Molecular systematics of Keratinophyton: the inclusion of species formerly referred to Chrysosporium and description of four new species

Four new Keratinophyton species (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina, Onygenales), K. gollerae, K. lemmensii, K. straussii, and K. wagneri, isolated from soil samples originating from Europe (Austria, Italy, and Slovakia) are described and illustrated. The new taxa are well supported by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) region, the combined data analysis of ITS and the nuclear large subunit (LSU) rDNA, and their phenotype. Based on ITS phylogeny, within the Keratinophyton clade, K. lemmensii is clustered with K. durum, K. hubeiense, K. submersum, and K. siglerae, while K. gollerae, K. straussii and K. wagneri are resolved in a separate terminal cluster. All four new species can be well distinguished from other species in the genus based on phenotype characteristics alone. Ten new combinations are proposed for Chrysosporium species which are resolved in the monophyletic Keratinophyton clade. A new key to the recognized species is provided herein.

Four new Keratinophyton species (Onygenaceae) from Europe

Four new Keratinophyton species (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina, Onygenales), K. gollerae, K. lemmensii, K. straussii and K. wagneri, isolated from soil samples originating from Europe (Austria, Italy and Slovakia) are described and illustrated. The new taxa are well supported by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) region, the combined data analysis of ITS and the nuclear large subunit (LSU) rDNA, and their phenotype. Based on ITS phylogeny, within the Keratinophyton clade, K. lemmensii is clustered with K. durum, K. hubeiense, K. submersum and K. siglerae, while K. gollerae, K. straussii and K. wagneri are resolved in a separate terminal cluster. All four new species can be well distinguished from other asexual morphs in the genus Keratinophyton based on phenotypical characteristics alone. Ten new combinations are proposed for Chrysosporium asexual morphs which are resolved in the monophyletic Keratinophyton clade.

Umbellula pomona sp. nov., a new sea pen from Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Pennatulacea)

Sea pens (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Pennatulacea) constitute a distinctive group of colonial marine invertebrates. They inhabit the world`s oceans, from shallow to deep waters. Studies about this group in Argentina are scarce, and no species have been described in the area in over a decade. Based on samples collected in Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon at about 3000 m deep we describe a new species of sea pen, Umbellula pomona Risaro, Williams & Lauretta sp. nov. This is a spiculate Umbellula that differs from other species of Umbellula with sclerites, by the number, development and distribution of the autozooids in its terminal cluster, as well as the shape of its axis. Molecular data also distinguishes it from other known species. Of the forty-three described species approximately ten are considered valid for the genus Umbellula, four of them are registered for the South Atlantic Ocean and only three are described for the Antarctic region. Since sampling efforts in this area have been scarce, the number of species of sea pens from the region is likely to increase substantially in the coming years.

Four New Keratinophyton Species (Onygenaceae) From Europe

Four new Keratinophyton species (Ascomycota: Pezizomycotina, Onygenales), K. gollerae, K. lemmensii, K. straussii and K. wagneri, isolated from soil samples originating from Europe (Austria, Italy and Slovakia) are described and illustrated. The new taxa are well supported by phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) region, the nuclear large subunit (LSU) rDNA, and their phenotype. Within the Keratinophyton clade, K. lemmensii is clustered with K. durum, K. hubeiense, K. submersum and K. siglerae, while K. gollerae, K. straussii and K. wagneri are resolved in a separate terminal cluster along with K. minutisporosum. All four new species can be well distinguished from the other asexual taxa in the genus Keratinophyton based on phenotypical characteristics alone. Ten new combinations are proposed for all other Chrysosporium asexual morphs which are resolved in the monophyletic Keratinophyton clade.

Clustering and superspreading potential of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in Hong Kong

Superspreading events have characterised previous epidemics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections. Using contact tracing data, we identified and characterized SARS-CoV-2 clusters in Hong Kong. Given a superspreading threshold of 6-8 secondary cases, we identified 5-7 probable superspreading events and evidence of substantial overdispersion in transmissibility, and estimated that 20% of cases were responsible for 80% of local transmission. Among terminal cluster cases, 27% (45/167) ended in quarantine. Social exposures produced a greater number of secondary cases compared to family or work exposures (p<0.001) while delays between symptom onset and isolation did not reliably predict the number of individual secondary cases or resulting cluster sizes. Public health authorities should focus on rapid tracing and quarantine of contacts, along with physical distancing to prevent superspreading events in high-risk social environments.

Treatment of Cells and Tissues with Chromate Maximizes Mitochondrial 2Fe2S EPR Signals

In a previous study on chromate toxicity, an increase in the 2Fe2S electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal from mitochondria was found upon addition of chromate to human bronchial epithelial cells and bovine airway tissue ex vivo. This study was undertaken to show that a chromate-induced increase in the 2Fe2S EPR signal is a general phenomenon that can be used as a low-temperature EPR method to determine the maximum concentration of 2Fe2S centers in mitochondria. First, the low-temperature EPR method to determine the concentration of 2Fe2S clusters in cells and tissues is fully developed for other cells and tissues. The EPR signal for the 2Fe2S clusters N1b in Complex I and/or S1 in Complex II and the 2Fe2S cluster in xanthine oxidoreductase in rat liver tissue do not change in intensity because these clusters are already reduced; however, the EPR signals for N2, the terminal cluster in Complex I, and N4, the cluster preceding the terminal cluster, decrease upon adding chromate. More surprising to us, the EPR signals for N3, the cluster preceding the 2Fe2S cluster in Complex I, also decrease upon adding chromate. Moreover, this method is used to obtain the concentration of the 2Fe2S clusters in white blood cells where the 2Fe2S signal is mostly oxidized before treatment with chromate and becomes reduced and EPR detectable after treatment with chromate. The increase of the g = 1.94 2Fe2S EPR signal upon the addition of chromate can thus be used to obtain the relative steady-state concentration of the 2Fe2S clusters and steady-state concentration of Complex I and/or Complex II in mitochondria.

The Initial and Terminal Cluster Sets of an Analytic Curve

For an analytic curve γ (a, b) → ℂ, the set of values approached by γ(t), as t ↘ a and as t ↗ b can be any two continua of ℂ ⋃ {∞}.

The crystal structure of the global anaerobic transcriptional regulator FNR explains its extremely fine-tuned monomer-dimer equilibrium

The structure of the dimeric holo–fumarate and nitrate reduction regulator (FNR) from Aliivibrio fischeri has been solved at 2.65 Å resolution. FNR globally controls the transition between anaerobic and aerobic respiration in facultative anaerobes through the assembly/degradation of its oxygen-sensitive [4Fe-4S] cluster. In the absence of O2, FNR forms a dimer and specifically binds to DNA, whereas in its presence, the cluster is degraded causing FNR monomerization and DNA dissociation. We have used our crystal structure and the information previously gathered from numerous FNR variants to propose that this process is governed by extremely fine-tuned interactions, mediated by two salt bridges near the amino-terminal cluster-binding domain and an “imperfect” coiled-coil dimer interface. [4Fe-4S] to [2Fe-2S] cluster degradation propagates a conformational signal that indirectly causes monomerization by disrupting the first of these interactions and unleashing the “unzipping” of the FNR dimer in the direction of the carboxyl-terminal DNA binding domain.

Handheld Terminal Design Based on Wireless Sensor Internet for Contestants

To tackle the problems brought by the wired terminal multiplying and complexity of the wireless terminal cluster, the thesis designed handheld terminal design based on the wireless sensor Internet for contestants. It solves problems such as complex cluster and bad communication performance of the terminals in traditional contests with the help of zigbee technology. Besides the common function, it possesses extra functions, such as voice prompting, judge scoring and audience voting. The thesis mainly deals with the hardware and software design. The test result shows such design can better meet the needs of sorts of contests with the advantages of automatic networking, multiple function and stable performance, etc.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR5 is recurrently mutated in mantle cell lymphoma

Key Points UBR5 is recurrently mutated in mantle cell lymphoma with a C-terminal cluster of deleterious mutations.