Schistosoma mansoni's novel long non-coding RNAs identification and mapping in version 10 genome

• Grant number: 23/14590-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Verjovski Almeida
• Grantee: Caio Felipe Freire de Sousa
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human schistosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by chronic inflammation resulting from the action of trematode parasites of the genus Schistosoma. More than 251 million people are infected with the parasite worldwide and more than 700 million people are at risk of infection. In Brazil, the causative species is S. mansoni. There are currently no vaccines and the only medication available is praziquantel, which has the disadvantage of allowing reinfections, inability to kill young parasites, and there are strains resistant to the drug. Therefore, the search for therapeutic alternatives is necessary. lncRNAs are poorly conserved, very repetitive molecules related to several functional and regulatory biological processes at the transcription and post-transcription level. There is evidence of lncRNAs required for cell proliferation, gonad development, reproduction and egg development during pairing in adult S. mansoni individuals. New RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) has been published in which the expression of lncRNAs has not yet been analyzed. Old versions of the parasite genome were used in the analysis and identification of lncRNAs; In the current version 10 of the genome, the eight chromosomes are resolved. Mapping new RNA-Seq data against this most recent version of the S. mansoni genome can identify new lncRNAs and their expression profile across stages/treatments can guide studies of their regulatory role. These data may be useful in the search for drugs/strategies that target these lncRNAs, allowing the search for new treatment methods that may be effective against the young stages and eggs of the parasite, which currently do not exist.