Molecular phylogeny of the subgenus Melanoconion of the genus Culex (Diptera: Culicidae)

• Grant number: 12/18089-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: February 28, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Entomology and Malacology of Parasites and Vectors
• Principal Investigator: Maria Anice Mureb Sallum
• Grantee: Carolina Torres Gutierrez
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are diverse hematofagous insects distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, occurring in wild environments as well as in rural and urban areas. One of the most relevant genus of Culicidae is genus Culex subdivided in 26 subgenera and 768 species. Genus Culex is a diverse group widely distributed in different faunistic regions of the world and it is worth noting that several species have been considered to be vectors of parasites and viruses. Within the genus Culex, the subgenus Melanoconion is documented as a group of species with documented wide distribution and great ecological adaptability. These species occur in wild and anthropic environments. Scientific evidences have shown that Melanoconion species are able to transmit emerging and re-emerging viruses (equine encephalitis and many arboviruses). Taxonomic and systematic studies about Melanoconion are scarce even though necessary given the great taxonomic difficulty that these insects represent. To facilitate the study of this subgenus the objective of the former research is to establish phylogenetic relationships among 32 species of Melanoconion. A multigenic approach will be applied to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of the Melanoconion species of Brazil. This methodology includes using DNA sequences of three nuclear genes and a mitochondrial gene (former barcode region); the chosen genes have been used previously in phylogenetic studies on culicid mosquitoes. With the species sequences phylogenetic trees will be estimated using three different methods. The taxonomic and phylogenetic value of the molecular markers will be evaluated and a taxonomic classification for subgenus Melanoconion of Culex will be proposed based on evidence of phylogenetic relationships. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TORRES-GUTIERREZ, CAROLINA; DE OLIVEIRA, TATIANE M. P.; EMERSON, KEVIN J.; BERGO, EDUARDO STERLINO; MUREB SALLUM, MARIA ANICE. Molecular phylogeny of Culex subgenus Melanoconion (Diptera: Culicidae) based on nuclear and mitochondrial protein-coding genes. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE, v. 5, n. 5, MAY 2018. (14/26229-7, 12/18089-5)

TORRES-GUTIERREZ, CAROLINA; BERGO, EDUARDO STERLINO; EMERSON, KEVIN J.; DE OLIVEIRA, TATIANE M. P.; GRENI, SUSAN; MUREB SALLUM, MARIA ANICE. Mitochondrial COI gene as a tool in the taxonomy of mosquitoes Culex subgenus Melanoconion. Acta Tropica, v. 164, p. 137-149, DEC 2016. (12/18089-5, 14/26229-7)

TORRES-GUTIERREZ, CAROLINA; MUREB SALLUM, MARIA ANICE. Catalog of the subgenus Melanoconion of Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) for South America. Zootaxa, v. 4028, n. 1, p. 1-50, OCT 7 2015. (12/18089-5, 14/26229-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GUTIERREZ, Carolina Torres. The subgenus Melanoconion of Culex (Diptera: Culicidae) in South America. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR) São Paulo.