Transcriptome-microRNA analysis of Sarcoptes scabiei and host immune response

PLoS One. 2017 May 23;12(5):e0177733. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177733. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Scabies is a parasitic disease, caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, and is considered one of the top 50 epidemic diseases and one the most common human skin disease, worldwide. Allergic dermatitis, including an intense itch, is a common symptom, however diagnosis is difficult and there is currently no effective vaccine. The goal of this study was to examine the immune interaction mechanism of both S. scabiei and infected hosts. mRNA-seq and microRNA-seq were conducted on the S. scabiei mite and on infected and uninfected hosts. We focused on differential expression of unigenes and microRNAs, as well as the real targets of unigenes in enriched immune signaling pathways. S. scabiei enhanced host immune function and decreased metabolism after infection, while the immune response of the host inhibited S. scabiei proliferation and metabolism signaling pathways. Differentially expressed unigenes of S. scabiei were enriched in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The differential expression analysis indicated that microRNAs of S. scabiei and hosts have major roles in regulating immune interactions between parasites and hosts.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / physiology
  • Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Janus Kinases / metabolism
  • Male
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rabbits
  • Random Allocation
  • STAT Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Sarcoptes scabiei / metabolism*
  • Scabies / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Janus Kinases
  • Hydrolases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Research Fund for the Chengdu Research of Giant Panda Breeding (Project No. CPF2014-17). The funder had no role in study design, sample collection, data analysis, preparation or publication of the manuscript.