scholarly journals DNA-based monitoring for assessing the effect of invasive species on aquatic communities in the Amazon basin of Ecuador

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Van der Heyden ◽  
Lenin Riascos ◽  
Andrea Carrera-Gonzalez ◽  
Katherine Elizabeth Apunte Ramos ◽  
Marcela Carbrera ◽  
...  

Ecuador is well-known as one of the most biodiverse countries, but this species richness is being threatened by invasive alien species. The early detection of these invasive species is crucial for their fast and successful eradication and for limiting their effects on aquatic communities. Therefore, a Belgian VLIR-UOS project was started that aims at the development of a fast detection method to monitor the Ecuadorian Amazon river basin for the presence of invasive fishes, macroinvertebrates and amphibians. An (e)DNA field lab, equipped with miniaturized and portable DNA-processing equipment, such as centrifuges, thermal cyclers, and electrophoresis equipment (MiniPCR), was developed. In the next phase, the Nanopore Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) technique (MinION) will be optimized to enable the eDNA-based biomonitoring of tropical aquatic environments in the field. The fast detection of invasive species may help to prevent their further spread and perhaps even facilitate their eradication, and will promote more effective actions for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, new DNA-sequences of amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and fishes are being incorporated into the newly developed Ecuadorian DNA database. We also focus on building and strengthening the capacities of staff and students (Ecuadorian as well as Belgian) through theses, practical courses, field work, trainings and internships.

Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 468 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-88
Author(s):  
JEFFERY R. HUGHEY ◽  
GEOFFREY L. LEISTER ◽  
PAUL W. GABRIELSON ◽  
MAX H. HOMMERSAND

Gigartina skottsbergii is the currently accepted name for the large, peltate species of Gigartinaceae distributed in Argentina, Chile, and along the Antarctic Peninsula. However, phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences for more than twenty years indicate that two species are passing under the name G. skottsbergii, and both DNA sequences and morpho-anatomy indicate that the species are assignable to an undescribed genus. To formally validate the new genus and species, we performed next generation sequencing (NGS) on the lectotype material of G. skottsbergii to document its genetic identity and obtained its complete mitogenome and partial plastid genome. Phylogenetic analysis of rbcL and cox1 sequences of the lectotype along with recent collections of G. skottsbergii from southern South America and Antarctica, confirmed the generic distinction and the presence of two morphologically similar taxa. We propose Sarcopeltis gen. nov., containing the generitype S. skottsbergii comb. nov. from southern South America, and S. antarctica sp. nov. from the Antarctic Peninsula. Sarcopeltis is characterized by the following suite of features: 1) peg-like secondary haptera that adhere to the substratum, 2) absence of an envelope surrounding each cystocarp, 3) presence of extensive, terminal, tubular gonimoblast filaments that fuse with surrounding vegetative cells, and 4) tetrasporangia formed from secondary filaments entirely in the medulla. This study demonstrates that genetic analysis of type material, together with recently obtained DNA sequences from field collected specimens, can provide clear and objective taxonomic conclusions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Wink

Whereas Linné aimed to classify all species of our planet by a unique binomial Latin name, later generations of taxonomists and systematicists intended to place the taxa in a natural system according to their phylogeny. This also happened in ornithology and still scientists are on the way to find the ultimate “Avian Tree of Life”. Formerly, systematic relationships were studied by comparing morphological characters. Since adaptive character evolution occurred frequently, convergences could lead to misleading conclusions. An alternative to morphological characters are biochemical markers, especially nucleotide sequences of marker genes or of complete genomes. They are less prone to convergent evolution. The use of DNA sequences of marker genes for bird systematics started around 1990. The introduction of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) facilitated the sequence analysis of large parts of bird genomes and to reconstruct the Avian Tree of Life. The genetic analyses allowed the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees and the detection of monophyletic clades, which should be the base for a phylogenetic classification. In consequence, several orders, families and genera of birds had to be rearranged. In addition, a number of species was split into several new species because DNA data could point out hidden lineages in cryptic species or in species complexes.


Author(s):  
Altuğ Koç ◽  
Elçin Bora ◽  
Tayfun Cinleti ◽  
Gizem Yıldız ◽  
Meral Torun Bayram ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pelin Telkoparan-Akillilar ◽  
Dilek Cevik

Background: Numerous sequencing techniques have been progressed since the 1960s with the rapid development of molecular biology studies focusing on DNA and RNA. Methods: a great number of articles, book chapters, websites are reviewed, and the studies covering NGS history, technology and applications to cancer therapy are included in the present article. Results: High throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies offer many advantages over classical Sanger sequencing with decreasing cost per base and increasing sequencing efficiency. NGS technologies are combined with bioinformatics software to sequence genomes to be used in diagnostics, transcriptomics, epidemiologic and clinical trials in biomedical sciences. The NGS technology has also been successfully used in drug discovery for the treatment of different cancer types. Conclusion: This review focuses on current and potential applications of NGS in various stages of drug discovery process, from target identification through to personalized medicine.


Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 962
Author(s):  
Dario de Biase ◽  
Matteo Fassan ◽  
Umberto Malapelle

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) allows for the sequencing of multiple genes at a very high depth of coverage [...]


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