Gu, H. Y., Marks, N. D., Winter, A. D., Weir, W. , Tzelos, T., McNeilly, T. N., Britton, C. and Devaney, E. (2017) Conservation of a microRNA cluster in parasitic nematodes and profiling of miRNAs in excretory-secretory products and microvesicles of Haemonchus contortus. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 11(11), e0006056. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006056) (PMID:29145392) (PMCID:PMC5709059)
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Abstract
microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are important regulators of gene expression in a range of animals, including nematodes. We have analysed a cluster of four miRNAs from the pathogenic nematode species Haemonchus contortus that are closely linked in the genome. We find that the cluster is conserved only in clade V parasitic nematodes and in some ascarids, but not in other clade III species nor in clade V free-living nematodes. Members of the cluster are present in parasite excretory-secretory products and can be detected in the abomasum and draining lymph nodes of infected sheep, indicating their release in vitro and in vivo. As observed for other parasitic nematodes, H. contortus adult worms release extracellular vesicles (EV). Small RNA libraries were prepared from vesicle-enriched and vesicle-depleted supernatants from both adult worms and L4 stage larvae. Comparison of the miRNA species in the different fractions indicated that specific miRNAs are packaged within vesicles, while others are more abundant in vesicle-depleted supernatant. Hierarchical clustering analysis indicated that the gut is the likely source of vesicle-associated miRNAs in the L4 stage, but not in the adult worm. These findings add to the growing body of work demonstrating that miRNAs released from parasitic helminths may play an important role in host-parasite interactions.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Devaney, Professor Eileen and Weir, Professor Willie and Winter, Dr Alan and Mcneilly, Dr Tom and Britton, Professor Collette |
Authors: | Gu, H. Y., Marks, N. D., Winter, A. D., Weir, W., Tzelos, T., McNeilly, T. N., Britton, C., and Devaney, E. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
Journal Name: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
Publisher: | Public Library of Science |
ISSN: | 1935-2727 |
ISSN (Online): | 1935-2735 |
Published Online: | 16 November 2017 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2017 Gu et al. |
First Published: | First published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 11(11):e0006056 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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