Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39578727›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2024

Bioinformatics analysis of the Microsporidia sp. MB genome: a malaria transmission-blocking symbiont of the Anopheles arabiensis mosquito.

Lilian Mbaisi Ang'ang'o, Jeremy Keith Herren, Özlem Tastan Bishop

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Article in BMC genomics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Lilian Mbaisi Ang'ang'oDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics, Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa.
Jeremy Keith HerrenInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. jherren@icipe.org.
Özlem Tastan BishopDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Bioinformatics, Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Rhodes University, Makhanda, 6140, South Africa. o.tastanbishop@ru.ac.za.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe use of microsporidia as a disease-transmission-blocking tool has garnered significant attention. Microsporidia sp. MB, known for its ability to block malaria development in mosquitoes, is an optimal candidate for supplementing malaria vector control methods. This symbiont, found in Anopheles mosquitoes, can be transmitted both vertically and horizontally with minimal effects on its mosquito host. Its genome, recently sequenced from An. arabiensis, comprises a compact 5.9 Mbp.

resultsHere, we analyze the Microsporidia sp. MB genome, highlighting its major genomic features, gene content, and protein function. The genome contains 2247 genes, predominantly encoding enzymes. Unlike other members of the Enterocytozoonida group, Microsporidia sp. MB has retained most of the genes in the glycolytic pathway. Genes involved in RNA interference (RNAi) were also identified, suggesting a mechanism for host immune suppression. Importantly, meiosis-related genes (MRG) were detected, indicating potential for sexual reproduction in this organism. Comparative analyses revealed similarities with its closest relative, Vittaforma corneae, despite key differences in host interactions.

conclusionThis study provides an in-depth analysis of the newly sequenced Microsporidia sp. MB genome, uncovering its unique adaptations for intracellular parasitism, including retention of essential metabolic pathways and RNAi machinery. The identification of MRGs suggests the possibility of sexual reproduction, offering insights into the symbiont's evolutionary strategies. Establishing a reference genome for Microsporidia sp. MB sets the foundation for future studies on its role in malaria transmission dynamics and host-parasite interactions.

Indexed as

AnophelesComputational BiologyGenome, FungalMicrosporidiaSymbiosisAnimalsGenomicsMalariaMosquito VectorsPhylogenyRNA InterferenceAnnotationAnophelesBiocontrolGenomeGlycolytic pathwayMalariaMicrosporidiaRNA interferenceSymbiosisTransmission-blocking

Identifiers

PMID39578727
PMCPMC11585130

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.