The Department of Nematology's weekly NEMA 250 seminar series is presented this week by:

Anil Baniya, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Scholar, Dillman Lab, Department of Nematology, UC Riverside

Seminar Title: “Decoding the Genomic Landscape: Insights into Entomopathogenic Nematodes"

Seminar Summary: Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) constitute a group of nematodes known for their ability to kill insects, serving as effective biological control agents in agriculture. EPNs form symbiotic associations with bacteria to both kill and reproduce within their insect hosts. These nematodes are instrumental in studying various aspects of biology, including host-parasite interactions, neurobiology, evolution, and symbiosis. Despite their significance, the lack of genetic tools has limited their utility as a model system. The rediscovery of the species Steinernema hermaphroditum, characterized by consistent self-fertilization, presents a novel opportunity for developing genetic tools within this species. This development holds promise for potential expansion to other Steinernema nematodes. To achieve this objective, we employed MinION sequencing technology to sequence and assemble the genome of S. hermaphroditum. The final genome of S. hermaphroditum comprises 5 scaffolds, consistent with the observed chromosome number. It has a scaffold N50 of 17.7 Mb and a GC content of 47.1%, resulting in a genome size of approximately 91 Mb. Additionally, we have conducted preliminary assemblies for two other EPN species: S. glaseri, S. scapterisci and Heterorhabditis indica. These genomes serve as a fundamental basis for conducting functional genetic research, thereby enhancing the significance of EPNs as model systems.