title: Schistosomal MicroRNAs Isolated From Extracellular Vesicles in Sera of Infected Patients: A New Tool for Diagnosis and Follow-up of Human Schistosomiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Schistosomiasis traditionally has been diagnosed by detecting eggs in stool or urine. However, the sensitivity of these examinations is limited, especially in travelers with a low worm burden. Serologic tests have a greater sensitivity, but their results remain positive regardless of treatment and thus cannot be used for follow-up of patients. We hypothesized that detection of worm microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum can overcome the drawbacks of the existing diagnostic methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six returning travelers with schistosomiasis (based on positive results of serologic tests or detection of ova) and 17 healthy controls were included in the study. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) amplification of miRNA extracted directly from 500 µL of serum had limited sensitivity and specificity. However, qRT-PCR analysis of RNA extracted from 200 μL of serum extracellular vesicles detected 4 schistosomal miRNAs; the sensitivity and specificity of the 2 highest expressed miRNAs (bantam and miR-2c-3p) were 86% and 84%, respectively. In 7 patients with posttreatment serum available for analysis, we observed outcomes ranging from a reduction in the schistosomal miRNA level to full recovery from disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  qRT-PCR of pathogen miRNAs isolated from extracellular vesicles in sera from infected individuals may provide a new tool for diagnosing schistosomiasis in patients with a low parasite burden. This assay could also be used for evaluating the outcome of therapy, as well as disease-control programs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research.|Department of Medicine C.|Molecular Laboratory for the Study of Tropical Diseases, and.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meningher
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research.|Department of Medicine C.|Molecular Laboratory for the Study of Tropical Diseases, and.
authors.forename: Galya
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot; and.
authors.forename: Neta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Regev-Rudzki
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem.|Faculty of Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv; and.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Transcriptomics, Nephrology, and Hypertension Services, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Iddo Z
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Ben-Dov
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research.|Department of Medicine C.|Faculty of Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv; and.
authors.forename: Yechezkel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sidi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research.|Department of Medicine C.|Molecular Laboratory for the Study of Tropical Diseases, and.
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Avni
authors.affiliation: Molecular Laboratory for the Study of Tropical Diseases, and.|Center for Geographic Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.|Faculty of Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv; and.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000067128:Extracellular Vesicles / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D018510:RNA, Helminth
keywords: Schistosoma; exosomes; miRNA; micro-vesicle; qPCR; schistosomiasis