DataSheet_1_Salivary and Intestinal Transcriptomes Reveal Differential Gene Expression in Starving, Fed and Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Rhodnius neglectus.zip

Rhodnius neglectus is a potential vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc), the causative agent of Chagas disease. The salivary glands (SGs) and intestine (INT) are actively required during blood feeding. The saliva from SGs is injected into the vertebrate host, modulating immune responses and favoring feeding for INT digestion. Tc infection significantly alters the physiology of these tissues; however, studies that assess this are still scarce. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the global transcriptional expression of genes in SGs and INT during fasting (FA), fed (FE), and fed in the presence of Tc (FE + Tc) conditions. In FA, the expression of transcripts related to homeostasis maintenance proteins during periods of stress was predominant. Therefore, the transcript levels of Tret1-like and Hsp70Ba proteins were increased. Blood appeared to be responsible for alterations found in the FE group, as most of the expressed transcripts, such as proteases and cathepsin D, were related to digestion. In FE + Tc group, there was a decreased expression of blood processing genes for insect metabolism (e.g., Antigen-5 precursor, Pr13a, and Obp), detoxification (Sult1) in INT and acid phosphatases in SG. We also found decreased transcriptional expression of lipocalins and nitrophorins in SG and two new proteins, pacifastin and diptericin, in INT. Several transcripts of unknown proteins with investigative potential were found in both tissues. Our results also show that the presence of Tc can change the expression in both tissues for a long or short period of time. While SG homeostasis seems to be re-established on day 9, changes in INT are still evident. The findings of this study may be used for future research on parasite-vector interactions and contribute to the understanding of food physiology and post-meal/infection in triatomines.

贫食锥蝽（Rhodnius neglectus）是克氏锥虫（Trypanosoma cruzi，简称Tc）的潜在传播媒介，而克氏锥虫正是恰加斯病（Chagas disease）的致病原。吸血过程中，唾液腺（SGs）与肠道（INT）发挥核心作用：唾液腺分泌的唾液会注入脊椎动物宿主体内，以调控宿主免疫应答并助力肠道完成消化过程。尽管Tc感染会显著改变这两类组织的生理状态，但相关研究仍较为匮乏。本研究旨在深入解析贫食锥蝽的唾液腺与肠道在禁食（FA）、饱腹（FE）以及饱腹并感染Tc（FE + Tc）三种条件下的基因全局转录表达谱。禁食状态下，与应激期稳态维持相关的蛋白编码转录本占主导地位，其中Tret1-like与Hsp70Ba蛋白的转录水平显著上调。饱腹组的转录谱变化主要由血液摄入所致，绝大多数表达上调的转录本（如蛋白酶与组织蛋白酶D）均与消化功能相关。在FE + Tc组中，肠道内参与昆虫代谢的血液加工相关基因（如抗原-5前体、Pr13a与Obp）、解毒相关基因Sult1，以及唾液腺内的酸性磷酸酶的表达均出现下调。此外，我们还发现唾液腺内的脂钙蛋白与嗜硝蛋白的转录表达水平降低，肠道内则出现两种新型蛋白——pacifastin与双翅菌素（diptericin）的转录下调。两类组织中均发现了一批具有研究潜力的未知功能蛋白编码转录本。本研究结果同时表明，Tc感染可在不同时长的周期内改变两类组织的基因表达模式。尽管唾液腺的稳态在感染后第9天似乎已重新建立，但肠道的表达变化仍持续存在。本研究发现可为后续寄生虫-媒介互作相关研究提供参考，同时有助于加深对锥蝽科昆虫食物生理学以及摄食/感染后生理变化的认知。