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Loaiza JR, Bennett KL, Miller MJ, De León LF. Unraveling the genomic complexity of sylvatic mosquitoes in changing Neotropical environments. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102944. [PMID: 37099930 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Sylvatic New World mosquitoes (e.g. Old-growth Forest species) can transmit viruses among non-human primates. This could be a continuous source of viral cycling and spillover events from animals to humans, particularly in changing environments. However, most species of Neotropical sylvatic mosquitoes (genera Aedes, Haemagogus, and Sabethes), which include vector and non-vector species, currently lack genomic resources because there is no reliable and accurate approach for creating de novo reference genomes for these insects. This is a major knowledge gap in the biology of these mosquitoes, restricting our ability to predict and mitigate the emergence and spread of novel arboviruses in Neotropical regions. We discuss recent advances and potential solutions for generating hybrid de novo assemblies from vector and non-vector species using pools of consanguineous offspring. We also discussed research opportunities likely to emerge from these genomic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose R Loaiza
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Clayton 0843-01103, Republic of Panama.
| | - Kelly L Bennett
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Miller
- RENECO International Wildlife Consultants LLC, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Luis F De León
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), Ciudad del Saber, Clayton 0843-01103, Republic of Panama; Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
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2
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Benowitz KM, Allan CW, Degain BA, Li X, Fabrick JA, Tabashnik BE, Carrière Y, Matzkin LM. Novel genetic basis of resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa zea. Genetics 2022; 221:6540856. [PMID: 35234875 PMCID: PMC9071530 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Crops genetically engineered to produce insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have advanced pest management, but their benefits are diminished when pests evolve resistance. Elucidating the genetic basis of pest resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins can improve resistance monitoring, resistance management, and the design of new insecticides. Here, we investigated the genetic basis of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry1Ac in the lepidopteran Helicoverpa zea, one of the most damaging crop pests in the United States. To facilitate this research, we built the first chromosome-level genome assembly for this species, which has 31 chromosomes containing 375 Mb and 15,482 predicted proteins. Using a genome-wide association study, fine-scale mapping, and RNA-seq, we identified a 250-kb quantitative trait locus on chromosome 13 that was strongly associated with resistance in a strain of Helicoverpa zea that had been selected for resistance in the field and lab. The mutation in this quantitative trait locus contributed to but was not sufficient for resistance, which implies alleles in more than one gene contributed to resistance. This quantitative trait locus contains no genes with a previously reported role in resistance or susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis toxins. However, in resistant insects, this quantitative trait locus has a premature stop codon in a kinesin gene, which is a primary candidate as a mutation contributing to resistance. We found no changes in gene sequence or expression consistently associated with resistance for 11 genes previously implicated in lepidopteran resistance to Cry1Ac. Thus, the results reveal a novel and polygenic basis of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle M Benowitz
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA,Department of Biology, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN 37040, USA,Corresponding author: Department of Biology, Austin Peay State University, Sundquist Science Center, 681 Summer St., Clarksville, TN 37040, USA.
| | - Carson W Allan
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Benjamin A Degain
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Xianchun Li
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Fabrick
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center, Maricopa, AZ 85138, USA
| | - Bruce E Tabashnik
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Yves Carrière
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Luciano M Matzkin
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA,Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Pfenninger M, Schönnenbeck P, Schell T. ModEst: Accurate estimation of genome size from next generation sequencing data. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:1454-1464. [PMID: 34882987 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Accurate estimates of genome sizes are important parameters for both theoretical and practical biodiversity genomics. Here we present a fast, easy-to-implement and accurate method to estimate genome size from the number of bases sequenced and the mean sequencing depth. To estimate the latter, we take advantage of the fact that an accurate estimation of the Poisson distribution parameter lambda is possible from truncated data, restricted to the part of the sequencing depth distribution representing the true underlying distribution. With simulations we show that reasonable genome size estimates can be gained even from low-coverage (10×), highly discontinuous genome drafts. Comparison of estimates from a wide range of taxa and sequencing strategies with flow cytometry estimates of the same individuals showed a very good fit and suggested that both methods yield comparable, interchangeable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Pfenninger
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp Schönnenbeck
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Tilman Schell
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Errbii M, Keilwagen J, Hoff KJ, Steffen R, Altmüller J, Oettler J, Schrader L. Transposable elements and introgression introduce genetic variation in the invasive ant Cardiocondyla obscurior. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6211-6228. [PMID: 34324751 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduced populations of invasive organisms have to cope with novel environmental challenges, while having reduced genetic variation caused by founder effects. The mechanisms associated with this "genetic paradox of invasive species" has received considerable attention, yet few studies have examined the genomic architecture of invasive species. Populations of the heart node ant Cardiocondyla obscurior belong to two distinct lineages, a New World lineage so far only found in Latin America and a more globally distributed Old World lineage. In the present study, we use population genomic approaches to compare populations of the two lineages with apparent divergent invasive potential. We find that the strong genetic differentiation of the two lineages began at least 40,000 generations ago and that activity of transposable elements (TEs) has contributed significantly to the divergence of both lineages, possibly linked to the very unusual genomic distribution of TEs in this species. Furthermore, we show that introgression from the Old World lineage is a dominant source of genetic diversity in the New World lineage, despite the lineages' strong genetic differentiation. Our study uncovers mechanisms underlying novel genetic variation in introduced populations of C. obscurior that could contribute to the species' adaptive potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Errbii
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Keilwagen
- Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI) - Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Quedlinburg, Germany
| | - Katharina J Hoff
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Raphael Steffen
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Core Facility Genomics, Berlin, Germany.,Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Oettler
- Lehrstuhl für Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Schrader
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Sprenger PP, Hartke J, Schmitt T, Menzel F, Feldmeyer B. Candidate genes involved in cuticular hydrocarbon differentiation between cryptic, parabiotic ant species. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6174692. [PMID: 33729492 PMCID: PMC8104948 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are highly diverse and have multiple functions, including communication and waterproofing. CHC profiles form species-specific, complex blends of up to 150 compounds. Especially in ants, even closely related species can have largely different profiles, raising the question how CHC differences are mirrored in the regulation of biosynthetic pathways. The neotropical ants Crematogaster levior and Camponotus femoratus both consist of two cryptic species each that are morphologically similar, but express strongly different CHC profiles. This is ideal to study the molecular basis of CHC differences. We thus investigated gene expression differences in fat-body transcriptomes of these ants. Despite common garden conditions, we found several thousand differentially expressed transcripts within each cryptic species pair. Many of these were related to metabolic processes, probably accounting for physiological differences. Moreover, we identified candidate genes from five gene families involved in CHC biosynthesis. By assigning candidate transcripts to orthologs in Drosophila, we inferred which CHCs might be influenced by differential gene expression. Expression of these candidate genes was often mirrored in the CHC profiles. For example, Cr. levior A, which has longer CHCs than its cryptic sister species, had a higher expression of elongases and a lower expression of fatty acyl- CoA reductases. This study is one of the first to identify CHC candidate genes in ants and will provide a basis for further research on the genetic basis of CHC biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp P Sprenger
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Juliane Hartke
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Senckenberg Research Institute, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Menzel
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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Harrison MC, Niño LMJ, Rodrigues MA, Ryll J, Flatt T, Oettler J, Bornberg-Bauer E. Gene Coexpression Network Reveals Highly Conserved, Well-Regulated Anti-Ageing Mechanisms in Old Ant Queens. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6263858. [PMID: 33944936 PMCID: PMC8214412 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary theories of ageing predict a reduction in selection efficiency with age, a so-called “selection shadow,” due to extrinsic mortality decreasing effective population size with age. Classic symptoms of ageing include a deterioration in transcriptional regulation and protein homeostasis. Understanding how ant queens defy the trade-off between fecundity and lifespan remains a major challenge for the evolutionary theory of ageing. It has often been discussed that the low extrinsic mortality of ant queens, that are generally well protected within the nest by workers and soldiers, should reduce the selection shadow acting on old queens. We tested this by comparing strength of selection acting on genes upregulated in young and old queens of the ant, Cardiocondyla obscurior. In support of a reduced selection shadow, we find old-biased genes to be under strong purifying selection. We also analyzed a gene coexpression network (GCN) with the aim to detect signs of ageing in the form of deteriorating regulation and proteostasis. We find no evidence for ageing. In fact, we detect higher connectivity in old queens indicating increased transcriptional regulation with age. Within the GCN, we discover five highly correlated modules that are upregulated with age. These old-biased modules regulate several antiageing mechanisms such as maintenance of proteostasis, transcriptional regulation, and stress response. We observe stronger purifying selection on central hub genes of these old-biased modules compared with young-biased modules. These results indicate a lack of transcriptional ageing in old C. obscurior queens, possibly facilitated by strong selection at old age and well-regulated antiageing mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Harrison
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Germany
| | | | | | - Judith Ryll
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Germany
| | - Thomas Flatt
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Jan Oettler
- Institut für Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie, University of Regensburg, Germany
| | - Erich Bornberg-Bauer
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.,Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
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Hartke J, Waldvogel A, Sprenger PP, Schmitt T, Menzel F, Pfenninger M, Feldmeyer B. Little parallelism in genomic signatures of local adaptation in two sympatric, cryptic sister species. J Evol Biol 2021; 34:937-952. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Hartke
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt am Main Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution Johannes‐Gutenberg‐University Mainz Mainz Germany
| | - Ann‐Marie Waldvogel
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt am Main Germany
- Institute for Zoology University of Cologne Cologne Germany
| | - Philipp P. Sprenger
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution Johannes‐Gutenberg‐University Mainz Mainz Germany
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, Am Hubland University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Thomas Schmitt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocentre, Am Hubland University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Florian Menzel
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution Johannes‐Gutenberg‐University Mainz Mainz Germany
| | - Markus Pfenninger
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt am Main Germany
- Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution Johannes‐Gutenberg‐University Mainz Mainz Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE‐TBG) Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Barbara Feldmeyer
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt am Main Germany
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Genome Size Estimation of Callipogon relictus Semenov (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an Endangered Species and a Korea Natural Monument. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12020111. [PMID: 33513896 PMCID: PMC7910860 DOI: 10.3390/insects12020111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The longhorned beetle Calipogon relictus has been considered as a class I endangered species since 2012 in Korea. In an attempt towards beetle conservation, we estimated its genome size at 1.8 ± 0.2 Gb, representing one of the largest cerambycid genomes. This study provides useful insight at the genome level and facilitates the development of an effective conservation strategy. Abstract We estimated the genome size of a relict longhorn beetle, Callipogon relictus Semenov (Cerambycidae: Prioninae)—the Korean natural monument no. 218 and a Class I endangered species—using a combination of flow cytometry and k-mer analysis. The two independent methods enabled accurate estimation of the genome size in Cerambycidae for the first time. The genome size of C. relictus was 1.8 ± 0.2 Gb, representing one of the largest cerambycid genomes studied to date. An accurate estimation of genome size of a critically endangered longhorned beetle is a major milestone in our understanding and characterization of the C. relictus genome. Ultimately, the findings provide useful insight into insect genomics and genome size evolution, particularly among beetles.
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