Parasitic castration by the digenian trematode Allopodocotyle sp. alters gene expression in the brain of the host mollusc Haliotis asinina.
Infection of molluscs by digenean trematode parasites typically results in the repression of reproduction -- the so-called parasitic castration. This is known to occur by altering the expression of a range of host neuropeptide genes. Here we analyse the expression levels of 10 members of POU, Pax, Sox and Hox transcription factor gene families, along with genes encoding FMRFamide, prohormone convertase and beta-tubulin, in the brain ganglia of actively reproducing (summer), non-reproducing (winter) and infected Haliotis asinina (a vetigastropod mollusc). A number of the regulatory genes are differentially expressed in parasitised H. asinina, but in only a few cases do expression patterns in infected animals match those occurring in animals where reproduction is normally repressed.
Rice
Tamika
T
School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld. 4072, Australia.
McGraw
Elizabeth
E
O'Brien
Elizabeth K
EK
Reverter
Antonio
A
Jackson
Daniel J
DJ
Degnan
Bernard M
BM
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008974:Mollusca / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014200:Trematoda / Q000502:physiology*
D009479:Neuropeptides