Identification of NbME MITE families: Potential molecular markers in the microsporidia Nosema bombycis

Six novel families of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) were characterized in the microsporidia Nosema bombycis and were named NbMEs. The structural characteristics and the distribution of NbME copies in the N. bombycis genome were investigated, and it was found that portions of NbMEs are associated with gene sections. Potential molecular markers for various N. bombycis strains were identified in this study through utilization of the MITE-AFLP technique. Three distinct pathogenic isolates collected from different areas were distinguished, and polymorphisms were detected using the NbME5 marker, thereby establishing this NbME as a potential marker for studying isolate variation in N. bombycis.