Cosmosycanus, a new genus of harpactorine assassin bug established for Agriosphodrus perelegans (Heteroptera: Reduviidae)

A new monotypic genus Cosmosycanus is established for Agriosphodrus perelegans Breddin, 1903. This genus is separable from Agriosphodrus Stål, 1867 by the head being much longer than the pronotum, and the posterior pronotal lobe lacking a median depression. The new genus is also distinguished from Sycanus Amyot and Serville, 1843 by the smooth posterior pronotal lobe and the unspined and non‐tuberculate scutellum. The type species, Cosmosycanus perelegans, comb. nov. is redescribed and considered the senior synonym of Sycanus elongatulus Distant, 1919.     

Effect of genetic polymorphism for metabolic enzymes on the relationship between smoking dose and DNA adducts in lymphocytes

The genetic polymorphism of metabolic enzymes on the relationship between smoking dose and DNA adduct levels in lymphocytes were evaluated in 51 smokers. The genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) were analysed by a PCR method. Lymphocyte DNA adducts were measured by two analytical versions of a 32P-postlabelling method; nuclease P1 digested method and butanol extracted method. Mean adduct levels obtained with the nuclease P1 method (1.21 +/- 0.74 per 108 nucleotides) were higher than those obtained with the butanol extracted method (0.82 +/- 0.47, p < 0.01). There was a significant correlation between adduct levels by the nuclease P1 method and those by the butanol extracted method (r = 0.49, p < 0.01). A significant correlation was not found between smoking dose and DNA adduct levels obtained using both methods in lymphocytes of all subjects. When subjects were divided into two groups by CYP1A1 genotypes, significant correlations between smoking indices, such as number of cigarettes per day years or tar intake per day years, and DNA adduct levels measured by the butanol extracted method was found in heterozygous or miner homozygous for CYP1A1 exon 7 polymorphism. We could not get a significant effect of GSTM1 on the relationship between smoking dose and DNA adducts.