Die Weichkörperkonstruktion vonCalceola sandalina (Rugosa, Anthozoa) — Konstruktionszusammenhänge, Ontogenese, Evolution und Funktionsweisen

The slipper-like corallum ofCalceola sandalina comprises the calyx and the lid. It was generated by an anthozoan-like coral. Anthozoan polyps have a barrel-like shape that is produced and maintained by the activity of internal tethering elements and muscular structures in the body wall. All these structures counteract the hydrodynamics of the gastrovascular cavity. In this reconstruction of the soft parts ofCalceola the functional aspects pointed out byRichter (1929) will be reviewed and revised and partially corrected. Calceola was reconstructed on the basis of the model of rugose polyps. Consequently it consisted of single mesenteries which were added in four sectors in a serial manner. The lid was formed on the counter side and is explained as a bulge of the basal parts of the soft body. The lid was connected coherently by the mesenteries to the whole construction. It could be closed by contraction of the mesenteries and opened by regeneration of the hydraulic volume in the gastric cavity. As a mechanical consequence of moving the lid a straight hinge was developed between the calyx and the lid. The soft body ofCalceola developed by quite simple structural modifications of a rugose coral. The most important modification was the bulging of the basal parts of the soft body on the counter side which formed the lid. This bulge enlarged the surface for adhesion to the substrate and might have been an advantage in survival as well. The soft body generated its own substrate giving it the specific slipper shape. This shape preventedCalceola from sinking into soft or muddy substrate by the principle of a snowshoe which also enabledCalceola to conquer new territories. The lid meant protection where enemies and pollution were concerned. The slipper shape and the lid ofCalceola indicated a complex evolutionary pathway, but they evolved by simple modifications of an ancestor with a round diameter. The slipper shape is just a mechanical consequence of the possession of a flappable lid.     

Serological Evidence of Chikungunya Virus among Acute Febrile Patients in Southern Mozambique

Background

In the last two decades, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has rapidly expanded to several geographical areas, causing frequent outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, South America, and Europe. Therefore, the disease remains heavily neglected in Mozambique, and no recent study has been conducted.

Methods

Between January and September 2013, acute febrile patients with no other evident cause of fever and attending a health center in a suburban area of Maputo city, Mozambique, were consecutively invited to participate. Paired acute and convalescent serum samples were requested from each participant. Convalescent samples were initially screened for anti-CHIKV IgG using a commercial indirect immunofluorescence test, and if positive, the corresponding acute sample was screened using the same test.

Results

Four hundred patients were enrolled. The median age of study participants was 26 years (IQR: 21–33 years) and 57.5% (224/391) were female. Paired blood samples were obtained from 209 patients, of which 26.4% (55/208) were presented anti-CHIKV IgG antibodies in the convalescent sample. Seroconversion or a four-fold titer rise was confirmed in 9 (4.3%) patients.

Conclusion

The results of this study strongly suggest that CHIKV is circulating in southern Mozambique. We recommend that CHIKV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness in Mozambique and that systematic surveillance for CHIKV should be implemented.     

The development of the critical theory of evolution: The scientific career of Wolfgang F. Gutmann

Summary The critical theory of evolution was developed by a group of scientists working together with Wolfgang F. Gutmann at the Senckenberg-Research-Institute in Frankfurt am Main. Gutmann worked at Senckenberg for 37 years. In this time he presented 247 contributions which are distributed over 47 periodicals and books. The ideas that were developed by Gutmann and his colleagues were innovative and pathbreaking for morphology and evolutionary biology. The large number of his morphological publications is indicative of the wide field that was opened up by the concepts of constructional morphology. As some of his colleagues have suggested, constructional morphology as an engineering approach to the study of organisms (i. e., engineering morphology) may replace the traditional concepts of morphology and anatomy and provides the observational base for the historical reconstruction of evolutionary pathways. Constructional morphology as a quasi-engineering approach can be the morphological pendant to the contemporary molecular approaches to biology, as it can provide the necessary morphological basis for the interpretation of the results of molecular studies in the light of evolution.     

Structural–functional Aspects in the Evolution of Operculate Corals (Rugosa)

Among the Rugosa operculae were developed by only a few genera. One is the slipper–shaped Calceola and another is the pyramidal shaped Goniophyllum . On the basis of biological and morphological knowledge of recent corals, the two different bauplans of the soft bodies of Calceola and Goniophyllum have been reconstructed. The soft body (i.e. the polyp) of a rugose coral is thought to have all the basic structures of anthozoan polyps: a barrel–like body shape, a flat oral disc with tentacles, and a mouth from which a pharynx reaches inside the gastric cavity. Furthermore, as in all Anthozoa, Rugosa had internal mesenteries that act as tensile cords; during growth in the diameter further mesenteries were inserted. In contrast to all other Anthozoa, in the Rugosa new single mesenteries were added in four insertion sectors. The bauplans of Calceola and Goniophyllum differ in the pattern of mesentery insertion into these four sectors. Calceola had a serial insertion pattern and Goniophyllum had a symmetrical insertion pattern. They are representatives of the two different bauplans within the Rugosa. The lid corals are examples of convergent evolved genera; Calceola as well as Goniophyllum originated by quite simple modifications of the ancestral type. The peculiar shapes, the operculae and especially the straight hinges between the calyx and the lid(s) result only from mechanical necessity. Under special conditions (such as high sedimentation rates) these modifications of the corallites represent suitable tactics for survival.     

Die Feinde der Raubmilben als Reduzierender Faktor der Spinnmilben

Summary The relations betweenMetatetranychus ulmi living on apple trees and its different predators are complex. The most important natural enemy of this spider mite is the predacious miteTyphlodromus pyri (= T. tiliae). It destroys more spider mites than the beneficial insects do. In the district of Stuttgart-Hohenheim about 38 species of insects and spiders feed onTyphlodromus mites. For instanceT. pyri is reduced considerably byOrius minutus. This bug is a natural enemy of aphids and spider mites, however it prefers the predatory mites. It attacks the spider mites and aphids only ifTyphlodromus mites are not available.Chrysopa vulgaris andAnthocoris nemorum are similar in their feeding habits. These two destroyTyphlodromus pyri also but they are less important thanO. minutus. The other beneficial insects in our orchards have little effect on spider mites or predacious mites. If we have enough pests on our apple trees to make spraying necessary, we should look forTyphlodromus mites and be careful no to destroy them. We should always examine the composition of the biocoenosis applying chemical agents because the populations of insects and predacious mites may vary from one area to the other.      

Genetic characterization of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 in Mozambique: transcontinental lineages drive the HTLV-1 endemic

Background

Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). It has been estimated that 10–20 million people are infected worldwide, but no successful treatment is available. Recently, the epidemiology of this virus was addressed in blood donors from Maputo, showing rates from 0.9 to 1.2%. However, the origin and impact of HTLV endemic in this population is unknown.

Objective

To assess the HTLV-1 molecular epidemiology in Mozambique and to investigate their relationship with HTLV-1 lineages circulating worldwide.

Methods

Blood donors and HIV patients were screened for HTLV antibodies by using enzyme immunoassay, followed by Western Blot. PCR and sequencing of HTLV-1 LTR region were applied and genetic HTLV-1 subtypes were assigned by the neighbor-joining method. The mean genetic distance of Mozambican HTLV-1 lineages among the genetic clusters were determined. Human mitochondrial (mt) DNA analysis was performed and individuals classified in mtDNA haplogroups.

Results

LTR HTLV-1 analysis demonstrated that all isolates belong to the Transcontinental subgroup of the Cosmopolitan subtype. Mozambican HTLV-1 sequences had a high inter-strain genetic distance, reflecting in three major clusters. One cluster is associated with the South Africa sequences, one is related with Middle East and India strains and the third is a specific Mozambican cluster. Interestingly, 83.3% of HIV/HTLV-1 co-infection was observed in the Mozambican cluster. The human mtDNA haplotypes revealed that all belong to the African macrohaplogroup L with frequencies representatives of the country.

Conclusions

The Mozambican HTLV-1 genetic diversity detected in this study reveals that although the strains belong to the most prevalent and worldwide distributed Transcontinental subgroup of the Cosmopolitan subtype, there is a high HTLV diversity that could be correlated with at least 3 different HTLV-1 introductions in the country. The significant rate of HTLV-1a/HIV-1C co-infection, particularly in the Mozambican cluster, has important implications for the controls programs of both viruses.     

Evolutionsmodelle für den Ursprung der Echinodermen: Zusammenfassung und Kritik

The origin of echinoderms is one of the most crucial questions within the evolutionary history of deuterostomes. An ancestral position was suggested byGarstang, Romer andNichols. They also assumed that hemichordates and chordates are sistergroups. In all other hypotheses the echinoderms took a more derived position.Gislén, Jefferies andHolland viewed the hemichordates as basal to the deuterostomes and postulated that echinoderms and chordates are sistergroups. According toJollie, Peterson et al. andMooi &; David echinoderms and hemichordates are sistergroups.Gudo andGutmann adopted the view ofMetschnikoff who combined the hemichordates and echinoderms in the Ambulacraria; they supposed that echinoderms were derived from pterobranchs. This variety of views is linked with different approaches to phylogenetic reconstruction utilized by each of the authors.Garstang, Romer, Jefferies andGislén compared morphological features, in the case ofGislén andJefferies with some attention to fossil evidence, whereasJollie, Holland andGislén also considerd embryological aspects.Mooi &;David as well asPeterson et al. used modern embryological (epigenetical) approaches.Nichols combined functional morphology and comparative anatomy. Evolutionary scenarios were reconstructed only by a few authors.Holland associated the development of echinoderms from pterobranch-like ancestors with repeated changes in feeding modes.Nichols envisioned that echinoderms had evolved from sipunculids that gained protection from predators through skeletal armor. In our own investigations based on constructional morphology echinoderms are interpreted as highly derived chordates.     

