Differential expression profiles of miRNAs and their putative targets in Schistosoma mansoni during its life cycle.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a disease caused by Schistosoma. Due to its complex life cycle, evolutionary position and sexual dimorphism, schistosomes have several mechanisms of gene regulation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by targeting mRNA transcripts.

In silico analysis and developmental expression of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes in Schistosoma mansoni.

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (Ub-E2) perform the second step of ubiquitination and, consequently, are essential for regulating proteolysis and for modulating protein function, interactions and trafficking. Previously, our group demonstrated the crucial role of ubiquitination and the Ub-proteasome pathway during the Schistosoma mansoni life cycle. In the present investigation, we used a homology-based genome-wide bioinformatics approach to identify and molecularly characterise the Ub-E2 enzymes in S.

Characterization of export receptor exportins (XPOs) in the parasite Schistosoma mansoni.

Several proteins and different species of RNA that are produced in the nucleus are exported through the nuclear pore complexes, which require a family of conserved nuclear export receptors called exportins (XPOs). It has been reported that the XPOs (XPO1, XPO5, and XPOT) are directly involved in the transport processes of noncoding RNAs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and/or from cytoplasm to the nucleus. All three genes are present in fungi, plants, and deuterostome metazoans.

Characterisation of the COP9 signalosome in Schistosoma mansoni parasites.

The COP9 signalosome (CSN) is an eight-subunit complex found in all eukaryotes and shares structural features with both the 26S proteasome 'lid' and translation factor eIF3. Recent data have demonstrated that the CSN is a regulator of the ubiquitin (Ub) proteasome system (UPS). CSN controls substrate ubiquitination by cullin-RING Ub ligases, a step which determines substrate specificity of the UPS.

Characterization of phosphodiesterase-5 as a surface protein in the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosoma mansoni is a major causative agent of schistosomiasis, an important parasitic disease that constitutes a severe health problem in developing countries. Even though an effective treatment exists, it does not prevent re-infection and the development of an effective vaccine still remains the most desirable means of control for this disease. In this work we describe the cloning and characterization of a S.

Elimination of Schistosoma mansoni Adult Worms by Rhesus Macaques: Basis for a Therapeutic Vaccine?

Background: Among animal models of schistosomiasis, the rhesus macaque is unique in that an infection establishes but egg excretion rapidly diminishes, potentially due to loss of adult worms from the portal system via shunts or death by immune attack.

Principal Findings: To investigate this, six rhesus macaques were exposed to Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and the infection monitored until portal perfusion at 18 weeks. Despite a wide variation in worm numbers recovered, fecal egg output and circulating antigen levels indicated that a substantial population had established in all animals.

Proteomic analysis of the schistosome tegument and its surface membranes.

The tegument surface of the adult schistosome, bounded by a normal plasma membrane overlain by a secreted membranocalyx, holds the key to understanding how schistosomes evade host immune responses. Recent advances in mass spectrometry (MS), and the sequencing of the Schistosoma mansoni transcriptome/genome, have facilitated schistosome proteomics. We detached the tegument from the worm body and enriched its surface membranes by differential extraction, before subjecting the preparation to liquid chromatography-based proteomics to identify its constituents.