A mini review on the antimicrobial peptides isolated from the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hylarana</Emphasis> (Amphibia: Anura) with a proposed nomenclature for amphibian skin peptides

Hylarana is a well established frog genus coming under the family Ranidae. An increasing number of antimicrobial peptides have been isolated and characterized from the skin of frogs of this genus. This review covers the antimicrobial peptides reported so far from the frogs of Hylarana genus and to propose a consistent system of nomenclature for amphibian skin peptides. Multiple sequence alignment of the skin peptides from Hylarana genus has grouped them into six peptide families, and three bioactive peptides. Existing nomenclature of amphibian antimicrobial peptides is species centered with no implication to the genus which can lead to disparities, when frogs with same species name belonging to different genus have to be named. As per the proposed system the peptide should have the parent peptide name (e.g. Brevinin-1) followed by two uppercase letter of the genus, if two genera begin with the same letter–first letter should be the same followed by an appropriate second letter (e.g. HU for Huia and HM for Humenerana). This is succeeded by species name in lower case-orthologous peptides from different species may be characterized by the initial letter of that species, when two species begin with the same initial letter, second letter should be used appropriately (e.g. HLat for Hylarana aurata and HLan for Hylarana aurantiaca). Paralogs belonging to the same peptide family are assigned by numbers.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leucocytozoon</Emphasis> Berestneff, 1904 (Apicomplexa: Leucocytozoidae) from the avian family Artamidae

A new species of the apicomplexan genus LeucocytozoonBerestneff, 1904, L. artamidis n. sp., is described from the Australian avian family Artamidae. Gametocytes and endogenous stages of the life-cycle are described together with early erythrocytic and leucocytic developing forms rarely described for species of this genus.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the anamorphic genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusicladium</Emphasis> s. lat. as inferred by ITS nrDNA data

The genus Fusicladium s. lat. (incl. Pollaccia and Spilocaea) was phylogenetically analysed using ITS nrDNA sequences. Pollaccia and Spilocaea did not form monophyletic groups of their own, but were intermingled between Fusicladium species, together with which they formed a monophyletic clade. Thus, Pollaccia and Spilocaea should be included in a wider genus concept of Fusicladium, constituting a morphologically variable genus. Furthermore, all Venturia and Fusicladium isolates clustered together on the bases of available ITS data, providing support for the monophyly of the anamorphic genus Fusicladium and the teleomorphic genus Venturia. Within this clade several subclades can be recognized. All taxa on the host family Salicaceae were found in one subclade. Three other subclades comprised taxa on Rosaceae whereas taxa on other host families all clustered separately. Geographic specializations were not observed. Two examples of host switching could be demonstrated, but these were confined to instances involving host species belonging to the same family. Fusicladium convolvularum and F. effusum, two species with unknown teleomorphs, clustered within the Fusicladium/Venturia clade, supporting the correct placement of these taxa in Fusicladium. The placement of Pseudocladosporium hachijoense within the family Venturiaceae was also supported.     

Chromosome number of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Orthophytum</Emphasis> species (Bromeliaceae)

The genus Orthophytum Beer comprises 53 species, all narrow endemics to south-eastern and north-eastern Brazil. In this study we present meiotic and mitotic chromosome numbers of 12 species of this important genus in Bromeliaceae. For six of these taxa we are reporting the first cytogenetic study. Orthophytum albopictum, O. amoenum and O. burle-marxii presented 2n = 100 chromosomes and O. hatschbachii, O. mucugense, O. vagans, O. supthutii, O. zanonii and O. ophiuroides showed 2n = 50 chromosomes. These results are consistent with the proposed basic number of x = 25 for Bromeliaceae family. In the genus Orthophytum, polyploidy seems to play an important role in chromosome evolution associated with habitat differentiation among diploid and polyploid species.     

Ultrastructural observations on the spermatozoa of a species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepidodasys</Emphasis> (Gastrotricha,Macrodasyida)

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of a species in the marine gastrotrich genus Lepidodasys is described. The filiform cell is composed of a cork-screw acrosome, a long single mitochondrion surrounded by a helical nucleus, and a flagellum with a 9 × 2 + 2 axonemal arrangement. The structure of the sperm of this species from Denmark appears closely similar to those of the other two species of Lepidodasys studied so far from Italy and Florida (US). Peculiar features (cylindrical nucleus, absence of a periaxonemal sheath) place this genus far from the others in the family Lepidodasyidae. The absence of synapomorphies between Lepidodasys and other genera of Lepidodasyidae suggests that the family is polyphyletic. The sperm ultrastructure fully fits the species of Lepidodasys into the marine order Macrodasyida, with the sperm ground plan of which its sperm shares a number of details.     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinastrea</Emphasis>, the most common Cretaceous coral genus

The very common and species-rich Scleractinian genus Actinastrea (family Actinastraeidae, suborder Archeocaeniina) is revised on the basis of the type material of its type species and additional material from the type locality. A lectotype is designated for the type species. It was discovered that Jurassic to Early Cretaceous corals currently assigned to Actinastrea do not fit into the concept of this genus. These species belong to the genus Stelidioseris, which is also revised on the basis of the type of the type species, including designating a lectotype. These two genera are distinguished by various characteristics: septal external parts are swollen in Actinastrea but not in Stelidioseris, the costae are confluent in Stelidioseris but not in Actinastrea, the coenosteum is granulated in Actinastrea but narrow than in Actinastrea and only with costae in Stelidioseris. Actinastrea is restricted to the Late Cretaceous (Late Turonian—Maastrichtian), whereas Stelidioseris originates in the Jurassic and reaches into the Late Cretaceous, but is less common from the Turonian on.     

Ammonites of Tethyan origin in the Ryazanian stage of the Russian platform: Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Riasanella</Emphasis> gen. nov.

A new ammonite genus Riasanella is described from the Ryazanian Stage of the Russian Platform (type species R. rausingi sp. nov.). The new species R. plana sp. nov., R. olorizi sp. nov., and R. riasanitoides sp. nov. are described. These species come from the lower, strongly condensed beds of the Riasanites rjasanensis Zone of the Moscow Region. The upper subzone of this zone in the Ryazan Region contains specimens of Riasanella, identified in open nomenclature. The new genus is assigned to the family Himalayitidae; one of its species is a possible ancestor of Riasanites Spath.     

A new genus and species of oribatid mite, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cretaceobodes martinezae</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., from the lower cretaceous amber of San Just (Teruel Province,Spain) (Acariformes,Oribatida, Otocepheidae)

A new fossil genus and species of oribatid mite, Cretaceobodes martinezae gen. et sp. nov., belonging to the family Otocepheidae is described. The new species is preserved in a piece of amber from the San Just outcrop (Teruel Province, Spain), which is believed to be Albian in age. The new genus is compared with the extant genus Carabocepheus Berlese, 1910 and its relationships with the superfamilies Otocepheoidea and Carabodoidea are discussed. Carabocepheidae is regarded as a junior synonym of Otocepheidae. Ranking Carabocepheus lounsbury latior Balogh et Mahunka, 1966 as a separate species is proposed.     

Morphological analysis and taxonomical status of four fish species of the genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opisthocentrus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pholidapus</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Stichaeidae)

No common opinion on the systematics position of species of the fishes of the subfamily Opisthocentrinae, Stichaeidae family has been formed up to the present. Therefore, a morphological analysis of fishes belonging to taxa Opisthocentrus ocellatus, O. tenuis, O. zonope, and Pholidapus dybowskii was undertaken. The obtained data treated by various methods of statistics implied the species independence of these taxa, which sympatrically occurred in the coastal areas of the northwest of the Sea of Japan. All the four studied species were similar in some attributes and distinct by other. Minor differences in the structure of the seismosensory system of Ph. dybowskii and Opisthocentrus species gave no basis on which to distinguish the independent genus Pholidapus. It would be correct to consider this as a subgenus of the Opisthocentrus genus, which includes three other species.     

On the Taxonomy of Mrazekidae: Resurrection of the Genus Bacillidium Janda, 192812

ABSTRACT. This paper reviews the taxonomy of the microsporidia of the family Mrazekidae Léger & Hesse, 1922, based on reexamination of slides in the collection of Prof. O. Jirovec, Prague, and discusses the available type material of Mrazekia argoisi and Bacillidium criodrili. Mrazekia argoisi differs prominently from the other species, and the genus Mrazekia is restricted to this species. The aberrant cytology and development exclude the species from the phylum Microspora. The genus Bacillidium is resurrected for the type species B. criodrili and for four other species. The genus Jirovecia is retained, and five species are transferred to this genus. A new family is erected for Bacillidium and Jirovecia. As B. criodrili does not exhibit octosporoblastic, pansporoblastic sporogony, the recent taxonomic treatment of the genus Bacillidium by Issi is rejected. Mrazekia jiroveci Sprague, 1977, the new name for B. limnodrili Jirovec, 1936, is rejected.     

Aquatic fungi from peat swamp palms: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Unisetosphaeria penguinoides</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., and three new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylaria</Emphasis> species

Unisetosphaeria penguinoides gen. et sp. nov. and three new species of Dactylaria are described from dead petioles and rhachides of the palms Eleiodoxa conferta and Nenga pumila (Arecaceae) collected in Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest, southern Thailand. Unisetosphaeria (Ascomycota) is compared with similar genera, and its placement at the family level is considered. The three new Dactylaria species (anamorphic fungi) are compared with similar species in the genus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamanicella</Emphasis> gen. nov., a new genus of bryozoans forming the Late Miocene bioherms of Cape Panagia in the Taman Peninsula (Russia)

The bryozoans from the Late Miocene bioherms of Cape Panagia (Taman Peninsula) that have previously been attributed to Membranipora lapidosa (Pallas, 1801) are shown to belong to a new genus, Tamanicella gen. nov., which comprises two species: T. lapidosa (Pallas, 1801) and T. panagiensis sp. nov. T. lapidosa is represented by two life forms. One of them is characterized by bilaminate (more rarely unilaminate) sheetlike colonies with meandering lobes, and the other features erect branches. The lateral walls of each autozooecium in colonies of T. lapidosa have two multiporous septulae. T. panagiensis sp. nov. is characterized by massive multilaminate encrusting colonies and by the presence of three or four multiporous septulae in the lateral walls. The genus Tamanicella is placed in the family Membraniporidae. The diagnosis of this genus is provided and its two species are described.     

Molecular characterization of haemococcidia genus Schellackia (Apicomplexa) reveals the polyphyletic origin of the family Lankesterellidae

The current taxonomy on the haemococcidia establishes that the two genera of protozoan parasites that integrate the family Lankesterellidae are Lankesterella and Schellackia. However, the phylogeny of these genera, as well as the other coccidia, remains unresolved. In this sense, the use of type and described species is essential for the resolution of systematic conflicts. In this study, we molecularly characterize the type species of the genus Schellackia, that is, S. bolivari from Europe and also a described species of the same genus from Asia. At the same time, we contribute with the molecular characterization of another species of the genus Lankesterella. All this put together supports the polyphyly of the family Lankesterellidae. Therefore, we propose the resurrection of the zoological family, Schellackiidae Grassé 1953 , to include species within the genus Schellackia.     

First report on bacteria of the family <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirochaetaceae</Emphasis> from digestive tract of endemic gastropods from Lake Baikal

Detection of bacteria of the family Spirochaetaceae in the crystalline style of 11 species of endemic gastropods from Lake Baikal is reported. Investigation by transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that these spirochetes belonged to the genus Cristispira.     

Phylogenetic affiliation of the desert truffles <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picoa juniperi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picoa lefebvrei</Emphasis>

The molecular phylogeny and comparative morphological studies reported here provide evidence for the recognition of the genus Picoa, an hypogeous desert truffle, in the family Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales). Picoa juniperi and Picoa lefebvrei were reassigned to the genus Picoa based on large subunit (LSU) sequence (28S) rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA (including the partial 18S, ITS1, ITS2, 5.8S gene, and partial 28S of the nuclear rDNA) data. Morphological studies of spores, asci, perida, and gleba revealed high similarities between P. lefebvrei and P. juniperi, thereby confirming the membership of both species in the genus Picoa. These two species were primarily distinguishable based on ascospore ornamentation.     

Phylogenetics,character evolution,and distribution patterns of the greenbriers,Smilacaceae (Liliales), a near‐cosmopolitan family of monocots

Smilacaceae, composed of Smilax and Heterosmilax, are a cosmopolitan family of > 200 species of mostly climbing monocots with alternate leaves characterized by reticulate venation, a pair of petiolar tendrils and usually prickly stems. Although there has been a long history of studying Smilax since Linnaeus named the genus in 1753, the phylogenetic history of this dioecious family remains unclear. Here we present results based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) and plastid matK and rpl16 intron DNA sequence data from 125 taxa of Smilacaceae. Our taxon sampling covers all sections of Smilax and Heterosmilax and major distribution zones of the family; species from Ripogonaceae and Philesiaceae are used as outgroups. Our molecular analysis indicates that phylogenetic relationships largely contradict the traditional morphological classification of the family, instead showing a conspicuous geographical pattern among the species clades. The previously recognized genus Heterosmilax was found to be embedded in Smilax. Species in the family are separated into primarily New World and Old World clades, except for a single species lineage, Smilax aspera, that is sister to the remaining species of the family, but with poor statistical support. Ancestral character state reconstructions and examination of distribution patterns among the clades provide important information for future taxonomic revisions and historical biogeography of the group. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 173 , 535–548.