engleski

Liver proteome profile in red deer (Cervus elaphus) infected by the liver fluke Fascioloides magna

Context: Liver fluke infections pose a threat to the survival of local wildlife populations and can cause significant economic losses in livestock production. An ongoing increasing prevalence of fascioloidosis in Central Europe makes it an economically important disease in red deer populations, and different methods are being investigated in order to monitor and improve the health status of the infected populations. Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the liver proteome profile of control and Fascioloides magna infected red deer (Cervus elaphus), by means of a shotgun tandem mass tag (TMT) based on a quantitative high-resolution proteomics approach. Methods: Liver samples from 25 red deer were collected immediately after individual hunts, following regular hunting operations. Each sample was sectioned at approximately 2 cm thick slices. Following the thorough examination for traces of iron-porphyrin, migratory channels from flukes, pseudocysts, juvenile and adult flukes, the samples were classified into a control (n =12) or F. magna infected group (n = 13). Proteomics analysis of liver samples was performed by high resolution LC-MS/MS analysis carried out using the Ultimate 3000 RSLCnano system (Dionex, Germering, Germany) coupled to Q Exactive Plus mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bremen, Germany). The proteins were identified and quantified using Proteome Discoverer software with SEQUEST algorithm implemented and database search against Cervus elaphus FASTA files. Statistical and bioinformatics analyses were completed using R, PANTHER, REACTOME and Cytoscape. Key results: From 423 identified and quantified proteins, 155 had differing abundance in liver samples from the control and F. magna infected group. According to molecular function gene ontology (GO) analysis, most of the altered proteins had catalytic activity (42%) and were associated with binding (29%), while the most representative biological processes were cellular processes, metabolic processes, response to stimulus and biological regulation. The reactome pathway analysis showed 62 significantly changed pathways between control group and F. magna infected group, including pathways related to translation, inflammation and signalling. Conclusion: Our findings show that infection with F. magna is associated with an immune response in the host in addition to oxidative stress and metabolomic changes in the liver. Implications: The results of the study could be used to monitor and control animal health and productivity in wildlife, whilst the identification of proteins associated with infection may add value to current tools for efficient liver fluke control and treatment.

proteomics ; red deer ; fascioloidosis ; liver fluke ; liver proteome

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