Putative Species Research Articles

Zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in subcutaneous nodules from dogs and cats, Hong Kong SAR.

Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" is a putative Dirofilaria species, initially identified in subcutaneous nodules in humans in Hong Kong and in other South and Southeast Asian regions. While it differs genetically from the better-known zoonotic species, Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis, information on the lesions caused by Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in the hosts as well as on its biology is scarce. This study documents for the first time the presence of this filarioid nematode in subcutaneous nodules in dogs and cats in Hong Kong, where it was originally described in human patients, therefore providing evidence for the zoonotic nature of this parasite. Records of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of City University of Hong Kong were searched between 2019 and 2024 for histological reports of possible filarioid-associated lesions. Tissue samples were collected by excisional surgical biopsy and processed with routine paraffin techniques. Selected slides were stained using various staining techniques [i.e., hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) or Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) and Gram stain]. DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue were extracted, submitted to conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) and sequencing (i.e., cox1 and 12S rRNA genes) and phylogenetic analyzed. A total of five subcutaneous nodules from four cats and one from a dog with histopathology suggestive of filariosis were selected. The presence of Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" was morphologically and molecularly confirmed in one dog and one cat. Both histopathological presentation and phylogenetic analysis enabled classification of this species close to D.repens and within the subgenus Nochtiella. In the remaining three cases, one showed histological evidence of aberrant nematode migration, while non-parasitic causes were identified in the other two. This study provides the first evidence of Dirofilaria sp. "hongkongensis" in subcutaneous nodules in cats and dogs. The histology of clinical lesions of this filarioid species herein described is closely related to those caused by D.repens. Overall, this species should be considered in differential diagnoses of subcutaneous lesions in both animals and humans in the region.

Unveiling bat-borne viruses: a comprehensive classification and analysis of virome evolution.

Bats (Order Chiroptera) are an important reservoir of emerging zoonotic microbes, including viruses of public health concern such as henipaviruses, lyssaviruses, and SARS-related coronaviruses. Despite the continued discovery of new viruses in bat populations, a significant proportion of these viral agents remain uncharacterized, highlighting the imperative for additional research aimed at elucidating their evolutionary relationship and taxonomic classification. In order to delve deeper into the viral reservoir hosted by bats, the present study employed Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology to analyze 13,105 swab samples obtained from various locations in China. Analysis of 378 sample pools revealed the presence of 846 vertebrate-associated viruses. Subsequent thorough examination, adhering to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) criteria for virus classification, identified a total of 120 putative viral species with the potential to emerge as novel viruses, comprising a total of 294 viral strains. Phylogenetic analysis of conserved genomic regions indicated the novel virus exhibited a diverse array of viral lineages and branches, some of which displayed close genetic relationships to known human and livestock pathogens, such as poxviruses and pestiviruses. This study investigates the breadth of DNA and RNA viruses harbored by bats, delineating several novel evolutionary lineages and offering significant contributions to virus taxonomy. Furthermore, the identification of hitherto unknown viruses with relevance to human and livestock health underscores the importance of this study in encouraging infectious disease monitoring and management efforts in both public health and veterinary contexts. Video Abstract.

Sexual Dimorphism in Wing Shape and Its Impact on Conspecific Identification of Neotropical Fannia Species (Diptera: Fanniidae)

Neotropical species of the genus Fannia remain poorly known despite their potential collection as biological evidence in criminal investigations. This is partly due to taxonomic difficulties and a lack of specialists. Identifying neotropical species of Fannia relies mainly on the classical morphological characters of adult males, as females show high similarity between species. Here, landmark-based geometric morphometrics of the wing could constitute an additional tool for associating adult females with conspecifics in this genus. In this study, we used a reference dataset of males belonging to ten putative species of Fannia from Colombia and molecular data to test this hypothesis. We found a strong wing shape sexual dimorphism, resulting in an almost perfect sex assignment based solely on this trait. However, the differences in wing shape between sexes were greater than those between species, making conspecific identification difficult. Our data show that wing shape could only feasibly be used for identifying adult males and females of F. lamosca, and males of F. dorsomaculata and F. pseudoconstricta. Low discrimination scores among remaining species may be partly explained by high intraspecific variation, slight wing shape differences among closely related species, or sampling bias. Although this study provides the first wing size and shape comparison among neotropical Fannia species, more samples and species are needed to validate these findings and identify the potential factors influencing this trait. Furthermore, the wing shape sexual dimorphism across Fannia species suggests different life-history strategies between sexes and possible genetic canalization mechanisms.

Stable isotopes disentangle niche partitioning and co‐occurrence in a multi‐species marine mutualism

Ecologists have long sought general explanations for the co‐occurrence of ecologically similar taxa. Niche theory explains co‐occurrence via functional differences among taxa that reduce competition and promote resource partitioning. Alternatively, the unified neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography suggests that co‐occurrence can be attributed to stochastic processes, and thus, presupposes that ecologically similar species that occur in sympatry are functionally analogous. We test these hypotheses using the most diverse crustacean‐sea anemone symbiosis from coral reefs in the Tropical Western Atlantic. δ13C and δ15N stable isotope analyses of six crustacean symbionts that co‐occur around the host anemone Bartholomea annulata exhibit highly differentiated isotopic niche space spanning several trophic levels. As multiple crustacean species within the symbiosis have been documented as cleaners that remove parasites from reef fishes, we extended our investigation into the broader cleaner community. Our stable isotope analyses of cleaners shows that Pederson's cleaner shrimp Ancylomenes pedersoni exhibits the highest δ15N isotopic values‐ significantly higher than all other putative cleaner species and consistent with expectations of a dedicated cleaning lifestyle. However, for other species previously described or observed to clean reef fishes, including Periclimenes yucatanicus, Stenopus hispidus and Stenorhynchus seticornis, δ15N isotopic values were substantially lower, raising questions about the degree to which these species rely on cleaning interactions to meet their nutritional requirements. Taken together, our data are consistent with the expectations of niche theory: co‐occurring symbiotic crustaceans have highly partitioned niche space with low levels of functional redundancy.

Hidden diversity in anthropophilic sand flies of the Monticola Series (Diptera, Psychodidae)

The Monticola series comprises two anthropophilic and widely distributed species in Brazil: Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) monticola (Costa Lima, 1932) and Pintomyia (Pifanomyia) misionensis (Castro, 1959). They mainly occur in the Atlantic Rainforest, and it is known that Pi. monticola comprises at least two well-structured genetic lineages regarding a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Here, we aim to elucidate the taxonomic status of this group using integrative taxonomy tools. Collections were performed in nine localities of four Brazilian states, and COI fragments were sequenced and merged with publicly available data. Several single-locus species delimitation algorithms, genetic distance metrics, phylogenetic trees, and haplotype networks were used to uncover cryptic diversity and population structure within Pi. monticola and Pi. misionensis. The resulting genetic clusters were then tested for morphological differences through linear and geometric morphometry of several characters. We analyzed 152 COI sequences, comprising 48 haplotypes. The maximum intraspecific p distances were 8.21% (mean 4.17%) and 9.12% (mean 4.4%) for Pi. monticola and Pi. misionensis, respectively, while interspecific ones ranged from 10.94 to 14.09% (mean 12.33%). Phylogenetic gene trees showed well-supported clades for both species, with clear structuring patterns within them. Species-delimitation algorithms split our dataset into at least three putative species for each taxon. Moreover, population structure analysis showed a strong correlation between Atlantic Forest areas of endemism as sources of molecular variation in Pi. monticola. Morphometric analyses were significant for wing shape variation and some linear measurements (mainly of the head) when comparing specimens of different genetic clusters for both taxa. These results indicate strong genetic structuring of Monticola series species, confirmed by morphometry, indicating two possible cryptic species complexes.

Phylogenomic insights and geographic distribution of the New World genus Amphibolips Reinhard (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae, Cynipini) using ultraconserved elements

AbstractIn recent years, new wasp species and genera of Cynipidae have been described, and their species delimitation and evolutionary relationships have been supported using molecular markers. However, few studies have included comprehensive and extensive sampling of specimens across the complete distribution of a single genus. In this study, we analysed the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Amphibolips throughout its range using ultraconserved elements (UCEs). We collected 520 adult wasps from 401 sites in various geographic locations, predominantly in Mexico, and used 78 wasps for UCE analysis. Our results demonstrate that Amphibolips forms a monophyletic clade. Amphibolips can be further subdivided into four genetically well‐differentiated clades. Each clade had morphological traits that could be collectively characterised. Species delimitation using molecular sequencing highlights the taxonomic complexity involved in separating and assigning species using exclusively morphological criteria. This approach offers an opportunity to refine current morphological taxonomic criteria or propose new criteria to establish more accurate classifications. The rich diversity of host species and geographic regions in Mexico represents a biodiversity hotspot for Amphibolips. The number of undescribed species remains high. This study facilitates the determination of appropriate boundaries for putative new Amphibolips species.

Two new species of Thomasomys (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from the western Andes of Ecuador and an updated phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus

Abstract The Andean cloud forests of Ecuador are home to numerous unique mammals. Rodents of the tribe Thomasomyini are particularly abundant in many Andean localities, with Thomasomys – the largest genus in the subfamily Sigmodontinae (51 species) – especially species-rich and diverse. Despite recent advances on the systematics of the genus, where seven species have been described in the last five years, there is tantalizing evidence that its true diversity remains completely understood. Over the course of approximately ten years of fieldwork in Ecuador, a significant number of Thomasomys specimens were collected from various localities in both, the eastern and western Andean ranges. Through an extensive genetic study of these specimens, augmented with what is available in public databases, we argue that there exist at least 20 undescribed species in the genus, with no less that twelve potential new species in Ecuador alone. In this paper, we describe two of these species belonging to the group cinereus, one recently collected and the other previously referred to as Thomasomys sp. 1; further, we present an updated cyt b gene tree of the genus. The gene tree includes at least 56 valid and putative species and supports the monophyly of the genus, while at the same time suggest a paraphyletic “aureus” group. Our findings suggest that the genus likely exhibits additional hidden diversity in significant portions of Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia which calls for the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the entire genus. The recognition of these two new species brings the total number of known Thomasomys to 53 species, 19 of which occur in Ecuador, including 17 that are endemic to this country.

DNA sequencing reveals higher taxonomic diversity of coralline algae (Corallinales and Hapalidiales, Rhodophyta) in the tropical western North Atlantic that complicates ecological studies

Abstract Understanding of non-geniculate coralline algal (NGCA) diversity, prevalence, and distribution in the tropical western North Atlantic is currently limited by reliance on morphological and anatomical features that are inadequate for species identifications. Reef surveys from two study sites, the Florida Keys (Florida, USA) and Roatán (Honduras), provided prevalence data for the main benthic organisms as well as relative abundance for NGCA genera. NGCA collected during these surveys and from additional sites and depths were identified using DNA sequences from two plastid genes, psbA and rbcL, and two nuclear genes, SSU and LSU, and supported by morphological and anatomical descriptions. Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyses, along with species delimitation and genetic distance methods, resolved 11 genera within two orders. Within the Corallinales, the genera Dawsoniolithon, Porolithon and Spongites each had one species, Harveylithon and Lithophyllum had two, Titanoderma three, Hydrolithon four, Neogoniolithon eight, and an unknown genus within the subfamily Neogoniolithoideae had 11 putative species. Within the Hapalidiales, the genera Phymatolithon and Roseolithon each had one species. This study reinforces the inability of morphological and anatomical features to distinguish NGCA species in the tropical western North Atlantic, resulting in substantial underestimations of species richness and diversity.

Unraveling Community Potential Interactions by Environmental DNA in the Hong Kong Coastal Waters

ABSTRACTTraditional approaches for studying potential interactions in marine ecosystems often struggle to fully capture all taxa in a community, especially rare species. This issue is particularly challenging in coastal waters with high biodiversity and spatiotemporal dynamics. In this study, we employed environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, utilizing multiple marker genes, to comprehensively investigate interspecific interactions across various domains in the subtropical coastal waters of Hong Kong. The southern and eastern regions of Hong Kong waters exhibit distinct environmental seasonality, and our investigation focused on comparing the potential interaction networks and the keystone taxa between these two regions. The putative species interaction networks across various groups (i.e., bacteria, protists, and metazoans) were revealed by using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). Our results showed that primary consumers, mainly dinoflagellates and ciliates, were the dominant actors within the interaction networks, although their distributions varied between the two regions. Bacterial taxa from the Pseudomonadota groups primarily constituted saprobes in the southern region, while exhibiting an even distribution in the eastern region. The interaction network in the southern region was larger but less stable compared to the eastern region. This could be attributed to the stronger responses of keystone taxa to environmental variations and the relatively higher number of connectors (e.g., Akashiwo and Protoperidinium within Dinophyceae) in the eastern region. Our findings highlight the versatility of eDNA metabarcoding for studying potential species interactions, providing critical insights into ecosystem structure and stability, and offering suggestions for marine biodiversity conservation.

