High-throughput sequencing analysis of Echinococcus multilocularis microRNAs

MARCELA CUCHER; NATALIA MACCHIAROLI; KLAUSS BREHM; LAURA KAMENETZKY; MARA ROSENZVIT

Rosario

Otro; XXVI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Protozoología; 2013

BM. High-throughput sequencing analysis of Echinococcus multilocularis microRNAs Cucher M1,2., Macchiaroli N1., Brehm K2., Kamenetzky L1., Rosenzvit M1. 1IMPaM, UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina 2University of Würzburg, Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, Würzburg, Germany Echinococus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis cestode parasites are the causative agents of cystic and alveolar hydatid diseases respectively, two zoonosis of great public health concern, considered neglected diseases by the WHO. Here we report for the first time a massive, next-generation sequencing approach to define the full complement of E. multilocularis microRNAs (miRNAs), molecules involved in the control of development processes in animals and plants. The deep-sequencing results showed that almost all the previously E. granulosus reported miRNAs (Cucher et al, 2011) are expressed in the E. multilocularis clinically relevant metacestode stage. miR-10 and let-7, two evolutionary conserved miRNAs involved in development of many organisms, were the more expressed ones among the already reported Echinoccoccus spp. miRNAs. Interestingly, miR-4989, an Echinococcus spp. specific miRNA, and miR-71, a miRNA conserved only across invertebrate species were the next more abundant metacestode miRNAs. This data will provide valuable information for discovery of new miRNAs and comparative analysis with the related species, E. granulosus, causative agent of cystic hydatid disease in Argentina. These two species share overall 96% nucleotide identity within the coding regions of predicted genes but they show remarkable biological differences, such as exogenous germinal membrane budding to form multiple cysts, metastasic behaviour and high mortality rates in the case of E. multilocularis. We believe that the understanding of the developmental processes of these parasites may help to find new strategies for their control. Cucher M.; Prada M.C.; Mourglia-Ettlin G.; Dematteis S.; Camicia F.; Asurmendi S.; Rosenzvit M.C. 2011. Identification of Echinococcus granulosus microRNAs and their expression in different life cycle stages and parasite genotypes. International Journal of Parasitology 41, 439-48.