Identification of Closely Related Hydrobaenus Species (Diptera: Chironomidae) Using the Second Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2) Region of Ribosomal DNA

Three species of Japanese Hydrobaenus Fries (H. Kondoi, H. biwaquartus and H. kisosecundus) can be separated by variation in the sequence of the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) regions of ribosomal DNA. Suggested synonymy of H. kondoi with H. biwaquartus is refuted, and previously suggested diagnostic morphology (virga length, antennal, leg and venarum ratios, shape of tergite IX and gonostylus length) distinguishes the taxa. No difference in larval morphology was found. H. kisosecundus is readily distinguished on adult and larval morphology from H. kondoi and H. biwaquartus, and is more distant by molecular similarity measures. ITS2 regions apparently provide useful information for distinguishing closely related species in Chironomidae.     

Heterogeneity of Strains Assigned to Gluconobacter frateurii Mason and Claus 1989 Based on Restriction Analysis of 16S-23S rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer Regions

Twenty-three strains, which were assigned to Gluconobacter frateurii and maintained at Culture Collection NBRC, were re-identified at the species level on the basis of restriction analysis of 16S-23S rDNA ITS regions by digestion with six restriction endonucleases: Bsp1286I, MboII, AvaII, TaqI, BsoBI, and BstNI. The strains examined were divided into six groups, Group III-1, Group III-2, Group III-3, Group III-4, Group III-5, and Group IV. Group III-1 and Group III-4 respectively were divided into two subgroups, Subgroup III-1a, Subgroup III-1b and Subgroup III-4a, Subgroup III-4b. Gluconobacter frateurii NBRC 3264^T was included in Group III-2, along with strains NBRC 3265 and NBRC 3270, and G. thailandicus BCC 14116^T was included in Group III-3, along with strains NBRC 3254, NBRC 3256, NBRC 3258, NBRC 3255, and NBRC 3257. These groupings were supported by a phylogenetic tree based on 16S-23S rDNA ITS sequences. Strains of group III-2 and Group IV were unequivocally re-identified as G. frateurii, but strains of Group III-3, Group III-4, and Group III-5 were not necessarily re-identified as G. frateurii. The results obtained indicate that the 23 strains have a taxonomically heterogeneous nature, and they are referred to as the G. frateurii complex.     

Evaluating the Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) as a Candidate Dinoflagellate Barcode Marker

Background

DNA barcoding offers an efficient way to determine species identification and to measure biodiversity. For dinoflagellates, an ancient alveolate group of about 2000 described extant species, DNA barcoding studies have revealed large amounts of unrecognized species diversity, most of which is not represented in culture collections. To date, two mitochondrial gene markers, Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) and Cytochrome b oxidase (COB), have been used to assess DNA barcoding in dinoflagellates, and both failed to amplify all taxa and suffered from low resolution. Nevertheless, both genes yielded many examples of morphospecies showing cryptic speciation and morphologically distinct named species being genetically similar, highlighting the need for a common marker. For example, a large number of cultured Symbiodinium strains have neither taxonomic identification, nor a common measure of diversity that can be used to compare this genus to other dinoflagellates.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Internal Transcribed Spacer units 1 and 2 (ITS) of the rDNA operon, as a high resolution marker for distinguishing species dinoflagellates in culture. In our study, from 78 different species, the ITS barcode clearly differentiated species from genera and could identify 96% of strains to a known species or sub-genus grouping. 8.3% showed evidence of being cryptic species. A quarter of strains identified had no previous species identification. The greatest levels of hidden biodiversity came from Scrippsiella and the Pfiesteriaceae family, whilst Heterocapsa strains showed a high level of mismatch to their given species name.

Conclusions/Significance

The ITS marker was successful in confirming species, revealing hidden diversity in culture collections. This marker, however, may have limited use for environmental barcoding due to paralogues, the potential for unidentifiable chimaeras and priming across taxa. In these cases ITS would serve well in combination with other markers or for specific taxon studies.     

Cyanobacterial Ecotypes in Different Optical Microenvironments of a 68°C Hot Spring Mat Community Revealed by 16S-23S rRNA Internal Transcribed Spacer Region Variation

We examined the population of unicellular cyanobacteria (Synechococcus) in the upper 3-mm vertical interval of a 68°C region of a microbial mat in a hot spring effluent channel (Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming). Fluorescence microscopy and microsensor measurements of O₂ and oxygenic photosynthesis demonstrated the existence of physiologically distinct Synechococcus populations at different depths along a light gradient quantified by scalar irradiance microprobes. Molecular methods were used to evaluate whether physiologically distinct populations could be correlated with genetically distinct populations over the vertical interval. We were unable to identify patterns in genetic variation in Synechococcus 16S rRNA sequences that correlate with different vertically distributed populations. However, patterns of variation at the internal transcribed spacer locus separating 16S and 23S rRNA genes suggested the existence of closely related but genetically distinct populations corresponding to different functional populations occurring at different depths.     

A Conserved Motif in the 5.8S Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) Gene is a Useful Diagnostic Marker for Plant Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Sequences

The nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has become an important nuclear locus for molecular systematic investigations of angiosperms at the intergenic and interspecific levels. Universal PCR primers are positioned on the conserved rRNA genes (18S, 5.8S, 26S) to amplify the entire ITS spacer region. Recent reports of fungal and algal contaminants, first described as plant ITS sequences, stress the need for diagnostic markers specific for the angiosperm ITS region. This report describes a conserved 14 base pair (bp) motif in the 5.8S rRNA gene that can be used to differentiate between flowering plants, bryophytes, and several orders of algae and fungi, including common plant pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi. A variant of the motif (found in fungi and algae) contains a convenient EcoRI restriction site that has several applications for eliminating problematic contaminants from plant ITS preparations.     

Sequence Analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) from Yeast Species Within the Genus Candida

Nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were determined for 13 species within the genus Candida, representing a collection of those species pathogenic for humans. No two species had identical sequences and the sizes of ITS2 varied fourfold, representing an apparent continuous gradient of nucleotides. When present, sequence homologies were observed in the 5′ end of ITS2, and many species exhibited more limited homologies within three known conserved domains found in other yeasts. Cluster analysis of primary sequence revealed a concordance with a known taxonomic subfamily and suggests that certain species within the genus form a similar grouping. A majority of species exhibited similar presumptive RNA secondary structures, consistent with the hypothesis that these spacer regions are essential for correct processing of the 5.8S and 28S subunits. Received: 14 April 1997 / Accepted: 22 July 1997     

Molecular Evolution and Phylogenetic Utility of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) in Calyptratae (Diptera: Brachycera)

The resolution potential of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) at deeper levels remains controversial. In this study, 105 ITS2 sequences of 55 species in Calyptratae were analyzed to examine the phylogenetic utility of the spacer above the subfamily level and to further understand its evolutionary characteristics. We predicted the secondary structure of each sequence using the minimum-energy algorithm and constructed two data matrixes for phylogenetic analysis. The ITS2 regions of Calyptratae display strong A-T bias and slight variation in length. The tandem and dispersed repeats embedded in the spacers possibly resulted from replication slippage or transposition. Most foldings conformed to the four-domain model. Sequence comparison in combination with the secondary structures revealed six conserved motifs. Covariation analysis from the conserved motifs indicated that the secondary structure restrains the sequence evolution of the spacer. The deep-level phylogeny derived from the ITS2 data largely agreed with the phylogenetic hypotheses from morphologic and other molecular evidence. Our analyses suggest that the accordant resolutions generated from different analyses can be used to infer deep-level phylogenetic relations.     

Variation of 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions (ISRs) in Acinetobacter baylyi (strain B2) isolated from activated sludge

To determine the variability of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) of the newly described Acinetobacter baylyi, 88 clones containing ISR amplicons were screened and 14 chosen for further analysis. Two different sized 16S-23S rRNA ISRs were distinguished comprising five variable and four conserved nucleotide blocks. The major regions of heterogeneity between the different sized ISRs were due to blocks of substitutions with unique secondary structures interspersed with nucleotide substitutions, rather than differences caused by presence or absence of tRNA genes, which is often the case. Recombination events causing shuffling of nucleotide blocks are considered the most likely explanation for the mosaic structure observed between the different copies of the ISR. Single base differences present in the long ISR (LISR) were then exploited in attempts to detect possible heterogeneity between rrn copies in Acinetobacter baylyi but variability was not detected by RFLP analysis of LISR-specific PCR products. These primers were shown to be highly specific for 3 Acinetobacter baylyi strains based on LISR sequence homogeneity.     

Paraphyly of Veronica (Veroniceae; Scrophulariaceae): Evidence from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Sequences of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA

Veronica (Veroniceae; Scrophulariaceae) and segregated genera, such as Hebe from New Zealand has been debated intensively in the past. We conducted an analysis of sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) to evaluate the validity of segregate genera and the monophyly of Veronica. According to the results presented here, Veronica is paraphyletic, with the Hebe complex, Synthyris, and Paederota nested within the larger Veronica clade. Pseudolysimachion is in a basal polytomy of the expanded Veronica clade in the strict consensus tree and might be nested within Veronica as well. Clades within Veronica do not correspond to sections traditionally recognized. This study provides a first estimation of the phylogeny of Veroniceae using molecular data and can serve as a starting point for future investigations of Veronica and relatives. Received 24 July 2000/ Accepted in revised form 19 October 2000     

Evolution of Helix Formation in the Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2) and Its Significance for RNA Secondary Structures

Helices are the most common elements of RNA secondary structure. Despite intensive investigations of various types of RNAs, the evolutionary history of the formation of new helices (novel helical structures) remains largely elusive. Here, by studying the nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2), a fast-evolving part of the eukaryotic nuclear ribosomal operon, we identify two possible types of helix formation: one type is “dichotomous helix formation”—transition from one large helix to two smaller helices by invagination of the apical part of a helix, which significantly changes the shape of the original secondary structure but does not increase its complexity (i.e., the total length of the RNA). An alternative type is “lateral helix formation”—origin of an extra helical region by the extension of a bulge loop or a spacer in a multi-helix loop of the original helix, which does not disrupt the pre-existing structure but increases RNA size. Moreover, we present examples from the RNA sequence literature indicating that both types of helix formation may have implications for RNA evolution beyond ITS2.     

Preliminary Analysis of Length and GC Content Variation in the Ribosomal First Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS1) of Marine Animals

Length and guanine–cytosine (GC) content of the ribosomal first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) were compared across a wide variety of marine animal species, and its phylogenetic utility was investigated. From a total of 773 individuals representing 599 species, we only failed to amplify the ITS1 sequence from 87 individuals by polymerase chain reaction with universal ITS1 primers. No species was found to have an ITS1 region shorter than 100 bp. In general, the ITS1 sequences of vertebrates were longer (318 to 2,318 bp) and richer in GC content (56.8% to 78%) than those of invertebrates (117 to 1,613 bp and 35.8% to 71.3%, respectively). Specifically, gelatinous animals (Cnidaria and Ctenophora) were observed to have short ITS1 sequences (118 to 422 bp) with lower GC content (35.8% to 61.7%) than the other animal taxa. Mollusca and Crustacea were diverse groups with respect to ITS1 length, ranging from 108 to 1,118 and 182 to 1,613 bp, respectively. No universal relationship between length and GC content was observed. Our data indicated that ITS1 has a limited utility for phylogenetic analysis as obtaining confident sequence alignment was often impossible between different genera of the same family and even between congeneric species.     

Sequencer-Based Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE) Targeting the rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Regions for Accurate Identification of Clinically Important Yeast Species

Accurate species identification of Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and other yeast pathogens is important for clinical management. In the present study, we developed and evaluated a yeast species identification scheme by determining the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region length types (LTs) using a sequencer-based capillary gel electrophoresis (SCGE) approach. A total of 156 yeast isolates encompassing 32 species were first used to establish a reference SCGE ITS LT database. Evaluation of the ITS LT database was then performed on (i) a separate set of (n = 97) clinical isolates by SCGE, and (ii) 41 isolates of 41 additional yeast species from GenBank by in silico analysis. Of 156 isolates used to build the reference database, 41 ITS LTs were identified, which correctly identified 29 of the 32 (90.6%) species, with the exception of Trichosporon asahii, Trichosporon japonicum and Trichosporon asteroides. In addition, eight of the 32 species revealed different electropherograms and were subtyped into 2–3 different ITS LTs each. Of the 97 test isolates used to evaluate the ITS LT scheme, 96 (99.0%) were correctly identified to species level, with the remaining isolate having a novel ITS LT. Of the additional 41 isolates for in silico analysis, none was misidentified by the ITS LT database except for Trichosporon mucoides whose ITS LT profile was identical to that of Trichosporon dermatis. In conclusion, yeast identification by the present SCGE ITS LT assay is a fast, reproducible and accurate alternative for the identification of clinically important yeasts with the exception of Trichosporon species.     

Phylogenetic diversity of indigenous cowpea bradyrhizobia from soils in Japan based on sequence analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is an important legume crop and yet its rhizobia have not been well characterized in many areas. In the present study, sequence analysis of the bacterial 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was performed to characterize genetically 76 indigenous cowpea rhizobia from five different geographic regions (Okinawa, Miyazaki, Kyoto, Fukushima and Hokkaido) of Japan. The sequence analysis clustered all isolates in the genus Bradyrhizobium. They were conspecific with B. japonicum, B. yuanmingense, B. elkanii and Bradyrhizobium sp., although none of them grouped with B. liaoningense, B. canariense, B. betae or B. iriomotense. B. yuanmingense was only isolated from the southern region (Okinawa) where it achieved the highest frequency of 69%. B. japonicum was predominant at Miyazaki, Fukushima and Hokkaido with more than 60% of the isolates. B. elkanii was mainly recorded in the southern (Okinawa: 31%, Miyazaki: 33%) and middle (Kyoto: 33%) regions. This species was present at a very low frequency in Fukushima and absent in Hokkaido in the northern area. Bradyrhizobium sp. like-strains were absent in the southern part (Okinawa, Miyazaki) but were concentrated either in the middle regions with 67% of Kyoto isolates and 28% of Fukushima isolates, and in the northern region with 40% of the Hokkaido isolates. This study revealed a geographical distribution of cowpea bradyrhizobia which seemed to be related to the differences in the environmental characteristics (soil type and soil pH, temperature, climate, moisture) of the different regions in Japan.     

Phylogenetic reconstruction using secondary structures of Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 (ITS2, rDNA): finding the molecular and morphological gap in Caribbean gorgonian corals

Background  

Most phylogenetic studies using current methods have focused on primary DNA sequence information. However, RNA secondary structures are particularly useful in systematics because they include characteristics, not found in the primary sequence, that give "morphological" information. Despite the number of recent molecular studies on octocorals, there is no consensus opinion about a region that carries enough phylogenetic resolution to solve intrageneric or close species relationships. Moreover, intrageneric morphological information by itself does not always produce accurate phylogenies; intra-species comparisons can reveal greater differences than intra-generic ones. The search for new phylogenetic approaches, such as by RNA secondary structure analysis, is therefore a priority in octocoral research.     

RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS) as complementary molecular markers in addition to the 16S rRNA gene for phylogenetic analysis and identification of the species of the family Mycoplasmataceae

Conventional classification of the species in the family Mycoplasmataceae is mainly based on phenotypic criteria, which are complicated, can be difficult to measure, and have the potential to be hampered by phenotypic deviations among the isolates. The number of biochemical reactions suitable for phenotypic characterization of the Mycoplasmataceae is also very limited and therefore the strategy for the final identification of the Mycoplasmataceae species is based on comparative serological results. However, serological testing of the Mycoplasmataceae species requires a performance panel of hyperimmune sera which contains anti-serum to each known species of the family, a high level of technical expertise, and can only be properly performed by mycoplasma-reference laboratories. In addition, the existence of uncultivated and fastidious Mycoplasmataceae species/isolates in clinical materials significantly complicates, or even makes impossible, the application of conventional bacteriological tests. The analysis of available genetic markers is an additional approach for the primary identification and phylogenetic classification of cultivable species and uncultivable or fastidious organisms in standard microbiological laboratories. The partial nucleotide sequences of the RNA polymerase β-subunit gene (rpoB) and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) were determined for all known type strains and the available non-type strains of the Mycoplasmataceae species. In addition to the available 16S rRNA gene data, the ITS and rpoB sequences were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among these species and to enable identification of the Mycoplasmataceae isolates to the species level. The comparison of the ITS and rpoB phylogenetic trees with the 16S rRNA reference phylogenetic tree revealed a similar clustering patterns for the Mycoplasmataceae species, with minor discrepancies for a few species that demonstrated higher divergence of their ITS and rpoB in comparison to their neighbor species. Overall, our results demonstrated that the ITS and rpoB gene could be useful complementary phylogenetic markers to infer phylogenetic relationships among the Mycoplasmataceae species and provide useful background information for the choice of appropriate metabolic and serological tests for the final classification of isolates. In summary, three-target sequence analysis, which includes the ITS, rpoB, and 16S rRNA genes, was demonstrated to be a reliable and useful taxonomic tool for the species differentiation within the family Mycoplasmataceae based on their phylogenetic relatedness and pairwise sequence similarities. We believe that this approach might also become a valuable tool for routine analysis and primary identification of new isolates in medical and veterinary microbiological laboratories.     

2株创伤弧菌的16S-23S rDNA间区的克隆、测序及分析

根据细菌的16SrDNA3’端和23SrDNA5’端的高度保守区设计引物,PCR扩增了2株创伤弧菌（Vibrio vulnificus）的16S-23SrDNA间区（Intergenic spacer,IGS）,克隆到pGEM-T载体上,测序。用BLAST和DNA star软件对16S-23SrDNA间区序列及其内的tRNA基因进行比较分析。结果表明,2株创伤弧菌共测出9条16S-23SrDNA间区序列,其中ZSU006测出5条,间区类型分别为：IGS^GLAV、IGS^GLV、IGS^LA、IGS^A和IGS^G.其中IGS^GLAv最大,包含tRNA^Glu、tRNA^Lys、tRNA^Ala。和tRNA^Val基因;IGS^GLV包含tRNA^Glu、tRNA^Lys。和tRNA^Val基因;IGS^LA,则包含tRNA^Ile和tRNA^Ala基因;IGS^G包含tRNA^Glu基因;而IGS^A仅包含tRNA^Ala基因。菌株CG021测出的16S-23SrDNA IGS序列有4条,除缺少IGS^A外,其余的IGS类型均与ZSU006的相同。与GenBank内的创伤弧菌ATCC27562的IGS序列比较,发现创伤弧菌所有类型的IGS的tRNA基因两端的非编码区具有较高的种内同源性。16S-23SrDNA间区结构的差异为建立一种新的创伤弧菌检测方法奠定了基础。     

Cloning, Sequencing and Analysis of the 16S-23S rDNA Intergenic Spacers (IGSs) of Two Strains of Vibrio vulnificus

According to the conserved sequences flanking the 3′ end of the 16S and the 5′ end of the 23S rDNAs, PCR primers were designed, and the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacers (IGSs) of two strains of Vibrio vulnificus were amplified by PCR and cloned into pGEM-T vector. Different clones were selected to be sequenced and the sequences were analyzed with BLAST and the software DNAstar. Analyses of the IGS sequences suggested that the strain ZSU006 contains five types of polymorphic 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacers, namely, IGS^GLAV, IGS^GLV, IGS^lA, IGS^G and IGS^A; while the strain CG021 has the same types of IGSs except lacking IGS^A. Among these five IGS types, IGS^GLAV is the biggest type, including the gene cluster of tRNA^Glu - tRNA^Lys - tRNA^Ala - tRNA^Val; IGS^GLV includes that of tRNA^Glu-tRNA^Lys-tRNA^Val; IGS^AG, tRNA^Ala-tRNA^Glu; IGS^IA, tRNA^Ile-tRNA^Ala; IGS^G, tRNA^Glu and IGS^A, tRNA^Ala. Intraspecies multiple alignment of all the IGS sequences of these two strains with those of V. vulnificus ATCC27562 available at GenBank revealed several highly conserved sequence blocks in the non-coding regions flanking the tRNA genes within all of strains, most notably the first 40 and last 200 nucleotides, which can be targeted to design species-specific PCR primers or detection probes. The structural variations of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacers lay a foundation for developing diagnostic methods for V. vulnificus.     

Sequencing of the intergenic 16S-23S rRNA spacer (ITS) region of Mollicutes species and their identification using microarray-based assay and DNA sequencing

Abstract We have completed sequencing the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region of most known Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, Ureaplasma, Mesoplasma, and Spiroplasma species. Analysis of the sequence data revealed a significant interspecies variability and low intraspecies polymorphism of the ITS region among Mollicutes. This finding enabled the application of a combined polymerase chain reaction–microarray technology for identifying Mollicutes species. The microarray included individual species-specific oligonucleotide probes for characterizing human Mollicutes species and other species known to be common cell line contaminants. Evaluation of the microarray was conducted using multiple, previously characterized, Mollicutes species. The microarray analysis of the samples used demonstrated a highly specific assay, which is capable of rapid and accurate discrimination among Mollicutes species.