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Tyagi R, Rosa BA, Swain A, Artyomov MN, Jasmer DP, Mitreva M. Intestinal cell diversity and treatment responses in a parasitic nematode at single cell resolution. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:341. [PMID: 38575858 PMCID: PMC10996262 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10203-7] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasitic nematodes, significant pathogens for humans, animals, and plants, depend on diverse organ systems for intra-host survival. Understanding the cellular diversity and molecular variations underlying these functions holds promise for developing novel therapeutics, with specific emphasis on the neuromuscular system's functional diversity. The nematode intestine, crucial for anthelmintic therapies, exhibits diverse cellular phenotypes, and unraveling this diversity at the single-cell level is essential for advancing knowledge in anthelmintic research across various organ systems. RESULTS Here, using novel single-cell transcriptomics datasets, we delineate cellular diversity within the intestine of adult female Ascaris suum, a parasitic nematode species that infects animals and people. Gene transcripts expressed in individual nuclei of untreated intestinal cells resolved three phenotypic clusters, while lower stringency resolved additional subclusters and more potential diversity. Clusters 1 and 3 phenotypes displayed variable congruence with scRNA phenotypes of C. elegans intestinal cells, whereas the A. suum cluster 2 phenotype was markedly unique. Distinct functional pathway enrichment characterized each A. suum intestinal cell cluster. Cluster 2 was distinctly enriched for Clade III-associated genes, suggesting it evolved within clade III nematodes. Clusters also demonstrated differential transcriptional responsiveness to nematode intestinal toxic treatments, with Cluster 2 displaying the least responses to short-term intra-pseudocoelomic nematode intestinal toxin treatments. CONCLUSIONS This investigation presents advances in knowledge related to biological differences among major cell populations of adult A. suum intestinal cells. For the first time, diverse nematode intestinal cell populations were characterized, and associated biological markers of these cells were identified to support tracking of constituent cells under experimental conditions. These advances will promote better understanding of this and other parasitic nematodes of global importance, and will help to guide future anthelmintic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Tyagi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bruce A Rosa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Amanda Swain
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Maxim N Artyomov
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Douglas P Jasmer
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, 63110, St Louis, MO, USA.
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Jung H, Zarlenga D, Martin JC, Geldhof P, Hallsworth-Pepin K, Mitreva M. The identification of small molecule inhibitors with anthelmintic activities that target conserved proteins among ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes. mBio 2024; 15:e0009524. [PMID: 38358246 PMCID: PMC10936192 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00095-24] [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: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections are a major concern for the ruminant industry worldwide and result in significant production losses. Naturally occurring polyparasitism and increasing drug resistance that potentiate disease outcomes are observed among the most prevalent GINs of veterinary importance. Within the five major taxonomic clades, clade Va represents a group of GINs that predominantly affect the abomasum or small intestine of ruminants. However, the development of effective broad-spectrum anthelmintics against ruminant clade Va GINs has been challenged by a lack of comprehensive druggable genome resources. Here, we first assembled draft genomes for three clade Va species (Cooperia oncophora, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and Ostertagia ostertagi) and compared them with closely related ruminant GINs. Genome-wide phylogenetic reconstruction showed a relationship among ruminant GINs structured by taxonomic classification. Orthogroup (OG) inference and functional enrichment analyses identified 220 clade Va-specific and Va-conserved OGs, enriched for functions related to cell cycle and cellular senescence. Further transcriptomic analysis identified 61 taxonomically and functionally conserved clade Va OGs that may function as drug targets for new broad-spectrum anthelmintics. Chemogenomic screening identified 11 compounds targeting homologs of these OGs, thus having potential anthelmintic activity. In in vitro phenotypic assays, three kinase inhibitors (digitoxigenin, K-252a, and staurosporine) exhibited broad-spectrum anthelmintic activities against clade Va GINs by obstructing the motility of exsheathed L3 (xL3) or molting of xL3 to L4. These results demonstrate valuable applications of the new ruminant GIN genomes in gaining better insights into their life cycles and offer a contemporary approach to discovering the next generation of anthelmintics.IMPORTANCEGastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections in ruminants are caused by parasites that inhibit normal function in the digestive tract of cattle, sheep, and goats, thereby causing morbidity and mortality. Coinfection and increasing drug resistance to current therapeutic agents will continue to worsen disease outcomes and impose significant production losses on domestic livestock producers worldwide. In combination with ongoing therapeutic efforts, advancing the discovery of new drugs with novel modes of action is critical for better controlling GIN infections. The significance of this study is in assembling and characterizing new GIN genomes of Cooperia oncophora, Ostertagia ostertagi, and Trichostrongylus colubriformis for facilitating a multi-omics approach to identify novel, biologically conserved drug targets for five major GINs of veterinary importance. With this information, we were then able to demonstrate the potential of commercially available compounds as new anthelmintics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeim Jung
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Dante Zarlenga
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - John C. Martin
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Peter Geldhof
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | | | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Bownik A, Pawlik-Skowrońska B, Wlodkowic D, Mieczan T. Interactive effects of cyanobacterial metabolites aeruginosin-98B, anabaenopeptin-B and cylindrospermopsin on physiological parameters and novel in vivo fluorescent indicators in Chironomus aprilinus larvae. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169846. [PMID: 38185144 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
We aimed to determine the effects of single cyanobacterial metabolites aeruginosin-B (AER-B), anabaenopeptin-B (ANA-B), cylindrospermopsin (CYL), their binary and ternary mixtures on biomarkers of Chironomus aprilinus larvae: oxygen consumption, fat body structure and two novel fluorescent indicators: imaging of nuclei in cells of body integument, and the catecholamine level. The obtained results showed that oxygen consumption was inhibited by single tested cyanobacterial metabolites except for ANA-B at the lowest concentration (250 μg/L). Although the mixtures of the metabolites inhibited oxygen consumption with antagonistic interactions between the components stimulation was noted in the group exposed to the lowest concentrations of AER-B + CYL (125 μg/L + 125 μg/L, respectively) and the ternary mixture of AER-B + ANA-B + CYL (83.3 μg/L + 83.3 μg/L + 83.3 μg/L, respectively). In vivo fluorescent staining with Hoechst 34580 showed that single AER-B had lower cytotoxic potential on body integument cells than ANA-B and CYL and most binary mixtures except for AER-B + CYL induced synergistic toxicity. Catecholamine level was decreased in animals exposed to single metabolites, their binary and ternary mixtures; however, the interactions between the components in the ternary mixture were antagonistic. Fat body was found to be disrupted in the larvae exposed to single metabolites and their combinations. Antagonistic toxic interactions between the oligopeptide components were found in most binary and the ternary mixtures; however, synergistic effect was noted in the binary mixture of AER-B + CYL. The results suggest that in natural conditions Chironomus larvae and possibly other benthic invertebrates may be affected by cyanobacterial metabolites, however various components and in mixtures and their concentrations may determine varied physiological effects and diverse interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Bownik
- Department of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Dobrzańskiego 37, 20-262 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Barbara Pawlik-Skowrońska
- Department of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Dobrzańskiego 37, 20-262 Lublin, Poland
| | - Donald Wlodkowic
- The Neurotox Lab, School of Science, RMIT University, Plenty Road, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Tomasz Mieczan
- Department of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Dobrzańskiego 37, 20-262 Lublin, Poland
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Liang Z, Ali Q, Wang Y, Mu G, Kan X, Ren Y, Manghwar H, Gu Q, Wu H, Gao X. Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis Strains Derived from the Novel Crystal Protein Cry31Aa with High Nematicidal Activity against Rice Parasitic Nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158189. [PMID: 35897765 PMCID: PMC9331774 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The plant parasitic nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi, is a serious pest causing severe damage to various crop plants and vegetables. The Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains, GBAC46 and NMTD81, and the biological strain, FZB42, showed higher nematicidal activity against A. besseyi, by up to 88.80, 82.65, and 75.87%, respectively, in a 96-well plate experiment. We screened the whole genomes of the selected strains by protein-nucleic acid alignment. It was found that the Bt strain GBAC46 showed three novel crystal proteins, namely, Cry31Aa, Cry73Aa, and Cry40ORF, which likely provide for the safe control of nematodes. The Cry31Aa protein was composed of 802 amino acids with a molecular weight of 90.257 kDa and contained a conserved delta-endotoxin insecticidal domain. The Cry31Aa exhibited significant nematicidal activity against A. besseyi with a lethal concentration (LC50) value of 131.80 μg/mL. Furthermore, the results of in vitro experiments (i.e., rhodamine and propidium iodide (PI) experiments) revealed that the Cry31Aa protein was taken up by A. besseyi, which caused damage to the nematode's intestinal cell membrane, indicating that the Cry31Aa produced a pore-formation toxin. In pot experiments, the selected strains GBAC46, NMTD81, and FZB42 significantly reduced the lesions on leaves by up to 33.56%, 45.66, and 30.34% and also enhanced physiological growth parameters such as root length (65.10, 50.65, and 55.60%), shoot length (68.10, 55.60, and 59.45%), and plant fresh weight (60.71, 56.45, and 55.65%), respectively. The number of nematodes obtained from the plants treated with the selected strains (i.e., GBAC46, NMTD81, and FZB42) and A. besseyi was significantly reduced, with 0.56, 0.83., 1.11, and 5.04 seedling mL-1 nematodes were achieved, respectively. Moreover, the qRT-PCR analysis showed that the defense-related genes were upregulated, and the activity of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) increased while malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased in rice leaves compared to the control. Therefore, it was concluded that the Bt strains GBAC46 and NMTD81 can promote rice growth, induce high expression of rice defense-related genes, and activate systemic resistance in rice. More importantly, the application of the novel Cry31Aa protein has high potential for the efficient and safe prevention and green control of plant parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Liang
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China; (Z.L.); (Q.A.); (Y.W.); (Y.R.); (Q.G.); (H.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qurban Ali
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China; (Z.L.); (Q.A.); (Y.W.); (Y.R.); (Q.G.); (H.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China; (Z.L.); (Q.A.); (Y.W.); (Y.R.); (Q.G.); (H.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Guangyuan Mu
- Shenzhen Batian Ecotypic Engineering Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518057, China; (G.M.); (X.K.)
| | - Xuefei Kan
- Shenzhen Batian Ecotypic Engineering Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518057, China; (G.M.); (X.K.)
| | - Yajun Ren
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China; (Z.L.); (Q.A.); (Y.W.); (Y.R.); (Q.G.); (H.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hakim Manghwar
- Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang 332000, China;
| | - Qin Gu
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China; (Z.L.); (Q.A.); (Y.W.); (Y.R.); (Q.G.); (H.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Huijun Wu
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China; (Z.L.); (Q.A.); (Y.W.); (Y.R.); (Q.G.); (H.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xuewen Gao
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya 572024, China; (Z.L.); (Q.A.); (Y.W.); (Y.R.); (Q.G.); (H.W.)
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-025-8439-5268
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Herath HMPD, Taki AC, Rostami A, Jabbar A, Keiser J, Geary TG, Gasser RB. Whole-organism phenotypic screening methods used in early-phase anthelmintic drug discovery. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 57:107937. [PMID: 35271946 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Diseases caused by parasitic helminths (worms) represent a major global health burden in both humans and animals. As vaccines against helminths have yet to achieve a prominent role in worm control, anthelmintics are the primary tool to limit production losses and disease due to helminth infections in both human and veterinary medicine. However, the excessive and often uncontrolled use of these drugs has led to widespread anthelmintic resistance in these worms - particularly of animals - to almost all commercially available anthelmintics, severely compromising control. Thus, there is a major demand for the discovery and development of new classes of anthelmintics. A key component of the discovery process is screening libraries of compounds for anthelmintic activity. Given the need for, and major interest by the pharmaceutical industry in, novel anthelmintics, we considered it both timely and appropriate to re-examine screening methods used for anthelmintic discovery. Thus, we reviewed current literature (1977-2021) on whole-worm phenotypic screening assays developed and used in academic laboratories, with a particular focus on those employed to discover nematocides. This review reveals that at least 50 distinct phenotypic assays with low-, medium- or high-throughput capacity were developed over this period, with more recently developed methods being quantitative, semi-automated and higher throughput. The main features assessed or measured in these assays include worm motility, growth/development, morphological changes, viability/lethality, pharyngeal pumping, egg hatching, larval migration, CO2- or ATP-production and/or enzyme activity. Recent progress in assay development has led to the routine application of practical, cost-effective, medium- to high-throughput whole-worm screening assays in academic or public-private partnership (PPP) contexts, and major potential for novel high-content, high-throughput platforms in the near future. Complementing this progress are major advances in the molecular data sciences, computational biology and informatics, which are likely to further enable and accelerate anthelmintic drug discovery and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M P Dilrukshi Herath
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timothy G Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec H9X3V9, Canada; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University-Belfast, Belfast, Ireland
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Jasmer DP, Rosa BA, Mitreva M. Cell Death and Transcriptional Responses Induced in Larvae of the Nematode Haemonchus contortus by Toxins/Toxicants with Broad Phylogenetic Efficacy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:598. [PMID: 34206464 PMCID: PMC8308827 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Establishing methods to investigate treatments that induce cell death in parasitic nematodes will promote experimental approaches to elucidate mechanisms and to identify prospective anthelmintics capable of inducing this outcome. Here, we extended recent progress on a method to monitor cell death and to identify small molecule inhibitors in Ascaris suum to Haemonchus contortus, a phylogenetically distant parasitic nematode of significance for both human and agricultural animal health. We utilized a diverse group of small molecule inhibitors referred to as nematode intestinal toxins/toxicants (NITs) coupled with motility, cytological and cell death assays to resolve gross effects on motility and individual cells and organ systems of two H. contortus larval stages in culture. Early transcriptional response evaluation identified NIT-responsive genes and pathways. The scope of death among cells in larvae varied among NITs but shared patterns with A. suum, despite the approach having some limitations due to characteristics of H. contortus larvae. Gene response patterns varied among NITs tested and provided information on the cell targets and pathways affected. Experimental NIT assays provide tools capable of inducing cell death in larval stages of parasitic nematodes, and can resolve many individual cells and organ systems in which cell death can be induced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas P. Jasmer
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA;
| | - Bruce A. Rosa
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
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