Utility of Complete Mitochondrial Genomes in Phylogenetic Classification of the Species of Anopheles (Culicidae: Anophelinae)

• Main Authors: Taghi Ghassemi-Khademi (Author), Mohammad Ali Oshaghi (Author), Hassan Vatandoost (Author), Seyed Massoud Madjdzadeh (Author), Mohammad Amin Gorouhi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2021-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1735-7179; 2322-2271
• Keywords: anopheles; phylogeny; mtdna; taxonomy; malaria vectors; Pathology; RB1-214
• Source: Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-20-1-20 (2021)

Background: Among the blood-sucking insects, Anopheles mosquitoes have a very special position, because they transmit parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which cause malaria as one of the main vector-borne disease worldwide. The aim of this review study was to evaluate utility of complete mitochondrial genomes in phylogenetic classification of the species of Anopheles. Methods: The complete mitochondrial genome sequences belonging to 28 species of the genus Anopheles (n=32) were downloaded from NCBI. The phylogenetic trees were constructed using the ML, NJ, ME, and Bayesian inference meth­ods. Results: In general, the results of the present survey revealed that the complete mitochondrial genomes act very accu­rately in recognition of the taxonomic and phylogenetic status of these species and provide a higher level of support than those based on individual or partial mitochondrial genes so that by using them, we can meticulously reconstruct and modify Anopheles classification. Conclusion: Understanding the taxonomic position of Anopheles, can be a very effective step in better planning for controlling these malaria vectors in the world and will improve our knowledge of their evolutionary biology.