Chromosome-level genome of Schistosoma haematobium underpins genome-wide explorations of molecular variation

Stroehlein, Andreas J., Korhonen, Pasi K., Lee, V. Vern, Ralph, Stuart A., Mentink-Kane, Margaret, You, Hong, McManus, Donald P., Tchuenté, Louis-Albert Tchuem, Stothard, Russell ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9370-3420, Kaur, Parwinder, Dudchenko, Olga, Aiden, Erez Lieberman, Yang, Bicheng, Yang, Huanming, Emery, Aidan M., Webster, Bonnie L., Brindley, Paul J., Rollinson, David, Chang, Bill C. H., Gasser, Robin B. and Young, Neil D. (2022) 'Chromosome-level genome of Schistosoma haematobium underpins genome-wide explorations of molecular variation'. PLOS Pathogens, Vol 18, Issue 2, e1010288.

Preview

Text ppat.1010288.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication. Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Urogenital schistosomiasis is caused by the blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium and is one of the most neglected tropical diseases worldwide, afflicting > 100 million people. It is characterised by granulomata, fibrosis and calcification in urogenital tissues, and can lead to increased susceptibility to HIV/AIDS and squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. To complement available treatment programs and break the transmission of disease, sound knowledge and understanding of the biology and ecology of S. haematobium is required. Hybridisation/introgression events and molecular variation among members of the S. haematobium-group might effect important biological and/or disease traits as well as the morbidity of disease and the effectiveness of control programs including mass drug administration. Here we report the first chromosome-contiguous genome for a well-defined laboratory line of this blood fluke. An exploration of this genome using transcriptomic data for all key developmental stages allowed us to refine gene models (including non-coding elements) and annotations, discover ‘new’ genes and transcription profiles for these stages, likely linked to development and/or pathogenesis. Molecular variation within S. haematobium among some geographical locations in Africa revealed unique genomic ‘signatures’ that matched species other than S. haematobium, indicating the occurrence of introgression events. The present reference genome (designated Shae.V3) and the findings from this study solidly underpin future functional genomic and molecular investigations of S. haematobium and accelerate systematic, large-scale population genomics investigations, with a focus on improved and sustained control of urogenital schistosomiasis.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QU Biochemistry > Genetics > QU 460 Genomics. Proteomics QU Biochemistry > Genetics > QU 550 Genetic techniques. PCR. Chromosome mapping QX Parasitology > Helminths. Annelida > QX 355 Schistosoma
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Department of Tropical Disease Biology
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010288
SWORD Depositor:	JISC Pubrouter
Depositing User:	JISC Pubrouter
Date Deposited:	22 Feb 2022 14:30
Last Modified:	22 Feb 2022 14:30
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/19977

Statistics

View details

Actions (login required)

Edit Item