Revisiting the antigen markers of vector-borne parasitic diseases identified by immunomics: identification and application to disease control

INTRODUCTION

Protein microarray is a promising immunomic approach for identifying biomarkers. Based on our previous study that reviewed parasite antigens and recent parasitic omics research, this article expands to include information on vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs), namely, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis.

AREAS COVERED

We revisit and systematically summarize antigen markers of vector-borne parasites identified by the immunomic approach and discuss the latest advances in identifying antigens for the rational development of diagnostics and vaccines. The applications and challenges of this approach for VBPD control are also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

The immunomic approach has enabled the identification and/or validation of antigen markers for vaccine development, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and treatment. However, this approach presents several challenges, including limited sample size, variability in antigen expression, false-positive results, complexity of omics data, validation and reproducibility, and heterogeneity of diseases. In addition, antigen involvement in host immune evasion and antigen sensitivity/specificity are major issues in its application. Despite these limitations, this approach remains promising for controlling VBPD. Advances in technology and data analysis methods should continue to improve candidate antigen identification, as well as the use of a multiantigen approach in diagnostic and vaccine development for VBPD control.

A rare mutation in exon 7 of the NOTCH3 gene in a Chinese CADASIL family: Case report with a literature review

More than 300 mutations have been reported since NOTCH3 was identified as the causal gene of CADASIL. However, mutation sites on exon 7 have rarely been reported in patients with CADASIL. We reported a 44-year-old female from a Chinese family with a clear family history presented with progressive dizziness and gait disturbance for more than 2 months and aggravated for 20 days. Whole- exome sequencing (WES) was used to identify a rare heterozygous missense variant (NM_000435.3: c.1136G>C) of NOTCH3 in this patient. PolyPhen-2 and VarSite predicted that this mutation site was probably pathogenic with the highest score of 1.00 and highly conserved among species. Our case report first identified a rare C379S mutation in exon 7 of NOTCH3 in a Chinese CADASIL family, expanding the ethnic spectrum of this condition. Moreover, in view of our report and literature, if patients have a clear family history and manifest uncommon clinical manifestations of CADASIL such as dizziness and atypical headache, clinicians could consider screening NOTCH3.

[Simulation model on the formation of greenhouse sweet pepper leaf area index]

Leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most important crop parameters in photosynthesis-driving crop growth simulation model and canopy evapotranspiration simulation model, while air temperature and radiation are the important climate factors affecting crop leaf growth. In this paper, experiments with different sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars and sowing dates were conducted in greenhouse to quantitatively analyze the relationships of the number of unfolding leaves per plant, the number of old leaves removed per plant, and the length of each leaf with air temperature and radiation. Based on these quantitative relationships, a leaf area simulation model for greenhouse sweet pepper was developed, and the independent experimental data were used to validate the model. The results showed that the number of unfolding leaves per plant was a positive exponential function of the product of thermal effectiveness and PAR (TEP) accumulated after emergence, and the length of each leaf was a negative exponential function of the TEP accumulated after emergence. The coefficient of determination (R2) and the root mean squared error (RMSE) between simulated and measured leaf number, leaf length, and LAI were 0.94, 0.89, and 0.93, and 3.4, 2.15, and 0.15, respectively. The model could use air temperature, radiation, planting density, and emergence date to satisfactorily predict the LAI of greenhouse sweet pepper, and supply required LAI information for the sweet pepper growth and canopy evapotranspiration simulation models.

[Effects of stem numbers per ground area on the quality of standard cut Chrysanthemum morifolium in greenhouse: simulation model]

In order to understand the effects of stem numbers per ground area on the quality of standard cut Chrysanthemum morifolium, an experiment with different cultivars, different stem numbers per plant, different planting densities, and different planting dates was conducted in a greenhouse in Shanghai in 2005 and 2006. The effects of stem numbers per ground area on the canopy leaf area index and external quality of standard cut C. morifolium were quantified using the experimental data. Based on the physiological product of thermal effectiveness and PAR (PETP) the canopy absorbed, a model for predicting the effects of stem numbers per ground area on the quality of standard cut C. morifolium was developed, and validated with independent experimental data. The results showed that with the increase of stem numbers per ground area, the leaf area index increased, whereas plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and flower diameter decreased. The model gave satisfactory predictions of the quality of standard cut C. morifolium cultivated with different stem numbers and planting density. The coefficient of determination (R2) and relative prediction error (RSE) based on the 1:1 line for fresh mass per stem, plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, flower diameter, and the number of qualified stem harvested per ground area were 0.95, 0.96, 0.94, 0.91, 0.81 and 0.97, and 16.1%, 10.1%, 12.8%, 13.4%, 15.9%, 16.1% , respectively. The model developed in this study could be used for the optimization of light and temperature management for standard cut C. morifolium cultivated with different stem numbers and planting densities in greenhouse.

Cloning and characterization of a novel human RNA binding protein gene PNO1

Present work reported the cloning and characterization of a human novel RNA binding gene Partner of NOB1 (PNO1), with a length of 1637bp and a putative open reading frame of 759 bp, isolated from human kidney. It is composed of seven exons and is localized on chromosome 2p14. Western blot showed that the molecular weight of PNO1 is about 35kDa. RT-PCR results in 16 human tissues indicated that PNO1 is expressed mainly in liver, lung, spleen and kidney, slightly in thymus, testis, ovary, respectively, but not in heart, brain, skeletal muscle, placenta, pancreas, prostate, small intestine, colon and peripheral blood leukocytes. GFP fusion expression in mammalian cells exhibited its localization in the nucleus, especially in nucleoli. Subcellular localization of thirteen GFP fusion PNO1 deletion proteins showed that the region of 92-230 aa is solely responsible for its nucleolar retention, and KH domain alone is not sufficient for nucleolar retention. The PNO1 family shows significant conservation in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

[Tumor relevance analysis of a highly conserved gene by using gene microarray hybridization]

Preliminary function research of a highly conserved human gene,which was cloned from human fetal cDNA library during large-scale cDNA sequencing,is illustrated in this article. Bioinformatics analysis indicates that this gene is highly conserved in human, mouse, fruit fly, thaliana and fission yeast. Other bioinformatics analysis implies its relevance with tumors. RT-PCR analysis shows its wide-ranging expression patterns. Its expression in 16 cancer cases (including 7 liver cancer cases, 5 pancreas cancer cases, 2 larynx cancer cases and 2 lung cancer cases) is studied by using gene microarray analysis. The result shows its relevance with tumors and implies it may have different status in different classification of tumors.