scholarly journals Bioadhesion in ascidians: a developmental and functional genomics perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 20140061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Pennati ◽  
Ute Rothbächer
Keyword(s):  
Functional Genomics ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Adhesive Properties ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Fouling Organism ◽  
Adhesive Organs

The development of bioadhesives inspired from marine animals is a promising approach to generate new tissue-compatible medical components. A number of marine species, through their adhesive properties, also represent significant foulers that become increasingly problematic to aquaculture, shipping or local biodiversity. In order to develop more sophisticated man-made glues and/or efficient fouling resistant surfaces, it is important to understand the mechanical, structural and molecular properties of adhesive organs in selected species. Ascidians are marine invertebrates with larvae that opportunistically attach to almost any type of submerged surface to undergo metamorphosis into permanently sessile adults. Not only do they represent a globally important fouling organism, but they are becoming increasingly popular as model organisms for developmental biology. The latter is due to their phylogenetic position as the sister group to the vertebrates and their cellular and molecular accessibility for experimentation. In this paper, we review the mechanisms of larval adhesion in ascidians and draw conclusions from comparative analyses of selected species. We further discuss how knowledge from a developmental and functional genomics point of view can advance our understanding of cellular and molecular signatures and their hierarchical usage in animal adhesive organs.

scholarly journals Sulfated and sialylated N-glycans in the echinoderm Holothuria atra reflect its marine habitat and phylogeny

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (10) ◽  
pp. 3159-3172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorick Vanbeselaere ◽  
Chunsheng Jin ◽  
Barbara Eckmair ◽  
Iain B. H. Wilson ◽  
Katharina Paschinger
Keyword(s):  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Marine Habitat ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sialyl Lewis A ◽  
Holothuria Atra ◽  
High Degree

Among the earliest deuterostomes, the echinoderms are an evolutionary important group of ancient marine animals. Within this phylum, the holothuroids (sea cucumbers) are known to produce a wide range of glycoconjugate biopolymers with apparent benefits to health; therefore, they are of economic and culinary interest throughout the world. Other than their highly modified glycosaminoglycans (e.g. fucosylated chondroitin sulfate and fucoidan), nothing is known about their protein-linked glycosylation. Here we used multistep N-glycan fractionation to efficiently separate anionic and neutral N-glycans before analyzing the N-glycans of the black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) by MS in combination with enzymatic and chemical treatments. These analyses showed the presence of various fucosylated, phosphorylated, sialylated, and multiply sulfated moieties as modifications of oligomannosidic, hybrid, and complex-type N-glycans. The high degree of sulfation and fucosylation parallels the modifications observed previously on holothuroid glycosaminoglycans. Compatible with its phylogenetic position, H. atra not only expresses vertebrate motifs such as sulfo– and sialyl–Lewis A epitopes but displays a high degree of anionic substitution of its glycans, as observed in other marine invertebrates. Thus, as for other echinoderms, the phylum- and order-specific aspects of this species' N-glycosylation reveal both invertebrate- and vertebrate-like features.

scholarly journals An Efficient Low-Cost Laboratory Workflow for the Study of Blood Cells and RNA Extractions in Marine Invertebrates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Gutierrez
Keyword(s):  
Blood Cells ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Marine Animals ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Laboratory Workflow

Marine invertebrates are model organisms in several areas of biological sciences, being a source of massive biological information. Although, the scientific relevance of marine invertebrates, the research with them can be limited for their tissue characteristics and troubles for the replication of physical and chemical properties of seawater. Thence, the main goal of this laboratory workflow is to provide a useful methodological approach to reduce the experimental limitations during the study of marine invertebrates. The present study describes experimental methodologies for the collection, transport, and maintenance of sessile tunicates. Also, an approach to observe and characterize, a diverse population of blood cells in marine invertebrates, by several cytological stains and electron microscopy. Lastly, suggestions and protocols to extract quality RNA from samples with high concentrations of salts, pigments, secondary metabolites, and polysaccharides. This methodological approach can be easily adapted to other marine invertebrates, moreover uses low-cost reagents and widely available laboratory equipment. Making possible the study of different types of marine animals in diverse locations.

scholarly journals Evolution of eumetazoan nervous systems: insights from cnidarians

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1684) ◽  
pp. 20150065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iva Kelava ◽  
Fabian Rentzsch ◽  
Ulrich Technau
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
System Development ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Genetic Network ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Nervous Systems ◽  
Genetic Interference ◽  
Developmental Programme

Cnidarians, the sister group to bilaterians, have a simple diffuse nervous system. This morphological simplicity and their phylogenetic position make them a crucial group in the study of the evolution of the nervous system. The development of their nervous systems is of particular interest, as by uncovering the genetic programme that underlies it, and comparing it with the bilaterian developmental programme, it is possible to make assumptions about the genes and processes involved in the development of ancestral nervous systems. Recent advances in sequencing methods, genetic interference techniques and transgenic technology have enabled us to get a first glimpse into the molecular network underlying the development of a cnidarian nervous system—in particular the nervous system of the anthozoan Nematostella vectensis . It appears that much of the genetic network of the nervous system development is partly conserved between cnidarians and bilaterians, with Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling, and Sox genes playing a crucial part in the differentiation of neurons. However, cnidarians possess some specific characteristics, and further studies are necessary to elucidate the full regulatory network. The work on cnidarian neurogenesis further accentuates the need to study non-model organisms in order to gain insights into processes that shaped present-day lineages during the course of evolution.

scholarly journals Effects of Glyphosate-Based and Derived Products on Sea Urchin Larval Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 661
Author(s):  
Davide Asnicar ◽  
Costanza Cappelli ◽  
Ahmad Safuan Sallehuddin ◽  
Nur Atiqah Maznan ◽  
Maria Gabriella Marin
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Parent Compound ◽  
Paracentrotus Lividus ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Aminomethylphosphonic Acid ◽  
Main Degradation Product ◽  
Herbicide Glyphosate

Despite the widespread use of herbicide glyphosate in cultivation, its extensive runoff into rivers and to coastal areas, and the persistence of this chemical and its main degradation product (aminomethylphosphonic acid, AMPA) in the environment, there is still little information on the potential negative effects of glyphosate, its commercial formulation Roundup® and AMPA on marine species. This study was conducted with the aim of providing a comparative evaluation of the effects of glyphosate-based and its derived chemicals on the larval development of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, thus providing new data to describe the potential ecotoxicity of these contaminants. In particular, the effects on larval development, growth and metabolism were assessed during 48 h of exposure from the time of egg fertilization. The results confirm that AMPA and its parent compound, glyphosate have similar toxicity, as observed in other marine invertebrates. However, interestingly, the Roundup® formulation seemed to be less toxic than the glyphosate alone.

The postcranial skeleton, phylogenetic position, and probable lifestyle of the Early Triassic reptile Procolophon trigoniceps

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 527-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael deBraga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Morphological Study ◽  
Lower Triassic ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Sister Group Relationship ◽  
Early Triassic ◽  
Postcranial Skeleton ◽  
Sister Clade ◽  
Key Innovations

A morphological study of the postcranial skeleton of Procolophon trigoniceps from the Lower Triassic of South Africa and Antarctica is undertaken. Procolophon shares a sister-group relationship with the procolophonid Tichvinskia from the Lower Triassic of Russia and is a basal member of Procolophonidae. This clade also includes the enigmatic taxon Sclerosaurus, believed most recently to be a pareiasaur relative. Owenettids form a separate lineage from Procolophonidae and are predominantly restricted to the Permian of both South Africa and Madagascar. A phylogenetically based assessment is considered, in which specialized modern taxa (sand lizards) are compared to their nonfossorial sister clade, allowing for "key innovations" to be identified. A similar comparison between owenettids and procolophonids reveals a number of apparent "key innovations" within procolophonids that are suggestive of a burrowing lifestyle for Procolophon.

scholarly journals Functional genomics and proteomics of the cellular osmotic stress response in `non-model' organisms

2007 ◽  
Vol 210 (9) ◽  
pp. 1593-1601 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Kultz ◽  
D. Fiol ◽  
N. Valkova ◽  
S. Gomez-Jimenez ◽  
S. Y. Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Osmotic Stress ◽  
Functional Genomics ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Genomics And Proteomics ◽  
Osmotic Stress Response

Improved resolution of recalcitrant nodes in the animal phylogeny through the analysis of genome gene content and morphology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ksenia Juravel ◽  
Luis Porras ◽  
Sebastian Hoehna ◽  
Davide Pisani ◽  
Gert Wörheide
Keyword(s):  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
The Other ◽  
Gene Content ◽  
Statistical Hypothesis ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Statistical Hypothesis Testing ◽  
Animal Phylogeny ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypotheses

An accurate phylogeny of animals is needed to clarify their evolution, ecology, and impact on shaping the biosphere. Although multi-gene alignments of up to several hundred thousand amino acids are nowadays routinely used to test hypotheses of animal relationships, some nodes towards the root of the animal phylogeny are proving hard to resolve. While the relationships of the non-bilaterian lineages, primarily sponges (Porifera) and comb jellies (Ctenophora), have received much attention since more than a decade, controversies about the phylogenetic position of the worm-like bilaterian lineage Xenacoelomorpha and the monophyly of the "Superphylum" Deuterostomia have more recently emerged. Here we independently analyse novel genome gene content and morphological datasets to assess patterns of phylogenetic congruence with previous amino-acid derived phylogenetic hypotheses. Using statistical hypothesis testing, we show that both our datasets very strongly support sponges as the sister group of all the other animals, Xenoacoelomorpha as the sister group of the other Bilateria, and largely support monophyletic Deuterostomia. Based on these results, we conclude that the last common animal ancestor may have been a simple, filter-feeding organism without a nervous system and muscles, while the last common ancestor of Bilateria might have been a small, acoelomate-like worm without a through gut.

No longer endemic to Africa: Kribiodosis Kieffer, 1921 (Diptera, Chironomidae) new to Oriental China with a phylogeny and expanded adult generic diagnoses

Zootaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5072 (6) ◽  
pp. 560-574
Author(s):  
WU HAN ◽  
JIE LIU ◽  
YIFAN LUO ◽  
HONGQU TANG
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Dna Barcode ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Generic Diagnosis ◽  
Likelihood Methods ◽  
Core Member ◽  
Maximum Likelihood Methods ◽  
African Genus

Kribiodosis Kieffer, 1921, an African genus of Chironomini (Diptera: Chironomidae), is newly recorded from the Oriental region through a new species K. cantonensis sp. n. Detailed descriptions of the male, female and a DNA barcode are provided. With the inclusion of the new species bearing scutal tubercle and fused tibial comb, the generic diagnosis needs revision and expansion. The phylogenetic position of Kribiodosis within the tribe Chironomini is explored based on five concatenated genetic makers (18S, 28S, CAD1, CAD4 and COI-3P) using both mixed-model Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. Kribiodosis is placed as a core member of the Microtendipes group but its precise sister group remains unclear. Inclusion of the analysis of Nilodosis Kieffer, another Chironomini genus with an African-Oriental distribution, reveals an unexpected robust position as sister to a large and diverse inclusive group of many Chironomini.  

scholarly journals “Candidatus Bacilloplasma,” a Novel Lineage of Mollicutes Associated with the Hindgut Wall of the Terrestrial Isopod Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda)

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (17) ◽  
pp. 5566-5573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rok Kostanjšek ◽  
Jasna Štrus ◽  
Gorazd Avguštin
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Mycoplasma Hominis ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Porcellio Scaber ◽  
Terrestrial Isopod ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
A Cell

ABSTRACT Pointed, rod-shaped bacteria colonizing the cuticular surface of the hindgut of the terrestrial isopod crustacean Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda) were investigated by comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and electron microscopy. The results of phylogenetic analysis, and the absence of a cell wall, affiliated these bacteria with the class Mollicutes, within which they represent a novel and deeply branched lineage, sharing less than 82.6% sequence similarity to known Mollicutes. The lineage has been positioned as a sister group to the clade comprising the Spiroplasma group, the Mycoplasma pneumoniae group, and the Mycoplasma hominis group. The specific signature sequence was identified and used as a probe in in situ hybridization, which confirmed that the retrieved sequences originate from the attached rod-shaped bacteria from the hindgut of P. scaber and made it possible to detect these bacteria in their natural environment. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed a spherically shaped structure at the tapered end of the rod-shaped bacteria, enabling their specific and exclusive attachment to the tip of the cuticular spines on the inner surface of the gut. Specific adaptation to the gut environment, as well as phylogenetic positioning, indicate the long-term association and probable coevolution of the bacteria and the host. Taking into account their pointed, rod-shaped morphology and their phylogenetic position, the name “Candidatus Bacilloplasma” has been proposed for this new lineage of bacteria specifically associated with the gut surface of P. scaber.

