title: Molecular karyotyping of the 2La inversion in Anopheles gambiae.
abstract: The African malaria vector Anopheles gambiae is polymorphic for alternative arrangements on the left arm of chromosome 2 (2La and 2L+(a)) that are non-randomly distributed with respect to degree of aridity. Detailed studies on the ecological role of inversion 2La have been hindered by the technical demands of traditional karyotype analysis and by sex- and stage-specific limitations on the availability of polytene chromosomes favorable for analysis. Recent molecular characterization of both inversion breakpoints presented the opportunity to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for karyotype analysis. Here we report the development of this molecular diagnostic assay and the results of extensive field validation. When tested on 765 An. gambiae specimens sampled across Africa, the molecular approach compared favorably with traditional cytologic methods, correctly scoring > 94% of these specimens. By providing ready access to the 2La karyotype, this tool lays groundwork for future studies of the ecological genomics of this medically important species.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA. bwhite2@nd.edu
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santolamazza
authors.forename: Luna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kamau
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pombi
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Grushko
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mouline
authors.forename: Cecile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brengues
authors.forename: Wamdaogo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guelbeogo
authors.forename: Mamadou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.forename: Jonathan K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kayondo
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sharakhov
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simard
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Petrarca
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Torre
authors.forename: Nora J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Besansky
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000235:genetics*; D007446:Chromosome Inversion / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D007621:Karyotyping; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA