Identification of 18 new transcribed retrotransposons in Schistosoma mansoni

This work describes 18 new transcribed retrotransposons of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Among them, 9 were LTR, 8 non-LTR, and 1 Penelope-like element (PLE) retrotransposon. Sequences were generated by in silico reconstruction using S. mansoni ESTs and transcripts obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends, complemented in some cases by sequencing of genomic clones amplified by PCR. A novel element from the ancient R2/R4/CRE transposon group is described for the first time in S. mansoni. In addition, one non-LTR retrotransposon family displays long (40-450 bp) 3′-UTR with at least six different transcribed sequences among the copies, five LTR retrotransposons have abundantly transcribed incomplete copies lacking the sequence segment coding for the reverse transcriptase domain, and four non-LTR retrotransposons code for DNA-binding PHD domains that may give them a differential targeting. These results allow for a comprehensive description of the transcribed retrotransposon diversity of this complex human parasite.