Comparative analysis of expression of Rhomboid genes among clinical isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomoniasis is the number one non-viral sexually transmitted disease caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. Following adherence to host cells, trichomonads are transformed from flagellate to amoeboid forms. We hypothesize that intramembrane rhomboid serine-proteases play a crucial role in the amoeboid transformation by cleaving substrates that aid in the cytoskeletal rearrangement of trichomonads. Using Trichomonad genome database (TrichDB), we amplified eight different Rhomboid protease genes from genomic DNA of two fresh clinical isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis, and confirmed the presence of the genes. We then performed RT-PCR analyses to study the patterns of gene expression. Interestingly, we found that between the two clinical isolates tested, the isolate that was from a female patient had very low expression of some of the rhomboid genes. On the other hand, the male isolate had higher levels of expression of all genes tested. Studies involving gene expression in different isolates are underway. Further analyses of regulation and function of these genes would give us important insights into the disease progression in men and women.