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Maor-Landaw K, Smirnov M, Lotan T. The Tilapia Cyst Tissue Enclosing the Proliferating Myxobolus bejeranoi Parasite Exhibits Cornified Structure and Immune Barrier Function. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5683. [PMID: 38891869 PMCID: PMC11171596 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115683] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Myxozoa, a unique group of obligate endoparasites within the phylum Cnidaria, can cause emerging diseases in wild and cultured fish populations. Recently, the myxozoan Myxobolus bejeranoi has been identified as a prevalent pathogen infecting the gills of cultured hybrid tilapia, leading to systemic immune suppression and considerable mortality. Here, we employed a proteomic approach to examine the impact of M. bejeranoi infection on fish gills, focusing on the structure of the granulomata, or cyst, formed around the proliferating parasite to prevent its spread to surrounding tissue. Enrichment analysis showed increased immune response and oxidative stress in infected gill tissue, most markedly in the cyst's wall. The intense immune reaction included a consortium of endopeptidase inhibitors, potentially combating the myxozoan arsenal of secreted proteases. Analysis of the cyst's proteome and histology staining indicated that keratin intermediate filaments contribute to its structural rigidity. Moreover, we uncovered skin-specific proteins, including a grainyhead-like transcription factor and a teleost-specific S100 calcium-binding protein that may play a role in epithelial morphogenesis and cysts formation. These findings deepen our understanding of the proteomic elements that grant the cyst its distinctive nature at the critical interface between the fish host and myxozoan parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Maor-Landaw
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel;
| | - Margarita Smirnov
- Central Fish Health Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nir David 1080300, Israel;
| | - Tamar Lotan
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel;
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2
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Dobai T, Bartošová-Sojková P. Sphaerospora molnari. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:352-353. [PMID: 38220474 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Tamás Dobai
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Bartošová-Sojková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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3
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Kyslík J, Born-Torrijos A, Holzer AS, Kosakyan A. RNAi-directed knockdown in the cnidarian fish blood parasite Sphaerospora molnari. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3545. [PMID: 38347054 PMCID: PMC10861503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54171-0] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is an effective approach to suppress gene expression and monitor gene regulation. Despite its wide application, its use is limited in certain taxonomic groups, including cnidarians. Myxozoans are a unique group of cnidarian parasites that diverged from their free-living ancestors about 600 million years ago, with several species causing acute disease in farmed and wild fish populations. In this pioneering study we successfully applied RNAi in blood stages of the myxozoan Sphaerospora molnari, combining a dsRNA soaking approach, real-time PCR, confocal microscopy, and Western blotting. For proof of concept, we knocked down two unusual actins, one of which is known to play a critical role in S. molnari cell motility. We observed intracellular uptake of dsRNA after 30 min and accumulation in all cells of the typical myxozoan cell-in-cell structure. We successfully knocked down actin in S. molnari in vitro, with transient inhibition for 48 h. We observed the disruption of the cytoskeletal network within the primary cell and loss of the characteristic rotational cell motility. This RNAi workflow could significantly advance functional research within the Myxozoa, offering new prospects for investigating therapeutic targets and facilitating drug discovery against economically important fish parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Kyslík
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Ana Born-Torrijos
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid S Holzer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Fish Health Division, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anush Kosakyan
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
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4
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Maor-Landaw K, Avidor I, Rostowsky N, Salti B, Smirnov M, Ofek-Lalzar M, Levin L, Brekhman V, Lotan T. The Molecular Mechanisms Employed by the Parasite Myxobolus bejeranoi (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) from Invasion through Sporulation for Successful Proliferation in Its Fish Host. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12824. [PMID: 37629003 PMCID: PMC10454682 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612824] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Myxozoa is a unique group of obligate endoparasites in the phylum Cnidaria that can cause emerging diseases in wild and cultured fish populations. Recently, we identified a new myxozoan species, Myxobolus bejeranoi, which infects the gills of cultured tilapia while suppressing host immunity. To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this successful parasitic strategy, we conducted transcriptomics analysis of M. bejeranoi throughout the infection. Our results show that histones, which are essential for accelerated cell division, are highly expressed even one day after invasion. As the infection progressed, conserved parasitic genes that are known to modulate the host immune reaction in different parasitic taxa were upregulated. These genes included energy-related glycolytic enzymes, as well as calreticulin, proteases, and miRNA biogenesis proteins. Interestingly, myxozoan calreticulin formed a distinct phylogenetic clade apart from other cnidarians, suggesting a possible function in parasite pathogenesis. Sporogenesis was in its final stages 20 days post-exposure, as spore-specific markers were highly expressed. Lastly, we provide the first catalog of transcription factors in a Myxozoa species, which is minimized compared to free-living cnidarians and is dominated by homeodomain types. Overall, these molecular insights into myxozoan infection support the concept that parasitic strategies are a result of convergent evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Maor-Landaw
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Itamar Avidor
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Nadav Rostowsky
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Barbara Salti
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Margarita Smirnov
- Central Fish Health Laboratory, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nir David 1080300, Israel;
| | - Maya Ofek-Lalzar
- Bioinformatic Unit, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
| | - Liron Levin
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, llse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel;
| | - Vera Brekhman
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
| | - Tamar Lotan
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3103301, Israel; (K.M.-L.); (I.A.); (N.R.); (B.S.); (V.B.)
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5
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Graham AM, Barreto FS. Myxozoans (Cnidaria) do not Retain Key Oxygen-Sensing and Homeostasis Toolkit Genes. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:6989568. [PMID: 36648250 PMCID: PMC9887271 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
For aerobic organisms, both the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway and the mitochondrial genomes are key players in regulating oxygen homeostasis. Recent work has suggested that these mechanisms are not as highly conserved as previously thought, prompting more surveys across animal taxonomic levels, which would permit testing of hypotheses about the ecological conditions facilitating evolutionary loss of such genes. The Phylum Cnidaria is known to harbor wide variation in mitochondrial chromosome morphology, including an extreme example, in the Myxozoa, of mitochondrial genome loss. Because myxozoans are obligate endoparasites, frequently encountering hypoxic environments, we hypothesize that variation in environmental oxygen availability could be a key determinant in the evolution of metabolic gene networks associated with oxygen-sensing, hypoxia-response, and energy production. Here, we surveyed genomes and transcriptomes across 46 cnidarian species for the presence of HIF pathway members, as well as for an assortment of hypoxia, mitochondrial, and stress-response toolkit genes. We find that presence of the HIF pathway, as well as number of genes associated with mitochondria, hypoxia, and stress response, do not vary in parallel to mitochondrial genome morphology. More interestingly, we uncover evidence that myxozoans have lost the canonical HIF pathway repression machinery, potentially altering HIF pathway functionality to work under the specific conditions of their parasitic lifestyles. In addition, relative to other cnidarians, myxozoans show loss of large proportions of genes associated with the mitochondrion and involved in response to hypoxia and general stress. Our results provide additional evidence that the HIF regulatory machinery is evolutionarily labile and that variations in the canonical system have evolved in many animal groups.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felipe S Barreto
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
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6
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Gomis-Rüth FX, Stöcker W. Structural and evolutionary insights into astacin metallopeptidases. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 9:1080836. [PMID: 36685277 PMCID: PMC9848320 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1080836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The astacins are a family of metallopeptidases (MPs) that has been extensively described from animals. They are multidomain extracellular proteins, which have a conserved core architecture encompassing a signal peptide for secretion, a prodomain or prosegment and a zinc-dependent catalytic domain (CD). This constellation is found in the archetypal name-giving digestive enzyme astacin from the European crayfish Astacus astacus. Astacin catalytic domains span ∼200 residues and consist of two subdomains that flank an extended active-site cleft. They share several structural elements including a long zinc-binding consensus sequence (HEXXHXXGXXH) immediately followed by an EXXRXDRD motif, which features a family-specific glutamate. In addition, a downstream SIMHY-motif encompasses a "Met-turn" methionine and a zinc-binding tyrosine. The overall architecture and some structural features of astacin catalytic domains match those of other more distantly related MPs, which together constitute the metzincin clan of metallopeptidases. We further analysed the structures of PRO-, MAM, TRAF, CUB and EGF-like domains, and described their essential molecular determinants. In addition, we investigated the distribution of astacins across kingdoms and their phylogenetic origin. Through extensive sequence searches we found astacin CDs in > 25,000 sequences down the tree of life from humans beyond Metazoa, including Choanoflagellata, Filasterea and Ichtyosporea. We also found < 400 sequences scattered across non-holozoan eukaryotes including some fungi and one virus, as well as in selected taxa of archaea and bacteria that are pathogens or colonizers of animal hosts, but not in plants. Overall, we propose that astacins originate in the root of Holozoa consistent with Darwinian descent and that the latter genes might be the result of horizontal gene transfer from holozoan donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Xavier Gomis-Rüth
- Proteolysis Laboratory, Department of Structural Biology, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB), Higher Scientific Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain,*Correspondence: F. Xavier Gomis-Rüth, ; Walter Stöcker,
| | - Walter Stöcker
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (IMP), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz (JGU), Mainz, Germany,*Correspondence: F. Xavier Gomis-Rüth, ; Walter Stöcker,
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7
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Alama-Bermejo G, Bartošová-Sojková P, Atkinson SD, Holzer AS, Bartholomew JL. Proteases as Therapeutic Targets Against the Parasitic Cnidarian Ceratonova shasta: Characterization of Molecules Key to Parasite Virulence In Salmonid Hosts. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:804864. [PMID: 35071050 PMCID: PMC8777295 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.804864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteases and their inhibitors play critical roles in host-parasite interactions and in the outcomes of infections. Ceratonova shasta is a myxozoan pathogen that causes enteronecrosis in economically important salmonids from the Pacific Northwest of North America. This cnidarian parasite has host-specific genotypes with varying virulence, making it a powerful system to decipher virulence mechanisms in myxozoans. Using C. shasta genome and transcriptome, we identified four proteases of different catalytic types: cathepsin D (aspartic), cathepsin L and Z-like (cysteine) and aminopeptidase-N (metallo); and a stefin (cysteine protease inhibitor), which implied involvement in virulence and hence represent target molecules for the development of therapeutic strategies. We characterized, annotated and modelled their 3D protein structure using bioinformatics and computational tools. We quantified their expression in C. shasta genotype 0 (low virulence, no mortality) and IIR (high virulence and mortality) in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, to demonstrate that there are major differences between the genotypes during infection and parasite development. High proliferation of genotype IIR was associated with high expression of the cathepsin D and the stefin, likely correlated with high nutrient demands and to regulate cell metabolism, with upregulation preceding massive proliferation and systemic dispersion. In contrast, upregulation of the cathepsin L and Z-like cysteine proteases may have roles in host immune evasion in genotype 0 infections, which are associated with low proliferation, low inflammation and non-destructive development. In contrast to the other proteases, C. shasta aminopeptidase-N appears to have a prominent role in nematocyst formation in both genotypes, but only during sporogenesis. Homology searches of C. shasta proteases against other myxozoan transcriptomes revealed a high abundance of cathepsin L and aminopeptidase homologs suggesting common gene requirements across species. Our study identified molecules of potential therapeutic significance for aquaculture and serves as a baseline for future research aimed at functional characterisation of these targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gema Alama-Bermejo
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia.,Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Pavla Bartošová-Sojková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Stephen D Atkinson
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Astrid S Holzer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jerri L Bartholomew
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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8
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Method for Isolation of Myxozoan Proliferative Stages from Fish at High Yield and Purity: An Essential Prerequisite for In Vitro, In Vivo and Genomics-Based Research Developments. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030377. [PMID: 35159187 PMCID: PMC8833907 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Myxozoans are a diverse group of microscopic cnidarian parasites and some representatives are associated with important diseases in fish, in both marine and freshwater aquaculture systems. Research on myxozoans has been largely hampered by the inability to isolate myxozoan parasites from their host tissues. In this study, we developed and optimized a method to isolate the myxozoan proliferative stages of different size and cellularity from fish blood, using DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. We optimized several parameters and obtained 99–100% parasite purity, as well as high survival and infectivity. Using polyclonal pan-carp blood cell-specific antibodies, we further developed a rapid cytometric assay for quantification of the proliferative stages, not only in highly concentrated DEAE-C isolates but also in dilute conditions in full blood. Early developmental stages of myxozoans are key to parasite proliferation, establishment, and pathology in their hosts. The isolation of these stages not only opens new possibilities for in vivo and in vitro studies, but also for obtaining purified DNA and protein extracts for downstream analyses. Hence, we provide a long-desired tool that will advance the functional research into the mechanisms of host exploitation and immune stimulation/evasion in this group, which could contribute greatly to the development of therapeutic strategies against myxozoans.
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9
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Alama-Bermejo G, Meyer E, Atkinson SD, Holzer AS, Wiśniewska MM, Kolísko M, Bartholomew JL. Transcriptome-Wide Comparisons and Virulence Gene Polymorphisms of Host-Associated Genotypes of the Cnidarian Parasite Ceratonova shasta in Salmonids. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:1258-1276. [PMID: 32467979 PMCID: PMC7487138 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceratonova shasta is an important myxozoan pathogen affecting the health of salmonid fishes in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Ceratonova shasta exists as a complex of host-specific genotypes, some with low to moderate virulence, and one that causes a profound, lethal infection in susceptible hosts. High throughput sequencing methods are powerful tools for discovering the genetic basis of these host/virulence differences, but deep sequencing of myxozoans has been challenging due to extremely fast molecular evolution of this group, yielding strongly divergent sequences that are difficult to identify, and unavoidable host contamination. We designed and optimized different bioinformatic pipelines to address these challenges. We obtained a unique set of comprehensive, host-free myxozoan RNA-seq data from C. shasta genotypes of varying virulence from different salmonid hosts. Analyses of transcriptome-wide genetic distances and maximum likelihood multigene phylogenies elucidated the evolutionary relationship between lineages and demonstrated the limited resolution of the established Internal Transcribed Spacer marker for C. shasta genotype identification, as this marker fails to differentiate between biologically distinct genotype II lineages from coho salmon and rainbow trout. We further analyzed the data sets based on polymorphisms in two gene groups related to virulence: cell migration and proteolytic enzymes including their inhibitors. The developed single-nucleotide polymorphism-calling pipeline identified polymorphisms between genotypes and demonstrated that variations in both motility and protease genes were associated with different levels of virulence of C. shasta in its salmonid hosts. The prospective use of proteolytic enzymes as promising candidates for targeted interventions against myxozoans in aquaculture is discussed. We developed host-free transcriptomes of a myxozoan model organism from strains that exhibited different degrees of virulence, as a unique source of data that will foster functional gene analyses and serve as a base for the development of potential therapeutics for efficient control of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gema Alama-Bermejo
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos Almirante Storni (CIMAS), CCT CONICET - CENPAT, San Antonio Oeste, Argentina
| | - Eli Meyer
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University
| | | | - Astrid S Holzer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Monika M Wiśniewska
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Kolísko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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10
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Eszterbauer E, Szegő D, Ursu K, Sipos D, Gellért Á. Serine protease inhibitors of the whirling disease parasite Myxobolus cerebralis (Cnidaria, Myxozoa): Expression profiling and functional predictions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249266. [PMID: 33780500 PMCID: PMC8007001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we studied the expression pattern and putative function of four, previously identified serine protease inhibitors (serpins) of Myxobolus cerebralis, a pathogenic myxozoan species (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) causing whirling disease of salmonid fishes. The relative expression profiles of serpins were determined at different developmental stages both in fish and in annelid hosts using serpin-specific qPCR assays. The expression of serpin Mc-S1 was similar throughout the life cycle, whereas a significant decrease was detected in the relative expression of Mc-S3 and Mc-S5 during the development in fish, and then in the sporogonic stage in the worm host. A decreasing tendency could also be observed in the expression of Mc-S4 in fish, which was, however, upregulated in the worm host. For the first time, we predicted the function of M. cerebralis serpins by the use of several bioinformatics-based applications. Mc-S1 is putatively a chymotrypsin-like inhibitor that locates extracellularly and is capable of heparin binding. The other three serpins are caspase-like inhibitors, and they are probably involved in protease and cell degradation processes during the early stage of fish invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edit Eszterbauer
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail:
| | - Dóra Szegő
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Ursu
- Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, National Food Chain Safety Office, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Sipos
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ákos Gellért
- Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Budapest, Hungary
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11
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Shivam S, El-Matbouli M, Kumar G. Development of Fish Parasite Vaccines in the OMICs Era: Progress and Opportunities. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:179. [PMID: 33672552 PMCID: PMC7923790 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, parasites are increasingly being recognized as catastrophic agents in both aquaculture sector and in the wild aquatic habitats leading to an estimated annual loss between 1.05 billion and 9.58 billion USD. The currently available therapeutic and control measures are accompanied by many limitations. Hence, vaccines are recommended as the "only green and effective solution" to address these concerns and protect fish from pathogens. However, vaccine development warrants a better understanding of host-parasite interaction and parasite biology. Currently, only one commercial parasite vaccine is available against the ectoparasite sea lice. Additionally, only a few trials have reported potential vaccine candidates against endoparasites. Transcriptome, genome, and proteomic data at present are available only for a limited number of aquatic parasites. Omics-based interventions can be significant in the identification of suitable vaccine candidates, finally leading to the development of multivalent vaccines for significant protection against parasitic infections in fish. The present review highlights the progress in the immunobiology of pathogenic parasites and the prospects of vaccine development. Finally, an approach for developing a multivalent vaccine for parasitic diseases is presented. Data sources to prepare this review included Pubmed, google scholar, official reports, and websites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloni Shivam
- Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (S.S.); (M.E.-M.)
- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Karwar 581301, India
| | - Mansour El-Matbouli
- Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (S.S.); (M.E.-M.)
| | - Gokhlesh Kumar
- Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (S.S.); (M.E.-M.)
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12
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Advances and Discoveries in Myxozoan Genomics. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:552-568. [PMID: 33619004 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Myxozoans are highly diverse and globally distributed cnidarian endoparasites in freshwater and marine habitats. They have adopted a heteroxenous life cycle, including invertebrate and fish hosts, and have been associated with diseases in aquaculture and wild fish stocks. Despite their importance, genomic resources of myxozoans have proven difficult to obtain due to their miniaturized and derived genome character and close associations with fish tissues. The first 'omic' datasets have now become the main resource for a better understanding of host-parasite interactions, virulence, and diversity, but also the evolutionary history of myxozoans. In this review, we discuss recent genomic advances in the field and outline outstanding questions to be answered with continuous and improved efforts of generating myxozoan genomic data.
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Bartošová-Sojková P, Kyslík J, Alama-Bermejo G, Hartigan A, Atkinson SD, Bartholomew JL, Picard-Sánchez A, Palenzuela O, Faber MN, Holland JW, Holzer AS. Evolutionary Analysis of Cystatins of Early-Emerging Metazoans Reveals a Novel Subtype in Parasitic Cnidarians. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:110. [PMID: 33546310 PMCID: PMC7913475 DOI: 10.3390/biology10020110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionary aspects of cystatins are greatly underexplored in early-emerging metazoans. Thus, we surveyed the gene organization, protein architecture, and phylogeny of cystatin homologues mined from 110 genomes and the transcriptomes of 58 basal metazoan species, encompassing free-living and parasite taxa of Porifera, Placozoa, Cnidaria (including Myxozoa), and Ctenophora. We found that the cystatin gene repertoire significantly differs among phyla, with stefins present in most of the investigated lineages but with type 2 cystatins missing in several basal metazoan groups. Similar to liver and intestinal flukes, myxozoan parasites possess atypical stefins with chimeric structure that combine motifs of classical stefins and type 2 cystatins. Other early metazoan taxa regardless of lifestyle have only the classical representation of cystatins and lack multi-domain ones. Our comprehensive phylogenetic analyses revealed that stefins and type 2 cystatins clustered into taxonomically defined clades with multiple independent paralogous groups, which probably arose due to gene duplications. The stefin clade split between the subclades of classical stefins and the atypical stefins of myxozoans and flukes. Atypical stefins represent key evolutionary innovations of the two parasite groups for which their origin might have been linked with ancestral gene chimerization, obligate parasitism, life cycle complexity, genome reduction, and host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavla Bartošová-Sojková
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
| | - Jiří Kyslík
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Gema Alama-Bermejo
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
| | - Ashlie Hartigan
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK;
| | - Stephen D. Atkinson
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (S.D.A.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Jerri L. Bartholomew
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (S.D.A.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Amparo Picard-Sánchez
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
- Fish Pathology Group, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal (IATS-CSIC), 12595 Castellón, Spain;
| | - Oswaldo Palenzuela
- Fish Pathology Group, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal (IATS-CSIC), 12595 Castellón, Spain;
| | - Marc Nicolas Faber
- Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK; (M.N.F.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Jason W. Holland
- Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK; (M.N.F.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Astrid S. Holzer
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (G.A.-B.); (A.P.-S.); (A.S.H.)
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Know your enemy - transcriptome of myxozoan Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae reveals potential drug targets against proliferative kidney disease in salmonids. Parasitology 2021; 148:726-739. [PMID: 33478602 PMCID: PMC8056827 DOI: 10.1017/s003118202100010x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The myxozoan Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae is a widely spread endoparasite that causes proliferative kidney disease (PKD) in salmonid fish. We developed an in silico pipeline to separate transcripts of T. bryosalmonae from the kidney tissue of its natural vertebrate host, brown trout (Salmo trutta). After stringent filtering, we constructed a partial transcriptome assembly T. bryosalmonae, comprising 3427 transcripts. Based on homology-restricted searches of the assembled parasite transcriptome and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) proteome, we identified four protein targets (Endoglycoceramidase, Legumain-like protease, Carbonic anhydrase 2, Pancreatic lipase-related protein 2) for the development of anti-parasitic drugs against T. bryosalmonae. Earlier work of these proteins on parasitic protists and helminths suggests that the identified anti-parasitic drug targets represent promising chemotherapeutic candidates also against T. bryosalmonae, and strengthen the view that the known inhibitors can be effective in evolutionarily distant organisms. In addition, we identified differentially expressed T. bryosalmonae genes between moderately and severely infected fish, indicating an increased abundance of T. bryosalmonae sporogonic stages in fish with low parasite load. In conclusion, this study paves the way for future genomic research in T. bryosalmonae and represents an important step towards the development of effective drugs against PKD.
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Genetic Diversity of Serine Protease Inhibitors in Myxozoan (Cnidaria, Myxozoa) Fish Parasites. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8101502. [PMID: 33003479 PMCID: PMC7650755 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We studied the genetic variability of serine protease inhibitors (serpins) of Myxozoa, microscopic endoparasites of fish. Myxozoans affect the health of both farmed and wild fish populations, causing diseases and mortalities. Despite their global impact, no effective protection exists against these parasites. Serpins were reported as important factors for host invasion and immune evasion, and as promising targets for the development of antiparasitic therapies. For the first time, we identified and aligned serpin sequences from high throughput sequencing datasets of ten myxozoan species, and analyzed 146 serpins from this parasite group together with those of other taxa phylogenetically, to explore their relationship and origins. High intra- and interspecific variability was detected among the examined serpins. The average sequence identity was 25–30% only. The conserved domains (i.e., motif and signature) showed taxon-level differences. Serpins clustered according to taxonomy rather than to serpin types, and myxozoan serpins seemed to be highly divergent from that of other taxa. None of them clustered with their closest relative free-living cnidarians. The genetic distinction of myxozoan serpins further strengthens the idea of an independent origin of Myxozoa, and may indicate novel protein functions potentially related to parasitism in this animal group.
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Kumar G, Ertl R, Bartholomew JL, El-Matbouli M. Transcriptome Analysis Elucidates the Key Responses of Bryozoan Fredericella sultana during the Development of Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae (Myxozoa). Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5910. [PMID: 32824626 PMCID: PMC7460649 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bryozoans are sessile, filter-feeding, and colony-building invertebrate organisms. Fredericella sultana is a well known primary host of the myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae. There have been no attempts to identify the cellular responses induced in F. sultana during the T. bryosalmonae development. We therefore performed transcriptome analysis with the aim of identifying candidate genes and biological pathways of F. sultana involved in the response to T. bryosalmonae. A total of 1166 differentially up- and downregulated genes were identified in the infected F. sultana. Gene ontology of biological processes of upregulated genes pointed to the involvement of the innate immune response, establishment of protein localization, and ribosome biogenesis, while the downregulated genes were involved in mitotic spindle assembly, viral entry into the host cell, and response to nitric oxide. Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 signaling was identified as a top canonical pathway and MYCN as a top upstream regulator in the differentially expressed genes. Our study provides the first transcriptional profiling data on the F. sultana zooid's response to T. bryosalmonae. Pathways and upstream regulators help us to understand the complex interplay in the infected F. sultana. The results will facilitate the elucidation of innate immune mechanisms of bryozoan and will lay a foundation for further analyses on bryozoan-responsive candidate genes, which will be an important resource for the comparative analysis of gene expression in bryozoans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokhlesh Kumar
- Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Reinhard Ertl
- VetCore Facility, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Jerri L. Bartholomew
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3804, USA;
| | - Mansour El-Matbouli
- Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;
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