Comparative analysis of phosphorylated proteomes between plerocercoid and adult Spirometra mansoni reveals phosphoproteomic profiles of the medical tapeworm.

Background: Plerocercoid larvae of the tapeworm Spirometra mansoni can infect both humans and animals, leading to severe parasitic zoonosis worldwide. Despite ongoing research efforts, our understanding of the developmental process of S. mansoni remains inadequate. To better characterize posttranslational regulation associated with parasite growth, development, and reproduction, a comparative phosphoproteomic study was conducted on the plerocercoid and adult stages of S. mansoni.

Methods: In this study, site-specific phosphoproteomic analysis was conducted via 4D label-free quantitative analysis technology to obtain primary information about the overall phosphorylation status of plerocercoids and adults.

Results: A total of 778 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were detected between adults and plerocercoids, of which 704 DAPs were upregulated and only 74 were downregulated. DAPs involved in metabolic activity were upregulated in plerocercoid larvae compared with adults, whereas DAPs associated with binding were upregulated in adults. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) analyses indicated that most DAPs involved in signal transduction and environmental information processing pathways were highly active in adults. DAPs upregulated in the plerocercoid group were enriched mainly in metabolic activities. The kinases PKACA, GSK3B, and smMLCK closely interact, suggesting potential active roles in the growth and development of S. mansoni.

Conclusions: The dataset presented in this study offers a valuable resource for forthcoming research on signaling pathways as well as new insights into functional studies on the molecular mechanisms of S. mansoni.