First transcriptome analysis of the winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) reveals sex-specific expression patterns and potential targets for genetic control.

IF 2.1 3区生物学 Q3 GENETICS & HEREDITY

G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics Pub Date : 2025-05-23 DOI:10.1093/g3journal/jkaf116

Rhodri T M Edwards, Igor Antoshechkin, Eddie Hill, Michael W Perry, Pia U Olafson, Perot Saelao, Kimberly H Lohmeyer, Omar S Akbari

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Abstract

The winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, is a significant North American ectoparasite, posing health risks to ruminants and occasionally humans. Despite its ecological importance, limited genomic resources exist for this species. This study provides the first comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of the recently published winter tick genome, focusing on tissues isolated from early-stage embryos, sexed adults, dissected ovaries, and dissected male reproductive systems. We identified the most abundant gene ontologies and analyzed differential gene expression. Differential gene expression revealed significant sex-biased expression patterns, and functional annotations identified candidate genes involved in sex determination. Notably, we identified the first documented case of sex-specific splicing of a doublesex-like gene in chelicerates, a mechanism previously thought to be absent in this clade. These transcriptome data serve as a critical resource for understanding the biology of D. albipictus and will facilitate the development of novel genetic technologies aimed at population suppression and reduction of tick-borne illnesses.

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首次对冬季蜱（白纹革蜱）的转录组分析揭示了性别特异性表达模式和遗传控制的潜在靶点。

冬季蜱，白纹革蜱，是一种重要的北美外寄生虫，对反刍动物和偶尔的人类构成健康风险。尽管具有重要的生态意义，但该物种的基因组资源有限。这项研究首次对最近发表的冬季蜱虫基因组进行了全面的转录组学分析，重点研究了从早期胚胎、有性生殖的成年蜱、解剖卵巢和解剖男性生殖系统中分离出来的组织。我们确定了最丰富的基因本体并分析了差异基因表达。差异基因表达揭示了显著的性别偏向表达模式，功能注释确定了参与性别决定的候选基因。值得注意的是，我们在螯合动物中发现了第一个记录在案的双性体样基因的性别特异性剪接病例，这一机制以前被认为在该进化枝中不存在。这些转录组数据是了解白纹伊蚊生物学的重要资源，并将促进旨在抑制种群和减少蜱传疾病的新型遗传技术的发展。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics GENETICS & HEREDITY-

CiteScore

5.10

自引率

3.80%

发文量

305

审稿时长

3-8 weeks

期刊介绍： G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics provides a forum for the publication of high‐quality foundational research, particularly research that generates useful genetic and genomic information such as genome maps, single gene studies, genome‐wide association and QTL studies, as well as genome reports, mutant screens, and advances in methods and technology. The Editorial Board of G3 believes that rapid dissemination of these data is the necessary foundation for analysis that leads to mechanistic insights. G3, published by the Genetics Society of America, meets the critical and growing need of the genetics community for rapid review and publication of important results in all areas of genetics. G3 offers the opportunity to publish the puzzling finding or to present unpublished results that may not have been submitted for review and publication due to a perceived lack of a potential high-impact finding. G3 has earned the DOAJ Seal, which is a mark of certification for open access journals, awarded by DOAJ to journals that achieve a high level of openness, adhere to Best Practice and high publishing standards.