Computational prediction of microRNAs from Toxoplasma gondii potentially regulating the hosts' gene expression.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were discovered two decades ago, yet there is still a great need for further studies elucidating their genesis and targeting in different phyla. Since experimental discovery and validation of miRNAs is difficult, computational predictions are indispensable and today most computational approaches employ machine learning. Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite residing within the cells of its hosts like human, uses miRNAs for its post-transcriptional gene regulation. It may also regulate its hosts' gene expression, which has been shown in brain cancer. Since previous studies have shown that overexpressed miRNAs within the host are causal for disease onset, we hypothesized that T. gondii could export miRNAs into its host cell. We computationally predicted all hairpins from the genom

SUBMITTER: Sacar MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4411416 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature