A number of complex processes are involved in Eimeria spp. survival, including control of sporulation, intracellular invasion, evasion of host immune responses, successful reproduction, and nutrition. Proteases have been implicated in many of these processes, but the occurrence and functions of serine proteases have not been characterized. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that the Eimeria tenella genome contains several serine proteases that lack homology to trypsin. Using RT-PCR, a gene encoding a subtilisin-like and a rhomboid protease-like serine protease was shown to be developmentally regulated, both being poorly expressed in sporozoites (SZ) and merozoites (MZ). Casein substrate gel electrophoresis of oocyst extracts during sporulation demonstrated bands of proteolytic activity with relative molecular weights (Mr) of 18, 25, and 45 kDa that were eliminated by coincubation with serine protease inhibitors. A protease with Mr of 25 kDa was purified from extracts of unsporulated oocysts by a combination of affinity and anion exchange chromatography. Extracts of SZ contained only a single band of inhibitor-sensitive proteolytic activity at 25 kDa, while the pattern of proteases from extracts of MZ was similar to that of oocysts except for the occurrence of a 90 kDa protease, resistant to protease inhibitors. Excretory-secretory products (ESP) from MZ contained AEBSF (4-[2-Aminoethyl] benzenesulphonyl fluoride)–sensitive protease activity with a specific activity about 10 times greater than that observed in MZ extracts. No protease activity was observed in the ESP from SZ. Pretreatment of SZ with AEBSF significantly reduced SZ invasion and the release of the microneme protein, MIC2. The current results suggest that serine proteases are present in all the developmental stages examined.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2007
MOLECULAR-CELL BIOLOGY|
April 01 2007
SERINE PROTEASE ACTIVITY IN DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF EIMERIA TENELLA Available to Purchase
R. H. Fetterer;
R. H. Fetterer
Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, United States Department of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
K. B. Miska;
K. B. Miska
Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, United States Department of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
H. Lillehoj;
H. Lillehoj
Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, United States Department of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
R. C. Barfield
R. C. Barfield
Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, United States Department of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. [email protected]
Search for other works by this author on:
J Parasitol (2007) 93 (2): 333–340.
Citation
R. H. Fetterer, K. B. Miska, H. Lillehoj, R. C. Barfield; SERINE PROTEASE ACTIVITY IN DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF EIMERIA TENELLA. J Parasitol 1 April 2007; 93 (2): 333–340. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-824R1.1
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCiting articles via
HAPLOTYPE DIVERSITY IN ENDOSYMBIOTIC BACTERIA FOLLOWING A HOST SWITCH BY PARASITIC LICE
Bret M. Boyd, Niyomi House, Ariel C. Toloza, David L. Reed
DESCRIPTION, REDESCRIPTION, AND LIFE CYCLES OF CLOACITREMA KURISI N. SP. AND CLOACITREMA MICHIGANENSIS (TREMATODA: DIGENEA: PHILOPHTHALMIDAE) FROM THE CALIFORNIA HORN SNAIL, CERITHIDEOPSIS CALIFORNICA (GASTROPODA: POTAMIDIDAE)
Alexandria P. Nelson, Daniel C. G. Metz, Ryan F. Hechinger
A NEW SPECIES OF HALIPEGUS (TREMATODA: DEROGENIDAE: HALIPEGINAE) IN LITHOBATES SPECTABILIS (ANURA: RANIDAE) FROM RESERVA DE LA BIOSFERA BARRANCA DE METZTITLAN, HIDALGO, MEXICO
Edgar S. Ramírez-Cruz, Griselda Pulido-Flores, Scott Monks, Elizabeth A. Martínez-Salazar
A SYSTEMATIC REVISION OF KROYERIA (COPEPODA: SIPHONOSTOMATOIDA): FIVE NEW SPECIES, 11 REDESCRIPTIONS, AND A MORPHOLOGICAL PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE GENUS
Gregory B. Deets, Geoffrey A. Boxshall, James P. Bernot
MOLECULAR SURVEY OF HAEMOSPORIDIAN PARASITES IN HAWKS, FALCONS, AND OWLS (ACCIPITRIFORMES, FALCONIFORMES, STRIGIFORMES) FROM MINNESOTA AND NORTH DAKOTA, WITH REMARKS ON THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF HAEMOSPORIDIANS IN NORTH AMERICAN RAPTORS
Jeffrey A. Bell, Timothy G. Driscoll, Tyler J. Achatz, Jakson R. Martens, Jefferson A. Vaughan