Molecular and phylogenetic characterization of cytochromes c from Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus vitrinus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylida)

Abstract

Although cytochrome c genes (cyt c) and proteins (CYT C) have been relatively well studied in mammals, very little is known about them in parasitic helminths. In the present study, we investigated this group of molecules in Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm) and Trichostrongylus vitrinus (black scour worm), two parasitic nematodes of small ruminants. The cyt c gene (512 bp) of H. contortus had one intron and encoded a transcript of 345 nucleotides, whilst that of T. vitrinus (792 bp) had two introns and encoded a transcript of 360 nucleotides. The transcription of cyt c in T. vitrinus was substantially greater in adult males compared with females, although no such gender-enrichment wa..