No pre-zygotic isolation mechanisms between Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma bovis parasites: From mating interactions to differential gene expression

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 May 4;15(5):e0009363. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009363. eCollection 2021 May.

Abstract

Species usually develop reproductive isolation mechanisms allowing them to avoid interbreeding. These preventive barriers can act before reproduction, "pre-zygotic barriers", or after reproduction, "post-zygotic barriers". Pre-zygotic barriers prevent unfavourable mating, while post-zygotic barriers determine the viability and selective success of the hybrid offspring. Hybridization in parasites and the underlying reproductive isolation mechanisms maintaining their genetic integrity have been overlooked. Using an integrated approach this work aims to quantify the relative importance of pre-zygotic barriers in Schistosoma haematobium x S. bovis crosses. These two co-endemic species cause schistosomiasis, one of the major debilitating parasitic diseases worldwide, and can hybridize naturally. Using mate choice experiments we first tested if a specific mate recognition system exists between both species. Second, using RNA-sequencing we analysed differential gene expression between homo- and hetero-specific pairing in male and female adult parasites. We show that homo- and hetero-specific pairing occurs randomly between these two species, and few genes in both sexes are affected by hetero-specific pairing. This suggests that i) mate choice is not a reproductive isolating factor, and that ii) no pre-zygotic barrier except spatial isolation "by the final vertebrate host" seems to limit interbreeding between these two species. Interestingly, among the few genes affected by the pairing status of the worms, some can be related to pathways affected during male and female interactions and may also present interesting candidates for species isolation mechanisms and hybridization in schistosome parasites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cricetinae
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genetic Speciation
  • Male
  • Mosaicism / embryology*
  • Reproduction / physiology*
  • Reproductive Isolation*
  • Schistosoma haematobium / classification*
  • Schistosoma haematobium / embryology
  • Schistosoma haematobium / growth & development

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.12581156

Grants and funding

This work has been funded by the French Research National Agency (project HySWARM, grant no. ANR-18-CE35-0001). SM was supported by the Occitania region (project MOLRISK, award no. NREST 2019/1/059), the European “Fonds Européen de Développement Régional” (FEDER) and MRG by the Fellowship of "Estancias breves" (linked to the Programa de Ayudas de Formacion de Profesorado Universitario 2015, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/servicios-al-ciudadano/catalogo/general/20/200487/ficha/200487-2017.html#dc1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.