Transcriptomic dataset of the development and maturation of the Rhipicephalus microplus ovary.

To conduct differential gene expression analysis, ovaries from the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus were dissected at three distinct developmental stages (preingurgitated, immature ingurgitated, and mature ingurgitated). Additionally, undissected intact mature males and complete ingurgitated female ticks without ovaries (carcasses) were also collected to serve as reference samples for analysis. To perform total RNA purification, tissue from ten individuals representing each of the five previously described conditions was pooled. mRNA was isolated from the purified total RNA using the oligo (dT) method. Following fragmentation, double stranded cDNA was synthesized and ligated to sequencing adapters. Suitable-sized fragments were subsequently used for PCR amplification. Libraries were analyzed and quantified using an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer and an ABI StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR System. A total of 45.64 Gb bases were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq sequencing platform. After assembling the samples and correcting for abundance, we obtained 82,877 unigenes. The total length, average length, N50, and GC content of the unigenes were 89,754,828 bp,1,082 bp,2,068 bp and 49.04 % respectively. For functional annotation, the unigenes were aligned with 7 functional databases. The number of unigenes identified in the functional databases were as follows: 32,518 (NR:39.24 %), 10,259 (NT:12.38 %), 23,624 (Swissprot:28.50 %), 22,203 (KOG:26.79 %), 25,072 (KEGG:30.25 %), 17,435(GO:21.04 %), and 23,220 (InterPro:28.02 %). Unigene candidate coding regions (CDS) among the unigenes were predicted using TransDecoder software and 42,143 CDS were detected. We also detected 10,522 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) distributed on 8,126 unigenes, and predicted 4,672 transcription factors (TF) coding unigenes. Our data can be used to identify genes that are important for male and female tick and arachnid reproduction and tick general physiology.

Cellular development of the germinal epithelium during the gametogenic cycle of the golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei (Bivalvia: Mytilidae)

AbstractThe golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei is an invasive species that has quickly dispersed and colonized several potential different habitats distributed all over the world, causing environmental and economic impacts. Thus, in order to contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive aspects of L. fortunei, we described the cellular dynamic of the male and female germinal epithelium during the annual reproductive life history of this species, with the use of high resolution histology. An approximate of 1 200 specimens of L. fortunei were sampled periodically on the upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil), from March 2010 to December 2012. Based on the activity of the germinal epithelium and consequent germ cell development, this study has resulted in the recognition of the following reproductive phases: Developing, Spawning Capable, Regressing and Regenerating. In the characterization of these phases, the following germ cells were described for males: spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. Cell nests, oogonia, early prophase oocytes, previtellogenic oocytes and vitellogenic oocytes (early vitellogenic oocytes, middle vitellogenic oocytes and full-grown oocytes) were described for females. The morphological data and reproductive parameters obtained, showed the value of the cellular dynamics of the germinal epithelium, for the understanding of the cyclic gonadal events during the adult reproductive life of the mollusk in general. These results on the gametogenesis of this invasive species may be a fundamental tool for the development of control strategies and programs implementation, to reduce their proliferation and impacts in natural local environments. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (2): 521-536. Epub 2016 June 01.

ResumenEl mejillón dorado Limnoperna fortunei (Dunker, 1857) es una especie invasora que se ha dispersado rápidamente y ha colonizado diferentes hábitats potenciales distribuidos por todo el mundo, causando impactos ambientales y económicos. El control de esta especie depende del conocimiento de los aspectos reproductivos. Entre marzo 2010 y diciembre 2012 fueron muestreados periodicamente alrededor de 1 200 especímenes de L. fortunei en la planicie de inundación del Alto Rio Paraná, Brasil. Con el fin de contribuir con una mejor comprensión de los aspectos reproductivos de L. fortunei, se describió la dinámica celular del epitelio germinativo masculino y femenino durante la vida reproductiva anual de esta especie, mediante histología de alta resolución basada en la actividad del epitelio germinal y el consecuente desarrollo de las células germinales. En este estudio se reconocieron las siguientes fases reproductivas: desarrollo, capacidad de desove, regresión y regeneración. En los machos se describieron las siguientes células germinales: espermatogonias, espermatocitos primarios y secundarios, espermátidas y espermatozoides. Mientras que en las hembras se estudiaron: nidos celulares, ovogonias, ovocitos profásicos tempranos, ovocitos pre-vitelogénicos y ovocitos vitelogénicos (ovocitos vitelogénicos tempranos, ovocitos vitelogénicos y ovocitos completamente desarrollados).Los datos morfológicos y parámetros reproductivos que se muestran aquí confirman cómo la dinámica celular del epitelio germinal permite la comprensión de los acontecimientos cíclicos gonadales durante la vida reproductiva de adultos del molusco, en general. El conocimiento de la gametogénesis de esta especie invasora puede convertirse en una herramienta fundamental para el desarrollo de estrategias de control y aplicación de programas para disminuir su proliferación en ambientes naturales.