Identification of differential circRNA expression profiles in human macrophages induced by viru-lent and avirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection, remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. Circular RNAs are non-coding RNAs with diverse functions. However, most M.tb related circRNAs remain undiscovered. We used circRNA-seq technology to sequence the THP-1 cells infected with virulent and avirulent M.tb strains for 12 h. circRNA-seq for THP-1 cells infected with virulent M.tb ( 1458 strain, clinic strain isolated from diseased cattle with TB) and avirulent M.tb ( H37Ra) strains for 12 h.