The genome of Ips typographus (Eurasian spruce bark beetle) was published in 2021: What happens now?

The sequencing of the Ips typographus genome by seven laboratories¹ paves the way for new research on Ips bark beetles and prospects for effective beetle management. Revealing the functional genomics of Ips typographus enables a far more profound understanding of how it has become a remarkably successful tree killer of Norway spruce. It allows us to dig into the molecular events underlying the adaptation of beetles to thrive on the nutritionally limited and defense-rich bark substrate. Genome information will facilitate a deeper understanding of bark beetle physiology, including pheromone biosynthesis^2,3 and the molecular mechanisms of host colonisation^5,6. Such understanding will open the door for next-generation pest management using RNA interference (RNAi)⁷.

Currently, geographical dispersal, variation, and evolution are studied by us and at Lund U., SE⁴ and Cracow U., PL⁸.

Further, various 'omics' studies of Ips (genomes, transcriptomes, and proteomes) are underway.  Collaborations are invited.

1.Powell et al. Comm Biol 4 (2021). 10.1038/s42003-021-02602-3

2.Ramakrishnan et al. IBMB 140 (2022). 10.1016/j.ibmb.2021.103680

3.Ramakrishnan et al. DiB 41 (2022). 10.1016/j.dib.2022.107912

4.Ellerstrand et al. Ecol & Evol 12 Accepted 2022-05-16 (2022).

5.Naseer et al. Aevaluation of detoxification and digestion machinery in Ips typographus. (In prep)

6.Ashraf et al. Feeding induced protein expression in Ips typographus. (In prep)

7.Sellamuthu et al. RNAi as a management tool for Ips typographus (In prep)

8.Mykhailenko et al. High prevalence of polymorphic inversions in Eurasian spruce bark beetle. (In prep)