中国淡水钩虾一新种(甲壳纲:端足目:钩虾科)

记述了采自四川九寨沟自然保护区的淡水钩虾1新种,四川钩虾Gammarus sichuanensisi sp.nov.新种的形态特征和与近似种的区别在文中均有详细的论述,同时附有详细的特征图,模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所。     

中国云南钩虾属一新种(甲壳纲:端足目:钩虾科)

记述了采自云南昭通市大山包黑颈鹤自然保护区的淡水钩虾一新种,即钱氏钩虾Gammarus piani sp.nov,新种的形态特征和与近似种的区别在文中均有详细的描述,同时附有详细的特征图,模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所。     

安徽华阳洞穴假褐钩虾属一新种(甲壳纲,端足目,假褐钩虾科)

记述了采自安徽华阳洞的假褐钩虾属1新种,洞穴假褐钩虾Pseudocrangonyx cavernarius sp.nov.。该种区别于同属其它种为：第1小颚内叶具4根刚毛,第2尾肢外肢为内肢的66％,第3尾肢肢节为柄节的3．25倍,尾节末端微裂。文中附有详细的特征图。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所。     

北京钩虾属一新种(甲壳纲,端足目,钩虾科)

记述了采自北京的端足目钩虾科钩虾属一新种,琥珀钩虾Gammarus electrus sp.nov。文中详细描述了其形态特征和与近似种的比较,同时附有特征图。模式标本采自北京植物园樱桃沟等地,保存于中国科学院动物研究所。     

新疆钩虾属一新种(甲壳纲,端足目,钩虾科)

记述了分布在新疆乌拉泊水库、米泉铁厂沟和乌鲁木齐市郊的淡水钩虾1新种,华美钩虾Gammarus decorosus sp.nov.。文中详细描述了其形态特征和与近似种的比较,同时附有特征图。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所。     

中国无眼钩虾一新种记述(甲壳纲,端足目,钩虾科)

记述了中国钩虾属1新种,盲钩虾Gammarus aocu-lus sp．nov．,文中详细描述了其形态特征和与近似种的区别,并附有特征图。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所。     

中国异钩虾科一新属及新种记述(甲壳纲,端足目,异钩虾科)

报道了采自云南的端足目异钩虾科沼泽宽肢钩虾1新属1新种,Eurypodogammarus helobius gen.nov.et sp.nov..宽肢钩虾属区别于其它属在躯体粗壮,每个基节鳃只有1个附鳃.文中详细描述了新属新种的个体特征及其与近似属种的比较,同时附有特征图.研究标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所.     

中国巢湖大螯蜚属一新种(甲壳纲:端足目:畸钩虾科)

记述了采自安徽巢湖忠庙的端足目畸钩虾科大螯属一新种,巢湖大螯蜚Grandidierella chaohuensis sp.nov.文中详细描述了其形态特征和与近似种的区别,同时附有特征图。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所。     

云南米虾属一新种(十足目,匙指虾科)

记述了采集于云南蒙自匙指虾科米虾属1新种,贫齿米虾Caridina paucidentata sp.nov..文中详细描述了其形态特征,同时附特征图.新种和近似种蒙自米虾的主要区别在于前者额角背缘齿少,仅1～3个.模式标本保存于上海水产大学.     

中国浙江省吻虾虎鱼属一新种(鲈形目:虾虎鱼科)

描述分布于浙江省武义县武义江的吻虾虎鱼1新种,定名为武义吻虾虎鱼(Rhinogobius wuyiensis)。该虾虎鱼在头部斑纹上与雀斑吻虾虎鱼(R.lentiginis)相近,但有如下特征可区别于相近种:具眼肩胛骨管及前鳃盖管(vs.无任何感觉管孔);椎骨数10 16=26(vs.27);臀鳍分支鳍条7-9(vs.6-7);头部斑点大小不等且不规则,常呈线状交织(vs.具规则的小圆斑);鳃盖条部内侧无斑点(vs.密布小点)。     

Review: Helicobacter: Inflammation,immunology, and vaccines

Chronic inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori infection is a critical factor in the development of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Central to this inflammation is the initiation of pro‐inflammatory signaling cascades within epithelial cells, in particular those mediated by two sensors of bacterial cell wall components, nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐containing protein 1 (NOD1) and alpha‐protein kinase 1 (ALPK1). H pylori is, however, also highly adept at mitigating inflammation in the host, thereby restricting tissue damage and favoring bacterial persistence. H pylori modulates host immune responses by altering cytokine signaling in epithelial and myeloid cells, which results in increased proliferation of regulatory T cells and downregulation of effector T‐cell responses. H pylori vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) has been shown to play an important role in the dampening of immune responses and induction of immune tolerance capable of protecting against asthma. It is also possible to generate protective immune responses by immunization with various H pylori antigens or their epitopes, in combination with an adjuvant, though this for now has only been shown in mouse models. Novel non‐toxic adjuvants, consisting of modified bacterial enterotoxins or nanoparticles, have recently been developed that may not only enhance vaccine efficacy, but also help translate candidate vaccines to the clinic. This review will summarize the main discoveries in the past year regarding host immune responses to H pylori infection, as well as the design of new vaccine approaches against this infection.     

Focus: A Multifaceted Battle Against Cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma: Pathogenesis,Epidemiology, Clinical Features,Diagnosis, Histopathology,and Management

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy. Exposure to sunlight is the most important risk factor. Most, if not all, cases of BCC demonstrate overactive Hedgehog signaling. A variety of treatment modalities exist and are selected based on recurrence risk, importance of tissue preservation, patient preference, and extent of disease. The pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, histopathology, and management of BCC will be discussed in this review.     

Phylogeny,classification, and biogeography of Afrotrichloris,Apochiton, Coelachyrum,Dinebra, Eleusine,Leptochloa, Schoenefeldia,and a new genus,Schoenefeldiella (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae: Eleusininae)

To investigate the evolutionary relationships among species of Afrotrichloris, Apochiton, Coelachyrum, Dinebra, Eleusine, Leptochloa, and Schoenefeldia of subtribe Eleusininae, a phylogeny based on DNA sequences from nine gene regions (ITS, rps16-trnK, rps3, rps16, rpoC2, rpl32-trnL, ndhF, ndhA, ccsA) is presented. Previous molecular phylogenies indicated that Coelachyrum was polyphyletic and Schoenefeldia was paraphyletic, with Afrotrichloris embedded within it. Apochiton burttii was embedded in the Coelachyrum clade paired with C. longiglume, Coelachyrumpoiflorum was placed outside of Coelachyrum and sister to Eleusine, and Schoenefeldia is paraphyletic, with its two species forming a grade sister to Afrotrichoris. Our molecular phylogeny supports recognition of a new genus, Schoenefeldiella, and a new combination, Schoenfeldiella transiens. In addition, we provide generic emendations for Coelachyrum, which now includes five species including a new combination proposed here, Coelachyrum burttii, and Eleusine, which now includes 11 species.     

Molecular phylogeny of basal gobioid fishes: Rhyacichthyidae, Odontobutidae, Xenisthmidae, Eleotridae (Teleostei: Perciformes: Gobioidei)

Morphological character analyses indicate that Rhyacichthyidae, Odontobutidae, Eleotridae, and Xenisthmidae are the basal families within the perciform suborder Gobioidei. This study uses DNA sequence data to infer the relationships of genera within these families, as well as determine the placement of more derived gobioids (family Gobiidae) and the identity of the outgroup to Gobioidei. Complete sequences of the mitochondrial ND1, ND2, COI, and cyt b genes (4397 base pairs) are analyzed for representatives of 27 gobioid genera and a variety of perciform and scorpaeniform outgroup candidates; the phylogeny is rooted with a beryciform as a distal outgroup. The single most parsimonious tree that results indicates that, of the outgroups sampled, the perciform family Apogonidae is most closely related to Gobioidei. Gobioidei is monophyletic, and Rhyacichthys aspro is the most basal taxon. The remainder of Gobioidei is resolved into clades corresponding to the families Odontobutidae (plus Milyeringa) and Eleotridae+Xenisthmidae+Gobiidae. Within Eleotridae, the subfamily Butinae (minus Milyeringa) is paraphyletic with respect to Gobiidae, and Eleotrinae is paraphyletic with respect to Xenisthmidae. Other than these groupings, the primary disagreement with the current morphology-based classification is that the molecular data indicate that the troglodytic Milyeringa should be placed in Odontobutidae, not Butinae, although support for this placement is weak. The most basal lineage of Gobioidei is known from the freshwaters of the Indo-Pacific, with marine-dwelling lineages arising several times independently in the group. The phylogeny also indicates that different gobioid lineages are distributed in Asia, Africa, Madagascar and the Neotropics. Five sister pairs of basal gobioid species inhabit Atlantic and Pacific drainages of Panama, with widely varying divergences.     

