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Life cycle truncation in Digenea, a case study of Neophasis spp. (Acanthocolpidae).

ABSTRACT: Truncated life cycles may emerge in digeneans if the second intermediate host is eliminated, and the first intermediate host, the mollusc, takes up its role. To understand the causes of this type of life cycle truncation, we analyzed closely related species of the genus Neophasis (Acanthocolpidae) with three-host and two-host life cycles. The life cycle of Neophasis anarrhichae involves two hosts: wolffishes of the genus Anarhichas as the definitive host and the common whelk Buccinum undatum as the intermediate host. Neophasis oculata, a closely related species with a three-host life cycle, would be a suitable candidate for the comparison, but some previous data on its life cycle seem to be erroneous. In this study, we aimed to redescribe the life cycle of N. oculata and to verify the life cycle of N. anarrhichae using molecular and morphological methods. Putative life cycle stages of these two species from intermediate hosts were linked with adult worms from definitive hosts using ribosomal molecular data: 18S, ITS1, 5.8S-ITS2, 28S. These markers did not differ within the species and were only slightly different between them. Intra- and interspecific variability was also estimated using mitochondrial COI gene. In the constructed phylogeny Neophasis spp. formed a common clade with two other genera of the Acanthocolpidae, Tormopsolus and Pleorchis. We demonstrated that the first intermediate hosts of N. oculata were gastropods Neptunea despecta and B. undatum (Buccinoidea). Shorthorn sculpins Myoxocephalus scorpius were shown to act as the second intermediate and definitive hosts of N. oculata. The previous reconstruction of the two-host life cycle of N. anarrhichae was reaffirmed. We suggest that life cycle truncation in N. anarrhichae was initiated by an acquisition of continuous morphogenesis in the hermaphroditic generation and supported by a strong prey-predator relationship between A. lupus and B. undatum.

SUBMITTER: Kremnev G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8143980 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) is an endemic fungal pneumonia of the North and South American deserts. The causative agents of Valley fever are the dimorphic fungi Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii, which grow as mycelia in the environment and as spherules within the lungs of vulnerable hosts. Current diagnostics for Valley fever are severely lacking due to poor sensitivity and invasiveness, contributing to a 23-day median time to diagnosis, and therefore, new diagnostic tools are needed. We are working toward the development of a breath-based diagnostic for coccidioidomycosis, and in this initial study, we characterized the volatile metabolomes (or volatilomes) of in vitro cultures of Coccidioides Using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS), we characterized the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by six strains of each species during mycelial or spherule growth. We detected a total of 353 VOCs that were at least 2-fold more abundant in a Coccidioides culture than in medium controls and found that the volatile metabolome of Coccidioides is more dependent on the growth phase (spherules versus mycelia) than on the species. The volatile profiles of C. immitis and C. posadasii have strong similarities, indicating that a single suite of Valley fever breath biomarkers can be developed to detect both species.IMPORTANCE Coccidioidomycosis, or Valley fever, causes up to 30% of community-acquired pneumonias in highly populated areas of the U.S. desert southwest where the disease is endemic. The infection is difficult to diagnose by standard serological and histopathological methods, which delays appropriate treatment. Therefore, we are working toward the development of breath-based diagnostics for Valley fever. In this study, we characterized the volatile metabolomes (or volatilomes) of six strains each of Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii, the dimorphic fungal species that cause Valley fever. By analyzing the volatilomes during the two modes of growth of the fungus-mycelia and spherules-we observed that the life cycle plays a significant role in the volatiles produced by Coccidioides In contrast, we observed no significant differences in the C. immitis versus C. posadasii volatilomes. These data suggest that life cycle, rather than species, should guide the selection of putative biomarkers for a Valley fever breath test.

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Life cycle truncation in Digenea, a case study of Neophasis spp. (Acanthocolpidae).

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