The novel primers for sex identification in the brown eared-pheasant and their application to other species

We designed a pair of primers for sex identification in the brown eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) based on the mechanism of PCR amplification of CHD fragments, and identified the number of products. The new primers were considered to have more sensitivity than P2/P8, and cross-species application indicated that they can also be used for sex identification in other species of Phasianidae and Passeriformes.     

Antagonistic natural selection revealed by molecular sex identification of nestling collared flycatchers

Natural selection may act in different directions during different life-history stages, or in different directions on different classes of individuals. Antagonistic selection of this kind may be an important mechanism by which additive genetic variation for quantitative traits is maintained, and can prevent populations or species reaching local adaptive peaks. This paper reports the results of a study of viability selection on morphological traits of nestling collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis . Analyses performed without knowledge of the sex of nestlings suggested that no selection was occurring on these traits. However, using molecular sex identification with the avian CHD gene, it is shown that selection acts in different directions on male and female body size from fledging to breeding, apparently favouring relatively small males and large females. The results suggest that differential selection on male and female nestlings may contribute to purely phenotypic sexual size dimorphism in this species. These findings highlight the potential of newly developed molecular sexing techniques to reveal the consequences of an individual's gender for many aspects of its life history in taxa where gender cannot be determined on the basis of external appearance.     

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: A set of primer pairs for amplifying the complete mitochondrial DNA of endangered Chinese egret (Aves, Ardeidae, Egretta eulophotes)

The Chinese egret is a globally endangered species. Here we describe a set of primer pairs to amplify its entire mtDNA. The polymerase chain reaction products (1000–2000 bp) were successfully amplified by using this primer set and were then sequenced and aligned. The contiguous mtDNA sequences of the Chinese egret were assembled to be a circular molecule (17 579 bp). This primer set was also confirmed to be useful for six other species of ardeid birds. The versatility of this primer set will provide a groundwork for further studies on the genetic structure and molecular evolution of the ardeid species.     

Improved PCR primers for the detection and identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

A set of PCR primers that should amplify all subgroups of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota), but exclude sequences from other organisms, was designed to facilitate rapid detection and identification directly from field-grown plant roots. The small subunit rRNA gene was targeted for the new primers (AML1 and AML2) because phylogenetic relationships among the Glomeromycota are well understood for this gene. Sequence comparisons indicate that the new primers should amplify all published AMF sequences except those from Archaeospora trappei. The specificity of the new primers was tested using 23 different AMF spore morphotypes from trap cultures and Miscanthus sinensis, Glycine max and Panax ginseng roots sampled from the field. Non-AMF DNA of 14 plants, 14 Basidiomycota and 18 Ascomycota was also tested as negative controls. Sequences amplified from roots using the new primers were compared with those obtained using the established NS31 and AM1 primer combination. The new primers have much better specificity and coverage of all known AMF groups.     

美洲斑潜蝇SS-PCR检测技术研究

【背景】美洲斑潜蝇是一种严重威胁瓜果蔬菜、烟草、棉花等经济作物和花卉生产的入侵性害虫。由于潜叶蝇类害虫体型较小、生活方式隐蔽、形态相似,本文针对其难以快速准确地进行形态鉴别的问题,以美洲斑潜蝇为研究对象,以菜田常见的4种潜叶蝇类害虫为参照,采用种特异性PCR方法（species-specific PCR,SS-PCR）,研究其快速分子检测鉴定技术。【方法】调用GenBank中一段936bp的美洲斑潜蝇线粒体DNA（mtDNA）细胞色素氧化酶亚基Ⅰ基因（COⅠ）的序列（Gen-Bank登录号为EU219613）,并根据此基因片段的碱基序列设计引物1对,其扩增片段大小为294bp。【结果】种特异性检验结果显示,该引物只对美洲斑潜蝇的COⅠ基因具有扩增能力,对其他种类如南美斑潜蝇、三叶斑潜蝇、葱斑潜蝇、豌豆潜叶蝇等没有扩增能力。该引物不仅对成虫具有良好的扩增效果,对蛹、幼虫以及单粒卵也具有同样的扩增效果,其最低检出阈值为1/3840头成虫。【结论与意义】SS-PCR技术体系可用于美洲斑潜蝇的鉴定识别与检测监测,对阻止其进一步扩散蔓延具有重要意义。     

A DNA test to sex most birds

Birds are difficult to sex. Nestlings rarely show sex-linked morphology and we estimate that adult females appear identical to males in over 50% of the world's bird species. This problem can hinder both evolutionary studies and human-assisted breeding of birds. DNA-based sex identification provides a solution. We describe a test based on two conserved CHD (chromo-helicase-DNA-binding) genes that are located on the avian sex chromosomes of all birds, with the possible exception of the ratites (ostriches, etc.; Struthioniformes). The CHD-W gene is located on the W chromosome; therefore it is unique to females. The other gene, CHD-Z, is found on the Z chromosome and therefore occurs in both sexes (female, ZW; male, ZZ). The test employs PCR with a single set of primers. It amplifies homologous sections of both genes and incorporates introns whose lengths usually differ. When examined on a gel there is a single CHD-Z band in males but females have a second, distinctive CHD-W band.     

Universal mtDNA primers for species identification of degraded bony fish samples

We developed primers for amplifying and sequencing highly degraded mtDNA from diverse fish species. The primers flank a variable 148-bp fragment within the 12S region of mtDNA. We screened and sequenced 82 samples of bony fishes representing 17 families to confirm cross-species amplification and identification. Salmonid species were analysed and demonstrate 13 species-specific SNPs within this region. Based on alignments of additional deposited sequences, these primers are conserved in many other species, making them useful for species identification using degraded DNA samples such as archaeological specimens.     

Molecular identification of crocodile species using novel primers for forensic analysis

All crocodilians are under varying degrees of threat due to over exploitation and these species have been listed in Appendix I or II of CITES. The lack of molecular techniques for the identification of confiscated samples makes it difficult to enforce the law. Conclusive forensic identification of species requires a complete gene sequence which is difficult in case of degraded samples. We have developed two novel sets of primers to amplify two partial cytochrome b gene sequences of six crocodile species i.e. Crocodylus palustris, Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus siamensis, Crocodylus niloticus, Gavialis gangeticus and Caiman crocodilus. These partial sequences were edited to give a complete cyt b gene sequence, which can be used as an effective tool for forensic authentication of crocodile species. A phylogeny of crocodile species was reconstructed using these sequences. The described primers hold great promise in forensic identification of crocodile species, which can aid in the effective enforcement of law and conservation of these ancient species.     

New genus-specific primers for the PCR identification of novel isolates of the genus Streptomonospora

The halophilic actinomycete genus Streptomonospora, forming a distinct branch in the 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic tree adjacent to the genera Nocardiopsis and Thermobifida, was first proposed by Cui et al. to accommodate the species type Streptomonospora salina. During a biodiversity and taxonomic study on halophilic filamentous actinomycetes from a saline lake in western China, numerous new halophilic actinomycetes strains were isolated. To confirm whether they are members of the genus Streptomonospora, one set of genus-specific oligonucleotides was designed which allows rapid detection of members of the genus Streptomonospora by means of PCR amplification. The genus specificity of these primers was validated with reference strains as well as with wild-type isolates, which exhibited morphological characteristics common to this genus.     

