Recurrent horizontal gene transfers across diverse termite genomes

  • Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the transmission of genetic material across species, is an important innovation source in prokaryotes. In contrast, its significance is unclear in many eukaryotes, including insects. Here, we used high-quality genomes of 45 termites and two cockroaches to investigate HGTs from non-metazoan organisms across blattodean genomes. We identified 289 genes and 2,494 pseudogenes classified into 168 orthologous groups originating from an estimated 281 HGT events. Wolbachia represented the primary HGT source, while termite gut bacteria and the cockroach endosymbiont Blattabacterium did not contribute meaningfully to HGTs. Most horizontally acquired genes descended from recent and species-specific HGTs, experienced frequent duplications and pseudogenizations, and accumulated substitutions faster than synonymous sites of native protein-coding genes. Genes frequently transferred horizontally to termite genomes included mobile genetic elements and genetic informationHorizontal gene transfer (HGT), the transmission of genetic material across species, is an important innovation source in prokaryotes. In contrast, its significance is unclear in many eukaryotes, including insects. Here, we used high-quality genomes of 45 termites and two cockroaches to investigate HGTs from non-metazoan organisms across blattodean genomes. We identified 289 genes and 2,494 pseudogenes classified into 168 orthologous groups originating from an estimated 281 HGT events. Wolbachia represented the primary HGT source, while termite gut bacteria and the cockroach endosymbiont Blattabacterium did not contribute meaningfully to HGTs. Most horizontally acquired genes descended from recent and species-specific HGTs, experienced frequent duplications and pseudogenizations, and accumulated substitutions faster than synonymous sites of native protein-coding genes. Genes frequently transferred horizontally to termite genomes included mobile genetic elements and genetic information processing genes. Our results indicate that termites continuously acquired genes through HGT, and that most horizontally acquired genes are specific to restricted lineages. Overall, genes acquired by HGT by termites and cockroaches seemed generally non-functional and bound to be lost.zeige mehrzeige weniger

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Autor*innen:Cong LiuORCiD, Simon HellemansORCiD, Yukihiro Kinjo, Alina A Mikhailova, Cédric AumontORCiD, Yi-Ming Weng, Aleš Buček, Filip HusnikORCiD, Jan Šobotník, Mark C HarrisonORCiD, Dino P McMahon, Thomas BourguignonORCiD
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenartikel
Veröffentlichungsform:Verlagsliteratur
Sprache:Englisch
Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch):Evolution
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung:2026
Organisationseinheit der BAM:4 Material und Umwelt
4 Material und Umwelt / 4.3 Molekulare und angewandte Entomologie
Verlag:Oxford University Press (OUP)
Erste Seite:1
Letzte Seite:14
DDC-Klassifikation:Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik
Freie Schlagwörter:Comparative genomics; Isoptera; Phylogenomics
Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM:Umwelt
Umwelt / Biokorrosion
DOI:10.1093/evolut/qpag003
ISSN:0014-3820
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments:Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access")
Datum der Freischaltung:28.01.2026
Referierte Publikation:Ja
Datum der Eintragung als referierte Publikation:28.01.2026
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