Effects of latent infection of Toxoplasma gondii strains with different genotypes on mouse behavior and brain transcripts.

IF 3 2区 医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY
Bei-Bei Zhou, Hong-Jie Dong, Hang Sun, Xiao-Man Xie, Huan-Huan Xie, Wen-Ju Zhu, Ya-Nan Li, Chao Xu, Jian-Ping Cao, Gui-Hua Zhao, Kun Yin
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii can cause severe damage to immunodeficient hosts, and also compromise brain structure and function in immunocompetent hosts during latent infection. In China, the two different isolates, Chinese I (ToxoDB#9) and Chinese III are dominant epidemic strains widely spreading in humans and domestic animals and can lead to latent infection in host brain tissues, but the comparison of their manipulation patterns and mechanisms remains unclear.

Methods: Tachyzoites of the TgWh6 (Wh6) strain and the TgCtLHG (LHG) strain were used for establishing in vitro infection models within mouse microglia BV2 cells, and the differences in their invasion and proliferation patterns were observed. C57BL/6 J mice were used to establish in vivo latent infection models. After behavioral tests, the differential expressed transcripts (DETs) of the infected and control animals' cerebral cortex were sequenced by Nanopore RNA-seq. Functional differences of DETs were analyzed by Gene Ontology enrichment analysis (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) and cluster analysis. Expression of the key candidates were verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results: In our infection models, we found that Wh6 had more vigorous invasion and proliferation abilities in vitro, while LHG had a greater ability to form cysts in vivo. In the latent infection phase, behavioral changes, including spatial working memory, cognitive and motor abilities, and anxiety, were observed in both Wh6 and LHG infected mice; however, the LHG group showed more serious anxiety. Among DETs, genes related to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules were significantly upregulated in the infected mice, while genes related to synaptic transmission and neurodegenerative diseases were downregulated in the infected groups. The downregulated DETs of Sept4, Kcng4, Unc13c, and Prkcg in the WH6 group, which are related to synaptic transmission, and Ndrg2 and Arc in the LHG group, which are related to neurodegenerative diseases, were selected to be the key candidates in the latent infection phase.

Conclusions: Compared with WH6, although LHG has a milder invasion ability, it can cause increased behavioral disorders in hosts. Genes related to synaptic transmission and neurodegenerative diseases may be the main causes of host mental and behavioral disorders.

不同基因型刚地弓形虫潜伏感染对小鼠行为和脑转录物的影响
背景:刚地弓形虫可对免疫缺陷宿主造成严重损害,并在潜伏感染期间损害免疫正常宿主的大脑结构和功能。在中国,中华弓形虫I型(9号)和中华弓形虫III型是在人类和家畜中广泛传播的优势流行毒株,可导致宿主脑组织潜伏感染,但它们的操作模式和机制的比较尚不清楚。方法:采用TgWh6 (Wh6)菌株和TgCtLHG (LHG)菌株的速殖子在小鼠小胶质细胞BV2细胞内建立体外感染模型,观察其侵袭和增殖模式的差异。采用C57BL/ 6j小鼠建立体内潜伏感染模型。行为测试后,采用纳米孔RNA-seq对感染动物和对照动物大脑皮层的差异表达转录本(DETs)进行测序。通过基因本体富集分析(GO)、京都基因与基因组百科全书富集分析(KEGG)、蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用(PPI)和聚类分析分析了DETs的功能差异。通过定量聚合酶链反应(qPCR)验证关键候选基因的表达。结果:在我们的感染模型中,我们发现Wh6在体外具有更强的侵袭和增殖能力,而LHG在体内具有更强的成囊能力。在潜伏感染阶段,Wh6和LHG感染小鼠的行为发生改变,包括空间工作记忆、认知和运动能力以及焦虑;然而,LHG组表现出更严重的焦虑。在DETs中,感染小鼠中与主要组织相容性复合体(MHC) II类分子相关的基因显著上调,而与突触传递和神经退行性疾病相关的基因在感染组中下调。WH6组中与突触传递相关的sep4、kcn4、Unc13c、Prkcg下调的DETs,以及LHG组中与神经退行性疾病相关的Ndrg2、Arc下调的DETs,被选为潜伏感染期的关键候选者。结论:与WH6相比,LHG虽然侵袭能力较轻,但可引起宿主行为障碍增加。与突触传递和神经退行性疾病相关的基因可能是导致宿主精神和行为障碍的主要原因。
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来源期刊
Parasites & Vectors
Parasites & Vectors 医学-寄生虫学
CiteScore
6.30
自引率
9.40%
发文量
433
审稿时长
1.4 months
期刊介绍: Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish. Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.
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