Identification and characterization of a novel specific secreted protein family for selected members of the subfamily Ostertagiinae (Nematoda).
It has been shown that the bovine abomasal parasite, Ostertagia ostertagi, drastically modulates its microenvironment, causing epithelial cell damage, accumulation of inflammatory cells and pH changes in the stomach. The mechanisms used by the parasite to change the abomasal environment are largely unknown, but an important role has been attributed to excretory-secretory (ES) products from the parasite. In this study we have identified proteins representing a novel ES protein family, characterized by the SCP/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 protein motif. These proteins were named Oo-AL1 and Oo-AL2 (O. ostertagi ASP-like protein). Both proteins contain a signal peptide and 1 predicted N-glycosylation site. The transcript for Oo-AL1 was present from the L4 stage onwards in both male and female adult worms, whereas the Oo-AL2 transcript was hardly detectable. Western blots of somatic extracts and ES products from different developmental stages of O. ostertagi, probed with anti-Oo-AL1 antibodies, revealed Oo-AL proteins in the ES products of adult worms. An analysis of the nematode genome and EST databases indicated that these novel ES proteins are unique to O. ostertagi and its relative, Teladorsagia circumcincta, suggesting a key function in these abomasal parasites.
Saverwyns
H
H
Laboratory for Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Visser
A
A
Nisbet
A J
AJ
Peelaers
I
I
Gevaert
K
K
Vercruysse
J
J
Claerebout
E
E
Geldhof
P
P
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D023061:Gene Order; D017238:Genes, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D049751:Genome, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010028:Ostertagia / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary; D014251:Trichostrongyloidea / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins