Identification and characterisation of microRNAs in young adults of Angiostrongylus cantonensis via a deep-sequencing approach

Abstract

Angiostrongylus cantonensis is an important causative agent of eosinophilic meningitis and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in humans. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that participate in a wide range of biological processes. This study employed a deep-sequencing approach to study miRNAs from young adults of A. cantonensis. Based on 16,880,456 high-quality reads, 252 conserved mature miRNAs including 10 antisense miRNAs that belonging to 90 families, together with 10 antisense miRNAs were identified and characterised. Among these sequences, 53 miRNAs from 25 families displayed 50 or more reads. The conserved miRNA families were divided into four groups according to their phylogenetic distribution and a total of nine families without any members showing homology to other nematodes or adult worms were identified. Stem-loop real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of aca-miR-1-1 and aca-miR-71-1 demonstrated that their level of expression increased dramatically from infective larvae to young adults and then decreased in adult worms, with the male worms exhibiting significantly higher levels of expression than female worms. These findings provide information related to the regulation of gene expression during the growth, development and pathogenesis of young adults of A. cantonensis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis: a review of its distribution, molecular biology and clinical significance as a human pathogen

“…Chen et al (2011 a ) detected 1 072 876 miRNA species in adult A. cantonensis ; 122 051 were common to both sexes, 548 720 were female specific and 402 105 were male specific. The miRNA profiles differed between young adult and mature adult worms, though certain miRNA species, such as mirR-1, mirR-71 and miR-44, were expressed highly in both stages (Chang et al 2013). Mir-71 family members are the most abundant miRNA species in young adult and mature adult worms (Chen et al 2011 a ; Chang et al 2013).…”

“…The miRNA profiles differed between young adult and mature adult worms, though certain miRNA species, such as mirR-1, mirR-71 and miR-44, were expressed highly in both stages (Chang et al 2013). Mir-71 family members are the most abundant miRNA species in young adult and mature adult worms (Chen et al 2011 a ; Chang et al 2013). Mir-71 is thought to promote longevity and stress resistance and along with aca-miR-1–1, may also affect sexual differentiation and development (Chang et al 2013).…”

“…Mir-71 family members are the most abundant miRNA species in young adult and mature adult worms (Chen et al 2011 a ; Chang et al 2013). Mir-71 is thought to promote longevity and stress resistance and along with aca-miR-1–1, may also affect sexual differentiation and development (Chang et al 2013). In L 3 larvae, mir-200c was the most abundant miRNA identified, and its expression was 352-fold higher in L 3 larvae compared with L 4 larvae (Li et al 2014 b ).…”

Micromanagement of Immune System: Role of miRNAs in Helminthic Infections

“…But they could not identify any novel miR. There were stage specific miR expression observed in young and adult worm, though the miR-1, miR-77, and miR-44 were abundant in young and adult worm stage suggesting they might be crucial for the survival ( Chang et al, 2013 ). As the infection causes damage in CNS the inflammation in astrocytes is related with higher expression of miR-146a and miR-132, these miRs have been previously reported to be associated with chronic inflammation in neurological disorders, innate immunity regulation and inflammation regulation ( Shaked et al, 2009 ; Iyer et al, 2012 ; Xie et al, 2013 ).…”

The importance of helminthic microRNAs in pathology

“…Chen et al [43,44] изучили разнообразие ми-кроРНК половозрелых паразитов и их личинок A. cantonensis. Ими обнаружены miR-71, miR-1 и miR-60, miR-77 и miR-44.…”