Variation in expression of Biomphalaria glabrata SOD1: a potential controlling factor in susceptibility/resistance to Schistosoma mansoni.
The snail Biomphalaria glabrata kills the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni by a mechanism involving production of hydrogen peroxide, the enzymatic product of cytosolic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). This enzyme exhibits higher activity in blood cells (hemocytes) from a predominantly resistant strain of B. glabrata than in hemocytes from a susceptible strain. Additionally, B. glabrata SOD1 polymorphisms have been associated with susceptibility/resistance to the parasite. To address the hypothesis that SOD1 transcription levels differ in accordance with variation at the SOD1 locus, quantitative PCR was performed using hemocyte-derived cDNA prepared from SOD1-genotyped snails. Here we report that individuals possessing the allele previously associated with resistance to S. mansoni express significantly higher levels of hemocyte SOD1 transcripts than individuals lacking this allele. A causal relationship between SOD1 expression and susceptibility/resistance to S. mansoni is supported by the correlation of transcript quantity with data (from a previous study) on the probability of infection.
Bender
Randall C
RC
Oregon State University, Department of Zoology, Corvallis, OR 97331-2914, USA. benderr@science.oregonstate.edu
Goodall
Cheri P
CP
Blouin
Michael S
MS
Bayne
Christopher J
CJ
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000502:physiology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1