Time-course whole blood transcriptome profiling provides new insights into Microtus fortis natural resistance mechanism to Schistosoma japonicum
Nouhoum Dibo,
Zhijun Zhou,
Xianshu Liu,
Zhuolin Li,
Shukun Zhong,
Yan Liu,
Juan Duan,
Meng Xia,
Zhenrong Ma,
Xiang Wu,
Shuaiqin Huang
Affiliations
Nouhoum Dibo
Department of Medical Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, China
Zhijun Zhou
Department of Laboratory Animals, Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
Xianshu Liu
Department of Medical Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, China
Zhuolin Li
Department of Medical Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, China
Shukun Zhong
Department of Medical Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, China
Yan Liu
Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China
Juan Duan
The Third People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan, China; National Key Clinic on Schistosomiasis, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan, China
Meng Xia
Schistosomiasis Control Institute of Hunan Province, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan, China
Zhenrong Ma
Department of Medical Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, China
Xiang Wu
Department of Medical Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, China; Corresponding author.
Shuaiqin Huang
Department of Medical Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, China; Corresponding author.
Microtus fortis is known as a non-susceptible animal host of S. japonicum. A better understanding of this animal immune defense mechanism during the early stage of infection may offer an alternative route for vaccine development or therapy. Here, we analyzed the whole blood transcriptome of M. fortis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify immune genes of biological relevance that might be involved in the mechanism of its resistance. The blood samples were collected from uninfected animals (control group) and infected animals at different time points (3, 7, 10 and 14 days post-infection). We identified 5310 sequences as unigenes and successfully annotated 4636 of them. The immune response was more intense at 10 dpi. The upregulated genes at this time point were mainly activated in the TNF and NF-kappa B signaling pathways, Th1, Th2and Th17 cell differentiation as well as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Based on the differentially expressed genes analysis, we report that the IF27L2B, RETN, PGRP, IFI35, TYROBP, S100A8, S100A11, CD162, CD88, CYBA, and LBP could play important roles in the mechanism of M. fortis resistance.
