Expression of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) and Astacin Genes of Strongyloides stercoralis as well as HSP70 and HSP17.1 Genes of S. ratti in Adult and Larval Stages of S. stercoralis

Maryam  Alipour; Leila  Masoori; Mohammad Davoodzadeh  Gholami; Majid  Khoshmirsafa; Elham  Razmjou; Nahid  Jalallou; Farzane  Jafarian; Reza  Falak; Ahmad Reza  Meamar

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v19i1.15187

Maryam Alipour Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Leila Masoori Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorrama-bad, Iran
Mohammad Davoodzadeh Gholami Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Majid Khoshmirsafa Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Elham Razmjou Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nahid Jalallou Department of Medical Laboratory Science, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farzane Jafarian Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran
Reza Falak Immunology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
Ahmad Reza Meamar Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v19i1.15187

Keywords: Adult; Heat shock proteins; Larvae; Metalloprotease; Real-time PCR; Strongyloides stercoralis

Abstract

Background: Uncovering the roles and characteristics of pathogenesis-related molecules can help us develop novel management methods in parasitology. In this study, we studied the expression levels of Strongyloides stercoralis heat shock protein70 (HSP70) (Sst-hsp-70) and astacin (Sst-ast) as pathogenesis-related genes as well as the expression of S. ratti HSP70 and HSP17.1 (Sra-hsp-70, Sra-hsp-17.1) in the larvae and adult stages of S. stercoralis.

Methods: A hyperinfection isolate of S. stercoralis from Gilan Province, northern Iran was cultivated on nutrient agar. After a couple of days, parasites in different stages of life were collected, and total RNA was extracted. The expression levels of astacin and HSP genes were compared by real-time PCR.

Results: Statistically higher expression levels of Sst-ast, Sst-hsp-70, and Sra-hsp-70 genes in L3 larvae than in adults were observed. However, the expression level of Sra-hsp-17.1 was non-significantly lower in the larval stage than in adult worms.

Conclusion: Higher expression levels of Sst-ast, Sst-hsp-70, and Sra-hsp-70 genes in the larval stages of S. stercoralis suggest the potential role of these enzymes in parasite cutaneous invasion and pathogenesis. However, higher expression of Sra-hsp-17.1 in adult forms is probably involved in resistance and survival mechanisms. The similarity in gene expression between S. stercoralis and S. ratti can provide helpful hints to better understand strongyloidiasis from various perspectives, including pathogenesis, proper diagnosis, and targeted treatment.