New Phytologist / The betrayed thief the extraordinary strategy of Aristolochia rotunda to deceive its pollinators

Pollination of several angiosperms is based on deceit. In such systems, the flowers advertise a reward that ultimately is not provided. We report on a previously unknown pollination/mimicry system discovered in deceptive Aristolochia rotunda (Aristolochiaceae). Pollinators were collected in the natural habitat and identified. Flower scent and the volatiles of insects (models) potentially mimicked were analyzed by chemical analytical techniques. Electrophysiological and behavioral tests on the pollinators identified the components that mediate the plantpollinator interaction and revealed the model of the mimicry system. The main pollinators of A. rotunda were female Chloropidae. They are food thieves that feed on secretions of true bugs (Miridae) while these are eaten by arthropod predators. Freshly killed mirids and Aristolochia flowers released the same scent components that chloropids use to find their food sources. Aristolochia exploits these components to deceive their chloropid pollinators. Aristolochia and other trap flowers were believed to lure saprophilous flies and mimic brood sites of pollinators. We demonstrate for A. rotunda, and hypothesize for other deceptive angiosperms, the evolution of a different, kleptomyiophilous pollination strategy. It involves scent mimicry and the exploitation of kleptoparasitic flies as pollinators. Our findings suggest a reconsideration of plants assumed to show sapromyiophilous pollination.(VLID)221519

Immunopathogenesis and proposed clinical score for identifying Kelch-like protein-11 encephalitis

In this study, we report the clinical features of Kelch-like protein 11 antibody-associated paraneoplastic neurological syndrome, design and validate a clinical score to facilitate the identification of patients that should be tested for Kelch-like protein 11 antibodies, and examine in detail the nature of the immune response in both the brain and the tumour samples for a better characterization of the immunopathogenesis of this condition. The presence of Kelch-like protein 11 antibodies was retrospectively assessed in patients referred to the French Reference Center for paraneoplastic neurological syndrome and autoimmune encephalitis with (i) antibody-negative paraneoplastic neurological syndrome [limbic encephalitis (n = 105), cerebellar degeneration (n = 33)] and (ii) antibody-positive paraneoplastic neurological syndrome [Ma2-Ab encephalitis (n = 34), antibodies targeting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis with teratoma (n = 49)]. Additionally, since 1 January 2020, patients were prospectively screened for Kelch-like protein 11 antibodies as new usual clinical practice. Overall, Kelch-like protein 11 antibodies were detected in 11 patients [11/11, 100% were male; their median (range) age was 44 (35-79) years], 9 of them from the antibody-negative paraneoplastic neurological syndrome cohort, 1 from the antibody-positive (Ma2-Ab) cohort and 1 additional prospectively detected patient. All patients manifested a cerebellar syndrome, either isolated (4/11, 36%) or part of a multi-system neurological disorder (7/11, 64%). Additional core syndromes were limbic encephalitis (5/11, 45%) and myelitis (2/11, 18%). Severe weight loss (7/11, 64%) and hearing loss/tinnitus (5/11, 45%) were common. Rarer neurologic manifestations included hypersomnia and seizures (2/11, 18%). Two patients presented phenotypes resembling primary neurodegenerative disorders (progressive supranuclear palsy and flail arm syndrome, respectively). An associated cancer was found in 9/11 (82%) patients; it was most commonly (7/9, 78%) a spontaneously regressed ('burned-out') testicular germ cell tumour. A newly designed clinical score (MATCH score: male, ataxia, testicular cancer, hearing alterations) with a cut-off ≥4 successfully identified patients with Kelch-like protein 11 antibodies (sensitivity 78%, specificity 99%). Pathological findings (three testicular tumours, three lymph node metastases of testicular tumours, one brain biopsy) showed the presence of a T-cell inflammation with resulting anti-tumour immunity in the testis and one chronic, exhausted immune response - demonstrated by immune checkpoint expression - in the metastases and the brain. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Kelch-like protein 11 antibody paraneoplastic neurological syndrome is a homogeneous clinical syndrome and its detection can be facilitated using the MATCH score. The pathogenesis is probably T-cell mediated, but the stages of inflammation are different in the testis, metastases and the brain

Comparative Genomics of Facultative Bacterial Symbionts Isolated from European Orius Species Reveals an Ancestral Symbiotic Association

The use of several species within the genus Orius in pest control is widely spread, particularly in Mediterranean Europe. The characterisation and contribution of microbial symbionts to Orius sp. fitness, behaviour, and potential impact on human health has been neglected. This paper provides the first genome sequence level description of the predominant culturable facultative bacterial symbionts associated with five Orius species (O. laevigatus, O. niger, O. pallidicornis, O. majusculus, and O. albidipennis) from several geographical locations. Two types of symbionts were broadly classified as members of the genera Serratia and Leucobacter, while a third constitutes a new genus within the Erwiniaceae. These symbionts were found to colonise all the insect specimens tested, which evidenced an ancestral symbiotic association between these bacteria and the genus Orius. Pangenome analyses of the Serratia sp. isolates offered clues linking Type VI secretion system effector–immunity proteins from the Tai4 sub-family to the symbiotic lifestyle

Randall T. Schuh & James A. SLATER. -True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera : Heteroptera) : Classification and Natural History. 1995. En anglais. ISBN 0-8014-2066-0. Cornell University Press (suite de la p. 360)

Péricart Jean. Randall T. Schuh & James A. SLATER. -True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera : Heteroptera) : Classification and Natural History. 1995. En anglais. ISBN 0-8014-2066-0. Cornell University Press (suite de la p. 360). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 100 (4), octobre 1995. p. 436

Quelques nouvelles synonymies de Rhyparochrominae paléarctiques et description d'une nouvelle espèce de Stygnocoris (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae)

The purpose of the present paper is to gather several synonymies or discussions resulting of studies of several collections of Lygaeidae in european museums ; this work has been done in the frame of the preparation of my monograph about euro-mediterranean Lygaeidae, and of the Catalogue of palaearctic species of this family. Several lectotypes are designated, and a new species, Stygnocoris hellenicus n.sp., from Greece, is described.Le présent article est préalable à ma monographie sur les Lygaeidae euro-méditerranéens, et à la rédaction du Catalogue des espèces paléarctiques. Il réunit diverses synonymies relatives à des espèces de Rhyparochrominae, qui me sont apparues lors de l'examen des collections de plusieurs Muséum européens, ainsi que des discussions de cas critiques, Un certain nombre de lectotypes sont désignés, et une nouvelle espèce, Stygnocoris hellenicus n.sp., de Grèce, est décrite.Péricart Jean. Quelques nouvelles synonymies de Rhyparochrominae paléarctiques et description d'une nouvelle espèce de Stygnocoris (Heteroptera, Lygaeidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 101 (4), octobre 1996. pp. 343-350

Une espèce nouvelle de Microphysidae représentant un genre nouveau et une espèce nouvelle d'Anthocoridae [Rhynch. Hem.]

Péricart Jean. Une espèce nouvelle de Microphysidae représentant un genre nouveau et une espèce nouvelle d'Anthocoridae [Rhynch. Hem.]. In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 79 (9-10), Novembre-décembre 1974. pp. 253-257

Note au sujet des caractères subgénériques chez les Orius paléarctiques (Hétéroptères Anthocoridae)

Péricart Jean. Note au sujet des caractères subgénériques chez les Orius paléarctiques (Hétéroptères Anthocoridae). In: Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Lyon, 36ᵉ année, n°4, avril 1967. pp. 148-154

Note taxonomique au sujet du genre Elatophilus Reuter. Description d'une espèce nouvelle et observations diverses [Het. Anthocoridae]

Péricart Jean. Note taxonomique au sujet du genre Elatophilus Reuter. Description d'une espèce nouvelle et observations diverses [Het. Anthocoridae]. In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 72 (1-2), Janvier-février 1967. pp. 52-60

Note sur quelques espèces de Strachiini (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

Note on some species of Strachiini (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae).This paper aims at gathering several new data for the preparation of the chapter "Strachiini" of a monograph about euro-mediterranean Pentatomoidea. It is based on the study of existing materials in several european collections, and as far as possible on the checking of type specimens ; some lectotypes are fixed and new generic and specific synonymies are proposed. One neotype is described. One subgeneric name is cancelled.Dans le cadre d'une monographie en préparation sur les Pentatomoidea euro-méditerranéens, des mises en synonymie relatives à la tribu "Strachiini" (= Eurydemini) sont proposées, avec la description d'un néotype et, quand nécessaire, des désignations de lectotypes. Un nom subgénérique est supprimé.Péricart Jean. Note sur quelques espèces de Strachiini (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 109 (4), octobre 2004. pp. 367-374