Horizontal Gene Transfer from snakes to frogs: investigations of the phylogenetic and geographic origins and vector organisms

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26291080
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biodiversity/Systematics
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Kurabayashi Atsushi 広島大学, 両生類研究センター, 助教 (00327701)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大島 一彦 長浜バイオ大学, バイオサイエンス学部, 准教授 (60282852) ; 松田 洋一 名古屋大学, 生命農学研究科, 教授 (70165835) ; 森 哲 京都大学, 理学研究科, 准教授 (80271005) ; 細 将貴 京都大学, 白眉センター, 特定助教 (80557695) ; 佐藤 宏 山口大学, 共同獣医学部, 教授 (90211945) ; 長谷川 英男 大分大学, 医学部, 教授 (00126442)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): OTA Hidetoshi 兵庫県立大学, 自然・環境科学研究所, 教授 (70165835)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝子水平伝播 / 生物系統地理 / 爬虫両棲類 / 寄生虫 / ベクター生物 / マダガスカル / 次世代シークエンス / 分子系統解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We had discovered a unique LINE retrotransposon (hereinafter TE-X) that horizontally transferred from snake to frog. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the geographic areas and phylogenetic origins of the horizontal transfer (HT) events and identify the vector organisms intermediate the HT. We collected 194, 139, and 166 specimens from 29 anuran families, 17 snake families, and parasite and blood-sacking invertebrate taxa of five animal phyla, respectively. We PCR amplified the TE-X from these specimens and analyzed them using PCR and next generation sequencer. Finally we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses of the resultant TE-X sequences. As the results, we revealed the following matters. The TE-X HTs have occurred many times in various parts of the world and the transfer would be mediated by various parasites and blood sacking animals. Remarkably, our data seem to show that the TE-X HT is continuing among many vertebrate taxa in Madagascar.

Free Research Field

分子遺伝学・系統分類学