Characterization of the genetic landscape of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Over 94 million domestic cats are susceptible to cancers and other common and rare diseases. While cancer treatment in cats increasingly mirrors that available in humans, treatment failures are more frequent. There are no FDA or USDA approved cancer drugs for cats and a paucity of cancer treatments beyond surgery, radiotherapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy indicate an urgent need to define the molecular properties of aggressive feline cancers including common cancers such as soft tissue sarcoma, mammary carcinoma, lymphoma, and feline oral squamous cell carcinoma. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a proven strategy to study these disease-causing variants in humans and other organisms. To examine the effectiveness of WES in the study of feline cancer and Mendelian diseases, whole exome sequencing was conducted on 41 cats with known and unknown genetic diseases and traits, of which ten cats had matching whole genome sequence (WGS) data available, used to validate WES performance. Within the 41 cats, we identified 31 previously known causal variants and discovered new gene candidate variants, including novel missense variance for polycystic kidney disease and atrichia in the Peterbald cat. The WES data was sufficient to identify novel gene candidate alleles for diseases and traits in a feline model. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is a cancer of the squamous cell lining in the oral cavity and represents up to 80 percent of all oral cancers in cats, with a low one-year survival rate of <10 percent. The cancer pathology associated with feline oral squamous cell carcinoma is similar to human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which accounts for 90 percent of oral cancers in humans. FOSCC may present as a potential model to study HNSCC due to spontaneous formation, similar genetic landscape, pathology, and survival rates. We have generated single nucleotide variant calls using GATK-Mutect2 on six cats with FOSCC and have fully annotated and identified driver genes in common with HNSCC. Due to low sample size, a larger cohort is needed to draw stronger association of disease-causing traits. Our results show some overlap in the genetic landscape of both cancers, with five samples have mutations in p53, a common mutation in HNSCC, and two samples having four genes in common with HNSCC each. Several samples with mutations in p53 and mutations in genes implicated in HNSCC suggests that the domestic cat could be a viable model for HNSCC.Includes bibliographical references

Genetic variants associated with subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism identified through genome-wide analyses

Very few genetic variants have been associated with depression and neuroticism, likely because of limitations on sample size in previous studies. Subjective well-being, a phenotype that is genetically correlated with both of these traits, has not yet been studied with genome-wide data. We conducted genome-wide association studies of three phenotypes: subjective well-being (n = 298,420), depressive symptoms (n = 161,460), and neuroticism (n = 170,911). We identify 3 variants associated with subjective well-being, 2 variants associated with depressive symptoms, and 11 variants associated with neuroticism, including 2 inversion polymorphisms. The two loci associated with depressive symptoms replicate in an independent depression sample. Joint analyses that exploit the high genetic correlations between the phenotypes (|ρ^| ≈ 0.8) strengthen the overall credibility of the findings and allow us to identify additional variants. Across our phenotypes, loci regulating expression in central nervous system and adrenal or pancreas tissues are strongly enriched for association.</p

Juliaca nigra Dos Santos & Cavichioli & Takiya & Mejdalani 2018, sp. nov.

&lt;i&gt;Juliaca nigra&lt;/i&gt; Santos, Cavichioli, Takiya &amp; Mejdalani sp. nov. &lt;p&gt;(Figures 1&ndash;13)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Length: male holotype 4.1 mm; male paratypes 4.1&ndash;4.2 mm (n = 2); female paratypes 4.5&ndash;4.6 mm (n = 2).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Head (Fig. 1), in dorsal view, well produced anteriorly, triangular; median length of crown approximately 7/10 of interocular width and 4/10 of transocular width; anterior margin subacute; without carina at transition from crown to face. Ocelli located slightly before imaginary line between anterior eye angles, each slightly closer to adjacent eye angle than to median line of crown. Crown without transverse concavity before ocelli; antennal ledge, in lateral view, with anterior margin oblique and slightly convex. Face without distinct pubescence; frons slightly flattened medially, muscle impressions distinct; epistomal suture obsolete; clypeus, in lateral view, with profile continuing contour of frons.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Thorax (Fig. 1) with pronotal width slightly smaller than transocular width of head; lateral margins of pronotum slightly convergent anteriorly, posterior margin slightly concave; dorsolateral carina distinct, extending as far anteriorly as eye margin; disk without transverse rugae. Mesonotum with scutellum not striate. Forewing with membrane indistinct; bases of anteapical cells located more proximally than claval apex; with four apical cells, base of fourth more proximal than base of third. Hind wing with vein R2+3 incomplete. Hind leg with length of first tarsomere approximately equal to combined length of two more distal tarsomeres.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Male terminalia. Pygofer (Fig. 2), in lateral view, slightly produced posteriorly; posterior margin convex; disk with macrosetae on apical half; without processes. Subgenital plate (Fig. 3), in ventral view, with apical half strongly narrowed; in lateral view, extending posteriorly slightly beyond pygofer apex; with uniseriate macrosetae, microsetae also present. Style (Fig. 4), in dorsal view, with distal third narrowing gradually posteriorly; without preapical lobe; apex subacute. Connective (Fig. 4), in dorsal view, T-shaped; arms thick; stalk slender, not extending as far posteriorly as apex of style. Aedeagus symmetrical, without processes; shaft (Fig. 5, ASH), in lateral view, with broad, sclerotized basal area that forms narrow dorsal projection; apical half with large membranous lobe (Fig. 5, MBL). Paraphyses (Figs. 5&ndash;6) symmetrical; in dorsal view, with stalk long and broad, bearing pair of apicolateral lobes; rami slender, shorter than stalk.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Female terminalia. Sternite VII (Figs. 7&ndash;9), in ventral view, well produced posteriorly; distal margin with small, median dentiform projection. Pygofer (Figs. 7&ndash;8), in lateral view, moderately produced posteriorly; posterior margin narrowly rounded; macrosetae distributed on posterior half and extending anteriorly along ventral margin. Second valvula (Figs. 10&ndash;13), in lateral view, straight; dorsal margin bearing about 20 continuous teeth; most teeth (Figs. 11&ndash;12) elongate, with basal portion projected dorsally and apical portion very low, flattened; apicalmost 3&ndash;4 teeth (Fig. 13) triangular; denticles distributed on teeth and on apical portion of blade (ventral dentate apical portion distinctly longer than dorsal portion, Fig. 13); preapical prominence (Fig. 13) distinct; apex acute. Gonoplac (partially visible in Fig. 7), in lateral view, with basal half narrow; apical half expanded, gradually narrowing towards apex; latter subacute.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Color (Fig. 1). Crown, pronotum, and mesonotum black, unmarked. Forewing translucent dark brown. Face black; labrum and labium yellow. Legs yellow; hind coxa brown.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Taxonomic notes.&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Juliaca nigra&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; can be distinguished from the remaining species of this diverse and complex genus by the following combination of features: (1) head, pronotum, and mesonotum black, without spots or stripes (Fig. 1); (2) forewing dark brown, without spots, stripes, or transparent areas (Fig. 1); (3) face black, with labrum and labium yellow; (4) male pygofer slightly produced posteriorly, without processes (Fig. 2); (5) style with distal third narrowing gradually posteriorly (Fig. 4); (6) connective T-shaped, not extending as far posteriorly as apex of style (Fig. 4); (7) aedeagus with broad, sclerotized basal area that forms a narrow dorsal projection; apical half with large membranous lobe (Fig. 5); and (8) paraphyses with stalk long and broad, bearing pair of apicolateral lobes; rami slender, shorter than stalk (Fig. 6). This species was misidentified as &lt;i&gt;J. pulla&lt;/i&gt; Young, 1977 by Carvalho &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; (2015). However, the forewing of &lt;i&gt;J. pulla&lt;/i&gt; has an &ldquo;anteapical transparent angular spot extending from costal margin into outer anteapical cell&rdquo; (Young 1977: p. 464; see digital image in Wilson &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009) that is not present in &lt;i&gt;J. nigra&lt;/i&gt;. Furthermore, the stalk of the paraphyses is much shorter and broader in &lt;i&gt;J. pulla&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i&gt;i.e.&lt;/i&gt;, rami longer than stalk (Young 1977: fig. 378h), than in the new species (Fig. 6). &lt;i&gt;Juliaca pulla&lt;/i&gt; was originally described from Panama and is also known from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia (see McKamey 2007 and Wilson &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Etymology.&lt;/b&gt; The new species name, &lt;i&gt;nigra&lt;/i&gt;, refers to the dark brown to black color of the dorsum, without spots or stripes (Fig. 1).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Known distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Southeastern Brazil (State of Esp&iacute;rito Santo).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material examined.&lt;/b&gt; Brazil, State of Esp&iacute;rito Santo. Male holotype: &ldquo;BR/ ES [Esp&iacute;rito Santo], Santa Teresa \ 30.IV-02.V/2010 \ M.M. LOPES Col.&rdquo;; &ldquo; COLETADO EM CAF&Eacute; [collected on coffee]&rdquo; (MNRJ). Paratypes: five males and three females, same data as the holotype (MNRJ); six males and thirteen females, same data as the holotype&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;except &ldquo; 24-28/VI/2009 \ R. Carvalho, A. Carpi, L. \ Nogueira &amp; M. Lopes Col.&rdquo; (MNRJ); four males and two females, same data as the holotype except &ldquo; 19-23/VIII/2009 \ R. Carvalho &amp; M. Lopes Col.&rdquo; (DZRJ); two males and six females, same data as the holotype except &ldquo; 07-11/II/2010 \ R. Carvalho &amp; M. Lopes Col.&rdquo; (DZUP); one female, &ldquo;BR/ Espirito [Esp&iacute;rito] Santo \ Santa Teresa \ 16-18/X/2009 \ M.M. LOPES Col.&rdquo; (MNRJ); one female, same data as the preceding except &ldquo; 17/XII/2009 &rdquo; (MNRJ); one male, &ldquo;BR/ES, Sta [Santa] Teresa \ Est. [Esta&ccedil;&atilde;o] Bio. [Biol&oacute;gica] Sta L&uacute;cia \ VII/2009 \.M. LOPES Col.&rdquo; (MNRJ).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Dos Santos, Alana C., Cavichioli, Rodney R., Takiya, Daniela M. &amp; Mejdalani, Gabriel, 2018, Juliaca Melichar, 1926 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini): description of a new species from Southeastern Brazil and redescriptions of J. sertigerula (Jacobi, 1905) and J. xanthogramma (Signoret, 1854) comb. nov., pp. 165-175 in Zootaxa 4472 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 166-168, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4472.1.9, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/1440119"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/1440119&lt;/a&gt

Juliaca sertigerula

&lt;i&gt;Juliaca sertigerula&lt;/i&gt; (Jacobi, 1905) &lt;p&gt;(Figures 14&ndash;30)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Tettigoniella sertigerula&lt;/i&gt; Jacobi, 1905: p. 180 [original description]. Distribution: Peru and Bolivia.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Juliaca sertigerula&lt;/i&gt; (Jacobi, 1905): Young 1977: p. 448 [new combination], p. 469, fig. 384a, f, p [illustrations of the anterior dorsum and aedeagus]. Distribution: Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Length: male 4.8&ndash;5.1 mm (n = 3); female 5.1&ndash;5.2 mm (n = 2).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Head (Figs. 14, 20), in dorsal view, well produced anteriorly, triangular; median length of crown approximately 6/10 of interocular width and 4/10 of transocular width; anterior margin subacute, without carina at transition from crown to face. Ocelli located on imaginary line between anterior eye angles, each approximately equidistant between median line of crown and adjacent anterior eye angle. Crown without transverse concavity before ocelli; antennal ledge, in lateral view, with anterior margin vertical and straight. Face without distinct pubescence; frons slightly flattened medially, muscle impressions distinct; epistomal suture obsolete; clypeus, in lateral view, with profile continuing contour of frons.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Thorax (Figs. 14, 20) with pronotal width greater than transocular width of head; lateral margins of pronotum convergent anteriorly, posterior margin slightly concave; dorsolateral carina distinct, extending as far anteriorly as eye margin; disk without transverse rugae. Mesonotum with scutellum not striate. Forewing with membrane indistinct; bases of anteapical cells indistinct; four apical cells, base of fourth indistinct. Hind wing with vein R2+3 incomplete. Hind leg with length of first tarsomere greater than combined length of two more distal tarsomeres.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Male terminalia. Pygofer (Fig. 15), in lateral view, slightly produced posteriorly; posterior margin convex; disk with macrosetae on apical half; without processes. Subgenital plate (Fig. 16), in ventral view, with apical half strongly narrowed; in lateral view, extending posteriorly slightly beyond pygofer apex; with long uniseriate macrosetae, microsetae also present. Style (Figs. 17&ndash;18), in dorsal view, without preapical lobe; slightly narrowed preapically; apex truncate. Connective (Figs. 17&ndash;18), in dorsal view, Y-shaped, arms broad and strongly divergent; stalk short, not extending as far posteriorly as apex of style. Aedeagus (Fig. 19) symmetrical, without processes; shaft, in lateral view, with dorsal margin convex and ventral margin concave; apex truncate. Paraphyses (Fig. 18) symmetrical; in dorsal view, with stalk broad, articulated with apex of connective; rami very slender, shorter than stalk, with pair of basal projections directed basolaterally.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Female terminalia. Sternite VII (Figs. 21&ndash;22), in ventral view, well produced posteriorly, gradually narrowed towards apex; distal margin with small, median dentiform projection. Pygofer (Fig. 21), in lateral view, moderately produced posteriorly; posterior margin narrowly rounded; macrosetae distributed on posterior half and extending anteriorly along ventral margin. Second valvula (Figs. 23&ndash;27), in lateral view, straight; dorsal margin bearing about 20 continuous teeth; most teeth (Figs. 24&ndash;26) elongate, with basal portion projected dorsally and apical portion very low, flattened; apicalmost 3&ndash;4 teeth (Fig. 27) triangular; denticles distributed on teeth and on apical portion of blade (ventral dentate apical portion distinctly longer than dorsal portion, Fig. 27); preapical prominence (Fig. 27) distinct; apex acute. Gonoplac (partially visible in Fig. 21), in lateral view, with basal half narrow; apical half expanded, slightly narrowed towards apex; latter obtuse.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Color (Figs. 14, 20, 28&ndash;30). Dorsum dark brown to black with transverse stripes that may be complete or interrupted. Crown with transverse yellow, greenish-yellow or green stripe extending laterally over antennal ledges, or with pair of lateral spots. Pronotum with posterior transverse yellow, greenish-yellow or green stripe (sometimes covering most of disk, sometimes reduced to a few spots) extending laterally over lateral pronotal lobes. Forewing with two transcommissural yellow, greenish-yellow or green stripes, basal one extending from basal half of clavus (including apex of scutellum) to costal margin, apical one extending from distal portion of clavus to costal margin; distal third with yellow, greenish-yellow, green or bluish-white curved stripe extending from outer margin of first apical cell to costal margin; vitreous area located at costal margin between apical transcommissural stripe and curved distal stripe. Face dark brown to black; antennal ledge, posterior margin of gena, maxillary plate, inferior portions of lorum and clypeus, labrum, and labium yellow to brownish-yellow (these yellow to brownish-yellow areas are sometimes more extensive). Lateral and ventral portions of thorax mostly dark brown to black. Legs yellow to brownish-yellow; posterior coxa dark brown to black. Abdomen, in ventral view, dark brown to black; posterior margin of sternites and lateral and posterior margins of laterotergites yellow; subgenital plate yellowish-brown.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Taxonomic notes.&lt;/b&gt; Young (1977) illustrated only the anterior dorsum and aedeagus of &lt;i&gt;J. sertigerula&lt;/i&gt;. The external morphology and color features of our specimens agree with the original description of Jacobi (1905). This colorful and variable species, whose (sometimes interrupted) stripes or spots may be yellow, greenish-yellow, green or bluish-white, can be distinguished by the following features (Figs. 14, 20, 28&ndash;30): (1) crown with transverse stripe extending laterally over antennal ledges, or with pair of lateral spots; (2) pronotum with posterior transverse stripe (sometimes covering most of disk, rarely reduced to a few spots) extending over lateral pronotal lobes; (3) forewing with two transcommissural stripes, a curved preapical stripe, and a vitreous area located at costal margin between distal transcommissural stripe and preapical curved stripe. In addition to the aforementioned color variation, the stripes (crown, pronotum, and forewing) also vary from narrow to broad (Figs. 14, 20, 28&ndash;30; see also images in Wilson &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009, a site that shows intraspecific color variation in specimens from Chanchamayo, Jun&iacute;n, Peru).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Known distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Ecuador, Peru (Jun&iacute;n, Cusco, Madre de Dios), and Bolivia (La Paz) (Jacobi 1905, Young 1977, McKamey 2007, Wilson &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material examined.&lt;/b&gt; Peru, departments of Cusco and Madre de Dios. Three males and one female, &ldquo;Peru, Cuzco, Estrada 30 C, \ 26 km W Quicemil [Quincemil] 23 and \ 26.viii.2012, (sweep) \ 13&deg;21&rsquo;18&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;53&rsquo;22[&rsquo;&rsquo;]W, \ 985m J.A. Rafael &amp; R.R. \ Cavichioli leg.&rdquo; (MNRJ); three males and three females, &ldquo; Peru, Cuzco, Quicemil [Quincemil] \ 20/ 31.viii.2012, (sweep) \ 13&deg;13&rsquo;04&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;43&rsquo;40&rsquo;[&rsquo;&rsquo;]W, \ 613m R.R. Cavichioli leg.&rdquo; (DZUP); two males, &ldquo; PERU: Cusco, 3 rd km E Quincemil \ 13&deg;13&rsquo;03&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;43&rsquo;40&rsquo;&rsquo;W 633m \ 20.VIII-01.IX.2012 Malaise \ RR Cavichioli, JA Rafael, APM \ Santos &amp; DM Takiya&rdquo; (DZRJ); two males, &ldquo; PERU: Cusco, 27 rd km W \ Quincemil 1013m \ 13&deg;21&rsquo;57&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;53&rsquo;51&rsquo;&rsquo;W \ 23-26.VIII.2012 \ APM Santos &amp; DM Takiya &rdquo; (DZRJ); one male, &ldquo; Peru, Cuzco, Capire \ 29.viii.2012, (sweep) \ 13&deg;24&rsquo;21&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;54&rsquo;10[&rsquo;&rsquo;]W, \ 1270m / R.R. Cavichioli leg.&rdquo; (DZUP); one male and one specimen without abdomen, &ldquo; PERU: Cusco, Capiri \ 13&deg;25&rsquo;35&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;54&rsquo;19&rsquo;&rsquo;W \ 1260m 29.VIII.2012 \ APM Santos &amp; DM Takiya &rdquo; (DZRJ); one male, &ldquo; PERU: Cusco, Ttio \ 13&deg;31&rsquo;54&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;53&rsquo;55&rsquo;&rsquo;W \ 2000m \ 25-30.VIII.2012 \ APM Santos &amp; DM Takiya &rdquo; (DZRJ); one male and one female, same data as the preceding except &ldquo;sweep&rdquo; (DZRJ); five females, &ldquo; PERU: Madre de Dios, 12 rd \ km E Mazuko, pte. Amanapu \ 13&deg;02&rsquo;51&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;20&rsquo;46&rsquo;&rsquo;W 382m \ 18.VIII.2012 light \ APM Santos &amp; DM Takiya &rdquo; (DZRJ); three females, same data as the preceding except &ldquo;pennsyl&rdquo; (DZRJ); two males, &ldquo; PERU: Madre de Dios, 12 rd \ km E Mazuko, pte. Amanapu \ 13&deg;02&rsquo;51.1&rsquo;&rsquo;S 70&deg;20&rsquo;45.9&rsquo;&rsquo;W \ 382m 18-22.VIII.2012 Malaise \ RR Cavichioli, JA Rafael, APM \ Santos &amp; DM Takiya&rdquo; (DZRJ). Additional specimens of this species are deposited in DZRJ and DZUP.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Dos Santos, Alana C., Cavichioli, Rodney R., Takiya, Daniela M. &amp; Mejdalani, Gabriel, 2018, Juliaca Melichar, 1926 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini): description of a new species from Southeastern Brazil and redescriptions of J. sertigerula (Jacobi, 1905) and J. xanthogramma (Signoret, 1854) comb. nov., pp. 165-175 in Zootaxa 4472 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 168-171, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4472.1.9, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/1440119"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/1440119&lt;/a&gt

Juliaca Melichar, 1926 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini): description of a new species from Southeastern Brazil and redescriptions of J. sertigerula (Jacobi, 1905) and J. xanthogramma (Signoret, 1854) comb. nov.

Dos Santos, Alana C., Cavichioli, Rodney R., Takiya, Daniela M., Mejdalani, Gabriel (2018): Juliaca Melichar, 1926 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini): description of a new species from Southeastern Brazil and redescriptions of J. sertigerula (Jacobi, 1905) and J. xanthogramma (Signoret, 1854) comb. nov. Zootaxa 4472 (1): 165-175, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4472.1.

Juliaca xanthogramma Dos Santos & Cavichioli & Takiya & Mejdalani 2018, comb. nov.

&lt;i&gt;Juliaca xanthogramma&lt;/i&gt; (Signoret, 1854) comb. nov. &lt;p&gt;(Figures 31&ndash;45)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Tettigonia xanthogramma&lt;/i&gt; Signoret, 1854: p. 9 [original description], pl. 1, fig. 6. Distribution: Brazil.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Microgoniella xanthogramma&lt;/i&gt; (Signoret, 1854): Melichar 1951: p. 102 [redescription, new combination]. Distribution: Rio de Janeiro.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Length: male 5.8 mm (n = 1); female 6.2 mm (n = 1).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Head (Figs. 31, 45), in dorsal view, well produced anteriorly, triangular; median length of crown approximately 6/10 of interocular width and 4/10 of transocular width; anterior margin subacute, without carina at transition from crown to face. Ocelli located at imaginary line between anterior eye angles, each approximately equidistant between median line of crown and adjacent anterior eye angle. Crown without transverse concavity before ocelli; antennal ledge, in lateral view, with anterior margin vertical and rectilinear. Face without distinct pubescence; frons slightly flattened medially, muscle impressions distinct; epistomal suture obsolete; clypeus, in lateral view, with profile continuing contour of frons.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Thorax (Figs. 31, 45) with pronotal width approximately equal to transocular width of head; lateral margins of pronotum slightly convergent anteriorly, posterior margin concave; dorsolateral carina distinct, extending as far anteriorly as eye margin; disk without transverse rugae. Mesonotum with scutellum not striate. Forewing with membrane indistinct; bases of anteapical cells approximately aligned with claval apex; four apical cells, base of fourth more proximal than base of third. Hind wing with vein R2+3 incomplete. Hind leg with length of first tarsomere greater than combined length of two more distal tarsomeres.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Male terminalia. Pygofer (Fig. 32), in lateral view, slightly produced posteriorly, posterior margin convex; disk with macrosetae on posterior portion; without processes. Subgenital plate (Fig. 33), in ventral view, with apical 2/3 strongly narrowed; in lateral view, extending posteriorly slightly beyond pygofer apex; with long uniseriate macrosetae, microsetae also present. Style (Fig. 34), in dorsal view, without preapical lobe; narrowed apically, sickle-shaped. Connective (Fig. 34), in dorsal view, V-shaped; stalk short and broad, not extending as far posteriorly as apex of style. Aedeagus (Fig. 35) symmetrical, without processes; shaft, in lateral view, strongly curved dorsally, with dorsal margin convex and ventral margin concave; apex truncate. Paraphyses (Fig. 36), in dorsal view, with stalk narrow, articulated with apex of connective; base of rami with pair of projections directed anteriorly; rami very slender, slightly asymmetrical.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Female terminalia. Sternite VII (Figs. 37&ndash;39), in ventral view, well produced posteriorly; distal margin with median triangular projection. Pygofer (Figs. 37&ndash;38), in lateral view, moderately produced posteriorly; posterior margin narrowly rounded; macrosetae distributed on posterior portion and extending anteriorly along ventral margin. Second valvula (Figs. 40&ndash;44), in lateral view, straight; dorsal margin bearing about 20 continuous teeth; most teeth (Figs. 41&ndash;42) elongate, with basal portion projected dorsally and apical portion very low, flattened; apicalmost 3&ndash;4 teeth (Figs. 42&ndash;43) triangular; denticles distributed on teeth and on apical portion of blade (ventral dentate apical portion distinctly longer than dorsal portion); preapical prominence (Fig. 44) distinct; apex acute. Gonoplac (partially visible in Fig. 37), in lateral view, with basal half narrow; apical half expanded, narrowing towards apex; latter subacute.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Color (Figs. 31, 45). Dorsum dark brown to black. Crown with anterior half yellow, with small, median black spot at transition to face. Pronotum with broad transverse yellow stripe. Apex of scutellum yellow. Forewing with two large transcommissural yellow spots, first one on basal half of clavus (continuous with apex of scutellum), second one on distal portion of clavus and extending over corium; small yellow spot on distal portion close to costal margin (at base of fourth apical cell). Face mostly yellow. Lateral and ventral portions of thorax mostly yellow; lateral lobe of pronotum, mesepisternum, and mesepimeron with large dark brown to black areas. Legs mostly yellow. Abdomen yellow ventrally and dark brown dorsally.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Taxonomic notes.&lt;/b&gt; Our interpretation of &lt;i&gt;J. xanthogramma&lt;/i&gt; is based on a fairly precise agreement of characters of our specimens (Fig. 45) with the original description and color illustration (Fig. 46) provided by Signoret (1854), as well as with the redescription by Melichar (1951). This species, which was not treated by Young (1977) in his Cicadellini monograph (McKamey 2007), can be distinguished by the following features: (1) crown with anterior half yellow (Figs. 31, 45); (2) pronotum with broad transverse yellow stripe (Figs. 31, 45); (3) forewing with two large transcommissural yellow spots, first one on basal half of clavus (continuous with apex of scutellum) and second one on distal portion of clavus and extending over corium (Fig. 45); (4) style with apical portion sickleshaped (Fig. 34); (5) aedeagus strongly curved dorsally, with dorsal margin convex and ventral margin concave (Fig. 35); (6) paraphyses with base of rami bearing pair of projections directed anteriorly; rami very slender (Fig. 36). The external features, color pattern, and male terminalia indicate that &lt;i&gt;Juliaca&lt;/i&gt; is the correct generic assignment.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Known distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Southeastern Brazil (states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material examined.&lt;/b&gt; Brazil, states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, Mantiqueira mountain range (Atlantic Forest). One male, &ldquo; Brasil-Minas \ Gerais-Itamonte \ 13-15/XI/1998 \ D. TAKIYA leg.&rdquo; (DZRJ); one male, &ldquo; BRASIL, RJ [State of Rio de Janeiro], P.N. [Parque Nacional do] Itatiaia, \ Casa do Pesquisador \ 22&deg;27&rsquo;16.2&rdquo;S 44&deg;36&rsquo;29.2&rdquo;W \ 810M 7/VI/2013 panobranco [pano branco] \ DM Takiya; C Moraes; \ C Gon&ccedil;alves; A Silva &rdquo; (DZRJ); one female, same data as the preceding except &ldquo;17.18/ IX/2013 \ DM Takiya; APM Santos &rdquo; (DZRJ); one female, &ldquo; BRASIL, RJ, P.N. Itatiaia, \ 710-1100M 08.11/ IX/2011 \ sweep \ D M Takiya &rdquo; (DZRJ).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Dos Santos, Alana C., Cavichioli, Rodney R., Takiya, Daniela M. &amp; Mejdalani, Gabriel, 2018, Juliaca Melichar, 1926 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Cicadellini): description of a new species from Southeastern Brazil and redescriptions of J. sertigerula (Jacobi, 1905) and J. xanthogramma (Signoret, 1854) comb. nov., pp. 165-175 in Zootaxa 4472 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 172-174, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4472.1.9, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/1440119"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/1440119&lt;/a&gt

Genomic landscape and gene expression profiles of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is a cancer of the squamous cell lining in the oral cavity and represents up to 80% of all oral cancers in cats, with a poor prognosis. We have used whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing of the tumor to discover somatic mutations and gene expression changes that may be associated with FOSCC occurrence. FOSCC offers a potential comparative model to study human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) due to its similar spontaneous formation, and morphological and histological features. In this first study using WES to identify somatic mutations in feline cancer, we have identified tumor-associated gene mutations in six cats with FOSCC and found some overlap with identified recurrently mutated genes observed in HNSCC. Four samples each had mutations in TP53, a common mutation in all cancers, but each was unique. Mutations in other cellular growth control genes were also found such as KAT2B and ARID1A. Enrichment analysis of FOSCC gene expression profiles suggests a molecular similarity to human OSCC as well, including alterations in epithelial to mesenchymal transition and IL6/JAK/STAT pathways. In this preliminary study, we present exome and transcriptome results that further our understanding of FOSCC

A domestic cat whole exome sequencing resource for trait discovery.

Over 94 million domestic cats are susceptible to cancers and other common and rare diseases. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a proven strategy to study these disease-causing variants. Presented is a 35.7&nbsp;Mb exome capture design based on the annotated Felis_catus_9.0 genome assembly, covering 201,683 regions of the cat genome. Whole exome sequencing was conducted on 41 cats with known and unknown genetic diseases and traits, of which ten cats had matching whole genome sequence (WGS) data available, used to validate WES performance. At 80 × mean exome depth of coverage, 96.4% of on-target base coverage had a sequencing depth &gt; 20-fold, while over 98% of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) identified by WGS were also identified by WES. Platform-specific SNVs were restricted to sex chromosomes and a small number of olfactory receptor genes. Within the 41 cats, we identified 31 previously known causal variants and discovered new gene candidate variants, including novel missense variance for polycystic kidney disease and atrichia in the Peterbald cat. These results show the utility of WES to identify novel gene candidate alleles for diseases and traits for the first time in a feline model