Abstract
Methodology/Principle Findings: We demonstrated the presence of aspartic protease activity in whole scabies mite extract. We then identified a scabies mite aspartic protease gene sequence and produced recombinant active enzyme. The recombinant scabies mite aspartic protease was capable of digesting human haemoglobin, serum albumin, fibrinogen and fibronectin, but not collagen III or laminin. This is consistent with the location of the scabies mites in the upper epidermis of human skin.
Conclusions/Significance: The development of novel therapeutics for scabies is of increasing importance given the evidence of emerging resistance to current treatments. We have shown that a scabies mite aspartic protease plays a role in the digestion of host skin and serum molecules, raising the possibility that interference with the function of the enzyme may impact on mite survival.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e2525 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-9 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
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An Aspartic Protease of the Scabies Mite Sarcoptes scabiei Is Involved in the Digestion of Host Skin and Blood Macromolecules. / Mahmood, Wajahat; Viberg, Linda; Fischer, Katja; Walton, Shelley; Holt, Deborah.
In: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol. 7, No. 11, e2525, 2013, p. 1-9.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - An Aspartic Protease of the Scabies Mite Sarcoptes scabiei Is Involved in the Digestion of Host Skin and Blood Macromolecules
AU - Mahmood, Wajahat
AU - Viberg, Linda
AU - Fischer, Katja
AU - Walton, Shelley
AU - Holt, Deborah
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Background: Scabies is a disease of worldwide significance, causing considerable morbidity in both humans and other animals. The scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei burrows into the skin of its host, obtaining nutrition from host skin and blood. Aspartic proteases mediate a range of diverse and essential physiological functions such as tissue invasion and migration, digestion, moulting and reproduction in a number of parasitic organisms. We investigated whether aspartic proteases may play role in scabies mite digestive processes.Methodology/Principle Findings: We demonstrated the presence of aspartic protease activity in whole scabies mite extract. We then identified a scabies mite aspartic protease gene sequence and produced recombinant active enzyme. The recombinant scabies mite aspartic protease was capable of digesting human haemoglobin, serum albumin, fibrinogen and fibronectin, but not collagen III or laminin. This is consistent with the location of the scabies mites in the upper epidermis of human skin.Conclusions/Significance: The development of novel therapeutics for scabies is of increasing importance given the evidence of emerging resistance to current treatments. We have shown that a scabies mite aspartic protease plays a role in the digestion of host skin and serum molecules, raising the possibility that interference with the function of the enzyme may impact on mite survival.
AB - Background: Scabies is a disease of worldwide significance, causing considerable morbidity in both humans and other animals. The scabies mite Sarcoptes scabiei burrows into the skin of its host, obtaining nutrition from host skin and blood. Aspartic proteases mediate a range of diverse and essential physiological functions such as tissue invasion and migration, digestion, moulting and reproduction in a number of parasitic organisms. We investigated whether aspartic proteases may play role in scabies mite digestive processes.Methodology/Principle Findings: We demonstrated the presence of aspartic protease activity in whole scabies mite extract. We then identified a scabies mite aspartic protease gene sequence and produced recombinant active enzyme. The recombinant scabies mite aspartic protease was capable of digesting human haemoglobin, serum albumin, fibrinogen and fibronectin, but not collagen III or laminin. This is consistent with the location of the scabies mites in the upper epidermis of human skin.Conclusions/Significance: The development of novel therapeutics for scabies is of increasing importance given the evidence of emerging resistance to current treatments. We have shown that a scabies mite aspartic protease plays a role in the digestion of host skin and serum molecules, raising the possibility that interference with the function of the enzyme may impact on mite survival.
KW - albumin
KW - aspartic proteinase
KW - cathepsin D
KW - fibrinogen
KW - fibronectin
KW - hemoglobin
KW - recombinant aspartic proteinase
KW - recombinant protein
KW - unclassified drug
KW - article
KW - blood
KW - digestive function
KW - enzyme activity
KW - gene sequence
KW - human
KW - macromolecule
KW - nonhuman
KW - nucleotide sequence
KW - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
KW - protein analysis
KW - protein expression
KW - protein purification
KW - Sarcoptes scabiei
KW - scabies
KW - sequence analysis
KW - skin
KW - animal
KW - metabolism
KW - Animals
KW - Aspartic Acid Proteases
KW - Hemoglobins
KW - Humans
KW - Skin
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002525
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002525
M3 - Article
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
JF - PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
SN - 1935-2727
IS - 11
M1 - e2525
ER -