Body Louse Genome Sequenced

In a paper appearing in the early, online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences yesterday, an international research team reported that they have sequenced the genome of the human body louse, Pediculus humanus humanus.

In the process, the researchers also generated sequence that helped them piece together the genome of a bacterial symbiont residing in the louse. Together, the two genomes are providing clues about louse adaptations to obligate parasitism on the human body. In addition, those involved say the work may ultimately provide insights needed to pave the way for more targeted control measures.

"Understanding the genome should ultimately open up doors to better understanding how to deal with louse populations," co-senior author Barry Pittendrigh, an entomologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told GenomeWeb Daily News.