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Genetic blueprint of the zoonotic pathogen Toxocara canis.

ABSTRACT: Toxocara canis is a zoonotic parasite of major socioeconomic importance worldwide. In humans, this nematode causes disease (toxocariasis) mainly in the under-privileged communities in developed and developing countries. Although relatively well studied from clinical and epidemiological perspectives, to date, there has been no global investigation of the molecular biology of this parasite. Here we use next-generation sequencing to produce a draft genome and transcriptome of T. canis to support future biological and biotechnological investigations. This genome is 317?Mb in size, has a repeat content of 13.5% and encodes at least 18,596 protein-coding genes. We study transcription in a larval, as well as adult female and male stages, characterize the parasite's gene-silencing machinery, explore molecules involved in development or host-parasite interactions and predict intervention targets. The draft genome of T. canis should provide a useful resource for future molecular studies of this and other, related parasites.

SUBMITTER: Zhu XQ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4327413 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Genetic blueprint of the zoonotic pathogen Toxocara canis.

Zhu Xing-Quan XQ Korhonen Pasi K PK Cai Huimin H Young Neil D ND Nejsum Peter P von Samson-Himmelstjerna Georg G Boag Peter R PR Tan Patrick P Li Qiye Q Min Jiumeng J Yang Yulan Y Wang Xiuhua X Fang Xiaodong X Hall Ross S RS Hofmann Andreas A Sternberg Paul W PW Jex Aaron R AR Gasser Robin B RB

Nature communications 20150204

Toxocara canis is a zoonotic parasite of major socioeconomic importance worldwide. In humans, this nematode causes disease (toxocariasis) mainly in the under-privileged communities in developed and developing countries. Although relatively well studied from clinical and epidemiological perspectives, to date, there has been no global investigation of the molecular biology of this parasite. Here we use next-generation sequencing to produce a draft genome and transcriptome of T. canis to support fu ...[more]

PMID: 25649139

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Project description:Streptococcus canis is an important opportunistic pathogen of dogs and cats that can also infect a wide range of additional mammals including cows where it can cause mastitis. It is also an emerging human pathogen.Here we provide characterization of the first genome sequence for this species, strain FSL S3-227 (milk isolate from a cow with an intra-mammary infection). A diverse array of putative virulence factors was encoded by the S. canis FSL S3-227 genome. Approximately 75% of these gene sequences were homologous to known Streptococcal virulence factors involved in invasion, evasion, and colonization. Present in the genome are multiple potentially mobile genetic elements (MGEs) [plasmid, phage, integrative conjugative element (ICE)] and comparison to other species provided convincing evidence for lateral gene transfer (LGT) between S. canis and two additional bovine mastitis causing pathogens (Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae), with this transfer possibly contributing to host adaptation. Population structure among isolates obtained from Europe and USA [bovine?=?56, canine?=?26, and feline?=?1] was explored. Ribotyping of all isolates and multi locus sequence typing (MLST) of a subset of the isolates (n?=?45) detected significant differentiation between bovine and canine isolates (Fisher exact test: P?=?0.0000 [ribotypes], P?=?0.0030 [sequence types]), suggesting possible host adaptation of some genotypes. Concurrently, the ancestral clonal complex (54% of isolates) occurred in many tissue types, all hosts, and all geographic locations suggesting the possibility of a wide and diverse niche.This study provides evidence highlighting the importance of LGT in the evolution of the bacteria S. canis, specifically, its possible role in host adaptation and acquisition of virulence factors. Furthermore, recent LGT detected between S. canis and human bacteria (Streptococcus urinalis) is cause for concern, as it highlights the possibility for continued acquisition of human virulence factors for this emerging zoonotic pathogen.

Dataset Information

Genetic blueprint of the zoonotic pathogen Toxocara canis.

Publications

Genetic blueprint of the zoonotic pathogen Toxocara canis.

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