Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

"gene expression"

Original Article

Phagocytosis-associated genes in Acanthamoeba castellanii feeding on Escherichia coli: Min-Jeong Kim, Eun-Kyung Moon, Hye-Jeong Jo, Fu-Shi Quan, Hyun-Hee Kong; Parasites Hosts Dis 2023;61(4):397-404.
Published online November 28, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/PHD.23088

Acanthamoeba species are free-living amoebae those are widely distributed in the environment. They feed on various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and algae. Although majority of the microbes phagocytosed by Acanthamoeba spp. are digested, some pathogenic bacteria thrive within them. Here, we identified the roles of 3 phagocytosis-associated genes (ACA1_077100, ACA1_175060, and AFD36229.1) in A. castellanii. These 3 genes were upregulated after the ingestion of Escherichia coli. However, after the ingestion of Legionella pneumophila, the expression of these 3 genes was not altered after the consumption of L. pneumophila. Furthermore, A. castellanii transfected with small interfering RNS (siRNA) targeting the 3 phagocytosis-associated genes failed to digest phagocytized E. coli. Silencing of ACA1_077100 disabled phagosome formation in the E. coli-ingesting A. castellanii. Alternatively, silencing of ACA1_175060 enabled phagosome formation; however, phagolysosome formation was inhibited. Moreover, suppression of AFD36229.1 expression prevented E. coli digestion and consequently led to the rupturing of A. castellanii. Our results demonstrated that the ACA1_077100, ACA1_175060, and AFD36229.1 genes of Acanthamoeba played crucial roles not only in the formation of phagosome and phagolysosome but also in the digestion of E. coli.

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Phylogenomic, structural, and cell biological analyses reveal that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia replicates in acidified Rab7A-positive vacuoles of Acanthamoeba castellanii
Javier Rivera, Julio C. Valerdi-Negreros, Diana M. Vázquez-Enciso, Fulvia-Stefany Argueta-Zepeda, Pablo Vinuesa, Michael L. Ginger, Monica Crary, Sutherland K. Maciver
Microbiology Spectrum.2024;[Epub] CrossRef

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Brief Communication

Differentially Expressed Gene Profile of Acanthamoeba castellanii Induced by an Endosymbiont Legionella pneumophila: Eun-Kyung Moon, So-Min Park, Ki-Back Chu, Fu-Shi Quan, Hyun-Hee Kong; Korean J Parasitol 2021;59(1):67-75.
Published online February 19, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2021.59.1.67

Abstract
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Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen that survives and proliferates within protists such as Acanthamoeba spp. in environment. However, intracellular pathogenic endosymbiosis and its implications within Acanthamoeba spp. remain poorly understood. In this study, RNA sequencing analysis was used to investigate transcriptional changes in A. castellanii in response to L. pneumophila infection. Based on RNA sequencing data, we identified 1,211 upregulated genes and 1,131 downregulated genes in A. castellanii infected with L. pneumophila for 12 hr. After 24 hr, 1,321 upregulated genes and 1,379 downregulated genes were identified. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that L. pneumophila endosymbiosis enhanced hydrolase activity, catalytic activity, and DNA binding while reducing oxidoreductase activity in the molecular function (MF) domain. In particular, multiple genes associated with the GO term ‘integral component of membrane’ were downregulated during endosymbiosis. The endosymbiont also induced differential expression of various methyltransferases and acetyltransferases in A. castellanii. Findings herein are may significantly contribute to understanding endosymbiosis of L. pneumophila within A. castellanii.

Citations

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Oxford Nanopore Technology-Based Identification of an Acanthamoeba castellanii Endosymbiosis in Microbial Keratitis
Sebastian Alexander Scharf, Lennart Friedrichs, Robert Bock, Maria Borrelli, Colin MacKenzie, Klaus Pfeffer, Birgit Henrich
Microorganisms.2024; 12(11): 2292. CrossRef
Transcription dynamics of heat-shock proteins (Hsps) and endosymbiont titres in response to thermal stress in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Asia-I)
Mritunjoy Barman, Snigdha Samanta, Bulbul Ahmed, Soumik Dey, Swati Chakraborty, M.G. Deeksha, Subham Dutta, Arunava Samanta, Jayanta Tarafdar, Deepayan Roy
Frontiers in Physiology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Proteomic analysis of Acanthamoeba castellanii response to Legionella pneumophila infection
Alban Hay, Steven Rolland, Clément Bernard, Yann Héchard, Romain Villéger, Ascel Samba-Louaka
FEMS Microbiology Letters.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Comparative analysis of differentially expressed genes in Acanthamoeba after ingestion of Legionella pneumophila and Escherichia coli
Eun-Kyung Moon, Min-Jeong Kim, Hae-Ahm Lee, Fu-Shi Quan, Hyun-Hee Kong
Experimental Parasitology.2022; 232: 108188. CrossRef

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Original Article

Real-Time RT-PCR on SAG1 and BAG1 Gene Expression during Stage Conversion in Immunosuppressed Mice Infected with Toxoplasma gondii Tehran Strain: Monavar Selseleh, Mohammad Hossein Modarressi, Mehdi Mohebali, Saeedeh Shojaee, Mohammad Reza Eshragian, Mina Selseleh, Ebrahim Azizi, Hossein Keshavarz; Korean J Parasitol 2012;50(3):199-205.
Published online August 13, 2012; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2012.50.3.199

Abstract
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Toxoplasmic encephalitis is caused by reactivation of bradyzoites to rapidly dividing tachyzoites of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii in immunocompromised hosts. Diagnosis of this life-threatening disease is problematic, because it is difficult to discriminate between these 2 stages. Toxoplasma PCR assays using gDNA as a template have been unable to discriminate between an increase or decrease in SAG1 and BAG1 expression between the active tachyzoite stage and the latent bradyzoite stage. In the present study, real-time RT-PCR assay was used to detect the expression of bradyzoite (BAG1)- and tachyzoite-specific genes (SAG1) during bradyzoite/tachyzoite stage conversion in mice infected with T. gondii Tehran strain after dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DXM) administration. The conversion reaction was observed in the lungs and brain tissues of experimental mice, indicated by SAG1 expression at day 6 after DXM administration, and continued until day 14. Bradyzoites were also detected in both organs throughout the study; however, it decreased at day 14 significantly. It is suggested that during the reactivation period, bradyzoites not only escape from the cysts and reinvade neighboring cells as tachyzoites, but also converted to new bradyzoites. In summary, the real-time RT-PCR assay provided a reliable, fast, and quantitative way of detecting T. gondii reactivation in an animal model. Thus, this method may be useful for diagnosing stage conversion in clinical specimens of immunocompromised patients (HIV or transplant patients) for early identification of tachyzoite-bradyzoite stage conversion.

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Human Retinal Organoid Model of Ocular Toxoplasmosis
Liam M. Ashander, Grace E. Lidgerwood, Amanda L. Lumsden, João M. Furtado, Alice Pébay, Justine R. Smith
Pathogens.2025; 14(3): 286. CrossRef
Comprehensive diagnostic approaches to feline toxoplasmosis: Bridging traditional methods and emerging technologies
Dan Zhao, Yanzhen Liao, Hao Liu, Jianwei Wang, Ruiying Liang, Rongqiong Zhou, Jiabo Ding, Sixin Zhang, Xinming Tang
Virulence.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
High Efficacy of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles for Treatment of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection Through Their Immunomodulatory, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Potency
Qais A.H. Majeed, Sultan F. Alnomasy, Abdullah F. Shater, Abdullah D. Alanazi
Acta Parasitologica.2024; 69(2): 1201. CrossRef
Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis Using Surface Antigen Grade 1 Detection by ELISA, Nano-Gold ELISA, and PCR in Pregnant Women
Nagwa SM Aly, Hye-Sook Kim, Yasmin M Marei, Azza S Elhamshary, Ibrahim R Bayoumi, Rabab E Omar, Dina A Mohammed, Shin-Ichi Miyoshi, Gehan A Rashed
International Journal of Nanomedicine.2023; Volume 18: 1335. CrossRef
Assessment of tissue levels of miR-146a and proinflammatory cytokines in experimental cerebral toxoplasmosis following atovaquone and clindamycin treatment: An in vivo study
Nima Zouei, Abdolhossein Dalimi, Majid Pirestani, Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
Microbial Pathogenesis.2023; 184: 106340. CrossRef
Detection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts on organic and conventionally grown produce
Emily L. Lilly, Nathan J. Webster
Food Microbiology.2021; 99: 103798. CrossRef
Temporal expression of Toxoplasma stage-specific genes in brain tissue: coincidence with parasitological and histopathological findings in mice models
Mona H. El-Sayad, Neveen A. Hussein, A. H. Kazem, Omnya A. El Geddawi, Enas M. Rizk, Hend A. El-Taweel
Parasitology Research.2020; 119(7): 2299. CrossRef
Micronemal protein 13 contributes to the optimal growth of Toxoplasma gondii under stress conditions
Shu Ye, Ningbo Xia, Pengfei Zhao, Jichao Yang, Yanqin Zhou, Bang Shen, Junlong Zhao
Parasitology Research.2019; 118(3): 935. CrossRef
Nanoemulsion of atovaquone as a promising approach for treatment of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis
Sanaz Jafarpour Azami, Amir Amani, Hossein Keshavarz, Roqya Najafi-Taher, Mehdi Mohebali, Mohammad Ali Faramarzi, Mahmood Mahmoudi, Saeedeh Shojaee
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.2018; 117: 138. CrossRef
ANK1 and DnaK-TPR, Two Tetratricopeptide Repeat-Containing Proteins Primarily Expressed in Toxoplasma Bradyzoites, Do Not Contribute to Bradyzoite Differentiation
Jichao Yang, Lihong Zhang, Huiyan Diao, Ningbo Xia, Yanqin Zhou, Junlong Zhao, Bang Shen
Frontiers in Microbiology.2017;[Epub] CrossRef
Deletion of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 inhibits development and growth of Toxoplasma gondii
Lili Cao, Zedong Wang, Shuchao Wang, Jiping Li, Xinglong Wang, Feng Wei, Quan Liu
Parasitology Research.2016; 115(2): 797. CrossRef
Brain cystogenesis capacity of Toxoplasma gondii, avirulent Tehran strain in mice
Mehrzad Saraei, Yosef Ghaderi, Tahereh Mosavi, Mojtaba Shahnazi, Hossein Keshavarz, Saeedeh Shojaee
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease.2014; 4: S739. CrossRef

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Brief Communication

Hydrogenosomal activity of Trichomonas vaginalis cultivated under different iron conditions: Yong-Seok Kim, Hyun-Ouk Song, Ik-Hwa Choi, Soon-Jung Park, Jae-Sook Ryu; Korean J Parasitol 2006;44(4):373-378.
Published online December 20, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2006.44.4.373

Abstract
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To evaluate whether iron concentration in TYM medium influence on hydrogenosomal enzyme gene expression and hydrogenosomal membrane potential of Trichomonas vaginalis, trophozoites were cultivated in iron-depleted, normal and iron-supplemented TYM media. The mRNA of hydrogenosomal enzymes, such as pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), hydrogenase, ferredoxin and malic enzyme, was increased with iron concentrations in T. vaginalis culture media, measured by RT-PCR. Hydrogenosomal membrane potentials measured with DiOC₆ also showed similar tendency, e.g. T. vaginalis cultivated in iron-depleted and iron-supplemented media for 3 days showed a significantly reduced and enhanced hydrogenosomal membrane potential compared with that of normal TYM media, respectively. Therefore, it is suggested that iron may regulate hydrogenosomal activity through hydrogenosomal enzyme expression and hydrogenosomal membrane potential.

