Entamoeba moshkovskii as a potential model organism for Gal/GalNAc lectin intermediate subunit exhibition and functional identification

• Published in: Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 178 - 187
• Main Authors: Li, Qingshan, Feng, Meng, Zhang, Hongze, Zhou, Hang, Cheng, Xunjia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan International Research and Cooperation Association for Bio & Socio-Sciences Advancement 30.06.2024
• Subjects: Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoeba moshkovskii; Gal/GalNAc lectin; model organism; transfection; Entamoeba histolytica; Entamoeba moshkovskii; model organism; Gal/GalNAc lectin; transfection
• ISSN: 1881-7831; 1881-784X
• DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2024.01031

In humans, Entamoeba histolytica is the main pathogen causing various amoebiases, while E. moshkovskii falls between being a pathogen and non-pathogen. The two species have similar behavior patterns but differ significantly in pathogenicity, with previous studies and clinical data indicating that E. moshkovskii has a low level of pathogenicity. Meaningfully, the biological characteristics of E. moshkovskii make it a potential model organism and a protein display platform for studying the functions of important Entamoeba proteins. Here, an Amoeba-pcDNA3.1 vector capable of overexpressing E. histolytica-sourced Igl-C protein was constructed and successfully transfected into E. moshkovskii. High levels of expression of the Igl-C, EGFP, and NeoR genes were identified in Igl-C-transfected trophozoites using qRT-PCR, and they were subsequently confirmed using immunoblotting. Transfection of Igl-C protein improved the adherence and phagocytosis of E. moshkovskii, demonstrating that E. histolytica Igl mediated amoebic adhesion. Moreover, as a manifestation of protein virulence, the ability of post-transfected trophozoites to induce inflammation in host macrophages was also enhanced. In conclusion, this study utilizing the characteristics of E. moshkovskii confirmed its potential to serve as a model organism. E. moshkovskii could replace E. histolytica as the target of gene editing, allowing more efficient study of amoebic pathogenicity.