Identification of circulating microRNA signatures as potential biomarkers in the serum of elk infected with chronic wasting disease

Purpose: Idenfication of microRNA biomarkers of Chronic wasting disease in serum from infected elk Methods: Illumina next generation was used to profile abundance of serum miRNA in elk naturally infected with chronic wasting disease and Hamsters experimentally infected with the 263K scrapie prion strains Results: A signature of 21 miRNAs with diagnostic potential was found to be altered in abundance in serum from CWD infected elk. Of these, 6 were similarily altered in the serum from the 263K infected hamsters Conclusion: These altered miRNA signatures may serve as the basis for non-invasive diagnostic assays for chronic wasting disease and may shed light on the pathogenesis of prion infection Overall design: Serum miRNA was profiled in prion infected elk and hamsters using illumina next generation sequencing

研究目的：鉴定感染慢性消耗病（Chronic wasting disease, CWD）的麋鹿血清中的微小RNA（microRNA, miRNA）生物标志物。
实验方法：采用Illumina下一代测序技术，对自然感染慢性消耗病的麋鹿，以及经263K痒病朊病毒毒株感染的实验仓鼠的血清微小RNA表达丰度进行谱分析。
实验结果：在感染慢性消耗病的麋鹿血清中，发现21个具备诊断潜力的微小RNA表达特征标签，其血清丰度发生显著改变；其中6个微小RNA在263K毒株感染的仓鼠血清中也呈现出一致的表达变化。
研究结论：上述发生表达异常的微小RNA特征标签，可作为慢性消耗病非侵入性诊断检测手段的开发基础，同时可为阐明朊病毒感染的发病机制提供新的研究视角。
实验整体设计：采用Illumina下一代测序技术，对朊病毒感染的麋鹿与仓鼠的血清微小RNA开展表达谱分析。