Coccidia of New World passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes): a review of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eimeria</Emphasis> Schneider, 1875 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora</Emphasis> Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae)

In the New World, the avian order Passeriformes comprises 47 families and 2,453 species, yet to date only 21 (45%) of the families and 58 (2%) of the species have been examined for coccidia, and from these only two species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 and 81 species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 have been described. This review contributes to our understanding of the morphology and systematics of coccidian parasites of passeriforms, providing a scientific basis for the identification of sporulated oöcysts recovered from the faeces of passerine birds from North, Central and South America. To this end, the coccidia were organised and grouped according to the family of the host, following the widely recognised concept of family-specificity and the updated systematics of the class Aves. Details of 83 eimeriid species are presented along with an illustration and tabulated data.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora</Emphasis> Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the twist-necked turtle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platemys platycephala</Emphasis> (Schneider) (Testudines: Chelidae) in Brazil

A new coccidian species of the genus Isospora Schneider 1881 (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) is reported from a single specimen of chelid turtle, Platemys platycephala (Schneider, 1792), obtained in a flooded area of the Amazonian municipality of Altamira, in Pará State, northern Brazil. The oöcysts of Isospora platemysi n. sp. are subspheroidal, 19.0–24.0 × 22.5–18.5 (22.6 × 20.8) µm in size [length/width ratio 1.0–1.1 (1.1)], with a colourless wall, 1.0–1.9 (1.4) wide, with two smooth layers; polar granule is present, oöcyst residuum and micropyle are both absent. The sporocyst is ovoidal, 10.0–12.1 × 8.0–10.0 (11.0 × 9.1) µm [length/width ratio 1.1–1.3 (1.2), with a knob-like Stieda body. Sub-Stieda body is present, rounded irregular-trapezoidal; para-Stieda body is absent. Sporocyst residuum is dispersed and composed of granules of differing sizes. This is only the fifth record of Isospora in chelonians, and the first report of a coccidian parasite of the genus Platemys.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Isospora</Emphasis> Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporophila frontalis</Emphasis> Verreaux (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in South America

Three new coccidian (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verraux in Brazil are reported in the current study. Isospora frontalis n. sp. oöcysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 27.9 × 26.9 μm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall c.1.4 μm thick. A micropyle and an oöcyst residuum are absent, but polar granules are present. Sporocysts are elongate ellipsoidal, 19.6 × 11.1 μm. The Stieda body is knob-like and the substieda body is slight. The sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules, and the sporozoites are vermiform with a refractile body and a nucleus. Isospora teresopoliensis n. sp. oöcysts are spherical to sub-spherical, 25.7 × 24.3 μm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall 1.3 μm thick. A micropyle, oöcyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are ovoid, 18.8 × 11.2 μm. The Stieda body is nipple-shaped and the substieda body is large and prominent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules, and the sporozoites are large and elongate, with a refractile body and nucleus. Oöcysts of Isospora chanchaoi n. sp. are spherical to sub-spherical or ovoid, 24.2 × 22.0 μm, with a smooth, bi-layered wall c.1.2 μm thick. Both a micropyle and an oöcyst residuum are absent, but one or two polar granules are present. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 16.1 × 10.3 μm. The Stieda body is nipple-shaped and the substieda body is small but prominent. The sporocyst residuum forms a compact mass of granules, and the sporozoites are large and elongate, with a refractile body and a nucleus.     

New combinations and typifications in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Persicaria</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polygonum,</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rumex</Emphasis> (Polygonaceae)

New combinations are proposed in anticipation of the Polygonaceae treatment in the forthcoming volume of Intermountain Flora: Polygonum kelloggii var. esotericum, P. kelloggii var. watsonii , Rumex densiflorus var. pycnanthus , R. salicifolius var. utahensis, and R. occidentalis var. tomentellus. Typifications are proposed to facilitate ongoing studies in Polygonaceae and to maintain current usage.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>1<Emphasis Type="Italic">/copia</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ty</Emphasis>3<Emphasis Type="Italic">/gypsy</Emphasis>-like DNA sequences in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus </Emphasis>species

Two repeated DNA sequences isolated from a partial genomic DNA library of Helianthus annuus, p HaS13 and p HaS211, were shown to represent portions of the int gene of a Ty3 /gypsy retroelement and of the RNase-Hgene of a Ty1 /copia retroelement, respectively. Southern blotting patterns obtained by hybridizing the two probes to BglII- or DraI-digested genomic DNA from different Helianthus species showed p HaS13 and p HaS211 were parts of dispersed repeats at least 8 and 7 kb in length, respectively, that were conserved in all species studied. Comparable hybridization patterns were obtained in all species with p HaS13. By contrast, the patterns obtained by hybridizing p HaS211 clearly differentiated annual species from perennials. The frequencies of p HaS13- and p HaS211-related sequences in different species were 4.3x10(4)-1.3x10(5) copies and 9.9x10(2)-8.1x10(3) copies per picogram of DNA, respectively. The frequency of p HaS13-related sequences varied widely within annual species, while no significant difference was observed among perennial species. Conversely, the frequency variation of p HaS211-related sequences was as large within annual species as within perennials. Sequences of both families were found to be dispersed along the length of all chromosomes in all species studied. However, Ty3 /gypsy-like sequences were localized preferentially at the centromeric regions, whereas Ty1/ copia-like sequences were less represented or absent around the centromeres and plentiful at the chromosome ends. These findings suggest that the two sequence families played a role in Helianthusgenome evolution and species divergence, evolved independently in the same genomic backgrounds and in annual or perennial species, and acquired different possible functions in the host genomes.     

Floral development and systematic position of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arillastrum</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allosyncarpia</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stockwellia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptopsis</Emphasis> (Myrtaceae)

We have investigated the floral ontogeny of Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis (of the eucalypt group, Myrtaceae) using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Several critical characters for establishing relationships between these genera and to the eucalypts have been determined. The absence of compound petaline primordia in Arillastrum, Allosyncarpia, Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis excludes these taxa from the eucalypt clade. Post-anthesis circumscissile abscission of the hypanthium above the ovary in Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia is evidence that these three taxa form a monophyletic group; undifferentiated perianth parts and elongated fusiform buds are characters that unite Stockwellia and Eucalyptopsis as sister taxa. No floral characters clearly associate Arillastrum with either the eucalypt clade or the clade of Stockwellia, Eucalyptopsis and Allosyncarpia.We gratefully acknowledge Clyde Dunlop and Bob Harwood (Northern Territory Herbarium) for collecting specimens of Allosyncarpia, and Bruce Gray (Atherton) for collecting specimens of Stockwellia. The Australian National Herbarium (CANB) kindly lent herbarium specimens of Eucalyptopsis for examination. This research was supported by a University of Melbourne Research Development Grant to Andrew Drinnan.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quinua</Emphasis> and Relatives (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> sect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium</Emphasis> subsect.<Emphasis Type="Italic">Celluloid</Emphasis>)

Traditionally viewed as an Andean grain crop,Chenopodium quinoa Willd. includes domesticated populations that are not Andean, and Andean populations that are not domesticated. Comparative analysis of leaf morphology and allozyme frequencies have demonstrated that Andean populations, both domesticated(quinua) and free-living(ajara), represent an exceptionally homogeneous unit that is well differentiated from allied domesticates of coastal Chile(quingua) and freeliving populations of the Argentine lowlands(C. hircinum). This pattern of relationships indicates that Andean populations represent a monophyletic crop/weed system that has possibly developed through cyclic differentiation (natural vs. human selection) and introgressive hybridization. Relative levels of variation suggest that this complex originated in the southern Andes, possibly from wild types allied withC. hircinum, with subsequent dispersal north to Colombia and south to the Chilean coast. Coastal populations were apparently isolated from post-dispersal differentiation and homogenization that occurred in the Andes. Other data point toward a center of origin in the northern Andes with secondary centers of genetic diversity subsequently developing in the southern Andes and the plains of Argentina. Comparative linkage of South American taxa, all tetraploid, with North American tetraploids of the subsection will eventually clarify this problem. While the possibility of a direct phyletic connection betweenC. quinoa and the Mexican domesticate(C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae,) cannot be excluded, available evidence indicates that the latter represents an autonomous lineage that is associated with the basal tetraploid, C. b. subsp.berlandieri, through var.sinuatum, whereas South American taxa show possible affinities to either var. zschackei or var.berlandieri. An extinct domesticate of eastern North America,C. b. subsp.jonesianum, represents either another instance of independent domestication, possibly from subsp. b. var.zschackei, or a northeastern outlier of subsp.nuttalliae.     

Revision of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis> species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon</Emphasis> section <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccanthera</Emphasis> subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrulati</Emphasis>

A revision of Penstemon sect. Saccanthera subsect. Serrulati includes a new species (P. salmonensis), a new variety (P. triphyllus var. infernalis), and the elevation of a subspecies to species (P. curtiflorus), bringing the total number of species to eight, which are keyed and described, complete with nomenclature and type citations.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mellonella</Emphasis> are Resistant to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">murina</Emphasis> Infection

Studying Pneumocystis has proven to be a challenge from the perspective of propagating a significant amount of the pathogen in a facile manner. The study of several fungal pathogens has been aided by the use of invertebrate model hosts. Our efforts to infect the invertebrate larvae Galleria mellonella with Pneumocystis proved futile since P. murina neither caused disease nor was able to proliferate within G. mellonella. It did, however, show that the pathogen could be rapidly cleared from the host.     

Pedogamy in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neidium</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillariophyceae</Emphasis>)

Single (unpaired) vegetative cells of freshwater pennate diatom Neidium cf. ampliatum differentiated into gametangia and produced a single zygote (auxospore) via a pedogamic process. The gametic nuclei fused after auxospore expansion had begun. The auxospore expanded in parallel to the apical axis of the gametangium.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of callus cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crataegus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aronia</Emphasis>

A genetic transformation system has been developed for callus cells of Crataegus aronia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Callus culture was established from internodal stem segments incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 mg l⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). In order to optimize the callus culture system with respect to callus growth and coloration, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested. Results indicated that the best average fresh weight of red colored callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin) (callus maintenance medium). Callus cells were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium harboring the binary plasmid pCAMBIA1302 carrying the mgfp5 and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) genes conferring green fluorescent protein (GFP) activity and hygromycin resistance, respectively. Putative transgenic calli were obtained 4 weeks after incubation of the co-cultivated explants onto maintenance medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes in transformed callus. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in Crataegus aronia.     

The tyrosine <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-prenyltransferase SirD catalyzes <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>-prenylations

Recently, the prenyltransferase SirD was found to be responsible for the O-prenylation of tyrosine in the biosynthesis of sirodesmin PL in Leptosphaeria maculans. In this study, the behavior of SirD towards phenylalanine/tyrosine and tryptophan derivatives was investigated. Product formation has been observed with 12 of 19 phenylalanine/tyrosine derivatives. It was shown that the alanine structure attached to the benzene ring and an electron donor, e.g., OH or NH₂, at its para-position are essential for the enzyme activity. Modifications were possible both at the side chain and the benzene ring. Enzyme products from seven phenylalanine/tyrosine derivatives were isolated and characterized by MS and NMR analyses including HSQC and HMBC and proven to be O- or N-prenylated derivatives at position C4 of the benzene rings. K _M values of six selected derivatives were found in the range of 0.10–0.68 mM. Catalytic efficiencies (K _cat/K _M ) were determined in the range of 430–1,110 s⁻¹·M⁻¹ with l-tyrosine as the best substrate. In addition, 7 of 14 tested tryptophan analogs were also accepted by SirD and converted to C7-prenylated derivatives, which was confirmed by comparison with products obtained from enzyme assays using a 7-dimethylallyltryptophan synthase 7-DMATS from Aspergillus fumigatus.     

Three new coccidians (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyclospora</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eimeria</Emphasis>) from eastern moles, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scalopus aquaticus</Emphasis> (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Soricomorpha: Talpidae) from Arkansas,USA

Three new species of coccidians (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from eastern moles, Scalopus aquaticus (Linnaeus) from Arkansas. Oöcysts of Cyclospora duszynskii n. sp. are subspheroidal with a smooth bi-layered wall, measure 11.4 × 10.0 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a single polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 7.2 × 5.4 µm, L/W 1.3; an indistinct Stieda body is present, but the sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent and the sporocyst residuum is composed of medium to large granules of different sizes along the edge of the sporocyst. Oöcysts of Cyclospora yatesi n. sp. are subspheroidal to ovoidal with an ornate outer wall, measure 17.0 × 15.2 µm, L/W 1.1; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a single polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 9.7 × 7.3 µm, L/W 1.3; an indistinct Stieda body is present, but sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent and the sporocyst residuum is composed of medium to large granules of different sizes along the edge of the sporocyst. Oöcysts of Eimeria paulettefordae n. sp. are ovoidal to ellipsoidal with an ornate outer wall, measure 30.0 × 25.4 µm, L/W 1.2; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a single polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 12.6 × 9.2 µm, L/W 1.4; a button-like Stieda body is present, but sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent and the sporocyst residuum is composed of medium to large granules of different sizes along the edge of the sporocyst. These are the first coccidians described from Arkansas populations of S. aquaticus. In addition, a summary is provided on the cyclosporans and eimerians from North American talpids.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">briggsae</Emphasis> genome contains active <Emphasis Type="Italic">CbmaT1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tcb1</Emphasis> transposons

The maT clade of transposons is a group of transposable elements intermediate in sequence and predicted protein structure to mariner and Tc transposons, with a distribution thus far limited to a few invertebrate species. We present evidence, based on searches of publicly available databases, that the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae has several maT-like transposons, which we have designated as CbmaT elements, dispersed throughout its genome. We also describe two additional transposon sequences that probably share their evolutionary history with the CbmaT transposons. One resembles a fold back variant of a CbmaT element, with long (380-bp) inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) that show a high degree (71%) of identity to CbmaT1. The other, which shares only the 26-bp ITR sequences with one of the CbmaT variants, is present in eight nearly identical copies, but does not have a transposase gene and may therefore be cross mobilised by a CbmaT transposase. Using PCR-based mobility assays, we show that CbmaT1 transposons are capable of excising from the C. briggsae genome. CbmaT1 excised approximately 500 times less frequently than Tcb1 in the reference strain AF16, but both CbmaT1 and Tcb1 excised at extremely high frequencies in the HK105 strain. The HK105 strain also exhibited a high frequency of spontaneous induction of unc-22 mutants, suggesting that it may be a mutator strain of C. briggsae.     

Replication timing of large <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorex granarius</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Soricidae</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eulipotyphla</Emphasis>) telomeres

Previously, we described the unique feature of telomeric regions in Iberian shrew Sorex granarius: its telomeres have two ranges of size, very small (3.8 kb of telomeric repeats on average) and very large discontinuous telomeres (213 kb) interrupted with 18S rDNA. In this study, we have demonstrated extraordinary replication pattern of S. granarius large telomeres that have not been shown before in other studied mammal. Using the ReD-FISH procedure, we observed prolonged, through S period, large telomere replication. Furthermore, revealed ReD-FISH asymmetric signals were probably caused by partial replication of telomeres within an hour of 5-bromodeoxyuridine treatment due to the large size and special organization. We also found that in contrast to the telomeric halo from primary fibroblasts of bovine, mink, and common shrew, telomere halo of S. granarius consists of multiple loops bundled together, some of which contain rDNA. Here, we suggested several replicons firing possibly stochastic in each large telomere. Finally, we performed the TIF assay to reveal DNA damage responses at the telomeres, and along with TIF in nuclei, we found large bodies of telomeric DNA and ?-H2AX in the cytoplasm and on the surface of fibroblasts. We discuss the possibility of additional origin activation together with recombination-dependent replication pathways, mainly homologous recombination including BIR for replication fork stagnation overcoming and further S. granarius large telomere replication.     

Prevalence,intensity and associated factor analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tropilaelaps</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mercedesae</Emphasis> infesting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">mellifera</Emphasis> in China

Tropilaelaps mercedesae is a serious ectoparasite of Apis mellifera in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the infestation rates and intensity of T. mercedesae in A. mellifera in China, and to explore the relative importance of climate, district, management practices and beekeeper characteristics that are assumed to be associated with the intensity of T. mercedesae. Of the 410 participating apiaries, 379 apiaries were included in analyses of seasonal infestation rates and 352 apiaries were included in multivariable regression analysis. The highest infestation rate (86.3%) of T. mercedesae was encountered in autumn, followed by summer (66.5%), spring (17.2%) and winter (14.8%). In autumn, 28.9% (93) of the infested apiaries were in the north (including the northeast and northwest of China), 71.1% (229) were in the central and south (including east, southeast and southwest China), and 306 apiaries (82.9%) were co-infested by both T. mercedesae and Varroa. Multivariable regression analysis showed that geographical location, season, royal jelly collection and Varroa infestation were the factors that influence the intensity of T. mercedesae. The influence of beekeeper’s education, time of beekeeping, operation size, and hive migration on the intensity of T. mercedesa was not statistically significant. This study provided information about the establishment of the linkage of the environment and the parasite and could lead to better timing and methods of control.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phuphanochloa,</Emphasis> a new bamboo genus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poaceae</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bambusoideae</Emphasis>) from Thailand

Summary  A new monotypic bamboo genus Phuphanochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from north-eastern Thailand is described, together with a new species, P. speciosa.     

Tissue culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sinningia speciosa</Emphasis> and analysis of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>-generated <Emphasis Type="Italic">tricussate whorled phyllotaxis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">twp</Emphasis>) variant

Two protocols were developed for the efficient regeneration of Sinningia speciosa from leaf explants via two developmental pathways. The first method involved formation of callus and buds, followed by subsequent root growth, in Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) containing 2.0 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.2 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), with a regeneration efficiency of 99.0%. The second method involved producing callus and roots, followed by subsequent formation of buds, in MS medium supplemented with 1.0–5.0 mg l⁻¹ NAA, and resulted in a regeneration efficiency of 90.4%. Our experiments indicate that the root-first pathway resulted in a lower plant regeneration efficiency. Through five continual generations using the buds-first method, a total of 215 regenerated plants were obtained in the last generation, and eight exhibited a phenotype we named tricussate whorled phyllotaxis (twp). Six of the regenerated twp variant plants maintained their tricussate whorled phyllotaxis phenotype, showing no other abnormalities, while one reverted to a wild type before flowering and another formed two rounds of sepals. Physiological analysis revealed that the twp plants responded differently than wild type to exogenous NAA and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), while high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that the levels of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (GA) were lower in twp than wild-type plants. These results suggest that the formation of the twp mutant may be related to phytohormones and that the twp variant could be an important material for investigating the molecular mechanism of plant phyllotaxis patterning.