The Potential Role of Binding Proteins in Human Parasitic Infections: An In-Depth Look at the Novel Family of Nematode-Specific Fatty Acid and Retinol Binding Proteins

Bath, Jennifer; Ferris, Amber E.

doi:10.5772/50654

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 44 publications

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“…Fatty acid and retinol binding (FAR) proteins were common across the adult secretomes of 16/18 species reviewed here. These highly conserved proteins may play a critical role in the sequestration of a broad range of essential fatty acids, retinoids and other nutrients for delivery from the host to the parasite [82]. Many parasites have limited capacity to synthesize lipids and therefore depend on lipid binding proteins to acquire essential metabolites from their host [83].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mining nematode protein secretomes to explain lifestyle and host specificity

et al. 2021

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Parasitic nematodes are highly successful pathogens, inflicting disease on humans, animals and plants. Despite great differences in their life cycles, host preference and transmission modes, these parasites share a common capacity to manipulate their host’s immune system. This is at least partly achieved through the release of excretory/secretory proteins, the most well-characterized component of nematode secretomes, that are comprised of functionally diverse molecules. In this work, we analyzed published protein secretomes of parasitic nematodes to identify common patterns as well as species-specific traits. The 20 selected organisms span 4 nematode clades, including plant pathogens, animal parasites, and the free-living species Caenorhabditis elegans. Transthyretin-like proteins were the only component common to all adult secretomes; many other protein classes overlapped across multiple datasets. The glycolytic enzymes aldolase and enolase were present in all parasitic species, but missing from C. elegans. Secretomes from larval stages showed less overlap between species. Although comparison of secretome composition across species and life-cycle stages is challenged by the use of different methods and depths of sequencing among studies, our workflow enabled the identification of conserved protein families and pinpointed elements that may have evolved as to enable parasitism. This strategy, extended to more secretomes, may be exploited to prioritize therapeutic targets in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%