Single specimen genome assembly of Culicoides stellifer shows evidence of a non-retroviral endogenous viral element.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Advancing our knowledge of vector species genomes is a key step in our battle against the spread of diseases. Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are vectors of arboviruses that significantly affect livestock worldwide. Culicoides stellifer is a suspected vector with a wide range distribution in North America, for which cryptic diversity has been described.

Results

With just one specimen of C. stellifer, we assembled and annotated the nuclear and mitochondrial genome using the ultra-low input DNA PacBio protocol. The genome assembly is 119 Mb in length with a contig N50 value of 479.3 kb, contains 11% repeat sequences and 18,895 annotated protein-coding genes. To further elucidate the role of this species as a vector, we provide genomic evidence of a non-retrovi

SUBMITTER: Castellanos-Labarcena J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11907880 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature