A blow to the fly — Lucilia cuprina draft genome and transcriptome to support advances in biology and biotechnology

Abstract

The blow fly, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) is a parasitic insect of major global economic importance. Maggots of this fly parasitize the skin of animal hosts, feed on excretions and tissues, and cause severe disease (flystrike or myiasis). Although there has been considerable research on L. cuprina over the years, little is understood about the molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics of this parasitic fly, as well as its relationship with its hosts and the disease that it causes. This situation might change with the recent report of the draft genome and transcriptome of this blow fly, which has given new and global insights into its biology, interactions with the host animal and aspects of insecticide resistance at the molecular level. This genomic resource will likely enable many fundamental and applied research areas in the future. The present article gives a background on L. cuprina and myiasis, a brief account of past and current treatment, prevention and control approaches, and provides a perspective on the impact that the L. cuprina genome should have on future research of this and related parasitic flies, and the design of new and improved interventions for myiasis.

Gene content evolution in the arthropods

“…The i5K pilot initiative has assembled an unparalleled genomic dataset for arthropod research and conducted a detailed phylogenetic analysis of evolutionary changes at the genomic level within this diverse and fascinating phylum. The combined research output of species-level i5K work has been substantial and wide-ranging, addressing pests of agricultural crops [33,34] and animals [35], urban [20,36] and forest [37] pests, biocontrol species [38], along with developmental models [18,39,40], indicators of water quality and models for toxicology [15,41] (Additional file 1: Table S1).…”

Gene Content Evolution in the Arthropods

“…The i5K pilot initiative has assembled an unparalleled genomic dataset for arthropods research and conducted a detailed phylogenetic analysis of evolutionary changes at the genomic level within this diverse and fascinating phylum. The combined research output of species-level i5K work has been substantial and wide-ranging, addressing pests of agricultural crops 32,33 and animals 34 , urban 20,35 and forest 36 pests, biocontrol species 37 , along with developmental models 18,38,39 , indicators of water quality and models for toxicology 15,40 (Table S1).…”

Genome and Ontogenetic-Based Transcriptomic Analyses of the Flesh Fly,Sarcophaga bullata

“…Beyond the genus Sarcophaga and the family Sarcophagidae, transcriptomic and genomic resources have been developed for other related carrion-feeding flies (Sze et al 2012; Anstead et al 2015; Wang et al 2015). The most extensively studied is the blow fly, Lucilia sericata (Calliphoridae): which has an assembled genome and transcriptome data (Sze et al 2012; Anstead et al 2015; Anstead et al 2016). Thus, a growing body of literature is emerging for probing the biology of these two closely-related families, the Sarcophagidae and Calliphoridae.…”