New tsetse (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) genomes generated from wild and laboratory-reared specimens

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Vector Biology
• Parasitology

Background:

• Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) transmit African trypanosomiases, impacting human and animal health.
• Colony-reared tsetse flies may lack genetic diversity crucial for understanding wild populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate high-quality genome assemblies for wild-caught and laboratory-reared Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (Gff).
• To compare these genomes to improve translational research from lab findings to field applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Nanopore sequencing for genome assembly of wild and laboratory Gff.
• Performed comparative genomic analysis to identify structural variants and gene orthologs.

Main Results:

• Generated contiguous genome assemblies (Gff wild: 405.98 Mb, N50: 56.86 Mb; Gff lab: 398.22 Mb, N50: 47.811 Mb).
• Identified conserved synteny with minor structural variants and 381 unique orthologs between the two genomes.
• Highlighted gene-set differences potentially linked to geographic origin or colony adaptation.

Conclusions:

• The new Gff genomes offer improved contiguity and completeness over existing references.
• These high-quality genomes provide a foundation for advanced tsetse research and lab-to-field applications.
• Enhances understanding of tsetse vector biology and disease transmission dynamics.