BackgroundThe small ruminant parasite Haemonchus contortus is the most widely used parasitic nematode in drug discovery, vaccine development and anthelmintic resistance research. Its remarkable propensity to develop resistance threatens the viability of the sheep industry in many regions of the world and provides a cautionary example of the effect of mass drug administration to control parasitic nematodes. Its phylogenetic position makes it particularly well placed for comparison with the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the most economically important parasites of livestock and humans.ResultsHere we report the detailed analysis of a draft genome assembly and extensive transcriptomic dataset for H. contortus. This represents the first genome to be published for a strongylid nematode and the most extensive transcriptomic dataset for any parasitic nematode reported to date. We show a general pattern of conservation of genome structure and gene content between H. contortus and C. elegans, but also a dramatic expansion of important parasite gene families. We identify genes involved in parasite-specific pathways such as blood feeding, neurological function, and drug metabolism. In particular, we describe complete gene repertoires for known drug target families, providing the most comprehensive understanding yet of the action of several important anthelmintics. Also, we identify a set of genes enriched in the parasitic stages of the lifecycle and the parasite gut that provide a rich source of vaccine and drug target candidates.ConclusionsThe H. contortus genome and transcriptome provide an essential platform for postgenomic research in this and other important strongylid parasites.

The clinical practice of oncology is being transformed by molecular diagnostics that will enable predictive and personalized medicine. Current technologies for quantitation of the cancer proteome are either qualitative (e.g., immunohistochemistry) or require large sample sizes (e.g., flow cytometry). Here, we report a microfluidic platform, Microfluidic Image Cytometry (MIC), capable of quantitative, single-cell proteomic analysis of multiple signaling molecules using only 1,000-2,800 cells. Using cultured cell lines, we demonstrate simultaneous measurement of four critical signaling proteins (EGFR, PTEN, phospho-Akt and phospho-S6) within the oncogenic PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. To demonstrate the clinical application of the MIC platform to solid tumors, we analyzed a panel of 19 human brain tumor biopsies, including glioblastomas. Our MIC measurements were validated by clinical immunohistochemistry and confirmed the striking inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity characteristic of glioblastoma. To interpret the multiparameter, single-cell MIC measurements, we adapted bioinformatic methods including self-organizing maps that stratify patients into clusters which predict tumor progression and patient survival. Together with bioinformatic analysis, the MIC platform represents a robust, enabling in vitro molecular diagnostic technology for systems pathology analysis and personalized medicine.

Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that exosomes, a series of biologically functional small vesicles of endocytic origin carrying a variety of active constituents, especially tumor-derived exosomes, contribute to tumor progression and metastasis. This review focuses on the specific multifaceted roles of exosomes in affecting sequenced four crucial processes of metastasis, through which cancer cells spread from primary to secondary organs and finally form macroscopic metastatic lesions. First, exosomes modulate the primary tumor sites to assist cancer growth and dissemination. In this part, five main biological events are reviewed, including the transfer of oncogenic constituents, the recruitment and activation of fibroblasts, the induction of angiogenesis, immunosuppression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) promotion. In Step 2, we list two recently disclosed mechanisms during the organ-specific homing process: the exosomal integrin model and exosomal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/miR-26/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) model. Subsequently, Step 3 focuses on the interactions between exosomes and pre-metastatic niche, in which we highlight the specific functions of exosomes in angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, immune modulation and metabolic, epigenetic and stromal reprogramming of pre-metastatic niche. Finally, we summarize the mechanisms of exosomes in helping the metastatic circulating tumor cells escape from immunologic surveillance, survive in the blood circulation and proliferate in host organs.