Abstract
MicroRNAs are molecules belonging to an evolutionarily conserved family of small non-coding RNAs, which act on post-transcriptional gene regulation, causing messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation or inhibiting mRNA translation into proteins. These molecules represent potential biomarkers for diagnosis, non-invasive prognosis, and monitoring the development of the disease. Moreover, they may provide additional information on the pathophysiology of parasitic infections and guide strategies for treatment. The Apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii modifies the levels of microRNAs and mRNAs in infected host cells by modulating the innate and adaptive immune responses, facilitating its survival within the host. Some studies have shown that microRNAs are promising molecular markers for developing diagnostic tools for human toxoplasmosis. MicroRNAs can be detected in human specimens collected using non-invasive procedures. changes in the circulating host microRNAs have been associated with T. gondii infection in mice and ocular toxoplasmosis in humans. Besides, microRNAs can be amplified from samples using sensitive and molecular-specific approaches such as real-time PCR. This review presents recent findings of the role that microRNAs play during T. gondii infection and discuss their potential use of these small nuclei acid molecules to different approaches such as laboratory diagnosis, modulation of cell and tissue infected as other potential applications in human toxoplasmosis.
Highlights
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs acting on post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, causing messenger RNA degradation or blocking mRNA translation (Glinge et al, 2017; Malla et al, 2019)
Some of these parasitic diseases are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Toxoplasma gondii (Lüder and Gross, 2005; World Health Organization, 2015) which are commonly reported in outbreaks in Brazil (Judice et al, 2016)
Mature microRNAs are incorporated into RNA-induced silencer complex (RISC) to regulate gene expression by mRNA degradation or translational repression (Murakami et al, 2006) (Figure 1)
Summary
MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs acting on post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, causing messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation or blocking mRNA translation (Glinge et al, 2017; Malla et al, 2019). The expression of microRNAs has been reported in infection by Apicomplexan microorganisms, mostly obligatory intracellular parasites infecting animals and humans and causing parasitic diseases of significant public health impact (CavalierSmith, 1993). Some of these parasitic diseases are caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Cryptosporidium parvum, and Toxoplasma gondii (Lüder and Gross, 2005; World Health Organization, 2015) which are commonly reported in outbreaks in Brazil (Judice et al, 2016). MicroRNAs are 18-22 nucleotides long non-coding RNAs that act on post-transcriptional gene regulation causing degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA) or inhibiting its translation into proteins (Glinge et al, 2017; Malla et al, 2019). Mature microRNAs are incorporated into RISC to regulate gene expression by mRNA degradation or translational repression (Murakami et al, 2006) (Figure 1)
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