Genetic variation and mtCOI phylogeny for Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) indicate that the ‘B’ biotype predominates in Iran

Despite a large number of investigations on the molecular genetics and population structure of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) complex, no such study had been conducted in Iran. The genetic variation of B. tabaci was examined using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for 18 field collections from cucumber, eggplant, and tomato in four provinces of Iran. PCR amplification and restriction digestion with two enzymes detected 388 RFLP fragments, of which 16 fragments showed polymorphisms. Cluster analysis of these data placed all B. tabaci individuals within a single group, and there was no evidence for between- or within-population genetic variation. Phylogenetic (Clustal W) analysis of 42 B. tabaci mtCOI sequences (n = 21 field collections) from Iran, and a comparison with well-studied haplotype or biotype reference sequences available in public sequence databases, revealed that the Iranian B. tabaci populations were most closely related to the B biotype at 0–1.2% nucleotide identity. The B biotype is a well-known member of a sister clade from the Middle East–North African region of the world, owing to its nearly worldwide distribution and invasive characteristics. This report indicates that a single major haplotype of B biotype is prevalent in Iran and that its closest relative is the B biotype. Also, given the extent of known variation in the Middle East and African continent, data indicate somewhat surprisingly that the B. tabaci collections sampled in Iran had limited genetic variation and population substructure. Knowledge that the B biotype of B. tabaci predominates in Iran is important for designing effective pest management strategies given that biotypes of B. tabaci are known to differ greatly with respect to insecticide resistance, host range, virus–vector interactions, and other key biological characteristics.     

Molecular detection of Torque teno sus virus in lymphoid tissues in concomitant infections with other porcine viral pathogens

In this study, 40 pigs with respiratory and wasting disorders from Cuban swine herds were screened by PCR for the presence of TTSuV1, TTSuV2, PCV-2, PPV and CSFV in spleen samples. The variability of the porcine TTSuV sequences obtained was investigated by phylogenetic analysis. This study showed for the first time that TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 were present in Cuban swine herds. The investigation revealed the following infection rates: TTSuV1 40%, TTSuV2 37.5%, PCV-2 70%, PPV 37.5% and CSFV in 52.5%. The presence of two or more of these viruses at different rates in the same spleen samples was revealed. Also, a higher genetic diversity of TTSuV2 sequences was observed regarding TTSuV1 sequences.     

基于 cox1基因全序列的癞蝗科部分类群系统发育关系分析

该研究测定了我国癞蝗科7属11种昆虫细胞色素氧化酶 I（cox1）基因全序列,并联系从 GenBank下载的贺兰短鼻蝗、红缘疙蝗的 cox1基因全序列进行序列分析,结果表明,除宽纹蠢蝗外 cox1基因全序列均为1534 bp,其中有326个变异位点,211个简约信息位点;A+T平均含量为67.1%,碱基组成具有AT偏斜;遗传距离分析发现,遗传距离0.08可以将癞蝗科很好的分为4个组。以飞蝗为外群,用 NJ、MP、ML和贝叶斯法重建了癞蝗科的系统发育树,结果显示,锯癞蝗亚科的短鼻蝗属、突鼻蝗属、疙蝗属和贝蝗属4属8种蝗虫聚为一支,但短鼻蝗属的单系性未得到支持,癞蝗亚科的2种笨蝗聚为一支,蠢蝗亚科的宽纹蠢蝗为一支,与形态分类学将我国癞蝗科分为3个亚科的结果一致。锯癞蝗亚科的2种波腿蝗组成一支,没有和锯癞蝗亚科的其他种类聚在一起,波腿蝗属的分类地位有待进一步研究。     

Molecular characterization of Blastocystis isolates from children and rhesus monkeys in Kathmandu, Nepal

To investigate the possible transmission of Blastocystis organisms between local rhesus monkeys and children in Kathmandu, Nepal, we compared the subtype (ST) and sequence of Blastocystis isolates from children with gastrointestinal symptoms and local rhesus monkeys. Twenty and 10 Blastocystis isolates were established from 82 and 10 fecal samples obtained from children and monkeys, respectively. Subtype analysis with seven sequence-tagged site (STS) primers indicated that the prevalence of Blastocystis sp. ST1, ST2 and ST3 was 20%, 20% and 60% in the child isolates, respectively. In contrast to human isolates, ST3 was not found in monkey isolates and the prevalence of ST1 and ST2 was 50% and 70%, respectively, including three mixed STs1 and 2 and one isolate not amplified by any STS primers, respectively. Since Blastocystis sp. ST2 has been reported as the most dominant genotype in the survey of Blastocystis infection among the various monkey species, sequence comparison of the 150 bp variable region of the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene was conducted among ST2 isolates of humans and monkeys. Sequence alignment of 24 clones developed from ST2 isolates of 4 humans and 4 monkeys showed three distinct subgroups, defined as ST2A, ST2B and ST2C. These three subgroups were shared between the child and monkey isolates. These results suggest that the local rhesus monkeys are a possible source of Blastocystis sp. ST2 infection of humans in Kathmandu.     

An Alien in the Group: Eusocial Male Bees Sharing Nonspecific Reproductive Aggregations

Sexual selection predicts that individuals competing for access to sexual partners should maximize their chances of mating by looking for sites where the chances of finding partners are more likely to occur. However, males of stingless bees have been observed sharing nonspecific reproductive aggregations. This uncommon behavior appears to confer no obvious increase of individual fitness. It has been suggested that this reproductive strategy is due to the similarity between male odors common to different stingless bee species. Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are candidate odors of interest because their nonvolatile pheromone nature allows them to play an important role in sexual behavior and species recognition. Here, we review the literature to evaluate whether any phylogenetic patterns exist among male stingless bees that aggregate with closely or distantly related species. We also compared the CHC profiles of males of Neotropical stingless bee species (Plebeia sp. Schwarz, Trigona spinipes (F.), Tetragona clavipes (F.), Nannotrigona testaceicornis (Lepeletier), Scaptotrigona aff. depilis (Moure), Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille), and Melipona subnitida (Ducke) to reveal any chemical similarities among their male odors. We found males of 21 stingless bee species involved in interspecific interactions mainly from Neotropical and Indo-Malayan/Australasian regions. Alien males did not necessarily visit host aggregations of closely related species. Furthermore, the CHC profiles of different studied species were very distinct from each other and do not overlapped at all. It is unclear yet why this apparently nonadaptive behavior carried out by some stingless bee males.     

Polyphasic characteristics of bradyrhizobia isolated from nodules of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in China

Peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) were introduced to China about 500 years ago. However, the diversity of Rhizobial strains in China that can nodulate peanut was poorly understand. Diversity and phylogeny of 50 slow-growing strains, isolated from root nodules of peanut in different geographical regions of China, were studied using polyphasic techniques. All stains were clustered by phenotypic tests into two distinct groups: Group I: 16S rRNA RFLP genotype 3, and Group II, which divided into 16S rRNA RFLP genotypes 1 and 2. Genotype 1 shares the same genotype with USDA110, USDA122 and USDA127 of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and genotype 2 solely consisted of extra-slow growing bradyrhizobia isolated from Hongan, China. Results of 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that peanut bradyrhizobia were phylogenetically related to B. japonicum and their sequence divergence was less than 1.1%. Based upon the size of the internally transcribed spacer (ITS) between the16S and 23S RNA genes, strains were classified into ITS-I, ITS-II and ITS-III genotypes. Strains could be further divided into sub-clusters IA, IB, IIa, IIb and IIc five sub-clusters through ITS PCR-RFLP and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR) analysis. Host specificity test revealed that all peanut bradyrhizobia tested nodulated Phaseolus vulgaris and strains of clusters IIb and IIc nodulated Glycine soja efficiently. Bradyrhizobia isolated from peanut were related, but still exhibited phylogenetical divergence with B. japonicum.     

Characterization of a phytoplasma associated with witches' broom disease of potatoes in Korea

 Symptoms of witches' broom disease caused by phytoplasma, including general stunting and yellowing, were observed in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in a storehouse on Jeju Island, Korea in 1998. Based on sequence analysis of DNA products from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified 16S ribosomal DNA and 16S–23S spacer region using universal phytoplasma primers, the phytoplasma associated with potato witches' broom disease (PWB) was identified as a member of 16S-group VIII. It was most closely related to elm AH phytoplasma (99.7% similarity, accession no. AF268895), which is in the clover proliferation (CP) subgroup. This report is the first from the East Asian continent of a plant pathogenic phytoplasma belonging to the CP subgroup and includes the nucleotide sequence of most of the potato phytoplasma 16S rDNA. Received: May 1, 2002 / Accepted: July 1, 2002     

微孢子虫系统发育研究进展

微孢子虫是一类专营寄生生活、具极丝但无线粒体的单细胞真核生物,介绍了生物学特征、核糖体的SSU rRNA、ITS间隔序列、LSU rRNA、微管蛋白基因及蛋白质组学在微孢子虫的系统发育研究中的应用。     

Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy of Dicentrarchus labrax and Sparus aurata farmed in Tunisia

Viruses belonging to the Nodaviridae family cause disease worldwide among a large number of species of marine fish, and have been described in all continents. In the present study, a total of 69 farmed Tunisian sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and 24 sea bream (Sparus aurata) samples were tested monthly for the detection of betanodavirus. The virus was identified in both species using indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFAT) and RT-PCR. In addition sequence analysis of part of the coat protein gene indicated that both species were infected by highly related, but distinct, strains belonging to the RGNNV genotype. The sequence of the coat protein gene of several strains was identical but up to 9 different sequences were detected in a single farm. In addition, viral sequences obtained from fish that were held at lower temperature (<20°C) were distinct from the rest of the sequences.