Winter, A. D. et al. (2015) A novel member of the let-7 microRNA family is associated with developmental transitions in filarial nematode parasites. BMC Genomics, 16, 331. (doi: 10.1186/s12864-015-1536-y) (PMID:25896062) (PMCID:PMC4428239)
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Abstract
Background Filarial nematodes are important pathogens in the tropics transmitted to humans via the bite of blood sucking arthropod vectors. The molecular mechanisms underpinning survival and differentiation of these parasites following transmission are poorly understood. microRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate target mRNAs and we set out to investigate whether they play a role in the infection event.<p></p> Results microRNAs differentially expressed during the early post-infective stages of Brugia pahangi L3 were identified by microarray analysis. One of these, bpa-miR-5364, was selected for further study as it is upregulated ~12-fold at 24 hours post-infection, is specific to clade III nematodes, and is a novel member of the let-7 family, which are known to have key developmental functions in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Predicted mRNA targets of bpa-miR-5364 were identified using bioinformatics and comparative genomics approaches that relied on the conservation of miR-5364 binding sites in the orthologous mRNAs of other filarial nematodes. Finally, we confirmed the interaction between bpa-miR-5364 and three of its predicted targets using a dual luciferase assay.<p></p> Conclusions These data provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning the transmission of third stage larvae of filarial nematodes from vector to mammal. This study is the first to identify parasitic nematode mRNAs that are verified targets of specific microRNAs and demonstrates that post-transcriptional control of gene expression via stage-specific expression of microRNAs may be important in the success of filarial infection.<p></p>
| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Devaney, Professor Eileen and Weir, Professor Willie and Maitland, Ms Kirsty and Winter, Dr Alan and McCormack, Ms Gillian and Britton, Professor Collette and Gillan, Dr Victoria |
| Authors: | Winter, A. D., Gillan, V., Maitland, K., Emes, R. D., Roberts, B., McCormack, G., Weir, W., Protasio, A. V., Holroyd, N., Berriman, M., Britton, C., and Devaney, E. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | BMC Genomics |
| Publisher: | Biomed Central |
| ISSN: | 1471-2164 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1471-2164 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2015 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in BMC Genomics 16:331 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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