Biomphalaria glabrata is one of the main intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, the most widespread species of Schistosoma. Our previous studies proved that alternative oxidase (AOX), the terminal oxidase in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, widely exists in several species of intermediate host snails of Schistosoma. Meanwhile, inhibition of AOX activity in Oncomelania hupensis snails could dramatically enhance the molluscicidal effect of niclosamide. As a hermaphroditic aquatic mollusc, the high fecundity and population density of B. glabrata increase the difficulty of snail control, which is one of the critical strategies for schistosomiasis elimination. The present study aimed to investigate the possible role of AOX in the development and fecundity of B. glabrata snail, which could be manipulated more manageable than other species of intermediate host snails of Schistosoma. The dynamic expression of the AOX gene was investigated in different developmental stages and tissues of B. glabrata, with morphological change and oviposition behaviour observed from juvenile to adult snails. Furtherly, dsRNA-mediated knockdown of BgAOX mRNA and the AOX protein activity inhibiting was performed to investigate the effect of AOX on the development and oviposition of snails. The BgAOX gene expression profile is highly related to the development from late juveniles to adults, especially to the reproductive system of snails, with a positive correlation of 0.975 between egg production and BgAOX relative expression in ovotestis of snails. The inhibition of BgAOX at the transcriptional level and AOX activity could efficiently inhibit snail growth. However, the interference at the BgAOX protein activity level led to more severe tissue damage and more significant inhibition of oviposition than at the transcriptional level. This inhibition of growth and oviposition decreased gradually with the increase in the snail size. The inhibition of AOX could efficiently disrupt the development and oviposition of B. glabrata snails, and the intervention targeting AOX at the juvenile stage is more effective for snails. This investigation explored the role of AOX in the growth and development of snails. It would benefit snail control in the future by providing a potential target while using molluscicides more efficiently.

中文翻译：

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抑制替代氧化酶会破坏 Biomphalaria glabrata 蜗牛的发育和产卵

光滑双翅目是曼氏血吸虫的主要中间宿主之一，曼氏血吸虫是血吸虫中分布最广的种类。我们之前的研究证明，替代氧化酶（AOX）是线粒体呼吸链中的末端氧化酶，广泛存在于血吸虫的几种中间宿主蜗牛中。同时，抑制钉螺AOX活性可显着增强氯硝柳胺的杀软体效果。作为雌雄同体的水生软体动物，B. glabrata 的高繁殖力和种群密度增加了防治钉螺的难度，而防治钉螺是消除血吸虫病的关键策略之一。本研究旨在探讨 AOX 在光滑圆蜗牛发育和繁殖中的可能作用，与血吸虫的其他种类的中间宿主蜗牛相比，它可以更容易地被操纵。研究了 AOX 基因在光滑的不同发育阶段和组织中的动态表达，观察了从幼年到成年蜗牛的形态变化和产卵行为。此外，通过dsRNA介导的BgAOX mRNA敲低和AOX蛋白活性抑制，研究了AOX对蜗牛发育和产卵的影响。BgAOX基因表达谱与晚期幼体发育成成体高度相关，尤其与蜗牛生殖系统密切相关，产卵量与蜗牛卵睾BgAOX相对表达量呈0.975正相关。在转录水平和AOX活性上抑制BgAOX可有效抑制蜗牛生长。然而，与转录水平相比，BgAOX 蛋白活性水平的干扰导致更严重的组织损伤和更显着的产卵抑制。随着蜗牛尺寸的增加，这种生长和产卵抑制作用逐渐减弱。抑制AOX可有效扰乱光滑钉螺的发育和产卵，在幼体阶段针对AOX进行干预对钉螺更为有效。本次调查探讨了 AOX 在蜗牛生长发育中的作用。通过提供潜在目标同时更有效地使用杀软体动物剂，它将有利于未来的蜗牛控制。与转录水平相比，BgAOX 蛋白活性水平的干扰导致更严重的组织损伤和更显着的产卵抑制。随着蜗牛尺寸的增加，这种生长和产卵抑制作用逐渐减弱。抑制AOX可有效扰乱光滑钉螺的发育和产卵，在幼体阶段针对AOX进行干预对钉螺更为有效。本次调查探讨了 AOX 在蜗牛生长发育中的作用。通过提供潜在目标同时更有效地使用杀软体动物剂，它将有利于未来的蜗牛控制。与转录水平相比，BgAOX 蛋白活性水平的干扰导致更严重的组织损伤和更显着的产卵抑制。随着蜗牛尺寸的增加，这种生长和产卵抑制作用逐渐减弱。抑制AOX可有效扰乱光滑钉螺的发育和产卵，在幼体阶段针对AOX进行干预对钉螺更为有效。本次调查探讨了 AOX 在蜗牛生长发育中的作用。通过提供潜在目标同时更有效地使用杀软体动物剂，它将有利于未来的蜗牛控制。随着蜗牛尺寸的增加，这种生长和产卵抑制作用逐渐减弱。抑制AOX可有效扰乱光滑钉螺的发育和产卵，在幼体阶段针对AOX进行干预对钉螺更为有效。本次调查探讨了 AOX 在蜗牛生长发育中的作用。通过提供潜在目标同时更有效地使用杀软体动物剂，它将有利于未来的蜗牛控制。随着蜗牛尺寸的增加，这种生长和产卵抑制作用逐渐减弱。抑制AOX可有效扰乱光滑钉螺的发育和产卵，在幼体阶段针对AOX进行干预对钉螺更为有效。本次调查探讨了 AOX 在蜗牛生长发育中的作用。通过提供潜在目标同时更有效地使用杀软体动物剂，它将有利于未来的蜗牛控制。