Occurrence of Bondar's Nesting Whitefly, Paraleyrodes bondari (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), on cassava in Uganda

Cassava is a valued calorific source to millions of Africans who eat it daily and a vital staple for their foodsecurity. One of the key constraints to this crop is whiteflies which are both a vector of viral diseasesand a direct pest. Although the African cassava whitefly is known to cause physical damage on cassavawith considerable tuberous yield loss, a recent whitefly outbreak caused unusually severe damage, whichprompted the current reported investigation. Molecular identification of whitefly adults sampled fromthe affected cassava field revealed the presence of a new whitefly species, Paraleyrodes bondari. Thiscommunication is the first report of the occurrence of P. bondari on cassava in Uganda

Rural livelihood diversity and its influence on the ecological intensification potential of smallholder farms in Kenya

Smallholder farmers represent the majority of food producers around the world, yet they are often the most at risk of suffering yield gaps and not achieving their production potential. Ecological Intensification (EI) is a knowledge intensive approach to sustainable agricultural intensification which utilises biodiversity-based ecosystem services to support greater yield and reduce reliance on agrochemical inputs. Despite the potential benefit of EI based practices, uptake by smallholders is not as widespread as it could be. Here we test the hypothesis that application of EI on smallholder farms in Kenya is a viable approach that could be taken in order to enhance food security. Focusing on natural pest control and crop pollination, we used farmer surveys to explore the potential for EI in central Kenya. We identified to what extent farm typology and access to knowledge determine the incentives and barriers facing smallholder producers and how this influences optimal pathways for sharing knowledge and providing extension services. We found considerable potential for EI of smallholder farms in this region; most farmers grew insect pollinated crops and some farmers already employed EI practices, while others relied heavily on chemical pesticides. Based on physical, social and economic factors, three farm typologies emerged including ‘semi-commercial’, ‘market orientated’ and ‘subsistence’. These typologies influenced the appropriate EI practices available to farmers, as well as routes through which knowledge was shared and the extent to which extension services were utilised. We propose that to support effective uptake of EI practices, smallholder farm heterogeneity should be acknowledged and characterised in order to target the needs and capabilities of farmers and identify appropriate knowledge sharing and support pathways. The approach we take here has the potential to be employed in other regions globally

BPIFB4 and its longevity-associated haplotype protect from cardiac ischemia in humans and mice

Long-living individuals (LLIs) escape age-related cardiovascular complications until the very last stage of life. Previous studies have shown that a Longevity-Associated Variant (LAV) of the BPI Fold Containing Family B Member 4 (BPIFB4) gene correlates with an extraordinarily prolonged life span. Moreover, delivery of the LAV-BPIFB4 gene exerted therapeutic action in murine models of atherosclerosis, limb ischemia, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and aging. We hypothesize that downregulation of BPIFB4 expression marks the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in human subjects, and supplementation of the LAV-BPIFB4 protects the heart from ischemia. In an elderly cohort with acute myocardial infarction (MI), patients with three-vessel CAD were characterized by lower levels of the natural logarithm (Ln) of peripheral blood BPIFB4 (p = 0.0077). The inverse association between Ln BPIFB4 and three-vessel CAD was confirmed by logistic regression adjusting for confounders (Odds Ratio = 0.81, p = 0.0054). Moreover, in infarcted mice, a single administration of LAV-BPIFB4 rescued cardiac function and vascularization. In vitro studies showed that LAV-BPIFB4 protein supplementation exerted chronotropic and inotropic actions on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes. In addition, LAV-BPIFB4 inhibited the pro-fibrotic phenotype in human cardiac fibroblasts. These findings provide a strong rationale and proof of concept evidence for treating CAD with the longevity BPIFB4 gene/protein

Cardiomyopathy and Response to Enzyme Replacement Therapy in a Male Mouse Model for Fabry Disease

Fabry disease is an X-linked disorder of glycosphingolipid metabolism that results in progressive accumulation of neutral glycosphingolipids, (predominately globotriaosylceramide; GL-3) in lysosomes, as well as other cellular compartments and the extracellular space. Our aim was to characterize the cardiac phenotype of male knock-out mice that are deficient in alpha-galactosidase A activity, as a model for Fabry disease and test the efficacy of Enzyme Replacement Therapy with agalsidase-beta. Male mice (3–4 months of age) were characterized with awake blood pressure and heart rate measurements, cardiac echocardiography and electrocardiography measurements under light anesthesia, histological studies and molecular studies with real-time polymerase chain reaction. The Fabry knock-out mouse has bradycardia and lower blood pressure than control wild type (CB7BL/6J) mice. In Fabry knock-out mice, the cardiomyopathy associated mild hypertrophy at echography with normal systolic LV function and mild diastolic dysfunction. Premature atrial contractions were more frequent in without conduction defect. Heart weight normalized to tibial length was increased in Fabry knock-out mice. Ascending aorta dilatation was observed. Molecular studies were consistent with early stages of cardiac remodeling. A single dose of agalsidase-beta (3 mg/kg) did not affect the LV hypertrophy, function or heart rate, but did improve the mRNA signals of early cardiac remodeling. In conclusion, the alpha-galactosidase A deficient mice at 3 to 4 months of age have cardiac and vascular alterations similar to that described in early clinical stage of Fabry disease in children and adolescents. Enzyme replacement therapy affects cardiac molecular remodeling after a single dose

Aphidology-A special volume in memory of Roger Laurence Blackman (1941-2022)

OUVRARD, DAVID, KANTURSKI, MARIUSZ (2022): Aphidology-A special volume in memory of Roger Laurence Blackman (1941-2022). Zootaxa 5183 (1): 1-2, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5183.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5183.1.

Systématique phylogénétique des Hemiptera Psylloidea (morphologie comparée du thorax et structures secondaires de l'ARNr 18S)

Les Psylloidea forment un groupe homogène à la base des Hemiptera, mais les relations phylogénétiques entre les grands groupes qui les constituent sont mal définies. L'approche méthodologique utilisée dans cette étude fait une large part à la reconnaissance et à la sélection des caractères morphologiques et moléculaires pertinents pour la reconstruction phylogénétique du groupe, par la méthode cladistique. Afin d'établir un premier jeu de caractères morphologiques homologues, le thorax des Psylloidea est décrit, et les variations interspécifiques sont relevées, particulièrement dans le pleuron. Cette étude de morphologie comparée permet d'identifier tous les sclérites et sutures présents, afin de comprendre la séquence probable des transformations dans l'espace, qui ont conduit au pleuron métathoracique extrémement modifié des psylles. A l'inverse, l'articulation alaire ne semble pas aussi informative à ce niveau de l'analyse. Un deuxième jeu de caractères est ensuite constitué, grâce au séquençage de l'ARNr 18S de 26 espèces. Différentes matrices sont constituées, afin d'étudier l'influence de l'alignement sur la phylogénie obtenue. Il en ressort que l'alignement en fonction des structures secondaires est l'élimination d'une partie des données, pour cause de perturbation du signal phylogénétique, ou la pondération des caractères, en fonction de la nature des nucléotides, ne peuvent pas être généralisées. Les analyses séparée, puis combinée, des données conduisent à la paraphylie des Aphalaridae et des Psyllidae. Cette phylogénie permet de réfuter les scénarios évolutifs décrivant une origine gondwanienne des psylles et une évolution parallèle à celle des angiospermes. En effet, les groupes actuels proviennent probablement de quelques lignées ayant survécu à des disparitions massives, et ayant été capables de transferts horizontaux sur des plantes-hôtes apparentéesPARIS-Museum Hist.Naturelle (751052304) / SudocSudocFranceF

Foreword

Ouvrard, David, Kanturski, Mariusz (2022): Foreword. Zootaxa 5183 (1): 6-6, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5183.1.

Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) lands on the French coast of Normandy (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae)

The Nearctic species Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) is recorded for the first time in France, along the English Channel. It was found on Spartina anglica C. E. Hubb. (Poaceae), which is not its original host but a well established cord-grass on that coast. An account is given on the actual known distribution of P. marginata throughout Europe.Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) débarque en France sur les plages normandes (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae). L'espèce néarctique Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) a été observée pour la première fois en France, sur la côte normande. On la trouve sur Spartina anglica C. E. Hubb., Poaceae abondante sur ce littoral, mais qui n'est pas sa plante hôte originelle. La progression de P. marginata en Europe et sa distribution actuelle sont discutées.Ouvrard David, Soulier-Perkins Adeline. Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) lands on the French coast of Normandy (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 117 (4),2012. pp. 441-444

Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) lands on the French coast of Normandy (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae)

The Nearctic species Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) is recorded for the first time in France, along the English Channel. It was found on Spartina anglica C. E. Hubb. (Poaceae), which is not its original host but a well established cord-grass on that coast. An account is given on the actual known distribution of P. marginata throughout Europe.Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) débarque en France sur les plages normandes (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae). L'espèce néarctique Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) a été observée pour la première fois en France, sur la côte normande. On la trouve sur Spartina anglica C. E. Hubb., Poaceae abondante sur ce littoral, mais qui n'est pas sa plante hôte originelle. La progression de P. marginata en Europe et sa distribution actuelle sont discutées.Ouvrard David, Soulier-Perkins Adeline. Prokelisia marginata (Van Duzee, 1897) lands on the French coast of Normandy (Hemiptera, Fulgoromorpha, Delphacidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 117 (4),2012. pp. 441-444