Noncoding RNAs in Apicomplexan Parasites: An Update

Overview

Journal Trends Parasitol

Specialty Parasitology

Date 2020 Aug 24

PMID 32828659

Citations 20

Authors

Yiran Li

Rodrigo P Baptista

Jessica C Kissinger

Affiliations

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Abstract

Recent breakthroughs in high-throughput technologies, transcriptomics, and advances in our understanding of gene regulatory networks have enhanced our perspective on the complex interplay between parasite and host. Noncoding RNA molecules have been implicated in critical roles covering a broad range of biological processes in the Apicomplexa. Processes that are affected range from parasite development to host-parasite interactions and include interactions with epigenetic machinery and other regulatory factors. Here we review recent progress involving noncoding RNAs and their functions in the Apicomplexa, with a focus on three parasites: Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Cryptosporidium. We discuss the limitations and challenges of current methods applied to apicomplexan noncoding RNA study and discuss future directions in this exciting field.

Citing Articles

Deciphering Transcription in : Polycistronic Gene Expression and Chromatin Accessibility.

Xiao R, Baptista R, Agyabeng-Dadzie F, Li Y, Dong Y, Schmitz R bioRxiv. 2025; .

PMID: 39868316 PMC: 11761812. DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.17.633476.

Population genomics and transcriptomics of Plasmodium falciparum in Cambodia and Vietnam uncover key components of the artemisinin resistance genetic background.

Nayak S, Peto T, Kucharski M, Tripura R, Callery J, Quang Huy D Nat Commun. 2024; 15(1):10625.

PMID: 39639029 PMC: 11621345. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54915-6.

A bioinformatic approach for the prediction and functional classification of Toxoplasma gondii long non-coding RNAs.

Vanagas L, Cristaldi C, La Bella G, Ganuza A, Angel S, Alonso A Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):27687.

PMID: 39533086 PMC: 11557611. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79204-6.

The role of long noncoding RNAs in malaria parasites.

Thompson T, Chahine Z, Le Roch K Trends Parasitol. 2023; 39(7):517-531.

PMID: 37121862 PMC: 11695068. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.016.

piRNA pathway evolution beyond gonad context: Perspectives from apicomplexa and trypanosomatids.

Horjales S, Li Calzi M, Francia M, Cayota A, Garcia-Silva M Front Genet. 2023; 14:1129194.

PMID: 36816026 PMC: 9935688. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1129194.

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