Project description:The cestodes Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis, as the pathogens of cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis respectively, can cause significant health problems to the host and considerable socio-economic losses as a consequence. Based on the genomic data regarding these two species available in public database recently, we carried out high-throughput mRNA and small RNA transcriptomic sequencing of them and generate enormous transcriptomic datasets. A total of 34,717,856 reads (79.79%) mapped to E. granulosus genome, and 38,882,179 reads (87.61%) mapped to E. multiloculari genome. A total of 24,550 (7,925 known and 16,625 novel transcripts) and 23,771 transcripts (8,432 known and 15,339 novel transcripts) were assembled for E. granulosus and E. multilocularis respectively, and the assembly yielded 11,330 genes (6,815 known and 4,515 novel genes) for E. granulosus and 10,101 genes (7,051 known and 3,050 novel genes) for E. multilocularis, compared with the reference genome data. Bioinformatic analysis identified 6,826 AS events from 3,774 E. granulosus genes (33.31%) and 6,644 AS events in 3,611 E. multilocularis genes (35.75%). A total of 76,674 distinct microRNAs of E. granulosus and 115,742 of E. multilocularis were also obtained from small RNA transcriptome sequencing reads. Of these, there were 20 microRNAs of E. granulosus and 22 microRNAs of E. multilocularis that belonged to 19 and 21 microRNA families common to other metazoan lineages separately. 76 and 90 novel microRNAs so far unique to E. granulosus and E. multilocularis were also identified respectively. This study represents an extensive mRNA and small RNA transcriptome dataset obtained from the deep sequencing of these two cestode species. The findings will facilitate a more fundamental understanding of cestode biology, evolution, the host-parasite interplay, and provide new insights into the pathophysiology of echinococcosis, contributing to the development of improved interventions for disease control.
Project description:Echinococcus multilocularis (Em) infection and the growth and proliferation of its metacestode within the liver of hosts are related to complex host–parasite interactions at the molecular level. However, the profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs of mice in response to Em are poorly understood. In this study, we detected numerous differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) and mRNAs (DEMs) in the mouse liver at eight time points after Em infection. Some DEMs and DELs were found continuously dysregulated. These DEMs were notably enriched in the “antigen processing and presentation,” “Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation” and “Th17 cell differentiation” pathways.
Project description:Previously, we found that the exclusion of adult worm occurred early stage of reinfection in dog repeatedly infected with E. multilocularis. In this study, we compared gene expression profile in small intestinal mucosa between control (normal dogs), first-infection group (dogs infected with E. multilocularis for the first time) and repeated-infection group (dogs repeatedly infected with this parasite 4 times). A total of 1916 genes for first-infection group and a total of 2950 genes for repeated-infection group were found to be up-regulated >2 fold when compared to control group. The data analysis revealed that genes related to tissue repair were largely upregulated in repeated-infection group compared to controls and first-infection group which indicated that hyperfunction of mucosal response occurred in repeatedly infected dogs. Expression of eight genes was quantified in the same RNA samples by real-time PCR. These microarray results may present new horizons for development of mucosal vaccine for the final hosts.
Project description:We used a mouse model of alveolar echinococcosis to assess gene expression profiles in the liver after establishment of a chronic disease status as a result of a primary peroral infection with eggs of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.
