title: Transcriptome identification of putative genes involved in protein catabolism and innate immune response in human body louse (Pediculicidae: Pediculus humanus).
abstract: Genomics information relating to human body lice is surprisingly scarce, and this has constrained studies of their physiology, immunology and vector biology. To identify novel body louse genes, we used engorged adult lice to generate a cDNA library. Initially, 1152 clones were screened for inserts, edited for removal of vector sequences and base pairs of poor quality, and viewed for splicing variations, gene families and polymorphism. Computational methods identified 506 inferred open reading frames including the first predicted louse defensin. The inferred defensin aligns well with other insect defensins and has highly conserved cysteine residues, as are known for other defensin sequences. Two cysteine and five serine proteinases were categorized according to their inferred catalytic sites. We also discovered seven putative ubiquitin-pathway genes and four iron metabolizing deduced enzymes. Finally, glutathione-S-transferases and cytochrome P450 genes were among the detoxification enzymes found. Results from this first systematic effort to discover human body louse genes should promote further studies in Phthiraptera and lice.
authors.affiliation: Indiana Center for Insect Genomics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0369, USA.
authors.forename: Joao H F
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Pedra
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Hong-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romero-Severson
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.forename: Larry L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Murdock
authors.forename: Barry R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Pittendrigh
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D010374:Pediculus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D014452:Ubiquitins; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D007501:Iron; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases