Adaptive evolution of stress response genes in parasites aligns with host niche diversity

Additional Files for Cruz-Laufer et al. (2024) Adaptive evolution of stress response genes in parasites aligns with host niche diversity. BMC Biology, in press. see README.txt file for detailed description of data Publication abstract: Background Stress responses are key for parasite survival and, consequently, also the evolutionary success of these organisms. Despite this importance, our understanding of the evolution of molecular pathways dealing with environmental stressors in parasitic animals remains limited. Here, we tested the link between adaptive evolution of parasite stress response genes and their ecological diversity and species richness. We comparatively investigated antioxidant, heat shock, osmoregulatory, and behaviour-related genes (foraging) in two model parasitic flatworm lineages with contrasting ecological diversity, Cichlidogyrus and Kapentagyrus (Platyhelminthes: Monopisthocotyla), through whole-genome sequencing of 11 species followed by in silico exon bait capture as well as phylogenetic and codon analyses. Results We assembled the sequences of 48 stress-related genes and report the first foraging (For) gene orthologs in flatworms. We found duplications of heat shock- (Hsp) and oxidative stress genes in Cichlidogyrus compared to Kapentagyrus. We also observed positive selection patterns in genes related to mitochondrial protein import (Hsp) and behaviour (For) in species of Cichlidogyrus infecting East African cichlids—a host lineage under adaptive radiation. These patterns are consistent with a potential adaptation linked to a co-radiation of these parasites and their hosts. Additionally, the absence of cytochrome P450, and kappa and sigma-class glutathione S-transferases in monogenean flatworms is reported, genes considered essential for metazoan life. Conclusions This study potentially identifies the first molecular function linked to a flatworm radiation. Furthermore, the observed gene duplications and positive selection indicate the potentially important role of stress responses for the ecological adaptation of parasite species.Cruz-Laufer等人（2024）《寄生虫应激反应基因的适应性演化与宿主生态位多样性相匹配》（《BMC Biology》，即将刊出）补充数据集。 详细数据说明请参阅README.txt文件。 【论文摘要】 ### 研究背景 应激反应是寄生虫存活的核心基础，亦是这类生物演化成功的关键因素。尽管应激反应的重要性不言而喻，但目前学界对寄生动物应对环境应激因子的分子通路演化机制仍缺乏深入认知。本研究旨在解析寄生虫应激反应基因的适应性演化与其生态多样性及物种丰富度之间的关联。我们以生态多样性差异显著的两类模式寄生扁形动物支系——斜盘虫属（Cichlidogyrus）与卡潘塔吸虫属（Kapentagyrus）（扁形动物门：单殖亚纲（Monopisthocotyla））为研究对象，对11个物种开展全基因组测序，随后通过计算机外显子诱饵捕获、系统发育及密码子分析，比较研究了其抗氧化、热休克、渗透压调节以及行为相关（觅食）基因。 ### 研究结果 本研究组装了48个应激相关基因的序列，并首次报道了扁形动物中的觅食（For）基因同源物。相较于卡潘塔吸虫属，斜盘虫属中存在热休克（Hsp）基因与氧化应激基因的复制事件。在感染东非慈鲷（一类处于适应性辐射的宿主支系）的斜盘虫属物种中，我们还发现线粒体蛋白导入相关（Hsp）及行为相关（For）基因呈现正选择模式。上述结果与寄生虫与其宿主协同辐射的适应性演化假说相符。此外，本研究首次报道单殖扁形动物缺失细胞色素P450以及κ、σ类谷胱甘肽S-转移酶基因——这类基因曾被认为是后生动物生存所必需的。 ### 研究结论 本研究首次发现了与扁形动物辐射演化相关的分子功能。此外，本研究观测到的基因复制事件与正选择信号表明，应激反应在寄生虫物种的生态适应过程中发挥了潜在的关键作用。