Whole-genome sequencing of Theileria parva strains provides insight into parasite migration and diversification in the African continent

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Hayashida, Kyoko
Abe, Takashi
Wier, William
Nakao, Ryo
Ito, Kimihito
Kajino, Kiichi
Suzuki, Yutaka
Jongejan, Frans
Geysen, Dirk
Sugimoto, Chihiro

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Abstract

The disease caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Theileria parva, known as East Coast fever or Corridor disease, is one of the most serious cattle diseases in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa. We performed whole-genome sequencing of nine T. parva strains, including one of the vaccine strains (Kiambu 5), field isolates from Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, or Rwanda, and two buffalo-derived strains. Comparison with the reference Muguga genome sequence revealed 34 814–121 545 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were more abundant in buffalo-derived strains. High-resolution phylogenetic trees were constructed with selected informative SNPs that allowed the investigation of possible complex recombination events among ancestors of the extant strains. We further analysed the dN/dS ratio (nonsynonymous substitutions per non-synonymous site divided by synonymous substitutions per synonymous site) for 4011 coding genes to estimate potential selective pressure. Genes under possible positive selection were identified that may, in turn, assist in the identification of immunogenic proteins or vaccine candidates. This study elucidated the phylogeny of T. parva strains based on genome-wide SNPs analysis with prediction of possible past recombination events, providing insight into the migration, diversification, and evolution of this parasite species in the African continent.

Description

Keywords

Genome sequence, Recombination, DN/dS, Single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Hayashida, K, Abe, T, Weir, W, Nakao, R, Ito, K, Kajino, K, Suzuki, Y, Jongejan, F, Geysen, D & Sugimoto, C 2013, 'Whole-genome sequencing of Theileria parva strains provides insight into parasite migration and diversification in the African continent', DNA Research, vol.20, no. 3, pp. 209-220