The purpose of this study was to determine the biological function of a Trichinella spiralis glutathione S-transferase (TsGST) in larval invasion and development by RNA interference (RNAi). The TsGST-specific siRNA 366 was transfected into T. spiralis muscle larvae (ML) via electroporation. At 1 day following transfection, the larval TsGST mRNA and protein expressions were reduced by 40.09 and 65.22 % (P < 0.05), respectively. The enzymatic activity of natural TsGST in siRNA-transfected ML was also suppressed by 45% compared with PBS group (P < 0.05). Silencing of the TsGST significantly inhibited the ability of larvae to invade intestinal epithelium cells (IECs) and isolated intestine. After challenge with siRNA-366-treated ML, the infected mice exhibited a 62.82% reduction of intestinal adult worms, and 65.03 % reduction of muscle larvae compared to the PBS group. Besides, the length of adults, newborn larvae and muscle larvae was significantly shorter than that of control siRNA and PBS group; the female fecundity of siRNA 366 group was lower than those of control siRNA and PBS group (P <  0.05). The results revealed that the specific RNAi significantly reduced the expression and enzymatic activity of TsGST, inhibited the larval invasive and developmental capacity, and impaired the female fecundity. The results further confirmed that TsGST plays a crucial role in the T. spiralis life cycle and it might be a potential molecular target for anti-Trichinella vaccines.

中文翻译：

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旋毛虫入侵、发育和繁殖中谷胱甘肽 S-转移酶的功能特征。


本研究的目的是通过 RNA 干扰 (RNAi) 确定旋毛虫谷胱甘肽 S-转移酶 (TsGST) 在幼虫入侵和发育中的生物学功能。通过电穿孔将 TsGST 特异性 siRNA 366 转染至旋毛虫肌肉幼虫 (ML) 中。转染后第1天，幼虫TsGST mRNA和蛋白表达量分别降低40.09%和65.22%（P < 0.05）。与PBS组相比，转染siRNA的ML中天然TsGST的酶活性也被抑制了45%（P < 0.05）。 TsGST 的沉默显着抑制了幼虫侵入肠上皮细胞 (IEC) 和离体肠道的能力。在用 siRNA-366 处理的 ML 攻击后，与 PBS 组相比，受感染的小鼠肠道成虫减少了 62.82%，肌肉幼虫减少了 65.03%。此外，成虫、初生幼虫和肌幼虫的体长显着短于对照siRNA组和PBS组； siRNA 366组的雌性繁殖力低于对照siRNA和PBS组（P < 0.05）。结果表明，特异性RNAi显着降低TsGST的表达和酶活性，抑制幼虫的侵袭和发育能力，损害雌虫的繁殖力。结果进一步证实TsGST在旋毛虫生命周期中发挥着至关重要的作用，它可能是抗旋毛虫疫苗的潜在分子靶点。