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The genome of the heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis , reveals drug and vaccine targets
Author(s) -
Godel Christelle,
Kumar Sujai,
Koutsovoulos Georgios,
Ludin Philipp,
Nilsson Daniel,
Comandatore Francesco,
Wrobel Nicola,
Thompson Marian,
Schmid Christoph D.,
Goto Susumu,
Bringaud Frédéric,
Wolstenholme Adrian,
Bandi Claudio,
Epe Christian,
Kaminsky Ronald,
Blaxter Mark,
Mäser Pascal
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.12-205096
Subject(s) - dirofilaria immitis , biology , genome , wolbachia , brugia malayi , genetics , virology , gene , ion semiconductor sequencing , filariasis , dna sequencing , zoology , helminths
The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis is an important parasite of dogs. Transmitted by mosquitoes in warmer climatic zones, it is spreading across southern Europe and the Americas at an alarming pace. There is no vaccine, and chemotherapy is prone to complications. To learn more about this parasite, we have sequenced the genomes of D. immitis and its endosymbiont Wolbachia. We predict 10,179 protein coding genes in the 84.2 Mb of the nuclear genome, and 823 genes in the 0.9‐Mb Wolbachia genome. The D. immitis genome harbors neither DNA transposons nor active retrotransposons, and there is very little genetic variation between two sequenced isolates from Europe and the United States. The differential presence of anabolic pathways such as heme and nucleotide biosynthesis hints at the intricate metabolic interrelationship between the heartworm and Wolbachia. Comparing the proteome of D. immitis with other nematodes and with mammalian hosts, we identify families of potential drug targets, immune modulators, and vaccine candidates. This genome sequence will support the development of new tools against dirofilariasis and aid efforts to combat related human pathogens, the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis and river blindness.—Godel, C., Kumar, S., Koutsovoulos, G., Ludin, P., Nilsson, D., Comandatore, F., Wrobel, N., Thompson, M., Schmid, C. D., Goto, S., Bringaud, F., Wolstenholme, A., Bandi, C., Epe, C., Kaminsky, R., Blaxter, M., Mäser, P. The genome of the heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis , reveals drug and vaccine targets. FASEB J. 26, 4650–4661 (2012). www.fasebj.org