Differentially expressed homologous genes reveal interspecies differences of Paragonimus proliferus based on transcriptome analysis

Abstract

SummaryParagonimus proliferus (P. proliferus), one of 46 Paragonimus species registered in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, may be much more widely distributed in Southeast Asia than previously thought, as its reported natural foci have increased in the past decades. However, very little is known about its molecular biology, especially at the transcriptome level. For the first time, the transcriptome of this species was sequenced and compared with four other common Paragonimus species, namely Paragonimus skrjabini, Paragonimus kellicotti, Paragonimus miyazakii, and Paragonimus westermani, to predict homologous genes and differentially expressed homologous genes to explore interspecies differences of Paragonimus proliferus.A total of 7393 genes were found to be significantly differentially expressed. Of these, 49 were considered to be core genes because they were differentially expressed in all four comparison groups. Annotations revealed that these genes were related mainly to “duplication, transcription, or translation”, energy or nutrient metabolism, and parasitic growth, proliferation, motility, invasion, adaptation to the host, or virulence. Interestingly, a majority (5601/7393) of the identified genes, and in particular the core genes (48/49), were expressed at lower levels in P. proliferus. The identified genes may play essential roles in the biological differences between Paragonimus species. This work provides fundamental background information for further research into the molecular biology of P. proliferus.

Lung flukes of the genusParagonimus: ancient and re-emerging pathogens

“…Since the publication of an earlier review on gene diversity and genetic variation in Paragonimus (Blair et al ., 2016 ), genomes and/or transcriptomes of several Paragonimus species have been published (Li et al ., 2016 ; Oey et al ., 2019 ; Li et al ., 2020 ; Rosa et al ., 2020 ). In some respects, the datasets generated by these studies revealed findings that were expected: genes of Paragonimus species have many homologues in other foodborne trematodes (Oey et al ., 2019 ).…”

A clinical review of human disease due to Paragonimus kellicotti in North America

“…The global epidemiology of paragonimiasis has been well described and will not be repeated here in full (Madariaga et al ., 2007; Procop, 2009; Chai, 2013; Diaz, 2013; Fischer and Weil, 2015; Blair, 2019). Over 50 species have been described though many are not known to cause human disease (Blair, 2019; Li et al ., 2020). Briefly, P. westermani complex is endemic to large parts of East and Southeast Asia, as are P. heterotremus and P. skrjabini which are also present in parts of India (Lane et al ., 2009; Chai, 2013).…”

“…Paragonimus kellicotti is a trematode and one of over 50 known species of Paragonimus (Blair, 2019; Li et al ., 2020). Paragonimus species typically infect hosts through ingestion of infected crustaceans, although the potential for infection also exists through ingestion of raw mammalian meat (Blair, 2019).…”