title: Whole transcriptome profiling of adult and infective stages of the trematode Opisthorchis felineus.
abstract: Opisthorchis felineus, the trematode belonging to the family Opisthorchiidae, is a causative agent of the infection called opisthorchiasis or liver fluke infection. Being a close relative of Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis (oriental liver flukes) it is encountered in northern Eurasia, especially in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, and Baltic countries. Whole genome data for oriental liver flukes revealed their adaptations for life in the bile duct but our knowledge of O. felineus is scarce. To address this knowledge gap and uncover evolutionary aspect of the adaptations on the transcriptomic level, we used RNA-sequencing approach to investigate two stages of the parasite residing in different hosts. Bioinformatic analysis revealed specific features affecting various biochemical pathways and gene networks. Namely, we observed the loss of genes involved in polyamine synthesis, methionine salvage and peroxisome biogenesis. Some of the gene families, like MD-2 lipid binding proteins, calmodulins and cathepsins on the contrary have expanded compared to free living eukaryotes. We identified significant differences between the stages in homeodomain-containing genes, G-protein coupled receptors, and neuroactive signaling systems. Granulin-like growth factors specific for O. felineus were also identified. In this work, we provide the first whole transcriptome investigation of this parasite. We also hope that these results will create a background for further molecular research of helminth infections and opisthorchiasis in particular.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia. Electronic address: pomaznoy@bionet.nsc.ru.
authors.forename: Mikhail Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Pomaznoy
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Maria D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Logacheva
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Aleksey A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Penin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
authors.forename: Nikita I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Ershov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia.
authors.forename: Alexey V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Katokhin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. Lavrentieva 10, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
authors.forename: Viatcheslav A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Mordvinov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003004:Clonorchis sinensis / Q000235:genetics; D019295:Computational Biology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D063990:Gene Ontology; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D006801:Humans; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D058488:Metacercariae / Q000235:genetics; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D009889:Opisthorchiasis / Q000469:parasitology; D009891:Opisthorchis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D012426:Russia; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA
keywords: Metacercaria; Opisthorchis felineus; Transcriptome