Insights into the microRNA landscape of Rhodnius prolixus, a vector of Chagas disease

• Autor(a) principal: Santiago, Paula Beatriz
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Outros Autores: Bentes, Kaio Luís da Silva, Silva, Waldeyr Mendes Cordeiro da, Praça, Yanna Reis, Charneau, Sébastien, Chaouch, Soraya, Grellier, Philippe, Ferraz, Marcos Antônio dos Santos Silva, Bastos, Izabela Marques Dourado, Santana, Jaime Martins de, Araújo, Carla Nunes de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UnB
• Texto Completo: http://repositorio2.unb.br/jspui/handle/10482/48494; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40353-9
• topic: Vetores; Chagas, Doença de; MicroRNA; Triatomíneos

The growing interest in microRNAs (miRNAs) over recent years has led to their characterization in numerous organisms. However, there is currently a lack of data available on miRNAs from triatomine bugs (Reduviidae: Triatominae), which are the vectors of the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. A comprehensive understanding of the molecular biology of vectors provides new insights into insect-host interactions and insect control approaches, which are key methods to prevent disease incidence in endemic areas. In this work, we describe the miRNome profiles from gut, hemolymph, and salivary gland tissues of the Rhodnius prolixus triatomine. Small RNA sequencing data revealed abundant expression of miRNAs, along with tRNA- and rRNA-derived fragments. Fifty-two mature miRNAs, previously reported in Ecdysozoa, were identified, including 39 ubiquitously expressed in the three tissues. Additionally, 112, 73, and 78 novel miRNAs were predicted in the gut, hemolymph, and salivary glands, respectively. In silico prediction showed that the top eight most highly expressed miRNAs from salivary glands potentially target human blood-expressed genes, suggesting that R. prolixus may modulate the host’s gene expression at the bite site. This study provides the first characterization of miRNAs in a Triatominae species, shedding light on the role of these crucial regulatory molecules.