CCR5 expression, haplotype and immune activation in protection from infection in HIV‐exposed uninfected individuals in HIV serodiscordant relationships.

CAPRISA, 2017.Abstract available in pdf

Reconstruction of Family-Level Phylogenetic Relationships within Demospongiae (Porifera) Using Nuclear Encoded Housekeeping Genes

Background: Demosponges are challenging for phylogenetic systematics because of their plastic and relatively simple morphologies and many deep divergences between major clades. To improve understanding of the phylogenetic relationships within Demospongiae, we sequenced and analyzed seven nuclear housekeeping genes involved in a variety of cellular functions from a diverse group of sponges. Methodology/Principal Findings: We generated data from each of the four sponge classes (i.e., Calcarea, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida, and Homoscleromorpha), but focused on family-level relationships within demosponges. With data for 21 newly sampled families, our Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian-based approaches recovered previously phylogenetically defined taxa: Keratosap, Myxospongiaep, Spongillidap, Haploscleromorphap (the marine haplosclerids) and Democlaviap. We found conflicting results concerning the relationships of Keratosap and Myxospongiaep to the remaining demosponges, but our results strongly supported a clade of Haploscleromorphap+Spongillidap+Democlaviap. In contrast to hypotheses based on mitochondrial genome and ribosomal data, nuclear housekeeping gene data suggested that freshwater sponges (Spongillidap) are sister to Haploscleromorphap rather than part of Democlaviap. Within Keratosap, we found equivocal results as to the monophyly of Dictyoceratida. Within Myxospongiaep, Chondrosida and Verongida were monophyletic. A well supported clade within Democlaviap, Tetractinellidap, composed of all sampled members of Astrophorina and Spirophorina (including the only lithistid in our analysis), was consistently revealed as the sister group to all other members of Democlaviap. Within Tetractinellidap, we did not recover monophyletic Astrophorina or Spirophorina. Our results also reaffirmed the monophyly of order Poecilosclerida (excluding Desmacellidae and Raspailiidae), and polyphyly of Hadromerida and Halichondrida. Conclusions/Significance: These results, using an independent nuclear gene set, confirmed many hypotheses based on ribosomal and/or mitochondrial genes, and they also identified clades with low statistical support or clades that conflicted with traditional morphological classification. Our results will serve as a basis for future exploration of these outstanding questions using more taxon- and gene-rich datasets

The most nothern records of the exotic ascidian Perophora japonica Oka, 1927 (Ascidiacea: Perophoridae) in the north-east Atlantic

The northwest Pacific colonial ascidian Perophora japonica Oka, 1927 was first reported from Ireland in 2012 from Carlingford Marina and with increased frequency by 2014. Colonies were found in three additional marine inlets: Strangford Lough in 2012, Mulroy Bay in 2013, and Clew Bay in 2015. Colonies overgrew marine algae and sessile invertebrates attached to floating pontoon units supporting a marina boardwalk, and were also found on the low shore and at depths of 24 m. The species should now be considered established in Ireland. It is unknown how this ascidian arrived, but it is likely to be from elsewhere in Europe either on the hulls of vessels, with commercial oyster movements, or with drifting algae. These are currently the most northern records for the species in the north-east Atlantic, the nearest records to Ireland being from Anglesey on the north coast of Wales

Figure 9. A in Demosponges of the genus Hymedesmia (Poecilosclerida: Hymedesmidae) from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, with a description of six new species

Figure 9. A, Hymedesmia (Stylopus) crami sp. nov. A, large acanthostyle; B, base of large acanthostyle; C, small acanthostyle; D, ends of ectosomal spicule. Scale bars: 10 Mm. B, Hymedesmia (Stylopus) crami sp. nov., surface.Published as part of <i>Goodwin, Claire E. & Picton, Bernard E., 2009, Demosponges of the genus Hymedesmia (Poecilosclerida: Hymedesmidae) from Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland, with a description of six new species, pp. 896-912 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 156 (4)</i> on page 907, DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00498.x, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10114808">http://zenodo.org/record/10114808</a&gt

Erratum: Diaphorodoris alba Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960 is a valid species: Molecular and morphological comparison with D. luteocincta (M. Sars, 1870) (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) (Zootaxa (2016) 4193 (304-316))

The two species names were inverted on page 314 under Conculsions section. The sentence should read as: On the basis of the integrative taxonomy approach here presented, we formally propose to raise the two traditionally recognized colour morphotypes, D. luteocincta var. reticulata and D. luteocincta var. alba, to species rank as Diaphorodoris luteocincta and D. alba stat. nov. respectively

Diaphorodoris alba Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960 is a valid species: molecular and morphological comparison with D. luteocincta (M. Sars, 1870) (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) (vol 4193, pg 304, 2016)

The two species names were inverted on page 314 under Conculsions section. The sentence should read as: On the basis of the integrative taxonomy approach here presented, we formally propose to raise the two traditionally recognized colour morphotypes, D. luteocincta var. reticulata and D. luteocincta var. alba, to species rank as Diaphorodoris luteocincta and D. alba stat. nov. respectively

First true brackish-water nudibranch mollusc provides new insights for phylogeny and biogeography and reveals paedomorphosis-driven evolution.

A unique example of brackish water fjord-related diversification of a new nudibranch genus and species Bohuslania matsmichaeli gen. n., sp. n. is presented. There are only few previously known brackish-water opisthobranchs and B. matsmichaeli gen. n., sp. n. is the first ever described brackish-water nudibranch with such an extremely limited known geographical range and apparently strict adherence to salinity levels lower than 20 per mille. Up to date the new taxon has been found only in a very restricted area in the Idefjord, bordering Sweden and Norway, but not in any other apparently suitable localities along the Swedish and Norwegian coasts. We also show in this study for the first time the molecular phylogenetic sister relationship between the newly discovered genus Bohuslania and the genus Cuthona. This supports the validity of the family Cuthonidae, which was re-established recently. Furthermore, it contributes to the understanding of the evolutionary patterns and classification of the whole group Nudibranchia. Molecular and morphological data indicate that brackish water speciation was triggered by paedomorphic evolution among aeolidacean nudibranchs at least two times independently. Thus, the present discovery of this new nudibranch genus contributes to several biological fields, including integration of molecular and morphological data as well as phylogenetic and biogeographical patterns

Effects of ocean acidification on sponge communities

The effects of ocean acidification on lower invertebrates such as sponges may be pronounced because of their low capacity for acid-base regulation. However, so far, most studies have focused on calcifiers. We present the first study of the effects of ocean acidification on the Porifera. Sponge species composition and cover along pH gradients at CO2 vents off Ischia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) was measured at sites with normal pH (8.1-8.2), lowered pH (mean 7.8-7.9, min 7.4-7.5) and extremely low pH (6.6). There was a strong correlation between pH and both sponge cover and species composition. Crambe crambe was the only species present in any abundance in the areas with mean pH 6.6, seven species were present at mean pH 7.8-7.9 and four species (Phorbas tenacior, Petrosia ficiformis, Chondrilla nucula and Hemimycale columella) were restricted to sites with normal pH. Sponge percentage cover decreased significantly from normal to acidified sites. No significant effect of increasing CO2 levels and decreasing pH was found on spicule form in Crambe crambe. This study indicates that increasing CO2 concentrations will likely affect sponge community composition as some demosponge species appear to be more vulnerable than others. Further research into the mechanisms by which acidification affects sponges would be useful in predicting likely effects on sessile marine communities