Discovery of Schistosoma mekongi circulating proteins and antigens in infected mouse sera

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 13;17(10):e0275992. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275992. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by an infection of the parasitic flatworms schistosomes. Schistosoma mekongi is a restricted Schistosoma species found near the Mekong River, mainly in southern Laos and northern Cambodia. Because there is no vaccine or effective early diagnosis available for S. mekongi, additional biomarkers are required. In this study, serum biomarkers associated with S. mekongi-infected mice were identified at 14-, 28-, 42-, and 56-days post-infection. Circulating proteins and antigens of S. mekongi in mouse sera were analyzed using mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Serine protease inhibitors and macrophage erythroblast attacher were down-regulated in mouse sera at all infection timepoints. In addition, 54 circulating proteins and 55 antigens of S. mekongi were identified. Notable circulating proteins included kyphoscoliosis peptidase and putative tuberin, and antigens were detected at all four infection timepoints, particularly in the early stages (12 days). The putative tuberin sequence of S. mekongi was highly similar to homologs found in other members of the genus Schistosoma and less similar to human and murine sequences. Our study provided the identity of promising diagnostic biomarkers that could be applicable in early schistosomiasis diagnosis and vaccine development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • Schistosoma*
  • Schistosomiasis*
  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein

Substances

  • Serine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Peptide Hydrolases

Grants and funding

This research was funded by Innovation Project grant [69864], a New Discovery and Frontier Research Grant FY2022 and ICTM awarded to O.R. This research project was also supported by postdoctoral fellowships awarded by Mahidol University to N.U. and O.R. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.