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RNAi silencing of calcium-regulated heat-stable protein of 24 kDa in Schistosoma japonicum affects parasite growth

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Abstract

The calcium-regulated heat-stable protein of 24 kDa (CRHSP-24) is a major calcineurin phosphoprotein that functions in multiple signal transduction pathways in cell metabolism. Schistosomes are multicellular parasites that infect 200 million people worldwide, even though treatment has been available for two decades. To determine the function of schistosome CRHSP-24 (SjCRHSP-24), we successfully knocked down SjCRHSP-24 in Schistosoma japonicum by RNA interference (RNAi). By establishing controls for measuring off-target RNAi effects, we found that different double-stranded (dsRNA) sequences had different levels of effectiveness. While all tested dsRNAs reduced CRHSP-24 transcript levels, the S2 dsRNA consistently reduced CRHSP-24 expression to >95% of the control. Knockdown of the SjCRHSP-24 gene significantly affected the morphology and vitality of S. japonicum.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mr Yaojun Shi, Mr Hao Li, and Mr Ke Lu of Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute of Chinese Academy Agricultural of Sciences for their contribution to the parasite maintain and cercariae isolation. This work was supported by Chinese National Basic Research Program (No.2007CB513108) for J. Lin, Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (No.30800819), Shanghai Pujing Program (No.09PJ14118), and basic scientific research operation cost of state-leveled public welfare scientific research courtyard (No.2006JB03, No.2010JB11) for Y. Jin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology, Ministry of Agriculture of China, No. 518, Ziyue Road, Shanghai, 200241, People’s Republic of China

    Xiang Zou, Ya-mei Jin, Ping-ping Liu, Qi-jin Wu, Jin-ming Liu & Jiao-jiao Lin

  2. College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Xiang Zou

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  1. Xiang Zou
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  2. Ya-mei Jin
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  3. Ping-ping Liu
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Correspondence to Ya-mei Jin or Jiao-jiao Lin.

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Zou, X., Jin, Ym., Liu, Pp. et al. RNAi silencing of calcium-regulated heat-stable protein of 24 kDa in Schistosoma japonicum affects parasite growth. Parasitol Res 108, 567–572 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2099-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2099-0

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