Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of closely related wild and captive tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans morsitans) populations

G. K. Lall, A. C. Darby, B. Nystedt, E. T. MacLeod, R. Bishop, S. C. Welburn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Background
Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are vectors of trypanosomes that cause sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock across sub-Saharan Africa. Tsetse control strategies rely on a detailed understanding of the epidemiology and ecology of tsetse together with genetic variation within and among populations. High-resolution nuclear genetic markers are useful tools for elucidation of the genetic basis of phenotypic traits. In this study amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were developed to analyze genetic variation in Glossina morsitans morsitans from laboratory and field-collected populations from Zimbabwe.

Results
A total of seven hundred and fifty one loci from laboratory and field populations of G. m. morsitans from Zimbabwe were genotyped using AFLP with seven primer combinations. Analysis identified 335 polymorphic loci. The two populations could be distinguished by cluster and principal components analysis (PCA) analysis, indicating that AFLP markers can be used to separate genetically similar populations; at the same time differences observed between laboratory and field populations were not very great. Among the techniques investigated, the use of acetone was the most reliable method of preservation of tsetse for subsequent extraction of high molecular weight DNA. An interesting finding was that AFLP also enabled robust within-population discrimination of male and female tsetse flies due to their different X chromosome DNA complements.

Conclusions
AFLP represents a useful additional tool to add to the suite of techniques currently available for the genetic analysis of tsetse populations and represents a useful resource for identification of the genetic basis of important phenotypic traits.
Original languageEnglish
Article number47
Number of pages8
JournalParasites and Vectors
Volume3
Issue numberN/A
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2010

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Codon, Initiator/genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/ biosynthesis/genetics
  • Dogs
  • Gene Expression Regulation/ physiology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Response Elements/ physiology
  • Species Specificity
  • TATA Box/genetics
  • Telomerase/ biosynthesis/genetics
  • Telomere/metabolism
  • Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic/ physiology
  • Transfection

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