Diving deeper into the taxonomy of the Neoscopelus species complex (Myctophiformes: Neoscopelidae) with the description of Neoscopelus serranoi sp. nov.

Previous studies have highlighted possible cryptic biodiversity in the genus Neoscopelus. This hypothesis was tested using new morphological, molecular and biogeographical data on species of this genus caught in the north Atlantic between 2010 and 2022. The information obtained has been combined with available data in an integrative approach, including a review of morphological characters reported in the ichthyological literature and DNA-based species delimitation analyses. The main outcome of the present study is the description of Neoscopelus serranoi sp. nov. from the Atlantic and southwestern Indian Oceans. The new species is morphologically very similar to Neoscopelus microchir from which differs in having a shorter anal-fin base, a shorter pelvic fin, more dorsal and pectoral-fin rays, less anal-fin rays, fewer gillrakers and fewer isthmus and lateral photophores. They also differ in geographic distribution, with the new species occurring in the Atlantic Ocean and the near southwestern Indian Ocean, whereas N. microchir was originally described from Japanese waters of the Pacific Ocean. A literature review of available morphological data between geographic areas for Neoscopelus macrolepidotus and Neoscopelus microchir showed a large intraspecific overlap and no boundaries. However, molecular species delimitation based on the mitochondrial COI gene revealed the existence of cryptic diversity in both species, with eight to ten molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTU), compared to three valid species. Neoscopelus serranoi sp. nov. was considered an independent MOTU in all analyses performed, supporting the morphological identification as a new species. These results highlight that the taxonomy of Neoscopelus is far from settled and show that a greater sampling effort is needed to resolve the uncertainties and to describe unknown putative species. This also exemplifies the virtues of integrative taxonomy in delving into the systematics of deep-sea fishes.

Comparative genomic analysis of two putative novel Idiomarina species from hypersaline miocene deposits

BackgroundHypersaline habitats, as extreme environments, are a great source of well-adapted organisms with unique properties as they have evolved various strategies to cope with these extreme conditions. Bioinformatics and genomic mining may shed light on evolutionary relationships among them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the biodiversity and especially the strategies evolved within the Idiomarina genus, with the primary focus on the taxonomy and genomic adaptations of two novel strains affiliated with Idiomarina genus isolated from unique environment – brines of two Early Miocene salt deposits.ResultsBoth analyzed species belonged to the Idiomarina loihiensis cluster with similarity levels of 16S rRNA gene sequences as high as 99.5% and showed a significant genome size reduction, known characteristic of Idiomarina genomes, though within the genome of Sol25 strain the lowest extent of the carbohydrate utilization genes reduction was observed t among the Idiomarina species. Moreover, the comparative genome analyses indicated that despite both strains being isolated from geographically and geologically similar environments (brines from at least 12 Ma), the species showed higher relatedness to other Idiomarina species than to each other.ConclusionThe present findings highlighted the importance of genomic data in resolving taxonomic uncertainties and understanding of adaptation strategies of extremophiles. Geographic isolation likely contributed to population divergence of the Idiomarina genus, and the recent study offered insights into biogeographic patterns and allopatric speciation of this bacterial group.

High frequency of ambophily in a Brazilian campos de altitude.

