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. 2020 Sep 25;51(1):126.
doi: 10.1186/s13567-020-00851-4.

Differential expression of microRNA between normally developed and underdeveloped female worms of Schistosoma japonicum

Yu Han  1 , Jintao Feng  1 , Yuqi Ren  1 , Luobin Wu  1   2 , Hao Li  1 , Jinming Liu  1 , Yamei Jin  3
Affiliations

Differential expression of microRNA between normally developed and underdeveloped female worms of Schistosoma japonicum

Yu Han et al. Vet Res. .

Abstract

Eggs produced by bisexual infected mature female worms (MF) of Schistosoma japonicum are important in the transmission of the parasite and responsible for the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. The single-sex infected female worms (SF) cannot mature and do not produce normal eggs; also they do not induce severe damage to the host. In this study, the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of 25d MF and 25d SF were investigated through Solexa deep-sequencing technology to explore the developmental mechanisms of schistosome female worms. There were 36 differentially expressed miRNA, 20 up-regulated and 16 down-regulated found in MF/SF worms, including some development related miRNA such as bantam (ban), let-7, miR-124, miR-8, miR-1, miR-7. There were 166 target genes of up-regulated miRNA and 201 target genes of down-regulated miRNA after comparing the target gene prediction software results with RNA-Seq transcriptome results. Analysis of the target genes shows that different ones are involved in MF and SF worms in Gene Ontology terms, with a similar situation in KEGG. This observation indicates that different genes regulated by differentially expressed miRNA take part in MF and SF and lead to differential sexual status. This means that the sexual status of female worms is regulated by miRNA.

Keywords: Schistosoma japonicum; deep-sequencing; differential expression; microRNA; predicted target genes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Identification of the sex of cercariae shed from different snails by PCR. Lane M, DNA Marker, Lanes 1–6, Cercariae shed from different snails.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Length, distribution and abundance of small miRNA tags of 25d MF and 25d SF.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of the miRNA profiles from 25d SF and 25d MF. **Fold-change (log2) > 1 or fold-change (log2) < -1, and P value < 0.01.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Result of qPCR confirmation of miRNA expression.
Figure 5
Figure 5
GO terms of molecular-function in the target genes of up- and down-regulated miRNA.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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