Developmental stages and reproductive biology in Tityus confluens Borelli, 1899 and Tityus ocelote (Francke & Stockwell, 1987) (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Das Ziel der Diplomarbeit ist die erstmalige Beschreibung und morphometrische Untersuchung (Carapaxlänge, 5. Metasomasegment und Tarsuslänge der Pedipalpen) der Stadien der Skorpione Tityus confluens Borelli, 1899 und Tityus ocelote (Francke & Stockwell, 1987). Die Gesamtdauer der embryonalen Entwicklung bis zum Schlupf lag zwischen 86 bis 184 Tagen (N = 11) in T. confluens, und zwischen 68 bis 72 (N = 4) Tagen in T. ocelote. Die Häutungen zwischen den Juvenilstadien und bishin zum adultem Tier beträgt im Mittel 5, 38, 106, 157 Tagen in T. confluens und 4, 60, 62, 97 Tagen in T. ocelote. Diese Entwicklungszeiträume sind im Vergleich mit anderen Arten der Familie der Buthidae, die in etwa gleich groß sind und die selbe Anzahl an Häutungen benötigen um das Adultstadium zu erreichen, im gleichen Bereich. Die morphometrischen Wachstumsfaktoren (Dyar’s constant) sind größer als bei anderen, in der Literatur anzutreffenden Arten der Familie der Buthidae. Erstmalig konnte in T. confluens gezeigt werden, dass es sich bei der Corrientes Population in Argentinien um eine parthenogenetische handelt. Es wurde über einen Zeitraum von 3 Generationen (N = 156) kein Männchen festgestellt.The life cycle and postembryonic development of Tityus confluens Borelli, 1899 and Tityus ocelote (Francke & Stockwell, 1987) are for the first time described. The duration of embryonic development was estimated to range from 86 to 184 (N = 11) days in T. confluens and 68 to 72 (N = 4) days in T. ocelote. The molts between juvenile instars and adult stage took place at average ages of: 5, 38, 106, 157 days in T. confluens and 4, 60, 62, 97 days in T. ocelote. Compared with other species of the family Buthidae in the same range of size this data are similar. The morphometric growth factor (Dyar’s constant) are higher than those observed for other scorpions of the genus Tityus of the same size. Parthenogenesis is confirmed for T. confluens based on captive breed females raised in isolation since offspring (N = 156). No males were observed over a period of 3 generations

\u3cem\u3eTityus carolineae\u3c/em\u3e sp. n. from Suriname and Guyana (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Tityus carolineae sp. n. from Suriname and Guyana is described and compared with other species of the Tityus metuendus complex, inside the Tityus asthenes group. Tityus carolineae sp. n. is the largest species of this complex, with total length of males 82–100 mm

The whip spider collection (Arachnida, Amblypygi) held in the Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria

We present data and remarks on the history and contents of the whip spider collection housed in the Natural History Museum of Vienna, Austria. The collection comprises a total of 167 specimens from 4 families, 10 genera and 27 species. It includes types of four species: Charinus ioanniticus (Kritscher, 1959), Damon brachialis Weygoldt, 1999, Phrynus parvulus (Pocock, 1902) and Paraphrynus mexicanus (Bilimek, 1867). Short notes on interesting objects and former curators are provided as well as an appendix with a list of species kept alive by Michael Seiter

Scorpions of Ethiopia (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part II. Genus \u3cem\u3eBabycurus\u3c/em\u3e Karsch, 1886 (Buthidae), with description of two new species

Two new species, Babycurus dunlopi sp. n. and B. sofomarensis sp. n. from Ethiopia, are described, compared with other species and fully illustrated with color photos of habitus and localities. B. subpunctatus Borelli, 1925 is recorded for the first time in Ethiopia, Somali Province. All data about the distribution of Babycurus Karsch, 1886 in Ethiopia including photos of all known Ethiopian localities of Babycurus are summarized. B. wituensis taramassoi Borelli, 1919 is raised back to species status as B. taramassoi Borelli, 1919

Successful Treatment of Ibrutinib-Associated Central Nervous System Hemorrhage with Platelet Transfusion Support

Ibrutinib is a novel targeted therapy for B-cell malignancies. Hemorrhagic events were reported in the original trials, however the mechanism of bleeding is just being elucidated. Recent studies have demonstrated platelet dysfunction as a mechanism of bleeding. Currently we report two patients who developed life-threatening central nervous system hemorrhage while receiving ibrutinib for chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma, respectively. Both patients improved rapidly after platelet transfusions even though their platelet counts were normal or only mildly reduced at the time of hemorrhage. We suggest that platelet transfusions can ameliorate the platelet dysfunction defect of ibrutinib and can support the patient through the critical period until new platelet production occurs

Widespread retention of ohnologs in key developmental gene families following whole-genome duplication in arachnopulmonates

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have occurred multiple times during animal evolution, including in lineages leading to vertebrates, teleosts, horseshoe crabs, and arachnopulmonates. These dramatic events initially produce a wealth of new genetic material, generally followed by extensive gene loss. It appears, however, that developmental genes such as homeobox genes, signaling pathway components and microRNAs are frequently retained as duplicates (so-called ohnologs) following WGD. These not only provide the best evidence for WGD, but an opportunity to study its evolutionary consequences. Although these genes are well studied in the context of vertebrate WGD, similar comparisons across the extant arachnopulmonate orders are patchy. We sequenced embryonic transcriptomes from two spider species and two amblypygid species and surveyed three important gene families, Hox, Wnt, and frizzled, across these and 12 existing transcriptomic and genomic resources for chelicerates. We report extensive retention of putative ohnologs, further supporting the ancestral arachnopulmonate WGD. We also found evidence of consistent evolutionary trajectories in Hox and Wnt gene repertoires across three of the six arachnopulmonate orders, with interorder variation in the retention of specific paralogs. We identified variation between major clades in spiders and are better able to reconstruct the chronology of gene duplications and losses in spiders, amblypygids, and scorpions. These insights shed light on the evolution of the developmental toolkit in arachnopulmonates, highlight the importance of the comparative approach within lineages, and provide substantial new transcriptomic data for future study

Widespread retention of ohnologs in key developmental gene families following whole-genome duplication in arachnopulmonates

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have occurred multiple times during animal evolution, including in lineages leading to vertebrates, teleosts, horseshoe crabs, and arachnopulmonates. These dramatic events initially produce a wealth of new genetic material, generally followed by extensive gene loss. It appears, however, that developmental genes such as homeobox genes, signaling pathway components and microRNAs are frequently retained as duplicates (so-called ohnologs) following WGD. These not only provide the best evidence for WGD, but an opportunity to study its evolutionary consequences. Although these genes are well studied in the context of vertebrate WGD, similar comparisons across the extant arachnopulmonate orders are patchy. We sequenced embryonic transcriptomes from two spider species and two amblypygid species and surveyed three important gene families, Hox, Wnt, and frizzled, across these and 12 existing transcriptomic and genomic resources for chelicerates. We report extensive retention of putative ohnologs, further supporting the ancestral arachnopulmonate WGD. We also found evidence of consistent evolutionary trajectories in Hox and Wnt gene repertoires across three of the six arachnopulmonate orders, with interorder variation in the retention of specific paralogs. We identified variation between major clades in spiders and are better able to reconstruct the chronology of gene duplications and losses in spiders, amblypygids, and scorpions. These insights shed light on the evolution of the developmental toolkit in arachnopulmonates, highlight the importance of the comparative approach within lineages, and provide substantial new transcriptomic data for future study

Widespread retention of ohnologs in key developmental gene families following whole-genome duplication in arachnopulmonates

Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) have occurred multiple times during animal evolution, including in lineages leading to vertebrates, teleosts, horseshoe crabs, and arachnopulmonates. These dramatic events initially produce a wealth of new genetic material, generally followed by extensive gene loss. It appears, however, that developmental genes such as homeobox genes, signaling pathway components and microRNAs are frequently retained as duplicates (so-called ohnologs) following WGD. These not only provide the best evidence for WGD, but an opportunity to study its evolutionary consequences. Although these genes are well studied in the context of vertebrate WGD, similar comparisons across the extant arachnopulmonate orders are patchy. We sequenced embryonic transcriptomes from two spider species and two amblypygid species and surveyed three important gene families, Hox, Wnt, and frizzled, across these and 12 existing transcriptomic and genomic resources for chelicerates. We report extensive retention of putative ohnologs, further supporting the ancestral arachnopulmonate WGD. We also found evidence of consistent evolutionary trajectories in Hox and Wnt gene repertoires across three of the six arachnopulmonate orders, with interorder variation in the retention of specific paralogs. We identified variation between major clades in spiders and are better able to reconstruct the chronology of gene duplications and losses in spiders, amblypygids, and scorpions. These insights shed light on the evolution of the developmental toolkit in arachnopulmonates, highlight the importance of the comparative approach within lineages, and provide substantial new transcriptomic data for future study

Acute myeloid leukemia patients’ clinical response to idasanutlin (RG7388) is associated with pre-treatment MDM2 protein expression in leukemic blasts

In translational research described, we investigated biomarker expression by flow cytometry for MDM2 antagonist clinical response association in relapsed/refractory AML patients treated with idasanutlin-based therapy (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01773408)