mRNA Sequencing Reveals Upregulation of Glutathione S-Transferase Genes during Acanthamoeba Encystation.
Alvaro de Obeso Fernández Del ValleChristian Quintus ScheckhuberDavid Armando Chavaro-PérezErandi Ortega-BarragánSutherland K MaciverPublished in: Microorganisms (2023)
Some members of the genus Acanthamoeba are facultative pathogens typically with a biphasic lifestyle: trophozoites and cysts. Acanthamoeba is capable of infecting the cornea, resulting in Acanthamoeba keratitis. The cyst is one of the key components for the persistence of infection. Gene expression during Acanthamoeba encystation showed an upregulation of glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes and other closely related proteins. mRNA sequencing showed GST, and five genes with similar sequences were upregulated after 24 h of inducing encystation. GST overexpression was verified with qPCR using the HPRT and the cyst-specific protein 21 genes as controls. The GST inhibitor ethacrynic acid was found to decrease cell viability by 70%. These results indicate a role of GST in successful encystation, possibly by maintaining redox balance. GST and associated processes could be targets for potential treatments alongside regular therapies to reduce relapses of Acanthamoeba infection.
Keyphrases
- genome wide
- gene expression
- bioinformatics analysis
- genome wide identification
- cell proliferation
- dna methylation
- single cell
- cardiovascular disease
- metabolic syndrome
- poor prognosis
- signaling pathway
- binding protein
- transcription factor
- physical activity
- type diabetes
- genome wide analysis
- amino acid
- small molecule
- human health