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Meisel RP, Freeman JC, Asgari D, Llaca V, Fengler KA, Mann D, Rastogi A, Loso M, Geng C, Scott JG. New insights into immune genes and other expanded gene families of the house fly, Musca domestica, from an improved whole genome sequence. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 114:e22049. [PMID: 37608635 DOI: 10.1002/arch.22049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The house fly, Musca domestica, is a pest of livestock, transmits pathogens of human diseases, and is a model organism in multiple biological research areas. The first house fly genome assembly was published in 2014 and has been of tremendous use to the community of house fly biologists, but that genome is discontiguous and incomplete by contemporary standards. To improve the house fly reference genome, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the house fly genome using improved techniques and technologies that were not available at the time of the original genome sequencing project. The new genome assembly is substantially more contiguous and complete than the previous genome. The new genome assembly has a scaffold N50 of 12.46 Mb, which is a 50-fold improvement over the previous assembly. In addition, the new genome assembly is within 1% of the estimated genome size based on flow cytometry, whereas the previous assembly was missing nearly one-third of the predicted genome sequence. The improved genome assembly has much more contiguous scaffolds containing large gene families. To provide an example of the benefit of the new genome, we used it to investigate tandemly arrayed immune gene families. The new contiguous assembly of these loci provides a clearer picture of the regulation of the expression of immune genes, and it leads to new insights into the selection pressures that shape their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Science and Research 2, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jamie C Freeman
- Department of Entomology, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Danial Asgari
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Science and Research 2, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | - David Mann
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Mike Loso
- Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey G Scott
- Department of Entomology, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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2
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Shao S, Yang L, Hu G, Li L, Wang Y, Tao L. Application of omics techniques in forensic entomology research. Acta Trop 2023; 246:106985. [PMID: 37473953 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of the post-genome era, omics technologies have developed rapidly and are widely used, including in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiome research. These omics techniques are often based on comprehensive and systematic analysis of biological samples using high-throughput analysis methods and bioinformatics, to provide new insights into biological phenomena. Currently, omics techniques are gradually being applied to forensic entomology research and are useful in species identification, phylogenetics, screening for developmentally relevant differentially expressed genes, and the interpretation of behavioral characteristics of forensic-related species at the genetic level. These all provide valuable information for estimating the postmortem interval (PMI). This review mainly discusses the available omics techniques, summarizes the application of omics techniques in forensic entomology, and their future in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shipeng Shao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Lijun Yang
- Criminal Police Branch, Suzhou Public Security Bureau, Renmin Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Gengwang Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Liangliang Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China.
| | - Luyang Tao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Ganjiang East Road, Suzhou, China
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3
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Tandonnet S, Krsticevic F, Basika T, Papathanos PA, Torres TT, Scott MJ. A chromosomal-scale reference genome of the New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax. DNA Res 2022; 30:6825375. [PMID: 36370138 PMCID: PMC9835758 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsac042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The New World Screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Calliphoridae), is the most important myiasis-causing species in America. Screwworm myiasis is a zoonosis that can cause severe lesions in livestock, domesticated and wild animals, and occasionally in people. Beyond the sanitary problems associated with this species, these infestations negatively impact economic sectors, such as the cattle industry. Here, we present a chromosome-scale assembly of C. hominivorax's genome, organized in 6 chromosome-length and 515 unplaced scaffolds spanning 534 Mb. There was a clear correspondence between the D. melanogaster linkage groups A-E and the chromosomal-scale scaffolds. Chromosome quotient (CQ) analysis identified a single scaffold from the X chromosome that contains most of the orthologs of genes that are on the D. melanogaster fourth chromosome (linkage group F or dot chromosome). CQ analysis also identified potential X and Y unplaced scaffolds and genes. Y-linkage for selected regions was confirmed by PCR with male and female DNA. Some of the long chromosome-scale scaffolds include Y-linked sequences, suggesting misassembly of these regions. These resources will provide a basis for future studies aiming at understanding the biology and evolution of this devastating obligate parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Tandonnet
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Flavia Krsticevic
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tatiana Basika
- Present address: Pasteur+INIA Joint Unit, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, CP 11400 Montevideo Uruguay
| | - Philippos A Papathanos
- Department of Entomology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tatiana T Torres
- Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Maxwell J Scott
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 919 515 0275; Fax: +1 919 515 7716.
