Phylogenetic Interpretation Research Articles

A taxonomic re-evaluation of Pittosporum roimata Gemmill & S.N. Carter (Pittosporaceae, Apiales)

Pittosporum roimata Gemmill & S.N. Carter (Pittosporaceae, Apiales) was established in 2018 as an endemic species confined to the Poor Knights Islands group, off the eastern coastline of Northland Aotearoa / New Zealand. The new species was distinguished from P. cornifolium A. Cunn. on the basis of vegetative characters (leaf length, width, petiole length), floral characters (pedicel length, flower colour), and numbers of fruit per stem. The new species was also reported as differing from P. cornifolium by a single substitution within the nrITS cistron, with that data obtained from a paper that did not provide a phylogenetic interpretation of this result, nor specify whether the cultivated plants used were derived from seed obtained from multiple individuals or from cutting grown plants from a limited wild-sourced selection. In this paper the same morphological characters used to separate P. roimata are examined using a much wider sampling of P. cornifolium, and the specimens available for P. roimata. There are very slight differences in leaf width and length, petiole length, and pedicel length in Poor Knights Islands P. roimata specimens seen also in some collections from other northern Aotearoa / New Zealand offshore islands and some mainland stations. Flower colour is not a useful character as this is variable in P. roimata and P. cornifolium, as it is also in many other Aotearoa / New Zealand Pittosporum. On the basis of our morphological assessment we conclude that to maintain the segregation of P. roimata from P. cornifolium at the species rank is impractical, as there is a grading of characters between both species. As plants corresponding to P. roimata occur throughout the range of P. cornifolium, already a variable species, we suggest that, in line with other treatments of Aotearoa / New Zealand Pittosporum, it is better to reduce P. roimata into synonymy of P. cornifolium.

Chondrocranial anatomy of Testudo hermanni (Testudinidae, Testudines) with a comparison to other turtles.

Using histological cross-sections, the chondrocranium anatomy was reconstructed for two developmental stages of Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni). The morphology differs from the chondrocrania of most other turtles by a process above the ectochoanal cartilage with Pelodiscus sinensis being the only other known species with such a structure. The anterior and posterior processes of the tectum synoticum are better developed than in most other turtles and an ascending process of the palatoquadrate is missing, which is otherwise only the case in pleurodiran turtles. The nasal region gets proportionally larger during development. We interpret the enlargement of the nasal capsules as an adaption to increase the surface area of the olfactory epithelium for better perception of volant odors. Elongation of the nasal capsules in trionychids, in contrast, is unlikely to be related to olfaction, while it is ambiguous in the case of Sternotherus odoratus. However, we have to conclude that research on chondrocranium anatomy is still at its beginning and more comprehensive detailed descriptions in relation to other parts of the anatomy are needed before providing broad-scale ecological and phylogenetic interpretations.

The Phylogeny of the Genera of Biting Midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) of the World

A phylogenetic analysis of all extant genera of Ceratopogonidae worldwide indicates there are now 109 valid genera, including two that are unnamed. All potential morphological features were considered, with 364 adult characters surveyed. Of these 146 adult characters were considered informative and these were combined with 40 pupal features previously interpreted by Borkent (2014), 16 larval and two egg characters. The resulting phylogeny confirmed the relationships between the early lineages including Leptoconopinae, Forcipomyiinae and Culicoidini (other than Washingtonhelea) previously interpreted. The remainder are Ceratopogoninae and these are divided into 11 tribes of which four are new: Washingtonheleini, Parabezziini, Neurobezziini and Echinoheleini. The last three were previously considered as members of the Ceratopogonini. Remaining Ceratopogonini are still recognized as a paraphyletic group, with some lineages poorly resolved phylogenetically. Some genera are realigned within the tribes Sphaeromiini, Johannsenomyiini and Palpomyiini. Poorly understood genera are discussed in some detail. Available autapomorphies of genera are presented, showing that some genera lack evidence of monophyly. Previously considered features of adults as well as those newly investigated but found to be of uncertain value phylogenetically are presented and discussed in detail. Previously published phylogenetic interpretations are discussed in the light of the current analysis. Six extant genera are newly placed, three as new synonyms and three lowered in rank from full genera to subgenera (with their type species subsequently as new combinations. Another is once again placed in synonymy and one, previously considered a generic synonym is recognized as a valid genus. The changes are as follows. Guihelea Yu & Qian, in Yu et al. 2005: 1496. New synonym of Johannsenomyia Malloch 1915: 332. Johannsenomyia jingxiensis (Yu & Qian, in Yu et al. 2005): 1497. New combination. Heteroceratopogon Wirth & Grogan 1988: 55. New synonym of Ceratopalpomyia Szadziewski 1988: 171. Ceratopalpomyia poguei (Wirth & Grogan 1988: 57 (Ceratopalpomyia). New combination. Hypsimyia Yu, in Yu et al. 2005: 1433. New synonym of Ceratopogon Meigen 1803: 261. Ceratopogon emeiensis (Yu & Li, in Yu et al. 2005): 1433 (Hypsimyia). New combination. Chairopogon Yu, in Yu et al. 2005: 1430. New status as subgenus of Culicoides Latreille 1809: 251. Culicoides (Chairopogon) chengdeiensis (Yu & Hao, in Yu et al. 2005): 1430 (Chairopogon). New combination. Oxyria Yu, in Yu et al. 2005: 1436. New status as subgenus of Forcipomyia Meigen 1818: 73, 75. Forcipomyia (Oxyria) xui (Yu, in Yu et al. 2005): 1437 (Oxyria). New combination. Sinicohelea Yu, Wang & Tan, in Wang et al. 2012: 42. New status as subgenus of Forcipomyia Meigen, 1818: 73, 75. Forcipomyia (Sinicohelea) xuanjui (Yu, Wang & Chen, in Wang et al. 2012) (Sinicohelea). New combination. The type species of Paralluaudomyia is once again named Alluaudomyia maculata (Clastrier 1960) and the genus is a synonym of Alluaudomyia. New status. Boreohelea was most recently considered a synonym of Allohelea and is now returned to generic status. New status.

Morphological innovation after mass extinction events in Permian and Early Triassic conodonts based on Polygnathacea

Taxonomic diversity of marine animals decreased markedly during the end-Guadalupian and end-Permian mass extinctions, but conodonts were largely unaffected by these two major events. This conclusion is largely based on potentially problematic conodont taxonomy, but quantitative analyses of conodont morphology have received little attention, despite offering key insights into macroevolutionary dynamics. Polygnathacea conodonts seemingly evolved fast and had high morphological diversity, and are therefore ideal for exploring morphospace trends and disparity related to environmental change in conodonts. Here we compiled discrete character-taxon matrices to first refine phylogenetic interpretations and then explore morphological disparity in four related conodont families, the Anchignathodontidae, Sweetognathidae, Idiognathodontidae and Vjalovognathidae, from the Permian to Early Triassic. Our findings reveal morphological innovation and exploration of new morphospace after the end-Guadalupian mass extinction and end-Permian mass extinction. We also show that the smaller end-Guadalupian extinction event was more impactful, resulting in greater losses of morphological disparity and taxonomic diversity, than the larger end-Permian extinction event. Overall, our study reveals morphological disparity trends related to temporal evolutionary dynamics for conodonts during the geologically and environmentally turbulent Permian and Early Triassic. We show that conodonts are affected by extinction events during this interval in terms of morphological diversity, rather than simply taxonomic diversity.

Chuaria and Tawuia fossils from ∼1.0 Ga rocks in North China: Implications for a polyphyletic origin of Chuaria and a potential biological link between these two widespread Proterozoic taxa

The Proterozoic witnessed the emergence and rise of early eukaryotes and Proterozoic carbonaceous compression macrofossils provide a valuable window for our understanding of this ecological expansion. Among them, the discoidal Chuaria and tomaculate Tawuia, which often co-occur in the same bedding layer, are perhaps the most common fossil forms in Proterozoic successions with extremely long temporal and broad geographical distributions. However, their phylogenetic interpretations and the relationship between them have been debated for decades, due to their simple morphologies lacking phylogenetically diagnostic features. In this study, we used an integrated application of reflected and transmitted light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, biometric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy to characterize well-preserved carbonaceous compression macrofossils of Chuaria and Tawuia from the Tonian Liulaobei Formation in Huainan region, northern Anhui province, North China. The fossils are abundantly preserved in a ca. 1–2 cm thick homogeneous mudstone layer and can be considered to be closer to an ecological community than fossils from multiple different layers or localities. The comprehensive analysis shows that even Chuaria vesicles from the same layer may have a polyphyletic origin and three groups of Chuaria vesicles have been identified. Among them, small Chuaria vesicles with minimum diameter < 1.2 mm can be either related to the sphaeromorphic acritarch Leiosphaeridia or interpreted as multicellular aggregates. In contrast, large Chuaria vesicles with minimum diameter ≥ 1.2 mm are more comparable to the type material of Chuaria circularis from the Chuar Group and more closely related, either phylogenetically or ontogenetically, to Tawuia vesicles. This study takes a step on the path to solving the mystery of the most common and widely distributed Proterozoic macrofossil assemblage (i.e., Chuaria-Tawuia assemblage), and urges thorough and systematic evaluations to be taken on the possibility that Chuaria vesicles from the same Chuaria-Tawuia assemblages or sole Chuaria assemblages in other localities might also be polyphyletic.

Deep learning approaches to the phylogenetic placement of extinct pollen morphotypes.

The phylogenetic interpretation of pollen morphology is limited by our inability to recognize the evolutionary history embedded in pollen features. Deep learning offers tools for connecting morphology to phylogeny. Using neural networks, we developed an explicitly phylogenetic toolkit for analyzing the overall shape, internal structure, and texture of a pollen grain. Our analysis pipeline determines whether testing specimens are from known species based on uncertainty estimates. Features from specimens with uncertain taxonomy are passed to a multilayer perceptron network trained to transform these features into predicted phylogenetic distances from known taxa. We used these predicted distances to place specimens in a phylogeny using Bayesian inference. We trained and evaluated our models using optical superresolution micrographs of 30 extant Podocarpus species. We then used trained models to place nine fossil Podocarpidites specimens within the phylogeny. In doing so, we demonstrate that the phylogenetic history encoded in pollen morphology can be recognized by neural networks and that deep-learned features can be used in phylogenetic placement. Our approach makes extinction and speciation events that would otherwise be masked by the limited taxonomic resolution of the fossil pollen record visible to palynological analysis.

Matrilineal phylogeny and habitat suitability of the endangered spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii; Testudines: Geoemydidae): a two-dimensional approach to forecasting future conservation consequences.

The spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) is a threatened and less explored species endemic to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. To infer structural variation and matrilineal phylogenetic interpretation, the present research decoded the mitogenome of G. hamiltonii (16,509 bp) using next-generation sequencing technology. The mitogenome comprises 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one AT-rich control region (CR) with similar strand symmetry in vertebrates. The ATG was identified as a start codon in most of the PCGs except Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), which started with the GTG codon. The non-coding CR of G. hamiltonii was determined to have a unique structure and variation in different domains and stem-loop secondary structure as compared with other Batagurinae species. The PCGs-based Bayesian phylogeny inferred strong monophyletic support for all Batagurinae species and confirmed the sister relationship of G. hamiltonii with Pangshura and Batagur taxa. We recommend generating more mitogenomic data for other Batagurinae species to confirm their population structure and evolutionary relationships. In addition, the present study aims to infer the habitat suitability and habitat quality of G. hamiltonii in its global distribution, both in the present and future climatic scenarios. We identify that only 58,542 km2 (7.16%) of the total range extent (817,341 km2) is suitable for this species, along with the fragmented habitats in both the eastern and western ranges. Comparative habitat quality assessment suggests the level of patch shape in the western range is higher (71.3%) compared to the eastern range. Our results suggest a massive decline of approximately 65.73% to 70.31% and 70.53% to 75.30% under ssp245 and ssp585 future scenarios, respectively, for the years between 2021-2040 and 2061-2080 compared with the current distribution. The present study indicates that proper conservation management requires greater attention to the causes and solutions to the fragmented distribution and safeguarding of this endangered species in the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra (IGB) river basins.

Ancient DNA re-opens the question of the phylogenetic position of the Sardinian pika Prolagus sardus (Wagner, 1829), an extinct lagomorph

Palaeogenomics is contributing to refine our understanding of many major evolutionary events at an unprecedented resolution, with relevant impacts in several fields, including phylogenetics of extinct species. Few extant and extinct animal species from Mediterranean regions have been characterised at the DNA level thus far. The Sardinian pika, Prolagus sardus (Wagner, 1829), was an iconic lagomorph species that populated Sardinia and Corsica and became extinct during the Holocene. There is a certain scientific debate on the phylogenetic assignment of the extinct genus Prolagus to the family Ochotonidae (one of the only two extant families of the order Lagomorpha) or to a separated family Prolagidae, or to the subfamily Prolaginae within the family Ochotonidae. In this study, we successfully reconstructed a portion of the mitogenome of a Sardinian pika dated to the Neolithic period and recovered from the Cabaddaris cave, an archaeological site in Sardinia. Our calibrated phylogeny may support the hypothesis that the genus Prolagus is an independent sister group to the family Ochotonidae that diverged from the Ochotona genus lineage about 30 million years ago. These results may contribute to refine the phylogenetic interpretation of the morphological peculiarities of the Prolagus genus already described by palaeontological studies.

Evolutionary features of microspore and pollen grain development in Cyperaceae.

Asymmetric meiosis leading to the release of pollen grains as pseudomonads is a synapomorphy in Cyperaceae, but differences in microspore development are relevant in the family's evolutionary history. Cyperaceae members present atypical microsporogenesis, in which one meiotic product is functional while the other three degenerate, culminating in pseudomonad pollen formation. Differences during development, such as pseudomonad shape and degenerative microspore positioning, are seen throughout the family, but no phylogenetic interpretation has been made regarding these variances thus far. In this study, we analyzed the early- and late-diverging sedge genera Hypolytrum and Eleocharis, respectively, while comparing them to data available in the literature and conducting an ancestral character reconstruction for pseudomonad traits. Light microscopy results show that pseudomonad development in Hypolytrum is homologous to several other sedge genera, presenting apical degenerative microspores. However, pseudomonads are round and centrally arranged in the anther locule in this case, which consists of a pleisiomorphic trait for the family. The basal positioning of degenerative microspores is restricted to Rhynchospora, consisting of an apomorphic trait for this genus. Despite these differences, ultrastructural analysis of Eleocharis pseudomonad revealed shared features with other genera studied, which include variations in chromatin condensation and cytoplasmic turnover in functional cells. These common features seem related to the different cellular fates seen during microspore development and further corroborate the synapomorphic status of pseudomonads in sedges.

Skeletal traits and otoliths can unravel the relationships within European Gobiidae (Gobius lineage sensu lato)

Abstract The high diversity of extant gobiids (Gobiidae: Teleostei) makes taxonomic and phylogenetic interpretation of fossil members of the clade a difficult task. To facilitate future taxonomic and systematic work on the group, we have assembled a morphological reference database encompassing skeletal characters, an otolith atlas and otolith morphometric data of 25 present-day species from the European Gobius lineage (s.l.) that represent 18 different genera and include all nine sublineages. We show that: (1) skeletal traits and morphometric otolith variables can be diagnostic for a sublineage; (2) otolith morphology allows identification at the genus and species levels; and (3) the number of anal-fin rays and details of the otolith margins can be used to discriminate closely related dwarf gobies. The skeletal and otolith characters are largely stable in the marine gobies analysed here, whereas freshwater gobies (Padogobius, Ponto-Caspian gobies) are far more variable. This might be related to the conquest by Padogobius and Ponto-Caspian gobies of freshwater and low-salinity habitats, in which environmental conditions can fluctuate widely. We anticipate that the database presented here can be used as a valuable reference tool to assess the relationships of fossil gobiids and increase our knowledge of the evolutionary history of the group as a whole.

Some known porate pollen germinal apertures are actually pororate: Observation based on a study from eastern Himalaya

In today's pollen morphological studies, distinction between the two aperture types, namely, porate and pororate is obscured by generalised use of the former in defining a more or less isodiametric aperture. Present study points out the precise dimensional differences and incongruence between the ecto and endoapertures (representing pore and ora respectively) which in turn dictates the true apertural nature, whether it is ‘porate’ or ‘pororate’. In this work, pollen morphology of 10 eastern Himalayan species were studied; among them six species hitherto known for having porate condition (simple aperturate) are actually found pororate (compound aperturate) in nature. We also observed pororate condition in Symplocaceae which was known to have either porate or colporate pollens till date. Therefore, pororate aperture is now found in Cannabaceae, Urticaceae and Symplocaceae. Occurrence this apertural condition in the nine studied species reflects their most advanced/climax stage of aperture evolution. Thus, our observation deviates considerably from available information on pollen apertures of the studied plant families and consequent change in the systematic and phylogenetic interpretation of the studied species is suggested.

Functional and phylogenetic interpretation of the forelimb myology of two South American carnivorans, the ring-tailed coati (Nasua nasua) and crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus).

A comparative analysis of the forelimb myology of two neotropical procyonids (Nasua nasua and Procyon cancrivorus) was performed to assess how observed differences in their myological configuration would be related to their diverse ecological behaviors and phylogeny. Although both species are associated with the arboreal substrate, N. nasua is a more agile climber that usually digs; whereas P. cancrivorus spends most of its time on the ground foraging, climbing on the trees as shelter and is a good swimmer. Here, myological descriptions, muscle maps, phylogenetic optimizations, and muscle mass data of the forelimb of these two procyonids are presented. The main functional muscular groups are discussed in a comparative framework with other carnivorans that present a wide ecological diversity. Also, muscular characters were mapped onto a phylogeny to explore their evolution and to obtain ancestral state reconstructions. Results indicate clear myological differences among the two neotropical procyonids associated with their ecological preferences. One of the most remarkable anatomical differences is the arrangement and relative mass of the extrinsic musculature, mainly the musculus rhomboideus and the delto-pectoral complexes. In Nasua nasua, these suggested a greater stability in their shoulder girdle for climbing and digging and probably would provide stronger neck and head movements when they use them for foraging on the ground. Conversely, P. cancrivorus has a different extrinsic muscular configuration, which would allow an increment on the stride length and faster movements of the forelimb associated with more frequent terrestrial gaits. Also, significant differences are observed in the distal musculature, associated with strong movements of forepaws when climbing and digging in N. nasua; whereas, P. cancrivorus configuration suggested precise forearm and digits movements, related to manipulation of food items when they are catching prey or feeding. Most of the codified features of P. cancrivorus would reflect retention of plesiomorphies acquired in the common ancestor of caniforms or arctoids, whereas N. nasua shows derived traits, particularly in the proximal forelimb region. The present work increases the information available on the myology of these particular taxa and extant generalized arctoid models in general. The analyses presented here will be useful both for other comparative myological studies (morpho-functional and phylogenetic) and for muscular reconstruction in extinct procyonids, as well as other carnivorans.

Description of Cylindrospermum solincola sp. nov. from Jammu and Kashmir, India and Further Insights into the Ecological Distribution and Morphological Attributes of Cylindrospermum badium

Two cyanobacterial strains KUT1-PS and 18C-PS were collected from the soil surface and vernal pool, respectively, from the Basantgarh village, Udhampur district of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India and characterized by a polyphasic approach. The morphological characterization indicated that both the strains showed typical Cylindrospermum-like morphology and probably belonged to the genus Cylindrospermum. Further, phylogenetic interpretations at the genus level were made using the 16S rRNA gene while the 16S-23S ITS region phylogenetic analysis and secondary structure analysis were conducted to enhance the resolution at the species level. The results from the comparative morphological analysis, the 16S rRNA gene percent similarity and phylogenetic analyses, the 16S-23S ITS percent dissimilarity and the ITS secondary structure analyses provided enough evidence that the strain 18C-PS is a representative of Cylindrospermum badium, providing further insights into its ecological distribution and morphological attributes. Additionally, the strain KUT1-PS was a novel species of the genus Cylindrospermum and is referred to herein as Cylindrospermum solincola sp. nov., in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants. This study also discusses the importance of comparing the newly sequenced strains with previously established species before making final taxonomic interpretations.

Molecular and osteological verification of the taxonomic status of Phoxinus sedelnikowi (Berg, 1908) (Teleostei: Leuciscidae)

Phoxinus sedelnikowi is a Central Asian representative of the genus Phoxinus, occurring in the tributaries of Lake Zaisan at the southern foot of the Altai Mountains. Its systematic position has so far been unclear. It was considered a subspecies of Rhynchocypris czekanowskii, R. lagowskii and P. phoxinus. Here, we sequenced the cytochrome b gene and ATP-ase subunits 6 and 8 of representatives of P. sedelnikowi and two populations of P. phoxinus (including the topotypical population) and R. czekanowskii, R. lagowskii, and R. percnurus. We also performed an analysis of the shapes of the seven bones of the skull of all six forms examined and then performed a phylogenetic interpretation of the obtained results. Both P. sedelnikowi and Phoxinus sp. from the Solonovka population appeared to be separate from P. phoxinus from the topotypical population by Cytb: 0.11 and ATP: 0.13 distance. Therefore, they may be considered as independent species within the genus Phoxinus. We found the generic level genetic distance between Phoxinus and Rhynchocypris (Cytb: 0.24 and ATP: 0.68), which thus confirmed their independence. Genetic analyses revealed that one of the studied individuals of R. lagowskii shares the ATP haplotype with R. czekanowskii. The Cytb haplotype of this individual is also closest to that of R. czekanowskii, indicating an introgression between these forms and questioning their species status. The UPGMA and MP analysis of the selected osteological features confirmed the differentiation between Phoxinus and Rhynchocypris on the generic level. The results at lower taxonomic levels are not consistent with the identified genetic diversity, suggesting that osteological features may not be sufficient to distinguish forms at the intra-generic level.

Another piece in the puzzle of mantis shrimp evolution – fossils from the Early Jurassic Osteno Lagerstätte of Northern Italy

Mantis shrimps (Stomatopoda Latreille, 1817) are marine predatory crustaceans of the group Hoplocarida Calman, 1904 with an interesting, though incompletely known, evolutionary history. Here we introduce a new species of fossil mantis shrimps, Ostenosculda teruzzii n. gen., n. sp. from the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) limestone formation of Osteno (Northern Italy). We present distinctive features that characterize the specimens as a new species, such as a unique arrangement of maxillipeds 2-5 (maxilliped 2 is the major raptorial appendage). We also present a phylogenetic systematic interpretation of the species based on the available features of morphology and body organisation. The unusual arrangement of the maxillipeds appears to represent a plesiomorphic condition relative to extant mantis shrimps: the maxillipeds are arranged in an almost straight anterior-posterior line, with rather large distances between them. This contrasts with extant forms and slightly younger fossils of about 150 million years old lithographic limestones (Late Jurassic) where further anterior maxillipeds are inserting far laterally and further posterior ones more medially, with very small distances between the next posterior ones. The herein studied specimens are the first of their kind to be confirmed for this period and geographical region and further close gaps in our understanding of the evolution of mantis shrimps.

