<i>Schistosoma mansoni</i>: the presence and ultrastructure of vitelline cells in adult males

Shaw, Michael K.; Erasmus, David A.

doi:10.1017/s0022149x00035008

Cited by 19 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The chorion gene is abundant in the female vitellaria, but we have also detected discrete foci of expression in the male posterior. Earlier section-based ISH studies (Koster et al 1988 ;Osman et al 2001) did not detect its expression, but our observations accord with ultrastructural studies of male worms that have reported previously the presence of vestigial vitellaria (Shaw and Erasmus, 1982). Analysis of the S. mansoni transcriptome has also revealed this chorion transcript in male worms (see http://bioinfo.iq.usp.br/schisto6/cgi-bin/cap3/ cluster_editor/ceditor.pl?show=606889.1.2002-10-01) (Verjovski-Almeida et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Patterns of gene expression in schistosomes: localization by whole mountin situhybridization

et al. 2007

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rom the identification of genes to the characterization of their functions and interactions. Developmental biologists have long used whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) to determine gene expression patterns, as a vital tool for formulating and testing hypotheses about function. This paper describes the application of WISH to the study of gene expression in larval and adult schistosomes. Fixed worms were permeablized by proteinase K treatment for hybridization with digoxygenin-labelled RNA probes, with binding being detected by alkaline phosphatase-coupled anti-digoxygenin antibodies, and BM Purple substrate. Discrete staining patterns for the transcripts of the molecules Sm29, cathepsin L, antigen 10.3 and chorion were observed in the tegument cell bodies, gut epithelium, oesophageal gland and vitelline lobules, respectively, of adult worms. Transcripts of the molecules SGTP4, GP18-22 and cathepsin L were localized to tegument cell bodies and embryonic gut, respectively, of lung schistosomula. We also showed that Fast Red TR fluorescent substrate can refine the pattern of localization permitting use of confocal microscopy. We believe that method of WISH will find broad application, in synergy with other emerging post-genomic techniques, such as RNA interference, to studies focused at increasing our molecular understanding of schistosomes

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Patterns of gene expression in schistosomes: localization by whole mountin situhybridization

et al. 2007

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“…6e-h). Our atlas also confirmed the decades-old observation that male parasites have a low frequency of vitellocyte-like cells 26 (Extended Data Fig. 6e, bottom two panels).…”

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 87%

A single-cell RNAseq atlas of the pathogenic stage ofSchistosoma mansoniidentifies a key regulator of blood feeding

Wendt

Zhao

Chen

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Schistosomiasis is an ancient and chronic neglected tropical disease that infects over 240 million people and kills over 200,000 of the world’s poorest people every year1, 2. There are no vaccines and because there is only one drug available, the need for new therapeutics is great. The causative agents of this disease are flatworm parasites that dwell inside the host’s circulation, often for decades, where they feed on blood and lay eggs which are primarily responsible for disease pathology. As metazoans comprised of multiple tissue types, understanding the schistosome’s tissues on a molecular level and their functions during what can be decades of successful parasitism could suggest novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we employ single-cell RNAseq to characterize 43,642 cells from the pathogenic (adult) stage of the schistosome lifecycle. From these data, we characterize 68 molecularly distinct cell populations that comprise nearly all tissues described morphologically, including the nervous and reproductive systems. We further uncover a lineage of somatic stem cells responsible for producing and maintaining the parasite’s gut – the primary tissue responsible for digestion of host blood. Finally, we show that a homologue of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (hnf4) is expressed in this gut lineage and required for gut maintenance, blood feeding and inducing egg-associated pathology in vivo. Together, the data highlight the utility of this single-cell RNAseq atlas to understand schistosome biology and identify potential therapeutic interventions.

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“…Other transcriptome studies, comparing EM and UM, also found transcripts of supposedly female-specifically expressed genes in males [37]. These findings can be explained by leaky expression control of such gender-associated genes, a phenomenon that can even lead to the development of female reproductive tissue in males as previously observed [11], [72]–[74].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

Combinatory Microarray and SuperSAGE Analyses Identify Pairing-Dependently Transcribed Genes in Schistosoma mansoni Males, Including Follistatin

et al. 2013

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BackgroundSchistosomiasis is a disease of world-wide importance and is caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. These parasites exhibit a unique reproduction biology as the female's sexual maturation depends on a constant pairing-contact to the male. Pairing leads to gonad differentiation in the female, and even gene expression of some gonad-associated genes is controlled by pairing. In contrast, no morphological changes have been observed in males, although first data indicated an effect of pairing also on gene transcription in males.Methodology/Principal FindingsTo investigate the influence of pairing on males, we performed a combinatory approach applying SuperSAGE and microarray hybridization, generating the most comprehensive data-set on differential transcription available to date. Of 6,326 sense transcripts detected by both analyses, 29 were significantly differentially transcribed. Besides mutual confirmation, the two methods complemented each other as shown by data comparison and real-time PCR, which revealed a number of genes with consistent regulation across all methods. One of the candidate genes, follistatin of S. mansoni (SmFst) was characterized in more detail by in situ hybridization and yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) interaction analyses with potential binding partners.Conclusions/SignificanceBeyond confirming previously hypothesized differences in metabolic processes between pairing-experienced (EM) and pairing-unexperienced males (UM), our data indicate that neuronal processes are involved in male-female interaction but also TGFβ-signaling. One candidate revealing significant down-regulation in EM was the TGFβ-pathway controlling molecule follistatin (SmFst). First functional analyses demonstrated SmFst interaction with the S. mansoni TGFβ-receptor agonists inhibin/activin (SmInAct) and bone morphogenic protein (SmBMP), and all molecules colocalized in the testes. This indicates a yet unknown role of the TGFβ-pathway for schistosome biology leading to male competence and a possible influence of pairing on the male gonad.

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Schistosoma mansoni: the presence and ultrastructure of vitelline cells in adult males

Cited by 19 publications

References 9 publications

Patterns of gene expression in schistosomes: localization by whole mountin situhybridization

Patterns of gene expression in schistosomes: localization by whole mountin situhybridization

A single-cell RNAseq atlas of the pathogenic stage ofSchistosoma mansoniidentifies a key regulator of blood feeding

Combinatory Microarray and SuperSAGE Analyses Identify Pairing-Dependently Transcribed Genes in Schistosoma mansoni Males, Including Follistatin

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