Jiriella brunnea sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Dermestidae: Megatominae) from Thailand and Burma — the second known species of the genus Jiriella

Jiriella brunnea Háva & Kadej, sp. nov. from Thailand and Burma is described. The habitus, antenna, genitalia are illustrated and compared with related species Jiriella thailandica (Háva, 2012).     

The Pachycrocuta and Hyaena lineages (plio-pleistocene and extant species of the Hyaenidae). Their relationships with miocene ictitheres: Palhyaena and Hyaenictitherium

The large «crocutoïd hyaenas from the Plio-Pleistocenedeposits of Eurasia do not belong to the same lineage as the extant species Hyaena hyaena and must be referred to the genus PachycrocutaKretzoi, of which an emended diagnosis is given. This revision takes into account some undescribed or ill-known specimens from Russia, China and Africa. They definitely establish that Pachycrocuta ranged over Eurasia, from West Europe to East China, as early as the early Villafranchian at least, and that it was present in North Africa too; a large sample from the Odessa Catacombs affords an estimation of the intraspecific variation in the Ruscinian species, H. pyrenaica, known until now by only a few specimens from the western part of the Mediterranean basin, and it shows H. pyrenaica to be the ancestral form of the Villafranchian Eurasian species P. perrieri, from which derived P. brevirostris, the last species of the lineage, as previously shown by other authors.It appears that the “Hyaena lineage evolved simultaneously in Africa; we knew already that the root of this lineage is H. abronia, a species from the late Miocene of South Africa whose generic attribution is discussed relative to some Ictitheres from Shan-Si, Samos, Sahabi and Klein Zee. The hypothesis of a common African origin of the two lineages is not excluded, if not demonstrated. The relationships of the Pleistocene European species H. prisca and that of the extant African species H. brunnea are discussed.     

The social feather duster worm Bispira brunnea (Polychaeta: Sabellidae): aggregations,morphology and reproduction

The fan worm Bispira brunnea is one of the most attractive sabellid polychaetes from Caribbean coral reef areas and it is exploited for ornamental purposes. An understanding of the structure of its aggregations, morphology and reproductive biology will provide information required to facilitate artificial propagation of this species. Ten aggregations were collected in October 2013, February and March 2014 in the Majahual reef lagoon, Mexican Caribbean. Whole aggregations were examined under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and the histology of oogenesis was determined. Aggregations were composed of 24–56 individuals and included juveniles and adults. The adults (5–20?mm) did not display any noticeable form of sexual dimorphism. In B. brunnea both sexual (hermaphroditism or gonochorism) and asexual reproduction occurred at the same time within the population: 92.71% reproduced sexually and 52% by architomy. The buds produced by architomy were inside the parental tube, at three regenerative stages. The sex ratio was 36.75% males, 33.11% females, 22.84% hermaphrodites and 7.28% unknown (gametes not seen). Gametes were distributed in the last thoracic segments and throughout the abdomen. Oogenesis was extra-ovarian, development followed four discrete stages and the oocytes were small and asynchronous (60.97 μm in diameter). Sperm morphology was adapted to external fertilization in the water column. Sequential (protandrous) hermaphroditism is suggested to occur in B. brunnea. The pyramidellid ectosymbiont mollusc Odostomia (Eulimastoma) caniculatum is recorded here for the first time as being associated with a sabellid worm.     

Discovery of a novel small secreted protein family with conserved N-terminal IGY motif in Dikarya fungi

Background

Small secreted proteins (SSPs) are employed by plant pathogenic fungi as essential strategic tools for their successful colonization. SSPs are often species-specific and so far only a few widely phylogenetically distributed SSPs have been identified.

Results

A novel fungal SSP family consisting of 107 members was identified in the poplar tree fungal pathogen Marssonina brunnea, which accounts for over 17% of its secretome. We named these proteins IGY proteins (IGYPs) based on the conserved three amino acids at the N-terminus. In spite of overall low sequence similarity among IGYPs; they showed conserved N- and C-terminal motifs and a unified gene structure. By RT-PCR-seq, we analyzed the IGYP gene models and validated their expressions as active genes during infection. IGYP homologues were also found in 25 other Dikarya fungal species, all of which shared conserved motifs and the same gene structure. Furthermore, 18 IGYPs from 11 fungi also shared similar genomic contexts. Real-time RT-PCR showed that 8 MbIGYPs were highly expressed in the biotrophic stage. Interestingly, transient assay of 12 MbIGYPs showed that the MbIGYP13 protein induced cell death in resistant poplar clones.

Conclusions

In total, 154 IGYPs in 26 fungi of the Dikarya subkingdom were discovered. Gene structure and genomic context analyses indicated that IGYPs originated from a common ancestor. In M. brunnea, the expansion of highly divergent MbIGYPs possibly is associated with plant-pathogen arms race.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-1151) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Identifying secreted proteins of Marssonina brunnea by degenerate PCR

Marssonina brunnea is an important fungal pathogen of the Populus genus. To further our understanding of the pathogenesis of M. brunnea, we initiated a proteome‐level study of the fungal secretome. Using de novo peptide sequencing by MS/MS, we obtained peptide sequences for 32 protein spots. Four proteins were identified by sequence homology to conserved proteins in public databases using MS‐driven BLAST. To identify additional protein spots, we combined a degenerate PCR method, based on the Consensus–DEgenerate Hybrid Oligonucleotide Primer (CODEHOP) method, and a rapid amplification of cDNA ends method to clone the full‐length cDNA fragments encoding the proteins identified in the gel. Using this method, we cloned the full‐length cDNA fragments encoding 11 M. brunnea‐specific proteins. This method provides an efficient approach to identification of species‐specific proteins of non‐sequenced organisms. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression patterns of these genes during infection. We found that most of the identified secreted proteins could be induced in artificial medium after hyphae entered poplar apoplast spaces. We propose that for the host‐specialized M. brunnea, the elongation of hyphae has evolved closely with the secretion of apoplastic proteins.     

A new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Comanthera</Emphasis> (Eriocaulaceae) from the Espinhaço Range,Minas Gerais,Brazil

We describe and illustrate the new species Comanthera brunnea (Eriocaulaceae: Paepalanthoideae). This species is endemic to the sandy fields of the campos rupestres of the northeastern Espinhaço range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We compare it with Comanthera suberosa, the morphologically most similar species, and with C. brasiliana, which also has similar features. The morphological variation, habitat, geographic distribution, and conservation status of this new species are discussed.     

多形小克银汉霉、暗孢小克银汉霉和褐孢小克银汉霉应否被接受为独立的种?

多形小克银汉霉(Cunninghamella polymorpha Pisnek)、暗孢小克银汉霉(Cunninghamella phaeospora Boedijn)和褐孢小克银汉霉(Cunninghamella brunnea J.N. Rai,S.C. Agarwal & J.P. Tewari)自分别在1929, 1958, 1968年发表以来,一直存在着不同意见上的争论,或承认或不承认,或合并到这个种或合并到那个种等等.我们在研究中国的小克银汉霉属的过程中,分离得到了九株多形小克银汉霉的菌株。为了确定这个种的分类地位以及澄清它与其他一些相关种的关系,我们将这些菌株与从国外交换获得的一些相关种的模式后代作了比较研究,所得结果表明多形小克银汉霉、暗孢小克银汉霉及褐孢小克银汉霉三种既不能相互合并亦不能合并到其他任何一种中去,而应作为独立的种被人们所接受。在我们的工作之前,这三个种的有性型均未有报道。我们在国内尚未发现暗孢小克银汉霉和褐孢小克银汉霉,只找到了多形小克银汉霉,但同时也找到了它的有性型.因此,多形小克银汉霉为我国的新记录种,其有性型的发现则为全世界的首次报道。多形小克银汉霉的主要区别性特征为孢囊梗主枝形成顶生泡囊或不形成而在顶部叉分为二至数个分枝,同一孢囊梗上的分枝长短不齐,接合孢子囊不正球形,配囊柄细长可达80微米等等.暗孢小克银汉霉的主要区别性特征为孢囊梗分枝很少或不分枝,在同一孢囊梗上分枝相距很远且都很短,泡囊形状多不规则且略呈多角形。褐孢小克银汉霉更易与其他种相区别,它的孢囊梗分枝很多,分枝成堆且指向不同的方向,泡囊典型地呈多角形,内外璧不重合。这三个种首次发表时以及后来经过不同作者重新研究后发表的描述及绘图均过于简单而未能充分显示出它们的区别性特征,因此我们在本文中再次作了描述并再次提供了详尽的线条图和显微照相。     

Cloning and expression analysis of Chitinase genes from Populus canadensis

Plant chitinases play a key role in conferring resistance to environmental stresses, including attack by fungal pathogens. In the present study, we employed rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) to identify five chitinase genes in Populus canadensis Moench. Sequence alignment revealed that these genes belong to five subfamilies of chitinase genes. The full-length cDNAs of these genes ranged in size from 991 to 1358 bp and encoded proteins with mol wts from 29.5 to 40.3 kD. Five genes were grouped into three major clades based on amino acid sequences of encoded proteins. Exon-intron gene structure and protein domain analysis further supported the designation. A three-dimensional structure comparison showed the high similarity between five P. canadensis chitinases and three well-studied chitinases from other species. The expression levels of all five genes were up-regulated during Populus infection with the pathogenic fungus Marssonina brunnea, and four of them were highly induced by salt and drought stresses. Furthermore, such factors as elicitors, wounding, and low temperature also elevated the expression of these chitinase genes to varying extents. We postulated that these chitinase genes may be involved in pathways of the defense against fungal infection and function in response to various abiotic stresses.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of Periplaneta brunnea (Blattodea: Blattidae) and phylogenetic analyses within Blattodea

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Periplaneta brunnea was sequenced in this study and used to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of Blattodea. The circular mitogenome was 15,604?bp long and exhibited typical gene organization and order, consistent with other sequenced Periplaneta mitogenomes. The initiation codon of the P. brunnea COX1 gene was unusual in that no typical ATN or TTG start codon was found. The two longest intergenic spacer sequences found in the P. brunnea mitogenome were 21 and 17?bp long. Twenty-one base spacer had a 4?bp motif (TATT) between tRNA-Glu and tRNA-Met that conservatively displayed in 9 sequenced blattarian mitogenomes. The second spacer was between tRNA-Ser (UCN) and NAD1 containing a 7?bp motif (WACTTAA) that was highly conserved in 14 blattarian mitogenomes. The control region showed a relatively fixed motif present in 6 Blattidae mitogenomes, with a big stem-loop structure. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using site-homogeneous models based on 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) and two RNA genes. The trees derived from Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses and recovered a relatively stable relationship among major lineages except for the position of Polyphagidae and inter-family relationships of Blaberidae. Analyses supported the monophyly of Blattidae, Blaberidae, Blattellidae, Polyphagidae, Dictyoptera, and the paraphyly of Blattaria. We also found Mantodea was the sister clade to (Blattaria?+?Isoptera), being the basal position of Dictyoptera in all topologies. Meanwhile, our results also consistently supported that Isoptera should be clustered with Blattaria of Blattodea.     

Array of Synthetic Oligonucleotides to Generate Unique Multi-Target Artificial Positive Controls and Molecular Probe-Based Discrimination of Liposcelis Species

Several species of the genus Liposcelis are common insect pests that cause serious qualitative and quantitative losses to various stored grains and processed grain products. They also can contaminate foods, transmit pathogenic microorganisms and cause allergies in humans. The common occurrence of multi-species infestations and the fact that it is difficult to identify and discriminate Liposcelis spp. make accurate, rapid detection and discriminatory tools absolutely necessary for confirmation of their identity. In this study, PCR primers and probes specific to different Liposcelis spp. were designed based on nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene. Primer sets ObsCo13F/13R, PeaCo15F/14R, BosCO7F/7R, BruCo5F/5R, and DecCo11F/11R were used to specifically detect Liposcelis obscura Broadhead, Liposcelis pearmani Lienhard, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, Liposcelis brunnea Motschulsky and Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) in multiplex endpoint PCRs, which amplified products of 438-, 351-, 191-, 140-, and 87-bp, respectively. In multiplex TaqMan qPCR assays, orange, yellow, red, crimson and green channels corresponding to reporter dyes 6-ROXN, HEX, Cy5, Quasar705 and 6-FAM specifically detected L. obscura, L. brunnea, L. bostrychophila, L. pearmani and L. decolor, respectively. All developed primer and probe sets allowed specific amplification of corresponding targeted Liposcelis species. The development of multiplex endpoint PCR and multiplex TaqMan qPCR will greatly facilitate psocid identification and their management. The use of APCs will streamline and standardize PCR assays. APC will also provide the opportunity to have all positive controls in a single tube, which reduces maintenance cost and labor, but increases the accuracy and reliability of the assays. These novel methods from our study will have applications in pest management, biosecurity, quarantine, food safety, and routine diagnostics.     

Leaf hoppers of New Zealand: Subfamilies Aphrodinae,Jassinae, Xestocephalinae,Idiocerinae, and Macropsinae (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

The cosmopolitan subfamilies Aphrodinae, Jassinae, Xestocephalinae, Idiocerinae, and Macropsinae are diagnosed and the New Zealand species described and illustrated. Each subfamily is represented in New Zealand by only one or two species, those in Idiocerinae having been introduced from Europe or North America. The species Euacanthella brunnea Evans (Aphrodinae) is synonymised with the Australian species E. insularis Evans (new synonymy).     

The type-material of Arctiinae (Lepidoptera,Erebidae) described by Burmeister and Berg in the collection of the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (Buenos Aires,Argentina)

Carlos G. Burmeister and Carlos Berg were among the most important and influential naturalists and zoologists in Argentina and South America and described 241 species and 34 genera of Lepidoptera. The Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia (MACN) housed some of the Lepidoptera type specimens of these authors. In this study we present a catalogue with complete information and photographs of 11 Burmeister type specimens and 10 Berg type specimens of Phaegopterina, Arctiina and Pericopina (Lepidoptera, Erebidae, Arctiinae, Arctiini) housed in the MACN. Lectotypes or holotypes were designated where primary type specimens could be recognized; in some cases we were not able to recognize types. The catalogue also proposes nomenclatural changes and new synonymies: Opharus picturata (Burmeister, 1878), comb. n.; Opharus brunnea Gaede, 1923: 7, syn. n.; Hypocrisias jonesi (Schaus, 1894), syn. n.; Leucanopsis infucata (Berg, 1882), stat. rev.; Paracles argentina (Berg, 1877), sp. rev.; Paracles uruguayensis (Berg, 1886), sp. rev.     

Apparent influences of host-plant distribution on the structure and the genetic variability of local populations of the Purple Clay (Diarsia brunnea)

Diarsia brunnea (Lepidoptera, Heterocera, Noctuidae, Denis and Schiffermuller, 1775) is an abundant oligophagous moth occurring in the French Pyrenees. No or little influence of the forest type was found on population densities. In order to study the genetic structure of two separate moth populations in a natural forest and in a plantation, genomic fingerprinting with ISSR markers (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) was used. The goal was to search for potential spatial structuring which could be influenced by differences in forest type.     

