Unraveling the process of cryptic speciation of Triatoma sordida (Stål, 1859) (Hemiptera, Triatominae) through integrative taxonomy

• Grant number: 19/17581-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology
• Principal Investigator: Kaio Cesar Chaboli Alevi
• Grantee: Daniel Cesaretto Cristal
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Triatoma sordida is a species of triatomine endemic to South America, distributed in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. Chromosomal, izoensimmatic, morphometric and molecular polymorphisms (with the mitochondrial COI gene) led to the hypothesis that the phenomenon of cryptic speciation (genetically distinct species, but morphologically identical) is present in this species. Cytogenetic studies (Bandamento C and FISH) demonstrated the presence of three distinct cytotypes for T. sordida, namely, cytotype I (T. sordida sensu stricto), cytotype II (T. sordida Argentina) and cytotype III (T. sordida La Paz ), which possibly represents one or more distinct taxon (s). Taking into account that the integrative taxonomy is an important tool for the characterization of species, since it aggregates different analyzes to assess the specific status of a taxon, the present project aims to assess the specific status of the different cytotypes of T. sordida, for through morphological (by scanning microscopy), molecular (with the nuclear gene ITS-1 and mitochondrial Cyt B), experimental crosses (focusing on pre and / or post-zygotic reproductive barriers) and cytogenetic (assessing the degree of compatibility between homeologous chromosomes of hybrids), with emphasis on the phenomenon of cryptic speciation.

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)

CARIS GARCIA, ARIANE CRISTINA; DE OLIVEIRA, JADER; CRISTAL, DANIEL CESARETTO; GRZYB DELGADO, LUIZA MARIA; BITTINELLI, ISADORA DE FREITAS; GALVAO, CLEBER; GONZALEZ BRITEZ, NILSA ELIZABETH; CARRASCO, HERNAN JOSE; DA ROSA, JOAO ARISTEU; CHABOLI ALEVI, KAIO CESAR. Intraspecific and Interspecific Phenotypic Differences Confirm the Absence of Cryptic Speciation in Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera, Triatominae). American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, v. 105, n. 6, p. 1759-1766, DEC 2021. (19/17581-2, 18/24116-1, 17/05015-7, 18/12039-2)

MADEIRA, FERNANDA FERNANDEZ; GRZYB DELGADO, LUIZA MARIA; BITTINELLI, ISADORA DE FREITAS; DE OLIVEIRA, JADER; RAVAZI, AMANDA; DOS REIS, YAGO VISINHO; BORTOLOZO DE OLIVEIRA, ANA BEATRIZ; CRISTAL, DANIEL CESARETTO; GALVAO, CLEBER; VILELA DE AZEREDO-OLIVEIRA, MARIA TERCILIA; et al. Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera, Triatominae) from La Paz, Bolivia: an incipient species or an intraspecific chromosomal polymorphism?. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 14, n. 1, OCT 27 2021. (17/05015-7, 19/17581-2, 18/12039-2, 18/24116-1)