Plastome variation and phylogeny of Taxillus (Loranthaceae)

Several molecular phylogenetic studies of the mistletoe family Loranthaceae have been published such that now the general pattern of relationships among the genera and their biogeographic histories are understood. Less is known about species relationships in the larger (> 10 species) genera. This study examines the taxonomically difficult genus Taxillus composed of 35–40 Asian species. The goal was to explore the genetic diversity present in Taxillus plastomes, locate genetically variable hotspots, and test these for their utility as potential DNA barcodes. Using genome skimming, complete plastomes, as well as nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA sequences, were newly generated for eight species. The plastome sequences were used in conjunction with seven publicly available Taxillus sequences and three sequences of Scurrula, a close generic relative. The Taxillus plastomes ranged from 121 to 123 kbp and encoded 90–93 plastid genes. In addition to all of the NADH dehydrogenase complex genes, four ribosomal genes, infA and four intron-containing tRNA genes were lost or pseudogenized in all of the Taxillus and Scurrula plastomes. The topologies of the plastome, mitochondrial rDNA and nuclear rDNA trees were generally congruent, though with discordance at the position of T. chinensis. Several variable regions in the plastomes were identified that have sufficient numbers of parsimony informative sites as to recover the major clades seen in the complete plastome tree. Instead of generating complete plastome sequences, our study showed that accD alone or the concatenation of accD and rbcL can be used in future studies to facilitate identification of Taxillus samples and to generate a molecular phylogeny with robust sampling within the genus.

Poriella subacida Gen. & Comb Nov. for Perenniporia subacida (Peck) Donk

Poriella subacida gen. & comb. nov., previously known as Perenniporia subacida, which causes white rot, has been documented in temperate and tropical forests. Specimens from Asia, North America, and Europe were examined, including the type specimen of Polylorus subacidus. Sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region, the 28S rDNA, the mitochondrial rDNA small subunit (mtSSU), and the gene encoding the translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1) were generated. In multigene phylogenies (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, Bayesian inferences), “Perenniporia subacida” formed a well-supported lineage, distinct from the core “Perenniporia” clade (type species: “P. medulla-panis”), and sister to the “Yuchengia narymica” lineage. We therefore conclude that “P. subacida” should be placed in the new genus “Poriella”gen. nov. Morphologically, “Poriella” is characterized by a di- to trimitic hyphal system, non-truncate basidiospores, and strongly dextrinoid, cyanophilic skeletal hyphae.

Historical Biogeography and the Evolution of Hematophagy in Rhodniini (Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

The Rhodniini tribe is one of the five tribes in the subfamily Triatominae and is notorious for its domestic blood-sucking pests and vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi across Latin America. The human and economic costs of the Chagas disease in the American tropics are considerable, and these insects are of unquestionable importance to humans. We used mitochondrial rDNA (16S), nuclear ribosomal RNA (28S) and wingless (Wg) sequences to perform phylogenetic analysis to derive trees based on parsimony and maximum likelihood. Nucleotide sequences were used in molecular-clock analyses to estimate time divergence between species of Rhodniini. The potential distribution of each species was modeled and compared with Kappa statistic. Multivariate niches with bioclimatic variables were used to describe differences between the species using discriminant analysis. The results of this study indicate that the Rhodniini originated 17.91 Mya ago. Rhodnius domesticus is the oldest species having its origin at 9.13 Mya. Rhodniini are closely related to Salyavatinae that are specialist termite predators and diverged from this subfamily 30.43 Mya. Most species are clearly allopatric and have distinct bioclimatic niches. The colonization of bromeliads, palms trees and bird nests represent important events for the speciation of these taxa. The hematophagous habit can be described as a scenario where Rhodniini’s ancestor could be pre-adapted for the invasion of bromeliads, palm trees, and bird nests where they would find significant water availability and thermal damping. These environments are widely used by vertebrate inquilines that would be the source of food for the species of Rhodniini. Lastly, our results show an alternative position of Psammolestes in the phylogenetic tree.

Neosergipea, a new name for the lichen fungus Sergipea, with an updated phylogeny and notes on the genus Dichosporidium (lichenized Ascomycota: Arthoniales: Roccellaceae)

The new name Neosergipea M. Cáceres, Ertz & Aptroot is introduced to replace Sergipea M. Cáceres, Ertz & Aptroot, which is a later homonym of Sergipea Regali, Uesugui & Santos, a genus of fossil pollen. Using the small subunit of the mitochondrial rDNA cistron, we present an updated phylogeny of the Enterographa clade in Roccellaceae which includes the genera Dichosporidium, Enterographa, Erythrodecton, Mazosia, and Neosergipea. While in a previous analysis the relationship between Neosergipea and Dichosporidium was unresolved, our results suggest Neosergipea to be an unsupported sister to Dichosporidium s. lat. The latter potentially represents two distinct genera, differing in ascospore type.

Ticks infesting wild small rodents in three areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT: From May to September 2011, a total of 138 wild rodents of the Cricetidae family were collected in the cities of Anhembi, Bofete and Torre de Pedra, in São Paulo State. All animals were examined for the presence of ticks, which were collected and identified at species level in the laboratory by morphological examination (for adults, nymphs and larvae) and molecular biology, by sequencing of a fragment of the 16S mitochondrial rDNA (for larvae). A total of 47 ticks (21 larvae and 26 nymphs) were collected from rodents, identified as 21 larvae and 23 nymphs of Amblyomma ovale (collected on Oligoryzomys nigripes , Oligoryzomys flavescens , Sooretamys agouya and Nectomys squamipes ), two nymphs of Ixodes schulzei (O. nigripes and O. flavescens ) and an Amblyomma sculptum nymph in S. agouya . The overall prevalence of parasitism by A. ovale was 4.3% for larvae, and 10.1% for nymphs. The mean intensity of parasitism was 3.5 larvae/parasitized animal, and 1.6 nymphs/parasitized animal. One O. nigripes was found parasitized by both larva and nymph of A. ovale , and another O. nigripes was parasitized simultaneously by an I. schulzei nymph and five A. ovale nymphs. This research reports the following unpublished records: A. ovale on O. flavescens , O. nigripes and S. agouya ; A. sculptum on S. agouya ; and I. schulzei on O. flavescens and O. nigripes .

Use of mitochondrial RNA genes for the differentiation of four Trichinella species by multiplex PCR amplification

Until now, four species of the Trichinella genus have been identified in Europe: Trichinella spiralis, T. nativa, T. britovi and T. pseudospiralis. The aim of this work was to establish a sound polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method to differentiate these four species using mitochondrial rDNA as a reliable genetic marker and to evaluate the sensitivity of this method. Full-length DNA sequences coding for the small and large mitochondrial rRNA (mt-rrnS and mt-rrnL) of the four species are described. A multiplex PCR was designed and successfully tested on 24 European isolates. As few as one larva, or 100 pg of genomic DNA was detected, providing equivalent sensitivity to previously described PCR methods. The PCR-based method of mitochondrial rDNA amplification was thereby established as a sensitive and reproductive diagnostic method for the four European Trichinella species.

Molecular data show that Bryoria fremontii and B. tortuosa (Parmeliaceae) are conspecific

Bryoria fremontii and B. tortuosa are the only species in the lichenized ascomycete genus Bryoria known to contain the pulvinic acid derivative vulpinic acid. In B. fremontii this yellow pigment is restricted to the soralia and apothecia, while in B. tortuosa it can occur throughout the thallus. The actual amount of vulpinic acid produced by B. tortuosa is rather variable, however, with intermediate specimens bearing both white and yellow pseudocyphellae. We studied the relationship between the two species with parsimony analysis using four DNA regions: 1) the internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear rDNA including the 5.8S region (ITS), 2) partial sequences from the intergenic spacer of the nuclear rDNA (IGS), 3) partial sequences from the small subunit of the mitochondrial rDNA (mtSSU), and 4) partial sequences from the protein-coding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GAPDH). Our phylogenetic analysis revealed that B. fremontii and B. tortuosa must be regarded as conspecific, but allowing for some genetic differentiation between European and North American populations. Bryoria tortuosa is therefore synonymized with B. fremontii.

MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF LEIOGNATHIDAE IN THE WATERS OF PERHENTIAN ISLANDS, TRENGGANU, MALAYSIA

Several series of trawl surveys were carried out in the waters of Perhentian Islands using commercial trawlers. 16S mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences were used to infer the phylogenetic relationships among nine morphospecies of leiognathids. The results showed that the genus Leiognathus is paraphyletic, whereas Gazza secutor, Photoplagios, Photopectoralis and Nuchequula are monophyletic. The molecular phylogenetic posions of the leiognathids studied were identical with morphological delineation, except for Photoplagios stercorarius. Branch of P. stercorarius was placed between Photoplagios spp. clade and clade of Secutor and Gazza. P. stercorarius was more affiliated to genus Photoplagios morphologically however have slight different features of light organ system compared with others three Photoplagios sp. caught in this study. It is probable that two distinct subclades occur in genus Photoplagios. Leiognathus equulus formed the base of the other leiognathids. Leiognathus splendens and Leiognathus jonesi formed a sister taxa to Photopectoralis species. Gazza formed a sister taxa to Secutor and Nuchequula formed a sister taxa to the group of trifurcation but toth with low bootstrap support. This study has shown that 16S mitochondrial rDNA is a good marker for phylogenetic analysis of the Leiognathidae.