Mitochondrial DNA Evidence Supports the Hypothesis that Triodontophorus Species Belong to Cyathostominae.
Abstract: Equine strongyles, the significant nematode pathogens of horses, are characterized by high quantities and species abundance, but classification of this group of parasitic nematodes is debated. Mitochondrial (mt) genome DNA data are often used to address classification controversies. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine the complete mt genomes of three Cyathostominae nematode species (, and ) of horses and reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Strongylidae with other nematodes in Strongyloidea to test the hypothesis that spp. belong to Cyathostominae using the mt genomes. The mt genomes of , and were 13,838, 13,826, and 13,817 bp in length, respectively. Complete mt nucleotide sequence comparison of all Strongylidae nematodes revealed that sequence identity ranged from 77.8 to 91.6%. The mt genome sequences of species had relatively high identity with Cyathostominae nematodes, rather than species of the same subfamily (Strongylinae). Comparative analyses of mt genome organization for Strongyloidea nematodes sequenced to date revealed that members of this superfamily possess identical gene arrangements. Phylogenetic analyses using mtDNA data indicated that the species clustered with Cyathostominae species instead of species. The present study first determined the complete mt genome sequences of , and , which will provide novel genetic markers for further studies of Strongylidae taxonomy, population genetics, and systematics. Importantly, sequence comparison and phylogenetic analyses based on mtDNA sequences supported the hypothesis that belongs to Cyathostominae.
Publication Date: 2017-08-03 PubMed ID: 28824575PubMed Central: PMC5540935DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01444Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article discusses a study that used mitochondrial DNA to establish that species of Triodontophorus, a type of horse parasite, are a part of the Cyathostominae subfamily, resolving a classification debate. The article also provides new genetic markers for further taxonomic and population genetics studies within the Strongylidae family.
Objective of the Study
- The main objective of this study was taxonomical in nature – to prove the hypothesis that Triodontophorus species are part of the Cyathostominae subfamily, rather than the Strongylinae subfamily where they were formerly classified.
- The study also aimed to determine the complete mitochondrial genomes of three Cyathostominae nematode species – crucial for providing new genetic markers.
Methods and Findings of the Study
- The study used sequence comparison of complete mitochondrial nucleotide sequences of all Strongylidae nematodes, including Triodontophorus, recording sequence identities ranging between 77.8 to 91.6%.
- Unexpectedly, the Triodontophorus mitochondrial genomes had high identity with the Cyathostominae species, contrary to their previous classification with the Strongylinae subfamily.
- In addition, a comparison of mitochondrial genome organization across all sequenced Strongyloidea nematodes showed that all of them had identical gene arrangements, further supporting the reclassification.
Results and Implications
- The study completed a first-time sequencing of the complete mitochondrial genomes for the three Cyathostominae species, which will now serve as novel genetic markers for future Strongylidae research projects.
- The mitochondrial DNA sequence comparison and subsequent phylogenetic analysis effectively supported the hypothesis that Triodontophorus belongs to the Cyathostominae subfamily – resolving a long-standing classification debate.
- This new knowledge on Triodontophorus’s taxonomical standing could improve our understanding of the host-parasite interactions and help in better parasite control.
Cite This Article
APA
Gao Y, Zhang Y, Yang X, Qiu JH, Duan H, Xu WW, Chang QC, Wang CR.
(2017).
Mitochondrial DNA Evidence Supports the Hypothesis that Triodontophorus Species Belong to Cyathostominae.
Front Microbiol, 8, 1444.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01444 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China.
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
- College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural UniversityDaqing, China.
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