1
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Gebrie A. Transposable elements as essential elements in the control of gene expression. Mob DNA 2023; 14:9. [PMID: 37596675 PMCID: PMC10439571 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-023-00297-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Interspersed repetitions called transposable elements (TEs), commonly referred to as mobile elements, make up a significant portion of the genomes of higher animals. TEs contribute in controlling the expression of genes locally and even far away at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, which is one of their significant functional effects on gene function and genome evolution. There are different mechanisms through which TEs control the expression of genes. First, TEs offer cis-regulatory regions in the genome with their inherent regulatory features for their own expression, making them potential factors for controlling the expression of the host genes. Promoter and enhancer elements contain cis-regulatory sites generated from TE, which function as binding sites for a variety of trans-acting factors. Second, a significant portion of miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to have TEs that encode for regulatory RNAs, revealing the TE origin of these RNAs. Furthermore, it was shown that TE sequences are essential for these RNAs' regulatory actions, which include binding to the target mRNA. By being a member of cis-regulatory and regulatory RNA sequences, TEs therefore play essential regulatory roles. Additionally, it has been suggested that TE-derived regulatory RNAs and cis-regulatory regions both contribute to the evolutionary novelty of gene regulation. Additionally, these regulatory systems arising from TE frequently have tissue-specific functions. The objective of this review is to discuss TE-mediated gene regulation, with a particular emphasis on the processes, contributions of various TE types, differential roles of various tissue types, based mostly on recent studies on humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemu Gebrie
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
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2
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Abstract
Dysregulated RNA splicing is a molecular feature that characterizes almost all tumour types. Cancer-associated splicing alterations arise from both recurrent mutations and altered expression of trans-acting factors governing splicing catalysis and regulation. Cancer-associated splicing dysregulation can promote tumorigenesis via diverse mechanisms, contributing to increased cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, enhanced migration and metastatic potential, resistance to chemotherapy and evasion of immune surveillance. Recent studies have identified specific cancer-associated isoforms that play critical roles in cancer cell transformation and growth and demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of correcting or otherwise antagonizing such cancer-associated mRNA isoforms. Clinical-grade small molecules that modulate or inhibit RNA splicing have similarly been developed as promising anticancer therapeutics. Here, we review splicing alterations characteristic of cancer cell transcriptomes, dysregulated splicing's contributions to tumour initiation and progression, and existing and emerging approaches for targeting splicing for cancer therapy. Finally, we discuss the outstanding questions and challenges that must be addressed to translate these findings into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert K Bradley
- Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division and Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Olga Anczuków
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.
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3
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Pan YJ, Liu BW, Pei DS. The Role of Alternative Splicing in Cancer: Regulatory Mechanism, Therapeutic Strategy, and Bioinformatics Application. DNA Cell Biol 2022; 41:790-809. [PMID: 35947859 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2022.0322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
[Formula: see text] Alternative splicing (AS) can generate distinct transcripts and subsequent isoforms that play differential functions from the same pre-mRNA. Recently, increasing numbers of studies have emerged, unmasking the association between AS and cancer. In this review, we arranged AS events that are closely related to cancer progression and presented promising treatments based on AS for cancer therapy. Obtaining proliferative capacity, acquiring invasive properties, gaining angiogenic features, shifting metabolic ability, and getting immune escape inclination are all splicing events involved in biological processes. Spliceosome-targeted and antisense oligonucleotide technologies are two novel strategies that are hopeful in tumor therapy. In addition, bioinformatics applications based on AS were summarized for better prediction and elucidation of regulatory routines mingled in. Together, we aimed to provide a better understanding of complicated AS events associated with cancer biology and reveal AS a promising target of cancer treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Jie Pan
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Bo-Wen Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Pei
- Department of Pathology, Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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4
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Li Y, Gao X, Wei C, Guo R, Xu H, Bai Z, Zhou J, Zhu J, Wang W, Wu Y, Li J, Zhang Z, Xie X. Modification of Mcl-1 alternative splicing induces apoptosis and suppresses tumor proliferation in gastric cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:19293-19315. [PMID: 33052877 PMCID: PMC7732305 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Splicing dysregulation, which leads to apoptosis resistance, has been recognized as a major hallmark for tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Targeting alternative splicing by either increasing pro-apoptotic proteins or inhibiting anti-apoptotic proteins in tumor cells may be an effective approach for gastric cancer (GC) therapy. However, the role of modulation of alternative splicing in GC remains poorly understood. In this study, to the best of our knowledge, the unbalanced expression of the myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) splicing variants, Mcl-1L and Mcl-1S, was identified in GC patients for the first time. Increasing anti-apoptotic Mcl-1L and decreasing pro-apoptotic Mcl-1S expression levels were correlated with tumor proliferation and poor survival. In vitro data showed that a shift in splicing from Mcl-1L to Mcl-1S induced by treatment with Mcl-1-specific steric-blocking oligonucleotides (SBOs) efficiently decreased Mcl-1L expression, increased Mcl-1S expression, and accelerated tumor cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, mouse xenotransplant models confirmed that modification of Mcl-1 alternative splicing increased tumor cell death and suppressed tumor proliferation. This study demonstrated that the modification of Mcl-1 splicing might stimulate the pro-apoptotic factor and inhibit the anti-apoptotic protein to induce significant apoptosis. Thus, this finding provided a strategy for cancer therapy, according to which SBOs could be used to change the Mcl-1 splicing pattern, thereby inducing apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghong Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drug of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaoling Gao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chaojun Wei
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Rui Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hui Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zhongtian Bai
- The Second Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University First Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jianye Zhou
- Key Lab of Stomatology of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Jun Zhu
- Pathology Department, Lanzhou University First Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wanxia Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yu Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingzhe Li
- Oncology Department, The First Hospital of Lanzhou, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Zhongliang Zhang
- Oncology Department, The First Hospital of Lanzhou, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Xiaodong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drug of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China,NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Therapy of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
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5
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Drongitis D, Aniello F, Fucci L, Donizetti A. Roles of Transposable Elements in the Different Layers of Gene Expression Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225755. [PMID: 31731828 PMCID: PMC6888579 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The biology of transposable elements (TEs) is a fascinating and complex field of investigation. TEs represent a substantial fraction of many eukaryotic genomes and can influence many aspects of DNA function that range from the evolution of genetic information to duplication, stability, and gene expression. Their ability to move inside the genome has been largely recognized as a double-edged sword, as both useful and deleterious effects can result. A fundamental role has been played by the evolution of the molecular processes needed to properly control the expression of TEs. Today, we are far removed from the original reductive vision of TEs as “junk DNA”, and are more convinced that TEs represent an essential element in the regulation of gene expression. In this review, we summarize some of the more recent findings, mainly in the animal kingdom, concerning the active roles that TEs play at every level of gene expression regulation, including chromatin modification, splicing, and protein translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise Drongitis
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “Adriano Buzzati Traverso”, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Francesco Aniello
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.)
| | - Laura Fucci
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.)
| | - Aldo Donizetti
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (F.A.); (L.F.)
- Correspondence:
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6
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Di C, Syafrizayanti, Zhang Q, Chen Y, Wang Y, Zhang X, Liu Y, Sun C, Zhang H, Hoheisel JD. Function, clinical application, and strategies of Pre-mRNA splicing in cancer. Cell Death Differ 2018; 26:1181-1194. [PMID: 30464224 PMCID: PMC6748147 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0231-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-mRNA splicing is a fundamental process that plays a considerable role in generating protein diversity. Pre-mRNA splicing is also the key to the pathology of numerous diseases, especially cancers. In this review, we discuss how aberrant splicing isoforms precisely regulate three basic functional aspects in cancer: proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis. Importantly, clinical function of aberrant splicing isoforms is also discussed, in particular concerning drug resistance and radiosensitivity. Furthermore, this review discusses emerging strategies how to modulate pathologic aberrant splicing isoforms, which are attractive, novel therapeutic agents in cancer. Last we outline current and future directions of isoforms diagnostic methodologies reported so far in cancer. Thus, it is highlighting significance of aberrant splicing isoforms as markers for cancer and as targets for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuixia Di
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Syafrizayanti
- Division of Functional Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Andalas University, Kampus Limau Manis, Padang, Indonesia
| | - Qianjing Zhang
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhong Chen
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yupei Wang
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuetian Zhang
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chao Sun
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Radiation Medicine, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China. .,Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Jörg D Hoheisel
- Division of Functional Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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7
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Therapeutic Applications of Targeted Alternative Splicing to Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 19:ijms19010075. [PMID: 29283381 PMCID: PMC5796025 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of studies has documented the pathological influence of impaired alternative splicing (AS) events on numerous diseases, including cancer. In addition, the generation of alternatively spliced isoforms is frequently noted to result in drug resistance in many cancer therapies. To gain comprehensive insights into the impacts of AS events on cancer biology and therapeutic developments, this paper highlights recent findings regarding the therapeutic routes of targeting alternative-spliced isoforms and splicing regulators to treatment strategies for distinct cancers.
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8
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Jacob AG, Smith CWJ. Intron retention as a component of regulated gene expression programs. Hum Genet 2017; 136:1043-1057. [PMID: 28391524 PMCID: PMC5602073 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-017-1791-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Intron retention has long been an exemplar of regulated splicing with case studies of individual events serving as models that provided key mechanistic insights into the process of splicing control. In organisms such as plants and budding yeast, intron retention is well understood as a major mechanism of gene expression regulation. In contrast, in mammalian systems, the extent and functional significance of intron retention have, until recently, remained greatly underappreciated. Technical challenges to the global detection and quantitation of transcripts with retained introns have often led to intron retention being overlooked or dismissed as “noise”. Now, however, with the wealth of information available from high-throughput deep sequencing, combined with focused computational and statistical analyses, we are able to distinguish clear intron retention patterns in various physiological and pathological contexts. Several recent studies have demonstrated intron retention as a central component of gene expression programs during normal development as well as in response to stress and disease. Furthermore, these studies revealed various ways in which intron retention regulates protein isoform production, RNA stability and translation efficiency, and rapid induction of expression via post-transcriptional splicing of retained introns. In this review, we highlight critical findings from these transcriptomic studies and discuss commonalties in the patterns prevalent in intron retention networks at the functional and regulatory levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya G Jacob
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Christopher W J Smith
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.
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9
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Suñé-Pou M, Prieto-Sánchez S, Boyero-Corral S, Moreno-Castro C, El Yousfi Y, Suñé-Negre JM, Hernández-Munain C, Suñé C. Targeting Splicing in the Treatment of Human Disease. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8030087. [PMID: 28245575 PMCID: PMC5368691 DOI: 10.3390/genes8030087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tightly regulated process of precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) alternative splicing (AS) is a key mechanism in the regulation of gene expression. Defects in this regulatory process affect cellular functions and are the cause of many human diseases. Recent advances in our understanding of splicing regulation have led to the development of new tools for manipulating splicing for therapeutic purposes. Several tools, including antisense oligonucleotides and trans-splicing, have been developed to target and alter splicing to correct misregulated gene expression or to modulate transcript isoform levels. At present, deregulated AS is recognized as an important area for therapeutic intervention. Here, we summarize the major hallmarks of the splicing process, the clinical implications that arise from alterations in this process, and the current tools that can be used to deliver, target, and correct deficiencies of this key pre-mRNA processing event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Suñé-Pou
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS, Granada 18016, Spain.
- Drug Development Service, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII, s/n 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Silvia Prieto-Sánchez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS, Granada 18016, Spain.
| | - Sofía Boyero-Corral
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS, Granada 18016, Spain.
| | - Cristina Moreno-Castro
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS, Granada 18016, Spain.
| | - Younes El Yousfi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS, Granada 18016, Spain.
| | - Josep Mª Suñé-Negre
- Drug Development Service, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Avda. Joan XXIII, s/n 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Hernández-Munain
- Department of Cell Biology and Immunology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS, Granada 18016, Spain.
| | - Carlos Suñé
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López Neyra" (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS, Granada 18016, Spain.
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