Chromosome-scale nuclear genome and proteome of Anoplocephala perfoliata elucidate lineage-specific features of a ‘neglected’ equine tapeworm.
Abstract: is the most prevalent and pathogenic tapeworm (cestode) of horses worldwide, yet it remains molecularly understudied. Here, we present the mitochondrial and chromosome-scale nuclear genomes and matched somatic proteome for this parasite, establishing the first high-resolution molecular resource for the family Anoplocephalidae. This parasite was first characterised morphologically and then by its mitochondrial genome (size: 13,776 bp). Its complete nuclear genome (size: 372.3 Mb) was assembled and characterised; it encodes 9,711 protein-coding genes, 78.2% of which were functionally annotated and ~ 80% supported by transcriptomic evidence. Proteomic analysis confirmed 758 proteins in previously-analysed excretory/secretory (ES) products from adult worms, including highly expressed components of the ubiquitin–proteasome system, stress response families – e.g., translationally controlled tumour proteins (TCTPs) and universal stress proteins (USPs) – and cytoskeletal scaffolds. Approximately 6.5% of the genome contains retroelements, predominantly LINEs. Comparative genomic analyses revealed a relatively conserved synteny with members of the family Taeniidae (, and ) and a pronounced structural divergence from (Hymenolepididae), reflecting mosaic genome evolution within the order Cyclophyllidea. Classification of proteins inferred from the genome identified GTPases, kinases, peptidases and secretome-associated proteins among the most abundant groups. A subset of proteins exhibited signal peptides or extracellular localisation, suggesting their role as parasite-derived proteins (PDPs) involved in host–parasite communication and immune evasion. This integrated genomic and proteomic framework reveals lineage-specific molecular adaptations in and provides a foundation for future functional and translational investigations of this and closely related cestodes. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-026-12554-9.
Publication Date: 2026-01-21 PubMed ID: 41566420PubMed Central: PMC12908361DOI: 10.1186/s12864-026-12554-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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Cite This Article
APA
Young ND, Wang T, Ang CS, Lale D, Fuehrer HP, Sumanam SB, Korhonen PK, Chang BCH, Gasser RB.
(2026).
Chromosome-scale nuclear genome and proteome of Anoplocephala perfoliata elucidate lineage-specific features of a ‘neglected’ equine tapeworm.
BMC Genomics, 27(1), 201.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-026-12554-9 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia. nyoung@unimelb.edu.au.
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- University Equine Hospital, Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Institute of Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, 1210, Austria.
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia. robinbg@unimelb.edu.au.
Grant Funding
- FT230100559 / Australian Research Council
- LP180101085 / Australian Research Council
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
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