An Evolutionarily Conserved Laterally Acquired Toolkit Enables Microbiota Targeting by Trichomonas.

ABSTRACT: Trichomonas species are a diverse group of microbial eukaryotes (also commonly referred to as protists) that are obligate extracellular symbionts associated with or attributed to various inflammatory diseases. They colonize mucosal surfaces across a wide range of hosts, all of which harbor a resident microbiota. Their evolutionary history likely involved multiple host transfers, including zoonotic events from columbiform birds to mammals. Using comparative transcriptomics, this study examines Trichomonas gallinae co-cultured with Escherichia coli, identifying a molecular toolkit that Trichomonas species may use to interact with bacterial members of the microbiota. Integrating transcriptomic data with comparative genomics and phylogenetics revealed a conserved repertoire of protein-coding g

SUBMITTER: Hart AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12612818 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature