Meeting Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) occurs when genetic material is passed laterally across species rather than vertically from ancestors to descendants. It is known to contribute to evolutionary adaptation in prokaryotes, but studies of HGT in multicellular organisms are limited. Despite the paucity of data, horizontally transferred genes (HGTs) have been found in diverse eukaryotes. Some of these genes have been independently acquired in the genomes of organisms with similar ecological niches, suggesting that they may enable adaptive evolution. Studying HGT in parasites is particularly interesting because the association between parasites and their hosts may facilitate the exchange of genetic material. Indeed, HGTs have been identified in diverse parasites from the bacteria, plant, and animal kingdoms. This raises the question of whether certain HGTs have been independently acquired by parasites with similar mechanisms of host interaction. Blood-feeding insects are ideal for addressing this question, because of the vast genetic data available for them and their negative impacts on public health. We asked whether specific HGTs that may facilitate blood-feeding have been independently acquired by hematophagous insects. To address this question, we developed a protocol for conservative identification of HGTs and applied it to parasitic blowfly (Protocalliphora sialia). We compared our results with a list of HGTs in mosquitoes, which evolved blood-feeding independently of Protocalliphora. Our preliminary results indicate that HGT has occurred in Protocalliphora; however, we have not yet identified any HGTs that are also present in mosquitos. Future work should investigate HGT in additional blood feeders to determine the role that this process may play in the evolution of these parasites, some of which present serious threats to public health.
