Scientists Map Blowfly Genome
Posted on June 26, 2015
Australian scientists have mapped the genome of the blowfly. The Australian sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) is responsible for around $280 million in losses to Australia's sheep industry annually. Scientists discovered about 2,000 genes not seen before in any other organism. These genes are potential drug and vaccine targets.
The blowfly has 14,544 genes which were identified by the international research team, led by the University of Melbourne. The blowfly is an aggressive sheep pest. The blowfly maggots live on the skin of sheep and invade open wounds. If they get inside open wounds the maggots feed on tissue and cause a severe skin disease called myiasis or flystrike.
Dr. Clare Anstead, of the University of Melbourne Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, is the lead researcher on the project. She says in a statement, "Lucilia is a beautiful name, but it is an extremely nasty parasite. The sheep is literally eaten alive. It's horrific. The Lucilia species are responsible for more than 90 percent of flystrike in Australia and New Zealand."
Anstead also says, "It's exciting that we have now identified more than 2000 genes that have never been seen in any other animal or plant. Some of these 'orphan' genes hold the key to the parasitic relationship between the blowfly and the sheep. They could be targeted to develop a completely new method of control."
The research paper was published here in the journal, Nature Communications.
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