Transcriptomic profiling of host-parasite interactions in the microsporidian Trachipleistophora hominis. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Watson, Andrew; Williams, Tom; Williams, Bryony; Moore, Karen; Hirt, Robert; Embley, T.
• Is Part Of: BMC genomics. Volume 16:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Host-parasite interactions -- Microsporidia -- Gene expression -- Transcriptomics -- Evolution; Genomes -- Periodicals; Gene mapping -- Periodicals; Genomics -- Periodicals; Base Sequence -- Periodicals; Chromosome Mapping -- Periodicals; Genetic Techniques -- Periodicals; Sequence Analysis, DNA -- Periodicals; 572.8605
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1989-z
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2164

Abstract

Abstract Background Trachipleistophora hominis was isolated from an HIV/AIDS patient and is a member of a highly successful group of obligate intracellular parasites. Methods Here we have investigated the evolution of the parasite and the interplay between host and parasite gene expression using transcriptomics ofT. hominis -infected rabbit kidney cells. Results T. hominis has about 30 % more genes than small-genome microsporidians. Highly expressed genes include those involved in growth, replication, defence against oxidative stress, and a large fraction of uncharacterised genes. Chaperones are also highly expressed and may buffer the deleterious effects of the large number of non-synonymous mutations observed in essentialT. hominis genes. Host expression suggests a general cellular shutdown upon infection, but ATP, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar production appear enhanced, potentially providing the parasite with substrates it cannot make itself. Expression divergence of duplicated genes, including transporters used to acquire host metabolites, demonstrates ongoing functional diversification during microsporidian evolution. We identified overlapping transcription at more than 100 loci in the sparseT. hominis genome, demonstrating that this feature is not caused by genome compaction. The detection of additional transposons of insect origin strongly suggests that the natural host forT. hominis is an insect. Conclusions Our results reveal that the evolution of contemporary microsporidian genomes is highly dynamic and innovative. Moreover, highly expressedT. hominis genes of unknown function include a cohort that are shared among all microsporidians, indicating that some strongly conserved features of the biology of these enormously successful parasites remain uncharacterised.