SSCP analysis of scnDNA for genetic profiling of Aedes aegypti.

We characterized genetic profiling markers for Aedes aegypti using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of single copy nuclear genes (scnDNA). Nucleotide variations at 18 loci were evaluated in 173 wild Ae. aegypti collected from a single population in northwestern Thailand. We identified seven scnDNAs with polymorphisms sufficient to determine a unique genetic profile for each mosquito examined. Six markers were derived from previously mapped cDNA loci. One marker was developed from a non-coding region of a gene. The number of alleles at each scnDNA locus ranged from 3 to 9. The described scnDNAs can be used to quickly fingerprint large numbers of Ae. aegypti to track the behavior of individual mosquitoes in the field.