Current developments of SELEX technologies and prospects in the aptamer selection with clinical applications.

Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotide sequences capable of binding to specific ligands with high affinity. In this manner, they are like antibodies but have advantages such as lower manufacturing costs, lower immunogenicity, fewer batch-to-batch differences, a longer shelf life, high tolerance to different molecular milieus, and a greater number of potential targets. Due to their special features, they have been used in drug delivery, biosensor technology, therapy, and diagnostics.

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

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.

New hard tick (Acari: Ixodidae) reports and detection of Rickettsia in ticks from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), located in northern Colombia, is considered a geographical island with high levels of biodiversity and endemism. However, little is known about tick species and their associated microorganisms at the SNSM. In this study we sampled host-seeking ticks in areas of the town of Minca within the SNSM.

Case report: Diagnosis and autogenous vaccine treatment of herpesvirus in a green turtle () in Santa Marta, Colombia.

This study reports the first case of fibropapillomatosis (FP) in the green turtle that has been successfully diagnosed and treated in Colombia. Worldwide, FP has reached epizootic proportions as it has been reported in marine turtles of tropical and subtropical waters, and in severe cases, it reduces the probability of survival. Treatment has been elusive as multiple surgical excisions are needed due to tumor recurrence.

A Comparative Phylogeography of Three Marine Species with Different PLD Modes Reveals Two Genetic Breaks across the Southern Caribbean Sea.

The comparative phylogeography of marine species with contrasting dispersal potential across the southern Caribbean Sea was evaluated by the presence of two putative barriers: the Magdalena River plume (MRP) and the combination of the absence of a rocky bottom and the almost permanent upwelling in the La Guajira Peninsula (ARB + PUG). Three species with varying biological and ecological characteristics (i.e.

Phylogenetic relationships of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae) at mitogenomic resolution.

The genus Amblyomma is the third most diverse in the number of species within the Ixodidae, with practically half of its species distributed in the Americas, though there are also species occurring in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Within the genus, there are several species complexes with veterinary and public health importance. The Amblyomma cajennense complex, in the Americas, is represented by six species with a wide distribution, from Texas to northern Argentina.

Molecular Detection of and Other Bacteria in Ticks and Birds in an Urban Fragment of Tropical Dry Forest in Magdalena, Colombia.

Birds are important hosts in the life cycle of some species of ticks. In Colombia, there are few eco-epidemiological studies of tick-borne diseases; the existing ones have been focused on areas where unusual outbreaks have occurred. This study describes the identification of ticks collected from birds and vegetation, and the detection of bacteria in those ticks and in blood samples from birds in an urban fragment of tropical dry forest in the department of Magdalena, Colombia.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia colombianensi in ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) collected from herpetofauna in San Juan de Carare, Colombia.

Knowledge about ticks and Rickettsiae in Colombia is still limited and the areas of the country where studies have been conducted are scarce. In this study, ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) associated with reptiles and amphibians in San Juan de Carare, Santander department, were morphologically and molecularly identified and tested for the presence of Rickettsia. For the molecular characterization of ticks, CO1, 12S and 16S sequences were generated and compared with other sequences available in genbank.

DNA barcoding reveals fraud in commercial common snook () products in Santa Marta, Colombia.

The common snook is one of the main commercial fish species in the Caribbean region, including Colombia, where its populations have drastically decreased due to overfishing and environmental degradation. Thus, there is a market imbalance between the availability of snook products and their demand by consumers, which creates an opening for fraudulent actions such as species substitutions. Legislation in Colombia (and most Caribbean countries) lacks effective tools for the easy and rapid detection of frauds.

Molecular characterization of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from the Colombian rainforest.

A few studies have carried out the taxonomic and molecular characterization of sylvatic mosquito species in Latin America, where some species have been incriminated as vectors for arboviruses and parasites transmission. The present study reports the molecular characterization of mosquito species in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a natural ecosystem in the Northern coast of Colombia. Manual capture methods were used to collect mosquitoes, and the specimens were identified via classical taxonomy.

Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks associated with domestic animals from the Colombian Caribbean region.

Tick-borne diseases constitute a problem for livestock and public health. Given the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the Colombian Caribbean, ticks are particularly abundant, in turn exposing domestic animals and people in contact with them to such diseases. This study evaluates the presence of Babesia spp.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Amblyomma ovale, comparative analyses and phylogenetic considerations.

In this study, we sequenced two complete mitochondrial genomes of Amblyomma ovale, a tick of public health importance. Sequencing two distinct individuals, the resulting mitochondrial genomes were 14,756 and 14,760 bp in length and maintained the same gene order previously reported in Amblyomma. These were combined with RNA-seq derived mitochondrial sequences from three additional species, Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma maculatum, and Amblyomma moreliae, to carry out mitogenome comparative and evolutionary analyses against all previously published tick mitochondrial genomes.

Molecular detection and characterization of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis in dogs from northern Colombia.

Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys are intracellular tick-transmitted bacteria that infect dogs; there is evidence for limited zoonotic potential as well. The prevalence of E. canis in Colombia has been evaluated in different regions; however little is known about the prevalence or distribution of A.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma platys and Theileria equi in ticks collected from horses in Tayrona National Park, Colombia.

Horses are among the domestic animals that closely interact with humans and are highly parasitized by ticks, which are the primary vectors of zoonoses. As horses in Tayrona National Natural Park (PNNT) are used as a means of transporting goods, luggage and people, they are in constant contact with wild animals, workers and tourists from different countries. These factors increase the transmission risk of hemoparasites.

