Peptides encoded by short ORFs control development and define a new eukaryotic gene family

Despite recent advances in developmental biology and in genomics, key questions remain regarding the organisation of cells into embryos. One possibility is that novel types of genes might await discovery and could provide some of the answers. Genome annotation depends strongly on comparison with previously known gene sequences, and so genes having previously uncharacterised structure and function can be missed. Here we present the characterisation of tarsal-less, a new such type of gene. Tarsal-less has two unusual features: first, it contains more than one coding unit, a structure more similar to some bacterial genes. Second, it codes for small peptides rather than proteins, and in fact these peptides represent the smallest gene products known to date. Functional analysis of this gene in the fruitfly Drosophila shows that it has important functions throughout development, including tissue morphogenesis and pattern formation. We identify genes similar to tarsal-less in other species, and thus define a tarsal-less-related gene family. We expect that a combination of bioinformatic and functional methods, such as the ones we use in this study, will identify and characterize more genes of this type. Potentially, thousands of such new genes may exist

Revisión sistemática de Mesolecanium Cockerell de la región Neotropical (Hemiptera: Coccidae), con sinonimia y combinaciones nuevas

Redescriptions and illustrations of 14 neotropical species included in Mesolecanium Cockerell are given. Eight species: Mesolecanium baccharidis (Cockerell), Mesolecanium impar (Cockerell), Mesolecanium mayteni Hempel, Mesolecanium nocturnum (Cockerell and Parrott), Mesolecanium obscurum (Hempel), Mesolecanium obvius Granara de Willink, Mesolecanium perditum (Cockerell), and Mesolecanium planum Hempel, belong to this genus; a key to separate the species is given. Five species are transferred: Mesolecanium campomanesiae Hempel and Mesolecanium pseudosemen Cockerell are moved to Magnococcus Granara de Willink becoming Magnococcus campomanesiae (Hempel) new combination, and Magnococcus pseudosemen (Cockerell) new combination. Mesolecanium jaboticabae Hempel is moved to Parthenolecanium Šulc becoming Parthenolecanium jaboticabae (Hempel) new combination, Mesolecanium batatae Cockerell to Pulvinaria Targioni Tozzetti becoming Pulvinaria batatae (Cockerell) new combination, and Mesolecanium ferum Hempel to Toumeyella Cockerell becoming Toumeyella ferum (Hempel) new combination. Mesolecanium uvicola Hempel is a new synonym of Coccus longulus Cockerell. Lectotypes for Mesolecanium impar (Cockerell) and Mesolecanium planum Hempel are designated.Se redescriben e ilustran 14 especies neotropicales incluidas en Mesolecanium Cockerell (Hemiptera: Coccidae). Ocho especies: Mesolecanium baccharidis (Cockerell), Mesolecanium impar (Cockerell), Mesolecanium mayteni (Hempel), Mesolecanium nocturnum (Cockerell y Parrott), Mesolecanium obscurum Hempel, Mesolecanium obvius Granara de Willink, Mesolecanium perditum (Cockerell), Mesolecanium planum Hempel, pertenecen a este género, las cuales se incluyen en una clave para separar las mismas. Cinco especies son transferidas: Mesolecanium campomanesiae (Hempel) y Mesolecanium pseudosemen (Cockerell), se transfieren a Magnococcus Granara de Willink como Magnococcus campomanesiae (Hempel) comb. nov. Magnococcus pseudosemen (Cockerell) comb. nov. respectivamente; Mesolecanium jaboticabae (Hempel) se transfiere a Parthenolecanium Šulc, como Parthenolecanium jaboticabae (Hempel) comb. nov.; Mesolecanium batatae (Cockerell) a Pulvinaria Targioni Tozzetti como, Pulvinaria batatae (Cockerell) comb. nov. y Mesolecanium ferum Hempel a Toumeyella Cockerell como Toumeyella ferum (Hempel) comb. nov. Se sinonimisa a Mesolecanium uvicola Hempel con Coccus longulus (Douglas). Se designan los lectotipos de Mesolecanium impar (Cockerell) y Mesolecanium planum Hempel

Tear ferning test and pathological effects on ocular surface before and after topical cyclosporine in vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients

Background: Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a rare ocular surface inflammatory disease that affects mainly boys in the first decade of life. Clinical observations show that it generally regresses spontaneously with the onset of puberty, but therapeutic measures must be taken before then to control the course of the disease. Purpose: To evaluate the role of the lacrimal mucous component in VKC patients and compare tear ferning test (TFT) modifications, MUC5AC levels in tears, and density of conjunctival goblet cells to clinical characteristics before and after treatment with cyclosporine A (CY) in eye drops. Methods: Forty-seven patients affected by VKC and 30 healthy subjects aged between 3 and 16 years of life were enrolled. All individuals were submitted to complete eye examination and skin prick test (SPT) for the most common allergens. Then, they were subjected to collection of the tears and to impression cytology to evaluate TFT, MUC5AC levels, and conjunctival goblet cell density, before and after treatment with CY in eye drops. Results: Comparing the VKC group vs. the control group at baseline, a significant alteration in the degree of the ferns was found, indicating a pathological condition of the lacrimal mucous layer. In addition, an increased number of goblet cells were observed in the patients. The concentration of lacrimal secretory mucins (MUC5AC) did not show significant differences between the 2 groups. Patients treated with CY have reported improvements of some signs and symptoms of disease activity, including TFT, and a tendency of conjunctival goblet cell density to normalise. Conclusions: The results obtained demonstrated for the first time a significant alteration of the lacrimal mucin component evaluated in the VKC group, and an improvement of the latter after CY therapy

Taxonomy, phylogeny, and biogeography of the genus Asydates Casey (Insecta: Coleoptera: Melyridae)

The genus Asydates Casey (Coleoptera: Melyridae) is revised, containing three species from Arizona and California: A. explanatus Casey; A. inyoensis (Blaisdell), new combination; and A. rufiuentris Casey. The monotypic genus Pseudasydates Blaisdell is placed in synonymy with Asydates Casey, syn. nov., and Asydates puncticeps Blaisdell is placed in synonymy with Asydates explanatus Casey, syn. nov. A key separating adults of Asydates species is provided, and the results of a computerized cladistic analysis of Asydates species are presented. GIS mapping of Asydates species distributions indicates that these species are nearly allopatric, with A. explanatus found in the lower Colorado River basin and adjacent deserts, A. inyoensis restricted to the Inyo and White Mountains, and A. rufiuentris found in the coastal plain and coastal mountains near Santa Barbara. Geographic hypotheses of character evolution within Asydates are developed by combining the results of cladistic analysis and GIS mapping

Systematic revision of the american taxa belonging to the genera Alloblackburneus Bordat, 2009, and Blackburneus Schmidt, 1913, with description of seven new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae)

The American species belonging to the genera Alloblackburneus Bordat and Blackburneus Schmidt (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) are redescribed and figured. Seven new species are described: Alloblackburneus guadalajarae, A. ibanezbernali; Blackburneus amazonicus, B. sanfilippoi, B. surinamensis, B. teposcolulaensis, B. thomasi. The neotype of Scarabaeus rubeolus Palisot de Beauvois, 1809 is designated. The lectotype of Blackburneus argentinensis (Schmidt, 1909) and of Blackburneus laxepunctatus (Schmidt, 1910) are designated. The following new combinations are proposed: Alloblackburneus aegrotus (Horn, 1870); Alloblackburneus cavidomus (Brown, 1927); Alloblackburneus cynomysi (Brown, 1927); Alloblackburneus fordi (Gordon, 1974); Alloblackburneus geomysi (Cartwright, 1939); Alloblackburneus lentus (Horn, 1870); Alloblackburneus rubeolus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805); Alloblackburneus saylori (Hinton, 1934); Alloblackburneus tenuistriatus (Horn, 1887); Alloblackburneus troglodytes (Hubbard, 1894)

