Genome sequences of the human body louse and its primary endosymbiont provide insights into the permanent parasitic lifestyle

Ewen F. Kirkness, Brian J. Haas, Weilin Sun, Henk R. Braig, M. Alejandra Perotti, John M. Clark, Si Hyeock Lee, Hugh M. Robertson, Ryan C. Kennedy, Eran Elhaik, Daniel Gerlach, Evgenia V. Kriventseva, Christine G. Elsik, Dan Graur, Catherine A. Hill, Jan A. Veenstra, Brian Walenz, José Manuel C. Tubío, José M.C. Ribeiro, Julio RozasJ. Spencer Johnston, Justin T. Reese, Aleksandar Popadic, Marta Tojo, Didier Raoult, David L. Reed, Yoshinori Tomoyasu, Emily Krause, Omprakash Mittapalli, Venu M. Margam, Hong Mei Li, Jason M. Meyer, Reed M. Johnson, Jeanne Romero-Severson, Janice Pagel VanZee, David Alvarez-Ponce, Filipe G. Vieira, Montserrat Aguadé, Sara Guirao-Rico, Juan M. Anzola, Kyong S. Yoon, Joseph P. Strycharz, Maria F. Unger, Scott Christley, Neil F. Lobo, Manfredo J. Seufferheld, Nai Kuan Wang, Gregory A. Dasch, Claudio J. Struchiner, Greg Madey, Linda I. Hannick, Shelby Bidwell, Vinita Joardar, Elisabet Caler, Renfu Shao, Stephen C. Barker, Stephen Cameron, Robert V. Bruggner, Allison Regier, Justin Johnson, Lakshmi Viswanathan, Terry R. Utterback, Granger G. Sutton, Daniel Lawson, Robert M. Waterhouse, J. Craig Venter, Robert L. Strausberg, May R. Berenbaum, Frank H. Collins, Evgeny M. Zdobnov, Barry R. Pittendrigh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

426 Scopus citations

Abstract

As an obligatory parasite of humans, the body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus) is an important vector for human diseases, including epidemic typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever. Here, we present genome sequences of the body louse and its primary bacterial endosymbiont Candidatus Riesia pediculicola. The body louse has the smallest known insect genome, spanning 108 Mb. Despite its status as an obligate parasite, it retains a remarkably complete basal insect repertoire of 10,773 protein-coding genes and 57 microRNAs. Representing hemimetabolous insects, the genome of the body louse thus provides a reference for studies of holometabolous insects. Compared with other insect genomes, the body louse genome contains significantly fewer genes associated with environmental sensing and response, including odorant and gustatory receptors and detoxifying enzymes. The unique architecture of the 18 minicircular mitochondrial chromosomes of the body louse may be linked to the loss of the gene encoding the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein. The genome of the obligatory louse endosymbiont Candidatus Riesia pediculicola encodes less than 600 genes on a short, linear chromosome and a circular plasmid. The plasmid harbors a unique arrangement of genes required for the synthesis of pantothenate, an essential vitamin deficient in the louse diet. The human body louse, its primary endosymbiont, and the bacterial pathogens that it vectors all possess genomes reduced in size compared with their free-living close relatives. Thus, the body louse genome project offers unique information and tools to use in advancing understanding of coevolution among vectors, symbionts, and pathogens.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)12168-12173
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume107
Issue number27
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 6 2010

Keywords

  • Coevolution
  • Comparative genomics
  • Ectoparasite

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