Resource for “Transcriptome sequences spanning key developmental states as a resource for the study of the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, a threespine stickleback parasite.”

The cestode <em>Schistocephalus solidus</em> has been the focus of extensive research in parasitology for over 200 years and has now become a powerful model for studying host-parasite interactions. <em>S. solidus</em> can be utilized to better understand the complex molecular mechanisms underlying functional changes associated with host transitions. We have sequenced and assembled (<em>de novo</em>) the transcriptome of <em>S. solidus</em> using whole organisms from three key developmental stages involved in host transitions: immature plerocercoid, mature plerocercoid and adult. Recent publications in parasitology, and more specifically on host-parasite interactions, have been strongly focused towards reviews and development of ideas and theoretical frameworks, but empirical data acquisition is still lagging behind. The main objective underlying the publication of this data is to increase the amount of publicly available resources for host-parasite systems. <br>
Our <em>de novo</em> assembly pipeline for the transcriptome of <em>Schistocephalus solidus</em> allowed us to reconstruct 24,765 high-confidence, non-redundant transcripts, associated with 10,285 unique genes. In total 7,323 unique genes (71%) were assigned at least one gene ontology (GO) term, and 4,270 (35%) were assigned at least one KEGG pathway ID. Phylogenetic relationships with other parasitic and non-parasitic worm species were investigated, allowing the identification of 1,977 genes that are specific to <em>S. solidus</em>, 3,425 core orthologs shared only among parasites and 6,892 putative orthologs shared among all worm species included in the analysis. <br>
Accessibility to high-quality genetic resources for a wide panel of host-parasite systems is fundamental not only to the advancement of knowledge on the mechanisms of host-parasite interactions, but also on the evolution of complex life cycles and parasitism itself. This is, to our knowledge, the first large-scale transcriptomic dataset for <em>Schistocephalus solidus</em>.