Tarsal Anomaly Found in an Adult \u3ci\u3eAgabus Seriatus\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

An adult specimen of Agabus seriatus, possessing two complete sets of tarsal claws on the left mesotarsus, was collected from a small stream in northeastern Wisconsin

Descriptions of new luperine genera and species from Mexico : with keys to related taxa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae)

The section Scelidites ofthe subtribe Luperina is diagnosed and described. A key is provided to separate the genera within this section. Cyphotarsis Jacoby is reduced to a junior synonym of Metacoryna Jacoby. Microscelida, new genus, is erected to include Agelastica viridis Jacoby, Luperus subcostatus Jacoby, Luperus subglabratus Jacoby, Scelidopsis violacea Jacoby, and seven newly described species. A key and diagnoses are provided to enable recognition of each species within this new genus. Scelidacne, new genus, is erected to include a single newly described species

The American species of the annulatipes group of the subgenus Lepidohelea, genus Forcipomyia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The annulatipes group of the genus Forcipomyia Meigen, subgenus Lepidohelea Kieffer, is represented in the Western Hemisphere by 12 species. Keys are presented for their identification, and to distinguish them from other groups of the subgenus Lepidohelea. The three previously known species, annulatipes Macfie, brasiliensis Macfie, and kuanoskeles Macfie, from southern Brazil, as well as the following nine new species, are described and illustrated: bahiensis, basifemoralis, bifida, convexipenis, euthystyla, gravesi, herediae, hobbsi, and weemsi

Revision of the subgenus Cnemocyllus Dietz of the weevil genus Anthonomus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Anthonomini)

Anthonomus (Cnemocyllus) decipiens Dietz is designated as type species of Cnemocyllus Dietz. The twenty-three North American species assigned to the Anthonomus subgenus Cnemocyllus include ten previously placed in the subgenus: A. albus Hatch, A. decipiens LeConte, A. dorothyae Hatch, A. elongatus LeConte, A. jacobinus Dietz, A. juncturus Fall, A. ligatus Dietz, A. pictus Blatchley, A. quesnelensis Sleeper, and A. tenuis Fall; three species formerly in Anthonomus but not in Cnemocyllus: A. stolatus Fall, A. inermis Boheman, and A. ornatulus Dietz; two species once in Epimechus Dietz but subsequently transferred to Anthonomus: A. arenicolor (Fall) and A. canoides (Fall); and eight new species: A. californiensis, new species (California and Baja California); A. bajaensis, new species (Baja California); A. intermedius, new species (Utah); A. extensus, new species (British Columbia, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington); A. deserticolus, new species (Arizona, Baja California, California, Guerrero, New Mexico, Sonora, and Texas); A. schuhi, new species (California and Oregon); A. latus, new species (California); and A. squamoerectus, new species (California and Oregon). The species of Anthonomus in the subgenus Cnemocyllus are distinguished from other Anthonomini by the combination of having vestiture of more-or-less broad, dense scales, 6 or 7 antennal funicular articles, a slender endophallic transfer apparatus and, in most, the slightly to strongly curved metatibia of the male. The tarsal claws are variable, toothed or untoothed. The names Anthonomus cycliferus (Fall), A. malkini Hatch and A. summeri Hatch are placed in new synonymy under A. jacobinus Dietz; A. cretaceus (Champion) is placed in new synonymy under A. decipiens LeConte; A. imbricus Hatch is placed in new synonymy under A. quesnelensis Sleeper; A. mannerheimi Dieckmann (A. brunnipennis Mannerheim, not Curtis) and A. subvittatus LeConte are placed in new synonymy under A. inermis (Boheman); A. minutus Hatch is placed in new synonymy under A. dorothyae Hatch. Adults of many of the species of the subgenus Cnemocyllus have been collected on plants in the family Asteraceae. The larvae of several of the species are known to develop on these plants