title: Genomic changes of Chagas disease vector, South America.
abstract: We analyzed the main karyologic changes that have occurred during the dispersion of Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Chagas disease. We identified two allopatric groups, named Andean and non-Andean. The Andean specimens present C-heterochromatic blocks in most of their 22 chromosomes, whereas non-Andean specimens have only 4-7 autosomes with C-banding. These heterochromatin differences are the likely cause of a striking DNA content variation (approximately 30%) between Andean and non-Andean insects. Our study, together with previous historical and genetic data, suggests that T. infestans was originally a sylvatic species, with large quantities of DNA and heterochromatin, inhabiting the Andean region of Bolivia. However, the spread of domestic T. infestans throughout the non-Andean regions only involved insects with an important reduction of heterochromatin and DNA amounts. We propose that heterochromatin and DNA variation mainly reflected adaptive genomic changes that contribute to the ability of T. infestans to survive, reproduce, and disperse in different environments.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología, Sección Genética Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor de la República, Iguá 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay. panzera@fcien.edu.uy
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panzera
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dujardin
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: María Noel
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Caraccio
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tellez
authors.forename: Hernán
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bargues
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mas-Coma
authors.forename: José Enrique
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000235:genetics; D004199:Disease Vectors / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D013020:South America; D014224:Triatoma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*