title: Unlocking the transcriptomes of two carcinogenic parasites, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini.
abstract: The two parasitic trematodes, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini, have a major impact on the health of tens of millions of humans throughout Asia. The greatest impact is through the malignant cancer ( = cholangiocarcinoma) that these parasites induce in chronically infected people. Therefore, both C. sinensis and O. viverrini have been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Group 1 carcinogens. Despite their impact, little is known about these parasites and their interplay with the host at the molecular level. Recent advances in genomics and bioinformatics provide unique opportunities to gain improved insights into the biology of parasites as well as their relationships with their hosts at the molecular level. The present study elucidates the transcriptomes of C. sinensis and O. viverrini using a platform based on next-generation (high throughput) sequencing and advanced in silico analyses. From 500,000 sequences, >50,000 sequences were assembled for each species and categorized as biologically relevant based on homology searches, gene ontology and/or pathway mapping. The results of the present study could assist in defining molecules that are essential for the development, reproduction and survival of liver flukes and/or that are linked to the development of cholangiocarcinoma. This study also lays a foundation for future genomic and proteomic research of C. sinensis and O. viverrini and the cancers that they are known to induce, as well as novel intervention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia. nyoung@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Bronwyn E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Ross S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Aaron R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jex
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantacessi
authors.forename: Thewarach
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laha
authors.forename: Woon-Mok
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Banchob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sripa
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brindley
authors.forename: Robin B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gasser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003004:Clonorchis sinensis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins