Análise da relação filogenética entre Triatoma carcavalloi Jurberg, Rocha; Lent, 1998; Triatoma circummaculata Stal, 1859; Triatoma klugi Carcavallo, Jurberg, Lent; Galvão, 2001 e Triatoma rubrovaria Blanchard, 1843 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) baseada no sequenciamento de genes do DNA mitocondrial e nuclear

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

First report of Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (Q biotype) species in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A new species of Tetragonopterus Cuvier, 1816 (Characiformes: Characidae: Tetragonopterinae) from the rio Jari, Amapá, northern Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Deep barcode divergence in Brazilian freshwater fishes: the case of the Sao Francisco River basin

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

DNA barcoding of Podonomus (Chironomidae, Podonominae) enables stage association of a named species and reveals hidden diversity in Brazilian inselbergs

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Exploitation of mitochondrial nad6 as a complementary marker for studying population variability in Lepidoptera

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Illegal hunting cases detected with molecular forensics in Brazil

Background: Illegal hunting is one of the major threats to vertebrate populations in tropical regions. This unsustainable practice has serious consequences not only for the target populations, but also for the dynamics and structure of tropical ecosystems. Generally, in cases of suspected illegal hunting, the only evidence available is pieces of meat, skin or bone. In these cases, species identification can only be reliably determined using molecular technologies. Here, we reported an investigative study of three cases of suspected wildlife poaching in which molecular biology techniques were employed to identify the hunted species from remains of meat.Findings: By applying cytochrome b (cyt-b) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) molecular markers, the suspected illegal poaching was confirmed by the identification of three wild species, capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), Chaco Chachalaca (Ortalis canicollis) and Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus). In Brazil, hunting is a criminal offense, and based on this evidence, the defendants were found guilty and punished with fines; they may still be sentenced to prison for a period of 6 to 12 months.Conclusions: The genetic analysis used in this investigative study was suitable to diagnose the species killed and solve these criminal investigations. Molecular forensic techniques can therefore provide an important tool that enables local law enforcement agencies to apprehend illegal poachers. © 2012 Sanches et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

At least two indigenous species of the Bemisia tabaci complex are present in Brazil

Bemisia tabaci is one of the most important global agricultural insect pests, being a vector of emerging plant viruses such as begomoviruses and criniviruses that cause serious problems in many countries. Although knowledge of the genetic diversity of B. tabaci populations is important for controlling this pest and understanding viral epidemics, limited information is available on this pest in Brazil. A survey was conducted in different locations of São Paulo and Mato Grosso states, and the phylogenetic relationships of B. tabaci individuals from 43 populations sampled from different hosts were analysed based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (mtCOI) sequences. According to the recently proposed classification of the B. tabaci complex, which employs the 3.5% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold for species demarcation, most of the specimens collected were found to belong to the Middle East-Asia Minor 1 species, which includes the invasive populations of the commonly known B biotype, within the Africa/Middle East/Asia Minor high-level group. Three specimens collected from Solanun gilo and Ipomoea sp. were grouped together and could be classified in the New World species that includes the commonly known A biotype. However, six specimens collected from Euphorbia heterophylla, Xanthium cavanillesii and Glycine maxima could not be classified into any of the 28 previously proposed species, although according to the 11% mtCOI sequence divergence threshold, they belong to the New World high-level group. These specimens were classified into a new recently proposed species named New World 2 that includes populations from Argentina. Middle East-Asia Minor 1, New World and New World 2 were differentiated by RFLP analysis of the mtCOI gene using TaqI enzyme. Taq I analysis in silico also differentiates these from Mediterranean species, thus making this method a convenient tool to determine population dynamics, especially critical for monitoring the presence of this exotic pest in Brazil. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH.

Cold Code: The global initiative to DNA barcode amphibians and nonavian reptiles

DNA barcoding facilitates the identification of species and the estimation of biodiversity by using nucleotide sequences, usually from the mitochondrial genome. Most studies accomplish this task by using the gene encoding cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI; Entrez COX1). Within this barcoding framework, many taxonomic initiatives exist, such as those specializing in fishes, birds, mammals, and fungi. Other efforts center on regions, such as the Arctic, or on other topics, such as health. DNA barcoding initiatives exist for all groups of vertebrates except for amphibians and nonavian reptiles. We announce the formation of Cold Code, the international initiative to DNA barcode all species of these 'cold-blooded' vertebrates. The project has a Steering Committee, Coordinators, and a home page. To facilitate Cold Code, the Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences will sequence COI for the first 10 specimens of a species at no cost to the steward of the tissues. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Identificação genética de espécies de tubarões e monitoramento da pesca no litoral de Sâo Paulo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Identificação molecular (DNA Barcode) dos peixes da Bacia do Rio Ribeira de Iguape e dos Rios Costieros do Estado de São Paulo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Estudos genéticos em raias do gênero Potamotrygon (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes: Potamotrygonidae) na Bacia do Rio Paraná

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBB

Aedes aegypti on Madeira Island (Portugal): genetic variation of a recently introduced dengue vector

The increasing population of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes on Madeira Island (Portugal) resulted in the first autochthonous dengue outbreak, which occurred in October 2012. Our study establishes the first genetic evaluation based on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes [cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4)] and knockdown resistance ( kdr ) mutations exploring the colonisation history and the genetic diversity of this insular vector population. We included mosquito populations from Brazil and Venezuela in the analysis as putative geographic sources. The Ae. aegyptipopulation from Madeira showed extremely low mtDNA genetic variability, with a single haplotype for COI and ND4. We also detected the presence of two important kdr mutations and the quasi-fixation of one of these mutations (F1534C). These results are consistent with a unique recent founder event that occurred on the island of Ae. aegyptimosquitoes that carry kdr mutations associated with insecticide resistance. Finally, we also report the presence of the F1534C kdr mutation in the Brazil and Venezuela populations. To our knowledge, this is the first time this mutation has been found in South American Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Given the present risk of Ae. aegypti re-invading continental Europe from Madeira and the recent dengue outbreaks on the island, this information is important to plan surveillance and control measures.

DNA barcode of Parodontidae species from the La Plata river basin - applying new data to clarify taxonomic problems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Hisonotus acuen, a new and phenotypically variable cascudinho (Siluriformes, Loricariidae, Hypoptopomatinae) from the upper rio Xingu basin, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)