The reed vole Microtus fortis is the only known mammal in which the schistosome is naturally prevented from maturing and schistosome infection does not cause significant pathogenesis.
Solexa deep sequencing technology was used to carry out high-throughput sequencing and comparative analysis of microRNA (miRNA) between small RNA library isolated from 10 days old schistosomula of M. fortis and BALB/c mice.
The results of this study provide valuable information to increase our understanding of the regulatory function of miRNAs in schistosome development and host-parasite interactions in a differentially susceptible host environment.