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Ancarola ME, García LCA, Mourglia-Ettlin G, Cucher MA. Using the model cestode Taenia crassiceps for the study of cysticercosis. Methods Cell Biol 2024; 185:19-33. [PMID: 38556448 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Taenia solium is the aetiological agent of taeniasis/cysticercosis, one of the most severe neglected tropical diseases (NTD) according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The life cycle of T. solium alternates between pigs (intermediate host) and humans (definitive host). In addition, humans can act as accidental intermediate hosts if they ingest infective eggs. In this case, the most severe condition of the disease occurs when parasites invade the central nervous system, causing neurocysticercosis (NCC). The complexity of the life cycle of T. solium imposes a barrier to study this pathogen thoroughly. Thus, related species, such as T. crassiceps are commonly used. Due to its capacity to multiply asexually, T. crassiceps can be maintained by serial passage in laboratory mice in standard biosecurity level facilities. In addition, an in vitro system to generate cysticerci in the presence of feeder cells has been recently developed. Despite model species display biological differences with their zoonotic counterparts, they have historically helped to understand the biology of the related pathogenic species and hence, generate improvements in NTD detection and control. In this chapter, we describe the procedures to carry out both in vivo and in vitro systems for T. crassiceps in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Eugenia Ancarola
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Institute of Research on Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucía Celia Abril García
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Institute of Research on Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Mourglia-Ettlin
- Área Inmunología, Departamento de Biociencias (DEPBIO), Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Unidad Asociada de Inmunología, Instituto de Química Biológica (IQB), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay; Laboratorio de Inmunología, Instituto de Higiene "Prof. Arnoldo Berta", Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marcela Alejandra Cucher
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Institute of Research on Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Grecco A, Macchiaroli N, Pérez MG, Casulli A, Cucher MA, Rosenzvit MC. microRNA silencing in a whole worm cestode model provides insight into miR-71 function. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:699-710. [PMID: 37699506 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Parasites belonging to the class Cestoda include zoonotic species such as Echinococcus spp. and Taenia spp. that cause morbidity and mortality in endemic areas, mainly affecting pastoral and rural communities in low income countries but also upper middle income countries. Cestodes show remarkable developmental plasticity, implying tight regulation of gene expression throughout their complex life cycles. Despite the recent availability of genomic data for cestodes, little progress was made on postgenomic functional studies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key components of gene regulatory systems that guide diverse developmental processes in multicellular organisms. miR-71 is a highly expressed miRNA in cestodes, which is absent in vertebrates and targets essential parasite genes, representing a potential key player in understanding the role of miRNAs in cestodes biology. Here we used transfection with antisense oligonucleotides to perform whole worm miRNA knockdown in tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides vogae (syn. Mesocestoides corti), a laboratory model of cestodes. We believe this is the first report of miRNA knockdown at the organism level in these parasites. Our results showed that M. vogae miR-71 is involved in the control of strobilation in vitro and in the establishment of murine infection. In addition, we identified miR-71 targets in M. vogae, several of them being de-repressed upon miR-71 knockdown. This study provides new knowledge on gene expression regulation in cestodes and suggests that miRNAs could be evaluated as new selective therapeutic targets for treating Neglected Tropical Diseases prioritised by the World Health Organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Grecco
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Bioinformática de Patógenos, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías Gastón Pérez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriano Casulli
- WHO Collaborating Centre for the Epidemiology, Detection and Control of Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis. Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; European Reference Laboratory for Parasites. Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcela Alejandra Cucher
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Alizadeh Z, Mahami-Oskouei M, Spotin A, Ahmadpour E, Cai P, Sandoghchian Shotorbani S, Pashazadeh F, Ansari F, Mohammadi H. MicroRNAs in helminth parasites: a systematic review. Curr Mol Med 2021; 22:779-808. [PMID: 34749620 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666211108114009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are about 22-nucleotide, small, non-coding RNAs that control gene expression post-transcriptionally. Helminth parasites usually express a unique repertoire of genes, including miRNAs, across different developmental stages with subtle regulatory mechanisms. OBJECTIVE There is a necessity to investigate the involvement of miRNAs in the development of parasites, host-parasite interaction, immune evasion and their abilities to govern infection in hosts. miRNAs present in helminth parasites have been summarized in the current systematic review (SR). METHODS Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Embase, and Google Scholar search engine, were searched to identify helminth miRNA studies published from February 1993 till December 2019. Only the published articles in English were included in the study. RESULTS A total of 1769 articles were preliminarily recorded. Following the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, 105 studies were included in this SR. Most of these studies focused on the identification of miRNAs in helminth parasites and/or probing of differentially expressed host miRNA profiles in specific relevant tissues, while 12 studies aimed to detect parasite-derived miRNAs in host circulating system and 15 studies characterized extracellular vesicles (EV)-derived miRNAs secreted by parasites. CONCLUSION In the current SR, information regarding all miRNAs expressed in helminth parasites has been comprehensively provided and the utility of helminth parasites-derived miRNAs in diagnosis and control of parasitic infections has been discussed. Furthermore, functional studies on helminth-derived miRNAs have also been presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Alizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz. Iran
| | | | - Adel Spotin
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz. Iran
| | - Ehsan Ahmadpour
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz. Iran
| | - Pengfei Cai
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane. Australia
| | | | - Fariba Pashazadeh
- Research Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz. Iran
| | - Fereshteh Ansari
- Research Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz. Iran
| | - Hamed Mohammadi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj. Iran
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Kamenetzky L, Maldonado LL, Cucher MA. Cestodes in the genomic era. Parasitol Res 2021; 121:1077-1089. [PMID: 34665308 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07346-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The first cestode genomes were obtained by an international consortium led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute that included representative institutions from countries where the sequenced parasites have been studied for decades, in part because they are etiological agents of endemic diseases (Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, USA, Japan, and China). After this, several complete genomes were obtained reaching 16 species to date. Cestode genomes have smaller relative size compared to other animals including free-living flatworms. Moreover, the features genome size and repeat content seem to differ in the two analyzed orders. Cyclophyllidean species have smaller genomes and with fewer repetitive content than Diphyllobothriidean species. On average, cestode genomes have 13,753 genes with 6 exons per gene and 41% GC content. More than 5,000 shared cestode proteins were accurately annotated by the integration of gene predictions and transcriptome evidence being more than 40% of these proteins of unknown function. Several gene losses and reduction of gene families were found and could be related to the extreme parasitic lifestyle of these species. The application of cutting-edge sequencing technology allowed the characterization of the terminal sequences of chromosomes that possess unique characteristics. Here, we review the current status of knowledge of complete cestode genomes and place it within a comparative genomics perspective. Multidisciplinary work together with the implementation of new technologies will provide valuable information that can certainly improve our chances to finally eradicate or at least control diseases caused by cestodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kamenetzky
- iB3, Instituto de Biociencias, Departamento de Fisiología Y Biología Molecular Y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Biotecnología y Biología traslacional, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Lucas L Maldonado
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Institute of Research On Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcela A Cucher
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Institute of Research On Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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5
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Faridi A, Mansouri M, Macchiaroli N, Afgar A, Mousavi SM, Rosenzvit MC, Harandi MF. MicroRNA profile of the strobilated worms of Echinococcus granulosus derived from in vivo and in vitro systems by using high-throughput approach. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3203-3214. [PMID: 34351489 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07251-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are critical gene regulators at the post-transcriptional level and play essential roles in numerous developmental processes in metazoan parasites including the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis, Echinococcus granulosus. The molecular basis of different patterns of E. granulosus development in the canine definitive host and in in vitro culture systems is poorly understood. In the present study, miRNA transcriptomes of the strobilated worms derived from experimental infection in the definitive host were compared with those from diphasic culture system after 60-day protoscoleces cultivation. Total RNA was extracted from in vivo- and in vitro-derived strobilated worms. Small RNA libraries were constructed, and deep sequencing was performed. Subsequently, differential miRNA expressions and target predictions were obtained, and pathway analysis was performed by gene ontology and KEGG. Seven miRNAs were differentially expressed between the in vivo- and in vitro-derived worms. In addition, we reported 13 novel miRNA candidates and 42 conserved miRNAs. Four out of five top miRNAs with the highest read counts were shared between the in vivo and in vitro-derived worms, i.e., egr-miR-10a-5p, egr-let-7-5p, egr-bantam-3p, and egr-miR-71-5p. Target prediction of the differential miRNAs between the two systems showed significant differences in the membrane-enclosed lumen, membrane part, and an intrinsic component of the membrane. Findings of KEGG analysis indicated that differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in hippo, MAPK, and WNT signaling pathways. The study demonstrated a significant difference in miRNA transcriptomes and related signaling pathways between the two systems, suggesting the importance of host-parasite interplay in the fate of protoscoleces development in in vivo and in vitro systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashkan Faridi
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mansouri
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología Y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Laboratorio de Genómica Y Bioinformática de Patógenos, Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología Traslacional (iB3), Departamento de Fisiología Y Biología Molecular Y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ali Afgar
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Mousavi
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mara C Rosenzvit
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología Y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Majid Fasihi Harandi
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
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Expression profiling of Echinococcus multilocularis miRNAs throughout metacestode development in vitro. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009297. [PMID: 33750964 PMCID: PMC8016320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The neglected zoonotic disease alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the metacestode stage of the tapeworm parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs with a major role in regulating gene expression in key biological processes. We analyzed the expression profile of E. multilocularis miRNAs throughout metacestode development in vitro, determined the spatial expression of miR-71 in metacestodes cultured in vitro and predicted miRNA targets. Small cDNA libraries from different samples of E. multilocularis were sequenced. We confirmed the expression of 37 miRNAs in E. multilocularis being some of them absent in the host, such as miR-71. We found a few miRNAs highly expressed in all life cycle stages and conditions analyzed, whereas most miRNAs showed very low expression. The most expressed miRNAs were miR-71, miR-9, let-7, miR-10, miR-4989 and miR-1. The high expression of these miRNAs was conserved in other tapeworms, suggesting essential roles in development, survival, or host-parasite interaction. We found highly regulated miRNAs during the different transitions or cultured conditions analyzed, which might suggest a role in the regulation of developmental timing, host-parasite interaction, and/or in maintaining the unique developmental features of each developmental stage or condition. We determined that miR-71 is expressed in germinative cells and in other cell types of the germinal layer in E. multilocularis metacestodes cultured in vitro. MiRNA target prediction of the most highly expressed miRNAs and in silico functional analysis suggested conserved and essential roles for these miRNAs in parasite biology. We found relevant targets potentially involved in development, cell growth and death, lifespan regulation, transcription, signal transduction and cell motility. The evolutionary conservation and expression analyses of E. multilocularis miRNAs throughout metacestode development along with the in silico functional analyses of their predicted targets might help to identify selective therapeutic targets for treatment and control of AE. Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the metacestode stage of the helminth parasite Echinococcus multilocularis. Current treatment requires surgery and/or prolonged drug therapy. Thus, novel strategies for the treatment of AE are needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small ~22-nucleotide (nt) non-coding RNAs with a major role in regulating gene expression, have been suggested as potential therapeutic targets for treatment and control of helminth parasite infections. In this work, we analyzed the expression profile of E. multilocularis miRNAs throughout metacestode development in vitro. We predicted functional roles for highly expressed miRNAs and found that they could be involved in essential roles for survival and development in the host. We determined that E. multilocularis miR-71, a highly expressed miRNA that is absent in the human host, is expressed in germinative cells and in other cell types of the germinal layer in E. multilocularis metacestodes cultured in vitro. Germinative cells are a relevant cell type to target for anti-echinococcosis drug development. MiRNAs that are absent in the human host, involved in essential functions, highly expressed and/or expressed in germinative cells in E. multilocularis metacestodes may represent selective therapeutic targets for treatment and control of AE.
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Pérez MG, Spiliotis M, Rego N, Macchiaroli N, Kamenetzky L, Holroyd N, Cucher MA, Brehm K, Rosenzvit MC. Deciphering the role of miR-71 in Echinococcus multilocularis early development in vitro. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007932. [PMID: 31881019 PMCID: PMC6957206 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Echinococcosis represents a major public health problem worldwide and is considered a neglected disease by the World Health Organization. The etiological agents are Echinococcus tapeworms, which display elaborate developmental traits that imply a complex control of gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small regulatory RNAs, are involved in the regulation of many biological processes such as development and metabolism. They act through the repression of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) usually by binding to the 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR). Previously, we described the miRNome of several Echinococcus species and found that miRNAs are highly expressed in all life cycle stages, suggesting an important role in gene expression regulation. However, studying the role of miRNAs in helminth biology remains a challenge. To develop methodology for functional analysis of miRNAs in tapeworms, we performed miRNA knockdown experiments in primary cell cultures of Echinococcus multilocularis, which mimic the development of metacestode vesicles from parasite stem cells in vitro. First, we analysed the miRNA repertoire of E. multilocularis primary cells by small RNA-seq and found that miR-71, a bilaterian miRNA absent in vertebrate hosts, is one of the top five most expressed miRNAs. Using genomic information and bioinformatic algorithms for miRNA binding prediction, we found a high number of potential miR-71 targets in E. multilocularis. Inhibition of miRNAs can be achieved by transfection of antisense oligonucleotides (anti-miRs) that block miRNA function. To this end, we evaluated a variety of chemically modified anti-miRs for miR-71 knockdown. Electroporation of primary cells with 2’-O-methyl modified anti-miR-71 led to significantly reduced miR-71 levels. Transcriptomic analyses showed that several predicted miR-71 targets were up-regulated in anti-miR-treated primary cells, including genes potentially involved in parasite development, host parasite interaction, and several genes of as yet unknown function. Notably, miR-71-silenced primary cell cultures showed a strikingly different phenotype from control cells and did not develop into fully mature metacestodes. These findings indicate an important function of miR-71 in Echinococcus development and provide, for the first time, methodology to functionally study miRNAs in a tapeworm. Echinococcosis, caused by the larval stages of tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus, is a neglected disease that affects millions of people world-wide. These parasites show elaborate developmental features that rely on a complex control of gene expression. microRNAs are small molecules which have been discovered in the last decades and control gene expression in animals, plants and viruses. microRNAs are highly expressed in several tapeworms but their biological function in these parasites is unknown. Assuming that microRNAs will be important for parasite development, we analysed the function of these molecules in Echinococcus multilocularis, employing an in vitro model that mimics the first developmental transitions which occur in the human host. By artificially decreasing the concentration of the highest expressed microRNA, we observed phenotypic alterations and inhibition of development. In addition, we identified possible mRNA molecules targeted by microRNAs and found that some of these are known for being involved in developmental processes in other organisms. This work provides novel methodology to study microRNA function in tapeworms. Furthermore, highly expressed parasite microRNAs that are absent in the host but fulfil an important role in parasite developmental processes can serve as selective drug targets against the underlying diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Gastón Pérez
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Markus Spiliotis
- University of Würzburg, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Natalia Rego
- Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Unidad de Bioinformática, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marcela Alejandra Cucher
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Klaus Brehm
- University of Würzburg, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Consultant Laboratory for Echinococcosis, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (KB); (MCR)
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Laboratorio Biología Molecular de Hidatidosis, Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología Médica, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail: (KB); (MCR)
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Mortezaei S, Afgar A, Mohammadi MA, Mousavi SM, Sadeghi B, Harandi MF. The effect of albendazole sulfoxide on the expression of miR-61 and let-7 in different in vitro developmental stages of Echinococcus granulosus. Acta Trop 2019; 195:97-102. [PMID: 31051116 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Albendazole, as the main anti-echinococcal benzimidazole, has demonstrated safe and effective therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of echinococcosis. The emergence of resistance or reduced response to albendazole sulfoxide (ABZ_SOX) and other benzimidazoles have been demonstrated in several parasitic helminths of medical and veterinary importance. As the genetic makeup and miRNA profile of helminths affects their response to albendazole sulfoxide, the present study was conducted to investigate the expression of miRNAs in different developmental stages of Echinococcus granulosus exposed to albendazole sulfoxide in vitro. Different developmental stages of the helminth were obtained from in vitro cultured E. granulosus in monophasic and diphasic media. In both ABZ-SOX-treated and control parasites miRNAs were extracted from microcysts, intact protoscoleces and strobilated worms with one and three segments. Expression of two miRNAs, let-7 and miR-61 was evaluated using RT-qPCR for each stage. Results of the present study revealed significant differential expression of both let-7 and miR-61 at different drug concentrations. A significant difference of let-7 expression was observed between the strobilated and metacestode stages of E. granulosus exposed to ABZ-SOX. In the treated protoscoleces, let-7 expression was significantly reduced in the presence of ABZ-SOX at 1000 μg/ml concentration. In contrast higher expression levels were documented in the segmented worms. In the microcysts exposed to different drug concentrations a significant decline of miR-61 expression was demonstrated. Also, a significant increase in expression of miR-61 was observed in one proglottid worms as well as the protoscoleces. Under high drug concentration or long-term exposure of the protoscoleces to ABZ-SOX significantly higher miR-61 expression was observed compared to the controls. Our findings suggested that under in vitro benzimidazole exposure the expression of two E. granulosus miRNAs were significantly affected in the microcyst stage. This study presents the first evidence of the nature of benzimidazole effects on miRNA expression in platyhelminths.
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Fromm B, Tosar JP, Aguilera F, Friedländer MR, Bachmann L, Hejnol A. Evolutionary Implications of the microRNA- and piRNA Complement of Lepidodermella squamata (Gastrotricha). Noncoding RNA 2019; 5:E19. [PMID: 30813358 PMCID: PMC6468455 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna5010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrotrichs-'hairy bellies'-are microscopic free-living animals inhabiting marine and freshwater habitats. Based on morphological and early molecular analyses, gastrotrichs were placed close to nematodes, but recent phylogenomic analyses have suggested their close relationship to flatworms (Platyhelminthes) within Spiralia. Small non-coding RNA data on e.g., microRNAs (miRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNA) may help to resolve this long-standing question. MiRNAs are short post-transcriptional gene regulators that together with piRNAs play key roles in development. In a 'multi-omics' approach we here used small-RNA sequencing, available transcriptome and genomic data to unravel the miRNA- and piRNA complements along with the RNAi (RNA interference) protein machinery of Lepidodermella squamata (Gastrotricha, Chaetonotida). We identified 52 miRNA genes representing 35 highly conserved miRNA families specific to Eumetazoa, Bilateria, Protostomia, and Spiralia, respectively, with overall high similarities to platyhelminth miRNA complements. In addition, we found four large piRNA clusters that also resemble flatworm piRNAs but not those earlier described for nematodes. Congruently, transcriptomic annotation revealed that the Lepidodermella protein machinery is highly similar to flatworms, too. Taken together, miRNA, piRNA, and protein data support a close relationship of gastrotrichs and flatworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Fromm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Juan Pablo Tosar
- Functional Genomics Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
- Nuclear Research Center, Faculty of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - Felipe Aguilera
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160_C, Concepción 3349001, Chile.
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, 5006 Bergen, Norway.
| | - Marc R Friedländer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Lutz Bachmann
- Research group Frontiers in Evolutionary Zoology, Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, 0318 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Andreas Hejnol
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, 5006 Bergen, Norway.
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10
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Macchiaroli N, Cucher M, Kamenetzky L, Yones C, Bugnon L, Berriman M, Olson PD, Rosenzvit MC. Identification and expression profiling of microRNAs in Hymenolepis. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:211-223. [PMID: 30677390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tapeworms (cestodes) of the genus Hymenolepis are the causative agents of hymenolepiasis, a neglected zoonotic disease. Hymenolepis nana is the most prevalent human tapeworm, especially affecting children. The genomes of Hymenolepis microstoma and H. nana have been recently sequenced and assembled. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are principle regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and are involved in many different biological processes. In previous work, we experimentally identified miRNA genes in the cestodes Echinococcus, Taenia and Mesocestoides. However, current knowledge about miRNAs in Hymenolepis is limited. In this work we described for the first known time the expression profile of the miRNA complement in H. microstoma, and discovered miRNAs in H. nana. We found a reduced complement of 37 evolutionarily conserved miRNAs, putatively reflecting their low morphological complexity and parasitic lifestyle. We found high expression of a few miRNAs in the larval stage of H. microstoma that are conserved in other cestodes, suggesting that these miRNAs may have important roles in development, survival and for host-parasite interplay. We performed a comparative analysis of the identified miRNAs across the Cestoda and showed that most of the miRNAs in Hymenolepis are located in intergenic regions, implying that they are independently transcribed. We found a Hymenolepis-specific cluster composed of three members of the mir-36 family. Also, we found that one of the neighboring genes of mir-10 was a Hox gene as in most bilaterial species. This study provides a valuable resource for further experimental research in cestode biology that might lead to improved detection and control of these neglected parasites. The comprehensive identification and expression analysis of Hymenolepis miRNAs can help to identify novel biomarkers for diagnosis and/or novel therapeutic targets for the control of hymenolepiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Macchiaroli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médicas (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marcela Cucher
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médicas (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médicas (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cristian Yones
- Research Institute for Signals, Systems and Computational Intelligence, (sinc(i)), FICH-UNL-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Leandro Bugnon
- Research Institute for Signals, Systems and Computational Intelligence, (sinc(i)), FICH-UNL-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Matt Berriman
- Parasite Genomics Group, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Peter D Olson
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médicas (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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11
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Toledo A, Osorio R, Matus C, Martinez Lopez Y, Ramirez Cruz N, Sciutto E, Fragoso G, Arauz A, Carrillo-Mezo R, Fleury A. Human Extraparenchymal Neurocysticercosis: The Control of Inflammation Favors the Host…but Also the Parasite. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2652. [PMID: 30505305 PMCID: PMC6250850 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Toledo
- Unidad de Neuroinflamación, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/ Facultad de Medicina UNAM / Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rocio Osorio
- Unidad de Neuroinflamación, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/ Facultad de Medicina UNAM / Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Carlos Matus
- Unidad de Neuroinflamación, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/ Facultad de Medicina UNAM / Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Yazmin Martinez Lopez
- Unidad de Neuroinflamación, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/ Facultad de Medicina UNAM / Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Nancy Ramirez Cruz
- Unidad de Neuroinflamación, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/ Facultad de Medicina UNAM / Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Edda Sciutto
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Gladis Fragoso
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Antonio Arauz
- Clínica de Enfermedad Vascular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Roger Carrillo-Mezo
- Departamento de Neurorradiología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Agnès Fleury
- Unidad de Neuroinflamación, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, UNAM/ Facultad de Medicina UNAM / Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico.,Clínica de Neurocisticercosis, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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12
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Guo X, Zheng Y. Identification and characterization of microRNAs in a cestode Hydatigera taeniaeformis using deep sequencing approach. Exp Parasitol 2018; 194:32-37. [PMID: 30237048 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Hydatigera taeniaeformis (formerly known as Taenia taeniaeformis) is a parasitic tapeworm that has a worldwide distribution. H. taeniaeformis is naturally transmitted between mice and cats and threatens to human health, especially those who are in close contact with pets. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of parasite growth and development, parasite infection and immunology, and host-pathogen interactions. The miRNA profile of H. taeniaeformis remains to be elucidated. Herein, 47 conserved miRNAs (grouped into 34 miRNA families) and 4 novel miRNAs were identified in H. taeniaeformis metacestodes using deep sequencing approach. Among them, hta-miR-71, -let-7, and-miR-87 was absolutely predominant in H. taeniaeformis metacestodes. Moreover, comparative analysis revealed the presence of miR-71/2 and miR-4989/277 clusters in H. taeniaeformis. Nucleotide bias analysis of identified miRNAs showed that the adenine (A) was the dominant nucleotide at the beginning of the miRNAs, particularly at the positions of third and 7th nucleotides. The study provides rich data for further understandings of H. taeniaeformis biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaola Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China.
| | - Yadong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, 225009, China
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13
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Gutierrez-Loli R, Orrego MA, Sevillano-Quispe OG, Herrera-Arrasco L, Guerra-Giraldez C. MicroRNAs in Taenia solium Neurocysticercosis: Insights as Promising Agents in Host-Parasite Interaction and Their Potential as Biomarkers. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1905. [PMID: 29033926 PMCID: PMC5626859 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs involved in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Although, several miRNAs have been identified in parasitic helminths, there is little information about their identification and function in Taenia. Furthermore, the impact of miRNAs in neurocysticercosis, the brain infection caused by larvae of Taenia solium is still unknown. During chronic infection, T. solium may activate numerous mechanisms aimed to modulate host immune responses. Helminthic miRNAs might also have effects on host mRNA expression and thus play an important role regulating host-parasite interactions. Also, the diagnosis of this disease is difficult and it usually requires neuroimaging and confirmatory serology. Since miRNAs are stable when released, they can be detected in body fluids and therefore have potential to diagnose infection, determine parasite burden, and ascertain effectiveness of treatment or disease progression, for instance. This review discusses the potential roles of miRNAs in T. solium infection, including regulation of host-parasite relationships and their eventual use as diagnostic or disease biomarkers. Additionally, we summarize the bioinformatics resources available for identification of T. solium miRNAs and prediction of their targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renzo Gutierrez-Loli
- Neurocysticercosis Lab, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Miguel A Orrego
- Neurocysticercosis Lab, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Oscar G Sevillano-Quispe
- Neurocysticercosis Lab, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Luis Herrera-Arrasco
- Neurocysticercosis Lab, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Cristina Guerra-Giraldez
- Neurocysticercosis Lab, Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
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