Whole genome analysis of helminthic parasites

KAMENETZKY, L.

Congreso; XXXI Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Protozoología; 2019

Sociedad Argentina de Protozoología

Wholegenome sequences provide extraordinary information about anyorganism. Despitethe global impact, both medically and economically of helminthicinfections theseparasite genomes are underrepresented in genomic databases. Thefirst genome sequence from a parasitic helminth was published in 2007since then only~200 genomes are available most of them being draft assemblies. Ourwork centers in complete genome sequencing of neglected parasitichelminthes. Recently, we sequenced the complete genome ofEchinococcuscanadensis (G7)and Echinococcusoligarthrus.Comparative genomics allowed us to confirmthe status of E.canadensis(G7)as a separate species and demonstrated a high nucleotide sequencesdivergence in relation to E.granulosus(G1). This result was unexpected since both parasite species areconsidered to belong to the same species complex: Echinococcusgranulosus sensu lato.Phylogenetic analysis using whole genome SNPs demonstrated thatE. oligarthrusis one of the basal species of the genus Echinococcusand is phylogenetically closer to E.multilocularis.This work sheds light on the Echinococcusphylogeny and settles the basis to study sylvatic Echinococcusspecies and their developmental evolutionary features.Also, in an international consortium we are sequencingthe giantkidney worm Dioctophymerenale.This parasiteis one of the largest parasitic nematodes of vertebrates described sofar which affects humans, domestic animals and endangered wildlife.With this foundational project we aimed to obtain completeinformation about Clade I nematodes which are the least studiedmembers of this phylum.p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; direction: ltr; line-height: 115%; text-align: left; }