Dynamic Expression of Long Non-Coding RNAs Throughout Parasite Sexual and Neural Maturation in Schistosoma Japonicum

Abstract

Schistosoma japonicum is a flatworm that causes schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease. S. japonicum RNA-Seq analyses has been previously reported in the literature on females and males obtained during sexual maturation from 14 to 28 days post-infection in mouse, resulting in the identification of protein-coding genes and pathways, whose expression levels were related to sexual development. However, this work did not include an analysis of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here, we applied a pipeline to identify and annotate lncRNAs in 66 S. japonicum RNA-Seq publicly available libraries, from different life-cycle stages. We also performed co-expression analyses to find stage-specific lncRNAs possibly related to sexual maturation. We identified 12,291 S. japonicum expressed lncRNAs. Sequence similarity search and synteny conservation indicated that some 14% of S. japonicum intergenic lncRNAs have synteny conservation with S. mansoni intergenic lncRNAs. Co-expression analyses showed that lncRNAs and protein-coding genes in S. japonicum males and females have a dynamic co-expression throughout sexual maturation, showing differential expression between the sexes; the protein-coding genes were related to the nervous system development, lipid and drug metabolism, and overall parasite survival. Co-expression pattern suggests that lncRNAs possibly regulate these processes or are regulated by the same activation program as that of protein-coding genes.

Profiles of LncRNAs expression in Schistosoma mansoni during intra- mammalian development

“…In this study, we experimentally validated 25 Sm-lncRNAs from a 47 Sm-lncRNA set that were previously predicted by in silico analysis [12]. Of this validated lncRNA set, almost all molecules showed a stagespeci c expression level, demonstrating the potential regulatory role played by lncRNAs and corroborating the few other studies found in the literature [9,12,14,22,23]. The developmental stages analyzed here need to face a freshwater-mammalian body and even Th1-Th2 immune transition pressures [24], which can explain the variability in the expression of regulatory molecules at each developmental stage [25].…”

“…In addition, location characterization can allow predictions about lncRNA functions in cis, based on their putative target genes [7,8]. Recently, Schistosoma lncRNAs have also been investigated for their potential functions [9][10][11][12][13][14].…”

Molecular signatures of the rediae, cercariae and adult stages in the complex life cycles of parasitic flatworms (Digenea: Psilostomatidae)

“…While some of them surely represent assembly artifacts, others might be functionally relevant. According to the recent publications [66][67][68][69][70][71] long non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are one of the important regulators of gene expression and indispensable components of genetic networks. Analysis of the diversity and roles of non-coding RNAs in the Psilostomatidae is, therefore, a promising research direction for the future.…”

RNA sequencing analysis of altered expression of long noncoding RNAs associated with Schistosoma japonicum infection in the murine liver and spleen

“…The involvement of specific lncR-NAs in hepatic diseases has been described, and hepatic stellate cells trans-differentiation is regulated by different lncRNAs [19][20][21] A previous study employed different tools to study differential gene expression patterns occurring in response to Schistosoma infections [22]. Recently, Schistosoma lncRNAs have also been investigated for their potential functions [23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. However, lncRNAs in Schistosoma japonicum-infected mouse liver and spleen samples have not been investigated by RNA-Seq.…”