DROP: Molecular voucher database for identification of Drosophila parasitoids

Authors: LUE, CHIA-HUA - University Of Maryland; Buffington, Matthew; Scheffer, Sonja; Lewis, Matthew; DRISKELL, AMY - Smithsonian Institute; JANDOVA, ANNA - Biology Centre Of The Ascr Of The Czech Republic, Vvi; KIMURA, MASAHITO - Hokkaido University; CARTON, YVES - Organization And Evolution Of Plant Genomes (OEPG); Kula, Robert; SCHLENKE, TOOD - University Of Arizona; MATEOS, MARIANA - Texas A&M University; GOVIND, SHUBHA - City University Of New York; VARALDI, JULIEN - University Of Lyon; GUERRIERI, EMILIO - National Research Council - Italy; GIORGINI, MASSIMO - National Research Council - Italy; Wang, Xingeng; Hoelmer, Kim; DAANE, KENT - University Of California; ABRAM, PAUL - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; PARDIKES, NICHOLAS - Sophia Agrobiotechnology Institute; BROWN, JOEL - University Of South Bohemia; THIERRY, MELANIE - University Of South Bohemia; POIRIE, MARYLENE - Sophia Agrobiotechnology Institute; Goldstein, Paul; MILLER, SCOTT - Smithsonian Institute; JIGGINS, FRANCSIS - University Of Cambridge; TRACEY, A - Mercer County Community College; DAVIS, JEREMY - University Of Indiana; WERTHEIM, BREGJE - University Of Groningen; LEWIS, OWEN - University Of Oxford; LEIPS, JEFF - University Of Maryland; LINDSEY, AMELIA R.I. - University Of Minnesota; STANICZENKO, PHILLIP P.A. - Brooklyn College; HRCEK, JAN - Biology Centre Of The Ascr Of The Czech Republic, Vvi

Submitted to: Molecular Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2021
Publication Date: 5/29/2021
Citation: Lue, C., Buffington, M.L., Scheffer, S.J., Lewis, M.L., Driskell, A., Jandova, A., Kimura, M., Carton, Y., Kula, R.R., Schlenke, T., Mateos, M., Govind, S., Varaldi, J., Guerrieri, E., Giorgini, M., Wang, X., Hoelmer, K.A., Daane, K., Abram, P., Pardikes, N., Brown, J., Thierry, M., Poirie, M., Goldstein, P.Z., Miller, S., Jiggins, F., Tracey, A., Davis, J.S., Wertheim, B., Lewis, O.T., Leips, J., Lindsey, A., Staniczenko, P., Hrcek, J. 2021. DROP: Molecular voucher database for identification of Drosophila parasitoids. Molecular Ecology. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13435.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.13435

Interpretive Summary: Molecular identification of morphologically confusing or complex insects is essential in many fields. However, the libraries of sequence data used for comparison purposes range in data quality. We present here criteria for managing and building such a database, and explain the value and use of such a resource. This is essential research and data for the fields of biological control, insect ecology, systematics and insect physiology.

Technical Abstract: Molecular identification is widely to expedite biodiversity surveys and laboratory experiments with increasing frequency and success. However, due to large numbers of sequences linked to ambiguously applied taxonomic names and a general lack of sequenced voucher specimens that have been identified by experts, many organisms and groups of organisms cannot be reliably identified using standard databases like GenBank or BOLD. Here, we address this problem for parasitoids of Drosophila, by introducing a curated, free, and open-access molecular reference database called DROP (Drosophila parasitoids). Not only is identifying Drosophila parasitoids is challenging, but their species richness is acutely underestimated, and they represent a significant untapped resource: by leveraging the knowledge base of D. melanogaster and related species, studies of these wasps have the potential to impact our understanding at multiple levels of biological organization. In DROP, genetic materials are linked to voucher specimens and, where possible, the voucher specimens are not only identified by qualified taxonomists, vetted through direct comparison with primary type material ( https://github.com/janhrcek/DROP/ ). To initiate DROP, we curated 876 vouchers, 540 DNA sequences, 16 genomes, 8 transcriptomes, and 5 proteomes drawn from a total of 182 operational taxonomic units (OTUs): 113 described Drosophila parasitoid species, 69 provisional species, including 148 laboratory strains. We also provide an updated catalogue of Drosophila parasitoid species as a reliable taxonomic reference for the research community. DROP offers accurate molecular identification and improved cross-referencing with individual research studies that we hope will catalyze research on this diverse and fascinating insect model system. This effort should serve as an example for researchers facing similar molecular identification problems in complex and understudied organismal groups.