2010
Anopheles Immune Genes and Amino Acid Sites Evolving Under the Effect of Positive Selection
Parmakelis A, Moustaka M, Poulakakis N, Louis C, Slotman MA, Marshall JC, Awono-Ambene PH, Antonio-Nkondjio C, Simard F, Caccone A, Powell JR. Anopheles Immune Genes and Amino Acid Sites Evolving Under the Effect of Positive Selection. PLOS ONE 2010, 5: e8885. PMID: 20126662, PMCID: PMC2811201, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008885.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive selectionImmune genesGambiae complexDN/dS ratiosLineage-specific evolutionPopulation genetics frameworkAmino acid sitesAnopheles gambiae complexSpecific amino acidsInnate immunity genesAncestral polymorphismComparative phylogeneticsGene diversityEvolutionary historyNatural populationsGenetic diversityGenetic frameworkNatural selectionImmunity genesVector biologyDS ratiosGenesAmino acidsDiversityGenetic knowledge
2008
Characterization of a Nonclassical Class I MHC Gene in a Reptile, the Galápagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Glaberman S, Du Pasquier L, Caccone A. Characterization of a Nonclassical Class I MHC Gene in a Reptile, the Galápagos Marine Iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). PLOS ONE 2008, 3: e2859. PMID: 18682845, PMCID: PMC2483932, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0002859.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGalápagos marine iguanasClass I MHC genesMHC genesMarine iguanasLarge taxonomic gapsClassical class I genesGenomic sequence dataClassical MHC genesMajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) genesPeptide-binding residuesClass I genesMHC evolutionNonclassical genesVertebrate taxaDiverse orderClass I sequencesMHC organizationCytoplasmic domainPhylogenetic analysisGenomic sequencesTaxonomic gapsConserved characterI geneSequence dataI sequencesHistorical analysis of a near disaster: Anopheles gambiae in Brazil.
Parmakelis A, Russello MA, Caccone A, Marcondes CB, Costa J, Forattini OP, Sallum MA, Wilkerson RC, Powell JR. Historical analysis of a near disaster: Anopheles gambiae in Brazil. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2008, 78: 176-8. PMID: 18187802, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2008.78.176.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman-mediated range expansionIntrinsic historical interestAnopheles gambiaeDisease vectorsHistorical DNA analysisHuman-mediated dispersalInsect disease vectorsMuseum collectionsHistorical analysisNear disasterHistorical interestAnopheles gambiae complexHistorical informationTime of invasionIntercontinental introductionSpecies complexSpecies identityRange expansionMuseum specimensGambiae complexGambiaeSpeciesAnopheles arabiensisIdentityDNA analysis
2007
Genetic Impact of a Severe El Niño Event on Galápagos Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus)
Steinfartz S, Glaberman S, Lanterbecq D, Marquez C, Rassmann K, Caccone A. Genetic Impact of a Severe El Niño Event on Galápagos Marine Iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus). PLOS ONE 2007, 2: e1285. PMID: 18074011, PMCID: PMC2110882, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001285.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMarine iguana populationsIguana populationsGenetic diversityGenetic impactNeutral genetic diversityMitochondrial DNA diversityEffective population sizeMitochondrial DNA variationGalápagos marine iguanasMicrosatellite allele frequenciesRange of organismsDynamics of ecosystemsMajority of islandsPotential biological consequencesDNA diversityGenetic bottleneckMicrosatellite dataDNA variationMarine iguanasMtDNA variationGenetic compositionSevere El Niño eventBiological consequencesPopulation sizeClimatic disturbancesMultiple Origins of Knockdown Resistance Mutations in the Afrotropical Mosquito Vector Anopheles gambiae
Pinto J, Lynd A, Vicente J, Santolamazza F, Randle N, Gentile G, Moreno M, Simard F, Charlwood J, do Rosário V, Caccone A, della Torre A, Donnelly M. Multiple Origins of Knockdown Resistance Mutations in the Afrotropical Mosquito Vector Anopheles gambiae. PLOS ONE 2007, 2: e1243. PMID: 18043750, PMCID: PMC2080755, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0001243.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsResistance allelesMutation eventsMosquito vector Anopheles gambiaeVoltage-gated sodium channel geneNatural insect populationsEvolution of resistanceInsecticide resistance mutationsIndependent mutation eventsGambiae S formSodium channel geneMalaria vector AnophelesKnockdown resistance alleleKnockdown resistance (kdr) mutationsGene flowMolecular evolutionNeutrality testsSelective sweepsMalaria vector control programmesAdaptive traitsMultiple mutation eventsInsect populationsGenomic regionsHaplotype compositionKdr locusLocal selection
2004
Variation in an intron sequence of the voltage‐gated sodium channel gene correlates with genetic differentiation between Anopheles gambiae s.s. molecular forms
Gentile G, Santolamazza F, Fanello C, Petrarca V, Caccone A, Della Torre A. Variation in an intron sequence of the voltage‐gated sodium channel gene correlates with genetic differentiation between Anopheles gambiae s.s. molecular forms. Insect Molecular Biology 2004, 13: 371-377. PMID: 15271209, DOI: 10.1111/j.0962-1075.2004.00494.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVoltage-gated sodium channel geneSodium channel geneGenetic differentiationGenetic variationChannel genesPossible selective sweepMajor haplotypesSingle mutational stepAnopheles gambiae MRDNA sitesGene flowSelective sweepsMutational stepsTaxonomic statusIntron sequencesGambiae MMolecular formsIntron ISingle localityIntronic regionsAnopheles gambiae s.Additional haplotypesGambiae s.HaplotypesGenesGenetic evaluation of a proposed introduction: the case of the greater prairie chicken and the extinct heath hen
Palkovacs E, Oppenheimer A, Gladyshev E, Toepfer J, Amato G, Chase T, Caccone A. Genetic evaluation of a proposed introduction: the case of the greater prairie chicken and the extinct heath hen. Molecular Ecology 2004, 13: 1759-1769. PMID: 15189201, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02181.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGreater prairie-chickensPrairie-ChickensMitochondrial control region sequencesDivergent mitochondrial lineagesPrairie grouseControl region sequencesDifferent habitat typesEcological exchangeabilityMitochondrial lineagesExtant populationsPopulation bottlenecksMtDNA haplotypesHabitat typesExtirpated populationsPopulation introductionsGrouse speciesGenetic analysisRegion sequencesGeographical isolationHuman disturbanceGrouse populationsEcosystem restorationEcosystem restoration projectsHen populationRestoration projectsGenetic analysis of a successful repatriation programme: giant Galpagos tortoises
Milinkovitch M, Monteyne D, Gibbs J, Fritts T, Tapia W, Snell H, Tiedemann R, Caccone A, Powell J. Genetic analysis of a successful repatriation programme: giant Galpagos tortoises. Proceedings Of The Royal Society B 2004, 271: 341-345. PMID: 15101691, PMCID: PMC1691607, DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2003.2607.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic variationIsland of EspañolaGiant Galápagos tortoisesMicrosatellite DNA markersNatural populationsGalápagos tortoisesDNA markersNatural habitatsSitu reproductionBreeding programsGenetic analysisRepatriation programBreedersTortoisesOffspringFurther lossHabitatsTaxaPaternitySpeciesCaptivityReproductionPopulationIslandsVariation
2003
Are the native giant tortoises from the Seychelles really extinct? A genetic perspective based on mtDNA and microsatellite data
Palkovacs E, Marschner M, Ciofi C, Gerlach J, Caccone A. Are the native giant tortoises from the Seychelles really extinct? A genetic perspective based on mtDNA and microsatellite data. Molecular Ecology 2003, 12: 1403-1413. PMID: 12755870, DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2003.01834.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGiant tortoisesGenetic structuringGiant tortoise speciesMitochondrial DNA sequencesMitochondrial control regionWestern Indian OceanLevel of variationNuclear microsatellitesRediscovered speciesSeychelles archipelagoMicrosatellite dataReproductive isolationRecent morphological studiesTortoise speciesMicrosatellite lociControl regionSingle lineageMorphological charactersDNA sequencesCarapace morphologyCaptive conditionsTortoisesGenetic perspectiveSpeciesPotential survival
1996
Evolution of the mitochondrial DNA control region in the Anopheles gambiae complex
Caccone A, Garcia B, Powell J. Evolution of the mitochondrial DNA control region in the Anopheles gambiae complex. Insect Molecular Biology 1996, 5: 51-59. PMID: 8630535, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.1996.tb00040.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnopheles gambiae complexChromosomal inversionsControl regionAT-rich control regionMtDNA protein-coding genesMitochondrial DNA control regionA. gambiaeGambiae complexMtDNA gene flowA. arabiensisProtein-coding genesDNA control regionAT-rich regionGene flowMolecular treesEvolutionary positionPhylogenetic positionMitochondrial DNAA. melasSpeciesThird positionGambiaeArabiensisIntra-individual variationTrees