A Mini-review of the Genomes and Allergens of Mites and Ticks

Molecular Biology and Evolution

Liu

et al. 2022

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Highly diversified astigmatic mites comprise many medically important human household pests such as house dust mites causing approximately 1–2% of all allergic diseases globally; however, their evolutionary origin and diverse lifestyles including reversible parasitism have not been illustrated at the genomic level, which hampers allergy prevention and our exploration of these household pests. Using six high-quality assembled and annotated genomes, this study not only refuted the monophyly of mites and ticks, but also thoroughly explored the divergence of Acariformes and the diversification of astigmatic mites. In monophyletic Acariformes, Prostigmata known as notorious plant pests first evolved, and then rapidly evolving Astigmata diverged from soil oribatid mites. Within astigmatic mites, a wide range of gene families rapidly expanded via tandem gene duplications, including ionotropic glutamate receptors, triacylglycerol lipases, serine proteases and UDP glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). Gene diversification after tandem duplications provides many genetic resources for adaptation to sensing environmental signals, digestion, and detoxification in rapidly changing household environments. Many gene decay events only occurred in the skin-burrowing parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Throughout the evolution of Acariformes, massive horizontal gene transfer events occurred in gene families such as UGTs and several important fungal cell wall lytic enzymes, which enable detoxification and digestive functions and provide perfect drug targets for pest control. This comparative study sheds light on the divergent evolution and quick adaptation to human household environments of astigmatic mites and provides insights into the genetic adaptations and even control of human household pests.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Genomics Reveals Insights into the Divergent Evolution of Astigmatic Mites and Household Pest Adaptations

Molecular Biology and Evolution

Liu

et al. 2022

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“…Mites and ticks (subclass: Acari) are comprised of a wide range of pests of humans, other animals, and plants 55,56 . Their monophyly was argued with more genetic resources available 5,[11][12][13] and refuted by our phylogenomic analysis (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Genomics Reveals Insights into the Divergent Evolution of Astigmatic Mites and Household Pest Adaptations

Fung

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Highly diversified astigmatic mites comprise many medically important human household pests such as house dust mites causing roughly 1–2% of the allergic diseases globally; however, their evolutionary origin, diverse lifestyles including reversible parasitism and quick adaptation to rather new human household environments have not been illustrated at genomic level, which hamper the allergy prevention and our exploration of these household pests. Using six high-quality assembled and annotated genomes, this comparative genomics study not only refuted the monophyly of mites and ticks, but also thoroughly explored the divergence of Acariformes and the divergent evolution of astigmatic mites. In the monophyletic Acariformes, Prostigmata known as notorious plant pests first evolved, then rapidly evolving Astigmata diverged from soil oribatid mites. Within astigmatic mites, a wide range of gene families rapidly expanded via tandem gene duplications, including ionotropic glutamate receptors, triacylglycerol lipases, serine proteases and UDP glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), which enriched their capacities of adapting to rapidly changing household environments. The gene diversification after tandem duplications provided plenty of genetic resources for their adaptations of sensing environmental signals, digestion, and detoxification. Whilst many gene decay events only occurred in the skin-burrowing parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Throughout the evolution of Acariformes, massive horizontal gene transfer events occurred in gene families such as UGTs and several important fungal cell wall lytic enzymes, which enable the detoxification and associated digestive functions and provide perfect drug targets for pest control. Our comparative study sheds light on the rapid divergent evolution of astigmatic mites from the divergence of Acariformes to their diversification and provides novel insights into the genetic adaptations and even control of human household pests.

“…tropicalis was considered a storage mite but is now identified as an important species of HDM and causes a series of allergic diseases, especially in tropical regions such as Singapore 3 . Compared with the major HDM species Dermatophagoides (D.) farinae and D. pteronyssinus, B. tropicalis has much fewer reported allergen groups [4][5][6] . Because of the increasing sensitization rates to B. tropicalis over the last decades [7][8][9][10] , comprehensive identification of its allergen components has become an urgent task when component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) has become an inevitable trend 5,11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compared with the major HDM species Dermatophagoides ( D .) farinae and D. pteronyssinus, B. tropicalis has much fewer reported allergen groups 4-6 . Because of the increasing sensitization rates to B. tropicalis over the last decades 7-10 , comprehensive identification of its allergen components has become an urgent task when component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) has become an inevitable trend 5, 11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genomic Analysis ofBlomia tropicalisIdentifies Novel Allergens for Component-Resolved Diagnosis of Mite Allergy

Liu

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background: As an important species of house dust mites (HDMs), Blomia (B.) tropicalis plays a critical role in allergic diseases in tropical populations, but its allergen components are less investigated than those of other HDMs. Multiple omics methods have largely improved the identification of mite allergens. Objective: We sought to identify a comprehensive allergen profile of B. tropicalis and advance the allergen component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) of mite allergy. Methods: Reference mite allergen sequences were searched in a high-quality genome of B. tropicalis. Comparative analysis was performed for important allergen groups. ELISA was used to assess the allergenicities of recombinant proteins of specific allergens. Results: A complete allergen profile of B. tropicalis was revealed, including thirty-seven allergen groups (up to Blo t 42). In-depth comparative analysis not only determined the homology of major allergen groups 5 and 21 but also shed light on the emergence and divergence of chitin-binding allergens. The specific Blo t 12 was identified to be a chitin-binding protein originating from the chitinase of allergen group 15. Immunoassays of recombinant proteins verified four novel allergens and the ELISA results suggested geographical differences in the B. tropicalis sensitization rate. Conclusion: The comprehensive allergen profile revealed in B. tropicalis, the comparative analysis of allergen groups and the immunoassay assessment of recombinant proteins could ultimately benefit the CRD of HDM allergy.