Deep sequencing of small RNAs reveals the repertoire of miRNAs and piRNAs in Biomphalaria glabrata.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biomphalaria glabrata snails are widely distributed in schistosomiasis endemic areas like America and
Caribe, displaying high susceptibility to infection by Schistosoma mansoni. After the availability of B. glabrata genome and
transcriptome data, studies focusing on genetic markers and small non-coding RNAs have become more relevant. The small
RNAs have been considered important through their ability to finely regulate the gene expression in several organisms, thus
controlling the functions like cell growth, metabolism, and susceptibility/resistance to infection.
OBJECTIVE The present study aims on identification and characterisation of the repertoire of small non-coding RNAs in B.
glabrata (Bgl-small RNAs).
METHODS By using small RNA sequencing, bioinformatics tools and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain
reaction (RT-qPCR), we identified, characterised, and validated the presence of small RNAs in B. glabrata.
FINDINGS 89 mature miRNAs were identified and five of them were classified as Mollusk-specific. When compared to model
organisms, sequences of B. glabrata miRNAs showed a high degree of conservation. In addition, several target genes were
predicted for all the mature miRNAs identified. Furthermore, piRNAs were identified in the genome of B. glabrata for the
first time. The B. glabrata piRNAs showed strong conservation of uridine as first nucleotide at 5’ end, besides adenine at 10th
position. Our results showed that B. glabrata has diverse repertoire of circulating ncRNAs, several which might be involved in
mollusk susceptibility to infection, due to their potential roles in the regulation of S. mansoni development.
MAIN CONCLUSIONS Further studies are necessary in order to confirm the role of the Bgl-small RNAs in the parasite/host relationship
thus opening new perspectives on interference of small RNAs in the organism development and susceptibility to infection.
Description
Keywords
Schistosomiasis, Non-coding RNAs, Mollusk vectors, Next-generation sequencing
Citation
QUEIROZ, F. R. et al. Deep sequencing of small RNAs reveals the repertoire of miRNAs and piRNAs in Biomphalaria glabrata. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, v. 115, 2020. Disponível em: <https://www.scielo.br/j/mioc/a/7nCcmXqFmscfBkRtHXfxhsd/?lang=en>. Acesso em: 11 out. 2022.