The genome of Strongyloides spp. gives insights into protein families with a putative role in nematode parasitism

Vicky L. Hunt, Isheng J. Tsai, Murray E. Selkirk, Mark Viney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes are important and abundant parasites adapted to live a parasitic lifestyle, with these adaptations all aimed at facilitating their survival and reproduction in their hosts. The recently sequenced genomes of four Strongyloides species, gastrointestinal parasites of humans and other animals, alongside transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of free-living and parasitic stages of their life cycles have revealed a number of protein families with a putative role in their parasitism. Many of these protein families have also been associated with parasitism in other parasitic nematode species, suggesting that these proteins may play a fundamental role in nematode parasitism more generally. Here, we review key protein families that have a putative role in Strongyloides' parasitism - acetylcholinesterases, astacins, aspartic proteases, prolyl oligopeptidases, proteinase inhibitors (trypsin inhibitors and cystatins), SCP/TAPS and transthyretin-like proteins - and the evidence for their key, yet diverse, roles in the parasitic lifestyle.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)343-358
Number of pages16
JournalParasitology
Volume144
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2017

Keywords

  • acetylcholinesterases
  • aspartic proteases
  • astacins
  • helminths
  • prolyl oligopeptdases
  • proteinase inhibitors
  • SCP/TAPS
  • Strongyloides
  • transthyretin-like proteins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Infectious Diseases

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