Insights into the evolution, virulence and speciation of <i>Babesia MO1</i> and <i>Babesia divergens</i> through multiomics analyses
Babesiosis, caused by protozoan parasites of the genus <i>Babesia</i>, is an emerging tick-borne disease of significance for both human and animal health. <i>Babesia</i> parasites infect erythrocytes of vertebrate hosts where they develop and multiply rapidly to cause the pathological symptoms associated with the disease. The identification of new <i>Babesia</i> species underscores the ongoing risk of zoonotic pathogens capable of infecting humans, a concern amplified by anthropogenic activities and environmental changes. One such pathogen, <i>Babesia MO1</i>, previously implicated in severe cases of human babesiosis in the United States, was initially considered a subspecies of <i>B. divergens</i>, the predominant agent of human babesiosis in Europe. Here we report comparative multiomics analyses of <i>B. divergens</i> and <i>B. MO1</i> that offer insight into their biology and evolution. Our analysis shows that despite their highly similar genomic sequences, substantial genetic and genomic divergence occurred throughout their evolution resulting in major differences in gene functions, expression and regulation, replication rates and susceptibility to antiparasitic drugs. Furthermore, both pathogens have evolved distinct classes of multigene families, crucial for their pathogenicity and adaptation to specific mammalian hosts. Leveraging genomic information for <i>B. MO1</i>, <i>B. divergens</i>, and other members of the Babesiidae family within Apicomplexa provides valuable insights into the evolution, diversity, and virulence of these parasites. This knowledge serves as a critical tool in preemptively addressing the emergence and rapid transmission of more virulent strains.
Authors
- Alejandro Sánchez‐Flores (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0476-3139)
- Choukri Ben Mamoun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5028-1400)
- Pratap Vydyam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4944-6006)
- Tiffany Fang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1844-2101)
- Sergio Sánchez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9903-6203)
- Luís Miguel González (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9107-2450)
- Loic Ciampossin
- Vincent Ranwez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9308-7541)
- Madelyn Kumar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7688-6731)
- Sakshar Chakravarty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6002-5229)
- Stefano Lonardi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2696-7274)
- Karel Estrada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7671-6959)
- Emmanuel Cornillot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1202-1162)
- Delphine Depoix (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5537-4232)
- Todd Lenz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6209-7061)
- Pallavi Singh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2318-5960)
- Vincent Berry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7271-4027)
- B. Carcy
- Estrella Montero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3852-960X)
- Omar S. Harb (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4446-6200)
- Ricardo Grande
- Steven Abel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4361-3443)
- Karine G. Le Roch
Institutions
- University of California, Riverside (US)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
- Inserm (FR)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Institut Agro Montpellier (FR)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Yale University (US)
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (FR)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Laboratoire d'Informatique, de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier (FR)
- Amélioration Génétique et Adaptation des Plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales (FR)
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (FR)
- Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes (FR)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Emerging Microbes & Infections
- Published
- 2024-08-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/22221751.2024.2386136
- Citations
- 11
- Primary Topic
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.67
Funders
- Global Lyme Alliance
- Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- University of California, Riverside
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases