Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut
Protozoa, of the taxon Gregarinasina, are a heterogeneous group of Apicomplexa that includes ~1600 species. They are parasites of a large variety of both marine and terrestrial invertebrates, mainly annelids, arthropods and mollusks. Unlike coccidians and heamosporidians, gregarines have not proven...
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MDPI AG
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/6/4/119 |
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| author | Chiara Nocciolini Claudio Cucini Chiara Leo Valeria Francardi Elena Dreassi Antonio Carapelli |
| author_facet | Chiara Nocciolini Claudio Cucini Chiara Leo Valeria Francardi Elena Dreassi Antonio Carapelli |
| author_sort | Chiara Nocciolini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Protozoa, of the taxon Gregarinasina, are a heterogeneous group of Apicomplexa that includes ~1600 species. They are parasites of a large variety of both marine and terrestrial invertebrates, mainly annelids, arthropods and mollusks. Unlike coccidians and heamosporidians, gregarines have not proven to have a negative effect on human welfare; thus, they have been poorly investigated. This study focuses on the molecular identification and phylogeny of the gregarine species found in the midgut of two insect species that are considered as an alternative source of animal proteins for the human diet: the mealworm <i>Tenebrio molitor</i>, and the super-worm <i>Zophobas atratus</i> (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Gregarine specimens were isolated from the gut of both larval and adult stages of <i>T. molitor</i> specimens, as well as from <i>Z. atratus</i> larvae. The morphological analyses were restricted to the identification of the different parasite morpho-types, likely corresponding either to different life-cycle stages or to alternative gregarine species. The samples were also used for the DNA extraction necessary for their genetic characterization. Finally, the efficiency of different molecular markers (i.e., <i>18S</i> rDNA gene alone or combined with the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1) was assessed when applied either to gregarine species identification and to phylogenetic inference. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:39:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c94a153d70a481485659091cb5bc358 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:39:17Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c94a153d70a481485659091cb5bc3582022-12-21T23:35:16ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072018-11-016411910.3390/microorganisms6040119microorganisms6040119Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm MidgutChiara Nocciolini0Claudio Cucini1Chiara Leo2Valeria Francardi3Elena Dreassi4Antonio Carapelli5Polo d’Innovazione di Genomica Genetica e Biologia, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyConsiglio per la Ricerca in agricoltura e analisi dell’Economia Agraria—Centro di Difesa e Certificazione CREA-DC) Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, ItalyProtozoa, of the taxon Gregarinasina, are a heterogeneous group of Apicomplexa that includes ~1600 species. They are parasites of a large variety of both marine and terrestrial invertebrates, mainly annelids, arthropods and mollusks. Unlike coccidians and heamosporidians, gregarines have not proven to have a negative effect on human welfare; thus, they have been poorly investigated. This study focuses on the molecular identification and phylogeny of the gregarine species found in the midgut of two insect species that are considered as an alternative source of animal proteins for the human diet: the mealworm <i>Tenebrio molitor</i>, and the super-worm <i>Zophobas atratus</i> (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Gregarine specimens were isolated from the gut of both larval and adult stages of <i>T. molitor</i> specimens, as well as from <i>Z. atratus</i> larvae. The morphological analyses were restricted to the identification of the different parasite morpho-types, likely corresponding either to different life-cycle stages or to alternative gregarine species. The samples were also used for the DNA extraction necessary for their genetic characterization. Finally, the efficiency of different molecular markers (i.e., <i>18S</i> rDNA gene alone or combined with the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1) was assessed when applied either to gregarine species identification and to phylogenetic inference.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/6/4/119gregarineApicomplexaspecies identificationmolecular taxonomymolecular phylogeneticsedible insects |
| spellingShingle | Chiara Nocciolini Claudio Cucini Chiara Leo Valeria Francardi Elena Dreassi Antonio Carapelli Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut Microorganisms gregarine Apicomplexa species identification molecular taxonomy molecular phylogenetics edible insects |
| title | Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut |
| title_full | Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut |
| title_short | Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut |
| title_sort | assessing the efficiency of molecular markers for the species identification of gregarines isolated from the mealworm and super worm midgut |
| topic | gregarine Apicomplexa species identification molecular taxonomy molecular phylogenetics edible insects |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/6/4/119 |
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