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. 2018 Dec 4;13(12):e0207999.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207999. eCollection 2018.

Evaluation of horizontal gene transfer risk between the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Tephritidae) and its parasitoid Fopius ceratitivorus (Braconidae)

Edwin Ramírez-Santos  1   2 , Pedro Rendón  3 , Kostas Bourtzis  4 , Marc F Schetelig  5 , Carlos Cáceres  4 , Asya Targovska  4 , Tanja Rehling  5 , Griselda K Guillén-Navarro  1 , Lorena Ruiz-Montoya  6 , Jorge Toledo  1 , Pablo Liedo  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of horizontal gene transfer risk between the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Tephritidae) and its parasitoid Fopius ceratitivorus (Braconidae)

Edwin Ramírez-Santos et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The transgenic strain of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) VIENNA 8 1260, developed from the classical genetic sexing strain VIENNA 8, has two molecular markers that exhibit red fluorescence in the body and green fluorescence in testicles and sperm. These traits offer a precise tool to discriminate between mass-reared sterile males and wild fertile males, and they could potentially increase the effectiveness of control programs for this pest. To assess the risk of horizontal transfer of the fluorescence transgenes in natural ecosystems, we used the VIENNA 8 1260 strain and the medfly parasitoid Fopius ceratitivorus. The fluorescence signal and the inheritance of the fluorescence gene markers were monitored for over 16 generations (about two years) in both species using fluorescence microscopy and a PCR-based assay. The PCR analysis was performed in four independent laboratories. Both fluorescence microscopy and PCR analysis indicated that no horizontal gene transfer of the DsRed transgene occurred during 16 generations of medfly parasitoid rearing under experimental conditions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Examples of 1% agarose gel electrophoresis of PCRs specific for the DsRed transgene.
(A) 1024 × 563 pixels and (B) 847 × 968 pixels pictures of PCR for VIENNA 8 1260 medfly host flies. (C) 702 × 767 pixels and (D) 847 × 968 pixels pictures of PCR for F. ceratitivorus parasitoids reared on VIENNA 8 1260. G0 parasitoids represent the initial generation without contact with VIENNA 8 1260. 1 kb = DNA ladder. NC = negative control. PC = positive control = 700 bp amplicon of the DsRed transgene. M = male. F = female. Gn = nth generation. 1:10 = 1:10 dilution of the DNA extraction sample. The white arrows to the right show the position of the DsRed fluorescence marker, present in all VIENNA 8 1260 adults and absent in all F. ceratitivorus adults.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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