Available online 8 July 2022

We undertook genome-wide identification of circular RNAs in Schistosoma japonicum.

Most of the identified circular RNAs were derived from the exonic region (76.13%)

Generally, circular RNAs showed high abundance in male worms.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of novel, widespread, covalently closed RNAs that have played an essential role in animal gene regulation. To systematically explore circRNAs in the blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum, we performed RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, and found that hundreds of circRNAs showed gender-associated expression. Among these identified circRNAs, more than 77.54% and 74.73% were putatively derived from the exon region of the genome and some circRNAs showed gender-associated expressions. The functional prediction of circRNAs (circ_003826 and circ_004690) showed potential binding sites and possibly acted as the sponge to regulate microRNAs (miRNAs) sja-miR-1, sja-miR-133 and sja-miR-3504. Altogether, these findings demonstrated that S. japonicum also contains circRNAs, which may have potential regulatory roles during schistosome development.

Schistosoma japonicum

Schistosomiasis

Circular RNAs

microRNAs

Gene regulation

Genome-wide

© 2022 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.