scholarly journals The genus Entomophthora: bringing the insect destroyers into the twenty-first century

IMA Fungus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Elya ◽  
Henrik H. De Fine Licht
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
First Century ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Hyphal Bodies ◽  
Globally Distributed ◽  
Host Death

AbstractThe fungal genus Entomophthora consists of highly host-specific pathogens that cause deadly epizootics in their various insect hosts. The most well-known among these is the “zombie fly” fungus E. muscae, which, like other Entomophthora species, elicits a series of dramatic behaviors in infected hosts to promote optimal spore dispersal. Despite having been first described more than 160 years ago, there are still many open questions about Entomophthora biology, including the molecular underpinnings of host behavior manipulation and host specificity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the biology of Entomophthora fungi and enumerates the most pressing outstanding questions that should be addressed in the field. We briefly review the discovery of Entomophthora and provide a summary of the 21 recognized Entomophthora species, including their type hosts, methods of transmission (ejection of spores after or before host death), and for which molecular data are available. Further, we argue that this genus is globally distributed, based on a compilation of Entomophthora records in the literature and in online naturalist databases, and likely to contain additional species. Evidence for strain-level specificity of hosts is summarized and directly compared to phylogenies of Entomophthora and the class Insecta. A detailed description of Entomophthora’s life-cycle and observed manipulated behaviors is provided and used to summarize a consensus for ideal growth conditions. We discuss evidence for Entomophthora’s adaptation to growth exclusively inside insects, such as producing wall-less hyphal bodies and a unique set of subtilisin-like proteases to penetrate the insect cuticle. However, we are only starting to understand the functions of unusual molecular and genomic characteristics, such as having large > 1 Gb genomes full of repetitive elements and potential functional diploidy. We argue that the high host-specificity and obligate life-style of most Entomophthora species provides ample scope for having been shaped by close coevolution with insects despite the current general lack of such evidence. Finally, we propose six major directions for future Entomophthora research and in doing so hope to provide a foundation for future studies of these fungi and their interaction with insects.

scholarly journals Diversity, distribution, and drivers of Polychromophilus infection in Malagasy bats

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercia Rasoanoro ◽  
Steven M. Goodman ◽  
Milijaona Randrianarivelojosia ◽  
Mbola Rakotondratsimba ◽  
Koussay Dellagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Additional Material ◽  
Maxent Modelling

Abstract Background Numerous studies have been undertaken to advance knowledge of apicomplexan parasites infecting vertebrates, including humans. Of these parasites, the genus Plasmodium has been most extensively studied because of the socio-economic and public health impacts of malaria. In non-human vertebrates, studies on malaria or malaria-like parasite groups have been conducted but information is far from complete. In Madagascar, recent studies on bat blood parasites indicate that three chiropteran families (Miniopteridae, Rhinonycteridae, and Vespertilionidae) are infected by the genus Polychromophilus with pronounced host specificity: Miniopterus spp. (Miniopteridae) harbour Polychromophilus melanipherus and Myotis goudoti (Vespertilionidae) is infected by Polychromophilus murinus. However, most of the individuals analysed in previous studies were sampled on the western and central portions of the island. The aims of this study are (1) to add new information on bat blood parasites in eastern Madagascar, and (2) to highlight biotic and abiotic variables driving prevalence across the island. Methods Fieldworks were undertaken from 2014 to 2016 in four sites in the eastern portion of Madagascar to capture bats and collect biological samples. Morphological and molecular techniques were used to identify the presence of haemosporidian parasites. Further, a MaxEnt modelling was undertaken using data from Polychromophilus melanipherus to identify variables influencing the presence of this parasite Results In total, 222 individual bats belonging to 17 species and seven families were analysed. Polychromophilus infections were identified in two families: Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae. Molecular data showed that Polychromophilus spp. parasitizing Malagasy bats form a monophyletic group composed of three distinct clades displaying marked host specificity. In addition to P. melanipherus and P. murinus, hosted by Miniopterus spp. and Myotis goudoti, respectively, a novel Polychromophilus lineage was identified from a single individual of Scotophilus robustus. Based on the present study and the literature, different biotic and abiotic factors are shown to influence Polychromophilus infection in bats, which are correlated based on MaxEnt modelling. Conclusions The present study improves current knowledge on Polychromophilus blood parasites infecting Malagasy bats and confirms the existence of a novel Polychromophilus lineage in Scotophilus bats. Additional studies are needed to obtain additional material of this novel lineage to resolve its taxonomic relationship with known members of the genus. Further, the transmission mode of Polychromophilus in bats as well as its potential effect on bat populations should be investigated to complement the results provided by MaxEnt modelling and eventually provide a comprehensive picture of the biology of host-parasite interactions.

Molecular phylogeny of Pemphiginae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) inferred from nuclear gene EF-1α sequences

2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 499-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.C. Zhang ◽  
G.X. Qiao
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Primary Host ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic

AbstractThree traditional tribes of Fordini, Pemphigini and Eriosomatini comprise Pemphiginae, and there are two subtribes in Fordini and Pemphigini, respectively. Most of the species in this subfamily live heteroecious holocyclic lives with distinct primary host specificity. The three tribes of Pemphigini (except Prociphilina), Eriosomatini and Fordini use three families of plants, Salicaceae (Populus), Ulmaceae (Ulums) and Anacardiaceae (Pistacia and Rhus), as primary hosts, respectively, and form galls on them. Therefore, the Pemphigids are well known as gall makers, and their galls can be divided into true galls and pseudo-galls in type. We performed the first molecular phylogenetic study of Pemphiginae based on molecular data (EF-1α sequences). Results show that Pemphiginae is probably not a monophylum, but the monophyly of Fordini is supported robustly. The monophyly of Pemphigini is not supported, and two subtribes in it, Pemphigina and Prociphilina, are suggested to be raised to tribal level, equal with Fordini and Eriosomatini. The molecular phylogenetic analysis does not show definite relationships among the four tribes of Pemphiginae, as in the previous phylogenetic study based on morphology. It seems that the four tribes radiated at nearly the same time and then evolved independently. Based on this, we can speculate that galls originated independently four times in the four tribes, and there is no evidence to support that true galls are preceded by pseudo-galls, as in the case of thrips and willow sawflies.

scholarly journals Biometric Systems De-Identification: Current Advancements and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 470-495
Author(s):  
Md Shopon ◽  
Sanjida Nasreen Tumpa ◽  
Yajurv Bhatia ◽  
K. N. Pavan Kumar ◽  
Marina L. Gavrilova
Keyword(s):  
Information Security ◽  
System Development ◽  
User Profile ◽  
Information Privacy ◽  
Biometric System ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Behavioral Biometrics ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Biometric Systems

Biometric de-identification is an emerging topic of research within the information security domain that integrates privacy considerations with biometric system development. A comprehensive overview of research in the context of authentication applications spanning physiological, behavioral, and social-behavioral biometric systems and their privacy considerations is discussed. Three categories of biometric de-identification are introduced, namely complete de-identification, auxiliary biometric preserving de-identification, and traditional biometric preserving de-identification. An overview of biometric de-identification in emerging domains such as sensor-based biometrics, social behavioral biometrics, psychological user profile identification, and aesthetic-based biometrics is presented. The article concludes with open questions and provides a rich avenue for subsequent explorations of biometric de-identification in the context of information privacy.

A new species of Omolicna (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea: Derbidae) from coconut palm in Costa Rica and new country records for Omolicna brunnea and Omolicna triata

Zootaxa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4577 (3) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN W. BAHDER ◽  
CHARLES R. BARTLETT ◽  
EDWIN A. BARRANTES BARRANTES ◽  
MARCO A. ZUMBADO ECHAVARRIA ◽  
ALESSANDRA R. HUMPHRIES ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Cocos Nucifera ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
New Taxon ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
New Subgenus ◽  
A New Species

An ongoing survey for novel phytoplasmas and viruses that affect palms (Arecaceae) is being conducted in Costa Rica along with potential vectors. During that survey, a new species of derbid planthopper (Hemiptera: Fulgoroidea) in the genus Omolicna Fennah was detected from Heredia and Limón State and is here described as Omolicna xavieri sp. n. This new taxon was first found on declining coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) and subsequently on healthy coconut palms in Tortuguero National Park. Also, two additional species of Omolicna, O. brunnea and O. triata, were collected on coconut in the same habitat and represent new country records. There are no previously published records of Omolicna from Costa Rica. Sequence data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the 18S ribosomal RNA gene were obtained. In addition, novel 18S primers specific to auchenorrhynchan insects were developed and presented. The molecular data show high pairwise distances between O. xavieri sp. n. and other Omolicna species (24% to 31% and 10% using COI and 18S, respectively). Based on both morphological and sequence data, we erect and briefly describe the new subgenus Agoo for the new species to reflect the observed differences. A checklist of Omolicna species is presented. 

scholarly journals Host specificity and phylogenetic relationships among Atlantic Ovulidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

2010 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bastian T. Reijnen ◽  
Bert W. Hoeksema ◽  
Edmund Gittenberger
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Dna Markers ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Comparable Data ◽  
Netherlands Antilles ◽  
East Pacific ◽  
Cyphoma Gibbosum ◽  
Pacific Species

Ovulid gastropods and their octocoral hosts were collected along the leeward coast of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. New molecular data of Caribbean and a single Atlantic species were combined with comparable data of Indo-Pacific Ovulidae and a single East-Pacific species from GenBank. Based on two DNA markers, viz. CO-I and 16S, the phylogenetic relationships among all ovulid species of which these data are available are reconstructed. The provisional results suggest a dichotomy between the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific taxa. Fully grown Simnialena uniplicata closely resembles juvenile Cyphoma gibbosum conchologically. Cymbovula acicularis and C. bahamaensis might be synonyms. The assignments of Caribbean host species for Cyphoma gibbosum, C. signatum, Cymbovula acicularis and Simnialena uniplicata are revised.

scholarly journals Highlights in Seagrasses’ Phylogeny, Physiology, and Metabolism: What Makes Them Special?

ISRN Botany ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jutta Papenbrock
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Data ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Physiological Adaptations ◽  
Paraphyletic Group ◽  
Points Of View ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

The marine seagrasses form an ecological and therefore paraphyletic group of marine hydrophilus angiosperms which evolved three to four times from land plants towards an aquatic and marine existence. Their taxonomy is not yet solved on the species level and below due to their reduced morphology. So far also molecular data did not completely solve the phylogenetic relationships. Thus, this group challenges a new definition for what a species is. Also their physiology is not well understood due to difficult experimental in situ and in vitro conditions. There remain several open questions concerning how seagrasses adapted secondarily to the marine environment. Here probably exciting adaptation solutions will be detected. Physiological adaptations seem to be more important than morphological ones. Seagrasses contain several compounds in their secondary metabolism in which they differ from terrestrial plants and also not known from other taxonomic groups. Some of these compounds might be of interest for commercial purposes. Therefore their metabolite contents constitute another treasure of the ocean. This paper gives an introduction into some of the most interesting aspects from phylogenetical, physiological, and metabolic points of view.

scholarly journals Patient-specific Boolean models of signaling networks guide personalized treatments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnau Montagud ◽  
Jonas Béal ◽  
Luis Tobalina ◽  
Pauline Traynard ◽  
Vigneshwari Subramanian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Precision Oncology ◽  
Boolean Models ◽  
Prostate Cell

Prostate cancer is the second most occurring cancer in men worldwide. To better understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and possible treatment responses, we developed a mathematical model of prostate cancer which considers the major signalling pathways known to be deregulated. We personalised this Boolean model to molecular data to reflect the heterogeneity and specific response to perturbations of cancer patients. 488 prostate samples were used to build patient-specific models and compared to available clinical data. Additionally, eight prostate cell-line-specific models were built to validate our approach with dose-response data of several drugs. The effects of single and combined drugs were tested in these models under different growth conditions. We identified 15 actionable points of interventions in one cell-line-specific model whose inactivation hinders tumorigenesis. To validate these results, we tested nine small molecule inhibitors of five of those putative targets and found a dose-dependent effect on four of them, notably those targeting HSP90 and PI3K. These results highlight the predictive power of our personalized Boolean models and illustrate how they can be used for precision oncology.

scholarly journals A new tiny toad species of Amazophrynella (Anura: Bufonidae) from east of the Guiana Shield in Amazonia, Brazil

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9887
Author(s):  
Sarah Mângia ◽  
Ricardo Koroiva ◽  
Diego José Santana
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Guiana Shield ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
Neotropical Species ◽  
Palmar Surface ◽  
Species Complexes ◽  
Sister Clade ◽  
A New Species

The combination of different approaches has successfully delimited new species within many Neotropical species complexes traditionally classified as a single nominal organism. Recent studies have shown that the Amazonian endemic genus Amazophrynella, currently composed of 12 small-sized species, could harbor several additional species. Based on morphology and molecular data, we describe a new species of Amazophrynella from east of the Guiana Shield, in Pará state, Brazil. The new species is characterized by having one of the biggest size of the genus (SVL of males 16.0–17.8 mm and females 22.9–24.4 mm), presence of a large palmar tubercle (occupying 2/4 of the palmar surface), 5.6–8.1% uncorrected p-distance from its sister clade (including A. teko, A. sp.1, and A. manaos) for the 16S mitochondrial gene, and 8.8% for the COI. The new species described here represents a newly discovered lineage. Of the 12 Amazophrynella species currently recognized, two were describe in the last century (A. bokermanni and A. minuta) and the remaining species were recently discovered and described (in the last six years), which underscores the degree to which species richness of Amazophrynella is underestimated.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Cozort ◽  
James Mark Shields
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Animal Rights ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Applied Ethics ◽  
First Century ◽  
Buddhist Ethics ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
The Past

In the past twenty years, the sub-discipline of Buddhist ethics has expanded in terms of the breadth of methodological perspective and depth of inquiry. Scholars have used Buddhist resources to analyse a number of contemporary controversies, including human rights, women’s rights, animal rights, sexuality, war, terrorism, violence, social, economic and retributive justice, as well as various issues of concern to biomedical and environmental ethics. Beyond matters of philosophical and applied ethics, anthropologists and sociologists have studied the effect of Buddhism upon various cultures of Asia. The Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics is intended as a comprehensive overview of the state of the field of Buddhist ethics in the second decade of the twenty-first century. Contributions by twenty-nine international scholars provide balanced and critical review essays on particular aspects of Buddhist ethics related to their current research. This handbook will serve as a leading resource for current and future scholars in this burgeoning field of study but will also be of interest to anyone interested in multiple perspectives on ethical issues.

On the frontiers of empire: Culture and power in early modern “Iranian” Kurdistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Djene Rhys Bajalan
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
Early Modern Period ◽  
First World War ◽  
First Century ◽  
World War ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Modern Period ◽  
The First World War ◽  
First World

This article will provide a broad (although by no means comprehensive) overview of the development of modern scholarly historical writing pertaining the Middle East’s Kurdish community prior to the end of the First World War. It seeks to highlight some of the important pioneering scholars who shaped the field during its twentieth century as well as more recent flurry of academic activity that has, since the turn of the twenty-first century, resulted in a publication of a number of important works that have greatly expanded our knowledge of Kurdish history. However, it will also endeavour to highlight some of the deficits in the existing historiography, most notably relating to Kurdistan in the early modern period (the early sixteenth to early nineteenth century) and, more specifically, the relatively underdeveloped nature of the literature on “Iranian” Kurdistan during this era. In doing so, it hopes to provide context for the three articles published in this issue of Kurdish Studies, all of which examine issues relating to culture and power in early modern “Iranian” Kurdistan.ABSTRACT IN KURMANJILi ser sînorên împeretoriyê: “Hêmana Îranî” di dîroka pêş-modêrn ya Kurdistanê deEv gotar dê nirxandineke berfireh (lê ne giştgir) a nivîsarên li ser dîroka gelê kurd ê li Rojhilata Navîn yên berî xelasiya Şerê Cîhanî yê Yekem. Ew dê dêneke taybet bide ser çendîn zanyarên serkêş ku di sedsala bîstan de meydana dîroknivîsiya kurdî ava kirine û herwiha berê xwe bide ser berbelavbûna vê dawiyê ya çalakiyên akademîk –ji çerxa sedsala bîst û yekê ve– ku çendîn berhemên girîng jê derçûne û bi vê yekê re zanyariya me ya li ser dîroka kurdan gelek berfirehtir kirine. Lê belê, gotar dê herwiha hewl bide ku hindek valahiyên dîroknivîsiya heyî berçav bike, bi taybetî valahiya xebatên li ser Kurdistana di serdema pêş-modêrn (ji serê sedsala şanzdehan heta serê sedsala hevdehan) de, û, bi rengekî hûrbijêrtir, paşmayîbûna nisbî ya lêkolîn û nivîsarên li ser Kurdistana “Îranî” ya di vê serdemê de. Bi vî awayî, gotar dil dike çarçoveyekê dabîn bike ji bo her sê gotarên di vê hejmara Kurdish Studies de, ku hemû jî berê xwe didine wê mijarê ku em dikarin wek “Hêmana Îranî” di Kurdistana pêş-modêrn de bi nav bikin.ABSTRACT IN SORANILe ser sînorekanî împiratorî: “Hokarî Êranî” le Kurdistanî pêş-modêrn daEm wutare raçawkirdineweke giştîye (bellam nek giştgire) le ser nûsrawekanî sebaret be mêjûy kurdî le Rojhellatî Nawerast ber le axîrî Şerrî Cîhanî Yêkem. Wutareke serincêkî taybet debexşête ser çend zanyarêkî pêşengî ke le sedey bîst da biwarî mêjûnûsî kurdîyan durist kirdûwe, bellam herwa çaw le berfirawanbûnewey em duwayîyey –serî sedey bîst û yekewe– çalakiye akadamîkekan dekat ke çendîn berhemî girîngî lê we derçûwe û bew pêyeş zanyarîyekanman sebaret be mêjûy kurd ziyadtiryan kirdûwe. Wutareke hewllî eweş dedat ke hêndek kêmasiyêkî mêjûnûsîy hawçerxîş destnîşan bikat, be taybetî ewaney le merr Kurdistanî seretakanî serdemî modêrn (le ewelî sedey şanzde ta ewelî sedey hewde), herwa be rengekî deqîqtir çaw le paşmanewey lêkollînewe w nûsrawekanî le babet Kurdistanî “Êranî” lew serdeme da dekat. Bem şêweye, wutareke çarçowêk dabîn dekat bo her sê le wutarî em jimarey Kurdish Studies, ke hemûyan serinc dedene ew babetey ke detwanîn wekû “Hokarî Êranî” le Kurdistanî pêş-modêrn da be naw bikeyn.

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