Genomic Biomonitoring

MiGen Analysis: Microbiome and genome analyses of medically relevant hematophagous arthropods

Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt

Global trade networks, travel activities as well as climatic changes are altering distribution patterns of vector species worldwide, raising the risk of vector-borne diseases. Blood-feeding arthropods, e.g. mosquitoes, are vectors for a variety of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, protozoa, metazoa or viruses. Genomes of medically relevant vector species are sequenced and the microbiomes of native and invasive mosquito species in Germany are characterized using metagenomics. An environmental DNA (eDNA) approach is being tested for a more rapid and cost-effective sampling of invasive mosquitoes.

The overarching aims are to better understand the biology and distribution of disease vectors and their pathogens in Germany and evaluate results for potential vector control strategies.

TBG GROUP MEMBERS

  • Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel (PI)
  • Dr. Sarah Cunze 
  • Dr. Claudia Wittwer 
  • M.Sc. Chinhda Sharif 

Former membersi:

  • Dr. Antje Steinbrink 
  • Dr. Judith Kochmann 

Group expertise / Methods

  • Culture-dependent methods and cloning (microbiota)
  • qPCR
  • Parasitological analyses (morphology, standard molecular species identification/barcoding)
  • Liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry (in cooperation with Helge Bode)
  • Species distribution modelling

ORGANISMS / GENOMES ANALYZED

  • Aedes japonicus japonicus
  • Aedes koreicus
  • Nyctereutes procyonoides
  • Caprella mutica
  • A total of 56 pools of mosquito guts from the invasive species Ae. jap. japonicus and Ae. koreicus and the native species C. torrentium from larval, pupal, and adult stages and 33 water samples were sequenced

PUBLICATIONS

Chueca LJ, Kochmann J, Schell T. et al. (2021a): De novo genome assembly of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). Frontiers in Genetics,12, 559.

Steinbrink A, Zotzmann S, Cunze S, Klimpel S. (2019). Aedes koreicus—a new member of the genus Aedes establishing in Germany? Parasitology Research, 118, 1073-1076.

Zotzmann S, Steinbrinck A, Schleich K, et al. (2017) Bacterial diversity of cosmopolitan Culex pipiens and invasive Aedes japonicus from Germany. Parasitology Research, 116 (7),1899-1906.