Functional and evolutionary insights from the genomes of three parasitoid Nasonia species

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • John H Werren
  • Stephen Richards
  • Christopher A Desjardins
  • Oliver Niehuis
  • Jürgen Gadau
  • John K Colbourne
  • John H Werren
  • Stephen Richards
  • Christopher A Desjardins
  • Oliver Niehuis
  • Jürgen Gadau
  • John K Colbourne
  • Leo W Beukeboom
  • Claude Desplan
  • Christine G Elsik
  • Grimmelikhuijzen, Cornelis (Cok)
  • Paul Kitts
  • Jeremy A Lynch
  • Terence Murphy
  • Deodoro C S G Oliveira
  • Christopher D Smith
  • Louis van de Zande
  • Kim C Worley
  • Evgeny M Zdobnov
  • Maarten Aerts
  • Stefan Albert
  • Victor H Anaya
  • Juan M Anzola
  • Angel R Barchuk
  • Susanta K Behura
  • Agata N Bera
  • May R Berenbaum
  • Rinaldo C Bertossa
  • Márcia M G Bitondi
  • Seth R Bordenstein
  • Peer Bork
  • Erich Bornberg-Bauer
  • Marleen Brunain
  • Giuseppe Cazzamali
  • Lesley Chaboub
  • Joseph Chacko
  • Dean Chavez
  • Christopher P Childers
  • Jeong-Hyeon Choi
  • Michael E Clark
  • Charles Claudianos
  • Hauser, Frank
  • Martina Schneider
  • Elisabeth Stafflinger
  • Michael Williamson
  • Nasonia Genome Working Group
We report here genome sequences and comparative analyses of three closely related parasitoid wasps: Nasonia vitripennis, N. giraulti, and N. longicornis. Parasitoids are important regulators of arthropod populations, including major agricultural pests and disease vectors, and Nasonia is an emerging genetic model, particularly for evolutionary and developmental genetics. Key findings include the identification of a functional DNA methylation tool kit; hymenopteran-specific genes including diverse venoms; lateral gene transfers among Pox viruses, Wolbachia, and Nasonia; and the rapid evolution of genes involved in nuclear-mitochondrial interactions that are implicated in speciation. Newly developed genome resources advance Nasonia for genetic research, accelerate mapping and cloning of quantitative trait loci, and will ultimately provide tools and knowledge for further increasing the utility of parasitoids as pest insect-control agents.
Original languageEnglish
JournalScience
Volume327
Issue number5963
Pages (from-to)343-8
Number of pages6
ISSN0036-8075
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jan 2010

    Research areas

  • Animals, Arthropods, Biological Evolution, DNA Methylation, DNA Transposable Elements, Female, Gene Transfer, Horizontal, Genes, Insect, Genetic Speciation, Genetic Variation, Genome, Insect, Host-Parasite Interactions, Insect Proteins, Insect Viruses, Insects, Male, Molecular Sequence Data, Quantitative Trait Loci, Recombination, Genetic, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Wasp Venoms, Wasps, Wolbachia

ID: 32245007