Genetic polymorphism, constitutive expression and tissue localization of Dirofilaria immitis P-glycoprotein 11: a putative marker of macrocyclic lactone resistance

BACKGROUND: Dirofilaria immitis causes dirofilariosis, a potentially fatal condition in canids. Dirofilaria infections can be prevented with a macrocyclic lactone (ML) prophylactic regimen. However, some D. immitis isolates have become resistant to MLs. Genetic changes on the P-glycoprotein 11 gene, encoding an ABCB transporter, have been linked to the ML-resistant phenotypes and have been proposed as markers of drug resistance. However, nothing is known about the expression and the localization of this transporter in D. immitis, despite its strong link to ML-resistant phenotypes. METHODS: We examined the clinically validated D. immitis P-glycoprotein 11 (DimPgp-11) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) via MiSeq analysis in three ML-susceptible isolates (Missouri, MP3 and Yazoo) and two ML-resistant isolates (JYD-34 and Metairie), and correlated the data with previously published MiSeq results of USA laboratory-maintained D. immitis isolates. The level of the expression of the DimPgp-11 messenger RNA transcript was analyzed by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and compared in the USA laboratory-maintained isolates, namely the ML-susceptible Missouri and Berkeley isolates, the putative ML-susceptible Georgia III and Big Head isolates and the ML-resistant isolate JYD-34. The immunolocalization of DimPgp-11 was visualized in the microfilaria (mf) life stage of the Missouri isolate using confocal microscopy. RESULTS: The results confirmed that the SNP found on DimPgp-11 is differentially expressed in the USA laboratory-maintained isolates. The ML-susceptible isolates had an alternate allele frequency of between 0% and 15%, while it ranged between 17% and 56% in the ML-resistant isolates. The constitutive expression of DimPgp-11 was similar in the Berkeley, Georgia III and Big Head isolates, while it was significantly decreased in the ML-resistant JYD-34 isolate (P < 0.05), when compared to the ML-susceptible Missouri isolate. The DimPgp-11 protein was distinctly localized within the excretory-secretory (ES) duct, pore cells and the excretory cell and, more faintly, along the mf body wall. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm that genetic polymorphism of DimPgp-11 is associated with ML resistance in USA laboratory-maintained D. imminits isolates. A link between DimPgp-11 and ML resistance in D. immitis is further supported by the lower protein expression in the ML-resistant JYD-34 isolate when compared with the ML-susceptible Missouri isolate. Interestingly, DimPgp-11 is strategically located surrounding the ES pore where it could play an active role in ML efflux. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05571-6.