Functional characterization of long non-protein coding RNAs in Schistosoma mansoni

• Grant number: 18/24015-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): January 09, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Verjovski Almeida
• Grantee: Gilbert de Oliveira Silveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

With the advent of new large-scale sequencing technologies for the detection of RNAs expressed in several organisms under different culture conditions, a handful of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs, greater than 200 nucleotides) have been discovered. However, only approximately 40 lncRNAs in humans have had their molecular mechanisms of action identified and characterized in detail, usually linked to a function of gene transcription regulation. In 2011, our group published the first evidence demonstrating the presence of lncRNAs expressed in different processes and physiological responses in Schistosoma mansoni, the parasite that causes schistosomiasis in Brazil. This disease affects millions of people worldwide and around 19 thousand people in Brazil were affected only in 2017. Following that work, three other works were published by our group and two other groups, corroborating with the exponential interest in the description and characterization of these molecules. In view of the strong interest in the characterization of lncRNAs and their roles in the control of gene expression observed in eukaryotes, and taking in consideration the need for the development of new approaches in order to eliminate S. mansoni, the present work aims at identifying and functionally characterizing lncRNAs involved in biological processes essential for parasite development as well as those involved in the response to drug treatment. The application of new technologies to detect the interaction between lncRNAs, proteins and their possible binding sites in genomic DNA will allow us to understand the regulatory role of lncRNAs, opening doors for the eventual use of these lncRNAs as therapeutic targets.

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SILVEIRA, GILBERT O.; COELHO, HELENA S.; AMARAL, MURILO S.; VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA, SERGIO. Long non-coding RNAs as possible therapeutic targets in protozoa, and in Schistosoma and other helminths. Parasitology Research, DEC 2021. (18/23693-5, 18/24015-0)

PEREIRA, ADRIANA S. A.; SILVEIRA, GILBERT O.; AMARAL, MURILO S.; ALMEIDA, V, SINARA M.; OLIVEIRA, JAMERSON F.; LIMA, MARIA C. A.; VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA, SERGIO. In vitro activity of aryl-thiazole derivatives against Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula and adult worms. PLoS One, v. 14, n. 11, NOV 25 2019. (18/24015-0)

AMARAL, MURILO S.; MACIEL, LUCAS F.; SILVEIRA, GILBERT O.; OLBERG, GIOVANNA G. O.; LEITE, JOAO V. P.; IMAMURA, LUCAS K.; PEREIRA, ADRIANA S. A.; MIYASATO, PATRICIA A.; NAKANO, ELIANA; VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA, SERGIO. Long non-coding RNA levels can be modulated by 5-azacytidine in Schistosoma mansoni. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 10, n. 1, DEC 9 2020. (18/19591-2, 18/23693-5, 16/10046-6, 18/24015-0)

CARNEIRO, VITOR COUTINHO; DE ABREU SILVA, ISABEL CAETANO; AMARAL, MURILO SENA; PEREIRA, ADRIANA S. A.; SILVEIRA, GILBERT OLIVEIRA; PIRES, DAVID DA SILVA; VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA, SERGIO; DEKKER, FRANK J.; ROTILI, DANTE; MAI, ANTONELLO; et al. Pharmacological inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) induces global transcriptional deregulation and ultrastructural alterations that impair viability inSchistosoma mansoni. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 14, n. 7, JUL 2020. (18/24015-0)

SILVEIRA, GILBERT O.; AMARAL, MURILO S.; COELHO, HELENA S.; MACIEL, LUCAS F.; PEREIRA, ADRIANA S. A.; OLBERG, GIOVANNA G. O.; MIYASATO, PATRICIA A.; NAKANO, ELIANA; VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA, SERGIO. Assessment of reference genes at six different developmental stages of Schistosoma mansoni for quantitative RT-PCR. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 11, n. 1, p. 18-pg., 2021-08-19. (18/19591-2, 16/10046-6, 18/24015-0, 18/23693-5)

MACIEL, LUCAS F.; MORALES-VICENTE, DAVID A.; SILVEIRA, GILBERT O.; RIBEIRO, RAPHAEL O.; OLBERG, GIOVANNA G. O.; PIRES, DAVID S.; AMARAL, MURILO S.; VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA, SERGIO. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Analyses Point to Long Non-Coding RNA Hub Genes at Different Schistosoma mansoni Life-Cycle Stages. FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, v. 10, SEP 12 2019. (14/03620-2, 17/22379-2, 18/24015-0, 18/23693-5)

CARNEIRO, VITOR COUTINHO; DE ABREU SILVA, ISABEL CAETANO; AMARAL, MURILO SENA; PEREIRA, ADRIANA S. A.; SILVEIRA, GILBERT OLIVEIRA; PIRES, DAVID DA SILVA; VERJOVSKI-ALMEIDA, SERGIO; DEKKER, FRANK J.; ROTILI, DANTE; MAI, ANTONELLO; et al. Pharmacological inhibition of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) induces global transcriptional deregulation and ultrastructural alterations that impair viability in Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 14, n. 7, p. 29-pg., 2020-07-01. (18/24015-0)