1
|
Costa GCA, Silva FAA, Torquato RJS, Silva Vaz I, Parizi LF, Tanaka AS. Evaluation of the biological function of ribosomal protein S18 from cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102333. [PMID: 38522220 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, also known as the cattle tick, causes severe parasitism and transmits different pathogens to vertebrate hosts, leading to massive economic losses. In the present study, we performed a functional characterization of a ribosomal protein from R. microplus to investigate its importance in blood feeding, egg production and viability. Ribosomal protein S18 (RPS18) is part of the 40S subunit, associated with 18S rRNA, and has been previously pointed to have a secondary role in different organisms. Rhipicephalus microplus RPS18 (RmRPS18) gene expression levels were modulated in female salivary glands during blood feeding. Moreover, mRNA levels in this tissue were 10 times higher than those in the midgut of fully engorged female ticks. Additionally, recombinant RmRPS18 was recognized by IgG antibodies from sera of cattle naturally or experimentally infested with ticks. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the RmRPS18 gene was performed in fully engorged females, leading to a significant (29 %) decrease in egg production. Additionally, egg hatching was completely impaired, suggesting that no viable eggs were produced by the RmRPS18-silenced group. Furthermore, antimicrobial assays revealed inhibitory activities against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, affecting bacterial growth. Data presented here show the important role of RmRPS18 in tick physiology and suggest that RmRPS18 can be a potential target for the development of novel strategies for tick control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel C A Costa
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade de Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernando A A Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade de Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo J S Torquato
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade de Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Itabajara Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), RJ, Brazil
| | - Luís F Parizi
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), RS, Brazil
| | - Aparecida S Tanaka
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade de Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), RJ, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ali A, Mulenga A, Vaz IS. Editorial: Tick and Tick-Borne Pathogens: Molecular and Immune Targets for Control Strategies. Front Physiol 2020; 11:744. [PMID: 32848809 PMCID: PMC7427506 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Itabajara Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Coutinho ML, Bizzarro B, Tirloni L, Berger M, Freire Oliveira CJ, Sá-Nunes A, Silva Vaz I. Rhipicephalus microplus serpins interfere with host immune responses by specifically modulating mast cells and lymphocytes. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101425. [PMID: 32335011 PMCID: PMC11000276 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus microplus ticks feed on a bovine host for three weeks. At the attachment site, inflammatory and immune responses are triggered resulting in the recruitment of cells and production of a set of immunological mediators. To oppose the host's immune responses, ticks inoculate bioactive salivary molecules capable of interfering with these defense mechanisms. Serpins are among the most frequent molecules present in tick saliva and have been shown to negatively affect the host's anti-tick immunity. R. microplus has at least eighteen full-length serpins (RmS) and eleven are transcribed during blood feeding. Among them, RmS-3, RmS-6, and RmS-17 are present in the saliva of engorged females. Here, the effect of these serpins on the immune responses was evaluated in cells involved in innate/inflammatory (mast cells and macrophages) and adaptive (T cells) immunity. RmS-3 modulated mast cells due to its inhibitory activity on peritoneal rat chymase and on vascular permeability in acute inflammation. In addition, both RmS-6 and RmS-17 inhibited vascular permeability. Of the three serpins studied, neither affected activation nor inflammatory cytokine production by murine macrophages. On the other hand, RmS-3 and RmS-17 presented an inhibitory effect on the metabolic activity of lymphocytes, with the latter being the most potent, while RmS-6 had no effect on it. This activity was associated with a decrease in lymphocyte proliferation, but not with induction of cell death. The present study highlights the powerful modulatory role of tick salivary serpins in the host's immune system and inspire the discovery of targets for the treatment of inflammatory/immune disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana L Coutinho
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Bruna Bizzarro
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil.
| | - Markus Berger
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Farmacológica, Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-007, Brazil.
| | - Carlo Jose Freire Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, 38025-180, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Anderson Sá-Nunes
- Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil.
| | - Itabajara Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, 91501-970, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cruz CS, Costa EP, Machado JA, Silva JN, Romeiro NC, Moraes J, Silva JR, Fonseca RN, Vaz IS, Logullo C, Campos E. A soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase from the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus capable of hydrolysing polyphosphates. Insect Mol Biol 2018; 27:260-267. [PMID: 29271528 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polyphosphates have been found in all cell types examined to date and play diverse roles depending on the cell type. In eukaryotic organisms, polyphosphates have been investigated mainly in mammalian cells, and only a few studies have addressed arthropods. Pyrophosphatases have been shown to regulate polyphosphate metabolism. However, these studies were restricted to trypanosomatids. Here we focus on the tick Rhipicephalus microplus, a haematophagous ectoparasite that is highly harmful to cattle. We produced a recombinant R. microplus pyrophosphatase (rRmPPase) with the aim of investigating its kinetic parameters using polyphosphates as substrate. Molecular docking assays of RmPPase with polyphosphates were also carried out. The kinetic and Hill coefficient parameters indicated that rRmPPase has a greater affinity, higher catalytic efficiency and increased cooperativity for sodium phosphate glass type 15 (polyP15 ) than for sodium tripolyphosphate (polyP3 ). Through molecular docking, we found that polyP3 binds close to the Mg2+ atoms in the catalytic region of the protein, participating in their coordination network, whereas polyP15 interactions involve negatively charged phosphate groups and basic amino acid residues, such as Lys56, Arg58 and Lys193; polyP15 has a more favourable theoretical binding affinity than polyP3 , thus supporting the kinetic data. This study shows, for the first time in arthropods, a pyrophosphatase with polyphosphatase activity, suggesting its participation in polyphosphate metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C S Cruz
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica - Hatisaburo Masuda, UFRJ, NUPEM, São José do Barreto, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - E P Costa
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos and Unidade de Experimentação Animal - CBB - UENF, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J A Machado
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos and Unidade de Experimentação Animal - CBB - UENF, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J N Silva
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos and Unidade de Experimentação Animal - CBB - UENF, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - N C Romeiro
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos and Unidade de Experimentação Animal - CBB - UENF, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J Moraes
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica - Hatisaburo Masuda, UFRJ, NUPEM, São José do Barreto, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - J R Silva
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica - Hatisaburo Masuda, UFRJ, NUPEM, São José do Barreto, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - R N Fonseca
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica - Hatisaburo Masuda, UFRJ, NUPEM, São José do Barreto, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - I S Vaz
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Centro de Biotecnologia e Faculdade de Veterinária, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - C Logullo
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos and Unidade de Experimentação Animal - CBB - UENF, Horto, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - E Campos
- Laboratório Integrado de Bioquímica - Hatisaburo Masuda, UFRJ, NUPEM, São José do Barreto, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia - Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Otto MA, Machado AP, Moreira LP, Bernardi ML, Coutinho ML, Vaz IS, Wentz I, Bortolozzo FP. Colostrum yield and litter performance in multiparous sows subjected to farrowing induction. Reprod Domest Anim 2017; 52:749-755. [PMID: 28397301 DOI: 10.1111/rda.12975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The consumption of colostrum at a low level can compromise the survival and growth of piglets. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of farrowing induction on colostrum yield, IgG concentration and the survival and performance of piglets until the weaning. Sows of parity 3 to 7 were assigned into two groups: Control (n = 48), sows with spontaneous farrowing; and induction (n = 48), sows induced to farrow on day 114 of gestation with a PGF2 analogue. Colostrum and blood samples were collected from the sows, at farrowing and 24 hr later. Blood samples from the piglets were collected at 24 hr after birth. The performance of the piglets was evaluated in a subsample of 28 litters from each group. All piglets were weighed at 7, 14 and 20 days of age. The farrowing length, the number of piglets born alive, stillborn piglets, weight at birth, litter weight at birth and colostrum yield were not significantly affected (p > .05) by farrowing induction. There was no difference between the groups (p > .05) in the percentage of sows with obstetric interventions. Serum IgG concentration, in both sows and piglets, and colostrum IgG concentration were similar between the groups (p > .05). Furthermore, survival rate, piglet weight and litter weight at 7, 14 and 20 days of age were also similar between the groups (p > .05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the farrowing induction performed on day 114 of gestation does not affect the colostrum yield, the IgG concentration in colostrum and serum of piglets, and the litter performance until the weaning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A Otto
- Setor de Suínos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - A P Machado
- Setor de Suínos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - L P Moreira
- Setor de Suínos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - M L Bernardi
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Agronomia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - M L Coutinho
- Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - I S Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - I Wentz
- Setor de Suínos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - F P Bortolozzo
- Setor de Suínos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Logullo C, Moraes J, Dansa-Petretski M, Vaz IS, Masuda A, Sorgine MHF, Braz GR, Masuda H, Oliveira PL. Binding and storage of heme by vitellin from the cattle tick, Boophilus microplus. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2002; 32:1805-1811. [PMID: 12429132 DOI: 10.1016/s0965-1748(02)00162-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We have previously shown (, Curr. Biol. 9, 703-706) that the cattle tick Boophilus microplus does not synthesize heme, relying solely on the recovery of the heme from the diet to make all its hemeproteins. Here we present evidence that Vitellin (VN(1)), the main tick yolk protein, is a reservoir of heme for embryo development. VN was isolated from eggs at different days throughout embryogenesis. Immediately after oviposition, Boophilus VN contains approximately one mol of heme/mol of protein. During embryo development about one third of egg VN is degraded. The remaining VN molecules bind part of the heme released. These results suggest that VN functions as a heme reservoir, binding any free heme that exceeds the amount needed for development. In vitro measurement of the binding of heme to VN showed that each VN molecule binds up to 31 heme molecules. The association of heme with VN strongly inhibits heme-induced lipid peroxidation, suggesting that binding of heme is an important antioxidant mechanism to protect embryo cells from oxidative damage. This mechanism allows this hematophagous arthropod to safely store heme obtained from a blood meal inside their eggs for future use. Taken together our data suggest that, besides its known roles, VN also plays additional functions as a heme deposit and an antioxidant protective molecule.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Logullo
- Departamento de Bioquímica Médica, ICB - CCS - UFRJ, Bloco D, sala DS-5, Ilha do Fundão, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, CEP 21941-690.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|