Extracellular vesicles produced by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis contain a preferential cargo of tRNA-derived small RNAs.

Extracellular vesicles produced by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis contain a preferential cargo of tRNA-derived small RNAs. Int J Parasitol. 2020 Aug 18;: Authors: Artuyants A, Campos TL, Kumar Rai A, Johnson PJ, Dauros-Singorenko P, Phillips A, Simoes-Barbosa A Abstract Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite that causes trichomoniasis, the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Trichomonas vaginalis releases extracellular vesicles (EVs) that play a role in parasite:parasite and parasite:host interactions. The aim of this study was to characterize the RNA cargo of these vesicles. Trichomonas vaginalis EVs were found to encapsulate a cargo of RNAs of small size. RNA-seq analysis showed that tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), mostly 5' tRNA halves, are the main type of small RNA in these vesicles. The tsRNAs in T. vaginalis EVs were shown to be derived from the specific processing of tRNAs within cells. The specificity of this RNA cargo in T. vaginalis EVs suggests a preference for packaging. The RNA cargo of T. vaginalis was shown to be rapidly internalized by human cells via lipid raft-dependent endocytosis. The potential role of these tsRNAs - an emerging class of small RNAs with regulatory functions - on altering host cellular responses requires further examination, suggesting a new mode of parasite:host communication. PMID: 32822680 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - Category: Parasitology Authors: Tags: Int J Parasitol Source Type: research