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Extracellular non-coding RNA signatures of the metacestode stage of Echinococcus multilocularis
- Source :
- PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, CONICET Digital (CONICET), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, instacron:CONICET, PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 14, Iss 11, p e0008890 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2020.
-
Abstract
- Extracellular RNAs (ex-RNAs) are secreted by cells through different means that may involve association with proteins, lipoproteins or extracellular vesicles (EV). In the context of parasitism, ex-RNAs represent new and exciting communication intermediaries with promising potential as novel biomarkers. In the last years, it was shown that helminth parasites secrete ex-RNAs, however, most work mainly focused on RNA secretion mediated by EV. Ex-RNA study is of special interest in those helminth infections that still lack biomarkers for early and/or follow-up diagnosis, such as echinococcosis, a neglected zoonotic disease caused by cestodes of the genus Echinococcus. In this work, we have characterised the ex-RNA profile secreted by in vitro grown metacestodes of Echinococcus multilocularis, the casuative agent of alveolar echinococcosis. We have used high throughput RNA-sequencing together with RT-qPCR to characterise the ex-RNA profile secreted towards the extra- and intra-parasite milieus in EV-enriched and EV-depleted fractions. We show that a polarized secretion of small RNAs takes place, with microRNAs mainly secreted to the extra-parasite milieu and rRNA- and tRNA-derived sequences mostly secreted to the intra-parasite milieu. In addition, we show by nanoparticle tracking analyses that viable metacestodes secrete EV mainly into the metacestode inner vesicular fluid (MVF); however, the number of nanoparticles in culture medium and MVF increases > 10-fold when metacestodes show signs of tegument impairment. Interestingly, we confirm the presence of host miRNAs in the intra-parasite milieu, implying their internalization and transport through the tegument towards the MVF. Finally, our assessment of the detection of Echinococcus miRNAs in patient samples by RT-qPCR yielded negative results suggesting the tested miRNAs may not be good biomarkers for this disease. A comprehensive study of the secretion mechanisms throughout the life cycle of these parasites will help to understand parasite interaction with the host and also, improve current diagnostic tools.<br />Author summary Extracellular RNAs (ex-RNAs) are secreted by cells through association with proteins or extracellular vesicles (EV). In the context of parasitism, ex-RNAs represent novel communication intermediaries with promising potential as biomarkers. In order to better understand the role ex-RNAs may play in the context of the zoonotic disease echinococcosis, we have characterised the RNA profile secreted by the larval stage (metacestode) of Echinococcus multilocularis. By analysing the products secreted towards the extra- and intra-parasite milieus, we demonstrate that the metacestode displays a polarized secretion of different classes of small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs). In addition, we show that EV secretion occurs mainly towards the inner fluid of the metacestodes. Interestingly, we confirm the presence of host sRNAs in the intra-parasite milieu, implying their internalization and transport through the tegument. Finally, the detection of Echinococcus miRNAs in patient samples yielded negative results suggesting the tested miRNAs may not be good biomarkers for this disease. In summary, our results provide a detailed description of the ex-RNA landscape of the E. multilocularis metacestode together with information on the distribution of the detected RNA classes in different extracellular compartments. This information is of importance to better understand host-parasite interaction and also, to improve current diagnostic tools.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Molecular biology
Physiology
RC955-962
Flatworms
Biochemistry
purl.org/becyt/ford/1 [https]
Mice
Medical Conditions
Sequencing techniques
0302 clinical medicine
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Medicine and Health Sciences
Nanotechnology
biology
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
Eukaryota
RNA sequencing
Non-coding RNA
Cell biology
Nucleic acids
Infectious Diseases
Helminth Infections
Engineering and Technology
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Transfer RNA
Research Article
Neglected Tropical Diseases
030231 tropical medicine
multilocularis
Context (language use)
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Echinococcus multilocularis
Host-Parasite Interactions
Extracellular Vesicles
03 medical and health sciences
Echinococcosis
Helminths
Genetics
Parasitic Diseases
Extracellular
Animals
Humans
Secretion
purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6 [https]
Natural antisense transcripts
Biology and life sciences
Sequence Analysis, RNA
Organisms
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
RNA
Tropical Diseases
biology.organism_classification
Invertebrates
Gene regulation
Echinococcus
Research and analysis methods
MicroRNAs
Metacestode
Molecular biology techniques
030104 developmental biology
Culture Media, Conditioned
Nanoparticles
Gene expression
Physiological Processes
Zoology
Biomarkers
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19352735
- Volume :
- 14
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0087818a6a4e4c11369adfebde2085fd