Variation in Wolbachia cidB gene,but not cidA,is associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility mod phenotype diversity in Culex pipiens

Endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria are, to date, considered the most widespread symbionts in arthropods and are the cornerstone of major biological control strategies. Such a high prevalence is based on the ability of Wolbachia to manipulate their hosts' reproduction. One manipulation called cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is based on the death of the embryos generated by crosses between infected males and uninfected females or between individuals infected with incompatible Wolbachia strains. CI can be seen as a modification‐rescue system (or mod‐resc) in which paternal Wolbachia produce mod factors, inducing embryonic defects, unless the maternal Wolbachia produce compatible resc factors. Transgenic experiments in Drosophila melanogaster and Saccharomyces cerevisiae converged towards a model where the cidB Wolbachia gene is involved in the mod function while cidA is involved in the resc function. However, as cidA expression in Drosophila males was required to observe CI, it has been proposed that cidA could be involved in both resc and mod functions. A recent correlative study in natural Culex pipiens mosquito populations has revealed an association between specific cidA and cidB variations and changes in mod phenotype, also suggesting a role for both these genes in mod diversity. Here, by studying cidA and cidB genomic repertoires of individuals from newly sampled natural C. pipiens populations harbouring wPipIV strains from North Italy, we reinforce the link between cidB variation and mod phenotype variation fostering the involvement of cidB in the mod phenotype diversity. However, no association between any cidA variants or combination of cidA variants and mod phenotype variation was observed. Taken together our results in natural C. pipiens populations do not support the involvement of cidA in mod phenotype variation.     

The Argasidae, Ixodidae and Nuttalliellidae (Acari: Ixodida): A World List of Valid Tick Names

The world's argasid tick fauna comprises 183 species in four genera, namely Argas, Carios, Ornithodoros and Otobius in the family Argasidae. The ixodid tick fauna consists of 241 species in the genus Ixodes and 442 species in the genera Amblyomma, Anomalohimalaya, Bothriocroton, Cosmiomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Margaropus, Nosomma, Rhipicentor and Rhipicephalus in the family Ixodidae, with the genus Boophilus becoming a subgenus of the genus Rhipicephalus. The family Nuttalliellidae is represented by the monospecific genus Nuttalliella. The species names of these ticks, based on seven previous complete or partial listings, as well as those of recently described new species, are presented in tabular format. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Serologische Untersuchungen zur Gliederung derBrassicaceae

The serological investigations support the opinion ofJanchen (1942) to combine the generaBunias, Isatis, andSisymbrium in the tribeSisymbrieae; Cheiranthus, Erysimum, andMatthiola in the tribeHesperideae; andBrassica, Crambe, Sinapis, andSuccowia in the tribeBrassiceae. They further underline the central position of theSisymbrieae and the isolated position of theHeliophileae. In accordance withEigner (1973) theBrassiceae are placed closer to theSisymbrieae than inJanchen; the same holds for thePringleeae. No serological justification could be found to uniteArabis andBarbarea in the tribeArabideae, andAlyssum andLunaria in theAlysseae. From the antigen-systems used among the representatives ofJanchen's Lepidieae the generaLepidium andNeslia show remarkable correspondence both toCamelina andThlaspi, but not toCochlearia which appears distant fromCamelina andThlaspi also.

Teil 1/Part 1.     

Inflorescence development in the Vitis–Ampelocissus clade of Vitaceae: the unusual lamellate inflorescence of Pterisanthes

Pterisanthes (Vitaceae) is a genus of c. 20 species of scandent climbers endemic to Southeast Asia with unusual lamellate inflorescences. Molecular phylogenetic analysis supports its relationship in the well‐supported Vitis–Ampelocissus–Nothocissus–Pterisanthes clade (i.e. the Ampelocissus–Vitis clade). Shoot tips and floral buds were collected from wild and greenhouse‐grown P. eriopoda at different developmental stages and were examined using epi‐illumination, light and scanning electron microscopy. Inflorescence and floral ontogeny was studied to discover how the lamellate inflorescence evolved and to make morphological comparisons to infer relationships with closely related members of Vitaceae. The second‐order branches in P. eriopoda are racemose and develop helically around the inflorescence axis in a similar fashion to Vitis and Ampelocissus. Inflorescence branching is restricted to the second order in P. eriopoda, whereas in Vitis and most Ampelocissus species subsequent branching orders culminate in the typical vitaceous determinate dichasium. In P. eriopoda subsequent lateral growth of the second‐order branches combined with the inhibition of peduncle or pedicel formation and loss of dichasial branching results in the unique lamellae in Pterisanthes, on which the floral primordia arise directly in a helical pattern. Floral development in P. eriopoda is the same as in other genera of Vitaceae examined to date with initiation of floral whorls centripetally, the calyx ring developing first and calyx lobes fused to cover the petals and stamen primordia. Given the recent phylogenetic results that placed Pterisanthes firmly within Ampelocissus, the most likely scenario is that the Pterisanthes inflorescence is derived from the thyrse of an Ampelocissus‐like ancestor and that the thyrse is a morphological synapomorphy of the Ampelocissus–Vitis clade. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179 , 725–741.     

Taxonomic review of the genus Lymantria (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Lymantriinae) in Korea

A taxonomic review of the Korean Lymantria Hübner, 1819 was conducted. A total of nine species of five subgenera with two unrecorded species are listed: Lymantria (Porthetria) dispar Linnaeus 1758, L. (P.) xylina Swinhoe 1903, L. (Lymantria) monacha (Linnaeus 1758), L. (L.) minomonis Matsumura 1933 (new to Korea), L. (L.) similis monachoides Schintlimeister 2004 (new to Korea), L. (L.) lucescens (Butler 1881), L. (Nyctria) mathura Moore 1865, L. (Collentria) fumida Butler 1877, and L. (Spinotria) bantaizana Matsumura 1933. Lymantria (Lymantria) minomonis and L. (L.) similis monachoides are newly added to the Korean fauna. Lymantria (L.) minomonis was found only on Bogildo Island of Jeollanam‐do in the southern part of Korea, and L. (L.) similis monachoides was collected in central Korea. Lymantria (Porthetria) xylina and L. (Collentria) fumida were not examined in this study, and it is considered that the previous records were due to misidentification or they are only distributed in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. We provide diagnoses of two unrecorded species and adult habitus and genitalia photos of the Korean Lymantria species.     

Crinkled employs wingless pathway for wing development in Tribolium castaneum

Crinkled is associated with embryonic denticle formation and auditory organ development in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the functions of Crinkled have not been fully investigated. Additionally, the genes that participate in the Crinkled pathway are unknown. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that crinkled exhibits a one‐to‐one orthologous relationship in insects. In Tribolium castaneum, the crinkled gene is 6,498 bp in length and consists of six exons. Crinkled expression peaked during two phases in Tribolium: late embryonic and pupal stages. High levels of crinkled mRNA were detected in the fat body, head, epidermis, ovary, and accessory gland of late adults. Knockdown of crinkled using RNA interference (RNAi) severely affected wing morphogenesis in T. castaneum. We further showed that crinkled silencing reduced forked expression through wingless and shaven‐baby, and RNAi of forked phenocopied the effects of crinkled knockdown in T. castaneum. This study investigated the development role of crinkled in postembryonic stages and indicated that forked mediates the functions of crinkled during wing morphogenesis in T. castaneum.     

Characterization of SLFL1, a pollen-expressed F-box gene located in the Prunus S locus

The S locus and its flanking regions in the genus Prunus (Rosaceae) contain four pollen-expressed F-box genes. These genes contain the S locus F-box genes with low allelic sequence polymorphism genes 1, 2, and 3 (SLFL1, SLFL2, and SLFL3) as well as the putative pollen S gene, named the S haplotype-specific F-box protein gene (SFB). As much less information is available on the function of SLFLs than that of SFB, we analyzed the SLFLs of six S haplotypes of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) in this study. Genomic DNA blot analysis and the isolation of SLFL1 showed that the SLFL1 gene in a functional self-incompatible S ³ haplotype is deleted and only a partial sequence resembling SLFL1 is left in the S ³ locus region, suggesting that SLFL1 by itself is not directly involved in either the GSI reaction or pollen-tube growth. Genomic DNA blot analysis showed that there was no substantial modification or mutation in SLFL2 and SLFL3. A phylogenic analysis of F-box genes in the rosaceous S locus and its border regions showed that Prunus SLFLs were more closely related to maloid S locus F-box brothers than to Prunus SFBs. The functions of SLFLs and the evolution of self-incompatibility in Prunus are discussed based on these results. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. The nucleotide sequence data reported appear in the DDBJ, EMBL, and GenBank Nucleotide Sequence Databases under the accession numbers, AB360339, AB360340, AB360341, and AB360342, for SLFL1-S ¹ , SLFL1-S ² , SLFL1-S ⁵ , and SLFL1-S ⁶ , respectively.     

Comparative forelimb morphology of scratch-digging and chisel-tooth digging African mole-rat species

Bathyergus suillus (Cape dune mole-rat) and Heterocephalus glaber (naked mole-rat) are two species of subterranean burrowing rodents. Bathyergus suillus occurs in soft sandy soils and is regarded as a scratch-digger, while H. glaber is found in hard, compact soils and is a chisel-tooth digging species. The present study aimed to determine musculoskeletal differences in the forelimb of these two species. The muscles of the forelimb, back and neck were dissected to the points of origin and insertion in the left and right forelimbs, B. suillus (n = 7) and H. glaber (n = 5). Dissected muscles were photographed before maceration to demonstrate muscle attachments. The scapular spine, acromion process and clavicle were relatively straight in B. suillus. In comparison a curved scapular spine, acromion process and clavicle were observed in H. glaber. In both species, the clavicle rested on the greater tuberosity of the humerus. In B. suillus, the deltoid tuberosity was prominent and situated more distally on the humeral shaft compared to the indistinct, more proximally situated deltoid tuberosity in H. glaber. A prominent bony structure underlying the thenar pad as well as a cartilaginous protrusion beneath the hypothenar pad were observed on the palmar surface of the manus in B. suillus. Prominent claws were observed in B. suillus. A robust m. sternohyoideus was observed in H. glaber while mm. tensor fasciae antebrachii and coracobrachialis were absent. The flexors of the antebrachium of B. suillus had additional and enlarged attachment sites. The forelimb of B. suillus may be morphologically adapted for scratch-digging with relatively large and additional forelimb muscles and robust bones. In comparison, H. glaber had a reduction in the relative size, amount of muscles as well as number of attachment sites in the forelimb muscles, while the well-developed ventral neck muscles may facilitate neck and head stabilisation during chisel-tooth digging.     

Studies in the morphology and systematics of berberidaceae

The floral vasculature in three allied genera,Plagiorhegma, Jeffersoria andAchyls is investigated, and the results are compared with those ofEpimedium andVancouveria which are related closely toPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia. The vasculature in the receptacle ofPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia is similar, but that ofAchlys is much simpler. Slightly different trace patterns are observed in the sepals ofPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia. InJeffersonia, the 3-trace condition leaving 2 or 3 gaps is most frequently observed, but inPlagiorhegma traces of a double nature leaving a single gap are more frequent. The traces to the innermost sepals, petals and stamens are usually of a double nature leaving a single gap in both genera. Regular division and fusion are not observed in the receptacular stele. The vascular differentiation between sepals and petals is more advanced inPlagiorhegma andJeffersonia than inEpimedium andVancouveria. InAchlys, the traces are all staminal and single throughout their course. Two parts recognized in the pistils ofPlagiorhegma, Jeffersonia andAchlys are traversed by independent vasculature. The comparisons of pistil morphology including vasculature ofPlagiorhegma, Jeffersonia, Achlys, Epimedium andVancouveria lead to the interpretation that the pistils are based on the same morphological plan. The probable evolutionary trend in pistil is then suggested in these five genera.     

Morphological features and chromosome numbers in cultures of five Cephaleuros species (Trentepohliaceae,Chlorophyta) from Japan

The morphological features and chromosome numbers were examined in cultures of five species of Cephaleuros; C. aucubae, C. biolophus, C. japonicus, C. microcellularis, and C. virescens, collected from Japan. On agar media of Bold's basal medium and CA medium, radial growth of the algal colonies was vigorous in C. virescens, moderate in C. aucubae, and poor in C. microcellularis, but varied from poor to moderate in isolates of C. biolophus and C. japonicus. Filaments of C. virescens branched at an angle less than 40° and just below the cross walls, while those of the other species branched at an angle greater than 40° without relation to the cross walls. The length of filamentous cells was significantly smaller in C. microcellularis than in the other species. The chromosome number differed with the species: n = 22 in C. aucubae, n = 34 in C. biolophus, n = 18 in C. japonicus, n = 12 in C. microcellularis, and n = 24 in C. virescens. The chromosome number did not vary between isolates from filaments and gametes in C. aucubae and C. biolophus and among those from filaments, gametes, and zoospores in C. japonicus and C. virescens.     

Expression of a Leishmaniadonovani nucleotide sugar transporter in Leishmaniamajor enhances survival in visceral organs

Leishmania donovani and Leishmaniainfantum infections cause fatal visceral leishmaniasis, and Leishmaniamajor causes self healing cutaneous lesions. It is poorly understood what genetic differences between these Leishmania species are responsible for the different pathologies of infection. To investigate whether L.donovani species-specific genes are involved in visceral Leishmania infection, we have examined a L.donovani species-specific gene Ld1590 (ortholog of LinJ15_V3.0900) that is a pseudogene in L.major. We have previously shown that transgenic expression of L.donovani Ld1590 in L.major significantly increased the liver and spleen parasite burdens in infected BALB/c mice. In this study we report that Ld1590 potentially encodes a nucleotide sugar transporter (NST) which localizes in the L.donovani Golgi apparatus. Surprisingly, although transgenic expression of the Ld1590 NST increased L.major survival in visceral organs, deletion of Ld1590 NST in L.donovani had no significant effect on L.donovani survival in mice. These observations suggest that loss of the functional Ld1590 gene in L.major may have been associated with reduced virulence in visceral organs in its animal reservoir and could have contributed to L.major’s tropism for cutaneous infections.     

The family Donacidae (Bivalvia: Tellinoidea) in Thai waters

ABSTRACT

The species belonging to the family Donacidae living in Thailand waters are herein revised. After an exhaustive bibliographical search, 29 nominal species were found from this area. Materials from several institutions and specimens collected during fieldwork in Phuket and the Gulf of Thailand were studied. All the type materials were illustrated and redescribed. Details of the type localities, repositories, habitats and biogeographical distribution are discussed. In addition, some collected specimens and the type materials of the valid species and synonyms are illustrated. Currently, eight valid species are confirmed as living in Thai waters: Donax (Deltachion) spinosus Gmelin, 1791, Donax (Deltachion) semigranosus (Dunker, 1877), Donax (Dentilatona) incarnatus Gmelin, 1791, Donax (Hecuba) scortum (Linnaeus, 1758), Donax (Latona) cuneatus Linnaeus, 1758, Donax (Latona) faba Gmelin, 1791, Donax (Latona) solidus Spengler, 1798 and Donax (Paraserrula) introradiatus Reeve, 1855. The presence of Donax (Deltachion) semisulcatus Hanley, 1843, Donax brazieri Smith, 1892, Donax (Tentidonax) veruinus Hedley, 1913 and Donax victoris Fischer-Piette, 1942 in Thailand’s waters remains uncertain. These species have been reported in the study area in the literature, but they were not sampled during this study.     

Plagiochila cucullifolia var. anomala var. nov. from Ecuador, with notes on discordant molecular and morphological variation in Plagiochila

Plagiochila cucullifolia Jack & Steph. var. anomala J. Heinrichs & Gradst. var. nov. is described and illustrated. The new variety is known from a single locality in southern Ecuador and differs from P. cucullifolia var. cucullifolia by the flat, not saccate leaves, somewhat smaller plant size and weaker leaf dentation. According to phylogenetic analyses of 35 nrDNA ITS1 and ITS2 sequences of Plagiochila, the two varieties of P. cucullifolia form a monophyletic lineage and are placed in a well supported clade together with five other species of Plagiochila sect. Hylacoetes: P. dimorpha Lindenb. & Gottsche var. ecuadorica (Inoue) J. Heinrichs, P. flabelliflora Steph., P. patriciae J. Heinrichs & H. Anton, P. macrostachya Lindenb. and P. turgida Herzog. Within Plagiochila, nrITS sequence variation is not concordant with morphological diversification. ITS sequences of Plagiochila cucullifolia s.str. and of P. dimorpha var. ecuadorica differ in only 23 aligned positions whereas two sequences of P. subplana Lindenb. differ in 86 aligned positions. Morphologically, P. cucullifolia s.str. and P. dimorpha var. ecuadorica differ in more than 20 characters and previously these two taxa were placed in separate genera. P. subplana phenotypes show considerable variation in leaf shape and dentation but the extremes are linked by numerous intermediates.     

Structural organization of the nuclear ribosomal RNA genes in Cannabis and Humulus (Cannabaceae)

The structural organization of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of Humulus lupulus, H. japonicus and Cannabis sativa was determined by restriction site mapping. A high degree of DNA sequence similarity was evident in the coding regions of the rDNA repeats of the taxa and supports the placement of Cannabis and Humulus in one family, Cannabaceae. However, the presence of a BstEII site, an additional SacI site, absence of the SpeI site and positional differences of the SspI sites in the 25 S gene distinguished H. japonicus from H. lupulus. Humulus lupulus has an additional EcoRV site in the IGS region. A XhoI site in the 18S region of C. sativa distinguishes it from the two hop species. The diagnostic differences in the IGS of C. sativa include the EcoRI, HindIII and XhoI sites. These sites were not detected in the IGS of the two hop species.     

Vriesea friburgensis: A natural trap or a nurse plant in coastal sand dunes?

Positive interactions between plants play a fundamental role in environments with extreme conditions, such as coastal sand dunes, where the establishment of many species is limited by high temperature, and low availability of water and nutrients in the soil. The ability to store water and enrich the soil with nutrients characterizes bromeliads as potential nurse plants for other species. This study aimed to analyze the potential of the bromeliad Vriesea friburgensis to act as a nurse plant, and to compare this interaction in coastal dunes in herbaceous versus scrub vegetation. The study was performed on Santa Catarina Island in Brazil. Juveniles of other species associated with V. friburgensis were collected within and under bromeliad tanks and on adjacent plots beside each bromeliad. The abundance, species richness and height of juveniles were recorded. We found that abundance and richness of Vf‐associated juveniles were lower than those Vf‐not associated, in herbaceous vegetation (negative interaction). However, the height of some shrubs species, like Eupatorium casarettoi and Tibouchina urvilleana, was greater when Vf‐associated (positive interaction). In scrub vegetation, the abundance and richness of juveniles were not significantly affected by V. friburgensis presence (neutral interaction). However, the height of some shrubs and trees species, like Clusia criuva, Eugenia catharinae, Myrsine parvifolia and Ocotea pulchella, was greater when Vf‐associated. Species composition associated with V. friburgensis differed from the assemblage in adjacent plots, indicating that some species interact more with nurse plants, whereas others fail to develop when associated with this bromeliad; the difference between groups in species composition was less evident in scrub vegetation areas. Clusia criuva was considered an indicator species for Vf‐associated juveniles in both vegetation types. Despite the fact that these tank bromeliads do not function as nurse plants for some species, there are others that seem to be favoured by this interaction.     

河滨湿地不同植物群落根系分布特征与土壤理化性状的关系——以黄河中游荥阳段为例

在黄河中游郑州荥阳段,选择了5种河滨湿地植物群落进行根系和土壤性状特征研究,以期阐明不同植物群落的根系分布规律与土壤性状的关系,为河滨湿地植物群落组成以及土壤质量恢复提供科学参考。结果表明(1)在0—40 cm土层,根生物量密度与根长密度的平均值均表现为：芦苇群落(Phragmites australis)和芦苇-狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)群落均大于芦苇-拂子茅(Calamagrostis epigeios)-狗牙根群落、拂子茅-狗牙根群落、拂子茅-狗牙根-水莎草(Juncellus serotinus)群落。拂子茅-狗牙根、芦苇-拂子茅-狗牙根、拂子茅-水莎草-狗牙根三种植物群落类型下根生物量密度、根长密度在0—20 cm表层土壤较大,芦苇群落和芦苇-狗牙根群落的根生物量密度、根长密度在10—40 cm的土层较大。(2)黄河河滨湿地芦苇群落、芦苇-狗牙根群落的土壤以粉粒为主,拂子茅-狗牙根群落、芦苇-拂子茅-狗牙根群落、拂子茅-狗牙根-水莎草群落的土壤主要以砂粒为主。在0—40 cm土层,芦苇群落、芦苇-狗牙根群落的土壤含水率、土壤有机质、有效氮和有效磷含量均显著高于...     

Phylogenetic relationships in Carex, subgenus Vignea (Cyperaceae), based on ITS sequences

To evaluate the sectional classification in Carex, subgenus Vignea, the ITS region of 58 species of 20 sections was analyzed with Neighbor Joining (NJ) and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. Sections Dioicae, Physodeae and Ovales are found to be monophyletic, with C. bohemica well integrated in the section Ovales. Section Heleonastes turns out to be monophyletic, if C. canescens is treated separately in section Canescentes. Section Elongatae is monophyletic, but C. remota is placed in section Remotae and C. bromoides in section Deweyanae. In both analyses, six representatives of section Arenariae cluster together in a terminal group, whereas C. disticha, C. repens and C. siccata form a basal cluster. C. maritima, as the only member of section Incurvae, shares this basal position. C. chordorrhiza is ascribed to section Chordorrhizeae and not ascribed to the paraphyletic section Divisae. C. vulpina and C. otrubae are assigned to section Vulpinae and separated from the heterogeneous section Stenorhynchae. The other members of sections Divisae, Muehlenbergianae, Multiflorae and Stenorhynchae are scattered throughout the trees. The representatives of section Foetidae are dispersed in both analyses, section Paniculatae appears to be non-monophyletic in the molecular results as well. The subgenus appears subdivided in at least four larger subgroups in all analyses. Whereas these subgroups are strongly supported, the relationships between these subgroups remain only poorly resolved.     

Low sequence similarity and gene content of symbiotic clusters of Bradyrhizobium sp. WM9 (Lupinus) indicate early divergence of “lupin” lineage in the genus Bradyrhizobium

Two sequenced nodulation regions of lupin Bradyrhizobium sp. WM9 carried the majority of genes involved in the Nod factor production. The nod region I harbored: nolA, nodD, nodA, nodB, nodC, nodS, nodI, nodJ, nolO, nodZ, fixR, nifA, fixA, nodM, nolK and noeL. This gene arrangement resembled that found in the nodulation region of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110, however strain WM9 harbored only one nodD gene copy, while the nodM, nolK and noeL genes had no counterparts in the 410 kb symbiotic region of strain USDA110. Region II harbored nolL and nodW, but lacked an nodV gene. Both regions carried ORFs that lacked similarity to the published USDA110 sequences, though they had homologues in symbiotic regions of Rhizobium etli, Sinorhizobium sp. NGR234 and Mesorhizobium loti. These differences in gene content, as well as a low average sequence identity (70%) of symbiotic genes with respect to B. japonicum USDA110 were in contrast with the phylogenetic relationship of USDA110 and WM9 revealed by the analysis of 16S rDNA and dnaK sequences. This most likely reflected an early divergence of symbiotic loci, and possible co-speciation with distinct legumes. During this process the loss of a noeI gene and the acquisition of a nolL gene could be regarded as an adaptation towards these legumes that responded to Nod factors carrying 4-O-acetylfucose rather than 2-O-methylfucose. This explained various responses of lupins and serradella plants to infection by mutants in nodZ and nolL genes, knowing that serradella is a stringent legume while lupins are more promiscuous legumes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.