TY - JOUR
T1 - Decoding the genome of bloodsucking midge Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
T2 - Insights into odorant receptor expansion
AU - Lin, Ming Der
AU - Chuang, Chia Hsien
AU - Kao, Chih Hsin
AU - Chen, Shu Hwa
AU - Wang, Szu Chieh
AU - Hsieh, Ping Heng
AU - Chen, Guan Yu
AU - Mao, Chun Chia
AU - Li, Jeng Yi
AU - Jade Lu, Mei Yeh
AU - Lin, Chung Yen
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Biting midge
KW - Ceratopogonid genome
KW - Chemosensory receptor
KW - Forcipomyia taiwana
KW - Odorant receptor
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85189564949&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104115
DO - 10.1016/j.ibmb.2024.104115
M3 - Article
C2 - 38570118
AN - SCOPUS:85189564949
SN - 0965-1748
VL - 168
JO - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF - Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
M1 - 104115
ER -