Lichen Research Articles

Recent literature on lichens—249

Recent literature on lichens—249

A case of discrete papular form of lichen myxedematosus with unilateral segmental distribution

A case of discrete papular form of lichen myxedematosus with unilateral segmental distribution

Unconstrained gene flow between populations of a widespread epiphytic lichen Usnea subfloridana (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) in Estonia

Few studies have investigated the genetic diversity of populations of common and widespread lichenized fungi using microsatellite markers, especially the relationships between different measures of genetic diversity and environmental heterogeneity. The main aim of our study was to investigate the population genetics of a widespread and mainly clonally reproducing Usnea subfloridana at the landscape scale, focusing on the comparison of lichen populations within hemiboreal forest stands. Particular attention has been paid to the genetic differentiation of lichen populations in two geographically distinct regions in Estonia and the relationships between forest characteristics and measures of genetic diversity. We genotyped 578 Usnea thalli from eleven lichen populations using seven specific fungal microsatellite markers. Measures of genetic diversity (allelic richness, Shannon's information index, Nei's unbiased genetic diversity, clonal diversity, the number of multilocus genotypes, the number of private alleles, and the minimum number of colonization events) were calculated and compared between Usnea populations. Shared haplotypes, gene flow and AMOVA analyses suggest that unconstrained gene flow and exchange of multilocus genotypes exist between the two geographically remote regions in Estonia. Stand age, mean circumference of the host tree, size of forest site and tree species composition did not show any significant influence on allelic richness, Shannon's information index, Nei's unbiased genetic diversity, clonal diversity, the number of private alleles, and the minimum number of colonization events of U. subfloridana populations. Therefore it was concluded that other factors of habitat heterogeneity could probably have a more significant effect on population genetics of U. subfloridana populations.

Going extinct before being discovered? New lichen fungi from a small fragment of the vanishing Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil

Abstract In the frame of an ongoing lichen inventory of Atlantic Rainforest remnants in Northeast Brazil, five new species of Graphidaceae were discovered in a small forest fragment, Mata do Cipó, in Sergipe state, the smallest state of Brazil and among those with the highest deforestation rate in the country. An additional new species had already been collected in Panama before and was now also found in the Mata do Cipó and is described here as well. In total, 40 species of Graphidaceae are reported for this remnant, including a large number of taxa indicative of well-preserved rainforest. The new species are: Fissurina atlantica T.A. Pereira, M. Cáceres & Lücking, sp. nov., Graphis subaltamirensis Passos, M. Cáceres & Lücking, sp. nov., Ocellularia cipoensis L.A. Santos, M. Cáceres & Lücking, sp. nov., O. sosma T.A. Pereira, M. Cáceres & Lücking, sp. nov., O. submordenii Lücking, sp. nov. (also known from Panama), and Pseudochapsa aptrootiana M. Cáceres, T.A. Pereira & Lücking, sp. nov. The findings are discussed in the context of the strong fragmentation of the Atlantic Rainforest, with individual remnants apparently serving as refugia for residual populations of rare species of lichen fungi that were more widely distributed in the past, but currently seem to occur only in isolated fragments.

Recent literature on lichens—248

Recent literature on lichens—248

The Antarctic lichen Cetraria subscutata is a synonym of Nephromopsis chlorophylla

Fil: Passo, Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina

Study of prescribing pattern of topical corticosteroids in dermatology out patients department in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Puducherry

Background: Topical corticosteroids have been used as the mainstay of treatment in many inflammatory and autoimmune dermatological conditions like psoriasis, lichen plannus, SLE etc. Keeping a constant watch on the rationality of these prescriptions is needed due to many known side effects of long term use of steroids and the high prevalence of such conditions with economical burden. The data pertaining to topical corticosteroids usage patterns in skin conditions are particularly lacking. Objective: This study aims to evaluate and analyze the prescribing pattern of topical corticosteroids among dermatology outpatients in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the Dermatology outpatient Department of a tertiary care hospital, Puducherry, India for 3 months in patients prescribed with topical corticosteroids. The collected data were analyzed and results are expressed using descriptive statistics. Result: A total of 200 prescriptions were analyzed, among which males and females were 43% and 57% respectively .The common indications for topical steroids were eczema (13.5%) followed by psoriasis vulgaris (12%). Clobetasol propionate was prescribed in 34.5% followed by mometasone furoate (24 %), betamethasone dipropionate (18%) and halobetasol (11%). Cream formulation was prescribed in 44.5%. Average drug per prescription was 3.5. 54% were prescribed drugs in generic names, but specification of strength and quantity were lacking. Instructions regarding usage were specified in 48% for area of application, 61.5% for route of administration, and 92% for frequency of administration. Conclusion: Periodical analysis of prescriptions for a year with an emphasis on rational prescription with proper instructions to be followed for a good and quick therapeutic outcome which can reduce the economical and mental stress to the patients.

Morphological differentiation and phylogenetic homogeneity in Usnea aurantiaco-atra reveal the complexity of lichen symbiosis

Morphological differentiation and phylogenetic homogeneity in Usnea aurantiaco-atra reveal the complexity of lichen symbiosis

Epiphytic Lichens as Indicators of Snow Depth

The vertical distributions of Parmelia olivacea and a few other epiphytic lichens on trunks of deciduous trees were studied in relation to maximum snow depth along an oceanic-continental climate gr...

First record of the tardigrade Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840) from northeast of Iran (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae)

Tardigrada is a phylum closely allied with the arthropods. They are small (0.05-1.20 mm), hygrophilous micrometazoans, have four pairs of lobe-like legs and are either carnivorous or feed on plant material. Most of the tardigrade species are limno-terrestrial. In two moss and lichen samples collected in Mashhad, one heterotardigrade species was found. Echiniscus testudo (Doyere, 1840) belongs to the Echiniscidae group and differs from most of other species in this group mainly by having a different claw configuration and by some morphometric characters. This study is the first report of tardigrades from Iran.

Autoimmune diseases in autoimmune atrophic gastritis.

Autoimmune diseases, characterized by an alteration of the immune system which results in a loss of tolerance to self antigens often coexist in the same patient. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis, characterized by the development of antibodies agains parietal cells and against intrinsic factor, leads to mucosal destruction that affects primarily the corpus and fundus of the stomach. Autoimmune atrophic gastritis is frequently found in association with thyroid disease, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and with type 1 diabetes mellitus, Other autoimmune conditions that have been described in association with autoimmune atrophic gastritis are Addison’s disease, chronic spontaneous urticaria, myasthenia gravis, vitiligo, and perioral cutaneous autoimmune conditions, especially erosive oral lichen planus. Interestingly, however, celiac disease, another frequent autoimmune condition, seems to play a protective role for autoimmune atrophic gastritis. The elevated prevalence of autoimmune disease clustering should prompt the clinicial to exclude concomitant autoimmune conditions upon diagnosis of any autoimmune disease. (www.actabiomedica.it)

褐梅衣类地衣的研究简史及其属之间的区别

褐梅衣类地衣的研究简史及其属之间的区别

Новые находки лишайников из горно-таежных лесов Южной Сибири

Несмотря на многолетнее изучение видового разнообразия лишайников Южной Сибири и Прибайкалья, видовой состав лихенофлоры этих регионов ежегодно пополняется новыми видами, выявленными при проведении экспедиционных лихенологических исследований. Представленное дополнение к лихенофлоре Байкальского заповедника (хр. Хамар-Дабан, Республика Бурятия) и Природного парка «Ергаки» (Западный Саян, Красноярский край) включает виды, новые как для Республики Бурятии или Красноярского края, так и для более крупных регионов. Biatorella flavella впервые приводится для России, Ropalospora viridis – для Азии, Bryoria vrangiana, Dictyocatenulata alba, Elixia flexella, Lecanora compallens, Micarea soralifera – новые для Сибири, Chaenotheca subroscida, Fuscidea arboricola – для Южной Сибири, Absconditella annexa, Caloplaca sorocarpa, Bryobilimbia sanguineoatra и Protothelenella sphinctrinoidella – для Байкальской Сибири, Caloplaca sorocarpa – для Красноярского края, Pilophorus strumaticus – для Бурятии. Все лишайники собраны в горно-лесных местообитаниях, в условиях влажного, мягкого климата, где главным типом растительности являются бореальные леса, а именно, горная тайга в ее южном варианте – темнохвойные леса с Abies sibirica, Pinus sibirica и участием Sorbus sibirica, Populus suaveolens и Padus avium.

Aloe vera: A natural remedy

Aloe vera is gaining popularity for its many health benefits. Healing is a complex procedure mainly occurs by subsiding inflammation which can be done by immunomodulatory properties of gel polysaccharides, especially acetylated mannans from A. vera. It helps in improving conditions such as diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and appearance of the skin, but apart from these, it has a tremendous role in dentistry and is beneficial in many oral conditions. Due to its antibacterial qualities, it is effective in gingivitis, periodontitis, and stomatitis. Direct application of A. vera gel on herpetic lesions, aphthous ulcer has improved the condition. Apart from this, acemannan also increases alkaline phosphatase activity and also help in bone healing. Due to its action on Enterococcus faecalis it can be used as an intracanal medicament. It can also be used in several oral lesions such as oral submucous fibrosis and oral lichen planus. Anticancer drugs have numerous side effects so natural product such as A. vera is very useful in this condition.

Review of the lichen genus Usnea in the Philippines

Review of the lichen genus Usnea in the Philippines

Comparative evaluation of the presence of serum antibodies SMA, Anti DNA, ANA and RF in the oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid drug and contact reactions

Introduction: Oral lichenoid reactions (OLR) are referred to a group of diseases that clinically and histologically could not be differentiated from the oral lichen planus (OLP) diseases. In the recent years, the two groups of diseases have been considered as T-Cell mediated inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to gather more information to help better distinguish these two lesions. Method and Materials: In this descriptive-analytical study, blood samples were taken from 80 patients (59 females and 29 males) and sent to the laboratory for histopathological diagnosis based on WHO criteria. After separating the blood sera of the samples, the sera were evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of ANA, anti-DNA, RF, and SMA auto-antibodies. Data statistically was analyzed with SPSS using the chi-squared test and t-test (a = 0.05). Results: The mean ages were 48.62 and 49.38 for OLP and OLR patients, respectively. There were no significant differences in ANA and RF blood levels (p value g 0.05). Anti-DNA and SMA antibodies were not detected in the blood samples. No significant differences were noted in the blood levels of these antibodies (p value g 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, no significant differences were observed between the OLP and OLR patients in relation to the presence or absence of ANA, anti-DNA, RF, and SMA auto-antibodies in the blood samples.

Influence of Some Cladonia Lichens on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria and Copper Reducing Antioxidant Capacity Activities

Bakteri ve mantar gibi mikroorganizmalar bitkilerde pek cok hastaliga yol acmaktadir. Patojenik mikroorganizmalarin cogu siklikla kullanilan antibiyotiklere ve sentetik fungisitlere direnc kazanmistir. Likenler bir mantar, bir alg veya bir siyanobakteriyum arasindaki simbiyotik birliklerdir. Likenler ve metabolitlerinin sentetik kimyasallara karsi umut vaat edici alternatifler olabilecekleri gosterilmistir. Bu calismanin amaci Cladonia stellaris , Cladonia pyxidata ve Cladonia furcata likenlerinin etil asetat ekstraktlarinin antibakteriyal etkisini ortaya koymaktir. Ekstraktlar sokslet ekstraksiyonu ile elde edilmistir. Antibakteriyal aktivite disk difuzyon metodu ile belirlenirken, antioksidan aktivite bakir indirgeme antioksidan kapasitesi (CUPRAC) metodu ile belirlenmistir. En iyi antibakteriyal aktivite C. stellaris ekstraktinda (25 mm) pozitif kontrol antibiyotiklerinden (ampisilin ve tetrasiklin) daha fazla olarak Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae ve Erwinia carotovora subsp. c arotovora ’ya karsi bulunmustur. CUPRAC aktivitesi C. furcata > C. pyxidata > C. stellaris seklinde artmaktadir. Liken ekstraktlarindan aktif bilesenlerin izolasyonu ve bu bilesiklerin biyolojik aktivitelerinin belirlenmesinde daha ileri calismalar gerekmektedir.

The Lichens of Italy. A Second Annotated Catalogue.

The Lichens of Italy. A Second Annotated Catalogue.

Recent literature on lichens—247

Recent literature on lichens—247

Retraction: An Antifungal Mechanism of Protolichesterinic Acid from the Lichen Usnea albopunctata Lies in the Accumulation of Intracellular ROS and Mitochondria-Mediated Cell Death Due to Apoptosis in Candida tropicalis.

[This retracts the article on p. 301 in vol. 8, PMID: 28611662.].