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Dvorak M, Dittmann IL, Pedrini-Martha V, Hamerlík L, Bitušík P, Stuchlik E, Vondrák D, Füreder L, Lackner R. Molecular and morphological characterisation of larvae of the genus Diamesa Meigen, 1835 (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Alpine streams (Ötztal Alps, Austria). PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298367. [PMID: 38358970 PMCID: PMC10868831 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Diamesa species (Diptera, Chironomidae) are widely distributed in freshwater ecosystems, and their life cycles are closely linked to environmental variables such as temperature, water quality, and sediment composition. Their sensitivity to environmental changes, particularly in response to pollution and habitat alterations, makes them valuable indicators of ecosystem health. The challenges associated with the morphological identification of larvae invoke the use of DNA barcoding for species determination. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is regularly used for species identification but faces limitations, such as similar sequences in closely related species. To overcome this, we explored the use of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region in addition to COI for Diamesa larvae identification. Therefore, this study employs a combination of molecular markers alongside traditional morphological identification to enhance species discrimination. In total, 129 specimens were analysed, of which 101 were sampled from a glacier-fed stream in Rotmoostal, and the remaining 28 from spring-fed streams in the neighbouring valleys of Königstal and Timmelstal. This study reveals the inadequacy of utilizing single COI or ITS genes for comprehensive species differentiation within the genus Diamesa. However, the combined application of COI and ITS markers significantly enhances species identification resolution, surpassing the limitations faced by traditional taxonomists. Notably, this is evident in cases involving morphologically indistinguishable species, such as Diamesa latitarsis and Diamesa modesta. It highlights the potential of employing a multi-marker approach for more accurate and reliable Diamesa species identification. This method can be a powerful tool for identifying Diamesa species, shedding light on their remarkable adaptations to extreme environments and the impacts of environmental changes on their populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Dvorak
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | - Ladislav Hamerlík
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Bitušík
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Evzen Stuchlik
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Vondrák
- Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Leopold Füreder
- Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Reinhard Lackner
- Institute of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Castillo AM, De León LF. Evolutionary mismatch along salinity gradients in a Neotropical water strider. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:5121-5134. [PMID: 34025996 PMCID: PMC8131768 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of local adaptation is crucial for the in situ persistence of populations in changing environments. However, selection along broad environmental gradients could render local adaptation difficult, and might even result in maladaptation. We address this issue by quantifying fitness trade-offs (via common garden experiments) along a salinity gradient in two populations of the Neotropical water strider Telmatometra withei-a species found in both fresh (FW) and brackish (BW) water environments across Panama. We found evidence for local adaptation in the FW population in its home FW environment. However, the BW population showed only partial adaptation to the BW environment, with a high magnitude of maladaptation along naturally occurring salinity gradients. Indeed, its overall fitness was ~60% lower than that of the ancestral FW population in its home environment, highlighting the role of phenotypic plasticity, rather than local adaptation, in high salinity environments. This suggests that populations seemingly persisting in high salinity environments might in fact be maladapted, following drastic changes in salinity. Thus, variable selection imposed by salinization could result in evolutionary mismatch, where the fitness of a population is displaced from its optimal environment. Understanding the fitness consequences of persisting in fluctuating salinity environments is crucial to predict the persistence of populations facing increasing salinization. It will also help develop evolutionarily informed management strategies in the context of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anakena M. Castillo
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT‐AIP)PanamáPanamá
- Department of BiotechnologyAcharya Nagarjuna UniversityGunturIndia
| | - Luis F. De León
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de DrogasInstituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT‐AIP)PanamáPanamá
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Massachusetts BostonBostonMAUSA
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Padilla Gil DN. Gerromorpha: insectos semiacuáticos, desarrollo en la última década en Colombia. ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2020. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v25n3.81817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
El presente trabajo resume las principales tendencias en el conocimiento de los gerromorfos en el ámbito mundial, relacionadas con los avances en sistemática molecular, su uso como indicadores de ambientes cambiantes y la ampliación del saber en varios países Neotropicales. Se revisa la información publicada sobre los Gerromorpha en la última década (2009-2019) en Colombia y se contemplan los diferentes aspectos biológicos, taxonómicos, ecológicos y de distribución geográfica. El desarrollo y el progreso sobre los heterópteros semiacuáticos son la base del emprendimiento de otras investigaciones en Colombia y en el Neotrópico, especialmente en regiones como Mesoamérica y Sudamérica.
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Cano J, Rodríguez A, Simpson H, Tabah EN, Gómez JF, Pullan RL. Modelling the spatial distribution of aquatic insects (Order Hemiptera) potentially involved in the transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans in Africa. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:501. [PMID: 30189883 PMCID: PMC6127916 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3066-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biting aquatic insects belonging to the order Hemiptera have been suggested as potential vectors of Mycobacterium ulcerans in endemic areas for Buruli ulcer (BU). If this is the case, these insects would be expected to co-exist with M. ulcerans in the same geographical areas. Here, we studied the geographical distribution of six aquatic Hemiptera families that are thought to be vectors of M. ulcerans and explored their potential geographical overlapping with communities reporting BU cases in endemic countries. Methods We have developed ensemble ecological models of predicted distribution for six families of the Hemiptera (Naucoridae, Belostomatidae, Notonectidae, Nepidae, Corixidae and Gerridae) applying a robust modelling framework over a collection of recorded presences and a suite of environmental and topographical factors. Ecological niche factor analysis (ENFA) was first used to identify factors that best described the ecological niches for each hemipteran family. Finally, we explored the potential geographical co-occurrence of these insects and BU in two endemic countries, Cameroon and Ghana. Results Species of the families Naucoridae and Belostomatidae, according to our models, are widely distributed across Africa, although absent from drier and hotter areas. The other two families of biting Hemiptera, the Notonectidae and Nepidae, would have a more restricted distribution, being more predominant in western and southern Africa. All these four families of biting water bugs are widely distributed across coastal areas of West Africa. They would thrive in areas where annual mean temperature varies between 15–22 °C, with moderate annual precipitation (i.e. 350–1000 mm/annual) and near to water courses. Species of all hemipteran families show preference for human-made environments such as agricultural landscapes and urbanized areas. Finally, our analysis suggests that M. ulcerans and species of these aquatic insects might coexist in the same ecological niches, although there would be variation in species diversity between BU endemic areas. Conclusions Our findings predict the geographical co-existence of some species of aquatic hemipteran families and BU. Considering the existing biological evidence that points to some of these aquatic insects as potential phoretic vectors of M. ulcerans, its presence in BU endemic areas should be considered a risk factor. The ecological models here presented may be helpful to inform future environmental based models intended to delineate the potential geographical distribution of BU in the African region. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3066-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Cano
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Antonio Rodríguez
- Department of Horticulture, Botany and Landscaping, School of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Science and Engineering, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Hope Simpson
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Earnest N Tabah
- National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Jose F Gómez
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology & Evolution, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rachel L Pullan
- Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Havemann N, Gossner MM, Hendrich L, Morinière J, Niedringhaus R, Schäfer P, Raupach MJ. From water striders to water bugs: the molecular diversity of aquatic Heteroptera (Gerromorpha, Nepomorpha) of Germany based on DNA barcodes. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4577. [PMID: 29736329 PMCID: PMC5936072 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
With about 5,000 species worldwide, the Heteroptera or true bugs are the most diverse taxon among the hemimetabolous insects in aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems. Species may be found in almost every freshwater environment and have very specific habitat requirements, making them excellent bioindicator organisms for water quality. However, a correct determination by morphology is challenging in many species groups due to high morphological variability and polymorphisms within, but low variability between species. Furthermore, it is very difficult or even impossible to identify the immature life stages or females of some species, e.g., of the corixid genus Sigara. In this study we tested the effectiveness of a DNA barcode library to discriminate species of the Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha of Germany. We analyzed about 700 specimens of 67 species, with 63 species sampled in Germany, covering more than 90% of all recorded species. Our library included various morphological similar taxa, e.g., species within the genera Sigara and Notonecta as well as water striders of the genus Gerris. Fifty-five species (82%) were unambiguously assigned to a single Barcode Index Number (BIN) by their barcode sequences, whereas BIN sharing was observed for 10 species. Furthermore, we found monophyletic lineages for 52 analyzed species. Our data revealed interspecific K2P distances with below 2.2% for 18 species. Intraspecific distances above 2.2% were shown for 11 species. We found evidence for hybridization between various corixid species (Sigara, Callicorixa), but our molecular data also revealed exceptionally high intraspecific distances as a consequence of distinct mitochondrial lineages for Cymatia coleoptrata and the pygmy backswimmer Plea minutissima. Our study clearly demonstrates the usefulness of DNA barcodes for the identification of the aquatic Heteroptera of Germany and adjacent regions. In this context, our data set represents an essential baseline for a reference library for bioassessment studies of freshwater habitats using modern high-throughput technologies in the near future. The existing data also opens new questions regarding the causes of observed low inter- and high intraspecific genetic variation and furthermore highlight the necessity of taxonomic revisions for various taxa, combining both molecular and morphological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Havemann
- Fakultät V, Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany.,German Centre of Marine Biodiversity, Senckenberg Nature Research Society, Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Forest Entomology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Lars Hendrich
- Sektion Insecta varia, SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Jèrôme Morinière
- Taxonomic coordinator-German Barcode of Life (GBOL), SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Munich, Bavaria, Germany
| | - Rolf Niedringhaus
- Department of Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Peter Schäfer
- B.U.G.S. (Biologische Umwelt-Gutachten Schäfer), Telgte, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany
| | - Michael J Raupach
- Fakultät V, Institut für Biologie und Umweltwissenschaften (IBU), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany.,German Centre of Marine Biodiversity, Senckenberg Nature Research Society, Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, Germany
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A Bacterial Toxin with Analgesic Properties: Hyperpolarization of DRG Neurons by Mycolactone. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9070227. [PMID: 28718822 PMCID: PMC5535174 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9070227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycolactone, a polyketide molecule produced by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is the etiological agent of Buruli ulcer. This lipid toxin is endowed with pleiotropic effects, presents cytotoxic effects at high doses, and notably plays a pivotal role in host response upon colonization by the bacillus. Most remarkably, mycolactone displays intriguing analgesic capabilities: the toxin suppresses or alleviates the pain of the skin lesions it inflicts. We demonstrated that the analgesic capability of mycolactone was not attributable to nerve damage, but instead resulted from the triggering of a cellular pathway targeting AT₂ receptors (angiotensin II type 2 receptors; AT₂R), and leading to potassium-dependent hyperpolarization. This demonstration paves the way to new nature-inspired analgesic protocols. In this direction, we assess here the hyperpolarizing properties of mycolactone on nociceptive neurons. We developed a dedicated medium-throughput assay based on membrane potential changes, and visualized by confocal microscopy of bis-oxonol-loaded Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons. We demonstrate that mycolactone at non-cytotoxic doses triggers the hyperpolarization of DRG neurons through AT₂R, with this action being not affected by known ligands of AT₂R. This result points towards novel AT₂R-dependent signaling pathways in DRG neurons underlying the analgesic effect of mycolactone, with the perspective for the development of new types of nature-inspired analgesics.
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Meyin A Ebong S, García-Peña GE, Pluot-Sigwalt D, Marsollier L, Le Gall P, Eyangoh S, Guégan JF. Ecology and Feeding Habits Drive Infection of Water Bugs with Mycobacterium ulcerans. ECOHEALTH 2017; 14:329-341. [PMID: 28315039 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1228-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, is present in a wide spectrum of environments, including terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in tropical regions. The most promising studies on the epidemiological risk of this disease suggest that some ecological settings may favor infection of animals with MU including human. A species' needs and impacts on resources and the environment, i.e., its ecological niche, may influence its susceptibility to be infected by this microbial form. For example, some Naucoridae may dive in fresh waters to prey upon infected animals and thus may get infected with MU. However, these studies have rarely considered that inference on the ecological settings favoring infection and transmission may be confounded because host carrier sister species have similar ecological niches, and potentially the same host-microbe interactions. Hence, a relationship between the ecological niche of Naucoridae and its infection with MU may be due to a symbiotic relationship between the host and the pathogen, rather than its ecological niche. To account for this confounding effect, we investigated the relationships between surrogates of the ecological niche of water bug species and their susceptibility to MU, by performing phylogenetic comparative analyses on a large dataset of 11 families of water bugs collected in 10 different sites across Cameroon, central Africa. Our results indicate that MU circulates and infects a couple of host taxa, i.e., Belostomatidae, Naucoridae, living both in the aquatic vegetation and as predators inside the trophic network and sister species of water bugs have indeed similar host-microbe interactions with MU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solange Meyin A Ebong
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier Cedex, France.
- Service de Mycobactériologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, BP 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
| | - Gabriel E García-Peña
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier Cedex, France
- Centre de Synthèse et d'Analyse sur la Biodiversité (CESAB), 13857, Aix-en-Provence Cedex 3, France
| | - Dominique Pluot-Sigwalt
- Département Systématique et Evolution, UMR7205 CNRS/MNHN, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Marsollier
- Inserm Avenir ATOMycA CRCNA Inserm U892 & CNRS U6299, Université et CHU d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Philippe Le Gall
- UMR EGCE IRD, CNRS et Université Paris-Sud Orsay, Centre CNRS de Gif-sur-Yvette, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Sara Eyangoh
- Service de Mycobactériologie, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, BP 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Jean-François Guégan
- UMR MIVEGEC IRD, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Centre IRD de Montpellier, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier Cedex, France
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