Exploiting Comparative Omics to Understand the Pathogenic and Virulence-Associated Protease: Anti-Protease Relationships in the Zoonotic Parasites Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica

Cwiklinski, Krystyna ORCID: 0000-0001-5577-2735 and Dalton, John Pius (2022) Exploiting Comparative Omics to Understand the Pathogenic and Virulence-Associated Protease: Anti-Protease Relationships in the Zoonotic Parasites Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. GENES, 13 (10). 1854-.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes13101854

Abstract

The helminth parasites, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, are the causative agents of fasciolosis, a global and economically important disease of people and their livestock. Proteases are pivotal to an array of biological processes related to parasitism (development, feeding, immune evasion, virulence) and therefore their action requires strict regulation by parasite anti-proteases (protease inhibitors). By interrogating the current publicly available Fasciola spp. large sequencing datasets, including several genome assemblies and life cycle stage-specific transcriptome and proteome datasets, we reveal the complex profile and structure of proteases and anti-proteases families operating at various stages of the parasite's life cycle. Moreover, we have discovered distinct profiles of peptidases and their cognate inhibitors expressed by the parasite stages in the intermediate snail host, reflecting the different environmental niches in which they move, develop and extract nutrients. Comparative genomics revealed a similar cohort of peptidase inhibitors in F. hepatica and F. gigantica but a surprisingly reduced number of cathepsin peptidases genes in the F. gigantica genome assemblies. Chromosomal location of the F. gigantica genes provides new insights into the evolution of these gene families, and critical data for the future analysis and interrogation of Fasciola spp. hybrids spreading throughout the Asian and African continents.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Fasciola, flukes, trematodes, worms, helminths, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, peptidases, peptidase inhibitors
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	17 Oct 2022 13:29
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2023 10:15
DOI:	10.3390/genes13101854
Open Access URL:	https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/10/1854
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3165535