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Functional expression and characterization of a cytosolic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase of Spirometra erinacei

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Abstract

Spirometra erinacei is a pseudophyllidean tapeworm which inhabits the intestines of cats and dogs. The infections are usually asymptomatic in these animals, but the infection of the plerocercoid larvae of the parasite, spargana, cause sparganosis in other vertebrates, including human. In this study, we identified a gene encoding the copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase of S. erinacei (SeCuZnSOD) and partially characterized the biochemical and functional properties of the enzyme. The open reading frame of SeCuZnSOD was 465 bp that encodes 154 amino acids. The characteristic amino acid residues and motifs required for coordinating copper and zinc enzymatic function were well conserved. The genomic length of the SeCuZnSOD was 1,985 bp consisting of three exons that are separated by two introns. SeCuZnSOD is a typical cytosolic form which shares similar biochemical properties, including broad pH optima and inhibition profile by KCN and H2O2, with cytosolic Cu/Zn–SODs of other organisms. SeCuZnSOD was functionally expressed in both S. erinacei plerocercoid larvae and adult worms, and its expression level was significantly increased when the plerocercoid larvae were treated with paraquat. The enzyme may play essential roles for survival of the parasite not only by protecting itself from endogenous oxidative stress, but also by detoxifying oxidative killing of the parasite by host immune effector cells.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Inha University Research Grant (INHA-37466-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China

    Ai-Hua Li

  2. Department of Parasitology, BK21 Biomedical Center, and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, 660-751, South Korea

    Byoung-Kuk Na

  3. Department of Parasitology and Inha Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, 400-712, South Korea

    Sung-Kyu Ahn, Yun-Kyu Park & Tong-Soo Kim

  4. Department of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, 122-701, South Korea

    Shin-Hyeong Cho

  5. Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 138-736, South Korea

    Jhang-Ho Pak

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  1. Ai-Hua Li
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  2. Byoung-Kuk Na
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  3. Sung-Kyu Ahn
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  4. Shin-Hyeong Cho
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Correspondence to Tong-Soo Kim.

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Ai-Hua Li and Byoung-Kuk Na contributed equally to this work.

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Li, AH., Na, BK., Ahn, SK. et al. Functional expression and characterization of a cytosolic copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase of Spirometra erinacei . Parasitol Res 106, 627–635 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1714-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1714-4

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