Culex quinquefasciatus

The Johannesburg (JHB) strain is the source of genomic DNA for the Culex quinquefasciatus genome project. This strain has been selected because it consistently yields high quality chromosome spreads suitable for in situ hybridization studies [1]. This strain is also insecticide susceptible and so can be transported and maintained in laboratories world-wide. The Johannesburg (JHB) strain was established from offspring reared from 20 egg rafts collected in a single unused fish pond in March 2001. Population genetic studies revealed that the Johannesburg C. quinquefasciatus population was genetically isolated from a sympatric C. pipiens pipiens population [2]. Consequently, the JHB strain is expected to possess a high degree of genetic divergence from C. pipiens pipiens. Based on many generations of inbreeding at relatively small population size (often no more than about 50 females per generation), the colony is expected to show relatively little genetic variation [3]. In addition to having excellent polytene chromosomes in larval salivary gland tissues, this colony has also been found to be free of any visible polytene chromosome inversions.

Current release

• Notes on Culex WGS assembly CpipJ1

• Notes on the Culex genebuild CpipJ1.1
• Notes on the Culex genebuild CpipJ1.2

Change in taxonomy

• As of May 2008, the Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus subspecies has been promoted to species rank and is now named Culex quinquefasciatus. VectorBase will change this later in the summer (Aug.2008). Here is a list of places where we should make the changes.

Wikipedia

The Culex_pipiens wikipedia page is currently a forward to the generic mosquito page. Do we want to create a separate page?