Molecular Characterization and Genetic Diversity of Haplogroup E Human Lice in Guinea, West Africa
Authors: Mamadou Cellou Baldé
Abdoul Habib Beavogui
Philippe Gautret
Oleg Mediannikov
Dorothée Misse
Florence Fenollar
Alissa Hammoud
Didier Raoult
Meriem Louni
Journal: Microorganisms (2021)
Discipline: MICROBIOLOGY
Keywords: Acinetobacter haemolyticus; Acinetobacter spp.; Guinea; PHUM540560 gene; haplogroup E
Affiliations: Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France., Aix Marseille University, IRD, APHM, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France., Faculty of Science, M'Hamed Bougara Boumerdes University, Boumerdès 35000, Algeria., Guinea Institute for Applied Biology Research (IRBAG), 100 BP 75 Kindia, Guinea., Mafèrinyah Rural Health Research and Training Center, 001 B.P. 2649 Conakry, Guinea., Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontostomatology, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, 001 Conakry, Guinea., MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, 34394 Montpellier, France.

Abstract:  Pediculus humanus capitis, the head louse, is an obligate blood-sucking ectoparasite that occurs in six divergent mitochondrial clades (A, D, B, F, C and E). Several studies reported the presence of different pathogenic agents in head lice specimens collected worldwide. These findings suggest that head louse could be a dangerous vector and a serious public health problem. Herein, we aimed to study the mitochondrial genetic diversity, the PHUM540560 gene polymorphisms profile of head lice collected in Guinea, as well as to screen for their associated pathogens. In 2018, a total of 155 head lice were collected from 49 individuals at the Medicals Centers of rural (Maférinyah village) and urban (Kindia city) areas, in Guinea. Specimens were subjected to a genetic analysis and pathogens screening using molecular tools. Results showed that all head lice belonged to eight haplotypes in the E haplogroup, with six newly identified for the first time. The study of the PHUM540560 gene polymorphisms of our clade E-head lice revealed that 82.5% exhibited the same polymorphism profile as the previously reported clade A-body lice. Screening for targeted pathogens revealed the presence of Acinetobacter spp., while sequencing highlighted the presence of several species, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter nosocomialis, Acinetobacter variabilis, Acinetobacter towneri and for the first time Acinetobacter haemolyticus. Our study is the first to report the existence of the Guinean haplogroup E, the PHUM540560 gene polymorphism profile as well as the presence of Acinetobacter species in head lice collected from Guinea. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 In this work authors claim to have grown so called L-Arginine doped potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) and L-Histidine doped potassium hydrogen phthalate single crystals by slow evaporation method at room temperature and studied the Mechanical, Thermal and Dielectric properties of Pure and Doped KHP Single Crystals. According to authors Pure KHP, LA-KHP and LH-KHP crystals, crystallized in orthorhombic (P) crystal system in noncentrosymmetry space group Pca21. While the non-centrosymmetric space group Pca21 is correct for pure KHP this space group cannnot be correct for the chiral amino acid molecules L-arginine (LA) and L-histidine (LH) as chiral molecules are known to crystallize in one of the sixty five Sohncke space groups. In view of the space group proposed it appears that the amino acids LA and LH are not incorporated in the crystal structure. Authors may like to explain the choice of Pca21 space group for chiral amino acid containing KHP crystals. ,