The Morphology, Ultrastructure and Molecular Phylogeny of a New Freshwater Heterolobose Amoeba Parafumarolamoeba stagnalis n. sp. (Vahlkampfiidae; Heterolobosea)

Heterolobose amoebae are important members of marine, freshwater, and soil microbial communities, but their diversity remains under-explored. We studied the diversity of Vahlkampfiidae to improve our understanding of heterolobosean relationships and their representation in aquatic benthos. Using light and electron microscopy, and molecular phylogenies based on the SSU rRNA and ITS loci, we describe the fine morphology and evolutionary relationships of a new heterolobosean Parafumarolamoeba stagnalis n. sp. from a small pond in European Russia. Cells of P. stagnalis possess a clearly distinguishable anterior hyaline pseudopodium, eruptive movement, several thin and sometimes branched uroidal filaments, spherical cysts without pores and plugs, and mitochondria that have discoid cristae and are surrounded by cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. The genus Parafumarolamoeba has so far included a single species, Parafumarolamoeba alta from high-altitude soil in Tibet, which is morphologically distinct from P. stagnalis. Taxonomic description for a new Parafumarolamoeba species is therefore provided.

Growth of Acetaminophen Polymorphic Crystals and Solution-Mediated Phase Transition from Trihydrate to Form II in Agarose Gel

The growth of acetaminophen polymorphic crystals and the solution-mediated phase transition from trihydrate to form II in agarose gel were investigated. The form II crystals grown in gels, presumably because of the agarose content, dissolved less rapidly at high temperatures and were more stable than in water. The trihydrate crystals in the gel were also expected to be stabilized by containing agarose, but in fact the fine morphology resulted in reduced stability. The solution-mediated phase transition from trihydrate to form II via form II seeding took longer in the gel because the gel slowed down the dissolution of the trihydrate by hindering the dispersion of the form II seeds and delayed the growth of form II by reducing the diffusion rate of the molecules dissolved from the trihydrate. Delays in solution-mediated phase transition and changes in stability for crystals grown in gels indicate the effectiveness of gels in controlling polymorphisms in pharmaceutical compounds.

Identification of the cell-type-specific ER membrane protein Tanmp expressed in hypothalamic tanycytes and subsets of neurons

Genomes of higher eukaryotes encode many uncharacterized proteins, and the functions of these proteins cannot be predicted from the primary sequences due to a lack of conserved functional domains. During a screening of novel noncoding RNAs abundantly expressed in mouse brains, we incidentally identified a gene termed Tanmp, which encoded an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein without known functional domains. Tanmp is specifically expressed in the nervous system, and the highest expression was observed in a specialized cell type called tanycyte that aligns the ventral wall of the third ventricle in the hypothalamus. Immunostaining of Tanmp revealed the fine morphology of tanycytes with highly branched apical ER membranes. Immunoprecipitation revealed that Tanmp associates with mitochondrial ATPase at least in vitro, and ER and mitochondrial signals occasionally overlapped in tanycytes. Mutant mice lacking Tanmp did not exhibit overt phenotypes, suggesting that Tanmp is not essential in mice reared under normal laboratory conditions. We also found that RNA probes that are predicted to uniquely detect Tanmp mRNA cross-reacted with uncharacterized RNAs, highlighting the importance of experimental validation of the specificity of probes during the hybridization-based study of RNA localization.

Stoma and intestine ultrastructure of the marine free-living nematode Odontophora deconincki (Nematoda: Araeolaimida: Axonolaimidae)

Summary The fine morphology of the buccal capsule and intestine (midgut) of the marine free-living nematode Odontophora deconincki was investigated. The cheilostome is armed with six equal claw-like odontia that can evert radially by opening the mouth. Light-refracting accessory buccal structures within the cheilostomatal cuticle alternate with odontia and consist of two elements: anterior armilloids and posterior granular armilliths. The buccal cavity (pharyngostome) is surrounded by a complex of longitudinal and oblique muscles partially attached to the cheilostome cuticle at the sites of the accessory buccal structures and enabling a wide opening of the mouth. With the described stoma condition, the nematode probably scrapes food particles from the substrate surface. In cross-section, the midgut consists of 5-7 cells that appear uniform throughout its length. An extracellular matrix (glycocalyx) over the microvillar brush varies in thickness and stratification depending on presence or absence of food content in the lumen. Abundant spherocrystals (globular inclusions with concentric striations) were present in all gut cells. No indication of endocytosis or digestive vacuoles was observed in the gut cells and extracellular digestion predominates. Most specimens had a gut content formed from a long cylinder of compressed flocculent material with some barely identifiable components and few spherocrystals expelled from the enterocytes. We assume that the nematode diet comprises a wide range of objects, mainly eukariotic epigrowth organisms, which are shorn off and scraped from the surface of sand grains and then ingested.

Entangling the Enemy: Ecological, Systematic and Medical Implications of Dermestid Beetle Hastisetae

Hastisetae are modified setae typical of Dermestidae Megatominae and are a primary defensive tool of both larvae and pupae against invertebrates and possibly vertebrates. Given their unique morphological features, hastisetae have recently been suggested as an additional character useful for larvae identification and possible source of information to clarify the systematics of Megatominae. Hastisetae are also recognized as important contaminants of stored products, work and living environment; in particular, the exposure to hastisetae seems to cause allergic reactions and the insurgence of skin rashes, asthma, conjunctivitis, and digestive system inflammation in humans. Starting from these basic concepts, the present paper provides a detailed description of the hastisetae of some Megatominae. Fine morphology of external and internal microstructures of the hastisetae is shown and compared at the genus level. The insertion on integument, the pedicel, the shaft, and the apical head are illustrated in detail, and the first observations of active defensive behavior based on hastisetae are recorded and presented. Possible implications to the systematics of skin beetles are proposed based on the results of the study.

The Effect of Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Emulation on the Degradation of PLA/Starch Composites

As a hydrophilic renewable polymer, starch has been widely used in biocompatible plastics as a filler for more than two decades. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG), as a plasticizer, on the physicochemical properties of a hybrid composite—polylactic acid (PLA) and thermoplastic starch (TPS). A solvent evaporation process was adopted to gelatinize the starch and disparate PEG contents ranging from 3 to 15 wt.% (with respect to the sample weight) were examined. It was revealed that the increase in the PEG content was accompanied by an increment in the starch gelatinization degree. Referring to the microstructural analyses, the TPS/PLA mixture yielded a ductile hybrid composite with a fine morphology and a uniform phase. Nevertheless, two different solvents, including acetone and ethanol, were used to assess if they had any effect on the hybrid’s morphology, tensile strength and thermal properties. It was found that ethanol culminated in a porous hybrid composite with a finer morphology and better starch distribution in the PLA structure than acetone. As the result of PEG addition to the composite, the crystallinity and tensile strength were decreased, whereas the elongation increased. The hydrolytic degradation of samples was assessed under different pH and thermal conditions. Moreover, the microbial degradation of the PLA/TPS hybrid composite containing different PEG molar fractions was investigated in the soil for 45 days. The rate of degradation in both hydrolytic and biodegradation increased in the samples with a higher amount of PEG with ethanol solvent.

Fine Morphology of Antennal and Ovipositor Sensory Structures of the Gall Chestnut Wasp, Dryocosmus kuriphilus

Dryocosmus kuriphilus is a gall-inducing insect, which can cause significant damage on plants of the genus Castanea Mill., 1754. Antennae and ovipositor are the main sensory organs involved in the location of suitable oviposition sites. Antennal sensilla are involved in the host plant location, while ovipositor sensilla assess the suitability of the ovipositional bud. On both organs, diverse sensillar organs are present. Here, the distribution and ultrastructural organization of the sensilla were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The antennae of D. kuriphilus are filiform and composed of 14 antennomeres, with the distal flagellomere bearing the highest number of sensilla. On the antennae, 6 sensilla types were found; sensilla chaetica, campaniformia, coeloconica-I, coeloconica-II, trichoidea and placoidea. The sensilla placoidea and trichoidea were the most abundant types. On the external walls of the ovipositor, gustatory and mechanoreceptive sensilla were observed. Internally, the egg channel hosted two additional sensory structures. The putative functional role of each sensilla in the context of insect’s ecology is discussed as well as the ovipositional mechanism used by this insect.

Widespread Decrease of Cerebral Vimentin-Immunoreactive Astrocytes in Depressed Suicides

Post-mortem investigations have implicated cerebral astrocytes immunoreactive (-IR) for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the etiopathology of depression and suicide. However, it remains unclear whether astrocytic subpopulations IR for other astrocytic markers are similarly affected. Astrocytes IR to vimentin (VIM) display different regional densities than GFAP-IR astrocytes in the healthy brain, and so may be differently altered in depression and suicide. To investigate this, we compared the densities of GFAP-IR astrocytes and VIM-IR astrocytes in post-mortem brain samples from depressed suicides and matched non-psychiatric controls in three brain regions (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, dorsal caudate nucleus and mediodorsal thalamus). A quantitative comparison of the fine morphology of VIM-IR astrocytes was also performed in the same regions and subjects. Finally, given the close association between astrocytes and blood vessels, we also assessed densities of CD31-IR blood vessels. Like for GFAP-IR astrocytes, VIM-IR astrocyte densities were found to be globally reduced in depressed suicides relative to controls. By contrast, CD31-IR blood vessel density and VIM-IR astrocyte morphometric features in these regions were similar between groups, except in prefrontal white matter, in which vascularization was increased and astrocytes displayed fewer primary processes. By revealing a widespread reduction of cerebral VIM-IR astrocytes in cases vs. controls, these findings further implicate astrocytic dysfunctions in depression and suicide.

Widespread decrease of cerebral vimentin-immunoreactive astrocytes in depressed suicides

1AbstractPostmortem investigations have implicated cerebral astrocytes immunoreactive (-IR) for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the etiopathology of depression and suicide. However, it remains unclear whether astrocytic subpopulations IR for other astrocytic markers are similarly affected. Astrocytes IR to vimentin (VIM) display different regional densities than GFAP-IR astrocytes in the healthy brain, and so may be differently altered in depression and suicide. To investigate this, we compared the densities of GFAP-IR astrocytes and VIM-IR astrocytes in postmortem brain samples from depressed suicides and matched non-psychiatric controls in three brain regions (dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, dorsal caudate nucleus and mediodorsal thalamus). A quantitative comparison of the fine morphology of VIM-IR astrocytes was also performed in the same regions and subjects. Finally, given the close association between astrocytes and blood vessels, we also assessed densities of CD31-IR blood vessels. Like for GFAP-IR astrocytes, VIM-IR astrocyte densities were found to be globally reduced in depressed suicide relative to controls. By contrast, CD31-IR blood vessel density and VIM-IR astrocyte morphometric features in these regions were similar between groups, except in prefrontal white matter, in which vascularization was increased and astrocytes displayed fewer primary processes. By revealing a widespread reduction of cerebral VIM-IR astrocytes in cases vs. controls, these findings further implicate astrocytic dysfunctions in depression and suicide.

The ‘twins’ and the ‘bachelor’, new potential synapomorphies inside the Cholevinae (Coleoptera: Leiodidae)

The fine morphology of the tarsus has recently been shown to provide phylogenetic signal at several supraspecific levels in leiodid beetles, as well as in other insects. We here include another system, namely, the spines at the apical margin of the tarsomeres and associated structures. The tribe Ptomaphagini, with a Holarctic-Neotropical-Oriental distribution, has been characterized by having a comb of equal, flat spines around the apex of the tibiae of all legs, with a row of spines extending along the outer edge of the protibia in some genera (which has also been reported in the Eucatopini). We here recognize (as a new synapomorphy for the tribe) that special, strong spines, forming a loose comb, also appear at the apex of the first three or four tarsomeres of the Ptomaphagini. Special features appear on the apical margin of the mesotarsomeres: a long and thin seta, here called the ‘bachelor’, appears between two spines at the external-lateral-ventral face of the first tarsomeres, whereas a group of two (three in some cases) special spines (with the apex bent, facing opposite to each other), here called the ‘twins’, appears on the opposite, internal-lateral-ventral face of the first three (or sometimes two) tarsomeres. We found the ‘twins’ were also present in the Anemadini: Eunemadina and Nemadina, and the Eucatopini; the ‘bachelor seta’ seems to also occur in the Anemadini: Nemadina.