title: Gender-enriched transcription of activation associated secreted proteins in Ostertagia ostertagi.
abstract: Activation associated secreted proteins (ASP) are members of a nematode-specific protein family belonging to the SCP/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7 family. Three different types of molecules have been identified in this family: two-domain ASPs and single-domain ASPs showing homology to either the C-terminal or N-terminal domain of the two-domain ASP. The function of these proteins is still unclear, but a role in transition to parasitism and a role as allergen are often suggested. Here we report that the abomasal cattle parasite Ostertagia ostertagi produces at least 15 ASPs, including two-domain and C- and N-type single-domain ASPs. Ten of these are highly transcribed in the L4 stage, whereas others are highly enriched in adult male worms. The latter was especially the case for the N-type single-domain ASPs Oo-ASP1 and Oo-ASP2 and also for Oo-ASP3, which is homologous with the Haemonchus contortus and Ancylostoma caninum C-type single-domain ASPs. Immunohistochemistry showed that Oo-ASP3 was localised in the oesophagus. Oo-ASP1 and Oo-ASP2 on the other hand were localised in the reproductive tract of both male and female worms, suggesting a role in reproduction or in the development of the reproductive tract.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Aline.Visser@Ugent.be
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Van Zeveren
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Meyvis
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peelaers
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van den Broeck
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gevaert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vercruysse
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Claerebout
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geldhof
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010028:Ostertagia / Q000235:genetics*; D010029:Ostertagiasis / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012737:Sex Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins