Project description:Trichomonas vaginalis, a common sexually transmitted parasite that colonizes the human urogenital tract, secretes extracellular vesicles (TvEVs) that are taken up by human cells and are speculated to be taken up by parasites as well. While the crosstalk between TvEVs and human cells has led to insight into host:parasite interactions, the role of TvEVs in infection have largely been one-sided, with little known about the effect of TvEV uptake by T. vaginalis. Approximately 11% of infections are found to be co-infections of multiple T. vaginalis strains. Clinical isolates often differ in their adherence to and cytolysis of host cells, underscoring the importance of understanding the effects of TvEV uptake within the parasite population. To address this question our lab observed the effects of EV uptake by T. vaginalis on parasite gene expression. Using RNA-seq, we showed that TvEVs upregulate expression of predicted parasite membrane proteins and identified a novel adherence factor, heteropolysaccharide binding protein (HPB2).
Project description:The sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis secretes extracellular vesicles (TvEVs) that are internalized by human host cells. The goal of this experiment was to identify the effects of TvEV uptake on host cell gene expression.
Project description:The sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis is often found in symbiosis with the obligate intracellular pathogen Mycoplasma hominis. M. hominis is itself an opportunistic pathogen of the female reproductive tract associated with bacterial vaginosis. The goal of this experiment was to identify the effects of each pathogen individually and in symbiosis on host cell gene expression.
Project description:Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually transmitted infection that causes vaginitis and increases the risk of HIV transmission. We are interested in the secreted and membrane glycoproteins of Trichomonas because they are likely involved in pathogenesis and may include novel vaccine targets. Four mass spectrometric methods (identification of all parasite proteins, glycoprotein enrichment with the plant lectin Concanavalin A, peptide:N-glycanase treatment to identify occupied N-glycans sites, and analysis of N-terminal peptides) were used to identify >300 Trichomonas secreted and membrane proteins. The first group of these proteins, which were present in multiple genome copies and had homologs in diverse eukaryotes, included 1) those involved in the N-glycan-dependent quality control protein folding in the ER lumen, 2) metalloproteases, serine proteases, cysteine proteases, and other lysosomal enzymes, and 3) transporters and membrane-associated cyclases. The second group of secreted and membrane proteins were, for the most part, encoded by single copy genes, unique to Trichomonas, and missing N-terminal signal peptides. The latter observation is despite evidence that the signal peptide peptidase functions normally in Trichomonas. As the unique secreted and membrane proteins of Trichomonas were often large and lacked features that make it easy to choose vaccine candidates, alternative strategies for vaccination and/or therapy are discussed.
Project description:Trichomonas vaginalis is an extracellular flagellated protozoan responsible for trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections. To persist in the host, T. vaginalis employs sophisticated gene regulation mechanisms to adapt to hostile environmental conditions. Although transcriptional regulation is crucial for this adaptation, the specific molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Epigenetic regulation, particularly through histone modifications, has emerged as a key modulator of gene expression. Our previous study demonstrated the role of histone modifications H3K4me3 and H3K27Ac in promoting active transcription. However, the full extent of epigenetic regulation in T. vaginalis remained unclear. In this study, we extend these findings by exploring the repressive role of two additional histone H3 modifications, H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. Genome-wide analysis reveals that these modifications are negatively correlated with gene expression, impacting not only protein-coding genes but also repeat genes and transposable elements. These findings offer new insights into the dual role of histone modifications in both activating and repressing gene expression, providing a more comprehensive understanding of epigenetic regulation in T. vaginalis. This expanded knowledge could inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting the epigenetic machinery of this parasite.
Project description:Trichomonas vaginalis is an extracellular flagellated protozoan responsible for trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections. To persist in the host, T. vaginalis employs sophisticated gene regulation mechanisms to adapt to hostile environmental conditions. Although transcriptional regulation is crucial for this adaptation, the specific molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Epigenetic regulation, particularly through histone modifications, has emerged as a key modulator of gene expression. Our previous study demonstrated the role of histone modifications H3K4me3 and H3K27Ac in promoting active transcription. However, the full extent of epigenetic regulation in T. vaginalis remained unclear. In this study, we extend these findings by exploring the repressive role of two additional histone H3 modifications, H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. Genome-wide analysis reveals that these modifications are negatively correlated with gene expression, impacting not only protein-coding genes but also repeat genes and transposable elements. These findings offer new insights into the dual role of histone modifications in both activating and repressing gene expression, providing a more comprehensive understanding of epigenetic regulation in T. vaginalis. This expanded knowledge could inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting the epigenetic machinery of this parasite.
Project description:Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually transmitted anaerobic parasite that infects humans causing trichomoniasis, a common and ubiquitous sexually transmitted disease. The life cycle of this parasite presents a trophozoite form without a cystic stage. However, the presence of spherical forms with internalized flagella, non-proliferative, non-motile, viable and reversible, denominated pseudocysts, have been commonly observed in this parasite. To understand the mechanisms involved in the formation of pseudocysts, here we performed a mass spectrometry-based high-throughput quantitative proteomics study using a label-free approach and functional assays by biochemical and flow cytometric methods. We observed that morphological transformation of trophozoite to pseudocysts is coupled to (i) a metabolic shift toward a less glycolytic phenotype, (ii) alterations in the abundance of hydrogenosomal iron-sulfur cluster (ISC) assembly machinery; (iii) increased abundance of regulatory particles of the ubiquitin–proteasome system; (iv) significant alterations in proteins involved in adhesion and cytoskeleton reorganization; (v) arrest in G2/M phase associated to alterations in the abundance of regulatory proteins of the cell cycle. Such data supports that pseudocysts suffer important physiological and structural alterations for survive under unfavorable environmental conditions.
Project description:Trichomonas vaginalis is a sexually transmitted human parasite causing trichomoniasis, leading to vaginitis or cervicitis in many patients. Furthermore, infections can lead to premature labour or loss of child as well as an increase in the risk of contracting HIV. For treatment the antibiotic 5-nitroimidazole metronidazole is commonly used, however antibiotic resistance in TV is on the rise, and the mechanism of how the parasite becomes resistant is not yet known. The aim of the study thus was to unravel the mechanism of resistance formation, by understanding the change in protein expression of the parasite. For this we studied different clinical isolates (i.e. various strains of TV) that were either sensitive or resistant to metronidazole, or resistance has been induced in a lab strain. It was previously known, that when sensitive TV cells are depleted of iron, they appear to have the same characteristics as resistant cell lines, however remained sensitive to the drug. Several proteins were identified, where the protein expression differed between the same cell line where either cells were depleted of iron, or resistance was induced. These proteins (mainly reductive agents) were studied on more detail. To understand the mechanism of metronidazole resistance.