Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Clade-Specific Genetic Variation in Blacklegged Ticks

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cassens J ; Faulk C ; Oliva Chávez AS ; Oliver JD ; Tufts DM ; Zhong J
• Description:
  Ticks and tick-borne pathogens represent the greatest vector-borne disease threat in the United States. Blacklegged ticks are responsible for most human cases, yet the disease burden is unevenly distributed across the northern and southern United States. Understanding the genetic characteristics influencing phenotypic differences in tick vectors is critical to elucidating disparities in tick-borne pathogen transmission dynamics. Applying evolutionary analyses to molecular variation in natural tick populations across ecological gradients will help identify signatures of local adaptation, which will improve control and mitigation strategies. In this study, we performed whole genome nanopore sequencing of individual (n = 1) blacklegged ticks across their geographical range (Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Texas) to evaluate genetic divergence among populations. Our integrated analyses identified genetic variants associated with numerous biological processes and molecular functions that segregated across populations. Notably, northern populations displayed genetic variants in genes linked to xenobiotic detoxification, transmembrane transport, and sulfation that may underpin key phenotypes influencing tick dispersal, host associations, and vectorial capacity. Nanopore sequencing further allowed the recovery of complete mitochondrial and commensal endosymbiont genomes. Our study provides further evidence of genetic divergence in epidemiologically relevant gene families among blacklegged tick clades. This report emphasizes the need to elucidate the genetic basis driving divergence among conspecific blacklegged tick clades in the United States. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Adaptation Blacklegged Ticks Disease Vectors Ecological Systems Genetic Factors Genomics Ixodes Scapularis Mitogenome Molecular Epidemiology Pathogens Selection Tickborne Diseases

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• ISSN:
  2045-7758
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Chicago Region [OSHA] ; Dallas Region [OSHA] ; Minnesota ; Pennsylvania ; Philadelphia Region [OSHA] ; San Francisco Region [OSHA] ; Texas ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070597
• Citation:
  Ecol Evol 2025 Feb; 15(2):e70987
• Contact Point Address:
  Jacob Cassens, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
• Email:
  casse090@umn.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Ecology and Evolution
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7ca512577ba3c9642904c11fc3451a1762613c6f518812bbe7d933f3cc547741ff733b1f5d543b2c35c5915b4602ab64103a3907708a25cccc5553520f91f970
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/208776/cdc_208776_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.88 MB ]