Analysis of the chemical components of hydatid fluid from Echinococcus granulosus

Abstract

Introduction:The aim of this study was to explore the environment of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) protoscolices and their relationship with their host. Methods: Proteins from the hydatid-cyst fl uid (HCF) from E. granulosus were identifi ed by proteomics. An inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) was used to determine the elements, an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect the types and levels of biochemical indices, and an automatic amino acid analyzer was used to detect the types and levels of amino acids in the E. granulosus HCF. Results: I) Approximately 30 protein spots and 21 peptide mass fi ngerprints (PMF) were acquired in the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) pattern of hydatid fl uid; II) We detected 10 chemical elements in the cyst fl uid, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc; III) We measured 19 biochemical metabolites in the cyst fl uid, and the amount of most of these metabolites was lower than that in normal human serum; IV) We detected 17 free amino acids and measured some of these, including alanine, glycine, and valine. Conclusions: We identifi ed and measured many chemical components of the cyst fl uid, providing a theoretical basis for developing new drugs to prevent and treat hydatid disease by inhibiting or blocking nutrition, metabolism, and other functions of the pathogen.Keywords ; however, many previously identifi ed components of HCF were not included. HCF proteins are composed of 44% albumin, 39% α-globulin and β-globulin, and 17% γ-globulin 7 . Li determined that liver HCF and lung HCF from sheep and yak contained 17 amino acids, but the total protein level was very low, equivalent to a level of approximately 1-2% in serum 8 . Similarly, the cholesterol level was also found to be low (approximately 12% in serum). Polysaccharides, together with proteins and lipids, were present in sheep liver HCF 9 . Other researchers also detected urea, uric acid, proteins and amino acids, lipids, electrolytes, glucose, glycogen, many trace elements, and proteases, for example, in the HCF 10-13 . In summary, these studies established a baseline assessment of the chemical constituents of HCF.In the past few years, little progress has been made in establishing the chemical constitution of HCF. In this chapter, we report the results of a comprehensive analysis of the environment of the larvae. Because HCF exchanges substances with the host for the survival and reproduction of protoscolexes, an understanding of the larval environment will aid in identifying RESULTS METHODSthe essential components of parasite growth and, potentially, in developing novel methods for preventing E. granulosus infection. Purifi cation of hydatid-cyst fl uidHuman HCF was collected after the surgical removal of fertile cysts from patients with cystic hydatid disease in The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. In total, 21 cysts of different sizes were isolated in a germ-free environment, and 55ml of cyst fl uid was aspira...

Research Note. One minute, intraoperative assessment of the viability of hydatid cysts using a simple reagent strip test

“…Albumin is also suggested to exert functions similar to those in human plasma. These functions include its ability to maintain oncotic pressure, and to act as a transport protein (Chemale et al, 2003;Li et al, 2013). However, the micro-total protein level is equivalent to a very low level of approximately 1 -2 % in the human serum (Li et al, 1985), hence diffi cult to be visually identifi ed by a reagent strip test as reported in our study in HCF with viable PSs.…”

“…Most of these proteins are derived from the host proteins (Chen & Yang, 1990;Chemale et al, 2003;Aziz et al, 2011). They cross the cyst wall by both free diffusion and active transport mediated by specifi c receptors in the germinal layer (Jeffs & Arme, 1988;Huang & Xu, 1994). Some studies hypothesized a functional role for albumen to provide energy to the larvae.…”

“…Conversely, research has clarifi ed that metabolic functions of the viable Echinococcus metacestode determine the biochemical composition of the hydatid cyst fl uid (HCF). The HCF provides the larval stage with the nutrients necessary for metabolism, subsequent survival and growth (Li et al, 1985;Zhao, 1987). These include carbohydrate (Kagan & Agosin, 1968), protein (Carbone & Lorenzetti, 1957), haemoglobin and bilirubin (Li et al, 2013) that are theorised to regulate vital processes within the parasitic stage (Farhan et al, 1959).…”

“…The HCF provides the larval stage with the nutrients necessary for metabolism, subsequent survival and growth (Li et al, 1985;Zhao, 1987). These include carbohydrate (Kagan & Agosin, 1968), protein (Carbone & Lorenzetti, 1957), haemoglobin and bilirubin (Li et al, 2013) that are theorised to regulate vital processes within the parasitic stage (Farhan et al, 1959). Accordingly, determination of these leading parameters in the HCF and/ or their changeability may implicate an image to the vitality status of this metacestode (Li et al, 2013).…”

“…These include carbohydrate (Kagan & Agosin, 1968), protein (Carbone & Lorenzetti, 1957), haemoglobin and bilirubin (Li et al, 2013) that are theorised to regulate vital processes within the parasitic stage (Farhan et al, 1959). Accordingly, determination of these leading parameters in the HCF and/ or their changeability may implicate an image to the vitality status of this metacestode (Li et al, 2013). For that reason, the aim of the current work was to evaluate the possibility of using a rapid and simple reagent strip test, in a descriptive manner to refl ect the degree of viability of hydatid cyst fl uid, intraoperative in one minute technique via investigating important biochemical parameters.…”