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Vance GM, Khouri MI, Neto APDS, James S, Leite LCC, Farias LP, Wilson RA. Antigenic epitope targets of rhesus macaques self-curing from Schistosoma mansoni infection. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1269336. [PMID: 38464672 PMCID: PMC10921417 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The self-cure of rhesus macaques from a schistosome infection and their subsequent strong immunity to a cercarial challenge should provide novel insights into the way these parasites can be eliminated by immunological attack. High-density arrays comprising overlapping 15-mer peptides from target proteins printed on glass slides can be used to screen sera from host species to determine antibody reactivity at the single epitope level. Careful selection of proteins, based on compositional studies, is crucial to encompass only those exposed on or secreted from the intra-mammalian stages and is intended to focus the analysis solely on targets mediating protection. We report the results of this approach using two pools of sera from hi- and lo-responder macaques undergoing self-cure, to screen arrays comprising tegument, esophageal gland, and gastrodermis proteins. We show that, overall, the target epitopes are the same in both groups, but the intensity of response is twice as strong in the high responders. In addition, apart from Sm25, tegument proteins elicit much weaker responses than those originating in the alimentary tract, as was apparent in IFNγR KO mice. We also highlight the most reactive epitopes in key proteins. Armed with this knowledge, we intend to use multi-epitope constructs in vaccination experiments, which seek to emulate the self-cure process in experimental animals and potentially in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariana I. Khouri
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Biomarcadores, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Almiro Pires da Silva Neto
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Biomarcadores, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Sally James
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Luciana C. C. Leite
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Paiva Farias
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - R. Alan Wilson
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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2
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Zhu P, Wu K, Zhang C, Batool SS, Li A, Yu Z, Huang J. Advances in new target molecules against schistosomiasis: A comprehensive discussion of physiological structure and nutrient intake. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011498. [PMID: 37498810 PMCID: PMC10374103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, a severe parasitic disease, is primarily caused by Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, or Schistosoma haematobium. Currently, praziquantel is the only recommended drug for human schistosome infection. However, the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms and concerns about the emergence of drug resistance are driving forces behind the research for an alternative medication. Schistosomes are obligatory parasites that survive on nutrients obtained from their host. The ability of nutrient uptake depends on their physiological structure. In short, the formation and maintenance of the structure and nutrient supply are mutually reinforcing and interdependent. In this review, we focus on the structural features of the tegument, esophagus, and intestine of schistosomes and their roles in nutrient acquisition. Moreover, we introduce the significance and modes of glucose, lipids, proteins, and amino acids intake in schistosomes. We linked the schistosome structure and nutrient supply, introduced the currently emerging targets, and analyzed the current bottlenecks in the research and development of drugs and vaccines, in the hope of providing new strategies for the prevention and control of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- XiangYa School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Kaijuan Wu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chaobin Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- XiangYa School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Syeda Sundas Batool
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Anqiao Li
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- XiangYa School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zheng Yu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- China-Africa Research Center of Infectious Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China
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3
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Prasanphanich NS, Leon K, Secor WE, Shoemaker CB, Heimburg-Molinaro J, Cummings RD. Anti-schistosomal immunity to core xylose/fucose in N-glycans. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1142620. [PMID: 37081851 PMCID: PMC10110957 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1142620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a globally prevalent, debilitating disease that is poorly controlled by chemotherapy and for which no vaccine exists. While partial resistance in people may develop over time with repeated infections and treatments, some animals, including the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), are only semi-permissive and have natural protection. To understand the basis of this protection, we explored the nature of the immune response in the brown rat to infection by Schistosoma mansoni. Infection leads to production of IgG to Infection leads to production of IgG to parasite glycoproteins parasite glycoproteins with complex-type N-glycans that contain a non-mammalian-type modification by core α2-Xylose and core α3-Fucose (core Xyl/Fuc). These epitopes are expressed on the surfaces of schistosomula and adult worms. Importantly, IgG to these epitopes can kill schistosomula by a complement-dependent process in vitro. Additionally, sera from both infected rhesus monkey and infected brown rat were capable of killing schistosomula in a manner inhibited by glycopeptides containing core Xyl/Fuc. These results demonstrate that protective antibodies to schistosome infections in brown rats and rhesus monkeys include IgG responses to the core Xyl/Fuc epitopes in surface-expressed N-glycans, and raise the potential of novel glyco-based vaccines that might be developed to combat this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristoffer Leon
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - W. Evan Secor
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Charles B. Shoemaker
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA, United States
| | - Jamie Heimburg-Molinaro
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- National Center for Functional Glycomics, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Richard D. Cummings
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- National Center for Functional Glycomics, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Richard D. Cummings,
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4
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Neves LX, Wilson RA, Brownridge P, Holman SW, Harman VM, Eyers CE, Beynon RJ, Castro-Borges W. Dissection of schistosome tissues under LC-MS compatible preservative conditions for quantitative proteomics. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2023; 38 Suppl 1:e9523. [PMID: 37070167 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomes are blood flukes with specialised tissues and organs, each one playing a pivotal role in perpetuating the parasite life cycle. Herein, we describe a detailed methodology for preserving the proteome of adult Schistosoma mansoni worms during manual dissection for enrichment of tissues associated with the parasite's alimentary tract. We provide step-by-step directions for specimen storage and dissection while in preservative solution, tissue homogenisation, protein extraction and digestion using a methodology fully compatible with downstream quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Our methodology uses label-free and QconCAT-based absolute quantification for detection of S. mansoni oesophageal gland products proposed as vaccine candidates. Through stabilisation of the proteome and minimising sample degradation during dissection our approach has allowed us to access the hidden proteome of target tissues not readily available from total lysates because of their small volume. This protocol can be replicated or adapted to other Schistosoma species lacking quantitative proteomics characterisation of specialised tissues for discovery of proteins with potential diagnostic and therapeutic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Xavier Neves
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Brazil
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - R Alan Wilson
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Philip Brownridge
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Stephen W Holman
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Victoria M Harman
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Claire E Eyers
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Robert J Beynon
- Centre for Proteome Research, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - William Castro-Borges
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Campus Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, Brazil
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5
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Lee J. Planarians to schistosomes: an overview of flatworm cell-types and regulators. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e7. [PMID: 36644809 DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X22000621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis remains a major neglected tropical disease that afflicts over 200 million people globally. Schistosomes, the aetiological agent of schistosomiasis, are parasitic flatworms that propagate between molluscan and mammalian hosts. Inside the mammalian host, schistosomes rapidly grow over 100-fold in size and develop into a sexually mature male or female that thrives in the bloodstream for several decades. Recent work has identified schistosome stem cells as the source that drives parasite transmission, reproduction and longevity. Moreover, studies have begun to uncover molecular programmes deployed by stem cells that are essential for tissue development and maintenance, parasite survival and immune evasion. Such programmes are reminiscent of neoblast-driven development and regeneration of planarians, the free-living flatworm relative of schistosomes. Over the last few decades, research in planarians has employed modern functional genomic tools that significantly enhanced our understanding of stem cell-driven animal development and regeneration. In this review, we take a broad stroke overview of major flatworm organ systems at the cellular and molecular levels. We summarize recent advances on genetic regulators that play critical roles in differentiation and maintenance of flatworm cell types. Finally, we provide perspectives on how investigation of basic parasite biology is critical to discovering new approaches to battle schistosomiasis.
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Martínez-gonzález JDJ, Guevara-flores A, del Arenal Mena IP. Evolutionary Adaptations of Parasitic Flatworms to Different Oxygen Tensions. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:1102. [PMID: 35739999 PMCID: PMC9220675 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11061102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During the evolution of the Earth, the increase in the atmospheric concentration of oxygen gave rise to the development of organisms with aerobic metabolism, which utilized this molecule as the ultimate electron acceptor, whereas other organisms maintained an anaerobic metabolism. Platyhelminthes exhibit both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism depending on the availability of oxygen in their environment and/or due to differential oxygen tensions during certain stages of their life cycle. As these organisms do not have a circulatory system, gas exchange occurs by the passive diffusion through their body wall. Consequently, the flatworms developed several adaptations related to the oxygen gradient that is established between the aerobic tegument and the cellular parenchyma that is mostly anaerobic. Because of the aerobic metabolism, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is produced in abundance. Catalase usually scavenges H2O2 in mammals; however, this enzyme is absent in parasitic platyhelminths. Thus, the architecture of the antioxidant systems is different, depending primarily on the superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and peroxiredoxin enzymes represented mainly in the tegument. Here, we discuss the adaptations that parasitic flatworms have developed to be able to transit from the different metabolic conditions to those they are exposed to during their life cycle.
