Arthrorhaphis aeruginosa and A. olivaceae,two new lichenicolous fungi

Abstract: The lichenicolous fungi Arthrorhaphis aeruginosa R. Sant. & Tønsb. on Cladonia spp. and Arthrorhaphis olivaceae R. Sant. & Tønsb. on Melanelia olivacea are described as new from Norway, Scotland and western North America, and from Sweden, respectively.     

THE LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI ON SPECIES OF THE GENERABAEOMYCES,DIBAEIS, ANDICMADOPHILAIN NORWAY

Lichenicolous fungi on species of the generaBaeomyces,Dibaeis, andIcmadophilain Norway includeAcarosporium lichenicolaIhlen & Tønsberg sp. nov.,Cercidospora parvaHafellner & Ihlen sp. nov.,Phoma maculiformansIhlen sp. nov.,Micarea inquinans(reported new to Scandinavia),Arthrorhaphis vacillans,Pyrenidium actinellums. lat.,Sphaerellothecium coniodes(all new to Norway),Arthrorhaphis alpina,A. citrinella,A. grisea,A. muddii,Dactylospora athallina,D. attendenda,Epilichen glauconigellus,E. scabrosus,Stigmidium icmadophilae,Thelocarpon epibolum, andT. lichenicola. Their anatomy and morphology are described, and a key to the taxa provided. Host preferences are discussed, and distribution maps are provided for the obligately lichenicolous fungi and those that also occur autonomously.     

SPIROGRAPHA VINOSA,A NEW ODONTOTREMOID FUNGUS ONOCHROLECHIAANDPERTUSARIA

Spirographa vinosaHolien & Triebel is described from boreal spruce forest of Norway. It is lichenicolous on different species ofOchrolechiaandPertusaria. Within the genusS. vinosais characterized by its 8-spored asci, up to 5-septate ascospores with obtuse ends and its apothecial pigments causing aeruginose and purplish reactions with KOH.     

Studies in the lichen family Pannariaceae X. The lichen genus Protopannaria in the subantarctic islands.

The lichen genus Protopannaria is defined as different from Pannaria, being a bipolar taxon with three (of four) species in the subantarctic region: P. austro-orcadensis (Øvst.) comb. nov. in the western part and P. alcicornis P.M. Jørg. & R.S. Poulsen sp. nov. as well as P. azorellae P.M. Jørg. & R.S. Poulsen sp. nov. in the eastern one (Kerguelen), showing the greatest diversity there.     

BACIDIA CAESIOVIRENS,A NEW LICHEN SPECIES FROM WESTERN EUROPE

Bacidia caesiovirensS. Ekman & Holien sp. nov. is described from Norway, and the British Isles. It occurs on trunks of deciduous trees in coastal forests. This species is usually sterile and is characterized by its conspicuously blue-green, granular thallus, which contains a bluish, N+ purple pigment. It is closely related toB. biatorina(Körb.) Vain., but differs from this species in a number of features apart from thallus pigmentation: the thallus granules are smaller, the amount of hyphal projections from the surface of the thallus granules is larger, and the internal pigmentation of the apothecia is different.Bacidia auerswaldii(Hepp ex Stizenb.) Mig. has a similarly granular thallus but differs fromB. biatorinaandB. caesiovirensin having wide, fusiform spores and smaller thallus granules.Bacidia absistens(Nyl.) Arnold has an internal apothecium pigmentation similar toB. caesiovirens, but differs in having a smooth thallus, and an abundance of minute crystals in the excipulum.     

Caloplaca thuringiaca sp. nov., a species from the Caloplaca holocarpa complex

Abstract:Caloplaca thuringiaca Søchting & Stordeur is described from detritus on dry south-exposed slopes in Thuringia, central Germany. The species belongs to the Caloplaca holocarpa complex, but is different from the other terricolous taxa described in the complex, which all have alpine or polar distributions.     

LICHENICOLOUS SPECIES OFARTHONIAONLOBARIACEAEWITH NOTES ON EXCLUDED TAXA

The species ofArthonias. lat. (Arthoniales,Ascomycotina) lichenicolous on species ofPseudocyphellariaand otherLobariaceaeare revised. Thirteen species are accepted, and eight species are described as new (all from the Southern Hemisphere):Arthonia badiaWedin & Hafellner,A. coriifoliaeWedin & Hafellner,A. flavicantisWedin & Hafellner,A. maculiformisWedin & Hafellner,A. minutaWedin & Hafellner,A. santessonianaWedin & Hafellner,‘A.’ semi-immersaWedin & Hafellner, andA. subaggregataWedin & Hafellner. Comparative notes on additional accepted species previously described fromPseudocyphellariaor otherLobariaceae(A. pelvetii,A. plectocarpoides,A. pseudocyphellariae,A. stictaria, andA. subconveniens) are included, and a key to theArthonia(and similar) species growing onLobariaceaeis presented. The coelomycete genusSubhysteropycnisWedin & Hafellner is described for the speciesS. maculiformansWedin & Hafellner, the macroconidal anamorph ofArthonia badia. The lecanoralean genusCorticiruptorWedin & Hafellner is described as new to accommodate the single lichenicolous speciesC. abeloneae(P. M. Jørg.) Wedin & Hafellner comb. nov., and the additional new combinationPlectocarpon linitae(R. Sant.) Wedin & Hafellner is proposed. The namesCelidium pelvetiiHepp,Sticta auratababortivaSchaer. andArthonia stictariaNyl. are lectotypified, and the typifications are discussed.     

A morphometric study of the Abies religiosa–hickelii–guatemalensis complex (Pinaceae) in Guatemala and Mexico

This morphometric study of the geographic variation in the Abies religiosa–hickelii–guatemalensis complex is based on samples from 15 Guatemalan and 12 Mexican populations, two populations of A. religiosa s.str. and A. hickelii s.str., and herbarium specimens of A. hickelii, A. vejarii and varieties of A. guatemalensis. The multivariate methods employed were principal components analysis, and UPGMA clustering. The multivariate and univariate analyses based on 231 operational taxonomic units imply that although morphological differences exist distinct morphospecies cannot be recognized within the A. religiosa–hickelii–guatemalensis complex. A Mantel’s test reports that taxonomic dissimilarities are significantly related to geographic distance. We suggest, therefore, that A. religiosa, A. hickelii and A. guatemalensis are merged so that A. hickelii is referred to as A. religiosa subsp. hickelii (Flous & Gaussen) U. Strandby, K.I. Chr. & M. Sørensen, comb. et stat. nov. and A. guatemalensis as A. religiosa subsp. mexicana (Martínez) U. Strandby, K.I. Chr. & M. Sørensen, comb. nov. According to our analyses A. vejarii cannot retain its status as a separate taxon as the material studied is nested within A. religiosa subsp. mexicana.     

New collections of blood flukes (Aporocotylidae) from fishes of the tropical Indo-west Pacific,including a new genus,two new species and molecular evidence that Elaphrobates chaetodontis (Yamaguti, 1970) is widespread in the region

We report new collections of the Aporocotylidae from Australia, French Polynesia, and Japan. A new species of Cardicola Short, 1953 is described from Scomberomorus commerson (Lacépède) (Scombridae), off Lizard Island. Cardicola nolani n. sp. can be distinguished from its congeners based on the position of the oötype, the position of the male genital pore, and the absence of an oral sucker. A new species is described from Abalistes stellatus (Anonymous) (Balistidae), also from off Lizard Island. Phylogenetically the new species forms a strongly-supported clade with Cardicola yuelao Yong, Cutmore & Cribb, 2018, which also infects balistids. These two species are distinct from all other aporocotylids in the combination of exceptionally short anterior and long posterior caeca, a lanceolate body, a single testis, an entirely post-ovarian uterus and the position of the oötype; a new genus, Balistidicola, is proposed for them. Balistidicola corneri n. sp. and B. yuelao (Yong, Cutmore & Cribb, 2018) n. comb. are essentially morphologically cryptic, only distinguishable by the form of the spination (B. corneri has five spines per row and B. yuelao has six). Elaphrobates chaetodontis (Yamaguti, 1970) is reported from 21 species of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) from nine locations in tropical Indo-west Pacific; cox1 sequence data demonstrate extensive geographical structuring in this species. Braya jexi Nolan & Cribb, 2006, Elaphrobates milleri (Nolan & Cribb, 2006), and P. corventum Overstreet & Køie, 1989 are each re-reported from their type-hosts, and Pearsonellum pygmaeus Nolan & Cribb, 2004 and Balistidicola yuelao are each reported from a new host.     

Relatedness of novel species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882, Zschokkella Auerbach, 1910 and Ellipsomyxa Køie, 2003 (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) from the gall bladders of marine fishes (Teleostei) from Australian waters

During a parasitological survey, Myxidium-like spores were identified in the gall bladders of marine fishes from Australian waters. This paper describes four novel species of Ellipsomyxa Køie, 2003, three novel species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882 and six novel species of Zschokkella Auerbach, 1910 from teleosts from Australian waters using a combination of morphological, biological and molecular characters. Phylogenetic analyses showed a monophyletic relationship of all Ellipsomyxa spp. sequences with Sigmomyxa sphaerica (Thélohan, 1895) and Myxidium queenslandicus Gunter & Adlard, 2008 as sister species to the clade. The validity of genus Sigmomyxa Karlsbakk & Køie, 2012 is discussed. In phylogenetic analyses, the novel species of Myxidium fell within the ‘marine’ clade of Fiala (2006). However, the novel species of Zschokkella fell within the ‘freshwater’ clade of Fiala (2006) and formed a distinct clade with all other sequences of Zschokkella spp. from the gall bladder of marine fish and a sequence of a species of Myxobolus Bütschli 1882, also from the gall bladder of a marine fish. This is the second distinct marine lineage to emerge within the freshwater clade.     

Peripheral CD8+ T cell proliferation is prognostic for patients with advanced thoracic malignancies

There is a complex interplay between the immune system and a developing tumor that is manifest in the way that the balance of T cell subsets in the local tumor environment reflects clinical outcome. Tumor infiltration by CD8⁺ T cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) is associated with improved and reduced survival, respectively, in many cancer types. However, little is known of the prognostic value of immunological parameters measured in peripheral blood. In this study, peripheral CD8⁺ T cells and Treg from 43 patients with malignant mesothelioma or advanced non-small-cell lung cancer scheduled to commence palliative chemotherapy were assessed by flow cytometry and evaluated for association with patient survival. Patients had a higher proportion of peripheral Treg, proliferating CD8⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells with an activated effector phenotype compared with age-matched healthy controls. Higher proportions of Treg and proliferating CD8⁺ T cells were both associated with poor survival in univariate analyses (hazard ratio [HR] 3.81, 95 % CI 1.69–8.57; p < 0.01 and HR 2.86, 95 % CI 1.26–6.50; p < 0.05, respectively). CD8⁺ T cell proliferation was independently predictive of reduced survival in multivariate analysis (HR 2.58, 95 % CI 1.01–6.61; p < 0.05). These findings suggest that peripheral CD8⁺ T cell proliferation can be a useful prognostic marker in patients with thoracic malignancies planned for palliative chemotherapy.     

On the Emsian (Lower Devonian) arthropods of the Rhenish Slate Mountains: 2. The synziphosurineWillwerathia

Willwerathia laticeps (Størmer 1936) originally described as a eurypterid is reinterpreted as a synziphosurine belonging to Family WeinberginidaeRichter &Richter 1929. Recently collected material from the locality, from which the destroyed holotype comes, suggests thatWillwerathia possessed ten opisthosomal tergites, deduced from all available arrays of disarticulates.Willwerathia is the largest synziphosurine yet discovered with a carapace approximately 90 mm across. The occurrence of synziphosurines with eurypterids mirrors previously described preservational associations.     

Taxonomie Review of the family Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) from the Korean Peninsula

A total of 41 species were investigated, including only one species in the check list of Korean insects, which contains five platygastrids. Eleven species of the family Platygastridae are described as new to science from Korea, viz. Allostemma bicolor Buhl & Choi, Amblyaspis koreana Choi & Buhl, Leptacis koreana Buhl & Choi, L. ocellaris Choi & Buhl, Platygaster ciliata Buhl & Choi, P. flavifemorata Buhl & Choi, P. kui Choi & Buhl, P. tripotini Buhl & Choi, Synopeas collinus Choi & Buhl, S. kimi Choi & Buhl, and S. pumilus Buhl & Choi. Further nineteen species are recorded from The Korean Peninsula for the first time, and some new records are added for eleven species, already known from the Peninsula. Keys are given to the genera and species of Platygastridae hitherto recorded from The Korean Peninsula. As a result, platygastrid fauna of The Korean Peninsula is composed of 68 species up to now.     

Further notes on European taxa of the lichen genus Leptogium,with emphasis on the small species

Abstract:Leptogium imbricatum P.M. Jørg. sp. nov. and L. intermedium (Arnold) Arnold are established as the correct names for two fairly widespread, small species: L. imbricatum has an arctic-alpine distribution. Leptogium intermedium was previously mostly named L. minutissimum (Flörke) Fr., the type of which is L. subtile (Schrader) Torss., a distinct species usually growing on rotting wood or debris. Leptogium magnussonii Degel. & P.M. Jørg, mainly from maritime rock outcrops in Norway and Sweden, is described as new. The species complexes of L. plicatile (Ach.) Leighton and L. schraderi (Bernh.) Nyl. are discussed. The differences between L. byssinum (Hoffm.) Nyl. and L. biatorinum (Nyl.) Leighton are given, and L. aquale (Arnold) P.M. Jørg. comb. nov., a taxon related to the latter, is considered to be a distinct species growing in mountain brooks in Central Europe. Leptogium rivale Tuck. is recorded as new to Europe, from Romania. Leptogium bellopratense Hy is shown to be a synonym of L. brebissonii Mont. New records for L. coralloideum (Meyen & Flotow) Vainio, L. massiliense Nyl and L. rivulare (Ach.) Mont. are given. A preliminary key to the small European species (north of the Alps) is appended. The following names have been lecto- or neotypified: Collema byssinum Hoffm., Collema pulvinatum Hoffm., Leptogium bellopratense Hy., Leptogium crenulatum Watson, Leptogium massiliense Nyl., Leptogium minutissimum var. intermedium Arnold, Leptogium minutissimum f. plumbeum Zwackh ex Arnold, Leptogium pusillum var. aquale Arnold, Leptogium rivulare var. crenatulum Nyl., Leptogium scotinum var. crenatum Nyl., Lichen byssinus Hoffm., Lichen minutissimus Flörke, Lichen schraderi Bemh., Lichen subtilis Schrader and Parmelia scotina var. lophaea Ach.     

LICHENICOLOUS FUNGI FROM THE WESTERN PYRENEES,FRANCE AND SPAIN. IV. ASCOMYCETES

Twenty species of lichenicolous ascomycetes are recorded for the western Pyrenees.Capronia hypotrachynaeEtayo & Diederich (onHypotrachynaspecies, also known from the Canary Islands and from Papua New Guinea),Llimoniella pubescensEtayo & Diederich (onLeprariaspecies, also from Scotland and Papua New Guinea),Polycoccum microcarpumDiederich & Etayo (onCladoniaspecies, also from Scotland),Skyttea megalosporaeEtayo & Diederich (onMegalospora tuberculosa),Sphaerellothecium cinerascensEtayo & Diederich (onCladonia parasitica) andS. parmeliaeDiederich & Etayo (onParmelias. str., also from Finland) are described as new.     

Taxonomy of the genus Laena from Yunnan in China,with description of eight new species (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae)

Eight new species of the genus Laena Dejean, 1821 (subfamily Lagriinae, tribe Laenini) from Yunnan Province of China were described and illustrated: L. acutidentata Wei & Ren, sp. nov., L. brevicarina Wei & Ren, sp. nov., L. dongchuana Zhao & Ren, sp. nov., L. glabridentipa Wei & Ren, sp. nov., L. nuda Zhao & Ren, sp. nov., L. raropuncta Wei & Ren, sp. nov., L. rugulosa Wei & Ren, sp. nov. and L. spinicla Wei & Ren, sp. nov.. Illustrations and a key to the known Laena species from Yunnan Province are provided.www.zoobank.org/urn:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FDEDA1E8-2F2E-4732-8DB4-FE2D7BDC75D8.     

Complete genome sequence of Mesorhizobium australicum type strain (WSM2073T)

Mesorhizobium australicum strain WSM2073^T was isolated from root nodules on the pasture legume Biserrula pelecinus growing in Australia in 2000. This aerobic, motile, gram negative, non-spore-forming rod is poorly effective in N₂ fixation on B. pelecinus and has gained the ability to nodulate B. pelecinus following in situ lateral transfer of a symbiosis island from the original inoculant strain for this legume, Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae WSM1271. We describe that the genome size of M. australicum strain WSM2073^T is 6,200,534 bp encoding 6,013 protein-coding genes and 67 RNA-only encoding genes. This genome does not contain any plasmids but has a 455.7 kb genomic island from Mesorhizobium ciceri bv. biserrulae WSM1271 that has been integrated into a phenylalanine-tRNA gene.     

High quality draft genome sequence of the slightly halophilic bacterium Halomonas zhanjiangensis type strain JSM 078169T (DSM 21076T) from a sea urchin in southern China

Halomonas zhanjiangensis Chen et al. 2009 is a member of the genus Halomonas, family Halomonadaceae, class Gammaproteobacteria. Representatives of the genus Halomonas are a group of halophilic bacteria often isolated from salty environments. The type strain H. zhanjiangensis JSM 078169^T was isolated from a sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) collected from the South China Sea. The genome of strain JSM 078169^T is the fourteenth sequenced genome in the genus Halomonas and the fifteenth in the family Halomonadaceae. The other thirteen genomes from the genus Halomonas are H. halocynthiae, H. venusta, H. alkaliphila, H. lutea, H. anticariensis, H. jeotgali, H. titanicae, H. desiderata, H. smyrnensis, H. salifodinae, H. boliviensis, H. elongata and H stevensii. Here, we describe the features of strain JSM 078169^T, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation from a culture of DSM 21076^T. The 4,060,520 bp long draft genome consists of 17 scaffolds with the 3,659 protein-coding and 80 RNA genes and is a part of Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: the one thousand microbial genomes (KMG) project.     

New species and new records of Parmotrema (Parmeliaceae) from India

Abstract:The paper deals with six species of Parmotrema from India. Parmotrema awasthii Divakar & Upreti and Parmotrema upretii Divakar are described as new to science. Parmotrema defectum (Hale) Hale, P. ravum (Krog & Swinscow) Sérus., P. stuhlmannii (C.W. Dodge) Krog & Swinscow and P. tsavoense (Krog & Swinscow) Krog & Swinscow, are new records for the Indian lichen flora.