Journal article
A Biomphalaria glabrata peptide that stimulates significant behaviour modifications in aquatic free-living Schistosoma mansoni miracidia
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol.13(1), pp.1-20
2019
PMCID: PMC6358113
PMID: 30668561
Abstract
The human disease schistosomiasis (or bilharzia) is caused by the helminth blood fluke parasite Schistosoma mansoni, which requires an intermediate host, the freshwater gastropod snail Biomphalaria glabrata (the most common intermediate host). The free-swimming parasite miracidia utilises an excellent chemosensory sense to detect and locate an appropriate host. This study investigated the biomolecules released by the snail that stimulate changes in the behaviour of the aquatic S. mansoni miracidia. To achieve this, we have performed an integrated analysis of the snail-conditioned water, through chromatography and bioassay-guided behaviour observations, followed by mass spectrometry. A single fraction containing multiple putative peptides could stimulate extreme swimming behaviour modifications (e.g. velocity, angular variation) similar to those observed in response to crude snail mucus. One peptide (P12;-R-DITSGLDPEVADD-KR-) could replicate the stimulation of miracidia behaviour changes. P12 is derived from a larger precursor protein with a signal peptide and multiple dibasic cleavage sites, which is synthesised in various tissues of the snail, including the central nervous system and foot. P12 consists of an alpha helix secondary structure as indicated by circular dichroism spectroscopy. This information will be helpful for the development of approaches to manipulate this parasites life cycle, and opens up new avenues for exploring other parasitic diseases which have an aquatic phase using methods detailed in this investigation.
Details
- Title
- A Biomphalaria glabrata peptide that stimulates significant behaviour modifications in aquatic free-living Schistosoma mansoni miracidia
- Authors
- Tianfang Wang (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & EngineeringRussell C Wyeth (Author) - St. Francis Xavier UniversityDi Liang (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & EngineeringUtpal Bose (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & EngineeringGuoying Ni (Author) - Griffith UniversityDonald P McManus (Author) - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteScott F Cummins (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - School of Science & Engineering
- Publication details
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol.13(1), pp.1-20
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006948
- ISSN
- 1935-2727
- PMID
- 30668561; PMC6358113
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2019 Wang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450896002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
- Tropical Medicine
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