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Drozdova P, Saranchina A, Madyarova E, Gurkov A, Timofeyev M. Experimental Crossing Confirms Reproductive Isolation between Cryptic Species within Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Lake Baikal. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810858. [PMID: 36142769 PMCID: PMC9506054 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient lakes are known speciation hotspots. One of the most speciose groups in the ancient Lake Baikal are gammaroid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Gammaroidea). There are over 350 morphological species and subspecies of amphipods in Baikal, but the extent of cryptic variation is still unclear. One of the most common species in the littoral zone of the lake, Eulimnogammarus verrucosus (Gerstfeldt, 1858), was recently found to comprise at least three (pseudo)cryptic species based on molecular data. Here, we further explored these species by analyzing their mitogenome-based phylogeny, genome sizes with flow cytometry, and their reproductive compatibility. We found divergent times of millions of years and different genome sizes in the three species (6.1, 6.9 and 8 pg), further confirming their genetic separation. Experimental crossing of the western and southern species, which are morphologically indistinguishable and have adjacent ranges, showed their separation with a post-zygotic reproductive barrier, as hybrid embryos stopped developing roughly at the onset of gastrulation. Thus, the previously applied barcoding approach effectively indicated the separate biological species within E. verrucosus. These results provide new data for investigating genome evolution and highlight the need for precise tracking of the sample origin in any studies in this morphospecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Drozdova
- Institute of Biology, Irkutsk State University, 664025 Irkutsk, Russia
- Baikal Research Centre, 664011 Irkutsk, Russia
- Correspondence: (P.D.); (M.T.)
| | | | | | - Anton Gurkov
- Institute of Biology, Irkutsk State University, 664025 Irkutsk, Russia
- Baikal Research Centre, 664011 Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Maxim Timofeyev
- Institute of Biology, Irkutsk State University, 664025 Irkutsk, Russia
- Baikal Research Centre, 664011 Irkutsk, Russia
- Correspondence: (P.D.); (M.T.)
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5
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Davis RJ, Belikoff EJ, Dickey AN, Scholl EH, Benoit JB, Scott MJ. Genome and transcriptome sequencing of the green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata, reveals underlying factors of sheep flystrike and maggot debridement therapy. Genomics 2021; 113:3978-3988. [PMID: 34619342 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The common green bottle blow fly Lucilia sericata (family, Calliphoridae) is widely used for maggot debridement therapy, which involves the application of sterile maggots to wounds. The larval excretions and secretions are important for consuming necrotic tissue and inhibiting bacterial growth in wounds of patients. Lucilia sericata is also of importance as a pest of sheep and in forensic studies to estimate a postmortem interval. Here we report the assembly of a 565.3 Mb genome from long read PacBio DNA sequencing of genomic DNA. The genome contains 14,704 predicted protein coding genes and 1709 non-coding genes. Targeted annotation and transcriptional analyses identified genes that are highly expressed in the larval salivary glands (secretions) and Malpighian tubules (excretions) under normal growth conditions and following heat stress. The genomic resources will underpin future genetic studies and in development of engineered strains for genetic control of L. sericata and for biotechnology-enhanced maggot therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Davis
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
| | - Esther J Belikoff
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
| | - Allison N Dickey
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7566, Raleigh, NC 27695-7566, USA.
| | - Elizabeth H Scholl
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7566, Raleigh, NC 27695-7566, USA.
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45211, USA.
| | - Maxwell J Scott
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
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Pimsler ML, Hjelmen CE, Jonika MM, Sharma A, Fu S, Bala M, Sze SH, Tomberlin JK, Tarone AM. Sexual Dimorphism in Growth Rate and Gene Expression Throughout Immature Development in Wild Type Chrysomya rufifacies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Macquart. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.696638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Reliability of forensic entomology analyses to produce relevant information to a given case requires an understanding of the underlying arthropod population(s) of interest and the factors contributing to variability. Common traits for analyses are affected by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. One trait of interest in forensic investigations has been species-specific temperature-dependent growth rates. Recent work indicates sexual dimorphism may be important in the analysis of such traits and related genetic markers of age. However, studying sexual dimorphic patterns of gene expression throughout immature development in wild-type insects can be difficult due to a lack of genetic tools, and the limits of most sex-determination mechanisms. Chrysomya rufifacies, however, is a particularly tractable system to address these issues as it has a monogenic sex determination system, meaning females have only a single-sex of offspring throughout their life. Using modified breeding procedures (to ensure single-female egg clutches) and transcriptomics, we investigated sexual dimorphism in development rate and gene expression. Females develop slower than males (9 h difference from egg to eclosion respectively) even at 30°C, with an average egg-to-eclosion time of 225 h for males and 234 h for females. Given that many key genes rely on sex-specific splicing for the development and maintenance of sexually dimorphic traits, we used a transcriptomic approach to identify different expression of gene splice variants. We find that 98.4% of assembled nodes exhibited sex-specific, stage-specific, to sex-by-stage specific patterns of expression. However, the greatest signal in the expression data is differentiation by developmental stage, indicating that sexual dimorphism in gene expression during development may not be investigatively important and that markers of age may be relatively independent of sex. Subtle differences in these gene expression patterns can be detected as early as 4 h post-oviposition, and 12 of these nodes demonstrate homology with key Drosophila sex determination genes, providing clues regarding the distinct sex determination mechanism of C. rufifacies. Finally, we validated the transcriptome analyses through qPCR and have identified five genes that are developmentally informative within and between sexes.
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7
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Son JH, Meisel RP. Gene-Level, but Not Chromosome-Wide, Divergence between a Very Young House Fly Proto-Y Chromosome and Its Homologous Proto-X Chromosome. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:606-618. [PMID: 32986844 PMCID: PMC7826193 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
X and Y chromosomes are usually derived from a pair of homologous autosomes, which then diverge from each other over time. Although Y-specific features have been characterized in sex chromosomes of various ages, the earliest stages of Y chromosome evolution remain elusive. In particular, we do not know whether early stages of Y chromosome evolution consist of changes to individual genes or happen via chromosome-scale divergence from the X. To address this question, we quantified divergence between young proto-X and proto-Y chromosomes in the house fly, Musca domestica. We compared proto-sex chromosome sequence and gene expression between genotypic (XY) and sex-reversed (XX) males. We find evidence for sequence divergence between genes on the proto-X and proto-Y, including five genes with mitochondrial functions. There is also an excess of genes with divergent expression between the proto-X and proto-Y, but the number of genes is small. This suggests that individual proto-Y genes, but not the entire proto-Y chromosome, have diverged from the proto-X. We identified one gene, encoding an axonemal dynein assembly factor (which functions in sperm motility), that has higher expression in XY males than XX males because of a disproportionate contribution of the proto-Y allele to gene expression. The upregulation of the proto-Y allele may be favored in males because of this gene's function in spermatogenesis. The evolutionary divergence between proto-X and proto-Y copies of this gene, as well as the mitochondrial genes, is consistent with selection in males affecting the evolution of individual genes during early Y chromosome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Hak Son
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX
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8
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Olafson PU, Aksoy S, Attardo GM, Buckmeier G, Chen X, Coates CJ, Davis M, Dykema J, Emrich SJ, Friedrich M, Holmes CJ, Ioannidis P, Jansen EN, Jennings EC, Lawson D, Martinson EO, Maslen GL, Meisel RP, Murphy TD, Nayduch D, Nelson DR, Oyen KJ, Raszick TJ, Ribeiro JMC, Robertson HM, Rosendale AJ, Sackton TB, Saelao P, Swiger SL, Sze SH, Tarone AM, Taylor DB, Warren WC, Waterhouse RM, Weirauch MT, Werren JH, Wilson RK, Zdobnov EM, Benoit JB. The genome of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, reveals potential mechanisms underlying reproduction, host interactions, and novel targets for pest control. BMC Biol 2021; 19:41. [PMID: 33750380 PMCID: PMC7944917 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-00975-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a major blood-feeding pest of livestock that has near worldwide distribution, causing an annual cost of over $2 billion for control and product loss in the USA alone. Control of these flies has been limited to increased sanitary management practices and insecticide application for suppressing larval stages. Few genetic and molecular resources are available to help in developing novel methods for controlling stable flies. Results This study examines stable fly biology by utilizing a combination of high-quality genome sequencing and RNA-Seq analyses targeting multiple developmental stages and tissues. In conjunction, 1600 genes were manually curated to characterize genetic features related to stable fly reproduction, vector host interactions, host-microbe dynamics, and putative targets for control. Most notable was characterization of genes associated with reproduction and identification of expanded gene families with functional associations to vision, chemosensation, immunity, and metabolic detoxification pathways. Conclusions The combined sequencing, assembly, and curation of the male stable fly genome followed by RNA-Seq and downstream analyses provide insights necessary to understand the biology of this important pest. These resources and new data will provide the groundwork for expanding the tools available to control stable fly infestations. The close relationship of Stomoxys to other blood-feeding (horn flies and Glossina) and non-blood-feeding flies (house flies, medflies, Drosophila) will facilitate understanding of the evolutionary processes associated with development of blood feeding among the Cyclorrhapha. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-00975-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia U Olafson
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA.
| | - Serap Aksoy
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Attardo
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Greta Buckmeier
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- The Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Craig J Coates
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Megan Davis
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Justin Dykema
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Scott J Emrich
- Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Markus Friedrich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Christopher J Holmes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Panagiotis Ioannidis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Evan N Jansen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Emily C Jennings
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Daniel Lawson
- The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, The European Bioinformatics Institute, The Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | | | - Gareth L Maslen
- The European Molecular Biology Laboratory, The European Bioinformatics Institute, The Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Richard P Meisel
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Terence D Murphy
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Dana Nayduch
- Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - David R Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kennan J Oyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tyler J Raszick
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - José M C Ribeiro
- Section of Vector Biology, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Hugh M Robertson
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Timothy B Sackton
- Informatics Group, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Perot Saelao
- Livestock Arthropod Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Kerrville, TX, USA
| | - Sonja L Swiger
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Stephenville, TX, USA
| | - Sing-Hoi Sze
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Aaron M Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - David B Taylor
- Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Wesley C Warren
- University of Missouri, Bond Life Sciences Center, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - John H Werren
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Richard K Wilson
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.,College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Evgeny M Zdobnov
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Andere AA, Pimsler ML, Tarone AM, Picard CJ. The genomes of a monogenic fly: views of primitive sex chromosomes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15728. [PMID: 32978490 PMCID: PMC7519133 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72880-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of male and female offspring is often determined by the presence of specific sex chromosomes which control sex-specific expression, and sex chromosomes evolve through reduced recombination and specialized gene content. Here we present the genomes of Chrysomya rufifacies, a monogenic blow fly (females produce female or male offspring, exclusively) by separately sequencing and assembling each type of female and the male. The genomes (> 25X coverage) do not appear to have any sex-linked Muller F elements (typical for many Diptera) and exhibit little differentiation between groups supporting the morphological assessments of C. rufifacies homomorphic chromosomes. Males in this species are associated with a unimodal coverage distribution while females exhibit bimodal coverage distributions, suggesting a potential difference in genomic architecture. The presence of the individual-sex draft genomes herein provides new clues regarding the origination and evolution of the diverse sex-determining mechanisms observed within Diptera. Additional genomic analysis of sex chromosomes and sex-determining genes of other blow flies will allow a refined evolutionary understanding of how flies with a typical X/Y heterogametic amphogeny (male and female offspring in similar ratios) sex determination systems evolved into one with a dominant factor that results in single sex progeny in a chromosomally monomorphic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A. Andere
- Department of Biology, Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Meaghan L. Pimsler
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL USA
| | - Aaron M. Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX USA
| | - Christine J. Picard
- Department of Biology, Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN USA
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10
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Scott MJ, Benoit JB, Davis RJ, Bailey ST, Varga V, Martinson EO, Hickner PV, Syed Z, Cardoso GA, Torres TT, Weirauch MT, Scholl EH, Phillippy AM, Sagel A, Vasquez M, Quintero G, Skoda SR. Genomic analyses of a livestock pest, the New World screwworm, find potential targets for genetic control programs. Commun Biol 2020; 3:424. [PMID: 32753684 PMCID: PMC7403345 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01152-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The New World Screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a major pest of livestock in South America and Caribbean. However, few genomic resources have been available for this species. A genome of 534 Mb was assembled from long read PacBio DNA sequencing of DNA from a highly inbred strain. Analysis of molecular evolution identified 40 genes that are likely under positive selection. Developmental RNA-seq analysis identified specific genes associated with each stage. We identify and analyze the expression of genes that are likely important for host-seeking behavior (chemosensory), development of larvae in open wounds in warm-blooded animals (heat shock protein, immune response) and for building transgenic strains for genetic control programs including gene drive (sex determination, germline). This study will underpin future experiments aimed at understanding the parasitic lifestyle of the screwworm fly and greatly facilitate future development of strains for efficient systems for genetic control of screwworm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell J Scott
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7613, USA.
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, McMicken School of Arts and Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Rebecca J Davis
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7613, USA
| | - Samuel T Bailey
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, McMicken School of Arts and Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Virag Varga
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, McMicken School of Arts and Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Ellen O Martinson
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Paul V Hickner
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40546, USA
| | | | - Gisele A Cardoso
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tatiana T Torres
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Divisions of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Elizabeth H Scholl
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7566, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7566, USA
| | - Adam M Phillippy
- Genome Informatics Section, Computational and Statistical Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | | | | | | | - Steven R Skoda
- USDA-ARS, Tick and Biting Fly Research Unit, Knipling-Bushland Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, 2700 Fredericksburg Rd., Kerrville, TX, 78028, USA
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Jonika MM, Hjelmen CE, Faris AM, McGuane AS, Tarone AM. An Evaluation of Differentially Spliced Genes as Markers of Sex for Forensic Entomology,. J Forensic Sci 2020; 65:1579-1587. [PMID: 32501598 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Blow flies (Calliphoridae) are important medically and economically and are commonly used in forensics as temporal markers in death investigations. While phenotypic traits in adult flies can be sexually dimorphic, sex identification in immatures is difficult. Consequently, little is known about how sex may result in developmental disparities among sexes even though there are indications that they may be important in some instances. Since genetic mechanisms for sex are well studied in model flies and species of agricultural and medical importance, we exploit the sex-specifically spliced genes transformer (tra) and doublesex (dsx) in the sex determination pathway to optimize a sex identification assay for immatures. Using known primer sets for tra and with a novel one for dsx, we develop PCR assays for identifying sex in four forensically relevant Calliphoridae species: Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann), Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), and Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) and evaluated their performance. Band detection rates were found to range from 71 to 100%, call rates ranged from 90 to 100%, and no error was found when bands could be called. Such information is informative for purposes of testimony and in preparation for development studies. The developed assays will assist in further differentiating sexually dimorphic differences in development of the Calliphoridae and aid in more accurately estimating insect age when age predictive markers (size, development time, molecular expression) are sexually dimorphic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Jonika
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, 2475 TAMU, 370 Olsen Blvd., College Station, TX, 77843.,Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, 525 Lubbock St., College Station, TX, 77843.,Genetics Interdisciplinary Program, Texas A&M University, 2128 TAMU, 300 Olsen Blvd., College Station, TX, 77843
| | - Carl E Hjelmen
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, 2475 TAMU, 370 Olsen Blvd., College Station, TX, 77843.,Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, 525 Lubbock St., College Station, TX, 77843
| | - Ashleigh M Faris
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, 2475 TAMU, 370 Olsen Blvd., College Station, TX, 77843.,Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M University, 10345 TX-44, Corpus Christi, TX, 78406
| | - Alexander S McGuane
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, 2475 TAMU, 370 Olsen Blvd., College Station, TX, 77843.,Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX, 77054
| | - Aaron M Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M University, 2475 TAMU, 370 Olsen Blvd., College Station, TX, 77843
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Meng F, Liu Z, Han H, Finkelbergs D, Jiang Y, Zhu M, Wang Y, Sun Z, Chen C, Guo Y, Cai J. Chromosome-level genome assembly of Aldrichina grahami, a forensically important blowfly. Gigascience 2020; 9:giaa020. [PMID: 32191812 PMCID: PMC7081965 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are the most commonly found entomological evidence in forensic investigations. Distinguished from other blowflies, Aldrichina grahami has some unique biological characteristics and is a species of forensic importance. Its development rate, pattern, and life cycle can provide valuable information for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval. FINDINGS Herein we provide a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. grahami that was generated by Pacific BioSciences sequencing platform and chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technology. A total of 50.15 Gb clean reads of the A. grahami genome were generated. FALCON and Wtdbg were used to construct the genome of A. grahami, resulting in an assembly of 600 Mb and 1,604 contigs with an N50 size of 1.93 Mb. We predicted 12,823 protein-coding genes, 99.8% of which was functionally annotated on the basis of the de novo genome (SRA: PRJNA513084) and transcriptome (SRA: SRX5207346) of A. grahami. According to the co-analysis with 11 other insect species, clustering and phylogenetic reconstruction of gene families were performed. Using Hi-C sequencing, a chromosome-level assembly of 6 chromosomes was generated with scaffold N50 of 104.7 Mb. Of these scaffolds, 96.4% were anchored to the total A. grahami genome contig bases. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides a robust genome reference for A. grahami that supplements vital genetic information for nonhuman forensic genomics and facilitates the future research of A. grahami and other necrophagous blowfly species used in forensic medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanming Meng
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Zhuoying Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Han Han
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | | | - Yangshuai Jiang
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Mingfei Zhu
- Nextomics Biosciences, Wuhan, Hubei Pro, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Nextomics Biosciences, Wuhan, Hubei Pro, China
| | - Zongyi Sun
- Nextomics Biosciences, Wuhan, Hubei Pro, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
| | - Yadong Guo
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
| | - Jifeng Cai
- School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Pro, China
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13
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Smith JL, Cook AK. First Use of an Entire Age Cohort to Evaluate the Role of Sex in the Development of the Forensically Important Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:641-644. [PMID: 31742610 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The age of a blow fly larval specimen found on a body can be used to estimate a minimum postmortem interval by comparing a physical feature of a larva (e.g., length) to a reference growth curve created under similar conditions. A better understanding of factors known to influence growth rates would lead to more precise estimates of larval age. A factor known to influence insect development, but almost always lacking in blow fly larval growth curves, is sex. We wanted to understand how sex might affect larval growth rates and therefore lead to more precise age estimates, in the forensically important blow fly Chrysomya megacephala (F.). We examined sex for an entire age cohort at 70 h and found on average, males were longer than females. To assess whether this difference would cause an investigator to interpret the results differently if comparing a larval specimen of one sex based on reference data from the other sex, we made sex-specific 95% prediction intervals. We did not find a difference when comparing a male specimen with the female prediction interval, but did find more females outside the interval than expected using the male interval. All females outside the male interval were shorter. Investigators commonly remove the largest individuals from a body to estimate age, so these females are less likely to be chosen. These results do not support the generation of sex-specific growth curves for this species, though this study's narrow scope means more information is required before making a final conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley K Cook
- Department of Biology, Washburn University, Topeka, KS
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Hjelmen CE, Parrott JJ, Srivastav SP, McGuane AS, Ellis LL, Stewart AD, Johnston JS, Tarone AM. Effect of Phenotype Selection on Genome Size Variation in Two Species of Diptera. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11020218. [PMID: 32093067 PMCID: PMC7074110 DOI: 10.3390/genes11020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome size varies widely across organisms yet has not been found to be related to organismal complexity in eukaryotes. While there is no evidence for a relationship with complexity, there is evidence to suggest that other phenotypic characteristics, such as nucleus size and cell-cycle time, are associated with genome size, body size, and development rate. However, what is unknown is how the selection for divergent phenotypic traits may indirectly affect genome size. Drosophila melanogaster were selected for small and large body size for up to 220 generations, while Cochliomyia macellaria were selected for 32 generations for fast and slow development. Size in D. melanogaster significantly changed in terms of both cell-count and genome size in isolines, but only the cell-count changed in lines which were maintained at larger effective population sizes. Larger genome sizes only occurred in a subset of D. melanogaster isolines originated from flies selected for their large body size. Selection for development time did not change average genome size yet decreased the within-population variation in genome size with increasing generations of selection. This decrease in variation and convergence on a similar mean genome size was not in correspondence with phenotypic variation and suggests stabilizing selection on genome size in laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl E. Hjelmen
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.J.P.); (S.P.S.); (A.S.M.); (L.L.E.); (J.S.J.); (A.M.T.)
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Correspondence: or
| | - Jonathan J. Parrott
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.J.P.); (S.P.S.); (A.S.M.); (L.L.E.); (J.S.J.); (A.M.T.)
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306, USA
| | - Satyam P. Srivastav
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.J.P.); (S.P.S.); (A.S.M.); (L.L.E.); (J.S.J.); (A.M.T.)
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Alexander S. McGuane
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.J.P.); (S.P.S.); (A.S.M.); (L.L.E.); (J.S.J.); (A.M.T.)
- Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, 1861 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Lisa L. Ellis
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.J.P.); (S.P.S.); (A.S.M.); (L.L.E.); (J.S.J.); (A.M.T.)
- Department of Biology, Houston Baptist University, Houston, TX 77074, USA
| | | | - J. Spencer Johnston
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.J.P.); (S.P.S.); (A.S.M.); (L.L.E.); (J.S.J.); (A.M.T.)
| | - Aaron M. Tarone
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.J.P.); (S.P.S.); (A.S.M.); (L.L.E.); (J.S.J.); (A.M.T.)
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15
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Hjelmen CE, Garrett MA, Holmes VR, Mynes M, Piron E, Johnston JS. Genome Size Evolution within and between the Sexes. J Hered 2019; 110:219-228. [PMID: 30476187 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esy063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome sizes are known to vary between closely related species, but the patterns behind this variation have yet to be fully understood. Although this variation has been evaluated between species and within sexes, unknown is the extent to which this variation is driven by differentiation in sex chromosomes. To address this longstanding question, we examine the mode and tempo of genome size evolution for a total of 87 species of Drosophilidae, estimating and updating male genome size values for 44 of these species. We compare the evolution of genome size within each sex to the evolution of the differences between the sexes. Utilizing comparative phylogenetic methods, we find that male and female genome size evolution is largely a neutral process, reflective of phylogenetic relatedness between species, which supports the newly proposed accordion model for genome size change. When similarly analyzed, the difference between the sexes due to heteromorphic sex chromosomes is a dynamic process; the male-female genome size difference increases with time with or without known neo-Y events or complete loss of the Y. Observed instances of rapid change match theoretical expectations and known neo-Y and Y loss events in individual species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl E Hjelmen
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Margaret A Garrett
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - V Renee Holmes
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Melissa Mynes
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Elizabeth Piron
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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16
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A bibliometric analysis of forensic entomology trends and perspectives worldwide over the last two decades (1998–2017). Forensic Sci Int 2019; 295:72-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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17
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Zagon J, di Rienzo V, Potkura J, Lampen A, Braeuning A. A real-time PCR method for the detection of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) in feedstuff. Food Control 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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18
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A Whole Genome Assembly of the Horn Fly, Haematobia irritans, and Prediction of Genes with Roles in Metabolism and Sex Determination. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2018; 8:1675-1686. [PMID: 29602812 PMCID: PMC5940159 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Haematobia irritans, commonly known as the horn fly, is a globally distributed blood-feeding pest of cattle that is responsible for significant economic losses to cattle producers. Chemical insecticides are the primary means for controlling this pest but problems with insecticide resistance have become common in the horn fly. To provide a foundation for identification of genomic loci for insecticide resistance and for discovery of new control technology, we report the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of the horn fly genome. The assembled genome is 1.14 Gb, comprising 76,616 scaffolds with N50 scaffold length of 23 Kb. Using RNA-Seq data, we have predicted 34,413 gene models of which 19,185 have been assigned functional annotations. Comparative genomics analysis with the Dipteran flies Musca domestica L., Drosophila melanogaster, and Lucilia cuprina, show that the horn fly is most closely related to M. domestica, sharing 8,748 orthologous clusters followed by D. melanogaster and L. cuprina, sharing 7,582 and 7,490 orthologous clusters respectively. We also identified a gene locus for the sodium channel protein in which mutations have been previously reported that confers target site resistance to the most common class of pesticides used in fly control. Additionally, we identified 276 genomic loci encoding members of metabolic enzyme gene families such as cytochrome P450s, esterases and glutathione S-transferases, and several genes orthologous to sex determination pathway genes in other Dipteran species.
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19
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Badenhorst R, Villet MH. The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology. Forensic Sci Res 2018; 3:2-15. [PMID: 30483647 PMCID: PMC6197084 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2018.1426136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) occurs on every continent and is closely associated with carrion and decaying material in human environments. Its abilities to find dead bodies and carry pathogens give it a prominence in human affairs that may involve prosecution or litigation, and therefore forensic entomologists. The identification, geographical distribution and biology of the species are reviewed to provide a background for approaches that four branches of forensic entomology (urban, stored-product, medico-criminal and environmental) might take to investigations involving this fly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rozane Badenhorst
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Martin H. Villet
- Southern African Forensic Entomology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
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20
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Smith JL, Wells JD. Isolation of the Male-Specific Transformer Exon as a Method for Immature Specimen Sex Identification in Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:496-500. [PMID: 28031348 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Being able to efficiently differentiate between male and female individuals in the immature forms of insects allows for investigations into sexually dimorphic patterns of growth rates and gene expression. For species lacking sex-specific morphological characteristics during these periods, alternative methods must be devised. Commonly, isolation of sex determination genes reveals sex-specific band patterns and allows for markers that can be used in insect control. For blow flies, a family that includes flies of medical and forensic importance, sex has previously been identified in some members using the male-specific exon in the transformer gene. This gene is relatively conserved between members of the genera Cochliomyia and Lucilia (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and we isolated a portion of this gene in an additional forensically and medically important blow fly genus using the widespread Chrysomya megacephala (F.). We found a relatively high level of conservation between exons 1 and 2 of transformer and were able to amplify a region containing the male-specific exon in C. megacephala. A sex-specific molecular diagnostic test based on the presence of sexually dimorphic PCR product bands showed the expected genotype for adults and intrapuparial period specimens of known sex. The same result could be obtained from single third-instar larval specimens, opening up the possibility to not only determine if development rates are sex dependent, but also to investigate the development of sexually dimorphic traits of interest in C. megacephala.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Smith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, OE 167, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199 (; )
| | - J D Wells
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, OE 167, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33199 (; )
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21
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Andere AA, Platt RN, Ray DA, Picard CJ. Genome sequence of Phormia regina Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae): implications for medical, veterinary and forensic research. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:842. [PMID: 27793085 PMCID: PMC5084420 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-3187-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are important medical, veterinary and forensic insects encompassing 8 % of the species diversity observed in the calyptrate insects. Few genomic resources exist to understand the diversity and evolution of this group. RESULTS We present the hybrid (short and long reads) draft assemblies of the male and female genomes of the common North American blow fly, Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The 550 and 534 Mb draft assemblies contained 8312 and 9490 predicted genes in the female and male genomes, respectively; including > 93 % conserved eukaryotic genes. Putative X and Y chromosomes (21 and 14 Mb, respectively) were assembled and annotated. The P. regina genomes appear to contain few mobile genetic elements, an almost complete absence of SINEs, and most of the repetitive landscape consists of simple repetitive sequences. Candidate gene approaches were undertaken to annotate insecticide resistance, sex-determining, chemoreceptors, and antimicrobial peptides. CONCLUSIONS This work yielded a robust, reliable reference calliphorid genome from a species located in the middle of a calliphorid phylogeny. By adding an additional blow fly genome, the ability to tease apart what might be true of general calliphorids vs. what is specific of two distinct lineages now exists. This resource will provide a strong foundation for future studies into the evolution, population structure, behavior, and physiology of all blow flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A. Andere
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
| | - Roy N. Platt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 43131, Lubbock, TX 79403-3131 USA
| | - David A. Ray
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Box 43131, Lubbock, TX 79403-3131 USA
| | - Christine J. Picard
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA
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22
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Anstead CA, Batterham P, Korhonen PK, Young ND, Hall RS, Bowles VM, Richards S, Scott MJ, Gasser RB. A blow to the fly — Lucilia cuprina draft genome and transcriptome to support advances in biology and biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv 2016; 34:605-620. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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23
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A 454 sequencing approach to dipteran mitochondrial genome research. Genomics 2015; 105:53-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2014.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2014] [Revised: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Scott M, Pimsler M, Tarone A. Sex Determination Mechanisms in the Calliphoridae (Blow Flies). Sex Dev 2014; 8:29-37. [DOI: 10.1159/000357132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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