Decoding the genome of bloodsucking midge Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae): Insights into odorant receptor expansion

Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved..

Biting midges, notably those within the Ceratopogonidae family, have long been recognized for their epidemiological significance, both as nuisances and vectors for disease transmission in vertebrates. Despite their impact, genomic insights into these insects, particularly beyond the Culicoides genus, remain limited. In this study, we assembled the Forcipomyia taiwana (Shiraki) genome, comprising 113 scaffolds covering 130.4 Mbps-with the longest scaffold reaching 7.6 Mbps and an N50 value of 2.6 Mbps-marking a pivotal advancement in understanding the genetic architecture of ceratopogonid biting midges. Phylogenomic analyses reveal a shared ancestry between F. taiwana and Culicoides sonorensis Wirth & Jones, dating back approximately 124 million years, and highlight a dynamic history of gene family expansions and contractions within the Ceratopogonidae family. Notably, a substantial expansion of the odorant receptor (OR) gene family was observed, which is crucial for the chemosensory capabilities that govern biting midges' interactions with their environment, including host seeking and oviposition behaviors. The distribution of OR genes across the F. taiwana genome displays notable clusters on scaffolds, indicating localized tandem gene duplication events. Additionally, several collinear regions were identified, hinting at segmental duplications, inversions, and translocations, contributing to the olfactory system's evolutionary complexity. Among the 156 ORs identified in F. taiwana, 134 are biting midge-specific ORs, distributed across three distinct clades, each exhibiting unique motif features that distinguish them from the others. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we correlated distinct gene modules with sex and reproductive status, laying the groundwork for future investigations into the interplay between gene expression and adaptive behaviors in F. taiwana. In conclusion, our study not only highlights the unique olfactory repertoire of ceratopogonid biting midges but also sets the stage for future studies into the genetic underpinnings of their unique biological traits and ecological strategies.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:168

Enthalten in:

Insect biochemistry and molecular biology - 168(2024) vom: 20. Apr., Seite 104115

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Lin, Ming-Der [VerfasserIn]
Chuang, Chia-Hsien [VerfasserIn]
Kao, Chih-Hsin [VerfasserIn]
Chen, Shu-Hwa [VerfasserIn]
Wang, Szu-Chieh [VerfasserIn]
Hsieh, Ping-Heng [VerfasserIn]
Chen, Guan-Yu [VerfasserIn]
Mao, Chun-Chia [VerfasserIn]
Li, Jeng-Yi [VerfasserIn]
Jade Lu, Mei-Yeh [VerfasserIn]
Lin, Chung-Yen [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Biting midge
Ceratopogonid genome
Chemosensory receptor
Forcipomyia taiwana
Journal Article
Odorant receptor

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 17.04.2024

Date Revised 17.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104115

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM370595440