VPS32, a member of the ESCRT complex, modulates adherence to host cells in the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis by affecting biogenesis and cargo sorting of released extracellular vesicles

SALAS, NEHUEN; COCERES, VERONICA M.; PEREIRA-NEVES, ANTONIO; MAGUIRE, VANINA G.; RAMIREZ, MARCEL I.; WOHLSCHLEGEL, JAMES A.; DE MIGUEL, NATALIA

Congreso; Molecular Parasitology Meeting, MPM 2021; 2021

Trichomonas vaginalis is a common sexually transmitted parasite that colonizes the human urogenital tract, where it remains extracellular and adheres to epithelial cells. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been described as important players in the study of pathogenesis in this parasite as they deliver proteins and RNA into host cells and modulate parasite adherence. The Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery contributes to several key mechanisms in which it reshapes membranes and have been implicated in EVs biogenesis in other cells. Here, we demonstrated that VPS32, a member of ESCRTIII complex, contribute to the biogenesis and cargo sorting of extracellular vesicles in the parasite T. vaginalis. Moreover, we demonstrated that parasites overexpressing VPS32 have a striking increase in adherence to host cells compared to control parasites; demonstrating a key role for this protein in mediating host: parasite interactions. These results provide valuable information on the molecular mechanisms involved in extracellular vesicles biogenesis, cargo-sorting, and parasite pathogenesis.