Genetic structure of Mediterranean populations of the sandfly Phlebotomus papatasi by mitochondrial cytochrome b haplotype analysis

Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera: Psychodidae) is the main vector of Leishmania major Yakimoff & Schokhor; which is the cause of self-limiting cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Old World. This sandfly is found in houses, animal shelters, caves and rodent burrows. It has a large geographical range, which includes the Middle East and the Mediterranean regions. A population analysis of colony and field specimens of P. papatasi was conducted on 25 populations originating from 10 countries. The distribution of haplotypes of the maternally inherited mitochondrial cytochrome b gene were analysed to assess the population differentiation of P. papatasi. Alignment of a 442-basepair region at the 3' end of the gene identified 21 haplotypes and 33 segregating sites from 131 sandflies. The pattern of sequence variations did not support the existence of a species complex. The median-joining network method was used to describe both the origin of the haplotypes and the population structure; haplotypes tended to cluster by geographical location, suggesting some level of genetic differentiation between populations. Our findings indicate the presence of significant population differentiation for populations derived from Syria, Turkey, Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Knowledge of population differentiation among P. papatasi populations is important for understanding patterns of dispersal in this species and for planning appropriate control measures.     

Whole Genome Sequence and Characterization of a Novel Isolate of PVY Inducing Tuber Necrotic Ringspot in Potato and Leaf Mosaic in Tobacco

In a previous study on a Syrian isolate of Potato virus Y (PVY), namely PVY-12, a point mutation in the coat protein (CP) was detected. This mutation caused the double reactivity of this isolate to monoclonal antibodies specific to O and N serotypes. We report here the biological and molecular characteristics of PVY-12. In potato, PVY-12 behaved like a PVY^NTN isolate inducing potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease although it induced mosaic in tobacco like PVY^O. The genomic analysis grouped PVY-12 with the recombinant PVY^NTN isolates, which is consistent with the phenotype in potato. PVY-12 HC-Pro had the two amino acids K400 and E419 that were previously reported as determinant keys of the tobacco necrotic response. This indicates the involvement of other determinants in this phenotype yet to be determined. This is the first report on a PVY^NTN isolate that induces mosaic in tobacco, implying that the induction of potato tuber necrosis does not require the ability to induce the tobacco necrosis. PVY-12 genome had four recombinant points in the P1, HC-Pro/P3, 6K2/NIa and C terminal region of the CP gene identical to those of PVY^NTN isolates 12–94 and 34/01. The PVY-12 central genomic part flanked by nucleotide positions 2414 and 8604 had highest similarity with that of the Syrian isolate SYR-NB-16 suggesting a common origin of these isolates. This common origin was supported using the phylogenetic analysis of this region. In addition, the phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome of the reported North American PVY^N:O and the European PVY^NW along with other PVY isolates suggests that PVY^N:O might have descended from PVY^NW with the isolate SASA-207 as a nearest-known relative.     

Additional records of the River Limpet,Ancylus fluviatilis,from the Middle East

Abstract

The variation of 21 morphological parameters was investigated in populations of Atyaephyra desmaresti desmaresti and A. desmaresti orientalis in order to find differences between the sexes and to assess the degree of infraspecific variation. Differences between the sexes were found in three proportional characters of A. desmaresti desmaresti and in five characters of A. desmaresti orientalis. Also, the difference in one meristic character was found to be significant in both subspecies.     

Charred plant remains from a 10th millennium B.P. kitchen at Jerf el Ahmar (Syria)

The Pre-potteryNeolithic A (PPNA) site of Jerf el Ahmar, Syria, dated to the 10th millennium uncal B.P., has produced over 657 flotation samples which are now under study. The results described in this article were obtained from the analysis of 32 samples of charred plant remains taken from a room of 2.5 × 3 m, which had been destroyed by fire. The room contained three saddle querns, two flat polished stone plates (each of 60 cm in diameter), one hearth, and three limestone "basins". These objects were in situ and the room appeared to represent a food preparation area (kitchen). On one of the querns two charred seed cakes were found. The finely ground seeds have been identified as Brassica/Sinapis, a rare taxon for this period. The major taxa, which are morphologically wild, have distinct spatial distributions, which provide evidence for plant processing activities. Hordeum spontaneum and Triticum/Secale were processed separately. The association of H. spontaneum with stone basins suggests soaking of this grain. Received August 10, 2001 / Accepted January 7, 2002     

On a new species of Euchondrus Boettger, 1883 from Syria (Pulmonata: Enidae)

A new species of Euchondrus, Euchondrus adwani n. sp., is described from Syria. It is morphologically similar to E. desertorum Rochanaburananda in Forcart, 1981 Forcart, L. (1981): Neubeschreibungen von Landschnecken aus Palästina. Basteria, 45, 97–108. [Google Scholar], which is endemic to the Negev desert.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C030F4D1-D722-4186-BA7B-EACCF9BFA563     

Hymenopteran parasitoids (Figitidae and Pteromalidae) of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) on loquat and guava in Tartous,Syria

Rates of parasitism by Hymenoptera varied between 11.45% and 14.9% in Ceratitis capitata pupae from field-infested loquat and guava orchards in Tartous, Syria. The predominant parasitoid was Aganaspis daci and this is the first record for Syria. Further studies are now required to evaluate their potential in biological control.     

Garden of Eden or Desert Exile: The Mousterian of Hummal in context

Our view of MP cultural variability is blurred by site-specific problems as well as inadequate research concepts. The former are inherent in current fieldwork methodology and in the archaeological record itself. Excavation of Palaeolithic sites generally catches only parts of the entire archaeological record and thus leaves us with the sample size problem. Moreover, resolution of the archaeological record is often limited by the palimpsest problem which is especially given in spatially restricted sites (e.g. caves) coupled with a low sedimentation rate. Many research concepts not only neglect the resolution problem but also lack the consideration of scale when it comes to archaeological interpretation. Our aim is not to reinterpret the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic in the light of these challenges as this is outside the scope of this paper. Archaeological resolution and scale are nevertheless taken as guidelines for the integration of the Hummal Mousterian in a broader context. In doing so, we give a short review of current knowledge and show how a scale-sensitive approach can inform us about various aspects of the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic.