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Published on: July 14, 2020
Besnoitia besnoiti-driven endothelial host cell cycle alteration
Zahady D Velásquez1, Sara Lopez-Osorio2,3, Learta Pervizaj-Oruqaj4,5,6
1Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University, Schubertstr. 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany. zahady.velasquez@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
Besnoitia besnoiti infection in cattle endothelial cells differs from Toxoplasma gondii, inducing cell cycle stasis at G1-to-S transition. This parasite-driven modulation involves cyclin E1 upregulation and enhanced chromosome condensation, unlike T. gondii’s G2/M arrest.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Besnoitia besnoiti is an obligate intracellular parasite of cattle, infecting endothelial cells.
- Apicomplexan parasites can modulate host cell cycles for intracellular development.
- Toxoplasma gondii induces G2/M arrest in bovine endothelial cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the host cell cycle modulation by B. besnoiti in bovine umbilical vein endothelial cells (BUVEC).
- To compare the cell cycle effects of B. besnoiti with those of T. gondii in the same cell system.
Main Methods:
- Infection of primary BUVEC with B. besnoiti tachyzoites.
- Analysis of cyclin expression patterns.
- Assessment of histone H3 (S10) phosphorylation.
- Evaluation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) subcellular abundance.
Main Results:
- B. besnoiti infection leads to cyclin E1 upregulation, indicating G1-to-S phase transition stasis.
- Unlike T. gondii, B. besnoiti does not induce mitotic phase alterations (chromosome segregation, spindle formation, cytokinesis).
- Histone H3 (S10) phosphorylation and nuclear PCNA levels are increased in B. besnoiti-infected cells.
Conclusions:
- B. besnoiti modulates the host cell cycle differently than T. gondii.
- B. besnoiti induces G1-to-S cell cycle stasis and enhanced chromosome condensation in BUVEC.
- These findings highlight distinct host-parasite interactions within apicomplexan infections.
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