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Updated: Feb 11, 2026
07:21
Tick Microbiome Characterization by Next-Generation 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
Published on: August 25, 2018
13.5K
Tick mitogenomes: Structural characteristics, phylogenetic implications, and a critical synthesis from sequencing to
Mourad Ben Said1, Myriam Kratou2, Hanène Belkahia3
1Laboratory of Parasitology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia; Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia; Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia.
Acta Tropica
|February 9, 2026
Summary
Mitochondrial genomes improve tick identification and evolutionary studies, but combining them with nuclear data is crucial for accuracy. Best practices ensure reliable tick genomics for disease control and systematics.
Area of Science:
- Genomics and Bioinformatics
- Parasitology and Vector Biology
- Evolutionary Biology and Systematics
Background:
- Ticks are significant disease vectors, but traditional identification methods struggle with subtle variations.
- Soft ticks (Argasidae) present particular taxonomic challenges due to inter- and intraspecific variability.
- Complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) offer a rich marker for resolving tick evolutionary relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in tick mitochondrial genomics and address challenges in identification and evolutionary analysis.
- To outline best-practice guidelines for accurate, reproducible, and data-integrated tick genomic studies.
- To emphasize the need for integrative phylogenomic frameworks combining mitochondrial and nuclear data.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing (Illumina, Oxford Nanopore) and specialized bioinformatic pipelines (SPAdes, MitoZ, MITOS, ARWEN).
- Comparative annotation integrating automated gene prediction and manual curation for accurate gene mapping.
- Phylogenomic analyses using concatenated mitochondrial protein-coding genes and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs).
Main Results:
- Mitogenomes robustly support major tick family monophyly (Argasidae, Ixodidae, Nuttalliellidae) and clarify relationships within key genera.
- Technological advancements enable routine mitogenome recovery, overcoming DNA degradation issues.
- Overreliance on mitochondrial DNA alone can lead to misinterpretations; integrative approaches are necessary.
Conclusions:
- Integrative phylogenomics combining mitochondrial and nuclear datasets (e.g., 18S-28S rRNA, ITS2, ultraconserved elements) are essential for robust species delimitation.
- Addressing under-sampling in specific regions and integrating nuclear markers will advance tick systematics and vector-borne disease control.
- Adherence to standardized quality control, validation, and data sharing is critical for reliable tick mitochondrial genomics.
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