Characterization and binding affinities of SmLANP: A new Schistosoma mansoni member of the ANP32 family of regulatory proteins

Pinheiro, Carina S.; Staub, Olivier; Mulvenna, Jason; Loukas, Alex; Jones, Malcolm K.; Rabelo, Élida Mara Leite

doi:10.1016/j.molbiopara.2009.01.009

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…However, we and other groups have shown an impact of gene suppression in schistosomes by introducing parasites immediately after RNAi treatment (i.e., using protocol 1) (12,19,24). This apparent discrepancy may be due to differences in the ability of parasites to recover from suppression of different gene targets and/or due to the higher susceptibility of schistosomula to a diminution of a particular target gene product during the initial phase of infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…In order to test the effects of knocking down expression of the SmNPP-5 gene in vivo, we first followed a protocol in which schistosomula were used to infect mice immediately after siRNA treatment (12,19,24,32). Using this method (which we designate "protocol 1"), no differences in worm burden in the test versus control groups were found after 28 days and no obvious morphological differences between the recovered worms from the different groups were seen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tegumental Phosphodiesterase SmNPP-5 Is a Virulence Factor for Schistosomes

et al. 2011

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The intravascular trematode Schistosoma mansoni is a causative agent of schistosomiasis, a disease that constitutes a major health problem globally. In this study we cloned and characterized the schistosome tegumental phosphodiesterase SmNPP-5 and evaluated its role in parasite virulence. SmNPP-5 is a 52.5-kDa protein whose gene is rapidly turned on in the intravascular parasitic life stages, following invasion of the definitive host. Highest expression is found in mated adult males. As revealed by immunofluorescence analysis, SmNPP-5 protein is found prominently in the dorsal surface of the tegument of males. Localization by immuno-electron microscopy illustrates a unique pattern of immunogold-labeled SmNPP-5 within the tegument; some immunogold particles are scattered throughout the tissue, but many are clustered in tight arrays. To determine the importance of the protein for the parasites, RNA interference (RNAi) was employed to knock down expression of the SmNPP-5-encoding gene in schistosomula and adult worms. Both quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting confirmed successful and robust gene suppression. In addition, the suppression and the ectolocalization of this enzyme in live parasites were evident because of a significantly impaired ability of the suppressed parasites to hydrolyze exogenously added phosphodiesterase substrate p-nitrophenyl 5-dTMP (p-Nph-5-TMP). The effects of suppressing expression of the SmNPP-5 gene in vivo were tested by injecting parasites into mice. It was found that, unlike controls, parasites whose SmNPP-5 gene was demonstrably suppressed at the time of host infection were greatly impaired in their ability to establish infection. These results demonstrate that SmNPP-5 is a virulence factor for schistosomes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%