Ambophily, an intriguing pollination system in which plant species present adaptations to both biotic and abiotic pollination, has been scarcely reported. Most studies have been conducted with a single or few related species from wind-pollinated genera. We here assess for the first time the frequency of ambophily at the community-level. We evaluated pollen carried by wind in 63 animal-pollinated species from a Brazilian campos de altitude. For those with pollen carried by wind, we evaluated the contribution of wind and animals to seed production with controlled pollination experiments, as well as floral traits and floral visitor assemblages. Pollen of 23 species were carried by wind (~37%). Animals and wind contributed to the reproduction of seven species (~11%), including one pollinated by hummingbirds, large bees and wind. These seven ambophilous species presented unrestrictive floral morphologies and generalist pollination. We found a high frequency of ambophily in a single community (11%), which represented an increment of ~5% of species relative to all ambophilous species reported in the literature so far. Investigating pollen transport by wind in zoophilous species combined with controlled experiments helped detect ambophily in species that are usually ignored in wind-pollination studies. Our results showed that putative zoophilous species may actually be ambophilous, suggesting that the selective pressures towards ambophily also occur in zoophilous lineages.

Influence of Potentially Toxic Elements and Physio-Chemical Parameters of Industrially Contaminated Soil on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity in BBN Corridor, Himachal Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an essential role in plant growth and have great potential to enhance plant tolerance under polluted and toxic conditions. This study deals with a survey of five contaminated sites of the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh (BBN) industrial corridor/hub to investigate the morpho-diversity of endotrophic AM fungi associated with native plants. The high contamination factor of Cd and Fe in different study sites revealed a high intensity of contamination, indicating that the sites were significantly polluted with Cd and Fe. Results showed that AM symbioses were successfully established in the roots of native plants, highlighting their role in mitigating the harmful effects of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through bioremediation. A total of 50 AMF morphotypes across 9 genera (Acaulospora, Entrophospora, Ambispora, Diversispora, Gigaspora, Scutellospora, Glomus, Rhizophagus, and Sclerocystis) were identified, with Glomeraceae being the most abundant (46%), followed by Acaulosporaceae (39%) and others contributing less (15%). The study also indicated that the hyphal and vesicular infections were prominent than arbuscular infections in roots. This is the first report on the diversity of native and putative AMF species associated with plants in the BBN industrial corridor, suggesting that these fungi could be cultured for further use as a sustainable organic approach in agriculture and rehabilitation practices in polluted areas.

In-depth characterization of food and environmental microbiomes across different meat processing plants

BackgroundProcessing environments can be an important source of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms that cross contaminate meat and meat products. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbiome of raw materials, processing environments and end products from 19 facilities producing different meat products.ResultsThe taxonomic profiles of the microbial communities evolved along processing, from raw materials to end products, suggesting that food contact (FC) surfaces play an important role in modulating the microbiome of final products. Some species persisted with the highest relative abundance in raw materials, food processing environments and/or in the final product, including species from the genera Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Brochothrix, Acinetobacter and Psychrobacter. Processing environments showed a very diverse core microbiota, partially shared with the products. Pseudomonas fragi and Pseudomonas sp. Lz4W (in all sample and facility types) and Brochothrix thermosphacta, Psychrobacter sp. and Psychrobacter sp. P11F6 (in raw materials, FC surfaces and end products) were prominent members of the core microbiota for all facilities, while Latilactobacillus sakei was found as a dominant species exclusively in end products from the facilities producing fermented sausages. Processing environments showed a higher amount of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors than raw materials and end products. One thousand four hundred twenty-one medium/high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed. Of these, 274 high-quality MAGs (completeness > 90%) corresponded to 210 putative new species, mostly found in processing environments. For two relevant taxa in meat curing and fermentation processes (S. equorum and L. sakei, respectively), phylogenetic variation was observed associated with the specific processing facility under study, which suggests that specific strains of these taxa may be selected in different meat processing plants, likely contributing to the peculiar sensorial traits of the end products produced in them.ConclusionsOverall, our findings provide the most detailed metagenomics-based perspective up to now of the microbes that thrive in meat, meat products and associated environments and open avenues for future research activities to better understand the microbiome functionality and potential contribution to meat quality and safety.BW5-yJYgBWXLb4-yN7W47nVideo

Discovery and synthesis of leaderless bacteriocins from the Actinomycetota.

Leaderless bacteriocins are a unique class of bacteriocins that possess antimicrobial activity after translation and have few cases of documented resistance. Aureocin A53 and lacticin Q are considered two of the most well-studied leaderless bacteriocins. Here, we used in silico genome mining to search for novel aureocin A53-like leaderless bacteriocins in GenBank and MGnify. We identified 757 core peptides across 430 genomes with 75 species found currently without characterized leaderless bacteriocin production. These include putative novel species containing bacteriocin gene clusters (BGCs) from the genera Streptomyces (sp. NBC_00237) and Agrococcus (sp. SL85). To date, all characterized leaderless bacteriocins have been found within the phylum Bacillota, but this study identified 97 core peptides within the phylum Actinomycetota. Members of this phylum are traditionally associated with the production of antibiotics, such is the case with the genus Streptomyces. Actinomycetota is an underexplored phylum in terms of bacteriocin production with no characterized leaderless bacteriocin production to date. The two novel leaderless bacteriocins arcanocin and arachnicin from Actinomycetota members Arcanobacterium sp. and Arachnia sp., respectively, were chemically synthesized and antimicrobial activity was verified. These peptides were encoded in human gut (PRJNA485056) and oral (PRJEB43277) microbiomes, respectively. This research highlights the biosynthetic potential of Actinomycetota in terms of leaderless bacteriocin production and describes the first antimicrobial peptides encoded in the genera Arcanobacterium and Arachnia.IMPORTANCEBacteriocins are gathering attention as alternatives to current antibiotics given the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance. Leaderless bacteriocins are considered a commercially attractive subclass of bacteriocins due to the ability to synthesize active peptide and low levels of documented resistance. Therefore, in this work, we mined publicly available data to determine how widespread and diverse leaderless bacteriocins are within the domain of bacteria. Actinomycetota, known for its antibiotic producers but lacking described and characterized bacteriocins, proved to be a rich source of leaderless bacteriocins-97 in total. Two such peptides, arcanocin and arachnicin, were chemically synthesized and have antimicrobial activity. These bacteriocins may provide a novel source of novel antimicrobials that could aid in the development of future alternative antimicrobials and highlight that the Actinomycetota are an underexplored resource of bacteriocin peptides.

Unexpected diversity and novel lineages in the cosmopolitan genus Nanomia (Cnidaria: Siphonophorae: Physonectae)

Integrated use of molecular and morphological methods reveals unexpected diversity in the cosmopolitan siphonophore genus Nanomia. Species delimitation analyses based on COI and 16S sequences suggest up to three distinct lineages in addition to the previously accepted Nanomia bijuga (Delle Chiaje, 1844) and N. cara A. Agassiz, 1865. Here, we describe the North Pacific Nanomia septata sp. n., previously confused with both N. cara and N. bijuga, and provide improved morphological characters for the identification of these three Nanomia species. Phylogenetic analyses suggest two additional, hitherto undescribed clades from Japanese and Chinese waters, respectively, but the lack of morphological material prevents describing these putative species. The geographic distribution of molecularly and/or morphologically verified observations confirm a warm circumglobal distribution for N. bijuga and a boreal North Atlantic distribution for N. cara. Interestingly, four distinct lineages occur in the North Pacific, sometimes in close proximity. These contrasting patterns of distribution raise questions about pelagic speciation processes.Nanomia septata sp. n.: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DAF15EA3-AFEA-4AE8-984F-BDFBCFE7E514urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:478049FC-F672-4D34-ABAE-CF4345EC64D7

Karyotype's Rearrangement in Some Hybrids of the Orchidinae Subtribe.

Based on our karyological findings in the Anacamptis Rich., Ophrys L., and Serapias L. genera, we have identified chromosomal markers within some hybrids and elucidated their interrelationships. Mitotic chromosomes of fifteen taxa were analyzed using the conventional Feulgen staining method. Only for Anacamptis ×gennarii (Rchb. f.) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & Dietr. [A. morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase × A. papilionacea (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase] and its parental species were some data obtained and reported with the banding method with Giemsa, Hoechst 33258 fluorochrome, and the FISH techniques. Our research involved new chromosomal measurements of fifteen taxa, including six hybrids, along with schematic representations. Morphometric parameters, i.e., MCA and CVCL, were used to evaluate karyotype asymmetry. Of meaning were the analyses performed on chromosomal complements of selected hybrids, which distinctly revealed marker chromosomes present in one or both putative parental species. Among the parents identified in some hybrids, Ophrys tenthredinifera Willd. has shown some interest due to the presence in its karyotype of a pair of chromosomes (n.1) showing a notable secondary constriction on the long arm. Indeed, one of the homologs is clearly distinguishable in the analyzed hybrids, where it clearly emerges as one of the putative parents. Given the challenges in detecting certain karyomorphological features within the Orchidinae subtribe using alternative methods, such as Giemsa C-banding or fluorescence banding, the Feulgen method remains valuable for cytogenetic characterization. It helps us to understand the genomes of hybrids and parental species, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of their genetic composition.

An integrated analysis of the Passifloraceae virome using public-domain data.

Passifloraceae is a plant family that includes several species of interest in the food, medicinal, and ornamental industries. The most relevant species are the purple and yellow varieties of P. edulis, which are among the most highly prized tropical fruits in the international markets. Unfortunately, the rapid expansion of this crop worldwide has resulted in the emergence of several viral diseases that endangered the productivity of this crop. In this work, we performed an integrated analysis of the Passifloraceae virome using public data. We investigated Pubmed and Genbank records and analyzed all the transcriptome data available for members of this plant family. This analysis resulted in the identification of six novel virus associations and six putative new viral species. We also used RNAseq to inspect virus accumulation levels and mixed infections. Using network analysis, we also examined the global distribution of Passiflora viruses and their associations with alternative hosts, which is valuable information in implementing viral disease management strategies. Our data suggest that a large diversity of viruses remains to be discovered. Finally, we used the information gathered in this work to estimate the cross-transmission risk of viruses in Colombian Passiflora fields.

Using serosurveys to optimize surveillance for zoonotic pathogens.

Zoonotic pathogens pose a significant risk to human health, with spillover into human populations contributing to chronic disease, sporadic epidemics, and occasional pandemics. Despite the widely recognized burden of zoonotic spillover, our ability to identify which animal populations serve as primary reservoirs for these pathogens remains incomplete. This challenge is compounded when prevalence reaches detectable levels only at specific times of year. In these cases, statistical models designed to predict the timing of peak prevalence could guide field sampling for active infections. Thus, we develop a general model that leverages routinely collected serosurveillance data to optimize sampling for elusive pathogens by predicting time windows of peak prevalence. Using simulated data sets, we show that our methodology reliably identifies times when pathogen prevalence is expected to peak. Then, we demonstrate an implementation of our method using publicly available data from two putative Ebolavirus reservoirs, straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) and hammer-headed bats (Hypsignathus monstrosus). We envision our method being used to guide the planning of field sampling to maximize the probability of detecting active infections, and in cases when longitudinal data is available, our method can also yield predictions for the times of year that are most likely to produce future spillover events. The generality and simplicity of our methodology make it broadly applicable to a wide range of putative reservoir species where seasonal patterns of birth lead to predictable, but potentially short-lived, pulses of pathogen prevalence.

Cryptic Diversity of Mediterranean Neogoniolithon (Corallinales, Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta)

ABSTRACTNeogoniolithon is a widespread genus of non‐geniculate coralline algae in the Mediterranean Sea. Three vaguely differentiated species have been reported in the region. This study examined the diversity of Neogoniolithon in the Mediterranean by inferring phylogenies using psbA and COI‐5P markers, applying delimitation algorithms and comparing morpho‐anatomies of putative species. In contrast to previous reports, 13 species were delimited from the Mediterranean in two distant clades. Initial observations suggested that tetrasporangial conceptacle size might be used to separate the two clades. Only three species showed fruticose morphologies. Further morpho‐anatomical differentiation was difficult. One species included Mediterranean, Pacific and Atlantic samples, while three other species occurred in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. The global tree revealed that most species were geographically restricted. Crypticity in multiple lineages implied a much higher diversity than currently reported, even lacking samples from the eastern Mediterranean. Only sequence data can be used to identify these cryptic lineages. High endemism emphasizes the importance of conservation of coralline algal bioconstructions to prevent extinctions. The presence of cryptic diversity also invites a reassessment of the knowledge on species distributions that are important in conservation planning and management.