Bayesian Inference Analyses Research Articles

Molecular Phylogeny and Historical Biogeography of Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) Corroborates the Mid-Miocene Origins of Neotropical Savannas

We present a dated and calibrated molecular phylogeny for one of the most characteristic genera of Neotropical savannas, Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae), based on the ETS, ITS, and psbA-trnH markers. We sampled 33 species of Byrsonima and four species of the outgroups Blepharandra, Diacidia, and Pterandra to test the monophyly of the infrageneric classification of the genus. Bayesian inference (BI) analysis was performed for the combined molecular dataset. Seven morphological characters were optimized on the obtained tree. Calibration points derived from a published chronogram for Malpighiaceae were used alongside a relaxed, uncorrelated molecular clock on Beast 1.8.4. Ancestral range reconstructions focusing on four main Neotropical biomes (Cerrado, Atlantic rainforest, Amazon rainforest, and Caatinga dry forests) were performed on BioGeoBEARS. Our phylogenetic results corroborated the monophyly of Byrsonima, but all of its subgenera and sections were polyphyletic, with all morphological characters circumscribing these infrageneric ranks being highly homoplastic. The most recent common ancestor of Byrsonima was widespread in South American biomes at 11.41 Ma, posteriorly diversifying in the Amazon rainforests up to 7.72 Ma, when it started massively diversifying in Neotropical savannas. A few re-colonization events from savannas to rain or dry forests occurred from 2.95–0.53 Ma. These results corroborate the mid-Miocene origins of Neotropical savannas, and future studies should aim to sample Mesoamerican species of Byrsonima.

Phylogenetic systematics of Vigna sensu stricto in the context of Physostigma and allies.

Vigna includes economically vital crops and wild species. Molecular systematic studies of Vigna species resulted in generic segregates of many New World (NW) species. However, limited Old World (OW) sampling left questions regarding inter- and intraspecific relationships in Vigna s.s. African species, including the putative sister genus Physostigma, were comprehensively sampled within the context of NW relatives. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of the chloroplast matK-trnK and nuclear ribosomal ITS/5.8 S (ITS) DNA regions were undertaken to resolve OW Vigna taxonomic questions. Divergence dates were estimated using BEAST to date key nodes in the phylogeny. Analyses of matK and ITS data supported five clades of Vigna s.s.: subg. Lasiospron, a reduced subg. Vigna, subg. Haydonia, subg. Ceratotropis, an enlarged subg. Plectrotropis, and a clade including V. kirkii and V. stenophylla. Genome size estimates of 601 Mb for V. kirkii are near the overall mean of the genus, whereas V. stenophylla had a larger genome (810 Mb), similar to some Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis species. Former subg. Vigna is reduced to yellow- and blue-flowered species and subg. Plectrotropis is enlarged to mostly all white-, pink-, and purple-flowered species. The age of the split between NW and OW Vigna lineages is ~6-7 Myr. Genome size estimates cannot rule out a polyploid or hybrid origin for V. stenophylla, potentially involving extinct lineage ancestors of Vigna subg. Ceratotropis or Plectrotropis, as indicated by network and phylogenetic analyses. Taxonomic revisions are suggested based on these results.

The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Cyanopterus ninghais (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Cyanopterus ninghais is an important gregarious ectoparasitoid during the larval stage of Monochamus alternatus, a key vector for pine wilt disease in Asia. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of C. ninghais was sequenced and analyzed. The mitochondrial genome of C. ninghais is 15,386 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The nucleotide composition is 41.32% A, 8.29% G, 6.06% C, and 44.33% T. Phylogenetic trees of Braconidae were constructed using 13 PCG sequences via Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses to determine their phylogenetic position. Both ML and BI analyses revealed that C. ninghais is closely related to Euurobracon yokahamae, Virgulibracon endoxylaphagus, and Habrobracon hebetor.

NEW INSIGHTS BASED ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR DATA REVEAL THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF HALIOTREMA PTEROISI (MONOGENOIDEA: DACTYLOGYRIDAE) INFECTING DEVIL FIREFISH PTEROIS MILES (PERCIFORMES: SCORPAENOIDEI: SCORPAENIDAE) IN THE RED SEA OFF EGYPT.

Paperna, 1972 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) was found parasitizing the gill lamellae of devil firefish, Pterois miles (Bennet) (Perciformes: Scorpaenidae), in the Red Sea off Safaga (26°44'N, 33°56'E), Egypt. The parasite species was described based on morphological features of available specimens and transferred to PlatycephalotremaKritsky and Nitta, 2019 (Dactylogyridae) as Platycephalotrema pteroisi (Paperna, 1972) n. comb. The occurrence of Pl. pteroisi off Safaga, Egypt, represented a range extension for the helminth of about 160 km to the southwest of the southern end of the Gulf of Aqaba. The transfer of the species to Platycephalotrema based on an evaluation of morphological features was supported by an analysis of molecular sequences of the 28S rDNA gene of Pl. pteroisi and 49 other dactylogyrid species. Maximum-likelihood, Bayesian inference, and maximum parsimony analyses of this dactylogyrid sequence data revealed H. pteroisi to nest with significant support within the clade of Platycephalotrema spp. During the literature review of dactylogyrid species infecting scorpionfishes, it was determined that Ancyrocephalus sp. of Dyer et al. from luna lion fish Pterois lunulata Temminck and Schlegel collected off Okinawa-jima, Japan represented an undescribed species of Platycephalotrema.

A new lignicolous fungus, Rhexoacrodictys chiangraiensis (Pleurotheciales, Ascomycota), from Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT In this study, we introduce a novel species, Rhexoacrodictys chiangraiensis, collected from a decaying palm sheath (Arecaceae) in Northern Thailand. Morphological examination and phylogenetic analysis were carried out to identify the species. Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analyses were performed using the combined dataset of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU), small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) and the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) loci. Phylogenetic analysis supported the introduction of the isolate as a novel taxon as it formed a basal clade to the other species of Rhexoacrodictys. Rhexoacrodictys chiangraiensis exhibits distinct morphological characteristics compared to other Rhexoacrodictys species by having obovoid to pyriform conidia that have smooth surfaces with 2–4 transverse septa and fewer longitudinal incomplete septa. The novel taxon was compared with other species of Rhexoacrodictys, and a comprehensive description and illustration are provided.

Effects of particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration and components on mortality in chronic kidney disease patients: a nationwide spatial–temporal analysis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global public health issue and the leading cause of death in Thailand. This study investigated the spatial–temporal association between PM2.5 and its components (organic carbon, black carbon, dust, sulfate, and sea salt) and CKD mortality in Thailand from 2012 to 2021. The Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Application version 2 (MERRA-2), a NASA atmospheric satellite model, was assessed for the temporal data of PM2.5 concentration and aerosol components. Spatial resources of 77 provinces were integrated using the Geographical Information System (GIS). Multivariate Poisson regression and Bayesian inference analyses were conducted to explore the effects of PM2.5 on CKD mortality across the provinces. Our analysis included 718,686 CKD-related deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of 1107 cases per 100,000 population where was the highest rate in Northeast region. The average age of the deceased was 72.43 ± 13.10 years, with males comprising 50.46% of the cases. Adjusting for age, sex, underlying diseases, co-morbidities, CKD complications, replacement therapy, population density, and income, each 1 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5, black carbon, dust, sulfate, and organic carbon was significantly associated with increased CKD mortality across 77 provinces. Incidence rate ratios were 1.04 (95% CI 1.03–1.04) for PM2.5, 1.11 (95% CI 1.10–1.13) for black carbon, 1.24 (95% CI 1.22–1.25) for dust, 1.16 (95% CI 1.16–1.17) for sulfate, and 1.05 (95% CI 1.04–1.05) for organic carbon. These findings emphasize the significant impact of PM2.5 on CKD mortality and underscore the need for strategies to reduce PM emissions and manage CKD co-morbidities effectively.

SUPPLEMENTAL DESCRIPTION OF CABALLEROTREMA ANNULATUM (DIESING, 1850) OSTROWSKI DE NÚÑEZ AND SATTMANN, 2002 (DIGENEA: CABALLEROTREMATIDAE) FROM A NEW HOST (ELECTROPHORUS CF. VARII) AND LOCALITY (AMAZON RIVER, COLOMBIA) WITH PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS AND EMENDED GENERIC DIAGNOSIS.

Herein, we provide a supplemental description of Caballerotrema annulatum (Diesing, 1850) Ostrowski de Núñez and Sattmann, 2002 (Digenea: Caballerotrematidae Tkach, Kudlai, and Kostadinova, 2016) based on specimens collected from the intestine of an electric eel, Electrophorus cf. varii (Gymnotiformes: Gymnotidae) captured in the Amazon River (Colombia). This caballerotrematid can be differentiated from its congeners by the following combination of morphological features: body surface spines forming contiguous transverse rows, concentric (wrapping dorso-ventrally around body), distributing into posterior body half (vs. restricted to anterior body half in Caballerotrema brasiliensePrudhoe, 1960; indeterminate for Caballerotrema aruanenseThatcher, 1980 and Caballerotrema piscicola [Stunkard, 1960] Kostadinova and Gibson, 2001); head collar lacking projections (vs. having them in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola), narrow (head collar more narrow than maximum body width vs. the head collar being obviously wider than the body in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola); corner spines clustered (vs. corner spines distributing as 2 separated pairs in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola); pharynx approximately at level of the corner spines (vs. pharynx far anterior to corner spines in C. brasiliense, C. aruanense, and C. piscicola); and testes ovoid and nonoverlapping (C. aruanense; vs. sinuous and overlapping in C. brasiliense and C. piscicola). Based on our results, we revise the diagnosis of CaballerotremaPrudhoe, 1960 to include features associated with the shape and distribution of body surface spines, orientation and position of head collar spines, cirrus sac, seminal vesicle, oviduct, Laurer's canal, oötype, vitellarium, and transverse vitelline ducts. We performed Bayesian inference analyses using the partial large subunit ribosomal (28S) DNA gene. Our 28S sequence of C. annulatum was recovered sister to that of Caballerotrema sp. (which is the only other caballerotrematid sequence available in GenBank) from an arapaima, Arapaima gigas (Schinz, 1822) (Osteoglossiformes: Arapaimidae) in the Peruvian Amazon. Our sequence of C. annulatum comprises the only caballerotrematid sequenced tethered to a morphological description and a voucher specimen in a lending museum. The present study is a new host record and new locality record for C. annulatum. The phylogeny comprises the most resolved and taxon-rich evolutionary hypothesis for Echinostomatoidea published to date.

Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of Metacephalus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) with description of seven new leafhopper species.

Metacephalus Delong and Martinson, 1973 includes leafhopper species from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador (new record), Guyana, French Guiana (new record), Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. In the present revisionary study, we describe seven new species of Metacephalus, propose one species synonymy (M. cinctus as junior synonym of M. facetus), and provide new country records for species, considerably expanding knowledge about species distributions. The study also provides redescriptions and photographs of diagnostic characters for 12 previously described valid species and an identification key to all 21 species of Metacephalus. Molecular phylogenies of Metacephalus species are hypothesized based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of 1,387 bp of mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I and 16S rDNA and nuclear histone H3. Results of the molecular phylogeny generated herein provided a base for understanding character homologies when presenting morphological diagnoses of Metacephalus species and exposed a high level of convergent characters in color pattern and male genitalia morphology usually used in morphological taxonomy of this group of leafhoppers.

Plastid phylogenomics with broad taxon sampling provides insights into the generic delimitation of Paraphlomideae (Lamiaceae)

AbstractParaphlomideae (Lamioideae, Lamiaceae) is a recently established tribe endemic to East and Southeast Asia. It comprises three herbaceous genera: Paraphlomis, Matsumurella, and Ajugoides. Phylogenetic relationships among these genera have not yet been satisfactorily resolved and the monophyly of Paraphlomis was challenged in previous molecular phylogenetic studies. In this study, we performed maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses on complete plastomes and nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacer sequences to further resolve the generic relationships within Paraphlomideae. All phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of Paraphlomideae. Contrary to traditional classifications, both Ajugoides and Matsumurella were deeply nested within Paraphlomis, indicating the need to expand Paraphlomis to include Ajugoides and Matsumurella. Hence, six new combinations and one replacement name are proposed. Morphologically, species of the newly defined Paraphlomis share a rhizomatous or stoloniferous habit, plants with simple hairs, nutlets with a truncate apex, and actinomorphic calyces. In addition, widespread incongruence between nuclear and plastid trees may have been caused by hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting after rapid diversification in the re‐circumscribed Paraphlomis.

Tulostoma subreticulatum (Agaricomycetes, Agaricales): a new species of stalked puffball from Mexico

Tulostoma subreticulatum is a new species to science. This species is characterized by its small to medium-size basidiomes, tubular stoma, verrucose exoperidium with flat and angulose verrucae up to 0.8 mm, reddish-brown endoperidium, and subreticulated 3.8–5 μm basidiospores. This new species was collected in the tropical forest of Tabasco, Mexico. Description of the specimens, macroscopic images of the basidiomes, light microscopy, and scanning electron micrographs are provided. DNA extraction was carried out following a CTAB protocol. GeneBank and newly generated ITS, LSU, and Tef1α sequences were used in Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses. Phylogenetically, T. subreticulatum is related to T. deltaconcavum and forms a sister group from Clade 11 of the monophyletic genus Tulostoma. Comparisons with related sequenced and non-sequenced species are discussed. With this species, a total of 51 species of Tulostoma are known in Mexico.

An overview of Melanommataceae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes): Current insight into the host associations and geographical distribution with some interesting novel additions from plant litter.

Melanommataceous species exhibit high diversity with a cosmopolitan distribution worldwide and show a prominent saprobic lifestyle. In this study, we explored five saprobic species collected from plant litter substrates from terrestrial habitats in China and Thailand. A combination of morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses was used to determine their taxonomic classifications. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS and tef1-α sequence data were used to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species. Byssosphaeriapoaceicola and Herpotrichiazingiberacearum are introduced as new species, while three new host records, Bertiellafici, By.siamensis and Melanommapopulicola are also reported from litter of Cinnamomumverum, Citrustrifoliata and Fagussylvatica, respectively. Yet, despite the rising interest in the melanommataceous species, there is a considerable gap in knowledge on their host associations and geographical distributions. Consequently, we compiled the host-species associations and geographical distributions of all the so far known melanommataceous species.

Non-obese lipedema patients show a distinctly altered quantitative sensory testing profile with high diagnostic potential.

Lipedema is a widespread severe chronic disease affecting mostly women. Characterized by painful bilateral fat accumulation in extremities sparing hands and feet, objective measurement-based diagnosis is currently missing. We tested for characteristic psychometric and/or sensory alterations including pain and for their potential for medical routine diagnosis. Pain psychometry was assessed using the German Pain Questionnaire. Sensory sensitivity toward painful and nonpainful stimuli was characterized in non-obese lipedema patients and matched controls using the validated quantitative sensory testing (QST) protocol of the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain. Lipedema patients showed no overt psychometric abnormalities. Pain was reported as somatic rather than psychosomatic aversive. All QST measurements were normal, but the z-score of pressure pain thresholds (PPT) was twofold reduced and the z-score of vibration detection thresholds (VDT) was two and a half times increased. Both thresholds were selectively altered at the affected thigh but not the unaffected hand. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the combination of PPT and VDT of thigh vs hand into a PVTH score (PPT, VDT, thigh, hand-score) shows high sensitivity and specificity, categorizing correctly 95.8% of the participants as lipedema patients or healthy controls. Bayesian inference analysis corroborated the diagnostic potential of such a combined PVTH score. We propose to assess PPT and VDT at the painful thigh and the pain-free hand. Combination in a PVTH score may allow a convenient lipedema diagnosis early during disease development.

Ultraconserved elements from transcriptome and genome dataprovide insight into the phylogenomics of Sternorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera).

Sternorrhyncha, one of the four major suborders of Hemiptera, is a phytophagous taxon inclusive of nearly 18 000 described species. The phylogenetic relationships within the taxon and the earliest-branching lineage of its infraorders remain incompletely understood. This study attempted to illuminate the phylogenetic relationships within Sternorrhyncha through the use of maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony analyses, employing ultraconserved element (UCE) data from 39 genomic and 62 transcriptomic datasets and thereby representing most families within the taxon. The probe set Hemiptera 2.7Kv1 was used to recover a total of 2731 UCE loci: from 547 to 1699 (with an average of 1084) across all genomic datasets and from 108 to 849 (with an average of 329) across all transcriptomic datasets. All three types of phylogenetic analyses employed in this study produced robust statistical support for Sternorrhyncha being a monophyletic group. The different methods of phylogenetic analysis produced inconsistent descriptions of topological structure at the infraorder level: while maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses produced strong statistical evidence (100%) indicating the clade Psylloidea + Aleyrodoidea to be a sister of the clade Aphidoidea (Aphidomorpha) + Coccoidea (Coccomorpha), the maximum parsimony analysis failed to recover a similar result. Our results also provide detail on the phylogenetic relationships within each infraorder. This study presents the first use of UCE data to investigate the phylogeny of Sternorrhyncha. It also shows the viability of amalgamating genomic and transcriptomic data in studies of phylogenetic relationships, potentially highlighting a resource-efficient approach for future inquiries into diverse taxa through the integration of varied data sources.

Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of Nannostomus Pencilfish: Genome Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis.

Although the pencilfish is a globally popular economic fish in the aquarium market, its taxonomic classification could be further refined. In order to understand the taxonomy of species of the genus Nannostomus (Characiformes, Lebiasinidae) and their phylogenetic position within the order Characiformes, in this study, we characterized mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from four Nannostomus species for the first time. The four mitogenomes exhibited the typical circular structure, with overall sizes varying from 16,661 bp to 16,690 bp. They contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 1 control region (CR). Nucleotide composition analysis suggested that the mitochondrial sequences were biased toward A and T. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses based on PCGs support the family Lebiasinidae classification, described using four Nannostomus species, clustering together with Lebiasina multimaculata from the same family. The results of this study support the current taxonomic classification of the family Lebiasinidae. Phylogenetic analysis also suggested that gene rearrangement would not significantly impact the phylogenetic relationships within the order Characiformes. These results might provide new data regarding the phylogeny and classification of the order Characiformes, thus providing a theoretical basis for the economic development of aquarium fish markets.

Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral intra- and inter-host evolution in COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) persistence in COVID-19 patients could play a key role in the emergence of variants of concern. The rapid intra-host evolution of SARS-CoV-2 may result in an increased transmissibility, immune and therapeutic escape which could be a direct consequence of COVID-19 epidemic currents. In this context, a longitudinal retrospective study on eight consecutive COVID-19 patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection, from January 2022 to March 2023, was conducted. To characterize the intra- and inter-host viral evolution, whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed on nasopharyngeal samples collected at different time points. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed an accelerated SARS-CoV-2 intra-host evolution and emergence of antigenically divergent variants. The Bayesian inference and principal coordinate analysis analysis showed a host-based genomic structuring among antigenically divergent variants, that might reflect the positive effect of containment practices, within the critical hospital area. All longitudinal antigenically divergent isolates shared a wide range of amino acidic (aa) changes, particularly in the Spike (S) glycoprotein, that increased viral transmissibility (K417N, S477N, N501Y and Q498R), enhanced infectivity (R346T, S373P, R408S, T478K, Q498R, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K and P681H), caused host immune escape (S371L, S375F, T376A, K417N, and K444T/R) and displayed partial or complete resistance to treatments (G339D, R346K/T, S371F/L, S375F, T376A, D405N, N440K, G446S, N460K, E484A, F486V, Q493R, G496S and Q498R). These results suggest that multiple novel variants which emerge in the patient during persistent infection, might spread to another individual and continue to evolve. A pro-active genomic surveillance of persistent SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is recommended to identify genetically divergent lineages before their diffusion.

Phylogenetic Analysis of Rare and Endangered Tulipa Species (Liliaceae) of Kazakhstan Based on Universal Barcoding Markers.

In Kazakhstan, the genus Tulipa is represented by 35 species, 18 of which are listed in the Red Data Book of Kazakhstan and protected by the state. Recent studies of tulip specimens from regions bordering Kazakhstan emphasize the significance of species inventory and report the discovery of several hybrids. In this study, eight tulip species were identified based on morphological characteristics and using DNA barcoding methods. Molecular genetic markers, including nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA markers (rbcL, matK), of the studied species were sequenced and analyzed using the Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis methods. Our work demonstrates that DNA barcodes based on the ITS, rbcL, and matK marker regions have successful practical applicability, with ITS being the most informative at the intragenic level. However, for distinguishing closely related taxa, the most effective approach would be to use a combined dataset of sequences from multiple DNA markers. The results showed discrepancies in the placement of several taxa (T. kaufmanniana, T. patens), likely due to introgression and natural spontaneous hybridization. The molecular phylogenetic analysis suggests the existence of a previously undescribed hybrid between T. patens and T. alberti. Further detailed population studies are needed to validate this hypothesis.

Primulina guarouba, a new endemic cave‐dwelling species of Gesneriaceae from northern Guangxi, China

Primulina guarouba, a new species from the limestone area of northern Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. According to the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analysis, it nests in a strongly supported clade (BP = 99%) that includes P. cordifolia, P. repanda and P. huangii. Of these, P. guarouba is similar to the P. cordifolia in morphology, but it is easily distinguished from the latter by some of the distinct characters in leaf blade, peduncles, bracts, calyx, corolla, pistil.

Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Salassa thespis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and Comparison with Other Lepidoptera Species

There are many species of Lepidoptera, but few complete mitochondrial genomes of Lepidoptera have been included in databases. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Salassa thespis was isolated and characterized. It was 15,302 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and an A + T-rich region. Among the 13 PCGs, the initiation codon of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) was CGA, and the rest were ATN. The cox1 and cox2 genes had an incomplete stop codon T, while the rest terminated with TAA. Codon usage analysis showed that Phe, Ile, Leu and Asn were the most frequent amino acids, while Trp was the least. Like other Lepidopterans, some conserved motifs were found in the A + T-rich region, including a 17 bp poly-T guided by ATAGA, the AT-rich area and a poly-A element. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree analysis based on 13 PCGs of S. thespis confirmed that it belonged to the Saturniidae family and showed the following relationship: (S. thespis + (Rhodinia fugax + Samia canningi)). The enrichment of mitochondrial DNA provides reference information for the study of the evolution and diversity of Lepidoptera insects.

Lambertella (Rutstroemiaceae, Helotiales) from Northern Thailand

ABSTRACT During our surveys for discomycetes from 2019 to 2021 in forests and plantations in northern Thailand, several lambertella-like specimens were found. Morphological observation and BLAST search confirmed that seven newly collected specimens belong to Lambertella. Further phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis based on combined the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA (ITS), large subunit region of 28S rRNA (LSU), small subunit region of 18S rRNA (SSU) and RNA polymerase II gene (RPB2) sequence data and morphological examination coupled with chemical reactions confirmed seven Lambertella species. Lambertella aurantiaca and L. himalayensis were established as new geographical and host records, and the other five specimens, L. chiangraiensis, L. fusoidea, L. phanensis, L. sessilis and L. takensis, were introduced as novel species. The highlight of the current study is the contribution of the morphological description for Lambertella aurantiaca since its introduction in 1964, emending the morphological criteria for Lambertella sensu stricto, and providing sequence data for all Lambertella species described in the current study.

Mitogenomic Characterization of South African Leopards and the Effect of Past Climatic Events

Revealing phylogeographic structure is important for accurate subspecies delineation and understanding a species’ evolutionary history. In leopards (Panthera pardus), there are currently nine subspecies recognized. On the African continent, only one subspecies occurs (P. p. pardus), although mitochondrial DNA from historical samples suggests the presence of three putative continental clades: (1) West Africa (WA), (2) Central Africa (CA), and (3) Southern Africa (SA). So far, whole genome data did not recover this phylogeographic structure, although leopards in the southern periphery of their distribution range in Africa have not yet been investigated in detail. The Mpumalanga province of South Africa is of particular interest, as here, the CA and the SA clade possibly meet. The aim of this study was to characterize the first mitogenomes of African leopards from Mpumalanga, to help clarifying how South African leopards fit into continental patterns of genetic differentiation. Complete mitogenomes from nine leopards, including a strawberry leopard, were assembled de novo and included in phylogenetic analysis, in combination with 32 publicly available mitogenomes. Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses identified two deeply diverged putative clades within South Africa, which were more genetically distinct than two subspecies in Asia. The clades dated back to 0.76-0.86 million years ago, indicating that they originated during the climatically unstable Mid-Pleistocene, as seen in other large mammals. The Pleistocene refuge theory states that the maintenance of savanna refugia in East and Southern Africa promoted the divergence between populations. As such, leopards may reflect the unique climatic history of southern Africa, which has resulted in eminent and endemic genetic diversity.