The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was the first animal for which RNAi (RNA interference) in response to exogenous triggers was shown experimentally and subsequently the molecular components of the RNAi pathway have been characterized in some detail. However, the function of RNAi in the life cycle of nematodes in the wild is still unclear. In the present article, we argue that RNAi could be used in nematodes as a mechanism to sense and respond to foreign RNA that the animal might be exposed to either through viral infection or through ingestion of food sources. This could be of potential importance to the life cycle of parasitic nematodes as they ingest RNA from different hosts at different points during their life cycle. We postulate that RNA ingested from the host could be used by the parasite to regulate its own genes, through the amplification mechanism intrinsic to the nematode RNAi pathway.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
August 2013
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
July 18 2013
RNAi pathways in the recognition of foreign RNA: antiviral responses and host–parasite interactions in nematodes
Peter Sarkies;
Peter Sarkies
1
1The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 0QN, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Eric A. Miska
Eric A. Miska
1
1The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 0QN, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Biochem Soc Trans (2013) 41 (4): 876–880.
Article history
Received:
March 04 2013
Citation
Peter Sarkies, Eric A. Miska; RNAi pathways in the recognition of foreign RNA: antiviral responses and host–parasite interactions in nematodes. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2013; 41 (4): 876–880. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20130021
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.