Islands: stability, diversity, conservation

Islands present both a diversity and a stability paradox. They are often highly species-poor but have considerable biological interest in terms of extraordinary endemic genera and taxonomically isolated groups. They appear to be stable, as in some cases these organisms have persisted for many millions of years, and having an oceanic climate, extreme climatic events may be comparatively rare. However, when subject to extrinsic (anthropogenic) disturbance they do not appear to be stable, but often suffer catastrophic ecological change. These apparent paradoxes are resolved when it is realized that all these features are consequences of the same island characteristics: biotic isolation and oceanicity. As a result of these two characteristics, far oceanic islands are quantitatively different from continental systems in the nature of their ecological processes, which appear to give rise to an extreme punctuated equilibrium model of evolutionary change. Endemics may be ancient relict endemics displaying prolonged stasis and persistence, or products of adaptive radiation representing rapid punctuational events. A process-based definition of a relict endemic (palaeoendemic) is one whose founding lineage (i.e. the original continental source taxon) has not left any descendents. A corollary of this definition is that the time of divergence between an endemic and its continental sister-group should predate the colonization of the island by the now endemic lineage. An example is Dicksonia arborescens which has been on St Helena for at least 9 Myrs and no longer occurs in the likely source area of Africa. These relict endemics, frequent on islands, are important as the last remnants of tranches of biodiversity that have vanished elsewhere. Island conservation strategies require an integrated understanding of both sides of the diversity and stability paradox so that both island processes and island organisms can be conserved.     

Matrilysin: Expression, purification, and characterization

The expression vector pGEX-2T under the control of the IPTG-inducibletac promotor is effective for the production of a fusion protein of glutathione transferase (GST, 26 kDa) and promatrilysin (28 kDa) separated from the C-terminus of GST by a thrombin cleavage site. Zwittergen (palmityl sulfobetaine), 2%, solubilizes the fusion protein that is found associated with inclusion bodies. The solubilized fusion protein is purified by affinity chromatography on GSH agarose. Promatrilysin is obtained by thrombin cleavage either on the column or after GSH elution of the fusion protein. Mono S chromatography of the recovered protein yields homogeneous promatrilysin. The zinc content of promatrilysin and its activated enzyme product is slightly greater than 2 mol of zinc per mole of protein. The results indicate that the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contain two metal-binding sites at which zinc is firmly bound and possibly a third site at which it is weakly bound. Primary sequence alignments for all the MMPs have a sequence homologous to the zinc-binding site of astacin,HExxHxxGxxH, suggesting one of the zinc sites is a catalytic one, in agreement with the known inhibition of these enzymes by chelators. However, the other zinc-binding site(s) likely reflect the different ways that astacin and the MMP subfamilies are stabilized, i.e., disulfides in astacin and metal ions in the MMPs.     

Diapause, quiescence, hatching requirements: what we can learn from large freshwater branchiopods (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca, Notostraca, Conchostraca)

The extent to which dormancy in large freshwater branchiopods is controlled endogenously (diapause) or exogenously (quiescence) is not always clear. It is assumed that both processes occur even within the same brood. Based on the effectiveness of common diapause-deactivating processes such as desiccation, hibernation, and resting, it can be stated that diapause is not a general process controlling responsiveness of large freshwater branchiopod eggs. Only in limited cases unequivocal evidence for the positive influence of these treatments is found.With few exceptions, hatching of activated cysts is effected by specific conditions that may even differ among conspecific populations. Generally, each species (or even population) has a specific temperature range or regime for optimal hatching performance. In a suitable thermal environment with sufficient light and oxygen, hatching is invariably invoked by a low osmotic medium.The erratic hatching pattern in most species is thought to be an adaptation to the variable temporary habitat. Hatching is generally spread over several days or even weeks, but the highest peak usually occurs on the first or second day of hatching. Low hatching percentages were found only in subtropical/desert species and may be a reflection of the low chances for successful reproduction. Generation carry-over of propagules in the egg bank by dormancy, and hatching at low conductivity, are, together with obligate oviparity and absence of an asexual life cycle phase, thought to be highly adaptive to the temporary environment. This enabled large branchiopods to survive since the Upper Cambrian.     

Luminol chemiluminescence: Chemistry,excitation, emitter

The mechanism of luminol chemiluminescence is a special case of nucleophilic addition to carbonyl compounds. The breakdown of the key intermediate, an alpha hydroxy hydroperoxide, produces a peracid ortho to an acyl diazene group. After intramolecular addition of the peracid, the energy from nitrogen expulsion is utilized in the formation of an anti-aromatic endoperoxide. Rupture along the O,O bond leaves a substantial part of the ensuing phthalate in its excited state. The emitter is shown to be a mono-protonated phthalate unaccessible by photoexcitation. The dark reaction is a concerted decomposion of the alpha hydroxy hydroperodixe to yield ground-state phthalate.     

Thioredoxin: structure, properties, function

Thioredoxin, a disulfide-containing protein having a highly conservative structure, is present in all types of organisms that are phylogenetically distant from one another. The protein possesses unique capabilities and is universal in respect of physiological functions it performs. In particular, this protein participates in nucleic acid metabolism and thus may protect cells against the lethal influence of gamma-irradiation.