Phylogenetic patterns of diversification in a clade of Neotropical frogs (Anura: Aromobatidae: Mannophryne)

We used partial sequences of mitochondrial 16S and cytochrome oxidase I genes to perform a phylogenetic study of collared frogs (Anura: Aromobatidae: Mannophryne ), a genus endemic to Venezuela and the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. We analysed 1.2 kb from 13 of the 15 described species of Mannophryne . Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses support the monophyly of Mannophryne . Mannophryne consists of three deeply differentiated clades that split from each other in a relatively short period of time. The diversification of Mannophryne occurred well before the glacial-interglacial periods of the Quaternary. Our data support the taxonomic validity of M. olmonae , a species endemic to Tobago Island. Mannophryne olmonae is more closely related to the continental species Mannophryne riveroi than to the Trinidad island endemic Mannophryne trinitatis . As in most tropical clades of frogs, molecular evidence indicates that species richness in Mannophryne is largely underestimated and, consequently, current priorities for conservation are inadequate.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 97 , 185–199.     

A morphometric analysis of Daniellia (Fabaceae – Caesalpinioideae)

A multivariate morphometric study of Daniellia, an endemic genus of tropical and subtropical Africa, indicates that nine species may be recognized: D. alsteeniana, D. klainei, D. oblonga, D. ogea, D. oliveri, D. pilosa, D. pynaertii, D. soyauxii and D. thurifera. In our study we found that some characters, not previously studied in detail, were significant in species delimitation: petiole indumentum, petiole width, number and position of glands on the lower surface of the leaflets and presence or absence of glands at the insertion of each pair of leaflets. The rare and scattered material of D. pilosa and D. soyauxii made their classification uncertain, although some qualitative characters support their differentiation. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 159 , 268–279.     

Do synovial biopsies help to support evidence for involvement of innate immunity in the immunopathology of Beh?et's disease?

Behçet's disease is a complex vasculitis of unknown etiology. Abundant neutrophils suggest the involvement of innate immunity. Cytokines are skewed to the T-helper-1 pattern. Few sterile organs are easily accessible for analysis in Behçet's disease. Cañete and coworkers identify inflamed joints as a feasible model and suggest the involvement of innate immunity in Behçet's disease.     

Papillomavirus particles assembled in 293TT cells are infectious in vivo

Papillomaviruses (PVs) demonstrate both tissue and species tropisms. Because PVs replicate only in terminally differentiating epithelium, the recent production of infectious PV particles in 293 cells marks an important breakthrough. In this article, we demonstrate that infectious PV particles produced in 293TT cells can cause papillomatous growths in the natural host animal. Moreover, we show that species-matched PV genomes can be successfully delivered in vivo by a heterologous, species-mismatched PV capsid. Additionally, our results indicate that the addition of the simian virus 40 origin of replication to the papillomavirus genome increases the production of infectious papillomavirus particles by increasing genome amplification in the transfected 293TT cells.     

Checklist of the Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) of Equatorial Guinea (Annobón, Bioko and Río Muni)

This study provides a checklist of the Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) present in Equatorial Guinea, comprising 52 genera and 124 taxa. Seven species are known from Annobón, 33 from Bioko and 109 from Río Muni. The best represented genus is Senna with eight species. In addition, bibliographic references for Caesalpinioideae (Leguminosae) from Equatorial Guinea have been gathered and checked. Fourteen species are included based on literature records, because their distribution ranges suggest they may occur in Equatorial Guinea, 11 introduced species could be naturalized, and 45 taxa are recorded for the first time from the country. This represents an increase of over 35% in the floristic knowledge of Caesalpinioideae from Equatorial Guinea. A statistical summary is presented at the end of the checklist.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 151 , 541–562.     

A research strategy for using stream microcosms in ecotoxicology: Integrating experiments at different levels of biological organization with field data

Environmental pollutants and other stressors can haveeffects at many different levels of biologicalorganization and a key step in the design ofecotoxicological studies is the formulation ofhypotheses that explicitly state the level(s) ofbiological organization that the study is meant toaddress. For example, single species studies at theindividual organism level can provide key informationon individual growth rates and physiologicalresponses, while multispecies studies at the communitylevel allow food web investigations to be undertakenand potentially allow indirect effects of toxicants tobe identified. The integration and understanding ofprocesses operating over several different levels ofbiological organization can often be greatlyfacilitated by the incorporation of microcosmexperiments conducted at the appropriate scale. Suchexperiments provide replication as well as greatercontrol over relevant variables which allows morerigorous hypothesis testing and important insight intomechanisms of biotic responses to pollutants. Wesuggest an appropriate use for stream microcosms inecotoxicology is in integrated assessment strategieswhere experimental results are linked with fieldmonitoring data. Under an integrated assessmentscenario, concordance of results between fieldobservations and dose-response exposures in microcosmscan provide important weight-of-evidence for guidancein management action or monitoring programs. We alsoidentify a number of other issues that must be addressedwhen utilizing stream microcosms; these includedecisions on exposure type, relative test duration,experimental design, biota source and type oftaxonomic assemblage, environmental realism, andchoice of end points. This kind of integratedassessment strategy has been applied to the Athabasca,Fraser, and Thompson Rivers in western Canada, wheremeasurement of similar end points in microcosms andfield sites has produced concordance of results and animproved understanding of causality instressor/response relationships.     

Endodermis-like Sheaths in the Submerged Freshwater MacrophyteRanunculus trichophyllusChaix

Light, fluorescence and electron microscopical analysis of therooted freshwater plantRanunculus trichophyllusrevealed a peculiaranatomical feature. In addition to the true endodermis encirclingthe root stele, endodermis-like sheaths occurred around eachvascular bundle of the leaf segments and of the eustelic stemwith its large central cavity, which assumed an anatomical featureresembling that of some pteridophyte stems. These impermeablesheaths, whose cells differentiate suberized walls, can playa major role in hampering the apoplastic leakage of the pressurizedwater solution which flows throughout the plant in xylem vesselsand contains the mineral nutrients taken up by the roots fromthe sediment. Moreover, these sheaths can function in preventingflooding of the aerenchymatic cavities of the submerged organs.In this way the endodermis-like sheaths preserve the correctcirculation of gas and nutrient solution through the entireorganism and assume great significance as a structural mechanismevolved by this species to survive and grow underwater.Copyright1999 Annals of Botany Company. Ranunculus trichophyllus,freshwater macrophyte, submerged angiosperm, anatomy, endodermis, endodermis-like sheaths, light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy.