Genomic Insights into Divergent Evolutionary Strategies and Vector Capacities of Ticks

Ticks, which are globally distributed, transmit a wide range of human and animal pathogens. Soft and hard ticks are two major tick families exhibiting distinct vector capacities and blood-feeding abilities. However, understanding the genetic basis of these differences is hindered by the scarcity of high-quality tick genomes, particularly for soft ticks. Here, we present high-quality genomes of two soft and two hard tick species of both evolutionary and medical importance, and compare the genomic characteristics of the two tick families. Compared with soft ticks, hard ticks exhibited faster genome evolution, characterized by larger genome sizes, higher rates of gene gain and loss, and a greater number of positively selected genes. Both tick families exhibited frequent positive selection across metabolism and organismal systems, sharing a core set of adaptive genes but undergoing refinement at different sites. Gene families underpinning various vector capacities, including those involved in cuticle structure, heme biosynthesis, egg waxing, and immune pathways, were identified. Additionally, we assembled the genomes of two novel Rickettsia endosymbionts from soft ticks, revealing high genomic divergence and lineage-specific adaptations to their hosts. These genomic resources provide fundamental insights into the genetic basis of tick biology and vector capacity, highlighting the divergent evolutionary strategies of blood-feeding arthropods shaped by their ecological niches.