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Castro-Borges W, Wilson RA. Schistosome proteomics: updates and clinical implications. Expert Rev Proteomics 2022; 19:247-261. [PMID: 36331139 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2022.2142565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Schistosomes are long-lived blood dwelling helminth parasites using intricate mechanisms to invade, mature, and reproduce inside their vertebrate hosts, whilst simultaneously deploying immune evasion strategies. Their multi-tissue organization and solid body plan presents particular problems for the definition of sub-proteomes. AREAS COVERED Here, we focus on the two host-parasite interfaces of the adult worm accessible to the immune system, namely the tegument and the alimentary tract, but also on the secretions of the infective cercaria, the migrating schistosomulum and the mature egg. In parallel, we introduce the concepts of "leakyome' and 'disintegrome' to emphasize the importance of interpreting data in the context of schistosome biology so that misleading conclusions about the distinct proteome compositions are avoided. Lastly, we highlight the possible clinical implications of the reviewed proteomic findings for pathogenesis, vaccine design and diagnostics. EXPERT OPINION Proteomics has provided considerable insights into the biology of schistosomes, most importantly for rational selection of novel vaccine candidates that might confer protective immunity, but also into the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. However, given the increasing sensitivity of mass spectrometric instrumentation, we stress the need for care in data interpretation since schistosomes do not deviate from the fundamental rules of eukaryotic cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Castro-Borges
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brasil
| | - R Alan Wilson
- Department of Biology and York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
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8
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Gobert GN, McManus DP, McMullan G, Creevey CJ, Carson J, Jones MK, Nawaratna SSK, Weerakoon KG, You H. Adult schistosomes have an epithelial bacterial population distinct from the surrounding mammalian host blood. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263188. [PMID: 35085360 PMCID: PMC8794206 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic and chronic disease affecting hundreds of millions of people. Adult schistosomes reside in the blood stream of the definitive mammalian host. These helminth parasites possess two epithelial surfaces, the tegument and the gastrodermis, both of which interact with the host during immune evasion and in nutrient uptake.
Methods
Female ARC Swiss mice (4–6 weeks old) were infected percutaneously with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae freshly shed from Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi snails (Philippines strain). Fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed by using fresh adult S. japonicum perfused from those infected mice. Adult S. japonicum worms were processed to isolate the tegument from the carcass containing the gastrodermis; blood and bile were collected individually from infected and uninfected mice. Total DNA extracted from all those samples were used for microbiome profiling.
Results
FISH and microbiome profiling showed the presence of bacterial populations on two epithelial surfaces of adult worms, suggesting they were distinct not only from the host blood but also from each other. Whereas microbial diversity was reduced overall in the parasite epithelial tissues when compared with that of host blood, specific bacterial taxa, including Anoxybacillus and Escherichia, were elevated on the tegument. Minimal differences were evident in the microbiome of host blood during an active infection, compared with that of control uninfected blood. However, sampling of bile from infected animals identified some differences compared with controls, including elevated levels of Limnohabitans, Clostridium and Curvibacter.
