Genome-resolved metagenomics reveals microbiome diversity across 48 tick species
Li-Feng Du, Wenyu Shi, Xiao-Ming Cui, Huimin Fan, Jia-Fu Jiang, Cai Bian, Run‐Ze Ye, Qian Wang, Mingzhu Zhang, Tingting Yuan, Luo‐Yuan Xia, Xiangdong Ruan, Qiao‐Cheng Chang, Chunhong Du, Tengcheng Que, Xin Wang, Xiaohu Han, Tian‐Ci Yang, Bao‐Gui Jiang, Jianying Chen, Xiao-Fan Wang, Liang-Fei Tan, Yiwen Liu, Liang-Li Deng, Yan Liu, Yan Zhu, Yu-Sheng Pan, Ning Wang, Zhe-Tao Lin, Lian‐Feng Li, Cheng Li, Shi-Jing Shen, Yating Liu, Di Tian, Xiaoyu Han, Juan Wang, Yifei Wang, Wan‐Ying Gao, Yuyu Li, Tao Xiong, Tianhong Wang, Xiaoyu Shi, Dai-Yun Zhu, Jin-Guo Zhu, Chongcai Wang, Wenqiang Shi, Lin Zhan, Lin Zhan, Dan Feng, Lin Zhao, Yi Sun, Jinfeng Wang, Na Jia, Fangqing Zhao, Wu‐Chun Cao, Fangqing Zhao, Wu‐Chun Cao
Abstract
Ticks are arthropod vectors capable of transmitting a wide spectrum of pathogens affecting humans and animals. However, we have relatively limited information of their genomic characteristics and the diversity of associated microbiomes. Here we used long- and short-read sequencing on 1,479 samples from 48 tick species across eight genera from China to determine their genome and associated pathogens and microbiome. Through de novo assembly, we reconstructed 7,783 bacterial genomes representing 1,373 bacterial species, of which, 712 genomes represented 32 potentially pathogenic species. Computational analysis found nutritional endosymbionts to be prevalent and highly specific to tick genera. The microbiome genome-wide association study revealed host genetic variants linked to pathogen diversity, abundance and key biological pathways essential to tick biology, including blood-feeding and pathogen invasion. These findings provide a resource for studying the host-microbe interactions within ticks, paving the way for strategies to control tick populations and tick-borne diseases.