BackgroundThe Sperm-coating protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 (SCP/TAPS) domain is found across phyla and is a major structural feature of insect allergens, mammalian sperm proteins and parasitic nematode secreted molecules. Proteins containing this domain are implicated in diverse biological activities and may be important for chronic host/parasite interactions.ResultsWe report the first description of an SCP/TAPS gene family (Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like (SmVALs)) in the medically important Platyhelminthes (class Trematoda) and describe individual members' phylogenetic relationships, genomic organization and life cycle expression profiles. Twenty-eight SmVALs with complete SCP/TAPS domains were identified and comparison of their predicted protein features and gene structures indicated the presence of two distinct sub-families (group 1 & group 2). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that this group 1/group 2 split is zoologically widespread as it exists across the metazoan sub-kingdom. Chromosomal localisation and PCR analysis, coupled to inspection of the current S. mansoni genomic assembly, revealed that many of the SmVAL genes are spatially linked throughout the genome. Quantitative lifecycle expression profiling demonstrated distinct SmVAL expression patterns, including transcripts specifically associated with lifestages involved in definitive host invasion, transcripts restricted to lifestages involved in the invasion of the intermediate host and transcripts ubiquitously expressed. Analysis of SmVAL6 transcript diversity demonstrated statistically significant, developmentally regulated, alternative splicing.ConclusionOur results highlight the existence of two distinct SCP/TAPS protein types within the Platyhelminthes and across taxa. The extensive lifecycle expression analysis indicates several SmVAL transcripts are upregulated in infective stages of the parasite, suggesting that these particular protein products may be linked to the establishment of chronic host/parasite interactions.

Invasion by the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is associated with marked yet selective increases in red blood cell (RBC) membrane permeability. We previously identified an unusual voltage-dependent ion channel, the plasmodial surface anion channel (PSAC), which may account for these increases. Since then, controversy has arisen about whether there are additional parasite-induced anion channels on the RBC membrane and whether these channels are parasite-encoded proteins or the

We recently identified a voltage-dependent anion channel on the surface of human red blood cells (RBCs) infected with the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. This channel, the plasmodial erythrocyte surface anion channel (PESAC), likely accounts for the increased permeability of infected RBCs to various small solutes, as assessed quantitatively with radioisotope flux and patch-clamp studies. Whereas this increased permeability has also been studied by following osmotic lysis of infected cells in permeant solutes, these experiments have been limited to qualitative comparisons of lysis rates. To permit more quantitative examination of lysis rates, we have developed a mathematical model for osmotic fragility of infected cells based on diffusional uptake via PESAC and the two-compartment geometry of infected RBCs. This model, combined with a simple light scattering assay designed to track osmotic lysis precisely, produced permeability coefficients that match both previous isotope flux and patch-clamp estimates. Our model and light scattering assay also revealed Michaelian kinetics for inhibition of PESAC by furosemide, suggesting a 1:1 stoichiometry for their interaction.

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