title: Comparative proteomic analysis of two pathogenic Tritrichomonas foetus genotypes: there is more to the proteome than meets the eye.
abstract: Certain clinical isolates of Tritrichomonas foetus infect the urogenital tract of cattle while others infect the gastrointestinal tract of cats. Previous studies have identified subtle genetic differences between these isolates with the term "genotype" adopted to reflect host origin. The aim of this work was to seek evidence of host-specific adaptation and to clarify the relationship between T. foetus genotypes. To do this we characterised the proteomes of both genotypes using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) coupled with LC-MS/MS. Our comparative analysis of the data revealed that both genotypes exhibited largely similar proteoform profiles; however differentiation was possible with 24 spots identified as having a four-fold or greater change. Deeper analysis using 2DE zymography and protease-specific fluorogenic substrates revealed marked differences in cysteine protease (CP) expression profiles between the two genotypes. These variances in CP activities could also account for the pathogenic and histopathological differences previously observed between T. foetus genotypes in cross-infection studies. Our findings highlight the importance of CPs as major determinants of parasite virulence and provide a foundation for future host-parasite interaction studies, with direct implications for the development of vaccines or drugs targeting T. foetus.
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Leah J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Stroud
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Šlapeta
authors.affiliation: Proteomics Core Facility, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: Dylan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Druery
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsiotsioras
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physiology, and Molecular Medicine Research Group, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: jcoorssen@brocku.ca.
authors.forename: Jens R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Coorssen
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: c.stack@westernsydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000032:analysis; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005838:Genotype; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*; D040901:Proteomics; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000469:parasitology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D016835:Tritrichomonas foetus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D057056:Cysteine Proteases
keywords: Bovine; Cysteine protease; Feline; Quantitative proteomics; Trichomoniasis; Tritrichomonas foetus; Two-dimensional electrophoresis; Zymography