Assessing bat droppings and predatory bird pellets for vector-borne bacteria: molecular evidence of bat-associated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neorickettsia</Emphasis> sp. in Europe

In Europe, several species of bats, owls and kestrels exemplify highly urbanised, flying vertebrates, which may get close to humans or domestic animals. Bat droppings and bird pellets may have epidemiological, as well as diagnostic significance from the point of view of pathogens. In this work 221 bat faecal and 118 bird pellet samples were screened for a broad range of vector-borne bacteria using PCR-based methods. Rickettsia DNA was detected in 13 bat faecal DNA extracts, including the sequence of a rickettsial insect endosymbiont, a novel Rickettsia genotype and Rickettsia helvetica. Faecal samples of the pond bat (Myotis dasycneme) were positive for a Neorickettsia sp. and for haemoplasmas of the haemofelis group. In addition, two bird pellets (collected from a Long-eared Owl, Asio otus, and from a Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus) contained the DNA of a Rickettsia sp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, respectively. In both of these bird pellets the bones of Microtus arvalis were identified. All samples were negative for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Francisella tularensis, Coxiella burnetii and Chlamydiales. In conclusion, bats were shown to pass rickettsia and haemoplasma DNA in their faeces. Molecular evidence is provided for the presence of Neorickettsia sp. in bat faeces in Europe. In the evaluated regions bat faeces and owl/kestrel pellets do not appear to pose epidemiological risk from the point of view of F. tularensis, C. burnetii and Chlamydiales. Testing of bird pellets may provide an alternative approach to trapping for assessing the local occurrence of vector-borne bacteria in small mammals.     

Molecular Phylogeny of Serotines (Mammalia,Chiroptera, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eptesicus</Emphasis>): Evolutionary and Taxonomical Aspects of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. serotinus</Emphasis> Species Group

This article provides a phylogenetic analysis of five nuclear and mitochondrial cytochrome b genes of palaearctic serotines. Nuclear data yield five monophyletic clades: Botta’s serotine and the South African long-tailed house bat E. hottentottus; the common serotine bat (including all studied E. serotinus subspecies and andersoni form of undefined status) and the meridional serotine E. isabellinus; the Gobi serotine, including Bobrinski’s serotine; the northern bat; and New World serotines. We found latest taxonomic decisions regarding mirza and pachyomus questionable and needing further revision. The significant inconsistency between mitochondrial and nuclear phylogenies obtained for genes of different inheritance systems suggests repetitive introgression events in the evolution of the genus.     

Lactate Dehydrogenase Isozymes in the Tissues of Hibernating Bats (Chiroptera)

A comparative electrophoretic assay of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) isozymes has been carried out in the homogenates of the tissues of cardiac and skeletal muscles, liver, kidneys and lungs of five species of hibernating bats of the order Chiroptera: the northern bat Eptesicus nilssonii Keyserling and Blasius, the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus L., Brandt’s bat Myotis brandtii Eversmann, Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii Kuhl, and the whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus Kuhl, which live in Karelia near the northern border of their distribution area. High contents of aerobic lactate dehydrogenase 1 and lactate dehydrogenase 2 isozymes have been detected in the skeletal muscle of the studied bats. The lactate dehydrogenase isozyme spectra of the tissues of kidneys and skeletal muscles from the smaller representatives of bats (the whiskered and Brandt’s bats) contained the highest content of H subunits among the studied species. In contrast, the predominance of M subunits has been revealed in the lactate dehydrogenase isozyme spectra of the kidneys of the northern and the brown long-eared bats. The discovered interspecies differences are discussed in the context of the adaptation of bats to hibernation.     

Comparison of rice flowering-time genes under paddy conditions

Heading date is one of most important agronomic traits in rice. Flowering regulatory mechanisms have been elucidated in many cultivars through various approaches. Although study about flowering has been extensively examined in rice, but contributions of floral regulators had been poorly understood in a common genetic background for rice grown under paddy conditions. Thus, we compared the expression of 10 flowering-time genes — OsMADS50, OsMADS51, OsVIL2, OsPhyA, OsPhyB, OsPhyC, Ghd7, Hd1, OsGI, and OsTrx1 — in the same genetic background for ‘Dongjin’ rice (Oryza sativa) grown under paddy conditions when days were longer than 13.5 h. Whereas the wild type (WT) rice flowered 105 days after sowing, the latest mutant to do so was ostrx1, flowering 53 d later. This indicated that the gene is the strongest inducer among all of those examined. Mutations in OsMADS50 delayed flowering by 45 d when compared with the WT, suggesting that this MADS gene is another strong positive element. The third positive element was OsVIL2; mutations in the gene caused plants to flower 27 d late. In contrast, the double phytochrome mutant osphyA osphyB flowered 44 d earlier than the WT. The single mutant osphyB and the double mutant osphyB osphyC did the same, although not as early as the osphyA osphyB double mutant. These results demonstrated that phytochromes are major inhibitors under paddy conditions. Mutations in Ghd7 accelerated flowering by 34 d, indicating that the gene is also a major inhibitor. The hd1 mutants flowered 16 d earlier than the WT while a mutation in OsGI hastened flowering by 10 d, suggesting that both are weak flowering repressors. Of the two florigen genes (Hd3a being the other one), RFT1 played a major role under paddy conditions. Its expression was strongly promoted by Ehd1, which was negatively controlled by Ghd7. Here we show that phytochromes strongly inhibit flowering and OsTrx1 and OsMADS50 significantly induce flowering under paddy conditions through Ghd7-Ehd1-RFT1 pathway. Thus, we may be able to control heading date under paddy conditions through manipulating those genes, Ghd7, Ehd1 and RFT1.     

Coexistence of multiple coronaviruses in several bat colonies in an abandoned mineshaft

Since the 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) outbreak prompted a search for the natural reservoir of the SARS coronavirus, numerous alpha- and betacoronaviruses have been discovered in bats around the world. Bats are likely the natural reservoir of alpha- and betacoronaviruses, and due to the rich diversity and global distribution of bats, the number of bat coronaviruses will likely increase. We conducted a surveillance of coronaviruses in bats in an abandoned mineshaft in Mojiang County, Yunnan Province, China, from 2012–2013. Six bat species were frequently detected in the cave: Rhinolophus sinicus, Rhinolophus affinis, Hipposideros pomona, Miniopterus schreibersii, Miniopterus fuliginosus, and Miniopterus fuscus. By sequencing PCR products of the coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene(Rd Rp), we found a high frequency of infection by a diverse group of coronaviruses in different bat species in the mineshaft. Sequenced partial Rd Rp fragments had 80%–99% nucleic acid sequence identity with well-characterized Alphacoronavirus species, including Bt CoV HKU2, Bt CoV HKU8, and Bt CoV1,and unassigned species Bt CoV HKU7 and Bt CoV HKU10. Additionally, the surveillance identified two unclassified betacoronaviruses, one new strain of SARS-like coronavirus, and one potentially new betacoronavirus species. Furthermore, coronavirus co-infection was detected in all six bat species, a phenomenon that fosters recombination and promotes the emergence of novel virus strains. Our findings highlight the importance of bats as natural reservoirs of coronaviruses and the potentially zoonotic source of viral pathogens.     

Addenda to the Revisions of the Genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gergithus</Emphasis> Stål and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hemisphaerius</Emphasis> Schaum (Hemiptera,Auchenorrhyncha, Fulgoroidea: Issidae)

The genus Gnezdilovius Meng, Webb et Wang, 2017 is revised. Maculergithus Constant et Pham, 2016, which was described as a subgenus of Gergithus Stål, 1870, is upgraded to a genus. Ishiharanus Hori, 1969 is reinstalled from synonymy with Gergithus and considered a valid name. Two new genera are erected, Ceratogergithus Gnezdilov, gen. n. (type species: Gergithus spinosus Che, Zhang et Wang, 2007) and Ophthalmosphaerius Gnezdilov, gen. n. (type species: Hernisphaerius trilobulus Che, Zhang et Wang, 2006). Hernisphaerius bistriatus Schumacher, 1915, Gergithus carbonarius Melichar, 1906, G. rosticus Chan et Yang, 1994, G. nummarius Chan et Yang, 1994, and G. rotundus Chan et Yang, 1994 are transferred to the genus Epyhemisphaerius Chan et Yang, 1994, Gergithus quinquemaculatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007—to the genus Maculergithus, Gergithus chelatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007 and G. pseudotessellatus Che, Zhang, Wang, 2007—to the genus Ceratogergithus, Hernisphaerius binocularis Chen, Zhang, Chang, 2014—to the genus Ophthalmosphaerius, and Gergithus robustus hoozanensis Schumacher, 1915—to the genus Gnezdilovius. The male genitalia of Gergithus herbaceus (Kirby, 1891) and Hernisphaerius interclusus Noualhier, 1896 are illustrated for the first time.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite marker loci in the Wagner’s mustached bat <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pteronotus psilotis</Emphasis> (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) and cross-amplification in other related species

Pteronotus psilotis, a mormoopid bat, is an insectivorous, gregarious and strict cave-dwelling species that is found areas between the sea level and an elevation of about 1000 masl. This species is present in diverse habitats ranging from rain forest to dry deciduous forest. Nine microsatellite loci were developed for Wagner’s mustached bat, Pteronotus psilotis using the next-generation sequencing approach, and their utility for population genetics studies was assessed. All loci were polymorphic (7–15 alleles) and characterized in 30 individuals from three P. psilotis populations, with the levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.280 to 0.867 and 0.584 to 0.842, respectively. One locus showed significant departures from Hardy–Weinberg expectations after Bonferroni correction. Cross-amplification in 11 other bat species was tested, for which eight microsatellites were successfully amplified, and of these seven were polymorphic. The development of these new microsatellite loci will contribute to investigations of genetic population structure, genetic diversity and gene flow in P. psilotis populations, as well as in other closely related bat species.     

Features of the Biology of the False Zokor (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myospalax aspalax</Emphasis>, Rodentia,Spalacidae) from Eastern Transbaikalia

The features, population characteristics of reproduction, nutrition, and lifestyle of an extremely poorly studied narrow-range species of underground rodents—the false zokor (Myospalax aspalax)—have been described on the basis of original field materials. The data were obtained within the Russian part of the species range in Zabaikal’skii krai. The false zokor is characterized by a pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size (males are larger) and a predominance of females in the population. Mating takes place in April; at other times of the year, zokors lead a solitary lifestyle. The size of the brood is small: 3.7 embryos per breeding female. Their preferred food is bulbs and rhizomes of Allium, Thermopsis, Phragmites, and Leymus. In Eastern Transbaikalia, they are active in winter.     

Development of an STS map of an interspecific progeny of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Malus</Emphasis>

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed from Malus, as well as Prunus, Pyrus and Sorbus, and some other sequence-tagged site (STS) loci were analysed in an interspecific F₁ apple progeny from the cross ‘Fiesta’ × ‘Totem’ that segregated for several agronomic characters. A linkage map was constructed using 259 STS loci (247 SSRs, four SCARs and eight known-function genes) and five genes for agronomic traits—scab resistance (Vf), mildew resistance (Pl-2), columnar growth habit (Co), red tissues (Rt) and green flesh background colour (Gfc). Ninety SSR loci and three genes (ETR1, Rt and Gfc) were mapped for the first time in apple. The transferability of markers from other Maloideae to Malus was found to be around 44%. The loci are spread across 17 linkage groups, corresponding to the basic chromosome number of Malus and cover 1,208 cM, approximately 85% of the estimated length of the apple genome. Interestingly, we have extended the top of LG15 with eight markers covering 25 cM. The average map density is 4.7 cM per marker; however, marker density varies greatly between linkage groups, from 2.5 in LG14 to 8.9 in LG7, with some areas of the genome still in need of further STS markers for saturation.     

A novel approach to studying the structural and functional properties of proteins with unknown functions

Three proteins from extremophilic bacteria—hypothetical monooxygenase from Deinococcus radiodurans, hypothetical nucleotidyl transferase from Thermotoga maritime, and hypothetical oxidoreductase from Exiguobacterium sibiricum—and the DJ-1 chaperone protein from Homo sapiens have been produced in Escherichia coli. The isolation and purification procedures developed for the recombinant proteins allowed us to achieve yields higher than 96%. Crystallization conditions enabling stable growth of crystals have been determined. X-ray experiments have been performed to test the quality of the crystals and the resolution achieved ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 Å.     

Species structure and dynamics of bat communities (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of Samara Luka

Long-term data on the composition and absolute and relative abundance of eight bat species hibernating in artificial caves of Samara Luka are considered. About 13 000 hibernating individuals are annually accounted there. The relative abundance of the species decreased in the following order: Myotis brandtii (35%), Plecotus auritus (20%), M. daubentonii (13%), M. mystacinus (13%), Eptesicus nilssonii (8%), M. dasycneme (8%), and M. nattereri (2%). Singular E. serotinus were recorded not every year. The number of hibernating animals in pits was proportional to their size and the number of shelters. Bats used previously chosen shelters and were never found in adjacent caves. The maximum species diversity (H’) and evenness (E) were observed in bat communities in medium-sized caves. One of the main factors of increasing abundance of hibernating bats in abandoned pits is their gradual colonization by the animals.     

A study of the intestinal microbiomes of the Lake Baikal oilfishes (Cottoidei,Comephoridae)

A comparative analysis of the intestinal microbiomes of some representatives of the Lake Baikal endemic family Comephoridae—the big oilfish Comephorus baicalensis (Pallas, 1776) and the little oilfish C. dybowski (Korotneff, 1904)—has been performed for the first time. The phylotype Akkermansia (phylum Verrucomicrobia) was detected in the C. dybowski microbiome, while Alistipes, Bacteroides, Chryseobacterium, Prevotella (Bacteroidetes), and Peptoniphilus (Firmicutes), were found in the C. baicalensis microbiome. Their presence in the intestine is associated with an elevated lipid uptake or an increase in the human and animal body weight. It is hypothesized that these microorganisms are involved in the lipid metabolism of the oilfish and determine their morphophysiological adaptations to pelagic life.     

Trilobites of the Galgenberg Member (Tannenknock Formation), middle Cambrian Stage 5, Franconian Forest,Germany: a paradigmatic lowermost middle Cambrian West Gondwanan fauna

Earliest middle Cambrian rocks in the Franconian Forest, formerly known as the ‘Galgenberg Formation’, include a moderately diverse fauna with a characteristic West Gondwanan, Atlas-type trilobite assemblage with often surprisingly well-preserved specimens. The hitherto inadequately characterised and poorly described assemblage includes Kingaspidoides frankenwaldensis, K. sp. aff. usitata, K. alberti sp. nov., K. meieri sp. nov., K.? sp. A, Ornamentaspis cf. crassilimbata, Latikingaspis sp. aff. alatus, Enixus sp. aff. juvenis, Acadoparadoxides sp. A, Parasolenopleura wurmi sp. nov., Parasolenopleura parabolica sp. nov. and Acanthomicmacca franconica Geyer, 2016. In addition to precise documentation of the species’ morphology and ontogenetic development, this study exemplifies allometric developments during the ontogeny of ellipsocephaloid and early solenopleurid trilobites, particularly Kingaspidoides and Parasolenopleura, and effects of deformation and distortion caused by diagenesis and tectonics. It further discusses the aspects of the trilobites’ ecology and taphonomy, and it characterises generic differences within the Kingaspis clade, particularly of Kingaspidoides, Latikingaspis and Ornamentaspis.     

New insight into the species diversity and life cycles of rust fungi (Pucciniales) affecting bioenergy switchgrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Panicum virgatum</Emphasis>) in the Eastern and Central United States

Research was undertaken to clarify the taxonomic identity of leaf rust (Pucciniales) fungi on bioenergy switchgrass in the Eastern and Central U.S. We integrated internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and partial 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequence data from collections taken from cultivated switchgrass and herbarium specimens, including purported aecial and telial states of Puccinia graminicola and Puccinia pammelii. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses revealed four monophyletic clades: Puccinia emaculata sensu stricto (s.s.), P. pammelii, P. graminicola, and Puccinia novopanici. Results also indicated that P. emaculata s.s. was not affecting cultivated, bioenergy switchgrass. Aecidium pammelii and P. pammelii were distinct phylogenetically from P. emaculata s.s. and grouped within a well-supported clade, demonstrating aecial-telial host alternation for P. pammelii between Euphorbia corollata and switchgrass. Aecidium stillingiae on queen’s delight (Stillingia sylvatica)—a purported aecial state host for P. graminicola—shared identical sequences with the recently described species Puccinia pascua. The latter fungus, however, was recovered within a subclade of P. graminicola. Hence, queen’s delight likely is not an aecial host to P. graminicola s.s. Additional molecular studies are warranted to determine species boundaries within the P. graminicola complex. The majority of contemporary collections from cultivated switchgrass were recognized as P. novopanici. Collectively, bioenergy switchgrass is host to at least three phylogenetically distinct species, presenting a significant challenge to the future selection and breeding of switchgrass with improved rust resistance.     

The evolution of syntactic structure

Two new books—Creating Language: Integrating Evolution, Acquisition, and Processing by Morten H. Christiansen and Nick Chater, and Why Only Us: Language and Evolution by Robert C. Berwick and Noam Chomsky—present a good opportunity to assess the state of the debate about whether or not language was made possible by language-specific adaptations for syntax. Berwick and Chomsky argue yes: language was made possible by a single change to the computation Merge. Christiansen and Chater argue no: our syntactic abilities developed on the back of natural selection for general-purpose sequence learning mechanisms. While Christiansen and Chater’s book testifies to impressive developments in constructivist approaches to language development, it’s not obvious that it has the resources to explain the hierarchical nature of syntactic binding. Despite this, the views have much in common.     

Steps to a Semiotics of Being

The following points, which represent a path to a semiotics of being, are pertinent to various sub-fields at the conjunction of semiotics of nature (biosemiotics, ecosemiotics, zoosemiotics) and semiotics of culture—semioethics and existential semiotics included. 1) Semiotics of being entails inquiry at all levels of biological organization, albeit, wherever there are individuals, with emphasis on the living qua individuals (integrated biological individualism). 2) An Umwelt is the public aspect (cf. the Innenwelt, the private aspect) of a phenomenal/experienced world that is organism-specific (rather than species-specific) and ultimately refers to an existential realm. 3) Existential universals at work on Earth include seeking out the edible, dwelling in a medium, holding a phenomenal world (possibly an Umwelt) and being endowed with life, and consequently being mortal. 4) Human Umwelten include speechless Umwelten, spoken Umwelten and alphabetic Umwelten. 5) An Uexküllian phenomenology—stating that semiotic states represent the general class to which all mental/cognitive states belong—can draw on the works of the phenomenologists David Abram and Ted Toadvine (The notion of semiotic states is treated in Tønnessen 2009a: 62–63. For an introduction to eco-phenomenology, see Brown and Toadvine (eds.) 2003). 6) A task for such a phenomenology is to portray the natural history of the phenomenal world. 7) An imperative task in our contemporary world of faltering biological diversity is that of Umwelt mapping, i.e. a mapping of ontological niches. 8) The ecological crisis is an ontological crisis with historical roots in humankind’s domestication of animals and plants, which can be taken as archetypical for our attempted planet-scale taming of the wild. 9) The process of globalization is expressed by correlated trends of depletion of semiotic diversity and semiotic diversification. 10) Semiotic economy is a field which task it is to map the human ontological niche insofar as its semiotic relations are of an economic nature. All ten points will be commented (explicitly or implicitly) in due time.     

The State of Ethnoprimatology: Its Use and Potential in Today’s Primate Research

The human–primate interface is an increasingly relevant theme in primatological research. To understand the extent of ethoprimatological studies in contemporary primatology, we explored 7 years of primatological literature through a systematic review. We reviewed original research papers published in the American Journal of Primatology, the International Journal of Primatology, Primates, and Folia Primatologica between January 2010 and December 2016 for the presence of 14 search terms relevant to the ethnoprimatological approach. We sorted research papers into topical categories to identify trends in the recent primatological literature. Of the 1551 papers that met the criteria for inclusion in this review, 12 papers (0.8%) self-identified as an ethnoprimatological study by using the term in the title or keywords, and only 17 papers (1.1%) used the term anywhere in their text. However, the presence of other relevant keywords—anthropogenic (16.3%), crop (9.1%), disturbance (18.7%), conflict (6.2%), human–nonhuman (0.5%), human–primate (1.0%), interface (1.5%), perception (2.5%), culture (2.6%), ethnography (0.1%), trade (6.8%), provision (16.1%), and tourism (4.6%)—in a variety of research papers suggests that the human–primate dimension is salient for many, if not most, areas of primatological interest. The ethnoprimatological approach is relevant to every research trend we identified in today’s primatology. We highlight existing literature that exemplifies ethnoprimatological engagement and present potential research questions in each area, demonstrating that primatology as a whole would benefit from greater attention to the human dimension.