title: Intragenomic variation in the second internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA of species of the genera Culex and Lutzia (Diptera: Culicidae).
abstract: Culex is the largest genus of Culicini and includes vectors of several arboviruses and filarial worms. Many species of Culex are morphologically similar, which makes their identification difficult, particularly when using female specimens. To aid evolutionary studies and species distinction, molecular techniques are often used. Sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from 16 species of the genus Culex and one of Lutzia were used to assess their genomic variability and to verify their applicability in the phylogenetic analysis of the group. The distance matrix (uncorrected p-distance) that was obtained revealed intragenomic and intraspecific variation. Because of the intragenomic variability, we selected ITS2 copies for use in distance analyses based on their secondary structures. Neighbour-joining topology was obtained with an uncorrected p-distance. Despite the heterogeneity observed, individuals of the same species were grouped together and correlated with the current, morphology-based classification, thereby showing that ITS2 is an appropriate marker to be used in the taxonomy of Culex.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Tavares
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Vesgueiro
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demari-Silva
authors.forename: Rosely dos Santos
authors.initials: Rdos S
authors.lastname: Malafronte
authors.forename: Maria Anice Mureb
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sallum
authors.forename: Mauro Toledo
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Marrelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer