De-novo genome assembly of the invasive mosquito species Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus

Abstract

Recently, two invasive Aedes mosquito species, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus, are circulating in several European countries posing potential health risks to humans and animals. Vector control is the main option to prevent mosquito-borne diseases, and an accurate genome sequence of these mosquitoes is essential to better understand their biology and to develop effective control strategies. Here, we present a de novo genome assembly of the Ae. japonicus (Ajap1) and Ae. koreicus (Akor1) based on a hybrid approach that combines Oxford Nanopore long reads and Illumina short reads data. Their quality was ascertained using various metrics. Masking of repetitive elements, gene prediction and functional annotation was performed. Sequence analysis revealed a very high presence of repetitive DNA and, among others, thermal adaptation genes and insecticide-resistance genes. The RNA sequencing analysis of larvae and adults of Ae. koreicus and Ae. japonicus exposed to different temperatures revealed genes showing a thermal-dependent activation. The assembly of Akor1 and Ajap1 genomes constitutes the first updated collective knowledge of the genomes of both mosquito species, providing the possibility to understand key mechanisms of their biology such as the ability to adapt to harsh climates and to develop insecticide-resistance mechanisms.