Probing into the diversity of trypanosomatid flagellates parasitizing insect hosts in South-West China reveals both endemism and global dispersal

0342889 - BC 2011 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Votýpka, Jan - Maslov, D. A. - Yurchenko, V. - Jirků, Milan - Kment, P. - Lun, Z.-R. - Lukeš, Julius
Probing into the diversity of trypanosomatid flagellates parasitizing insect hosts in South-West China reveals both endemism and global dispersal.
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. Roč. 54, č. 1 (2010), s. 243-253. ISSN 1055-7903. E-ISSN 1095-9513
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60220518
Keywords : trypanosomatids * phylogeny * diversity * insects
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 3.889, year: 2010

We have collected 67 isolates from 407 Heteroptera hosts captured in several locations of South-West China. Their splice leader (SL) RNA gene repeats and small subunit (SSU) rRNA genes were PCR amplified from the infected tissue samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences has significantly expanded the known diversity of these monoxenous parasites. Fifteen typing units were found among these isolates including 11 potentially new species. Four typing units matched the previously known typing units from the Neotropics indicating a global distribution of the respective parasite species. At the same time, new clades appeared, testifying for a certain level of endemism. Our results disprove the "one host - one parasite" paradigm and show that although the global diversity of monoxenous parasites is high, it is not as enormous as suggested earlier. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of a new Phytomonas species (first documentation in China).
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0185498