Parasite manipulation of host phenotypes inferred from transcriptional analyses in a trematode-amphipod system.

ABSTRACT: Manipulation of host phenotypes by parasites is hypothesized to be an adaptive strategy enhancing parasite transmission across hosts and generations. Characterizing the molecular mechanisms of manipulation is important to advance our understanding of host-parasite coevolution. The trematode (Levinseniella byrdi) is known to alter the colour and behaviour of its amphipod host (Orchestia grillus) presumably increasing predation of amphipods which enhances trematode transmission through its life cycle. We sampled 24 infected and 24 uninfected amphipods from a salt marsh in Massachusetts to perform differential gene expression analysis. In addition, we constructed novel genomic tools for O. grillus including a de novo genome and transcriptome. We discovered that trematode infection results in

SUBMITTER: Rand DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10529729 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature