Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.

Microbial Phylogeny

Microbial Phylogeny

Understanding the evolutionary relationships among microorganisms is fundamental to microbial ecology and taxonomy. Phylogenetic trees are essential tools for inferring these relationships, relying primarily on comparative analyses of molecular sequences such as DNA, RNA, or proteins. In microbial studies, these trees typically depict the evolutionary paths of diverse bacterial and archaeal species by mapping genetic differences accumulated over time.Phylogenetic trees are composed of tips,...

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...

Diversity of Protists I

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both extant and...

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Detection of dengue virus serotype 2 in local Aedes aegypti populations, Madeira Island, Portugal, 2025.

Parasites & vectors·2026

Same author

Distribution of the West Nile Virus vector, Culex pipiens, in mainland Portugal: A geospatial modelling study.

Acta tropica·2025

Same author

Dengue and Oropouche virus co-infection in a traveller from Cuba to Portugal.

Journal of travel medicine·2025

Same author

<i>Wolbachia</i> Screening in <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Culex pipiens</i> Mosquitoes from Madeira Island, Portugal.

Insects·2025

Same author

Fatal Case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Portugal, 2024.

Emerging infectious diseases·2024

Same author

Toscana Virus in Wild-Caught Sand Flies in Portugal, Findings from the National Vector Surveillance Network, 2023.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

Published on: October 11, 2022

Rickettsiae phylogeny: a multigenic approach.

Liliana Vitorino¹, Ivo M Chelo, Fatima Bacellar

¹Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências. Centro de Genética e Biologia Molecular and Instituto de Ciência Aplicada e Tecnologia. Edifício ICAT, Campus FCUL, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.

Microbiology (Reading, England)

|December 23, 2006

Summary

A novel multigenic approach using eight gene loci clarified Rickettsiae phylogeny and species delimitation. This method improved phylogenetic resolution, aiding in the differentiation of closely related species within the spotted fever group.

More Related Videos

Multi-locus Variable-number Tandem-repeat Analysis of the Fish-pathogenic Bacterium Yersinia ruckeri by Multiplex PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis

Multi-locus Variable-number Tandem-repeat Analysis of the Fish-pathogenic Bacterium Yersinia ruckeri by Multiplex PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis

Published on: June 17, 2019

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

Published on: October 11, 2022

Multi-locus Variable-number Tandem-repeat Analysis of the Fish-pathogenic Bacterium Yersinia ruckeri by Multiplex PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis

Multi-locus Variable-number Tandem-repeat Analysis of the Fish-pathogenic Bacterium Yersinia ruckeri by Multiplex PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis

Published on: June 17, 2019

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Taxonomy

Background:

Molecular taxonomic methods have generated extensive data for Rickettsiae classification.
Phylogenetic relationships and species delimitation within Rickettsiae remain challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

To resolve unclear phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries in the genus Rickettsia.
To evaluate the reliability of existing Rickettsiae groupings.

Main Methods:

A multigenic approach was employed for the first time in Rickettsia.
Simultaneous analysis of eight genetic loci: atpA, recA, virB4, dnaA, dnaK, rrl-rrf ITS, ompA, and gltA.
Concatenation of nucleotide sequences to enhance phylogenetic resolution.

Main Results:

The multigenic approach significantly improved phylogenetic resolution compared to single-gene analyses.
This method successfully differentiated various Rickettsia groups, including the complex spotted fever group.
The reliability of previously established Rickettsia groupings was reassessed.

Conclusions:

Multigenic phylogenetic analysis is a powerful tool for clarifying Rickettsiae taxonomy.
The study provides a more robust framework for Rickettsia classification and species identification.
Resolving Rickettsia phylogeny is crucial for understanding their evolution and pathogenicity.