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New insights into the molecular phylogeny, biogeographical history, and diversification of Amblyomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) based on mitogenomes and nuclear sequences

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dc.contributor.author Uribe, Juan E.
dc.contributor.author Kelava, Samuel
dc.contributor.author Nava, Santiago
dc.contributor.author Cotes-Perdomo, Andrea P.
dc.contributor.author Castro, Lyda R.
dc.contributor.author Rivera-Paéz, Fredy A.
dc.contributor.author Perea, Silvia
dc.contributor.author Mans, Ben J.
dc.contributor.author Gofton, Alexander
dc.contributor.author Teo, Ernest J. M.
dc.contributor.author Zardoya, Rafael
dc.contributor.author Barker, Stephen C.
dc.date.accessioned 2024-04-01T06:29:16Z
dc.date.available 2024-04-01T06:29:16Z
dc.date.issued 2024-03-18
dc.identifier.citation Parasites & Vectors. 2024 Mar 18;17(1):139
dc.identifier.uri https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06131-w
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/10500/30973
dc.description.abstract Abstract Background Amblyomma is the third most diversified genus of Ixodidae that is distributed across the Indomalayan, Afrotropical, Australasian (IAA), Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic ecoregions, reaching in the Neotropic its highest diversity. There have been hints in previously published phylogenetic trees from mitochondrial genome, nuclear rRNA, from combinations of both and morphology that the Australasian Amblyomma or the Australasian Amblyomma plus the Amblyomma species from the southern cone of South America, might be sister-group to the Amblyomma of the rest of the world. However, a stable phylogenetic framework of Amblyomma for a better understanding of the biogeographic patterns underpinning its diversification is lacking. Methods We used genomic techniques to sequence complete and nearly complete mitochondrial genomes –ca. 15 kbp– as well as the nuclear ribosomal cluster –ca. 8 kbp– for 17 Amblyomma ticks in order to study the phylogeny and biogeographic pattern of the genus Amblyomma, with particular emphasis on the Neotropical region. The new genomic information generated here together with genomic information available on 43 ticks (22 other Amblyomma species and 21 other hard ticks–as outgroup–) were used to perform probabilistic methods of phylogenetic and biogeographic inferences and time-tree estimation using biogeographic dates. Results In the present paper, we present the strongest evidence yet that Australasian Amblyomma may indeed be the sister-group to the Amblyomma of the rest of the world (species that occur mainly in the Neotropical and Afrotropical zoogeographic regions). Our results showed that all Amblyomma subgenera (Cernyomma, Anastosiella, Xiphiastor, Adenopleura, Aponomma and Dermiomma) are not monophyletic, except for Walkeriana and Amblyomma. Likewise, our best biogeographic scenario supports the origin of Amblyomma and its posterior diversification in the southern hemisphere at 47.8 and 36.8 Mya, respectively. This diversification could be associated with the end of the connection of Australasia and Neotropical ecoregions by the Antarctic land bridge. Also, the biogeographic analyses let us see the colonization patterns of some neotropical Amblyomma species to the Nearctic. Conclusions We found strong evidence that the main theater of diversification of Amblyomma was the southern hemisphere, potentially driven by the Antarctic Bridge's intermittent connection in the late Eocene. In addition, the subgeneric classification of Amblyomma lacks evolutionary support. Future studies using denser taxonomic sampling may lead to new findings on the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of Amblyomma genus. Graphical Abstract
dc.title New insights into the molecular phylogeny, biogeographical history, and diversification of Amblyomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) based on mitogenomes and nuclear sequences
dc.type Journal Article
dc.date.updated 2024-04-01T06:29:17Z
dc.language.rfc3066 en
dc.rights.holder The Author(s)


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