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Updated: May 14, 2026
MicroRNA Amplification and Recognition through Locked-nucleic-acid In situ Hybridization as a Novel Detection and Quantification Method
Published on: October 7, 2025
Identification and characterization of microRNAs in the pancreatic fluke Eurytrema pancreaticum
Min-Jun Xu1, Chun-Ren Wang, Si-Yang Huang
1State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Eurytrema pancreaticum is one of the most common flukes, which mainly infects ruminants globally and infects human beings accidentally; causing eurytremiasis that has high veterinary and economic importance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs and are now considered as a key mechanism of gene regulation at the post-transcription level.
Methods:
We investigated the global miRNA expression profile of E. pancreaticum adults using next-generation sequencing technology combined with real-time quantitative PCR.
Results:
By using the genome of the closely-related species Schistosoma japonicum as reference, we obtained 27 miRNA candidates out of 16.45 million raw sequencing reads, with 13 of them found as known miRNAs in S. japonicum and/or S. mansoni, and the remaining 14 miRNAs were considered as novel. Five out of the 13 known miRNAs coming from one family named as sja-miR-2, including family members from miR-2a to miR-2e. Targets of 19 miRNAs were successfully predicated out of the 17401 mRNA and EST non-redundant sequences of S. japonicum. It was found that a significant high number of targets were related to "chch domain-containing protein mitochondrial precursor" (n = 29), "small subunit ribosomal protein s30e" (n = 21), and "insulin-induced gene 1 protein" (n = 9). Besides, "egg protein cp3842" (n = 2), "fumarate hydratase" (n = 2), "ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme" (n = 2), and "sperm-associated antigen 6" (n = 1) were also found as targets of the miRNAs of E. pancreaticum.
Conclusions:
The present study represents the first global characterization of E. pancreaticum miRNAs, which provides novel resources for a better understanding of the parasite, which, in turn, has implications for the effective control of the disease it causes.
Insights
This study identified 27 microRNA (miRNA) candidates in the fluke Eurytrema pancreaticum, including novel and known miRNAs. These findings offer insights into parasite gene regulation and disease control.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Eurytrema pancreaticum is a common fluke affecting ruminants globally, causing significant economic losses.
- Accidental human infections (eurytremiasis) highlight its zoonotic potential.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the global microRNA (miRNA) expression profile of adult Eurytrema pancreaticum.
- To identify novel and known miRNAs within the parasite.
- To predict potential miRNA targets involved in parasite biology.
Main Methods:
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was employed to analyze miRNA expression.
- Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used for validation.
- Bioinformatic analysis utilized the Schistosoma japonicum genome as a reference.
Main Results:
- 27 miRNA candidates were identified from over 16 million sequencing reads.
- 13 known miRNAs (including 5 from the sja-miR-2 family) and 14 novel miRNAs were discovered.
- Predicted targets included proteins involved in mitochondrial function, ribosomal activity, and insulin signaling.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first global miRNA characterization of Eurytrema pancreaticum.
- The identified miRNAs and their targets offer valuable resources for understanding parasite biology.
- These findings have implications for developing effective strategies to control eurytremiasis.
