Proteomic analysis of excretory-secretory products from young adults of Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Abstract

BACKGROUND Angiostrongyliasis is caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis and can lead to eosinophilic meningitis and meningoencephalitis in humans. The young adult worms play central pathogenic roles in the central nervous system (CNS); however, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Excretory-secretory products (ESPs) are good investigation targets for studying the relationship between a host and its parasite. OBJECTIVES We aimed to profile, identify, and characterise the proteins in the ESPs of A. cantonensis young adults. METHODS The ESPs of young adult worms were collected from culture medium after incubation ranging from 24 to 96 h. Proteomic and bioinformatics analyses were performed to characterise the ESPs. FINDINGS A total of 51 spots were identified, and the highly expressed proteins included two protein disulphide isomerases, one calreticulin, and three uncharacterised proteins. Subsequently, approximately 254 proteins were identified in the ESPs of A. cantonensis young adults via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, and these were further classified according to their characteristics and biological functions. Finally, we identified the immunoreactive proteins from a reference map of ESPs from A. cantonensis young adults. Approximately eight proteins were identified, including a protein disulphide isomerase, a putative aspartic protease, annexin, and five uncharacterised proteins. The study established and identified protein reference maps for the ESPs of A. cantonensis young adults. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The identified proteins may be potential targets for the development of diagnostic or therapeutic agents for human angiostrongyliasis.

Excretory/secretory products of Angiostrongylus cantonensis fifth-stage larvae induce endoplasmic reticulum stress via the Sonic hedgehog pathway in mouse astrocytes

“…Aspartyl protease inhibitor, cathepsin B-like cysteine proteinase, haemoglobinase-type cysteine proteinase, and heat shock protein 70 have been detected in ESPs [53]. On the other hand, our study identified approximately 51 protein spots and found immunoreactivity for protein disulfide-isomerase, a putative aspartic protease, and annexin in A. cantonensis L5 [33]. Here, we found that the ESPs of A. cantonensis L5 can stimulate the ER stress generation and the Ca 2+ concentration in activated astrocytes.…”

“…Afterwards, L3 develop into fifth-stage larvae (L5) and remain in the CNS of the host indefinitely. In this condition, eosinophilic meningitis and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis can be induced in the brain of the host [33]. In our histopathological study, we found that L5 were surrounded by eosinophils in the anterior cerebral fissure, hippocampus, posterior cerebral fissure, and cerebellar fissure on day 14 post-infection [43].…”

“…The concentration of ESPs was detected by a Bio-Rad Protein Assay Kit (Bio-Rad, Hercules, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. These concentrated ESPs were utilized to treat mouse astrocytes, and mRNA and protein expression levels were detected in astrocytes [33].…”

Proteomic Insights into the Biology of the Most Important Foodborne Parasites in Europe

“…Among them, 29 proteins were identified as cytoskeleton-related proteins and functional proteins [ 222 ]. The latest study aimed to identify and characterize the excretory-secretory protein profile of A. cantonensis adult larvae [ 223 ]. A total of 51 spots were identified using 2-DE.…”

“…Then, approximately 254 proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS and further classified according to their biological functions. Finally, in the pool of excretory-secretory products of A. cantonensis the immunoreactive proteins were identified, including proteins like, disulphide isomerase, putative aspartic protease or annexin [ 223 ].…”