Project description:Nosema is a diverse fungal genus of microsporidian unicellular, obligate symbionts of insects and other arthropods. We performed a comparative genomic analysis of N. muscidifuracis, a Nosema species infecting parasitoid wasp genus Muscidifurax, with six other genome-sequenced Nosema species. A sequence motif containing at least three consecutive Cs was significantly enriched immediately upstream of the start codon in all seven Nosema genomes. Interestingly, this motif is present in ~90% of highly expressed genes, compared to ~20% in lowly expressed genes N. muscidifuracis, which may function as a cis-regulatory element for gene expression control and regulation. Our study provides new insights into the gene regulation evolution in Nosema.
Project description:Five species of Muscidifurax Girault & Sanders (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) are studied from mainland China, of which three new species, M.similadanacus Xiao & Zhou, sp. n., M.sinesensilla Xiao & Zhou, sp. n., M.neoraptorellus Xiao & Zhou, sp. n., and one newly recorded species, M.adanacus Doganlar, are reported. All species have been reared from pupae of Muscadomestica Linnaeus. A key to Chinese Muscidifurax and illustrations of external features of the species are provided.