Unique features of a global human ectoparasite identified through sequencing of the bed bug genome.

Joshua B Benoit ,Han Lin ,Frank Maiwald ,Mark‐Christoph Ott ,Matthew T Weirauch ,Jacob Hendershot ,Christian Derst ,Edward L Vargo ,Monica F Poelchau ,Jiaxin Qu ,José M C Ribeiro ,Kim C Worley ,Iris M Vargas Jentzsch ,Richard Hagan ,Amanda Dolan ,Geoffrey M Attardo ,Richard A Gibbs ,Robert M Waterhouse ,J Spencer Johnston ,Abderrahman Khila ,Omprakash Mittapalli ,Paul R Johnston ,Kristen A Panfilio ,Sandra L Lee ,Reinhard Predel ,Pamela Menegazzi ,Christopher P Childers ,Warren Booth ,David R Nelson ,Hsu Chao ,Séverine Viala ,Klaus Reinhardt ,Wolfgang Blenau ,Hemant Gujar ,Panagiotis Ioannidis ,Chaoyang Zhao ,Shwetha C Murali ,Ralf Nauen ,Evgeny M Zdobnov ,Subba Reddy Palli ,Yi Han ,Seung‐Joon Ahn ,Elise M Szuter ,Shannon Dugan ,M Emília Santos ,Elizabeth J Duncan ,Benjamin A Hottel ,David A Wheeler ,Fang Zhu ,Chien‐Yueh Lee ,Markus Friedrich ,Peter Nagui Refki ,David Armisén ,Coby Schal ,Jayendra Nath Shukla ,Andrew J Rosendale ,Sebastian Wernig ,Ameya D Gondhalekar ,Harshavardhan Doddapaneni ,Valentina Resnik ,M Mohan ,Emily C Jennings ,Michelle A E Anderson ,Brittany F Peterson ,John H Werren ,Jeffery W Jones ,Kapil R Raje ,Donna M Muzny ,Jing‐Jiang Zhou ,Corinna Schorn ,Zach N Adelman ,Huyen Dinh ,Nicolai Peschel ,Essia Sghaier ,Jay D Evans ,Antonin Jean Johan Crumière ,Daniel Hughes ,Christian Wegener ,Michael E Scharf ,Hugh M Robertson ,Stephen Richards

doi:10.1038/ncomms10165

Abstract

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, has re-established itself as a ubiquitous human ectoparasite throughout much of the world during the past two decades. This global resurgence is likely linked to increased international travel and commerce in addition to widespread insecticide resistance. Analyses of the C. lectularius sequenced genome (650 Mb) and 14,220 predicted protein-coding genes provide a comprehensive representation of genes that are linked to traumatic insemination, a reduced chemosensory repertoire of genes related to obligate hematophagy, host–symbiont interactions, and several mechanisms of insecticide resistance. In addition, we document the presence of multiple putative lateral gene transfer events. Genome sequencing and annotation establish a solid foundation for future research on mechanisms of insecticide resistance, human–bed bug and symbiont–bed bug associations, and unique features of bed bug biology that contribute to the unprecedented success of C. lectularius as a human ectoparasite.

Highlights

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, has re-established itself as a ubiquitous human ectoparasite throughout much of the world during the past two decades
This study reveals evolutionary adaptations associated with the lifestyle of bed bugs, including significant reductions in chemosensory genes, expansion of genes that are associated with blood digestion and the entire repertoire of genes that have been associated with pesticide resistance in various other species
We identified the presence of multiple putative lateral gene transfer (LGT) events from various bacteria, including Wolbachia and Arsenophonus

Summary

Introduction

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, has re-established itself as a ubiquitous human ectoparasite throughout much of the world during the past two decades This global resurgence is likely linked to increased international travel and commerce in addition to widespread insecticide resistance. The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, has a 3,000-year documented association with humans that is likely much more ancient[1]. This species was nearly eradicated after World War II in most economically and politically stable countries, in part through the liberal use of pesticides[2], but reservoir populations have remained in underdeveloped countries, disadvantaged communities and in association with bats, chickens and other animals[2]. We identified the presence of multiple putative lateral gene transfer (LGT) events from various bacteria, including Wolbachia and Arsenophonus

Methods

Results

Conclusion