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Plasma-derived parasitic microRNAs have insufficient concentrations to be used as diagnostic biomarker for detection of Onchocerca volvulus infection or treatment monitoring using LNA-based RT-qPCR.
- Source :
-
Parasitology research [Parasitol Res] 2017 Mar; Vol. 116 (3), pp. 1013-1022. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jan 22. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- River blindness, caused by infection with the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus, is a neglected tropical disease affecting millions of people. There is a clear need for diagnostic tools capable of identifying infected patients, but that can also be used for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy. Plasma-derived parasitic microRNAs have been suggested as potential candidates for such diagnostic tools. We have investigated whether these parasitic microRNAs are present in sufficient quantity in plasma of Onchocerca-infected patients to be used as a diagnostic biomarker for detection of O. volvulus infection or treatment monitoring. Plasma samples were collected from different sources (23 nodule-positive individuals and 20 microfilaridermic individuals), microRNAs (miRNAs) were extracted using Qiagen miRNeasy kit, and a set of 17 parasitic miRNAs was evaluated on these miRNA extracts using miRCURY Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Universal RT microRNA PCR system. Of the 17 miRNAs evaluated, only 7 miRNAs were found to show detectable signal in a number of samples: bma-miR-236-1, bma-miR-71, ov-miR71-22nt, ov-miR-71-23nt, ov-miR-100d, ov-bantam-a, and ov-miR-87-3p. Subsequent melting curve analysis, however, indicated that the signals observed for ov-miR-71 variants and ov-miR-87-3p are non-specific. The other miRNAs only showed positive signal in one or few samples with Cq values just below the cutoff. Our data indicate that parasitic miRNAs are not present in circulation at a sufficiently high level to be used as biomarker for O. volvulus infection or treatment monitoring using LNA-based RT-qPCR analysis.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Anthelmintics therapeutic use
Biomarkers blood
DNA, Helminth blood
DNA, Helminth metabolism
Female
Humans
Male
MicroRNAs blood
MicroRNAs metabolism
Middle Aged
Oligonucleotides metabolism
Onchocerca volvulus genetics
Onchocerca volvulus metabolism
Onchocerciasis, Ocular blood
Onchocerciasis, Ocular diagnosis
Onchocerciasis, Ocular drug therapy
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
DNA, Helminth genetics
MicroRNAs genetics
Oligonucleotides genetics
Onchocerca volvulus isolation & purification
Onchocerciasis, Ocular parasitology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1432-1955
- Volume :
- 116
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Parasitology research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28111713
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5382-5