Hemogregarine and Rickettsial infection in ticks of toads from northeastern Colombia.

The toads spp. are in constant contact with humans and domestic animals and are commonly parasitized by ticks, which are also potential vectors of pathogenic microorganisms, such as apicomplexans and rickettsia. However, little is known about microorganisms associated with toad ticks.

Molecular identification of Giardia intestinalis in two cities of the Colombian Caribbean Coast.

Introduction: Parasitoses are an important health problem and its post-infectious consequences can cause high morbidity and mortality, worldwide. Epidemiological data is scarce in our region. We aimed to obtain frequency and circulating genotypes of Giardia intestinalis in two cities of the Caribbean Coast.

Rickettsial infection in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from reptiles in the Colombian Caribbean.

Although more reptiles are illegally traded in Colombia than any other group of animals, for both local and international markets, little is known about ticks associated with reptiles or pathogens associated with these ticks. In this study, ticks were collected from reptiles in Magdalena, Cesar and La Guajira regions in northern Colombia, and identified morphologically using taxonomic keys and molecularly by sequencing of the COI gene. In addition, Rickettsia spp.

sp. n. Adoption of the new taxonomic proposal for nemerteans (Nemertea, Cratenemertidae).

A new species Nipponemertes incainca is described from the intertidal zone of Santa Marta, Colombia. A new recent approach based on both morphological and molecular characters is applied for the description. The main characteristics of the species are: red color, head shield-shaped with a mid-dorsal cephalic ridge, furrows pre-cerebral inconspicuous with few faint ridges orthogonal to furrow axis, two irregular groups of eyespots situated at lateral margins in precerebral cephalic region, proboscis provided with papillae and 12 nerves, stylet smooth supported on an oval basis, and two pouches containing 3-4 accessory stylets each.

Phylogenetic relationships among superfamilies of Neritimorpha (Mollusca: Gastropoda).

Despite the extraordinary morphological and ecological diversity of Neritimorpha, few studies have focused on the phylogenetic relationships of this lineage of gastropods, which includes four extant superfamilies: Neritopsoidea, Hydrocenoidea, Helicinoidea, and Neritoidea. Here, the nucleotide sequences of the complete mitochondrial genomes of Georissa bangueyensis (Hydrocenoidea), Neritina usnea (Neritoidea), and Pleuropoma jana (Helicinoidea) and the nearly complete mt genomes of Titiscania sp. (Neritopsoidea) and Theodoxus fluviatilis (Neritoidea) were determined.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Babesia species in Ixodes ricinus sampled in northeastern, central, and insular areas of Italy.

The aim of the present study was to provide insight into the diversity of tick-borne pathogens circulating in Italy, carried/transmitted by Ixodes ricinus, one of the most abundant tick species in the country. A total of 447 specimens sampled in five areas of northeastern, central and insular Italy were analysed by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing for the presence of rickettsiae, borreliae and babesiae. Several rickettsial species of the spotted fever group of zoonotic concern and other zoonotic pathogens were found, such as Borrelia burgdorferi s.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Micrura ignea Schwartz & Norenburg 2005 (Nemertea: Heteronemertea) and comparative analysis with other nemertean mitogenomes.

We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the Heteronemertea species, Micrura ignea. The genome was amplified with a combination of short and long PCRs that were subjected to 454 sequencing. The mitogenome of M.

Sequence and comparison of mitochondrial genomes in the genus Nerita (Gastropoda: Neritimorpha: Neritidae) and phylogenetic considerations among gastropods.

In the present study, we determined the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of three Neritas, Nerita versicolor, Nerita tessellata, and Nerita fulgurans. We present an analysis of the features of their gene content and genome organization and compare these within the genus Nerita, and among the main gastropod groups. The new sequences were used in a phylogenetic analysis including all available gastropod mitochondrial genomes.

The phylogenetic position of Neritimorpha based on the mitochondrial genome of Nerita melanotragus (Mollusca: Gastropoda).

This is the first report of the mitochondrial gene order and almost-complete DNA sequence of a representative of the Neritimorpha, the highest-ranking gastropod clade lacking such data. Mitochondrial gene order in Nerita is largely plesiomorphic. Its only difference from the cephalopod Octopus vulgaris is a tRNA transposition shared by Vetigastropoda and Caenogastropoda.

Mitochondrial genome organization and phylogeny of two vespid wasps.

We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome of Abispa ephippium (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Vespidae: Eumeninae) and most of the mitochondrial genome of Polistes humilis synoecus (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea: Vespidae: Polistinae). The arrangement of genes differed between the two genomes and also differed slightly from that inferred to be ancestral for the Hymenoptera. The genome organization for both vespids is different from that of all other mitochondrial genomes previously reported.

Mitochondrial genomes of Vanhornia eucnemidarum (Apocrita: Vanhorniidae) and Primeuchroeus spp. (Aculeata: Chrysididae): Evidence of rearranged mitochondrial genomes within the Apocrita (Insecta: Hymenoptera).

We sequenced most of the mitochondrial (mt) genomes of 2 apocritan taxa: Vanhornia eucnemidarum and Primeuchroeus spp. These mt genomes have similar nucleotide composition and codon usage to those of mt genomes reported for other Hymenoptera, with a total A + T content of 80.1% and 78.