Abundant variation in microsatellites of the parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis and linkage to a tandem repeat

Johnson, P.C.D. , Webster, L.M.I., Adam, A., Buckland, R., Dawson, D.A. and Keller, L.F. (2006) Abundant variation in microsatellites of the parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis and linkage to a tandem repeat. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 148(2), pp. 210-218. (doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2006.04.011) (PMID:16765463)

Abstract

An understanding of how genes move between and within populations of parasitic nematodes is important in combating the evolution and spread of anthelmintic resistance. Much has been learned by studying mitochondrial DNA markers, but autosomal markers such as microsatellites have been applied to only a few nematode species, despite their many advantages for studying gene flow in eukaryotes. Here, we describe the isolation of 307 microsatellites from Trichostrongylus tenuis, an intestinal nematode of red grouse. High levels of variation were revealed at sixteen microsatellite loci (including three sex-lined loci) in 111 male T. tenuis nematodes collected from four hosts at a single grouse estate in Scotland (average He = 0.708; mean number of alleles = 12.2). A population genetic analysis detected no deviation from panmixia either between (F(ST) = 0.00) or within hosts (F(IS) = 0.015). We discuss the feasibility of developing microsatellites in parasitic nematodes and the problem of null alleles. We also describe a novel 146-bp repeat element, TteREP1, which is linked to two-thirds of the microsatellites sequenced and is associated with marker development failure. The sequence of TteREP1 is related to the TcREP-class of repeats found in several other trichostrongyloid species including Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Haemonchus contortus.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Microsatellite; Parasitic nematode; Population genetics; Repetitive elements; Sex-linkage; Trichostronglylus tenuis
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Johnson, Dr Paul and Keller, Prof Lukas
• Authors: Johnson, P.C.D., Webster, L.M.I., Adam, A., Buckland, R., Dawson, D.A., and Keller, L.F.
• Subjects: Q Science > QL Zoology; Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
• Journal Name: Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology
• Publisher: Elsevier BV
• ISSN: 0166-6851
• ISSN (Online): 1872-9428
• Published Online: 16 May 2006
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2006 Elsevier Science
• First Published: First published in Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 148(2):210-218
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
30113	1	Evolutionary Consequences of Population Genetic Structure in a Parasitic Nematode	Lukas Keller	Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)	NER/M/S/2001/00	SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES