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Cryptosporidium parvum cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG): An essential mediator of merozoite egress

Samantha Nava1, Aygul Sadiqova1, Alejandro Castellanos-Gonzalez1

  • 1Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555-0435, USA.

Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
|April 30, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase G (PKG) is crucial for Cryptosporidium parasite spread. Silencing PKG in Cryptosporidium parvum inhibited merozoite egress from host cells, revealing PKG

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by the obligate intracellular parasite Cryptosporidium.
  • Merozoite egress, the release of parasites from host cells, is vital for the propagation of Cryptosporidium infection.
  • The molecular mechanisms governing Cryptosporidium merozoite egress remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential role of Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase G (PKG) in the egress of Cryptosporidium merozoites.
  • To determine if PKG is a key mediator in the parasite lifecycle.

Main Methods:

  • Antisense RNA sequences were utilized to specifically silence the expression of PKG in Cryptosporidium parvum.
  • The effect of PKG silencing on merozoite egress from infected HCT-8 cells was quantified.

Main Results:

  • Silencing of PKG significantly inhibited the egress of Cryptosporidium merozoites from host cells.
  • Intracellular forms of the parasite were retained within the host cells following PKG silencing.
  • This suggests PKG is essential for the release of merozoites.

Conclusions:

  • Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase G (PKG) is identified as a critical mediator of merozoite egress in Cryptosporidium.
  • PKG plays a key role in a crucial step of the parasite's lifecycle, essential for infection spread.
Keywords:
CryptosporidiumCyclic GMP-dependent protein kinaseEgress

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