Inhibition of the NAD salvage pathway in schistosomes impairs metabolism, reproduction, and parasite survival

PLoS Pathog. 2020 May 27;16(5):e1008539. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008539. eCollection 2020 May.

Abstract

NAD, a key co-enzyme required for cell metabolism, is synthesized via two pathways in most organisms. Since schistosomes apparently lack enzymes required for de novo NAD biosynthesis, we evaluated whether these parasites, which infect >200 million people worldwide, maintain NAD homeostasis via the NAD salvage biosynthetic pathway. We found that intracellular NAD levels decline in schistosomes treated with drugs that block production of nicotinamide or nicotinamide mononucleotide-known NAD precursors in the non-deamidating salvage pathway. Moreover, in vitro inhibition of the NAD salvage pathway in schistosomes impaired egg production, disrupted the outer membranes of both immature and mature parasites and caused loss of mobility and death. Inhibiting the NAD salvage pathway in schistosome-infected mice significantly decreased NAD levels in adult parasites, which correlated with reduced egg production, fewer liver granulomas and parasite death. Thus, schistosomes, unlike their mammalian hosts, appear limited to one metabolic pathway to maintain NAD-dependent metabolic processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / physiology*
  • Mice
  • NAD / metabolism*
  • Reproduction / physiology
  • Schistosoma mansoni / physiology*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / metabolism*
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni / pathology

Substances

  • NAD