FIGURE 3.   Multiple DNA sequence (A) and amino acid sequence (B) alignments of the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene fragment sequences (forward strand) obtained from the examined 17 triatomine and one reduviid species. Alignment of sequences was performed by the PILEUP and PRETTY programs (Wisconsin Package Version 9.1, Genetics Computer Group, Madison, WI), which group sequences that are most similar, maximize the sequence residue matches, minimize the occurrence of gaps during alignment, and compute a consensus sequence of the most frequently occurring nucleotide, or amino acid, at each position. Dots (.) in the sequences indicate the consensus nucleotide, or amino acid, while asterisks (*) in the consensus sequence signify positions at which no particular nucleotide, or amino acid, occurred predominantly. The (abbreviated) species identity for each sequence is indicated along the left-hand margin. Certain amino acid residues (70 and 91) appear to be characteristic for species of the Triatomini tribe. For definitions of abbreviations, see Figure 2.