Alistair C. Darby

A near-complete chromosome from a bacterial pathogen integrated into the genome of its arthropod vector

The paper identifies an almost-complete Rickettsia africae chromosome in the genome of its arthropod vector, A. variegatum, demonstrating lateral gene transfer from the pathogen to the host.

Emergence Risks from Within? Metagenomic Analysis of Mosquito Viromes from Two Zoos Reveals Mosquito-associated Orthobunyaviruses in the UK

The paper analyzes mosquito viromes from UK zoos using metagenomics, identifying two novel Orthobunyaviruses, including one potentially arbovirus.

Chromosome assembly for the Black bean aphid Aphis fabae

The paper presents two chromosome-scale assemblies of the Black bean aphid Aphis fabae using HiFi and Hi-C, revealing expanded UDP-glycosyltransferases linked to insecticide tolerance.

MUTE drives asymmetric divisions to form stomatal subsidiary cells in Crassulaceae succulents

The paper identifies MUTE's role in promoting asymmetric divisions to form subsidiary cells in Crassulaceae succulents, contrasting its function in Arabidopsis and grasses.

Mosquito Viromes in England and Wales Reveal Hidden Arbovirus Signals and Limited Ecological Structuring

This study identifies 41 viral taxa, including 11 novel species, in UK Culex mosquitoes using HTS, revealing hidden arbovirus signals and limited ecological structuring.

Cappable-Seq reveals the transcriptional landscape of stress responses in the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia

The paper uses Cappable-Seq to analyze transcriptional start sites in Wolbachia under stress conditions, revealing differential regulation and insights into gene operon organization.

Genome assembly of five Tephritid species for the enhancement of the Sterile Insect Technique

The paper presents chromosome-level genome assemblies for five Tephritid species using long-read sequencing, short-read polishing, and Hi-C scaffolding.

Hybrid short- and long-read assembly of an experimentally evolved Sodalis glossinidius strain SgGmmC1*

The paper presents a comparative genomic analysis of Sodalis glossinidius strains showing genome degradation over time in laboratory culture.

Genome dynamics across the evolutionary transition to endosymbiosis

This study uses comparative genomics of Arsenophonus to show that endosymbionts initially expand their genomes through horizontal gene transfer and loss of defense systems, followed by genome reduction.

Metagenomics of culture isolates and insect tissue illuminate the evolution of Wolbachia, Rickettsia and Bartonella symbionts in Ctenocephalides spp. fleas

The paper presents genome assemblies of bacterial pathogens and endosymbionts from Ctenocephalides fleas using metagenomics and culture isolation, revealing genomic diversity and features associated with host interactions.

Genomic insights into clonal diversity in UK populations of the Potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae

This study presents a chromosome-scale genome assembly of a parasitoid-resistant potato aphid clonal line and analyzes UK aphid populations to reveal genotype-specific traits and clonal diversity.

Genomic Analysis of Two Phlebotomine Sand Fly Vectors of Leishmania from the New and Old World

The paper sequences and annotates the genomes of two sand fly species, identifying genes related to vector biology and population structure to aid in leishmaniasis control.

Emerging variants of canine enteric coronavirus associated with seasonal outbreaks of severe canine gastroenteric disease

The paper identifies a new CECoV variant associated with seasonal outbreaks of severe canine gastroenteritis and shows its genetic relationship to a 2020 variant, but not to human respiratory-related CECoV-like viruses.

Recovering individual haplotypes and a contiguous genome assembly from pooled long read sequencing of the diamondback moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The paper presents methods to generate a contiguous haploid genome assembly and reconstruct individual haplotypes from pooled long-read sequencing of the diamondback moth.

Amplicon and metagenomic analysis of MERS-CoV and the microbiome in patients with severe Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)

The paper develops an amplicon-based sequencing method for rapid MERS-CoV genotyping and evaluates it alongside metagenomic analysis to study the microbiome in MERS patients.

Diminutive, degraded but dissimilar: Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes do not conform to a single paradigm

The paper presents new Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes, revealing diversity in genome size, transposable elements, and co-evolution patterns compared to arthropod-associated Wolbachia.

Insect-symbiont gene expression in the midgut bacteriocytes of a blood-sucking parasite

The paper analyzes gene expression in the midgut bacteriocytes of a blood-sucking louse fly to understand host-symbiont interactions and finds differences in zinc usage and immunity mechanisms compared to other insects.

Large scale and significant expression from pseudogenes in Sodalis glossinidius - a facultative bacterial endosymbiont

This study investigates pseudogene expression in Sodalis glossinidius using multi-omic approaches, revealing significant transcriptional activity and suggesting their role in evolutionary adaptation.

Improved Aedes aegypti mosquito reference genome assembly enables biological discovery and vector control

The paper presents an improved Aedes aegypti genome assembly, AaegL5, which enhances biological understanding and vector control efforts by resolving key genomic features and identifying new targets for intervention.

Genomes of trombidid mites reveal novel predicted allergens and laterally-transferred genes associated with secondary metabolism

This study presents the first genomes of trombidid mites, revealing novel allergens and laterally transferred genes involved in secondary metabolism.

The sequence of a male-specific genome region containing the sex determination switch in Aedes aegypti

The paper sequences a male-specific genome region containing the sex determination switch gene Nix in Aedes aegypti.