The genome sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus faecium</Emphasis> 8S3, lactic acid–producing bacterium from Slovak cheese – bryndza with biotechnological potential

New genetic data with biotechnological potential (citrate metabolism, proteases, bacteriocin production) provides the genome sequence of the lactic acid producing bacterium of Enterococcus faecium strain 8S3, isolated from traditional Slovak cheese - bryndza produced from unpasteurised ewe milk. The genome sequence consists of 2.8 Mbp, with a mean G?+?C content of 38.2% and show high similarity to other E. faecium genome sequences. A total of 2.833 coding sequences, including 62 structural RNAs (3 rRNA and 59 tRNA) were predicted. Comparative genomic data indicate that prophages and bacteriophage remnants are the main source of diversity among E. faecium genomes.     

Body size and craniometry of the herb field mouse from Lithuania in the context of species range

We present morphometric and craniometric measurements of the herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis) from Lithuania and analyze variation of body and skull size across species range. We suppose species is characterized by high size variability, not following Bergmann’s or Murphy’s rules. Preliminary, distinct size differences have been registered in the eastern and southern edges of the distribution range, with these populations having largest individuals according to average body and skull size. In terms of tail length and condylobasal length of the skull, Lithuanian mice on the north-western edge of the species range are among the largest, but in terms of body weight, body length, zygomatic skull width and the length of maxillary toothrow, adult A. uralensis from Lithuania are small and correspond to those from populations on the western edge of the range. The relative skull width (ratio of zygomatic skull width to condylobasal length) of Lithuanian A. uralensis is the smallest across the entire range. In A. uralensis from Lithuania, sex dimorphism is weakly expressed, with hind foot length and postorbital constriction larger in adult males, while the height of the mandibula and length of the mandibular diastema is larger in adult females. Juvenile and subadult A. uralensis from Lithuania differ in body weight, but not in size.