Sequencing Testse fly genome reveals surprises that may save lives

URL: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140424-tsetse-fly-genome-sequenced-sleeping-sickness-science/
Date Published: April 24, 2014
Source: National Geographic

The tsetse fly is a large, bloodsucking insect that resides in regions of Africa. They are extremely harmful and cause serious diseases to the human body and other livestock. A common disease is called sleeping sickness( or more scientifically known as, trypanosomias) and for animals a disease called nagana (animal trypanosomias).
**More information about sleeping sickness can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/sleeping-sickness/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier
A team of 146 scientists decoded the genome of this fly, and revealed that the sequence could allay the human losses caused by the trypanosomic parasite the fly spreads for sleeping sickness. They discovered that the tsetse are very mammal like, where the females nourish young with milk inside a womb. This new genome could potentially give new ways to prevent sleeping sickness and nagana. For example in humans, the tsetse sequence contained a single regulatory protein that conducts milk production in the fly. If scientists could target that protein with inhibitory chemicals, then it would reduce the amount of milk the fly produces, eventually leading to population control of the flies.
The tsetse genome consists of 366 million base pairs compared to the 300 billion in humans. It also has 12,308 protein encoding genes to 20,000  human encoding genes. Scientist, Sercep Aksoy, professor of Epidemiology at Yale University, noticed that the genome reflects the tsetse's feeding strategy- bloodsucking. Aksoy says that knowing the genes involved in color sensing, smell, taste and vision of these flies can lead to repellents "that capitalize on particular genes." She also hopes that vaccines can be given to livestock that would keep the flies from digesting their blood.
This discovery has been well renowned over this past year and is considered a "landmark in the molecular genetics of neglected tropical diseases." With this new genome sequence, better control options for the flies are possible.

This article relates to our past study of molecular genetics, specifically genome sequences and the function of proteins in the body. By sequencing the entire genome of the flies, scientists have determined ways to reduce the genes coding for specific functions in the fly. It is quite fascinating how an insect that is harmful to humans and animals, can actually benefit them as well.