Quantitative PCR-based genome size estimation of the astigmatid mites Sarcoptes scabiei, Psoroptes ovis and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

• Published in: Parasites & vectors Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 3
• Main Authors: Mounsey, Kate E, Willis, Charlene, Burgess, Stewart T G, Holt, Deborah C, McCarthy, James, Fischer, Katja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 04-01-2012; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Chromosomes - genetics; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus - genetics; DNA Primers - genetics; Dust; Evolution, Molecular; Female; Flow cytometry; Genetic aspects; Genetic engineering; genome size; Genome Size - genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Humans; Insects; Male; Medical research; Mite Infestations - parasitology; Mites; Parasites; Polymerase chain reaction; Psoroptes ovis; Psoroptidae - genetics; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Sarcoptes scabiei; Sarcoptes scabiei - genetics; Scabies - parasitology; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - parasitology; Swine; Swine Diseases - parasitology; Australia; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 1756-3305; 1756-3305
• DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-3

The lack of genomic data available for mites limits our understanding of their biology. Evolving high-throughput sequencing technologies promise to deliver rapid advances in this area, however, estimates of genome size are initially required to ensure sufficient coverage.
Quantitative real-time PCR was used to estimate the genome sizes of the burrowing ectoparasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei, the non-burrowing ectoparasitic mite Psoroptes ovis, and the free-living house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Additionally, the chromosome number of S. scabiei was determined by chromosomal spreads of embryonic cells derived from single eggs.
S. scabiei cells were shown to contain 17 or 18 small (< 2 μM) chromosomes, suggesting an XO sex-determination mechanism. The average estimated genome sizes of S. scabiei and P. ovis were 96 (± 7) Mb and 86 (± 2) Mb respectively, among the smallest arthropod genomes reported to date. The D. pteronyssinus genome was estimated to be larger than its parasitic counterparts, at 151 Mb in female mites and 218 Mb in male mites.
This data provides a starting point for understanding the genetic organisation and evolution of these astigmatid mites, informing future sequencing projects. A comparitive genomic approach including these three closely related mites is likely to reveal key insights on mite biology, parasitic adaptations and immune evasion.