Mesocestoides corti (syn. vogae, cestoda): characterization of genes encoding cysteine-rich secreted proteins (CRISP)

Area of Science:

• * Molecular biology
• * Parasitology
• * Helminthology

Background:

• * Cestodes, or tapeworms, possess complex life cycles requiring specific adaptations for development and host survival.
• * Cysteine-rich secreted proteins (CRISPs) are a diverse gene family implicated in various biological processes across different organisms.
• * Understanding gene function in cestodes is crucial for developing novel control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To identify and characterize novel genes involved in the development and adaptation of the cestode Mesocestoides corti.
• * To investigate the expression patterns of a newly identified M. corti cysteine-rich secreted protein 2 (McCrisp2) gene.

Main Methods:

• * Isolation and sequencing of coding sequences from M. corti tetrathyridium larvae.
• * Bioinformatic analysis to identify genes with similarity to known CRISP families.
• * Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to determine McCrisp2 expression levels.
• * In situ hybridization to localize McCrisp2 expression within larval and segmented worm stages.

Main Results:

• * Four coding sequences with significant similarity to CRISP genes were identified in M. corti.
• * The McCrisp2 gene encodes a protein with a putative signal peptide and 10 cysteine residues.
• * McCrisp2 expression was significantly upregulated (75% increase) in segmented worms compared to tetrathyridia.
• * McCrisp2 expression was localized to the apical region of tetrathyridia and proglottids of segmented worms.

Conclusions:

• * The identified M. corti CRISP genes, particularly McCrisp2, are likely involved in parasite development and adaptation.
• * McCrisp2 may function as an excretory-secretory (ES) product, potentially playing a role in differentiation processes.
• * Further research into M. corti CRISP proteins could reveal new targets for antiparasitic interventions.