日本血吸虫期别差异表达基因文库的构建及分析

为从期别差异表达基因分析入手研究血吸虫的生长发育机制,应用抑制性消减杂交 (suppressed subtractive hybridization , SSH) 技术首次构建了日本血吸虫尾蚴、虫卵和成虫的期别差异表达基因文库 . 经消减效率分析和三种文库克隆的 EST 的期别差异性鉴定,表明所建文库质量较高,为在整个基因组水平分离血吸虫的差异表达基因提供了重要材料 . 由三个文库选择 257 个插入片段大于 500 bp 的克隆测定了 EST 序列 . 同源性分析结果表明 257 个 EST 代表 182 种血吸虫基因,其中有 22 种为血吸虫已知基因,有 128 种为血吸虫已知 EST ,有 32 种为新发现的血吸虫基因 . 对 EST 编码蛋白的功能预测结果显示：尾蚴消减文库的基因多与运动、能量代谢、转录调节及致病性相关;虫卵消减文库的基因可能参与信号转导、细胞粘附、蛋白质和碳水化合物的代谢以及抗氧化反应;成虫消减文库的基因多参与蛋白质的合成、转运及分解代谢,参与虫体的运动等 . 大规模分离、分析血吸虫期别差异表达基因将对从分子水平去解读血吸虫的生长发育机制,筛选高效疫苗候选抗原、药物靶标及诊断制剂有重要意义 .     

东方田鼠感染日本血吸虫后的病理与相关基因表达改变

目的研究东方田鼠感染日本血吸虫后肝、肺组织病理改变及相关基因表达差异,为进一步研究东方田鼠抗血吸虫机制提供依据。方法东方田鼠感染日本血吸虫尾蚴(2000条/只),取对照组东方田鼠和感染血吸虫后第6、10、15、20、30天肺、肝组织样品,HE染色后进行病理观察,并提取肺和肝总RNA,对Lyz、RT1-Db1、Cd74、C1qa、Thra、Igf1基因进行实时荧光定量PCR检测,比较其在肝脏和肺脏的动态表达水平。结果东方田鼠感染血吸虫后6～10d,肺部有大量出血点,肝细胞空泡变性,肝窦高度扩张,肺和肝组织内血管周围及管腔均有大量嗜酸性粒细胞及少量中性粒细胞、巨噬细胞等炎性细胞浸润,至第20天逐渐恢复。从感染后第6天开始,Lyz、RT1-Db1、Cd74基因在肺和肝内表达均明显上调,在第20天后逐渐恢复,C1qa基因在肺内表达上调,Thra基因在肺内表达下调,Igf1基因肝内表达下调。结论在东方田鼠抗血吸虫感染的过程中,嗜酸性粒细胞发挥了非常重要的作用,相关基因在东方田鼠抗血吸虫感染的过程中可能发挥一定的作用。     

日本血吸虫Sj Cyclophilin B基因的克隆、表达及免疫保护效果分析

本研究克隆和表达了日本血吸虫Cyclophilin B(Sj CyPB)编码基因的cDNA,分析其在日本血吸虫不同发育阶段虫体的表达情况,评估该重组抗原在小鼠体内诱导的抗血吸虫免疫保护效果。本研究以日本血吸虫童虫cDNA为模板,RT-PCR扩增其基因全长cDNA,提交序列到NCBI,登录号为GQ403665。荧光实时定量PCR分析该基因在日本血吸虫不同发育阶段虫体的表达情况,构建重组表达质粒,表达纯化重组蛋白。利用Western blotting检测重组蛋白的抗原性。以重组抗原免疫小鼠,评估其对小鼠诱导的免疫保护效果。结果表明,RT-PCR获得了Sj CyPB编码基因的全长cDNA,其开放阅读框为672bp。经分析确定其为CyPs家族中的CyPB基因,命名为Sj CyPB。荧光实时定量PCR分析表明,该基因在18d童虫期表达量最高,32d次之。构建了重组表达质粒pGEX-6P-1-SjCyPB,并在大肠杆菌中成功表达,表达产物分子量为49.5kDa。Western blotting试验显示该重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性,在小鼠免疫试验中,与空白对照组比较,免疫组小鼠获得31.5%的减虫率和41.01%的肝脏减卵率。本研究获得了日本血吸虫童虫期高表达的Sj CyPB基因的全长cDNA,成功构建了Sj CyPB原核重组表达质粒,并在大肠杆菌中成功表达,证实该重组抗原在小鼠体内诱导产生了部分免疫保护效果。     

日本血吸虫凋亡基因Sjcaspase3的克隆、真核表达 及其功能分析

为深入研究日本血吸虫细胞凋亡机制。利用PCR技术扩增得到Sjcaspase3的全长序列,其ORF含900 bp,编码299个氨基酸,理论分子量为33 509.7 Da,理论等电点为6.39。Real-time PCR分析表明该基因在日本血吸虫生长发育的各个时期均有表达,其中21 d表达量最高,42 d雌虫表达量高于42 d雄虫。成功构建了p XJ40-FLAG-Sjcaspase3重组质粒并转染到Hela细胞内,荧光定量PCR和Western blotting分析表明Sjcaspase3成功在Hela细胞中表达。酶活分析提示重组Sjcaspase3具有切割特异性底物天冬氨酸-谷氨酸-缬氨酸-天冬氨酸(DEVD)的活性。流式细胞术检测了Sjcaspase3可诱导Hela细胞发生早期细胞凋亡。研究结果为深入探讨Sjcaspase3的生物学功能及日本血吸虫细胞凋亡机制奠定了基础。     

编码日本血吸虫抱雌沟蛋白及肌动蛋白的基因性别间的表达差异性

研究了所克隆的日本血吸虫两个基因的性别间的表达差异性。分别将所克隆到的编码日本血吸虫抱雌沟蛋白的cDNA(SjGCP1)和肌动蛋白的cDNA(SjAct)制成DNA探针,利用Southern blotting,Northern blotting和斑点印迹法对其相应基因性别间的表达差异性进行了研究。结果显示,日本血吸虫抱雌沟蛋白的基因在雄虫中转录而雌虫中不转录,血吸虫肌动蛋白基因在雄虫中转录量高于雌虫,表现出转录量的差异。证明这两个基因转录具有性别间的表达差异性。     

细胞内遗传工程

最近,由于分子遗传学的深入研究,已可以通过转座子或细胞自身的重组机制在细胞内操作基因,使基因在不同种、属的细菌间转移、扩增,并可按人们的需要和设想来构建细菌,这就是所谓细胞内遗传工程(Genetic Engineering in vivo)。     

两种血吸虫病DNA疫苗的候选抗原基因研究

目的：以日本血吸虫基因SjFABP和SjGST原核表达产物检测二价DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST在体内诱发的特异性抗体。方法：克隆日本血吸虫抗原基因SjFABP和sjGST,构建重组原核表达载体pET30a-SjFABP、pET30a-SjGST及真核表达载体pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST;将pET30a-SjFABP和pET30a-sjGST进行原核表达,并将表达产物用镍亲和柱分离纯化;采用Western印迹对日本血吸虫DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST免疫4周后的BALB／c小鼠血清进行特异性抗体检测。结果：克隆了日本血吸虫抗原基因SjFABP（399bp）和町GST（657bp）,并构建了pET30a-SjFABP、pET30a-SjGST及pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST重组质粒;经Western印迹检测,pET30a-SjFABP及pET30a-SjGST原核表达的抗原蛋白均能够与经日本血吸虫二价DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SjFABP-SjGST免疫的小鼠的血清产生特异性免疫反应。结论：日本血吸虫町尉即和町GST基因的原核表达系统成功建立;原核表达的抗原蛋白具有免疫原性;以原核表达产物可检测日本血吸虫DNA疫苗pVIVO2-SiFABP-SiGST在体内诱发的特异性抗体。     

血吸虫的组织化学研究进展(一)碳水化合物、蛋白质、核酸、脂类及无机成分的组织化学研究

在人们急需对血吸虫作全面、深入地了解,以便对血吸虫病提出切实可行的防治对策的今天,应用组织化学(简称组化)方法研究血吸虫,正日益受到国内外学者的重视。通过这方面的研究,不仅能在一定程度上阐明血吸虫的代谢状态和生理功能,而且有助于了解抗血吸虫药物作用的机制;有助于对有关血吸虫病免疫学机理的探讨。同时,组化研究资料将对血吸虫生活史各期的体外培养起指导作用,亦可为寻找抗血吸虫新药与血吸虫疫苗提供线索。     

真核基因可变剪接研究现状与展望

mRNA前体(pre-mRNA)的可变剪接是控制基因表达和产生蛋白质多样性的重要机制,是功能基因组时代的研究重点之一。生物信息学在识别可变剪接基因及其结构、分析可变剪接的功能和调控方式等方面具有重要作用。除了耗时的实验研究,识别可变剪接基因及其结构主要通过EST、mRNA等转录数据与基因组序列进行比对,获得同一基因的不同结构方式。分析蛋白质产物可对可变剪接的功能进行预测;潜在调控元件的统计分析则可为可变剪接调控机制的研究提供必要的数据。转录数据的时空信息以及比较基因组学对理解可变剪接信息的精确调控将提供重要资料。可变剪接及其调控机制的深入研究将为基因组和蛋白质组之间的对接提供重要的桥梁。     

日本血吸虫磷酸甘油酸变位酶SjPGAM基因的克隆、表达及功能分析

磷酸甘油酸变位酶(Phosphoglycerate mutas)是糖酵解过程中的一种重要酶,主要催化3-磷酸甘油酸转化为2-磷酸甘油酸.利用PCR技术从日本血吸虫19 d童虫中首次扩增到一个PGAM家族基因,序列分析表明该基因的完整编码框含753 bp,编码250个氨基酸,理论分子量28.26 kD,理论等电点7.01.同源性分析结果表明,该基因的氨基酸序列具有典型PGAM家族特征,推测为血吸虫的PGAM基因,命名为SjPGAM(GenBank Accession No.EU374631).实时定量PCR分析显示该基因在14d和19d童虫中的表达量明显高于其他发育阶段,42d雄虫中的表达量高于雌虫.构建了该基因的原核重组表达质粒pET-28a( )-PGAM,在大肠杆菌系统中成功获得了表达,重组蛋白以包涵体形式存在,Western blotting显示表达产物能被日本血吸虫成虫粗抗原免疫血清所识别.SjPGAM基因及其表达产物的获得,为探索PGAM基因家族在血吸虫能量代谢过程中碳水化合物转运、新陈代谢调节和生长发育提供了重要基础.     

Transgenesis of schistosomes: approaches employing mobile genetic elements

Draft genome sequences for Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum are now available. However, the identity and importance of most schistosome genes have yet to be determined. Recently, progress has been made towards the genetic manipulation and transgenesis of schistosomes. Both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches appear to be feasible in schistosomes based on findings described in the past 5 years. This review focuses on reports of schistosome transgenesis, specifically those dealing with the transformation of schistosomes with exogenous mobile genetic elements and/or their endogenous relatives for the genetic manipulation of schistosomes. Transgenesis mediated by mobile genetic elements offers a potentially tractable route to introduce foreign genes to schistosomes, a means to determine the importance of schistosome genes, including those that could be targeted in novel interventions and the potential to undertake large-scale forward genetics by insertional mutagenesis.     

Progress with schistosome transgenesis

Genome sequences for Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni are now available. The schistosome genome encodes ~13,000 protein encoding genes for which the function of only a minority is understood. There is a valuable role for transgenesis in functional genomic investigations of these new schistosome gene sequences. In gain-of-function approaches, transgenesis can lead to integration of transgenes into the schistosome genome which can facilitate insertional mutagenesis screens. By contrast, transgene driven, vector-based RNA interference (RNAi) offers powerful loss-of-function manipulations. Our laboratory has focused on development of tools to facilitate schistosome transgenesis. We have investigated the utility of retroviruses and transposons to transduce schistosomes. Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG) pseudotyped murine leukemia virus (MLV) can transduce developmental stages of S. mansoni including eggs. We have also observed that the piggyBac transposon is transpositionally active in schistosomes. Approaches with both VSVG-MLV and piggyBac have resulted in somatic transgenesis and have lead to integration of active reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. These findings provided the first reports of integration of reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. Experience with these systems is reviewed herewith, along with findings with transgene mediated RNAi and germ line transgenesis, in addition to pioneering and earlier reports of gene manipulation for schistosomes.     

Evaluation of Schistosome Promoter Expression for Transgenesis and Genetic Analysis

Schistosome worms of the genus Schistosoma are the causative agents of schistosomiasis, a devastating parasitic disease affecting more than 240 million people worldwide. Schistosomes have complex life cycles, and have been challenging to manipulate genetically due to the dearth of molecular tools. Although the use of gene overexpression, gene knockouts or knockdowns are straight-forward genetic tools applied in many model systems, gene misexpression and genetic manipulation of schistosome genes in vivo has been exceptionally challenging, and plasmid based transfection inducing gene expression is limited. We recently reported the use of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a simple and effective method for schistosome transfection and gene expression. Here, we use PEI-mediated schistosome plasmid transgenesis to define and compare gene expression profiles from endogenous and nonendogenous promoters in the schistosomula stage of schistosomes that are potentially useful to misexpress (underexpress or overexpress) gene product levels. In addition, we overexpress schistosome genes in vivo using a strong promoter and show plasmid-based misregulation of genes in schistosomes, producing a clear and distinct phenotype- death. These data focus on the schistosomula stage, but they foreshadow strong potential for genetic characterization of schistosome molecular pathways, and potential for use in overexpression screens and drug resistance studies in schistosomes using plasmid-based gene expression.     

Human U6 promoter drives stronger shRNA activity than its schistosome orthologue in Schistosoma mansoni and human fibrosarcoma cells

Blood flukes or schistosomes are the causative agents of human schistosomiasis, one of the major neglected tropical diseases. Draft genome sequences have been reported for schistosomes, but functional genomics tools are needed to investigate the role and essentiality of the newly reported genes. Vector based RNA interference can contribute to functional genomics analysis for schistosomes. Using mRNA encoding reporter firefly luciferase as a model target, we compared the performance of a schistosome and a human promoter from the U6 gene in driving shRNA in human fibrosarcoma cells and in cultured schistosomes. Further, both a retroviral [Murine leukemia virus (MLV)] and plasmid (piggyBac, pXL-Bac II) vector were utilized. The schistosome U6 gene promoter was 270 bp in length, the human U6 gene promoter was 264 bp; they shared 41% identity. Following transduction of both HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells and schistosomules of Schistosoma mansoni with pseudotyped MLV virions, stronger knockdown of luciferase activity was seen with the virions encoding the human U6 promoter driven shRNA than the schistosome U6 promoter. A similar trend was seen after transfection of HT1080 cells and schistosomules with the pXL-Bac-II constructs-stronger knockdown of luciferase activity was seen with constructs encoding the human compared to schistosome U6 promoter. The findings indicate that a human U6 gene promoter drives stronger shRNA activity than its schistosome orthologue, not only in a human cancer cell line but also in larval schistosomes. This RNA polymerase III promoter represents a potentially valuable component for vector based RNA interference studies in schistosomes and related platyhelminth parasites.     

Modulation of Innate Antigen-Presenting Cell Function by Pre-patent Schistosome Infection

Schistosomes are intravascular helminths that infect over 200 million people worldwide. Deposition of eggs by adult schistosomes stimulates Th2 responses to egg antigens and induces granulomatous pathology that is a hallmark of schistosome infection. Paradoxically, schistosomes require host immune function for their development and reproduction and for egress of parasite eggs from the host. To identify potential mechanisms by which immune cells might influence parasite development prior to the onset of egg production, we assessed immune function in mice infected with developing schistosomes. We found that pre-patent schistosome infection is associated with a loss of T cell responsiveness to other antigens and is due to a diminution in the ability of innate antigen-presenting cells to stimulate T cells. Diminution of stimulatory capacity by schistosome worms specifically affected CD11b⁺ cells and did not require concomitant adaptive responses. We could not find evidence for production of a diffusible inhibitor of T cells by innate cells from infected mice. Rather, inhibition of T cell responsiveness by accessory cells required cell contact and only occurred when cells from infected mice outnumbered competent APCs by more than 3∶1. Finally, we show that loss of T cell stimulatory capacity may in part be due to suppression of IL-12 expression during pre-patent schistosome infection. Modulation of CD4⁺ T cell and APC function may be an aspect of host immune exploitation by schistosomes, as both cell types influence parasite development during pre-patent schistosome infection.     

Schistosome proteases

While studies of schistosome antigens have proceeded rapidly over the past ten years, studies of schistosome enzymes have also been increasing apace. Now the two `lines' of research are coming together. Parasites such as schistosomes hardly present antigens merely to stimulate a host immune response, so it is not surprising that many antigens turn out to have functions, for example, as enzymes. One type of antigenic schistosome enzyme - glutathione S-transferase - already shows promise as a vaccine candidate. Here, Jim McKerrow and Mike Doenhoff review another important class of enzyme, many of which are clearly antigenic, the schistosome proteases.     

Genetic manipulation of schistosomes--progress with integration competent vectors

Draft genome sequences for Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni are now available. The schistosome genome encodes ～13,000 protein-encoding genes for which the functions of few are well understood. Nonetheless, the new genes represent potential intervention targets, and molecular tools are being developed to determine their importance. Over the past 15 years, noteworthy progress has been achieved towards development of tools for gene manipulation and transgenesis of schistosomes. A brief history of genetic manipulation is presented, along with a review of the field with emphasis on reports of integration of transgenes into schistosome chromosomes.     

Two avian schistosome cercariae from Nepal,including a Macrobilharzia-like species from Indoplanorbis exustus

As part of a global survey of schistosomes, a total of 16,109 freshwater snails representing 14 species were collected from lakes, ponds, rivers, rice fields and swamps mostly in the Terai region of southern Nepal. Only two snails were found to harbor avian schistosome cercariae even though Nepal is well known for its rich avian diversity. One schistosome infection was from an individual of Radix luteola and on the basis of phylogenetic analyses using 28S rDNA and cox1 sequences, grouped as a distinctive and previously unknown lineage within Trichobilharzia. This genus is the most speciose within the family Schistosomatidae. It includes 40 described species worldwide, and its members mostly infect anseriform birds (ducks) and two families of freshwater snails (Lymnaeidae and Physidae). The second schistosome cercaria was recovered from an individual of Indoplanorbis exustus that was also actively emerging a Petasiger-like echinostome cercaria. Although I. exustus is commonly infected with mammalian schistosomes of the Schistosoma indicum species group on the Indian subcontinent, this is the first specifically documented avian schistosome reported in this snail. Both cercariae reported here are among the largest of all schistosome cercariae recovered to date. The I. exustus-derived schistosome clustered most closely with Macrobilharzia macrobilharzia, although it seems to represent a distinct lineage. Specimens of Macrobilharzia have thus far not been recovered from snails, being known only as adult worms from anhingas and cormorants. This study is the first to characterize by sequence data avian schistosomes recovered from Asian freshwater habitats. This approach can help unravel the complex of cryptic species causing cercarial dermatitis here and elsewhere in the world.     

Transfer of Schistosoma mansoni into the mesenteric veins of hamsters

A simple and rapid procedure for the transfer of schistosomes into the mesenteric veins of hamsters is described. Recovery of worms was equally high (67%) for schistosomes grown in the hamster and for those grown in the mouse, while it was only slightly lower for rat worms (63%). Survival of recipient hamsters was 80%. The transfer procedure did not seem to affect the normal development of worms and led to a rapid recovery of rat worms with resumption of their egg-laying capacity. The potential usefulness of the method is outlined, with special emphasis on its recommended use for schistosome genetics.