A5054235679- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Gut microbiota and health
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- melanin and skin pigmentation
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
2024
Universitat de Barcelona
2015-2024
Institute for Research in Biomedicine
2024
Barcelona Supercomputing Center
2024
Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats
2024
Instituto de Salud Carlos III
2024
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
2017-2024
University of Basel
2010-2015
University of California, Riverside
2005-2010
University of California System
2007
ABSTRACT The eubacterial genus Wolbachia comprises one of the most abundant groups obligate intracellular bacteria, and it has a host range that spans phyla Arthropoda Nematoda. Here we developed multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme as universal genotyping tool for Wolbachia. Internal fragments five ubiquitous genes ( gatB , coxA hcpA fbpA ftsZ ) were chosen, primers amplified across major supergroups found in arthropods, well other divergent lineages, designed. A supplemental system...
Current phylogenies of the intracellular bacteria belonging to genus Wolbachia identify six major clades (A–F), termed ‘supergroups’, but branching order these supergroups remains unresolved. Supergroups A, B and E include most wolbachiae found thus far in arthropods, while C D those filarial nematodes. Members supergroup F have been arthropods (i.e. termites), previously detected nematode Mansonella ozzardi , a causative agent human filariasis. To resolve phylogenetic positions from spp.,...
Wolbachia are maternally inherited bacteria that infect a large number of insects and responsible for different reproductive alterations their hosts. One the key features biology is its ability to move within between host species, which contributes impressive diversity range infected Using multiple genes, including five developed Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), modes movement wasp genus Nasonia were investigated. Eleven found in four species Nasonia, newly identified infections. Five...
Evidence is growing that homologous recombination a powerful source of genetic variability among closely related free-living bacteria. Here we investigate the extent housekeeping genes endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia. Four genes, gltA, dnaA, ftsZ, and groEL, were sequenced from sample 22 strains belonging to supergroups A B. Sequence alignments searched for within between using phylogenetic inference, analysis variation, four detection programs (MaxChi, Chimera, RDP, Geneconv). Independent...
ABSTRACT Lateral gene transfer and recombination play important roles in the evolution of many parasitic bacteria. Here we investigate intragenic Wolbachia bacteria, considered among most abundant intracellular bacteria on earth. We conduct a detailed analysis patterns variation within surface protein, utilizing an extensive set published new sequences from five main supergroups . Analysis nucleotide amino acid sequence variations confirms four hypervariable regions (HVRs), separated by...
Abstract The pandemic distribution of Wolbachia (alpha‐proteobacteria) across arthropods is largely due to the ability these maternally inherited endosymbionts successfully shift hosts species boundaries. Yet it remains unclear whether has preferential routes transfer among species. Here, we examined populations eight North American funnel‐web spider genus Agelenopsis evaluate show evidence for host specificity and relative contribution horizontal vs. vertical transmission strains within...
Wolbachia are the most prevalent and influential bacteria described among insects to date. But despite their significance, we lack an understanding of evolutionary histories. To describe evolution symbioses between hosts, surveyed global collections two diverse families insects, ants lycaenid butterflies. In total, 54 isolates were typed using a Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) approach, in which five unlinked loci sequenced analyzed decipher patterns. AMOVA phylogenetic analyses...
Wolbachia infect a variety of arthropod and nematode hosts, but in arthropods, host phylogenetic relationships are usually poor predictors strain similarity. This suggests that new infections often established by horizontal transmission. To gain insight into the factors affecting probability transmission among species, we ask how phylogeny, geographical distribution ecology affect patterns We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to characterize similarity dipteran hosts associated with...
The gut microbiota structure reflects both a host phylogenetic history and signature of adaptation to the ecological, mainly trophic niches. African cichlid fishes, with their array closely related species that underwent rapid dietary niche radiation, offer particularly interesting system explore relative contribution these two factors in nature. Here we surveyed intra- interspecific natural variation five from monophyletic tribe Perissodini lake Tanganyika, whose members transitioned being...
Ecoevolutionary dynamics of the gut microbiota at macroscale level, that is, in across-species comparisons, are largely driven by ecological variables and host genotype. The repeated explosive radiations African cichlid fishes distinct lakes, following a dietary diversification context reduced genetic diversity, provide natural setup to explore convergence, divergence repeatability patterns as function diet, phylogeny environment. Here we characterized 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing 29 species...
Abstract The Catalan Initiative for the Earth BioGenome Project (CBP) is an EBP-affiliated project network aimed at sequencing genome of >40 000 eukaryotic species estimated to live in Catalan-speaking territories (Catalan Linguistic Area, CLA). These represent a biodiversity hotspot. While covering less than 1% Europe, they are home about one fourth all known European species. include high proportion endemisms, many which threatened. This trend likely get worse as effects global...
Reptiles are remarkably resistant to infections, providing a critical system understand diversity and evolution of the innate immune defense its major players, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Here we present first comprehensive characterization AMPs in family Lacertidae with objective understanding their patterns evolution. By means extensive genome mining, obtained nearly complete catalogue proteins from Balearic lizard Podarcis lilfordi: 65 beta-defensins (BDs), eight ovo-defensins (OVODs),...
The hundreds of endemic species cichlid fishes in the East African Great Lakes Tanganyika, Malawi, and Victoria are a prime model system evolutionary biology. With five genomes currently being sequenced, eastern cichlids also represent forthcoming genomic for studies genotype-to-phenotype processes adaptive radiations. Here we report functional annotation comparative analyses transcriptome data sets two species, Astatotilapia burtoni Ophthalmotilapia ventralis, representatives modern...
Cichlid fishes, with their repeated colonization of lakes and subsequent radiations at different scales phylogenetic ecological diversification, offer an excellent model system to understand the factors shaping host-gut microbiota association in nature. Here, we characterized gut Amphilophus species complex from Central America (known as Midas cichlid complex), encompassing 158 wild specimens (13 species) collected seven Nicaraguan lakes, combined these data previously published two African...
Understanding the genetic basis of novel traits is a central topic in evolutionary biology. Two pigmentation phenotypes, egg-spots and blotches, emerged during rapid diversification East African cichlid fishes. Egg-spots are circular markings on anal fins hundreds derived haplochromine cichlids species, whereas blotches patches conspicuous fin with ill-defined boundaries that occur few species belong to basal lineages. Both play an important role breeding behavior this group Knowledge about...
Abstract Background The extent to which deterministic rather than stochastic processes guide gut bacteria co-existence and ultimately their assembling into a community remains largely unknown. Co-occurrence networks of bacterial associations offer powerful approach begin exploring microbial structure, maintenance dynamics, beyond compositional aspects alone. Here we used an iconic model system, the cichlid fishes, with multiple lake assemblages extraordinary ecological diversity, investigate...
Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Gram-negative bacteria are key players in the biology bacterial-host interactions. However, while considerable attention has been given to OMPs vertebrate pathogens, relatively little is known about role these that primarily infect invertebrates. One such OMP found intracellular Wolbachia, which widespread symbionts arthropods and filarial nematodes. Recent experimental studies have shown Wolbachia surface protein (WSP) can trigger host immune responses...
Abstract Background The annotated genomes of two closely related strains the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis have been reported without identifications putative origin replication ( ori ). Identifying these bacteria and alpha-Proteobacteria as well their patterns sequence evolution will aid studies cell density, potential genetic manipulation widespread bacteria. Results Using features that previously experimentally verified in alpha-Proteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus , DNA )...
Nuclear–mitochondrial sequences (NUMTs) can be especially powerful tools for evolutionary studies by providing a window into the nature of ancestral mitochondrial (mt) lineages. Here, we illustrate this property NUMTs through survey such in two species jumping bristletail genus Mesomachilis. An ∼1,800 basepair fragment encompassing three mt genes—COI, tRNA-Leu, and COII—was cloned twice sample specimens, colonies were screened. are abundant genetically diverse (up to 23% different from...
Compositional variation of the gut microbiota across host allopatric populations can reflect both adaptation and stochasticity since time separation. Major factors shaping this include phylogeographic demographic history, inheritance, environmental inputs dispersal bacteria. Here we explored impact these in driving community diversity seven omnivorous lizard Podarcis lilfordi from Menorcan coastal islets, all descending an ancestral mainland population. Using 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing,...
Background Integrative studies of animals and associated microbial assemblages ( i.e. , the holobiont) are rapidly changing our perspectives on organismal ecology evolution. Insular vertebrates provide ideal natural systems to understand patterns host-gut microbiota coevolution, resilience plasticity these communities over temporal spatial scales, ultimately their role in host ecological adaptation. Methods Here we used endemic Balearic wall lizard Podarcis lilfordi dissect drivers diversity...
Abstract The Mediterranean lizard Podarcis lilfordi is an emblematic species of the Balearic Islands. extensive phenotypic diversity among extant isolated populations makes a great insular model system for eco-evolutionary studies, as well challenging target conservation management plans. Here we report first high-quality chromosome-level assembly and annotation P. genome, along with its mitogenome, based on mixed sequencing strategy (10X Genomics linked reads, Oxford Nanopore Technologies...