Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian Coast

Crabs are the most widely studied marine crustaceans due to their high economic value, ecological significance, and worldwide range in the subtropics and tropics zones. In this study, we adopted a molecular barcoding approach for rapid identification of blue crab species by sequencing the mitochondr...

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Main Authors: Nadia Besbes, Stefano Reale, Silvia Scibetta, Carlotta Piazza, Daniela Lo Monaco, Calogero Di Bella, Saloua Sadok
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Fishes
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/12/485
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author Nadia Besbes
Stefano Reale
Silvia Scibetta
Carlotta Piazza
Daniela Lo Monaco
Calogero Di Bella
Saloua Sadok
author_facet Nadia Besbes
Stefano Reale
Silvia Scibetta
Carlotta Piazza
Daniela Lo Monaco
Calogero Di Bella
Saloua Sadok
author_sort Nadia Besbes
collection DOAJ
description Crabs are the most widely studied marine crustaceans due to their high economic value, ecological significance, and worldwide range in the subtropics and tropics zones. In this study, we adopted a molecular barcoding approach for rapid identification of blue crab species by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI), which has previously been used for phylogenetic analysis in wide taxonomic groups, and particularly for Crustaceans. The results indicated the evidence of <i>Callinectes sapidus</i> and <i>Portunus pelagicus</i> in different localities along Tunisian coast. Data were confirmed by BLAST analysis (Basic Local Alignment Tool) and phylogenetic trees. The molecular identification showed the ability of the COI region to differentiate between two similar blue crab species, <i>Portunus segnis</i> and <i>Portunus pelagicus</i>, which were confused by morphological analysis. The adoption of this protocol may be useful in revealing the biogeography of these invasive species across Mediterranean and to support the authentication of crab-meat processed products, according to the normative control.
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id doaj-art-8d7e7c4e7b114220b236bf3b3d7ccdaa
institution Kabale University
issn 2410-3888
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Fishes
spelling doaj-art-8d7e7c4e7b114220b236bf3b3d7ccdaa2024-12-27T14:25:54ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882024-11-0191248510.3390/fishes9120485Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian CoastNadia Besbes0Stefano Reale1Silvia Scibetta2Carlotta Piazza3Daniela Lo Monaco4Calogero Di Bella5Saloua Sadok6Laboratory of Blue Biotechnology and Aquatic Bioproducts (B3Aqua), National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Annexe La Goulette Port de Pêche, University of Carthage, La Goulette 2060, TunisiaIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, 90129 Palermo, ItalyLaboratory of Blue Biotechnology and Aquatic Bioproducts (B3Aqua), National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Annexe La Goulette Port de Pêche, University of Carthage, La Goulette 2060, TunisiaCrabs are the most widely studied marine crustaceans due to their high economic value, ecological significance, and worldwide range in the subtropics and tropics zones. In this study, we adopted a molecular barcoding approach for rapid identification of blue crab species by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI), which has previously been used for phylogenetic analysis in wide taxonomic groups, and particularly for Crustaceans. The results indicated the evidence of <i>Callinectes sapidus</i> and <i>Portunus pelagicus</i> in different localities along Tunisian coast. Data were confirmed by BLAST analysis (Basic Local Alignment Tool) and phylogenetic trees. The molecular identification showed the ability of the COI region to differentiate between two similar blue crab species, <i>Portunus segnis</i> and <i>Portunus pelagicus</i>, which were confused by morphological analysis. The adoption of this protocol may be useful in revealing the biogeography of these invasive species across Mediterranean and to support the authentication of crab-meat processed products, according to the normative control.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/12/485blue crabs spreadingMediterranean coastDNA barcodinginvasive species
spellingShingle Nadia Besbes
Stefano Reale
Silvia Scibetta
Carlotta Piazza
Daniela Lo Monaco
Calogero Di Bella
Saloua Sadok
Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian Coast
Fishes
blue crabs spreading
Mediterranean coast
DNA barcoding
invasive species
title Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian Coast
title_full Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian Coast
title_fullStr Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian Coast
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian Coast
title_short Molecular Barcoding Identification of the Invasive Blue Crabs Along Tunisian Coast
title_sort molecular barcoding identification of the invasive blue crabs along tunisian coast
topic blue crabs spreading
Mediterranean coast
DNA barcoding
invasive species
url https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/9/12/485
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AT carlottapiazza molecularbarcodingidentificationoftheinvasivebluecrabsalongtunisiancoast
AT danielalomonaco molecularbarcodingidentificationoftheinvasivebluecrabsalongtunisiancoast
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