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Regulation of DNA methylation on key parasitism genes of Cysticercus cellulosae revealed by integrative
Xinrui Wang1, Weiyi Song1, Guanyu Ji2
1College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities, Tongliao, 028000, Inner Mongolia, China.
Background:
The life cycle of Taenia solium is characterized by different stages of development, requiring various kinds of hosts that can appropriately harbor the eggs (proglottids), the oncospheres, the larvae and the adults. Similar to other metazoan pathogens, T. solium undergoes transcriptional and developmental regulation via epigenetics during its complex lifecycle and host interactions.
Result:
In the present study, we integrated whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and RNA-seq technologies to characterize the genome-wide DNA methylation and its effect on transcription of Cysticercus cellulosae of T. solium. We confirm that the T. solium genome in the cysticercus stage is epigenetically modified by DNA methylation in a pattern similar to that of other invertebrate genomes, i.e., sparsely or moderately methylated. We also observed an enrichment of non-CpG methylation in defined genetic elements of the T. solium genome. Furthermore, an integrative analysis of both the transcriptome and the DNA methylome indicated a strong correlation between these two datasets, suggesting that gene expression might be tightly regulated by DNA methylation. Importantly, our data suggested that DNA methylation might play an important role in repressing key parasitism-related genes, including genes encoding excretion-secretion proteins, thereby raising the possibility of targeting DNA methylation processes as a useful strategy in therapeutics of cysticercosis.
Insights
DNA methylation regulates gene expression in the parasitic tapeworm Taenia solium. This epigenetic mechanism may suppress key parasitism genes, offering potential therapeutic targets for cysticercosis.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Taenia solium has a complex life cycle involving multiple hosts and developmental stages.
- Epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, plays a role in the transcriptional and developmental control of metazoan pathogens like T. solium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in the cysticercus stage of T. solium.
- To determine the effect of DNA methylation on gene transcription in T. solium.
- To explore the potential of DNA methylation as a therapeutic target for cysticercosis.
Main Methods:
- Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) to map DNA methylation.
- RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze gene expression.
- Integrative analysis of methylome and transcriptome data.
Main Results:
- T. solium DNA is sparsely to moderately methylated in the cysticercus stage, consistent with other invertebrate genomes.
- Non-CpG methylation is enriched in specific genetic elements.
- A strong correlation exists between DNA methylation and gene expression, indicating regulatory roles.
- DNA methylation appears to repress crucial parasitism-related genes, including those for excretion-secretion proteins.
Conclusions:
- DNA methylation is a key epigenetic regulator of gene expression in T. solium.
- Epigenetic modifications in T. solium influence the expression of genes vital for parasitism.
- Targeting DNA methylation pathways presents a promising therapeutic strategy for treating cysticercosis.
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