Genomic analysis of two phlebotomine sand fly vectors of Leishmania from the New and Old World
Authors: Labbé Frédéric , Abdeladhim Maha , Abrudan Jenica , Araki Alejandra Saori , Araujo Ricardo N. , Arensburger Peter , Benoit Joshua B. , Brazil Reginaldo Pecanha , Bruno Rafaela V. , Bueno da Silva Rivas Gustavo , Carvalho de Abreu Vinicius , Charamis Jason , Coutinho-Abreu Iliano V. , da Costa-Latgé Samara G. , Darby Alistair , Dillon Viv M. , Emrich Scott J. , Fernandez-Medina Daniela , Figueiredo Gontijo Nelder , Flanley Catherine M. , Gatherer Derek , Genta Fernando A. , Gesing Sandra , Giraldo-Calderón Gloria I. , Gomes Bruno , Aguiar Eric Roberto Guimaraes Rocha , Hamilton James G. C. , Hamarsheh Omar , Hawksworth Mallory , Hendershot Jacob M. , Hickner Paul V. , Imler Jean-Luc , Ioannidis Panagiotis , Jennings Emily C. , Kamhawi Shaden , Karageorgiou Charikleia , Kennedy Ryan C. , Krueger Andreas , Latorre-Estivalis José M. , Ligoxygakis Petros , Meireles-Filho Antonio Carlos A. , Minx Patrick , Miranda Jose Carlos , Montague Michael J. , Nowling Ronald J. , Oliveira Fabiano , Ortigão-Farias João , Pavan Marcio G. , Horacio Pereira Marcos , Nobrega Pitaluga Andre , Proveti Olmo Roenick , Ramalho-Ortigao Marcelo , Ribeiro José M. C. , Rosendale Andrew J. , Sant’Anna Mauricio R. V. , Scherer Steven E. , Secundino Nágila F. C. , Shoue Douglas A. , da Silva Moraes Caroline , Gesto João Silveira Moledo , Souza Nataly Araujo , Syed Zainulabueddin , Tadros Samuel , Teles-de-Freitas Rayane , Telleria Erich L. , Tomlinson Chad , Traub-Csekö Yara M. , Marques João Trindade , Tu Zhijian , Unger Maria F. , Valenzuela Jesus , Ferreira Flávia V. , de Oliveira Karla P. V. , Vigoder Felipe M. , Vontas John , Wang Lihui , Weedall Gareth D. , Zhioua Elyes , Richards Stephen , Warren Wesley C. , Waterhouse Robert M. , Dillon Rod J. , McDowell Mary Ann 
Published: April 2023

Phlebotomine sand flies are of global significance as important vectors of human disease, transmitting bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens, including the kinetoplastid parasites of the genus Leishmania, the causative agents of devastating diseases collectively termed leishmaniasis. More than 40 pathogenic Leishmania species are transmitted to humans by approximately 35 sand fly species in 98 countries with hundreds of millions of people at risk around the world. No approved efficacious vaccine exists for leishmaniasis and available therapeutic drugs are either toxic and/or expensive, or the parasites are becoming resistant to the more recently developed drugs. Therefore, sand fly and/or reservoir control are currently the most effective strategies to break transmission. To better understand the biology of sand flies, including the mechanisms involved in their vectorial capacity, insecticide resistance, and population structures we sequenced the genomes of two geographically widespread and important sand fly vector species: Phlebotomus papatasi, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, (distributed in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa) and Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of Leishmania parasites that cause visceral leishmaniasis (distributed across Central and South America). We categorized and curated genes involved in processes important to their roles as disease vectors, including chemosensation, blood feeding, circadian rhythm, immunity, and detoxification, as well as mobile genetic elements. We also defined gene orthology and observed micro-synteny among the genomes. Finally, we present the genetic diversity and population structure of these species in their respective geographical areas. These genomes will be a foundation on which to base future efforts to prevent vector-borne transmission of Leishmania parasites.