Proteomic analysis of Sarcoptes scabiei reveals that proteins differentially expressed between eggs and female adult stages are involved predominantly in genetic information processing, metabolism and/or host-parasite interactions

Presently, there is a dearth of proteomic data for parasitic mites and their relationship with the host animals. Here, using a high throughput LC-MS/MS-based approach, we undertook the first comprehensive, large-scale proteomic investigation of egg and adult female stages of the scabies mite, Sarcoptes scabiei-one of the most important parasitic mites of humans and other animals worldwide. In total, 1,761 S. scabiei proteins were identified and quantified with high confidence. Bioinformatic analyses revealed differentially expressed proteins to be involved predominantly in biological pathways or processes including genetic information processing, energy (oxidative phosphorylation), nucleotide, amino acid, carbohydrate and/or lipid metabolism, and some adaptive processes. Selected, constitutively and highly expressed proteins, such as peptidases, scabies mite inactivated protease paralogues (SMIPPs) and muscle proteins (myosin and troponin), are proposed to be involved in key biological processes within S. scabiei, host-parasite interactions and/or the pathogenesis of scabies. These proteomic data will enable future molecular, biochemical and physiological investigations of early developmental stages of S. scabiei and the discovery of novel interventions, targeting the egg stage, given its non-susceptibility to acaricides currently approved for the treatment of scabies in humans.

Effect of chain length and saturation of the fatty acids in dietary triglycerides on lipid metabolism in Wistar rats

We investigated the effect of the chain length and the degree of saturation of fatty acids in dietary triglycerides on serum lipid profiles and hepatic lipid metabolism in Wistar rats. Fat component of the basal diet (soybean oil) was replaced with fats with fatty acids of different chain lengths and saturation and the serum lipids were monitored for 150 days. Principal component (PC) analysis of serum lipid components was related to chain length and saturation. The combined effect of chain length and saturation on PC 1 scores was evaluated by multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that average chain length of the fatty acids of triglycerides has a higher influence on the quality of serum lipid parameters than the average degree of saturation. Expression of selected genes responsible for lipid metabolism showed similar trends in medium chain saturated and long chain polyunsaturated diet groups. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Dietary lipids contain a wide range of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with different chain lengths. Overall contribution of these different fatty acids decides the health effects of the lipids in the diet. Present study shows that the fats with medium chains and higher degree of saturation and fats with long chains and higher degree of unsaturation (lower degree of saturation) affect serum lipid parameters and expression of hepatic genes involved in the lipid metabolism in a similar manner. Such information is important for physicians to plan dietary schemes to improve the nutritional health and manage the noncommunicable diseases.

The Challenge of Developing a Single-Dose Treatment for Scabies

Scabies is a common skin disease with an estimated worldwide incidence of 200 million people infected per year. Its morbidity and mortality is principally due to secondary bacterial infections, a link now well recognized and prompting the recent inclusion of this disease-complex in the WHO list of neglected tropical diseases. The few treatments available are poorly effective against Sarcoptes scabiei eggs and appear to induce resistance in the parasite. An ideal alternative would be a single-dose regimen that kills all developmental stages, including eggs. Drugs used in the veterinary field and applied to other arthropods could be tested experimentally in an established pig-scabies model. Moreover, functional genomics combined with target validation through biochemical research should assist in identifying new drugs.