Analysis of proteins related to conditioning for arrested development and differentiation in Haemonchus contortus by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.
The abundance of the majority of proteins of infectious third-stage larvae (L3) of Haemonchus contortus, conditioned for arrested development, remained unaltered. Only seven proteins showed quantitative differences as observed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These differences were also observed in a laboratory strain which has lost the ability for arrested development. The abundance of two of these proteins increased dramatically during conditioning of larvae for 5-10 weeks. This coincided with the highest percentage of inhibited larvae in experimental infections. Moreover, the abundance of these proteins decreased again after prolonged conditioning (22 weeks). The abundance of the other 5 proteins was not correlated to the percentage of inhibition. We therefore conclude that these proteins are involved in the aging process of larvae. The changes in protein between free-living (L3) and parasitic stages (L4) were large and seem to reflect the large environmental changes experienced by the larvae when entering a mammalian host. Early fourth- (EL4) and late fourth- (LL4) stage larvae differed in 9 proteins. One protein was stage-specific for EL4. These results imply that only minor alterations do occur in these stages notwithstanding the large morphological differences between these larvae.
Kooyman
F N
FN
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Eysker
M
M
D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000662:veterinary*; D006189:Haemonchus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*
D015801:Helminth Proteins