A new species of the genus Hylcalosia Fischer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) from South Korea, with a key to the Korean species

The species of the genus Hylcalosia Fischer, 1967 (Braconidae: Alysiinae) from South Korea are revised. One species, Hylcalosia bicolorsp. nov., is new to science. They are described and illustrated herein and an identification key to the Korean species is added. In addition, the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) has been analysed for the new species and H. sutchanica is used for genetic comparison.

Gymnocolea borealis (Anastrophyllaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Asia and Russia: morphology, ecology, distribution, and differentiation

Gymnocolea borealis is reported for the first time for Asia from Russia based on the morphological and subsequent molecular-genetic comparison of rbcL cpDNA sequence of the specimen from the Gydansky Peninsula, West Siberian Arctic. An extended morphological description, generalizing the species characters throughout its range, and data on its variation, differentiation and ecology, and photomicrographs are provided. The occurrence of G. borealis growing as separate shoots among dense mire vegetation makes it easy to overlook. Presently known isolated records of G. borealis support its disjunctive circumpolar distribution.

Three new species and two new records of the genus Phaenocarpa Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea

The species of the genus Phaenocarpa Foerster, 1863 (Braconidae: Alysiinae) from South Korea are revised, and the genus is recorded for the first time from South Korea. Three species, Phaenocarpa artotemporalissp. nov., P. brachyurasp. nov. and P. lobatasp. nov., are new to Science, and two species, P. masha Belokobylskij, 1998 and P. fidelis Fischer, 1970, are newly recognized in South Korea. They are described and illustrated herein with a provision of the identification key to the Korean species. In addition, the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) has been analyzed for the six species including P. ruficeps for genetic comparison.

Impact of Clostridioides difficile Therapy on Nosocomial Acquisition of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

Vancomycin is frequently used for the treatment of C. difficile infections (CDI). There are concerns that this might increase the risk of selecting vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE). Here, we evaluated whether there is an increased risk of VRE acquisition following vancomycin for CDI specific treatment. Patients with CDI, metronidazole, or oral vancomycin treatment and without preexisting VRE were monitored for VRE acquisition. VRE isolates from patients with acquired and preexisting colonization were collected and subjected to whole genome sequencing. In total, 281 patients (median age 56 years, 54% of the male sex) presented with toxin positive C. difficile. Of them, 170 patients met the inclusion criteria, comprising 37 patients treated with metronidazole and 133 treated with oral vancomycin. In total, 14 patients meeting the inclusion criteria acquired VRE (vancomycin: n = 11; metronidazole: n = 3). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between both VRE acquisition rates. Genetic comparison of detected VRE isolates resulted in eight clusters of closely related genotypes comprising acquired and preexisting strains. Our results suggest that vancomycin and metronidazole likewise increase the risk of VRE acquisition. Genetic comparison indicates that VRE acquisition is a result of both antibiotic selection and pathogen transmission.

A comparative genetic study on exploited vs. Unperturbed wild populations of Helix Pomatia (L., 1758): preliminary results

Helix pomatia is one of the most well known species of land snails across Europe and it presents economical importance due to its consumption as food. The preliminary results of the genetic comparison between two populations, one of them under the pressure of exploitation, are presented here. As expected, most indices revealed a disequilibrium in the exploited population, with the exeption of the allelic pattern which was similar among the two studied populations.

Obesity as a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19: Summary of the Best Evidence and Implications for Health Care

Purpose of Review To collate the best evidence from several strands—epidemiological, genetic, comparison with historical data and mechanistic information—and ask whether obesity is an important causal and potentially modifiable risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Recent Findings Several hundred studies provide powerful evidence that body mass index (BMI) is a strong linear risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, with recent studies suggesting ~5-10% higher risk for COVID-19 hospitalisation per every kg/m2 higher BMI. Genetic data concur with hazard ratios increasing by 14% per every kg/m2 higher BMI. BMI to COVID-19 links differ markedly from prior BMI-infection associations and are further supported as likely causal by multiple biologically plausible pathways. Summary Excess adiposity appears to be an important, modifiable risk factor for adverse COVID-19 outcomes across all ethnicities. The pandemic is also worsening obesity levels. It is imperative that medical systems worldwide meet this challenge by upscaling investments in obesity prevention and treatments.

Novel Chromosome-Borne Accessory Genetic Elements Carrying Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is noted for its intrinsic antibiotic resistance and capacity of acquiring additional resistance genes. In this study, the genomes of nine clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were fully sequenced. An extensive genetic comparison was applied to 18 P. aeruginosa accessory genetic elements (AGEs; 13 of them were sequenced in this study and located within P. aeruginosa chromosomes) that were divided into four groups: five related integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), four related integrative and mobilizable elements (IMEs), five related unit transposons, and two related IMEs and their two derivatives. At least 45 resistance genes, involved in resistance to 10 different categories of antibiotics and heavy metals, were identified from these 18 AGEs. A total of 10 β-lactamase genes were identified from 10 AGEs sequenced herein, and nine of them were captured within class 1 integrons, which were further integrated into ICEs and IMEs with intercellular mobility, and also unit transposons with intracellular mobility. Through this study, we identified for the first time 20 novel MGEs, including four ICEs Tn6584, Tn6585, Tn6586, and Tn6587; three IMEs Tn6853, Tn6854, and Tn6878; five unit transposons Tn6846, Tn6847, Tn6848, Tn6849, and Tn6883; and eight integrons In1795, In1778, In1820, In1784, In1775, In1774, In1789, and In1799. This was also the first report of two resistance gene variants blaCARB-53 and catB3s, and a novel ST3405 isolate of P. aeruginosa. The data presented here denoted that complex transposition and homologous recombination promoted the assembly and integration of AGEs with mosaic structures into P. aeruginosa chromosomes.

Morphological and molecular analysis of Willowsia nigromaculata (Collembola, Entomobryidae, Entomobryinae) reveals a new cryptic species from the United States

Commonly reported as a household pest throughout the northern hemisphere, Willowsia nigromaculata (Lubbock) is among the most abundant and widely distributed springtails. However, taxonomic uncertainty due to incomplete morphological descriptions based on specimens from different continents may lead to incorrect identifications and/or prevent the recognition of distinct lineages within this morphospecies. Here, we perform the first comprehensive morphological and genetic comparison between W. nigromaculata specimens collected from North America and Europe. Morphological and genetic evidence reveals that populations in the United States and France represent two distinct nigromaculata-like species, but a phylogenetic analysis indicates both species may also be present in Canada. Based on these results, we redescribe W. nigromaculata from France, provide a description for Willowsia neonigromaculata sp. nov. from the United States, and propose new diagnostic characters for their separation, including the number of inner appendages on the maxillary sublobal plate. We also highlight the need for morphological and molecular investigations of additional populations to better understand the diversity and distribution of W. nigromaculata and related species.

Anagrus avalae Soyka, 1956, a new synonym of A. bakkendorfi Soyka, 1946 (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

Soyka (1946) described the European fairyfly species Anagrus bakkendorfi Soyka (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from a single female collected on the same day, 7.x.1931, together with several non-type specimens incorrectly labeled as paratypes (Chiappini & Triapitsyn 1999), on a window at its type locality, the former St. Ignatius Jesuit College in Valkenburg, Limburg, the Netherlands. Soyka (1956) did not mention type specimens of any of his species of Anagrus Haliday. He described Anagrus avalae Soyka (Soyka 1956) based apparently on a specimen collected on Mt. Avala, Belgrade, Serbia, former Yugoslavia, along with several other nominal species (some also from Valkenburg) that were later synonymized with A. avalae and A. bakkendorfi by Chiappini (1989) and Chiappini & Triapitsyn (1999). The only, minor, morphological difference between the two nominal species is the length of the ovipositor in females relative to the length of the protibia, being at least 2.6× in A. bakkendorfi and at most 2.3× in A. avalae (Triapitsyn 2015). Specimens identifiable as both species were captured by the second author in 2000 by a Malaise trap in Iratibizkar, Irati Forest (Selva de Irati), Navarra, Spain. Chiappini & Triapitsyn (1999) discussed both nominal species but despite recognizing their apparent conspecificity, no formal synonymy was proposed. Triapitsyn & Berezovskiy (2004) and Triapitsyn (2015) also did not propose synonymy because at that time genetic evidence for conspecificity was lacking. However, Triapitsyn et al. (2019) obtained DNA and sequenced selected mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal gene regions (COI and ITS2) from a specimen unambiguously identified by the first author as A. avalae that was collected in Sevenoaks, Kent County, England, United Kingdom. Because of this we decided to collect fresh specimens identifiable as A. bakkendorfi for molecular analysis and genetic comparison with those identifiable as A. avalae. Based on the previous record (Triapitsyn 2015), several females of A. bakkendorfi were successfully captured by the second author on 4.ix.2020 in Irati Forest, preserved in ethanol, and shipped to the first and third authors for morphological and molecular identification, respectively.

Genetic Comparison of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Fusarium Oxysporum Endophytes from Vanilla sp. in Mexico

Fusarium oxysporum is an ubiquitous inhabitant of soils with an important role as an endophyte in several plant species, being a neutral, benefic or pathogenic endophyte. Neutral and pathogenic strains have been reported for vanilla crops (F. oxysporum f. sp. vanillae), and a polyphyletic distribution of pathogenic strains has been demonstrated. However, there is no study of a molecular genetic comparison between both groups associated with vanilla. This study is aimed to evaluate if a genetic differentiation is possible between both groups. Different microsatellite regions were amplified and data were used for genetic and statistic comparisons between pathogenic and non-pathogenic endophytes. Further, the Sequence Type of TEF-gen was determined and a phylogeny was constructed. Also, SIX gene presence was evaluated using universal primers. Results show that, based on microsatellite data, a differentiation between the two groups is not possible, however, UPGMA and CA analysis suggest that the pathogenic group is a subgroup of the non-pathogenic group. Phylogeny confirms that the ability to infect vanilla is a polyphyletic trait, but comparison with UPGMA shows that some strains have a similar genotype by convergent evolution. A Bayesian approach suggests that strains can be divided into three genetic groups. For SIX genes, amplification was not possible, thus, we hypothesized three possible explanations. Genetic differentiation among pathogenic and non-pathogenic F. oxysporum endophytes from vanilla is not possible with microsatellite data, which corresponds with the Horizontal Gene Transference hypothesis. However, the SIX genes were no-detected in any pathogenic strain, three hypotheses are planted to explain this results.