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- Title
Transcriptome analysis of pig intestinal cell monolayers infected with <italic>Cryptosporidium parvum</italic> asexual stages.
- Authors
Mirhashemi, Marzieh Ezzaty; Noubary, Farzad; Chapman-Bonofiglio, Susan; Tzipori, Saul; Huggins, Gordon S.; Widmer, Giovanni
- Abstract
Background: Human cryptosporidiosis is caused primarily by two species of apicomplexan protozoa, <italic>Cryptosporidium parvum</italic> and <italic>C. hominis</italic>. In cultured cell monolayers, the parasite undergoes two generations of asexual multiplication (merogony). However, the proportion of parasites completing the life-cycle is low and insufficient to sustain continuous propagation. Due to the intracellular location of meronts and later life-cycle stages, oocyst and sporozoites are the only forms of the parasite that can readily be isolated. Results: Research on the replicating forms of <italic>Cryptosporidium</italic> parasites and their interaction with the host cell remains challenging. Based on an RNA-Seq analysis of monolayers of pig epithelial cells infected with <italic>C. parvum</italic>, here we report on the impact of merogony on the host’s gene regulation. Analysis of the transcriptome of infected and uninfected monolayers demonstrates a significant impact of the infection on host cell gene expression. A total of 813 genes were differentially expressed. Functional terms significantly altered in response to infection include phosphoprotein, RNA binding and acetylation. Upregulation of cell cycle pathways indicates an increase in mitosis. Notably absent from differentially enriched functional categories are stress- and apoptosis-related functions. The comparison of the combined host-parasite transcriptome reveals that <italic>C. parvum</italic> gene expression is less diverse than the host cell transcriptome and is highly enriched for genes encoding ribosomal functions, such as ribosomal proteins. Conclusions: These results indicate that <italic>C. parvum</italic> infection significantly changes host biological functions and provide new insight into gene functions driving early <italic>C. parvum</italic> intracellular development.
- Subjects
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM parvum; CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS; CELL culture; SPOROZOITES; OOCYSTS
- Publication
Parasites & Vectors, 2018, Vol 11, p1
- ISSN
1756-3305
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13071-018-2754-3