Comparative analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Dermacentor steini from different regions in China

Abstract

Ticks are a group of blood-sucking ectoparasites that play an important role in human health and livestock production development as vectors of zoonotic diseases. The phylogenetic tree of single genes cannot accurately reflect the true kinship between species. Based on the complete mitochondrial genome analysis one can help to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among species. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Dermacentor steini (isolate Longyan) was sequenced and compared with the mitochondrial genes of 3 other Chinese isolates (Nanchang, Jinhua and Yingtan). In Dermacentor steini 4 isolates had identical or similar mitochondrial genome lengths and an overall variation of 0.76% between sequences. All nucleotide compositions showed a distinct AT preference. The most common initiation and stop codons were ATG and TAA, respectively. Fewer base mismatches were found in the tRNA gene of D. steini (isolate Longyan), and the vicinity of the control region and tRNA gene was a hot rearrangement region of the genus Dermacentor. Maximum likelihood trees and Bayesian trees indicate that D. steini is most closely related to Dermacentor auratus. The results enrich the mitochondrial genomic data of species in the genus Dermacentor and provide novel insights for further studies on the phylogeographic classification and molecular evolution of ticks.

Description and phylogenetic analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome in Eulaelaps silvestris provides new insights into the molecular classification of the family Haemogamasidae

“…In the E. silvestris mitochondrial genome, only 5 genes have undergone rearrangements, and the rearrangements occurred mainly near tRNA genes and CR. It has been confirmed that the vicinity of tRNA genes and CR are hotspot regions where rearrangements occur, as replication of CR may lead to rearrangements (Kurabayashi et al ., 2008; Yang et al ., 2023). Thus, these rearranged genes or regions may become hotspots for mitochondrial genome research in the future.…”

“…The mitochondrial genome, with its simple structure, matrilineal inheritance, low recombination rate, and rapid evolution, has been widely used in studies of parasite classification, species identification, molecular evolution, phylogenetics and population genetics (Gao et al ., 2022 ; Yang et al ., 2022 ). The mitochondrial genome is usually composed of 37 genes, that is, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transporter RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and a non-coding region (control regions, CR) (Yang et al ., 2023 ). In recent years, with the rapid development of genome assembly technologies and the gradual reduction of sequencing costs, the mitochondrial genomes of an increasing number of species have been sequenced.…”

The first complete mitochondrial genome of the genus Echinolaelaps reveals mitochondrial genome rearrangement type and evolution of Gamasida

“…The typical mitochondrial genome of arthropods contains 37 genes, namely 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes ( rrnL and rrnS ) and a variable length control region (CR) (Gissi et al ., 2008 ). Because of its compact structure, smaller molecule (16–19 kb) than nuclear genome, 5–10 times faster evolution rate than nuclear genome and maternal inheritance, mitochondrial genome has become an important molecular marker for studying the origin of species, phylogenetic relationships between related species and within species in recent years (Yang et al ., 2023 ). In the analysis of the mitochondrial genomes of Gamasida, which have been deposited in Genbank, the mitochondrial genomes of 5 species of mites in the families Diplogyniidae and Parasitidae ( Parasitus wangdunqingi , Parasitus fimetorum , Microdiplogynium sp., Quadristernoseta cf.…”