1
|
Berger M, Rosa da Mata S, Pizzolatti NM, Parizi LF, Konnai S, da Silva Vaz I, Seixas A, Tirloni L. An Ixodes persulcatus Inhibitor of Plasmin and Thrombin Hinders Keratinocyte Migration, Blood Coagulation, and Endothelial Permeability. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:1112-1123.e7. [PMID: 37996063 PMCID: PMC11034719 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The skin is the first host tissue that the tick mouthparts, tick saliva, and a tick-borne pathogen contact during feeding. Tick salivary glands have evolved a complex and sophisticated pharmacological arsenal, consisting of bioactive molecules, to assist blood feeding and pathogen transmission. In this work, persulcatin, a multifunctional molecule that targets keratinocyte function and hemostasis, was identified from Ixodes persulcatus female ticks. The recombinant persulcatin was expressed and purified and is a 25-kDa acidic protein with 2 Kunitz-type domains. Persulcatin is a classical tight-binding competitive inhibitor of proteases, targeting plasmin (Ki: 28 nM) and thrombin (Ki: 115 nM). It blocks plasmin generation on keratinocytes and inhibits their migration and matrix protein degradation; downregulates matrix metalloproteinase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 9; and causes a delay in blood coagulation, endothelial cell activation, and thrombin-induced fibrinocoagulation. It interacts with exosite I of thrombin and reduces thrombin-induced endothelial cell permeability by inhibiting vascular endothelial-cadherin disruption. The multifaceted roles of persulcatin as an inhibitor and modulator within the plasminogen-plasmin system and thrombin not only unveil further insights into the intricate mechanisms governing wound healing but also provide a fresh perspective on the intricate interactions between ticks and their host organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Berger
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA; Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Sheila Rosa da Mata
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Luís Fernando Parizi
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Satoru Konnai
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia-Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Adriana Seixas
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia-Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
da Silva Vaz Junior I, Lu S, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Yates JR, Mulenga A, Termignoni C, Ribeiro JM, Tirloni L. Changes in saliva protein profile throughout Rhipicephalus microplus blood feeding. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:36. [PMID: 38281054 PMCID: PMC10821567 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06136-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When feeding on a vertebrate host, ticks secrete saliva, which is a complex mixture of proteins, lipids, and other molecules. Tick saliva assists the vector in modulating host hemostasis, immunity, and tissue repair mechanisms. While helping the vector to feed, its saliva modifies the site where pathogens are inoculated and often facilitates the infection process. The objective of this study is to uncover the variation in protein composition of Rhipicephalus microplus saliva during blood feeding. METHODS Ticks were fed on calves, and adult females were collected, weighed, and divided in nine weight groups, representing the slow and rapid feeding phases of blood feeding. Tick saliva was collected, and mass spectrometry analyses were used to identify differentially secreted proteins. Bioinformatic tools were employed to predict the structural and functional features of the salivary proteins. Reciprocal best hit analyses were used to identify conserved families of salivary proteins secreted by other tick species. RESULTS Changes in the protein secretion profiles of R. microplus adult female saliva during the blood feeding were observed, characterizing the phenomenon known as "sialome switching." This observation validates the idea that the switch in protein expression may serve as a mechanism for evading host responses against tick feeding. Cattle tick saliva is predominantly rich in heme-binding proteins, secreted conserved proteins, lipocalins, and protease inhibitors, many of which are conserved and present in the saliva of other tick species. Additionally, another remarkable observation was the identification of host-derived proteins as a component of tick saliva. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this study brings new insights to understanding the dynamics of the proteomic profile of tick saliva, which is an important component of tick feeding biology. The results presented here, along with the disclosed sequences, contribute to our understanding of tick feeding biology and might aid in the identification of new targets for the development of novel anti-tick methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Stephen Lu
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Antônio F M Pinto
- Clayton Foundation Peptide Biology Lab, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Carlos Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - José Marcos Ribeiro
- Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Tick-Pathogen Transmission Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Balakrishnan N, Katkar R, Pham PV, Downey T, Kashyap P, Anastasiu DC, Ramasubramanian AK. Prospection of Peptide Inhibitors of Thrombin from Diverse Origins Using a Machine Learning Pipeline. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1300. [PMID: 38002424 PMCID: PMC10669389 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10111300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Thrombin is a key enzyme involved in the development and progression of many cardiovascular diseases. Direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), with their minimum off-target effects and immediacy of action, have greatly improved the treatment of these diseases. However, the risk of bleeding, pharmacokinetic issues, and thrombotic complications remain major concerns. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of the DTI discovery pipeline, we developed a two-stage machine learning pipeline to identify and rank peptide sequences based on their effective thrombin inhibitory potential. The positive dataset for our model consisted of thrombin inhibitor peptides and their binding affinities (KI) curated from published literature, and the negative dataset consisted of peptides with no known thrombin inhibitory or related activity. The first stage of the model identified thrombin inhibitory sequences with Matthew's Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 83.6%. The second stage of the model, which covers an eight-order of magnitude range in KI values, predicted the binding affinity of new sequences with a log room mean square error (RMSE) of 1.114. These models also revealed physicochemical and structural characteristics that are hidden but unique to thrombin inhibitor peptides. Using the model, we classified more than 10 million peptides from diverse sources and identified unique short peptide sequences (<15 aa) of interest, based on their predicted KI. Based on the binding energies of the interaction of the peptide with thrombin, we identified a promising set of putative DTI candidates. The prediction pipeline is available on a web server.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nivedha Balakrishnan
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - Rahul Katkar
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - Peter V. Pham
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - Taylor Downey
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA (D.C.A.)
| | - Prarthna Kashyap
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| | - David C. Anastasiu
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95053, USA (D.C.A.)
| | - Anand K. Ramasubramanian
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA (P.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tick Salivary Kunitz-Type Inhibitors: Targeting Host Hemostasis and Immunity to Mediate Successful Blood Feeding. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021556. [PMID: 36675071 PMCID: PMC9865953 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Kunitz domain-containing proteins are ubiquitous serine protease inhibitors with promising therapeutic potential. They target key proteases involved in major cellular processes such as inflammation or hemostasis through competitive inhibition in a substrate-like manner. Protease inhibitors from the Kunitz superfamily have a low molecular weight (18-24 kDa) and are characterized by the presence of one or more Kunitz motifs consisting of α-helices and antiparallel β-sheets stabilized by three disulfide bonds. Kunitz-type inhibitors are an important fraction of the protease inhibitors found in tick saliva. Their roles in inhibiting and/or suppressing host homeostatic responses continue to be shown to be additive or synergistic with other protease inhibitors such as cystatins or serpins, ultimately mediating successful blood feeding for the tick. In this review, we discuss the biochemical features of tick salivary Kunitz-type protease inhibitors. We focus on their various effects on host hemostasis and immunity at the molecular and cellular level and their potential therapeutic applications. In doing so, we highlight that their pharmacological properties can be exploited for the development of novel therapies and vaccines.
Collapse
|
5
|
A Deeper Insight into the Tick Salivary Protein Families under the Light of Alphafold2 and Dali: Introducing the TickSialoFam 2.0 Database. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415613. [PMID: 36555254 PMCID: PMC9779611 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks feed for several days or weeks on their hosts and their saliva contains thousands of polypeptides belonging to dozens of families, as identified by salivary transcriptomes. Comparison of the coding sequences to protein databases helps to identify putative secreted proteins and their potential functions, directing and focusing future studies, usually done with recombinant proteins that are tested in different bioassays. However, many families of putative secreted peptides have a unique character, not providing significant matches to known sequences. The availability of the Alphafold2 program, which provides in silico predictions of the 3D polypeptide structure, coupled with the Dali program which uses the atomic coordinates of a structural model to search the Protein Data Bank (PDB) allows another layer of investigation to annotate and ascribe a functional role to proteins having so far being characterized as "unique". In this study, we analyzed the classification of tick salivary proteins under the light of the Alphafold2/Dali programs, detecting novel protein families and gaining new insights relating the structure and function of tick salivary proteins.
Collapse
|
6
|
Cohen O, Ageno W. Coming soon to a pharmacy near you? FXI and FXII inhibitors to prevent or treat thromboembolism. HEMATOLOGY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY. EDUCATION PROGRAM 2022; 2022:495-505. [PMID: 36485148 PMCID: PMC9821115 DOI: 10.1182/hematology.2022000386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Anticoagulants have been in use for nearly a century for the treatment and prevention of venous and arterial thromboembolic disorders. The most dreaded complication of anticoagulant treatment is the occurrence of bleeding, which may be serious and even life-threatening. All available anticoagulants, which target either multiple coagulation factors or individual components of the tissue factor (TF) factor VIIa or the common pathways, have the potential to affect hemostasis and thus to increase bleeding risk in treated patients. While direct oral anticoagulants introduced an improvement in care for eligible patients in terms of safety, efficacy, and convenience of treatment, there remain unmet clinical needs for patients requiring anticoagulant drugs. Anticoagulant therapy is sometimes avoided for fear of hemorrhagic complications, and other patients are undertreated due to comorbidities and the perception of increased bleeding risk. Evidence suggests that the contact pathway of coagulation has a limited role in initiating physiologic in vivo coagulation and that it contributes to thrombosis more than it does to hemostasis. Because inhibition of the contact pathway is less likely to promote bleeding, it is an attractive target for the development of anticoagulants with improved safety. Preclinical and early clinical data indicate that novel agents that selectively target factor XI or factor XII can reduce venous and arterial thrombosis without an increase in bleeding complications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Omri Cohen
- National Hemophilia Center, Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Walter Ageno
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Costa GCA, Ribeiro ICT, Melo-Junior O, Gontijo NF, Sant'Anna MRV, Pereira MH, Pessoa GCD, Koerich LB, Oliveira F, Valenzuela JG, Giunchetti RC, Fujiwara RT, Bartholomeu DC, Araujo RN. Amblyomma sculptum Salivary Protease Inhibitors as Potential Anti-Tick Vaccines. Front Immunol 2021; 11:611104. [PMID: 33633731 PMCID: PMC7901972 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.611104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amblyomma sculptum is the main tick associated with human bites in Brazil and the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of the most severe form of Brazilian spotted fever. Molecules produced in the salivary glands are directly related to feeding success and vector competence. In the present study, we identified sequences of A. sculptum salivary proteins that may be involved in hematophagy and selected three proteins that underwent functional characterization and evaluation as vaccine antigens. Among the three proteins selected, one contained a Kunitz_bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor domain (named AsKunitz) and the other two belonged to the 8.9 kDa and basic tail families of tick salivary proteins (named As8.9kDa and AsBasicTail). Expression of the messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding all three proteins was detected in the larvae, nymphs, and females at basal levels in unfed ticks and the expression levels increased after the start of feeding. Recombinant proteins rAs8.9kDa and rAsBasicTail inhibited the enzymatic activity of factor Xa, thrombin, and trypsin, whereas rAsKunitz inhibited only thrombin activity. All three recombinant proteins inhibited the hemolysis of both the classical and alternative pathways; this is the first description of tick members of the Kunitz and 8.9kDa families being inhibitors of the classical complement pathway. Mice immunization with recombinant proteins caused efficacies against A. sculptum females from 59.4% with rAsBasicTail immunization to more than 85% by immunization with rAsKunitz and rAs8.9kDa. The mortality of nymphs fed on immunized mice reached 70–100%. Therefore, all three proteins are potential antigens with the possibility of becoming a new tool in the control of A. sculptum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Cerqueira Alves Costa
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Izabela Cosso Tavares Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Otoni Melo-Junior
- Laboratory of Cell-Cell Interactions, Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Nelder F Gontijo
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mauricio R V Sant'Anna
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos H Pereira
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Grasielle C D Pessoa
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo B Koerich
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Oliveira
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratory of Cell-Cell Interactions, Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Daniella Castanheira Bartholomeu
- Laboratory of Immunology and Genomics of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ricardo N Araujo
- Laboratory of Physiology of Hematophagous Insects, Department of Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
De novo assembled salivary gland transcriptome and expression pattern analyses for Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi Neuman, 1897 male and female ticks. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1642. [PMID: 33452281 PMCID: PMC7810686 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks secrete proteins in their saliva that change over the course of feeding to modulate the host inflammation, immune responses, haemostasis or may cause paralysis. RNA next generation sequencing technologies can reveal the complex dynamics of tick salivary glands as generated from various tick life stages and/or males and females. The current study represents 15,115 Illumina sequenced contigs of the salivary gland transcriptome from male and female Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi ticks of early, mid and late feeding stages from 1320 separate assemblies using three short read assemblers. The housekeeping functional class contributed to the majority of the composition of the transcriptome (80%) but with lower expression (51%), while the secretory protein functional class represented only 14% of the transcriptome but 46% of the total coverage. Six percent had an unknown status contributing 3% of the overall expression in the salivary glands. Platelet aggregation inhibitors, blood clotting inhibitors and immune-modulators orthologous to the ancestral tick lineages were confirmed in the transcriptome and their differential expression during feeding in both genders observed. This transcriptome contributes data of importance to salivary gland biology and blood feeding physiology of non-model organisms.
Collapse
|
9
|
RNA-seq analysis of the salivary glands and midgut of the Argasid tick Ornithodoros rostratus. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6764. [PMID: 31043627 PMCID: PMC6494864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42899-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ornithodoros rostratus is a South American argasid tick which importance relies on its itchy bite and potential as disease vector. They feed on a wide variety of hosts and secrete different molecules in their saliva and intestinal content that counteract host defences and help to accommodate and metabolize the relatively large quantity of blood upon feeding. The present work describes the transcriptome profile of salivary gland (SG) and midgut (MG) of O. rostratus using Illumina sequencing. A total of 8,031 contigs were assembled and assigned to different functional classes. Secreted proteins were the most abundant in the SG and accounted for ~67% of all expressed transcripts with contigs with identity to lipocalins and acid tail proteins being the most representative. On the other hand, immunity genes were upregulated in MG with a predominance of defensins and lysozymes. Only 10 transcripts in SG and 8 in MG represented ~30% of all RNA expressed in each tissue and one single contig (the acid tail protein ORN-9707) represented ~7% of all expressed contigs in SG. Results highlight the functional difference of each organ and identified the most expressed classes and contigs of O. rostratus SG and MG.
Collapse
|
10
|
Cheng S, Tu M, Liu H, Zhao G, Du M. Food-derived antithrombotic peptides: Preparation, identification, and interactions with thrombin. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2019; 59:S81-S95. [PMID: 30740983 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2018.1524363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Thromboembolism and its sequelae have been the leading causes of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Food-derived antithrombotic peptides, as potential ingredients in health-promoting functional foods targeting thrombus, have attracted increasing attention because of their high biological activities, low toxicity, and ease of metabolism in the human body. This review presents the conventional workflow of preparation, isolation and identification of antithrombotic peptides from various kinds of food materials. More importantly, to analyze the antithrombotic effects and mechanism of antithrombotic peptides, methods for interaction of anticoagulant peptides and thrombin, the main participant in thrombosis, were analyzed from biochemistry, solution chemistry and crystal chemistry. The present study is intended to highlight the recent advances in research of food-derived antithrombotic peptide as a novel vehicle in the field of food science and nutrition. Future outlooks are highlighted with the aim to suggest a research line to be followed in further studies with the introduced research approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuzheng Cheng
- a School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood , Dalian Polytechnic University , Dalian , Liaoning , China.,b Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering , China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Maolin Tu
- c Department of Food Science and Engineering , Harbin Institute of Technology , Harbin , Heilongjiang , China
| | - Hanxiong Liu
- a School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood , Dalian Polytechnic University , Dalian , Liaoning , China
| | - Guanghua Zhao
- b Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering , China Agricultural University , Beijing , China
| | - Ming Du
- a School of Food Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Seafood , Dalian Polytechnic University , Dalian , Liaoning , China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Parizi LF, Ali A, Tirloni L, Oldiges DP, Sabadin GA, Coutinho ML, Seixas A, Logullo C, Termignoni C, DA Silva Vaz I. Peptidase inhibitors in tick physiology. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 32:129-144. [PMID: 29111611 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Peptidase inhibitors regulate a wide range of physiological processes involved in the interaction between hematophagous parasites and their hosts, including tissue remodeling, the immune response and blood coagulation. In tick physiology, peptidase inhibitors have a crucial role in adaptation to improve parasitism mechanisms, facilitating blood feeding by interfering with defense-related host peptidases. Recently, a larger number of studies on this topic led to the description of several new tick inhibitors displaying interesting novel features, for example a role in pathogen transmission to the host. A comprehensive review discussing these emerging concepts can therefore shed light on peptidase inhibitor functions, their relevance to tick physiology and their potential applications. Here, we summarize and examine the general characteristics, functional diversity and action of tick peptidase inhibitors with known physiological roles in the tick-host-pathogen interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L F Parizi
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - A Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
- Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - L Tirloni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - D P Oldiges
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - G A Sabadin
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - M L Coutinho
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - A Seixas
- Departamento de Farmacociências, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - C Logullo
- Laboratório de Química e Função de Proteínas e Peptídeos-CBB and Unidade de Experimentação Animal, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - C Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - I DA Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ibrahim MA, Masoud HMM. Thrombin inhibitor from the salivary gland of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2018; 74:85-97. [PMID: 29255966 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-017-0196-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Blood-sucking arthropods have different types of anticoagulants to allow the ingestion of a blood meal from their hosts. In this study, five anticoagulants prolonging the activated partial thromboplastin time were resolved from the salivary gland crude extract of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii by chromatography on diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose column. They were designated P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 according to their elution order. P5 was found to be a potent thrombin inhibitor and purified by ultrafiltration through two centrifugal concentrators of 50 and 30 kDa molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), respectively. The camel tick salivary gland thrombin inhibitor was purified 60.6 folds with a specific activity of 564 units/mg protein. It turned out to be homogenous on native-PAGE with molecular weight of 36 kDa as detected on 12% SDS-PAGE. It inhibits bovine thrombin competitively with K i value of 0.55 μM. A task for the future will be the elucidation of this thrombin inhibitor structure to allow its application in thrombosis treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A Ibrahim
- Molecular Biology Department, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth St. (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki, P.O. 12622, Giza, Egypt
| | - Hassan M M Masoud
- Molecular Biology Department, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth St. (former El Tahrir St.), Dokki, P.O. 12622, Giza, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Luan N, Zhou C, Li P, Ombati R, Yan X, Mo G, Rong M, Lai R, Duan Z, Zheng R. Joannsin, a novel Kunitz-type FXa inhibitor from the venom of Prospirobolus joannsi. Thromb Haemost 2017; 117:1031-1039. [PMID: 28276572 DOI: 10.1160/th16-11-0829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The repugnatorial glands of millipedes release various defensive chemical secretions. Although varieties of such defensive secretions have been studied, none of them is protein or peptide. Herein, a novel factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor named joannsin was identified and characterised from repugnatorial glands of Prospirobolus joannsi. Joannsin is composed of 72 amino acid residues including six cysteines, which form three intra-molecular disulfide bridges. It is a member of Kunitz-type protease inhibitor family, members of which are also found in the secretory glands of other arthropods. Recombinant joannsin exhibited remarkable inhibitory activity against trypsin and FXa with a Ki of 182.7 ± 14.6 and 29.5 ± 4.7 nM, respectively. Joannsin showed strong anti-thrombosis functions in vitro and in vivo. Joannsin is the first peptide component in millipede repugnatorial glands to be identified and is a potential candidate and/or template for the development of anti-thrombotic agents. These results also indicated that there is Kunitz-type protease inhibitor toxin in millipede repugnatorial glands as in other arthropods secretory glands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ren Lai
- Ren Lai, Zilei Duan, or Ruiqiang Zheng, Key Laboratory of Microbiological Engineering of Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China, Tel./Fax: +86 25 843968, E-mail: (R. L.), (Z. D.) or (R. Z.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Blisnick AA, Foulon T, Bonnet SI. Serine Protease Inhibitors in Ticks: An Overview of Their Role in Tick Biology and Tick-Borne Pathogen Transmission. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:199. [PMID: 28589099 PMCID: PMC5438962 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
New tick and tick-borne pathogen control approaches that are both environmentally sustainable and which provide broad protection are urgently needed. Their development, however, will rely on a greater understanding of tick biology, tick-pathogen, and tick-host interactions. The recent advances in new generation technologies to study genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes has resulted in a plethora of tick biomacromolecular studies. Among these, many enzyme inhibitors have been described, notably serine protease inhibitors (SPIs), whose importance in various tick biological processes is only just beginning to be fully appreciated. Among the multiple active substances secreted during tick feeding, SPIs have been shown to be directly involved in regulation of inflammation, blood clotting, wound healing, vasoconstriction and the modulation of host defense mechanisms. In light of these activities, several SPIs were examined and were experimentally confirmed to facilitate tick pathogen transmission. In addition, to prevent coagulation of the ingested blood meal within the tick alimentary canal, SPIs are also involved in blood digestion and nutrient extraction from the meal. The presence of SPIs in tick hemocytes and their involvement in tick innate immune defenses have also been demonstrated, as well as their implication in hemolymph coagulation and egg development. Considering the involvement of SPIs in multiple crucial aspects of tick-host-pathogen interactions, as well as in various aspects of the tick parasitic lifestyle, these molecules represent highly suitable and attractive targets for the development of effective tick control strategies. Here we review the current knowledge regarding this class of inhibitors in tick biology and tick-borne pathogen transmission, and their potential as targets for future tick control trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Thierry Foulon
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Biogenèse des Signaux Peptidiques, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06Paris, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Brahma RK, Blanchet G, Kaur S, Manjunatha Kini R, Doley R. Expression and characterization of haemathrins, madanin-like thrombin inhibitors, isolated from the salivary gland of tick Haemaphysalis bispinosa (Acari: Ixodidae). Thromb Res 2017; 152:20-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
16
|
Porter LM, Radulović ŽM, Mulenga A. A repertoire of protease inhibitor families in Amblyomma americanum and other tick species: inter-species comparative analyses. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:152. [PMID: 28330502 PMCID: PMC5361777 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2080-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protease inhibitors (PIs) are important regulators of physiology and represent anti-parasitic druggable and vaccine targets. We conducted bioinformatic analyses of genome and transcriptome data to determine the protease inhibitor (PI) repertoire in Amblyomma americanum and in 25 other ixodid tick species. For A. americanum, we compared the PI repertoires in fed and unfed, male and female A. americanum ticks. We also analyzed PI repertoires of female 48, 96 and 120 h-fed midgut (MG) and salivary gland (SG) tissues. RESULTS We found 1,595 putative non-redundant PI sequences across 26 ixodid tick species. Ticks express PIs from at least 18 different families: I1, I2, I4, I8, I21, I25, I29, I31, I32, I35, I39, I43, I51, I53, I63, I68, I72 and I74 (MEROPS). The largest PI families were I2, I4 and I8 and lowest in I21, I31, I32, I35 and I68. The majority (75%) of tick PIs putatively inhibit serine proteases, with ~11 and 9% putatively regulating cysteine or metalloprotease-mediated pathways, respectively, and ~4% putatively regulating multiple/mixed protease types. In A. americanum, we found 370 PIs in female and 354 in male ticks. In A. americanum we found 231 and 442 in unfed and fed ticks, respectively. In females, we found 206 and 164 PIs in SG and MG, respectively. The majority of highly cross-tick species conserved PIs were in families I1, I2, I8, I21, I25, I29, I39 and I43. CONCLUSIONS Ticks appear to express large and diverse repertoires of PIs that primarily target serine protease-mediated pathways. We speculate that PI families with the highest repertoires may contain functionally redundant members while those with the lowest repertoires are functionally non-redundant PIs. We found some highly conserved PIs in the latter category, which we propose as potential candidates for broad-spectrum anti-tick vaccine candidates or druggable targets in tick control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M Porter
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4647 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Željko M Radulović
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4647 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4647 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca L. Ware
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicester LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Martin R. Luck
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicester LE12 5RD, UK
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Mans BJ, de Castro MH, Pienaar R, de Klerk D, Gaven P, Genu S, Latif AA. Ancestral reconstruction of tick lineages. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:509-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
|
19
|
Soares TS, Oliveira F, Torquato RJ, Sasaki SD, Araujo MS, Paschoalin T, Tanaka AS. BmTI-A, a Kunitz type inhibitor from Rhipicephalus microplus able to interfere in vessel formation. Vet Parasitol 2016; 219:44-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
20
|
Xu T, Lew-Tabor A, Rodriguez-Valle M. Effective inhibition of thrombin by Rhipicephalus microplus serpin-15 (RmS-15) obtained in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 7:180-187. [PMID: 26530984 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) affects cattle industries in tropical and subtropical countries because it is the vector of babesiosis and anaplasmosis which constitutes a threat to the health of cattle. During blooding feeding, ticks secrete saliva containing a complex of bioactive molecules into the injured site to evade host's defensive responses. Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are important anti-haemostatic molecules present in tick saliva that are necessary for a successful blood feeding. Several serpin sequences have been reported in R. microplus but there is a gap of information about their functions during host-parasite interactions. In this study, the RmS-15 expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris was characterised using kinetic assays and in vitro analysis. The inhibitory enzymatic assays conducted showed that RmS-15 is a physiological inhibitor of thrombin with a stoichiometric inhibition (SI) of 1.5 and high inhibition affinity with ka=9.3±0.5×104M(-1)s(-1). RmS-15 delayed the clotting of plasma in a dose-dependent manner as determined in a recalcification time assay. Significant elevated ELISA titres were observed in tick resistant and susceptible cattle on day 28 after the tick infestation (p<0.001). This data suggests direct contact of RmS-15 with the immune system of the host at the tick-feeding site. The present study contributed to the understanding of the biological functions of R. microplus serpins during host-parasite interactions which contributes to the design of future innovative methods for tick control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xu
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Qld, Australia
| | - Ala Lew-Tabor
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Qld, Australia; Murdoch University, Centre for Comparative Genomics, Perth, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Manuel Rodriguez-Valle
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Qld, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Modica MV, Lombardo F, Franchini P, Oliverio M. The venomous cocktail of the vampire snail Colubraria reticulata (Mollusca, Gastropoda). BMC Genomics 2015; 16:441. [PMID: 26054852 PMCID: PMC4460706 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1648-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hematophagy arose independently multiple times during metazoan evolution, with several lineages of vampire animals particularly diversified in invertebrates. However, the biochemistry of hematophagy has been studied in a few species of direct medical interest and is still underdeveloped in most invertebrates, as in general is the study of venom toxins. In cone snails, leeches, arthropods and snakes, the strong target specificity of venom toxins uniquely aligns them to industrial and academic pursuits (pharmacological applications, pest control etc.) and provides a biochemical tool for studying biological activities including cell signalling and immunological response. Neogastropod snails (cones, oyster drills etc.) are carnivorous and include active predators, scavengers, grazers on sessile invertebrates and hematophagous parasites; most of them use venoms to efficiently feed. It has been hypothesized that trophic innovations were the main drivers of rapid radiation of Neogastropoda in the late Cretaceous. We present here the first molecular characterization of the alimentary secretion of a non-conoidean neogastropod, Colubraria reticulata. Colubrariids successfully feed on the blood of fishes, throughout the secretion into the host of a complex mixture of anaesthetics and anticoagulants. We used a NGS RNA-Seq approach, integrated with differential expression analyses and custom searches for putative secreted feeding-related proteins, to describe in detail the salivary and mid-oesophageal transcriptomes of this Mediterranean vampire snail, with functional and evolutionary insights on major families of bioactive molecules. Results A remarkably low level of overlap was observed between the gene expression in the two target tissues, which also contained a high percentage of putatively secreted proteins when compared to the whole body. At least 12 families of feeding-related proteins were identified, including: 1) anaesthetics, such as ShK Toxin-containing proteins and turripeptides (ion-channel blockers), Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), Adenosine Deaminase (ADA); 2) inhibitors of primary haemostasis, such as novel vWFA domain-containing proteins, the Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 5 (ENPP5) and the wasp Antigen-5; 3) anticoagulants, such as TFPI-like multiple Kunitz-type protease inhibitors, Peptidases S1 (PS1), CAP/ShKT domain-containing proteins, Astacin metalloproteases and Astacin/ShKT domain-containing proteins; 4) additional proteins, such the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE: vasopressive) and the cytolytic Porins. Conclusions Colubraria feeding physiology seems to involve inhibitors of both primary and secondary haemostasis, anaesthetics, a vasoconstrictive enzyme to reduce feeding time and tissue-degrading proteins such as Porins and Astacins. The complexity of Colubraria venomous cocktail and the divergence from the arsenal of the few neogastropods studied to date (mostly conoideans) suggest that biochemical diversification of neogastropods might be largely underestimated and worth of extensive investigation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1648-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vittoria Modica
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University, I-00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Fabrizio Lombardo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, I-00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paolo Franchini
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78745, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Marco Oliverio
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University, I-00185, Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Tang J, Fang Y, Han Y, Bai X, Yan X, Zhang Y, Lai R, Zhang Z. YY-39, a tick anti-thrombosis peptide containing RGD domain. Peptides 2015; 68:99-104. [PMID: 25152502 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2014.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2014] [Revised: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory blood feeding ectoparasites, which continuously attach to their hosts for 1-2 weeks. There are many biologically active compounds in tick salivary glands interfering host haemostatic system and to successfully obtain blood meal. Several platelet aggregation inhibitors have been identified from ticks. A family of conserved peptides, which were identified from transcriptome analysis of many tick salivary glands, were found to contain unique primary structure including predicted mature peptides of 39-47 amino acid residues in length and a Pro/Glu(P/E)-Pro/His(P/H)-Lys-Gly-Asp(RGD) domain. Given their unique structure and RGD domain, they are considered a novel family of disintegrins that inhibit platelet aggregation. One of them (YY-39) was tested for its effects on platelets and thrombosis in vivo. YY-39 was found effectively to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thrombin and thromboxane A2 (TXA2). Furthermore, YY-39 blocked platelet adhesion to soluble collagen and bound to purified GPIIb/IIIa in a dose-dependent manner. In in vivo experiments, YY-39 reduced thrombus weight effectively in a rat arteriovenous shunt model and inhibited thrombosis in a carrageenan-induced mouse tail thrombosis model. Combined with their prevalence in ticks and platelet inhibitory functions, this family of peptides might be conserved tick anti-haemostatic molecules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Tang
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Yaqun Fang
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Yajun Han
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Xuewei Bai
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Xiuwen Yan
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, 1st Weigang, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China.
| | - Zhiye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Rodriguez-Valle M, Xu T, Kurscheid S, Lew-Tabor AE. Rhipicephalus microplus serine protease inhibitor family: annotation, expression and functional characterisation assessment. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:7. [PMID: 25564202 PMCID: PMC4322644 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0605-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus evades the host's haemostatic system through a complex protein array secreted into tick saliva. Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) conform an important component of saliva which are represented by a large protease inhibitor family in Ixodidae. These secreted and non-secreted inhibitors modulate diverse and essential proteases involved in different physiological processes. METHODS The identification of R. microplus serpin sequences was performed through a web-based bioinformatics environment called Yabi. The database search was conducted on BmiGi V1, BmiGi V2.1, five SSH libraries, Australian tick transcriptome libraries and RmiTR V1 using bioinformatics methods. Semi quantitative PCR was carried out using different adult tissues and tick development stages. The cDNA of four identified R. microplus serpins were cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris in order to determine biological targets of these serpins utilising protease inhibition assays. RESULTS A total of four out of twenty-two serpins identified in our analysis are new R. microplus serpins which were named as RmS-19 to RmS-22. The analyses of DNA and predicted amino acid sequences showed high conservation of the R. microplus serpin sequences. The expression data suggested ubiquitous expression of RmS except for RmS-6 and RmS-14 that were expressed only in nymphs and adult female ovaries, respectively. RmS-19, and -20 were expressed in all tissues samples analysed showing their important role in both parasitic and non-parasitic stages of R. microplus development. RmS-21 was not detected in ovaries and RmS-22 was not identified in ovary and nymph samples but were expressed in the rest of the samples analysed. A total of four expressed recombinant serpins showed protease specific inhibition for Chymotrypsin (RmS-1 and RmS-6), Chymotrypsin / Elastase (RmS-3) and Thrombin (RmS-15). CONCLUSION This study constitutes an important contribution and improvement to the knowledge about the physiologic role of R. microplus serpins during the host-tick interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Rodriguez-Valle
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St. Lucia Qld, 4072, Australia.
| | - Tao Xu
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St. Lucia Qld, 4072, Australia.
| | | | - Ala E Lew-Tabor
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd, St. Lucia Qld, 4072, Australia. .,Murdoch University, Centre for Comparative Genomics, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Garcia GR, Gardinassi LG, Ribeiro JM, Anatriello E, Ferreira BR, Moreira HNS, Mafra C, Martins MM, Szabó MPJ, de Miranda-Santos IKF, Maruyama SR. The sialotranscriptome of Amblyomma triste, Amblyomma parvum and Amblyomma cajennense ticks, uncovered by 454-based RNA-seq. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:430. [PMID: 25201527 PMCID: PMC4261526 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick salivary constituents antagonize inflammatory, immune and hemostatic host responses, favoring tick blood feeding and the establishment of tick-borne pathogens in hosts during hematophagy. Amblyomma triste, A. cajennense and A. parvum ticks are very important in veterinary and human health because they are vectors of the etiological agents for several diseases. Insights into the tick salivary components involved in blood feeding are essential to understanding vector-pathogen-host interactions, and transcriptional profiling of salivary glands is a powerful tool to do so. Here, we functionally annotated the sialotranscriptomes of these three Amblyomma species, which allowed comparisons between these and other hematophagous arthropod species. Methods mRNA from the salivary glands of A. triste, A. cajennense and A. parvum ticks fed on different host species were pyrosequenced on a 454-Roche platform to generate four A. triste (nymphs fed on guinea pigs and females fed on dogs) libraries, one A. cajennense (females fed on rabbits) library and one was A. parvum (females fed on dogs) library. Bioinformatic analyses used in-house programs with a customized pipeline employing standard assembly and alignment algorithms, protein databases and protein servers. Results Each library yielded an average of 100,000 reads, which were assembled to obtain contigs of coding sequences (CDSs). The sialotranscriptome analyses of A. triste, A. cajennense and A. parvum ticks produced 11,240, 4,604 and 3,796 CDSs, respectively. These CDSs were classified into over 100 distinct protein families with a wide range of putative functions involved in physiological and blood feeding processes and were catalogued in annotated, hyperlinked spreadsheets. We highlighted the putative transcripts encoding saliva components with critical roles during parasitism, such as anticoagulants, immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory molecules. The salivary content underwent changes in the abundance and repertoire of many transcripts, which depended on the tick and host species. Conclusions The annotated sialotranscriptomes described herein richly expand the biological knowledge of these three Amblyomma species. These comprehensive databases will be useful for the characterization of salivary proteins and can be applied to control ticks and tick-borne diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-430) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sandra Regina Maruyama
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Mulenga A, Kim T, Ibelli AMG. Amblyomma americanum tick saliva serine protease inhibitor 6 is a cross-class inhibitor of serine proteases and papain-like cysteine proteases that delays plasma clotting and inhibits platelet aggregation. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 22:306-19. [PMID: 23521000 PMCID: PMC4058330 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that Amblyomma americanum tick serine protease inhibitor 6 (AamS6) was secreted into the host during tick feeding and that both its mRNA and protein were ubiquitously and highly expressed during the first 3 days of tick feeding. This study demonstrates that AamS6 is a cross-class inhibitor of both serine- and papain-like cysteine proteases that has apparent antihaemostatic functions. Consistent with the typical inhibitory serpin characteristics, enzyme kinetics analyses revealed that Pichia pastoris-expressed recombinant (r) AamS6 reduced initial velocities of substrate hydrolysis (V₀) and/or maximum enzyme velocity (V(max)) of trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, chymase, and papain in a dose-response manner. We speculate that rAamS6 inhibited plasmin in a temporary fashion in that while rAamS6 reduced V₀ of plasmin by up to ∼53%, it had no effect on V(max). Our data also suggest that rAmS6 has minimal or no apparent effect on V₀ or V(max) of thrombin, factor Xa, and kallikrein. We speculate that AamS6 is apparently involved in facilitating blood meal feeding in that various amounts of rAamS6 reduced platelet aggregation by up to ∼47% and delayed plasma clotting time in the recalcification time assay by up to ∼210 s. AamS6 is most likely not involved with the tick's evasion of the host's complement defense mechanism, in that rAamS6 did not interfere with the complement activation pathway. Findings in this study are discussed in the context of expanding our understanding of tick proteins that control bloodmeal feeding and hence tick-borne disease transmission by ticks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Mulenga
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Mulenga A, Kim TK, Ibelli AMG. Deorphanization and target validation of cross-tick species conserved novel Amblyomma americanum tick saliva protein. Int J Parasitol 2013; 43:439-51. [PMID: 23428900 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
We previously identified a cross-tick species conserved tick feeding stimuli responsive Amblyomma americanum (Aam) AV422 gene. This study demonstrates that AamAV422 belongs to a novel group of arthropod proteins that is characterized by 14 cysteine amino acid residues: C(23)-X7/9-C(33)-X23/24-C(58)-X8-C(67)-X7-C(75)-X23-C(99)-X15-C(115)-X10-C(126)-X24/25/33-C(150)C(151)-X7-C(159)-X8-C(168)-X23/24-C(192)-X9/10-C(202) predicted to form seven disulfide bonds. We show that AamAV422 protein is a ubiquitously expressed protein that is injected into the host within the first 24h of the tick attaching onto the host as revealed by Western blotting analyses of recombinant (r)AamAV422, tick saliva and dissected tick organ protein extracts using antibodies to 24 and 48 h tick saliva proteins. Native AamAV422 is apparently involved with mediating tick anti-hemostasis and anti-complement functions in that rAamAV422 delayed plasma clotting time in a dose responsive manner by up to ≈ 160 s, prevented platelet aggregation by up to ≈ 16% and caused ≈ 24% reduction in production of terminal complement complexes. Target validation analysis revealed that rAamAV422 is a potential candidate for a cocktail or multivalent tick vaccine preparation in that RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing of AamAV422 mRNA caused a statistically significant (≈ 44%) reduction in tick engorgement weights, which is proxy for amounts of ingested blood. We speculate that AamAV422 is a potential target antigen for development of the highly desired universal tick vaccine in that consistent with high conservation among ticks, antibodies to 24h Ixodes scapularis tick saliva proteins specifically bound rAamAV422. We discuss data in this study in the context of advancing the biology of tick feeding physiology and discovery of potential target antigens for tick vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Mulenga
- Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Chmelar J, Calvo E, Pedra JHF, Francischetti IMB, Kotsyfakis M. Tick salivary secretion as a source of antihemostatics. J Proteomics 2012; 75:3842-54. [PMID: 22564820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2012] [Revised: 04/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are mostly obligatory blood feeding ectoparasites that have an impact on human and animal health. In addition to direct damage due to feeding, some tick species serve as the vectors for the causative agents of several diseases, such as the spirochetes of the genus Borrelia causing Lyme disease, the virus of tick-borne encephalitis, various Rickettsial pathogens or even protozoan parasites like Babesia spp. Hard ticks are unique among bloodfeeders because of their prolonged feeding period that may last up to two weeks. During such a long period of blood uptake, the host develops a wide range of mechanisms to prevent blood loss. The arthropod ectoparasite, in turn, secretes saliva in the sites of bite that assists blood feeding. Indeed, tick saliva represents a rich source of proteins with potent pharmacologic action that target different mechanisms of coagulation, platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction. Tick adaptation to their vertebrate hosts led to the inclusion of a powerful protein armamentarium in their salivary secretion that has been investigated by high-throughput methods. The resulting knowledge can be exploited for the isolation of novel antihemostatic agents. Here we review the tick salivary antihemostatics and their characterized functions at the molecular and cellular levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jindrich Chmelar
- Division of Vascular Inflammation, Diabetes and Kidney, Department of Medicine and Institute of Physiology, Technical University Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Tsujimoto H, Kotsyfakis M, Francischetti IMB, Eum JH, Strand MR, Champagne DE. Simukunin from the salivary glands of the black fly Simulium vittatum inhibits enzymes that regulate clotting and inflammatory responses. PLoS One 2012; 7:e29964. [PMID: 22383955 PMCID: PMC3285612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) feed on blood, and are important vectors of Onchocerca volvulus, the etiolytic agent of River Blindness. Blood feeding depends on pharmacological properties of saliva, including anticoagulation, but the molecules responsible for this activity have not been well characterized. Methodology/Principal Findings Two Kunitz family proteins, SV-66 and SV-170, were identified in the sialome of the black fly Simulium vittatum. As Kunitz proteins are inhibitors of serine proteases, we hypothesized that SV-66 and/or −170 were involved in the anticoagulant activity of black fly saliva. Our results indicated that recombinant (r) SV-66 but not rSV-170 inhibited plasma coagulation. Mutational analysis suggested that SV-66 is a canonical BPTI-like inhibitor. Functional assays indicated that rSV66 reduced the activity of ten serine proteases, including several involved in mammalian coagulation. rSV-66 most strongly inhibited the activity of Factor Xa, elastase, and cathepsin G, exhibited lesser inhibitory activity against Factor IXa, Factor XIa, and plasmin, and exhibited no activity against Factor XIIa and thrombin. Surface plasmon resonance studies indicated that rSV-66 bound with highest affinity to elastase (KD = 0.4 nM) and to the active site of FXa (KD = 3.07 nM). We propose the name “Simukunin” for this novel protein. Conclusions We conclude that Simukunin preferentially inhibits Factor Xa. The inhibition of elastase and cathepsin G further suggests this protein may modulate inflammation, which could potentially affect pathogen transmission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Tsujimoto
- Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michail Kotsyfakis
- Laboratory of Genomics and Proteomics of Disease Vectors, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo M. B. Francischetti
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jai Hoon Eum
- Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Strand
- Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Donald E. Champagne
- Department of Entomology, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Soares TS, Watanabe RMO, Tanaka-Azevedo AM, Torquato RJS, Lu S, Figueiredo AC, Pereira PJB, Tanaka AS. Expression and functional characterization of boophilin, a thrombin inhibitor from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus midgut. Vet Parasitol 2012; 187:521-8. [PMID: 22341830 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Revised: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an ectoparasite responsible for an important decrease in meat, milk and leather production, caused both by cattle blood loss and by the transmission of anaplasmosis and babesiosis. R. microplus is a rich source of serine protease inhibitors, including the trypsin inhibitors BmTI-A and BmTI-6, the subtilisin inhibitor BmSI, and the recently described thrombin inhibitor, boophilin. Boophilin is a double Kunitz-type thrombin inhibitor, with the unusual ability to form a ternary complex with a second (non-thrombin) serine proteinase molecule. The large-scale expression and purification of boophilin and of its isolated N-terminal (D1) domain in Pichia pastoris, its expression profile, and the effect of RNAi-mediated gene silencing in tick egg production are reported. Full-length boophilin and D1 were expressed at 21 and 37.5mg/L of culture, respectively. Purified boophilin inhibited trypsin (K(i) 0.65 nM), neutrophil elastase (K(i) 21 nM) and bovine thrombin (K(i) 57 pM), while D1 inhibited trypsin and neutrophil elastase (K(i) of 2.0 and 129 nM, respectively), but not thrombin. Boophilin gene silencing using RNAi resulted in 20% reduction in egg weight production, suggesting that the expression of boophilin in this life stage would be important but not vital, probably due to functional overlap with other serine proteinase inhibitors in the midgut of R. microplus. Considering our data, Boophilin could be combining with other antigen in a vaccine production for tick control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatiane Sanches Soares
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua 3 de Maio 100, 04044-020 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
The action of Amblyomma cajennense tick saliva in compounds of the hemostatic system and cytotoxicity in tumor cell lines. Biomed Pharmacother 2011; 65:443-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2011.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2010] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
|
31
|
Gao X, Shi L, Zhou Y, Cao J, Zhang H, Zhou J. Characterization of the anticoagulant protein Rhipilin-1 from the Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides tick. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2011; 57:339-343. [PMID: 21147114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2010] [Revised: 12/02/2010] [Accepted: 12/04/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
To understand the molecular mechanism of tick blood feeding, an anticoagulant protein, Rhipilin-1, was identified in the tick Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides. The cDNA sequence of Rhipilin-1 is 620bp, and it encodes a deduced 164 amino acid protein with a size of 18kDa. Bioinformatic analysis shows that Rhipilin-1 belongs to the Kunitz-type family of inhibitors, containing one Kunitz domain with high homology to the tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). The recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli delayed normal clotting of rabbit plasma both in the recalcification time (RT) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) tests. Using RT-PCR, mRNA transcripts of Rhipilin-1 were detected in fed but not in unfed ticks. Disruption of the Rhipilin-1 gene with RNAi led to a 52.7% decrease in the tick attachment rate 24h after introduction in the rabbit ears and a 21.9% decrease in the average engorged body weight of ticks. These results indicate that Rhipilin-1 is a novel anticoagulant protein involved in tick blood feeding with possible future application as a vaccine candidate. The discovery of Rhipilin-1 is the first report on anticoagulant genes in this species of tick.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Gao
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 518 Ziyue Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, China
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Thrombin inhibitors from different animals. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:641025. [PMID: 20976270 PMCID: PMC2953280 DOI: 10.1155/2010/641025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Revised: 06/16/2010] [Accepted: 08/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Venous and arterial thromboembolic diseases are still the most frequent causes of death and disability in high-income countries. Clinical anticoagulants are inhibitors of enzymes involved in the coagulation pathway, such as thrombin and factor X(a). Thrombin is a key enzyme of blood coagulation system, activating the platelets, converting the fibrinogen to the fibrin net, and amplifying its self-generation by the activation of factors V, VIII, and XI. Thrombin has long been a target for the development of oral anticoagulants. Furthermore, selective inhibitors of thrombin represent a new class of antithrombotic agents. For these reasons, a number of specific thrombin inhibitors are under evaluation for possible use as antithrombotic drugs. This paper summarizes old and new interests of specific thrombin inhibitors described in different animals.
Collapse
|
33
|
Anatriello E, Ribeiro JMC, de Miranda-Santos IKF, Brandão LG, Anderson JM, Valenzuela JG, Maruyama SR, Silva JS, Ferreira BR. An insight into the sialotranscriptome of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:450. [PMID: 20650005 PMCID: PMC3091647 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2009] [Accepted: 07/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhipicephalus sanguineus, known as the brown dog tick, is a common ectoparasite of domestic dogs and can be found worldwide. R.sanguineus is recognized as the primary vector of the etiological agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and canine babesiosis. Here we present the first description of a R. sanguineus salivary gland transcriptome by the production and analysis of 2,034 expressed sequence tags (EST) from two cDNA libraries, one consctructed using mRNA from dissected salivary glands from female ticks fed for 3-5 days (early to mid library, RsSGL1) and the another from ticks fed for 5 days (mid library, RsSGL2), identifying 1,024 clusters of related sequences. RESULTS Based on sequence similarities to nine different databases, we identified transcripts of genes that were further categorized according to function. The category of putative housekeeping genes contained approximately 56% of the sequences and had on average 2.49 ESTs per cluster, the secreted protein category contained 26.6% of the ESTs and had 2.47 EST's/clusters, while 15.3% of the ESTs, mostly singletons, were not classifiable, and were annotated as "unknown function". The secreted category included genes that coded for lipocalins, proteases inhibitors, disintegrins, metalloproteases, immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory proteins, as Evasins and Da-p36, as well as basic-tail and 18.3 kDa proteins, cement proteins, mucins, defensins and antimicrobial peptides. Comparison of the abundance of ESTs from similar contigs of the two salivary gland cDNA libraries allowed the identification of differentially expressed genes, such as genes coding for Evasins and a thrombin inhibitor, which were over expressed in the RsSGL1 (early to mid library) versus RsSGL2 (mid library), indicating their role in inhibition of inflammation at the tick feeding site from the very beginning of the blood meal. Conversely, sequences related to cement (64P), which function has been correlated with tick attachment, was largely expressed in the mid library. CONCLUSIONS Our survey provided an insight into the R. sanguineus sialotranscriptome, which can assist the discovery of new targets for anti-tick vaccines, as well as help to identify pharmacologically active proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elen Anatriello
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - José MC Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Isabel KF de Miranda-Santos
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, 70770-900, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Lucinda G Brandão
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
- Universidade Paulista, Avenida Baguaçu, 1939, 16018-280, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil
| | - Jennifer M Anderson
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Jesus G Valenzuela
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Sandra R Maruyama
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - João S Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Beatriz R Ferreira
- Department of Maternal and Child and Public Health Nursing, Ribeirão Preto School of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Lu QM, Lai R, Zhang Y. [Animal toxins and human disease: from single component to venomics, from biochemical characterization to disease mechanisms, from crude venom utilization to rational drug design]. DONG WU XUE YAN JIU = ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2010; 31:2-16. [PMID: 20446448 DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1141.2010.01002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Many animals produced a diversity of venoms and secretions to adapt the changes of environments through the long history of evolution. The components including a large quantity of specific and highly active peptides and proteins have become good research models for protein structure-function and also served as tools and novel clues for illustration of human disease mechanisms. At the same time, they are rich natural resources for new drug development. Through the valuable venomous animal resources of China, researchers at the Kunming Institute of Zoology, CAS have carried out animal toxin research over 30 years. This paper reviews the main work conducted on snake venoms, amphibian and insect secretions, and the development from single component to venomics, from biochemical characterization to human disease mechanisms, from crude venom to rational drug design along with a short perspective on future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Min Lu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Wu J, Wang Y, Liu H, Yang H, Ma D, Li J, Li D, Lai R, Yu H. Two immunoregulatory peptides with antioxidant activity from tick salivary glands. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:16606-13. [PMID: 20178988 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.094615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding arthropods that may secrete immunosuppressant molecules, which inhibit host inflammatory and immune responses and provide survival advantages to pathogens at tick bleeding sites in hosts. In the current work, two families of immunoregulatory peptides, hyalomin-A and -B, were first identified from salivary glands of hard tick Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum. Three copies of hyalomin-A are encoded by an identical gene and released from the same protein precursor. Both hyalomin-A and -B can exert significant anti-inflammatory functions, either by directly inhibiting host secretion of inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemotectic protein-1, and interferon-gamma or by indirectly increasing the secretion of immunosuppressant cytokine of interleukin-10. Hyalomin-A and -B were both found to potently scavenge free radical in vitro in a rapid manner and inhibited adjuvant-induced inflammation in mouse models in vivo. The JNK/SAPK subgroup of the MAPK signaling pathway was involved in such immunoregulatory functions of hyalomin-A and -B. These results showed that immunoregulatory peptides of tick salivary glands suppress host inflammatory response by modulating cytokine secretion and detoxifying reactive oxygen species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Carvalho WA, Maruyama SR, Franzin AM, Abatepaulo ARR, Anderson JM, Ferreira BR, Ribeiro JMC, Moré DD, Augusto Mendes Maia A, Valenzuela JG, Garcia GR, de Miranda Santos IKF. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: clotting time in tick-infested skin varies according to local inflammation and gene expression patterns in tick salivary glands. Exp Parasitol 2010; 124:428-35. [PMID: 20045690 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2009] [Revised: 11/26/2009] [Accepted: 12/23/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Ticks deposit saliva at the site of their attachment to a host in order to inhibit haemostasis, inflammation and innate and adaptive immune responses. The anti-haemostatic properties of tick saliva have been described by many studies, but few show that tick infestations or its anti-haemostatic components exert systemic effects in vivo. In the present study, we extended these observations and show that, compared with normal skin, bovine hosts that are genetically susceptible to tick infestations present an increase in the clotting time of blood collected from the immediate vicinity of haemorrhagic feeding pools in skin infested with different developmental stages of Rhipicepahlus microplus; conversely, we determined that clotting time of tick-infested skin from genetically resistant bovines was shorter than that of normal skin. Coagulation and inflammation have many components in common and we determined that in resistant bovines, eosinophils and basophils, which are known to contain tissue factor, are recruited in greater numbers to the inflammatory site of tick bites than in susceptible hosts. Finally, we correlated the observed differences in clotting times with the expression profiles of transcripts for putative anti-haemostatic proteins in different developmental stages of R. microplus fed on genetically susceptible and resistant hosts: we determined that transcripts coding for proteins similar to these molecules are overrepresented in salivary glands from nymphs and males fed on susceptible bovines. Our data indicate that ticks are able to modulate their host's local haemostatic reactions. In the resistant phenotype, larger amounts of inflammatory cells are recruited and expression of anti-coagulant molecules is decreased tick salivary glands, features that can hamper the tick's blood meal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanessa Araújo Carvalho
- Departament of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14049-900, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Ma D, Wang Y, Yang H, Wu J, An S, Gao L, Xu X, Lai R. Anti-thrombosis repertoire of blood-feeding horsefly salivary glands. Mol Cell Proteomics 2009; 8:2071-9. [PMID: 19531497 PMCID: PMC2742439 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m900186-mcp200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2009] [Revised: 06/01/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-feeding arthropods rely heavily on the pharmacological properties of their saliva to get a blood meal and suppress immune reactions of hosts. Little information is available on antihemostatic substances in horsefly salivary glands although their saliva has been thought to contain wide range of physiologically active molecules. In traditional Eastern medicine, horseflies are used as anti-thrombosis material for hundreds of years. By proteomics coupling transcriptome analysis with pharmacological testing, several families of proteins or peptides, which exert mainly on anti-thrombosis functions, were identified and characterized from 60,000 pairs of salivary glands of the horsefly Tabanus yao Macquart (Diptera, Tabanidae). They are: (I) ten fibrin(ogen)olytic enzymes, which hydrolyze specially alpha chain of fibrin(ogen) and are the first family of fibrin(ogen)olytic enzymes purified and characterized from arthropods; (II) another fibrin(ogen)olytic enzyme, which hydrolyzes both alpha and beta chain of fibrin(ogen); (III) ten Arg-Gly-Asp-motif containing proteins acting as platelet aggregation inhibitors; (IV) five thrombin inhibitor peptides; (V) three vasodilator peptides; (VI) one apyrase acting as platelet aggregation inhibitor; (VII) one peroxidase with both platelet aggregation inhibitory and vasodilator activities. The first three families are belonging to antigen five proteins, which show obvious similarity with insect allergens. They are the first members of the antigen 5 family found in salivary glands of blood sucking arthropods to have anti-thromobosis function. The current results imply a possible evolution from allergens of blood-sucking insects to anti-thrombosis agents. The extreme diversity of horsefly anti-thrombosis components also reveals the anti-thrombosis molecular mechanisms of the traditional Eastern medicine insect material.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongying Ma
- From the ‡Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- §Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Yipeng Wang
- From the ‡Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- §Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Hailong Yang
- From the ‡Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- §Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Jing Wu
- From the ‡Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- §Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Shu An
- ‖School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China, and
- §Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Li Gao
- From the ‡Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- §Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Xueqing Xu
- From the ‡Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- §Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100009, China
| | - Ren Lai
- From the ‡Biotoxin Units of Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- **Life Sciences College of Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Corral-Rodríguez MA, Macedo-Ribeiro S, Barbosa Pereira PJ, Fuentes-Prior P. Tick-derived Kunitz-type inhibitors as antihemostatic factors. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2009; 39:579-595. [PMID: 19631744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2009.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2009] [Revised: 07/14/2009] [Accepted: 07/16/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous Kunitz-type inhibitors target a large number of serine proteinases, including coagulation factors VIIa and Xa, but not thrombin. By contrast, several two-domain Kunitz inhibitors of this major procoagulant proteinase have been isolated from both soft ticks (e.g., ornithodorin from Ornithodoros moubata) and hard ticks (e.g., boophilin from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus). Surprisingly, these anticoagulants do not follow the canonical mechanism of proteinase inhibition. Instead, their N-terminal residues bind across the thrombin active-site cleft, while C-terminal modules interact with the basic exosite I. The reactive-site loop of boophilin remains fully accessible in its complex with thrombin, and might interact with FXa according to the standard mechanism. A conceptually similar inhibition mechanism is employed by a related inhibitor of the TF-FVIIa complex isolated from Ixodes scapularis, ixolaris. Significant variations to the Kunitz fold are encountered in several of these factors, and are particularly evident in the single-domain FXa inhibitor, O. moubata TAP, and in soft tick-derived platelet antiaggregants (e.g., O. moubata disagregin). Altogether, these antihemostatic factors illustrate the divergence between hard and soft ticks. The unsurpassed versatility of tick-derived Kunitz inhibitors establishes them as valuable tools for biochemical investigations, but also as lead compounds for the development of novel antithrombotics.
Collapse
|
39
|
Prevot PP, Beschin A, Lins L, Beaufays J, Grosjean A, Bruys L, Adam B, Brossard M, Brasseur R, Zouaoui Boudjeltia K, Vanhamme L, Godfroid E. Exosites mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of a multifunctional serpin from the saliva of the tick Ixodes ricinus. FEBS J 2009; 276:3235-46. [PMID: 19438720 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2009.07038.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are a structurally related but functionally diverse family of ubiquitous proteins. We previously described Ixodes ricinus immunosuppressor (Iris) as a serpin from the saliva of the tick I. ricinus displaying high affinity for human leukocyte elastase. Iris also displays pleotropic effects because it interferes with both the immune response and hemostasis of the host. It thus inhibits lymphocyte proliferation and the secretion of interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and also platelet adhesion, coagulation and fibrinolysis. Its ability to interfere with coagulation and fibrinolysis, but not platelet adhesion, depends on the integrity of its antiproteolytic reactive center loop domain. Here, we dissect the mechanisms underlying the interaction of recombinant Iris with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We show that Iris binds to monocytes/macrophages and inhibits their ability to secrete tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Recombinant Iris also has a protective role in endotoxemic shock. The anti-inflammatory ability of Iris does not depend on its antiprotease activity. Moreover, we pinpoint the exosites involved in this activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Paul Prevot
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire des Ectoparasites, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Paesen GC, Siebold C, Dallas ML, Peers C, Harlos K, Nuttall PA, Nunn MA, Stuart DI, Esnouf RM. An ion-channel modulator from the saliva of the brown ear tick has a highly modified Kunitz/BPTI structure. J Mol Biol 2009; 389:734-47. [PMID: 19394347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2009.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2009] [Revised: 04/17/2009] [Accepted: 04/21/2009] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ra-KLP, a 75 amino acid protein secreted by the salivary gland of the brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus has a sequence resembling those of Kunitz/BPTI proteins. We report the detection, purification and characterization of the function of Ra-KLP. In addition, determination of the three-dimensional crystal structure of Ra-KLP at 1.6 A resolution using sulphur single-wavelength anomalous dispersion reveals that much of the loop structure of classical Kunitz domains, including the protruding protease-binding loop, has been replaced by beta-strands. Even more unusually, the N-terminal portion of the polypeptide chain is pinned to the "Kunitz head" by two disulphide bridges not found in classical Kunitz/BPTI proteins. The disulphide bond pattern has been further altered by the loss of the bridge that normally stabilizes the protease-binding loop. Consistent with the conversion of this loop into a beta-strand, Ra-KLP shows no significant anti-protease activity; however, it activates maxiK channels in an in vitro system, suggesting a potential mechanism for regulating host blood supply during feeding.
Collapse
|
41
|
Aljamali MN, Hern L, Kupfer D, Downard S, So S, Roe BA, Sauer JR, Essenberg RC. Transcriptome analysis of the salivary glands of the female tick Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae). INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2009; 18:129-154. [PMID: 19320755 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2009.00863.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Ticks infest a wide range of hosts while bypassing their immune, inflammatory and haemostatic responses during their extended feeding, which may last for more than two weeks. Here, we present a transcriptome analysis of 3868 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from three cDNA libraries generated from the salivary glands of adult female Ambyomma americanum ticks at different stages of feeding. We applied a normalization step for one library, significantly decreasing the abundance of mitochondrial sequences amongst the 2292 sequences from the normalized library. Our ESTs include homologues that may modulate haemostatic, immune and inflammatory responses of the hosts. Other ESTs probably represent important components of the highly efficient secretory pathways for salivary proteins and concomitantly transmitted pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M N Aljamali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Yang X, Wang Y, Lu Z, Zhai L, Jiang J, Liu J, Yu H. A novel serine protease inhibitor from the venom of Vespa bicolor Fabricius. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2009; 153:116-20. [PMID: 19258046 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2009.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2008] [Revised: 02/06/2009] [Accepted: 02/16/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Hornets possess highly toxic venoms, which are rich in toxin, enzymes and biologically active peptides. Many bioactive substances have been identified from wasp venoms but only a few serine protease inhibitors have been identified from two kinds of wasp venoms. In this work, a serine protease inhibitor named bicolin was purified and characterized from the venom of the wasp, Vespa bicolor Fabricius. The precursor encoding bicolin was cloned from the cDNA library of the venomous glands. It is a cysteine-rich small protein containing 54 amino acid residues including 6 half-cysteines. The peptide is homologous to serine protease inhibitors isolated from venoms of Anoplius samariensis and Pimpla hypochondriaca. Bicolin showed inhibitory ability against trypsin and thrombin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinbo Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050016, Hebei, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Liao M, Zhou J, Gong H, Boldbaatar D, Shirafuji R, Battur B, Nishikawa Y, Fujisaki K. Hemalin, a thrombin inhibitor isolated from a midgut cDNA library from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2009; 55:164-173. [PMID: 19061894 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2008.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2008] [Revised: 11/05/2008] [Accepted: 11/06/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A full-length sequence of a thrombin inhibitor (designated as hemalin) from the midgut of parthenogenetic Haemaphysalis longicornis has been identified. Sequence analysis shows that this gene belongs to the Kunitz-type family, containing two Kunitz domains with high homology to boophilin, the thrombin inhibitor from Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The recombinant protein expressed in insect cells delayed bovine plasma clotting time and inhibited both thrombin-induced fibrinogen clotting and platelet aggregation. A 20-kDa protein was detected from the midgut lysate with antiserum against recombinant hemalin. The gene is expressed at all stages of the tick except for the egg stage, and hemalin mRNA mainly in the midgut of the female adult tick. Real-time PCR analysis shows that this gene has a distinctly high expression level in the rapid bloodsucking period of the larvae, nymphs, and adults. Disruption of the hemalin gene by RNA interference led to a 2-day extension of the tick blood feeding period, and 27.7% of the RNA-treated ticks did not successfully complete the blood feeding. These findings indicate that the newly identified thrombin inhibitor from the midgut of H. longicornis might play an important role in tick blood feeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Liao
- Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Frontier Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagoshima University, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Francischetti IMB, Sa-Nunes A, Mans BJ, Santos IM, Ribeiro JMC. The role of saliva in tick feeding. FRONT BIOSCI-LANDMRK 2009; 14:2051-88. [PMID: 19273185 PMCID: PMC2785505 DOI: 10.2741/3363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 376] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
When attempting to feed on their hosts, ticks face the problem of host hemostasis (the vertebrate mechanisms that prevent blood loss), inflammation (that can produce itching or pain and thus initiate defensive behavior on their hosts) and adaptive immunity (by way of both cellular and humoral responses). Against these barriers, ticks evolved a complex and sophisticated pharmacological armamentarium, consisting of bioactive lipids and proteins, to assist blood feeding. Recent progress in transcriptome research has uncovered that hard ticks have hundreds of different proteins expressed in their salivary glands, the majority of which have no known function, and include many novel protein families (e.g., their primary structure is unique to ticks). This review will address the vertebrate mechanisms of these barriers as a guide to identify the possible targets of these large numbers of known salivary proteins with unknown function. We additionally provide a supplemental Table that catalogues over 3,500 putative salivary proteins from various tick species, which might assist the scientific community in the process of functional identification of these unique proteins. This supplemental file is accessble fromhttp://exon.niaid.nih.gov/transcriptome/tick_review/Sup-Table-1.xls.gz.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivo M B Francischetti
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Anderson JM, Sonenshine DE, Valenzuela JG. Exploring the mialome of ticks: an annotated catalogue of midgut transcripts from the hard tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). BMC Genomics 2008; 9:552. [PMID: 19021911 PMCID: PMC2644717 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-9-552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2007] [Accepted: 11/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks are obligate blood feeders. The midgut is the first major region of the body where blood and microbes ingested with the blood meal come in contact with the tick's internal tissues. Little is known about protein expression in the digestive tract of ticks. In this study, for analysis of global gene expression during tick attachment and feeding, we generated and sequenced 1,679 random transcripts (ESTs) from cDNA libraries from the midguts of female ticks at varying stages of feeding. Results Sequence analysis of the 1,679 ESTs resulted in the identification of 835 distinct transcripts, from these, a total of 82 transcripts were identified as proteins putatively directly involved in blood meal digestion, including enzymes involved in oxidative stress reduction/antimicrobial activity/detoxification, peptidase inhibitors, protein digestion (cysteine-, aspartic-, serine-, and metallo-peptidases), cell, protein and lipid binding including mucins and iron/heme metabolism and transport. A lectin-like protein with a high match to lectins in other tick species, allergen-like proteins and surface antigens important in pathogen recognition and/or antimicrobial activity were also found. Furthermore, midguts collected from the 6-day-fed ticks expressed twice as many transcripts involved in bloodmeal processing as midguts from unfed/2-day-fed ticks. Conclusion This tissue-specific transcriptome analysis provides an opportunity to examine the global expression of transcripts in the tick midgut and to compare the gut response to host attachment versus blood feeding and digestion. In contrast to those in salivary glands of other Ixodid ticks, most proteins in the D. variabilis midgut cDNA library were intracellular. Of the total ESTs associated with a function, an unusually large number of transcripts were associated with peptidases, cell, lipid and protein binding, and oxidative stress or detoxification. Presumably, this is consistent with their role in intracellular processing of the blood meal and response to microbial infections. The presence of many proteins with similar functions is consistent with the hypothesis that gene duplication contributed to the successful adaptation of ticks to hematophagy. Furthermore, these transcripts may be useful to scientists investigating the role of the tick midgut in blood-meal digestion, antimicrobial activity or the transmission of tick-borne pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Anderson
- Vector Molecular Biology Unit, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Sasaki SD, Tanaka AS. rBmTI-6, a Kunitz-BPTI domain protease inhibitor from the tick Boophilus microplus, its cloning, expression and biochemical characterization. Vet Parasitol 2008; 155:133-41. [PMID: 18502587 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2007] [Revised: 03/05/2008] [Accepted: 03/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Boophilus microplus is a rich source of trypsin inhibitors, numerous Kunitz-BPTI (bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor) inhibitors have been described from larvae and eggs, named BmTIs. Among them, were characterized inhibitors for trypsin, human neutrophil elastase, human plasma kallikrein and plasmin. BmTIs elicited a protective immunological response against B. microplus infestation in cattle. However, only a small amount of purified natural BmTIs can be obtained from larvae and eggs by chromatographic methods, thus if BmTIs are to be used as vaccine antigens (immunogens) the production of recombinant BmTIs (rBmTIs) is essential. In this work we describe the cloning, expression, purification and characterization of rBmTI-6. rBmTI-6 is a three-headed Kunitz-BPTI inhibitor, expressed in the Pichia pastoris system. Although rBmTI-6 was processed by proteases and glycosylated during the expression process, these post-translational modifications did not alter the ability of rBmTI-6 to inhibit protease activity. Purified rBmTI-6 inhibited trypsin and plasmin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio D Sasaki
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, UFABC, Rua Catequese 242, 09090-400 Santo André, SP, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the salivary glands of the tick Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae). Toxicon 2008; 51:823-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2007.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2007] [Revised: 12/11/2007] [Accepted: 12/14/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
48
|
Macedo-Ribeiro S, Almeida C, Calisto BM, Friedrich T, Mentele R, Stürzebecher J, Fuentes-Prior P, Pereira PJB. Isolation, cloning and structural characterisation of boophilin, a multifunctional Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitor from the cattle tick. PLoS One 2008; 3:e1624. [PMID: 18286181 PMCID: PMC2230226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2007] [Accepted: 01/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of coagulation factors from blood-feeding animals display a wide variety of structural motifs and inhibition mechanisms. We have isolated a novel inhibitor from the cattle tick Boophilus microplus, one of the most widespread parasites of farm animals. The inhibitor, which we have termed boophilin, has been cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Mature boophilin is composed of two canonical Kunitz-type domains, and inhibits not only the major procoagulant enzyme, thrombin, but in addition, and by contrast to all other previously characterised natural thrombin inhibitors, significantly interferes with the proteolytic activity of other serine proteinases such as trypsin and plasmin. The crystal structure of the bovine α-thrombin·boophilin complex, refined at 2.35 Å resolution reveals a non-canonical binding mode to the proteinase. The N-terminal region of the mature inhibitor, Q16-R17-N18, binds in a parallel manner across the active site of the proteinase, with the guanidinium group of R17 anchored in the S1 pocket, while the C-terminal Kunitz domain is negatively charged and docks into the basic exosite I of thrombin. This binding mode resembles the previously characterised thrombin inhibitor, ornithodorin which, unlike boophilin, is composed of two distorted Kunitz modules. Unexpectedly, both boophilin domains adopt markedly different orientations when compared to those of ornithodorin, in its complex with thrombin. The N-terminal boophilin domain rotates 9° and is displaced by 6 Å, while the C-terminal domain rotates almost 6° accompanied by a 3 Å displacement. The reactive-site loop of the N-terminal Kunitz domain of boophilin with its P1 residue, K31, is fully solvent exposed and could thus bind a second trypsin-like proteinase without sterical restraints. This finding explains the formation of a ternary thrombin·boophilin·trypsin complex, and suggests a mechanism for prothrombinase inhibition in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular (CNC), Coimbra, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carla Almeida
- Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular (CNC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Bárbara M. Calisto
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Pablo Fuentes-Prior
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Institut Català de Ciències Cardiovasculars (ICCC), Barcelona, Spain
- *E-mail: (PF); (PP)
| | - Pedro José Barbosa Pereira
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *E-mail: (PF); (PP)
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Mans BJ, Andersen JF, Schwan TG, Ribeiro JMC. Characterization of anti-hemostatic factors in the argasid, Argas monolakensis: implications for the evolution of blood-feeding in the soft tick family. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2008; 38:22-41. [PMID: 18070663 PMCID: PMC4274796 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2007] [Revised: 09/11/2007] [Accepted: 09/18/2007] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
To date, the only anti-hemostatic factors characterized for softs ticks are for Ornithodoros moubata and Ornithodoros savignyi, ticks that feeds mainly on mammals. This includes thrombin (ornithodorin and savignin), fXa (TAP and fXaI) and platelet aggregation (disagegin and savignygrin) inhibitors that belong to the BPTI-Kunitz protein family. This raises the question on how well anti-hemostatic factors will be conserved in other soft tick genera that feeds on other vertebrates such as birds. We characterized the anti-hemostatic factors from Argas monolakensis, a soft tick that feeds mainly on Californian gulls. The main anti-clotting factor (monobin) is an ortholog of ornithodorin and savignin and shows similar slow tight-binding kinetics. The main anti-platelet activities are apyrase and fibrinogen receptor antagonists (monogrins). The monogrins are orthologs of disagregin and savignygrin and like savignygrin presents the RGD integrin-recognition motif on the BPTI substrate-binding presenting loop. This implies that the anti-hemostatic factors evolved in the ancestral soft tick lineage and has been maintained in soft tick species from two distinct genera with different host preferences. The Argas derived anti-hemostatic factors bind to mammalian targets with affinities similar to that observed for their orthologs in the Ornithodoros genus. This cross-reactivity could have facilitated the switching of soft ticks from avian to mammalian hosts and can explain in part the ability of Argas ticks, to feed on humans, thereby remaining a possible health risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Mans
- Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Francischetti IM, Mans BJ, Meng Z, Guderra N, Veenstra TD, Pham VM, Ribeiro JM. An insight into the sialome of the soft tick, Ornithodorus parkeri. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2008; 38:1-21. [PMID: 18070662 PMCID: PMC2233652 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2007.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2007] [Revised: 09/10/2007] [Accepted: 09/18/2007] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
While hard ticks (Ixodidae) take several days to feed on their hosts, soft ticks (Argasidae) feed faster, usually taking less than 1h per meal. Saliva assists in the feeding process by providing a cocktail of anti-hemostatic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodullatory compounds. Saliva of hard ticks has been shown to contain several families of genes each having multiple members, while those of soft ticks are relatively unexplored. Analysis of the salivary transcriptome of the soft tick Ornithodorus parkeri, the vector of the relapsing fever agent Borrelia parkeri, indicates that gene duplication events have led to a large expansion of the lipocalin family, as well as of several genes containing Kunitz domains indicative of serine protease inhibitors, and several other gene families also found in hard ticks. Novel protein families with sequence homology to insulin growth factor-binding protein (prostacyclin-stimulating factor), adrenomedulin, serum amyloid A protein precursor and similar to HIV envelope protein were also characterized for the first time in the salivary gland of a blood-sucking arthropod. The sialotranscriptome of O. parkeri confirms that gene duplication events are an important driving force in the creation of salivary cocktails of blood-feeding arthropods, as was observed with hard ticks and mosquitoes. Most of the genes coding for expanded families are homologous to those found in hard ticks, indicating a strong common evolutionary path between the two families. As happens to all genera of blood-sucking arthropods, several new proteins were also found, indicating the process of adaptation to blood feeding still continues to recent times.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivo M.B. Francischetti
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Ben J. Mans
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - Zhaojing Meng
- Laboratory of Proteomics and Analytical Technologies, Advanced Technologies Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., P.O. Box B, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
| | - Nanda Guderra
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia 20110
| | - Timothy D. Veenstra
- Laboratory of Proteomics and Analytical Technologies, Advanced Technologies Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., P.O. Box B, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA
| | - Van M. Pham
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
| | - José M.C. Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8132, USA
- * Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 301 496 9389 fax: + 1 301 480 2571
| |
Collapse
|