Comparative proteomic analysis of two Entamoeba histolytica strains with different virulence phenotypes identifies peroxiredoxin as an important component of amebic virulence

Authors

Paul H. Davis, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Xiaochun Zhang, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Jianhua Guo
R. Reid Townsend, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Samuel L. Stanley, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2006

Publication Title

Molecular Microbiology

Volume

61

Issue

6

First Page

1523

Last Page

1532

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan intestinal parasite that causes amoebic colitis and amoebic liver abscess. To identify virulence factors of E. histolytica, we first defined the phenotypes of two E. histolytica strains, HM-1:IMSS, the prototype virulent strain, and E. histolytica Rahman, a strain that was reportedly less virulent than HM-1:IMSS. We found that compared with HM-1:IMSS, Rahman has a defect in erythrophagocytosis and the ability to cause amoebic colitis in human colonic xenografts. We used differential in-gel 2D electrophoresis to compare the proteome of Rahman and HM-1:IMSS, and identified six proteins that were differentially expressed above a fivefold level between the two organisms. These included two proteins with antioxidative properties (peroxiredoxin and superoxide dismutase), and three proteins of unknown function, grainin 1, grainin 2 and a protein containing a LIM-domain. Overexpression of peroxiredoxin in Rahman rendered the transgenic trophozoites more resistant to killing by H₂O₂ in vitro, and infection with Rahman trophozoites expressing higher levels of peroxiredoxin was associated with higher levels of intestinal inflammation in human colonic xenografts, and more severe disease based on histology. In contrast, higher levels of grainin appear to be associated with a reduced virulence phenotype, and E. histolytica HM-1:IMSS trophozoites infecting human intestinal xenografts show marked decreases in grainin expression. Our data indicate that there are definable molecular differences between Rahman and HM-1:IMSS that may explain the phenotypic differences, and identify peroxiredoxin as an important component of virulence in amoebic colitis.

Recommended Citation

Davis, Paul H.; Zhang, Xiaochun; Guo, Jianhua; Townsend, R. Reid; and Stanley, Samuel L., "Comparative proteomic analysis of two Entamoeba histolytica strains with different virulence phenotypes identifies peroxiredoxin as an important component of amebic virulence" (2006). Biology Faculty Publications. 64.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/biofacpub/64