Onchocerca flexuosa transcriptome
De novo characterization of the transcriptome and proteome of the Wolbachia-free filarial parasite Onchocerca flexuosa
454 sequencing of mRNA (cDNA) from adult Onchocerca flexuosa
While most species of filarial nematodes depend on Wolbachia endobacteria to carry out their lifecycle, other species thrive in the absence of a bacterial partner. Studies comparing the gene content and expression of Wolbachia-dependent and independent filarial species may shed light on the molecular basis behind this phenomenon. However, more genomic and proteomic information representing Wolbachia¬-independent filarial species must be made available before these studies will be possible.  454 sequencing of the O. flexuosa transcriptome has produced sequences from 16,814 isogroup and 47,252 singleton reads, and mass spectrometry analysis of the worm’s proteome has produced 1,803 expressed proteins. The transcriptome and proteome were annotated based upon comparison with the KEGG, KOG and gene ontology databases. Transcriptome sequences reveal several instances of horizontal gene transfer from Wolbachia. These sequences are expressed at the mRNA and possibly protein levels. This information will provide an important resource in the comparative study of Wolbachia-dependent and independent filarial species.