Genome of the fatal tapeworm Sparganum proliferum uncovers mechanisms for cryptic life cycle and aberrant larval proliferation

Abstract The cryptic parasite Sparganum proliferum proliferates in humans and invades tissues organs. Only scattered cases have been reported, but S. infection is always fatal. However, ’s phylogeny life cycle remain enigmatic. To investigate the phylogenetic relationships between other cestode species, to examine mechanisms underlying pathogenicity, we sequenced entire genomes of a closely related non–life-threatening tapeworm Spirometra erinaceieuropaei . Additionally, performed larvae transcriptome analyses plerocercoid identify genes involved asexual reproduction host. genome sequences confirmed that has experienced clearly distinct evolutionary history from Moreover, found nonordinal extracellular matrix coordination allows host, loss sexual maturity are responsible for its fatal pathogenicity humans. Our high-quality reference should be valuable future studies pseudophyllidean biology parasitism.