Abstract
In cestodiasis, mechanical and molecular contact between the parasite and the host activates the immune response of the host and may result in inflammatory processes, leading to ulceration and intestinal dysfunctions. The aim of the present study was to identify antigenic proteins of the adult cestode Hymenolepis diminuta by subjecting the total protein extracts from adult tapeworms to 2DE immunoblotting (two-dimensional electrophoresis combined with immunoblotting) using sera collected from experimentally infected rats. A total of 36 protein spots cross-reacting with the rat sera were identified using LC-MS/MS. As a result, 68 proteins, including certain structural muscle proteins (actin, myosin, and paramyosin) and moonlighters (heat shock proteins, kinases, phosphatases, and glycolytic enzymes) were identified; most of these were predicted to possess binding and/or catalytic activity required in various metabolic and cellular processes, and reported here as potential antigens of the adult cestode for the first time. As several of these antigens can also be found at the cell surface, the surface-associated proteins were extracted and subjected to in-solution digestion for LC-MS/MS identification (surfaceomics). As a result, a total of 76 proteins were identified, from which 31 proteins, based on 2DE immunoblotting, were predicted to be immunogenic. These included structural proteins actin, myosin and tubulin as well as certain moonlighting proteins (heat-shock chaperones) while enzymes with diverse catalytic activities were found as the most dominating group of proteins. In conclusion, the present study shed new light into the complexity of the enteric cestodiasis by showing that the H. diminuta somatic proteins exposed to the host possess immunomodulatory functions, and that the immune response of the host could be stimulated by diverse mechanisms, involving also those triggering protein export via yet unknown pathways.
Highlights
Cestodes have been recognized for many years as being among the most important human parasites, causing diseases that remain within the top health priorities in many parts of the world [1]
In our previous study we identified numerous excretory-secretory proteins (ESPs), among which several were found as antigens with potential impact on the parasite–host interaction [10]
The present study shows that somatic proteins of the adult H. diminuta tapeworms exhibit immunogenicity in the rat host, and that the revealed immunoproteome could be used to propose new candidate proteins taking part in parasite–host interactions
Summary
Cestodes have been recognized for many years as being among the most important human parasites, causing diseases that remain within the top health priorities in many parts of the world [1]. In the intestinal lumen, developing immature and adult cestodes are exposed to the hostile intestinal environment, including digestive enzymes, immune responses, bacteria, and active peristaltic movements of the small intestine. Adult tapeworms utilize their scolex that is armed with adhesive structures (suckers), for anchoring themselves to the intestinal epithelium. In a number of cases, this mechanical contact between the parasite and host intestinal tissue can irritate the intestinal mucosa, which may result in inflammatory processes leading to ulceration and intestinal dysfunctions [8] In this way parasite-derived molecules interact with the host immune system as antigens associated with three sources: excretory-secretory, surface, and tegumental proteins [9,10,11]. In our previous study we identified numerous excretory-secretory proteins (ESPs), among which several were found as antigens with potential impact on the parasite–host interaction [10]
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