUSIONS Expanded genomic discoveries reveal the genetics underlying Glossina biology and provide a rich body of knowledge for basic science and disease control. They also provide insight into the evolutionary biology underlying novel adaptations and are relevant to applied aspects of vector control such as trap design and discovery of novel pest and disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Adly M M Abd-Alla
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - James E Allen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosemary Bateta
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kostas Bourtzis
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jelle Caers
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mikkel B Christensen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - David W Farrow
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Markus Friedrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Aurélie Hua-Van
- Laboratoire Evolution, Genomes, Comportement, Ecologie, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Daniel Lawson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J Lehane
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vasileios P Lenis
- Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Ernesto Lowy-Gallego
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosaline W Macharia
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Heather G Marco
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Daniel Masiga
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gareth L Maslen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Irina Matetovici
- Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irene Meki
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Michalkova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.,Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Wolfgang J Miller
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Minx
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paul O Mireji
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya.,Centre for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lino Ometto
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrew G Parker
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita Rio
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Clair Rose
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew J Rosendale
- Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Martin T Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Peter Takáč
- Department of Animal Systematics, Ústav zoológie SAV; Scientica, Ltd, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - George Tsiamis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Etoloakarnania, Greece
| | | | - Aurelien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jingwen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wesley C Warren
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology and Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Brian L Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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10
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Attardo GM, Abd-Alla AMM, Acosta-Serrano A, Allen JE, Bateta R, Benoit JB, Bourtzis K, Caers J, Caljon G, Christensen MB, Farrow DW, Friedrich M, Hua-Van A, Jennings EC, Larkin DM, Lawson D, Lehane MJ, Lenis VP, Lowy-Gallego E, Macharia RW, Malacrida AR, Marco HG, Masiga D, Maslen GL, Matetovici I, Meisel RP, Meki I, Michalkova V, Miller WJ, Minx P, Mireji PO, Ometto L, Parker AG, Rio R, Rose C, Rosendale AJ, Rota-Stabelli O, Savini G, Schoofs L, Scolari F, Swain MT, Takáč P, Tomlinson C, Tsiamis G, Van Den Abbeele J, Vigneron A, Wang J, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Weirauch MT, Weiss BL, Wilson RK, Zhao X, Aksoy S. Comparative genomic analysis of six Glossina genomes, vectors of African trypanosomes. Genome Biol 2019; 20:187. [PMID: 31477173 DOI: 10.1101/531749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are the vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse flies are distinguished from other Diptera by unique adaptations, including lactation and the birthing of live young (obligate viviparity), a vertebrate blood-specific diet by both sexes, and obligate bacterial symbiosis. This work describes the comparative analysis of six Glossina genomes representing three sub-genera: Morsitans (G. morsitans morsitans, G. pallidipes, G. austeni), Palpalis (G. palpalis, G. fuscipes), and Fusca (G. brevipalpis) which represent different habitats, host preferences, and vectorial capacity. RESULTS Genomic analyses validate established evolutionary relationships and sub-genera. Syntenic analysis of Glossina relative to Drosophila melanogaster shows reduced structural conservation across the sex-linked X chromosome. Sex-linked scaffolds show increased rates of female-specific gene expression and lower evolutionary rates relative to autosome associated genes. Tsetse-specific genes are enriched in protease, odorant-binding, and helicase activities. Lactation-associated genes are conserved across all Glossina species while male seminal proteins are rapidly evolving. Olfactory and gustatory genes are reduced across the genus relative to other insects. Vision-associated Rhodopsin genes show conservation of motion detection/tracking functions and variance in the Rhodopsin detecting colors in the blue wavelength ranges. CONCLUSIONS Expanded genomic discoveries reveal the genetics underlying Glossina biology and provide a rich body of knowledge for basic science and disease control. They also provide insight into the evolutionary biology underlying novel adaptations and are relevant to applied aspects of vector control such as trap design and discovery of novel pest and disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Adly M M Abd-Alla
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - James E Allen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosemary Bateta
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kostas Bourtzis
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jelle Caers
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mikkel B Christensen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - David W Farrow
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Markus Friedrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Aurélie Hua-Van
- Laboratoire Evolution, Genomes, Comportement, Ecologie, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Daniel Lawson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J Lehane
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vasileios P Lenis
- Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Ernesto Lowy-Gallego
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosaline W Macharia
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Heather G Marco
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Daniel Masiga
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gareth L Maslen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Irina Matetovici
- Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irene Meki
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Michalkova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Wolfgang J Miller
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Minx
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paul O Mireji
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lino Ometto
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrew G Parker
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita Rio
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Clair Rose
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew J Rosendale
- Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Martin T Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Peter Takáč
- Department of Animal Systematics, Ústav zoológie SAV; Scientica, Ltd, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - George Tsiamis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Etoloakarnania, Greece
| | | | - Aurelien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jingwen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wesley C Warren
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology and Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Brian L Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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11
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Matetovici I, De Vooght L, Van Den Abbeele J. Innate immunity in the tsetse fly (Glossina), vector of African trypanosomes. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 98:181-188. [PMID: 31075296 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are medically and veterinary important vectors of African trypanosomes, protozoan parasites that cause devastating diseases in humans and livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. These flies feed exclusively on vertebrate blood and harbor a limited diversity of obligate and facultative bacterial commensals. They have a well-developed innate immune system that plays a key role in protecting the fly against invading pathogens and in modulating the fly's ability to transmit African trypanosomes. In this review, we briefly summarize our current knowledge on the tsetse fly innate immune system and its interaction with the bacterial commensals and the trypanosome parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Matetovici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Linda De Vooght
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Van Den Abbeele
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
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12
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Schneider DI, Saarman N, Onyango MG, Hyseni C, Opiro R, Echodu R, O’Neill M, Bloch D, Vigneron A, Johnson TJ, Dion K, Weiss BL, Opiyo E, Caccone A, Aksoy S. Spatio-temporal distribution of Spiroplasma infections in the tsetse fly (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) in northern Uganda. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007340. [PMID: 31369548 PMCID: PMC6692048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) are vectors of parasitic trypanosomes, which cause human (HAT) and animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Gff) is the main vector of HAT, where it transmits Gambiense disease in the northwest and Rhodesiense disease in central, southeast and western regions. Endosymbionts can influence transmission efficiency of parasites through their insect vectors via conferring a protective effect against the parasite. It is known that the bacterium Spiroplasma is capable of protecting its Drosophila host from infection with a parasitic nematode. This endosymbiont can also impact its host's population structure via altering host reproductive traits. Here, we used field collections across 26 different Gff sampling sites in northern and western