The Schistosoma mansoni nuclear receptor FTZ-F1 maintains esophageal gland function via transcriptional regulation of meg-8.3

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010140
• Publication Date: 2021-12-15T18:37:11Z
• Authors: Aracely A. Romero; Sarah A. Cobb; Julie N. R. Collins; Steven A. Kliewer; David J. Mangelsdorf; James J. Collins
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; QH301-705.5; Helminth Proteins; Schistosoma mansoni; RC581-607; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Esophagus; Gene Expression Regulation; Animals; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; Biology (General); Research Article; Transcription Factors

Schistosomes infect over 200 million of the world’s poorest people, but unfortunately treatment relies on a single drug. Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate diverse processes in metazoans, yet few have been functionally characterized schistosomes. During systematic analysis nuclear receptor function, we found an FTZ-F1-like was essential for parasite survival. Using combination transcriptional profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), discovered micro-exon gene meg-8 . 3 is target SmFTZ-F1. We both Smftz-f1 required esophageal gland maintenance as well integrity worm’s head. Together, these studies define new role function suggest associated with could represent viable therapeutic targets.