Highly resolved genome assembly and comparative transcriptome profiling reveal genes related to developmental stages of tapeworm Ligula intestinalis

Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) is recognized as a valuable model organism for studies in parasite population biology and host-parasite interactions. In this study, transcriptome profiling was employed to compare genetic expressions between plerocercoid larvae and adult worms of this species. The goal was to identify genes that are differentially expressed at these distinct life stages. Utilizing a reference-based assembly approach, a total of 3,922 genes were found to be differentially expressed in adults compared to plerocercoids. Gene Ontology analyses revealed a set of genes primarily involved in the reproductive development of the adult stage. Additionally, a significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was observed in genes associated with the immune evasion strategies of plerocercoids within their fish hosts. This study provides critical insights into the molecular biology of L. intestinalis, offering the most comprehensive and contiguous genetic assembly to date for a diphyllobothriid tapeworm. These findings significantly advance our understanding in the fields of population dynamics and comparative genomics of parasitic flatworms.