Phytoseiulus riegeli Dosse als Pr?dator einiger Schadmilben aus der Tetranychus urticae-Gruppe

Zusammenfassung Die Entwicklung und Eiablage von Phytoseiulus riegeli sind stark temperatur- und nahrungsabhängig. Bei optimalen Temperaturbedingungen, 25 und 30°C, legen die Weibchen im Durchschnitt pro Tag 4 Eier und verzehren dann etwa 30 Eier oder 24 Milbenstadien von Tetranychus cinnabarinus oder T. dianthica. Entscheidend für die Eizahl ist die Futtermenge, nicht die Futterart. Durch ein Überangebot an Nahrung lässt sich keine Steigerung der Eiablage bewirken. Die Gesamtentwicklungsdauer liegt zwischen 3 und 5 Tagen, sie ist also kürzer als die der Schadmilbenart.Zweijährige Versuche in den Niederlanden zur Klärung des Einflusses von Ph. riegeli auf T. cinnabarinus an Pfirsich unter Glas ergaben, dass dieser Prädator dank seiner schnellen Entwicklung mit den Schadmilben in kurzer Zeit fertig werden kann, ohne dass wirtschaftliche Schäden an den Pflanzen in Erscheinung treten. Die sichersten Erfolge werden erzielt bei relativ niedrigen Populationsdichten von T. cinnabarinus. In Frühbeetkulturen an Gurken war der Einsatz von Ph. riegeli gegen T. urticae ebenso erfolgreich und führte zu den gleichen Resultaten wie 3–5 Behandlungen mit Insektiziden bzw. Akariziden.

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Summary Experiments done in Stuttgart-Hohenheim and Naaldwijk showed that development and egg laying of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus riegeli Dosse (= persimilis Athias-Henriot) is strongly affected by temperature and nutrition. The optimum temperature lies between 25° and 30°; here the female lays an average of four eggs daily and consumes 30 eggs or 24 immature stages of Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval or T. dianthica Dosse. Both nites are eaten equally readily. The egg number is determined by the amount of food taken rather than by the species consumed, but excess food does not increase egg deposition.The total developmental period of the predator is between 3 and 5 days under favourable conditions. This is less than the time taken by the pest. Experiments lasting over 2 years in the Netherlands on the effect of Ph. persimilis on T. cinnabarinus on peach in the greenhouse, showed that the predator, because of its rapid development, can soon get rid of the pest and prevent economic injury to the crop. After the predator has finished with the pest, he himself dies presently because of lack of food. If the pest starts again, Ph. persimilis should be introduced anew. The best results were obtained at rather low populations of T. cinnabarinus. On cucumbers grown in the greenhouse in early spring Ph. persimilis was likewise successful against T. urticae Koch and gave results comparable to from three to five applications of insecticides or acaricides.

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See footnote on page 291.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing Genotype Is Associated with HIV Infection in Mozambique

The Beijing genotype is a lineage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is distributed worldwide and responsible for large epidemics, associated with multidrug-resistance. However, its distribution in Africa is less understood due to the lack of data. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and possible transmission of Beijing strains in Mozambique by a multivariate analysis of genotypic, geographic and demographic data. A total of 543 M. tuberculosis isolates from Mozambique were spoligotyped. Of these, 33 were of the Beijing lineage. The genetic relationship between the Beijing isolates were studied by identification of genomic deletions within some Regions of Difference (RD), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetivie Unit – variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR). Beijing strains from South Africa, representing different sublineages were included as reference strains. The association between Beijing genotype, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) serology and baseline demographic data was investigated. HIV positive serostatus was significantly (p=0.023) more common in patients with Beijing strains than in patients with non-Beijing strains in a multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex and province (14 (10.9%) of the 129 HIV positive patients had Beijing strains while 6/141 (4.3%) of HIV negative patients had Beijing strains). The majority of Beijing strains were found in the Southern region of Mozambique, particularly in Maputo City (17%). Only one Beijing strain was drug resistant (multi-drug resistant). By combined use of RD and spoligotyping, three genetic sublineages could be tentatively identified where a distinct group of four isolates had deletion of RD150, a signature of the “sublineage 7” recently emerging in South Africa. The same group was very similar to South African “sublineage 7” by RFLP and MIRU-VNTR, suggesting that this sublineage could have been recently introduced in Mozambique from South Africa, in association with HIV infection.