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Gitau JK, Macharia RW, Mwangi KW, Ongeso N, Murungi E. Gene co-expression network identifies critical genes, pathways and regulatory motifs mediating the progression of rift valley fever in Bostaurus. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18175. [PMID: 37519716 PMCID: PMC10375796 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18175] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the Rift Valley Fever Virus. The disease is a zoonosis that largely affects domestic animals, including sheep, goats, and cattle, resulting in severe morbidity and mortality marked by massive storm abortions. To halt human and livestock deaths due to RVF, the development of efficacious vaccines and therapeutics is a compelling and urgent priority. We sought to identify potential key modules (gene clusters), hub genes, and regulatory motifs involved in the pathogenesis of RVF in Bos taurus that are amenable to inhibition. We analyzed 39 Bos taurus RNA-Seq samples using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) R package and uncovered significantly enriched modules containing genes with potential pivotal roles in RVF progression. Moreover, regulatory motif analysis conducted using the Multiple Expectation Maximization for Motif Elicitation (MEME) suite identified motifs that probably modulate vital biological processes. Gene ontology terms associated with identified motifs were inferred using the GoMo human database. The gene co-expression network constructed in WGCNA using 5000 genes contained seven (7) modules, out of which four were significantly enriched for terms associated with response to viruses, response to interferon-alpha, innate immune response, and viral defense. Additionally, several biological pathways implicated in developmental processes, anatomical structure development, and multicellular organism development were identified. Regulatory motifs analysis identified short, repeated motifs whose function(s) may be amenable to disruption by novel therapeutics. Predicted functions of identified motifs include tissue development, embryonic organ development, and organ morphogenesis. We have identified several hub genes in enriched co-expressed gene modules and regulatory motifs potentially involved in the pathogenesis of RVF in B. taurus that are likely viable targets for disruption by novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K. Gitau
- University of Nairobi, Biochemistry Department, P.O Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rosaline W. Macharia
- University of Nairobi, Biochemistry Department, P.O Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kennedy W. Mwangi
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O Box 62000, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nehemiah Ongeso
- University of Nairobi, Biochemistry Department, P.O Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edwin Murungi
- Kisii University, Department of Medical Biochemistry, P.O Box 408, 40200, Kisii, Kenya
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Gbala ID, Macharia RW, Bargul JL, Magoma G. Membrane Permeabilization and Antimicrobial Activity of Recombinant Defensin-d2 and Actifensin against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144325. [PMID: 35889198 PMCID: PMC9317813 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance requires urgent efforts towards the discovery of active antimicrobials, and the development of strategies to sustainably produce them. Defensin and defensin-like antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are increasingly gaining pharmacological interest because of their potency against pathogens. In this study, we expressed two AMPs: defensin-d2 derived from spinach, and defensin-like actifensin from Actinomyces ruminicola. Recombinant pTXB1 plasmids carrying the target genes encoding defensin-d2 and actifensin were generated by the MEGAWHOP cloning strategy. Each AMP was first expressed as a fusion protein in Escherichia coli, purified by affinity chromatography, and was thereafter assayed for antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Approximately 985 µg/mL and 2895 µg/mL of recombinant defensin-d2 and actifensin, respectively, were recovered with high purity. An analysis by MALDI-TOF MS showed distinct peaks corresponding to molecular weights of approximately 4.1 kDa for actifensin and 5.8 kDa for defensin-d2. An in vitro antimicrobial assay showed that MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans were inhibited at minimum concentrations of 7.5 µg/mL and 23 µg/mL for recombinant defensin-d2 and actifensin, respectively. The inhibitory kinetics of the peptides revealed cidal activity within 4 h of the contact time. Furthermore, both peptides exhibited an antagonistic interaction, which could be attributed to their affinities for similar ligands, as deduced by peptide–ligand profiling. Moreover, both peptides inhibited biofilm formation, and they exhibited no resistance potential and low hemolytic activity. The peptides also possess the ability to permeate and disrupt the cell membranes of MDR P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. Therefore, recombinant actifensin and defensin-d2 exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and have the potential to be used as therapy against MDR pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifeoluwa D. Gbala
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Pan African University, Nairobi P.O. Box 62000-00200, Kenya;
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosaline W. Macharia
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 30197-00100, Kenya;
| | - Joel L. Bargul
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi P.O. Box 62000-00200, Kenya;
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi P.O. Box 30772-00100, Kenya
| | - Gabriel Magoma
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Pan African University, Nairobi P.O. Box 62000-00200, Kenya;
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi P.O. Box 62000-00200, Kenya;
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Miruka SA, Aboge GO, Macharia RW, Obiero GO, Omwenga IM. Beta hemolysin gene of Staphylococcus phage 3AJ_2017 genome is a suitable molecular marker for identification and characterization of pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus. Vet Med Sci 2021; 8:845-851. [PMID: 34878220 PMCID: PMC8959332 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.676] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Staphylococcus aureus cause diseases both in humans and animals. These diseases range from mild to fatal infections thus necessitating development of a specific molecular method for detection of pathogenic S. aureus. OBJECTIVES To identify and analyze genetic profile of pathogenic S. aureus using bacteriophage based genetic biomarkers. METHODS Using culture and biochemical methods, 148 S. aureus (87 %) were isolated from 170 raw milk samples taken from 10 dairy farms in Marsabit and Isiolo counties in Northern Kenya between June 2016 and February 2017. The samples were collected directly from dairy lactating cows previously diagnosed with S. aureus in a follow-up study. The isolates were analyzed by PCR and sequencing of beta hemolysin (hlb) gene. The genetic relationship between five Kenyan S. aureus isolates and five isolates previously identified was inferred. RESULTS From the 96 isolates screened for hlb gene, 75 (78.1%) tested positive. Some of the positive isolates yielded a band size of 975 bp, while others 1100 bp. Through Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) search analysis, the two different band sizes (975 bp and 1100 bp) were both confirmed to be hlb gene from S. aureus isolates indicating that the difference in band size may have been due to deletions that were detected in the 975 bp hlb gene. Some S. aureus isolates from Kenya appeared to be closely related to isolates from other parts of the world, while some showed a distant relationship. CONCLUSIONS Phage-derived hlb gene is a suitable molecular marker for detection of pathogenic S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silviane A Miruka
- Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gabriel O Aboge
- Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.,Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rosaline W Macharia
- Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - George O Obiero
- Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Isaac M Omwenga
- Center for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
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Mwangi KW, Macharia RW, Bargul JL. Gene co-expression network analysis of Trypanosoma brucei in tsetse fly vector. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:74. [PMID: 33482903 PMCID: PMC7821691 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04597-6] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Trypanosoma brucei species are motile protozoan parasites that are cyclically transmitted by tsetse fly (genus Glossina) causing human sleeping sickness and nagana in livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. African trypanosomes display digenetic life cycle stages in the tsetse fly vector and in their mammalian host. Experimental work on insect-stage trypanosomes is challenging because of the difficulty in setting up successful in vitro cultures. Therefore, there is limited knowledge on the trypanosome biology during its development in the tsetse fly. Consequently, this limits the development of new strategies for blocking parasite transmission in the tsetse fly. Methods In this study, RNA-Seq data of insect-stage trypanosomes were used to construct a T. brucei gene co-expression network using the weighted gene co-expression analysis (WGCNA) method. The study identified significant enriched modules for genes that play key roles during the parasite’s development in tsetse fly. Furthermore, potential 3′ untranslated region (UTR) regulatory elements for genes that clustered in the same module were identified using the Finding Informative Regulatory Elements (FIRE) tool. Results A fraction of gene modules (12 out of 27 modules) in the constructed network were found to be enriched in functional roles associated with the cell division, protein biosynthesis, mitochondrion, and cell surface. Additionally, 12 hub genes encoding proteins such as RNA-binding protein 6 (RBP6), arginine kinase 1 (AK1), brucei alanine-rich protein (BARP), among others, were identified for the 12 significantly enriched gene modules. In addition, the potential regulatory elements located in the 3′ untranslated regions of genes within the same module were predicted. Conclusions The constructed gene co-expression network provides a useful resource for network-based data mining to identify candidate genes for functional studies. This will enhance understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie important biological processes during parasite’s development in tsetse fly. Ultimately, these findings will be key in the identification of potential molecular targets for disease control.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Kennedy W Mwangi
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. .,Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | | | - Joel L Bargul
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.,Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, P.O. BOX 62000-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
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Kabaka JM, Wachira BM, Mang’era CM, Rono MK, Hassanali A, Okoth SO, Oduol VO, Macharia RW, Murilla GA, Mireji PO. Expansions of chemosensory gene orthologs among selected tsetse fly species and their expressions in Glossina morsitans morsitans tsetse fly. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008341. [PMID: 32589659 PMCID: PMC7347240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Tsetse fly exhibit species-specific olfactory uniqueness potentially underpinned by differences in their chemosensory protein repertoire. We assessed 1) expansions of chemosensory protein orthologs in Glossina morsitans morsitans, Glossina pallidipes, Glossina austeni, Glossina palpalis gambiensis, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes and Glossina brevipalpis tsetse fly species using Café analysis (to identify species-specific expansions) and 2) differential expressions of the orthologs and associated proteins in male G. m. morsitans antennae and head tissues using RNA-Seq approaches (to establish associated functional molecular pathways). We established accelerated and significant (P<0.05, λ = 2.60452e-7) expansions of gene families in G. m. morsitans Odorant receptor (Or)71a, Or46a, Ir75a,d, Ionotropic receptor (Ir) 31a, Ir84a, Ir64a and Odorant binding protein (Obp) 83a-b), G. pallidipes Or67a,c, Or49a, Or92a, Or85b-c,f and Obp73a, G. f. fuscipes Ir21a, Gustatory receptor (Gr) 21a and Gr63a), G. p. gambiensis clumsy, Ir25a and Ir8a, and G. brevipalpis Ir68a and missing orthologs in each tsetse fly species. Most abundantly expressed transcripts in male G. m. morsitans included specific Or (Orco, Or56a, 65a-c, Or47b, Or67b, GMOY012254, GMOY009475, and GMOY006265), Gr (Gr21a, Gr63a, GMOY013297 and GMOY013298), Ir (Ir8a, Ir25a and Ir41a) and Obp (Obp19a, lush, Obp28a, Obp83a-b Obp44a, GMOY012275 and GMOY013254) orthologs. Most enriched biological processes in the head were associated with vision, muscle activity and neuropeptide regulations, amino acid/nucleotide metabolism and circulatory system processes. Antennal enrichments (>90% of chemosensory transcripts) included cilium-associated mechanoreceptors, chemo-sensation, neuronal controlled growth/differentiation and regeneration/responses to stress. The expanded and tsetse fly species specific orthologs includes those associated with known tsetse fly responsive ligands (4-methyl phenol, 4-propyl phenol, acetic acid, butanol and carbon dioxide) and potential tsetse fly species-specific responsive ligands (2-oxopentanoic acid, phenylacetaldehyde, hydroxycinnamic acid, 2-heptanone, caffeine, geosmin, DEET and (cVA) pheromone). Some of the orthologs can potentially modulate several tsetse fly species-specific behavioral (male-male courtship, hunger/host seeking, cool avoidance, hygrosensory and feeding) phenotypes. The putative tsetse fly specific chemosensory gene orthologs and their respective ligands provide candidate gene targets and kairomones for respective downstream functional genomic and field evaluations that can effectively expand toolbox of species-specific tsetse fly attractants, repellents and other tsetse fly behavioral modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy M. Kabaka
- Biotechnology Research Institute—Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kenyatta University, Ruiru Campus, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Benson M. Wachira
- Biotechnology Research Institute—Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
- Department of Chemistry, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kenyatta University, Ruiru Campus, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Clarence M. Mang’era
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Egerton University, Njoro Campus, Egerton, Kenya
| | - Martin K. Rono
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research—Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Ahmed Hassanali
- Department of Chemistry, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kenyatta University, Ruiru Campus, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Sylvance O. Okoth
- Biotechnology Research Institute—Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Vincent O. Oduol
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rosaline W. Macharia
- Center for Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Grace A. Murilla
- Biotechnology Research Institute—Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Paul O. Mireji
- Biotechnology Research Institute—Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research—Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
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Attardo GM, Abd-Alla AMM, Acosta-Serrano A, Allen JE, Bateta R, Benoit JB, Bourtzis K, Caers J, Caljon G, Christensen MB, Farrow DW, Friedrich M, Hua-Van A, Jennings EC, Larkin DM, Lawson D, Lehane MJ, Lenis VP, Lowy-Gallego E, Macharia RW, Malacrida AR, Marco HG, Masiga D, Maslen GL, Matetovici I, Meisel RP, Meki I, Michalkova V, Miller WJ, Minx P, Mireji PO, Ometto L, Parker AG, Rio R, Rose C, Rosendale AJ, Rota-Stabelli O, Savini G, Schoofs L, Scolari F, Swain MT, Takáč P, Tomlinson C, Tsiamis G, Van Den Abbeele J, Vigneron A, Wang J, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Weirauch MT, Weiss BL, Wilson RK, Zhao X, Aksoy S. Comparative genomic analysis of six Glossina genomes, vectors of African trypanosomes. Genome Biol 2019; 20:187. [PMID: 31477173 PMCID: PMC6721284 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-019-1768-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are the vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse flies are distinguished from other Diptera by unique adaptations, including lactation and the birthing of live young (obligate viviparity), a vertebrate blood-specific diet by both sexes, and obligate bacterial symbiosis. This work describes the comparative analysis of six Glossina genomes representing three sub-genera: Morsitans (G. morsitans morsitans, G. pallidipes, G. austeni), Palpalis (G. palpalis, G. fuscipes), and Fusca (G. brevipalpis) which represent different habitats, host preferences, and vectorial capacity. RESULTS Genomic analyses validate established evolutionary relationships and sub-genera. Syntenic analysis of Glossina relative to Drosophila melanogaster shows reduced structural conservation across the sex-linked X chromosome. Sex-linked scaffolds show increased rates of female-specific gene expression and lower evolutionary rates relative to autosome associated genes. Tsetse-specific genes are enriched in protease, odorant-binding, and helicase activities. Lactation-associated genes are conserved across all Glossina species while male seminal proteins are rapidly evolving. Olfactory and gustatory genes are reduced across the genus relative to other insects. Vision-associated Rhodopsin genes show conservation of motion detection/tracking functions and variance in the Rhodopsin detecting colors in the blue wavelength ranges. CONCLUSIONS Expanded genomic discoveries reveal the genetics underlying Glossina biology and provide a rich body of knowledge for basic science and disease control. They also provide insight into the evolutionary biology underlying novel adaptations and are relevant to applied aspects of vector control such as trap design and discovery of novel pest and disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Adly M M Abd-Alla
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - James E Allen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosemary Bateta
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kostas Bourtzis
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jelle Caers
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mikkel B Christensen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - David W Farrow
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Markus Friedrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Aurélie Hua-Van
- Laboratoire Evolution, Genomes, Comportement, Ecologie, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Daniel Lawson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J Lehane
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vasileios P Lenis
- Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Ernesto Lowy-Gallego
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosaline W Macharia
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Heather G Marco
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Daniel Masiga
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gareth L Maslen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Irina Matetovici
- Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irene Meki
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Michalkova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.,Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Wolfgang J Miller
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Minx
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paul O Mireji
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya.,Centre for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lino Ometto
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrew G Parker
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita Rio
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Clair Rose
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew J Rosendale
- Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Martin T Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Peter Takáč
- Department of Animal Systematics, Ústav zoológie SAV; Scientica, Ltd, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - George Tsiamis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Etoloakarnania, Greece
| | | | - Aurelien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jingwen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wesley C Warren
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology and Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Brian L Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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7
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Attardo GM, Abd-Alla AMM, Acosta-Serrano A, Allen JE, Bateta R, Benoit JB, Bourtzis K, Caers J, Caljon G, Christensen MB, Farrow DW, Friedrich M, Hua-Van A, Jennings EC, Larkin DM, Lawson D, Lehane MJ, Lenis VP, Lowy-Gallego E, Macharia RW, Malacrida AR, Marco HG, Masiga D, Maslen GL, Matetovici I, Meisel RP, Meki I, Michalkova V, Miller WJ, Minx P, Mireji PO, Ometto L, Parker AG, Rio R, Rose C, Rosendale AJ, Rota-Stabelli O, Savini G, Schoofs L, Scolari F, Swain MT, Takáč P, Tomlinson C, Tsiamis G, Van Den Abbeele J, Vigneron A, Wang J, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Weirauch MT, Weiss BL, Wilson RK, Zhao X, Aksoy S. Comparative genomic analysis of six Glossina genomes, vectors of African trypanosomes. Genome Biol 2019; 20:187. [PMID: 31477173 DOI: 10.1101/531749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are the vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse flies are distinguished from other Diptera by unique adaptations, including lactation and the birthing of live young (obligate viviparity), a vertebrate blood-specific diet by both sexes, and obligate bacterial symbiosis. This work describes the comparative analysis of six Glossina genomes representing three sub-genera: Morsitans (G. morsitans morsitans, G. pallidipes, G. austeni), Palpalis (G. palpalis, G. fuscipes), and Fusca (G. brevipalpis) which represent different habitats, host preferences, and vectorial capacity. RESULTS Genomic analyses validate established evolutionary relationships and sub-genera. Syntenic analysis of Glossina relative to Drosophila melanogaster shows reduced structural conservation across the sex-linked X chromosome. Sex-linked scaffolds show increased rates of female-specific gene expression and lower evolutionary rates relative to autosome associated genes. Tsetse-specific genes are enriched in protease, odorant-binding, and helicase activities. Lactation-associated genes are conserved across all Glossina species while male seminal proteins are rapidly evolving. Olfactory and gustatory genes are reduced across the genus relative to other insects. Vision-associated Rhodopsin genes show conservation of motion detection/tracking functions and variance in the Rhodopsin detecting colors in the blue wavelength ranges. CONCLUSIONS Expanded genomic discoveries reveal the genetics underlying Glossina biology and provide a rich body of knowledge for basic science and disease control. They also provide insight into the evolutionary biology underlying novel adaptations and are relevant to applied aspects of vector control such as trap design and discovery of novel pest and disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Adly M M Abd-Alla
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alvaro Acosta-Serrano
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - James E Allen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosemary Bateta
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kostas Bourtzis
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jelle Caers
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Mikkel B Christensen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - David W Farrow
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Markus Friedrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Aurélie Hua-Van
- Laboratoire Evolution, Genomes, Comportement, Ecologie, CNRS, IRD, Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Daniel Lawson
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michael J Lehane
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Vasileios P Lenis
- Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Ernesto Lowy-Gallego
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Rosaline W Macharia
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anna R Malacrida
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Heather G Marco
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Daniel Masiga
- Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics Unit, International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gareth L Maslen
- VectorBase, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Irina Matetovici
- Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Irene Meki
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Veronika Michalkova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Wolfgang J Miller
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Minx
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paul O Mireji
- Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnology Research Institute - Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, Kikuyu, Kenya
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lino Ometto
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrew G Parker
- Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food & Agriculture, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita Rio
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Clair Rose
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew J Rosendale
- Department of Biology, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Omar Rota-Stabelli
- Department of Sustainable Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, TN, Italy
| | - Grazia Savini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Department of Biology - Functional Genomics and Proteomics Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Scolari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Martin T Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Peter Takáč
- Department of Animal Systematics, Ústav zoológie SAV; Scientica, Ltd, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Chad Tomlinson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - George Tsiamis
- Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Agrinio, Etoloakarnania, Greece
| | | | - Aurelien Vigneron
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jingwen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wesley C Warren
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology and Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Brian L Weiss
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- CAS Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Mogire RM, Akala HM, Macharia RW, Juma DW, Cheruiyot AC, Andagalu B, Brown ML, El-Shemy HA, Nyanjom SG. Target-similarity search using Plasmodium falciparum proteome identifies approved drugs with anti-malarial activity and their possible targets. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186364. [PMID: 29088219 PMCID: PMC5663372 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria causes about half a million deaths annually, with Plasmodium falciparum being responsible for 90% of all the cases. Recent reports on artemisinin resistance in Southeast Asia warrant urgent discovery of novel drugs for the treatment of malaria. However, most bioactive compounds fail to progress to treatments due to safety concerns. Drug repositioning offers an alternative strategy where drugs that have already been approved as safe for other diseases could be used to treat malaria. This study screened approved drugs for antimalarial activity using an in silico chemogenomics approach prior to in vitro verification. All the P. falciparum proteins sequences available in NCBI RefSeq were mined and used to perform a similarity search against DrugBank, TTD and STITCH databases to identify similar putative drug targets. Druggability indices of the potential P. falciparum drug targets were obtained from TDR targets database. Functional amino acid residues of the drug targets were determined using ConSurf server which was used to fine tune the similarity search. This study predicted 133 approved drugs that could target 34 P. falciparum proteins. A literature search done at PubMed and Google Scholar showed 105 out of the 133 drugs to have been previously tested against malaria, with most showing activity. For further validation, drug susceptibility assays using SYBR Green I method were done on a representative group of 10 predicted drugs, eight of which did show activity against P. falciparum 3D7 clone. Seven had IC50 values ranging from 1 μM to 50 μM. This study also suggests drug-target association and hence possible mechanisms of action of drugs that did show antiplasmodial activity. The study results validate the use of proteome-wide target similarity approach in identifying approved drugs with activity against P. falciparum and could be adapted for other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reagan M. Mogire
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Pan African University Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Hoseah M. Akala
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases (DEID), United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya (USAMRD-K), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)—Walter Reed Project, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Rosaline W. Macharia
- Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dennis W. Juma
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases (DEID), United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya (USAMRD-K), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)—Walter Reed Project, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Agnes C. Cheruiyot
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases (DEID), United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya (USAMRD-K), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)—Walter Reed Project, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Ben Andagalu
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases (DEID), United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya (USAMRD-K), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)—Walter Reed Project, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Mathew L. Brown
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases (DEID), United States Army Medical Research Directorate-Kenya (USAMRD-K), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)—Walter Reed Project, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Hany A. El-Shemy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Steven G. Nyanjom
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
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