Improved reference genome of Aedes aegypti informs arbovirus vector control

Nature. 2018 Nov;563(7732):501-507. doi: 10.1038/s41586-018-0692-z. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Abstract

Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infect more than 400 million people each year with dangerous viral pathogens including dengue, yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya. Progress in understanding the biology of mosquitoes and developing the tools to fight them has been slowed by the lack of a high-quality genome assembly. Here we combine diverse technologies to produce the markedly improved, fully re-annotated AaegL5 genome assembly, and demonstrate how it accelerates mosquito science. We anchored physical and cytogenetic maps, doubled the number of known chemosensory ionotropic receptors that guide mosquitoes to human hosts and egg-laying sites, provided further insight into the size and composition of the sex-determining M locus, and revealed copy-number variation among glutathione S-transferase genes that are important for insecticide resistance. Using high-resolution quantitative trait locus and population genomic analyses, we mapped new candidates for dengue vector competence and insecticide resistance. AaegL5 will catalyse new biological insights and intervention strategies to fight this deadly disease vector.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / genetics*
  • Aedes / virology
  • Animals
  • Arbovirus Infections / transmission
  • Arbovirus Infections / virology*
  • Arboviruses* / isolation & purification
  • DNA Copy Number Variations / genetics
  • Dengue Virus / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation / genetics
  • Genetics, Population
  • Genome, Insect / genetics*
  • Genomics / standards*
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics
  • Insect Control*
  • Insecticide Resistance / drug effects
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Annotation
  • Mosquito Vectors / genetics*
  • Mosquito Vectors / virology*
  • Multigene Family / genetics
  • Pyrethrins / pharmacology
  • Reference Standards
  • Sex Determination Processes / genetics

Substances

  • Pyrethrins
  • Glutathione Transferase