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Trichomonas gallinae Kills Host Cells Using Trogocytosis
Chen Xiang1,2, Yi Li3, Shengfan Jing3
1National Research Center for Wildlife-Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 25, 2023
Summary
Trichomonas gallinae kills host cells through trogocytosis, a process of ingesting cell fragments. Inhibitors of PI3K and cysteine proteases block this parasitic mechanism, crucial for controlling avian trichomoniasis.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Cell Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Trichomonas gallinae is a globally prevalent poultry parasite causing significant mortality in birds.
- The precise mechanism by which T. gallinae damages host cells remains incompletely understood, despite evidence of direct contact-mediated damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism of host cell destruction by Trichomonas gallinae.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for avian trichomoniasis.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the interaction between T. gallinae and host cells.
- Utilized PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin) and cysteine protease inhibitor (E-64D) to assess their effect on parasite-induced host cell death.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that T. gallinae kills host cells via trogocytosis, the ingestion of host cell fragments.
- Showed that wortmannin and E-64D significantly inhibit T. gallinae's ability to destroy host cells.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence that Trichomonas gallinae employs trogocytosis to kill host cells.
- Understanding this parasitic mechanism is vital for developing effective vaccines and treatments against avian trichomoniasis.
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