Autophagy is a catabolic process involved in the degradation of a cell's own components for cell growth, development, homeostasis, and the recycling of cellular products. Autophagosome is an essential component in the protozoan parasite during differentiation and encystation. The present study identified and characterized autophagy-related protein (Atg) 3, a member of Atg8 conjugation system, in Acanthamoeba castellanii (AcAtg3). AcAtg3 encoding a 304 amino acid protein showed high similarity with the catalytic cysteine site of other E2 like enzymes of ubiquitin system. Predicted 3D structure of AcAtg3 revealed a hammer-like shape, which is the characteristic structure of E2-like enzymes. The expression level of AcAtg3 did not increase during encystation. However, the formation of mature cysts was significantly reduced in Atg3-siRNA transfected cells in which the production of Atg8-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate was inhibited. Fluorescent microscopic analysis revealed that dispersed AcAtg3-EGFP fusion protein gathered around autophagosomal membranes during encystation. These results provide important information for understanding autophagic machinery through the lipidation reaction mediated by Atg3 in Acanthamoeba.
Acanthamoeba castellanii/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Animals ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Lipid Metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protozoan Proteins/genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism ; Rats ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spores, Protozoan/*growth & development/*metabolism ; Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes/genetics/*metabolism

Autophagy-related protein 8 (Atg8) is an essential component of autophagy formation and encystment of cyst-forming parasites, and some protozoa, such as, Acanthamoeba, Entamoeba, and Dictyostelium, have been reported to possess a type of Atg8. In this study, an isoform of Atg8 was identified and characterized in Acanthamoeba castellanii (AcAtg8b). AcAtg8b protein was found to encode 132 amino acids and to be longer than AcAtg8 protein, which encoded 117 amino acids. Real-time PCR analysis showed high expression levels of AcAtg8b and AcAtg8 during encystation. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that AcAtg8b is involved in the formation of the autophagosomal membrane. Chemically synthesized siRNA against AcAtg8b reduced the encystation efficiency of Acanthamoeba, confirming that AcAtg8b, like AcAtg8, is an essential component of cyst formation in Acanthamoeba. Our findings suggest that Acanthamoeba has doubled the number of Atg8 gene copies to ensure the successful encystation for survival when 1 copy is lost. These 2 types of Atg8 identified in Acanthamoeba provide important information regarding autophagy formation, encystation mechanism, and survival of primitive, cyst-forming protozoan parasites.
Acanthamoeba castellanii/cytology/*genetics/physiology ; Amebiasis/*parasitology ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Autophagy ; Cell Membrane/metabolism ; DNA, Protozoan/chemistry/genetics ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Silencing ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phagosomes/metabolism ; Protein Isoforms ; Protozoan Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering/chemical synthesis/genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; Sequence Alignment

The onset, severity, and ultimate outcome of malaria infection are influenced by parasite-expressed virulence factors as well as by individual host responses to these determinants. In both humans and mice, liver injury follows parasite entry, persisting to the erythrocytic stage in the case of infection with the fatal strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Hepatic nuclear factor (HNF)-1alpha is a master regulator of not only the liver damage and adaptive responses but also diverse metabolic functions. In this study, we analyzed the expression of host HNF-1alpha in relation to malaria infection and evaluated its interaction with the 5'-untranslated region of subtilisin-like protease 2 (subtilase, Sub2). Recombinant human HNF-1alpha expressed by a lentiviral vector (LV HNF-1alpha) was introduced into mice. Interestingly, differences in the activity of the 5'-untranslated region of the Pf-Sub2 promoter were detected in 293T cells, and LV HNF-1alpha was observed to influence promoter activity, suggesting that host HNF-1alpha interacts with the Sub2 gene.
5' Untranslated Regions/*genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation/*genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha/administration & dosage/genetics/*metabolism ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lentivirus/genetics ; Malaria, Falciparum/metabolism/*parasitology/pathology ; Mice ; Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects/*genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; RNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; Signal Transduction ; Subtilisins/*genetics/metabolism

In order to clone and identify differentially expressed genes in the sporogony stage of Eimeria tenella, the cDNAs from unsporulated oocysts and sporulated oocysts of E. tenella were used as driver, respectively, the cDNAs from sporozoites of E. tenella was used tester, Two subtractive cDNA libraries of sporozoites were constructed by using the technique of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). the cDNAs from unsporulated oocysts was used driver, the cDNAs from sporulated ooceysts was used tester, one subtractive cDNA library of sporulated oocysts was constructed. PCR amplification revealed that the two subtractive cDNA libraries of sporozoites and one subtractive cDNA library of sporulated oocysts contained approximated 96%, 96% and 98% recombinant clones, respectively. Fifty positive clones were sequenced and analyzed in GenBank with Blast search from three subtractive cDNA libraries, respectively, thirteen unique sequences were found from the subtractive cDNA library of sporulated oocysts, eight ESTs shared significant identity with previously described. A total of forty unique sequences were obtained from the two subtractive cDNA libraries, nine ESTs shared significant identity with previously described, the other sequences represent novel genes of E. tenella with no significant homology to the proteins in Genbank. These results have provided the foundation for cloning new genes of E. tenella and further studying new approaches to control coccidiosis.
Animals ; Chickens ; parasitology ; Coccidiosis ; parasitology ; veterinary ; DNA, Protozoan ; genetics ; Eimeria tenella ; genetics ; physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gene Library ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; Poultry Diseases ; parasitology ; Spores

Recently, emerging waterborne protozoa, such as microsporidia, Cyclospora, and Cryptosporidium, have become a challenge to human health worldwide. Rapid, simple, and economical detection methods for these major waterborne protozoa in environmental and clinical samples are necessary to control infection and improve public health. In the present study, we developed a multiplex PCR test that is able to detect all these 3 major waterborne protozoa at the same time. Detection limits of the multiplex PCR method ranged from 101 to 102 oocysts or spores. The primers for microsporidia or Cryptosporidium used in this study can detect both Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis, or both Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum, respectively. Restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products with BsaBI or BsiEI makes it possible to distinguish the 2 species of microsporidia or Cryptosporidium, respectively. This simple, rapid, and cost-effective multiplex PCR method will be useful for detecting outbreaks or sporadic cases of waterborne protozoa infections.
Cryptosporidium/*isolation & purification ; Cyclospora/*isolation & purification ; DNA Primers/genetics ; DNA Restriction Enzymes/metabolism ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Microsporidia/*isolation & purification ; Parasitology/*methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Water/*parasitology

The LACK gene from Leishmania, an analogue of the receptor of activated protein kinase C, was discovered recently. In this study, the LACK gene of Leishmania donovani was obtained from the recombinant plasmid T-LACK by PCR. The gene was cloned into eukaryotic expressed plasmid pcDNA3.1(+) to construct recombinant plasmid. This recombinant plasmid then was transfected into the eukaryotic cell COS-7, and the expression of LACK gene in eukaryotic cell was detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining. Both RT-PCR and immunofluorescent staining of recombinant plasmid transfected COS-7 showed positive reaction, thus indicating that the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-LACK can express LACK protein in euka ryotic cell COS-7.
Animals ; Antigens, Protozoan ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; COS Cells ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Recombinant ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Leishmania donovani ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Protozoan Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Vaccines, DNA

Meiotic recombination is carried out through a specialized pathway for the formation and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) made by the Spo11 protein. The present study shed light on the functional role of cyclin, CYC2, in Tetrahymena thermophila which has transcriptionally high expression level during meiosis process. Knocking out the CYC2 gene results in arrest of meiotic conjugation process at 2.5-3.5 h after conjugation initiation, before the meiosis division starts, and in company with the absence of DSBs. To investigate the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon, a complete transcriptome profile was performed between wild-type strain and CYC2 knock-out strain. Functional analysis of RNA-Seq results identifies related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including SPO11 and these DEGs are enriched in DNA repair/mismatch repair (MMR) terms in homologous recombination (HR), which indicates that CYC2 could play a crucial role in meiosis by regulating SPO11 and participating in HR.
Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cyclins ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; DNA Repair ; Endodeoxyribonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Homologous Recombination ; Meiosis ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Phenotype ; Protozoan Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Tetrahymena thermophila ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcriptome