Chromosome-contiguous nuclear genome of Dirofilaria asiatica reveals unique molecular signatures and host interactions

Abstract

Dirofilaria asiatica is a recently described filarioid nematode of zoonotic importance whose biology, host interactions and epidemiology are largely unknown. Here, we present the first chromosome-scale nuclear genome for this species, assembled from long-read PacBio and short-read Hi-C (high-throughput chromosome conformation capture) sequence data derived from adult specimens. The resulting 91.9 Mb genome comprises four autosomes and one sex-linked scaffold and encodes 9658 protein-coding genes with a high level of completeness. Comparative genomic analyses with Dirofilaria immitis, Brugia malayi and Onchocerca volvulus revealed both conserved chromosomal synteny and lineage-specific rearra..