title: Cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COX3) gene, an informative marker for phylogenetic analysis and differentiation of Babesia species in China.
abstract: In this study a 552-bp region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COX3) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced from individual Babesia species. Sequence variation between Babesia species from China ranged between 0 and 32.4%. We analyzed the phylogenetic performance of the partial sequence of the COX3 gene to resolve Babesia relationships as compared to the nuclear 18S rRNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome b (COB) gene, These data indicate that the COX3 gene seems to be superior to the COB gene and the 18S rRNA in recognizing close lineages among some Babesia species. Our work indicates that the COX3 gene does complement and corroborate the phylogenetic inferences observed with the nuclear 18S rRNA and the COB gene previously reported. The combined phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear 18S rRNA and the COX3 gene significantly improved (bootstrap) intraspecies support of the phylogenetic relationship. The presence of additional variable sites in the COX3 gene allowed an improved interspecies differentiation of Babesia species in this study. The data could be applicable for the survey of parasite dynamics, epidemiological studies as well as prevention and control of the disease.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhancheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Guangyuan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jianxun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Guiquan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Junren
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Meiyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Xiaosong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ronggui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: 18S rRNA gene; Babesia; COB gene; COX3 gene; PCR-RFLP; Phylogeny