| Title: | A Biomphalaria glabrata peptide that stimulates significant behaviour modifications in aquatic free-living Schistosoma mansoni miracidia |
| Author(s): | Wang T; Wyeth RC; Liang D; Bose U; Ni G; McManus DP; Cummins SF; |
| Address: | "School of Science and Education, Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, Australia. Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. School of Medical Science, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006948 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1935-2735 (Electronic) 1935-2727 (Print) 1935-2727 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The human disease schistosomiasis (or bilharzia) is caused by the helminth blood fluke parasite Schistosoma mansoni, which requires an intermediate host, the freshwater gastropod snail Biomphalaria glabrata (the most common intermediate host). The free-swimming parasite miracidia utilise an excellent chemosensory sense to detect and locate an appropriate host. This study investigated the biomolecules released by the snail that stimulate changes in the behaviour of the aquatic S. mansoni miracidia. To achieve this, we have performed an integrated analysis of the snail-conditioned water, through chromatography and bioassay-guided behaviour observations, followed by mass spectrometry. A single fraction containing multiple putative peptides could stimulate extreme swimming behaviour modifications (e.g. velocity, angular variation) similar to those observed in response to crude snail mucus. One peptide (P12;-R-DITSGLDPEVADD-KR-) could replicate the stimulation of miracidia behaviour changes. P12 is derived from a larger precursor protein with a signal peptide and multiple dibasic cleavage sites, which is synthesised in various tissues of the snail, including the central nervous system and foot. P12 consists of an alpha helix secondary structure as indicated by circular dichroism spectroscopy. This information will be helpful for the development of approaches to manipulate this parasites life cycle, and opens up new avenues for exploring other parasitic diseases which have an aquatic phase using methods detailed in this investigation" |
| Keywords: | Animals Anthelmintics/pharmacology Biological Control Agents/*pharmacology Biomphalaria/*chemistry Drug Discovery/*methods Humans Peptides/*pharmacology Pheromones/*pharmacology Schistosoma mansoni/*drug effects Schistosomiasis/drug therapy; |
| Notes: | "MedlineWang, Tianfang Wyeth, Russell C Liang, Di Bose, Utpal Ni, Guoying McManus, Donald P Cummins, Scott F eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2019/01/23 PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 Jan 22; 13(1):e0006948. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006948. eCollection 2019 Jan" |
