The genome and transcriptome of Taenia crassiceps (WFU and ORF strains)

Taenia crassiceps, a close relative of T. solium, can be easily maintained in most animal facilities and the cysticerci can be manipulated in vivo and in vitro, providing a suitable model for the study of several aspects of human cysticercosis. T. crassiceps infections in humans are very rare, isolated cases have been reported in immunosuppressed individuals. Several strains of T. crassiceps have been reported, such as WFU, ORF, HYG and KBS. The ORF strain lacks an invaginated scolex and is unable to propagate in natural conditions. It has been proposed that ORF suffered a chromosomal loss that impairs scolex formation. We report the high resolution characterization for the genomes of T. crassiceps: WFU and ORF. Elucidation of these genomes will improve the knowledge about the genomic similarities and differences that exist between taeniid species, allowing novel approaches to a number of unsolved questions on tapeworm infections, including the human infection caused by T. solium. Availability of the high quality assemblies of T. crassiceps can also contribute to the definition of the advantages and limits for the use of this animal model of human cysticercosis.