Genomes of trombidid mites reveal novel predicted allergens and laterally-transferred genes associated with secondary metabolism

Dong, X; Chaisiri, K; Xia, D; Armstrong, S D; Fang, Y; Donnelly, M J; Kadowaki, T; McGarry, J W; Darby, A C; Makepeace, B L

Abstract

Trombidid mites have a unique lifecycle in which only the larval stage is ectoparasitic. In the superfamily Trombiculoidea (“chiggers”), the larvae feed preferentially on vertebrates, including humans. Species in the genus Leptotrombidium are vectors of a potentially fatal bacterial infection, scrub typhus, which affects 1 million people annually. Moreover, chiggers can cause pruritic dermatitis (trombiculiasis) in humans and domesticated animals. In the Trombidioidea (velvet mites), the larvae feed on other arthropods and are potential biological control agents for agricultural pests. Here, we present the first trombidid mites genomes, obtained both for a chigger, Leptotrombidium deliense, and for a velvet mite, Dinothrombium tinctorium.

Citation

Dong, X., Chaisiri, K., Xia, D., Armstrong, S. D., Fang, Y., Donnelly, M. J., …Makepeace, B. L. (2018). Genomes of trombidid mites reveal novel predicted allergens and laterally-transferred genes associated with secondary metabolism. GigaScience, 7(12), https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giy127

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 15, 2018
• Deposit Date: Nov 28, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 28, 2018
• Journal: GigaScience
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giy127
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1385167