Novel Data About Unusual Location of Toxoplasma Gondii Within Active Microbial Community in the Anterior Chamber of the Eye of Egyptian Rural Children

In Egypt, many cases of granulomatous anterior uveitis consisting of single or multiple gelatinous nodules were detected in children living in rural areas. These lesions are believed to be waterborne and were previously attributed to flatworms ‘stage, showing some improvement after antiparasitic treatment. In a trial to explore the nature of these ocular lesions among rural Egyptian children, twenty surgically excised ocular lesions were subjected to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination. TEM results were combined with previous results of the metagenomic analysis performed for four cases out of the twenty samples, revealing the presence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), besides, a wide range of microbial communities, including variable species of fungi, bacteria, and archaea. The excised lesions ranged from 1 to 5 mm in size and demonstrated an extensive inflammatory cellular infiltrate. Using TEM, five out of twenty samples revealed active eukaryotic organisms with intact energetic cellular organelles, besides, numerous nuclei encircled within a syncytial layer and enclosed by a hyaline layer rich in mitochondria. Six samples showed inactivity in the cellular and the covering portions, while just inflammatory reaction was seen in the remaining nine samples. Toxoplasma gondii was found free within the distal part of the syncytium while, the proximal part showed the active synthesis of possibly extra polymeric substance, perhaps secreted by the microbial community. In a conclusion, Toxoplasma gondii has been detected among a microbial community in an atypical lesion in the eye. Further studies need to be sustained on genotype characterization, proteomic analysis, besides, the aquatic transmission of these mixed microbial species to the ocular tissues to clarify the reason behind such ocular illness.

Eritrichium aktonense, a new synonym of E. subjacquemontii (Boraginaceae)

Eritrichium aktonense Y.S.Lian & J.Q.Wang described from Aketao in southern Xinjiang is conspecific with E. subjacquemontii, a very widely spread and highly variable species in Pamirs, central Asia. We propose to synonymize Eritrichium aktonense with E. subjaquemontii.

Variations in phenotypic characteristics of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp. seeds sourced from open markets in Benin City, Nigeria.

Vigna unguiculata, also known as a 'cowpea,' is a crop of numerous varieties. In Benin City, Nigeria, three common varieties include "Ife Brown", "Ekpoma Local", and "Sokoto White". Being a very common delicacy and perhaps a very cheap source of protein for the populous, it is sold in nearly all available open markets. The crop is mainly consigned from the numerous farms in the northern part of the country and thus vary amenable to genetic diversity. This study was undertaken to investigate whether there were any major differences within and between these varieties when sourced from different locations in selected markets in Benin City. The seeds were obtained from major open store markets in and around Benin City, Edo State, and were morphologically characterized quantitatively and qualitatively using standard descriptors. Seed length, width, thickness, weight, and volume were among the quantitative parameters, while the qualitative parameters included seed brilliance, shape, eye colour, eye pattern, splitting of testa, testa texture, basal colour, pattern of variegation, colour of variegation, and basal colour of variegated seeds. There were no variations in the qualitative parameters among the seeds of "Ekpoma Local" and "Sokoto White" varieties; however those of the "Ife Brown" variety were significant variable in seed colour. Significant variations existed in the seed quantitative parameters. Among seed parameters measured, seed volume was more diverse, with a coefficient of variation of 13.15 - 14.14, when compared with coefficients of variation for other quantitative parameters measured. In terms of seed volume therefore, the "Sokoto White" variety appeared to be more diverse than "Ekpoma Local" and then "Ife Brown" in that order. In terms of overall variation, group mean sum of squares for the "Ife Brown" variety was 146.95, compared to 26.18 and 31.23 for "Ekpoma Local" and "Sokoto White" respectively, indicating that the "Ife Brown" variety was the most likely variable species among the three in the Markets of Benin City.

Intraspecific variation in the Cambrian: new observations on the morphology of the Chengjiang euarthropod Sinoburius lunaris

Background The Chengjiang biota from southwest China (518-million-years old, early Cambrian) has yielded nearly 300 species, of which more than 80 species represent early chelicerates, crustaceans and relatives. The application of µCT-techniques combined with 3D software (e.g., Drishti), has been shown to be a powerful tool in revealing and analyzing 3D features of the Chengjiang euarthropods. In order to address several open questions that remained from previous studies on the morphology of the xandarellid euarthropod Sinoburius lunaris, we reinvestigated the µCT data with Amira to obtain a different approach of visualization and to generate new volume-rendered models. Furthermore, we used Blender to design 3D models showing aspects of intraspecific variation. Results New findings are: (1) antennulae consist of additional proximal articles that have not been detected before; (2) compared to other appendages, the second post-antennular appendage has a unique shape, and its endopod is comprised of only five articles (instead of seven); (3) the pygidium bears four pairs of appendages which are observed in all specimens. On the other hand, differences between specimens also have been detected. These include the presence/absence of diplotergites resulting in different numbers of post-antennular appendages and tergites and different distances between the tip of the hypostome and the anterior margin of the head shield. Conclusions Those new observations reveal intraspecific variation among Chengjiang euarthropods not observed before and encourage considerations about possible sexual dimorphic pairs or ontogenetic stages. Sinoburius lunaris is a variable species with respect to its morphological characters, cautioning that taxon-specific variabilities need to be considered when exploring new species.

Processing Mixed Mesopelagic Biomass from the North-East Atlantic into Aquafeed Resources; Implication for Food Safety

Aquaculture produces most of the world’s seafood and is a valuable food source for an increasing global population. Low trophic mesopelagic biomasses have the potential to sustainably supplement aquafeed demands for increased seafood production. The present study is a theoretical whole-chain feed and food safety assessment on ingredients from mesopelagic biomass and the resulting farmed fish fed these ingredients, based on analysis of processed mesopelagic biomass. Earlier theoretical estimations have indicated that several undesirable compounds (e.g., dioxins and metals and fluoride) would exceed the legal maximum levels for feed and food safety. Our measurements on processed mesopelagic biomasses show that only fluoride exceeds legal feed safety limits. Due to high levels of fluoride in crustaceans, their catch proportion will dictate the fluoride level in the whole biomass and can be highly variable. Processing factors are established that can be used to estimate the levels of undesirables in mesopelagic aquafeed ingredients from highly variable species biomass catches. Levels of most the studied undesirables (dioxins, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, brominated flame retardant, metals, metalloids) were generally low compared to aquafeed ingredients based on pelagic fish. Using a feed-to-fillet aquaculture transfer model, the use of mesopelagic processed aquafeed ingredients was estimated to reduce the level of dioxins and PCBs by ~30% in farmed seafood such as Atlantic salmon.

A review of Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. (Orchidaceae) with morphological and molecularphylogenetic analyses

Populations of Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. from near Newcastle, New South Wales to southern and central west Queensland and encompassing all regions of the distribution were studied using field observations, morphometric analysis and nrITS sequences. A total of 281 individuals were used to construct regional descriptions of D. kingianum and 139 individuals were measured for 19 morphological characters, and similarities and differences among specimens summarised using multivariate statistical methods. Patterns of morphological variation within D. kingianum are consistent with a single variable species that expresses clinal variation, with short-growing plants in the south and taller plants in the northern part of the distribution. The nrITS gene tree suggests two subgroups within D. kingianum subsp. kingianum, one comprising northern, the other southern individuals, which may overlap in the vicinity of Dorrigo, New South Wales. The disjunct D. kingianum subsp. carnarvonense Peter B. Adams in central west Queensland, which can be distinguished by a predominately subterranean habit and a narrower labellum midlobe, was resolved sister to D. moorei F.Muell., which renders D. kingianum paraphyletic in the nrITS gene tree, but this position was not supported. Regional descriptions documenting clinal variation are provided. All previously described varieties, including D. kingianum var. pulcherrimum Rupp, are colour and growth forms of D. kingianum subsp. kingianum.

Molecular approaches reveal speciation between red and blue flowered plants in the Mediterranean Lysimachia arvensis and Lysimachia monelli (Primulaceae)

Flower colour constitutes a pivotal evolutionary force in speciation. The Mediterranean Lysimachia arvensis and L. monelli are morphologically variable species having both blue or red flowered plants. Previous studies suggested that L. arvensis plants differing in colour are diverging lineages, but this variation has not been considered in a phylogenetic context. We reconstruct the phylogenetic signal and the ancestral states of flower colour of Mediterranean Lysimachia species by using nuclear (ITS) and three plastid markers. Blue and red specimens are nested in two independent clades in the ITS tree, thus supporting that L. arvensis and L. monelli are polyphyletic, whereas low phylogenetic resolution was found in plastid markers. Blue-flowered L. arvensis is reconstructed sister to L. talaverae in a monophyletic clade sister to the remaining Lysimachia. Red-flowered L. arvensis is reconstructed sister to red-flowered L. monelli in a monophyletic clade sister to blue-flowered L. monelli and L. foemina. Our results suggest that colour lineages in L. arvensis and L. monelli constitute different species, but flower colour did not promote the separation of these lineages. We propose a new name for blue-flowered L. arvensis (L. loeflingii) and a new combination for red-flowered L. monelli (L. collina).

Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn).

C. monogyna is a widely distributed (Meusel et al., 1965), thorny shrub or small tree (up to 10 m high). It is an exceptionally variable species in all its morphological features, particularly in size and shape of leaves, resulting in a high number of forms described from various parts of its range (Browicz, 1986). Common hawthorn is native to most of Europe (excluding its northeastern part) and to some places on the Mediterranean seashore. In Asia it grows naturally in Anatolia (excluding the central and northeastern regions), in northwestern Caucasus, northeastern Iraq, northern Iran, western Syria, Lebanon and northern Israel (Boratynski, 1986). C. monogyna is generally regarded as lowland species, however it has been reported from Cyprus at 1525 m in altitude, Albania and Lebanon (1600 m), Macedonia (1630 m), Greece (1650 m) and Anatolia (up to 2200 m in altitude).