Equus roundworms (Parascaris univalens) are undergoing rapid divergence while genes involved in metabolic as well as anthelminic resistance are under positive selection.
Abstract: The evolution of parasites is often directly affected by the host's environment. Studies on the evolution of the same parasites in different hosts are of great interest and are highly relevant to our understanding of divergence. Methods: Here we performed whole-genome sequencing of Parascaris univalens from different Equus hosts (horses, zebras and donkeys). Phylogenetic and selection analyses were performed to study the divergence and adaptability of P. univalens. Results: At the genetic level, multiple lines of evidence indicate that P. univalens is mainly separated into two clades (horse-derived and zebra & donkey-derived). This divergence began 300-1000 years ago, and we found that most of the key enzymes related to glycolysis were under strong positive selection in zebra & donkey-derived roundworms, whereas the lipid-related metabolic system was under positive selection in horse-derived roundworms, indicating that the adaptive evolution of metabolism has occurred over the past few centuries. In addition, we found that some drug-related genes showed a significantly higher degree of selection in diverse populations. Conclusions: This work reports the adaptive evolution and divergence trend of P. univalens in different hosts for the first time. Its results indicate that the divergence of P. univalens is a continuous, dynamic process. Furthermore, the continuous monitoring of the effects of differences in nutritional and drug histories on the rapid evolution of roundworms is conducive to further understanding host-parasite interactions.
© 2022. The Author(s).
Publication Date: 2022-07-04 PubMed ID: 35787772PubMed Central: PMC9252044DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08702-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article focuses on the evolution and divergent nature of Equus roundworms. The key findings suggest that depending on the host, roundworms are adapting differently at a genetic level.
Research Methods
- To conduct this research, scientists sequenced the entire genome of the roundworm species Parascaris univalens, collected from different Equus hosts such as horses, zebras, and donkeys. This cumulative data was then used for detailed phylogenetic (studies evolutionary relationships) and selection analyses.
- The main aim was to ensure a comprehensive study on the divergence and adaptability of P. univalens in relation to its hosts.
Research Outcomes
- Based on multiple genetic data, it was determined that the roundworm species P. univalens has primarily divided into two distinct clades (or ancestral branches). One derived from horses, and the other from zebras and donkeys.
- This divergence seems to have begun approximately 300-1000 years ago.
- Seeing into the divergence at a deeper level, researchers found that the mechanisms of glycolysis (a metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose) were under strong positive selection (evolving to adapt better) in the roundworms deriving from zebras and donkeys.
- Conversely, the lipid-related metabolic system showed signs of positive selection in the horse-derived roundworms. This highlights the occurrence of adaptive evolution in the metabolism of these hosts in the past few centuries.
- This study also unveiled that genes related to drug-resistance have evolved significantly in these populations, demonstrating the ability of these organisms to adapt to anti-parasitic measures.
Implications of the Study
- This research provides first-of-its-kind insight into the adaptive evolution and divergence tendencies of P. univalens in various hosts.
- The results signify that the divergence of P. univalens is a continuous, actively changing process.
- There are broader implications for understanding host-parasite interactions, particularly in the context of the roundworms’ rapid adaptations made in response to differences in nutritional and drug histories.
- The findings underscore the necessity of continuous monitoring of roundworm evolution in different hosts, particularly in the context of developing effective anti-parasitic measures.
Cite This Article
APA
Han L, Lan T, Lu Y, Zhou M, Li H, Lu H, Wang Q, Li X, Du S, Guan C, Zhang Y, Sahu SK, Qian P, Zhang S, Zhou H, Guo W, Chai H, Wang S, Liu Q, Liu H, Hou Z.
(2022).
Equus roundworms (Parascaris univalens) are undergoing rapid divergence while genes involved in metabolic as well as anthelminic resistance are under positive selection.
BMC Genomics, 23(1), 489.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-022-08702-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
- BGI Life Science Joint Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. lantianming@genomics.cn.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. lantianming@genomics.cn.
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Harbin Northern Forest Zoo, Harbin, 150040, China.
- Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Hohhot, 010000, China.
- Harbin Northern Forest Zoo, Harbin, 150040, China.
- Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention of Ordos, Inner Mongolia Ordos, 017000, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150040, China.
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China.
- Key Laboratory of Wildlife Conservation, China State Forestry Administration, Harbin, 150040, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China. liuquan1973@hotmail.com.
- BGI Life Science Joint Research Center, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China. liuhuan@genomics.cn.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. liuhuan@genomics.cn.
- College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China. houzhijundb@163.com.
- Key Laboratory of Wildlife Conservation, China State Forestry Administration, Harbin, 150040, China. houzhijundb@163.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ascaridoidea / genetics
- Equidae / genetics
- Horses
- Parasites
- Phylogeny
Grant Funding
- No. 2017YFD0501702 / the National Key R&D Program
- No. 2017YFD0501702 / the National Key R&D Program
- No.2020004 / Open Project of Key Laboratory of SFGA on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park
- No.2020004 / Open Project of Key Laboratory of SFGA on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park
- No. 2572020AA30 / Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China
- No. 2572020AA30 / Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China
- 2572020AW30 / the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China
- No. KLSFGAGP2020.002 / the Foundation of Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (State Park Administration) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park
- No. KLSFGAGP2020.002 / the Foundation of Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration (State Park Administration) on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in the Giant Panda National Park
- No. 2017B030301011 / the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write
- No. 2017B030301011 / the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write
- No. 2017B030301011 / the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write
- 2019CX01N111 / the Pearl River Talent Recruitment Program in Guangdong Province
- No. 20180302 / Forestry science and technology research project
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict financial interests.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Zhou M, Lu Y, Han L, Lu M, Guan C, Yu J, Liu H, Chen D, Li H, Yang Y, Zhang L, Tian L, Liu Q, Hou Z. Exploration of Parascaris species in three different Equus populations in China.. Parasit Vectors 2023 Jun 15;16(1):202.
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