Zhao Yan, Zhang Chao, Zhang Jing, Nan Hui-Zhu, Xie Yue, Ma Lei
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Environment, Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
Acta Parasitol. 2025 Sep 9;70(5):194. doi: 10.1007/s11686-025-01127-7.
This study aimed to identify and analyze the role of Ferric reductase inBlastocystis sp. subtype 2 (ST2) and explore the relationship between the parasite and iron metabolism.
The location of Ferric reductase in Blastocystis sp. was determined using the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Transmission electron microscopy was employed to reveal the effect of iron ions on the cell membrane of Blastocystis sp.. For the first time, RNA interference technology was used to explore the relationship between Ferric reductase and iron ions.
Ferric reductase was distributed in the membrane and cytoplasm of the parasite. Iron reduces the thickness of the Blastocystis sp.'s cell membrane. After silencing the Ferric reductase gene, there was no significant difference in the morphology of the parasite strain compared with the control group. The expression level of the Ferric reductase gene does not play a decisive role in maintaining the morphology of the parasite, but the deletion of the Ferric reductase gene reduces the ability of the parasite to absorb iron ions.
This study fills the gap in the research field of iron metabolism inBlastocystis sp. among parasites, lays a foundation for the research on the gene function of Blastocystis sp., and provides new candidate factors for the development of Blastocystis sp. vaccines.
本研究旨在鉴定和分析铁还原酶在芽囊原虫2型（ST2）中的作用，并探讨该寄生虫与铁代谢之间的关系。
采用间接免疫荧光法（IFA）确定铁还原酶在芽囊原虫中的定位。利用透射电子显微镜揭示铁离子对芽囊原虫细胞膜的影响。首次运用RNA干扰技术探究铁还原酶与铁离子之间的关系。
铁还原酶分布于寄生虫的细胞膜和细胞质中。铁会使芽囊原虫细胞膜的厚度减小。沉默铁还原酶基因后，与对照组相比，寄生虫株的形态无显著差异。铁还原酶基因的表达水平在维持寄生虫形态方面不起决定性作用，但铁还原酶基因的缺失会降低寄生虫吸收铁离子的能力。
本研究填补了寄生虫中芽囊原虫铁代谢研究领域的空白，为芽囊原虫基因功能的研究奠定了基础，并为芽囊原虫疫苗的研发提供了新的候选因素。
