Sexual epigenetics: genome-wide analysis revealed differential DNA methylation in the vector tick Haemaphysalis longicornis.

IF 3 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY

Parasites & Vectors Pub Date : 2025-06-01 DOI:10.1186/s13071-025-06810-2

Han Wang, Ziyan Bing, Lu Li, Ziwen Gao, Chuks Fidelis Nwanade, Na Dong, Ke Li, Leyan Du, Zhijun Yu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Haemaphysalis longicornis is an important vector that transmits a variety of pathogens to humans and animals. This tick species is unique for having two separate reproductive populations: bisexual and parthenogenetic populations. In bisexual populations, morphological differences exist between the males and females, with the females often larger than the males. DNA methylation, as a key epigenetic modification, plays a crucial role in biological processes such as the maintenance of normal cellular function, the regulation of gene expression, and embryonic development. However, the epigenetic mechanism underlying sex differentiation in the bisexual population of H. longicornis has been overlooked.

Methods: In the present study, the global DNA methylation profiles of the female and male H. longicornis ticks from the bisexual population were explored using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of DMR-related genes.

Results: The results revealed that DNA methylation levels in H. longicornis varied by sex and sequence context (CG, CHG, and CHH). The 3' untranslated region (UTR) had the highest methylation in the CG context, followed by exons, introns, and CGI_shore regions. Female ticks generally exhibited higher methylation levels than males, particularly in gene body regions. A total of 10,460 DMRs were identified, with 5282 hypermethylated and 5178 hypomethylated. Further, GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were highly enriched in binding and metabolic pathways.

Conclusions: These results broaden our understanding of DNA methylation changes associated with the female and male of H. longicornis and provide an important theoretical basis for subsequent studies of epigenetic mechanisms of sex differences in ticks.

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性表观遗传学：全基因组分析揭示了媒介蜱长角血蜱的差异DNA甲基化。

背景：长角血蜱是向人类和动物传播多种病原体的重要媒介。这种蜱的独特之处在于有两个独立的生殖种群：双性恋和孤雌生殖种群。在双性恋群体中，雄性和雌性之间存在形态差异，雌性往往大于雄性。DNA甲基化作为一种重要的表观遗传修饰，在维持细胞正常功能、调控基因表达和胚胎发育等生物学过程中起着至关重要的作用。然而，长角瓢虫两性群体性别分化的表观遗传机制一直被忽视。方法：利用亚硫酸盐全基因组测序技术，对双性恋人群中雌雄长角蜱的DNA甲基化谱进行分析。鉴定差异甲基化区（DMRs），然后对DMRs相关基因进行基因本体（GO）和京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）途径分析。结果：结果显示，长角天牛的DNA甲基化水平因性别和序列背景（CG， CHG和CHH）而异。在CG背景下，3'非翻译区（UTR）的甲基化程度最高，其次是外显子、内含子和CGI_shore区域。雌性蜱普遍表现出高于雄性的甲基化水平，特别是在基因体区域。共鉴定出10460个DMRs，其中5282个高甲基化，5178个低甲基化。此外，GO和KEGG途径分析表明，差异甲基化基因（dmg）在结合和代谢途径中高度富集。结论：这些结果拓宽了我们对长角蜱雌雄相关DNA甲基化变化的认识，为后续蜱类性别差异的表观遗传机制研究提供了重要的理论依据。

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

Parasites & Vectors 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

433

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish. Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.