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Computational identification of putative miRNAs and their target genes in pathogenic amoeba Naegleria fowleri
Dyavegowda Padmashree1, Narayanaswamy Ramachandra Swamy1
1Department of Biochemistry, Central College Campus, Bangalore University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Abstract:
Naegleria fowleri is a parasitic unicellular free living eukaryotic amoeba. The parasite spreads through contaminated water and causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Therefore, it is of interest to understand its molecular pathogenesis. Hence, we analyzed the parasite genome for miRNAs (microRNAs) that are non-coding, single stranded RNA molecules. We identified 245 miRNAs using computational methods in N. fowleri, of which five miRNAs are conserved. The predicted miRNA targets were analyzed by using miRanda (software) and further studied the functions by subsequently annotating using AmiGo (a gene ontology web tool).
Insights
Naegleria fowleri, a cause of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, has 245 identified microRNAs (miRNAs). Researchers analyzed these non-coding RNAs to understand the parasite
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a severe infection transmitted via contaminated water.
- Understanding the molecular mechanisms of N. fowleri pathogenesis is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize microRNAs (miRNAs) in Naegleria fowleri.
- To investigate the potential roles of these miRNAs in the parasite's molecular pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Computational analysis of the N. fowleri genome to identify miRNAs.
- Utilized miRanda software for predicting miRNA targets.
- Employed AmiGo, a gene ontology web tool, for functional annotation of predicted targets.
Main Results:
- Identified 245 unique miRNAs in N. fowleri.
- Discovered that five of the identified miRNAs are conserved across species.
- Predicted and functionally annotated the targets of these miRNAs, providing insights into their biological roles.
Conclusions:
- The study presents a comprehensive catalog of miRNAs in N. fowleri.
- The identified miRNAs and their targets offer potential avenues for understanding N. fowleri pathogenesis.
- Further research into these miRNAs could lead to novel therapeutic strategies against PAM.
