Mitochondrial genomes and comparative analyses of Culex camposi, Culex coronator, Culex usquatus and Culex usquatissimus (Diptera:Culicidae), members of the coronator group. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Demari-Silva, Bruna; Foster, Peter; de Oliveira, Tatiane; Bergo, Eduardo; Sanabani, Sabri; Pessôa, Rodrigo; Sallum, Maria
• Is Part Of: BMC genomics. Volume 16:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 11
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Culex -- Coronator Group -- Mitochondrial genome -- Arboviruses -- Vectors; Genomes -- Periodicals; Gene mapping -- Periodicals; Genomics -- Periodicals; Base Sequence -- Periodicals; Chromosome Mapping -- Periodicals; Genetic Techniques -- Periodicals; Sequence Analysis, DNA -- Periodicals; 572.8605
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1951-0
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2164

Abstract

Abstract Background The Coronator Group currently encompasses six morphologically similar species (Culex camposi Dyar, Culex coronator Dyar and Knab, Culex covagarciai Forattini, Culex usquatus Dyar, Culex usquatissimus Dyar, andCulex ousqua Dyar).Culex coronator has been incriminated as a potential vector of West Nile Virus (WNV), Saint Louis Encephalitis Virus (SLEV), and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV). The complete mitochondrial genome ofCx. coronator, Cx. usquatus, Cx.usquatissimus, andCx. camposi was sequenced, annotated, and analyzed to provide genetic information about these species. Results The mitochondrial genomes ofCx. coronator, Cx. usquatus, Cx.usquatissimus, andCx. camposi varied from 15, 573 base pairs inCx. usquatus to 15, 576 inCx. coronator . They contained 37 genes (13 protein-encoding genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes) and the AT-rich control region. Comparative analyses of the 37 genes demonstrated the mitochondrial genomes to be composed of variable and conserved genes. Despite the small size, theATP8, ATP6 plusNADH5 protein-encoding genes were polymorphic, whereas tRNAs and rRNAs were conserved. The control region contained some poly-T stretch. The Bayesian phylogenetic tree corroborated that both the Coronator Group and theCulex pipens complex are monophyletic taxa. Conclusions The mitochondrial genomes ofCx. coronator, Cx. usquatus, Cx. usquatissimus andCx. camposi share the same gene composition and arrangement features that match to those reported for most Culicidae species. They are composed of the same 37 genes and the AT-rich control region, which contains poly-T stretches that may be involved in the functional role of the mitochondrial genome. Taken together, results of the dN/dS ratios, the sliding window analyses and the Bayesian phylogenetic analyses suggest thatATP6, ATP8 andNADH5 are promising genes to be employed in phylogenetic studies involving species of the Coronator Group, and probably other species groups of the subgenusCulex . Bayesian topology corroborated the morphological hypothesis of the Coronator Group as monophyletic lineage within the subgenusCulex .