title: COII "long fragment" reliability in characterisation and classification of forensically important flies
abstract: Molecular identification of collected flies is important in forensic entomological analysis guided with accurate evaluation of the chosen genetic marker. The selected mitochondrial DNA segments can be used to properly identify species. The aim of the present study was to determine the reliability of the 635-bp-long cytochrome oxidase II gene (COII) in identification of forensically important flies.
  
  
  
  Forty-two specimens belonging to 11 species (Calliphoridae: Chrysomya albiceps, C. rufifacies, C. megacephala, Lucilia sericata, L. cuprina; Sarcophagidae: Sarcophaga carnaria, S. dux, S. albiceps, Wohlfahrtia nuba; Muscidae: Musca domestica, M. autumnalis) were analysed. The selected marker was amplified using PCR followed by sequencing. Nucleotide sequence divergences were calculated using the K2P (Kimura two-parameter) distance model, and a NJ (neighbour-joining) phylogenetic tree was constructed.
  
  
  
  All examined specimens were assigned to the correct species, formed distinct monophyletic clades and ordered in accordance with their taxonomic classification. Intraspecific variation ranged from 0 to 1% and interspecific variation occurred between 2 and 20%.
  
  
  
  The 635-bp-long COII marker is suitable for clear differentiation and identification of forensically relevant flies.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sanaa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aly
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Shereen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004175:Diptera / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C117108:cytochrome C oxidase subunit II; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords:  cytochrome oxidase II;  mitochondrial DNA;  phylogenetic analysis; forensic entomology