title: The genome and life-stage specific transcriptomes of Globodera pallida elucidate key aspects of plant parasitism by a cyst nematode.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Globodera pallida is a devastating pathogen of potato crops, making it one of the most economically important plant parasitic nematodes. It is also an important model for the biology of cyst nematodes. Cyst nematodes and root-knot nematodes are the two most important plant parasitic nematode groups and together represent a global threat to food security.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present the complete genome sequence of G. pallida, together with transcriptomic data from most of the nematode life cycle, particularly focusing on the life cycle stages involved in root invasion and establishment of the biotrophic feeding site. Despite the relatively close phylogenetic relationship with root-knot nematodes, we describe a very different gene family content between the two groups and in particular extensive differences in the repertoire of effectors, including an enormous expansion of the SPRY domain protein family in G. pallida, which includes the SPRYSEC family of effectors. This highlights the distinct biology of cyst nematodes compared to the root-knot nematodes that were, until now, the only sedentary plant parasitic nematodes for which genome information was available. We also present in-depth descriptions of the repertoires of other genes likely to be important in understanding the unique biology of cyst nematodes and of potential drug targets and other targets for their control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data and analyses we present will be central in exploiting post-genomic approaches in the development of much-needed novel strategies for the control of G. pallida and related pathogens.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lilley
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Taisei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: Isheng J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Blok
authors.forename: Peter J A
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cock
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eves-van den Akker
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holroyd
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mantelin
authors.forename: Hardeep
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naghra
authors.forename: Arnab
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pain
authors.forename: Juan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Palomares-Rius
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarowiecki
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berriman
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Urwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D049751:Genome, Helminth; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D059467:Transcriptome; D014431:Tylenchoidea / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics