Further Eastern Range Extension and Host Records for \u3ci\u3eLeptoglossus Occidentalis\u3c/i\u3e (Heteroptera: Coreidae): Well-Documented Dispersal of a Household Nuisance

Leptoglossus occidentalis is reported for the first time from Connecticut, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, representing an eastern range extension from Indiana and Michigan. Tsuga canadensis and Pinus mugo are added to the long list of coniferous hosts of this coreid. Approximately 233 of 316 northeastern specimens were collected inside or on the outside of buildings from August-May, confirming previous observations that L. occidentalis uses buildings for overwintering. Isolated records from Con- necticut and eastern Pennsylvania suggest human-mediated dispersal may augment its natural dispersal. The pattern of distribution records on a map of North America identifies L. occidentalis as one of the best documented examples of a native insect expanding its range eastward in North America. Striking differences in the color pattern of the abdominal dorsum facilitates separation of the closely related L. occidentalis and L. corculus

Significant Range Extension of \u3ci\u3eLeptotes Marina\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Into New York State

(excerpt) The Marine Blue, Leptotes marina (Reakirt) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), is resident from the southwestern United States south through Mexico to Guatemala, with strays reported no further northeast than extreme northwestern Indiana and extreme south-central Ohio (Opler and Krizek 1984, Scott 1986, Shull 1987, Opler and Maliku 11992, Parshall 1993). Although L. marina may be easily overlooked in the field (Iftner, Shuey and Calhoun 1992), the paucity of published records, e.g., two in Illinois (Irwin and Downey 1973), one in Indiana (Shull 1987), and one in Ohio (Parshall 1993), may truly reflect the rarity of strays in the northeastern portion of its range

An Ancient Duplication of Exon 5 in the Snap25 Gene Is Required for Complex Neuronal Development/Function

Alternative splicing is an evolutionary innovation to create functionally diverse proteins from a limited number of genes. SNAP-25 plays a central role in neuroexocytosis by bridging synaptic vesicles to the plasma membrane during regulated exocytosis. The SNAP-25 polypeptide is encoded by a single copy gene, but in higher vertebrates a duplication of exon 5 has resulted in two mutually exclusive splice variants, SNAP-25a and SNAP-25b. To address a potential physiological difference between the two SNAP-25 proteins, we generated gene targeted SNAP-25b deficient mouse mutants by replacing the SNAP-25b specific exon with a second SNAP-25a equivalent. Elimination of SNAP-25b expression resulted in developmental defects, spontaneous seizures, and impaired short-term synaptic plasticity. In adult mutants, morphological changes in hippocampus and drastically altered neuropeptide expression were accompanied by severe impairment of spatial learning. We conclude that the ancient exon duplication in the Snap25 gene provides additional SNAP-25-function required for complex neuronal processes in higher eukaryotes

First records for the jumping spiders Heliophanus kochii in the Americas and Myrmarachne formicaria in New York State (Araneae: Salticidae)

Gall, Wayne K., Edwards, G. B. (2016): First records for the jumping spiders Heliophanus kochii in the Americas and Myrmarachne formicaria in New York State (Araneae: Salticidae). Peckhamia 140 (1): 1-7, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.716934

The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation.

Infectious and inflammatory diseases have repeatedly shown strong genetic associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, the basis for these associations remains elusive. To define host genetic effects on the outcome of a chronic viral infection, we performed genome-wide association analysis in a multiethnic cohort of HIV-1 controllers and progressors, and we analyzed the effects of individual amino acids within the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins. We identified >300 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MHC and none elsewhere. Specific amino acids in the HLA-B peptide binding groove, as well as an independent HLA-C effect, explain the SNP associations and reconcile both protective and risk HLA alleles. These results implicate the nature of the HLA-viral peptide interaction as the major factor modulating durable control of HIV infection