Selection of a set of specific primers for the identification of Tuber rufum: a truffle species with high genetic variability

Tuber rufum is a truffle widely distributed throughout Europe, which forms mycorrhizal associations with numerous species of broadleaf and coniferous trees. The possibility of T. rufum contamination in commercial truffle-infected plants makes its detection important. To facilitate the identification of T. rufum from mycorrhiza and fruitbodies, species-specific primers were designed and tested. To overcome the high intraspecific genetic variability within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of T. rufum, as demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis, two forward primers, Ru1f and Ru2f, located on the ITS1 region were designed to be used in concert with the reverse primer ITS4. Only T. rufum was amplified with this primer combination, while DNA of Tuber magnatum, Tuber brumale, Tuber maculatum, Tuber borchii, Tuber excavatum and Tuber melanosporum was not. These primers give a specific amplicon ranging between 566 and 572 bp and are able to discriminate between T. rufum, T. borchii and T. magnatum in multiplex PCR. In addition, T. rufum-specific amplicons were obtained from both spore suspensions and mycorrhiza by direct PCR. Tuber rufum mycorrhiza obtained in the greenhouse using mycelial inoculation techniques had morphological features similar to those of other species of Tuber, stressing the importance of molecular tools for their identification.     

ITS primers with enhanced specificity for basidiomycetes - application to the identification of mycorrhizae and rusts

We have designed two taxon-selective primers for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in the nuclear ribosomal repeat unit. These primers, ITS1-F and ITS4-B, were intended to be specific to fungi and basidiomycetes, respectively. We have tested the specificity of these primers against 13 species of ascomycetes, 14 of basidiomycetes, and 15 of plants. Our results showed that ITS4-B, when paired with either a 'universal' primer ITS1 or the fungal-specific primer ITS1-F, efficiently amplified DNA from all basidiomycetes and discriminated against ascomycete DNAs. The results with plants were not as clearcut. The ITS1-F/ITS4-B primer pair produced a small amount of PCR product for certain plant species, but the quantity was in most cases less than that produced by the 'universal' ITS primers. However, under conditions where both plant and fungal DNAs were present, the fungal DNA was amplified to the apparent exclusion of plant DNA. ITS1-F/ITS4-B preferential amplification was shown to be particularly useful for detection and analysis of the basidiomycete component in ectomycorrhizae and in rust-infected tissues. These primers can be used to study the structure of ectomycorrhizal communities or the distribution of rusts on alternate hosts.     

Species-specific primers for the identification of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber macrosporum Vittad

Limitations in the use of morphological traits to identify ectomycorrhizae have led to the development of species‐specific molecular markers. Herein, we report a PCR‐based technique for the reliable molecular identification of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber macrosporum Vittad. Species‐specific primers were designed from an alignment of internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequences from Tuber spp. and from the most common ectomycorrhizal contaminants found in the root systems of truffle‐infected plants. The primers were tested for selective amplification using both different truffles and different ectomycorrhizae and were found to identify T. macrosporum successfully. The application of the primers in certifying the quality of truffle‐inoculated seedlings is discussed.     

Partial rpoB gene sequencing for identification of Leptospira species

The usual target for sequence-based identification of Leptospira species is the 16S rRNA gene. However, because the 16S rRNA gene is not polymorphic enough, it is necessary to sequence a 1500 bp segment of this gene for accurate identification. Based on the alignment of previously determined rpoB of three Leptospira strains, we designed and tested a primer pair that enabled us to amplify and sequence a 600 bp segment of Leptospira rpoB. This segment was species-specific for the 16 species tested, but was unable to separate Leptospira interrogans serovars accurately. For the 11 L. interrogans serovars tested, only seven genotypes could be determined. We thus think that analysis of partial rpoB may be useful as an initial screening test for the identification of a new isolate of Leptospira and detection or identification of Leptospira in clinical or environmental samples, but not for serovar determination.     

New sequence-tagged site molecular markers for identification of sex in Distichlis spicata

Sex-linked molecular markers have become valuable tools for understanding sex ratio evolution and sex-specific physiology in pre-reproductive plants. To develop new accurate methods for sexing Distichlis spicata juveniles and nonflowering individuals, we converted a random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction marker that co-segregated with the female phenotype into a set of sequence-tagged site markers. We tested the marker pair on known males and females from populations in Oregon and California. A single band was obtained for all female samples but never for males.     

CHD基因与非平胸鸟类性别鉴定

自1995年CHD基因被应用于鸟类性别的分子鉴定以来,非平胸类鸟类性别鉴定问题正逐步被解决,CHD基因已经成为非平胸鸟类性别鉴定最重要的分子标记。阐述和分析了CHD基因在扩增目标及引物设计、取样范围及辅助技术和所涉足的科研领域等方面的发展及现状。期望随着CHD基因研究的深入,建立起完善的基于CHD基因的鸟类性别鉴定体系,通过更广泛的应用,促使涉及鸟类性别鉴定的科学研究向着更深、更广的方向发展。     

赤眼蜂田间混合种群的分离、鉴定及其性比的确定

介绍了一种适用于赤眼蜂Trichogramma田间混合种群分离、鉴定及性比确定的简单而有效的方法,并据此方法成功地鉴定出4种自然寄生于小菜蛾卵的寄生蜂种类,拟澳洲赤眼蜂TrichogrammaconfusumViggiani、玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma.ostriniaePangetChen、微突赤眼蜂TrichogrammaraioNagaraja及卷蛾分索赤眼蜂TrichogrammatoideabactraeNagaraja。     

High-throughput sex identification by melting curve analysis in blue-breasted quail and chicken

The objective was to develop a high-throughput method of identifying sex in both Coturnix chinensis and Gallus gallus, which would be useful for biomedical research and hatcheries. Because chromo-helicase-DNA binding protein (CHD)-based Griffiths P2/P8 primers do not produce polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products with distinguishable sex-specific curves in melting curve analysis (MCA), these primers are unsuitable for high throughput application in either species. Conserved regions were identified by basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) analyses of cloned CHD-Z and CHD-W genes of C. chinensis. Based on sequence alignment, a female-specific CHD-W primer (W-cot-F1) and a female/male (or CHD-W/CHD-Z)-common primer (ZW-cot-F1) were redesigned for use in combination with the Griffiths P2 primer for MCA-based PCR reaction. In C. chinensis and G. gallus, W-cot-F1/P2 and ZW-cot-F1/P2 had amplicon lengths of 315/318 and 114 base pairs and melting temperatures (Tm) of approximately 79.5 °C to 80 °C and approximately 78.5 °C to 79°C, respectively. Thus, MCA distinguished sex based on two distinct Tm peaks in females versus only one Tm peak in males. The MCA-based real-time PCR combined with the proposed primer redesign provided a high-throughput method of identifying sex in C. chinensis and G. gallus.     

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA to identify several novel markers for sex identification in the crested serpent eagle and crested goshawk

The crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela hoya) has no distinct sexual dimorphic traits. In the current study, we report the results of an EE0.6 (EcoRI 0.6-kb fragment) sequence applied to S. cheela hoya and a novel random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker that can be used to sex individuals within the species S. cheela hoya and Accipiter trivigatus formosae (crested goshawk). We used sex-specific primers for the avian CHD1 (chromo-helicase-DNA-binding 1) gene and the EE0.6 sequence in PCR assays to determine sex. In addition, 120 random primers were used for RAPD fingerprinting to search for novel sex-specific fragments of S. cheela hoya. The OPBB08 random primer generated a 1241-bp sex-specific fragment in all female S. cheela hoya. From the nucleotide sequence, PCR primers were designed to amplify 553-, 895-, and 194-bp sex-specific fragments present in all female S. cheela hoya. One of these primer pairs (ScBB08-7F/R) also amplified a male/female common fragment that can be used as an internal control (543 bp). Moreover, one of the primer pairs (ScBB08-5aF/5bR) could be used to identify genders of A. trivigatus formosae. In conclusion, we identified novel sex-specific DNA markers of S. cheela hoya and A. trivigatus formosae that can be used for rapid and accurate sex identification.