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Polysome Profiling in Leishmania, Human Cells and Mouse Testis
Published on: April 8, 2018
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Comparative and systems analyses of Leishmania spp. non-coding RNAs through developmental stages
J Eduardo Martinez-Hernandez1, Victor Aliaga-Tobar2, Carolina González-Rosales3
1Núcleo de Investigación en Data Science, Facultad de Ingeniería y Negocios, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago, Chile.
Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases
|May 28, 2025
Summary
This study characterizes the RNAome of Leishmania parasites, identifying shared non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) across species. These ncRNAs offer insights into parasitic development and host interactions, crucial for understanding leishmaniasis.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Leishmania spp. cause leishmaniases, neglected tropical diseases.
- While protein-coding genes are studied, the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in Leishmania life cycle is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the genomic structure and function of ncRNAs in Leishmania spp.
- To characterize the Leishmania RNAome and understand ncRNA roles in parasite biology.
Main Methods:
- RNAome analysis of 26 Leishmania strains from 16 species.
- Comparative analysis of shared ncRNAs across species.
- Co-expression analysis of coding genes and ncRNAs in amastigote stage.
Main Results:
- Identified shared ncRNAs enabling differentiation between Leishmania subgenera and species.
- Discovered miRNA-like transcripts co-expressed with genes related to starvation, survival, and histone modification in Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania donovani.
Conclusions:
- This is the first comprehensive characterization of the Leishmania RNAome.
- ncRNAs play significant roles in gene regulation, infective processes, and host-parasite interactions, offering potential targets for leishmaniasis control.
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