Genome of the Host-Cell Transforming Parasite Theileria annulata Compared with T. parva

Theileria annulata and T. parva are closely related protozoan parasites that cause lymphoproliferative diseases of cattle. We sequenced the genome of T. annulata and compared it with that of T. parva to understand the mechanisms underlying transformation and tropism. Despite high conservation of gene sequences and synteny, the analysis reveals unequally expanded gene families and species-specific genes. We also identify divergent families of putative secreted polypeptides that may reduce immune recognition, candidate regulators of host-cell transformation, and a Theileria-specific protein domain [frequently associated in Theileria (FAINT)] present in a large number of secreted proteins.

[1]  Jonathan E. Allen,et al.  Genome Sequence of Theileria parva, a Bovine Pathogen That Transforms Lymphocytes , 2005, Science.

[2]  John R Yates,et al.  A Comprehensive Survey of the Plasmodium Life Cycle by Genomic, Transcriptomic, and Proteomic Analyses , 2005, Science.

[3]  M. Gelb,et al.  Oncogenic Action of Secreted Phospholipase A2 in Prostate Cancer , 2004, Cancer Research.

[4]  D. Dobbelaere,et al.  The strategies of the Theileria parasite: a new twist in host-pathogen interactions. , 2004, Current opinion in immunology.

[5]  A Theileria annulata DNA Binding Protein Localized to the Host Cell Nucleus Alters the Phenotype of a Bovine Macrophage Cell Line , 2004, Eukaryotic Cell.

[6]  Cathy H. Wu,et al.  UniProt: the Universal Protein knowledgebase , 2004, Nucleic Acids Res..

[7]  J. Barry,et al.  Why are parasite contingency genes often associated with telomeres? , 2003, International journal for parasitology.

[8]  Jose M. Silva,et al.  Increased choline kinase activity in human breast carcinomas: clinical evidence for a potential novel antitumor strategy , 2002, Oncogene.

[9]  T. Uchida,et al.  Expression of uridine and thymidine phosphorylase genes in human breast carcinoma , 2002, International journal of cancer.

[10]  J. Stock,et al.  Carboxyl methylation regulates phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A by controlling the association of regulatory B subunits , 2000, The EMBO journal.

[11]  A. Tait,et al.  Evidence for localisation of a Theileria parasite AT hook DNA-binding protein to the nucleus of immortalised bovine host cells. , 1999, Molecular and biochemical parasitology.

[12]  R. Adamson,et al.  Tissue damage in cattle infected with Theileria annulata accompanied by metastasis of cytokine-producing, schizont-infected mononuclear phagocytes. , 1999, Journal of comparative pathology.

[13]  H. Mehlhorn,et al.  Redescription of Babesia equi Laveran, 1901 as Theileria equi Mehlhorn, Schein 1998 , 1998, Parasitology Research.

[14]  S. Rogers,et al.  PEST sequences and regulation by proteolysis. , 1996, Trends in biochemical sciences.

[15]  T Gojobori,et al.  Large-scale search for genes on which positive selection may operate. , 1996, Molecular biology and evolution.

[16]  T. Cavalier-smith,et al.  Phylogeny and evolution of the piroplasms , 1994, Parasitology.

[17]  H. Baylis,et al.  An unusual repetitive gene family in Theileria parva which is stage-specifically transcribed. , 1991, Molecular and biochemical parasitology.

[18]  Bernard S. Wostmann,et al.  Panel of referees , 2007 .