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Molecular Targets Implicated in the Antiparasitic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Phytochemical Curcumin in Trichomoniasis
Natalia Mallo, Jesús Lamas, Rosa Ana Sueiro, José Manuel Leiro
Molecules.2020; 25(22): 5321. CrossRef
Influence of 120 kDa Pyruvate:Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase on Pathogenicity of Trichomonas vaginalis
Hyun-Ouk Song
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2016; 54(1): 71. CrossRef
Nitric oxide maintains cell survival of Trichomonas vaginalis upon iron depletion
Wei-Hung Cheng, Kuo-Yang Huang, Po-Jung Huang, Jo-Hsuan Hsu, Yi-Kai Fang, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Petrus Tang
Parasites & Vectors.2015;[Epub] CrossRef
RNA-Binding Proteins in Trichomonas vaginalis: Atypical Multifunctional Proteins
Elisa Figueroa-Angulo, Jaeson Calla-Choque, Maria Mancilla-Olea, Rossana Arroyo
Biomolecules.2015; 5(4): 3354. CrossRef
Optimal Reference Genes for Gene Expression Normalization in Trichomonas vaginalis
Odelta dos Santos, Graziela de Vargas Rigo, Amanda Piccoli Frasson, Alexandre José Macedo, Tiana Tasca, Robert W Dettman
PLOS ONE.2015; 10(9): e0138331. CrossRef
Prostatic Disease Associated withTrichomonas vaginalis
Jae-Sook Ryu
The Korean Journal of Urogenital Tract Infection and Inflammation.2014; 9(2): 61. CrossRef
Hydrogenosome Metabolism Is the Key Target for Antiparasitic Activity of Resveratrol against Trichomonas vaginalis
Natalia Mallo, Jesús Lamas, José M. Leiro
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.2013; 57(6): 2476. CrossRef
Responsiveness of Trichomonas vaginalis to iron concentrations: Evidence for a post-transcriptional iron regulation by an IRE/IRP-like system
J.C. Torres-Romero, R. Arroyo
Infection, Genetics and Evolution.2009; 9(6): 1065. CrossRef
Proinflammatory Cytokine and Nitric Oxide Production by Human Macrophages Stimulated with Trichomonas vaginalis
Ik-Hwan Han, Sung Young Goo, Soon-Jung Park, Se-Jin Hwang, Yong-Seok Kim, Michael Sungwoo Yang, Myoung-Hee Ahn, Jae-Sook Ryu
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2009; 47(3): 205. CrossRef
Trichomonas vaginalis: The adhesins AP51 and AP65 bind heme and hemoglobin
Shahed Ardalan, B. Craig Lee, Gary E. Garber
Experimental Parasitology.2009; 121(4): 300. CrossRef
Trichomonas vaginalis‐induced neutrophil apoptosis causes anti‐inflammatory cytokine production by human monocyte‐derived macrophages
M. H. AHN, H. O. SONG, J. S. RYU
Parasite Immunology.2008; 30(8): 410. CrossRef

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Original Article

In vivo determination of the gap2 gene promoter activity in Giardia lamblia: Hye-Won Yang, Juri Kim, Tai-Soon Yong, Soon-Jung Park; Korean J Parasitol 2006;44(1):21-26.
Published online March 20, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2006.44.1.21

Abstract
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A shuttle vector for Escherichia coli and Giardia lamblia was modified to produce a reporter plasmid, which monitors the expression of prescribed gene in G. lamblia by measuring its luciferase activity. Promoter regions of the gap2 gene, one of the genes induced during encystation, were cloned into this plasmid, and the resultant constructs were then transfected into trophozoites of G. lamblia. Transgenic trophozoites containing one of the 3 gap2-luc reporters were induced to encystation, and characterized with respect to gap2 gene expression by measuring their luciferase activities. Giardia containing a gap2-luc fusion of 112-bp upstream region showed full induction of luciferase activity during encystation.

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Eukaryote-conserved histone post-translational modification landscape in Giardia duodenalis revealed by mass spectrometry
Samantha J. Emery-Corbin, Joshua J. Hamey, Balu Balan, Laura Rojas-López, Staffan G. Svärd, Aaron R. Jex
International Journal for Parasitology.2021; 51(4): 225. CrossRef
Trans-spliced Heat Shock Protein 90 Modulates Encystation in Giardia lamblia
Rishi Kumar Nageshan, Nainita Roy, Shatakshi Ranade, Utpal Tatu, Rhoel Ramos Dinglasan
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.2014; 8(5): e2829. CrossRef