Partial Mitochondrial 16S rRNA Gene Research Articles

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF Scorpiops longimanus (POCOCK, 1893) (ARACHNIDA: SCORPIOPIDAE) IN MIZORAM, NORTHEAST INDIA

In this study, we confirm the occurrence of the tropical forest scorpion Scorpiops longimanus (Pocock, 1893) in Mizoram, India based on specimens collected from 13 different localities within the state. The total length of the animal was found to range from 42.22 mm up to 65.16 mm. The number of trichobothria on the ventral surface of the pedipalp patella and that of the external face alternates between 10–11 and 18–19, respectively. The pectines showed dissimilarities in the structure of the lamellae and in the number of teeth. We generated the first molecular data for the species and performed a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis using the partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene which showed the formation of a distinct clade of S. longimanus. The uncorrected k2p distance showed an intraspecific genetic variation of 2.9% among the species studies.

Molecular characterisation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks from domestic dogs in Nigeria.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most widely reported tick in the world. Molecular characterisation is important to verify its taxonomic status in the different parts of the world. In this study, we provide information on the molecular characterisation of R. sanguineus tick of dogs collected from Nigeria. Ticks were collected from 62 of 93 sampled dogs. The collected ticks were subjected to morphological identification with the aid of appropriate entomological keys. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from the most prevalent tick species (R. sanguineus) and was subjected to further molecular characterisation protocols. The partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences (∼300 bp) were obtained from representative specimens. Data were statistically analysed using the chi‐square (χ 2) test. Phylogenetic analysis was performed including different lineages of R. sanguineus (sl) from Africa, Asia, Europe and America, and other species belonging to the R. sanguineus ‘tropical lineage’ (R. linnaei) as well as Rhipicephalus turanicus and Ixodes ricinus. Results of this study showed that R. sanguineus was the most abundant ticks of dogs with a prevalence of 61.8% (68/110; 95% CI = 52.5–70.54), followed by Amblyomma variegatum (20.0%) and Haemaphysalis leachi (18.2%). The molecular analysis shows that they are genetically different from the temperate strains but closely related to those from other West African countries. There is a need to establish the vector competence of this common Nigerian dog tick.

Two new species of freshwater crab of the genus Aparapotamon Dai & Chen, 1985 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Potamidae) from Yunnan, China.

Two new species of freshwater crab of the genus Potamid Aparapotamon Dai & Chen, 1985 are described from Yunnan Province, southwest China. Morphological comparisons were made between the two new species and type materials of other 11 species of Aparapotamon. Aparapotamonbinchuanensesp. nov. and A.huizeensesp. nov. can be separated from their congeners by the shape of the epibranchial tooth, the frontal view of the cephalothorax, the male first gonopod, and the female vulvae. The molecular analyses based on partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene are also included. This study brings the number of Aparapotamon species to 13.

The phylogenetic position of Arhaphe deviatica within Hemipteran insects: A potential model species for eco-devo studies of symbiosis.

Insecta is known to be the most diverse group of species, exhibiting numerous forms of endosymbiotic associations. Molecular techniques have provided significant indicators for insect-microbe interactions. The present study aimed to register one of the true bugs of pentatomomorpha and clarify its taxonomic position through phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene region. A maximum likelihood analysis retrieved a generally well-supported phylogeny based on Tamura 3-parameter model. Based on the partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences, a phylogenetic study of suborder Heteroptera relationships within Hemipteras' order was constructed. Sequences of 221 bases of the 3' end of the gene from 28 species within 16 families were analyzed. This analysis and bootstrap confidence revealed two major clades comprising four suborders within Hemiptera, with a close relationship between Heteroptera + (Sternorrhyncha + (Auchenorrhycha + Coleorrhyncha)). Infraorder Pentatomomorpha is forming a sister group with a substantial bootstrap value to Cimicomorpha. Pyrrhocoroidea forms a sister relationship with Lygaeoidea + Coreoidea. There is a close relationship between Largidae and Pyrrhocoridae within Pyrrhocoroidea. The results show that the present species is firmly embedded in the genus Arhaphe with 94.35% sequence resemblance to its congeners. Besides, the recovered hemipteran species considered a potential model group for studying different symbionts. We propose both phylogenetic and ecological evolutionary developmental biology viewpoints for a more synthetic understanding of insect populations' molecular evolution.

Genetic characterization of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks from dogs in Portugal

BackgroundThe taxonomic status of the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu stricto) is a subject of on-going debate; there is a consensus that populations of this tick species should be referred to as R. sanguineus (sensu lato) until its taxonomic status is resolved. Recent genetic studies revealed the existence of more than one lineage of R. sanguineus (s.l.) in temperate countries. In this study, we assessed the genetic identity of ticks collected from rural dogs living in several areas located in all major geographical regions of Portugal.MethodsA total of 347 ticks were collected from rural dogs living in different regions of Portugal. These ticks were morphologically identified and partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences (~300 bp) were obtained from representative specimens.ResultsThe ticks were morphologically identified as Ixodes ricinus (seven males and 27 females), Rhipicephalus bursa (one male), Rhipicephalus pusillus (one female) and R. sanguineus (s.l.) (two larvae, 101 nymphs, 108 males and 100 females). Partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences were obtained from 58 R. sanguineus (s.l.) specimens, and all of them were genetically identified as belonging to the so-called temperate lineage of R. sanguineus (s.l.)ConclusionsThese results strongly suggest that the temperate species of R. sanguineus (s.l.) is the only representative of this tick group found on dogs in Portugal. It also adds weight to the hypothesis that Rhipicephalus turanicus is not present in this country, although further investigations are necessary to confirm this.

Cnemaspis flaviventralis, a new species of gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

Cnemaspis flaviventralis, a new species of day gecko, is described from the forests of Amboli, Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra State, northern Western Ghats, India. The new species was previously confused with the sympatric species Cnemaspis girii, C. indraneildasii, C. kolhapurensis and C. goaensis. It is distinguished from C. giri by having spine-like tubercles on flanks, granular dorsal scales intermixed with large, depressed, slightly keeled scales (vs. lack of spine-like tubercles on flanks, granular dorsal scales, intermixed with large smooth scales); from C. indraneildasii by having dorsal scales heterogeneous (vs. homogenous), lacking a series of enlarged median sub-caudal scales, and 28–29 (vs. 20) ventral scales across mid-body; from C. kolhapurensis by having heterogeneous (vs. homogenous) dorsal scalation, lacking spine-like tubercles on flanks and lacking pre-cloacal pores (vs. 24–28 pre-cloacal-femoral pores); and from C. goaensis by lacking pre-cloacal pores and lacking a series of enlarged median sub-caudal scales. We further provide partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences for the new species and for the sympatric species C. girii, C. kolhapurensis and C. goaensis, and show that the new species is genetically distinct.

Identification of three Asian Hediste species (Polychaeta: Nereididae) by PCR-RFLP analysis of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene

An easy polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was designed to identify the three morphologically similar nereidid polychaete species Hediste atoka, Hediste diadroma and Hediste japonica which often dominate in estuarine macrobenthic fauna in eastern Asia. Restriction digestion analysis of the PCR products of the partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene (approximately 600 bp) of these three species, using EcoRV and TspEI endonucleases, generated species-specific restriction patterns. The PCR-RFLP method enables easy and accurate identification of the three Hediste species.

Analysis of RAPD and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences from Trichiurus lepturus and Eupleurogrammus muticus in the Yellow Sea*

Abstract Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique is applied to 12 individuals from each species of the hairtail fishes Trichiurus lepturus and Eupleurogrammus muticus in the Yellow Sea. The percentage of polymorphic sites, degree of genetic polymorphism and genetic distance are compared and the phylogenetic tree is constructed by Neighbor-joining method. The partial mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene is amplified by polymerase chainreaction (PCR) and the PCR products are directly sequenced afterbeing purified. These sequences, together with the homologous sequences of another Trichiuridae species Lepidopus caudatus obtained from Gen-Bank, are used to analyze nucleotide difference and to construct a UPGMA phylogenetic tree by means of biological informatics. Analysis shows: (l) the RAPD technique is a highly sensitive method for investigating genetic diversity in T. lepturus, and E. muticus. T. lepturus exhibits a lower polymorphism and genetic diversity than E. muticus; (2) according to the analysis of...