Genome-wide analysis of genetic diversity in Anopheles darlingi from Rondônia State, Brazil

Anopheles darlingi is the primary malaria vector in Central and South America and is responsible for most malaria transmission in the Amazon region. In this study, we perform whole-genome analysis of individual An. darlingi mosquitoes to explore genomic diversity, signatures of selection, and insecticide resistance markers. We analysed wild-caught (n = 20) and colony-maintained (n = 8) mosquitoes from the State of Rondônia, Brazil. In total, 1.54 million high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. Population genomic analysis revealed genetic differentiation between the colony and wild populations. No SNPs previously associated with insecticide resistance were detected. However, several SNPs were observed in four genes commonly associated with insecticide resistance: ace1, rdl, gste2, and vgsc. Genes under directional selection were identified, but no clear selective sweeps were found using genome-wide selection scans. Gene duplications were identified in cytochrome P450 genes, which are known to metabolise pyrethroids. This study provides a detailed genetic profile of An. darlingi, highlighting genes potentially involved in insecticide resistance, and presents an analysis of signatures of selection based on WGS data for this species. Our findings identify markers in insecticide resistance-associated genes that warrant further investigation through phenotypic-genotypic assays.