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A family of fibrinogen-related proteins that precipitates parasite-derived molecules is produced by an invertebrate after infection.

ABSTRACT: After infection with the digenetic trematode Echinostoma paraensei, hemolymph of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata contains lectins comprised of 65-kDa subunits that precipitate polypeptides secreted by E. paraensei intramolluscan larvae. Comparable activity is lacking in hemolymph of uninfected snails. Three different cDNAs with sequence similarities to peptides derived from the 65-kDa lectins were obtained and unexpectedly found to encode fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs). These FREPs also contained regions with sequence similarity to Ig superfamily members. B. glabrata has at least five FREP genes, three of which are expressed at increased levels after infection. Elucidation of components of the defense system of B. glabrata is relevant because this snail is an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni, the most widely distributed causative agent of human schistosomiasis. These results are novel in suggesting a role for invertebrate FREPs in recognition of parasite-derived molecules and also provide a model for investigating the diversity of molecules functioning in nonself-recognition in an invertebrate.

SUBMITTER: Adema CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC23082 | biostudies-literature | 1997 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A family of fibrinogen-related proteins that precipitates parasite-derived molecules is produced by an invertebrate after infection.

Adema C M CM Hertel L A LA Miller R D RD Loker E S ES

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 19970801 16

After infection with the digenetic trematode Echinostoma paraensei, hemolymph of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata contains lectins comprised of 65-kDa subunits that precipitate polypeptides secreted by E. paraensei intramolluscan larvae. Comparable activity is lacking in hemolymph of uninfected snails. Three different cDNAs with sequence similarities to peptides derived from the 65-kDa lectins were obtained and unexpectedly found to encode fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs). These FREPs also con ...[more]

PMID: 9238039

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen-related proteins with lectin activity are believed to be part of the tick innate immune system. Several fibrinogen-related proteins have been described and characterised mainly on the basis of their cDNA sequences while direct biochemical evidence is missing. One of them, the haemolymph lectin Dorin M from the tick Ornithodoros moubata was isolated and characterised in more depth. RESULTS: Several fibrinogen-related proteins were detected in the haemolymph of ixodid ticks Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. pulchellus, and R. sanguineus. These proteins were recognised by sera directed against the tick lectin Dorin M and the haemagglutination activity of the ticks R. appendiculatus and D. marginatus. Cross-reactivity of the identified proteins with antibodies against the fibrinogen domain of the human ficolin was also shown. The carbohydrate-binding ability of tick haemolymph was confirmed by haemagglutination activity assays, and this activity was shown to be inhibited by neuraminic acid and sialylated glycoproteins as well as by N-acetylated hexosamines. The fibrinogen-related proteins were shown to be glycosylated and they were localised in salivary glands, midguts, and haemocytes of D. marginatus. Hemelipoglycoprotein was also recognised by sera directed against the fibrinogen-related proteins in all three Rhipicephalus species as well as in D. marginatus. However, this protein does not contain the fibrinogen domain and thus, the binding possibly results from the structure similarity between hemelipoglycoprotein and the fibrinogen domain. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of fibrinogen-related proteins was shown in the haemolymph of four tick species in high abundance. Reactivity of antibodies directed against ficolin or fibrinogen-related proteins with proteins which do not contain the fibrinogen domain points out the importance of sequence analysis of the identified proteins in further studies. Previously observed expression of fibrinogen-related proteins in haemocytes together with the results of this study suggest involvement of fibrinogen-related proteins in tick immunity processes. Thus, they have potential as targets for anti-tick vaccines and as antimicrobial proteins in pharmacology. Research on fibrinogen-related proteins could reveal further details of tick innate immunity processes.

Dataset Information

A family of fibrinogen-related proteins that precipitates parasite-derived molecules is produced by an invertebrate after infection.

Publications

A family of fibrinogen-related proteins that precipitates parasite-derived molecules is produced by an invertebrate after infection.

Similar Datasets

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