Journal article
Microsporidian genome analysis reveals evolutionary strategies for obligate intracellular growth
Genome research, v 22(12), pp 2478-2488
01 Dec 2012
PMID: 22813931
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Microsporidia comprise a large phylum of obligate intracellular eukaryotes that are fungal-related parasites responsible for widespread disease, and here we address questions about microsporidia biology and evolution. We sequenced three microsporidian genomes from two species, Nematocida parisii and Nematocida sp1, which are natural pathogens of Caenorhabditis nematodes and provide model systems for studying microsporidian pathogenesis. We performed deep sequencing of transcripts from a time course of N. parisii infection. Examination of pathogen gene expression revealed compact transcripts and a dramatic takeover of host cells by Nematocida. We also performed phylogenomic analyses of Nematocida and other microsporidian genomes to refine microsporidian phylogeny and identify evolutionary events of gene loss, acquisition, and modification. In particular, we found that all microsporidia lost the tumor-suppressor gene retinoblastoma, which we speculate could accelerate the parasite cell cycle and increase the mutation rate. We also found that microsporidia acquired transporters that could import nucleosides to fuel rapid growth. In addition, microsporidian hexokinases gained secretion signal sequences, and in a functional assay these were sufficient to export proteins out of the cell; thus hexokinase may be targeted into the host cell to reprogram it toward biosynthesis. Similar molecular changes appear during formation of cancer cells and may be evolutionary strategies adopted independently by microsporidia to proliferate rapidly within host cells. Finally, analysis of genome polymorphisms revealed evidence for a sexual cycle that may provide genetic diversity to alleviate problems caused by clonal growth. Together these events may explain the emergence and success of these diverse intracellular parasites.
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Details
- Title
- Microsporidian genome analysis reveals evolutionary strategies for obligate intracellular growth
- Creators
- Christina A. Cuomo - Broad InstituteChristopher A. Desjardins - Broad InstituteMalina A. Bakowski - University of California San DiegoJonathan Goldberg - Broad InstituteAmy T. Ma - Univ Calif San Diego, Div Biol Sci, Sect Cell & Dev Biol, La Jolla, CA 92093 USAJames J. Becnel - ARS, USDA, CMAVE, Gainesville, FL 32608 USAElizabeth S. Didier - Tulane UniversityLin Fan - Broad InstituteDavid I. Heiman - Broad InstituteJoshua Z. Levin - Broad InstituteSarah Young - Broad InstituteQiandong Zeng - Broad InstituteEmily R. Troemel - University of California San Diego
- Publication Details
- Genome research, v 22(12), pp 2478-2488
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Lab Press, Publications Dept
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- David & Lucile Packard Foundation fellowship; The David & Lucile Packard Foundation Center for AIDS Research Developmental Grant P51OD011104 / OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA Irvington Institute Fellowship Program of the Cancer Research Institute postdoctoral fellowship R01 AI087528 / NIAID; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Ray Thomas Edwards Foundation Searle Scholars Program R01AI087528 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) HHSN272200900018C / Federal funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000311895500016
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84869426527
- Other Identifier
- 991020830153804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
- Genetics & Heredity