title: Analysis of the genetic structure of allopatric populations of Lutzomyia umbratilis using the period clock gene.
abstract: In South America, Lutzomyia umbratilis is the main vector of Leishmania guyanensis, one of the species involved in the transmission of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. In Brazil, L. umbratilis has been recorded in the Amazon region, and an isolated population has been identified in the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern region. This study assessed the phylogeographic structure of three allopatric Brazilian populations of L. umbratilis. Samples of L. umbratilis were collected from Rio Preto da Eva (north of the Amazon River, Amazonas), from Manacapuru (south of the Amazon River), and from the isolated population in Recife, Pernambuco state. These samples were processed to obtain sequences of the period gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of two distinct monophyletic clades: one clade comprised of the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva samples, and one clade comprised of the Manacapuru samples. Comparing the Manacapuru population with the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations revealed high indices of interpopulational divergence. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that geographical distance and environmental differences have not modified the ancestral relationship shared by the Recife and Rio Preto da Eva populations. Genetic similarities suggest that, in evolutionary terms, these populations are more closely related to each other than to the Manacapuru population. These results confirm the existence of an L. umbratilis species complex composed of at least two incipient species.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, 50732-970 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Moises Thiago
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: de Souza Freitas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Disease Ecology in the Amazon, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane-Fiocruz Amazônia, Rua Terezina, 476, Adrianópolis, 69.057-070 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudia Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ríos-Velasquez
authors.affiliation: Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, 50732-970 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidiane Gomes
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, 50732-970 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: César Raimundo Lima
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, 50732-970 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcelino
authors.affiliation: Departament of Microbiology, Research Center Aggeu Magalhaes, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, 50732-970 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Leal-Balbino
authors.affiliation: Departament of Genetic, Federal University of Pernambuco, Avenida Professor Moraes Rego S/N, Cidade Universitária, 50732-970 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Electronic address: vqbalbino@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Valdir de Queiroz
authors.initials: Vde Q
authors.lastname: Balbino
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Infectious Disease Ecology in the Amazon, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane-Fiocruz Amazônia, Rua Terezina, 476, Adrianópolis, 69.057-070 Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Electronic address: facpessoa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Felipe Arley Costa
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Pessoa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D040342:Genetic Structures; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D018334:Leishmania guyanensis; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000635:transmission; D056950:Period Circadian Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D058974:Phylogeography; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000235:genetics*; D013020:South America
chemical_list: D056950:Period Circadian Proteins
keywords: Genetic structure; Lutzomyia umbratilis; Period gene; Species complex