Stable Episomal Transfectant Leishmania infantum Promastigotes Over-Expressing the DEVH1 RNA Helicase Gene Down-Regulate Parasite Survival Genes

Ana Alonso; Jaime Larraga; Francisco Javier Loayza; Enrique Martínez; Basilio Valladares; Vicente Larraga; Pedro José Alcolea

doi:10.3390/pathogens11070761

Stable Episomal Transfectant Leishmania infantum Promastigotes Over-Expressing the DEVH1 RNA Helicase Gene Down-Regulate Parasite Survival Genes

Pathogens. 2022 Jul 4;11(7):761. doi: 10.3390/pathogens11070761.

Authors

Ana Alonso¹, Jaime Larraga¹, Francisco Javier Loayza¹, Enrique Martínez², Basilio Valladares², Vicente Larraga¹, Pedro José Alcolea¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology and Vaccines, Biological, Immunological, and Chemical Drug Development for Global Health Unit (BICS), Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Biological Research Margarita Salas, Spanish Research Council (CIBMS-CSIC), Calle Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Toxicology, Legal and Forensic Medicine and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University Institute of Public Health of the Canary Islands (IUETSPC), University of La Laguna (ULL), Avda, Astrofísico Francisco, Sánchez s/n, Campus de Anchieta, 38207 La Laguna, Spain.

Abstract

The compartmentalization of untranslated mRNA molecules in granules occurring in many eukaryotic organisms including trypanosomatids involves the formation of complexes between mRNA molecules and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). The putative ATP-dependent DEAD/H RNA helicase (DEVH1) from Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) is one such proteins. The objective of this research is finding differentially expressed genes in a stable episomal transfectant L. infantum promastigote line over-expressing DEVH1 in the stationary phase of growth in axenic culture to get insight into the biological roles of this RNA helicase in the parasite. Interestingly, genes related to parasite survival and virulence factors, such as the hydrophilic surface protein/small hydrophilic endoplasmic reticulum protein (HASP/SHERP) gene cluster, an amastin, and genes related to reactive oxygen species detoxification are down-regulated in DEVH1 transfectant promastigotes.

Keywords: DEAD/H RNA helicase; Leishmania infantum; induced over-expression; stable episomal transfection; transcriptome.

Grants and funding

2008_2020/RICET (RETICS)