Abstract:

Nematodes (roundworms) are abundant with a variety of lifestyles, and many of them such as Trichinella spiralis, Ascaris suum and Brugia malayi are parasitic and of veterinary and medical importance causing substantial socioeconomic losses across China and worldwide. The review focuses on current progress, applifications and perspectives related to mitochondrial (mt) genomes (mtDNAs) and genomics of nematodes. Until now, complete mt genomes for 46 species of nematodes have been sequenced and analyzed. The mt gene content, arrangement, composition, variation and so on of nematodes are unique and provide important data concerning functional and comparative mitochondrial genomics, molecular taxonomy, specific species characterization, population genetics and systematics, and evolutionary history. Moreover, they lay the foundation for mtDNA-based methods for diagnosis and epidemiology of nematodiasis.

Key words: nematode, mitochondrial genome, gene structure, taxonomy