中国虱齿属一新种和二新记录种(齿目：虱齿科)

该文记述了中国虱蜻科虱蜡属1新种,即杨氏虱蜡Liposcelis yangi,并对2新记录 种,即暗褐虱齿 L.Brunnea Motschulsdy白虱齿 L.Pallens Badonnel,进行了再描述。     

To avoid or deter: interactions among defensive and escape strategies in sabellid worms

Numerous studies demonstrate how sessile marine organisms utilize chemical, structural, and nutritional deterrents to persist in predator-rich environments. Little is known, however, about how mobile, more behaviorally complex species minimize predation by integrating avoidance and deterrence strategies. We investigated this using sabellid polychaete worms from the Caribbean and temperate western Atlantic. Sabellids extend their feather-like radioles beyond their protective tubes for feeding and respiration; the body remains inside the tube and the radioles retract when threatened. We used co-occurring consumers to determine the palatability of radioles and bodies for each of the eight species tested. In addition, we examined chemical or structural traits affecting palatability and evaluated predator escape traits, such as tube strength, speed of radiole retraction, completeness of retraction, and sensitivity to a nearby disturbance. All species had unpalatable radioles that were chemically or structurally defended, but only two species had unpalatable bodies. Thus, most species allocated defenses to tissues that were most exposed to predation. The two species with chemically defended bodies, Bispira brunnea and Bispira variegata, relied less on behavioral escapes than the other species. Their tubes were weak, they did not retract until disturbances were very close, and B. brunnea retracted slowly and incompletely even when touched. Other species generally had stronger tubes and/or retracted when disturbances were farther away. This trade-off of deterrence versus escape even occurred within a single species when populations differed in palatability. Populations of B.variegata from North Carolina and Georgia were chemically deterrent to both temperate and tropical consumers, while populations from Panama and Florida were palatable. The more palatable Panama population retracted in response to distant movement, while the unpalatable North Carolina population did not retract until nearly touched. Thus, most species utilize a combination of predator avoidance and deterrence strategies, but more deterrent populations of species utilized avoidance less.     

Domiciliary cockroaches and their oothecal parasites in India

In a survey for oothecal parasites of cockroaches in India, 6 species of cockroaches were recorded. Of theseNeostylopyga rhombifolia (Stoll.) was restricted to thatched huts whileBlattella germanica (L.),Periplaneta americana (L.),P. australasiae (F.),P. brunnea Burmeister andSupella longipalpa (F.) were common in other types of buildings. Eight species of parasites, of which 4 are new records, were reared:Anastatus tenuipes Bolivar.,Comperia merceti Compere,Evania appendigaster (L.),Evania sp. nearantennalis Westw., Genus et sp. nov. nearAnastatus. Tetrastichus asthenogmus (Waterston),T. hagenowii (Ratzeburg) andTetrastichus sp. (miser group) which is hyperparasitic. The natural and experimental hosts of these parasites are discussed. The low levels of field parasitism suggest there is scope for introducing more promising parasite species into India for biological control of cockroaches.     

Rapid typing of truffle mycorrhizal roots by PCR amplification of the ribosomal DNA spacers

DNA analyses were developed to type mycorrhizas of two Tuber species of commercial value (T. melanosporum, T. borchii) and a competitive fungus (Sphaerosporella brunnea) which forms ectomycorrhizas with plants usually considered hosts for truffles. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA isolated from fruitbodies, mycelia, mycorrhizas and leaves of host plants, was performed with a primer pair for an internal transcribed spacer ITS1-4. ITS amplification followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the amplified products clearly distinguished the two Tuber species at the fruitbody, mycorrhiza and mycelium levels. Accepted: 6 September 1996     

GELRITE as an Agar Substitute for the Cultivation of Mesophilic Methanobacterium and Methanobrevibacter Species

GELRITE was evaluated as a gelling agent for the growth of mesophilic Methanobacterium and Methanobrevibacter species. GELRITE was shown to be superior to agar in its gel strength and clarity. Viable cell counts and colony sizes of Methanobacterium species were greater on GELRITE-based medium compared with agar-based medium.