Identification of candidate mimicry proteins involved in parasite-driven phenotypic changes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Endoparasites with complex life cycles are faced with several biological challenges, as they need to occupy various ecological niches throughout their development. Host phenotypes that increase the parasite's transmission rate to the next host have been extensively described, but few mechanistic explanations have been proposed to describe their proximate causes. In this study we explore the possibility that host phenotypic changes are triggered by the production of mimicry proteins from the parasite by using an ecological model system consisting of the infection of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) by the cestode Schistocephalus solidus.

Method

Using RNA-seq data, we assembled 9,093 protein-coding genes from which ORFs were predicted to generate

SUBMITTER: Hebert FO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4407394 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature