BMC Genomics (May 2020)
Functional insights from the GC-poor genomes of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius ervi and Lysiphlebus fabarum
- Alice B. Dennis,
- Gabriel I. Ballesteros,
- Stéphanie Robin,
- Lukas Schrader,
- Jens Bast,
- Jan Berghöfer,
- Leo W. Beukeboom,
- Maya Belghazi,
- Anthony Bretaudeau,
- Jan Buellesbach,
- Elizabeth Cash,
- Dominique Colinet,
- Zoé Dumas,
- Mohammed Errbii,
- Patrizia Falabella,
- Jean-Luc Gatti,
- Elzemiek Geuverink,
- Joshua D. Gibson,
- Corinne Hertaeg,
- Stefanie Hartmann,
- Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly,
- Mark Lammers,
- Blas I. Lavandero,
- Ina Lindenbaum,
- Lauriane Massardier-Galata,
- Camille Meslin,
- Nicolas Montagné,
- Nina Pak,
- Marylène Poirié,
- Rosanna Salvia,
- Chris R. Smith,
- Denis Tagu,
- Sophie Tares,
- Heiko Vogel,
- Tanja Schwander,
- Jean-Christophe Simon,
- Christian C. Figueroa,
- Christoph Vorburger,
- Fabrice Legeai,
- Jürgen Gadau
Affiliations
- Alice B. Dennis
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag
- Gabriel I. Ballesteros
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca
- Stéphanie Robin
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes
- Lukas Schrader
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster
- Jens Bast
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne
- Jan Berghöfer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster
- Leo W. Beukeboom
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen
- Maya Belghazi
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, PINT, PFNT
- Anthony Bretaudeau
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes
- Jan Buellesbach
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster
- Elizabeth Cash
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley
- Dominique Colinet
- Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA
- Zoé Dumas
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne
- Mohammed Errbii
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster
- Patrizia Falabella
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata
- Jean-Luc Gatti
- Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA
- Elzemiek Geuverink
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen
- Joshua D. Gibson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley
- Corinne Hertaeg
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag
- Stefanie Hartmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam
- Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris
- Mark Lammers
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster
- Blas I. Lavandero
- Laboratorio de Control Biológico, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca
- Ina Lindenbaum
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster
- Lauriane Massardier-Galata
- Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA
- Camille Meslin
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris
- Nicolas Montagné
- INRAE, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, IRD, UPEC, Université Paris Diderot, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES-Paris
- Nina Pak
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley
- Marylène Poirié
- Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA
- Rosanna Salvia
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata
- Chris R. Smith
- Department of Biology, Earlham College
- Denis Tagu
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes
- Sophie Tares
- Université Côte d’Azur, INRAE, CNRS, ISA
- Heiko Vogel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
- Tanja Schwander
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Université de Lausanne
- Jean-Christophe Simon
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes
- Christian C. Figueroa
- Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Talca
- Christoph Vorburger
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Eawag
- Fabrice Legeai
- IGEPP, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, Université de Rennes
- Jürgen Gadau
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, Universität Münster
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-6764-0
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 21,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 27
Abstract
Abstract Background Parasitoid wasps have fascinating life cycles and play an important role in trophic networks, yet little is known about their genome content and function. Parasitoids that infect aphids are an important group with the potential for biological control. Their success depends on adapting to develop inside aphids and overcoming both host aphid defenses and their protective endosymbionts. Results We present the de novo genome assemblies, detailed annotation, and comparative analysis of two closely related parasitoid wasps that target pest aphids: Aphidius ervi and Lysiphlebus fabarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). The genomes are small (139 and 141 Mbp) and the most AT-rich reported thus far for any arthropod (GC content: 25.8 and 23.8%). This nucleotide bias is accompanied by skewed codon usage and is stronger in genes with adult-biased expression. AT-richness may be the consequence of reduced genome size, a near absence of DNA methylation, and energy efficiency. We identify missing desaturase genes, whose absence may underlie mimicry in the cuticular hydrocarbon profile of L. fabarum. We highlight key gene groups including those underlying venom composition, chemosensory perception, and sex determination, as well as potential losses in immune pathway genes. Conclusions These findings are of fundamental interest for insect evolution and biological control applications. They provide a strong foundation for further functional studies into coevolution between parasitoids and their hosts. Both genomes are available at https://bipaa.genouest.org .
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