Molecular cloning and characterization of a calreticulin cDNA from the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

► Presently, Calreticulin (CRT) has only been isolated from Meloidogyne incognita, an obligatory sedentary endoparasitism nematode. ► Here, we report the first cloning and characterization of a CRT gene (Bx-crt1) from Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a migratory parasitism nematode. ► Bx-crt-1 is important for the development of B. xylophilus. ► Such a comparative analysis would provide new insights in understanding the molecular factors involved in two different modes of parasitism.