Yangısal Bağırsak Hastalığı ve Dermatolojik Bulguları Olan Köpeklerde Doğal Termal Su Tüketimi Bağırsak Mikobiyomunu Geliştirebilir: Randomize Klinik Çalışma

Objective: Given the gut microbiome is a supreme immunological and metabolic organ, much data is recognized within the intestinal bacteria whereas the prevalence along with phylogenetic interpretation of fungal organisms participating within intestinal ecosystem have not explored convincingly among dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the present study, the present authors' for the first time a) described the fungal gut mycobiome, b) analyzed disbiosis network for fungal kigdom, c) detected the efficacy of natural thermal water (nTW) on gut mycobiome. Material and Methods: For these purpose, MIDOG All-in One Microbial Test targetting Next-Generation DNA Sequencing was used to determining of fungal microbiome prior to and thereafter nTW in a total of 13 dogs with IBD. Results: Aspergillus sp. (n=5), Acremonium hyalinulum (n=4), Acremonium fusidoides-hansfordii (n=4) were frequently isolated as fungal pathogens whereas case VII exhibited 5 different species (at most) and 4 other dogs presented solely 1 species. Interestingly a 6 week course of nTW consumption resulted with disapperance of fungal pathogens in 12 out of 13 cases. On behalf of repeated Next-Generation DNA Sequencing at 6th week analysis of all 12 cases wered deemed more diverse gut mycobiome. Conclusion: Obtained data preserved protective/restorative roles of nTW on gut mycobiome in dogs with IBD and dermatological manifestations ivolved at the present study.

Extensive testing of a multi-locus sequence typing scheme for Giardia duodenalis assemblage A confirms its good discriminatory power

BackgroundThe flagellated parasite Giardia duodenalis is a major and global cause of diarrhoeal disease. Eight genetically very distinct groups, known as assemblages A to H, have been recognized in the G. duodenalis species complex, two of which (assemblages A and B) infect humans and other mammalian hosts. Informative typing schemes are essential to understand transmission pathways, characterize outbreaks and trace zoonotic transmission. In this study, we evaluated a published multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for G. duodenalis assemblage A, which is based on six polymorphic markers.MethodsWe genotyped 60 human-derived and 11 animal-derived G. duodenalis isolates collected in Europe and on other continents based on the published protocol. After retrieving previously published genotyping data and excluding isolates whose sequences showed allelic sequence heterozygosity, we analysed a dataset comprising 146 isolates.ResultsWe identified novel variants at five of the six markers and identified 78 distinct MLST types in the overall dataset. Phylogenetic interpretation of typing data confirmed that sub-assemblage AII only comprises human-derived isolates, whereas sub-assemblage AI comprises all animal-derived isolates and a few human-derived isolates, suggesting limited zoonotic transmission. Within sub-assemblage AII, isolates from two outbreaks, which occurred in Sweden and Italy, respectively, had unique and distinct MLST types. Population genetic analysis showed a lack of clustering by geographical origin of the isolates.ConclusionThe MLST scheme evaluated provides sufficient discriminatory power for epidemiological studies of G. duodenalis assemblage A.Graphical

A new titanosaurian (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Quseir Formation of the Kharga Oasis, Egypt

ABSTRACT Dinosaur fossils from the latest Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are rare. Most discoveries to date have consisted of limited fossils that have precluded detailed phylogenetic and paleobiogeographic interpretations. Fortunately, recent discoveries such as the informative Egyptian titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur Mansourasaurus shahinae are beginning to address these long-standing issues. Here we describe an associated partial postcranial skeleton of a new titanosaurian taxon from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Quseir Formation of the Kharga Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt. Consisting of five dorsal vertebrae and 12 appendicular elements, Igai semkhu gen. et sp. nov. constitutes one of the most informative dinosaurs yet recovered from the latest Cretaceous of Afro-Arabia. The relatively gracile limb bones and differences in the coracoid and metatarsal I preclude referral of the new specimen to Mansourasaurus. Both model-based Bayesian tip-dating and parsimony-based phylogenetic analyses support the affinities of Igai semkhu with other Late Cretaceous Afro-Eurasian titanosaurs (e.g., Mansourasaurus, Lirainosaurus astibiae, Opisthocoelicaudia skarzynskii), a conclusion supported by posterior dorsal vertebrae that lack a postzygodiapophyseal lamina, for example. Igai semkhu strengthens the hypothesis that northern Africa and Eurasia shared closely related terrestrial tetrapod faunas at the end of the Cretaceous and further differentiates this fauna from penecontemporaneous assemblages elsewhere in Africa, such as the Galula Formation in Tanzania, that exhibit more traditional Gondwanan assemblages. At present, the specific paleobiogeographic signal appears to vary between different dinosaur groups, suggesting that Afro-Arabian Cretaceous biotas may have experienced evolutionary and paleobiogeographic histories that were more complex than previously appreciated.

Comparative morphological study of the gnathochilarium of millipedes of the suborder Cambalidea (Juliformia: Spirostreptida) assessed by discrete and morphometric character approaches

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships of the suborder Cambalidea have been a well-known focus of discussion over the past 100 years. The most recent approach to the suborder is based on the morphology of the sexual structure of males and of the gnathochilarium. The phylogenetic interpretation of the gnathochilarium has been especially criticized due to the poorly understood evolution of its components since no hypothesis of homology has been put forward. This work provides a comparative study of characters of the gnathochilarium. Twenty-one characters are proposed and optimized for 34 terminals from the orders Julida and Spirostreptida. Two datasets were analysed on the basis of whether the sclerite duplomentum corresponds to a mentum fused to a promentum or only to an elongated mentum (promentum being absent). Concatenated analyses were performed with both discrete and morphometric characters to verify the variation in shape of the mentum. In all topologies obtained, Cambalidea were recovered as paraphyletic in terms of the suborder Spirostreptidea. Through constrained searches, Cambalidae, Cambalopsidae and Iulomorphidae were not recovered, while Pseudonannolenidae were recovered only when Physiostreptinae were excluded. The morphological evidence indicates the convergence of the gnathochilarium in Spirostreptidea and in some members of Cambalidea, with independent reversions of the promentum.

Imaging scale surface topography of an endemic cyprinid fish, Garra sharq from the Arabian Peninsula: An integrated optical light and scanning electron microscopy approach

AbstractThe optical light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques have proven to play a key and noteworthy role in the advancement of morphological studies in general, and in investigating fish scale morphology in particular. These techniques have illustrated several hidden architectural structures in scales that contribute effectively to fish identification and classification. The scale morphological and topological characters such as type, size, shape, lateral surface, focus position, circuli appearance, radii type, lepidonts, and posterior and anterior margin shapes were obtained using macro‐ and microscopic analysis in six body regions for three size classes of Garra sharq, a cyprinid endemic fish of the Arabian Peninsula. The general scale type in the studied G. sharq species was a basal elasmoid cycloid and a sectioned type. As a protective structure, the scales display several specific characteristics including firm attachment to the fish body, overlapping, and thin structure with a high surface area and high strength. These characteristics improve scale resistance to penetration, increase protection against mechanical injury and microbial infection, enhance scale flexibility, reduce fish weight (reduce friction drag), and increase scale transparency. The scales demonstrate plasticity in focus shape, size, and position in the six fish body parts and fish size groups. The examined scales displayed narrow or wide grooves (radii) in three types including primary, secondary, and tertiary present in all four scale fields (anterior, posterior, and laterals), thus a tetra‐sectioned type that is almost specific to the genus Garra. This characteristic also increases scale flexibility. The rostral margin of scales was characterized by the presence of waved and striate types. The lepidont shape and size varied being blunt, flat, pointed, tiny, sharp, short, and long. Some of these scale characters and their morphologies could be used as an alternative tool for identification, classification, and phylogenetic interpretation among the different freshwater fish species and genera.