This project aims at obtaining an accurate and complete genome sequence for the European tick Ixodes ricinus.This blood-feeding arthropod is indeed a significant health concern (Lyme disease vection, but also several pathogens and parasites) in Europe, but itsgenomics resources where until recently lagging compared to many arthropod organisms representing health issues. This project will require to overcome potential challenges (large genome size, heterozygosity). For that aim we will use material from a highly inbred lab line, and will design a sequencing strategy that allows to obtain a highly continuous assembly despite the high repetitive content of this genome.
Complementary sequencing will allow to better describe the transcriptomic landscape (especially for tissues or conditions highly specific to ticks and their way of life), and also to study patterns of genome-wide diversity.
