Molecular Detection of Pentastiridius leporinus, the Main Vector of the Syndrome 'Basses Richesses' in Sugar Beet

Monitoring of Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cixiidae), representing the main vector of the syndrome 'basses richesses' (SBR) disease in sugar beet is based on morphological identification. However, two other cixiid species, Reptalus quinquecostatus and Hyalesthes obsoletus with similar external characters are known to appear in sugar beet fields and are challenging to be distinguished from P. leporinus. We present a PCR-based method for species-specific detection of both male and female P. leporinus, directly after sweep net collection or after up to 18 months long term storage on sticky traps. Two methods of DNA template preparation, based on a commercial extraction kit or on simple grinding in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were compared. The latter method was also established for eggs and all five nymphal instars of P. leporinus from a rearing. Furthermore, in silico primer analysis showed that all Auchenorrhyncha species including far related species reported from sugar beet fields can be differentiated from P. leporinus. This was PCR-confirmed for the most common Auchenorrhyncha species from different German sugar beet fields. Sequence analysis of the P. leporinus mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) amplicon showed a close relationship to COI from P. beieri but separated from the Reptalus and Hyalesthes species which are grouped into the same family Cixiidae. We present a sensitive, cost- and time-saving PCR-based method for reliable and specific detection of eggs and all nymphal instars, as well as male and female P. leporinus, after different methods of planthopper collection and template DNA template preparation that can be used in large scale monitoring assays.

Plasmodium cynomolgi Co-infections among Symptomatic Malaria Patients, Thailand

Among 1,180 symptomatic malaria patients, 9 (0.76%) infected with Plasmodium cynomolgi were co-infected with P. vivax (n = 7), P. falciparum (n = 1), or P. vivax and P. knowlesi (n = 1). Patients were from Tak, Chanthaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Yala, and Narathiwat Provinces, suggesting P. cynomolgi is widespread in this country.

Exploring the Use of High-Resolution Melting Analysis and Helicase-Dependent Amplification for Discrimination of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Cryptic Species and Trialeurodes vaporariorum

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera; Aleyrodidae), and greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), are highly problematic plant pests and virus vectors with worldwide distributions. Identification of whitefly species is typically accomplished by observation of distinct morphological characters; however, because of morphological inconsistency and indistinguishability, the discrimination of B. tabaci species variants is dependent on molecular techniques based on genetic differences. New assays were designed for the detection of B. tabaci A, B, and Q mitotype groups, and T. vaporariorum. Specific primer sets were designed for amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene of the four targets to perform in end-point PCR, real-time PCR coupled to high-resolution melting analysis (HRM), and the isothermal helicase-dependent amplification (HDA). Primer specificities were validated using end-point PCR, then tested in HRM and HDA. Bemisia tabaci A, B, and Q mitotypes, and T. vaporariorum-targeted primer sets discriminately amplified specimens of different populations within their target whitefly group. These tests provide three novel discrimination assays for the high-consequence, exotic B. tabaci B and Q groups, along with the native B. tabaci A group and T. vaporariorum.

Aplousobranchia ascidians in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: a combined morphological and molecular discrimination

Aplousobranchia ascidians from two different families were integrated with morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis for the first time. The present study employed morphological descriptions (colony structures, tunic, zooids, spicules stigmata and test) and a molecular approach, using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of four Aplousobranchia colonial ascidians Aplidium conicum (98%), Aplidium elegans (98%), Didemnum fulgens (92%) and Trididemnum cyanophorum (94%) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Bar-coded sequences were extracted with BLAST format from NCBI and the heritable diversity of the submitted sequences were compared with associated ascidian species. Study revealed that the evolutionary relationship among the ascidian species exhibited the constant clades, which may help for rapid reassessment of morphological characters of the species distributed worldwide.

Cryptic Species Identification and Composition of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Complex in Henan Province, China

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a cryptic species complex, causing significant crop losses in China during the last decade. Although knowledge of cryptic species composition and dynamics within B. tabaci complex is critical for developing sustainable pest management strategies, limited information is available on this pest in the Henan province of China. A systematic survey of the cryptic species composition and distribution of B. tabaci complex in different locations of Henan province was conducted in 2012. The results of RAPD-PCR and the gene for the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit-1 (mtCOI) based phylogenetic relationships established using Bayesian method indicated there were four known cryptic species MEAM1, MED, Asia II 3, Asia II 9 and a new cryptic species named China 6 in Henan province. In the survey, the invasive cryptic species MED and MEAM1 were found to be predominant with wide spread distribution across the surveyed regions. On the contrary, the indigenous B. tabaci cryptic species including Asia II 3, Asia II 9 and China 6 remained with low prevalence in some surveyed regions. Cryptic species MEAM1 and MED have not completely displaced the native B. tabaci in Henan province. This current study for the first time unifies our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of B. tabaci across Henan province of China.

Molecular phylogeny of four ascidian species inferred from mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence

Ascidians is a crucial group for the studies of deuterostome evolution and the origin of chordates, yet little molecular work has been done to determine the evolutionary relationships and largely unexplored beyond a few species. The phylogenetic analysis are presented for four different species of solitary ascidians, Ascidia virginea, Ascidiella aspersa, Clavelina oblonga and Aplidium fuscum, obtained from Great Nicobar Biosphere reserve (GNBR). Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase subunit 1(COI) gene was amplified and the genetic diversity at the phylogenic level was measured. Bar-coded sequences were extracted with BLAST format from NCBI and the genetic diversity of the submitted sequences were compared with the related ascidian species. Maximum divergences measured among the four species were as follows: Ascidia virginea (96%), Ascidiella aspersa (96%), Clavelina oblonga (94%) and Aplidium fuscum (97%). This is the first report of molecular phylogeny of ascidians from Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. From this study, we found some stable clades on the evolutionary relationships among these ascidian species that may prompt a reevaluation of some morphological characters.

Members of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) cryptic species and the status of two invasive alien species in the Yunnan Province (China)

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a cryptic species complex that includes some of the most significant pests of agriculture and horticulture worldwide. To understand the diversity and distribution of B. tabaci cryptic species in Yunnan, a famous biodiversity hotspot in China, a large-scale sampling was conducted from year 2010 to 2013 in 10 prefectures. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences were used to identify different cryptic species. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using Bayesian methods to assess the position of a new B. tabaci cryptic species in the context of the B. tabaci diversity in Asia. The survey indicates at least eight B. tabaci cryptic species are present in Yunnan, two invasive (MEAM1 and MED) and six indigenous (China 2, China3, China 4, Asia I, Asia II 1, and Asia II 6), MEAM1, MED, and Asia I being the three predominant cryptic species in Yunnan. Compared with MEAM1, MED has a wider distribution. Based on molecular data, a new cryptic species, here named China 4, was identified that appears to be related to China 1, China 2, and China 3. Future efforts should focus on the interactions between predominant B. tabaci cryptic species and begomoviruses and on the development of effective control strategies.