Abstract
BackgroundCystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus (class Cestoda; family Taeniidae), is a neglected tropical disease that results in morbidity and mortality in millions of humans, as well as in huge economic losses in the livestock industry globally. Proteins from the tetraspanin family in parasites have recently become regarded as crucial molecules in interaction with hosts in parasitism and are therefore suitable for the development of vaccines and diagnostic agents. However, no information is available to date on E. granulosus tetraspanin.MethodsIn this study, a uroplakin-I-like tetraspanin (Eg-TSP1) of E. granulosus was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The immunolocalization of Eg-TSP1 in different life stages of E. granulosus was determined using specific polyclonal antibody. The antibody and cytokine profiles of mice that immunized with recombinant Eg-TSP1 (rEg-TSP1) were measured for the immunogenicity analysis of this protein. Additionally, we use RNA interference method to explore the biological function of Eg-TSP1 in larva of E. granulosus.ResultsImmunofluorescence analysis showed that endogenous Eg-TSP1 mainly localized in the tegument of larvae and adults. Significantly elevated levels of antibodies IgG1 and IgG2a and of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12 were observed in the sera of mice after immunization with rEg-TSP1, suggesting a typical T helper (Th)1-mediated immune response elicited by rEg-TSP1. On further probing the role of Eg-TSP1 in E. granulosus by RNA interference, we found that a thinner tegmental distal cytoplasm was induced in protoscoleces treated with siRNA-132 compared to controls.ConclusionsThis is the first report characterizing a tetraspanin from the tapeworm E. granulosus. Our results suggest that Eg-TSP1 is associated with biogenesis of the tegument and maintenance of structural integrity of E. granulosus and could therefore be a candidate intervention target for control of hydatid disease.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0926-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Cystic echinococcosis, caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is a neglected tropical disease that results in morbidity and mortality in millions of humans, as well as in huge economic losses in the livestock industry globally
Tetraspanins (TSPs) are a superfamily of plasma membrane associated proteins, known as the transmembrane-4-superfamily (TM4SF), which can be classified into four major subfamilies, including: the CD family (CD9, CD81, CD 151, etc.); the CD63 family (CD63, TSPAN31, etc.); the uroplakin family (UPK 1A/ 1B); and the retinal degeneration slow (RDS) family (RDS-ROM) [1]
General characteristics of Eg-TSP1 The full-length 792 bp CDS of Eg-TSP1 encoded 263 residues including the four typical transmembrane regions (9–32 aa; 70–92 aa; 100–123 aa; and 236–255 aa), the small extracellular loop (33–69 aa), and the crucial large extracellular loop (LEL) located in amino acids 124–235
Summary
Cystic echinococcosis (hydatid disease), caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus (class Cestoda; family Taeniidae), is a neglected tropical disease that results in morbidity and mortality in millions of humans, as well as in huge economic losses in the livestock industry globally. Tetraspanins (TSPs) are a superfamily of plasma membrane associated proteins, known as the transmembrane-4-superfamily (TM4SF), which can be classified into four major subfamilies, including: the CD family (CD9, CD81, CD 151, etc.); the CD63 family (CD63, TSPAN31, etc.); the uroplakin family (UPK 1A/ 1B); and the retinal degeneration slow (RDS) family (RDS-ROM) [1]. These proteins usually consist of four conserved transmembrane domains, cytoplasmic tails at. A Taenia solium tetraspanin (T24) was found to be a potential diagnostic candidate, which exhibited excellent sensitivity and specificity in detecting cases of cysticercosis with two or more viable cysts [27]
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