Using population genomic approaches to evaluate Anopheles gambiae

Population genomic approaches across diverse species have traditionally used short read sequence data to investigate population structure and signatures of selection. In the recent past, long reads are more traditionally used to build reference genomes to which the short read data can be aligned and evaluated. However, the cost of long read sequencing as well as the DNA input required to generate high quality long read data is dropping rapidly. We foresee a future where population genomics transitions to long read data.

Using these emerging technologies, this project will begin to evaluate what new insights are gained for the Anopheles gambiae species complex, a set of mosquito species famous as the vector of malaria and known to exhibit porous species boundaries and abundant structural variation.  We anticipate that long-read approaches for haplotype phasing and structural variant discovery will enable much clearer resolution of gene flow within species, introgression between species, and alleles under directional or balancing selection.  Insights gained from this project are likely to influence approaches taken for other species that are known to have similar complexities (e.g., Heliconius butterflies, African cichlid fishes).

This project will involve developing and applying new computational methods for analysing long-read sequencing data in an Anopheles population genomics context. The collaborating laboratories at the Sanger Institute and NHGRI are experts in these respective areas and well-suited to provide the appropriate mentorship.