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POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ

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PRISCILA GOMEZ
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POLO
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    An exceptional family: Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus dominates the microbiome of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccidae)
    (2017-10-01T00:00:00Z) Gomez-Polo, PRISCILA GOMEZ; Ballinger, Matthew J.; Lalzar, Maya; Malik, Assaf; Ben-Dov, Yair; Mozes-Daube, Neta; Perlman, Steve J.; Iasur-Kruh, Lilach; Chiel, Elad; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ
    Hemipteran insects of the suborder Sternorrhyncha are plant sap feeders, where each family is obligately associated with a specific bacterial endosymbiont that produces essential nutrients lacking in the sap. Coccidae (soft scale insects) is the only major sternorrhynchan family in which obligate symbiont(s) have not been identified. We studied the microbiota in seven species from this family from Israel, Spain and Cyprus, by high-throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes, and found that no specific bacterium was prevalent and abundant in all the tested species. In contrast, an Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus sp.a lineage widely known as entomopathogenicwas highly prevalent. All individuals of all the tested species carried this fungus. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus from the coccids is closely related to fungi described from other hemipterans, and they appear to be monophyletic, although the phylogenies of the Ophiocordyceps-allied fungi and their hosts do not appear to be congruent. Microscopic observations show that the fungal cells are lemon-shaped, are distributed throughout the host-s body and are present in the eggs, suggesting vertical transmission. Taken together, the results suggest that the Ophiocordyceps-allied fungus may be a primary symbiont of Coccidaea major evolutionary shift from bacteria to fungi in the Sternorrhyncha, and an important example of fungal evolutionary lifestyle switch.
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    Identification of Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in vegetable crops using molecular techniques
    (2013-12-01T00:00:00Z) Gomez-Polo, PRISCILA GOMEZ; Alomar, O.; Castane, C.; Riudavets, J.; Agusti, N.; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ
    The species of the genus Orius Wolff are well known as generalist predators able to control pest outbreaks in several agroecosystems. Correct species identification can be problematic given their similarities, particularly in the immature stage. A pair of primers previously designed from the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) region was able to discriminate between seven Orius species commonly present in Mediterranean vegetable crops (Orius majusculus, Orius laevigatus, Orius minutus, Orius laticollis, Orius horvathi, Orius albidipennis and Orius niger), as well as to correctly identify O. majusculus and O. laevigatus from commercial colonies. This molecular tool was used for the discrimination of Orius spp. present in two lettuce crops, as well as in a Lobularia maritima flower margin in northeast Spain in 2009 and 2010. Molecular analyses revealed that O. laevigatus, O. majusculus and O. niger were the most common species present in both lettuce plots and the L. maritima border, although there was some variation depending on the plant and year. This molecular tool permits unambiguous identification of these species and allows proper implementation of biological control programs based on conservation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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    Understanding trophic interactions of Orius spp. (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) in lettuce crops by molecular methods
    (2016-02-01T00:00:00Z) Gomez-Polo, PRISCILA GOMEZ; Alomar, Oscar; Castane, Cristina; Aznar-Fernandez, Thais; Lundgren, Jonathan G.; Pinol, Josep; Agusti, Nuria; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ
    BACKGROUND: The aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri (Mosley) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are common pests in Mediterranean lettuce crops, where Orius spp. are common generalist predators. Predation by Orius spp. was studied in a lettuce plot by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR analyses using specific primers of both main pests. Also, high-throughput sequencing was used to have a wider approach of the diet of these predators in natural field conditions.
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    Molecular assessment of predation by hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in Mediterranean lettuce crops
    (2015-09-01T00:00:00Z) Gomez-Polo, PRISCILA GOMEZ; Alomar, Oscar; Castane, Cristina; Lundgren, Jonathan G.; Pinol, Josep; Agusti, Nuria; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ
    BACKGROUNDHoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are generalist predators of a great variety of pests. Nasonovia ribisnigri (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are two common pests in Mediterranean lettuce crops, where they occur alongside alternative prey (e.g. Collembola). A semi-field experiment was conducted in an experimental lettuce plot where hoverfly predation on N. ribisnigri, F. occidentalis and Collembola was studied by conventional PCR and qPCR using specific primers, as well as by next-generation sequencing (NGS) in order to reveal other potential trophic interactions.
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    Universal and blocking primer mismatches limit the use of high-throughput DNA sequencing for the quantitative metabarcoding of arthropods
    (2015-07-01T00:00:00Z) Pinol, J.; Mir, G.; Gomez-Polo, PRISCILA GOMEZ; Agusti, N.; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ
    The quantification of the biological diversity in environmental samples using high-throughput DNA sequencing is hindered by the PCR bias caused by variable primer-template mismatches of the individual species. In some dietary studies, there is the added problem that samples are enriched with predator DNA, so often a predator-specific blocking oligonucleotide is used to alleviate the problem. However, specific blocking oligonucleotides could coblock nontarget species to some degree. Here, we accurately estimate the extent of the PCR biases induced by universal and blocking primers on a mock community prepared with DNA of twelve species of terrestrial arthropods. We also compare universal and blocking primer biases with those induced by variable annealing temperature and number of PCR cycles. The results show that reads of all species were recovered after PCR enrichment at our control conditions (no blocking oligonucleotide, 45 degrees C annealing temperature and 40 cycles) and high-throughput sequencing. They also show that the four factors considered biased the final proportions of the species to some degree. Among these factors, the number of primer-template mismatches of each species had a disproportionate effect (up to five orders of magnitude) on the amplification efficiency. In particular, the number of primer-template mismatches explained most of the variation (similar to 3/4) in the amplification efficiency of the species. The effect of blocking oligonucleotide concentration on nontarget species relative abundance was also significant, but less important (below one order of magnitude). Considering the results reported here, the quantitative potential of the technique is limited, and only qualitative results (the species list) are reliable, at least when targeting the barcoding COI region.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Developmental Integration of Endosymbionts in Insects
    (2022-05-01T00:00:00Z) RAFIQI, ABDUL MATTEEN; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ; MİLAT, NİHAN SULTAN; Durmus, Zelal Özgür; Çolak-Al, Birgül; Alarcon, Mauricio E.; cagil, Fatma Zehra; Rajakumar, Arjuna; RAFIQI, ABDUL MATTEEN; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ; MİLAT, NİHAN SULTAN
    In endosymbiosis, two independently existing entities are inextricably intertwined such that they behave as a single unit. For multicellular hosts, the endosymbiont must be integrated within the host developmental genetic network to maintain the relationship. Developmental integration requires innovations in cell type, gene function, gene regulation, and metabolism. These innovations are contingent upon the existing ecological interactions and may evolve mutual interdependence. Recent studies have taken significant steps toward characterizing the proximate mechanisms underlying interdependence. However, the study of developmental integration is only in its early stages of investigation. Here, we review the literature on mutualistic endosymbiosis to explore how unicellular endosymbionts developmentally integrate into their multicellular hosts with emphasis on insects as a model. Exploration of this process will help gain a more complete understanding of endosymbiosis. This will pave the way for a better understanding of the endosymbiotic theory of evolution in the future.
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    Identification of the most common predatory hoverflies of Mediterranean vegetable crops and their parasitism using multiplex PCR
    (2014-06-01T00:00:00Z) Gomez-Polo, PRISCILA GOMEZ; Traugott, Michael; Alomar, Oscar; Castane, Cristina; Rojo, Santos; Agusti, Nuria; POLO, PRISCILA GOMEZ
    The larvae of many hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are important polyphagous predators used in integrated pest management programs. Because the accurate identification of preimaginal stages by morphological characters is difficult, we have developed a multiplex PCR to identify the immature and/or adult stages of the most common syrphid species in Mediterranean vegetable crops: Episyrphus balteatus, Scaeva pyrastri, Eupeodes corollae, Meliscaeva auricollis, Sphaerophoria scripta, and Sphaerophoria rueppellii. The latter two species were amplified by the same primer pair due to the high similarity of their cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences. Additionally, the assay included a primer pair targeting Diplazon laetatorius, a common koinobiont ichneumonid endoparasitoid of predatory syrphid larvae. The multiplex PCR assay proved to be highly specific and sensitive, and it was used to study the assemblage of hoverfly species in larval stage in two Mediterranean lettuce crops in two consecutive years. The molecular analysis revealed that Eu. corollae, Ep. balteatus, and Sph. scripta/Sph. rueppellii were the species present in the investigated fields. Species composition differed depending on sampling date and whether the larvae were collected on the plants or on the ground. The parasitoid D. laetatorius was not detected in any of the analyzed hoverfly larvae, suggesting low-parasitism pressure in the studied syrphid populations. The wide distribution of most of these syrphid species makes this multiplex PCR assay an ideal tool to deepen our knowledge on the ecology of these polyphagous hoverfly species in preimaginal stages and to improve the use of hoverflies to control insect pests.