RNA-Seq dataset of Schistosoma japonicum RNA Interference:Pathogenic and immunological impacts in mice and worms

Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma parasites, affects over 250 million people in 78 countries. Despite praziquantel is the primary treatment, concerns about resistance in Schistosomes underscore the need for alternative therapies. The success of RNA interference (RNAi) in schistosomes shows promise for identifying potential drug targets to facilitate drug discovery. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is commonly used in functional gene analysis via RNAi, with ds-GFP (green fluorescent protein) widely employed as a control in schistosome-related studies. However, the potential for off-target effects of dsRNAs in various biological systems raises concerns about the reliability of conventional controls in schistosome RNAi experiments. Therefore, to evaluate the safety and suitability of ds-GFP as an RNAi negative control in Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum), we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on the liver and spleen tissues of mice, as well as on worms, all treated with double-stranded RNA interference (dsRNAi).