RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.

While RNA interference (RNAi) has been deployed to facilitate gene function studies in diverse helminths, parasitic nematodes appear variably susceptible. To test if this is due to inter-species differences in RNAi effector complements, we performed a primary sequence similarity survey for orthologs...

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Main Authors: Johnathan J Dalzell, Paul McVeigh, Neil D Warnock, Makedonka Mitreva, David McK Bird, Pierre Abad, Colin C Fleming, Tim A Day, Angela Mousley, Nikki J Marks, Aaron G Maule
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-06-01
Series:PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001176
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author Johnathan J Dalzell
Paul McVeigh
Neil D Warnock
Makedonka Mitreva
David McK Bird
Pierre Abad
Colin C Fleming
Tim A Day
Angela Mousley
Nikki J Marks
Aaron G Maule
author_facet Johnathan J Dalzell
Paul McVeigh
Neil D Warnock
Makedonka Mitreva
David McK Bird
Pierre Abad
Colin C Fleming
Tim A Day
Angela Mousley
Nikki J Marks
Aaron G Maule
author_sort Johnathan J Dalzell
collection DOAJ
description While RNA interference (RNAi) has been deployed to facilitate gene function studies in diverse helminths, parasitic nematodes appear variably susceptible. To test if this is due to inter-species differences in RNAi effector complements, we performed a primary sequence similarity survey for orthologs of 77 Caenorhabditis elegans RNAi pathway proteins in 13 nematode species for which genomic or transcriptomic datasets were available, with all outputs subjected to domain-structure verification. Our dataset spanned transcriptomes of Ancylostoma caninum and Oesophagostomum dentatum, and genomes of Trichinella spiralis, Ascaris suum, Brugia malayi, Haemonchus contortus, Meloidogyne hapla, Meloidogyne incognita and Pristionchus pacificus, as well as the Caenorhabditis species C. brenneri, C. briggsae, C. japonica and C. remanei, and revealed that: (i) Most of the C. elegans proteins responsible for uptake and spread of exogenously applied double stranded (ds)RNA are absent from parasitic species, including RNAi-competent plant-nematodes; (ii) The Argonautes (AGOs) responsible for gene expression regulation in C. elegans are broadly conserved, unlike those recruited during the induction of RNAi by exogenous dsRNA; (iii) Secondary Argonautes (SAGOs) are poorly conserved, and the nuclear AGO NRDE-3 was not identified in any parasite; (iv) All five Caenorhabditis spp. possess an expanded RNAi effector repertoire relative to the parasitic nematodes, consistent with the propensity for gene loss in nematode parasites; (v) In spite of the quantitative differences in RNAi effector complements across nematode species, all displayed qualitatively similar coverage of functional protein groups. In summary, we could not identify RNAi effector deficiencies that associate with reduced susceptibility in parasitic nematodes. Indeed, similarities in the RNAi effector complements of RNAi refractory and competent nematode parasites support the broad applicability of this research genetic tool in nematodes.
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spelling doaj-art-76d7c68e9ada4a76a3ae2502ae38023c2025-08-20T02:33:12ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352011-06-0156e117610.1371/journal.pntd.0001176RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.Johnathan J DalzellPaul McVeighNeil D WarnockMakedonka MitrevaDavid McK BirdPierre AbadColin C FlemingTim A DayAngela MousleyNikki J MarksAaron G MauleWhile RNA interference (RNAi) has been deployed to facilitate gene function studies in diverse helminths, parasitic nematodes appear variably susceptible. To test if this is due to inter-species differences in RNAi effector complements, we performed a primary sequence similarity survey for orthologs of 77 Caenorhabditis elegans RNAi pathway proteins in 13 nematode species for which genomic or transcriptomic datasets were available, with all outputs subjected to domain-structure verification. Our dataset spanned transcriptomes of Ancylostoma caninum and Oesophagostomum dentatum, and genomes of Trichinella spiralis, Ascaris suum, Brugia malayi, Haemonchus contortus, Meloidogyne hapla, Meloidogyne incognita and Pristionchus pacificus, as well as the Caenorhabditis species C. brenneri, C. briggsae, C. japonica and C. remanei, and revealed that: (i) Most of the C. elegans proteins responsible for uptake and spread of exogenously applied double stranded (ds)RNA are absent from parasitic species, including RNAi-competent plant-nematodes; (ii) The Argonautes (AGOs) responsible for gene expression regulation in C. elegans are broadly conserved, unlike those recruited during the induction of RNAi by exogenous dsRNA; (iii) Secondary Argonautes (SAGOs) are poorly conserved, and the nuclear AGO NRDE-3 was not identified in any parasite; (iv) All five Caenorhabditis spp. possess an expanded RNAi effector repertoire relative to the parasitic nematodes, consistent with the propensity for gene loss in nematode parasites; (v) In spite of the quantitative differences in RNAi effector complements across nematode species, all displayed qualitatively similar coverage of functional protein groups. In summary, we could not identify RNAi effector deficiencies that associate with reduced susceptibility in parasitic nematodes. Indeed, similarities in the RNAi effector complements of RNAi refractory and competent nematode parasites support the broad applicability of this research genetic tool in nematodes.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001176
spellingShingle Johnathan J Dalzell
Paul McVeigh
Neil D Warnock
Makedonka Mitreva
David McK Bird
Pierre Abad
Colin C Fleming
Tim A Day
Angela Mousley
Nikki J Marks
Aaron G Maule
RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
title RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.
title_full RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.
title_fullStr RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.
title_full_unstemmed RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.
title_short RNAi effector diversity in nematodes.
title_sort rnai effector diversity in nematodes
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001176
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