The genome sequence of the avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi), an invasive nest parasite of Darwin's finches in Galápagos.

Autor: Romine MG; School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA., Knutie SA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA., Crow CM; Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA., Vaziri GJ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA., Chaves JA; Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA.; Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador., Koop JAH; Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA., Lamichhaney S; School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA.; Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44240, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: G3 (Bethesda, Md.) [G3 (Bethesda)] 2022 Feb 04; Vol. 12 (2).
DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab414
Abstrakt: The invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi, Diptera: Muscidae) is considered one of the greatest threats to the endemic avifauna of the Galápagos Islands. The fly larvae parasitize nearly every passerine species, including Darwin's finches. Most P. downsi research to date has focused on the effects of the fly on avian host fitness and mitigation methods. A lag in research related to the genetics of this invasion demonstrates, in part, the need to develop full-scale genomic resources with which to address further questions within this system. In this study, an adult female P. downsi was sequenced to generate a high-quality genome assembly. We examined various features of the genome (e.g., coding regions and noncoding transposable elements) and carried out comparative genomics analysis against other dipteran genomes. We identified lists of gene families that are significantly expanding or contracting in P. downsi that are related to insecticide resistance, detoxification, and counter defense against host immune responses. The P. downsi genome assembly provides an important resource for studying the molecular basis of successful invasion in the Galápagos and the dynamics of its population across multiple islands. The findings of significantly changing gene families associated with insecticide resistance and immune responses highlight the need for further investigations into the role of different gene families in aiding the fly's successful invasion. Furthermore, this genomic resource provides a necessary tool to better inform future research studies and mitigation strategies aimed at minimizing the fly's impact on Galápagos birds.
(© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Genetics Society of America.)
Databáze: MEDLINE