Contrasting genetic structure between mitochondrial and nuclear markers in the dengue fever mosquito from Rio de Janeiro: implications for vector control.
Dengue is the most prevalent global arboviral disease that affects over 300 million people every year. Brazil has the highest number of dengue cases in the world, with the most severe epidemics in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Rio). The effective control of dengue is critically dependent on the knowledge of population genetic structuring in the primary dengue vector, the mosquito Aedes aegypti. We analyzed mitochondrial and nuclear genomewide single nucleotide polymorphism markers generated via Restriction-site Associated DNA sequencing, as well as traditional microsatellite markers in Ae. aegypti from Rio. We found four divergent mitochondrial lineages and a strong spatial structuring of mitochondrial variation, in contrast to the overall nuclear homogeneity across Rio. Despite a low overall differentiation in the nuclear genome, we detected strong spatial structure for variation in over 20 genes that have a significantly altered expression in response to insecticides, xenobiotics, and pathogens, including the novel biocontrol agent Wolbachia. Our results indicate that high genetic diversity, spatially unconstrained admixing likely mediated by male dispersal, along with locally heterogeneous genetic variation that could affect insecticide resistance and mosquito vectorial capacity, set limits to the effectiveness of measures to control dengue fever in Rio.
Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of Biosciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Gordana
G
Rašić
Laboratório de Fisiologia e Controle de Artrópodes Vetores, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; Laboratório de Biologia Computacional e Sistemas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Renata
R
Schama
Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of Biosciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Rosanna
R
Powell
Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rafael
R
Maciel-de Freitas
Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of Biosciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Nancy M
NM
Endersby-Harshman
Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of Biosciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Igor
I
Filipović
Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Gabriel
G
Sylvestre
Gerencia de Risco Biológico da Coordenação de Vigilância Ambiental em Saude, Superintendência de Vigilânciaem Saude - SMS Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Renato C
RC
Máspero
Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of Biosciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Ary A
AA
Hoffmann
Aedes aegypti; RAD-seq; Rio de Janeiro; genetic structure; microsatellites; mito-nuclear discordance; vector control