Four New Fuscheriid Soil Ciliates (Ciliophora: Haptorida) from Four Biogeographic Regions

Fuscheriid haptorids are characterized by meridionally extending ciliary rows clearly separated from the dikinetidal circumoral kinety; a two- or three-rowed dorsal brush; and oral basket rods (nematodesmata) originating from both, the circumoral dikinetids and from some oralized monokinetids in the anterior portion of the ciliary rows. Using standard morphological methods, we describe four new fuscheriid taxa, each discovered in a specific biogeographic region. Fuscheriides tibetensis nov. gen., nov. spec. has rod-shaped extrusomes and two dorsal brush rows. It is a small (~ 80 × 10 μm), slender ciliate with only seven ciliary rows, and was discovered in grassland soil of southern Tibet, about 4600 m above sea-level. Aciculoplites ethiopiensis nov. gen., nov. spec. has acicular extrusomes and two dorsal brush rows. It is a middle-sized (~ 100 × 30 μm), oblong ciliate with about 22 ciliary rows, and was discovered in floodplain soil from a lake in Ethiopia. Fuscheria uluruensis nov. spec., which we discovered in mud and aeolic soil from pools on top of the Ayers Rock in the red centre of Australia, is unique in having the macronucleus split into about 12 oblong nodules. The nodules originate post-divisionally via the branching macronucleus strand, as in multinucleate spathidiids. Fuscheria nodosa salisburgensis nov. sspec., which was discovered in mud and soil of a meadow pool in Salzburg (Austria), has a long, tortuous macronucleus and about 45 ciliary rows. The resting cyst has an escape apparatus absent from the cyst of F. uluruensis, indicating that Fuscheria is non-monophyletic

Analysis of brain atrophy and local gene expression in genetic frontotemporal dementia

Abstract Frontotemporal dementia is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal loss in the frontal and temporal lobes. Despite progress in understanding which genes are associated with the aetiology of frontotemporal dementia, the biological basis of how mutations in these genes lead to cell loss in specific cortical regions remains unclear. In this work, we combined gene expression data for 16 772 genes from the Allen Institute for Brain Science atlas with brain maps of grey matter atrophy in symptomatic C9orf72, GRN and MAPT mutation carriers obtained from the Genetic Frontotemporal dementia Initiative study. No significant association was seen between C9orf72, GRN and MAPT expression and the atrophy patterns in the respective genetic groups. After adjusting for spatial autocorrelation, between 1000 and 5000 genes showed a negative or positive association with the atrophy pattern within each individual genetic group, with the most significantly associated genes being TREM2, SSBP3 and GPR158 (negative association in C9Orf72, GRN and MAPT respectively) and RELN, MXRA8 and LPA (positive association in C9Orf72, GRN and MAPT respectively). An overrepresentation analysis identified a negative association with genes involved in mitochondrial function, and a positive association with genes involved in vascular and glial cell function in each of the genetic groups. A set of 423 and 700 genes showed significant positive and negative association, respectively, with atrophy patterns in all three maps. The gene set with increased expression in spared cortical regions was enriched for neuronal and microglial genes, while the gene set with increased expression in atrophied regions was enriched for astrocyte and endothelial cell genes. Our analysis suggests that these cell types may play a more active role in the onset of neurodegeneration in frontotemporal dementia than previously assumed, and in the case of the positively associated cell marker genes, potentially through emergence of neurotoxic astrocytes and alteration in the blood–brain barrier, respectively

Four New Fuscheriid Soil Ciliates (Ciliophora: Haptorida) from Four Biogeographic Regions

Fuscheriid haptorids are characterized by meridionally extending ciliary rows clearly separated from the dikinetidal circumoral kinety; a two- or three-rowed dorsal brush; and oral basket rods (nematodesmata) originating from both, the circumoral dikinetids and from some oralized monokinetids in the anterior portion of the ciliary rows. Using standard morphological methods, we describe four new fuscheriid taxa, each discovered in a specific biogeographic region. Fuscheriides tibetensis nov. gen., nov. spec. has rod-shaped extrusomes and two dorsal brush rows. It is a small (~ 80 × 10 μm), slender ciliate with only seven ciliary rows, and was discovered in grassland soil of southern Tibet, about 4600 m above sea-level. Aciculoplites ethiopiensis nov. gen., nov. spec. has acicular extrusomes and two dorsal brush rows. It is a middle-sized (~ 100 × 30 μm), oblong ciliate with about 22 ciliary rows, and was discovered in floodplain soil from a lake in Ethiopia. Fuscheria uluruensis nov. spec., which we discovered in mud and aeolic soil from pools on top of the Ayers Rock in the red centre of Australia, is unique in having the macronucleus split into about 12 oblong nodules. The nodules originate post-divisionally via the branching macronucleus strand, as in multinucleate spathidiids. Fuscheria nodosa salisburgensis nov. sspec., which was discovered in mud and soil of a meadow pool in Salzburg (Austria), has a long, tortuous macronucleus and about 45 ciliary rows. The resting cyst has an escape apparatus absent from the cyst of F. uluruensis, indicating that Fuscheria is non-monophyletic

Evaluation of Biostimulatory Activity of Commercial Formulations on Three Varieties of Chickpea

Biostimulants are studied as a possible agricultural practice that anticipates the reproductive stages of chickpeas to avoid their coincidence with high temperatures and hydric stress periods. The effect of several types of biostimulants on different chickpea varieties was analyzed. The Blanco Sinaloa chickpea variety showed opposite patterns with respect to biostimulant effect on germination success and vegetative and radicular development when compared with two other chickpea varieties, namely Amelia, a well-known variety, and IMIDRA10, a recently developed variety. Blanco Sinaloa is cultured under water irrigation conditions, while Amelia and IMIDRA10 are used under rainfed conditions. Blanco Sinaloa and IMIDRA10 are Kabuli-type varieties, while Amelia is Desi-type. All varieties emerged 9 days after the sowing, but Amelia nascence was more abundant at the beginning, on day 9. On day 32, the picture was quite different, since Blanco Sinaloa had germinated 100% in practically all treatments, followed by Amelia and IMIDRA10. There were significant differences between plant lengths among the three varieties, since Blanco Sinaloa is much larger than Amelia and IMIDRA10. Blanco Sinaloa was the only variety in which the plant lengths of biostimulant-impregnated seeds were superior to those of untreated plants; that is, it was the only one that was positively affected by biostimulants. Chickpea seeds should be treated with biostimulants such that they are dry for sowing, because the mechanic seeder only works with dry seeds

Tokophrya stenostyla Hamilton & Jahn

Description of <i>Tokophrya cf. stenostyla</i> Hamilton & Jahn <p>The suctorians analyzed (Figures 2–3) had an oval elongated body (51–53 µm long, 20–42 µm wide). In several individuals there was a cap-shaped region protruding from the front end of the body. The posterior end of the body was truncated just above the junction of the stalk. Tentacles spread at the distal end, not grouped in actinophores. There were 20–25 tentacles, directly attached to the surface of the ciliate. The stalk was long (105–121 µm), and its posterior end was widen slightly in attachment with substrate. The anterior end showed a widening near the body, composed by an unequal double ring. The macronucleus was spherical or oval (19–29 µm long, 17–27 µm wide), located in the middle or slightly towards the anterior half of the body (Table 3).</p> <p> <b>Registration numbers:</b> MNCN 39.04/2-39.04/4</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> They were found attached principally to the dorsal area (Figure 4) of elytra of several species of <i>Hydraena</i>: <i>H. delia, H. subimpressa</i> and <i>H. truncata</i> (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae). Found in rivers Bellós and Yaga. (Table 2).</p>Published as part of <i>Fernández-Leborans, Gregorio, Valladolid, María, Arauzo, Mercedes, Millán, Andrés, Gabilondo, Regina, Gallardo, Manuela, Jiménez, Luis & Ramírez-Ballesteros, Mireya, 2017, Epibionts on Hydraena species (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from high mountain rivers of Pyrenees (Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park), with the description of a new species, pp. 79-94 in Zootaxa 4317 (1)</i> on page 83, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4317.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/880068">http://zenodo.org/record/880068</a&gt

Epibionts on Hydraena species (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from high mountain rivers of Pyrenees (Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park), with the description of a new species

Macroinvertebrate samples collected during spring-summer 2013 in high mountain rivers of the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Pyrenees) contained several Hydraena species (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) where we found two genera of suctorian ciliates as epibionts: Tokophrya and Discophrya. The individuals of the genus Tokophrya probably belong to species Tokophrya stenostyla, being the first time that this species is observed attached on arthropods. Suctorians of the genus Discophrya were identified as a new species called Discophrya ordesae sp. n. The presence and abundance of epibionts was discussed in the frame of the biological and ecological characteristics of the species of Hydraena where they were found.Peer Reviewe

Discophrya ordesae Ramírez-Ballesteros 2017, sp. n.

Description of <i>Discophrya ordesae</i> Fernández-Leborans & Valladolid, sp. n. <p> <b> <i>Derivatio nominis</i>:</b> from Ordesa valley (Pyrenees, Comunity of Aragón, Spain).</p> <p>Ciliate suctorians located mainly in ventral areas of abdomen and thorax (in this case between legs), in number of 1–2, rarely 3 individuals per basibiont (Figure 5). Fanlike body (222–238 µm long, and 255–277 µm wide) with distal end uniformly rounded and proximal end strait and connected to the stalk (Figures 6–7).</p> <p>Body very flattened. Distal edge of the lorica double with capitate tentacles inserted (135–148), of variable length (Figures 8–9) as they are retracted or not (5.3–15.5 µm retracted; 27.2–102.2 extended).</p> <p>Stalk short (86.3–97.2 µm) and thick. Distal end of stalk joining to the basibiont by a slightly expanded region. Proximal part of the stalk continued by a lorica (stylotheca) with thick edge and strong surrounding the cellular body. Macronucleus located in the middle of body (Figure 10–11), oval or rounded (100.4–125 µm long, 109.3– 127 µm wide).</p> <p>In several specimens, larval kineties may be observed in the centre of the body (Figure 12), with the cilia protruding laterally, probably constituting the development of the swarmer on brood pouch (Table 4). Evaginative budding.</p> <p> <b>Registration numbers:</b> MNCN 39.04/5-39.04/7.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> It was found attached to ventral area, mainly in abdomen, of <i>Hydraena delia</i> and <i>H. truncata</i> (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae). From Yaga river (Table 2).</p>Published as part of <i>Fernández-Leborans, Gregorio, Valladolid, María, Arauzo, Mercedes, Millán, Andrés, Gabilondo, Regina, Gallardo, Manuela, Jiménez, Luis & Ramírez-Ballesteros, Mireya, 2017, Epibionts on Hydraena species (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from high mountain rivers of Pyrenees (Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park), with the description of a new species, pp. 79-94 in Zootaxa 4317 (1)</i> on pages 85-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4317.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/880068">http://zenodo.org/record/880068</a&gt

Discophrya Lachmann 1859

Genus <i>Discophrya</i> Lachmann, 1859 <p>Freshwater suctorians. Evaginative swarmer is dorsoventrally flattened and ciliated on the ventral side. Cup-shaped species without lorica, and when they have lorica, it is a extension of the stalk. Cellular body flattenned. Stalk is strong especially in symphoriont species, with a proximal widening. Contractile vacuole easily distinguishable. (Matthes 1988; Lynn & Small 2000).</p>Published as part of <i>Fernández-Leborans, Gregorio, Valladolid, María, Arauzo, Mercedes, Millán, Andrés, Gabilondo, Regina, Gallardo, Manuela, Jiménez, Luis & Ramírez-Ballesteros, Mireya, 2017, Epibionts on Hydraena species (Coleoptera: Hydraenidae) from high mountain rivers of Pyrenees (Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park), with the description of a new species, pp. 79-94 in Zootaxa 4317 (1)</i> on page 85, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4317.1.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/880068">http://zenodo.org/record/880068</a&gt

Rhizobacteria-Based Biostimulant Mixture Effect on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Greenhouse and Cultivation Assays

This study aims to contribute to the improvement of the chickpea agri-food industry and adapt it to future challenges. For this, the effect of a Rhizobacteria-based biostimulant mixture was analyzed in Amelia variety of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in two different experiments: one in flowerpots in a greenhouse and the other one in the field grown under rainfed conditions. Germination success, vegetative development and phenological stages of the plants were studied after applying liquid biostimulant mixture on the seeds 24 h before sowing or spraying it on the soil after sowing. The results indicated that the way of application of the biostimulant was relevant concerning germination success, vegetative development, and phenological state of chickpea plants and it should be adapted to intensive agriculture with the use of seed drill that requires dry seeds. Regarding germination success, vegetative development and phenological stages in the flower pot assay, the volume of biostimulant mixture applied to the seeds was remarkable as higher volumes affected negatively while lower volumes were positive. Biostimulant had a negative effect on the development of chickpea plants in the field assay, probably because it also promoted the growth of weeds, which lessened the growth of the chickpea plants