Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Amblyomma ovale, comparative analyses and phylogenetic considerations

URIBE, JUAN E.; NAVA, SANTIAGO; MURPHY, KATHERINE R.; TARRAGONA, EVELINA L.; CASTRO, LYDA R.

EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2020

0168-8162

In this study, we sequenced two complete mitochondrial genomes of Amblyomma ovale, atick of public health importance. Sequencing two distinct individuals, the resulting mitochondrialgenomes were 14,756 and 14,760 bp in length and maintained the same geneorder previously reported in Amblyomma. These were combined with RNA-seq derivedmitochondrial sequences from three additional species, Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyommamaculatum, and Amblyomma moreliae, to carry out mitogenome comparative andevolutionary analyses against all previously published tick mitochondrial genomes. Wedescribed a derivative genome rearrangement that isolates Ixodes from the remaining Ixodidaeand consists of both a reverse translocation as well as an event of Tandem DuplicationRandom Loss. Genetic distance analyses indicated that cox2, nd1, nd5, and 16S aregood candidates for future population studies in A. ovale. The phylogenetic analyses corroboratedthe utility of complete mitochondrial genomes as phylogenetic markers withinthe group. This study further supplements the genome information available for Amblyommaand facilitates future evolutionary and population genetic studies within the genus.