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RNA Seq analysis of the Eimeria tenella gametocyte transcriptome reveals clues about the molecular basis for sexual reproduction and oocyst biogenesis
- Source :
- BMC Genomics, BMC Genomics, BioMed Central, 2015, 16, ⟨10.1186/s12864-015-1298-6⟩, BMC Genomics, 16, BMC Genomics (16), . (2015)
- Publication Year :
- 2015
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2015.
-
Abstract
- Background The protozoan Eimeria tenella is a common parasite of chickens, causing avian coccidiosis, a disease of on-going concern to agricultural industries. The high prevalence of E. tenella can be attributed to the resilient oocyst stage, which is transmitted between hosts in the environment. As in related Coccidia, development of the eimerian oocyst appears to be dependent on completion of the parasite’s sexual cycle. RNA Seq transcriptome profiling offers insights into the mechanisms governing the biology of E. tenella sexual stages (gametocytes) and the potential to identify targets for blocking parasite transmission. Results Comparisons between the sequenced transcriptomes of E. tenella gametocytes and two asexual developmental stages, merozoites and sporozoites, revealed upregulated gametocyte transcription of 863 genes. Many of these genes code for proteins involved in coccidian sexual biology, such as oocyst wall biosynthesis and fertilisation, and some of these were characterised in more depth. Thus, macrogametocyte-specific expression and localisation was confirmed for two proteins destined for incorporation into the oocyst wall, as well as for a subtilisin protease and an oxidoreductase. Homologues of an oocyst wall protein and oxidoreductase were found in the related coccidian, Toxoplasma gondii, and shown to be macrogametocyte-specific. In addition, a microgametocyte gamete fusion protein, EtHAP2, was discovered. Conclusions The need for novel vaccine candidates capable of controlling coccidiosis is rising and this panel of gametocyte targets represents an invaluable resource for development of future strategies to interrupt parasite transmission, not just in Eimeria but in other Coccidia, including Toxoplasma, where transmission blocking is a relatively unexplored strategy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1298-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
- Subjects :
- 10078 Institute of Parasitology
[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]
Protozoan Proteins
Eimeria tenella
RNA Seq
Microgametocyte
Macrogametocyte
Oocyst
Fertilisation
Transmission
Transcriptome
0302 clinical medicine
600 Technology
Parasite hosting
Genetics
0303 health sciences
biology
Recombinant Proteins
3. Good health
Coccidiosis
Sporozoites
1305 Biotechnology
Oxidoreductases
Research Article
Biotechnology
Molecular Sequence Data
030231 tropical medicine
610 Medicine & health
10071 Functional Genomics Center Zurich
Eimeria
03 medical and health sciences
Coccidia
1311 Genetics
parasitic diseases
medicine
Gametocyte
Animals
Amino Acid Sequence
Gene
030304 developmental biology
Merozoites
Sequence Analysis, RNA
Oocysts
Toxoplasma gondii
biology.organism_classification
medicine.disease
10187 Department of Farm Animals
Microscopy, Fluorescence
570 Life sciences
RNA
Chickens
Genome, Protozoan
Sequence Alignment
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14712164
- Volume :
- 16
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- BMC Genomics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....73ab4545ece5258cdc40229d7cf4d628