title: The transcriptome analysis of Strongyloides stercoralis L3i larvae reveals targets for intervention in a neglected disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Strongyloidiasis is one of the most neglected diseases distributed worldwide with endemic areas in developed countries, where chronic infections are life threatening. Despite its impact, very little is known about the molecular biology of the parasite involved and its interplay with its hosts. Next generation sequencing technologies now provide unique opportunities to rapidly address these questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we present the first transcriptome of the third larval stage of S. stercoralis using 454 sequencing coupled with semi-automated bioinformatic analyses. 253,266 raw sequence reads were assembled into 11,250 contiguous sequences, most of which were novel. 8037 putative proteins were characterized based on homology, gene ontology and/or biochemical pathways. Comparison of the transcriptome of S. strongyloides with those of other nematodes, including S. ratti, revealed similarities in transcription of molecules inferred to have key roles in parasite-host interactions. Enzymatic proteins, like kinases and proteases, were abundant. 1213 putative excretory/secretory proteins were compiled using a new pipeline which included non-classical secretory proteins. Potential drug targets were also identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the present dataset should provide a solid foundation for future fundamental genomic, proteomic and metabolomic explorations of S. stercoralis, as well as a basis for applied outcomes, such as the development of novel methods of intervention against this neglected parasite.
authors.affiliation: Área de Parasitología, Departamento de Biologia Celular y Parasitología, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. antonio.marcilla@uv.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcilla
authors.forename: Gagan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernal
authors.forename: Shoba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranganathan
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forment
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Antolí
authors.forename: M Victoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pedrola
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinez-Blanch
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sotillo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trelis
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: J Guillermo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Esteban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058069:Neglected Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017171:Strongyloides stercoralis / Q000235:genetics*; D013322:Strongyloidiasis / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan