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Chowdhury S, Sais D, Donnelly S, Tran N. The knowns and unknowns of helminth-host miRNA cross-kingdom communication. Trends Parasitol 2024; 40:176-191. [PMID: 38151361 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.12.003] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that oversee gene modulation. They are integral to cellular functions and can migrate between species, leading to cross-kingdom gene suppression. Recent breakthroughs in helminth genome studies have sparked curiosity about helminth RNA regulators and their ability to regulate genes across species. Growing data indicate that helminth miRNAs have a significant impact on the host's immune system. Specific miRNAs from helminth parasites can merge with the host's miRNA system, implying that parasites could exploit their host's regulatory machinery and function. This review highlights the role of cross-kingdom helminth-derived miRNAs in the interplay between host and parasite, exploring potential routes for their uptake, processing, and consequences in host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumaiya Chowdhury
- The School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Dayna Sais
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Sheila Donnelly
- The School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Nham Tran
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
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2
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Brown A, Selkirk ME, Sarkies P. Identification of proteins that bind extracellular microRNAs secreted by the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis. Biol Open 2023; 12:bio060096. [PMID: 37906081 PMCID: PMC10660789 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) are conserved across eukaryotes and play key roles in regulating gene expression. In many organisms, miRNAs are also secreted from cells, often encased within vesicles such as exosomes, and sometimes extravesicular. The mechanisms of miRNA secretion, how they are stabilised outside of cells and their functional importance are poorly understood. Recently, we characterised the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis as a model to study miRNA secretion. T. spiralis muscle-stage larvae (MSL) secrete abundant miRNAs which are largely extravesicular. Here, we investigated how T. spiralis miRNAs might remain stable outside of cells. Using proteomics, we identified two RNA binding proteins secreted by T. spiralis larvae and characterised their RNA binding properties. One, a homologue of the known RNA binding protein KSRP, binds miRNA in a selective and sequence-specific fashion. Another protein, which is likely a novel RNA binding protein, binds to miRNA without exhibiting sequence specificity. Our results suggest a possible mechanism for miRNA secretion by T. spiralis and may have relevance for understanding the biology of extracellular miRNA more widely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Brown
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | | | - Peter Sarkies
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
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Milcheva R, Mečiarová I, Todorova K, Dilcheva V, Petkova S, Babál P. Trichinella spiralis (Owen, 1835) Induces Increased Dystrophin Expression in Invaded Cross-striated Muscle. Acta Parasitol 2023:10.1007/s11686-023-00673-2. [PMID: 36988857 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00673-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dystrophin and the dystrophin glycoprotein complex serve as a cytoskeletal integrator, critical for muscle membrane stability. The aim of the present study was to clarify the expression of dystrophin protein and mRNA in the skeletal muscle tissue during the muscle phase of trichinellosis in mice. METHODS Muscle tissue was collected from mice experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis at days 0, 14 and 40 after infection. The expression of dystrophin in the muscle tissue was investigated by immunohistochemistry with antibodies against three different domains of the protein, and the expression levels of Dys mRNA by real-time PCR. RESULTS The presence of dystrophin protein was increased in the de-differentiating cytoplasm at the early stage of muscle infection and was persisting also in the mature Nurse cell harbouring the parasite. It was accompanied by significantly elevated expression of Dys mRNA at days 14 and 40 after infection. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that dystrophin plays a role in regeneration of the muscle and in the Nurse cell formation and stability for security of the parasite survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rositsa Milcheva
- Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, "Acad. G. Bonchev'' Str., block 25, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | | | - Katerina Todorova
- Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, "Acad. G. Bonchev'' Str., block 25, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Valeria Dilcheva
- Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, "Acad. G. Bonchev'' Str., block 25, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Svetlozara Petkova
- Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum-Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, "Acad. G. Bonchev'' Str., block 25, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Pavel Babál
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Cucher MA, Ancarola ME, Kamenetzky L. The challenging world of extracellular RNAs of helminth parasites. Mol Immunol 2021; 134:150-160. [PMID: 33773158 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In the last years, cell free or extracellular RNAs (ex-RNAs) have emerged as novel intercellular messengers between animal cells, including pathogens. In infectious diseases, ex-RNAs represent novel players in the host-pathogen and pathogen-pathogen interplays and have been described in parasitic helminths from the three major taxonomic groups: nematodes, trematodes and cestodes. Altogether, it is estimated that approximately 30 percent of the world's population is infected with helminths, which cause debilitating diseases and syndromes. Ex-RNAs are protected from degradation by encapsulation in extracellular vesicles (EV), or association to proteins or lipoproteins, and have been detected in the excretion/secretion products of helminth parasites, with EV as the preferred extracellular compartment under study. EV is the generic term used to describe a heterogenous group of subcellular membrane-bound particles, with varying sizes, biogenesis, density and composition. However, recent data suggests that this is not the only means used by helminth parasites to secrete RNAs since ex-RNAs can also be found in EV-depleted samples. Furthermore, the use of pathogen ex-RNAs as biomarkers promise the advent of new diagnostic tools though this field is still in early stages of exploration. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of vesicular and non-vesicular ex-RNAs secretion in helminth parasites, their potential as biomarkers and the evidence of their role in parasite and host reciprocal communication, together with unanswered questions in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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.
| | - 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
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Bioinformática de Patógenos, iB3
- Instituto de Biociencias, Biotecnología y Biología traslacional, Departamento de Fisiología y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Differential expression of microRNAs and tRNA fragments mediate the adaptation of the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica to its intermediate snail and definitive mammalian hosts. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:405-414. [PMID: 33513403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The tropical liver fluke Fasciola gigantica affects livestock and humans in many Asian countries, large parts of Africa, and parts of Europe. Despite the public health and economic impacts of F. gigantica, understanding of F. gigantica biology and how the complex lifecycle of this liver fluke is transcriptionally regulated remain unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the regulatory small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) play roles in the adaptation of F. gigantica to its intermediate and definitive hosts. We sequenced sncRNAs of eight lifecycle stages of F. gigantica. In total, 56 miRNAs from 33 conserved families and four Fasciola-specific miRNAs were identified. Expression analysis of miRNAs suggested clear stage-related patterns. By leveraging the existing transcriptomic data, we predicted a miRNA-based regulation of metabolism, transport, growth and developmental processes. Also, by comparing miRNA complement of F. gigantica with that of Fasciola hepatica, we detected a high level of conservation and identified differences in some miRNAs, which can be used to distinguish the two species. Moreover, we found that tRFs at each lifecycle stage were predominantly derived by tRNA-Lys and tRNA-Gly at 5' half sites, but relatively high expression was related to the buffalo-infecting stages. Taken together, we provided a comprehensive overview of the dynamic transcriptional changes of small RNAs that occur during the developmental stages of F. gigantica. This global analysis of F. gigantica lifecycle stages revealed new roles of miRNAs and tRFs in parasite development and will facilitate future research into understanding of fasciolosis pathobiology.
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Ancarola ME, Lichtenstein G, Herbig J, Holroyd N, Mariconti M, Brunetti E, Berriman M, Albrecht K, Marcilla A, Rosenzvit MC, Kamenetzky L, Brehm K, Cucher M. Extracellular non-coding RNA signatures of the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008890. [PMID: 33253209 PMCID: PMC7728270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular RNAs (ex-RNAs) are secreted by cells through different means that may involve association with proteins, lipoproteins or extracellular vesicles (EV). In the context of parasitism, ex-RNAs represent new and exciting communication intermediaries with promising potential as novel biomarkers. In the last years, it was shown that helminth parasites secrete ex-RNAs, however, most work mainly focused on RNA secretion mediated by EV. Ex-RNA study is of special interest in those helminth infections that still lack biomarkers for early and/or follow-up diagnosis, such as echinococcosis, a neglected zoonotic disease caused by cestodes of the genus Echinococcus. In this work, we have characterised the ex-RNA profile secreted by in vitro grown metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis, the casuative agent of alveolar echinococcosis. We have used high throughput RNA-sequencing together with RT-qPCR to characterise the ex-RNA profile secreted towards the extra- and intra-parasite milieus in EV-enriched and EV-depleted fractions. We show that a polarized secretion of small RNAs takes place, with microRNAs mainly secreted to the extra-parasite milieu and rRNA- and tRNA-derived sequences mostly secreted to the intra-parasite milieu. In addition, we show by nanoparticle tracking analyses that viable metacestodes secrete EV mainly into the metacestode inner vesicular fluid (MVF); however, the number of nanoparticles in culture medium and MVF increases > 10-fold when metacestodes show signs of tegument impairment. Interestingly, we confirm the presence of host miRNAs in the intra-parasite milieu, implying their internalization and transport through the tegument towards the MVF. Finally, our assessment of the detection of Echinococcus miRNAs in patient samples by RT-qPCR yielded negative results suggesting the tested miRNAs may not be good biomarkers for this disease. A comprehensive study of the secretion mechanisms throughout the life cycle of these parasites will help to understand parasite interaction with the host and also, improve current diagnostic tools. Extracellular RNAs (ex-RNAs) are secreted by cells through association with proteins or extracellular vesicles (EV). In the context of parasitism, ex-RNAs represent novel communication intermediaries with promising potential as biomarkers. In order to better understand the role ex-RNAs may play in the context of the zoonotic disease echinococcosis, we have characterised the RNA profile secreted by the larval stage (metacestode) of Echinococcus multilocularis. By analysing the products secreted towards the extra- and intra-parasite milieus, we demonstrate that the metacestode displays a polarized secretion of different classes of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs). In addition, we show that EV secretion occurs mainly towards the inner fluid of the metacestodes. Interestingly, we confirm the presence of host sRNAs in the intra-parasite milieu, implying their internalization and transport through the tegument. Finally, the detection of Echinococcus miRNAs in patient samples yielded negative results suggesting the tested miRNAs may not be good biomarkers for this disease. In summary, our results provide a detailed description of the ex-RNA landscape of the E. multilocularis metacestode together with information on the distribution of the detected RNA classes in different extracellular compartments. This information is of importance to better understand host-parasite interaction and also, to improve current diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Eugenia Ancarola
- Departament 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
| | - Gabriel Lichtenstein
- Departament 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
| | - Johannes Herbig
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nancy Holroyd
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Mara Mariconti
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Enrico Brunetti
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, San Matteo Hospital Foundation, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matthew Berriman
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Krystyna Albrecht
- Department of Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Antonio Marcilla
- Departament de Farmàcia i Tecnologia Farmacéutica i Parasitologia, Universitat de València, València, Spain.,Joint Unit on Endocrinology, Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-La Fe Valencia, València, Spain
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Departament 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
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Departament 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
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marcela Cucher
- Departament 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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Srey MT, Taccogna A, Oksov Y, Lustigman S, Tai PY, Acord J, Selkirk ME, Lamb TJ, Guiliano DB. Vaccination with novel low-molecular weight proteins secreted from Trichinella spiralis inhibits establishment of infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008842. [PMID: 33206649 PMCID: PMC7673540 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichinella spiralis muscle stage larvae (mL1) produce excretory-secreted products (ESPs), a complex mixture of protein, which are believed to be important for establishing or maintaining an infection niche within skeletal muscle and the intestine. Studies of both whole ESPs and individual cloned proteins have shown that some ESPs are potent immunogens capable of eliciting protective immune responses. Here we describe two novel proteins, Secreted from Muscle stage Larvae SML-4 and SML-5 which are 15 kDa and 12 kDa respectively. The genes encoding these proteins are highly conserved within the Trichinellids, are constituents of mL1 ESP and localized in the parasite stichosome. While SML-5 is only expressed in mL1 and early stages of adult nematode development, SML-4 is a tyvosylated glycoprotein also produced by adult nematodes, indicating it may have a function in the enteral phase of the infection. Vaccination with these proteins resulted in an impaired establishment of adult stages and consequently a reduction in the burden of mL1 in BALB/c mice. This suggests that both proteins may be important for establishment of parasite infection of the intestine and are prophylactic vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mellina T. Srey
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Alessia Taccogna
- School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yelena Oksov
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sara Lustigman
- Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Pei-Yi Tai
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - John Acord
- Cambridge Healthcare Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Murray E. Selkirk
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey J. Lamb
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - David B. Guiliano
- School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London, London, United Kingdom
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