Abstract
Schistosoma mekongi is found in the lower Mekong river region and causes schistosomiasis. Low sensitivity of diagnosis and development of drug resistance are problems to eliminate this disease. To develop novel therapies and diagnostics for S. mekongi, the basic molecular biology of this pathogen needs to be explored. Bioactive peptides have been reported in several worms and play important roles in biological functions. Limited information is available on the S. mekongi peptidome. Therefore, this study aimed to identify S. mekongi peptides using in silico transcriptome mining and mass spectrometry approaches. Schistosoma peptide components were identified in adult worms, eggs, and infected mouse sera. Thirteen neuropeptide families were identified using in silico predictions from in-house transcriptomic databases of adult S. mekongi worms. Using mass spectrometry approaches, 118 peptides (from 54 precursor proteins) and 194 peptides (from 86 precursor proteins) were identified from adult worms and eggs, respectively. Importantly, eight unique peptides of the S. mekongi ubiquitin thioesterase, trabid, were identified in infected mouse sera 14, 28, and 56 days after infection. This protein may be a potential target for diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The S. mekongi peptide profiles determined in this study could be used for further drug and diagnostic development.
Highlights
Schistosoma mekongi is a causative agent of schistosomiasis in the Mekong region
≤280 amino acids in length were retrieved from the S. mekongi adult worm transcriptome dataset
FMRFamide related peptide, kisspeptin 1 (KiSS1), opioid peptide, LWamide neuropeptide, arthropod hyperglycemic hormone/molt-inhibiting hormone/gonad-inhibiting hormone/vitellogenesis-inhibiting hormone (CHH/MIH/GIH/VIH hormone), serpin, egg-laying hormone (ELH), pyrokinin, neurotensin, and neuropeptide Y family peptides were observed in S. mekongi
Summary
Schistosoma mekongi is a causative agent of schistosomiasis in the Mekong region. TheLao People’s Democratic Republic and Cambodia are endemic areas of this disease [1]. Schistosoma mekongi is a causative agent of schistosomiasis in the Mekong region. In. 2017, all countries with endemic schistosomiasis in the Western Pacific Region aimed to achieve interruption of transmission by 2025 and to eliminate transmission by 2030 [2]. The World Health Organization recommends the Kato Katz test as the gold standard for diagnosis of Mekong schistosomiasis. Because this method relies on egg detection in stool using a microscope, it has low sensitivity for mild infections. S. mekongi infection generally yields low egg intensity. To accomplish the goal of elimination and for effective S. mekongi surveillance monitoring, knowledge of the molecular biology of the organism and new interventions for disease control are required
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