Conclusions
Using FISH and microbial profiling, we were able to demonstrate, for the first time, that bacteria are presented on the epithelial surfaces of adult schistosomes. These schistosome surface-associated bacteria, which are distinct from the host blood microenvironment, should be considered as a new and important component of the host-schistosome interaction. The importance of individual bacterial species in relation to schistosome parasitism needs further elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey N. Gobert
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (HY); (GNG)
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Geoff McMullan
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jack Carson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sujeevi S. K. Nawaratna
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Kosala G. Weerakoon
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, Sri Lanka
| | - Hong You
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Immunology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- * E-mail: (HY); (GNG)
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Romero AA, Cobb SA, Collins JNR, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ, Collins JJ. The Schistosoma mansoni nuclear receptor FTZ-F1 maintains esophageal gland function via transcriptional regulation of meg-8.3. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010140. [PMID: 34910770 PMCID: PMC8673669 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomes infect over 200 million of the world's poorest people, but unfortunately treatment relies on a single drug. Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate diverse processes in metazoans, yet few have been functionally characterized in schistosomes. During a systematic analysis of nuclear receptor function, we found that an FTZ-F1-like receptor was essential for parasite survival. Using a combination of transcriptional profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), we discovered that the micro-exon gene meg-8.3 is a transcriptional target of SmFTZ-F1. We found that both Smftz-f1 and meg-8.3 are required for esophageal gland maintenance as well as integrity of the worm's head. Together, these studies define a new role for micro-exon gene function in the parasite and suggest that factors associated with the esophageal gland could represent viable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aracely A. Romero
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sarah A. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Julie N. R. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - David J. Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - James J. Collins
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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Keddy KH, Saha S, Okeke IN, Kalule JB, Qamar FN, Kariuki S. Combating Childhood Infections in LMICs: evaluating the contribution of Big Data Big data, biomarkers and proteomics: informing childhood diarrhoeal disease management in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. EBioMedicine 2021; 73:103668. [PMID: 34742129 PMCID: PMC8579132 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite efforts to reduce the global burden of childhood diarrhoea, 50% of all cases globally occur in children under five years in Low–Income and Middle- Income Countries (LMICs) and knowledge gaps remain regarding the aetiological diagnosis, introduction of diarrhoeal vaccines, and the role of environmental enteric dysfunction and severe acute malnutrition. Biomarkers may assist in understanding disease processes, from diagnostics, to management of childhood diarrhoea and the sequelae to vaccine development. Proteomics has the potential to assist in the identification of new biomarkers to understand the processes in the development of childhood diarrhoea and to aid in developing new vaccines. Centralised repositories that enable mining of large data sets to better characterise risk factors, the proteome of both the patient and the different diarrhoeal pathogens, and the environment, could inform patient management and vaccine development, providing a systems biological approach to address the burden of childhood diarrhoea in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen H Keddy
- Tuberculosis Platform, South African Medical Research Council, 1 Soutpansberg Rd, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
| | - Senjuti Saha
- Child Health Research Foundation, 23/2 Khilji Road, Mohammadpur, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Iruka N Okeke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
| | - John Bosco Kalule
- Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Uganda
| | - Farah Naz Qamar
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health. Aga Khan University, Stadoum road Karachi, Pakistan 74800
| | - Samuel Kariuki
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Off Mbagathi Road, Nairobi, Kenya
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11
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Abstract
Trematodes cause disease in millions of people worldwide, but the absence of commercial vaccines has led to an over-reliance on a handful of monotherapies to control infections. Since drug-resistant fluke populations are emerging, a deeper understanding of parasite biology and host interactions is required to identify new drug targets and immunogenic vaccine candidates. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics represents a key tool to that end. Recent studies have capitalised on the wider availability of annotated helminth genomes to achieve greater coverage of trematode proteomes and discover new aspects of the host-parasite relationship. This review focusses on these latest advances. These include how the protein components of fluke extracellular vesicles have given insight into their biogenesis and cellular interactions. In addition, how the integration of transcriptome/proteome datasets has revealed that the expression and secretion of selected families of liver fluke virulence factors and immunomodulators are regulated in accordance with parasite development and migration within the mammalian host. Furthermore, we discuss the use of immunoproteomics as a tool to identify vaccine candidates associated with protective antibody responses. Finally, we highlight how established and emerging technologies, such as laser microdissection and single-cell proteomics, could be exploited to resolve the protein profiles of discrete trematode tissues or cell types which, in combination with functional tools, could pinpoint optimal targets for fluke control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark W. Robinson
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK;
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12
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Farias LP, Vance GM, Coulson PS, Vitoriano-Souza J, Neto APDS, Wangwiwatsin A, Neves LX, Castro-Borges W, McNicholas S, Wilson KS, Leite LCC, Wilson RA. Epitope Mapping of Exposed Tegument and Alimentary Tract Proteins Identifies Putative Antigenic Targets of the Attenuated Schistosome Vaccine. Front Immunol 2021; 11:624613. [PMID: 33763055 PMCID: PMC7982949 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.624613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The radiation-attenuated cercarial vaccine remains the gold standard for the induction of protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni. Furthermore, the protection can be passively transferred to naïve recipient mice from multiply vaccinated donors, especially IFNgR KO mice. We have used such sera versus day 28 infection serum, to screen peptide arrays and identify likely epitopes that mediate the protection. The arrays encompassed 55 secreted or exposed proteins from the alimentary tract and tegument, the principal interfaces with the host bloodstream. The proteins were printed onto glass slides as overlapping 15mer peptides, reacted with primary and secondary antibodies, and reactive regions detected using an Agilent array scanner. Pep Slide Analyzer software provided a numerical value above background for each peptide from which an aggregate score could be derived for a putative epitope. The reactive regions of 26 proteins were mapped onto crystal structures using the CCP4 molecular graphics, to aid selection of peptides with the greatest accessibility and reactivity, prioritizing vaccine over infection serum. A further eight MEG proteins were mapped to regions conserved between family members. The result is a list of priority peptides from 44 proteins for further investigation in multiepitope vaccine constructs and as targets of monoclonal antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo P. Farias
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gillian M. Vance
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia S. Coulson
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | | | - Almiro Pires da Silva Neto
- Laboratório de Inflamação e Biomarcadores, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Arporn Wangwiwatsin
- Parasite Genomics, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Leandro Xavier Neves
- Instituto de Ciẽncias Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - William Castro-Borges
- Instituto de Ciẽncias Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Stuart McNicholas
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Keith S. Wilson
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, University of York, York, United Kingdom
| | - Luciana C. C. Leite
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento de Vacinas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R. Alan Wilson
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, United Kingdom
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McCusker P, Rohr CM, Chan JD. Schistosoma mansoni alter transcription of immunomodulatory gene products following in vivo praziquantel exposure. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009200. [PMID: 33657133 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis relies almost entirely on praziquantel (PZQ) monotherapy. How PZQ clears parasite infections remains poorly understood. Many studies have examined the effects of PZQ on worms cultured in vitro, observing outcomes such as muscle contraction. However, conditions worms are exposed to in vivo may vary considerably from in vitro experiments given the short half-life of PZQ and the importance of host immune system engagement for drug efficacy in animal models. Here, we investigated the effects of in vivo PZQ exposure on Schistosoma mansoni. Measurement of pro-apoptotic caspase activation revealed that worm death occurs only after parasites shift from the mesenteric vasculature to the liver, peaking 24 hours after drug treatment. This indicates that PZQ is not directly schistocidal, since PZQ’s half-life is ~2 hours in humans and ~30 minutes in mice, and focuses attention on parasite interactions with the host immune system following the shift of worms to the liver. RNA-Seq of worms harvested from mouse livers following sub-lethal PZQ treatment revealed drug-evoked changes in the expression of putative immunomodulatory and anticoagulant gene products. Several of these gene products localized to the schistosome esophagus and may be secreted into the host circulation. These include several Kunitz-type protease inhibitors, which are also found in the secretomes of other blood feeding animals. These transcriptional changes may reflect mechanisms of parasite immune-evasion in response to chemotherapy, given the role of complement-mediated attack and the host innate/humoral immune response in parasite elimination. One of these isoforms, SmKI-1, has been shown to exhibit immunomodulatory and anti-coagulant properties. These data provide insight into the effect of in vivo PZQ exposure on S. mansoni, and the transcriptional response of parasites to the stress of chemotherapy. The disease schistosomiasis is caused by parasitic worms that live within the circulatory system. While this disease infects over 200 million people worldwide, treatment relies almost entirely on one drug, praziquantel, whose mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of praziquantel treatment on the gene expression of parasites harvested from mice treated with praziquantel chemotherapy. Despite the rapid action of the drug on worms in vitro, we found that key outcomes in vivo (measurement of cell death and changes in gene expression) occurred relatively late (12+ hours after drug administration). We found that worms increased the expression of immunomodulatory gene products in response to praziquantel, including a Kunitz-type protease inhibitor that localized to the worm esophagus and may be secreted to the external host environment. These are an intriguing class of proteins, because they display anti-coagulant and immunomodulatory properties. Up-regulation of these gene products may reflect a parasite mechanism of immune-evasion in response to chemotherapy. This research provides insight into the mechanism of praziquantel by observing the effect of this drug on worms within the context of the host immune system.
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