Genome Size and Sex Chromosome Variability of Bed Bugs Feeding on Animal Hosts Compared to Cimex lectularius Parasitizing Human (Heteroptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract

Genome size and chromosome number of five Cimicidae species were compared with the similar data recently received from Cimex lectularius parasitizing human. The average nuclear DNA content (males) was 2C = 1.47 pg in C. hemipterus, 2C = 1.61 pg in C. hirundinis, 2C = 1.80 pg in C. lectularius from bats, 2C = 1.68 pg in C. pipistrelli, and 2C = 1.22 pg in Paracimex cf. chaeturus. In the genomes of all cimicid species analyzed, the average GC content ranged from 32.74% in C. pipistrelli to 35.87% in P. cf. chaeturus. Chromosome variability with two male cytotypes, 2n = 28 + X 1 X 2 Y and 28 + X 1 X 2 X 3 Y, was confirmed in C. pipistrelli. In addition, intraspecific variability in chromosome number was revealed in C. lectularius from bats with 2n = 26 + X 1 X 2 Y and 26 + X 1 X 2 X 3 Y. We suggest that the origin of intraspecific variability in chromosome number of C. lectularius from bats and C. pipistrelli is not only the result of simple fragmentation, but additive rearrangements like duplications are probably also involved.

Comparative analysis of chromosome numbers and sex chromosome systems in Paraneoptera (Insecta)

“…It is generally accepted that multiple sex chromosome systems in Heteroptera are the result of sex chromosome fissions (fragmentations) ( Ueshima 1979 ). This is well supported by an example of Cimex lectularius that shows from 2 to 20 X-chromosomes in males of different European populations ( Sadílek et al 2013 , 2019a , b ). It has been hypothesized that tandem duplications in AT-rich regions on the X-chromosome increase the fragility of these regions, which induces fragmentations of the X-chromosome of C. lectularius ( Sadílek et al 2019a ).…”

“…It has been hypothesized that tandem duplications in AT-rich regions on the X-chromosome increase the fragility of these regions, which induces fragmentations of the X-chromosome of C. lectularius ( Sadílek et al 2019a ). In some cases, multiple systems can result from a non-disjunction ( Ueshima 1979 ; Grozeva et al 2011) or even a duplication of the X-chromosome ( Sadílek et al 2019b ).…”

“…Besides, a great number of research papers have been published too (e.g. Panzera et al 2010 , 2012 ; Kuznetsova et al 2012 ; Bardella et al 2012 , 2013 , 2014 ; Chirino et al 2013 , 2017 ; Sadílek et al 2013 , 2019a , 2019b , 2020 ; Chirino and Bressa 2014 ; Pita et al 2014 , 2016 ; Kaur and Gaba 2015 ; Stoianova et al 2015 ; Golub et al 2016 , 2017 , 2018 ; Angus et al 2017 ; Gallo et al 2017 ; Grozeva et al 2019 ; for other references see aforementioned reviews). As a result, the number of karyotyped species increased significantly and knowledge about karyotypes and their evolution in true bugs was expanded.…”

New estimates of genome size in Orthoptera and their evolutionary implications

“…Combined DAPI and PI measurement results of the same specimen express the AT/GC ratio of the genome of the species, the GC content (e.g. : (16,17,20)). The GC content of P. sativum is 38.50% (21) and the GC content of the analysed samples was calculated with an Microsoft Excel macro (20).…”

Can Flow Cytometric DNA Content Analysis Become a Routine Procedure in Aquaculture?

“…On the other hand, flow cytometric DNA content analysis is often used in taxonomical as well as in evolutional studies to determine the ploidy level of plants (7, 8) and various animal species including insects (9), fishes (10, 11), and mammals. In addition to research applications, ploidy level determination has an increasing significance in plant and animal breeding and in aquaculture.…”