Glossina morsitans genome sequencing

Male and female tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) are vectors of trypanosomes (e.g T. brucei gambiense and T. brucei brucei) that cause Sleeping Sickness (human African trypanosomiasis) and nagana. It is conservatively estimated by the World Health Organization that there are currently between 300,000 and 500,000 cases of African sleeping sickness, with 60 million people at risk in 37 countries covering 40% of Africa. The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute has undertaken whole genome shotgun sequencing as part of the International Glossina Genomics Initiative (IGGI). Sequence data is being produced using capillary sequencing, Illumina sequencing and 454 sequencing technologies.