Worldwide patterns of genetic differentiation imply multiple 'domestications' of Aedes aegypti, a major vector of human diseases.

TitleWorldwide patterns of genetic differentiation imply multiple 'domestications' of Aedes aegypti, a major vector of human diseases.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsBrown, JE, McBride, CS, Johnson, P, Ritchie, S, Paupy, C, Bossin, H, Lutomiah, J, Fernandez-Salas, I, Ponlawat, A, Cornel, AJ, Black, WC, Gorrochotegui-Escalante, N, Urdaneta-Marquez, L, Sylla, M, Slotman, M, Murray, KO, Walker, C, Powell, JR
JournalProc Biol Sci
Volume278
Issue1717
Pagination2446-54
Date Published2011 Aug 22
ISSN1471-2954
KeywordsAedes, Animals, Biological Evolution, Ecosystem, Humans, Microsatellite Repeats, Phylogeny, Polymorphism, Genetic
Abstract

<p>Understanding the processes by which species colonize and adapt to human habitats is particularly important in the case of disease-vectoring arthropods. The mosquito species Aedes aegypti, a major vector of dengue and yellow fever viruses, probably originated as a wild, zoophilic species in sub-Saharan Africa, where some populations still breed in tree holes in forested habitats. Many populations of the species, however, have evolved to thrive in human habitats and to bite humans. This includes some populations within Africa as well as almost all those outside Africa. It is not clear whether all domestic populations are genetically related and represent a single 'domestication' event, or whether association with human habitats has developed multiple times independently within the species. To test the hypotheses above, we screened 24 worldwide population samples of Ae. aegypti at 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci. We identified two distinct genetic clusters: one included all domestic populations outside of Africa and the other included both domestic and forest populations within Africa. This suggests that human association in Africa occurred independently from that in domestic populations across the rest of the world. Additionally, measures of genetic diversity support Ae. aegypti in Africa as the ancestral form of the species. Individuals from domestic populations outside Africa can reliably be assigned back to their population of origin, which will help determine the origins of new introductions of Ae. aegypti.</p>

DOI10.1098/rspb.2010.2469
Alternate JournalProc Biol Sci
PubMed ID21227970
PubMed Central IDPMC3125627
Grant ListT32-GM07499-33 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI083368 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI101112 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
T32 GM007499 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01AI083368 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI046018 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States