Presence, genetic variability, and potential significance of "Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii" in the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum.

摘要: We used next generation sequencing to detect the bacterium “Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii” for first time in lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) from eastern United States. 177 individuals and 11 tick pools seven sites four states were tested by pyrosequencing with barcoded 16S rRNA gene eubacterial primers targeting variable regions 5–3. Average infection prevalence was 0.15 across all surveyed populations (range 0–0.29) only site smallest sample size (n = 5) negative. Three genotypes differing 2.6–4.1 % a 271 bp region of identified. Two variants co-occurred North Carolina New York, but not observed same at those sites. The third genotype found Georgia. Phylogenetic analysis this fragment indicated that three are more closely related other species than each other. This variation suggests multiple independent introductions occurred A. americanum which may provide insight into bacterial spread within its ecosystem parasitism on tick. Whether presence affects acquisition or maintenance pathogens symbionts survival, biology evolution itself is unknown.