A Systems Biology Approach Identifies Molecular Networks Defining Skeletal Muscle Abnormalities in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an inflammatory process of the lung inducing persistent airflow limitation. Extensive systemic effects, such as skeletal muscle dysfunction, often characterize these patients and severely limit life expectancy. Despite considerable research efforts, the molecular basis of muscle degeneration in COPD is still a matter of intense debate. In this study, we have applied a network biology approach to model the relationship between muscle molecular and physiological response to training and systemic inflammatory mediators. Our model shows that failure to co-ordinately activate expression of several tissue remodelling and bioenergetics pathways is a specific landmark of COPD diseased muscles. Our findings also suggest that this phenomenon may be linked to an abnormal expression of a number of histone modifiers, which we discovered correlate with oxygen utilization. These observations raised the interesting possibility that cell hypoxia may be a key factor driving skeletal muscle degeneration in COPD patients

Envia moleque Miglio & Bonaldo, 2011, new species

Envia moleque new species Figs 1 –12, 15– 26 Holotype. Male from Campinarana forest at Fazenda Experimental da UFAM, km 38, BR 174, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, 2 ° 39 ' 21,23"S 60 ° 4 ' 31,25"W, 31.X. 2008, B. Machado (MPEG 15643). Etymology. The specific epithet honors our deceased friend and colleague José Augusto Pereira Barreiros (Guto), who always wanted to describe a Microstigmatidae, using the colloquial expression "Égua, moleque!” (a surprise interjection meaning “wow, kid!”), every single time he saw one. Diagnosis. Males differ from those of Envia garciai by the tibia I with a group of enlarged, uniformly-sized ventral spines; tibial apophysis (clasping proventral apical spur) absent (Figs 11, 12); tarsi I with a club-like, proximal prolateral spine (Fig. 11); copulatory bulb with a strong apical spine on weakly differentiated paraembolic apophysis (Figs 7 –9, 23, 24). Females differ by having spermathecae with globose distal receptaculum (Figs 10, 25, 26). Additionally, both sexes differ from the type species by the larger posterior median spinnerets, about a third as long as posterior laterals (Figs 2, 21). Description. MALE (MPEG 15643): Carapace, chelicerae and legs, uniformly yellowish; abdomen pale brown (Figs1, 2). Carapace anterior portion rounded, almost glabrous, with few bristles spaced on surface and borders. Fovea straight, transverse, placed in posterior third of carapace. Eyes on low tubercle. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior row recurved. Two clypeal bristles below OMA (Fig. 5). Rastellum absent. Sternum domed, covered with bristles, without sigilla. Labium anteriorly excavated, without cuspules, with several bristles in anterior part. Endites covered with bristles, seven cuspules in straight line on basal region (Figs 6, 16). Serrula weak. Cheliceral furrow with two rows of teeth; prolateral row with seven large teeth and retrolateral row with 14 smaller basal teeth (Fig. 15). Legs with bristles and spines, scaly cuticle (Fig. 17) and corrugated trichobothrial bases (Fig. 18); scopula absent; club-shaped proximal spine in prolateral face of tarsi I (Fig. 11). Three claws on all tarsi. Paired claws with two rows, each with four (leg IV) to nine (leg I) pairs of teeth (Fig. 19). Trichobothria on tarsi, metatarsi and tibiae (Fig. 18). Abdomen almost with sparse dorsal erected bristles; dorsal anterior scutum strong, with thicker bristles, covering about 20 % of abdomen, area posterior to scutum paler (Figs 1, 2, 5, 22). Booklung borders raised (Fig. 20). Four spinnerets, median about 1 / 3 (nearly 33 %) of length of posterior and posterior about 1 / 4 (nearly 25 %) length of abdomen (Figs2, 21). Palp: Copulatory bulb inserted subapically. Embolus thin, gently curved; paraembolic apophysis inconspicuous, weakly differentiated, with strong curved apical spine, surface not sculptured (Figs 7 –9, 23, 24). Measurements: Total length: 1.95; Carapace: 1.89 long; 0.72 wide. Ratio of eye diameters: ALE:AME:PLE:PME, 4: 1: 3: 2; OA: 0.01 long; 0.02 wide; Interdistance AME–PME: 0.01. Cephalothorax: Fovea: 0.05; Sternum: 0.44 long; 0.42 wide; Labium: 0.11 long; 0.16 wide; Endites: 0.27 long; 0.14 wide. Leg measurements: I: Fe 0.68 / Pa 0.52 / Ti 0.55 / Me 0.43 / Ta 0.32 / total 2.5. II: 0.62 / 0.44 / 0.49 / 0.41 / 0.32 / 2.28. III: 0.55 / 0.3 / 0.37 / 0.49 / 0,37/ 2,0 8. IV: 0.7 / 0.37 / 0.64 / 0.74 / 0.45 / 2.9. Abdomen: Long 0.86; Wide 0.54. Spinulation: Tarsi spineless, except tarsi I, with a modificate club-shaped spine; spines absent in all articles of palp, femora and patellae I and II. I – Ti v 2 - 2 -0; Me v 1 - 1 -2; Ta r 1 -0-0. II – Ti v 1 - 1 -2; Me v 1-2 - 2. III – Pa d0- 0-1; Ti v 1 - 1 -2, d 2 - 0-2, p 1 - 0-1, r 1 - 1 - 1; Me d 1 - 0-2, p 1 - 0-1, r 1 - 0- 1. IV – Pa v 0-1 -0, r0- 0-1; Ti v 0-2 - 2, d 0-2 - 2, p0- 0-1, r 0-1 - 1; Me v- 1-2, d 3 - 1-2. Variation. MALES (n= 6): Total length 1.66–1.98; Carapace, 0.75–0.89 long; 0.65–0.73 wide. Leg measurements: I: Fe 0.57–0.7. Number of cuspules on endites: Right 4–6; left 4–7. FEMALE (MPEG 15644): As in male, except: abdomen pale gray. Four clypeal bristles below OMA (Fig. 3). Endites with four (right side) and five (left side) cuspules in straight basal line. Without club-shaped proximal spine on prolateral tarsi I. Dorsal scutum weak, covers ca. 10 % of abdominal length (Figs 3, 4). Genitalia: Spermathecae densely covered by pores, composed by two long, thin, twisted ducts, with globose distal receptacula (Figs 10, 25, 26). Measurements: Total length 2.58; Carapace: 0.86 long; 0.72 wide. Ratio of eye diameters: ALE:AME:PLE:PME, 4: 1: 3: 2; OA: 0.01 long; 0.02 wide; Interdistance AME–PME: 0.01. Cephalothorax: Fovea: 0.07; Sternum: 0.47 long; 0.44 wide; Labium: 0.13 long; 0.2 wide; Endites: 0.26 long; 0.15 wide. Leg measurements: I: Fe 0.5 / Pa 0.38 / Ti 0.42 / Me 0.34 / Ta 0.27 / total 1.91. II: 0.5 / 0.29 / 0.35 / 0.34 / 0.28 / 1.76. III: 0.45 / 0.31 / 0.32 / 0.39 / 0.32 / 1.79. IV: 0.63 / 0.31 / 0.58 / 0.54 / 0.37 / 2.43. Abdomen: 1.21 long; 0.73 wide. Spinulation: I – Me v 0-1 - 2; II – Me v 1 - 1 - 1, p0- 0- 1. III – Ti v 1 - 0-2, d 0-1 - 2, p 2 - 0-1, r 0-1 -0; Me v 2 - 0-3, d 0-1 -0, p 1 - 0-1, r0- 0- 1. IV – Pa d0- 0-1; Ti v0- 0-2, p 0-1 - 1, r0- 0-1; Me v 0-2 - 3, p 1 - 1 - 1. Variation. FEMALES (n= 12): Total lenght 1.9–2.71; Carapace, 0.67–0.93 long; 0.53–0.81 wide. Leg measurements: I: Fe 0.44–0.71. Number of cuspules on endites: right 4–7; left 4–7. Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Other material examined. Paratypes: BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus, BR 174, km 38, Fazenda Experimental da UFAM, 2 ° 39 ' 21,23"S 60 ° 4 ' 31,25"W, Campinarana, 13, 06.IX. 2008 (IBSP 160494); 17.VI. 2009 (INPA 6119); 26.VI. 2009 (MCN 47325); 13 1 Ƥ, 12.X. 2008 (MPEG 15644); 13 2 Ƥ, 11.X. 2008 (INPA 6120); 1 Ƥ, 05.IX. 2008 – 02.VII. 2009 (MPEG 15645, MCN 47327, INPA 6122); 06.IX. 2008 (MPEG 15650); 13.IX. 2008 (INPA 6120); 20.IX. 2008 (MCN 47326); 12.X. 2008 (MPEG 15646); 31.X. 2008 (MPEG 15647), 21.VI. 2009 (IBSP 160495, INPA 6123); 2 Ƥ, 23.VI. 2009 (IBSP 160496); 29.VI. 2009 (MPEG 15651), all collected by B. Machado. Natural history. Envia moleque n. sp. and E. garciai were collected in leaf litter, between roots of trees, in campinarana forest type. These specimens were collected along a topographic gradient that ranges from 0–500 meters of altitude. Ott & Höfer (2003) considered these spiders to belong to the guild “Litter stalkers”, proposed by Höfer & Brescovit (2001), along with Masteria L. Koch 1873 (Dipluridae) and Araneomorphae as Oonopidae, Caponiidae and Palpimanidae. Dias et al. (2010) merged this guild with the “Sedentary nocturnal ground hunters”, a guild also established by Höfer & Brescovit (2001), into a more generalist guild called “Nocturnal ground hunters”.Published as part of Miglio, Laura Tavares & Bonaldo, Alexandre Bragio, 2011, On a second species of Envia Ott & Höfer, 2003 (Araneae, Microstigmatidae), with notes on the sympatric type species, pp. 33-39 in Zootaxa 2971 on pages 35-39, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27824

Bumba, a replacement name for Maraca Pérez-Miles, 2005 and Bumba lennoni, a new tarantula species from western Amazonia (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae)

We propose the name Bumba as a new name for Maraca, preoccupied by Maraca Hebard, 1926 (Orthoptera). We describe and illustrate Bumba lennoni, a new theraphosid species from Caxiuanã, Pará, Brazil. This species differs from the other species of the genus in the extremely reduced keel on male palpal organ and in the higher number of labial and maxillary cuspules. Females additionally differ in the spermathecal morphology. As a consequence of the name replacement, three new combinations are established

On the identity of the type species of Actinopus tarsalis (Araneae: Actinopodidae)

The type species of the Neotropical Actinopus, A. tarsalis Perty, 1833, is redescribed based on material from the type locality, the state of Piauí, Brazil. The species appears to be restricted to northeastern Brazil and is newly recorded from the state of Sergipe. An old record from the state of Rio Grande do Sul is rejected. Actinopus tarsalis differs from other species of the genus by details of the male copulatory bulb: tegular apophysis absent, robust embolar base, inserted basally at a right angle (90°); embolar apices apex flattened and expanded, arrow-shaped in dorsal view

Megaphobema teceae Pérez-Miles, Miglio & Bonaldo, 2006, sp. nov.

Megaphobema teceae sp. nov. Figs. 1–8. Tables 1–2 Types. Male holotype from Igarapé Mutum Valley, Platô do Rio Juruti, Juruti, Pará, Brazil (2 º 3636 ” S, 56 º 127.1 ”W), 411 Nov 2002, T. C. Ávila­Pires col. (MPEG 1113); seven males and one female paratypes, same data (MPEG 1134, 1135; FCE­MY 690; IBSP 11200); female paratype, same locality (2 º 36 ’ 45.2 ”S, 56 º 11 ’ 27.5 ”W), 09.IX. 2002, A. B. Bonaldo col. (MPEG 1092); two males and two females paratypes, same locality (2 º 36 ’ 11.2 ”S, 56 º 12 ’ 36.3 ”W), 0311. VIII. 2004, D. R. Santos­Souza, D. F. Candiani (MPE G 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027). Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of the herpetologist Teresa Cristina Ávila­Pires, nicknamed TC (spelled Tecê, in Portuguese), who collected most of the types in pitfall traps while surveying for the herpetological inventory. Diagnosis. Differs from other species of Megaphobema in the presence of a postocular tubercle (Figs. 1–3) in males and females. Description. Male: (Holotype). Total length, excluding chelicerae and spinnerets 63.4; carapace 32.0 long, 30.3 wide. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Eyes sizes and interspaces: AME 0.60, ALE 0.65, PME 0.85, PLE 0.90, AME­ AME 0.70, AME­ALE 0.70, PME­PME 2.10, ALE­PLE 0.40, clypeus 1.2. Subconical tubercle between ocular tubercle and fovea (Fig. 1). Fovea transverse, slightly procurved, 4.7 wide. Labium 4.0 long, 4.2 wide with 75 cuspules, maxillae with 142 cuspules on each. Sternum 13.2 long, 12.1 wide; sigilla submarginal. Chelicerae with 8 teeth (5 proximal, smaller). Tarsi I­IV all densely scopulate and entire. Metatarsi I and II fully scopulate, scopula on III in distal half, and on IV in distal 1 / 3. Retrolateral face of femur IV with conspicuous scopula. Tibia I with prolateroventral, distal double apophysis (Fig 4, 5). Metatarsus I is flexed at outer side of tibial apophysis. Palpal organ with subtegulum extended, wide and stylus wide and flattened (convex­concave); also with prolateral superior and inferior keels, three prolateral accessory keels and apical keel (Figs. 6, 7). Femur III incrassate (Table 3). Spination: Femora I–V and palp I 1 R; palp 1 P. Patellae I–III and palp 0, IV 1 R. Tibiae I 1 V, II 2 V, III 4 P, 1 R, 2 V, IV 6 P, 1 R, 6 V, palp 7 R, 3 V. Metatarsi I–II and palp 0, III 5 P, 11 V, IV 6 P, 22 V. Tarsi I–IV and palp 0. Cephalothorax dark brown, abdomen and legs dark brown with longer reddish hairs. Types I and III urticating hairs present. Female (Paratype, MPEG 1092): Total length, excluding chelicerae and spinnerets 52.3. Cephalothorax 21.8 long, 21.1 wide. Anterior eye row procurved, posterior slightly recurved. Eyes sizes and interspaces: AME 0.60, ALE 0.80, PME 0.70, PLE 0.80, AME­ AME 0.60, AME ALE 0.80, PME­PME 1.95, PME­PLE 0.08, ALE­PLE 0.60, clypeus 0.50. Subconical tubercle between ocular tubercle and fovea (Fig. 1). Fovea slightly procurved, 2.3 wide. Labium 1.8 long, 1.7 wide, with 59 cuspules, maxillae with 157 cuspules each one. Sternum 9.8 long, sigilla submarginal. Chelicerae with 11 teeth (7 of them proximal smaller). Tarsi densely scopulate: entire on I–III, divided by narrow strip of conical setae on IV. Scopula on metatarsus I entire, II for distal ¾, III for distal 1 / 3 and absent on IV. Retrolateral face of femur IV with conspicuous scopula. Femur III incrassate (Table 4). Spination: Femora I–IV and palp 0. Patellae I–II and palp 0; III 1 p, 1 r; IV 1 p, 3 r. Tibiae I 1 p, 1 r; II 1 p, 1 r, 4 v; III 2 p, 2 r, 8 v; IV 5 p, 3 r, 7 v; palp 9 p, 1 r, 6 v. Metatarsi I 0; II 1 p, 1 r, 3 v; III 7 p, 2 d, 1 r, 9 v; IV 14 p, 2 r, 10 v. Tarsi I–IV and Palp 0. Spermathecae with only one receptacle (completely fused) transversely striated. Color as in male. Types I and III urticating hairs present. Distribution. Megaphobema teceae is only known from the type locality, Juruti River Plateau, Juruti, Pará, Brazil; no further data are known. Variation. Males (n= 10, including holotype): variation in eye sizes and interdistances (mean standard deviation). AME 0.59 0.09, ALE 0.63 0.06, PME 0.56 0.07, PLE 0.69 0.06, AME­AME 0.58 0.07, AME­ALE 0.60 0.28, PME­PME 1.68 0.28, PME­ PLE 0.12 0.03, ALE­PLE 0.43 0.11. Clypeus: 1.80 0.55. Fovea straight to slightly procurved, 5.85 1.16 width. Labium 4.32 0.38 long; 4.32 0.61 wide. Sternum 12.85 1.21 long, 12.01 1.18 wide. Number of cuspules on labium 71.5 16.8; on maxillae 169.0 18.0. Variation in spination is as follows (minimum /maximum): femora I­IV 0; palp 0/ 1 d. Patellae I 0/ 1 p, 1 r; II 0/ 1 p, 0/ 1 r; III 1 / 3 p, 0/ 1 r; IV 0/ 2 p, 0/ 2 r; palp 1 p, 0/ 1 r. Tibiae I 0/ 2 p, 0/ 4 r, 5 v; II 3 / 4 p, 0/ 3 r, 3 / 8 v; III 6 / 10 p, 2 / 4 r, 5 / 11 v; IV 6 / 9 p, 0/ 1 d, 6 / 7 r, 7 / 10 v; palp 3 / 9 p, 0/ 7 r, 3 / 7 v. Metatarsi I 3 v; II 1 p, 0/ 1 d, 0/ 3 r, 3 / 4 v; III 4 / 9 p, 1 / 4 d, 1 / 3 r, 8 / 12 v; IV 9 / 17 p, 0/ 1 d, 12 / 16 r, 14 / 20 v; palp 0. Tarsi I–IV and palp, 0. Cheliceral teeth 9–12, distal large teeth 3; proximal small teeth 6–9. Variation in length of carapace, leg and palpal segments of males are given in Table 3. Variation in size of the dorsal tubercle on the male carapace may be striking (see Figs. 1 and 3). Females (n= 4) AME 0.59 0.14, ALE 0.58 0.05, PME 0.61 0.14, PLE 0.70 0.14, AME­AME 0.45 0.06, AME­ALE 0.51 0.13, PME­PME 0.14 0.05, PME­PLE 0.14 0.05, ALE­PLE 0.33 0.05. Clypeus 1.98 0.68. Fovea straight to slightly procurved 5.76 2.41 wide. Labium 3.08 0.91 long, 3.86 1.54 wide. Sternum 12.75 2.10 long, 11.64 2.60 wide. Cuspules on labium 64.25 13.05; on maxillae 163 19.7. Spination: femora I–IV 0; palp 0/ 1 p, 0/ 1 d. Patellae I 0, II 0/ 1 p; III 1 / 2 p, 0/ 2 r; IV 1 / 2 p, 0/ 2 r; palp 0/ 1 p. Tibiae I 1 / 3 p, 3 / 5 v; II 2 / 3 p, 0/ 2 d, 3 / 5 v; III 4 / 7 p, 1 / 3 r, 4 / 7 v; IV 2 / 8 p, 1 / 5 r, 7 / 10 v; palp 3 / 5 p, 1 / 3 r, 8 / 11 v. Metatarsi I 3 / 5 v; II 1 p, 0/ 1 d, 4 v; III 5 / 11 p, 1 / 4 r, 6 / 15 v; IV 5 / 7 p, 3 / 5 r, 20 / 23 v; palp 0. Tarsi I–IV and palp 0. Cheliceral teeth 10–11, distal large teeth 3. Variation of length of carapace, leg and palpal segments of females are given in Table 4. Natural History. The Juruti River Plateau was subjected to intense wood extraction in the past, especially of Pau­Rosa tree (Aniba sp.). As a result, the original terra firme (dry land) primary forest (Dense Ombrophylous Submontane Forest) was mostly replaced by secondary forest. Due to the difficult access, some portions of terra firme forest, in various degrees of degradation, survived in the low valleys formed by the small creeks (igarapés), which arise in the plateau. All specimens came from disturbed primary forest in the vicinity of Igarapé Mutum. Seven males, including the holotype, were collected in pitfall traps for herpetological inventory, in September, 2002. At that time, a single female was also collected manually, in the afternoon, under log with scarce silk. On later expedition to the area (in August 2004), two females and two males were collected manually during one hour of manual searching at night.Published as part of Pérez-Miles, Fernando, Miglio, Laura T. & Bonaldo, Alexandre B., 2006, Megaphobema teceae n. sp. (Araneae, Theraphosidae), a new theraphosine spider from Brazilian Amazonia, pp. 61-68 in Zootaxa 1115 on pages 63-65, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17158

On Munduruku, a new Theraphosid genus from Oriental Amazonia (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)

Munduruku gen. nov. is proposed for the type species Munduruku bicoloratum sp. nov., from Juruti and Santarém, Pará, Brazil. The main diagnostic character of Munduruku gen. nov. is the presence of a subapical, lanceolate keel on the male palpal bulb, which is unique among the basal taxa of Theraphosinae with type III-IV urticating setae. The female spermathecae consist of two spheroid receptacles with funnel-shaped necks, each of which bears a sclerotized area. In both sexes, the abdomen is remarkably patterned, an uncommon feature in adults of New World theraphosids. Both the bulbus lanceolate keel and the abdominal color pattern are hypothesized as synapomorphies of the genus

Megaphobema teceae n. sp. (Araneae, Theraphosidae), a new theraphosine spider from Brazilian Amazonia

Pérez-Miles, Fernando, Miglio, Laura T., Bonaldo, Alexandre B. (2006): Megaphobema teceae n. sp. (Araneae, Theraphosidae), a new theraphosine spider from Brazilian Amazonia. Zootaxa 1115: 61-68, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17158