The Ixodes scapularis Genome Project: a Community Effort

Background

There has been considerable interest amongst the scientific research community to develop a tick genome project for a number of years. Diseases transmitted by ticks within the family Ixodidae (hard ticks) are global medical and veterinary health problems caused by a wide variety of bacteria, viruses and protozoa. In the United Sates, I. scapularis transmits the causative agents of Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis and possibly the flaviviral agent of Powassan encephalitis. Little is known about the biology of ixodid ticks, and methods to control ticks and the diseases they transmit are currently limited. The I. scapularis genome project (IGP) was proposed as a way to help confront these challenges.

An international consortium of scientists initiated effort to sequence the I. scapularis genome in early 2004. The tick research community submitted a white paper proposal to the NIH to sequence the genome of I. scapularis in March, 2004. The IGP was approved by the Division of Microbial and Infectious Diseases (DMID) in April, 2004 as part of the NIH Microbial Sequencing Centers (MSC) program, and the IGP was initiated in May, 2004. The project is lead by Catherine A. Hill (Purdue University) and Stephen K. Wikel (University of Connecticut Health Center) and coordinated by the International Ixodes scapularis Sequencing Committee (IISSC) (see below). The Broad Institute and the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) were selected as the MSC sequencing centers for this project. These centers have undertaken high throughput sequencing, assembly, and automated gene annotation. Consortium scientists in conjunction with members of the international tick research community played an essential role in developing and launching the IGP, and their involvement in subsequent analysis of genome data is essential.

Management of the IGP

The IGP is coordinated by the International Ixodes scapularis Sequencing Committee (IISSC). The IISSC is composed of scientists with expertise in genome sequencing and analysis, and tick and tick-borne disease research. The function of the IISSC is to oversee and coordinate IGP activities between community scientists and the sequencing center. The IISSC is responsible for approving each version of the genome sequence that is released to public databases. Current members of the IISSC are: