Bat ectoparasites (Nycteribiidae,Streblidae, Siphonaptera,Heteroptera, Mesostigmata,Argasidae, and Ixodidae) from Algeria

Twenty two species of ectoparasites (Family Nycteribiidae: Nycteribia (Listropoda) schmidlii schmidlii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) latreillii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) pedicularia, Penicillidia (Penicillidia) dufourii, and Phthiridium biarticulatum; Family Streblidae: Brachytarsina (Brachytarsina) flavipennis and Raymondia huberi; Order Siphonaptera: Rhinolophopsylla unipectinata arabs, Nycteridopsylla longiceps, Araeopsylla gestroi, Ischnopsyllus intermedius, and Ischnopsyllus octactenus; Order Heteroptera: Cimex pipistrelli, Cimex lectularius, and Cacodmus vicinus; Class Arachnida: Order Mesostigmata: Spinturnix myoti and Eyndhovenia euryalis; Order Ixodida: Family Argasidae: Argas transgariepinus and Argas vespertilionis; Family Ixodidae: Hyalomma dromedarii, Ixodes ricinus, and Ixodes vespertilionis) were recovered from 19 bat species in Algeria. New host records for bats are recorded for the first time: N. schmidlii from Rh. clivosus and R. cystops; N. latreillii from Rh. blasii and P. gaisleri; R. huberi from Rh. clivosus; C. pipistrelli from E. isabellinus and H. savii; C. vicinus from E. isabellinus; S. myoti from P. gaisleri; E. euryalis from P. gaisleri and Rh. blasii; A. vespertilionis from P. gaisleri; I. ricinus from T. teniotis and Rh. hipposideros and H. dromedarii from P. kuhlii. Raymondia huberi is recorded for the first time from Algeria.     

Ontogeny of angiopoietin‐like protein 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 genes during chick embryonic development

Angiopoietin‐like proteins (ANGPTLs) are secreted proteins possessing an amino‐terminal coiled‐coil domain and a carboxyl‐terminal fibrinogen‐like domain and are known as angiogenic factors. Several members of ANGPTLs also regulate lipid metabolism independently of angiogenic effects, but most of their functions during vertebrate development are not demonstrated. To ascertain their developmental functions, we examined the expression patterns of Angptl1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 orthologues during chick development using whole‐mount in situ hybridization. Angptl1 was first detected at embryonic day 3 (E3) in the somite. At E4, Angptl1 was expressed in somite‐derivatives and limb mesenchyme. Angptl2 was first detected at E3 in the hindbrain. At E4, Angptl2 was expressed in neuroepithelium of forebrain and hindbrain and partly in the heart. Angptl3 was first detected at E3 and continued to be expressed in the liver and yolk sac at E4. Angptl4 was first detected at E3 in the somites and liver. At E4, Angptl4 was also observed in the heart. Angptl5 was not detected in these developmental stages. Angptl7 was first detected at E3 in the ectoderm overlying the lenses of the eyes. At E4, Angptl7 was specifically expressed in cornea. These data suggest that each member of the ANGPTL family could be related to angiogenesis during various organogeneses of the developing chick embryo.     

Localization of growth arrest-specific genes on mouse Chromosomes 1, 7, 8, 11, 13, and 16

Growth arrest in NIH3T3 cells is associated with increased expression of a variety of mRNAs, several of which have been isolated as cDNA clones. Six of these growth arrest-specific (Gas) genes were mapped by following the inheritance of DNA restriction fragment length variants (RFLVs) associated with them in panels of recombinant inbred (RI) strains of mice and in the progeny of backcrosses both between laboratory mouse strains and between a laboratory strain and Mus spretus. The six genes are unlinked. Gas-1 maps to Chromosome (Chr) 13, Gas-2 to Chr 7, Gas-3 to Chr 11, Gas-4 to Chr 16, Gas-6 to Chr 8, and Gas-10 to Chr 1.     

HETEROCHROMATIN BANDING IN BOYKINIA,HEUCHERA, MITELLA,SULLIVANTIA, TIARELLA,AND TOLMIEA (SAXIFRAGACEAE)

Karyotypic differences were sought among species of Boykinia, Heuchera, Mitella, Sullivantia, Tiarella, and Tolmiea utilizing a modification of the Hy-banding technique. Prominent centromeric and some telomeric heterochromatin banding was observed. Boykinia aconitifolia and species of Sullivantia possess an identical banded karyotype, while four species of Heuchera, Mitella diphylla, Tiarella cordifolia, and Tolmiea menziesii (the latter at the tetraploid level) are characterized by a second, slightly different banded karyotype. In Sullivantia, Giemsa C-banding stains the same chromosomal regions revealed by Hy-banding. Larger amounts of heterochromatin are present in chromosomes of species of Heuchera, Mitella, Tiarella, and Tolmiea than in chromosomes of Sullivantia species and Boykinia aconitifolia. These karyological observations confirm generic relationships and demonstrate the systematic applicability of chromosome banding techniques to plants with very small chromosomes.     

COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF THE CARPEL IN THE ROSACEAE. V. POMOIDEAE: AMELANCHIER,ARONIA, MALACOMELES,MALUS, PERAPHYLLUM,PYRUS, SORBUS

The carpels of 2 groups of pomoid genera, Amelanchier, Malacomeles, Peraphyllum and Aronia, Malus, Pyrus, and Sorbus, were analyzed morphologically. Open sutures are associated with a lesser extent of tegumentary fusion and ovular bundle–wing bundle fusion than are closed sutures. However, in the genera as a whole (and particularly in Aronia and Sorbus), the extent of sutural closure is inversely related with the amount of intercarpellary adhesion and with the fusion of carpels to the floral cup. In the Amelanchier group and in Malus and Pyrus, ovular- and wing-bundle fusion is directly related with intercarpellary adhesion. Malus and Pyrus have closer structural resemblances with one another than they have with Aronia and Sorbus.     

The Boxgrove,England, middle Pleistocene herpetofauna: Paleogeographic,evolutionary, stratigraphic,and paleoecological relationships

Triturus vulgaris (smooth newt), Triturus helveticus or T. vulgaris (palmate or smooth newt), Triturus sp. (newt), Pelobates fuscus (common spadefoot), Bufo bufo (common toad), Bufo calamita (natterjack toad), Bufo sp. (toad), Rana arvalis (moor frog), Rana temporaria (common frog), Rana sp. (frog), Anguis fragilis (slow worm), Lacerta cf. L. vivipara (common lizard), Natrix natrix (grass snake), and Natrix sp. (grass, viperine, or dice snake) were identified at the Middle Pleistocene Boxgrove Site, West Sussex, England. This is the first British fossil record of Pelobates fuscus and the earliest fossil record in Britain for the endangered species Bufo calamita. All of these herpetological species are extant and all of them occur in Britain today with the exception of Pelobates fuscus and Rana arvalis that presently live on the European continent.

The Boxgrove, Westbury, and West Runton British pre‐Anglian Middle Pleistocene herpetofaunas show no apparent differences among themselves in patterns of species composition, diversity, or number of exotics. But these three herpetofaunas together have [1] less species diversity and [2] fewer exotic continental species than in the Cudmore Grove British post‐Anglian Middle Pleistocene herpetofauna.

Only the Terrestral Sequence Unit at Boxgrove yielded enough herpetological species for paleoecological interpretation. These taxa indicate a quiet pool surrounded by a somewhat humid vegetated area that gave way to a more xerophytic sandy area, and a paleoclimate at least as warm and perhaps somewhat warmer than occurs in the area today.     

Caprine blood groups. 2. The C,G, H,I, J,K, L,N, and Q systems

Nine blood group systems of goats were identified using 12 caprine reagents produced by absorption of alloimmune antisera. The caprine C blood group system, possibly homologous to the ovine C blood group system, was characterized by two reagents and shown to be controlled by three alleles,C ¹²,C ²⁵, andC ⁻. A more complex blood group system of goats, designated G, was identified using three reagents and shown to be controlled by six codominant alleles (G ^10.19.20,G ^10.19,G ^10.20,G ¹⁰,G ¹⁹,G ²⁰) and a recessive allele (G ⁻). A further seven one-factor two-allelic systems were identified by seven reagents. The nine genetic systems provided exclusion probabilities of 0.479, 0.492, 0.548, and 0.572 in Australian Angora, Dairy, Cashmere, and Texan Angora goat breeds, respectively. This work was supported by a grant from the Australian Stud Book, Alison Road, Randwick, New South Wales 2031, Australia.     

Quaternary vicariance of tiger beetle,Cicindela chinensis,in Ryukyu,Japan, Taiwan and Korea–China

We show vicariance of Cicindela chinensis in Okinawa, Japan (differentiated within Japan) and Korea–China through construction of Bayesian inference trees by BEAST2. Calibration was done using an assumption of the MRCA expansion of C. chinensis at 1.55 Ma (=geologically obtained formative time of the Ryukyu islands) following the protocol of BEAUti. We derived substitution rates for mitochondrial COI (1.66%/m.y.) and nuclear 28SrRNA (0.109%/m.y.) of analyzed Cicindela. Cicindela ferriei is a sister of C. chinensis, and these two species differentiated from each other at ca. 3 Ma before the expansion of C. chinensis. However, they are not strongly differentiated between Amami‐Oshima and Tokuno‐shima, although they display different color. Vicariance at 1.55 Ma is also recognized between Cicindela batesi in Taiwan and Cicindela aurulenta and virgula in continental China. From the sequence data we obtained, it is also evident that C. c. okinawana recently colonized Ishigaki‐jima from Okinawa‐jima, as did C. batesi in Iriomote‐jima from Taiwan.     

Analysis of Heterozygosity at the PI, TF, PGM1, ACP1, HP, GC, GLO1, C3, and ESDLoci in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Differing in Response to Treatment

Heterozygosity at nine genetic loci (PI, TF, PGM1, ACP1, HP, GC, GLO1, C3, and ESD) was analyzed in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with good (group 1, N= 71) and poor (group 2, N= 35) response to treatment. The observed heterozygosities were compared with the expected values, which were calculated from allele frequencies in a control sample of healthy individuals (N= 328 with all but one locus and 78 with ESD) according to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. The analysis showed that the observed heterozygosities g _l of patients significantly differed from the expected values h _lin the case of four loci (GC, PI, C3, and ACP1). The observed heterozygosity was higher than expected in three cases (PI, C3, and ACP1) and lower then expected (GC) in one case. When data on each individual locus were compared using Fisher's exact test, both groups of patients proved to significantly differ (P _F< 0.05) from the control group in the same four loci. No difference in observed heterozygosity was detected between the two groups of patients. The mean expected heterozygosity was h¯= 0.386 ± 0.00674; the mean observed heterozygosity was g¯ = 0.415 ± 0.02 in group 1, g¯ = 0.402 ± 0.026 in group 2, and g¯ = 0.371 ± 0.00955 in the control group. The ttest did not reveal a significant difference between the mean values of expected observed heterozygosities. Heterozygosity at individual loci, rather than mean heterozygosity, was proposed as an integral nonspecific indicator of the genetic control of a disease, because the former directly implicates individual marker loci in the development of a disorder, whereas effects of individual loci may eliminate each other when mean heterozygosity is computed. Based on the results obtained, a genetic control was assumed for the development of the tuberculosis process in the lungs.     

Incrimination of the mosquito,Aedes taeniorhynchus,as the primary vector of heartworm,Dirofilaria immitis,in coastal Yucatan,Mexico

Mosquito collections were carried out on microfilaraemic dogs, positive for Dirofilaria sp., for 18 consecutive nights in the coastal town of Celestún, Yucatan, southeast Mexico, during the rainy season (August) of 2007. A total of 292 female mosquitoes representing 12 species of dipteran Culicidae were collected: Anopheles albimanus (Wiedemann); Anopheles crucians (Wiedemann); Anopheles pseudopunctipennis (Theobald); Culex coronator (Dyar & Knab); Culex interrogator (Dyar & Knab); Culex nigripalpus (Theobald); Culex quinquefasciatus (Say); Culex salinarius (Coquillett); Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus); Aedes scapularis (Rondani); Aedes sollicitans (Walker), and Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann). Aedes taeniorhynchus and Cx. quinquefasciatus were the species found most commonly feeding on the dogs. Filarial nematodes were observed by microscopy in nine of the mosquito species collected; however, third‐instar larvae were only observed in Ae. taeniorhynchus and An. crucians. Of 76 Ae. taeniorhynchus specimens found positive for Dirofilaria sp. by dissection, 14 were confirmed to be positive for Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The resulting infection rate for D. immitis confirmed by PCR (6.2%) is higher than any infection rate for Ae. taeniorhynchus previously reported from the Americas.     

Thompsonia dofleini,a colonial akentrogonid rhizocephalan with dimorphic,ova- or sperm-producing,externae (Crustacea,Cirripedia)

Summary Specimens of the blue swimming crab,Portunus pelagicus, are often infected with many thousands of externae ofThompsonia dofleini, all of which are connected through a common root system within the host crab. The species is unique in that the production of sperm cells takes place within the visceral mass of a small minority of the population of the externae. Spermatogonia are probably introduced by male cyprids into these externae when they are young, and they multiply and develop at the expense of the oocytes which rapidly disintegrate and ultimately disappear. It is assumed that the sperm cells are transferred to the ovary of the ordinary, egg-producing externae through the root system. Shortly after the eggs have been fertilized within the ovary they are transferred to the mantle cavity where they develop into cyprid larvae. The larvae become liberated when the externae drop off and the mantle wall disintegrates.Abbreviations used in the figures a annulus - an antennule - bm basal membrane around ovary - ce compound eye - cg cerebral ganglion - cr connecting root - cy cyprid larva(e) - c1 cuticle 1 - c2 cuticle 2 - do degenerating oocytes - e eggs in early division - ec embryonic cells - em embryos - en endocuticle of host - ep epidermis of host - ex exocuticle of host - hc hemocoelic cavity - m mantle - mc mantle cavity - mcy male cyprid - o ovary - oo oocyte - r rupture in wall of visceral mass - rs root system - sc scar - se spawned eggs - so spent ovary - sp spermatogonia - ss sperm and spermatids - st stalk - tc thickened cuticle of mantle cavity - th thorax - vm visceral mass - y yolk granules     

Linkage disequilibrium of HLA-SB1 with the HLA-A1, B8, DR3, SCO1 and of HLA-SB4 with the HLA-A26, Bw38, Dw10, DR4, SC21 extended haplotypes

Homozygous typing cells from 13 normal HLA-A1, B8, Dw3, DR3 and five normal HLA-A26, Bw38, Dw10, DR4 individuals were typed for the following markers: HLA-SB, MB, MT; complement proteins BF, C2, C4A, C4B; and GLO. Ninety-one percent of A1, B8, Dw3, DR3 homozygous individuals (HI) tested were homozygous for BF ^* S, C2 ^* C, C4A ^* QO, and C4B ^*1 (SCO1 complotype), which indicates that the SCO1 complotype is in linkage disequilibrium with the A1, B8, DR3 haplotype in randomly selected normal populations. Sixty-seven percent of HLA-A1, B8, Dw3, DR3, SCO1 positive HI also expressed SB1; since the frequency of SB 1 in random Caucasian populations is 11.2%, this finding indicates that SB1 is in linkage disequilibrium with the A1, B8, DR3, SCO1 extended haplotype. All HI with the A26, Bw38, Dw10, DR4 haplotype were homozygous for both SC21 and SB4, suggesting that SC21 and SB4 should be included in the A26, Bw38, Dw10, DR4 extended haplotype. On the other hand, neither of the GLO markers were found in association with either haplotype. The results of this study indicate that HLA-SB is included in some extended haplotypes and may be important in these markers for diseases such as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This study also demonstrated an apparent influence of HLA-SB on primary mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) responses. The mean relative response of primary MLCs between individuals matched for HLA-A, B, D, DR, MB and MT but not SB was 40% of that for the MLCs with mismatched HLA-D, significantly higher than the MLCs matched for all HLA and complotypes.     

Phylogenetic hypotheses: Cladoniaceae,Stereocaulaceae, Baeomycetaceae,and Icmadophilaceae revisited

Parsimony analyses of SSU rDNA sequences were conducted to examine phylogenetic relationships of selected genera within the families Cladoniaceae, Stereocaulaceae, Icmadophilaceae and Baeomycetaceae (lichen-forming ascomycetes). The analyses included 93 taxa (84 species) representing various groups of ascomycetous fungi. Analyses of the matrix with pre-aligned sequences were performed using heuristic and parsimony ratchet searches, and support values for the same matrix were calculated using parsimony jackknifing. The results support the recognition of the four families. Cladoniaceae are recircumscribed to accommodate Cladia, Cladonia, Heterodea, Metus, Pilophorus, Pycnothelia, Ramalea, Thysanothecium and the newly erected genus Carassea. Myelorrhiza is excluded from the family, while the status of other potential members, Calathaspis, Gymnoderma s.str. and Squamella, remains unresolved. Baeomycetaceae include Baeomyces and Phyllobaeis. Stereocaulaceae include Stereocaulon only, although the status of Muhria is still unclear. Finally, Icmadophilaceae include Dibaeis, Endocena, Knightiella, Icmadophila, Siphula and Thamnolia, while the status of Pseudobaeomyces and Siphulella requires further elucidation. The genus Cladonia appeared to be a polyphyletic assemblage, and accordingly, a new genus Carassea S. Stenroos, gen. nov., represented by C. connexa (Vain.) S. Stenroos, comb. nov., is described. Carassea is most closely related to Pycnothelia and Metus in the Cladoniaceae. Siphula, represented in the present analysis by six species, is not monophyletic, and is in need of reclassification.     

T-cell receptor variable alpha (TCRAV) polymorphisms in European, Chinese, South American, AfroCaribbean, and Gambian populations

 Interactions involving the T-cell receptor (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are fundamental to the generation of a specific immune response. The study of interpopulation differences in TCR genes may identify those genes which are subject to selection, and also provides useful information for future genetic studies in these populations. In this study we present analysis of five TCRAV polymorphisms, for V5S1, V6S1, V8S1, V17S1, and V21S1 loci in five human populations by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Caucasian, Chinese, Gambian, AfroCaribbean, and South American Indians (Mapuches) showed marked interpopulation variation for both the silent (V5S1, V17S1, and V21S1) and coding (V6S1 and V8S1) polymorphisms. In general the alleles were conserved in the different populations, but new, additional variants were found for V5S1 and V17S1 in Gambians and Caucasians. V6S1 overall showed the highest nucleotide diversity, and V6S1 genotype distributions were skewed away from expected values in Chinese and Mapuches. Analysis of allelic associations showed a general lack of linkage disequilibrium between the loci, which was reflected by the absence of strong population-specific haplotypes. Received: 22 April 1997 / Revised: 9 July 1997     

A molecular genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 18, includingspm,Grl-1, Fim-2/c-fms,andMbp

Restriction endonuclease fragment length variations (RFLV) were detected in mice with DNA probes for myelin basic protein (Mbp), glucocorticoid receptor-1 (Grl-1), and Friend MuLV integration site-2 (Fim-2). RFLV of theMbp gene were found inSacI restriction patterns, RFLV of theGrl-1 gene were found inEcoRV patterns, and RFLV of theFim-2 were found inBglII patterns. A three-point backcross was carried out by the backcross mating (C57BL/KsJ-spm/spm × MOL-MIT)F₁ males × C57BL/KsJ-spm/spm; spm is an autosomal recessive gene causing sphingomyelinosis. From the results,spm, Grl-1, Fim-2, andMbp loci were mapped on chromosome 18, and the following order of genes is proposed, with distances between genes in parentheses: centromere—spm—(7.8 cM)—Grl-1—(7.8 cM)—Fim-2—(39.1 cM)—Mbp—telomere. All laboratory strains and two European subspecies (Mus mus domesticus andM. m. brevirostris) carry theGrl-1 ^a ,Fim-2 ^a , andMbp ^a alleles. In contrast, another wild subspecies from Europe (M. m. musculus) and some Asian subspecies (M. m. molossinus, Chinese mice of wild origin, andM. m. yamashinai) carry theGrl-1 ^b ,Fim-2 ^b , andMbp ^b alleles. Onlycastaneus strains carry the intermediate combination of theGrl-1 ^b ,Fim-2 ^a , andMbp ^b alleles.     

Habitat specificity of littoral Chydoridae (Crustacea,Branchiopoda, Anomopoda) in Plastic Lake,Ontario, Canada

This study identified two scales of pattern in the assemblages of Chydoridae (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anomopoda) in the shallow (<2 m) littoral zone of Plastic Lake, Ontario, Canada in the autumn of 1987. Twenty chydorid species were collected in 15 over-night sets of funnel traps in each of four habitat types. Analysis of variance multivariate analysis of variance, and discriminant function analysis revealed that assemblages differed among the habitats. Alona intermedia, Alona quadrangularis and Chydorus bicornutus were particularly abundant in the most structurally diverse habitat type – muddy, rock-strewn areas with approximately 40% bottom cover by the pipewort, Eriocaulon septangulare. In contrast, Anchistropus cf. minor was caught most often on bare shelves of rock. A second set of analyses demonstrated that chydorid assemblages also differed at a smaller scale, i.e. with local patchiness in bottom cover by the dominant macrophyte (E. septangulare). The abundance of Alona affinis was positively correlated with cover by E. septangulare, whereas Anchistropus cf. minor was caught mainly in microhabitats without vegetation. Alona intermedia and A. quadrangularis were most abundant in microhabitats with intermediate amounts of vegetation, suggesting their abundance is influenced by habitat factors other than vegetation.     

Roles for Drp1, a Dynamin-related Protein,and Milton,a Kinesin-associated Protein,in Mitochondrial Segregation,Unfurling, and Elongation During Drosophila Spermatogenesis

Mitochondria undergo dramatic rearrangement during Drosophila spermatogenesis. In wild type testes, the many small mitochondria present in pre-meiotic spermatocytes later aggregate, fuse, and interwrap in post-meiotic haploid spermatids to form the spherical Nebenkern, whose two giant mitochondrial compartments later unfurl and elongate beside the growing flagellar axoneme. Drp1 encodes a dynamin-related protein whose homologs in many organisms mediate mitochondrial fission and whose Drosophila homolog is known to govern mitochondrial morphology in neurons. The milton gene encodes an adaptor protein that links mitochondria with kinesin and that is required for mitochondrial transport in Drosophila neurons. To determine the roles of Drp1 and Milton in spermatogenesis, we used the FLP-FRT mitotic recombination system to generate spermatocytes homozygous for mutations in either gene in an otherwise heterozygous background. We found that absence of Drp1 leads to abnormal clustering of mitochondria in mature primary spermatocytes and aberrant unfurling of the mitochondrial derivatives in early Drp1 spermatids undergoing axonemal elongation. In milton spermatocytes, mitochondria are distributed normally; however, after meiosis, the Nebenkern is not strongly anchored to the nucleus, and the mitochondrial derivatives do not elongate properly. Our work defines specific functions for Drp1 and Milton in the anchoring, unfurling, and elongation of mitochondria during sperm formation.     

Control of potato cyst-nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, and root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, by organosphosphorus, carbamate, benzimidazole and other compounds

Control of potato cyst-nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, was examined on potato or tomato in pots and on potato in field plots by various chemicals incorporated into the soil at planting. The most effective nematicides were organophosphorus compounds, generally of the type O,O-diethyl O-phosphoro-thioates or O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioates, carbamates and benzimidazoles. In organic soils, the more lipophilic compounds were less effective, presumably because of sorption onto soil organic matter. Foliar sprays of chemicals, including oxamyl which is known to be translocated to roots, gave poor control of G. rostochiensis. The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, on tomato, widely used in screening for nematicidal activity, was controlled by aldicarb or phoxim incorporated into the soil at planting, but not by benomyl or thiabendazole, in contrast to the moderate effectiveness of these latter two chemicals against G. rostochiensis.