Qualitative and quantitative proteomic analyses of Schistosoma japonicum eggs and egg-derived secretory-excretory proteins

Abstract

Background Schistosome parasites lay up to a thousand eggs per day inside the veins of their mammalian hosts. The immature eggs deposited by females against endothelia of venules will embryonate within days. Approximately 30% of the eggs will migrate to the lumen of the intestine to continue the parasite life-cycle. Many eggs, however, are trapped in the liver and intestine causing the main pathology associated with schistosomiasis mansoni and japonica, the liver granulomatous response. Excretory-secretory egg proteins drive much of egg-induced pathogenesis of schistosomiasis mansoni, and Schistosoma japonicum induce a markedly distinct granulomatous response to that of S. mansoni . Methods To explore the basis of variations in this responsiveness, we investigated the proteome of eggs of S. japonicum . Using mass spectrometry qualitative and quantitative (SWATH) analyses, we describe the protein composition of S. japonicum eggs secretory proteins (ESP), and the differential expression of proteins by fully mature and immature eggs, isolated from faeces and ex vivo adults. Results Of 957 egg-related proteins identified, 95 were exclusively found in S. japonicum ESP which imply that they are accessible to host immune system effector elements. An in-silico analysis implies that ESP are able of stimulating the innate and adaptive immune system through several different pathways. While quantitative SWATH analysis revealed 124 proteins that are differentially expressed by mature and immature S. japonicum eggs, illuminating some important aspects of eggs biology and infection, we also show that mature eggs are more likely than immature eggs to stimulate host immune responses. Conclusions Here we present a list of potential targets that can be used to develop better strategies to avoid severe morbidity during S. japonicum infection, as well as improving diagnosis, treatment and control of schistosomiasis japonica. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3403-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP) Activates Macrophages and Promotes Liver Fibrosis inSchistosoma japonicum-Infected Mice

“…Researchers found that glycoproteins such as IPSE (SmEP-25) [42], omega-1 [43], and kappa-5 [44] secreted by S. mansoni eggs and Sm29 [45] secreted by S. haematobium stimulate Th2 cytokine production in mice. For S. japonicum , egg secretory proteins (ESP) instead of IPSE, omega-1, and kappa-5 played a central role in driving the development of the immune response to the Th2 pattern because it was predicted to stimulate the production of IL-1, IL-3, IL-5, IL-4, and IL-13 [46]. Th2 response is supported by alternatively activated antigen presenting cells (APCs).…”

Schistosome Infection and Schistosome-Derived Products as Modulators for the Prevention and Alleviation of Immunological Disorders

“…(3) A limited number of schistosome molecules have been investigated for potential in treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In-depth transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of the different schistosome species and/or different developmental stages, such as egg secretome studies which have led to the discovery of highly sensitive antigens for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis ( 131 – 135 ) may facilitate the identification of additional molecules with therapeutic potential. An increasing number of candidates applicable for therapy purpose have been identified from other helminths ( 136 ), specific examples being anti-inflammatory protein-2 (AIP-2) from hookworm ( 137 ) and EgKI-1, a potent Kunitz type protease inhibitor from Echinococcus granulosus ( 126 ); on this basis, one could speculate that the schistosome orthologs of these molecules would likely elicit similar therapeutic effects.…”

A new diagnostic strategy which uses a luminol-H2O2 system to detect helminth eggs in fecal sediments processed by the Helmintex method

“…A recent proteomic analysis of schistosome eggs lists thioredoxin, superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxin and ferritin as components of schistosome eggs. Further, those authors showed significant variation in expression levels of these molecules in immature (isolated from worms in culture) and mature eggs (isolated from faeces) [25]. Such variation in the bio-physical properties observed https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0008500.g005…”

“…Previously, proteomic and high resolution scanning electron microscopy have shown that the schistosome eggshell and miracidia contain divalent metal ions such as iron and copper [40][41][42], most likely incorporated in proteins such as thioredoxin-peroxidase, thioredoxin, superoxide dismutase, and iron-dependent peroxidase [25,[41][42][43]. It is, therefore, reasonable to postulate that CL emitted by S. mansoni eggs when exposed to the luminol-H 2 O 2 solution results from the reaction with these ions contained in eggshells and miracidia.…”