A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Centrorhynchus</Emphasis> Lühe, 1911 (Acanthocephala: Centrorhynchidae) from the lizard buzzard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kaupifalco monogrammicus</Emphasis> (Temminck) (Aves: Accipitridae) in South Africa

Centrorhynchus sarehae n. sp. is described from the lizard buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus (Temminik) in Louis Trichardt City, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The new species can be distinguished from all other species of Centrorhynchus Lühe, 1911 except C. gendrei (Golvan, 1957) and C. mariauxi Smales, 2011 in having a dilated region in the posterior trunk of the female. Centrorhynchus sarehae differs from both these species in the characters of the proboscis armature, particularly the number of hooks per row and the lengths of the longest hooks. This is the first record of a fully identified species of Centrorhynchus in South Africa.     

Nodal and BMP expression during the transition to pentamery in the sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heliocidaris erythrogramma</Emphasis>: insights into patterning the enigmatic echinoderm body plan

Background

The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the unusual echinoderm pentameral body plan and their likeness to mechanisms underlying the development of the bilateral plans of other deuterostomes are of interest in tracing body plan evolution. In this first study of the spatial expression of genes associated with Nodal and BMP2/4 signalling during the transition to pentamery in sea urchins, we investigate Heliocidaris erythrogramma, a species that provides access to the developing adult rudiment within days of fertilization.

Results

BMP2/4, and the putative downstream genes, Six1/2, Eya, Tbx2/3 and Msx were expressed in the earliest morphological manifestation of pentamery during development, the five hydrocoele lobes. The formation of the vestibular ectoderm, the specialized region overlying the left coelom that forms adult ectoderm, involved the expression of putative Nodal target genes Chordin, Gsc and BMP2/4 and putative BMP2/4 target genes Dlx, Msx and Tbx. The expression of Nodal, Lefty and Pitx2 in the right ectoderm, and Pitx2 in the right coelom, was as previously observed in other sea urchins.

Conclusion

That genes associated with Nodal and BMP2/4 signalling are expressed in the hydrocoele lobes, indicates that they have a role in the developmental transition to pentamery, contributing to our understanding of how the most unusual body plan in the Bilateria may have evolved. We suggest that the Nodal and BMP2/4 signalling cascades might have been duplicated or split during the evolution to pentamery.

     

First report on cystacanths of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphaerirostris lanceoides</Emphasis> (Petrochenko, 1949) (Acanthocephala: Centrorhynchidae) from the Asiatic toad <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bufo gargarizans</Emphasis> Cantor (Amphibia: Anura) in China

Everted cystacanths of Sphaerirostris lanceoides (Petrochenko, 1949) Golvan 1956 are reported from the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans Cantor (Amphibia: Anura) for the first time. The prevalence was 1.96% and the intensity ranged between 1.0–3.0 acanthocephalans. SEM observations revealed the morphology of the gonopore and the presence of a flat, bare region on the apical part of the proboscis. Moreover, S. lanceoides was characterised using molecular approaches by sequencing the ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the mitochondrial cox1 gene. The resulting ITS sequences were identical and the cox1 sequences showed a divergence of 0–0.75%. Sphaerirostris lanceoides is the first species of the genus for which the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and cox1 loci have been sequenced to aid species identification.     

Comparative pan genome analysis of oral <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prevotella</Emphasis> species implicated in periodontitis

Prevotella is part of the oral bacterial community implicated in periodontitis. Pan genome analyses of eight oral Prevotella species, P. dentalis, P. enoeca, P. fusca, P. melaninogenica, P. denticola, P. intermedia 17, P. intermedia 17-2 and P. sp. oral taxon 299 are presented in this study. Analysis of the Prevotella pan genome revealed features such as secretion systems, resistance to oxidative stress and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas systems that enable the bacteria to adapt to the oral environment. We identified the presence of type VI secretion system (T6SS) in P. fusca and P. intermedia strains. For some VgrG and Hcp proteins which were not part of the core T6SS loci, we used gene neighborhood analysis and identified putative effector proteins and putative polyimmunity loci in P. fusca and polymorphic toxin systems in P. intermedia strains. Earlier studies have identified the presence of Por secretion system (PorSS) in P. gingivalis, P. melaninogenica and P. intermedia. We noted the presence of their homologs in six other oral Prevotella studied here. We suggest that in Prevotella, PorSS is used to secrete cysteine proteases such as interpain and C-terminal domain containing proteins with a “Por_secre_tail” domain. We identified subtype I-B CRISPR-Cas system in P. enoeca. Putative CRISPR-Cas system subtypes for 37 oral Prevotella and 30 non-oral Prevotella species were also predicted. Further, we performed a BLASTp search of the Prevotella proteins which are also conserved in the red-complex pathogens, against the human proteome to identify potential broad-spectrum drug targets. In summary, the use of a pan genome approach enabled identification of secretion systems and defense mechanisms in Prevotella that confer adaptation to the oral cavity.     

Revision of the shield-bug genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Holcostethus</Emphasis> Fieber and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peribalus</Emphasis> Mulsant et Rey (Heteroptera,Pentatomidae) of the Palaearctic Region

A complex of the heteropteran genera centering around Peribalus Mulsant et Rey and Holcostethus Fieber is considered. The genus Dryadocoris Kirkaldy reveals no relationship with the above genera and is believed to represent a separate clade of the family Pentatomidae. The genera Peribalus and Holcostethus are revised. The former includes three subgenera: Peribalus s. str. with two species, Asioperibalus subgen. n. (type species Cimex inclusus Dohrn) with six species, and Tianocoris subgen. n. (type species Holcostethus manifestus Kiritshenko) with two species. Holcostethus embraces two subgenera: Holcostethus s. str. and the monotypic Enigmocoris subgen. n. (type species H. fissiceps Horváth). Two new species are described: Peribalus tianshanicus sp. n. from the Tien Shan Mts. and P. przewalskii sp. n. from the northern part of China (Huan He River). P. capitatus Jakovlev and P. vernalis (Wolff) are downgraded to subspecies of P. strictus (F.). P. ovatus Jakovlev is synonymized with P. inclusus (Dohrn). Two new monotypic genera related to the revised complex of genera are established, Paraholcostethus gen. n. (type species Peribalus breviceps Horváth) and Himalayastethus gen. n. (type species H. pilosus sp. n. from Kashmir). A key to, and morphometric characters for all the taxa considered are provided. The key characters, including both male and female genitalia, are illustrated, and distributional maps are given.     

Comparative study of bisected proboscides of Pycnogonida

To comparatively describe “inner” pharynx armatures in pycnogonids, we bisected proboscides of Achelia langi (Dohrn, 1881), Anoplodactylus californicus Hall, 1912, Ascorhynchus castellioides Stock, 1957, Austrodecus glaciale Hodgson, 1907, Callipallene margarita (Gordon, 1932), Colossendeis macerrima Wilson, 1881, Endeis spinosa (Montagu, 1808), Nymphon macronyx Sars, 1877, Pallenopsis patagonica (Hoek, 1881), Pantopipetta sp., Pigrogromitus timsanus Calman, 1927, and Pycnogonum litorale (Strøm, 1762) and analyzed them with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, proboscides were stained with actin green to visualize the muscle arrangement with fluorescence and confocal microscopes (A. langi) and were analyzed with microcomputed X-ray tomography (μCT; Ascorhynchus japonicus). As a result of our observations, sets of characters that vary between taxa are established. These traits include length and width of proboscis, shape and structure of the inner mouth opening, borders and armature of the antimeres, shape and position of denticle arrays and rows, relative length of pharyngeal filter apparatus, and arrangement and structure of the filter bristles. Analyses of these characters indicate a substantial variability on the pantopod’s proboscis inner surface probably as an adaptation to different food sources. Finally, we suggest that the presence of the oyster basket represents a ground pattern character of Pycnogonida.     

Histological structure of the mouthparts,clypeo-cibarial system,and cephalic foregut in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Philoliche rondani</Emphasis> (Diptera,Tabanidae, Pangoniinae)

The leading factor responsible for the evolution of Philoliche rondani mouthparts, as well as those of the other long-proboscid Pangoniinae, appears to be adaptation to the intake of nectar from concealed sources (flowers with elongated floral tube). Adaptations to blood-sucking, inherent only in females, have morphogenetic and behavioral aspects. Philoliche rondani males, as compared to males of Tabanus-like species, have better developed clypeus, labrum, and labium. The presence of a long proboscis has led to transformation of the labial musculature and complication of the food canal structure. During the intake of nectar, the distalmost portion of this canal is formed only by the labium. The lateral labial folds form a peculiar closing apparatus. The cibarial and pharyngeal pumps of Philoliche rondani are similar to those of other tabanids investigated.     

Three new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> species from marine subaqueous soils

During investigation of the mycobiota in the Sea of Okhotsk, three new Penicillium species were isolated from subaqueous soils collected in the Sakhalin Gulf and in the northeastern part of the Sakhalin shelf, near the Piltun Bay. According to Raper and Thom’s classification, the newly described species P. piltunense, P. ochotense, and P. attenuatum belong to subsection Divaricata. Two analyses were performed to reveal the phylogenetic relationships of the putative new species with other Penicillium species. Phylogenetically, the new species are related to the members of the P. canescens group and share some morphological and physiological features with them. However, they differ in having a larger colony diameter that makes them similar to P. atrovenetum, P. coralligerum, and P. antarcticum. A detailed analysis based on ITS, combined β-tubulin and calmodulin datasets, and morphological features revealed that the new species formed a distinct group inside the P. atrovenetum subclade. Moreover, P. attenuatum differs from the other two species macro- and micromorphologically and may represent a distinct phylogenetic lineage.     

Reproductive tables of predatory phytoseiid mites (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytoseiulus persimilis,Galendromus occidentalis</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoseiulus cucumeris</Emphasis>)

Feeding of predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis, Galendromus occidentalis, and Neoseiulus cucumeris) on different life stages of Tetranychus atlanticus under optimal conditions was studied. Daily and total consumption of prey by predators and selection of prey of different life stages were studied for 5 days and for the entire feeding period. Average daily food consumption [number of individuals] for the entire life period of mature mite females constituted 0.43 females + 5.0 [nymphs and males] + 3.4 eggs of Tetranychus atlanticus in P. persimilis; 0.12 females + 3.70 [nymphs and males] + 3.10 eggs in G. occidentalis; and 0.19 females + 4.10 [nymphs and males] + 3.50 eggs in N. cucumeris. During the entire period of feeding, P. persimilis preferred large individuals and at the postembryonic stages selected prey to a greater extent than G. occidentalis and N. cucumeris (61.8 and 55.1%, respectively). The use of a 5-day express-method is possible for estimation of some biological characteristics of phytoseiids that previously consumed the same food for a long period. In other cases, analysis of characteristics for the entire life period is necessary.     

Revision of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Poromitra</Emphasis> (Melamphaidae): Part 3. Species of group <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. cristiceps: P. cristiceps P. nigrofulva,P. frontosa,P. nigriceps</Emphasis>

On a large collection of material, a revision of mesopelagic fish of the genus Poromitra (family Melamphaidae) belonging to the group of species P. cristiceps was performed. The most typical characteristic of this group is the structure of the praeoperculum, in which bony crests of the anterior margin are at an acute angle to each other and in the posterior angular part there is usually an unspined notch. In the paper, the validity of four species of this group that were previously considered synonyms of the cosmopolitan species P. crassiceps is restored. P. cristiceps inhabits the northern part of the Pacific Ocean (to the north of 25–30° N), P. nigrofulva and P. frontosa inhabit tropical waters of the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean, and P. nigriceps inhabits the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, from Greenland to the Azorres.     

Comparison of trophic function between the globally invasive crayfishes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pacifastacus leniusculus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Procambarus clarkii</Emphasis>

Impacts of invasive species may manifest most strongly if these organisms are highly distinct functionally from the native species they often replace. Yet, should we expect functional differences between native and invasive species of generalist organisms like freshwater crayfish? Some existing evidence has pointed to native and invasive crayfish species as ecologically equivalent. We contribute to this literature by comparing the trophic niches of the globally invasive crayfishes Pacifastacus leniusculus and Procambarus clarkii, by applying carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses to replicated allopatric (alone) and sympatric (together) lake populations in western Washington State, USA, where P. clarkii has been recently introduced and P. leniusculus is presumed native. Our study corrected for potential inherent differences in lake food webs as a consequence of lake abiotic or biotic characteristics using random effects in linear mixed effects models. We found that although overall trophic niche size or area of these species was not significantly different, P. leniusculus was significantly higher in trophic position than P. clarkii when also accounting for the effects of body size, sex, and lakes as random effects. This pattern of increased trophic position of P. leniusculus over P. clarkii was conserved over time in one sympatric lake for which we had data over multiple years. Cumulatively, our findings point to trophic differences between the globally cosmopolitan crayfishes P. leniusculus and P. clarkii, particularly when accounting for the ways that ecosystem context can affect food web structure of communities and the trophic resources available to these consumers.     

Morphological and molecular data for a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pomphorhynchus</Emphasis> Monticelli, 1905 (Acanthocephala: Pomphorhynchidae) in the Mexican redhorse <Emphasis Type="Italic">Moxostoma austrinum</Emphasis> Bean (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) in central Mexico

Pomphorhynchus purhepechus n. sp. is described from the intestine of the Mexican redhorse Moxostoma austrinum Bean (Catostomidae) in central Mexico. The new species can be distinguished from the other seven described species of Pomphorhynchus Monticelli, 1905 in the Americas by a subspherical proboscis and 14 longitudinal rows with 16–18 hooks each; the third and the fourth row of hooks are alternately longest. Sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene and the large subunit (LSU) rDNA (including the domains D2-D3) were used to corroborate the morphological distinction between the new species and Pomphorhynchus bulbocolli Linkins in Van Cleave, 1919, a species widely distributed in several freshwater fish species across Canada, USA, and Mexico. The genetic divergence estimated between the new species and the isolates of P. bulbocolli ranged between 13 and 14% for cox1, and between 0.6 and 0.8% for LSU. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of each dataset showed that the isolates of P. bulbocolli parasitising freshwater fishes from three families, the Catostomidae, Cyprinidae and Centrarchidae, represent a separate lineage, and that the acanthocephalans collected from two localities in central Mexico comprise an independent lineage. In addition, our analysis of the genetic variation of P. bulbocolli demonstrates that individuals of this acanthocephalan from different host species are conspecific. Finally, the distribution, host-association, and phylogenetic relationship of the new species, when placed in the context of the region’s geological history, suggest that both host and parasite underwent speciation after their ancestors became isolated in Central Mexico.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Protocotyle euzetmaillardi</Emphasis> n. sp. (Monogenea: Hexabothriidae) from the bigeye sixgill shark <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hexanchus nakamurai</Emphasis> Teng (Elasmobranchii: Hexanchidae) off New Caledonia

