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The parasitic nematode Strongyloides ratti exists predominantly as populations of long-lived asexual lineages

Author

Listed:
  • Rebecca Cole

    (University of Bristol)

  • Nancy Holroyd

    (Wellcome Genome Campus)

  • Alan Tracey

    (Wellcome Genome Campus)

  • Matt Berriman

    (Wellcome Genome Campus
    University of Glasgow, 120 University Place)

  • Mark Viney

    (University of Bristol
    University of Liverpool)

Abstract

Nematodes are important parasites of people and animals, and in natural ecosystems they are a major ecological force. Strongyloides ratti is a common parasitic nematode of wild rats and we have investigated its population genetics using single-worm, whole-genome sequencing. We find that S. ratti populations in the UK consist of mixtures of mainly asexual lineages that are widely dispersed across a host population. These parasite lineages are likely very old and may have originated in Asia from where rats originated. Genes that underly the parasitic phase of the parasite’s life cycle are hyperdiverse compared with the rest of the genome, and this may allow the parasites to maximise their fitness in a diverse host population. These patterns of parasitic nematode population genetics have not been found before and may also apply to Strongyloides spp. that infect people, which will affect how we should approach their control.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Cole & Nancy Holroyd & Alan Tracey & Matt Berriman & Mark Viney, 2023. "The parasitic nematode Strongyloides ratti exists predominantly as populations of long-lived asexual lineages," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42250-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42250-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Lewis Stevens & Isaac Martínez-Ugalde & Erna King & Martin Wagah & Dominic Absolon & Rowan Bancroft & Pablo Gonzalez de la Rosa & Jessica L. Hall & Manuela Kieninger & Agnieszka Kloch & Sarah Pelan & , 2023. "Ancient diversity in host-parasite interaction genes in a model parasitic nematode," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.

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