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Zouei N, Dalimi A, Pirestani M, Ghaffarifar F. Assessment of tissue levels of miR-146a and proinflammatory cytokines in experimental cerebral toxoplasmosis following atovaquone and clindamycin treatment: An in vivo study. Microb Pathog 2023; 184:106340. [PMID: 37683834 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106340] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recent advances for treating cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT), monitoring the parasite burden and treatment response is still challenging. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with regulatory functions that can be used in diagnosis and treatment monitoring. We investigated the changes in miR-146a, BAG-1 gene, IL-6, and IL-10 tissue levels in the brain of BALB/c mice with chronic CT caused by the PRU strain of T. gondii following anti-parasitic and antibiotic treatment. METHOD Fifty-three 6-to 8-week-old BALB/c mice were infected using intraperitoneal inoculation of cerebral cysts of T. gondii PRU strain and then divided into five groups as follows: group 1 included mice treated with 100 mg/kg/d Atovaquone (AT), group 2 included mice treated with 400 mg/kg/d clindamycin (CL), group 3 included mice treated with combination therapy (AT + CL), group 4 included infected untreated mice as a positive control (PC), and; group 5 included uninfected untreated mice as negative control (NC). After the completion of the treatment course, tissue level of mir-146a, miR-155, BAG-1 gene, IL-6, and IL-10 was investigated with real-time polymerase chain reaction. The IL-6/IL-10 ratio was calculated as an indicator of immune response. Moreover, brain cyst numbers were counted on autopsy samples. RESULTS miR-146a, IL-6, IL-10, and BAG-1 genes were expressed in PC, but not in the NC group; miR-146a, IL-6, IL-10, and BAG-1 gene expression were significantly lower in AT, CL, and AT + CL compared with PC. MiR-146a and BAG-1 levels in AT and CL were not different statistically, however, they both had lower levels compared to AT + CL (P < 0.01). There was no difference in the expression of IL-6 and IL-10 between treatment groups. BAG-1 expression was significantly lower in AT, than in CL and AT + CL (P < 0.0089 and < 0.002, respectively). The PC group showed a higher ratio of IL-6/IL-10, although this increase was not statistically significant. It is noteworthy that the treatment with AT reduced this ratio; in the inter-group comparison, this ratio showed a decrease in the AT and AT + CL compared to the PC. The number of brain tissue cysts was significantly lower in AT, CL, and AT + CL, than in PC (p < 0.0001). AT had significantly lower brain cysts than CL and AT + CL (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION It seems that the factors studied in the current research (microRNA and cytokines) are a suitable index for evaluating the response to antiparasitic and antibiotic treatment. However, more studies should be conducted in the future to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Zouei
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Dalimi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Pirestani
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Wang W, Yang Y, Guo H, Li MH, Chen XQ, Wei XY, Chen Y, Elsheikha HM, Zhang XX. Unravelling Strain-Specific Modifications of Toxoplasma gondii tRNA and sncRNA Using LC-MS/MS. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0356422. [PMID: 37036375 PMCID: PMC10269570 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03564-22] [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: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Many RNA modifications have been detected in rRNA, tRNA and small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) as well as in low-abundance RNA species such mRNA. Although RNA modifications play roles in many cellular and biological processes in various domains of life, knowledge about the diversity and role of RNA modifications in Toxoplasma gondii is limited. In this study, RNA modifications in three T. gondii strains (RH type I, PRU type II, and VEG type III) with distinct virulence abilities were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We compared the levels of modifications of four nucleotides in tRNA and sncRNA, characterized RNA modification patterns of different T. gondii strains, and determined the diversity of RNA modifications. We detected and quantified 22 modified nucleosides in both tRNA and sncRNA. Significant differences in the diversity of the modified nucleosides were found between the three T. gondii strains. RNA modifications were correlated with the expression of many T. gondii virulence proteins. Some of the identified modifications (e.g., 2'-O-methylinosine, pseudouridine) play a role in mediating the host-parasite interaction. These results provide novel insight into the global modifications in tRNA and sncRNA, and the diversity of RNA modifications between T. gondii strains with different virulence backgrounds. IMPORTANCE Although RNA modifications play roles in many cellular and developmental processes in various domains of life, knowledge about the patterns and functions of RNA modifications in T. gondii is limited. Here, a quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach was used to study global RNA modifications in T. gondii strains of distinct virulence backgrounds. We quantified 22 modified nucleosides in both tRNA and sncRNA. Significant T. gondii strain-specific differences in RNA modifications were detected. More tRNA modifications correlated with T. gondii virulence proteins than sncRNA modifications. RNA modifications were significantly correlated with virulence proteins. Our data provide the first comprehensive profiling of the modifications tRNA and sncRNA in T. gondii, expanding the diversity of RNA modifications in this parasite and suggesting new regulators for modulating its virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agriculture University, Daqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Yang
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huanping Guo
- Medical Center of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Han Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Qing Chen
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Animal Health, College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin-Yu Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agriculture University, Daqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agriculture University, Daqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hany M. Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao-Xuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China
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Quiarim TM, Maia MM, da Cruz AB, Taniwaki NN, Namiyama GM, Pereira-Chioccola VL. Characterization of extracellular vesicles isolated from types I, II and III strains of Toxoplasma gondii. Acta Trop 2021; 219:105915. [PMID: 33861971 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the participation extracellular vesicles (EVs) in Toxoplasma gondii-host interaction. EVs of three T. gondii strains (RH, ME-49 and VEG) were purified by chromatography and ELISA. Results of "nanoparticle tracking analysis" and scanning electron microscopy showed that RH strain released more EVs than other strains. Images of transmission electron microscopy showed that in beginning of incubation (culture medium), EVs were inside of tachyzoites preparing to be released. After 24 hours, they were largely produced inside tachyzoites and were released through plasma membrane. The parasite burden of mice infected with RH strain plus EVs was increased and with early death of 1-2 days compared of those that received only parasites. EV proteins of ME-49 and VEG strains were poorly reactive to sera of infected patients in imunoblot. However, those from RH strain were reactive against sera of patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis. EVs stimulated murine splenocytes caused similar production of IFN-γ and IL-10 levels. RH strain derived EVs stimulated more TNF-α than those stimulated by other strains. T. gondii and infected hosts can express the same miRNAs (miR-155-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-423-3p). In conclusion, T. gondii derived EVs promote host-parasite interactions, modulate host immune responses, carry virulent factors and cause an imbalance in cellular immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Motta Quiarim
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Fungos, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Marta Marques Maia
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Fungos, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Allecineia Bispo da Cruz
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Parasitas e Fungos, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Liu G, Jia L, Shao Q, Lu H, Zhao J, Yin J. MicroRNA profiling of Neospora caninum tachyzoites (NC-1) using a high-throughput approach. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2165-2174. [PMID: 33893549 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07155-2] [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: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an important pathogen commonly causing spontaneous abortion in livestock. The parasite is known to remain in cysts in an inactive state; or it can undergo expansive development within an intermediate host. However, the mechanisms that trigger the proliferation of N. caninum have not been thoroughly elucidated. For various organisms, it has been demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) can act as important endogenous regulatory factors in gene regulation during cell differentiation and development. However, miRNAs and their function have not been studied in N. caninum. In this study, small RNA libraries from N. caninum tachyzoites (NC-1 strain) were analyzed using a high-throughput RNA sequencing technology combined with systematic bioinformatics analysis. A considerable number of novel miRNAs from N. caninum NC-1 strain tachyzoites were identified. Of the 300 miRNAs found by bioinformatics analysis, 10 were conserved miRNAs belonging to 10 metazoan miRNA families, while 290 were novel miRNAs. The expression of 13 novel miRNAs was verified by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Data from this study provided and identified authentic miRNAs for the first time in N. caninum. The study also introduces a framework for further investigations of RNAi-dependent regulatory mechanisms of the parasite and provides data for further understanding of N. caninum development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Lijun Jia
- Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, China
| | - Qingyan Shao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Huijun Lu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Jixue Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Jigang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
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Li Y, Baptista RP, Kissinger JC. Noncoding RNAs in Apicomplexan Parasites: An Update. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:835-849. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Label-Free Quantitative Acetylome Analysis Reveals Toxoplasma gondii Genotype-Specific Acetylomic Signatures. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7110510. [PMID: 31671511 PMCID: PMC6921067 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7110510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Distinct genotypic and pathogenic differences exist between Toxoplasma gondii genotypes. For example, genotype I is highly virulent, whereas genotype II and genotype III are less virulent. Moreover, Chinese 1 genotype (ToxoDB#9) is also virulent. Here, we compare the acetylomes of genotype 1 (RH strain) and Chinese 1 genotype (ToxoDB#9, PYS strain) of T. gondii. Using mass spectrometry enriched for acetylated peptides, we found a relationship between the levels of protein acetylation and parasite genotype-specific virulence. Notably, lysine acetylation was the largest (458 acetylated proteins) in RH strain, followed by PYS strain (188 acetylated proteins), whereas only 115 acetylated proteins were detected in PRU strain. Our analysis revealed four, three, and four motifs in RH strain, PRU strain and PYS strain, respectively. Three conserved sequences around acetylation sites, namely, xxxxxKAcHxxxx, xxxxxKAcFxxxx, and xxxxGKAcSxxxx, were detected in the acetylome of the three strains. However, xxxxxKAcNxxxx (asparagine) was found in RH and PYS strains but was absent in PRU strain. Our analysis also identified 15, 3, and 26 differentially expressed acetylated proteins in RH strain vs. PRU strain, PRU strain vs. PYS strain and PYS strain vs. RH strain, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that a large proportion of the acetylated proteins are involved in metabolic processes. Pathways for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, biosynthesis of antibiotics and microbial metabolism in diverse environments were featured in the top five enriched pathways in all three strains. However, acetylated proteins from the virulent strains (RH and PYS) were more enriched in the pyruvate metabolism pathway compared to acetylated proteins from PRU strain. Increased levels of histone-acetyl-transferase and glycyl-tRNA synthase were detected in RH strain compared to PRU strain and PYS strain. Both enzymes play roles in stress tolerance and proliferation, key features in the parasite virulence. These findings reveal novel insight into the acetylomic profiles of major T. gondii genotypes and provide a new important resource for further investigations of the roles of the acetylated parasite proteins in the modulation of the host cell response to the infection of T. gondii.
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Antisense technologies in the studying of Toxoplasma gondii. J Microbiol Methods 2015; 138:93-99. [PMID: 26724749 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This review covers a brief history of antisense RNAs and its applications, and summarizes the current stage of antisense technologies used in Toxoplasma gondii, a fascinating model organism with a unique characteristic blend of genetic regulatory systems normally found in plants or animals. Based on the current knowledge of regulatory RNAs and non-coding RNA (ncRNA), the antisense technologies are reviewed according to the classification of ncRNAs, which are roughly categorized into small, ranging from ~20-200 nucleotides in length, and long >200 nucleotides. Techniques utilizing small regulatory RNAs such as siRNA, miRNA, antagomirs, ribozymes and morpholino oligomers are discussed along with long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) including antisense and double stranded. These antisense technologies can be used in forward and reverse genetics studies. The future of technologies is limitless, particularly by combining these technologies with conventional methods, and should allow for ever greater understanding of gene regulation of the organism and related pathogenic microorganisms.
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Crater AK, Manni E, Ananvoranich S. Utilization of inherent miRNAs in functional analyses of Toxoplasma gondii genes. J Microbiol Methods 2015; 108:92-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2014.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Revised: 11/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Valach M, Burger G, Gray MW, Lang BF. Widespread occurrence of organelle genome-encoded 5S rRNAs including permuted molecules. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 42:13764-77. [PMID: 25429974 PMCID: PMC4267664 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
5S Ribosomal RNA (5S rRNA) is a universal component of ribosomes, and the corresponding gene is easily identified in archaeal, bacterial and nuclear genome sequences. However, organelle gene homologs (rrn5) appear to be absent from most mitochondrial and several chloroplast genomes. Here, we re-examine the distribution of organelle rrn5 by building mitochondrion- and plastid-specific covariance models (CMs) with which we screened organelle genome sequences. We not only recover all organelle rrn5 genes annotated in GenBank records, but also identify more than 50 previously unrecognized homologs in mitochondrial genomes of various stramenopiles, red algae, cryptomonads, malawimonads and apusozoans, and surprisingly, in the apicoplast (highly derived plastid) genomes of the coccidian pathogens Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria tenella. Comparative modeling of RNA secondary structure reveals that mitochondrial 5S rRNAs from brown algae adopt a permuted triskelion shape that has not been seen elsewhere. Expression of the newly predicted rrn5 genes is confirmed experimentally in 10 instances, based on our own and published RNA-Seq data. This study establishes that particularly mitochondrial 5S rRNA has a much broader taxonomic distribution and a much larger structural variability than previously thought. The newly developed CMs will be made available via the Rfam database and the MFannot organelle genome annotator.
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MESH Headings
- Coccidia/genetics
- Databases, Nucleic Acid
- Genes, Mitochondrial
- Genes, rRNA
- Genome, Mitochondrial
- Genome, Plastid
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Phaeophyceae/genetics
- RNA/chemistry
- RNA/genetics
- RNA, Mitochondrial
- RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/classification
- RNA, Ribosomal, 5S/genetics
- Sequence Analysis, RNA
- Stramenopiles/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Matus Valach
- Department of Biochemistry and Robert-Cedergren Centre of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Gertraud Burger
- Department of Biochemistry and Robert-Cedergren Centre of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Michael W Gray
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4B2, Canada
| | - B Franz Lang
- Department of Biochemistry and Robert-Cedergren Centre of Bioinformatics and Genomics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
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Jia B, Chang Z, Wei X, Lu H, Yin J, Jiang N, Chen Q. Plasma microRNAs are promising novel biomarkers for the early detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:433. [PMID: 25199527 PMCID: PMC4261535 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be present in plasma, which are remarkably stable, and have been suggested as disease biomarkers. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite that is infective to a wide range of animals and human beings. Previous studies have found that the parasite generated a large number of miRNAs during proliferation and it is known that the spectrum of miRNA expression in the infected hosts is pathogen-specific. To date, there are no reports regarding the application of microRNAs as biomarkers for the early detection of T. gondii infection. Methods In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of 414 murine miRNAs and tested their expression levels in the plasma after T. gondii infection by real-time PCR, with an ultimate purpose of identifying infection-related miRNAs. Three miRNAs in particular, exhibiting prominently elevated expressions, were further validated in a large number of infected mice. The Toxoplasma infection-specific miRNAs were confirmed by comparing their expression levels with those of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, P. yoelii, P. chabaudi, Cryptosporidium parvum, Mouse hepatitis virus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results Among the 414 miRNA candidates identified by a real-time PCR array, 71 were found to be up-regulated in the plasma of T. gondii infected mice. Three of those miRNAs (mmu-miR-712-3p, mmu-miR-511-5p and mmu-miR-217-5p) were prominently expressed in mice infected by both the RH and ME49 strains of T. gondii. Additionally, the elevated expression of these miRNAs was Toxoplasma-specific. Conclusions The levels of the three miRNAs, mmu-miR-712-3p, mmu-miR-511-5p and mmu-miR-217-5p miRNAs, were found specifically up-regulated in plasma of mice after T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Institute of Zoonosis/College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Xi An Da Lu 5333, Changchun 130062, China.
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Shao CC, Xu MJ, Alasaad S, Song HQ, Peng L, Tao JP, Zhu XQ. Comparative analysis of microRNA profiles between adult Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:99. [PMID: 24766827 PMCID: PMC4021693 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The parasitic nematodes Ascaris lumbricoides and A. suum are of great public health and economic significance, and the two taxa were proposed to represent a single species. miRNAs are known with functions of gene regulations at post-transcriptional level. Results We herein compared the miRNA profiles of A. lumbricoides and A. suum female adults by Solexa deep sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis and stem-loop real-time PCR. Using the A. suum genome as the reference genome, we obtained 171 and 494 miRNA candidates from A. lumbricoides and A. suum, respectively. Among which, 74 miRNAs were shared between the two taxa, 97 and 420 miRNAs were A. lumbricoides and A. suum specific. Target and function prediction revealed a significant set of targets which are related to ovarian message protein, vitellogenin and chondroitin proteoglycan of the two nematodes. Enrichment analysis revealed that the percentages of most predicted functions of the miRNA targets were similar, with some taxon specific or taxon enhanced functions, such as different target numbers, specific functions (NADH dehydrogenase and electron carrier functions), etc. Conclusions This study characterized comparatively the miRNAs of adult A. lumbricoides and A. suum, and the findings provide additional evidence that A. lumbricoides and A. suum represent a single species. Due to the fast evolution nature of miRNAs and the different parasitic living conditions of humans and pigs, the phenomenon above might indicate a fast evolution of miRNAs of Ascaris in humans and pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Min-Jun Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China.
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