1.Molecular Detection of Theileria species in Cattle from Jilin Province, China
Liu, M.M. ; Cao, S.N. ; Adjou Moumouni, P.F. ; Jirapattharasate, C. ; Wang, G.B. ; Gao, Y. ; Guo, H.P. ; Zhou, M. ; Xuan, X.N.
Tropical Biomedicine 2017;34(3):598-606
Bovine theileriosis is a tick-borne disease that is hampering the development of
the domestic cattle industry in northern China. This study involved a molecular survey of
bovine Theileria species in 137 blood samples from cattle in the Jilin province of China. The
DNA samples were screened by species-specific 18S rRNA PCR. Results revealed that 19.7%
(27/137), 17.5% (24/137) and 10.9% (15/137) were found to be infected with Theileria sinensis,
Theileria orientalis, respectively. Mixed infection was found in 8.8% (12/137). The overall
detection rates of Baishan, Yanji, Jilin and Liaoyuan districts was 60.0%, 17.5%, 5.3% and 0%,
respectively. There is little information on the detection and distribution of bovine Theileria
species in northern China. Therefore, this study provides important data for understanding
the epidemiology of Theileria species and designing appropriate approaches for the diagnosis
and control of bovine theileriosis in northern China.
2.Construction of a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing Babesia gibsoni thrombospondin-related anonymous protein and evaluation of its immunogenicity in mice
Nakamura, C. ; Liu, M.M. ; Goo, Y.K. ; Zhang, G.H. ; Jia, H.L. ; Kumagai, A. ; Zhang, H.S. ; Zhou, J.L. ; Nishikawa, Y. ; Xuan, X.N.
Tropical Biomedicine 2020;37(No.4):1029-1037
Previously, we have identified a gene encoding thrombospondin-related anonymous
protein of Babesia gibsoni (BgTRAP), and have shown that the antisera raised against
recombinant BgTRAP expressed in Escherichia coli inhibited the growth of parasites. In the
present study, a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the BgTRAP (VV/BgTRAP) was
constructed. A specific band with a molecular mass of 80 kDa, which is similar to that of
native BgTRAP on the merozoites of B. gibsoni, was detected in the supernatant of VV/
BgTRAP-infected RK13 cells. Mice inoculated with VV/BgTRAP produced a specific antiBgTRAP response. The antiserum against VV/BgTRAP showed reactivity against the native
BgTRAP on parasites. These results indicated that the recombinant vaccinia virus expressing
BgTRAP might be a vaccine candidate against canine B. gibsoni infection.
3.microRNAs expression profiles in Schistosoma japonicum of different sex 14 and 28 days post-infection
Ai, L. ; Hu, W. ; Zhang, R.L. ; Huang, D.N. ; Chen, S.H. ; Xu, B. ; Li, H. ; Cai, Y.C. ; Lu, Y. ; Zhou, X.N. ; Chen, M.X. ; Chen, J.X.
Tropical Biomedicine 2020;37(No.4):947-962
Different miRNAs are involved in the life cycles of Schistosoma japonicum. The
aim of this study was to examine the expression profile of miRNAs in individual S. japonicum
of different sex before and after pairing (18 and 24 dpi). The majority of differential expressed
miRNAs were highly abundant at 14 dpi, except for sja-miR-125b and sja-miR-3505, in both
male and female. Moreover, it was estimated that sja-miR-125b and sja-miR-3505 might be
related to laying eggs. sja-miR-2a-5p and sja-miR-3484-5p were expressed at 14 dpi in males
and were significantly clustered in DNA topoisomerase III, Rap guanine nucleotide exchange
factor 1 and L-serine/L-threonine ammonia-lyase. Target genes of sja-miR-2d-5p, sja-miR-31-
5p and sja-miR-125a, which were expressed at 14 dpi in males but particularly females, were
clustered in kelch-like protein 12, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, class I, and heat shock
protein 90 kDa beta. Predicted target genes of sja-miR-3483-3p (expressed at 28 dpi in
females but not in males) were clustered in 26S proteasome regulatory subunit N1, ATPdependent RNA helicase DDX17. Predicted target genes of sja-miR-219-5p, which were
differentially expressed at 28 dpi in females but particularly males, were clustered in DNA
excision repair protein ERCC-6, protein phosphatase 1D, and ATPase family AAA domaincontaining protein 3A/B. Moreover, at 28 dpi, eight miRNAs were significantly up-regulated in
females compared to males. The predicted target genes of these miRNAs were significantly
clustered in heat shock protein 90 kDa beta, 26S proteasome regulatory subunit N1, and
protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1. To sum up, differentially expressed miRNAs may
have an essential role and provide necessary information on clarifying this trematode’s growth,
development, maturation, and infection ability to mammalian hosts in its complex life cycle,
and may be helpful for developing new drug targets and vaccine candidates for schistosomiasis.