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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385611
Research Project: Foodborne Parasites and their Impact on Food Safety

Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory

Title: Dynamically expressed genes provide candidate viability biomarkers in a model coccidian

Author
item Tucker, Matthew
item Obrien, Celia
item Jenkins, Mark
item Rosenthal, Benjamin

Submitted to: PLOS ONE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/2021
Publication Date: 10/1/2021
Citation: Tucker, M.S., Obrien, C.N., Jenkins, M.C., Rosenthal, B.M. 2021. Dynamically expressed genes provide candidate viability biomarkers in a model coccidian. PLoS ONE. 16(10):e0258157. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258157.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258157

Interpretive Summary: Parasites of the genus Eimeria, and the closely related human pathogen Cyclospora cayetanensis, cause enteric disease in livestock and people worldwide. Understanding parasite maturation would benefit attempts to reduce the harm they cause to veterinary and human health. Here, we assessed transcription in maturing oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, a widespread chicken parasite, observing coordinated changes in the expression of many genes, most especially those important to metabolic activity. These data elucidate the biology of coccidian development, provide means to evaluate the maturity of parasite cohorts, and may prove useful in predicting infectiousness. This information lays a basis for mitigating the harms these parasites impose on poultry and human health.

Technical Abstract: Parasites of the genus Eimeria, and the closely related human pathogen Cyclospora cayetanensis, cause enteric disease in livestock and people worldwide. These coccidian parasites must undergo maturation (sporulation) before becoming infectious. Understanding oocyst maturation would benefit attempts to reduce the harm they cause to veterinary and human health. One such approach would be to develop treatments that prevent sporulation. Here, we assessed transcription in maturing oocysts of Eimeria acervulina, a widespread chicken parasite. We also investigated predicted gene function and determined which of this parasite’s genes also occur in C. cayetanensis.