Uganda to investigate the association of Spiroplasma with geographic origin, seasonal conditions, Gff genetic background and sex, and trypanosome infection status. We also investigated the influence of Spiroplasma on Gff vector competence to trypanosome infections under laboratory conditions. Generalized linear models (GLM) showed that Spiroplasma probability was correlated with the geographic origin of Gff host and with the season of collection, with higher prevalence found in flies within the Albert Nile (0.42 vs 0.16) and Achwa River (0.36 vs 0.08) watersheds and with higher prevalence detected in flies collected in the intermediate than wet season. In contrast, there was no significant correlation of Spiroplasma prevalence with Gff host genetic background or sex once geographic origin was accounted for in generalized linear models. Additionally, we found a potential negative correlation of Spiroplasma with trypanosome infection, with only 2% of Spiroplasma infected flies harboring trypanosome co-infections. We also found that in a laboratory line of Gff, parasitic trypanosomes are less likely to colonize the midgut in individuals that harbor Spiroplasma infection. These results indicate that Spiroplasma infections in tsetse may be maintained by not only maternal but also via horizontal transmission routes, and Spiroplasma infections may also have important effects on trypanosome transmission efficiency of the host tsetse. Potential functional effects of Spiroplasma infection in Gff could have impacts on vector control approaches to reduce trypanosome infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela I. Schneider
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Norah Saarman
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Maria G. Onyango
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Chaz Hyseni
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States of America
| | - Robert Opiro
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, Uganda
| | - Richard Echodu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gulu University, Uganda
| | - Michelle O’Neill
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Danielle Bloch
- Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, NY, United States of America
| | - Aurélien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - T. J. Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Kirstin Dion
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Brian L. Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Opiyo
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States of America
| | - Adalgisa Caccone
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
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13
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Abstract
Parasites elicit several physiological changes in their host to enhance transmission. Little is known about the functional association between parasitism and microbiota-provisioned resources typically dedicated to animal hosts and how these goods may be rerouted to optimize parasite development. This study is the first to identify a specific symbiont-generated metabolite that impacts insect vector competence by facilitating parasite establishment and, thus, eventual transmission. Specifically, we demonstrate that the tsetse fly obligate mutualist Wigglesworthia provisions folate (vitamin B9) that pathogenic African trypanosomes exploit in an effort to successfully establish an infection in the vector’s MG. This process is essential for the parasite to complete its life cycle and be transmitted to a new vertebrate host. Disrupting metabolic contributions provided by the microbiota of arthropod disease vectors may fuel future innovative control strategies while also offering minimal nontarget effects. Many symbionts supplement their host’s diet with essential nutrients. However, whether these nutrients also enhance parasitism is unknown. In this study, we investigated whether folate (vitamin B9) production by the tsetse fly (Glossina spp.) essential mutualist, Wigglesworthia, aids auxotrophic African trypanosomes in completing their life cycle within this obligate vector. We show that the expression of Wigglesworthia folate biosynthesis genes changes with the progression of trypanosome infection within tsetse. The disruption of Wigglesworthia folate production caused a reduction in the percentage of flies that housed midgut (MG) trypanosome infections. However, decreased folate did not prevent MG trypanosomes from migrating to and establishing an infection in the fly’s salivary glands, thus suggesting that nutrient requirements vary throughout the trypanosome life cycle. We further substantiated that trypanosomes rely on symbiont-generated folate by feeding this vitamin to Glossina brevipalpis, which exhibits low trypanosome vector competency and houses Wigglesworthia incapable of producing folate. Folate-supplemented G. brevipalpis flies were significantly more susceptible to trypanosome infection, further demonstrating that this vitamin facilitates parasite infection establishment. Our cumulative results provide evidence that Wigglesworthia provides a key metabolite (folate) that is “hijacked” by trypanosomes to enhance their infectivity, thus indirectly impacting tsetse species vector competency. Parasite dependence on symbiont-derived micronutrients, which likely also occurs in other arthropod vectors, represents a relationship that may be exploited to reduce disease transmission.
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14
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Weiss BL, Maltz MA, Vigneron A, Wu Y, Walter KS, O’Neill MB, Wang J, Aksoy S. Colonization of the tsetse fly midgut with commensal Kosakonia cowanii Zambiae inhibits trypanosome infection establishment. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007470. [PMID: 30817773 PMCID: PMC6394900 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) vector pathogenic trypanosomes (Trypanosoma spp.) in sub-Saharan Africa. These parasites cause human and animal African trypanosomiases, which are debilitating diseases that inflict an enormous socio-economic burden on inhabitants of endemic regions. Current disease control strategies rely primarily on treating infected animals and reducing tsetse population densities. However, relevant programs are costly, labor intensive and difficult to sustain. As such, novel strategies aimed at reducing tsetse vector competence require development. Herein we investigated whether Kosakonia cowanii Zambiae (Kco_Z), which confers Anopheles gambiae with resistance to Plasmodium, is able to colonize tsetse and induce a trypanosome refractory phenotype in the fly. Kco_Z established stable infections in tsetse’s gut and exhibited no adverse effect on the fly’s survival. Flies with established Kco_Z infections in their gut were significantly more refractory to infection with two distinct trypanosome species (T. congolense, 6% infection; T. brucei, 32% infection) than were age-matched flies that did not house the exogenous bacterium (T. congolense, 36% infected; T. brucei, 70% infected). Additionally, 52% of Kco_Z colonized tsetse survived infection with entomopathogenic Serratia marcescens, compared with only 9% of their wild-type counterparts. These parasite and pathogen refractory phenotypes result from the fact that Kco_Z acidifies tsetse’s midgut environment, which inhibits trypanosome and Serratia growth and thus infection establishment. Finally, we determined that Kco_Z infection does not impact the fecundity of male or female tsetse, nor the ability of male flies to compete with their wild-type counterparts for mates. We propose that Kco_Z could be used as one component of an integrated strategy aimed at reducing the ability of tsetse to transmit pathogenic trypanosomes. Tsetse flies transmit pathogenic African trypanosomes, which are the causative agents of socio-economically devastating human and animal African trypanosomiases. These diseases are currently controlled in large part by reducing the population size of tsetse vectors through the use of insecticides, traps and sterile insect technique. However, logistic and monetary hurdles often preclude the prolonged application of procedures necessary to maintain these control programs. Thus, novel strategies, including those aimed at sustainably reducing the ability of tsetse to transmit trypanosomes, are presently under development. Herein we stably colonize tsetse flies with a bacterium (Kosakonia cowanii Zambiae, Kco_Z) that acidifies their midgut, thus rendering the environment inhospitable to infection with two distinct, epidemiologically important trypanosome strains as well as an entomopathogenic bacteria. In addition to inducing a trypanosome refractory phenotype, colonization of tsetse with Kco_Z exerts only a modest fitness cost on the fly. Taken together, these findings suggest that Kco_Z could be applied to enhance the effectiveness of currently employed tsetse control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L. Weiss
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BLW); (SA)
| | - Michele A. Maltz
- Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Aurélien Vigneron
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Yineng Wu
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Katharine S. Walter
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Michelle B. O’Neill
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jingwen Wang
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Yale School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail: (BLW); (SA)
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15
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Shaw S, DeMarco SF, Rehmann R, Wenzler T, Florini F, Roditi I, Hill KL. Flagellar cAMP signaling controls trypanosome progression through host tissues. Nat Commun 2019; 10:803. [PMID: 30778051 PMCID: PMC6379439 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08696-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The unicellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei is transmitted between mammals by tsetse flies. Following the discovery that flagellar phosphodiesterase PDEB1 is required for trypanosomes to move in response to signals in vitro (social motility), we investigated its role in tsetse flies. Here we show that PDEB1 knockout parasites exhibit subtle changes in movement, reminiscent of bacterial chemotaxis mutants. Infecting flies with the knockout, followed by live confocal microscopy of fluorescent parasites within dual-labelled insect tissues, shows that PDEB1 is important for traversal of the peritrophic matrix, which separates the midgut lumen from the ectoperitrophic space. Without PDEB1, parasites are trapped in the lumen and cannot progress through the cycle. This demonstrates that the peritrophic matrix is a barrier that must be actively overcome and that the parasite’s flagellar cAMP signaling pathway facilitates this. Migration may depend on perception of chemotactic cues, which could stem from co-infecting parasites and/or the insect host. Trypanosoma brucei probably relies on chemotactic signals for movement through tsetse fly tissues, but the molecular basis is unknown. Here, the authors show that flagellar cAMP signaling is required for traversal of the peritrophic matrix and that, without it, parasites are trapped in the midgut lumen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Shaw
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie F DeMarco
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ruth Rehmann
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Wenzler
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Florini
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Isabel Roditi
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 4, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Kent L Hill
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. .,California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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