A critical review on some closely related species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetranychus</Emphasis> sensu stricto (Acari: Tetranychidae) in the public DNA sequences databases

Taxonomic misidentification of the specimens used to obtain DNA sequences is a growing problem reported for different groups of organisms, which threatens the utility of the deposited sequences in public DNA databases. This paper provides new evidence of misidentifications in molecular DNA public databases in phytophagous mites of the Tetranychidae family belonging to the group Tetranychus (Tetranychus). Several species in this group are of economic and quarantine importance in agriculture and among them Tetranychus urticae, a highly polyphagous mite causing outbreaks in many crops worldwide, is certainly the most studied. We analyzed and evaluated the identity of 105 GenBank accessions of ITS2 rDNA and 138 COI mtDNA sequences which were deposited as T. urticae and those of 14 other taxa morphologically closely related to Tetranychus sensu stricto. In addition, ITS2 and COI sequences of 18 T. urticae samples collected for this study and identified by morphological criteria, were generated and included in the analyzed dataset. Among the deposited sequences in the GenBank database, numerous cases of apparently mistaken identities were identified in the group Tetranychus s. str., especially between T. urticae, T. cinnabarinus, T. kanzawai and T. truncatus. Unreliable sequences (misidentified or dubious) were estimated at nearly 30%. In particular the analysis supports the invalidity of the controversial species status of T. cinnabarinus. More generally, it highlights the need of using combined morphological and molecular approaches to guarantee solid species diagnostics for reliable sequence accessions in public databases.     

Effects of a commercial extract of the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum on the biomass production of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty ex P. C. Silva and its carrageenan yield and gel quality cultivated in Brazil

Despite of its success, the carrageenan industry has had to cope with difficulties due to epiphyte infestations and diseases known as ice-ice. Some promising results in respect of biomass production, carrageenan yield, and protection epiphytes were obtained using a powdered extract of the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum in Kappaphycus alvarezii seedling production. This study focused on the effects of the A. nodosum extract on the treatment of K. alvarezii cultivated on commercial floating rafts not only to evaluate improvements demonstrated in vitro but also the effects on the quality of the carrageenan. The seedlings were treated in an A. nodosum extract solution and placed alongside their controls on commercial floating rafts using the tubular net technique. Daily growth rate, carrageenan yield, gel strength, and gel viscosity were obtained over 20 and/or 40 days. After 20 days, daily growth rates showed no significant difference (p?=?0.44), while the carrageenan yield was higher in samples that were treated with the A. nodosum solution (p?<?0.001). After 40 days, both daily growth rate (p?=?000.7) and carrageenan yield (p?=?0.009) were higher in treated samples; however, gel strength was higher in control samples (p?=?0.03) as viscosity was also highest in the samples which had not been treated (p?<?0.001). The use of the A. nodosum extract treatment on the cultivation in situ of K. alvarezii was positive since after 40 days when the daily growth rate and carrageenan yield increased. In spite of the negative effect on the quality of the semi-refined carrageenan, the values were within commercial standards.     

“Stop Ne(c)king around”: How interactomics contributes to functionally characterize Nek family kinases

Aside from Polo and Aurora, a third but less studied kinase family involved in mitosis regulation is the never in mitosis-gene A(NIMA)-related kinases(Neks). The founding member of this family is the sole member NIMA of Aspergillus nidulans, which is crucial for the initiation of mitosis in that organism. All 11 human Neks have been functionally assigned to one of the three core functions established for this family in mammals:(1) centrioles/mitosis;(2) primary ciliary function/ciliopathies; and(3) DNA damage response(DDR). Recent findings, especially on Nek 1 and 8, showed however, that several Neks participate in parallel in at least two of these contexts: primary ciliary function and DDR. In the core section of this in-depth review, we report the current detailed functional knowledge on each of the 11 Neks. In the discussion, we return to the cross-connections among Neks and point out how our and other groups' functional and interactomics studies revealed that most Neks interact with protein partners associated with two if not all three of the functional contexts. We then raise the hypothesis that Neks may be the connecting regulatory elements that allow the cell to fine tune and synchronize the cellular events associated with these three core functions. The new and exciting findings on the Nek family open new perspectives and should allow the Neks to finally claim the attention they deserve in the field of kinases and cell cycle biology.     

Zinc kinetics in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients

Zinc has an important role in the control of carbohydrate metabolism, and diabetic patients are at risk for zinc deficiency. However, there are conflicting data concerning nutritional zinc status. In order to investigate this topic, 10 normal and 10 insulin-dependent diabetic patients were studied following venous zinc tolerance test. Our results found no evidence of zinc deficiency or of changes on the kinetic parameters of zinc in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus following a venous zinc tolerance test.     

Ocean cleaning stations under a changing climate: biological responses of tropical and temperate fish‐cleaner shrimp to global warming

Cleaning symbioses play an important role in the health of certain coastal marine communities. These interspecific associations often occur at specific sites (cleaning stations) where a cleaner organism (commonly a fish or shrimp) removes ectoparasites/damaged tissue from a ‘client’ (a larger cooperating fish). At present, the potential impact of climate change on the fitness of cleaner organisms remains unknown. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of tropical (Lysmata amboinensis) and temperate (L. seticaudata) cleaner shrimp to global warming. Specifically, thermal limits (CTMax), metabolic rates, thermal sensitivity, heat shock response (HSR), lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration], lactate levels, antioxidant (GST, SOD and catalase) and digestive enzyme activities (trypsin and alkaline phosphatase) at current and warming (+3 °C) temperature conditions. In contrast to the temperate species, CTMax values decreased significantly from current (24–27 °C) to warming temperature conditions (30 °C) for the tropical shrimp, where metabolic thermal sensitivity was affected and the HSR was significantly reduced. MDA levels in tropical shrimp increased dramatically, indicating extreme cellular lipid peroxidation, which was not observed in the temperate shrimp. Lactate levels, GST and SOD activities were significantly enhanced within the muscle tissue of the tropical species. Digestive enzyme activities in the hepatopancreas of both species were significantly decreased by warmer temperatures. Our data suggest that the tropical cleaner shrimp will be more vulnerable to global warming than the temperate Lysmata seticaudata; the latter evolved in a relatively unstable environment with seasonal thermal variations that may have conferred greater adaptive plasticity. Thus, tropical cleaning symbioses may be challenged at a greater degree by warming‐related anthropogenic forcing, with potential cascading effects on the health and structuring of tropical coastal communities (e.g. coral reefs).     

Ultrastructural aspects of Fallisia effusa (Haemosporina: Garniidae) in thrombocytes of the lizard Neusticurus bicarinatus (Reptilia: Teiidae)

The fine structure of the different stages of the Fallisia effusa (Haemosporina: Garniidae), infecting the thrombocytes of the semi-aquatic Amazonian lizard Neusticurus bicarinatus (Reptilia: Teiidae) is described. Gametocytes, meronts, and merozoites of Fallisia effusa were found within a parasitophorous vacuole (PV). Multiple infections of micro- and macrogametocytes were observed. A circumferential coil of microtubules was seen in the cytoplasm of the infected host cell and this microtubule array was pronounced in cells harboring gametocytes. A deep invagination of the inner membrane complex of gametocytes may be involved in nutrition. The non-pigmented parasites underwent both merogony and gametogony in thrombocytes of the peripheral blood. No infection of the erythrocytes was observed. These observations confirm that Fallisia effusa displays characteristic features distinguishing it from other members of the Haemosporidian families, and that it has the ability to modulate microtubule assembly.