Use of differential display to detect changes in gene expression in the intermediate snail host Biomphalaria glabrata upon infection with Schistosoma mansoni

• Published in: Parasitology 2000-04, Vol.120 (4), p.399-407, Article S0031182099005624
• Main Authors: LOCKYER, A. E., JONES, C. S., NOBLE, L. R., ROLLINSON, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biomphalaria - genetics; Biomphalaria - parasitology; Biomphalaria glabrata; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - biosynthesis; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - genetics; cytochrome p450; differential display; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Host-Parasite Interactions; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Phylogeny; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; RNA, Messenger - chemistry; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosoma mansoni - classification; Schistosomiasis mansoni - genetics; Schistosomiasis mansoni - veterinary; Vectors. Intermediate hosts
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S0031182099005624

Changes in gene expression in Biomphalaria glabrata following infection with Schistosoma mansoni have been investigated using a modified differential display approach. RNA was extracted from ovotestis, mantle tissue and anterior nephridium of control and exposed snails at 2 time-points (4 h and 24 h) post-exposure and analysed by RNA fingerprinting. A number of transcripts were identified; some novel and some homologous to mRNAs in GenEMBL that were previously unknown in B. glabrata. Down regulation of one 241 bp mRNA expressed sequence fragment – with an open reading frame showing 48% identity to a cytochrome p450 over 80 residues – has been confirmed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Preliminary classification of B. glabrata cyp450 sequence shows it to fall into CLAN 2 of the cytochrome p450 superfamily. Differential display has been successful in identifying changes in gene expression in Biomphalaria glabrata upon infection with Schistosoma mansoni and promises to be a useful technique for the investigation of the interaction between host and parasite.