10.1371/journal.ppat.1007513
Harald Oey
Harald
Oey
Martha Zakrzewski
Martha
Zakrzewski
Kerstin Gravermann
Kerstin
Gravermann
Neil D. Young
Neil D.
Young
Pasi K. Korhonen
Pasi
K. Korhonen
Geoffrey N. Gobert
Geoffrey
N. Gobert
Sujeevi Nawaratna
Sujeevi
Nawaratna
Shihab Hasan
Shihab
Hasan
David M. MartÃnez
David M.
MartÃnez
Hong You
Hong
You
Martin Lavin
Martin
Lavin
Malcolm K. Jones
Malcolm
K. Jones
Mark A. Ragan
Mark A.
Ragan
Jens Stoye
Jens
Stoye
Ana Oleaga
Ana
Oleaga
Aidan M. Emery
Aidan
M. Emery
Bonnie L. Webster
Bonnie
L. Webster
David Rollinson
David
Rollinson
Robin B. Gasser
Robin
B. Gasser
Donald P. McManus
Donald
P. McManus
Lutz Krause
Lutz
Krause
Whole-genome sequence of the bovine blood fluke <i>Schistosoma bovis</i> supports interspecific hybridization with <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i>
Public Library of Science
2019
haematobium Mesenteric infection
interspecific hybridization
sequence
bovis genome assembly forms
form interspecific hybrids
DNA
species-specific phenotypic traits
blood fluke Schistosoma bovis
identity
374 Mb assembly
2019-01-23 18:53:48
Dataset
https://plos.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Whole-genome_sequence_of_the_bovine_blood_fluke_i_Schistosoma_bovis_i_supports_interspecific_hybridization_with_i_S_i_i_haematobium_i_/7621661
<div><p>Mesenteric infection by the parasitic blood fluke <i>Schistosoma bovis</i> is a common veterinary problem in Africa and the Middle East and occasionally in the Mediterranean Region. The species also has the ability to form interspecific hybrids with the human parasite <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> with natural hybridisation observed in West Africa, presenting possible zoonotic transmission. Additionally, this exchange of alleles between species may dramatically influence disease dynamics and parasite evolution. We have generated a 374 Mb assembly of the <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> genome using Illumina and PacBio-based technologies. Despite infecting different hosts and organs, the genome sequences of <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> appeared strikingly similar with 97% sequence identity. The two species share 98% of protein-coding genes, with an average sequence identity of 97.3% at the amino acid level. Genome comparison identified large continuous parts of the genome (up to several 100 kb) showing almost 100% sequence identity between <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i>. It is unlikely that this is a result of genome conservation and provides further evidence of natural interspecific hybridization between <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i>. Our results suggest that foreign DNA obtained by interspecific hybridization was maintained in the population through multiple meiosis cycles and that hybrids were sexually reproductive, producing viable offspring. The <i>S</i>. <i>bovis</i> genome assembly forms a highly valuable resource for studying schistosome evolution and exploring genetic regions that are associated with species-specific phenotypic traits.</p></div>