Helminth parasites secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) into their environment that have potential roles in host-parasite communication, and thus represent potentially useful targets for novel control strategies. Here, we carried out a comprehensive proteomic analysis of two different populations of EVs – 15k pellet and 120k pellet EVs – from Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. We characterised the proteins present in the membranes of the EVs (including external trypsin-liberated peptides, integral membrane proteins (IMPs) and peripheral membrane proteins (PMPs)), as well as cargo proteins, using LC–MS/MS. A total of 286 and 716 proteins were identified in 15k and 120k pellets, respectively. Some of the most abundant proteins identified from both 15k and 120k pellets include known vaccine candidates such as Sm-TSP-2, saponin B domain-containing proteins, calpain glutathione-S-transferase, Sm29 and cathepsin domain-containing proteins. Other abundant proteins that have not been tested as vaccines include DM9 domain-containing protein, 13 kDa tegumental antigen and histone H4-like protein. Sm23, a member of the tetraspanin family with known vaccine efficacy, was identified in the cargo and IMP compartments of only 15k pellet vesicles. Moreover, a collection of proteins with known or potential relevance in host-parasite communication including proteases, antioxidants and EV biogenesis/trafficking of both vesicle types were identified. Our results provide the first report of a comprehensive compartmental proteomic analysis of adult S. mansoni-derived EVs. Future research should investigate recombinant forms of these proteins as vaccine and serodiagnostic antigens as well as the roles of EV proteins in host-parasite communication.

蠕虫寄生虫将细胞外囊泡（EVs）分泌到其环境中，这些病毒在宿主与寄生虫的交流中具有潜在作用，因此代表了新型控制策略的潜在有用靶标。在这里，我们对曼氏血吸虫成虫蠕虫的两种不同种群的电动汽车-15k颗粒电动车和120k颗粒电动车进行了全面的蛋白质组学分析。我们使用LC-MS / MS对电动汽车的膜中存在的蛋白质（包括外部胰蛋白酶释放的肽，整合膜蛋白（IMP）和外周膜蛋白（PMP））以及货物蛋白进行了表征。在15k和120k沉淀中分别鉴定出总共286和716种蛋白质。从15k和120k颗粒中鉴定出的一些最丰富的蛋白质包括已知的候选疫苗，例如Sm -TSP-2，含有皂苷B结构域的蛋白，钙蛋白酶谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶，Sm29和组织蛋白酶结构域的蛋白。尚未测试作为疫苗的其他丰富蛋白质包括含DM9结构域的蛋白质，13 kDa的表皮抗原和组蛋白H4样蛋白质。Sm23是四跨膜蛋白家族的成员，具有已知的疫苗功效，仅在15k粒状囊泡的货物和IMP隔室中鉴定到。此外，鉴定了在宿主-寄生虫传播中具有已知或潜在相关性的蛋白质的集合，包括蛋白酶，抗氧化剂和两种囊泡类型的EV生物发生/贩运。我们的结果提供了对成人曼氏葡萄球菌进行全面区室蛋白质组学分析的第一份报告电动汽车。未来的研究应研究这些蛋白的重组形式，如疫苗和血清诊断抗原，以及EV蛋白在宿主-寄生虫传播中的作用。