New insights on Plasmodium gene expression from direct RNA sequencing.

Authors

Janne Grünebast, David Serre

Published in

Trends in parasitology. Sep 03, 2026. Epub Sep 03, 2026.

Abstract

Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) direct RNA sequencing enables the sequencing of native RNA molecules without cDNA conversion. The long-read approach captures full-length reads spanning entire genes and has transformed the study of gene expression in Plasmodium parasites by enabling analysis of untranslated regions, isoforms, and alternative splicing. In addition, ONT provides unique insights into non-coding RNAs, RNA modifications, and polyadenylated tail dynamics, which are expanding our understanding of post-transcriptional regulation in Plasmodium, including processes beyond translational repression in gametocytes and sporozoites. Here, we discuss the past and future applications of direct RNA sequencing in Plasmodium research and highlight its advantages, limitations, and future prospects.

PMID:
42692913
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 04 Sep 2026.

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