Revision of the Neotropical ant subfamily Leptanilloidinae

The rare Neotropical ant subfamily Leptanilloidinae is revised and its internal phylogeny and biogeography discussed. A new genus, Asphinctanilloides gen.n., including three new species, A, amazona, A. anae and A. manauara, and three new species of Leptanilloides, L. improvisa, L. legionaria and L. sculpturata are described. The only previously known species of the subfamily, L. biconstricta Mann (1923), is redescribed, and the larva of L, legionaria sp.n, is described. Keys to the genera and the species, and a phylogeny of the group are provided. Emphasis has been placed on the study of abdominal and sting characters.

Cytogenetic analysis of five species of the subfamily Corydoradinae (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Two new genera and five new species of the feather mite subfamily Proctophyllodinae (Astigmata : Proctophyllodidae) from suboscine birds in Brazil

Two new genera and five new species of feather mites of the family Proctophyllodidae are described from passerine birds from Brazil: Tyranniphyllodes pitangi gen. n., sp. n. from Pitangus sulphuratus (Tyrannidae); Atrichophyllodes delalandi gen. n., sp. n. from Corythopis delalandi (Tyrannidae); A. mentalis gen. n., sp. n. from Dysithamnus mentalis (Thamnophilidae); Anisophyllodes candango sp. n. from Elaenia chiriquensis (Tyrannidae); and Platyacarus sittasomi sp. n. from Sittasomus griseicapillus (Dendrocolaptidae). The discovery of these taxa might give data for a better understanding of the evolution of the family Proctophyllodidae in general and the dispersion of these mites on passerines in South America in paricular.

CYTOGENETIC STUDIES ON THE SUBFAMILY HYPOPTOPOMATINAE (PISCES, SILURIFORMES, LORICARIIDAE) .3. ANALYSIS OF 7 SPECIES

Cytogenetic studies carried out on nine species belonging to five genera of the subfamily Hypoptopomatinae showed that this group has a relatively constant diploid number, 2n = 54, with only one species having 2n = 72 chromosomes. Nevertheless, the karyotypic formulae, NOR position and C-band pattern are very different among species and sometimes among local populations, with species having undifferentiated sex chromosomes and species having the XX/XY or the ZZ/ZW mechanisms. The population structure of species belonging to the subfamily Hypoptopomatinae suggests that many chromosome rearrangements have been fixed in the different species and populations due to their geographic isolation and these karyotypic differences may be very important today for species definition.

Female reproductive system of ant species of the subfamily ponerinae: Review and new data

Literature data about the female reproductive system of some species in the subfamily Ponerinae are presented. Our project objective to compile a report containing the largest possible number of data about the reproductive system in Ponerinae for a better understanding of the reproductive biology of these Insects, was completed.

Cytogenetic analysis of five species of the subfamily Tetragonopterinae (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae)

The subfamily Tetragonopterinae is composed by a large number of species distributed in South and Central America. This subfamily has many taxonomic and phylogenetic problems, being considered by several authors as an artificial group. With the objective to better understanding the relationships among the components of this fish group, cytogenetic studies were conduced on five species of Tetragonopterinae. Astyanax janeiroensis had 2n=50 chromosomes (6M+14SM+14ST+16A), Hyphessobrycon reticulatus had 2n=50 chromosomes (14M+20SM+16ST), Hollandichthys multifasciatus had 2n=50 chromosomes (10M+12SM+28ST), Ctenobrycon hauxwellianus had 2n=50 chromosomes (10M+6SM+34ST), and Phenacogaster cf. pectinatus had 2n=46 chromosomes (12M+2ST+32A). Only A. janeiroensis had multiple NORs, while all other species had simple NORs. Small heterochromatic blocks were observed in the chromosomes of all species in a pericentromeric position. A. janeiroensis also had some chromosomes with large heterochromatic blocks in a terminal position and a pair with an interstitial block. The karyotypic evolution of each genus is discussed.

Study of the venom glands in Ectatomma quadridens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Evolutionary hypothesis in subfamily ponerinae

The venom glands of worker ants of the species Ectatomma quadridens morphologically resemble an elongated sac or reservoir ending in a narrower portion that has the function of releasing the secretion to the exterior. Two external secretory filaments are individually inserted into the proximal portion of the gland and end inside the convoluted gland. The venom gland of workers of E. quadridens is, therefore, morphologically subdivided into four distinct portions: a) sac-shaped reservoir measuring approximately 1mm in length; b) excretory duct, proximal portion of the reservoir that joins the gland to the sting apparatus; c) convoluted gland, final portion of the external secretory filaments located inside the reservoir; and d) two secretory filaments measuring about 2 mm in length; their free extremities end blindly and are individually inserted into the reservoir wall at the proximal region of the venom gland. The histological data showed that the filaments and the convoluted gland are composed of cubic cells of secretory function. The reservoir consists of a simple cubical epithelium externally surrounded by muscle fibers. A thick cuticle internally coats the epithelium of the reservoir. The application of histochemical tests allowed us to establish that the final secretion of the venom gland of Ectatomma quadridens is of glycoproteic nature. This secretion undergoes several modifications at the secretory filaments, at the convoluted gland, and in the reservoir before reaching the excretory duct, the point at which the secretion is released in its final composition, namely the venom. Based on the differences among various Ponerinae species we propose a hypothesis suggesting a probable evolutionary process that the venom glands of members of this subfamily might have undergone.

Comparative cytogenetic studies in species of the subfamily Callichthyinae (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)

In the present study, the karyotype of three species (nine populations) of the Callichthyinae subfamily were investigated with the objective of better understanding the pattern of relationship among the genera that compose the subfamily. Among the four populations of Callichthys callichthys studied, two showed 2n=56 chromosomes and two 2n=58 chromosomes. Up to eight additional microchromosomes were observed in the sample from Marilia. The three populations of Hoplosternum littorale displayed the same number of chromosomes, 2n=60, and karyotypic constitution, 6M+2SM+52A. The two populations of Megalechis personata showed 2n=62 chromosomes and similar karyotypic formulae, 8M+54A and 6M+2SM+54A. Terminal Ag-NORs were found in one chromosome pair of C. callichthys, H. littorale, and M. personata from Itiquira, and in two pairs in M. personata from Rio Branco. The populations of C. callichthys showed C-band positive segments in centromeric and pericentromeric position and the populations of H. littorale and M. personata exhibited C-band positive segments in centromeric and/or interstitial position. Contrarily to the extensive chromosome rearrangements verified in the Corydoradinae subfamily, in the Callichthyinae subfamily a small number of changes seems to have occurred in its karyotypic evolution.

Two new species of the feather mite subfamily Pterodectinae (Acari: Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazil

We describe two new pterodectine feather mites (Analgoidea: Proctophyllodidae) from Brazilian passerines (Passeriformes): Pterodectes amaurochalinus sp. n., from Turdus amaurochalinus Cabanis (Turdidae), and Dolichodectes neotropicus sp. n., collected from Elaenia chiriquensis Lawrence (Tyrannidae). A key to species of the genus Dolichodectes is presented. Copyright © 2006 Magnolia Press.

Composition and interrelationships of a large Neotropical freshwater fish group, the subfamily Cheirodontinae (Characiformes: Characidae): A case study based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

•Relationships of Cheirodontinae based on a broad taxonomic sample.•Results reject the monophyly of Cheirodontinae as previously conceived.•Exclusion of Amazonspinther and Spintherobolus from the subfamily Cheirodontinae.•The removal of Leptagoniates pi of the genus Leptagoniates and inclusion in Cheirodontinae.•Division of Cheirodontinae in three newly defined monophyletic tribes. Characidae is the most species-rich family of freshwater fishes in the order Characiformes, with more than 1000 valid species that correspond to approximately 55% of the order. Few hypotheses about the composition and internal relationships within this family are available and most fail to reach an agreement. Among Characidae, Cheirodontinae is an emblematic group that includes 18 genera (1 fossil) and approximately 60 described species distributed throughout the Neotropical region. The taxonomic and systematic history of Cheirodontinae is complex, and only two hypotheses about the internal relationships in this subfamily have been reported to date. In the present study, we test the composition and relationships of fishes assigned to Cheirodontinae based on a broad taxonomic sample that also includes some characid incertae sedis taxa that were previously considered to be part of Cheirodontinae. We present phylogenetic analyses of a large molecular dataset of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. Our results reject the monophyly of Cheirodontinae as previously conceived, as well as the tribes Cheirodontini and Compsurini, and the genera Cheirodon, Compsura, Leptagoniates, Macropsobrycon, Odontostilbe, and Serrapinnus. On the basis of these results we propose: (1) the exclusion of Amazonspinther and Spintherobolus from the subfamily Cheirodontinae since they are the sister-group of all remaining Characidae; (2) the removal of Macropsobrycon xinguensis of the genus Macropsobrycon; (3) the removal of Leptagoniates pi of the genus Leptagoniates; (4) the inclusion of Leptagoniates pi in the subfamily Cheirodontinae; (5) the removal of Cheirodon stenodon of the genus Cheirodon and its inclusion in the subfamily Cheirodontinae under a new genus name; (6) the need to revise the polyphyletic genera Compsura, Odontostilbe, and Serrapinnus; and (7) the division of Cheirodontinae in three newly defined monophyletic tribes: Cheirodontini, Compsurini, and Pseudocheirodontini. Our results suggest that our knowledge about the largest Neotropical fish family, Characidae, still is incipient. © 2013 Elsevier Inc..

The tonoplast intrinsic aquaporin (TIP) subfamily of Eucalyptus grandis: Characterization of EgTIP2, a root-specific and osmotic stress-responsive gene

Aquaporins have important roles in various physiological processes in plants, including growth, development and adaptation to stress. In this study, a gene encoding a root-specific tonoplast intrinsic aquaporin (TIP) from Eucalyptus grandis (named EgTIP2) was investigated. The root-specific expression of EgTIP2 was validated over a panel of five eucalyptus organ/tissues. In eucalyptus roots, EgTIP2 expression was significantly induced by osmotic stress imposed by PEG treatment. Histochemical analysis of transgenic tobacco lines (Nicotiana tabacum SR1) harboring an EgTIP2 promoter:GUS reporter cassette revealed major GUS staining in the vasculature and in root tips. Consistent with its osmotic-stress inducible expression in eucalyptus, EgTIP2 promoter activity was up-regulated by mannitol treatment, but was down-regulated by abscisic acid. Taken together, these results suggest that EgTIP2 might be involved in eucalyptus response to drought. Additional searches in the eucalyptus genome revealed the presence of four additional putative TIP coding genes, which could be individually assigned to the classical TIP1-5 groups. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Mini review: karyotypic survey in triatominae subfamily (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

The Triatominae subfamily consists of 145 species distributed in 18 genera and grouped in six tribes. Currently, there are 86 karyotypes described in the literature, distributed in 11 genera. There are five chromosomal complements described for these bloodsucking insects, out more, 22 (20A+XY), 23 (20A+X1X2Y), 24 (20A+X1X2X3Y), 21 (18A+X1X2Y), 25 (22A+X1X2Y). Thus, we review all triatomine species with the number of chromosomes described in the literature. Through these data highlight the importance of further analysis cytogenetic with karyotype description in Triatominae subfamily, since it can help as an important tool cytotaxonomy and mainly allows the understanding of the evolution of this important group of insect vectors of Chagas disease.

Novel inorganic pyrophosphatase from soil metagenomic and family and subfamily prediction

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

How pH Modulates the Dimer-Decamer Interconversion of 2-Cys Peroxiredoxins from the Prx1 Subfamily

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)