Extreme conservation of miRNA complements in Opisthorchiids

ABSTRACT MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in parasite-host communication and potential biomarkers for the detection of parasitic infections from host blood. Consequently, it is crucial to precisely know the miRNA complements of medically important agents such as the liver flukes of the Opisthorchiidae. Using publicly available and new datasets we curated and reannotated the surprisingly small and variable miRNA complements previously described for Opistorchis viverrini, O. felineus and Clonorchis sinesis. We find three highly similar miRNA complements with 53 identical and two miRNA genes with species specific sequences that signify a set of potential biomarkers and promising candidates for further investigations.