Identification and validation of the first EST-SSR markers based on transcriptome of Anopheles darlingi, the primary transmitter of malaria in Brazil

BackgroundAnopheles darlingi is a monotypic species in terms of its morphological, genetic, and behavioral aspects and is the primary transmitter of human malaria (99%) in Brazil, especially in the Brazilian Amazon. In this pioneering study, 15 expressed sequence tag (EST)-simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were obtained and characterized in samples from the municipality of Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas state, Brazil, with polymorphisms that can be used for further genetic research.Methods and resultsThe specimens (from egg to larval stage) collected were bred in the insectary at INPA (National Institute for Amazonian Research). The SSR repeats within the contigs of the A. darlingi EST banks were confirmed on the Vector Base site. DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction and then genotyped. Fifteen polymorphic SSR loci were identified and characterized. The number of alleles totaled 76 and ranged from 2 to 9. The observed heterozygosity varied between 0.026 and 0.769, the expected heterozygosity between 0.025 and 0.776, and the mean polymorphism information content was 0.468. Eight loci showed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) after Bonferroni correction (P: (5%) <= 0.0033). No linkage disequilibrium was found among the loci.ConclusionsThe polymorphic SSRs of the loci have been shown to be efficient for investigation of the variability and genetic population structure of A. darlingi.