The genome of Anopheles darlingi, the main neotropical malaria vector.

Nucleic Acids Res
Authors
Keywords
Abstract

Anopheles darlingi is the principal neotropical malaria vector, responsible for more than a million cases of malaria per year on the American continent. Anopheles darlingi diverged from the African and Asian malaria vectors ∼100 million years ago (mya) and successfully adapted to the New World environment. Here we present an annotated reference A. darlingi genome, sequenced from a wild population of males and females collected in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 10 481 predicted protein-coding genes were annotated, 72% of which have their closest counterpart in Anopheles gambiae and 21% have highest similarity with other mosquito species. In spite of a long period of divergent evolution, conserved gene synteny was observed between A. darlingi and A. gambiae. More than 10 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and short indels with potential use as genetic markers were identified. Transposable elements correspond to 2.3% of the A. darlingi genome. Genes associated with hematophagy, immunity and insecticide resistance, directly involved in vector-human and vector-parasite interactions, were identified and discussed. This study represents the first effort to sequence the genome of a neotropical malaria vector, and opens a new window through which we can contemplate the evolutionary history of anopheline mosquitoes. It also provides valuable information that may lead to novel strategies to reduce malaria transmission on the South American continent. The A. darlingi genome is accessible at www.labinfo.lncc.br/index.php/anopheles-darlingi.

Year of Publication
2013
Journal
Nucleic Acids Res
Volume
41
Issue
15
Pages
7387-400
Date Published
2013 Aug
ISSN
1362-4962
URL
DOI
10.1093/nar/gkt484
PubMed ID
23761445
PubMed Central ID
PMC3753621
Links
Grant list
R01 AI060025 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
2R01GM077117-04A1 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States