title: TGF-β superfamily members from the helminth Fasciola hepatica show intrinsic effects on viability and development.
abstract: The helminth Fasciola hepatica causes fasciolosis throughout the world, a major disease of livestock and an emerging zoonotic disease in humans. Sustainable control mechanisms such as vaccination are urgently required. To discover potential vaccine targets we undertook a genome screen to identify members of the transforming growth factor (TGF) family of proteins. Herein we describe the discovery of three ligands belonging to this superfamily and the cloning and characterisation of an activin/TGF like molecule we term FhTLM. FhTLM has a limited expression pattern both temporally across the parasite stages but also spatially within the worm. Furthermore, a recombinant form of this protein is able to enhance the rate (or magnitude) of multiple developmental processes of the parasite indicating a conserved role for this protein superfamily in the developmental biology of a major trematode parasite. Our study demonstrates for the first time the existence of this protein superfamily within F. hepatica and assigns a function to one of the three identified ligands. Moreover further exploration of this superfamily may yield future targets for diagnostic or vaccination purposes due to its stage restricted expression and functional role.
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK. svzoj@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors: Ornampai
authors: O
authors: Japa
authors: Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK. jhodgkin@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors: Jane E
authors: JE
authors: Hodgkinson
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK. richard.emes@nottingham.ac.uk.|Advanced Data Analysis Centre, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK. richard.emes@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors: Richard D
authors: RD
authors: Emes
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK. robin.flynn@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors: Robin J
authors: RJ
authors: Flynn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D010802:Phylogeny; D020543:Proteome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014612:Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015801:Helminth Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D020543:Proteome; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014612:Vaccines