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EmaxDB: Availability of a first draft genome sequence for the apicomplexan Eimeria maxima

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.03.004Get rights and content

Abstract

Apicomplexan parasites are serious pathogens of animals and man that cause diseases including coccidiosis, malaria and toxoplasmosis. The importance of these parasites has prompted the establishment of genomic resources in support of developing effective control strategies. For the Eimeria species resources have developed most rapidly for the reference Eimeria tenella Houghton strain (http://www.genedb.org/Homepage/Etenella). The value of these resources can be enhanced by comparison with related parasites. The well characterised immunogenicity and genetic diversity associated with Eimeria maxima promote its use in genetics-led studies on coccidiosis and recommended its selection for sequencing. Using a combination of sequencing technologies a first draft assembly and annotation has been produced for an E. maxima Houghton strain-derived clone (EmaxDB; http://www.genomemalaysia.gov.my/emaxdb/). The assembly of a draft genome sequence for E. maxima provides a resource for comparative studies with Eimeria and related parasites as demonstrated here through the identification of genes predicted to encode microneme proteins in E. maxima.

Highlights

► The first genome sequence assembly and annotation for Eimeria maxima. ► The second genome sequence resource for an Eimeria species parasite. ► Preliminary identification of a panel of genes that encode proteins of relevance to E. maxima motility and invasion.

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Hafiza Aida Ahmad, Khairil Anuar Zainal and Siti Noraini Othman for technical assistance. The research described here has been supported in part by the Department for International Development and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK; grant number BB/H009337/2) as well as the Genomics and Molecular Biology Initiatives Programme of the Malaysia Genome Institute, MOSTI, Malaysia (grant number 07-05-16-MGI-GMB10). This manuscript has been

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