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Lim DS, Kim J, Kim W, Kim N, Lee SH, Lee D, Lee J. daf-42 is an evolutionarily young gene essential for dauer development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad097. [PMID: 37216205 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Under adverse environmental conditions, nematodes arrest into dauer, an alternative developmental stage for diapause. Dauer endures unfavorable environments and interacts with host animals to access favorable environments, thus playing a critical role in survival. Here, we report that in Caenorhabditis elegans, daf-42 is essential for development into the dauer stage, as the null mutant of daf-42 exhibited a "no viable dauer" phenotype in which no viable dauers were obtained in any dauer-inducing conditions. Long-term time lapse microscopy of synchronized larvae revealed that daf-42 is involved in developmental changes from the pre-dauer L2d stage to the dauer stage. daf-42 encodes large, disordered proteins of various sizes that are expressed in and secreted from the seam cells within a narrow time window shortly before the molt into dauer stage. Transcriptome analysis showed that the transcription of genes involved in larval physiology and dauer metabolism is highly affected by the daf-42 mutation. Contrary to the notion that essential genes that control the life and death of an organism may be well conserved across diverse species, daf-42 is an evolutionarily young gene conserved only in the Caenorhabditis genus. Our study shows that dauer formation is a vital process that is controlled not only by conserved genes but also by newly emerged genes, providing important insights into evolutionary mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy S Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Convergent Bioscience and Informatics, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjoo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Nari Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hee Lee
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Korea Basic Science Institute, Ochang, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Daehan Lee
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Junho Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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Marriott AE, Dagley JL, Hegde S, Steven A, Fricks C, DiCosty U, Mansour A, Campbell EJ, Wilson CM, Gusovsky F, Ward SA, Hong WD, O'Neill P, Moorhead A, McCall S, McCall JW, Taylor MJ, Turner JD. Dirofilariasis mouse models for heartworm preclinical research. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1208301. [PMID: 37426014 PMCID: PMC10324412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1208301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dirofilariasis, including heartworm disease, is a major emergent veterinary parasitic infection and a human zoonosis. Currently, experimental infections of cats and dogs are used in veterinary heartworm preclinical drug research. Methods As a refined alternative in vivo heartworm preventative drug screen, we assessed lymphopenic mouse strains with ablation of the interleukin-2/7 common gamma chain (γc) as susceptible to the larval development phase of Dirofilaria immitis. Results Non-obese diabetic (NOD) severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)γc-/- (NSG and NXG) and recombination-activating gene (RAG)2-/-γc-/- mouse strains yielded viable D. immitis larvae at 2-4 weeks post-infection, including the use of different batches of D. immitis infectious larvae, different D. immitis isolates, and at different laboratories. Mice did not display any clinical signs associated with infection for up to 4 weeks. Developing larvae were found in subcutaneous and muscle fascia tissues, which is the natural site of this stage of heartworm in dogs. Compared with in vitro-propagated larvae at day 14, in vivo-derived larvae had completed the L4 molt, were significantly larger, and contained expanded Wolbachia endobacteria titres. We established an ex vivo L4 paralytic screening system whereby assays with moxidectin or levamisole highlighted discrepancies in relative drug sensitivities in comparison with in vitro-reared L4 D. immitis. We demonstrated effective depletion of Wolbachia by 70%-90% in D. immitis L4 following 2- to 7-day oral in vivo exposures of NSG- or NXG-infected mice with doxycycline or the rapid-acting investigational drug, AWZ1066S. We validated NSG and NXG D. immitis mouse models as a filaricide screen by in vivo treatments with single injections of moxidectin, which mediated a 60%-88% reduction in L4 larvae at 14-28 days. Discussion Future adoption of these mouse models will benefit end-user laboratories conducting research and development of novel heartworm preventatives via increased access, rapid turnaround, and reduced costs and may simultaneously decrease the need for experimental cat or dog use.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. E. Marriott
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. L. Dagley
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - S. Hegde
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Steven
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - C. Fricks
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - U. DiCosty
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - A. Mansour
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - E. J. Campbell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - C. M. Wilson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - F. Gusovsky
- Eisai Global Health, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - S. A. Ward
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - W. D. Hong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - P. O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - A. Moorhead
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - S. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
| | - J. W. McCall
- TRS Laboratories Inc, Athens, GA, United States
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - M. J. Taylor
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J. D. Turner
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Bétous R, Emile A, Che H, Guchen E, Concordet D, Long T, Noack S, Selzer PM, Prichard R, Lespine A. Filarial DAF-12 sense the host serum to resume iL3 development during infection. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011462. [PMID: 37339136 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nematode parasites enter their definitive host at the developmentally arrested infectious larval stage (iL3), and the ligand-dependent nuclear receptor DAF-12 contributes to trigger their development to adulthood. Here, we characterized DAF-12 from the filarial nematodes Brugia malayi and Dirofilaria immitis and compared them with DAF-12 from the non-filarial nematodes Haemonchus contortus and Caenorhabditis elegans. Interestingly, Dim and BmaDAF-12 exhibit high sequence identity and share a striking higher sensitivity than Hco and CelDAF-12 to the natural ligands Δ4- and Δ7-dafachronic acids (DA). Moreover, sera from different mammalian species activated specifically Dim and BmaDAF-12 while the hormone-depleted sera failed to activate the filarial DAF-12. Accordingly, hormone-depleted serum delayed the commencement of development of D. immitis iL3 in vitro. Consistent with these observations, we show that spiking mouse charcoal stripped-serum with Δ4-DA at the concentration measured in normal mouse serum restores its capacity to activate DimDAF-12. This indicates that DA present in mammalian serum participate in filarial DAF-12 activation. Finally, analysis of publicly available RNA sequencing data from B. malayi showed that, at the time of infection, putative gene homologs of the DA synthesis pathways are coincidently downregulated. Altogether, our data suggest that filarial DAF-12 have evolved to specifically sense and survive in a host environment, which provides favorable conditions to quickly resume larval development. This work sheds new light on the regulation of filarial nematodes development while entering their definitive mammalian host and may open the route to novel therapies to treat filarial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémy Bétous
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | - Anthony Emile
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | - Hua Che
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Eva Guchen
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Thavy Long
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Sandra Noack
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Paul M Selzer
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Roger Prichard
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue, Canada
| | - Anne Lespine
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse, France
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Lok JB, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ. The 'nuclear option' revisited: Confirmation of Ss-daf-12 function and therapeutic potential in Strongyloides stercoralis and other parasitic nematode infections. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2022; 250:111490. [PMID: 35697206 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2022.111490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Mechanisms governing morphogenesis and development of infectious third-stage larvae (L3i) of parasitic nematodes have been likened to those regulating dauer development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dauer regulatory signal transduction comprises initial G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in chemosensory neurons of the amphidial complex that regulates parallel insulin- and TGFβ-like signaling in the tissues. Insulin- and TGFβ-like signals converge to co-regulate steroid signaling through the nuclear receptor (NR) DAF-12. Discovery of the steroid ligands of DAF-12 opened a new avenue of small molecule physiology in C. elegans. These signaling pathways are conserved in parasitic nematodes and an increasing body of evidence supports their function in formation and developmental regulation of L3i during the infectious process in soil transmitted species. This review presents these lines of evidence for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), insulin- and TGFβ-like signaling in brief and focuses primarily on signaling through parasite orthologs of DAF-12. We discuss in some depth the deployment of sensitive analytical techniques to identify Δ7-dafachronic acid as the natural ligand of DAF-12 homologs in Strongyloides stercoralis and Haemonchus contortus and of targeted mutagenesis by CRISPR/Cas9 to assign dauer-like regulatory function to the NR Ss-DAF-12, its coactivator Ss-DIP-1 and the key ligand biosynthetic enzyme Ss-CYP-22a9. Finally, we present published evidence of the potential of Ss-DAF-12 signaling as a chemotherapeutic target in human strongyloidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Steven A Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - David J Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
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Wang Z, Cheong MC, Tsien J, Deng H, Qin T, Stoltzfus JDC, Jaleta TG, Li X, Lok JB, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ. Characterization of the endogenous DAF-12 ligand and its use as an anthelmintic agent in Strongyloides stercoralis. eLife 2021; 10:e73535. [PMID: 34874004 PMCID: PMC8651287 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A prevalent feature of Strongyloides stercoralis is a life-long and potentially lethal infection that is due to the nematode parasite's ability to autoinfect and, thereby, self-replicate within its host. Here, we investigated the role of the parasite's nuclear receptor, Ss-DAF-12, in governing infection. We identified Δ7-DA as the endogenous Ss-DAF-12 ligand and elucidated the hormone's biosynthetic pathway. Genetic loss of function of the ligand's rate-limiting enzyme demonstrated that Δ7-DA synthesis is necessary for parasite reproduction, whereas its absence is required for the development of infectious larvae. Availability of the ligand permits Ss-DAF-12 to function as an on/off switch governing autoinfection, making it vulnerable to therapeutic intervention. In a preclinical model of hyperinfection, pharmacologic activation of DAF-12 suppressed autoinfection and markedly reduced lethality. Moreover, when Δ7-DA was administered with ivermectin, the current but limited drug of choice for treating strongyloidiasis, the combinatorial effects of the two drugs resulted in a near cure of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Mi Cheong Cheong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Jet Tsien
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Heping Deng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Tian Qin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Jonathan DC Stoltzfus
- Department of Biology, Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersvilleUnited States
| | - Tegegn G Jaleta
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Xinshe Li
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - James B Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Steven A Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - David J Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
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Vlaar LE, Bertran A, Rahimi M, Dong L, Kammenga JE, Helder J, Goverse A, Bouwmeester HJ. On the role of dauer in the adaptation of nematodes to a parasitic lifestyle. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:554. [PMID: 34706780 PMCID: PMC8555053 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04953-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematodes are presumably the most abundant Metazoa on Earth, and can even be found in some of the most hostile environments of our planet. Various types of hypobiosis evolved to adapt their life cycles to such harsh environmental conditions. The five most distal major clades of the phylum Nematoda (Clades 8-12), formerly referred to as the Secernentea, contain many economically relevant parasitic nematodes. In this group, a special type of hypobiosis, dauer, has evolved. The dauer signalling pathway, which culminates in the biosynthesis of dafachronic acid (DA), is intensively studied in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and it has been hypothesized that the dauer stage may have been a prerequisite for the evolution of a wide range of parasitic lifestyles among other nematode species. Biosynthesis of DA is not specific for hypobiosis, but if it results in exit of the hypobiotic state, it is one of the main criteria to define certain behaviour as dauer. Within Clades 9 and 10, the involvement of DA has been validated experimentally, and dauer is therefore generally accepted to occur in those clades. However, for other clades, such as Clade 12, this has hardly been explored. In this review, we provide clarity on the nomenclature associated with hypobiosis and dauer across different nematological subfields. We discuss evidence for dauer-like stages in Clades 8 to 12 and support this with a meta-analysis of available genomic data. Furthermore, we discuss indications for a simplified dauer signalling pathway in parasitic nematodes. Finally, we zoom in on the host cues that induce exit from the hypobiotic stage and introduce two hypotheses on how these signals might feed into the dauer signalling pathway for plant-parasitic nematodes. With this work, we contribute to the deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying hypobiosis in parasitic nematodes. Based on this, novel strategies for the control of parasitic nematodes can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieke E Vlaar
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andre Bertran
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mehran Rahimi
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lemeng Dong
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan E Kammenga
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Helder
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aska Goverse
- Laboratory of Nematology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harro J Bouwmeester
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Green Life Sciences Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Shang Kuan TC, Prichard RK. Developmental regulation of Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae and evaluation of ecdysone signaling pathway transcript level using droplet digital PCR. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:614. [PMID: 33298156 PMCID: PMC7724712 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04480-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current measures for the prevention of dirofilariasis, caused by the dog heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, rely on macrocyclic lactones, but evidence of drug-resistant isolates has called for alternative approaches to disease intervention. As microfilariae are known to be in a state of developmental arrest in their mammalian host and then undergo two molts once inside the arthropod, the aim of this study was to look at the developmental regulation of D. immitis microfilariae that occurs in their arthropod host using in vitro approaches and to investigate the role of the ecdysone signaling system in this development regulation. METHODS Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae extracted from dog blood were incubated under various culture conditions to identify those most suitable for in vitro culture and development of the microfilariae, and to determine the effects of fetal bovine serum (FBS), mosquito cells, and ecdysteroid on the development of the microfilariae. Transcript levels of the ecdysone signaling pathway components were measured with droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). RESULTS In vitro conditions that best promote early development of D. immitis microfilariae to the "late sausage stage" have been identified, although shedding of the cuticle was not observed. FBS had inhibitory effects on the development and motility of the microfilariae, but media conditioned with Anopheles gambiae cells were favorable to microfilarial growth. The transcript level study using ddPCR also showed that ecdysone signaling system components were upregulated in developing microfilariae and that 20-hydroxyecdysone increased the proportion of larvae developing to the sausage and late sausage stages in vitro. CONCLUSIONS The arthropod host environment provides cues required for the rapid development of D. immitis microfilariae, and the ecdysone signaling system may play an important role in filarial nematode developmental transitions. This study contributes to a better understanding of the developmental process of D. immitis microfilariae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsai-Chi Shang Kuan
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal, H9X3V9, Canada.
| | - Roger K Prichard
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montreal, H9X3V9, Canada.
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