Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play prominent roles in the regulation of gene expression via their interactions with other biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Although much of our knowledge about how these ncRNAs operate in different biological processes has been obtained from experimental findings, computational biology can also clearly substantially boost this knowledge by suggesting possible novel interactions of these ncRNAs with other molecules. Computational predictions are thus used as an alternative source of new insights through a process of mutual enrichment because the information obtained through experiments continuously feeds through into computational methods. The results of these predictions in turn shed light on possible interactions that are subsequently validated experimentally. This review describes the latest advances in databases, bioinformatic tools, and new in silico strategies that allow the establishment or prediction of biological interactions of ncRNAs, particularly miRNAs and lncRNAs. The ncRNA species described in this work have a special emphasis on those found in humans, but information on ncRNA of other species is also included.
This study aimed to analyse the patterns of diversity, blood sources and
Leishmania
species of phlebotomines in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Arboledas, Eastern Colombia. In total, 1729 phlebotomines were captured in two localities (62.3% Siravita and 37.7% Cinera) and five environments of Norte de Santander. We identified 18 species of phlebotomines:
Pintomyia ovallesi
(29.8%),
Psychodopygus davisi
(20.3%),
Pi. spinicrassa
(18.5%) and
Lutzomyia gomezi
(15.8%) showed the highest abundance. Species diversities were compared between Cinera (15.00) and Siravita (20.00) and among five microenvironments: forest remnants (19.49), coffee plantations (12.5), grassland (12.99), cane plantations (11.66) and citrus plantations (12.22).
Leishmania
DNA was detected in 5.8% (80/1380) of females, corresponding mainly to
Pi
.
ovallesi
(22/80; 27.2%),
Lu
.
gomezi
(17/80; 21.3%) and
Pi
.
spinicrassa
(11/80; 13.8%).
Leishmania
species were 63.1%
L. braziliensis
, 18.5%
L
.
panamensis
, 13.2%
L
.
infantum
and 6.1%
L
.
amazonensis
. The most frequent feeding sources were
Homo sapiens
(50%),
Bos taurus
(13.8%) and
Canis lupus familiaris
(10.3%). This focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis has a high diversity of
Leishmania
-carrying phlebotomines that feed on domestic animals. The transmission of leishmaniasis to human hosts was mainly associated with
Lu
.
gomezi
,
Pi
.
ovallesi
and
L
.
braziliensis
.
This correction has been published due to an error in a collection permission of biological specimens in the Methods section. In §2.1 Study area, it was stated that:Universidad del Rosario provided the field permit from ANLA (Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales) 63257-2014. All collections were done on public land.
This has been updated to:Universidad de Santander (UDES) provided the collection permit from ANLA (Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales) 01749. All collections were done on public land.
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