Genomics of parasitic helminths

KAMENETZKY L.

Congreso; Genomics of paras1st Latin American Congress of Women in Bioinformatics and Data Sciences; 2020

Whole genome sequences provide extraordinary information about any organism. Despite the global impact, both medically and economically of helminthic infections these parasite genomes are underrepresented in genomic databases. The first genome sequence from a parasitic helminth was published in 2007 since then, only ~200 genomes are available most of them being draft assemblies. Our work centers in complete genome secuencing of neglected parasitic helminthes. Recently, we sequenced the complete genome of Echinococcuscanadensis(G7) and compared it with E. multilocularis and E. granulosus (G1) genomes. Comparative genomics allowed us toconfirm the status of E. canadensis(G7) as a separate species and demonstrated a high nucleotide sequences divergence in relation to E. granulosus (G1). This result was unexpected since both parasite species are considered to belong to the same speciescomplex:E. granulosussensulato. At present there is no unequivocal taxonomic classification of Echinococcus species therefore additional Cestode genomes are need to be seuqnced. In this regard, we are sequencingEchinococcusoligarthrusgenome to resolve Echinococcus phylogeny and to underpin future work on echinococcosis neglected disease. Also, in an international consortium we are sequencing the giant kidney worm Dyoctophymarenale. This parasite is one of the largest parasitic nematodes of vertebrates described so far which affects humans, domestic animals and endangered wildlife.With this foundational project we aimed to obtain complete information about Clade I nematodes which are the least studied members of this phylum.