Abstract
BackgroundBabesia gibsoni is an apicomplexan parasite transmitted by ticks, which can infect canine species and cause babesiosis. The apicoplast is an organelle associated with isoprenoids metabolism, is widely present in apicomplexan parasites, except for Cryptosporidium. Available data indicate that the apicoplast is essential for the survival of apicomplexan parasites.MethodsHere, the apicoplast genome of B. gibsoni was investigated by high-throughput genome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, and conventional PCR.ResultsThe apicoplast genome of B. gibsoni-Wuhan strain (B. gibsoni-WH) consists of a 28.4 kb circular molecule, with A + T content of 86.33%, similar to that of B. microti. Specifically, this genome encodes genes involved in maintenance of the apicoplast DNA, transcription, translation and maturation of organellar proteins, which contains 2 subunits of ribosomal RNAs, 17 ribosomal proteins, 1 EF-Tu elongation factor (tufA), 5 DNA-dependent RNA polymerase beta subunits, 2 Clp protease chaperones, 23 tRNA genes and 5 unknown open reading frames (hypothetical proteins). Phylogenetic analysis revealed high similarity of B. gibsoni apicoplast genome to that of B. orientalis and B. bovis.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of annotation and characterization of B. gibsoni-WH apicoplast genome. The results will facilitate the development of new anti-Babesia drug targets.
Highlights
Babesia gibsoni is an apicomplexan parasite transmitted by ticks, which can infect canine species and cause babesiosis
The raw apicoplast genome sequence of B. gibsoni obtained from high throughput genome sequencing was shown to have a circular form with a full length of 46 kb, which is bigger than that of any other reported Babesia apicoplast genome [22, 23, 27,28,29]
To further verify the sequence, we adopted a primer-walking approach to test the B. gibsoni genomic DNA by designing a series of specific primers based on the amplicons covering the whole apicoplast genome (Additional file 1: Table S1, Additional file 2: Figure S1)
Summary
Babesia gibsoni is an apicomplexan parasite transmitted by ticks, which can infect canine species and cause babesiosis. The apicoplast is an organelle associated with isoprenoids metabolism, is widely present in apicomplexan parasites, except for Cryptosporidium. An obligate intraerythrocytic parasitic protozoan that can cause canine babesiosis [1,2,3], spreads widely around the world. After the evolution from chloroplast into apicoplast, the genes encoding a variety of proteins, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) are still present in apicomplexan parasites [15]. This endowed the apicoplast with a series of bacteria-like pathways to replicate and express its genome coupled
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