Transcriptional profiling of stage specific gene expression in the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

Cassidy-Hanley, Donna; Cordonnier‐Pratt, Marie‐Michèle; Pratt, Lee H.; Devine, Catherine S.; Hossain, M. Mozammal; Dickerson, Harry W.; Clark, Taane G.

doi:10.1016/j.molbiopara.2011.04.004

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…Approximately 30% of sequences in the parasite Trypanosoma vivax showed significantly high expression levels in the bloodstream stage, and were confirmed to be genes related to metabolic processes [39]. Transcriptomic analysis of I. multifiliis revealed that transcripts related to metabolic enzymes, including succinyl-CoA ligase, aldo/keto reductase, and glutamine synthetase, were significantly upregulated in the trophont stage [21]. In the present study, those metabolic enzymes were also highly expressed in the trophont stage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comparative analysis of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis trophonts and theronts showed that the most abundant transcripts were highly stage-specific and coincided with metabolic activities [21]. In 2010, Lokanathan et al [22] identified 2,659 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a cDNA library of C. irritans tomonts, of which just 1,611 matched proteins with known functions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative transcriptional profile of the fish parasite Cryptocaryon irritans

Wang

et al. 2016

Parasites Vectors

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Background Cryptocaryon irritans is an obligate ectoparasitic ciliate pathogen of marine fishes. It can infect most marine teleosts and cause heavy economic losses in aquaculture. There is currently no effective method of controlling this disease, and little information is available regarding the genes involved in its development and virulence. We aimed to investigate the distinct features of the three major life-cycle stages of C. irritans in terms of gene transcription level, and identify candidate vaccines/drug targets. We established a reference transcriptome of C. irritans by RNA-seq.MethodsThree cDNA libraries using total poly(A)+ mRNA isolated from trophonts, tomonts, and theronts was constructed and sequenced, respectively. Clean reads from the three stages were de novo assembled to generated unigene. Annotation of unigenes and transcriptomic comparison of three stages was performed.ResultsTotals of 73.15, 62.23, and 109.57 million clean reads were generated from trophont, tomont, and theront libraries, respectively. After de novo assembly, 49,104 unigenes were obtained, including 9,253 unigenes with significant similarities to proteins from other ciliates. Transcriptomic comparisons revealed that 2,470 genes were differentially expressed among the three stages, including 2,011, 1,404, and 1,797 genes that were significantly differentially expressed in tomont/theront, tomont/trophont, and theront/trophont pairwise comparisons, respectively. Based on the results of hierarchical clustering, all differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were located in five major clusters. DEGs in clusters 1 and 2 were more highly expressed in tomonts than in other stages, DEGs in cluster 3 were dominant in the tomont and trophont stages, whereas clusters 4 and 5 included genes upregulated in the theront stage. In addition, Immobilization antigens (I-antigens) and proteases have long been considered major targets for vaccine development and potential drug targets in parasites, respectively. In the present study, nine putative I-antigens transcripts and 161 protease transcripts were found in the transcriptome of C. irritans.ConclusionIt was concluded that DEGs enriched in tomonts were involved in cell division, to increase the number of theronts and ensure parasite continuity. DEGs enriched in theronts were associated with response to stimuli, whereas genes enriched in trophonts were related to nutrient accumulation and cell growth. In addition, the I-antigen and protease transcripts in our transcriptome could contribute to the development of vaccines or targeted drugs. Together, the results of the present study provide novel insights into the physiological processes of a marine parasitic ciliate.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1919-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative transcriptional profile of the fish parasite Cryptocaryon irritans

Wang

et al. 2016

Parasites Vectors

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“…EST projects [3,4] have provided partial sequences of many protein-coding genes, but to gain a complete understanding of Ich's metabolism and virulence, it is necessary to obtain and analyze its full genome sequence. Indeed, this approach has been extremely useful in uncovering potential targets for therapeutic intervention and/or immunologic protection for a number of protozoan parasites whose complete genome sequences have recently been deciphered [5-8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative genomics of the pathogenic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, its free-living relatives and a host species provide insights into adoption of a parasitic lifestyle and prospects for disease control

et al. 2011

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BackgroundIchthyophthirius multifiliis, commonly known as Ich, is a highly pathogenic ciliate responsible for 'white spot', a disease causing significant economic losses to the global aquaculture industry. Options for disease control are extremely limited, and Ich's obligate parasitic lifestyle makes experimental studies challenging. Unlike most well-studied protozoan parasites, Ich belongs to a phylum composed primarily of free-living members. Indeed, it is closely related to the model organism Tetrahymena thermophila. Genomic studies represent a promising strategy to reduce the impact of this disease and to understand the evolutionary transition to parasitism.ResultsWe report the sequencing, assembly and annotation of the Ich macronuclear genome. Compared with its free-living relative T. thermophila, the Ich genome is reduced approximately two-fold in length and gene density and three-fold in gene content. We analyzed in detail several gene classes with diverse functions in behavior, cellular function and host immunogenicity, including protein kinases, membrane transporters, proteases, surface antigens and cytoskeletal components and regulators. We also mapped by orthology Ich's metabolic pathways in comparison with other ciliates and a potential host organism, the zebrafish Danio rerio.ConclusionsKnowledge of the complete protein-coding and metabolic potential of Ich opens avenues for rational testing of therapeutic drugs that target functions essential to this parasite but not to its fish hosts. Also, a catalog of surface protein-encoding genes will facilitate development of more effective vaccines. The potential to use T. thermophila as a surrogate model offers promise toward controlling 'white spot' disease and understanding the adaptation to a parasitic lifestyle.

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“…It is also known that this type of ectoparasites can be transmitted, even without direct contact whit an infected host, and some are so specific that when the host dies they are able to find a new host of the same species (Cable & Harris, 2002). Regarding I. multifiliis, free-swimming theront stage parasites invade the skin and gills of host fish and rapidly transform into feeding trophonts within the epidermis (Cassidy-Hanley et al, 2011). Mature trophonts exit the host tissue, giving rise to the tomont stage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mature trophonts exit the host tissue, giving rise to the tomont stage. Then, tomonts attach to an inert support, encyst within a gelatinous capsule, and rapidly divide to give rise to 100-1000 new infective theronts within 18-24 h at 22ºC (Cassidy-Hanley et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites of two coexisting invasive sailfin catfishes (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in a tropical region of Mexico

et al. 2016

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Currently many species of Amazon sailfin catfishes (Loricariidae) have been introduced to wild environments outside their native range. There is, however, little knowledge about their role as vectors of parasites that can infect native fish or even humans through its consumption. The aim of the present study was to determine the parasitic fauna of the invasive sailfin catfish species Pterygoplichthys pardalis (leopard pleco) and P. disjunctivus (vermiculated pleco) from freshwater systems in the southeast of Mexico. Four ectoparasite species were found in P. pardalis (1 protozoan: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis; 2 monogeneans: Urocleidoides vaginoclastrum and Heteropriapulus heterotylus; 1 digenean: Clinostomum sp.), and only one in Heteropriapulus disjunctivus (H. heterotylus). No endoparasites were found. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, U. vaginoclaustrum and Clinostomum sp., were considered as rare species (prevalence <5%) since they were found in a single individual of P. pardalis. H. heterotylus was the only species shared among both host species and it occurs throughout the year. This monogenean species represents 96% of total parasites recorded in P. pardalis and 100% in P. disjunctivus. Monthly values of prevalence, intensity and abundance of H. heterotylus in both host species showed important intra-annual variations, but not differ significantly between both hosts. Actualmente muchas especies de peces conocidos como plecos o peces diablo (Loricariidae) han sido introducidas en ambientes silvestres fuera de su área de distribución natural. Sin embargo, hay poco conocimiento acerca de su papel como vectores de parásitos que puedan infectar a los peces nativos o incluso los seres humanos a través de su consumo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la fauna parasitaria de las especies de plecos Pterygoplichthys pardalis (pleco leopardo) y P. disjunctivus (pleco vermiculado) en sistemas de agua dulce del sureste de México. Fueron encontradas cuatro especies de ectoparásitos en P. pardalis (1 protozoario: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis; 2 monogeneos: Urocleidoides vaginoclastrum y Heteropriapulus heterotylus; 1 digeneo: Clinostomum sp.) y una en P. disjunctivus (H. heterotylus). No se encontraron endoparásitos. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, U. vaginoclaustrum y Clinostomum sp. fueron consideradas como especies raras (prevalencia <5%), ya que estuvieron en un solo individuo de P. pardalis. Heteropriapulus heterotylus fue la única especie compartida entre ambas especies de peces y que estuvo presente durante todo el año, y representó el 96% del total de parásitos registrados en P. pardalis y el 100% en P. disjunctivus. La prevalencia, intensidad media y abundancia media de H. heterotylus mostraron importantes variaciones intra-anuales en ambas especies de peces, pero no difirió significativamente entre ambos hospederos.

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Transcriptional profiling of stage specific gene expression in the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

Cited by 18 publications

References 40 publications

Comparative transcriptional profile of the fish parasite Cryptocaryon irritans

Comparative transcriptional profile of the fish parasite Cryptocaryon irritans

Comparative genomics of the pathogenic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, its free-living relatives and a host species provide insights into adoption of a parasitic lifestyle and prospects for disease control

Parasites of two coexisting invasive sailfin catfishes (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in a tropical region of Mexico

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