Biology subjects

Lorite, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Lorite, P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Advancing the understanding of the Bombyx mori genome through satellite DNA analysis: low strain differentiation and relationship with transposable elements

Despite the economic and scientific importance of Bombyx mori, its satellite DNA (satDNA) fraction remains poorly characterized. Here, we present the first comprehensive analysis of the B. mori satellitome, revealing its low abundance ([~]0.76%), A+T enrichment, high monomer size variability, and predominantly dispersed chromosomal organization. Comparative analysis with B. mandarina, the wild ancestor of B. mori, demonstrated high satDNA conservation in abundance and sequence composition, despite speciation and domestication events. Divergence landscapes of satDNA sequences indicate predominantly ancient amplifications with few recent homogenization events. SatDNA families exhibited low strain differentiation across five B. mori strains, exemplified by the consistent presence and abundance of BmorSat01-575 and BmorSat29-84. The W chromosome was identified as a hotspot for satDNA accumulation, especially BmorSat24-753, which showed female-specific amplification and higher sequence homogeneity, suggesting functional or structural roles in W chromosome evolution. In contrast, the Z chromosome displayed similar satDNA content to autosomes, with two families being exclusive to this chromosome and conserved in both Bombyx species. Remarkably, some of B. mori satDNAs were found to be derived from transposable elements (TEs), supporting the hypothesis of TE-driven satDNA origin via multiple mechanisms, including tandemization of TE fragments. Our findings underscore the dynamic interplay between satDNAs and TEs in shaping genome architecture, the stability of the satellitome through domestication, and the sex chromosome-specific accumulation patterns. These insights lay the groundwork for future studies investigating the functional roles of satDNAs in genome regulation and chromatin dynamics in Lepidoptera.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

Reconstructing Sordida subcomplex (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) phylogeny across species distribution range

The conformation of the Sordida subcomplex has been a topic of prolonged debate, with diverse methodological approaches employed to discern its constituent species. Up to now, Triatoma sordida, T. garciabesi and T. rosai comprise part of this subcomplex. Distinguishing and identifying these three species pose significant challenges due to their pronounced morphological similarity, overlapping distributions, and presence of natural hybrids. This study aims to uncover the genetic diversity and geographic spread of these three species by analyzing a mitochondrial cytochrome b gene fragment and complementing it with chromosomal studies across natural populations from an extensive geographical range, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Phylogenetic analyses revealed genetic distances that suggest the presence of at least six putative species, rather than the three currently recognized. The present findings underscore the potency and significance of molecular analyses from natural populations for species identification and highlight the limitations of morphology in classifying Triatominae species.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2022

Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of two lineages of the ant Cataglyphis hispanica: steppingstones towards genomic studies of hybridogenesis and thermal adaptation in desert ants

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWCataglyphis are thermophilic ants that forage during the day when temperatures are highest and sometimes close to their critical thermal limit. Several Cataglyphis species have evolved unusual reproductive systems such as facultative queen parthenogenesis or social hybridogenesis, which have not yet been investigated in detail at the molecular level. We generated high-quality genome assemblies for two hybridogenetic lineages of the Iberian ant Cataglyphis hispanica using long-read Nanopore sequencing and exploited chromosome conformation capture (3C) sequencing to assemble contigs into 26 and 27 chromosomes, respectively. Further karyotype analyses confirm this difference in chromosome numbers between lineages; however, they also suggest it may not be fixed among lineages. We obtained transcriptomic data to assist gene annotation and built custom repeat libraries for each of the two assemblies. Comparative analyses with 19 other published ant genomes were also conducted. These new genomic resources pave the way for exploring the genetic mechanisms underlying the remarkable thermal adaptation and the molecular mechanisms associated with transitions between different genetic systems characteristic of the ant genus Cataglyphis.

genomics↗