Analysis of trematode parasite communities in fish eye lenses by pyrosequencing of naturally pooled DNA.

Infect Genet Evol

Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Published: August 2011

Infections by multiple parasite species are common in nature and have important consequences for between-species interactions and coevolutionary dynamics with the host populations. For example, ecological and evolutionary factors underlying the structure of parasite communities determine the range of hosts a parasite can infect and set the basis for both evolution of host defences and parasite virulence, as well as management of diseases. Studies investigating these factors have been facilitated in the recent past by genetic methods, which surmount difficulties of traditional morphological taxonomy in identifying individual parasite species. Here we take a step further and present a novel methodological approach to analyze parasite communities as a whole. We determined the relative frequencies of interspecific SNP alleles by pyrosequencing naturally pooled samples of closely related Diplostomum spp. trematodes infecting eye lenses of freshwater fish. Pyrosequencing allowed us to use naturally pooled community samples (lenses) to increase the sample size and statistical power, without sequencing single parasite specimens. In a case study, we applied this method to analyze the community structure of the eye flukes across fish host species of a freshwater system in Finland. We found that the fish species harboured significantly different parasite communities and that multiple species infections were common. Our study provides an example of how quantitative pyrosequencing can be used to answer evolutionary and ecological questions in natural communities of parasites.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2011.04.018DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

parasite communities
16
naturally pooled
12
parasite
9
eye lenses
8
pyrosequencing naturally
8
parasite species
8
communities
5
species
5
analysis trematode
4
trematode parasite
4

Similar Publications

To clarify the effects of kefir in critical periods of development in adult diseases, we study the effects of kefir intake during early life on gut microbiota and prevention of colorectal carcinogenesis in adulthood. Lactating Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (C), kefir lactation (KL), and kefir puberty (KP) groups. The C and KP groups received 1 mL of water/day; KL dams received kefir milk daily (10 CFU/mL) during lactation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Effects of vaginal microbiota on fertilization outcomes in women with different infertility causes.

Microbiol Spectr

January 2025

School of Public Health, the Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.

Unlabelled: Backed by advancements in technologies like microbial sequencing, many studies indicate that the vaginal microbiome is a key marker of female reproductive health. However, further studies are still needed to investigate the correlation between vaginal microbiota (VMB) and outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Therefore, this study compared the VMB of two types of infertile women undergoing fertilization (IVF) with normal control women during the implantation window period and investigated the effects of VMB characteristics on IVF outcomes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Significance: Developments of anti-gametocyte drugs have been delayed due to insufficient understanding of gametocyte biology. We report a systematic workflow of data processing algorithms to quantify changes in the absorption spectrum and cell morphology of single malaria-infected erythrocytes. These changes may serve as biomarkers instrumental for the future development of antimalarial strategies, especially for anti-gametocyte drug design and testing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Metabarcoding for the Monitoring of the Microbiome and Parasitome of Medically Important Mosquito Species in Two Urban and Semi-urban Areas of South Korea.

Curr Microbiol

January 2025

Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei-Ro 50-1, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.

Interactions between microbial communities and the host can modulate mosquito biology, including vector competence. Therefore, future vector biocontrol measures will utilize these interactions and require extensive monitoring of the mosquito microbiome. Metabarcoding strategies will be useful for conducting vector monitoring on a large scale.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Papua is a high-endemic region for malaria in Indonesia. Malaria transmission is heavily influenced by environmental factors, particularly those related to vector breeding habitats and the homes of infected individuals. Communities in high-endemic areas also exhibit risk behaviors that can increase the likelihood of malaria transmission.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!