Identification and Functional Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes of Ascaris suum Goeze,1782 from Ascaris lumbricoides Linnaeus, 1758

In order to provide further evidence to prove that Ascaris suum Goeze,1782 and Ascaris lumbricoides Linnaeus,1758 are really different species in taxonomy,and to identity A.suum larval migrans-related genes for diagnosis and prevention use,A.suum genes that were differentialy expressed from the same gender of A.lumbricoides were enriched by subtracting the same expressed genes using suppression subtractive hybridization （SSH） assay.Specificity of the selectively enriched cDNA was verified by Southern blot analysis.The female A.suum specific cDNA library was then constructed and sequenced.Basic local alignment search tool （BLAST） analysis of female A.suum specific cDNA identified 6 specific ESTs with tentative functions related to larva migrans.This study provided further evidence for differentiating A.suum from A.lumbricoides.Mining for the detailed information and application of the 6 ESTs are worth being done in the future studies.

Cytosolic Ca^(2+)as a multifunctional modulator is required for spermiogenesis in Ascaris suum

The dynamic polar polymers actin fi laments and microtu-bules are usually employed to provide the structural ba-sis for establishing cell polarity in most eukaryotic cells.Radially round and immotile spermatids from nematodes contain almost no actin or tubulin,but still have the abil-ity to break symmetry to extend a pseudopod and initiate the acquisition of motility powered by the dynamics of cytoskeleton composed of major sperm protein(MSP)during spermiogenesis(sperm activation).However,the signal transduction mechanism of nematode sperm activation and motility acquisition remains poorly under-stood.Here we show that Ca^(2+) oscillations induced by the Ca^(2+) release from intracellular Ca^(2+) store through inositol(1,4,5)-trisphosphate receptor are required for Ascaris suum sperm activation.The chelation of cytosolic Ca^(2+) suppresses the generation of a functional pseudopod,and this suppression can be relieved by introducing ex-ogenous Ca^(2+) into sperm cells.Ca^(2+) promotes MSP-based sperm motility by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and thus the energy supply required for MSP cytoskeleton assembly.On the other hand,Ca^(2+) promotes MSP disassembly by activating Ca^(2+)/calmodulin-depend-ent serine/threonine protein phosphatase calcineurin.In addition,Ca^(2+)/camodulin activity is required for the fusion of sperm-specifi c membranous organelle with the plasma membrane,a regulated exocytosis required for sperm mo-tility.Thus,Ca^(2+)plays multifunctional roles during sperm activation in Ascaris suum.

Eosinophilic cholecystitis as a rare manifestation of visceral larva migrans

Eosinophilic cholecystitis is an infrequent form of cholecystitis. The etiology of eosinophilic cholecystitis is still obscure, and it is sometimes accompanied with several complications, but a simultaneous onset with pericarditis is very rare. We would like to make an alternative interpretation of our recent report "Kaji K, Yoshiji H, Yoshikawa M, Yamazaki M, Ikenaka Y, Noguchi R, Sawai M, Ishikawa M, Mashitani T, Kitade M, Kawaratani H, Uemura M, Yamao J, Fujimoto M, Mitoro A, Toyohara M, Yoshida M, Fukui H. Eosinophilic cholecystitis along with pericarditis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides: A case report. World J Gastroenterol 2007; 13: 3760-3762."