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Updated: Jul 7, 2025
Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum
Published on: December 4, 2015
The knowns and unknowns of helminth-host miRNA cross-kingdom communication
Sumaiya Chowdhury1, Dayna Sais2, Sheila Donnelly3
1The School of Life Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia; School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that oversee gene modulation. They are integral to cellular functions and can migrate between species, leading to cross-kingdom gene suppression. Recent breakthroughs in helminth genome studies have sparked curiosity about helminth RNA regulators and their ability to regulate genes across species. Growing data indicate that helminth miRNAs have a significant impact on the host's immune system. Specific miRNAs from helminth parasites can merge with the host's miRNA system, implying that parasites could exploit their host's regulatory machinery and function. This review highlights the role of cross-kingdom helminth-derived miRNAs in the interplay between host and parasite, exploring potential routes for their uptake, processing, and consequences in host interaction.
