Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis of Sex-Biased Expressed Genes Reveals Discrete Biological and Physiological Features of Male and Female Schistosoma japonicum.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016;
10:e0004684. [PMID:
27128440 PMCID:
PMC4851400 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pntd.0004684]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a chronic and debilitating disease caused by blood flukes (digenetic trematodes) of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosomes are sexually dimorphic and exhibit dramatic morphological changes during a complex lifecycle which requires subtle gene regulatory mechanisms to fulfil these complex biological processes. In the current study, a 41,982 features custom DNA microarray, which represents the most comprehensive probe coverage for any schistosome transcriptome study, was designed based on public domain and local databases to explore differential gene expression in S. japonicum. We found that approximately 1/10 of the total annotated genes in the S. japonicum genome are differentially expressed between adult males and females. In general, genes associated with the cytoskeleton, and motor and neuronal activities were readily expressed in male adult worms, whereas genes involved in amino acid metabolism, nucleotide biosynthesis, gluconeogenesis, glycosylation, cell cycle processes, DNA synthesis and genome fidelity and stability were enriched in females. Further, miRNAs target sites within these gene sets were predicted, which provides a scenario whereby the miRNAs potentially regulate these sex-biased expressed genes. The study significantly expands the expressional and regulatory characteristics of gender-biased expressed genes in schistosomes with high accuracy. The data provide a better appreciation of the biological and physiological features of male and female schistosome parasites, which may lead to novel vaccine targets and the development of new therapeutic interventions.
Schistosomiasis is a persistent but neglected parasitic disease, afflicting more than 200 million people worldwide. Complex gene regulatory mechanisms are equipped by its causative reagents, parasites of the genus Schistosoma. Dissecting these mechanisms thus will be beneficial for better control of the disease. DNA microarrays are flexible tools for profiling gene expression. Here, a custom printed microarray with a comprehensive coverage of the Schistosoma japonicum transcriptome, was utilised to decipher gender-associated genes of that species. A total of 685 and 430 mRNA transcripts were shown to be highly expressed in adult males and females, respectively. Genes enriched in the male adults were associated with cytoskeleton, motor and neuronal activities, whereas genes expressed more highly in female parasites were involved in amino acid metabolism, nucleotide biosynthesis, gluconeogenesis, glycosylation, cell cycle processes, DNA synthesis and genome fidelity and stability. A general scenario on how miRNAs potentially modulate these gender-associated genes is provided. The results here further highlight the transcriptomic differences between male and female parasites and provide a stepping-stone for identifying new vaccine and drug targets.
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