Up-regulation of microRNA-21 correlates with lower kidney cancer survival.

BackgroundMicroRNA-21 is up-regulated in a variety of cancers like, breast, colorectal, lung, head and neck etc. However, the regulation of miR-21 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not yet been studied systematically.Methods and resultsWe measured miR-21 levels in 54 pairs of kidney cancers and their normal matched tissues by real-time PCR. The expression level of miR-21 was correlated with 5 year survival and the pathological stage. Functional studies were done after inhibiting miR-21 in RCC cell lines. We studied in vitro and in vivo effects of the chemo preventive agent genistein on miR-21 expression. In 48 cases (90%), miR-21 was increased. All patients with low miR-21 expression survived 5 years, while with high miR-21 expression, only 50% survived. Higher expression of miR-21 is associated with an increase in the stage of renal cancer. Functional studies after inhibiting miRNA-21 in RCC cell lines show cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and reduced invasive and migratory capabilities. Western blot analysis showed an increase in the expression of p21 and p38 MAP kinase genes and a reduction in cyclin E2. Genistein inhibited the expression of miR-21 in A-498 cells and in the tumors formed after injecting genistein treated A-498 cells in nude mice besides inhibiting tumor formation.ConclusionsThe current study shows a clear correlation between miR-21 expression and clinical characteristics of renal cancer. Thus we believe that miR-21 can be used as a tumor marker and its inhibition may prove to be useful in controlling cancers with up-regulated miR-21

Study of Myxosporea (Myxozoa), infecting worldwide mullets with description of a new species

Existing data on Myxozoa parasites infecting mullets were reviewed. The validity of nine species names was updated. Sixteen species were registered during analysis of original material collected in the Mediterranean, Black, Azov, and Japan Seas in 2004–2005. A new bivalvulid myxozoan parasite, Myxobolus adeli n. sp., was described from the inner organs of the golden grey mullet Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) collected in the Mediterranean (Ebro Delta, Spain), Black Sea (Kerch Strait, Ukraine), and Azov Sea (Genichesk, Ukraine) coastal waters. It is characterized by the presence of elongated, spindle-like cysts 0.5–1.3 mm in size, filled with wide transverse-oval spores about 6.2×7.2×4.6 μm in size, with two equal polar capsules measuring about 3.0×1.8 μm and short polar filament, turned into four coils. The obtained data show that this species differs from all previously described Myxobolus spp. with equal polar capsules. Comparative study of Myxobolus spp. recorded in worldwide mullets indicates a close relationship with M. adeli n. sp. and Myxobolus improvisus Isjumova, 1964 registered in mullets. Probably, the last species includes representatives of some different species, infecting freshwater and marine hosts

Current state of the zoobenthos at the Crimean shores of the Black Sea

The analysis of current state of zoobenthos at the Crimean shores of the Black Sea is fulfilled. The general features of taxonomical structure, regional peculiarities of bottom fauna development and species number distribution pattern with depth are considered. The results obtained testify the absence of species number reduction at the Crimean coastal zone of the Black Sea over the 2nd half of the XX century. Total number of the macrozoobenthos species registered in the Crimea water area exceeds 560. Filter-feeding mollusks (Chamelea gallina and Modiolula phaseolina first of all) became the most pronounced “evolutioning” species, determining the quantitative changes of the bottom fauna over the soft-bottoms of the southwestern Crimea during the period 1930-s – 1990-s. The shift to lesser depths: from the zone of the mussel silts (26-50 m) to the silty-sand (13-25 m) of the most productive benthal belt of the southwestern Crimea is marked. Meiobenthos (eumeiobenthos) of the Crimean shelf includes more than 522 species in total. Formation of specific meiofauna composition in areas of the methane gas seeping is marked. The presence of 38 species and 6 genera of Nematoda, which are registered only in the given conditions testify to this

Microfungi of the Ponto-Caspian basin (сheck-list, synonymy)

The monograph presents the results of the inventory and revision of the taxonomic composition of microfungi from the waters of the Ponto-Caspian basin, mainly the Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian sectors of the Black Sea and the Volga basin. Information about fungi from other sectors of the Black, Azov, and Caspian seas is scarce. In this monograph of the fungi we document 600 species, members of Phylums Basidiomycota (3 species), Ascomycota (371), Zygomycota (26), Blastocladiomycota (4), Chytridiomycota (19), yeasts from Phylums Basidiomycota (26) and Ascomycota (33), fungi-like organisms from Phylums Oomycota (83), Hyphochytriomycota (2), Labyrinthulomycota (14), and Microsporidia (19) (the group of organisms related to fungi, with a controversial systematic status). The list consists of modern (valid) names of species and genera indicated in the Index Fungorum database, but the information on each taxon has been compared and, if necessary, supplemented with data from the MycoBank database. In the work, next to the species names are conventional symbols indicating the salinity of the water and substrates from of which the micromycete was isolated. There are Indexes of Genera and their synonyms (1577), of Species, intraspecific taxa and their synonyms (4626 names), as well as Author of fungal names (1550) at the end of the book. The monograph is prepared as a reference book and practical guide for mycologists, ecologists, hydrobiologists, parasitologists, graduate and undergraduate students, and teachers of universities.В монографии изложены результаты инвентаризации и ревизии таксономического состава водных микроскопических грибов из водоемов Понто-Каспийского бассейна, преимущественно российского, украинского и румынского секторов Чёрного моря и бассейна р. Волги. Сведения о грибах из других секторов Чёрного моря, а также Каспийского и Азовского морей малочисленны. В монографию включены грибы 600 видов из отделов Basidiomycota (3 вида), Ascomycota (371), Zygomycota (26), Blastocladiomycota (4), Chytridiomycota (19), дрожжевые грибы из отделов Basidiomycota (26) и Ascomycota (33), грибоподобные организмы из отделов Oomycota (83), Hyphochytriomycota (2), Labyrinthulomycota (14), а также Microsporidia (19) (группа родственных грибам организмов с неясным систематическим статусом). Список составлен по современным (валидным) названиям видов и родов, указанных в базе Index Fungorum, но информация по каждому таксону была сопоставлена и, при необходимости, дополнена из базы MycoBank. В работе рядом с названием вида расположены условные символы, указывающие на солёность воды и субстрат, с которого был выделен микромицет. В конце книги размещены «Указатели» родов и их синонимов (1577), видов, внутривидовых таксонов и их синонимов (4626 названий), а также авторов названий грибов (1550 имен). Монография подготовлена в качестве справочного и практического пособия для микологов, экологов, гидробиологов, паразитологов, аспирантов, студентов и преподавателей ВУЗов

Таксономический статус Neoechinorhynchus agilis (Acanthocephala, Neoechinorhynchidae), с описанием двух новых видов рода от кефалевых рыб (Teleostei, Mugilidae) Атлантики и Пацифики

Широкое географическое распространение, богатый список хозяев, а также значительная вариабельность метрических признаков акантоцефалы Neoechinorhynchus agilis (Rudolphi, 1819) ставит вопрос о таксономическом статусе этого вида. Для проведения сравнительного морфологического анализа был использован типичный материал Рудольфи и ваучерные экземпляры Ямагути, а также собственный материал, собранный в западной части Тихого океана и северо-восточной Атлантике. В результате исследования было обнаружено три вида акантоцефал Neoechinorhynchus, в том числе два вида из Атлантики: N. (N.) agilis и N. (H.) personatus Tkach, Sarabeev et Shvetsova, sp. n., и один вид из Тихого океана, N. (H.) yamagutii Tkach, Sarabeev et Shvetsova, sp. n. Описанные в работе виды хорошо различаются как морфологически, так и метрически. Разделение N. agilis на три вида, два из которых описаны впервые, является основой для дальнейшего пересмотра находок этой акантоцефалы из разных регионов и от разных хозяев.The wide variability in morphological features, geographical and host ranges of mullet acanthocephalan parasite Neoechinorhynchus agilis (Rudolphi, 1819), raises the question of taxonomic status of this species. Rudolphi’s type and Yamaguti`s voucher specimens, as well as our own material from the WW Pacific and NE Atlantic region were used herein to provide comparative morphological analysis. The study revealed three different species of Neoechinorhynchus, N. (N.) agilis and N. (H.) personatus Tkach, Sarabeev et Shvetsova, sp. n. in the Atlantic and N. (H.) yamagutii Tkach, Sarabeev et Shvetsova, sp. n. in the Pacific. Strong morphological and morphometric differences were found between three described herein species from different hosts and regions. The dividing of N. agilis into three species, two of them are new, provides a basis for the further revision of host-geographical records of mullet acanthocephalan parasites

Redescription of Ligophorus mediterraneus Sarabeev, Balbuena & Euzet, 2005 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) with some methodological notes

A redescription of Ligophorus mediterraneus Sarabeev, Balbuena & Euzet, 2005, based on original material from the Black and Mediterranean Seas, is presented and new diagnostic characters for its recognition are proposed. The unlikely wide range of variation in the angle between the shaft and point of the anchors, reported for this species and for some others in the genus, is analysed, and the structure of the ventral bar in Ligophorus spp. is described and its taxonomic significance discussed

Lamellodiscus aff. euzeti Diamanka, Boudaya, Toguebaye & Pariselle, 2011 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the gills of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Pisces: Sparidae) collected in the Arabian Sea, with comments on the distribution, specificity and historical biogeography of Lamellodiscus spp.

Specimens of Lamellodiscus Johnston & Tiegs, 1922 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) were collected from the gills of Cheimerius nufar (Valenciennes) (Sparidae) in the Arabian Sea. All of these parasites belonged to one and the same species, which is morphologically very close to L. euzeti Diamanka, Boudaya, Toguebaye & Pariselle, 2011. A different host, distant locality and small morphological differences compared with the original description of L. euzeti acted as a stimulus for a detailed redescription. The specimens from the Arabian Sea differ slightly in the details of the male copulatory organ (MCO) from the type-specimens of L. euzeti, which were re-examined, and from the respective drawings in its original description. Such differences include a longer inner process of the large element of the accessory piece associated with the proximal part of the copulatory tube, a longer point on the small element of the accessory piece associated with the distal part of the copulatory tube, and the presence of a smooth or slightly folded inner margin of this element rather than structures resembling spines which occur in the typespecimens of L. euzeti. Therefore, the present specimens infecting C. nufar in the Indo-Pacific may represent a different, but morphologically very similar species to the Atlantic form L. euzeti; consequently, they are recognised here as Lamellodiscus aff. euzeti. This form belongs to the ‘ignoratus s. str.’ subgroup of the genus. The composition of this subgroup is redefined to comprise 17 species, including L. corallinus Paperna, 1965 but excluding L. acanthopagri Roubal, 1981, and the morphology of the MCO of representatives of this group is clarified. A link between the diversity of Lamellodiscus species and the ancestral origin of present-day sparid species in the Tethys Sea is suggested. It is shown that Lamellodiscus spp. exhibit rather high levels of specificity to their hosts, since half of them parasitise only a single host species and c.90% infect closely related host species. Comparison of the levels of host-specificity of the species of this genus with other narrowly specific genera of the Dactylogyridea revealed that their estimations are comparable. The possibility of intrahost speciation within Lamellodiscus is discussed. It is shown that a co-evolutionary model is more discernible if it includes data on the occurrence of morphologically similar species from different regions and host taxa

Redescriptions of Ligophorus cephali Rubtsova, Balbuena, Sarabeev, Blasco-Costa & Euzet, 2006 and L. chabaudi Euzet & Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae), with notes on the functional morphology of the copulatory organ

Redescriptions of Ligophorus cephali Rubtsova, Balbuena, Sarabeev, Blasco-Costa & Euzet, 2006 and L. chabaudi Euzet & Suriano, 1977 based on original material from the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Japan are presented. A comparison of samples of these two species from different regions was carried out with the aid of principal components analysis. The occurrence of L. chabaudi on Mugil cephalus in the Sea of Japan was confirmed. The functional morphology of the male copulatory organ was examined, and the use of the shape of this structure in the taxonomy of Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 is discussed

Descriptions of eight new species of Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from Red Sea mullets

Eight new species of Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) are described from two species of mullets from the Red Sea. Ligophorus bykhowskyi n. sp. and L. zhangi n. sp. from Crenimugil crenilabris (Forsskal) differ from other species of the genus in the structure of the male copulatory organ, which has a simple accessory piece and a wide copulatory tube that arises from a large, single-chambered, expanded base. Ligophorus simpliciformis n. sp., L. bipartitus n. sp., L. campanulatus n. sp., L. mamaevi n. sp., L. lebedevi n. sp. and L. surianoae n. sp. from Liza carinata (Valenciennes) are differentiated on the basis of the morphometrics of the hard parts of the haptor and male copulatory organ. The eight species represent the first records of species directly attributed to Ligophorus from the Red Sea. Measurements of the haptoral hard-parts and the male copulatory organ of the new species are analysed with the aid of Principal Component Analysis. Three morphological types of male copulatory organ, five types of anchor, and two types of ventral and three types of dorsal bars were distinguished among these species. L. bykhowskyi and L. zhangi from C. crenilabris have the same type of male copulatory organ and anchors. Those species from Liza carinata have only one common morphological character, a thick copulatory tube, but have two types of accessory piece, four types of anchors and three types of bars. All species of Ligophorus found on mullets in the Red Sea have an accessory piece without a distal bifurcation and thus differ from most species of this genus from other regions of the world’s oceans