Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

"Xuepeng Cai"

Original Articles

Biological Characteristics of Recombinant Arthrobotrys oligospora Chitinase AO-801: Shasha Gong, Qingling Meng, Jun Qiao, Yunfu Huang, Wenqiang Zhong, Guowu Zhang, Kai Zhang, Ningxing Li, Yunxia Shang, Zhiyuan Li, Xuepeng Cai; Korean J Parasitol 2022;60(5):345-352.
Published online October 21, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2022.60.5.345

Chitinase AO-801 is a hydrolase secreted by Arthrobotrys oligospora during nematode feeding, while its role remained elusive. This study analyzed the molecular characteristics of recombinant chitinase of Arthrobotrys oligospora (reAO-801). AO-801 belongs to the typical glycoside hydrolase 18 family with conserved chitinase sequence and tertiary structure of (α/β)₈ triose-phosphate isomerase (TIM) barrel. The molecular weight of reAO-801 was 42 kDa. reAO-801 effectively degraded colloidal and powdered chitin, egg lysate, and stage I larval lysate of Caenorhabditis elegans. The activity of reAO-801 reached its peak at 40˚C and pH values between 4-7. Enzyme activity was inhibited by Zn2⁺, Ca2⁺, and Fe3⁺, whereas Mg2⁺ and K⁺ potentiated its activity. In addition, urea, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 2-mercaptoethanol significantly inhibited enzyme activity. reAO-801 showed complete nematicidal activity against C. elegans stage I larvae. reAO-801 broke down the C. elegans egg shells, causing them to die or die prematurely by hatching the eggs. It also invoked degradation of Haemonchus contortus eggs, resulting in apparent changes in the morphological structure. This study demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of reAO-801, which laid the foundation for further dissecting the mechanism of nematode infestation by A. oligospora.

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Proteomic insights into nematode-trapping fungi Arthrobotrys oligospora after their response to chitin
Jiahua Zhang, Lixiang Wei, Huimei Zhang, Xixi Ma, Yansen Sun, Ruobing Li, Chengzhi Zhang, Xuepeng Cai, Jun Qiao, Qingling Meng
Journal of Veterinary Research.2025; 69(1): 71. CrossRef
A novel Arthrobotrys species: Taxonomic characterization, nematicidal activity, and multi-omics insights into nematode predation
Mengting Gao, Zhaoqi Yan, Zexin Liu, Yunxia Jiang, Tengteng Liu, Xingjun Miao, Meixue Dai, Tanay Bose, Runlei Chang
Biological Control.2025; 208: 105853. CrossRef
Expression profiles and characterization of microRNAs responding to chitin in Arthrobotrys oligospora
Ningxing Li, Yansen Sun, Yucheng Liu, Lixiang Wei, Jiahua Zhang, Nengxiu Li, Dianming Sun, Jian Jiao, Yufei Zuo, Ruobing Li, Xuepeng Cai, Jun Qiao, Qingling Meng
Archives of Microbiology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
A systematic review on products derived from nematophagous fungi in the biological control of parasitic helminths of animals
Jossiara Abrante Rodrigues, Thais Ferreira Feitosa, Vinícius Longo Ribeiro Vilela
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Study of a Mexican isolate of Arthrobotrys musiformis (Orbiliales): Predatory behavior and nematocidal activity of liquid culture filtrates against Haemonchus contortus (Trichostrongylidae), protein profile and myco-constituent groups
Jessica Jaramillo-Tlalapango, Pedro Mendoza-de Gives, Rosa Isabel-Higuera-Piedrahita, Ana Yuridia Ocampo-Gutiérrez, María Eugenia-López-Arellano, Gustavo Pérez-Anzúrez, Agustín Olmedo-Juárez, Jesús Hernández-Romano, Jocelyn Maza-Lopez, Edgar Jesús Delgado
Fungal Biology.2023; 127(10-11): 1345. CrossRef

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Molecular Characteristics and Potent Immunomodulatory Activity of Fasciola hepatica Cystatin: Kai Zhang, Yucheng Liu, Guowu Zhang, Xifeng Wang, Zhiyuan Li, Yunxia Shang, Chengcheng Ning, Chunhui Ji, Xuepeng Cai, Xianzhu Xia, Jun Qiao, Qingling Meng; Korean J Parasitol 2022;60(2):117-126.
Published online April 20, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2022.60.2.117

Cystatin, a cysteine protease inhibitor found in many parasites, plays important roles in immune evasion. This study analyzed the molecular characteristics of a cystatin from Fasciola hepatica (FhCystatin) and expressed recombinant FhCystatin (rFhcystatin) to investigate the immune modulatory effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced proliferation, migration, cytokine secretion, nitric oxide (NO) production, and apoptosis in mouse macrophages. The FhCystatin gene encoded 116 amino acids and contained a conserved cystatin-like domain. rFhCystatin significantly inhibited the activity of cathepsin B. rFhCystatin bound to the surface of mouse RAW264.7 cells, significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Moreover, rFhCystatin inhibited the expression of cellular nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, and promoted the expression of transforming growth factor-β and interleukin-10. These results showed that FhCystatin played an important role in regulating the activity of mouse macrophages. Our findings provide new insights into mechanisms underlying the immune evasion and contribute to the exploration of potential targets for the development of new drug to control F. hepatica infection.

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Cystatin from the helminth Ascaris lumbricoides upregulates mevalonate and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways and immunomodulatory genes in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells
Nathalie Acevedo, Ana Lozano, Josefina Zakzuk, Kevin Llinás-Caballero, David Brodin, Peter Nejsum, Andrew R. Williams, Luis Caraballo
Frontiers in Immunology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Helminth-derived molecules: Pathogenic and pharmacopeial roles
Yu Zhang, Chunxiang Shen, Xinyi Zhu, Chiuan Yee Leow, Minjun Ji, Zhipeng Xu
The Journal of Biomedical Research.2024; 38(6): 547. CrossRef
An evolutionary molecular adaptation of an unusual stefin from the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica redefines the cystatin superfamily
Michal Buša, Zuzana Matoušková, Pavla Bartošová-Sojková, Petr Pachl, Pavlína Řezáčová, Ramon Marc Eichenberger, Peter Deplazes, Martin Horn, Saša Štefanić, Michael Mareš
Journal of Biological Chemistry.2023; 299(3): 102970. CrossRef
Type I Cystatin Derived from Fasciola gigantica Suppresses Macrophage-Mediated Inflammatory Responses
Pathanin Chantree, Mayuri Tarasuk, Parisa Prathaphan, Jittiporn Ruangtong, Mantana Jamklang, Sirilak Chumkiew, Pongsakorn Martviset
Pathogens.2023; 12(3): 395. CrossRef
Cystatins from the Human Liver Fluke Opisthorchis viverrini: Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis
Amornrat Geadkaew-Krenc, Rudi Grams, Sinee Siricoon, Nanthawat Kosa, Dawid Krenc, Wansika Phadungsil, Pongsakorn Martviset
Pathogens.2023; 12(7): 949. CrossRef
Antigens from the Helminth Fasciola hepatica Exert Antiviral Effects against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro
Judit Serrat, Clara Francés-Gómez, David Becerro-Recio, Javier González-Miguel, Ron Geller, Mar Siles-Lucas
International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2023; 24(14): 11597. CrossRef
Cysticercus pisiformis-derived novel-miR1 targets TLR2 to inhibit the immune response in rabbits
Guoliang Chen, Guiting Pu, Liqun Wang, Yanping Li, Tingli Liu, Hong Li, Shaohua Zhang, Xuelin Wang, Xiaolei Liu, Xuenong Luo
Frontiers in Immunology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Fasciolosis: pathogenesis, host-parasite interactions, and implication in vaccine development
Luis Miguel Flores-Velázquez, María Teresa Ruiz-Campillo, Guillem Herrera-Torres, Álvaro Martínez-Moreno, Francisco Javier Martínez-Moreno, Rafael Zafra, Leandro Buffoni, Pablo José Rufino-Moya, Verónica Molina-Hernández, José Pérez
Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef

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Case Report

Infection of Taenia asiatica in a Bai Person in Dali, China: Li Wang, Xuenong Luo, Junling Hou, Aijiang Guo, Shaohua Zhang, Hailong Li, Xuepeng Cai; Korean J Parasitol 2016;54(1):67-70.
Published online February 26, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.1.67

Abstract
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We report here a human case of Taenia asiatica infection which was confirmed by genetic analyses in Dali, China. A patient was found to have symptoms of taeniasis with discharge of tapeworm proglottids. By sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, we observed nucleotide sequence identity of 99% with T. asiatica and 96% with T. saginata. Using the cytochrome b (cytb) gene, 99% identity with T. asiatica and 96% identity with T. saginata were found. Our findings suggest that taeniasis of people in Dali, China may be mainly caused by T. asiatica.

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Case Report: Molecular Diagnosis Revealing an Intestinal Infection of a Hybridized Tapeworm (Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica) to Human in Yunnan, China
Kan-Kan Chu, Ye Qiu, Ce-Heng Liao, Zhi You, Zuo-Shun He, Wen Fang, Hong-Ying Li, Peter Daszak, Jun-Jie Hu, Yun-Zhi Zhang, Xing-Yi Ge
Frontiers in Gastroenterology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Identification and molecular characterization of exosome-like vesicles derived from the Taenia asiatica adult worm
Panhong Liang, Li Mao, Shaohua Zhang, Xiaola Guo, Guangxue Liu, Lijie Wang, Junling Hou, Yadong Zheng, Xuenong Luo
Acta Tropica.2019; 198: 105036. CrossRef
Porcine cysticercosis (Taenia solium and Taenia asiatica): mapping occurrence and areas potentially at risk in East and Southeast Asia
Uffe Christian Braae, Nguyen Manh Hung, Fadjar Satrija, Virak Khieu, Xiao-Nong Zhou, Arve Lee Willingham
Parasites & Vectors.2018;[Epub] CrossRef

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Original Articles

Codon Usage Bias and Determining Forces in Taenia solium Genome: Xing Yang, Xusheng Ma, Xuenong Luo, Houjun Ling, Xichen Zhang, Xuepeng Cai; Korean J Parasitol 2015;53(6):689-697.
Published online December 31, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2015.53.6.689

Abstract
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The tapeworm Taenia solium is an important human zoonotic parasite that causes great economic loss and also endangers public health. At present, an effective vaccine that will prevent infection and chemotherapy without any side effect remains to be developed. In this study, codon usage patterns in the T. solium genome were examined through 8,484 protein-coding genes. Neutrality analysis showed that T. solium had a narrow GC distribution, and a significant correlation was observed between GC12 and GC3. Examination of an NC (ENC vs GC3s)-plot showed a few genes on or close to the expected curve, but the majority of points with low-ENC (the effective number of codons) values were detected below the expected curve, suggesting that mutational bias plays a major role in shaping codon usage. The Parity Rule 2 plot (PR2) analysis showed that GC and AT were not used proportionally. We also identified 26 optimal codons in the T. solium genome, all of which ended with either a G or C residue. These optimal codons in the T. solium genome are likely consistent with tRNAs that are highly expressed in the cell, suggesting that mutational and translational selection forces are probably driving factors of codon usage bias in the T. solium genome.

Citations

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Distinct codon usage signatures reflecting evolutionary and pathogenic adaptation in the Acinetobacter baumannii complex
Ujwal Dahal, Anuj Sharma, Karan Paul, Anu Bansal, Shelly Gupta
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.2025; 44(11): 2803. CrossRef
Evolution of codon usage in Taenia saginata genomes and its impact on the host
Siddiq Ur Rahman, Hassan Ur Rehman, Inayat Ur Rahman, Muazzam Ali Khan, Fazli Rahim, Hamid Ali, Dekun Chen, Wentao Ma
Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Comparative analysis of codon usage patterns and phylogenetic implications of five mitochondrial genomes of the genus Japanagallia Ishihara, 1955 (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Megophthalminae)
Min Li, Jiajia Wang, Renhuai Dai, Guy Smagghe, Xianyi Wang, Siying You
PeerJ.2023; 11: e16058. CrossRef
Codon Usage is Influenced by Compositional Constraints in Genes Associated with Dementia
Taha Alqahtani, Rekha Khandia, Nidhi Puranik, Ali M. Alqahtani, Yahia Alghazwani, Saad Ali Alshehri, Kumarappan Chidambaram, Mohammad Amjad Kamal
Frontiers in Genetics.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Analysis of codon usage bias of lumpy skin disease virus causing livestock infection
Siddiq Ur Rahman, Hassan Ur Rehman, Inayat Ur Rahman, Abdur Rauf, Abdulrahman Alshammari, Metab Alharbi, Noor ul Haq, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Sayed Haidar Abbas Raza
Frontiers in Veterinary Science.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Codon usage pattern in Gnetales evolved in close accordance with the Gnetifer hypothesis
Aasim Majeed, Harpreet Kaur, Amitozdeep Kaur, Sreemoyee Das, Josepheena Joseph, Pankaj Bhardwaj
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.2021; 196(4): 423. CrossRef
Analysis of codon usage bias in mitochondrial CO gene among platyhelminthes
Gulshana A. Mazumder, Arif Uddin, Supriyo Chakraborty
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.2021; 245: 111410. CrossRef
Genetic evolution and codon usage analysis of NKX-2.5 gene governing heart development in some mammals
Arup Kr. Malakar, Binata Halder, Prosenjit Paul, Himangshu Deka, Supriyo Chakraborty
Genomics.2020; 112(2): 1319. CrossRef
Selection constraints determine preference for A/U-ending codons in Taxus contorta
Aasim Majeed, Harpreet Kaur, Pankaj Bhardwaj
Genome.2020; 63(4): 215. CrossRef
Analysis of codon usage pattern of mitochondrial ND genes in Platyhelminthes
Gulshana A. Mazumder, Arif Uddin, Supriyo Chakraborty
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.2020; 238: 111294. CrossRef
Compositional Analysis of Flatworm Genomes Shows Strong Codon Usage Biases Across All Classes
Guillermo Lamolle, Santiago Fontenla, Gastón Rijo, Jose F. Tort, Pablo Smircich
Frontiers in Genetics.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
Compositional bias coupled with selection and mutation pressure drives codon usage in Brassica campestris genes
Prosenjit Paul, Arup Kumar Malakar, Supriyo Chakraborty
Food Science and Biotechnology.2018; 27(3): 725. CrossRef
Whole genome analysis of codon usage in Echinococcus
Lucas L. Maldonado, Georgina Stegmayer, Diego H. Milone, Guilherme Oliveira, Mara Rosenzvit, Laura Kamenetzky
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.2018; 225: 54. CrossRef
Comprehensive Analysis of Codon Usage on Rabies Virus and Other Lyssaviruses
Xu Zhang, Yuchen Cai, Xiaofeng Zhai, Jie Liu, Wen Zhao, Senlin Ji, Shuo Su, Jiyong Zhou
International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2018; 19(8): 2397. CrossRef
Codon Usage Patterns of Tyrosinase Genes in Clonorchis sinensis
Young-An Bae
The Korean Journal of Parasitology.2017; 55(2): 175. CrossRef

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Sequence Analysis and Molecular Characterization of Wnt4 Gene in Metacestodes of Taenia solium: Junling Hou, Xuenong Luo, Shuai Wang, Cai Yin, Shaohua Zhang, Xueliang Zhu, Yongxi Dou, Xuepeng Cai; Korean J Parasitol 2014;52(2):163-168.
Published online April 18, 2014; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2014.52.2.163

Abstract
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Wnt proteins are a family of secreted glycoproteins that are evolutionarily conserved and considered to be involved in extensive developmental processes in metazoan organisms. The characterization of wnt genes may improve understanding the parasite's development. In the present study, a wnt4 gene encoding 491amino acids was amplified from cDNA of metacestodes of Taenia solium using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Bioinformatics tools were used for sequence analysis. The conserved domain of the wnt gene family was predicted. The expression profile of Wnt4 was investigated using real-time PCR. Wnt4 expression was found to be dramatically increased in scolex evaginated cysticerci when compared to invaginated cysticerci. In situ hybridization showed that wnt4 gene was distributed in the posterior end of the worm along the primary body axis in evaginated cysticerci. These findings indicated that wnt4 may take part in the process of cysticerci evagination and play a role in scolex/bladder development of cysticerci of T. solium.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Transcriptome of Taenia solium during in vitro cyst activation and initial growth into the tapeworm stage
David Castaneda-Carpio, Renzo Gutierrez-Loli, Jose Maravi-Jaime, Segundo W. Del Aguila, Valeria Villar-Davila, Luz M. Moyano, Rafael Tapia-Limonchi, Stella M. Chenet, Cristina Guerra-Giraldez
Scientific Data.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
The significant sex-biased expression pattern of Sp-Wnt4 provides novel insights into the ovarian development of mud crab (Scylla Paramamosain)
Ardavan Farhadi, Shaobin Fang, Yin Zhang, Wenxiao Cui, Huan Fang, Mhd Ikhwanuddin, Hongyu Ma
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.2021; 183: 490. CrossRef
Transcriptomic profile of two developmental stages of the cestode parasite Mesocestoides corti
T. Basika, G.P. Paludo, F.M. Araujo, A.C. Salim, F. Pais, L. Maldonado, N. Macchiaroli, J. Camargo de Lima, M. Rosenzvit, G.C. Oliveira, L. Kamenetzky, H.B. Ferreira
Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology.2019; 229: 35. CrossRef
Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of the Larval and Adult Stages of Taenia pisiformis
Shaohua Zhang
Genes.2019; 10(7): 507. CrossRef
Molecular and biochemical characterization of Taenia solium α-enolase
Shaohua Zhang, Yanan You, Xuenong Luo, Yadong Zheng, Xuepeng Cai
Veterinary Parasitology.2018; 254: 36. CrossRef
Transcriptomic analysis of the larva Taenia multiceps
W.H. Li, N.Z. Zhang, L. Yue, Y. Yang, L. Li, H.B. Yan, T.T. Li, Z.G. Qu, W.Z. Jia, B.Q. Fu
Research in Veterinary Science.2017; 115: 407. CrossRef