Identification and characterization of parasitism genes from the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus reveals a multilayered detoxification strategy.

The migratory endoparasitic nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which is the causal agent of pine wilt disease, has phytophagous and mycetophagous phases during its life cycle. This highly unusual feature distinguishes it from other plantparasitic nematodes and requires profound changes in biology between modes. During the phytophagous stage, the nematode migrates within pine trees, feeding on the contents of parenchymal cells. Like other plant pathogens, B. xylophilus secretes effectors from pharyngeal gland cells into the host during infection.We provide the first description of changes in the morphology of these gland cells between juvenile and adult life stages. Using a comparative transcriptomics approach and an effector identification pipeline, we identify numerous novel parasitism genes which may be important for the mediation of interactions of B. xylophilus with its host. In-depth characterization of all parasitism genes using in situ hybridization reveals two major categories of detoxification proteins, those specifically expressed in either the pharyngeal gland cells or the digestive system. These data suggest that B. xylophilus incorporates effectors in a multilayer detoxification strategy in order to protect itself from host defence responses during phytophagy.

Clínica e cirurgia de equinos

O presente relatório tem como objetivo a descrição das atividades desenvolvidas no âmbito do estágio curricular do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária pela Universidade de Évora realizado de 15 de novembro de 2015 a 15 de maio de 2016. Na primeira parte descreve a casuística acompanhada durante o estágio na Equimuralha, com destaque para alguns casos mais relevantes de cada área da clinica e cirurgia de equinos. Posteriormente a revisão bibliográfica com o tema Parasitismo de Gasterophilus spp. em Cavalos. Culminando com um estudo retrospetivo referente aos dados de equinos que apresentaram míase oral durante o exame da cavidade oral e correção da mesa dentária de 2014 a 2016 com o tema: “Estudo do parasitismo por Gasterophilus spp. na cavidade oral de cavalos no Alentejo”; Equine Clinics and Surgery Abstract: This report describes the activities developed the integrated internship of the master’s degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Évora, which was held from 15th November 2015 to 15th May 2016. The first part describes the casuistics followed during the traineeship in Equimuralha, highlighting some cases of each area of intervention of the equine clinics and surgery. A Second part contains a literature review on the Parasitism of Gasterophilus in horses. Finally, a retrospective study is performed about horses presenting oral miasis between 2014 and 2016 during the oral examination: “Parasitism study by Gasterophilus spp. in the oral cavity of horses in Alentejo”.

Characterization of glutathione S transferases from the plant-parasitic nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

We have previously identified two secreted glutathione S-transferases (GST) expressed in the pharyngeal gland cell of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which are upregulated post infection of the host. This study examines the functional role of GSTs in B. xylophilus biology. We analysed the expression profiles of all predicted GSTs in the genome and the results showed that they belong to kappa and cytosolic subfamilies and the majority are upregulated post infection of the host. A small percentage is potentially secreted and none is downregulated post infection of the host. One secreted protein was confirmed as a functional GST and is within a cluster that showed the highest expression fold change in infection. This enzyme has a protective activity that may involve host defences, namely in the presence of terpenoid compounds and peroxide products. These results suggest that GSTs secreted into the host participate in the detoxification of host-derived defence compounds and enable successful parasitism.