Stage-specific proteomes from Onchocerca ochengi, sister species of the human river blindness parasite, uncover adaptations to a nodular lifestyle

摘要: Despite 40 years of control efforts, onchocerciasis (river blindness) remains one the most important neglected tropical diseases, with 17 million people affected. The etiological agent, Onchocerca volvulus, is a filarial nematode complex lifecycle involving several distinct stages in definitive host and blackfly vector. challenges obtaining sufficient material have prevented high-throughput studies development novel strategies for disease diagnosis. Here, we utilize closest relative O. bovine parasite ochengi, to compare stage-specific proteomes host-parasite interactions within secretome. We identified total 4260 unique ochengi proteins from adult males females, infective larvae, intrauterine microfilariae, fluid intradermal nodules. In addition, 135 were detected obligate Wolbachia symbiont. Observed protein families that enriched all whole body extracts complete search database included immunoglobulin-domain proteins, whereas redox detoxification enzymes involved intracellular transport displayed overrepresentation. Unexpectedly, larval exhibited enrichment mitochondrial-related families, including members peptidase family M16 which mediate mitochondrial fission fusion. Quantification across using Hi-3 approach supported these qualitative analyses. nodule fluid, 94 secreted homologs transforming growth factor-β second member 6-ShK toxin domain family, was originally described model (Litomosoides sigmodontis). Strikingly, 498 strongly dominated by antimicrobial especially cathelicidins. This first analysis an spp. proteome highlights its profound complexity emphasizes extremely close relationship between volvulus. insights presented here provide new candidates vaccine development, drug targeting diagnostic biomarkers.