Genetic diversity and selection of three nuclear genes in Schistosoma japonicum populations. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yaqi; Yin, Mingbo; Wu, Qunfeng; McManus, Donald; Blair, David; Li, Hongyan; Xu, Bin; Mo, Xiaojin; Feng, Zheng; Hu, Wei
• Is Part Of: Parasites & vectors. Volume 10:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Schistosoma japonicum -- Nuclear genes -- Genetic diversity -- Natural selection -- Tegument-associated antigen; Parasitism -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Vector-pathogen relationships -- Periodicals; Animals as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.96
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2033-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-3305

Abstract

Abstract Background The blood fluke, Schistosoma japonicum still causes severe disease in China, the Philippines and Indonesia. Although there have been some studies the molecular epidemiology of this persistent and harmful parasite, few have explored the possibility and implications of selection inS. japonicum populations. Methods We analyzed diversity and looked for evidence of selection at three nuclear genes (SjIpp2, SjFabp andSjT22.6 ) in 13 S. japonicum populations. Results SjT22.6 was found to exhibit high nucleotide diversity and was under positive selection in the mountainous region of mainland China. As a tegumental protein, its secondary and tertiary structure differed betweenS. japonicum strains from the mountainous and lakes regions. In contrast, SjIpp2 andSjFabp had relatively low levels of nucleotide diversity and did not show significant departure from neutrality. Conclusions As a tegument-associated antigen-encoding gene ofS. japonicum, SjT22.6 has high nucleotide diversity and appears to be under positive selection in the mountainous region of mainland China.