Ultrastructural observation and gene expression profiling of Schistosoma japonicum derived from two natural reservoir hosts, water buffalo and yellow cattle.

Jianmei Yang,Chunxiu Yuan,Zhiqiang Fu,Yaojun Shi,Jiaojiao Lin,Yang Hong,Hao Li,Jinming Liu,Min Zhang,Ke Lu,Xingang Feng,Shyamal D Peddada

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047660

Jianmei Yang, Chunxiu Yuan + Show 10 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047660

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Abstract

Water buffalo and yellow cattle are the two of the most important natural reservoir hosts for Schistosoma japonicum in endemic areas of China, although their susceptibility differs, with water buffalo being less conducive to the growth and development of S. japonicum. Results from the current study show that the general morphology and ultrastructure of adult schistosomes derived from the two hosts also differed. Using high-throughput microarray technology, we also compared the gene expression profiles of adult schistosomes derived from the two hosts. We identified genes that were differentially expressed in worms from the two natural hosts. Further analysis revealed that genes associated with protein kinase and phosphatase, the stimulus response, and lipid and nucleotide metabolism were overexpressed, whereas genes associated with reproduction, anatomical structure morphogenesis and multifunctional motif were underexpressed in schistosomes from water buffalo. These differentially expressed genes were mainly involved in nucleotide, energy, lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, transcription, transport and signaling pathway. This suggests that they are key molecules affecting the survival and development of schistosomes in different natural host species. The results of this study add to current understanding of the interplay between parasites and their natural hosts, and provide valuable information for the screening of vaccine candidates or new drug targets against schistosomiasis in the natural reservoir hosts in endemic areas.

Highlights

Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases in the world, affecting approximately 250 million people and posing a risk to another 600 million [1]
In addition to the general differences known to occur between hosts, including worm recovery rate, and worm length and width [12], the surface topography and internal structures at the ultrastructural level were found to differ between schistosomes harvested from water buffalo and yellow cattle
Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of male schistosome worms derived from water buffalo, the oral sucker was crimpled, tension was attenuated or loosed, the width of the border spine decreased in the ventral sucker, and the surface crest and sensory papillae were flattened in the posterior segment of gynecophoral canal (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases in the world, affecting approximately 250 million people and posing a risk to another 600 million [1]. Epidemiology surveys have shown that domestic animals have an important role in the transmission of schistosomiasis in these areas [4]. Water buffalo and yellow cattle are the two major domestic animals reared in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China as they are able to spread more eggs into the environment compared with human and other animal hosts. They are considered to be the main transmission source (i.e. reservoir hosts) for schistosomiasis in China and, should have an important role for prevention strategies [5,6]. The development of an effective vaccine for animals and/or humans is a more sustainable choice for the control of this debilitating disease [7]

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