Corrigendum to: Cladistic analysis and revision of Piestus Gravenhorst with remarks on related genera (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae : Piestinae)

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Edilson Caron ◽  
Cibele S. Ribeiro-Costa ◽  
Alfred F. Newton
Keyword(s):  
Cladistic Analysis ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Valid Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Neotropical Forests ◽  
Rove Beetles ◽  
New Synonyms ◽  
Branch Support

Rove beetles of the genus Piestus Gravenhorst, 1806 are commonly captured under the bark of or inside decaying logs from Neotropical forests. Piestus belongs to the subfamily Piestinae, historically an ill-defined dumping-ground for Staphylinidae defined by plesiomorphic characters, but which has gradually been restricted in concept and currently includes only six additional extant genera worldwide. Piestinae in this restricted sense has been considered a probably monophyletic subfamily, but its status and phylogenetic position, as a possible sister-group of Osoriinae within the recently proposed Oxyteline group of staphylinid subfamilies, are uncertain and need confirmation. The main aim of the present study was to provide a morphological cladistic analysis and complete taxonomic revision of Piestus, which, as the type and most speciose genus of Piestinae, is critical for future phylogenetic studies involving the subfamily. In our study, the monophyly of Piestus is established and phylogenetic relationships among its species are proposed based on 70 adult morphological characters. Piestus is supported by 11 synapomorphies and high branch support. All species of Piestus are revised and the genus is redefined. The genus contains 43 species, including 13 species described here for the first time. The previously proposed subgenera Antropiestus Bernhauer, 1917, Eccoptopiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952, Elytropiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952, Lissopiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952, Piestus s. str., Trachypiestus Scheerpeltz, 1952 and Zirophorus Dalman, 1821 have not been confirmed, as they were found to be poly- or paraphyletic, or are here removed from Piestus, and therefore subgenera are not used. The main taxonomic changes are as follows. Lissopiestus, syn. nov. is proposed as new synonym of Eleusis Laporte, 1835 and its species, E. interrupta (Erichson, 1840), comb. rest., is transferred again to that genus. Antropiestus, syn. nov. and Eccoptopiestus, syn. nov. are proposed as new synonyms of Hypotelus Erichson, 1839 and their species, H. laevis (Solsky, 1872), comb. nov. and H. andinus (Bernhauer, 1917), comb. nov., are transferred to Hypotelus. Fourteen new synonymies are proposed (valid species listed first): P. lacordairei Laporte, 1835 = Z. furcatus Sharp, 1887, syn. nov.; P. capricornis Laporte, 1835 = P. frontalis Sharp, 1876, syn. nov.; P. pennicornis Fauvel, 1864 = P. plagiatus Fauvel, 1864, syn. nov.; P. rectus Sharp, 1876, syn. nov.; P. pygialis Fauvel, 1902, syn. nov.; P. surinamensis Bernhauer, 1928, syn. nov.; P. minutus Erichson, 1840 = P. nigrator Fauvel, 1902, syn. nov.; P. sulcatus Gravenhorst, 1806 = P. sanctaecatharinae Bernhauer, 1906, syn. nov.; P. condei Wendeler, 1955, syn. nov.; P. gounellei Fauvel, 1902 = P. wasmanni Fauvel, 1902, syn. nov.; P. mexicanus Laporte, 1835 = P. alternans Sharp, 1887, syn. nov.; P. aper Sharp, 1876 = P. schadei Scheerpeltz, 1952, syn. nov.; P. angularis Fauvel, 1864 = P. crassicornis Sharp, 1887, syn. nov.; H. andinus (Bernhauer, 1917) = P. strigipennis Bernhauer, 1921, syn. nov. One species is revalidated: P. fronticornis (Dalman, 1821), stat. rev., and one synonym is restored: P. penicillatus (Dalman, 1821) = P. erythropus Erichson, 1840, syn. rest. Neotypes are designated for P. lacordairei Laporte, 1835 and Oxytelus bicornis Olivier, 1811, and lectotypes are designated for P. puncticollis Fauvel, 1902, P. capricornis variety muticus Fauvel, 1902, P. zischkai Scheerpeltz, 1951, P. pennicornis Fauvel, 1864, P. plagiatus Fauvel, 1864, P. pygmaeus Laporte, 1835, P. niger Fauvel 1864, P. minutus Erichson, 1840, P. nigratror Fauvel, 1902, P. sulcatus Gravenhorst, 1806, P. sanctaecatharinae Bernhauer, 1906, P. sulcipennis Scheerpeltz, 1952, P. aper Sharp, 1876, P. schadei Scheerpeltz, 1952 and P. andinus Bernhauer, 1917.

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