Anopheles gambiae genome

Abstract

A project to sequence the 260 million base pairs of Anopheles gambiae, the most important insect vector of the malaria parasite in sub-Saharan Africa, was recently agreed by an international network of researchers at a meeting at the Institut Pasteur, France. The first version of the genome, which will be freely available on public databases, should be ready by the end of 2001 and should cost less than US$10 million. The initial work, to be carried out by Celera Genomics and Genoscope (the French National Sequencing Centre), will use the ‘Whole Genome Shotgun’ technique. Sequence closure and finishing will be performed by Genoscope, the Institute for Genomic Research, the European Bioinformatics Institute and other groups from France, Greece, Germany, UK and the USA. The French Government will provide funds for part of the project, and other sources of finance, including the European Union and USA agencies, are being approached. It is hoped that this collaboration will eventually cover other Anopheles spp. JT