Nat Genet. 2019 Jan;51(1):163-174. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0262-1. Epub 2018 Nov 5.
Parasitic nematodes (roundworms) and platyhelminths (flatworms) cause debilitating chronic infections of humans and animals, decimate crop production and are a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Here we report a broad comparative study of 81 genomes of parasitic and non-parasitic worms. We have identified gene family births and hundreds of expanded gene families at key nodes in the phylogeny that are relevant to parasitism. Examples include gene families that modulate host immune responses, enable parasite migration though host tissues or allow the parasite to feed. We reveal extensive lineage-specific differences in core metabolism and protein families historically targeted for drug development. From an in silico screen, we have identified and prioritized new potential drug targets and compounds for testing. This comparative genomics resource provides a much-needed boost for the research community to understand and combat parasitic worms.
寄生虫（线虫）和扁形动物（扁虫）会导致人类和动物患上衰弱的慢性感染，破坏农作物产量，严重阻碍社会经济发展。在这里，我们报告了对 81 种寄生虫和非寄生虫蠕虫基因组的广泛比较研究。我们已经在进化枝的关键节点鉴定了与寄生虫有关的基因家族诞生和数百个扩展的基因家族。其中包括调节宿主免疫反应、使寄生虫能够在宿主组织中迁移或使寄生虫能够进食的基因家族。我们揭示了核心代谢和蛋白质家族在历史上针对药物开发的目标上的广泛谱系特异性差异。通过计算机筛选，我们已经确定并优先考虑了新的潜在药物靶点和化合物进行测试。这个比较基因组学资源为研究界提供了急需的推动力，以帮助他们理解和对抗寄生虫。
