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Anders J, König C, Lender C, Hellhund A, Nehls S, Shalabi I, Honecker B, Lorenzen S, Meyer M, Matthiesen J, Cadar D, Roeder T, Galal Metwally N, Lotter H, Bruchhaus I. Genes differentially expressed between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica clones influence pathogenicity-associated phenotypes by multiple mechanisms. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011745. [PMID: 38134215 PMCID: PMC10773965 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, two genes involved in amoebic liver abscess formation in a mouse model were identified by their differential expression of non-pathogenic (A1np) and pathogenic (B2p) clones of the Entamoeba histolytica isolate HM:1-IMSS. While overexpression of a gene encoding the metallopeptidase EhMP8-2 reduces the virulence of the pathogenic clone B2p, overexpression of the gene ehi_127670 (ehhp127), encoding a hypothetical protein, increases the virulence of the non-pathogenic clone A1np, while silencing this gene in the pathogenic B2p reduces virulence. To understand the role of both molecules in determining the pathogenicity of E. histolytica, silencing, and overexpression transfectants were characterized in detail. Silencing of ehmp8-2, of the homologous gene ehmp8-1, or both in non-pathogenic A1np trophozoites significantly altered the transcript levels of 347, 216, and 58 genes, respectively. This strong change in the expression profiles caused by the silencing of ehmp8-1 and ehmp8-2 implies that these peptidases regulate the expression of numerous genes. Consequently, numerous phenotypic characteristics, including cytopathic, hemolytic, and cysteine peptidase activity, were altered in response to their silencing. Silencing of ehhp127 in pathogenic B2p trophozoites did not affect the expression of other genes, whereas its overexpression in non-pathogenic A1np trophozoites results in an altered expression of approximately 140 genes. EhHP127 is important for trophozoite motility, as its silencing reduces, while its overexpression enhances movement activity. Interestingly, the specific silencing of ehhp127 also significantly affects cytopathic, cysteine peptidase, and hemolytic activities. All three molecules characterized in this study, namely EhMP8-1, EhMP8-2, and EhHP127, are present in amoeba vesicles. The results show that ehmp8-2 and ehhp127 are not only differentially expressed between pathogenic and non-pathogenic amoebae, but that they also significantly affect amoeba pathogenicity-associated phenotypes by completely different mechanisms. This observation suggests that the regulation of amoeba pathogenicity is achieved by a complex network of molecular mechanisms rather than by single factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliett Anders
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Constantin König
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Lender
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne Hellhund
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Nehls
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ibrahim Shalabi
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Honecker
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Lorenzen
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Meyer
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jenny Matthiesen
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dániel Cadar
- Department of Arbovirology and Entomology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Kiel University, Department Molecular Physiology, Zoology, Kiel, Germany
- DZL, German Center for Lung Research, ARCN, Airway Research Center North, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nahla Galal Metwally
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hannelore Lotter
- RG Molecular Infection Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Iris Bruchhaus
- RG-Host Parasite Interaction, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
- Biology Department, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Yanagawa Y, Singh U. Diversity and Plasticity of Virulent Characteristics of Entamoeba histolytica. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8050255. [PMID: 37235303 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8050255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The complexity of clinical syndromes of amebiasis, caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica, stems from the intricate interplay between the host immune system, the virulence of the invading parasite, and the surrounding environment. Although there is still a relative paucity of information about the precise relationship between virulence factors and the pathogenesis of Entamoeba histolytica, by accumulating data from clinical and basic research, researchers have identified essential pathogenic factors that play a critical role in the pathogenesis of amebiasis, providing important insights into disease development through animal models. Moreover, the parasite's genetic variability has been associated with differences in virulence and disease outcomes, making it important to fully understand the epidemiology and pathogenesis of amebiasis. Deciphering the true mechanism of disease progression in humans caused by this parasite is made more difficult through its ability to demonstrate both genomic and pathological plasticity. The objective of this article is to underscore the heterogeneous nature of disease states and the malleable virulence characteristics in experimental models, while also identifying persistent scientific issues that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuaki Yanagawa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Upinder Singh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Lozano-Mendoza J, Ramírez-Montiel F, Rangel-Serrano Á, Páramo-Pérez I, Mendoza-Macías CL, Saavedra-Salazar F, Franco B, Vargas-Maya N, Jeelani G, Saito-Nakano Y, Anaya-Velázquez F, Nozaki T, Padilla-Vaca F. Attenuation of In Vitro and In Vivo Virulence Is Associated with Repression of Gene Expression of AIG1 Gene in Entamoeba histolytica. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030489. [PMID: 36986411 PMCID: PMC10051847 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica virulence results from complex host-parasite interactions implicating multiple amoebic components (e.g., Gal/GalNAc lectin, cysteine proteinases, and amoebapores) and host factors (microbiota and immune response). UG10 is a strain derived from E. histolytica virulent HM-1:IMSS strain that has lost its virulence in vitro and in vivo as determined by a decrease of hemolytic, cytopathic, and cytotoxic activities, increased susceptibility to human complement, and its inability to form liver abscesses in hamsters. We compared the transcriptome of nonvirulent UG10 and its parental HM-1:IMSS strain. No differences in gene expression of the classical virulence factors were observed. Genes downregulated in the UG10 trophozoites encode for proteins that belong to small GTPases, such as Rab and AIG1. Several protein-coding genes, including iron-sulfur flavoproteins and heat shock protein 70, were also upregulated in UG10. Overexpression of the EhAIG1 gene (EHI_180390) in nonvirulent UG10 trophozoites resulted in augmented virulence in vitro and in vivo. Cocultivation of HM-1:IMSS with E. coli O55 bacteria cells reduced virulence in vitro, and the EhAIG1 gene expression was downregulated. In contrast, virulence was increased in the monoxenic strain UG10, and the EhAIG1 gene expression was upregulated. Therefore, the EhAIG1 gene (EHI_180390) represents a novel virulence determinant in E. histolytica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janeth Lozano-Mendoza
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Fátima Ramírez-Montiel
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Ángeles Rangel-Serrano
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Itzel Páramo-Pérez
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | | | - Faridi Saavedra-Salazar
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Bernardo Franco
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Naurú Vargas-Maya
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Ghulam Jeelani
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Yumiko Saito-Nakano
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0052, Japan
| | - Fernando Anaya-Velázquez
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0052, Japan
| | - Felipe Padilla-Vaca
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
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