Bat ectoparasites (Nycteribiidae,Streblidae, Siphonaptera,Heteroptera, Mesostigmata,Argasidae, and Ixodidae) from Algeria

Twenty two species of ectoparasites (Family Nycteribiidae: Nycteribia (Listropoda) schmidlii schmidlii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) latreillii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) pedicularia, Penicillidia (Penicillidia) dufourii, and Phthiridium biarticulatum; Family Streblidae: Brachytarsina (Brachytarsina) flavipennis and Raymondia huberi; Order Siphonaptera: Rhinolophopsylla unipectinata arabs, Nycteridopsylla longiceps, Araeopsylla gestroi, Ischnopsyllus intermedius, and Ischnopsyllus octactenus; Order Heteroptera: Cimex pipistrelli, Cimex lectularius, and Cacodmus vicinus; Class Arachnida: Order Mesostigmata: Spinturnix myoti and Eyndhovenia euryalis; Order Ixodida: Family Argasidae: Argas transgariepinus and Argas vespertilionis; Family Ixodidae: Hyalomma dromedarii, Ixodes ricinus, and Ixodes vespertilionis) were recovered from 19 bat species in Algeria. New host records for bats are recorded for the first time: N. schmidlii from Rh. clivosus and R. cystops; N. latreillii from Rh. blasii and P. gaisleri; R. huberi from Rh. clivosus; C. pipistrelli from E. isabellinus and H. savii; C. vicinus from E. isabellinus; S. myoti from P. gaisleri; E. euryalis from P. gaisleri and Rh. blasii; A. vespertilionis from P. gaisleri; I. ricinus from T. teniotis and Rh. hipposideros and H. dromedarii from P. kuhlii. Raymondia huberi is recorded for the first time from Algeria.     

The Boxgrove,England, middle Pleistocene herpetofauna: Paleogeographic,evolutionary, stratigraphic,and paleoecological relationships

Triturus vulgaris (smooth newt), Triturus helveticus or T. vulgaris (palmate or smooth newt), Triturus sp. (newt), Pelobates fuscus (common spadefoot), Bufo bufo (common toad), Bufo calamita (natterjack toad), Bufo sp. (toad), Rana arvalis (moor frog), Rana temporaria (common frog), Rana sp. (frog), Anguis fragilis (slow worm), Lacerta cf. L. vivipara (common lizard), Natrix natrix (grass snake), and Natrix sp. (grass, viperine, or dice snake) were identified at the Middle Pleistocene Boxgrove Site, West Sussex, England. This is the first British fossil record of Pelobates fuscus and the earliest fossil record in Britain for the endangered species Bufo calamita. All of these herpetological species are extant and all of them occur in Britain today with the exception of Pelobates fuscus and Rana arvalis that presently live on the European continent.

The Boxgrove, Westbury, and West Runton British pre‐Anglian Middle Pleistocene herpetofaunas show no apparent differences among themselves in patterns of species composition, diversity, or number of exotics. But these three herpetofaunas together have [1] less species diversity and [2] fewer exotic continental species than in the Cudmore Grove British post‐Anglian Middle Pleistocene herpetofauna.

Only the Terrestral Sequence Unit at Boxgrove yielded enough herpetological species for paleoecological interpretation. These taxa indicate a quiet pool surrounded by a somewhat humid vegetated area that gave way to a more xerophytic sandy area, and a paleoclimate at least as warm and perhaps somewhat warmer than occurs in the area today.     

Caprine blood groups. 2. The C,G, H,I, J,K, L,N, and Q systems

Nine blood group systems of goats were identified using 12 caprine reagents produced by absorption of alloimmune antisera. The caprine C blood group system, possibly homologous to the ovine C blood group system, was characterized by two reagents and shown to be controlled by three alleles,C ¹²,C ²⁵, andC ⁻. A more complex blood group system of goats, designated G, was identified using three reagents and shown to be controlled by six codominant alleles (G ^10.19.20,G ^10.19,G ^10.20,G ¹⁰,G ¹⁹,G ²⁰) and a recessive allele (G ⁻). A further seven one-factor two-allelic systems were identified by seven reagents. The nine genetic systems provided exclusion probabilities of 0.479, 0.492, 0.548, and 0.572 in Australian Angora, Dairy, Cashmere, and Texan Angora goat breeds, respectively. This work was supported by a grant from the Australian Stud Book, Alison Road, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia.     

HETEROCHROMATIN BANDING IN BOYKINIA,HEUCHERA, MITELLA,SULLIVANTIA, TIARELLA,AND TOLMIEA (SAXIFRAGACEAE)

Karyotypic differences were sought among species of Boykinia, Heuchera, Mitella, Sullivantia, Tiarella, and Tolmiea utilizing a modification of the Hy-banding technique. Prominent centromeric and some telomeric heterochromatin banding was observed. Boykinia aconitifolia and species of Sullivantia possess an identical banded karyotype, while four species of Heuchera, Mitella diphylla, Tiarella cordifolia, and Tolmiea menziesii (the latter at the tetraploid level) are characterized by a second, slightly different banded karyotype. In Sullivantia, Giemsa C-banding stains the same chromosomal regions revealed by Hy-banding. Larger amounts of heterochromatin are present in chromosomes of species of Heuchera, Mitella, Tiarella, and Tolmiea than in chromosomes of Sullivantia species and Boykinia aconitifolia. These karyological observations confirm generic relationships and demonstrate the systematic applicability of chromosome banding techniques to plants with very small chromosomes.     

Further studies of the sieve-element plastids of theCaryophyllales includingBarbeuia,Corrigiola, Lyallia,Microtea, Sarcobatus,andTelephium

The sieve-element plastids of 69 species of theCaryophyllales were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. All contained the specific subtype-P3 plastids characterized by a peripheral ring of protein filaments. The presence or absence of an additional central protein crystal and their shape being either polygonal or globular as well as the average sizes of the sieve-element plastids are useful features in the characterization of some families.—Barbeuia contains sieve-element plastids that confirm its placement within thePhytolaccaceae. Lyallia differs fromHectorella by including small starch grains in their sieve-element plastids, which otherwise by their globular crystals negate a closer connection to theCaryophyllaceae. The lack of a central protein crystal in its form-P3fs plastids placesMicrotea best within theChenopodiaceae. Sarcobatus, a so far uncontested member of theChenopodiaceae, contains form-P3cf plastids, i.e., including a central crystal not found elsewhere in this family.Telephium andCorrigiola, shifted back and forth betweenMolluginaceae andCaryophyllaceae, have form-P3cf(s) plastids with a polygonal crystal which favor their placement within theCaryophyllaceae.     

Incrimination of the mosquito,Aedes taeniorhynchus,as the primary vector of heartworm,Dirofilaria immitis,in coastal Yucatan,Mexico

Mosquito collections were carried out on microfilaraemic dogs, positive for Dirofilaria sp., for 18 consecutive nights in the coastal town of Celestún, Yucatan, southeast Mexico, during the rainy season (August) of 2007. A total of 292 female mosquitoes representing 12 species of dipteran Culicidae were collected: Anopheles albimanus (Wiedemann); Anopheles crucians (Wiedemann); Anopheles pseudopunctipennis (Theobald); Culex coronator (Dyar & Knab); Culex interrogator (Dyar & Knab); Culex nigripalpus (Theobald); Culex quinquefasciatus (Say); Culex salinarius (Coquillett); Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus); Aedes scapularis (Rondani); Aedes sollicitans (Walker), and Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann). Aedes taeniorhynchus and Cx. quinquefasciatus were the species found most commonly feeding on the dogs. Filarial nematodes were observed by microscopy in nine of the mosquito species collected; however, third‐instar larvae were only observed in Ae. taeniorhynchus and An. crucians. Of 76 Ae. taeniorhynchus specimens found positive for Dirofilaria sp. by dissection, 14 were confirmed to be positive for Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The resulting infection rate for D. immitis confirmed by PCR (6.2%) is higher than any infection rate for Ae. taeniorhynchus previously reported from the Americas.     

Aluminum,Fe, Ca,Mg, K,Mn, Cu,Zn and P in above- and belowground biomass. I.Abies amabilis andTsuga mertensiana

In a mature mixed subalpine stand ofTsuga mertensiana andAbies amabilis, significantly higher Al levels were found in foliage, branch and root tissues ofT. mertensiana.Tsuga mertensiana had significant increases in Al, Ca and Mn levels with increasing foliage age. In current foliage,T. mertensiana had lower levels of Ca, similar levels of Mg and P, and higher levels of Mn thanA. amabilis. Both tree species had Cu and Fe present at higher levels in branch than foliage tissues. Fine roots had the highest concentrations of Al, Fe and Cu but the lowest Ca and Mn concentrations of all tissues analyzed. In the roots of both species, phloem tissues always had significantly higher Al levels than xylem. Fine roots (< 1 and 1–2 mm) ofT. mertensiana had higher Al levels than were found inA. amabilis. Roots greater than 2 mm in diameter exhibited no significant differences in Al levels in phloem or xylem tissue betweenA. amabilis andT. mertensiana. The two species show a clear difference in their ability to accumulate specific elements from the soil.     

Chromosome localization of the loci for PEPA,PEPB, PEPS, 1DH1, GSR,MPI, PGM1, NP,SOD1, and ME1 in the common shrew (Sorex araneus)

This report extends the genetic map of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) by adding chromosome assignments for ten genes to the seven already mapped (Pack et al. 1995). A somatic cell hybrid panel was used for the mapping. The genes for peptidase A (PEPA) and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) map to chromosome de; the genes for phosphoglucomutase-1 (PGM1), superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), and mannosephosphate isomerase (MPI) are located on chromosome af; the genes for nucleoside phosphorylase (NP) and glutathione reductase (GSR) are on chromosome ik; and the genes for peptidase S (PEPS), malic enzyme-1 (ME1), peptidase B (PEPB) are found on chromosomes jl, go, and mp respectively. Received: 2 October 1995 / Accepted: 21 November 1995     

Quaternary vicariance of tiger beetle,Cicindela chinensis,in Ryukyu,Japan, Taiwan and Korea–China

We show vicariance of Cicindela chinensis in Okinawa, Japan (differentiated within Japan) and Korea–China through construction of Bayesian inference trees by BEAST2. Calibration was done using an assumption of the MRCA expansion of C. chinensis at 1.55 Ma (=geologically obtained formative time of the Ryukyu islands) following the protocol of BEAUti. We derived substitution rates for mitochondrial COI (1.66%/m.y.) and nuclear 28SrRNA (0.109%/m.y.) of analyzed Cicindela. Cicindela ferriei is a sister of C. chinensis, and these two species differentiated from each other at ca. 3 Ma before the expansion of C. chinensis. However, they are not strongly differentiated between Amami‐Oshima and Tokuno‐shima, although they display different color. Vicariance at 1.55 Ma is also recognized between Cicindela batesi in Taiwan and Cicindela aurulenta and virgula in continental China. From the sequence data we obtained, it is also evident that C. c. okinawana recently colonized Ishigaki‐jima from Okinawa‐jima, as did C. batesi in Iriomote‐jima from Taiwan.     

Localization of growth arrest-specific genes on mouse Chromosomes 1, 7, 8, 11, 13, and 16

Growth arrest in NIH3T3 cells is associated with increased expression of a variety of mRNAs, several of which have been isolated as cDNA clones. Six of these growth arrest-specific (Gas) genes were mapped by following the inheritance of DNA restriction fragment length variants (RFLVs) associated with them in panels of recombinant inbred (RI) strains of mice and in the progeny of backcrosses both between laboratory mouse strains and between a laboratory strain and Mus spretus. The six genes are unlinked. Gas-1 maps to Chromosome (Chr) 13, Gas-2 to Chr 7, Gas-3 to Chr 11, Gas-4 to Chr 16, Gas-6 to Chr 8, and Gas-10 to Chr 1.     

Purification, characterization, and sequencing of antimicrobial peptides, Cy-AMP1, Cy-AMP2, and Cy-AMP3, from the Cycad (Cycas revoluta) seeds

Novel antimicrobial peptides (AMP), designated Cy-AMP1, Cy-AMP2, and Cy-AMP3, were purified from seeds of the cycad (Cycas revoluta) by a CM cellulofine column, ion-exchange HPLC on SP COSMOGEL, and reverse-phase HPLC. They had molecular masses of 4583.2 Da, 4568.9 Da and 9275.8 Da, respectively, by MALDI–TOF MS analysis. Half of the amino acid residues of Cy-AMP1 and Cy-AMP2 were cysteine, glycine and proline, and their sequences were similar. The sequence of Cy-AMP3 showed high homology to various lipid transfer proteins. For Cy-AMP1 and Cy-AMP2, the concentrations of peptides required for 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) of the growth of plant pathogenic fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were 7.0–8.9 μg/ml. The Cy-AMP3 had weak antimicrobial activity. The structural and antimicrobial characteristics of Cy-AMP1 and Cy-AMP2 indicated that they are a novel type of antimicrobial peptide belonging to a plant defensin family.     

COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF THE CARPEL IN THE ROSACEAE. V. POMOIDEAE: AMELANCHIER,ARONIA, MALACOMELES,MALUS, PERAPHYLLUM,PYRUS, SORBUS

The carpels of 2 groups of pomoid genera, Amelanchier, Malacomeles, Peraphyllum and Aronia, Malus, Pyrus, and Sorbus, were analyzed morphologically. Open sutures are associated with a lesser extent of tegumentary fusion and ovular bundle–wing bundle fusion than are closed sutures. However, in the genera as a whole (and particularly in Aronia and Sorbus), the extent of sutural closure is inversely related with the amount of intercarpellary adhesion and with the fusion of carpels to the floral cup. In the Amelanchier group and in Malus and Pyrus, ovular- and wing-bundle fusion is directly related with intercarpellary adhesion. Malus and Pyrus have closer structural resemblances with one another than they have with Aronia and Sorbus.     

Ontogeny of angiopoietin‐like protein 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 genes during chick embryonic development

Angiopoietin‐like proteins (ANGPTLs) are secreted proteins possessing an amino‐terminal coiled‐coil domain and a carboxyl‐terminal fibrinogen‐like domain and are known as angiogenic factors. Several members of ANGPTLs also regulate lipid metabolism independently of angiogenic effects, but most of their functions during vertebrate development are not demonstrated. To ascertain their developmental functions, we examined the expression patterns of Angptl1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 orthologues during chick development using whole‐mount in situ hybridization. Angptl1 was first detected at embryonic day 3 (E3) in the somite. At E4, Angptl1 was expressed in somite‐derivatives and limb mesenchyme. Angptl2 was first detected at E3 in the hindbrain. At E4, Angptl2 was expressed in neuroepithelium of forebrain and hindbrain and partly in the heart. Angptl3 was first detected at E3 and continued to be expressed in the liver and yolk sac at E4. Angptl4 was first detected at E3 in the somites and liver. At E4, Angptl4 was also observed in the heart. Angptl5 was not detected in these developmental stages. Angptl7 was first detected at E3 in the ectoderm overlying the lenses of the eyes. At E4, Angptl7 was specifically expressed in cornea. These data suggest that each member of the ANGPTL family could be related to angiogenesis during various organogeneses of the developing chick embryo.     

Synthesis,oxygen radical absorbance capacity,and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of glycosides of resveratrol,pterostilbene, and pinostilbene

The stilbene compound resveratrol was glycosylated to give its 4′-O-β-D-glucoside as the major product in addition to its 3-O-β-D-glucoside by a plant glucosyltransferase from Phytolacca americana expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli. This enzyme transformed pterostilbene to its 4′-O-β-D-glucoside, and converted pinostilbene to its 4′-O-β-D-glucoside as a major product and its 3-O-β-D-glucoside as a minor product. An analysis of antioxidant capacity showed that the above stilbene glycosides had lower oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values than those of the corresponding stilbene aglycones. The 3-O-β-D-glucoside of resveratrol showed the highest ORAC value among the stilbene glycosides tested, and pinostilbene had the highest value among the stilbene compounds. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the stilbene aglycones were improved by glycosylation; the stilbene glycosides had higher activities than the stilbene aglycones. Resveratrol 3-O-β-D-glucoside had the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity among the stilbene compounds tested.     

Phylogenetic hypotheses: Cladoniaceae,Stereocaulaceae, Baeomycetaceae,and Icmadophilaceae revisited

Parsimony analyses of SSU rDNA sequences were conducted to examine phylogenetic relationships of selected genera within the families Cladoniaceae, Stereocaulaceae, Icmadophilaceae and Baeomycetaceae (lichen-forming ascomycetes). The analyses included 93 taxa (84 species) representing various groups of ascomycetous fungi. Analyses of the matrix with pre-aligned sequences were performed using heuristic and parsimony ratchet searches, and support values for the same matrix were calculated using parsimony jackknifing. The results support the recognition of the four families. Cladoniaceae are recircumscribed to accommodate Cladia, Cladonia, Heterodea, Metus, Pilophorus, Pycnothelia, Ramalea, Thysanothecium and the newly erected genus Carassea. Myelorrhiza is excluded from the family, while the status of other potential members, Calathaspis, Gymnoderma s.str. and Squamella, remains unresolved. Baeomycetaceae include Baeomyces and Phyllobaeis. Stereocaulaceae include Stereocaulon only, although the status of Muhria is still unclear. Finally, Icmadophilaceae include Dibaeis, Endocena, Knightiella, Icmadophila, Siphula and Thamnolia, while the status of Pseudobaeomyces and Siphulella requires further elucidation. The genus Cladonia appeared to be a polyphyletic assemblage, and accordingly, a new genus Carassea S. Stenroos, gen. nov., represented by C. connexa (Vain.) S. Stenroos, comb. nov., is described. Carassea is most closely related to Pycnothelia and Metus in the Cladoniaceae. Siphula, represented in the present analysis by six species, is not monophyletic, and is in need of reclassification.     

A molecular genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 18, includingspm,Grl-1, Fim-2/c-fms,andMbp

Restriction endonuclease fragment length variations (RFLV) were detected in mice with DNA probes for myelin basic protein (Mbp), glucocorticoid receptor-1 (Grl-1), and Friend MuLV integration site-2 (Fim-2). RFLV of theMbp gene were found inSacI restriction patterns, RFLV of theGrl-1 gene were found inEcoRV patterns, and RFLV of theFim-2 were found inBglII patterns. A three-point backcross was carried out by the backcross mating (C57BL/KsJ-spm/spm × MOL-MIT)F₁ males × C57BL/KsJ-spm/spm; spm is an autosomal recessive gene causing sphingomyelinosis. From the results,spm, Grl-1, Fim-2, andMbp loci were mapped on chromosome 18, and the following order of genes is proposed, with distances between genes in parentheses: centromere—spm—(7.8 cM)—Grl-1—(7.8 cM)—Fim-2—(39.1 cM)—Mbp—telomere. All laboratory strains and two European subspecies (Mus mus domesticus andM. m. brevirostris) carry theGrl-1 ^a ,Fim-2 ^a , andMbp ^a alleles. In contrast, another wild subspecies from Europe (M. m. musculus) and some Asian subspecies (M. m. molossinus, Chinese mice of wild origin, andM. m. yamashinai) carry theGrl-1 ^b ,Fim-2 ^b , andMbp ^b alleles. Onlycastaneus strains carry the intermediate combination of theGrl-1 ^b ,Fim-2 ^a , andMbp ^b alleles.     

A phylogenetic analysis ofAcetobacterium woodii,Clostridium barkeri,Clostridium butyricum,Clostridium lituseburense,Uubacterium limosum,andEubacterium tenue

Acetobacterium woodii, Butyribacterium rettgeri, Clostridium barkeri, Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium lituseburense, Eubacterium limosum, andEubacterium tenue have been characterized by oligonucleotide cataloging of their 16S ribosomal RNAs.A. woodii, C. barkeri, andE. limosum form a related group.C. lituseburense andE. tenue are highly related. As previously reported,E. limosum andB. rettgeri are synonymous. TheEubacterium species examined here are less related to each other than they are to different species ofClostridium. Mol% G+C of DNA and murein composition support the 16S ribisomal RNA data. These findings question the validity of current taxonomic distinctions for these Gram-positive anaerobes.     

Speciation,phenotypic plasticity,or ontogeny,the case of the genus Galkinius (Pyrgomatidae,Cirripedia, Crustacea)

Barnacles of the genus Galkinius occupy a large spectrum of host corals, making it one of the least host‐specific genera within the Pyrgomatidae. Molecular analyses show that within the genus Galkinius there are highly supported clades, suggesting that the genus Galkinius is a complex of evolutionarily significant units (ESUs). The morphology of the opercular valves has been used as the basis for the separation of species of Galkinius. In this study, morphological variability was found both between specimens within ESUs extracted from different host species and between specimens extracted from the same colony. Identifications based on the opercular valves cannot therefore be assigned to different species despite being genetically distinguishable. It is proposed that in many cases the differences between valve morphology of different species of Galkinius are the outcome of ontogeny. Allometric growth of the valves has resulted in differences in the proportions of the parts of the valve. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London