1
|
Grabner D, Rothe LE, Sures B. Parasites and Pollutants: Effects of Multiple Stressors on Aquatic Organisms. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1946-1959. [PMID: 37283208 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5689] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Parasites can affect their hosts in various ways, and this implies that parasites may act as additional biotic stressors in a multiple-stressor scenario, resembling conditions often found in the field if, for example, pollutants and parasites occur simultaneously. Therefore, parasites represent important modulators of host reactions in ecotoxicological studies when measuring the response of organisms to stressors such as pollutants. In the present study, we introduce the most important groups of parasites occurring in organisms commonly used in ecotoxicological studies ranging from laboratory to field investigations. After briefly explaining their life cycles, we focus on parasite stages affecting selected ecotoxicologically relevant target species belonging to crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. We included ecotoxicological studies that consider the combination of effects of parasites and pollutants on the respective model organism with respect to aquatic host-parasite systems. We show that parasites from different taxonomic groups (e.g., Microsporidia, Monogenea, Trematoda, Cestoda, Acanthocephala, and Nematoda) clearly modulate the response to stressors in their hosts. The combined effects of environmental stressors and parasites can range from additive, antagonistic to synergistic. Our study points to potential drawbacks of ecotoxicological tests if parasite infections of test organisms, especially from the field, remain undetected and unaddressed. If these parasites are not detected and quantified, their physiological effects on the host cannot be separated from the ecotoxicological effects. This may render this type of ecotoxicological test erroneous. In laboratory tests, for example to determine effect or lethal concentrations, the presence of a parasite can also have a direct effect on the concentrations to be determined and thus on the subsequently determined security levels, such as predicted no-effect concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1946-1959. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Louisa E Rothe
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Huang Q. Evolution of Dicer and Argonaute orthologs in microsporidian parasites. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 65:329-332. [PMID: 30142384 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Microsporidia are a group of intracellular parasites which infect animal hosts. The infection can broadly influence the hosts' metabolism, growth as well as immune responses. Recently, a functional RNAi pathway was suggested from the microsporidia parasite Nosema ceranae, whereby the gene Dicer showed strong impact on spore proliferation. Based on sequenced microsporidian species, the RNAi gene orthologs have only been annotated for a few species. In order to study the selection of RNAi gene Dicer and Argonaute orthologs from microsporidian genomes, a phylogenetic analysis was performed based on single copy orthologs of 21 microsporidian parasite species. Of the 21 studied parasite species, 11 parasite species maintained Dicer and Argonaute orthologs, which were further used to build the gene trees. The gene Dicer and Argonaute orthologs were either both maintained or both lost. The topology structures between the phylogenetic Dicer, Argonaute and species trees were consistent. The results suggest that the gene Dicer and Argonaute were selected as a unit, which were selectively maintained/lost during the lineage divergence. The study provides general insights on the selection of RNAi pathway in microsporidian parasites and the evolution of parasitism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Huang
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3097 Liebefeld, Switzerland; Honey Bee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Zhimin Avenue 1101, 330045 Nanchang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lee K, Mylonakis E. An Intestine-Derived Neuropeptide Controls Avoidance Behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cell Rep 2018; 20:2501-2512. [PMID: 28877481 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.08.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adjusting to a continuously changing environment is a key feature of life. For metazoans, environmental changes include alterations in the gut microbiota, which can affect both memory and behavior. The bacteriovorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans discriminates between pathogenic and non-pathogenic food sources, avoiding the consumption of pathogens. Here, we demonstrate the role of the intestine in regulating C. elegans avoidance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa by an insulin-like neuropeptide encoded by ins-11. The transcriptional expression of ins-11 is controlled through transcription factor hlh-30 and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. ins-11 negatively controls signal pathways in neurons that regulate aversive learning behavior. Attenuation of ins-11 increased avoidance behavior and survival on pathogenic bacteria but decreased opportunities to find a food source as well as lowered energy storage and the number of viable progeny. Our findings support a role for the intestine in avoidance and identify an advantageous role for negative feedback that allows C. elegans to actively balance noxious and favorable environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiho Lee
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model organism with many useful features, including rapid development and aging, easy cultivation, and genetic tractability. Survival assays using C. elegans are powerful methods for studying physiological processes. In this review, we describe diverse types of C. elegans survival assays and discuss the aims, uses, and advantages of specific assays. C. elegans survival assays have played key roles in identifying novel genetic factors that regulate many aspects of animal physiology, such as aging and lifespan, stress response, and immunity against pathogens. Because many genetic factors discovered using C. elegans are evolutionarily conserved, survival assays can provide insights into mechanisms underlying physiological processes in mammals, including humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hae-Eun H. Park
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Yoonji Jung
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Seung-Jae V. Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Microbiota from Rhabditis regina may alter nematode entomopathogenicity. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:4153-4165. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5190-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
6
|
Bakowski MA, Desjardins CA, Smelkinson MG, Dunbar TA, Lopez-Moyado IF, Rifkin SA, Cuomo CA, Troemel ER. Ubiquitin-mediated response to microsporidia and virus infection in C. elegans. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004200. [PMID: 24945527 PMCID: PMC4063957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia comprise a phylum of over 1400 species of obligate intracellular pathogens that can infect almost all animals, but little is known about the host response to these parasites. Here we use the whole-animal host C. elegans to show an in vivo role for ubiquitin-mediated response to the microsporidian species Nematocida parisii, as well to the Orsay virus, another natural intracellular pathogen of C. elegans. We analyze gene expression of C. elegans in response to N. parisii, and find that it is similar to response to viral infection. Notably, we find an upregulation of SCF ubiquitin ligase components, such as the cullin ortholog cul-6, which we show is important for ubiquitin targeting of N. parisii cells in the intestine. We show that ubiquitylation components, the proteasome, and the autophagy pathway are all important for defense against N. parisii infection. We also find that SCF ligase components like cul-6 promote defense against viral infection, where they have a more robust role than against N. parisii infection. This difference may be due to suppression of the host ubiquitylation system by N. parisii: when N. parisii is crippled by anti-microsporidia drugs, the host can more effectively target pathogen cells for ubiquitylation. Intriguingly, inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) increases expression of infection-upregulated SCF ligase components, indicating that a trigger for transcriptional response to intracellular infection by N. parisii and virus may be perturbation of the UPS. Altogether, our results demonstrate an in vivo role for ubiquitin-mediated defense against microsporidian and viral infections in C. elegans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malina A. Bakowski
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | | | - Margery G. Smelkinson
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Tiffany A. Dunbar
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Isaac F. Lopez-Moyado
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Scott A. Rifkin
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Christina A. Cuomo
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Emily R. Troemel
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Coburn C, Gems D. The mysterious case of the C. elegans gut granule: death fluorescence, anthranilic acid and the kynurenine pathway. Front Genet 2013; 4:151. [PMID: 23967012 PMCID: PMC3735983 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2013.00151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gut granules are lysosome-like organelles with acidic interiors that are found in large numbers within the intestine of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. They are particularly prominent when viewed under ultraviolet light, which causes them to emit intense blue fluorescence. Yet the function of these large and abundant organelles in this heavily-studied model organism remains unclear. One possibility is that they serve as storage organelles, for example of zinc. A new clue to gut granule function is the identification of the blue fluorescent material that they contain as a glycosylated form of anthranilic acid, which is derived from tryptophan by action of the kynurenine pathway. This compound can also serve a surprising role as a natural, endogenous marker of organismal death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - David Gems
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, and Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College LondonLondon, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
References. Parasitology 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/9781119968986.refs] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
9
|
Comparative analysis of detection limits and specificity of molecular diagnostic markers for three pathogens (Microsporidia, Nosema spp.) in the key pollinators Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris. Parasitol Res 2011; 110:1403-10. [PMID: 21927870 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2640-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/02/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Global pollinator decline has recently been discussed in the context of honey and bumble bee infections from various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, microsporidia and mites. The microsporidian pathogens Nosema apis, Nosema ceranae and Nosema bombi may in fact be major candidates contributing to this decline. Different molecular and non-molecular detection methods have been developed; however, a comparison, especially of the highly sensitive PCR based methods, is currently lacking. Here, we present the first comparative quantitative real-time PCR study of nine Nosema spp. primers within the framework of primer specificity and sensitivity. With the help of dilution series of defined numbers of spores, we reveal six primer pairs amplifying N. apis, six for N. bombi and four for N. ceranae. All appropriate primer pairs detected an amount of at least 10(4) spores, the majority of which were even as sensitive to detect such low amounts as 10(3) to ten spores. Species specificity of primers was observed for N. apis and N. bombi, but not for N. ceranae. Additionally, we did not find any significant correlation for the amplified fragments with PCR efficiency or the limit of detection. We discuss our findings on the background of false positive and negative results using quantitative real-time PCR. On the basis of these results, future research might be based on appropriate primer selection depending on the experimental needs. Primers may be selected on the basis of specificity or sensitivity. Pathogen species and load may be determined with higher precision enhancing all kinds of diagnostic studies.
Collapse
|
10
|
Non-lytic, actin-based exit of intracellular parasites from C. elegans intestinal cells. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002227. [PMID: 21949650 PMCID: PMC3174248 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2011] [Accepted: 07/06/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestine is a common site for invasion by intracellular pathogens, but little is known about how pathogens restructure and exit intestinal cells in vivo. The natural microsporidian parasite N. parisii invades intestinal cells of the nematode C. elegans, progresses through its life cycle, and then exits cells in a transmissible spore form. Here we show that N. parisii causes rearrangements of host actin inside intestinal cells as part of a novel parasite exit strategy. First, we show that N. parisii infection causes ectopic localization of the normally apical-restricted actin to the basolateral side of intestinal cells, where it often forms network-like structures. Soon after this actin relocalization, we find that gaps appear in the terminal web, a conserved cytoskeletal structure that could present a barrier to exit. Reducing actin expression creates terminal web gaps in the absence of infection, suggesting that infection-induced actin relocalization triggers gap formation. We show that terminal web gaps form at a distinct stage of infection, precisely timed to precede spore exit, and that all contagious animals exhibit gaps. Interestingly, we find that while perturbations in actin can create these gaps, actin is not required for infection progression or spore formation, but actin is required for spore exit. Finally, we show that despite large numbers of spores exiting intestinal cells, this exit does not cause cell lysis. These results provide insight into parasite manipulation of the host cytoskeleton and non-lytic escape from intestinal cells in vivo. The intestine is a common site for invasion by pathogens, but little is known about how pathogens exit out of live intestinal cells in order to spread and propagate. One group of parasites that often invades the intestine is the microsporidia, which comprise a phylum of over 1200 fungal-like species that can cause disease in humans, as well as in agriculturally significant organisms such as fish, silkworm and honey bee. Here, we investigated a natural microsporidian infection in live intestinal cells of the roundworm C. elegans. We discovered a novel exit strategy used by microsporidia to restructure the cytoskeleton of intestinal cells, involving relocalization of actin and reorganization of a structure called the terminal web, which may be a barrier to exit. In addition, we found that despite large numbers of parasites exiting out of intestinal cells, this process does not cause cells to burst. Our findings indicate that microsporidia, which are completely dependent on their hosts for replication, have evolved a regulated and non-damaging mechanism of exit that shares similarities with strategies used by evolutionarily distant bacterial pathogens. This study provides new insights into the methods by which pathogens restructure live intestinal cells to facilitate their spread and propagation.
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
The surface coat (SC) of the plant-parasitic nematode cuticle is an understudied area of current research, even though it likely plays key roles in both nematode-plant and nematode-microbe interactions. Although in several ways Caenorhabditis elegans is a poor model for plant-parasitic nematodes, it is a useful starting point for investigations of the cuticle and its SC, especially in the light of recent work using this species as a model for innate immunity and the generic biology underpinning much host-parasite biology. We review the research focused on the involvement of the SC of plant-parasitic nematodes. Using the insights gained from animal-parasitic nematodes and other sequenced nematodes, we discuss the key roles that the SC may play.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keith G Davies
- Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Rothamsted Research, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|