A comparative proteomics analysis of the egg secretions of three major schistosome species

• Published in: Molecular and biochemical parasitology Vol. 240; p. 111322
• Main Authors: Carson, Jack P., Robinson, Mark W., Hsieh, Michael H., Cody, James, Le, Loc, You, Hong, McManus, Donald P., Gobert, Geoffrey N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2020
• Subjects: Egg; Excretory/secretory protein; Proteomics; Schistosoma haematobium; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosoma haematobium; Egg; Schistosoma japonicum; Proteomics; Excretory/secretory protein
• ISSN: 0166-6851; 1872-9428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2020.111322

•S. mansoni eggs secrete at least 266 proteins, 78 more than previously reported.•S. mansoni, S. japonicum and S. haematobium egg secretions vary in complexity.•Shared components between species include vesicle-associated and detox proteins.•Potential pathology causing proteins appear unique to each secretome.•Varied secretions likely influence species-specific pathology and disease severity. Morbidity associated with hepatic and urogenital schistosomiasis stems primarily from the host immune response directed against schistosome eggs. When eggs become entrapped in host tissues, the development of fibrotic plaques drives downstream pathology. These events occur due to the antigenic nature of egg excretory/secretory products (ESPs). Both Schistosoma mansoni and S. japonicum ESPs have been shown to interact with several cell populations in the host liver including hepatocytes, macrophages, and hepatic stellate cells, with both immunomodulatory and pathological consequences. Several protein components of the ESPs of S. mansoni and S. japonicum eggs have been characterised; however, studies into the collective contents of schistosome egg ESPs are lacking. Utilising shotgun mass spectrometry and an array of in silico analyses, we identified 266, 90 and 50 proteins within the S. mansoni, S. japonicum and S. haematobium egg secretomes respectively. We identified numerous proteins with already established immunomodulatory activities, vaccine candidates and vesicle markers. Relatively few common orthologues within the ESPs were identified by BLAST, indicating that the three egg secretomes differ in content significantly. Having a clearer understanding of these components may lead to the identification of new proteins with uncharacterised immunomodulatory potential or pathological relevance. This will enhance our understanding of host-parasite interactions, particularly those occurring during chronic schistosomiasis, and pave the way towards novel therapeutics and vaccines.