title: A blow to the fly - Lucilia cuprina draft genome and transcriptome to support advances in biology and biotechnology.
abstract: The blow fly, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830) is a parasitic insect of major global economic importance. Maggots of this fly parasitize the skin of animal hosts, feed on excretions and tissues, and cause severe disease (flystrike or myiasis). Although there has been considerable research on L. cuprina over the years, little is understood about the molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics of this parasitic fly, as well as its relationship with its hosts and the disease that it causes. This situation might change with the recent report of the draft genome and transcriptome of this blow fly, which has given new and global insights into its biology, interactions with the host animal and aspects of insecticide resistance at the molecular level. This genomic resource will likely enable many fundamental and applied research areas in the future. The present article gives a background on L. cuprina and myiasis, a brief account of past and current treatment, prevention and control approaches, and provides a perspective on the impact that the L. cuprina genome should have on future research of this and related parasitic flies, and the design of new and improved interventions for myiasis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Anstead
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batterham
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Pasi K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Vernon M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Bowles
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7613, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
authors.forename: Maxwell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: robinbg@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Robin B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Gasser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001709:Biotechnology; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D049750:Genome, Insect; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D007306:Insecticides; D009198:Myiasis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides
keywords: Blow fly; Genome; Lucilia; Molecular biology; Transcriptome