Complete mitochondrial genomes of Arizona West Nile virus vectors, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis

A groundbreaking study has successfully obtained complete mitochondrial genomes of two key West Nile virus vectors, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis, from Arizona, USA. Researchers employed a novel method combining long-range PCR and long-read Pacific Biosciences HiFi sequencing to achieve this feat. This breakthrough is crucial given the significant impact of West Nile virus in Maricopa County, where these vectors are the primary transmitters to human populations.

The newly sequenced Cx. quinquefasciatus mitogenome is 15,587 base pairs long, marking it as the first USA-based mitogenome sequenced through the AT-rich control region. In contrast, the Cx. tarsalis mitogenome is 16,416 base pairs long, surpassing the lengths of recently published mitogenomes from California and Texas. This length difference is attributed to an additional 905 base pairs insertion in the AT-rich control region of Cx. tarsalis, absent in existing publicly available mitogenomes.

Phylogenetic analysis confirms the species identity of these newly sequenced mitogenomes. This methodological advancement offers a unique platform for studying medically-important vector species worldwide, promising solutions for pooled vector pathogen surveillance programs.