Systematic re-structure and new species of Sphaerodoridae (Annelida) after morphological revision and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the North East Atlantic fauna

Detailed morphological study of more than 2600 North East Atlantic (NEA) sphaerodorids (Sphaerodoridae, Annelida) and phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences of representatives of several identified morphospecies enforced changing the current systematic classification within the family, allowed the discovery of new species, provided new information about the morphological and genetic characterisation of members of this group, and increased the species occurrence data to better infer their geographic and bathymetric distribution ranges. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA) and mitochondrial sequences (COI and 16S rRNA) of NEA short-bodied sphaerodorids revealed outstanding results including paraphyly of the genera Sphaerodoropsis, Sphaerodoridium, and Sphaerephesia. The number of longitudinal and transverse rows of dorsal macrotubercles is proposed as potential synapomorphies for the main clades, and are consequently herein used for the genera delimitation. The new classification proposed here implies nomenclatural changes and the erection of a new genus, Geminofilum gen. n., to accommodate the species previously considered as Sphaerodoropsis with two transverse rows of dorsal macrotubercles per segment. Four species are being described herein: Euritmia nordica Capa & Bakken, sp. n., Sphaerephesia multichaeta Capa, Moreira & Parapar, sp. n., Sphaerephesia ponsi Capa, Parapar & Moreira, sp. n., and Sphaerodoridium celiae Moreira, Capa & Parapar, sp. n. Characterisation of the other 21 species, including updated iconography, and an identification key to all NEA short-bodied sphaerodorids are providedFinancial support was provided to MC by ForBio Research School, funded by the Research Council of Norway (project no. 248799) and the Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative (project no. 70184215) and by the Ramón y Cajal program (RYC-2016-20799) funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Comunidad Autónoma de las Islas Baleares and the European Social Fund. The Norwegian Taxonomy Initiative provided financial support to AN (knr 49-13, pnr 70184228), to TB (knr 53-09, pnr 70184216, knr 55-12, pnr 70184227); and by the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative [https://www.artdatabanken.se/en/the-swedish-taxonomy-initiative/] (dnr 140/07 1.4 and 166/08 1.4), to AN. Collections at MNCN and MNHN were visited by MC thanks to the European Commission Taxonomic Initiative SYNTHESYS (ES-TAF-2839, ES-TAF-7033, and FR-TAF-2644), SEM work was partially funded by Fauna Ibérica: Polychaeta VI (CGL2014-53332-C5-3-P). Publication fees were covered by NTNU Publishing Fund to M

Prognostic factors in 264 adults with invasive Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora prolificans infection reported in the literature and FungiScope

Invasive Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora prolificans infections are an emerging threat in immunocompromised and occasionally in healthy hosts. Scedosporium spp. is intrinsically resistant to most, L. prolificans to all the antifungal drugs currently approved, raising concerns about appropriate treatment decisions. High mortality rates of up to 90% underline the need for comprehensive diagnostic workup and even more for new, effective antifungal drugs to improve patient outcome. For a comprehensive analysis, we identified cases of severe Scedosporium spp. and L. prolificans infections from the literature diagnosed in 2000 or later and the FungiScopeVR registry. For 208 Scedosporium spp. infections solid organ transplantation (n¼58, 27.9%) and for 56 L. prolificans infection underlying malignancy (n¼28, 50.0%) were the most prevalent risk factors. L. prolificans infections frequently presented as fungemia (n¼26, 46.4% versus n¼12, 5.8% for Scedosporium spp.). Malignancy, fungemia, CNS and lung involvement predicted worse outcome for scedosporiosis and lomentosporiosis. Patients treated with voriconazole had a better overall outcome in both groups compared to treatment with amphotericin B formulations. This review discusses the epidemiology, prognostic factors, pathogen susceptibility to approved and investigational antifungals, and treatment strategies of severe infections caused by Scedosporium spp. and L. prolificansWe thank Sabine Wrackmeyer for her private donation to support the projec