Parasit Vectors
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Published: May 2023
Background: Heligmosomoides bakeri (often mistaken for Heligmosomoides polygyrus) is a promising model for parasitic nematodes with the key advantage of being amenable to study and manipulation within a controlled laboratory environment. While draft genome sequences are available for this worm, which allow for comparative genomic analyses between nematodes, there is a notable lack of information on its gene expression.
Methods: We generated biologically replicated RNA-seq datasets from samples taken throughout the parasitic life of H. bakeri. RNA from tissue-dwelling and lumen-dwelling worms, collected under a dissection microscope, was sequenced on an Illumina platform.
Results: We find extensive transcriptional sexual dimorphism throughout the fourth larval and adult stages of this parasite and identify alternative splicing, glycosylation, and ubiquitination as particularly important processes for establishing and/or maintaining sex-specific gene expression in this species. We find sex-linked differences in transcription related to aging and oxidative and osmotic stress responses. We observe a starvation-like signature among transcripts whose expression is consistently upregulated in males, which may reflect a higher energy expenditure by male worms. We detect evidence of increased importance for anaerobic respiration among the adult worms, which coincides with the parasite's migration into the physiologically hypoxic environment of the intestinal lumen. Furthermore, we hypothesize that oxygen concentration may be an important driver of the worms encysting in the intestinal mucosa as larvae, which not only fully exposes the worms to their host's immune system but also shapes many of the interactions between the host and parasite. We find stage- and sex-specific variation in the expression of immunomodulatory genes and in anthelmintic targets.
Conclusions: We examine how different the male and female worms are at the molecular level and describe major developmental events that occur in the worm, which extend our understanding of the interactions between this parasite and its host. In addition to generating new hypotheses for follow-up experiments into the worm's behavior, physiology, and metabolism, our datasets enable future more in-depth comparisons between nematodes to better define the utility of H. bakeri as a model for parasitic nematodes in general.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10225086 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05785-2 | DOI Listing |
J Comp Neurol
January 2025
Institute of Neurobiology, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Snails belonging to the genus Biomphalaria serve as obligatory intermediate hosts for the trematode Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent for the most widespread form of schistosomiasis. The simpler nervous systems of gastropod molluscs, such as Biomphalaria, provide advantageous models for investigating neural responses to infection at the cellular and network levels. The present study examined neuropeptides related to cholecystokinin (CCK), a major multifunctional regulator of central nervous system (CNS) function in mammals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Public Health
January 2025
Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite that can cause significant complications when it infects pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. These complications include miscarriage, fetal abnormalities, and fatal cerebral toxoplasmosis. Despite its significance, the true burden of toxoplasmosis in Indonesia remains underexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInflammation
January 2025
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
The inflammatory response mediated by alveolar macrophages plays a crucial role in the development of acute lung injury. Numerous studies have reported that lncRNAs are highly expressed in acute lung injury in mouse models and cell lines, and acute lung injury (ALI) can be effectively alleviated by targeting these lncRNAs. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanism by LncRNA Gm26917 regulates the inflammatory response in alveolar macrophages during acute lung injury mouse model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Human and Animal Health, Berlin, Germany.
Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a re-emerging tick-borne zoonosis that is caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV). The geographical distribution of the disease and factors that influence its occurrence are poorly known. We analysed historical records on its outbreaks in various countries across the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to identify hotspots and determine socioecological and demographicfactors associated with these outbreaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Immunol
January 2025
Department of Cell Biology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, China. Electronic address:
Background: Midges are widely distributed globally. They can transmit numerous serious diseases as well as trigger an allergic reaction in the host. Their saliva contains a variety of proteins that act as sensitizers to stimulate the host's immune response, leading to IgE-mediated allergic symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!
© LitMetric 2025. All rights reserved.