Protocotyle euzetmaillardi n. sp. is described from the gills of the sixgill shark Hexanchus nakamurai Teng caught in deep-sea off New Caledonia, South Pacific. The new species is compared with the two other species of the genus (both from the only other species in this shark genus, H. griseus (Bonn.)), namely P. grisea (Cerfontaine, 1899) Euzet &; Maillard, 1974, redescribed from vouchers, and P. taschenbergi (Maillard &; Oliver, 1966) Euzet &; Maillard, 1974, redescribed from its type-specimens. The anatomy of the reproductive system is detailed; all three species have a characteristic oötype with longitudinal cells (‘ootype côtelé’ of Euzet &; Maillard). The following unique combination of characters differentiates the new species from its two congeners: posterior lobe of seminal vesicle absent, diverticulum of oviduct present and small body size. Furthermore, its tubular ovary does not include a region with sperm, which is present in both of the other species, and its eggs have only one filament, whereas eggs in the uterus have one or two filaments in P. grisea and one filament in P. taschenbergi. The latter features differ from existing diagnoses of Protocotyle, in which eggs with two filaments and the presence of a tubular ovary dilated with sperm are key characteristics.     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podocotyloides</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), resurrection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pedunculacetabulum</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1934 and the naming of a cryptic opecoelid species

Despite morphological and ecological inconsistencies among species, all plagioporine opecoelids with a pedunculate ventral sucker are currently considered to belong in the genus Podocotyloides Yamaguti, 1934. We revise the genus based on combined morphological and phylogenetic analyses of novel material collected from haemulid fishes in Queensland waters that we interpret to represent species congeneric with the type-species, Pod. petalophallus Yamaguti, 1934, also known from a haemulid, off Japan. Our phylogenetic analysis demonstrates polyphyly of Podocotyloides; prompts us to resurrect Pedunculacetabulum Yamaguti, 1934; and suggests that Pod. brevis Andres & Overstreet, 2013, from a deep-sea congrid in the Caribbean, and Pod. parupenei (Manter, 1963) Pritchard, 1966 and Pod. stenometra Pritchard, 1966, from mullids and chaetodontids, respectively, on the Great Barrier Reef, may each represent a distinct genus awaiting recognition. Our revised concept of Podocotyloides requires a pedunculate ventral sucker, but also a uterine sphincter prior to the genital atrium, a petalloid cirrus appendage, restriction of the vitelline follicles to the hindbody, and for the excretory vesicle to reach to the level of the ventral sucker. Of about 20 nominal species, we recognise just three in Podocotyloides (sensu stricto): Pod. petalophallus, Pod. gracilis (Yamaguti, 1952) Pritchard, 1966 and Pod. magnatestes Aleshkina & Gaevskaya, 1985. We provide new records for Pod. gracilis, and propose two new species of Podocotyloides, Pod. australis n. sp. and Pod. brevivesiculatus n. sp., and one new Pedunculacetabulum species, Ped. inopinipugnus n. sp., all from haemulids. Podocotyloides australis is morphologically indistinguishable from Pod. gracilis, and exploits the same definitive host, but is genetically and biogeographically distinct. It is thus a cryptic species, the first such opecoelid to be formally named.     

Antifungal peptidic compound from the deep-sea bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aneurinibacillus</Emphasis> sp. YR247

Aneurinibacillus: sp. YR247 was newly isolated from the deep-sea sediment inside the Calyptogena community at a depth of 1171 m in Sagami Bay. The strain exhibited antifungal activity against the filamentous fungus Aspergillus brasiliensis NBRC9455. A crude extract prepared from the YR247 cells by ethanol extraction exhibited broad antimicrobial activities. The antifungal compound is stable at 4–70?°C and pH 2.0–12.0. After treatment with proteinase K, the antifungal activity was not detected, indicating that the antifungal compound of strain YR247 is a peptidic compound. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of the purified antifungal compound indicated that the peptidic compound has an average molecular weight of 1167.9. The molecular weight of the antifungal compound from strain YR247 is different from those of antimicrobial peptides produced by the related Aneurinibacillus and Bacillus bacteria. The antifungal peptidic compound from the deep-sea bacterium Aneurinibacillus sp. YR247 may be useful as a biocontrol agent.     

