Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Clade‐Specific Genetic Variation in Blacklegged Ticks

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Ticks and tick‐borne pathogens represent the greatest vector‐borne disease threat in United States. Blacklegged ticks are responsible for most human cases, yet burden is unevenly distributed across northern southern Understanding genetic characteristics influencing phenotypic differences tick vectors critical to elucidating disparities pathogen transmission dynamics. Applying evolutionary analyses molecular variation natural populations ecological gradients will help identify signatures of local adaptation, which improve control mitigation strategies. In this study, we performed whole genome nanopore sequencing individual ( n = 1) blacklegged their geographical range (Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas) evaluate divergence among populations. Our integrated identified variants associated with numerous biological processes functions that segregated Notably, displayed genes linked xenobiotic detoxification, transmembrane transport, sulfation may underpin key phenotypes dispersal, host associations, vectorial capacity. Nanopore further allowed recovery complete mitochondrial commensal endosymbiont genomes. study provides evidence epidemiologically relevant gene families clades. This report emphasizes need elucidate basis driving conspecific clades

Language: Английский

The Genome of the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 14, 2025

The American dog tick ( Dermacentor variabilis ) is a vector of zoonotic pathogens in North America that poses emerging threats to public health. Despite its medical importance, genomic resources for D. remain scarce. Leveraging long-read nanopore sequencing, we generated high-quality genome assembly with final size 2.15 Gb, an N50 445 kb, and BUSCO completeness score 95.2%. Comparative analyses revealed fewer duplicate genes our than other genomes, indicating improved haplotype resolution. mitochondrial genome, assembled as single circular contig, clustered monophyletically isolates from the Upper Midwest, corroborating regional phylogenetic relationships. Repetitive element analysis identified 61% repetitive, dominated by LINEs LTR elements, 24% remaining unclassified, underscoring need further exploration transposable elements genomes. Gene annotation predicted 21,722 putative genes, achieving protein 80.88%. Additionally, genome-wide methylation 9.9% global 5mC methylation, providing first insights into epigenetic modifications . Further, sequencing detected Rickettsia montanensis non-pathogenic Francisella -like endosymbiont. These findings expand understanding genomics epigenetics, offering valuable comparative studies evolutionary analyses.

Language: Английский

Multi-Omics Technologies Applied to Improve Tick Research

Microorganisms, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(4), P. 795 - 795

Published: March 31, 2025

The advancement of multi-omics technologies is crucial to deepen knowledge on tick biology. These approaches, used study diverse phenomena, are applied experiments that aim understand changes in gene transcription, protein function, cellular processes, and prediction systems at global biological levels. This review addressed the application omics data investigate elucidate physiological such as feeding, digestion, reproduction, neuronal, endocrine systems, understanding population dynamics, transmitted pathogens, control, identifying new vaccine targets. Furthermore, therapeutic perspectives using bioactive molecules, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor, were summarized. Taken together, can help functions behavior ticks, well identification potential antigens influencing development alternative control strategies and, consequently, tick-borne disease prevention veterinary public health contexts. Finally, dynamics have been determined through a combination environmental factors, host availability, genetic adaptations, recent advances improved our their ecological resilience resistance mechanisms. Future directions point integration spatial artificial intelligence further unravel biology improve strategies.

Language: Английский