Comparative genomics of the pathogenic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, its free-living relatives and a host species provide insights into adoption of a parasitic lifestyle and prospects for disease control

• Published in: Genome biology Vol. 12; no. 10; p. R100
• Main Authors: Coyne, Robert S, Hannick, Linda, Shanmugam, Dhanasekaran, Hostetler, Jessica B, Brami, Daniel, Joardar, Vinita S, Johnson, Justin, Radune, Diana, Singh, Irtisha, Badger, Jonathan H, Kumar, Ujjwal, Saier, Milton, Wang, Yufeng, Cai, Hong, Gu, Jianying, Mather, Michael W, Vaidya, Akhil B, Wilkes, David E, Rajagopalan, Vidyalakshmi, Asai, David J, Pearson, Chad G, Findly, Robert C, Dickerson, Harry W, Wu, Martin, Martens, Cindy, Van de Peer, Yves, Roos, David S, Cassidy-Hanley, Donna M, Clark, Theodore G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Springer-Verlag 17.10.2011; BioMed Central Ltd; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Protozoan - genetics; Base Composition; biochemical pathways; Chromosome Mapping; Ciliophora Infections - prevention & control; cytoskeleton; Danio rerio; Databases, Genetic; disease control; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; genes; Genes, Protozoan; Genome Size; genomics; Genomics - methods; Host-Parasite Interactions; hosts; Hymenostomatida - classification; Hymenostomatida - genetics; Hymenostomatida - growth & development; Hymenostomatida - pathogenicity; Ichthyophthirius multifiliis; Ictaluridae - parasitology; immune response; Life Cycle Stages; Macronucleus - genetics; Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Mitochondria - enzymology; Mitochondria - genetics; Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases - genetics; Molecular Sequence Annotation; parasites; parasitism; Phylogeny; protein kinases; Protein Kinases - classification; Protein Kinases - genetics; proteinases; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; RNA, Protozoan - genetics; surface antigens; Tetrahymena thermophila; transporters; Zebrafish - genetics; Zebrafish - parasitology
• ISSN: 1465-6906; 1474-760X; 1465-6914; 1474-760X
• DOI: 10.1186/gb-2011-12-10-r100

BACKGROUND: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, commonly known as Ich, is a highly pathogenic ciliate responsible for 'white spot', a disease causing significant economic losses to the global aquaculture industry. Options for disease control are extremely limited, and Ich's obligate parasitic lifestyle makes experimental studies challenging. Unlike most well-studied protozoan parasites, Ich belongs to a phylum composed primarily of free-living members. Indeed, it is closely related to the model organism Tetrahymena thermophila. Genomic studies represent a promising strategy to reduce the impact of this disease and to understand the evolutionary transition to parasitism. RESULTS: We report the sequencing, assembly and annotation of the Ich macronuclear genome. Compared with its free-living relative T. thermophila, the Ich genome is reduced approximately two-fold in length and gene density and three-fold in gene content. We analyzed in detail several gene classes with diverse functions in behavior, cellular function and host immunogenicity, including protein kinases, membrane transporters, proteases, surface antigens and cytoskeletal components and regulators. We also mapped by orthology Ich's metabolic pathways in comparison with other ciliates and a potential host organism, the zebrafish Danio rerio. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the complete protein-coding and metabolic potential of Ich opens avenues for rational testing of therapeutic drugs that target functions essential to this parasite but not to its fish hosts. Also, a catalog of surface protein-encoding genes will facilitate development of more effective vaccines. The potential to use T. thermophila as a surrogate model offers promise toward controlling 'white spot' disease and understanding the adaptation to a parasitic lifestyle.