Schistosome infections induce significant changes in the host biliary proteome

Area of Science:

• * Parasitology and Proteomics
• * Veterinary Medicine and Human Health

Background:

• * Schistosomiasis, caused by blood trematodes, leads to significant health issues in humans and animals, primarily due to inflammatory responses to parasite eggs in the liver.
• * While hepatic pathology is well-documented, the effects of schistosome infection on biliary function remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To analyze the changes induced by *Schistosoma bovis* infection in the biliary proteome.
• * To understand the impact of these proteomic alterations on gallbladder function.

Main Methods:

• * Gallbladders from *S. bovis*-infected and non-infected mice were collected and homogenized.
• * Proteins were fractionated using differential centrifugation and SDS-PAGE.
• * Protein identification was performed using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Main Results:

• * A total of 1937 biliary proteins were identified and classified by protein class and molecular function.
• * Significant differences were observed in the gallbladder proteomes of infected versus non-infected mice.
• * Chronic schistosome infections induce substantial changes in the biliary proteome.

Conclusions:

• * This study provides the first comprehensive proteomic catalogue of mouse gallbladder proteins.
• * *S. bovis* infection causes significant alterations in bile protein composition and function.
• * These changes may lead to physiological disturbances and affect drug metabolism in schistosomiasis patients and animals.