The genome sequence of the avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi), an invasive nest parasite of Darwin's finches in Galapagos.

ABSTRACT: The invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi, Diptera: Muscidae) is considered one of the greatest threats to the endemic avifauna of the Galápagos Islands. The fly larvae parasitize nearly every passerine species, including Darwin's finches. Most P. downsi research to date has focused on the effects of the fly on avian host fitness and mitigation methods. A lag in research related to the genetics of this invasion demonstrates, in part, the need to develop full-scale genomic resources with which to address further questions within this system. In this study, an adult female P. downsi was sequenced to generate a high-quality genome assembly. We examined various features of the genome (e.g., coding regions and noncoding transposable elements) and carried out comparative genomics analysis

SUBMITTER: Romine MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9210292 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature