Diversity of anura amphibians in an anthropic lake in the state of Paraíba, Brazil: distribution and temporal variation

The Caatinga is highly heterogeneous, many species being found in their regions. Much of anurofauna this area is commonly found in many open environments. In the present study both the diversity and the temporal occurrence of frogs were determined to Bela Vista Lagoon, located in the municipality of Cuité, Paraíba. 4 areas for sampling were marked, these being covered slowly by hiking. The naturalistic observations were conducted from May 2012 until April 2013 Methods of visual and auditory search were used to simultaneously capture and frequency of species. 6 frog species belonging to 4 genera were found distributed in three families: Bufonidae (2 species), Hylidae (2 species) and Leptodactylidae (2 species). Site 1 showed a wealth of three species, the other areas had a wealth equivalent of 5 species each. The anurofauna recorded high occupancy presented to water bodies and low associations zones altered by man. Nonparametric estimators, calculated for the 36 surveys for the pond Bela Vista, not reached its asymptote, but the Bootstrap model showed a tendency toward stabilization. Among the four sampled areas, Area 2 was the one with the highest diversity, areas 3 and 4 presented the lowest diversity, this fact being related to high dominance of species Rinnella jimi. Regarding the temporal distribution, amphibians showed up influenced by temperature and rainfall record for the region.

Dinoflagellate Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy of the Mid- to Late Eocene and Early Oligocene of New Zealand

<p>This document presents results from a study of the Mid- to Late Eocene and earliest Oligocene marine palynomorphs from on-shore and near-shore New Zealand. Eighty samples of appropriate age from across mainland New Zealand were examined for fossil dinoflagellates. Acritarchs encountered in the study are described, also, and the phenetic taxonomy of the Acritarcha provides an interesting contrast to the present 'mixed' state of dinoflagellate taxonomy: phylogenetic above the genus rank, and arguably below it, but predominantly phenetic at the genus rank. Extensive single mount collections were harvested from a number of samples which were found to be especially rich, well preserved, or which contained new taxa. The outcome has included descriptions of 25 new species, in addition to two (Corrudinium regulare and Corrudinium otagoense) published in an earlier paper (Clowes & Wilson 2006), namely: Achilleodinium echinatum, Achilleodinium improcerum, ?Areoligera hampdenensis, Batiacasphaera perforata, Chlamydophorella neopilata, Chlamydophorella pilata, Corrudinium bujakii, Deflandrea totara, Disphaerogena morgansii, Graptodinium inconditum, Graptodinium reticulatum, Nummus inornatus, Operculodinium crouchii, Operculodinium schioleri, Operculodinium pulcher, Operculodinium vulgare, Phthanoperidinium aculeatum, Phthanoperidinium australe, Phthanoperidinium dentatum, Phthanoperidinium granulatum, Phthanoperidinium spumosum, Phthanoperidinium tenuimurum, Pyxidinopsis mundus, Pyxidinopsis teuriensis, Samlandia tenuis. Although there remain some difficulties where the adopted suprageneric phylogeny meets the traditionally phenetic generic constructs, adopting an explicitly phylogenetic approach to dinoflagellate taxonomy was found to be a fruitful approach. Investigation into some of the new taxa described herein was first prompted by geographic or temporal occurrence criteria which hinted that relationships might be other than those immediately suggested by gross morphology. Only upon closer inspection were subtler morphological distinctions noticed. To adopt a wholly phylogenetic approach almost certainly requires the abandonment of taxa, particularly genera, which are uniquely defined by mutually exclusive morphological criteria. Other clues to phylogeny, such as stratigraphic and regional occurrence data, may also have to be recognised. Notwithstanding, all taxa described herein are, in fact, defined by means of conventional morphological distinctions. This study does not take the bold step to suggest a new taxon based wholly on geographical and temporal criteria. Doing so, however, is clearly a rational extension to the ideas presented herein, and is thought worthy of further investigation. A subordinate goal of this study was to further refine the younger part of Wilson's dinoflagellate biozonation for New Zealand (Wilson 1984d, 1987, 1988; Morgans et al. 2004), to: improve resolution, if possible; clarify an ambiguous boundary remaining in the literature, between the Wetzeliella hampdenensis and Wilsonidium tabulatum zones; incorporate more common taxa, which are not restricted to particular ecological settings. This has been progressed by a number of measures, including adopting a consistent approach to defining zone boundaries; replacement of the Wilsonidium echinosuturatum and Wilsonidium lineidentatum Zones with three new zones, Deflandrea convexa (early Porangan - late Porangan), Graptodinium inconditum (late Porangan - early Bortonian), and Impagidinium elegans (early Bortonian - late Bortonian); and the establishment of an additional new zone, the Stoveracysta kakanuiensis Zone, straddling the Eocene-Oligocene boundary.</p>

Dinoflagellate Taxonomy and Biostratigraphy of the Mid- to Late Eocene and Early Oligocene of New Zealand

<p>This document presents results from a study of the Mid- to Late Eocene and earliest Oligocene marine palynomorphs from on-shore and near-shore New Zealand. Eighty samples of appropriate age from across mainland New Zealand were examined for fossil dinoflagellates. Acritarchs encountered in the study are described, also, and the phenetic taxonomy of the Acritarcha provides an interesting contrast to the present 'mixed' state of dinoflagellate taxonomy: phylogenetic above the genus rank, and arguably below it, but predominantly phenetic at the genus rank. Extensive single mount collections were harvested from a number of samples which were found to be especially rich, well preserved, or which contained new taxa. The outcome has included descriptions of 25 new species, in addition to two (Corrudinium regulare and Corrudinium otagoense) published in an earlier paper (Clowes & Wilson 2006), namely: Achilleodinium echinatum, Achilleodinium improcerum, ?Areoligera hampdenensis, Batiacasphaera perforata, Chlamydophorella neopilata, Chlamydophorella pilata, Corrudinium bujakii, Deflandrea totara, Disphaerogena morgansii, Graptodinium inconditum, Graptodinium reticulatum, Nummus inornatus, Operculodinium crouchii, Operculodinium schioleri, Operculodinium pulcher, Operculodinium vulgare, Phthanoperidinium aculeatum, Phthanoperidinium australe, Phthanoperidinium dentatum, Phthanoperidinium granulatum, Phthanoperidinium spumosum, Phthanoperidinium tenuimurum, Pyxidinopsis mundus, Pyxidinopsis teuriensis, Samlandia tenuis. Although there remain some difficulties where the adopted suprageneric phylogeny meets the traditionally phenetic generic constructs, adopting an explicitly phylogenetic approach to dinoflagellate taxonomy was found to be a fruitful approach. Investigation into some of the new taxa described herein was first prompted by geographic or temporal occurrence criteria which hinted that relationships might be other than those immediately suggested by gross morphology. Only upon closer inspection were subtler morphological distinctions noticed. To adopt a wholly phylogenetic approach almost certainly requires the abandonment of taxa, particularly genera, which are uniquely defined by mutually exclusive morphological criteria. Other clues to phylogeny, such as stratigraphic and regional occurrence data, may also have to be recognised. Notwithstanding, all taxa described herein are, in fact, defined by means of conventional morphological distinctions. This study does not take the bold step to suggest a new taxon based wholly on geographical and temporal criteria. Doing so, however, is clearly a rational extension to the ideas presented herein, and is thought worthy of further investigation. A subordinate goal of this study was to further refine the younger part of Wilson's dinoflagellate biozonation for New Zealand (Wilson 1984d, 1987, 1988; Morgans et al. 2004), to: improve resolution, if possible; clarify an ambiguous boundary remaining in the literature, between the Wetzeliella hampdenensis and Wilsonidium tabulatum zones; incorporate more common taxa, which are not restricted to particular ecological settings. This has been progressed by a number of measures, including adopting a consistent approach to defining zone boundaries; replacement of the Wilsonidium echinosuturatum and Wilsonidium lineidentatum Zones with three new zones, Deflandrea convexa (early Porangan - late Porangan), Graptodinium inconditum (late Porangan - early Bortonian), and Impagidinium elegans (early Bortonian - late Bortonian); and the establishment of an additional new zone, the Stoveracysta kakanuiensis Zone, straddling the Eocene-Oligocene boundary.</p>

Novel genomic islands and a new vanD-subtype in the first sporadic VanD-type vancomycin resistant enterococci in Norway

Background Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) represent several types of transferable vancomycin resistance gene clusters. The vanD type, associated with moderate to high level vancomycin resistance, has only sporadically been described in clinical isolates. The aim of this study was to perform a genetic characterization of the first VanD-type VRE strains detected in Norway. Methods The VanD-type VRE-strains (n = 6) from two patient cases were examined by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing (WGS) to uncover Van-phenotype, strain phylogeny, the vanD gene clusters, and their genetic surroundings. The putative transferability of vanD was examined by circularization PCR and filter mating. Results The VanD-type Enterococcus faecium (n = 4) and Enterococcus casseliflavus (n = 2) strains recovered from two cases (A and B), expressed moderate to high level vancomycin resistance (MIC 64—>256 mg/L) and various levels of teicoplanin susceptibility (MIC 2—>256 mg/L). WGS analyses revealed phylogenetically different E. faecium strains (A1, A2, and A3 of case A and B1 from case B) as well as vanD gene clusters located on different novel genomic islands (GIs). The E. casseliflavus strains (B2 and B3 of case B) were not clonally related, but harbored nearly identical novel GIs. The vanD cluster of case B strains represents a novel vanD-subtype. All the vanD-GIs were integrated at the same chromosomal site and contained genes consistent with a Clostridiales origin. Circular forms of the vanD-GIs were detected in all strains except B1. Transfer of vanD to an E. faecium recipient was unsuccessful. Conclusions We describe the first VanD-type E. casseliflavus strains, a novel vanD-subtype, and three novel vanD-GIs with a genetic content consistent with a Clostridiales order origin. Despite temporal occurrence, case A and B E. faecium strains were phylogenetically diverse and harbored different vanD subtypes and vanD-GIs.

Complement as driver of systemic inflammation and organ failure in trauma, burn, and sepsis

Complement is one of the most ancient defense systems. It gets strongly activated immediately after acute injuries like trauma, burn, or sepsis and helps to initiate regeneration. However, uncontrolled complement activation contributes to disease progression instead of supporting healing. Such effects are perceptible not only at the site of injury but also systemically, leading to systemic activation of other intravascular cascade systems eventually causing dysfunction of several vital organs. Understanding the complement pathomechanism and its interplay with other systems is a strict requirement for exploring novel therapeutic intervention routes. Ex vivo models exploring the cross-talk with other systems are rather limited, which complicates the determination of the exact pathophysiological roles that complement has in trauma, burn, and sepsis. Literature reporting on these three conditions is often controversial regarding the importance, distribution, and temporal occurrence of complement activation products further hampering the deduction of defined pathophysiological pathways driven by complement. Nevertheless, many in vitro experiments and animal models have shown beneficial effects of complement inhibition at different levels of the cascade. In the future, not only inhibition but also a complement reconstitution therapy should be considered in prospective studies to expedite how meaningful complement-targeted interventions need to be tailored to prevent complement augmented multi-organ failure after trauma, burn, and sepsis.This review summarizes clinically relevant studies investigating the role of complement in the acute diseases trauma, burn, and sepsis with important implications for clinical translation.