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Chong, T. K.

Publications and source records attributed to Chong, T. K..

2 recordsLinked to original sources
bioRxiv2024

Genome of tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus (Cimicidae, Hemiptera) reveals tetraspanin expanded in bed bug ancestor

Cimex species are ectoparasites that exclusively feed on warm-blooded animals such as birds and mammals. Three cimicid species are known to be persistent pests for humans, including the tropical bed bug C. hemipterus, common bed bug C. lectularius, and Eastern bat bug Leptocimex boueti. To date, genomic information is restricted to the common bed bug C. lectularius, which limits understand their biology and to provide controls of bed bug infestations. Here, a chromosomal-level genome assembly of C. hemipterus (495 Mb) containing on 16 pseudochromosomes (scaffold N50 = 34 Mb), together with 9 messenger RNA and small RNA transcriptomes were obtained. Comparison between hemipteran genomes, we found that the tetraspanin superfamily were expanded in the Cimex ancestor. This study provides the first genome assembly for the tropical bed bug C. hemipterus, and offers an unprecedented opportunity to address to questions relating to bed bug infestations, as well as genomic evolution to hemipterans more widely.

genomics↗
bioRxiv2024

Genome assembly of the edible jelly fungus Dacryopinax spathularia (Dacrymycetaceae)

The edible jelly fungus Dacryopinax spathularia (Dacrymycetaceae) is wood-decaying and can be commonly found worldwide. It has also been used in food additives given its ability to synthesize long-chain glycolipids. In this study, we present the genome assembly of D. spathularia using a combination of PacBio HiFi reads and Omni-C data. The genome size of D. spathularia is 29.2 Mb and in high sequence contiguity and completeness, including scaffold N50 of 1.925 Mb and 92.0% BUSCO score, respectively. A total of 11,510 protein-coding genes, and 474.7 kb repeats accounting for 1.62% of the genome, were also predicted. The D. spathularia genome assembly generated in this study provides a valuable resource for understanding their ecology such as wood decaying capability, evolutionary relationships with other fungus, as well as their unique biology and applications in the food industry.

genomics↗