Absence of Wolbachia endobacteria in the human parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis and two related Dracunculus species infecting wildlife

Jeremy M. Foster; Frédéric Landmann; Louise Ford; Kelly Johnston; Sarah C. Elsasser; Albrecht I. Schulte-Hostedde; Mark Taylor; Barton E. Slatko

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-140

Absence of Wolbachia endobacteria in the human parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis and two related Dracunculus species infecting wildlife

Jeremy M. Foster, Frédéric Landmann, Louise Ford, Kelly Johnston, Sarah C. Elsasser, Albrecht I. Schulte-Hostedde, Mark Taylor, Barton E. Slatko

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background

Wolbachia endosymbionts are a proven target for control of human disease caused by filarial nematodes. However, little is known about the occurrence of Wolbachia in taxa closely related to the superfamily Filarioidea. Our study addressed the status of Wolbachia presence in members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea by screening the human parasite Dracunculus medinensis and related species from wildlife for Wolbachia.

Findings

D. medinensis, D. lutrae and D. insignis specimens were all negative for Wolbachia colonization by PCR screening for the Wolbachia ftsZ, 16S rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) sequences. The quality and purity of the DNA preparations was confirmed by amplification of nematode 18S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences. Furthermore, Wolbachia endobacteria were not detected by whole mount fluorescence staining, or by immunohistochemistry using a Wolbachia-specific antiserum. In contrast, positive control Brugia malayi worms were shown to harbour Wolbachia by PCR, fluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry.

Conclusions

Three examined species of Dracunculus showed no evidence of Wolbachia endobacteria. This supports that members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea are free of Wolbachia. Within the order Spirurida, these endosymbionts appear restricted to the Filarioidea.

Original language	English
Article number	140
Pages (from-to)	e140
Journal	Parasites and Vectors
Volume	7
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-140
Publication status	Published - 31 Mar 2014

Keywords

Dracunculus
Guinea worm
Wolbachia

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Para Vect 7 140Final published version, 1.86 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Absence of Wolbachia endobacteria in the human parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis and two related Dracunculus species infecting wildlife",

abstract = "BackgroundWolbachia endosymbionts are a proven target for control of human disease caused by filarial nematodes. However, little is known about the occurrence of Wolbachia in taxa closely related to the superfamily Filarioidea. Our study addressed the status of Wolbachia presence in members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea by screening the human parasite Dracunculus medinensis and related species from wildlife for Wolbachia.FindingsD. medinensis, D. lutrae and D. insignis specimens were all negative for Wolbachia colonization by PCR screening for the Wolbachia ftsZ, 16S rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) sequences. The quality and purity of the DNA preparations was confirmed by amplification of nematode 18S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences. Furthermore, Wolbachia endobacteria were not detected by whole mount fluorescence staining, or by immunohistochemistry using a Wolbachia-specific antiserum. In contrast, positive control Brugia malayi worms were shown to harbour Wolbachia by PCR, fluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry.ConclusionsThree examined species of Dracunculus showed no evidence of Wolbachia endobacteria. This supports that members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea are free of Wolbachia. Within the order Spirurida, these endosymbionts appear restricted to the Filarioidea.",

keywords = "Dracunculus, Guinea worm, Wolbachia",

author = "Foster, \{Jeremy M.\} and Fr{\'e}d{\'e}ric Landmann and Louise Ford and Kelly Johnston and Elsasser, \{Sarah C.\} and Schulte-Hostedde, \{Albrecht I.\} and Mark Taylor and Slatko, \{Barton E.\}",

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doi = "10.1186/1756-3305-7-140",

language = "English",

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T1 - Absence of Wolbachia endobacteria in the human parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis and two related Dracunculus species infecting wildlife

AU - Foster, Jeremy M.

AU - Landmann, Frédéric

AU - Ford, Louise

AU - Johnston, Kelly

AU - Elsasser, Sarah C.

AU - Schulte-Hostedde, Albrecht I.

AU - Taylor, Mark

AU - Slatko, Barton E.

PY - 2014/3/31

Y1 - 2014/3/31

N2 - BackgroundWolbachia endosymbionts are a proven target for control of human disease caused by filarial nematodes. However, little is known about the occurrence of Wolbachia in taxa closely related to the superfamily Filarioidea. Our study addressed the status of Wolbachia presence in members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea by screening the human parasite Dracunculus medinensis and related species from wildlife for Wolbachia.FindingsD. medinensis, D. lutrae and D. insignis specimens were all negative for Wolbachia colonization by PCR screening for the Wolbachia ftsZ, 16S rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) sequences. The quality and purity of the DNA preparations was confirmed by amplification of nematode 18S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences. Furthermore, Wolbachia endobacteria were not detected by whole mount fluorescence staining, or by immunohistochemistry using a Wolbachia-specific antiserum. In contrast, positive control Brugia malayi worms were shown to harbour Wolbachia by PCR, fluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry.ConclusionsThree examined species of Dracunculus showed no evidence of Wolbachia endobacteria. This supports that members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea are free of Wolbachia. Within the order Spirurida, these endosymbionts appear restricted to the Filarioidea.

AB - BackgroundWolbachia endosymbionts are a proven target for control of human disease caused by filarial nematodes. However, little is known about the occurrence of Wolbachia in taxa closely related to the superfamily Filarioidea. Our study addressed the status of Wolbachia presence in members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea by screening the human parasite Dracunculus medinensis and related species from wildlife for Wolbachia.FindingsD. medinensis, D. lutrae and D. insignis specimens were all negative for Wolbachia colonization by PCR screening for the Wolbachia ftsZ, 16S rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) sequences. The quality and purity of the DNA preparations was confirmed by amplification of nematode 18S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences. Furthermore, Wolbachia endobacteria were not detected by whole mount fluorescence staining, or by immunohistochemistry using a Wolbachia-specific antiserum. In contrast, positive control Brugia malayi worms were shown to harbour Wolbachia by PCR, fluorescence staining and immunohistochemistry.ConclusionsThree examined species of Dracunculus showed no evidence of Wolbachia endobacteria. This supports that members of the superfamily Dracunculoidea are free of Wolbachia. Within the order Spirurida, these endosymbionts appear restricted to the Filarioidea.

KW - Dracunculus

KW - Guinea worm

KW - Wolbachia

U2 - 10.1186/1756-3305-7-140

DO - 10.1186/1756-3305-7-140

M3 - Article

SN - 1756-3305

VL - 7

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JF - Parasites and Vectors

IS - 1

M1 - 140

ER -

Absence of Wolbachia endobacteria in the human parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis and two related Dracunculus species infecting wildlife

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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