Hybridization success is largely limited to homoploid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus</Emphasis> hybrids: a multidisciplinary approach

Prunus fruticosa is a rare shrub occurring in Eurasian thermophilous forest-steppe alliances. The species frequently hybridizes with cultivated Prunus species in Europe (allochthonous tetraploid P. cerasus and partly indigenous diploid P. avium). Propidium iodide flow cytometry, distance-based morphometrics, elliptic Fourier analysis and embryology were employed to evaluate the extent of hybridization in six Slovak populations. Flow cytometric analyses revealed three ploidy levels: diploid (P. avium), triploid (P. × mohacsyana) and tetraploid (P. fruticosa, P. × eminens and P. cerasus). In addition, P. fruticosa and P. cerasus, at the tetraploid level, were found to differ in absolute genome size. An embryological evaluation suggested the existence of a triploid block in P. × mohacsyana and significant potential for hybridization among tetraploid taxa (indicated also by a continuous distribution of genome size data and further mirrored by morphometrics). Although hybrids significantly differ in ploidy level and embryological characteristics, they are almost indistinguishable using morphological characters. Hybridization with P. cerasus thus turns out to be a significant threat to wild populations of P. fruticosa compared to the relatively weak influence of P. avium.     

Genomic clues to the parental origin of the wild flowering cherry <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus yedoensis</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">nudiflora</Emphasis> (Rosaceae)

Prunus yedoensis Matsumura is one of the popular ornamental flowering cherry trees native to northeastern Asia, and its wild populations have only been found on Jeju Island, Korea. Previous studies suggested that wild P. yedoensis (P. yedoensis var. nudiflora) is a hybrid species; however, there is no solid evidence on its exact parental origin and genomic organization. In this study, we developed a total of 38 nuclear gene-based DNA markers that can be universally amplifiable in the Prunus species using 586 Prunus Conserved Orthologous Gene Set (Prunus COS). Using the Prunus COS markers, we investigated the genetic structure of wild P. yedoensis populations and evaluated the putative parental species of wild P. yedoensis. Population structure and phylogenetic analysis of 73 wild P. yedoensis accessions and 54 accessions of other Prunus species revealed that the wild P. yedoensis on Jeju Island is a natural homoploid hybrid. Sequence-level comparison of Prunus COS markers between species suggested that wild P. yedoensis might originate from a cross between maternal P. pendula f. ascendens and paternal P. jamasakura. Moreover, approximately 81% of the wild P. yedoensis accessions examined were likely F1 hybrids, whereas the remaining 19% were backcross hybrids resulting from additional asymmetric introgression of parental genotypes. These findings suggest that complex hybridization of the Prunus species on Jeju Island can produce a range of variable hybrid offspring. Overall, this study makes a significant contribution to address issues of the origin, nomenclature, and genetic relationship of ornamental P. yedoensis.     

Growth and biochemical analysis of evergreen haloxeric tree species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvadora oleoides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvadora persica</Emphasis> under NaCl stress

In vitro growth, development, total soluble proteins and peroxidase profiles of Salvadora oleoides and Salvadora persica under NaCl stress were analysed in the present investigation. The plants are evergreen haloxeric tree species of family Salvadoraceae. Shoot apex from natural plants were initially used for screening of NaCl tolerance on MS culture medium. Shoot apex of S. oleoides and S. persica could survive optimally up to 200 and 100 mM NaCl. Axillary buds from nodal shoot segments of S. oleoides and S. persica were activated on 6 and 4 μM BAP, and were used further for extraction of total soluble proteins and peroxidases. Total soluble proteins were increased up to 150 mM NaCl in S. oleoides, but decline above 50 mM NaCl in S. persica. Peroxidase activity remained almost constant in S. oleoides at all the concentrations and duration of NaCl, but increased at 100 mM NaCl during fourth week of treatment in S. persica. Eleven peroxidase isozymes were observed in zymogram of S. oleoides. Isozymes P1, P2, P3, and P4 were slightly appeared, but P6 isozyme was lacking in S. persica. The P5 isozyme was more prominent in S. persica than S. oleoides. Isozyme P9 of S. persica was visible during the first week of NaCl treatment, but disappeared in the fourth week. Molecular biology of these plants can be useful further for the understanding of stress tolerance mechanisms for prospects.