Comparative genomics of the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis reveals genes involved in spillover from birds to humans.

ABSTRACT: Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of the venereal disease trichomoniasis, infects men and women globally and is associated with serious outcomes during pregnancy, increased risk of HIV-1 infection, and cancers of the human reproductive tract. Species of trichomonad parasitize a range of hosts in addition to humans, including birds, livestock, and pets. Genetic analysis of trichomonads recovered from columbid birds has provided evidence that they undergo frequent host-switching, and that a spillover event from columbids likely gave rise to T. vaginalis in humans. Here we describe a comparative genomics study of seven trichomonad species, generating chromosome-scale reference genomes for T. vaginalis and its avian sister species Trichomonas stableri, and assemblies of five other spe

SUBMITTER: Sullivan SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12289875 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature