Lutzomyia longipalpis isolate:single male | breed:Jacobina strain, colony in McDowell Lab U. Notre Dame Genome sequencing

Leishmaniasis is the second biggest parasitic killer after malaria. It is estimated to kill an estimated 40,000 people every year, and accounts for an estimated 2.4 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). The Leishmania parasite is transmitted to humans when female sand flies bite humans to obtain blood meals that they require for reproduction. A better understanding of sand fly biology and populations is important for the control and monitoring of this disease vector. This is a new, very high-quality reference genome sequence for Lutzomyia longipalpis, found in the New World, a primary vector of American visceral leishmaniasis that we hope will be a foundation for future efforts to monitor and control the vector of this devastating disease