title: Extracellular vesicles secreted by Schistosoma mansoni contain protein vaccine candidates.
abstract: Herein we show for the first time that Schistosoma mansoni adult worms secrete exosome-like extracellular vesicles ranging from 50 to 130nm in size. Extracellular vesicles were collected from the excretory/secretory products of cultured adult flukes and purified by Optiprep density gradient, resulting in highly pure extracellular vesicle preparations as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and Nanosight tracking analysis. Extracellular vesicle proteomic analysis showed numerous known vaccine candidates, potential virulence factors and molecules implicated in feeding. These findings provide new avenues for the exploration of host-schistosome interactions and offer a potential mechanism by which some vaccine antigens exert their protective efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: javier.sotillo@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotillo
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: mark.pearson@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potriquet
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pickering
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mulvenna
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: alex.loukas@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loukas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000067128:Extracellular Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D040901:Proteomics; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines
keywords: Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Proteomics; Schistosoma mansoni; Vaccine