title: Opisthorchis viverrini: analysis of the sperm-specific rhophilin associated tail protein 1-like.
abstract: Concurrent deficiency of rhophilin associated tail protein (ROPN1) and ROPN1-like (ROPN1L) in mice causes structural abnormalities and immotility of sperm and thereby infertility. In the present research, ROPN1L of the human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini was molecularly characterized and showed unexpected potential as a diagnostic tool. ROPN1L transcripts were detected in 2-week-old juveniles by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical analysis of the adult worm localized the protein in testis lobes, seminal vesicle and receptacle and immunoelectron microscopic analysis revealed its location on the tail of spermatozoa. Interestingly, sera of experimentally infected hamsters and sera of individuals suffering from opisthorchiasis showed reactivity to recombinant OvROPN1L (rOvROPN1L). The protein shows modest conservation to the human homolog at 47.2% sequence identity and a mouse anti-rOvROPN1L antiserum was not reactive with sperm protein extracts from hamsters, mice and rats. Unsurprisingly, conservation is higher in trematodes, e.g. 78.4% and 71.2% identity to Fasciola gigantica and Schistosoma haematobium, respectively and evaluation of diagnostic specificity is required using sera of individuals suffering from different trematodiases in Thailand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sitthichon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rattanachan
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12121, Thailand.
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grams
authors.affiliation: Food-Borne Parasite Research Group, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Smarn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tesana
authors.affiliation: School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Smooker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. Electronic address: suksiri.vic@mahidol.ac.th.
authors.forename: Suksiri Vichasri
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Grams
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000276:immunology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015415:Biomarkers; C097916:rhophilin
keywords: Expression pattern; Foodborne trematodiasis; Immune response; Opisthorchis viverrini; ROPN1L