Correlation study of genetic profiles associated with differential phenotypes of populations of the nematode Strelkovimermis spiculatus parasite of mosquitoes of public health significance

BULDAIN DANIEL; BELAICH MARIANO; ACHINELLY, MARÍA FERNANDA; MICIELI MARÍA VICTORIA; GHIRINGHELLI DANIEL

Simposio; NEMASYMS; 2013

NEMASYMS

Mosquitoes are public health importance insects which can be controlled by natural enemies such as nematodes. In that framework, Strelkovimermis spiculatus Poinar and Camino, 1986 (Mermithidae), was found in temporary flooded areas from larvae of the mosquito Ochlerotatus albifasciatus and later from Culex pipiens larvae in permanent flooded sites, both in Argentina. Actually, molecular biology is used to distinguish among closely related species of nematodes focusing in the sequence analyses of mtDNA and rDNA loci. In view of that, the aim of this study was determine whether various populations of putative S. spiculatus (collected from La Plata, Argentina) had molecular differences that resulted in changes in their bio-ecological characteristics. Thus, the 18S ribosomal nuclear DNA, and cox1 and nd4 mitochondrial genes were evaluated by PCR and subsequent sequencing using standard and ad hoc designed primers. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that the different populations tested had various polymorphisms but all nematodes belonged to the same species. The genetic intraspecific variations observed could explain the different grade of parasitism previously assayed and suggest the existence of different natural strains. In consequence, the strategy applied allows establishing the first experimental approaches to detect and use genetic biomarkers in S. spiculatus assignable to phenotype properties. This information will be used in future to assist in the characterization of the best wild type population of nematodes in terms of their natural capability to infect mosquitoes.