A Potentially Endangered New Species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euptychia</Emphasis> Hübner, 1818 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil

A new satyrine species in the subtribe Euptychiina, Euptychia atlantica Nakahara & Freitas sp. nov., is described from the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil. Based on the existing museum specimens, E. atlantica sp. nov. is known from the coastal montane forests of Rio de Janeiro to south Bahia, a unique biogeographical region which is undergoing rapid degradation. Illustrations of adults and their genitalia, as well as a distribution map, are provided herein, in addition to a discussion of the relationships and conservation status of the new species.     

Isozymes of <Emphasis Type=Italic>α</Emphasis>-amylases from newly isolated <Emphasis Type=Italic>Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> CKB19: Production from immobilized cells

The aim of this study was to produce two isozymes of α-amylase by immobilization of a newly isolated soil bacterium. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis CKB19 on the basis of its 16S rRNA profile. Enzyme production by free cells increased linearly with cell growth up to 34 h in starch containing enriched liquid media. The active bacterial cells were immobilized in Caalginate beads, and operational stability of the entrapped cell was optimized for amylase production. Enzyme production was optimal at an alginate concentration of 2 g% (w/v), calcium chloride concentration of 1 M, and with 300 beads (each bead contained 2 × 10⁷ cells)/250 mL flask. Amylase production by the immobilized cells was about 3 times higher than free cell fermentation after 34 h of incubation. It was observed that the immobilized bacterium secreted two different amylases (Am-I and Am-II) into the culture fluid. The molecular masses of Am-I and Am-II were 59.6 and 44.7 kd, respectively, and showed optimum activity at pH 5.0 and 9.0. Both amylases showed optimum activity at 40°C and were stable at the same temperature, with losses of only 10 and 20% (for Am I and Am II, respectively) of their original activities after 24 h of incubation. Further, both amylases were salt tolerant (up to 4 M NaCl) and hydrolyzed raw starchy foods into glucose. All these characteristics make this enzyme mixture suitable for use as a digestive aid and for the improvement of digestibility of animal feed ingredients.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Chamaecrista</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type=Italic>Chamaecrista</Emphasis> ser. <Emphasis Type=Italic>Flexuosae</Emphasis> (Leguminosae,Caesalpinioideae) from Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais,Brazil

A new species, Chamaecrista truncata, from southeastern Brazil, is described, illustrated and compared to its putative closest relative, C. parvistipula. The new species belongs to Chamaecrista sect. Chamaecrista ser. Flexuosae which is characterized by asymmetrical leaflets with palmate venation, quadrangular stems and axillary peduncles. Additionally, the venation pattern of the leaflets and the different types of stipules observed within this series are shown.     

Typification and synonymy of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Meriania</Emphasis> species (Merianieae – Melastomataceae) from Brazil

Taxonomic studies of Brazilian Meriania species (Merianieae – Melastomataceae) have identified taxonomic and nomenclatural gaps. The present work proposes one new synonym, M. sanchezii, for M. paniculata; one new neotypification of M. glabra; and five lectotypifications for M. calophylla, M. glabra var. parviflora (= M. glabra), M. paniculata, M. pergamentacea (= M. robusta), and M. urceolata.     

A monograph of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Octoknema</Emphasis> (Octoknemaceae — Olacaceae <Emphasis Type=Italic>s.l.</Emphasis>)

A revision of Octoknema Pierre is provided, based on morphological data gathered from a study of herbarium specimens and observations in the field. Fourteen species of Octoknema are recognised including six new species: O. bakossiensis Gosline & Malécot, O. belingensis Gosline & Malécot, O. chailluensis Malécot & Gosline, O. kivuensis Gosline & Malécot, O. mokoko Gosline & Malécot and O. ogoouensis Malécot & Gosline. Data are given for four additional poorly known taxa (Octoknema species A, B, C and D).     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Leandra</Emphasis> from Espírito Santo,Brazil

Two species of Leandra that occur in low montane and montane rain forests in the state of Espírito Santo, Eastern Brazil, are described and illustrated here. Leandra magnipetala can be recognized by the pedicellate flowers, costate hypanthia, and large, broadly lanceolate petals. Leandra triantha can be recognized by the apical, short-peduncled triads, diads or solitary flowers and by the granulose-glandulose, strigose and glandulose-strigose bracts, bracteoles, and hypanthia.     

A computational study of the mechanism of the unimolecular elimination of <Emphasis Type=Italic>α</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type=Italic>β</Emphasis>-unsaturated aldehydes in the gas phase

The mechanism for the decarbonylation of (E)-2-butenal and (E)-2-methyl-3-pheny-2-propenal was studied with different levels of ab initio and DFT methods. Reactants, products and transition structures were optimized for two kinds of reaction channel: a one-step reaction which involves a three-membered cyclic transition state, and a two-step reaction which involves an initial four-membered cyclic transition state. According to our calculations, these two possible mechanisms entail similar energetic costs, and there are only small differences depending on the reactant. The elimination of (E)-2-methyl-3-pheny-2-propenal yields different products depending on the channel followed. Only one of the three possible one-step mechanisms leads directly to (E)-β-methylstyrene (the main product according to experiment). This fact is reasonably well reproduced by our results, since the corresponding transition state gave rise to the lowest activation Gibbs free energy.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>Pseudomonas seleniipraecipitatus</Emphasis> sp. nov.: A Selenite Reducing γ-<Emphasis Type=Italic>Proteobacteria</Emphasis> Isolated from Soil

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a technology that provides electrical energy from the microbial oxidation of organic compounds. Most MFCs use oxygen as the oxidant in the cathode chamber. This study examined the formation in culture of an unidentified bacterial oxidant and investigated the performance of this oxidant in a two-chambered MFC with a proton exchange membrane and an uncoated carbon cathode. DNA, FAME profile and characterization studies identified the microorganism that produced the oxidant as Burkholderia cenocepacia. The oxidant was produced by log phase cells, oxidized the dye 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), had a mass below 1 kD, was heat stable (121°C) and was soluble in ethanol. In a MFC with a 1000 Ω load and ABTS as a mediator, the oxidizer increased cell voltage 11 times higher than atmospheric oxygen and 2.9 times higher than that observed with ferricyanide in the cathode chamber. No increase in cell voltage was observed when no mediator was present. Organisms that produce and release oxidizers into the media may prove useful as bio-cathodes by improving the electrical output of MFCs.     

Study of CTX-M Type of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase among Nosocomial Isolates of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</Emphasis> in South India

Data on CTX-M type extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) produced by Gram-negative bacteria by molecular methods are limited from India. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of CTX-M type ESBL producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from nosocomial isolates in a tertiary care hospital in southern India. A total of 179 clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae (n = 72) and E. coli (n = 107) were obtained in a period of 3 months and assessed for ESBL production phenotypically. Associated resistance to a panel of antibiotics and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration for 3rd generation cephalosporins was determined. Phenotypically ESBL positive isolates were subjected to PCR for bla _CTX-M gene using two sets of primers for the simultaneous detection of all the five major groups of CTX-M types. All the positive isolates were then subjected to a group specific PCR to detect the prevalent group. Out of 179 isolates, 156 (87.1%) were positive for ESBL phenotypically, which includes 39.2% of K. pneumoniae and 60.8% of E. coli. All of them were examined by PCR using two primers for the presence of bla _CTX-M genes. Among the 156 phenotypic positive isolates, 124 (79.4%) were positive for bla _CTX-M genes, of which 45 (36.2%) were K. pneumoniae, 79 (63.7%) were E. coli. When the 124 positive clinical isolates were further tested with CTX-M group-specific primers, all were positive for the CTX-M-1 group. Our findings document evidence of the high prevalence of multidrug resistant CTX-M group 1 type ESBL among nosocomial isolates in this region. High co-resistance to other non-β-lactam antibiotics is a major challenge for management of ESBL infections. This is alarming and calls for the judicious use of carbapenems, especially in developing countries. This has significant implications for patient management, and indicates the need for increased surveillance and for further molecular characterization of these isolates.     

On the nomenclature of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Colias nastes mongola</Emphasis> Alphéraky, 1897 and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Colias tamerlana</Emphasis> Staudinger, 1897 (Lepidoptera,Pieridae)

The nomenclatural history of the nominal taxa Colias nastes mongola Alphéraky, 1897 and Colias tamerlana Staudinger, 1897 is considered. The nominal taxon Colias nastes mongola Alphéraky, 1897 was published before the end of June 1897, whereas the nominal taxon Colias tamerlana Staudinger, 1897 was published on July 27, 1897. Consequently, the combination Colias tamerlana mongola Alphéraky, 1897 contradicts Art. 23 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and should not be used. Analysis of collection material and publications of different authors, including the travel notes of H. Leder, allowed us to determine the exact type locality of the nominal taxon Colias nastes mongola Alphéraky, 1897, which is the vicinity of the village of Turan (Tunkin District, Buryatia, the Russian Federation), with the approximate geographic coordinates 51°38′N and 101°39′E.     

High frequency in vitro propagation of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Trichopus zeylanicus</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type=Italic>travancoricus</Emphasis> using branch–petiole explants

Trichopus zeylanicus subsp. travancoricus (known as Arogyapacha), an endangered ethnomedicinal plant of the Western Ghats of South India, serves as the major source of the commercial drug Jeevani. The present study established a long-term high frequency in vitro propagation protocol for Arogyapacha. Callus obtained from the branch–petiole explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 4.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid upon subculture to medium with different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) either alone or in combination with an auxin favoured shoot morphogenesis. Medium with 13.3 μM BA alone facilitated high frequency shoot bud (mean of 93.2) formation. Medium with lower concentrations of BA (4.4, 6.6 and 8.8 μM) alone or in combination with lower concentration of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) favoured better shoot growth than 13.3 μM BA containing medium, but with reduced number of shoot buds. Subsequent cultures on medium with lower concentrations of BA and also on MS basal media facilitated shoot formation as well as growth of shoots. The shoot regeneration potential showed no decline up to 5 years. Culture of the in vitro-derived whole branch–leaf explants on MS basal medium developed shoots directly from the node. On medium with 19.6 μM IBA, the whole branch–leaf explants induced nodular callus from the node, which developed shoots later. Subsequent cultures on medium with BA exhibited high frequency shoot formation. The transfer of shoots after 10–15 days culture on half-strength MS medium containing 2.7 μM NAA to half-strength basal medium induced a mean of 11.3 roots. Field survival of plantlets relied on the soil mix: a 1:4 ratio of sand and red-soil exhibited the highest plantlets survival (86.6%). RAPD profile of the source plant and plants regenerated from calli after 4 years showed no polymorphism. The established plantlets with morpho-floral features similar to that of the source plants flowered normally and set fruits.     

Anatomical observation of polyphenol changes in epidermal cells during the development of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Quercus acutissima</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type=Italic>Scleroderma verrucosum</Emphasis> ectomycorrhizae

Quercus acutissima seedlings were cultivated in growth pouches and inoculated with Scleroderma verrucosum in order to assess the changes in polyphenol contents in epidermal cells during ECM development. Semithin sections stained with metachromatic Toluidine Blue O (TBO) were compared among non-inoculated lateral roots, early mantled lateral roots, and mycorrhizal roots with a mature mantle. Hyphae adhered closely or were embedded in mucilage-like materials on the epidermis. Epidermal cells and root hairs of the non-inoculated second-order lateral roots developing from the taproot harbored polyphenolic compounds that were stained by TBO. At non-inoculated stage, the average numbers of epidermal cells stained entirely (PC2), stained partially (PC1) or remaining unstained (PC0) were 16.5 ± 0.7, 0 ± 0, and 0 ± 0, respectively. At the early mantled stage, the numbers were 6.5 ± 1.6, 5.2 ± 1.4, and 4.2 ± 1.0, and at the mycorrhizal stage, it was 0 ± 0, 0 ± 0, and 32.8 ± 1.3 for PC2, PC1, and PC0, respectively. Total phenolic content in the root tips at each developmental stage declined with ECM development. The early mantled stage involved a dynamic process of polyphenol localization. However, some epidermal cells and endodermal cells of the proximal zone accumulated polyphenols. Eventually, polyphenolic compounds, which were found abundantly in the epidermal cells and root hairs of the non-inoculated lateral roots of the host, disappeared at the mycorrhization process with the symbiont.