Objective:
To establish a database of Boophilus microplus ESTs, and a gene index consisting of putatively identified ESTs and full-length sequenced cDNAs; and to obtain basic information on the structure of the B. microplus genome, through sequencing of genomic library and BAC library clones.

Approach:
Establish a collection of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and a gene index of ESTs and sequenced cDNAs. A normalized B. microplus cDNA library is available from ARS and at least 40,000 clones will be sequenced using both forward and reverse sequencing primers. Obtain basic information on the structure of the B. microplus genome, establishing whether B. microplus genes are arranged using long or short interspersed patterns and obtaining indications of the general sizes of introns. A B. microplus BAC library is to be synthesized and probed by ARS, and selected BAC clones will be sequenced by TIGR. Additionally, small and medium insert sized B. microplus genomic libraries will be synthesized at TIGR using ARS-supplied genomic DNA and sequenced at TIGR by shotgun DNA sequencing methodology.