Arthropod Genomics Research (AGR) Working Group

The AGR working group focuses on outreach within USDA-ARS aimed at enhancing the genomic analyse knowledge and skill sets of members and collaborators. This is delivered through monthly teleconferences and webinars by internal and external scientists focused on genome assembly, gene and protein expression, population genomics, and reverse genetic (RNAi and CRISPR) approaches. The AGR was initiated following two organizational meetings in 2014 (AGR Workshop I) and 2016 (AGR Workshop II), at which participants communicated needs and devised solutions for challenging analytical pipelines. The AGR facilitates internal and external collaborations by merging those with complementary knowledge, skills, and capabilities within a given research area. Collaborations among AGR members have also resulted in two published papers reviewing ARS arthropod genomics research¹ and developing RNAi and CRISPR technologies². Work within the AGR includes the Ag100Pest Initiative, which aims to provide reference quality genome sequence assemblies for arthropod pests of U.S. agricultural commodities.

The AGR is open to anyone within ARS, and those interested in joining can contact Brad Coates.

1. Coates BS, Poelchau M, Childers C, Evans JD, Handler A, Guerrero F, Skoda S, Hopper K, Wintermantel WM, Ling KS, Hunter WB, Oppert B, Perez de Leon AA, Hackett K, Shoemaker D. 2015. Arthropod genomics research in the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: Current impacts and future prospects. Trends in Entomology 11:1-27. (opens pdf in this browser window)

2. Gundersen-Rindal D, Adrianos S, Allen M, Becnel JJ, Chen YP, Choi MY, Estep A, Evans JD, Garczynski S, Geib SM, Ghosh SKB, Handler AM, Hasegawa DK, Heerman M, Jull J, Hunter W, Kaur N, Li J, Li W, Ling KS, Nayduch D, Oppert B, Perera OP, Perkin L, Sanscrainte N, Sim S, Sparks M, Temeyer K, Vander Meer R, Wintermantel WM, James R, Hackett K, Coates BS. 2017. Arthropod genomics research in the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service: Applications of RNA interference and gene editing in pest control. Trends in Entomology 13: 109-137. (opens pdf in this browser window)

Symposia

Arthropod Genomics Symposium X (AGSx) Virtual Spring Symposium 2022

Online: http://i5k.github.io/agsx2022
Webinar postings: https://www.youtube.com/c/i5k_community/videos

The ARS AGR working group along with the i5K Community, an international consortium committed to the sequencing of 5000 arthropod genomes, hosted the AGSx Virtual Symposium Spring 2022 from February through May, 2022. This was the second annual AGSx event. The 2022 AGSx was comprised of four sessions co-organized and moderated by ARS AGR members and researchers from other domestic and international research institutions. Each session highlighted presentations from subject matter experts, including four from ARS researchers, and facilitated open discussions and technology transfer.

1. Insect genomic Technologies to Improve Food Applications, by Dr. Brenda Oppert, USDA-ARS
2. Honeybee Workshop, by Dr. Alain Vignal, and Dr. Sonia Eynard, INRAE, France
3. Arthropod Genomics and Genome Engineering, by Dr. Lindsey Perkin, USDA-ARS
4. Application of New Genomics Tools and Techniques in Arthropods by Dr. Marcé Lorenzen, North Carolina State University

There were 321 participations across all four AGSx 2022 sessions. The majority of attendees were from the United States, but AGSx reached a global audience inclusive of scientists in Asia, Europe, South America, and Africa.

Webinars from each session were recorded and made available on the i5K Community YouTube channel. Posting of related materials were made to the i5k Arthropod Genomics Community Slack Workspace.

The AGSx was made possible by the Organizing Committee and Production Team

• Brenda Oppert, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, USA
• Alain Vignal, INRAE, Castanet Tolosan, France
• Sonia Eynard, INRAE, Castanet Tolosan, France
• Lindsey Perkin, USDA-ARS, College Station, TX, USA
• Marcé D. Lorenzen, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
• Glenn Hanes, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA
• Anna Childers, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA
• Robert Waterhouse, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
• Brad Coates, USDA-ARS, Ames, IA, USA

Arthropod Genomics Symposium X (AGSx) Virtual Spring Symposium 2021

Online: http://i5k.github.io/agsx2021
Webinar postings: https://www.youtube.com/c/i5k_community/videos

The ARS AGR working group along with the i5K Community, an international consortium committed to the sequencing of 5000 arthropod genomes, helped the AGSx Virtual Symposium Spring 2021 from February through May, 2021. There were four sessions co-organized and moderated by ARS AGR members and researchers from other domestic and international research institutions. Session highlighted presentations from subject matter experts in aspects of arthropod genomics, use of insects as food, genome engineering, now tools and techniques, and a session focusing of honeybees.

1. Insect genomic Technologies to Improve Food Applications, by Dr. Brenda Oppert, USDA-ARS
2. Arthropod Genomics and Genome Engineering, by Dr. Lindsey Perkin, USDA-ARS
3. Application of New Genomics Tools and Techniques in Arthropods by Dr. Marcé Lorenzen, North Carolina State University
4. Honeybee Workshop, by Dr. Alain Vignal, and Dr. Sonia Eynard, INRAE, France

There were 628 participations across four AGSx 2021 sessions. Although the majority of attendees were from the United States, the AGSx reached a global audience inclusive of many scientists in Asia, Europe and South America.

Webinars from each session were recorded and made available on the i5K Community YouTube channel. Posting of related materials were made to the i5k Arthropod Genomics Community Slack Workspace.