Project description:We sequenced total RNA from Dirofilaria immitis in order to generate the first tissue-specific gene expression profile of a filarial nematode and its Wolbachia endosymbiont.
Project description:We sequenced total RNA from Dirofilaria immitis in order to generate the first tissue-specific gene expression profile of a filarial nematode and its Wolbachia endosymbiont. Examination of transcript levels in 7 different Dirofilaria immitis tissues, in duplicate, using Illumina GAIIx.
Project description:As an endosymbiont, Wolbachia exerts significant effects on the host, including on reproduction, immunity, and metabolism. However, the study of Wolbachia in Thysanopteran insects, such as flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa, remains limited. Here, we assembled a gap-free looped genome assembly of Wolbachia strain wFI in a length of 1,463,884 bp (GC content 33.80%), using Nanopore long reads and Illumina short reads. The annotation of wFI identified a total of 1838 protein-coding genes (including 85 pseudogenes), 3 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 35 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), and 1 transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA). Beyond this basic description, we identified mobile genetic elements, such as prophage and insertion sequences (ISs), which make up 17% of the entire wFI genome, as well as genes involved in riboflavin and biotin synthesis and metabolism. This research lays the foundation for understanding the nutritional mutualism between Wolbachia and flower thrips. It also serves as a valuable resource for future studies delving into the intricate interactions between Wolbachia and its host.
Project description:Brugia malayi is a parasitic nematode that causes lymphatic filariasis in humans. A total of 178 novel microRNA were identified from short read transcriptional data, which when combined with known Brugia microRNAs yielded a total of 284 microRNA. Of these, 123 microRNA sequences (43%) are differentially expressed over the mammalian life stages of B. malayi that we examined. Putative targets of these microRNA were identified from inversely expressed target clusters that contain valid seed sequences for the corresponding microRNAs. The largest identified cluster is downregulated in adult females and enriched in zinc finger domains, helicase domains, and DNA binding domains suggesting this microRNA cluster may have regulatory control over a large proportion of adult female specific mRNA genes. MicroRNA-like molecules are identified as produced by the Wolbachia endosymbiont, providing evidence for direct nucleic acid-based interdomain communication between filarial nematodes and their bacterial obligate endosymbiont.